The Prince's Arranged Marriage
Chapter 23: Meeting

Chapter 23: Meeting

After the events of the day we were called for a meeting with Lady Genevieve for a brief meeting.

The meeting with Lady Genevieve was held in one of the sitting rooms of the governor’s estate. The room was elegant but not overly grand, with polished wooden floors and shelves filled with books about maritime history. Lucien sat with his arms crossed, exhaustion settling deep in his bones. Across from him, Alexander was as composed as ever, sitting straight with that unreadable expression he always wore.

Lady Genevieve stood before them, flipping through a leather-bound notebook. She was a sharp woman in her early forties, always dressed in a crisp navy-blue suit. Her dark hair was pulled into a severe bun, and her piercing gaze rarely missed anything. She had been handling the public image of Veridian’s royal family for years, and Lucien respected her efficiency, even if he didn’t always like what she had to say.

"As of today," Lady Genevieve began, adjusting her glasses, "we are nearing the end of the first leg of the tour. Only a few cities remain before we conclude our time in Veridian."

Lucien exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. Almost three months. Three months of speeches, ceremonies, forced smiles, and pretending to be madly in love with Alexander.

"At the end of this first leg, you will receive a full briefing on what we’ve accomplished, the public’s response, and the impact of your engagements," Lady Genevieve continued. "We will also discuss adjustments for the next phase of the tour based on how well certain initiatives have been received."

Lucien forced himself to focus. This wasn’t just about putting on a show. It was a strategy to stabilize Veridian, and the more cities they visited, the clearer the kingdom’s struggles became.

He had seen it in the markets of Shadowfen, where merchants struggled to sell their goods. Buyers haggled not out of habit but out of desperation. In Ironholde, blacksmiths crafted fine weapons, but military orders had slowed, leaving workshops quieter than they should be. And now, in Ashenport, the dockworkers were weary. Trade wasn’t what it once was. Wages were stretched thin.

The citizens were going hungry, he could see the sad and weary looks in their eyes, the hunch of their shoulders and it saddened him as the prince of Veridian the lives and means of survival of the citizens depended on him and he had to do his best to help them.

The signs were everywhere. Veridian was faltering. His father’s decision to forge an alliance with Avaloria wasn’t just about political ties. It was about survival.

Lucien clenched his jaw, glancing at Alexander. He sat there, listening to Lady Genevieve with that calm, unreadable expression. Had he known how bad things were before the tour began? Lucien had spent so much time resenting the engagement, resenting Alexander, that he hadn’t stopped to consider why it was necessary.

He still hated it. He still hated Alexander, though not as much as he once was, sometimes he wondered if he still hated him at all. But for the first time, he understood.

"...That being said," Lady Genevieve’s voice pulled him from his thoughts, "your public image has improved significantly. There was skepticism at the start of the tour, but the two of you have convinced a large portion of the populace that this engagement is genuine."

Lucien barely stopped himself from scoffing. If only they knew.

"Going forward," Lady Genevieve continued, "you must be mindful that the closer we get to Avaloria, the more scrutiny you will face. You’ve set the stage in Veridian. Now, you must maintain the momentum."

"Understood," Alexander said smoothly. Lucien gave a curt nod.

Lady Genevieve snapped her notebook shut. "That’s all for tonight. Rest while you can. The next few weeks will be just as demanding."

She turned and left, her sharp steps echoing through the room.

Silence filled the space after she was gone. Lucien let his head rest against the back of his chair, exhaling slowly.

"You’re quiet," Alexander observed.

Lucien opened one eye to glare at him. "That bothers you?"

"No. Just surprising."

Lucien sighed, closing his eyes again. He was tired. Tired of this engagement. Tired of pretending. But most of all, tired of acting like none of this mattered when he knew now that it did.

He didn’t think he could ever fall in love with Alexander, they could remain friends at best. But for the sake of Veridian, for the people struggling to survive, he would see this through.

Even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.