In The Name of Love

“Grand Duke Maksym. Please try to relax,” Minna urges the lanky, dark-haired heir apparent of Khandazar. “These questions are meant to help us get to know each other better, so that I can make the best choice for myself and my people, not as some kind of a torture exercise. Would you feel more comfortable sitting down?”

Fifi coughs to keep herself from snickering. Grand Duke Maksym looks mortified, but in Minna’s place, she probably would have said much the same, except perhaps less tactfully. The Grand Duke has stammered through multiple unhelpful answers to Minna’s easiest questions; he’s all but said, ‘My answer is whatever you would most like to hear.’

“No, thank you, Princess Wilhelmina,” Grand Duke Maksym replies, face apple-red. “I’m sorry. I….”

“It’s quite all right. Perhaps you can tell me what you value most? Is that a good—”

“My family’s honor and reputation. Things have been difficult in Khandazar, since the Grand Chancellery was overthrown and my family retook the throne. We’ve been trying to regain the people’s trust, to do better, and so…. There’s a lot of pressure. Especially as I am my parents’ only son.”

Suddenly everything about Grand Duke Maksym makes more sense to Fifi. She glances at Minna, whose brow is furrowed ever so slightly in concern and pity.

“I would imagine so. What did you most enjoy studying, during your education?”

“…Philosophy. I mean, I love learning, so I did due diligence in all my studies, but…philosophy was most enjoyable.”

Something seems to have unlocked in Grand Duke Maksym, to Fifi’s eye. He’s still nervous, stiff, but these last two answers were genuine, she observes. It seems Mother was right, and Minna is able to get him to open up. So much the better for both of them. Her perfunctory dance with him tomorrow night might be almost pleasant.

***~O~***

“And, Prince Didier, what advantage would my union with you bring to the Kingdom of Aethyrozia?” Minna inquires. So far, he has maintained his charm and poise and the general perfection he projected during the Talent Round. Please have a good answer. Win my father over, Minna prays.

“Vyrunia boasts plentiful resources for trade, agricultural products and timber and textiles, as I am certain you well know, Princess Wilhelmina. A closer relationship between our countries would mean that your people need never fear being hungry or lacking in shelter or clothing. Not that they do currently, of course, but they could only hope to increase their material prosperity from such a union,” Prince Didier answers, his focus as much on King Ansgar as on Minna. “And our nation is large and wealthy with a growing population. Should you have any desire for military conquest in the future, Vyrunia would be the best nation in Lokva to deem a close ally.”

“You are in favor of military conquest, then?”

“Only as a last resort. Every other possible way to settle an issue between two nations ought to be attempted prior to military engagement, at least in my opinion. But it is not for me to tell you how to run your kingdom, of course.”

Minna dares a breathless glance at King Ansgar. Her father appears to be equal parts annoyed, thoughtful, and grudgingly impressed. He’s already picked up on how best to deal with Father’s…prickliness, Minna bites her lip to keep from smiling.

“What is the first thing you would say to me in the morning, and the last thing you’d say to me at night?”

Beside Minna, Fifi squirms and her elbow hits Minna’s ribs, but the elder sister doesn’t mind. We promised to only use this question for the ones we really like, Minna remembers. And I haven’t used it yet today.

Prince Didier blushes slightly. “Good morning, my angel. Did you rest well? And then at night… Sweet dreams, my angel.”

Minna’s insides quiver as she shares a long look with the handsome green-eyed prince, ignoring Emrik’s gagging noises. There’s no question, in her mind, that he’s the best looking of the young men who’ve come to compete for her hand. More importantly, though, he seems to be both a competent statesman and an amiable person.

Chuezoh, please sway my father’s heart, Minna appeals without a sound, even as her father harrumphs disapprovingly beside her.

“Do you have any questions for me?” she says aloud.

“What is it you want most in a life partner, Princess Wilhelmina?”

“That he will be a good match for me and a blessing to my country. That he and I can live happily together all of our days and that our union will help Aethyrozia to prosper.”

“Spoken like a true Queen.”

Minna cannot help but smile. “Thank you so much for your time in this interview, Prince Didier. My decision will be announced at supper.”

“It was my pleasure, Princess Wilhelmina,” Prince Didier replies with his signature elaborate bow. We’ll have at least one more night, Minna assures herself as she watches him leave.

She just hopes it will be enough time.

***~O~***

Fifi glares sideways at her father as Prince Ramiro is escorted out of the Hall of Private Audience by the Chief Royal Steward. Did we really have to keep him for the Questioning, Father? Are you satisfied? she demands silently. It was a waste of everyone’s time. Not only is he unquestionably too young for Minna, he’s an insufferable know-it-all. Emrik is more mature and pleasant to be around even on his worst days.

As Prince Emiliano replaces his brother in front of Minna, Fifi wonders if all the Syazonian princes have been educated with the rigor Ramiro boasted, and if they have any sisters. Judging by this prince’s wild red curls and restless shifting, he isn’t the type to enjoy sitting still with a book.

Sure enough, Minna’s questions reveal him to be an avid hunter with little interest in reading or ruling. It’s clear that he is used to winning, used to having his way. By the end of the interview, Fifi is certain that Prince Emiliano’s only redeeming quality is his appreciation for his favorite horse, Tacito; it’s clear from his stories that he shares a special relationship with his steed, whose stealth in the hunt allegedly rivals that of a cat.

Not overly familiar with honesty, that one, Fifi judges as his interview concludes. I’d be glad to see him sent home tonight. The set of King Ansgar’s jaw indicates that such a thought should not be voiced, though; Fifi would guess that her father is also frustrated by how inept for ruling both Syazonian princes they’ve interviewed so far seem, but would never admit it aloud or change his mind about insisting that all five brothers stay until the end of the Quest for Favor.

Prince Lisandro is announced next, and although she seemed quite taken with Prince Didier during that interview, Minna seems pleased to see this competitor.

“Welcome, Prince Lisandro,” she greets him warmly.

“Thank you, Princess Wilhelmina,” he smiles with a half-bow.

“Let’s start with…. If you had a day to yourself with no responsibilities, what would you do with the day?”

“I’d probably spend it with my dulcimer, improvising and playing old favorites and just generally…enjoying the respite of music.”

You couldn’t have picked a better answer for Minna, Fifi wants to tell him. The look on her sister’s face hints that she thinks this one might be too good to be true.

“If your greatest enemy was lying defenseless in front of you, what would you do?” Minna asks.

“It would depend on why he was my enemy, and in what capacity. For a rival musician, I would ask if he was all right and if I could do anything to help him. But someone who was a threat to Syazonia, or to the people I cared about, not just to me…. Such a person would have to be executed, given that opportunity.”

“Would you do it yourself, or ask someone else to do it?”

“I would probably ask Emiliano, my brother, to do it. He would make it quick and clean and merciful, if I asked him to, and he has no qualms about killing.”

That makes sense, Fifi agrees silently. What must growing up with all those brothers have been like?

“Are you close with your brothers?”

“I used to be with Adalberto, until…. Well, that’s his story to tell, if it comes up. And I try with Ramiro, but he’s still finding himself. Casimiro and Emiliano…don’t really share any interests with me. They’re still my brothers, of course, and I love them, but…. We are not all kindred spirits.”

“I understand.”

Points in your favor, I would think, Fifi muses. Minna is leaning forward slightly, taking a real interest in Lisandro, and Fifi doesn’t blame her. For the first time, the younger princess thinks maybe Minna won’t be completely miserable if she yields to their father’s judgment and chooses a prince of Syazonia, provided that prince is Lisandro.

From the rest of the interview, Fifi learns that Prince Lisandro has no interest in going to war with another nation for any reason. He feels a revolt amongst the common people ought best to be settled by meeting with the leaders of that revolt and coming up with some sort of mutually agreeable compromise between the crown and the rebels. He wants his wife to share his love of music and to share his life as an equal. He believes he will be happy with as many children as Chuezoh sees fit to bless him and his future wife with.

He seems sweet. A bit dull, but sweet, Fifi decides. Not a match for me, but maybe Minna can be happy with him.

“What is the first thing you would say to me in the morning, and the last thing you would say to me at night?” Minna asks. Fifi’s breath catches in her throat. She asked it again. Does she actually think him on a level with Prince Didier, or is she just doing this for Father’s benefit? I believe he’s the most desirable of the Syazonian princes so far, but—

Prince Lisandro’s cheeks flush crimson, and he stammers a bit before collecting his thoughts. “In the morning, ‘light of my life, have you slept well?’ And at night, ‘May Chuezoh grant me another pleasant day with you, my darling.’”

Now Minna’s cheeks turn pink, and Fifi wants to gag. Once again, Emrik actually does, and Queen Ingrid scolds him under her breath. “Finally, do you have any questions for me?”

“Do you like to compose or improvise music? Is that something that, perhaps someday, we might do together?”

“I do. And I think I would like that very much.”

Prince Lisandro’s smile becomes dazzling, and in that moment Fifi can see why someone might find him as attractive as Prince Didier or Lord Ingemar. He’s not a bad choice for her, all things considered. But can she really be happy with him? How can anyone know, in so little time?

She has another day to figure it out, Fifi reminds herself. After all, there’s no question of this Syazonian Prince advancing to the Ball, even if his younger brothers could be eliminated based on lack of merit.