Imperial attraction

A/N: This is a story about the struggles of an emperor in his relationship with his wife and his work. There is drama in it but it is not going to be extreme, it is mainly an easy read. Just keep in mind that there are topics such as depression, starvation, and death. .

Enjoy >3

POV: Bastian

I press my fingers to my forehead as I sigh deeply, trying to rub away the emerging headache as my mother puts even more pressure on me than is already there.

Besides the constant rebels terrorizing my countries, the taxes not being paid, my mother wants me to find a bride as soon as possible. It's not that I don't want to get married, it just would be nice if I was actually in love with my future wife. But it looks like I'm going to marry a completely strange woman that my mother arranged for me. Apparently she has known about this for years and has never told me anything about it, if you ask me that is completely on purpose.

In the 32 years that I have lived, there are few years that I have really been able to enjoy life. It was known from birth that I would be the heir to the throne, and from an early age I was groomed to become emperor. And after the death of my father 3 years ago the time had finally come, after years of training it was the time I was living for. Not that I was really looking forward to my time on the throne, but I just know this is what I have to do.

My mother would have preferred to see me married 10 years ago, but I had more ambition for my job as an army general than with a wife and children. In the evenings I sometimes lie in bed and dream of a life in the mountains, where I can hunt, ride horses and walk until my legs give out. But when my curtains are opened in the morning by my roommaster, I am put back on the ground and the day starts right away with all the matters that need to be arranged.

Believe me, I am very aware that I live a prosperous and rich life, but even the most prosperous people sometimes dream of something else.

My first advisor stands in the corner of my office and waits quietly for my mother to finish after I say I don't want to get married yet. He knows better than to go against the Queen Mother when she is angry, and I don't dare to antagonize her any more now either.

"I don't want any more discussion Bastian, I have already written to Maria that they can come this way for a possible engagement," she says as she walks through the room, her long skirts rustling on the floor every time she turns .

My first advisor, Gerhald, is about to say something, but I hold my hand up to him to keep him quiet. I sigh deeply and get up from behind my desk and walk to the painting that my mother has placed. The painting shows a young woman, according to my mother she is three years younger than me and the daughter of her distant cousin Maria. The lady in the painting is Lady Doria Weismar, daughter of Maria Weismar and Alarik Weismar. She has green eyes and wavy dark brown hair, she has a serene and sweet appearance... But I can't say more about her from the painting.

"She is the perfect woman my dear son, believe me," my mother says as she stands next to me and puts a hand on my shoulder.

I nod absently as I look at the painting, this is not what I would have wanted for myself. But in recent years my mother has introduced several candidates to me, but never once was she as determined as she is now.

"It's okay, mother, I'll give her a chance," I say somewhat dejectedly and I feel my mother breathe a sigh of relief next to me.

"That's great my dear, I expect them to arrive in 2 days so make sure you are there," she says sternly and I nod somewhat absently. I hear her skirts rustling from my office and the door closes behind her.

"Clear my agenda as much as possible so that I can be at their reception, Gerhald," I say with my back to him and I hear him walking towards me.

“Your Majesty,” he says with a bow of his head and a salute, after which he also leaves my office.

The peace is short-lived when there is another knock on the door, but there is some relief when I hear five knocks and the door opens. My brother and I have a good relationship and we have agreed that he will knock on my door five times so that I always know it is him. No one is allowed to knock on the emperor's door more than twice, so this was a nice thing between me and my brother. Weird rule, i know... One of the many weird rules in this palace.

''Bas, I just saw mother walking away in a good mood! Have you finally given in to her proposal?'' he says jovially as he sits down in my chair behind my desk, something that always irritates our mother when she is there. That chair is only for the emperor and no one else, which is all the more reason for him to sit on it occasionally.

''Yes, Lady Doria is expected here soon. Mother has been in contact with her mother for years and she is convinced that she is the 'one''' I say with a shrug as I sit in the chair where my guests normally sit.

''You know you can say no, right? I know what a hopeless romantic you secretly are'' he says with a wink and I chuckle, Jonas is the only one who knows that I would prefer to marry for love.

"There is no way to say no to mother Jonas, and it may be time... I'm not getting any younger either," I say, almost like a petulant teenager and not the 32 year old man that I am, mother would would make a scene if she saw me slumped down and whining like that. Jonas looks doubtful and nods, he also knows that despite the fact that I am emperor, our mother is still a little too much in control.

"I hope the best for you brother, the woman will have our mother as a mother-in-law... I wish her all the luck," he says with a twinkle in his eye and I can't suppress a laugh.

"Don't let mother hear you say that," I say chuckling and he shakes his head with a smile.

"Come... Let's go to the dining room, I think our dear mother is already waiting there impatiently," Jonas sighs as he pulls himself out of my chair.

We walk together through the corridors of the palace to the large dining room where the smell of food fills my nostrils. Our mother is sitting at the table with her advisor Ralf, my advisor Gerhald, General Jaques and officer Eriks. I give my brother a knowing look and roll my eyes, the fact that these people are sitting at our table means that my mother turned it into a business dinner instead of a family dinner.

When they see me they all stand up and bow their heads, everyone except my mother then gives a salute until I signal for them to sit down again. When I sit down, wine is immediately poured and I turn up my nose slightly, but I quickly neutralize my face and take a sip of the disgusting drink. Ever since I was allowed to drink I have had a distaste for wine, give me a nice beer or just a glass of water.

Unfortunately, my mother thinks beer is for... People who are less fortunate... And I am obliged to drink wine during official dinners.

A soup is placed in front of me with some bread and I start to eat, after which the rest follows my example and for a moment you only hear the cutlery clinking at the table. But this peace is of course also short-lived, because not much later General Jaques clears his throat and draws attention to himself.

"Your Majesty, I heard the happy news that your alleged fiancée will grace us with her presence. I have agreed with the empress mother that she will be escorted into the city by the army, to make her welcome seem grand,'' he says and I glance at my mother who just continues to eat quietly.

''I appreciate the efforts General Jaques, but it is not yet certain whether we will really get engaged. I suggest we don't turn it into a circus so as not to give the people false hope'' I say as my soup bowl is taken away and replaced by a plate with steak, mashed potatoes and various vegetables.

"But your majesty, your mother has already agreed-" he stops talking when I raise my hand at him in annoyance.

"As much as I appreciate my mother's efforts-" I start with a meaningful look at my mother and I hear my brother choking on his food next to me. I nudge him under the table with my knee and I see him suppress a small laugh. Luckily my mother is too busy giving me a death glare to see Jonas laughing at me.

"I hereby decide to receive Lady Doria and her entourage in a normal manner, as we receive all guests," I say to the general with a stern look, fortunately the man is smart and accepts my decision with a polite nod from the head.

''Bastian, darling. I really think-'' my mother starts, but I also hold up my hand at her and she immediately closes her mouth. I've had enough of her decision making for today.

''My decision is made, mother, and I want you to respect it. Until I have seen Lady Doria with my own eyes and spoken to her, I do not want a circus around her visit'' my tone shows that I am not implying any contradiction and to my surprise my mother also bows her head and continues eating. I know perfectly well that she is cursing me in her head, but I certainly have no desire to disappoint the people if Lady Doria disappoints me.

"Nice piece of Emperor work, big brother," Jonas whispers in my ear and I give him a small wink.

"Shall we then discuss the rebels in the neighboring countries, Imperial Majesty?" Officer Eriks suggests and I nod my head for him to continue.

I would rather talk about problems in all our countries at the moment than my upcoming engagement, about which I have little say.

And since this dinner has already turned businesslike, I might as well make the best of it.