Part 30

                                    

                                          

The Mogoru Empire was just as impressive as one might imagine a territory that had earned the title of empire would be. Structures that boasted the vast wealth and excessive strength of the Empire. All of the victories that had led up to the establishment of the vast land that could so easily swallow the Roan Kingdom if they decided to do so.
As impressive as the Henituse procession was, it still paled in comparison to excess surrounding them. Especially when the crown prince sent personal knights to accompany the carriage through the streets.
Cale was just about as calm as he was capable of being.
The reality that his new fiance was imperial crown prince Adin hadn't actually settled down inside of him quite yet. Being engaged to the prince of his own kingdom had already felt nearly impossible to escape, the prince of the Empire? Ha. It was some sick god's joke.
It bothered him though.
He couldn't quite understand why Adin had chosen him as a fiance. The more time that he had to consider the situation, the more it struck him as odd. Yes, Adin had gone out of his way to scent him when they met during the rescue but there was hardly any affection there. As for political benefits, Cale had none to offer the Mogoru Kingdom.
He was a noble from the Roan Kingdom, an onconsenquensial and comparably small kingdom of mediocre military strength. He wasn't even a noble in good standing, even a cursory look into his reputation would offer nothing to Adin.
He didn't need to be politically minded to understand that much at least. Especially when his own lack of worth as a political partner was probably the primary reason behind his previous engagement being annulled.
That was the other issue.
Bob.
What the hell was he even supposed to feel about his childhood friend coming back in this situation? Especially when sent by his ex-fiance?
He tried, really tried, not to imagine that Alver was jealous. Or otherwise discontent with Cale being engaged to someone else. It was such a petty thing to desire when he was facing such immediate danger.
If imperial crown prince Adin had felt perfectly within his rights to scent Cale when they were nothing but strangers, it wasn't difficult to imagine what else he might do as Cale's fiance.
One way or another, he needed to get out of this situation.
He wanted to trust in Bob's ability to help him, in fact, there was a part of him that couldn't help but trust Bob. The dependable figure that had supported him during the lowest moments in his life. The person who had never betrayed his trust.
Yet in the face of his daunting fate it was difficult to believe that even Bob could do anything about it. Even with Alver's full support and efforts, this was the Mogoru Empire. The Roan Kingdom had no power here.
He had no power here.
Cale had spent the majority of his life dreading a feeling of powerlessness. Having his will and autonomy stripped away in favor of someone else being allowed to dictate his life. Feelings of anger and fear consumed his heart until he was unable to see what was in front of him clearly.
In the face of all of his worst fears becoming a reality, Cale had to wonder if this fate was inevitable. If all his struggles over the years had never meant very much of anything at all. It had a particular sting to it when he thought about how his fears had very likely cost him a relationship with someone he actually loved.
He thought about it sometimes.
Would Alver have loved him if he hadn't been so unpleasant? If Cale had been able to see what was in front of him instead of what he feared that Alver would be, could he have somehow earned the prince's heart?