There is a beautiful upside-down truth, which is that these moments of purest strength appear as weakness to those who don't know better. For a long time, I didn't know better. I ask you and your brother to reject history as a narrative of strength, and instead have faith that it can be a narrative of love.
Duren faces its fifth month of famine, and in order to survive, Queen Neha agrees to marry a wealthy nobleman's daughter from another land, whose dowry is enough to ensure her people fed for at least a few years longer. At first, the marriage between Queen Neha and Princess Consort Annika spells nothing but turmoil and trouble, but can love blossom in this marriage of convenience?
I found this little gem in my Wip's folder, an Arranged Marriage Fic between Queen Neha and Queen Annika 😊🥰 (Annika starts off as princess consort but her title will end up being promoted to queen once she and Neha really fall in love :) if you're wondering why I have her set like that.)
ANyway! let me know if you're interested in reading more?? Cause I could def write more for this story 😳
Enjoy!!
Queen Neha sat back on her throne, observing her council of advisors. She opened her mouth to speak, but sensing that her throat was seizing up from being caught unawares, she closed her mouth, her lips forming a thin line of annoyance.
“I see,” she said, finally, when she had willed her body to stop betraying her. “And tell me, Magistrate Koa, who exactly do you have in mind for my…future spouse?”
Magistrate Koa bowed, his arm folded into his chest in an act of respect. “Of course, my queen. The person we have elected is none other than Lady Annika vin Birona of Neolandia.”
Neha nodded, thinking back on if she had ever met the Lady Annika of Neolandia. She knew she was a relative of King Ahling, but whether she was a niece or cousin, Neha couldn’t remember.
Whatever the relation, it was distant, and Neha could not help but wonder why her council decided to choose a woman for her to marry who had so little royal blood.
Whomever Neha married, whether man, woman, royal or otherwise, they would become the consort of the Queen of Duren…and therefore would play an important role. They would be her partner not only in life but in court.
She couldn’t just marry anyone. Not to mention that she, to the best of her knowledge, had never even met the lady in question.
And of course, there was the matter of an heir…but that was not so much of an issue. After all, it was not uncommon for the royalty of Duren to find alternative means other than their spouse to produce an heir, if such a thing was required.
“I am curious as to why Lady Annika was chosen,” Neha said, leaning forward with some interest. “Is there a particular reason as to why a distant relative of King Ahling was chosen instead of one of his closer relatives? Or even a princess from another kingdom?”
Lady Navani stepped forward. “Lady Annika is the only daughter of King Ahling’s second cousin, it is true. But the daughter of one of the wealthiest men of all Neolandia…with her dowry…”
Neha frowned. So that was what this was about.
Duren was facing its fifth month of famine, and her people were suffering. It made sense that her council would pressure her to marry a woman whose dowry could potentially feed her people for a least a few years. At least until this famine subsided…
But still, Neha knew nothing about Lady Annika, save only that she was wealthy, a woman, and apparently single.
She sighed, rising to her feet. “I must think on this matter before making a decision,” she said. “And of course, I must know how the lady in question feels.”
She descended down the steps of the dais and walked past her advisors. “This meeting is adjourned until tomorrow.”
They bowed as she passed.
By the time she reached her private quarters, she found herself exhausted from the shock of what had just transpired. She collapsed onto the large bed, staring up at the high, vaulted ceiling of her bed chamber. It felt strange to think she might have to share this room—at least on their wedding night, with a stranger.
No doubt both she and Lady Annika would prefer to have separate sleeping quarters. It would be, after all, a marriage of convenience.
She blinked a few times, before sitting up and glaring at her reflection in the mirror on the far wall.
Neha felt she was too young to be married—she was only twenty-four, after all. Barely an adult, and queen for only four years. She had wanted to focus on her country and this famine before thinking about marriage. But…if Lady Annika’s dowry could be helpful…and if it could save her people…
Would it be selfish to refuse the marriage on the grounds of ‘no being ready’ and ‘not knowing her future bride’?
She sighed, collapsing back onto the pillows again, groaning with annoyance.
This was certainly a predicament. And not one she would find an easy solution for.
HHH
Annika quickly ascended the steps to her father’s study. She knocked on the door in an urgent rhythm.
When she heard her father’s call to enter, she straightened her back and opened the door, walking in with a forceful countenance.
“Father,” she said, stopping before his desk and glaring down at him. “What is this I hear about being married off to…to…”
“To the queen of Duren, my dear,” her father said, not looking up from the scroll he was examining.
“Yes, that’s what I heard,” Annika said, her hands clenched by her side. “Surely you don’t…surely you cannot be serious?”
Her father looked up, and she could see in his eyes just how serious he was.
“An arranged marriage, Father,” she said, losing all composure at the realization that it was not just a nasty rumor invented by her younger cousin, but instead a devastating truth. “Do you remember nothing of Mother’s dying request?”
“Your mother did not make me swear to not arrange your future for you,” her father said, with false patience. “Merely that I would not force you into a marriage you did not consent to.”
“Well, I don’t consent to it,” Annika snapped. “I do not—I will not—ever.”
Her father gazed at her with those dreary eyes of his, looking like her anger might even put him to sleep. “My dear, this has been arranged by King Ahling and Queen Neha herself…I doubt you can back out of it without angering both our dear royal cousin and the entire nation of Duren.”
Annika growled, her hands clenching into fists again. “Father, how is this any different than forcing me to marry someone I don’t consent to marry?”
“I didn’t realize you were so vehemently hateful of Queen Neha,” her father answered, returning his attention to the ancient scroll on his desk.
“I’m not,” Annika said, a little insulted by his insulation. “But I’m only twenty, Father.”
“Your mother was your age when she married me,” her father reminded her.
“But she loved you,” Annika pointed out, triumphant that she finally found a position in which she might get through to her father. “I don’t know and I certainly don’t love Queen Neha. I’ve never even met her.”
“Love often comes with time,” her father reminded her.
When Annika opened her mouth to dispute this, he put down his spectacles and looked up at her with practiced calm. “Look, my dear, you are not only marrying the Queen of Duren in order to find a suitable spouse—but also because of what you offer.”
Annika frowned. What could she offer that the Queen of Duren could possibly want?
But then it hit her…she remembered during her studies being told that Duren has been hit with a long famine—five months if Annika estimated correctly. The kingdom of Duren must be suffering.
And…
“My dowry,” Annika said, blinking a few times. “They want my dowry…”
“Indeed,” her father said, donning his spectacles again. “And without it, thousands of people will suffer, if not die.”
She glared at her father. “That’s not fair,” she mumbled angrily.
She turned to leave and was just beyond the doors to her father’s study when he called after her. “So think about it, dear, if only for the sake of the innocents at stake.”
She stopped short, before continuing on, her hands clenched by her side.
There you go! Chapter 1! Let me know if you're interested in reading more!
