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“How would you feel about marrying Oikawa Tooru?”
Koushi looked up at his mother, startled. “I’m sorry?”
“We have potentially arranged a marriage for you to end the war,” she explained, looking saddened. “If you truly do not wish to marry him we can try something else, but we have been losing this war for a year now. This is the most peaceful way and they offered marriage as a way to end it without us surrendering everything.”
Koushi nodded, unsure how to feel about being married off so suddenly. “I do not oppose the union as long as he is someone who will treat me well.”
“The prince is someone who has been said to be eccentric but well mannered. I wouldn’t consider accepting the offer if he had a bad reputation,” the queen explained. “But I can request that you meet before we accept the offer.”
“Of course, Mother. If it’s for the good of the kingdom and he treats me kindly, I can handle an okay marriage.”
Plans were made, a ceasefire issued, and Koushi was being brought to their neighboring kingdom in a carriage to meet their only son. Since Koushi had a younger brother, he would be the one to inherit his kingdom, meaning Koushi would be the one moving kingdoms, as Oikawa was an only child. It was a bit of a mental switch, as Koushi had been the heir for all his years except for a few days ago, but it was something that was necessary for their kingdoms to be at peace. If it would end the war and the hardships on both of their peoples, it was a small sacrifice to make.
The carriage stopped in front of a huge castle, much bigger than the one Koushi had grown up in. Koushi stepped out of the carriage and immediately felt small.
Guards escorted him into a throne room, while servants took his things to another room, presumably the one he would be staying in.
“Greetings, Sugawara Koushi,” the king said, looking at Koushi with a gleam in his eyes that made him shudder.
Koushi took a knee in front of him. “Greetings, King Oikawa.”
“My son has been looking forward to meeting you,” the king said. “Rise, boy. You’ll be my son-in-law soon enough.”
Koushi rose to his feet, feeling his heart race. “Yes, your majesty.”
“Guards, take him to his room,” the king commanded.
“Yes, my king.” Koushi let himself be led to a bedroom where his things had been taken. “Feel free to unpack your things, this will be your personal bedroom.”
“We won’t be expected to share?” Koushi questioned.
The guard shook his head. “You will both have your own spaces. Prince Tooru’s room is next to yours, so if you wish to share a bed, you will be free to choose whose bedroom you wish to spend the night in.”
A wave of relief flooded Koushi’s body. He was grateful that he would be allowed to have his own space if the marriage went through, though he did wish he had been allowed to bring anyone he was familiar with to this foreign place. But the neighboring kingdom had been insistent he come alone.
Koushi felt nervous around the foreign king. He wasn’t sure if it was anything the king had done or if Koushi was just naturally nervous about these sorts of things.
“My name is Sawamura Daichi, by the way,” the guard told him. “Let me know if there is anything I can do to make your time here more comfortable. The prince will be by to see you in about 30 minutes.”
Koushi nodded. “Thank you.”
“I will be right outside unless you have anything you need from me,” Sawamura told him before turning to walk out the door.
Koushi elected to spend time unpacking his things to keep his mind away from wandering. Before he knew it, there was a knock on his door. “Come in,” Koushi called.
A man his age walked in, with messy brown hair and matching eyes. He was wearing a pair of glasses and had a grin on his face. “Greetings, your highness,” the man greeted with a bow.
“Hello,” Koushi replied. “Are you the one I am to marry?”
“In the flesh,” he responded, a twinkle in his eye. He straightened. “Oikawa Tooru, at your service.”
“Sugawara Koushi, though I assume you already know who I am.”
Oikawa chuckled. “That I do, Sugawara-san.”
“You can just call me Koushi, we are going to be married soon enough,” Koushi told him.
“Then you can call me Tooru,” the prince told him.
“Alright, then, Tooru,” Koushi said, getting a feel for the name in his mouth. “Will you be kind to me?”
Tooru looked startled by the question. “I wouldn’t dream of treating you with anything other than kindness and respect. I was the one who insisted on giving you your own space, after all.”
“I appreciate it,” Koushi said, sitting on his bed. “Come sit with me, then. We have much to discuss if we want to get to know each other.”
Tooru crossed the room, a beaming smile on his face. “Thank you. I look forward to learning all about you.”
“As do I,” Koushi said, feeling himself finally start to relax.
Maybe this arranged marriage would turn out to be better than okay.