#“you'll have boxes of them evry morning by your bedside”

[braemjeorn]

anyway, another aesthetic for despa x teru (oc) in an imperial-1870s-convenient-marriage!au.

teru frowned, "dear prince despa, you have shown no regard that indicated you esteem or admire me! you see that if we marry it will be for my luck than yours, don't you?"

"oh how so?"

despa's face took an air of complete innocence; it took her entire limbs to not roll her eyes.

"my dowry is not as grand as that of the now empress," she grits. "i have no material inheritance except for my father's book and...—oh, don't tell me you covet his collections, you horrid man!"

he laughed, "perhaps i do, but then—who said that your dowry is insignificant?! you are the granddaughter the king masse, and combined with the income my brother will bestow upon me after this union—my dear, we will live like kings of the south!"

teru scoffed, "if your desire is purely material, its hardly worth considering."

"my brother wants to shoo me and ouken to independence—and that pup won't marry his darling before i do. desha was also lecturing about ...," despa waved his hands about, "expanding and maintaining the dynasty, whatever; though i bet he wouldn't even take that responsibility hadn't he seen and fell over himself with your cousin. well, fortunately and unfortunately, such is the present duty for us three. and its not like there will or has been a proposal as good as this, princess teru."

she rose from her seat, a flurry of ruffles walking over him. "oh, you and your insolent mouth!

his footsteps trailed after her pleats further into the glass house, "you and your spirits! this is what i like—and what drove that miserable duke away and leave all the blessings for me to win your hand."

"you're no better than those perverse fiends spurred on by sheer feminine disdain—i want nothing of it!"

"i haven't talked to you as any less than human now, have i? tell me, teru, would you like a man who'd cower and nod at whatever you say or take an engaging partner?"

"peace and tranquility wont kill anyone. you'd never leave me to my own company."

"quite the contrary!—have you forgotten those months ahead of the wedding? we got along splendid! and i intend to take you around the world, teru. see places; towns, villages, castles, beaches and those valleys under your mountain. i'd speak as my brothers emissary in stadiums and universities where you'd be welcome to its histories and architectures. what sights of the world! surely it will be better than wandering about your cousin's court? and don't you think we'd make a fine couple together? even if you do tire of me, i'm sure honi will take you in—"

teru bristled, "i won't depend on anyone!"

"then i'm offering my other house in the country. when you tire of me, i give you leave to go there and live your pastoral life."

teru's heart had soared at the thought of travels - but then with his offers for separate living might seem kindly but 'tis as if he doesn't want anything to do with her. her father would frown at it. not that it's a concern to be voiced now.

"there's hardly any benefit for you in this," teru said, sitting down on an old wooden bench before the orchids. "money, yes perhaps - but then what? companionship? a-and then even about the money; i might spend it more than you estimated and you'll have the same or less as you usually life on!"

"i'm sure you'll manage my allowance instead, so i have no worry on that part. you forget status! marriage is respected in the underworld (or will be, with what impression we're trying to build now), especially to a member of such a respected, old dynasty of sky-warriors like you! we'll be force a in the underworld - our brain, our looks, our character! imagine what you - we! can achieve together. teru, i see no one else filling that position of the grand duchess."

despa had paused in gesturing as if to drive his earnestness deep into her. she looked up at him, meeting his brown eyes. there was none of his goading smiles despite the fire in his eyes. the gift was unwrapped in her hand, she need only pocket it.

"don't make me laugh"

"nonsense. i have scoped the continent last year, none of these young ladies hold a candle to you. i thought you striking at our first meeting, and further months of contemplation only proved that—well, i won't—neither of us, that is! we won't will like it if you choose a fool instead."

teru smiled as he reverted into flattery. the preening lion of the underworld, desperate for a woman well-past the marriage market. she would not crumble as easily... but he was right in the sense that it is an opportunity...

so will she throw it all away and languish like a dusty, priced tome or seize the opportunity like a wick to a flame? to burst together into a fire cracker? it is simply too tempting...

"give me time." with that teru rose, resuming back into her ingrained royal air - back tall with an extended hand, "come to dinner tomorrow, prince despa."