Will (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nirmanakaya) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
spankbanks2025-05-22 01:10 pm
nirmanakaya) wrote in spankbanks2025-05-22 01:10 pm
will/louis ][ for king and country
[ This is a disaster. A 'fucking disaster', Will would say, except then Hulkenberg would have his ear for it.
He resists the urge to reach up and touch the false horns on his head, not willing to draw attention to them as he stands at the altar, hands clasped in front of him. His father's death was not entirely unexpected, but the manner of it was - an assassination. Much like the one that had been attempted on Will some years back, this one actually succeeded, leaving Euchronia with only Will as the heir.
He's barely eighteen, and there were already whispers about how suitable he was going to be as a king. There'd be more, if not for his father's magic whisking the royal palace into the sky and declaring a popularity contest to be the next king.
So, his claim to the throne is, essentially, forfeit, if he can't manage to beat the more popular contestants. It was a Clemar knight in his service, Strohl da Haliaetus, who had hesitantly suggested the idea of marriage.
Trusting Will to rule was apparently out of the question, but throwing his weight behind one of the front runners would give them a boost in popularity; a tacit if not outright endorsement via marriage. Unfortunately, that had only left him with two truly viable options - Louis Guiabern and Sanctifex Forden.
He didn't like either of them. Louis, because he suspected he had a hand in his father's death, and the man's ruthless creed had always sat uncomfortably with the prince when he spoke of it.
Forden, though - Forden would be more of the same. More of the same rule that had slowly sapped his father's joy and will to live. Equally as likely to have assassinated his father, there was something about the man that made Will's skin crawl in his presence, more than Louis ever had.
In the end, he sent the offer to Guiabern.
To his partial surprise, he'd accepted. Maybe he wanted the easy boost to his popularity, not that he really needed it. Maybe he thought he could use Will to circumvent the Royal Magic. Regardless of his motives, it lead to this moment in time:
Will standing at the altar of the Grand Trad Sanctist church, clad in royal white for the wedding, Hulkenberg at his side to act in place of his father giving him away.
Coming down the other end of the aisle was the broad form of Louis Guiabern himself, similarly dressed, and his entourage at his heels. Even as he approached, Will met his gaze, unable to cede to the role of scared prince at his own damn wedding.
Instead, when Louis got close enough, he offered him his hand wordlessly. ]
He resists the urge to reach up and touch the false horns on his head, not willing to draw attention to them as he stands at the altar, hands clasped in front of him. His father's death was not entirely unexpected, but the manner of it was - an assassination. Much like the one that had been attempted on Will some years back, this one actually succeeded, leaving Euchronia with only Will as the heir.
He's barely eighteen, and there were already whispers about how suitable he was going to be as a king. There'd be more, if not for his father's magic whisking the royal palace into the sky and declaring a popularity contest to be the next king.
So, his claim to the throne is, essentially, forfeit, if he can't manage to beat the more popular contestants. It was a Clemar knight in his service, Strohl da Haliaetus, who had hesitantly suggested the idea of marriage.
Trusting Will to rule was apparently out of the question, but throwing his weight behind one of the front runners would give them a boost in popularity; a tacit if not outright endorsement via marriage. Unfortunately, that had only left him with two truly viable options - Louis Guiabern and Sanctifex Forden.
He didn't like either of them. Louis, because he suspected he had a hand in his father's death, and the man's ruthless creed had always sat uncomfortably with the prince when he spoke of it.
Forden, though - Forden would be more of the same. More of the same rule that had slowly sapped his father's joy and will to live. Equally as likely to have assassinated his father, there was something about the man that made Will's skin crawl in his presence, more than Louis ever had.
In the end, he sent the offer to Guiabern.
To his partial surprise, he'd accepted. Maybe he wanted the easy boost to his popularity, not that he really needed it. Maybe he thought he could use Will to circumvent the Royal Magic. Regardless of his motives, it lead to this moment in time:
Will standing at the altar of the Grand Trad Sanctist church, clad in royal white for the wedding, Hulkenberg at his side to act in place of his father giving him away.
Coming down the other end of the aisle was the broad form of Louis Guiabern himself, similarly dressed, and his entourage at his heels. Even as he approached, Will met his gaze, unable to cede to the role of scared prince at his own damn wedding.
Instead, when Louis got close enough, he offered him his hand wordlessly. ]
no subject
There was no real benefit to him, not at first, and he had said so to the supporters around him as they discussed the offer. His route to the throne was all but guaranteed, was set in front of him, and all he had to do was take it - why would he need to go and marry another contender in order to secure it? Yes, Will was the child of the previous monarch, but his claim was fragile at best, especially given his age and lack of conquests.
He is the opposite, of course. He is an army leader, a warrior, a master of all that he has tried to accomplish. If he took part in the game, he would be the victor, with very little sacrifice on his part.
Still, there are merits to a faster track to the throne, and marriage would give him that. Marriage would permit it. He knows the king was relieved to have his life taken from him, perhaps expecting his son to take over, and yet...
And yet.
So, Louis accepts. He walks down the aisle, his men take a stand beside him, and with a small sneer, he takes Will's arm and tries not to look as out of place as he feels. ]
no subject
He's still smiling as he whispers, voice terse but pleasant otherwise: ]
At least try to look a little pleased.
[ He's well aware this is a marriage that really only benefits him, and puts him at Louis's mercy. He could play the simpering partner in private, or try to meet Louis on his own terms. ]