"Oh shit..."

There was no way.

There was no possible way this could actually be happening, right?

It had to be some kind of mistake.

Vinsmoke Ichiji could not be my fated mate.

But, just as my mother had told me, there was no mistaking that feeling, and I could tell it was mutual as the red-head's jaw clenched slightly, curled brows furrowing as he drew closer.

"Presenting, Prince Vinsmoke Ichiji, eldest son of the Germa Kingdom!" Somebody announced loudly, I didn't care to seek out who. All I could do was stare in shock as Ichiji ascended the steps to meet me.

Taking a knee, he reached for my hand, and I let him have it. Even through the material of his white gloves I felt a strange, tickling heat, but my pride was everything to me. I couldn't let him see it.

"Vinsmoke..." I referred to him by his family name, curtseying with only one had available to lift my skirt. Bringing my bare hand to his face, Ichiji took a single moment to inhale before pressing his lips to my skin. The sensation of that alone was terrifying.

"My Princess..." His voice had deepened considerably since we had last spoken, now holding a deep, velvety timbre. Though, I wasn't sure, but it seemed like he was tensing himself.

This is impossible. Us? Fated mates? I'd rather die. There has to be a more logical explanation for this...

When he stood back up to his full height I was at the perfect eye level to see the bob of his throat, however minor, and continued to stare until another set of hands began to usher me back inside.

"Oh my, just look at the two of you! Such a handsome couple if I do say so myself!" My mother giggled giddily, leading the way into the parlour, where food and beverages had been set up for our guests.

I was too shaken up to speak. So much so I just allowed her to plop me down on the sofa like some kind of doll.
"Please, help yourselves to food and drink. We also have rooms prepared for you in case you would prefer to stay here instead of journeying back to the port to your own beds." My father announced jovially, patting Judge's back like an old pal.

"Much appreciated, my friend. We may take you up on that." The king of Germa laughed out loud, and the sound rubbed me the wrong way. It would have made me angrier if I wasn't being asphyxiated by so many strong pheromones in the enclosed space.

"Didn't expect you to grow into such a cutie." Yonji's sudden appearance behind the sofa caused me to jolt, and I turned to look at him already decimating a monstrously large turkey leg. "Like, seriously, you got hot."

Hearing that coming from you makes me wish I was a hideous hag...

"Didn't she, though?" A weight falling beside me had me whipping my head around so fast I nearly broke my neck, but I wasn't quick enough to avoid a slender arm dropping over my shoulders. "If you're not satisfied with Ichiji, I'd be more than happy to step up.~"

Niji was definitely pumping out his pheromones on purpose, and I lifted my hand to cover my nose, eyes again watering from the assault.
"With all due disrespect, I'd rather die a slow, painful death." I growled in response, leaning further away as he moved his face closer.
"I could help with that, too..."

Oh. Great.

My chance to snap back with something to piss him off even further slipped away when both Niji and Yonji fell quiet, the former begrudgingly releasing me from his arm and walking off with his younger brother.

Ichiji hadn't needed to say a single word to call them off. He just sat down quietly beside me, crossing one leg over the other and resting his glass of wine upon his knee. There was that feeling again, and that scent. If I could've melted away into the cushions, I would have.

"Unexpected turn of events." The elephant in the room was now front and centre, but I wouldn't fold so easily.
"What? You lot coming here has been planned for years. Hardly unexpected..." It was difficult to talk to him, and I definitely couldn't look him in the eye, even if it was hidden by dark lenses.

"Playing dumb may have been cute when we were kids, (Y/N), but not these days." His voice was quiet, so only I would hear him beneath the other conversations. "You felt it. It was all over your pretty little face."

Crap, so it really was that...

As he went to take a sip of wine, I snatched the glass from his hand and knocked it back like it was nothing, catching my breath and recomposing myself before I decided to respond to him.

"Whoever decides these things must really have it out for me. Luckily, it isn't as strong as I expected it to be, so it doesn't matter. I still hate you just as much, if not more, than I did before." Folding my arms, I tried to avoid looking at him, but it was hard.

It was like every cell of my very being was drawn to him like a magnet. He dominated the room, and all I could focus on what what he brought to it.

"Really? Is that so?" Careful not to touch my hand, Ichiji plucked the empty glass from my hold and brought it to his lips, his tongue slipping from between his lips to gather the fine residue. "We'll see."

I refuse to accept that something inside of me found that horrifically attractive!

The clinking of a fork against glass resounded throughout the room, catching the attention of everyone in attendance. My father smiled cheerfully, clearing his throat once we was certain we were all listening.

"Again, I appreciate that you travelled all this way so we could stretch out such a momentous occasion! The wedding has been planned for four months from today, so to really set everything in motion we have organised a festival to welcome you to our humble country!"

This was the first I was hearing of it, but it definitely wasn't the worst news in the world. Fell Wilds' festivals were massive affairs, filled with music, dancing, merchant stalls and so many other fantastic activities, so it could be fun. Especially since it would be easy to avoid all of the Vinsmokes.

"It shall be held tomorrow night, in Sylveneir Dell, to the west of the palace. I do hope you all enjoy it." My mother added, clasping her hands together as she stood between the two hulking fathers.

At least it's an excuse to stuff my face and drink my weight in booze...

Corbin would be there, too, along with a few of my other friends from the neighbouring village, so I wouldn't be alone to fend off red, blue and green. I still wasn't gladdened about it being in their honour, but I'd still take what I could get.

"There, we will officially announce the joining of our two countries with the marriage of our beloved (Y/N) and Ichiji! How exciting! Congratulations to you both!" My father's addition nearly made me gag, and that turned into a panicked squeak when Ichiji placed his hand on my knee so casually.

"Thank you, Your Highness. We can't wait." If it wouldn't involve touching him, I very well could have slapped him right across the face, but I held myself back. Using my clothed elbow, I discreetly nudged his hand off of my knee and scooted an inch or so away to distance myself.

"Mmhmm, what he said..." My head was swimming with all the scents in the air, both good and bad, along with the stress of all this new information. If I wanted to avoid this marriage I had to think of something quick, or I'd be screwed.

"Pardon us, but it's been a long time, and us princesses need to catch up." My rescuer, clad in pink, swooped down and snatched me up with gentle hands on my shoulders. I didn't dare look back as Reiju guided me from the room, nor did I utter a word until we were up the stairs and in another room. The study.

"Thank you thank you thank you!" I wailed dramatically, turning to throw my arms around her in a hug. Unphased, she let me do my thing, awkwardly patting my back until I finally got off of her.

"I couldn't exactly let you choke to death in there." She shrugged, stepping back a pace to lean against the stone wall. "How are you holding up? I can't imagine well, given the circumstances."

She knew me all too well, despite having only met me a handful of times. Unlike the men of her family, Reiju was somewhat...human. Not violent, or inherently cruel. I wanted to tell her exactly what was going on, but I decided to hold my tongue. She was still a Vinsmoke, after all.

"Overwhelmed, grossed out, praying for a swift death. You know, the usual, when your brother is involved..." I sighed, flexing my hands to try and rid them of that awful tingling. "I fail to see why this union is so important. Seems like Fell Wilds is the only one getting anything out of it..."

A single blue eye studied me closely, her arms folding loosely across her pink-clad chest.
"Oh, it's mutually beneficial, I assure you. If anything, you're getting the short end of the stick."

Yeah. Ichiji...

"If he becomes a bother, or any of my brothers, for that matter, let me know. They've been ordered to be on their best behaviour, but even their best is questionable. I'd strongly suggest keeping your door locked..."

That just gave me a thousand more questions, but I was pretty sure I wouldn't like the answers to any of them.
"I'll definitely be taking that advice, thanks, Reiju." I murmured appreciatively, shrinking down a little when I heard the booming laughs of our fathers from the room downstairs.

"We should probably get back, but I'll make sure to open some windows so you aren't choked out as bad. They know exactly what they're doing, but that's just how they are." Reiju moved towards the door again, and I hung back, nodding but not wanting to follow.

I only have four months to put a stop to this...Something tells me those brothers aren't going to make it easy...

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***Sorry that it peters out around the end, I caught covid at work and feel like dogshit.

Next Time: Lovely View***