A Kiss A Day

"I didn't peg you as a p*****t, Princess Cass-" "Call me Cassie, no need for the title. We're married now after all." Arrakis smirked at his wife. Wife. What a strange word to call this stranger, Arrakis thought. Today is the first time he'll be talking to his wife. He only met her yesterday, at the day of their wedding. And while custom dictates that they should still be in bed right now, recuperating from consumating like rabbits on their wedding night, the two are already at the breakfast table at the c***k of dawn, coming from different rooms to discuss things they'd do to unmarry each other. "I will need a blood oath from you if I were to agree, Cassie. This magical contract," I lift the bottom half of the scroll and let it drop with a clang, "is dubious at best." He raised an eyebrow, challenging his wife. Cassie bit her lip and looked like she was in deep thought. If she refuses the blood oath, Arrakis would be proving himself right that Cassie was up to no good. But then again, he didn't want to be right. He wanted out of this marriage. Although he must say, the princess is very intriguing. Who in their right mind purportedly wanting a dissolution of an arranged marriage, would ask to be kissed once a day everyday "until affairs and formalities for dissolution are settled"? What does that even mean? She must be crazy. Crazy for me, he thought as he snorted. This must be a ploy to seduce him and make him fall in love with her and stay married. Arrakis can't say he blames her for wanting to stay married to him, he is quite the good catch. He's charming, good looking, has nice physique, wealthy, and he's the Crown Prince, soon-to-be ruler of Drakonia, the strongest and largest Empire in the West. The princess doesn't look too bad herself, she's pale with a small straight nose, blue eyes with long lashes, and thin figure but voluptuous in the right places. Her silver hair is in a bun and he can only guess it's length must be past her shoulders. She may be attractive, but if she thinks that a kiss a day will make him change his mind about the marriage, then she is wrong. No one can steer him away from Astraluna. She is his mate. As a dragon shifter, he is destined by the gods to only love a single person in his lifetime. Everything would suddenly make sense when dragons find this person, their soulmates. He can still remember the day that he met her. It was 3 years ago, in the eve of his 18th birthday. Arrakis was on his way to his uncle’s chambers to personally request to postpone his coronation til his 21st birthday. Prince Astaron, now the Interim King of the Drakonia Empire, is Arrakis's late father's youngest brother. The two of them were closer in age that their relationship was more like that of brothers, rather than uncle and nephew. After a long and heavy conversation about not being ready, the law, attempted assassinations, and flushing out the culprit of his parents' suspicious accident, they agreed that Astaron would serve as the temporary King for that period of 3 years until Arrakis turns 21, the last legal age to ascend to the throne. He was going back to his quarters when he bumped into someone who smelled of jasmine and freesia with a hint of honey. A scent so intoxicating that he felt this unexplainable pull towards its owner. He turned back to look at the owner of the scent and the same baffled expression is on her beautiful face. “Mate.” They uttered at the same time and Arrakis ran to her, hesitantly touching her cheek with one hand and holding her hand with the other. The girl leaned into his touch and breathily said, “I'm Astraluna," Arrakis thought at that moment that he heard the most beautiful name coming from the most beautiful voice, matching the most beautiful face. Arrakis found out later that Astraluna was acquainted with his uncle back in his Academy days. She was there that night to thank him for his recommendation which helped her to get accepted as the youngest professor at their alma mater, Crimson Academy. He found their relationship suspicious but didn't think anything of it further until his uncle told him about this marriage alliance, a day before the wedding. ~~~ FLASHBACK ~~~ "Why are you really doing this?" Arrakis tried to ask as calmly as he can in a low voice, because he didn't want to embarass his uncle in front of his guards and royal aide. But the coldness and venom in his words was obvious. "What do you mean?" King Astaron replied, looking up from the mountain of paperwork he was reviewing. "This!" Arrakis took the scroll from Jarek, his aide and showed it to the King. His hand shaking from anger as he stare daggers at his uncle. "I'm getting married tomorrow?!" He couldn't help but raise his voice. King Astaron sighed as if already tired of repeating what he is about to say, "The council insisted, I had nothing to do with this. We need this alliance if the reports about sightings of dark mages at the outskirts are true. There's nothing you nor I can do about it now. I'm sorry." He said in a monotone. He scoffed at his uncle’s lame excuse. He has a feeling that the real reason has something to do with Astraluna. He's seen how he looks at her. Even though he knew that she's his mate, he can tell that the King was still pining for her. "Then why only tell me now? A day before the actual wedding? Are you serious?" Arrakis shook his head and started to pace. "You planned this," he said before he slammed a fist on the table, "you knew that if I learned about this earlier then I could've done something to stop it." Arrakis pointed a finger at his uncle, "You want me out of the way so you can take my mate!" he accused the King. "Careful with your accusations. You're still talking to the King." Astaron said coldly. "I'm going to let this pass because I understand that this is a big sacrifice. Nonetheless, as the Crown Prince, you should be well aware that sacrifices for the good of the Empire is expected of you." The King reminded him in his most authoritative voice. Arrakis knew then that he wouldn't win the argument. He forgot that he is up against the King and he cannot prove his suspicions at the moment. He's just going to have to wait a few more months for his birthday so he can ascend and dethrone his uncle. He just hopes that by then, it would not be too late for him and his mate. ~~ "I agree to the blood oath." Cassie stated loud enough to pull Arrakis out of his reverie. He looked at her in surprise. He didn't expect her to agree, though he certainly hoped for it. He can't help but still be wary of her intentions because of the ridiculous condition. "Wait," Arrakis began, "I want to clarify some things in here first." "It's a pretty standard contract, but sure. Go ahead." "I don't like this phrase in paragraph 12, 'until affairs and formalities for dissolution are settled' . That's prone to arbitrary postponement of the dissolution." "But I don't know how long the legal processes for marriage dissolution takes in Drakonia. Remember that both of our kingdom's council will need to approve." "What are you talking about? Just tell both of our councils that you'll uphold the alliance but don't want to be married to me anymore, that's it." Cassie rolled her eyes. "You clearly haven't had a hand in managing state affairs. It does not work that way. If it were that simple, then why haven't you done it yourself, huh?" She shook her head in dismay. "Why do you want a kiss a day anyway? What are you really up to?" Arrakis raised an eyebrow and looked at his wife with distrust. Cassie bowed her head to avoid his eyes but not fast enough for Arrakis to miss the blush that colored her face. She cleared her throat before saying, "Let's just put it down to a year. That should be enough." She took the scroll and scribbled something down. She passed it back to Arrakis for him to read. "The parties shall kiss once a day everyday for a year or until affairs and formalities for the dissolution of the marriage are settled, whichever comes first," Arrakis read out loud. "So, do we have a deal?" Cassie asked. Arrakis clicked his tongue, "Alright." He bit his thumb to draw out blood and summoned his magical fire. Cassie did the same and pressed their thumbs together. She muttered an incantation before they took turns to swear to uphold the contract. There was a flash of blinding light that signaled that the blood oath was properly administered. They looked at each other for a moment before Cassie stood up from her seat. She walked towards Arrakis, put a hand on his cheek and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "That's the kiss for today." Cassie stated before turning around to go back to her room. Arrakis was stunned and felt his cheeks burn. "Oh, I almost forgot," Cassie turned to him and he had to school his face into indifference. "I've been invited to attend a friend's wedding this weekend." "Alright, so no kisses until Monday?" "Not quite," she smirked, "It's an official event, it's Prince Garrett's wedding. I'm informing you because you will be attending with me." She turns again to continue walking towards her room. What was that about? No kisses 'til Monday?! Arrakis smacked his forehead with his palm. He couldn't understand why his heart suddenly skipped a beat from that kiss. "Oh boy, what have I gotten myself into?" He murmured to himself.