Political Marriage
The news that a sandworm had been hunted sent Aldamina into a frenzy. In Aldamina, sandworms were monsters that desert dwellers could only flee from if encountered—no other option existed. They were the terror of every sailor. Even though the city possessed the magic Sand's Radiance Holding the Sun to intercept approaching sandworms, the residents, raised on tales of the beasts from their sailor fathers, all harbored a deep-seated fear of them.
Even those who had shown no interest in Nautilus couldn't drag their heavy feet any longer upon hearing the news. People boarding the extra trolley Daiyen had prepared on the route to the sandworm disassembly site gasped in awe at the sight. Despite riding the streetcar, which moved faster than any carriage, it still took an eternity to reach the end.
They were peeling off the hide in circular cuts at intervals, and the sheer scale of it—the vast, thick skin that warped their sense of perspective, the meat so massive that the workers looked like grains of sand atop it—left everyone stunned.
"Whoa, look at this, Mom!" A child on the tourist route gawked at the sandworm's teeth on display, marveling at their thickness, greater than his own height.
Aldamina intercepted sandworms approaching the city with Sand's Radiance Holding the Sun, but those struck down were incinerated beyond recognition, yielding only hide and meat from the tail. All they'd ever seen were charred trunks and tails. Now, seeing one captured nearly intact, the people of Aldamina cheered and buzzed with excitement. They reveled in being part of this historic moment—the first successful sandworm hunt in the Saramar Desert after centuries of merely defending the city.
And Daiyen didn't miss a beat. To the desert folk, sandworms were nightmare incarnate, but beyond the sands, they were just big monsters. That meant their greatest value lay in the Saramar Desert. Daiyen had prepared the moment she heard Suhyun planned the hunt.
"Sandworm meat! Try some!"
"Sandworm hide! This chance won't come again!"
"Amulets made from sandworm shell fragments!"
She sold off damaged scraps and trimmings unfit for prime use. The thrilled Aldaminans, hearts stirred by the spectacle, bought things they'd normally ignore. And once spending began, momentum built. She funneled them straight to the water park or shopping districts via planned tourist routes. Aldamina celebrated the kill; Nautilus reaped the cash. The festive mood rolled on.
For ordinary folk, simple joy at the sandworm's defeat sufficed. But the upper crust saw it differently—especially at the Golden Sand Tower.
The tower, which had long managed Aldamina and carried its bloodline, harbored a deep wish: unfettered east-west traversal of the continent and abundant water. Nautilus fulfilled both. Their initial ecstasy soon gave way to profound worry.
"What in the world do we do?"
After a silent accord with Aurelia, the Golden Sand Tower had formed a political alliance. Under her oversight, they'd arrange a political marriage with Suhyun. But a snag arose: who to send?
Originally, they'd planned to pick a suitably pretty relative of an elder. Then Hasina's name arose, and trouble brewed.
Hasina was beautiful—universally acknowledged as the tower's fairest, and charismatic to boot. But her personality was a massive issue. Even the elders who doted on her like a granddaughter couldn't defend it.
Her bold, aggressive nature was fine for a man, disastrous for a woman. Most men preferred demure, obedient types—not a woman slashing through sandstorms and monster necks in the desert heart.
"Ugh."
The elders clutched their heads in deliberation. Hasina's temperament meant refusal wouldn't stop her; she'd go anyway, dominating any companion and stifling her. Truth be told, someone like Hasina would be welcome on Nautilus. A young mage of rare prowess, strong in combat—Suhyun would gladly accept her as a member. But as a political bride? Doubtful. Political marriages demanded chastity and support, not battle prowess.
"Can't you persuade your sister?"
"Have you lost your minds? I tried stopping her from boarding a ship once, and I was bedridden for half a year."
Habub, Hasina's brother, threw a fit. The elder sighed. Pretty but foul-tempered, with sky-high standards—they'd joked about whom she'd marry. Now they regretted not just grabbing any Aldaminan girl. Maybe a handsome guy could've worked. Still, they summoned Hasina.
"Why'd you call, gramps? I'm busy."
Seeing her dolled up to impress Suhyun, the elders broached cautiously.
"You really plan to board Nautilus?"
"Yeah! I told you—I will board Nautilus!"
She thrust out her chest, roaring like a warrior. But why from a woman? And for a political marriage? The elders wanted to yell but dreaded her fists at their age. Desert nights already chilled their aching joints; a beating would mean groaning till death. Unable to speak, they eyed Habub, the youngest and lowest-ranked.
'Damn it, why'd I become an elder so young?'
Habub, stuck with the grunt work for his youth, knew why elders avoided early promotion. He sighed and spoke.
"The woman boarding Nautilus has to bridge it and Aldamina. That doesn't suit you, right?"
"Why?"
Hasina's vibrant eyes dulled, boring into him like a sandworm's abyss. Habub swallowed hard as she tilted her head innocently.
"Men in political marriages want more than beauty—support, family ties. Can you do that?"
"Why?"
Her eyes grew emptier. Habub hated it, but for the tower's—nay, Aldamina's—future, he pressed on.
"Plus, we're the supplicants. They need to like us, but you..."
"Got it, bro."
"Really?"
"You wanna die?"
"Argh, damn it!"
Man or not, a shipyard researcher versus a monster-slaying warrior? The physical gap was vast. Even without magic, Habub couldn't win.
"Argh! You punch at everything—who'd like that?!"
Resolved to speak his piece even in death, Habub yelled. Hasina's fist paused.
Quick to act, but a mage—smart, sharp, great memory. She knew sailors' tastes, like brothers to her. Their lewd ideals boiled down to: pretty, good cook, meek. She'd buried them in sand for such talk, but men's preferences aligned.
"Hah, fuck!"
Kicking Habub's desk in frustration, Hasina perched atop it, glaring.
"Figure it out."
"W-what?"
"How I seduce Suhyun. You're a guy—you know better."
'F-fuck.'
Habub wanted to cry—already was, but harder, bolder.
---
Suhyun had been a loner nerd in Korea. "Voluntary," he'd claim, but it wasn't choice—talking was just hard. Preferring books to people, like most guys his age, he loved harems in fiction. But reality? Love comedies glamorized them; he knew better. Women jealous of one rival? Sharing a man? Chaos.
He'd sworn off cheating after seeing his dad's affair torment his mom. Post-water park with Daiyen, he committed to her alone.
Hunting the sandworm done, he cozied with Daiyen, eyes only for her.
"Suhyun, seduce Hasina."
"What?!"
Until her mad words mid-date.
"Hasina clearly likes you. She's an elder's sister at Golden Sand Tower, high-ranking herself. Linking us would hugely benefit Nautilus. And that beauty? Not bad, right?"
Logical, rational. If reversed, he'd deserve a knife—but from Daiyen?
"Even so, telling me to flirt with another woman?"
Half thrilled, half jealous, Suhyun asked. Daiyen smiled, hugging him.
"Thank you, but you'll inevitably marry many women."
Suhyun paused, grasping her meaning.
Nautilus held immense political, military, economic value. Nobles would stop at nothing. Their obsessive greed birthed wild schemes, hindering free movement. To deter attacks, allies were essential. Isolated, it'd fall to nobles, then the imperial family—leashed forever.
For his freedom, some ties were needed. Now was the perfect timing.
Aldamina was ideal: influential yet needy. Regular water, ship upgrades via his magic, sand-navigating vessels—massive leverage. Add political marriage? They'd block all threats.
Too perfect. Suhyun bowed his head.
"But I suck at seducing women."
"Don't worry—I'll help. You like her, right?"
Instinct screamed danger. Sweating, Suhyun thought fast.
"Still, I like you more."
"Hehe, perfect—100 points."
Daiyen kissed his lips, laughing.