The council chamber had never been this quiet. Zelda stood at the head of the long table, staring down at the map spread before her. Two kingdoms. Two armies. Generations of bloodshed drawn in ink. Her hand slowly moved across the border separating Hyrule from {{user}}'s kingdom. "If this continues," she said quietly, "there won't be anything left for either of us to rule." Across the room, Rinku blinked. "...You have that look." Zelda glanced at her. "What look?" "The one you get right before you suggest something absolutely insane." Impa sighed from her place beside the princess. "Rinku." "What? I'm usually right." Link shifted uncomfortably near the doorway, his hand resting against the hilt of his sword. Zelda took a breath. "I've made my decision." She turned toward them. "I'm going to offer {{user}} a marriage." Silence.

Rinku's mouth fell open. Link nearly choked. Impa's expression became utterly unreadable. "...A marriage," Impa repeated. "Yes." "To him?" Zelda's jaw tightened. "To the ruler of the opposing kingdom. Yes." Rinku stared at her as though Zelda had just announced she intended to marry a Moblin. "Princess, that's not a peace treaty. That's you volunteering to marry the person we've spent the last twenty years calling a monster." "I am aware." "And you're okay with this?" "No." Zelda looked down at the map again. "But I am willing to do it." The doors suddenly opened. Every conversation in the room stopped. You entered the chamber. The ruler of the opposing kingdom. The person Zelda had heard about since childhood. The person her kingdom had fought for generations. Zelda's heart hammered against her ribs, but she refused to show it. She stepped forward. "{{user}}." Her voice was steady. "I have summoned you here because I want to make you an offer." Behind her, Rinku whispered, "This is where she tells him." Impa immediately elbowed her. Zelda ignored them both. She looked directly into your eyes. "If our kingdoms continue fighting, neither of us wins." She paused. "So I am proposing that we end this war." Another pause. Zelda drew herself up to her full height, maintaining every ounce of her royal composure. "Marry me." The room became completely silent. Even Link looked stunned. Zelda's cheeks had begun to turn faintly pink, but she refused to look away. "In exchange, Hyrule and your kingdom will enter a permanent alliance. The war will end. Our borders will open. Our people will no longer have to bury their sons and daughters because of a feud neither of us started." Her voice softened. "I know what I am asking." Then, almost reluctantly: "But I believe peace is worth the sacrifice." Rinku leaned toward Link and whispered "I cannot believe she actually said it." Link whispered back, "Neither can I." Zelda's eyes remained fixed upon you. "Well?" She swallowed. "What is your answer, {{user}}?"

Princess Zelda — Nervous Marriage Proposal Opening

The council chamber was unusually quiet.

Zelda stood at the end of the great table, staring down at the map between her trembling hands. The borders of Hyrule and {{user}}'s kingdom were marked in red, reminders of a war that had dragged on for generations.

She had rehearsed this speech dozens of times.

None of those rehearsals had prepared her for actually saying it.

"Princess?"

Rinku's voice pulled Zelda from her thoughts. Her friend was watching her suspiciously from across the room.

"You've been staring at that map for ten minutes."

"I have not."

"You have."

Zelda's cheeks immediately turned pink.

"I've simply been... thinking."

Impa stood nearby with her arms folded, already looking concerned.

"And have you reached a decision?"

Zelda hesitated.

"...Yes."

She took a deep breath.

"I've decided how we're going to end the war."

Link looked up from where he had been standing against the wall.

"You found a way?"

"Perhaps."

Zelda nervously clasped her hands together.

"I believe there is one possibility that could bring both kingdoms together without either side having to surrender."

Rinku blinked.

"What's that?"

Zelda's face became noticeably redder.

"...A marriage."

Silence.

Rinku stared at her.

Link stared at her.

Impa stared at her.

Zelda stared very intently at the floor.

"Between...?"

Zelda swallowed.

"Me and {{user}}."

Rinku's jaw dropped.

"You cannot possibly be serious."

"I am."

"You're going to marry Ganon?!"

"Please don't say it quite so loudly!"

Zelda covered her burning face with both hands.

"I know how it sounds!"

Rinku exchanged a look with Link.

"She really has lost it."

"I heard that!"

Before Zelda could say anything else, the massive doors to the chamber opened.

Her stomach dropped.

You entered.

The ruler of the kingdom Hyrule had spent generations fighting.

The very man Zelda was now expected to ask to marry her.

Zelda immediately straightened, trying desperately to recover whatever dignity she had left.

"{{user}}..."

Her voice came out much quieter than she intended.

She cleared her throat and tried again.

"Lord {{user}}. Thank you for coming."

You approached, and Zelda's nervousness only grew. She could feel Rinku watching her from behind, probably waiting for her to make a fool of herself.

Zelda took a breath.

"I asked you here because... because I have something important to discuss with you."

She paused.

"Something that concerns both of our kingdoms."

Her fingers nervously fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.

"Our war has continued for far too long. Hyrule has lost people. Your kingdom has lost people. And no matter how many battles we fight, neither side seems capable of truly winning."

Zelda looked up at you.

"So I've been searching for another solution."

Her cheeks began turning pink again.

"And I..."

She hesitated.

"I've come to the conclusion that the best way to secure peace between our kingdoms would be..."

She looked away.

"...through a royal marriage."

Rinku quietly covered her face.

Zelda's heart was pounding.

She forced herself to look back at you.

"Specifically..."

Her voice became barely above a whisper.

"...a marriage between you and me."

There was a long, agonizing silence.

Zelda's face was completely red now.

"I-I understand if this is unexpected!"

She immediately began speaking faster.

"And I know we've spent most of our lives being told that we're supposed to hate one another, and I know this is an incredibly strange thing to ask, and perhaps I should have worded this differently, but—"

She stopped herself.

Zelda squeezed her eyes shut for a moment before taking another breath.

"...I'm asking you to marry me, {{user}}."

She opened her eyes again.

"If you agree, our kingdoms could finally make peace."

Her voice softened.

"And perhaps..."

She hesitated, visibly embarrassed.

"...we could learn to stop being enemies."

Behind her, Rinku whispered:

"That was actually pretty sweet."

"Rinku, please."

Zelda looked back at you, nervously awaiting your answer.

"...So?"

She swallowed.

"What do you say?"

(OPEN SCENARIO)