#princess diaries au

[steddieas-shegoes]

A THOUGHT HAS JUST HIT ME MID SENTENCE ON MY PAPER

PRINCESS DIARIES STEDDIE ???

ANYONE??? EVERYONE??? SOMEBODY!!!!

EDIT: @delta-piscium sent the link for one that’s based on princess diaries 2!!!! AND APPARENTLY @henderdads inspired it???? So anyways I’ve put away my computer and I’m going to read this right now immediately

#steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #princess diaries au

[silverhallow]

Bridgerton drabble: A Princess Diaries AU

Part #1 Sophie’s Choice.

A belated birthday gift for @bridgertonbabe and @sophiebernadotte

Wasn’t life as a princess supposed to be fair? Or maybe not fair, that might be the wrong word. She was privileged, she knew that… even if she had only known she was a princess for a few short years.

Royalty led lives that were in the public eye, normally having been raised in that environment, but here she was… sitting in a country that she’d only known about for 4 years, listening to her grandmother scolding her for jeopardising the wedding that was to take place in a few days time, which would then lead onto her coronation a week after that and it was all Sophie could do not to throw up or cry because she knew her grandmother was right… she had ruined everything.

She’d always dreamt she’d marry for love, that she’d find a man that made her stomach fizz, give her butterflies, that would make her heart skip a beat and her palms sweaty and her feet pop when she kissed him. She wanted the kind of love her mother had told her about, that her mother had experienced but due to the unfairness of her situation, it was an arranged marriage or lose her throne. Those were her options.

A throne that until she turned 16, she had known nothing about.

She had been blissfully unaware that her father had been a Prince… Prince of a tiny country in the middle of the Italian and French sea. Her mother had kept it from her, taking that secret with her to her grave.

Her mother had died 10 weeks before Sophie’s 16th birthday, which was the day her entire life changed.

She’d been stopping with her best friend Kate Sharma and Sophie had been in English when the poshest woman Sophie had ever seen in her life came in and dropped the bombshell of all bombshells on her over a cup of tea…

Which she promptly spat all over her “grandmother's” face.

She was a princess.

A bastard princess but a princess nonetheless, and the only living descendant of the Gunningworth line.

Her father, Richard, had passed away 9 months earlier and to Sarah’s knowledge he had been childless.

It was only after discovering something in her late-husband’s writing desk, did she learn that there was in fact an heir.

Her.

Sophie was saving the country from being taken over by the Cavender’s. Their son Phillip had a terrible temper and an even worse reputation at just 17 years old and had once been rulers of their own lands until the people revolted and won back their lands and banished the Cavender’s but their royal blood was connected to Penwood and now it was Sophie, or the Cavender’s and Sarah was determined that her throne would not pass into their hands.

She had learned that Reginald had sent Esme away when she was pregnant with Sophie, he didn’t want a child out of wedlock and he certainly didn’t want the Crown Prince, only Heir to the Throne marrying a commoner and so she’d been paid off and shipped off back to England. He provided money monthly to keep Esme quiet and Esme had been promised that she and her unborn child would be left alone and the secret of Sophie’s birth went to the grave with her.

Reginald had known about Sophie and he had been working out how to tell his wife that they did in fact have an heir and where they could find her, and what had happened, his own guilt weighing in after he’d pressured Richard into a marriage with a woman that bore no children between them other than two step-children who could not inherit the throne but when Reginald died 3 months after Richard it had thrown a spanner in the works as he’d not gotten around to telling Sarah the truth.

Sophie was dumbfounded.

Sarah was Regent, as they had their heir but she was underage and she was able to prevent Cavender getting his hands on the crown.

Since Sophie was underage she would learn the role, but upon turning 20 Sophie was told she’d have to take over the throne, she would get 6 months post her 20th birthday to marry and be crowned Queen otherwise, Cavender would take over.

So Life changed.

Gone were the days she was invisible, where she could blend into the background with Kate, sitting laughing about Shakespere and just being a teenage girl to…

Being a Princess.

She stayed in school but Kate was almost glued to her side. She worked at her studies, she travelled back and forth between the countries as she learned.

Once she was 18, Sophie moved to Penwood and Kate and her family came with her, they’d been her family when she had no one else and Kate wanted to work with Sophie, for Sophie as part of her staff once she’d graduated from University.

And Sophie knew from the moment she moved to her new home that she wanted to be Queen, that she would do anything to be Queen. Her beautiful country that she was learning to love, the rich culture and history that was hers to protect and nourish and the more time she spent there, the more she got to know the people, the more she knew she wanted to be Queen.

So between her studies, her Queen lessons with her Grandmother and getting to know the country’s leaders, she was starting to look for a husband.

Not just any husband, she needed someone titled, not in line for their own throne, someone who understood her importance as Queen. Someone harmless, inoffensive, who would stand there by her side and be a pillar of strength and a symbol but would let Sophie lead.

She would be Queen, and she knew finding a husband would be hard but she had time… or so she’d assumed. She was only 18 after all, she had two years. How hard could it be?

From the moment the plane touched down, Sophie knew that whatever she’d thought her life was going to be like, nothing compared to the circus it was becoming

.

18 turned into 19 and Sophie had still not found someone that she wanted to marry, any male around her age that would be eligible was not interested in marriage, any man she met at a bar knew who she was and wanted a piece of her as a trophy.

She was to be Queen… Everyone knew that. “Your highness, you must know there isn’t a man on this planet who isn’t interested in marrying you, but it is finding the right person for you who will make your everyday life easier, who makes the mundane fun and who makes you smile” her Prime Minister Edmund Bridgerton had told her as the days got closer to her 20th birthday and she had still not found someone to be her husband, time was running out and she was getting desperate.

“That is all well and good my Lord but I have 6 months, we have 6 months to make this work or everything has been in vain” Sophie sighed during their weekly meeting. Sophie loved meeting her prime minister, They had joked on a number of occasions it was a shame that his title came with his position and didn’t transfer to his children since he had eight of them and the two eldest boys were a little older than Sophie and Kate, she’d yet to meet Benedict who was off travelling and studying and she got on well with Anthony, who was training to take over from Charlie as the Royal Household Chief of Security once Sophie ascended to the throne.

The little wrinkle there was Anthony was dating Kate. Kate was working up to the role of Chief of Staff within the palace and eventually they would run the palace between them and despite their prickly start, Sophie thought they were perfect for one another but it served as an almost daily reminder that she didn’t have that and she needed that. 6 months to fall in love, marry to become Queen…

“There are other ways around it, your grandmother is reluctant to bring it up because she knew how much you wanted to find someone the traditional way but there is always an arranged marriage, I am sure between Ms Gibbons, your grandmother and my wife Violet, they’ll be able to come up with a list of possibilities for you. Aim for friendship first, it worked for your grandmother… love everything else, it is lovely but friendship and companionship will hold you in just as good a stead” Edmund explained

“That’s easy for you to say, you married the love of your live and have 8 children” Sophie replied flippantly but sighed “but I shall think about it, it is likely to be the only option”

“Speaking of my children…” Edmund grinned and Sophie rolled her eyes

“Smooth… what are they after this time?”

“It’s nothing actually just Benedict is back from his travels eventually this weekend after being away for the last two years studying and he is on the last portfolio for his masters and I was wondering if perhaps as a small favour we could add him to your official photographers list up to the coronation and allow him to capture some more… candid photos of the next few months”

“Why not, some candid ones will be lovely I guess after all the formal things…” Sophie said “and i’ll make sure there is a ticket to my 20th birthday party for him as well, if he is back in time that is, it would be nice to meet another of your ridiculous brood. but I will give some thought to your suggestion, having some of those possible bachelors come to the party and meet them…” Sophie sighed.

But after the events of her 20th birthday, Sophie had known it was time.

The only person she’d met the night of her birthday party, the only person she’d felt a connection with had been someone she knew she had no chance with.

She’d been walking through the party, trying to get away from Prince Hans and his incessant staring, as well as Lady Rosamund who was making snide quiet remarks about how it should be her that was going to be queen when Sophie had run straight into a stranger stomping straight on his foot, the most handsome stranger she’d ever met.

It was only after she’d danced and flirted with him and spoke to Kate, did she realise that it was Benedict Bridgerton and it had broken her heart almost instantly.

She’d assumed he was one of the many suitors her grandmother had invited for to meet so to realise who he was, that he was untitled, he was, despite being the son of a Lord, not someone Sophie could ever hope to get to know on a more intimate and romantic level… she knew based on the rules that had been set out for her future husband, it was a no go.

So the morning after her party, she’d called Kate, her grandmother, Ann Gibbons the current chief of staff and Mary and said “it’s time”

A week later she was sitting in the palace movie room with the screens up, profiles up as she looked through all the eligible bachelors that would be interested in an arranged marriage.

Two hours it had taken, going through picture after picture before Sophie had spotted one.

Yes he was a second son but he fit the bill where no one else did. He was the second son of a Duke. His older brother was already married and had twins, their line was secure, he was a Sir. He had a title, a ceremonial one but all the same…

Sir Phillip Crane was everything that Sophie had been looking for.

He was the same age as she was, he was academic, he was cute. He was someone that Sophie could see herself being at least friends with…

It was a start.

And it had turned out Phillip was everything that Sophie could have hoped for. He was kind, he was funny and they seemed to have a lot in common and Sophie knew she’d made the best possible choice…

Or she would have thought so if it wasn’t for Benedict being everywhere she went.

She’d forgotten about her agreement with the Prime Minister and being Anthony’s brother, and he seemed to get on really well with Kate. he was always there.

The torment Sophie felt was horrible, she felt attracted to Benedict in a way she knew she’d never be attracted to Phillip but she knew that she could never be with Benedict and have the life she so desperately wanted.

She wanted to be Queen, she wanted to rule this country that she’d learned so much about, that she was so passionate about and she was close to mucking it all up.

Two weeks before the wedding it all came to a head when during the summer party, Sophie had slipped away from Phillip, leaving him with Kate and Benedict’s sister Eloise as she wanted to get out of her head. Cavender’s son had been lurking and making lurid remarks about her and she just wanted 5 minutes.

She’d given her ladies maids the slip, and was just sitting on the edge of the fountain, trying not to hyperventilate.

She’d not seen Benedict at all during the party, he was employed during these events to take photos as part of her agreement with his father and she knew that it was the last thing she needed. Whilst she desperately craved him to soothe her frayed nerves, she knew being around him was making it worse.

They’d had many a spirited debate about Bryon, about poetry and art and she always seemed to know when he appeared, her skin tingled and pricked but he knew as well as she did, that whatever there was between them, wasn’t possible.

With the way the rules of the country where, fate was destined to keep them apart.

But that day… he’d caught her unaware, they’d given into a moment of weakness and kissed.

It was only when Sophie’s beloved dog Bernie, had come running through the fence with voices behind him, that they’d separated and in their shock at nearly being caught, they had tumbled into the fountain.

It had been the start of her downfall.

She’d confined Kate how she felt about Benedict, how she wished things could be different and she knew that Benedict had felt the same and how she couldn’t have him around her anymore because it was breaking her heart.

Benedict had agreed to step away, to leave his position because he knew the country needed Sophie more than he did and he would never have forgiven himself to do anything that would have ruined her dream to be Queen,

But he’d asked if he could see her one last time before he left, before he walked away and Sophie would marry Phillip and Sophie had agreed as long as no one found out.

But someone had found out. Someone had overheard and warned the press that if someone followed the Prime Minister’s son… they would find a scandal.

And whilst it wasn’t as big of a scandal as it could have been, Sophie and Benedict had just talked, shared a kiss or two, they’d fallen asleep under a tree in the grounds of the castle and it was upon waking that they’d been spotted…

And Sophie was sure her life was going to fall apart.

Sarah yelled at her for over an hour about it, about how she should not be sneaking out and despite the fact she knew how her granddaughter felt about him, she could see how devastated Sophie was about the choice.

Heart or country.

It was a choice she’d known all too well but Sophie knew what she wanted.

What was required of her… it was just a matter of if Phillip would still want to marry her.

“Phillip wait, please! Let me explain! Nothing happened” Sophie said as she ran after Phillip a few hours later after he’d arrived at the palace so they could talk.

“Yes but you went Sophie, you still went didn’t you?” he replied, his voice was strangely calm and not angry and Sophie wasn’t sure if she’d rather he’d been angry or not “I don’t think you understand… despite my geekiness as the press back home call it, I am an extremely eligible bachelor” he said, though Sophie could tell he cringed a bit at the words, knowing he didn’t like to big himself in that way. “I really am. I’ve got plenty of friends, lots of lovely… erm women friends” he said gesturing as they looked at one another

“But i… I still think marriage is a good idea.” he said and Sophie looked up at him in disbelief as Phillip’s face softened as they looked at one another,

“Sophie…” he said, before taking a step forward, placing his hands on either side of her face and kissing her.

It was the first time they’d properly kissed, it had been a brief kiss on the lips when they’d gotten engaged, the same on the balcony when they announced their engagement several weeks ago and as kisses went…

It was the most awkward kiss either of them had ever experienced.

It was like kissing a sibling. It was so awkward Sophie was sure the entire world stopped moving and she could hear the cows in the field several miles away Mooing…

Eventually Phillip pulled away and Sophie with her eyes still shut brought her hand to her lip to almost wipe the kiss off as she had Phillip looked at one another again

“So?” he asked “anything?” already anticipating the answer.

“It was lovely… just… there was no…” Sophie said

“Spark?” they said at the same time and Sophie groaned as she knew what the right thing to do was.

“What are we going to do?” Sophie said her voice breaking a little as she felt herself close to tears. The wedding was a few days away, she’d come this far and now she’d thrown it all away.

Phillip sighed and took a step forward putting an arm around Sophie’s waist, rolling his eyes as the security guards shovelled up the stairs behind them

“No privacy…” Sophie grumbled.

“Sophie… you chose me… and I accepted” he said pressing an almost brotherly kiss on her head “I accepted and so we’re going to stand up in the church next week and say “I do” and become man and wife… and then you’re going to be crowned Queen of Penwood and make the most amazing Queen in the history of this great country” he said tenderly, honestly and a smile on his face that made Sophie feel like perhaps everything could be okay.

“Thank you” she whispered as she kissed his cheek as she smiled back at him.

This was it. Her choice had been made. Country and Duty over her heart. Phillip was a good man and she could do a lot worse…

#bridgerton #bridgerton drabble #Benophie AU #Princess diaries AU #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett #sir phillip crane #benophie #benedict x sophie

[arsoneywrites]

so you remember that spirk royalty au i’ve been working on forever? chapter two now up AND i have a writing sideblog now! look at me!

#arsoney writes #arsoneys st stuff #k/s #spirk #royalty au #fanfiction #you saw me when i was invisible chapter 2 #princess diaries au #jim kirk #captain kirk #spock #s'chn t'gai spock #nyota uhura #t'pring #uhura x t'pring #bones mccoy

[thewalkingmeepa]

And now for a guilty pleasure, I give you this.

Mirandy Princess Diaries Au where Andrea, Mia's alias, finds the love of her life in none other than Miranda Priestly, the editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, who apparently returns her feelings and willingly gives up the crown in fashion for a real one.

The Genovian Royal wedding, when both Queen and Queen Consort appear before the masses for the first time as wives. Andy is wearing the traditional military garb (as commander-in-chief of the Genovian troops) and Miranda the usual bridal gown, simple, elegant, and the tiara Amelia used in her very first Embassy ball.

#mirandy #miranda priestly #andy sachs #andrea sachs #princess diaries au #fanart #dwp #the devil wears prada

[tennessoui]

Princess Diaries au my beloved! Endless sniping! Misunderstandings! Making out in closets! Royal weddings! Secret gays! *clasps hands under her chin* It's so beautiful 🥹

Here is a short little sneak peek of the princess diaries Christmas fic 🤭 because I just love a Christmas ball

When the sky over the palace begins to darken with the promise of first snow, Anakin begins to hear the first rumblings of a Christmas party. Apparently, Genovia throws a famous Yuletide celebration every year. It’s the very first Anakin’s heard about it, but it’s like he goes to bed one night in an empty palace, and wakes up to fifty evergreen trees scattered around the dining room.

“Well, you were in school,” his grandfather tells him, carefully breaking open his breakfast egg and dipping a stick of toast into the liquid yellow. Anakin, like a normal person, stabs his fork into his scrambled eggs and takes a suspicious bite.

“I was on winter break,” he points out. “Every time. Because it’s Christmas.”

Qui-Gon makes a big show at fixing his tea to perfection, even though Anakin knows the kitchen already does that for him. “Well,” he says. “Your mother requested you spend Christmas with her.”

“Well,” Shmi says when Anakin calls her a few hours later, “you had that awful haircut during university, didn’t you? We decided that it would be better if you stayed in America until you had a diploma. And a visit to the barber.”

Anakin splutters. It had been a cool haircut. He had looked cool. “You’re not invited anymore,” he tells his mother.

“You can’t uninvite me to the announcement of my own son’s engagement,” Shmi says, and she’s laughing a little bit which is good because the words wipe any smile off Anakin’s face.

“I–oh,” he says. “I hadn’t realized that that’s when…when we’d do that.”

Christmas Yuletide royalty ball 🤩🤩 with added duke obi-wan shenanigans and some MORE linen closet making out

#asks #obikin #princess diaries au #also this anakin’s bday is Christmas Day because I love that for modern day anakin lol #Jesus bday for the chosen one or whatever

[sentimentalslut]

so. so intrigued by the image of gwen and duncan in private school uniforms. disturbing. fascinating.

okay and now imagine her rolling up to princess lessons looking like this. where would u even start.

anyways yeah they have so many dress code violations at this point it’s basically their bread n butter. but neither one dares shred the uniform top bc it’s so expensive and would break their ma’s heart

#Princess diaries au #eith #mumbles #ask #hollowboobtheory

[frankenstein-ate-my-left-shoe]

A Recipe for Disaster (Chap. 2)

Pt. 1 | On AO3 here

“Alrighty, Good Morning your highness!” Murray greets him (loudly) the next morning.

“Good morning Murray,” Steve grins at him and mutes the morning talk show that he’d lazily clicked on once Robin fully kicked him awake that morning.

“Her majesty will meet you in the throne room in an hour. She’s in with Parliament.” He reads from his schedule “And I’m sorry your suite isn’t ready yet, but you’re welcome to stay here until it is.” He gestured around to Robin’s suite (“I get my own suite?? You’re kidding me right??” Robin had directed at Joyce when they’d first arrived), Steve having been staying with Robin in the meantime.

“No worries, I was planning on just exploring the palace a bit today; Robin is all partied out and won’t be up for another,” Steve looks at his wrist, devoid of his normal watch, “half a day or so.”

Murray grins at him, “Sounds good to me, be careful, and if you need anything just let Hopper know alright?” Murray turns and heads back out of the suite, “The throne room in an hour!” He yells back over his shoulder as he makes his escape.

Once he was gone, Steve pulled on his collegiate “Beserkely” hoodie (this one being the one that matches the one he’d had made and given Robin after the college denied both their applications), grabbed his phone, and headed out down the hall.

-

He didn’t have a path in mind, but he ended up in the kitchens first.

‘Nice, I’ll have to remember how to get down here for later.’ He thought to himself.

Rounding a bank of industrial size refrigerators, he found a young girl with fiery red hair standing at the prep table in the middle of the floor, chopping and mincing the vegetables in front of her with alarming speed.

His shoe squeaking on the tile alerted her to his presence and she looked up at him with a scowl before schooling her face back to neutral/confused once she realized who he was.

“Your highness? What are you doing down here? Did you need something?” She sounded concerned, setting down her knife and turning to face him with her hands clasped in front of her, a sign of respect.

“No! No, please, it’s just Steve.” he said, waving his hand dismissively. “I was just wandering around, you know? Trying to find all the nooks and crannies of this place.” He smiled at the girl, hoping to placate her to his presence.

“Oh. Okay, well your hi_Steve_” the girl corrected herself with an eye roll at the raised brow he threw her way “We are kind of empty at the moment since we just got done with breakfast, but if you ever need anything, let myself or our head chef Argyle know.” She picked the knife back up and started back on demolishing a concerningly large pile of onions.

“Sure, thanks…..?” Steve trailed off, hoping his tone would come across as him asking for her name.

Another eye roll, and then “Max. You can call me Max.”

“Thanks, Max, I’ll be down here a lot I think.” He smiled warmly at her and stuck out his hand for her to shake.

She looked at it for a split second and said “I probably shouldn’t, you don’t really want your hand to smell like onion all day do you?”

“Ah, right, nope, definitely don’t.” He again looked at the pile of onions in front of her and wiped his (still clean) hand on his sweater as if he could feel the onion residue coating it. "How about an air-five?” He asked instead, grinning cheesily, and lifting his hand like he was going to high five her from where he was about 6ft away.

He was rewarded with another eye roll, a small smile, and a crisp air-five for his troubles before he headed back out the way he’d come.

 A couple corners later, Steve found himself walking down a large corridor that seemed to be leading to nowhere. About to turn back, he just happened to have stopped to turn around right where there was a tiny sliver of an offshoot to the hall.

Curious, he stepped forward into the corridor and through the old wooden door at the end of the short hall, deciding he was going to follow wherever it’d take him. Where that ended was on the other side of the door. Turns out it was a hidden…prayer room? It was all stucco and warm light, a couple skinny stained glass windows and a cross between the two. One wall depicted a group of what looked to be priests.

Curiously, he tipped a small bust of some bald guy with a beard (that if he had some glasses, could be taken for a pretty good representation of Murray) and when he did, he heard a click and the squeaking of hinges. There was a hidden mechanism under it that caused a section of the wall next to him to open.

“Nice!” Steve said aloud to no one.

He replaced the bust and immediately went through the wall-door.

“Hello?” he called

The door lead into a damp, dingy, cobweb filled path and up a short set of low steps before switching back and starting up the complete opposite way.

“The hell..?”

The path before him ended suddenly in a small room, the wall in front of him had nothing but a small hinged flap with a handle at just about eye level. Lifting it, and looking through, he found himself looking through a brass grate and into parliament’s chambers? He could see the backs of some powdered wigs, and the faces of the members on the opposite side of the room, then Aunt Joyce sitting beside Prime Minister Henderson to the right.

“So yes, as of the 31st of October last year, on the occasion of his 21st birthday, another Genovian of the royal bloodline became eligible to assume the throne.”

“What?” Steve was flabbergasted.

“My son, Lord Muñoz.”

“I beg your pardon?” Aunt Joyce says, her voice is strained with disbelief “I want you to explain to me exactly what Lord Muñoz has that my nephew does not.” Steve could feel the color draining from his own face at Joyce’s tone, even though he was not at the receiving end of it (this time); he could exactly imagine how this man was feeling at the moment.

“Forgive me Your Majesty, this council does not believe that Stephan is the most suitable choice to govern our great nation. My son has grown up here, has learned all his life how to be a ruler and is more than ready to take his place as Genovia’s rightful King.” the man pauses for a moment before continuing “And how do we know Prince Stephan will run this country properly if he ends up marrying someone…not quite right for Genovia?”

“I’m going to need you to clarify that, Viscount Muñoz.”

“We all saw what happened at that beach party back in America.” he says firmly. “You know how it is, he needs a Queen to rule at his side, not another King and_”

“Oh shut up.” Steve can hear Aunt Joyce mutter under her breath.

“I beg your pardon??” He sounds pissed

“I said ‘Shut. Up.’.” Joyce sets her face and stands to face the Viscount. “I don’t want to hear your nonsense about my nephew’s love life. He is willing and able to take the throne on his own, he doesn’t need someone on his arm to be a great ruler, woman or otherwise.”

“Fuck yeah!” Steve yells, tears in his eyes, before slapping his hands over his mouth as he watches the various members of parliament search for the source of the voice.

“..With ALL due respect, your majesty, we are looking out for what is best for Genovia; and what is best for our country is for our current male heir to assume the throne, a queen on his arm, or for a more capable heir to take his place. It is the will of these members of parliament.”

There are additional murmurs of approval to his statement, though subdued as if they didn’t want to go against her majesty.

“Will all… due. Respect, Viscount Muñoz, that is an outdated and arbitrary argument. Like I said, Steve is more than capable of ruling on his own, I have every faith in him; These same members had already agreed once before that Steve’s 21st birthday would be largely ignored and he was to rule at my side until he was deemed ready to take the throne.

There is a long beat of silence before another member speaks up. “We did, majesty, but when Viscount Muñoz voiced his concerns and rightfully pointed out that Genovia already had another potential ruler, we could not ignore it.”

“We are already in agreement, your majesty.” an older member interjects. “He must marry an eligible woman and take the throne post-haste, otherwise we will allow for Lord Muñoz to take the throne in his stead.”

“What?? No!” Steve says to himself disbelievingly.

Joyce turns to Wayne, concern present in her features and in her stance.

“May I suggest a reasonable timeframe for his highness? A year perhaps; For him to find a suitable spouse? If he does not, he forfeits the throne to young Lord Muñoz.” Wayne directed to the room as a whole.

Steve found himself surprised hearing the older gentleman use the term ‘spouse’, then thankful to Dustin suddenly, knowing that it had to have been the young man who planted the vocabulary into his step-father’s vernacular. Then confused in the next at the sharp gaze directed at Viscount Muñoz from the Prime Minister’s normally open and friendly face.

Joyce looks back to the members, somewhat hopeful that she could give Steve time, but the members of parliament all start arguing over one another about this and again, that oldest geezer pipes up, louder over the rest: “30 days.”

Steve can’t listen to this any longer; he flips the vent cover back down and storms off to the throne room. Fully intending to pace a rut into the floor there until Aunt Joyce comes to meet him with the news he now already knows.

–

“How can parliament expect me to fall in love in 30 days? It’s like it’s just some trick to get me to marry who they want and_wait. That’s it isn’t it. They want to funnel me into an arranged marriage. Who would even agree to tha_” Steve cuts himself off and glances at Joyce, “...uh.. You. Would agree to that..wouldn’t you..”

“I would, and I did.” Joyce smiled at him, “At that time, I wasn’t next in line for the throne but parliament had the same idea as they have for you now, and set me up with Robert to make sure all their bases are covered.  Bob was very kind and we grew very fond of each other…He was my best friend.” She gazed at their portrait in the throne room, the most recent in the line.

She had ruled the last 12 years as Queen, with Robert at her side as Prince consort until he died unexpectedly about six years previously. The portrait did very well to convey the warmth and kindness he’d been told Bob had. The friendly, round-faced man smiled back at Steve and Joyce from his seat in front of the painted Joyce.

“That’s great Aunt Joyce, but when I do get married, I want it to be for love not for fond-ness.” Steve shrugged dejectedly. “Last resort being marrying Robin just to get them off my back, but she’s definitely not what they are looking for either.”

“But you don’t have to do this Steve, you don’t have to become King”

Steve stops and leans against one of the grand pillars, looking around at all the faces of his ancestors that adorn the walls.

His eyes burn when he stops at his grandfather’s portrait. He sees his own eyes looking back at him and he knows his decision.

“There are 550 years of Renaldis on these walls, and I will be up there next to you, and next to my Grandfather. I want my chance to make a difference.” He finishes. Looking determinedly back at Joyce.

“Spoken like a true King.” Joyce smiles at him softly, pride on her face.

–

“You, my boy, a true-born Genovian. You should be our King.”

Eddie smiles at the image of his dad in front of the dart board. His head is circled by the board making it look both like a halo, and as if the spot between his eyes is now the bullseye. ‘Ironic.’ He thinks.

“I agree.” Eddie steps forward and plucks his last dart from behind his father’s head. “But how do we make it happen?

“Let me have one of your darts.” he says, placing down his whiskey and taking the dart Eddie holds out to him “I’m going to show you a trick I learned from an old Italian philosopher. Niccolo Machiavelli."

The Viscount stands back a good ways from the board “I can make this arrow hit the bullseye every time.”

‘Well, now I know for sure where I get my dramatics from’ Eddie thinks to himself as he watches his dad barrel forward with a yell and place the dart directly into the center of the board.

“Yes, but that is cheating.”

“You’ve got it.”

–

Now, only one whole day after Parliament met on Steve’s fate, he was waiting for their new guest to make his grand arrival for his stay at the palace. Steve was still adjusting his appearance in the entrance hall’s mirror (a pull on his collar here, a flick of the swoop in his hair there), when Joyce entered with Hopper and Dustin(??) flanking her.

‘What is Dustin doing here? And why is he dressed like Hopper’s mini-me?’ Steve thinks.

“The Viscount is not staying, only the son. Hopper, I want you to protect him and keep an eye on him at all times.”

“Of course madam. Dustin?” Hopper gives a wave and Dustin marches off towards the palace doors.

“So is this appropriate to welcome Viscount Muñoz and his son?” Steve gave a turn in front of Joyce, his simple dark wash slacks and a white button-up with its collar poking out the top of a Mustard-yellow cable knit sweater.

“Very appropriate, and handsome.”

“I can’t believe Parliament invited the guy who’s trying to steal the throne to stay with us at the palace.” Steve complained, turning back to adjust his appearance yet again, which at this point is just his nervousness manifesting itself.

“Parliament didn’t,” Joyce started, now also checking her appearance in the mirror beside Steve.

“Oh?” Another tug on his shirt collar.

“I did.” she stated matter-of-factly, then turned away from the mirror where Steve was now doing a very astute impression of a goldfish at her retreating reflection.

“I offered to have him strung up by his toes in our courtyard. Excuse me, madam.” Hopper interjected before turning to head to his place at the entrance.

“Yeah, what about Hop’s suggestion?”

“If there’s any mischief going on, I’d rather it be right under my nose.” She took a seat in one of the ornate chairs next to the mirror.

Steve was pacing now “I just don’t want to be nice to this guy, y’know? I mean he’s rude, his arrogant, self-centered–”

“Have you even met him??”

“No…”

“Neither have I.”

“But he probably is Joyce, and like, where is this even coming from? All of a sudden he wants to be King of Genovia??” Steve huffs and puts both hands on his hips. Robin would make fun of him for his “mom pose”. Ugh he wishes she were here, but Joyce had (honestly, kinda smartly,) sent her on an errand this morning, knowing she’d be there to help Hopper string up Lord Muñoz.

“Oh stop. Whatever he is, we will be welcoming, pleasant, and we will conduct ourselves with grace and poise.”

“Presenting, Viscount and Lord Muñoz” The palace announcer pounds his staff twice.

Steve stands just behind Joyce, flopping his arms down off his hips in a huff and getting in one more eye roll for good measure before he puts on his Prince Stephan face.

The mask shatters immediately after Viscount Muñoz’ entrance however, as the second person to enter the hall is none other than “Just Eddie”.

Steve feels his jaw drop open and the smoldering smirk he recognizes on Eddie’s face from their time at the ball,  is now conniving and evil-looking.

Steve feels his heart breaking.

“Your Majesty, may I present my son, Lord Edmund Muñoz.”

“We are delighted to make your acquaintance, Edmund.” Joyce has her hand extended.

Steve turns his face from their guests all together. Willing the burning threat of tears away while Joyce greets them. He can hear Eddie’s smooth voice tell her “The pleasure is all mine, your majesty. And thank you for inviting me to stay at the palace.”

It’s quiet for a moment and Steve can guess what’s coming next.

“May I present my nephew Steve.”

Steve can just barely make out her voice over the ringing in his ears. He’s still not looking at Edmund.

“Your Highness.”

More ringing.

“Steve, would you care to welcome our guest?”

Steve takes a deep breath and makes a decision.

Turning to face Edmund, meeting his smile with the patented King Steve smirk, and extends his hand in greeting. “Lord Edmund.” He emphasizes with a grin and grasps Edmund's warm, calloused hand as if to shake it.

Then he twists and stomps on Edmund’s foot. Hard.

Steve wrenches his hand from Edmund’s and storms off down the hall. Fully ignoring everyone else in the room. Someone laughs, Steve can vaguely hear Joyce is saying something to Edmund in a panicked tone, can register that Hopper and Murray are doing exactly nothing, and knows he is being a big baby about this but he can’t bring himself to care.

–

He ends up in the kitchens, a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream in one hand, and his other is armed with a spoon, angrily shoveling the sweet treat into his mouth.

‘Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Stu_ ’ his brain repeated on a loop. He’d feel his eyes burning and his throat clenching with emotion, then they’d both disperse in anger and ‘Who does he think he is getting off on pulling this shit on me??’ and back to heartbreak..then back to ‘Fucking stop feeling sorry for yourself, why are you even feeling so sad about a nothing encounter that literally only consisted of him being stupid hot??’

It was because he’d really felt a connection and now it was fully trampled on (not unlike Lord Edmund’s foot).

Steve looked up when he caught some movement to his right and was met with the sight of Max extending a tissue towards him. Sticking his spoon back into the pint of ice cream hurriedly, he reached up to take it and wipe away the totallynon-existanttearsthankyou.

“Thanks.” Steve said in a small voice, looking down at his melting ice cream

There was a long pause, then “Do you want me to fight them?”

A hysterical laugh bubbled its way out of Steve’s chest. He looked up and nodded to Max “Maybe later, Mad Max, I’ll keep in touch, okay?”

She smiled and went back to the dishes she was washing in the ridiculously oversized sink.

He had just barely gone back to his ice cream when Aunt Joyce came down the stairs into the kitchen.

“Care to explain what just happened up there??”

“Sorry..” Steve says around a mouthful of ice cream. He swallowed and continued “So turns out I HAVE met Lord Muñoz . Yeah, I met him at the ball; didn’t know who he was…but we danced and I…flirted and..” here comes the throat clench again “I feel so stupid.” He pinched the bridge of his nose to try and hold back the tears this time.

“Well as your Queen I absolutely cannot condone it.”

Steve nodded sullenly, plopping his spoon into his ice cream again.

“But as your Aunt, I say ‘Fuck yeah’.” Joyce smiled that mischievous smile at him. “Now, if you’ll come with me, I have something to show you.” She starts toward the stairs from the kitchen.

“Oh, uh, okay.” He stands and moves to follow her.

“Ah, I think you can leave your ice cream here.” She points back to where he was sitting and heads up the stairs.

“Damn..” Steve looked over to where Max had been earlier and found her trying very hard to make it look like she hadn’t been listening this whole time.

He gave her a short whistle and when she looked up he pointed his pointer and middle fingers to his eyes then pointed them at Max who was looking at him like he was a complete doofus. He pointed down at his soupy pint, and mouthed “I’ll be back.” before following Joyce out of the kitchen.

Part 3 will be here!

Again, tagging those that seemed interested!! @henderdads, @totallybitchin , @potentialheartofdarkness , @steddieasitgoes , @princessstevemunson @livewondrousss,  @mightbeasleep

#steddie #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #princess diaries au #princess diaries #stranger things #st #stranger things fic #st fic #dustin henderson #robin buckley #jim hopper #murray bauman #joyce byers #max mayfield #maxine mayfield #jopper #royal au

[bisamwilson]

A Royal Engagement

sambucky | E | 3+1 | 6k | an epilogue to the princess diaries au | ao3

written for @sambuckylibrary valentine’s day bigo squares surprise date, proposal, and candlelit dinner and @winterfalconevents winterfalcon bingo round 2 free space

summary:

three times Bucky tries to propose to Sam, and one time Sam actually proposes instead

excerpt:

Bucky starts counting as soon as he hears the door open.

He makes it six heartbeats before his trashy sci fi/romance novel is unceremoniously plucked out of his hand and he finds himself with a lapful of exhausted royal.

“Rough day, princess?” he asks, dropping a kiss on the top of Sam’s head and smiling.

He groans into Bucky’s neck, wrapping his arms even tighter around his torso. “Can I get rid of Parliament? Is that something I have the power to do?”

Bucky pulls back enough for Sam to get the hint to sit up, and Bucky waits until he’s settled to bring him down for a kiss. “You know you can’t, princess. You can fantasize about it, though. I’m all ears.”

finish on ao3

#sambucky #onlysambucky #only sambucky #winterfalcon #buckysam #sbvdaybingo2023 #winterfalconbingo #sam x bucky #sam wilson x bucky barnes #bucky barnes x sam wilson #bucky x sam #bucky barnes #sam wilson #princess diaries au #otp: i’m coming with you #mcu #marvel #tfatws #the falcon and the winter soldier #mak writes #candlelit dinner #proposal #surprise date

[catsafarithewriter]

Day 4: Secret Heritage

A/N: Day 4, secret heritage! This is based loosely on the concept of the Princess Diaries, an AU that has somehow never made an appearance (afaik) despite Haru’s VA being the star of the movie.

x

There should be, Haru felt, a limit on the number of shocks one person should be expected to endure in a day.

For instance, discovering that one is the heir apparent to a crown would - and should, frankly - be quite enough for one afternoon, but Haru had also been enlightened to the fact that her waiting throne not only oversaw the Cat Kingdom, and also that it demanded marriage to a suitable spouse.

This was why she was hiding in the second-best pantry, squished between a bag of sugar and several boxes of canned tuna.

This kind of nonsense, Haru thought stubbornly, should happen to klutzy schoolgirls and chosen ones, not debt-laden librarians in their mid-twenties.

The pantry door opened and a face appeared. It was, Haru supposed, not a bad face as feline features went, with soft ginger fur and bright green eyes, but she’d seen far too many Cats in the last few hours to be anything but decidedly biased against them. “Excuse me,” the Cat said, in polite but bemused tones, “but you seem to be occupying the space where the tea should be.”

A noise rattled from the kitchen beyond and, spurred on by the thought of her newly-found uncle pushing newly-found potential suitors her way, she grabbed the owner of the face and dragged the rest of him into the pantry. It was only as the door slammed shut behind them, dropping them into squalid darkness, that she realised she’d instinctively clamped a hand over his mouth, and that aforementioned mouth was nearly a foot above hers.

The Cat, in retaliation, merely stood there, making no attempt to escape as feet thundered beyond the door.

When the noise passed, Haru sheepishly lowered her hand.

“Not fond of tea, I take it,” said the Cat, perplexingly cheerfully.

“Sorry,” Haru whispered.

“No, no, it’s my fault. I should have knocked before coming barging in,” he said. “How unforgivably rude of me.”

Haru’s gaze flickered over her accidental captive and, as her eyes adapted, noted - alongside his prim and proper speech - the grey morning suit and top hat marking him as one of the nobility, or at least someone who liked to think themselves as such, and the abrupt contrast it struck with their current surroundings.

“Who are you?”

The Cat swept his top hat off with as much theatrics as the cramped space would allow. “Allow me to introduce myself. I am Baron Humbert von Gikkingen, but my friends call me Baron. And you must be the elusive princess whose absence is causing uproar in the rest of the palace. What is a princess doing in the second-best pantry?”

“What’s a baron doing looking in a second-best pantry?” Haru shot back.

“Trying to make tea. And you?”

“Trying not to get married.”

Baron nodded. “An endeavour I understand all too well. How is it working out for you?”

“Fantastic, until about thirty seconds ago.”

"My apologies.” The Cat cast a curious look over her, polite but questioning. “Is it indeed true what they say?”

“Depends on who’s telling the rumour,” she said miserably. Her sudden appearance into Cat high society had ruffled more than a few feathers, and given rise to no end of catty hearsay.

“That you were raised in the Human Realm with no awareness of your heritage?”

“Oh. Okay, that bit’s true.” She sighed and sat down on the tea boxes. After a moment, Baron took a careful perch on the canned tuna. “So, it turns out my dad wasn’t actually a Human civil servant who died in a car accident when I was a baby, but a Cat prince who renounced his throne so he could marry my mother in Human form who then got hit by a lorry when I was a baby, and that I’m not actually a Human librarian, but a Cat princess who’s been living under a transformation spell all her life who only thinks she’s a Human librarian...” She groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “I have a degree that I indebted myself for, and apparently I didn’t need to.”

“I think I’m beginning to understand the pantry, now.”

“And on top of that,” Haru continued, somehow unable to stem the flow of the tragedy that was her life from this poor, unlucky Cat, “apparently the King’s son - my cousin - has married a commoner, which is against some bogus inheritance law, so they had to drag me out as the next in line, and now they’re expecting me to choose a suitable suitor a day into my new career.”

She snuffled, and she caught on her whiskers as she attempted to swat the frustrated tears away.

“I don’t mean to intrude, but have you possibly tried telling the King that you have no interest in ruling a kingdom?” Baron offered gently.

“I’ve tried. It was a decidedly one-sided conversation.”

The Cat inclined his head. “Listening has never been one of his fortes.”

“Which is why I'm here, trying not to get accidentally hitched.”

“I’m curious; do you have designations beyond the pantry, or was this as far as your plan went?”

“Frankly, I’m amazed I got this far. That little tan cat who never stops smiling and always follows the King around--”

“Ah yes, Natoru.”

“--found me as I was sneaking down. I threw some line about needing to use the bathroom, and it somehow worked, but I don’t think I could make it any further than the kitchen without being spotted again.” Haru sighed once more and, without thinking about it, dropped her head against Baron’s shoulder. “On the plus side, I’ll never have to worry about rent again, but at what cost?”

Gently, cautiously, Baron’s arm curled around her shoulders and then, when he wasn’t shrugged off, settled. “Your Highness--”

“Please call me Haru. I don’t think I can stand any more titles.”

“Miss Haru,” he amended, sneakily still adding in a title of respect, albeit one Haru was much more familiar with, “it’s not a well known fact, but I oversee a small bureau, devoted to helping those in need of assistance. Unless I am grievously mistaking the situation, you would appear to be in need of just such help.”

Haru snorted, and then immediately felt bad for his jacket. “No offence, but what exactly can a baron do up against the intention of his king?”

“We have our methods. But I can promise you, we shall do our utmost best to ensure you are not ushered into any marriage you do not freely choose.”

It was at that moment that the pantry doors swung open and, silhouetted by the bright kitchen light, stood Natoru. Several leashed tracking rabbits crowded around him, noses high and twitching in Haru’s direction.

“Miss Princess. Your Highness!” Natoru cried. “How fortunate we have found you before the royal ball begins!” His eyes flickered over Baron, shoulder still supporting Haru’s head, and arm close about her. “And, oh, this is wonderful! I see you’ve even chosen a suitor!”

#tcr birthday bash 2023 #tcr birthday bash #cat writes #the cat returns #princess diaries au #day 4 secret heritage

[yassifiedenhydralutris]

paris, part four: you are in love

out now on ao3!

a small excerpt:

Annabeth should’ve known that Percy’s family was going to be here–they always went to every single competition of his they could. And it’s not like they were going to miss the fucking Olympics. 

Almost subconsciously, Annabeth ducked her head, looking away from the screen. It wasn’t like they’d be able to see her, or that they even knew she was here. 

And if they do know you’re here, then what? A small part of Annabeth’s brain asked. It wasn’t exactly like her and Percy had ended things on good terms and, honestly, she wouldn’t blame his parents for hating her. 

But still, she had to ask herself what would happen if Percy wanted her to see them or–god forbid–she just ran into them after the race. She had no clue what she would do in either of those situations but they’d both probably end with her emergency-calling Piper from a bathroom.

#percabeth #annabeth chase #percabeth fanfiction #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo fanfic #fanfic #princess diaries au #percy jackson fanfiction #ITS FINISHED

[wardenparker]

Necessary Arrangements: ch 3

Will Miller x female Reader A Princess Diaries inspired Triple Frontier AU Co-written with @steeevienicks

Upon returning from Colombia with one fewer member of his former special forces team, Will Miller is met with the revelation that his absent father is dying and Will is expected to take over the family business. Which would be fine, if the family business weren’t the running of an entire small nation. This is Will’s chance to start over and do some good in the world - but how will he cope with his new life and the woman he is supposed to spend it with?

Rating: Teen, but as always this blog is 18+! Word Count: 15.4k Warnings: *Blanket warnings for this series include family death, cursing, and food descriptions.*  The yearning is starting up real quick here, guys. Not sure there are really any warnings afoot, though. Summary: The chaos of embracing royal life is a lot for Will to swallow, but the craziest part of all of it might be how quickly he finds himself attracted to you - or maybe it’s the calls home to the guys. It’s hard to tell which. Notes: We’re back from our accidental hiatus and we are better than ever! We’re introducing some supporting cast members in this chapter and getting the plot rolling on into high gear!

Ch 1 ~ Ch 2

The speech writers did a marvelous job with his first address. They kept it clean and to the point, warm and encouraging as Freidlyn steps into a new age while still honoring its roots and traditions. The respectful grieving of a son and half-brother who is embracing his heritage and home head-on. You had stood behind the cameras with Minna, watching the attentive man you met just this morning at breakfast, square his shoulders like a ready soldier and prepare for the battlefield of public speaking. The ease and charm that was so surprising in his voice did not come until later - halfway through the speech when he improvised slightly and made everyone in the room smile from how fully engaging your new king truly is as a speaker. He said he had done this before. He had given motivational speeches and talked with American soldiers. It showed.

“How did I do, ladies?” He asked once the flurry of the televised speech was over. He was nervous at first but found his confidence around halfway through - making sure people were invested and engaged with the words so carefully written for him. If he’s honest, he knows he did well – he excelled with speaking to troops about his experiences in and out of the military and was able to hold crowds over with what he was saying, but he really just wanted you to tell him he did well.

“Very well done, your Majesty.” Minna isn’t one for empty compliments and had anticipated giving just a polite nod of approval, but this man is a natural public speaker. There is no doubt about that.

“You were—” With your hands around your own waist and holding to yourself tight, the unconscious attempt to hold yourself back from him is very real. Two hours, one meal, and one speech is far too little time to developing an affection for him and yet here you are. “You were wonderful.” It’s honest, at least, and you manage to keep from looking too doe-eyed in the process. “Your father, god rest his soul, would have been proud to hear you talk about taking the throne as coming home.”

Your polite but sincere words make him smile wider than he realizes. He bites his lip to keep himself from appearing too giddy, but the red coating his cheeks gives him away. “Thanks, plum,” he clears his throat – a nervous habit he’d never get rid of. “That means a lot coming from someone like you. What now? More speeches? A tour?” He’s hopeful. Hopeful to spend more time with you and getting to know you.

“That will be the only speech for today.” Minna smiles at his eagerness and dips her fingers into the thick folder in her arms – only to pull out a smaller folder from its contents. “If you will please fill out these pages by supper time, I will collect them then. Please be as specific as possible when you can.” She looks between the two of you and nods in a knowing sort of way. “Perhaps her Ladyship would like to give you a tour of the palace in my place?”

“I—” Surprised by the offer, you can’t say it doesn’t appeal to you. Time alone with him is valuable and might not be easy to come by once he is fully ensconced in his duties. “I can do that. Of course.”

“Very good.” Another nod and a smile from Minna, and she extracts an identical folder from her arms to hand to you after William takes his from her hand. “Luncheon will be served in the small dining room at noon sharp.”

Will watches her exit and then turns his attention back to you. “So! Show me everything!” He’s excited – fully expecting there to be secret passages and hidden doors much like the stories and movies he consumed as a child. “What’s your favorite thing about this place?” He’s excited now, he realizes. Excited to see his new home, excited to spend time with you and figure out what makes you tick.

The tactics of Mademoiselle Minna Thorn do not surprise you in the least, nor are they particularly subtle, but you don’t comment on it. “Well, this wing of the palace is mostly for business. Offices, rooms used for meetings. The east wing, the other side of the palace, is for residential use and guest sleeping quarters.” Fidgeting slightly, you tuck the file folder into the broad, thin handbag you’ve been carrying. “Of course, this is just the main palace for business. If you prefer to make your residence at one of the other properties, there are three more to choose from.”

“Huh. I guess I thought everything and everyone was here permanently,” he ponders. “Well, tell you what,” Will places his hands on his hips, “Show me all of them when you have time, and whichever one feels the most homey to you, whether it be here or one of the other places – we’ll call it home. I can make myself comfortable anywhere. I’ve slept in some pretty cramped and not so ideal places and made it out just fine, so I’m trusting you with choosing where we relax after a long day's work.” He wants to give you as many options to choose as possible – fully trusting you to make the right choices along with him.

“Your father lived here, primarily. Parliament is nearby and he chose convenience. Frederick preferred Bertgen Castle on the western coast, and summered at Chèvrefeuille Palace. He likes – liked, excuse me – the gardens there best. Chèvrefeuille is the French name for honeysuckle, and the grounds there are full of it. Castle LaRoche is inland. On top of a very large hill or a very small mountain depended on how you look at it. And is mostly a museum now.” Beginning to walk, your fingers itch with nervous energy but you don’t let the rest of your body show it. “I’ve spent the most time here and at Chèvrefeuille.” The room you stroll into, side by side, is laden floor to ceiling with portraits and set with two beautiful, carved desks. “This is Fräulein Thorn’s office, and she will share it with whomever she hires to be her second in command. The Portrait Room was chosen by your father’s assistant because he found it the most imposing.”

Will listens to you talk about the options he was presented and pauses before speaking. “How about…I stay here for a while, while I adjust to everything and then if I’m not liking the whole ‘no work-life separation balance’ thing we go somewhere else? I mean are you living here now? Or do you have a different place to call home every night?”

“Your father summoned me before…” You clear your throat gently, walking with him into the next room. “I live in an apartment in a different part of the city, but…you’re in charge now. If you want me to stay here, you only need to say so.” As soon as he decides that he wants to make your courtship and engagement official, you’ll be quitting your job and moving into the palace anyway. He only has to say the word.

“Miss Thorn is great and all, but it would be nice to have someone else nearby. She kind of scares me, if I’m being honest. Are you opposed to moving your things in? I can help!” He’s excited to have you close. Your warmth is a welcome presence in his life.

“I am not opposed to it at all.” In fact, your apartment is something of a holding space right now. Your job and your space just a place to exist in until Frederick decided to live up to his responsibilities. That time had not come yet, so you were still waiting. “You really are…very different from Frederick. It—it’s nice.”

He’s a little taken aback, “I am? I really don’t know anything about him. What was he like?” Will is curious. He gets the suspicion that Frederick wasn’t a bad guy, per se, but wasn’t exactly the ideal companion for you either. “Sugarplum, I’m going to say this right now and I need to you take me seriously,” he stops mid-stride, taking notice of how stiff your posture becomes. “If I’m ever out of line, or rude or just…not pleasant in any way, I want you to call me out for it. Please. Put me in my place if I’m ever…foolish or anything, okay?”

“I..I don’t think you would ever do anything foolish on purpose.” From what you’ve seen from him, he’s a straightforward and well-intentioned man. After years of waiting on the sidelines, to be so intimately involved is both overwhelming and a little scary. “I promise to do everything I can to help you. So if that means…nudging you in the right direction from time to time, I’ll do it. I’m sure you’ll find things about me that you aren’t particularly fond of, either. We must do what we can to get along.” You’ll never expect his love, but you do hope to at least be his friend.

Will is grateful for the contract that was signed when you were a child – which he feels weird admitting to himself. As you continue touring the palace grounds he can start to picture his future here – you, by his side as queen, your bond continuing to grow and maybe, hopefully learning to love each other if it felt right. Is it weird to think it might?, he thinks to himself. He never in a million years thought this was something he would be okay with – always content with the chase and swiping on Tinder to find a nice gal to spend a few nights with. He’s staring at you again as you walk, he realizes. Shaking his head and looking straight ahead to avoid any awkwardness.

“The grand ballroom.” You announce as a nearby servant jumps forward to open the heavy, ornate door before you can reach for it. You smile and thank the boy, waiting for Will to enter the room first before you signal to the servant to shut the door behind you. No prying eyes or ears in here. “I don’t suppose you ever learned to waltz in America?”

As soon as the both of you step into the ballroom Will feels like he’s having his very own “Beauty and the Beast moment” (for the record, he’s calling dibs on being Beast in this scenario). It’s beautiful, ornate, and timeless – right out of a fairytale. The ceiling is perfectly decorated with a painting of a sky with puffy clouds and angelic cherubs. A large but delicate chandelier hangs in the middle and casts tiny rainbows all throughout the room due to the sun hitting the windows at just the right angle. “No, never, but if you’d be so kind…” He gestures to you, leaving his request lingering between you.

Oh, that was not the response you expected, but it is too much of a moment to pass up. Stepping closer, you guide one of his hands to your back and place yours on his shoulder, lightly putting your other hand into his and stretching out your arms together. “We’ll have to get you a dance teacher.” You tease softly, knowing that he’ll be required to do plenty of this in the years to come. “Move with your right foot first, one step toward me and a slight turn.” Though there isn’t any music, it still feels like the room should be flooded with it in the late morning sun.

“Like this?” He asks as he follows your direction. Finding it’s not as difficult as he had imagined. He could get used to this closeness. The two of you continue to dance in silence for a few moments, laughing when he trips over his own feet a few times. Okay maybe it’s a little difficult.

“It’s easier with music.” You promise him, still in the circle of his arms when he steps on the toe of your shoe once again. “You’ll, um…you’ll have to learn. For your coronation.” The state dinner after his father and brother’s funeral won’t have dancing, but the coronation ball will be exactly that – a ball. “Traditionally the first dance would be with the queen, but you might dance with the Prime Minister first instead? Minna will know what the protocol is.”

“Well, I’d like to think I’m a good student if you’re willing to teach me how to be more graceful. I know I need a lot of polishing…” He’s hopeful you’ll be the one to teach him, to be the one he dances with from now on. “I’m sure the prime minister is nice, but I’d much rather dance with my sugarplum.”

“It will start rumours.” He’s still not entirely aware of what he is getting himself into, and you have to remember that. While he may not have to run the country, every step he takes will be scrutinized from here in out. “For that matter, moving me into the palace and having me by your side will start rumors.” But even so, you can’t quite bring yourself to step out of his arms. There’s something comforting about him that you can’t put your finger on, even though you’ve only known him a few hours. “I’m…fully prepared to do my duty, but it would not give you much space to change your mind about the contract. If you wanted to find someone else, it would cause a scandal. And…seeing as there may be some people who aren’t fond of having a king who was raised in a different country and barely even knew he was Freidlych in the first place…I don’t want to cause you any harm.”

Will steps away from you slightly, not realizing that him being all in could reflect negatively on you. “Oh…I—I guess I never considered that.” He feels bad. Did you feel uncomfortable with him being so forward? He’s nearly positive he won’t want to void the contract, but you do make valid points. “Well, maybe we should wait on some stuff then? I’m sorry,” He says quietly. “I wouldn’t want anyone to think poorly of you or start rumors when they could be avoided…” He sounds sad, but understands where you’re coming from.

“I only mean that, I want you to have time to think about it.” For some reason, having him step away feels more like a punishment then you’re willing to admit to yourself. There is, at least for you, a sort of instant attraction at play here. But the fact that he is handsome won’t make the next forty or fifty years of your lives easy by any means. “To become prince, king, husband, and father all in the course of a few years is a change that would make most men crumble. And I—” You smooth your nervous hands down the length of your dress, reminding yourself that this is a private moment. Just for the two of you. And he asked you to speak your mind. “I love my country too much to see her embroiled in scandal. Just as I…I find very much that I want to see you succeed. So, the way I see it, we have options to consider.”

His demeanor changes then as he takes you into his arms again and attempts to keep waltzing around the grand ballroom. “Let’s avoid scandals then.” He smiles timidly. “I want to succeed as well for the sake of my father and this country, and I want your success to be…well, everything you could ever dream of it being. That’s all I want for you,” He says your name, drawing your eyes to his.

“We have options.” Why do you get such a shiver when he speaks to you softly? It’s like a summer breeze eating through your whole body. Well, alright, you know why. But why now? Why this man? “If we simply move forward with the contract, there will be plenty of questions about how we met. We can simply tell the truth, but that will raise plenty of concerns from those who dislike you for being raised elsewhere. We can go so far as to claim it was love at first sight at the breakfast table and hope that the people find it charming; or we can insert a tiny lie. Say that we had met before, years ago, and that meeting again has rekindled a spark. I’ve been to America before. Several times. I’m sure we could come up with something.”

Will thinks for a minute before an idea sparks. “I like the idea of us meeting before, and since you’ve been to America why don’t we say we met and stayed…I don’t know, pen pals or something? And the rest is history and all of that.” He offers, liking the idea of coming up with a romantic little story to go along with the betrothal.

“Tell me about your life, then.” He’s less unsteady, somehow, when you talk during the steps. As though not thinking about them so much actually helped him to be more graceful. “A lie is always more convincing when it is close to the truth.”

“Well,” He begins, gripping you a little tighter as you sway around the room. “My name is William Miller – I just moved here from North Carolina where I lived near my mom and half-brother Benny. I served in the military for a handful of years and my best friends – who would all really enjoy getting to know you, by the way, all served with me. We were what’s called Delta Force, it’s special forces. I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy, love relaxing on the couch with a beer and a ball game, I like to hike but my last one was…” he pauses, thinking about Colombia. “Not the greatest. I enjoy movies, music, and I’m learning that dancing is also pretty nice.” He laughs as he dips you. “Oh, and I’m the future king of Freidlyn, nice to meet ya.”

“Current king.” You shake your head at him with something very clearly like affection. He’s a good man, from everything you know about him. Relatively straightforward and wants to do the right thing. Even though the right thing means completely changing his life with no option to turn back. “Your friends…your brother…your mother. They will all know that we have not met before. Can they be trusted to keep the secret?” Your own family, for their part, will be silent as a vault on the topic. As far as they are concerned this little story will just be a part of the contract. Even your youngest sister, for all her attention-seeking, would never go against the word of the crown.

“I trust the guys with my life. If they’re ever able to come visit, you’ll see why. They wouldn’t jeopardize this for us, promise.” He’s telling the truth – though there have been issues in the past for different reasons with his friends, he knows they’d take this seriously. “They will have questions, but they won’t ask them when it’s not appropriate. And if I tell them to fuck off…oh sh-shoot, sorry, they’ll drop it.”

“You can curse with me.” He’s done in before and apologized, just leaving you to smile about it and brush it off as the conversation continued. “When it’s just as, we can be less formal. That’s what you prefer, right?”

”Please,” he’s relieved. “I’m a veteran of the US Army, it’s so hard not to curse.” he laughs, thinking of all the colorful phrases and adjectives that were used during his time in the service. “But you’d probably be offended if I completely let loose, so I’ll monitor myself while still letting a few ‘fucks, damns and shits’ slip out.”

“I do have brothers.” He turns you in his arms in a move that is very nearly graceful and you laugh with what might be called actual delight. “Three of them, actually. And one sister. So please believe that I can curse when it is called for.”

“Good! That’s a relief,” he laughs. “So tell me about them, tell me about you. How did we meet? Wine bar? Disney World? Take your pick, plum.”

“I went to Disney World once as a child,” you chuckle softly. “So I doubt that would be a good story. But I have been to New York, to Chicago, to Boston, and to New Orleans, all as an adult. Usually with one of my siblings, or my friend Elsie. They will vouch for our story to the press if asked.”

Ideas start coming together in Will’s mind. “Alright, how about we met on a cemetery tour in New Orleans a few years back and hit it off? You and your friends had me tag along on a night out in the French Quarter and we exchanged information and have been pen pals of sorts ever since?” He did take a solo trip and did just those things a few years back, and it could work.

“That trip was with Elsie.” Chewing on your lip is a bad, old habit of yours but it still pops up from time to time like it is now. At some point the formless dancing has stopped, leaving you simply standing in each other’s arms near the far corner of the ballroom. “We went to jazz clubs and ate just about everything, and took a little boat tour through a swamp to a plantation house. It was…beautiful, actually. And a little…I think creepy is the word?”

“Yeah, creepy is a good word to describe plantation houses. Fucked is another, but that’s just between you and I.” Now Will is wishing this trip had actually happened. Maybe in the near future it could? Sans Elsie.

“It would be easy to say we lost contact over time.” Now that the wheels are spinning in your head, you dearly wish it had been him sending you and Elsie drinks in those clubs or asking you to dance. “It was three years ago that I was there. Is that…an acceptable time frame?”

“It’s too good, baby doll. We just lost touch because of work and the killer time difference, but let's say one night I got brave and called you out of the blue and here we are: rekindled because the connection and chemistry were just too good to deny after all this time. C’est la vie!”

Snorting softly at baby doll, you cover your mouth to stifle the little grin that plays on your lips. “New Orleans, then. A few years ago, and we lost touch. We can tell Elsie when we go to the library later.” Your lifelong best friend being in the service of the crown did make it a little easier to spend time in the palace when you had been summoned by the king or prince, and had definitely led to you making friends with more of the staff after just a little while. “The…the slightly less tasteful gossip magazines…they will insinuate that we did more than just meet there. You understand that?” It is what it is. They are rumours that will take on a life of their own, but he needs to be aware it will happen.

“Wouldn’t be the first time a rumor has been spread about my sex life.” He laughs. “Trust me, if I even repeated some of the jokes and words that flew while in the military you’d laugh. Enlisted men have no couth and will say anything to get a rise or a laugh. I’m sure it’s all been said about me before and it doesn’t bother me. Unless they say something nasty about you, then I’ll have a problem.” He has no issues defending a woman who has been harassed.

“We wouldn’t comment on it.” Although now that you’re thinking about it, it’s hard not to wonder what lies beneath the well-tailored suit he has on. No. No. This is neither the time nor the place for that sort of thing. “You should just be aware that it will happen.”

“Thanks for looking out for me.” He smiles – you don’t know it, but he’s having the same thoughts as you – what your skin would feel like under his hands, how you’d look blissed out beneath him. He has to immediately think of Catfish and the mule incident before he gets carried away.

“We seem to have made it across the ballroom…” The observation is fairly useless, but you have to say something that will tear your mind away from how beautifully soft his lips look. Not the time or the place! “And…I think it is nearly time for lunch. We can finish the tour in the East wing after we eat?”

Nodding his head, Will takes a deep breath, inhaling the scent of your hypnotizing perfume – he will have to remember to ask what is it you wear later when it feels less weird. “I gotta say, this dancing has worked up an appetite. I am looking forward to our lunch.” He smiles. "And then the rest of the tour, of course."

“And filling out our papers for Minna.” Both file folders are safely tucked in your handbag, but you know that they need to be done by dinner time and you won’t let them be forgotten. “Are you ready to tell your mother everything? Or would you prefer to wait a little?”

“My mom is a pretty tough lady; I think we should tell her over lunch. She already knows there are a lot of changes coming very quickly so I think the sooner the better.” Apparently, his mom has lived this life before, albeit briefly, so he’s hopeful she’ll understand that she’s very quickly going to be gaining a daughter-in-law.

“Come, then.” Motioning for him to follow, you head to a hidden door in the corner by the windows, carefully unlatching the secret knob and pushing it open to reveal a rather spectacular and giant formal dining room. “They are interconnected for ease,” you tell him, grinning when you see the delighted look on his face at the hidden door. “So that on nights when there is a supper and ball, the guests need not get lost between rooms. And the kitchens are directly below us, stretching most of the length of the west wing.”

“You’re shitting me,” he whispers, elated at the secret door you take him through. “That’s so cool. You have to show me more of these!” He’s nearly giddy at how exciting a secret door is to him. “I think I’m gonna like palace living, plum.” He looks amazed as he steps through the door. “Any other fancy secrets for the ball?”

“There is…more or less…an escape route.” And it is not at all something you would need to keep secret from the staff, as they all undoubtedly use the secret passages to go about their duties more efficiently, as well as keeping them clean. “From the ballroom, up into the northeast tower, and it drops off at two different suites. One of them being yours, of course.”

“You mean to tell me I have my own secret door? What is this day?” Will laughs – harder than he has all morning. “God, if only I have one of those when I was trying to avoid Benny when we were growing up. Plum if we were better acquainted, I’d kiss you right now. This is amazing.” He knows he’s too excited and being ridiculous about the doors, but he can’t help himself.

Your eyes flick over to the footman who is doing his best to be invisible behind the screen in the corner of the room and you can’t help but be a tiny bit disappointed that there is a witness, preventing you from just being bold here in this moment. The thing you can do instead, though, is tease. “You, and whoever is in the second suite. Perhaps it should be Benny’s when he comes to visit?”

“Hm, nah, preferably not…” He lets his words linger, hoping that eventually you’d take an interest in visiting his quarters. “Benny would expect that too much and I don’t want him feeling spoiled now that big bro is the King.” He has no idea how Benny is even going to react when he finds out.

“You should call him.” It’s the smallest suggestion in the world, all things considered, but you know that if it were you, you would want Elsie and your siblings to know what is happening in your life. “And they should come visit. Your friends, I mean. I would think you would want them here for your coronation?”

“I was actually going to ask if it’s okay to invite them. They’ll be on their best behavior, and I think half of them own suits. You’re also right, I really should call my brother. I think…I’ll put him on a flight and tell him in person. Or maybe just tell him right out. It’s huge news…what would you do? If Elsie didn’t know.”

“For Elsie?” Gazing out the window for a moment, you truly do have to consider how you would tell that sort of phenomenal news to the person you care most for in this world. It isn’t an easy thought by any means. “I would tell her straight out. Be as honest as I can. And then book her on the first flight over here so I could give her a big hug.” You half-laugh under your breath, realizing how silly it sounds. “Your real friends should be here to support you.”

He knows you’re right, but just doesn’t know what to say to his brother and friends. Whatever comes from the heart, right? “Do…do I have some time to make a few calls before lunch?” He asks, wanting them to know. He has no doubt every single one of them will drop everything to hop on the first flight to Freidlyn – he would do it for them.

Flicking your wrist to check your watch, you consider the hour but nod. “We have twenty minutes. It’s not a lengthy phone call, but it should be enough to get through to your brother.”

He nods, “Care to join me? Should be a great into to Benny.” He has no doubt Benny will adore you. “Then after lunch we call my friends?”

“I will join you on one condition.” There’s a playful note to your voice, letting him know you’re of course going to do what he asks of you but you’re going to be cheeky first. “Do you remember how to get back to the Blue Room from here?”

“I think I can manage.” He laughs loudly, taking five steps ahead of you and looking around, completely lost. “...With some help, of course.” He winks, offering his arm – if you weren’t so beautifully distracting he definitely would have paid better attention to where the two of you had walked this morning.

The Blue Room is a short walk from the formal dining room, but quick enough if you know the way – which you certainly do. You move easily with your hand around his arm, glad there is no way for him to feel how horribly your heart is beating through so many layers of clothing.

“See? Easy.” He laughs. His heart is hammering in his chest for two different reasons now. “I guess it’s time we let Benny know what’s going on.” He says as he pulls the sleek phone out of his pocket. Benny’s number is already programmed and ready. He keeps your arm through his as he presses the green call button and lefts the phone to his left ear with his other hand.

You don’t want to, but slipping away for just a second to shut the door of his office for privacy is a must. It only takes a moment to be back at his side when you hear a boisterous. “Hey asshole!” Through the phone and you smirk. Ah, brothers.

"Listen, Benjamin – we need to have a little chat about some stuff." He says, trying to keep his composure. Will and Benny have always had a good relationship, but he's really not sure how he's going to react to finding out his brother is a king.

“Benjamin?” On the other end of the line, Benny yawns animatedly. “You wake my ass up at 6am and you call me Benjamin? What’s going on?”

"A shit ton, actually," Will begins. "So, you know how I never really knew much about my dad and mom never liked to talk about him?" He bites his lip.

“Yeah?” Benny shuffles in bed, smothering another yawn. “Mom’s okay, right? She cancelled dinner on me last night and she was gonna make fried chicken so I am jonesing.”

“Yeahyeahyeah, mom’s great. She’s with me actually.” He takes a deep breath. “Well, turns out my dad was king of Freidlyn, you know that nice little European country with the jam and really good whiskey? Um. There was an accident, and he and my other brother passed away and nowI’mtakinghisplaceasking.” he blurts out, hoping Benny was awake enough to hear and comprehend what he just said.

There is dead silence for about fifteen seconds during which you and Will can’t seem to do anything but stare at each other, before raucous laughter bursts out on the other end of the phone. “Fuck you, dude.” Benny Miller laughs down the line. “That’s not even a good prank. King of Freidlyn? Pope came up with this one, right? Had to be Pope to pick someplace so obscure.”

“That’s what I thought too, but nope. It’s legit. I can turn this camera on and FaceTime you right now. I’m in this un-fuckin’-believable palace. In a custom-tailored suit. In my office. I’ve been here since yesterday, and I’m not coming home. I need to do this, and I need you here, so I’m booking you a flight. Like, as soon as we hang up. I’m so serious Ben.”

“Dude it’s too early for your shit.” Benny grumbles. “You’re supposed to be at my fight tonight remember? That ring girl you like is gonna be there and I swear to god if you don’t take her home this time I will, just to piss you off.”

“Benny,” Will stresses before hitting the ‘FaceTime’ button on the call. “Accept my fuckin’ video call and I’ll show you that I’m not shitting you. I swear little bro. For once I’m not bullshitting you.” Will taps his foot impatiently while he waits for Benny to accept the video. He looks to you like you’re an anchor for him. The video finally connects, and he’s met with Benny’s exhausted and annoyed face.

It takes about five seconds to register the surroundings on the other end of the video before Benny is scrambling to sit up in bed and turn the light on. “Holy—I mean—what the fuck…?” He shakes his head vigorously like it will somehow jostle his thoughts back into place but just continues to look stunned. “Holy shit,” he finally breathes when he can form a sentence, but clears his throat the second Will pans the phone around to include you in the shot. “I mean, uh…WOW. You…you’re not messing, are you?”

“Not messing.” He laughs and then introduces you “She’s been a big help, and if you get your ass on a plane tonight, I’ll explain more. Don’t tell the guys though. I’m calling them after we have lunch.” He wants his brother in the same room when he tells him he’s more than likely going to marry you and make you queen. “Mom’s here for a while so maybe you can get your damn fried chicken.” He laughs.

“I’ll beg off the fight.” Benny promises instantly. “Tell then I had a family emergency. The kid I’ve been training with can take it.” He’s up and out of bed now, holding his phone up as he moves across his room. “But, uh…what do I pack?”

“Um…” He looks at you quickly. “Nice stuff – suit pants, suit coat, a tie, clean button up. Just bring the nicest shit you have. If you need me to I can probably ask someone to get nice clothing for you. Oh, bring your dads onyx cufflinks too - those are great. I’ll have flight details texted to you shortly. Thanks for dropping everything for me, Ben.” He’s grateful, he really is, and you can’t help but notice how Will took charge of getting his brother to Freidlyn.

“You would do it for me.” Benny nods to the camera, eyes flicking over to you momentarily but not asking anything else. “I’ll see you soon then, bro.”

Will hangs up the phone and stuffs it back into his pocket. “That’s Benny for ya.” He chuckles. “He’s great, really. I think you’ll get along just fine. So!” he claps his hands. “Lunch?”

“Lunch.” Later on, after speaking with his friends, you’ll have a better handle on if it’s just a familial bond, or if Will truly has this effect on people. Engendering their trust and loyalty to a boundless degree. “You should let Minna know now that she will need to schedule flights so she can have some seats blocked out. Even if all of your friends can’t come tonight, she can at least – what is the phrase – get the ball rolling?”

“Smart and beautiful, you’re quite the gal, Sugarplum.” Will smirks as he links your arms together once again. “Lead the way to lunch, my lady. I’ll let Minna know we have plans to bring the boys.”

Pursing your lips at him like you’re going to make a joke, you simply shake your head and give him arm a gentle squeeze. “Come,” you insist, inching him toward the door. “It’s time to introduce me to your mother.”

“She’s not as loud as Benny, I’m not worried.” He says. “I know you’ll be two peas in a pod.” He’s fully confident his mom will love you and be more than happy to accept you into her tight knit little family, whether or not you and Will work out.

“One can hope.” Obviously you’re not as certain as he is, but then, you have more cause to be nervous. From the Blue Room to the small dining room is only a few steps, and the door is already swung open to allow your entrance before you’ve even crossed the threshold of the hallway. There is a woman sitting just inside, slightly plump from middling age but with bright white and blonde hair and a newspaper open at her place at the table while a footman pours wine into the glass at her place setting. This must be her, for who else could it be?

“Hey ma!” He greets her as she stands, giving her a quick hug and a kiss to the top of her head. “Benny should be on his way tonight – we just talked and he’s pissed about his fried chicken.” Will chuckles then steps away from his mom to pull out your chair.

“He’ll live.” Sandy rolls her eyes affectionately over her youngest son, but keeps her attention on the older. And on you, but proxy. “I don’t believe we’ve been introduced.” She observes, though it’s more curious than accusatory.

Will smiles and introduces you. “Her family signed a contract when she was a kid to marry Frederick, but now that’s not happening…but the contract is still good for me, should I choose, so we will probably be getting married here soon…” He then goes on to tell his mom about how helpful and kind you’ve been since you met mere hours ago, and Sandy can’t help but see the fond twinkle in her son’s eye. She hadn’t seen that look since…well, it doesn’t matter now. She can see it in your eye too as you listen to Will talk about his morning with you.

“You may remember my parents from your earlier time in Freidlyn.” Right now there is not much common ground for you and Sandy Miller, but you are determined to find some. If only for Will’s sake. “My father, Thomas, had just become Duke of Rochegnac at that time. And my mother was Lady Karina Doret before they married.” Sandy rolls back through the old lists of names she used to know, eventually landing on Rochegnac as one of the sunnier parts of the country - known for orchards and liquor production, if she’s remembering right. And Lady Karina does ring a bell, but it takes a moment before she nods. “I do remember them. I believe your mother is an avid painter? I had the good fortune to see a few of her works at the time.”

Will is hopeful that this conversation continues to go well. His mother is a kind person and he’s never heard her mutter one negative word about anyone, maybe some choice words for him and Benny when they didn’t clean up after themselves as kids, but honestly, they deserved it. “Your mom’s a painter?” He asks you. “That’s great! Mom loves pottery! Don’t you, ma? Maybe the two of you can get together and make some nice pieces one of these days.”

“Oh, I don’t think—”

“I’m sure she would love to.” You promise the older woman, not wanting her to be self-conscious about anything that can be avoided. “Perhaps I’ll join you myself, if we can find the right time. My mother’s talent far outstripes my own, but I do enjoy painting to relax.”

Will nods, not daring to miss a word you say to him. "So, you've been telling me so much about what I need to know about myself, but I don't really know too much about you. What's your story, plum?"

“Oh…well,” you chew on the question, mercifully given another moment to think when a footman appears beside you to lay your luncheon plate in front of you. “I was born at Château Rogue in Yeuxbourg, came out when I was sixteen although that did not matter to finding me a match because of the betrothal.” Your eyes flicker between the young king and his mother. “My siblings and I were all educated here and in England.” Without knowing what interests him most, you aren’t really sure what details to give.

He places his elbow on the table, resting his chin in his palm with a far off, dreamy look in his eye. He knows it’s probably frowned upon to have his elbows on the table here, much like he was told when he was small, but at this moment he can’t find a second to care about that. This improper balance is what’s keeping him grounded, keeping him from getting lost in your eyes as you speak of your up bringing. “Do you ever miss it?” He wonders, thinking of how he can manage trips home for you if you’re ever homesick.

“Yeuxbourg?” You shake your head slightly, trying not to smirk at the deliberate way he has his elbow on the table like a defiant child waiting to see if he will be yelled at. “I have worked and lived in the capital for many years, but the country is not so large that I cannot manage a trip to see my parents now and then. And they have a great belief in lavish birthday parties, so I do return several times each year.”

“Oh, good. I’m glad you get to visit.” He noticed the way you tried to hide your smirk at his posture, and immediately straightens up before taking a lengthy sip of the best wine he’s ever had. Not that he had a lot of experience with wine to begin with. He glances over to his mom, who is smiling at the exchange. “Lavish parties though? That sounds like a lot of fun. I’ve been to quite a few parties myself but most of them were in garages with cheap beer, so not so lavish.”

“My parents believe every major life event should be used as a chance to celebrate the greatness of Freidlyn.” Whether that came before or after betrothing their oldest daughter to the future king, you do not know. “My siblings and I enjoy our privileges, but we all work in service of the people and are fully aware that most countries have no place for nobility in the modern age. So what some might think of as a lavish party where all manner of waste is produced, that is not what we do.” In this, at least, you can be immensely proud of the people who raised you. And that is not something everyone can say. “They open the grounds to all of our tenants, and we have carnival games and the best food we can possibly provide. My sister likes to give tours of the ground floor of the château for a few hours on her birthday, and my brother ends up inviting his military friends and they tell stories all day on his birthday. For mine, we will often set up canvasses and paints in the garden and I will act as an artist model with a few friends. We like to wear costumes and make it a bit silly, but the point is to invite all the people who are closest to us as well as though we wish we spent more time with.”

“That sounds incredible. Way better than anything I’ve ever been to.” He thinks of the last “party” he had gone to. It was more of a celebration for their friend Tom who had passed away on the last mission Santi had talked them into, and much more somber for that reason. “I’d love to join the next one if that’s allowed?”

“The next will be in two months’ time.” A warm rush of undeniable affection floods you at the way he lights up with enthusiasm and you smile. “My birthday. So I insist you both be there. And your brother if he is still here.”

“Benny never says no to a party,” His mother says as she picks up another bite of fish with her fork. “And you can absolutely count me in, honey.”

Will smiles at his mom and nods. “I can’t wait! I better start looking at birthday gifts now.” He wonders if there’s someone at the palace that could help with that, since he still has so much to learn about you. Jewelry would be too much too soon, I’m sure…but maybe a brooch? he ponders.

“I’m sure Minna will take care of everything.” Somewhere in the depths of the folders she gave you this morning, there are sure to be questions about flower, jewelry, and clothing preferences amongst everything else. You take a sip of your wine and try not to smile too much at the idea of Will fretting over an appropriate birthday gift for you. “All you need do is arrive.”

“Whatever they’re paying that woman - it’s not enough. She’s a saint and deserves a raise.” Especially after their initial introduction. “So, will my birthdays be like that too? I’d love to have my buddies for celebrations if possible.”

“Your birthday is…more complicated.” While the three of you eat, you can see the shadows moving behind the privacy screen that keeps the servants out of sight during mealtimes. Footmen who have been lurking being pulled away by – you presume – the butler or housekeeper. No doubt they will be scolded for eavesdropping and gossiping. For Will’s sake, you wish they weren’t so curious. He has so much to learn. “The monarch’s birthday is an official holiday that has been celebrated on the same day each year for the past almost four hundred years. You may change how it is celebrated, of course, but there will always be an official appearance of some kind for the monarch and their family, and it is always celebrated on the first of May to ensure good weather.”

An entire holiday? “Holy shit,” Will blurts out. “That’s insane. And cool. And also wow. That’s gonna take some getting used to.” He looks to his mom, for encouragement or support he’s not sure.

“You can do this, Will.” She says as she places a small hand over his. “You’re going to make a great king.”

“Think of it as how America has President’s Day.” Although, if you recall correctly from your visit to his former country around that time of year, the only celebrating was done by furniture and car retailers. “The people like to eat birthday cake after their dinner that night and have a glass of something indulgent to drink. Your father, may he rest in peace, liked to host a dinner party for Freidlych citizens at the tops of their fields. Listen to what suggestions they had to say about how their field could help our nation. And then, of course, cake. There is always a great deal of cake.”

Will nods quickly. “Oh, okay. I think I can manage that. As long as you’re by my side in case it gets overwhelming, I think I can manage.” He blushes, not sure where the sudden nervousness comes from. Here he is – this brick wall of a man intimidated by this incredible woman that has her shit together. Someone more deserving of the crown than he feels he ever could be.

“Try not to let it overwhelm you.” Setting your fork down, you gently reach over and clasp his hand. It is no small show of solidarity, especially in front of his mother, but you feel sure he will not rebuff it. Not after what happened between you in the ballroom. “I will be here every moment, and after it is appropriate to make our announcement – if it is still what you want – we will make sure that I shoulder as many responsibilities as I can to make it equal.” You swallow a sigh and instead nod encouragingly. “I will not let you fail. Not if it is in my power.”

He could kiss you right now, he really could. Instead, he gives you a smile and quietly murmurs his thanks. “I really appreciate that, plum. You’re going to be my rock through this and then some, so I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you’ve done for me.”

“I haven’t done much yet.” So far you have given half of a tour and various encouragements, but not much else in your opinion. “This week will be difficult. And your coronation will be stressful but enjoyable.”

“Still, it’s more than people back home would do, so thank you.”

“What does this week entail?” Sandy asks, gently breaking the moment. She is always acutely aware of the fact that eyes and ears are on monarchs at all times. It’s one of the reasons she eventually decided that a role in the monarchy was not for her.

“Tonight, our national television service will broadcast a short documentary of the king’s life. There will be a church service dedicated to the king and Prince Frederick tomorrow.” You explain slowly, giving Will’s hand a squeeze before taking your own back. “You will both be expected to attend, and of course I will be there as well. After which, Mademoiselle Thorn will arrange for the king to visit the hospital staff that treated his father. To thank them for their service. The day after, a few official portrait photographs will be taken.” It will not be a happy occasion, you know that, but it is necessary. Necessary to show that the royal family does not hold any of the hospital staff accountable for the late king’s death. “On Saturday there will be the joint funeral, and a state dinner that night. On Sunday, Parliament will celebrate the announcement of our king and declare your coronation date.”

Will mentally prepares for the next few days, and the emotions he knows he’ll feel. He isn’t sure what the public will expect, or think of him, but he’s determined to do his duties with poise and grace and to honor his father to his best abilities. He’s glad you and his mom will be there by his side, but he can’t help but wish Benny would be too. “Where do you come in though?” He asks, wanting to reach for your hand again. “Like, I understand you’ll be there but when will they announce…this?” He gestures between the two of you.

“Parliament will not be the ones to announce our engagement when the time comes. You will.” Presumably his mother remembers the circus of public appearances well enough, and you offer her a sympathetic smile. “Your spokesman, anyway. And we will ease the stress of that announcement by making sure we are seen in public together beforehand. But…I think sometime in the month before your coronation would be appropriate? We should check when we go to the library later and see if there is precedent. Elsie, the palace librarian, she will know.” And seeing as she is also conveniently your best friend, you can trust that your secret will not leak to the press based on the questions you need to ask of her.

“Oh, okay.” He’s relieved to know that he’ll have more time before another massive changing event. “I wouldn’t mind being the one to announce it. How did dad do it?” He turns to his mom and asks.

“It was a part of the Christmas address that year.” Sandy smiles softly at one of the truly wonderful memories she has of being a part of royalty in any way. “His father – your grandfather William – was a bit of a romantic. When Klaus wanted to propose, his father said that it would be inspiring for the people to have extra good news at the holidays. So Klaus proposed on Christmas Eve, and the nation was told the next day.”

The look on Sandy’s face nearly breaks Will’s heart. There was still a lot of love there, despite what happened between his parents and their relationship. “That’s great, mom.” He smiles at her, reaching over and squeezing her hand. “I definitely want to be the one to tell everyone when the time is right.” He glances back over to you. “I don’t know how yet, but I’ll make it exciting.” He knows he’ll have to practice in his mirror – the only public speaking he’s done was generally about the heaviness surrounding PTSD and seeking treatment, but he hopes he can use his skills for brighter, better things. “I’ll run my speeches by you first since you’re more well-spoken than I am.” He smirks.

“Were you planning on hiring me to be your chief speechwriter?” The playful grin you toss back at him comes just before the footmen appear as from nowhere to whisk away your empty plates and lay the course of fruit and cheese that serves as dessert at a typical formal luncheon. It’s nice to see him smile, and you are very willing at this point, to admit that you find the young king very handsome. Much more so than his self-important brother, though that is a bit of guilt that you can grapple with on your own. “We won’t have the luxury of waiting for Christmas to announce, either. I hope you don’t mind warm weather because we’re looking at a spring coronation and maybe a summer wedding.”

“Speech writer? No. Wife? Yes.” He grins. He throws his hands up quickly and scoots back a little to get out of the staff’s way while they clear the dishes and silverware, only to be replaced with dessert. Once the staff has disappeared again, he scoots himself closer to the table. “A summer wedding is fine with me. Is that something that people need to buy tickets for or something? Can I invite people that don’t have anything to do with the kingdom?” He gives you puppy eyes, and Sandy notices and laughs. Will would love nothing more than Benny, Santi, and Frankie at his wedding. That was his plan all along, if he were to ever find someone to spend his life with.

“Tickets? No.” The implication makes you shake your head as you take a sip from your refreshed wine. “The ceremony is televised across the country, and on our national news’s website. But you can invite your friends, if that is what you are asking. I’m sure it would raise even more questions if you did not.”

“Weddings here are fairly tradition heavy. There are a lot of things in the preparation that I need to do, too.” Sandy tells him, not wanting it to seem like something else daunting but wanting him to understand before she offers you a kind smile. “I have my pearls still, from when I married Will’s father. I think it would only be right that they went to you.”

Your eyes light up when Sandy offers the pearls to you, and Will thinks he sees the hint of a tear starting to form. It’s now when he does reach for your hand again and squeezes it tight. “I think that’s a great idea mom. They’re going to look lovely on her.” He’s nervous and honestly excited to marry you, to continue to get to know you and see how the two of you would operate as a team and maybe one day a proper couple. He has no idea what he’s in for wedding and marriage wise, but he’s at the point in his life where he was seriously considering getting serious with someone, and he’s grateful you were chosen.

******

“My word she is thorough!” You laugh at the next section of questions in Mademoiselle Thorn’s extensive questionnaire. You and Will have already been filling these pages out in the sitting room of his suite for nearly an hour and you’re only halfway through. The first few pages were clothing sizes, preferences for travel, and pertinent dislikes – but once you reached the areas of liked items, the survey became rather ludicrous. It’s clear she’ll be studying these pages like gospel later and distributing the information to those who need it, and you fully appreciate her dedication. “An entire page of food and drink questions.” Pen at the ready, you shoot him a grin. “Favourite cake flavour. I have no doubt this will appear as the highlight of the king’s birthday celebration in a few weeks’ time.”

Will blows a raspberry as he looks up at you sitting across from him. Some of these things he had never even considered before. Favorite fabric? Cotton I guess? “Thankfully that’s an easy one – chocolate with cream cheese frosting. What’s yours?” He leans forward, almost pretending he can see any of the answers on your questionnaire.

“Pound cake with lemon curd and berries.” Even saying it out loud nearly makes you salivate, as you carefully write out your own answer in the line provided to you. Considering his answer for a moment, you look up at him quizzically. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had cream cheese frosting before,” you admit, grinning at the shock on his face.

“Never?” He asks, setting his pen down. “I’m surprised. It’s pretty standard where I come from, but then again I’ve never had your favorite. Maybe we can have someone bake mini versions and sample?” He thinks that could be a cute not-really-a-date-but-sort-of date. “What did you put for the next question?” He jokes, feeling like he did in high school when he tried to cheat off his friends during pop quizzes.

“You can request it for whoever you like.” He isn’t used to just waving his hand and have his orders followed, and it’s a refreshing change from what you know had been standard in the palace until now. “The next one is…favourite ice cream.” You practically hum in delight. “Raspberry. Or chocolate. Preferably both together.”

“Not bad, not bad. I’m a cookie dough guy myself or if I’m feeling extra bold – peanut butter cup and a scoop of plain chocolate on the side.” He smiles at you, and it’s contagious. “I take ice cream very seriously. In fact,” he chuckles, “it’s my favorite breakfast during the summer.”

“Your favourite breakfast?” One incredulous eyebrow raises at him and you can’t help but giggle. “Weren’t you a personal trainer before this?”

“I was and ice cream for breakfast is one of my dirtiest secrets.” It’s not, but he’s not ready to tell you about Columbia and isn’t sure if he ever will be. “But summers North Carolina are brutally hot and sometimes my old window unit in the living room would quit working, so I had to do what I had to do.” He laughs. “My house was always hot in the summer months. I’m glad you’ll never have to stay there.” After seeing the impressive and immaculate grounds of the palace he’s almost embarrassed of his very modest and small ranch house back home. It was definitely dated and had always been a bachelor pad. He had purchased it after his contract with the military ended from a vet that never married, always content to party for a few decades.

“Your secret is safe with me.” You promise him, enjoying the way the day has progressed. He is easy to talk to. Charming in an effortless and rugged sort of way. And there is no sense in pretending that you don’t get a little bit of a thrill every time he touches you. “How about this one,” your eyes flick down to the next question listed. “Favourite sandwich. Americans are notorious for their sandwiches; you must have one.”

“Hmmm…” he thinks as he reaches across the table to run his fingers over the delicate ring around your finger. It’s tied in a bow like a promise and he wishes he was in on the secret. “If I’m in Philly it’s a cheesesteak, if I’m at home it’s a classic grilled cheese. But I like to add tomato slices and pesto. My buddy Frankie showed me that and I’ve been hooked ever since. You next…hmm…oh, this is a good one. Favorite late night snack?”

“Popcorn with parmesan cheese.” His calloused fingers are warm against your skin, trailing up and down the length of your hand now and making butterflies erupt in your stomach. “We…we, erm…” You clear your throat, cheeks hot with the embarrassment of letting yourself get flustered so easily. “We should get to the library. Elsie is expecting us.”

“Huh? Oh, right.” He stands up and offers his arm to you. “Lead the way, Plum.” He smiles as you lead him towards the library.

It’s a good distance from where the two of you had been but when you lead him through the doors he has an unreadable expression on his face. Amazement? Wonder? He almost feels like Belle walking into Beast’s library for the first time. He’s so distracted by his surroundings that he doesn’t notice the tiny, dark-haired librarian with big round glasses heading towards the two of you. She nods at you, proper greeting not needed in this space since the two of you had been close for years, but she curtsies to Will. “Hello, sire, it’s an honor to meet you. My name is Elsie.” She smiles.

“Mademoiselle Poincaré is the palace librarian, as well as a historian.” You explain, not quite letting go of his arm but loosening your grip a little in case he wanted to let your hand go. “She has also been my best friend for the last twenty years, so rest assured that anything you say in front of her is safe.”

“Yes,” Elsie smiles before looking back at you. “Erm, do you think we could have a moment to discuss something?” She asks you, hoping break news to you before telling the future king.

“Of course.” She looks concerned, so whatever it is can’t be good.

“I’ll wander.” Will laughs a little, pointing towards the seemingly endless stacks of books that you had passed by to reach the librarian’s office. “Come find me when you’re done? Unless I’ve disappeared behind a trick bookshelf by then.”

Elsie laughs nervously before leading you towards her office in the back. “So, I don’t know how to tell you this in any easier way, but I was reading through some documents today and…you and William will have to get married much sooner than we had anticipated. Like…within a few weeks soon.” She fidgets with the Anubis paperweight she kept on her desk. “I should have looked at documents closer. I’m so sorry. He’s very handsome though so maybe it’s not bad news?”

“What do you mean a few weeks?” The way Elsie’s features paled makes perfect sense now, as you can feel the blood practically drain from your face. “Parliament hasn’t even announced the date of his coronation yet, how can it possibly—” Your face drops when you connect the dots on the two things and you tip forward to let your cheeks crash into your hands. “Do you mean that in order for us to rule together, we have to be married before the coronation?”

“I’m afraid so,” she says nervously. “Historically speaking, most of the royals had been married before they were crowned, and our dearly departed was the only one to break that rule in centuries. After he took the throne Parliament went and made sure it couldn’t be broken anymore. It was so deep in the documents I can’t believe I missed it. The two of you have two weeks to announce your engagement and plan a wedding, otherwise you won’t be able to rule with him. I have heard rumors just this morning that his coronation will be in less than a months’ time with no adjustments for extra time allowed…”

“Two weeks?” You can feel your eyes bulging out of your head as you stare at your friend across her desk. “That’s impossible. I mean completely and utterly impossible. A royal wedding in under a month is…goddamnit, Els, the whole idea is fucked now, isn’t it?” No one in the world has heard you curse besides Elsie and your siblings, but this is definitely a time that calls for it.

“I know!” She places her palms on her cheeks, pushing her glasses higher on her face. “I wish I had seen this sooner! I feel at fault for this. It is bullshit.” Elsie wasn’t much for cursing outside her home, just like you, but this definitely called for it. “Minna doesn’t even know yet, and I have to tell her today. I’m scared for my safety.” She tries to joke. “Do you think William will be upset by this? I know he is not used to this kind of life, being raised in America and serving his country.”

“I don’t know.” Your hand strikes out for one of hers, grasping at comfort. “I barely know the man. He’s kind, and seems terribly sincere, but I have no idea how he will take this. At lunch we were talking like we had whole months to go before even having to announce an engagement, this is…” All the books and papers spread out across her desk make you frown. “You’re not responsible for any of this, darling. I just wonder if there is any precedent we can use to push back against the timing. Something about the minimal length of an engagement or an arbitrary detail of the coronation we can use to push it back even an extra two weeks.

“I’ve looked through everything and I don’t see a way around this. It’s like it was written in stone. Do you want me to break the news to William? I would not want him being upset with you for this.” She offers. “Minna too. I can talk to Minna.”

“I will leave the inimitable Mademoiselle Thorn to you, but that man out there is my responsibility.” Though you do sigh deeply and squeeze her hand for support. “We have a cover story we’ll be using,” you tell her quietly. God forbid anyone should walk by. “He was in New Orleans around the time that we were a few years ago. We’ll say we met there but lost touch, and consider ourselves lucky to be reunited. I’m sorry to have to ask you to lie for me, but you know that an arranged marriage with a monarch who barely knows his country in the twenty-first century will go over like a lead balloon. A small, harmless lie will help him immensely.”

“I’ll do it for you,” Elsie smiles, squeezing your hand back. “Our friends met his friends and we hit it off for a blissful weekend of fun. We can even say I had a brief romance with one of his friends, yeah?” She laughs. “Just to make it more…I don’t know romantic? Like it’s kismet that you’re both here now.”

“You just like American military uniforms.” You tease, pinching her and managing a smile. “Will you email me your sources tonight after you are no doubt walloped by Minna? Poor thing is going to have so much work to do if he still wants to go forward like this.” And you will, too, but you’re trying desperately not to think about it.

“Uniforms, dark eyes and beards. Guilty,” Elsie giggles. “Yes, I already have a folder of files drafted for you. I’m just going to double and triple check to make sure I have everything covered.” She jiggles the mouse to bring her computer back from sleep mode and glances at the e-mail she had already started to put together for you. “I’ll send them over soon. I think I’ll leave you here though and go track down Minna.” She takes a deep breath and straightens her back. “Let me know if you need me to intervene, okay?”

“I’m going to need ice cream and alcohol.” The hug you give her is fierce and crushing, in the face of being scared witless. “Things just keep getting more and more chaotic. Bonne chance, Els.” You sigh before letting her go and stepping out in search of wherever Will had buried himself in the rows upon rows of bookshelves.

“You got it. I’ll stop at the gelato place downtown after work and then we can eat our feelings. Bonne chance à toi.” She returns the hug and makes a quick exit out of the library. Her iPhone gripped tightly in her hand as she types out a text frantically to Minna.

Will peaks his head around a large bookshelf and raises an eyebrow before walking over to you. “I just saw Elsie escape like a bat out of hell. Everything okay?” He asks, placing a hand on your shoulder.

“Not really, no.” The last thing you want to do right now is deliver more bad news to him, and you swallow another sigh before it can escape you. No time like the present. Time to rip off the bandage. “Elsie’s research turned up something we didn’t anticipate. In order for us to rule together, we would need to be crowned together. And in order to be crowned together…we—Will, we would need to be married first.”

“Okay…that’s no problem.” He’s confused and isn’t sure why that would be considered bad news. “I thought that was the plan?”

“The issue…” You hate that you cannot even keep his gaze, looking down at both of your shoes instead. “Is that Elsie heard Parliament wants you crowned within a month.”

“So…we’d have to get married in a month?” He looks at you, unsure of why you’re suddenly afraid to look at him. In all the time he had known you, which, granted wasn’t long, you had not been shy about direct eye contact.

“Precisely.” When he still does not take his hand away, You glance upward. “We need to find out if Parliament really wants you crowned that quickly. If they do, it’s going to be a mad dash to get everything done in time.”

“I mean…that’s really fast…but…” He pauses and takes a deep breath, taking his free hand and putting it over his mouth – his mouth morphing his face to a bewildered expression. “Fuck, okay. I mean my whole life has been turned upside down in less than forty-eight hours so why not?” He chuckles. If this was a dream, he’s sure he would have woken up by now. “Shit.” He chuckles out of nervousness and maybe frustration. “Her running away makes sense now. Alright, let’s do it. Let’s plan this wedding in less than a month.”

“She ran away because she had to go tell Mademoiselle Thorn.” You huff slightly, not envying your best friend’s talk in the least. But when you look at Will again, he seems staunchly determined. “You know you have an alternative, don’t you?” It’s his decision to make, and although you have grown surprisingly attached of the idea of a shared crown since only this morning when it was suggested - there is just so much good you could do if you were allowed - it is not the only pathway for his future. “You don’t have to share the crown with me, Will. You can rule on your own, and I will still be your consort when you feel the time is right.”

Will takes a moment to think, not taking his eyes off you. “I don’t want to rule without you though. I don’t think I’m capable of doing any of this without you. I just…” He doesn’t want to say he’s attached just yet, even though he is. “I know you’d be great at it, and I’m not going to be the one to take it away from you…”

“I wouldn’t have it at all, without you,” you remind him gently. “Frederick had no intention of sharing anything more than meals with me. The idea of actually having me be more than a walking womb began entirely with you, at breakfast this morning.” And it touches you in a way that you can’t quite express – whether it’s that no one else has ever thought you could do this, or the fact that he’s putting the good of the people before selfishly wanting to be king, or both, or even something else altogether. Whatever the reason is, you reach out softly and touch his arm in reassurance. “If Parliament wants you crowned quickly, then we’ll come up with a proposal for them. Coronations are national holidays and so are royal weddings. Maybe we can convince them to let us do it in one weekend. Have the wedding celebration the day before the coronation. It would be a lot, but it would be a festival weekend for the people, and I think we could manage it.” Even trying to think of the logistics makes your heart pound, but you know you won’t be alone in trying to get it done. You’ll have entire teams, and you’ll have each other. Surely that counts for something?

“You are way more than just a walking womb,” he says as he places a hand on your cheek. “If Miss Thorne hasn’t completely lost her head by now, I say we bring up the festival weekend to her and see what can be done. You can pick any themes or color schemes you want - just tell me where to be and when and I’ll be the goofy looking guy at the altar.” He smiles, rubbing his thumb under your eye.

“It will be Parliament that we sell this idea to, not your assistant. Although I fear the amount of work she’ll be put to if they agree.” The warmth of his hand seems to dip into the very marrow of your bones, melting you a little. “If this is how you want it to happen…I already promised that I would not let you fail. We will stand up and say our vows and hold our crowned heads high.” And you will absolutely not permit yourself to think about being called to his bed until all of it has actually happened…

“Then that’s what we’ll do. Let’s do this, Plum.” He smiles and takes his hand off your face, the absence of your warm skin under his palm affecting him more than he would like to admit. “Should we go see if Elsie needs help?”

“I would not be a very good friend if we did not.” Although the thought of facing his upset assistant does make you more unnerved than you’d like to admit.

It’s not long before the flustered assistant and nervous librarian make their way back to where you and Will are; Minna and Elsie having a hurried conversation in French. “Je n’arrive pas à croire que nous ayons manqué cette information importante. Cele va l’effrayer.” I can’t believe we missed this important piece of information. This is going to scare him off. Miss Thorn says in a hushed tone as she sees the two of you over my a large shelf of books.

“Je sais, je me sens comme un si mauvais ami pour ne pas l’avoir vu plus tôt.” I know, I feel like such a bad friend for not seeing it sooner. Elsie responds.

“Calmer. Calmez-vous, s'il vous plait. C'était son idée.” Calm down. Calm down, please. It was his idea. Thank god for your keen hearing, you can try to head the other two women off at the pass. “English, please, until his Majesty’s French is up to snuff.”

“So, I guess you heard?” Will asks Minna, worried that she’s either going to combust or start crying.

My apologies, your grace.” Miss Thorne says. “I did, and while I’m not thrilled that this information was written deep in the texts, I am glad Elsie found it. I can go to parliament and st—” She begins.

Will raises his hands to stop her. “We’ve kind of talked about it already. We were thinking having the wedding and then the coronation the following day. That way it’s all done at once and the people can have an entire weekend to celebrate.” He looks to you and smiles.

The idea takes her entirely off guard, but now she knows what you meant by, ‘It was his idea.’ “Well, now that we only have a few weeks we should start planning. You,” Minna Thorn points at you. “Need to choose a designer for your gown and you,” now pointing at Will. “Need to meet with the jewelers to find the emerald and settings you’d like to use for her ring.”

“I could help!” Elsie offers. “I know her taste in jewelry – we’ve been sharing pieces for years.” Will nods, accepting Elsie’s offer.

“I suppose I should put some thought into assembling my own staff, and submit my resignation to the Ministry of Education.” Your schedule is about to become exponentially busier at the drop of a hat, and you know you’ll need as much help as your alarmingly-soon-to-be husband will, just in other ways. Your eyes track to Minna’s, already buried in her agenda once more. “Will we have to argue the case to Parliament, or is there someone on the king’s staff better suited to that job?”

“I will take care of it.” Minna assures you. “I will discuss this with them and get the plans set in stone. You two just worry about yourselves and let me handle things.” She says confidently. She’s the most task-oriented and organized person you know, and you know she can handle this. “I will clear my schedule the rest of the day and call an emergency meeting.”

“Do you still have the list of candidates for the king’s assistant?” It’s a lot to do and not much time to do it in, so you can’t waste a single second. “If it’s at all possible, I’d like to review them and hire someone for myself.”

“Yes, right here. Resumes and references attached as well.” She reaches into her simple, yet stylish messenger bag and hands over the sealed manila envelope. “It’s alphabetized and the ones that stood out to me have sticky tabs on them. Elsie, I trust you’ll continue looking over documents to make sure we haven’t missed anything else?”

“Yes, of course.” Elsie nods, stepping around everyone and sitting back down at her desk.

“Excellent. Then I’m off to have a conversation with parliament.” Minna says as she smiles at the three of you and turns to walk out of the library.

“I’d say we all have our work cut out for us.” Looking around, you can see the lost expression on Will’s face clear as day. “Mademoiselle Thorn, if I might add one more thing to your plate?” You know she has a lot to deal with, but hopefully this is something she can delegate. “I’m sure the king would feel more comfortable with a few more familiar faces nearby. Can we arrange to have his closest friends put on the same flight as his brother?” One of your smaller hands finds Will’s beside you and you give him an encouraging smile as you gently grasp his hand. “You should call them. Get them out here for as long as they can stand it. You will feel less alone, and they should see how your life has changed.”

Minna makes a note in her phone. “I will have them fly in on the private plane with Benny. Just let me know when they are available and I’ll send the pilot.” She smiles and nods, happy that he will have a bit of comfort during this strange time of transition for him.

“That’s a good idea, Plum. I guess I’ll call them now so they can pack?”

“Do you remember the way back to your office?” He’s only walked these halls with an escort so far, so you’re trying your best to be helpful. “If not, I can walk you back. The Morning Room…which I suppose will be my own office soon enough…isn’t that far away.”

“I could use just one more reminder.” He offers his arm again, smiling as you loop yours through his. “Just for the sake of it.” He winks.

“Do you want me to stay with you while you call?” He had insisted you be there while he spoke to his brother, so the least you can do is offer.

“If you don’t mind overhearing how crude they’ll probably be.” He laughs. “I’ll make sure they’re on their best behavior while they’re here though.”

******

The two of you make it back to his office and he sits down on the couch, pulling the phone out of his pocket and dialing Catfish first. Frankie answers on the third ring. “Frank Morales.” Will says

“Ironhead!” Frankie’s surprise and relief are audible on the other end of the phone. “What the fuck man, you call Benny but you can’t call me and Pope? I showed up at your house the morning to help you clean up your goddamn yard as promised and you were just gone!”

“I’m sorry, Fish. Everything just kind of happened…you know? I’m sure Benny told you what’s been going on even thought I told him I would call you myeslf. Um. The reason I’m calling is to invite you here to Freidlyn. I’m…getting married and crowned within a month and I need you here.”

“You’re fucking what??” Asks the man in the other end of the call and you have to cover your mouth quickly to stifle your own laughter. It is a lot to take in. You’ll give him that.

“Yep. Getting married before the coronation so she can take the throne with me. What do you say though? Can you make it out? We’ll send a plane for you, Ben and Pope. It won’t cost you anything and you can stay as long as you’d like.” He doesn’t mention that he knows Fish will think that your librarian friend is cute, and maybe they could get lost in each other for a while. “I think you’d really like it here, Fish. What do you say?” He desperately wants Frankie to say yes, and he’ll beg his friend if he has to.

“Man…you know I would do anything for you.” The sigh from the other man does not sound enthusiastic though, and you lean closer to the speaker to listen. “It’s not like I have work to call out of or anything, it’s just…what about Xi? I can’t ask my mom to look after my bebita so I can go on an indefinite vacation. She would have to come along.” Frankie had had it the worst, coming back from Colombia to find divorce papers from his wife and his mother looking after his six-month-old daughter Xiomara.

“The palace has twenty-four-hour daycare.” You jump in, knowing it is impossible for Will to know the answer to this question. “Any moment you cannot be with her, she will be looked after by professionals. Please…please do not let that stop you.”

“Bring Xi and she’ll be well cared for when you’re not able to watch her. It can be a nice little escape for the two of you, I promise. Everyone here is so nice, and you won’t have to pay for a thing. You and bebita will be well taken care of.”

There is a moment of silence hanging in the air before the man on the phone clears his throat. “Is that her?” He asks, knowing Will had had a woman with him when he called Benny earlier in the day.

“It is…she’s amazing. I think you’ll get along really well.” Will glances over at you and smiles. “She’s been so helpful and supportive, and I’m actually excited about all of this now.”

“I’m sorry to have blurted that out and startled you,” you nearly reach out to the phone as though the man himself were there for you to touch. “It’s just…I truly believe Will should have his friends with him for everything that’s coming. It’s a lonely thing, to change your life all at once.”

“I appreciate you saying that, honey.” Frankie tells you honestly. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. Just let me know where to be and when and Xi and I will be there.” Frankie was all too familiar with his life changing drastically at once. He had gone through so much over the last year and was ready for a break.

“Thanks, Fish. I’ll text you the details as soon as I get them from Miss Thorn.” The boys continue to chat for a minute before hanging up. “Onto Santi then…” He smiles as he scrolls through his list of recent calls. Santi nearly answers right away. “Pope!”

“William the fucking Conqueror.” Pope’s laugh is jovial and loud. “I was wondering when you’d get around to calling. Benny got in touch this morning.”

“Hey man. More news for ya – I’m getting married and then will officially be king in a few weeks. You down for a visit? Private plane, full amenities, and you can stay as long as you’d like…” Unlike Frankie, Pope had a full-time job and he wasn’t sure if his friend would be able to make it on such short notice.

“Depends, pendejo. Do I get to stay at the palace?” Pope is not taking a single shred of this bullshit seriously. Not when the pranks pulled by the Miller brothers are always so fucking legendary. “And I’ll need first dibs on hot bridesmaids.”

Will laughs. “You can stay at the palace, but I can’t promise bridesmaids.” He makes a face at you as a way of apologizing for his friend. You giggle at how cute it is. “Fish already said he’d come, and you know Benny is too so…make up your mind and I’ll give you flight details.”

“What’s the punchline, Miller? I show up at the airport and Fish has a remote-control helicopter in the parking lot?” He huffs and his shrug is practically audible. “You can do better than that.”

“Do you play a lot of pranks or are your friends just naturally suspicious?” You whisper, raising an eyebrow at the man next to you.

“I promise this isn’t a prank, Pope. I’ll turn on my fuckin’ camera right now so you can see I’m not kidding. I wouldn’t joke about this.” He places his hand over the microphone. “We play a lot of pranks on each other, so I don’t blame him for not believing this is actually happening.” He sighs, pressing the FaceTime option on his phone and waits for Santi to accept. “See?” He moves the phone around the grand office before standing up and going over to the window to show Santi the grounds to the best of his ability. “I’m not bullshitting you, man.”

“Puta madre…” Pope – like the good Catholic boy his call sign implies he is – is practically crossing himself as various curses fall from his lips. “Madre de Dios, Ironhead, what the fu—” he huffs out a long sigh. “Just tell me where and when, man. I’ll make it work.”

Minna barges through the door at that very moment – an eerie talent she seemed to have – and hands you a slip of paper with flight details for the following day. She says nothing and walks out with purpose, on her way to talk to parliament about the upcoming plans.

“I know.” He says before glancing at the note in your hand. “Looks like you’ll fly out tomorrow morning. It’s a long flight, so you’ll be able to get some rest, and the plane is comfortable. If you need to work, I’m sure we can set up a space for you in your room for meetings and whatever else. Pack your Sunday best and make sure Fish doesn’t panic flying with his baby, please.”

“First time on a plane cooped up with her favourite tíos?” Pope coos, his absolute adoration for his goddaughter obvious instantly. “We’ll wear her out and she’ll nap over the ocean. Everything will be fine. Text me if you need us to pick up anything from your house, okay hermano?”

“Thanks man, I really appreciate you being able to come. I’ll send the exact details here in a second to the group chat. I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone.” Will and Pope say their goodbyes before hanging up. “So, that’s the guys.” He laughs nervously as he looks at you. “They’re…a lot but they’re good people and I’ll make sure they’re on their best behavior.”

“They sound far more interesting than most of the people I know,” you offer, placing a hand on his arm reassuringly before turning and cracking open the file with resumes for royal assistants that Minna had given you. “I’ll make sure that their rooms are close together, and that there is hot food ready for them when they arrive tomorrow night. What time are they supposed to arrive? Maybe we can ask the kitchen to hold our dinner so everyone can sit down together.” It’s a small gesture, technically, but in meaning it’s large. “I know they’ll want to interview me, so to speak. And I don’t blame them one bit.”

“That would be great. Knowing them they’ll be starving and have a million questions.” He looks down at the flight itinerary. “Looks like they get in around 6PM so you’ll have time to prepare for the chaos that is them. I think you’ll like Xi too, she’s the cutest baby in the world and what happened with Frankie’s ex is so shitty. She just…left. I’m glad they’ll all be close together, just in case he needs help with anything, you know?” He rambles, nervous about his friends meeting his betrothed. He knows they’ll adore you, but he also worries you won’t feel the same about them.

“We’ll make sure that your friends and your brother have everything they need,” you promise him, knowing that their first impressions of his new home will also be their first impressions of you as well. This is not a moment to lay down on the job.

“You really are the best, Plum. Thank you.” Will takes your hand and squeezes it. “They’re going to absolutely fall in love with you.”

The smile that you summon is honest, and you’ll squeeze his hand back for encouragement. How can you possibly tell him that the only person you’re worried about falling for you is him?

______

Master Tags: @pixiedurango​ @chattychell @winter-fox-queen @lady-himbo @artsymaddie @princess76179 @paintballkid711 @missminkylove @pedrosbrat @ew-erin @sarahjkl82-blog @sharkbait77 @justanotherblonde23 @lv7867 @recklesswit @mylittlesenaar @f0rever15elf @gallowsjoker @steeevienicks @athalien @sherala007 @skvatnavle @thatpinkshirt @jaime1110 @girlimjusttryingtoreadfanfics @goodgriefitsawildworld @greeneyedblondie44 @katheriner1999 @littlemousedroid @harriedandharassed @churchill356 @ajathegreats-blog​ @hardc0rehaylz @beardsanddetectives @kirsteng42 @ladykatakuri

NA: @absurdthirst @peachtreemoonshine​ @xoxabs88xox @luminescentlily @babypink224221​

My Masterlist!

#Charlie Hunnam #Charlie Hunnam fanfic #Will Miller #Will Miller x reader #Will Miller x you #Will Miller x female reader #Triple Frontier #Triple Frontier fanfic #Princess Diaries au #Royalty au #William Ironhead Miller #Freidlych for Life #Freidlyn #arranged marriage

[murcielagatito]

princess diaries 2 au. janine:mia, ava:nicholas, erika:lily, gregory:andrew, queen clarise:barbara and joe:melissa

#avanine #ava x janine #workwives #princess diaries au #mi arte

[silverhallow]

Part 4: Making a Motion

Summary: perhaps a Princess can have her cake and eat it...?

(this is also on AO3)

When Sophie returned to the room she felt all eyes on her, she knew she and Phillip were supposed to give some sort of speech to the guests, preparation for tomorrow, thanking people for travelling and whatever else Ann had written into her speech but she knew she wasn’t going to read it.

She walked over to Phillip who offered his arm, he had no idea about the change of heart, the thoughts that were going through Sophie’s head at that moment and he was preparing for the speech, the last thing they would do before parting for the evening and then tomorrow they would become Man and Wife.

He looked at Sophie as she walked over to him, and she took his arm but as they reached the podium where the microphone was Sophie paused, they were away from everyone, the only person near them was Edmund Bridgerton, he had a part to play in reading out a proclamation for the wedding and seeing Benedict’s father made her decision for her in an instant.

“Phillip, wait…” she said quietly. Stopping him, pausing and turning to face him and took a deep breath, “everyone deserves a chance at finding true love, right?” she said

Phillip looked confused “erm… yes?”

“Including us?” she asked as she held the ring out that she removed and held out to him.

Phillip blinked for a moment before a smile appeared on his face “thank you…” he said and Sophie looked confused “Uhhh for saving me for doing the proper thing for once in my life… Now… i just have to tell George” he grimaced knowing his brother would be giving the whole I told you so routine.

“And I need to tell everyone else” Sophie said and the both just grinned at each other before saying “Good luck”

Sophie took a deep breath, with everyone staring at her she made her way up to the podium, a brief glance around the room and she couldn’t see Benedict, but she knew he wasn’t the reason she was doing this but she was doing this for her.

She didn’t want to be forced into something against her will and she hoped she could appeal to everyone for some compassion…

“Good evening everyone…A few moments ago, I realised the only reason I was getting married was because of a law, and that didn't seem like a good enough reason so I won’t be getting married tomorrow” she started, her confidence growing as she talked

“My grandmother has ruled without a man at her side for some time now and she rocks at it so as the Granddaughter of Queen Sarah and King Reginald, I ask the members of Parliament to think about your daughters, your nieces, and sisters, and granddaughters, and ask yourselves: would you force them to do what you're trying to make me do? I believe I will be a great queen. I understand Penwood to be a land that combines the beauty of the past with all the best hope of the future. I feel in my heart and soul that I can rule Penwood. I... I love Penwood. Do you think that I would be up here at a Wedding rehearsal if I didn’t… I know I can take us forward, I know I can be the Queen the country needs… so I stand here ready to take my place as your queen. Without a husband.” she said passionately.

There was an outbreak of applause and Sophie smiled knowing she’d gotten to them but Lord Cowper, one of the eldest members of parliament, the grumpiest and stickler for the laws in Sophie's opinion said “what about the law? ”

There was a lot of muttering from the members of parliament, and someone bemoaning about Cavander when Sophie felt someone at her shoulder and when she turned she saw Edmund beaming at her and he coughed “Make a motion”

“What?” sophie whispered back to him

“Make a motion… only you can change it… make a bloody motion to change the marriage law!” he whisper shouted at her

“Oh!” Sophie said with a bright smile.

“My Lords…” Sophie said as a hush moved over the crowd “I move to abolish the marriage law in its entirety, as to how it applies to present and future Queens of our great country…”

“Does anyone second the motion?” Edmund asked, knowing that this was his role and he just hoped that Sophie’s speech and appealing for them to think of the women in their life would work.

Silence fell over the crowd and Sophie felt her stomach sink, “hold their gaze” Edmund said and seeing the stern look of Sophie’s face whispered “softer…”

Sophie felt her face loosen and tried not to let her fear and hope show on her face as she looked around the room.

Just as she was starting to lose hope Lord Ashworth, the one person Sophie did not expect to help her nodded and raised a hand “I second the motion. Change is good, we need change”

Sophie felt her heart swell as Cowper next to him nodded.

Edmund grinned “All in favour of Abolishing the Marriage Law in entirety say Aye”

Lord Cowper started with an approving “Aye”and then much to Sophie’s surprise Lord Cavander, who would have inherited the crown for his son, raised his hand and said “Aye, the country needs a strong hand and I have faith you will do a fine job your highness” as his son look outraged

Sophie blinked as there were a few gasps around the room as Phillip Cavendar protested and his father shot him a glare “shush you, you had your chance but ruined it. She is far better prospect than you ever shall be” Philip wanted to argue with his father but his mother placed a hand on his shoulder and a look made him go quiet immediately as the rest of the Lord’s all said “Aye” 

Sophie beamed as Edmund said “The Aye’s have it, Congratulations your Highness” 

Following Edmund’s words, Sophie could have sagged but looked at her Prime Minister with a curious look as there was cheers and congratulatory applause “why did you tell me of this earlier?” she shot at him quietly

“I only learned of it last week, and have not had the opportunity to pass the information on” he replied but any further conversation was cut off as well wishers and people clamouring for Sophie’s attention, including her grandmother, descended upon her and she was lost in a sea of people but she felt like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

The full marriage law was abolished, she was free to marry whomever she chose and she was still going to be Queen!

The only thing that would have made the rest of the night perfect, was if Benedict had been there to witness it for he had disappeared whilst she was out of the room and she had not seen him since.

~*~

Benedict hadn’t been able to stay and watch, neither had Eloise. He knew his sister had a crush on Sir Phillip and that she was feeling the pain of watching the person you wanted to be with be with another as acutely as he was so they had stuck together during the early parts of the party.

He hated that he’d been forced to come but as his father was Prime Minister and his brother was married to Sophie’s eventual Chief of Staff, he knew there was no way of getting out of it.

He had it settled in his mind that once the wedding was done the following day, and the coronation in a week's time, he would be on the first flight out of the country. He had plans to go to America, to find a studio over there and paint and pour his heartache into his art.

He’d bring Eloise with him when he was settled, she could apply to a University in America so she could get away from it as well. 

It was not fair but Benedict knew Sophie had an impossible choice, and he knew that she was the best thing that ever happened to the country and that she was born to be Queen ad he could never ask her to give that up for him so he’d agreed with his mother that he would plaster a smile on his face, he would sit through the wedding ceremony that would break his heart into irreparable pieces with a fake smile on his face, he would do his duty as the Prime Minister’s son, and then leave the country and never to return home.

That was the way it had to be.

But the party was harder than he had thought it would be. He’d been around Sophie and Phillip over the last few weeks and it hadn’t hurt this much.

He had been behind a camera, able to hide his feelings but now, he had to watch them as the future Queen and Prince Consort knowing full well that if circumstances were different, if his father’s title was more than just a Lord and a Viscount, that he could have been the one on Sophie’s arm. The one who was going to marry her.

But alas, he was naught but a second, untitled, son and therefore not eligible enough for the Princess and Future Queen.

He sighed into his drink, tried not to watch her, but given the silver of her gown… his eyes were drawn towards her, she looked like an angel.

By the time she was making her way over to his father and he knew he was going to have to attempt to offer his sincere congratulations to her and Sir Phillip, he felt sick.

He had managed to keep his eyes from meeting hers all evening but as they approached her green eyes met his blue and held his gaze for a moment causing them both to freeze.

He watched as she left the room and he knew he had to do the same, with a tap to Eloise’s arm, knowing she didn’t want to be there any more than he did, he whispered “lets get out of here” and he steered her from the room.

They got in the car and got home and as he did so, he turned off his phone. He had no intention of speaking to anyone as he picked up his bottle of Whiskey and he hoped with all hope that tomorrow would never come…

#benophie #bridgerton #princess diaries au #benedict bridgerton #sophie beckett #benedict x sophie #sir phillip crane

[kaizsche]

🌹＼(^_^)／🌹

hi seven! thanks for the ask. here's a scene from my elejah princess diaries au! (which is subject to change)

Rebekah saunters into the living room, finding both of her recently reconciled brothers whiling away, reading. Niklaus is sitting without a care in the world, a book nestled in his lap while Elijah, still fully decked out in his three-piece suit so early in the morning, flips through their mother's journals.

She ties a knot on her robe, eyes flickering between a calm Niklaus and Elijah— neverminding the brunette eating macaroons on the floor dusting the 200-year-old carpet, accompanied by classical music blaring through the speakers.

"So this is what you do the first time we're back together as a family. Ducal book club."

Klaus quips, "Reading edifies the mind, sister. Isn't that right, Elijah?"

"Yes, that's quite right, Niklaus."

"And what is this business?"

Elijah sighs, exasperated as said business licks the residual crumbs from her fingers. "This is a peace offering."

The brunette rolls her eyes. "I have a name, you know. Hayley?"

Klaus ignores her, "I presumed after so much time pinning over a certain woman that my big brother might be in need of a distraction."

Elijah continues, explaining in detail the lack of his enthusiasm over using the woman intended to bring about the end of his supposed 'pinning', "So I explained to my little brother that forgiveness cannot be bought. I'd simply prefer to see a change in behavior that indicates contrition and personal growth..."

"Says the manwhore," Rebekah mutters under her breath, quiet enough for Elijah to catch on, but loud enough for Niklaus to hear, his lip tugged in a smirk.

"Not this— nonsense."

#thanks for the ask seven! #princess diaries au #elijah mikaelson #rebekah mikaelson #klaus mikaelson #kaizschewips #writers ask

[thnxforknowingme]

Klaine 3-2-1 Prompt Bang Fic: Courting Royalty

Author: @thnxforknowingme

Artist: @quizasvivamos

Prompt Provided by: @nineofhearts4

Pairing: Blaine Anderson/Kurt Hummel

Rating: T

Word Count: 12.7k

Characters: Kurt Hummel, Blaine Anderson, Rachel Berry (minor Jesse St James, Sugar Motta, OCs)

Summary: During Kurt’s senior year, his friend Rachel gets some surprising news: she’s the princess of a tiny European country, and she has a twin brother to share the throne with. The summer after graduation, Kurt visits his newly-royal friend in the country she’s heir to before they head to New York for college. Staying in a castle and rubbing shoulders with European nobility is pretty overwhelming, but the most remarkable part is meeting Rachel’s brother Blaine, the new prince who Kurt instantly begins crushing on. This summer is either going to be a fairy tale come true, or result in multiple diplomatic catastrophes.

Inspired by Meg Cabot’s Princess Diaries series and the movie adaptations.

Genre/Tropes: Anderberry Siblings, Royalty, Modern Royalty, Alternate Meeting

Warnings: None

Notes: I’ve long been a fan of Meg Cabot’s, and this story was so much fun to write. Everything should be totally understandable for people who aren’t familiar with the Princess Diaries, but with some fun easter eggs for those who are. A thousand thank yous to @quizasvivamos who created not one but TWO beautiful pieces of art for this fic! Look how perfect they are! This was such a fun collaboration and I’m excited to share it with everyone. Enjoy!

Read on AO3 | Read on Tumblr

#klaine321promptbang2022 #my fic #fic: courting royalty #klaine fic #klaine fanfiction #princess diaries au

[tennessoui]

I was like what is the big deal with the princess AU, an than I read the first snippet and it is just so good.

Like Anakin thinks he needs to marry a woman, but then a handsome stranger tells him he can choose, only to be rejected by him later in public.

Like he should get a damn good hug for this.

the princess diaries au 😭😭

honestly poor anakin because obi-wan really doesn’t mean to tug him around or lead him on— he was giving honest advice in that cupboard (and yeah maybe flirting….a lot with the young princeling but that’s not a CRIME) he just didn’t realize that anakin is so earnest in his affections that he would then toss all subtlety out the window to ask someone much older than him to dance (looking very tipsy while doing it)

obi-wan is first a politician and he cares about how people perceive him and his relationships—it wasn’t great timing, especially with his grandfather (? whoever Dooku is to him in this au) standing right there watching and wondering if he can use obi-wan to take advantage of Anakin to get the crown etc etc

tbh obi-wan probably leaves the prince’s birthday ball and goes home and collapses onto his bed, pulls out his diary and is like “dear diary today the prince asked me to DANCE 😱🤪😍😅 I had to say no ☹️ but I hope I can convince him to ask me again 🤩😳🫣 I know what I’ll try! lightly bullying him 🤭 xoxo obi”

#asks #obikin #princess diaries au