I slowly rub the sleep out of my eyes exhausted. I just slept. I am not a morning person. I hear the person that woke me up exiting the room. Probably a good idea on their part…

I sit up and try and will myself to move. The sun isn’t even nearly up yet. I almost get back in bed for 5 more minutes but tow myself to the shower again promising myself an early sleep tonight.

When I get out of the shower, I see a note on my desk with a coffee. THANK GOODNESS. I skull the hot cup of coffee and enjoy the burning sensation going down my throat. My eyes go wide, and my posture straightens. I feel wide awake. I’m so glad coffee exists.

I open the note.

Prince Louis,

Your cold day out outfit is on your bed and please make your way to the courtyard as soon as possible to greet your parents before their arrival.

-maid

I sigh and turn to my bed seeing a large outfit with lots of layers. At least I won’t be cold. I pull the outfit on before making my way through the kingdom and into the courtyard.

I meet my father’s best friend and right-hand man, Lesley. I greet him with a handshake, and we make small talk while waiting for my parents’ carriage to pull up so I can go inside, get more coffee, and see what the deal is. Hopefully, that will give me some peace of mind.

I see the gate open and 2 white horses pulling a white carriage. I see my parents through the window waving and I wave back. My cheeks and nose are burning from how cold it is. I can’t feel my fingers even through my gloves. Please let me go inside and sleep.

The carriage finally reaches the stairs, and the coach opens the door for them. They step out with smiles on their faces. They look so happy together. I wish I could have a relationship like theirs one day.

“Son!” my father says loudly before hugging me and patting my back, “how was ruling the kingdom?”

“Difficult” I whine, “I just want to sleep and never have to think about where different solders should be placed”

He pats me on the back and laughs at my rant. He lowers his voice.

“Why do you think I have Carter?” he winks and walks over to Lesley. My mother is next, and she hugs me tight. She pulls away and kisses my forehead.

“How was your trip?” I ask

“Good! I have so much to tell you!” she links her arm around mine and drags me along back into the castle gossiping. She tells me all about their queen and how they should have been friends sooner and how their kingdom was different from ours. She also mentioned they had a son around my age.

I walked and listened to her until I found myself in my father’s study.

“Son…we need to talk. Sit” he says, and mother pulls me over to a chair before slightly pushing me down. I swallow the lump building in my throat. They have never acted like this before.

“As your mother informed you, we managed to make a peace deal.” I don’t like where this is going at all, “We need your consent to agree and get the plan in action. As much as we originally didn’t want to include you, you became a major part.”

I gulp. My father is a usually straight-to-the-point guy so seeing him rambling is highly concerning.

“Please don’t get mad or overreact. We can all work this out together” my mother cuts in. I’m almost at biting my nails concerned which believe me I don’t bite my nails and I want to throw up just think about it!

“I won’t get mad. Just tell me already” I say just wanting to get it over and done with at this point.

“You know how I mentioned Queen Martha’s son?”

“Yeah…Edward or something?”

“Edison” that’s a different name…never heard that before.

“Okay, Edison. What does he have to do with anything?” I ask now really concerned and trying really hard to ignore the voice in the back of my head chanting. I refuse to believe my parents would do that to me! they wouldn’t. right?

“Queen Martha thought that the best way to stop the war is to combine our kingdoms and we could do this by…” she trailed off. She wouldn’t look at me.

“Marriage” my father cut in, “with your consent of course we are wanting you to marry Prince Edison.”

I shake my head. Wow, they really did do it. They sold me out like some worthless child they popped out just for an heir. It’s fine I knew it was coming. That doesn’t mean I’m not going to put up a fight though.

“Father…that is a really big commitment and I’m not sure if I’m ready for that” I say honestly even if it was the first thing that came to mind.

“Son, trust me, I know. I understand what you’re going through.” He has so much strain in his voice it makes me upset. “Your mother and I were arranged to be married through our kingdoms because mine were wealthier. Her parents just wanted money, so my family took her and paid her parents. We would always fight for so long. It took us six years to have a conversation without yelling or someone crying, and I guess that evolved into love.”

I feel the tears building up and I don’t dare to blink out of fear of letting the tears fall. I’m a man I don’t cry. Fuck that it's sexist anyway. I keep the tears in my eyes but they are differently there. Why am i crying anways? its stupid to cry now, crying wont fix anything. I will myself to stop crying but the tears are still there.

“Okay,” I say so low I will be surprised if anyone heard it. There is a point in my life where i need to stop thinking about what is best for me and what is best for my kingdom. 

“Great!” My mother pulled me into a hug and cried with me. I wish I could just stay in my mother’s safe arms forever.

I’m not doing it for me but for the kingdom and for my parents. The kingdom needs a king who will make sacrifices and be selfless. Who doesn’t care about themselves but only their kingdom. That’s what they need. I want to make my parents proud so I will do this, and I will make t the most convincing fake marriage anyone has ever seen.

My father pats me on the back comfortingly and I smile. I love my family.

“What do I need to do?” I ask.