Chapter Text
The kingdom rejoiced. The story of the masked ball and the blind suitor spread like wildfire, romanticized until it seemed plucked from legend. The prince had chosen not a courtier, not a noble heir, but a man overlooked, underestimated, hidden away. And he loved him.
The wedding was grand, a fairytale made real. White banners draped the palace halls, bells tolled over the city, and flowers spilled in every corridor. Guests traveled from across the realm to witness it: the union that had already captured their imaginations.
Sebastian, dressed in royal regalia that shimmered like firelight, stood at the altar with a grin that refused to leave his face.
And when Ominis entered, guided by Poppy and Princess Anne herself, the hall held its breath.
Ominis wore ivory trimmed in silver, his blond hair gleaming like spun sunlight, his eyes lifted though unfocused. He held his cane in one hand: not hidden, not shamed, but proudly, as though it were a scepter in its own right.
Sebastian’s grin softened into something reverent, awed.
When Ominis reached him, Sebastian leaned in, whispering, “Took you long enough.”
Ominis’ lips curved, small but genuine. “I was polishing candlesticks.”
The ceremony passed in a blur of laughter, music, and whispered congratulations, and soon the newlyweds were escorted back to their private chambers. The palace, vast and gleaming, no longer felt overwhelming to Ominis; with Sebastian by his side, every corridor, every polished surface was a place to explore and make his own.
True to his word, Ominis had ensured Poppy came with them. The girl who had once been his only friend, his steadfast helper, now had a place in the castle she loved. She took up the care of the royal stables and gardens, tending to the animals and plants with a joy that made her laugh from sunrise to sunset. Through her work, she was brought closer to her friend, Imelda, and soon became a cherished companion of Princess Anne as well.
Sebastian, for his part, found endless delight in watching Ominis adjust to this new life. Learning the layout of the palace, navigating halls with his cane now imbued with both independence and pride, marveling at the wonders of a world built for comfort rather than punishment. He adored the way Ominis’s brow furrowed in concentration as he explored a new corridor or discovered a library alcove, and how every little triumph, no matter how mundane, made his laugh bubble over with delight. He loved how Ominis always seemed slightly awed over every meal, not quite believing that the food was his to eat, without someone tearing the plate away from him or counting his breadcrumbs.
Ominis had a hard time getting rid of his habit as an early riser, and so he usually wandered the castle gardens alone in the mornings, enjoying the scent of the flowers and the dew in the grass. Sometimes, Princess Anne joined him, and together they snuck back to the bedroom and took turns bashing Sebastian with cushions until he woke up, groggy and affronted.
Evenings were filled with quiet companionship: Sebastian reading aloud while Ominis traced the lines in Braille books, sharing meals in the private dining room, and Poppy bringing them fresh news from the gardens or a freshly groomed animal. The palace, once vast and intimidating, had become a home brimming with warmth, laughter, and a love that was equal parts gentle and fierce.
And so, the prince who had once danced through life lightly, and the blind man who had once feared the world outside his family’s cruel halls, settled into a life together; unexpected, perfect, and wholly their own.