Archive of Our Own ^beta

The sun is shining brightly over Glasthow, the monsoon that’s been hovering over the kingdom for the past four days has finally passed and it’s almost funny because Mike would rather have windy days again instead of light shining over them on a day like this.

A pair of hands come up to his collar and try to fix the buttons of his cape and Mike sighs. Servants have been all around him since he woke up that morning, all to make sure he is presentable for the upcoming visit.

Mike groans when the servant tightens his cape. He’s been trying to fight off this visit for weeks but his parents refused to listen to him.

“I don’t want to marry someone I don’t even know,” Mike said for the umpteenth time at dinner last night.

His mother calmly put down the fork and sighed heavily. “This is why we’ve organised a festival for the entire week. You have the chance to know her and to court her properly before proposing to her.”

Mike sank into his seat with a heavy heart. He hated those words. Courting, proposing, marriage. “You can’t fall in love in a week.”

“Love is not something you can afford, Michael,” his father answered before sticking another piece of chicken down his throat. Mike knew that much.

“Besides, we’ve been kind enough to meet your needs and give you a week to get to know her. You should be grateful.”

Mike snorts at the memory. His parents giving him a week to know a girl he was supposed to spend the rest of his life with was apparently a merciful thing to give him. He knows he’s lucky on that side because Nancy didn’t get a chance to know Steve Harrington beforehand. They visited his kingdom and by night, they were engaged already. Nancy’s always been strong, brave and respectful, but Mike has always had the feeling that her marriage with Steve wasn’t as happy as they made it look to be.

A knock on the door startles him and the servant quickly finishes fixing his cape.

“Come in,” he says and he can’t help but smile when he sees his sisters enter the room. Nancy arrived last night and Mike’s glad she’s here. Also, he thinks she likes to get excuses to get out of Harrington’s castle as much as possible.

“Mike!” Holly jumps up and down and swirls around. “Do you like my dress?”

“I think it’s beautiful, Holls,” he replies with a smile and laughs as he watches his little sister twirl in her new cerulean dress.

“You look charming,” Holly says as soon as she stops. “Are you getting married today?”

Mike pales and thankfully, Nancy steps in with a laugh. “No, Holly. Today we get to meet the family of the girl Mike has to marry.”

Has to, not wants to. Holly doesn’t seem to understand the weight those words carry and Mike prays she never has to. If there’s one good thing that will come out of this mess is that he’s going to change the rules when he becomes king. Holly being much younger than him gives her the chance to live freely and he hopes he becomes king before she reaches the age for marriage. Mike realises it’s not exactly a happy thought because that would wish for his father’s death, but he hasn’t always been much present as a parent and he wouldn’t miss him that much, to be honest.

“Are you ready?” Nancy asks him.

“As ready as I can be,” Mike answers and they both know he’s not ready at all.

The courtyard is filled with guards, servants, knights and peasants who have come to greet the Byers. Mike slowly walks down the stairs and reaches his parents at the end of it, stopping on his mother’s right. Nancy and Holly stop right behind them, a few steps above.

Trumpets announce that the carriage bringing his future wife is nearing and all Mike wants to do is hop on the first horse and run away.

“You look like a troll stamped on you, my lord.”

Mike holds back a laugh because it would be inappropriate and it would gain him one of his mother’s bad looks and he doesn’t want to start the day with that.

He turns around and smiles at his best friend.

“Thank you, sir Lucas,” he replies and nods to the row of knights on their right. “Shouldn’t you be over there with your knights?”

“I just wanted to bother you first, my lord,” he whispers and Mike wants to turn around and hug him but he knows he’s not allowed to during official ceremonies. They’re best friends and the whole kingdom knows but he has to act as the Prince he is in moments like this.

“Mission accomplished, sir. I will make sure the palace knows of your great schemes.”

They chuckle softly and Mike can see that his mother is about to turn around and silence them but the carriage is still not there so he allows himself a moment of joy.

“Are you okay?” Lucas whispers so low he almost misses it.

Mike sighs and turns his head towards him. “No.” There’s no point in lying to Lucas. They’ve been best friends for years and he sees right through him. He’s also been the shoulder he’s been crying on for the past weeks because Lucas knows how much Mike hates this arranged marriage.

“You can always scare her away.”

“I’ll try my best.”

Lucas gently squeezes his arm and he swiftly leaves his side to stand in front of the knights.

The crowd suddenly cheers and Mike feels his heart sink when the carriage finally enters the courtyard. The trumpets stop and Mike almost considers turning back and pretend he never existed, that he was never the only male heir of his kingdom, that he was just a nobody that accidentally ended up in this castle.

He can’t and he knows he has duties to his people but for once, he wishes he could be selfish.

The first of the two carriages stops right in front of them and when it opens, Mike feels his world end.

A manservant steps forward, lungs ready to make his voice heard in every corner of the yard. “Their Majesties the Queen Joyce and King Jim Byers of Melyneth.”

The King and Queen graciously descend the carriage and Mike would very much like to be a secret sorcerer, to be part of the people his parents have spent decades hunting and killing, just to have powers to make himself disappear or, at least, to make his future in-laws realise that this is very much a bad idea and that they should just hop back and leave and never return.

Unfortunately, he’s just a kid and the only power he has is political, so he watches as Queen Joyce opens her arms and greets his mother.

“Karen,” she says and her voice is soothing. “I can’t express how happy I am to finally see you again.”

“Joyce,” his mother bows. “It’s been far too long.”

Mike knows they met when they were children and that they spent the majority of their childhood and part of their adolescence growing up together, but then marriage duties swiped them away from each other.

There are formal greetings all around and when eyes land on him, Mike does his best to remember etiquette.

“This is our son, the Crown Prince, Michael Wheeler.”

Mike steps forward and bows dutifully and he would love for this to be just another visit from some random royals, but he knows it’s not and it all becomes real when a young woman gets off the carriage.

Mike holds his breath for a moment, his stomach knotting itself together. The woman reaches her parents’ side and Mike can’t help but think that it already feels like a trap.

She’s wearing a blue dress and it’s smart because blue is his kingdom’s colour and they’re already telling everyone that she is his, that she will become part of this kingdom and Mike keeps thinking that he doesn’t want that because it feels wrong.

“This is princess Janelle Byers, our daughter,” king Jim says, taking her hand. Janelle bows and locks eyes with Mike.

She’s smiling but her eyes seem to tell a different story because Mike can see uncertainty underneath a veil of what he think is fear.

His mother clears her throat, startling him, and he remembers he should do something now. He steps forward again and takes her hand and gently grazes his lips on the back of her hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, princess Janelle.”

Janelle bows. “The pleasure is mine.”

Mike feels a tiny grasp of hope sting him because they both look like they’d rather be anywhere but here. Maybe they can both sabotage this.

He takes a step back and breathes again and he thinks it’s all over, that they can go back inside and at least hide from people’s eyes, but the first carriage leaves space for the second and the manservant screams again.

“Their Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Melyneth Jonathan Byers and his brother, Prince William Byers.”

Two figures exit the carriage and Mike feels his world stop.

A tall man, whom Mike presumes is the Crown Prince, steps forward and introduces himself – and if he feels Nancy hold her breath behind him, he doesn’t mention it – but his eyes land on the other Prince, the one people probably forget about because he’s not the Crown Prince and he’s not the one getting married off.

“Jonathan!” his mother says. “Oh my oh my, you’ve grown. Last time I saw you you were just a toddler.”

“Your Majesty.” Jonathan bows again and his mother looks to his left.

“William. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, your Majesty,” he replies and dutifully bows. Mike’s starting to hate etiquette. “Thank you for inviting us.”

“Of course.” She turns to look at him and Mike holds his breath again. Is he supposed to do something now? He can’t remember what etiquette says about meeting the handsome brother of your future wife. Mike blinks. Wait, handsome? “This is the Crown Prince Michael. I hope you’ll manage to find time to know each other this week. I believe you could become good friends.”

“I’m sure we’ll find the time, your Majesty.” William bows and as he raises his head again, their eyes lock. For a moment, Mike forgets everything. He gets lost in his hazel eyes – is that a shade of green he sees? – and he feels like he’s swimming in an ocean of emotions. William looks back at him with curious eyes, the corner of his lips slightly turning up to form a smile.

Mike manages to nod at him and he thinks about saying something, anything, but he doesn’t get the chance because right after his sisters are introduced and William diverts his gaze.

Mike mentally slaps himself and he tries to compose himself and for a moment, he almost considers fainting only to escape the upcoming lunch.

He doesn’t and he gets it together, and he’s thankful that Lucas knows him so well because he sends him reassuring glances before he leaves the dining room. He takes his place and pales when he realises he’s been put between Janelle and William.

Nancy is sitting in front of him and she has Prince Jonathan on her left and Mike can’t help but smile when he sees the same struggles on her face. At least he’s not the only one. Holly is on Nancy’s right and she seems unbothered by everything and Mike envies her.

Lunch is served and chatter begins around them and Mike tries to think of something to say to Janelle but his mind is blank and whatever he might try to say, he wants to turn to his left and say it to William instead.

“I hope the journey wasn’t too tiring for you, Janelle,” his mother says and Mike takes his glass of wine and drinks it.

“Oh, no, it was quite fun, actually,” she replies with a smile. “I played chess with Will and won every time.”

“I kindly let you win the second round,” William – Will, Mike decides, because it sounds better and less formal – replies with a chuckle. A chuckle. Mike feels strangely in danger.

“I beg to differ, it was definitely all my merit.”

Will is about to protest again but Joyce gives them a knowing look that shuts them up. “I see you still manage to find something to bicker about even when I’ve kindly asked you not to.”

“Oh, don’t worry, Joyce,” Karen says, resting a hand over her arm. “Don’t you remember how we used to be?”

They both laugh and his mother looks between her own children. “Besides,” she says. “I’m used to much worse with Michael.”

He feels a wave of warmness reach his cheek and this is why he hates family meals with guests. Holly snickers and Mike is tempted to throw bread at her and he suddenly gets what his mother was talking about.

The topic thankfully shifts on the festival and the Byers are asking all about it and Mike tries to converse with the princess, he has to at least try, but his mind goes blank when he puts his hand back on the table and accidentally lays it on top of Will’s.

“Oh.” He retreats it as if he’s just touched fire. “I apologise.”

Will smiles at him, and it’s warm. “No need to.”

Mike swallows. Oh, it’s going to be a long week.

Mike knows he’s always been different. He thinks he figured it out when he was ten and he thought Lucas had soft hands and a charming smile and wanted to spend all his time with him, which he managed to do. Years later he confessed his crush to Lucas and they both spent the entire night laughing about it because that’s all it was, a puppy crush that thankfully went away and never stained their friendship. Still, Mike grew up knowing he liked boys better than girls – even though he somehow still thought some girls in his kingdom were cute – and he knows it’s not uncommon because the Prince of Rieleth got married to another Prince, but it’s something that it’s always only allowed to princes and princesses that aren’t destined to the throne. Guaranteeing a succession is part of his job and he can’t do that by marrying another man.

So it’s not a surprise when the next day Mike is having a mild crisis in the gardens of the castle.

“She doesn’t look too bad,” Lucas prompts. They’re sitting on a bench – or, actually, Lucas is because Mike is pacing back and fort – and Mike has to go and pick up the princess to spend the rest of the afternoon just walking around and yeah, he’s panicking.

“I know that, Lucas, and that’s not the problem.”

“I thought you wanted to try.” Mike stops in front of him and sighs. He did say that, in a moment of weakness a few nights before. “I mean, you can always sabotage this but I thought you wanted to give her a chance.”

“I know I said that but...I don’t know,” he replies and sits down next to him. “It doesn’t feel right anymore.”

“I think you’re just panicking, which is only fair.” Lucas squeezes his arm and gifts him a warm smile. “Try not to think too much about it today and try to enjoy the afternoon with her. Okay?”

Mike nods and he thinks he should really get going because he fears he’s late already but a sound of joint laughs catches their attention.

They get up just in time to see a group of four people reach the side of the garden they’re in and Mike is quite surprised to see that it’s Janelle with another boy. He remembers seeing him getting off the second carriage but was never introduced as he probably was one of the princes’ servants.

“Oh!” Janelle stops dead in her tracks when she sees him. She tries to fix her face, as to hide the fact that she’s been running, and she bows. “Prince Michael. I’m sorry for intruding.”

“There’s no need for this,” Mike says. “You are a guest here and you are free to go wherever you like.” Janelle smiles at him and Mike turns to the other boy. “I don’t think we’ve been introduced.”

“Oh, this is Dustin Henderson,” Janelle says and the boy – Dustin – bows almost perfectly. “He’s my brother’s best friend.”

“And servant,” he adds and Janelle chuckles. Mike looks between the two of them and doesn’t get to say anything because shortly after the other two people approach them and his heart skips a beat.

“You almost tripped back there, El,” Will says and he’s arm in arm with a redhead girl. He bows his head. “Prince Michael.”

“Prince William.” It feels weird to say it. Mike almost considers banning etiquette but he knows that’d be stupid. Before he can ask, Janelle – why did he call her El? - steps in.

“This is my maid, Maxine Mayfield.”

Maxine bows down and he feels Lucas straighten up beside him. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he says and he wishes he had other ways to say polite things because it’s only the first day and he’s getting tired of it already. “I hope you're enjoying the gardens.”

“Very much, thank you, your Highness,” she replies.

Mike gathers all the strength he has and turns to Janelle, trying his best to avoid looking at how comfortable Will and Maxine’s arms look locked together.

“I was about to look for you and ask if you fancied a walk around the gardens,” Mike says and it’s suddenly too serious, but this is what he ought to do. He offers her his hand and she takes it. “Shall we?”

Janelle nods and he doesn’t look back. He hears Lucas introduce himself and he feels eyes piercing the back of his head and he kind of hopes they belong to Will.

The afternoon with El – which is Janelle’s nickname and Mike very much prefers to call her El – is quite pleasant and he accompanies her back to her room before dinner. He promptly makes sure his parents see them together at least once so he can avoid questions about it.

Dinner goes quite smoothly and Holly entertains everyone at the table with tales of dragons and soft cloths, and Mike is still trying to find a connection between the two things when his mother decides to ruin the mood.

“One of our best jesters is going to perform tomorrow afternoon,” she says, bringing the glass of wine to her lips. “Michael, why don’t you take Janelle to see the performance?”

Mike takes a deep breath and turns to his right to forcefully smile at his guests. “I’d love to. Would you like to see it, my lady?”

El nods, her smile so perfect it looks like it came out of a handbook. “Of course, my lord.”

It all sounds fake to him but El is sweet and it’s definitely too soon to judge but last afternoon he got that sensation again, like she didn’t want to be there with him. He’s not sure if it’s just him projecting his feelings onto her or if they’re actually on the same page.

Dinner ends and thankfully he’s not expected to spend the rest of the evening with El, and after he bids everyone a good night, he reaches an empty alley in the west wing and sits on the window.

He watches as the night falls around the castle. Torches are lit and servants leave the castle to reach their families, and Mike wonders what it would feel like to be one of them. To be able to be himself, free from duties and expectations. He knows he’s lucky and that many people would kill to switch places with him, but he’s never felt at home in his role.

He knows he really doesn’t have a way out and he’s made peace with it a long time ago. He just wishes he could choose the person to have next to him in this lifelong adventure that's going to burden on his shoulders.

A loud noise startles him and he jumps off the window, a hand already on his sword. He grips it tight but realises there’s no need for it when he sees Will stand in front of him.

“I’m sorry,” Will begins. “I didn’t mean to startle you, my lord.”

My lord. Mike feels his insides dance a happy dance. “It’s okay. I was...lost in thoughts.”

Will nods and looks like he’s been caught red-handed. “I’m sorry for intruding, though. This looks like a place I shouldn’t be in.”

Mike snorts and he lets go of his sword. “It’s okay, I understand. Castles are always fun to explore. Not many people come to this area. It gets...quiet.”

“I see.”

Silence settles between them and Mike is surprised when he realises it’s not awkward at all.

“Did you have fun this afternoon with my sister?” Will opts to ask, stepping forward, his arms linked behind his back. “My lord.”

“Please, there’s no need for formalities,” Mike says. “You can just...call me Mike.”

“Mike, huh?” Will smirks and Mike feels like he’s been hit by an arrow.

“If that’s okay with you, obviously.”

Will nods. “It is. You can call me Will, then.”

“Long names are never good, somehow.”

“That’s why I call Janelle just El. Jonathan is the only one I call by using his full name. It feels weird to call him Jon or anything else.”

They both laugh and Mike leans back on the window.

“You didn’t answer my question, though,” Will says again and Mike needs a moment to remember what it was.

“Oh. Yes, we had-it was a fun afternoon. Just...yeah, fun.” Mike hates when he stumbles. “Your sister is good company.”

“She’s truly an amazing human being,” Will replies and he takes another step. They’re not too close and Mike’s thankful for that because he fears he would do something stupid if Will took another step forward. He’s backed against the window wall and he realises he’s got no room to escape, in case the prince decides to torture him by stepping even closer. “I do hope your intentions with her are good.”

Mike swallows and actually, no, he has no intentions whatsoever and he’d rather be courting him but he can’t say it. He definitely can’t. “Of course they are,” he opts to reply but he’s not sure he’s convinced him.

“I just wanted to make sure.” Will takes a step back and Mike breathes again. “My sister means the world to me and all I want is for her to be happy and to be treated right. She deserves the world and I hope you have what it takes to give it to her.”

Mike feels something shatter inside of him. He can see how Will means every single word he’s saying but there’s something underneath those words, some truths he’s not saying and Mike wants to dig deep but doesn’t know how to.

“I hope so, too,” he lies and suddenly, sabotaging his own future wedding has become ten times harder. “I will try my best to make her happy.”

He doesn’t mean it because he doesn’t want to marry her but he can’t say it and he hopes this lie won’t come back haunting him if he actually manages to avoid this marriage.

Will nods and looks away. “I should go back to my room. Goodnight, Mike.”

“Goodnight.”

He leaves as quietly as he came and Mike drops on the floor as soon as he’s alone.

He takes a deep breath and places a hand on his heart.

Oh, for Merlin’s beard.

The jester’s performance is terrible and Mike digs out his best acting skills to at least pretend he’s enjoying it. El is wrapped around his arm and people are smiling at them, looking at them as if they’re radiating happiness, as if they’re truly in love. Mike thinks they – or at least he is – are doing quite a good job at faking it but the more time he spends with El, the more he feels like she doesn’t want this, either.

With a grand gesture, the jester closes his performance by giving El a red rose and she chuckles and takes it, and Mike gladly turns around and takes her away.

They start walking around the festival and it’s a happy place and for once, Mike tries his best not to feel oppressed. Maxine is with them, walking far behind them but always near.

“Look!” El says as she points to a stand. A man is painting quick portraits of people. “Oh, do you think we’re allowed to pose for him?”

Mike looks over at the painter and hums. “I think so. We are royals, I don’t think we need permission for that.”

“We could do it tomorrow afternoon! I want a portrait with my favourite dress. It’s red and soft and-” She suddenly stops and Mike turns to look at her. “I’m sorry, my lord. I’m letting myself get carried away by foolish thoughts.”

“No, it’s okay,” Mike replies and he understands what she’s feeling. The burden of being forever perfect for your people and your parents is something that’s impossible to shake off. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to accompany you tomorrow afternoon, though. I have practice with my knights and it’s not something I can miss.”

“Oh, I see.” El tries to smile but it comes off as sad.

“You can always go with your maid, Maxine,” Mike suggests. “Or with your brother. I’m sure someone would love to accompany you.”

“Wouldn’t that bother you?” El asks.

Mike shakes his head and laughs. “Of course not. You’re free to do whatever pleases you, El.”

She smiles at him and they resume their little walk and for once, Mike feels a bit less heavy.

They spend the next hour walking around, stopping every now and then to peek over the stands. It’s a quiet afternoon and the sun is warm, and it really does feel like spring again.

At one point they reach the game area and he obliges himself to at least try to win something for El, because that’s what he’s supposed to do and he’s starting to like her. He’s not sure he’ll ever love her but at least they can form a friendship.

Most of the game stands are occupied but the archery one is currently free. Mike leads El to it and asks the servant for a bow.

“If his Highness manages to centre the target, he may choose the prize to gift the princess,” he explains and Mike sighs.

He doesn’t ace in archery but he has good aim and he only hopes this goes to his advantage.

The first shot is embarrassingly bad as it lands on the white circle and El softly laughs beside him.

“His Highness has three chances!” the servant reminds him. “Two to go.”

“I will try my best,” he replies and he turns to look at El. “For you, my lady.”

El actually blushes and people around him coo and Mike wishes it was this easy to deceive himself, too.

He takes aim and it’s better than the last but it’s still a bad shot as the arrow lands on the black circle. He’s three circles off the centre and he should’ve really practised before.

“That’s your best, your Highness?”

Mike turns around so fast he almost trips on the spot and that would’ve certainly been more embarrassing than whatever he’s trying to do with the bow. Will is standing behind them, a smirk on his face, and El echoes a laugh.

“No,” Mike answers. “But I still have one shot.”

“May I help?”

“Isn’t that considered cheating?” El asks but she’s smiling. Will shoots her a knowing look and he takes a few steps forward until he’s right next to him, and Mike wants to die on the spot.

“You should keep your back more erect, sir,” Will says and Mike knows he’s asked for no formalities but he knows it’s not something they can do in public.

He clears his throat and takes position again and he almost shoots the arrow when he feels Will’s hand rest on the upper part of his back.

“Relax your shoulder, your Highness,” Will whispers and Mike holds his breath. He can’t focus properly but at the same time everyone’s looking at him and he can’t fail a third time.

“Aim at the centre,” Will continues and Mike knows that much, thank you very much. “And then, shoot.”

He lets go and the arrow completely misses the target and flies over it. There are cheers among some disappointed sounds and his people are smiling at him, but his cheeks still turn a bright shade of pink.

“Your Highness might be luckier next time,” the servant says and he turns to El with a smile. “For the beautiful lady.” He hands her a yellow flower and she takes it with a laugh.

“Thank you.”

Mike puts the bow down and turns around to find Will laughing at him.

“I think you need more practice, your Highness,” he says.

“My time is already occupied by sword training.”

“All the time?” Will asks and he links his arms behind his back again. “I could help you practice. I saw a training ground with targets not too far from the gardens.”

“Oh, yes!” El chimes in as she links arms with Mike again. He sees Will quickly glance down and Mike tries not to think too much about it. “Will is an excellent archer.”

“My only free time is tomorrow morning,” Mike replies and he forces himself to turn to look at El. “And I'm supposed to take you to our greenhouse.”

“I can go with my mother,” El answers a bit too quickly. “She told me yesterday she wanted to visit it, too. I would actually enjoy some alone time with her.”

This week is turning out to be quite the opposite of what he imagined and he’s definitely not complaining.

“Alright then.” Mike turns to look at Will again. His heart jumps happily. “I’d gladly accept archery lessons.”

The morning of the fourth day comes and Mike feels like a mess. His parents scolded him for retreating from one of his outings with El and that definitely put him in a bad mood.

“We gave you this week to get to know Janelle, not to go and spend time with her brother!” His mother had been furious but thankfully Queen Joyce had entered the room right after and Mike had escaped to his room.

And now he’s here, on the training ground, pacing back and forth with Lucas standing next to him.

“Will you ever stop pacing?” he asks and Mike laughs, trying his best to stop. He fails, obviously, because he keeps going. “Why do you even want to take archery lessons?”

“I tried to win a prize for El yesterday and I failed.” It’s the truth, just not the entire truth.

“You’re really taking this seriously,” Lucas says and Mike is thinking of something to say, and quickly, but he finally stops when he sees Will approach them.

Lucas follows his gaze and when he sees Will, his eyes widen in shock. When he looks at him again, Mike feels extremely small.

“Why is the princess’ brother coming towards us?”

“He’s giving me archery lessons.”

That’s all it takes for Lucas to understand what this means and Mike’s glad that the training ground is big because Lucas has some time before Will finally reaches them.

“Mike,” he starts and he steps closer in order to whisper. “What is going on?”

“It’s just...he proposed, I thought I could need some lessons.”

“Mike.” Lucas is not judging him but he’s probably questioning his mental abilities. “Are you courting your future wife’s brother?!”

“I’m not!” Mike protests but Lucas doesn’t believe him and honestly, he doesn’t blame him. “I...I’m not courting him.”

“But you fancy him.”

He looks up and when Will waves at him, Mike feels his chest tighten with emotions. “I think I do.”

“Mike!”

“I know this is messed up!” He wants to scream but somehow, he manages to whisper. “I know this is wrong but...Lucas, I...I just want something that makes me feel happy. Just this once.”

“You know that whatever you feel is not wrong,” Lucas points out. “It’s just the situation that is. He’s the brother of the woman you’re supposed to marry.”

“Supposed to.”

“Mike.”

It’s a big mess, a cannonball ready to hit him with all the bad consequences, and he knows he still can avoid the explosion. He can still stop himself from doing anything stupid, from pursuing whatever he’s feeling but he wants this. He wants this morning and nothing is going to stop him.

“Your Highness.”

They both turn around and Lucas bows to greet Will.

“I see you brought a witness,” Will continues with a smile. “Afraid I might actually use you as a target?”

“I just escorted his Highness to the training ground,” Lucas answers and it sounds cold rather than polite. “If you’ll excuse me, my knights are waiting for me.”

Lucas leaves and Mike knows this conversation is not over, but it is for him and it is for the day.

Mike straightens up his posture and he can’t help but smile when his eyes lock with Will’s. There’s something shining in them, a spark hidden but still very much visible, something that could easily explode and Mike is very tempted to make it happen but he knows these are dangerous waters.

“Did I say something wrong?” Will asks as he turns around to watch Lucas walk away.

Mike shakes his head. “No, he’s just...not in a good mood today.”

“Ah, I see.”

Will takes a step forward and Mike already feels like melting, but he coughs briefly and looks down. “I’m ready for the lesson, Prince William.”

He knows he can call him Will but the laugh that escapes Will’s lips was worth using the formal name for once.

“Something tells me we’re going to stay here for quite a long time, Prince Michael,” Will replies and Mike wants to take it back, he doesn’t want to use formal names anymore because hearing Will calling him Michael makes him all giddy inside and he feels like he could combust right on the spot.

Will gets closer and takes one of the two bows Mike borrowed from the storage room.

“First of all, we need to improve your stance,” Will begins and Mike is quite disappointed when Will doesn’t get near him to rearrange his posture with his hands. But then Mike thinks that it’s probably for the best because he’s not sure he’d be able to concentrate with his hands on him. “You need to stand upright with your feet shoulder-width apart.”

Mike obliges and he tries his best to do as he’s told – which would be quite a sight for his mother since he rarely listens to her - and he concentrates on his feet.

“Good,” Will says. “Try to relax. It’s important that your muscles aren’t tense.”

I’m tense, Mike thinks but he tries his best to relax every ounce of him. Will gives him a few more tips before moving on to how to grip the bow.

Mike isn’t too bad, he’s taken a few archery lessons when he was a kid but he always preferred sword training to it. Right now, he’s extremely happy he never took the time to practice it more but at least he’s not a complete disaster.

They take turns in shooting their arrows and Mike can’t help but feel completely captured by the sight of Will with a bow in his hands.

He makes it look effortless, like it’s the easiest thing in the world. He takes a breath and when he releases it, the arrow flies through the field and centres the target and it’s smooth and impressive. Mike wonders if Will is trying to impress him. If he’s doing what he’s doing, if they’re both messing around with each other. He wonders if Will is like him.

“Your turn,” Will says and Mike almost drops his bow as he comes back to reality. He positions himself in front of the target and tries his best to relax. His shoulders are probably too high again because he shoots and his arrow lands on the border of the target.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Will says and Mike knows that much and he’s about to ask him what is it that he’s not getting right but his voice dies in his throat when he feels Will behind him.

His hands reach his shoulder and Mike’s mind goes blank. He thinks Will is saying something but the only thing his mind is registering is the pressure of Will’s hand on his shoulder. They’re warm and Mike can only guess that they’re soft, too, and he would very much like to hold them in his to find out.

“You really need to relax,” Will whispers and Mike takes a deep breath. A shiver runs through his body and it makes his fingers tickle.

Will moves his hands from his shoulder and Mike trembles under his touch. The prince runs his hand down his arm and only stops when he reaches the hand that’s gripping the bow. His fingers start to dance around his and he corrects them until they’re in the right position. “Here. Like this.”

Mike wants to drop everything and turn around and kiss him, but he’s got some dignity left and he takes another deep breath.

He lets go and his arrow pierces through the air and lands on the red circle, just a few inches away from the centre.

“That was actually decent.”

“Just decent?”

Mike turns around with a laugh that dies immediately when he realises that they’re still standing close. Their faces are inches apart and Mike can feel his warm breath graze his lips. He searches for a sign to stop in Will’s eyes but he sees that spark again and it’s ready to burst, and he’s not sure he wants to stop it.

He lets go of his bow and leans closer. His heart is slamming against his chest and he doesn’t care. He wants this and Will looks like he wants it, too. Will closes his eyes and Mike can’t help but smile.

Their lips barely touch and the magic surrounding them suddenly stops when Will steps back.

“I-I can’t.”

He doesn’t give him time to process what’s happening because he turns around and runs back towards the castle.

Mike stands alone on the field, a heart beating so fast it could run like a wild horse, and the ghost of a kiss he wishes didn’t run away from him lingers on his lips.

xxx

Later that afternoon, he’s a mess.

He’s got sword training with the knights and he should pay more attention to it because they’re his knights and sword training is actually one of the few things he still enjoys doing, but today he can’t bring himself to concentrate.

“Care to elaborate on why you’re spacing out, my lord?”

Mike turns around and almost hits Lucas with his sword. He immediately puts it down and scoffs.

“No.” He starts to swing his sword around but Lucas doesn’t seem like he wants to give up.

“Did something happen?” he asks with a whisper.

Mike wishes he could answer yes and while something kind of did happen, it wasn’t the thing Mike actually wanted to happen. “Nothing you have to worry about.”

Lucas is about to protest again but Mike walks away and starts practising with the other knights.

He’s distracted, he knows that, but he tries his best to concentrate on his movements.

He starts to practice battle movements with one of his knights when he sees something with the corner of his eye that catches his attention.

Will is walking around the street circling the training field and he’s not alone. Dustin is with him and they’re animatedly talking and Mike wonders if the prince is updating his best friend on what almost happened that morning.

He really should’ve stuck to practising sword fighting with the wood mannequins because he completely misses the knight stepping forward with his sword and in the span of a second, he’s bending down with a wound on his arm.

He tries not to scream but everyone is on his side in mere seconds.

“Your Highness!” one of the servants yells. Mike grimaces as he removes the hand from the wound and blood starts to flow out. He should’ve also worn the arm protections.

“It’s nothing,” Mike says but people around him make it look like it’s actually the end of the world.

Lucas promptly comes to save the day again – as he so often does – and he swings his arm around his neck and guides Mike back to the castle. The crowd doesn’t allow him to see Will but he wishes he could’ve at least met his gaze again.

“We need to punish the knight right away!”

Mike sighs as his mother panics. They’re in the physician’s quarters and he’s getting his wound tended to, and his mother is obviously not reacting well.

“Mother, it was not Leon’s fault,” Mike replies.

“It was! You didn’t accidentally cut yourself with your sword, did you?”

“No, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was distracted and didn’t react in time. It was my fault.”

His mother keeps arguing back and Mike lets her vent while the physician just smiles, pretty much used to her behaviour.

“It’s not a deep wound, my lady,” the physician says. “It will heal in no time.”

She doesn’t get the chance to answer back because her attention turns to the door as it opens and Queen Joyce appears on the threshold, El and Will right behind her.

Mike lightens up at the sight of Will but he knows he needs to control himself in front of others. Then he remembers he’s supposed to be courting the princess and not the prince.

“I heard you got wounded,” Joyce says, approaching the chair he’s sitting on. “Is everything okay?”

“It’s just a small wound,” Mike replies and raises the freshly bandaged arm.

“Are you sure?” Joyce asks and Mike likes how soothing her voice is. It’s what he thinks a mother should sound like and he loves his mother, he really does, but it’s been a while since she’s last used her motherly voice. Mike nods and Joyce smiles at him. “I’m glad. You got us all worried.”

“I apologise for worrying you,” Mike replies. “But I can guarantee you that all is well.”

“I’m glad.”

Joyce looks at his mother and gives her a knowing look that apparently his mother immediately understands because she recomposes herself and smiles.

“Joyce, dear, would you be so kind to accompany me to the gardens?” his mother says and Mike suddenly understands. “I had my gardeners plant this new flower, I have to show it to you!”

“Of course,” Joyce replies and she turns toward her son. “William, would you mind keeping us company?”

“Not at all,” Will answers with a polite smile but his eyes can’t hide the worry he’s feeling. He links arms with his mother and the physician says something about retiring to his own room and before he knows it, he’s alone with El. Will glances back once before the door closes behind him.

“Did it hurt?” El asks. She doesn’t step closer and she doesn’t even try to take his hand. Mike’s glad she doesn’t.

“Not much. I’ve had much worse injuries.”

El frowns but she quickly turns it into a kind smile. “My brothers don’t like to train with swords but I remember Jonathan getting hurt once during practice. It wasn't nice.”

“It’s not but it’s part of the job, I guess.”

El smiles and it’s becoming awkward because they were both put in this situation and both of them don't know how to act. None of them wants to be there and Mike wonders how they can both escape it. He thinks of Will.

“Did you get your portrait done today?” Mike opts to ask and El shakes her head.

“No. I was about to head downtown when my mother told me what happened to you.”

“You can still go.”

“Will was meant to take me but he definitely can’t anymore.” Mike smiles at the mention of him. “Besides, I should probably keep you company.”

“No, you can go,” Mike replies. “You could ask your maid. Maxine? Or your brother’s friend. I’m sure they’ll be happy to accompany you.”

He could do it himself because he’s not dying, he didn’t even lose that much blood but he hopes she gets what he’s trying to tell her. He’s giving her a way out and it looks like it’s something she wouldn’t mind taking.

“If it’s alright with you, my lord.”

“You don’t answer to me. You are your own person, El. You are free to do whatever you want.”

El smiles at him. It’s sincere and it’s warm and Mike can’t help but wish it was Will there with him instead.

“Thank you, my lord.”

She leaves shortly after and Mike heads back to his room. He’s got some thinking to do.

He doesn’t see Will until the next day. Mike spends the morning with El in the gardens again and they just talk about their lives, comparing how they grew up, and it takes Mike by surprise when El tells him that she’s Will’s twin sister.

“You’re twins?” he asks and he doesn’t want to sound this surprised but he is.

El laughs. “Of course we are! Didn’t you notice?”

Mike shakes his head and El laughs again, and he wonders how he managed to miss such an important information.

With the afternoon comes also the hunting trip his father organised. He’s never been a fan of hunting but it’s something he knows he has to do, and this year he won’t complain because Will will also be there.

He’s been avoiding him, he knows that much, but Mike is adamant to find a moment during the hunting trip where they can talk alone. He’s not sure what they will talk about but he has to try.

They leave right after lunch and the first hour is messy. Knights are surrounding him and he never gets the chance to be alone, so he waits until everyone is too engrossed in trying to catch the prey to notice his absence.

It takes longer than he’d thought it would and he asks Lucas to cover for him.

“You owe me, my lord,” Lucas answers back and Mike knows he doesn’t really mean it but he will make it up to him for all of this.

Mike starts to walk in the opposite direction, where he saw Will wander away a few minutes before. He doesn’t know if it was an invitation for him. Will doesn’t look like the kind of guy who enjoys hunting, so he could probably just have wandered off not to deal with it. Mike doesn’t know but he doesn’t care.

It doesn’t take him long to find him. Will is leaning on the trunk of a tree, face pointed towards the lake. It’s a small lake, it can almost be considered a pond, but it’s beautiful and its light is reflecting on Will’s face. Mike stops for a moment. He looks beautiful.

Will turns around when Mike steps on a branch and makes himself known.

“Your Highness,” Will says. “I didn’t hear you coming.”

“I wasn’t exactly making much noise,” Mike replies, trying to laugh. Will hints at a smile but it comes out as a frown.

“Did the prey come this way?” Will asks, eyes on the ground, and Mike hopes he’s not talking about himself. For a moment, he feels like a hunter ready to kill his prey, ready to kill with words and hands, but that’s not what he wants to do with Will.

“No, quite the opposite. It’s on the other side of the woods.”

“Then I think you’re lost, your Highness.”

“Will.”

The boy raises his eyes and Mike takes all his courage and steps forward. Will hits his back on the tree again and he looks on the verge of tears but he doesn’t run away this time.

“I’m not lost,” Mike continues once he’s in front of him. He looks down and with a heavy breath, he takes Will’s hand. “I think...I think I’m where I’m meant to be.”

Will doesn’t let go of his hand but he doesn’t hold it, either. “I’m not sure that’s right, your Highness.”

“Maybe,” Mike replies because he knows he shouldn’t be here. “But I’m where I want to be.”

He waits. Will is looking at him like he’s actually the prey: he’s begging him to let him go, to let him run away, but at the same time he’s stuck there, between a possible lover and a tree that doesn’t give him a way out.

Mike waits. And Will says nothing.

“If this is not what you want,” he begins and he’s whispering. “If I’m reading this wrong, just tell me. I won’t force you. I never would.”

“That’s the problem,” Will finally says and his voice is breaking. “I want to. I want you.”

That’s all Mike needs to close the gap between them.

It’s stupid, it’s risky and it should be wrong but when his lips finally touch Will’s, Mike can only think about how right all of this feels.

He lets go of Will’s hand to bring both of his hands on his face. He cradles his face and deepens the kiss. Will doesn’t hold back and he kisses back, fiercely, his hands gripping his white shirt.

Mike leans his body on Will’s and the boy groans as Mike cages him in. His hands start to move frantically around Will’s face, shoulders, body, and Mike wants to hold him forever but he knows they don’t have that much time. They probably have just this moment and Mike wants to savour every second of it.

They break apart after what feels like eternity and merely two seconds. Mike rests his forehead on Will’s and they don’t talk for a while. They’re both panting and Mike has his hands on his face again. Will is holding himself on Mike’s arms. It feels like no one else should touch him like that.

“This was not supposed to happen,” Will whispers but it’s loud enough to shatter Mike’s heart.

“I wanted it to happen,” he replies.

“That doesn’t mean it’s right. You’re courting my sister, Mike.”

“But I want to court you.”

Will breaks the contact to look at him in the eyes. There are tears ready to fall and Mike wants to wipe them away. “We can’t,” he replies. “And I-I can’t do this to my sister.”

“She doesn’t look particularly happy about this situation, either,” Mike insists. “We’ve both been trapped in this arranged marriage. We don’t want this, Will.”

“We can’t have this, Mike.” He hates how Will is trying to convince him. This is not what he wants. “We are not allowed to have what we want.”

“Why not? Why can’t I have you when you’re the only one I want?”

“Because I can’t give you what it’s required, Mike!” Will raises his voice and Mike moves his hands away. “I can’t give you heirs. You need a queen, I can’t give you that and you know that.”

“I don’t want a queen. I want you!” He steps closer again and he doesn’t wait this time. He kisses Will again and it’s bittersweet, a moment stolen that will forever be theirs and that Mike fears is going to be the only one that will bind them together.

He tries to memorise everything. How Will’s lips feel on his, how the kiss feels like a dance, the way his heart beats in his chest, the feeling of Will’s hand on his waist.

It all shatters in the blink of an eye when a cough interrupts them.

They jump apart and Mike only avoids a heart attack when he sees it’s Lucas.

“They’re looking for you, your Highness,” Lucas says.

Will untangles from his arms and walks away without ever turning around. Mike sighs heavily and he watches as his happiness walks away.

Lucas is staring at him and Mike can see that there’s no judgement in his eyes. There’s something that’s much worse, and it’s sadness.

xxx

Mike has always felt trapped in his life. He never had a choice, whether it was about his private life or what clothes he was supposed to wear. It’s unfair but he guesses there has to be something to balance off all the privileges he gets by being the Crown Prince. Still, he wishes he had a choice over his marriage.

He’s once again standing in front of the mirror and the servants are helping him put on his ceremonial dress. He’s been dreading this whole week but he can’t bring himself to be happy about the upcoming ball tonight.

A knock on the door makes the servants go away and soon enough, his sister is fixing his cape for him.

“We didn't get much time to talk this week,” Nancy says. Mike looks at her through the mirror. “How’s it going?”

“Our parents seem pleased with the situation,” he replies and Nancy laughs.

“That’s not what I asked.”

Mike turns around and he doesn’t have it in him to lie but he’s not sure he wants his sister to know what he’s going through. He thought he could have it different, that this week of getting to know his future wife would bring him some kind of peace. All it brought him was a war of feelings and he realises at that moment, with Nancy looking at him, that he ended up just like her.

“Do you think Holly is going to be able to marry someone she loves?” he asks.

“She’s nine, Mike. It’s definitely too early for that.”

“I know but she’s growing up so fast. She’ll be of age in no time.”

Nancy takes his hand and sighs. “We’ll make sure she can.”

Mike nods. If they both can’t have what their hearts desire, Mike wants to make sure his little sister gets the chance to.

The great hall is decorated with garlands and flowers, and music is filling every corner. There’s food everywhere and Mike likes these balls because he doesn’t have to sit through dinner before getting the chance to hide in some corner with his knights. He usually has to dance just once and it’s always with Holly, but he knows this time it’s different.

When he reaches the hall, everyone’s already there. The Queen and King of Melyneth are talking with his parents and Mike knows he has to reach them first but his heart stops when his eyes land on Will.

He’s standing next to his brother Jonathan and Mike thinks he’s never seen someone this beautiful.

Will is wearing a yellow dress adorned with white shimmering lines. The colour suits him perfectly and the smile on his face is so bright Mike believes it could light up the entire room if the torches suddenly died.

“Your Highness.” Mike jumps and turns around and sees a manservant. “The King and Queen are waiting for you.”

Mike nods and he doesn’t dare to raise his eyes towards Will again. He walks up to his parents and he’s greeted with smiles and polite words.

“You look quite handsome tonight,” Joyce exclaims. She looks happy. Mike wonders if she would be as much happy if he was courting her son instead.

He doesn’t get to reply because quiet coos fill the hall and everyone turns around.

Turns out, not everyone was there because El is making her grand entrance. She’s wearing another blue dress and Mike wonders what happened to the red one, because she’s mentioned it a couple of times after the first time and he’s never seen her wear it.

The crowd moves to make space for the princess of Melyneth and she walks proudly over them. Everyone bows and Mike gets into the part he’s meant to play.

He bows and takes her hand to kiss it. “My lady. You look beautiful.” And she does but she’s not the one that makes his heart beat like he’s just run from a dragon.

“Thank you, my lord.”

Mike didn’t even realise that the music had stopped but he gets his cue when it starts again and he’s still holding her hand.

“May I have this dance?” he asks and El nods, politely but definitely not convinced.

Mike takes her to the dance floor and the ceremonial dances start.

He hates it and El looks happy but not sincerely and Mike wonders what did they do wrong in their past lives to deserve such unhappiness.

El trips on her dress and Mike catches her as they keep dancing. “I’m sorry. I’m a bit nervous.”

“There’s no need to be. I’m not exactly a good dancer myself,” Mike says and she laughs. Her smile dies down almost immediately but she still tries to sound cheerful.

“I guess it’s something I have to get used to.”

She doesn’t want this, Mike doesn’t want this and he thinks maybe it’s not such a crazy idea to blow it.

They dance together for two more dances and then Holly demands her usual dance with her brother and he gladly accepts the diversion.

The night goes on, he eats something with Nancy and he silently stands next to Lucas, who thankfully doesn’t ask him questions about what he saw earlier that day. Time moves too fast and Mike doesn’t get a chance to talk with Will. He’s almost always busy doing something else, whether it’s dancing with his sister or talking with his knights, or even just having a lovely chat with Holly. He’s avoiding him, understandably, but Mike doesn’t want the kiss in the woods to be the last time they got to talk face to face.

His mother forces him to dance one more time with El, and he obliges, but right after he makes up an excuse and says he’s going back to his room to change his cape. It’s something he’s done before and no one questions him. He leaves the grand hall and walks the opposite way he’s supposed to take and he’s pleasantly surprised when he reaches the empty alley in the west wing and finds Will sitting on the window.

He stops dead in his tracks and he’s not sure what to say. Will is looking at him with a resigned and somehow guilty expression on his face.

“I’m sorry for intruding,” Mike then says. “I didn’t think someone would be up here.”

“This is your castle, I should be the one apologising,” Will replies as he gets up. “I’ll leave you alone.”

He walks past him but he doesn’t get far because Mike grabs his wrist and stops him from leaving. “I don’t want you to leave,” he whispers and Will doesn’t turn to look at him. “Will, please.”

“We can’t do this.”

“Stop saying that.”

“Why? Does it make you feel guilty?” he asks and finally faces him. “Because that’s how I feel, Mike. I let you kiss me, I kissed back and I shouldn’t have done that because you’re going to be my sister’s husband-”

“I don’t want that!”

“-and there is nothing we can do about it so this is wrong. This is just so, so wrong.”

Will doesn’t leave his side and Mike tries to hold him closer, resting his forehead on his.

“Does this make you feel wrong?” Mike asks. He takes Will’s hands and places them on his chest. “Did kissing me make you feel wrong at all?”

Will swallows and closes his eyes. He doesn’t answer but Mike can see that words are dancing around his lips and he’s holding them back.

“I can’t ignore this, Will,” he continues. “I can’t pretend that what I feel for you is what I feel for your sister.”

“She doesn’t deserve this.”

“Of course she doesn’t but she doesn’t want this!”

Will leans back but he doesn’t let go of his hands. “How would you know? Did you ask her?”

“No but I’ve been spending time with her. There’s something off whenever we have to spend time together. She doesn’t want this.”

Will splutters and it looks like he’s trying to win a lost fight. “Even if that’s the case, I still can’t be with you.”

Mike brings one of his hands to his waist and brings him closer. “It wouldn’t be the first time that two princes marry each other.”

“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.” Will moves his hands to Mike’s face and they’re warm and soft, and Mike wants to stay like this forever. “You’re the Crown Prince. You’re not allowed to marry another prince. Your lineage has to continue.”

Mike doesn’t have an answer to that because he knows he’s right. There have always been strict rules for succession and he knows he’s going to change them as soon as he becomes king. But when he does, it’ll be already too late for them.

“El is going to be a good wife to you,” Will continues and Mike shuts his eyes. “She...she’ll be a good mother, too.”

“Please, stop, please.”

“It’s...you’ll be happy together. She can make you happy.”

“Will, stop.”

“She has a big heart. S-she doesn’t deserve this, she’s so gentle and-”

He doesn’t get to finish his sentence because Mike kisses him and Will doesn’t stop him. Mike pushes him back until he hits the wall. Will whines but his complaint gets lost in the kiss as Mike deepens it. It’s a desperate kiss where both of them are trying to memorise the other, hands holding onto each other as if their lives depended on it, and they probably do. It’s desperate but it’s sincere and Mike thinks he’s in love.

“What can I say to make you stay with me?” Mike asks between kisses. Will gives him another kiss before breaking apart.

“I can’t stay.”

Mike kisses him again because if words can’t work then maybe actions can. He pours his heart into the kiss, tries to convey how happy Will makes him because Mike can’t remember the last time he’s felt such happiness. It’s in the little things he does: how he smiles when the sun is shining, how his eye light up whenever his mother asks him to keep her company, the way he laughs when El says something only the two of them understand. He’s a ray of sunshine and he’s been bringing light into Mike’s life and he can’t let him go and go back into the darkness.

“We’ll find a way,” Mike whispers and he kisses his cheek. “I’ll find a way, I promise you. I will make everything right, for you, for El and for us.”

It feels right to say us while talking about the two of them and Mike wants to spend the rest of his life saying it.

“You can’t make such a promise,” Will replies but once again, he doesn’t let go. His hand is caressing Mike’s side and it’s sweet and intimate and Mike wants this.

“But I can promise you I will do everything I can to keep this promise. Do you trust me?”

Will laughs and he kisses him again. “Something tells me I shouldn’t but I do. I trust you.”

Mike smiles and hugs him close. They stay like this for an immeasurable amount of time but then music reaches their ears and they remember they’re supposed to be somewhere else.

“We need to get back to the dance,” Will says.

Mike nods. “I know.” He kisses him again, long and sweetly. “Do you know where the kitchens are?” Will nods. “Meet me there tomorrow after lunch.”

Mike feels like he’s floating on cloud nine when Will laughs and agrees to meet him. He’s not sure he would’ve managed another refusal.

They separate after a long kiss and Mike remembers he was supposed to change his cape and that if he doesn’t his parents are probably going to question him, and that’s the last thing he wants.

While Will heads back to the hall, Mike takes another empty corridor that leads to his chambers. He quickly switches capes and when he heads back downstairs, he hears a soft sob hiding in the dark of the night.

He wouldn’t usually go and look because if someone’s hiding there it’s probably because they want to be alone but he hears cries and he wants to make sure no one’s hurt.

He rounds the corner and what he sees is definitely not what he was expecting.

El is sitting on the floor, tears streaming down her face, and Dustin is holding her in his arms. He’s stroking her hair and whispering something and there’s nothing incriminating about that up until when Dustin leans forward and kisses El on the forehead.

El raises her face to smile at Dustin but she doesn’t get the chance because she sees Mike staring at them and panic follows

“My lord!” she exclaims. She gets up clumsily, putting space between her and Dustin. “My lord. It’s not...it’s not what it looks like.”

“I think it does,” Mike replies and he doesn’t mean to sound menacing but he probably does because El starts to hyperventilate.

“Please don’t hurt him,” El begs and she takes a step forward.

“El-” Dustin tries to speak but she doesn’t let him.

“No, listen. N-nothing happened, I promise you, we never...we never even kissed! It’s-please let him go. I will become your wife, I won’t turn my back on my duties, I swear.”

Mike looks at her and he finally sees her. He finally knows why she’s never really initiated any kind of contact, why she’s been so detached, why it looks like she doesn’t want this either. Her heart was never meant to be his and it’ll never belong to him, just like his will never belong to her.

His lack of answer only increases her panic. “My lord, please. I promise you that nothing happened.”

“Then you’ve been better than me,” he replies and El’s shock turns into confusion. Dustin takes a step forward and he’s brave enough to rest a hand on El’s waist.

“My lord?” she asks but Mike doesn’t get the chance to elaborate. He hears steps he easily recognises as the guards’ and he panics.

“I promise I’ll explain,” he says. “But you have to hide.”

“What?”

“Princess, trust me on this. There are guards coming this way and if they find us here together, rumours are going to fly around the castle and it won’t be easy to break this marriage off.”

El looks shocked again. “You want to break it off?”

“I will explain but right now, you have to hide,” he says and guides El towards an empty corridor on the other side. “Go straight down the corridor, then turn right when you see a red column. You’ll end up at the entrance of the great hall. I’ll meet you there.”

El looks behind him and he understands. “I promise he’s safe. It’s safer if people see the two of us together rather than the three of us. We’ll get back to you in no time.”

“Why are you doing this?”

Mike smiles. “Because I know how it feels.”

El hugs him tight and Mike thinks he’s got this, they’ve got this and his happy ending looks closer than ever. He watches as she runs away down the corridor and he quickly turns back to face Dustin.

He’s pale and insecure because they’ve never really talked and Mike understands his fear. He just got caught holding the future wife of the future king in his arms by the future king himself. Mike would probably panic, too, if roles were reversed.

“I think we should start talking,” Mike suggests. “Otherwise the guards are going to find us starting at each other quite strange.”

“Right,” Dustin says, and he clears his throat. “I mean, of course, your High-”

He stops as soon as the guards reach their corridor and Mike turns around, feigning surprise.

“Your Highness,” one of the guards says and they all bow. Then they turn to Dustin. “Sir. It’s not safe to be on your own here, your Highness.”

“We apologise. We lost track of time while talking, didn’t we, Sir Dustin?”

“Indeed we did, my lord,” he replies and Mike thinks he’s about to throw up. He holds back a laugh and guides him back to the great hall. As soon as they reach the entrance, Dustin lets out a loud breath.

“We’re safe, don’t worry,” Mike reassures him. Dustin nods.

“I know. Thank you, your Highness.”

“We better get back inside. We’ve probably been away for way too long.”

“Wait.” Dustin almost grabs his arm but he retreats his hand immediately. “I-I wanted to thank you. Properly. What you did...I don’t think many would’ve done that.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Mike says and he realises only then that he’s talking with Will’s best friend. “I understand how it feels to...want someone you can’t have.”

Dustin looks at him for quite some time and he’s studying him and Mike thinks he knows but he doesn’t ask him. He bows his head lightly and enters the hall again, leaving the princess’ lover on his own. He chuckles when he thinks about it.

The dance goes on for another hour and Mike waits for the right moment to tell El everything, because she deserves to know and he wants to tell Will about the whole situation, but he leaves with his parents shortly after and Mike gets dragged away for other duties once the party is over.

He looks back and sees El looking at him with a worried and at the same time grateful gaze. He knows he’ll get the chance to tell her everything in the morning.

The sun is shining again over Glasthow and Mike wakes up with a smile on his face. As he gets dressed, he feels like nothing can ruin his mood. He’s expected to spend his morning with El at the festival and for once, he is impatient to meet her. He wants to tell her everything and he hopes that Will will forgive him for telling his sister about them. He’s sure El won’t be mad about it and he actually hopes to see Will at breakfast to update him before he goes to see the princess.

Breakfast is the only meal that everyone is free to have whenever they please and Mike isn’t surprised when he doesn’t find Will at the table. He finds Holly and Nancy eating quietly and as he sits down, Mike can see how tired his little sister is.

“Are you still tired, Holls?” he asks and his sister sighs dramatically.

“Yes,” she answers. “I danced for hours yesterday.”

“Did you at least have fun?”

“Oh, tons!”

Mike laughs and enjoys his sister’s tales about last night. Nancy teases her every now and then and when breakfast’s over, a servant approaches him.

“Your Highness, the King and Queen are waiting for you in the throne room.”

A weird feeling forms in his stomach but Mike tries to ignore it. He thanks the servant and heads to the throne room. His parents probably want to talk about the upcoming proposal since he’s meant to propose the next day but Mike tries to put the hard feelings aside. He can play along and just agree to whatever his parents advise him to do for the proposal, but he knows he’ll have to have a talk with them about not having said proposal. He just wants to talk to Will and El first.

When he enters the throne room, he finds them sitting around the table that is sometimes brought in when political talks are made. He doesn’t remember seeing it yesterday morning so it was probably brought in later in the afternoon.

“You wanted to see me?” Mike asks and stops right in front of them.

“Ah, Michael!” His mother is smiling and Mike thinks he’s right. This has to be about the proposal. “Yes, dear. We have some important news to share with you.”

Mike nods and waits and he’s not scared. He feels like he can do anything right now.

His mother puts a hand on a piece of paper on the table and pushes it towards him. “Last night we signed the deal.”

Mike stares at the piece of paper for quite a long time and his mind tries to process what he’s just heard.

“I beg your pardon?” he asks because he’s not sure he understood.

His mother beams and Mike panics. “Last night, after the ball, we signed the deal with the Byers. Our kingdoms will unite with your marriage to Janelle!”

Mike squeezes his hands behind his back and tries to breathe. One, two, three. “I’m not sure I understand.”

His mother rolls her eyes and his father sighs heavily. “It means,” Ted chimes in. “That tomorrow you have to propose to Janelle and that we have a wedding to organise.”

It feels like a casting of fire has just been thrown at him. He’s buried under meters of lava and his heart is burning up.

“No.”

Mike’s breath is erratic and he tries again. One, two, three. One, two-

“It is not up to debate, Michael,” Karen says. “You will marry Janelle.”

“I don’t love her.”

“We talked about this, love was not a condition in our deal.” His father sounds so cold.

“We never made a deal,” Mike spits out. “I did not agree to this. You did not ask me or Janelle about this. Don’t we get a say in this?”

“You have duties to your people, to your kingdom and to us,” Karen exclaims and Mike feels like dying. “We all did our part, now it’s your turn. Your sister had an arranged marriage, too.”

“And look at how that turned out.”

“Michael!”

“She’s not happy and you know it!” He’s screaming but he doesn’t really care. “Does our happiness matter so little to you? She’s miserable, have you ever wondered why she always comes back whenever we have some kind of party? She hates her life with Harrington.”

“Enough!” His mother rarely raises her voice and Mike knows that when she does, the situation is grave. “It is your duty as the Crown Prince to form an alliance with another kingdom through marriage and the deal’s already made. There is no way to pull back from it.”

Mike looks at the paper in front of him and it would be so easy to rip it apart, to burn it and pretend none of this ever happened. He’d be put in prison, he knows that, but a life behind bars wouldn’t be much different than spending the rest of his life trapped in an arranged marriage.

“We’ll have a speech delivered to your room this afternoon,” his mother continues. “Read it and memorise it by tomorrow for the proposal.”

“I don’t even get to say what I want?”

“Proposals have always been made this way, Michael. It’s tradition.”

Mike laughs and he feels tears in the corner of his eyes ready to fall. He keeps them in. He doesn’t want to cry in front of them.

“Is there anything else you’d like to tell me?” He composes himself and his mother shakes her head.

“You may go.”

Mike turns around and almost runs out of the room. His feet are on autopilot and he feels like his chest is about to explode.

This is not right, this was not supposed to happen. This is not happening, it can’t be.

He reaches the gardens and the fresh air hits his lungs like a wave of the ocean shattering on the shore. Mike still feels like he can’t breathe and he wanders around until he stops when he reaches a hidden corner.

El is sitting on a bench, eyes puffy and red. She’s been crying and when she looks up, Mike can see the same desperation he’s feeling in her eyes.

“They told you,” she says, sniffing. She brings a tissue to her eyes and tries to wipe away the proof of her despair.

Mike nods and goes to sit beside her. “They did.”

“So it’s done now. We have to get married.”

“It can’t end like this,” Mike says but he feels like he’s reached a dead end. “They can’t force us.”

“They can. They’re our parents and...they’re the Kings and Queens of two of the most powerful kingdoms. They can.”

“But they should be our parents first!” Mike knows he shouldn’t be taking it out on her but panic never makes him think clearly. “Our happiness should matter to them. How is an unhappy king supposed to rule over a kingdom?”

El shifts in her seat and Mike bites his lip. He quickly takes her hand and squeezes it. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I didn’t mean to sound so rude. You’re a good person and I’m sure...I’m sure we’ll have a good life together.”

“Oh, I know,” she replies. “I’m not going to make you as happy as the one you love, though.”

Mike lowers his gaze and his heart shatters once more. He can’t think of Will right now. “Neither will I. I’m sorry. I really thought I could break this off so that you could have your life with Dustin.”

He probably shouldn’t have mentioned him because El sobs and wipes some more tears away. “It’s not up to us anymore. We can’t have what we want. Who we want.” She turns around and looks at him with a sympathetic smile. “Who is it for you?”

Mike swallows. He can’t tell her. He wanted to but not in these conditions because they have to get married and he can’t tell her that he loves her brother. “It doesn’t matter,” he whispers. “It’s not like I can be with them.”

El doesn’t push and silence settles between them. She cries some more and Mike holds her hand tight. No one sees them for hours and they don’t bother showing up at the festival that day.

Lunch comes and goes and thankfully, Mike gets to eat in his room. He knows he wouldn’t have been able to sit between El and Will without breaking down.

When he reaches the kitchens' corridor, Will is already there, talking with a servant. He’s smiling and the girl is clearly enamoured with him and Mike doesn’t blame her. Will is extremely charming. He wonders how many suitors he rejected back home. He wonders how many more there will be for him.

He reaches his side and the poor girl stutters an apology and leaves.

“Hey,” Will says and his voice is heavy. “I haven’t seen you all morning.”

“You know, don’t you?”

Will nods. “My parents told me last night.”

Mike doesn’t want to waste another moment. “Come with me. Please?”

Another nod and Mike resists the urge to take him by the hand. They turn around and Will follows Mike out of the castle. No one spares them a look when they pass the training field and no one stops them when they head towards the woods.

It’s a ten minute walk and they don’t talk for the entirety of it. The woods sound too calm for how he’s feeling and Mike can’t even imagine what’s going through Will’s mind.

They reach an open space and Mike feels like they shouldn’t be here at this moment because it’s one of the most beautiful places in the woods and he’s about to taint it with painful memories.

“It’s beautiful,” Will says, breaking the silence.

The field is filled with colourful flowers and there’s a weeping willow in the middle of it. Mike steps closer to it and lays a hand on the trunk. “I found it years ago,” Mike replies. “Holly was sick and I wanted to bring her some flowers to cheer her up.”

“That was sweet of you.”

It feels like small talk and it’s not something that belongs to them. Mike turns around and Will is there, next to him, and they both look miserable.

“I’ve heard stories about this tree,” Mike continues. “Legend says that it protects lovers from all the evils in the world. It watches over them while they lay under its crown.”

Will raises a hand to his face and gently tucks a curl behind his ear. “Does it also stop time?”

Mike laughs and he puts his hand on Will’s waist. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t.”

“Then I think we need to make the most of it while it lasts.”

Will closes the gap between the two of them and kisses him. Mike is taken aback because with the way things have gone in the past days he thought Will would call it quits, would kindly reject him and tell him to forget about him. But the hands on his face tell him a different story: Will is trying to memorise him, to capture Mike’s essence and take it away with him for the rest of his life, one that he won’t be able to share with him.

Mike lets himself have this. This is where his heart belongs and he knows it’s going to leave with Will once he goes back to his kingdom.

He deepens the kiss and they almost lose balance. Mike trips on a root and the atmosphere should be heavy, painful, but Will chuckles and chases Mike for another kiss and Mike falls a little bit more in love with him right then. He falls to the ground and he takes Will with him.

He’s laying on the grass, flowers tickling his ears, and he’s going to have to change before dinner but he doesn’t care. Not when Will is on top of him and he’s smiling down at him.

Mike understands the legend, now. They’re laying under the weeping willow and it’s like a bubble captured them to isolate them from the rest of the world. It’s just them, even if it's just for an afternoon. Will kisses him again and Mike wishes he could really stop time.

They get lost in kisses and they just lay there, together. Mike has an arm around Will, who’s resting his head on Mike’s chest. It’s intimate, it’s a moment that will forever be theirs and Mike can’t help but think that this is right.

“What’s your favourite holiday?”

Mike looks down at Will. He wasn’t expecting that. “All Hallows’ Eve.”

Will gives him a confused look. “Really? You like a holiday about dead people and ghosts?”

“It’s fun! You get to scare people without getting in trouble.”

“I bet you’re fun at parties.”

Mike pinches his side and Will laughs. “What’s yours?”

“Christmas.”

“That’s boring.”

“It’s not! You get to cherish the people you love. I always enjoyed Christmas mornings with my siblings.”

Mike holds him closer. “That’s sweet.”

“You also get to give people presents. I like it. I like to see the look on their faces when they open their presents and I realise I got them right once again.”

“Oh, so you’re one of those people who manage to get the present right every time?”

“Yes.”

“I should’ve met you ages ago. That skill would’ve saved me countless of times.”

They both laugh and Mike can see the sun slowly going to the west. Time is running short.

“I wish we could’ve met earlier,” Will replies.

“Me too.”

Mike turns them around so that he can give him another kiss. “What’s your favourite animal?” He doesn’t want sadness to take over their moment. They’ve got a lifetime to be sad.

“The otter,” Will replies with a proud smile.

“The otter. Are you for real?”

“They are extremely cute.”

“Please tell me no one else knows about this.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s embarrassing, Will. The otter, really?”

“What’s yours, then? A lion? A dragon?”

Mike scoffs. “It’s the wolf.”

Will bursts into a loud laugh and Mike takes it all in. He wants this forever. He wants the laughs, the teasing, the hugs in hard times and the kisses at night before bed. He wants a lifetime with Will and he knows he’s only got a few more hours.

He tries to memorise everything. The way Will plays with his hands when he’s listening to him, the way his eyes light up when Mike makes him laugh. The smirk on his face when he teases Mike. The way his lips taste when he kisses him. The soft touch of his hands on his waist, how he holds him closer when he brings their lips together again. He tries to memorise everything and he prays his mind is strong enough to let him remember this forever.

The sun is almost set and a chilly wind encircles them.

“We should head back,” Will says. They’re still laying on the ground.

“I know.” Mike doesn’t want to move.

“They’re probably looking for us.”

Will sits up and their bubble breaks. He’s smiling down at him but it’s a smile veiled with sadness.

Mike sighs and sits up as well. He really doesn’t want to go.

Will stands up and stretches out a hand to help him get up. Mike takes it and he can’t help but smile when Will doesn’t let go.

They walk back towards the castle and they stop at the end of the woods. When Will lets go of his hand, Mike feels cold. He doesn’t want this to end, not yet.

“Meet me again tonight,” he says and Will looks confused for a moment. “Meet me at the window in the corridor, in the west wing, right after nightfall.”

“It’s risky.”

“It’s the only time we have left.” Mike approaches him and kisses him. “I want to spend this last night with you.”

In the shadow of the evening, Will looks like a mystical creature and Mike wonders if that’s all he’s ever going to be for him. A story passed down through secrets, one that bares no proof to the people that listen. Mike has proofs, though. And they’re all in his heart.

With a smile, Will kisses him again and then nods. “Okay.”

xxx

Dinner is awkward and Mike does his best to avoid any kind of talk. El is quiet, too, and thankfully Holly has more tales to tell the whole table and when it’s all over, he excuses himself and goes back to his room. He waits, anxiously, and it feels like it takes the servants hours to end their shift and leave the castle.

He’s snuck out of his room plenty of times and he knows what to do. He’s about to get out when a knock on the door startles him. He stands in the middle of the room for a few moments, confused, because who could it be? No one bothers him that late in the day and the only time it happened was when his mother fell ill during the night and everyone got called to her bedside.

He opens the door and he’s utterly confused when he sees Lucas standing in front of him.

“Lucas? What are you doing here?” he asks. His best friend smiles and turns to the side, revealing a smiling Will behind him.

“I met him in the west wing,” Lucas replies. “I figured out the rest.”

Lucas nudges Will and he reaches Mike’s side in no time. Mike takes a step forward and engulfs Lucas in a warm hug. “Thank you,” he whispers and Lucas hugs him tight.

“I’ll make sure no one bothers you tonight. The servants will be here around eight tomorrow morning.”

Mike nods. “We’ll be careful. Thank you.”

Lucas smiles at them but it’s a smile filled with worry and sadness, and Mike knows he’ll see it again and again, for the rest of his life.

He doesn’t want to dwell on that. As soon as Lucas leaves, Mike locks his door and turns around to kiss Will.

“I’m glad you bumped into Lucas,” Mike says between kisses. He breaks apart and sighs. “Was he kind to you?”

“Extremely kind.” Will slips his hands around his waist. “I didn’t even have to tell him anything, he just understood. At first I thought he was taking me to the dungeons.”

Mike laughs softly and he kisses the tip of Will’s nose. “He’s a good friend.”

“I’m glad you have him.”

“Me too.” He guides Will to his bed and they sit down. “I’m glad you have Dustin, too. He seems like a good guy.”

“Oh, he is. He’s my best friend. He’s extremely funny, too. I think El got a few tummy aches because of his jokes.”

Mike wonders if Will knows about them. He thinks not and it’s not his place to tell him. Besides, it would only bring him more pain and he realises that if Dustin wants to share this pain with him, then he’ll tell him.

He leans in and kisses him softly. “I hope you find someone that makes you laugh,” Mike says. “You deserve happiness, Will.”

“I’m not sure I ever will.” Mike looks at him, puzzled. “I feel like my happiness resides in you.”

Mike felt his heart break too many times today but Will’s words give him the final blow. He feels like he just found his soulmate, his destiny, but he knows that he’ll have to say goodbye to him at the crack of dawn.

He pushes those thoughts aside because he can’t afford this, not now. He kisses him again and it’s a desperate and needy kiss, one he wants to remember forever. He needs to get as many kisses as he can so he can keep them locked away and remember them when he needs him the most.

“Stay with me.” He whispers between kisses and Will tightens his grip on his shirt. “Stay with me.”

Mike knows Will is not leaving him tonight and he knows he can’t stay with him forever, but he needs to ask him and he needs to hear his answer.

“I’m not leaving you,” Will answers back and that’s all Mike needs for the night.

They get lost in kisses, in a love that’s forbidden and not meant to see the dawn of the day after.

It’s a night filled with emotions and regrets in the making, because all the what ifs and possible future together get burned down and buried in their embrace.

Morning comes too quickly.

They’re lying in bed, under the covers, and Mike has Will in his arms. None of them actually got to have a proper sleep. Mike looks out of the window and he sees the sun rise.

Will sighs. “I have to go.”

“Not yet. Please.” He turns around and takes Will’s hands in his. He brings them to his mouth and kisses them. “Stay with me. Just a little bit longer.”

“Okay.”

Mike leans in and their foreheads touch. The silence is deafening and his heart is breaking once again. In less than an hour this room is going to be filled with servants. In less than three hours he is going to ask El to spend the rest of their lives together. He doesn’t want any of that.

“I don’t want this to happen,” Mike says and he feels a panic attack incoming. He sits up and Will follows him. “I-I can’t do this.”

“Mike, breathe, it’s okay.”

He’s hyperventilating again. Mike shakes his head convulsively. “It’s not okay. I can’t marry your sister. I can’t be with someone I don’t love!”

He wonders why it took him this long to actually break down. “We can run away,” Mike continues.

“What?”

“We can run away, Will! We can still make it. I can have two horses ready in no time, Lucas will help us.”

“And where would we go?”

“Anywhere! We can go anywhere, I have money, we’ll figure something out.”

Will takes his hands again and Mike notices that he’s crying. “Mike, please stop.”

“No, listen to me. We can do this, we only have to be careful. I-I can postpone the proposal to tomorrow and we can run away tonight.”

“Mike. It won’t work and you’d regret it as soon as we leave.”

Shock covers his eyes and he shakes his head. “Of course I wouldn’t! How can you even say it?”

“Because you’re not selfish, Mike.” Will tightens the grip on his hands. “I know this is not what you want and this is not what you deserve but you’re kind, Mike. You care about people and most importantly, you care about your people. You’re not going to abandon them and you’re not going to abandon your family.”

Mike rests his forehead on Will’s. “We can take Holly with us.”

Will laughs and Mike captures the sound and locks it away in his heart. “It’s going to be okay, Mike. One day it’ll stop hurting.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

His heart is beating fast. He wonders if Will can hear it.

“I don’t love her.”

“I know.”

Mike’s breath shatters. “I love you.”

Suddenly, Will’s stoic expression falls and he cries. Mike thinks Will’s wrong because he knows he shouldn’t have said it but he is selfish enough to say those words.

“I love you, too,” Will says and he kisses him hard, tears mixing with their lips. Maybe they’re both selfish and that’s okay. They can have this. It’s the only time they can.

It all ends with a knock on the door.

“Your Highness, it’s Sir Lucas.”

They break apart and Mike feels like he’s dying.

“The servants will be here at any minute. I need to escort the prince back to his chambers.”

Will doesn’t say a word as he gets out of bed. Mike goes to unlock the door and when he opens it, Lucas tries to give him his best smile.

“Thank you,” Mike says again. Lucas nods and his eyes land on Will.

“I’ll let you say goodbye,” he whispers and he steps back, turning his back on them. He doesn’t leave, they can’t afford that. Someone could walk by at any moment and Mike will forever be grateful to his friend for the time he’s gifting them.

Mike takes Will in his arms one last time and kisses him.

“It’s going to be okay,” Will whispers again. It’s a promise to both of them and Mike knows life won’t give them the chance to keep it.

Mike kisses him one last time and when Will slips away, his heart falls to pieces.

xxx

Mike’s been training to deal with death since he was a kid. His father wanted him to be ready to defend the castle, their people, and Mike obliged. He trained and people kept telling him, one day you’ll come face to face with death. No one told him that death came with different faces.

As he enters the throne room, Mike sees the death of his standing right in front of him. It’s an empty spot on his mother’s side, one he’s meant to take, the spot right next to another empty one. He knows that one is El’s death place.

When he reaches his mother’s side, she’s smiling and he feels numb. There are too many people in the throne room. The knights stand on both sides and servants and other royals stand right beside them.

They’re all there to witness the proposal. They’re all there to witness Mike’s death.

It feels like the first day all over again when the trumpets announce the Byers.

It’s all in slow motion for Mike. King Jim and Queen Joyce lead the way and they take their place on Mike’s right. Jonathan is next and after a dutiful bow, he takes his place next to his parents' side.

Mike feels like he’s dying again when Will stops in front of him.

Their eyes meet and Mike holds his breath. It takes all in him not to step forward and kiss him. It feels wrong to be on different sides. Mike wants to take Will and drag him next to him, where he belongs. That’s his place.

Will bows, slowly, painfully, and he looks like he’s dying, too. Mike knows he is. His eyes follow him as he takes his place next to his brother and only then does Mike notice his watery eyes.

He wishes he could’ve stopped time yesterday. He turns back and El walks towards him. Mike can tell she’s been crying and he can't help but look for Dustin in the crowd.

He finds him near them, Maxine on his side holding his arm. Mike hasn’t seen him much in the last few days but every time he saw him, he had a smile on his face. It’s weird to see him with sorrow painted all over his face.

When El takes her place next to him, he knows it’s time to die.

He found the paper with the speech in his room right after he came back from the woods with Will. He read it and forgot all about it.

“Ladies and gentlemen.” His father takes a step forward and with a smile on his face, he begins his own speech. “I thank you all for coming here. Today, we are all gathered here to celebrate the union of two kingdoms and what we hope can be a long and lasting alliance.”

He turns around and nods to him and Mike takes a step forward. He hates this.

Mike turns to El and she takes his hand to reach his side. She turns to face him and right behind her, Mike can see Will.

He swallows. He can do this. He has to. “Princess Janelle of Melyneth. It is with joy that I stand here today with you.”

Lies. El is smiling at him and it comforts him to know that he’s not alone in this.

“Our families gathered here to celebrate a union bound to be strong. A bond that not even the ancient evils can break.”

He looks behind El and he can see Will holding back tears.

He’s wrong.

He can’t do this.

“This bond is meant to be guided by love,” he continues and he’s looking at Will. “A sentiment so profound and real that goes beyond life and death. It’s something that binds you forever to the one you love and it’s something that shatters you completely when it’s ripped from you.”

He looks back at El. Her eyes are wide and while she’s clearly shocked, a smile still forms on her lips. He decides, here and now, that even if they’re in this together, they shouldn’t be in this situation at all.

“The bond that ties us together is friendship, my lady. Not love. And I cannot marry someone I don’t love.”

Gasps arise from the crowd but the loudest belongs to his mother.

“With all due respect, princess, I will not marry you.”

It’s an understatement to say that chaos follows. Voices rise from the crowd and El lets out a happy and astonished laugh. Mike squeezes her hands and smiles, and when he looks behind her, he sees Will’s stunned expression.

“Silence!”

His father screams and people proceed to judge him in whispers. He turns to the guards. “Everyone, leave.”

The knights and the guards work together to empty the throne room and in less than a minute, everyone is gone but them. Both their families stand still and Mike is glad when he sees that Lucas, Dustin and Maxine stayed, too. His family is probably too astounded to realise that not everyone left.

“Michael, what do you think you’re doing?” his father asks but before he gets the chance to answer, king Jim steps forward.

“If you think you can humiliate my daughter in front of your people without consequences, you are very wrong, kid.” He’s got a deadly look in his eyes and if looks could kill, Mike would be on the ground, dead and gone. Thankfully, El steps in.

“Father, please. He didn’t humiliate me.”

“He rejected you in front of everyone. This is an affront!”

“I couldn’t lie.” Mike steps forward and searches for all the courage he has left to continue. “I never meant to offend any of you but I never wanted this in the first place. My heart belongs to someone else and I can’t offer Janelle the life she deserves.”

“This has nothing to do with love!” His mother steps forward and Mike can see outrage on her face. “You have a duty to your people and to your kingdom. You can’t ignore all of that because of a foolish crush!”

“It’s not a foolish crush!”

“You’re either extremely naive or stupidly in love to risk so much,” Jim chimes in and Mike wasn’t expecting him to talk again. “Or you’re just a spoiled brat that thinks he can get whatever he wants just because he’s the prince. Still, you caused us offence.”

“And for that I sincerely apologise. It was never my intention.” Mike hopes he can feel how he means every word.

Karen steps between them. “Apologies aren’t enough, Michael. You will make a public apology and you will go ahead with the proposal.”

“No.”

“Michael!”

“You can’t force us.” He takes El’s hand and she squeezes it. “We both don’t want this.”

“Wait.” Joyce steps ahead and she’s got a distraught look on her face. “You don’t want this, honey?”

El shakes her head and Mike lets her go. “I’m so sorry, mother. I thought I could do this, I-I thought I could make you proud but- I can’t. He’s not the one I love.”

“He’s not the one you love,” Joyce repeats and it’s not a question. El takes a deep breath and wipes away her tears. “Then who do you love?”

El turns around and laughs when she sees Dustin. “Him. I love him.”

There’s another loud gasp and this time it belongs to Will. Mike looks at him and he gets his answer: Will definitely didn’t know about them.

“Dustin?” Jim asks and Joyce takes her daughter’s hands.

“Then why did you agree to this?” she asks.

“I thought I had to do it. It’s my duty as your daughter and as a princess,” she replies. “I wanted to make you proud.”

“Oh, honey.” Joyce drags her into a tight hug and Jim’s look softens. “You should’ve told us. We would’ve never agreed to this if we had known.”

“I’m sorry.” El steps back and Jim immediately kisses her head. “You’ve always been kind and just. I wanted to repay you.”

“You don’t have to sacrifice your happiness for us, honey,” Joyce replies. “If it’s Dustin you love, then we support you.”

Mike wonders if he’ll ever get this kind of love from his parents. He watches as Joyce and Jim hug their daughter, as Jonathan ruffles her hair and he can’t help but smile when El runs towards Dustin and he catches her in his arms.

“We never ever had to call a deal off,” his mother begins and the magic dies. “The law says that deals can’t be undone. It’s been like this for centuries.”

“I won’t force my daughter into a marriage she doesn’t want,” Jim chimes in. “I’m sure we’ll find a solution that will make everyone happy.”

Mike’s breath catches in his throat and his heart starts to beat like crazy. “There’s no need to call it off.”

Everyone turns to look at him but Mike has only eyes for Will.

“What do you mean?” Joyce asks.

Mike smiles. “The deal says that our kingdoms must be united by marriage.”

Will laughs softly and Mike thinks this is it. This is how he gets his happy ending.

“You see, your Majesties, the deal doesn’t have to be called off because your son is the one I love.”

All eyes turn to the youngest of the Byers and Mike feels his head spinning. There's another loud gasp and this time, it's El's.

“Will?” Joyce looks at her son and Will breaks eye contact with Mike to turn to her.

“I-I’m sorry,” Will automatically says. “I didn’t mean for this to happen but...it did.”

“You love him?”

Will looks back at him. “I do. I love him.”

“Wait…” Mike looks at his mother and she looks conflicted. “You fell in love with the prince?”

“I did.” Mike finally walks over to Will and he takes his hand. Just mere hours before he thought he would’ve never felt his hand in his again and now there he is. He smiles. “I love him and it’s him I want to marry.”

“But...you’re the Crown Prince,” she insists. “One of your duties is to provide heirs to the throne.”

“Karen.” Joyce moves closer and she takes her hands. There’s a sad look in her eyes. “Don’t you remember what it was like to be in love?”

His mother tries to look strong. Somehow, she fails. “You know very well that this has nothing to do with love. We have duties to fulfil.”

“Duties can still be fulfilled. There are other ways to have heirs. Is having a pure-blood heir more important than your own son’s happiness?”

Silence follows her words and Mike thinks that if his parents don’t agree, then at least they’ll have the Byers’ support. And if that’s not enough, he thinks he might renounce to his right to the throne. He thinks he should actually say it.

“I can’t be king without the support of the man I love,” he begins. “I need support and love, and I need to find them in my spouse. And Will can give me all of it.”

His mother still looks conflicted while his father is just confused. He glances to their side and he sees Nancy crying. She’s side-hugging Holly, who’s confused but still looks happy for her brother, and Nancy looks proud of him. He wishes he could turn back time and change things for her but he knows it’s too late for Nancy.

Karen clears her throat. “We should schedule a new gathering for this afternoon.”

“Mother?”

She looks solemn but she’s moments away from crying. “You still need to make an official proposal. I’m sorry but I’m adamant that this tradition doesn’t change. You will propose to William publicly and you have to do it before tonight’s ball. I will not change my mind about this.”

Mike didn’t think he could have this. He knows his parents are traditionalists and they’ve been forcing him to do everything in his life and it always looked like they would never change their minds about this arranged marriage. Mike feels extremely light when he lets go of Will’s hand and runs to hug his mother. She hugs him back with a soft laugh and when he looks at his father, he looks resigned. He might be the king but they all know the queen always has the last word.

“I will. I promise you I will,” Mike says and his mother sighs.

“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you.”

“It matters that you're doing it now, mother.”

“Well.” Jim claps his hands loudly. “Why don’t we give the kids a bit of time to digest everything? Also, I think I need a drink.”

“You really need to find a better way to cope with stress, darling.”

The king keeps quarrelling with the queen on their way out and his parents follow them. Nancy, Holly and Jonathan follow them and Mike can’t help but laugh when the door of the throne room closes and it’s just them.

“Wow.” Everyone turns to look at Lucas. “That was quite a show, your Highness.”

“Yeah. I know.”

He turns around and Will is there, looking at him, with a smile on his face.

“You did it,” Will whispers. “You found a way for all of us.”

Mike pulls him closer and he feels happy. Proud. Loved.

“I did.” He kisses him and he can’t believe this is not their last kiss. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

And Mike knows he will never get tired of hearing it.

xxx

If the people whisper when Mike proposes to Will, he promptly decides to ignore them and the only thing he wants to remember is Will smiling at him when he agrees to marry him.

When he kisses him, cheers arise from the crowd and Mike thinks he died anyway because this must be heaven.

For a moment, when the night comes, Mike thinks he’s dreaming.

His parents are happily chatting with the Byers and if he sees Joyce hug his mother a bit tighter than usual, he doesn’t mention it.

Lucas is in his uniform but he’s spending most of his time talking with Maxine. She laughs at all the jokes he tells her and Mike knows most of them are lame but they look happy.

What catches everyone’s attention is El.

She’s wearing her red dress and she’s dancing with Dustin as if nothing else matters. She laughs and she smiles and Dustin holds her close. He even dares to kiss her between one dance and the other and Mike can almost hear her giggle.

“You look happy.”

He turns around and Will smiles at him. He leans in and gives him a quick kiss.

“I am happy,” he replies. He slips his arm around his waist and brings him closer. Will lays his head on his chest and Mike can’t quite believe this is his life now.

Will looks at the crowd and chuckles. “You knew about them, didn’t you?”

Mike follows his gaze and he sees Dustin and El dancing together. He nods. “I saw them together in a corridor two days ago.”

“You what?!” Will looks aghast.

“They were just hugging,” he quickly adds. “Nothing indecorous.”

Will laughs incredulously and looks back at his sister and best friend dancing together. “He never said anything. They both never did.”

“I think they were just afraid since she’s royalty and he’s not.”

“He’s the blacksmith’s son,” Will adds. “And he’s the best friend I could’ve asked for. I’m happy they have each other.”

Mike kisses him on the head. “I’m happy I have you.”

Will’s grin is wide and gracious and full of love. “Likewise.”

With another kiss, Mike takes a step back and holds out his hand. “May I have this dance, prince?”

Will laughs and he bows dutifully. “Of course you may.”

He takes his hand and Mike drags him on the dance floor. He puts his hands around his waist and pulls him closer. Their bodies sway with the music and Mike can feel his heart pump with love. The pieces got glued together with his love and Mike knows that as long as he has Will, nothing will ever tear it apart.

They dance carelessly and it’s their night. Everyone is there to celebrate their future marriage and it’s not what people expected, because Mike spent the whole week courting the wrong royal, but what matters is that he’s here now and that it’s Will he’s dancing with.

Will leans in and kisses him. “I love you.”

Mike smiles. “I love you, too.”

And Mike knows that their forever starts now.