Chapter Text
Dean arose from his slumber by the sound of his bedroom door creaking open. He sat himself up, rubbing his eyes, trying to delay the inevitable. He dreaded days where he was assigned his fathers work, days like this one especially, but as John grew old it was only a matter of time before Dean would have to take off from his father and become the next reigning king.
“Good morning your highness, are you ready to start the day?”
The black haired knight approached in his usual suit of armor, the only thing differentiating him was a blue sash that laid across one side of his neck and one side of his hip. The man opened the blinds letting the light shine through the room and causing Dean to groan in annoyance.
“Ugh- now? Really?” Dean pulled himself out of bed.
“Yes your highness, you have plenty of responsibilities today” Castiel walked over to him with a small list in his hands “Your father has assigned you-”
Dean rolled his eyes when he noticed the list “really? Do I ever get time to myself?” he started to walk out with Castiel following closely behind him, he let out a soft chuckle “part of being royalty I’m afraid”
As Dean walked down the seemingly endless halls with Castiel he couldn't help but feel a shifting weight of stress in his stomach that continued to pile up the more he thought about whatever the hell his father had assigned him to do today. John always left him with the most difficult jobs, meeting ambassadors, going into meetings about political crises’ but never opening libraries or cake testing as his father seemed to always be responsible for.
This often left Dean to wonder if he was born out of love or out of convenience, he was sure Sam could take some of these responsibilities yet the younger had always been left to his own devices.
The more he thought about it, the more it left a sour taste in his mouth. He surely felt that he would be stuck in this castle for the rest of his living days.
Dean sat down at the obnoxiously long dining table across from Sam who had been too occupied reading to notice his brother had sat down.
Castiel placed his hand on the back of Dean’s chair “Don’t fret your highness, I’m sure you’ll have time to yourself after your activities for the day have been finished. Now, what would you two like for breakfast?” Castiel looked at the two boys, ready to take whatever order they wanted.
“I’ll have some pancakes” Sam said, slightly lifting his head from the book he was engrossed in.
Castiel nodded and looked over at Dean “and for you, your highness?”
Dean paused, he hadn’t thought about that yet “uh… just… get me a bowl of fruit or something”
The two other men looked back at Dean with slight confusion, Cas shrugged it off “alright won't be long” he soon left to the kitchen.
Sam looked over at his older brother “fruit? I don’t think in your 25 years of living you’ve ever asked for fruit”
“Yeah well, sometimes a man needs sustenance, Sammy” Dean rolled his eyes as he leant his face on his hand waiting for the food to arrive.
“So, you eating fruit has nothing to do with the fact that you’re gonna get married soon?” Sam spoke in a suspicious tone
“I'm not getting married. Not to some random rich chick anyway”
“Oh yeah, I know who you’d rather marry” Sam chuckles, looking back down at his book
“What- what's that supposed to mean?”
“I'm not saying”
The chief comes out, handing the plates to the two men “enjoy your highnesses”
Dean began eating, swallowing harshly letting the fruit go down his throat.
“You look like you're in pain” Sam laughs quietly “here, why don’t we swap?
Dean shakes his head and continues eating “no, no I’m good” he sighs, continuing to eat his bowl of stupid ass fruits he for some reason ordered this morning. “Dad’s out doing work I'm assuming?”
Sam shrugs “probably, honestly I don’t remember the last time I saw him”
“Great.” This of course meant more work for Dean. He stood up, placing his form in the empty bowl “waiter, I finished. See ya Sammy”
Dean looked down at his note of things to do today and sighed, it seemed the lists were getting longer and longer the longer his father stayed away. Maybe he really was made out of convenience.
“Your highness, may I be of assistance to you?” Castiel appeared in front of him making Dean flinch.
“Geez- where did you come from?”
“I was here the whole time. Something troubling you, Prince Dean?”
“There’s a lot troubling me at the moment, Cas” Dean sighs, putting the paper in his pocket. “Dad leaves for his stupid ass vacations or whatever he’s doing and I’m left to clean up the mess”
Castiel sighs “I’m sure your father has his reasons, your highness. Besides, in a few years from now your father will retire and you will have to take most of the responsibilities anyway. Now, what’s first on the list for the day?”
Dean looked down at the paper “Opening a new garden in main square, at the crossroads”
“I see, shall we?”
Castiel motioned over towards the door, letting Dean begrudgingly walk with him with such dread of going over to that stupid garden. Why did he even need to do this? Gardens are just a bunch of plants anyway.
He got in the limo and Castiel got in as well, scanning the area in order to keep Dean safe.
Dean tapped his fingers repeatedly on the windowsill as his gaze softened for a moment, he seemed deep in thought. Dean laid back in his chair, relaxing his body before looking over to Castiel who was continuously scanning the windows.
A small smile formed on Deans face as he stared at the man, ‘he sure does take his job seriously’ Dean thought, shifting closer to Castiel.
“Uh… hey, thanks for um, you know, putting up with me”
Castiel gazed back at Dean, through his blank stare Dean noticed the small shift in expression as Castiel's lips moved to speak. “It’s my job, your highness. Besides, you’re not as unbearable as you think you are”
The limo makes a slow stop, causing Castiel to quickly undo his seatbelt, he got out of the car and opens the door for Dean, who just casually walks out as well. As Dean walked, Castiel stayed close behind him; however, Dean did not notice his presence as he was distracted by the large garden before him. He tilts his head, admiring the prestigious collection of foreign flowers.
A man in a yellow checkered suit approaches him and bows “Prince Dean, It is an honor to make your acquaintance. I’m Jonah Algore. I run this garden. I hope it is to your liking?”
Dean looked at the garden then back at the man before him “It’s a beautiful garden you’ve gotten here, Mr Algore. May my knight and I go see it before I open it?”
“O-of course your highness, right this way” the man walked quickly, Dean and Castiel followed, walking through the entrance of the garden. Dean felt as if he could get lost in such a beautiful place, he looked over to Castiel who was admiring a small bumble bee that had landed on a bush of roses.
“All these flowers and you’re looking at a bee?”
“I like bees, your highness, what can I say?” Castiel smiles causing Dean to cover his mouth and chuckle softly.
“Yeah yeah okay, come on let's go then”
Dean and Castiel walked around the large garden, taking in it’s beauty and the large array of flowers at bay. Soon, Dean stopped and sat down in the middle of the garden where a small patch of grass had laid itself.
Castiel, upon noticing this, stops walking and sits down next to Dean “everything okay your highness? I thought this garden was to your liking”
Dean looked down at his shoes “it is, don't get me wrong I just– can I be honest with you Cas?”
“Well of course you can your highness”
“I– I don't want to get married, not to someone I don’t love”
Castiel frowns “but, it’s your job isn’t it? And you know- sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to do. Maybe your future spouse will be nice?”
Dean shakes his head “But I won’t love them” He got up quickly, walking towards the entrance and grabbing the large scissors to cut the ribbon.
“Your highness?” Castiel rushed after him, the last words he said playing through his head again and again.
“But I won’t love them”