[M] Happily Ever After? (InfraredHero & Tessa1436)

[InfraredHero]

William paced around his luxurious room as he waited for the call. Every several minutes he would take a seat on his large bed in the corner of the room before getting jittery again and continuing the pacing. His room was decorated appropriately for a young man of his status, other than a few personal decorations he set up himself. It was his way of trying to keep some control of his own life, however small it may be. Being a prince had its perks, but William didn't like the part where his parents made all the big decisions in his life. Like what he could wear, what he could eat, who he could be friends with, and who he should marry.

*Knock. Knock.* "My lord, Queen Yvette requests your presence in the throne room." William jumped at the knocking of the door but quickly adjusted his stance out of habit, despite being alone in his room. "Thank you Ethan," he called out to the servant on the other side of the door. "I'll be right there." Being summoned to the throne room could mean only one thing: they were almost here.

The route from his room to the throne room was so well-traveled by William that he knew it like the back of his hand. Of course, it wasn't a huge castle, so it wasn't hard to memorize the way there, but there were several corridors and rooms William had never even been in, making the home he spent his entire life still feel a bit mysterious. On the way to the throne room William passed by several servants preparing various rooms and other such things, though he couldn't tell what exactly some of them were doing. But that's just how it would go sometimes.

"I'm here, Mother," William stated as he finally entered the throne room. A pair of royal guards stood at attention at the entrance of the room wearing way-too-fancy uniforms and a longsword attached to their sides. 'I still don't understand why they have those things,' William thought to himself. It's not like we live in the dark ages. If they're supposed to be guarding us, they should have a couple assault rifles instead of old-ass weapons from a thousand years ago. Maybe we're just pretentious like that.

"William, are you listening to me?" William was abruptly pulled away from his thoughts by his mother calling his name. "Sorry Mother, what did you say?" The queen just looked at him for a moment before repeating what she was saying while he was mentally away. "I said they will be here in a few minutes, and I need you ready to meet your future wife." "Yes Mother," William replied dejectedly and took his place at her side. 'Ugh, at least let me meet this girl before you decide she'll be my lifelong companion.'

[IRLHarley]

Luna sighed and looked out the window as they were driving, her parents had given her their speech already, so she chose to ignore what they were saying. She would be wearing a gold and diamond necklace, she hated it but was forced to wear it, the dress she was wearing was a dark purple with butterfly and flower designs on the bottom, the designs were more of a darker lilac but bright enough to be seen. Her hair was up in an elegant bun, she wasn't a fan of it but someone with her status had to look good. Her hair though when down would be past her back, she loved her hair and only trimmed it so it could grow longer.

Soon they arrived and she got out of the car, she only used the servants if she really had to. She didn't really need them but knew that was about to change. I am not ready for this but I have to be, They think this is right and good for us. I have to make it work. She thought to herself. She knew she was going to have to walk in with everyone with her. She put a smile on her face and started walking towards the entrance not knowing what to expect. She was worried that at some point she was going to get lost. Anywhere new she would get lost and a place of this size would be no different.

She always shot down the people her parents threw at her. She said she would give this one a chance, she didn't want to be married but it was going to have to happen at some point. She was worried about how this man would act. She was told his name but soon forgot what it was.

[InfraredHero]

'God, I can't believe this is happening,' William thought to himself as he heard a kerfuffle of footsteps and servants speaking outside the throne room. The noise was getting louder, which meant the guests were getting closer. 'Maybe if I wish hard enough I can teleport back to my room.' In dreaded anticipation of the guests, William reflexively made sure he was standing up straight and made sure there was no dirt on his attire. His black dress pants and shoes were clean as can be, but his shirt had a small red stain on the left lapel. Fortunately he was standing to the left of the queen, so he could rotate his body enough that neither she nor the guests would see the stain.

"I've made up my mind." William said, gaining his mothers attention. "I'm giving up my title as prince." "Take this seriously, William," Queen Yvette stated matter-of-factly, then she slapped her son on the arm. "You need to make a good first impression. You only get one, after all." "Yes, yes, I know," William muttered in defeat. He may not like it, but as prince, he had a duty to his kingdom.

[IRLHarley]

Soon they were led into the throne room and she got nervous. She waited for people to go in front of her as she wanted to be seen last. She was afraid of what was going to happen, she didn't like being afraid but it was there. She took a peek at the prince but made sure she wasn't noticeable. She sighed and stood straight back up. She didn't want to be a Princess but she knew she was the only one that could keep her kingdom alive. She hoped she would feel safe her as she wasn't much safer anywhere else but it would have to do.

[InfraredHero]

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, William watched as the guests finally entered the throne room, led by a few servants and guards. The guests came to Queen Yvette to greet her and offer bows and curtsy's. Then they moved to Prince William to greet him and shake his hand. William went through the motions of greetings and expressing his delight at the uneventful trip with the guests while he once again thought of being in his room away from all these strangers. Sure, he recognized a few of the visitors, but he never met any of them before.

After most of the visitors exchanged greetings with William and his mother, the queen addressed the guests as a whole. "Welcome, my friends, to Bostia. I have servants prepared to show everyone to their rooms so you may all settle in, then we have a supper being prepared to celebrate the betrothal of Prince William and Princess Luna." On cue, several servants escorted several of the guests out to their guest rooms where they would be staying for the duration of their stay. The only guests left in the throne room would be the visiting King and Queen, their daughter Princess Luna, and their personal entourage.

When the organized chaos of guests being escorted out of the throne room ended, William was finally able to catch a glimpse of Luna, who was at the back of the room. 'Well, at least she's pretty. But attraction alone does not make a match.' Reluctantly, William walked past his mother who was speaking to the visiting king and queen and made his way to Luna. 'Time for first impressions.' When he got to her, he offered a bow, then he offered a handshake. "Princess Luna, nice to meet you." Was it nice to meet the girl he was meant to marry without his say? Perhaps not, but he was prepared to go through the motions.

[IRLHarley]

Luna listened to what the queen was saying and looked at the ground. Soon enough there were people everywhere, she got really anxious but stayed still. She had her hands in front of her and each one was holding the other. She made sure that she was the last to be seen.

Once her parents started talking she noticed that he was walking over and got really anxious trying not to fidget. She looked up at him and smiled. Dear God this needs to be good. She thought to herself. She curtsied to him and shook his hand. "Hello, I am Luna, you may have known my name but it felt best to introduce myself anyway." She said with a smile. "It is great to finally meet you."

[InfraredHero]

While he wasn't happy to be there, he forced a smile to Luna and tried to look as friendly as possible. "It's an honor to meet you, Princess," William repeated the line he already said to several guests before. "If there's one thing to look forward to here, it's supper. My mother houses one of the best kitchens in all of Europe here." Again, this was just another line he said to a few other guests while greeting them. Not wanting to repeat anymore meaningless pleasantries, he went silent for a moment. 'I don't think she wants to be here either. At least we have something in common.' "Shall we join them?" He motioned towards his mother and her parents. "Or are you ready for someone to show you to your room?"

[IRLHarley]

She smiled at him noticing he was saying what she would say to guests of hers. She ignored it, she was of the same status but it didn't bother her. "It is an honor to meet you too. I can't wait to eat, I am very hungry I have not actually eaten today. My parents have withheld meals from me today." She looked over as he gestured to their parents and thought, Did she really want to be alone and would he bring her or would it be a servant. "I think we should join them for now and then I will need to be shown my room." She sighed, she didn't really know what to do, she started to notice really well that he did not want to be here or be with her she knew she shouldn't say anything.

[InfraredHero]

"Very well," William replied. "Let's join them." He led Luna over to where his mother and her parents were talking. The monarchs were talking about possible wedding dates, but stopped as William and Luna approached. "I'm glad you two are getting acquainted," Queen Yvette said. "It's only proper if you are to be married soon." She gave her attention to Luna. "Tell me, darling, what do you think of my son?"

William internally groaned at the mention of the two of them being married soon. They only just met, and he heard of how Luna had turned down other suitors as her parents searched for her future husband. 'If the princess doesn't like me she might just call this whole thing off... Maybe I should make sure she doesn't like me. But Mother would probably kill me if I did that...'

[IRLHarley]

She walked up to them and groaned audibly as she heard the word marriage. She smiled at the Queen, "Well I don't know him that well quite yet," She said calmly she looked at him, and back to his mother. "Looks like him and I don't want this to happen but we are stuck." She said jokingly. She knew she could be so forward sometimes but then passes it off as a joke. She knew she had the guts to do what the Prince won't do it in front of both of their parents. She sighed and looked at him and smiled devilishly, "How about my room now?" She giggled a bit