ok but i just want a story where a princess is arranged to marry another royal in a neighbouring country for political reasons. and yes. ok. sure. our princess is responsible and has a strong, strong sense of duty. but when she gets there the royal isn't a prince—it's a princess?
clearly there was a mistake. surely they meant this girl's elder brother? who's basically prince charming anyway? i mean, this new princess. she... she isn't the *fairest* lady this side of the sea, she's a little chubby, a little too loud and overbearing for her liking.
but the circumstances have deemed it so. it's fine, she'll deal. they spend time together to get to know each other. perhaps a chance to get to know the prince better as well before she's promised to another forever. it helps that the two royal siblings are so close to each other
her time in this new kingdom begins so rocky—the customs are different, the new princess so cloyingly enthusiastic about her arrival. so different from the person she'd expected her to be. they have basically zero shared interests, zero chemistry, and our princess LAMENTS it all
but when she finally, FINALLY gets a moment alone with the prince, she realises that he's just the BIGGEST fan of his little sister. won't SHUT UP about how clever and kind she is, how she thinks the kingdom out of economic crises. how lucky she is to marry such a brilliant soul.
our princess is sheepish and also mildly annoyed—she wanted to get to know HIM, not the mediocre princess she's been promised to. but hmm, hmm. do his words ring true? perhaps she hadn't given the girl a chance. perhaps she'd been unfair. perhaps...
the next day she finds the princess wandering the gardens, thoughtful. as she approaches, the warmth her eyes remains, but there's a tenseness to the way she carries herself. the princess admits to ours that she could tell that she resented her just a tiny bit.
of course she understands! her brother is wonderful and a fine suitor. more than fine, even. she is fond of our princess, but is willing to call off the engagement if it is what she wishes. at least, she says, let me show you around the kingdom before you leave for home.
and so the next few days are just that: the two princesses sneak out of the castle and mingle with the town. the kingdom is vibrant and full of laughter, and by god, everyone *loves* their princess. sneaking out is a common occurence, it seems...
and the young royal knows the town as much as she does the castle grounds. our princess is able to let loose for the first time—she definitely wasn't allowed to do this at home. there is much dancing and food-tasting and singing. she learns how *good* the princess has been..
to her people, by virtue of understanding how it felt unheard and unworthy in her position. how she was the only one in court with answers to the crises because she was the only one who listened to the townsfolk. really *listened*. it's gradual, but our princess softens.
and one day she looks at her betrothed in the waning afternoon light, head thrown back and crinkles around her eyes as she laughs at a deadpan joke our princess made. and she realises oh. oh. this is what it's like.
the prince was right after all.
the prince was right after all.
HELLO BOOK TWITTER! this tweet blew up way more than i expected, and i'm grateful that y'all liked my inane 1 am ramblings of a really gay + indulgent story idea lol. my kofi is here if you'd like to maybe? see more of these in the future? mayhaps?
ko-fi.com/shuuren
ko-fi.com/shuuren
& if you'd like to donate to a nobler cause, check out ann's thread of aussie fire resources! the world feels CHAOTIC now, but there is still work we can do so people in need can breathe a little easier today. do it for the warm princesses if not for me!
