Both reader and Varian are 20 or so. Based off of wonderful older Varian fan art. Art below made by hmm_yes_art on instagram, give them a follow!
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It was only a sleep away. Corona was brimming with visitors for the royal wedding. Since that night in the garden, Varian kept his distance from the Princess. Everytime he heard her name mentioned, his heart sunk. But it was hard since the whole Kingdom was busy talking about the event. There was no escape from her.
For (Y/n), there was no escape from anything. Every detail that was planned felt like a nail in her foot. She was stuck with no way of moving. The flowers, the veil, the rings; all reminders of the life she would never have; a life spent with someone she loved.
Prince Rupert of Andolovia was pompous, poised and sickeningly handsome. Though, his charms did not extend to his personality. He treated those around him with patronizing distain, and everyone could see that. When he came to Corona months ago, the whole palace treaded lightly around his ego - trying not to get on his wrong foot. The Prince was only meant to come for a week, to discuss the Kingdom allegiances along with the Andolovian general. However, something unlikely occurred; Rupert formed an attachment to Corona's second princess, (Y/n). It was unusual to anyone who had met the Prince, but maybe true love had changed his heart. True love, or something else...
Varian trudged through the crowded hallways, eyes to the ground. The sweet smell of the floral arrangements only made his stomach ache, and the clattering of cutlery pierced his ears. All he wanted was to get out of there, and back to his lab. Well, what he really wanted was for this wedding to be cancelled. But for now he would have to settle with keeping busy. His lab in the palace was where he kept most of his projects. Varian regretted this now, as it meant he would have to be in the epicenter of it all.
The voices and shuffling of feet became too much for Varian. He had to find a quieter path to his workspace. The exhausted alchemist turned a corner, pushed open a small wooden door, and slipped behind it. He had entered the old part of the palace. The corridors were narrow, and the walls were made of cobbled stones. But it was quiet, and Varian could breathe. He sighed and placed his palm to his temple. His shoulder hit the cold wall in a slump, and closed his eyes - holding back tears that stung his clear blue eyes. The silence echoed through the dark space, but soon a voice rang in Varian's ears. Listening closely, he heard a muffled conversation happening in the desolate hallway.
Deciding to get a closer listen, Varian treaded quietly across the uneven flooring to a doorway that leaked a sliver of light. He stopped right outside, and suddenly the voice became all too recognizable.
"I'll give you your percentage of the dowry after the honeymoon." Prince Rupert's snobbish intonation revealed, as Varian's intrigue spiked.
"Just think of the wonderful time the two of you will have." an older voice returned, followed by a sinister chuckle.
