Happy Ever After

Bright

Tia was waiting for me when I get back in the room a huge smirk on her face.
"When I said don't do anything I should have specified that included kissing."

"What do you mean?," I asked, feeling my face turn red.

"I mean just a few hours ago you were practically rushing to propose to someone named Dara so I panic fly home, badgering the Royal Air Force no less only to look out the castle window and find you shoving your tongue down some man's throat. A man who I am willing to bet is not Dara."

I cover my face with my hands and sag into the bed. I am in such a terrible quagmire. What was I doing embarrassing myself in front of the whole castle?

But whether or not I could afford it didn't seem to matter. Because I felt myself nearing tears. I clench my jaw, unwilling to give in to my own despair.

"Who is he? And why do you look like you've just attended a funeral instead of made out with some hottie."

"Shut up."

"What? He is hot. If you don't want him, I can have him."

"Stay away from Metawin," I find myself saying, suddenly sitting upright.

"Metawin? Oh, he's the viscount you've been dating behind Dara's back. Well, not really behind because you've been so obvious about it."

What did my sister just say? Was I going deaf? "I haven't been dating Metawin."

"Brother, I was in Cambodia, India, and Nepal and I was paying so little attention to you but I still know that you sang with him at some event - your couple photos are all over tabloids worldwide, you bought him off-menu sushi from a famous restaurant- "

"That was your idea!"

"And that was the only time you have ever listened to any of my ideas. Plus! You jailed the bullies who beat him up. Kudos to you by the way. And you were full on making out with him just now. So I'd say you're dating him."

"He's my rival!"

"In what? Who can french kiss the longest?"

I throw a pillow at Tia. "Why did you fly home if you were going to be so unhelpful?"

"I cannot help you if you insist on pretending to be so clueless. It's so obvious you're hiding something from me."

Sometimes, I hate Tia. But who else was I supposed to talk to? There was only my smug sister.

"If I tell you something, can you promise not to overreact?"

"When have I ever overreacted?"

"I could write you a list but I don't think there is enough paper in the world."

"Really? Sarcasm? Keep it up and I am never talking to you again, Bright Guntithanon."

I relent. "Remember when we were younger, I could not shut up about the viscount I met in the garden?"

"You mean the imaginary viscount no one has ever seen?"

I heave a sigh. "If he's so imaginary, how did you see me kissing him in the garden?"

"I never saw you kissing - " Realization dawns on Tia. "The viscount with the blue kite is Metawin?!" Her voice thundered all over the room - so much for not overreacting.

"Apparently."

"My head hurts. So why were you thinking of proposing to Dara mere hours ago when the man you're obviously pining for is also apparently that boy you could not shut up about for a decade?"

"Because I also saw them kissing. And I panicked? Look, taking my feelings aside, my duty is to marry Dara. It would be good for our family, it would be good for policy, and ultimately good for the country."

"Bright, you are not owned by the state. You are a person. Your feelings matter."

"I was raised to put duty first, Tia. Besides, did you not hear the part where Metawin kissed Dara? It's one thing to not marry a Kittiyangkul. It's another to become embroiled in an illicit affair. I would be disowned."

"How sure are you that they're together?"

"Would you honestly date someone who was kissing someone else just hours before they kissed you?"

"Wouldn't mind if it were just a fling."

My gut wrenched. If I ever dated Metawin, I knew for a fact I could not do so casually. I would surrender my heart to him so fast it would be painful. "You know I don't do flings."

"Bright, you know all our lives I've been compared to you. You're supposed to be intelligent and rational. A master strategist and a big picture thinker. Can we please find those missing brain cells and put them to use?"

I glare at her. "Again, you didn't need to fly home to insult me. You could have saved everyone the trouble and just texted."

"Talk to him!"

"I'd believe anything he says," I confess. "I don't think that's wise."

"Talk to Dara then!"

"And what? Tell her that her best friend and new lover cheated on her with me?"

"You are overthinking this."

I laugh. Of course I was. I had to. That was one does when they're next in line for the crown. I needed to assess life decisions from every angle and make sure it doesn't put the family in any compromising position. And even as I did that, I still received feedback. Got criticism. Got told how to handle things better moving forward. No decision was ever good enough.

I would love to not overthink. To just close my eyes and leap. But I didn't have that luxury.

Talking to Metawin is logical. But I knew he could tell me the world was flat and I'd nod along eagerly. He renders any intelligence I might have useless.

"Brother," Tia says with a sigh. "You said once you'd do anything for me,right?"

Where was this coming from? "Yes, I did."

"So, do this one thing for me - fine, don't talk to Metawin. Don't believe his words. But if he shows you he loves you, I need you to promise me you'll believe his actions."

"Tia, I'm heir to the throne and I need to think with - "

"Kings lead with their hearts too you know."

I look away. They did. She was right.
But I kept silent. Because leading with your heart sounded impossibly scary. Especially when your heart wanted a boy everyone else seemed to want.

Tia nudges me. "You have to promise me. You said anything, Bright."

"I cannot believe your using my unsullied honor against me," I joke.

"Promise me," Tia presses.

"How are you so sure this will end happily?"

"Bright, you never forgot the boy with the kite. Even when Hirun and I teased you mercilessly about him being a figment of your imagination, you never let go. He must be worth risking a little heartbreak."

I nod. "Alright. I promise," I say with a smile, even if I knew there was nothing little about what I was risking.

Actions? Metawin didn't even have to do anything, him simply existing was enough for me to love him unconditionally.

I could just avoid him right? Nothing needs to happen if I just stay in the castle and never ever see him again, right?

"So," Tia says as she searches for the secret stash of food in my room. "How long is Metawin staying in the castle?"

Goddamnit.

I am , for a lack of a better word, so royally fucked.