Destined Couple

Coronation

The royal banquet was a private, intimidating event with nobles and dignitaries and everything that made Rapunzel nervous. She sat next to her father and mother and sighed a bit as she saw Eugene sitting with the kids, being terrorized by a young kid while the Knight's son – what was his name? She'd only heard it once... - watched. Cassandra was nearby Eugene, talking to him with a smug expression. Knowing her, she put him with the kids on purpose.

Eugene...maybe she should've asked him to join her this morning. Maybe it would been less...upsetting. She poked at her food, looking at it glumly.

Her father sighed. "I don't understand why you're so upset, sweetheart." He said, holding his fork as he prepared to take a bite of his food. "I said you could do whatever you wanted today, and that's what you did."

Did she? No, no she didn't. Not a single thing. Not wanting to make a scene, though, she decided not to say her true feelings on the matter. "Hmm, but you didn't say anything about a battalion tagging along."

"Why would I need to?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "You're royalty, making a public appearance."

"But, dad..." She sighed and gave up, pulling out the picture she'd been given instead and unrolling it to read those encouraging words again. 'They don't understand you, and they never will.' She thought, rolling it up again. 'Whoever sent this, you're right. They'll never understand what I've been through. Kept away because of powers I was born with, never to know the world...can I say my life has gotten any better?'

Eugene cleared his throat, walking to the middle of the room and drawing everyone's attention to him. "Ladies and gentlemen, Dukes and Duchesses, Barons and Baronesses and Marquis and...you know, the female version of those, may I share a moment of history with you?" He turned to Rapunzel. "Princess, would you join me up here?"

What was he doing? She glanced at his hand, then made her way around the table to join him, taking his hand once they were together with an uncertain smile. He turned to everyone, starting to give his speech. "Tonight, we celebrate our love for the princess." He said, and Rapunzel looked over at Cassandra to see if she knew what was going on. Judging by her expression and confused shrug, that was a 'no'. Great. "I can think of no better way to celebrate the love I have for her," Eugene drew her attention back to him, "than this." He bowed on one knee, holding her hands in his.

Oh, gosh, what was this?!What was going on?! What was he doing, in front of everyone?!

"Oh, Eugene!" She said, pulling one of her hands away. "Wait, did you drop something?" She looked around.

He held onto her left hand with both of his, looking up at her. "No." He moved his hands back and reached into his jacket, pulling out a small box. He opened it to reveal a ring inside, golden and topped with a diamond.

Was this...a proposal?!

"Rapunzel, from the moment I first met you and you knocked me out with that frying pan," don't mention the frying pan in front of all these people, "I knew it was love." He held the box up higher, bringing his free hand to his chest. "You're my light. You're my best friend and I want to be your partner in all things."

Eugene was...proposing to her?!

"I can't wait to laugh with you and share with you." She felt her body warm up a bit and her heart fluttered as she clasped her hands together. "I see us raising our children here. And our children's children. And celebrating banquets of our own in this very hall for many, many, many, many years to come."

He looked so earnest, his eyes shining with hope. Rapunzel could taste the word "yes" on her lips already, but she wanted to let him finish.

"I want to ride our horses out to the Corona wall together every morning until we're both very, very, very old and grey."