Shangri La Pt. 1

73: Inception

"I would be more than happy to show you my world, My Prince." Momo answered, leading a faint pink hue to hit the Prince's cheeks. 

"Ah– Y-Yes, then we should go then."

And so, both the Prince and Princess walked side by side as they took the lead and headed for the front of the palace where hundreds of people were already waiting for their arrival. And just while they were walking, Momo would take quick glances over at the Prince every once in a while as she couldn't get over seeing how the robes he was wearing fit him perfectly, or how his hair was pulled slick back and she could see his face as clear as day. 

"We don't usually celebrate things like this in the West." Shoto pointed out. 

"Ah– Oh, is that so?" 

"Mn. It's considered rare for there to be any festivals or celebrations in the West. My father isn't much of a talkative person, so he believed there would be no need for any of us to relax in the castle." Shoto added.

Though Shoto wasn't much for talking about his family and such, this was possibly the first time Momo had learned something about the Prince's father. 

"Is... I-Is your father the one that agreed to this Arranged Marriage for us?" Momo questioned randomly, knowing that she would catch Shoto's attention. 

"Ah– Mn. My parents had an Arranged Marriage for reasons I cannot say, so my father understands the idea very well." he stated as he didn't seem to falter in anything he was saying on their walk. 

"You– Your father, I see... And what about your mother, was she alright with an Arranged Marriage?" Momo questioned, only causing the Prince to abruptly stop in his tracks and surprising her.

"Ack! M-My Prince, you surprised me. Ah–" 

When she managed to stop herself, Momo found herself in disbelief when she saw an expression on Shoto's face that she'd never seen from him before. 

His eyes were slightly widened, and his lips were subtly quivering, but why? 

Did what she asked was too much for him to answer? 

"U-Um– M-My Prince, a-are you–" 

"Ahem, let's get to the ceremony before we are late. I do not wish to be late for the first ceremony I've ever been to with my soon-to-be." Shoto coughed as his feared expression flushed away and he was calm like usual as he started pacing past the Princess and leaving her to stand there a bit unsure of what just happened. 

'Did... Did Shoto just show... fear?'

Even after realizing–and witnessing–a new expression on his face, Momo had to act like she didn't see anything even as they finally arrived at the location of the ceremony that could start at any second. 

"Ah~ My Dear Little Momo~" 

Both Momo and Shoto flinched as they looked before them to see the Emperor–Momo's father–waltzing up to them in absolute joy and his arms flailing out from his sides like he wanted to hug them both. 

"F-Father–" 

"My dear daughter has grown and blossomed into a beautiful woman, I wish my eyes were fooling me." the Emperor hummed as he hugged Momo proudly and happily. 

"U-Um, b-but father, today is not the wedding, there is no need for you to say such things." 

"Oh, but I must, as I know that one day I will regret not praising my own daughter for growing up so fast. And you, young man~" the Emperor paused as he released his daughter and then panned his attention to the Prince standing next to her.