The Prince's Heart

A Royal Wedding

"In an intimate but luxurious ceremony Prince Maximilan of Hampud, first son and heir to Hampud, married Prince Nat of West Nalia, third son of King of West Nalia. Notifications of the nuptials were sent mere days before the event and preparations for the event went at breakneck speed. An odd event for Royal Weddings which usually require months of planning, a fleet of thousands and a cast of hundreds to attend.

Prince Maximilian is said have to been festooned military regalia suiting his years on the battlefront. While Prince Nat was rumored to have been wearing a gown, in baby pink. Sources in the Hampud palace refuse to confirm nor deny such dress rumors. 

This wedding comes on the head of the new Hampud-West Nalia trade deal that is said to be extremely lucrative for West Nalia with Hampud getting a few meager rights. Did the savvy King of West Nalia get one over on the clever Queen of Hampud, said to be the most intelligent dealmaker in the land? 

Sources said the Queen of Hampud was aglow during the ceremony and Prince Maximilian looked positively besotted gazing upon his new husband. The King of West Nalia as well was gregarious and cheerful. Prince Nat's enjoyment of the wedding however, was said to have been more of a reserved nature..."

- The Land Gazette February Issue 

Prince Nat went through the sad circus of a wedding in a daze. His dress pinched and itched, and for the ceremony the tied a large pink lace and pearl train to his already laughable frock. The weight of the additional garment made Nat drag his feet more than he even wanted to towards the altar. He used the large bouquet of pink and white tulips to disguise his face as he marched towards his doomsday. 

He barely had glanced at the Prince of Hampud and then he was whisked away for a fresh hair set, makeup touch up and that blasted train to be put on him. He admitted that the Prince of Hampud was tall and had broad shoulders. Taller than any of the residents of West Nalia, even big Gems. Nat knew the people of Hampud were statuesque but Nat felt the Prince of Hampud looked like an actual folklore Giant. Nat felt dwarfed, at his own wedding. Another thing for him to cry about.

None of this felt like his actual wedding, it was his father the King's and the Queen of Hampud's. Both said to have made love matches of their own now forcing their children into false vows. 

He refused to look at the Prince of Hampud during the wedding, instead looking at the fussy Vicar Poppy's velvet cloak during the entire ceremony. Prince Max instead stared at Nat with an intensity that Nat could feel it even when Nat was not looking. His skin itched with the gaze. Or it was this blasted dress.

When it was time to say "I do." Prince Nat muttered it as quiet as he could into the shoes of Vicar Poppy. Duty making him not scream out 'I don't!' although his body was craving to do so. 

He faintly heard Prince Max echo "I do." It was a nice tone Prince Nat admitted. Not too deep, warm even. Nat begrudgingly gave him a compliment. 

"I now pronounce you married. You may now kiss the bride err groom err Prince!" Vicar Poppy cheerfully said. 

Crap. Nat had forgotten all about this part. He had barely glanced at his now husband and he had to really look at him for the first time to kiss him?! Nat lost all function in his body and felt himself faint.

When his knees started to give away, he felt a strong arm sweep across his back supporting him. It was Prince Max, now bending over to him. He looked into Nat's eyes and Nat instinctively looked back. Up close Nat saw Prince Max had elegant long lashes and soft brown eyes. In another time Prince Nat would've thought they were quite refined and handsome, but he was too nervous to think of anything.