Royalty

VII

This is like a chapter that I added in after I finished the fic so it's kind of short, but I feel like it needs to be in it. Please vote and comment if you're reading! <3

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I woke up the next morning feeling unbelievably happy. I stared at my wrist for what felt like hours, and then pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. We had planned to meet again tonight, same time same place. I was so excited that I got up early and was on time for breakfast. When I sat down my mother acted like she was seeing a ghost. She did a double-take as I started digging into my food.

"Daniel" she said with her eyebrows raised. I smiled at her.

"Good morning" she continued to stare at me until I stopped eating and looked at her. "What? Do I have something on my face?" I wiped my mouth on my sleeve.

"No," she looked down at her plate and smiled. "I'm just surprised to see you at breakfast. You're never awake for it unless you have to be" I shrugged and looked around.

"Where's Father?" I asked.

"He's out with those men that were here yesterday. They're out talking about some things" I went back to eating my food. Everything seemed different now. Food tasted better, colors seemed brighter. My world changed overnight because of him.

"You seem to be in a good mood today" my mother pointed out. I looked up at her.

"What makes you say that?" I asked.

"You're smiling at your eggs" I couldn't control my smile. I was just... so happy. Phil made me unbelievably happy. "Was your smile... caused by someone?" she asked. I blushed.

"Mother!" she laughed.

"Well? I've never seen you this happy, and you're at breakfast. Voluntarily. Trust me, someone had to make you this happy" I bit my lip and glanced away from her. She gasped. "Who is she?" my heart sank in my chest. "Did you meet her at the ball? Oh, I just knew you would! Tell me all about her" I stared down at my lap, ashamed. I couldn't tell her about Phil. There is no way that she would be okay with me being with a boy. I had to marry a girl to be king, and I had to have children to continue our bloodline. Someone had to rule after me. "Daniel, don't get all embarrassed on me. Tell me about her" She looked so excited. I couldn't let her down.

"She- " I looked away from her. I couldn't look her in the eyes and lie about this. "She's amazing, Mother. She's beautiful and funny and I really really like her" I said wistfully. I glanced up to see the look on her face. She looked so proud. "And I think... she really likes me too"

"Oh honey" she reached across the table and took my hand. "I'm so glad" I smiled thinly. "I bet you're excited to see her again at the next ball" I looked away from her. "Less than two weeks" she said with a wink.

"Yeah" I said weakly. I looked down at my empty plate and cleared my throat. "I'm going to... go for a walk if that's okay"

"Of course, sweetheart" and just like that she went back to her breakfast. I got up from the table and walked back to my room.

"How was your date last night?" Jack was sitting on the end of my bed folding my clean laundry.

"It wasn't a date" I mumbled as I flopped down onto my bed.

"Really?" he said dubiously. "So you're telling me we did all that kissing for nothing?" I blushed.

"I didn't say that" he turned and smirked at me. "I had breakfast with my mother" I stated. Jack looked at me with his eyebrows raised.

"I noticed. When I woke up this morning I thought maybe you didn't come home last night" he said suggestively. I threw a pillow at him.

"Shut up" I laughed. I sat up and pulled my knees to my chest. "My mom asked me why I looked so happy"

"Did you tell her it was because you had a hot date last night with your 'soulmate'" he joked.

"Jack, I'm serious" he frowned.

"Sorry" I ran my fingers through my hair.

"I don't want to lie to her, but..."

"You can't tell her either" he said sadly. I nodded. "I'm sorry" he said sympathetically.

"I was so happy when I went down there. And then she asked me if I met a girl, and suddenly it hit me. This isn't going to work. I can't be with Phil. I can't be with him... Not really, anyway. Not in the way I want to. When I think about the ball, all I see is us dancing. We're dancing and no one's staring at us, because why would they? Why would they stare at two people dancing" I groaned in frustration. "But I can't do that! Because not only do people think it's weird that a guy is dancing with another guy, but I'm also the prince! And I have to have a wife to be king! I have to have kids so one of them can take the throne when I step down. I have to think about other people here, not me. I have to think about the future... right?" I looked up and Jack had stalled his hands. He wasn't looking at me. "Right?"

"Dan," he looked at me sadly. "You shouldn't have to sacrifice your happiness for others. It kills me that you feel like you have to do that" My shoulders dropped.

"Then what should I do?" I asked desperately

"You should do whatever makes you happy" he said. "Even if it makes people look at you weirdly. Do what you want for you, not for anyone else"

"Thank you" I said quietly. I moved forward and pulled him into a hug. "You're literally the best friend ever" he sighed.

"Yes I am"