The Dark Prince (Kylo Ren X Reader)

The Personal Made Public

You brought the thin glass to your lips, sipping lightly at your water as you glanced around the table. Your advisors stared back at you, their collars high around their necks and their napkins tucked neatly in their laps as they fiddled with their forks. You sound of clinking silverware had always hit your ears in the wrong way. And every time one of the men scraped their knives along the plate as they cut into their food, you winced. 

You cleared your throat, sitting back in your chair and glancing at Kylo in the seat next to you. He was looking down at his lap, yanking uncomfortably at his tight suit collar, his scar rubbing against the fabric. 

You'd taken the head of the table, and you peered down the line of men in front of you--who all looked nearly the same, their faces blurring together confusingly. Some of them you knew. They'd worked at the palace for years under your father. But some of the faces were brand new and unfamiliar, having come from The First Order to discuss how relations would be between your two kingdoms. You and Kylo had yet to decide what your relationship was exactly. You weren't sure how to put a label on it at this point. Engaged? Dating? You didn't know.

You'd assumed that you would still be getting married at first, but the more you thought about it, the more doubt started to creep in. Why would you still be getting married? For the baby, maybe. But the marriage was originally only a reality because of an arrangement that turned out to all be a hoax. It was orchestrated by four people who were dead, and now the thought of doing what they planned made you feel a little uneasy. 

It wasn't that you didn't want to marry him. You did--with all of your heart. But why move so quickly when you didn't have to anymore? You weren't going to stop being together no matter what the label on your relationship was, so why the rush? Plus, the idea of putting on a wedding dress in your current physical state made you feel nauseated. 

"My lady," One of your advisors cleared his throat, catching your attention from the other end of the table. "We've finished reconstruction in the city. All of the buildings have been restored to their previous state."

"I'm so glad." You nodded, taking another sip of your water, "It made me so upset to see the ruins that the attack left behind."

"Yes, indeed." The man nodded, pausing uncomfortably. You could tell he wanted to say something else, his eyes shooting around the table towards his partners. 

"What is it?" You peered quizzically at him, and he cleared his throat once more. 

"It's--it's about you and the King, ma'am." He nodded towards Kylo, who glanced up from his lap. "I'm concerned that the people won't like that you've decided not to get married after all."

"We haven't decided that." You shook your head, but the man continued.

"These are uncertain times, madame. The people are looking for some sort of stability. And in my humble opinion a strategic marriage would be the best way to calm the public's nerves."

"Strategic as it would be, we want to take our time to make the best decision possible." You looked over at Kylo, who just nodded. "We're clearly together, isn't that enough?"

"I'm afraid not, ma'am." He hung his head, pausing. "And with the news that broke recently..."

"Wait, what news?" You furrowed your brow, leaning forward. The man looked around helplessly, as if he was begging for someone else to say what he had in mind. But no one spoke up. He sighed. 

"Well--about your pregnancy, my lady. It was all over the headlines yesterday morning." Your stomach dropped. You didn't know that the people had found out yet. You'd barely told anyone. And even less people had seen you. You racked your brain, trying to come up with who it could have been that leaked it. A palace employee? A guard? Alex? The doctor? Had Kylo told someone?