The Prince woke up with a start; the blinding morning light coming through from the balcony. Normally the Rebel was the one that drew the curtains at night. The Prince forgot how terrible the morning light was. Adding to the irritation was the slightly folded corner of the book the Prince was reading after failing to fall asleep.


It would fold back eventually with a bit of pressure. Didn't make him feel any better though. The Prince reluctantly got up getting ready to meet the other royals that were to be showing up today. Hopefully after he was able to eat something. He met the heads of the staff, other than the captain of the guard, in the war room with food. He was getting an update from all of them as they ate.


Everything was being put back in place if they were disturbed at all. A few less things he was worried about the night before. With that being taken care of the guests and finding the Rebel took priority. He was in the throne room as the other royals started showing up. It was a little embarrassing when he dropped his book over the side of the throne he was laying on.


He didn't really remember names but the family's colours. It was an easy way to tell who was who when at a party even with different surnames. There was Orange, Green, a deep Yellow, Purple, and a Teal sort of shade of blue. They each came as just the couple and the oldest as this was more of an obligation then a party.


The Prince would have to give an update of the situation at some point. There was a few asking who he was or where the rest of the royal family are. The Prince just got the servants handling the visitors to say that everything will be explained over dinner. It was just past noon when everyone was getting settled and the Prince was ready to have an panic attack.


"You're doing pretty good by yourself you know." Sir Theo came to stand beside the Prince as the orange king went into his room. The Prince turned around showing just how worried he was.


"I certainly don't feel like it. Everything is everywhere and I'm still worried what is going on with Ace. I just hope that they will still be able to get back in one piece." The Prince and the Knight started walking down the hall back to the throne room. The Prince was going to retrieve his book before heading to the kitchen.


He decided to see if there was anything he could help with getting dinner ready. Work would be a good distraction even if it was something simple. He hated feeling so useless now that he was able to be out of his room.


"I'm sure they will get back in one piece. Maybe have a little more faith if you really think they didn't want to go willingly." The Prince nodded, faith, all he needed was a little faith that his partner knew what they were doing. He certainly had hope that they were still alive. He almost chuckled thinking of how quickly their engagement would be over. They couldn't make it one day without something happening.


"Yes, right, faith. I am still worried about everything else I have on my plate. I have to now explain the last few days of crazy to fifteen people that I have never had any interaction with over dinner. I had hoped when dealing with things like this Ace would be standing right beside me to help." Their walk got quiet as they entered the throne room. The Prince going to retrieve his book that lay forgotten beside the throne.


"Are you sure this is still something you even want to do? No one is expecting you to take the throne. You can go and live as anyone you want. Give the throne to the Rebel leader and become your beloveds behind closed doors lover. It wouldn't exactly be out of the normal of an argument."


The Prince turned holding the book within his arms. This was only a taste of leading, it was going to be a lifetime of this and more. He could have the same luxuries, still be with the Rebel and very little of the responsibility. He blinked out of it as something in his chest tightened.


That was exactly what they didn't want as a couple. The Rebel promised not to hide the prince. They even said they didn't want to take the lead. He blinked away the idea quickly as it was deemed unthinkable. Nothing could happen anyways without talking to the Rebel first. He just had to stick to the plan they already created.


"Lots of people have already done-"


"That's enough." The Prince projected his voice. It was loud enough to fill the room which was a bit over kill since it was empty. He started walking down the steps keeping eye contact with the knight.


"I do not concern myself with what others have done. You know how long I have been hidden away? It is not only my obligation but privilege to succeed the throne to lead the nation toward prosperity. Just because it is beyond what I have expected does not imply that I desire to give that up. In what manner will others will observe about our reputation if I back down now?"


"I refuse to be seen as a coward and be someone's bit on the side only to appease outdated social standards. I will prove that I can be just as good a leader as the people deserve; this is only day one. I am dong this myself and without a grace period of transition. There is no chance of me stepping down till this conflict is over do I make myself perfectly clear?"


The Prince said standing right in front of the knight. He managed to get down the stairs and a few meters away from the thrones. The Knight now understood just how scary the Prince could be provoked. Normally he was like a cloud, fluffy, nice, and drifting through life.


Turns out he can turn into a storm cloud when he wanted. The Knight could see there was no self doubt in what the Prince said only catching half of it. He was going to be a good king no matter what the captain thought.


"You got your point across sir. I was just suggesting another option if you were thinking of anything. We should go get ready for dinner as I am to be your personal guard while your other is away." The Prince backed off the fire in his eyes turned down to a flicker. He nodded and took a breath.


"Yes, dinner should only be an hour away. I am going to need you to remind me of names. I also need to confirm some of the interaction etiquette that I have learned on short notice."


"Sounds like a fun afternoon." The Knight rolled his eyes as they left. They silently walked into the princes room passing a lot more people then they would without the other Royals there. The Prince went to put down his book. The Knight went over and turned one of the chairs to face the rest of the room.


The Prince started finding all of his nicer things as this wasn't a celebration dinner. He really wanted to make sure that he wouldn't mess this up before he could start speaking. These were his allies after all, bad blood was not going to help him or the Rebel in the future.


"You are going to be fine." The Knight said as the Prince rambled out all his worries while changing.


"You really don't think it will be that bad?" The Prince asked peaking out behind the changing wall. "Not at all. I've met these people before and there are all delightful to talk to. I mean, I've mostly talked to the heirs that are here but I'm sure their parents are good too." The Prince went back behind the wall as he thought over what the Knight said.


"There is still something off. Something else is going to happen. Someone is going to try and get in one last stab; I can feel it." The Prince always had a good gut feeling when something was off. It save the Rebel several times when his mother would come by for a serprise inspection. These were to make sure he wasn't doing anything he could be killed for. He was glad that his mother didn't think there could be another person there, especially as time went on.


"With me sitting right beside you, no one is pulling any knife on you. It's part of my job description." The Knight said, sure that he would be able to keep that promise when everything went down.


"Right, yes. I just have to trust you and all the other staff to not fall apart. I mean so far everyone had been able to hold their own things together. I'm sure I can as well." The Prince came out from behind the changing wall.


"This is only the early days of my reign after all. I'm sure my father had just as much trouble when he took the throne."


"I would say under the circumstances you are doing really well. I mean the death count is up to 83 bodies. There are some that were hurt badly that the healers couldn't save. That and ten blocks of the town have to be rebuilt. That is more then anyone I know have to deal with in the first ten years of a reign much less the first week."


The Prince took another deep breath, readying himself for probably the worst dinner of his life. It wasn't a high bar considering there wasn't many of them. The walk there was quiet as they were the last to arrive. The room went quiet from conversation as he walked into the room. At one end the queens sat. On the other the kings and their heirs. Thankfully the Prince didn't have to walk past every one on his way to the head of the table.


Yes he met everyone when their first arrived. That was just the greetings, this was conversation. Much more daunting, it was the first time that Prince wished his voice was deeper then how he could get it. It was very different having all eyes on him without the threat of death being in the open air. Thankfully the first course was served no to long afterwards.