Born the youngest Prince of the Faeorn Isles, I was never expected to rule. And that was just the way I liked it. I had no desire to sit on the throne or be forced to sit through stuffy Council meetings.

No, I would rather be hosting galas, banquets, garden parties. Anywhere I could be surrounded by great company, enjoying life to the fullest. Where the toughest decision was if I should have dessert or not.

Of course, my family kept things interesting. Unlike me, my two older brothers were constantly at each other's throats, desperate to prove themselves to our father. At first, they had tried to get me to choose sides, but quickly realized how disinterested I was with politics.

Though the peaceful days of endless social events and idle chit-chat couldn't last forever. Even for nobility, peace was a rare commodity. Since before I had been born, the Kingdom of the Faeorn Isles had been at war with the Kymerial Empire.

And now? That peace the entire kingdom had craved for so long was within its grasp. There was just one catch. I was to marry the Crown Princess of the Kymerial Empire, Princess Amelia. On the surface, most people would think this was fine. Normal for nobles.

Except, I had a secret that I kept from everyone, even my most trusted staff. I was gay. An arranged marriage was bad enough, but to a woman? There was no chance of love in that arrangement.

In an odd stroke of luck, the Crown Princess fell ill and passed shortly after. However, I wasn't completely free. The two kingdoms agreed that the alliance would still happen, however now I was to marry Amelia's brother, the 2nd Prince of the Kymerial Empire.

I played the role of the grieving spouse during the mourning period following Princess Amelia's death, but inside I was beyond thrilled. Not by the fact your sister had died, no. But because now, in the cruelest stroke of luck, I was now to marry a man. Which, I also had to pretend bothered me.

After the mourning period had ended, my parents and yours were in agreement. The wedding should occur as soon as possible. Getting to know each other? Not necessary. They had the rest of their lives to do that, of course.

And that's how I found myself pacing in the royal gardens wearing my best suit, awaiting my betrothed's arrival. I turned a corner, desperate for a change in scenery to keep my mind off of the wedding day anxiety.

I blinked in surprise, greeted by the sight of my fiancé attempting to scale the garden walls, trying to escape.

"You know, most people tend to use doors to leave," I called out with a small smile. "But scaling a wall? Can't say I've ever had a fiancé do that before. Mind you, haven't had a fiancé before. Anyways, care for some help, darling?"