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The Royal Family | Chapter Six

The Royal Family | Chapter Six

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two future royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together…

Warning: mentions of death, slight depressing themes

Pairing: Tom Holland x reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The air was silent. Darkened gray smudges of cloud threateningly surrounded the sky; like a predator would stalk its prey. A startling low rumble rang loud in the cool fall air, the sky roaring with satisfaction. A sense of cleanliness caresses the atmosphere, washing away all impurities. A dense earthly sweet smell rises from the ground, enveloping everything within its soft embrace. The skies suddenly settle, as if it were comforted, coaxed even. The fluffy smudges don’t part completely - although the sun peeks out timidly- and rather look like its preparing for an even more vicious round.

Earlier in the day, the casket of the eastern king had been paraded through the streets of his former kingdom. It had been accompanied by an army of soldiers wearing their uniforms. The flag of the kingdom was gracefully placed over the casket and a grand bouquet of marvelous flowers rested on top. 

The people flooded the streets to watch. Many brought bouquets of flowers and placed them at the gates of the palace as a form of respect. As the casket passed through the streets, there were some crying in the audience. Others wiped away their tears silently with their handkerchiefs. It was a day of mourning. 

The bell tower was scheduled to ring every hour of the day for the next week to commemorate the long life of the king. The casket was now making its way towards the abbey which was located in the capital city of the country. It was hundreds of miles away from any of the four kingdoms, situated right in the center of the country. 

This was where he would finally be laid to rest forever. His only offspring stood at the door of the abbey, watching the six men carry the casket through the doors. 

The princess was dressed in a heavy black dress. She also wore a black veil to conceal her face and to make sure nobody saw her tear stained cheeks. The eastern kingdom now belonged to her as a form of her inheritance. When she weds, her kingdom was to merge with the northern kingdom based on the contract that was signed months prior. 

In the abbey, the casket was formally placed into the ground. The hall was filled with the bodies of previous kings from all four kingdoms. The princess turned to read some of the headstones lining the walls. She made note of her grandfather’s headstone, reading his name quietly in her head. She almost wondered how many of Thomas’s relatives laid to rest here. 

Once the casket was fully hurried, the stone seal was placed over top of it. The priest said one final prayer. Once the priest said “amen”, the princess moved to step forward in her place. She knelt on the ground and placed her hand on the stone to say her final goodbye. A single tear fell from her face. 

After a minute or so, the princess stood to her feet and swiftly moved to leave the abbey. Her future husband quickly went to catch up with her, but his father caught his shoulder and stopped him from casing after her.

“Give her some space. She desperately needs it,” King Dominic responded. His son gave a single nod of the head. 

“How soon are we to depart to the northern kingdom?” Prince Thomas wondered. He looked at his father with a slightly worried look on his face. He didn’t want to force his fiancée to leave her homeland, but they were getting married soon and they needed to stay on schedule.

“We leave at dawn,” the King of the North said swiftly. He went to leave the presence of his eldest son, heading towards the entrance of the abbey. 

In the carriage ride back to the eastern kingdom, the princess was looking solemnly out the window. She hadn't any need to speak up and she allowed no more tears to fall from her eyes. Yet, her heart felt so heavy with grief. 

“How are you feeling, my love?”Thomas wondered. He went to lace his arm around her shoulders, pulling her more into his side. 

The princess sniffled up her tears and reached up, whipping her eyes with her hand. She shrugged her shoulders and looked away, avoiding eye contact with her lover. He rubber her arm reassuringly, gazing down at her with kind eyes.

“Come here,” Thomas said. The princess sat up and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his strong figure. His arms enveloped around her small body, holding her closely to his chest. He reached up and brushed her hair down, soothing her into a form of contentment. 

The princess gripped onto his shirt tightly, sobbing into his chest. Her salty tears stained his shirt, soaking through the material. He held her in his embrace, soothing her with his encouraging words.

“There, there. It’s going to be alright,” Thomas said softly.

“H...He was all I had left. H-He was the only family I e-ever had. I’m an orphan now. I’m all alone,” she said. Her voice was shaky and unstable, coming out in short spurts due to her hiccups.

The prince tilted his head to the side and ran his hand down her back, rubbing reassuringly. She stifled up her tears, pushing them away.

“In a way, we should be celebrating. We should not be grief-stricken. There is sorrow and distress in our hearts. We need to replace it with happiness and joy. Your father is in a better place now. He is happy, he is safe. There is no need to worry about him. He has reunited with your mother now,” Thomas said while looking down at her.

“Do you think he suffered?” The princess asked in a low whisper. The prince turned his head and looked down at her with concerned eyes. He shook his head in denial.

“No, darling. I have reason to believe that he passed away in his sleep. He didn’t feel any pain. He didn’t feel any suffering. He went away peacefully,” the prince continued. He was not entirely sure if his accusation was correct.

The princess stared off into the distance, pondering on his words. She turned her head and looked out the window, seeing the darkened sky raising high above the mountains. The bright silver moon was high in the sky, shining a light down on earth. It was late.

“Tomorrow,” Thomas said, moving slightly. “We will be leaving for the northern kingdom in the morning.”

The prince tilted his head to the side and looked down at her. He reached down and pressed his fingers against her chin, raising it so that he could gaze into her eyes. They looked at each other with such sadness in their expressions. He shook his head slightly, denying her words.

“You are not alone,” he whispered. “You’ll never be alone. I’ll always be there for you. No matter what,” Thomas confirmed. She swallowed thickly, but nodded her head in confirmation. He pulled her closer to his chest, resting his chin on her head as she sobbed quietly into his chest.

The prince was humming to himself, hoping to ease the princess into contentment. His soothing voice was calming and relaxing. Her crying dialed down as she listened to the sound of his thumping heartbeat. The tears staining her cheeks were no longer flowing. They had come to a halt.

“My love,” Thomas said. “Just think, in a few short months, we shall be married. How exciting is that? Are you not looking forward to that?” 

The princess listened to his soft words, pressing her ear against his chest to listen to the sound of his heartbeat. She lifted her head to gaze into his eyes. She cracked a small smile, nodding her head in agreement.

“I suppose I am quite excited to be getting married,” the princess stated. “But there is still so much to do,” she sighed.

“Well, I am quite certain my mother will be more than willing to help you out with that.” Thomas chuckled softly.

“I can’t wait to meet your mother. Your father speaks so highly of her,” the princess recalled. 

“I can’t wait to see her as well. It’s been so long,” Thomas said. The carriage began to pull up to the entrance of the palace. The two young royals stepped out of the carriage and began climbing the grand steps to the entrance. 

The two of them made their way through the hallways of the palace, heading back to the princess’s quarters. She waltzed inside in her room, throwing her veil and gloves onto a nearby chair. She flopped down on her large bed and breathed a heavy sigh.

The young prince moved to the side of her bed, lowering himself to sit down at her side. He smiled down at her and moved to brush some hair out of her face.

“Now, I believe that your servant has packed all of your belongings safely. In the morning, I will come and wake you up when it is time to start getting ready,” Thomas said.

The prince stood to his feet and looked down at the young woman. He reached down and cupped her face with his hand, holding it gently in his grasp. His lips curved into a soft smile as he gazed down into her beautiful eyes.

“Get some rest, my love. We have al long journey tomorrow,” Thomas said. He turned to leave and walk away, but the princess stopped him. She reached out and grabbed his wrist, stopping him from leaving her room. He looked back at her. 

“Please stay with me,” the princess begged. Her voice was just below a whisper. She looked up at him with pleading eyes. The prince shook his head in denial, knowing it would be considered inappropriate to stay in an unmarried woman’s quarters for the night.

“You know I can’t,” Thomas said while shaking his head.

“Please,” she spoke softly. He couldn’t resist her big beautiful eyes begging him to stay with her. He dropped his head back and breathed a small sigh of defeat. She simply hoped he would stay for a little while.

“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep,” Thomas concluded. The princess nodded her head and laid down in bed, bringing the covers over her shoulders. She snuggled in the warmth of the bed, closing her eyes in an attempt to fall asleep. The prince sat back down on the bed, playing with her hair to sooth her into a peaceful sleep.

As the prince was running his fingers through her long hair, the princess drifted into a calming sleep. Her pink lips parted softly as she breathed steadily. The prince smiled down at her. She was finally asleep.

The prince stood to his feet and looked down at her. He leaned down and pressed his lips against her head, kissing her goodnight. He walked towards the door of her quarters, opening the door to let himself out. The servant was waiting in the hallway. She needed to go back inside to help finish with the packing.

The prince raised his finger to his lip, mentally telling the servant to be extra quiet since the princess had just fallen asleep. The woman nodded her head understandingly. She tipped her head in acknowledgment before entering the quarters, closing the door behind her quietly.

The prince laced his arms behind his back before walking down the corridors of the palace. He walked back to his room, hoping he would get a good night’s rest before the long journey in the morning.

The bright morning sunlight streamed through the nearly empty palace, brightening even the darkest corner. The servants were rushing around the palace, packing away some last minute things before the royals were to leave the palace for a good long time. Some hall boys carried the heavy trunks down the stairs, bringing them outside to be tied to the back of the carriages.

The furniture in the palace was to stay there. The palace would be forgotten, abandoned in more specific cases. The king of the north believed it could be auctioned off to the highest bidder whether it be from a distant king or a king who lived in their midst. Nobody was to live in the palace at the time though.

Some of the servants were to move to the northern kingdom to be of service in the new palace. However, certain servants had to be let go due to the fact that the other palace already had someone to fill in their place. It was a saddening thought. Nevertheless, the princess gave each of them a good report so that they should have no trouble in finding some suitable work. They were grateful to say the least.

The two younger princes walked around the carriages. Technically, the engaged couple were not allowed to be in the same closed carriage, but they were allowed to if they had a chaperon with them. The eldest prince invited his two younger brothers to accompany them on the journey, essentially becoming their chaperons. 

The other single carriage had been designated for the king. The other four carriages were for hauling the servants and their own personal belongings. More trunks would make the journey later in the week. They were not essential to make the first journey though.

“That’s the last of it,” one of the servants said, patting the side of the last trunk with his hand. The two young princes turned their heads and looked towards their older brother, wondering if he was about ready to leave.

“Thomas? Are we ready to depart?” Sam wondered.

“In a moment,” Thomas said with a small nod of the head. “I’ll be right back,” Thomas promised.

He turned around and walked towards the palace, entering through the grand doors. He tilted his head to the side as he caught side of his betrothed standing at the bottom of the staircase. 

The princess was dressed in her traveling attire. Her long silver dress fitted her body nicely. The dark blue coat was wrapped tightly around her was it with a single black button holding it together near the neckline. The coat was long, the hem of the coat resting less than a foot higher than the dress itself. The princess wore a matching hard bonnet, secured underneath her chin with a big black bow. The black traveling gloves went no higher than her wrist, keeping her hands from getting dirty.

The princess had lifted her head and gazed at the tall ceilings of the palace. She reached forward and ran her hands over the polished railing to the stairs, thinking of all the memories she shared in the palace. This was her home. This was were she was raised. 

“I was born here,” the princess said. She was admiring the beauty of the palace. The prince made sure to glance at some of his surroundings. “I thought that since I was born here, I would die here eventually,” the princess admitted.

“Times are changing,” Thomas said solemnly.

“Indeed, they are.” The princess turned around and looked up at the prince standing in front of her. His lips lifted into a weak smile, knowing that leaving the palace was not going to be easy for her. “But I am going someplace better,” the princess said with a short nod of the head.

The princess went to take a single step forward. Once they were close enough, the princess did not hesitate to grab his hand in her own. She brought it closer to herself, gripping it tightly. He looked down into her eyes.

“I am going to my new home where I will marry the man I love and where we will be able to raise a family together,” the princess said with a small smile on her face. The prince seemed to furrow his eyebrows together in slight confusion.

“You are not upset that you are leaving?” Thomas wondered.

“Why should I be? I have no future here, but I do have one with you. I don’t care where I am, just so long as I am with you,” the princess stated. Her lips curved into the most soft and sweet smile. 

The prince couldn’t hid the smile on his face, mirroring her reaction. He dipped his head down so that their lips could brush together. He kissed her so softly and so lovingly.

“If you two are done sucking each others’ faces off,” a familiar voice said. The couple was quick to pull away from each other. The two of them almost glared at the young prince standing in the doorway. “The carriages are ready. We should get going if we are to reach the northern kingdom by nightfall,” Prince Harry suggested.

“We will be right there,” Thomas replied. The prince went to wrap his arm around the princess, pulling her into his side. He quickly glanced down at her. “Shall we go?” Thomas suggested.

“We shall,” the princess said with a broad smile on her face. The couple walked out of the palace, looking over their shoulder to make sure they remembered everything. They boarded the carriages, sitting right beside each other on the plush leather seats. The two chaperons went to sit across from them.

The two horses began pulling each carriage slowly, moving away from the grand entrance of the palace and trotting down the long gravel road. The princess leaned forward and looked around her lover beside her. She stole one last glance at the place she called home. Her fiancé gave her hand a small squeeze, mentally reassuring her that everything was going to be alright. She watched the palace become smaller and smaller until it disappeared from the distance. 

“Goodbye,” whispered the princess.

The palace located in the northern kingdom was currently bustling with absolute chaos. There were servants hurrying around the place, carrying centerpieces and brand new folded linens. They were trying to get the palace prepared for the arrival of the new royal and future queen of that kingdom. 

The current queen was the head of operations at the palace. Her three eldest sons had now been gone for nearly a year. The king had come back occasionally for business matters. However, it was essential that the eldest prince and the single princess be bound to the promise of matrimony before they were to return home. Now that it was settled and there was a ring on her finger, the princes were free to return back home and the princess would be coming with them. 

Now Queen Nicola was ordering her servants around the palace, wanting everything to look absolutely perfect for the return of her boys. The maids were ordered to get the bedrooms ready, changing the sheets and opening the curtains. The hall boys were carrying and organizing the trunks that arrived earlier that day. The footmen were getting the dinning hall ready for lunch by setting out the finest china. The cooks were working diligently in order to get all the food ready.

The queen approached a tall wooden table near the entrance of the castle. She fussed with the bouquet of flowers sitting on top of the table, rearranging the bouquet to the best of her ability. She didn’t seem too happy with how it was looking. 

“Everything seems to be in order, your Majesty.” The housekeeper announced. “Is there anything else you require?” She wondered.

“Do check the bedrooms. Make sure the maids got everything done,” Queen Nicola suggested.

“Of course,” the housekeeper quickly curtsied and dismissed herself from the queen’s company.

“Mama!” A small voice echoed through the large foyer of the palace. The queen immediately turned her head towards the grand staircase, spotting her youngest son standing at the top of the stairs.

“Yes, Paddy?” Queen Nicola called.

“When are they coming?” Paddy wondered. He began to run down the grand staircase, jumping to miss the last three steps. He landed so firmly on the ground that it made such a sound.

“My dear, how many times have I told you not to run down the stairs?” Queen Nicola wondered. She leaned down to be more at his height. She reached out to grab his arms in attempts to hold him still.

“Too many,” Paddy mumbled to himself.

“Exactly,” Queen Nicola pointed out. “They should be here any minute.”

As if on command, the sound of horses trotting along the gravel pathway and the sound of the carriage being pulling streamed in the distance. The carriages had finally arrived at the castle after spending hours on the road. 

“They’re here! They’re here!” Paddy called loudly. He pulled himself out of his mother’s grasp, hurrying towards the front door to meet his three elder brothers and his father. 

The queen quickly ordered all of the servants back into the main foyer of the palace. She had them line up and stand at attention to greet the royals from their journey. The butler and housekeeper stood near the entrance since they were basically in charge of all the servants. 

By the time the first carriage pulled up, Paddy was already reaching to pull open the door. He was basically bouncing on the heels of his feet, watching Sam and Harry get out of the carriage. He was immediately taken into his two elder brother’s arms. They put him in a headlock and rubbed his hair violently.

Behind them, Thomas stepped out of the carriage. He lifted his head to glance at the place he called home. He smiled to himself for he felt so relieved to finally be home after so many long months. He was quick to turn back towards the carriage, offering his hand to his now fiancée.

The princess gladly took his hand so she could step out of the carriage. She took her time to admire the beauty of the palace, feeling a broad smile stretching across her face. 

The king made his way to the grand open doors of the palace. He went to greet his wife by giving her a solid kiss on the lips. His twin boys came up behind him. They both went to kiss their mother on the cheek to greet her. She cooed at both of them for she was thrilled that her boys were home. She fussed over them and insisted that they had gotten taller, which they reassured her that they hadn’t.

After the little family reunion, Queen Nicola finally turned to look at her eldest son and his soon to be wife. She was quick to step forward and grabbed the young princess’s hands. She took her time to admire her. 

“You must be Y/N,” Queen Nicola concluded with a broad smile on her face.

“Your majesty,” the princess said. She did not hesitate to curtsey while bowing her head in respect. 

“I’ve heard so many great things about you from Thomas’s letters,” Queen Nicola said. “And I am so pleased to finally have another woman in the palace. I find that I am always outnumbered,” Queen Nicola chuckled.

The princess also seemed to laugh at her comment. It was quite understandable since the queen had four sons of her own and not one single daughter. She would soon have her very own daughter-in-law and the queen was quite elated.

“Now, let me introduce you to the servants.” Queen Nicola shifted to stand beside the princess, lacing her arm together with hers. “These are all the servants. They will be of service to you. Anything you need, you just ask them,” Queen Nicola gestured to all the servants.

The women who were servants curtsied and the men who were servants bowed their heads in respect to the princess. The princess acknowledged them with a small nod of the head. She sent them all a warm smile.

“Well, we should get you settled in. You must be exhausted from your journey,” Queen Nicola added. At this point, the conversation didn’t seem to be anywhere near close to an end. The queen was simply delighted. 

“I am a little tired,” the princess confessed.

“Very well. You shall rest before we are summoned for dinner,” Queen Nicola said with a firm nod of the head. “Once you are all settled in, then we can talk about wedding planning,” Queen Nicola sent her a small wink.

The queen began to lead their new guest towards the grand staircase with the desire to bring her to her new room. The eldest prince was left to stand in the middle of the foyer. He turned to glance at some of his familiar surroundings. He took a deep breath. It felt so good to be home.

The Royal Family | Chapter Five

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: flirting, courting, kissing, dancing, mentions of a pervert, mentions of illness and death

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The lingering light was obliterated by the rapidly falling night. A canopy of luminous stars materialized amongst the ocean of blackness. Some were dull, merely flickering into existence now and then, but there was an adequate amount of shimmering stars to illuminate the dark, moonless night. 

The lake glistened, mirroring the dazzling assemblage of glittering stars and the luminescence from the small houses in the villages across the land. The faint wind brushed against the water's surface, the ripples ruffled the stillness of the surface, and shattered the reflection of the harbor. 

The entire royal family was fast asleep, laying in their comfortable beds with their heads resting against the soft feather pillows. One tiresome soul was tossing and turning in his sleep, feelings sudden pain of discomfort in his chest.

The King of the East slowly leaned forward, sitting up in his bed. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and placed his hands on the mattress, staying completely still for one moment. He closed his eyes and groaned to himself, wincing in an uncomfortable pain. He reached up and placed his fingers against his chest, pressing against his throbbing heart. 

The king slowly stood to his feet, placing his hand on the side table for support. A tingling sensation coursed through his veins, briefing numbing his arms. He grunted in pain, pressing deeper into his chest in hopes to relieve himself of some pain. 

The king turned his head and grabbed the small glass of water on his side table. His old and wrinkled hands wrapped around the dainty little cup, bringing it towards his chapped lips. He could feel the fresh and cool water dripping down his throat, relieving himself of the dryness.

When the king set down his empty cup, he couldn't help but look at his wrinkly hands. He turned them over and examined his palms. He breathed a small sigh. The king was getting older and older every day. It was only a matter of time before... 

The king closed his eyes, pushing the negative thoughts into the back of his head. He laid back down in bed, pulling the covers over his body again. He stared at the ceiling and shook his head slightly. He didn't want to think about the possibilities of one's life ending shortly. He had to force himself to think more positive. He needed to make the best of these last few days he had on earth. He had to make the most of his time. 

His mind drifted to his daughter, thinking about the events that would happen if he were to die soon. She would most likely have to move to the southern kingdom. She would be forced to live with her future-in-laws. She would have to live in a foreign place without any help or assistance. He closed his eyes because he couldn’t bare to think about all the changes she would endure within the next couple weeks. He could only pray that the good lord didn’t take him instantly.

The king secretly wished that his parting would be painless; that the king of the heavens would take his soul as he slept peacefully in his bed. He was afraid of death. He didn’t want to leave this cruel world for the sake of the only family he had left which was his own daughter. He didn’t want to leave her, but he knew that he would have to soon enough. Little did the king know, death would be knocking on his door much sooner than he would have ever expected...

The young princess was currently seated in her father's chambers, gazing at her father as he looked at himself in the mirror. He reached up and straightened his royal attire, fitting it to his liking. Three servants crowded around him, stitching and sewing the new fabric together to the exact specifications. 

"It will be any day now," the king of the east said, smiling widely. 

The young princess looked up at him, furrowing her eyebrows in contusion. The king gazed into the mirror, looking at his daughter with teasing eyes. Her shoulders slumped slightly, lazily glaring at the king. 

"Pretty soon," the king said, nodding his head. "The prince of the north will be getting down on one knee for you," the king said, stepping down from his high place. He turned around and walked towards his desk, grabbing a few documents.

The princess looked down at her hands, hiding the evident blush creeping onto her face. The king turned his head and looked at her, smiling softly at her sheepish demeanor. 

"Afterwards, the prince will most likely have to change his title to the king of the north. I suppose you'll have to move to the southern kingdom with your new spouse," the king added. The princess slowly lifted her head, looking her father with saddened eyes. "There...you can raise a family together." 

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, papa." The princess said, standing to her feet. "He hasn't even proposed yet," she said with a gentle smile on her face. She took a few steps forward and reached out, grabbing her father's old hands in her own.

The king tilted his head to the side, gazing* his daughter with loving and caring eyes. He shook his head in disbelief. He chuckled softly to himself, wishing he was dreaming. He no longer saw his little girl. She was a young woman know who would most likely be engaged in a few short days. He couldn't believe his eyes. 

"My..." the king's voice trailed off. He raised one of his wrinkled hands towards her face, cupping it gently. The tears were forming in his eyes, threatening to fall at any moment. You are looking more and more like your mother with each passing day. My little girl is all grown up now. She's not a little girl anymore; she is a woman. She won't need me anymore." 

“You know that's not true, papa. You've helped me in more ways than one. I don't know what I would do without you,” the princess said, shaking her head slightly. “A-And I am sure I can visit you. We might be able to come here in the summers or winters. That way, we would be able to see each other at least twice a year. That wouldn’t be so bad.”

The king looked down as the tears streamed down his face, dripping onto the floor. He slowly nodded his head understandingly. The princess's eyes softened as she looked at her broken father. She reached forward and wrapped her arms around his large and round figure, hugging him tightly. 

The king closed his eyes as the tears streamed down his face. He buried his face in her, soft hair, breathing in the sweet scent of wild daisies. He couldn't help suppress the growing smile on his face. 

“The prince is a good man. He will take care of you, and he will love you. He will keep you safe," the king whispered in her ear. The princess smiled to herself. 

“I know,” the princess said, nodding her head in agreement. 

The princess's little hands rubbed up and down his back reassuringly, soothing him into a form of contentment. They simply held onto each other for a few moments, savoring the sweet time they had together as father and daughter. It very well could have been their last.

The young prince was seated at his writing desk, scribbling on a piece of paper. He raised to paper upwards and looked at the words. After reading, he shook his head in disapproval. He crumpled the paper in his hands, tossing it aside. He pulled out a fresh piece of paper, starting over. 

"My dearest Y/N," the prince said aloud, writing the words neatly on the paper. "From the moment I first met you, I...knew there was something special about you. You make my heart flutter with joy. Your smile brightens my day. My love for you is unconditional and everlasting. Would you...do me the honor...of becoming...my wife?" 

The poor boy had been practicing his long speech from the moment they started their courtship. He probably went through at least a million sheets of parchment, perfecting and correcting the speech to his own liking.

He didn't want to come off as a cheesy romantic with his silly little words. He wanted this moment to be perfect. However, from the way his speech was turning out, he was beginning to doubt himself.  

"You make my heart flutter with joy," Thomas repeated, pondering the words for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that sounds too cliche." He crumbled the paper into a small ball, tossing it. 

The prince fiddled with his pen, dipping it into the small or of black ink. He leaned forward and placed his elbow on his writing desk, settling his chin into the palm of his hand. He pursed his lips together in thought. 

"What to say?" He whispered to himself.

The prince thought long and hard, running over a million different instances on how to express his true feelings to the love of his life. He started smiling to himself, imagining how happy they would be it she accepted his proposal. 

Suddenly, a thought entered his mind. He furrowed his eyebrows and straightened his back in posture. He shook his head, hoping to deny himself from the negative thoughts. 

What if she said no? 

However, the prince's father and brothers walked into the room before he could pursue the question further. He shook his mind free of the negative thoughts, throwing a fake smile on his face as he looked at his small family.

Prince Sam walked towards the lounge chair, flopping down on it. He lifted his book towards himself, burying his time into the book. Prince Harry strutted over towards his older brother, grabbing a nearby chair. He swung the chair around and sat down, pushing his chest into the back of the chair. He folded his arms over the back of the chair, leaning forward.

The king of the north walked towards the window, putting his hands behind his back as he stared out the window. His oldest son looked up, gazing at his father from across the room. He picked up some papers, pretending to be focused on something work related instead of having to listen to his brother’s taunting voice. He ruffled the papers around in his hands, trying to distract himself.

"You’ll have to propose," the king of the north said, keeping his gaze on the outside gardens. The young prince did not look up, but he nodded his head in agreement. 

"I know," Thomas said. 

The king turned his head and looked at his son with concerned eyes. The young prince quickly turned his head, diverting his gaze back to the blank paper in front of him. He cleared his throat awkwardly before speaking up. 

"I am working on it," Thomas explained. 

"Do know have any idea what you are planning on saying to her? Do you have a little speech prepared? Are you going to take her someplace special?Are you going to get down on one knee or are you going to ask her standing up?" Harry's questions were flying out of his mouth at a rapid pace.

“I-I don’t know. Maybe,” Thomas said, shaking his head slightly.

The king of the north walked around the room, kneeling down to grab the crumpled pieces of paper. He unraveled one and tilted his head to the side, reading the small speech. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. His son's writing wasn't so bad. 

"Why are you not using these drafts?" The king asked, lifting the crumpled piece of paper. The young prince sunk back into his seat, feeling the heat burning his cheeks a vibrant red. He didn't say anything fore moment. 

"I-I don't want to use those," Thomas said, stumbling over his words. 

"And why not?" 

"They are not that good. When I propose to her, I want to be able to speak from my heart. I want to speak freely to her. I want to express my thoughts and feelings without any difficulty. It’s best that I just don’t write it down,” Thomas said, fiddling with his hands.

The haunting thought came back to him, making him feel sick to his stomach. The one syllable word with only two letters was his one big fear. He wouldn't be able to bear hearing that word escape through her lips after he would ask herthe most important question in his life. The word... 

No 

The young prince grabbed his small pen, twisting it between his fingers. He could barely look into his father's worried and concerned eyes. The probability of rejection was just as equal as the probability of acceptance. The thought of rejection scared the young prince. 

"I-I am afraid that proposing is not going to be so easy," Thomas said, stuttering. The king stepped forward and furrowed his eyes together in confusion, tilting his head to the side.

“Why is that?”

"B-Be...Because I am not sure she will say yes," the prince said. He could feel the hot tears filling his eyes, threatening to fall at any given moment. He clutched onto his little pen tightly, holding it close to him. 

"But at least you will know that if she says yes, it will be with her heart. You will never know until you ask her, Thomas." The king of the north said, tilting his head to the side. His eyes were filled with love for his eldest son. 

The king raised his hand into the air, summoning his other two children. They scurried to their feet, following their father. The king looked over his shoulder, gazing at his eldest son one last time before they exited the room. They left the room and closed the door behind them, leaving the young prince to his own troubling thoughts.

The prince walked through the hallways of the palace, looking for one of his brothers. He rounded the corner and nearly collided with the king of the east. The old man grunted slightly, startled in the young prince’s sudden appearance. The prince’s eyes widened in realization.

“Oh! Your Majesty, I am so sorry,” Thomas said, stumbling over his words. He reached out and touched the king’s arm, making sure the elderly man wasn’t too startled. He hoped he hadn’t given him a heart attack. The older man placed his hand on his heart, feeling the sudden pain return. “I am so sorry. Are you hurt?”

"No, i-it's nothing,” the king said, shaking his head in denial. "I was actually coming to find you. I would like for you to give these invitations to your family members. We will be hosting a ball this next upcoming week, and you are all invited," the king said with a proud smile on his face.

The prince took the four small invitations into his hands, reading the titles of names on each one. "Thank you, sir. Might I ask for what occasion?" The prince tilted his head to the side in confusion. 

The corners of the kings' lips tugged into a smile. "I think you know the occasion," the king said, smiling uncontrollably. Thomas could feel the blood rushing to his head, the heat warming his cheeks.

"I-It wouldn't happen to be an engagement party, would it?" The prince asked, almost afraid of the answer. The king nodded his head in confirmation. The prince closed his eyes, mentally cursing to himself. 

"I wanted to give you this," the king said, reaching into his pocket and grabbing something. He pulled out a small velvet box, opening it up to showcase a priceless diamond ring. 

The prince gingerly reached forward and grabbed the box in his hands, examining the breath-taking ring. "I-I don't know what to say. It's beautiful," Thomas said, shaking his head. 

"It was her mother's ring," the king stated. "Her mother wanted me to give it to her the day she got engaged. My little girl used to gaze and admire that ring, fiddling with it on her mother's dainty little finger. I think...she secretly hoped it would be her's one day. I want that to come true.”

Carefully, Thomas closed the little ring box and held it in his hands. He pursed his lips together in thought He turned his head and looked at the king with worried eyes. He breathed a nervous sigh. 

"I hope to be a good husband to her," Thomas said, nodding his head. The king reached forward and placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, smiling at him reassuringly. 

"You will be," the king said, reassuring the boy not to be so nervous. The corners of the prince's lips lifted into a small smile. His brow was wrinkled because he was still afraid of the possibility of rejection. "She thinks very highly of you," the king stated. 

"Really?" Thomas asked, looking at the king with a surprised expression. The king nodded his head slowly, confirming his little question. The prince looked down at the ring box in his hands, moving it around slightly.

"She talks about you as if you put the stars in the sky," the king said, smiling profoundly. The prince looked down at his feet, feeling the heat rising to his cheeks for about the hundredth time that day. "You are a good man, Thomas." 

The prince lifted his head, gazing at his future father-in-law. The corner of his lips tugged into a brief smile for the next moment; it disappeared entirely. He moved the little box around in his hands again. 

"I know you will take very good care of my daughter. I want you both to know that I am very proud of you. You have made my little girl very happy, and for that, I am forever grateful. Thank you," the king said. 

The prince couldn't seem to form any words. He pushed his lips into his mouth and gazed down at his feet, nodding his head in acceptance. The king reached out and patted the young prince’s shoulder. The king stepped forward, walking down the hallways of the palace.

The prince turned his head to look over the small stretch of his shoulder, watching the king’s retreating figure. The king had lifted his hand to touch his chest, pushing slightly to relieve the pain. He grunted to himself, hoping and praying that the pain in his chest would go away. He pushed a little harder, successfully relieving himself of the pain.

The night of the grand ball, the princess was standing in front of the mirror in nothing but her corset. The servant was kneeling behind her, tugging at the strings tighter and tighter. The woman breathed a small gasp as the forest tightened around her waist. As the corset was tied off, the princess looked at herself in the mirror.

The servant stood to her feet and approached a chair, grabbing the princess' light pink ballgown. She turned around and carried the dress back towards the princess, slipping it over her head. The servant walked around the princess, fitting the dress around her small body nicely. 

"Tell me something," the princess said, furrowing her eyebrows together. "Do you...do you think the prince handsome?" 

In response, the servant looked up and shrugged hershoulder in defeat. She went back to fitting the dress around the princess's frame. "I-It's not in my place to say, your highness." 

"I am asking you," the princess defended. The servant pursed her lips together in thought, wondering if she should freely speak her mind in front of the royals. She lifted her head, meeting the princess's stare in the mirror. She swallowed the nervous lump in her throat.

“Then...” the servant’s voice trailed off. “Yes. He is very handsome.”

The princess's lips lifted into a smile. She turned her head and looked at herself in the mirror, smoothing her hands over her pink dress. She tilted her head to the side as her smile left her face. 

"Do...do you think he might propose tonight?" She asked. 

"One could only hope, your highness." The servant said. The princess stepped off her stand and walked towards her vanity, sitting down properly. The servant walked towards her and grabbed her brush, working it through the princess's long hair. 

"I will never forget the moment I fell in love with him," the princess said, sighing with a smile on her face. The servant briefly looked up before grabbing a few silver pins, placing them in her hair to hold it up. "A few months ago, I sprained my ankle." 

"I remember."

"The prince carried me over the threshold. He carried me effortlessly throughout the palace, insisting that he escorted me to my room. I had grown to like him a lot, but it was in that moment thati truly knew...that I loved him," the princess added. 

"You must be very happy," the servant said. 

"I am," the princess replied, nodding her head in agreement. She stood to her feet as soon as her hair was fixed. She walked towards hertable, grabbing a few white daisies and placing them in her hair. 

The princess turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands smoothed over her dress, wringing out any wrinkles or creases. Her soft pink lips lifted into a gentle smile. She turned her body towards the door and opened it, leaving her chambers behind. 

The servant smiled to herself as she watched the princess leave the room. She reached down and grabbed one of the little daisies on the table. She brought it to her nose and inhaled its sweet scent. She gently placed the flower in her hair, feeling like a little princess herself. 

The grand music streamed throughout the entire ballroom. The room was nearly full of guests from across the land, arranging from friends and family. The beautiful arrange of different colored dresses swung around the room in tune with the music, dancing with their partners. 

Some people stood off the to side, watching the younger people dance with a kick in their step. The rich champagne was passed around the room on silver platters from the servants, offering each guest a glass. 

As the music dialed down and the song ended, the princess looked down at the small tag attached to her wrist. She narrowed her eyes, reading off the next person she was supposed to dance with. She looked around the room before spotting a tall man walking towards her; her partner for the next dance. She politely curtsied, and he bowed his head in response.

The music started up, the violins and flutes singing their own little tunes happily. The people danced in time with the music, swaying around with their partner. As they held each other for the dance, the man couldn't help but drink in the princess's breath-taking appearance. 

On more than one occasion, the perverted man looked down at the princess's cleavage, sneaking a little peek. His one wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. The princess was more than uncomfortable in this situation. His breath reeked of the alcohol that lingered on his lips. ››

The prince could not keep his eyes off the young princess. Though he wanted to spend time with her, he had not reserved a dance with his lover. Not even one.

The various people crowding the room, talked amongst themselves. They were mostly talking about the young couple, spreading gossip and talking nonsense with each other. 

The two kings turned their heads and looked at the prince who was staring at his lover from across the room. The king of the east smiled to himself, looking at his future son-in-law. He nodded his head in approval. 

"He is such a fine looking boy," the king said, shaking his head in disbelief. 

"Yes, he is," the prince's father said, nodding his head in agreement. The man couldn't help but smile, gazing at his eldest child with the utmost pride swelling in his heart. 

Some eldedy ladies were standing across the room, whispering amongst themselves about the young prince. The three ladies leaned closer together, talking of nothing but pure gossip.

"Do you see how he is gazing at her?" One of the duchesses said with a giddy smile on her old face. The two other ladies nodded their heads in agreement. 

"What is he gazing at though? Is he gazing at a princess or a future spouse?" The other elderly woman said. The ladies chatted amongst themselves, talking about the prince and the princess. 

The prince watched from afar, observing each dance carefully. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously, looking at the perverted man trying to get under the princess's skirt. But he wouldn't have that happen. 

"The princess looks uncomfortable," a woman said, whispering to her friend. The prince turned his head slightly, listening in on their private conversation. The other woman nodded her head, stuffing a little cake into her mouth in the process.

“She has a courter. Why is she dancing with all these men then?" The other woman asked, shaking her head and eating another little cake happily. The woman shrugged her shoulders in defeat. 

"It's not required that she dance with her courter for every dance. She can dance with anyone she likes. I have heard that the prince of the south was supposed to propose tonight," the woman gossiped. 

"Really? That can't be!" 

"It's true. I heard it from the king myself," the lady said, lying to her friend's face. "Personally, I think that the prince backed out of the proposal. He got cold feet, and he decided that he wasn't going to ask her after all. That's why he isn't dancing with her. He probably doesn't even love her anymore," the lady said, scoffing slightly. 

The prince clenched his fists in anger, spinning around to glare at the two women. The ladies froze in their place, seeing the young prince standing before them. Thier mouth's dropped open, and their eyes widened in disbelief.

“Y-Your Highness,” they said, simultaneously curtsying. They kept their heads low for they were ashamed to even look the royal in the eye. The man gritted his teeth together before speaking to them.

“You...have no idea how much I love that woman,” the prince said angrily.

“O-Of course, your highness. W-We were foolish to think otherwise. We do apologize,” one of the ladies said, fumbling over her words. She nudged the other woman in the stomach.

“Y-Yes. We do apologize,” the other one said.

"I do not want to see you two ever again. Begone with you," the prince said, throwing his hand into the air. The two ladies were quietly escorted out of the palace by the guards, never to set foot in it again. 

The prince turned around and looked at his lover, making sure she was still there. In response, Thomas's eyes nearly popped out of his head at the sight before him. He clenched his fists together upon seeing the strange man with his grubby hands all over the princess. 

Suddenly, the man's hand sneaked a little lower than need be. He was nearly groping at the princess's arse. The prince could hear a number of women gasping in disbelief around him, saying that the strange man's actions were quite scandalist.

The princess's eyes widened in lean She squirmed around in the mans embrace, desperate to get away from him. He squeezed her tighter, pulling a small yelp out of her. 

That was his breaking point. The prince charged up towards the man and placed his hand on his shoulder, pulling him away from the princess. He stumbled back slightly, clearly drunk out of his mind. 

The music slowly dialed down. An awkward silence stretched throughout the room with all eyes on the little accident. The prince looked around before nodding his head at some guards. They walked towards them, bowing their heads politely. 

"I want you to escort this man out of the palace," Thomas said quietly so nobody could hear him. The two guards nodded their heads and stepped forward, grabbing the strange man. They dragged him away from the party, forcing him to leave the palace for good.

The man argued with the guards, saying that he was a duke of the west and that they had no right to throw him out. The guards ignored his ranting nonsense and forcefully shoved him out of the grand palace. 

A soft, familiar tune streamed through the air as the musicians started playing a waltz. The prince quickly stepped forward, looking at his lover with concerned eyes. She placed her hand on his arm, smiling at him reassuringly. 

"Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" The prince asked. 

"No, I am fine. Thanks to you," the princess said. Their lips tugged into a smile. The prince looked down at his feet, contemplating whether or not he should ask her to dance with him. 

"May I have the pleasure?" Thomas asked, reaching out a hand. The princess looked down at her small tag before looking around the room. She nodded her head hesitantly, making sure nobody was suppose to dance with her.

“I believe this one is free,” she said.

The princess reached out and took hold of the prince's hand. He led hertowards the center of the room, wrapping his arm around her waist and slowly pulling her closer into his embrace. Their hands entwined together. His other hand rested on her hip while her other hand rested on his shoulder. They swayed to the music. 

"You dance beautifully," Y/N said, furrowing her eyebrows in slight confusion. She didn't know that he could dance, let alone very good. They swayed in tune with the music, dancing with each other happily. 

"I think...before...l was afraid," Thomas admitted. His voice was low and deep, coming out in a whisper. The princess furrowed her eyebrows together in confusion, looking at the prince questionably. 

"Afraid?" 

"I was afraid of humiliating myself in front of you. I didn't want to step on your little toes,” he whispered, leaning closer. “Sometimes...it can be hard to find the right rhythm, but not with you.”

“Thomas,” the princess whispered.

“Come with me,” the prince said, pulling away from her. He reached out and offered his hand which she gladly took hold of. The prince led the princess away from the party, leaving the palace to go and walk through the gardens.

"Where are we going?" The princess asked, feeling the darkness surround her. He pulled her through the gardens until they came across the fountain. They turned their heads and looked at the palace from afar. Nobody seemed to notice their sudden disappearance. "What are we doing out here?" 

"There is something I need to ask you Thomas said. The princess placed her hands on her ones, hoping to bring herself some form of warmth. Her lips parted slightly. 

"I...I-I...I-I..." the prince couldn't seem to form any words. His breath had caught in his throat, preventing him from speaking another word. He thought fore moment, collecting his words. 

Instinctively, Thomas reached forward and cupped Y/N's face in his hands. He quickly leaned down and smashed his lips against hers. She stumbled back, taken back slightly by his sudden actions.

Slowly, she melted into the kiss. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His arms laced around her waist, holding her against his body. He tilted his head to the side, deepening their connection. 

When they pulled apart, the princess panted heavily in hopes to regain her breath. The prince leaned forward, pressing his head against hers. He stared at her lips, thinking of how badly he wanted to kiss her lips again. 

"I love you." 

Those three little words effortlessly rolled off his tongue. The princess pulled away from him, staring up at him with disbelief. Her lips were slightly parted. She blinked a few times, pondering his words. 

"W-What?" Her voice quivered.

"I love you," he said. His voice did not waver once. It was steady, solid. He looked her straight in the eyes. He wasn't lying at all. He meant it. He really did love her with all of his heart 

The salty tears streamed in the princess's eyes. A small smile stretched across her face. "I love you too," she said. The prince lifted his head and looked at her surprised. 

"You do?" 

"Yes," the princess said, nodding her head. The prince reached forward and cupped her face in his hands, feeling the tears begin to fill his eyes. His tears blurred and clouded his vision, but he needed to speak his mind.

"When I say I love you more, I do not mean I love you more than you love me. I mean I love you more than the bad days ahead of us. I love you more than any fight we will ever have. I love you more than the distance between us. I love you more than any obstacle that could try and come between us. I love you with my whole heart," the prince said, looking her in the eyes. 

"Thomas," she said with a broad smile on her face. The tears in her eyes streamed down her face, dripping onto the flooring beneath them. The prince shook his head, silencing her with a simple gesture. He wasn't done yet. 

"Ever since I met you, nobody else is worth thinking about. I always think of you before I fall asleep. The words you have said, the way you looked. The things we laughed about, the silent moments we shared together. And when I dream, I dream of you. Because its about you. It has always been about you,” Thomas added. 

The smile on her face only grew with each words corning out of his mouth. He used his thumb to wipe away her happy tears. She reached up and grasped onto his wrist, holding it in place as he continued speaking. 

"I may not get to see you as often as I like. I may not get to hold you in my arms all through the night. But deep in my heart, I truly know you're the one that I love. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. And I can't let you go because I love you with all my heart," he said. 

The princess closed her eyes, pushing the tears down her face. The prince dipped his head down and looked her in the eyes as soon as she opened them again. He smiled down at her. 

"Something tells me that I am going to love you forever. I don't think I will ever stop loving you. You are my future. You are my life now. A-And I want to spend the rest of my life with you,” he said.

Slowly, the prince lowered himself to the floor, getting down on one knee. The princess smiled uncontrollably, holding his hands in her own. The prince reached into his pocket and pulled out the black velvet box, holding it in front of her. He opened the box, drawing a small gasp from her lips. 

"Thomas!" 

She had recognized the ring. Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was slightly open, staring at the ring with disbelief. The prince smiled at her little reaction, finding it the cutest thing on earth.

"Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" 

The princess nodded her head in response. The tears were effortlessly streaming down her face for she almost couldn't control herself. "Yes," she said happily. The prince straightened his back in posture upon hewing her positive response.

“Come here, darling.”

The princess moved slightly, sitting down on his perched knee. He carefully pulled the ring out the box before sliding it onto her dainty little finger. She covered her mouth, admiring the ring's stunning beauty. It was a perfect fit. 

The young woman turned her head and wrapped her arms around the were neck, pressing her lips against his. She was still crying out of pure joy and happiness. They pulled away from each other. She rested her newly dassled hand on his chest, staring into his chocolate brown eyes. 

"I love you,' she whispered. 

"I love you," the prince said. They wrapped their arms around each other's figure, holding one another dose to their bodies. They buried their faces into the crook of each other's neck, breathing in their intoxicating scent. They stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, embracing each other like a lifeline. What a way to end the night...

The celebration had ended hours ago. The young couple finally showed up near the end. They walked towards the front of the room and gathered everyone's attention, publicly announcing their engagement. The people were beyond thrilled, expressing their congratulations throughout the rest of the night. 

A few hours later, the guests had left the palace. The servants were currently cleaning up the mess downstairs while the royals were all fast asleep in their own cozy beds. The night was quiet, peaceful, tranquil. 

The king of the north felts sudden tight pain in his chest, stronger than ever before. He gasped for air, clutching his chest in attempts to relieve himself of the unbearable pain. The pain was overwhelming, draining the king's life.

The elderly man wheezed for air as he slowly lost feeling in his body. A final breath escaped his lips before the pain came to a halting stop. The king's eyes were wide open, staring at the ceiling of his chambers. The life drained from his eyes. His soul had left his body in the most painful way possible. He didn't think that death would be knocking on his door to soon. The king of the north was dead. He only wished he had said goodbye...

The Royal Family | Chapter Four

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: sexual tension, flirting, lots of kissing

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The spring day opens with the same gentle pace as the new blooms. The winter time had passed in its somber majesty. It had only brought skies of richly marbled greys and trees so elegant in their bare beauty. Those cold days for calmness and reflection are waning now. And a new spring energy will rise. 

The blossom arrives like cake frosting on the trees in delicious creams and pinks. The petals burst out from lower down the branches, leaving the tips still in tight bud. The evergreens and spruces scented the air with their new growth. The trees had almost looked like dancing ladies. They wore dresses of different shades of green dresses which were more fabulous than any designer could craft. They would move in perfect harmony with each other, choreographed by the gentle breeze.

The eastern palace had been frantically scurrying around the place to clean up the last minute touches. The servants had been working all day to prepare for the garden party that would take place in the late afternoon. The gardeners had to make sure that the royal garden looked its absolute best for that special day.

The gardener (who was a little old man) had spent the whole last week working diligently on the gardens himself. He liked to shape the trees to his liking with his clippers. He groomed the bunches of flowers with his bare hand, occasionally sending some to the palace for the princess. He was also able to clean the fountain from the last winter. Now the garden would be the prime and perfect centerpiece for the garden party.

The grand tent had been set up to linger underneath some trees. The footmen had been ordered to carry the various tables and chairs out to the tent for set up. The maids would organize the tables and chairs to their liking. They placed the white lace tablecloths on top of the small white circular tables. 

The ladies that worked in the kitchens were carrying out the fine china dishes. They were also starting to bring out the food that they would serve at the garden party. The little fluffy sandwiches would be served on the silver platters for it would be the main course. There were breads and biscuits that were practically tumbling over the sides of the wicker baskets on the wood table. There were small bowls of various fruits on the side, drizzled with a teaspoon of sugar. And there was one particular thing that would be a grand surprise.

A few small kettles of water were placed on the table to make warm tea. The little teabags were neatly ordered in little rows, showcasing the number of different flavors. And a little bowl of sugar was placed beside the warm kettles for a little added sweetening. 

There were beautiful crystal glass pitches filled to the brim with pink lemonade. The ice buckets would come out later, so that the lemonade could be served with ice cubes for the guests. There were also a few bottles of champagne for the gentleman that didn’t really care for lemonade. There were pitchers of nice cold milk that would be served to the children. There were beads of water running down the sides of the glasses due to the cold liquid within the pitcher.

The princess of the east would be hosting her first garden party. She had spent the last couple weeks sending out invitations, choosing the foods that would be served, and organizing the decorations to her liking. She was beyond overwhelmed when the day had actually arrived. 

She was telling the servants to do this and that. She had changed her mind in regards to the champagne. She found herself rearranging the setting on the guest list for the millionth time. She also made a grand request the day prior. She wanted there to be chocolate at the garden party (which was hard to come by).

The good news concerning the young couple’s courtship had rapidly spread throughout the entire kingdom. The servants whispered amongst themselves. Many of them were placing bets on the date that the royal couple would be engaged and married. The entire royal family was beyond thrilled with the news, expressing their sincere congratulations to the young couple. This garden party would be to celebrate their newfound courtship.

The three princes had found themselves walking amongst the preparation of the party in the front yard. The three of them did not pay any mind to the servants scurrying around them, frantically trying to make the last minute adjustments. They would settle their gazes on the young princess who was growing more stressed with each passing moment. 

"Tell me, dear brother," Harry said with an evident smirk plastered on his face. He turned his head to look at his older brother standing beside him, tilting his head to gesture towards the princess in the short distance. "Have you kissed her yet?" Harry wondered. 

"That is none of your business," Thomas said. He had been quick to avert his gaze, choosing to pretend to be focused on something else instead of having to listen to his brother’s taunting voice. Though he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks, he couldn't suppress the smile from growing on his lips. This would give away any secrecy in the matter.

"Oh...so you have kissed her,” Harry concluded. He could see the evident blush on his brother’s cheeks. He would only raise his eyebrows in amusement, chuckling to himself at the notion. "My brother has had his first kiss,” Harry exclaimed a little too loud for his brother’s liking. 

In the background, the prince’s personal assistant was making sure to linger behind them. He had turned his head to search some of his surroundings, watching the servants scurry around with keen eyes. His baby blue eyes would settle on this young servant carrying a bundle of neatly folded lace tablecloths. He could have sworn he had never seen anyone more beautiful in his life. 

In that give moment, the princess was fussing over this beautiful bouquet of flowers in the center of the table. She had taken one single step backwards to admire her work. She almost wondered if she had picked the right china dishes or if she should send for the other one. She just couldn’t think straight.

“You look stressed,” Thomas called. He had taken a few steps forward in his place, leaving his two brothers and personal assistant behind. He had grown to know her well over the past few months, especially during their courtship. 

“I am stressed,” Y/N confessed. She had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder, staring at the three princes in her presence. She took hold of one of the white lace tablecloths from Elsie. She spread the tablecloth onto the next table. “There is still so much to do,” Y/N sighed. 

“Let’s go for a walk,” Thomas suggested. He strode towards her, stopping to stand right in front of her. He could tell that she was about to make some protest, but then she began to process his words. He spoke again. “It might take your mind off things,” Thomas hinted.

The princess of the east had glanced at some of her surroundings in fear that some of the servants might catch onto the conversation between them. She was able to come up with a hundred excuses, but he simply refused to accept them. He had started to lead her away from the commotion with a hand on the small of her back. She was very reluctant to leave the front yard for a while.

The two royals were walking down the long gravel pathway of the newly opened gardens of the palace. He had caught her mumbling to herself under her breath as if she were making mental notes in her head. He had to tell her to not worry about anything. He said that he knew something that would take her mind off things.

With great precaution, the prince had brought the princess to a small stone gazebo hidden beneath the trees. He turned his head to look over the small stretch of his shoulder, checking to make sure nobody was nearby.  He grasped onto the her, leading her towards the well-known hideout. He placed his hand on the small of her back, politely pushing her forward first.

The princess grabbed a handful of her skirt with both hands, lifting her skirt up so she could climb the steps. She did not hesitate to walk towards the stone wall of the gazebo. She found herself spinning around on the heels of her feet to face him, pressing her backside against the stone wall. 

The prince had been following behind her. He turned his head to search some of his surroundings one last time. He quickly joined her in the privacy of the stone gazebo. He walked right up to her, so that he could press his body against her's. The coast was clear. They were alone now. 

In an instant, their lips crashed together in synchronized harmony. He had carried his hand to rest below her ear, cupping her cheek with his large hand. His thumb was caressing her cheek in the most soothing manner. His other hand rested on her hip, holding her closer in his embrace. She ran her fingers over his forearms. She pulled him closer until there was no space left between them.

Their hearts were beating rapidly against their chests, threatening to break through the thin barrier. They could practically feel the blood and adrenaline pumping and coursing through their veins. They felt a rush of euphoric bliss envelop their beings, making their hearts sing with pure joy. Their hearts could barely contain the million different emotions surged through their bodies; desire, hunger love, lust. 

The prince's mouth was warm; the caress of his lips gentle yet firm. He found himself tilting his head to the side to deepen their connection. He pressed his pink tongue against the seam of her little lips, begging for entrance. His tongue delved into her mouth, exploring every single aspect without any hesitation. He moaned at her sweet taste.

The princess's lips were so soft and smooth. Her lips were moving against the prince's lips as if they were two perfectly fitted puzzle pieces. She stifled a surprised gasp as his soft lips captured hers again, causing her body to flush with heat. She could feel the heat traveling through her veins, warming her heart. 

The young woman was currently trapped between the stone wall and the strong prince. Though she didn't seem to mind. Her fingers were digging into the sleeve of the prince's coat, pulling him even closer to her. She refused to let him go. The obscene noises of one's saliva exchanging was streaming throughout the stone gazebo, bouncing off the hard walls. Their lips molded against each other’s perfectly. The kiss was so passionate.

In the end, the two human beings would need oxygen to survive. They had quite reluctantly pulled away from each other. They leaned forward  to rest their heads together. They panted heavily to regain their breath. They stared into each other’s eyes, feeling at a loss for words.

"Thomas," the princess gasped. She breathed steadily to herself. She was lost in his gaze. “We must get married soon. I cannot bear to go another day without being able to express my love for you to the entire world. I need you," the princess begged him.

"I agree," he said. He was smiling softly down at her. He nudged the tip of his nose against her’s. "But...I need to finish sorting out a few things first. I need to finalize my inheritance, prepare for my coronation, and begin to start learning how to rule a kingdom." 

There was a brief moment of silence between the two of them. She had found herself glancing between his eyes and lips, contemplating whether or not she should just kiss him right there and then. She opened her mouth to speak from her heart. 

"I wish...I were an ordinary woman,” the princess of the east confessed. She lifted her hand to weave her fingers through his long locks of hair. She hummed softly to herself. “That way, we wouldn’t have to worry about hosting garden parties or sorting out inheritances. It would just be you and me...forever and always,” the princess of the east concluded. 

“But you we not an ordinary woman," the prince shook his head at her. He had been so gentle to tuck a single strand of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear.  He could feel her leaning her head into his embrace, holding onto his hand. "You are a princess,” the prince whispered to her. 

With some hesitation, he had taken her into his arms once again. His soft brown eyes were shimmering with the strong sense of hunger and desire. It would take all of his strength to be gentle with her. He let his lips touch her’s so lightly that he could hardly feel it. He pulled away in an instant. 

For a brief moment, the two royals just stood there staring at each other. Unable to resist any longer, he had stooped his head down to her height. Their mouths pressed together in a long passionate kiss. They had grown closer together until there was no visible gap between them. It was the kiss of a man who had waited years for the moment, and feared that it would never come again

His warm lips brushed against hers in the most delicate and delicious manner. He was forced to swallow the groan of pleasure that slipped past her sweet lips. She pressed her hand against his sculpted chest, memorizing the feeling of his firm hard muscle underneath her hand. She could feel his heart beating within his chest. She smiled against his lips. 

When the time came, the guests had begun to arrive for the garden party. The lords and ladies were wearing some of the finest silks for the joyous occasion. The princess of the east was currently standing at the front of the tent, greeting the guests with a bright smile on her face. Her dear prince was standing right beside her. 

The dukes and duchesses would bow or curtsey to the royals. They had also gone to great lengths to offer their congratulations to the young couple on their new courtship. They were so proud of the royal family at this moment. 

The young children were running amongst the crowds of adult in the tent. The sound of children’s laughter could be heard throughout the courtyard. They were playing with each other. They must have been on a sugar high from all the sweets and treats.

The earls and dukes were currently playing a game of croquet in the front yard. They would use the long wooden mallets to strike the colorful balls into the metal hoops stuck in the ground. There was a servant on the sidelines who was keeping track of the score. 

The marchionesses and baronesses would be found chatting amongst themselves about the latest topics and trends. The ladies could be easily found hiding underneath the tent in the cool shade. They just loved to indulge in the foods and drinks that were being served at the garden party. They were also very keen to point out how the prince was fretting and fawning over the princess. 

At one point, Prince Thomas had draped a white lace shawl over Princess Y/N’s shoulders to provide some warmth and comfort. She had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder, sending him the kindest smile. She could feel his strong hands resting on the tops of her shoulders, which only brought her even more comfort. 

During one of the conversations, Thomas had wanted to dismiss himself for a brief moment. He tilted his head to the side so that he could press one small kiss to her cheek. She had just barely leaned into him. She had already begun to miss his touch once he had left her side. She wanted him back right away. 

The young prince had told the servants to prepare a small picnic underneath one of the shady trees. They would lay out this nice cream colored blanket on the soft blades of grass. The servants would also bring some refreshments for the royals.

Within a few short moments, Prince Thomas would return to his princess’s side. He had actually dragged her away from this boring conversation with an older duchess. He was quick to dismiss themselves from the duchess’s presence. 

He had guided her towards the small scenery hidden underneath the shady trees in the short distance. He held out his hand to show her the display with a proud smile on his face. She did not hesitate to smile back at him. She picked up the skirt of her dress, stepping onto the soft blanket. She lowered herself into a proper sitting position for a princess with her legs bent to the sides. She noticed that he had joined her side on the blanket. 

Slowly, Prince Thomas had poured two glasses of champagne for themselves. He had handed her the glass of bubbly golden champagne, holding his own in the other hand. He proposed a small toast to the success of her first garden party, which would only result in a small giggle from her. He clicked his champagne glass against hers in a gentle notion. He took one long sip of the gold liquid.

During this time, the princess of the east had found herself observing the garden party from a distance. She could see the two young princes talking amongst the ladies. She also saw her father speaking with the prime minister. She almost couldn’t believe that she was able to put this whole thing together. It was just perfect.

Beside her, the prince of the north was laying on his right side. He had propped himself up with his forearm. He was currently watching the game of croquet in the distance. He had a handful of green grapes in his hand, popping them into his mouth on occasion.

Slowly, the princess had turned her head to look down at the prince sitting beside her. She could see that his body was facing her, but his line of focus was directed to the game. She lay her hand to rest on top of his own. 

Without hesitation, Thomas had turned his head to direct his attention back towards her. He was so taken back by her beauty. He was awestruck by the way her long locks of hair tumbled over her shoulders and the way her creamy skin was glowing in the afternoon sunlight. He was looking directly at her with such love and adoration in his eyes.

She had worn a soft cream dress for the garden party. She had these pretty little gloves with lace around her wrists. She was holding her white lace parasol in her hands, which had provided her some shade. She very easily could be mistaken for an angel from the heavens. 

“What are you staring at?” she wondered. She was looking down at him with a slight tilt of the head. Her soft and kind eyes were sparking with curiosity. She quirked an eyebrow at him.

“You,” he confessed. He had been pulled away from his thoughts about her. He was quick to reach over to grab the white china bowl of small chocolate (dipped) strawberries. “Here. Try this,” he said.

The young prince pinched one of the small strawberries between his fingers, carrying it towards her light pink lips. She did not hesitate to wrap her lips around the strawberry, digging her teeth into the sweet and juicy fruit. She closed her eyes in pleasure, moaning at the wild taste in her mouth. 

Very gently, Thomas pulled the green stem of the strawberry away from her mouth. He could clear see a small smudge of chocolate lingering at the corner of her lips. She had grabbed one of the cloth napkins to clean the chocolate. She lifted the napkin towards her mouth, but she was quickly stopped in her tracks.

In that moment, he had taken hold of her wrist to halt her movements. He pulled her hand away from her face, keeping a steady hand on her. He forced himself into a sitting position on the picnic blanket. He slowly leaned forward until he was only centimeters away from her face. He pressed his lips against the corner of her mouth in a simple kiss. 

His tongue had slipped out of his mouth to collect the smudge of chocolate, drawing it back into his mouth. He turned his head to kiss her properly on the lips. He did not hesitate to swallow her moans of absolute pleasure. His insistent mouth had begun to part her trembling lips, sending wild tremors throughout her nerves. He would never forget the taste of her lips in that exact moment. She tasted like chocolate. 

TAGLIST: 

@averyfosterthoughts @drishtisikarwar @littlekidsteve​ @casualprincess77​ @halparkebitch @xoxohollands​ @parkeret @namoreno

The Royal Family | Chapter Three

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: sexual tension, flirting, mentions of injury

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The light streaks through the boughs in both brilliant and shadowy beams. In the summertime they were white gold, illuminating the greens into virescent riots; yet the gift of those warm days has passed for the season. On the wintry days, the togs cast those same beams of light into sepia tones, and the woodland becomes the most beautiful of photographs. The trunks of fallen trees bare icicles longer than my hand, no two of them the same- more enchanting than any work of man.

Every twig and blade of grass grows winter "leaves" of ice crystals, frost thicker than the fleece in gloves. And never is the woodland silent, though it is quieter than any village street for sure. There are the birds above, calling, pecking for grubs. There is the movement of mammals, mostly small, sometimes not. There is the water that flows quietly until it meets the sharp rocky scree slopes and forms the raging waterfalls. The winter season was upon them.

The young princess was standing near her bedroom window, gazing at the beautiful landscape. Her eyes followed the small snowflakes littering the morning sky. The princess's eyes softened upon watching the snowfall in the early morning breeze. It was calming, almost relaxing.

"Your Highness," Elsie called behind her. The princess had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder, staring directly at the young servant standing in her presence. The young servant was holding a neatly wrapped present in her hands. She had been told to deliver it to the princess’s bedchambers.

“Yes?” Princess Y/N spoke.

"This came for you," Elsie claimed. The young servant had carefully placed the present on a nearby table. She took a step back. She bowed her head in respect.

The princess had furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She was quick to walk towards the nearby table. She dropped her gaze to stare down at the neatly wrapped present. She could see a small note attached to the side of the package. She squinted her eyes to read the fine print of her own name.

“Who sent this?" Princess Y/N wondered.

"P-Prince Thomas," the servant said, stumbling over her words. "Says he nearly searched all of England trying to find it. It's quite rare to find...this time of year," the servant further explained.

"Well, you send my regards to Prince Thomas. Would you do that for me?" the princess of the east questioned. The servant nodded her head before taking a step back, curtsying for the princess. The servant turned around and walked towards the door, preparing to leave.

The princess of the east had turned her attention back towards the large present in front of her. She had taken the top off the present.. She set it to the side. Then she leaned forward to look into the nearly hollow box. Her eyes widened in realization.

Carefully, the princess slipped her hands into the contents of the box. She took hold of the gift. She pulled the small gift out of the box. She stared at the beautiful creation in utter disbelief. In her hands was a crown made of mostly white roses, which were her favorite flower (changed that). She could feel a small smile growing at the corners of her lips.

The princess looked at the crown of white roses, marveling over the natural beauty. She quickly turned around and looked at herself in the mirror. She lifted her hands, placing the small crown on her head. She had only wondered if he had crafted this himself.

Without hesitation, the princess of the east had turned to walk back toward the present on the table. She grabbed the small note attached to the present. She brought the note closer to her face, flipping the note over to read the back of it. It read:

the smallest things can warm the heart

The princess's soft pink lips curved into a smile. She had strode towards her vanity, sticking the small note into the wedge between the white polished wood and the shiny mirror. She smiled to herself again. What a thoughtful gift...

The northern prince was currently laying on the back, staring up at the ceiling of his quarters. His younger brother (Sam) was sitting in a nearby chair, reading over a letter that his mother had sent to him that morning. His other brother (Harry) was standing near the fireplace, looking into the mirror that hung above the mantlepiece.

"Your mother is asking about you, Thomas," King Dominic said. The elderly man was sitting at his writing desk, reading over the last letter from his beloved wife. He turned his head and looked at the letter again, reading over her fine message. "She is asking about this girl of yours,” King Dominic claimed.

"She is not my girt...not yet," Thomas mumbled quietly to himself.

"Tell me, brother," Harry said. He found himself spinning around on the heels of his feet to face his brother. He folded his arms across his chest. "When are you going to start calling on her? It's been nearly six months since we arrived. She is of age now. It's not deemed inappropriate or forbidden. When will you start courting her?" Harry wondered.

Hesitantly, Thomas turned his head and looked at his younger brother. He breathed a deep sigh and shrugged his shoulders in defeat. "I am calling on her," Thomas said in a low voice.

"What?" King Dominic said. He had completely disregarded the letter in his hands now. His eyes widened in surprise. The other princes were slightly taken back. The two of them leaned forward in anticipation, wondering how their brother could pull off such a thing.  

"What? How are you calling on her?" Prince Harry asked. He took one single step forward in his place. His arms were still folded across his chest. He seemed to only narrow his eyes at his brother like he was trying to challenge his words.

"I sent her flowers and...a note," Thomas said quietly. He had shifted into a sitting position on the couch. His legs swung over the side of the couch and placed his forearms on his knees, leaning forward in his place. He looked down at his hands, twiddling with his fingers nervously.

"You sent her flowers?" Prince Sam repeated. He was trying to ponder and process his older brother’s words, playing them over in his mind to find any flaws. “And a note?” Prince Sam also added.

"Y-Yes, I sent her white roses. There are her favorite flower. She told me months ago that her mother used to braid them into her hair. They remind the princess of her mother. I-I thought she might like to have some. So I sent them," the prince said, shrugging his shoulders in defeat .

"Where on earth did you find wild roses in the month of December?" Prince Harry wondered. His lips tugged into a devilish grin. He was just teasing his older brother. He could see the evident blush on his brother’s face.

"It was an appealing thought. I am sure she greatly appreciated your kind gift," King Dominic claimed. He nodding his head in acceptance. "Though, I am afraid that is not considered calling on someone,” King Dominic concluded.

"It's not?" Prince Thomas wondered.

"No," King Dominic said. He shook his head at him. He was quick to stand to his feet so that he could approach his oldest son. He had lifted his hand to place it on his son’s shoulder. "Courting is not simply about sending flowers to your significant other," King Dominic explained.

"Then...then what is it?" Prince Thomas questioned. He had turned his head to look at his father for an explanation. He watched his dear father sink into the seat right beside him on the couch. He was trying to collect his thoughts on the matter.

“Courting...courting is about intentionally bridling a foundation for marriage. It is a period of agreement entered between two people in love for them to be able to know each other between. It is a period of clarification that both participants are read and suited for a life-long companionship,” King Dominic further explained.

The young prince had taken those words to heart. He nodded his head understandingly. He was heavily relying on his father for assistance and guidance. He wanted to do things the right way.

"It's clarity. You shouldn't make a permeant decision for your temporary emotion. It a time for both of you to hopefully realize that you two we made for each other," King Dominic added.

The prince had turned his head to look down at his hands. He forced himself to swallow the heavy lump lingering at the back of his throat. He was slowly nodding his head in confirmation. The king had not taken his hand away from his son’s shoulder, keeping a firm grip on it. He did not hesitate to look down at his dear son with the softest and kindest smile on his face. He spoke his name softly.

"It is your destiny to marry her,” King Dominic concluded. The young prince had turned his head to look down at his hands again. His shoulders had slumped down at his sides. He shook his head. He had denied his father's words.

"I am not so sure she agrees to that," Prince Thomas mumbled to himself. He had this unsettling feeling down in the pit of his stomach. He gnawed on the inside of his cheek. He was thinking to himself.

“It may take some time," King Dominic agreed with him. He had nodded his head understandingly. He had dipped his head down to get a better view of his son. He could see the evident look of conflict in his son’s eyes. 

"But father," Prince Thomas begun. "I have never called on a woman before. I haven't even had my first kiss yet. I cannot woo her or make any romantic gestures. I-I don't know how to act around her. How can you expect me to start courting when I have no experience at all?" Prince Thomas explained.

"You do not need experience to love someone," King Dominic said with a simple shake of the head.   

The northern prince had turned his head to look at his father, tilting his head to the side in bewilderment. He repeated those words in his head. He couldn’t seem to say anything in response. Instead, Prince Thomas had leaned forward and listened intently to his father's wise words. He was most eager to hear more.

"When you kiss her, take your time. There is no place you'd rather be. You should kiss, but not like you're waiting for something else to happen like your hands going beneath her skirt or tangled in her corset strings. Nothing like that," the northern king said, waving his hand in the air.

The other brothers had been quick to direct their attention to the conversation. The two of them were looking at their father with the same spark of curiosity. The princes’ eyes were practically sparkling, listening intently to their father's love written poetry. They were making mental notes in their head.

"You ought to kiss her with a curious childish delight. You should laugh into her mouth, inhale her sighs, and swallow her moans. You should kiss her with her face in your hands or your hands in her hair. You need to put her closer by the waist, embrace her, hold her,” King Dominic continued.

At the given moment, Prince Thomas was too caught up in his father’s beautiful description. He had dropped his chin into the cup of his hand. He was staring directly at his father with this look of childish curiosity on his face. He had audibly sighed at his fine words.

"Take your time with her, boy. Treat her like the princess she is. You need to love her, ravish her. You should kiss her like the first and last piece of chocolate you're ever going to taste. You should savor her and savor the moment shared between the two of you,” King Dominic claimed.

Slowly, the King of the North had shifted his hand from his son’s shoulder to his backside. He patted his back once or twice. He found himself leaning forward in his place to make some final remarks.

“Kiss her..until she forgets how to count. Kiss her silent. Kiss her passionately. Kiss her lovingly. Come away, ask her a question —any question in the world— and I can guarantee you...she will say your name in answer,” King Dominic believed.

The young prince's lips curved into a soft smile. He was quick to turn his head away from his father. He had tried to hide the evident blush flooding his cheeks at the moment. He silently laughed to himself. 

“You do not need experience to love someone. You should already know —in your heart— that she is the one for you. You do not need consultation. You do not need a previous failed experience. You should already know that she is the one. You should already know that you love her,” King Dominic concluded.

With great hesitation, Prince Thomas had dropped his gaze to stare down at his hands lingering in the contents of his lap. He nodded his head in confirmation. He had forced himself to swallow the nervous lump at the back of his throat. He was fiddling with his fingers in a nervous manner.

"Now the question is..." King Dominic said. He had shifted closer to his oldest son. He had turned his head to look down at his son’s face with a small hint of curiosity in his eyes. He spoke: "Do you love her?"

The young prince lifted his head and looked at his dear father sitting beside him. He didn’t even that there were fresh tears gathering in the corners of his eyes. He had blinked once to force the tears down his cheeks. He pondered his thoughts for a brief moment. He nodded his head in answer to his father's question.

"Yes," Thomas breathed. "I love her."

It was an odd time of the year. The white snow would graciously fall down from the heavens, but the snow didn’t like to stay on the earth for very long. The snow would easily melt away once the sun had risen over the line of the horizon. The temperature was still low, but it wasn’t low enough to keep the snow from staying a little longer. It had rained the night prior.

The sweet surrendering scent of the morning dew filled the forest with a scent that did not belong on earth. The leaves from the tall trees by scattered on the forest floor; each of them turning brittle brown; there was a sound that crunched underfoot, pushing their papery dry remains deep into the soft soil. The dark shadows of the voluminous trees and the surrounding bushes had become the backbone of the forest, standing as passive protectors of a peaceful place. 

The rain fell down the blades of grass into the already wet soil, the droplets pausing on the surface before being sucked into the dark particles. The soil was so damp that the worms had surfaced to breathe and the crows fluttered over the grass with their inky wings, each of them eating at the sudden buffet. The earth was the richest tone having bathed in the rain.

The young princess was seated side-saddle on her black horse. She had taken the time to admire the beauty of the forest around her. She was relishing in the sweet scent of the damp forest ground. She had planned to go on a ride with the princes. The two princes were sitting on their own horses, standing at a short distance. They exchanged a small look. 

"You must forgive us," Prince Sam began. The princess snapped out of her daze before directing her attention to the two princes in front of her. She raised her eyebrows at them, mentally questioning them to enlighten her.

"Our brother," Prince Harry explained. "He is usually not this late. We could have been off on the trail by now if it hadn't been for his unusual tardiness," Harry said, shaking his head.

"Tis fine," Princess Y/N claimed. "I am a patient person." 

The princess looked away from the two princes, humming softly to herself in contentment. She closed her eyes and breathed a small sigh. She was basking in the beauty of the forest. There, she convinced herself that she could wait a few extra minutes for him to arrive for their ride through the forest. 

In a few minutes, the older prince trotted down the long dirt pathway on his white steed. He slowly approached the small group on his horse, pulling the reigns until the horse carne to a halt. The prince did not hesitate to apologize for being late.

"I am sorry," Prince Thomas said. "My father wished to speak with me upon the matters of my inheritance. He would not let me leave the study until all the details were sorted out. I am here now." 

Slowly, Prince Thomas had turned his head to look directly at Princess Y/N. When he looked at her, it was as if every ounce of breath was taken from his lungs. He could feel the whole world coming to a slow stop. His bright brown eyes were sparkling at the mere sight of her, gazing at her with a hint of interest in his eyes.

The two princes had turned their heads to exchange a well-knowing look. They were easily able to see that the two lovebirds were lost in each other's gaze. They had planned something in their heads.

"Dearest brother," Prince Harry said. He gently tugged on the reigns of his horse. "I'll race you to the end of the small pond for thirty pounds," Prince Harry tempted his twin.

“You're on,” Prince Sam yelled.

Together, the two boys clicked their heels against the side of the horse. The two horses darted off down the pathway, racing each other to see who would reach the pond first The two boys had found themselves forcing their horses to run faster, whipping the reigns. They clicked their tongues to encourage the horses to race to the very end. 

Once out of sight, the prince and princess were left alone to themselves. They were unattended and unsupervised. Slowly, Prince Thomas dismounted his horse by throwing his leg off the side of the mighty steed. He jumped down off his horse, holding onto the saddle for support. He walked towards the princess's horse, staring deeply into her eyes. 

The prince had shifted to approach the side of the horse. He did not hesitate to lift his hand, stroking the horse's mane in a calming way. He turned his head and looked up at the young princess staring down at him. He offered his other hand to her.

Slowly, the princess had lowered her hands onto the prince’s shoulders for support. The prince placed his hands on her waist before hoisting her off the saddle of the horse. He pulled her closer into his embrace, holding her firmly for a brief second. They stared into each other’s eyes, feeling lost in the world of emotion.

The young prince lowered the princess onto her own two feet, setting her down on the ground. They held onto each other for a moment, staring into each other’s captivating eyes. The two of them were quite hesitant to pull away from each other. They stood in an awkward silence for a brief moment.

“I never had the chance to thank you for the flowers by the way,” Princess Y/N cleared her throat. She had sheepishly lowered her gaze to stare down at her hands, hoping to find the blush on her cheeks. 

“You're welcome,” Prince Thomas replied. His lips had curved into the most genuine smile in the world. He was just able to see the small blush on her cheeks. It made his heart soar.

“Wherever did you find them?” Princess Y/N wondered. She had lifted her head to look up at him with this spark of curiosity in her eyes. She had subconsciously shuffled on the heels of her feet, standing at attention.

“I have my ways,” Thomas chuckled softly to himself. He didn't want to spoil it for her, so he choose to be as vague as possible. He could see his two brothers growing smaller and smaller in the distance. He turned his head to look back down at the princess of the east standing in front of him. “Shall we take a walk?” Thomas suggested.

The two royals had chosen to take a different pathway for their walk. It wasn’t even a real path at all. The forest did not seem to have any path. In the forest the sky vanishes almost completely, only a few fragments of blue remain- like scattered pieces of an impossible jigsaw puzzle. The air is rich with the fragrance of leaves and loam. Even so many hours after the rains have passed, the soil remains quite damp.

The only movement is the occasional bird, startling in a trees or a squirrel dashing up a nearby trunk. The sound of running water in the brook has the same hypnotic quality as music. The huckleberries are mostly red tart but with just the right amount of sweetness.

The two lovebirds had turned their and looked at each other as if they could already read each other's minds. In an instant, the two royals had started running through the vast forest. They could feel the smiles growing on their faces as the adrenaline pumped through their veins. 

The air had that smell of woodland before a rain, perhaps above the canopy, there are clouds fit to burst. It was dark for that time of day, no perhaps soon the filtered light will be accompanied by water droplets. The woodland floor was a million hues of brown, the crisp leaves from the tree had fallen some time ago. Some acorns littered the ground, having tumbled down from the tall pine trees. 

The trees were veiled in the lightest of mists, their trunks sombre brown with sable cracks that gnarl the bark. The vines and roots twisted beneath the canopy of leaves on the damp floor of the forest. The trees grew thicker at the trunks. The couple raced deeper and dee er into the dark forest.

The prince had taken off his riding cap as they raced keeping into the forest. The princess was holding onto the skirt of her dress, making sure she didn't trip or fall as she ran. She turned her head and looked behind her, laughing at the prince chasing her.

The princess didn't seem to notice the small incline nearing closer to her feet. A small hill —nothing too steep— was growing closer as they farther they raced. In a split second, the princess's foot caught underneath an uprooted vine. The princess tripped over the vine, falling down the small incline instantly. She gasped to herself. She had hoped that the prince would catch her, but it was far too late now. 

The prince's eyes widened in realization. The prince extended his hand, hoping to grab onto her before she fell on her back. Their fingers brushed together, but it was not enough to pull her to safety. The princess landed in a heap of leaves, hitting the solid dam forest round hard. She could feel the wind getting knocked out of her. She lay there for a brief moment.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Prince Thomas wondered.  He was quick to drop down to her side. He had lifted his hand to hover over her body, checking for any exterior signs of injury. But he wouldn’t touch her without permission.

The princess had lifted her hand towards the front of her face, roughly brushing her hair out of the way. She didn’t seem to tear her dress (thankfully), but the silky material was absolutely drenched in wet mud. She could feel this sharp white pain in her ankle. She whimpered softly to herself for the pain was growing stronger with each passing second.

"M-My ankle. I must have twisted it," Princess Y/N groaned. She had gripped onto the skirt of her dress, maybe hoping that it would relieve her pain. The prince turned his head and looked in the direction of her feet. He directed his gaze back to her, choosing his next words very carefully.

"Mind if l have a look at it?" Prince Thomas questioned.

The princess turned her head to stare directly at him in disbelief. She had half expected to find this smug look on his face, but she was greeted by this look of innocence instead. He wasn’t joking or teasing her. He was being serious. He was staring down at her with the utmost look of worry and concern in his bright brown eyes.

It was not proper to have some boy looking underneath a woman's skirt, especially if she was unmarried. If a woman lifted her dress to show her ankle, it was considered very provocative. It was even worse since it was a flirtatious practice to gain attention or arouse interest. It would be deemed as indecent. It was a scandalize thought.

She wouldn’t dare...

He spoke her name softly. The princess of the east had blinked a few times, returning to reality. She turned her head and looked at her prince charming, contemplating whether or not to allow him to see her ankle. She forced herself to swallow the heavy lump in her throat before slowly nodding her head in agreement. 

With some hesitation, Prince Thomas had shifted downwards to move past her legs. He maintained eye contact at all times; something only a gentleman would do. He turned his head and looked down at her large skirt. He reached down and grabbed a small handful of her dress skirt in his hands, lifting her dress to reveal her swollen ankle. 

The hemline of the dress was pushed upwards, though it traveled no farther than her knee. He was gazing at the princess, mentally asking for her permission to continue. She found herself shifting in her place uncomfortably, thinking of how wrong it felt.

"I won't look at anything else," Prince Thomas reassured her. He had lowered his hand to grasp onto her ankle. He lifted her ankle to slip her shoe off her foot. He set her shoe to the side. Then he had lowered her foot to place it in his lap. Her white stockings were muddy and dirty, seeing as though she was running through a forest. 

The prince's fingers wrapped around her ankle, drawing a gasp from her lips. He was quick to lift his head to her, staring directly at her with worry and concern in his eyes. He moved her ankle around to make sure nothing was broken. He grasped onto her foot with both his hands, feeling around for any broken bones. 

"It...is a bit swollen," Prince Thomas acknowledged. "Does it hurt?" 

"O-Only sometimes. I-It depends on where you are touching it," Princess Y/N explained, shifting slightly in her place. The prince nodded his head understandingly. He dropped his gaze to look down and examine her ankle once again. He tried to get a better view of her foot.

Her knees were bent in an upright position. The prince had to reframe himself from sneaking a peek at her bloomers which were almost on full display for him. He took a deep breathe, holding it for few moments. He could feel the rush of heat rising to his cheeks. He forced himself to look away, mentally acknowledging that the temptation was too great. 

"Please, tell me when it hurts," Thomas said. He turned his head and looked at the princess. He moved his hands around her small ankle, feeling for any source of pain. "Here?" Thomas spoke softly.

The princess kept silent. 

"Or here?" Thomas suggested. His hands had moved to another small point in her ankle. He tilted his head to the side for he noticed that she was not speaking up. Little did he know, she was still at a loss for words. He moved his hand again. "Here?" Thomas wondered.

"Oh," Princess Y/N said, moaning in pain. She flinched as soon as his hand pressed against the swollen mound. She had lowered her hand to grasp onto her skirt, shifting the material away from her ankle. Her eyes were squinted together, focusing on the pain in her ankle. 

"There it is," Prince Thomas whispered. His lips had tugged into a small smile across his face. He could see the bright blush creeping onto her fragile face. "Do you think you can walk back to the palace?" Prince Thomas questioned. 

She couldn't seem to form any words. She timidly shook her head in denial. She could only wonder what he would do if she couldn’t walk back to the place. He found himself smiling at her timid reaction. He did not hesitate to take her other shoe off her foot. He handed her the pair of shoes to hold for the moment.

Then Thomas had shifted to her side and laced his arm underneath her bent legs. He placed this other arm behind her back to support her. He lifted her into his arms like she weighed no more than a small child. He had started walking back towards the pathway. He was carrying her bridal style through the vast forest. 

The princess was gazing at him like he was some knight in shining armor that he just saved her from a ferocious dragon. She had placed her hand on his broad chest to steady herself. Her dress was effortlessly flowing in the wind. Her little toes peeked out from her dress from the angle her was holding her. 

Once the two royals had made it back to the path, the other brothers of the prince were waiting for them. The two of them were standing beside their horses. They were quick to step forward in their place. They stopped themselves once they saw the situation unfolding in front of them. Their eyes widened in realization. 

"What the hell happened?" Harry questioned. He had shifted to stand beside his older brother. He took into account how the princess’s dress was muddy and tattered. He could also see that her hair was frizzed and frayed. He had just briefly seen her toes peeking out from her dress. He could only imagine what happened deep in those woods.

“The princess took a small tumble off an incline. She sprained her ankle. She needs to have a doctor look over it," Thomas explained to them. The two princes were scrambling to gather the horses. They needed to get back to the palace immediately. 

"We can help you mount your horse, princess," Sam said, offering his assistance. The older prince had turned his head and looked at his younger brother in confusion. He furrowed his eyebrows at him.

"What? Are you joking? Do you really think she can ride her horse all the way back to the palace alone?" Thomas said, challenging his brothers. He could see his two brothers shaking their heads in response. "Of course not! She shall ride with me,” Thomas insisted with a nod of the head.

"Oh, t-that's not necessary," the princess said, pipping up. "I-I can ride my horse just fine. It’s only for a few miles,” the princess claimed.

"Nonsense," the prince said, stalking towards his white horse. He did not hesitate to hoist the young princess onto the saddle of his horse, securing her in place. He swung his leg over the horse behind her, mounting his horse properly. 

The princess was seated in front of him, lacing her arms around his neck for security while her legs dangled off the same side of the horse. One thing was for sure, sitting side-saddle with someone accompanying you was no easy task. The prince laced his arms around the princess's waist, grabbing hold of the reigns. He clicked his tongue a few times to urge the horse down the pathway with his brothers trailing behind him. 

Once the small group had returned to the palace, a flood of servants had hurried to them. The servants had been fretting over them. They asked a number of questions. The young prince dismounted his horse in an instant. He had shifted to take one single step forward in his place, but one footman had been quick to stop him. 

“Would you like me to carry her highness into the palace?” the footman wondered. He hadn’t meant to be rude or noisy in the slightest bit. He was only trying to be useful and helpful. He was also trying to be a gentleman.

“No. It’s fine,” Thomas claimed. He had lifted his hands to her sides, grabbing onto her waist in a secure manner. She carefully slid off the horse and stood on her own two feet unsteadily. She had practically collapsed into his grasp upon feeling the tense pain in her ankle. But he was sure to catch her this time.

The young prince had swooped down to lift the princess into his arms, carrying her into the palace with the servants trailing behind them. The King of the North must have overheard all the commotion because he came hurrying towards his dearest daughter. He stopped to stand in front of them, reaching out to brush a few strands of hair out of her face. 

"My lord," the King of the East exclaimed. He brought his hand to cup his mouth. His heart was practically clenching at her disheveled state. "What on earth happened to you, my girl?" the King of the East wondered.

"Really," Y/N sighed. She had turned her head to look at the various servants standing around them, believing that they were making a big deal out of absolutely nothing. "I'm fine. I just fell down and twisted my ankle. I-If it hadn't been for the prince, I wouldn't have ever been able to make it back to the palace. He saved me, father," Y/N claimed.

"Oh pish posh! No need to be so dramatic, my dear. If it hadn't been for your sense of clumsiness, you would have never been in this mess. Don’t go start making stories of your own,” the King of the East scolded her.

"Yes, father." Y/N agreed.

She hung her head down low. She was hoping to hide the tint of pink flooding her cheeks. She could feel a strong sense of embarrassment creeping over her. She choose to drop the matter. She didn’t want to argue with her father about it. 

"If you wouldn't mind, I would like to carry her up to her room now" Thomas said. He had been quick to step forward to offer his assistance. He could feel her shifting in his grasp. “She might need a doctor to look at her ankle,” Thomas concluded.

"She resides in the northern quarters of the palace,” the King of the East stated. He had pointed his finger towards the grand staircase behind him. He shook his head at her one last time. The young prince had dipped his head down in acknowledgment. He started to walk towards the flight of stairs while carrying the princess in his arms.

They walked down the hallways of the palace until they came across the princess's chambers. The prince opened the door and stepped inside, closing the door behind him. He walked towards her bed and laid her down carefully. He grabbed her shoes and set them to the side. He pull the large comforter over her body.

"I hope..." Thomas began. "You recover soon. That way we can walk in the gardens again...just like we used to," Thomas said. His voice had come out in a soft whisper.

"I am looking forward to it," Y/N said. She had slipped down into the comfort of her own bed, snuggling into the warm blankets. She held the comforter near her chin to hide the blush on her face.

"And..." Prince Thomas’ voice trailed off. He found himself rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet. His hands were laced behind his back. "In given time, I am going to need to ask you a question of importance," Prince Thomas said.

"Will this question have anything to do with our future together?" Princess Y/N wondered. She popped her pink lips into her mouth to hide the smile on her face. She could feel that her cheeks were burning this vibrant shade of pink. She was acting like a giddy schoolgirl.

"It might," Prince Thomas further teased. They smiled at each other and chuckled to themselves softly as to not be heard by the servants outside the bed chambers. Their laughter dialed down as they stared into each others eyes. They could both feel this unknown sensation growing stronger in the depths of their chests.

The young prince had carefully grabbed onto her hand holding onto the comforter. He pulled her hand towards his lips, pressing a small kiss to her knuckles. He had lingered just a moment longer than normal. He had lowered her hand back down onto the bed. He bowed in respect.

Slowly, Prince Thomas had started walking towards the door of her chambers. He grabbed onto the solid gold door handle. He had winked at her teasingly. He was sure to close to the solid wood door behind him. 

In that moment, the young princess had nestled deeper into her large bed. She didn’t hold back the squeal of delight that slipped past her pink lips. She pulled the covers over her head and grabbed a pillow, forcing the pillow to her face. She screamed to herself in absolute delight though her screams were muffled by the pillow. In that moment, Princess Y/N knew that she was utterly and hopelessly in love with the prince of the north. 

A few weeks later, the young princess was able to stand and walk without feeling any more pain in her ankle. There was a servant that opened the grand doors of her chambers. She popped her head through the door to encourage her fellow servant to hurry and finish up. The other servant was placing silver pins in the princess's hair, pulling it back nicely. 

"Your Highness," the one servant said. She had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder in fear that one of her advisors would come for her hide. “The prince is calling on you. You must hurry," the one servant persisted.

"I know. I'm coming. I won't be a moment longer," Princess Y/N said. She had lifted her head to look through the mirror of her white vanity, staring directly at the one servant standing by the grand door. She smiled at her kindly.

The servant bowed her head before disappearing into the hallway of the palace. The young princess did not hesitate to grab her most expensive bottle of perfume which conveniently smelled of wild roses. She picked up the silver dropped, squeezing it slightly to allow the pink drops to escape the dropper.

The rich liquid spread across the princess's silky skin, which would intoxicate her wrists and neck. The princess was staring directly at herself in the mirror, admiring her look for the night. She had gingerly lifted her hand to touch the diamond neckless around her neck, smiling at its beauty. She spun around in her chair, holding on the back with her hand.

"Do fetch my best gloves. I want to look presentable for the prince,” Princess Y/N instructed. The servant dipped her head slightly before turning around and walking towards one of the chests. She lifted the lid of the chest and pulled out the expensive pair of silk gloves.

The princess gently took hold of the gloves before slipping them onto her hands, rolling them up her forearms. She pushed her chair back and stood to her feet, smoothing out her dress. She looked up and fixed her hair once more, making sure she looked perfect.

"Can you believe it? He's finally calling on me," Princess Y/N said with a broad smile on her face. "It's been nearly six months. I'm surprised he has finally found the courage of asking me. At this rate, I was thinking it would be another two years before he called on me,” Princess Y/N teased.

The servant's lips tugged into a soft smile. "You look beautiful, your highness."

The princess turned around and tipped her head down, acknowledging her servant. She thanked the kind woman for all of her assistance. Finally, the princess turned her body and walked towards the door, opening it before stepping into the hallway of the palace.

Slowly, the young princess made her way around the palace. Her head moved from the left to the right, looking down each hallway in search of the prince. She twiddled with her hands nervously, anxiously awaiting to see the prince. The princess walked through the hallways until she found the prince standing near a fireplace in the northern corridor.

The prince was resting his forearm against the mantle of the fireplace, staring into the burning flames. He was thinking to himself. He was rehearsing the words in his mind for the thousandth time. The princess straightened her back in posture and clasped her hands together, holding them tightly. She cleared her throat, drawing away the young man's attention.

“Oh,” Thomas said. “I-I didn’t see you there.”

“Nor I,” Y/N said, chuckling nervously to herself. “I was informed that you called for me. Do you have something to ask of me?” Y/N questioned.

“Well,” Thomas began. He had pulled his hand away from the mantlepiece of the fireplace. He had taken one single step forward in his place. He was forcing himself to maintain eye contact with her. “Yes, I have something to ask of you,” Thomas said. 

The prince had found himself staring into the young woman’s eyes and feeling absolutely mesmerized by her beauty. She had a kind of understated beauty. And perhaps it was because she was so disarmingly unaware of her prettiness. Her large liquid blue eyes were basking in the form of intelligence and serenity that it was impossible to look away from her captivating gaze. She had the kindest pair of baby blue eyes that were trimmed by long gorgeous lashes. Her cheekbones weren't especially high. And her nose was a little small to be considered perfect. Nevertheless, there was an undeniable symmetry to her sparking features.

All of her features were placed together on her delicate angelic face. However, her awestruck beauty was running down to the very core of her heart. She was unwittingly kind and generous to the other students around her, never failing to smile at them. And she was a very likable person. Her laugh and smile were so captivating and contagious; it was impossible to not smile back. To be in her company was to feel that you had been warmed in summer rays regardless of the season. She was perfect.

For some odd reason, Thomas couldn't keep his eyes off her figure in the distance. His gaze was practically transfixed on her little figure, feeling a sense of slight control slip away from his own being. He was looking at her with a blank stare on his face, basking in the appearance of her beauty. He was entranced with her kind and sweet personality, knowing that there was a sense of gentleness in her heart. He seemed to admire all of her features. Though his attraction for her did not stop there, it ran all the way down to his core.

“Well...I-I was partially wondering if you...if you would like to...” Thomas’ voice trailed off again. He took another step forward in his place. He forced himself to swallow the nervous lump lingering at the back of his throat. He almost couldn’t bare to look her in the eyes. 

“Thomas?” Y/N spoke softly to him.

The young prince had taken his final step forward in his stance. With his head hung low, the prince had gingerly reached forward to take hold the princess’s delicate hands. He held them close to his chest before he gathered enough courage to look the princess in the eyes. As soon as they locked gazes, his thoughts had flown out the door. He found himself at a loss for words.

“I-I-I” Thomas stuttered. He wasn’t able to form any coherent words. “Can you...no. That sounds wrong. W-Would you...would you,” Thomas continued, correcting himself along the way. “Would you...allow me...to start...” Thomas stumbled over his words.

The prince groaned to himself. He threw his hands into the air. He spun around on the heels of his feet, striding back towards the fireplace. He was running his hands through his hair in frustration. The princess did not hesitate to comfort him during this hard time. She had taken to approach his side. She placed her hand on his shoulder reassuringly.

“I-I can't say it,” Thomas said. He had turned his head to look over the small stretch of his shoulder slightly. He could barely see her out of the corner of his eye. He wouldn’t dare meet her gaze in fear that she might see the blush on his face. 

“Thomas,” Y/N said. “You can tell me anything.”

Finally, Thomas had turned his head and looked her in the eyes. His eyes darted between her lips and eyes, contemplating whether or not to ask her the question. He had opened his mouth to speak, feeling the words falling out of his mouth.

“I would like to start courting you,” Thomas said firmly. His voice was clear and slow. He didn’t have to repeat himself. He was sure that she had heard him. In a split second, the princess’s lips curved into a pleased smile. She had laced her hands with his, holding them close to her. She gazed up at him with smiling eyes.

“I thought you would never ask,” Y/N said with the shake of her head. She could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She lifted her hand to wipe away her happy tears. He had been slightly taken back by her comment. He had shifted to straighten his back in posture, turning his body towards her. He was staring directly at her with the hint of disbelief in his eyes.

“R-Really? Are you going to agree to this? Are you really committing to me? Or is this all just some dream?” Thomas wondered. He was hoping to contain himself for the time being. He didn’t want to give himself false hope.

“No, Thomas. This is no dream. This...” she said. She lowered her gaze to stare down at their hands, holding his hand tightly. She looked back up at him with shimmering eyes. “This is real,” she claimed. 

“I-I didn’t think you would say yes to me,” Thomas confessed. His voice was shaky and unstable. His heart was fluttering in his chest, beating a million times per minute. He couldn’t contain himself any longer.

And then he did the simplest thing in the word. He leaned forward and kissed her. And the entire world cracked open. The kiss was very quick for it ended less than a second later. It was not a solid kiss. It was not forceful, heavy, or passionate. It was a gentle kiss. Their lips only brushed together, pecking each other’s lips. When the prince pulled away less than a second later, the two of them gazed at each other with wide eyes.

The prince could feel the strong sense of guilt and regret coursing through his veins. He was staring down at her with unsure eyes. His mouth had dropped open in disbelief. He had hoped that the kiss wouldn’t ruin their relationship with one another. The princess looked up at him in utter shock and surprise. He was scrambling to collect his words.

“I-I’m so very sorry. I didn’t mean- I just thought...I-I-I couldn’t help myself. I truly am sorry—” the prince was cut off when the princess stood on the tips of her toes and pressed her lips against the prince’s lips.

The young prince's eyes widened in realization. Instinctively, the prince wrapped his arms around the princess's waist, holding her closely in his embrace. His eyes fluttered closed to savor the moment. Their lips danced together as if the music was playing for them. Their lips locked together in perfect harmony, convincing themselves that they really were made for each other. 

Her plump soft lips were compelling against his slimmer warmer lips, molding in the perfect manner. She had wrapped her arms around his neck to draw him down closer to her. He drifted into a dreamy state of mind, responding to the kiss by allowing himself to loose control over himself. He was pressing his lips against her small mouth, kissing her back with the same amount of passion. Their lips were moving and bonding together in synchronized harmony. 

The feeling of epiphany and elation was percolating through their veins, surging throughout their entire systems. The sudden sensation of warm and comfort was coursing through their bodies at the same moment. The euphoric bliss was blossoming within their bodies, warming the coldest part of the soul. The sparks were bursting thorough the veins in their bodies, creating a warm sensation in the pit of their stomachs. It was a small and warm kiss.

The kiss obliterated every thought. For the first time, Thomas and Y/N's minds were locked into the present moment. The worries and concerns of life were evaporating within an instant. The worries, troubles, and problems were disappearing out of their line of sight, melting away from the entire picture. Their usual mode of working things out in a timely order was completely suspended for the moment; neither of them wanted the kiss to end. Nothing seemed to matter at the given moment. The two of them only seemed to be focusing on each other at the time.

The feeling was so strange. It was stretching throughout their whole bodies. The foreign feeling was so overwhelming. And yet, it made them feel complete. The unknown feeling has no bound, nor length, nor depth. It is just absolute. The happy feeling was able to make it feel like their hearts were dancing around their chest. And a hole (that they were not aware of) had been filled to the very brim. Although they were quite young (and most people would consider them to be foolish and naive), the two of them were more than certain about their feelings towards one another. 

The emotions of passions, love, and affection were coursing through the millions of veins in their bodies. The foreign emotions had managed to cause a warm sensation to rise in the pit of their stomachs. The little flutter of a feather was tickling every part of their bodies, causing their abdomens to crunch at the unbearable feeling of giddiness. With each touch, the sparks were flying in the different directions of their bodies. The feeling of love had never felt more comforting. The two of them were more than convinced that they were destined to be together. And that kiss was the beginning of a promise of much more to come.

When they pulled apart, they rested their heads together. They panted heavily, hoping to regain their breath. They gazed into each other's eyes, staring directly into one another’s hearts. They could feel their hot breaths mingling together in the tight space between them. The prince's nose brushed against the princess's little nose, nudging it gently. He reached up and cupped her face with one hand. 

"You...have no idea how long I have wanted to do that," Thomas claimed, breathing steadily. He didn’t mean to brush his nose against the tip of hers, nudging it gently. He lifted his hand to cup her face with one hand. "How long! have waited to kiss your lips. How I have longed to hold you in my embrace. How long I have wanted you," Thomas continued.

“Well, you have me. All of me,” Y/N whispered. She was gazing into the prince's dashing brown eyes. She was almost able to get lost in them. She could see his lips lift into a soft smile. She forced herself onto the tips of her toes, so she could press her lips against his once more. 

"This...commitment we have made to each other...it calls for something that I need from you," Thomas further explained. He had pulled away from her embrace for a brief moment. 

"What do you need of me?" Y/N wondered. She had furrowed her eyebrows in slight confusion, swaying slight in his embrace. She could see him lean forward to brush his cheek against hers, whispering into her ear seductively.

"A lock of your hair," Thomas whispered to her. He almost didn't want to pull away from her. He could smell the rich scent of perfume on her neck. He found himself savoring the moment once again. 

Slowly, Thomas had pulled away from her embrace. He knelt down to his knees. Their gazes never left each others. Her hands fell to his shoulders as he kneeled in front of her. He moved his hand towards his boot, pulling out a small knife. He slowly stood to his feet again. 

The prince had brought his hand towards the side of her face, plucking a small strand of hair near her slender neck. He was fiddling with her hair in his hands, feeling the smoothness of her silky hair. He turned his head and leaned forward until his lips brushed against her ear. His hot breath sent a cold shiver down her spine.

“May I?” Thomas asked for permission.

The princess nodded her head in response. She had lifted her hand to grab onto his forearm. She drew her lower lip between her teeth. Slowly, the prince pulled away from her ear. He had carried the small knife towards her head. He grabbed a small strand of hair underneath her ear, gathering it in his hands. He brought the knife towards it, effortlessly cutting through the hair. When he finished cutting off a strand of her hair, he placed his knife back into his boot. He pulled a handkerchief out of his coat jacket.

The prince placed the strand of hair into the handkerchief before holding the cloth over itself. He had decided to tuck the handkerchief into his coat pocket, securing it close to his chest. He patted his chest one time.

"I shall keep it here," Thomas said softly. "Close to my heart." 

She had lowered her gaze to stare down at her feet, hoping to hide the pink blush creeping onto her face. He had lifted his hand to place his fingers underneath her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. He was staring deeply into her captivating eyes. He savored the moment as instructed by his own father.

"I shall call on you tomorrow," Thomas further explained. He could see the princess’s pink lips growing into a small smile across her face. He smiled back at her. He was quick to lean down in his place, pecking her lips once more. 

"I am looking forward to it," Y/N breathed. She really didn’t want to wait until tomorrow to see him again. She could only wish to meet him in her dreams.

The two royals had found themselves leaning forward in hopes of sharing one last kiss together. Suddenly, a familiar voice called out from the hallways. It was one of the prince's brothers, calling to see if he wanted to visit the stables. The young couple turned their heads to look in the general direction of the voice.

"I-I have to go," Thomas declared. He had turned his head to look back down at the princess standing in front of him. He hesitantly pulled his hands out of her grasp. He had only taken one step.

"Wait," Y/N exclaimed. She did not hesitate to reach forward to grab the prince’s hand. She watched him turn his head and look at her in slight confusion. She opened her mouth to speak. "Meet me tonight after everyone has gone to sleep," Y/N offered.

"What are we going to do?" Thomas questioned. He had furrowed his eyebrows at her statement. He had known that it was entirely improper to meet with a young woman after dark, especially if they were unmarried. But it had been proven in the last few weeks that they didn’t care what was improper anymore after her fall. She looked at him with loving and adoring eyes. 

"That's all up to you,” Y/N teased. She was staring at him with loving and adoring eyes. He had immediately raised his eyebrows in surprise. He found himself nodding his head in confirmation. He could hear the voice call out again. He pulled away from her with great hesitation. He had turned to race down the hallways of the palace, leaving the love of his life alone. 

The princess breathed steadily. She found herself lifting her hand towards the frontside of her face, feeling her fingertips brush against her soft lips. She shook her head in disbelief. She couldn't help but suppress the smile growing on her face. They were living in secrecy. Something that brought a rush of dangerous adrenaline into their beings. It wasn't a rebellious or forbidden love. It was a secret love; one that nobody knew about just yet.

At midnight, the prince turned his head and looked at the time. He stood to his feet. He was sure to grab a small candle to lead him through the dark hallways of the palace. He had quietly closed the door behind him. He had started walking through the dark hallways of the palace, hoping to avoid any guards standing by the doorways. He finally made it to her royal bedchambers. 

With hesitation, Thomas had raised his fist to the solid wood door. He knocked on the door of the room as quietly as possible. He took a single step backwards, waiting for a brief moment. He could hear the doorknob slowly jingling. He saw the solid gold door handle twist and turn in attempts to open the door. 

When the door had finally opened, Thomas had straightened his back in posture. He could see the young princess poke her head out of the door. She had turned her head to look up at him with a small smile on her face. She was quick to step out of her room, closing the door behind her. 

At the sight of her, the prince was forced himself to look away from her. He wanted to be respectful of her privacy. He could clearly see that she was only wearing her white nightgown. He was trying not to think about whether or not she was wearing her corset underneath her nightgown, but his best bet was that she wasn't. 

"I-I’m sorry. My servants wouldn't leave until I got in my nightwear. I had to change," Y/N spoke in a soft whisper. She had pulled on the ribbons of her robe. She carried the soft material over her white nightgown to hide her modesty, tying the ribbons together.  

"No," the prince blurted out. "No, it's fine. You look fine." 

The princess had lifted her hand to the side of her face to tuck a small strand of her hair behind her ear. Her long dark brown hair was stretching the bottom of her shoulder blades, dripping over her shoulders in a mesmerizing manner. Her hair was flowing down. It was not pulled back, curled, or pinned. It was free, flowing effortlessly over her shoulders. Her long hair reached down to her lower back. It was brushed until it looked silky. There were no knots or tangles. 

She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, thinking it may not have been the best idea to invite the prince to meet with her. Her eyes drifted upwards to drink in his manly appearance. She could see that he was no longer wearing his formal jacket or uniform. His white button-up shift was loosely buttoned, showing off some of his broad chest.

The two of them were breathing steadily to themselves. They were taking the time to admire each other in the silence of the night. Their faces were glowing due to the small candle in the his hand. Slowly, Thomas had reached down to grab onto her hand. He had started leading her down the hallways of the palace, following the light of the candle.

“Where shall we go?” Thomas whispered in a soft tone of voice. She could feel the broad smile growing at the corners of her lips. She thought about his words for a brief moment. They had stopped in their steps. The two of them turned their heads and looked at the grand front door standing in front of them.

“To the stars.”

The Royal Family | Chapter Two

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: touchy subjects (marriage)

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The small pond was a bold jewel of living turquoise, flowing with the gentle and soft breeze in the night sky. The pond was the source of water to the growing weeds surrounding the edges of the pond. The surface of the small rippling waves were black in the late hours of the night. The reflection of the numerous white speckles of starlight were shimmering on the waves. The sky had vanished almost completely, leaving only a few fragments of white starling to remain. The air was rich and course. 

The fragrance of the leaves was streaming through the atmosphere. The time of rain had passed many days ago. However, the rich brown soil had remained wet and damp. The sweet fragrance of wet dirt was lingering around the edge of the pond. The sound of the soft rippling waves of the water in the pond were creating a relaxing hypnotic melody. 

The numerous toads and frogs were croaking in tune with the calming melody in the night. The little green crickets were hopping over the taller steam of grass in the field, singing their own little tune. The fireflies were creating brief little specks of yellow light, flying over the surface of the water in the pond. The entire forest was basking in the awkward silence of the night.

The young princess was currently standing in front of the full length mirror in her quarters. She had changed out of her clothes way too many times to count. She had pinched her cheeks so hard that she was finally able to see the natural red blush on her cheekbones. She did not seem to like the way her hair was falling over her shoulders. She just couldn’t make it look perfect.

Meanwhile, the six men had been standing and waiting in the entrance hall to the grand dining room. The two princes were discussing the likelihood of starting a card game (after dinner). The eldest prince had been talking to his personal assistant who was named Harrison. The two of them were carefully watching the grand staircase, waiting for the princess’s arrival. The two kings were currently standing on the sidelines.

“I deeply apologize for my dear daughter,” the King of the East said. He had just briefly looked down at the pocket watch in his hands. He pursed his lips together in thought. He could only wonder where she might be. “She is not usually this late,” the King of the East confessed.

“I take no offense,” King Dominic laughed. He was quick to wave his hand in dismissal. Though the King of the North did not have any daughters of his own, he did have a wife who would always take her dear sweet time getting ready for various occasions. He knew what it was like to have to wait.

“I am afraid that since there are princes in the palace, she will take her dear sweet time to get ready,” the King of the East replied. He was unaware of the fact that the eldest prince was listening to their conversation. He had turned his head to look towards the three princes, tipping his head to gesture towards them. He smiled at them.

In the background, the young prince had been lingering near the bottom of the staircase. He wasn’t able to look away from the grand staircase standing in front him. He was just waiting for the princess to grace him with her presence. He didn’t want to miss the moment where she came into view.

With some hesitation, Prince Thomas had turned his head to look at his personal assistant standing beside him. He had opened his mouth to ask him a question, but he couldn’t seem to find the right words to phrase it. He closed his mouth again to ponder his thoughts.

“What do you know about the princess?” Thomas wondered. He had forced himself to look back towards the grand staircase in hopes that he didn’t miss the princess walking down the stairs. But he still didn’t see her.

“Her father—the king—is the business man who has always dealt with government matters,” Harrison explained. He had been ordered to find background information on the other royal family. “He didn’t have time to deal with the public. So he appointed his daughter to be the public figure or the people person,” Harrison concluded.

“She meddles in those matters?” Thomas questioned. He was almost shocked and surprised that the princess would be interested in such an issue. He had never heard of a princess that bothered herself with politics.

“And she listens to them. She has been able to bring many of their problems to parliament so that changes can be made. There are some monarchs that care so little about their people,” Harrison confessed. “But she is different. She cares them. She is very well-loved by her people,” Harrison said with a small smile on his face.

“Has she had any suitors?” Thomas changed the subject. His voice was laced with the strong sense of curiosity. He had lifted his hand towards the side of his head, scratching his neck to hide his awkwardness. He was almost afraid of the answer.

“Plenty,” Harrison said with a firm nod of the head. He opened his mouth to breath out one long sigh. “It seems like every season her father is trying to marry her off to a prince from some far away land. He has been trying since she was fifteen,” Harrison added.

“Why doesn’t she have a suitor then? She could easily have any man in the world. She could steal their heart without a second to spare,” Thomas suggested. He was thinking long and hard about this, but it still didn’t make any sense to him. “Why hasn’t she taken a husband yet?” He pondered.

“Because she won't have any of them,” Harrison confessed.

Upon hearing those words, Prince Thomas could feel his heart dropping in the confines of his chest. He found himself wondering if he would suffer the same fate as the other princes. He was starting to doubt himself. He didn’t believe that he would ever be good enough for the princess. He almost felt hopeless.

The young prince could feel this strong sense of nervousness coursing through his entire body. He had quickly grown self-conscious of his evening attire. He could only wonder if he would make a fool of himself at the dinner table. He could feel a heavy lump lingering at the back of his throat. He was fiddling with his fingers in a nervous manner.

At the given moment, Princess Y/N had been walking through the long hallways of the palace. She had stopped to stand at the corner of the staircase. She poked her head around the corner, staring at the six men standing in the entrance hall. She pushed her back into the stone wall, running her fingers over the smooth material of her dress. She cleared her throat.

Very slowly, the young princess had pushed herself off the side of the wall. She had shifted to stand in the center of the staircase, stepping forward in her place to begin her descent. She had placed her hand on the smooth wooden railing so she could keep her balance. 

Meanwhile, Prince Thomas had turned his head and looked towards the top of the staircase. He could feel his breath hitching in the back of his throat upon seeing the sight in front of him. His eyes had mindlessly scanned over the light pink material of her dress, basking in her beautiful appearance. His heart was fluttering at the sight of her, beating at a rapid pace. He couldn’t seem to look away from her.

Now Princess Y/N had shifted to stand at the bottom of the staircase. She had turned her head to look towards each of the princes and kings in her presence. She was quick to curtsy to them out of mere respect. She smiled at them.

“You look...” Prince Thomas’ voice had trailed off. He shook his head at her. He just couldn’t find the right words to express himself. He had opened his mouth again, but he was quickly cut off by the king’s remark.

“Absolutely beautiful,” the King of the East replied. He had found himself striding across the small stretch of the room, standing in front of his only daughter. He was sure to keep her at arms distance so that he could admire her beauty. He leaned forward to press one kiss to her cheek. “As always,” the King of the East claimed.

“I am so sorry to have kept you waiting,” Princess Y/N groaned. She was starting to feel that overwhelming sensation of embarrassment taking over her features. She had lifted her hand towards the side of her face, tucking a single strand of hair behind her ears timidly. She was blushing to herself.

“Nonsense,” King Dominic exclaimed. He was quick to wave his hand in dismissal. He didn’t seem to see any harm in her late arrival. He was just pleased that she showed up at all.

“Shall we?” The King of the East suggested. He had motioned towards the grand doors of the entrance hall with his hand, gesturing for his guests to enter the room. He had laced his arms with his dear daughter’s, leading her through the grand doors.

There were large silver platters holding fleshy pink strips of trout that had been garnished with dashings of green and brown herbs. There were large porcelain bowls filled with little clumps of white cheeses. A few platters of fowl were resting on the end of the long wooden table, emitting a savory smell throughout the entire room. There were a number of cooked oceanic creatures that had been drizzled into tones of warm sauces and spicy seasoning. The large gold pitchers were overflowing with the richest dark red wine in the land. 

There were many large bowls containing the different types of creamy soups with a few green herbs floating on the top of the gooey substance. A large bowl of red pudding was resting in the center of the four wooden tables. There were a few bowls of peanuts, almonds, and walnuts on the side. And there were many bowls of fresh fruits, containing little leafs of mint on the top of the sweet or sour fruit. 

The servants (footmen) were currently standing in a strict line. They had bowed their heads out of respect. The footmen were quick to step forward in their place, shifting to pull out the wood chairs for the royal family. However, at the very last second, Prince Tom had taken the place of one of the servants. The servant had awkwardly stepped back into the line (because he really didn’t know what else to do).

“Allow me,” Prince Thomas said. He stood behind the princess’s chair. He had pulled the wood chair out from underneath the table. He was quite the gentleman.

“Thank you,” Princess Y/N said with a small nod of the head. She had shifted to stand in front of the chair. She gripped the heavy skirt of her dress, gathering the material in her hands so that it was out of the way. She lowered herself into the chair without hesitation. She could feel him pushing the chair behind her.

Slowly, the young prince had made his way back to his own chair on the other side of the dinner table. He had tried to ignore the ‘all knowing’ looks coming from his two brothers. He could feel the heat rising to his cheeks in slight embarrassment.

During the dinner, the two kings were able to discuss the matters of the peace treaty. The princess was eagerly listening to their conversation, but she wouldn’t dare say anything on the matter. She didn’t really like the whole concept of the peace treaty. She would be signing away her rights, land, and power to the other kingdom. And it was all because she was unable to inherit those things. It made her very sad to think about. 

“I hear you like politics, princess,” Prince Thomas said. He had pulled her out of her thoughts. She had turned her head to look across the small stretch of the table, taken back by his choice of words. She nodded her head slowly.

“Yes. I do,” Princess Y/N confirmed. She had lifted her glass towards her soft pink lips, drinking the rich dark liquid in the glass. She was slow to lower her glass back down to the surface of the table. She cleared her throat awkwardly. “You must think me very undignified,” Princess Y/N said.

“On the contrary, I hold a higher respect for you now,” Prince Thomas claimed. He had lowered his gaze to stare down at the meat on his plate. He lifted the silver fork and knife to the tender meat, cutting through the meat with no effort. He sent a small smile towards her. 

“You don’t think me unladylike for meddling in those matters?” the princess wondered. She was really taken back by his remark. She did not expect that kind of response from him. It made her think differently. “That is what most princes says about me. They say that I have no business dealing with those things,” the princess remarked.

“I don’t believe that at all,” Princess Thomas confessed truthfully. He had shook his head at her statement. He had lifted his head to look across the table, locking his gaze with her’s. He sent her a playful wink and a smile. “And I am not like most princes,” Prince Thomas corrected.

“No,” Princess Y/N smiled. “I can see that you are not.”

It was the next day. The lake-side air was pungent with the fragrance of blooming flowers. It was no natural basin filled with meltwater, but the luxury addition to a formal garden by an earl with both copious leisure time and money. The garden was blossoming with flowers and trees. The gravel pathway stretched throughout the gardens, weaving its way underneath the canopy of trees. It was springtime. 

A small number of servants were ordered to maintain the garden nearly every other week. They picked out the various types of weeds, pruned the dead leaves from the trees, watered the growing flowers, and cleaned the pathway. In the end, the royal garden was flourishing with awestruck beauty. 

Every morning, the princess would walk through the gardens. She would admire the colorful flowers and growing trees and bushy shrubs. With a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she would walk throughout the garden on its pathway. She liked to see every single little aspect of the gardens. She was able to name practically every plant. She often liked to pick a few pink or white roses, crafting them into a beautifully woven crown. This day was no different from the rest of them.

The princess was currently sitting on a nearby bench. She was overlooking the small lake in the distance. She dropped her gaze to stare down at her hands, bunching the small collection of white roses together to make a little bouquet for herself. She closed her eyes to breath in the fresh morning air.

Unbeknownst to her, the young prince found himself walking throughout the gardens. He had laced his arms behind his back, aimlessly and mindlessly wandering throughout the gardens. He turned his head to look towards the bright blue sky hanging about him. He continued walking on the gravel pathway, weaving his way between the tall trees. He did not hesitate to round the corner of a shrub, stopping in his tracks at the sight before him.

His soft brown eyes had seen the young princess sitting on the bench in the distance. He could clearly see that she was looking in the opposite direction, so she had not been informed of his presence. He looked down at his shiny shoes, shuffling on his feet. He cleared his throat awkwardly to grab her attention.

“I-I...I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you,” Prince Thomas said. He had almost struggled to find the right words for himself.

“It’s quite alright,” Princess Y/N claimed. She stood to her feet. She was still holding the small bouquet of wild daisies in her hands. The prince had politely dipped his head down in acknowledgment and the princess curtsied to him. When they had both straightened their backs in posture, they had only shared a small silent moment together.

"W-Would you like to walk with me?" Prince Thomas wondered. He had turned his head to gaze at her with a quizzical look on his face. He fiddled with his fingers behind his back. He could only hope that she would agree.

The princess was slightly taken back by the prince's questions. The corners of her lips lifted into a soft smile. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. She quickly turned her head, hoping to hide the evident blush on her face. It took her a moment to gather her thoughts. 

"I would love nothing more," the princess said with a small smile on her face.

In response, Prince Thomas had found himself straightening his back in posture. His shifted his forearm out to his side, offering his forearm for her to take.  Hesitantly, Princess Y/N had decided to take one single step forward in her place. She laced her am with the prince's. The two of them had started walking down the pathway.

“Do you...like gardens?” Prince Thomas wondered. He had turned his head to look down at the princess walking beside him, waiting eagerly to hear her response. She nodded her head in confirmation.

“Yes,” the young princess replied. “My mother always loved to sit in the gardens. She would braid my hair and place wild roses into my hair, weaving it all together. It made me feel like a fair,” she confessed with a small blush on her face.

“What happened to her?” Prince Thomas questioned. There was a moment of silence. The young princess had just briefly halted in her steps for a second. She tried to collect her thoughts together.

"S-She passed away ten years ago," Princess Y/N said. "She died of a disease. There was no cure. My father was forced to sit back and watch the life drain out of her body. I was young at the time, but I can still remember the look on his face when the doctors told us that she had passed,” Princess Y/N admitted sadly.

"I-I'm sorry for your loss. I apologize for bringing that up. It was wrong of me. It was very impolite for me to do so. I am so very sorry," Prince Thomas apologized profusely.

"It is not your fault. That is just the way of life. But I still have my father," the princess replied. She was trying to remain positive. She had turned her head to look up at him through the corner of her eye. She just watched him nod his head in agreement.

The two royals were continuing their walk together in utter silence. It was almost like they were afraid to talk to each other. Eventually, Prince Thomas had turned his head and looked at the young princess beside him. He had decided to change the subject, hopefully to something less touchy. He opened his mouth to speak, finding himself lost for words. 

"I-I suppose...you...have heard...about...the...arrangement," Prince Thomas said. He was afraid to say it. His voice was laced with the strong sense of uneasiness. He tried to turn his head to look down at her. He hoped to see some kind of reaction from her.

"What arrangement?" Princess Y/N asked dumbly. She didn’t even know why she had asked him that question. She already knew the answer to it. She knew exactly what he was talking about.

Hesitantly, the prince nodded his head in confirmation. He swallowed the lump in his throat and stopped in his steps, turning his body to face the small princess. They faced each other and looked into each other's eyes. 

"I speak of the arrangement that will unite our two kingdoms with an arranged marriage. It will seal our future together,” Prince Thomas said. He had forced himself to swallow the heavy lump lingering at the back of his throat, clearing his throat awkwardly. He waited for her to speak.

"In that case...I was informed of our arrangement," the princess said. She dropped her gaze to stare down at her own feet, feeling the small sense of fearfulness in regards to the topic. "My father believes that this is the only option we have left. He hopes that we will become a couple that our subjects can’t help but admire and be proud of,” the princess claimed.

“I see,” Prince Thomas replied. He nodded his head understandingly.

"H-He thinks we would make a good pair," Princess Y/N piped up. She didn’t mean to stumble over her words. She might have just been trying to get a positive reaction out of him. She could clearly see the prince looking ahead of himself, humming softly in acknowledgment. "D-Do you....” the princess's voice trailed off. 

"Do I what?" Prince Thomas wondered. He had turned his head to look down at the princess in question. The princess chewed the inside of her cheek nervously, contemplating on her next words. She was quick to lift her gaze to him, staring at him with hopeful eyes. 

"D-Do you...do you agree? Do you agree to all of this? The arrangement? Our future together? Are you going to go sign the peace treaty?" the princess couldn’t seem to stop the questions from flying out of her mouth.

“Now, now,” the prince said, stopping in his steps.

He turned his body and faced the young woman standing in front him. His arms fell to his side once again. He could tell that she was nervous by the way she was fiddling with her fingers and chewing on her bottom lip. He knew that she was thinking too hard about this. 

"I don't want to rush anything between us. If our fathers decide that we are to be married in order to save our kingdoms, then...then I will have to ask you to become my wife," Prince Thomas confirmed.

The young princess dropped her gaze to stare down at her feet, nodding her head understandingly. He breathed a small sigh under his breath. He had shifted to take one single step forward in his place, practically towering over the princess's small frame. They could tell that their faces were mere inches away from one another's.

“I care about my future kingdom. I care about the people and I care about the land. I want to rule the land and govern the people. If marrying you means that my kingdom will flourish, then I will not hesitate to get down on one knee,” the prince replied.

The princess was slightly taken back by the prince's comment. She found herself gazing at the prince in utter shock and surprise. In a way, the two of them were very similar. He was just as invested in the politics as she was. He was caring and sweet. He was worried about his future kingdom. He would do anything for his people group. He was loving and caring. It was something to admire in a future king. 

"You’re just like...” she had laughed. Her face had dropped in a split second. Her words had faded into absolutely nothing. She could see the small smile growing on his face. Her voice was soft and gentle, coming out like a whisper. “...me.”

“I do not think we are so different after all,” Prince Thomas agreed with a short shake of the head. He could practically hear the wheels turning in her head, thinking about him different now. 

“You care about your people group to an effect that you would not hesitate to marry a stranger. You...you would do anything for them,” Princess Y/N claimed with a look of confusion on her face.

"Yes," Prince Thomas said, nodding his head in agreement. "I-I am not a selfish prince."

"Nor will you be a selfish king,” Princess Y/N added. The prince took a small step forward until their chests were pressed together. The princess breathed a small gasp, marveling over the little distance between the two of them. 

"This isn't about us anymore," the prince said, shaking his head. "This arrangement is about our land and people. It is about saving them from the raiders of the west. I would do anything for them. I would sacrifice anything to ensure their freedom." 

“Even your own?"

There was a brief moment of silence. The prince could see the evident look of sadness in the princess’s shining eyes. He almost couldn’t respond to that question. He would give away everything with his answer. He blinked once. 

"Yes. Even my own freedom," Prince Thomas breathed out, nodding his head in confirmation. He was able to maintain eye contact the whole time. His heart clenched at his own choice of words. "I would sacrifice my own freedom and happiness for them,” Prince Thomas confessed.

“I admire you,” Princess Y/N said with a small smile on her face. She had dropped her gaze to stare down at her feet. She found herself continuing to walk down the pathway leading in the garden. She could only wonder if the prince would follow behind her. “It’s a noble thing to do,” Princess Y/N added.

The prince had found himself turning his head to watch her retreating figure. He shifted his hands towards his frontside, fiddling with his fingers from his nerves. He was trying to find the right words to say to explain himself.

"I...I understand how you are feeling. I do truly,” Prince Thomas called to her. He could see her stop in her place. “I understand that you do not want to be forced into a marriage unwillingly. I understand that you do not want to be married to a stranger. I understand that you do not want any of this," Prince Thomas replied.

In response, Prince Thomas could clearly see the young princess dipping her head downwards to stare at the solid ground. He saw her shoulders shake slightly. He did not hesitate to walk towards her. He had stopped to stand beside her. When the prince had gotten closer, he could hear the small sobs coming out of her mouth. She lifted her hand to cover her mouth, hoping to contain her cries. She was embarrassed to be seen like this. 

Slowly, Prince Thomas had shifted his hands to the sides of her arms. He turned her smaller body to face him, taking hold of her hands in his own. He held her hands close to their chests. She shook her head slightly, feeling the hot tears streaming down her face effortlessly. She couldn’t help the tears from coming. He had raised his hand, tapping her chin softly to gain her attention.

“It’s okay,” Prince Thomas said with a small smile on his face. He lifted his hands and cupped her cheeks. He used his thumbs to wipe away the tears streaming down her face. She smiled softly at his actions. “You don’t have to love me back,” Prince Thomas claimed.

"No..." the princess said, shaking her head in denial. "T-T...Thomas...it's not that. I-I-I didn't mean it like that. Please...don't say those kinds of things," she pleaded.

The corners of the prince's lips tugged into a soft smile. He rubbed his thumbs against her smooth cheeks reassuringly, wiping away the last of her tears. He was quick to capture her gaze once last time.

"I understand you," he said slowly.

Hesitantly, Prince Thomas had lowered his hands back down to his sides. He smiled softly at her. He leaned down to her height. He turned his head so that his lips were hovering right beside her ear. He softly whispered into her ear.

"Until our next meeting, my love.” the prince whispered. His voice was soft and gentle. His hot breath had sent shivers down her spine. He turned his head and pressed his lips against her cheek, kissing her softly. When he pulled away, he tipped his head down politely and saluted her farewell. 

In that given moment, Prince Thomas had turned around and started walking away from his future spouse. The young princess could only watch his figure retreat back into the gardens. She was quick to turn on the heels of her feet. She started walking back towards the palace, thinking bout the words the prince said to her. She mentally cursed to herself for being so emotional in front of a stranger. Then again...he wasn't a stranger. He was going to be her future spouse, whether she liked it or not. 

The table tops were filled with layers of the most delicious food and drinks, garnered to make ones mouth water in hunger. There were pheasants and goose, a bowl of roasted root vegetables, creamy sauces with garden herbs and best of all there are fresh tomatoes. They had huge platters of fowl stuffed with savoury fruit and nuts. There was a countless amount of different types of cheeses stretched across the table. 

There were plates of deer with sprigs of rosemary threaded through its meat to give it more flavor. They had marinated chicken, grilled trout with lemon, smoked sausages and a pineapple glazed ham. There were mounds of fragrant wild rice, potatoes and diced pumpkin smeared with butter and spices baked on hot stones. There were baskets of cheese and crackers with bread rolls shaped like seashells on the side. There were all sorts of varieties of salads and side dishes.

The two royal families were gathered around the table. They were consuming the various courses brought out to them on beautiful china dishes. The finest wine was poured into the delicate wine glasses. The servants were dressed in their best attire for the glorious occasion.

“Ah,” Prince Thomas said. He leaned over slightly for the servant to reach behind him to pour more wine into his glass. The servant finished pouring the wine, quickly shifting to stand back in the line of servants. “Thank you,” Prince Thomas said with a nod of the head.

The royal families’ voices had faded into absolute nothingness in the princess’s mind. She did not seem to care about the conversation tonight. She was sorrowfully looking down at her plate full of food, shifting some of the vegetables around aimlessly with her utensils. 

The prince lifted his head and looked at the young princess sitting on the other side of the table. His lips formed a tight lined smile as he gazed at her helplessly. The twin brothers of the prince leaned towards each other, whispering to each other discreetly. 

"Do you see how he is looking at her?" Prince Harry asked with a hinted smirk on his face. They sent each other a teasing look, smiling evilly to themselves. 

"He can't seem to look away from her," Prince Sam claimed. He had to force himself to stifle a laugh. The young princes had placed their hands over their mouths, stopping themselves from laughing out loud.

“Still,” Prince Harry said. He had just tipped his head to gesture to the young princess sitting across the table from them. “Have you seen her? You can’t really blame him. She is absolutely beautiful,” Prince Harry confessed. 

"D-Do you think they'd make a good pair? Do you think they would be good for each other? Do you think they could find a way to...even love each other?" Prince Sam questioned. He turned his head and looked at his brother with a thoughtful expression on his face. 

“They are not as different as you might think. They probably share some similar interests, thoughts, and ideas." Prince Harry said. "I am sure that—in given time—they might find a way to love each other. I cannot know for sure. We can only hope," Prince Harry added. 

"Hmm," Prince Sam said, humming in agreement. The two princes both leaned back in their chairs again. The two of them had turned their heads and looked across the small stretch of the table, locking their eyes on their older brother. He couldn’t seem to stop looking at her, gazing at her magnificent beauty in the candlelight.

When the young princess looked up, their gazes met for a brief second. In response, Tom quickly turned his head and looked away from the young woman sitting across the table from him. He could feel the blush creeping onto his face, heating his ears until they turned beet red. She had just caught him staring at her. She couldn’t deny that she felt a small blush creep onto her own face as well.

The kings stood to their feet. They placed their napkins onto the top of the table. The two of them had turned to head towards the sitting room. The others would follow behind them, standing to their feet and shifting towards the grand doors.

The young prince had stayed back. He waited for the others to leave the room. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed onto the princess’s forearm, stopping her. She whipped her head around to look at the young prince in question.

“W-Would you care to accompany me?” Prince Thomas wondered. His voice was laced with the strong sense of uncertainty, fearing her reaction. 

“I-I’m not sure,” Princess Y/N confessed. The prince released his grip on her arm. He dropped his hand back down to his side. He nodded his head understandingly, shifting to take a single step backwards so he could give the princess her much-wanted space.

“We are not so different after all. We have a lot in common with each other,” Prince Thomas said. He was trying to reason with her and trying to get on her good side. He didn’t want her thinking badly of him.

“I am sure we do,” Princess Y/N agreed wholeheartedly. 

“I think...that if we spend more time together, we might see eye to eye with each other. We might be able to relate to each other in a way that is no so bad. In time...you may find a way not to despise me so much,” Prince Thomas said.

“I do not despise you. I never had,” the princess claimed. She shook her head in denial. “And I do not hate you either. I believe that you are a good man. I think your intentions are clear. You want what is best for your people. I understand that now. And I do agree with you. Maybe if we spend some time together, we may grow to like each other a little more. In the end, this whole marriage may not be such a bad thing,” she said, shrugging her shoulders slightly.

“And maybe...in given time...you might be willing to learn lo...love me back,” Prince Thomas wondered. His dark brown eyes were sparkling with the strong sense of hopefulness. He could see the small smile growing at the corners of her lips. 

The princess would be willing to give this whole marriage a try. She was willing to try to work this out. She was willing to try and love her future spouse. She was willing to try and make their marriage work. She was willing to try altogether. And that would be enough for the young prince.

“I do really like you,” Prince Thomas confessed.

“You flatter me too much,” the princess said. She was fiddling with her fingers in a nervous manner. She could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. The corners of the prince’s lips tugged into a soft smile as he gazed down at her.

“I am certain that any man would be more than lucky to call you his wife. And I...I-I get to have that privilege. I get to have you all to myself. I get to call you my wife. I get to call you mine,” Prince Thomas said. His eyes were full of love and admiration.

They found themselves leaning closer and closer to each other until their faces were mere inches away from one another’s. The prince’s brown eyes had flickered between the princess’s shining eyes and pink lips. She swallowed the lump in her throat, gazing at the dashing man standing in front of her. Their noses gingerly brushed against one another’s. They breathed a small breath of air, preparing themselves for the next part. Until...

“Come on you two lovebirds. We are going to play cards together,” Prince Harry said. He had stepped into the middle of the hallway. The two royals were quick to pull away from each other. They could feel the heat rising to their cheeks as they turned away from one another. The other prince raised his eyebrows suspiciously. He glanced between the two of them. “Did I interrupt something?”

“No,” the princess blurted out. “No. You didn’t interrupt anything.”

“Alright. Should I deal you two in then,” Prince Harry wondered. He lifted his hand to show them a small stack of cards. The two of them had nodded their heads in response. The young prince had disappeared into the other room, dealing the cards between the separate guests.

The prince turned his head and looked down at the young princess standing at his side. She was quick to catch his line of sight, gazing into the prince’s dashing brown eyes. He lifted his forearm to her, offering it to her. She laced her arm with his. She smiled at him.

“Shall we?” Prince Thomas asked with a small smile on his face. He sent her a playful wink. She pushed her lips into her mouth, hiding the evident smile on her face. She nodded her head in agreement.

“We shall.”

The Royal Family | Chapter One

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: mentions of war and mentions of arranged marriage

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The palace was an old country mansion that had been extended over the centuries. It now had four sides around a central quadrangle and over five hundred rooms. It took a small army of servants to upkeep such a large abode and indeed most of the rooms were never really used. 

The early hours of the morning were spreading the colors of the sunrise against the skyline. The clouds were tinted with a light pinkish and orangish glow, painting the most magnificent sight known to man. The early risen choir of birds were singing to themselves in a little chipper manner. 

A young princess was currently sitting on the perch of her window. She was looking towards the gardens, spotting the small buds starting to sprout on some of the bushes. She liked to wake up early so she could watch the sunrise every morning. 

She was still dressed in her white nightgown. Her nightgown was the beautiful color of pristine white. The soft and silky fabric trailed down the short stretch of her body to gather near her ankles. The layers of lace were stitched around the edge. The silky sleeves of the nightgown were trailing down to the end of her wrist, bunching into these tight cuffs around her wrists. The lace collar was also stitched to the hemline of the white nightgown. And a single ribbon was hanging down from the center of her chest, which dropped down the length of the gown.

This morning should have been no different than any other morning. The princess had stood to her feet, heading towards the other side of her bedroom. She pulled a long line of fabric that trailed to the ceiling. It acted as a lever that would be pulled to call for service from downstairs. She called for her lady’s maid.

Within a few moments, Elsie (the lady’s maid) had come into the princess’s bedroom with a towel draped over her forearm. She closed the solid wood mahogany behind her, bowing in respect. 

“Good morning, Your Highness.” Elsie said with a soft smile. She was quick to move towards the princess’s white vanity, laying the neatly folded towel beside the porcelain basin of cold water. 

“Good morning, Elsie.” The princess did not hesitate to walk back towards the window. She lifted her hand to brush the silky white curtains away, smiling at the beautiful sight in front of her. Her lady’s maid usually found her in the same spot every morning. 

“It is a beautiful day outside, is it not?” Elsie wondered. She had gone to the mahogany wardrobe in the background, fetching the light blue dress that she would wear for the day. She opened the doors of the wardrobe, pulling out the new dress amongst the various other ones. 

“It is indeed,”the princess agreed. She could only imagine the feel of the wind kissing her skin. She loved to spend her time walking through the gardens, admiring the nature around her. It didn’t take much convincing for her. “I think I would like to walk the gardens later,” the princess claimed.

“Of course, Your Highness. I’ll see to it,” Elsie promised. She had gently urged the young princess away from the window, so that she might be able to dress her for the day. 

The young princess was able to slip out of her white nightgown, watching the soft material tumble to the ground. She was fitted into her corset, which only seemed to grow tighter every time she wore it. She threw the crinoline over her head, waiting for her lady’s maid to tie the ribbons around her waist. She was quick to glance towards the powder blue dress that was laying out for her. It was the final touch.

In the end, the princess looked at her own reflection in the shiny glass mirror. She gave a short twirl to admire her new dress. The powder blue dress sleeves were quite puffy. They only dropped down to her forearms, leaving her shoulders cold and bare. There were white and silver stitches of roses on the skirt of the dress. And a long blue ribbon was wrapped around her waist.

Now the princess had lowered herself into the chair by the white vanity. She didn’t mind her lady’s maid brushing the hard knots out of her hair. She was used to it by now. Instead, the princess was looking through her small boxes of jewelry to find the perfect necklace and earrings to complete her outfit for the day. She would settle on some priceless diamonds.

At the given moment, one of the hall boys had knocked on the princess’s bedroom door. The heavy door had opened at a very slow pace. The hall boy had poked his head into the room, drawing the attention of the princess. 

“Your Highness,” the hall boy said. He was quick to step into the grand bedroom, bowing to her in the utmost form of respect. He was here to deliver a message. “The king is requesting your presence in the throne room,” the hall boy explained.

“Well, I shouldn’t keep the king waiting. I will be there soon,” the princess dismissed him. The hall boy had scurried out of the room so that he could deliver his message to the king himself. He had almost forgotten to bow his head before leaving the princess’s presence.

She quickly stood to her feet. She draped her hands down the long length of her brand new dress, smoothing out the invisible wrinkles. She headed towards the large mahogany door in the background, leaving her bedroom that was secured by two palace guards. She barely even noticed them bowing their heads at her.

The Eastern Princess had known the whole layout of the palace like the back of her hand. She had started to maneuver her way through the various corridors in the palace. She would smile at each of the servants that she passed along the way, though not many of them would catch it because their heads were bowed. She quickly hurried down the long length of the corridor, heading straight towards the throne room. 

The heavy doors of the throne were opened to the princess by the two palace guards. The throne room was an impressive setting for the king to preside 'in majesty' over official ceremonies, to hold council, to grant audiences, to receive homage, to award high honors and offices, and to perform other official functions. It was probably one of the most popular room in the palace.

The long pillars that stretched to the ceiling were made out of pure gold. The ceiling was a dome, decorated with very precise golden details. The line of chandeliers were sparkling in the morning light coming through the bay windows. The white marble floors were practically glistening because they had been scrubbed to perfection the night before. The king’s throne sat at the very end of the room.

The current monarch was definitely living in his last days. He was the most kind and gentle king that the kingdom had grown to know over the years. He was able to be attended to by the various servants in the palace. He also had many health complications, but he refused to make that announcement public to the press in fear that the word might travel. He was very wise in that sense.

The king was perched on the grand golden throne at the end of the hallway. His crown was placed on his head, which he never really wore unless there was someone coming to the palace. He had long white hair and a long beard on his face. His light blue eyes were shining. He smiled down at his only daughter.

“You called for me?” Y/N claimed. She was quick to approach his throne, crouching down to reside by his feet. This was something that she had always done as a child. She looked up at him with warm and gentle eyes. 

“Yes. I wanted to talk to you about something,” the king admitted. He was already dreading having this talk with his daughter. He never talked to her about the things going on in the kingdom. He felt that it would only worry her more. He also did not like to talk business with her, because it was a burden that she didn’t need to bare. 

“Alright,” the princess urged him.

“Many months ago, the King of the North had contacted me with a business proposition that would benefit the both of us.” The king began.“He feared that (with his passing) the Western Kingdom would try to overthrow the Northern Kingdom. I will admit that I have also had these kinds of thoughts in regards to my own kingdom. It is the worst case in my scenario because (unlike him) I do not have an heir who can inherit the title of king,” he further explained.

“You only have me,” the princess said. Her choice of words had come out in a very sad way. She could feel a rough pinch at her heart, because she was constantly reminded of her low position in society. She was ‘just a woman’ whose only purpose in life was to be married to some prince and bare his children. She would never amount to anything in this day and age.

“The king proposes that we should conjoin our two kingdoms together with a special treaty. That way we might be able to stand a chance against the westerners,” the king concluded.

“How would you conjoin the kingdoms though?” The princess wondered. She had furrowed her eyebrows together in thought. She was leaning forward in her place, growing more eager to hear his business proposition. She could only imagine what kind of treaty he would come up with.

“Well, the king has a son.” The king spoke in such a suggestive tone of voice. He had tried to make it look like he didn’t have the whole thing planned out in his mind. Like the idea had just popped into his head at that specific moment.

“Oh father,” Princess Y/N sighed to herself. She rolled her eyes at him. She was quick to stand to her feet again. She had turned her back to him, climbing back down the short steps. She wasn’t very amused with his comment. “Please don’t try to marry me off to some snobbish schoolboy prince,” she pleaded.

“He is not a snobbish prince. He is a highly respectable and honorable young man,” the king scoffed. He was trying to reason with his stubborn daughter. He pulled out one of his other cards. “I have even met him before. I think that he would be good for you,” the king claimed.

“You have said that before,” the princess called. This was not the first time that the king had tried to marry her off to some prince. She had played the game ‘match-maker’ far too many times to count. She was honestly tired of it now. “And I have told you before that I want to marry for love,” the princess demanded.

“You could learn to love him,” the king proposed. He had almost winced at his own choice of words, fearing her reaction. He was still trying to reason with her, mentally hoping that she would just cave in at some point.

“I highly doubt that,” the princess laughed. She had turned her head to look over the small stretch of her shoulder, shaking her head in denial. She just couldn’t bare the thought of being married off to some random stranger. 

“Well, you will have plenty of time to think it over because I have invited them to stay at the palace for a couple weeks,” the king concluded. He had forced himself to stand to his feet, leaving his gold throne behind him. He looked down at his daughter with a triumphant smile on his face.

“What?!” Y/N exclaimed. She had whirled around to face him. She was looking up at him with the look of horror on her face. Her mouth had dropped open at his words. She couldn’t believe it.

“They will be coming later this afternoon,” the king remarked. He had started to walk down the short steps leading up to his throne, stopping to stand in front of his lovely daughter. He tapped her chin gentle. “Do try to be civil, my dear,” the king pleaded with her.

“Fine,” the princess sighed to herself. “I will try,” the princess promised.

Within a few hours, a beautiful golden carriage was being drawn by four white horses towards the frontside of the king’s palace. The large carriage had come to a full stop in front of the palace staircase leading to the front door. The carriage doors were opened by two palace guards on the sidelines.

The King of the North had climbed out of the golden carriage with ease. He turned his head to look over his shoulder, watching his two twin boys climbing out behind him. His eldest was the last one to clamber out of the carriage. He had shifted to stand beside his father, directing his line of focus towards the magnificent palace in front of them.

The four of them were being escorted through the various corridors of the palace. The king was leading the way. The princes were following behind him, but they were greatly intrigued by the intricate detail engraved into the gold pillars that stretched down the corridor. They knew that this kingdom was well known for their gold, but they did not realize how much of it was incorporated into very single aspect of the palace.

The two palace guards were quick to grab onto the door handles leading into the throne room, opening the two doors for them to enter. The four northerners had started walking towards the large throne at the end of the hallway, stopping to stand in front of the king. The four of them bowed in respect.

“Welcome to the Eastern Kingdom,” the King of the East said. He nodded to them in acknowledgment. He had raised his hands in greeting, gesturing to the great halls around him. He wore a grand smile on his face. 

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” The King of the North spoke. He was slow to lift his head up to look towards the other king in front of him. He hadn’t seen the other king in quite some time. His lips had grown into a friendly smile on his face. “It was very kind of you to invite me and my boys to stay here for a few weeks,” the North King said.

The two kings had started to engage in short conversation. The two younger princes were standing beside each other. They had turned their heads to look towards the young princess standing in their company. The older prince could feel a sharp nudge in his side coming from one of his brothers. He could see his brother gesturing towards someone standing in front of them. 

Slowly, Prince Thomas had turned his head to follow his brother’s line of sight. He found himself gazing at the young princess standing on the side of the throne, feeling his breath getting caught in his throat at the mere sight of her. He had never seen anyone more beautiful in his entire life. He felt that, if she smiled at him, he might just dissolve into dust right there. He wanted her to smile...at him.

On the sidelines, the princess had turned her head to look at the three princes standing beside their father. She had caught one of them looking directly at her. She had just briefly glanced at their matching navy blue and silver uniforms. She was also able to notice that the three princes were much younger than she would have thought for most of the princes that she had met before were much older than her. She would admit that she found them quite handsome.

“Are these your boys?” The King of the East wondered. He found himself looking towards the three princes standing in front of him, gesturing to them with his hand. He took a second to inspect each of them, but he was able to identify the one prince that he had met one other time.

“Yes, they are. These are my three eldest children. This is Sam and Harry,” the king said with a nod of the head. He was quick to turn towards his three boys, so that he could introduce them to the king. He motioned towards each of them with the slight move of the hand. “And this one is my eldest whom you have met—Thomas,” the king concluded.

“It is a pleasure to meet you again,” the Eastern King said. He could barely contain the smile from growing on his face. He knew that it had been a few years since he had seen the prince last. But he had seen him grow into a very handsome young man.

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Prince Thomas complimented him. He had bowed his head down once again to show some more respect to the king. He looked up at the king with a timid look on his face, mentally hoping that he would gain his favor.

“May I present to you my only daughter?” The King of the East proposed in such a suggestive tone. He had glanced down at his daughter standing at the lower level of steps leading up to the throne. He waved his hand to gesture towards her. 

Of course, the King of the North and the King of the East had known in advance that the prince and princess were going to be the sole members of the treaty between their countries. The two kings had turned their heads to look at each other with slight amusement written on their faces. They smirked in an all-knowing manner.

Now the prince and princess had also been informed about this treaty between their countries. They had been told that they would be married to each other, so that their kingdoms might be able to stand a chance against their enemies. It was only natural for them to blush at the king’s suggestive comment.

Slowly, Prince Thomas had found himself walking towards the young princess standing in front of him. He could see that (with each step he took) he was able to admire some of the more delicate details of her face. He watched her raise her hand towards him. 

“Your Highness. It’s an honor to finally meet you,” Prince Thomas confessed. He was careful to bring her hand towards his face, pressing the most delicate kiss onto the back of her hand. He lifted his head to look up at her, feeling the smile growing on his face. “You truly are the most beautiful princess in the land,” Prince Thomas complimented.

The young princess had almost grown tense under his stare. Her breath had caught in the back of her throat, so she was unable to form any words. She felt this tingly sensation on the back of her hand where his lips had touched her soft skin. Her cheeks had started to grow pink and rosy at his words. 

“My dear,” the king of the east called to her. He had tried to pull her back to reality. He could already acknowledge that she was probably caught up in her own thoughts right then and there. “Why don't you show the young princes to their rooms? They can get some rest before dinner,” the king suggested. 

“Oh yes,” the princess said in a cheery tone of voice. She was hesitant to pull her hand out of the prince’s. She didn’t turn her head to even acknowledge the king’s command. She was too caught up in the prince’s strong stare. “I will take them there,” the princess concluded. 

The Northern Prince had never heard anything more beautiful than the words that came out of her mouth. He didn’t even notice that his hand was back at his side. He didn’t even want to draw his eyes away from her. His heart started to flutter wildly in his chest upon seeing the kindest and warmest gesture in the world. She had smiled at him.

The Royal Family | Prolouge

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: mentions of war

Pairing: Tom Holland x Reader

Type: The Royal Family Series

MASTERLIST

The country was divided into four separate kingdoms, whose names were correlated with the four cardinal directions. 

The Northern Kingdom had the most desirable and admirable land out of all the kingdoms. The location was prime. There were a series of mountains that stretched across the western part of the kingdom, which was a good defense mechanism against the notorious barbaric westerners. There were three major rivers that streamed through the land, providing cool and rich soil for the farmers in the area. 

The northerners were able to trade with the other kingdoms, specifically the Eastern and Southern Kingdoms. They liked to trade wheat and silk with the easterners. They would trade wood, leather, and spices to the kingdom in the south. They didn’t really trade with the westerners, but if they did, they would mainly trade them fish and rich furs. 

The Northern Kingdom also had an excellent military force. The Northern Army could possibly match the Western Army. There were thousands of soldiers guarding the border in the west. There were plenty of soldiers stationed at the palace, who were ordered to protect the current monarch. The rest of the soldiers were situated in the various towns, whose duty was to protect the ones who couldn’t protect themselves. 

The King of the North was a strict and stern business man. He was known for trading goods and services to the lesser kingdoms in his general vicinity, in exchange for portions of their land. He was liked by his people. He also had four sons of his own. He would later pass the mantle to his eldest son, but he didn’t know if he was really ready for the task and duty of becoming king. The Northern Kingdom was currently living in the golden age of its time.

The Southern Kingdom was mostly known as the fishing industry. They were the only kingdom that was connected to a large body of water. They didn’t have very good soil for planting or farming. Instead, the southerners would send ships to other kingdoms so that they might be able to trade with them. 

The King of the South wasn’t the most ideal monarch. He would rather spend his days drinking and gambling instead of helping his kingdom flourish through trade. He had many illegitimate children with various women, none of which would receive the title of ‘king.’ 

His advisors had greatly urged him to marry someone of status and wealth. He had taken their advise, settling down to marry a nasty woman just like him. Nevertheless, the Southern Kingdom was a decent place to live for most people. They did have a lot going for them.

The Eastern Kingdom was the most elegant and respectable kingdom out of all of them. The people were very smart and classic. The land had simply been an open country. The palace had architecture like no other in the district. The reigning monarch some three centuries earlier had shipped in an architect from an overseas district. 

The palace was decorated with pure gold and white marble. The floors were made out of marble. The stair rails were ornate mahogany, carved and polished so that it shined. The family portraits were painted in oils and hung in gold frames. The furniture was all handmade by master craftsmen in the local village. The air was scented with fresh flowers every day of the year. The food was always perfect and served precisely on time. Each room was just as big as the next. And the rooms came equipped with an intercom system to call for service.

The Eastern Kingdom was very rich. There were a bunch of mountains behind them, which were mined on a daily basis. They would find solid diamonds and heavy lumps of gold. Most of the gold would be expertly fashioned into lightweight armor for the soldiers. They traded their goods specifically with the northerners, who found their diamonds very desirable. They would exchange their goods for silk.

The only downside of this kingdom could be found with the current monarch. The King of the East was a warm and gentle older man. His dear wife had passed away nearly eighteen years ago. He was left to raise his only daughter. She would become the very first female monarch in her kingdom. This was easily translated as a ‘weak point’ that could ultimately result in a takeover for the throne. The overthrow of the monarch meant that the land and the trade would be lost, granting full power to the kingdom that took over. 

There were rumors and whispers that the Western Kingdom would be the one to ultimately take over the Eastern Kingdom. It was only a matter of time until the king was pronounced ‘dead.’ They would strike at the earliest convenience. 

The Western Kingdom was known to be despised by all the other ones. The palace happened to be surrounded by an entire series of mountains. This made their land practically impossible to get to, whether that be for an attack or for trade. They were very protected. They were also able to harvest solid iron and silver to make suits of armor. They were growing in power and size. 

The King of the West was a notoriously barbaric man. He was also greedy and selfish. He only ever sought out one thing in life, which was to reap war on the other kingdoms. He would be able to accomplish this very soon because his numbers were growing in the mountains. He was training his soldiers for battle, ordering new styles of armor to be made, and gathering his forces for a march. He wanted nothing more than to become the first king to govern the four lands. He would stop at nothing to accomplish that either.

Until one day, the King of the North would contact the King of the East with a business proposition that would prove to be beneficial to the both of them. They would conjoin their countries by arranging a marriage between their eldest children. There would be unity between them. That way, the two kingdoms could join together to defeat the harboring kingdom in the west. At this point, they didn’t really have any other option.

The Royal Family | Masterlist

Summary: When two royal family’s decide to conjoin their countries, they arrange a marriage between their eldest children. Once the two royals meet, it takes a lot of convincing before they are ready to begin their reign together...

Warning: arranged marriage, mentions of war, swearing, fluff, angst, and smut*

Prolouge

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven*

Chapter Eight*

Chapter Nine*

Chapter Ten*

Epilogue

Deleted Scenes Coming Soon (upon request)