"Tradition must be upheld at any cost," the queen said, speaking for the first time. "But really, now. The boy resembles Satan."

"Luitgard, where are your manners!"

"Look at his eyes and tell me I'm wrong." Her tone was laced with disgust.

"This is the boy who saved our beloved daughter's life, shouldn't you show him a bit more gratitude?"

"Yes, I am grateful for his actions. Especially because our foolish daughter should not have taken a detour home without our blessing." She paused to glare at Cynthia who turned her face sheepishly. "However, just look at him. Even without his horrible eyes, the boy is skinny as a rail, wears a collar like that of an untrained mutt, and has effeminate hair and stature. Is this truly the boy your want to entrust our daughter to?"

What a lovely woman.

"I understand your concerns," the king said. "But this boy has already proven his worth, and it is settled law."

"An unfortunate truth," the queen agreed.

"Is anyone going to ask what I think?" I cried in a fashion more agitated than one would likely recommend.

"Come again?" asked the king.

I pointed at the princess and said, "what about her? She clearly doesn't want this, and neither do I!"

Cynthia flashed a look of surprise at me but nodded vigorously in agreement. "That law makes no sense anymore! We're in a time of peace, father. Why would you enforce it?"

"Besides," I added. "I also pulled her driver out of that wreck, are you gonna make me marry that guy too?!"

"Silence, both of you!" the king yelled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Helena, bring the rings at once."

"Yes, your Majesty!"

Cynthia and I traded terrified glances as the woman rushed across the room to retrieve a small, black box. She first scurried back to the center of the room and placed a ring in my hand, then made her way up the stairs and placed another ring in Cynthia's palm.

"Bring Shinsuke up here," the king ordered. Helena obliged and positioned me before Cynthia. "Now, place the rings on each other's fingers."

"But—"

"Now!"

At the risk of drawing the king's ire even further, I took Cynthia's hand in mine and slipped the silver ring onto her finger. She took my hand in hers and did the same.

"Good," the king said. "Now, it's been quite a long evening for all of us. The two of you are exhausted and not thinking clearly. Shinsuke, a room has been prepared for you, Helena will take you to it. Cynthia, let the servants take you to your room and get some sleep. Tomorrow, the two of you will have breakfast in the garden and get to know one another."

Yes, after we have been forced into engagement, we will get to know each other. Makes perfect sense.

"Come on, this way," Helena said, guiding me out of the throne room.

In the most handsy way possible, of course, I was ushered through the halls and into a spacious bedroom with a giant bed and regal decoration everywhere the eye could see. My phone was going crazy in my pocket again, but when I tried to retrieve it, Helena snatched if from my grasp.

"No phone until the king gives his blessing."

Oh.

She pointed out the pajamas in my size neatly folded on the large bed's fluffy, plentiful blankets and stepped out of the room. With no other choice, I took off my clothes and slipped into the pajamas. They were cozy, but they weren't mine.

Fatigue, both mental and physical, rapidly set in. I was already tired back at home, but adrenaline had entered my veins multiple times throughout the night, and it was taking its toll. The forced, unpleasant social interactions and space invasion didn't help either.

I crawled into the unbelievably comfortable bed and held my hand up above my face, examining the engagement ring that had been forced upon my finger.

"I'm so screwed," I whined through a yawn.

As I drifted into the darkness of my eyelids, I thought of those innocent days of nursing a pudding cup, wrapped in warm blankets. How could they feel so far away when they were there just hours ago? Somehow, I was closer to having breakfast with a princess than I was to my ideal life, and that fact made me pray for death to take me before I could open my eyes ever again.

***

Thank you for reading chapter 2! Please consider supporting me if you'd like more great art to accompany this novel! If you enjoyed, please like and comment and I will see you in chapter 3!