Vellen was adopted from the orphanage when he had reached five summers. Not into a family, no, into the royal palace, by a nanny rather than a mother. He and two others were encouraged to play with prince Tennet. They followed most of the same classes, enjoyed running out in the fields, constructed forts out of branches and leaves. Eventually, the two other children grew apart from Vellen and Tennet - they were still friends, but didn’t go out of their way to spend time with the prince. They grew to be there for each other in hard times, to hold each others hand for safety.

It was when the prince had turned 10 summers old that he was told that he would have to marry advantageously, for the sake of the city-state. For a long time, he didn’t mention it, favoring playing games and training with Vellen.

“They are like brothers!” the whispers ran. “What precious friends!” 

Something about those whispers bothered Vellen, but he couldn’t quite say why, until a year or so later, when he started noticing the prince a little differently. Suddenly, his presence made him both happier and more nervous. Training together made their contact feel like both too much and not enough. The odd feelings lasted a month, another. 

Their peers started giggling about other people. Some started calling the prince ‘cute’, others dared each other to kiss a girl, to invite a boy to dance, to ask a person on an outing.

Yet, both Vellen and Tennet stepped away from such games. It was too much, others didn’t intrigue them. Until a young visiting princess did a favor for the prince, and demanded a kiss. Feeling cornered, the prince ran out to the fields, Vellen not far behind.

That summer evening, they sat together in their fort made of branches. Over the years, the fort had elaborated into something quite comfortable. They held hands, away from the view of onlookers, as they had over and over since they were young, refusing to acknowledge their recent understanding of how it could mean something more than friendship. They leaned against each other, wordless. 

“I don’t want them to force me into a kiss. I don’t want to get married for duty.” 

“It’s just games, I think.” Vellen tried to reassure him. “For now, at least. They won’t make you get married until you’re an adult.” 

“Maybe I can choose who I want to get married to.” 

“Maybe, if it helps the kingdom.” 

“I wish you could help the kingdom…” 

Vellen stayed silent for a moment. “Why do you think the others make such a big deal about kissing?” 

“They want to grow up too quickly,” Tennet said. “Just as they try to make me already make decisions my father would normally take. But I suppose something about kisses must be good, if they keep bringing it up.”

“I mean, we can try?” 

“You and me?” 

“Just to see.” 

The crown prince leaned his forehead against his friends’, nervous, hesitant, as their noses brushed together. “You do it.”

“Are you sure?” 

“Yes.” 

“Okay.” 

Vellen unceremoniously pressed his lips to those of his friend, letting them rest there for a moment. After pulling back, his dusty rose eyes met the princes’ green ones, before they both leaned in to exchange another simple kiss, another, another, each one making them smile more. 

“I suppose people are right about it being nice,” the prince whispered, making Vellen laugh. 

“GUYS I WAS RIGHT!” they heard the voice of one of their peers outside of the fort. “PRINCE TENNET LOVES VELLEN, PRINCE TENNET LOVES VELLEN!” she sang out. 

The prince crawled out of the fort. “Would you shut up?!” 

“Nah, I don’t think I will!” 

“I don’t love Vellen!” 

“Your cheeks are all red, you’re so in loveeee!” the girl teased them, and started running towards the palace. The boys ran after her, worried about who she would tell. Too soon, she found the king, with his wife in the garden. 

“Sir, sir!” 

“What is it, Yvvie?” 

“Prince Tennet kissed Vellen!.” 

The conversation that followed about duty was harrowing. It was okay for him to explore, the queen said, but he couldn’t forget about his duty this, his duty that. 

“It was nothing, we just wanted to see what it was like.” 

After that, they didn’t let themselves get too close. Soon enough, the kiss was forgotten, by all but the prince and the boy who grew to be his knight. They kept glances to a minimum, and only stole the lightest smiles and touches when they knew they were far from anyone else. Years passed as curiosity grew into a deeper affection that neither could act upon. 

On his 18th birthday, the prince allowed himself a dance with his knight. It was fairly traditional to do so, anyway. Vellen accompanied the prince during a break from the festivities, getting fresh air on a balcony. 

“I have one last wish for this day,” the prince whispered. “I simply do not know how to ask it.” 

“Do you want me to do it?” 

“Yes.” 

“Okay.” 

They had grown, since their last kiss, when they were children hiding in the field. They had experienced more, with other people, though nothing compared to the way they melted against each other’s kiss, as though they had never been told that duty had to come first, as if they never had to hide their affections. In that moment, their duty was to each other, and nothing less. 

It was perfect. 

Vellen let himself lean against Tennet, held him, let himself be held so tightly, he wondered how he’d have the strength to step away, back into hiding. They were finally holding each other, finally indulging in just a sliver of time where they could do what they had grown to crave over the years. 

“Maybe I do love you…”

“... Happy birthday, Ten.” 

“Hey, has anyone seen the prince?” they heard, just outside the room they were on the balcony of. The pair let go of each other, Tennet only staying long enough to take Vellen’s hand and place a light kiss on his knuckles. He slipped back into the room, closing balcony doors behind him, and left the room. 

“I simply needed a moment on my own, I was feeling faint.” 

“Oh! Your grace, are you alright?” 

“I feel better, thank you. Simply needed a little bit of a reset.” 

“Wonderful, new guests have arrived with gifts, you have some greetings to do.” 

“Of course, thank you.” 

Vellen took a moment after they left to re-compose himself, before rejoining the festivities. 

He stood guard while his prince danced with suitors through the night, his smile never quite reaching his eyes.