@amantesmultorum sent: ❛ i want you to stay. ❜

— ❛❛ // 𝙻𝙰𝚈 𝙳𝙾𝚆𝙽 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝚁 𝚆𝙴𝙰𝙿𝙾𝙽.

Reaching out to cradle her cheek in his hand, Edward looked down at Christine. A tender smile pulled his lips slightly upward, and his fingertips danced softly across her skin.

Laughing brightly as she rounded the corner, arm in arm with her company, the queen gasped. "There you are! I've been looking everywhere for you!" Ella chided, gesturing the man closer.

"Your Majesty." He beamed.

"Oh, stop that." She chuckled, rolling her eyes at his teasing. "This is my brother! Kit's just made him a Duke, and he's to be the head of trade and commerce for the whole kingdom. Edward, say hello to our guest. We were just talking about you."

@amantesmultorum sent: “  stop doing that— stop trying to hide your emotions from me.  ”

memes for that specific brand of ships

Sighing heavily, Edward turned his gaze over to the princess. But his garbled mind couldn't make sense of anything. It was all going too fast. Too much too soon...

He was still in mourning, but like his brother in law before him, Edward was being pressured to find a bride. And he couldn't even blame the advisors urging him. After all, Kit had married. He and Ella had had all the promise in the world before them. But they were snatched away, right when their happy ending was just beginning. They hadn't even had the chance to have a child yet. Edward couldn't repeat that. It would be certain disaster for Sark.

For the security of the kingdom, and to ensure that a ruler would be ready should something happen to him, he had to marry and have an heir as soon as possible. Edward knew that. Just because he understood the practicality of it, though, didn't meant he fully agreed.

It felt so wrong. A marriage of convenience, or of love... what did it matter? How could he think about starting a family when all of his was gone? How could he get married and have a baby when his beloved baby sister hadn't had the chance to really see her life grow and sweeten? How could he treat another person like a brood mare? How could he think of making that vow when he was so shattered and hollow? It would be condemning his wife to an eternity beside a shell of a man. It wasn't fair. Not to him, and not to her.

And still, Bryony had been the first one to bring even a hint of fresh air and light into his darkness. Spending time with her had made him feel almost human again. She was a wonderful girl; kind, creative, and compassionate. The kind of woman that Ella would have approved of. The kind of woman that, under different circumstances, he might have been able to imagine a future with. So, how could he ask her to sacrifice everything she dreamt of and wanted for herself, just to bring a level of safety to his people? When he wasn't even sure if he could ever feel happiness again with Ella gone?

The Grand Duke had pleaded for time. And the court had granted it. Everyone was grieving the deaths of Kit and Ella, and they all knew that none felt it more deeply than the Duke turned King. But time was running out, and he could feel it. Edward had a choice to make.

"I've been urged to ask your hand in marriage." He finally answered. "And, if the way we met had been different, I would have in a heartbeat. But... Princess, it would be a disservice in the highest manner to ask you to leave your parents, your homeland, and your dreams behind for a broken man who doesn't know if his heart will ever mend... Let alone feel again. Please, don't think that I haven't enjoyed your company. Because I have. It's... It's been the lightest I've felt since before my sister and her husband died. It's the first time I've almost wanted to smile, to laugh. But I can't take your future from you. You deserve all the best the world can offer. You deserve a prince, a real king. Not a last resort like me."

❝  I  am  fine.  ❞  Covering  her  hands  with  hers,  Ella’s  eyes  gleam,  a  tear  running  down  her  face  even  as  a  smile  crosses  her  lips.  They  were  too  much  alike,  at  times.  This  conversation  could  last  forever,  each  one  of  them  presenting  arguments  as  to  why  the  other  one  should  use  the  money.    ❝  As  a  lady,  I  have  been  told  I  should  not  protest  too  much,  ❞  may  the  bard  forgive  her  for  twisting  his  words,    ❝  why  don’t  we  make  a  deal?❞

Taking  a  step  back,  she  once  again  points  to  his  chest.    ❝  Father’s  old  waist-coasts  are  terribly  out  of  fashion  and  I  have  no  time  to  adjust  them  for  you.  You  will  buy  a  new  one,  and  if  I  need  new  fabric  to  help  me  makeover  the  dress  —  and  I  insist  on  wearing  mother’s  old  one  —  I  will  buy  it.❞

Despite the retort flying to his lips both about how it was his duty as a man to provide for her, and there were certain 'ladies' who seemed to find no joy unless they were protesting something, Edward merely sighed and put his arms behind his back. He shook his head and chuckled slightly.

"I know defeat when I see it, and clearly, there is no talking you out of it once your mind is set on something, little sister." Edward replied in a teasing tone, but bowed his head all the same. "Your wit, and my inability to tell you no, triumph again."

Making his way to the throne room, Edward tried his hardest to keep everything at bay. Things, as nearly everyone in the palace told him, had to carry on. Even though his world was shattered and permanently gaping, the kingdom still needed looking after.

He still couldn't understand why Kit had named him heir. Being made a Duke was hard enough. But king?! He was only a merchant! How was he to run a kingdom? How could he be expected to protect all these people when he hadn't been able to protect his own sister?

No. He couldn't think of Ella. Not now, not without breaking down...

"Your Majesty." A deep voice called out as he stepped into the room.

"Forgive me." Edward stammered, rubbing his lips together. "Um, my meeting ran a little late. Preparing for the ball, you know..."

"Of course." The Grand Duke smiled gently. Edward had always liked him, and now he could see why his late sister and brother-in-law had trusted him so.

"If I may, sire," The other man continued, gesturing next to him. "King Frederic, Queen Arianna, and Princess Bryony of Corona. This is King-"

"Please... Just Edward." The young man practically begged, holding up a hand for a moment.