In the morning, I was awakened by my caretaker since birth. Her name was Kanaya. She was the kindest one to me in the palace.She took care of me when mother died. I noticed she had taken the scarf while I was sleeping and cleaned it up.

"I saw the Prince from the visiting family go out and get it as soon as you all finished dinner.." She spoke quietly as she began to dress me.

"Yeah.. He gavve it to me last night before bed. Thanks for wwashing it up.."

"It was no trouble at all." She smiled.
"You realize what's happening, don't you?"

"WWhat do you mean?"

She sighed and let out a small giggle. "Your eighteenth birthday. You are next in line now to take your father's place as King of the North. He's growing older... But, You must marry."

"Marriage?!"

She nodded, "Another reason why the family of the East is here. Your father told me to let you know that you are betrothed."

"You... You can't be serious.."

She stood up after dressing me, "I don't know much other than that, but you will be alright."

"But- I don't evven like any of them in a romantic wway! WWell.. Feferi.. She's cute but- and there's no wway I could like that boy!"

She chuckled. "You never know Eridan. You know I actually fell in love with a girl once.." She looked off to the side a little. "I thought I never would.. But it happened.. They're here until your birthday so you can get to know them better and personally. Maybe they might spark an interest.."

"Howw long havve I been betrothed?"
"Since your mother passed.."

I looked down and stared at the floor. She kissed my forehead, "Do not worry, things will be alright. Trust me.." She smiled and left the room quietly.

I'm... Betrothed?! Oh my god, why?!

Is it Feferi or Sollux? Most likely Feferi. Would my father even allow a same gendered marriage? But.. He was more accepting of many things when mother was here.. What if she made the whole betrothed thing?! Who am I betrothed to?!

I took a deep breath and walked out of my room, only to be knocked down to the floor.

"Ah!" I hit the ground with a large thud, with something heavy on top of me.

I looked up and saw Sollux.

"WWhat the- Get off of me!"

"Sorry!" He quickly got off me and I sat up.

"WWhat the hell are you doin'?"

"I'm sorry, I was chasing FF because she took something of mine!" He looked down the hall that Feferi was running down with something yellow in her hands.

"WWhat is it?"

"That's none of your business!"
"WWell I wwanna knoww!"

He shook his head and stood up, chasing after her, "Feferi! Please! Give it back!"

I watched him and her run off down the hall. Groaning, I stood up, dusting myself off.

"My prince, are you alright..?" I heard a voice ask me.

I turned and saw one of the Knights walking up to me, "Y-Yes.. Thank you.. I just got knocked dowwn. May I ask wwhat you're doing?" I asked the male with red eyes. They've never truly bothered me.

"Your father has requested me to see him at once. Something to do with your coming of age..?"
"Oh, carry on then David." I nodded to him.

He smiled at the use of his name and walked down the hall.I decided to go horseback riding after breakfast for the day, just to relax.Maybe I could go out into the town and explore? I haven't been outside the castle walls in a while..I quickly headed out to where the horses are kept, seeing the stable manager feed one of the horses a sugar cube.

"Hello, Equius." I smiled politely at him.

He looked to me and bowed, "H-Hello, your majesty. What brings you here?" He asked as I walked over to my horse.

"Just goin' out for a small ride."

"But shouldn't you be inside? Getting ready for your party? It's only a few days away.. Plus.. You really shouldn't go out without a watcher to look after you."
"I'm turning eighteen Eq, not eight." I got up on my white horse. "By the wway, wwhere is your sister? Isn't she alwways wwith you?"

"Nepeta went into town to get some more food for the farm animals and horses.. She'll be back soon." He used a small rag to wipe his forehead of sweat.

"Alright then, maybe I'll see her. I'm off!" I grinned and rode off with my horse.Hopefully, I don't get in trouble for riding off without supervision.

I smiled as I felt the wind against me, loving the small feel of freedom. I slowed down when I came near the village. I looked around and saw all the townsfolk walking around, minding their own business. Small businesses were trying to get customers, yelling out offers and deals. I looked to my side and saw a girl and boy get kicked out of a bakery, literally.

"That's the last time any of you step foot in here! That's the tenth time you've two made a mess, burnt the baked goods and bread!" A man yelled at them from the door.

"B-But you can't kick us out! We'll be living on the streets!" The boy cried.

"We don't have any money!" The girl cried, standing up from the floor.

"You could have had some if you two did your job properly! Now away you two!" The man slammed the door, leaving the two outside.

I felt bad for the two, so I got off my horse and walked up to them.

"Are you alright?" I asked quietly.

They both looked and saw me, quickly bowing.

"Y-Your majesty!" The boy shook.

I smiled a little and got out my small pouch of coins, I gave them some. "Here, you need this."

"O-Oh no! We couldn't possibly take that from you, your highness! We can manage on our own." The girl said, fixing the skirt of her dress.

"Wwhat do you call yourselvves?"

"I'm John, this is my sister Jane." The boy said, introducing themselves.

"WWell, howw about-"

"Look out!" I heard a shout from behind me, turning around to see a large man coming towards me with a knife.

Before I could react, the man was tackled to the floor by someone.
"S-Sollux?! WWhat are you doin' here?!" I asked.

"I saw you leave! You're crazy for going out on your own!"

He held the man down as I saw Knight David ride up on horseback with his partner Karkat, both high in their ranks. They quickly ran over to us.

"Are you alright your highness?" Dave asked as Karkat ran to the man, arresting him.

"Y-Yes I'm fine.." I looked down. "I'm sorry for causin' all this trouble.."

"You should be!" I heard Sollux yell, which made me look up. "You could have died! It's not safe to be roaming around here without a protector! You should know that!"

"Get off my back Sol!"

"Sol?"
"Sorry.. It just.. You knoww wwhat, wwhatevver!"

I turned my attention to John and Jane, who were just standing there.

"WWould you like to wwork at the castle and become top bakers? You can be trained."

Their eyes lit up with joy.

"R-Really?" Jane put her hands together, grinning.

"Yes really. Come along noww." I helped them up onto my horse and held the reign, walking them back to the castle.

Sollux, the two Knights, and the one who tried to kill me were following. David and Karkat put the man in the dungeon as Sollux walked with me to my father. The siblings followed, looking around in awe as we walked through the halls. I saw my father and Sollux's parents sitting down in the library, talking. I quietly knocked on the door frame.

The three turned and saw me.

"Yes, Eridan?" My father spoke as I walked inside.

"Father, I wwent into towwn and brought back twwo people wwho are bakers.. May they train here and stay?"
"Bakers? From the village??"

"Yes.. They're so young and wwere kicked out of their home.. Sol, could you bring em' here?" I asked, looking towards the doorway.

Sollux nodded and walked in with them. They tried to make themselves look their best as possible.

"This is John and Jane."

"Wow, such a kind heart.... Just like his mother.." Condescension smiled. 

I looked down, afraid to look at my father a little. Would he reject them and throw them back out? Father looked at the two. They both rubbed their arms nervously and twiddled with their fingers. They too avoided his gaze.

"Eridan, take em' down to the servants quarters and get em' a room. Tell the others to teach em' 'ow we run thin's 'ere." He smiled. John and Jane grinned, hugging each other. I smiled and nodded.

"Alright. Come on!" I showed Jane and John the way down to the servants quarters.
"Thank you so much your majesty!" John grinned, showing his buck teeth.
"Yes, so so much!" Jane chimed in.

"It wwas no trouble at all. I hope you two get adjusted in nicely." I smiled and showed them their new rooms.

"You'll be livvin' here. Neww clothing wwill be made for you. WWe havve a baker that'll showw you everything you need to knoww. He's the best. Come, I'll showw you to the kitchen, he should be there."

I guided them out of the living quarters and to the kitchen, where the baker was standing. He was thinking up ideas for my birthday cake. He takes them seriously. I don't actually know his name..

"Baker, wwe havve twwo neww bakers to help-"
"Dad?!" John and Jane both yelled surprised with tears in their eyes.

The baker looked up and his eyes widened, tears filling his eyes.
"John..? Jane..? "

The two of them ran up to him, hugging him tightly. I smiled and quietly said, "I'll just leavve you three alone.." I left quietly, shutting the door to the kitchen. I leaned back against the door, sighing.

"That was a good thing you did."

"Holy-" I jumped and saw Sollux standing with his arms crossed, smile on his face. "I didn't knoww you wwere still followwin' me.."

"Sorry if I scared you, ED." He chuckled. I pouted.

"So wwhy are you followwin' me, Sol?" I asked, curious. He unfolded his arms and took a step closer to me.
"Well firstly, you went out into the village without permission from your father. No one to protect you from those who would kill to steal from you. I followed to protect you."

"Knight Davvid is-"

"Yeah, but he would have failed to be that if I didn't tell him. If you died, he would have too from your father's word to execute him."

I opened my mouth to say something but quickly shut it. "I-... I see your point.." I looked down.

"And I also followed you because I think we should get to know each other a bit better.." He smiled.

"WWell I already know you havve a lisp." I laughed.
"Oh, haha! And I know you have a stutter." He smirked.

"Yeah yeah, wwhatevver.. So.. WWould you like to go talk somewwhere..?"

"Yeah, let me go back to my room for a moment though to put on attire a bit more comfortable. Meet in the garden?"
"Sure." I nodded.

He smiled and quickly left. I leaned back against the wall, watching him go.
"Is this a new pairing I see?" I opened my eyes, meeting the giggling Nepeta.
"Hey, Nep. Shouldn't you be wwith your brother?"

"Equius can wait a while. I brought some new groceries for the kitchen, see!" She held up two baskets filled with different things. "Then in a few days, we'll have meats imported from the kingdom in the South! For your birthday! But back to my question! A new pairing???" She smiled.

"But Eq said you wwere getting food for the animals- WWait! Pairing? WWhat do you mean?"

"I saw your stare! You were staring at the visiting Prince and you're blushing very much your majesty."

I put my hands on my cheeks, feeling them heat up, "I.. N-No! It's not like that's! He wwas just-"
"Mhm, don't worry your highness! I won't tell a soul that you like the Prince!" She ran off.
"But I don't!-" I groaned. She wasn't listening to me.

Damn.