Prince Draco lay in bed pondering why he could only think of the bush-haired Princess Hermione. The most stubborn, intelligent, robust and beautiful Princess he could think of. The two had hardly ever talked, yet she was all he could imagine. She had infected his mind, his every thought. Even looking at the sunrise made him think of her.

The funny thing is, he couldn't figure out why he was doing this. He concluded it was pity when it was his way to block out his true feelings. It was love. He was starting to fall for her or had been for years, and it was just an internal slow burn. He couldn't bring himself to even consider it. Didn't once cross his mind cause he wouldn't let it. It's a forbidden idea.

Royal staff eventually forced him to get ready; breakfast was coming up. But before that, he went to find Princess Pansy. She was easy to locate, with her room being next to his. One thing he did regret about his entrance was that he forgot to knock; as soon as Pansy noticed it wasn't a handmaid, she threw a shoe at him. "Draco Lucius Malfoy! How dare you walk into a woman's room without announcing yourself!" She called, storming over, holding the other shoe threateningly. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" He pleaded, raising his arms as a sign of surrender. She lowered her weapon and reached out a hand. Peace. "What do you want?"
"I am concerned about someone. It's kept me up all night." Pansy rolled her eyes and signalled for him to sit on her neatly made bed. "Talk to me."
"I saw them first at the Ball. They were so disrespectful over the announcement." Pansy interrupted him there.
"So what? Neither of us wants to marry the other?"
"It's rude."
"You're such a Malfoy."
"Shut up, I'm telling my story."
"Alright, alright, go ahead."
"Then again, at 3 a.m., we were both wondering about the Castle. At first, I was suspicious they were up to something, but then they saw me, and we just talked. But since then, I can't stop thinking about what they said to me." Pansy looked at him with confusion. He was being very vague with everything he said. "What did they say? Who was it?" Draco was hesitant but figured he had to be as honest with his friends anyway, especially the one he was supposed to marry. "Princess Hermione, she was telling me the true history of Wessex's war."
"You didn't know the truth?"
"You did? Why did you continue to hate them?"
"I don't, just pretend to for my family's desired representation." Everything she said always came off sarcastically and as if everything she stated was so self-explanatory. It was amusing. As much as he would want her to marry the person she loves, even if she refuses to tell him who it is, at least they get along. If he does have to marry her, the benefit is they don't have to pretend to like each other. "Okay, well, I just found out. I can't stop thinking about it."
"It or her?" Pansy asked, seeming so knowing.
"Excuse me?" He did the question. As accurate as it was deep down that it was her, Draco wouldn't confess anything. "Come on, Draco." He jumped up from the bed and walked over to the door. "Breakfast will be any second now. We can't be late."
"Draco, don't change the subject on me." She, too, got up and followed him; he had already left the room and bolted.

God, even when he saw her at the table. Pansy started to get into his head. He didn't want her to be correct. He couldn't let her be. While you could see peeks of fatigue in her eyes, Hermione was enchanting. It felt like he acknowledged her looks the first time, but it presumably wasn't. Draco always knew she was intelligent and outspoken, but the beauty seemed new and old at the same time. He found himself looking, even staring, at her throughout the meal. Pansy nudged him to take away his focus on her.
It's when he noticed how insane he was and all over Hermione Granger.

Prince Draco's focus was finally removed from the Wessex Princess when his parents took him aside after breakfast. "Draco, sweetie, are you okay?" Queen Narcissa disagreed with the arranged marriage, but King Lucuis of Mercia and Queen Amaryllis of Essex had organised the arrangement between their only successors. Both were power-craving Rulers. "Yeah, of course."
"The announcement went great. Albus seemed very pleased with the coalition. I'm proud of you, son." King Lucius said Draco and his parents always got along. They were overall a very loving family; some might argue that it's unusual, but they were happy. At the moment, Draco wasn't pleased with his father. He really didn't want to go through with this wedding.

It was difficult to ask his parents to cancel the engagement when it was clear how crucial the betrothal was to his father. Draco is prideful. It's a usual Malfoy trait, as well as the fact he is loyal to his family. The main issue is his determination and ambition. He doesn't want the wedding and might be able to find a way around it. Draco has enough grit that, so far, he has always gotten his way.
Since a young age, he always understood that he would be married off one day, but Draco thought he would be more content with it. It wasn't until love started to matter to him that he realised he was never destined to be a Prince with a happily ever after ending.

Draco decided to go to the gardens at the end of the conversation with his parents. He gathered he could go to the apple farm and find a perfect Granny Smith apple. But before he made it out, he watched as Pansy swiftly moved to Hermione's allocated guest room. It almost scared him what could happen there, yet he stuck to his original plans and left for the apple gardens. Fortunately for Draco, it was coming into Autumn, so the apples would be perfect.

It took his mind off everything else as he walked through the farm to find the best-looking apple. Knowing that the first bite would be the best. Food is an excellent way to change a perspective or calm someone down. Things were peaceful for Draco at this moment.