Hey guys! So my HIATUS wasn't as long as I expected it to be, but that means more oneshots! 

How is everyone doing?

Anyways, I pretty much finished up with all the life stuff I had going on, and finally got around to writing again! 

I somehow found myself a bottle of motivation, and managed to write an arranged marriage fic for one of my personal favorite ships, stresskall.

Please forgive me more my short disappearance, and here is Camellias!

Word count: About 1800 words
Warnings: None

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Life of a princess wasn't as easy as it seemed to be.

Stress didn't think it was that hard when she was a child.

When she was young, she was content with the silk, rich dresses made just for her, the private teachers that payed attention to just her, and how her parents called her princess not because it was a cute nickname for a child, but because it was true.

However, now that Stress had grown up and was aware of the situations that her kingdoms faces, life began to spiral into anxiety and pressure.

Stress had to learn how to be a princess.

Her training began when she was young, but that was the easy training; walking with her chin high, having table manners and being polite.

Her training now, as a young adult, was to learn about politics, sit through long meetings with other kingdoms, and to learn how to be a leader.

Stress did not enjoy it, to say the least.

However, the thing that Stress was devastated to discover, was that she wasn't able to marry for love.

She was but a political bargaining tool for her parents.

Being an only daughter, much relied on the princess and her family.

She was gorgeous and kindhearted, and all the boys seemed to fall for her charms.

This meant that her parents would be able to find her the wealthiest, strongest, and most politically significant prince to marry.

Stress wanted nothing of the sorts.

Why, why was it that she was not able to marry one for who she loved?

Of course, she never met a boy who she loved, so maybe she didn't know.

But it wasn't her fault.

She never had the opportunity to fall in love, anyways.

Stress let out a sigh. Perhaps her life was even harder than those of average citizens.

She would give anything to live a normal life.

"Your Grace? A prince from the kingdom of Evo is going to be coming in a few months, and your parents would like to have you fitted for a gown."

Stress heard her servant's voice through her bedroom door.

Stress sighed and stood up from her fluffy bed.

Alas, another prince was going to come and try to woe her, to marry her because her kingdom was powerful and she was wealthy.

Stress wasn't paying much attention during the fitting. All that she knew was that she was getting a pink, satin dress to impress a prince she knew not even the name of.

Once the fitting was done, and she was clothed in her normal gown, Stress managed to get away from the servants demanding orders that came from her parents.

Stress ran out of the back door and out into the garden.

She stared at the fountain which had bushes blooming with colorful flowers and green leaves.

The garden was looking ever so beautiful ever since her parents hired that new gardener whom she hadn't met yet.

Stress zeroed out a pretty little red flower, touching the soft petals.

"Camellias. Quite lovely, isn't it?"

Stress turned her head to the sound of a gentle, Swedish accented voice.

She almost didn't believe what she saw.

The man couldn't have been more than a year older than her, though he was a few inches taller than her and had a stubble on his chin.

He had fluffy brown hair and enchanting green eyes, his skin warm and soft. He wore a white collared shirt and a dark teal apron with brown gloves.

Stress found herself blushing a bit. "Ah, sorry?"

The man smiled as he brushed his hand upon hers, lifting the flower's light petals. He explained, "This is a camellia flower. They're very pretty, yeah? They come from Eastern and Southern Asia. They symbolize love, passion, desire."

Stress smiled too. "Oh, that's fascinating. You do know a thing or two about these flowers."

"I suppose I do," he nodded, picking up a silver watering can from the ground and started watering the flowers.

Stress asked, "My name is Stress."

The man replied, "I know that." He stopped, then turned slightly red in the face. "Oh, that sounds quite weird, does it not? I mean, you're the princess, everyone knows who you are, I wasn't saying it in a creepy way or anything-"

"Aha, it's quite alright!" Stress giggled at his rambling, putting a hand on his forearm. "So what do you go by?"

The man relaxed a bit and answered, "Me? I am Iskall."

"Well, Iskall, you wouldn't mind showing me around the garden then?" Stress asked."

Iskall gave her a smile and nodded. "I wouldn't mind at all. Follow me."

He took her by the hand and they walked around the large garden, with Iskall explaining each flower's meaning and origin, and Stress understanding and listening in fascination.

Soon, the sun began to set, and the two had become very well acquainted with each other.

They sat on a bench right next to each other, talking about their lives.

Stress discovered that Iskall had lived on a farm in Sweden during his boyhood, but when his parents died of illness, he moved to her kingdom with his uncle to work as a farmer. Iskall then found his love for flowers and became a gardener for the royal family here.

Stress heard her servants calling her in.

She sighed, "I must go now. It was very lovely meeting you, Iskall. I hope to see you again soon."

He brushed her hair back and placed a flower behind her ear. It was the same flower they had met by, the camellia.

Iskall took her hand a kissed it gracefully. "Thank you for your time, Stress."

Stress walked back into the palace with a new feeling blossoming in her chest.

Love.

That must be what it felt like.

It's so...beautiful.

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The next morning, Stress woke up with a smile on her face.

Perhaps she would be able to visit Iskall again and spend another day talking with him to avoid her princess duties!

Stress stood up and sat by her window, when she noticed something sitting by her windowsill.

A flower.

It was blue, with many little petals sprouting from it. A small note with a string was tied to the stem.

"Hello Stress! I've come across a very beautiful flower in the garden this morning and it reminded me of you. This one is a cornflower, native to Europe and used as a sort of oracle of whether love was requited or not in folklore."

Stress' beamed as she tucked the flower in her hair, just as Iskall had did last night.

As Stress walked out of her room to go see Iskall again, she bumped into her mother.

"Oh, good morning, dear." her mother greeted warmly. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, mother." Stress nodded.

Her mother, dressed in rich robes and expensive makeup said to her, "Well, there is still much to do today, Stress."

Stress frowned. "Um, sorry, what?"

"Do not mutter when you speak, dear. And, for the marriage with you and the prince of Evo, of course!" her mother explained. "I've seen him before. He's a handsome young man, quite the passionate one if you ask me. He may be the one for you, Stress, after all this time of trying to find you a match."

Stress felt her heart sink. How had she forgotten about this?! She had to marry a rich prince...not a peasant garden worker!

Stress replied, a bit shyly, "Mother...what if I do not want to marry a prince?"

Her mother gave her a funny look. "I- well, I suppose there are princesses out there who would want to marry you too..."

"No, no, I mean...what if I wanted to marry a man who...wasn't of royalty? Just an average man?" Stress said weakly.

Her mother shook her head. "I'm afraid that would not be what's best for you or the kingdom. You must marry a prince for the goodness of the kingdom. Now, hurry along, dear. We must continue the preparation!"

Her mother left, leaving Stress standing alone, saddened and conflicted. It wasn't fair. None of this was any fair.

Was she selfish for wanting the best for herself for once? Stress didn't know anymore.

Weeks passed by, and Stress just couldn't help herself from sneaking out of the castle and away from her chores and instead to talk as long as she could with Iskall.

She knew it wasn't fair to Iskall. For her to be dragging him along, making him think that he had a chance with her. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't bear to just stay away from him.

He still left different flowers with notes next to them on her windowsill each morning, every flower so beautiful and delicate.

Four and a half months passed from when they first met, and Stress wanted more than anything than to marry him. 

But the prince from Evo was coming today to meet her, and now it was hopeless. She had to tell Iskall the truth. That they could never be together, though she would love him no matter what happened or who she had to marry.

The sun was high in the sky. A rather sunny afternoon, letting the beautiful flowers soak up all the sun and rise higher.

The two sat next to each other, Stress wearing her finest clothing for the meet with the prince later that day.

Lace gloves, silver tiara, pink gown...

"You look beautiful today, Stress." Iskall smiled. 

Stress gulped and smiled back anxiously. Now or never...

"Iskall, there's...something that I need to tell you..."

"Actually, I would like to ask something of you as well." Iskall said. "I hope you don't mind me going first."

Stress nodded for Iskall to proceed. It pained her, to know this may very well be one of the last time's she could talk with her love.

Iskall took Stress' hands. "Close your eyes, my dear."

"Iskall, I-"

"Just close them."

Stress did as she was told, closing her brown eyes, holding her breath.

A moment of silence.

Then, "You can open them now."

Stress opened her eyes and gasped in shock.

Iskall was down on one knee, holding a small box with a ring in it. 

He said, "Stress, in the time that I've known you, my life has never been better. I awake everyday fluttered, knowing that I will see you once again. Every second with you is a blessing, and I've never met any woman like you before. I don't know how, but I will make a life for us. I'm nothing like you. I have no riches, I have no crown, but I do have love. And I promise, I will keep you warm with it for the rest of your life. Will you marry me, Stress?"

All words escaped Stress' throat. Her mouth felt dry, tears pricking her eyes. What was she to tell him?! What could she do?!

Stress swallowed hard. She put her hands on the box and closed it silently, pushing it away. "Iskall...I don't- you aren't- I can't-"

Before she could explain, she heard someone call out to her from the castle.

"Your Highness! The Prince of Evo and your fiancé has arrived! Come now and greet him!"

Stress' eyes widened. No. No, no, no, no-

Iskall's smile had disappeared from his face.

"Your...fiancé?"

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hahahahahaha cliffhanger go brrrrrr

But fr I am writing a second part to this! I actually really enjoyed writing this, which helped motivate me to write again.

Now, usually I use they/them pronouns for Iskall bc enby iskall supremacy, BUT in my absence of writing I forgot about my headcanon and used he/him so we're just gonna deal with it lol

I'll see ya'll hopefully sometime soon! (also i spent all night studying and writing this now im tired, gonna go sleep, so i probably wont reply to comments until tmr morning)

-Veggie