(Warning: Long Chapter)

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Chapter 27 -
A Spontaneously, Yet Bombshelling Proposal
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“Do I really belong here?” You say to yourself softly after grabbing your satchel from your room and flip through your journal. You skim past the pages which held some dreams you had while staying with Varian. Some were just drawings and you didn't know what they were.

You watch the water make the moon’s reflection slightly wavy and sigh.

“(____)? You don't look to well.” Cassandra asks from behind you and sits next to you. Her eyes look to you in worry, “Did someone say something to you again?” She then glares and punches her hand, “You know I will not hold back and I'll make sure they don't-”

You chuckle softly and close your journal, putting it away, “No, Cass. You don't have to beat sense into someone. Besides, it was that Duchess of Quintonia.” You gently tap on the metal emblem on your bag, “It's not only that.”

Cass sits there, listening to you. “Sometimes, I feel like I don't belong here. Like I'm supposed to be somewhere else.”

“(____)-”

“I know it doesn't make any sense to you. Cassandra, I'm to the point where I'd go almost everywhere to feel like I belong somewhere.” You felt a heaviness on your chest, closing your eyes as the phantom pain comes back, “I just feel like I'm not supposed to exist and that somehow I was being used…...for something.”

Cass glances away then hums, “Well…..I will say my true opinions for this.” You feel her place your hand on your arm, “(____), you do belong where ever you feel at home. Home is where you're meant to be. If you want to find it, then get up and go out there.”

She smiles warmly, “No one is holding you down and if they are, then fight your way to freedom.”

Everything she said made you feel much better, but you still had a nagging feeling that you did something wrong. “Thanks, Cass. I usually have Varian to help, but……..he's not here at the moment.”

Cass hums, smirking, “I'm sure he'll come around, especially how close you two are. I mean I never met him, but judging by the way you talk about him. He seems nice.”

You roll your eyes, laughing, “Anyway, what are you doing out here?”

She stands along with you, “I came out to look for you and Raps. She's probably upset about the whole not good welcoming.”

“She is. Everyone is pressuring her with this Princess stuff, I mean she if she does take this commitment, then she won't be free as much.” You say and follow her, looking around for Rapunzel.

“You have a weird way of thinking. I like it.” Cass says before hearing something and walks toward the docks.

She gestures you to be quiet and you two see Rapunzel and Eugene, sitting in a docked boat. They didn't notice you both since you’re in the shadows.

“Of course, I do. I love with you all my heart Eugene.” Rapunzel holds Eugene's hand to her cheek, smiling then frowns.

Eugene sighs, smiling softly, “Look, I know this has got to be weird. No one’s expecting you to take it all in overnight, but believe me. I've been all around the world…” He waves a hand, “...and it doesn't get any better than this- this castle.”

You raise a brow and whisper, “I know this is suppose a moment but I think Eugene is slightly on a different page.”

Cass nods.

“Our friends, your family, each other. What else could you possibly want?” Now the moment is back and you smile happily.

Rapunzel sighs, smiling tenderly, “Nothing.” They both look at each other before closing their eyes and leaning in.

Cass bends down, smirking, “Time to go!”

Eugene yells and you couldn't help to laugh as he jumps in fear, falling into the water. He come up, spitting out water dramatically and glares at Cassandra.

“How’s that water feeling, Fitzherbert?” Cass says, looking triumph in what she did to him.

“Dark…...and Icy…..” He glares more, “Just like you.”

You could tell Cassandra didn't care and almost seemed proud to be called that. “Come on, Rapunzel. It's time to head in. You don't want to be exhausted tomorrow.”

You watch Rapunzel pull Eugene up, “Right, my morning off.” She kisses his forehead, “Sorry.” Eugene had this funny pouting face to her and he looks down when she gets out.

“I'll go back with Eugene. I have something important to talk with him.” You say to Cass and she nods, “Not too late.” She smirks at Eugene a bit too happy and Eugene blinks, “Man, she scares me.”

She walks off and you sit on the dock, watching Eugene wringe out his hair. “What's this important thing you want to talk about, kid?”

“Something about Princess Eugene Fitzherbert.” You say smirking.

Eugene blinks then chuckles nervously, “Oooh. That. Okay, I was thinking of proposing to Rapunzel during the Royal Banquet.” He sighs dreamily, “Imagine how happy she'll be. Everyone would be cheering, her dad will congratulate us, we can live happily ever after in the castle.”

You rub your face, “Eugene, Marriage is much more complicated. Are you even listening to yourself right now?” You see he's still in dreamland.

“Eugene!” You clap once and shakes his head. “You were saying?”

You groan, “Eugene. Have you thought this over? I mean I know you love her and I'm not gonna get in the way, but do you really think this is what Rapunzel secretly wants? To me she seems like she still needs a bit of freedom before staying here…..forever.”

Eugene blinks and rubs a hand under his chin, “So…...you're saying NOT to propose to her right away? Maybe next week?”

You stood up after he said that, “At least wait a few months or a year! That's all I'm going to say!” You began walking off to the castle.

The next morning, you eventually found out that the royal guards aren't paying much attention to you since they all are on heavy guard for this Coronation. As you walk around, eating a croissant from the Baker and sit at the fountain.

You flip through a small book full of Astronomy Symbols. After awhile you just flipping the pages back and forth until a symbol caught your eye, but since you flipped through so fast, you didn't know which page it was.

“Ow!” You hear one of the younger redhead girls whine in pain near you. That's where you see Rapunzel looking annoyed with guards surrounding her and one guard was ‘trying’ to braid the little girl's hair.

Rapunzel now goes over to head over Pastry Shop and on the way, you wince when the guards would hit away people who reach out to wave to Rapunzel.

You decide to follow and caught a guard mashing a cupcake before holding it out to Rapunzel. “The King needs to hold back a bit on her protection.” You took a deep breath and walked up, bowing slightly, “Princess Rapunzel, Lady Cassandra has been looking for you. She has a dress you should be fitted into for the Royal Banquet tonight.”

The Guards look to each other then nod, walking off. Rapunzel sighs in relief, “Thank you, (____).”

You smile as you two walk toward the castle, “It's no problem. I can see they wouldn't let you have your space and you look like you need it.”

“Yeah, I do and my room would be the best.” You two head to her room and she falls back onto her bed. You sit next to her as Pascal crawls onto your lap, then stares up at you.

You smile, “Hey, Pascal. Is there a reason your ignoring me a bit?”

Pascal has been ignoring you and sometimes he'd be looking at you, like he's trying to figure you out. He smiles a bit, shrugging but nuzzles your hand.

Cass comes in with a tray of tea, “I figured you need tea to calm you a bit, Princess and let me guess, big day on the town wasn't all you'd hope to be.” Rapunzel sits up and smiles in thanks, taking a cup.

“It was….interesting.” She smiles sheepishly and Pascal sticks his tongue out with a thumbs down.

You giggle at him as Cass smiles, not believing her, “Uh-Huh. I bet.”

You take Rapunzel’s tea cup as she stands, “I just wish my dad would let me get out and let me see the see the real world.”

Now you have proof that she still wants to be out there instead of staying in one place. Cass chuckles and goes over to the balcony window, smirking, “You know, if you really wanted. I could get you in and out of here, before anyone even knew we were gone.” She looks to you, “(____), you can come along too.”

You smile with Pascal and stand up, “I'm in!”

Rapunzel grins, “You mean, sneak me out?”

You cross your arms, “Like Cass would say, what you do when no one is looking, is your business.”

Cass nods and gently pokes Rapunzel, “Exactly.”

There's a knock on the door along with a maid's voice, “The Royal Banquet is ready to receive the Princess now.” Rapunzel groans and you let Pascal crawl onto her shoulder.

Cass chuckles and pats her arm, “Cheer up, Raps. Hey, maybe your dad got someone to chew your food for ya.”

Rapunzel softly glares at her and you laugh silently.

Down in the banquet hall, you take a bite of mashed potatoes and slightly laugh since Eugene is sitting at the kids table. You knew Cassandra would do that since she was in charge of seating arrangements. Pascal is perched on your shoulder and you feed him grapes.

Cass sits next to you after talking with Eugene, most likely teasing him about his seating. You go to take another bite of potatoes, but Eugene clears his throat.

“Ladies and Gentlemen! Dukes and Duchesses! Barons and Baronesses! Marquis and you know the female version of those! May I share a moment of history with you.”

You put down your fork and glare at Eugene, shaking you head no when he glances at you.

“Princess!” He turns to Rapunzel and you run a hand over face. “Would you join me up here?” Rapunzel smiles sheepishly, but joins him in front of everyone. She bends back to look at you and Cass which Cass shrugs.

“I told Eugene, no.” You say quietly.

“What is he doing?” Cass asks you.

“He's going to propose to Rapunzel.”

“What?!” Cass says with her mouth wide open. Even Pascal. She then groans, “Raps already has enough on her plate.”

“I tried talking to him.”

Eugene had knelt down on one knee and Rapunzel gasps a bit, “Oh, Eugene! Wait, did you drop something?” She looks around and Eugene smiles tenderly, “No.” He pulls out a box and opens it to reveal the ring.

Rapunzel's mouth drops in a happy smile and Eugene speaks softly, “Rapunzel, from the moment I first met you and you knocked me out with that frying pan. I knew it was love.”

You had to be honest, Eugene was good with words especially when he's in love, “You're my light. You're my best friend and I want to be your partner in all things. I can't wait to laugh with you and share with you.”

He glances around, “I see us raising our children here and our children's children. Celebrating banquets of our own in this very hall for many, many, many, many years to come.”

“I wanna ride the horses out to the Corona walls, each and every morning.” Rapunzel is getting so happy and you felt bad if Eugene says something wrong. “Until we're both very, very old ad gray.”

There goes her smile. “I love you, Rapunzel and I want to spend the rest of our lives here together.”

You can see she's overthinking, “Here?.... In this castle?....Forever?”

“I mean, unless you want to rent, but I hardly see how we're going to top this.”

Rapunzel seems to be panicking and getting lost in thought until Eugene snaps her out of it. She rubs her neck nervously, “Wow...I- I love you, Eugene, but I can't. Just not- not now. I- I need some air!”

You get up and quickly follow Rapunzel, not looking back to see Eugene's expression. You told him, but he didn't listen.