𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡 │ reign .

You tell a lie, plan tonight.
Too many drinks, so many reasons that
Some things are better left unsaid.

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"Marry me, Lucrezia. I want you to be the next Queen of Spain."

Sébastian's proposal left the engaged couple speechless. The princess didn't expect to ever hear those words out of her best friend's mouth and the prince never thought somebody would try to break off the deal with Italy. But for both of them, it felt like the sky above cracked and it was on the verge of falling.

"I don't understand how—why would you suggest this, Séb?" Lucrezia finally spoke. "We've known each other since we were children and that's when you decide to propose to me? Was I nothing more than a political ally to you?" The Spanish prince thought his offer would give her something to think about, but he didn't expect this reaction from her.

"Think about it, Luce. We could rule both Italy and Spain together. There would be no threat to Portugal, we would maintain peace in our alliance. We could rule in peace. I know you've been worried about this situation but here I am, asking you to end the deal with Australia and choose Spain instead. You and I both know it's beneficial to you to accept my offer."

She refused to give an answer. Instead, she glared at Sébastian. "Allow me to stay silent on your proposal for now." Ater those words, she stormed out of the dining room and left the palace through the nearest exit.

Lucas wanted to follow but at the same time, he was so mad with the other prince that he couldn't leave just like that. "Listen carefully, Spain," he muttered under his breath. "I don't give a fuck about your proposal or what you have to offer to my fiancée. If you really think she would ever accept your stupid idea and let you take control over her life and her country, then you don't know her at all. I suggest you leave the palace right now, because I'm not going to be so polite to you if I ever see you bothering her again."

He didn't wait for the Spaniard to reply. Instead, he followed the princess in the courtyard. "Lucrezia?" He called her name and searched for her.

There was a war taking place in Lucrezia's head and heart. Everything that happened these days was finally sinking it. Sébastian's family, her best friend's family, wanted to take advantage of Portugal's current instability and attack her cousin's country. Portugal asked for Italy's help. Lucrezia came up with a strategy that would help Portugal, but that meant launching an attack on Spain. Her father put her in charge of the Italian army. Her best friend showed up unannounced and asked her to marry him. How could she think clearly when there were so many things going on at the moment? She was overwhelmed.

Did she want to marry Sébastian? That was a question she couldn't answer. Not so long ago, she would've said yes without a doubt. Deep in her heart, she had been waiting for this question for many years. She couldn't remember when she started to feel something about him, but she learned to repress her affectionate feelings for him because it was for the best. It's not like he would ever look at her that way. But now, when she finally made a decision and agreed to marry the Prince of Australia, he decided that Lucrezia was a suitable bride for him. Ehy now? She was pleased with how she planned her life, but his question ruined everything. If one of his goals was to plant doubt in her heart, then he succeeded.

She understood how valuable the alliance with Australia was. Although she'd never get to rule the country, she was going to make important contacts and she will be given the title of Duchess. It was a great deal. Besides, her partnership with the prince seemed promising by now, so even though she would be stuck in a loveless marriage, she shouldn't be unhappy. She didn't want to throw away this opportunity, she couldn't risk it.

But she couldn't make her feelings for the Spanish prince go away either. Why couldn't she allow herself to be selfish just this time? But what if Sébastian didn't feel the same way about her? What if he was just using her as a pawn and she stupidly believed he actually meant it? How could she ever be sure? The battle between her duty as a princess and her foolish feelings didn't seem like it would end soon. But she had to make a choice, otherwise she might end up losing both princes and both alliances.

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Prince Lucas searched the whole courtyard, but there was no sight of his fiancée. The royal gardens were large enough to make it challenging to find someone. She didn't pick up his calls either. He didn't even want to think about what was going through her mind at the moment. He made a promise to her that he'd always have her back and he would always keep his word when it came to her.

He eventually went back in the palace, hoping that he'd find her there but instead, he ran into her father. "Good morning, Your Majesty. Did you happen to see Lucrezia, by any chance?"

"Lucas—Son—please. You don't have to be so formal," the King said. "I haven't. But I heard what happened and I would like to talk to you in private." He gestured for the prince to follow him to his office, then closed the door so they'd have some privacy. The Palace had been invaded by the son of the enemy, after all. "Have a seat, make yourself at home. This is not going to be a long story, because it's not my story to tell, but here is my advice: I can see you care for my daughter and it makes me happy. You might not be in love with each other, but you are both making an effort, so you are on the right path. You will encounter many obstacles like this one, but you should never doubt my daughter's judgement. I can't deny that there is something special between her and the Crown Prince of Spain; I've watched them grow side-by-side and I'm not blind, I know what childish love looks like. I have no reason to lie to you, I wanted him to be the man that marries my dear Lucrezia, but it would give Spain too much power and even though I hold prince Sébastian dearly, his parents are a true nightmare. It was a hard decision to accept your family's proposal and it surprised me. I expected marriage proposals from nearby countries. But it was a great deal and I had a positive feeling about it when I said yes. When my daughter brought you here, I knew I made the right choice. Because I see the way she looks at you and the way you look at her. She will not admit it, but you mean something for her. We know royals can't afford love, but if you build up something based on mutual trust and respect, it will bring the same happiness. I see potential in you, Son, and I know you can take good care of my daughter. Don't look for her today, let her be the one that comes to you after she makes her choice."

The prince listened to the king's words carefully. The idea of Lucrezia choosing to marry someone else made his stomach twist and turn, but in the end, he wanted her to be happy and if she believed that she'd find happiness within somebody else, he wouldn't stand in her way. He didn't want to lose her, but he would never ask her to stay by his side unless that's what she wanted. That left him with just one thing to do and that was to wait.

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Allies or not, the Italians were known for how well they treated their guests. The Spanish prince was not an exception. He had been welcomed to a guest bedroom and he was free to stay in the palace as long as his intentions were peaceful. He knew these hallways by heart, he would often come visit Lucrezia's home and the two of them would play hide and seek all around the place. After they grew a little bit older, they stopped running everywhere. Instead, they took long walks together and talked for hours and hours without running out of subjects or getting bored of each other. Time flew fast back then. She had always been there for him. Truth to be told, Sébastian always thought he would marry the Italian princess one day, but this dream seemed to be coming to an end.

On his way to his assigned bedroom, the prince stopped underneath the staircase and smiled at the memory that played in the back of his head. He chose to spend his eighteenth birthday with her in Italy and once they were alone, Sébastian came up with the idea of getting really drunk. It wasn't easy to convince her to have a drink with him, but in the end, they both ended feeling dizzy. On their way to get some fresh air, he grabbed her hand and pinned her underneath the staircase, stealing a kiss from her. Their first and last. They never talked about it but that was mainly because he was too embarrassed to admit how much it meant for him. Kissing her felt like a million little butterflies burst through his chest and he thought that he finally understood what caring about someone meant. But things got in their way, the years went by and before he could realize it, he already lost her to someone else. The Prince of Australia. He never heard her talking about him, so he started to wonder whether their marriage was arranged or not. The little Lucrezia he knew would never agree to marry a man she didn't love, but the Crown Princess in her would. Could Lucas make her happy? Could he keep her safe?

He spent too much time blankly staring at the spot that held his dearest memories, it was about time to get to his room. Once he reached the apartment he'd sleep in, Prince Sébastian opened a cabinet, took out a glass and a bottle of whiskey, then poured himself a drink while he was seated next to the window. It was going to be a hell of a long night for him and there was nothing more he'd like right now than to forget about the situation he is in and maybe drown in alcohol.

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