"Pandas?"

He looked to me as we lay on the ground.

"Yeah?"

"What do you want to do when you're older?"

He moved his hand onto his abdomen.

"Gosh Y/N I have no clue. I want to..."

He frowned thinking,

"Get stronger. Be able to rule properly. Keep the people safe."

"I meant for you, dummy."

"I...don't know..."

He lifted his head into his arm to look down at me. We had cut his hair slightly shorter so it fell in long locks around his face.

"What about you?"

I shifted, looking up at the clouds.

"I...I want to travel over those seas. I want to explore those vast lands with oceans of sands, those massive caverns, jungles draped in vines-"

"You know enemies live there right?"

I looked at him.

"They can't all be enemies if we've never met. It's impossible."

He seemed to think about it, then nod.

"Y/N! YOUR DAD IS LEAVING FOR HIS MISSION SOON!"

Clay's voice echoed over the hill and the grass. I started to get up.

"Wait wait!"

Nick said scrambling up. I turned to him, brushing my hair aside.

He knelt onto one knee. Lifted his hands. A handmade, grass woven ring in one.

"Will you marry me?"

He said wiggling his eyebrows. I laughed shaking my head.

"At thirteen you'd think you'd be done with this nonsense."

He put the woven ring onto my finger. I saw an identical one on his. I was looking down at it. He had not responded. I glanced over to him and he

quickly leaned forward and pecked my cheek.

"I'll never stop sweetheart."

I was shocked. He started walking back to the castle. I hadn't moved. I cautiously touched the place on my cheek.

He...

"Come on Y/N!"

I jerked awake.

"On my way!"

I slowly made my way to the throne room. My nerves were bundling up. The soldiers opened the doors, Sapnap sitting on his throne.

He slyly smiled and watched me carefully. His gaze set my entire body on fire.

"Hello sweetheart."

"Jackass."

He rolled his eyes playfully.

"What is it?"

I fiddled with the ring on my hand.

"I would like to have Captain Puffy and Drista attend my ball."

His eyes narrowed.

"And why...should I listen?"

Twisted the ring.

"I'd like to see the woman who raised me. Also I think it would be good for them to be seen in public, just for a night."

He rolled his rings in his hand. Looked down to my own. He leaned forward still staring at my hands. I moved them behind my back. His eyes snapped up to mine...

Hazel, with honey. Eyes of my childhood.

"I don't see why that can't be arranged. Is that all?"

I smiled and nodded, forcing myself to break eye contact and walk back out.

Was that...the woven ring I gave her as kids? It... couldn't be.

I twisted the old woven ring on my finger.