Disclaimer: What a disaster it would be if I had any rights to The Lunar Chronicles or its characters.


The portscreen built into the right corner of her desk binged. She accepted the call with a tap of a cloth-gloved finger.

"Their Imperial Majesties, Prince Regent Hikaru and Prince Kai, are here for their first appointment, Cinder."

She rubbed her fingers across her brow, standing up, "Send them in. Thank you, Iko."

The door of her office whooshed open and they stepped in, accompanied by Iko, whose eyes were wide as she backed out of the office. Kai was wearing an old, faded grey sweatshirt and a pair of jeans, while Hikaru was dressed in a pair of slacks, a cream silk button-up, and a tie. They were complete opposites.

Cinder leaned into a deep bow, "Your Highness, it is an honor to be asked to plan your wedding to Her Majesty, Queen Levana of Luna." She turned to Kai, "It's a pleasure to be in your presence as well, Prince Kai."

"I hear you're the best in the entire Commonwealth," Hikaru replied, bowing back to her. "You're quite… young. How old are you?"

Cinder straightened from her bow and gave him a cautious look, a sly grin on her lips. "Nineteen. It's uncommon for someone to be so young and good at what they do, I know, but I-I'm pretty uncommon."

"I can see that," Hikaru muttered.

Kai cut in, "It's a pleasure, Miss Linh."

She gestured for them to sit down and took her seat once again, "As far as being the best in the Commonwealth goes, I can't promise that that's the truth, but I will do my best."

Kai smiled, his ears shading pink. Cinder pretended not to notice.

Hikaru cleared his throat, "You can trust that this isn't exactly what I want."

"I think everyone in the Earthen Union knows that, Your Highness. What a shame you could not have been born one minute after Prince Kai, rather than one minute before." Kai sniggered from beside his brother. Cinder grinned, glad he hadn't taken offense to her offhand comment, but quickly regained composure. "Also, I'd like to offer the both of you my condolences for your father. His passing was a true tragedy." She dropped her eyes to the table.

"Thank you," Hikaru replied solemnly.

Cinder ejected the netscreen from her desk and began to type away on it, "Let's get started, then, yeah? Obviously, we'll be going with the traditional red and gold silk robes embroidered with traditional kanji and pictogrpahs of the Commonwealth." At the Prince Regent's simple nod, she moved on. "Are there any particular world leaders you would like to not be invited? I'm aware that it would be rude not to invite someone important, but I have to ask."

"The entire court of Luna, including Levana herself," Hikaru said, sitting back against the chair, his arms crossed over his chest.

Cinder exhaled a small laugh, "Unfortunately, I cannot fulfill that request. I can fulfill any request that doesn't involve basically calling the wedding off completely." She rested her forearms on her desk, wringing her hands together. "I know… I know this is the worst thing that's probably ever happened to you. Queen Levana is… quite difficult to please."

"Aren't they all?" Hikaru mumbled.

Kai dragged his fingers through his hair, patting his brother on the shoulder with a free hand. "Gah, Lunars."

Hikaru leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his stark eyes piercing hers. It struck her how much he resembled his late mother. Brown hair, golden eyes, rounder features – whereas his own twin had inherited his father's black hair, caramel-brown eyes, and his sharp jaw-line. The former's voice was also an entire octave deeper. "Invite everyone important, I don't care. Whatever will cause the least amount of drama. Stars above know I could use as little stress as possible on what will be worst day of my life."

"The least amount of drama. I can do that." Cinder's eyes fell to her lap, unsure of what else to say. "As far as the wedding in general goes, I-I-there's nothing I can do about it, Your Highness. I'm sorry, but I...I'm only the planner."

Hikaru rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not really in the mood for this. I'm sorry. I'm going to head back to the hover. Thank you for your time, Miss Linh. I'm sure that we'll meet again, unfortunately." He stood and started to head to the door.

Cinder jumped to her feet. "You can-," she called to his back, though the door slid shut behind him, "-call me Cinder."

Kai flushed, sighing. "I'm sorry about him."

"You've nothing to apologize for," she told him, sitting back in her plush office chair and tapping the netscreen so that it would return to the desk. "She dug her claws in before the Emperor's body was even cold." She pressed her lips, "I know this is a tough time for you. I will help in any way I can, but I am pretty limited in my abilities."

"May I call you Cinder?" She nodded and his smile almost reached his eyes, "Do you have a family, Cinder?"

She wrapped her arms around herself, "I have Iko."

"An android?"

A shrug. A tremble of her lips. "My stepsister, Peony, died the day before the antidote was announced." An unsteady hand went to her heart. Her eyes dropped away from him; she was suddenly more interested in the mahogany of her work desk. "I cut ties with my stepmother and stepsister the day I turned 18. Never looked back. So yes, I have an android."

"I'm sorry." His voice was suddenly softer, sadder. "Three weeks ago. The day after my father died. Impeccable timing, as it always is."

"Long live the Emperor." Cinder set about fixing her hair, pulling it down and readjusting the hair tie in it. There was a short, awkward period of silence before Cinder looked back up at him, "Why did you ask?"

Kai lifted a shoulder, "I just needed to know if you can understand anything we're going through. I suppose that answer's yes."

"I suppose." Cinder rose to her feet, "We're already behind, but I think we can make it work. We'll start on this again tomorrow, when His Highness is hopefully feeling better."

Kai frowned as she approached him, "Again, I'm sorry about him. It's been… difficult."

"I know," Cinder said, her voice small. She led him to the door and gave him another bow before he left.

She latched the door and then pressed her forehead into the frame. The next two weeks were sure going to test her patience. It wasn't Hikaru's fault, she knew. And the pay would be good! She could start saving up again! However, between Prince Hikaru's noncooperation and Prince Kai just looking at her with that lovely and perpetual smile on his face…, she was sure she would lose her head.


Author's Note: Mmmmm. My first multi-chapter fic that I've actually wanted to write for a long time! (Uncharted doesn't count. Uncharted is its own demon.) So, some real quick things: This is an AU and, to limit the amount of things I have to deal with in this story, Glamour is not a thing and while Letumosis is a thing, it's just a very advanced bacterial infection in this fic. Also, if you didn't catch it, Hikaru is an OC and Kai's fraternal twin who was born 1 minute before him, thus making him 1st in line for the throne.

Um. I feel like I had more to add, but that's it so far. I've got the first four chapters all written up, but don't expect regular updates. School starts back in two days so you know how that goes! I have this entire story planned out, though, so it shouldn't be too bad.

edit: I was lazy and did not do proper research on the Commonwealth's background re: traditions, and was corrected and made the needed changes

PS: It gets better. I'm referring to the following chapters, but you can take that however you need it.

PPS: This fic is dedicated to the lovely lovelunarchron! :)