p dir="ltr"As it turned out, Prince Will was surprisingly easy to have a conversation with. The two of them discussed much, like what dumb exports their countries had feuds about, and how tedious it was to stay sedentary for portraits, and how many balls they were invited to yearly. This brought up the current ball's purpose, which Nico was trying to avoid the entire conversation./p
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p dir="ltr""You have an ultimatum, don't you?" Prince Will guessed as soon as the door shut. "Your father is making you choose a wife by, the end of the week, or he chooses for you?" Nico turned away./p
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p dir="ltr""The end of the ball, actually." Prince Will winced, and brushed Nico's hair out of his eyes./p
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p dir="ltr""And let me guess. You're more captivated by men than women?" Nico frowned at the royal, and Prince Will shook his head. "Do not fret, Nicolas. I have found myself in the same situation." Nico turned his body to face the older prince. His blue eyes were filled with sympathy, and his hand was waiting for Nico to grasp it. Nico looked at the golden, gloved hand, and looked back up at the prince./p
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p dir="ltr""I prefer Nico. And what do you suggest I do, since you seem to know all about me?" Nico hadn't meant to sound cold, but at the end he seemed to snip. Will's earlier caring expression had disappeared, and was replace with a much more in thought one./p
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p dir="ltr""I do not know. I have not yet come to a solution. Although, I do think I can help delay it." This returned hope to Nico's eyes. When he had thought about bringing the other into the hall, he hadn't thought that a solution would arise. "Is there somewhere we can speak privately? Your guards might leak the plan." Nico nodded, he gestured to a large door at the end of the long hallway./p
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p dir="ltr""The courtyard. There should be no one there, as it is around midnight." Nico lead the prince down the hall, slipping into alcoves when he knew a guard was near, and making sure to stay out of the lamplight. Finally, after a gauntlet, the two reached the door./p
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p dir="ltr"Nico had never opened it, at least, not himself. It didn't look heavy at all, considering it's brassy exterior. But when he went to open it, the door appeared to have gained a thousand pounds. Prince Will also tested his strength against it, but neither of them had any luck. After two minutes, they heard footsteps coming down the hallway. And by the light of the lamp above the door, they were clearly visible./p
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p dir="ltr""Your Highnesses, why do you find yourselves at a locked door at this time of night, especially during a ball. You two should be dancing, not awaiting access to our palace's courtyard." It was Simon, the oldest butler they had on staff. Nico had grown up with the man by his side. Nervously, Nico answered./p
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p dir="ltr""Oh, I was just wanting to show Prince William the courtyard." Simon narrowed his eyes, as if Nico's information was incorrect./p
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p dir="ltr""Prince? I believe this man should be addressed as King William. You assumed the crown ah, three months ago?" Prince, no, King, Will made a flustered face, then he shrugged it off into a much more powerful one./p
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p dir="ltr""Oh, has it been three months? I have just been getting used to the title. Although, I'm not really king, as long as my father still lives," Will answered. Simon chuckled and shook his head./p
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p dir="ltr""No, no, your father has been in a coma for many years. It was time you took the crown, anyway." Will smiled gratefully. "Why, might I ask, were you interested in the courtyard, my Prince?" Simon asked. Before Nico could answer, King Will stepped in front of him./p
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p dir="ltr""Ah, Prince Nicolas was organizing a contract with Helia, and I thought the details would be better discussed in a much quieter place," King Will lied. Simon returned with a knowing smile/p
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p dir="ltr""The courtyard on this frigid night? I think you two would be better off in the study," Simon suggested. Nico widened his eyes. As a child, there was one rule for him and Bianca. Never. Enter. Father's. Study. Since then, the ban had been lifted, but Nico was still terrified of ever entering it./p
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p dir="ltr""Would you mind if I chose the library instead? It has much more room to think," Nico proposed, although he knew that Simon would accept it. The butler nodded and gestured for Nico and King Will to follow him through the palace's labyrinth, leading them through grand staircases and decorated hallways, until the lavish doors leading to the extravagant doors came into view./p
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p dir="ltr"Simon happily opened the doors, and the two entered the large room. Books of every size, shape, and color were lined up against the walls. In recent years, Nico would spend hour scouring the bookshelves to find a prince in love with another. But the searching was ineffective, and Nico abandoned his attempts. It seemed that the library had not been touched since Nico was last in it, seeing as there were still books he had been reading left upon the chaises. Simon exited and closed the door. "Happy negotiating," he said with a wink, reddening Nico's face. As soon as the clicks of the butler's shoes dissolved, Nico turned to the other./p
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p dir="ltr""King? You didn't say king," He spat, looking him up and down. Now that he thought about it, it did make sense of why he was with his sister, and why his dress was so much more detailed. He shrugged./p
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p dir="ltr""I did not say prince, either. But do not fear, Nico. I have an idea," Will, unaffected by Nico's rudeness./p
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p dir="ltr""Fine, what is it, King William?" He scowled, leaving the other with an extremely hurt expression./p
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p dir="ltr""I didn't mean to upset you. It was a misunderstanding of words," Will reasoned, touching Nico's arm gingerly. Even though the gesture was simple, Nico felt trust returning./p
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p dir="ltr""Fine. What's your plan," Nico demanded. The young king paced slightly, his chin down and brow furrowed./p
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p dir="ltr""Well, due to my title, my country is demanding I marry," King Will waited for Nico to confirm his comprehension. "However, I have perused the document many times. It does not specify whether my spouse must be male or female." Nico came to a sudden realization of King WIll's intentions. He turned away for a second./p
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p dir="ltr""Wait, your majesty, if I am inferring correctly, you mean to ask me-" Nico turned back to King Will. He was on a single knee./p
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p dir="ltr""Prince Nicolas of Yunder, will you marry me?"/p