Thorne was pacing back and forth in the room he shared with Cress, given to them for the duration of their stay at New Beijing Palace for Kai and Cinder's wedding. He looked at the velvet box in his hand. Such a small box, almost disappearing in his hand which was gigantic by comparison. He couldn't stop worrying about it.
"How are you feeling?" Kai asked from the open doorway. "Scratch that. You're clearly nervous. And here I was thinking the great Captain Carswell Thorne was as smooth as peanut butter." Thorne set the box down, too stressed to even crack a smile.
"Wow, you really are nervous." He held up an imaginary microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, breaking news. Carswell Thorne is actually scared! Over a girl, no less!"
"Yeah well, Cress isn't just any girl," Thorne replied. "She's the girl. And I'm gonna screw this up, and she'll hate me, and I'll lose her, and-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Stop right there. Cress loves you. And she's never not going to love you. Ever." Kai walked across the room to him and laid a hand on his shoulder. "So there's no need at all to beat yourself up this much. As your emperor, I order you to smile." Thorne just looked at him incredulously.
"Come on, smile. You need to act normal if you want to keep Cress from getting suspicious." Thorne gave what was probably the most pathetic smile in existence.
"There you go! Now it just needs to be a lot better." He checked his watch.
"It's almost time for the rehearsal dinner. We'd better go now, or Iko will murder us and I'd rather be married before I die." Thorne chuckled this time.
"I reciprocate the sentiment. Let's go." As they went to the dining hall, Thorne stopped Kai for a moment, wanting to clear a doubt.
"She'll like it, right?"
"Oh my stars. I am not going into this again," Kai groaned, forcing them to continue walking.
"But she'll say yes, right?" Kai shook his head. Thorne was clearly having a panic attack, one which was completely unnecessary in his opinion.
"Yes, Thorne. She'll say yes." Thorne smiled for real.
"Thanks Kai. I know putting up with my nonsense must be terrible."
"Like you wouldn't believe." Kai paused before he pushed open the doors to the dining hall.
"Good luck." Then he left Thorne outside to collect his thoughts.
"Okay. I can do this." Thorne straightened his jacket lapels and strode through the entrance. Tomorrow, he would propose to the love of his life.
