The Knight waited as Princess Trish was getting ready for the night in Queen Donatella's parlor. He was invited by King Diavolo to his study so they could wait together for the women to be dressed for the night.

"Have a drink with me, Bucciarati." King Diavolo motioned as he pushed a cup of wine in front of the Knight and started pouring sour, thick red wine.

The Knight simply gave a nod and picked up the ice cool glass then sipped the bitter drink.

"It's such a waste of time going to this event… but you'll have a chance to meet with other members of the Kingdom alliance. Marrying my daughter has afforded you a seat at the table, you'll be part of the discussion now." King Diavolo was eager to get Bucciarati on his side. He was King, sure, but he needed money and the world's best navy on his side could only help achieve his goals. "I have so many plans."

But Bruno started to feel uncomfortable calling his marriage to the Princess "an alliance". Yes, initially, that's all it was, a means to gain more power. Truthfully, he had lived a humble life and felt powerless to systematic abuse, he wanted control so that he could help those who could not help themselves. Those who were powerless and abused. He married the Princess to gain access to more resources to help those in desperate need. But things had taken a turn since he'd met the Princess, he was smitten by her and had fallen deeply in love with her.

Bruno tried to listen to what King Diavolo was saying but he could hardly agree with anything his father-in-law was saying. All his plans were extremely one-sided and benefitted only himself, the King.

"Your majesty, I agreed to pay your debt with the bank of Naples, but I'm afraid I cannot continue to contribute to your cause. I have my own plans and I have no intention to deviate from them." Bruno was clear from the beginning and wanted no misunderstandings.

Diavolo narrowed his eyes at Bruno and adjusted the cusps of his shirt. "You married my daughter days ago and you're already backing out of this alliance?"

Bruno stared at the ground for a minute trying to gather his thoughts. "I'm humbly loyal to you, your majesty. However, I have made promises to less fortunate people and I cannot deviate... I am needed." The Knight tried to bare his soul in hopes to gain some compassion from his King.

But Diavolo was not about to let Bruno walk away from him so easily. "You married my daughter and made her a promise to keep and protect her, for ALWAYS."

"And I fully intend to keep my promise your majesty…" Bruno responded.

"I bore no sons, my daughter WILL be Queen someday Bruno Bucciarati are you ready to take care of a Queen? You are not. You need power, allies. You cannot be successful in protecting her by nursing the poor. You are selfish!" The King passionately rebutted.

"Selfish?!" Bruno looked at the King in shock, he would never act selfishly when it came to the Princess. He would ALWAYS put her well being first.

"You married her against her will to gain power, you used her. You don't deserve her, you have no royal blood… But you have money and courage and you WILL honor my daughter. You understand?!" Diavolo slammed his fists on the chair's arm rests.

"... I married the Princess ...against her will?" Bruno was shocked to know. He knew it had been an arranged marriage but he never thought the Princess was against marrying him.

Diavolo's lips betrayed him and spasmed into a smile. By the looks of despair in Bucciarati's eyes, he had the Knight eating out of the palm of his hand using his daughter as a pawn. "Princess Trish wanted to marry Prince Giorno, you really didn't know?"

Bruno felt his soul leave his body. "... She wanted to marry someone else?"

Diavolo nodded. "As I walked her down the aisle, she practically scratched my arms begging me to let her marry Prince Giorno instead."

Bruno furrowed his eyebrows, he was looking at Diavolo's direction but everything had gone dark. "Was she in love?"

"Deeply." Diavolo adjusted his lips to show remorse, this moment was too delicious for him and it was beginning to show. "But you've consummated the marriage, she can no longer be with Prince Giorno… Ever. So now you MUST do everything in your power to make my daughter happy… This includes siding with me at the alliance table tonight. You understand?"

"Are you certain the Princess loves Prince Giorno?" Bruno couldn't accept it. She had been so happy in his arms just hours before.

"You'll see for yourself, tonight." Diavolo warned.

Bruno solemnly looked at the ground and tried to hold down the violent knott forming at the pit of his stomach. The cold glass of wine had turned warm in his hand.

--

Later that night King Diavolo and his family shared the horse and carriage ride to the Joestar Castle.

Princess Trish held The Knight by the arm sitting next to him across from her parents. She lovingly looked into his eyes. "You look very handsome my Knight, you look like a prince." She said so as a loving compliment but it only served to remind the Knight of who he wasn't.

"And you're the most beautiful Princess there ever was." He said in an almost broken tone. The Princess looked at him as if she loved him, so he wasn't going to give up on her love just yet. He kissed her lips then put his arm around her waist. The princess then cozied up under the nook of his neck and held his hand.

"I can't wait for you to meet Giorno." She smiled up at him.

"Yeah?" He said, and swallowed hard.

"You will love him. He's wonderful." The Princess smiled.

Princess Trish had grown up with Prince Giorno as the friend she felt closest to, they had so much in common and had shared their entire childhood together. She couldn't wait to share her most important friendship with the Knight.

"If he's important to you, then he is important to me." The Knight hugged his wife tightly. He looked up at King Diavolo sitting next to the Queen. He hoped King Diavolo was wrong or misinformed, he hoped Princess Trish loved him and not Prince Giorno.

--

The Royal Family arrived at Prince Giorno's castle. The coming of age party for Prince Giorno was the most lavish festivity the kingdom had ever seen. They brought in exotic animals from Egypt, Japanese paintings to decorate the walls of the castle and even the Prince's suit had been made from virgin French silk; everything was foreign and beautiful. The feast included the best dishes and pastries all of Italy could afford, they had been gifted to him by the people. "For the noble Prince", as the people lovingly referred to him.

"The Joestars have truly outdone themselves." The Queen looked at the castle in awe, fireworks brightly sparkling across the sky every few moments.

"I wonder who's paying for this charade." King Diavolo dryly questioned. As he walked alongside his wife through the endless rows of flowers adorning the entrance of the castle.

"Diavolo, please, let us have a pleasant evening." The Queen smiled, trying to pretend everything was fine. She knew very well that little ears were everywhere and any poor remark from her husband could spoil the relationship with the Joestars.

Doppio walked behind the Royal couple and heard Diavolo question the payment of the event and he interjected to answer. "I believe the party was paid for by the merchant services, Speedwagon" Doppio then pointed at several of the items in the table that had the symbol of Speedwagon.

The King nodded. "King Jonathan's ally."

Doppio nodded. "They are friends, your majesty."

The Queen pushed Doppio back, "Enough with the politics!" And turned back and smiled at the other guests.

———-

Inside the dining hall Prince Giorno and his parents were welcoming guests as they arrived.

"Princess Trish!" Prince Giorno smiled immediately upon seeing his childhood friend. "I am so happy you and your new husband, Sir Bruno Bucciarati could make it." He walked up to the Princess and greeted her unlike the rest of his guests, he actually hugged her.

Sir Bruno didn't know much about royal formalities but a hug seemed intimate.

"We didn't get much of an opportunity to get to know each other during your wedding Sir Bruno, but hopefully we can do so tonight." Prince Giorno kindly smiled at the Knight.

Sir Bruno bowed and nodded. "Nothing would make me happier, Prince Giorno."

Princess Trish then held onto Prince Giorno's arms. "GioGio you MUST show my husband my painting of you!"

Prince Giorno looked confused. "Which painting? The one where you made me look like a cat or the one where you made my hands look like rocks?" He laughed, teasing the Princess.

Princess Trish playfully smacked his chest. "Don't be rude! I did my best!" And laughed. "Besides, it's not as if you did any better!" She then looked back at the Knight. "You should see what he did to my face!"

"Sir Bruno I think you'll find my painting of your wife very realistic." Prince Giorno said, trying to be serious, but broke off into a giggle thinking of the monstrosity he had painted.

"GioGio! I do not have a lopsided face!" The Princess continued to laugh.

It was an intimate slap. They were intimate with each other. It's all The Knight could think. They're about the same age and they obviously have great chemistry. A Prince and a Princess... Sir Bruno felt remorse. Perhaps he shouldn't have married her.

Prince Giorno smiled and told them he would later join them during the festivities but for now he would continue greeting his other guests.

"My love, what did you think of Prince Giorno?" Princess Trish went back to her husband's arms and lovingly gazed into his eyes.

"Do you mean Prince GioGio?" Sir Bruno remarked.

"Oh yes, that's what his family calls him." The Princess smiled and pushed back some of the hairs falling on Sir Bruno's face from looking down at her. "Don't worry soon enough you'll love him too."

Love him? Sir Bruno wanted to grab the Princess's hand and run away with her right then and there. Maybe Prince Giorno had known her longer, maybe all he needed was more time with her.

But the Princess had pulled him into a kiss and broke him out of his thoughts. She kissed him like no one had ever kissed him. She looked at him like no else existed in the world. Was he mistaken?

—————

Prince Giorno and his father had invited members of the Alliance to a brief meeting in the study room.

King Jonathan was at the head of the table. "As you all know we are gathered here to celebrate my son's coming of age and with it Prince Giorno will gain more responsibilities within our Kingdom which will affect neighboring areas."

At this moment Prince Giorno stood up proud. "I'm happy and eager to say that I wish to honor my father's good will and continue his mission to help those less fortunate."

King Diavolo scoffed and looked at Sir Bruno, "King Jonathan has no riches to give… Are they on a mission to ruin the kingdom alliance?"

Prince Giorno overheard. "Do you have something you'd like for us to hear, King Diavolo?"

King Diavolo then stood up, "Son… I have watched you grow alongside my daughter… you are like family to me."

Prince Giorno questioned King Diavolo's remark as it had been the lifelong plan to marry him to his daughter and King Diavolo had actually married her off to a Knight.

Although Giorno found the Knight to be a good man and considered the Princess to be lucky, he thought less of King Diavolo who did everything behind their backs.

"Is that so?" Prince Giorno questioned the King, for he knew he didn't truly mean it.

"I have, and I do." King Diavolo restated. "I know you have a good heart, like your father King Jonathan… " Diavolo then started to straighten up and looked diafiantly at the Joestars. "However… your kindness comes at a price to the rest of us, to the Kingdom alliance."

"What price is that?!" Prince Giorno became irritated, but was held back by King Jonathan.

"It's alright GioGio let him speak his mind. We are here to listen to each other's needs." Prince Jonathan said with kindness.

Sir Bruno watched everything with caution. He immediately saw why King Diavolo didn't want to marry his daughter to Prince Giorno, even if they loved each other.

He simply didn't agree with the politics of his family, House of Joestar. Sir Bruno felt a terrible knot form in his stomach. He was standing in the way of Prince Giorno and Princess Trish's happiness all due to King Diavolo's manipulative intentions.

Sir Bruno watched as King Jonathan and Prince Giorno passionately explained that they didn't care for riches and would find other ways to gain resources and continue helping the poor. They'd already begun trading goods with merchants such as the Speedwagons, meanwhile King Diavolo argued he wanted more and more power.

"I truly wish Dio was still at the head of House of Joestar…" King Diavolo said in an icy tone, knowing this would strike a nerve with everyone sitting at the table.

Dio was King Jonathan's younger brother and he'd been described as evil and cruel, Bruno had heard the rumors. It was even speculated that Giorno was actually Dio's son and not Jonathan's. It was rumored that Jonathan had taken Giorno as his own son knowing that his biological father Dio, didn't have the greatest reputation. Dio had been so evil that he'd been poisoned to death by members of his own family. It was unknown which members but after his brother's death Jonathan bowed to make the Kingdom a peaceful place where his son Giorno could reign in peace.

King Jonathan was devastated by the mention of his late brother. "We don't speak of the dead at the alliance table… let the dead Rest In Peace." Was all King Jonathan needed to say for King Diavolo to back off.

"We will continue to make trade and sell goods and my father and I will show you, King Diavolo… we do not need to continue with the current system our Kingdom runs. We don't need slaves and peasants. We'll show you it works when we do things our way." Prince Giorno didn't want to keep upsetting his father, so he gave an olive branch to King Diavolo.

"Fine." King Diavolo concluded. "Are we done here?"

King Jonathan nodded. "All in favor?"

Everyone nodded.

King Jonathan placed a hand on Prince Giorno's shoulder. "Then let us celebrate my sons coming of age." And smiled proudly at him.

Sir Bruno was completely heartbroken. The Joestars were a remarkable family and it seemed like Prince Giorno was truly as wonderful as his wife had painted him. "You will soon love him" She had said to him, and after the meeting Sir Bruno couldn't help but feel nothing but admiration for the young courageous Prince who went head to head with King Diavolo. He could easily see why Princess Trish had fallen in love with him… But did Prince Giorno love her? If he didn't love her nothing else would matter. Sir Bruno loved Princess Trish like no one ever could, he was certain… but if they loved each other… could he really continue to be in their way? Could he really continue to be married to her?

—————

Later that night Sir Bruno Bucciarati danced with the Princess like it was the last time he would ever see her. He held her tightly and kissed her every moment he could. Everything was telling him to do the right thing and annul the marriage. After all, they never did consummate their marriage and the Princess was still a virgin… But every fiber in his body told him the Princess loved him and not Prince Giorno. The way she looked into his eyes, he felt her love.

"What's wrong, my love?" Princess Trish furrowed her eyebrows up at him and placed the palms of her hands against his cheeks, "Is something the matter?" The Princess didn't really know him, but she could tell something was wrong.

The Knight kissed her hand. "Princess… what would make you happy?" Sir Bruno tried to gain some insight into what the Pricess might want out of life.

She looked puzzled. "I am happy, my love… why are you worried I'm not happy?"

Sir Bruno looked at the delicate hands holding his face, and kissed them over and over. "If we hadn't married what would have made you happy?"

Princess Trish laughed. "It's strange to think about that actually… I can't really recall… I guess … Marry Prince Giorno."

Sir Bruno felt his stomach sink, his throat closed up… but he had to ask, before he would give it all up.. he had to ask. "Did you love him?"

Princess Trish looked into the distance and smiled. "I care for him deeply."

Sir Bruno thought that was the Princess' polite way of saying she was in love with Prince Giorno to her current husband, but in reality the Princess didn't know what love was until she met the Knight.

"I'm really sorry." SIr Bruno said, almost in tears.

"Don't be sorry." Princess Trish held her husband's hands. "I'm really happy with how things turned out…" Her lips turned into a toothy smile, she was so in love she didn't even have the words to express her happiness. "I can't wait to go home and hear your poems… and… just be with you alone."

"She still has a chance to get out of this marriage." Is all Sir Bruno could think of, he didn't do right by her the first time but maybe he could still redeem himself. He just needed to speak to Prince Giorno and make sure the Princess would still be taken care of if he annulled their marriage.

"I have to talk to Prince Giorno." Sir Bruno said.

"Let's go find him." The Princess said and kissed him on the lips one last time.