I'm gonna pretend that I didn't forget the plot of this chapter before I proofread it. I only remembered it was an Iqadi and Imanu one.

Year Four: Dinner with the In-Laws

Four Years Ago - Wakanda's Palace - 18:26 PM

Imanu dreaded this night more and more the closer he got but knows that tonight is simply the first of many. It could be every night once he's married for all he knows since he'll be living in the palace. It's the rest of his life to come if he makes it that far.

He just got used to eating in the palace with their beyond-good food in the presence of Princess Iqadi and her parents. The difference is that back then, he was in a group of suitors so he could blend in with the others. Now he was The One and his family would be joining him.

Dinner. His parents and Kili with his fiancée (still gives him shivers to think about. Her proposing to him feels like a dream that he was ready to wake up from) and his future in-laws (different shivers. He's terrified of them).

Maybe King T'Challa and Queen Ororo will just talk to his parents the whole time, and get to know them better. They already know who he is anyways. He's had too many awkward conversations with them already. Or maybe Kili will be Kili and grab everyone's attention. That might make things worse and look bad on him … a risk he's willing to take.

Or maybe Princess Iqadi would end up talking to him … he didn't think of that possibility.

They could talk during small moments together during her choosing period and then that one fateful night. Scenes from back that replay in his mind since he still doubts it actually happened. It was a fever dream that gave him shivers and flashed in his mind whenever he looked at her. Another dream he was prepared to wake up disappointed from it not being real.

He wonders if she thinks the same thing. She had to if she picked him and felt something in her bones and wanted him forever.

"Kili."

Imanu refocuses on the dinner when he hears his father address Kili. He looks at his parents sitting across from him before Kili who sits at his side. Iqadi is in the middle of him and Kili since his sister wanted to sit next to the head of the table beside King T'Challa. Usually, Iqadi would sit next to her father. Then the other side was Queen Ororo and his parents.

Imanu leans forwards a bit and sees that Kili has pushed her vegetables to the edge of her plate.

His cheeks burn because he didn't think Kili would've made a fuss about vegetables back home. She simply didn't want to eat them. Being in next to the royal family - right next to the King, across from the Queen, and beside the Princess - didn't deter her. He bets it encouraged her to protest eating them since her parents wouldn't be as stern in front of Princess Iqadi and her parents.

Imanu isn't sure if he should say anything, especially since his fiancée is sitting next to him and his sister. If anything, her face is unreadable. She looks at Kili curiously with her fork in her hand.

Iqadi leans in closer to Kili. "Is the eggplant being ruined with this sauce or improved with it? You tell me."

She takes a bite from Kili's plate, looking at her for a response.

Kili frowns. "You're smart. You tell me."

Imanu's stomach drops. He admires his sister for being too small to understand the situation. At least she's under less scrutiny than him since she's only the consort's sister and only ten-years-old. He can't complain … nor would he ever since the food is so much more decadent than what he grew up eating. His parents seem like they're about to have an aneurysm while King T'Challa and Queen Ororo look at each other, hiding smiles behind their glasses to drink.

Those reactions should relax him but Iqadi's pursed lips worry him. If he could run from the table, then he would.

"You're right…" Iqadi says, "but you have better opinions on vegetables. You'll be my sister so I need to know if you'll appreciate eggplant cooked like this or maybe prepared another way. In future times you'll eat with us which I hope will be often. Granted, maybe not so much if you do not like the food."

She called Kili her sister. Imanu's glad he didn't have food in his mouth or else he would've choked.

"How about not being prepared at all," Kili suggests.

Queen Ororo laughs a little which makes him smile a bit.

"Smart idea," Iqadi responds with a nod. "You should accompany my father and me if we discuss implementing policies. Maybe you, Kili Luyano, can make the ultimate decision on whether we should make eggplant our national food or ban it completely. We don't specialize in it within our borders but our neighbours depend on our purchase and in exchange we offer them security amongst other things, as is our specialty inside and out of our borders."

Kili hesitates, poking the eggplant with her fork before nibbling on a small piece. She still grimaces but at least her parents can relax a little. Imanu still isn't at ease because his heart races, especially when Iqadi turns to face him. All he does is smile and raise his glass to her.

Her expression, as usual, is unreadable. But if he had to guess, was she looking for his reaction? At least he knows that when they have kids, she'll use the continental economy to convince their kids to eat vegetables. Eat your eggplant so Mother can continue protecting Wakanda and its neighbours. It's a cute thought the more he thinks about it.

It humanizes her since she felt fictional for so long. The Princess of Wakanda was merely a myth in the mines. Now he's sitting next to her, engaged to her, and watching her convince his sister to eat eggplant.

The next time he catches her smile was when dessert was brought out. It was a small lime cake with a dollop of malva pudding on the side.

The parents are chatting amongst themselves like old friends catching up. Was he supposed to talk to Princess Iqadi? About what? Their wedding? What can he contribute to that? He's pretty sure his only role is to show up and marry her … which is fine by him. It's sure a lot easier than Royal Protocol which drills his future role as Prince Consort into his head.

He takes another bite of his and looks over at Iqadi, who sits with perfect posture in her chair. Her plate is empty, scraped clean.

Admittedly, Imanu's impressed she could eat that fast and cleanly, but then he connects the dots when he sees that Kili has two portions of dessert on her plate.

"I saw that," Imanu whispers to her, putting his hand on the back of her bicep. He actually didn't see anything but he knows what happened.

"Saw what?" Iqadi asks.

"You gave Kili your dessert."

Iqadi grins a little. "Did not."

Imanu mirrors her face because she isn't even trying to hide her lying. "You know, she says she doesn't eat her vegetables so she could make room for dessert."

"She can have her cake and eat it too."

Imanu laughs a little as Iqadi turns in her chair to face him. He isn't sure what to do with her. Sometimes she shifts from being a regal heir keeping up an image to just another person, an unbelievably perfect being with gorgeous flaws. Not too long ago they spent the night in one of the palace labs going over classified information. Now they sometimes look at each other like strangers … because they still are. But then they have moments as heartwarming as this, joking between themselves at the dinner table while everyone else talks and eats as if they're alone.

He can't put it all on her. He'd never try to do so. It'll be his marriage too.

"You can have your cake and eat it too," he tells her.

Iqadi raises a brow. "What do you mean?"

Imanu holds out his hand and she hesitates before taking it. To his surprise, she shakes it as if they've made a deal but then he raises their linked hands and kisses hers. Imanu looks her in the eyes and she moves a lock of hair behind her ear, her gaze on their hands. His heart speeds, but then warms when she turns their hands around and kisses his own.

-o-

Present Day - Wakanda's Palace - 16:43 PM

Imanu walks out of their closet and enters the bedroom where he sees Iqadi dressed casually (casual for her, which was a solid, sleeveless, wrinkle-free jumpsuit and no jewelry with her hair down). When she looks up at him, her curls bounce a little and she smiles.

"What is it?" Imanu asks, looking down at his shirt. "Is there a stain?"

"I've been thinking," Iqadi says.

"About?"

"Things are so much more enjoyable if you have sex before going to dinner."

Imanu pauses, almost tripping while Iqadi remains unfazed by her words and his near fall. He looks at her, making sure he heard her right and she isn't saying anything to make him think differently.

"What?" He asks.

"More energetic, not bloated or drunk," she explains before her voice trails. "Although Stark's told me that being drunk during it is quite fun."

Then he catches on and he grins. He didn't think she, of all people, would attempt. He appreciates no beating around the bush and just gunning for it. And she even had valid reasons because they do get tired after a heavy meal and while inebriated.

"You're stealing my tactic," Imanu says in disbelief.

Iqadi frowns. "Am not."

"Are so." He smiles when she doesn't even try to defend it. "What are you so afraid of? You're you. People are scared of you. Sometimes I'm still scared of you."

He understands Iqadi, though, even if she's never said anything. He has his reasons for fearing her parents not only as his monarch, but his in-laws, but she has an added feeling of superficiality. She loves his parents but she probably thinks that they feel obligated to like her since she's their future queen and their son's wife, and she and her family have vastly improved their lives since marrying him.

At least Iqadi knows that Kili loves her, maybe more than she loves him. And his parents still adore her, maybe even more so than ever. Like him, they started seeing the Princess of Wakanda as more of a person than a mythical royal.

But he doesn't blame her at all for trying to coax him out of attending dinner with them.

Her frown remains. "What does that mean?"

"I'm scared of what I don't expect, as one normally is, but I also love it sometimes," he responds.

Iqadi nods, thinking his words over. "The thrill of a good hunt."

Imanu leans forwards and kisses her forehead. He lingers for a moment. "Could've worn a dress to make it easier." He smiles as he feels her tense and she looks at him. "I'm better at this than you."

Iqadi kisses his jaw. "Practice makes perfect."

"I'll just have you for dessert later."

Iqadi's mouth opens to say something but nothing comes out. Instead, she laughs a little as Imanu cups her face and kisses her.

" … you are better at this," she mutters.

-o-

Luyano House - 17:56 PM

Iqadi keeps to herself as she eats her dinner since Imanu's parents are mostly listening to Kili as she talks about her day in school. She's animated as she talks about the social drama happening with her classmates, a little petty drama that Iqadi can only smile upon listening to it. Even when her parents try to ask about the lessons and homework, Kili changes the topic back to the gossip of the day. Iqadi knows her tactic because it never changes: Kili just doesn't want to eat her vegetables.

"The mines weren't this entertaining," Imanu whispers, leaning in closer to Iqadi.

"Neither was the palace," Iqadi responds.

"You're entertaining. At least, you were earlier."

Iqadi narrows her eyes to cover her burning cheeks as Imanu smiles and eats off her plate. Iqadi retaliates by taking his glass to sip but he just takes her. They meet eyes and giggle like children until Imanu's parents at Kili are looking at them.

"You are better at this," Iqadi commends. She looks at Kili. "So you were saying…"