AN: Half of the reason I chose to use Alfred and Matthew for the twins in this fic was because I absolutely adore their brotherly relationship, and I wanted to incorporate it into the story. The actual fairy tale doesn't mention the brother's relationship much, but I wanted to bring it in here. I like exploring relationships that aren't amorous, like friendly or brotherly relationships. Like in First Kiss Wins (my currently on-hiatus Prucan/Franada fic) I picked those pairings mostly to mess around with Prussia and France's friendly relationship.

Jeez, I'm long-winded. These Author's Notes are going to be longer than the actual fic xD

Happy reading!

No one wanted to wed a monster.

Curse that soothsayer! Alfred growled to himself. Curse him and his loathsome reliability!

For months now, the palace had been in an uproar, ever since Matthew had been moved into a guest suite downstairs. Everything female that could be found was presented to him, and they all ran away screaming. Matthew never did anything to the girls, never even tried to nibble at them, and yet they always ran at the sight of his scales and claws and teeth and those amber eyes that could see deeper than your soul. Some ran before he even got to see their faces—his mind-voice was unnerving enough in itself.

Even though Alfred was upset at their lack of progress for his own sake, he was also sympathetic towards his twin. It was Matthew who had to deal with each and every rejection as a strong but careless blow. Perhaps that was the worst part at all—none of the girls gave a care for Matthew's hurt. Matthew tried to pretend that he didn't accumulate scars on his heart for each and every girl that ran screaming, but Alfred knew. However cold-blooded he was, he had a beating heart, and any heart that lived was subject to pain.

Alfred got up from his desk, where he had been sorting through lists of girls Matthew had seen and not seen. The poor lindorm was locked up in his rooms, as always, with a heavy guard despite Alfred's reassurances that Matthew would not hurt anyone. Matthew had sworn up and down not to mutilate any of the servants, and he'd said that he'd never even tasted human flesh before much less craved it, but no one seemed to take the word of a lindorm seriously but Alfred.

In fact, he'd heard from the guards that the only time Matthew seemed anything other than utterly miserable was when Alfred visited. So he made it a priority to spend some time with his scaly brother each day, to help alleviate his suffering.

"Matthew?" Alfred asked, opening the door slightly.

Alfred, is it you? asked Matthew's now-familiar mind-voice hopefully.

"Yes, it is." The younger twin stepped into the room. It was ornately furnished, as were all the rooms of the palace, but most of the furniture was shoved to the very edges of the room to make space for Matthew's bulk. Although he wasn't massive—as dragons went, at least—he still took up more space than any man, and he needed all the room they could make for him.

Matthew was curled up on the huge four-poster bed, but he hurriedly uncoiled and made his way over to Alfred with his half-slithering, half-walking movement. You do not know how good it does my eyes to see you, Brother.

"I can imagine. How are you holding up?" Alfred asked, scratching the scales between Matthew's eyes fondly.

Matthew's shoulders rolled in an imitation of a shrug. As well as can be expected, I suppose. And yourself? How goes the search?

Alfred shrugged too. "We have almost exhausted all the females nearby. Soon we will have to search for them in other towns as well."

The lindorm dropped his eyes. Again, I must apologize… If I had never been born, none of this would have happened… You could be happily married by now if I were not alive.

"Do not say things like that," Alfred admonished, grabbing a spine at the base of Matthew's skull and swinging his head around with it playfully. "The way I see it is, how many men can claim to have a dragon as a brother? I would prefer a formidable brother like you to a swooning wife."

Matthew smiled gratefully. Thank you, Brother. For everything… You are the only person here who does not hate me. Even Mother… Well, perhaps especially Mother. They all look at me like I will eat them at the slightest provocation.

"I know, Brother." Alfred said, swinging his spine a little more. "But do not let it make you upset! If it becomes too much to take you can just eat them after all and the problem will be solved."

Mind-laughter was very strange—it reverberated back and forth between their minds like an echo, a bubble popping in one of their brains and growing anew in the other. But it was gratifying. Alfred had not heard Matthew laugh in weeks.

If only it were that easy, Brother. If only.

AN: Please review! ^^ I know the short chapters might be a little discouraging, but I'm experimenting! Trust me, the chapters get longer towards the end. The POV just jumps a lot for now.