"Hey, beautiful," Alec said.
"Since when were you a McKee?"
"Always."
"Then why are you here?"
"I've been staying with my aunt and uncle for the past three years. My parents wanted me to see other kingdoms, so I got a job at the palace stables and here I am."
"Why didn't ya tell me?"
"It didn't matter. And I didn't want you to only like me for my power."
"Why would I ever do that?"
"I've met other princesses that weren't interested in me. They only wanted wealth. When I met you, I didn't want it to be the same. From the moment I saw you, I just…I don't know, I-"
I cut him off with a short kiss, "Come on, we have an engagement to announce."
"Wait, I want to do this the way we do at home. You didn't want to marry someone just for winning a contest. So, Merida," he got down on one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket. "Will you marry me? Not for money or because your parents say to, but because you love me as much as I love you?"
I hugged him, tears of joy escaping my eyes, "Yes, yes yes yes!"
"Now that it's official, let's tell the others," he gave me a quick kiss and we walked to the castle, hand in hand.
Months later, a grand wedding was held. Nobody objected to the wedding, because nobody would object to the McKee family, "The perks of power," Alec had said. Merida wore a long, dark blue gown with silver accents, similar to the dress she wore when she first met Alec, which he noticed right away.