I hopped off Max's saddle and rushed to help Rapunzel off her horse. She was smiling radiantly as always. I held her hands in mine and closed my eyes as I pulled her in for a kiss. I knew how lucky I was to be able to kiss a girl like Rapunzel any time I wanted.

Before our lips could meet, I felt her pull away from me. I opened my eyes and saw Cassandra tugging at her arm, pulling her away from me. My mood immediately soured. The surly lady-in-waiting smirked at me behind her shoulder as she walked away with my sun. So fucking annoying.

Rapunzel followed her willingly, obeying her every order as they walked through town. I followed behind, pouting like a child. I knew I was being immature. This was part of being royalty. I was happy for Rapunzel being reunited with her family, but I was starting to realize that she still wasn't free.

My petulance was interrupted by Helmut clearing his throat as I approached the side entrance to the castle.

"Mr. Fitzherbert, the clothing options for the welcoming ceremony are ready for you to decide on."

"Fantastic!" I threw an arm around Helmut, who looked appalled. "Let's go take a look!"

Although my time with my girlfriend was constantly being cut short due to her being royalty, this part made up for it. The king and queen accepted me into their family, let me live in the castle, and I was treated like royalty myself. Flynn Rider would never have believed it.

I felt like I had a family. And I wasn't even officially the king and queen's son-in-law yet. I had been thinking more about my girlfriend who I wanted to be my wife. I even bought (not stole) a fancy ring. I was ready to make it official. Rapunzel and I would live happily ever after.

…..

"I love you, Eugene. But I can't…. Just not…not now. Um.. I need some air"

Rapunzel hurried out the side door, leaving me kneeling in the center of the throne room with the king, queen, and all the foreign dignitaries either staring at me or awkwardly looking away from the embarrassing scene. Cassandra glared at me.

Rapunzel doesn't love me anymore. Something has changed.

I stood and walked out of the throne room, past Cassandra and her accusing glare. I clutched the ring box in my hand walking aimlessly down the stone corridor.

"What were you thinking?"

Normally, that icy voice would make me whip around and give a smart retort and get as many insults in as possible. But this time my body still felt deflated and I didn't bother to turn around.

"She doesn't want to get married to me. When did she stop loving me?"

I heard a heavy sigh behind me. I could almost feel her rolling her eyes. I looked down at the ring box and saw Cassandra's feet stop next to mine.

"She never stopped loving you, you ding dong. It's just the wrong time to ask her to marry you," she said. The iciness in her voice had thawed a little. I knew Rapunzel hadn't stopped loving me. If Cass said she still loved me, I believed her. She knew the princess the best after all.

"But why? I thought the coronation would be perfect. The dream coming together and everything," I said with more emotion in my voice than I wanted to show Cassandra of all people.

"That's your dream. Can't you tell she's not happy? She's only eighteen, and has only just begun to see the world outside her tower. Did you really think she would be ready to settle down and live the rest of her life stuck in the castle?"

I watched Cassandra's eyes as she spoke. I realized she wasn't mocking me, for once. She was being honest and trying to help me understand. Except I still wasn't understanding why Rapunzel didn't want to marry me. Although I did see a glimmer of what Rapunzel saw in Cass.

She sighed again and said, "I'm going to go check on the princess," and walked away.

I headed toward the corridor that would take me to my room. I had a lot to think about.