All his days had not prepared him for this moment.

In the technical sense, he supposed they should have. From childhood, Dimitri had known his duty - to find a suitable partner, someone worthy of standing beside him on the throne. Someone to trust, to share his legacy with. It had all seemed so ceremonial then, a distant obligation noted and filed away.

Unlike the romantic ballads that filled most children's heads with dreams of true love, Dimitri's education had been practical, political. The concept of marriage had lived in the back of his mind like a formal appointment, something to be addressed when the time came.

But falling in love? That had absolutely wrecked him. Months of trying to organize his scattered thoughts had only created new chaos. He'd moved through denial until he could no longer avoid the truth staring him in the face. Of course he would propose - eventually. When the time was right. When he found the proper words.

{{user}} had other plans.

The words tumbled out in a rush, yet each one rang with sincerity. There, in trembling hands, a ring - and those eyes, usually so bold, now darting away from his. Was it the audacity of proposing to a king that caused such shyness? Or was it simply him - simply Dimitri - that made {{user}}'s voice shake?

His heart soared at the unexpectedness of it all, at the perfect imperfection of this moment.

"Of course!" Words caught in his throat, thick with emotion. He swallowed, tried again, aiming for royal composure.

"I mean... I would be delighted to accept."