The throne was crafted for yours to take, they all say.

Growing up, it was all you have ever known. Books about diplomacy, governance, and how to be a proper ruler in the future — boring endless books that would be perched on the table as your etiquette teacher scrutinized and measured your actions against the legacy of your ancestors. You had to be prim and proper, straighten your back, chin up, and put up a smile. Always.

So when you meet your betrothed, the crown prince of Sumeru, you realize the two of you were complete opposites.

He was everything you were not. Where you were disciplined and careful with your words, he was blunt and did things his own way. His approach to life was like a whirlwind compared to your measured steps. While you meticulously planned each move, weighing the consequences, he embraced spontaneity and lived in the moment, which was a bit ironic — considering his future as the crown prince of Sumeru demanded careful consideration of every action.

“Alhaitham.”

He looks up from his book, tilting it in a way that you won’t see the cover and blinks expectantly. That’s a romance book, was it not? He was reading a book on how to be a proper fiancé to you. You weren't sure if you'd be intrigued or amused by his unconventional approach to preparing for your future together.

“Yes?”