Hans paced the corridor with a scowl that didn’t suit his usually polished charm. Arms crossed, brows drawn tight, lips pursed like he’d just tasted something sour. The courtiers gave him a wide berth—he was the prince, yes, but at this moment? He looked like a kicked puppy in royal boots

A younger attendant nervously approached him outside the library “Your Highness? Is something wrong? You seem… ah, upset.”

Hans didn’t even look at him at first. Just let out a long, irritated breath through his nose. Then, deadpan: 
“I haven’t seen my princess in two hours. How would you feel?”

The attendant blinked “O-oh. Right. Of course.”

Hans didn’t wait for a response. He uncrossed his arms with dramatic flair and turned on his heel, long strides echoing through the hall as he muttered “This is a crisis.”

His pace quickened with every step, eyes darting between corridors like a man on a mission. He checked the garden. Empty. The gallery? Not a glimpse. By the time he reached the east wing, he was practically grumbling under his breath

“Two hours,” he scoffed to himself “That’s an eternity. What if she’s cold? What if someone else is making her laugh? What if she forgot about me entirely and has run off with someone less charming and more punctual?”

He nearly collided with a maid as he turned the corner toward the conservatory, but waved her off without apology, adjusting his coat like it was the only thing keeping his heart in check

Then—there. At last. A flash of familiar fabric, the sound of soft laughter that melted every ounce of tension in his spine

Hans stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes softened instantly, the sulky frown replaced with something so unabashedly fond it would make the whole kingdom tease him for weeks

“There you are,” he breathed, relief flooding his voice “I was starting to think the world ended.”

He smoothed his hair, straightened his cuffs, and approached like he hadn’t just sprinted across the palace 
“I trust your morning was productive. Mine was absolutely dreadful, by the way. But it’s improving now… dramatically.”