Christopher could see the different emotions swirling in Lily's eyes even though she tried to mask it with a warm smile. She looked confused and hurt. If it wasn't for the bright blush that spread over her face, he would have thought she hated him. He gently tugged her hand away from the crowd and towards a balcony. She seemed too dazed to notice at first but when the crowd of people were behind her and the cold air hit her face she snapped back into reality.

She slowly pulled her hand away and decided to focus on the garden below them. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to feel at this moment, but she couldn't dare look at his face. Her thoughts wandered off to her and Christopher under the tree only days ago.

"I'm sure he's proud to have someone as amazing as you as his future wife."

Was he trying to say he was proud to have her as a future wife? If he was happy about the arrangement then why had he never told her? Should she ask him directly? She was mentally older so it should be her that takes the first step right? No wait, she doesn't want to get married or be a queen. It didn't matter who the crown prince was, she couldn't lead a kingdom in the future.

"I didn't want you to find out like this." his voice was gentle and cautious. Without waiting for a reply he continued.

"You were right when you said that I did not have a choice in this engagement either. I was furious with my father when he told me. I even made up my mind before I met you that I would never love you."

He stopped for a moment to rub his hands in his hair as he let out a small chuckle.

"Looking back at it now I knew I wouldn't be able to hate you the moment our eyes met. You were so kind and adventurous. The way you thought about magic was like nothing I had ever seen before. Every time you laughed I felt like a leash was tugging at my heart and pulling me closer to you. It was impossible not to fall in love with you."

At his words, she finally turned her head to look at him. Shock could be seen easily on her face.

"You... you love... no wait. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"I tried bringing up the subject of our engagement a few times, but every time you would say you didn't want to talk about your forced marriage and that you wouldn't be engaged for long. I was scared if I told you it was me, you would ask me to beg Father to cancel it."

She stared at her best friend in disbelief. He wanted the engagement and somehow knew she planned to use him to cancel it. She was a little terrified at the thought that he knew her so well when she felt like she didn't know him enough. The fact that her heart was still beating too quickly because her best friend just announced he loved her and that they had been engaged since they were young was not helping her mind process all this information.

"I'm not fit to be a queen. Even if the duke adopted me I'm still a commoner. I'm not good at politics and dealing with snobby nobles. How would I command them? How would I even be able to gain their respect?"

As she voiced her ragging thoughts aloud and started to pace back in forth in her panic. Christopher had to hold in a laugh. He gently walked towards her even though she was too unfocused to notice him. He pulled her into a hug as he rested her head on his shoulder and squeezed her gently.

"Breathe, please. You forget that you would not be in charge alone. The burden is not yours to carry, for I will never leave your side. I would not tolerate any disrespect from anyone towards you. I've been trained since a young age to handle everything when it comes to being a king. If you do not wish to get involved, then let me handle it and you may do as you please. But I need you to stay with me by my side. You are far stronger and more dependable than you give yourself credit for. Please don't say such awful lies about yourself."

For a second she could only hug him back as if on instinct. He was always warm and comfortable to her. His handsome appearance made so much more sense now that she knew who he was. She knew her best friend was very attractive, but she was already engaged and didn't want to get involved in any more nobles than she had to. She didn't think she felt the same way he did for her. She thought of him as a close friend, but his eyes showed emotion far more intense. She couldn't understand why he would feel those kinds of things towards her, but she also felt lucky that out of anyone in this world, she would be forced to marry. It was him.

"I guess I'm lucky that out of anyone who could be my fiance, it turned out to be you. I still don't think I should be a queen... but if you truly believe in me, I'll try my best."

Her face was bright cherry red as she looked away as she spoke. Christopher couldn't help the smile on his face as she silently agreed to not break off the engagement. He pulled her back into him as he quickly pressed her lips to his before she could protest. One hand was on her waist as his other held the back of her head to keep her face flush against his. Pulling away only when he needed to breathe he grabbed her hand and escorted her back into the ballroom.