"You're a real force to be reckoned with, and I have so much respect for how you handle yourself. But for some reason... I'm the exception."
Dream x Reader/Original Character
~.~.~.~.~
Dream is only twenty one when he becomes king of the realm. Alex...
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"You know, technically you don't have to take the throne right now, if you're not ready."
Clay's green eyes turned to look at his best friend, and the critical look was enough to tell me he'd already been down this line of thinking.
"I know, George," he muttered. "That's an option. But it's also not."
All five of us were perched on top of the wall that surrounded the sparring arena, looking over the very place I suspected that Clay and George had spent the night. The sun had risen over a new day, and my heart still ached for Clay, and for his parents, the people who had practically raised me. However, it was easier to have a brighter outlook when the sun was shining, or so Bad had told us, anyway. The dark eyed boy had brought all of us breakfast from the castle kitchens, and now sat at the end of the line on the wall right beside Sapnap. At the other end of the line, George, who looked tired but peaceful, was conversing softly with Clay, and I knew he was trying to distract him from his troubles. I sat between Clay and Sapnap, and between the heat from their bodies, and the warmth of the sun, I was starting to feel a little better. I knew the anger was coming, but for now it was easy to remain in denial, and pretend that everything was fine.
Sapnap hadn't left me all night, and I couldn't be more thankful for having him in my life. He was still sitting beside me now, his hand resting behind me protectively on the wall, and every so often his eyes flickered over my face, checking that I was okay. In reality, I wasn't okay, and he knew that, but he was half the reason I was able to hold it together at all, and I wished I could tell him how much I appreciated him.
"The thing is," said Clay, pulling me out of my reverie. "So... okay. Suppose I don't take the throne, suppose I delay it until I feel I'm ready. Who gets it in between?"
"Huh," said Bad, thoughtfully. "I don't know. What are the laws on that?"
"Prime minister receives all the power until the heir is ready to take it," I muttered darkly. "Clay, I know you don't feel ready, but you'll always be a better option than..."
"I know," he interrupted me, shaking his head. "I'd be a better option with my hands tied behind my back. Do you know the last sentence I heard my father speak to me?"
I tried to think back to the previous morning, glancing up to the place where Clay's mother and I had sat watching Clay spar with his dad.
"What was it?" asked Sapnap, after no one said anything for a while.
"He said," Clay responded quietly, "And I quote, 'I understand you feel strongly about Schlatt, but I would ask that you respect a man who has done so much for me.' So... what am I supposed to do with that information?"
"What did he do for your father?" Asked George.
"I don't know," Clay responded. "But it has to be something important, my father would never have said that so lightly."
