𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙞𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 - [Technoblade x reader ]

14

My next morning was slow. The dinner was slow the night before, filled with normal conversation about things Ishton and Technoblade did to try to win over their father's approval. I had actually intended to attend breakfast as a thank you to Technoblade for our day, but I had overslept and I didn't feel like rushing to attend a meal I typically didn't go to.

Alethea had been bugging me for more details about my lunch excursion with the Prince but it felt wrong to tell her about it. It felt... private. Like something that couldn't be shared with anyone but us. It was also undeniably funny to watch Alethea get frustrated over my silence.

The beginning of my days typically were very calm. I spent a lot of time with Alethea and we'd share portions of my breakfast since the servants rarely got high-quality food. I always loved the slow start to my morning, which is a reason I didn't feel exceptionally terrible about not waking early enough to join breakfast.

But the day had some other plans.

"Princess (Y/N), Prince Ishton is-"

"I have arrived!" Ishton said as he slid by Alethea announcing his arrival. I couldn't help but giggle at Alethea's irritated face after what she had disclosed to me the night before. I could see all of the teasing that still sat between them after finding out about their past together.

Ishton had begun to grow on me recently. I couldn't deny that there was something odd about him, but I found myself relating to his struggles as the younger sibling. Seeing him with his father was frustrating sometimes, seeing King Erix brush him off as though it didn't crush him every time. It gave me relief that he had Alethea when things were hard. Even if it had been old news.

"I find it quite rude that you ignore the rules of the palace when entering Princess (Y/N)'s room, Ishton," Alethea said closing the door behind him. He bore his signature smirk at her words and turned to her. She immediately turned her look to a glare and he laughed off her scolding before turning back to me.

"Well I can't help that Father requests your presence at breakfast immediately, and he sent his favorite son to deliver the news," he said with a wide grin. I giggled quietly before standing and sliding my shoes onto my feet. He gave his arm in an escort before smirking at Alethea once again.

"Should I be nervous?" I asked Ishton as we made our way to the dining hall. He smiled but it wasn't the same smile he normally bore. It had no mischievous intentions or hidden meaning. It just seemed kind.

"No, you aren't in trouble. If that is what you're asking. I won't share the news, but I assure you that it isn't bad," Ishton said squeezing his arm around the grip on my own. I smiled at him, grateful that he was trying to be reassuring after the restriction of my movement around the castle.

The rest of the walk to the dining hall was short and I could tell he was trying to hurry back to ensure that Techno and his father didn't get much time without him. I tried to keep up in my stride for his benefit, even if I felt clumsy in my shoes. His grip did help keep me upright though, which I was grateful for.

When we entered the dining hall, King Erix and Technoblade ceased their conversation and looked at us. Ishton smiled proudly as returned to his seat, prompting me to take my seat next to Technoblade. He smiled gently at me, a smile that I had only begun to receive from him.

"Lovely to have you join us this morning, Princess (Y/N)," King Erix said pulling my attention from the smooth curve of Technoblade's smile. King Erix's smile was never as heartwarming as his sons.

"The pleasure is all mine," I said feeling the political personality take over. King Erix seemed to approve as he dipped his head with a smile. Technoblade had a similar smile on his face, and I couldn't help but notice the blush that crept up my cheeks at the approval.

"Well now that you are with us, I can discuss what I was hoping to get to this morning," he said looking between us and Ishton. "This upcoming weekend we will be holding a ball for the different royal houses. The Wither Skeleton, Blaze, Magma, and Ghast families will all be in attendance."

I suddenly felt all of the fear rise to my throat at the prospect of meeting the royal families of the Nether. There were so many more houses than there were in the End. I must have looked as stressed as I felt because Techno looked at me with a reassuring smile.

"This will be your first appearance as a couple, so I hope that you two will treat this ball with utmost importance. The families expect to see a very happy couple waiting anxiously to be wed so at least try to act as though you two like each other."

Technoblade let out a bit of a snort laugh at his father's words. He was going to make me laugh and get the both of us in deep trouble. King Erix looked at him confused before shaking it off to look at Ishton who was sitting with a humorous grin on his face as well. Something told me he had heard of our trip outside the palace walls.

"And Ishton," he said looking suddenly much more tired. "Please just try to not cause a scene. We don't need a repeat of last time."

I looked at Ishton with a look of complete curiosity, and his previous smile slid away and was replaced with embarrassment. Oh, he was definitely getting grilled about that incident later.

The family had finished eating, and I had already eaten breakfast with Alethea so we were dismissed shortly after his announcement about the ball. Ishton tried to bolt out of the room as fast as he could but I quickly caught up to him and gripped his arm, which earned me an irritated scowl but I was already smiling so widely at the thought of Ishton causing a scene at a royal ball that he couldn't throw me off his trail with a glare.

"Don't think you're getting out of telling me that story that easy, or else you are going to have a very irritating walk back to your rooms," I said trying to keep up with his long strides. He wasn't much taller than myself, but his legs kept him ahead of me if I didn't try running.

"It was nothing. Now go back to Alethea before she starts to panic thinking I've recruited you on a dangerous mission or something," he said rolling his eyes. If I didn't know Ishton better, I'd think he was actually mad, but I knew he was enjoying the banter.

"She can wait, now tell me the story or Alethea will as soon as I return to my rooms. At least you could tell me your truth," I said trying to stop him. I was grateful he stopped and looked at me a little defeated.

"Fine," he said crossing his arms in a bit of a slouch. "I had a little too much to drink and got into it with Technoblade. There isn't much more to it," he said trying to brush it off. I could only imagine the repercussions of getting into a fight with your family at a royal gathering. These events were for showing your united front, the tight family. If Ishton got intoxicated enough to argue with Technoblade at a royal ball, he must have gotten quite the scolding. I can't blame him for not wanting to tell me.

"That must've been horrible. I can't imagine how my mother would react if I got into with my older sister in a social situation like that," I said leaning against the wall in the empty hallway. His face flickered through several expressions, but it settled on a kind of understanding.

"Sometimes I forget you're the younger sibling too. Maybe I should've advocated for you to be my betrothed," he said with a laugh before sliding his arm back in mine and heading back the way we came. "Now come on, you'll need someone to walk you back to your rooms."

We settled into a deeper comfort than we had already established. I felt my heart warm at his vulnerability and enjoyed the walk to my rooms. Things were looking up.