☬♛ PART THIRTY ♛☬

Sebastian had conquered kingdoms. He had survived wars, dethroned tyrants, and rebuilt an empire from its ruins.

And yet-

Planning a proposal for Alex?

Impossible.

It had been months now. Months of late-night walks, secret smiles, stolen touches, and an unbearable amount of love that had built up between them.

Sebastian had had enough.

He was a king, damn it. He was going to propose to Alex.

Romantically.

Properly.

But, of course-

Nothing ever went as planned.

The First Attempt: A Moonlit Garden Disaster

Sebastian had planned it perfectly.

A private dinner in the royal garden, beneath the stars, with candlelight reflecting off the silverware. The best wine, the finest food-everything was set.

He had the ring hidden in his pocket. He was going to reach for it, take Alex's hand, and-

BOOM.

A gust of wind blew through the garden, knocking over the candles. A servant tripped while serving wine, spilling it all over Alex's coat. Then-of course-one of the royal hounds escaped and came barreling through, knocking Sebastian off his chair.

By the time the chaos settled, Alex was laughing so hard he could barely breathe, and Sebastian was left sitting on the ground, drenched in wine and pure humiliation.

Proposal: FAILED.

The Second Attempt: The Lake Mishap

Fine. If a dinner proposal failed, Sebastian would try something else.

A quiet moment by the lake, just the two of them. A boat ride under the golden sunset.

It was supposed to be perfect.

Until Sebastian, in a rare moment of sheer stupidity, decided to stand up in the boat to pull out the ring.

And then-

He fell into the lake.

Just. Straight. Into the water.

Alex had to drag him back into the boat, grinning like a madman while Sebastian sat there, soaked and miserable.

Proposal: FAILED.

The Third Attempt: A Private Library Moment (That Wasn't So Private)

Sebastian tried again.

This time, the palace library-quiet, romantic, just them.

He waited until Alex was reading by the window, the evening sun casting a soft glow over his face.

It was perfect.

Sebastian approached, ring in hand, about to speak-

When the entire council burst in, unannounced, with urgent matters of state.

Alex looked at Sebastian's hand-clearly holding something-then at his murderous expression, and just smirked.

Sebastian, meanwhile, contemplated exiling his entire council.

Proposal: FAILED.

________________________________________

By this point, Sebastian was convinced the universe was mocking him.

Every time he tried, something went wrong.

And Alex?

That infuriating man was enjoying every second of it.

Sebastian finally snapped one evening. "You're laughing at me."

Alex sipped his tea, smirking. "You make it very easy."

Sebastian groaned, slumping onto the couch. "You have no idea how hard this is."

Alex hummed, placing his cup down. "I think I do."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes. "Oh? And how would you-"

Then Alex pulled something from his pocket.

A small velvet box.

Sebastian froze.

Alex tilted his head, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Because I've been trying to propose to you, too."

_______________________________________

Sebastian's brain completely shut down.

"You-WHAT-""

Alex chuckled. "Took me weeks to plan. And yet, somehow, I knew you'd try first."

Sebastian stared. His entire existence shattered. "You-But-I was supposed to-"

Alex opened the box, revealing a simple, elegant ring.

"Sebastian," he said, voice suddenly gentle, serious.

Sebastian swallowed hard.

"Will you marry me?"

Sebastian, the great king, the warrior who had conquered entire nations, sat there, utterly speechless.

He had planned a grand, romantic proposal.

Instead, Alex had beaten him to it.

And the worst part?

Sebastian didn't even care.

Because all he could do was nod.

Then-

Alex kissed him.

And just like that-

Sebastian lost a battle he never wanted to win.