Stuck with me

The sun was high in the sky when Nani finally allowed himself a break. After a long morning filled with royal duties, meetings, and smiling for endless photo opportunities, he was drained. For once, the rest of the evening was mercifully free, and Nani had every intention of taking a well-deserved nap.

In the privacy of his chambers, he discarded his formal attire piece by piece, sighing in relief as the heavy coat and tight collar were replaced with comfort. He stood in his trousers, barefoot, and ready to collapse onto his bed when the sound of the door opening startled him.

“Your Highness, can I—” Sky stopped mid-sentence.

Nani whirled around, his cheeks turning a faint pink. “Sky! Haven’t you heard of knocking?”

Sky grinned unapologetically, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’ve got nothing I haven’t seen before, Your Highness. You should know by now I’m immune to surprises.”

Nani groaned, turning away to grab a loose shirt hanging from a chair. “What do you want, Sky?”

Sky, still standing confidently in the doorway, didn’t answer immediately. Instead, his eyes swept over the room before landing on the fine new shirt draped neatly over the dressing rack. “Actually, I wanted to ask if I could borrow that shirt.”

Nani froze, one eyebrow raised. “This?” He gestured to the elegant white shirt that was loose-fitting and made of silk. It was tailored for him recently, and he hadn’t even worn it yet.

Sky nodded sheepishly. “It’s a little fancy, but it’ll do.”

Curious now, Nani handed the shirt to him. “Fine, take it. But what on earth are you getting all dressed up for? Are you planning to steal my title and become a prince yourself?”

Sky chuckled as he took the shirt and headed into Nani’s dressing room. “Something like that, maybe.”

The door to the dressing room shut, leaving Nani standing there with his arms crossed, an amused smile playing on his lips. “I’m serious, Sky. What’s the occasion?”

Sky’s voice echoed from behind the door, muffled slightly. “The minister’s assistant who’s visiting the King today...she’s the girl my parents chose for me. As a bride.”

The words hit Nani like a slap. His teasing smile faltered, and his expression darkened almost instantly. He felt as though the air had been sucked from the room.

“Oh,” he muttered, struggling to keep his tone casual. “So...this is a date?”

Sky stepped out of the dressing room then, the shirt fitting him loosely yet perfectly. The sleeves hung a little long on him, giving him an air of charming effortlessness. He ran a hand through his hair, checking his reflection in the mirror.

“It’s not really a date,” Sky said with a shrug. “It’s just a first meeting. My parents set it up, and she’s visiting the palace today anyway. I’m not thrilled about it, but you know how families can be.”

Nani’s heart twisted painfully, though he wasn’t sure why. With a groan, he flopped onto the bed, face-down into the pillows.

“You shouldn’t use the palace as a matchmaking spot,” he grumbled, his voice muffled.

Sky turned around, clearly puzzled by the prince’s sudden change in mood. “What’s wrong with you? I thought you’d enjoy the break from me bothering you.”

“I’m tired,” Nani snapped, still buried in the pillows. “Go enjoy your meeting. Leave me alone.”

Sky blinked but didn’t argue. With one last glance at the mirror, he adjusted his cuffs, shrugged, and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

Once the room was silent again, Nani turned onto his back and stared at the ceiling, a hollow feeling settling in his chest.

---

Sleep didn’t come.

Nani lay on his bed, tossing and turning, his mind circling back to Sky and the girl. **What does she look like? Is she beautiful? Is she kind? Does Sky like her?**

Annoyed with himself, Nani sat up abruptly. “Why do I even care?” he muttered.

But the more he told himself he didn’t care, the more curious he became.

Ten minutes later, Nani found himself sneaking through the palace halls, dressed in a simple sweater and pants, his feet moving silently across the marble floors. He wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing—he only knew that he had to see her. **Just once. That’s all.**

He finally spotted them in the garden courtyard. Sky stood near the fountain, the sunlight catching in his dark hair, making him look unfairly handsome in Nani’s shirt. Beside him stood the girl—a striking beauty with graceful features and an elegant presence. She wore a soft, pastel-colored dress and moved with a delicate charm.

Nani’s heart sank further as he watched from behind a tall pillar. Sky was smiling as he spoke to her, his voice low and easy, and she laughed lightly, her hand brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

Nani narrowed his eyes, a pout tugging at his lips.

**She’s not that amazing,** he thought petulantly. Then, as he watched her perform an elegant gesture, tilting her head and giggling softly, Nani mimicked her actions behind the pillar. He tilted his head, brushed back his hair, and muttered in an exaggerated, high-pitched voice, “Oh, Sky, you’re so funny!”

Immediately, he frowned at himself. “I’m way cuter than her,” he mumbled under his breath, puffing his cheeks indignantly. “If I were a girl, I’d be adorable. No—I already *am* adorable.”

For a moment, Nani continued watching them, his hands clenched at his sides as jealousy bubbled within him. But what he didn’t know was that Sky’s attention wasn’t entirely on the girl.

From the corner of his eye, Sky had noticed Nani’s poor attempt at hiding behind the pillar. He had seen him arrive, seen him mimic the girl’s gestures, and even caught the faint mumbling of complaints.

Sky hid his smirk and turned his focus back to the girl, though his thoughts were elsewhere. **Why is he spying on me?** Sky wondered, amused.

---

When the conversation wrapped up, Sky escorted the girl to her car, ever the gentleman. She smiled sweetly as she turned to face him.

“I really enjoyed talking to you, Sky,” she said softly. “Your parents speak very highly of you.”

Sky smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You’re a wonderful person, truly. But...I’m afraid I can’t marry you.”

The girl blinked, startled. “What? But...why?”

Sky looked thoughtful for a moment, searching for the right words. “You’re beautiful, smart, and kind. You’ll find someone who deserves you, someone who’ll make you truly happy. But that person isn’t me.”

“Is there someone else?” she asked cautiously.

Sky hesitated, his thoughts drifting to a certain prince hiding terribly behind a pillar. “It’s...complicated,” he said finally, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Someone will get hurt if I go through with this.”

The girl frowned, still confused but seemingly accepting his answer. “I see. Well...thank you for being honest with me.”

Sky nodded, stepping back as she climbed into the car. “Take care,” he said softly as the vehicle drove away.

---

Later that evening, Sky returned to his duties, finding Nani in his private study, pretending to read a book.

Sky walked up to him, his hands casually in his pockets. “Did you sleep well, Your Highness?”

Nani didn’t look up from his book, though his grip on it tightened slightly. “I had a lovely nap,” he replied curtly.

Sky smiled knowingly. “I see. You must’ve been very busy today.”

Nani finally glanced up, narrowing his eyes. “What are you getting at?”

“Nothing,” Sky said innocently, though his tone was playful. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about a certain prince sneaking around the palace this afternoon, would you?”

Nani’s face turned crimson. “I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Sky grinned, leaning slightly closer. “You’re terrible at hiding, Your Highness.”

Nani spluttered, his blush deepening. “Go away, Sky!”

Sky straightened up, laughing softly as he walked toward the door. “Don’t worry. The meeting didn’t go anywhere. You’re stuck with me for a while longer.”

Nani froze, his heart skipping a beat. “Wait...what?”

Sky paused in the doorway, flashing Nani a smile that was far too soft. “Nothing. Just that you have nothing to worry about.”

Before Nani could respond, Sky was gone, leaving the prince sitting there, his heart racing and his mind spinning.