#gimi more of these sorta asks i love answering em

[therealnuclearplatypus]

Valzhang royal au please !!!

ohoho anon i owe you my firstborn

~❃~

Royal Fools.

"You know it is the only way," Grandmother reprimanded gently. "She will make a fine wife."

The young prince sighed. "I know. I know that. But—"

Grandmother tutted. "No buts, Fai. Illyria needs a good king, who will carry on the Zhang family name. Now that your mother is gone—" the prince winced "—you must bear the weight of the crown after my death. And I am old, Fai. I am not eternal. Death shall entrap me in its black grasp soon enough. And you—you must be prepared. I must help you be prepared."

The prince sighed again, but nodded. Then he followed his grandmother out of the chamber to meet with his betrothed.

***

The young princess was beautiful. There was no doubt about it. Her cinnamon-roll hair tumbled gracefully in lovely curls, her skin was a deep, lovely brown, her golden eyes shone in the light of the crystal chandeliers. The white-and-gold gown she wore set off her hair and skin and made the prince's mouth go dry.

"Hello, Prince Fai," she said in a smooth and velvety voice, curtseying.

"Princess Hazel," he murmured.

She looked up at him and smiled. He felt comfortable in her presence, so he said, "Please, call me Frank. It's my real name anyway."

"Oh?" Hazel arched an eyebrow.

"Fai is just a nickname. It's a traditional family name, but my mother eschewed tradition for a name that meant a lot to my dad, for some reason or other. I—I don't know my dad."

"Ah, yes. I know that last part. But the name ... alright. Frank it is." She smiled sweetly, and Frank knew that, if anything else, they were going to be friends. Maybe this arranged marriage wasn't going to be so bad.

"Thank you. Grandmother insists on tradition." He laughed lightly. "Hence the marriage."

Hazel nodded. "Yes. Hence the marriage."

They smiled at each other. Then Hazel asked, "Forgive me but—this may be an inappropriate question, and you may refrain from answering if you wish ... but, do you have—someone on the side?"

Frank stared. "Um. Well ..."

Hazel shook her head quickly, blushing. "Sorry, sorry. It was rude of me. Please pay me no mind. But—I thought you should know, I am not ... very interested in ... love, or marriage. I am perfectly content remaining unmarried. But ..."

"Ah!" Frank nodded in understanding. "Yes. I am sort of like that. I—it does not interest me unless I know the person very well."

"Then this is a very uncomfortable situation for the both of us." Hazel looked somewhat sorry for him.

"It doesn't have to be," Frank said, "we can be friends in the very least."

Hazel beamed. "We can do that. You seem to be a very nice person, someone who is a pleasurable friend."

Frank blushed. "You—you too."

Hazel laughed. And Frank found himself laughing, too.

***

"What is she like?"

Grandmother was at his bedroom door, frowning.

Frank turned, and blessed her with a smile. "She's ... nice. Kind. Very beautiful."

She nodded approvingly. "Good. You are now officially courting her. And for goodness's sake, do not ruin it because of ... just hide that ridiculous boy of yours. Don't let her know about him."

Frank tilted his head. "No, she knows. We have an agreement."

Grandmother looked livid, then calmed slightly at the last part. "What agreement?"

"She knows of him. We will marry, as friends. I think—I think we will be great friends."

Grandmother's fierce gaze softened. "Very well. I shall trust you on this. You are to lead the kingdom, after all. You must make such decisions yourself."

Frank bowed. "Thank you, Grandmother."

"Hmph." The old queen smiled, unseen by her grandson, and left.

***

The night was young. The young prince tiptoed out of the palace, and walked to the shore. The sea was calm, the sky cloudless. The wind was a mere breath, caressing the prince's hair and skin like a loving hand. He looked around, then sat down on the sand.

"Not afraid of dirtying your royal trousers, Your Majesty?" a cheeky voice asked, another breath on the wind.

Frank turned in relief. "Leo."

The owner of the voice came from between the dunes. "I didn't think you'd come today, after the engagement."

Frank flushed and stuttered, "She knows of you. She'd actually ... rather like to meet you. One day. Maybe. We ... we may be engaged to marry, but we are only friends. A mere budding friendship. Not ... nothing like what we have."

Leo sat down next to him and placed his head on the prince's shoulder. "What did you tell her?"

"Just that I love you. I'd never tell her anything else."

"No banished prince story?"

"You're more than just a banished prince, Leonidas."

Leo shrugged, but secretly adored the way his full name sounded when Frank spoke it. He said it so lovingly, so carefully. As if it were the most beautiful word in the world.

Which, to Frank, it was.

"Say that to my aunt. She'd beg to differ."

Frank turned to fully face him and gripped both his hands in his. "Leo. For f— oh, bother," he said with a sigh. "We know the tale. And you know—you know I won't love anybody I am not truly, deeply attracted to, emotionally, physically, spiritually. And I feel that way about you. No matter your past, I love you. Nothing can change that."

Leo swallowed a sob and nodded. "I just—I just hate the idea of you marrying someone who—who isn't me."

"I know. I'm not a fan of the idea myself. But at least she's nice, and knows there is no romance to be won from this. It's purely transactional, but it doesn't have to be. I do not want to be stuck in a marriage where I do not like or know my spouse. So we shall at least be friends."

Leo nodded again. "I suppose—I suppose I am lucky, to have been banished. I never liked being a prince. Even if the room hadn't caught aflame, even if my mother hadn't been trapped inside and I couldn't do anything to help—I would've tried fo find a way out of it anyways. Royal life isn't really for me. So ... I think, that I am fortunate, to be only a nameless blacksmith, another face amongst the peasants. Being poor isn't nice, but neither is being rich and so utterly without love. Even when I was betrothed to the Princess Calypso, at King Atlas's insistence, it was never the life I wanted for myself. I thought it was love, but—no. You. You are my love. I shall never ever marry. You cannot help your marriage, but I can. And yes. I think I'd rather like to meet this soon-to-be wife of yours some day."

Frank smiled and kissed him. "Your wish is my command, fair prince."

"That endearment is rather ironic, don't you think?"

"I thrive on irony these days, my love. Being a royal is all an act, and therefore irony plays a big role. Forgive me."

"You are forgiven, not that there was anything to forgive," Leo told him, kissing his cheek. "You royal fool."

"Ha. I really do love you so very much. It's ridiculous. I suppose I really am a fool."

"A fool for me, as I am for you." Leo grinned. He pulled his beloved closer. "Entertain me, jester."

~❃~

please tell me someone got the shakespeare reference