The dessert plates had recently been removed from the tables, and the guests tittered about excitedly, waiting for the royal couple’s first dance. Merrick thought Marjorie and Charles looked positively regal in their wedding attire. Their nuptials had been the talk of the country the past several months, as well as the princess keeping the Davendall name, and Marjorie was as elegant and graceful a royal princess as the king and queen could’ve hoped for. Many of course balked at the royal children becoming too modern and forward-thinking, the very opposite of what his mother had feared. And though the chief consul had words with the king and queen about the future of the monarchy, the family had stuck together, just as promised.

Marjorie was followed practically anywhere she went in town by children who dreamed of getting a smile or wave from the princess. Whenever she shared any tidbits about the wedding preparations with the public, they devoured every detail. Anything from her stunning chiffon dress lined in crystals, to her spectacular emerald ring, to the delicious cake with buttercream frosting that the guests had just indulged in, would be gossiped about for years to come.

When the bride and groom rode together in the horse-drawn carriage from the courthouse to the castle for the evening celebration, the streets were lined with Pinewood residents whistling and cheering, some having even come from as far away as Hadleigh and Stonespass to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.

“Stunning,” Annabelle had whispered upon first seeing them that morning. Emily just stared with wonder in her eyes while Elizabeth clapped excitedly.

Evergreen’s focus on the newest royal couple had kept most of the spotlight off Prince Merrick’s apparently torrid love affair with his former valet. Though he had always wanted to be as relatable as he could be with the public, this was one detail of his private life he kept close to the vest. Cassius had moved into Winterfrost Manor shortly after their reunion, but they’d waited until the end of the school year to set Annabelle, Emily, and Elizabeth up in the west wing bedrooms. Merrick had hoped it would feel like a separate dwelling of their own.

Even still, the romance between him and Cassius had taken on a life of its own, many in Evergreen apparently referring to Cassius as Merrick’s Prince Charming, and the idea of that positively charmed Merrick. He’d sometimes whisper it to Cassius during a passionate kiss or after he’d beg Cassius to fuck him. Or even when they’d lie about in their bedroom so Merrick could make scandalous sketches of Cassius in various stages of undress. Merrick loved the flush that would begin like a rosy bloom in the center of his lover’s chest, only to move upward to dust his chin and cheeks.

The manor had come to life with Cas and his family there, and it was just the sort of arrangement Merrick had always dreamed of. Though Cassius no longer helped dress or chauffeur him around, he somehow still kept them organized and on schedule. And since Emily had taken such a great interest in the horses, they had moved Ursula, Tabby, and a handful more to the stalls closest to the manor. Merrick hoped Cassius would finally agree to breed and train horses of their own someday. But if he’d learned anything, it was that the man he loved was proud and stubborn. He would only agree to quit his job on the farm if they had a solid, defined plan.

As the guests lined up along the dance floor, much like on that one fateful night last winter, Merrick’s nerves weren’t jangling from worry, only excitement. Marjorie and Charles looked glorious dancing for the first time as a married couple. And as the stately king and queen joined them in the center of the floor, he felt proud to be part of this family.

When his mother met his eye and nodded in approval, Merrick finally stood and held out his hand to the man he loved. He could see Elizabeth’s beaming smile in his side view. Merrick could not help but grin himself, which he did every time he saw the honey quartz ring, that matched Cassius’s eyes, on his finger. They had not made an official announcement. At this time, it was only for them. Citizens speculated of course, but it was important to them to keep some things to themselves. Plus, they still had much work to do in regards to equality.

“I would love the honor of dancing with the man who owns my heart.”

“It is I who would be honored,” Cassius replied, bowing to him gracefully.

Cassius took his hand, and Merrick could hear the guests’ murmurs as they finally stepped onto the dance floor as an official royal couple. Marjorie beamed at them, and Merrick sighed in blissful relief.

At the back of the room, Merrick could just make out the Duke of Lexington, who had been invited along with his male guest. He hoped they might be brave enough to join them later. And nearer the main entrance, Merrick spotted Lady Penelope as well, who was now engaged to a handsome man from the high courts. He could also just make out Valor’s bright smile as he sneaked near the open doorway from the grand foyer to catch a glimpse of his friend. He would make a dedicated head chef someday, maybe even at the manor.

“What do you think they’ll say about us?” Cassius whispered in Merrick’s ear as they danced heart to heart and cheek to cheek.

“That we are two handsome princes madly in love.”

“We are certainly handsome this evening,” Cassius replied with a twinkle in his eye. They had chosen to wear matching black tailcoats with golden cuff links. “And I shall definitely love you until I take my final breath.”

“And I you,” Merrick replied with a thick throat as he pressed a discreet kiss to his temple.

Merrick had recently delivered an impassioned plea before the government’s general assembly, imploring them to consider equal rights for all citizens who might choose to live openly, according to their nature, with those they loved. It quite possibly might take rearranging the stars, but by God, he would never give up. It had become his calling. And even if they did not change their minds, he and Cassius would always belong to one another.

Just as he was about to voice his thoughts, he felt small hands cinch his waist as Elizabeth threw her arms around the both of them. “I would like to dance with a prince.”

Merrick chuckled as Cassius picked up his sister and swung her around as she protested amid giggles. Merrick felt so perfectly content right then that he kissed her cheek and they all joined hands to dance together. It was she who had recently encouraged Merrick to illustrate some of Cassius’s wonderful stories.

That winter, they would begin publishing a series of books with all proceeds going directly to children’s charities. The first would feature a stable boy rescued by a princess—dedicated to Emily, of course—and the one they’d only just completed was a tale of two princes. They’d been struggling with the title until that very moment when he looked into Cassius’s eyes and his heart stuttered in his chest. Ever After.