Proposition

Trevor POV

I escorted the bold, flirtatious princess to court. There was no denying the looks the two of us received. A power couple.

We first passed all of King Ulrich's table knights minus the one I left behind with my er- Natalie.

A hareld announced us and gestured for me to step on the marble raven a few feet from the dais. Thanks to my sister, I knew the raven's significance in this family. I refused to put a foot on such an important symbol.

I bowed my head to the King and waited to be acknowledged. Aileen had complained about the masks at court many times back in my dimension. I remembered her words, 'nobility are power-hungry vultures. Do not trust them, or you will be liable to be pecked to death.' Much of royal life was to follow protocol and play your part.

"You may rise, Sir Trevor."

The atmosphere at court was tense. I surveyed the crowd of nobility above me, ignoring my sister's advice. Now that I really looked at them, or more importantly, the seats, I noticed several were empty. Many powder-wigged women sat without a husband. Their dresses were black, and the jewels in their necklaces were onyx.

Princess Lydia was led next to them by a fat-faced man wearing many chains that worked poorly with his thick red robe to try and hide all those sweaty neckrolls. His beady shrimp dots were locked on me. I did not like this man, but court was a game.

Instead of acknowledging him, I over-exaggeratedly turned away from him. Some snickers, hidden behind fans, sounded as I brought my attention to the throne.

There the King sat. His black hair clung cut just below his ears. Atop his head was a thin iron band with garnet along the bottom. I heard others call it the warrior's crown. Beside the King's throne was an empty velvet-covered chair. I had to thin my lips to stop a chuckle. The Queen was going to make her King suffer. Seated to the left of the King was Princess Aileen. Her older child sat in a small chair next to her while Kalum squirmed impatiently on her lap.

"Let us skip the preamble." Like Father, like daughter. "With God as my witness, I, King Ulrich of Lutz, officially adopt Sir Trevor into my family. As many of you have heard the rumors, his parents took care of your princess during her absence. I will extend their hospitality towards our knight and Vernen's captain. Bow to your new Prince, Trevor of Lutz."

A round of applause sounded in all directions. Ahead of me, a bishop wearing a signature pointy hat came up to me. In a language I did not recognize, close to Latin, but not quite, he chanted some passage from their bible.

He translated, "May God bless the royal family's newest member. May you be next to rule over Lutz shall illness befall Prince Shion and Prince Kalum."

Stepping down the dais, Princess Aileen, in her flowing purple dress, came forward. A small fluffy purple pillow was in her hands with a small golden crown. Two knights attempted to join her, but she waved them off.

The King stood. "Welcome to the family, Son." Almost no pause was given. "Now, let's continue to our kingdom's more pressing matter."

"What is it, My King?" I asked.

The King sat back down. He intertwined his fingers in front of his face. Both his elbows rested on his armrests. "You are aware of our little 'problem' here, yes?"

"I am, Your Highness."

"An assassin is targeting my nobility. My own men have been rather incompetent. Rather than killing them for failing me, they requested I bring in someone skilled at investigation. They shall assist you however they can. Their lives do depend on it." King Ulrich explained coldly.

Princess Aileen spoke up above the chattering crowd. "Two tasks have been bestowed upon you to prove your worth to the crown. Find this assassin and bring them to Father; bound. Do not kill him unless absolutely necessary. The second is handling the protection and security of Princess Lydia Krennan."

Krennan? The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"We were once on track to be allied with them. My daughter was to marry their Prince. He disappeared many years ago. We hope to form a new bond with Krennan, with any luck through their princess."

Never found my ass!

Prince Roy. Just hearing the name ignited my very being full of rage. So he was the Prince of Krennan, huh? So King Ulrich never told his royal parents of their precious son's fate.

Welp, I may get personal revenge on Prince Roy after all. Guarding a princess was the easiest way to get under her nightgown. By night's end, I could have her begging me to rip her clothes like a gift-wrapped box on Christmas day!

And with any luck, forget about a particular obsession. Natalie will be happier this way, and I'll have a night without blue balls. Right? This was the right path.

"Do you accept?" The King leaned back in his chair. Unreadable eyes watched me from below his warrior's crown.

In front of me, Aileen wore the same unreadable expression as her Father. I hoped those disgusting voices weren't affecting her at the mention of Prince Roy.

"Yes, thank you…Father." Yup, that felt weird.

I bent my head to receive the crown. Aileen placed the gold band on top of my head carefully. Her gestures made it clear that the demon lord wasn't what was weighing on her mind. No, all that stress and tension was her concern; for me. Something I never wanted.

With all the issues regarding her kids' and husband's well-being, my life should be the last thing she worries about. My problems were nothing.

Reading me as always, she whispered, "we're family." I knew the rest of her sentence without her needing to say it. We're family, and we protect each other. None of us were allowed to die, and none of us were allowed to suffer alone.

I said nothing but would check on her and my nephews later. She'd demand a recap of Natalie and I's reunion. I'm sure I was in for a scolding, unlike anything I've endured since I went against one of Squad Leader Tom's orders… The park barely flooded, but he'd gone on a forty-five-minute rant while I cleaned up the mess… Anyway, I should have read the situation with cu Natalie better.

"A ceremony will be held this evening for the new Prince, the return of my daughter's family, and to welcome the princess of Krennan. For now, you are all dismissed."

With the King's word, not only was I a devilishly handsome man skilled at fighting, joking, investigation, women, and a fantastic brother; now I was also a prince!

All I had to do was succeed in King Ulrich's assignment. The way he chose his wording, there was more to this assassin that he kept a secret.

In the antechamber, a squeaky voice called my name. "You really are as handsome as sin itself."

I walked over and held out my hand to Princess Lydia. She put her manicured hand in mine. Gently, I brought her fingers up to my lips and kissed each one.

"A gentleman too."

I squeezed her hand, "anything to help my chances with such a stunning woman as yourself."

"Of course, but I fear I am rather selfish. You see, I am hoping to completely unite our kingdoms, not simply strengthen our ties." She gave me a sly look I didn't like at all. "Also, my country no longer has an heir."

It was as if she was reading from a script. "I don't mean to sound rude, but what is your point, Princess?"

"Please call me Lydia, my Prince!" Her entire face was red. Oddly, I didn't find it as cute as on my cup- Dang it, Natalie, like on Natalie. That woman needed to get out of my brilliant head if she wasn't getting on my massive dick.

Acting coy to how she pressed her chest into my arm, I explained, "I'm simply going to ensure your safety. Anyway, I don't need Daddy Krennan after my head."

"I can see the loneliness on your face. I swear I'll take it away from you!" Lydia kissed my palm, staring up at me with fake innocence.

"You don't know me."

"I don't know how things work in your dimension, but we marry and learn to love our spouses here. And I don't worry because of that shine in your beautiful eyes. I could fall for them every day."

Pining after Natalie wasn't healthy, and now I had an opportunity to bed a Princess. Could I learn to love her? But damn it, the notion of being with another woman is so off-putting. Part of my brain is still leeching onto different ways to woo Natalie to my side.

"Don't you want a family?" My brain stopped working. My body became an unmovable boulder. Princess Lydia took the initiative. She got on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek with cherry-painted lips. "Because I want one with you."