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“What’s wrong?” Logan asks, leaning over to check on his wife.

She looks at him and whispers her issue. He glances around as though trying to figure out a way they can leave without being seen, which is impossible because we are all sitting in front of a crowd on international television.

“Duty before bathroom breaks,” Auggie whispers from behind us.

Anna gives him side-eye and he smiles one of his patented smiles.

“Better be careful. I made her mad last week and I’m pretty sure my credit score is ruined for life,” Logan mutters.

“It was just a glitch. I fixed it,” Anna assures him. Kate can’t hold back the giggle that escapes. She places her hand over her mouth. “You guys, stop it. You’re going to get us all in trouble.”

We settle down and listen as Christian begins talking.

I listen intently as he speaks of unity and healing. He talks of changing the monarchy and of making our country a better one. His words draw applause. I wish I could speak half as eloquently as he does. When he finishes, the room explodes with clapping and cheers.

He waves to everyone motioning them to sit back down. I’m confused as I try to remember what happens next. I swear that was it. He waves. We all stand and wave and then we head back into the palace for a night of partying.

He turns to us and smiles at me. I smile back and give him a confused look.

I’m about to ask what’s wrong when he drops to his knee in front of me and pulls out a box. When he opens the box, my body trembles. It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.

“Mia, I knew you would be my queen the first time I saw you. You’re my perfect match. For every weakness I have, your strength fills the void. You are the most beautiful, intelligent, kind person I know. You risked everything, your own life, to save me and my family. I can’t ever repay you for that. But I’d like to spend the rest of my life trying to. I stand before you not as a king, but as a man in love. Marry me, Mia. Be my queen, be my wife,” he says. The only sign of his overwhelming emotion is the slight tremble of his hand as he holds up the ring to me.

“Yes!” I exclaim. I leap out of my seat and into his waiting arms. I don’t care that we’re on television. I don’t care that everyone can see us. I lean down and kiss the king as he rises to his feet, wrapping his arms around me and twirling me in a circle. The room erupts into chaos, applause, cheers, and whistles as we continue to kiss.

I pull back slightly and find his eyes shining. I hold out my hand and he sets me down and slips the ring on my finger.

Looking up at him, I grin like a fool. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

“I wanted the whole world to know that I’m madly in love with you. No more hiding our love. The road ahead might be hard, hell, it might be downright scary, but as long as we have each other, then we can conquer anything,” he says as he takes my face in his hands and leans down, so only I can hear him over the deafening applause, “I know it’ll be hard. I don’t know if I can promise you a happily ever after like in a fairy tale, but I can promise you all of me and all of my heart, always, my queen.”

I gaze into the eyes of the man I love as tears spill down my cheeks. “That is my happily ever after,” I whisper as I lean up and kiss him.

And they lived happily ever after.

The end.