"Well, I'll be king, so it doesn't matter if he doesn't like it, right? 'cause...king." He nodded sagely at this obvious truth, and then smiled when he felt her relaxing some in his arms.

It was a relief. He knew whatever was going on in the world had to be such a pressure on her. If he'd shown up, and she'd said she was getting married, just like that...he probably would've left. Just to make it not worse.

Instead, well...he didn't have to. He gave her another reassuring squeeze, and kissed the top of her head gently, but didn't say anything else.