Chapter 3: The Proposition
Henry found Chris standing beneath one of the enormous chandeliers in the grand entrance hall, the light catching in his hair, turning it to spun gold. He looked lost, adrift in the vast space, his hands shoved deep into his pockets as if he were trying to disappear. "Chris," Henry said, his voice barely a whisper, the sound swallowed by the grandeur of the room. Chris turned, his face etched with worry, his eyes searching Henry’s for answers. "What did he say?" Chris asked, his voice trembling, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him. "What's going to happen to us?"
Henry took a deep breath, steeling himself for the conversation he was about to have, the words heavy on his tongue. he has a proposal," Henry began, his voice cracking under the weight of the words, each one feeling like a betrayal. "A way for us to stay together, but it’s complicated." Chris's eyes widened, his hand flying to his mouth as if to stifle a gasp. "Complicated how?" he asked, his voice barely audible, the fear in his eyes unmistakable.
Henry laid bare the King's plan, the words tumbling out of his mouth in a rush, each one more painful than the last. "He wants you to become 'Crystal'," Henry said, his voice filled with anguish, the name tasting bitter on his lips. "To pretend to be a princess. We’d have a public courtship for the people to get to know you as a princess before a public wedding, from then on you would be my wife. In public, at least." He watched Chris's face, bracing himself for the explosion of anger and disbelief he expected, the tension in his chest unbearable. But Chris just stood there, silent, his expression unreadable.
But the explosion never came. Instead, Chris's expression softened, a strange sort of excitement flickering in his eyes, a spark of mischief that Henry hadn’t anticipated. "Crystal, huh?" he said, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, the tension in the room easing just a little. "I kind of like the sound of that. It’s got a kind of ring to it, don't you think?" Henry stared at him, dumbfounded, his mind struggling to process what he was hearing. "You're not angry?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief, his heart pounding in his chest. "You're not horrified?"
Chris shrugged, his smile widening, his eyes gleaming with a kind of reckless optimism that took Henry’s breath away. "Of course, I am," he admitted, his voice light but tinged with a seriousness that couldn’t be ignored. "But what choice do we have? It's this, or we lose everything. And besides," he added, his eyes sparkling with mischief, "it could be fun. A new adventure. A chance to play dress-up and fool the entire kingdom."
Henry couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're willing to do this?" he asked, his voice filled with awe, his heart swelling with gratitude and love. "To sacrifice your entire identity for me?" Chris stepped closer, taking Henry's hands in his, his grip firm and reassuring. "I'm willing to do anything for you, Henry," he said, his voice filled with love, the sincerity in his words undeniable. "You know that. Besides, think of it this way," he said with a wink. "We only have to keep up the charade until you're king. Then we can change things. Right?" Hope flickered in Henry's heart. "You really think so?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper, the weight of their situation pressing down on him. Chris nodded, his eyes shining with optimism, his confidence infectious. "I know so," he said, his voice filled with conviction, the strength in his words giving Henry courage. "We can do this, Henry. Together. We'll play your Father’s game, and we'll win." Overwhelmed by Chris's willingness to go to such drastic lengths for him, Henry pulled him into a tight embrace, burying his face in his hair. "I don't deserve you," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Chris stepped back, cupping Henry's face in his hands, his touch gentle but firm. "Don't say that," he said, his voice firm, the intensity in his eyes leaving no room for argument. "We deserve each other. And we're going to fight for our love, no matter what it takes." With renewed determination, Henry took Chris's hand and led him back towards the King's study, their footsteps echoing in the grand hall. "Let's go sign the damn contract," Henry said, his voice filled with steel.
Back in the King's study, the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. The King stood by his desk, a contract laid out before him, his expression unreadable but his presence commanding. He watched as Henry and Chris entered, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in their determined expressions. "Have you come to a decision?" he asked, his voice flat, betraying nothing of what he might be feeling.
Henry stepped forward, his chin held high, his eyes locked on his father’s with a defiance that couldn’t be ignored. "We have," he said, his voice ringing with confidence, the words carrying the weight of their resolve. "We accept your proposal. Chris will become 'Crystal'." The King's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, a small, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips. "Excellent," he said, his voice smooth as silk, the tone almost too calm. "Then let us make it official." He gestured towards the contract. "Read it carefully, and then sign on the dotted line."
Henry and Chris glanced over the contract, their faces grim as they absorbed the terms which were harsh and unforgiving, outlining every detail of Chris's transformation into Crystal, each clause a reminder of the sacrifice they were making. But they didn’t flinch; they thought they knew what they were getting into even without bothering to read the fine print, and were prepared to pay the price. With a shared look of determination, they both simultaneously signed the contract, sealing their fate with a stroke of the pen.
The King smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes that sent a chill down Henry’s spine. "Very good," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction, the words almost a purr. "Then let the training begin." As if on cue, the door to the study opened, and a woman entered. She was tall and elegant, with a sharp, intelligent gaze that seemed to take in everything at once.
"Henry, Chris, this is Lady Candice," the King announced, gesturing towards the woman with a flourish of his hand. "She will be in charge of Crystal's transformation. She will teach him everything he needs to know to become a convincing princess." Lady Candice stepped forward, her eyes sweeping over Chris with a critical eye, her expression unreadable but her presence commanding.
Chris, meeting her gaze unflinchingly, extended his hand, his posture confident despite the situation. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Candice," he said, his voice polite but firm, the words carrying a quiet strength. "I look forward to working with you." Lady Candice took his hand, her grip surprisingly strong, her lips curving into a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I look forward to our time together too Princess Crystal," she said, her voice laced with amusement. "Although, you should call me Madam from now on."
Henry felt a surge of protectiveness towards Chris, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he watched Lady Candice lead him away. He knew this was going to be difficult—painful even—but he was determined to support Chris every step of the way. As Lady Candice and Chris disappeared through the door, Henry turned to his father, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Don't think you've won, Father," he said, his voice low and dangerous, the words a promise and a warning all at once. "This is just the beginning and I promise you, in the end, love will triumph." The King merely smiled, a cruel, knowing smile that sent a chill down Henry's spine.