After the coroner explained how King Luther's body had been found and left to examine the cause of death, Adversity closed the door behind him, shaking. His father had been cruel to him and his brother, sure, but who would kill the king?

"... Adversity...? Are you alright...?" Adversity slowly turned to face Storm, unable to stop the tears from forming in his eyes.

"... He may not have been the best but... He was still my dad..." He slowly sat on the floor with his back against the castle door.

"I... I'm so sorry..." Storm sat in front of him. "... Why don't we try to find out who killed your father together...? After your coronation, maybe...?" Adversity suddenly grabbed a hold of her shoulders and gave her a serious look.

"You aren't looking for who killed him. I am. Do I make myself clear?" Storm wanted to protest but decided against it and just nodded in agreement. "Good."

"Your majesty?" Adversity looked at Lucas and Nightmare, who had been there long enough to hear about what happened with King Luther.

"Yes, Lucas?"

"Maybe you should just... Let her help..." Adversity shook his head.

"No! I'm not letting any of my palace staff get hurt looking for the guy who did this!" Especially not her. He thought.

"I can handle myself, Adversity..." Storm mumbled, and it was then Adversity remembered about her mother training her.

"... I still don't want to take that chance. I'm pretty sure your mother wants me dead as it is. She would definitely want me dead if anything happened to you."

"I'll be fine!"

"No, I'm not risking it!"

"But I wanna help...!"

"You wanna help, Storm!? Then stay here where it's safe! I can't lose you, too!" He then realized he said I can't lose you. "I- I mean we can't lose you too!"

"Nice save, your majesty..." Lucas mumbled under his breath.

"... O- Oh... O- Okay..." Storm looked down. "... I don't want to lose you either, Your Majesty..." Before he could say anything in return or remind Storm that she could just say Adversity, she left. He registered what she had said and felt kinda guilty about telling her that she couldn't help for her own safety despite her training to join an army one day.

"Well, your majesty, that went better than it could have."

"... Did she just... Admit she didn't want to lose me...?"

"Yes, your majesty, she did. She genuinely cares about you." Lucas smiled softly. "Just like how you care about her."

"But we just met, Lucas. How can I care already?"

"You know love at first sight exists, don't you, sir?" Adversity took a moment, then he thought of something.

"Yeah..." Lucas noticed a look he had never seen before starting to form on Adversity's face.

"... Sir?"

"Remember what dad demanded of me before he went missing?"

"About having a bride before your coronation?"

"Yes, exactly."

"What about it, sir?"

"Well... What if I had found her without intending to, Lucas?" Lucas tilted his head in confusion before the realization struck.

"! You're talking about-"

"Love at first sight." Adversity smiled. "Yes."

"Your majesty...!"

"We aren't even that far apart in age. Just 10 days apart."

"What are you saying?"

"Don't tell her, or anyone else in the castle, but..." Adversity looked over at a nearby room. "... I'll announce it once I'm sure that I want it to be her."

"Your majesty!" Lucas was surprised. "We all know you two are meant to be! Why not just announce it on your coronation?"

"I still have 4 or 5 years left to, Lucas." Adversity was mentally cursing himself for even bringing it up. He already knew he was gonna surprise her and the rest of the kingdom by announcing it tomorrow. "I'll wait."

"Of course... We will wait for you to announce it." Lucas sighed and smiled. "Maybe she'll feel the same, sir."

"Yeah... That is a possibility, isn't it?" Hopefully she does. Storm walked back into the room at that moment, and Lucas took that as a sign to leave.

"Adversity?"

"Hm?" His gaze fixed itself on her, and he noticed she was fidgeting more than she normally does. "Is something wrong...?"

"Oh- Um, not exactly, no... I'm just... A little confused... Why did you say that you didn't want to lose me before correcting yourself and saying that no one wanted to lose me...?" Adversity cursed under his breath. She noticed. "...? Did you just curse under your breath?"

"... Yes. I did."

"Did I do something wrong...??"

"No! No, not at all!"

"Oh... Okay..."

"It's just- Gah, how do I say this...?"

"Um... Say what, Adversity...?"

"... I was talking to Lucas just now and... He brought up something I hadn't thought of..."

"Oh...?"

"Yeah... He pointed out how I already care about you... And thinks it might be love at first sight.."

"Love at first sight...? Isn't that normally only in fairytales...?"

"Yeah, but... I think he might be right..."

"Wait- Huh!?" Storm had finally caught on to what he was saying. A light blush dusted her cheeks.

"Yeah..." Adversity noticed. "You're blushing a little..."

"Yeah, it's just- I wasn't expecting that!"

"In all honesty, I wasn't expecting to say it, either." Adversity smiled at her, and she returned it. "You have a very pretty smile..."

"You have very pretty eyes... Wait- Oh sh- Sorry, that- that just slipped- I- I didn't-" Adversity's face turned deep red in at matter of seconds, but he ignored it and gently grabbed her shoulders.

"Don't apologize." Storm looked at him, some of her hair falling into her face. Adversity noticed and moved it. "You're fine."

"I- I'm so s- sorry!"

"Don't be sorry. It's okay." Adversity smiled. "You have very pretty eyes, too." Storm blushed.

"I... Y- Ye- Yeah, I- I think Lucas was right..."

"... I have to agree." Adversity locked eyes with her.

"... And... I think... I might feel the same..." Adversity was shocked.

"You... Do...?"

"Y- Ye- Ye- Yeah..." Storm silently cursed her stutter. Adversity gently grabbed her hands, making her blush more.

"Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me. For now." He joked, or so she thought. She giggled a little, causing a smile to form on his face.

"Thank you, Adversity. Oh, I remember the other reason I came in here. We're both needed in the dining room." Adversity raised a brow before walking into the dining room with her. All he saw and heard next were all of his palace staff surrounding party decorations.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YOUR MAJESTY!"