Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Sapnap woke up before eight o’clock he was so excited. Or at least, he knew he should be. As Bad always said, “Nervousness and excitement are the same feeling, it just depends on your mindset.”

Sapnap wasn’t so sure.

For him, this definitely felt like nervousness. His palms were sweaty, his skin was crawling, and as he stepped out of his en suite bathroom, he looked at his bed longingly, wanting to crawl back under the spare covers and hide from his stupid parents and their stupid ideas about what a prince should do and who he should marry.

Instead, he put on the dumb fancy outfit that lay on top of his now-empty chest of drawers because today was the day his parents sold him off to some kingdom’s princess, in exchange for-

Sapnap didn’t even know. He had probably been told like a thousand times, but never bothered to listen. He knew his parents loved him, but being the 8th in line for the throne wouldn’t help the kingdom out much, so he was shipped off to become heir of some other country in hopes that Esmpee would get brownie points when Sapnap became king.

The prince was pulled out of his thoughts when someone knocked on the door. He could immediately tell who it was by the knock- four sharp knocks followed by a few taps in rapid succession; like someone was running the back of their knuckles on the door.

“Come in, Dream,” Sapnap called. His best friend strolled in in his royal guard uniform. Sapnap rolled his eyes at the formality of it, but kept any remarks to himself.

Dream whistled.

“Okay, Pandas, coming in hot!” he said. Sapnap scoffed. “No, seriously, you look good. Also, I’m surprised you’re even up.”

As much as he hated to admit it, Dream was right. About both things. Sapnap was infamous for sleeping in. And also, in his own humble opinion, he did look kinda fine.

Dream explained that they were leaving as soon as Sapnap was ready. Which was now. Sapnap looked around the empty room. All the stuff that gave the room personality had been cleared out the day before, so that his temporary room in the other kingdom would have all of his belongings when he arrived. A breath caught in his throat as he realised just how scared he was. Dream, being his best friend, noticed immediately.

"Sap? What's wrong?" He questioned. Sapnap's breath shook. "I- I don't- Dream-" the Prince gave up trying to form a coherent sentence in favour of taking a deep breath. "I don't know if I can do this, Dream. I don't really even like girls, you know that." Sapnap swallowed thickly, pushing the tears threating to spill down, with another deep breath. The blonde put his arm around his best friend, pulling him close. "I know Sap. But you can do this," Dream comforted softly. Then he nudged his best friend. "And hey, I hear the prince is pretty cute!" God, Sapnap hoped he was right.

Chapter Text

The carriage rocked around, which was unfortunate for Dream, who was known for his motion sickness.

Sapnap also felt sick, but for different reasons. First, he was being shipped off to some rich kingdom called "Mysdabystiem", away from his family and friends, to marry some princess named "Tina" or something, who probably doesn't want to marry him either. Second, the carriage was really rocking.

Sapnap totally understood Dream’s motion sickness now. 

After about two and a half hours, they arrived at Mysdabystiem, who’s towns were the cleanest Sapnap had ever seen. The people waved at the carriage as it passed, approaching the palace.

Palaces was probably more accurate.

The place was massive with a big ivory gate, imprinted with what looked like some sort of wild cat, out the front, surrounded by hedges that were merely decorative, as they were short enough to climb.

When they passed through the gate, Sapnap saw the moat surrounding the castle. It, again, looked to be purely decorative, as it was thin and still enough to swim across.

“They must really trust their subjects,” Dream remarked, obviously noticing the same things as Sapnap, who just hummed in agreement.

Once they passed over the moat, Sapnap finally had nothing distracting him from the castle. Needless to say, it was massive.

It looked otherworldly, white with big gold decor wrapping around the towers like vines. There were also real vines hanging from some of the windows and balconies.

Towers climbed high into the sky, their grey shingled roofs as pointy as the knife George, their mage/fortune teller/best friend/messenger, was twisting in his hands.

“Ugh. I feel sick,” Dream groaned, eyes on the floor. George just rolled his eyes.

“Then stop looking down moron!” He said, frustration with his best friend evident in his voice.

“Guys,” Sapnap interrupted. “We’re here.”

The palace was somehow even grander from the inside. They were immediately welcomed by a very pretty guy, who Sapnap assumed was a guard, although his lax, although fine, rose and turquoise outfit would suggest otherwise.

“Hi!” He welcomed, putting his hand out, smiley as ever. “I’m Prince Karl. I assume you’re Prince Sapnap, my husband-to-be?” He paused, gesturing to Sapnap, whose eyes widened in shock, before Karl let out a soft giggle.

“Kidding, sweetheart. Anyway, you’re Sapnap,”

He then pointed to Dream and George respectively.

“Meaning that you’re Dream, and you’re George. I’ve heard so much about you from Chris and Jimmy. It’s all anyone’s been talking about for the past month. Tina hates it.”

Sapnap racked his brain, as the names ‘Chris’ and ‘Jimmy’ sounded familiar.

Then it hit him.

The King and his highest member of the Court. The brunette referred to some of the most important people in the kingdom by their first names. Without title.

Sapnap cringed as he thought about what they would do to him back home if he were to do that.

When he turns back to Karl, the boy looks mortified, immediately trying to stop any incorrect interpretation of his words.

“I mean- uh- not because- like- you’re really pretty- I mean- like- uh, she just hasn’t met you yet, I guess,” he finally finished.

Sapnap just smirked at the boy. He’s cute when he’s flustered he thinks.

Shoving down that thought along with the fluttering in his chest, he asks, “You think I’m pretty?”

Karl flushes impossibly more red.

“No! Yes!” he rushes. “Well, I, uh- Anyways, I’ll, uh, show you to your rooms.”

Sapnap laughed lightly, leaning over to whisper in Karl’s ear.

“Smooth, Your Majesty.” He barely knew this boy and yet he was so close, too close, to revealing his biggest secret. He fell back into step with Dream and George, his nerves returning. A light heat coated his cheeks as he stared at the barely tamed mousy curls in front of him.

All Sapnap could see were his beet-red ears.

Karl lead them into a hall with tall gold columns reaching up to the high ivory ceiling. It was probably the most intimidated Sapnap had ever felt.

Towering oak doors lined the halls, each imprinted with the kingdom’s symbol, and every so often a maid or butler would come out of one and send a kind smile Karl’s way, which he would return.

“Told you,” Dream whispered, leaning over.