"I'm really sorry this has to be now," Chanyeol begins, awkwardly. Baekhyun shakes his head, in a breath.

Their parents have left them alone in Baekhyun's room, and for that Baekhyun is grateful enough. Four months have passed since they had met and the kingdoms are already gearing up for war with the Canidae, their sworn enemy. Which was also the reason they were pushed into this.

"Just know that...I love you, okay?" Chanyeol hugs Baekhyun.

"Yeah," Baekhyun says dumbly. Chanyeol had been saying that for a month now, but Baekhyun had yet to give a response, sure of his feelings but unsure of what would happen if he said it out loud. He really, really, didn't want to be betrayed again. Chanyeol was okay with Baekhyun not replying, understood like Sehun never had.

Chanyeol breathes out once, twice, before he's lowering himself down onto a knee, all the while slipping out a tiny velvet box out of his pocket. He opens it.

"Byun Baekhyun, do me the honour of being the happiest man alive and marry me?" He smiles.

"Yes, but I don't really have a choice, do I?" Baekhyun smiles wryly.

"I'm sorry," Chanyeol says, as he gently slips the silver band with a giant diamond onto Baekhyun's ring finger. Baekhyun already hates it for the way it weighs down his entire hand and feels foreign on his finger.

The gem sparkles, looking gorgeous on pale skin. Baekhyun thinks it's horrendous. He looks at Chanyeol, who is staring at it too.

"I know, it looks horrible," Chanyeol says after a while, eyes never leaving it. "Let's go buy another one after the wedding, okay?"

Baekhyun sighs in relief. He didn't know how Chanyeol would react if he told him he didn't like the ring. Grateful for that, he smiles.

Chanyeol stands up to hug him again. "I know this is too much too soon,"

Baekhyun hugs him back with his arms and wings. "It's okay,"

"I'll still be the happiest man alive, though," Chanyeol laughs.

"I think I'll be the happiest man alive," Baekhyun says to Chanyeol