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The sun set several hours ago, and the moon is high on the horizon. The birds stopped chirping some time ago, and a hush wafts through the streets of Westhelm. The last shop is slowly closing, and the plebians are making their way home to snuggle up in their cozy beds.
Well, everyone except Emporer Schpood, who is still being held captive by his advisors in a meeting about the future of Westhelm. Normally, Schpood would leave such meetings to his second-in-hand 5pyder or flee from them until his advisors give up. However, this time they were very adamant that it had to be Schpood himself, and that this meeting had to take place no matter what.
So, Schpood has been sitting for several hours in this terminally boring meeting, which drags on and on, seemingly never ending. At first, it was just trivial matters that anyone else could take care of, and wouldn't require the Emporer himself. However, at this late hour, the topic has shifted in a direction that Schpood doesn't like at all.
It's about the safety of Westhelm, or rather, the safety of Westhelm if something were to happen to Schpood. Which is ridiculous in itself, since Schpood is already known for surviving assassination attempts. But it's precisely these assassinations that unsettle the Plebians of Westhelm.
The original plan was for Emporer Schpood to enter into a political marriage with Jophiel of Tricolor to strengthen the alliance between the two nations and the two islands. However, after Jophiel's tragic death, this is no longer possible, and this very death, caused by an assassination attempt by her right-hand man, is worrying both the advisors and the Plebians. If it can happen to Jophiel, the same can happen to Schpood. This very worry is precisely the reason Schpood has been bored in a boring meeting for hours. After all, we're still talking about Emporer Schpood, who has survived every assassination attempt against him so far, and there were quite a few of them.
Accordingly, Schpood was only half-listening and couldn't wait until he could get out of here. But the advisors also explained that it would have a positive effect on the plebians if a strong person acted as his consort. Someone who also cared about the population and made the residents of Westhelm feel safe.
Ultimately, the meeting ended with the advisors strongly recommending that Schpood seriously consider what should happen to Westhelm if he were no longer with us. And to everyone's surprise, Schpood did just that. At least until he arrived at his office.
Normally, Schpood would go straight to his chambers to enter the dream world. However, 5pyder had already asked him a few hours ago about a document he should have finished long ago. To avoid upsetting 5pyder even more than he already had with the unfinished document, Schpood decided to quickly get it done.
Speaking of 5pyder, he's currently sleeping soundly, his upper body propped up on Schpood's desk. Much to Schpood's astonishment. What is 5pyder doing in his office at this late hour? Upon closer inspection, Schpood notices two things.
First, the pile of documents still to be processed is considerably smaller than he left it, and second, that 5pyder has dark circles under his eyes. Apparently, when 5pyder came to retrieve the document he had asked for, he noticed the huge pile of unfinished papers and decided to work on the documents himself. Until he apparently couldn't escape sleep any longer. Sleep, which, judging by 5pyder's dark circles under his eyes, was urgently needed.
Schpood debated for a short while. On the one hand, this sleeping position was probably very uncomfortable, and 5pyder would feel it the next morning. But on the other hand, 5pyder desperately needed sleep and deserved it after his amazing work.
So Schpood decided that if he couldn't wake 5pyder, but didn't want to leave him in this sleeping position, Schpood would simply carry him into 5pyder's chambers without waking him.
Accordingly, Schpood throws a blanket that was lying on one of the armchairs in his office over 5pyder. So he doesn't have to freeze as they walk through the halls of his palace. Only for Schpood to pick 5pyder bridal style up the next moment and make his way to 5pyder's chambers.
While Schpood slowly carries 5pyder through the many corridors, 5pyder snuggles up lightly to him. Presumably because Schpood is already a warm source of heat. On the way to 5pyder's chambers, the two didn't really run into many people. Only every few minutes a guard who knows better than to question what he sees and just keeps doing his own thing.
Until just before 5pyder's chambers, a guard there makes a quiet comment, so quiet that Schpood shouldn't have heard it. "What a cute couple. Will this love find me?" Normally, Schpood wouldn't give such a comment a second thought, but this time it's different. Because this comment gave Schpood an idea. An idea that caused him to turn around and head towards his own chambers, still carrying 5pyder in his arms.
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The next morning, as the warm rays of sunlight slowly fell on 5pyder's face, he left the realm of dreams to find himself in a warm, cozy bed. He doesn't even remember his bed being so cozy. It probably feels that way, since he's been falling asleep out of his bed more often than in it for some time now.
The next thing 5pyder notices is the warm body next to him. It keeps him nice and warm and almost convinces him to return to the realm of dreams. Until the moment when he realises that there really shouldn't be anyone lying next to him. So 5pyder quickly opens his eyes to identify the intruder. And to his great surprise, the intruder is the Emporer Schpood himself, who is already staring at him.
"I wouldn't have guessed you were a cuddler. But apparently, we're always learning something new," Schpood said happily, and only then did 5pyder realise the position the two were in. Namely, Schpood was lying shirtless on his back, while 5pyder had made himself comfortable on his chest. Once he realised this, 5pyder quickly moved off Schpood and as far away from him as possible without leaving the bed.
"What am I doing in your bed, Schpood?" came from 5pyder, as he simply couldn't figure out how he ended up here. "Well, where else would you sleep? After all, we're getting married, and—" before Schpood can even finish his sentence, 5pyder interrupts him. "What do you mean, getting married? Have you completely lost your mind?" came horrified 5pyder. How did that idiot come up with such an idea, and at such an early hour, when 5pyder doesn't really have the head for it!
"First of all, I'm perfectly right minded. Things have never been better than they are now. With my brilliant ideas. Including the idea that we should get married. There's no better idea, so get up so we can announce our engagement," Schpood boasted proudly, and if you look closely, which 5pyder obviously doesn't, you can see Schpood's chest bulging with pride. However, Schpood's words only cause more confusion for 5pyder than they answer any questions.
"Come on, I haven't agreed to anything yet. Especially, how are you coming up with marriage? You don't seem like the type to give such things much thought?" 5pyder asked, still confused, but slowly relaxing. However, his question caused Schpood's face to twist into a less than happy one. "Because my annoying advisors want me to marry someone. That's in case something happens to me. Which is a disgrace in itself. After all, I'm Emporer Schpood, who has survived every assassination attempt with an engraving so far. I should let them fight in the arena alone for that," Schpood said in one of his outbursts, which was only interrupted by 5pyder repeating his name several times.
"I understand now how you're coming up with marriage. But I'm still left with the question: why me? There are so many better options to support this nation." As 5pyder makes this statement, his gaze wanders down to the bed and he pulls his legs up to make himself as small as possible. But Schpood wouldn't allow this. He grabs 5pyder's shoulders with both hands, forcing 5pyder to look directly at him.
"What do you mean, Why me? Who else would I choose? You love this nation more than anything. You're willing to forgo things like sleep just to make sure everything works as it should. You know, how everything works. I don't have to worry about an assassination attempt or anything like that with you. The people of Westhelm like, no, love you. They'll feel safer just by your presence, especially because you'll manage to get along with me and keep me in check." Schpood chuckles slightly at this comment, while 5pyder's blush continues to grow. "With you by my side, I know we'll lead Westhelm to a golden future. And let's be honest. With all your work, especially enduring all the meetings for me, you're already leading Westhelm as a consort. All that's missing is making it official." And with this final comment, Schpood grins at 5pyder, who just turns bright red and wants to hide under the covers.
"Well, fine. You're right. But as if it's believable that we'd get engaged spontaneously," 5pyder said, slightly embarrassed. "Why else do you think you're in my bed? When I carried you here last night, I deliberately walked past a lot of guards, and don't even get me started on the look on the guard's face outside my chamber. I honestly thought she was about to pass out. But you know how much the guards love to gossip. Before we know it, all of Westhelm will know we went to bed together. And knowing my people, they'll make a lot more of it than actually happened." At that last sentence, Schpood gives 5pyder a mischievous look and gets a pillow thrown in his face.
"So that's why I'm in your bed," 5pyder whispered to himself, only to then say louder, "Alright. I'll marry you, but on the condition that before we officially announce it, we make several public appearances that could be interpreted as dates." And with these words, Schpood jumps out of bed, gleefully celebrating his brilliant ideas. While 5pyder just shakes his head and wonders what he's gotten himself into.
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Several weeks passed, during which Schpood and 5pyder went on several dates. Whether it was at an Island One Boys concert, where they were clearly standing way too close to each other and one could almost say they were dancing romantically together, or at a dinner at Remy Restaurant. In the end, there were many rumours about the two, and the whole nation was just waiting for them to announce their relationship.
When this finally happened, the whole nation celebrated and wished them all the best for their engagement and upcoming wedding. The consultants who had persuaded Schpood to do this in the first place were more than happy with his choice and wished them all the best for their wedding.
The wedding itself took place on a beautiful spring day. Every leader of a nation was invited to their wedding to celebrate this wonderful day and how they celebrated. After all they've been through, every little bit of joy should be celebrated, even if you can't really call a wedding a little bit.
Especially at a political wedding, where the wedding speeches were a bit too sincere. Where the marital kiss seemed a bit too eager. Where the wedding dance was a bit too romantic. Where the two grooms looked a bit too joyful. So, late in the evening, long after the festivities were over, when the newlyweds were getting ready for bed, the words they had been waiting for so long came out.
"I love you, 5pyder. And I don't want this marriage to be just a political marriage. I want to show the world how much I love my husband and show him to the whole world," Schpood's words came from deep within his heart. "I feel the same way you do, my dear husband. I love you, Schpood," 5pyder's words came from the same place as Schpood's words.
This is how a political marriage becomes a marriage that simply sparkles with love.