Keeping Up Appearances

"Your highness, it's time."

Hmm? I respond, half in a daze. Nothing seemed real anymore.

A man in a black suit stood next to me. He was part of the royal secret service, not that he was fooling anyone by walking around in that suit. Then again, I, too, wore a suit.

"Their expecting us," he said.

I nod, adjust my tie, my cuffs. So this is really happening? I reorient on the mirror, and it's frightening truth. It's almost as if the prince himself was staring back at me. After years of comparison, this was how I found out that I was a bastard? By becoming a standin for my dear ole brother, whom I'd never met?

The man stepped in front of my and began adjusting my tie a little too aggressively. "Just remember what's on the line," he whispered. "You're saving the human race."

"Is that cause not noble enough for our actual prince? My brother..."

"You are the prince now."

"And if they find out about the switch? Do you really think we'll see another peace offer?"

"You let us worry about that. You do your part, we'll do ours."

What was I to say, no? There was nothing to say, so I nodded. And then, I followed.

Palace halls strolled past. Portraits of princes past, of kings, of queens, of royalty. All of it swept past like trees on a shore as a raging river carried me some place against my will.

In a blink, my heart skipped, startled by the bride's intro music. I'm already at the alter? Is there no slowing this down again?

My veiled bride approached along the aisle. She wore what was expected. Her dress's only peculiarities were the shimmering stars fastened down her skirt, more of which trailed behind, her train seeming to tow a galaxy.

She partipated in our ceremony as if it was her very own. Because it was. These aliens weren't a foreign species; they were us—an ancient civilization that fled when they believed that all of humanity would eat itself in war. And now they were back, threatening us with the same distraction that they had fled.

When she turned to me and took my hands, she gripped me tighter than I expected. Was it anger? Was this a marriage she didn't want? I couldn't know, but I had to wonder, would I ever?

I lifted her veil, my surprise nearly bowling me over—twice. For starters, she was beautiful. Her auburn hair was tinged with other colors and made me feel as if I stood beneath autumn trees. The other shock was her tears as she looked away; she wouldn't meet my gaze, and in that, I found common ground.

The preacher droned on beside us, but I couldn't look away from her. I squeezed her hand in turn, hoping to send her comfort.

The emeralds of her eyes swiveled to meet my gaze, and there, I saw something soften as she blinked to send more tears down her cheeks.

"You may kiss the bride."

I took touched her cheek, while her she loosely grasped my wrist. As her eyes closed, I kissed her cheek, her tears coming away on my lips. When her eyes opened, surprised, I passed those same tears back through her lips. Whatever wall she had put up, whatever war she had been waging, I felt it all come crumbling down as she kissed me back.

A heartbeat later, we were heading back to my assigned bed chamber. She trailed behind, her hand in mine. Suddenly, she stopped, stopping me in turn.

When I met her gaze, her hair free and laying over her collar, she seemed resolute. "We're married now. For me, that's not just for show."

"Yeah, I was also—"

"Stop. Please, just let me finish. Before I lose my nerve."

I nodded.

"Since we're married, I won't start this on a lie. I have to tell you something, but you can't tell anyone else. Not your father. Your mother. No one. Can you do that?"

I had been trusted with a lot of secrets lately. What was one more? "I can."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

She aquesced, looked around, and then stepped close. She pulled at me, drawing my ear near her mouth. "They made me stand in for her. For the princess. I'm not her. They're just using me to make peace. So that your father takes them seriously."

My eyes grew so wide that she fell back a step. Then, I chuckled.

"You're laughing?" She asked, confused. "Did you not understand? I'm not joking."

Then, I laughed harder. When she grew embarrassed, panicked, and looked around, I laughed until I cried.

At long last, I took her firmly by the hand, wiped my eyes, and then smiled. "I'm sorry for laughing. I think it was mostly the stress. But I just realized exactly how much we had in common."

"So you'll keep my secret?"

I opened the door to our bedroom chamber. "Darling, I've got a secret for you as well, and I think you're about to discover just how much we have in common. Then, I'm going to make love to you for the rest of the night."

She blushed, took up her skirt, and let me tow her inside before closing the door behind us.

Constraints:

Writing Prompt: Humanity is under threat of war with a powerful alien race but suddenly they propose peace. A week later, men in suits show up to your door and explain the aliens will not go to war with Earth if you agree to marry their princess.