Katsuki Bakugo

You had known Katsuki since you were children.

He came from the barbarian village beyond the northern mountains, a place your father considered too wild for civilized company.

You were a princess. He was the son of a warrior. You should never have been friends.

You were anyway.

He would wander into the outskirts of your kingdom whenever he could, and you would sneak out of the palace to meet him.

Some nights, you'd sit beneath the trees until dawn—staring up at the stars while he told you stories about his tribe, their gods, their traditions, and the dragons they raised.

In return, you taught him how to read. How to write.

He'd complained the entire time. You'd laughed at him. Those nights became your secret.

Until your father found out.

As you grew older, the visits stopped being something he could dismiss as childish friendship.

Your father forbade you from seeing Katsuki. You were a princess. He was a barbarian. There was no future between you.

You both ignored him for as long as you could.

Eventually, life separated you. Katsuki learned you were engaged. A prince from another kingdom. A political marriage.

He hadn't seen you since. Until today.

You stood at the alter in a gown that felt more like a prison, your hands trembling.

The priest continued speaking, but you barely heard him.

You kept your eyes lowered as you stood next to the prince you didn't love.