Duncan nodded, "Okay, good night, love," he hummed lightly, leaning up and kissing him before curling up into his chest.

Axel just kissed him back, humming a soft "night," in response. He added in a quiet "I love you," too, just settling down beside Duncan, making sure to hold him firmly.

Duncan smiled, "I love you too," he hummed softly. The next week went by quickly. He'd told his family about their engagement, Kai didn't take it well at first, but everyone was all okay now. They'd been measured and fitted by the tailor and now Duncan was finishing up getting ready for the ball. "Hey, are you almost ready to head down?" he asked, walking over to Axel.

Axel had been nervous about telling Duncan's family ...but they'd taken it well enough. Even kai hadn't argued much, and he'd accepted it by now. He was currently more worried about the ball - excited too, of course, but nervous. It would be his first time doing anything fancy or royal or anything like that, the first time in the public eye, and they were pretty much telling everyone they were engaged by being there together with pre-wedding bands on. He was just finishing up his eyeliner when Duncan came over, and he nodded with a hum. "Think so," he noted, leaning back to look in the mirror. Admittedly, he'd taken a rather long time with hair and eyeliner and jewelry and such ...he wanted it all to be perfect, for Duncan. "What do you think," he asked, brow crinkling slightly in thought.

Duncan smiled, "I love it," he hummed. "You're always so handsome," he murmured, leaning down and pecking his lips. "Cmon, we're late," he chuckled, taking his hand and walking with him down to the ballroom. "Ready?"

Axel knew that's what Duncan was going to say, but it still eased the tension in his shoulders slightly. He kissed him back, nodding with a soft hum. "Ready as I'll ever be," he noted with a slightly nervous chuckle, squaring his shoulders as if preparing for the biggest challenge of his life. And maybe it was ....this was a completely new environment for him.

Duncan smiled and nodded, walking out and joining his family on the balcony in front of thousands of their citizens and multiple visiting nations citizens. He squeezed Axels hand reassuringly and waved to the crowds as they cheered. They soon sat down at their royal table to eat. They would eat first and then they'd get to go down to the main level to dance and socialize with everyone.

Axel let Duncan take the lead on this one, since he was more used to it. He cast a nervous glance his direction, copying his wave to the best of his abilities and then settling down in his own chair, albiet a little stiffly. He found himself poking around his food more than actually eating it, despite his normal appetite being large. It was due to nerves, he figured - the only time he'd been in a crowd with this many people was a battlefield, and all the things around him were causing old memories to surface - ones he didn't perticularly enjoy remembering. He tried to shove them down though, not wanting to complicate things. They needed the people to know. And to like him. It was just....a lot to handle.

Duncan finished his food and then cast a glance over at Axel, "Hey, are you okay?" he asked softly. "Do you wanna take a break?"

Axel nearly didn't hear Duncan, do it took him a moment to register what he was saying before sighing with a small nod. "I'll manage," he noted. "I just... probably won't eat much tonight," he noted, trying for a small smile.