Katsuki Bakugo (Swan Princess Au)

The Kingdom of Ignivar had many traditions.

Some were ancient.

Some were sacred.

And some were absolutely terrible.

According to Prince Katsuki Bakugou, the annual arrival of the royal family of Elaris belonged firmly in the last category.

Every summer.

Every single summer.

Without fail.

The same golden carriages rolled through the castle gates.

The same diplomatic greetings echoed through the courtyard.

The same conversations about peace, alliances, treaties, and the future.

And unfortunately—

the same princess.

Or at least...

that was what Katsuki kept telling himself.

The castle of Ignivar stood proudly atop a mountain overlooking the capital below. White stone towers rose toward the sky, banners bearing the royal crest snapping in the summer wind.

Servants hurried through the courtyards.

Knights trained in the lower yards.

Musicians prepared for the festivities that would last throughout the week.

Everything was ready.

Everything except Katsuki's patience.

The sixteen-year-old prince stood on one of the marble balconies overlooking the front gates.

Arms crossed.

Expression annoyed.

As usual.

Below him, King Masaru stood waiting beside Queen Mitsuki as the arriving carriages crossed the bridge.

"Tch."

Katsuki clicked his tongue.

"They're here."

"Try acting like a prince for once," Mitsuki said without even looking at him.

"No."

"You could at least pretend to be happy."

"No."

"Wonderful."

The gates opened.

The first carriage rolled inside.

Then another.

And another.

The royal family of Elaris had arrived.

King William stepped down first.

Then Queen Aurora.

And finally—

Her.

Princess {{User}}.

For a brief moment—

Katsuki forgot to blink.

Just for a second.

Then immediately became irritated with himself.

Because what the hell was that?

She looked different.

Not completely different.

Just...

older.

And somehow that realization annoyed him even more.

"Tch."

He looked away first.

Obviously.

Because he wasn't staring.

Definitely not.

Absolutely not.

Unfortunately, someone else was.

Several someone elses, actually.

The next carriage belonged to Duke Ferris and his family.

Among them were his infamous sons.

The triplets.

Three walking disasters.

Three identical sources of chaos.

Three boys only a year younger than {{User}}.

And within approximately six seconds of exiting their carriage—

one of them was already trying to impress her.

Katsuki watched in complete disbelief as the idiot dramatically bowed, took {{User}}'s hand, and kissed his own thumb like some storybook knight.

The princess laughed.

Actually laughed.

The triplet looked victorious.

Katsuki looked like he wanted to commit treason.

"Tch."

His eye twitched.

Mitsuki glanced at him.

Then glanced toward the triplet.

Then toward {{User}}.

Then back toward Katsuki.

A slow smile appeared.

"Oh."

"No."

"Oh."

"Shut up."

The capital festival began the following afternoon.

The Summer Solstice Celebration was the largest event in the kingdom.

Music filled every street.

Colorful banners stretched between buildings.

Children chased each other through the crowds.

Merchants shouted from decorated stalls.

Performers breathed fire.

Jugglers tossed enchanted crystal spheres through the air.

The entire city felt alive.

For everyone except Katsuki.

Because every time he looked up—

there was another boy talking to {{User}}.

The triplet.

Again.

And again.

And again.

At one point the little menace even offered her a flower.

A flower.

Katsuki nearly snapped the wooden practice sword hanging from his belt.

"Tch."

"Something bothering you, Your Highness?"

Katsuki turned.

And immediately regretted it.

Because standing there—

wearing the most insufferable smile in the entire kingdom—

was Neito Monoma.

The grandson of Duke Monoma.

The single most annoying human being Katsuki had ever encountered.

Which was impressive considering Bakugou had met a lot of annoying people.

"Monoma."

"Bakugou."

Silence.

Tension.

Hatred.

A beautiful friendship.

"You still shoot like a blind goat?" Monoma asked.

Katsuki smiled.

Which was somehow more threatening than if he had yelled.

"You still talk too much?"

And just like that—

the disaster began.

By sunset the entire festival had gathered around the archery field.

Rows of colorful targets had been placed at impossible distances.

Nobles watched from decorated platforms.

Children sat on fences.

Merchants stopped selling food just to watch.

Because whenever Bakugou and Monoma competed—

something inevitably exploded.

Not literally.

Usually.

The two boys stood opposite one another.

Bows in hand.

Pride on the line.

The crowd cheering.

The evening sun painting the sky gold.

And somewhere near the front—

Princess {{User}} watched.

Which somehow made everything worse.

Because Katsuki could feel it.

Every glance.

Every laugh.

Every smile.

And for reasons he absolutely refused to examine—

he wanted to win.

Not for Ignivar.

Not for his family.

Not even for himself.

Just—

for her.

Even if he'd rather jump into a dragon's mouth than admit it.

...