They were having a picnic, just the three of them and Blaine knew that there couldn’t have been a better time to tell them. The letter that had arrived from Kurt just that morning was in his pocket and he patted it for courage.

“Mom, dad,” he said, “I have something to tell you.”

His mom who had been fixing her petticoat stopped and looked at him. “Yes, Blaine?”

The two servants that had come along to carry their stuff as well as set up, watched from where the stood by a tree. Blaine knew they weren’t supposed to talk about anything they heard, but he couldn’t help but be a little fearful about it. Being gay or homosexual wasn’t exactly illegal or banned but it wasn’t something that a lot of people accepted or thought was right.

“I don’t think I’ll ever like girls the way I am supposed to like them – not like I like boys.”

Neither said anything for a long time and then his mom spoke up. “I’ve suspected that for a while,” she said, “we both have.”

Blaine gaped at them. He didn’t know what to say. “You’re not mad?” He asked at last.

His dad spoke, then, “no,” he said, “but that does not mean that we do not want you to marry someone before the crown is passed to you. Dalton will just have to accept that you won’t marry a woman.”

Blaine hugged them both and he began to laugh. He couldn’t believe that they would be so alright with who he was. It was a weight off his shoulders to be able to tell him parents about such an important part of his life.

“Are you interested in anyone?” his mother asked, “why are you telling us now?”

He bit down on his lip, unsure. He was interested in someone, technically. Kurt Hummel was the most interesting person he had ever met. He was gorgeous and he seemed to understand Blaine better than anyone. He was also like him. But Blaine didn’t really know what to make of his letter and Blaine didn’t want to tell his parents about him before knowing for sure that Kurt might like him back.

“I don’t know – maybe.”

“We were thinking of holding a ball,” his mom explained, “the idea was to help you find someone to marry – we can invite all the eligible young people and it might let you meet someone at the very least.”

Blaine didn’t want anyone but Kurt. The very thought of being in a room full of people that only wanted him because they wanted to stand next to him on the throne – no, it was preposterous. He wanted Kurt. No one else would do.

“We can even make an announcement about your preference, then, and…”

“Let me think about it, mother,” Blaine told her.

She nodded. “We just want you to be happy, Blaine.”

Even though his parents’ marriage had been an arranged one, there was no doubt that the two of them loved each other. Still, though, Blaine was happy that he wasn’t going to be subjected to an arranged marriage to some girl whose family was of good standing. He wanted to have what his parents had – a partnership and not just someone that would fawn over him and use their status for their own gain and he was more than sure that Kurt would be the perfect person to have at his side.

“I know,” he said, “I am so glad that you’re so accepting of this – I wasn’t expecting it.”

They spent another hour outside with their picnic before they walked back to the castle. The castle at Carmel was much bigger than the one at Dalton. Queen Shelby and Prince Jesse were definitely more dramatic though, and the Castle did it have its own theater for performances so they definitely needed the space. At Dalton the ballroom alone would serve to accommodate any event that required a large crowd.

Blaine really did wish Kurt was there with him enjoying the beauty that Carmel offered. As they approached the castle singing could be heard. There was always someone singing.