The Other Swan Sister

Chapter 55

"I want to show you something." Regina suddenly lurches out of her seat.
"Oh?" You respond, pleasantly surprised by whatever it could be.
"That is if you don't mind?" She second guesses herself.
"I would love to." You smile at her, something you can't stop doing as you peel the layers of the evil queen away.
Regina gives a tight smile, her walls still threateningly high. And you follow her.
Her hips sway as she leads you down a series of corridors and for a split second you panic and wonder if she knows you're lying to her.
In that moment you realise just how desperately you want to tell her the truth but you argue against yourself. You know she'll find out once the curse breaks and telling her now could ruin everything you've built.
She stops and looks at a pair of doors ahead, turning to you abruptly and noticing your worry.
"Are you alright?" She goes to touch you but stops herself.
You take the opportunity to reach for her hand and hold it.
"I'm great." You kiss the back of it gently and she smiles.
"This..." she ploughs open the door with her free hand and leads you into the room. "Is my library."
You don't say a word, your senses are too overwhelmed by the plethora of ancient paintings, gold leaf bookcases and the endless array of books.
"Wow." Is all you can comment.
"I never get to share this room." She utters, as if she's thinking out loud.
"Well, I'm honoured, your majesty." You grin at the side of her face.
You begin to walk around, skimming your hand along the cases.
That's when you see it, a book on Rumplestiltskin. You feel his presence for a moment and freeze.
"See something you like?" You head Regina call.
You grit your teeth slightly at the harsh reminder of your cursed present moment.
"Uh- yeah." You falter, picking up the closest book across. "Magick." You frown as you flick through the pages, turning back to the Queen.
"I've always heard so much abo-" Your words are cut off by Regina's manicured hand taking the book from your own.
"Magick is a powerful force, my dear." A seriousness to her demeanour. "Not to be played with."
"But you have magick." You slip up. Regina jolts. "From- what I hear about you..." you play it off.
"And you believe everything you hear about me, do you?" She raises a sculpted brow at you.
You pause momentarily.
She has a point.
"Well-" you stutter. "Don't you?" You don't give up.
"Magick always come with a price, dear." She dodges. "And I've been paying a heavy price my whole life."
You mull over her words for a moment.
"Can I ask you something?" You frown slightly and she weighs up your expression.
"Of course."
"What do you gain... from being so cruel to people?" You ask softly, and as the words escape you wish you could just stuff them back in.
"Excuse me?" Fire in her eyes.
"The Regina I know is kind, and soft, and caring, and I think one of the best people I've ever met. Why do you show yourself as this villain? So many people would love you."
"I do not need people to love me. Love is weakness." She spits.
"You think this is weakness?" You protest back.
Her eyes double for a moment. Shocked.
"You-" she mutters.
You simply stare at her, thinking of something to say.
"You think this is your weakness?" You repeat once again.
You can see her brain wracking through the possible answers.
"N-" she begins but stops. "All I know is that I do not want you to leave." You step toward her. "But you can't possibly-" she begins but her mind trails away, overwhelmed by the moment.
"You think so little of yourself."
Her eyes brim with liquid but she doesn't move.
You kiss her softly. Eyes tightly shut, hoping this is the moment the curse breaks.
As you pull away, you stare back into her dark eyes.
Nothing's changed.
That's when it hits you like a tonne of bricks.
The Evil Queen is incapable of love.
You don't even know if she has her heart.
Maybe you will be stuck in this cursed realm forever.
Your thoughts are cut off by a warm hand cupping your face.
"Are you frightened?" She asks gently.
You lean into her touch.
"Not with you here." You smile back lazily. "Can I stay here tonight? If you don't mind..."
"Of course you can." Regina seems equally happy at the proposal, although she hides it much better than you. "I will have the house maiden bring your sleepwear to my room."

"It's so big." You exclaim as your eyes take in every corner of the grand room.
"I suppose I have space to spare." Regina continues her task, removing her jewellery.
"Do you need some help?" You waltz over and help her unclasp her bracelet, and then her necklace.
You feel the room switch to slow motion as your hands caress her tender skin. She merely turns her head slowly to lean into you.
"Thank you." She says in a hoarse tone, her voice slightly cracking.
"I- uh... do you need help with your dress?" You nervously ask. "I don't mean to sound like a pervert it just looks pretty complicated. I don't want to make you uncomforta-"
She turns around.
"You could never." She softly says before turning back around. "If you could." She leans her neck forward to allow you access to her corsetry ties.
"It might take me some time." You joke.
"Did you not used to work at the castle?" She quips back.
"Maybe I just want to take my time with you." You retort.
Saving your ass.
Phew.
As you reach about halfway of the corset you pull the material away from her skin and let it fall around her shoulders. Her skin soft and blemish free.
You pause and admire.
"Something the matter, dear?" She drawls, you see her smirk in the mirror.
You smile softly back at her reflection and place a series of loving kisses to her back and shoulders. You notice her eyes close and head tip slightly back as you admire her reflection.
"No." You whisper, your head resting on her shoulder as your eyes look into her own through the mirror.
You both stop for a moment and stare.
You place one last kiss to her shoulder.
"Who are you? Under all this." You think out loud, thinking of the Regina you would find under these layers.
Someone different to your own, you know.
"I don't know." She whispers in return, deep emotion in her eyes.