Separate Crowns of One Heart

Ėıght

I stare through the sheer curtains surrounding me at the dark room, wrapped tightly in the covers. I'm not afraid of the dark-- hell, I love the dark but something is different about being the dark in an unfamiliar space. What I know to be the vanity looks like a looming beast with a wide mouth that I could fall forever into. The chaise lounge resembles a crouching creature waiting for the right moment to pounce and--

Before I can let my imagination wander any further and frighten myself half to death, I jump out of the bed and run to the switch to turn on the light. With the chamber fully lit and everything in view, I let myself take a breath. Maybe I'll just sleep with the lights on... just for tonight.

Running a hand over my face, I head back to the bed but before I can get into it, a knock sounds at the door. I freeze where I stand. Am I to let the person in? Is that allowed here? I do not want to make a mistake that will get back to Their Majesties and cause them to dislike me even more.

The person knocks again.

Maybe it's Demi. Maybe she realized that I would need her after all and she's returned to sleep with me. If it's her, I have to let her in.

I slowly approach the door and turn the knob, opening it. It is not Demi. Unless she's grown about six ticks taller, traded her signature Bantu knots for a tangle of locs, and colored her skin a few shades darker.

It's the Prince. And he's holding a tray of food that quickly fills the room with warmth and delicious scents. "Hello. Did I wake you?"

"N-no." I don't think I was going to fall asleep any time soon.

"I brought food," he states the obvious. Just looking at the contents of the tray makes my stomach grumble. How did he know I was hungry? "I noticed you hardly touched your food at dinner," he says as if he can hear my thoughts.

"Too busy trying to be perfect, I guess."

"May I come in?"

I open the door wider and he enters. He places the tray in the center of the room and begins laying everything out. Before closing the door, I peek into the hall. The same Tigers stand outside my chambers, dutifully keeping watch.

I don the robe that Demi left on the lounge early and join the Prince on the floor to eat. Neither of us speaks as we wash our hands with the bowl of water. He breaks a loaf of bread in two and hands me one half.

"What was that tonight?" He asks. I raise an eyebrow as I dip the bread into the stew he's brought. "Your act. "Oh, His Highness is amazing, he's been nothing but sweet to me." Their Majesties do not care if we're in love."

"I did not say all of that," I roll my eyes. "But I was doing it for my parents, not yours." I chew slowly to decide whether to be honest with him or not. "My parents want me to be happy and to be with a Male that I like-- if not love. If they knew I was unhappy in this situation, it would break their hearts and I can't do that to them."

"Of course... kitten." I only realize he's teasing me when I look up and see the smirk on his face. It quickly disappears when I don't laugh. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to make fun of you. It's just... I admire your parents and your relationship with them. You're lucky to have ended up with such a loving family."

Hmm. "But your parents are the King and Queen."

"Yes." He keeps his eyes on his hands as he talks. "And they made it clear a long time ago that they were the King and Queen first, and then my parents."

Oh. That must be why he calls them "Their Majesties" rather than mother and father. "Have they always been distant?"

"For as long as I can remember, yes." He reaches for the pitcher of nectar and I use that moment to study him. Although it's looser than the regular kamises I've seen him in, his form still manages to fill in the nightshirt he wears. With his hair tied up, I have a clear view of his neck and the inkings that sneak up past the neckline of his nightshirt. I wonder what designs he hides under his clothes. "I don't have many memories of being held by my mother or father; just being taught lessons of how a proper prince is to act. And now here I am." He opens his arms as if putting himself on display when he's done pouring the nectar into two glasses. "The proper Prince."