Choose Me Instead

Act 1, Scene 28

"This lowly one will then take her leave, your majesty." she curtsy and leaves. "Haha, that kind of speech certainly doesn't suit you Lady [Y/N]. Just speak to me as you normally would." the emperor laughs. Reaching the door, [Y/N] turns on her heels once again looking at the emperor. "As you wish, your majesty. I'll see you next time." and with that, the gigantic door shuts close and his majesty's laughter could be heard through the door.

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It was just a typical day. No, it was just the day after they met with the emperor. Aristia had come back to the mansion pale-faced. She had almost fainted at the front door had it not been thanks to Lina. [Y/N] had heard from the maids whispering of how the crown prince had personally sent Aristia back home and was gushing at how romantic it was.

"Their imagination knows no bounds...it's almost troublesome." [Y/N] thought to herself. She was in her father's office doing some paperwork with Aristia beside her reading through her papers just in case she had missed something.

The sound of the writing pen resonates through the room. Paper shuffling and the sound of pouring tea. "[Y/N]...what do you think of...Sir Carsein?" Aristia suddenly asks, her eyes never once pulling away from the sheets of documents in her hands. [Y/N] stops writing that instant, her mind processing the question she had just heard before her face flush pink in embarrassment.

"WH- WHA- WHAT!? WHAT MADE YOU SUDDENLY ASK SOMETHING LIKE THAT!?! AHAHAHA CARSIEN?? HE AHH- ERR- HE'S JUST SOMEONE I ADMIRE THAT'S ALL!" she exclaims in the self-consciousness of her crush on Carsein.

Aristia was stunned by her sister's reaction. She had honestly asked the question out of curiosity thanks to the rumours Lina had been spouting ever since that day Carsein came to visit her when she was sick. "[N/N]...you–"

A knock interrupts Aristia's question as [Y/N] exhales a breath of relief. The door opens and in comes the butler. "Lady Aristia, Lady [Y/N] guards from the royal palace have arrived," he announces.

The twins look at each other before following the butler out into the common area where the two guards stood. One had very shiny blond hair with his hair parted on the side although the little side end of the hair look quite odd. The other had brown hair, very clean and tidily combed. Both wore the signature royal guard outfit, which was white, with a hint of blue and a gold brooch with their cape inked with the royal family seal.

The two guard bow in sync before introducing themself. It honestly felt like a job interview to [Y/N] even though she had never been to one before. But she imagines it to be something like this scene displayed right in front of her. "Lady Aristia, Lady [Y/N]" they say in harmony. "My name is Seymour, part of the royal guards." the blonde one introduced. "And I'm June. It's a pleasure to meet you." the brown one then says.

"Lololol his name is June...lemme guess he's born in June?" [Y/N] thought snickering to no one but herself. She had to at least make fun of one of the newbies here. Philotes appears from beneath the couch in his Casper form. Barking at the new stationed guards. He wasn't that comfortable with newbies around his [Y/N]. He just wants to assert dominance as [Y/N]'s favourite guard not that he would admit it.

The guards just look at Philotes, smiling at the dog before turning back to the twins. "Very cute dog you have here," June says, his eyes shimmering with adoration for Philotes.

"Ah...yes, Casper is very cute indeed." Aristia awkwardly says "and thank you, we will be in your care." she then continues. The two guards look at each other before looking back down at Aristia. "Apologies Lady Aristia, but we have only been ordered to take care and ensure your safety, not Lady [Y/N]." they bow apologetically.