ZEROBASEONE ONESHOTS AND IMAGINES

Oneshot- Hao/Ricky PT.2

The stars lied- Royalty au with Zhang Hao and Ricky

Genre: romance, angst

Pairing: y/n x Zhang Hao, y/n x Ricky

Pbout: while you visit your sister, the queen, you're met with a familiar distraction – prince Ricky. but king Hao doesn't seem happy about it.

Your sister is with-child for the second time the next time you see her. You're sitting with her at the butterfly garden, and her first-born is playing near the pond. The young crown prince Yujin looks much like Hao, you think.

You look at your sister, the queen, and can't help but think that she was always meant to be that. Since she's left Astoria, she's become much tanner, she smells of flowers all the time, and her hair is much longer. She fashions them nowadays with tiny crystals, which glisten in the sunlight when she moves. You tell her it looks like the stars, and she says it's the only way she can feel connected to home.

Mariposa, unlike your country, is much warmer. While you haven't had the chance to explore much, the palace gardens here put yours to shame as it blooms with about a hundred different kinds of flowers. The people that staff the palace are gentle, soft-spoken and remind you of the slight drizzle before a rainbow. You suddenly understand where Zhang Hao gets his disposition from. The king you mean, you suddenly understand where the king gets his disposition from.

You haven't seen him since that night. You didn't even show up to the wedding – it would have complicated things. Instead, you sent your sister a letter and a gift, a small golden telescope. You wonder if your sister has ever suspected anything, if that's the reason she invited you to stay at Mariposa for the entire Spring.

"Let me tour you around the palace, sister. Come." her entire court of ladies move when she does, and you follow suit. She ends the tour at what she thinks would be your favourite place, the royal library.

The whole place is bright, and the ceiling is incredibly high. The library is two stories, and there is a large staircase that leads to the second floor. The books on the first floor look like they sparkle, with the sun hitting its hardbound spines. You walk in between the tall bookshelves, fingers ghosting over the expanse of the collection. Slowly, the faint sound of a violin enters your ears.

"He likes to play in here sometimes, up on the second floor". Your sister, who is beside you, gestures up at the staircase. You don't want to look. "As expected, the king plays beautifully", your sister whispers to you.

"I fear that I'll disturb his grace's time with you. I'll retire to my room, sister." She gently nods at you before making her way up the steps, with prince Yujin following suit.

You walk to your quarters alone.

Your maid, Chaehyun, is busy brushing your hair when she tells you that the gown prepared for you to wear at the spring solstice ball has arrived. The dress is a breathtaking midnight blue, clad in diamonds, and much like your sister's hair – reminds you of the Astoria night sky.

A string quartet greets you enthusiastically, their music resonating throughout the ballroom as you enter. The walls are decorated in gold, with paintings of the Mariposa butterflies. The place is filled with Mariposa nobility, but you are also met with royals from other neighbouring countries. A few gentlemen ask for your hand in a dance, and you agree. Though your body is moving, your mind is elsewhere. You feel that you are merely floating to the rhythm.

Zhang Hao sees you first, breathtaking, he thinks. He is standing next to your sister on the platform where their thrones reside. He watches you politely accept dances from strangers, smiling and curtsying at each one. When you move, he thinks it's like watching the constellations dance in the night sky. Entranced, he keeps his gaze on you.