𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐍𝐓

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐘-𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑

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     Sofi led (Y/N) into her father's office despite Komi not too keen on letting his daughter be in a room with someone he thought was a man. However, he begrudgingly agreed after Sofi vouched for (Y/N), promising him that nothing would happen and nothing would ever happen. Of course, as (Y/N) passed him, he still glared at her suspiciously before walking off to resume his work.

    "So..." Sofi exhaled, sitting down on the small cot her father sometimes used for naps. "What do you need help with?"

    "I need advice," (Y/N) started, fidgeting with her fingers as she paced around the small space, Sofi's eyes trailing her. "Something happened... something that I did not expect at all."

    "What?"

    She stopped moving, looking at Sofi with an almost agonized gaze.

    "You can tell me..." Sofi whispered quietly, gesturing for (Y/N) to sit beside her, giving off the aura of someone wise and comforting even though she was in reality younger. "I've kept one of your secrets so far... I can handle another."

    "And I thank you for that... but information like this can risk the kingdom," (Y/N) exhaled softly. "His Highness... kissed me."

    Sofi blinked.

    It was obvious she didn't believe her.

    (Y/N) exhaled heavily as she ran her hands through her short, rugged (H/C) hair at Sofi's silence, already knowing that the words she was speaking were ones that sounded very far fetched. However, she waited for Sofi to say something, not wanting to ruin whatever was whirring within her mind by any other distracting phrases.

    "His Highness... kissed you?" Sofi questioned almost robotically so."

    "Yes, but... he still thinks that I am a male," she turned back to Sofi with clear disbelief and concern glimmering within her eyes.

    "What!?" At that, Sofi's eyes widened.

    "Exactly, and what's more concerning is that, while he didn't say it specifically, I think he wants me to marry him?" (Y/N) phrased the statement as more of a question as her brows furrowed together. "Or, be a concubine... I don't know exactly. I know that previous rulers have only had one Queen. I'm sure that some had lovers... but I can't recall a King ever having a male lover..."

    "That's true..." Sofi rubbed her chin, thinking. "I'm sure it's happened at one point or another, but it just hasn't been transcribed into our history.."

    "Same-sex relations... they aren't exactly looked upon fondly, so it makes sense."

"Mm," Sofi nodded, biting her lip. "For His Highness who is about to be crowned King, he must ensure the future of the kingdom by having potential heirs. Meaning, he needs a Queen. There would be public outcry if he were to only have a man beside him. And despite the fact that you are indeed a woman... you hide that for obvious reasons, therefore you are a man to everyone else. And you're asking about this... why? Do you also have feelings for His Highness?"

    "What?" (Y/N) stared at her in shock before adamantly shaking her head. "Of course not. I'm just... lost. I've never been in this position, and I need someone who knows my true identity."

    "Sooner or later, if he truly does love you, your identity will be revealed," Sofi pointed out, her expression painted with worry. "And by then—no, maybe even now—if it's revealed, his trust in you might shatter. However, in thinking about this another way, it might be more beneficial since you, as a woman, can give heirs."

    "But I'm not of a politically beneficial background," (Y/N) countered.

    "It won't matter to him."

    "...I feel like my whole world is turning upside down," she groaned as she slumped down on the small cot, resting her head in her hands. "I can't be with His Highness. I can't have my identity revealed. And I can't leave."

    Sofi frowned at that last sentence, voicing her thoughts, "You can't leave? Why?"

    "If you must know... this job helps pay for the debt I've built up after my mother's funeral. Along with that... I just don't want to go back."

Especially if Leo is still there...

With her...

"I see, well—"

    "(M/N)(L/N)?" A stern voice interrupted Sofi, the two women turning to see a guard enter the room with Komi behind him, his presence almost intimidating due to the sword strapped to his hip. "I'll need you to come with me. His Highness the Prince has requested your presence."

    "Of course, sir," (Y/N) spoke as she stood up before following after the guard.

    She glanced back at Sofi once more.

    A comforting smile was flashed her way.

    Walking down the halls of the palace, (Y/N) found it colder than when she did so during the day. The moon shone down on her brightly yet cast a frigid glow over the stones, paintings, and ornaments, causing her to shiver from the goosebumps that ran up and down her arms. This effect also didn't help her nerves one bit, instead giving her a bad omen and a sinking feeling that started in her gut. The guard led her to a pair of wooden double doors before leaving her, alone, with a sense of foreboding that didn't settle well.

    She swallowed thickly as the guard's footsteps faded into the distance, her hand slowly reaching up to knock solidly three times, only gripping the handle and turning it to walk through when hearing a muffled 'come in' from inside. As she had been in Adrian's room before, it didn't surprise her how gorgeous she still found it—red and gold color schemes, a desk with only an ink pot and quill resting in the corner, a door opposite that slightly ajar that she assumed led to a bathroom, a wardrobe, a nightstand, paintings, and finally the bed in the center of it all.

    And on it sat Adrian.

    When she walked in, he finally looked up.

    His eyes were almost animalistic.

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