Cider Queendom [ dahyun x sana , futanari ]

I

The young woman that entered through the set of double doors that led into one of the many drawing rooms of Queen Dahyun's castle, could be described with a handful of words.

"Beautiful," the queen murmured at the sight of her. "But a lot more than that, I hope."

The woman was brunette , with piercing hazel eyes that expressed an unnerving clarity while also concealing something about her nature — or her true thoughts. She performed a deep curtsy — first to the queen, then to her father, before she took a seat on the high-backed chair beside the newly-minted Duke Minatozaki .

"My daughter, your majesty. Lady Sana Minatozaki ," boomed the duke's voice. He grinned with a certain pride and joy that Dahyun winced at. His pride in her daughter seemed contrived and loud, and Dahyun noticed the brunette  woman fidget in her seat. Rather than goad the man to speak any further, she focused her attention on the woman. She was dressed in a well-tailored dress of rich blue fabric, her fingers laced on her lap.

"It's nice to meet you, Lady Sana. As your father has likely told you, you are to live her and be a lady of my court," Dahyun addressed her with a gentle smile.

"He told me, your majesty," her voice was soft, with an in-born huskiness that sent a coil of heat in Dahyun's belly. The queen bit her lip. "And we thank you for the honour you impart on our family for generations to come."

The three of them chatted for a few more minutes before the steward-in-training, the daughter of her father's steward, rapped against the door and entered. Jeongyeon of the Yoo  family, dressed in the black-and-gold colours of the Kim house, looked sharp and stern. "Your carriage, duke Minatozaki , awaits."

"Ah, that time already. Then I must take my leave," the duke rose and bowed deeply in front of the queen. He pulled Sana aside to whisper into her ear, the young woman nodding as if to placate him. He bowed to Dahyun again, and truly, she grew sick of him, before he was finally ushered out of the drawing room by Jeongyeon.

Dahyun sagged against the back of her armchair in visible relief. She rubbed her temples — nearly forgetting that she was not alone. She looked up and saw that Sana watched her with a smile. "Your father, is he always so..."

"Intense?" Sana sat across from Dahyun. Gone was the taut severity of her shoulders. "I'm afraid so, your majesty."

"Did he force you here against your will?"

"No," Sana maintained a steady look into the queen's eyes. "If anything, I was happy to leave my home. I have read all the books in our home library and my father refuses to purchase new ones." She said shyly. "Oh — but it's also an honour to serve under your majesty's household!"

"You can read anything here," Dahyun said with a pleasant smile. This meant that Sana liked to open her mind, unlike the past ladies of her court who seemed to only want to gossip and gripe about other nobles. Maybe it also meant that she would be open to certain matters of Dahyun's... anatomy. "There is the main library in the west tower that houses the most of the books. But there are sporadic libraries in the eastern wing, where the offices are. There you can mostly find books on law and governance, politics and philosophy, and whatever else you may like."

The awe in Sana's eyes was unmistakable, and Dahyun could not resist smiling at the expression across her face. "Is there anything else you need to know before you are shown to your chambers?"

"No questions, your majesty. Rather, a statement." Sana bowed deeply once again. "It truly is an honour to be a lady of your chamber."

She rose to her feet and did a curtsy, just as Jeongyeon entered the room. She glanced at Sana and bowed before making her way to Dahyun. "Your majesty, the council requests your presence in the council chamber — they wish to discuss the matter of training army recruits."

"Very well," Dahyun sighed. She rose from her seat and approached Jeongyeon. She threw Sana a glance and paused. "Jeongyeon, show Sana to her chambers, then to the library afterward. I can go to the council chamber myself — I live here, after all. I know where it is." Dahyun winked at Sana who smiled. "I shall join you for lunch, lady Sana. Until then."

Sana curtsied again, and Dahyun huffed. "Also, I know it's what you are taught in your lessons, but please stop curtsying so much."

"But — "

"Just imagine. We will be around each other so much. If you curtsied every time we greeted each other, your poor knees would have a hard time of it. Look at Jeongyeon," they both looked at the stern-looking steward-in-training. She raised a brow in response, and Dahyun grinned. "The moment I told her to stop curtsying or bowing to me in private, she immediately ceased, and now she has grown insolent."

"Your majesty's height makes curtsying senseless," Jeongyeon said, smirking.

"See? So please, Sana. I don't expect you to cease all formalities, but try."

"I will, your majesty."

Dahyun beamed at the brunette  woman. "Good. That is all I ask."

With her cape billowing behind her, Dahyun left through the double-doors to attend to her council, leaving Jeongyeon and Sana alone. The steward terrified Sana a little, but she and the queen seemed to have a rapport that made them work well together.

"If you would follow me, lady Sana. The servants have carried your belongings to your chamber."

Sana followed Jeongyeon down a length of hallway with floor to ceiling windows that looked out to the royal gardens. The lawns were perfectly manicured, the hedges trimmed, but it lacked colour and personality. Sana assumed that Dahyun was far too busy to appoint a royal gardener. Already, Sana's mind churned with ideas for the royal gardens, and thought about sketching them out and painting them in watercolour to provide the queen a visual aid.

The chambers given to her was directly beside Queen Dahyun's, while Jeongyeon pointed out that her own chamber was across the hall from Sana's. "There is a door that connects your room with her majesty's," Jeongyeon mentioned, pointing to the heavy-looking walnut-stained door. "You may lock it, of course, in case you need respite from the queen. She will understand."

"Is there anything you can tell me about queen Dahyun that I should know about?"

Jeongyeon was quiet for a few minutes. "She enjoys musical performances, and loves to play the piano, herself. She has the tendency to be dramatic, her temper can be short, much like herself. Is that the type of information you look for?"

Sana blinked. "Yes. That is a big help. Thank you."

The steward shrugged and opened the door for Sana. "As her steward, that is my job. My mother was the late King Seunghyun and Queen Chaerin's steward as well, and my mother's mother before her. Our family has been linked for generations now. Come, I shall show you the libraries."

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