Cider Queendom [ dahyun x sana , futanari ]

Iv

For the servants of the Kim household, it is unprecedented how the queen, newly risen, is storming every chamber, every room, calling out a name, and only one name, at the top of her lungs. In Queen Dahyun's rush, her cloak billows behind her, legs moving as fast as they are able. She barrels through the last of the chambers in the east wing. A barely traversed area of the castle as it is where the important guests will be staying once they start arriving for the week of Dahyun's betrothal.

She runs her fingers through her hair that has come unpinned from her braid. Collapsing on an overstuffed armchair, she looks beyond the window to the fields of green and violets. Rays of sunshine have never quite looked so dull in her eyes. Jeongyeon enters the room more calmly than the queen initially did.

"Where is she?" Dahyun croaks. Jeongyeon says nothing and instead decants a goblet of water which she hands to the queen. But she does not drink it. She stares at Jeongyeon, waiting for the answer.

When she woke up that morning an hour before she usually does, it startled her. Her arms, her body, her bed all felt oddly empty. Dahyun shot up from her pillows and sees the other half of her bed, where usually, the sun that lights up her days would be curled up. Sleeping like an angel. But it was empty and Dahyun had no idea how to describe the cold chill that crawled up her spine.

That is, until she saw the envelope propped on her pillow. It held Sana's looping penmanship in black ink. Dahyun fingers the seal bearing the Minatozaki family crest. A shield of ivy and gardenias, interspersed with vines in malachite wax.

Dahyun has yet to open it, tucking it in the pocket of her nightgown. Not bothering to dress in an appropriate garb for a queen and instead she just yanks a cloak over her sheer attire. She is drenched with sweat now, drinking the goblet of water Jeongyeon poured out for her.

"Did you not read Sana's letter, your majesty?" Jeongyeon asks.

Dahyun narrows her eyes. "I have not. But you knew she wrote a letter. Were you in on this as well? Sana's disappearance?" She wipes her slick mouth and reaches into her pocket. The envelope is crumpled and damp, the corners dog-eared. "You knew she was going to leave me?"

The steward sighs and is unnaturally patient when she says, "your majesty, please read the letter. No doubt Sana explained the details of the situation far better than I could ever manage."

"But why couldn't she have told me what the problem is herself?" Dahyun demands. She knows she is whining, knows that she is being petulant. Everyone has different coping mechanisms for when they abruptly find that they are alone. "I would have understood. I would have helped! "

"Did it ever cross your mind that Sana does not need nor want your help? Read the letter, your highness. Breaking someone's heart to their face is something you'd be hesitant to do too, I wager."

At this, Dahyun stiffens. The envelope on her lap is to break her heart, Jeongyeon insinuated. With a deep intake of breath, she breaks the seal with trembling fingers and unfolds Sana's letter. Her penmanship, so familiar and graceful, makes Dahyun's heart thunder inside her ribcage. She reads.

To Her Royal Majesty the Queen:

Dahyun,

         Allow me to begin this letter with an apology. I know how startled you must feel waking up cold and alone in a bed where I usually am keeping you warm with my love. I should be there to wake you up, but I am not brave at all. I am not brave enough to see the look in your beautiful brown eyes when you read the following words that brought tears to my own eyes as I wrote them.