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Maud doesn't know how to find out the truth about her husband.

She doesn't want to be rude either, or make him upset by crossing the line. Surely he has a reason for keeping secrets, or maybe it's all rumors after all. Yeah, it's too risky for her to sneak behind his back to try to find things out. Saying it to his face would probably make him upset too. There is only one thing she can do.

Earn his trust, and make him hint at the truth, in one way or another.

And the best way of earning someone's trust, is closeness. Physical closeness, and mental closeness. Two beings intertwined by the most holy action of matrimony, and the most sinful action of attraction. Maud had a lot of time to think about it as she sat in her carriage for an entire day, traveling past endless fields of growing wheat, as the sun shone from above. The soldiers mumbled about the most useless things outside of her shaded prison, while she and Penny sat in relative silence throughout the boring trip. Nothing was happening outside the window, and whenever the soldiers would catch her glancing at the outside world, they would judge her and stare at her weirdly. Women shouldn't do that. Maud disappeared behind the curtain as quickly as she could every single time she was caught.

She hasn't seen Adelio during the entire time. He rides in front of the carriage, and there are only windows to the sides. Adelio's serious and grave voice couldn't be heard either, despite the soldiers next to him constantly trying to fish for his attention. People swarm around him like flies to a horse, constantly hoping to advance in life by trying to impress the crown prince. If Maud were one of them, she would simply prove herself to be useful to him by actions and not words. Adelio is like that. And that's when it hit her. She doesn't need to be one of them, she needs to be herself here and now, with the exact same tactic.

In order to prove herself to be trustworthy to him, she needs to use actions and not words. And so, sinfully, Maud decided to use the art of attraction. Adelio is a man, after all. Maud was taught from a young age that men are all weak to attractive women. If she becomes attractive enough for him, which shouldn't be so hard, he would probably feel closer to her at some point and eventually either slip or tell his secret. And once she knows his secret, she'll know exactly who he is and how she needs to play her cards in order to win in this life. In order to be a queen who's going to create fireworks in this world.

Maybe it's because this is her destiny. Maybe that's why she was sent away as a child, to live a poor childhood and teenage. For this. This is her destiny. She is a royal for the people, and a woman for other women. And she knows exactly what she needs to do next.

The carriage slows down by the first guesthouse, just a few miles away from the next town.

"Is my wife comfortable?"

Maud laughs, leaning back against the white duck-feather pillows. She stares up at the wooden ceiling of the inn with a smile still present on her face, seeing Adelio approach her from the corner of her eye. He is wearing his black pants from before, and a loose white linen shirt. It hangs over his skin like a drying piece of laundry, open in the front, showing off his upper chest. There is something white barely glinting behind the fabric. Maud wonders if he's gotten injured somehow, but doesn't feel the need to speak of it when he seems so relaxed and happy.

Adelio itches closer to the wide bed, and the moonlight illuminates his pretty face. The way he smiles is pretty too, small fangs showing on both sides, his perfect skin stretching slightly to the sides. His black hair is slightly wet from his usual evening routine, and it looks radiant against the white light. There are no candles, no fireplaces. Nothing about this inn is similar to any house in Blue Knight. There is no need for warmth or light, because the heat is nearly too much to bear already. The cool breeze coming through the open balcony door is just enough to let cool air refresh them. Maud snuggles deeper into the mattress and pillows, her white nightgown stretching over her shoulders.

"Come lay down already"

There is a fake whine to her tone and Adelio laughs. His voice is clear but deep, an odd combination. It sounds sophisticated and calm when it needs to be, but light and easy when Maud wants it to be. Adelio doesn't speak much and Maud has begun to miss his voice already. Laughter and words are rare with a crown prince who has built up his entire image on being a quiet monster, disciplined and strict and angry on the inside all the time. Maud sometimes wonders why he has made himself out to be so unapproachable, when in reality he is just a very sweet prince with oddly refreshing opinions and kind thoughts. The princess never thought that she had a type until she met the crown prince. He is definitely her type.

Should she try to ask for his hand in marriage? Oh wait.

This is why her plan is perfect. Attraction isn't a problem when one has such an attractive husband as Adelio. She should like to live the rest of her life in happiness considering how lucky she has been this far.

Adelio sits down on the bed and slowly leans backwards, until he is laying with his perfect head against the pillow. Maud sighs dreamily. Does she have some sort of childish crush for her husband? Maybe. She rolls up from her laid down position, so that she is leaning against her left hand, seated on the mattress, right next to Adelio. Once he is settled into the mattress and finally lays his eyes upon her, a look of slight confusion and slight amusement dawns over his face. Maud slowly climbs over him, pulling one leg over his waist and settling herself on his lap.

Her long brown hair falls down over both sides of her shoulders, drawing out her face beautifully. She gazes down at the attractive prince below her through her lashes, setting a casually attractive mood easily. Adelio isn't scared to touch her, nor is he crazy about it. His hands simply rest right below her waist, on her hips. He smiles up at the princess, something familiar clouding his eyes.

Considering how much Adelio tried to deny that she was attracted to Maud, her facade is slipping even to herself. Be they two women as they are, Adelio feels nothing less but impure lust towards her wife right now.

In the beginning she might have fooled herself into thinking the sexual parts of their relationship were simply to convince Margaret of her gender as a man, but now it's pretty clear that she was lying to herself all along. Margaret is extremely attractive, she has been that way from the beginning, and the way she behaves is so unique, yet so addictive, it's no question to the fact that Adelio has completely fallen in love with her.

Her, a woman, in love with another woman. Adelio had always thought that it was impossible. But then again, there are many parts of their world that are hidden to the public. Women can't rule, women aren't strong, that's what they always say. And yet Adelio has been second only to the king ever since birth, proving just how well women can both rule, lie, scheme and fight. If society is wrong about women on such a large scale, why can't they be wrong about love too? Slowly Adelio lets her mind be opened, as Maud leans down to connect their lips. They move in sync with each other, just as their hearts beat as one. Love is pure in its core and is not restricted to one type. Adelio doesn't care what the science says, or what the elders say, or what the law says. She loves a woman now, and she is a woman herself. She is living proof of the truth. The law can't be against her. As king, she will be the law.

A king as a woman, a wife to a woman.

"Do you know what I think?"

"No, what is it?"

Maud stares out over the open sea. Her eyes are wide with wonder, as the glimmering body of water reflects in her rises. Somewhere in the depth of those waters there is freedom and cold, both things Maud suddenly feels a deep longing for. She had no idea their inn was by the sea, as they had arrived in the pitch blackness of night the day before. As the morning sun rises up the horizon in front of them, Maud had been surprised with the sight of such a beautiful coastal area when she and Adelio left their room in the early morning, wanting to get one last breath of fresh air before heading out into the thick dusty climate inland.

"I think the way that you think and act is peculiar"

Maybe it's the fresh scent of the sea that is giving Maud some unnecessary confidence. Either way it's ridiculous, she should not be saying something like this. As the wind blows through her thick brown hair, and her eyes move over to a surprised Adelio, Maud begins to wonder if there really is any danger in being honest with him. They shared a beautiful night together, almost making Maud forget why she initiated it in the first place, and yet Adelio didn't slip up a single time. Maud is no closer to finding out his secret now than she was two days ago. So for her, honesty feels like the only way to go. The best way to go, actually. She should've been honest to begin with. Adelio has given her no reason to be careful or scared of him, despite the fact that he holds some sort of life changing secret within the depths of his mind.

This country is scary and her life feels unstable and terrifying. Nothing is the way it used to be. She is now a married woman, tied to this secretive and yet weirdly perfect man, lulled into happiness despite always being suspicious of it. Nothing is the same and she doesn't want it to be either, but Maud can't help but feel like something is wrong every second of the day. She is the future queen of this nation, And yet she knows nearly nothing of it. The king might very well die the moment they return to the capital, he's that sick. She will be queen within a few months and Adelio will be king. That's just not something Maud can imagine right now. Not when sitting so peacefully on this quiet hill above a beach, next to the completely calm crown prince Adelio.

Going from being a peasant to a woman of such power is not something that has settled yet. Not to mention that she will need to have and raise children as soon as possible, otherwise she will be deemed useless as queen. So much has changed in her life and Adelio is the only person she can truly trust and lean on, the only person she is supposed to trust and lean on. That is why she should've been honest with him from the beginning. Who cares if he is lying to her, there is no other option left anyway. Adelio is all she has. Maud is lucky for having so much despite only having one person.

"What do you mean?"

Adelio doesn't sound as nonchalant about the question as he should've. It's almost like he panics a bit, even if it's just for a second. Maud feels powerful. It's like she can see right through him. Adelio's eyes are wide open despite the fact that he tries to put on a calm expression. He stares at her, breath secretly caught in his throat, waiting for her to elaborate.

"You're way too kind for a man. I've never met a man as attractive as you, as kind as you, and with such radical opinions"

Adelio hesitates for a moment before answering. It's like he knows exactly what to say but can't decide whether or not he should be worried or on guard about the question asked. Maud waits for him patiently. She has all the time in the world. They are going to run this kingdom together in this life and the next, they will be married until they are old and gray, they will raise children together and share all of their secrets with one another. This one simple moment does not need to be rushed. Adelio takes the liberty of breathing in some fresh air, as the green hills around them bend to the wind, before finally deciding on what to answer her flattering question.

"I don't think believing in equal rights for all is a radical idea. But I understand where you are coming from. You shouldn't worry about it, Margaret. If you say I am kind then I am flattered, but I assure you nothing is wrong"

Maud bites her lip. Something about him saying the name she was never given irks her.

"You can call me Maud"

Everybody calls her Margaret now. That's not her name. Her mother didn't give her that name, no she gave her away instead. She was only named after her mother who abandoned her, and nicknamed after the mother who was forced to take her in. Maud is her real name for it was truly given. Adelio is the closest person in her life, so he should call her Maud too. At least someone should, before Maud forgets it herself.

Adelio is surprised by the change of topic, and the odd four lettered name. Maud probably should've thought this one through. Princesses don't have four letter names, only maids do. And yet she doesn't care. It's worth it if he calls her Maud from now on. It's worth risking her secret, just like his odd kindness and righteousness is probably worth it for his secret too.

"Maud? Is that your nickname?"

Maud smiles.

"Yeah. Nobody here calls me that, but now you can"

Adelio nods slowly. Maud turns away from him, to make sure that he doesn't think about it too much. They sit in silence for a while, as the waves continue to crash against the rocky shores of the Red Lion coast. This is their last day by the sea for a very long time. After that there is nothing but heat and politics that awaits them. Maud glances at Adelio.

And with him by her side, she is not scared. No matter what secret he holds.

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