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When Maud catches Adelio changing for the first time, all she can think about is how crazy it is that it hasn't happened earlier.

The two of them have been married for about ten months now, they have a child together that was born two weeks ago. Yes, born, and yes she feels completely fine. The servants were surprised at how fine she felt, actually. She can walk around and talk and laugh and have fun with her husband and fuss over her new baby boy, almost as if she didn't give birth just fourteen days ago. It's funny how easy it is. Together with her husband, Maud has spent the last two weeks of their trip in a private bliss, moving closer and closer to the capital and the Red Lion palace. In the mornings she checks up on the baby, during the day she takes care of him and in the evenings when the child is miraculously asleep she goes on cute little walks with Adelio outside their tent or inn, having long talks about everything from politics to their past lives.

The latter is perhaps something which she has struggled with the most. It seems like Adelio is catching onto her white lie, one conversation at the time. Sometimes he asks odd follow up questions, or squints when she answers in a weird way. Maud can't help it, it's not like she can get better at lying. Yesterday they sat together on the beach, a big round lake in front of them, as the moon shone from above and the stars sparkled in the sky. Adelio laid back in the sand and just relaxed, something which he rarely does, and Maud found the moment quite peaceful. But his question was voiced soon afterwards, something along the lines of: 'It's odd that you don't know very much about the four sworded wars, you'd think they'd teach that to a princess'. And Maud only laughed and nodded, wondering if it really would hurt to voice the truth. Would he hate her if he knew that she had lied about her background during all of these really nice conversations? Maud doesn't want to take the risk, not when the two of them are in such a blissful state.

Alas, lies are always the cracks in one's sturdy wall. Not just her lies, but his lies too. Maud had completely forgotten the things that plagued her mind so many months ago, at the beginning of their trip. It's been so long since then, over half a year, so whatever thoughts that remain are small and scarce. However, the idea of Adelio lying to her about something came back to her quite recently, on their last night together before entering the capital city gates. Maud thinks about it as the carriage moves up the bumpy main road, men and women crowding the vehicle from all sides. She had just put the baby to sleep, which wasn't very hard considering that Alaric is not only a very sweet and tired newborn, but also quite an old newborn. She walked from the baby's room, which is off limits to everyone except her, Adelio and the nanny, to their shared room at the inn, letting the guards bow to her as she passed. Their door stood half ajar, so really she saw no point in knocking when it was just so easy to-

And that's it, there he stood. It wasn't anything that was wrong with his position, it was just the shape of his body that somehow stood out. Maud has never seen Adelio naked before, as odd as that sounds. He has surely seen her naked before, on a few occasions, but the prince always insists on keeping his clothes on. Maud has never understood why, and to this day she doesn't know. But now something irks her mind, as the memory from yesterday of Adelio rushing to cover himself up when she walked inside the room replays. What was odd with his body, Maud couldn't see properly, nor can she remember. But the panicked look on Adelio's face, which slowly morphed into an annoyed expression, remains burned into her brain. What could be so important that he had to hide himself, and then later get mad at her for almost seeing? Maud could only find one answer to her question. Whatever he is hiding, whatever he is lying about, the truth lies in his actions the other night.

That is why right now, as the royal caravan consisting of dozens of guards and servants together with the crown princess and prince move up towards the city gates, Maud rests her head against the wall of the carriage and really tries to think. She has always had quite a bad photogenic memory, pictures are blurred and faces are hard to remember. Adelio's expression is still clear in her head but she is beginning to think that she imagined that something was off about his body. Perhaps it was only the strangeness of the situation that made her feel that way? No, that can't be it. Something is wrong and Maud knows that it's true. She just has to figure out what that something is.

"We'll arrive soon, princess. Do you need me to hold his highness?"

Maud glances down at the baby in her arms, dressed in white linen. A smile automatically stretches over her face. Alaric is now prince Alaric Adelio Makai, the second in line for the throne after his father and first in line for the Blue Knight throne after his maternal uncle. It's one powerful baby, that's for sure. Maud hates the fact that he has Makai in his name, the awful person it represents not suiting the wonderfully cute child. But as terrible as it may be, she needed to add a name that would both represent her and her brother, as well as his connection to the Blue Knight throne. Adelio gave the idea, and although she was against it at first it didn't take a lot of convincing for her to realize that Adelio is right. It's better if Makai likes the child and his name, since Alaric is now in line for the throne that he occupies.

Alaric is despite that the sweetest human being to exist, but also the most hidden. Only four people have seen him this far, her lady maid, Alaric's nanny from the orphanage and of course herself and her husband. He is completely hidden from the world, and for good reason. The less people see him, the more believable their lie becomes. It was all Adelio's order, but Maud has been strict at following it, covering him up with different kinds of fabrics and getting angry when anybody would try to take even the slightest of peek. The excuse that always works for her is: 'what if he catches a disease? Would you take responsibility for weakening or killing the next heir?' And Certainly there have been queens or crown princesses that have acted the same way with their newborn heirs, so she is not treated oddly for it.

"I'll hold him, don't worry. But he must be turned towards my chest when I leave the carriage, we can't let the entire court see him"

Naturally, as her lady's maid, Penny knows about their scheme. Maud already trusts her with her life, but Adelio made her swear secrecy anyway when she asked if Penny could know. Penny is dutiful, and since she already knows about Maud's secret past, the princess has no problem trusting her with this huge secret either. Maud shifts in her seat so that Alaric faces her, his face hidden in her beautiful pastel blue long dress with embroidered pearls and lace. She is fixed to the max today, her brown hair curled and decorated with all kinds of jewelry, a small silver tiara on her head, and her dress made from the most expensive fabric. It's her first time at court this year, new year's already behind them. It's also Alaric's first time at court ever, everyone's eyes will be on her and him. And on Adelio of course, but for an entirely different reason.

The king has fallen ill, seriously this time. Adelio keeps his head high and expression grim as he rides on his white horse in front of the carriage, staring out into nothingness. The gates of the city open to them, people crowding around to catch a glimpse of the royals. Maud is safely hidden behind the curtain of her carriage, so she must not worry about keeping her expression grim and serious, but Adelio is on display and must therefore keep his calm. Maud isn't exactly sure what he actually feels about his father being near death, but on the outside he must appear solemn. However, the people still know that within the next few weeks the crown prince seated high on his horse will be king, and their eyes follow him more curiously than ever. King, emperor, ruler of the second biggest kingdom on the continent. Suddenly he has the touch of god, as if he didn't have it before. They anxiously wait for him to succeed his father, perhaps with the promise of finally bringing about the wave of change.

"You look worried, your highness. Is everything alright?"

Penny is asking now because she can't ask later. Eight months have passed in a blur, they have spent so much time together just the two of them, having all the privacy in the world. It's going to be strange to suddenly switch back to the more public and secretive versions of themselves. Maud won't be able to tell Penny everything easily anymore, and Penny won't be able to ask how she's doing without some meddling guard or maid hearing and spreading the rumor further. It's going to be tough. So just like last time they were in this carriage, on their way to the Red Lion court for the first time, Penny asks all that she can before it's too late. Maud turns to her and flashes a small smile.

"I'll be fine, thank you Penny"

It's just so troublesome to think about how fragile they really are. Her education and past are built on a lie, Adelio is hiding something important from her, their baby isn't actually their biological child and suddenly she is a few weeks away from becoming queen with such terrible experience and little time to prepare, both mentally and physically. But it'll be fine. Alaric gurgles and Maud's eyes snap down towards him. He peeks from where he is pressed up against her dress, his big brown eyes sparkling and a cute smile slowly growing on his face. Maud immediately smiles too, Alaric being too much to handle for her frail little heart. She sighs. No matter how much weighs on her conscience, such pure souls will always keep her sane.

They reach the finer parts of the capital, the houses suddenly built out of a clearer stone and the guards increasing in size. Suddenly the gates of the palace are right in front of them, Maud only noticing because of the sudden stop. They open slowly and the guards let them pass through. Only then does Maud dare to peek through the dark blue curtains, no longer afraid of being seen. Penny looks too, as the luscious green gardens and large fountains of the huge Red Lion palace grounds open up around them. It's always a beautiful sight to see, however also something to mourn over, as the people could not and never will see something as wondrous as this.

Maud takes one last glance at her son when the carriage stops, hiding him to the best of her efforts. She can hear the servants outside mumbling excitedly, the horses neighing and stomping in their spots and Adelio getting down from his saddle. Penny gives her one last encouraging smile before opening the other door of her carriage and getting out, as per protocol. Maud sighs when she is suddenly left alone in the dark space, nervous about facing Adelio's family again. Now that she has a son, and is about to become queen, things will surely change. She'll be more busy, and she'll have to put on a brave face, but most importantly of all, she needs to keep up their entire spider web of lies.

"Are you ready Alaric?"

She whispers to the little prince, who stares up at her curiously. Maud is happy that after six months on the road with him, she can finally give him a more stable home. The baby doesn't answer. He has yet to speak a word, thankfully. it would be odd for him to speak this early, wouldn't it?

Just then, Adelio opens the carriage door. The sunlight shines directly inside, causing a faint glow around her. Maud squints for a moment before moving slowly, the baby secure in her arms. It's completely quiet outside. Once again, everybody is anxiously awaiting her arrival, wanting to see her and the baby, especially the baby. He is the new next heir, a ruler, a future emperor, possibly in line to inherit two of the biggest kingdoms on the continent. He is the most powerful man around, despite being so small and cute, hidden in her arms. Adelio gives her a small smile, not too big to appear happy to soon be king. He helps Maud down the stairs of the carriage until she stands on her own two feet, carefully gazing up at the crowd.

The servants bow in unison, their voices sounding like a choir.

"Welcome home, your highnesses"

That's when it happens. Maud can't even see it coming, as her nervous gaze is set on the princesses standing on the top of the wide stone stairs. She doesn't see it before it happens, Adelio reaching over to gently kiss her on the lips, right there in front of everyone. Alaric in between them, loved and secure between his two parents, as Maud feels her lips against the prince's. Her eyes widen. Small gasps can be heard through the courtyard. Maud realizes why they are kissing before it is even over, he wants to make sure that everybody knows that they are incredibly in love, and that this is their son and heir. And yet she can't help but blush anyway, as Adelio slowly lets her go and stares into her brown eyes with a twinkle of amusement.

"You look amazing today, Maud"

And Maud really hopes that their blissful peace and luck will last for a long time to come.

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