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The morning sun shines down on the palace of Red Lion. The guests from last night's coronation ceremony are all packing up to leave, it was quite the short feast. As the birds sing and the sun shines down upon the beautiful inner palace gardens, only some guests remain to enjoy the scenery. Only the closest ones to the newly crowned king and queen, the ones who truly deserve to stay. Makai finds himself standing in front of Adelio's king tree, the tree planted in his honor at his birth. It is quite a small tree compared to the other large, old and majestic ones from the other kings. But it is still there, beautiful in its own way. Makai keeps his hands behind his back as he admires the botanical beauties of this southern kingdom, some of his guards standing off to the side.

Once he hears footsteps coming his way, Makai doesn't even need to turn around to know who it is. He has always been good at remembering people, by the way they talk, walk or breathe. Especially this one has stuck to his mind in a really odd way. Now that he no longer has to worry about his sister, he can put his focus onto something that has been bothering him ever since the coronation.

That odd sister of Adelio's.

"You surprise me every time we cross paths, princess"

Makai looks at the rather tall princess Alisiah, who rolls her eyes towards I'm in return. Her confidence around him, which was quite lost earlier, has now returned. She had a short time to talk with her brother about it and came to the conclusion that she doesn't have much to fear when it comes to this king. He is scary, sure, and he does hold a lot of power in this world. But at this court she is the head princess and he is just a guest. In this court she doesn't have to act all polite around him, especially when he is so infuriating.

Yes, the princess herself has also spent the last few days thinking about this king. She had to sit next to him at the festivities, at the coronation and at all dinners since then. She even had to dance with him during the ball after the coronation, and all of it was of course by her brother's request. It seems like Adelio really doesn't like this Makai guy, but Adelio can still say this much: Makai is a very unstable and important ally to them, not to mention the most powerful king on the continent. It is only appropriate for the head princess to be his partner for his stay at the palace, to sit next to him, converse with him and dance with him. And sure, Makai is a great dancer and he makes for surprisingly good company when talking about very interesting matters, but he is still a monster from their old enemy kingdom, and quite the cocky character.

"Likewise, king Makai. I am surprised that a powerful man such as yourself is yet without a bride"

Truly Alisiah doesn't care. It is weird, but whether or not Makai has a wife really doesn't interest her in the slightest. What she is definitely interested in, is snapping back at the king. Whether that may be sugar coated and wrapped in semi-polite words, or not. And when she sees Makai's eye twitch, and expression sour for even the slightest of moments, she knows that she has won.

"I am not the only one not yet bound by matrimony, am I?"

Perhaps she celebrated a bit too late. Alisiah smiles up at Makai, even though it is clearly a very fake smile. His smile back is nearly exactly as fake.

"My brother would never marry me off without my consent, he is kind in that way"

And it's the little things that make her gain the upper hand with this man, from the fact that she knows Makai practically sold off his own sister to benefit his own kingdom. But alas, he can't be all bad. Alisiah has to admit that the anger in his expression when she mentions it, is quite refreshing. Most kings and princes see nothing wrong with marrying off their sisters and daughters, but it seems like this guy is already regretting it. Perhaps she has misjudged him, just a little.

"There are benefits in marriage, I cannot lie. However your brother may have a point. It is quite the risk to take"

Makai begins to walk down the small path in the private garden, calmly and gracefully like a true king. Alisiah can't help it, she is incredibly curious to what he has to say, and follows him rather quickly. They walk side by side, the morning sun smiling down upon them. Their guards follow far behind, giving the two royals peace and quiet.

"With only sisters and no brothers, I can see why he is cautious. It is important who and when you marry, am I right?"

Alisiah glances at him as he talks. As much as he is scary, Makai is just as beautiful as the rumors make him out to be. Sure, he is similar to Maragret in many different ways. But his hair is much darker and so are his eyes, a beautiful shining black that looks wonderful against his dark blue royal military uniform. His jaw is much sharper than Margaret's, for she is rather soft and sweet and he is more sharp around the edges. And when Makai talks his eyes glance off into the distance, casting his face in a beautiful golden light. Right then and there, he looks rather peaceful. And Alisiah nearly forgets how much she is supposed to hate him.

Love doesn't come with morality.

"Rather, my brother wishes me to marry for love, not for political power. Although it would be by my own will and wish, for the good of the people, to marry someone who could benefit the kingdom. I see it as my way of repaying the luxury I have been provided with throughout my life at the palace"

But she wouldn't fall in love with the villain of her story, that only happens in books and dreams.

Makai glances at her for a moment, surprised. Since he doesn't say anything, Alisiah takes that as a chance to pry.

"Is that really so shocking, your majesty?"

Makai chuckles, looking forward again. Alisiah notices, for a moment, that their clothes nearly match. His blue military uniform goes well with her light blue dress, covered in sweet small pearls and a see-through, embroidered veil. It's a little weird that they match, perhaps she should've chosen a different color for today. Blue is the signature color of Makai's kingdom, after all. But Alisiah is set on making him feel respected and welcomed, as per her brother's personal wish. She makes sure to always dress like a princess, even though her brother could probably not care less about what she chooses to wear. It's always like that for her. For the good of the people, from the good of her heart, she will fulfill her expectations whether it is enforced or not. Any responsible princess would do the same. From marrying either someone wealthy or someone of high status, or perhaps someone who represents something, this person would provide the kingdom with something that would benefit them all. That is her goal, and to achieve that goal she makes sure to be as proper and perfect as possible, in everything from her clothes to her studies. Surely Makai must've seen this.

"It's my first time hearing someone of higher power see their luxury as something that must be repaid, princess. You're quite the curious case"

Alisiah can't help her small laugh.

"You flatter me, your majesty. How long are you planning to stay at the palace, if I may ask?"

And the way that he looks at her, it's almost like he decides on something new on the spot. Like he changes his plans in that particular second. Because before she knows it, he's smiling down at her. It's a little creepy. Not in a scary way. It's creepy because of the way she kind of likes his smile.

"A few weeks, at least. It is quite the journey back"

Rumored to be a monster. He might be just a man in a crown.

"I never thought I'd be kissing a woman, in my life"

Maud is honestly quite surprised at herself. She used to be so adamant on keeping a clean image, it was her one goal of survival as a princess. Be perfect, don't do anything wrong. But oh how her heart has changed since then. She has learned to be comfortable within her prison of rules and regulations. Now that she is comfortable, she knows exactly what she can and can't do. Like this, for example.

"I did, I've been kissing one this entire time"

Adelio smiles against her lips, and a warmth spreads across Maud's chest. They have kissed before but somehow it has never been as good as this, it has never been as intimate, as personal. Never before has she been in love with a person so deeply like she is now. Maybe it's because they have finally let all of their secrets go, they have finally just loved each other for who they are and nothing more. It's strange really, that she would come to love the person who she first hated and feared as a princess. But looking back at it now, it's clear why she fell in love with Adelio. She is a woman, and Maud is a woman who has been nothing but hurt and disappointed by men. She could only ever truly love a woman and that's why she fell in love with Adelio, her heart knew all along.

Adelio is leaning above her on the bed, staring down with stars in her eyes. Stars which reflect the dark- and yet magical night outside. Maud lays comfortable below her, much different to the first time they consummated their marriage. Back then she was so innocent to all of these things, and even now she is still a bit unaware of whatever goes on between a man and a woman in their private time. But the difference today is that she doesn't have to care anymore. What goes on between a man and a woman doesn't concern her, all she has to know is what goes on between a woman and a woman when they love each other. And that, she does know. Very well in fact. In this moment it almost feels like she breathes for Adelio, her heart beats for her wife. She feels more alive than ever before.

Adelio kisses her again, soft and sweet. There is no more nervousness between them.

Although they have always been attracted to one another, Maud can now say that Adelio has sometimes been a little nervous around her whenever they have to get somewhat undressed. But since their secrets are now all revealed, that feeling of nervousness has faded completely. Maud sees Adelio completely for who she is and it's somehow way more attractive than it was before. The way she is so confident in kissing is nothing new though, their lips move in sync, they have gotten so used to each other that it's easy to predict how to move. Maud tangles her hands in Adelio's hair, wanting more, needing to get closer. When she lets go her heart aches for more.

"There is so much we still need to talk about"

Adelio sighs, but her eyes never leave Maud's body. The young queen is too far lost in her own lust and emotion to even care about whatever Adelio is saying. Talking? They've already done so much of that. Who cares about all the things they need to talk about, when their actions can do all the communication. She needs this moment to last forever, this headspace, this emotion. When there is nothing in this world but each other, when their responsibilities are nothing but dust and their fears reduced to rubble. Maud feels like she has found the antidote to unhappiness, like Adelio is her medicine to everything and all. Who knew finding out that Adelio is actually a woman would make her fall so much more in love? Maud sure didn't. Not until today.

"We can talk later. Tomorrow. Please?"

Maud didn't know she could sound so desperate and whiny either, but here she is. Desperate for Adelio's touch. And the simple sight of it darkens something in Adelio's eyes. It's the same kind of lust and darkness Maud remembers about her from the first day they met. That time she wore a red dress, that day they got engaged. Her expression was a mixture of hate and lust that day, now it's both lust and love and attraction and everything so wonderfully beautiful that it makes Maud want to cry and whine at the same time. Who knew, in this boring world, that such intense emotion could exist? Maud breathes deeply but it's not enough. No air could ever be enough. Just at the sight of the young king, looking at her with such intensity.

Adelio smiles, although it looks rather sinful. Oh, what of this isn't sinful?

"How could I ever deny my beautiful dear wife?"

And with hungry eyes they kiss again, Maud's hands tangling deeper into Adelio's hair. Adelio's hands run all over her body, she feels her everywhere. And it's so nice like this, so close and warm around each other. Maud's eyes are open wide, for a moment, because she wants to see all of her. All of Adelio, her wife, for the first time. And the smile on her wife's face, the warmth of her body, it's all just enough.

She could spend the rest of her life like this.

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