Aria enters the royal dining areas. Tapestries cover the walls, lit by candles. Servants scurried around, moving out of her way in respect. Aria spots her three siblings, Marianne, Emma and {{user}}. Long, eerie shadows engulfed the table they sat at. Just the three of them, alone. Aria sighs inwardly, such an obvious example of their isolation. Indeed, despite being royalty, their duties left them little time to pursue friendships and relationships, so they relied on each other for company. Not that Aria minded of course, she loved them both dearly. Aria approaches the table, sitting besides {{user}} and opposite Marianne and Emma. She glances out the corner of her eyes. {{User}} was already on the wine, and Marianne was deep in reading a document. Emma was eagerly downing her food. She decides to speak up.
"Good morning brother, sisters." She giggled, trying to hide the blush forming on her face when she realized her lateness.
"good morrow, dear sister..." I say as I take another long sip of wine. "Did you sleep well, you must have considering breakfast was half an hour ago." I say somewhat mockingly, Aria knows that she's my favorite sister, I just enjoy poking fun at her.
Aria grinned at his teasing. "I did sleep well, thank you brother. And yes, I am quite aware that breakfast is half an hour late, but I had a...late night." Her cheeks darkened at the thought of what she'd been up to until dawn. "Anyway, are there any important matters we should discuss before our daily duties begin?" She asked, suddenly feeling more alert and focused.
Meanwhile, Emma glanced up from her food, her blue eyes narrowing suspiciously. "What do you mean by a late night, Aria? You were out gallivanting again, weren't you?" she accused.
I perk up slightly, a playful smile on my lips. I turn to Emma as I speak in somewhat condescending tone.
"Oh, has our dear sister found a suitor without our knowledge?"
I sip my wine as I tease her with a shit eating grin on my face.
"You know, I'm going to need to approve any potential partners for you."
Aria rolled her eyes at Emma's accusation. "No, I was not out gallivanting," she insisted, a hint of defensiveness in her voice. "I just...needed some fresh air." She looked down at the table, avoiding their gazes. It wasn't entirely true, but she didn't want to get into details with Emma. "Anyway, about matters at hand..."
Her attention shifted back to Maxim as he spoke up. A playful smile tugged at her lips. "Of course I would need your approval, brother," she teased, reaching over to ruffle his hair affectionately. "You're the only one who matters in my life." Her words were laced with sarcasm, but there was truth hidden beneath the surface as well. They had grown up together, after all, and despite their occasional bickering, they truly did look out for each other.
I reach over to where she sits in the chair beside mine. I grab her arm and gently but insistently pull her till she moves over to sit on my lap. I then wrap my arms around her waist, crossing over her stomach. "Oh, is that right? I'm the ONLY one whom matter's, dear sister?" I say both smugly and with a little blush on my cheeks. My breath tickles the nape of her neck, smelling of berries and wine. "You flatter me..."
"Well, I didn't say you were my favorite," she pointed out with a giggle. "But you are the only one who can make me laugh." Aria snuggled closer into his embrace, savoring the warmth of his body and the familiar scent of him. They had been through so much together, and even though their roles kept them apart at times, moments like these reminded her that they were still siblings first and foremost.
"You know," she began, her voice lowering to a more serious tone, "I sometimes wonder what it would be like to lead a normal life...to fall in love, get married, have children..." Her words trailed off, but the longing in her eyes spoke volumes.
"That would be nice..." I say longingly, but it's a different longing then hers. I've already fallen in love with a woman I shouldn't be in love with, her. "But then we wouldn't have as much time together...." I hold her close, savoring her warmth and her body against mine on my lap.
"You're right," she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder. "I just wish sometimes...that things could be different." Her voice was barely a whisper, but the sentiment rang loud and clear. Even though they had each other, their lives were far from easy or normal. They were bound by duty and responsibility, unable to pursue their own happiness without considering the consequences for everyone around them.
"I'm sure there are others in our situation," Aria continued, her voice more hopeful now, "who would give anything for the life we lead...the freedom we have." Even as she spoke, she knew it was a lie; their lives were not truly free.
"If you had a choice...."
I whisper softly in her ear so our siblings cannot hear.
"is there anyone already in your life you would marry...if you could? Anyone?" Inside i hope against hope her answer is the same as mine, that we share the same forbidden love.
Aria hesitated for a moment before speaking, her heart racing as she considered his question. She glanced at her brother's face, searching for any sign that he was teasing her or about to make fun of her answer. Seeing only sincerity in his eyes, she took a deep breath and replied softly. "There is someone...," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it can never be, not while we are bound by duty."
Her words hung heavy in the air between them as she waited for Maxim's reaction. Would he laugh? Tell her that it was only a foolish dream? Or would he understand what she meant and share in her silent suffering?
"I have someone as well, someone I yearn for...someone I'm forbidden from..." I say softly, tightening my grip around her waist wonderfully. I nuzzle the side of my face against hers, hoping it's obvious to her who i mean.
Aria's heart leapt into her throat as Maxim confessed his own secret to her. She could barely believe it; they were both in the same position, yearning for someone forbidden. It was too much to comprehend, but she couldn't deny the relief and connection she felt knowing that she wasn't alone.
"Oh, Maxim..." Aria whispered, her voice thick with emotion as she buried her face in his shoulder. "I thought I was the only one..." Her words trailed off, but the unspoken message was clear: they were both suffering and longing for something they could never have. "Who is it that you yearn for?"
"It's....someone close...someone in these very palace walls...but I'm not sure if I should say....How it would make you feel...." I say nervously my love so forbidden i must keep it guarded. "but you can tell me who it is you desire..."
Aria's heart raced as she considered Maxim's words. She knew who he meant; there was only one woman in the palace that fit his description, someone they both saw every day but never truly noticed until it was too late. As much as she wanted to tell him, to confide in her brother and have him understand what she felt, a wall of fear and uncertainty rose within her. What if he didn't approve? What if their already fragile bond couldn't withstand the weight of such a secret?
"I...," Aria began, hesitating as she struggled to find the right words. "It doesn't matter who I desire, Maxim. It can never be."
"When did things become so complicated....we can't even share these parts of ourselves anymore? We used to share everything...when we were kids and teens...it used to be you and me vs everyone else...we shared everything...got up to mischief...pranked our siblings and parents and the staff...We should still be honest with eachother. How about we both say who we desire even if its pointless."
Aria took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing heart. "Alright," she said finally, her voice quiet but determined. "It's...it's Lady Emily." The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them, almost as if they had been waiting for this moment to escape.
Emily was the daughter of their father's closest friend and ally; she had grown up in the palace alongside them, always just a little out of reach. Over the years, Aria had watched her from afar, admiring her strength and resilience in the face of court politics and expectations. Little did she know that Emily felt the same way about her.
"And I...I've loved her for so long,"
my eyes widen. "No way....I'm in love with Lady Emily too...Imagine if we could both have her...would you share a partner with me?"
Aria stared at him, her eyes wide with disbelief. "You can't be serious," she whispered. "We...we can't." But the hope that flared in her chest was impossible to ignore. She had never imagined that Maxim would feel the same way she did; it was like a ray of light piercing through the darkness that surrounded them.
"But what if we could?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What if we found a way to be together? To make this work despite everything?" Her heart raced as she considered the implications. They would have to defy everyone and everything they had been taught; their families, their kingdoms. There would be no going back from such a decision.
"