Heart & Crown

“Happy birthday, princess,” a young lady said as she curtsied.

Aya returned the curtsy. “Thank you for coming.”

An older lord was the next to wish her a happy birthday, followed by a duchess and a young lord no older than seven winters. Aya smiled and expressed her gratitude to each of them as she made her way through the bustling ballroom.

“Aya, my precious little girl,” her mother exclaimed upon seeing her approach.

Her mother quickly rose to her feet and met Aya halfway, embracing her in a tight hug.

“Mother,” Aya said in a playful tone. “I’m not so little anymore.”

Her mother smiled and pulled her close again, burying Aya’s face in her long blond hair.

“You will always be my little girl, even if you are an adult now,” she whispered.

She pulled back and brushed a strand of Aya’s hair away from her face.

“The crown princess,” her father declared loudly, rising from his seat with a golden cup held high in the air.

He commanded the attention of the guests, who turned their gaze toward her family. Coming to Aya’s side, he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Today, my daughter takes on an enormous responsibility as she assumes her duties as your crown princess. May her reign be long, and may she lead our good people with a kind heart and strong will!”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, raising their wine-filled cups in tribute to her. Aya felt herself grow taller under the weight of the attention, her mind filled with visions of the duties that awaited her.

Hopefully, she would be done with needlework and allowed to work alongside her father, witnessing firsthand what it truly meant to be a great ruler. If she had been born a boy, she would have already attended the many meetings her father held.

“Long live the crown princess!” the crowd roared in unison.

Her mother’s arm wrapped around Aya’s shoulders, pulling her close for another embrace.

“My daughter, eighteen,” she whispered in Aya’s ear, continuing to shower her with love.

“Mother, please!” Aya laughed, gently breaking free from her mother’s grasp.

They laughed together, yet Aya’s attention was drawn to her father’s raised voice from behind her.

“My king, please, we really should discuss—”

“Not now, Lord Valtus!”

Aya turned to see her father walking away, attempting to avoid Lord Valtus. Intrigued by their discussion, she wanted to inquire about it, but she was reminded of something else awaiting her.

“Where are you going?” her mother asked. “You just arrived.”

“Um, I realized I forgot something in my room,” she replied. “I will be back shortly.”

Her mother nodded before sitting down. Aya hastily maneuvered through the crowd, politely thanking each lord and lady who extended their birthday wishes. When she finally fought her way through the crowd, she walked down a large stone hallway filled with people and turned a corner.

She made her way up an enormous staircase and found her room at the end of the next hallway. She hurried inside and found a servant girl there.

“Are you ready?” Aya asked as she walked closer.

“They will know!” she said, looking pale.

“Do not worry, Portia. They won’t. You and I are like twins, just not by blood,” Aya told her reassuringly as she turned around, signaling that she was ready to be helped out of her dress.

“But I do not have your eyes, my lady, nor do I have your powerful presence,” Portia said while helping Aya out of her dress with shaking hands.

“Don’t worry. You will only have to stay here and pretend you are feeling under the weather. I’ll be back before you know it!”

“But, princess—”

“You promised, Portia!” Aya said and turned around to look into her friend’s eyes.

“I-I know, but if it is found out that I’m pretending to be you, or that I even let you leave the castle without a guard, I’ll be punished!” she said with fear in her voice.

“Do not worry, Portia. They won’t find out!” Aya said as she stepped out of her dress. “Now, give me yours!”

Portia hesitated and was slower than Aya liked, but eventually, they were able to swap dresses. Standing in front of Portia, Aya made sure she looked like the princess Aya truly was. Then she guided her over to a chair.

“Just ensure that if anyone comes inside looking for me, you stay at a distance, and they won’t notice your eyes.”

“B-But the party, my princess. They expect you there!”

“Don’t worry, I’m completely forgotten now that the introduction is over. They will want to drink and chat.”

“But you’re the guest of honor.”

“Trust me, Portia, most expect me to stand idly by and look pretty.”

Portia didn’t look convinced, but Aya pressed her into a seat, then patted her shoulder.

“I will be back before the party ends. Don’t worry.”

“But—”

Aya ran off, hurrying out of the room. Looking around, she chose a new route—the servants’ passage—and reached the lowest floor. Pulling up the hood of her cape, she ran toward the stables. She located her horse and prepared him with ease. Mounting him, she set off into the streets of her city. Luckily, it wasn’t just the castle that celebrated. The entire city did, meaning everyone was distracted. Riding past the many houses, she escaped through the gate without any interruptions and rode toward the dark forest.

She didn’t pay much attention to the icy wind cutting at her pale, soft skin. Her heart was beating too fast with excitement. She felt it resonate through the black stallion beneath her as he quickened his pace. He knew exactly where Aya wanted him to go. His long legs easily carried them over the muddy roads and narrow paths.

“That’s it. We are nearly there,” Aya breathed excitedly as a small farmhouse came into view atop a small hill.

She could see a small candle flickering in one of the windows, but Aya wasn’t heading toward the house, but rather the large wooden stable a little farther behind it. She jumped off her black stallion and ran toward the stable.

She tried to be as quiet as possible as she opened the large wooden door and slipped inside. She lowered her cloak’s hood and looked around in the darkness.

“Arthur?” she whispered as she walked farther inside, glancing around the dark space.

“Arthur?” she called again, but still there was no answer. “Arth—Ah!”

Strong arms wrapped around her and lifted her into the air. She was spun around once before being set back down on the ground, finally able to lay eyes on her farmer boy. A small candle flickered behind them as she looked into a pair of hazel eyes and watched his signature goofy grin play across his soft lips—lips she knew so well by now.

“Happy birthday, Your Highness,” he whispered as he held her close.

Aya smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around his neck before leaning closer.

“Now, where is my gift?” she whispered playfully.

Arthur smiled mischievously before leaning down and pressing his lips to hers. Their kisses had always been forbidden and stolen, and this one was no different. But she treasured and loved every single one of them.

“This visit will be short,” Aya informed him as she ended the kiss.

Arthur gave her another quick peck on the lips before pulling away and asking, “When have they ever been long?”

It was said with a smile, but the tone in his voice revealed his longing for more time with her. Aya sighed as she looked up at him. She should have ended their relationship long ago. In fact, she should never have let it begin, but she couldn’t help herself.

“I want them to be longer as well,” Aya told him, seeing hope flicker in his eyes. “But tonight simply cannot be one of those nights.”

The hope quickly disappeared, and Arthur pulled away.

“You mean none of them can,” he admitted, sounding defeated.

“Arthur—”

“We both know this is all we will ever have! Or are you not the princess... No, let me correct that: the crown princess of Virtilla?”

Aya let her head hang in defeat. There was only truth in Arthur’s words. Still, she didn’t want it to change anything between them.

“Arthur, I promise you, when I’m queen, things will change,” she said determinedly.

Arthur sighed deeply. “Your advisors would never let you.”

“To the Dead World with them!”

“You need them, Aya. You need them and the people on your side,” Arthur reminded her.

Aya shook her head, but she knew it was true. She could not be queen if the people didn’t approve of her choice of king. Other than being a royal supplier, what status did he carry?

“You better go. You have a party being held in your honor,” he said as he walked closer to retrieve the candle beside Aya.

“Arthur,” Aya said, placing her hands on his strong chest.

Arthur stopped in his tracks and looked down at her.

“Aya, you need to go while I’m still able to turn away from you,” Arthur whispered.

“You want me, yes?” Aya asked.

Arthur sighed. “You know I do.”

“Then you can have me,” she whispered.

“You do not know what you are speaking of.”

“Then show me,” Aya insisted as she took a step back and let her cloak fall.

“Aya—”

“I love you, Arthur, and only you!”