Words: 2,541
Uploaded: 06.08.18
Edited and Reuploaded: 05/22/21

Dawn - Jeremy Soule

In the week following Eun-Byeol's departure from the kingdom, I was able to settle into her routine quickly. I slept a little later than usual, only waking when the court ladies entered the room with my breakfast.

None of my former colleagues seemed to be aware of the switch, accepting my absence with ease and welcoming Ji-Hye into their ranks as the replacement.

The only difficulty I had experienced so far was the lack of privacy that came with having attendants and court ladies. The location of the royal apartments and overabundance of guards and staff certainly was making it difficult for Orion and I to see each other privately, much to his annoyance.

"I for one can't wait for this undercover business of yours to be done with. I'm tired of almost getting caught by the guards whenever I leave." Orion grumbled quietly, tugging his boots back on in the dim candle light.

I smiled indulgently from my place behind him on the bed, teasingly responding with, "No, you're just annoyed of having to leave right away so you don't get caught in bed with a princess."

He huffed out a quiet laugh, "What can I say, I've grown used to you curling around me after we make love."

I hummed lightly as I wrapped the sheets around my torso and shifted to sit up so I could rest my chin on his shoulder.

"It won't be for much longer, just until the peace is settled and the empire is out of the city. Then we can go back to our lives and back to seeing each other more regularly." I murmured against his bare shoulder, pulling gently on one of his braids.

"You say that, but it doesn't make me any less impatient." Orion said with a grin, turning to kiss me with a hunger that was softened by how gently he cradled my face in his hand.

I laughed into the kiss as I fell backwards onto the mattress, Orion following and hovering over me carefully. The hand cradling my face slowly slipped down my neck to rest on my chest, my lover brushing his thumb along my clavicle before parting our heated kiss.

"All this talk of secrecy and here you are acting like a coeurl to keep me in your bed longer. It's as if you want us to be found out." He teased, smirking as he moved himself off the bed to put his shirt back on.

I just laughed in response, rolling onto my front as the sheets tangled around my waist. I watched as he slipped on his belt before ducking down to kiss my head lightly.

"Sleep well, my princess. Until we meet again." Orion said quietly before slipping into the hall unnoticed, as I allowed myself to succumb to exhaustion.

I found myself on the beaches of Galdin for the first time in years, squinting in the sun in order to take in my surroundings. The dream world preserved the perfection of my memory of the place from eight years ago, my gaze travelling along the white sand of the beach until they rested on the dark figure that had called out to me.

Noctis sat on a dock not too far away, his feet dangling in the water as he looked out across the ocean. I walked towards the teenager with a slight smile, allowing my form to taken on the familiar appearance of my yellow school uniform from my first life.

I settled down beside him, swinging my feet in the water and waited for the younger boy to speak.

The prince fidgeted with the hem of his shirt as he asked quietly, "Does it hurt to die?"

I looked at him in confusion, a frown gracing my face.

"I depends on the manner of death in my opinion. I died from blood loss while unconscious, but hitting my head did hurt quite a bit. Why do you ask?" I answered truthfully, watching his face for his reaction.

"I saw dad on the news recently and he isn't doing so well…" Noctis trailed off, his mouth pressing into a thin line.

I wrapped an arm around his broad shoulders, gently pulling him into a hug.

"We all die eventually, but your father still has many years left as king, Noctis. You don't have to worry about that just yet." I assured him, squeezing his shoulder lightly.

"How do you know that though? He looks so fragile and…"

"Everyone has a destiny and your father's journey isn't over yet," I told the prince, rubbing his back soothingly, "I know it's hard to see a parent as anything other than invincible as time goes on."

"Yeah.." Noctis trailed off, looking down to his hands, "Thanks, Angel. For everything."

I smiled brightly at his use of the childish nickname, the one he had given my dream form after the daemon attack eight years ago.

"This is what I'm here for, to make sure you're safe and okay…" I replied, ruffling his hair teasingly as he squawked and pouted over his now messy hair.

The prince merely huffed as he tried to salvage his black locks, a hint of a grin showing on his face as we continued to look out across the dreamscape.

I awoke to the quiet murmurs and shuffling of the court ladies, the trio rousing me from my sleep as they moved around the dining area of the third princess' apartments.

I silently slipped out of the large bed, pulling on my discarded silk robe over my naked body and tying it closed before walking out to where the court ladies had placed my morning meal.

The court ladies briefly acknowledged my presence before moving into the bedroom to tidy it and select my clothes for the day. Tension filled the air as the entire palace seemed to rush anxiously in preparation for the Nifelheim embassy's arrival, and it had been steadily growing as the date of their arrival drew near.

I could hear the trio of court ladies fretting over what I should wear as I ate my berries and porridge, worrying if certain styles or colours would be deemed offensive to the foreigners.

I was also nervous about taking part in these negotiations, as I couldn't be found out in my role as pretending to be Eun-Byeol, or the entire thing would fall apart.

I finished my tea before making my way back to the bedroom, seeing the blue and white ruqun Bo-Ra and I-Seul had decided on, with Ji-Hye deciding what pins to adorn my hair with.

I quickly washed up with the water provided in the basin, wiping all traces of sleep and my activities with Orion from my skin. I allowed the robe to drop from my shoulders, I-Seul quickly removing it from my person as Bo-Ra began dressing me in my undergarments.

The two of them quickly began dressing me in the ruqun before guiding me to the vanity so Ji-Hye could do my hair as I began the swift process of applying a small amount of makeup.

As the younger girl began braiding sections of my hair and inserting jeweled pins, I applied powder, kohl and a lip balm, pinching my cheeks for some added colour.

Once I had finished and Ji-Hye stepped away from my hair, I was indistinguishable from the real third princess.

I applied a bit of rose water to my neck and wrists before clipping in my silver earrings, preparing to make my way towards the main foyer where I was to meet the other two princesses.

Stepping into my satin slippers, I left the royal apartments with my court ladies in tow, our group moving quickly through the halls of the palace.

My retinue and I were the last to arrive, the other two princesses waiting with their selection of court ladies, the faint murmurs of the court the only noise filling the antechamber. The three of us stood there for a few minutes, staring at each other until the calls of the head eunuch signalled our entrance to the court.

It was overwhelming to be the center of everyone's attention, as nobody paid any attention to a court lady when in the presence of a princess. I tried to mask my panic as I followed Gyeong-Hui and Se-Hyeon up the stairs to the three thrones, focusing on evening out my breathing and not tripping.

Settling daintily on the seat of Eun-Byeol's throne, I fixed my gaze on the large doors at the back of the room, knowing that the imperial embassy would walk in at any moment.

The head eunuch appeared below the dias, clearing his throat before announcing, "Presenting the imperial embassy of the Nifelheim empire. Chancellor Ardyn Izunia, Brigadier General Loqi Tummelt, and High Commander Ravus Nox Fleuret, former prince of Tenebrae."

I perked up at the mention of Ravus' name, surprised by his presence in the embassy.

While we hadn't been close like Luna and I due to the large age difference, I still remembered that he had been kind to me while I was in Tenebrae. The man who entered the throne room was starkly different from the boy of my memory, his mouth set in a harsh line and eyes void of any emotion; his blonde hair had grown out of its short style, and any remnants of childhood had melted off his face.

The brigadier general was an unknown face and looked surprisingly young for his military position, while the chancellor was as strange as the last time he was in Goryeo.

"Greetings once again, fair princesses of Goryeo. Thank you for welcoming the imperial embassy to your beautiful city." Ardyn stated with all the pomp and dramatics of his last visit.

"Good day to you, Chancellor, and your companions. We hope your journey was safe and comfortable." Gyeong-Hui replied formally, scrutinising the trio of men at the foot of the steps.

"It was quite long and tiresome, but seeing your lovely faces has surely rejuvenated my companions as much as I."

I withheld a shudder as the chancellor's eyes slid across each of us, lingering a moment longer on my figure before flickering back to the first princess.

"Nonetheless, you must be tired. Please allow the servants to escort you to your guest chambers so you may rest and freshen up before the evening meal." Se-Hyeon interjected, a tentative smile gracing her face.

"How could refuse the generosity of such gracious hosts. Thank you, your highnesses." the chancellor replied, bowing low to us before leading the other two out of the throne room.

The tension in the room seeming to immediately disappear with the group from the empire, members of the court finally relaxing.

Dinner was just as tense of an affair as this morning in the throne room had been. I remained silent for the most part, only speaking when spoken to by the chancellor.

"Have you given any thought to the previous proposal the empire has offered, your highnesses?" Ardyn inquired, sipping at the sweet ulwatt wine that had been imported for the occasion.

"If we had, our answer would still remain the same. Someone who marries outside our borders cannot reside within them with their spouse. It is only because of politics that your embassy and escort are allowed in our lands." Gyeong-Hui replied steadily.

"How unfortunate. I only hope that we are able to come to an agreement that mutually benefits both of us that is equal to the solidity of marriage." the chancellor said, his golden eyes boring into the first princess' equally intense gaze.

"Indeed." Se-Hyeon murmured, looking into the depths of her wine cup.

Silence fell over the room once more before the sound of my chair legs scraping against the floor filled the dining hall.

"Excuse me but I need a moment to get some air" I said breathlessly, bobbing a quick curtsey to our guests and the other princesses before walking out of the dining hall as fast as was deemed appropriate.

I didn't slow my pace until I was in the nearest empty garden, gasping for breath as I attempted to calm myself. I settled down on a stone bench, closing my eyes as I breathed in the scent of the flowers around me.

The chancellor unnerved me quite a bit and his eyes always felt like they were dissecting me whenever he looked at me. It was suffocating.

I was so immersed in calming myself down that I barely caught the polite clearing of a throat, propelling me upwards to face the entrance of the garden. Ravus stood awkwardly in in the garden, looking lost as he averted his gaze from me.

I composed myself swiftly, taking a deep breath.

"Is there something I can help you with, High Commander?" I offer quietly, staring at the uneasy man before me.

"Ah, no, your highness. I was simply walking in the gardens before retiring. I did not mean to intrude." the former prince answered quietly, his mismatched eyes finally meeting mine.

"In that case, would you care to walk with me through the gardens and talk? I would like to get to know you since your company will be with us for quite some time." I asked Ravus, smiling politely at the shadow of the boy I used to know.

"I would be honoured, princess." the blonde replied, offering me his arm and allowed me to begin guiding him through the various gardens in the palace.

Ravus cleared his throat awkwardly, avoiding my curious gaze to look around the garden.

"The gardens here are quite lovely, especially the water gardens." he said quietly, causing me to smile at his continued awkwardness.

"Thank you, but I'm sure they can't compare to the beauty of Tenebrae's nature. I hear that your cities and Fenestala Manor are practically interwoven with the trees and other plants." I laughed, remembering the beauty of the royal family's home prior to the empire's attack.

Ravus tensed slightly at the mention of his family home, a sudden seriousness overcoming him.

"My childhood home is indeed beautiful despite the scars it still retains after the empire's invasion years ago." he acknowledged gravely.

I turned away from the gardens to face him, looking at him with empathy.

"I'm sorry for what happened to your home and family. I may have not known her personally, but I heard Queen Sylva was a benevolent ruler, and an even more loving mother." I offered, remembering the radiant woman who had been so kind to me despite being an unknown piece of the puzzle.

"Thank you. What happened to my home and family was a tragedy, let us hope that your council and our embassy can come to a suitable agreement so that history does not repeat itself in Goryeo." the former prince replied, causing my heart rate to rise in sudden anxiety at the veiled threat behind his words.

We continued our walk in silence, my mind turning quickly in an attempt to formulate some kind of agreement that would be equal to that of marriage, the promise of destruction lingering in the back of my mind.

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