Chapter Text
Everything after that moment when the prince gave him the Queen's heirloom was a blur. He was ushered out of the room quickly by his staff after another Duke attempted to confront them. In the midst of it all, he lost sight of the man he now knew to be Ranpo Edogawa, the crown prince of this kingdom. There were many reasons for the people to be upset, Politically this would unbalance the kingdom's gentle balance of power.
Not only that, plenty of other Duke's had been trying to match their own family members up with the prince as well. It hadn't been explored much in the original novel, but the crown prince's refusal to pick a queen had caused many issues for the kingdom. At every gathering Poe held and every event around the town, he had to listen to countless concerns about the nation's future.
‘The prince is nearing his thirties and still hasn't chosen a Queen.’
‘He isn't thinking about anyone but himself! If the bloodline dies with him, so will the clairvoyant's gifting!’
Memories of the townspeople's concerns echoed in his ear. What was that man thinking? Picking him? A stranger he'd only spoken to for a few minutes in the garden. What reason did he have to do such a thing? It defied logic, it defied common sense. Not only that, he was physically incapable of perpetuating the royal bloodline!
He was supposed to pick Montgomery. Not a reclusive Duke who knew close to nothing about this world.
Poe winced as he examined the jewels in the bedroom mirror. The color had shifted from the vibrant green it once was into a pale gray, with perhaps a hint of lavender. Although that could be due to the moonlight. Regardless, they matched the shade of his eyes perfectly.
He let out a loud sigh as he collapsed onto the bed, his corset digging into his skin uncomfortably as he shifted to a more comfortable angle. The door creaked in the darkness, causing him to open one eye.
“Hyuuu~ It's dark in here.”
A playful voice whistled out as footsteps followed. Poe sat up to see the silhouette of a man who was around the same height as him. The light from the hallway illuminated the edges of the slight curls in his hair.
This wasn't one of his staff members.
Poe gripped onto the sheet defensively, the bright light from the hallway blinding him. He already had experienced far too much excitement for one night, he didn't need anymore. Was it a guest from the ball who'd lost his way? An angry and rightfully concerned civilian? His heart rate skyrocketed at the second thought. If that was the case, it's very possible that he could be in danger.
“This is my bedroom, please leave. If it's about the Queen's jewels, then I can assure you I'll return them in the morning” He didn't have any weapons on him, or any guards present. Just like always, his words were all he had to offer.
The intruder let out a chuckle and shut the door, leaving them both in the dark. Poe shuffled to the edge of the bed as the stranger approached. The sheets sank in as the man casually took a seat next to him and crossed his legs. Poe pulled back until his head was almost touching the headboard.
“You already accepted his majesty's proposal though~” The moonlight streaming in from the balcony landed right on the man's eye, revealing a rich chocolate brown that matched the subtle bounces in his curls. It only illuminated half of his face, but Poe instantly recognized the castle's insignia on his top.
Had the prince sent him?
His stiff shoulders relaxed as he let out the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. If it was one of the castle's men, he was certain no harm would come to him. “You're one of his men..?” Poe asked as he released his grip on the bed sheets as well.
The brunette's nod had a playful bounce to it, his illuminated eye almost appeared to sparkle with mischief. “That's right. Osamu Dazai at your service.” He made direct eye contact with Poe as he said it. It was similar to when he stared into the prince's eyes, almost like he was being read and studied carefully. “His Majesty instructed me personally to keep an eye on you tonight.” He gave a little bow before laying back and relaxing on the bed.
Just like the prince… This man also seemed to lack any logical thought behind his actions. Or perhaps both of their reasoning was beyond Poe's comprehension at the moment. Regardless, Poe accepted the fact that he wasn't going to be getting his much-needed alone time tonight.
“If it's not too much to ask, please leave my room. I truly have no intention of accepting this proposal… Perhaps I should straighten this out tonight.” Poe’s long fingers touched the gemstones, following it to the silver clasp behind his neck. Just as he was about to unclasp it, a warm hand grabbed his wrist to stop him.
He hadn't even noticed, but Dazai had swiftly sat himself back up in time to stop him. Not only that his face was too close for comfort. Poe cringed at the invasion of his personal space and looked away.
“Now now, let's not do anything hasty, your grace.” As if to emphasize it, the man pulled Poe's hand away while the other patted the back of his neck. Poe stiffened, he had grown used to his staff touching him briefly but the unwanted touch still unnerved him at times.
“You wouldn't be cruel enough to break the heart of our crown prince. Now would you~?”
Break his heart? Poe scoffed at the idea. While yes, he did consider himself to be a romantic at heart, he knew very well that this situation did not involve any romance.
“He will not be heartbroken, I only met his majesty this afternoon. We've hardly even spoken.” Poe countered, finally getting up to escape this strange man's company. Behind him, he could hear Dazai saying something but Poe tuned it out. He walked over to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. To his dismay, Dazai pushed his arm between the door, it was only now that Poe noticed the bandages on the man's entire arm.
No, it wasn't just his arm. He assumed it was a turtle neck originally, but he was entirely wrapped in bandages. Was this man really a royal guard? He didn't look like one, or act regal in any way. Poe sat on a chair in the luxurious bathroom, his patients already running on empty.
“Leave..”
“Sorry~ I've been instructed not to let you out of my sight for even a moment.” Dazai leaned on the doorway, not bothering to take another step inside. Poe couldn't help but feel like this man was messing with him somehow.
“... I'm changing clothes.”
“Should I keep one eye closed then~?”
This man was definitely messing with him.
Poe decided to ignore him and turned the other way, he began unfastening the tightly wound laces of his corset. His fingers fumbled over the lace, but it had been too long of a night, he was only frustrating himself more with his failed attempts.
“Might as well help you while I'm here.”
That was when the unwelcome guest made his way over to Poe's side. He got down on his knees and began untying the laces for him. Poe didn't know why, but he didn't stop him. Dazai worked quickly, and before long the corset was carefully removed from his body. “I've known the prince for a while, I know you're confused so I'll clear something up for you.”
Dazai didn't bother to fold or put the corset away properly, instead, he just left it on the floor as he got back to his feet. “The prince always knows what he's doing. He didn't give you that necklace by chance.”
Poe found that hard to believe. He bent over and picked up the piece and left it in a proper place for his staff to find it later. “Does that mean you know why he chose to disrupt my life in this manner?” He said as he slipped out of the many layers of garments he was wearing and into his nightshirt.
“Hmm? I doubt anyone can keep up with what's going on in Ranpo's head.”
Poe's eyes widened. Wasn't it rude to call the crown prince by his first name? Dazai stifled a chuckle and left the bathroom to make himself comfortable in Poe's bed.
“I have a pretty good guess as to why he chose you though.”
His nightshirt fluttered behind him as he walked back into his bedroom, once again this stranger had made himself comfortable in his bed. Poe had no intention of sharing it and it seemed like Dazai had no intention of sharing more information either.
~~~
It was a long night after that, and quite frankly, Poe struggled to get any sleep at all. Dazai stole a few comforters off of his bed and passed out on the floor far before Poe was able to fall asleep.
So much for ‘keeping an eye on him’. The prince had sent him possibly the worst guard on the planet.
He was up for hours, replaying the events of that night over and over, trying to make any sense of this. He couldn't rule a kingdom, he could hardly manage an estate. Just the thought sounded awful, he'd never get any time to himself. Not only that, the idea that he'd temporarily accepted the title of ‘future Queen’ was weighing down on him.
Eventually, he gave up on his attempts at sleeping and lit a candle to write at his desk. He dipped his quill in the ink, feeling comforted by the rich scent as the small flame illuminated his page. A small smile crept up as he blocked out the world and all its problems to craft one of his own. With each stroke of his pen, another word was painted onto the canvas, giving it life. He’d been an author in his world as well and he'd loved it. His editor was probably worried sick, but aside from that he doubted anyone would have noticed his absence. As long as he could continue to write, it didn't matter much where he was.
Plus, there was something about writing in this world that truly made his works feel alive. It was as if with every syllable he could feel power surging through his veins. It was magical and the rush just inspired him to create more.
So like always, Poe lost track of time. He finished just as the second candle burned all the way through, and before he knew it, sunrise was already upon him. He closed the journal he'd been writing in and stifled a yawn. It seemed his ‘guard’ was still fast asleep, so Poe quietly snuck out of the room in his sleepwear to put his latest creation along with its predecessors.
His footsteps were the only thing that could be heard as he made his way down the quiet halls that were slowly being dyed with the sunrise. His mood was high, although his energy level was low. After clearing his mind, he'd even managed to find his determination. He'd give the necklace back to the prince, and everything would return to normal. Then he could get a nap, and continue enjoying a simple life on his estate.
Poe pushed the door open to his personal library only to be met with the comfortable warmth and crackling of embers in the fireplace. Upon closer inspection, he found books strewn about the lounge. All his journals and short pieces he'd worked tirelessly on in the dead of night were left out in various positions. The murder mystery he'd constructed over the course of three nights last week was left open and lying on the arm of the sofa.
And right there was Ranpo Edogawa, curled up and fast asleep on the plush sofa in a nightshirt. He looked so incredibly content, that Poe didn't want to disturb him.
Had the prince really spent all night reading his books? The thought alone caused heat to tinge his cheeks pink. But as he remembered the weight of the gems around his neck, he cleared his throat but couldn't find the nerve to speak up.
This was the prince after all. He was known for being spoiled and lazy to a degree… He probably wouldn't appreciate being woken up at this hour, especially if he'd just fallen asleep not too long ago. Based on the amount of books that were scattered around the place, it seemed like the prince was up for most of the night as well.
He was confident in his writing ability, and while he failed at socialization and other similar interactions, he excelled at writing. Words were his strong suit, his pride and joy. But that only extended unto a page, when it came to actually speaking those words out loud, Poe often lost his nerve.
He hadn't shared his writing with anyone in this world… But the thought that this man took the time to devour as much of his writing as he could speak volumes to him. He wanted to ask him what he thought of his work… No, he had more important questions to ask.
First, he needed to get out of this ‘marriage’
He gathered up his courage and began to speak. “I've been meaning to talk with you… Your majesty” He bit his bottom lip gently as he noticed the words had no effect, the prince was still fast asleep.
“Your majesty..?” He called out once more, this time with a little more volume. Poe resisted the urge to gulp as the man sat up and rubbed his eyes with a tired yawn. He couldn't tell if the other was just squinting or if that look was a glare. For some odd reason, he looked oddly pained when he saw him. Either way, the prince picked up the book on his chest and set it to the side.
“I apologize for waking you… I simply-”
“Save it. It's too early for this.” Ranpo quickly cut him off, covering his eyes with his arm as if he was trying to block the light so he could resume sleeping.
“Y-yes I'm sorry. But I needed to return this to you. I cannot accept such-”
Ranpo grabbed his wrist with a sense of urgency the moment he was about to take off the necklace. Poe's blush continued to spread as their skin touched.
The prince’s fingers felt like electricity on his skin. But after a moment the exciting shock of the touch melted away like the wicks of his candles into something more comforting.
“Hey, you can't take it off now. That's an order, you know”
Poe blinked, he was about to speak up and protest again until Ranpo beat him to it.
“Anyways, it's been a long time since I read good books like these. I'm taking them back with us.” Ranpo stacked the books that were within reach neatly, and for a moment, the prince's attempt to change the subject nearly worked. It was one thing to be complimented on his appearance, but for someone to appreciate his writing never failed to make his heart flutter.
Poe hugged his latest work tightly against his chest until Ranpo got up and plucked it from him. The prince looked at the simple notebook with a nostalgic smile, instead of putting it on the pile he kept it close.
“You read them..?” Poe timidly asked, he grabbed his own hand to soothe his nerves as he waited to hear more. Ranpo nodded and got to his feet, Poe instinctively took a step back to put some space between the two. The prince stubbornly bridged the gap between them, taking another step forward. His gaze darted down, to avoid looking him in the eye.
“Yeah, you've written a lot over the last three months. I'm impressed and it takes a lot to impress me.” The shorter man leaned in, the body language screamed familiarity but Poe was far more concerned with the fact this man knew exactly how long he'd been in this world. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he tried to take another step back, pressing himself against the bookshelf behind him.
“T-three months… How…” He trailed off as the prince backed up and covered his mouth as he yawned. While this encounter left Poe feeling more wired than any cup of coffee ever could, Ranpo was preparing to go back to sleep. He walked back to the couch and grabbed his blanket, wrapping it around his shoulders like a cape as he left Poe behind.
“You like mysteries, figure it out. I'm going to get some shut-eye before we leave.” With that the prince disappeared into the hallway, leaving only his footsteps and the sound of the fireplace. Poe balked at the indirect response, stunned as he tried to process the information but failed. He looked over at the books that Ranpo had left behind and sighed.
Should he chase after him?
The thought made him cringe, he wasn't big on confrontation and he had a feeling the prince was just going to brush him off to get some sleep. So after Poe managed to recollect his composure, he too left the study. Although it wasn't proper to roam the halls in his nightshirt, Poe did it anyway. Dazai was in his bedroom, and he didn't want to deal with that right now. All he wanted was to understand what was going on.
There was no doubt about it. The prince knew he wasn't from this world. Is that why he chose him? Not only that, it was obvious that the useless ‘guard’ Ranpo had sent was never meant to guard him in the first place considering he passed out on the floor and didn't even wake up when he left.
Then what was he sent to do?
His eyebrows furrowed, there were too many options to consider. First, he'd need to deduce the prince's motives. The weight around his neck reminded him of how adamant the two men had been about not removing the necklace. It did have some sort of magical property, that much was obvious. But aside from the simple change in colors, he was unsure of what those powers might be.
All of it circled back to the unanswered question of why him? He had been so lost in his own thoughts he failed to notice a familiar woman walking his way.
“You're up?”
Lucy was carrying a basket of assorted breads. She politely kept her distance and awkwardly spoke up again. “Uh, congratulations on the engagement?” The formal words didn't suit her, but she gave a polite bow and walked past him to continue on her way.
Her hair was perfectly braided and the light pink dress only added to her charm. Poe’s tired eyes widened as an idea began to form, he whipped around and called out to the woman. “Wait..!”
She stopped in her tracks, and put a hand on her hip. “What?”
Even though she tried her best to be polite, her true fiery nature showed through. Maybe that's what attracted the prince to her in the original novel. All he had to do was introduce the prince to Lucy and everything would return to how it should be. Poe smiled ear to ear as the burden of the kingdom's expectations began to lift off of his shoulders.
“You will accompany me to the castle. I assure you that you will be compensated generously” The words held a little more enthusiasm than they probably should have. He could see the redhead quirking an eyebrow at him too. She looked conflicted and shook her head. “I can't just leave, thanks for the offer but ask someone else.”
He couldn't imagine she was thrilled about moving away from the young man in town. But Poe knew that he’d follow her anyway. The woman he read about in the novel was determined and not easily swayed from her decisions. However, she did value financial security due to her upbringing.
“I promise, it won't be for long. It can't be anyone but you..!” He pleaded with her, watching as her frown morphed into something else. After a moment she let out a sigh and mumbled unenthusiastically.
“Fine, I'll get ready and pack your stuff.”
~~~
Poe raced back to his room, when he arrived back Dazai was nowhere to be found. Not that Poe was bothered by that, honestly he was quite relieved to know he could have some privacy as he packed. He'd insisted he'd pack his own belongings so that Lucy could focus on dressing herself up again. She needed to make a good impression.
The morning passed quickly, and Poe could feel his own fatigue really starting to settle in. He ended up getting ready for the day, taking a bath, and falling asleep in his robe without drying his hair. He woke up to a knock on the door, signaling that it was time to go. He put on all black, nothing colorful, nothing indicating he was celebrating a union. He didn't remove the necklace but he did hide it beneath his clothes.
With that, he made his way over to the front gate and found the royal carriage waiting for them. Lucy was already there with her own bag while Dazai was manning the box seat. He peaked past the gate and could see countless nosy townsfolk peering in, the attention honestly made him uncomfortable but that didn't matter right now.
“Alright let's go,” Ranpo spoke out behind him. Everyone bowed as the prince burst through the main doors with his pile of books. “You can hold this.” He dumped them in Poe’s arms before pulling at him, dragging Poe into the carriage. Poe lost his balance and ended up dropping all the books on the ground as he took the prince down with him.
He didn't feel the soft grass beneath him, instead, he felt a firm warmth. Poe opened his eyes and gasped as he realized he'd crushed the prince beneath him. Their faces were only centimeters apart, Ranpo's gaze was piercing his being and Poe felt like he was going to melt. He couldn't move, at that moment, he didn't have any thoughts.
“Hyu~ Save some magic for the wedding night.” Dazai whistled out from the driver's seat, breaking Poe out of his trance. He scrambled off of Ranpo with embarrassment at the indecent implication.
“I-I'm so sorry! Let me help you up…!” He stuttered out as he got off of the man crushed beneath him and kneeled at his side in the grass. Ranpo blinked, he sat up and brushed himself off before glaring at their driver.
“Knock it off Dazai.” It didn't sound like a command, or like he was mad. Although he did look less than pleased right now. “I'm fine, Poe.” His words evoked a sigh of relief from the worried Duke.
Poe refused to look the other in the eye as he got to his feet and held a hand out for the prince to hold. It was only then did he noticed the scar on the other's palm. He hadn't read anything about that in the novel. Considering Ranpo was the antagonist, a detail like that wouldn't be considered relevant to the story after all. But now that he'd actually met the prince, he found himself wanting to know more, every encounter with the man left him with more questions than he'd had before.
Once they were both back on their feet, Montgomery then made her approach. She picked up the books for them and placed them safely in the carriage. It was at that moment Poe remembered that he needed to have them interact somehow. He cleared his throat and spoke up.
“Your majesty, this is Lucy Maud Montgomery, a faithful servant of mine. I've asked her to accompany me to the castle.” He gestured to the woman, presenting her in a way that would gather the most attention. Upon hearing her name she stopped what she was doing and finished introducing herself.
Poe watched the two with anticipation, waiting for something to happen. A spark of interest, love at first sight, anything really. But to his utter dismay, the prince hardly even greeted her and remained focused on him. “Eh, I've got plenty of servants at the castle but suit yourself I guess.” The man shrugged it off and was about to step into the carriage when another voice Interrupted them all.
“Lucy!”
A head of uneven white hair ran past the gate with a basket. He panted as he finally stopped running and looked towards the woman with worried eyes. “You forgot these.” A gentle voice spoke out as he handed her the basket.
Poe did not miss the way Ranpo's eyes narrowed when he heard that voice. The two talked amongst themselves for a moment, and Poe gave the pair the privacy they deserved as they said their goodbyes. He took a seat across from Ranpo and fiddled with his hands, staring downwards awkwardly to avoid any eye contact or conversation.
Once the woman had parted with the main character, she also took a seat next to Poe inside the cabin. She hugged the basket tightly, her cheeks tinted red as she also avoided looking out the window as if to hide her true feelings about her departure.
“Is everyone ready back there~?” Dazai melodically sang out from the front as he nudged the horses up front to get moving. Then, the carriage jolted forward abruptly. Poe found himself falling forward but caught himself before he face planted on the prince's lap. Ranpo didn't seem phased by his driver's terrible lack of skills, instead, he was stifling a laugh.
Poe couldn't help but stare, the man's flawless features gained an aura of child-like joy as the carriage darted through the gates with an excessively sharp turn. He looked to his side and saw Lucy holding onto the rail for dear life as Dazai drove them.
“Hey, aren't you going to do something?! He's going to kill us!” She was growing increasingly exasperated, and it showed in her voice as the prince brushed her off and asked Dazai to go faster. Poe would definitely be sharing that sentiment had it not been for how amused the man in front of him looked. With each sharp turn and jolt in the carriage, the prince's face radiated amusement. He was having fun as if this was some kind of ride from an amusement park. Well, he supposed they didn't have any rides or modern parks in this world.
He placed a firm grip on the side of the carriage and let out a loud sigh. Succumbing to the fact that this was going to be a very long ride. So far his plan hadn't taken off, and Poe wasn't exactly sure why. But he'd remedy it, Lucy was coming with him. Everything would sort itself out on its own. A sudden jolt sent Poe crashing into the prince once more, except this time he wasn’t prepared to catch himself.
Everything would sort itself out if he survived this trip that is..!