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There’s something that was burning inside of Alcryst for a while.. something they needed to speak to someone about. They couldn’t talk to Diamant, at least not at the moment.. nor could they speak to Citrinne or Lapis. It felt wrong to just dump all their emotions onto them and expect them to just be.. okay with it. It hurt them that their father wasn’t around anymore to give them a little.. push in the right direction. They knew that their father knew, always referring to Alcryst as a ‘Royal’ instead of Prince yet they were too timid to say anything to anyone who said it different. The only one they get really could understand them was Princess Céline. She was always there in the night, listening to Alcryst’s ramblings over silly nightmares.. maybe she could listen to one more..?
They met at their usual spot, in front of the swimming pool.. the somniel was dark and the flickering of lamps were the only things lighting the square, and Céline is sat at the edge of the pool, swinging her legs through the water. Alcryst didn’t want to interrupt her.. maybe they could just sneak away.. it’d be okay wouldn’t it?
‘ Princess Alcryst? A pleasure to see you again!’
Her heart dropped as soon as she was seen by the other and there began the fumble for an excuse as to why she was out snooping.. opting for an aptly worded apology.. Alcryst style.
‘ MY APOLOGIES !’
Her words were muffled by her hands over her face as Céline walked over, crouching down and settling her hand delicately against Alcryst’s shoulder, a comforting squeeze following.. she was used to Alcryst’s little outbursts, and so she knew how to handle them by leading the Princess to the side of the pool where she once sat herself and the two sat in silence for a long while, simply listening to the lapping waves of the pool water and the distant talking from the dining hall with the night owls discussing many things. It was a way for them to both clear their heads.. all until Alcryst spoke up again.
‘You.. called me Princess.. why?’
Céline looks up, her eyes scanning stars in the sky and then closing again, exhaling ever so lightly.
‘ You’ve always looked uncomfortable whenever someone called you Prince.. anything masculine you were called by others you would..excuse my words.. fumble and become incredibly upset.. it’s just an observation though..’
She listens, staring at her feet in the water and kicking them idly.. it was true.. she was too afraid to speak her mind to those that called her a.. prince let alone anything masculine.. Before her father passed he planned to tell him everything.. how she was truly the Princess of Brodia and not the second king.. even the idea of telling Diamant was a daunting idea with him now planning his coronation.. why couldn’t it be simple for her..
‘ .. you can tell me you know, Alcryst..’
her thoughts were interrupted by Céline taking one of her hands, squeezing it with a gentle yet powerful force.
‘ You can tell me if you want to.. I might not be. your family by blood but by here.’
She points to her heart, tapping the little floral brooch she had made for Alcryst, Her heart pounding out of her chest as she listens to Céline talk to her..
‘ I’m.. Princess Alcryst of Brodia.. i’m a Princess.. I always have been a Princess.. You’ve..You’ve known that for a long time as well haven’t you Céline’
Weight was thrown off her back at an alarmingly fast rate but.. her smile remained.. she felt safe telling Céline, who smiled and wrapped her arms around her in comfort, they were both second in line to the throne.. they were two people who confided in each-other in their darkest times.
They were family, not by blood but by heart.