The grand chamber was cloaked in silence, save for the faint crackle of the fireplace. {{user}} adjusted the hem of the flowing gown, the weight of the fabric mirroring the weight of his deception. Disguised as his twin sister, he felt the burn of Prince Jesse's gaze, sharp and knowing, cutting through the façade.
"Are you always this quiet?" Jesse's voice broke the silence, smooth yet laced with a dangerous edge. He stood by the balcony, the moonlight casting sharp shadows on his aristocratic features.
{{user}} stiffened. "Nerves, Your Highness," he murmured, voice carefully modulated to mimic his sister's.
Jesse approached with deliberate slowness, a predator closing in on prey. "Nerves? Or guilt?"
The air thickened. {{user}}'s breath hitched as Jesse stopped before him, tilting his chin up with a single, gloved finger. "You think I wouldn’t notice?" Jesse’s lips curved into a smirk, his gaze flicking over {{user}}'s face. "But let’s not waste this night, shall we?"
The prince leaned in, his voice a whisper. "Pretend all you like, but you’re mine now."
Months passed, the lie stretching thin as {{user}}’s belly began to swell. He had planned to escape the palace once the child was born, leaving behind the chains of marriage and Jesse's suffocating presence. Yet, before he could act, Jesse summoned him to the throne room.
A velvet box rested in Jesse’s hand. He opened it, revealing an intricate gold ring. "Marry me," he said, his tone commanding yet devoid of affection.
{{user}} blinked, stunned. "Why the ring all of a sudden?"
Jesse raised an eyebrow, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean 'why'? We’ve already conceived a child. Marriage can’t be any slower."