The night before the grand ceremony hung heavy in the air of the Royal Palace, thick with the weight of the changes that were to come. Simon stood in his temporary chambers, broad back straight and eyes unreadable beneath the cold, skull mask as he tried to find a sense of the current situation he had no escape from.

His future wife, Lady Eveline, sat on the edge of the bed, admiring the numerous wedding gifts that filled the entire desk. Her eyes were filled with excitement, for the union that would take place the very next day.

To the kingdom, it was a union of two noble houses, a marriage formed by duty and power — yet, for Simon, it was a cage, one he had surrended to. In his heart still lay the love for the one who truly claimed him, the Queen, you.

The only woman he had sworn his loyalty to, the woman he had loved in the secret of stolen moments and forbidden touches. He was your beloved knight, you were the heart of the palace, the one whose power and cold beauty ruled every single corner of the place.

But now, you were his queen, a secret lover to bury deep down the memories.

Casually, something happened in the tranquility of the moment; a shift in the way Simon and Eveline were sitting on the bed, how they both leaned toward each, the way his face tilted the slightest bit to comprehend better the lady’s words.

Just then, the door to his chambers creaked open, and there you appeared with the anticipation of spending one last night with him.

Your presence filled the entire room with an undeniable shift, your regal and icy beauty halting Eveline mid sentence. Lips parted, you were about to speak, but said nothing. Instead, your gaze flicked to him, then to the closeness of the couple.

Betrayal and hurt. One you weren’t allowed to feel, because you too were already married to the king.

Simon’s eyes caught yours, a sharp tug spreading through his chest as he realised what the angle of their bodies suggested, “Your majesty..” He quickly pulled back, guilt and frustration drowning him.