Being a boy dressing up as a lady wasn’t common, nor was it accepted. Yet, it was something you loved. You reveled in the feeling of elegance, in embracing the feminine grace that felt so natural to you despite society’s expectations.

You were as skilled with a sword as you were with a makeup brush, mastering both with precision. Your shoulder-length shaggy hair made it easy to pass as a young man in the public eye—and with the right adjustments, to transform into a lady in the privacy of your chambers. No one knew your secret, save for your nurse, your most loyal confidante. She helped you conceal the gowns hidden beneath your bed—garments you’d bought under the guise of gifts for women in your circle. Being from a wealthy family afforded you such indulgences, but your secret was a dangerous one.

It was as a lady that you first met Tybalt Capulet. He was striking—his jawline as sharp as the rapier at his side, his dark curls framing a face both noble and fierce. His chocolate-brown eyes seemed to pierce through your very soul, leaving you helplessly smitten. Yet, he knew nothing of the truth. A lie like yours could shatter everything, but you couldn’t bring yourself to tell him.

You never thought your secret would unravel the way it did.

Your nurse had forgotten you were preparing for the evening when she allowed Tybalt into your chambers.

“My lady . . ?” Tybalt’s voice called tentatively as he entered. His knock had been polite, but his eagerness had won out, and he stepped inside.

Quiet as a cat, Tybalt’s sharp eyes locked onto you as you sat there, adjusting your hair with delicate precision, lost in the transformation.

“Pardon?” He said, his tone low and commanding, his brow arching in confusion and demand.

The room was silent save for the sound of your breath catching. His gaze burned with the weight of a thousand unspoken questions.