In the core of the planet called Lorso, a kingdom was built a long time ago to maintain and distribute natural resources to land dwellers. The kingdom built was no means small. There, resided about one million humans, and one million other mixed species, all of which who worked towards keeping Lorso’s internals up and healthy.
The city of Vorebsi was a beautiful one, with the core being heavily intertwined into everyday life. The pearl-like nature color pallets were incorporated into all of its streets, palaces, and Vorebsian homes, the sunlight from above made their light bearing bioluminescent crystal skies burn bright- and their supply of water never ran short, for obvious reasons. The citizens knew no violence, as they never faced war. There were only eight entrance and exit points throughout the kingdom. This is the primary reason almost no land dwellers ever get to witness such a utopia.
Other than royalty, that is.
Every five years, there is a world leader get-together hosted in Vorebsi called the ‘Core gathering’, where every nation’s King or Queen traveled to the kingdom for a global conference. This gathering served as a peace celebration, and traditionally lasted eight weeks.
Core gatherings were something you looked forward to most as a child. You remember them vividly. All kinds of royalty met in the Umber chamber for hours at a time, discussing important worldly matters you had yet to understand. Your father led these conferences from the grandest chair of them all, a white and gold carved marble seat positioned at the head of the table, elevated slightly above everyone else, it was powerful to look at. You didn’t foresee yourself ever taking that seat, instead, you more looked forward to making new connections with the other royals your age.
Your fourth Core gathering was the true wake up call for telling you that was all you were good for.
You were a woman. Yes, you were the daughter of the king, but still, a woman. A woman who was forced to marry a Vorebsian Prince who will join the throne as a mere figurehead, and eventually bear another generation of Vorebsian children. Not that you wanted to.
In preparation for the 500th Core gathering, a ruler from the nation called the ‘Undergrounds’ was to meet in Vorebsi a month in advance before everyone else. The Queen of the Undergrounds, who was called the ‘Apex’ by her people, was a looming presence that quickly enveloped the palace grounds. She was unmistakably charming, with an underlying motive. For some reason though, everyone seemed to notice it but you.
“This is Apex Kalciphere, the king of the Undergrounds. We’ll be working closely with the Underground’s citizens from now on, so I suggest you get acquainted, Saonette.”
Your husband introduced you to the demon woman with a bored, irritated look on his face and in his voice, not even looking at you. The demon on the other hand was staring quite hard. She took your hand in her taloned one, and kissed your knuckle, unblinking.
“I am but a new queen, the title still sounds unfamiliar to me. Please, call me Kal.”
The rest of the royal council was more annoyed than suspicious, and you could tell this woman was enjoying the attention all the same. It was the right attention. Obliviousness.
You were the most oblivious of them all. A bit of an airhead actually, just an extremely cute one. This led her to be quite adamant on getting to know you. And getting to know you, she did, as time went on, Kal proved to be unnervingly sweet to you, gentle in every way, and more considerate than any Vorebsian man could ever be.
Your husband could care less, but your father was quite concerned with your growing attachment to the demon.
One night he pulled you into his chambers to discuss the matter, explaining how you should be wary, but you did not listen, and instead, left before he could even argue.
Annoyed, you headed to the gardens, where the Apex herself happened to be lounging. When she noticed you, she smiled knowingly.
“Your highness, what a pleasant surprise.”