Luna Lucky

14

Will took my hand and guided me to the left, where racks of clothes for casual seasons stretched endlessly. The sheer variety overwhelmed me. Just as always, Will stepped in, taking charge. He picked out a floral, long puffy-sleeved dress that reached my ankles and held it up for me to see.

It struck me as strange how modest all the clothing was. My mind wandered to the small red dress he’d gotten me before—it felt like the polar opposite of what he was picking now. My confusion must have shown because Will noticed my expression and chuckled.

“These aren’t like the red dress I got you,” he explained, “because you’ll be learning a position that requires you to look different. That is—if you want it.”

He smiled warmly and placed the dress on top of the rack, turning to face me fully. I was sure my confusion deepened because he gave me a faint smile, the kind he used when he was trying to ease me into something.

“Since I’m king,” he began carefully, “I can only have a Queen if I find my fated mate—which is you. But for the security of my legacy and throne, I was engaged.”

His words stopped me cold. I instinctively crossed my arms, holding myself together as if bracing for the impact of what he was about to say.

Will scratched the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “Lucky, you need to understand… A king can have multiple alliances through marriage. But if I don’t want any of them as my Queen, they stay as married alliances. Their titles remain Princesses.”

Princesses?

The word lingered in my mind, spinning like a storm. I looked down at the floor as the weight of his confession began to settle in. Will was married. But was it only to one woman? Or were there others? Why was he telling me this? Did it mean there were more than one?

Each question pressed down on me like an invisible hand until I felt Will’s touch on my shoulder. His thumb moved in slow, comforting circles, but it wasn’t enough to ease the whirlwind in my mind.

“Will,” I asked, my voice trembling with doubt, “how many wives do you have? And what does that mean for us? Are you telling me I have to choose—either be your Queen or leave?”

He placed his other hand on my shoulder and let out a slow, heavy breath. His tone was warm but firm as he finally said, “Yes, my firefly. I have more than one wife. Three, to be exact. But none of them were for love. They’re alliances, nothing more.”

Each word felt like a dagger piercing my heart. He had three wives. Three. And all the while, he’d been with me. My chest tightened as the questions I’d been too afraid to ask earlier came rushing to the surface.

“You were with me,” I began, my voice unsteady, “while you’re married to them. But you say I’m your mate—that I’m supposed to choose whether to be your Queen or not. What does that even mean? What does being a Queen entail when you already have wives?”

For a moment, his loving expression almost made me forget my questions. But I couldn’t let myself be distracted. I needed answers.

Will gently pulled me into a hug, his arms wrapping around me as if to shield me from the weight of his words. His voice was laced with both shame and conviction as he said, “As Queen, in both name and title, you would have many duties. You’d stand beside me to listen to our people, guide the Princesses, and make decisions for their futures. You’d accompany me on every visit, no matter the circumstances. The Princesses would live in a separate estate—they would only be involved in matters as you see fit. And as Queen…”

His voice faltered briefly before he continued, “…you would carry the heir of this kingdom. That is something the Princesses would never be entitled to.”

The hairs on the back of my neck rose as anger, sharp and unfamiliar, bubbled up from my chest. His words echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t stop the glare that overtook my face. Will’s expression shifted from loving to wary as he took a small step back, raising his hands in surrender.

“Ah, what did I do to make you annoyed at me?” he asked cautiously, his tone almost teasing. “Baby, please, tell me what I did.”

I crossed my arms tightly over my chest and leveled him with a glare. “What do you mean when you said, ‘as Queen, I would carry the heir of this kingdom, something the Princesses would never be entitled to?’”

His wariness melted away, replaced by a look of raw desire and adoration. His entire demeanor shifted as he leaned closer, his voice soft and laced with shame.

“I only took their virginity,” he admitted quietly, “and never slept with them again. It was only to seal the alliances. None of them hold my heart, Lucky. Only you.”

The weight of his confession made my skin crawl. I felt sick, dirty, and heartbroken—not for myself, but for his wives.

Will scratched his neck awkwardly as he added, “Baby, please, tell me what you’re thinking. I don’t want to hurt you, but I don’t want to lie to you either.”

He was trying. I could see that. If we could talk this out, maybe we could find a way forward. But even as I tried to hold onto that hope, I felt it slipping through my fingers like sand.

With his question hanging in the air, I steeled myself, a small voice in my head urging me: Tell him. Talk to him. If he’s trying, then so must you, Lucky. Determined, I started to speak, my words carefully measured.

“Okay, so let me get this straight. You’re married to three women who are alliances, but you’re not in love with any of them. You secured those alliances by… taking their virginity. Only your mate can be Queen—if she wants to be. And if I choose that path, I’d be the only one to have your children, the bridge between you and them, and between you and your people, who would then become our people. Did I get all of that right?”

I paused, narrowing my eyes slightly. “What else aren’t you telling me, Will?”

His smile widened as I listed everything out. There was a sense of pride in his expression, as though my understanding reassured him. When he spoke, his voice was laced with confidence.

“You got it all right,” he said, his tone warm and steady. “If you become Queen, you’ll learn from the Princesses while being overseen by my brother. He’ll guide you through what’s expected of you as Queen.”

My curiosity piqued, but before I could interrupt, he added, “And yes, I do have a brother, someone you’ll meet when the time is right.”

He stepped closer, his gaze softening as he continued. “But before any of this happens, Lucky, I want to make each step memorable. I want you to know that I’m not rushing into anything. I’ll be taking it slow, at your pace.”

His reassurance settled over me like a balm, and I nodded, letting some of my tension ease. That part, at least, I understood. But a deeper question still lingered in my heart, pressing against my ribs.

Why was he giving me a second chance? Why was he offering me the opportunity to leave?

The question burned on my tongue, and after a moment’s hesitation, I gave in to it. “Why, Will? Why are you giving me this… option? To leave? Why would you let me walk away?”