The Changeling Queen

Chapter Five

There is a silence in the room that makes me uncomfortable, but now, I have more to say. There isn’t anymore of the option boxes, so I pause for a moment, trying to decide what I’m going to say. I don’t want to mess up, but I feel bad for this man, even if he’s not really real.

“We can discuss this in my parlor, if you really need answers,” I say stiffly, trying to appear aloof.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he bows his head, gesturing for me to in ahead of him.

I walk in, going straight to a daybed with a table beside it. I smooth out my dress before sitting down, my heart beating frantically in ears. I feel like it might beat out of my chest at this point. It’s making it hard to breathe, but I somehow manage to keep myself calm enough on the outside.

“Now,” I say as he comes over, standing up next to the daybed. “Go on. Sit,” I gesture to the empty spot beside me.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he says, a blush starting to creep across his cheeks, but he bites his lip again before saying, “Did I do something wrong last night? You usually call on me every morning, but you didn’t today. I’m sorry if I disappointed you.”

“You were… acceptable,” I say, trying to keep up the aloof air, despite the fact that I was freaking out on the inside.

“Oh,” he whispers, looking down at his hands. “I’m sorry.”

That finally makes the text boxes appear, much to my relief. One says Console him and the other says Discipline him. The choice is easy, and before I can prepare myself, I’m speaking again.

“You are the best lover in the castle, but you can’t expect me to always solely rely on you,” I say, freaking out slightly as my body moves on it’s own, stroking the side of his face. “Sometimes, even I need to be alone. I adore your devotion to me, but you know that this can never be anything more than it is. Perhaps it’s time I find you a wife.”

“A wife? No, Your Highness, please!” he falls to his knees on the ground, grabbing my hands and holding them to his chest. “Please, please! I know that we can never be together in public, but I love you. Please don’t send me away!”

My heart breaks for this man, but I have no control as I slide my hands out from his, placing them in my lap. “Azure,” I say softly. “Know that I am not sending you away because I don’t care for you. On the contrary, it’s because I care for you that I wish for you to have a good life, with a loyal wife. You deserve all the pleasures life has to offer, and I will ensure that you and your family are taken care of. You will get a full pension,” I promise, and I notice what looks like paint on his hands. I manage to be able to add, “and, to ensure you can continue your passion of painting, I will furnish a studio for your own personal use. That being said, I expect to be your first customer.”

He whimpers, taking my hands to kiss them. “You are too kind to me, Your Highness. I know not what I’ve done to deserve it, but I am thankful for it.”

I smile softly, finally back in control of my full body again. “You deserve it because you are a good man, Azure. I wish you all the best. You may take time off, to come to terms with this, and I will search for a few eligible women for you to court.”

“May I have one last kiss?” he finally asks, holding my hands tightly.

I hesitate, but then I nod. I can’t help how bad I feel for him. “A good-bye kiss.”

He stands up, cupping my face as he lowers his towards mine. His lips brush against mine, making me shiver slightly. He presses his lips harder against mine, parting his lips just enough for his tongue to dart out, pushing my lips apart slightly. I sigh, wrapping my arms around his neck to pull him closer to me. This is all a dream, and he’s fake anyways, so what’s the harm? I nip his lower lip, making him let out a soft whine. I grin to myself, doing it again. This time he let out a full on moan before I pull back.

“I will miss that,” I tell him quietly, playing with the hair that teases the back of his neck before taking my hands back.

“Your Highness, do we really have to do this?” he asks softly, still cupping the side of my face.

“I want you to be happy, Azure. Surely you can understand that? If you continue being my consort, you’ll never have the kind of life you want,” I say sadly, removing his hand from mine. “Please, take your leave.”

He leaves, clearly moping. Part of me feels bad, even if he’s just an AI in a game, but it all seems so real. All of this seems real. Whether or not it’s a game or a dream, right now, to me, these people are real, and I can’t help but feel guilty that I hurt this man, but I was still right. He deserves to be happy, and he won’t be with a Queen that can never be his lover, much less his wife, openly. The only thing that worries me is if this was what Queen Cahya would do. Is it?

I shake my head hard, trying to rid myself of the thoughts of second guessing myself. I realize then that I hadn’t let the Princess know that I was done, so I look around before noticing a bell wall, some of which lead down to the kitchen, and to other servant quarters. I smile when I realize that my Lady’s Maid is on there too.