As Empress Nisha drew closer, her regal presence seemed to fill the corridor, commanding attention even in the dim light. Her gown flowed around her with a grace that spoke of power and authority, and her gaze, though unreadable, held a weight that seemed to pierce through the shadows.

But what caught my attention was the figure walking beside her, shrouded in the same air of mystery that surrounded the Empress herself. I squinted, trying to discern their features, but it was hard to see who it was in the nearly pitch black corridor.

Valerian's grip tightened on my arm, urging me further into the shadows as we pressed ourselves against the cool stone wall. My pulse quickened, a rush of adrenaline coursing through me as the Empress and her companion drew nearer. Their voices became clearer, snippets of conversation drifting through the air like fragments of a puzzle.

"...must proceed with caution," the Empress was saying, her voice tinged with authority. I was surprised by how soft her voice was, as if she could barely speak. "The situation is delicate, and we cannot afford any mistakes."

"I understand, Your Majesty," came the voice of the companion, a deep timbre that resonated with confidence. "Rest assured, I will proceed with the utmost discretion."

I risked a glance back at the Empress, her profile illuminated by the faint glow of the torch her companion carried. She nodded, a subtle gesture that conveyed both acknowledgment and exhaustion.

"Good," she said, her tone firm but not unkind. "I trust in your abilities, as always. How is Javier?"

“His lessons are proceeding well, from what I understand,” the mystery demon answered, and my heart started to pound in my chest. Why were they talking about me in this hidden corridor? “I suspect that Kozani will have his magic ceremony soon.”

“Everything must be in place before them,” Nisha remarked, her voice carrying a hint of concern. “I’m worried someone may realize what Kozani was able to achieve and attempt to harm Javier. He doesn’t need anymore worries.”

"Of course, Your Majesty," the guest replied, their tone respectful yet tinged with assurance. "I've taken every precaution to ensure Javier’s origins stay secret."

As they drew closer, I couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity mingled with apprehension. How could someone outside the royal family figure out I was a living demon? I hadn’t even been allowed to leave the palace since the night I was summoned, so only those inside the palace had even seen me. My thoughts swirled as I considered their conversation, a feeling of worry began to fill my chest.

The Empress and her companion passed by us, their voices fading into the distance as they continued on their way. I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, feeling the tension slowly dissipate from my muscles.

I turned to look at Valerian, intending to share a whispered remark about the strange conversation we had just overheard. But as soon as my eyes fell upon him, and any words I had vanished from my mind. His yellow eyes gleamed like twin orbs of molten gold, capturing my attention in an instant as he watched the Empress disappear into the darkness. And his medium dark red hair, tousled slightly, framed his face in a way that seemed almost too perfect to be real.

Without thinking, my hand moved of its own accord, reaching up as if drawn by an invisible force. I wanted to trace the lines of his jaw, to feel the warmth of his skin beneath my fingertips. My eyes dropped down to his lips and I found myself curious, wondering how it felt to kiss him, to feel his lips against mine. How long had it been since I last kissed someone? Months? Years? 

But then, as my hand hovered near his face, I saw the confusion flicker in Valerian's eyes. A moment of realization washed over me like a cold splash of water. 

Javier was a man.

Embarrassment flooded through me, hot and suffocating, as I realized the intimacy of our proximity. Valerian and I stood mere inches apart, concealed in the shadows, our bodies pressed against the cool stone wall. The closeness, once unnoticed, now felt uncomfortably palpable, a tangible reminder of the boundary between us. Quickly, I withdrew my hand as if scalded, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Ja–”

"I should... I should return to my room," I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper as I cut off Valerian’s words. I didn’t have the courage to answer whatever he was going to say. Valerian's expression softened with understanding, though a hint of curiosity lingered in his gaze. "Before someone notices I’m missing."

"Of course," he replied, his voice low and soothing. "We wouldn't want anyone to worry."

As he began to lead the way back through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace, I followed in silence, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Being reborn in a man's body had been disorienting from the start, but in moments like these, the dissonance felt particularly acute.

I couldn't deny the fact that Valerian was attractive, but I barely knew him. This was only our second meeting and while there were definitely no warning signs that I could see, it was ridiculous to think about kissing him simply because I found him beautiful. Was it really just my loneliness from my previous life bleeding over into this one, or was there something else at play? Could it have something to do with whatever made Valerian feel different to me?

And was it wrong to feel this way? How did this world feel about relationships between men? The only source of reference I had was the Emperor and Empress and I frowned as I rubbed my sleeves. I didn’t have anything against women; even when I was one, I had a few flings with other women and even a girlfriend at one point. I just had an overall preference for men, and with so many handsome and beautiful men about, it felt like torture to be among them.

At least Valerian didn’t seem disgusted. I thought, looking back up to Valerian’s back as he walked in front of me. Despite my best efforts to ignore it, a part of me couldn't help but admire his physicality, the way his muscles moved beneath the fabric of his shirt with every fluid motion. This is not helping.

Valerian glanced back at me, a flicker of concern crossing his features. "Are you alright?"

I forced a smile, a feeble attempt to mask the turmoil raging within. "Just tired, I suppose. This was supposed to be a quick trip."

“And here I’ve dragged you all through the halls,” Valerian smirked, and I quickly shook my head.

“You didn’t drag me anywhere, I agreed–”

“Do you always take things so seriously?” Valerian interrupted me, causing me to look into his eyes again. I finally noticed that he was slightly taller than me, and I had to look up a bit to meet his gaze. 

“I suppose it's a bad habit of mine," I admitted, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "But I'll try to lighten up."

Valerian said nothing as his smirk turned into a smile, and I sighed as I continued following him. Soon we finally reached my room, and I paused at the door, turning to face Valerian one last time. The soft light from within cast gentle shadows across his features, accentuating the lines of his face in a way that made my heart flutter uncomfortably.

“Remember, a secret,” Valerian bowed and I nodded slowly.

"A secret," I agreed, my voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for walking me back."

His smile widened, a playful light shining in his eyes. "Of course, your Highness. Have a good night."

With a nod of gratitude, I stepped into my room, the weight of the night's events settling around me like a heavy cloak. Closing the door behind me, I leaned against it for a moment, my mind racing with thoughts of Valerian and the unexpected turn our encounter had taken. While I was grateful that Valerian didn’t ask about what I had done, I knew eventually he would, especially if I slipped up again. What was I supposed to do with these feelings? 

I slowly climbed into bed, ready to go back to sleep after my outing. I pulled a strand of my silver hair, wishing I could cut it already. The silvery strand slipped through my fingers like liquid moonlight, a stark contrast to the thoughts swirling in my mind. The encounter with Empress Nisha and her enigmatic companion had left me unsettled, but it was the unexpected proximity to Valerian that lingered like a ghost in the chambers of my consciousness.

With a resigned sigh, I turned onto my side, burying my face in the softness of the pillow. Sleep beckoned like a siren's song, promising temporary respite from the tumultuous storm raging within. And yet, even as exhaustion tugged at my weary limbs, my mind continued to churn with thoughts of Valerian.