The next morning, sunlight filtered through the ornate curtains, casting a warm glow across the room as I stirred on my bed. I groaned as I turned away from the light, not wanting to get up yet. To say my sleep had been poor was an understatement, and I had no desire to be awake yet. A gentle knock on my door soon came, and without waiting for a response, Rael entered the room.

"Good morning, Your Highness," Rael greeted, his voice a soft melody in the tranquil morning air. I groaned as I slowly sat up, rubbing the remnants of sleep from my eyes. “You seem to have had a rough night, Javier.”

“Something like that,” I mumbled, dragging myself out of bed and stretching my limbs. Rael gently laid on his bundle on my couch, his usual smirk on his face.

“Shall I assist you in getting ready, Your Highness?” he inquired, his tone gentle and teasing. I shook my head as I stood, finally walking over to the clothing Rael had brought me for the day. I was due to be fitted for my own clothes soon but until then, I was forced to wear Kozani’s old clothing. Once I was dressed, I sat down on the bed, closing my eyes as Rael began to style my hair.

As his hands continued their task, a subtle curiosity began to gnaw at the corners of my thoughts. He was someone who seemed to understand the intricacies of court life, someone who moved effortlessly in this world that was still so foreign to me. Perhaps he could shed some light on how relationships between men were viewed, and help me decide what I would need to do going forward.

As Rael skillfully worked his fingers through my hair, I pondered how to broach the delicate subject. At least in my former life, same sex relationships were mostly accepted, even if some people had their issues, and I felt a nervousness I hadn’t felt in a long time as I took a deep breath.

"Rael," I began tentatively, choosing my words carefully, "in your experience, how are... friendships between men perceived here?"

Rael’s fingers paused momentarily in my hair, his movements halting before resuming with the braids and twists I was so used to him putting in my hair.

"Well, Your Highness," he said, his voice carrying a thoughtful cadence, "friendships between men can vary in perception depending on the context and the individuals involved."

I nodded, though his answer didn’t offer much clarity. It was vague, intentionally so and I frowned. It wasn’t a good sign if Rael was purposefully being vague with his answer, but to be fair, I had also been vague with my questions. 

"Makes sense," I replied, trying to keep my tone casual. Guess I needed to be more obvious. "But specifically, in the court, are there certain expectations or norms?"

"In the court there are indeed expectations, but that is something I believe you understand," he began, and I could feel that he was putting the finishing touches on my hair. "It would be best to simply ask what you are curious about, Javier."

I nodded, taking his advice to heart. It seemed that subtlety wasn’t going to get me very far in this conversation. I cleared my throat, trying to gather my thoughts before speaking again.

"Well, what I mean to ask is…" I hesitated, feeling the weight of the topic hanging in the air between us. "Are romantic relationships between men… frowned upon? Or are they accepted here?"

I could hear my heart pounding in the silence that filled my room after my question, starting to wish I had never asked. This was ridiculous: no one here knew I had been a woman before and I didn’t dislike women. Surely I could just ignore all the men around me and just–

"To your relief, Your Highness," Rael began, his voice carrying a hint of warmth, "I can assure you that romantic relationships between men are not frowned upon in our empire. Demons cannot have children anyway, so it is encouraged to be with the one your heart desires."

“I see,” I nodded, unable to help my relief as I finally stood from the bed. So, at least I could still choose to be with a man, but it would still likely have to be with someone of high standing, or at least someone with powerful magic. My thoughts returned to Valerian’s confusion and how he had acted after I almost stroked his face.

“Is there someone who has caught your eye, your Highness?” Javier’s teasing voice made me look up and I quickly shook my head, unable to help my embarrassment. Rael’s playful smirk danced across his lips as he observed my flustered reaction. His eyes sparkled with mischief, betraying his amusement at my discomfort. I cleared my throat, attempting to compose myself as I glanced away, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks.

“N-no, there’s no one,” I stammered, my voice betraying my unease. Valerian had certainly piqued my interest, but it wasn’t like I was ready to be in a relationship with him. “Just curious, since I had a preference for men before being summoned here.”

"Ah, I see," Rael replied, his expression softened, his amusement giving way to a more sympathetic understanding. He nodded knowingly, as if he had expected such a response. "It's understandable to have questions and concerns, especially in a new environment such as ours. But rest assured, you will find your way in due time."

“Thank you,” I managed, following Rael out of my room as we headed for the Grand Hall. Breakfast was a usual affair, with Lucilla begging if I could skip my lessons to play with her and Azriel reminding her that I had ‘important’ tasks to complete. Kozani gently bantered with the children but I noticed that the empress remained quiet as always. Before I thought maybe she couldn’t talk, but after the encounter in the private hallway, I knew that she was simply choosing not to. But why and just who had she been meeting with?

“Ah, Javier,” I looked up as I heard Kozani say my name, and noticed the gentle look on the Emperor’s face. I couldn’t help but smile back, bowing my head slightly. Kozani often took me on walks in the gardens and checked in on my lessons in my room, just to see how I was adjusting. Between him and Lucilla, I was starting to feel welcomed in the palace.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” I replied, my voice respectful as I set down my silverware on the plate.

“I have important news to discuss with you,” Kozani began, his tone serious yet tinged with a hint of excitement. “There will be a grand ball held in two weeks’ time to officially announce you as my heir.”

"That's... unexpected," I managed, trying to keep my surprise in check. A grand ball sounded like a daunting affair, especially considering my lack of experience with courtly events. Yet, I couldn't deny the thrill that coursed through me at the prospect of such an announcement. It was a validation of sorts, a confirmation that I belonged to this world now. 

Kozani's eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued, "As such, you and the children shall spend the day with the Empress to ensure you are fitted with the finest attire. I also understand you still need your own wardrobe so now is a good time to have more clothing ordered as well."

As the words settled over me like a heavy shroud, I felt a familiar unease creeping into the edges of my consciousness. Memories of my own mother flashed through my mind, and I felt my heart start to constrict in my chest. Even when I was away from her, fear of my mother made it difficult for me to feel comfortable around older women, especially those in positions of power. The idea of being in such close proximity to the Empress, whose motives around me were still unknown, made me feel uneasy. But I couldn't object, not when the Emperor himself seemed so invested in this grand announcement.

"That sounds wonderful, Your Majesty," I replied, my voice carefully neutral. "I'm sure the Empress will ensure we are more than ready for the occasion."

Beside me, Azriel and Lucilla practically bounced in their seats, their excitement palpable as they chattered animatedly about the prospect of new outfits. It was a stark contrast to the knot of apprehension tightening in my chest, a reminder of the stark divide between their carefree innocence and the shadows that lingered in my past.

I took a chance to steal a glance at Empress Nisha, who sat across from me on the other side of the Emperor. Despite the warmth of the morning sun streaming through the windows, she seemed to exude an aura of cool composure, her features a mask of serene elegance and before I could look away, our eyes briefly met.

In that moment, Empress Nisha's eyes held a depth I couldn't quite decipher. There was a keen intelligence there, a silent assessment that made me feel as though she could see straight through me. I watched a moment longer as a soft smile spread on her face and I quickly averted my gaze.

As the meal drew to a close, I excused myself from the table, promising I would join the rest in the drawing room. I took a moment to gather my composure before rising from my seat, offering a polite nod to the Emperor and a fleeting smile to the children. As I turned to leave, I felt the weight of Empress Nisha's gaze lingering on me, a sensation that sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. With every step towards the door, it felt as though her scrutiny followed me, an invisible thread tethering me to her presence.