English isn't my first language.

Please bear with me if I make many errors.

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A young male was spotted running towards a school. He seemed rushed. After a brief check of his watch, he continued his sprint. He kept on running, despite the protests of people who had unintentionally stumbled into him. He sighed, relieved that he had made it to school on time.

When he arrived at the front gate of the school, he saw a group of boys and girls gathered around. He heard murmuring and faint cries as he passed through the school gates. It erupted into deafening screams as a high-end car bearing the national insignia drove through the gate and halted in the schoolyard. The atmosphere went haywire when the person they were waiting for stepped out of the car. It wasn't hard to figure out who was causing all the hustle and bustle that morning.

It was Prince Elmo Nathaniel Gregory, the prince of Hallcyon, a small but populous kingdom.

But why did he study in another country?

It is undeniable that the offspring of royalty and dignitaries are educated at the finest educational institutions. Among them is Rosapine High School.

Rosapine High School (RIS) is an international and prestigious school where the children of the rich, authorities, and monarchs get extensive and advanced education with the latest facilities. Not only do these children attend, but so do some young celebrities. And as the future king, Prince Elmo is assigned to attend RIS in advance.

Is Prince Elmo gorgeous?

He really is! Prince Elmo Nathaniel Gregory was named one of the world's ten most gorgeous princes by a fashion magazine. He has a well-defined face and a tanned complexion that matches his hair. He has a sharp nose, well-defined lips, and cold, piercing eyes. His eyes, a bright sapphire blue, drew so much attention that everyone bowed before him.

According to a business article, he is also one of the wealthiest young royals. His ability to manage the family business gives many young people a run for their money. Young females are drawn to him because of this.

Prince Elmo walked in, ignoring the thunderous screaming. He walked calmly to his class on the third and fourth floors of that international school. Even after Prince Elmo was out of sight, the swarm of teenagers didn't disperse immediately. Why they waited patiently in front of the school's door was still uncertain.

The boy, who had bolted earlier, grumbled in frustration. He would undoubtedly have a hard time getting into his classroom. Even though it had happened before, it still bothered him.

To get into his classroom, he had to get through a sea of admirers. This is due to the fact that the Prince Elmo fans—as well as some of the young celebrities who attend the same school—are still entwined at the main entrance. Fortunately, the school provided all of RIS’s students with their own access card, avoiding a cuckoo in the nest.

Still, he expressed dissatisfaction at having to cope with them just to get into the school building. He wasn't alone, either. Other students encounter the same issue. Some of them even badmouthed the prince and other young celebrities, although it wasn't entirely their fault.

Prince Elmo Nathaniel Gregory undeniably draws a lot of admirers. Not only those who attend the same school but also students from other schools. They are even eager to skip school just to see and admire him. This caused teachers and school security staff to be preoccupied with protecting the special class student, particularly Prince Elmo, the main cause of the uproar on the first day of school.

What nosy and irritating fans!

After handling a sea of admirers, the young man made his way to his classroom. After placing his backpack down, he saw the students dispersing as security guards, along with teachers and bodyguards, forced them out of the school premises. On the other hand, the teachers were disciplining a handful of RIS students for their misbehaviour on that overcast morning.

"The Prince's fan club is getting bigger. They won’t keep us alone for long," grumbled a tall and stronger-looking boy. He glanced at the group of teenagers who had gathered outside the school's fence. He put his hands in his pants pockets.

"Are you jealous because Karin idolizes the prince?" the boy, who had run over earlier, teased.

The taller one snorted. "What do they see in him?"

“Well, he is a great deal. He is a Blue Blood, well-bred and well-off, business-savvy, and, above all, one of the world's most gorgeous young princes." The teenage boy elaborated.

His friend's remarks made him feel like a knife in his chest. He snorted loudly before sitting down in the chair behind him.

"Just forget about her. She is simply looking for a wealthy and well-known man to provide for her luxurious lifestyle. And Karin put Prince Elmo on her first list of potential boyfriends because he is a big cheese in society." With a beaming grin, he asked, "And what do you have?"

"You're mocking me, aren't you?" he retorted. The young man burst out laughing.

Soon after, the class bells rang. The peaceful class grew boisterous with the arrival of the girls, who had previously trailed the prince. They talked so loudly and eagerly that the whole class could hear them. The chatter revealed information that made them frown. Some of them paid attention to the most resentful facts they heard.

'Prince Elmo Nathaniel Gregory is seeking the next Queen.'

'Any gender could become the next Queen.'

'So the Prince's next Queen could be a male?'

The murmurs in the class grew louder. Everyone was trying to validate the truth. The humming stopped when the teacher walked into the class. However, some pupils were seen talking to their friends in hushed tones, neglecting the teacher who had begun the class. The teacher was rigid and gave them a piece of her mind.

"Can you be quiet, or should I leave the class?"

And the class piped down

And the class went silent.

English isn't my first language

Pleas bear with me if I make many errors

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"What are you gazing at? The food will spoil if you ignore it," scolded Holden, a tall and athletic teenage boy. His two hands held food and drink. They are currently in the school cafeteria.

The boy, hearing the rebuke, said nothing. For some reason, he couldn't help but ponder what he had heard in class earlier. He found it absurd that a royal prince was seeking a partner, regardless of gender.

‘Is he unbothered about the public's perception if the queen is shown to be a man?

'Moreover, if it does occur, will there be no heir?'

The young man needed a plausible explanation. His head was filled with unresolved questions. He was unlucky to find any.

Holden set his food and drink on the table, then asked, "Did you hear what the girls were talking about in class earlier?" Forcing the teenager in front of him to look up and let his wandering thoughts out.

"I heard that too. Their voices are loud. The whole class can't help but hear," he said, chuckling. The teenager began spooning the food he had previously left untouched.

Holden shrugged and began eating. "Did you also hear that he doesn't care about the gender of the person who becomes his queen?"

The boy nodded. "Well, that confused me even more."

"Hmm, I'm baffled as well. Is he unaware that a ‘little’ piece of information can cause a bigger stir? It also means that both genders have equal chances to become queens."

Both nodded in agreement. As the two ate and thought about the issue, someone responded to Holden’s remarks. "I don't think so."

Holden and his light-skinned friend, Alistair, looked up to see who had uninvitedly interrupted their conversation.

"What do you mean?" Holden asked Rylan, another teenager who had joined them in the canteen.

Holden had Rylan seated next to him. He spooned Holden's lunch into his own mouth. Holden did not find Rylan's actions bothersome. Frankly, he had grown accustomed to his stunts.

"Based on the information I had, Prince Elmo is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Hallcyon. To get his throne, he demands a marriage. However, not everyone is cut out for the top. There are certain prerequisites," Rylan explained while chewing his food.

"But how come it is genderless?" Alistair asked.

"A queen of the Halcyon Kingdom ought not to be a woman or a female. Unlike other nations, the Halcyon Kingdom’s policies do not require a female queen. In their country, same-sex marriages and relationships are not prohibited. As a result, they are lawful. This includes the royal family." Rylan elaborated.

"Even so, didn't Prince Elmo's father marry a woman? And his grandfather too?" Alistair wondered again.

Rylan smiled at him. "As I said, not everyone has the ability to become a queen. He or she must be assigned and agreed upon with the Halcyon’s elders. Perhaps at that time, the elders accepted and approved of a woman. However, the lineage of the Halcyon kingdom shows the existence of male queens. A female monarch does exist as well." Rylan explained.

Alistair nodded in agreement. At least he tried to understand. For them, Rylan was a walking library. Infatuated with these well-known computing devices, he ate, slept, and breathed with them. So when they asked him something, Rylan would soon be on the ball.

"But there's one thing I'm quite intrigued about." Usually, Rylan wasn't the one with questions, and that made them stop eating.

Holden chewed his food and asked, "Like what?"

Frequently, they dine on the same plate. They ignored the annoyed looks on their companions faces as they interacted with one another. Although it was nothing new, Holden & Rylan's food-sharing habit was uncommon and odd. Luckily, the canteen manager was aware of their habit of sharing meals, so Holden's lunch was always served in larger portions.

"If I were lined up in their family tree, I would discover that several of the Kings of Hallcyon married the same gender. Logically, it’s inconceivable for them to have an heir, right? However, despite their abdication, there was a rightful heir. DNA tests and other credible evidence have confirmed this claim. Interestingly, the successor was actually the former king's biological child," he said.

The news took them by surprise. They had never known these facts before. Frankly, neither of them was always up to date on the latest information or news. Unlike Rylan. However, the news left them completely shocked.

Alistair muttered, "Perhaps they have concubines?"

"I have thought about it. Despite my best efforts, I'm unable to find any details about the concubine. Their identities are absolutely unknown. It looks like the Royals are withholding information about them. As far as I know, these so-called concubines have never been seen in public. In the meantime, the heir was officially unveiled to the public at the age of fifteen," he stated.

They stopped talking as they tried to digest the new facts. Rylan was correct; this was quite vague. If a male monarch married a male queen, how could he have a lawful heir unless they had a concubine?

They ate their lunch while their minds whirled. Alistair felt apologetic for the concubines, as they would probably never be publicly acknowledged as the parents of a royal heir. He believed it was a crime to deny his/her parents' existence, for whatever reason.

Alistair solemnly thought about his deceased parents and how much he missed them. Although Alistair had only a short time to feel his parents' love, he felt grateful.

The sound of the school bell startled them out of their brief daydream. They left the dining hall and went straight to their classrooms.

Unbeknownst to them, a set of eyes peered from the building opposite their school.

Prince Elmo Nathaniel Gregory saw them leave the canteen. His gaze was drawn to Alistair, who looked so small next to Holden Alfredo and Rylan Michel, his companions. He had flawless white skin and looked flushed in the sun. The wind had tousled his auburn hair. Elmo's heart quivered for some unknown reason as he caught sight of his silhouette from afar.

"No! There's no way you could fall for him!" His inner voice screamed, "Remember your mission!" as a warning.

Elmo closed his eyes, attempting to calm his racing heart.

"You're not eating again?" All of a sudden, someone came to his private room.

Elmo opened his eyes and faced the source of the voice. He saw Ravi, his closest friend, standing in front of his table, where the lunch was set.

"I did, but only a few bites."

"You only get one mouthful of each food. It's called tasting, not eating," he argued.

Elmo smiled faintly as he grumbled. He looked out the window again. His attention returned to where he had been staring before. He stood before the glass window with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Are you still not doing it?" he asked. This time, Ravi was standing next to Elmo, facing in the same direction. His hands were in his trouser pockets.

Elmo shook his head. "I'm afraid he won't agree. Same-gender relationships are not permitted in this country. He was raised here, so he is knowledgeable about its laws."

"You never know until you give it a try. Do you choose to be defeated before the fight?" Ravi sneered, "And where has the arrogant Prince Elmo gone?"

Elmo smiled wryly. He was known for being haughty and aloof toward everyone. Except Ravi. He was the one who had known him well since they were young. He was his closest friend, his best friend.

"Go talk to him, buddy." Ravi patted him gently on the shoulder.

"Do the proposal as soon as you can, before the last minute," he went on.

"I know."

Elmo had to persuade Alistair to tie the knot with him, no matter what. That was what his grandfather demanded he do.

He asked, "Will you do me a favour?" even though he knew the answer.

"Do whatever you have to do, brother. I will be happy to help." Ravi smiled and gave him a light squeeze on his shoulder.

"Thanks. I'm sure I can rely on you."