~02~

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."

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