Chapter Text
“No one will take you seriously as a stable ruler unless you tie yourself to a woman that can give you heirs.” Suguru’s advisor is in his ear, spouting the same nonsense he’s been hearing for the past month.
Suguru Geto was one of the two heirs to the throne of the Empire. The other being his brother, Satoru.
Suguru wants the throne, truly. Ever since they were young, Suguru wanted to be emperor, a trait that his brother didn’t exactly share with him, but their father coveted Satoru as his heir. More or less because he could be more sure of his lineage. Satoru didn’t care either way.
That was until they had a falling out a year ago. Now? Satoru doesn’t believe Suguru is fit for the throne, and since it looks like Satoru is gunning for the throne, he has the upper hand.
He will not lose his throne to his brother who doesn’t want it in the first place.
“Satoru is known to sleep around with his court. It’s irresponsible. A marriage would suit your case well.” Your low voice falls on his ears like honey, keeping him at a calm state for him to think.
“And who would that marriage be to?” His voice is low and trained- focused.
“Aria. The youngest daughter of Count Kian.” You tell him, and he glances at you, narrowing his eyes.
You’re in his room alone, in the third palace of his family. Since the princes’ falling out, his father made him relocate to the countryside of the capital with a lone advisor along with servants.
Naturally, as the only member of the court following him to his exile, you were allowed in his close quarters. He allowed you to speak to him freely. You two worked together to get this to work. All of this in mind that you’re a woman yourself.
“Count Kian?” Suguru clarifies, “He’s an interesting choice.”
Yeah, you know.
Suguru knows how Count Kian is seen. You know it just as he does. He seems like a cruel man that is definitely an abusive type. Not really well-liked, but considerably powerful. And power hungry as ever- as these men usually are.
“But he’s a strong choice. Make your allies known.” You say, “His daughter is naturally pliable. I mean, having him as a father would, I guess. She’s pretty as well.” Her circumstances seemed perfect for a political marriage that served your prince the best possible outcome.
“You want me to make an alignment that strong?” He shakes his head, clearly not seeing the vision.
“No.” You tell him, “At least not with him, but his daughter is the only woman that’s virtually viable for you to marry. She’s wealthy as well. I don’t like him either but it’s a choice that’s strong and it cements you.”
Suguru ponders it for a few seconds by himself, staring forward to look at the items across his desk. His eyes glance to the side- towards you- as if to ask you for your final say.
You just give him one look- that’s all he needs- for him to hum.
“Then arrange it.” He answers, and you nod, keeping your smile small as you lean back in your chair.
You’ve been the advisor to Prince Suguru Geto since the two of you were 16, when he was exiled from the royal estate to the summer palace.
It was a long ordeal and a messy one. His father, the Emperor sent him with no advisors- no teachers. Only servants, as a sign of his true disposition that Suguru should never earn the crown.
As a young lady of the court- you were the only one to volunteer to follow him there, everyone else in the court being too worried about the Prince’s reputation to tank their own. It took some fighting, but you ended up exiled with him, and that gave you the opportunity to become his advisor.
The first female advisor known, at the moment.
It took a while, but as soon as you grew trust for each other, he allowed your input. Come to trust it, if you do say so yourself.
And now, at 22, it’s still just the two of you at the summer estate. There might be some noble court visitors- or maybe his father will send his personal court members to spy for a few months- but it’s always been the two of you. For a while.
And it’s probably always going to be the two of you.
For years, you’ve been inseparable from your prince. Even as you ready yourself to leave the chateau, traveling with him into town to watch one of the petty sports games played for entertainment, you follow behind him and he doesn’t even turn around as you talk, knowing you’re there behind him and knowing the servants follow behind you.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about her, My Prince.” You tell him, clearly excited that the long-term plan the two of you have of getting him on the throne is growing closer to the throne, “I really think you’ll like her personality.”
“Yeah.” Suguru nods, his long legs keeping you from meeting his walking speed, “I think I’ll really like her.”
You walk a bit faster to end up walking alongside him, trudging through the wet grass and dirt.
“Yes, that’s what I’m telling you, Suguru.” You say, trying to keep up with his long legs, “Are you even listening to me?” You ask him, and his eyes are trained over at your feet as you try and keep up, his hand reaching down and grabbing a piece of your skirt, pulling it up and exposing your calves.
You immediately go to his hand, stopping in your tracks and trying to push your skirt back down, looking around, “Suguru-”
“What?” he asks, his hand not budging from holding your skirt up, “Did you want to step in the mud with your skirt trailing?” He questions, and you look down in front of yourself.
A large mud puddle was indeed in front of you, and it would’ve stained the end of your dress if you’d stepped a few feet forward with him. You take the skirt from him, pulling it up and stepping across, watching him just tramp through it.
“You can’t just pull my skirt up like that in public, Suguru.” You tell him, throwing down your skirt.
“Why not?” He shrugs, continuing his walk and not letting up to let you meet him.
“I’m still a woman, Sugu, you can’t touch me like that unless we’re related.” You say, chasing after him, “Especially in public. To touch my skirt like that.”
He scoffs, “You act like I’ve stripped you from your skirt.” He tells you, glancing back, “You don’t care about things like that.”
He’s right. You don’t, but when there could be eyes anywhere, you do.
“I do when we’re in public and others who do care about those things can see that.” You explain, “We don’t need any rumors floating around. You know this.”
He hums, rolling his eyes. Obviously, Suguru doesn’t care much about that.
“I’m serious, my Prince.” You begin, glaring at him, “You need to be more careful about what you do. You’re about to be put in the public eye again.”
“And I’ll have you there to fix whatever I fuck up, won’t I?” He grins back at you, his narrowed eyes playful instead of bored, “That’s your job.”
You run up to finally meet him at his side, “My job is to advise.” You push on him.
“Your job is whatever I need you to be.” He snorts out, “We’re a little short-staffed, aren’t we?”
You have no answer to that because he’s right. You fill many jobs to get your prince to the throne.
He’s passed you once again, leaving you behind. Curse his long legs.
“I am listening to you, by the way.” He glances back at you, a small smile on his lips, “Don’t ever think I’m not.”