The Person Within

Alexander furrowed his brows. He stayed on one knee on the floor, his hands holding Corina's as he attempted to process the words. "What are you talking about?"

The words Corina spoke to him were utterly ridiculous. For a moment, he felt she had told him a terrible joke, but she seemed so serious. 

"I-It's true!" Corina sobbed. "The book. Under my clothing, my body resembles that of a man. Matilda even confirmed it!"

The duke remained silent. He rubbed his fingertips against her soft, small hands. He couldn't comprehend what she had said. When he looked at her, all he could perceive was a woman. There was nothing about Corina, which indicated she was not a woman.

It was a shock. "Corina, are you sure?"

Corina bit her lower lip to stifle the sound of her tears. She nodded, her eyes focused in their hands in her lap. 

"I don't understand," Alexander flatly said. "You didn't know you were a man? It doesn't make any sense."

"They lied," Corina cried out. "Mama and Papa. They raised me as a girl."

It began to sense why Corina lacked education on what love and intimacy consisted of. If her mother had kept the woman's true identity a secret, it would make sense for her to refer to the act of dancing.

It all seemed wrong. "How could parents lie to their child?" As he contemplated his thoughts, Alexander asked out loud, a look of anger on his face. "No parent should mislead a child in this way. This is so cruel to you."

Corina took the expression the wrong way—she felt Alexander was upset at her. She wanted to run away, to never return. She wondered if a life of exile was what she had to look forward to, instead of a happy life with the man at her side. The thought made her cry harder, tears falling from her face onto the pair of hands on her legs.

Alexander scowled. "How dare they lie to their child!" The thought made his blood boil. How could a king and queen mislead their child so? He couldn't imagine the turmoil swirling within Corina's heart. It made him furiously frustrated on her behalf. "I can't believe this."

Corina looked away, clenching her eyes tightly shut. It was over. He hated her. "I'll leave," Corina sobbed, then attempted to pull away.

Alexander didn't allow her to pull away. He kept a firm grip on her hand, his eyes gazing up at her face. "Why would you leave?"

"I'm a man," she whimpered. "The marriage is off."

"And you made that decision alone?" He said it with a frown. "Corina, talk to me about this. Don't just run away. "

"You look so angry."

Alexander hadn't realized. His expression softened as he let go of one hand. He placed his fingers under her chin, turning her head to face him. "Open your eyes," he commanded in a stern voice.

Corina trembled, but complied. Her blue eyes, filled with tears, opened to look at him.

Alexander couldn't understand why the revelation didn't dissuade him from the princess, but something about her, despite her physically being a man, seemed to hold no sway over his emotions. He was falling for the woman inside her. "Corina, how do you see yourself? Do you still feel the same? Does finding out change anything?"

"N-No," she sobbed.

"Then you are still Princess Corina Nightshade, the woman engaged to Alexander Frostbloom," he said with a warm smile, his fingers softly stroking her jawline.

Corina's eyes widened. "W-What do you mean?"

"I accept you no matter who you are," he whispered. "If you are Corina, you will still become my wife. It may be hard at first, but I plan to still show you the love you deserve as long as you still allow me to have your hand in marriage."

Corina's bottom lip quivered. She was at a loss for words. "How can you just accept this so easily?"

"You're not the one at fault," he began as he moved to sit beside her. "The king and queen of Crystalia are to blame. I can't comprehend how parents could lie to a child about their body. It's disgusting. It's cruel."

Corina looked away. "Do you think I'm disgusting?"

"I could never," Alexader said as he pulled her against his chest. "But do keep in mind that when they arrive for the wedding, I'll have some choice words. I've never been this angry at someone in my life."

"A-And you're not angry with me?" Corina hid her face against his chest, her hands clutching his shirt's fabric.

"Corina, you did absolutely nothing wrong," he replied as he stroked her blonde hair.

"You're so kind," she murmured against his chest. "How can you just accept me?"

"Because it doesn't change who you are," Alexander smiled softly, then kissed the top of her head. "We should keep this between us. Not everyone will be as receptive to the news. Can you promise not to reveal it to anyone?"

"Yes," she agreed. "But Nadine knows."

"Nadine won't tell anyone," he assured her.

"If others find out, what will happen?"

Alexander bit his bottom lip as he thought of the possibilities. He already knew his father would likely exile them both if he discovered his son had a relationship with another man. He wouldn't understand, even if he fully explained, the intricacies of the situation. "It's hard to tell," he told her, not wanting to upset her further.

"I won't tell anyone," she promised. 

"It's for the better," he said. "Nobody needs to know. It's between us."

Corina felt blessed. Before she revealed the secret to Alexander, she believed he would cast her away and wouldn't want anything to do with her. The fact he was open to continuing the relationship regardless of her gender made her heart swell with affection. In that moment, she knew she loved the Duke—nobody else could be as kind and caring as he was. She felt like the luckiest person in the world as he held her in his arms.

"Corina," he whispered. "You're still the prettiest woman I've ever met."

She pulled away from his chest, her hands still tightly clutching the fabric of his shirt as her blue eyes gazed into his. Her lips curled into a smile. "Is that really true?"

"It's absolutely true," he replied with a smile, then leaned in to kiss her forehead. "You're still the woman I'm falling in love with," he assured her. "Nothing you could possibly tell me will ever change that. I promise."

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Thank you, Corina, for your honesty. I know it must be hard."

Corina shook her head. "It was hard. It's not difficult anymore. I'm still the same person."

"Are you angry at your parents?"

Corina nodded. She frowned and said, "Yes, because they lied. I hate liars."

The duke chuckled in response to her change in demeanor. Her tears had disappeared, and she was once again the innocent, cute princess. "You're also still adorable."

Corina blushed and sighed. "I'm glad you feel the same," she smiled. "I'm going to be the best wife ever."

His smile was wide as he pulled her onto his lap, his back resting against the bed's headboard.

Corina was surprised at first, but leaned against him, enjoying how he held her close with his arms wrapped around her waist. Her head rested against his shoulder, and she grinned up at him.

"I am confident that you will succeed," he answered. "Soon, you'll be Duchess Corina Frostbloom. Once you take my name, I promise to show you all the love you crave."

The two stayed in the embrace, their eyes closed, enjoying the presence of one another, as both of them thought about their future.

Alexander's mind wandered as he thought about intimacy. He had expected to make love with a woman on the wedding night. In his mind, Corina was still a woman, but the parts were similar to his own. Even so, he was just as excited as he had been before. Corina deserved happiness and affection, and he was glad he would be the one to provide it.

The secrets she shared with him would remain theirs. He would take the secret to his grave and protect her at all costs. He was fortunate to have gained the affections of the most unique and charming woman in the entire world. She was his, and he was hers. 

There was no situation in which he would allow the facts to be changed.

But he didn't look forward to the encounter with her parents. They were to arrive in a few short days for the banquet before their wedding. How could he possibly keep his cool around them when they had caused her to feel so much confusion and pain?