(WHo missed me?! No one... okay

I think I found a queen I love smh this song is my life now

Also, I kinda wanna do more trigger warning ones yikes

They won't be bad but they'll be Nichole Dollanganger and MASA WORKS DESIGN yikes

Also, should I just

WARNING: NOT A HAPPY ENDING

I mean, what is a happy ending in my stories hhaha

I'm keeping it real guys)

Don't be cautious, don't be kind

You put the letter to your face, making sure the ink written on it was really spelling out what you thought it did. Maven, once a prince, is now the king of Norta with all of his competitors behind him. You crumble up the letter, chewing on your gums in anger. Of course, the kingdom you are the queen of, Tiraxes, has been forgotten and out of the news. Two years ago you were in the spotlight for supposedly planning your parent's assassination, and you become queen. But with zero evidence, you weren't charged. And now here is Maven, a headline, gaining attention for what you did first.

If he was going to steal your fame, he should at least meet you face-to-face, that fucker. He is the most annoying thing in the world.

You've committed, I'm your crime

If this is the game he's playing, you can play, too. Maven has committed to being your second, being less than you. You will always be the first. 

You talk to your servants, cutting ribbons as you plan your infamous visit to Norta. Your first draft is to inform King Maven on your new idea to visit and plan a collaboration with the country. You want to see what he's like in person and if he's as stupid as he reveals in paper.

You got your finger on the trigger, but your trigger finger's mine

All of your life people have laughed at you and have tried to control the way you think. Meanwhile, high house maidens would try to act like you as they constantly bring you down. They were just jealous. You have always destined to be queen. You have always been first, surrounded by copycats. You have always been in control.

Dirty water, poison rain

You think about Maven on your travel to his country. You are going to look so foolish by his side, aren't you? Nobody from the East has seen you for ages, should you really be putting yourself in the spotlight like this? Oh, well. He invited you into his life when he and his mother stole your idea of fame. Tiraxes is just Tiraxes. Norta is like copying it, but making it worse.

I don't belong to anyone, but everybody knows my name

The castle doors of Norta were welcoming to you. Immediately, you established the differences in behavior and class. The queen of Norta, Elara was dressed in flowing blue. You, dressed in a puffy gumdrop, felt like a stranger to this country. Her piercing blue eyes did nothing to startle you as you returned them back to her. You brought your own servants, people who know their distance and their uniform. They are the opposite of these red-vest wearing hooligans that scatter around nervously. So foolish, this place is. 

By the way, you've been uninvited

Maven's stone face was a welcoming new look for Norta. He really made the impression as he kissed your hand, refusing to break eye contact with you. You felt like such a badass standing with him like this. His mother was behind him, analyzing you to the bone.

"I look forward to our partnership," behind your words are thousands of members in your military, specially trained silvers that nobody knows about. You're waiting for Norta to drop you for a neighbor like Lakelands, only to regret that as they witness you in war. "And also, my dear condolences about your father," your eyes turn to Elara, "your husband. Such a tragedy of betrayal is something unheard of." Your words reflect poison as you hide the smile of your teeth. 

'Cause all you say are all the same things I did

"I would say the same to you, your husband dying an unexpected death right after your parents must be devastating," to anybody, Mavens words would have been sincere, to you, they were a tease. Your eyebrows go up a bit in surprise before you quickly compose yourself. You didn't think anybody actually cared about that. Yes, the man you were supposed to get married to died mysteriously. No, you weren't married. And no, you didn't have anything to do with it. 

"Troubling," you comment as a response. 

Watch your back when you catch watch mine

Hours go quickly in your head, and often, so do days. But in Norta everything is the same. It has only been minutes since you first got introduced to Maven. You can admit, he is awfully charming for a copycat. You wouldn't mind actually befriending him. This trip may actually be beneficial for you and not just to envoke your plan of revenge. A part of you actually feels bad for him. He's just a child, not much younger than you. 

You're italic, I'm in bold

And after days, eventually, you do get close to Maven. He is surprisingly fun to be around. Of course, you don't exactly break through the king mask thing he's got going on, but it must be fun for him to get to hang around a kid like him. 

Thinking about it, you do realize how selfish you are. Even if you did it first he is the one getting publicity. His name is in bold, while yours will always be in italics.

You better love me, 'cause you're just a clone

Being around Maven, and even once seeing him smile, gives you a sensation you've never experienced. Truly, you are excited to be working with him. This might be the best decision you've ever made. You extended your stay, decided to stay with him longer. You have developed feelings for the disturbed king, feelings you are somewhat embarrassed about. And you think he's finally opening up to you. His eyes regain the youthful sparkle but it's quick to disappear. You notice it, as he notices everything about you. He is hard to read, making him even more attractive in your opinion.

I would hate to see you go

It has been months. Short, short months. You have revisited Norta after being away for so long. When you were gone, Maven wrote letters to you weekly. You two would have conversations about almost everything. You two are somewhere between a romantic and a professional relationship.

You hate missing Maven. You hate having these feelings. You are the most unprofessional being in the world. No wonder everybody made fun of you, you're a horrible queen.

"I think you're an amazing queen," Maven spun you in the halls of the Norta castle. You smile a fake smile. He's lying.

"I think you truly are a very brilliant king, Maven. You have won the heart of everybody watching you," you coo at him.

I'm so sorry, now you know

He looks down at you with a smirk, "oh, really?" You just giggle as a way to dodge to bicker. Maven leads you to his study. You love his study, it reminds you how much better you are than him. His study is small compared to yours. His study is surprisingly neat, a little too neat. So neat it's probably unorganized. 

Sorry I'm the one who told you so

"I have something to inform you, something I didn't want to say over a letter." He sat in his big boy chair as you sat in the one on the other side of the desk. The hairs on your neck tingle as you remain composer. Your heart begins to race. By the sound of his tone, it isn't something good. You nod your head, pleading for him to go on.

Sorry, sorry, I'm sorry, sorry

"I am getting betrothed to a Lakelander princess, sealing our regions together." As he spoke, he intertwined his long fingers to give a visual example. You sigh through your nose, tilting your head down. 

"I get it," you let out. Your heart is in pieces. You can't stand this. This can't be real. Is this really the reality you have to face now?

Sike

"I shall be taking my leave, then." You give him a mocking smile before standing up, your hands holding up your dress as you swiftly make your way to the door. Maven is quicker than you. He grabs your arm. "(Y/N)," the way he spoke your name almost made you melt. But you're solid as you shrug him off and leave the room.

By the way, you've been uninvited

Tiraxes is where you belong, and it's where you will die, alone. And when you get home you are quick to burn every letter he ever sent to you. If a war to come, you won't be returning back to Norta. You'll stand your ground on your own and send your death machines to his country, even if it results in his death. You're a queen, a great one at that. No matter what people say, you know you'll always be the greatest and the first. You will not tolerate any more copycats.