The palace bustled with an unusual excitement that day, as news of an unexpected visitor had spread like wildfire. The Peacock Prince, renowned for his beauty, was arriving at the Black Wind Tribe to discuss trade and alliances. The entire tribe was abuzz with preparations for the grand banquet to be held in his honour.

Rhea spent the morning in meetings, discussing the village's progress and upcoming projects with Leo and Korrin. Harley, however, was unusually quiet, trailing behind her mother with a pensive look on her face.

She reached up to tug her mother's dress. Rhea looked down at the girl, her short blonde hair tied into two pigtails by Curtis.

"Mummy, I'm bored. Can I go and play?"

"You are the princess, Harley. You have to follow me today. You can play tomorrow."

Harley frowned, and Rhea pursed her lips. "Actually, it's fine. Just go and play."

Harley felt her mother's disappointment, and her eyes teared up.

Leo watched the two. "I'll accompany the princess," he said.

"Thank you, Leo," Rhea said, feeling relieved.

Leo carried the little girl in his arms and left Rhea's office.

"You shouldn't have said that. You know how your mother is like," he said with a sigh.

"Uncle Leo, do you think Mummy likes me?" she asked quietly.

"Of course she does. Your mummy loves you very much," Leo said reassuringly. "She's just really busy recently. Don't mind her."

Harley said nothing. If Uncle Leo said her mother loved her, then it must be true.

"Uncle Leo, did Mother love my father?"

"She loved him very much."

"Even more than Daddy?"

Leo laughed nervously. How was he meant to answer such an awkward question?

"Harley, your mother wants you to grow up strong, so don't worry about things like that. It will only upset you."

Harley nodded.

Uncle Leo was the best, after all.

Rhea stared at the papers on her desk. She should have been nicer to her own daughter. She knew that logically, but whenever she saw her face, she felt uncomfortable all over.

"What was that?" When Leo came back, it was the first thing he asked her. "Harley is just a child. Deal with your shit."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"What's the point of saying that to me?" He was frustrated. He knew she was trying, but it wasn't enough. Doing damage control all the time wouldn't last forever. "I think you need a break Rhea."

.

The grand hall was adorned with beautiful banners, the banquet table laden with the finest foods and drinks the tribe had to offer. As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the gathering, the Peacock Prince arrived, his entourage trailing behind him. His presence was magnetic, his peacock feathers shimmering in the evening light, capturing the awe and admiration of everyone present.

Rhea greeted him warmly, her natural grace and authority shining through. "Welcome, Prince Alva. We are honoured to have you here."

"Thank you, Queen Rhea," Prince Alva replied with a charming smile. "Your reputation precedes you. I am eager to discuss how our tribes might benefit from each other."

The evening progressed smoothly, filled with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. Yet, amidst the celebration, Rhea watched absentmindedly. The first feast they had, Harvey was here. Her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

The music started, and each beast found their dancing partner. Rhea stood watching with a pleasant smile on her face, her mates were busy, so she had no one to dance with.

Muir nudged Winston with an elbow to his side until he got the courage to ask her.

"May I have this dance?" Winston asked, his face flushed.

Rhea looked at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Of course." She took his hand, the music played, and he danced with her.

His eyes looked anywhere but at her, as he couldn't calm his heart.

"Am I that ugly to look at?" Rhea asked, teasing.

"Of course not!" he replied immediately. "Rather, I think my face is too scary to force you to look at me."

"Winston, you forget how beautiful you are to me," she said sincerely.

Winston took a deep breath and shifted to meet her deep brown eyes. They were beautiful; his soul was hers. He had admitted this a long time ago. He yearned to be by her side, wanted to be more than a friend or an acquaintance. He desperately wanted to be her lover, but he couldn't bring himself to expect more from her.

Rhea was like the sun to him. She could stand alone. She didn't need him. She existed just fine without him. But he wanted to be someone she could rely on. That's why he was still a Beast King, to stay by her side.

He wanted to kiss her, to love her openly. It hurt to see her and feel stifled, like he was missing something in his life.

"Rhea...?"

She placed her head on his chest as they danced. Feeling her body against his set his heart alight.

"I can hear your heart, Winston," she said quietly.

His ears perked up. "Then can I kiss you?"

She looked up at him with that same captivating smile she gave him that morning he cried in her arms. He leaned down to kiss her, finally. Finally, he could feel her lips. He hugged her close as fireworks went off in his head.

"I'm surprised you asked this time."

"What—"

"I was awake, idiot."

His face heated up. "You don't hate me?" he asked, unsure.

She laughed. "I liked it. We should do that again."

Curtis held Harley in hand. She was tired, so he carried her. He watched silently as Rhea danced with Winston. He hated how he felt at that moment, like his heart was being trampled on.

He squeezed the girl in his hand.

"Daddy, you're hurting me."

Her voice brought him back to reality.

"I'm sorry, Harley. Let me take you to your room, okay?" He coaxed her. Was it selfish to ask her to only look at him?

When they first met, it was just him. And since Harvey's death, she had changed. It was like she felt guilty for liking any one person more than Harvey, so she distanced herself from everyone equally.

After taking Harley to bed, he didn't go back to the dance hall. Why would he go there if he would just feel upset?

He knew he couldn't ask her to be his only, but he wanted to desperately. He felt like he was losing her somehow. Her body was here, but her mind wasn't.

.

Rhea and Winston snuck away after their dance. Rhea stood on the balusters that secured the open hallways. Winston watched her with a worried expression. "You should be careful. If you fall, I don't have wings to catch you."

She hummed at his words as she looked over her little city. The music from the hall still could be heard from where they were. She twirled, dancing in the breeze.

"Rhea, are you drunk?"

"Yeah? What if I am?"

Let her be drunk. Everyone was drinking. Why couldn't she?

Winston sighed and reached up, grabbing her by the waist and bringing her down. If she fell from the height, she would really die.

"You know, Winston, sometimes I want to go home."

"Where is your home?" he asked curiously.

"Somewhere far away. I miss my father very much."

"What was he like?" he asked.

She thought of them and couldn't help but smile. "He was rather mean, but he loved me in his own way."

Her father had never told her he loved her, so she could only assume he loved her.

"Was he a good father?" Winston asked.

"No, he wasn't. My mother wasn't any good either."

"Then why do you remember them so fondly?" he asked.

"It's what humans do, isn't it? Hold on to positive memories. I'm afraid if I think of all the bad things, I will really lose my mind."

Her eyes were inexplicably sad in that moment. "Rhea... are you okay?"

She turned to face the endless night sky, her back to him. "Winston, my biggest dream is to fly. One day, I'll fly somewhere with fluffy clouds for beds and watch the sun set in the pretty sky."

"Rhea..."

"If I had wings, I would be free to escape, to run."

"Rhea."

"Winston." She turned to him, her expression leaving him in shock. "I think I should have died with Harvey." Her voice trembled. "At least then I would be free, wouldn't I?"

She missed him. Her face was fading even in her dreams. What's funny was she didn't even think she loved him this much when he was alive, and now she thinks of him so much that she had fallen in love with a ghost.

"What's wrong with me?"

A question she was never able to answer.

She had to move on quickly because of her responsibilities, but she felt suffocated. She just wanted to go to the small hut and make snowmen with him. She wanted to sit by the fire and braid his hair. She wanted it all back.

"Rhea, let's go back."

She knew Winston must be hurt, seeing her long for another man after he kissed her. She knew, but at that moment, nothing seemed to matter.

Maybe the heavens would be kind to her and let her sleep and never wake up.

"You probably feel like shit, right?" She asked with a dry laugh. "I'm sorry, this is probably not what you wanted from me, but I don't have an unlimited amount of love to just give out. Each person takes a large chunk of my heart with them, one day I will be left with nothing." 

He didn't say anything, so she looked up to see his expression. She expected disappointment, but instead he smiled at her. His eyes were ever so kind, even for someone like her. 

"Rhea. I will love you regardless, who you are or what you do to me will always be justified." His hand cupped her cheek. "The day you called me beautiful, was the day my soul belonged to you, so it's ok if you rip it; I will be happy as long as it is done by your hands. So it's ok if you don't have the space to love me, I can love you regardless." 

"Idiot..." Her voice shook, "you can't just give your soul away like that."

"But it's you, Rhea." He said with a laugh. 

As long as it was her. 

He didn't mind. 

A/N: I am better at writing agnst than I am at writing smut so I will stick to angst.