The Queen sighed, leaning back against the velvet pillows, her eyes never leaving mine. I shifted awkwardly, clutching the flute to my chest as if it could shield me from whatever verbal sparring was about to ensue.

"You're full of surprises, Tibia," the Queen mused, her voice low and measured. "First, you swing a magical flute around like it's a toy, then you kiss me in the middle of the night as if we've known each other for a thousand years. Have I bewitched you already?"

"I, uh..." My tongue felt like it had turned to lead. "I didn't mean to — well, I mean, I did... but I wasn't thinking." I was babbling. What happened to that clever girl who thought she could outwit the Queen just moments ago?

The Queen raised a perfectly arched eyebrow, a slow smirk curving her lips. "It seems the flute has a mind of its own, doesn't it? It leads you straight to me. Or perhaps... you wanted to be led here?"

I blinked, my heart pounding. "I didn't — I mean, I wasn't trying to... end up in your bed," I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "I was following the flute. It fell, and there was this passage, and — ".

"And you thought, 'Why not kiss the Queen while I'm here?'" she interrupted, her amusement evident. "A bold move, Tibia. Most would not dare."

"It wasn't about daring," I whispered. "I just... I felt like I had to. Like something was pulling me toward you."

"Perhaps it was the moon," she said softly, almost to herself, her eyes flickering with something deeper. "Or perhaps... something more."

The air between us felt heavy, as if charged with a strange, magnetic energy that I couldn't quite explain. Her gaze pierced through me, and for a moment, it felt like she was seeing right through to my very soul.

"Does this mean I'm in trouble?" I asked, half-joking, half-serious.

"That depends," she replied, her voice a velvety purr. "Do you want to be in trouble?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She had this infuriating ability to render me speechless with just a few words. My mind raced, trying to grasp onto something, anything that could bring me back to solid ground.

"I... I kissed you because..." I fumbled, trying to explain, my hands still gripping the flute like a lifeline. "Because it felt right. I don't know what's going on, but something about you... about all of this... it's pulling me in. It's like I don't have a choice."

The Queen's smile softened, and she slowly sat up, her fingers trailing lightly along the edge of the bed as she regarded me. "You always have a choice, Tibia. Even in the presence of power, there's always a choice."

I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. "And what if... what if I don't want to resist?"

Her eyes darkened, but her smirk remained playful.

I felt a strange thrill ripple through me. There was something intoxicating about her presence, something that made me want to know more, to dive deeper, despite the risks.

"I'm not afraid," I said quietly, surprising even myself with the conviction in my voice.

The Queen's smile grew, but this time, there was a hint of sadness in it, as if she knew something I didn't. "Brave words for someone so new to this world. But bravery is often the first step toward folly."

I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, she leaned closer, her hand brushing against my cheek in a gesture that was both tender and possessive.

"You have much to learn, Tibia. And if you stay with me... I'll teach you. But the path you've chosen isn't easy."

I felt a shiver run down my spine, and for a moment, I couldn't tell if it was from fear or anticipation. Her touch was gentle, but her words held a weight that made my heart pound harder in my chest.

"Are you trying to scare me off?" I asked, half-smiling despite the tension crackling between us.

The Queen's eyes glittered with amusement. "If I wanted to scare you off, you'd already be running. No, Tibia... I'm offering you a chance. To stay. To learn. To be more than just another girl lost in the woods."

Her hand lingered on my cheek for a moment longer before she pulled away, standing up with the kind of grace and poise that could only belong to royalty. "But you must make that choice for yourself."

I stared at her, my mind racing. I had only just arrived in this strange world, and already I was being asked to make decisions that felt impossibly huge. But at the same time, I knew that this — being here with her, in this world of magic — wasn't something I could just walk away from.

The Queen began to move toward the large window that overlooked the valley, her silhouette framed by the soft glow of the night sky. I watched her, captivated by the quiet power that seemed to radiate from her every movement.

"You should rest," she said without turning around. "Tomorrow, things will become clearer."

I nodded, even though she wasn't looking at me. My body felt heavy with the weight of everything that had happened, and I knew I needed to sleep, but my mind was still buzzing with questions — about her, about the flute, about the strange pull I felt toward this place.

As I turned to leave, she spoke again, "And Tibia...?"

I paused, looking back at her.

"Don't think for a moment that you're not wanted here. You are. More than you know."

For a moment, our eyes met again, and I felt that same flutter in my chest, the one that made it impossible to look away.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I whispered, before finally turning and slipping out of the room, my heart racing as I tried to process everything that had just happened.

And as the door closed behind me, I couldn't help but wonder if I had just taken the first step into a world I would never be able to leave.

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