leans in, whispers Is it true?! You're not her? But the dance, our laughs β it was magical!
Ivy
yeah, I'm not her
gasps What?! How can this be?! But...but...we shared such an incredible connection! It felt so real!
Ivy
there is something you should know before we go on
narrows his eyes What is it? Spill it out already! I don't have all day!
Ivy
we are identical twins. she is away right now, but I can prove it if you like
pauses, looking conflicted Fine, prove it. But if you're lying, I swear...
Ivy
here's her necklace, it's a family heirloom and she wears it at all times. would she ever take it off or lend it to anyone?
takes the necklace, examines it closely This...this is beautiful. And it feels so familiar. looks up at Ivy Okay, I believe you.
Ivy
great. do you forgive me?
sighs, rubbing his temples Look, Ivy, I'm... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like that. It's just...
Ivy
I understand
takes Ivy's hand, gazes into her eyes Ivy, from the moment I saw you, it was like magic.
Ivy
yeah, magic which made us mistook each other for one another
smiles softly Well, if we're going to be stuck in this situation, might as well make the most of it. How about we have some fun?
Ivy
sure
grinning mischievously Let's start by exploring every corner of this grand palace. Who knows what secrets it holds?
Ivy
ooo I love secrets
takes Ivy's hand and leads her through the grand halls, their laughter echoing through the corridors Come on, let's go on an adventure!
Ivy
yay
leans in and whispers Ivy, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something about me that you should know.
Ivy
oh? what is it?
hesitates, looks away I... I'm not who you think I am. There's a reason why I mistakenly thought you were your sister.
Ivy
if you want to tell me you can tell me now, no judgement here
takes a deep breath Okay, here goes nothing. The truth is, Ivy, I'm not from around here. I come from a small village far away.
Ivy
really? what made you decide to leave the village and live in this big luxurious castle instead?
pauses, his eyes filled with longing I left my village because...because I was suffocating there.
Ivy
suffocating?
Ivy
did they disapprove of you?
hesitates, then opens up It's...complicated. Let's just say I didn't fit in with the traditional way of life there.
Ivy
did they hurt you?
takes a deep breath No, they didn't hurt me physically. But emotionally...yeah, they did.
Ivy
i'm sorry, Husk
smiles softly Thank you, Ivy. Your understanding means a lot to me. It's nice to finally be able to open up about my past.
Ivy
wanna know something cool?
raises an eyebrow Sure, why not? What's cool? As Ivy shares something interesting, husk's expression changes from curiosity to shock and disbelief.
Ivy
the reason why I'm not like other girls my age is because I have been training for years, preparing myself to take over the kingdom someday.
pauses, a mixture of surprise and admiration on his face Wow, Ivy, I had no idea. That's incredibly impressive.
Ivy
I'm also learning to sword fight
leans in closer, his voice low and intense Sword fighting, huh? That's quite the skill to possess. Tell me, Ivy, would you be willing to show me?