Chapter 2: The King's Decree
The heavy oak door shut behind Chris with a resounding thud, leaving Henry alone with his father in the oppressive silence of the study. The King turned, his face a mask of controlled fury. "What were you thinking, Henry?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Running off like some lovesick fool, marrying a commoner without a thought for the consequences?" His words hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.
Henry stood his ground, meeting his father's gaze. "I was thinking I was following my heart, Father," he retorted, his voice equally firm. "Something you seem to have forgotten how to do." The King scoffed, crossing the room to pour himself a glass of amber liquid from a crystal decanter. "Sentiment is a luxury we cannot afford, Henry. You are the heir to this kingdom. Your duty is to the people, not to your own selfish desires."
"My duty is to be happy," Henry shot back, his voice rising in anger. "And Chris makes me happy. He is kind, intelligent, and loyal. He would be a far better consort than any simpering noblewoman you could have chosen for me." The King slammed his glass down on the desk, the sound echoing in the room. "Enough!" he roared. "This is not a debate. You have made a grave error, and now we must find a way to fix it."
Henry clenched his fists, his knuckles white. "There is nothing to fix," he insisted. "I am married to Chris, and that is that." The King sighed, his anger seemingly subsiding as quickly as it had flared. He sat down heavily in his leather chair, his face etched with weariness. "Henry," he said, his voice softer now, "you must understand the position you have put me in. The kingdom will not accept a gay king. It is simply not done."
"Then times must change," Henry declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "I will not hide who I am, or who I love. If the kingdom cannot accept me for who I am, then perhaps I do not want to be king." The King stared at his son, his eyes filled with a mixture of disbelief and disappointment. “Are you really willing to give all this, the very thing you’ve been preparing for your whole life away over some… infatuation?" he asked, his voice laced with scorn.
"It's not an infatuation, Father," Henry corrected, his voice trembling with emotion. "It's love. True love. Something you clearly know nothing about." The King winced, as if Henry's words had struck a nerve. He turned away, staring out the window at the darkening sky. "I know more about love than you think," he murmured, his voice barely audible. "But love is not always enough."
A long silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackling of the fire in the hearth. Finally, the King turned back to Henry, his face grim. "If you insist on hanging onto this common boy as your betrothed, I believe I have a solution. A compromise, of sorts." Henry raised an eyebrow, his expression wary. "What kind of compromise?" he asked, his voice filled with suspicion.
"Chris will never be accepted as your husband. But perhaps," the King paused, choosing his words carefully, "he could be accepted as something else. more palatable to the public." Henry frowned, his confusion evident. "What are you suggesting, Father?" The King took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to say.
"Chris will become 'Crystal,'" he said, his voice flat. "A Princess. Your Princess. Your new public courtship and marriage will be a grand affair, full of pomp and circumstance. The people will love her. She will be everything you want Chris to be, but in a way they can understand."
Henry stared at his father, his mouth agape. "You can't be serious," he spluttered, his voice filled with disbelief. "You want Chris to pretend to be a woman? To live a lie?" The King shrugged, his expression indifferent. "It is either that, or I will annul your marriage and find you a suitable bride. The choice is yours."
Chris would never agree to this," Henry protested, his voice laced with desperation. "It's insane. Cruel." The King raised an eyebrow, his gaze unwavering. "Is it more cruel than throwing him out into the streets? Than stripping you of your birthright? Think carefully, Henry. The fate of your kingdom, and your love, rests on your decision."
Henry paced the room, his mind racing. He loved Chris more than anything in the world, but he also knew his duty to his kingdom. Could he ask Chris to make such a sacrifice? Could he live with himself if he did? "There would have to be conditions," Henry said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "Chris would have to agree willingly. And he would have to be treated with respect. No ridicule, no humiliation. And there would be absolutely no talk of a transition of any kind. Chris remains a man, he will be a sissy, a femboy, but still biologically speaking, a man. Do we have a deal Father?"
The King nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Those conditions I can agree to," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "But understand this, Henry. This charade must be convincing. Chris, or 'Crystal' will need training, guidance. He will need to learn to walk, talk, act, and dress like a woman. And until I am satisfied that he is convincing, your scandalous sham of a marriage will remain a secret."
Henry swallowed hard, his throat dry. "And what if he refuses?" he asked, his voice filled with dread. The King shrugged again, his expression cold. "Then I'm afraid you will have a choice, either lose everything, Henry. Your kingdom, your birthright, your people, or lose your lover boy. The choice, as always, is yours." He gestured towards the door. “I hope you can convince your 'wife', be sure to tell him what is at stake. And pray that he loves you enough to make this sacrifice."
Henry stood there for a long moment, his body frozen, his mind reeling. He knew what he had to do. He had to convince Chris to become Crystal. But the thought of asking him to make such a sacrifice filled him with dread. With a heavy heart, he turned and walked towards the door, the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. What would Chris say? And how could he ever forgive himself for asking?