"We do seem to be a rarity among royals and royal twins." Josephine blinked at him, taken entirely off guard by his words. For a moment, she could only stare, her lips parting in disbelief — had he really just suggested that? “A bastard? Passed off as legitimate?” she repeated, almost choking on the words before an uncontrollable laugh burst from her. She pressed a hand to her lips, trying to quiet herself, but it only made the laughter come harder, her shoulders shaking as she looked at him with wide, incredulous eyes. “Oh, Terrence—only you would think of something so outrageously scandalous and say it with a straight face!” The humour faded from her just as quickly as it had come. Her smile slipped, replaced by something heavier, something that made her chest ache. “Terrence…” she whispered, her voice cracking as she reached for his face, brushing away the tears as gently as she could. “You would really do that, wouldn’t you? You’d burn the world if it meant keeping me here.” The tears she had been holding back finally pricked her own eyes, her throat tightening as she tried to hold herself together. “You’ve always done too much for me — fought every battle for me, taken every blow so I wouldn’t have to. And now…” She shook her head, her voice trembling. “Now you must let me take this on, for me to bare the blow."
Her heart felt as though it were splintering with every breath, an ache so deep she feared it might undo her entirely if she let it. She tightened her grip on Terrence’s hand, holding it like a lifeline, as if she could tether herself to him and never let go. “Nothing will ever come between us,” she whispered, her voice trembling but fierce with conviction. “I promise you that, Terrence. No man — no human on this earth — could ever replace you. You will always be my person.” Her dark hazel eyes shimmered, tears slipping free despite her best efforts to hold them back. Her voice grew softer, almost breaking as she forced the words past the lump in her throat. “I doubt he will ever love me. There will be no romantic partnership waiting for me in Russia, no soulmate on the other side of that sea. My heart… my heart will remain here. With you.” She drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady herself, but her chest tightened with the weight of her own admission. A part of her, the part that still felt like the girl sneaking through palace halls with her twin, longed for a love story — for the kind of romance she had only ever read about in secret, whispered dreams she knew most royals were never granted. And she was no exception. “The poets say love is the greatest treasure, but for people like us, it’s rarely more than a luxury. Yet, we were the lucky few who got it. It’s not romantic, but it’s the strongest, most unshakable love I’ll ever know.”
Josephine’s chest tightened with every word, with every crack in Terrence’s voice. She had seen him angry, but never like this — never so raw that even his strength seemed to buckle under the weight of her leaving. Terrence had always been strong, the one her shield against every harsh word and expectation, and seeing him crumble now felt like a breaking of the world itself. It frightened her, not because of his temper, but because she could feel the desperation beneath it. Her voice caught, torn between wanting to soothe him and wanting to shout her agreement with every word. “You think I haven’t asked myself the same questions? You think I haven’t lain awake at night wondering if I’ll be nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game?” Her chin lifted, and for a moment she looked every bit the Archduchess Austria had raised her to be. “I will never be silent,” Josephine said firmly, her gaze unwavering. “Nor will I be some mere mother tucked away in a corner. I am your sister, Terrence. I am Austria’s daughter. They will learn very quickly that I was not raised to be meek. If they try to silence me, they will find I have a far sharper tongue than they ever bargained for.” Her voice grew stronger, edged with quiet fire. “He isn’t marrying some lowly duchess — he is marrying a queen. And that is exactly who he will get.” She paused, letting the weight of her words settle between them. “If he expects different, then we can spend our entire marriage seas apart.”
Josephine’s eyes softened at his words, understanding the depth of his fear —a ferocious protectiveness she had always cherished. Yet, she refused to be seen as fragile. “I know your heart beats fiercely for me, and I am grateful beyond words. But I will not be a prisoner of fear.” She reached out, taking his hand firmly in hers. “If he ever thought to hurt me, he would have to face more than just your wrath. He would also have to face mine first and then Austrias. And believe me, I am no delicate flower waiting to be saved.” Then, with a faint, almost mischievous smile, she added, “And worst comes to worst, if he did plan on keeping me there, you can always find a smart, educated wife who’s capable of keeping the country from burning and escape to Russia with me.” It was a childish hope, she knew that — naive and unlikely. Yet, the mere thought wrapped around her heart like a fragile lifeline, giving her just enough strength to face the dawn without falling apart.
Terrence’s words crashed through her. Tears welled up, blurring her vision, and before she could stop it, they spilled down her cheeks. Her knees buckled beneath her, and she sank slowly to the floor, the weight of the moment pressing down like a physical force. She folded into herself, the poised queen dissolving into the young girl she still was, overwhelmed and vulnerable. She squeezed Terrence’s hand tightly, desperate to hold on. Not just to him, but to the strength she felt slipping away. “I’m so scared, Terrence,” she choked out, voice trembling with the weight of all she’d tried to hide. “Leaving, the future, everything… I don’t know if I’m strong enough.” Her queen mask, which she wore, shattered in front of her. Her shoulders shook as silent sobs broke free, the brave queen she was meant to be falling away to reveal the sister, his twin, who just wanted to stay. “But I need you, Terrence—more than anything. I need you to promise me that you’ll stand firm, that you’ll be everything the people need in my place. Because I know… I know you are even more capable than I am.” Her gaze locked onto his, desperate and fierce despite her tears. “I will never be at peace if you don’t promise me that.”
