#also transgenderdayofvisibility which was not planned but worked out nicely

[raayllum]

for janaiweek, day four: princess

The first few days in the royal court are rough, for Kazi. The palace is massive and easy to get lost in, and although Queen Khessa rarely leaves her golden throne and Kazi hasn’t seen her in person yet, Her Radiance probably doesn’t exactly have a comforting presence yet either. 

For the most part, Kazi spends their time in the royal library, cataloguing and translating ancient texts into more modern day dialects. It’s a small sort of sanctuary. Which is why when the bustling of servants reaches their ears, Kazi takes notice. The whole palace seems to be in a tizzy, actually.

Eventually, Kazi overhears two of the maids in the south corridor. “The princess will be here soon—”

Lux Aurea only has one princess, who left for the border a year ago shortly after her elder sister’s coronation. She’s supposedly a talented warrior, well on her way to be their new Golden Knight. Kazi can’t help but feel a shred of curiosity. Is she as haughty as her sister is rumoured to be? 

It’s a little exciting, if Kazi is entirely honest. Which is why they don’t notice where they’re going until it’s too late, lost in the west wing — a part of the palace they’ve never been before. All the glistening hallways are beginning to look the same and empty (this might be where duller aspects of royal business are conducted) so Kazi is relieved when they spot two people down the hall.

Both wear armour, one a taller, bulkier man, the other shorter with a more elaborate headpiece even from the back. Her hand rests on the pommel of her sheathed sunforge blade.

“Excuse me,” Kazi starts, approaching with a finger raised. “Could you point me—”

“Pardon, ma’am,” the older man says grumpily, brows furrowed as both turn. “But you are interrupting an important discussion.”

It is then, looking at the woman’s marks and seeing her headpiece, that Kazi realizes they’ve just interrupted Princess Janai in a private conversation with likely one of her more experience generals. Kazi shrinks. The sting of being misgendered hardly registers, mostly because Kazi can count on one hand the amount of times it’s happened since they came out years ago. Sunfire elves have always been well adjusted when they’re paying attention. “Of course, my apologies—”

“Onan,” the princess reprimands, her tone sharp. She jerks her head towards Kazi. “Apologize.”

“What—“ Then Onan’s eyes catch on the tight, simple necklace Kazi wears around their throat, a chosen identifier for those who identify the way they do. Kazi has been wearing it since well before they cut their hair, as it’s meant to be a signal regardless of presentation. Their throat bobs as Onan eyes it now before he shuts his mouth. “My apologies. I did not see it.”

“That is alright,” Kazi says, still feeling meek, if a bit better.

“You should really be taking this up with my sister, anyway,” Princess Janai says to the general, judging by his badges. “I expect she’ll have time to see you now.”

Onan walks away and Kazi expects the princess to go with him, but she lingers, hanging back. Kazi can’t quite look her in the face.

“It took time for people to adjust to calling me princess as well,” Princess Janai reveals. “Rather than prince. A week at most.”

Kazi looks up, their eyes wide. They’d lived far enough from the capitol to assume reports that the royal family had two sons had just always been incorrect. They gulp. “Princess—”

“You deserve respect,” she says, inclining her head towards Kazi’s necklace. Her eyes are full of understanding. “Never let anyone forget that.”

Kazi nods, numbly, the princess giving them a small smile before she strides down the hallway. Kazi stares after her.

(Years later, when the princess needs a translator, Janai just looks them up and down, taking note of the necklace, and says, “I was told you were the best translator in the city.”

Kazi can tell Janai doesn’t remember them, their interaction in the hall, but that doesn’t matter. They’ll never forget.)