Chapter Text
He turned his head to the side if only to avoid the warmth of the sunbeams on his face. Morning had come far too soon, he'd hardly even slept before he was awoken by a gentle knock on the door.
"Master Poe, I've prepared your breakfast for you."
The redheaded woman pushed her cart into his room, the smell of delicious pastries and black tea filled his nostrils. Poe sat up in his luxurious bed as Montgomery placed the tea by his bedside and the pastries on a tray. "Thank you, Montgomery… You may leave now."
He watched as the woman put her hands on her hips and huffed. Poe couldn't help but feel judged for his lack of socialization, it must be hard for such a vibrant character like herself to hold her tongue. She turned around, the untied bow of her apron fluttering slightly from the movement. "I'll come back when you're done, master," she said, shutting the door behind her. Poe sighed loudly.
Lucy Maud Montgomery.
Abandoned by her parents, she grew up in an abusive orphanage before running away and taking on various jobs. She advanced her skills until she was an acceptable candidate for more prestigious work. Eventually, she found employment at the Poe residence and has been his faithful servant ever since. In her free time, she met and fell in love with a young man who shares a similar tragic background in town.
Going forward, she'll catch the attention of the crown prince at the local ball and he'll declare her the next queen, then she'll be whisked away to the castle. Ultimately she’ll reject him, and he’ll wage his title on a duel between himself and her beloved. A duel in which the crown prince loses and a new king is crowned. Poe had thought it was a cliche and overdone story when he’d first read it.
But the following day, he woke up to the unimaginable.
Three months and seven days ago, he awoke to find himself living as an extra inside the world of that cliche novel.
Oh, his shock had been incomparable when the fair maiden first knocked on his door, it had been too much to take and he nearly fainted right then and there. It was quite jarring, terrifying even. He had never been one for social events, so being thrown into such a high-class lifestyle where he needed to host balls at his luxurious estate left him feeling incredibly out of place. So far no one seemed to suspect anything was amiss with him, apparently, he had been quite reclusive here as well, only leaving the mansion for strolls in the woods and to visit the library.
He brought the polished silver spoon up to his lips and blew on the porridge. It was considered a commoner's dish but he’d requested the woman make it after reading about it in the story. Just as the text had said, porridge truly was one of her finer dishes. A drop of soup accidentally spilled onto the sheets below him, causing him to cringe. His bedding in his own home had been luxurious, but it paled in comparison to the fine silks and plush comforters that adorned the bed he was currently lying in. Everything about this room screamed luxury beyond his wildest imagination.
Which was a rather impressive feat, since he thought himself to have quite a creative mind after all. But considering that his maid could teleport and had a magical talking doll it was safe to say this world would continue to surprise him for quite some time. He got out of bed and pushed open the French doors to his balcony, truly it is such a beautiful world.
He could see the gardeners taking care of the roses on the grounds below, while further in one of his maids was strolling back and forth in the hedge maze. Unfortunately, he'd made it a little too difficult to navigate and the staff seemed to get lost in there regularly. He watched the individual's plight for a few more moments before he turned his attention to the carriages entering the gates.
Tonight is the night of the ball, and there is still much to be done. He'd witness the main altercation of this story play out in his very own ballroom in just a few hours. Yet the noise level on his wing of the estate had been kept to a minimum to avoid disrupting his daily routine.
He couldn't help but wonder if his presence in this story would affect the outcome.
With that Poe left his balcony and entered his bathroom to get ready for the day. His servants had already laid out an outfit for him to wear upon his request. His butler had given him such a fright his first day here when he tried to dress him, since then Poe has insisted on dressing himself. Although he didn't mind receiving assistance with his corsets.
He enjoyed a nice refreshing bath, perhaps a bit longer than necessary. By the time he got dressed and exited his bathroom, over an hour had already passed. His sheets had been removed to be cleaned, and it seemed like any moment Lucy would be back with the replacement beddings. Poe had never been one for idle chatter and decided to go back to his balcony and read a book. He grabbed a novel on the way out and shut the French doors behind him.
He was about to take a seat until something troubling caught his eye. Poe set the book down in the chair and walked over to the railing to get a better look. He squinted his eyes and made out a familiar figure in the maze, it appeared that the wandering individual from earlier was still trapped in there. Except it wasn't one of his staff, those were not the colors his maids and butlers wore. Not only that, he was sitting on a bench in the far left corner. Something as trivial as this truly wasn't his problem, but Poe couldn't help but pity the poor soul.
The sun was high in the sky but the temperatures had begun to drop as autumn set in. All the arrangements he needed to approve for tonight had already been taken care of. He did have time for a stroll, he'd never seen anyone stranded there for hours. It would certainly be a tragedy if something happened to a guest on his property.
Poe turned on his heels and left to rescue the visitor. As he walked through the halls and down the grand stairs, the smell of delicious pastries filled his nostrils. It seemed like the chefs had outdone themselves today as well. Given that it was his hedge maze, Poe knew it better than anyone. He'd memorized the layout after staring at it from above so many times, and he would often escape to it with a book.
The unfortunate soul was in the far left corner. With that in mind, Poe walked through the hedges casually, enjoying the smell of the freshly cut leaves. As he wandered deeper, even the sounds of the ball's preparations were drowned out by the serene maze he'd grown to love. Time passed quickly, and he turned a corner, followed by a few others, he made a left here and a right there as he navigated the puzzle like the back of his hand.
With that, he turned the last corner and entered into one of the maze's five clearings. The sun was blocked by the tree that lay just beyond the hedge wall, and there in its shade lay a young man on the bench. Poe hesitated for a moment but then took a few steps further in. The man didn't stir even as he approached, had he fallen asleep.
The stranger was dressed well, it was obvious he wasn't a peasant. Just the material and fabric alone indicated this man was of a similar status to him, but he was dressed so casually. In the world Poe was from, he wouldn't think anything of it. But here, things were different, it was as if he was wearing the bare minimum. His ruffled shirt wasn't even buttoned properly, and his pants were rather loose-fitting as well. Not only that, his black hair was rather messy, but it looked like it had been washed recently.
Poe knelt, getting on eye level with the sleeping stranger, and it was only then he noticed how oddly beautiful the man was. The way the sunbeams peaked through leaves and landed on his cheek reminded Poe of a fine work of art.
No, It was as if this man had escaped from a painting himself.
His breath hitched slightly, he truly didn't mean to stare, but how could he not be captivated by such a sight? It was odd, this wasn't normal behavior coming from him. Before he had any more time to think, the attractive stranger let out a groan.
Thick, dark eyelashes slowly lifted revealing the most striking shade of green Poe had ever seen. It was baffling, they put even the garden surrounding them to shame. The moment was brief, and the stranger didn't even seem startled by the fact he was so close to his face.
And it was at that moment, Poe remembered how close he was. He shot up quickly and took a few steps back in embarrassment. "My sincerest apologies..! I was simply checking if you were alright.."
It would appear that the embarrassment from such an ordeal had painted his cheeks red. He couldn't face the man in this state, although his hair was long enough to cover most of it. Poe still didn't have a proper excuse for how close he'd been while staring at the stranger's face.
"Finally, I've been stuck in here for hours."
The other voice pierced the air, calling Poe's attention back with its presence. He turned around and coughed to clear his throat. It appeared that the man had been half asleep and hadn't noticed him staring. "Perhaps I can assist you?"
He felt a chill go down his spine as the man observed him. Poe couldn't help but feel like this stranger was staring into his very soul. He knew it was just his anxiety getting the best of him, but it still unnerved him in a way. And still, he couldn't draw his attention away from those striking green eyes.
"Yeah, sure. We'll get to it then, I don't have all day after all." The man hopped to his feet, breaking the spell Poe had been under. His way of speaking was very informal he noted as he turned around and led the way. the other quickly caught up with him and walked with his arms folded behind his head.
"So… what brings you to this estate?" He spoke up if only to combat the awkward silence that had befallen them.
"Duties."
Poe couldn't help but notice the way the others' eyes narrowed, his shoulders seemed to droop slightly as the stranger kicked a pebble out of the way. "You know, I wish I had a maze like this that I could get lost in all the time."
Both their paces seemed to slow at that comment, and Poe couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at it. Who purposely wants to get lost in a hedge maze?
"I could read a book, take a nap, goof off without any pressure or weight on my shoulders to worry about"
Ah, Poe certainly could relate to that feeling. He often used the maze as his personal escape from the extroverted lifestyle living in the estate ensured. "I see… Is your job particularly strenuous?"
The man made a small hum and turned to face him. Something unreadable to Poe flashed across the other's features, once again sending chills down his spine. It seemed like the other caught unto that, as his guest let out a rich chuckle.
"You could say that, but not for much longer."
Poe nearly jumped out of his skin as the shorter man patted him on the back. Was that even socially acceptable in this society? Poe didn't know, and he didn't think this man cared either.
"You're a jumpy one. Anyways, thanks for coming and getting me out of here."
We're they at the entrance already? Poe felt a little disappointed, he had wanted to converse with the stranger longer. But regardless of his feelings, the light from the entrance was already shining around the next corner. "It was my pleasure… Perhaps you could give me your name?"
As they passed the exit and wandered back into the main gardens, the man eyed him closely before waving his hand in dismissal.
"You'll figure it out later."
What? Figure what out later? His name? Poe was baffled by the statement.
"Pardon..?"
Before he had time to question the man further, his guest spotted a carriage in the distance and took off towards it.
"Thanks Poe, don't be late tonight!"
With that, the stranger was gone, and Poe was left wondering if he had missed something. When had he even given the other his name? And they hadn't even made any arrangements to meet tonight. What an odd encounter... Poe wanted to brush it off but he couldn't bring himself to, he looked in the direction the other had gone in but he had already disappeared into the crowd of workers and carriages preparing for tonight.
Figuring there was nothing else he could do about it now, Poe had started walking away from the hedge maze until he caught sight of someone.
Not just anyone, but the main character of this world.
He had seen him in town, it was easy to spot the man from a mile away thanks to his unique appearance. He was the first and only albino Poe had seen in this world so far. He watched from the corner of his eye as the main character took a few steps into the hedge maze. He didn't think much of it and decided it was time for him to return to his room.
~~~
The rest of the day passed without much event, and Poe was standing in front of the mirror while Lucy finished tightening his corset for him.
"I wanted to thank you for all the hard work you've done."
She pulled the lace a bit tighter and raised an eyebrow. "What's this all of a sudden, you're saying that like I'm leaving or something." Immediately, the woman got flustered. It was rare for Poe to hear her speak casually. "Sorry master Poe, and thank you for the recognition."
Poe smiled as she finished tying the laces into place. "There's no need for apologies, I simply wanted you to know your work has been appreciated." This would be the last time Montgomery worked for him. She was destined to be their Queen after all. The woman stepped away with her nose held high and a slight tint to her cheeks.
"I'll be off then, it's alright if I take the night off right?"
Poe nodded and observed his form in the mirror, he did quite enjoy the tight fit of his clothes. Although perhaps his shirt could have been a darker shade of deep burgundy. But for an event like this, it was required for him to be colorful, otherwise, he would have selected all black. "Yes, take the night off Montgomery, and rest well. I will see you in the morning."
It was a lie, but she didn't need to know that. The woman gave a small curtsy before leaving him alone, a smile only graced her features when she had thought Poe was no longer looking.
Farwell Lucy, my role in your story ends tonight.
~~~
“Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you his grace, Duke Edgar Allen Poe. Our host of tonight's ball.”
The herald loudly proclaimed as he stepped out of the way with a bow. The crowd below him applauded as he made his way down the grand stairway. The chandelier above him sparkled so bright it was almost blinding, the couples below returned to socializing quickly as the musicians continued to play.
It was too loud and too busy, and Poe was counting the seconds until he could politely leave without anyone noticing. Regardless he straightened his posture and held his head high, gliding down the stairs with a regal elegance that blended right in with the environment. The tails of his coat fluttered lightly behind him as he attracted far more attention than he wished to have.
His hair had been slicked back, leaving him without his bangs to hide behind. To the side, he could see a group of young women whispering amongst themselves while eyeing him. It wasn't his problem, he did his best to ignore them and walked over to greet his guests. One by one he received praises but they all felt empty.
He hadn't done much other than pick out things for the event, his servants were the ones who worked tirelessly to put everything together. Just the food alone had taken his chefs countless hours to prepare. They weren't his accomplishments, but Poe politely nodded and accepted each one gracefully. With each forced smile and wave, he was looking forward to escaping to a quiet balcony and enjoying the beauty of the stars.
As his eagerly awaited freedom from his duties drew nearer, Poe found himself having fun dancing along with some of his guests. Off to the side, he could see Montgomery dancing with the white-haired man from town. She was a flustered mess, as the gentleman with his odd haircut tripped over his own steps.
It was obvious neither of them knew how to dance in a formal setting. It brought a smile to his lips as he watched the country's future King and Queen have their first dance.
Even if he was the only one who knew it.
Speaking of which, where was the crown prince? The herald hadn't announced his arrival yet, which brought about a certain level of confusion. Regardless he continued chatting with his guests when needed and eventually escaped for a well-deserved glass of wine.
Countless desserts, pastries, and other cooked foods were spread out on the elegant embroidery. He couldn't help but sigh as he noticed a small wine stain on the gorgeous fabric. As long as the guests were enjoying themselves, that's all that mattered. Off to the side, he spotted a familiar head of black hair stuffing his face with a questionable amount of dessert. Once again Poe stared in awe at the man's lack of manners.
It was the mysterious man from the maze.
Although he was curious, his social battery was running empty. He turned the other way and had his glass filled up by a servant.
“Hey! These aren't half bad.”
The sound grated on his ears, his awaited peace robbed from him as he was called to socialize once more. Poe turned around and gave an overly polite smile to the stranger.
“I'm sure that my staff would be pleased to hear that, sir..” Poe trailed off as his mouth dropped open in surprise. The man's appearance had been captivating earlier, but now there were hardly words Poe could think of to describe him.
The stranger's suit was tailored just so, hugging his frame closely. His hair was slicked back, giving him a mature and regal look he'd lacked back in the garden. The crumbs adorning his cheek from the cake he'd gulped down contradicted all of that though, giving away that no matter how he was dressed, he always acted in this manner.
“That so, I'll take them with me then.”
What?
Poe struggled to keep his composure in front of this odd individual. The man smirked and leaned closer, getting into his personal space.
“Forget about that. I've found something more entertaining.” In a baffling stunt, Poe found himself being pulled down by the ruffles of his shirt collar, he was too stunned to react as the other's warm breath tickled his ear.
“You're not from around here, are you.” It wasn't a question, it was a statement. He was met with a mischievous grin as the man in front of him let him go and quickly returned to stuffing his face with another macaron.
As far as he knew, this world's Poe had lived in this country his entire life, he'd inherited the estate from his family. Yet it was as if this man could tell that this wasn't his world as if he didn't belong here. He reached out a hand, his heart still thumping wildly from the close contact.
“Who… are you?” His voice was hardly a whisper as the melody's tempo slowed down. He didn’t get an answer, instead, an abrupt hand grabbed his own and dragged him out into the center of the ballroom. Moments later the song switched to a different melody.
“Eh, you'll do. But come on, you really haven't figured it out?”
The chatter throughout the room lowered to a halt, people moving out of their way as he was pulled right into the middle of a slow dance. The shorter man boldly led the steps and placed his hand at the back of his corset. Once again Poe flinched, none of this made any sense. From the corner of his eye, he could see Montgomery and her partner staring on in complete shock but it didn't matter.
He couldn't pull his gaze away from those eyes.
He kept in step with the other's movements, slowly finding himself entranced by the dance. It felt as if the world had disappeared. The music began to swell as he lost himself in the harmony of their bodies. Briefly, the anxious part of his mind wondered if this kind of dance would be frowned upon, but he was a Duke after all. No one would dare defy him unless they were of royal status.
Halfway through the song, his partner stopped abruptly and pulled away.
“It's decided. First I want another slice of cake. Go up the main stairs and wait for me there.” With that the man abandoned him in the middle of the room, leaving him baffled. He found himself following the bold man's command without thinking twice about it. His cheeks were painted red while he took each step forward. He hadn't even noticed the silence until he turned around to see that even the musicians had stopped playing.
But their eyes weren't on him. Everyone's attention was on the man gorging on a slice of cake he'd picked up by hand. The crumbs fell to the floor as he walked, people parting out of the way naturally. Even the usually, critical and judgemental nobles kept their mouth shut in his presence and bowed as he walked.
It was at that moment, that Poe realized he was missing something. Something critical.
He'd realized that characters he'd pictured in his mind when he read the original text, often varied from reality once he got to see the cast in person. The realization was dawning on him as he finally put together the pieces he'd ignored.
One character fit the description of this person, and Poe could only stare in awe as the man walked confidently up the stairs toward him.
Not much was said about the main antagonist of the story. His hair was described to be dark as the night, but there was no mention of his eyes. Ultimately the story hadn't been about him, he was just an obstacle keeping the main character from the heroine.
A spoiled prince that whisked the heroine away, and forfeited his right to the throne.
“Edogawa Ranpo…”
He mumbled the name out without thinking, and once more those lips curled upward.
“Took you long enough, anyways let's get this over with, I'm tired.”
With that, the prince casually pulled a necklace out of his pocket. The jewels alone looked far too valuable to be carried in such a haphazard manner. Warm hands contrasted the cold precious metals as they touched his skin, adorning his neck. The gasps and murmurs collected together while others stood around in equally shocked confusion. It was only then that Poe remembered the royal family's peculiar custom.
The soft glow on the necklace, the design. This wasn’t just any necklace. No.
This was the Queen’s necklace.
Confused silver bore into deep green once more. But the crown prince offered no explanation, only that knowing look as he finished closing the last clasp around Poe’s neck. He had been in such shock he hadn't stopped him, the gemstones around his neck now served as a symbol he had accepted the prince's proposal
There was a brief silence, it lasted for only a few moments before chaos erupted in the ballroom.