Reveal yourself to Khaliq

You decide to throw caution to the winds. You limp forward, entering the bedroom. Still, Khaliq doesn't hear you.

"Not a bad choice." you slur. "Blue's rather in this season down in Itheria, or so my mother tells me."

Khaliq gives a very unwarriorlike yelp, his wig whipping about as he whirls to face you.

“King Edward!” he gasps, as shocked by your sudden appearance as you'd been to see him instead of his mother. “This, uh... isn't what it looks like.”

The southern prince splays his hands over his slender body, a vain attempt to hide his bra-clad torso, his panties. Of course you both know you've already seen everything.

“Really?” you can't help but chuckle. “Because it looks like you're dressing up in lady's clothing, presumably to provide some enjoyment to yourself.”

“Well, I suppose it is that then.” Khaliq has to concede. “But please, you can't tell anyone! Least of all my mother, my sisters!”

“You have my word, Khaliq.” you assure him. “And might I just say, while you may not have your mother's... figure, you actually make a rather pretty lady.”

Khaliq's features twist, into something halfway between a bashful smile, and an embarrassed grimace.

“You should, uh, see me when I've actually dressed, done my make-up.” Khaliq can't help but boast.

“I'm sure you're a vision.” you slur, stepping closer. “But, doesn't your mother notice you trying on her clothes? Using her cosmetics?”

“...This is my bedroom, your majesty.” Khaliq clarifies. “The make-up's mine, the dresses I had brought from Sinnabarrow, the seamstresses sworn to strictest of confidences.”

“Ah, I see.” you say. “Have you been... indulging this hobby for long?”

“More or less since my mother brought the Oro Elide to your continent, your majesty.” Khaliq reveals. “There's just something... fascinating about the gowns of your highborn women.”

You had to admit to a similar fascination yourself. Albeit yours extended more to helping those noble ladies out of their dresses than trying them on.

“Centuries of artisanship, I can definitely understand being taken by them.” you say, offering the apprehensive young prince a quick grin.

“Nice to... see someone understands.” Khaliq beams in response, a little more at ease. You have to admit, the man is handsome, in a girlish way.

Just when you're contemplating your next move, you hear the door outside crash open, hear boots striking the ground as someone enters the suite in a hurry.

“Khaliq! Khaliq, my son, where are you?” it's unmistakably Seki, and from her tone, the situation is rather urgent.

Glancing back over your shoulder, you see a look of terror play across the younger man's features. He clearly hadn't been intending to be walked in on, especially not twice in quick succession.

You move into action, hobbling to the door.

“I'll cover for you.” you slur, before slipping out, making sure to only open the door as wide as necessary, shielding Khaliq from view. He mouths a silent “thank you”, then gets to work hiding any evidence of his passion.

“King Edward... this is most unexpected.” Seki says, whirling around to face you as you enter the main chamber.

“I er, came to call on you again. Obviously you weren't around but your son, invited me in. It's good to get to know him a little better.”

“Khaliq invited you in? To his bedchamber?” Seki asks.

“That's right!” you say, seizing on her confusion. “He was... showing me something.” you say, offering the vaguest excuse that comes into your mind.

“In his bedchamber?” the mature lioness asks, an eyebrow raised.

“Oh, not like that! N-not like that at all.” you reiterate. “He was simply, er-”

You're spared from elaborating on your story by Khaliq's entry into the chamber. He's thrown on a nice thick shirt and a pair of breeches. As he stops by your side, you idly wonder if he had time to remove his feminine undergarments, or if he's still sporting them beneath his more conventional attire.

“Mother, what's this racket?” the young southerner demands. “You were making noise enough to raise the dead!”

“The castle's under attack sweetling.” Seki informs her son. “a small ****, five hundred fool raiders at the most, but enough to cause some trouble.”

“Oh? I'm uh, sure our forces in the town can handle a band that small.” Khaliq says, rubbing the back of his shaved head.

“Wrong.” the elegant southern lady says, exhaling in exasperation. “It wouldn't do for the attack to be repelled with the heir to the Oro Elide up in the castle sitting on his hands.”

“So long as they're seen off, and with the least amount of bloodshed, what does it matter, eh?” Khaliq muses.

“Your... sisters are already in the fray.” Seki reveals.

“Ah.” the young lion begins to grasp the optics of the situation.

“Courtyard, five minutes.” Seki says forcefully, giving you a respectful nod before turning on her heel and departing.

“Thank you, your majesty.” Khaliq says softly. “I don't know what I would've done without you here to intervene...”

“We've this wonderful invention in Itheria, it's called a lock. You know, I think they've even made it as far as this primitive backwater.” you needle the young sellsword.

“Point taken, your majesty.” Khaliq admits, making to head off.

You gingerly step after the outlander, catching his attention.

“And Khaliq, do try to come back in one piece.” you slur. “I'd quite like to see you in one of those dresses.”

As the heir to the Oro Elide heads off to battle, you're sure you can see him blushing somewhat.