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#now to draw the emperor and princes
bugcowboyart · 2 years
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Concepts for Cohort Uniforms as modeled by the Second House Scion Judith Deuteros
I’m a costume designer by trade and the problem of how to design an entire military wing of a disco for a necromancer society in space was just too tempting to pass up. I took inspiration from modern US navy, regency era naval officers, sci-fi space suits, and bones.
Anything red on Jody would be the house color for whatever soldier wore it, rough examples in the third image.
At Canaan, Marta and Judith would both wear the top middle which is designated for OF 3-6 (lieutenants commander, captains, etc.) though Jody has the “cursory” necro robe because I couldn’t resist.
Jody would have been 14 when she last wore the red junior division uniforms m (but I didn’t want to draw a new model lol) and the blue is also what Isaac and Jeannemary would have worn prior to Canaan. This is because the thought of child soldiers in little naval capes makes me cry so it felt right.
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mispatchedgreens · 14 days
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30% mouth, 30% eyelashes, 20% shitty stubble, and 100% rat clown
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girl I'm such a fan of your tlc reversed art omgggg I CANT LIKE CINDER???? NOW A SASSY EMPRESS WHO CRUSHES OVER KAI??? THE MECHANIC WHO FIGHTS LIKE STARS TO SAVE THE PRINCESS???? we. need. more. reversed. kaider. PLS IM BEGGING YOU ASFJSFHIWHH
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Sorry for the long wait!!! I saw your ask some days ago but I've been busy catching up with life 🥹🥹 but AÑDNALSKAL I'm always down to go back to the Reverse Rol AU so I'm so glad u found it and liked it this much!! Thank youuu 🥺🥺✨💖✨💖✨💖✨💖✨
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oukabarsburgblr · 2 months
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Marriage Troubles [Consort AU] Pt. I
FEATURING : PRINCE DAISUKE YUICHI (OC) x CONSORT male reader
An arranged marriage doesn't always go well. Daisuke Yuichi finds himself engaged to a foreign man for the sake of global peace. What he thought was a well-mannered man was a venomous snake once its shed. Just how long will our prince withstand rebellious remarks from our bold reader?
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morally grey reader, angry sex, profile
Find out more under the cut!
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
Well that wouldn't be far from the truth. The older man dressed in regal clothing wondered why was that famous quote stamped behind the cover of a children's book.
Mimicking the atmosphere of the early morning, the ambience in the room, corners carved stone, marble-plated floor reflected the owner itself. A young child in a loose white gown sat clad in the man's lap. His black glinting eyes skimming through the words of the book that he barely knew half of the meaning to.
"Now now Daisuke, would you like me to continue last night's story or will we have it back at the start?" The man, who had similar black hair and eyes, even their faces were identical, smiled down at the child who enthusiastically flipped the pages back and forth.
The child, Daisuke Yuichi, looked up to him with a gleam. "Start over please, father!" His gummy smile made his father flutter inside as he kissed the crown of his hair.
"As you wish, my child. Long ago, there was a kingdom, grandeur and divine with its posessions, their territory vast and protected, their people happy and full. And the kingdom had a prince!" The man looked down at his son and whispered. "That's you."
Daisuke grinned, as if he hadn't heard this story for the nth time. "And the prince was kind and handsome, well-loved by his king and well-loved by the subjects."
The story continued to weave through its plot, a young prince and his adventures in the kingdom and Daisuke listened attentively to his father's calming narrative voice. It wasn't until the romance had kicked in that he was excited the most.
"And far, far away...there was a princess." Daisuke squealed, covering his face as he wooed over the 2D drawing of a blonde pink-dressed princess on the page. "The princess, amazed by the prince's brave gesture, fell for the prince as she bestowed her hand."
"The prince took her hand, placing a gentle loving kiss on her ring finger, and they went to both kingdoms. With hope to unite their love and their kingdoms together." The man swiped his son's hair back, caressing his strands softly as he turned the last page.
"The prince and princess married and lived happily ever after!"
Daisuke cheered, reading the last printed page as he leaned back onto his father. "Will I find a princess one day?" The man kissed his son's hair again. "I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a spouse. A fine young man you'll be and with it, a fine young princess will come to be."
The child turned around in his father's hold, the morning light now bright and lightening up the room.
Daisuke smiled to himself, while hugging his father, his heart full of hope and dream to find love too. Love as pure as a swan's feather and as sweet as a birthday cake. Ever since, he yearned for his fated one to unite with him as long years had come to pass by.
-
The room had changed, furnitures replaced with more mature ones, a large regal couch and a marble coffee table in the middle. A big vanity across his bed with bedside table customised with gold and silver, all gifted and bestowed by his father, the emperor of their kingdom.
Fifteen years had passed and the once child had now grown into a fine young man. Said man was adjusting his white cravat with a pin holding a Tourmaline gem at its center.
"What do I have in store for today?" His voice was rich, deep while showcasing the youth he had but the tone mature and intelligent as a scholar.
"His Majesty requests for your audience for morning tea later in half an hour. Then, a few of the ministers will be present in the West Wing. Your Highness will have a chance to confer while on the way to meet the Council's Representative. Lessons are as normal, horse riding with the instructor in the evening and lastly,"
The royal secretary closed his leather book, adjusting his glasses. Two guards were also stationed in the room, an iron plate on their chests with the kingdom's insignia with a few other maids working about and all of them knew what the secretary was about to say.
"Your Highness' meeting with your betrothed."
Silence followed, some of the staffs peeking to see what expression the man was feigning. Daisuke smiled, satisfied with his cravat. "Thank you, Sir Ivan. I'm off to meet my father then." All of them bowed to their waists, as Daisuke walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the halls.
It wasn't a secret that he was recently engaged with another, a foreigner from another kingdom. Not royal but still of high society.
"I sincerely hope you are faring well with the news. If you wish to find another, then I will engage with Emperor Aurelius to form another treaty-"
"All is fine, father." Daisuke smiled, sipping at the cup of tea with the emperor across him sitting in the lounge furniture. His father, the emperor pursed his lips, his face was showing telltale signs of age but he was still strong as the sovereign of the kingdom. His heart worries for his son.
"I'm sure we'll match well together. Regardless of the circumstances." Daisuke had a polite expression, respecting his father and his choices for their reign.
Two kingdoms, from the North East and the West wanted to align with one another. However, due to conflicting politics and past histories, the easiest way for peace is a hand in marriage.
Similar to the East, there was only one heir to the throne in the West so Daisuke, the prince of the North East had to marry a son of the duke. Daisuke had never met nor heard of the man. It wasn't uncommon for emperors to take in male concubines but it wasn't the norm for them to marry a man either.
Daisuke didn't mind the status, he just hoped that his first marriage would go well, unlike his father's and the previous Empress.
Time passed and after congratulations from politicians and acquaintances alike, the time had come for him to meet his fiance. He was again adorned in a royal blue suit with tassels and gems as he stood at the steps of the palace, to greet the arrival of his engaged.
"...I think we should step inside, Your Highness." His loyal knight prodded, unable to see the face Daisuke was expressing. It had been some time and the sun was dimming, signaling nightfall and his fiance and the West delegates were still not showing any signs of approach.
In other words, he had been stood up.
"...Let's." There was a slight irritation in his voice before he recomposed himself, thanking his attendants and his knights for waiting beside him for naught.
Even the dinner that was supposed to be between him and his fiance was cancelled and words reached his ears that the entourage had encroached 'unforeseen circumstances' and will be residing elsewhere other than the palace.
It was disrespectful, arrogant almost to discredit the efforts of the royals, although the secretary had been the one to arranged, but Daisuke ultimately decided to give the benefit of the doubt to his fiance. Even the dinner he that he ate alone, that was supposed to have with his fiance tasted stale. He laid in his bed, his heart beating out of his chest as he thought of meeting his soon-to-be consort.
-
A few days past and not a word from the envoy nor the convoy itself and the emperor was about to send a rescue team to find the missing fiance until the Sapphire Palace were lively and in a ruckus.
Daisuke had simply passed by the Sapphire Palace, a few miles away from the gates and he had seen the insignia of the West Duchy and it was enough for him to notice that his fiance's entourage had arrived.
There was quite a commotion, footmen arguing with each other despite the language barrier and all seemed to be out of hand until the man of the hour himself stepped out of the carriage and began to converse with the royal staff.
"It's him. The one with (h/c) hair. He's your fiance." Ivan whispered to Daisuke, who was burning his eyes into the blurry figure draped in luxurious clothes. Beside him were numerous servants who were holding what appeared to be-
"Are those shopping bags?" Black eyes zeroed in on the multitudes of items that originated from his own country.
His loyal knight beside him chipped in. "Looks like our guest went on a little shopping spree." The prince frowned, thinking that the reason why their arrival was late was that his fiance wanted to go sightseeing.
He held back a retort, still trying to hold some ensemble of peace for their upcoming marriage before the (h/c) turn his back around to lock eyes with Daisuke.
His breath hitched and his heart skipped a beat as he stared into (e/c) eyes, although he was far, no amount of distance could fog the treasure cove of beauty the man behold.
"He's...beautiful..."
The knight beside him raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness?" "Pardon me." Daisuke coughed into a fist as he quickly looked away when a servant whispered into the (h/c)'s ear as they continued to stare at them.
The prince quickly walked away, continuing with his errands before he would be swept away in the alluring pools of (e/c).
Even after indulging in his evening activities, his mind could not rid of the starry (e/c), he hadn't even seen his face up close yet Daisuke was already enthralled.
"Fucking hell..." He cursed to himself, clad in his bathrobe with his face coated with a honey face mask. Tomorrow was doomsday.
The wedding that would unite the two nations. There was no official delegate from the royals of the West although there was enough from the duchy of (l/n) and one of the reason itself that he still hadn't met his fiance face to face was because it was taboo for couples to spend the night before the wedding.
Although it was most likely to prevent premarital pregnancy so he doesn't know how it would work with his groom. Traditions are traditions, it wouldn't harm either party hopefully.
Maybe and just maybe his dream of having a tender-love marriage could still come arise. Although something else had arose underneath his robe.
"..." Daisuke shamefully walked his way to his lavish lavatory.
-
The prince wasn't particularly involved in the preparation of the wedding. His father had offered to let his own royal advisor to arrange the venue and the ceremony itself. Probably as a way to apologise at the fact that he had to drag his son's love life into politics.
Daisuke had only let them be. Chipping in once or twice about the colour scheme, what type of flowers he preferred at the altar and whatnot but overall, he would just walk down the aisle, say yes to the dress and get a move on.
His fiance was most likely not involved as well. Speaking of, he felt his hands getting clammy under the fitted white gloves he wore, oddly nervous of matrimonal ceremony. Will he be a good husband? Will his groom had accepted the fact that they were wedded for politics? This was far in contrast with his fairytale dream.
The venue was already bustling with other royals, aristocrats, upper-crust gentrys sitting in the rows and rows of seating that was behind the closed grand door. Daisuke was standing right before it.
His attire was perfect. Supervised by his own father, he was clad in a commander's full dress uniform, navy hues with tassles, emblems and medals strike across his chest. His black hair slicked back with gel with minimal powder on his face and a little bit of lip tint and blush to bring colour to his pale face.
The most handsome man of the century, was what his father said when he had a private showing with Daisuke. The emperor also mentioned that he had already met the duke's son, his fiance, and only uttered.
"Goodluck, Yuichi. A feisty one, he is."
Daisuke didn't particularly like his teasing tone but brushed it off nonetheless. His secretary was right next to him, checking his attire and whispering to a servant's ear.
"Presenting the son of the Western Duchy, Lord (m/n) (l/n)."
That instantly snapped Daisuke out of his stupor as he turned around, heels clicking on the ceramic floor and he found his breath stolen away once again.
Beautiful was an understatement, the (h/c) himself was majestic to look upon. It should cost jewels for one to even bestow their eyes on the duke's son.
That was the thought that was running through Daisuke's mind when he laid his eyes upon his groom.
A gentle smile on his face that clearly had makeup like his but somehow, his (s/c) skin was glowing even more than his pale counterparts.
Dressed in a white three-piece suit, golden and cream highlights with a notch lapel and a light blue satin puff tie. His pants were a matching white as well, black silky dress shoes with intricates hand-drawn on the red soles.
Across his chest were gold chains from the lapel to his right breast pocket and small gemstones were dangling, a sign of his wealth. He had cufflinks that were the same shade of Daisuke's navy uniform.
His lips were painted with a glossy pink-red tint, matching his undertone and there were a slight edge of eyeliner on the corner of his eyes. Suddenly, Daisuke felt like the makeup he wore wasn't enough.
Finally, the steps came to a halt and his fiance stood right in front of him, craning his neck down to greet the prince.
"Good morning, Your Highness." His voice sounded sultry and alluring, at least to his ears and he had stared at the (h/c) once again until Ivan had coughed loudly bringing him back to reality.
"Good morning, Lord...(l/n)." "(m/n) is just fine." The smile he adorned was appealing and it struck Daisuke in the right places in his chest as he faced the grand doors, the audience behind them suddenly quieting down and he felt a hand slinking to hold onto his arm.
"Let's get married, shall we?"
(m/n) (l/n) looked to him with that polite smile again and Daisuke felt his heart flutter as he nodded in return, leading their intertwined steps together.
The grand doors pushed open and an organ followed, oscillating the wind to the tune of a marriage union. An ensemble of choir sang, bringing a light atmosphere suitable for the wedding of a royal.
The pair walked down the aisle together in slow steps, Daisuke smiling at the guests, mostly familliar faces to his left although he couldn't recognise the ones on his right, (m/n)'s side that filled with foreign ministers from other kingdoms.
"I hope we didn't cause you too much trouble with my late arrival."
(m/n)'s whisper caught him off guard as he slightly peered to his right, the (h/c) still smiling and he whispered back.
"It didn't cause much but I would've hoped for an earlier introduction." He could hear almost a giggle from his groom. "We had some...run-ins."
Daisuke raised an eyebrow at that. "I saw the outlet bags. I suppose our country is fine with riches that you couldn't help yourself?"
It was quiet from the (h/c) and Daisuke felt like the walk to the altar was taking forever until they reached the podium and the officiator bowed to them.
"Dearly beloved, we have all gathered here today..."
"Your kingdom has many intricates our own lacked. I couldn't help but had a few stops." (m/n) hushly retorted, it had an apologetic tone.
Daisuke chuckled at that, suddenly all of his annoyance washed away. "I suppose a proper tour should be in order."
"...Are you not irate, Your Highness?" They both turned facing each other as the ring bearer, Daisuke's third baby cousin stepping forward to hand the small velveted ringboxes.
"I'm not, currently." Daisuke swiftly took (m/n)'s ring out of the box, a 12-carat sapphire and diamond cluster, and gently took the groom's hand and slid it on his ring finger. "As long as you're already here, all goes well for me."
There was a moment of silence from (m/n), who quietly took Daisuke's ring, an Oval Blue Sapphire, 18-carat white diamond cluster, pulled his white glove off and pushed the ring onto his finger, lightly squeezing his hand.
When Daisuke raised his eyes from their now holding hands with ringed fingers, he looked to (m/n)'s face, expecting to see the usual polite smile but there was instead a smirk accompanied with a devilish glint behind those (e/c) that was quickly brushed away with his usual facade.
"I'm glad."
"...What was-"
"Your Royal Highness, Prince Daisuke Yuichi, will you take Lord (m/n) (l/n) to be your lawfully wedded husband." The officiator cut in as he waited for Daisuke to speak who in turn stammered accidentally.
"I-I do." He coughed to himself, slightly embarassed as the old officiator held a reassuring smile.
"And you, Lord (m/n) from the (l/n) Dukedom. Will you take His Highness, Prince Daisuke Yuichi to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"...I do." There was a drag in the first syllable, and he smoothly finished the rest of his testimony that made something curl in Daisuke's stomach.
The prince didn't even notice the priest' next words as (m/n) suddenly leaned in to kiss him by his lips. He quite literally took his breath away, Daisuke sucking in a quick breath before deepening the kiss and pressing his hand into (m/n)'s lower back.
There were cheers, clapping in celebration of the two kingdom's union, at the expense of their own.
Daisuke pulled away and gazed into (e/c). "We're going to have so much fun." He swore he could have heard the (h/c) murmured amongst the applause the audience were imparting. He looked to the crowd, his eyes meeting his father, who was in a grander seat than the rest, nodded slowly at him.
-
The ceremony passed by quick, he had to stand on the grand podium with guests passing by in turn to greet and congratulate the new couple, (m/n) patiently still beside him, linking their arms together. Daisuke would shoot glances but a commonwealth would converse with him every now and then.
Cake-cutting and more public affection and finally were they allowed to retire to the Grand Palace. Although Daisuke had to part from his new consort who waved goodbye at him as they got ready to move into the Emerald Palace. The prince stared at the carriage leaving him and his knights behind.
Both his secretary and his knight congratulating him with his marriage with Ivan reminding him of their private dinner that night.
"I hope you do remember of your meal together that was much delayed." Daisuke nodded, unbuttoning his collar in the rocky carriage. "I do." "As well as your marriage culmination?"
"Culmina-?" "Consummating in other terms."
"..." Oh.
Ivan rolled his eyes at his silly prince whose cheeks turned pink at the heavy reminder.
-
Night has fallen and it seemed another tentative was due. The prince, checked his white loose tucked blouse he had worn along with black slacks that had silver chains pinned on the sides of his waist.
He had came much earlier than suggested, his knight asking whether he was nervous although the prince declined the indication, there was a hint of hesitance in his heart.
The cutlery was laid out on the table decorated with lace and multiple candelabra, lit up just for the occasion. It was a private dinner, just the two of them, supposedly, away from peering eyes and as a moment of intimacy for the newlyweds.
"It seems you're here early, Your Highness."
Daisuke stood from his chair, the wooden foot dragging against the carpeted floor. "Your Grace." (m/n) bowed to his now husband, along with his attendant as the door that was opened for his entry now closed by the guards who stood watch outside.
He was wearing a maroon dressing gown that dragged on the carpeted floor with a striking necklace that fit snugly around his neck.
"I hope I wasn't late, again to our tryst." "A tryst?" (m/n) frowned, pouting. "Does the prince not consider me so?"
Daisuke smiled, feeling abashed as he steeled himself. He walked over behind the (h/c), pulling up a chair and pushed it to the front while (m/n) seated himself. "If you wish." He whispered into the consort's ear before returning into his own.
He could feel a glare burning into the side of his head from the consort as butlers and maids began to serve their four-course meal. Plates and bottles of wine were presented and the servants stood behind the royals for any amendments needed.
The mahogany table was rectangular. (m/n) was sitting on the longer part of it, more to the edge while Daisuke had sat at head of the table. They were close to each other but with enough space to dine. Daisuke had requested so.
"I believed I hadn't met your father yet. I heard of what a great man he was. Was he present during the reception?" Daisuke began the dinner, taking a silver knife and began to cut into the steak on his plate.
(m/n) followed accordingly, opting to drink some of the wine first. "None of my family members were present, Your Highness. They're all booked with their own schedules."
"Oh. I'm sorry that happened." Daisuke cringed to himself, worried that he might've had offended his consort. "No no, it's fine." The (h/c) waved it off.
"I'm sure Your Highness will get to meet them some other time." That polite smile stretched across (m/n)'s face again. That odd expression.
"Please don't refer to me as a prince at all times. We are bound together in matrimony." He called a butler to pour a glass of sparkling water for himself.
(e/c) eyes gazed at the decanting before trailing back to Daisuke's black ones. "...If so, then may I request for us to be truly...private?"
The butler that was serving Daisuke a glass seemed to freeze in hesitation. He looked to his prince for confirmation and Daisuke nodded. The man stepped back, bowed and exited the dinner hall along with the other servants who spoke their greetings and trickled out of the venue in an orderly manner.
Daisuke was about to grab the bottle, to finish pouring his half-full glass before he felt fingers curling around the back of his hand.
"Let me." (m/n) smiled again, stood and delicately poured the beverage into the glass, just enough that it almost spilled over the edge. The prince quirked an eyebrow at the gesture as he carefully took the glass and sipped on the water.
"Thank you, Lord-" "(m/n)." "...(m/n)."
He felt his heart pounding again, like the first time they had met but it was different. It didn't had that nervous beat of meeting a loved one. The butterflies in his stomach wasn't due to excitement, it was like screaming at him that something was wrong-
"Have you never ventured to the West, my prince? I don't think I've ever seen you around any social events." (m/n) slumped back in his seat, poking at his food. Daisuke was a tad confused at the change of demeanour but brushed it off.
"I do travel to the West sometimes but the only events I attended were for militia intents." (e/c) rolled and the consort scoffed. "Politics. How boring."
"...Excuse me?"
It took a moment for (m/n) to stare up at the chandelier above them, responsible for lighting the whole room. He pushed himself to stand and slowly walked over to the switch that had kept it alight.
(m/n) pulled the lever down, instantly darkening the room. Daisuke squinted his eyes, adjusting to the low brightness that was only exhibited by the multiple candelabra.
"That feels much better, doesn't it?"
He almost flinched when he found the (h/c) sitting right beside him, his elbows on the table and his hands cupping his chin. (e/c) eyes peering into his. "...Were you there when they decided on our marriage, Prince Daisuke?"
His tone was off, very off, different than what the prince was used to. "...No. My father had been the one to agree, as proposed by Emperor Aurelius." "...That old geezer."
(m/n) clicked his tongue and reached out to his wine glass, instantly downing almost half of the cup, shocking Daisuke. "He always wanted to get rid of me. So scared, paranoid that I would somehow take over his empire that his ancestors built. Scared that I would seduce his son to give the throne over to me that fucking-"
He paused and smiled back to Daisuke. "So. Princey." (m/n) plucked a grape from a plate and popped it into his mouth. "What do you want from this marriage?"
Daisuke was taken aback, had this been the true nature of the second son of the West Duchy? He hesitated for a moment before retorting. "...What do I want?" "Yes."
A glimmer of hatred flashed across (e/c) who took another swig of the wine. "It is impossible for you to accept the offer without wanting something in return. What's the catch?"
"There is no catch." Daisuke pressed, almost losing his composure at the accusation he was presented. "I'm in the same position as you are, I can guarantee you."
"I truly don't care whether you were present or not when the contract of peace was signed. My...hand in marriage was given away for some..." His (e/c) scanned Daisuke up and down with judgement.
"...man." He smiled, again.
The prince took a deep breath, regaining his maturity as he sighed to himself. "Even if there was some catch, all I ask is peace." He gazed at the consort. "Between us."
"..." The consort looked bored for a moment and it was eating away at Daisuke's patience.
"When do we start?" The prince perked up at the consort's ask. "Start what exactly?" He sipped on his glass.
"The sex."
He spat out what was fresh sparkling water to his left, avoiding the consort who only glared, unimpressed at the coughing prince. "T-That was abrupt." He hit his chest a few times to get the water out of his system.
"...you sound inexperienced."
"I prefer not to reveal myself." (m/n) hummed as he clicked his tongue before he spoke. "I must warn you, though."
Daisuke felt nervous again, his heart rate speeding at the sight of (e/c) burning into his.
"You're not the first man to warm my bed."
-
Muffles of cursing and moans were discernable in the dim dinner hall. The food that was plated now cold, Daisuke having another means in his mouth.
(m/n) was in his lap, hiking up his gown, and sat plush, his legs folded as he continued to enfold the prince's senses with inching thrill, making out with the flustered prince. "Mmnn- hah huff..." Daisuke panted, pulling back and his pants tight with his erection, his back tense against the cushion of the chair and his hands clenching the armrests.
The (h/c) was staring him down, the corner of his lips leaking spit as he licked another stripe up the prince's cheek. "You seem nervous, have you never had an entertainer on you before?"
His mind was hazy and warm, his skin almost burning as he huffed. "Your tongue, you speak my language well." Daisuke didn't know why he asked that. Maybe he needed a distraction other than how (m/n)'s tongue was probably the hottest thing that entered his mouth.
"I studied your culture as soon as I received the announcement. And I had help from a couple of your subjects..." (m/n) purred, smirking. His hands slinked down Daisuke's chest until it reached the strings of his collar.
"But that's not the point now, is it?"
He ripped Daisuke's shirt with his hands, exposing the large chest underneath. The prince stammered, his hands shaky as (m/n) readjusted his position to sit his ass directly on the ravenette's clothed cock.
"Now how does the Prince of the East spend his nights?" He whispered sultrily, trailing his lips across Daisuke's neck. "I don't...typically-"
The prince's words were cut off with a moan. His own moan when the (h/c) began to grind himself on Daisuke's crotch. "Don't lie to me." (m/n) smiled. "Would His Royal Highness like to take it up the ass?"
He pressed a deep kiss to the prince's cheek before gazing deeply into his eyes. "Or does he prefer swinging his hips?" Daisuke pursed his lips together, his heart officially beating out of his chest as his hands finally had the courage to grab on (m/n)'s waist.
"I'm not bottoming." His answer was firm, determined to top. "..." (m/n) only gazed at him with an unimpressed look. "You couldn't even conquer me." The (h/c) whispered.
Suddenly, the grinding became more rough. (m/n) closed his eyes and threw his head back, circling and pressing his bottom down on Daisuke's erection. "F-Fuck mmn!" The prince panicked a bit before tightening his grip as the consort grinded himself down on the ravenette.
"Ahn! Ahh mmnn-" The (h/c)'s moans were loud and elaborate. It confused Daisuke as (m/n) gritted his teeth. He experimentally hovered his lips over the consort's neck. "I'm gonna- I'm going to cu-"
A slap echoed in the small room, shocking Daisuke. He was stunned, a small tingling on his left cheek with (m/n) staring at him unimpressed. "You think I'm that easy to cum?"
The (h/c) glared at the prince, scrutinizing him. "..." Daisuke could only stare in silence, his cheek reddening. "I..."
(m/n) propped his own chin on his left palm. "Hey. Are you actually a virgin?" His tone seemed disappointed, angry even. "I've heard the Prince of the East rejecting advances but I didn't think it'd be this dire. Your face shouldn't be a problem but how so?"
"..." Was this his true colors? Daisuke only wanted a peaceful marriage but all hopes of his fairytale seemed to vanish at the sight of the (h/c).
(m/n) waited for an answer from Daisuke who was hesitant to respond. "I just thought that...your first night should be with someone special." "Oh. You're one of those, huh. A sweetheart."
The (h/c) pried himself off of the prince, staggering in the dim room. "Listen here, prince. I don't care if you want me to carry out my marital duties. But don't bother me nor stand in my way," He trotted to the doors of the dining room.
"And I won't stand in yours."
He kicked the door open, shocking a few guards and left the prince alone. Daisuke stared at the agape door, palming his cheek wondering what the hell did he got into.
Their consummation night was scrapped. Daisuke sitting alone in the bed of their shared bedroom, screaming into the pillow with his still hard erection.
-
Daisuke had never seen his consort after that again. He was officially married but he hadn't seen his husband for the past week.
He had Ivan did some background digging and it turned out the secretary already did but Daisuke himself didn't want to read it just because he thought he didn't need to. Now here he was, hunching over his desk in his office, flipping through the files.
(m/n) (l/n), the infamous second son of the West Dukedom. An older brother to inherit the duchy, a set of parents that was rumoured to proudly spoil their baby son with multiple assets and estates. Occasionally ventures to East for social events. An extremely influential person in the upper-class.
He thought back on how the (h/c) mumbled about the Western Emperor. Looks like their arrangement was rooted much deeper than he had thought.
The prince tried to visit the consort in the Emerald Palace, where all the consorts and concubines of the royal resorted to, for now it was the sole home of (m/n) (l/n). What was once a parade of servants loyal to the prince, was sneaky and deceitful to protect their new master.
"What do you mean, he's unavailable?"
A maid coughed acting dismissive, two others behind her holding in their giggles. "Well, it is exactly what I said, Lord Ivan. His Grace isn't feeling well today."
Daisuke crossed his arms, standing behind his secretary and stared at the tall gates of the Emerald Palace. He tried to enter but was denied.
"If he's not well, has the doctor tend to the consort?" "He's unwell but he is not ill. Some time to himself is what His Grace needs." A guard suddenly chipped in and Ivan just noticed that all of the staff employed in the Emerald Palace was in on the gag.
"Do you wish for me to punish them, Your Highness?" Daisuke's knight, who was one of the commanders that served beside him during his military enlistment whispered to him. "No need." The prince sighed, rubbing his forehead in frustration.
Daisuke knew that (m/n) was influential but to take over the Emerald Palace is not what they both need right now. Every now and then, he'd stop by the Palace but he was left in the dust each time, either he was rejected at the gates or the (h/c) was not present in his chambers.
He paused to himself, wondering why he was trying so hard to harmonize with his consort. His cheeks bloomed a light pink at the memory of the consort on their wedding day. (m/n) truly looked marvelous in his eyes.
Daisuke didn't want his first marriage to turn dull. How can he be the emperor of a nation if he couldn't even save his marriage?
"We received some...reports, Your Highness."
Daisuke looked up to his secretary, who seemed hesitant. They were in the prince's office. "What is it?" "Well...it'd be best if I tell this to you alone." The prince's knight immediately bowed and left the office, closing the doors shut.
The ravenette encouraged the secretary to sit. Ivan looked tired, as he stared into the prince's eyes. "Your consort, His Grace...we received reports of him flirting with some of the guards."
"...flirting?" An irk appeared on his forehead and he could feel mild anger building in the back of his head. How annoying was his consort?
"Yes. From the staffs of the other Palaces, not from the Emerald." "Was it a complaint or a report?" "Reports, Your Highness. The guards themselves have not reached out to me nor to your knight."
"..." Had the guards been bewitched by the (h/c)? Daisuke wondered. He sighed and pulled his cabinet open, taking out an invoice. "What are you proposing, Your Highness?"
"He's in a foreign country, away from his family with only a few familliar faces around him. He's probably throwing a tantrum with his new surroundings. His parents spoiled him with riches and the empire has no problem sponsoring him as well." The prince pulled out a stamp, officiating the new document.
"I'm increasing a total of 30% of his allowance, if he wishes for another shopping spree, then so be it."
Ivan stared at the new invoice Daisuke handed him, hesitantly picking it up. "...I don't think this is the solution." "Then what do you suggest?" "That Your Highness should steer instead of letting him trample all over you?"
The prince deadpanned at his long-known friend slash secretary who coughed into his fist and mumbled an apology. "I'll get this to the Royal Treasury immediately."
The prince had a frown on his face as his Ivan exited the office. Daisuke hadn't even seen (m/n) ever since his dinner, and here he was receiving news he was fooling around with others? Their dynamic was hard for him to tiptoe around.
Maybe the increase in money for the (h/c) would better his behaviour towards the prince.
-
"This is absurd..."
Daisuke stared at the paper in hand. An official request from his consort. He was already surprised that (m/n) was sending a letter his way but to his disappointment, it was a request for a summerhouse???
"Construction of a villa near the borders of the West, fully furnitured, surrounded by a lake with a stampede of workers for maintenance. Functionality...vacation." His knight peered over the crumbling Daisuke in his office chair.
"This...I haven't seen him in a month and the first thing he reaches out to me is a summerhouse. A SUMMERHOUSE???" Daisuke yelled frustratingly as he grabbed a quill and roughly stabbed it into the pot of ink.
"Will you indulge in his request, Your Highness?" "No. I've gifted him jewels and gold with him not even showing me his face and he dared to ask for a villa!" He was more than capable to build a villa by his own means, but a month had passed and the consort was a no-show!
He made his own advances, sending gifts, fineries, he even had a surprise private buffet for the consort ever since he heard (m/n) wished to try some of the Eastern cuisines! Not even a simple thank you from the consort himself. From the consort's attendant, yes and it made the prince curl over in delight but he wished to see the consort either way.
He had to dismiss the consort's request this time. Surely, not much of a fuss would occur.
-
"THE CONSORT IS MISSING!"
Daisuke's attention was snatched from the plate he was dining. He was having his dinner that night when a guard bursted in.
"WHAT??" "His Grace! He's gone missing!"
"How?!" Daisuke's knight stepped in. "Did he went out to town? With no guards??" "No! His schedule is clear for today, His Grace is not in his room and there were makeshift ropes from bedsheets from his windows!"
The prince sat silent for a while before he clenched his teeth. "That brat ran away...call all the knights! Cover a ten-mile perimeter! Close the FUCKING BORDERS and leave no stone unturned!!"
-
(m/n) was humming to himself, carefully guiding his horse on the stone path. The cloak he was wearing was enough to conceal the riches he was wearing underneath, he only wore them because it looked nice anyways.
As soon as the (h/c) received the notice where his request was rejected with no appeal, he ran away. Quite literally, he sneaked out of his bedroom, not even telling his maids he loved to gossip with nor even notifying a single guard.
The palace was starting to feel suffocating anyways. When he had stepped inside, all of the staff was ready to serve him as intended but as soon as he was promoted to a consort, they truly upped their game, treating him like royalty and far better than whatever he received back at the duchy.
Although they were the under the reign of the emperor, all it took was a few small gems and bags of coin to turn the maids over to his side. Then, the knights weren't that bad, Eastern men had their own charm to them and he may have fooled around with one or two, nothing advanced to the bed however.
Humans are easy to dictate over, his father and mother were his first victims of his narcisissm and his brother was kind enough to let him have his way. Socialites were a breeze, as long as you have a tight grip on people, all goes in your favour.
And that's what (m/n) (l/n) did for the past twenty two years of his life. Until the news of his engagement reached the duchy from the royal delegate. His hand in marriage, his freedom was sold to the East for peace between the two nations.
No more drunken nights, no more mingling with sexy men and women. He was forced to settle down quietly. But (m/n) wasn't going to back down without a fight. He was angry his freedom was stolen away from him, and he was going to make whoever his suitor was suffer.
At first, he delayed his arrival to the East Empire. Dragging his attendants to stop by towns, lounging in suites and overall prolonging their time before their arrival.
(m/n) had assumed his future husband was a sleazebag. An old pervert who had never shown his face in parties in the West. It was a nice surprise to find out that he was a kind handsome man on their wedding day.
It was disappointing to find out that he was a virgin pushover.
The prince, Daisuke Yuichi, showed not a single hint of anger towards him. Forgiving him in a second for his arrogance and that immediately gave (m/n) the hint that he could get away with anything as much as possible in the palace.
It was boring as well, if he was commanding at least he would have some fun in the sheets.
And him suddenly increasing his allowance, sending him gifts just showed how submissive this little prince was. (m/n) had him wrapped around his little finger already, he thought.
Yesterday, he had been in contact with a few architects since he wanted a new villa. He had multiple estates in the West but with his sudden moving, he wanted assets in the East as well. And he thought he could get his request approved but he was stunned to find it denied. The consequences were a few broken mirrors and him running away.
He handed the reigns of his horse to a worker, settling in a small town in the rural parts as he entered a lively bar, opting to ask the bartender where he could stay for the night.
(m/n) got a few winks here and there and even some paid drinks, all he did was blow a kiss and chugging them down blissfully as he headed to a moderately-sized inn.
He passed out on the bed, whining about the lack of sex for the past month as he clutched the bottle of vodka in his arms.
The consort had no clear of objective where to embark to. He thought of just journeying along the paths until he reached the borders so he could see where he can built his future villa. A horse and a small satchel with a dream.
The morning after, there was a ruckus in town. He groggily peeked out from the curtains to see guards with the Eastern insignia questioning people, a barrage of carriages and overall military personnel.
"...what the fuck..." He quietly closed the blinds as he recollected the very few items he had brought. Did the prince launch a manhunt??
He didn't think that his search would be this intense but holy fuck he's not intending to get caught like this.
He still wore the previous night's outfit, a linen blue blouse with khakis and carved boots fashioned with a cloak. He felt his heart racing when heavy footsteps tracked down the halls.
There were banging on other doors, inspecting the tenants and (m/n) immediately hid himself in a closet when his room was next.
There were heavy knocking and he held his breath in when the door was kicked open. Some yelling here and there, the (h/c) was just begging for them to leave.
"No sign of the consort!"
FUCK! They WERE looking for him. He bit his nails nervously as the chevaliers left his room to torture some other poor tenants of the inn. His mind scrambled, on what to do in this scenario.
Sure he had made a few attempts at running away before but his brother was the one who had capsized his attempts and he was at least gentle about it. These dogs looked like they wouldn't give a fuck if he lost a finger in the process.
He waited patiently in the dark closet until there were no noises outside of the window as he clambered down from the furniture and dashed out his room.
He hurriedly went to the stables, struggling to pull the ropes off of his horse when his shoulder was grabbed.
"Your Grace?"
"...FUCK-"
-
The guards were tired from an overnight search. Two of them, had been scouting the woods and stumbled across the small town and informed headquarters who sent a squad to do a full sweep.
After it was done, all they had to do was look out for any stragglers and proceed to the next stop. It was their luck to find the hunted man, the consort himself attempting to untie his horse in a rented stable.
"HOW THE HELL DID YOU FIND ME?!!"
The (h/c) had struggled, kicking and yelling as they forcefully tied his wrists together, due to him still attempting to flee with some felt rope bound to a wooden pole outside of the stables.
One of the guards only stared unimpressed at the consort's accessories, his bracelets, rows of ring and a small diamond necklace. Who else was the missing husband of the crown prince. It was a miracle he hadn't been robbed.
There was a flustered expression on the (h/c)'s face who seemed to be embarrassed by the attracting crowd of the locals who had careened around to gaze at the infamous capture while he only sat defeated on the dirt floor.
"The next troop should be making their rounds over here, luckily that one should have the Crown Prince leading." "All we have to do is wait." They high-fived each other, standing guard while ignoring the yelling and cursing consort behind them.
It didn't take long for the consort to wear himself out and the next barrage of army to arrive. The prince's personal knight had been the one to came to them first, glancing at the dirty consort and walked over to the grand carriage that obviously carried the prince, opening the carriage.
"Shit shit shit-!" (m/n) cursed at himself, more pumped to free himself from embarrassment and his restraints as he pulled his wrists against the ropes, etching the material into his skin. He hissed in pain but he felt his heart dropped when he saw a familiar mop of black hair walking towards him in silver armour.
"...What is this?"
(e/c) eyes didn't dare to raise upon hearing the seething voice of the once kind prince. "I said what the hell is this?!" Daisuke turned to the two guards who supposedly had caught the consort.
"...It's the consort, Your Highness." The knight responsible for tying him jittered in nervousness, not expecting the aggression. The prince, clad in full armour with a cape, gritted his teeth, his jaw clenching as he snatched the collar of one of the guards. "If you knew he was my husband, then tell me why he's tied up like a stray dog!" He hissed, enraged at the fact (m/n) was on the ground, his wrists tied to a pole like a dirty mutt.
"Untie him immediately!" He threw the guard to the pole by his collar who staggered to cut the ropes. "Two trained knights couldn't restrain an unarmed man?! How stupidly incompetent do you have to be!" Daisuke was yelling, cursing at the guards while the rest of the squad watched.
(m/n) just sat helplessly, silently watching the knights cut through his restraints and he breathed a sigh of relief when his limbs were free from the ropes. Daisuke grabbed his hands, examining the burns as he looked at his consort in the eye.
The (h/c) didn't dare to look at the prince, silently facing to the side as he was pulled up by the arm, Daisuke grabbing him firmly and shoving him into the carriage while the rest of them bowed to the royals.
He was forced to sit beside the prince, his hands clammy and his clothes dirty while Daisuke was staring straight ahead, still fuming regarding the consort. It was painfully awkward until they reached a cabin for the horses and the men to rest, they had been searching for the missing consort overnight.
Once again, the consort was roughly manhandled upstairs into the cabin by Daisuke, while the rest of them camped outside. (m/n) pulled himself away from the prince once they were inside the privacy of the bedroom.
"Give me your hand." Daisuke's voice was firm, on edge and (m/n) silently held out his wrists as the prince took out a bottle of ointment from an emergency kit. Dabbing a cotton pad onto the opening of the bottle and carefully swiping it on the consort's burns.
"You should've been careful. The subjects are not familiar with you. You could've gotten hurt." The incessant rambling was annoying to (m/n) as he huffed. "I was fine. I can take care of myself."
The prince paused, looked up to him with a fierce glare. "You? Take care of yourself? I doubt you can even wield a knife." "I was only out for a stroll. Do I have to be accompanied twenty four-seven just for some fresh air?"
"You were missing for two days! No guards, no attendants! You could've died!" The consort pulled himself away from the prince, annoyed. "I was FINE! I'm still alive, aren't I?? Stop acting so paranoid and just leave me be.
Daisuke stood, now pissed. "Leave you be?? You have been avoiding me ever since our wedding. Rejecting my requests of audience like some arrogant prick!" "Oh I'm so sorry, Your Royal Highness! I should've licked your boots from the moment I arrived." The (h/c) mocked the prince.
"Watch your tone with me." Daisuke seethed, the consort scoffing, crossing his arms. "Or what? I doubt you would punish me for a trivial matter."
"I don't understand your hostility against me. I could've had you hung the moment you slapped me at our dinner." "But you didn't. You let it slide. I've trampled over you numerous times but you didn't give a single damn. It's not my fault the Prince of the East is a feeble PUSHOVER!"
If Daisuke was mad moments ago, he was now absolutely enraged. He stepped to the consort and grabbed him by his jaw. "I said, watch your shitty tone with me." He scowled.
"Or what?" (m/n) smirked. "What will you do, Princey." That stupid name pissed Daisuke off. He grabbed the (h/c)'s arm and tossed him onto the bed, the latter yelping while the prince started to remove his armour.
"I'm aware you've been whoring yourself to the knights. Tell me, have you had such an itch between your legs that you couldn't even keep them closed?" Daisuke felt his face grew hot with anger, tearing off his chest and shoulder plates from his figure, revealing his tight undershirt hugging his body.
"You-...I didn't do anything with them." (m/n) stammered, embarassed that his secrets of flirting with the guards had been leaked. He watched as Daisuke kicked the rest of his armour off of himself. "It's not like I've slept with them, we were just talking-" "It's no use justifying yourself."
The prince suddenly climbed onto the bed as (m/n) clambered away but yelped when the ravenette tugged on his ankle. "I'm furious. You've chosen to fool around with some second-level chavelier instead of seeing your own husband."
"You wouldn't care! Even if I fucked your father, you wouldn't give a single damn-" (m/n)'s head tossed to the side, his cheek burning in pain. He had just been slapped.
The consort looked up to the prince in shock. "You...Even my father has never-" "Well I'm not your fucking daddy, am I?"
Something rose in the (h/c)'s pants, there was a dark look in Daisuke's eyes that sent shivers down the consort's spine. He felt his breath becoming heavy as the prince leaned down to his face.
"If you're to disobey me once again, I'll strip you naked and feed you to the wolves. Do I make myself clear?" Daisuke glared into shaky (e/c) eyes, but he felt something throbbing pressing against his pelvis and he looked down.
He scoffed, unimpressed at the (h/c)'s erection. "Was this what you wanted? Me claiming you from the start? I'm over here furious at your behaviour and your cock is hard?" (m/n) shook his head, flustered. "I just- it's-" He couldn't find the words to defend himself of how he was so turned on getting threatened from his husband.
"It's been a while since I-" "And I haven't gotten a chance to taste you, rascal. To think you've messed around with my knights." (m/n) let out a flustered moan as Daisuke roughly groped his chest.
"Let's see if the peace between our nations was really worth the hassle."
-
There was stuttered moans, whimpers in the small bedroom, (m/n) covering his face with his arms. His body barely covered with his tattered shirt. His pants were tossed to the back with Daisuke lazily twirling the fountain pen he found in one of the cupboards.
The consort's bottom half was propped up with a pillow underneath, his legs dangling on armrests, Daisuke had pulled up a chair near the edge of the bed and slumped himself in it.
Currently, the (h/c) was exposed, his shirt torn in half and his hole twitchy being prodded by the pen in Daisuke's hand. The prince pushed, and swirled it around, stretching his dry rim.
(m/n) mewled, his body hot and he didn't like how he was the only one naked. He was deprived of sex for weeks and it was a pleasure for him to be toyed by the prince, who he thought he didn't even had the balls to pounce on him.
"Uncover your face. I didn't take you to be the shy type." (m/n) choked on his saliva when the pen was thrusted into his ass up to its hilt and his hips squirmed, uncomfortable and tingling from the length. "I-It's too dry- Mmnn! It hurts- anghh!"
"Oh nowww you're listening to me. When I finally put something in your ass is the moment you decided to stop being a brat." (m/n) couldn't see Daisuke's expression right now, if he did he bet he could squirt in seconds.
A firm grip on his cock made him mewl again, a throaty cry leaving his wet lips. "I said...uncover your face." The consort's heart was beating out of his chest as he slowly placed his arms to the side.
Daisuke felt amused, (e/c) teary, a flustered aroused expression on the consort's face. Far different than the defiant side he had faced all this time. He could feel his own cock throbbing in his pants.
He pressed the pen in deeper, (m/n) gargling and groaning in response. "D-Daisuke-" "Be formal. Respect me as your prince."
The (h/c) frowned, frustrated. "Your Highness..." He peeked up at the prince whose face was red, flushed with arousal and amusement.
"Good boy."
His cock spurted short ropes of cum in Daisuke's hand, the owner himself staring at his wet genital in shock. "H-How did I...?" Even the consort himself was confused how could he, a man who had slept with an abundant men and women previously, came extremely quick at the hands of the Eastern prince who had yet to shed a single garment.
"So you are a slut." Daisuke's tone was mundane. As if he was bored, unimpressed. (m/n)'s eyebrows were furrowed, his teeth clenching as he stared at his cock being slowly jacked off by the ravenette.
"I just c-came- wait wait!" He held in a breath as he endured his coming down from an orgasm with Daisuke fapping his cock agonizingly in slow but firm strokes. "Am I supposed to care?" The prince spoke with an arrogant tone.
The consort whined, his hips bucking and he clenched around the pen in his anus. His ass flinched when the prince took a glass decanter and pour the liquid inside down his cock, flowing down his base, slipping on the curve of his balls and coating the exposed pen and his clenching rim.
"Wh-What was that?" He panicked, his nether region feeling unusually hot. "You said you were dry." Daisuke brushed off the consort's worries, pulling out the pen and stuck his bare fingers inside, massaging his rim.
His fingertips dug into his hole, caressing his squelching walls, Daisuke observing (m/n)'s reaction who became more and more flustered. His hand that was gripping (m/n)'s cock went to flick his nipples, the consort cried out in shock.
The (h/c) bit his bottom lip, his eyes drowsy as he felt his body becoming more hot. He arched his back as he clambered to remove the remains of his torn shirt.
"Feeling warm?" (m/n) nodded to the prince's question, propping his hands up to support his body while getting his ass fingered by the prince. "What was in that decanter?" He moaned out.
"Emergency supplies. Used for wounds and cramps, I suppose its a fine substitute for a quick lube job." The (h/c) groaned in frustration, whimpering in hot discomfort. His previous partners had never been sloppy with him, only using expensive products and treating him like glass.
The prince, who sensed that the consort was complaining in his head yet again, grabbed his neck and brought him to his face. "Be grateful that I'm prepping you. Any man as angry as I am would've torn you apart by now. A 'thank you' would suffice."
(m/n) choked, still denying until Daisuke's fingers suddenly jammed roughly into his hole, two knuckles deep. "T-Thank you, Your Highness..." He whimpered.
Daisuke finally got the appreciation he wanted. He licked a stripe up (m/n)'s cheek, his fingers clenching the (h/c)'s jaw. Pressing a deep kiss into his cheek, he whispered into the consort's ear. "Now that's sensible."
(m/n) suddenly felt pissed off.
"I'll spit in your face if you don't back up." He snarled at the prince. Daisuke only rolled his eyes. "Tell your cock to stop leaking pre, then I'll release you." (m/n) groaned, still hating that he was the only one naked.
"Take off your clothes. It's not fair I'm the only one stripped." Sighing, the prince released his grips and took out his fingers. (m/n) squirming at the empty feeling left in his hole as the prince stood, kicking the chair away.
"Undress me." He ordered the consort. The (h/c) frowned but kneeled on the mattress nonetheless, climbing over the pillow as he roughly tugged off the prince's shirt, resisting the urge to punch his glaring face.
He pulled the belt off of his waist but when it came to his pants, (m/n) leaned his body down and used his teeth, pushing the button through the slit using his tongue and ripped the rest of the waistband halfway with his teeth. The prince groaned, stroking his (s/c) bare back.
The consort's body was pushed down, (m/n) knocked onto the bed in his back as Daisuke pulled his thighs forward, hiking his legs onto his shoulder. His bottom was propped once again by the pillow.
"Make sure not to cum so quick." (m/n) smirked, alluding to the fact that Daisuke was a virgin. The prince pulled out his cock...his big, big cock and scoffed.
"Confide that to yourself."
(m/n) accidentally bit his tongue when Daisuke pulled his hips back, slapping his ass against his naked groin. He felt heat bloom in his stomach, instantly full in his hole. "A-ahh mmh ahh-" He whimpered, staring up at the ceiling in debauched shock.
His thighs quivered as the prince had a bruising grip on his waist, pushing him back before slamming his cock inside again. A short scream dwelled from his throat as he felt his ass pierced.
The (h/c)'s nails dug into the cotton sheets below him as he endured blows from the prince who began to rut his cock roughly into his strained ass. He almost screeched at the sheer intensity of his thrusts the ravenette bestowed, the heat curling in his stomach once again.
Daisuke had been angry. Angry ever since that stupid dinner. But he was raised to be fair, to be just so he put himself in (m/n)'s shoes but all the disrespect, the arrogance the consort protrude hacks away at his patience.
He tried to be loving, giving the (h/c) space but all he received was spats of degrading and defiant remarks. All of those resentment began to pile in the back of his mind and eventually burst when he received the news of the consort fleeing from the palace.
He was angry that the consort put himself in danger, he was also enraged on how the man even flirted with others while leaving his husband in the dark.
It all lead to this moment, him fucking his mountain of vexation into the squirming melting (h/c).
"Haa- anhh!" Another spout of creamy semen splurted from the tip of (m/n)'s dick, slipping down and dripping onto his own stomach.
Daisuke could see the confusion and frustration etched on the consort's face. He held in a sly laugh as he bend his body down, pressing his head next to the consort's.
"Don't jinx yourself, quickshot." He teased the (h/c). The latter smacked his back to which Daisuke quickly humping his dick into the squelching hole, chasing his high.
"Wait wait! Not inside-!" He breathed a long sigh of relief, cumming long ropes of baby batter in the consort's hole.
(m/n) squirmed, feeling sticky as he tried to push the prince off. "You bitch. You cunt, I told you not to cum in me-!" He hissed.
It was a little secret he hold to himself, the (h/c) loooves people cumming inside of him but he wouldn't dare show it to the prince. However, Daisuke seemed to read his mind, apart from his still hard and twitching cock, he moved the consort to lay on his side.
"I'm not done. You have a month's worth of payback, consort." Daisuke spat on the (h/c)'s stomach who showed clear disgust and disapproval. "You shitty bitch." He scowled. A strangled gasp left his throat when the prince curled his hand around his neck, moving him up and down, choking him with his grip and his cock.
The more feisty the (h/c) was, the rougher his thrusts gotten, Daisuke gripped the consort's wrist with his other free hand, leaving him to claw at the sheets with only one, limiting (m/n) to ground himself who was squirming, going cockdrunk on his penis.
(m/n) was confused, scared why he was so turned on by the prince and his rough treatment. He couldn't stop cumming so many times on the prince's cock and the prince kept nutting inside of him despite his pleas not to do so.
His left leg was hooked on Daisuke's shoulder as he was pounded sideways, at one point he had came twice during one round, the prince degrading and slapping his ass for his whorish achievement.
Clenching around Daisuke, (m/n)'s thighs shook, his head fuzzy and eyes glossy with tears. The (h/c) dug his nails into Daisuke's strong arms, who had planted his hands beside his head.
How much fucking stamina did this monster had? (m/n) whined, wishing for the prince to finish already.
It wasn't until the seventh round that he started to cry.
At that point, his stomach was covered with a layer of cum and spit. His cheeks were hot with flowing tears, begging the prince to just hurry and cum inside him already.
"I c-can't anymore- mmf! Please- hurry up- hngg!" He sobbed, streaks of teardrops on his face. The prince only stared down at him with a detached expression, as if his body was boring to him. "I'll stop when I feel like it."
He screamed when Daisuke clenched his tip. "Maybe you should stop creaming so many times." (m/n) wailed another cry, pushing the prince's chest away as he somehow adjusted his body, rotating himself so he was lying on his stomach.
It appeared that would prompt the prince more who began groping and massaging his ass, slapping it once and twice while still shoving his cock in and out of his hole.
(m/n) drooled onto the sheets, his dick shoved and dragged against the duvet. His eyes widened as he got a glimpse of his state.
There was an old oval mirror, the top half covered with a linen sheet but the bottom was bare, reflecting (m/n)'s current position in the dim room.
He looked at himself and he couldn't recognise who he was. The once proud, bratty son of a duke was a mere dirty, squelching, crying, cum-filled hole under the prince. Daisuke was still going strong, gripping his butt cheek and ramming himself into his dripping hole. He couldn't believe that the man above him was a virgin.
Maybe he was wrong. Angering and pouring fuel onto the calm and kind prince, he thought he could take advantage of. Fooling around, refusing to grant him audience despite having the position as his husband. And to think of all the gifts the prince had given him as a means of peace, he either tossed aside or used for his own pleasure while brushing off his efforts.
Daisuke leaned down onto him, (m/n) tiredly watching him through the reflection on the mirror and he screamed when the prince planted his teeth into his nape, biting into his skin. He mewled, squirting hot semen onto the sheets again, as Daisuke claimed him by biting his neck like a wild animal.
"I-I..." His voice was weak, throat sore from moaning and crying so much. "M' sorry." He could feel the prince's thrusts slowing down before coming to a stop. The prince released him from his bite, he was sure there had to be bits of blood from the mark.
"What?" His tone sounded confused, as if (m/n) was the most arrogant bitch he ever met that even an apology sounded like he heard the singing of an angel.
"I'm sorry...for what I did...for all this time..." He muttered in broken words, his face sweaty and his mouth slobbered with spit. The consort mumbled more apologies, of what he did, for slapping him, for dismissing his audience, flirting with other men.
"..." Daisuke seemed to be quiet before he pulled out of the consort. (m/n) cried when his hair was pulled up as he was forced to his knees. His hands gripping at Daisuke's who clenched his grip on his scalp. "If I catch you wagging your tail around other men again, I'll sell you to a brothel. Do you understand?"
The consort weakly nodded, inching closer to the hard and wet cock that laid against his ass crack. It seemed that Daisuke had also noticed the mirror, the prince's eyes wide glaring at him through the reflection.
"I-I won't. I just want your cock. O-Only yours- mmn!" He bit his bottom lip, when the prince grinded himself against the (h/c)'s sensitive and stinging ass. "I'm sorry."
(m/n) had realised that this was a battle. A battle of their opposite attributes. As if the striking lightning and the ear-shattering thunder clashed with Daisuke coming out on top. And he had lost in the waves of their disputing dynamic.
He submitted himself to the prince, finally lowering his ego.
"Put it in." He breathed out, glancing behind him, his teary (e/c) eyes striking the prince right in the chest.
Daisuke seemed taken aback, his grip faltering before he gently pulled the consort back so he could rest on his chest. They were both on their knees, (m/n) breathing slowly, his body lax against Daisuke's as he rested his head beside's Daisuke's jaw.
He could feel semen dripping out of his hole as the prince carefully held his hips, avoiding the dents in his waist from his fingers as he angled his tip to kiss his hole.
(m/n) sucked in a breath, Daisuke slowly shuffling his cock inside his ass, contrast to how they first started.
His body was bounced on his dick, the prince moving him using his hips and he moaned loudly, throwing his head back. Daisuke stared at him, his eyes half-lidded as he gently prodded his nose onto the consort's cheek.
The innocent touching lead the prince hovering above his lips. Daisuke delicately pressed a kiss onto the consort, who accepted the gesture fondly as the innocent affection turned into tongue-tying lust. They were making out while (m/n)'s bouncing and Daisuke's thrusting became more fervent, chasing their orgasm together.
(m/n) mewled loudly into the prince's mouth, Daisuke immediately sucking on his bottom lip as the (h/c) came. The prince groped his chest, and fondled his sensitive cock while his staggering hips was rutting up into the consort as he creamed inside one last time.
Slowly, they both fell on their sides, (m/n) unable to move, his body immobile. Daisuke gently pulled out, breathing heavily from what was the first and best sex of his life.
-
He woke up alone.
The prince groggily sat up, his bottom half numb as he forced himself to open his eyes. Morning rays of sunlight entered the room through the curtains and he stretched his torso like a cat before turning to his right.
His heart dropped as he noticed no signs of the consort, finally remembering what happened the evening before as he clambered to slip on a robe and was about to trudge downstairs before he noticed the bathroom door was slightly open and the running of tap water.
Carefully, he creaked the door open, peaking inside to find the (h/c) submerged in the wooden bathtub, quietly washing himself.
(m/n) perked up when he noticed the prince opening the door. "Your Highness..." It seemed that the (h/c) had woken up earlier than the ravenette, opting to wash himself first.
Daisuke staggered, his legs still weak. "...I'm sorry, I fell asleep. I couldn't clean you-" "It's fine." (m/n) assured the prince, before looking away and closing the tap water.
There was something different about the (h/c), Daisuke noticed. He seemed more fragile? More delicate. Well, it was the first time he wasn't shouting to his face.
He was still standing in the middle of the loo awkwardly before they both spoke at the same time.
"Would you like to join me?" "May I join you?"
Both of them seemed taken aback at the coincidence, Daisuke more flustered as (m/n) nudged his head as an offer to join him. The prince disrobed himself, (m/n) looking away as Daisuke carefully stepped inside the already small tub.
The tub was small, cramp even to fit the both of them. The (h/c) hugging his legs, his chin on his knees as he mindlessly splashed the water around him.
Daisuke was staring, his eyes gazing over (s/c) skin, his shoulders, his wet hair. His mundane expression is what drawn him in. Half-lidded eyes staring at the water, fingers gently poking at the surface tension. It wasn't bad. It was peaceful.
"...I'm going to wash myself now."
(m/n)'s voice broke him out of his trance, the consort staring back at him and Daisuke noticed that the tub of liquid soap on the cabinet behind him.
"...Would you like me to help?" "It would be nice."
(m/n)'s voice sounded very fond, melodic almost as Daisuke began to lather the soap and scrub it into (h/c) strands, smoothing it over his skin gently. The consort did the same for the prince and at the moment Daisuke truly felt like they were acting as a married couple.
His heart felt full and when (m/n) turned his body around, Daisuke suddenly went forward to hug his back. His arms enveloping around the consort's figure, the latter who was about to step out was restricted as he glanced at the ravenette.
"Sorry...just give me a few minutes." He mumbled, planting his face into the consort's shoulders. Daisuke could feel the (h/c) sighing and leaning into his touch, and they stayed there.
The prince kissed the marks he left last night, where he had animalistically sank his teeth into the consort. His lips gently traced his teeth marks, as if to apologise to the consort. (m/n) only leaned into his touch further, letting the ravenette express his affection. They stayed for a while, until the water turned murky and their fingertips were wrinkly.
When (m/n) was about to exit the tub, he heaved himself up but his hold slipped in the process, his lower half clearly more immobile from the previous evening and Daisuke cutting in to make sure he doesn't fall.
The prince stepped out first, tied a towel around himself and laying out another on a spare table. He reached into the tub to cradle the (h/c) and pulled him out of the tub. The water splashing out from the edges.
"You don't have to-" "It's only decent if I do." He stopped the (h/c) from refusing him any longer. And it had an impact on the consort.
(m/n) was carried by the prince into the bedroom and was gently placed on the clean side of the bed. Daisuke asking an attendant for two sets of clean clothes and when it arrived, he helped his husband dress before they headed downstairs for breakfast.
They dined together, and Daisuke thought it would be awkward or maybe a pitiful attempt at small talk but (m/n) was quiet. Nimbly chewing at his Danish ice cream toast, and the prince followed suit, basking in the peaceful atmosphere.
Some of the guards peeked at the pair, expecting Daisuke to yell at him or the consort to rebel since they heard the rumours of them not getting along backed up by their public arguments but they found the two to be surprisingly civil with each other. Daisuke opening the carriage for (m/n) and holding his hand when the consort stepped in as they continued their journey back to the palace.
The prince kept shooting glances at the consort, who only stared out at the window of his side, keeping to himself.
When Daisuke asked him if anything was wrong, all (m/n) did was shook his head and replying in a polite manner.
The ravenette thought he broke his consort, all up until they arrived at the palace. (m/n)'s maids wailed in relief at the sight of him as they hurriedly tended to the consort, who still maintained his monotone expression.
Daisuke wiped his face in agony as Ivan asked what the hell had happened.
"I think...I was too rough on him..."
The secretary irked and ushered the prince into the throne hall to report to the emperor.
-
"How embarassing..."
(m/n) mumbled to himself, pulling at a soft handkerchief as the servants presented him a large treasure chest.
"It is a present from His Highness for you, Your Grace." The butler announced, opening the chest, revealing an abundance of shiny gold coins with jewels and gems scattered about. His maids behind him had their eyes shining, drooling over the treasure.
It had been a day since he returned from his escape. All he did was recuperate in his room from his tranquil state and he had slept early that evening so when the prince asked for dinner together, he didn't get to accept.
He felt like he made peace with his circumstances, with his arranged marriage, although he did felt abashed regarding the whole 'running away' incident. The consort plucked the card on top of the mountain of coins.
"For the villa..." He mumbled the words written on the card. "This prick." (m/n) rubbed his forehead as he turned to his maids.
"Help me get dressed. I'm paying a visit to my husband."
-
Daisuke was frustrated. There were some troubles stirring up at the Western borders and there were complications were the ministers refuse to cooperate to handle the increase in thugs and crime.
He was fast at writing down letters and signing documents but his mind wandered to his consort. There was his guilty conscience, screaming at him of why he treated his husband so roughly on their first night together.
A piece of himself tried to justify while the rest of him only felt remorse and thought they were back at square one when the consort didn't respond to his invitation for last night's dinner. He perked up when his door was pushed open.
-
(m/n) could hear gasps and whispers from the servants, he rolled his eyes and glared at a few of them who immediately scuttled away as he trotted past them. Ivan was behind him, he himself was taken aback when he requested to see Daisuke as he led him to the prince's office.
The guards bowed to him as they pushed the door open, revealing a shocked ravenette who had his mouth wide open in shock.
"(m/n)...I mean, Lord (m/n)! What are you doing here-" "Was this supposed to be compensation?"
Daisuke squinted his eyes at the card (m/n) was holding. The one he sent along with the treasure chest. "Compensation?" "Was this compensation for my body?"
Immediately, Ivan excused himself, shutting the doors close. Daisuke stood to defend himself. "What- no! It's for the villa. It's what you wanted, right?" (m/n) glared at the card before crushing it in his grip. "It felt like you only sent it because we slept together, Your Highness."
"I-" The prince sighed. "Look, I'm not in the mood to argue today. Can we just not do this?" He groaned, sitting back in his chair, going over the papers again. (m/n) stared at him before his eyes trailed to the rest of the interior.
Picture frames, bookshelves, even a lounge couch and a coffee table in burgundy and brown accents. He walked around the office, trailing his fingers over the decoration. "Do you stay in here often, Your Highness?"
Daisuke eyed the consort, his fingers massaging his forehead. "...I do. It's my office, I do all my paperwork here." (m/n) hummed, as he placed back a book he had pulled out, not fully understanding the writing.
"...I see that you're in distress, Your Highness. More than usual today." Daisuke wasn't sure if that was a jab at how heated he gets during their arguments or out of genuine concern. "...There's some trouble at the borders. The West is not cooperating currently. I'll have to refer to my father for this matter."
(m/n) leaned on the table, his palm close to Daisuke's hand as the consort kneeled down in front of the prince, pushing him and his chair back. "What are you doing?!" Daisuke had a clear blush on his face, his face abashed and (m/n) could already see the rising tent in his pants.
"...the sex yesterday was nice. It was really nice." "...Oh..." And here the prince was worried he was too malicious with the consort. "Usually, I'd prefer some physical aftercare." "Physical?" "Just...holding me would be nice."
(m/n) swiped or tied his hair back. "But it seemed that you are in need of a different type of care, Your Highness." Daisuke's eyes widened as the (h/c) tugged his zipper down.
He was jitterish, his fingers shaky as the consort gave him the best head he ever had. The first one, in fact and (m/n) left him in his office in a fucked out state, wiping his mouth.
His personal guard peeked inside to see Daisuke drooling on his desk, his eyes rolled to the back of his head.
Ever since then, the consort had frequent visits to the Grand Palace where Daisuke resided. He would often lounge in his office while the prince worked and Daisuke really favoured this new outcome.
They would banter every now and then but it wouldn't turn into a full-blown argument and he was grateful for that on its own. Meals were shared and they would go on walks in the garden together, he found out the (h/c) preferred the greenhouse the most.
They even went on a date! A tour of the capital like Daisuke had promised on their wedding day although he couldn't deny he was a bit jealous when (m/n) revealed some of the places he brought the (h/c) to had been visited by him and his guards.
Speaking of, Daisuke replaced all of the knights that had previously attended to the consort, switching out with older and more loyal guards, some of them returning from wars. The prince just wanted to make sure (m/n) had no paladdins he would be attracted to.
"You can always claim me again." The (h/c) bit the ravenette's ear when Daisuke told him of the new rearrangement. Cue to them fucking like rabbits in the library, knights were scarred as they stood guard outside.
It also seemed that the prince was slowly introduced to public affection. (m/n) touching him fondly or even teasingly in open places. He wasn't used to this but he was slowly adapting. He was also very pleased when he received no more reports of the (h/c) fooling around with other men, maybe his faux warning worked a bit too well.
Although the consort had been acting a bit too bold lately.
"What do you mean I can't enter?! He's my husband!"
Daisuke quickly diffused the situation, fetching (m/n) who was outside of his chambers, arguing with some of the guards who had refused his entry due to him occupied in the bath.
"Next time, let him pass freely." He whispered to one of the paladdins as (m/n) slumped on Daisuke's bed, noting the immediate sinking the mattress had. He propped himself up sideways while the maids helped the prince tidy himself up after his bath.
The (h/c) frowned, seeing the ravenette exposed around others, with water droplets dripping down his muscles, his bathrobe giving a window to his chest, and the fluffy robe was NOT hiding the fact that he had a huge dick.
"How long are they going to be here?"
As soon as those words escaped the consort's lips, half of the maids present froze, hesitating to continue with their chores as Daisuke turned to his husband.
"Do you prefer I use butlers instead?" He offered to switch, he didn't want (m/n) to have any discomfort of him being bare around the opposite sex.
"...No." "...Then is there a problem?"
(m/n) had been lying on his stomach, swinging his legs playfully before he rolled himself over on his back. "It's best if they weren't in the room for now." He purred, looking at Daisuke dead in the eyes as he teasingly spread his legs.
"Oh." The prince slapped himself in the face, letting his palm stay on his cheek as he sat there in growing arousal. "Leave."
The servants followed as they're told and the prince raised his face when the door clicked shut. "You ought to stop being so bold, Lord (m/n)." He groaned, although stripping himself and climbing over the (h/c).
"Just (m/n) is fine." The consort purred, wrapping his arms around the prince's neck, swiping his tongue on his lips together.
The longer Daisuke was around (m/n), the more he realised how much of a vixen he had in his arms. The (h/c) was so experienced and demanding in bed, intentionally moaning loudly about how big his cock is just so he could embarrass Daisuke although the prince was more than happy to indulge into his carnal desires.
The prince stared up at the ceiling, the room was dark, curtains shut closed, his plans to venture out to the ministry cancelled, he laid in his bed next to the similarly naked consort.
In his mind, he thought back to his childhood dreams, of owning a fairytale love story.
"What are you thinking of?"
He glanced to his left to see (m/n) on his side, staring at the prince while pulling up the blanket up to his chest. "Nothing, really." "Liar, you were really deep in thought."
"..." Daisuke contemplated whether he should reveal his childish dreams. "...When I was a kid, my father would tell me stories. Storybooks, of prince and princesses. And I thought that maybe one day, I get to have my own fairy tale too."
The consort next to him was quiet, although he didn't see his expression, still staring up to his painted ceiling.
"And I just thought of the present."
There were some rustling and the consort placed his head directly next to his, touching shoulders. (m/n) was frowning, his arm reaching to hug Daisuke at his waist. "I mean, life changes doesn't it? The fact that we're even tolerating each other is something we should be thankful for."
"That is true." "You're still in fret. Did you not get the happy ending you desired?"
The prince actually gave some thought into it. A stupid decision, and it hurt the consort. "It was not the one that I expected but I'm satisfied regardless."
"...Good to know..."
Daisuke felt the consort pull back and faced his body away from him. The prince pondered for a moment at the sudden change in behaviour. He wordlessly went up behind the (h/c), pulled him close, his chest to (m/n)'s back and silently went to sleep, unaware of the brewing storm thundering in the consort's mind.
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[END SCENE]
[unedited]
PREVIEW FOR...
DEAREST HUSBAND [PART II]
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ROYALLY FUCKED [PART III]
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Afterthoughts...
Daisuke and (m/n) after discovering hate sex:
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Surprise! This will be a three-part installment. I forgot how much I loveee writing historical fiction and i just had so many ideas i couldnt fit them into one!
I really did try to aim how the reader isnt completely in the right although he is somewhat justified (will be further explored). Theres some clashing where Daisuke Yuichi is canonically Japanese but the aesthetic here is European-based so please forgive my inaccuracy this one time. I thought of involving interracial marriage but i didnt want to overcomplicate things.
If you read the part where Daisuke asked how (m/n)'s language was good, it hinted that one of the other reason our reader arrived late to the palace was him sleeping around with men of the East.
And yeah, the ending part. Daisuke lowkey in the wrong. I would be so offended if my husband said that, idc if arranged or not.
Ill release the second chapter if i like how the audience receives this one! (As in if u guys like it or not haha) im very hoping to find a beta reader btw. Stay tuned!
Taglist:
@tehyunnie @rainnyydaysworld @webwanderer @a-short-ass-disappointment @chikai-k @mello-life25 @miyuuuki @simpsations @sugar-p0p @kiiyoooo @helloanime @garlicforthewin @jaxyy219 @mikahrh @gayaristocrat @m4r13ll @pinxeajin @gyarukitti @syyyy4ever
1K notes · View notes
saintobio · 6 months
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LONG LIVE THE VILLAINESS !
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amidst the tale of sweetest love and bitterest revenge, the fallen empress is cast back ten years into the past to correct her sins and avoid eternal damnation, even at the price of betraying her once husband, the very cause of her downfall.
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♱ pairings. gojo satoru, fem!reader
♱ genre. enemies-to-lovers, period piece, medieval au
♱ tags. ooc, regression, crown prince!gojo, noble lady!reader, politics, classism, clan wars, religion (catholicism), misogyny, violence, war, rebellion, suggestive, smut, gore, double life, explicit language, more to be added
♱ notes. this fic draws heavy inspirations from the webnovel ‘sister, i am the queen in this life’ and manhwa of the same name. it’s basically a fanfic of that series bc i am obsessed with it :’D
♱ status. on-going (slow updates)
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♱ SECOND TIMELINE TO AS YOU LIKE IT ♱
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PROLOGUE.
ACT I. THE LADY
ACT II. THE CROWN PRINCE
ACT III. THE KNIGHT
ACT IV. THE STAR CROSSED LOVERS
ACT V. THE BLESSED
ACT VI. THE SIN
ACT VII. THE REVELATION
ACT VIII. THE ENEMY
ACT IX. THE LOVER
ACT X. THE EMPRESS
EPILOGUE.
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PROLOGUE 
Like plunging beneath the surface of water and then, abruptly, breaking through to the air above—your body jolted as if awakening in a new world altogether. You drew in a long breath, your eyes fluttering open to reveal the ceiling, both familiar yet unfamiliar in its greeting. Swiftly, you surveyed your surroundings, noting with growing recognition the confines of your old room within the De Roma estate. The estate! 
You were not in the palace of Caelum, but in the estate of House De Roma. A surge of realization flooded through you as you dashed towards the nearest mirror, confronting your reflection with wide, startled eyes. 
No... could it be... that you have returned to your body, ten years prior?!
In the mirror, the reflection staring back at you was not that of the notorious wife of the tyrant Emperor Satoru, but of a 20-year-old maiden, the eldest daughter of Duke de Roma, with fuller cheeks and a more youthful appearance. You could not shake the feeling of disbelief, wondering if this was all just a dream, so you reached out to touch your arms and felt the flesh beneath your fingers, trying to convince yourself that this was an unexpected reality.
Oh, you were back. You found yourself returned to your former self, a decade younger, but now armed with the knowledge of your past life's actions and their consequences. Alongside this newfound understanding, the gift of clairvoyance had also been bestowed upon you.
And for what? Why had the heavens above returned you to your body? Was it for revenge, a second chance, or perhaps punishment?
Suddenly, a loud, deafening sound pierced your ears, and a blinding white light enveloped your vision. Your body became as still as a statue, and it felt as though your soul was transported to a fourth dimension where divine intervention seemed a lot more plausible to exist.
As your soul hovered in the liminal space between life and death, you found yourself standing before a figure cloaked in billowing robes, her presence commanding and her gaze piercing. This figure was Fortuna, the ancient Caelan goddess of fortune and fate, her visage austere and unforgiving.
“Are you aware of the sins that stain your soul?” 
“Have you felt the weight of your transgressions, the consequences of your actions that have wrought suffering upon your people and brought ruin to your empire?”
Her voice echoed through the realm with the divine judgment that weighed upon your conscience, while her gaze penetrated to the core of your being and demanded honesty and accountability in the face of your past misdeeds.
“Will you atone for your sins?” 
“Will you seize this opportunity for redemption, or will you squander it in self-pity and remorse?”
As you stood in the presence of the ancient goddess, grappling with the heaviness of your sins and the daunting task ahead, a brilliant light had all of a sudden illuminated the space around you. From the heart of this radiant glow emerged the figure of Archangel Raphael, his presence heralded by a chorus of angelical voices and the stirring of celestial winds.
Clad in robes that seemed to shimmer with the intensity of celestial light, Archangel Raphael's presence commanded attention, his wings unfurled behind him in a display of resolute authority. If Goddess Fortuna was intimidating, the archangel was fearsome all the more. His gaze, intense and penetrating, swept over you with a gravity that left no room for evasion or deceit.
“Empress of Caelum,” he spoke, his tone firm and unyielding, and his voice carrying a billion years of heavenly existence, “You stand accused of grievous sins, crimes that have shaken the very foundations of your empire and brought suffering upon your people.”
There was no trace of softness in Archangel Raphael's demeanor, no room for mercy in the face of wrongdoing. His presence was a testament to the uncompromising nature of divine justice, his strictness a reflection of the solemn duty entrusted to him as an Archangel of the Almighty. This, no doubt, was the face of a true and formidable executor of justice.
And you, the subject, had angered the divine beings that guarded the Caelan Empire, so much so that God himself sent the goddess of the land and one of his archangels to mitigate your rightful punishment.
“By the decree of the Almighty, you are granted a second chance to amend your sins and redeem your soul. You shall return to the mortal realm, to live your life anew and correct the sins that have stained your soul.”
“Should you fail to rectify your past transgressions, should you stray from the path of righteousness and succumb once more to the temptations of darkness, know that the consequences shall be severe and eternal.”
“For those who squander the gift of divine mercy shall be cast into the deepest depths of hell, where they shall endure a punishment of unending torment and suffering.”
In the presence of Archangel Raphael and Goddess Fortuna’s equally stern gazes, you were keenly aware of the magnitude of your transgressions and the severity of the judgment that awaited you. But even as you trembled beneath the weight of their scrutiny, you knew that their presence also offered you the opportunity for redemption, with your only task to prove yourself worthy of divine mercy.
Indeed, it was by your very hands that hundreds and thousands of Christian souls shed their blood. Innocent lives, both young and old, were cruelly taken at your command. The citizens of Caelum who fell sick from the spread of the plague. The esteemed Caelan advisors of your husband’s primogenitors, skinned alive and speared in pikes by the Tiber River. The wrongly accused maid who suffered the indignity of serving your husband, paraded unclothed through the streets and subjected to the brutality of the pear of anguish. The gallant and dignified knight, tortured mentally and physically in the atrocious dungeon. Now, you find yourself thrust back into the horrors of your former life ten years hence. A life of a noble lady who ought not to be blinded by her destructive love for the empire’s crown prince. 
Yet, could you truly navigate this life without ascending to the position as his empress?
As you tried to commune with the divine beings afore you, a haze in your vision transported you away from the heavenly space, realizing that you were already drawn back into the reality of your chamber, inhabiting the youthful frame of a twenty-year-old daughter of a duke. You found yourself too astonished to move, too shaken to speak, and too afraid to take any action in this new lease of life blessed upon you. At that very moment, your state of reverie was disrupted at the arrival of your maid, who entered your chamber in a humble servant garb.
Milena. The maid whose life was cut short by your hand in your past existence due to petty thievery. “My lady,” she spoke with a hint of respect and urgency, unaware of the ill-fate you had given her in your past life, “A visitor has arrived at the gates and requests an audience with you. Shall I show them in?” 
Too soon? Need it truly be so soon to engage with the people from your past life immediately after awakening to your old, yet younger body? Gazing upon your maid through the mirror, you asked, “Who is that intruder you speak of?” 
She bowed her head, her stance shifting into one of apologetic deference. The way she firmly stood by your door was a message to you that the intruder was not someone you could easily reject the presence of.
“The visitor is His Highness, Crown Prince Satoru.” 
⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶♱⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷
2K notes · View notes
missbunnybunny · 2 months
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❛❛ 𝕴 𝖜𝖔𝖐𝖊 𝖚𝖕 𝖆𝖘 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖔𝖑𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖆𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖔𝖋 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖌𝖔𝖙𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖉𝖚𝖐𝖊 𝕰𝖛𝖊𝖗𝖌𝖆𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖓.❜❜
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B-day post, sorry it's a little late.
- Enjoy!
Not Proofread, Not spell checked, Manipulation, Yandere, False Imprisonment. «🛑𝙼𝙳𝙽𝙸🛑»
Y/n stared at herself in the mirror. She touched her face in horror as she looked in the vintage mirror.
Running to open her window, she pushed it open, seeing that this was no way, shape or form her world.
For fuck sake, there was even a large gazebo in the backyard. That was rich people's shit.
There was a knock on the door, drawing her attention from the window view.
"My lady." a voice called.
" Come in!" Y/n yelled back as she stood in the middle of the large bedroom awkwardly.
A woman with tied black hair, and a maid's outfit enters the room with a wheeled cart.
" My lady, I came to bring you breakfast." the freckled maid smiled.
Y/n sat in her bed, distressed, what was she going to do.
Holding her head, Y/n looked at her maid, " I'm sorry, but what's your name."
" Oh! I'm Anny." the maid smiles, setting up the table for her mistress to eat.
" My memory is blurry, I don't remember last night." Y/n lies.
" That should be reasonable, you had a high fever last night," Anny explained, leading Y/n to the table.
" Would you remind me of everything? " You asked.
Anny clapped her hands smiling, " Yes."
Anny explained, that this was Frostfall kingdom. The royal family consisted of five members, the emperor, the empress, two princes, and the princess.
Mistress Y/n is a member of the Evergarden Duchesse. The family was constructed by, the duke, duchess, lady Y/n, her sister, and brother.
" And finally, I am your personal maid." Anny pointed at herself proudly.
After Anny explained everything to you, it dawned on you. This was Otome game! One that you didn't remember too much.
you had to go on pretending to be the daughter of the duke, but one thing you were glad of is that you will never meet the male lead. In fact, you didn't remember what they looked like.
Her mission for the time being was serving and finding a way out of this game.
" My lady. It's time to get ready." Anny announced, snapping you from your thoughts.
" Alright," Y/n responded back.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
After getting ready and doing all the tiring things a noble lady would do, you were making your way downstairs.
" My darling Daughter." Y/n heard an older voice calling out to her from behind.
The older woman hugged, Y/n before taking her face in hers and examining it. " Oh, dear. You have no idea how worried your father and I were." the duchess sighed.
" Sorry, Mother." Y/n apologized.
" No need, shall we go meet your father?" the duchess asked, taking her daughter's arm and walking away.
' Can't escape now,' Y/n thought, letting out a sigh. This was going to be a long day.
Making it to a large door, the duchess knocked on it twice, before receiving a response back.
Entering the room she spotted a man, covered in paperwork, with a man standing next to him.
" Dear, our dear daughter is here." His wife said.
The duke looked up before jumping from his seat and hugging Y/n.
It startled Y/n she thought this was a cliche, parents hate their kids and all but she was wrong.
The duke began to ask Y/n how she was feeling, if he could get her anything, almost spoiling her rotten.
The man still standing next to the duke's desk, clears his throat, " Your grace. The paperwork is not going to be doing itself." he warns.
This makes the duke have the face of a kicked dog as he reluctantly gets back to the workload waiting for him.
The duke is silently crying as he does his workload. He looks like a child doing his homework with his mom looking over his shoulder.
The duchess chuckles at her husband's antics before turning to her daughter.
"Dear, while your siblings are in the academy. Would you like to go out to town? This house can be stuffy." She sighs softly, placing her hand on her cheek.
" May I, Mother?" You asked, not hiding your excitement.
"Of course, dear, I'll have the butler ready a carriage." The duchess waves, a butler quickly leaving to comple his master's orders.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
— An hour had passed, and the carriage was ready. Y/n, with the help of the knight that was tasked with escorting her, enter her ride.
Anny had already entered, and she patiently awaited for her lady to enter so the journey could begin.
" There is a market in town and many wonderful places, my Lady." Anny smiled, listing off future plans.
The ride to town was uneventful. The sinery was peaceful and beautiful, and the trees swayed with the breeze.
The ducks and swans swam os the water as if they were dancing. The sunlight glittering their feathers like pears and jewels.
Anny was excited as she talked your ear off. It was pleasant, and you would indulge her in conversation once in a while.
The city came into view, with many colorful flags, stalls, and caravans. It was a sight to see, like a festival in your world but with the expectation of elves, witches, orcs, dragons, and so on.
Anny's eyes began to sparkle as she looked at the many things to partake in. And as soon as the carriage stopped she all but jumped from her seat.
She was more excited than you, making you smile at her antics.
There was a soft knock on the door, and the voice of her knight escort, " My lady, you can exit now." he was holding the door open, for both her and her maid.
" Thank you," You smiled kindly at the man and took his hand as you exited your ride.
Looking around you marbled, joy pumping in your veins as to the many things you could see.
"Ah, my lady! Look at the food stand. And that one selling jewels."
Anny pointed from one stand to the next, "Shall we have a look at the jewel stand over there." Y/n laughed.
Y/n's knight, Ray, nodded at her statement. Walking to the many stands Y/n felt drawn to one in particular, it was being run by an elf.
The kind owner smiled warmly like the sun, showcasing the many items they had. A neckless and a bracelet, called to you as if befallen upon a spell.
" I would like these two, please," Y/n asked, pointing at the wanted items.
" Ah yes, those are quite unique items." They said, taking the jewels from their case and giving it to them.
" How much would that be?" Y/n asked. The owner simply asked for two gold coins and she was happy to pay.
Y/n handed the bracelet to Anny, in a way showing thanks.
Anny took you and your guard around the town, walking for what felt like hours. When you asked your escort what time it was, he informed you that 2 hours had passed.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
Anny's stomach grumbled, making her blush and try to cover her abdomen.
This made you chuckle at how shy she was, "Anny, we can stop to get some food." You smiled, "Look that restaurant looks perfect."
Her eyes shined, and her smile widened before she shyly told you she couldn't ask for such a thing.
"Nonsense," you spoke. Taking her hand and sitting her down. A waiter asked how he could help you.
Anny ordered a small desert and a drink while you ordered your favorite cake and drink.
Your maid thanked you again, saying that you were a kind mistress to her.
Your orders had arrived by then, and the cake was delicious.
You didn't notice the clocked figure suddenly stopping in their tracks as they looked at you.
A smaller clocked figure ran up to them whisper yelling, " Your highness! Please wait."
"What is it, Alan?" They asked, still looking forward.
"The crown prince can't be wandering around." Alan scolded.
" I am not wondering around, I'm trying to find leads for the recent murders in town." He respondes, eyes fixed on the way your lips parted as you ate.
From what family were you? How could there be such alluring, mesmerizing beauty in such a person?
He reluctantly looked away from your smiling face and forced himself to walk away. He has a duty to uphold, for the kingdom
Looking around, you sighed, the sun felt so nice on your skin. The fresh air and the sweet pasty lifted your stress, but only for a while.
The sound of multiple marching steps made you look over Anny's shoulder, the kingdoms knight were on patrol.
They looked serious and professional. Anny's voice drew your view away, " Shall we take a look at dress shops, or would you fancy some shoes, my lady?"
Giving her a close eyed smile, you responded that sitting here for a few more minutes would be just fine.
A knight became slightly uncoordinated, your smile had his heart beating fast and wildly. His face became flushed pink, before he continued on his way.
What beautiful smile you had, blinding like sun and warm like the summer breeze.
He wanted to look at your beauty more so he could burn the image in this mind.
The dress you're wearing brings out your beauty, it suits you, anything that you would wear would look beautiful on you.
The thought of leaving his job to work as your personal knight, from what family are you? Is that your personal knight next to you?
Fuck, his superior is calling him out to pay attention.
Standing up, Anny and your knight follow closely behind. The sun was getting lower, and some stalls were closing.
A thought crosses your mind, you should get a gift for your 'parents.' Y/n made her way to a boutique. As you walked to one that caught your eye, you heard something fall.
A man with his arm full of books and other things rushed past you.
Looking down, you spotted what he dropped, a star shape battle it midnight liquid. It was pretty, but you knew it was important.
"Hey, wait!" You called out.
You run up to him, finally catching him, "Y-You dropped this." You huffed exhausted, lifting the bottle up to him.
He looked at you. You were pretty. Who were you? "Ah, thank you." He spoke softly.
"From what family are you?" He asked, curiosity getting the best of him.
" Oh, I'm from—" "My Ladya we have to hurry." Anny yelled.
"Ah, sorry." Y/n bows before running off into the crowd.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
Your knight carried a couple of bags full of clothes or other things. You argued that you should at least carry some stuff.
You carried 3 boxes, one of jewelry and two of shoes. It might have been a mistake, cuz right now, you couldn't see where you were going.
And bang, your boxes fell, and so did you. An arm caught you, he was tall, " Are you okay?" He asked.
"Ah, yes." You smiled, trying to stand up, but you stumbled forward. He noticed your heel had broken.
"Sorry, " he says, embarrassed, your knight and maid are by your side worried.
He fixes his hood, " Please sit," he said, taking you to a bench.
He runs off, leaving you a little confused. Now you sat at the bench missing a shoe.
He dissappears off into a shop, you think. Before he returned with a box in his hands.
"I apologize here." He kneels, making you blush. He opens the box and changes your shoes.
Now you are the proud owner of a new pair of shoes.
Damn, princess syndrome is gonna hit you hard when you get home.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
Inside the carriage, you arrived at your home. You see a very handsome man outside your family door, seemingly being seen off by your father.
" Father," Y/n waves happy, as her knight helps her off.
Your father smiles, greeting you with a hug and giving you a kiss on the cheek.
"Y/n dear, this is the duke." Your father introduced.
The Duke looks at you amused.
"H-Hello," you say, blushing. This man was making you nervous.
He smiles, taking your hand in his and kissing the back of it, "My lady," his voice was deep.
He chuckles, seeing your face burn bright red. You look at anything but him.
"I must say my goodbyes," he smiled, giving your father a handshake and your hand another kiss.
He leaves the state.
"Father, I have some gifts for you." You say happily.
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
The party is in full swing. You most admit your father is a great party host. A beautiful woman dressed elegantly caught your eye.
The female lead.
The clock is turning, but this time, you don't know of the unknown route that the kingdom is walking into.
Can you survive?
Will you survive this new change?
✦✧✧ ☆ ✧✧✦
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anthemisarts · 1 year
Text
Aftg, Empire and palace dramas AU ✨️
A little idea I'm working on .I will develop more of this, and maybe I will make a series of drawings creating a small plot .
the empire of foxes ???
Kevin, emperor
Andrew,soldier
Neil,runaway prince
And why not a Kevin, young emperor of the little kingdom of foxes?, after fleeing from the Empire of the Crows .and Neil, the runaway prince, who spent his childhood with Kevin and Riko to become one of them emperor of the Raven Kingdom. And of course, Andrew, a soldier, who fought against his own monsters and villains, now fights against those of others.
a silly idea, that I want to develop .
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melonminnie · 3 months
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I was looking for fanfics of Atil x reader 😭 I just read yours it was really good
Can I please request another 😭 like reader is Atil’s childhood friend and they meet after a long time in a ball. But she dances with Fjord in the ball instead of him so he gets pissed and corners her in the garden (you know those manhwa scenes)
BTW if you can, please write Your name instead of Y/N 😭
Can you make them at least 15-17 (not too young or old)
IN the gardens ☆: .˚ Atil x fem! reader
AUTHOR NOTE: Also, I tried complying with the request 100 precent so bear with me I haven't written in so so so long so mind the grammar because English is not my first language, I came back from the writing grave bc i lob writing abt atil
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"THIS is your new playmate, Atil!" cheered his nanny, pushing the small girl a step towards the prince. It was very clear to the then eight-year-old prince that you two wouldn't get along.
If you left, Atil thought he wouldn't miss you. For the brunette, you were the most boring person to ever exist. Hell, the boy marked his calendar to the day you would leave, with a big red circle around the day and the words 'She'll finally leave'.
While Atil had completely forgotten that the calendar exists, the cruel words of the eight-year-old were right there for her to see. You weren't meant to see it; he should've hidden it, should've tucked it under his pillow.
Eight-year-old, your name saw them, and of course, you were hurt. Of course, you cried and got mad at him. But luckily, you two made up; he removed the markings on the calendar.
Eventually, you left. He begged you not to, but you did, and for 9 years, you remained in the back of the prince's mind.
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9 years later,
Atil thought you looked familiar, familiar in a way he's known you before, seen you in drawings, had you memorized in his brain, and it clicked. Fuck, was he happy when he remembered.
All the memories, all the words, the questions he wanted to ask you. But for some reason, he couldn't.
It wasn't until the next day that Atill found out why he couldn't talk to you. You were simply too beautiful for him to talk to anymore. Too stunning, an angel maybe.
The ball that Atill had held, one of the first balls for him to even hold as the current emperor of the empire, was a week-long, so he wasn't worried about time.
But what worried him was if he would ever get the courage to talk to you ever. He hoped that maybe, just maybe, you'd remember him.
So, the next day came, morning came and went, the sky growing dark, unseeable stars twinkling. The castle was abuzz, and so was the capital, nobles arriving at the palace in their pearly carriages, and those who worked there passing along the long halls, food and wine in trays.
Atil stood there, for once, maybe in his life, he felt absolutely dumbfounded. He really didn't know what to do.
"Hi, Atill, remember me?" With the voice came a tap on his shoulder. While the voice grew softer, Atill knew who it was, his childhood friend, one of his only friends.
"Your name."
"Your name?" he asks, turning to face you. You nod to his question. And he smiles, "how long has it been? Nine years?" he asks.
"I think so, time moves fast. You're now the emperor, hm?" she responds, grabbing dessert from one of the servants that passed by them.
"Soon to be. Will you be there for the ceremony?" he asks once more. This time, you don't answer as everyone moves toward the ballroom. Atill follows suit.
For the first ten minutes, there was no dancing, no nothing, till one person asks the other and soon everyone follows, asking the person they've been eyeing or with the higher status.
Atill rejecting every one of them for one reason. He wanted to dance with you and only you. For the first time since he saw you at the ball since day one, Atill wanted to ask you, and he wanted to be the only man to ever dance with you that night.
Unfortunately, to his dismay, a particular white-haired boy, one that he despised with his entire being, Fjord Bharrat, had asked you to dance. Why? he didn't know. He didn't even know that Fjord even knew you, considering he had never met you.
But you were stunning, and almost every person there had been looking at you. Or maybe it was because Fjord saw Atill eyeing you and wanted to annoy him.
Annoyed and not particularly wanting to dance with anyone but you, Atill heads to the garden. He had half a mind to head to the maze garden, but he knew neither his friend Pie nor his butler would appreciate his disappearance.
So, he stood there, like a pretty decoration, if you will, bored out of his mind, his eyes following your movements. Atill was mad, yes, not at you, at the future duke who was dancing with you.
After a few more songs, Atill took his eyes off of you for one second to get a drink, and when he returned, you were no longer there. He searched everywhere, but you disappeared. And he knew one place he could look for you.
Making his way outside, the grass was damp from rain or from drunk guests spilling their drinks; he didn't know.
He saw you almost instantly. He's always seen you, really. Atill liked to believe that the first time he noticed you was the beginning of him always noticing you.
To him, you stuck out like a sore thumb. You were always there in the background, but really the main part of the event for him always would have been you. How could it be anyone else?
"Your name? What are you doing here?" the brunette called out, inching closer towards you every second till he stood next to you.
"Oh, you know, I'm just sitting here enjoying the atmosphere," She responded. She wasn't really lying. It was stuffy inside, the air choking her, taking its sweet time till she couldn't bear it anymore. Or maybe it was the white-haired male dancing with her. He really looked like he didn't want to be dancing with her.
Which made her wonder why he even bothered asking her to dance in the beginning.
"Why did you dance with him?" Atill asked, kneeling till he reached your height as you were sitting on the bench, his full attention on you.
"'Cause he asked me to? Don't tell me you're angry I danced with him," Your name scoffed. If he wanted, she thought he could have asked her to dance himself instead of getting upset about her dancing with others.
"Maybe," he whispered, causing the girl to somehow frown even more than she was frowning internally. "Well, your majesty, you have no right to be angry because someone danced with me had you wanted you could have asked me to dance not just sit there like a decoration."
"You're right, but I couldn't ask you when the Bharat brat had gotten to you first," he replied, now frowning as much as you were.
"So, cornering me in the garden was your only approach?" she spoke after an eternity.
Atill shifted, his forehead pressing against yours. "You're going to ruin my hair, Atill. Go away before I kick you."
"I'm sorry, your name. I really desperately wanted to dance with you. I wasn't fast enough, but I very badly wanted to," he whispered, meeting your eyes.
"Will you dance with me tomorrow then, your Majesty?" Your name asked.
"Of course, I will," Atill answered.
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prettyboykatsuki · 2 years
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malice of a pretty face | scaramouche (wanderer)
✮ tags ; adapted from genshin canon but not genshin canon, gn!reader, forced marriage but they ally together, role reversal, scaramouche is called bride mostly jokingly, physically smaller than reader, reader has a female concubine in their bed and kisses them / had sex w them, reader is a tyrant ruler type, age gap (scara is 20 ish and reader is like 28), opium usage, raiden shogun is scara's mother who sold him out, political affairs, handjobs + making out 18+
✮ wc ; 3.4k
✮ a/n ; what if i want to be the tyrant emperor for a change huh. what then. also scaramouche is called bride but gender and stuff is whatever in this universe.
some background, this is not genshin techincally. its like adapted to be a royalty au. reader is a recent ruler of their homeland. scaramouche is a raidens son. he didn't get a lot of choice in coming but he has no political power in his homeland
(this is a rewrite of a concept i posted a while ago but i cant find the ask where someone tells me to expand so hope this finds u anon
✮ synopsis ; your "bride" hails from inazuma and comes to you dressed in white, with eyes full of lightning.
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A knock on your door snaps you out of your pointless thinking. Your close companion and Royal Advisor clears his throat before addressing you. 
“Your bride has been prepared for you,”
“Come in.” 
The brown door creaks as it opens, the gold embellishments on either side catching light. The hallway behind is empy but bright. Your advisor stands behind your esteemed guest with a look of mild exasperation. Subtle as it may be, it makes the corner of your lip quirk in amusement. At the door is your betrothed. 
Your bride comes to you wrapped in white. 
“I’ll leave you too it,” Says your advisor, code for please get along that has you nodding your head. You hum quietly, waving him away. He sighs as he shuts the door, leaving your guest standing at the door awkwardly. 
As the rumors have said so many times over, the Raiden Shoguns only heir is strikingly beautiful. Pale thing he is, white as a porcelain doll and nearly half your size. Even in the lowlights of your bedroom, the blurriness of candlelight, you can see the sharpness of his eyes. A signature purple, the color of royalty and trademark of the Inazuman dynasty and bloodline.
For a peace offering, he reeks of defiance. Just standing there with his arms crossed, fists clenched and jaw tight. He looks like he wants to burn the entire palace to the ground where he stands. You’re sure if you picked him apart enough he’d tell you just that. Intel tells you he’s easy to provoke, and for a Prince of his nation - he’s quite the fighter too. 
You aren’t sure how much he knows of this by now. Or if he knows that you’ve learned all sorts of things about him.
Most of all, he’s intriguing. Beautiful but prickly and poisonous. You’re captivated by how much he seethes. You tilt your head as your leg up, your back against the wall. You glance briefly at the concubine asleep in your bed, back exposed. Your robe is half-fallen over your shoulder, the bandaging on your chest and shoulder visible. 
You take a long inhale of the pipe resting on your bed, lungs filling with opium before you push it. Another cloud of smoke fills the room, relief in your back as you exhale. You tilt your head at him. 
“Will you stand there the whole time?” You ask placidly. It angers him even more for a reason you’re unable to discern. 
“Why would I get near a belligerent tyrant like you?”
You chuckle. Despite himself, there’s a tinge of anxiety to his protesting. He’s young and on guard. You’re sure your reputation with the Royal Harem has served you no favors, so he must think you’re going to pounce on him. 
You shake your head. 
“I like to sedate my prey before I eat it. I won’t lay a hand on you.” 
Surprised by your deduction, a flush draws on his features. You smile wispily, before another thought crosses your mind. His name dawns on you, Scaramouche you think it was. 
“Ah, or is it this that’s troubling you?” You say, gesture vaguely to the naked person in your bed laying comfortably “Should I send her away before we speak?” 
Your conversation stirs her. Scaramouche stares on. Instead you glance at the woman before you as she wakes, turning to her side. Barren skin save for jewelry, she runs her hands through her hair as she yawns. 
“Oh, Your Highness. Already another round? I hardly got any rest.” She pouts. Her behavior is amusing to you always.
“Not today. My spouse has come to visit, so I’m sending you back to your chambers.” You say smoothly. She pouts, sitting up. The sheets that covered her so thinly have fallen, revealing the rest of her. A set of gold anklets that match with gold necklaces and gold bracelet. She sits up on her knees and wraps her around your neck.
“How cruel,” She whines, rubbing herself against you “How could you abandon when you favor me so much, hm?” 
“You’re quite clever aren’t you? Trying to seduce me in front of my lover, and all?” 
She pulls back to giggle. 
“So you’ve seen through me. I don’t care for being sent away, you know?”
“What would you like as reconciliation?” You say.
“A kiss goodbye,” She replies easily. This time you look to Scaramouche. His face is burning red. 
“Is it alright with you?” 
He scoffs “As if it matters what I think.” 
“I’ve asked you haven’t I?” 
“Do as you please.” 
You laugh. He says as much but he can't help but stare. He looks embarrassed, albeit you can’t imagine which thing is troubling him so much. It’s entertaining.
You kiss her goodbye as she’s asked, though you know what type of kiss she’s asking for. A deep kiss, the kind where you have to hold her by the nape of her neck. Salacious in nature, where she squirms and holds the front of your robe. You pull away with a laugh, rubbing her lower lip. 
“Send my regards to everyone. It might be some time before I visit again.” 
“How heartbreaking. I’ll do as you wish, Your Highness.” She stands to her feet, pulling herself out of bed and putting on the clothes left on the floor with a sigh. Her feet pad against the marble floor as she walks away. 
She stops to look at Scaramouche before leaving, bowing her head in respect before standing back. She whispers something to him (that turns his face into a blushing mess once more) before patting him on the shoulder gently. 
“I’m off,” She says, waving a hand but not looking back. The door clicks back shut a second time, leaving the two of you alone in silence. You take another drag from your pipe. 
“Come. Sit.” 
He does as you ask this time, stomping with a characteristic frustration that you stop to laugh at internally. He sits on the corner of your mattress, legs crossed. You get to see him up close this time. What delicate features he has, he couldn’t be any older than 21. The white silks he’s dressed in are fine. A thin, lace collar goes up to his throat.  A skirt with high slits about the legs and lacy socks to cover the legs. He’s wearing something over it too, draped over his shoulders. You can see the cut-out of his chest. You only glance. Any longer than this and you’re sure he’ll protest. 
“What troubles you, my bride?” 
He grits his teeth. 
“I’m no bride.” 
“I know,” You say, without any hesitation “You’re the only filial son of the Great Raiden Shogun. I may be a tyrant, but I am no fool.” 
This information surprises him. He wears his emotions on his face, as expected. He’s not gotten so far without being clever. The bounty on his head is insurmountable. There’s a tension in the room, an unspoken heaviness in the air. Quite a fragile thing he is. 
“Then this, this marriage  - it’s fraudulent isn’t it?” He says, angry. You hum. 
“I knew before we wedded. Under the law of Tevyat and in the eyes of the Nation, you are my betrothed.” 
He’s catching up to all that you know. You know it all. The rumors of the cold and unyielding Raiden Shogun. The desolate lands of Inazuma, the loss of childhood and the change in the young man. Rumors of the angry Crown Prince and his bleeding heart. How he was sacrificed for power to your hands, for the eternal vision of Inazuma. 
Of course you know.
“Then why…if you know about me, then why?” 
“The Raiden Shogun offered you to me to get in my good graces. There’s political fairs involved but the simply reason is because I wanted to. You’re easy on the eyes.”
He ignores your flirtatious comment as you expect. 
“What are the political affairs?” 
“Inazuma wishes to strengthen it’s naval army and a small nation requires resources. Since I’ve only just gained power after killing the Emperor, my position for the throne is destabilized and marriage was the best option to stabilize it again,” You explain, already bored just hearing yourself. 
“We don’t gain anything from joining hands with Inazuma as it stands. And plenty of people have vouched desperately for my marriage. The simple answer is because an offer like the only child of the Raiden Shogun, who’s beauty is world-renowned is quite the tempting offer.” 
He looks down, away from you and you resist your own laughter. 
“I despise you,” 
“I know that too. That pretty face of yours doesn’t leave much for imagination. What will you do my dear? Will you run? Cry? Scheme into driving a knife in my heart? Lure me into security and disappear?” 
“...You’re personality is quite twisted.” 
“I’m curious about the faces you make, that’s all. What will you do, how will you react, how you think. But I do not intend to make you miserable. There’s much to discuss,” 
“....Why are you posing as if you’re kind?” 
“A caged animal will lash out for it’s freedom,” You say, titting your head to one side “But a looked after one will never bite the hand that feeds.” 
“Wouldn’t you be the one closer to an animal with your tendencies?” 
“A beast, I hear so often. My point is the same. If I intend to make you even a begrudging ally, I’m not interested in angering you. Nor forcing myself upon you for that matter,” You add the last part intentionally. 
“Disgusting,” He says, all while staring at the curve of your neck and your body “Really,” 
“I do not intend to force you, but if you’re so against the idea - I think it’d only be fair I’m allowed to see my concubines. It’s your choice.” 
He frowns at your explanation. You grin.
“Are you so troubled by it? Would you prefer I only long for you?”
“D-don’t word it like that.” He says, a shake in his voice. You hum, taking a long drag from your pipe. 
“Maybe you’re the sentimental type? A lover from the homeland? Or perhaps, you’re just too inexperienced to be confident?” 
You can see the exciting look on his face. That type of shame that very few nobles wear. Most of them degenerates, or liars. Prim and properly deceitful. You look at Scaramouche’s honest face and feel something between your legs. How much he wishes to admonish you, or even push you away but is all too curious to refuse. An expression like that is a jewel, a diamond waiting for polish. 
You have to chip around it, bit by bit. Too much force and you’ll scratch his beautiful surface, you only pull at him gently. Tease him so tenderly he can’t scurry off. 
“Shut up. You know nothing about me,” 
“If you’re unsure, you can always try. I can teach you much easier than most,” You say. You wonder if he’ll call your bluff. But he doesn’t. He sits and folds his hands in your lap. He reminds you a bit of those Glaze Lily’s all the way from Liyue. Cold and blue and eye-catching. 
Scaramouche does not call your bluff. He shifts to cover his legs and something is overwhelmed inside you. You hold your breath a little. So skittish. 
“There’s nowhere for me to return to,” He says first, surprising you, a bitterness in his tone that pleases you “It’s not like I want to stay here or be your ally. But returning to a place that has discarded me is even more disgusting.” 
“So we’re allies for now. Understood,” You say, glancing at him “Then, are you giving me permission to sleep with you?” 
His eyes widen, face reddening to an impossible degree. A belly laugh leaves you. What a simple person in the end. 
“You―W-we have to consummate the marriage, don’t we? A-and if I stay here, I’ll have power. Leaving it open means it’ll be nullified and―” 
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. If you feel too embarrassed about your desires, you may spread rumors about simply quelling my appetite,” You say with a mild expression, intending it with sincerity “It’d be a shame to do nothing when you’ve dressed up so nicely for your arrival. Come closer,” 
Your comment must bother him, but he resigns himself. He does as he’s asked, slowly getting on his knees and crawling towards you. His eyes are erratic, skin flush. He’s simply sitting across from you and he can’t look at you directly. You’re a little astonished by the extent of his innocence, especially with all the violent rumors around him. You blow out the flame of your pipe, and lean to one side away from you.
Then you stretch your legs out, placing your hands gently on his waist so he doesn’t startle. You manuever so he’s stradling you, his knees on either side of your thigh. Looking at him closely is exciting. There’s makeup on his face. Crushed pink pigment smeared on his lip and smoothed with oil and eyes lined with something dark. You reach your hand up to cup his face, and he manages not to flinch. 
Though you can hear his heart beat. It’s tremendously loud. Nervous.
“Relax, I won’t eat you, for now. I’ll take take responsibility. Have you kissed anyone?” 
“S-so what if I haven’t?” 
“We’ll start there. Close your eyes and follow me.” 
He listens obediently again, closing his eyes. His hands are clenched over his knee. You grab them and let them rest over your shoulders before sneaking your hand to the side of his face. You lean in to kiss him gently, his skin soft. He smells like lavender and oats, the hairs on his nape brushing against your fingers delicately. His lips are soft as you start slowly, opening your mouth just a little. He learns quickly, following your actions without trying to take lead. 
You pull away and do it again. Again and again and again until you’re used to the pace. You use your free hand to squeeze at his delicate waist, relishing in how easily he succumbs to the feelings. He lets out something like a moan that embarasses him near immediately as he pulls away. He’s clumsy but it’s cute, and makes you want to kiss him more. 
He turns his head, using his wrist to cover his mouth which you grab swiftly. You grab his chin too, rubbing your thumb on his lip. 
“Open your mouth and stick your tongue out,” You say, a little more eager than last. He makes a face but listens. You mimic him before kissing him one more time. The feeling of your tongue must surprise him. Either way, his body responds so beautiful. He nearly melts in your arms as you wrap them around his waist, fingers dancing to any bare skin you can. He makes a pretty, pitchy sound for you but doesn’t pull away this time. 
When you stop kissing him, his face looks hazy. Frustrated, he almost goes to chase your mouth but stops himself. You smirk just barely, before busying your mouth on his chin. Open kisses trace his jaw as you lean into his pulse. 
It beats under your teeth, his heart does, so red and so loud. For a minute you really do want to eat him alive, devour him in one swallow. But you restrain yourself from such desires, instead putting little marks on his body for tommorrow. So everyone knows not to say anything about his status. He can resent you later but for now, it’s a safety precaution. 
He makes sounds like a melody, a string insturment in the warm sun. There’s something divinely beautiful about him. His body reacts to your simple touches, a shiver running up his spine as you kiss his neck and grope him lightly. It excites you, those innocent reactions. Makes something stir in your gut and grow hot between your legs. 
You feel something shift underneath you. When you look, there’s something hard poking from his clothes. It makes a tent in the delicate fabric where he stands. You pull away just to stare at it, amused by how hard he is.
“Stop looking at it or I’ll gouge your eyes out,” 
“It’s cute,” You say with conviction, wrapping your hands around the base with the fabric and squeezing the base “I should get to look,” 
“W-what are you?” 
“I’ll bet a stuck-up prince type like you didn’t get much education. There are more ways than one to feel pleasure than sticking it in. I’ll show you, so don’t run away,” 
He doesn’t have the words to protest. He doesn’t refuse you, just watches through his hands. You rub him so slightly through the thin material. Can see it clear with your eyes adjusted. It fits easily in your palm, tip harsh pink and curved. You place your thumb over the tip, smearing the pre-cum leaking onto the fabric. He’s so sticky, so hard and hot in your palms. 
“It’d be better if I touched you directly, but you’re cute like this. So lewd,” 
He has nothing to say. A whine or protest gets cut short with a groan of pleasure. You laugh a little. You search the bed for a bottle of oil with your free hand. When you find it, you pull away and drip it into your hands. 
“Hold this up for me.” You say softly. He hesitates but does, pulling the skirt up until his cock is visible. You rub the oil into your hands, warming it before wrapping around the shaft. The skin-to-skin proves to be a lot for him, his body already trembling though you’ve hardly touched him. He’s much heavier like this, His cock is smooth and he’s near hairless, You can see so much of him, the plane of his stomach and the musculature of his thighs. 
He’s got lithe muscle, nothing too hard or too defined but there all the time. He’s got a dip in one of his hips and a mole that you’ll kiss some other time, just above where you’re touching. You wonder if there’s more. Once you have your way with him you’ll count. 
You stroke him slowly and easily. Any more than this might be cruel since this much action seems to be too much. You watchi his expression as you build to a steady pace, paying special attention to the head. His expression is debauched. Inexperienced as you expected, but perhaps even more than that - sensitive. He’s throbbing against the curves of your roughened skin, gasping and holding hard onto your shoulder as he tries to keep himself tight in one place. You lean your head forward, kissing just under his pec. 
“This is as far as I’ll go today. Cum for your beloved, hm? Show me your face?” 
That seems to do it for him. The use of lover in such a context pushes him over the edge and it only takes two more strokes to spill into your fingers. Thick, hot ropes of cum makes a mess of your fingers as he ruts his cock into your palms chasing his high.
When he’s finished, he nearly collapses into your lap. It sedates all of his previous angers, something you note in the back of your mind. 
You bring your hand up your mouth, tasting it. He gasps, scandalized. 
“That’s dirty!” 
“I’ve done worse. Besides it wasn’t bad. Hand me that,” You gesture. He tosses you the rag to wipe your hand with and you toss it in the basket at the end of your bed. Before he can push you away, you pull him into your arms and laydown. 
“What are you doing?” He says, indignant. 
“Holding you,” You say without blinking, looking down at him. You wrap your arms around his waist and let him cuddle into you “The concubines get angry if I don’t after,” 
“...Don’t talk about them right now,” 
You laugh “Right, sorry.” 
“....What about me?” 
You laugh a little at him pretending he isn’t worried. 
“I know you said not to mention it but I’m all worn out for today. So get some sleep. I’ll have my Advisor prepare more in the morning but you should rest.” 
“Ugh. Fine. If you insist,” He says, melting into you anyway. You laugh to yourself as he closes his eyes. 
You’ve signed up for something fun.
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123puppy · 2 months
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Human RadioApple Aladdin AU:
Prince Alastor, often sneaks out, is barely seen outside the Palace walls so no one knows what he really looks like, draws blood on the streets, primarily royal's blood (because they're pompous fucks)
Downright rejects hands of marriage, wants nothing to do with relationships
Lucifer, an Emperor from another land, visited Alastor's 'territory' but was only there to sight-see
Lucifer bumps into Alastor and conveniently knocks his hoddie off, letting Lucifer see a beautiful face squinting down at him
And Alastor, snaps at Lucifer "Watch where you're going" and hurries off, pulling his hoodie back up
Lucifer stares as he watches the pretty man leave, snaps out of his stupor, and goes to call out to him, but something catches his eye in the sand and he finds a nice pair of glasses
Did these belong to the man? Is he walking around without glasses!?
Spoiler: Alastor went to Rose's market, he's memorized it for years now, and automatically tracks down a single path that has fewer people he can bump into and quickly asks if she could offer him a new pair of glasses, a hefty bag of gold in one hand
Rosie is a lovely woman, quite the gal, and is loved by everyone within the town, but she and Alastor's relationship is something else, they're THE best of friends, the gossips, THE duo, they complete each other, and Alastor can always rely on her
So it comes as no surprise she knows that clumsy oaf Alastor had lost his glasses too, and what a feat! An Emperor!
Sadly Alastor couldn't stay, he wanted to learn more about this man but he couldn't be out for too long, he had another 'suitor' to sick Nifty onto, or his grumpy Black Panther Husky, the poor cat enjoys a hunt more than an easy meal
Fortunately and unfortunately, Lucifer has a whole month to chase after this mysterious hoodie figure, and Alastor DOES NOT enjoy the stalking one bit
How is he going to off people with this little King on his tail???
So imagine his frustration when he finally murders someone in cold blood (a greedy tax collector heh), disposes of the body, heads back to get some sleep, and hears familiar footsteps following him
Ugh...
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redtippedfox · 10 months
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Hi welcome to my page!
I'm a Miraculous obsessed fangirl who makes fanfiction and draws fan art and illustrations for my fanfictions. If you're looking for a certain fanfiction then down below are my works. Just read the summary and be on your way!
Updates can be slow sometimes but will eventually be updated in time.
Make sure to read the tags before you read! All Characters in these stories are aged up to adults, some stories have mature content so read at your own risk.
Have a good day!
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Timey Wimey... Uh Oh
After her whole team has been akumatized and now runs free from the Butterfly Miraculouses hold. Marinette down with only three miraculouses was sent tumbling through time thanks to Future Bunnix saving her from her team's clutches in a last-minute escape right before Chat Blanc got his hands on her. But seriously? Getting stuck in the past for a year, of course, everything goes wrong on the day of the Prime Queen interview. Now she’s stuck in the past and thanks to her team using akumatized Bunnix her identity has been revealed in the grandest way ever…on the Prime Interview by her Akumatized teammates.
With only the butterfly and peacock miraculouses as her aid, Marinette and past Marinette must fight to get her team back before they rip the timeline apart…literally. But first Marinette has to avoid her nosy past classmates, her worried past parents, younger Chat Noir, and a very curious public along with a desperate Chat Blanc who will stop at nothing to ensure his lady is safely back in his arms and his family is forever whole.
and in the end, no foul harm will come, the cure will erase the past changes…right?
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Unlucky Ladybug Marionette
After being killed by an Akuma in battle, Marinette is reincarnated into the Royal Queen of France; Queen Marionette, who is married to King Adrien the first and mother of Princess Emma. The only problem is that Queen Marionette was a wicked woman and was executed by her husband! Now Marinette has to live as Marionette and survive! But her adorable daughter just wants to spend time with her mom and dad! Can Marinette survive being the Queen of France? Will she succumb to her daughter's adorableness? Can she survive her husband who suddenly seems to want her attention and to be around her?
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The Stage of Chrysalis
What if in Strike back, Felix didn’t use fetch on the yo-yo but used Fetch on Ladybug herself and later when he was confronting Gabriel he summoned Ladybug. Flairmidable along with Gabriel take the chance to attack her and take her miraculous. Gabriel finally has the Ladybug Miraculous along with Marinette herself. Gabriel has seen how smart and creative Marinette can be with the Miraculouses along with the fact she knows the zodiac kwamis well. Gabriel takes this chance to control the Miraculous Guardian to do his bidding as he forces Marinette to destroy the very city she vowed to protect.
All while Chat Noir is forced to stand alone against a very powerful Monarch.
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From a Model to an Emperor
Adriens life wasn't normal, he was a famous model and son of a famous fashion designer along with the hero of Paris. But he never expected his not so normal life to turn into something of a fairytale.
Forced to be the Emperor of the now no longer lost Miraculous Empire he faces being Crown Prince, Sneaky nobles, etiquette classes, proposals, planning his wedding, his coronation, attending parties, old traditional Guardians and being announced missing back in Paris.
On the bright side, he gets to marry Ladybug because she's his Crown Princess and soon-to-be Empress.
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radiance1 · 1 year
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A random little thing I had in mind that I don't think I'll expand on but have it I guess.
----
So somehow the justice league get teleported into another universe. How? Probably some villain sent them through to get them away, or you could also use the 'summoned heroes' route.
But anyways before they actually gain consciousness, they interact with some kind of vision, or memory.
Not gonna lie, would probably work better with the 'summoned heroes' route.
Anyways.
"Ah, Dark Mistress Goetia. Nice of you to join us." Said a being with glowing white hair, toxic green eyes watching as the Dark Mistress approaches the table and sits down.
"Believe me, I wouldn't have come here if it wasn't as important as you said it was."
"Goetia." Another voice, this time belonging to another male garbed in black pharaoh wear. "We need to talk about this... project of yours."
"It is Dark Mistress to you." The Dark Mistress hissed, stressing her title.
"Apologies, Dark Mistress."
"Hmpf."
"Dark Mistress, your current project will upset the balance of the worldly order if you go any further." The first being to speak up folded his arms, a light glare sent the Dark Mistress' way.
"Oh please." The Dark Mistress rolled her eyes, a mocking expression on her face. "Upset the worldly order you say? Is that truly what you want to protect? Or is it just your precious Moon?"
"Sam-"
"DO NOT CALL ME BY THAT NAME." The Dark Mistress levels the other with a hard glare. "You have lost that right centuries ago."
"Dark Mistress, calm yourself." The pharaoh said, his staff lightly tapping the floor to bring their attention to him. "The mortal's do not need another one of your fights."
"Tch. As if I care for your subjects, Sand Emperor Duulaman."
"You may not, but I do." The Sand Emperor's voice was even as he said it, though there was an underlay of challenge.
Undoubtedly, the Dark Mistress noticed.
"Do you dare to challenge me?" The Dark Mistress' voice was sickly sweet, even as a cruel smirk appeared on her face.
"If my subjects are caught in the crossfire of your little pet project, we will come to blows." Was all the Sand Emperor said before going quiet.
"At least that aspect of you hasn't changed." The Dark Mistress' smirk disappeared as she too, backed down. Leaning back into her seat. "Now is that all? Some of us have important things to do."
The first released a sigh, folding his arms over his chest. "I am serious Goetia-"
"Dark Mistress."
"If you continue going down this path, we will eventually come to blows." The being leaned back into his seat as he switched to resting his head on his hand. "Are you prepared for the chance of your people and yourself being shunned?"
The Dark Mistress was calm when she heard what he said. "Yes, I have no need for the worship of any else but my people and if they are shunned, I shall protect them."
The Dark Mistress then smirked. "And, regarding us two coming to blows. Let us not forget who which you are talking too, Celestial Prince Phantom."
"Yes yes, I have heard you the first thousand times." The Celestial Prince appeared unbothered and bored. "You have the capability to destroy me so thoroughly that not even the Ancestral Fire and the Man In The Moon would be able to put me back together."
"You dare to mock me-"
The Sand Emperor stood out of his seat, drawing the attention of the Dark Mistress and the Celestial Prince. Lightly tapping his staff onto the floor once more, he spoke. "Dark Mistress. I trust you will heed our warnings."
The Emperor then turned towards the Celestial Prince. "And Phantom, please do not make threats of war between your factions. The mortals do not need to deal with matters pertaining to the divine."
"Wha- but Duulaman-"
"No buts, Phantom." The Celestial prince leaned back even further into his chair, sulking. The Dark Mistress herself appears satisfied with the show.
"Dark Mistress Goetia. Whatever you plan on doing I wish you the best of luck. But if even a whisper of the mortal world being harmed from either of you, the sand will not be so kind." The Sand Emperor didn't glare, his voice was calm and even.
The Dark Mistress sighed. "I shall try not to get you involved, Duulaman."
"Alright. The star's shall not lay a finger on them to the best of their ability."
Even though it wasn't a total confirmation, the Sand Emperor gave the two a small, kind smile. "I thank you both. This meeting is now adjourned."
Annnnnnnd end memory.
So that's all I have for this thing. AHem if there's any confusion though. Dark Mistress = Sam Manson, Sand Emperor Duulaman = Tucker Foley and Celestial Prince = Danny Fenton.
This is set vaguely in a game type of au.
Sam's character, the Dark Mistress Goetia. Is the goddess of magic, nature and witchcraft.
Tucker's character, Sand Emperor Duulaman. Is the god of fertility, wisdom, protection and knowledge.
Danny's character, Celestial Prince Phantom. Is the god of the stars, astrology, the dead and medcine.
The Dark Mistress is the patron goddess of witches, warlocks and nymphs.
The Sand Emperor is the patron god of pharaoh's, kings and oracles
The Celestial Prince is the patron of astrologers, spirits and healers.
Oh also. Ancestral Fire = Madeline Fenton and The Man In The Moon = Jack Fenton.
The Sand Emperor only responds to threats that have the potential to greatly harm the mortal world if due to divine intervention. Anything else he wouldn't really respond to since it won't do anything.
Like demi-gods, those are cool in his opinion.
A plague? That's more Phantom's thing than his own.
A monster terrorizing a kingdom? Send a demi-god for it.
A god actively trying to mess up the mortal world beyond repair? He'll put a stop to that before they get too far.
What the fuck I should stop before I start adding more.
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reikolovespickles · 11 days
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Winx Club Headcanon: War(s) of Solaria
In my headcanon, Solaria isn’t like it was shown in the original series. It was a war-torn kingdom with a history of vertical and horizontal conflicts between the Solarians and Lunarians. Though, in the present day, the kingdom has recovered significantly, in terms of socioeconomic and politics, the past friction and hatred between Solarians and Lunarians are still present and both people now live in separate places (Solarians in Solaria and Lunarians in Lumenos). The war(s) is what caused Stella’s parents to divorce (because I don’t think the original series explains why they separated). This writing will dive into Cassandra’s conspiracies that caused the long conflict and its effect(s) on the kingdom. Also, I will be referring to some ancient Greek/Roman/Babylonian history in terms of the culture, society, and politics of Solaria.
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In the year 668 of the Solarian calendar (The Solarian Calendar draws inspiration from the lunisolar calendar of Ancient Macedonia), Prince Radius of Solaria married Princess Luna of Lumenos, and both became the new King and Queen of Solaria and the first rulers to unite the two people in the planet, the Solarians and Lunarians. Both earned the title “Sun God Shamash” and “Moon Goddess Yarikh” by both people.
In the year 670, two years after their marriage, their first and only daughter was born. They named her Stella—blessed with the title “Ishtar” (meaning Evening Star). She grew up to be a talented, genius young princess and has a natural affinity for magic. Young Princess Stella would soon create her derivation of light magic, drawing sources from both of her parents’ inherited magic (sun and moon magic), Star Magic was born. Princess Stella quickly became the strongest candidate for the Solarian throne due to her brilliance.
This news was a sign of fortune for the Kingdom of Solaria, but for others, it was a threat. Enters Countess Cassandra, a member of the Royal Court of Solaria and Duchess of Sh’va (pronounced “shee-ba”)—one of the regions in Solaria, she was one of the most respected members of the high council and the most influential. This news upset the countess, she had an ambition to take over the kingdom and made herself queen. But King Radius’ success in uniting the Solarians and Lunarians through inter-cultural marriage and the positive perceptions of the royal council and the public regarding Stella, only minimizes the chances of her coup d’etat plan (to be honest I based Cassandra off of Agrippina The Younger, and her conspiracy to dethrone and assassinate Emperor Claudius and made Nero—her son—emperor of Rome. Just like Cassandra who desires her daughter, Chimera, to be the Princess of Solaria)
So, in the year 682, Cassandra’s conspiracy starts its first move. By abusing her power at the Royal Court, Cassandra launches several “campaigns” in the grassroots community of Solaria and uses the “divide and conquer” tactics because what’s a better way to destroy a multicultural society than to divide them and put them onto each others’ throats? Cassandra sent several mercenaries to attack the Solarian community near Sh’va. These mercenaries wear Lunarians’ traditional clothing and a cloak with Lumenos symbols on it. The injured civilians believed that the Lunarians had attacked them, sparking rages all over the region, and within days, Sh’va became a war zone between the Solarians and Lunarians who lived there. Cassandra took this advantage to send spies into the other regions, these spies acted as provocateurs and also informants to Cassandra. Within a couple of months, chaos spread all over Solaria, civil unrest was inevitable and the streets turned into a pool of blood. The Royal Court informed Radius and Luna about this and demanded them to take immediate action.
The Royal Court, comprised of both Solarian and Lunarian descents started to blame each other for the war. However, the Solarians believed that the Lunarians were the ones who started the conflict by pointing weapons at them first. This argumentation and conflicts occurred both horizontally (between civilians) and vertically (between the members of the Royal Court), prompting the King and Queen to act.
The situation worsened when the Solarian High Council pushed King Radius to launch an attack at a possible Lunarian rebels' hideout, located in a region called Enzu. Radius complied believing that it was their hideout ended up killing roughly one hundred Lunarian civilians. His action enraged Luna. Radius commands the army without discussing it with his wife first or even confirming that there were no civilians in that region, this results in a heated argument between the two. Luna, feeling betrayed and disappointed with the Solarians and Radius, decided to side with her people.
The war continues, and although both King and Queen have stepped in to try to ease the situation, the culmination of all the events happens one night, when an angry Solarian mob storms the Temple of Yarikh and destroys it along with all of its contents including the artifacts, some sacred tablets and the statue of the goddess. Of course, this enraged the Lunarians because the Temple of Yarikh is the sacred place built for Luna, and the Solarians soiled the sacred temple. The Lunarians decided to launch an attack on the Solarians but Luna warned them not to act recklessly because they were easily outnumbered. Instead, Luna suggested that both sides sign a treaty of peace because they are already too many casualties from both sides. 
The treaty happened in the year 685. The treaty of peace contained an agreement that both sides must follow: “...the planet of Solaria belongs to the Solarian people and therefore planet Lumenos belongs to the Lunarian people.” Both sides parted ways, and soon after Radius and Luna signed the treaty, they were divorced. There is no point in retaining their marriage after all of this bloodbath. The year 685, marked the end of the lunisolar calendar that was used in Solaria and Lumenos for centuries, both changed their calendars, marking the end of the Year of The Sun and Moon and in Solaria it became year 1 of the new Solarian calendar—also called as the Year of The New Sun while in Lumenos it was called the Year of The New Moon.
Hence, the first step of Cassandra’s conspiracy is complete. She had succeeded in removing Luna from the Royal Family.
After they divorced, Radius was busy rebuilding and revitalizing Solaria. Radius turned into a workaholic and even though he loves his daughter, he has too little time to be with her. Stella, the genius princess, grows up to be a teenager with abandonment issues, she often seeks validation from other people and gets in trouble just to gain her father’s attention. Her relationship with her mother was not better either, Stella has a complicated relationship with her mother, she doesn’t hate her because she “abandons” her family but Stella always feels that there is a gap between her and her mother. To the point that she became scared when she had to face her mother, not because she viewed her as a traitor to her family but because of the past that she kept seeing in her, a time when all of them were still together. 
After a few years, Cassandra decided it was time to move on to her second plan—assassinating Stella and dethroning Radius. But there’s a problem, Stella goes to Alfea to study how to become a fairy and it becomes impossible for Cassandra to assassinate her. So, she sticks with her plan to dethrone Radius first, of course, she needs to be more careful this time because Radius is much more cautious. 
Luckily for Solaria, it took Cassandra some time to strategize and the evil woman was too comfortable basking in her victory. We’ll see what she has up her sleeves.
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plasma-studios · 2 months
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On Mercy (ao3: x)
The Council has been at war with the Emperor (more colloquially known as the King of Nightmares) for a long, long time. After defeat after defeat, they find themselves with no option but to request help from his fabled twin.
However, Dream will not help them for free; he locks eyes with Cross, and decides he wants him in exchange for the war victory. It is an easy choice to make.
But Cross is terribly apprehensive, because he his loyalty is not to the Council, but to Nightmare as a spy, and Dream is Nightmare's mortal enemy. Moreover he suspects Dream chose him knowing this, wanting information about his twin; and the issue is, Nightmare is absolutely unforgiving of traitors.
But he cannot offend Dream, for he too is an Immortal and God. He cannot forget that both Dream and Nightmare is dangerous, that any wrong move will end in his demise or worse.
(He forgets, however, that he himself is mortal.)
[OR: A Empire/Kingdoms UTMV AU, where Cross is caught between the crossfire of Immortal/Gods! Dreamtale Twins and some involvement with God!Errorink too.]
Inspired by love, in fire and blood by cicer
Chapter 1-11: (x)
Chapter 12: FLASHBACK II - THE IMMUTABILITY OF FATE
the errorink flashback chapter! w/ dreamtale twins ofc <3
Daydream awoke to the smell of beeswax. The warm, honeyed scent clung to his breath, strong enough that he could almost taste it, but light enough that he awoke gently. Could it be? As he clambered out of bed, Ink’s clear laughter sounded out. 
“I see you’re awake.”
Ink was leaning against his desk, right next to the burning candle. His smile was amused and light.  
“Why do you always light a candle to wake me?” Daydream’s voice was still heavy with sleep. He let out a yawn, and Ink made an amused noise as he stretched.
“Would you rather me shake you awake, little star?” He stepped closer to playfully poke him in the ribs. It didn’t actually hurt, but he fake-winced. Ink had definitely caught onto the act and gave him another curt, amused smile. “I thought this was a gentler way to rouse you.”
“You never do it to Nightmare,” He complained without any real heat. Before Ink could interject, he got to his feet and made his way to the armoire.
“Well, he wakes up on time. You, on the other hand…” Ink shook his head, but his expression betrayed the laughter he was keeping at bay. Daydream’s own face probably was doing the same. “Have a penchant for sleeping in. Shall I help you dress, my Prince?” 
His tone was coy, and Daydream had to bite back his own laughter. 
Ink’s smile widened. “Don’t worry, I promise not to make a fuss.”
Even as Daydream began selecting his attire, Ink continued with his playful banter until he was torn between exasperation and laughter. “What’s the occasion?” Daydream randomly selected his attire after a few glances over. “You’re awfully… accommodating, today.”
“Big word. I should reward your language tutor.”
“Which just so happens to be you,” He said, deadpan.
“Hey, it’s not my fault your old language tutor sucked. I’m a great replacement. And don’t forget that today’s a very special day, Your Highness.”
Daydream paused. What was important about today? He was quiet for a few moments, thinking and contemplating, before drawing up an utter blank.
“And why is it special?” He finally asked. Ink smiled gently.
“It’s your birthday, remember? Now, shall we proceed to breakfast once you’re dressed, or do you have any more complaints about my morning rituals?”
Daydream laughed, shaking his head. “No more complaints. I’ll get dressed.” ***
Daydream was the last to enter the banquet hall.
“Could’ve sworn that tardiness was a cardinal sin.” Nightmare’s dry humour was rewarded with Daydream letting out a sigh, and Ink shaking his head with amusement. 
“At least one of us goes to bed at a reasonable hour,” Daydream countered. The coy smile on Nightmare’s face quickly fell away as Ink turned his gaze on him.
“You caught me reading in the night one time—”
“And I’m sure that was the outlier.” Ink’s gaze was knowing, and Nightmare grimaced slightly. 
“Yes, well, I suppose I am rather fond of staying up late when there’s something interesting at hand.”
Daydream raised his eyebrows, but Ink beat him to it. “I can tell, from the cadences in your speech.”
He raised his hands up in mock-surrender. “Guilty as charged.” A pause. “Is it, uh, bad ? Do I sound pretentious?” 
Ink's eyes softened as he shook his head. “Not at all. Besides, a bit of eloquence never hurt anyone.”
Daydream slowly closed his mouth. 
Ink looked at him no less softly. “Not that you aren’t well-spoken, Daydream. You’re refreshingly direct; take it as a different kind of eloquence.”
“You should read more, though,” Nightmare added. Dream let out a huff. 
Ink chimed in, “Speaking as your tutor, yes.”
Daydream raised his arms up, not too dissimilar from what Nightmare had done a moment ago. “It’s not my fault the texts are so boring!”
“Hey, I teach you those texts.” Ink’s voice held not even a note of offence. “As a Prince, you have to know more literature than bedtime stories.”
“Nightmare’s good enough for both of us. And your stories are good!” He protested. 
“Seconded.”
Ink let out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. I’ll tell you both more stories later. But, on that note,” And it was when he picked up his fork that both Daydream and Nightmare remembered the spread before them. “You two should probably start eating before the food gets cold.”
Daydream blinked, then glanced at the table laden with an array of breakfast delicacies: freshly baked pastries, ripe fruit, and an assortment of cheeses and loaves of bread. His stomach rumbled in agreement.
“You’re right,” Daydream said a moment after, both amused and slightly sheepish. 
“It would be a shame to let all this go to waste,” Nightmare admitted. He reached over to serve himself a generous portion of fruit, paused, and sent Daydream a mischievous look. 
“I know that look,” He breathed. “Don’t you dare finish that by yourself—”
Ink chuckled while spreading some butter on a warm roll. “Well, it’s both your birthdays, so I expect you to share.” 
“I was going to. Obviously.” Nightmare huffed as Daydream snatched an orange slice from his plate. “Childish.”
“We’re the same age,” He retorted. Ink shook his head with amusement and said nothing more of it. He watched the two fill their plates with food, then consume them with enough frenzy that made him remind them that they would choke. He let out an amused sigh. The two were still children, after all. It was good that their birthday was starting off on a high note.
“Ink?” Daydream’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
“Hm? Yes?”
He was looking at him, as if he was confused. “Why aren’t you eating?” Ink blinked.
“Oh, I ate earlier. You know, while waiting for you to wake up.”
Nightmare let out a sound of amusement, but he noticed his gaze lingering on Ink for a moment longer: as if he too was realising it.
“Come on, it’s your birthday, I wouldn’t want to take away from your birthday feast—”
“Are you sure you’re—” Daydream’s voice was cut off by the doors to the banquet hall swinging open. 
The attendant that stepped into the room was unassuming. Dressed in a simple, yet elegant livery of muted green and gold, the attendant’s attire was understated but well maintained. Their hair was neatly tied back, and they bowed before they spoke. “Sir, there’s a visitor for you.”
“Oh?” Ink rose to his feet. “For who?”
The attendant lifted their head, and responded, “For you, sir.”
“Ah. Well, seeing as we’re in the company of His Highnesses, it would have been best for you to address them first.” 
The attendant’s expression shifted slightly, their composure faltering. Daydream frowned. He glanced at Nightmare, who shook his head, as if to say: don’t interfere.
“Please abide by proper protocol in future. Is the visitor urgent?” 
“Well—” The attendant swallowed. “He demanded an audience with you, and mentioned something about an important matter that couldn’t wait.”
Ink made a considering noise. “Conveniently vague. I don’t suppose you have any other details about him?”
The attendant blinked. “Well, he was… also dressed somewhat casually. Inappropriately for Palace etiquette, if I may.”
Ink blinked. 
“Is that so?”
“Do you know him?” Nightmare asked, putting down his fork. 
Ink didn’t glance at him. He scanned the attendant again. “I might.”
“You should go, then,” Daydream suggested. “Don’t keep someone you might know waiting.”
Nightmare glanced at him, but didn’t respond.
Ink eventually let out a sigh. “I’ll have to attend to the visitor, then. Don’t wait on the food on my behalf.”
“We won’t.” Nightmare’s voice was dry, but there wasn’t really any mocking in it. 
The moment the doors closed on the two, Daydream turned to him. “What was that?” 
Nightmare shook his head. “I don’t know, either.”
“I feel kind of bad for the attendant. Why did Ink want him to stick to protocol? It’s not like we ourselves follow it perfectly.”
Nightmare hesitated. “Well— protocol isn’t just protocol. There’s a lot of things that play into it. Him choosing to address Ink before us was sort of implicitly saying that Ink was more important than us. It was basically saying something like, ‘oh, the Princes do everything he tells them to, anyway. Might as well speak to him directly’, y’know?”
Daydream’s eyebrows drew together. “We do do what he wants us to, though.”
“Yeah, but it’s more of a respect thing?” Nightmare sighed. “Don’t let it spoil the day. I don’t think the attendant was doing it on purpose, but things set precedents, you know?”
“Mhm.” Daydream was still slightly uncomfortable with the whole affair. “Hope he returns soon.”
“Me too.” He sighed, then turned his attention back to the food. “Better not let it get cold.”  ***
Ink found Error waiting in the parlour. Once he stepped into the room, Error’s gaze landed squarely on him, and his pacing came to a stop. His mismatched pupils were glitching so much they lingered on any colour for less than a fraction of a second, but even as his fingers were twitching, he did nothing else; as if he was waiting for Ink to speak first.
Ink gazed back at him. Ink didn’t.
Minutes of just silence must have passed when Error finally opened his mouth.
“So,” He said. “This is where you’ve been?” ***
Before this, Error must have had some other life. A family, perhaps. On quieter days his mind wandered too much; on those days there was little noise to take the edge off envy when he took the lives of fearful families clustered together, begging for mercy, like a child stomping on tiny ants. The envy would come, nestled in some deep pit within himself, but it was a small price to pay for the calm of the quiet. 
On worse days, noisier days, he often could not think at all. It was only after, when his clothes were entirely dipped in blood and his fingers caked in dust, that he’d finally remember himself and feel no envy, but regret. Just a sliver.
His oldest memory was shrouded in fear and mystery; even now, he suspected him forgetting it was intentional on his part. All he could remember of it was sharp, debilitating pain: pain so agonising it was worse than death. He never dwelled on the memory for long. The rest of his memories were splintered, fractured enough, that he was never tempted to search them anyway.
Perhaps it was just a dream. Perhaps he never had a life before this. It had been a long, long time since the first time he’d crushed a soul into dust, and certainly not the last. It had been a long, long time for any existence beyond destruction. 
Stories inevitably began to arise, speaking of a creature with the body of a man, the mind of an animal, and the power of a God. They began calling him the Harbinger. God of Slaughter. Then they began calling him the Destruction God, in tales of a merciless monster to be feared and to be reviled. 
He never cared much for stories, anyway. 
There was no reason for his destruction, none at all. But he still did it. Why? Even he understood almost nothing about himself. What was he looking for? His body and mind craved violence and blood, but no joy ever came of it. But if he tried to restrain himself, his own soul would rebel against him until his mind was screaming in his ear: Blood! Blood!
He’d shredded his eardrums into dust, before. Perhaps if he ridded himself of all noise, there would be peace. He tried with his eyes, too. The peace never lasted.
People had tried to offer him things in exchange for his mercy. Coin. Land. Crown. In the beginning, he’d accepted and went away for a time, hoping he would finally be satisfied.
He never was.
Error stopped accepting the offers. There was only ever one thing that could put his mind at ease, even for just a while, and that was blood. 
In the brief bouts of peace on the worse days, he prayed. To any God, really, but himself. Let me die soon enough. How long had this existence gone on? His very being brought ruin to all, even himself. Had he committed some sin, that this was his punishment? Hadn’t this all been punishment enough?
Vaguely, he knew that he should not have lived this long. He’d claimed the lives of armoured Guards, silver-haired wise women, demure Princesses and arrogant Kings, generation after generation. He claimed mothers, then their sons, then the children of those sons.
It became a game, to see just what it would take for a moment of peace. Some days it was a life. Some days it was thousands of.
And then there was the Artist. There were so many stories about him, though they spoke of beautiful watercolours and enigmatic sightings rather than bloodshed. 
The first time they met, it was just another day of ruin. Or it was going to be. Error had caught the first unsuspecting soul in his strings and was ready to crush it to dust when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
“Hello, friend!” And he would grin, but there would be something in his eyes that made Error’s head whisper: Danger! “I wouldn’t advise on doing that.”
Error had jerked back from the touch. “Doing what?” And his voice had been glitching so severely. 
His smile had been gentle, but not kind.
“I know who you are. I know of the devastation you bring. Just because I’ve never hunted you down, doesn’t mean I’ll allow you to bring about your pathetic ruin in my presence.”
Error had blinked squarely. He released the still unaware soul.
Perhaps he should’ve spoken more then, but what did he have to say? Error understood the threat with crystal clarity. He had never run from anyone because his mind had never understood anything beyond its want for blood, but in that moment he had felt something he hadn’t in a long time: fear. It seemed only wise to act upon it. 
He let him leave without much other fuss. Decades had passed the next time he met the strange person. It was a circumstance that could not have been more different: he’d gone to his then spot that could bring him some comfort. It was near the river, where the loud rush of the flowing riverwater drowning out his own thoughts was the rare instance where noise brought him some peace. 
He’d found the Artist there, focused on capturing the river with paint on a canvas. 
And he’d remember, decades ago, when it had been this Artist that made him know fear for the first time.
And, as he realised neither of them had aged, he heard his own voice think: Is he like me?
It was him that spoke first, asking the Artist for his name. He gave it: Ink. Fitting of an Artist. He sat beside him, the soft rustle of the paintbrush filtering into the noise of the running river, and watched him paint.
Ink asked him for his name. He had been the first to.
Probably because he’d been the first to survive Error’s company for long enough to get to his name.
The moment was respite. Ink painted beautifully.
“Why do you do what you do?” He had asked him. He’d done so casually, not looking up from his painting, as if he was discussing anything less complex and contradictory than Error’s head.
“I don’t know,” He admitted. “It’s the only thing that brings me calm?”
“Calm?” His tone had been curious, not fearful. Though, perhaps the curiosity had been a mere farce so not as to scare him off as the first time had.
“I hear everything loudly.” He paused. “Everything is too much to me. When I break things, they go silent. It’s peaceful. I—” Once he started, he couldn’t stop. “I tried to keep away from everything. I made it so I couldn’t hear. But if I don’t spill blood, my mind runs away from me. And everything healed in the end.”
There was quiet.
“I won’t say I understand you.” Ink’s voice had been free of fear, free of emotion. But as he looked his way, there was something in his gaze that Error would later learn to love. “But thank you, for telling me.”
Error had let out a breath. 
“Will you kill me?”
Silence.
The memories of children clambering to their feet only to die, of mothers bent over their children with silent weeping when it meant nothing in the end, they both still died, suddenly came to mind. They had all begged to live. And here he was, asking to die.
“It would be mercy,” He murmured. “Please. I don’t know why, but I don’t age. I cannot die. It would be a mercy, for both the world and I.”
Ink smiled, not gently, but kindly. Somewhat, anyway.
Or was it pity when he looked upon him?
“Error,” He spoke gently, with pity, with sadness. “I cannot.”
Desperation seized him like nothing had ever before. “Please.”
“It’s not that I’m unwilling. It’s that, well… you cannot die, Error.”
He blinked. What?
“You cannot die. Your soul, it’s—” And this was where he paused. Error felt the soul in his chest beating erratically, as it always did, and felt nothing but confusion. 
“Error, your soul cannot die. It’s hardly a soul, at this point. It’s been put through hell, held together by— you should be dead, basically. It’s seriously fucked up. But it’s so fucked up, it doesn’t even know it’s supposed to be dead.” There was kindness, but there was no mercy in those words.
And, in some moment, he understood. He would never die. This was not hell. This was limbo. And that was worse.
“I can’t die, either,” He said quietly. “If that makes it better.”
The surprise took the edge of the grief, if only for a moment. 
“What?”
“I’m a God,” He said simply. “I’m immortal.”
“An actual God?” He stopped. What did the stories call him? The Slaughter God? The Destruction God? But those were just stories, he wasn’t an actual God.
He believed Ink was a God even before he nodded to confirm it.
“I’m not a God,” He uttered before he could stop himself. 
Ink let out a laugh. 
“I know. We would’ve met long before if you were. This world isn't so big if you spend eternity with it.”
He paused. “How old are you?”
“Much, much older than you,” He said plainly. So plainly, it made Error almost laugh. Wasn’t that a miracle? 
So he wasn’t always immortal. Had he had a life before this, a family, a home? 
“Are there other Gods?”
A shorter pause. “Yes.”
“Tell me more.” Please?
Ink let out a light chuckle. “Not about Gods. But sure.” And he told him about meadows, about oil lamps, about flowers, about the mistakes he’d made, the lessons he’d learnt, and so much more.
For a time, Ink brought respite. Peace.
As if in fear of him, his head didn’t dare demand destruction for days after.
His head couldn’t be kept at bay for very long, of course, and soon he had to spill more blood for more peace. By then, he was no longer with Ink, but now he knew where to find him. More or less. It was mostly Ink that came and found him. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He did leave a trail of destruction everywhere he went. 
His head soon adapted to Ink’s presence. If you cannot kill him, because that was unthinkable, his head still feared Ink, make him join you. Spill blood together. It will be peace, twofold. 
Obviously, Error never tried to convince Ink. There was no world where he’d succeed, anyway.
The company with Ink never brought to him again the same amount of peace it had the first time, now that his head had adjusted. But it was still something, and any peace was respite enough. Home became him and his first and only friend: Ink, the Artist, the God, and his dearest friend.
Then one day, he realised he had not talked to Ink in decades. Centuries? Weeks? His only measure of the passage of time had become the days with Ink. And, indeed, he could no longer remember the last time they’d spoken.
Error searched for him, through empty meadows and bustling (hellish) villages, through wastelands and through battlefields, but he found merely air in place of his old friend. He destroyed, was cruel in it, in hopes his friend would arrive and terrorise his mind back into submission (his mind was no more louder than it usually was, this was all him) but he never did.
What did he know, anyway, about Gods? 
He’d begun to lose hope, when he heard of it from stories. It was a tale lacking some immortal monster like himself, or some enigmatic God like his friend. It was a simple tragedy of mortals and misfortune: a Queen that perished in childbirth, leaving behind two twin brothers as mere babes. 
Poor children, someone had spoken. They must have become pawns in the power struggle. 
Someone interjected: Surprisingly, no. I heard many people wanted to take advantage of them, but this new tutor arrived out of nowhere and’s been defending them tooth and nail. 
He was named directly by the Queen as their caretaker, too, so there’s nothing anyone can do about it.
Oh? I guess there’s some luck in every misfortune. And he had stopped listening shortly after.
Some part of him began to quiver. Some part of him, not his bloodthirsty mind, some other part of him, began to whisper: Could it be? He’d imagined it to have been centuries, but had it really been that long? Maybe his head had just twisted it into a time longer than it actually had been, just to torment Error more than it already was.
He found his way to the Kingdom in question, marched into the Palace and demanded an audience with ‘Ink’, and now he was staring his old friend in the face.
But his friend was looking at him as if he was a stranger. He waited for him to speak, as he always did. Tell me why, he begged silently. Tell me why you left. You must have had a reason, right? You always do. He waited. 
Ink just gazed back at him.
It must have been years of silence between them when Error finally broke the ice. 
“So,” He said, the breath in his throat slowing down his words, as if he did not want to utter a word. “This is where you’ve been?”
“Why are you here, Error?” Ink’s tone was flat. Cold. 
Error did not physically flinch. There it was, his mind, clambering to whisper cruel things in his ear.
“You were gone,” He tried. He could not quite explain the tight fury-grief-relief in him, least of all with words.
“I am here,” He said simply.
“To care for two fledgling Princes?” There it was, bitter laughter bubbling up his throat and threatening to spill over. His fingers twitched again. The glitches in his body were fierce, but they burned painlessly in comparison to the bitterness in his throat.
“Their mother is dead.” His tone was flat. 
“So?” It was cruel of him, he knew. It was nothing compared to the words his mind was feeding him. But it was true. They’d seen death. Hell, he’d been the harbinger of it for thousands of souls, if not more.
Then, as if everything had collapsed in on his old friend, all the tension left him.
“She had been my friend.” His tone was flat. No, not flat. Tired.
Error realised it, and his head went silent. His friend was tired.
And, in that moment, he did not care why Ink had left him. He did not care about any of it.
“Can I do anything to help?” ***
“Can I do anything to help?”
Ink’s first instinct was a no, even though it would hurt to reject his friend. But Error, though he had been getting better, was too much of a risk to Nim’s children. Nim had left them to him. He would never forgive himself if they were hurt. He cared about his friend dearly, but—
Nightmare might need him.
He stilled.
Nim had spoken of what she hoped Nightmare would become, and what she prayed he would not, in that last letter. Ink tried, but he was not one with life. He did not love or fear as the living did, and true to Nim’s wish, Daydream and Nightmare were so much less God than the two of them were.
He could only theorise about the way Daydream slept for longer and longer, as if his dreams kept him entranced and enraptured enough that it was harder for him to wake up than stay living, or about Nightmare’s night terrors, or the way he could find fear in everything if he thought long enough about it, the way he fretted over tomorrows, the way he wanted power for the assurance he gave him, the way he constantly sought to know more just in case he needed to, just in case, just in case.
He looked at his friend, and thought, Would you understand them, old friend? ***
Ink should’ve rejected him. Error was too unstable, too cruel— but perhaps he saw something in him, or someone, because he shrugged.
“Maybe. We’ll see.”
A pause.
“Will you stay?”
The same laughter bubbled up in his throat, but it was not bitter. 
And there was humour in Ink’s gaze, too, tired as he was. He was still his friend, after all this time.
“Believe me, you’re never getting rid of me again. Tell me everything.”
Ink’s laugh was mudded by the fatigue bleeding through. 
“Oh, you won’t believe the century I’ve had, old friend.”
15 notes · View notes
saintobio · 5 months
Text
ACT I. THE LADY
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amidst the tale of sweetest love and bitterest revenge, the fallen empress is cast back ten years into the past to correct her sins and avoid eternal damnation, even at the price of betraying her once husband, the very cause of her downfall.
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♱ pairings. gojo satoru, fem!reader
♱ genre. enemies-to-lovers, period piece, medieval au
♱ tags. ooc, regression, crown prince!gojo, noble lady!reader, politics, classism, clan wars, religion (catholicism), slight mentions of gore
♱ notes. 6.5k wc, unedited. again, for anyone who missed my small announcement, the ‘juliet’ from my megumi r+j fic has a name here for narration purposes. she remains as you or yn in the original fic tho :) feedback would be highly appreciated!
series masterlist ♱ act two.
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“I humbly beg your pardon, Your Imperial Highness. The lady declines any audience at this time.”
Throughout his princely life, Satoru had never before faced rejection from any of his subjects, let alone one of his own citizens. No one ever dared to deny the Crown Prince as they were aware of the consequences of offending a member of the imperial family, let alone the future Emperor of Caelum. 
So, how could this mere daughter of a duke summon the courage to refuse his audience? 
It was baffling to him. Were you not the one who had written him a lovestruck letter requesting a meeting? As one of the eligible brides for the Crown Prince and a strong contender for the position of Crown Princess, it was only natural for you to vie for his affection and secure your spot on the imperial throne. You had it all; the status, the power, the wit. You had quite the face, too. This would have been an opportune moment for you to ensnare his favor and win him over. Yet, what reason could you possibly have now to suddenly decline his audience?
“On what grounds did she refuse?” Satoru maintained a stern demeanor as he stood beside his white horse, scrutinizing the servant from the De Roma estate who trembled before the prince. His blue velvet cloak and imperial insignia added to the overall intimidation of his presence. 
The maid, mindful of the perils that may befall her for the actions of her master, spake with evident apprehension. “The lady offered no explanation, Your Highness. She simply wishes to remain in her chamber.”
Needless to say, he felt a mixture of amusement and intrigue at this situation. The same noble lady who had previously been forward in her advances and infatuation towards him was now avoiding an opportunity to get acquainted? And to think, he had believed he was doing you a favor by granting you a chance to spend time with him this noontide. 
“Very well.” The prince gazed down at the servant with a stern expression, raking his slender fingers through his arctic white hair before mounting his war horse. “Remind the lady that there are consequences for denying the rights of the imperial family. Each slight she casts is an arrow to her neck. Let her know that there shall not be another chance such as this.”
He sensed the maid’s fear after she offered him a curtsy, yet he could not fathom how she remained steadfast in her refusal to grant him access to your drawing room despite his clearly spoken warning. She was guarding the entrance to the estate as though she would face greater consequences for letting the crown prince in than for keeping him out. Were you truly so stringent in maintaining your distance from him?
So be it. If that was your game, then let it be played. In fact, you might be trying to seem hard-to-get after the stunts you had pulled at the hunting expedition two weeks hence. If his memory served him right, you were the one who sabotaged Lady Anastasia’s crossbow and led her in her near-fatal experience. You see, you might have gotten away with it, but Satoru was a witness to your deliberate crime. He had seen you tampering with Lady Anastasia’s weapon, replacing her regular bolts with ones laced with fast-acting poison, which left the poor lady paralyzed in the middle of a dangerous hunt. Had it not been for Satoru, Lady de Florentine would have likely been mauled by a wild boar. 
Yet, his intervention only seemed to stoke your ire even more. Your jealousy after seeing him save Anastasia’s life only made you see red, almost revealing yourself the true perpetrator for the obvious expressions you had displayed. Still, he chose to remain silent about your malicious actions, pretending to be oblivious to your cunning ways and dismissing any suspicions of foul play in the incident. In a way, Satoru had saved your life more than you realized. Not only that, he had also safeguarded your reputation and standing in high society without your knowledge, as he understood that your animosity towards Lady Anastasia only stemmed from the way he had interacted with her, speaking in close proximity and kissing her hand prior to the hunting game.  
Ha! What a devious little viper you were. What a brazenly proud woman. By declining to meet the Crown Prince, you had only ironically succeeded in piquing his interest even more.  
“Is everything in order, Your Highness?” It was his close friend and personal knight, Suguru, who snapped him out of his reverie as they rode their horses back toward the capital. Three more of the prince’s knights trailed behind them. Suguru’s question hinted at concern for the prince’s sanity, given that he had been observed laughing to himself despite the insult he had faced just half an hour ago.
“It is rather amusing, is it not?” Satoru pondered, his hands firmly gripping the reins as he guided his horse along the uneven path. “Lady Y/N might seem out of her wits, but she is astute. I see through her tactics. She obviously desires my attention, which is why she is behaving this way.”
The long-haired knight chuckled with unease. “I fear that may not be her intention.”
The notion appeared absurd to him. “Not her intention? Grant her but a moment, and she shall trail after me once more like a shadow. This is a blessing, if anything. I am now spared the need to endure that lady’s temperament during formal events.”
Did you realize? Despite numerous instances where Satoru overlooked your transgressions, if you were to provoke his ire, he could surely publicly enumerate each offense. The stained dress incident involving Lady Serena? Your handiwork. The scandalous rumors regarding Lady Franchetta? Also your doing. Not to mention your mistreatment of maids and commoners out of mere boredom. Your actions would have easily rendered you an unsuitable candidate as the Crown Prince’s bride, yet he remained silent and never reported such occurrences to his father, the emperor. More than that, he should be relieved that you had chosen to avoid him and spared him further entanglements with you.
However, Satoru’s words contradicted his own sentiments, and he refused to acknowledge his hypocrisy. Although he claimed satisfaction with your decision to keep your distance, why did thoughts of you arise foremost when he passed by a jewel shop that showcased its newest collections? He and his men were traversing the city square when his sky blue eyes caught sight of a necklace with a large, deep-red garnet as its centerpiece, surrounded by intricate gold filigrees, and a single teardrop-shaped pearl dangling at the bottom. The overall design was bold and commanding, yet undeniably elegant. A befitting accessory for Caelum’s next crown princess.
“Would you care to inspect the jewel shop, my lord?” proposed one of his knights. “That necklace could serve as a splendid gift for Lady Serena, who is soon to celebrate her birthday banquet.”
The prince saw his reflection in the shop’s window, his white steed poised gracefully while he gazed at the jewelry on display. A smirk unanticipatedly graced his lips as he envisioned a particular scenario in his head. “Indeed.” 
⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊶⊶⊶⊶⊶♱⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷⊷
Milena was cinching your corset when your father abruptly entered your chamber, his visage bearing a questioning mien as his footsteps loudened each second. You already anticipated the nature of his visit, for nothing else would prompt such urgency unless it pertained to your reputation. In retrospect, you remembered him having knowledge of your misdeeds against the other debutantes currying favor with the crown prince, and he was well aware of the details of your crafty schemes and all the deliberate sabotage you had orchestrated. And although your father often covered for you out of paternal pride, he still chastised you for your actions in private. The latter assuredly was the purpose of his visit now.
Well, dear father, your daughter is no longer the same. 
“Maid,” commanded the duke, “Leave us for a while.” 
Milena immediately bowed at your father. “Yes, Your Grace—”
“No, Milena. You will not take a single step out of this chamber.” Your order somehow surprised the both of them as though you had never sounded so authoritative before, like you had the imperial power and position to be issuing commands greater than your father’s. Ah, right. You were not an empress anymore. Or yet. None of these people were your subjects, and living in the past would really take some time getting used to. In an effort to conceal your years of imperial presence, you looked at your father with a gaze that suggested naivety. “What is the matter, father?”
Duke de Roma appeared visibly strained by his youngest child. “Y/N, is it true that you declined a visit from Crown Prince Satoru?”
You felt the urge to scoff, but opted against it. “Rejection is an understatement, Your Grace. My interest in His Highness has simply waned.” 
“So soon?” The elderly man was perplexed by your assertion, considering your reputation as a notorious obsessive lover of the prince. You were perceived by all as the erratic woman who would engage in conflict with any rival who dared to court his affections. “What sudden change prompts you to speak ill of him? Were you not striving to win his favor?"
Yes, but that was before. That was the version of yourself who sacrificed everything for someone incapable of reciprocating the love you sought. Things have altered now, and you recognized it was wiser not to pursue Satoru after knowing and personally experiencing the peril it posed to both yourself and the empire. He would only seek to exploit your family’s military influence to stage a coup against his parents, beguile you with his false affections, and make use of you until you were no longer serving him any purpose. You refused to be complicit in his ambitions any longer. Not in this life, no. 
“Rather,” you began with a voice of confidence, “I would choose being in a convent than to wed a man like His Highness.” 
Your father nearly fainted from your words. “By Saint Peter’s keys! I cannot understand the youth of today. Tell me, is there another suitor who has captured your interest? Have you found another man more noble than a prince?” 
With a smile, you looked at yourself in the mirror and prepared for the day ahead. “No, Father. On the contrary, I seek a life of solitude. If I could remain unwed for the entirety of my days, I would gladly embrace it.” 
This, you believed, was the surest way to distance yourself from trouble and seek redemption for your past transgressions. A life without Crown Prince Satoru was the road to attaining highest virtue. Your love for him was the reason you had committed such sins in the past, so the best thing to do in this life was to steer yourself clear from his path at all cost. Otherwise, the thought of facing the piercing gaze of Archangel Raphael again was too daunting to bear.
“What folly is this?” Duke de Roma questioned your words incredulously. “Did you not aspire to become the most powerful lady in the empire? Pursuing the Crown Prince is the path to becoming an empress. Cease this nonsensical talk and continue your efforts to win his favor!”
Once he departed, you were left alone in your chamber, feeling a mixture of relief and frustration. You were tempted to let out a groan of exasperation, but with Milena present, you had to maintain your composure. It was crucial for her to witness your changed mindset. Gone was the vicious lady she had served in her previous life. Though you could not offer a direct apology for the role you played in her demise before, you were determined to ensure her comfort and well-being in this new life.
As for your father, you were uncertain what to do with him yet. He was coming from a place of concern, knowing that your decision to enter a convent would ultimately make his investments futile. He had invested heavily in your upbringing, providing you with every luxury, the finest education, and the resources necessary to secure a prominent place in high society. His aspirations for you to become an empress were not solely driven by paternal pride, but also by the anticipation of reaping the rewards of his investment. Losing such an asset would undoubtedly be a significant blow to his plans and ambitions. Yet, he had no single idea what suffering you had actually endured in your past life after becoming Satoru’s wife for 10 agonizing years. 
Well, in that case, you had an alternative plan—one that promised to secure the De Roma family’s status and elevate its wealth to unreachable heights without necessitating your ascent to the imperial throne.
“Milena,” you said, walking towards your window, “Prepare the carriage. We have somewhere to be.” 
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“Fifty celestas?!” Milena questioned in disbelief, her hooded cloak framing her face as she confronted the artist before you. Today, both of you dressed down, adopting a guise that would allow you to blend seamlessly with the throng of commoners in the outskirts of the capital. “Signor, are you not asking for an exorbitant sum? You are exploiting My Lady merely because she is the daughter of Duke de Roma.”
It was a mistake bringing Milena with you, but it also served as a good signifier that the artist, Giancarlo di Firenze, was still operating in an era where his talent and skill as a sculptor had yet to be recognized. In the eyes of others, he was a struggling artist whose work warranted no more than a few trinkets. However, you possessed the advantage of foresight, bestowed upon you by your gift of clairvoyance (or in layman’s terms, a cheat sheet into the future due to your regression). You knew that Maestro Giancarlo’s sculptures would eventually gain widespread acclaim, particularly after they were displayed at the Veneran Museum, and he would be the most sought after artist in the continent with pieces worth thousands. Even your then-husband, the emperor himself, commissioned him for the notable Star Crossed Lovers sculpture for the ten year death anniversary of the prince and princess of the Astheryn and Caelum Empires. The 50 celestas Signor Giancarlo demanded now paled in comparison to the immense resale value his works would command in a decade’s time. This would be one of your best investments as a mere lady with no imperial wealth. 
“Fifty celestas for this Apollo and Daphne sculpture seems a fair price,” you mused, scrutinizing each exquisite detail of the remarkable artwork. The sculpture was truly a masterpiece and very much deserving of admiration, which was why in your past life, it was highly coveted by The Venera for its sheer magnificence. However, you refrained from showering the Signor with excessive praise. To do so would only awaken him to the true value of his creations, and he could potentially inflate his prices beyond your budget. Thus, you maintained an air of indifference as you regarded the middle-aged sculptor. “It would make a suitable addition to our garden,” you casually added. “I shall purchase it.”
“My Lady!” protested Milena, but you silenced her with a gesture.
“In addition, I would like to acquire the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa and a selection of your cherubic sculptures,” you continued, disregarding Milena’s objections and the delighted expression on Maestro Giancarlo's face. “Pray, how much would the entire collection amount to?”
It was as if he had stumbled upon a treasure trove. The Signor’s eyes glistened with tears of joy as he responded to you. “Lady de Roma! What a blessing you have bestowed upon me,” he exclaimed, leaving you sympathetic towards his years of unacknowledged artistry. “The collection would fetch two-hundred celestas.”
Your maid, filled with concern, cried out in protest. “Preposterous! This is a swindle!”
Again, 200 celestas was a trifling sum compared to its prospective worth. Moreover, it was a price that would not significantly dent your finances as a noble lady. However, if you acquiesced to his initial offer without negotiation, he might infer that you would readily purchase any of his other works at its highest prices.
It was a simple game of chess, and he was merely one of your pawns.
“A hundred and fifty celestas,” you countered, maintaining a steely gaze on Maestro Giancarlo as you made your bargain. “Take it or leave it.”
The man voiced his objection, nonetheless. “But My Lady, I have dedicated weeks to crafting each piece.”
Being ten steps ahead, you already anticipated his response, so you offered a compromise. “Yes, yet two hundred for a handful of pieces seems excessive. I will increase it to a hundred and seventy-five. Do we have an accord?”
“But—”
“Two hundred celestas,” you declared firmly, “on the condition that you add a few more cherubim to my collection.”
In the end, he agreed to your offer with an air of triumph as if he had hit the jackpot. He penned your receipt with a sense of satisfaction, believing he had outwitted you with his inflated price when, unbeknownst to him, he had just sold pieces worth roughly two-hundred thousand celestas. The clear winner in this exchange was you, though you kept that fact strictly concealed. Your strategy to amass personal wealth would remain a secret to all, even if Milena thought you had lost your mind paying such a sum for the work of a struggling artist.
And you did not plan to stop there. Your next task was to visit Pietro De Luca, a renowned painter from your past life who had risen to prominence during your time as empress. Like the sculptor, this man was yet to achieve fame during the future period of artistic renaissance. He was the one who painted you and your husband’s infamous portrait at the palace. Unfortunately, though, luck was not on your side when you visited the painter that day, as the man had apparently journeyed to Constantia and would not return for another fortnight.
Ah, well. There would always be another opportunity.
“My Lady,” spoke Milena, standing beside you as your father’s men loaded the sculptures into the spare carriage. “I never imagined the day would come when you would take an interest in sculptures. When did you develop an eye for art?”
To tell her the truth, you cared little for its artistic merit. Your sole concern was its value and the wealth it would bring you in a decade’s time. You could never reveal that fact to Milena, so you offered an excuse instead. “They make for lovely decorations, do they not? They would certainly add to the opulence of the estate.”
Your sentence was abruptly interrupted as a pair of playing children collided with you, causing your hood to slip down and reveal your face. The mother of the children, instead of offering an apology, was too stunned to realize that you were a noblewoman from the capital. They were clearly of lower status than commoners; they were beggars, clad in tattered garments and bearing grimy faces. Your heart twinged with pity, especially upon seeing the mother cradling a baby in her arms.
A poor infant. Almost instinctively, your hand flew to your belly as memories flooded your mind of the baby you nearly had in your past life. It was Satoru’s child, the future emperor of the empire, the sole heir to the imperial Gojou lineage. Yet, he refused to acknowledge it as his own. What would have happened to your child if he had lived? The bittersweet recollection clenched at your gut. 
“Please, my lady,” pleaded the impoverished woman, “Any food or clothing would be a blessing.”
To think of it, in your past life, you realized that the commoners harbored resentment towards you for your extravagant lifestyle. None of the luxuries you enjoyed as empress were shared with the masses of the Caelum Empire. They remained trapped in poverty while you reveled in comfort, completely disconnected from their reality. It was no wonder you had incurred the wrath of Goddess Fortuna and Archangel Raphael.
And now, overwhelmed by compassion, you motioned for Milena to offer 50 celestas to the woman, who graciously accepted your gift. The sum would suffice for six months' worth of food supplies. Though you wished you could give more, your wealth was not infinite as the daughter of a duke. Nevertheless, it was the gesture that mattered, was it not?
As you and Milena continued to stroll through the plaza, you could sense the incredulous glances she would cast your way. It must have been strange for her to witness your kindness towards commoners, let alone your act of charity by giving away months worth of allowance to strangers.
“Is it the tea I served you the other morning, my lady?” she inquired, concerned. “You seem to be behaving differently, as if you have transformed into a completely different person.”
In your previous life, Milena’s straightforward comments would have resulted in punishment from you. However, in this timeline, you merely chuckled with her. “Life’s too fleeting to be evil all the time.”
Like an eager puppy, she nodded enthusiastically. “Indeed, my lady. Indeed! It brings me joy to see you embracing life in a different manner.”
If only she knew the hardships you had endured in the past, molding you into someone who viewed the world through a different lens in this present time. She would have been glad to see you become an empress, but she would be horrified to know the amount of souls that died by your hands alone. 
You were lost in contemplation throughout the afternoon, and you wandered aimlessly around the city, immersing yourself fully in the lives of the common folk until dusk began to descend. Just as you were about to make your way back to your carriage, a larger one passed by, adorned in white and blue with the imperial insignia proudly displayed.
Today heralded the return of Princess Savina from The Providence. She was the sister of Crown Prince Satoru and the infamous Caelum princess who had tragically perished alongside her lover, Prince Megumi of Astheryn.
Her tragic demise was also the beginning of Satoru’s descent to tyranny. 
That could only mean one thing: the true story was just about to unfold. 
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You felt unsettled. 
Princess Savina’s return marked not only a significant turning point, but also served as a stark reminder of the events that had unfolded in your previous life. Her tragic death had set off a chain reaction of calamities. After her illicit romance with an Astherean prince was exposed, a devastating war broke out and claimed the deaths of innocent citizens. Shortly after, the prince and princess' dead bodies were discovered in the Sistine Chapel. While the conflict might have concluded with an armistice, it was also the catalyst for Satoru’s path to seizing the throne with your helping hand. It was this very moment that laid the groundwork for Satoru's eventual usurpation of the throne. 
Soon after, Satoru’s ascension to power would be imminent, with you standing by his side as his chosen empress. He would eliminate every traitor you had identified, while you exacted vengeance upon those who had wronged you prior to your rise to an imperial status. Yet, despite your unwavering loyalty and dedication, Satoru never truly trusted or loved you as his wife, ultimately leading to his betrayal in the end.
How could you stand still and watch history repeat itself? 
You had to have a plan. You had to devise a scheme wise enough to change the course of your life. And perhaps, befriending Savina might be the key. She might have a chance to live if her affair with the Astherean prince remained undiscovered, averting the tragic chain of events that led to her demise. That way, Satoru would not harbor the desperation to usurp his parents. He would not ask you to orchestrate a coup, and make you his pathetic empress in return. In this life, you resolved to be repulsive enough in Satoru's eyes that he would be utterly disinterested in you, even if you were the last person on Earth. 
The plan seemed logical, yet simultaneously absurd. In your past life, you had strived with all your might to become Satoru's wife, yet now, you were doing everything in your power to avoid such a fate. Is this naught but a cruel game? You could not suppress a wry chuckle as you stared at your reflection in the mirror, the bright moonlight casting an illuminated glow upon you. It was enchanting yet horrifying at the same time to see a faint scar encircling your neck, a grim mark that reminded you of your previous fate as a beheaded empress. You were still uncertain whether you were the only one who could see the scar, but Milena had never seemed to notice it during your bathing rituals. Perhaps the scar would only manifest as a visible reminder of sin, and would fade with virtuous deeds. Your recent act of generosity towards the beggar, however, seemed to carry no weight in mitigating your previous unethical dealings with Maestro Giancarlo. It appeared that genuine acts of kindness were only truly rewarded when performed with sincerity, while any hint of selfishness nullified their positive effects.
You acknowledged that virtuousness was not inherently ingrained within you. While avoiding marriage to Satoru was your primary objective, the prospect of a life dedicated to serving the common people was not your desired path. As long as you refrained from inflicting suffering upon others, you saw no necessity in accumulating merits through good deeds. After all, your sole task, as directed by Archangel Raphael, was to atone for your sins, not to become a paragon of virtue. You were no saint. 
Three days had quickly passed since that night, and this day held a special occasion that had your heart pumping heavily the morning you woke up. Today, as accurate as your previous life, was the day of The Mass of Annunciation—a holy Catholic mass to celebrate when Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and announced to her that she would conceive and give birth to the son of God, Jesus. 
The grandeur of the event was undeniable, and attendance was obligatory for all noble families of Caelum, given the devout nature of the empire’s populace. Moreover, the presence of the imperial Gojou family ensured the importance of the occasion. Yet, for you, stepping into Saint Peter's Basilica once more stirred nerves as memories flooded back from your time as an empress. Now, as a 20-year-old daughter of a duke, you entered the basilica beside your brother, Aristide, whose pompous demeanor drew the gaze of all noble ladies present. After all, he was the empire’s second most eligible bachelor after Satoru himself. In your first life, your brother had wed Lady Serena, and your relationship had soured when you declared him a traitor and accused him of treachery against your then-husband. Although Satoru had spared his life, he had decreed Aristide’s eventual exile, wary of the threat posed by a brother-in-law with ambitions for the throne.
The stark contrast between your current standing and your former eminence as an empress was palpable as you made your first public appearance in high society since your regression. No longer did heads turn and knees bend at the sight of you. Instead, you were regarded as a mere noblewoman, approaching the age where marriage prospects dwindled, and whispered rumors branded you as a woman with an unsavory fixation on the crown prince. It was a humbling experience, to say the least, and a reminder of the depths to which your reputation had fallen.
Despite no longer holding the title of empress, you spared no effort in your attire. You carried yourself with the same regal air, a testament to your upbringing and the lavish lifestyle afforded by your father. Your family not only produced the bravest knights, but also supported a prosperous weaponry business, which reflected your ostentatious way of life. That was why you had the means to wear a sumptuous gown of rich burgundy brocade, intricately woven with gold thread and adorned with delicate floral embroidery. You made certain that the modest neckline gracefully covered your neck to hide your revolting scar, while layers of sheer chiffon formed a voluminous skirt that cascades to your feet. Your hair was secured in a crespine, a delicate net-like veil adorned with lustrous pearls and sparkling gemstones, while around your neck hung a simple yet elegant silver cross pendant to add a touch of reverence.
In your eyes, you considered yourself a modest and conservative lady who was hesitant to reveal too much skin. However, your brother found it laughable, jesting that you might as well become a nun given how covered your chest and neckline were. He remarked that it was unusual for you to dress in such a reserved manner, as you had previously taken the initiative to wear attire that would attract Satoru’s manly gaze.
“Announcing the arrival of His and Her Imperial Highness, followed by His and Her Imperial Majesties—the luminaries of our empire.”  
As the imperial family arrived at the basilica, a hushed anticipation suddenly fell over the gathered crowd. The air was filled with a palpable sense of reverence and awe as the imposing façade of the basilica welcomed the presence of the empire’s highest authority.
First to enter were Princess Savina and Crown Prince Satoru, the heir and heiress to the throne, their regal presence commanding attention as they made their way down the grand procession. Princess Savina was resplendent in a gown of shimmering silk and a coronet as her headdress, while there he came… Your then-husband. Your ex-lover. Your betrayer. Crown Prince Satoru, clad in a tailored doublet of rich blue velvet, projecting an air of quiet strength and authority as he stared straight ahead towards the altar like he did in your past life. You had almost forgotten how princely handsome he was when he was younger, and you could not stop your frenzied heart as you felt somersaults in your stomach. No, you must not! It was all in the mind. It was all a matter of mind games, and this might be the first time you had seen Satoru again in real life after your regression, but he was still a man who had ordered to kill you. You should never be fooled by his luscious white hair and sky blue eyes. 
“In love?” whispered your brother, a smirk visible on his face. 
“Out of love,” you corrected and remained resolute in your goal not to get swayed by Satoru’s charm again. “I feel not a single thing.” 
Aristide scoffed at that. “Yet your eyes shine at the sight of him?” 
As the imperial siblings took their places at the head of the procession, the assembled congregation bowed their heads in deference as the imperial family proceeded to their seats and their every movement watched with rapt attention by the gathered nobility. Following closely behind were the Emperor and Empress, the reigning monarchs of the empire, their presence heralded by the sound of trumpets and the swell of sacred music.
You chose not to bicker with your brother throughout the holy mass, although there were times you were tempted to cuss him out. He seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself, ridiculing your attire and insisting that Satoru would never pay you any attention. He took great pleasure in reminding you of the prince’s supposed revulsion towards your obsession, when little did your foolish brother know, you would be glad if that was in fact true. 
And the ironic thing was, in your previous life, you had done Aristide a great favor by marrying Satoru. This freed up Lady Serena for marriage, despite her supposed status as the crown prince’s favorite. You used to despise Serena out of sheer jealousy, while Aristide had always desired her, which was why your brother had urged you to win Satoru's affections to pave the way for him to marry the lady he so coveted.
In this life, you decided not to interfere in any potential relationship between Satoru and Serena, regardless of your brother’s wishes. You acknowledged that Serena would make a far superior empress than yourself, as she possessed enough empathy in her to prioritize the welfare of her people and avoid endangering them. She was not the type of person who would willingly bring about the destruction of an entire nation, nor would she welcome the spread of plague out of mere vengeance against her husband. 
With Satoru out of your plans, Savina then came into the picture. You had to speak and get close to her—close enough for her to trust you and befriend you, but not attached enough for you to act like her older sister. You would only be here to guide her and avoid her from the path of her downfall in order to save yourself. Savina was the key. 
Savina… Savina would be the one to save you in this life. Savina was your only hope. 
As the mass concluded, some of the nobles began to disperse, while others congregated in a corner to converse with the Archbishop. Your sole intention at that moment was to approach Savina, allowing your feet to lead you to the direction of where she was. But just before you reached her, you stumbled upon a very significant individual who had played a pivotal role in bringing about your suffering in your previous life.
It was none other than Satoru’s advisor, Lord Maximillian. 
“Lady Y/N, it is a delight to see you,” the man greeted, but you could see right through him. He never liked you now and in the past. In fact, his hatred stemmed from his peculiar fixation towards the imperial family. He may look younger presently, but he was still an old and rotten base-born cur. 
Maximilian was the one responsible for introducing Satoru to the prophecy, and he was also the individual who whispered your demise into your husband's ears. Given his role in your past suffering, why should you afford him any respect?
“It is rather surprising you had not burned inside the church,” you remarked acerbically, eliciting widened eyes from the nobleman. “Yet it does beg the question, Lord Maximilian, what brings a heretic like yourself inside a Catholic church?”
Within the confines of the basilica, or at least the space surrounding you, a variety of reactions unfolded. A noble lady shot you a disapproving stare for your perceived rudeness towards a man of higher nobility, while your brother regarded you with a mixture of astonishment and concern as if you had gone mad. Conversely, a young nobleman appeared impressed by your audacity.
As for Maximilian, it was rather amusing to observe the crimson hue that spread across his face. You anticipated his retort and braced yourself for his comeback. “Why, you foul-mouthed wench!” he exclaimed, his voice laden with indignation. “Who do you think you are speaking to?!”
You grinned triumphantly at your success in offending him. “You should be ashamed to show yourself in front of God—” you began, relishing the opportunity to further provoke him, but was cut short when a formidable presence appeared before you. 
The arctic white hair, the crystal blue eyes, the smooth ivory skin, the towering build from years of training… 
“Your Highness,” Maximilian immediately curtsied before the prince, while you remained frozen in place. Like a statue. “Your Highness, this young lady is preposterous!” 
On one hand, Satoru’s eyes bathed in humor as he observed the interaction between you and Maximilian. This was the first time you two had faced each other since the regression, and the emotions stirred within you were still raw. You were husband and wife when you last saw each other. You could still remember the last time you saw him the night before your execution, when he visited you in the West Tower and asked you to live a solitary life in the countryside as his mistress. Your heart seemed to constrict in your chest, yet simultaneously, it pounded loudly with anticipation. 
“Max, it seems the lady has labeled you a heretic,” the Crown Prince remarked, his gaze unwavering as he focused on you. “Can you substantiate your accusations, Lady Y/N?” he inquired, prompting you to defend your claims.
Satoru, you fool. If you were to reveal what happened in your previous life, he would be an accomplice to the crime. He carried the highest position in the empire at the time, yet he was a supporter of heresy himself. That alone would have brought him into Inquisition. 
You could not think straight. Oh for heaven’s sake! You could not focus. Could not breathe. Could not speak. Your thoughts were flooded by memories of your past life; of Satoru claiming you were useless for being barren, of him refusing to acknowledge your child, of him planning to wed another woman after the years you had devoted to him, of him ruthlessly ordering your execution. 
Of him never saying he loved you. 
Before you realized it, tears welled up in your eyes. You were utterly unprepared to encounter him today, let alone engage in conversation, especially while the wounds from your past were still so raw. Some wounds had yet to heal, and the mere sight of him brought them flooding back.
And with your unexpected reaction, his expression softened and morphed into one of genuine concern. Why? Why was he suddenly concerned now when he spent years of being an ungrateful husband? His smile had long vanished, replaced by a look of worry after seeing you on the verge of breaking down. However, before the tears could spill, you turned and fled, unable to bear the thought of crying in front of a man like him.
“Hold on, Lady Y/N—!”
His voice called out to you, but you refused to look back. No, you were determined to only keep moving forward, to distance yourself from the man who had caused you so much pain. Therefore, you hastily fled the basilica, seeking solace amidst the throng of nobles who were crowding outside. 
As you ran, tears streamed down your face unchecked, yet you let it be. The ache in your heart was unbearable, knowing that the man you had once loved so deeply now had the power to hurt you all over again. Only when you found a secluded spot beneath a stone pine tree did you collapse, clutching your chest as you recalled the face of the man who had caused you so much anguish.
I despise you, Satoru. 
“How could you betray me like that?” you murmured, tears staining your cheeks as you sobbed beneath the tree, feeling utterly pathetic.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over you, and as you looked up, you saw a man with dark hair clad in shining armor. His smile was gentle as he approached and crouched down beside you.
“My lady.” It was the Knight Commander, Yuuta, offering you his handkerchief. “Is everything alright?”
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The Apothecary Diaries
S1E3 First Watch
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My thoughts from my first watch of episode 3 of The Apothecary Diaries under the cut.
My character cheat sheet (turns out I should know their names if I'm going to write these reviews)
Hongniang - head LIW
Gaoshun - Jinshi's assistant
Lady Gyokuyou - favorite concubine
Yinghua - pink flowers LIW
Guen - the palace doctor
Jumping right in.
Jinshi is having a cryptic conversation with a concubine. Her lady-in-waiting saying "surely this is a mistake. As a reward?" Initially my thought is that this might be the lady that tried to lure Jinshi to her room. Maybe she is being sent out of the palace? Though I went back to episode 2 to check and she has different accessories.*Shrug* we'll find out soon enough.
A spectral figure in white is haunting the walls at night. This must be our mystery of the week for Maomao to solve.
The gossiping ladies are back at it. Apparently Lady Gyokuyou is a foreign princess. I didn't pick up on that before. She's the favorite of the emperor and trade has increased due to his favor. Lady Gyokuyou is an obstacle for other ambitious concubines and those who fear her foreign influence in the empire. The maids had found a poisoned needle in her clothing before when they were short staffed and needed help outside their own pavilion. Just another reason they are happy to have Maomao around.
Maomao has not heard the latest gossip and is not impressed by the latest ghost story. To her credit she does try to stay out of things until someone needs her help.
Maomao's in her element, brewing up medicine when Yinghua (I'm making an effort to learn names) notices Maomao's bandaged wrist. She immediately worries over Maomao offering her assistance with anything and I love this. Maomao who is so independent, and self sufficient; Maomao who hasn't had anyone looking out for her well-being; Maomao who self harms - has someone who cares if she is hurt.
Not only do the ladies in waiting care about Maomao but the palace doctor is making her tea and snacks, and giving her apothecary ingredients. She's slowly building a support network.
Jinshi is calling her a good girl. And... she's reacting to it. Yup, praise works a lot better on her than sultry looks. Jinshi figured that out fast.
Maomao has noticed that Jinshi's position in the rear palace is unusual. He seems to outrank everyone else and has the authority to move about and do as he pleases. He's too young to be given such a rank, he must have the emperor's favor. I'm pretty sure he does have favor but not in the way Maomao is thinking! Lol! For the record, I hope I am wrong about Jinshi being a prince and that Maomao is right and he's the emperor's lover.
Jinshi easily maneuvers the doctor out of the room so he can ask Maomao's medical advice without him over hearing. And Maomao knows it. These two are starting to get to know one another and fall into a rhythm. In fact it's happening with everyone around Maomao. She's nothing if not adaptable.
And even more effective than praise for Maomao is engaging her expertise. Jinshi asks her about sleepwalking and she instantly brightens, until he teased her for it. She claims the solution is not a medical one and draws a line, stating that she won't try to offer a solution on something she isn't qualified in. Which is so mature. She knows herself and sets boundaries. I love her.
Gaoshun asks Maomao to stop glaring at Jinshi. Once again trying to protect the dignity of the prince his superior officer.
They spot Lady Fuyou. The spector who has been spooking the people of the rear palace. She's soon to be sent to a military officer as a reward. This must be the lady from the beginning of the episode and now we have context for that conversation.
Is the stress of being sent away causing her to sleepwalk? Maomao will figure it out. She can't resist helping someone in need.
She does her research as best she can, applies her experience and gives her best guess as to the cause of the lady's sleepwalking even if she is less confident than she was with diagnosing the poisons before. Jinshi is uncanny in his ability to read her and pushes her on this.
And it's not just Jinshi who is learning to read Maomao. Lady Gyokuyou also knows something is bothering Maomao.
And wow. The story of how Lady Fuyou and her military officer managed to defy fate and end up together; beautiful.
Maomao is only able to speculate on what has happened but she did her best to assist Lady Fuyou by keeping her theory to herself. We know now why she acted so peculiar before when she offered her diagnosis, she wasn't hesitant to give an answer she wasn't sure of - she was hidding the truth. She's going to need to become a better liar if she wants to survive in a palace intrigue story. She gave Jinshi a plausible explanation on how and why the sleepwalking might be occurring backed by half a truth from her experience with the courtesans. He knew he didn't get the whole story, but she still didn't give him anything more that he could use against Lady Fuyou. Which is revealing because shortly after, she does reveal her thoughts to Lady Gyokuyou. You can see where Maomao's trust and loyalty lies.
I wonder if the story of Lady Fuyou has any parallels to the main story? In a palace where the concubines and servants are trapped one of them manages to defy fate and escape to a future of her own choice.
Lady Gyokuyou admits that she envies Lady Fuyou. Which surprised me. She is the emperor's favorite concubine and the first to bear him a child. I thought she was happy in her position (I will be watching out for more of this!). Maomao similarly, is a woman being held against her will in the rear palace, but she consoles herself with the hope that she will be able to leave when her contract is up. Her ability to choose her own fate is only delayed rather than Lady Gyokuyou who is truly trapped.
I personally don't think leaving the palace will be so simple for Maomao, she's way too valuable to let her leave, but for now, Maomao still believes it. I don't know if she would be so compliant if she thought she couldn't leave some day. But I've digressed.
Hey was that Gaoshun? Did he... overhear all of that? Well we know who's ears that will end up in. Not good. Not good for Maomao because Jinshi will know she's holding back information from him, and undermining the emperor's will by helping a concubine escape the palace. And not good for Lady Gyokuyou because her envy is a sign of disloyalty to the emperor. Very, very bad.
Jinshi is gazing out the window. Is he watching Maomao? Is he thinking that she's beautiful or about her crimes? Both?Either way the show transitions to Maomao watching the sunset and thinking the following:
It's said love has the power to make a woman more beautiful. I wonder what kind of medicine it would make. -Maomao
She says this while looking at her ruined arm and I have to wonder if she's thinking of herself as someone who isn't beautiful. Or does she look at her arm because it represents her experiments? Is she thinking of experimenting on herself... with love? Or maybe she is moved by the fact that Lady Fuyou's love gained her her freedom. How can love be used as a medicine? Maomao already acknowledged that love can be an ailment in her story about sleepwalking, but thinking of it as a treatment is new.
And someone new has a request for Maomao's apothecary expertise. Not good. Each episode I feel a greater sense of doom. It's only a matter of time before Maomao gets tangled into something dangerous. At least we saw in this episode that she is building trust and some genuine warmth with the ladies in Lady Gyokuyou's pavilion. I can only hope those relationships will be strong enough to shield or support her when her trials come. Because let's be honest it won't be much of a show if Maomao doesn't get thrown into some shit.
If you like this episode first watch, you may enjoy the previous ones too.
Episode 1
Episode 4
Episode 2
The next one is up now:
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