#prince kit blurbs

[eternaldecisions]

STURNIOLO MASTERLIST.

chris sturniolo & matt sturniolo ⸝⸝ oneshots | series | blurbs

⸝⸝ sneaky — fwb ! chris: nobody knew you and him stayed on the low, and you both kept everything, sneaky.

⸝⸝ on your period — boyfriend ! chris: thoughts of how Chris would act while your hormones was up and how he would handle with his girl on her period.

⸝⸝ streamer girlfriend — boyfriend ! chris: how Chris would act with a streamer girlfriend as he ‘accidentally’ crashes your stream.

⸝⸝ sundress — boyfriend ! chris: social media! au, cute posts with Chris hyping you up as a popstar.

⸝⸝ make you mine — enemy ! chris: the popular captain of the hockey team didn’t go with your face a lot, even knowing you were his bestfriend sister, but, you knew how to make him yours.

⸝⸝ for fun — boyfriend ! chris: As you and Matt,Chris and Justin arrived in Las Vegas, Chris taking a chance with you in the hotel room, as his two brothers were out, he decided to test the ‘intimicity kit’ with you.

⸝⸝ p! links — not fanfiction all nsfw links from twitter.

MATT STURNIOLO.

⸝⸝ hands on me — enemy ! matt: at a party you find your bestfriend and your enemy making out, range fills your body as you couldn’t let that slide, deciding to key his car, but, he enventually sees it, and things take a turn.

⸝⸝ like a prince — boyfriend ! matt: Matt being the typical ‘prince’ boyfriend with his girl.

⸝⸝ don’t be shy — boyfriend ! matt: your boyfriend eating you out for the first time.

⸝⸝ p! links — not fanfiction all nsfw links from twitter.

[sad-ghost-of-garbage]

Nicknames with the Lost Boys

Affectionate and Goofy nicknames for and from the boys

Author: SadGhostofGarbage Warnings: this is a crackfic! It’s only semi serious. There is some NSFW headcannons so MDNI!

David:

David’s nicknames for reader: Kitten, Kitty, Kit Cat, Doll face, Beloved, and My Queen (Yes even as a male reader, David believes himself the King so naturally his partner is his other half despite gender. He regards his partner as the chess Queen to his King; here is a lil blurb of how I see the conversation going, the first time it happens.

Male reader x David: “Um David, why did you call me your Queen? I am a whole grown ass man?” “Beloved, you are the most important piece on my chess board, since I'm clearly the King, you are my other half.” The bastard has the audacity to say condescendingly as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “You do realize that means I should be protecting you right?” That wipes the smirk right off his face, and he narrows his eyes at you. “Absolutely not happening”. He says with teeth grit in a firm line. “You are not putting yourself in any danger ever.” “Then by chess standards that makes you the Queen”. It was your turn for the shit eating grin, the expression on his face was priceless. It is definitely one of your favorite ways to tease him from that moment on. If however it causes you discomfort he will refrain from using it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still tease him with it. You will be punished accordingly after every instance you jokingly call him “my Queen”, but teasing him is half the fun. Side note, Paul tries to help by suggesting you combine the two, “One of you can be, Quee-ing, and the other can be Ki-een. BOOM! Problem solved, you’re welcome!” Spoiler… It does not solve the problem.

Things that David secretly loves being called, its a “secret” because he “doesn’t do nicknames”: Handsome, Cowboy, My King, My one, My love, basically anything that has a possessive edge implying that David is readers everything (Daddy loves to be needed)

Things reader (and the boys) call him that he “hates”: Daviey (Paul’s go to mostly), Marko calls him Daddy as if he were confessing to a Catholic priest during confession; “Daddy I’ve been naughty” instead of “forgive me father for I have sinned”. Chaos ensues and you will catch David chasing Marko around the cave on multiple occasions for this very reason. David won’t admit out loud that he’s okay with his partner calling him Daddy but he does prefer Sir, but if it revs your engines then he will graciously allow you to call him Daddy. Moral of the story… David is a butthead.

Names David actually hates being called: Baby, And any nickname that is overly obnoxious like : Stud muffin, or Pookie.

Dwayne:

Dwayne’s nicknames for reader; Darling, Sweetheart, Baby/Babygirl/Babyboy (if it is Babyboy, just know Paul is jealous), Mama or Nobi for a non gendered version (of a parental name that both he and Laddie call a parental figure reader), Prince/Princess/Princex

Dwayne’s nicknames from the reader and the boys, they are all fair game for D-man: Papa, Big man, D, Snuggle bear, Big Cat, Baby Daddy

Nicknames that are affectionate when it comes from reader, and jokingly when coming from the boys: Gigantus, Tall Dark and Dracula, Skater boy, Dork

Paul:

Paul’s nicknames for Reader: Sugar, babe, bug, Beautiful/Handsome/Gorgeous, Hot Stuff, My cute lil capri sun! If you're still human. Bit will continue to call you that after you become a vamp as well, he just likes biting. (fun fact I looked up when capri-sun came out, the answer? 1969! its cannon!)

Paul’s nicknames from reader and the boys: Paulie, Puppy, Pretty boy, jellybelly~ Paul got high af and cried because his blood wasn’t jelly bean flavored after he ate 12 bags of them. “I wanna be a jellybean damn it” 😭 NSFW: I saw a post going around about sucking Paul’s dick and my brain went… ah a Paulie pop… and now it lives rent free in my head so have that too

Marko:

Marko’s nicknames for reader: Angel, Dove, Love, precious one, Sunshine, Tesoro / my treasure (if you headcannon him as an Italian, as many do 😉) the Juliet to his Romeo if you're a fem reader (until you point out that Juliet was like 13 and Romeo was 16. And comparing your love to that of children was not as romantic as he assumed it was. Those names quickly get abandoned)

Nicknames for Marko: Cassanova, Italian Stallion, Stud, Angel (the first time reader calls him angel you both argue over who gets to call the other angel, and it ends with an intervention from David. “You are both little devils, you brats!” you both continue to call each other angel, and David continues to call you both little devils.)

Nicknames that will get get you (or the boys) in trouble and not the good kind: Cherub, bird boy.

side note, I'd love to hear what nicknames you guys think the boys like being called and call their partners

Taglist: @ria-coolgirl, @britany1997, @henhouse-horrors. If you want added to my Lost Boys taglist lemme know!

[ash-and-books]

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom.

Niamh Ó Conchobhair has never let herself long for more. The magic in her blood that lets her stitch emotions and memories into fabric is the same magic that will eventually kill her. Determined to spend the little time she has left guaranteeing a better life for her family, Niamh jumps at the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom of Avaland.

But Avaland is far from the fairytale that she imagined. While young nobles attend candlelit balls and elegant garden parties, unrest brews amid the working class. The groom himself, Kit Carmine, is prickly, abrasive, and begrudgingly being dragged to the altar as a political pawn. But when Niamh and Kit grow closer, an unlikely friendship blossoms into something more—until an anonymous gossip columnist starts buzzing about their chemistry, promising to leave them alone only if Niamh helps to uncover the royal family’s secrets. The rot at the heart of Avaland runs deep, but exposing it could risk a future she never let herself dream of, and a love she never thought possible.

Transporting readers to a Regency England-inspired fantasy world, A Fragile Enchantment is a sweeping romance threaded with intrigue, unforgettable characters, and a love story for the ages.

Review:

A magical dressmaker is commissioned to dress the prince for his royal wedding finds herself doing the unthinkable, falling for the very thorny groom and being embroiled in political scandal like no other. Niamh has magic in her blood, she can stitch emotions and memories into fabric... but it comes at a cost if she overworks herself, it's killing her slowly. She is determined to use her gifts to provide for her family, so when she is offered the chance to design the wardrobe for a royal wedding in the neighboring kingdom she seizes it... despite said kingdom currently having a war about the mistreatment of people like her. When Niamh meets the groom, Kit, she finds that he is rude, prickly, and being forced to the altar by his brother. Kit and Niamh may not have had a good first meeting but they can't seem to stay away from one another. Their romance is forbidden, not only are they from two different classes but he's a groom promised in a political marriage and she's a commoner seamstress. Yet the more time she spends with him the more she is realizing there is much more going on in Avaland... and that the royal family has secrets that could destroy everything. Niamh has always given more of herself for others, always trying to make everyone else happy while Kit has kept himself walled up, afraid to show his true emotions and let anyone in... yet together they might be perfect for each other, if only they could find a way to get Kit out of his marriage without bloodshed. This was a really fun regency fantasy romance with a touch of mystery, angst, yearning, and a unique love story. I loved Niamh and Kit, they are both so invested in protecting others and being self sacrificing, they care so much and I loved their chemistry together. I adored getting to fall for their romance story and I enjoyed the unique Regency England-inspired world that was created and the bit of magic that was added! If you enjoy fantasy romance with a touch of historical give this a go, I promise it'll be a great time for you!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Booksnfor sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

[writingfortoomanyfandoms]

Wow wow ok im way too happy about you writing Kit blurbs!! How about prince kit x reader where her corset is so tight that she becomes lightheaded and faints and our sweet boy leaps into action😍

dude I love this guy he’s so fucking soft omg

--------------------

Kit wasn’t stupid, he noticed things. He was observant. Especially when it came to Y/N. The maid that he had fallen in love with and had spent weeks pestering his father about until the king gave in and consented to his son’s wishes for marriage to the young woman.

Kit had never been happier than when Y/N and he were finally allowed to be around one another in public and when she said yes to his marriage proposal.

It was fair to say the two of them had always been rather in tune to each other’s state.

And Kit knew that Y/N was highly uncomfortable. And yet he could not do much about it at the moment since it was a ball and he had been ordered by his father to mingle and make friends and allies with the leaders of the other kingdoms surrounding theirs, seeing as though Kit was not going to be marrying in order to assure allegiances.

He had wanted Y/N to join him as he made his rounds of the ballroom but she had rejected the offer, opting instead to help out as best she could with the women of the other kingdoms.

Despite this, Kit’s eyes kept going back to her. They normally did anyway but, what with the nauseous expression on her ever-paling face they moved to her even more frequently.

“Is something wrong, your highness?” The king who had been speaking to him inquired, clearly noting Kit’s lack of attention as he spoke about his horses.

“Yes, your majesty, quite alright,” Kit forced a smile back onto his face and fixed his eyes upon the older man, determined to make a good impression, though he could do very little to quieten the nagging voice at the back of his head worrying about Y/N.

It was only ten minutes later that there were collective gasps and Kit’s heart dropped in his chest, almost instinctively knowing it had something to do with his fiancé.

“Sorry, would you mind holding this?” Kit asked, rushed. He didn’t await a response from the king before pushing his glass into the elderly man’s hand and pushing through the slight crowd that had formed.

Sure enough, in the centre, lay Y/N. Kit pushed past those who were gathered around and dropped to his knees by her, moving her head so it was gently cradled in his hand, angled towards him.

“I’m going to take her to her room,” Kit said to his father, who had swiftly joined the scene.

Even though his father had initially been against the relationship between Kit and Y/N, after spending more time with the girl it was safe to say that she had grown on him and his father had come to see her as another child, adoring her in the same way he did Kit.

“Is she okay?” His father asked, worriedly.

“I hope so,” Kit murmured, scooping Y/N into his arms carefully, allowing her head to loll against his chest.

“I’ll ask a maid to bring some water up,” his father said and Kit nodded thankfully.

Kit carried her through the crowds and up the stairs to the hallway in which the royals resided. He pushed her door open gently and placed Y/N on her unmade bed - she had told him that she found the idea of the maids, her old coworkers, having to make her bed for her when, up until recently, she had been one of them. As a result of that, Kit had agreed that the maids did not need to clean her room for her, something the maids had been equally thankful for.

Y/N slowly blinked her eyes open, her hand going to her head.

“What happened?” Kit sat on the bed next to her, gently stroking his fingers through her hair.

“You fainted, love,” he murmured.

“Oh,” she closed her eyes. “Sorry,” she groaned. Kit lent down and pressed his lips to her forehead.

“Don’t apologise, love, are you okay?” He asked.

“I’m tired,” she admitted.

“Do you mind if I undress you? Just to get you into something more comfortable to sleep in.” He added hastily as Y/N began to laugh. She nodded.

“Thank you,” she whispered and Kit kissed her gently before slowly undoing her dress.

“Oh, love,” he sighed.

“What?” Y/N mumbled.

“Your corsets way too tight,” he scolded gently, kissing her shoulder as he loosened the strings.

“Just wanted to make sure I looked alright,” she yawned.

“You’re perfect.”

[avenging-fandoms]

Having Richard try on Prince Kit’s costume for you either at home or when you visit the set. Him being all shy and self conscious about doing the part justice (and whether the pants show too much of a “print” ;)) and you just loving how jaw dropping my gorgeous he looks. Just a bunch of kisses and fluff and reassuring him that he’s the best prince Disney could ever ask for 😍 And if you wanna add some sexiness to it in regards to the *ahem* giant bugle then please, be my guest lmfao 💕

“okay, are you ready for your prince?!” sandy, the costumer designer, yelled from behind the door. you smile, putting your phone down. 

“ready!” the door clicks open and your jaw drops, leaning forward as richard comes out with his eyebrows slightly raised and a smile on his face. “my oh my, prince charming. you are such a sight for sore eyes” 

“i was telling him that too” she winks, adjusting his jacket. you look him up and down slowly, biting your lip as you study your gorgeous husband. “i have to go back to my station in my trailer and grab my kit, plus i have to go help lily real quick. i’ll be back in 15″ you nod and she leaves, and you take this as your opportunity to jump in front of him. 

“you are the sexiest man to walk this earth, richard” you whispered, holding onto his jacket and kissing him passionately. heat rises to richard cheeks, holding onto your shoulders and smiling. you pull away, going behind him and rubbing your hands up and down his stomach. 

“you don’t think it shows.. too much?” he asks, referring to his very tight pants that showed everything. you giggle, shaking your head and looking at him through the mirror. 

“no, i think it shows you off perfectly. you look like the perfect prince charming to me” richard holds your chin, kissing you deeply. “i love you so much, richard”

“mm, i love you more, beautiful” your hand falls into his, the other on his shoulder as his hand holds yours with the other on your hip. “there’s no music playing”

“you don’t need music, we’ve practiced enough in our living room” you both laugh, and you start to dance with him, a giant smile on both of your faces. sandy comes in, but the two of you didn’t even realize until you stopped humming. 

“you two are such a beautiful couple” she says and you jump, giving richard a kiss before she goes back to working on his costume. while you watched her in the mirror, you catch richard’s eye in the mirror, and he gave you a quick wink and smile before he became all professional and serious again. you really were the luckiest girl on earth, with a boyfriend like richard. 

[mcsstydia]

Mornings- Richard Madden Blurb

Request:

prompt: Richard doesn’t like mornings. Unless he gets to spend them with you

pairing: richard x reader 

words: 1k

warnings: fluff, fluff, so much cheesy fluff (but a little talk about past bad relationships)

A/N: I told y’all I loved this man. Bear with me. (not yet proof read, you know the drill)

Masterlist is in bio

Mornings. When we’re honest, none of us really likes mornings. Mornings indicate getting out of bed and leaving your significant other to get to work. 

  But, Richard loved mornings. Not all of them, surely. But mornings such as today. He woke up from the sun shining through the blinds, the sun gently awekening him. And he wasn’t angry he had to get up. Because it was his free day. But that didn’t make him love it. It was the fact that he would spend it with you.

Squinting, he stretched out his arm, searching for your body beside him. When he couldn’t find you, he turned around, seeing that the space you usually occupied next to him was abandoned, sheets empty and cold. 

  The Scot figured you must’ve already gotten up, so he forced himself to get up as well, a silent sigh escaping his mouth, a little disappointed that you weren’t there to cuddle him, but excited to have breakfast with you.

Only clothed in his boxers, he picked his sweatpants up from the floor and put them on. He searched the shirt he had worn last evening as well, remembering he had tossed it towards the door when things had gotten heated between the two of you.

  With an absentminded smile on his lips, he made his way to the door, expecting his shirt to be there. His eyebrows furrowed when it was nowhere to be found and he quickly took a new one out of your shared wardrobe and put it on during his walk down the stairs. 

A delicious smell welcomed him into the kitchen, but the sight his eyes were greeted with was far more compelling. He should’ve known you had taken his shirt, but he somehow still hasn’t gotten used to you being comfortable around him.

  You had been it a lot of bad relationships which resulted in you getting hurt and insecure. Until Richard, you would say, you’ve never been lucky in terms of love. 

So, that’s why it meant so much to Richard so see you standing only in his shirt in the kitchen, making breakfast for the two of you. Not because you weren’t wearing much (although he enjoyed that fact, as well). No, it was, because out of all the things you had at his place (hell, more than the half of his wardrobe was filled with your clothes), you got up and chose to wear his shirt.

And, not matter how often he woke up to that sight, it always brought a smile to his face. Because it reminded him that you were comfortable with him, that you trusted him and that, finally, you were happy. 

  He leaned against the doorframe to the kitchen, watching you all the while a smile always present on his lips. He left his spot and slowly walked over to you. “Morning, sunshine,”, he mumbled cheesily while wrapping his muscular arms around your form from behind. 

You playfully rolled your eyes at the nickname, but your secretly loved it. “Morning, sleepy head,”, you giggled and turned towards him in his grip. Your eyes met his, and your already present smile grew into a wide grin. Richard could see how your eyes lit up merely at the sight of him and your sight brought a grin just as wide to his face.

  “You know that stealing my clothes is a crime, right?”, he teased, looking down at your lips, closing the space between your faces but not yet kissing your lips. His mouth hovered over your lips while he gently bumbed his nose against yours. 

You giggled and your hands travelled over his arms to the back of his neck, holding him in place in case he wanted to tease you further. “Why? ‘Cause you look so much hotter in them?”, you teased back, biting down on your lip and grinning up at him. 

  Your boyfriend chuckled at your comment. “First off,”, he started, pulling your body closer to his. “that’s a straight up lie. No one could look as hot in my clothes as you do,”, he whispered, pressing a chaste kiss on your lips before continuing, leaving you wanting more.

“Secondly, no. The crime you’ve comitted is ‘Making my heart explode’,”, he admitted, a somewhat shy smile stealing its way onto his face. You furrowed your eyebrows and slightly tilted your head at him in question. Richard hugged you and let his head rest on your shoulder before continuing. 

  “You know how much it means to me that you’re comfortable around me. I know you always wear my clothes but it means very much to me.”, he quietly confessed into your shoulder. 

You couldn’t help but let your jaw fall open. “Rich,”, you began, pushing him away from you enough to be able to look him in the eyes, the shy smile still evident on his lips. “That’s both the most cheesy and the most romantic thing you could’ve said to me,”, you whispered, your hands gently holding his beard-covered face. 

  A more confident smile spread back to Richard and he leant down to properly kiss you this time. His soft lips met yours in a soft and passionate kiss, your lips somehow moving perfectly together. “I love you so much.”, he mumbled against your lips, never wanting the kiss to end, but nevertheless wanting to tell you. 

You grinned up at him, hands still playing with his hair, lips mere inches away from one another, breaths still mingled. “I love you so much, too.”, you whispered, before pulling him back down to your lips. 

[imagine-richards]

65 and 74 from that prompt list with Richard would be soooooo hot 😍

65. One Small Kiss, Pulling Away For An Instant, Then Devouring Each Other 

74. Kisses Where One Person Is Sitting In The Other’s Lap 

You set up the microwave, closing the door and pressing start as you watched the bag of popcorn kernels start to rotate. You had set it for five minutes, but since you and Richard moved in together and had basically become Netflix champions, you had mastered the art of cooking popcorn without burning it or having half a bowl of kernels.

You had about a minute before you'd have to start listening out for the pops, so you walked over to the living room, leaning against the doorframe as you watched Rich setting up the show you were currently binging. He noticed you, a smile appearing on his face as his eyes met yours. Putting the remote on the sofa, Richard patted his lap, which was the unspoken request for you to join him.

"Can't, babe. I've got popcorn-"

He didn't let you finish, instead pouting childishly and slapping his lap harder, this time with both hands. He was such a child, but you found it near impossible to say no to him, especially with that stupid pout.

You ignored all common sense as you heard the first pop, walking over and sitting on Richard's lap, your legs resting outside his so you were straddling him. His hands rested just above your bum, fingers tapping gently at the bit of skin that showed when your t-shirt rode up a little.

Richard sighed happily, his breath almost turning into a growl. He always did this whenever you were this close, just as his hands roamed further south and squeezed your ass ever so slightly.

"Mm, darling…" he whispered,

"Yes?" You looked down at him, eyes wide as your teeth sunk into your bottom lip, deciding that your main objective right now was to get him all worked up before you left to get the popcorn. The last time you were out, he teased you relentlessly. Revenge was a dish best served with your ass rubbing against Richard's crotch.

As Rich leant in to kiss you, you leaned back, keeping a certain distance between you for the moment. His eyebrow raised and you smirked, not even entirely sure if the eyebrow thing was intentional. (Most of the time he had no idea he was doing it and it drove you wild.)

You then slowly dipped down, pressing a short and sweet kiss on his lips as your hands ran up his arms, giving them a gentle squeeze. The popcorn was madly making it's noise in the kitchen, which was why you tried getting up after the one kiss.

"Where do you think you're going?" He growled, clearly having other ideas to you as his hands quickly ran up your spine and landed on the back of your neck, pulling you down to meet his lips. There was so much passion in his kiss that all thoughts of popcorn ran away from you and you melted, probably managing to keep the fight in you for about half a second in total. You were at his mercy, exactly where he wanted you as he devoured you, his tongue entering your mouth and clashing with your own.

You felt his teeth sink into your bottom lip and you let out a moan, knowing full well that any noise you made now would only get Richard going even more. Your nails gently scratched at the back of his neck, your other hand merging with his curls and tugging gently.

This went on for some time, Richard occasionally finding himself at your neck and your collarbones, nipping and sucking needily as you moaned out his name, your need for him only growing. It wasn't until the smell of burning popcorn reached your senses that you stopped, the scent so strong it was even enough to take Richard out of his trance.

"Fuck. That's totally your fault, Rich."

"…guess I'll have to eat something else." He whispered, his stupid smirk reappearing for a second as his hand made contact with your ass, your squeak following an audible slap sound that rang through your flat.

[beananacake]

The Accidental Princess (Part 10)

Prince Kit x Reader

Synopsis: A contract has been found after twenty years, bearing your name and the Prince Kit's... bound in matrimony.

Chapter Synopsis: Kit learns the truth

Word Count: 13.9k words

Warnings: angst, a bit of violence, mentions of poison and murder, period-typical misogyny. if i missed out on something lmk :)

A/N: Hey, everyone! This is just mostly blurb and more of Prince Kit's POV so I hope it's not too boring. Thank you to the people still reading this! There's still one more chapter before the last one so just hang on! As always, your thoughts, comments, suggestions, requests (and reblogs) are very much welcome! Thank you to the people taking their time reviewing each and every chapter! Not beta'd, all mistakes are mine. Enjoy Part 10 of The Accidental Princess!

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Epilogue

Kit always knew there was something about the Grand Duke that did not sit well with him. The man was too pompous for his own good, too proud of achievements he was yet to show, and he always had a menacing air about him. Kit only thought it was the Prussian pride in him but it was something else entirely.

The man killed his mother.

His mother, who the kingdom loved for her benevolence and service, who the kingdom mourned for her sudden passing. His mother did not die because of the heat of the sun. She did not pass for no reason.

She passed because she was killed by a foreigner in her own kingdom.

I have reason to believe Queen Amalie’s death was not accidental.

You suspected. Of all people in the palace, all the people who were present when it had happened, it was you who suspected. You, who did not know his mother, who had only been in the palace because of your accidental marriage to him. You, who started to uncover the events of her death because you were suspicious of tea leaves—of all things!—and had gone missing because of it.

You were missing. All because you saved his father from suffering the same fate his mother had.

His father. The Grand Duke used the hemlock—which you had thought was intended for you—on his father!

His father trusted the man, the very same man who murdered his queen.

And for what? You did not know—you would not know—because only the nobleman can answer that question.

Kit always thought him jealous of his mother’s achievements. It was apparent that she had passed more laws as compared to the man who boasted he had been a royal adviser to one of the princes in his country. The late Queen Amalie passed laws that benefitted the people and they all loved her for it. Whilst the Grand Duke had not but one law that he had passed and it did not bode well to the people of the kingdom . The man’s jealousy was as pernicious as the poison he placed on the queen’s tea.

The prince’s hands fisted your letter. Jealousy, he thought angrily. The man was jealous and he decided that the best way to have dealt with the emotion was to have her killed.

Kit strode towards the door without a word. He had every intention of making the nobleman pay for his actions. He killed his mother, he attempted to murder his father, and he had a hand in your vanishing. The man must be dealt with immediately!

His hand wrapped around the doorknob and pulled it open, only for it to shut close. He glared at his cousin, who was now looking at him with alarmed eyes.

“Cousin! What are you doing?” Louis asked. His hand, which had pushed the door shut, was still against it.

“What does it look like I am doing!” He boomed in anger. “He singlehandedly hurt my family! He must pay for his actions!”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” the duke asked, pushing the prince away from the door. “By killing him?”

“He killed my mother,” he declared angrily. “He must be held accountable for his heinous crimes.”

“This will only alarm the man, Kit,” Louis reasoned. “And think of diplomacy!”

Diplomacy? His cousin was absurd. The nobleman did not think of diplomacy when he deliberately poisoned the queen!

“Damn diplomacy!” the prince spat.

“No. You will not damn diplomacy,” his cousin told him. “We do not want to sour our relationship with Prussia because you decided to kill one of their citizens in your quest for vengeance.”

“But he hurt my family!” Kit exclaimed in disbelief of his cousin.

Louis had never been one to think of diplomacy when he dealt with his matters. Why now? Why was he to play by the rules when the Grand Duke did not.

Louis remained calm, however severe what had happened was. “Yes, he did. And we have proof. We have enough proof to accuse him of such.” When he saw the prince ready to rebut his reason, the duke clamped his hands on his shoulders and shook him in frustration. “Act rational, cousin! I understand that you had been wronged, as have all of us, but if you decide to plunge your sword in his heart, what then? Your anger only clouds your judgement.”

“My judgement is sound.” Kit pushed Louis away from him. “I say he dies.”

“And he will. In due time.”

Kit frowned at his cousin. In due time? He had taken his mother’s life long before her time! Who was Louis to tell when the right time was for the Grand Duke to die? All for diplomacy? Unless Louis was acting with the man…

He looked at the duke sharply, eyes accusatory and angry. “Why are you prolonging the inevitable for the man? Are you in league with him?”

His accusation caught the duke off-guard. He looked at his cousin with confusion as he reeled back. “I beg your pardon?” he lashed in surprise.

“It seems to me you are defending him!”

“And it seems to me you’re being an uncomprehending ass! Are you even hearing yourself, Kit? Me? In league with the man who killed your mother?”

“Yes, so he may bring over his nice that you so love. The same niece who is betrothed to me!” Kit should have seen that his cousin was jealous. He may be older and in possession of one of the oldest and grandest titles in the land but he was not a prince. And he was not betrothed to the Princess Chelina.

Louis glared at the mention of the princess. “Do not—”

“She agreed to be betrothed to me! She has agreed to marry me even before she had even met me! She desires to be queen to a land her uncle has already infiltrated! Her designs are the same as her uncle’s. If he is evil, so is she.” he declared, eyes challenging the glare from the duke.

“Her uncle’s actions are not her own.” He told him, his tone serious and grave. “Do not think her capable of such evil ideas!”

“Are you even thinking, Granville? You—”

“Yes, I am.” Louis ground out viciously. “I am thinking for the greater good of everyone. I demand satisfaction like you for what had happened, but I also demand that you do not question my allegiance because you must know I am loyal to you. Do not accuse me of scheming with the man because I am in love with his niece. If you would even think that I had a hand in killing your mother—my aunt!—then you are sorely mistaken. We grew together, Kit. That in itself would account for my loyalty to you and to your family.”

The duke advanced to his cousin and grabbed him by his coat so they saw eye to eye. “And if I let you act on your anger and kill the Grand Duke, what then? Only he knows where Y/N is. If you kill him, we might never see her ever again. And I know you cannot bear to think of that possibility.”

He pushed the prince away and huffed in frustration.

Louis’s tirade chastised him. Kit shrunk back and walked away from his cousin, only to sit heavily on a chair.

He was right. His anger only clouded his judgement, much like how his pain fogged his memory of your putting lavenders in your letters. If Kit had acted on his anger and killed the nobleman without hesitation, he knew he would be plagued with more answers than ever before and would have accomplished nothing. Diplomacy was only a reason for Louis to stop him from going after the nobleman’s neck. The duke was thinking much clearly than he was.

“Forgive me, cousin. I—I—I didn’t know what came over me.” Kit apologized, frowning at his own words and actions.

The duke heaved a deep, regretful sigh. “I understand your anger. I am angry too. The man did things that are inconceivable and for what?” Louis stood before his cousin, patting him on the shoulder. “You must keep a level head, cousin. It is for the best.”

Kit only nodded. “I just want all things to return as how they were,” he said. “I want my mother’s death avenged, my father to be well, and for Y/N to be found.” He swallowed a painfully thick lump in his throat. “Do you think we are not too late? For Y/N? Do you think he spared her?”

“I do not know,” Louis admitted quietly. “But I can promise you that I will deploy my best men to scour the kingdom for her. They will not stop until they find her… or her body.”

Kit did not like the thought of your corpse returning to him. There were a lot of unsaid words and actions not yet done between the two of you. He could not take it if you were dead. He did not think he would survive without you.

“But for now,” Louis said as Kit turned to him. “We must gather all evidence Y/N has stated in her letter. We need to prove his guilt. We would not want what she had worked so hard for to only be in vain.”

Kit merely nodded. “Yes.”

Louis patted his shoulder. “Good man.” He broke away from his cousin. “What’s our first order of business?”

Kit looked at the crumpled paper in his hand. You stated everything that was needed to indict the Grand Duke. They only need to follow through your orders. You were brilliant in your uncovering of this plot but he would rather you not pay for your life. He would do everything to have you back, including killing the nobleman responsible. If he lingered on his heartbreak and pain, he would not accomplish anything.

He rose from his seat, his resolve renewed. “We must talk to Captain Thibault about this so he may assist us. You send your men a missive while I tell the captain of what had happened. We will convene in my father’s chambers.”

He left his cousin’s room with purposeful strides, heading to his father. He instructed the footmen to send for Thibault and to not let the Grand Duke near his father’s chambers. Inside, the physician met him with no news of improvement on his father’s condition, only assuring him that he had expected the king to take an extended sleep after such an ordeal. Kit nodded and asked the man if your—and his—suspicions were correct.

“My findings, Your Royal Highness?” the doctor asked, unsure.

Kit gave a tight nod.

The physician opened his brown notebook and peered at what he had written during the night.

“Let me preface, Your Royal Highness, that there was no need for me to alarm you by having not told you of my findings last night. The worst was over and the king was saved.” He cleared his throat and read on. “The food contents the king had vomited were one and the same with the food that had been served during dinner. There is, however, the presence of an emetic that I had taken note of. The reason for the use of the emetic was to induce vomiting when one is poisoned with hemlock.”

But Kit was unfazed with the information since you had already discovered of it.

“And how did he get poisoned with the hemlock?” he asked instead.

The physician only regarded the prince with an odd look, at Kit’s being unbothered with the news, before he schooled his features. “The vegetable dish, Your Royal Highness. I had come down to the kitchens to inspect the food and found hemlock within the pantry. It is easily mistaken for parsnip because of how similar the roots are in appearance but it is in the stem that I had differentiated it with the poisonous herb. The king, your father, partook what he thought was parsnip and was immediately poisoned due to the large portion he had ingested. I had already disposed of the hemlock so there would be no other victims.”

Kit neared his father and watched the subtle rise and fall of his chest. His father had been near death if it weren’t for your quick thinking. The hemlock you thought was for you had been used on his father and the emetic you had bought saved his life.

Clearly, the Grand Duke wanted to rid of his father the way he did with his mother. Although, he did not know why the man would do such a thing. The king had given him a position among his council: a seat in his assembly upon the queen’s passing and the position’s vacancy. He even heeded his advice, despite the fact that since the arrival of the Grand Duke, the kingdom had fared poorer than before. He was already in a position of power.

What more did he want? Kit thought to himself.

He turned to the physician and said: “I need your trust, doctor. But before that, I need to know if you have no ill intention towards my father.”

“I do not wish the king ill, Your Royal Highness.” He told him earnestly.

Kit nodded. “I entrust my father’s life to you. We had not been fortunate to save my mother’s life and so, we shall take utmost care to save my father’s. What I will say must be kept in strict confidence. You shall only confide in the Captain of the Guards, the Duke of Granville, and I. Do you understand my words, sir?"

"Yes, Your Royal Highness. I am your humble servant.”

“Then know that you cannot trust the Grand Duke. You are to stay with my father until I tell you to leave. If you are given orders that did not directly come from me or the Duke of Granville or the Captain, then you are free to disregard them. Ours are the only orders you will heed.”

When the physician agreed, Kit set his plan into motion. He made a small office for himself near the door, barricading access to his father with the long table he asked to be brought over. Louis had returned some time after writing two missives: one to his men in Granville to search for you and the other to Prince Frederick of Prussia on behalf of Kit, asking for his presence so they may deal with matters regarding the Grand Duke’s punishment. Kit thanked him for his quick thinking.

Captain Thibault arrived a few moments after Louis. He looked concernedly at the prince when he saw the determined look upon his face. “What is the matter, Your Royal Highness?”

Kit passed the letter to the captain and said nothing more.

“Your mother was poisoned?” Thibault asked after he read through your letter.

“As was my father,” Kit said gravely. “Captain, I need your men to guard this room while my cousin and I gather the pieces of evidence Y/N had written down. I do not trust anyone else to do it but ourselves at the moment.”

Louis turned to his cousin, brows quirked as he recalled their earlier conversation. “Kit, you were insistent that I called for Y/N last night. How did you come about that?”

“A footman told her you summoned her to the library.” Kit answered.

“If I had called for Y/N, I would have sent my valet to collect her. Or myself since it is never a tedious task to come for my friend.” The duke turned to the Captain. “I fear we have a traitor amongst our midst, Captain.”

Kit was angered at Louis’s revelation. He turned to the physician and remembered the man’s finding of the poisonous root crop within the pantry. “I do not think the kitchen staff are unknowledgeable of which crops are poisonous and which are not. Have someone investigate the kitchens as well. The physician had seen hemlock in the pantry. I would assume it is not placed there deliberately.” Kit ordered the Captain. “Keep them in the dungeons so we may deal with them later.”

Thibault bowed slightly at the prince’s words. “While I understand your need for secrecy at a time like this, what you are attempting is dangerous.” He said when he handed the letter back to Kit. “The Grand Duke will surely hear of this.”

“Then we must take extra care when we gather the evidence. This cannot be known outside of this circle.” Kit said.

The Captain nodded. “While I believe Her Royal—Miss Y/N’s words to be true, we must go about this without bias. Her word is only as good as that in the face of the law. There is no weight to it until we find the first proof.”

“Of course,” Kit nodded. “Can we trust Abigail, Captain?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.”

“Then have her look for the canister of tea leaves in her room. Tell her not to trust anyone for the task. She must be the one to do it and should only directly answer to any of us.”

Thibault bowed. Kit turned to his cousin.

“Find the book Y/N talks of. It should be in the library, along with my mother’s other botany and herbology books. Find a way for the Grand Duke to not be suspicious of you.”

“What will you do?” Louis asked as he readied himself.

“I will have a talk with the Princess Chelina. If she has an idea of Y/N’s whereabouts, then we may have need of her.”

“Do not accuse—”

Kit brought a hand up to stop the duke’s berating. “I will not accuse her of anything she is not,” the prince promised. “But if she so much as says she is a part of her uncle’s schemes, then I am sorry, cousin.”

Louis nodded grimly. “I understand. Do not hurt her.”

At Kit’s parting words, he and the captain left for their respective tasks. Kit gave instructions once more to the physician and the footmen stationed outside of his father’s room before he headed for the Princess of Zaragoza.

He found her in the sitting room with her maid. She had been playing her guitar and while she looked distraught at what had happened the night before, she looked oblivious of the revelations of the morning.

“Your Royal Highness,” Chelina said as she rose from her seat to curtsy.

“Princess,” he said as he gave her a bow. He dismissed her maid and closed the door, locking it from the rest of the palace. “There is a grave matter I wish to discuss with you.”

“Of course.” She looked confused as she sat demurely on her seat. “How may I help you?”

Kit cleared his throat and paced the room as he considered how he was to go about the matter without alarming her. Having no other choice—and no time to waste—he asked her directly. “Why did you agree to this betrothal?”

The only indication of her surprise was the miniscule raise of her brow. “Because it is what is expected of me,” she said plainly.

“Surely I am not the only prince and kingdom who has offered for your hand.” Kit said as he stood before her. “Why did you choose me?”

She gave him a smile of amusement as she arranged herself in her seat. “I am flattered at your assumption that there had been others but there was only you. I had not been made aware of any other offers other than that of yours and your kingdom’s.”

He raised his brow at that. Only him? he thought to himself. She would have a multitude of offers just for her being Princess of Zaragoza alone.

“And who made this known to you?” he asked, although he had an inkling of who it was.

“My uncle, the Grand Duke.”

Of course. “What did he say the reason was for our betrothal?”

She looked at the prince peculiarly. “You had not asked me of this before. Is there a reason you are asking me now?"

"I would appreciate if you answer my question, Princess,” was all Kit said.

Her brow raised further but she replied to his query. “Very well. He said that your kingdom is bountiful and rich and it needed a royal from a family who knew what to do with its resources.”

He knew his kingdom was rich in resources but in the past year, there was a steep decline in the yield as compared to those of the years before. He had been privy to the kingdom’s accounts and he saw how the crops made for less than they had in the previous years. Taxes had been raised, much to the resentment of the citizens, and yet it had done nothing for the kingdom. Their other products had not been faring well and it was this that his father wanted to sell the mines.

The mines.

His mother was gifted, upon her marriage to his father, the mountain ridge that held the biggest mine in the kingdom. They had surveyed the mines, appraised its value, and found them to be worth more than all of the current products combined.

If Kit married Chelina, she would be gifted the mines, as was the tradition. And she could do as she pleased with them. She could sell them, with her uncle’s advise.

The Grand Duke had been pressuring his father to do the very thing. What was he to gain with them?

Unless he was to divert the money of its sale into his own account.

Kit had always been curious of the man’s sudden rise to more riches. He had said he merely brought over his money and treasures from Prussia into the kingdom. If he were to pocket the money from the sale of the mines, it would make him nearly equal in riches to the king.

It was a plausible thought. It did not seem beyond the man for him to do it. After all, he had murdered the queen.

“Did he tell you of our kingdom’s custom for its new queen?” Kit asked Chelina suddenly.

She shook her head. “No. He has told me nothing more than that. Other than, of course, that you are a kind prince and that I shall want nothing more.”

“Then you have no idea of the gift you would receive when you are to become queen?”

She shook her head once more.

“You will be receiving lands. Those lands, you may do as you wish with them. They shall be under your power and jurisdiction.” Kit said. “These will include the ridges and the islands away from the mainland. Any product from there shall be under your direction. I will have no say in them.”

“Am I to believe these lands are valuable?”

“Yes.” He nodded at the bracelet on her wrist, similar in style as the one you had but with a different stone. “All the materials in your bracelet are taken from those mines. The gold comes from a now-abandoned shaft. The stone cannot be found anywhere else.”

Chelina touched the stone gingerly, looking down at it.

“Your uncle had been insistent that we sell those mines.” Kit told her. “Once we are married, you would have immediate control of them. Your uncle may impose his position as my father’s adviser to persuade you into selling them.”

The prince saw her look at him pointedly. “Your Royal Highness, I may not show it but I am confused as to your inquiry. I would appreciate a direct approach to your line of questioning.”

He took a deep breath before he pinned her with a grave look. “Are you scheming with your uncle?”

Her brows raised. “Scheming?” she asked, startled. “What for?”

She appeared to be genuinely surprised at his question.

“Do you truly not know what your uncle had done?” he asked as he peered into her face.

“I do not. Like I had said before, Your Royal Highness, I only tolerate my uncle. I do not know of his plans or anything at all for you to think I would be scheming with him.”

But Kit was still skeptical. She was, after all, kin to the Grand Duke, despite what she had said. The same Prussian blood ran in her veins.

“Are you telling me the truth?” he asked her rather bluntly.

She quirked her brows regally and Kit swore he saw a bit of the Zaragozan fire dance in her eyes. However, it did not frighten him. She may be a princess but her uncle had done a great offense against the kingdom. If there were people who should be afraid, it would be the nobleman and her, if he proved that she was in league with him.

“I would not lie to you.” She told him honestly.

“Can I trust you?”

“That would depend on you, do you not think, Your Royal Highness?” she asked as she rose. “Your questions are odd. Is this about your father?”

He watched her guardedly. “It has something to do with my father but more to do with your uncle.”

She stopped just before him, looking into his handsome face. “My uncle seems to be a problem for you,” she noted.

“Your uncle murdered my mother.”

She stepped back. In fear, Kit noted as he watched her royal façade break. He had not seen her composure crumble before but his statement seemed to have shaken the princess to her very core.

Her eyes widened in fright, and she brought a hand up to her mouth to cover her gasp.

“I beg your pardon?” she whispered shakily.

Kit cleared his throat, putting a halt at the onslaught of anger that came over him. “He poisoned my mother with plants. He has done the same with my father although he was not successful.” Kit paused before adding: “And I fear he has done something to my wife.”

“Your wife?” she echoed weakly before realization dawned on her. “Miss Y/N.”

He nodded seriously.

She frowned, utter confusion on her face. “If you are already married, why is my uncle planning to marry me to you?” she asked.

“I do not know but I have an inkling it had something to do with my mother’s sudden death.”

Her brows drew together as she looked at him. “Your Royal Highness, I—I didn’t know these were the circumstances of our betrothal.”

“Neither did I.” He cleared his throat. “I must tell you, Your Royal Highness, that the punishment for his deeds is death. There is no other penalty for something as violent as murder.”

She nodded mutely, dazedly. “His crimes are unpardonable. I couldn’t imagine any other… discipline fitting for what he had done.”

He let her ponder on his words for a while before he continued on the matter he was there for. “Y/N is missing. Do you know where she might be?”

She denied any knowledge of that, saying to him that she had not been anywhere else other than her room for breakfast and the sitting room for playing her guitar.

“Then I need your help, Princess.”

She nodded her head eagerly at him. “Si. Yes, of course. Anything you ask.”

“I need you to know where your uncle had kept Y/N. I fear he has something to do with her vanishing because she had saved my father’s life. Your questions must not make your uncle suspicious of you or else you shall be in peril.”

“Yes, yes. I will do my best to know where she is. I can give you my maid to search for her.” She offered.

“No, you must have her with you. I do not trust the Grand Duke’s actions even if he is your uncle.” Kit said. “When you have learnt of where she is, we convene in my father’s chambers. Your uncle is not allowed there. We shall be safe to talk of this matter inside.”

Kit turned to go but Chelina halted his steps.

“How is Louis? Does he know his friend is gone?” she asked him as he was about to open the door.

“Yes. He is determined to have her back, as am I.” He looked at her. “You need not worry for him, Princess. My cousin is very careful. He worries for you.”

She gave a small, soft smile at the mention of Louis before she looked at him remorsefully. “I am terribly sorry, Your Royal Highness. Had I known it was your mother’s death that sparked a betrothal between us, I would not have agreed.”

“He takes us for fools.” Kit said. “But not anymore. We shall put a stop to his nefarious ways.”

It was dark.

And silent.

You opened your eyes but you could not see a thing in the darkness . You had been used to the darkness, had been their constant companion in the nights when you traveled at sea. It often calmed you, along with the gentle rocking of the boat, but this darkness felt different. It was pitch-dark with no blanket of stars to comfort you.

You blinked but everything within your eyesight did not change. You blinked once more in an attempt to summon the light but it was all the same. You even brought your hands to your eyes to confirm that you did have opened it but it did not change the darkness you were enveloped in. You did not know if the darkness was blessed because your head still throbbed from where the Grand Duke pounced at you.

The Grand Duke!

You were not able to tell Kit of your findings because it was not Louis who had summoned for you in the library. Oh, how close you were to telling the prince of what you had discovered. The malicious man thwarted your plans as though he knew of it.

And he had. He knew you were on to him because you had asked for the emetic to save the king’s life. And now, you feared you’ve lost to the nobleman once more. That man must be stopped at all costs. You were determined to do it, despite your current predicament of being stuck in… wherever you were.

You groaned as you moved. You felt the uneven ground against your body, feeling shards of rocks and gravel against your exposed skin. You moved slowly to a sitting position, scraping your cheek and your hands against the jagged edges of rock as you pressed down to hoist yourself to your hands and knees.

Even with the renewed position, your vision remained the same. You swiped blindly at the dark space before you as you crawled. The ground felt sharp against your knees and it hurt you but you pushed on. The pain against your legs and palm were bearable. The throbbing in your head was not. You were nauseous from your movements.

Your fingers grazed on more jagged edges that were now before you instead of under you. You swiped your entire hand and felt a wall made from the same rocks as those you were kneeling on. You pressed your other palm against it and with all your strength, you pulled yourself until you were standing.

You groaned in pain and clutched the side of your body. It did not bleed but it felt much too tender for your liking, perhaps bruised from how you were dropped. You lost your footing at the pain of a broken ankle and accidentally kicked a piece of stone, sending it somewhere in the darkness. It was only then when you were made aware that your other foot had lost its shoe. The stones felt sharp against your bear sole, in addition to a possible bone fracture. The stone did not make much of an echo when you sent it flying and you realized wherever you were was small and confining, perhaps just enough space for your body.

Your head gave another painful throb and you slowly dropped to the rocky floor, cradling your head in your hands. There was wetness against the side of your head, on the same place where the nobleman’s fist made contact. You gingerly touched it, wincing as you did and brought your wet fingers against your nose. You sniffed and grimaced before tasting it, confirming your suspicion that the Grand Duke drew blood when he bludgeoned you with his fist.

Another drop of wetness came down on your cheek, this time different from the blood that was on your temples. It came from above you and it did not smell nor tasted of blood. Instead, it tasted of nothing. Water.

You turned your head skyward to see a small sliver of light, so high up above you, that you were positive it had been where the droplet of water had come down from. The light was hazy and gray and the water that dripped from it increased in speed and number

Rain, you thought with a panic.

In a matter of hours, wherever you were would be flooded if such heavy rains persisted. You would drown if you did not leave.

“H-h-help…” You rasped weakly. You scrambled painfully to your feet, and in your rush, your head spun. You staggered backward, back bumping against the rough wall, sharp shards puncturing the delicate cloth of your dress. Wherever the Grand Duke had dumped you, he did it with every intention to leave you to die.

"Help!” You tried once again. Your voice was rough and terrible in your throat but it did not matter to you. You would rather you lose your voice begging to be helped than lose your life. You needed to be alive to tell Kit what you had found about the Grand Duke and stop him. You needed to be alive to ensure the Grand Duke did not kill your husband as well.

“HELP! HELP ME PLEASE!”

From above, the storm intensified and drowned all your pleas.

Captain Thibault and Louis were conversing with the physician when Kit arrived in the study.

“I cannot find the book, Kit,” Louis said. “I’ve searched through all of your mother’s books on botany and herbology and plant medicine but the title Y/N mentioned was not there.”

The prince frowned. He had helped you return the book to the shelves a few weeks ago. He may not have remembered the creasing on the spine but he knew the title. His mother had been meaning to read the book before her death.

“Have you looked everywhere?” Kit asked his cousin.

“I was only confined in that section of the library. The Grand Duke was inside as well. He was reading on laws for your upcoming marriage.”

“He could have taken it,” he thought out loud. “I remember Y/N returning that book only to get more of the same subject from my mother’s collection. It couldn’t have been taken by anyone else other than him.”

“That would only be conjecture. We cannot condemn the man for lack of the evidence we were to get against him.” Thibault said.

Kit sighed. “Yes, you’re right. Has Abigail found the canister?”

Thibault produced the jar. “She found it under all of the logs used for kindling in her room.”

Louis donned his gloves and took the jar from the Captain, shaking its contents onto his palm. The purple flower petal was stark against the dull greens of the tea leaves.

“She immediately told the Housekeeper about this when she first found it,” the duke said as he stared at the unassuming petal on his palm. “It was why she had offered to label the tea leaves because she knew this petal did not belong in this jar.”

Kit looked at the culprit for his mother’s death and angered rose from deep within him. He was yet to know why the Grand Duke had killed his mother but whatever reason it was, he was firmly determined on having the man dead for his crimes.

“This is what killed your mother?” Captain Thibault asked.

Kit gave a grim nod.

“And your father was poisoned with the same tea? How would he be poisoned with the tea if this was in Miss Y/N’s room?”

“My father was poisoned with hemlock disguised as parsnip.” Kit said. He frowned at what the captain had speculated. His father had fared well since drinking your blend of tea. Before that, he had been consuming a blend suggested by the Grand Duke and he did indeed look sickly during those times.

Of course, he would be poisoning my father in the same fashion as he had poisoned my mother, he thought dourly.

But his father had been drinking that tea for quite a while and he had not exhibited any delirium like his mother. It couldn’t have been the very tea he drank because the captain was right, you had kept this canister in your chambers.

“Doctor,” Kit called for the physician. “Were you the physician who examined my mother on her deathbed?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. That physician had since retired.” the man replied.

“Do you know where he is now?”

“Yes, Your Royal Highness.” The man gave them the address. “I believe he retired because he came upon a great fortune. He would not tell where he had gotten it but he had urged me to take the position as the royal physician.”

Louis frowned. “Do you think it could be hush money?” The duke appeared to have the same idea as his cousin.

Kit’s face was set when he looked at him. “We need to visit the physician to confirm our suspicions. But first, we must go to the apothecary to see the ledger.”

“I will have the carriage ready,” Thibault said as he turned to leave.

“No. We will go by horse.” Kit ordered.

Thunder clapped from the outside, as if telling them that the storm was yet to pass.

“By horse? But there’s a storm!” Louis exclaimed.

“Horses are faster. We cannot have a broken wheel to slow us down.” Kit insisted. He nodded at the Captain as if to tell him to go.

Louis returned the tea leaves in the jar and discarded his gloves in the fire. He sighed regretfully as he watched it burn. “What a waste of perfectly good kid gloves. I bought those in Castile.”

Kit ignored his cousin, returning his attention to the physician once more. “My father told me he had been faring well for quite some time now. When have you noticed that change in him?”

“In the recent weeks, Your Royal Highness. His skin is less cool to the touch and his pulse beats at a regular pace, unlike before.”

The prince nodded. “Are these symptoms of foxglove poisoning?”

The man shook his head. “It would need to be accompanied by delirium and he should have told me of halos of the color yellow in his sight. The king never complained to me of those.”

He pulled out your letter again and read through it. “Could he be poisoned with another plant? Perhaps Aconitum napellus? Monkshood, is it?”

The man’s brow raised, then his eyes widened. “I believe so, Your Royal Highness, and we are lucky he is alive. There could be no other explanation for the numbness he felt in his mouth or the other symptoms I had seen in him. Although I did not think much of it because he had gotten better before his symptoms had gotten worse. Forgive me for not recognizing it earlier.”

Kit nodded. “How recent was it?”

The man sifted through his notebook. “Nearly three weeks, Your Royal Highness.”

You had been in the palace for about the same time as his father had been feeling better. Whether it had been you intention or not, you had cured his father from the Grand Duke’s poisoning simply by changing his blend of tea.

Kit thanked the doctor and left him with more instructions before he and Louis headed for the stables. The storm still raged on outside of the palace and it did not look like it would pass soon. The roads would be thick and slick with mud. The travel to the square would take twice longer because of the rains.

A loud clap of thunder sounded from the outside and Kit worried for your safety since you had not been found in the palace. He feared every passing moment you were not with him. The storms always raged on in the kingdom, sometimes going on for days with no stopping. They were notorious for the strength and devastation they wrought, from the flooded paddies to the destroyed houses. It flooded every dip and divot they could fill and washed anything that stood in its way.

He hoped the nobleman kept you inside the palace. If you had been caught in the torrential downpour with no shelter, Kit could not imagine how drenched and cold you would be. One more second not finding you was one second closer to your death.

He shuddered at the idea and shunned it from his mind. No. He would not think you dead. You were alive. You had to be alive. You were to be his princess, his queen.

“Your Royal Highness,” Kit heard the Grand Duke call.

The prince’s stomach sunk in nervousness. He and his cousin had taken extra care in their actions. Was the Grand Duke to stop them from finding more evidence against him? Was he to stop them from finding you? But then, Kit was not at fault and therefore should not have been fearful. It was the Grand Duke and he should be very afraid of what was to come for him once Kit gathered all there was to indict him.

He cleared his throat before turning to the man. He put on an air of royal arrogance as he addressed him. “Grand Duke.”

“There are some issues that require your father’s attention. I had tried going to his chambers but the guards would not allow me entrance.” The man advanced towards him, holding in his hands business papers not unlike the ones Kit had left on his desk.

“My father is resting, Your Grace.”

“Yes, but these papers—”

“Sir, if they do not need immediate attention, I will see to them when I return. Do not disturb my father, even with matters of the state.” Kit said, his tone hardy. “Leave them on my desk if you cannot deal with those matters.”

He bowed. Kit noticed that it was stiff and almost against his will. “Your Royal Highness.”

“Perchance, have you seen Miss Y/N? I haven’t seen her yet.” Louis suddenly asked.

Kit wanted to curse at his cousin for his question. It was a direct way of knowing where you were but he did not appreciate the frank way it was asked, especially since they were looking for you without his knowledge.

Instead of talking, he fisted his hand and hid it from the nobleman’s view. He gave the Grand Duke a long, level look, watching for any signs on the man’s face that would betray his knowing of your whereabouts.

The nobleman only quirked a brow at the duke’s address. He looked apathetic to the question.

“I do not know, Your Grace. I had not seen her since dinner and I have no need to.” He turned to Kit, imploring at him to heed his words. “Her actions towards the king must not go unpunished.” He said rather pompously.

“Her actions?” Kit repeated, voice quiet but angry. “She saved my father’s life.”

“She shoved her hand down his throat. To touch the king without his permission is a sin.”

Kit stepped towards the nobleman and not one more, for Louis held him back. “I believe my father would pardon her action once he awakes.” He hissed between his teeth.

“It would not do well for her to be free, Your Royal Highness.” The Grand Duke went on. “She has committed a crime and she must be punished accordingly.”

A barrage of accusations sailed through Kit’s mind but he did not voice any of them. They were still in pursuit of all of the evidence you had written of—still in pursuit of you—and if the Grand Duke were to know of them, it would have made all your efforts futile. So Kit held back the condemnation he wished to hurl at the man but he did not withhold the vitriol that dripped from his tone.

“I assure you, Your Grace, that all crimes committed by any man will not go unpunished.” He gave a stern look at the nobleman.

That seemed to satisfy the man because he bowed again, this time without his prior reluctance. “Very good, Your Royal Highness.”

Kit did not miss the patronizing tone in the man’s words but he did not comment on that. Instead, he went on ahead to the stables. In there, he found Thibault awaiting them with their horses prepared.

Thibault passed them coats bearing the insignia of the kingdom. “These will disguise you from the Grand Duke and any of his accomplices. I had ordered two guards to accompany you on your trip. You do not have to worry of where their loyalties lie; they are loyal to the crown and kingdom. I’ve also tasked Abigail in unmasking any other servant involved, in addition to our own investigation.”

Louis donned the coat and mounted his horse. “Let us hope you will have them in your custody when we return, Captain.”

Kit only gave his friend a stiff nod and kicked his heel against the horse’s flank, sending the horse galloping. He rode in the storm silently but with a determination unlike anything he had experienced before .

His goal for the moment was singular: talk to the apothecary and ask for his ledger. Once it had been procured, he would then go and find the last physician and confirm their suspicion of his involvement with the queen’s death. Surely, no one would just come to be with great fortune. And so sudden a luck.

The Grand Duke had established himself to be a rich man. His apartments were in the palace and since his arrival, he had steadily decorated it with more and more opulence. The gaudy display was at odds with the rest of the palace and was offending to the peasants who were suffering the moment he assumed his position as the king’s advisor. If the man had money to decorate his apartments, then he surely had enough to spare to pay hush money to his accomplices.

The storm grew in intensity as he neared the square. There were no merchants dotting the streets and the other stores had closed their doors. If the apothecary was not open, Kit would not know how to find the man.

He looked at the closed stores, frowning as he recalled where the apothecary had been. You had written that it was situated opposite of the Magistrate and while Kit had been sure he was at the right place, he was yet to see the sign for the chemist. The downpour did not help with the visibility.

Kit rode on down the aisle of shops. There was a light that flickered weakly through the window, illuminating the signage of the apothecary. Kit nodded to his cousin and dismounted, heading in. Bells jingled when Kit opened the door to the apothecary’s small store and he was assaulted with various scents of medicinal herbs upon his entrance.

“It smells like my mother’s perfume,” Louis murmured beside his cousin. “I always thought some of her perfumes smelt noxious. Perhaps she has gotten it from apothecaries and not at a perfumery.”

Kit gave his cousin a small smile in agreement of his father’s sister’s perfume.

“Gentlemen, good day,” called the elderly man behind the table. Before him were concoctions of all sorts, including a glass jar of foxglove petals that looked similar to the ones from his mother’s tea tin. “How may I help you?”

Kit removed his hat and passed it to one of the guards. The chemist immediately bowed in respect at the sight of the prince.

“Your Royal Highness. How may I be of service to you?” the man asked.

“Sir, I have a need of your ledger. There are records we wish to see.” Kit told him.

“Of course, Your Royal Highness.” The chemist moved to the other side of his store, the prince following along. “Is there a particular record you are in search for?”

“May we look for it ourselves, sir?” Louis suggested as he neared the counter. “There are three records we wish to see and we would not want to take up your time in doing so.”

“Of course, Your Grace. How else may I be of assistance to you?” The man pushed the leatherbound book to Louis and looked at the cousins expectantly.

“There is a need for you to keep this a secret, sir. It is a rather delicate issue we are looking at. I would appreciate your permission to allow the guards to take charge of your front and back doors so as to not allow the people to come in or out.” The duke told the man, looking at him pointedly.

There was a panicked look upon the chemist’s face, which Louis promptly assured with: “We are not keeping you hostage, sir,” he stated. “But we insist on your participation on the matter.”

Kit looked over at his cousin, a brow raised and his mouth quirked in amusement. His cousin rarely used a commanding tone when dealing with matters, seeing as he was always charismatic, but when he did use it, people knew he tolerated no insolence from them.

The man nodded at the cousins. “Yes, Your Grace. Of course.”

Kit took out your letter from his pocket. “She told us to look for the May of last year. It should say he purchased some form of service.”

Louis flipped to the year past, looking for the entry you had told them of. True enough, there was the Grand Duke’s name, in the month you had told them when he had a need for the service of the apothecary.

“We have it,” Louis said. He pointed at the entry to Kit, who then looked up from the letter and to the book. “It does say service.”

Kit turned to the chemist, who now leaned over to see the entry for himself. “Sir, do you remember the kind of service the Grand Duke had purchased?”

The man frowned as the thought, drawing the book to him and ran his hand on the entry. “It has been more than a year since this entry. I cannot recall correctly what kind they were but he had asked me to dry herbs for him.”

“Could it be foxglove?” The duke asked. “What is it, cousin? Di—Digi—?”

“Digitalis purpurea?” Kit supplied.

The man raised a whitened brow in recollection. “Why, yes. I believe it is that and monkshood as well. I found it unusual that he asked me to dry monkshood but I did not question my customers. Their business is theirs alone.”

“Does it take long for you to do this kind of service?” Louis asked as his eyes drifted on the letter in Kit’s hands.

“There were a number of storms and rains that had passed by the kingdom when the Grand Duke had asked of that. It had taken me nearly a month to accomplish the task because of it. The humidity affects the drying process.”

The prince’s brow was raised as he looked at his cousin. “The Grand Duke asked for service at the end of May. If it took a month, it would have been ready by the first week of July, with enough time for him to plan my mother’s death.” He told his cousin in a hushed voice.

Louis nodded. “The man gave your mother those to plant in the gardens, did he not? Perhaps he had taken some and brought them here for the apothecary to dry.”

It was a plausible idea that Kit wanted to greatly believe.

“Forgive me, but did you say Y/N?” the man asked them cautiously.

Kit looked at the chemist sharply. “Yes. Have you seen her?” he asked.

His heart gave a start in his chest. The apothecary’s simple inquiry gave hope in the prince. You were missing because of this investigation. Perhaps the man had seen you pass by the shop. Kit would have accepted anything at all the man would have said of where you were.

But unfortunately, and much to Kit’s disappointment, the man replied that he had only seen you before. “I remember her only because she had asked of antidotes for various kinds of poisoning. I even commented that she had been around too many people who were poisoned.”

Louis gave a small sarcastic snort at the coincidence of the man’s words. “I suppose you’re not wrong,” he murmured.

“What did she ask of?” Kit questioned.

“She wanted to know how to counteract the effects of Digitalis on the body. She bought a vial of belladonna since that is what is used by physicians for patients poisoned by foxglove.”

“Was that all?”

“I also told her there is no cure for monkshood so there was nothing for me to sell her for that. I believe she bought an emetic of zinc for hemlock poisoning.”

Kit nodded. “Yes, she did.”

“She also asked of the services I offer. I told her that I not only prepare antidotes but I also dry plants and herbs. She seemed particularly interested in the poisonous herbs and their antidotes.”

Louis nodded. “You were helpful in that regard, sir. Your answers to her questions have helped us greatly.”

The prince returned to your letter and read on the second date you had told them. “June of this year, if you please, cousin.”

The duke flipped forward to the current year and looked for the month of June. When he had, he looked for the name and, like before, he found the entry you had written of. Beside the Grand Duke’s name was a record of his purchase for Digitalis.

“Digitalis, like she had said.” Louis said albeit no surprise in his tone.

Kit told him of the last of the Grand Duke’s purchases. “You would find hers as well, for the emetics.”

And sure enough, Louis found both records. He looked at his cousin and sighed. “The pieces of evidence are conclusive, cousin. Even without the herbology book, this would be enough to accuse the Grand Duke of his crimes. The hemlock alone would convince the Magistrate that what had happened to your father was because of his doing.”

Kit exhaled loudly, keeping your letter in his pocket. “I am not satisfied, cousin. I think we would need more. We need the former royal physician to give a testimony.”

“Against the man who gave him his riches?” Louis asked, skeptical. “That doctor was loyal to the Grand Duke. I doubt he would even say anything now.”

“He would start talking if it would reduce his sentence. He is, after all, an accomplice to my mother’s murder. His penalty is already death. But if he gives a testimony against the Grand Duke, then he can haggle for imprisonment, albeit a long one.”

The duke still looked unsure. “Would that convince him?”

“If he knows what is moral and just, it should.”

Louis gave him a wry look, still unconvinced. “I doubt the man would suddenly develop a conscience after receiving his ill-gotten wealth.”

“Well, we have to try, don’t we?” Kit snarled. He immediately apologized, sighing as he did. “Forgive me. I am trying to be optimistic even if everything seems bleak to me.”

The duke patted his cousin on the shoulder. “Forgive me too, cousin. I am just preparing you for the worst, even though it pains me to think of its possibility.”

Kit nodded at his cousin before turning to the chemist. The man had been helpful but he had also sold to the Grand Duke the materials he needed to commit his crime. While he did not look dangerous, Kit knew better than to let the man go free. After all, he was vital to the investigation.

“Sir, there are questions I need to ask you and you must answer them as truthful as you can.” Kit commanded in a tone that brook no argument from the man.

The apothecary nodded readily. “Of course, Your Royal Highness.”

“Have you any idea of where the Grand Duke used his purchases?”

“No, Your Royal Highness. I was suspicious of him but I did not ask questions. It did not go well for me when I had done it to my other customers.”

“Has he confided in you of any of his plans?”

“No, Your Royal Highness.”

“And he has paid you money for your silence about his purchases?”

“No, Your Royal Highness.”

Kit nodded when he saw that the man spoke the truth and saw his cousin nod in agreement at him.

“Good. Come with us. There is one more place we are to go before we return to the palace.” Kit said.

Kit rode ahead with his cousin to the address the current royal physician had given, the ledger safely kept in his horse’s satchel. The storm had started once more, this time more violently than before. Thunder clapped and lightning flashed across the sky, lighting it as though it was a clear summer day. He hoped against hope his cousin’s men had found you, or that at least you were away from the devastating storm.

They arrived at the place, finding the house looking inconspicuous for someone who seemed to have been paid quite a boon for their treacherous act. Kit dismounted his horse and banged heavily against the door. Louis stayed behind his cousin, hand on the hilt of the sword on his side in the instance that the man was violent.

The door swung open, revealing a pudgy man who somehow resembled the Grand Duke. “Yes? What do you want?” He spat, eyeing the prince with disdain.

“Were you the former royal physician?” Kit asked. He was yet to remove his hat and coat, finding it better not to reveal himself as the prince lest the man run at the sight of him.

“Who asked?”

“I did,” Kit said.

“Listen here, boy, I did not call for Royal Guards. I have no need of you nor will I answer you. You best be on your way before you catch a cold in the rain.” He moved to close the door.

Kit held out a hand against it, effectively stopping the wooden door. He knew he would be met with resistance but he did not expect the man to behave the same way as the Grand Duke would. Of course, people with the same morals would band together, Kit thought to himself wryly.

He pushed on the door, opening it some more until he entered the threshold of the man’s place. While it had looked unassuming on the outside, the inside was far grander than it was out. New-looking furnishings, shiny fixtures, and a bearskin rug adorned the place. It looked too opulent for a man who had been a mere royal physician.

“While I appreciate your concern,” Kit said in a hard tone as he barged in the man’s house. “I would much appreciate it if you had answered my question.”

He gave a short mocking chuckle, the sound akin to someone choking and laughing at the same time. “I will not answer a question I don’t want to answer!”

“I do not need you to want it. I am commanding you to.” Kit said in his most princely of tones.

The man laughed once more. “You?” He said with a chortle. “Commanding me? Who are you, the prince? Remember your station, boy.” The man shook his head in disbelief, laughing as he did so.

Kit took off his hat, revealing himself to the former physician. It effectively shut the man, who then bowed promptly.

“Y-Your Royal Highness!” He exclaimed in surprise, maintaining his half-body bow. “F-Forgive me! I did not know it was you under the Royal Guard’s uniform!”

Kit chose to ignore the man’s unmeant apologies, asking him his previous question instead. “Are you the former royal physician?”

He rose on shaking knees. His face had turned into an unsightly shade of red and he did not look into the prince’s eyes as he answered: “Yes, Your Royal Highness. I was before the Grand Duke discharged—”

“Discharged? Or were you paid a hefty sum by the man to cover his murder of the queen?” Louis asked as he stood beside his cousin.

The man bristled. “I-I do not know what—” Sweat trickled down the side of his forehead. His eyes moved from left to right, flighty, looking anywhere but the prince and the duke.

“Take care of your next words, sir, or they may be your last.” Kit threatened. “Now, you will cooperate and answer our questions with as much honesty as you can.”

“Your Royal Highness—”

“I did not give you permission to question my demands!” Kit boomed at the man.

The former physician swallowed and nodded tightly. “Y-Yes, Your Royal Highness,” he stammered in fear.

“Did the Grand Duke pay you to prevent you from speaking of what you had found in the queen?” Kit asked.

The man trembled as he looked at the prince. Then, he shook his head a little too wildly.

The gall of him! Kit thought with anger. The truth was already clear to them, clear as the facts that you had presented in your letter. It was more than serendipitous for him to come to great fortune after the event of the queen’s death. He was paid for it and Kit would resort to anything just to prove his intuition correct.

And so, he lied. All for the sake of finding out the truth.

“Deny it all you want, sir, but the Grand Duke has spoken,” Kit spat through his teeth.

He saw his cousin turn to him sharply. Kit only hardened his jaw and the duke nodded, affirming his involvement in Kit’s lies.

“He has told us he had paid you to keep silent of his actions towards the queen.” Kit continued, walking to the man. “He has told us of your involvement in deliberately not treating my mother’s being poisoned with foxglove.”

The former physician looked at Kit with fear in his eyes. “Your Royal Highness—” The man started to sweat profusely.

“You cannot deny it anymore. The Grand Duke named you his co-conspirator.” Louis said. “Why did you do it?”

“Was the money he paid you worth the pain you brought to my father and I and the kingdom?” Kit asked, crowding over the man as he advanced towards him. “Was it worth the silverware on your table or the fur on your shoulders? Was it worth the life you had taken from us? Is it going to be worth yours?”

The man dropped on his knees, head to Kit’s feet as he groveled. “Your Royal Highness, forgive me! Forgive me! The Grand Duke promised me riches and I was blinded by them!”

Kit’s jaw hardened and he refused to look at the man who had just confessed his involvement in his mother’s death.

“Forgive me, Your Royal Highness! I should have spoken when I had learned what had happened to the queen!” The man cried piteously.

But Kit did not take pity. Instead, he hauled the man to his feet and passed him to the guards who had arrived. The man did not fight his arrest; he only kept his head down, embarrassed and scared of what the prince might do to him.

“We will bring him with us.” Kit said. “Do not let him out of your sight.”

Kit rode back to the palace, more determined now that he had hefty evidence against the nobleman. With the man’s presence, the Grand Duke would be properly convicted of his crimes. If Thibault had found the footman and the kitchen staff involved in adding the hemlock to his father’s meal, the nobleman would be sure to pay for his crimes.

He and his cousin entered the king’s chambers, finding the princess talking with the Captain of the guards. His father was still asleep but the doctor had told him that he had awoke while Kit was away and had asked for water to drink, before returning to sleep. There were no remaining symptoms of hemlock poisoning in him, the physician said, which made Kit heave out a sigh of relief.

“We have the ledger and the apothecary with us,” Kit said to Thibault. “As well as the former royal physician who had looked at my mother before she died.”

Louis looked up from his missive. “My men are still searching for her, cousin. They had just finished in the nearby villages. I’ve instructed them to go farther.”

Kit nodded his thanks at his cousin. “Had there been any progress?” he asked of the princess.

“My uncle denies any knowledge on where she is. I fear he is becoming suspicious of my questions so I stopped my inquiries.” Chelina said as her eyes swept to the duke beside him. She gave a small gasp at his state. “You will catch your death in your drenched clothes, Louis. Sit by the fire and I will have my maid bring you soup to warm you.”

Kit saw the soft smile on his cousin’s face and a pang of heartache and jealousy speared through him. While he found every single, strong evidence against the Grand Duke, he was yet to find you.

“I have the footman in my custody and the Cook as well. Abigail has unearthed one of the maids to be the Grand Duke’s paramour and we have detained her. We are unsure of her involvement but we will find out.”

“Good. You can include the former royal physician. He had confessed that the Grand Duke had paid him a large sum for his silence.” The prince said. “Keep the other accomplices away from one another. I do not want them interacting should they plot against us.”

Thibault bowed. “All that is left is the Grand Duke.”

He nodded grimly. “Yes. I will deal with him.”

“I will have guards come with you when you confront the Grand Duke—”

“No. Have them look for Y/N. My cousin’s men may be capable but they are few in numbers. Send them posthaste.”

“Of course.” Thibault bowed once again before he left to deliver his orders.

“Your Royal Highness,” he heard Chelina call for him. He turned to the princess, watched as she smiled tentatively at the sight of him.

“You may call me Kit, Princess,” he told her.

“Then you may call me Chelina.” She gestured to his cousin, who now sat by the warmth of the fire, cradling a bowl of soup. “You must get out of your drenched clothes as well. There is soup and bread to fill your stomach.”

“I cannot waste time—”

“You are not wasting your time if you are to rest. You cannot confront my uncle if you are sickly and hungry. I suggest you heed my advice and eat with your cousin by the fireplace. I shall have your valet fetch your dry clothes.”

She looked very determined in her quest for him to take rest. He nodded singularly and sat opposite his cousin. Louis heartily slurped at his soup, having already changed out of his wet clothes.

“Trust that we will find her, cousin.” Louis said consolingly.

“I know we will,” Kit said fiercely. “I just want to find her alive. I do not think I can bear to survive without her."

The duke patted his cousin’s knee. “And she will be. Trust, Kit. Trust in her.”

He nodded. Chelina passed him a bowl of soup and a piece of bread before taking her place on the seat beside his cousin. Kit could only watch the beautiful picture they made. The tragedy brought them together, however ironic it was. He knew his cousin to be a devoted sort of man; a complete contrast to his reputation of being a sort of a lecher, and he saw that in the way he regarded the Princess Chelina. Like Kit, he knew his cousin would give up his life for the one he loved.

“Have some soup, cousin. It will warm your bones.” Louis urged.

Kit brought the spoon to his lips absently, not at all hungry for anything. His mind was still busy with thoughts of the whole kingdom. While you were his priority, he had a duty as the prince—and now de facto king while his father was recuperating—of the kingdom. He had businesses to oversee, new relationships to forge with every trade, and villages and communities to have repaired after the devastation the storm had wrought. His father and his mother had been more than efficient in their duties, despite the staggering amount they were faced with daily. While he had shared his father’s load since the death of his mother, he was still amazed at the number of issues they dealt with.

But his father was asleep and the man the king considered to be his adviser was useless. Kit only had himself to trust with the job of running the kingdom. He had been taught how to be a king since he had been a child. Everything, all that he had learned and was still learning, all of it came down to the very moment he was now at. This was his future as the king. This was who he was born to be.

“Will you detain my uncle?” Chelina asked after a while.

Kit looked from his still-full bowl and nodded. “I must. I cannot have him wreaking havoc in the palace.”

She nodded in understanding. “There is very little I can help you with him but I shall do what I can to assist you.”

“Chelina—” His cousin started to protest.

She only touched his cheek, smiling tenderly at him. “Louis, mi corazon, I refuse to sit down and watch when I know I can help. He is my uncle. I am one of the people who he would think twice to hurt.”

“He will still think twice and hurt.” Louis replied rather petulantly. “I do not think it beyond him to do so.”

“And that will be his mistake because you would be there to fight him before he does something to me.” She let go of his face and returned her attention to Kit. “He will not think me suspicious if I do not ask about Miss Y/N’s whereabouts.”

“It will be dangerous for you,” Kit said, to which his cousin readily agreed. “I would not want to put you in harm’s way.”

“He trusts me enough not to question my involvement with you. He thinks me stupid for not knowing his motive for our marriage.” Chelina said. “I will not be in any harm if I do not show him that I have knowledge of what he has done.”

“Louis,” the prince implored. He would not want his cousin to lose the love of his life as well.

“I do not think she will back down however we ask her to,” Louis replied. “We will not let you near him but we shall ask for your help when we need it.”

“Agreed.” Kit nodded.

The princess quirked a brow at the cousins. “You do not think me capable—”

“We know you are but I would not want my cousin to suffer what I am suffering now.” The prince told her. “I cannot fathom the despair he would feel if the Grand Duke did something to you.”

He watched the fire quietly, noting of the way they looked at him after his words. He spoke the truth. Louis, however jolly he was, felt deeply and the despair he would feel at the loss of the Princess Chelina was incomprehensible. He only worried for his cousin, in the same way that his cousin worried for him.

He could not find it in himself to finish his soup and so he set it aside. He stood, heading for the door when his cousin called for his attention.

“Cousin. You did not finish your soup.” Louis called. “Where are you going?”

“To the Grand Duke.” He went out of his father’s chambers, ignoring the protests from his cousin and his betrothed.

He walked purposefully to the study, thoughts only on the satisfaction it would bring him to have the man in the dungeons for his sins. The man ought to rot in jail if he would deny his sins. He ought to not see the light of day for all that he has done. Kit swore to himself and to everyone the man had wronged that he would do anything in his power to make the Grand Duke suffer.

He barged in the Great Study, barreling towards the nobleman with the intent of scaring him. Louis was not present to school him on propriety. He could do as he pleased with the man who had put him through this great suffering.

The Grand Duke was surprised at his entrance and Kit took that moment to haul the man to his feet by the lapels of his coat. He had never stood this close to the man before and now that he had, he saw all the evil and malice in his eyes. The nobleman was momentarily startled but his face transformed into that of bored anticipation. This was a man who feared and regretted nothing. He was evil personified.

Kit thought he had never been so repulsed by someone so despicable.

“Ah,” he breathed with an arrogant smirk. “When my niece asked me for that commoner’s whereabouts, I had my suspicions of you finding out the truth. I did not realize it would take you a while to do so.”

Kit’s knuckles whitened at how hard he fisted the man’s coat. The anger that erupted from him was unlike anything he had ever felt before.

“Why did you kill my mother!” he asked the man, shouting as much as he can so the palace could hear of what he had done. “Why did you do it!”

The Grand Duke took one look at the prince’s face before he let out a loud, offending laugh.

He’s deluded! Kit thought angrily and shook him hard, enough for the man’s head to loll side to side. Still, he did not quell his maniacal laughter.

“Why did you do it!” he asked once again. “Answer me, damn you!”

“Because I can, boy! Because she was standing in my way!” The Grand Duke spat at the prince’s face. There was a crazed gleam in his eyes as he looked at the young man before him. “She stood in the riches that I wanted to for myself!”

“Riches? All you wanted were riches and you killed my mother for it?” Kit asked in disbelief. He had expected this motive from man but to hear him admit it only hurt him.

“What else could I want from your small, pathetic kingdom?” He sneered. “You thought yourself glorious but you are anything but. You are only a small kingdom amongst great states. You have riches you do not deserve—”

“And you do?” The prince spat. “You think yourself entitled to the riches of a country you do not belong in? I thought you ambitious before but now, I think you stupid.”

That offended the man. Kit saw the change in the gleam in the Grand Duke’s eyes at his words, at the way his hands almost found purchase on the prince’s neck if he had not been thrown back to his seat. He drew his sword out and against the nobleman’s neck, effectively stopping him from any further attacks.

“Move and I will plunge this through you without a second thought,” Kit threatened.

“You do not have it in you, boy,” he said with a scoff.

Kit pierced the nobleman’s skin, letting a droplet of blood trickle from where he punctured. “Do not take my threats lightly, sir. You forget I had been in war for years.”

He only looked impressed. There was no fear in the man at all. “Then I am mistaken.”

Kit did not withdraw his sword.

“Tell me,” the Grand Duke said nonchalantly, as if they were conversing over tea. “How did you find out about your mother’s murder? Surely you could not have done it on your own. It had been a year and it is only now that you are threatening me.”

“Y/N investigated on you when she found foxglove in my mother’s tea leaves.” Kit told him and pushed the sword deeper into the man’s neck.

“Ah. She told me she had no idea of it.” He watched the prince closely, a smirk appearing on his face. “She is smart, is she not? Would have made a worthy queen to this pitiful, little kingdom of yours, if only I hadn’t brought her away.” He goaded the prince.

A muscle jumped in Kit’s jaw at the man’s admission of knowing about your disappearance.

More blood trickled from the man’s neck at the pressure Kit exerted with his sword. “Where is she? Where is my wife?” he demanded.

“You think I would make it easy for you to find her?” The Grand Duke asked and chuckled evilly. “Oh, Your Royal Highness, it is like you do not know me at all.” He grinned maniacally.

Kit would have slashed his sword across the Grand Duke’s neck if it weren’t for his cousin, who stopped him before he brought the sword down.

“Stop—Stop! Kit!” Louis said as he embraced his cousin to prevent him from mutilating the Grand Duke. Kit did not fight him but he seethed as he watched the nobleman regard him with a challenging look upon his face.

Guards grabbed at the nobleman and hoisted him from his seat. They kept his hands in cuffs before they pulled him away from the prince.

“You must make haste, Your Royal Highness. She has been gone for nearly a day,” the Grand Duke called out. Even as he was captured, his tone held no regret. He enjoyed this, the bastard.

“In this storm, she would not survive.” He looked over his shoulder with wicked grin. “That is, if she’s not dead already.”

The rains were unrelenting above you.

The little hole where the Grand Duke had left you in had grown colder from the winds that swirled with the storm. You shivered to keep yourself warm. The small sliver of light had vanished, in its place was the bleakness of the day—or was it night? You could not tell what time it was, or how long you had been left there. All you were aware of was how cold you had become and that the waters were rising.

The sliver had become a waterspout and from it flowed the rainwater into your hole. It filled the entirety of the floor, the water nearly halfway to your calves now. With the way the rain above you continued to pour, you knew you needed to escape the hole before the waters engulf you.

You groped around you blindly, swiping your hands before you as you made sense of the place. You had deduced it was cylindrical in shape, with enough space for you to move at least five paces from one jagged wall to another. It was tall enough, considering the light you had seen earlier came from a very small hole. It seemed to you that it was nearly as tall as the mast in one of the ships you had travelled in. You hoped it was shorter.

You heard a loud crack of thunder from above. In your frenzied state of mind, you rushed to the other side and slammed your body against more jagged stones. You cried out in pain and collapsed on the rocky floor, hitting your knees against them and splashing water around you. You let out another loud howl as you clutched your knee that you were sure was bleeding from the impact. The pain from your whole left leg was like fire, from your thighs where it collided against the stone wall to your knee which had slammed against the jagged floor down to your ankle, which had grown twice it size since you had awoken. You had started to become feverish as well from being drenched in the rain.

It was useless to call out for help. The winds were too strong and the rain too loud for anyone to hear any of your cries. You had to help yourself. The only way for you to escape was up, through the small hole where the water flowed.

With determination, you rose to your feet and felt around the wall for any jutting rock you could clutch on to. You did the same with your other hand and your better foot and when you found stones that could handle your weight, you hoisted yourself up, mindful of the aches in your body. You needed all the strength you could gather. You managed slowly in your weakened state—having only had soup for dinner and nothing else—taking only one step at a time. You never had reason to scale a wall, as it was improper for ladies to do so. But you needed to survive. You could dash impropriety for all you care. What mattered was returning to Kit and stopping the Grand Duke from terrorizing the kingdom.

It was difficult for you to scale the wall with your broken ankle and in your drenched dress, but you were somehow able to rise from the ground. The storm raged on above you and another cracking sound echoed in your hole. You shut your eyes tight, breathing deeply so your fear and pain would ebb away. You shivered from the cold and the terror but you held strong. You had to get out. You needed to get out.

You took slow steps upward, trying every stone your hand touched to see if it would carry your weight. Your body protested at the added weight of the water. Your limbs shook with every effort.

You looked up to where the water had poured and with every power you had about you, you pushed yourself upwards. You had no idea how far up you had come but you trudged on with all of your strength.

The sky broke and light filled your little hole. The strike of lightning blinded you, forcing you to take your hands off of the rocks to cover your eyes. You felt yourself fall backwards to the floor beneath you.

A dull but sickening thud, along with a splash, sounded upon your impact to the ground.

[reblogginqueen]

Richard Madden Favorites Archive:

Richard Madden:

Imagines:

Got a Bit Too Real ~ Written By: @itty-bitty-dancer

Big Sister ~ Written By: @storiesforallfandoms

Everybody Knows Now ~ Written By: @guess-my-next-obsession

Night Light ~ Written By: @rocketrhap3000

Home Sweet Home ~ Written By: @rocketrhap3000

Series:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Blurbs/Drabbles:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cosimo De’ Medici:

Imagines:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Series:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Blurbs/Drabbles:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(PS) David Budd:

Imagines:

Without A Word ~ Written By: @justauthoring

Series:

Protector ~ Written By: @storiesforallfandoms

Blurbs/Drabbles:

I’ve got you ~ Written By: @writingfortoomanyfandoms

Ikaris:

Imagines:

Fly Baby ~ Written By: @mcubrunette

Baby Cakes ~ Written By: @mcubrunette

Look at the Sky ~ Written By: @iguana-eyanna

Series:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Blurbs/Drabbles:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Prince Kit:

Imagines:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Series:

The Accidental Princess ~ Written By: @beananacake

Blurbs/Drabbles:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Robb Stark:

Imagines:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Series:

King and Queen in the North ~ Written By: @guess-my-next-obsession

Duty ~ Written By: @asongofmarvelanddc

Blurbs/Drabbles:

None here yet ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[zellbellart]

(Viera blurb just for shits and giggles. Written on my phone so I’ll have to reformat and check for typos later.)

“Yes yes, you don’t look like us because you’re a very important young man, don’t you see? One of such import could never look as drab as we!”

Black eyes seared into the boy’s skin as he stood, hands crossed in front of him, scratching at his wrists as if they might slough off with their gazes. His lengthy ears, dark as a raven’s feathers, disappeared into the mess of thick hair covering his head. Oh how he wanted to disappear and escape their relentless judgement. How he wanted to understand his own unique circumstances.

“Then how come I can’t fly? Or go where I please?”, the Viera kit’s soft words barely lifted in the air and one of faerie’s that fussed with his clothing glanced up at him with a stern, sharp expression, one that made him recoil and clutch at the hem of his shift.

“Now, young Prince, you mustn’t ask such prying questions… we must protect you so. If you were to go where you please, someone will snatch you up and have you for dinner.”

He gasped and his violet gaze disappeared behind firmly shut lids, the cloth between his fingers threatening to tear with the last of his nerves. Around him, the fae giggled to themselves as they continued on, small measuring tapes and pins placed delicately along the boy’s body before they produced handfuls of string and lace.

——————————

The memory of a pin prick made Rhysand sit up and run metal-clad fingers against his scalp. One lazy eye propped open as he took in his surroundings and closed briefly before being joined by the other. A lamp atop his side table had just enough kerosene left to properly light the space next to his sleeping furs. It would seem he’d nodded off worryingly close to the edge of a cliff overlooking Old Sharlayan.

A sigh of exasperation drifted off of his lips at the thought of the dream. It was a recurrent one that came once every few moons and it was always the same. Enough to convince him it wasn’t just something his mind pressed on him frequently. The thought of such thing was interrupted with a shifting of blankets and a yawn.

“Rhys, baby… come back to bed. It’s chilly and we’re getting cold…”, a blonde Miqo’te with bouncy curls and stained lips the color of raspberries beckoned him with half-lidded eyes as she ducked down and buried her face against another woman, an Elezen. The only thing that could be seen of her partner was long legs in torn stockings and the points of her ears cutting along the side of a thick blanket of wool.

He waited for a moment before a crooked, dimpled smile lifted the corner of his lips and a growl echoed in his voice, “I’ll be there momentarily, Juniper… don’t worry”. He knew she couldn’t see him properly, but the performance had to be perfect to be believed.

And so she disappeared back beneath the blankets and Rhysand never returned to bed, opting instead for a chair piled with smaller deer pelts where he leaned back against a tree and rested his eyes.

After all, the “Prince of the Fae” couldn’t be bothered to tarry and cuddle with those so readily available to be used as tools. They weren’t deserving of such treatment and his time was far better spent on other conquests.

Deep inside, he resented them for being so willing to give up something so intimate purely based on sleeping with a handsome face. How boring.

[james-potters-animagus]

So This Is Love

I’ve definitely seen this all over the place but the reader humming this song as they clean up Remus’ scars and cuts has been in my brain since the womb so I’m going to write about it. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk, now to the content.

RemusxFem!Reader blurb

Warnings: Lycanthropy, mentions of blood,

Sirius, James, Peter and Remus were making their way into the castle and up to the Gryffindor common room to help Remus get through the rest of the morning.

Y/n lie on the larger couch in the Gryffindor common room, passed out. She told herself she would wait up for the boy, knowing what he went through and how terrible it must have been. Her father was also subjected to Lycanthropy, so she was well aware of what it was before she met the boy. But, as the sun rose she continued snoring.

Remus smiled at the sight, her y/h/c hair all over the place, the sun rising giving her an ethereal glow. Soft snores could be heard, due to the lack of sleep she had been getting recently with Remus’ body attacking him.

Y/n stirred, hearing the outrageous laughter emitting from none other than Sirius Black, her long time best friend.

“Mmm... Morning boys.” She giggled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she sat up on the couch, getting the muggle medical kit and her wand from the little table beside the couch. Y/n refused to only use magic, she said it could still get infected. That made zero sense, seeing as it had a higher chance of getting infected if she used the muggle medicines, but no one fought her on it.

“Come, sit Rem,” She called out, the boy following her orders, sitting on the couch facing her.

She moved, now straddling his thighs, beginning with the alcohol. “This’ll sting.” She always warned, pressing the cotton ball to the largest gash on his chest.

He hissed at the pain, feeling it cease quite quickly as she used her wand to take away as much of the pain as she could.

As she worked she began humming. Simple tunes at first, just some things she had heard from her muggle born friends.

She soon began humming the tune of “So This Is Love” from the 1950 film, Cinderella.

Cinderella had always been one of her favorite muggle movies. The whole concept of being a princess really interested her, and of course, finding her Prince Charming. She was solely convinced Remus was her Prince Charming, but she couldn’t be sure he felt the same way.

“Alright. All cleaned up. How are you doing?” She asked, not moving from his lap. She was quite comfortable, and from the look on his features he was too.

“Much better now that you’re with me.” He gave her a sly wink and laid down on his back, pulling her with him.

The two lie on the couch, Y/n on the inside, her hand resting against a scar on his toned chest as he snuggled her in.

“So this is love.” He murmured, kissing the top of her head.

[writingfortoomanyfandoms]

Could you do a prince kit blurb where they sleep together for the first time? Not smut, just their first time cuddled up together and falling asleep in eachothers arms

This one made me so fucking soft lads - sorry this is a little short though

------------------------

The smiles on their faces were identically wide as Kit collapsed onto the bed next to her. The two of them were covered in a sheen of sweat and the room stank in a way that it never had before but neither of them cared.

Y/N rested her head against Kit’s chest, sticky with sweat but she didn’t have the heart to find it gross or disgusting. Never before had she felt quite so content as she lay to sleep.

“That was amazing.” Kit finally breathed, breaking the content, almost awed silence that had fallen over the room. Y/N giggled, turning to bury her face in his chest as her cheeks warmed.

A laugh rumbled through Kit’s chest at her actions and his fingers danced along her skin, coming to rest on her cheek before sliding down to tenderly cup her chin, turning her to look at him.

“Please don’t hide from me,” he whispered, the smile on his face so sincere it made Y/N’s heart ache.

“I don’t think I could stay away from you even if I wanted to,” Y/N admitted quietly, leaning up to cup his face in her hands and kiss him gently.

“I’d just have the guards bring you right back to me,” he teased, his face soft and adoring as he looked upon her. Y/N snuggled back down under the covers, resting her head back in it’s rightful place on his chest and she breathed in deeply, slowly falling in love with the smell that the room gave off.

Falling even further in love with everything about Kit.

“Your father’s going to be thrilled we did that,” Y/N finally murmured and Kit started to laugh again, his fingers playing gently with her hair, which was spread out against his skin.

“Well I am engaged to you - it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Kit teased. “Though, I personally don’t intend to tell him, I don’t know about you,” Y/N groaned, burying her face further into him.

“That’s not what I meant!” She groaned and Kit grinned, intertwining the fingers on her hand with his and squeezing tightly.

“I know it’s not, love,” he promised. “You were thinking he may have heard us,” the teasing edge was back and Y/N started to laugh with him.

“I wasn’t that bad!” She protested.

“You were perfect,” Kit promised, the joking tone long gone to be replaced by utter love and adoration. “You’re always perfect,” Y/N giggled in embarrassment.

“I love you so much,” her fingers traced shapes onto his sweaty skin. But to the two of them the squares and circles were so much more than that. Lines of love and emotions, plans for their futures being sketched out in just a few simple strokes, the two of them lost completely in their own thoughts. Thoughts of one another and what the future - their future - had planned out for them.

“I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”

[avenging-fandoms]

Imagine dancing with Richard when he was practicing for Cinderella... like he's at your home dancing around for extra practice and he doesn't notice you come in so you stand and watch him for a while and then the moment he notices you he pulls you into his arms without hesitation and you waltz around the living room laughing and holding each other close

“one two three.. or is it one two.. three four.. how do i do my arms?” richard whispered to himself, frustrated. you close the bedroom door softly, leaning against the wall as you watch him practice dancing around the living room. you smile, watching him waltz around and nearly trip over his own feet. 

richard picks his head up and smiles, dancing over to you and pulling you in, waltzing around the room with him, laughing and leaning your head back. “you are such a good prince charming, mr. madden”

“and you’re such a beautiful princess, mrs. madden” you smile, kissing him quickly before he spun you around, pulling you back in and dipping you. the both of you laugh, and the song changes to a slower song. 

“how long have you been practicing?” you ask, pushing your hand into his palm and the other on his shoulder. his hand holds your hip, pulling you into his body closely. 

“the dance instructor set the music an hour ago, so nearly an hour. it’s difficult by myself” you smile, leaning up and kissing him. 

“you could’ve asked me to help, plus you should know how to dance, we danced at our wedding!” he shakes his head, laughing. 

“that was different than waltzing. we’re dancing like we were at our wedding- slow and steady. i like this kind of dancing” you lay your head on his chest, richard kissing the top of it and resting his cheek on your head. 

“well, i know that you’re going to be a wonderful prince kit charming, and i can’t wait to see you in costume” you wink, richard dipping you again, making you gasp and lean your head back, laughing. 

[skandarismyturkishdelight]

I Missed You (Pt. 4) - Edmund Pevensie x Reader

Characters: Reader, Edmund, Lucy, Peter and Susan Pevensie, and Caspian

Setting: Narnia, The Golden Age/LWW and Prince Caspian.

Warnings: None

Summary/Blurb: (Requested by @creseselia ) Edmund and (Y/N) have had a great friendship since Edmund had become King of Narnia. The problem is, they haven’t confessed their feelings for one another. But when Edmund disappears when going after the White Stag, what happens to her?

taglist: @ohheyitsjake7 @cherrii-xo @glupijelen @thellamaisinthehouse @majalissa @kit-kat-is-me-lol @ironsdragon @gingertorch @letylopes @heyohheyitsgabi @eds-gryff @whatisthepointofusernames @beckaroodle @suruhcha @thebadassbitchqueen @mindofthescattered @foreverfangirling123 @pahoehoejaemin @animequeen1600

(some accounts that asked to be tagged unfortunately didn’t work, so sorry if you didn’t get notified!)

*

Reader’s P.O.V:

The sun’s rays cut through the thin trees, and as you strolled through the ferns overlapping the forest floors with Caspian ahead, a rustling sound behind you made your ears perk up.

You turned in time to see Trufflehunter just ducking behind a bush. You couldn’t help but grin and shake your head.

“I can hear you,” Caspian‘s exasperated voice calls out.

A moment passes before Nikabrik and Trufflehunter poked themselves out of from behind a pair of trees. You chuckled to yourself as you continued to walk, catching up to Caspian. Standing by his side, you noticed how tall he was, and how his hand was almost always on the hilt of his sword: his guard never resting for a moment.

“I just think we should wait for the kings and queens,” Trufflehunter called out. Caspian have him a long look before continuing to walk.

Even the mention of the kings and queens made your stomach dip in anticipation. The echoes of their voices heightened in your mind, their faces more vivid in colour, and Edmund’s smile; the brightest smile she had ever seen.

They aren’t dead, a voice from within you whispered excitedly, They aren’t dead.

“Fine, go then!” Trufflehunter basically shouted. “See if the others will be as understanding.”

Nikabrik’s amused faced drew your eyes to him. “Or maybe I’ll come with you. I want to see you explain things to the minotaurs.”

Caspian stopped in his tracks, and you paused too, watching his expression.

He looked dazed, and a glimpse of what looked like excitement shone in his eyes. “Minotaurs... they’re real?”

You laughed and Caspian turned to look at you with his dark eyes. A grin graced your face as you continued your march towards the end of the forest. “Of course they are.”

Trufflehunter grunted. “And very bad tempered.”

“Yeah, not to mention big,” the dwarf added.

“Huge.”

You rolled your eyes, a smile still dancing on your face as you turned around to look at the three who were catching up slowly.

Caspian didn’t waste a chance in asking more questions. “What about centaurs? Do they still exist?”

Trufflehunter began walking towards you. “Well, the centaurs will probably fight on your side. But there’s no telling what the others will do.”

“What about Aslan?”

You stop in your tracks, heart sinking slightly as you looked at the young prince.

Nikabrik and Trufflehunter also paused and peered at each other. They seemed just as unsettled as you.

You hadn’t heard Aslan’s name in so long. It was hard to know he wasn’t here now, or if he would come ever again.

Nikabrik turned to Caspian suspiciously. “How do you know so much about us?”

“Stories,” Caspian responded.

The badger added with surprise, “Wait a minute...your father told you stories about Narnia?”

Caspian frowned. “No, my professor...”

You saw his face changed as his voice trailed off, almost hardened by the truth hidden behind his eyes.

“Listen, I am sorry,” he continued. “These are not the kinds of questions you should be asking.”

Caspian begins to walk towards you again. You wish you could comfort the stranger but you were just as clueless as he, probably even more so. You were just desperate to find something you were familiar with again.

Behind you, something sniffed loudly, and you spun around to see Trufflehunter’s snout in the air.

Nikabrik picked up on his unease immediately. “What is it?”

“Human,” he answered confidently.

Nikabrik nodded towards Caspian. “Him?”

“No...” Trufflehunter stopped suddenly and stared to the clearing from which they entered. “Them!”

Your hand immediately unsheathes your sword at the sound of foreign and rough voices. Soldiers. Armour shining in the sunlight, they looked taut and merciless in the way the moved across the clearing. Even worse when they lifted crossbows into your direction.

“There they are!” A thick-accented voice called out.

You saw a man position his crossbow towards you. A heavy stone seemed to fall into your stomach as your heartbeat grew louder and louder in your ears.

Trufflehunter shouted something, and knowing you didn’t have to wonder about what he said, you dashed ahead of the rest

The whizz of the arrows flying past and sticking into nearby trees, sometimes bouncing off them, was almost as loud as her heart.

Run, run, run.

Anxiety was trampling in your chest, leaving you gasping for air. Your mind was racing with the thought of going back home. Anywhere with the sea, or high cliffs, anything that reminded you of the glory of Cair Paravel. Anything that reminded you of the Pevensies. And Edmund.

Edmund.

A cry fell from far behind, and you turned to see Nikabrik and Caspian pause in their haste to escape...Trufflehunter nowhere to be seen.

“Trufflehunter!” You cried out, panic rising in you as you ducked out of the way of a flying arrow.

Caspian stood still before running back towards the overlapping fern bushes. Nikabrik waddled quickly towards to where you were gesturing you to run.

“He’s fine! Go!”

The shake in his voice made you hesitate, still looking towards the Prince kneeled on the floor who was quickly tucking something in his pocket. You watch as the soldiers take aim.

Then one screamed and fell. Then another, and another...

Caspian had thrown the badger over his shoulder and you caught a glimpse of an arrow poking out from his back leg. Your heart sank as the long-haired prince caught up, placing a twitching Trufflehunter gently in your hands.

Caspian nodded to both you and Nikabrik. “Get him out of here.”

You stood bewildered, clutching Trufflehunter as fur and blood tangled between your fingers. “You can’t fight them! Caspian!”

But it was no use. Caspian drew his sword, moving towards the dead men in a smooth motion. You saw another soldier fall heavily, and another grunting in madness, taking out a sword to cut through the grass.

“Where are you?!” The armoured man howled, and no sooner had he fallen down; lying unmoving like the rest of his men.

The ferns were bristling violently, creeping around the guards before switching directions, and moved towards Caspian.

You cried out a warning, yet the small thing that leaped out of the forest floor and knocked Caspian to the earth.

Biting your lip in apprehension, you found yourself cursing and placing Trufflehunter gently onto the thick leaves of a nearby bush.

“What are you-“ Nikabrik protested, moving violently towards you, but you cut him off quickly.

“He needs help!”

The way you had darted across the bushes to reach Caspian reminded you briefly of the distant times where you and Lucy would try to catch each other in the woods surrounding Cair Paravel’s grounds.

In those memories, the forests were less daunting, and the sun wasn’t so harsh. The wind would catch at the trees’ delicate leaves and pull them to fall onto your hair. Now, there was none of that.

You slowed as you got closer to Caspian, sword at the ready like Edmund had taught you almost a lifetime ago. But this wasn’t an ordinary target, you noticed quickly.

It was a mouse; quite a large mouse with a tail that was swishing around the air proudly. The creature was perched on Caspian’s chest, pointing what you thought was meant to be a sword, but only looked like one of Sudan’s large sewing needles. Its voice say comfortably ok its throat as the mouse began demanding Caspian.

“Pick it up!” The mouse shouted in an alarming manner. “I will not fight an unarmed man.”

Caspian seemed to struggle with his answer. “Which is why I will live longer if I choose not to cross blades with you, noble mouse.”

You tilted your head curiously as the mouse swished his blade. “I said I wouldn’t fight you. I didn’t say I’d let you live!”

“Wait!” You said, stepping closer to the scene as you sheathed your sword. “There’s no need for that, he isn’t a soldier!”

The mouse peered at you with beady eyes. “He’s a Telmarine! You’ll catch me snipping off my own tail before I passed a chance to kill-“

“Reepicheep, stay your blade!”

The mouse turned as you did, seeing the badger leaning on the dwarf tiredly. “Trufflehunter? I trust you have a good reason for this untimely interruption!”

Nikabrik looked almost amused. “He doesn’t. Go ahead.”

The badger took a moment to capture his breath. “Reepicheep, he’s the one that blew the horn!”

The words sent a great shiver down your spine, the mention of the horn again breathed far more hope into you that the Kings and Queens were still out there, somewhere. You would see them again, and everything will be alright.

Reepicheep stared down Caspian in surprise. “What?”

A deep voice emerged from a corner of the forest. “Then let him bring it forward.”

Four large centaurs came walking gracefully over the hill, the greatness in size always stole your breath.

“This is the reason we have gathered,” the voice continued, coming from a dark haired centaur.

You gave them a hopeful look before peering down at Caspian again. He looked at you, amazement flooded in his expression.

A small smile played on your lips, your mind wandering to the hope of tomorrow. The hope of seeing the Pevensies again.

[imagine-richards]

Request: Could do an imagine where the reader calls Richard ‘Daddy’, in a insta post, and he gets all embarrassed. And they are just being goofy in the comments & stuff.

Tingles ran up your leg as Richard’s fingers lightly ran up and down them. They were draped over Richard, who was on his phone while you watched the latest episode of whatever it was you were watching that Rich didn’t care too much for. (You felt extremely lucky that you managed to bag a boyfriend who would actually still spend time with you, even if you were watching something he couldn’t care less about).

Your phone buzzed next to your thigh, which made you look down at the lit up screen. Covering the eyes of the selfie of you and Richard, which you kept as your wallpaper from the Met Gala, was an Instagram notification.

maddenrichard has posted a photo.

You quickly reached for the phone, unlocking it in record speed so that you could be one of the first to like it. It was a picture from one of the photoshoots he did recently. It was ridiculously attractive, making you smile uncontrollably for a second while you let your mind process how lucky you actually were to have your legs wrapped around this man.

Looking over at Rich, you saw that he seemed lost in his own world, completely immersed in whatever it was he was doing on his phone. You noted that he looked absolutely gorgeous in person, too, and decided that it shouldn’t be allowed to look so damn beautiful. You smirked as inspiration struck, typing in a comment slowly, before locking your phone and watching your boyfriend, waiting on his reaction.

You heard the phone buzz in his hand, you watched as he pressed the notification and you noticed his jaw twitch as he clenched his teeth, just at the exact moment he swallowed harder than usual and his eyes widened just a little.

You laughed softly, nudging his arm with your fluffy-sock-clad foot.

“You alright, babe?”

He was brought dragged back to your living room and into reality, looking over at you. It was then, with the light of his phone shining up at him and the warm glow of the candles around you both that you could see how pink had flushed his cheeks ever so slightly.

“Hm? Yeah. Fine.” He said simply, though you knew him far too well to miss the smile he was so clearly trying to push off his lips.

You knew exactly what you were doing. He always did love it when you called him daddy, and it usually ended up in some very compromising situations, but you’d never been brave enough to comment it on an Instagram picture of his, especially considering it blended in with all the crazed fans’.

It was strange that he didn’t exactly acknowledge it, though, you thought, just as your phone buzzed.

maddenrichard has replied to your comment: baby girl

and again

maddenrichard has commented on your photo: 💦💦💦

It was your recent post from a couple of days ago. Just a selfie in a cafe because the background looked pretty. Richard had already commented on it; something sweet about how he was lucky to be with someone so beautiful. Unlocking your phone again, you saw he had deleted that comment and replaced it with a much… thirstier one.

Looking up at him, you saw him look away, obviously trying to be slick but just missing being fast enough.

Okay. Two could play at that game.

You cocked a brow, switching your volume up so that Richard could hear the clicks of your keyboard every time your fingers hit the letters. You know, making a point.

You clicked on his photo shoot post, looking over his outfit once more. He looked so handsome. You were so proud of him you could just gush for days.

But now wasn’t that time for sweet shit. You had a war to win.

y/u/n: that suit looks so good on you but imagine how nice it’d look on our bedroom floor daddy😍😍😍

The Instagram ringtone sounded out again on Rich’s phone and you watched as his expression changed. He even wriggled a little underneath you, apparently getting a little uncomfortable in his jeans.

His attempt in keeping a poker face was poor, and you were almost certain that you had won. That comment was far braver than you’d ever been on social media, especially considering the two of you were quite private when it came to your relationship. You’d probably both delete them later, but you were determined to have this fun right now.

You’d totally won.

Definitely.

There was no way he could-

Ping!

maddenrichard: get upstairs right now.

You almost coughed, suddenly feeling a lot of feelings, one of while being flustered and hot.

You looked up at him, not actually realising you were biting your lip until you did so. This time, he was looking right at you, piercing eyes undoing you like they did every damn time.

You were determined to keep the power.

“I’m… just gonna go upstairs for a sec, babe.”

Okay, well you were only human…

[beananacake]

hey hey hey sorry if I am bothering you but I still have some other questions. I'm just really interested in your thoughts of the fics.

questions 9,21 for TAP and can you tell us 26 aka the funfact of savior, TAP, and snapshot please!

thank you so much for patiently asking the long questions that I have!

You are very welcome, anon! Thank you for sending me more asks. You are definitely not bothering me! I love getting asks like this!

9. Was there anything from canon that you pulled for this fic?

I used Cinderella 2015 for TAP so some stuff I got from canon were: most of the characters (Thibault is the Captain in the movie but he didn't have a name so I just named him that), Kit having been to war, the idea that Kit has to marry for the betterment of the kingdom, Y/N being a commoner, and the setting (although it's not really that obvious because I didn't go much into world building with this fic.) I did get some dialogue from the movie, although I mixed them up and put them in the context that fits TAP. I took the essence of it, of marrying outside of the rank, and played around that a bit. I'm not saying they couldn't but I can't think of how a peasant girl could rule a kingdom armed with only love from her husband, the prince/king. That's why I made her a diplomat's daughter. She's not necessarily exposed to the workings of how to run a kingdom but she's been through a lot of different ones where she can draw inspiration from. She's still knowledgeable of it, which makes her a better candidate than a maid or peasant (sorry, Ella :/ )

21. What is something you didn't expect people to notice or gravitate towards in this fic?

I think this was answered in the previous ask but to reiterate, it was Louis. I never thought Louis would be someone the readers would come to love! He was meant to be just a side character but he's suddenly become this larger person inside the fic and I just went along with it. I'm so glad he's well-received! But in general, I didn't think the readers would actually love the story lmao Most of the fics I see being requested and read and shared are dark fics and smutty fics. TAP couldn't be dark and couldn't be smutty, especially since it was important that their marriage wasn't consummated, so I was surprised at the love it was getting. I didn't think something like this would actually have an audience (and I am thankful for each and every one who has read it!). I thought it was a dead fandom but I guess there are still some of us who love Prince Kit from Cinderella 2015.

26. Wild card! I'll tell you a fun fact(S) about this fic!

Snapshot: So, I wrote Snapshot because I literally cannot contain my admiration for Richard Madden. I was like a bubble waiting to burst when I started to write it. I just happened to be bored during my chemo sessions and I had this handful of free time that I didn't want to spend scrolling through social media so I started writing. I actually have no plot in mind for that story; it was just a blurb in my head but people wanted a second part to it. I did finish writing the second part in one day because of sheer excitement. Snapshot is just supposed to be a bit like "slice-of-life" piece of fic, where some days you don't really have anything going on. It's very milestone-y so any updates for that fic would be far in between, like life. About Oscars: it had been my plan to actually upload Oscars on the day of the Academy Awards (which I did) because I love coincidences. The idea for that was already forming the moment I finished writing ch5 of Snapshot.

Savior: Like Snapshot, when I first wrote ch1, I have no plot in mind. I just decided to go along the movie because it's a beautiful movie with a lot of layers that people seemed to miss because what they wanted was action and it wasn't as action-packed as any other ordinary superhero movie. It's a love letter to humanity and what else would better fit the embodiment of love than an angel. Speaking of love, I knew I wanted them to end up together but I didn't know how to do/show it. I think I did Angel and Ikaris a disservice when I had them almost kiss in ch4, instead of an organic progression in their story. I actually watched Eternals via a grainy French subbed copy. I could barely understand what was going on but when he yeeted himself to the sun at the end, I was so pissed. That was what prompted me to write Savior. Ikaris had a lot of room for redemption but it's too bad they went for a poetic ending. I'd like to think I like my story's ending better lmao And speaking of ending, I don't think Angel and Ikaris's story is ending soon. There's one plot I want to explore and only shared it with one person in this platform. I just wish I get the energy to write it lmao

TAP: Pride and Prejudice 2005 is my favorite movie of all time so it was partially inspired by that movie (esp that line of dialogue in ch5). When I was considering a love triangle, the movie was one of my primary research materials with Kit obviously being Mr. Darcy but I couldn't see Louis as a Wickham so I scratched that idea. I went with the poisoning instead because I was watching Poirot and Agatha Christie (the author of Hercule Poirot's stories) loved using poison as a plot device. Medici is also an inspiration (ep1 intro where Giovanni de Medici was poisoned with hemlock and Marco Bello going into the apothecary to investigate were a few of the scenes that I took from the show). You'd actually be surprised at the amount of research I do for the etymology and history and origin just for a particular word. I never write without having a dictionary and a thesaurus beside me. The words I mostly use couldn't be later than 1850's, or else they wouldn't fit the era I set TAP in (and I unintentionally set it during the years the Brothers Grimm were alive [See ch1 for that mistake lmao]) And I have never pored over research as much as I did with TAP! There are still mistakes, especially with the poisons and the thing about royalty, but so far, I'm happy with the outcome. It's a fairy tale, it's not meant to be perfect (no matter how much I try to convince myself of that lol).