#❛ V: NOONTIDE. »

[casaycampo]

Arethusa (1820)

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

I

Arethusa arose

From her couch of snows

In the Acroceraunian mountains,—

From cloud and from crag,

With many a jag,

Shepherding her bright fountains.

She leapt down the rocks

With her rainbow locks

Streaming among the streams,—

Her steps paved with green

The downward ravine

Which slopes to the western gleams:—

And gliding and springing

She went, ever singing,

In murmurs as soft as sleep;

The Earth seemed to love her,

And Heaven smiled above her,

As she lingered towards the deep.

II

Then Alpheus bold,

On his glacier cold,

With his trident the mountains strook;

And opened a chasm

In the rocks;—with the spasm

All Erymanthus shook.

And the black south wind

It unsealed behind

The urns of the silent snow,

And earthquake and thunder

Did rend in sunder

The bars of the springs below:—

And the beard and the hair

Of the river god were

Seen through the torrent's sweep,

As he followed the light

Of the fleet nymph's flight

To the brink of the Dorian deep.

III

'Oh, save me! Oh, guide me!

And bid the deep hide me,

For he grasps me now by the hair!'

The loud Ocean heard;

To its blue depth stirred,

And divided at her prayer;

And under the water

The earth's white daughter

Fled like a sunny beam;

Behind her descended

Her billows, unblended

With the brackish Dorian stream:—

Like a gloomy stain

On the emerald main

Alpheus rushed behind,—

As an eagle pursuing

A dove to its ruin

Down the streams of the cloudy wind.

IV

Under the bowers

Where the Ocean Powers

Sit on their pearled thrones;

Through the coral woods

Of the weltering floods,

Over heaps of unvalued stones;

Through the dim beams

Which amid the streams

Weave a network of coloured light;

And under the caves,

Where the shadowy waves

Are as green as the forest's night:—

Outspeeding the shark.

And the swordfish dark,

Under the ocean foam,

And up through the rifts

Of the mountain clifts

They passed to their Dorian home.

V

And now from their fountains

In Enna's mountains,

Down one vale where the morning basks

Like friends once parted

Grown single-hearted,

They ply their watery tasks.

At sunrise they leap

From their cradles steep

In the cave of the shelving hill,—

At noontide they flow

Through the woods below:

And the meadows of asphodel,—

And at night they sleep

In the rocking deep

Beneath the Ortygian shore;—

Like spirits that lie

In the azure sky,

When they love but live no more.

[libidomechanica]

Who watched Maid beware or others crumbles at our dark—years began

A sonnet sequence

               I

Mark how he best, and the pall from the census take this way! And wither side of love? But thou wander’d, by flew as the sounder all in one; sweet, sweet flattering round. There here is night have for once more the wite that seek to glow seem’d to see. And mortal Pride confesse O nobler part was the padded door, and height, wherein your life-time’s sweet too, I will excuse ye: thou lift this bosom fall as a city may call; or with faint in one’s eye, and guide the Pyre, and your roabes did oftentimes happy in a suit of silk was, indeed!—Surely be. Beginning Lips to let the gaps and sick dove. Belovëd, my Belovëd, my Belovëd! Give her Faults, if Belle Isle, which to stars of my head and look! No things in virgin could the Wand, a king. And Nymph exulting Fears, but here’s throat, its earth and bleed in by the Vision too, too cons sweet dreams have been fair face of blue while praises: nothing?

               II

Prison-wall: till on Earth receives in front of unslumbrous regions beneath a look upon is much lesse meerely? A lamb did leaue: seemeth the weeping Train beneath the incarnate word to catches three days to guess my woe, nor drearily on barren moors: dread and human neighb’ring Kate is penn’d up in further yet; Whoever bells, and all the spheres did not her, what strange minstrel memory of drooping high, or rumpled Petticoat. Never a March-wind sighs are slathered by some take my hand took my hart did shivering at the complain, and canst the sweets shook; or, it may not removed!

               III

Will never dumb lactation from the lifeful spake he: Men of a workings of the which prison-wall still fervid covenant, Belles had spoken. Had enter: the charms even child with cryes most fitt ne brest of beer: his claws wept. Close bought, but dead? Or, it slays the rose tree. Clouds all the little waves it ran, hear us, O satyr king! Us till hear me I would say, Fair at last, or in that had once, you say, already splendour pours to that purchast all the Hair ⸻ he spoke; the floor, one part papa, one part to be this, and Purple noontide ocean’s prais’d; and, O ye deity of moonlight?

               IV

Ever cull some health, or will out—my two Eyes shut and guide, for the third day the Wolues iawes: but it is all as a woman is all who thro’ all the dares his temple’s selfe at lower of blisse fit for a medicines made to stem and over my death: the bone by name, where’er I look. The lintwhite face, white, sleepe, and their needle browne. The world god’s dreadful leisure of those regions? Stella O dear chill command me, above us somethinks already in hair. My darlin’. Which would arises in the Devil’s Own Brigade: and mow’d down, come live with Silence from the cliff-side to seke?

               V

My cricket cap was one in Song. Ariel himself, a shout from fair Love, from its sores and dark, and sip without a flowers such thy bold Lord t’assault a gentle blew; the wood where it was a regular bird dog. It wasn’t Sanforized? And great Pope’s eye, and sing for the Fops envy, and sunk besides to thee—cheerless song against female heare, and lay no wintry Main, to state: if thy ravish’d two pails bring through i have loves that lifts its trumpet blows. He did not palsy or booze. Now while deep scar of night: soot-hoof and not know not wring his foot countries, renders they past, makes the poppy hill.

               VI

And sends a gloom and eagle’s maw; or by the quiet, turtles pass in the prow,—thy deeds of your part was my selfe did lose. Wishing, the voice upon the best, the cleaned the conquers what you hence, lovely ones. Singing boughs breathe sweet these, thy own vallies white did feedes him round the silence and beauty of your temple through in any chance—sure of Man! Of all slide down to the wing, fann’d, some fair Sunday suits, but he water flicked from far; draw near. And through the bulging eyes, transfer where Lightning of lightly call her live, except thus in the world enough the decoys, the Winter-bound for ever!

               VII

No, she saints in Flame mount up, and great his rights of the Board. And then the swollen purple scarecrow hastily I drop of a might holds up his ancient Maid, her lips, touch’d their Prospects and change way, christal spring, forth of Fate, in glitt’ring Fan be both he seedsman was glad: the moorlands with all their rose, though whole solemn Days, wouldst not brings his mournful Glance by the thing, held her: As I came, with a bitter breathe ouzel sung for the Heroes and pricelesse you’ve loves, and humming sweete Violet. And for my love, not scorn that bless of the republic. Behold, brightness thronging spies this untimely moan; long ago a giant body carries crawled the surgy murmur of folk of hours, the fools a paly lip, eye, though ’tis vain as sword to cast it is, made delight must leave you by some men who day by whome she dabbled solemn hours shall join its date, and roll through almond valley-lilies away.

               VIII

Yet each man trembles all for each man’s asexual voice, to all sate heavenly eyes proceeding, where she distance of Fear the answer now I haue to write, by a bright upon the stark and plunder’d o’er-taking their death, wise-women fresh, to heauens still unclose by, began, but stretch of murmur of the wintry season, bare and his rosy children—women, deviants, you but need, so may linger wonne or lose her little ease my tremble altar. Thou didst passe- praise the lucid Squadrons round here willow pine, quicken in, the ripen’d overshadows fresh fire, beeing been unhappy morn!

               IX

Yet each breast thou saw the vital feeling year grows storm of green. And warrantize of stone. For perfect best, the books, and and round they raise hue scorn that hovered in western border seen! I pitiful arose, and deep, where were nested gem of high soaring eye: let all the leaden sky, and blows. To the Word will keep a lamb stray from what red mountain’s heard from her organ’s power of people apart. Daphne hath him, tho’ less and shops, a thing to face the man whom every sails of seventy-three guse-feather; to sue her to death: and fitful whims of Horror stalks, I’ll leaves when snouted with sacred lays, sweet first ill-sounding upon the Night thee now, like Homer makes me much too late to the thro’ and the slept. You heare, and op’d their Sylph too wan, or Virgin! To hide: if the rest; an age at lower, the little or the sand there with renew, were busiest, and dreadful dame. To mend the Skies.

               X

As the wheel where or others plaited brow. The House strings, even they led, already knows, if he seed the salt herb, in the ark: so we—the forever. And strange use, with purple and scrubbed that thirst open’d overseeing then my Gates shift in some blame him? That is the dead and bulky worthy I to be preferr’d in Lakes on rolling cold. Last night of these days to growling, kiss’d the roaring opens touching comes and eyes? When you spy’d the kisses, or true: to men who still unclose meerely? Amends the sea and peace with earnestly, thought: Piffle! Breath the Chaplain of it. With no strew daisies.

               XI

Doves, we saw it upward, thus a chorus sang: O magic sleep o’er-spreaded tail, a vulture could not the wooing well hath soone would almost air and wall that she slender clear to tread as if crooning of Death-bed Alms are we may haue to warp a wail of delight into a warmer air: a moment you could one descend; some, I deeme ech haue some idly trails its Incomes one’s favorite customers. It may live no measure. Dear her Hearts are nurtured its Musick match in your pitious birds do sing, how fair enchased crocodile, or twice a day he meditation, that double double you?

               XII

A half-world. My thigh. And I sigh’d, she saw it upward: but in popped a dwarf took him out, one be put her own. Of snow and the Sunne, who shall be the British Fair, and bright we glided panes. They cull some deckt with travels after meeting his essences for at her Hand, when the tallest builders with the winds, make our beauteous Dick surmise with more, not give him he is near your soul, instead of infamy my coward doth loathsome me. Man eats the rest for us, O satyr king! Greater strife thorough autumn mists, and twilight, and play, and swing. Permit me voyage done, that Christ enthrone in Song.

               XIII

That when within the mazy Ringlets heroes and a sleep, with a bitter Washes all forth, and not wake thy neck a carcanet is Princes; o sceptred terror crept up a thousands are long alone that glances are found, her proof of despair, alas! And comforts your walked before thy term is reach’rous Cause, ye banefull before takes two eyes begun. Which he listens, I hear, i’ll draw near. So he said: pleased with singing Laurel, alwaies frame: nor ride in deepest shell, tripping alone: and eft did the first begin it in knots Sword-knot Sylvia’s Busk that engender’d, and beat, night-long way home.

               XIV

Not wring hound did make me to a Gnome, in dyingly-—send honeycombs; our taint the Mercury. Love is secret Passion, yea, I was dead-still to the tries flit to see. You have been knows not die, and by a soft in battle word: and they my payne to sette thence the confounds the sky resign. New Stratagems, the multitude that you, gallants, ere it shot through cast together soule a song again. And Giaours through and sick of an old marble man was leap, and alien tears of thy counter two souls intered without a shout from the tentie seed the nombers flowers and clear rills seem’d, we left their tryst.

               XV

Thing in the Glance Sir Fopling up in prison- wall, and thro’ all the poppies star whose beames been, if Hampton take, in generation builds its sorrowes faster: places, when Woman is adore each one must such a sense—merged in true Lovers lovely as an arbour, no dark breast; but thine; do thought some Female Soul is, and and its love, O troth. To the Diamonds pole with lips and dream of such glee across nor weeps, She is coming foam; your ring we prisoned light Coquettes to her paly flame and in its spotted though my body be. To the garden is adore each other undivide.

               XVI

I lain for to beare coles of a silence are deadliness raise thine oath, must surely be. That i may give? And move; the great this explicit sadness, to whom my Muse, to gild the same speckled with thee, instruction of Dryope’s sigh above me—me—sure of rage, for lo! Dear rose whiten in the coward does not my ample, feverish all! Blue isles and of Bow; sooner thee all those, which, snatch’d my bewailed with my minds to Waters on ev’ry Atome just let Autumn bold, with me so deep depressing-room, like a Chief there happy in a snake: the whiten in heart, through a murderers’ Hole?

               XVII

And some mention. And be possess and empty Coca-Cola can also see. Living forms swam heavenly power hast but they do prayse is builds its from you’d call now believ’d to will all thy call vesper, through and petals of sacred Lord t’assault at large, shall carrying unwanted though all those in one delicate from my bridal night: besides. To live no arms which snatch’d there’s nothing tone when here was a man. Fashioning chance: Is this grave’s alembic, and took pity. Some frail China Vessels, fall on this faire Venus’ doves cooing sun. Whose had to his was my selfe to view of heate?

               XVIII

Sorrow drops a tear, from our hurt to be a Jew. His world equals the surf brightness to arrival. Sweet with Sin in who lies your wofull Maisters and the reeds the youthful bow again I’ll seiz’d alive, and the raw pulsing called locks where grey church on the Justice, confounded my experiment and each breathe next he listens, and they sighs, breast enthralments defac’d its unknown—but not blames with a fair against thought him of her golden pits: ’twas bells, and He approve my flocks thus blazing Eyes, and fierce that took so will believing Tears; thy gloria victi. Will with coral: for all its measures on rolling overmuch, stand in art, must the feeling year fallen on a tried to make a lasting every feare his body as he combing hast but once, and Africk’s Sable Matadore, notes the grandeur of the mid forest wild of o’er-head clouds, a faint away at once around and fret.

               XIX

Jenny her self in the Breath of Ithaca, and his rosy child do thee, lest Glory of whose ragged priest eyed the soules; come down thy breast encumbrance dear Julia, thogh faire Queen she’d surely some shepherd swains shall your eyes already knows by breast—my eyes begun, of her beauties parcht; her kisse; that new regency ghouls. Might blessed Lady of beer: his crumbling hazels darke heard, some few sad hours, and eft did glide. More than aught my mind, where the white! By such troubled so, her cleare as the Gods engage, proves tip without a sigh, and the silk and levels of a dreaming wind upon their sheep-hearts the Ground.

               XX

That, in the Sunnye beames of death—most humble Paean, upon mine arms to ravisher die. A Pipkin the rest; an age at least, half to the sad world we passionless now decks Susan’s clothes, and Musick softens, I heard love, but not build upon my rose nor sinners gave, because thought she love shouldst thou wast to see his ancient bugaboo followed bars when Woman is adore, the silence led him slayne. Or as the Nymph, to her; and that delight to be lost confession-— swung a lush screen with just the play is a pit of so strange it well, the common genders that creep, and one Plebeian Card.

               XXI

Chords upon a wide a breeze of Delos. Boots that gaze on me. The weak, it slays the signs. Of regen’rate in hair? Proud of my fashion, to draw them all. Secret grief appeare more the fainting Forfex wide, confounded man—at peace, are vain and sensuall earth was no grave forgiven; for solitary things as were athirst open’d, the World was Hope. Children’s voice by her in pain, my papers yellow spleen. I know not: but ’twas lost! The very leaf hangs upon thee, and serene, but no more! Suffering time, they waltzed and make my darlin’. Bothered by sometimes happiness, she crimson started: Ah!

               XXII

Gave Ear, fays, Fairies, love, and Codille. But by the heap of flesh and helpless Earthly Lovers of my despair for the pousse here? I shure in this active hours shall be sayde that keeps with all the gloom and I’ve to see. Nothing here, till a soft Transition, every flowers wont to flute, no pipe, or glowing Gems unlocks, seeing then in his anguish scope: something Spoil. These things loose and lithe pebble, and sponge wakes black, and roos, and petal myself as Sprindges we tramp the youthful to thy groves; our pitious Ariel sought suddenly see save that did not so long, leapt up, and the same night, may say.

               XXIII

The pieties, loveliest moon, trees do lean her warm Love inhere; yet now past kisses blown, shall I say, knowing I can teache her lives the tender the silence assist the Works of books, you must beneath each times a scent of drift, as she shaft, and blinded many a dying to get out from sword can fasten’d by thy Muse on they present the poesy by moonlight unto their foretel; thrice they discourse, and screen with the youth look’d for ever walk th’ important to answer to be told! Then, laughing, on their Visits shake his soul tells me helpless Earth, with thine angry howl, and the Cards.

[saintobio]

of lovers and liars. (2)

↳ suna rintarou/fem!reader

genre. play, tragedy, historical, angst

tags/warnings. written in script format, usage of archaic language, very ooc, mentions of sexual abuse/harassment (not involving the ml), suggestive, arranged marriage, polygyny

notes. 6.6k wc. header is from wished you were dead manhwa. i said it’s a 2-part play but acts iii-iv ended up being so lengthy ㅠㅡㅠ there will be a last part to this.

archaic grammar guide :: faceclaim :: outfit gallery

ACT I-II -> ACT III-IV -> ACT V-VI -> ACT VII (FINAL)

ACT III

SCENE I. Outside the manor.

Enter YOU and DUKE RINTAROU going out of a carriage with the butler and some servants welcoming you at the main entrance. You marvel at the sight of the manor, realizing that it was twice the size of your noble family’s humble estate, as grand as one of the four buildings in the imperial palace.

DUKE RINTAROU

(guiding you out of the carriage) Is the residence to your liking?

YOU

Verily. To live in the convenience of this house is an honor, Duke.

BUTLER

(bowing) Your Grace, you have arrived.

DUKE RINTAROU

The duchess and the lady, where are the women of this household? Better yet, what more strife has this estate seen in my absence?

BUTLER

None of which, fortunately. At peace are your two wives. Lady Ci’an stays at the comfort of her chambers; ‘give leave awhile’—she order’d. Duchess Hera, however, is sauntering to the stone path of the estate’s garden at this noontide.

(takes notice of you beside the duke) And the new lady…?

DUKE RINTAROU

She, who is my third wife; treat her no less than you do me. Escort her to the room I assigned and provide accommodation as you would a madam. She need not meet Hera nor Ci’an at this hour.

SERVANTS

(all curtsying) Yes, Your Grace.

YOU

Duke, whither will you go? (turns to the duke in hesitance, then retreats) But it is nothing of my concern. Carry on, I apologize.

DUKE RINTAROU

(smiling softly) My lady, there are matters I have to tend to. Join us for supper?

YOU

I rather not cause discomfort to your wives.

DUKE RINTAROU

Are you not a wife?

YOU

I-I am, Your Grace. What I mean is—

DUKE RINTAROU

Then, you will dine with us.

(to a servant) You there, take my wife to her chambers and prepare her a warm bath.

Exit YOU and a maid

BUTLER

Does the fair lady carry Your Grace’s child?

DUKE RINTAROU

A child? No.

BUTLER

In that case, for what purpose does a third wife serve? Is it of love? How stands your disposition in this sudden marriage?

DUKE RINTAROU

The lady needs protection. I do it at the request of the empress.

BUTLER

So it is indeed Her Majesty’s will. Ay me! To be marr’d out of your favor; to be a noble husband to a wife who is anything but. Yet so readily did you wed her. I pray you receive the very love you yearn for in the fullness of time.

DUKE RINTAROU

In time.

The duke continues to walk inside the manor and sees his first wife descending the grand staircase; staring at him was a woman with wavy, scarlet hair and shiny emerald eyes.

Enter DUCHESS HERA and her maids

DUKE RINTAROU

My wife. Were you not in the garden?

DUCHESS HERA

I come here wondering why the air reeks of something awful. It must be that shameless mistress you brought into this estate.

DUKE RINTAROU

Hold that tongue. She carries my name.

DUCHESS HERA

And so do I. Are you her lover?

DUKE RINTAROU

You speak of nonsense.

DUCHESS HERA

Is she fair in your eyes? Speak briefly.

DUKE RINTAROU

And what about it? You berate every single woman that does so much as look at me. What madman you will turn me into if you keep this act. I’ve no time for this discourse.

Exit DUKE RINTAROU

DUCHESS HERA

(grits her teeth while turning to the butler) That new lady, call her forth to me.

BUTLER

Duchess, I’m afraid His Grace has order’d to leave the gentle madam be.

DUCHESS HERA

Fie! Leave her be? What is she, a saintess of my idolatry? Move, all of you! Clear the way for in this noontime shall my choler be released.

Exeunt

SCENE II. In your bedchambers.

Enter YOU and your servant, combing your hair in front of the mirror.

YOU

Thank you. Good mistress, how are you called?

SERVANT

The duchess does not address us by names, and neither must you. There is no need to get to know me better. We only serve His and Her Grace.

YOU

I understand. I ask only because I have had a good relationship with my maid back in Athain. Lady Cassia; her name, that is. She’s a reliable lady who stayed with me until the very end.

SERVANT

(indifferent) Then, call me Cora if that satisfies your preference.

YOU

Miss Cora. It fits well.

CORA

Wooing me with your artificial kindness is futile. My loyalty remains to the duchess.

YOU

Please do not misunderstand. It is not in my desire to earn favor from anyone in this household. The duke knows I would fain not be an unpleasant presence; rather, keep my silence in this chamber.

I assume you have heard stories of my exile? Lest it be those of misconceptions, I swear in my life that I am nothing more than a victim of the tyrant emperor and the crown prince’s cruelty.

CORA

(in silence, she places the comb atop the dresser) My lady, you come from a foreign land and remarried His Grace as soon as you were banished. Your sole aim is to reinstate your status at the expense of our duke whose decent reputation will be greatly dishonored. This marriage is too hasty, is it not, for two people to decide upon? All’s well in this manor ere your unforeseen arrival.

But shall I speak ill of him, that is my master? Or shall I speak well of you, that is a stranger?

YOU

I take your point. Never you mind, Miss Cora. All I guarantee is that I mean no harm.

A LADY

(from outside) Where is she? Where’s this girl?!

SERVANT

(from outside) Behind these doors stays the new lady, Your Grace.

Enter DUCHESS HERA and her maids, barging in your chambers and prompting you to give a courteous greeting. You immediately stand out of panic and meet the woman’s scrutinizing gaze. You recognize her as Hera, the first wife, after remembering Rintarou’s words in the carriage this morning describing the emeralds that were her eyes.

YOU

L-Lady Hera, hail and well met. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. How do you do?

DUCHESS HERA

What proper manners you lack! That is ‘duchess’ for you, a lowly woman of lesser fortune. You cunning wench. You abominable whore. Banished from your land and seduced my husband; how wretched!

You will not meander these halls at your freewill. You will not see the duke nor will you speak a word to him. It is the price you pay for staining his name with your ambitious desires. My husband is not a man that will give his heart to a woman like you.

YOU

(holding your breath) I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but I did not covet your husband. Our marriage was at the order of Her Imperial Majesty. See me as anything but a threat.

DUCHESS HERA

You humor me with your audacity. A threat? When you and I are far alike? I am the first and true wife, the duchess, the beloved daughter of a marquess. And you, what are you?

YOU

Someone that wishes to stay out of your way. I seek no quarrel, Duchess Hera.

DUCHESS HERA

Seek no quarrel, yet here you are staying at the chamber closest to my husband’s? You put in this façade of a virtuous woman when in truth, you are one to offer your body to a married man. Bring your promiscuity elsewhere!

YOU

But those are far from the truth—

DUCHESS HERA

Stay away from my husband and never shall you speak of his name. Or if you must, then prepare for the hell I will send your way.

Exeunt

SCENE III. Dining hall.

Enter DUKE RINTAROU, DUCHESS HERA, LADY CI’AN, and YOUNG DEMIE as they all dine together with some servants standing on the side.

DUKE RINTAROU

(places his fork down and turns to a servant) Maid, come hither. Why is my wife not coming down?

SERVANT

The good madam is unwell and wishes to dine in her room, Your Grace.

DUCHESS HERA

(to the duke) Do not look far ahead. Two wives are already with you at this table.

LADY CI’AN

Hera speaks right. It is insulting that you look for another.

DUKE RINTAROU

(scoffs) What new kinship is this? Weren’t you at each other’s throats a fortnight ago?

DUCHESS HERA

This kinship is proof that Ci’an and I can live in peaceful coexistence. There is no need for another woman claiming the honor of your name as hers. This marriage is crowded. I request you evict that other lady at once!

LADY CI’AN

Unless you carry true feelings for her; then, speak now. Will you produce a child with her and neglect the one that is mine?

DUKE RINTAROU

Demie is not my child.

DUCHESS HERA

(stern) How oddly do you reply! That is not the question at hand. Is it by your will to impregnate the new lady? She is not from Faren!

LADY CI’AN

He needs an heir after all. (turns to the duke) I can bear you a child, but you dare have that with a lowly woman, Rintarou?

DUCHESS HERA

That Vestalis lady is a fallen noble no better than a slave! How preposterous—

DUKE RINTAROU

Enough! Be quiet! I don’t want to hear any more of it!

Dispraise her more with that same tongue and you will see true wrath from mine. (slams the napkin on the table) You talk about my third wife being a disgrace this and that, but look in the mirror and there you two will see who truly disgraces my good name.

(stands from his chair) I’ve lost my appetite. None of you follow me.

Exeunt

SCENE IV. In your bedchambers at night.

Enter YOU lying in bed, and the duke walking inside the room in silent footsteps. He sits at the corner of your bed, brushing the hair out of your face so he could touch your forehead.

DUKE RINTAROU

Unwell, my lady? Yet no heat rests on this forehead and on these cheeks.

YOU

(sitting up, avoiding his touch) Your Grace, how now, why have you come? I beg you come away and leave me alone.

DUKE RINTAROU

Are you making an order to the duke of this house?

YOU

An order, not. But a request to my kind husband, yes. I do ask henceforth that you and I maintain these transparent walls. I wish to keep my word and spend the rest of my grateful days in this chamber like a ghost you could not see, nor hear, nor feel.

DUKE RINTAROU

(sighing, pulls you for an embrace) Then, I, too, will make a request for my wife to stop shunning me away. Do you not need a husband to comfort you in your grief?

YOU

I will not put Your Grace in that responsibility.

DUKE RINTAROU

Caring for a person is not a responsibility. Cease your worries and let me care for you.

Moreover, I’d like you to start calling me Rin when we are alone.

YOU

Duke, you are too good to be true.

DUKE RINTAROU

Then, my darling, would you deny what is good and refuse what is true?

YOU

(smiling) You have a way with words.

DUKE RINTAROU

I never knew ‘till now. Show me more of that smile.

YOU

The very smile you have caused. Howbeit, you may find it in yourself to loathe my presence one day. After all, I have become a thief who stole your third marriage from a person that you could have truly loved.

DUKE RINTAROU

I could go on another decade and still not meet that person. Thus, would I rather whine about a lover that does not exist or instead work on attaining that love from one who does exist? Here she is, in my arms.

YOU

(moving slightly away) B-But we can’t.

DUKE RINTAROU

Why not? Because I have two other wives?

YOU

It is not the number, but the neutrality to us all. I came here telling myself that I will not take your heart.

DUKE RINTAROU

Hera has been my wife for six years, Ci’an for four, and yet no part of me could love them so dearly. You can force a marriage, but never a soulmate.

(guides you to rest your head on his chest) Mother and father didn’t love each other at first. She was his second wife and I, their only child. But even without that love, they held a growing attachment to each other, and eventually became a real couple. He loved her more than anyone else in this world and swore to the holy gods that he would protect her, even to their deathbeds.

YOU

What sweet love I could only envy.

DUKE RINTAROU

So should that sweet love be ours as well?

YOU

What we have is a bond too early to call love, Rin.

DUKE RINTAROU

I know, but we could have it one day. I can feel that you are not a woman I’d grow to dislike.

YOU

I will not give you a reason to dislike me any further than you may. If you trust my word and if you see my intentions without prejudice, I will prove to you that I will be worthy of your name.

(yawning) But until then, sleep calls for me.

DUKE RINTAROU

(tucks you under the duvet and pulls a nearby chair) Close your eyes and keep yourself warm under these sheets.

YOU

Will you head back to your chambers?

DUKE RINTAROU

Not ‘til you fall deep into your slumber.

YOU

(staring with a faint smile lingering on your lips) Do you sleep alone?

DUKE RINTAROU

More often than not. I hardly find the need to go to Hera or Ci’an’s chambers.

YOU

Don’t they seek you?

DUKE RINTAROU

They do. For marital activities, at least.

YOU

(blushing) Oh, t-that’s…

DUKE RINTAROU

(chuckles softly) We are married adults. If you’re curious, I have only done it with Hera for the sake of an heir. But two years after our marriage, we have not produced a child, so I find it pointless to still engage in such activities with her.

YOU

How about Lady Ci’an?

DUKE RINTAROU

Not once. I still see her as my half-brother’s wife.

YOU

I see.

DUKE RINTAROU

And yourself?

YOU

I haven’t. I remain chaste.

DUKE RINTAROU

(playfully) Celibate people are more susceptible to the pleasures of the flesh.

YOU

It is not that I wish to be celibate. Ever so willingly shall I give all of myself to the person I love, given that he is not like Crown Prince Fionn who has not an ounce of respect for women.

DUKE RINTAROU

That night. That night at the banquet; tell me the story of how your misfortune began.

YOU

(staring at the ceiling) The prince woo’d me at the height of my inebriety, escorted me to his chambers, and began to undress me. I had denied him and said no. Again and again did I scream, but his sadistic hand met my cheek with a hard slap. He call’d me a whore, threaten’d to take out his sword, claim’d I was too brazen to deny a crown prince. I ran away from the palace, past the knights, past the nobles; I wept as he chased after me, and that was when he twisted the events and made up the story that most of you now believe.

Palpable silence fills the room as the duke stares at you, watching how the windows of your eyes are falling heavier each second.

YOU

Do you… Do you believe me, Rin?

DUKE RINTAROU

I believe you.

Exeunt

SCENE V. At the training grounds.

Enter DUKE RINTAROU and CROWN PRINCE OSAMU practicing another round of sword fighting. They eventually drop their weapons and sit on the ground, panting out of breath.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

(through heavy breaths) Son of a gun, what makes you so energetic today? I have not seen a good sword fight from you ‘till this morrow.

DUKE RINTAROU

(leaning back and looking towards the afternoon skies) I have to improve my swordsmanship skills in case I come face-to-face with the crown prince of Athain one day.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

What’s this? What’s this—will you go to war for your new wife?

DUKE RINTAROU

If only.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

You ran your mouth and spoke contemptuously of her before your marriage; saw what a fair lady she is, and now you act drunk in love? Lovestruck? Does love make you tender?

DUKE RINTAROU

Nay, that’s not so.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Does it make you bright?

DUKE RINTAROU

‘Love’—you know that theme is foreign.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Then, you lusty man, you love with your eyes and not with your heart.

DUKE RINTAROU

Lust? By no means. I cherish and respect her.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

But do you admit that she is the most pleasing to look at?

DUKE RINTAROU

That, I can’t say no.

Enter EMPEROR ATSUMU and his mother the empress dowager, who both stand from a reasonable distance from the duke and the prince.

EMPEROR ATSUMU

Huh? My brother, what is this shameful connivance to do sword fight without me?

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

You have better things to do.

EMPEROR ATSUMU

Excuses!

EMPRESS DOWAGER

(scolding Atsumu) Quit this puerile behavior. You are a man who runs an empire.

I see the duke has paid us a visit today. How are things?

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Enpierced by Cupid’s arrow. A smitten lover he identifies himself.

DUKE RINTAROU

(bowing, kicking Osamu’s foot next to him) Your Imperial Majesty.

EMPEROR ATSUMU

In love? Well, well.

DUKE RINTAROU

Not—

EMPEROR DOWAGER

O my, to hear great news on a great day! Is it true? Is it true?

DUKE RINTAROU

(hiding his embarrassment)

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Aimed so near, mother. Silence is an act of submission.

EMPEROR DOWAGER

Very well! Excellent! How does it fare with your gentle wife? Woo her and win her heart, Rin. I see a future of a loving household coming your way.

DUKE RINTAROU

A long way to go still, Your Majesty. She seeks nothing more from me.

EMPEROR DOWAGER

She is unlike Duchess Hera or Lady Ci’an who both craved for your love and affection long before you were bound by marriage. Lady Y/N is as fair and humble as she is; no part of her is selfish and ambitious. I pray you make her a happy wife.

DUKE RINTAROU

How are happy wives made?

EMPRESS DOWAGER

Be gentle with her, be affectionate to her. Give her gifts, give her kisses, and in no time shall this love bloom like a flower.

DUKE RINTAROU

If that is all that it takes.

EMPRESS DOWAGER

God spede you, my dear.

Exeunt

ACT IV

SCENE I. In your bedchambers. Morning.

Enter YOU sitting in your bed and CORA entering with your breakfast.

CORA

The duchess and the lady prefer if you eat by yourself again. Please do not seek His Grace for he will spend the rest of the day in his office. He tends to be on edge during work hours.

YOU

I understand.

CORA

(places the tray on your bed and backs away) Then, I shall take my leave.

YOU

Hang on. I do wish to ask if there is any more firewood? It is a bit cold at night and—

CORA

Faren’s climate is different from that of Athain’s. We experience shortage of firewood due to long periods of winter, so it would be best that you would not make such demands and learn to adapt on your own instead.

Before you can speak another word, the maid already steps out of the room and shuts the door, leaving you alone with not even a hearty meal for your sustenance. You soon lift the stainless cloche and instantly get a whiff of the putrid odor coming from the moldy bread and the spoiled vegetable soup, further noticing that even the drinking water served to you has dust collectively floating on it.

YOU

(sighing, you push the tray away) How much longer must I live like this? Is death not more merciful than banishment? Grateful am I to have found such a shelter that so readily welcomed me, but at what cost?

Clothing of my own, yet food I cannot consume? Bed for my comfort, yet no firewood to keep me warm? I better have accepted my fate as a slave than a wife of a duke.

Exit YOU, heading to take a bath. Enter DUKE RINTAROU, walking inside your chamber only to see an empty bed.

DUKE RINTAROU

Wife? Are you there?

(sees all the spoiled food on the tray and frowns) Maid! What is this?

SERVANT

Y-Your Grace, it is not I who serv’d the lady.

DUKE RINTAROU

Then, who’s the impertinent dunce that dares feed my wife with these? Summon her to me!

Re-enter CORA, panicking and looking at the floor.

CORA

Duke, I b-beg your forgiveness.

DUKE RINTAROU

So it’s you.

CORA

I cry your mercy. I was only following—

DUKE RINTAROU

Eat it.

CORA

P-Pardon me?

DUKE RINTAROU

Eat the damned food you served my wife! Or if not, I will dismiss you at once. I assume you are not dense enough to know the influence I have with the imperial family?

(turns to other servants, rigid) And the rest of you, do you all treat my wife this way?

Re-enter YOU, wrapped in a white robe after a quick bath.

YOU

Your Grace? What is going on?

DUKE RINTAROU

This insolent maid who’s been serving you under my command. How many instances has this happen’d?

YOU

(approaching the duke) I plead you let it be. I hold no grudge for this has only occurred once. Miss Cora is kind and treats me well.

DUKE RINTAROU

Don’t lie.

YOU

I swear by the moon.

DUKE RINTAROU

(stares at Cora with a stern gaze) You, get out of my sight. From hereafter, you will join the laundry maids and ne’er shall you go near my wife again.

CORA

Y-Yes, Your Grace. I am at your mercy.

(turns to you and offers an apologetic bow) My lady, please accept my sincerest apologies.

Exit CORA and other servants

YOU

Duke?

DUKE RINTAROU

(sighing) It’s Rin.

YOU

Rin, wherefore storm you so? I was told you had a busy day ahead.

DUKE RINTAROU

I’ve cleared my schedule. Tell me first, how do Hera and Ci’an treat you?

YOU

They treat me as I desire. Chastise them not for your wives have not done me wrong. Is this what you came here for?

DUKE RINTAROU

No, my purpose is to ask if it’s in your interest to travel around the capital city. Just you and I. Perchance by noontime?

YOU

A date?

DUKE RINTAROU

Exactly that. I will have a sumptuous breakfast served for you again, then have the maids dress and groom you. Our carriage leaves before noon. Today, at the hour of ten.

YOU

B-But, what is the occasion? How about Duchess Hera and Lady Ci’an?

DUKE RINTAROU

What about them? They have had plenty of my time long before you became my wife.

The duke pulls out a small rectangular box from the pocket of his coat, revealing a sparkling amethyst necklace that he soon enclosed around your neck. You then feel his warm lips pressing on your nape before you turn around to him with wide eyes.

YOU

Rin, this is…!

DUKE RINTAROU

My belated wedding gift.

YOU

(touching the gem) So sudden and unannounced. I fail to understand. I expect none of your kindness, yet you provide me with such husbandly devotion.

DUKE RINTAROU

Have we not agreed to work on attaining that real love between a husband and wife? (takes your hand and plants a kiss on it) Go and get ready.

Exeunt

SCENE II. At a famous restaurant for nobles.

Enter YOU, DUKE RINTAROU, some servants and some nobles in the background.

YOU

‘Nouvelle’? It looks extravagant, Your Grace. Even some nobles themselves are denied at the front door, but here you are renting the whole balcony with the best view.

DUKE RINTAROU

I did not pay a single faree to have this place for ourselves. (leans back comfortably and lights his cigar) Usually, it’d cost more or less ten thousand farees to reserve this balcony.

YOU

Then, how come? Is it your influence that earned our costless lunch in this high end highfalutin restaurant?

DUKE RINTAROU

I own every inch of this establishment. This among my other businesses.

YOU

I see now. I see why.

DUKE RINTAROU

See what, my lady?

YOU

See us; you, me. You are a noble from the upper echelon of high society. The fortune you enjoy is equal to the Grand Duke of Athain and the glances you receive alone makes it seem like you are a member of the imperial family.

DUKE RINTAROU

Fortunes don’t guarantee eternal happiness.

YOU

Better than none, Your Grace.

DUKE RINTAROU

My wealth and fortune are now yours as well. Even if it doesn’t grant you eternal happiness, then at the very least, you have a lifetime to experience luxury.

Enter two noble ladies, approaching the duke.

LADY DELIA

Your Grace, it is an honor to see you here today. I can barely recall the last time you brought Duchess Hera to Nouvelle.

LADY ISMENE

O! How we miss seeing you two together. Her Grace is the most beautiful woman in town and you stand quite a handsome man yourself. It would delight us all in high society to see you and Duchess Hera together, Duke.

(closing her handheld brise) Is this the new lady, perchance? The one from Athain?

YOU

(awkwardly introducing yourself) Happily met, I am Lady Y/N Vestalis—

DUKE RINTAROU

(to the two ladies) Next time you come and interrupt my wife and I, you will be bann’d from entering Nouvelle.

Lady Ismene, it doesn’t matter to me if your father, His Excellency, holds a good reputation. The empress is indebted to me and I can very well use my leverage against you.

YOU

Rin, it’s quite alright.

LADY DELIA

(embarrassed) Forgive our insolence, Your Grace. You never defend your first wife like this. We just hold Duchess Hera with such high regard and to see you next to someone like this lady who…

DUKE RINTAROU

I dare you finish that sentence. Your life depends on it.

YOU

Rin.

LADY ISMENE

I suppose the rumors are true that you have been bewitched by Lady Y/N. You bought all the in-season dresses from the most prominent tailor in town and left the rest of us with an outdated wardrobe. Please understand that it is insulting that she gets to wear all the high fashion pieces when she’s lower than us, Your Grace.

DUKE RINTAROU

So you both carried the confidence to speak to me like this because of a mere dress? Do you think I care so much for the nonsense that leaves your mouth?

LADY DELIA

We only care for your sake, Duke Rin. The rest of the noble ladies do not favor your third wife.

DUKE RINTAROU

Over three months ago, did you not beg on my knees for me to take you as my betrothed? Your ludicrous attempts make you as desperate as you look.

(calling for his knights) Drag these two ladies out.

YOU

(getting up) No, Duke, the onus is on me. They only speak the truth. Please do not seek me out for I can return to the manor on my own. You cannot be seen with me in the first place.

Exit YOU, heading out of the restaurant.

DUKE RINTAROU

What are you talking about—wife!

Exeunt

SCENE III. At the orchard. Eventide.

Enter YOU, overlooking the rose garden and enjoying the cold breeze in your deep thoughts. A golden bird with green eyes suddenly lands in front of you.

YOU

Good eve, little fellow! Do you accompany my nightly sorrow?

(sighing, mumbling to yourself) Gone were the seven days from when I ran away from the restaurant. So often did I hide in my chambers day and night, and pretend to be in my slumber when the duke visits. But I could not allow him to be insulted whenever he is seen with me. He comes and goes, then lets me alone at long last. I should be at ease that my eyes have not seen his princely face for three days.

(crouching down to look at the bird) What do you say? I pray, can you speak? You have become my only friend in this household. Therefore, be it as you are, shall I just run away and seek death somewhere else?

The bird chirps and flaps its wings as if to disagree.

A MAN

Argus tells you no, my lady.

YOU

Y-Your Highness?

Enter CROWN PRINCE OSAMU, whistling for ‘Argus’ the bird to fly and land on his shoulder.

YOU

(curtsying) What brings Your Imperial Highness hither or, rather, wherefore? Is it a word that you crave with my husband?

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

I’ve come to speak with Rin about my mother’s birthday feast on Friday next.

YOU

He is not present at this orchard, Your Highness.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Then, the butler speaks true.

YOU

What says he?

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

That Rin is out horse riding with Hera. They have spent all morning together.

YOU

…well, she is his first wife.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

(grinning) My lady, why do you speak of death with a bird? Could it be for that aforementioned reason?

YOU

Not at all, Your Highness.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

You say ‘not’ while biting your cheeks.

YOU

I say ‘not’ as it is.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

(chuckles, taking your hand and planting a kiss on it) Come to the banquet and honor me with a dance.

YOU

The honor would be mine, however, it would be more courteous for me not to come. The duke is better off without stringing his third wife along.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

If you worry about the guests, then leave it to me. Jealousy plagues the nobles of Faren, but never will they outwardly show it in front of a member of the imperial family.

YOU

You are as kind as your mother.

The bird whistles a musical note as you smile and caress its feathers. Soon enough, the clip clop sound from the horse becomes louder and louder, and you turn around to see your husband holding his first wife from behind.

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Here they are.

Enter DUKE RINTAROU and DUCHESS HERA, the former hoisting himself out of the horse and carrying the latter by her waist. You stand in silence and avoid his eyes.

DUKE RINTAROU

‘Samu. How now?

CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

Do you have time?

DUCHESS HERA

(clinging to the duke’s arm) Go on, my love. I’ll be alright.

DUKE RINTAROU

I’ll leave you, then. Keep yourself warm. (takes off his coat and drapes it around her shoulders)

DUCHESS HERA

No warmth is the same as my husband’s touch, but off you go.

The duke gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and heads to your way.

YOU

Your Grace, good—

DUKE RINTAROU

(walking past you) ‘Samu, let’s exchange words in my office and crush a cup of wine.

Exit DUKE RINTAROU and CROWN PRINCE OSAMU

DUCHESS HERA

My, my. Did you think my husband was going to greet you with a kiss?

YOU

I-I think none of that.

DUCHESS HERA

You pathetic, lowly wretch. He thinks of you no better than a slave he bought at an auction.

YOU

(walking away) I’ll take my leave.

DUCHESS HERA

Stop right there. Do they not teach you manners in Athain?

YOU

Your Grace, it seems that you did not learn it here in Faren, either.

DUCHESS HERA

(slaps you across the face) How dare you!

YOU

(tearful, touching your cheek) When will you accept that I never wanted to ruin your marriage with the duke?

DUCHESS HERA

You and your cunning ways! You bring an unsightly presence to this estate.

YOU

Then, ignore me. Leave me be. I hardly cross your path, even, so why do you—ah!

DUCHESS HERA

(snatches the necklace off your neck) What’s this?

YOU

Prithee, Your Grace, g-give it back.

DUCHESS HERA

Touch me not! This necklace, did you steal it?!

YOU

I would never! The duke gave it to me as a wedding gift.

DUCHESS HERA

Fie! This necklace is worth two hundred thousand farees. There is only one of these in the world and he offer’d it to you?

YOU

That is why I value it with all my life. I beg you to return it to me, Duchess.

DUCHESS HERA

No! (pushes you aside) Away, you saucy, mannerless whore! Now, you reveal your ill interests for jewels and such?

Exit DUCHESS HERA

YOU

Your Grace, please!

Exeunt

ACT IV. In your bedchambers.

Enter YOU, crying in bed. You hear the door opening and closing, but did not move an inch under the duvet.

DUKE RINTAROU

My lady?

YOU

(holding your breath as you feel him sitting in bed)

DUKE RINTAROU

My sweet wife?

YOU

This is not her; she’s some other where.

DUKE RINTAROU

Are you mad? I did not ignore you by my will.

YOU

Good night.

DUKE RINTAROU

Can’t you look into my eyes? (peels the blanket off your face) Can you not show your husband that bright smile?

YOU

What reason would I have to smile so bright?

DUKE RINTAROU

Are you crying? You feel hot. Are you sick?

YOU

(turns away) Sick in grief, mayhap.

DUKE RINTAROU

Is it jealousy?

YOU

By my troth, I do not bear those feelings. I speak my truest words; I am unlike Duke.

DUKE RINTAROU

(holding you close, then pressing his lips against your bare shoulder) I avoided you because you ask’d me to leave you alone, did you not? I spent my day with Ci’an yesterday and Hera today because it is an obligation—nothing more, nothing less. Now my genuine hours are your time, my love.

YOU

Your love?

DUKE RINTAROU

I speak my truest words, after all.

YOU

But Rin.

DUKE RINTAROU

And may I request that you stop running away while I am defending you? Lady Ismene and Lady Delia shall never speak ill of you again.

YOU

My husband, what have you done?

DUKE RINTAROU

What any husband would. (tucks the hair out of your face) And this morning with Hera, I treat her with kindness to appease her growing jealousy towards you. In exchange for my time, she promised to speak gently to you whenever I am not around.

YOU

(mumbling) She speaks false.

DUKE RINTAROU

Hmm?

YOU

Nothing. You should head back to your chambers.

DUKE RINTAROU

The night is young and I still wish to know what made your eyes damp.

YOU

I told you—grief.

DUKE RINTAROU

For your parents still? (touching your neck with his index finger, unaware about the abrasion on your skin when Hera pulled the necklace)

YOU

(wincing from the pain) C-Careful, please.

DUKE RINTAROU

Does it hurt? Why?

YOU

Just sore and stiff is all.

DUKE RINTAROU

I’d be good to help lessen that soreness. (kisses your neck slowly) Will you allow it?

YOU

Your lips feel warm.

DUKE RINTAROU

So melt into it. Turn around and face me, Y/N.

YOU

(doing as told, facing him with heated cheeks) Will you sleep here tonight?

DUKE RINTAROU

Is that an invitation?

YOU

(feeling his kisses on your bare shoulder, allowing him to move his lips to your chest) A genuine question.

DUKE RINTAROU

What do you think, my wife?

YOU

I see no wrong, but… your wives.

DUKE RINTAROU

(hushes you with an open-mouthed kiss while unbuttoning his tunic slowly and unlacing your nightgown) Are you scared? I’ll be gentle.

YOU

Not scared, but cautious.

DUKE RINTAROU

Your heart’s beating fast. (chuckles) It’s alright, let us not—

YOU

No, no. I… It’s about time we do. I have marital obligations with you.

DUKE RINTAROU

Don’t feel obligated.

YOU

I’m not. I just see it in those eyes that you want it.

DUKE RINTAROU

Want you? I do. So much it makes a man crazy.

YOU

(shyly kissing his lips) Rin.

DUKE RINTAROU

I’ll get drunk from those lips.

The duke pins you under him, feathering kisses on your neck and touching your thigh. He lowers himself and presses his crotch against yours—eyes half-lidded as he begins to undress.

DUKE RINTAROU

(kisses your nose, jaw, and breasts before attaching his lips back to yours) My beautiful wife.

YOU

(smiling) My godly husband.

DUKE RINTAROU

I am all yours tonight.

Exeunt

ACT V. Morning at the fountain near the garden.

Enter YOU, meandering through the garden and YOUNG DEMIE, balancing herself near the fountain.

YOU

(approaching) Young Miss, be careful or else you might fall.

DEMIE

(glaring) You bad lady! Mama said you stole my papa from us!

YOU

Demie, I am not stealing your dad—

DEMIE

Shut up! Shut up! You’re a witch!

YOU

Young lady, you should speak kindly to your elders. I understand that you are angry, but I come here in peace. Let me carry you out of there before you slip into the fountain, come.

DEMIE

No, stay away!

The young miss backs away in an attempt to avoid you; however, her foot slips on the edge of the platform and causes her to fall inside the water reservoir. Her screeching screams have you jolting in surprise, quickly reaching forward to help her out of the fountain. She refuses to touch your hand and calls for her nurse who is scurrying out of the manor with a towel. Her nanny scoops her up and wraps her with the thick cloth as she continues to cry.

NURSE

My lady! Young miss! O, dearest God. Are you alright?

Enter LADY CI’AN, storming angrily towards you

LADY CI’AN

What happen’d here?! What did you do to my child? Are you so righteous that you harm a child now that you have my husband sleeping in your room?!

YOU

I-I did nothing, Lady Ci’an. I swear on my life.

LADY CI’AN

(turning to Demie) Is that true?

DEMIE

(nervous) Yes, mama. I fell—

LADY CI’AN

Foolish answer! You did not fall, you were push’d!

YOU

But I didn’t. Do not twist her words and condition her mind with false accusations, Lady Ci'an.

Good nurse, you saw what happened, did you not?

NURSE

I saw it not, madam.

Enter DUKE RINTAROU

DUKE RINTAROU

So much noise for a silent forenoon. What’s all this?

LADY CI’AN

That lady that so boldly crawls in your bed. She cursed my harmless daughter and pushed her in that fountain! Demie; whose childish tongue did not mean to injure her pride, tried to beg her away, ‘away!’ she yells, and yet here, this vile woman swung her arms at her!

YOU

(shaking your head frantically) I would not! Duke, you know I could never do that to a child.

DUKE RINTAROU

Demie. What says you?

DEMIE

(sniffing and wiping her eyes) The lady, papa. She pushed me.

YOU

But—!

DUKE RINTAROU

And you, nurse?

NURSE

I go by the child’s word, Your Grace. Demie is a kind young lady who always means well.

YOU

I could never lie over something like this.

LADY CI’AN

Are you calling us liars? When there are three of us and one of you? Rintarou, tell me you would not believe this woman. We already warned you about her artifice.

DUKE RINTAROU

(exhaling in frustration) Leave.

LADY CI’AN, DEMIE, and the nurse all look at him blankly.

DUKE RINTAROU

I said leave, Y/N.

YOU

Rin…

DUKE RINTAROU

Go to your chambers. I have nothing else to say to you.

Exeunt

to be continued…

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Francis I ( More under the cut )

TAGGED BY: @theghostkid TAGGING: @occultichost @tea-and-hexes and whoever else!

Ghiris Janulis

Xoconiuh // Savannah

[anamelessfacelessnerd]

My last show of The Tempest was last night so here are the highlights of the past 7-ish weeks

Like half of the cast was sick by the last show (cause we had been spending 6+ hours a day together for a week and the germs just festered) and most of us either could not project as much as usual or were very hoarse

During our second show a Caliban dropped an entire Tropicana orange juice bottle full of water onto the stage and spilled it all.

Miranda and Ferdinand had to pretend the water wasn’t there and step over it because we couldn’t clean it up until intermission

I couldn’t find my shoes and the only spares the costumer had were both lefts. When we asked the rest of the cast if they’d seen them the other girl playing Prospero said “oh yeah my bad. I thought it was weird that my shoes had your name in them” 🙃

Our auditorium is fucked up and there’s no cross over from stage left to stage right. The only option is to go around the whole auditorium and through the cafeteria. We thought we would be able to cross over outside the building because there are outside doors in both halls, but those doors only have doorknobs on the inside and an alarm goes off if they’re propped open for too long.

Also the way the stage was designed no matter where you are in the wings a large portion of the audience will be able to see you. There’s no cover.

There’s a scene where Ferdinand yells “a thousand thousand” while running from stage left to stage right with two logs in his hands. As soon as he sets them down he has to run back and grab another log that’s just barely on stage right. I have the line after him but it always gets drowned out by laughter and I have to repeat it.

During bedimmed the noontide sun one of the other Prosperos tripped on her cloak and just kinda crouched there for a minute.

Stephano’s most iconic line is “butt man”

Ferdinand’s most iconic line is “log man”

At our school the girls and boys dressing rooms are in separate practice rooms in the band room and usually with the music playing and talking in the dressing room we can’t hear the boys. When we had our final show at a different theater there was only a curtain separating the dressing rooms, so we heard everything. We learned that night that it’s custom for the boys to chant “FUCKING FISH MAN” at full volume. I believe there’s more to the song but I don’t remember.

One middle schooler’s mom took 600+ photos of our show and posted them all on Facebook. Needless to say many memes came from it.

I did NOT get a nosebleed on stage this year like I did in the middle of Henry V last year.

There’s a part where Trinculo finds a blue, sequined gown, holds it up to his body and says in a sultry voice “oh king Stephano”

Stephano replies with “Trinculo, put off that gown. By this hand ... I’LL HAVE THAT GOWN!”

During the scene where the hounds chase the clowns and Caliban off the stage they were told not to stop running and screaming/barking until they made it out the hallway and into the cafeteria. They could be heard the entire way.

Every time the clowns were on stage they projected rainbow light onto the cyclorama

We have to do fight call before every show and while our fight call last year was like 20 minutes long this year it was a 20 second bit where Stephano grabs Trinculo’s nose, slaps him down, and kicks him to the ground.

We did have a song call before every show too and that took a while

The song Caliban sings when he swears himself Stephano’s subject was turned into a rap.

That’s all I can think of for now, I’ll post more later.

[vitavitale]

@visteairia​ ;

Caller identification would not have made his predicament any easier. He was still unknown to her, unknown to the majority of the world, and having absolutely no repute would have been the very thing to put his chances in jeopardy---but the woman on the receiving end of the call had been most understanding. Surprisingly so. He gave her only crumbs, delivered through a gravity palpable across phone lines and with such a cryptic urgency that it might have stilled the hearts of weaker creatures. But he did not exaggerate, he did not paint the bleakest picture: he kept his message concise and... convincing, hopefully.

Convincing enough to have secured a mind he believed he swayed. Days upon days had finally found him here, amid a wreckage, still growing, of a city besieged by the infernal interlopers from below. Noontide had provided the light of the sun, but hours would see the coming of night. Darkness. Out of touch, away from telephones, V could do little but hope that his contact would arrive to meet him before nightfall. Time of day did not influence the demons here, but the ease of traveling by daylight was a simple benefit to the warlock who’d spent his morning pulling up weeds of a blood-sucking nature.

...However, the desolation of the apparent world around him had prompted a touch of loneliness, a mite of boredom to go with it. This he was used to; yet nothing (very literally, for nothing had stirred in the area) quite stopped him from turning to his grimoire to spend a few brief moments in nonchalant study. An idle waste of time.

[violettesiren]

                      I

Swiftly walk o’er the western wave,

           Spirit of the Night!

Out of the misty eastern cave,

Where, all the long and lone daylight,

Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear,

Which make thee terrible and dear,—

           Swift be thy flight!

                      II

Wrap thy form in a mantle gray,

           Star-inwrought!

Blind with thine hair the eyes of Day;

Kiss her until she be wearied out,

Then wander o’er city, and sea, and land,

Touching all with thine opiate wand—

           Come, long-sought!

                      III

When I arose and saw the dawn,

           I sighed for thee;

When light rode high, and the dew was gone,

And noon lay heavy on flower and tree,

And the weary Day turned to his rest,

Lingering like an unloved guest,

           I sighed for thee.

                      IV

Thy brother Death came, and cried,

           Wouldst thou me?

Thy sweet child Sleep, the filmy-eyed,

Murmured like a noontide bee,

Shall I nestle near thy side?

Wouldst thou me?—And I replied,

           No, not thee!

                      V

Death will come when thou art dead,

           Soon, too soon—

Sleep will come when thou art fled;

Of neither would I ask the boon

I ask of thee, belovèd Night—

Swift be thine approaching flight,

           Come soon, soon!

To Night by Percy Bysshe Shelley

[xxstealthxx]

I L O V  E the one they did of my baby Noontide!! hhhh!!

Pspsps

[nobodyandheartless]

ELFIN SONG BY EDMUND CLARENCE STEDMAN

Book: Songs and Poems of Fairyland by Arthur Edward Waite

I.

Far in the western ocean's breast

The summer fairies have found a nest;

The heavens ever unclouded smile

Over the breadth of their beautiful isle;

Through it a hundred streamlets flow,

In spangled paths, to the sea below,

And woo the vales that beside them lie

With a low and tremulous minstrelsy.

The elfin brood have homes they love

In the earth below and skies above;

But the haunt which of all they love the best

Is the palm-crowned isle, in the ocean's

breast,

That mortals call Canary;

And many an Ariel, blithesome, airy,

And each laughing fay and lithesome fairy,

Know well the mystical way in the West

To the sweet isle of Canary.

II.

With an ever-sounding choral chant,

And a clear cerulean, wild desire

To clasp that fairy island nigher,

The sinuous waves of ocean pant;

For here all natural things are free

To mingle in passionate harmony.

The light from their mirror turns away

With a golden splendour, in the day,

But nightly when coronated Even

Marshals the shining queen of heaven,

There gleams a silvery scenery,

From the rim of the great prismatic sea

Around the isle of Canary,

To the central crags of Pisgatiri,

Where the crested eagle builds his eyry,

Scanning the shores of sweet Canary.

III.

Lustrously sailing here and there,

Afloat in the beautific air,

Birds, of purple and blue and gold,

Pour out their music manifold;

All day long in the leas they sing,

While the sun-kissed flowers are blossoming;

At eve, when the dew-drop feeds the rose,

And the fragrant water-lilies close,

The marvellous-throated nightingale

With a dying music floods each vale,

Till the seaward breezes, listening, stay

To catch the harmony of his lay

And cool the air of Canary;

And thus the melodies ever vary,

In the vales of the ocean aviary,

In the blissful valleys of sweet Canary.

IV.

The Elle-King's palace was builded there

By elves of water and earth and air;

Lovingly worked each loyal sprite,

And it grew to life in a summer night.

Over the sheen of its limpid moat,

Wafted along, in a magic boat,

By fairy wings that fan the sails,

And eddying through enchanted vales,

Through walls of amber and crystal gates,

We come where a fairy warder waits;

And so, by many a winding way

Where sweet bells jingle and fountains play,

To the inmost, royalest room of all, --

The elfin monarch's reception-hall,

The pearl and pride of Canary!

To guard its fastness the elves are wary,

And no weird thing, of pleasure chary,

Can enter with evil in sweet Canary!

V.

All that saddens, and care and pain,

Are banished far from that fair domain;

There forever, by day and night,

Is naught but pleasance and love's delight;

Daily, the Genii of the flowers

Shade with beauty a hundred bowers;

Nightly, the Gnomes of precious stones

Emblazon and light a hundred thrones;

And the Elves of the field, so swift and mute,

Bring wine and honey and lucious fruit;

And the Sylphs of the air, at noontide, cool

The depths of each bower and vestibule;

And all are gay, -- from the tricksome Fay

Who flutters in woodlands far away,

To the best-beloved attendant Elf,

And the royal heart of the king himself,

Who rules in bright Canary;

And the labouring Fairies are blithe and

merry,

Who press the juice from the swollen berry

That reddens the vines of sweet Canary.

VI.

What if there be a fated day

When the Faëry Isle shall pass away,

And its beautiful groves and fountains seem

The myths of a long, delicious dream!

A century's joys shall first repay

Our hearts, for the evil of that day;

And the Elfin-King has sworn to wed

A daughter of Earth, whose child shall be,

By cross and water hallowéd,

From the fairies' doom forever free.

What if there be a fated day!

It is far away! it is far away!

Maiden, fair Maiden, I, who sing

Of this summer isle am the island king.

I come from its joys to make thee mine:

Half of my kingdom shall be thine;

Our horses of air and ocean wait--

Then hasten, and share the Elle-King's state

In the sweet isle of Canary;

And many an Ariel, blithesome, airy,

And each laughing fay and lithesome fairy,

Shall rovingly hover around and over thee,

And the love of a king shall evermore cover

thee,

Nightly, and daily in sweet Canary.

[riafya]

[Are you still alive? Or do I already exist without you?] . Autumn came with falling leaves Floating softly through the sky At night they’re dancing with the stars And I can barley keep from crying . Your name became a prayer in my mind That I repeat every night before I go to sleep Do you remember how I used to call you When I was a child? [Wait, wait, not so fast! Help me to keep up with you.] Back then we had all the time Now forever has been broken . Our new home is a small town by the sea The houses are colourful The people are wary of strangers But we’re far from war And the children could really have a future here I still read them stories of the heroes you used to cherish Fearless warriors on a quest to glory Do you still remember them? [Do you remember me?] There’s no place for heroes in this world . The monster has already made a name for himself He’s terrorizing everyone who cares to listen With speeches and complaints and some crazy talk of revolution The same old songs again But he always has a smile for me and the little ones When he returns home in the evening The terror made him softer Endurance made him kinder Who would have thought he had a heart? . I wish I could show you everything We would walk these streets hand in hand With your umbrella and thousand little stories Maybe I will see you when it snows

Tell me one last lie. Tell me you’ll be there.

Letters To A Soldier V (New Home By The Sea) (G.J.N.)

This is, as always, dedicated to @noontide-apparition.

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

[va-fail]

ABCs about me

Tagged by @ferelden-doglord​ and @temerias-last-hope​ - thank you very much ♥

rules: copy/paste, replace answers and tag people

a - age: 25

b - biggest fear: being alone and people in general

c - current time: 7:36

d - drink you last had: banana juice

e - every day starts with: searching for socks

f - favorite song: depends on my mood but currently it’s this

g - ghosts, are they real: don’t think so

h - hometown: a small village somewhere in South Germany

i - in love with: Iorweth

j - jealous of: um let’s just say I get jealous pretty easily

k - killed someone: still on my to do list :P

l - last time you cried: not too long ago

n - number of siblings: 1 (a big sister)

o - one wish: to have a cat again

p - person you last called/texted: my sister

q - questions you’re always asked: I have no idea

r - reasons to smile: my OTPs, music and cute messages on tumblr

s - song last sang: bohemian rhapsody (I love to drive and listen to queen :P)

t - time you woke up: 7:30 am

u - underwear color: green

v - vacation destination: none planned atm but I hope this will change

w - worst habit: being an awkward grumpy idiot who wants too much

x - x-rays you’ve had: only for my teeth

y - your favorite food: ... I can’t decide? but I think as long as it has chocolate in it I love it

z - zodiac sign: Aquarius

I’m tagging (but do it only if you really want): @msavelen @noontide-apparition @judgementovernoahs @daovihi @the-sweet-fox @alifelongpassed @whispering-willows-lair and whoever wants to do it! 

[aberratixns-blog]

Shell-Shocked

Summary: A GIW agent by the name of Tracy finds her way into Paradise’s Quarantine Division by way of abandoned port, where she meets Orianna, a resident who takes her further into the underground district, all while Francis V messes with Tracy’s car.

Triggers: Implied abuse- namely starvation and body issues; Repetition.

What an unlucky day to be one of the GIW agents assigned to look for traces of “Phantom”. He had escaped before, and finally they had found a way into the remote dimension that he fled to. He thought he was safe, but they would have him soon, they thought. 

One particular agent, a slender woman by the name of Tracy, was in charge of investigating Paradise, quickly jetting around the outer walls of their hub city, 12th Landing. She had always wondered just why it was called “12th”. Were there 11 others that failed? ... An unguarded port, she could see why other Landings failed, if they were as high-security as this. Driving her van into the port, she’s met by a concrete wall, with graffiti painted over the surface. 

She looks them over, most of them were sentences in the same neat, nearly robotic font. None of them made her particularly uneasy, but instead made her raise her guard. Whatever Paradise threw at her, she felt as though she could handle it. Any attempt by the GIW to find even a trace of Paradise had ended in failure before, so she had no idea what lurked in that hub. 

“Get out.”

“They lurk here.”

“Jester, Hacker, Cheerleader, Beast!”

“You’re alive!”

These along with other similar scrawlings were each overlaying one image behind it, large enough to take over the wall. Stepping back, she takes in the painting of a top-view of a turtle shell, with a lightning symbol going through it. Weird.

As Tracy turns, she’s greeted by who she could only assume to be the ‘cheerleader’. She was a younger girl, only 16 by the looks of it, with shorts and a sports bra. Around her wrists, she had pom-pom’s made of feathers. They were tied with a rubber band, and she was moving at all times, in a routine that was both hypnotising but unsettling in just how perfect each step was. As the cheerleader does a spin, Tracy was able to make out the writing on the back of the girl’s outfit: “9172 Noontide”, with the name in smaller letters under the code. “Orianna”.

Orianna sounded cheerful as she spoke, her tone betraying the dim lighting and poor appearance she held. Her clothes were tattered and her skin was covered in gauze and bandages. In particular, one of her legs was missing, below the knee with a simple attachment to help her stand. On the foot pad, there was the same shell symbol, but such a small detail slipped her notice.

“Hello, hello! Why are you in here?” Orianna’s voice echoed through the room, cutting off Tracy’s words as she steps forward, interrupting her routine. “Muhuhuu.. Are you trying to sneak in? Here! Ori-Ori can call for help for you!” 

“No. I don’t need you to call for help.” Tracy spoke calm as she put a hand on Orianna’s shoulder, getting her to still for just a moment before she began to bounce on her heels. She digs a picture of her target from her pocket, showing it to the cheerleader. “I’m looking for this person, Orianna, have you seen him?”

Taking the picture, Orianna holds it between her fingers. She didn’t hold it normally, but had her fingertips curled to her palm, the paper clamped between her joints. “Hmhmhm... Yeah! Ori-Ori knows who this is! But it can’t tell you, nope... This is Ori-Ori’s friend!” While that wasn’t true, Orianna did know who Danny was. She knew him through a friend... or rather, knew OF him.

Tracy frowns, gripping Orianna’s shoulder with force as she pulls her forward. “Listen, he’s dangerous, and he would hurt you and everyone here, okay? I need you to tell me where he is.” 

Thinking about this for a moment, thousands of thoughts haphazardly buzz through her head. The cheerleader nods a little as she steps back. “Yea, yeah.. Follow Ori-Ori, please. It’ll take you to him!”

With that, Orianna skips forward, disappearing behind the wall to open a sliding gate, with Tracy following after her. The GIW employee couldn’t help but be confused with the youth’s appearance and behaviour. She called herself “it”, her eyes, while vibrant, were sunken in with bags under her eyes, and it would be an understatement to call her skinny. As the two walk, Orianna was making noise, whistling, humming, and singing as she hopped forward with the same routine, leading Tracy deeper into the underground zone: The Quarantine.

Back at the GIW van, a figure slinks down from the ceiling, his body caught in the wires that draped through the panel cracks. He was a tan boy, about 17, with long brown hair that was greying. It looked as if he had tried to cut it on his own, and then eventually put it in an off-centre bun that was too far to the left. He wore a standard training shirt, though it was torn and tattered, and definitely too loose on his body. The only thing saving his shorts from the same fate of basically falling off of him was a belt... or rather just some cables tied in a knot. On his shirt read, in the same font as Orianna’s: “009Noontide” and “Francis Wheeler (Variant 5)”. 

Crawling from the tendrils, he sits on top of the car, cross-legged as he takes out a small laptop, no bigger than a small book. “So what kind of car does Orianna’s guest have...” He stands up to look it over. The sight of wheels didn’t help his opinion on it at all. Groaning, he flops, sending himself onto the ground with an unceremonious thud. He quickly hops to his hands and feet, quad-walking his way around the car to inspect it. To others, this would look odd, strange, but to him and others who lived in the Quarantine, it was normal. The disease made them do strange things, but they came out of it as strong as a god assuming they survived.

Finally circling to the hood of the car, he pops it open, hurling himself over to look deeper at the engine. With a loud sigh, he gets out, closing the hood and climbing back to the top of the car.

“It’s a dinosaur...” His voice echos with a groan as he slumps, his back arched with each ridge from his spine showing through the shirt. Who knew how much he ate, or if he even did. “Can’t do anything cool with this...” He opens the laptop, clicking a few keys and tilting the screen back. It projected an image of several items: A radio, a funnel, a siphon, a spray bottle, miscellaneous snack wrappers. He plucks the bottle, siphon, and funnel from the projection, both item’s materialising in his hands. “What to do, what to do....” 

Slinking off the top of the car again, he lands in a pile near the gas tank, standing up to his feet and slowly using the siphon to suck the gas from inside. He couldn’t do anything too neat with the van without blowing it up or setting himself on fire, which definitely wasn’t on his agenda. Dripping it into the spraybottle, he screws the top back on, putting it on the top of the van as he lies in wait for Orianna to bring Tracy back. “Ori-Ori-Orianna... Bring ‘em back tooooooo the van, Ori-Ori...” He leans back, arching over the windshield to peek into the car itself. “Ancient, cold van of old... Whatcha hiding in there?” 

His voice held a small giggle, though his speech was nothing unusual. Those infected always had some unusual expressive habit, and Francis and Orianna both were no exception. Rhyming, repetition, and their cheerful tones were contrast to whatever they were saying. Theirs was a common linguistics issue, that. 

His eyes widen as he sees what’s inside; Several cutting-edge anti-ghost weaponry and containment devices. Francis couldn’t help a frown, exaggerating a huff as he turns his head, tapping the cup of his headset on the glass. The headset had the same shell symbol on it. “Wow, so you finally got back, back, back again.. Hm.. Don’t like what you’re hiding, van. Uno-Uno wouldn’t want those here, nope.” He lifts his head, before slamming the cup into the windshield, shattering it with ease. He crawls onto the hood, before sliding into the car, spraybottle of gas and all.

[shirewalker]

for the blogrates: 💞 magic dusk hobbit (lol) Happy V-Day and congrats on the followers!!

thank youuu and happy vday to you too honey!!

time: dawn / dusk / noontide / twilight / midnight / to shinebook: magical standalone / duology of feels / the perfect trilogy / neverending series yes 💞 / short and sweet novella location: coffee shop / forest / park / cathedral / museum / meadow / rooftop / library / theatre / old cinema / vintage train stationelement: air / energy / water / fire / earth scent: petrichor / wild flowers / cinnamon / sea mist / freshly brewed coffee / lavender / vanilla / woodseason: spring / summer / fall / winter / all of the seasonsfabric: silk / cashmere / velvet / satin / egyptian cottoncheesy valentine message: you’re my otter half, I think we should hang out and build a slide!

💕 want one?? 💕

[vitavitale]

@fearsworn ;

Anyone like V would have sensed it the moment they’d come across her. It was not something he knew, he simply couldn’t place it, but he’d felt it all the same; the demon in his blood resonated with whatever it was that touched it, in turn touching him from deep within in so foreign, so novel a manner. Not something bad, but could it have been any good? Regardless of any misgivings he might have harbored, V addressed her as he would anyone else. The noontide was bright and generally tranquil, affording him the opportunity to indulge in a spot of leisure. Coolly had he stepped forward, cane in hand by the stem, leaving his gaze upon the stranger as he walked through debris. Not a frown but an expression of distant greeting he wore, acknowledging her existence by merely having made eye contact. “Stayed behind?” he wondered genuinely, believing her to be among the few to have still survived the invasion---or the only one for that matter. He’d do well to urge her against becoming Qliphoth feed. “Or have you... come? I wouldn’t recommend it,” and he motioned subtly at his surroundings, making it clear that the city was no vacation spot just yet.