#I LOVE YOUR AU SO MUCHH

[pippasop]

This is why I told you to check my request buddy!!! 👿👿

OMGOGMGOGMGOGMGOM WIAT HWTA GHE FUCK THIS IS SO FUCKING CUTE HOLY SHIT WAIT WHAT THE HELL OH MY GODDDODDOODDDOODODODDODODODODOD I LOVE THIS I LOVE YOU FLAN/p PHILLIP AND LIZAAAAAAAAAA IM CRYING SO HARD 😭😭😭😭🩷🩷🩷🩷

[miyamoratsumuu]

fluffy tenya iida headcanons mmmaybe? kind of like the moodboards you made (those were SO GOOD)

dating the mha boys, with moodboards, pt. 2!!

pt. 1

characters: h. shinsou, t. iida, s. todoroki a/n: u ask and I deliver, anon! I apologize that this took so long as well. and thanku so so muchh!! I hope you enjoyed the other moodboards as well as this one<3 note: quirkless au (?)/no quirks are mentioned, implied fem partner for all of them, lowercase intended. pictures used are not mine, all of them are found on pinterest!!:) not proofread yet 🙇🏼‍♀️

please see the guidelines for requesting if you'd like to request as well!! navigation . . . mha masterlist

SHINSOU HITOSHI "doll, you know I hold you closest to my heart. always."

before you guys started dating you had no idea hitoshi had any feelings for you, let alone romantic feelings. you guys weren't the closest of friends, though you tended to be in each other's company from time to time. mostly when your other friends are around, but there are rare occasions where it was just the two of you.

he's liked you for a while, though like I said, you had no idea because he didn't show any sign of it at all. he treated you like he did with any of his other female friends/classmates. he consistently spoke to you with that monotone voice of his, keeping his personal space to himself when with you, and only messaged you when it was necessary.

don't be fooled, though. while he was confessing to you, he was a blushing, flustered, stuttering mess. after class, he had pulled you aside and asked you to take a walk with him around campus. when you reached the small garden behind the main building, he gently grabbed your arm and pulled you to face him. right when you turned to look at him, the tips of his ears were already red. the moment he started to speak, his words weren't coming out as he wanted to, his palms were sweaty, and his cheeks got redder and redder by the second. and the rest was history.

hitoshi isn't really the shy type, but he isn't as outgoing as eijiro or denki either. he wasn't totally against pda, but he wasn't big about it too. when the two of you are in public, the most pda you could get out of him was hand holding, touches on the waist or arm, and quick kisses. most of the time, while walking in public, your hands would be intertwined while you walked right beside each other.

when it's crowded up to the point you can't really walk directly side by side anymore, he would still be holding one or both of your hands with both of his, behind his back, while you walked and followed right behind him, letting him guide the both of you toward where you were going.

his amount and limit of physical touch does a 180 when the two of you are hidden from the public eye though. when it's completely just the two of you, hitoshi loves having you around his arms, his face buried in your hair, and your arms wrapped around him as well. on the days he wants to be the one that's held specifically, your hand would be in his hair, the other cradling his head, while his own hands are on your waist.

most days, you'd find hitoshi woken up early (or he decided to get up early since he couldn't get any sleep at all), in the kitchen, and making the both of you coffee. or if you didn't drink coffee, he'd be making your preferred drink. although on the days that both of you had woken up later during the morning and running late to wherever you had to be that day, you two would pick up your drinks from the cafe nearby or on the way to where you needed to be.

since hitoshi isn't big on pda, he had other ways to subtly show others that you're his, and he's yours. your phones would have a matching sticker, you'd have matching rings that you wear on your finger, while hitoshi has his on a chain that he wears as a necklace. you teased him with a smirk, saying "it's because it'd be closer to your heart, isn't it?" he never really thought of it that way, if he was being honest with you. but ever since you said that, that's how he looked at it ever since.

you often sent hitoshi pictures as 'updates' of how your day was going. sometimes sending him a picture of the beautiful garden you were in, the cute cat that was beside the door of the cafe you entered, or the breathtaking sunset at the beach you happened to pass by. though every single time, he managed to find a way to turn the situation around, and compliment you instead of the what ever you just sent. it never fails to paint a smile on your face every time, though.

despite his unruly hair, I have a pretty strong belief that hitoshi knows how to style hair. or at the very least knows how to properly use a straightener, curler, and a brush/comb, of course. especially after spending so much time with eri. so in the mornings when you could take your sweet time getting ready for the day ahead of you, hitoshi would be assisting you with fixing up your hair. while you were doing your make up/skin care routine in front of the mirror, he would be behind you with either a curler or straightener, depending on which you wanted to use for that day, and a comb right beide the sink.

on the nights the two of you were apart, you would facetime each other until one or both of you fell asleep. most of the time though, when one of you ended up falling asleep, the other would still stay in the call, the fact that one was asleep giving the feel that the two of you were in the same room together. the both of you ending up falling asleep on call together.

IIDA TENYA "I'd do anything and everything for you, my dear."

you had an inkling that tenya had the slightest of romantic feelings for you before he himself even knew. I won't sugarcoat it, the guy was clueless about his own feelings at first. no one else other than ochako and izuku knew either, though. everyone else in the class thought tenya was just being his responsible self as a class president when he always offered to help you with after class assignments, constantly checked up on you first after a mission, and was always the first to commend you after a successful training/sparring session. he always made sure to ask the others as well after you, though, so they didn't think much of it. for a while, at least.

but ochako and izuku were the complete opposite. as they watched one of their closest friends give you all this special treatment but still doesn't come to the conclusion that he looks at you in a more than platonic way at this point. it was painful for them, and they knew they had to do something. well, at least ochako did. izuku hesitated at first, not wanting to make his friend uncomfortable, but ochako talked him into it anyway.

a few days later, they had a long talk with tenya. and i mean a long talk. they made sure there were no after school training or homework given the day they went to talk to him so that they had all the time in the world to help him set his feelings straight.

after that day, tenya felt like someone took his used, blurry glasses from him, replaced the lenses with new, clean ones, and gave it back to him. he quite literally woke up with a fresh perspective. he... liked you? like that? he felt lost in a way. yeah, he knew what a crush was, he wasn't that unknowledgeable. but he didn't really know where to go from there. though after a few more talks with ochako and izuku, he knew how to make his move. the only problem left was how to execute it.

one day after class, he waited for all of his classmates to leave the classroom. except you, of course. you were one of the last to leave, staying behind to properly pack your books that izuku borrowed and conveniently returned right after your teacher dismissed you. plus the fact that when everyone else was starting to leave the classroom, ochako immediately went to you, asking questions about your most previous lessons, making you not able to quickly pack up your things inside your bag.

when the two of you were the only ones left in the classroom, he stood up from his seat, walking towards you at the other side of the room, still properly placing your books inside your bag. there, tenya formally confessed his feelings for you, even though he himself just 'found out' about it. he made sure you were comfortable enough for him to keep going, so he did. he asked you out on a date, specifically at friday night that week, and asked you to not worry about the details like transportation, price of the location, etc. everything else he told you was about the dress code of the location, and what you could expect from the date itself.

he got so caught up in explaining the details to you that he never even got to hear your answer of whether you would go out with him or not. he didn't have to worry though, of course you said yes after he was done talking.

your guys' first date wasn't the only fancy date you ever had. further into the relationship, tenya almost spoiled you with the amount of formal dates he took you on. he was always the one to pay too, ofc course. there were occasions though that you weren't in the mood to spend your time with him at a fancy restaurant, so the both of you opted to either stay at home and watch whatever's on tv, or go on a more casual date to the mall, or a park.

tenya's a gentleman at heart, with the help of his older brother. every date you guys go on, whether it be formal or casual, he always had a bouquet of flowers in hand when he picked you up. he always makes sure to get your favourite flowers, most of the time in your favourite color as well. but from time to time, he likes to switch it up so your full bouquet wasn't so monochromatic.

like I said, before the two of you started dating, tenya constantly offered to help you with homework, or at least to study for an upcoming test. that didn't change even after you guys became official. the two of you spent nights together, both of your eyes fixated on the words your textbooks had to offer. if there was a topic you didn't quite understand, tenya was right beside you to help you with that. if he wasn't too familiar with the topic as well, don't worry. you'll study the topic together, helping each other by pinpointing information the other has missed.

despite mostly going to formal restaurants on your dates, tenya likes 'walking' dates as well. like a walk in the park, going to an amusement park, an aquarium, etc. and during the days that you quickly got tired while walking, or so your feet did, tenya is quick to pick you up and carry you. with your consent, of course. your bag would be on his left shoulder, and if you wanted to take off your shoes, they'd be hald by the fingers of his right hand.

tenya does the MOST when it comes to showing and proving to you that he could treat you right. after hero missions where the teo of you are assigned to that mission together specifically, he lets you rest your head on his shoulder despite not being too fond of pda. he's even willing to slouch slightly for you if you don't reach his shoulder with his usual posture. when he picks you up for your dates, he hands you your bouquet of flowers as usual but never forgets to gently take hold of your hand and place a kiss on your knuckles.

there are times when he's a tiny bit too strict on you when it comes to sleep schedules, and eating your meals on time, even though you try to convince him that you could handle sleeping a little later than usual, and that you just had something important to finish, that's why you weren't able to eat dinner last night. he does it out of love, though, so you don't mind.

TODOROKI SHOTO "my love, you mean more to me than any amount of money could."

unlike tenya, shoto knew he started to develop more than platonic feelings for you after months of the two of you spending time together with your other friends. sometimes, it was just the two of you. he wasn't as obvious with his feelings as tenya, though, because he really didn't know what to do about them. yeah, fuyumi told him about how the whole having a crush on someone thing works, but he never was really informed on what to do when he did have some sort of puppy crush on someone. let alone someone that he knew meant a lot to him.

his older sister's the first person he'd think of to come to to ask about something like this, but he knew she was busy with work this time of year. so his second option was between izuku or momo. izuku was busy with whatever all might put him up to, so he opted to reach out to momo.

shoto was mostly straightforward with telling momo about his situation. she was shocked at first, not expecting one if not the most aloof classmate of hers would be coming to her for advice about their love life. she hadn't expected shoto of all people to develop a crush at all!

nonetheless, she helped shoto with his predicament, answering his questions he seemed to be intent on getting answers to, and helped him come up with some sort of plan to let you know about his feelings, and eventually formally ask you out.

when the day came of him confessing to you and asking you to go on a date with him the weekend that week, the whole thing threw you off. first off, THE shoto todoroki liked you? as more than just a friend? and second, he was calm and unbothered the whole time. yeah, you knew how shoto was in general, his cool demeanour being a staple part of him. but you never thought someone could be so nonchalant while confessing to the person they had romantic feelings for. nevertheless, though, you agreed. having reciprocated his feelings, of course.

shoto opted to take you on dates that required him to spend money. endeavour provided shoto a card that's connected to his bank account, clearly warning that it was only for emergencies, since shoto was already given his own allowance from time to time. (we all know shoto disregarded that warning, though), and so he loved to spoil you with that card! whether it be on restaurant dates or mall dates where you insisted on only window shopping but shoto says otherwise. it doesn't matter if you looked at the silliest things for more than a split second, shoto already has his wallet or the card out to buy it for you. hence, you returning home with a balloon almost half your size one night when you were out with shoto the whole day.

he loves to gift you the best of the best clothes, jewellery, bags, and a lot more too. after some time, you started to feel guilty about the amount of money he spent for you. he always reassured you that it's what he wants to do, wanting to give you only the best of the best, always.

despite the fancy gifts and formal dinner dates, shoto never fails to give you all the time he has in the world. (at least when he's not too busy, of course) he would offer to give you his assistance on the smallest of things. if there was a spider on the side of the toilet in the bathroom, he'll already be there swatting it away. there are times that you forget where you set down some of your things, like your laptop charger, your house keys, or the earrings you wore to an event the other way. but don't fret, shoto (somehow) always knows where you put them down, and he's already handing them to you. he loves to help you study for a test or just helping you with tasks. as well. it makes him feel like you know you could rely on him even with these kinds of situations.

like tenya, shoto always has a bouquet of your favorite flowers in hand when he picks you up on dates. only on formal dates, though, he opted to give you different small things on your more casual dates. considering the number of restaurant dates you went on, you'd think you'd be used to wearing high heels for more than a few hours already. but boy, that wasn't the case. they still killed your feet after at least an hour and a half of wearing them. you always ended up taking them off once you got out of the doors of the restaurant you were in.

the first time you did this, shoto was puzzled. he knew high heels weren't the most comfortable pair of shoes to wear, but he never expected you to just take them off out on the street and insist on wearing barefoot. he had offered you his shoes, but you said you didn't want him wearing barefoot, but he insisted on you taking them. he had socks on, anyway. he made a mental note about that after that day.

the next restaurant dates you two went on, shoto made sure to bring a pair of slippers with him when he picked you up. you didn't know where he put them either. he wasn't the type to bring bags wherever he went. but he did anyway, and every time you two stepped out of the restaurant, he handed them to you and got down on one knee to begin taking your heels off. while waiting for your ride home, your hands were intertwined, his free one holding your heels while you wore the slippers he conveniently always brings.

after either of you had a long day, you'd always end up in each other's arms that night. when you seeked for his company, shoto's ready to welcome you into his arms, placing a gentle kiss on your forehead, and wrapping his arms around you, like he was shielding you from the rest of the world. when shoto was tired, he loved to have his head on either your chest or your lap, while your hands gently played with his hair. he hummed at your touch, feeling safer than ever when he's with you. and you felt the same.

shoto had trouble understanding and following social cues, but he's always and forever more than willing to try, for you. you helped him out every step of the way, too, of course. and he wasn't the best at showing it, but he loved you. like a whole lot. and he'd never let you think otherwise.

[bluelockmaniac]

👑 .𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍

ft. crown prince!itoshi sae x commoner!femreader x second prince!itoshi rin (only bc you are rin's fiancée)

🗡 synopsis. you were chosen to be the second prince’s fiancée for rin’s convenience, but fate had different plans when you fell for his older brother, the crown prince, instead. as you start hearing strange voices during your engagement ball, sae falls victim to alexis’ curse, which only your love can break. what happens when news spread of the crown prince's revival and rin finds out?

⛓ content warning. 13.3k (yikes)ノ royal au ノ classism ノ cheating themes & pdaノ⚠ rin is rude, offensive, & insulting ノ your parents & sis for plot are assholes ノ semi-arranged marriage (?) ノ reader is illiterate ノ narration heavy ノ reader gets called whore once ノ implied death & gorish description ノ implied stranglingノ animal murder ノ minimal implication of shorter readerノthe relationship with sae is highkey rushed now that i reread it.

notes. this took me two weeks+ to finish ahhh. i thank my past self for being obsessed with manhwas so muchh, and ty to rhymezone for saving my ass w/ the ancient poem. first time using capital letters when writing fanfics, only bc it's really long though, eeee.

In the Twilight of the Eclipsing Red Moon,

When Stars Align and Shadows Loom,

The Great’s Fate is Sealed in the Veil of Night,

By the Hand of One from Mystic Light.

But From the Dust of Forgotten Lands,

Shall Rise a Heart with Common Hands,

With Lips of Rose and Spirit Warm,

To Bring the Order, End the Storm.

A Crown of Old Shall Find its Grace,

In the Embrace of a Simple Face.

But Do not be Fooled, One Shall Not Bloom,

For This, Will Lead to One’s Gentle Doom.

“I beg your pardon, Your Majesty,” your father stammered, “M-My eldest daughter has fallen gravely ill, and I fear she physically cannot journey to the Grand Empire of Aquaria tomorrow!”

The king’s eyes flared open in shock as the words reached his ears. His grip on the plush armrest of his throne tightened, the baroque carvings digging into his palm.

“What?!” He yelled, dismissing the fan bearer with a sharp glare before rising from his throne and taking two steps forward. His shadow covered large over your father’s trembling figure. 

“She chooses now, of all times, to be stricken with sickness? At a crucial time for our kingdom? Such insolence!” He descended three more steps and glared down at him. “Did you forget that His Imperial Highness has specifically requested a lady from your clan?”

“I—”

The king struck his scepter harshly against the floor, silencing the man. “All the other houses of your garbage clan bore only sons,” he spat, “She will go, and that is final!”

“Actually…” the commoner’s lips pointed upwards in a well-rehearsed smile as he placed a hand over his heart in false politeness. “I have another daughter. She’s eager— eager to fulfill her duty. She is twenty, two years younger than the prince, but still of age.”

King Orion arched an eyebrow and his mouth twisted into a sneer. “Very well,” he replied, waving his hand in disinterest as he returned to his throne. “Summon her.”

In truth, the king’s concern wasn’t with Aria, your older sister. He cared little for which daughter was offered up to Aquaria’s second prince. It was a political necessity, nothing more— a favour to His Imperial Highness, Prince Rin. Or more like a fulfillment of Rin’s rather odd request that came with a threat. As long as someone from your clan was presented, it mattered not to him whether it was your sister or some other sacrificial lamb for the slaughter.

At the call of your name, the guards creaked open the heavy doors, and you entered the throne chamber slowly. When you reached the foot of the throne, you lowered your body in a curtsey bow, your gaze fixed on the scarlet carpet that stretched beneath you.

“It is my greatest honour to stand before you, Your Majesty,” you said, though your indifferent tone made it clear to anyone listening that you longed for nothing more than to be anywhere but here.

But you knew the truth behind this charade. Aria wasn’t ill. She was the jewel of your parents’ eye, their pride and joy, shielded from the Empire’s gaze like a pirate’s precious treasure. You, on the other hand, were the forgotten one– the daughter they kept hidden, a mere shadow in their halls, easily discarded when it was convenient. To your father, you were a little more than a weight around his neck, an extra mouth to feed, a burden he was eager to rid himself of.

The king’s eyes scanned you up and down, his expression visibly souring as he took in the sight of your tattered ankle-high, brown dress and scuffed boots. Disgusting.

“Ugh,” he muttered under his breath, leaning on one elbow as he sneered at you. “She’ll do, I suppose. Pretty enough for their tastes.” He turned to his chancellor with a condescending wave. “Have the maids find something more… suitable for this one.”

The chancellor bowed deeply, “At once, Your Majesty.”

“Alright, you’ve packed everything, haven’t you?” your mother asked as she rubbed Aria’s shoulder comfortingly.

Your gaze drifted to the battered briefcase lying at your feet. You had stumbled upon it by accident, shoved into a forgotten corner of the dirty attic, coated in layers of dust and practically falling apart at the seams. With a sigh, you bent down to pick it up, nodding as it threatened to collapse.

“Yes,” you murmured, a bitter smile tugging at your lips, “There was hardly anything to pack, anyway.”

Your father scoffed, rolling his eyes as he wrapped an arm around Aria, who had begun to shed what you knew to be crocodile tears. The act was almost laughable. She suddenly broke free from their grasp and rushed over to you, flinging her arms around your waist with a dramatic sob.

“Y/N!” she cried, “Please take care of yourself– hic– I’m going to miss you so much!”

You hesitated for a moment before stiffly returning her hug. She was a liar, through and through, and you both knew it. 

Before the act could continue, the distant sound of hooves clattering against cobblestone paths captured your attention. Gently, you pried yourself away from her clutches, turning toward the approaching sound.

Your breath hitched. The Empire’s Royal Carriage was quickly nearing, and it was no exaggeration to say that its massive size dwarfed everything coming its way. It was magnificent, its gleaming white exterior and elegant navy blue designs that were above the huge clattering wheels. Silken curtains furnished the windows, embroidered with golden threads that caught the eyes of your greedy family. But what truly stole your attention was the shining silver crown perched atop the carriage, with Aquaria’s Royal Crest.

“Listen–” your father’s obnoxious voice cut through your admiration. He leaned close, his voice coming out in a hiss, “You better behave yourself, got it? If you mess this up, it’s not just you– it’s all of us. Understand?”

You shrugged off his threat with a nonchalant nod, “I’ll do my best.”

The sounds of the porcelain horses neighing were suddenly right behind you. They looked so soft, so immaculate, that you had to resist the urge to reach out and glide your fingers through their carefully groomed manes. But you knew better. This was no place for such frivolities.

The royal coachman descended from his designated seat and approached you. His right hand gracefully flew to his heart and he bowed slightly, his eyes closing for a brief moment.

“Greetings, my lady,” he said, straightening himself elegantly as his brown eyes met yours. He took your worn briefcase from your hand and placed it gently in the carriage’s wide storage compartment in the back. Then, he slid aside the long curtains and extended his hand toward you.

This was it. The moment you stepped into that carriage, you would leave this wretched life behind forever. No more grime, no more being hidden away like some shameful secret. You would be free– or at least you clung to the hope of freedom. 

Taking the coachman’s hand, you felt the fine material of your simple sage gown– one begrudgingly gifted by King Orion– brush against the spotless steps of the carriage. You could hardly believe you, of all people, had the privilege of entering something so grand, so expensive.

For one last time, you glanced back at your so-called family. They stood there, masks with feigned expressions of sorrow worn over their faces. But you weren’t fooled, and you certainly weren’t going to indulge them. Instead, a slow grin crept across your face and you mouthed a few words that served as a final act of defiance.

“Shitty lives for shitty people, I guess.”

“.... lady,”

“My….”

“My lady!”

“Hm…” You muttered drowsily, your eyelids slowly fluttering open to the sight of the coachman and several other servants peering in at you with concerned expressions. Startled, you shot upright, your hands grasping the seat beneath you. “Y-Yes!”

So far, you were off to a great start.

But now, as you finally stepped out of the carriage and beheld the regal palace before you, every bit of exhaustion from the long ride seemed to dissolve. The sight of it stole your breath and you tried to conjure up a word to describe it, but words escaped you. Beautiful, perhaps, though even that felt insufficient. Magnificent, maybe. 

There were towering stone sculptures and a large marble fountain in the center, its water elegantly cascading down like it was raining crystals. The front lawn was meticulously trimmed and maintained till perfection. The walls of the palace shined, built from pale limestone that you recognized from years of working with fire and sedimentary rocks. And at the peak of the palace dome, a lone flag fluttered in the breeze, proudly displaying the Royal Crest of Aquaria.

Your home now.

Yet, no lines of maids awaited your arrival at the main entrance, as you’d always imagined from reading those fairytale books you’d find tucked away in your attic. And there was certainly no sign of your supposed fiancé— His Imperial Highness, Itoshi Rin, the Second Prince of the Empire.

But then again, it made sense. You were just a humble village girl, after all— hardly worth the attention of someone as important as him.

The sudden neighing of a horse behind you jolted you from your thoughts, and you spun around. There, your gaze locked with the prettiest set of eyes you had ever seen— legendary teal irises framed by lashes so thick they casted a shadow on his cheekbones.

If the palace was magnificent, then he was simply breathtaking. 

Your heart stuttered in your chest as you instinctively took a step forward toward him, prepared to pinch fistfuls of your dress and bow down to him. 

He must be your fiancé, you thought. How could he not be? Those eyes were a symbol of royalty. His dark, reddish hair swayed with every blow of the wind, and the way an exquisite sapphire brooch shone against his royal attire screamed authority.

What did they call this phenomenon? Love at first sight? But then—

“Welcome back, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince!” a unified set of voices suddenly echoed from behind you in greeting, and you whipped your head back to see every servant and the carriage driver on their knees, their heads bowed low, and their hands clutched to their chests.

Crown Prince? Your breath caught in your throat. The Crown Prince? In other words, the future Emperor of Aquaria?

His gaze left yours to briefly sweep over the kneeling palace workers, before he waved his hand dismissively. “Rise.” he ordered. His deep voice made you feel a sudden tightening in your throat, and you had the urge to obey though you weren’t even on your knees.

When his eyes returned to you, you flinched, every nerve of your body feeling on edge. You drew in a sufficient amount of fresh air and held onto bunches of your gown, bowing respectfully.

“G-Greetings, Your Imperial Highness,” you stuttered.

Sae guided his horse to a halt and swung his leg over the saddle, dismounting and landing on the grass smoothly. He gave the mare a gentle pat, and you suddenly felt conscious as he approached you in long strides.

He stopped just in front of you, eyes seemingly studying you. “You are?”

You swallowed nervously, daring to meet his aquamarine gaze. “Y/N,” you said softly, “The Second Imperial Prince’s fiancée.”

His eyes narrowed and he closed them fleetingly before opening them again. “I see… That foolish younger brother of mine.”

You remained silent, unsure of how to respond. Your sparkling eyes flickered to his mare standing patiently beside him for a moment too long. Her coat was as white as fresh snow, and it almost hurt your eyes the way the sunlight reflected off her.

He noticed. “Oh, her?” He nodded toward the horse, gesturing for you to come closer. “Go on. You can touch her if you wish.” 

Your eyes widened in disbelief, trodding towards him in excitement. “May I, really?”

“Sure, whatever,” he muttered nonchalantly, though his gaze softened slightly. He was more focused on observing the horse’s reaction to you.

With careful hands, you reached out and gently raked your fingers through her silky mane. A delighted giggle escaped your lips as the fauna neighed softly and nudged your hand for more of your kind attention.

“She’s beautiful,” you whispered, and he hummed in interest. You paused for a moment, glancing at the prince curiously. “What’s her name?”

“Celestia,” he replied, pulling on the horse’s rein before folding his arms over his chest. He watched you interact with the animal. “She rarely warms up to anyone, but it seems as if she likes you.”

Your eyes lit up with surprise and you smiled, your fingers still tangled in the horse’s mane. “Celestia is a beautiful name… It suits her. She’s as white as the moon.”

For a brief moment, the prince turned his head to the side, as if he was hiding something from your view. He wouldn’t admit it, but he’d trust anyone his beautiful horse liked. His fingers slipped through his tousled red hair, and though his voice slightly carried a tone of arrogance, it was also laced with something else. “Tch. Thanks. I named her myself.”

You laughed lightly, “How old is she?”

“Turning nine soon,” he answered, giving her a pat. “She’s the mother of a black stallion.”

Your eyes twinkled in awe, fists clenched in front of you as you beamed up at him. “She’s a mother?!”

Sae raised a brow, leaning back slightly. “You’re standing too close.”

“A-Ah, my apologies, Your Highness,” You stuttered, retreating several steps just in case. “I… I seem to have forgotten my place,”

“No, it’s quite alr—” He started, lifting a hand as if to stop you from backing away, but was interrupted by one of the pesky servants from Rin’s wing of the palace. “...”

“I-I apologize for interrupting y-your conversation, Your Imperial Highness,” She panted, bowing low, “But The Second Prince has requested his fiancée’s presence for a private audience.”

Sae clicked his tongue in annoyance, his gaze lingering on you for a moment longer before he mounted Celestia. “I guess it cannot be helped. Fine, whatever.”

Your heart sank slightly, a wave of disappointment looming over your ethereal features. Your pretty eyes downcast and fists clenched lightly by your sides. You had hoped to stay just a little longer, either with the man you had mistaken for your fiancé or perhaps with the beautiful horse. You weren’t sure which had captured your fascination more.

You thought that, perhaps, if Rin was not unlike his brother, then marrying him probably wouldn’t be so bad.

Still, with a deep breath, you held onto your skirt and followed the maid. But just before you left, you glanced back over your shoulder at the First Prince with a smile so pretty it could coax the sun out of the sky and make even the stars envious.

“See you around, Your Highness!” You called out, waving your arm before turning around to trail after the servant woman.

Sae stood frozen for a heartbeat, his thoughts clouded by the ghost of that smile. Something stirred in his chest, something unfamiliar and probably unwelcome. He huffed quietly, silking his hand through his hair before muttering under his breath.

“Yeah… see you.”

Your heart raced as you stood before the polished double doors of Rin’s chamber. You swallowed hard in an attempt to calm your nerves. Your breaths came in shallow, like there was some sort of invisible weight pressed against your chest. 

Your hand hesitantly hovered mere inches from the door. You hadn’t even met the man and yet the tension was thicker than when you had personally greeted the crown prince.

The maid beside you fidgeted, clearly just as anxious. She stammered softly, “My lady…  j-just knock and wait for his word. I-I’ll take my leave now.”

You nodded, watching her scurry away so quickly as if she couldn’t wait to be out of the prince’s domain. You blinked in thought— if the servants in this wing were this jumpy around him, it didn’t bode well.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your trembling fingers. After whispering a few reassurances to yourself, you finally raised your knuckles and knocked gently on the door.

No answer.

A few more seconds passed before you tried again, but this time you heard a deep, irritated voice call out.

“Enter.”

You gulped and planted your hands on the heavy door, pushing it open. The moment you stepped in, you held in your breath. The interior was extravagant beyond words– a room fit for royalty, as expected. 

Your enlarged eyes scanned the deluxe chamber, mouth unintentionally falling agape at all it held. But the awe immediately vanished as your gaze landed on Rin. The prince stood by a grand archtop window with his back to you, gazing down at the Aquaria Royal Gardens— which, to compare in size, were bigger than your whole village fit together.

He turned at the sound of your entrance, his sharp eyes immediately narrowing with a look of disdain. His voice was flat, yet annoyed. “Quit ogling and close the door behind you.”

It was an order, and you felt your body immediately move on its own. Your hands fumbled as you quickly shut the door, unable to keep the heat of embarrassment from rising to your cheeks. You lowered your gaze, focusing on the rosa aurora marble floor beneath you.

Rin’s eyes raked over you, his foot tapping on the floor impatiently. His eyes were just as icy as his brother’s, but where Sae had a certain aloofness, Rin’s coldness felt like a blade to the throat. He eventually crossed his arms over his chest and looked at you condescendingly, “No proper greeting?”

Your mind scrambled. “Ah..!” Your fingers gripped onto the fabric of your dress tightly as you bowed stiffly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Y-Your Imperial Highness,”

He let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing a hand over his face as if the very sight of you was an inconvenience. “Horrible posture,” he muttered. “Your etiquette needs a lot of work.”

Your heart sank further, and humiliation washed over your whole face. You straightened up and pursed your lips together tightly, the words sticking to your throat like superglue, afraid that whatever you’d say next would only make matters worse.

He remained quiet and turned around, walking to the large seating area in the corner of his chamber. You hesitantly followed after him, taking a seat right beside him on the burgundy plush.

He eyed you sideways, clearly displeased. “...Really?”

“Um…” You shuffled your feet awkwardly, the fabric swishing against your ankles. “Sitting in front of you would be presumptuous of me… How dare I make eye contact with someone as great as you, given my position?”

He rolled his eyes at your words. “How audacious.”

“Oh— Your Highness, you’ve got an eyelash on your cheek,” You started, instinctively reaching out to brush it away. But before your fingers could make contact, his hand snapped out, roughly swatting yours away.

“Don’t fucking touch me, commoner scum.” He hissed.

You immediately withdrew, rubbing your stinging hand gently. You bit your bottom lip to keep quiet. “I apol—”

“Go sit in front.”

You obeyed without question, your body moving on autopilot as you rose from the sofa, taking a seat across from him. If you hadn’t the guts to defy your parents, what made you think you could defy a prince? You didn’t even have the strength to be angry; you were too preoccupied with trying to hold yourself together under his oppressive gaze.

What followed was more of an interrogation than a conversation.

“Can you read?”

“No.”

“Write?”

“No.”

“Table manners?”

“I eat with my hands.”

“... Can you do anything at all?”

Your fingers twisted nervously in your lap as you swallowed thickly, embarrassment creeping up your neck. “I can make really good vegetable soup...”

“...”

The silence stretched out, and you could feel your self-worth slowly becoming nonexistent. After a moment, he stood with a sigh, making you flinch. 

You averted your gaze to the window and you tapped your foot anxiously against the floor. You realized you were swallowing thick lumps of nothing more than usual. All his questions were glazed with layers of dripping haughtiness and it hurt when you realized how useless and worthless you were as you answered each one.

“No, this is good,” He assured, almost to himself, as he began unbuttoning his white shirt. You looked up at him, confused.

“Good?” You repeated softly.

Rin approached you with his shirt halfway undone. He stopped just in front of you, leaning down with an expression so intimidating it sent shivers sprinting down your spine. “Do you know why I chose someone as lowly and pathetic as you, peasant?”

You rubbed your clammy palms together and paused. “I think I might have an idea,” You whispered.

“Oh? Continue.”

“You want to win the public’s favour, perhaps?” you guessed carefully, “because it shows a connection to those of lower status…”

He raised a brow, “Hm. You’re smarter than you look.” He admitted.

But his next words made your blood run cold. His hands found your shoulders, his fingers gripping onto them with not much force as he leaned closer. Your gaze ashamedly darted down to his peeking sculpted chest before flicking up to his eyes.

“After I’ve become emperor instead of that shitty brother,” he whispered, his breath hot against your ear, “you will bear my child. Then, I’ll find a way to get rid of you.”

Your whole body was trembling as soon as his hands left your shoulders. You could feel your teeth clattering slightly as you stared at the floor, unable to speak. You tilted your head up and watched as he slowly slid off an oval-cut sapphire ring, rimmed with shimmering stones of diamond, from his finger.

“Give me your hand,” He ordered impatiently.

You nodded immediately, extending your hand in front of him with starry eyes. Without a word, he slipped the opulent band onto your ring finger, careful not to make contact with your skin. You pulled away and admired the accessory— you’d be set for a thousand lives if you sold this heavy thing.

“Thank you…” You smiled softly.

“This ring is a royal heirloom, along with one other,” He warned, pointing to the Crest engraved in the gemstone. “Do. Not. Lose. It.”

Your heart pounded in your chest as you stared at the ring, nodding quickly, “Yes… I won’t.”

“Good. Now go. The maids will show you to your chambers. Be ready for your etiquette lessons tomorrow.”

You rose from the sofa shakily, bowing once more. The difference between this man and the one you’d met earlier was staggering, and you already had a not so vague idea on who you preferred.

“Then I shall see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Your Imperial Highness.”

Your eyelids felt heavy as you tried to open them. You blinked once, twice, three times– your vision blurred with remnants of sleep before gradually sharpening into clarity. But what you saw around you was anything but familiar. 

Gone were the days of waking up to dusty cobwebs and the cracks and crevices of a wrecked ceiling that you had grown used to. Instead, your eyes met a vast, polished quartz ceiling, glistening in the morning light. Above you was a fancy chandelier, its long golden-framed vines dripping with crystals, and glass trickled down from the hooks. 

You shifted beneath your plush cover and froze for a second, because this soft sensation was just as unfamiliar. No more prickly stacks of straw or thin, rough blankets. No, today, you had woken up in luxury.

As you sat up, memories of yesterday flooded your mind. Oh, right. You were absolutely shocked when you were first led to your room. You could say you were floored by its elegance– far larger and more lavish than any room you had imagined you’d get. Though it still paled in comparison to Rin’s personal quarters, it was hard to grasp that this space was your room.

You remembered indulging yourself in a little tour last night, exploring it in awe. There was a massive walk-in closet, filled to the brim with fine dresses and gowns of rich silks and satins. Accessories like cocktail hats, jewel-studded heels, and purses of gorgeous colours, all of which you couldn’t wait to try, filled the shelves.

The grandest thing you had ever owned prior to this was a ring made of a flower’s stem.

But as you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, you felt a shiver run up your spine. Your heart jumped as you realized someone was in the room, and you let out a small squeak, instinctively clutching the covers.

“So you’ve finally woken up, my lady,” came a gentle, slightly amused voice.

You blinked rapidly, your gaze locking onto a pair of soft amethyst eyes. The young woman standing beside you had ginger hair that fell to her shoulders in soft curls, her pale cheeks peppered with specks of pretty freckles.

“W-Who are you…?” You asked carefully.

The woman set a pair of fluffy cotton slippers on the floor beside your bed, then gave you a small curtsy. “Eleanor, my lady. I am your lady-in-waiting.”

You slid your feet into the slippers, still feeling a little dazed. Eleanor busied herself with smoothing the bed linens as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “Meaning..?” you echoed, sitting up straighter.

She chuckled lightly. “Meaning I’ll attend to your personal needs and assist you with your duties to make sure you are well taken care of.” She gave you a smile, “You’re new to all this, aren’t you?”

You looked down at the marble bashfully, nodding your head, and admitted softly, “Yes…”

“Haha, that’s quite alright. But let’s not waste anymore time! We have to get you ready for today!”

“... Huh?”

You were absolutely pampered.

The question constantly lingered— what had you done to deserve this? Probably nothing but you were thankful that you went in the stead of your older sister.

Just a short while ago, you had been treated to the greatest bath of your life, courtesy of Eleanor. She had insisted it was part of her duty as your lady-in-waiting, but it seriously felt like a ritual reserved for queens. She skillfully massaged your muscles and rubbed your scalp with rosewater serenade. And when her hands worked authentic vanilla lather across your skin, you smelled like a warm, freshly baked biscuit. An upgrade from your baths in the river.

Currently, you were seated on a leathered stool as Eleanor combed through your hair with care. The reflection in the mirror in front could leave you gushing over yourself for hours. Your gown was a waterfall of midnight blue silk with intricate silver embroidery. Your waist was still uncomfortable from the pressure of the tight corset, but the result was definitely worth it. 

A delicate web of pearls hung from around your neck, cool against your collarbone. You absentmindedly toyed with the silver tassel earrings as Eleanor finished adding the final sprinkle of silver glitter to your styled hair.

“You look absolutely breathtaking, my lady!” She exclaimed as she clapped her hands together to dust off the excess shimmer.

You smiled admiringly, turning your head left and right. “Thank you, Eleanor. I never thought I could look like this...”

You stood from the stool, walking towards the door before her voice stopped you in your tracks.

“Wait, my lady!”

You turned, watching as she carefully presented a delicate box etched with faint leaf patterns. Nestled inside were a pristine pair of white fine lace gloves that were long enough to elegantly reach the elbows. 

“His Imperial Highness the Second Prince has ordered that you must wear these whenever you are with him,” She said quietly.

“Ah. Thanks.”

You understood. It was slightly disappointing that your fiancé would go to such lengths to avoid touching you. Was the prospect of touching you truly that distasteful to him? But you shrugged off the thought and removed your heirloom ring before sliding the gloves on. You put back the ring on top. It wasn’t everyday you got to wear something this refined. Perhaps it would be everyday from now on…

But then, the memory of Rin’s chilling words echoed through your mind. “Then, I’ll find a way to get rid of you.”

Your heart clenched and you shook your head. As long as you did as commanded, you were sure you’d be fine.

“Let’s go, Eleanor.”

Your body tensed under the penetrating gazes of the countless servants. Their stares followed you as you walked down the Main Hall of the right wing, heading towards the heart of the palace.

They weren’t even trying to hide their gossip. Why would they? Servants here were no ordinary peasants, they were people of the lowest class of nobility. Sons and daughters of Earls, Counts, Barons.

“His Highness must be smitten,” one maid said, “Just look at her dress!”

“Isn’t she from the slums?”

“And she wears the Royal Heirloom on her finger!”

“So, the rumours were true, then?”

“I heard she thought she'd be marrying the Crown Prince.”

“Pftt, That’s embarrassing.”

The hushed whispers suddenly quieted down to zero, and you assumed it was probably Eleanor’s doing because you could literally feel her piercing gaze though she was trailing respectfully behind you.

“It’s alright, Eleanor, leave them al—”

The words died in your throat the moment you caught sight of him– the man you first encountered when you arrived at the palace. He was exiting the Council Hall, deep in conversation with what looked like an advisor or high-ranking official. Your heart skipped a beat as you instinctively lifted the hem of your dress and rushed towards him.

“Your Highness!” you called out, your voice chirpier than you had intended.

He turned at the sound of your familiar voice, his eyes widening just slightly in surprise. For a fleeting moment, it seemed you had embodied the grace of a princess… had your heel not caught beneath you. You stumbled, eyes squeezing shut as you braced yourself for the fall. But instead of tasting the cold, hard floor, a pair of strong hands caught you, steadying you by your waist.

“Careful,” he warned softly, his hands lingering for just a moment before falling back to his sides. “You’re not used to heels.”

You laughed awkwardly, but you could not hide the disappointment that washed over your expression as his hands left you. “No, it’s my first time.”

He paused. His eyes stayed on you for a moment longer than they should, taking in the way your dress perfectly complimented your figure. But he realized this, and his gaze quickly shifted to the golden deer emblem mounted on the wall.

“You… look different,” He continued, rubbing the back of his neck.

The hall suddenly felt hot, or maybe it was just the heat radiating from your face. You dipped your head, fiddling with your clad fingers. “Oh, do I…?” you sputtered softly, but you silently cursed yourself for replying in such an awkward manner. Of course you looked different!

“Ahem,” Eleanor chimed in, coughing into her fist dramatically. “Not to interrupt, but I hear some alarming footsteps…”

“If you slack off one more fucking time, I’ll display your decapitated head on a pike to serve as an example for your pathetic kind!” a voice yelled from behind.

Rin stepped out the Council Hall, his face an angry scowl as he finished lashing at the minister who scurried away like a frightened animal. His eyes then flickered towards you and his older brother, and his expression soured further.

He turned to look at your lady-in-waiting, speaking sternly. “I thought I told you to bring her to my study,”

“We were on our way, Your Imperial Highness,” Eleanor responded politely, bowing her head.

“Incompetent.”

Rin’s attention shifted to you, noticing the lacey white covering up to your elbows. Without warning, he inched forward and closed the distance between you, his hand snaking around your waist. You tensed as his not unwelcome grip pulled you closer, your palm instinctively flying up to settle on his chest. You looked up at him gently, hesitantly, but his eyes weren’t on you– they were locked on his older brother.

He eyed his brother suspiciously, “What are you still doing here?” He asked. “Shouldn’t you be preparing for your trip to Berlina?” 

“Berlina…?” You repeated in confusion.

“The Kingdom of Sorcery and Magic,” Eleanor quickly whispered into your ear, leaning in with her palm covering her mouth.

Sae’s expression remained indifferent, clearly unbothered. “Shouldn’t you be focusing on more important matters right now?” He let his eyes wander lazily towards your hand on Rin’s chest before he smirked. “Like… sharpening your embarrassingly inadequate swordsmanship skills?”

Rin’s face contorted in anger and his neck flushed a deep red. His grip on your shoulder tightened just enough to make you wince. “You bastard… You’ll regret this.” He seethed through clenched teeth. 

The Second Prince glanced back at Eleanor in disgust, “You’re dismissed.”

He looked back at you, noticing your extravagant dress, before furrowing his brows. “The dress you’re wearing is too fancy for a day with no important occasion.”

You glanced down at your blue gown and shrugged. “Eleanor chose it for me,”

“Who?”

“—I personally think it suits her just right.” Sae broke in suddenly, wearing a smirk on his face as though he found pleasure in annoying his younger brother.

Rin narrowed his eyes at him. “Who asked for your opinion? And what were you two talking about, anyway?”

The Crown Prince hummed, leaning against the wall behind him. “Let’s see. Well, I told her she looked different, and helped her up when she tripped on her heels.”

“Tch.”

“But be careful,” Sae’s lips twitched into a small grin, his gaze drifting to meet your eyes. “keep your eyes on this beauty else I might steal her from you. Isn’t that right, my lady?”

Thump. Thump. Thump.

“Your Highness, even if you joke around like that, I don’t think my heart can take it–” you whispered, and Sae chuckled lightly, though Rin quickly pulled you behind him.

“That’s enough, stay away from her.” He glared, barely affecting Sae. “Your little jokes aren’t funny.”

“Who said I was joking?” The eldest quipped nonchalantly, and Rin just rolled his eyes.

“Let’s go.” He exasperated, holding onto your wrist and dragging you alongside him.

As his hand guided you away, you looked over your shoulder, searching for a familiar pair of tourmaline eyes. Ones identical to those of your fiancé’s. But instead, all you saw was a broad back and auburn hair shifting as he walked away in the opposite direction.

Rin slammed his fist against the hardwood of his desk. That interaction seemed to have spilled gasoline to the blue flames in his eyes, which were already burning with rage. “That bastard thinks he can keep playing games with me!”

You remained still, hands folded patiently over your abdomen. The last thing you wanted to do was provoke him further.

After a tense silence, Rin let out a sigh and collapsed into the plush seat behind his desk. “It’s alright,” he began, his voice softening just slightly. His gaze locked onto you in a way that made blood rush quicker through your veins. “You’re my ticket to becoming the emperor—” He leaned forward. “I need you.”

Your breath hitched in your throat at those words, but you knew not to expect much. Still, you mustered a sweet smile. “I’ll do my best, Your Highness. You were mentioning today’s schedule…?”

He leaned back, propping his arm on the armrest. “Right. My father is holding our engagement ball next week. Every noble house will be there to congratulate us. In the week leading up to it, you will perfect your manners and court etiquette. Understood?”

You gulped hard as a huge bag of responsibility was suddenly thrown onto your back. A week? To not work on, but perfect everything?

“...Understood.”

—

“... After you master public speaking skills,” Rin went on, “you’ll focus on formal dining etiquette. I don’t want you embarrassing me by eating with your hands. Then, you’ll have dancing lessons and study Royal Dress standards. You also need to be familiar with Aquaria’s history, diplomacy, and customs– especially royal protocols and responsibilities, and….”

His voice continued on, listing task after task. Your head was spinning, and you thought you were going to faint and collapse to the ground. This wasn’t the fairytale you’d imagined. You signed up for the fun part of being a princess— the ballgowns and the makeup, and maybe kissing the prince. This was a chore, the kind that made growing carrots and potatoes seem like heaven in comparison.

“By the end of this week, I expect you to be flawless. I’ve brought in the best tutors for reading, writing, and everything else– all that easy stuff. Do not disappoint me.”

You nodded automatically, but not before adding an innocent thought that had slipped into your mind, in a slightly sarcastic manner. “Have you perfected your swordplay, though?”

Now the temperature in the room seemed to drop down to zero as he bore his narrowed eyes at you. You felt a cold shiver run up all your bones, and your knees weakened. “You think you’re funny don’t you? Do you really want to play this game with me?”

Your bravado crumbled. “N-No…”

“Then get some rest,” he ordered. “Your training starts this afternoon.”

You nodded and quietly turned to leave the study.

Six long days had passed by since your lessons began. Six mentally and physically exhausting days.

Your dance instructor was a strict middle aged lady with sharp eyes and an even sharper tongue, who worked you till your feet were bruised. She made you balance books and vases on top of your head as you marched back and forth, her shrill voice cutting you off whenever your posture was horrible, or when you mixed up the steps for a dance made for another song. Although you loathed her guts, you couldn’t deny the significant improvement of your poise.

The dinner etiquette lessons, however, offered a time-out from that hag. Yes, you learned the basics of formal dining– how to keep your elbows off the table, chew with your mouth closed, use the silver utensils correctly, and pat your lips clean with the patterned napkins. But, the best part, or reward, was tasting the delicacies they served. Truffles, lobster coated with butter, and tender lamb chops. And then there were the fancy desserts– macarons pumped with ganache filling, puff pastry, tartelette au citron, éclair au chocolat, and more.

All of which you had never dreamt of tasting in your life, you who had never tasted anything more luxurious than a loaf of bread.

You also learned how to read and write, not for the reasons you preferred, but good nonetheless. You had found a particular fondness for the history lessons, which were not tedious at all. You were focused at all times much to your mentor’s surprise. Learning about the Royal family’s reign— how they had ruled over neighboring lands for centuries, managing resources, trade, and finance— fascinated you.

But your ears always managed to tune in and pick up the subtle gossip rotating among the maids and servants in the halls and libraries, so you had learned a few things.

The two princes were locked in a one-sided rivalry. One was fighting crystal and pickaxe for the crown, while the true heir showed little interest in the throne he was destined to inherit.

Sae, the eldest, wasn’t just entitled to the crown by birthright. He excelled at everything– swordplay, defense, archery, and horseback riding for royal ceremonies or simple trips to cities. His skills were polished to literal perfection. Rin, on the other hand, was skilled, but not extraordinary. He always lived in the shadow of his brother.

Yet Rin’s desire to become emperor wasn’t merely a wish— it was a burning, desperate need, an ambition to prove himself worthy. To finally win against Sae.

Killing his brother, of course, was out of the question— such an act would be treason. Besides, Rin didn’t just want him gone; he wanted Sae to see the moment when he ascended the throne, to admit defeat, to acknowledge that Rin had bested him.

Rin believed that the key to winning favour with their father—the current emperor—and the people was to flaunt his achievements, which, to remention, were not as good as Sae’s. But his sharp tongue and cold demeanor made it difficult for him to win many hearts. Sae learned to place a mask behind his foul words, whereas Rin still struggled to.

And that’s where you came into the picture.

You weren’t just his fiancée; you were part of his strategy. He’ll show you off before the court and the public, showcasing to the world how he transformed a mere commoner, a peasant, into someone of worth. 

You came from a disgusting, needy village, yet now you stood in royal fits. To Rin, you were a symbol showing his ability to elevate those beneath him. A tool to gain the favour of the people. You could read and write now, you were beautiful, and in the eyes of the kingdom, you had the potential to become the empress one day— if, of course, Rin managed to seize the crown from his brother.

—

It was late at night, and the moon’s natural light filtered through your curtains. You moved to your huge window and brushed aside the rosegold-embroidered fabric as you peered down at the Royal Gardens. The view was similar to that of Rin’s, since your chambers were three spare rooms away from each other.

You were exhausted, but you always had time to admire the water spilling down elegantly from the angel sculptures’ stone lips, or the beautiful shrubs clipped into topiaries. 

But all the exhaustion you felt moments ago suddenly vanished when your eyes caught sight of someone unexpected. 

It was the Crown Prince. You had seen Sae around the palace during these tiring six days, and you’ve engaged in many small talks with him without Rin’s knowledge. Conversations flew naturally with him, he asked you about your life before the engagement, and though you were initially hesitant, you found yourself speaking openly with him. There was a strange ease to Sae that, oddly enough, only you seemed to feel.

You stared at him a bit too long, your gaze almost boring a hole into him, and he sensed it.

Pivoting on his heel, he made direct eye contact with you from below. A soft gasp escaped your lips, and you hurriedly pulled the curtain closed. But he could still see your silhouette, and when you peeked your head out slightly from the curtain, you could’ve sworn you’d seen him chuckle.

With a quick gesture of his hand, he beckoned you down to the gardens. Your pretty eyes widened, but you found yourself nodding eagerly with no hesitation. How could you refuse?

—

Panting softly between giggles, you rested your hands on your knees.

“I can’t believe you ran to meet me in your… nightgown,” Sae remarked, his lips curving into a subtle smirk.

You straightened and boldly stepped closer until you were only centimeters away from him. Your eyes twinkled in the moonlight, and you shone a smile brighter than la lune. 

Sae’s breath caught in his throat as your face came full view and he felt his body still. You were Rin’s fiancée– he shouldn't be looking at you like this. But the glow of moonlight was making it hard…

“... You’re beautiful,” the words slipped out naturally.

Heat flooded the sweet curves of your cheeks at the way he said it so casually, so suddenly. Your gaze dropped to the freshly cut grass, your fingers nervously tucking a loose strand of your hair behind your ear. 

“Thank you,” you muttered quietly, your voice barely above a hush.

Silence followed. But comfortable, nonetheless. Then, you noticed his hand, palm up and waiting in front of you. You blinked up at him in confusion.

“I am aware that I am in no position to do this, but…” He paused, “May I have this dance?”

Your eyebrows shot up comically in surprise, glistening doe eyes widening for the hundredth time tonight. Your heart was thumping so fast you thought it might burst from your chest, and you feared he might hear it.

It was risky, you knew that. If Rin were awake, he might have been watching from his window– his chambers were so close to yours. You knew how much he enjoyed looking from his window from the time you’ve spent together in the past week. But, he had dismissed you earlier to rest and this moment alone with Sae was tempting.

Hesitantly, your hand hovered over his before relaxing and letting it fall in his grasp. You met his gaze, and you shyly whispered, 

“I know we’re not supposed to be doing this… but I want to.” Your fingers intertwined with his, and you smiled softly. “May I have this honour, Your Imperial Highness the Crown Prince?”

Sae glanced down at your hand weaved between his fingers. His brows furrowed in a frown, and a wave of panic washed over you. You literally felt your heart leap out of your chest. Had you overstepped your boundaries?

“I was only kidd—”

But instead of pulling away, he gently hooked his finger under the wristband of your glove, sliding it off your hand. You felt warmth bloom across your cheeks as he slowly removed the other glove too, making sure to leave his touch lingering on your bare skin.

“You don’t need to wear these ridiculous gloves to bed,” he said, “It’s unnecessary.”

Your cœur fluttered. “I… I just forgot,” you mumbled, embarrassed. 

He rolled his eyes, but his lips quirked into a smile as he clasped your now bare hand, while the other found its place on your waist. The fabric of your silk nightgown was thin, and his touch felt intimate, direct, and you could feel his fingertips pressing lightly against your skin.

He led you in a slow dance gracefully under the protective gaze of the serene moon, delicately spinning you before your arms naturally draped around his neck. His hand slid to the small of your back, pulling you closer. He looked so good, he smelled so good, his touch so gentle. You wanted him.

“Do you like these gardens?” He asked suddenly, giving you another twirl.

You nodded, lacing your fingers in his. “I do. It’s quiet. The palace can be… overwhelming.”

Sae raised a brow, “Overwhelming, huh? For someone like you, I suppose it would be.”

The words stung slightly, but there was no malice in his voice. You dared to meet the eyes you came to adore, “And you? Why are you here, Your Highness?”

He paused, then turned slightly. “I’m avoiding another council meeting. You’d be surprised how tedious it can be listening to old men argue for hours on end.”

You laughed softly, and for a brief moment, his eyes softened. He pointed toward a part of the garden in the distance. “Come with me,” he said simply. 

You followed, trembling as the Crown Prince led you with his fingers gently wrapped around your wrist. When you came to a stop, your breath caught in awe. Before you were roses of every shade– deep crimson, soft peach, porcelain white, and candy pink.

“They’re gorgeous,” you gasped.

“Right.” Sae bent down and plucked a single red rose from the bush, turning to you with a small, rare smile. “The red ones are my favorite,” he murmured, carefully tucking the rose into your hair.

You smiled sheepishly, gently patting the rose he’d placed. “They remind me of strawberry ja—”

“They remind me of blood,” he interrupted with a casual voice.

You blinked, startled by his answer. “R-Right.”

He chuckled softly, rubbing the area around his neck. “I can see why Rin chose you.”

You looked at him for a few seconds before quickly shaking your head. “He didn’t choose me, he just wanted any girl from our clan. My older sister was supposed to go, but I went in her stead. Besides, I’m nothing special… just convenient.”

“Convenient?” His gaze darkened slightly before his hand came up to rest on your chin. “...Don’t sell yourself short. You’re more than that.”

Your head quickly tilted down and you began to fiddle with your fingers, then with the simple lace adorning your neck. “Your Highness– stop saying things that make my heart, I don’t know, hurt?”

“Oh?” He placed his hands gently on your cheeks and you looked up at him lovingly. “That isn’t good for Rin, is it?”

You shook your head, “No, it isn’t. But he doesn’t make me feel this way.” You boldly placed your palms on his shoulders and stood on your tippy toes, and as soon as he leaned down slightly in approval, you pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

He tapped his forehead against yours and smiled. His heart was beating a bit quicker, and he found it dangerous. “Well, I’m afraid I must leave now.” He drawled.

Your heart sank a little, your ethereal eyes flicking down. You nodded slowly, “Thank you for your time, Your Highness.”

He looked down at you, his expression softening. Slowly, he lifted your hand to his lips and pressed a chaste kiss to your skin. “It was a pleasure, my lady.”

If he couldn’t hear your heart thundering in your chest one thousand miles per hour moments ago, then he sure could now. As he disappeared, you placed your hand over your chest, rubbing over the spot where he’d kissed.

It seemed like Sae had yet again bested Rin in a game neither had realized they were playing.

Tonight was your engagement ball, the grand celebration that would officially announce your impending marriage to Rin.

You were both in his chamber, dressed fully in fancy outfits. He wore an elegant white attire adorned with the brooch of Aquaria and a navy blue sash draped across his chest. You wore a pitch black gown embroidered with gold, matching gloves, and heavy golden jewelry that Rin had exclusively bought for you. 

The party had already begun downstairs, the grand ballroom filled with the most important guests from across the empire. But the grand entrance of the soon-to-be bride and groom had to wait for the Emperor’s speech, set to occur an hour after the festivities commenced.

“It’s a lunar eclipse,” you mused admiringly, leaning against the window. The moon, bloody red from the umbra, hung in the night sky ominously. “I’ve read about the phenomenon in the Royal Library. The stars look so close… they look like they could fall right into our hands.”

Rin rolled his eyes and walked closer to you, resting his hand on your further shoulder. He stared out the window in boredom. “How poetic,” he muttered sarcastically. “Even the moon is congratulating us tonight.”

You turned your gaze from the sky to him, your hand gently smoothing out a small wrinkle on his sash. “It’s time, isn’t it? We should head to the Ballroom.”

He grumbled in response, pushing your hand aside as if your touch was unnecessary. 

The intricate grandfather clock suddenly chimed loudly. Midnight had arrived.

Tick.

“In the Twilight of the Eclipsing Red Moon…”

Tick.

“When Stars Align and Shadows Loom…”

Tick.

A strange voice seemed to rise from nowhere. You flinched visibly, a shiver creeping up your spine as the tiny hairs on the back of your neck stood up. You quickly found Rin’s hand and grasped it tightly. 

“D-Did you hear that?” You shuddered, voice trembling.

He raised an eyebrow. “Hear what? You’re imagining things.”

You shook your head, swallowing hard. “No… I swear, I heard something– like a voice. It was…”

He scoffed, shaking his head dismissively. “It’s just the clock ticking. Don’t start getting all nervous on me now.” His grip tightened around your hand, but you doubted it was for your comfort. “You’re going to be on your best performance for me, Got it?”

You hesitantly nodded, your gaze lingering on the moon for a few more seconds. The red, eerie glow still haunted your thoughts. You reluctantly turned away, looping your arm through Rin’s to exit the chamber and enter the grandeur.

“Yes…”

“And I want to thank you all once more for attending tonight’s ball,” The Emperor’s proclamation boomed from behind the closed doors. The attention of every soul present was on him. “I would now like to announce the formal entry of The Second Prince of Aquaria, and his fiancée, a soon-to-be princess, Y/N!”

The large doors, decorated with orchids and bloody red roses, parted dramatically to reveal you and Rin hand in hand. The Royal Guards on each side immediately stiffened and raised gloved hands to their head in salute. 

The aristocrats hushed immediately and their eyes followed as you both stepped onto the red carpet, descending the grand staircase and heading towards the two thrones.

You halted just below the steps of the thrones, immediately lowering your head in a bow of respect alongside Rin.

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesties,” you murmured, lifting your head as you learned to.

“... Thank you, Father, Mother,” Rin’s voice followed formally.

Your gaze shifted towards the Empress. You particularly loved her as her lovely crimson hair always seemed to remind you of Sae. Oh, speaking of the Crown Prince, where was he? You hadn’t caught a glimpse of him yet. 

You turned your head, eyes subtly scanning the room in search of a distinct redhead. And in the corner of your eye, you found him leaning casually against a balcony pillar, arms folded over his chest and eyes closed.

Your gaze softened at the sight of him before refocusing on the mob of aristocratic ladies and noblemen that had rushed to circle your betrothed as soon as the Imperial Greetings were over. They approached and offered smiles under snobby and vexing expressions, backhanded compliments under the guise of praise.

“Such a refreshing choice, Your Imperial Highness!” A brunette lady gibed, fanning herself with an elegant fan as she slyly smirked, “You’ve truly outdone us all in… originality.”

A Lord chuckled beside her, his laugh insufferably pompous. “I must say, Your Highness, I certainly admire you embracing such humble roots! A prince of the people! Ho ho ho!”

“I’m glad we have such a reliable prince who values all his subjects equally!”

“It is odd that His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince hasn’t found a lady yet.” One brought up.

An Earl added, “That’s true. He’s supposed to step up to the throne sooner or later. He needs an heir once he becomes Emperor.”

You squeezed Rin’s hand discreetly as he bit his lip in frustration at the mention of his brother. He needed to restrain himself at least this one time. 

“I appreciate your sentiments–” he began, but faltered for a split second. “No I fucking don—” You squeezed his hand again, giving him a gentle nudge, and he cleared his throat. “Your support is reassuring,” he finished with a strained smile.

As your fiancé continued chatting with the backhanded nobles, your attention kept drifting towards Sae, stealing quick glances every now and then. He had begun conversing with a group of higher officials and ministers, likely discussing Berlina, The Kingdom of Sorcery and Magic that he had frequented many times to strengthen the Empire’s growing alliances.

Loud enchanting music began to play from the orchestra and many already established couples began to dance in the center. Expensive and rare gifts began to pile at your feet, congratulatory offerings from various guests. Rin accepted them indifferently and reluctantly offered his thanks with as much enthusiasm as the stone sculptures that lined the ballroom.

“This jewel was found in the Ancient land of Topion and is thought to bring good fortune!”

“This exotic bird from Elakis produces gold everytime it sings!”

“This sword is forged by a legendary ghost smith whose body lives in the volcanic depths of Loo!”

You froze when Sae stepped forward as the next gifter, and it seemed like the entire room was also holding its breath. He approached, your widened eyes drifting down to the elegant box in his hand. He opened it, revealing an intricate necklace with shimmering, round pearls.

“An authentic pearl necklace crafted by the Merman Emperor of Eau.” Sae presented with his usual calm demeanor, making it hard to believe that he had spent days negotiating with the merman to create a necklace exclusively suitable for you.

Your mouth parted in surprise, and the words tumbled out. “Oh– thank you! It’s… beautiful.”

Rin rolled his eyes, gently fisting your hair and lifting it to expose your neck. “You didn’t have to do that,” He hissed through gritted teeth, looking at Sae with teal eyes that crinkled in hate.

Sae met his brother’s glare with a simple hum, fastening the beaded necklace around your neck. You bit your lip tightly as his touch lingered on your skin, looking down at the pearls that beautifully settled against your collarbone. “That would be disrespectful to you both, I’m afraid,” He said. “Even Our Father, the Emperor, has offered her pleasantries.”

Rin clicked his tongue and looked back at you, wrapping his arm possessively around your waist and pulling you closer to him. He pressed a quick kiss to your forehead, catching you by surprise. The Crown Prince narrowed his eyes at the gesture.

“Come on, darling,” Rin emphasized as he spat out the term of endearment, though he internally cringed and wanted the ballroom to rupture and swallow him whole. The pet name left a bitter taste at the tip of his tongue. “It’s time for our dance.”

You nodded, your lips parting to speak, but, “Of course, Your High—”

“The Great’s Fate is Sealed in the Veil of Night…”

That haunting voice again. Your ears were ringing. You quickly squeezed your eyes shut and froze in your tracks.

“...By the Hand of One from Mystic Light.”

“I-It’s the voice again!” You whimpered, hands flying to your ears in a desperate attempt to block out the sound. “I hear it!”

Rin scoffed loudly, glancing left and right at the guests who were exchanging confused looks. Sae, on the other hand, seemed out of it, with half-closed, bleary eyes.

“Quit it, you fool!” Rin cursed in annoyance, his patience snapping. He grabbed you by your shoulders and yanked you to his chest away from their judgemental gazes.

“Voice? I don’t hear anything,” a lady whispered.

“Neither do I,” someone else chimed in.

A voice snickered, “She said ‘again’.”

“His Imperial Highness must be marrying someone with auditory hallucinations.” The words stung as they left another noble’s mouth.

Then, in an instant, the ballroom plunged into darkness as the bright chandeliers went out. The ballroom was only illuminated by the glow of a large bolt of lightning, and a thunder rattled so violently it deafened you and shook the windows. When the bulbs flickered back on, a shrill lady’s voice pierced the silent room.

“T-The Crown Prince! He’s not moving!”

All eyes shot to Sae, who lay motionless and graceful on the floor, hand on top of hand. He looked calm, as though he was merely resting. 

You gasped in fear, hands flying to your mouth as you tried to stay balanced on your feet. Rin’s eyes in particular were the widest. The atmosphere in the room immediately shifted to terror as everyone noticed the ink-blue vines creeping slowly up his neck, thorn designs wrapping themselves around his throat.

“T-That’s… Alexis’ Curse!” The Emperor panicked.

You had read about it. Alexis’ Curse—an ancient legend of a wizard scorned by love. His heart had been shattered by the daughter of a shoemaker, Michelle Kaiser, who had chosen her Earl lover over him. She always refused Alexis’ advances, and the gifts he’d always present. 

Enraged, Alexis had cursed the Earl, condemning him to a fate of eternal sleep unless the one he loved kissed him to break the spell. The curse wasn't one of eternal youth, however—the body continued to age, to decay, until there was nothing left but ugly bones. 

But because Alexis had disposed of his inked body in his tower, the Earl had died alone, Michelle never finding him.

The curse had become a myth, that Alexis’ wrath was aimed at those of high status, warning them of the dangers of meddling with those beneath them. 

But the nobles’ faces were literally drained of colour because what had once been myth was now terrifyingly real, before their very eyes.

It had been a few weeks since the disaster during your engagement party.

They had sealed Sae’s lifeless body deep in a chamber within the Main Palace’s basement. You attempted sneaking in multiple times, but you failed– the entry was heavily guarded and there was too much risk. And besides, if slipping past your lady-in-waiting wasn’t hard enough, Rin had become increasingly possessive as the possibility of being promoted to Crown Prince rose. That is if he was elected as so in the Royal Committee Meeting.

He was proud enough that he’d permit small acts of closeness– letting you remove your gloves when in his presence, even sharing his chamber. So, you would never risk waking him up while trying to sneak into the basement.

You recalled the aftermath of the disastrous ball vividly:

—

“I never knew he was so pathetic,” Rin sneered that night, running a hand through his dark hair before resting it at your throat and squeezing lightly. “Falling in love with you? A commoner? He must be out of his mind.”

He chuckled as he released you, pulling you into his chest.

“The whole Empire is so stupid. They think he fell in love with someone else. But it’s better this way.”

—

Yet despite Rin’s actions, your thoughts remained with Sae. You’d spent the weeks caring for Celestia, his white mare, as well as tending to Rin’s black stallion which he had never bothered to give a name to. You learned from the stable workers that Celestia was the mother of the charcoal horse.

Tonight, however, a once in a red moon opportunity presented itself. Your fiancé was away on royal business in Yelund, negotiating financial matters with their government in place of the Crown Prince. You took this chance, knowing it was the only one, and decided to sneak out.

You left your chamber, clutching a cage with a rat you’d found in the servants residence. You made your way through the darkened corridors until you reached the entrance of the basement. You hid yourself behind a large stone pillar and took a deep breath, tossing a small block of cheese across the room as a distraction. 

The guards were alarmed by the subtle noise and quickly whipped their heads and ran towards the sound. You bit your lip in concentration— everything was going according to your plan. You quickly released the rat from its cage, watching it scurry across the concrete, and silently slipped into the Royal basement. You sighed in relief as you heard a guard's voice.

“Oh, it’s just a rat. Guards, get back into position.”

—

You slid off your heels so that your bare feet barely made a sound as they grazed the stone steps of the staircase. The basement wasn’t very illuminated if not for the dim candles that hung on the wall, and the stench was not horrible as you thought it would be. Instead, it smelled like preserved jasmine.

You were at the last step when you put your hand on the concrete wall, trying to catch your breath.

At the bottom, in the center of the relatively smaller room, stood a rectangular crystal glass box. Inside it, Sae lay perfectly still. The sight of him made your gaze soften and your heart clench as if it was put in a meat slicer. His skin was pale, but it was bolded, in contrast, by the inky blue vines tracing thorn and rose patterns across his body. 

His cheeks and ears were faintly flushed by a baby pink dust, and his lips looked so soft, so gentle, so inviting. Stray strands of his red hair lay on the cushion beneath him, his long lashes resting against his cheekbones.

You were aching as you approached the enclosure. Your fingers trembled as you pressed them to the glass, your breath slightly fogging the surface. Tears blurred your vision as they began to roll down your cheeks, and you leaned down to gently caress his cheek with your bare hand, feeling the coolness of his skin.

You sniffled and your palms went to rub your glossy eyes, before you straightened up and curled your fingers on the glass in a tight grip. He looked beautiful, you thought, with roses that matched his hair colour surrounding him all over.

“Your Imperial Highn— no, Sae—” you whispered, “I… I love you, too.”

You cupped his face with quivering hands, your thumbs rubbing sweet circles on his skin as you contorted your body awkwardly to reach him. The glass was positioned high, at your waist’s level, so you had to twist your body and bend to touch him intimately.

Sae remained unmoving, yet you had hoped that somewhere deep within his slumber, he could sense your touch, or the sincerity of your unsteady voice confessing your reciprocated love.

As you leaned in to kiss him, that same sharp voice that you always hear yet again cut through your ears, and you instinctively covered them with your hands for protection.

“But From the Dust of Forgotten Lands,”

Your heart thumped faster in your chest as you tried to shake it off.

“Shall Rise a Heart with Common Hands,”

Beads of cold sweat trickled down your temple— you could never get used to the voice, no matter how many times you’d heard it.

“With Lips of Rose and Spirit Warm,”

Your hands fisted at the cotton under Sae, inhaling deeply before bending down until your face was inches away from his.

“To Bring the Order, End the Storm.”

Your lips hesitantly hovered over his mouth before you fluttered your eyes shut and pressed them against his in a kiss. Your lips together were so soft, yet they weren’t moving against each other like a mutual kiss would. They locked seamlessly in a way that felt strangely natural, as if the pair were made for each other. 

Your lips lingered against his for a few seconds, and you wanted to relish the moment more, but you felt a subtle shift in Sae’s body. A faint flinch, almost imperceptible, ran through him, and the blue roses on his skin suddenly began to glow.

You pulled back before you could fully comprehend what was even happening, your lips just brushing his as you turned and sprinted towards the stairs. Fortunately, the guards on duty were in the midst of a shift exchange, so you assumed you had gone off flawlessly.

But not entirely.

A certain awakened man had caught a glimpse of your hair as it bounced during your escape.

The first light of morning stabbed your eyes, and they fluttered open abruptly as you realized Rin’s hands were on your shoulders, shaking you harshly. His face was itched in a deep scowl, his breath hot against your skin.

“What the fuck is all this about? This is what I come back to, you fucking whore?” He fumed venomously.

You blinked in confusion– your head was still fogged with sleep, after all. 

“W-What..?”

—

The usual tranquility of the whole palace was broken by hurried, squeaky footsteps and frantic voices. News of the Crown Prince’s revival had spread like wildfire through the Royal Quarters: the sleeping prince had defeated the curse and had awakened after only a few mere weeks.

The servants and maids rushed through the hallways, scrambling to prepare for what would be an unexpected audience. Gossips and rumours flowed through every corridor of the palace faster than the head maid brewing herbal tea in preparation for noble guests.

And in the Royal Gardens outside, hundreds to near thousands of noblemen and noblewomen who were alerted of the Sae’s revival gathered, dressed in their finest dresses and suits. 

Oh, you were so fucked.

—

“M-My lady, this isn’t good!” Eleanor cried as she ran into your room, “Hundreds of guests have arrived in the Throne room, and both princes are there too! His Imperial Majesty is now urgently awaiting your presence!”

Your hands instinctively wrapped around your abdomen, and you suddenly felt nauseous. Your body shook slightly, your teary eyes fixing themselves on the ground. You loved Sae, you really did, but doubt was gnawing at your organs. Kissing him felt right in that moment, yet you were starting to regret ever doing it. 

What if he didn’t want your help? What if your peasant lips had tainted him? What if he didn’t want you?

“I… I don’t want to go,” you hiccuped, walking around your room in circles. “I’m so stupid, I should have never—”

“No, my lady,” She interrupted gently. “You must.”

You gulped and nodded hesitantly. Rin’s anger lingered in your mind like salt and pepper— his eyes were boiling over with rage, his face tinted a deep crimson red. You had never seen him like that, and now, as you stepped into the crowd gathered in the grand hall, all heads turned to look at you in a way that made you even more uncomfortable.

But the Emperor, however, did not seem angry. Weird enough, he looked elated for reasons you couldn’t yet pinpoint.

As Eleanor had said, Rin and Sae were both present, standing opposite each other like the rivals they were. Rin was struggling to contain the way he was absolutely fuming, while Sae was blatantly staring at you with no intention of hiding it. Unlike the way you usually reacted to the Crown Prince’s gaze, you felt rather nervous, flexing and unflexing your fingers.

You pinched the fabric of your simple gown and bowed low, and the thin patterns of the marble floor never seemed so interesting.

“Greetings, Your Imperial Majesty,” you addressed. 

The Emperor nodded in acknowledgment, before turning his attention to Sae expectantly. “My son.”

“Yes, father.”

Before your wracked mind could process what was happening, Sae suddenly began striding toward you. Rin was a considerable distance away from you but he also furrowed his brows in confusion. A million thoughts started to run through his mind and he felt the unease creeping up his spine. Had they planned something behind his back?

Sae came to a stop in front of you, and your breath caught in your throat as you felt his arms, so muscular despite being under layers of hand-crafted clothing, loop around your waist and pull you close. Your face pressed against his chest, and your hands awkwardly hung near your sides despite being desperate to place themselves in places they’d beg to touch.

Loud gasps and surprised awes of the hundreds of uninvited, stunned guests echoed throughout the large room.

“Hey, what the heck–?” Rin suddenly snapped, biting down on his lip so hard that blood seeped out, the iron leaving a metallic taste on his tongue.

He didn’t like you, not really, but he had finally claimed something– someone that his older brother desired, and now it felt as though Sae was taking you from him. 

It irritated him to no end, the way Sae’s hand gently patted your hair and the way you sheepishly smiled into his suit like an idiot– who the heck did you think you were? How could you? How fucking dare you?

And more importantly, why was the Emperor fine with this? Why was he chuckling so carelessly akin to the circus’ fool? What was going on?

But your mind was already in Saturn. You were lost in the Crown Prince’s musky scent and the oh-so-delicate taps of his fingers on your head, and when you heard that voice again, you closed your eyes knowingly and smiled for the first time in what felt like forever.

“A Crown of Old Shall Find its Grace,”

“In the Embrace of a Simple Face.”

“Y/N.” Sae’s voice broke through your thoughts and the voices of gossip in the crowd died down instantly. He tilted your chin up gently, thumbs caressing your face sweetly before his hands found their place on your cheeks.

Your eyes darted left and right nervously, avoiding his gaze. He'd never called you by your first name before. You shook those thoughts away and met his gaze. “Yes…?”

“You know,” He started, “To break the curse, the feeling of love must be mutual…”

Your cradled head nodded in his hands in embarrassment, and you felt heat creep up from your neck to your ears. “I’m aware,”

“So?”

Your eyes widened and immediately snapped down to the floor, watching your simple heels shuffling softly. You couldn’t help the soft giggle that escaped past your lips, and you only hoped that no one had heard that. You looked up at him affectionately.

“I love you…” Your voice dripped like melted caramel on his tongue, so sweet.

He smiled– a real, genuine smile that no one besides you could see– and leaned down, whispering an “I love you too,” before sealing his lips against yours. The kiss was gentle, and you let out a soft sigh as your fingers curled onto the rich fabric, gripping onto his attire tightly. His lips were warm as they moved against yours, unlike the cold, unmoving lips that you had claimed a while back. 

When you finally pulled away, your eyes fluttered open, dazed with bleary eyes, little hearts seemingly etched into your pupils.

The crowd erupted into cheers and gasps, and maybe a few rolls of the eyes and glares from jealous noblewomen or daughters of Lords who had hoped to have Sae all to themselves, though you barely registered anything.

Why would anything matter, when you were here, openly in his arms?

“His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is in love with his soon-to-be sister-in-law? This is hot news!”

“The Second Prince didn’t love her anyway.”

“He didn’t? But was it really a marriage of convenience, then?”

“No way, he must have been in love. What’s there to gain from a commoner?”

“But what could a village girl like her possibly offer the Crown Prince?”

The Emperor suddenly rose from his golden throne and stepped down the carpeted stairs, standing in the center. He cleared his throat and raised his scepter high in the air.

“I, the Emperor of the Royal Empire of Aquaria, officially dissolve the engagement between Y/N and the Second Prince, and announce the engagement between her and the Crown Prince!”

Rin’s eyes twitched. His fists clenched tighter by his sides, knuckles white and nails digging deep into his palms. He felt humiliated in front of so many people, but it is said that what goes around comes around. 

“Huh? But Father, she's—” Rin began, but the Emperor turned his head and shot him a threatening glare. 

“Emperor’s order.” With a voice that sharp, there was no possible room for argument.

You also stood frozen, mouth hanging open in disbelief as you blinked at the Emperor in the distance. But Sae’s fingers tipped your chin back up and his lips latched onto yours in a bold, open-mouthed kiss.

“Look at me,” he murmured as he pulled back slightly to look at you, his breath warm against your skin.

Your breath hitched, your gaze locking onto his. “Your Highness… I can’t believe this is happening,” You whisper-yelled in excitement, your hands waving around uncertainly.

He gently poked your cheeks. “You’ll take my last name since you don’t have one.”

You pinched yourself to check if this was all just a dream. If it was, you didn’t want to wake up. But it was all too real. The Crown Prince was now your fiancé. You were going to be the Crown Princess, and eventually, the Empress. And you were going to take his last name because commoners do not have the privilege of family names.

And despite everything, you strangely felt no deep remorse. You had slightly opened up to and grown fond of Rin in the past few weeks– he had those moments, but with you in his brother’s arms right now, you felt something different. You felt bad, but at the same time you didn’t. It wasn’t guilt. It was more complicated, but in the end, you didn’t dwell on it. You didn’t need to.

Rin stood in his spot motionless like a fallen angel’s statue, face hidden by a brush of his dark bangs. His eyes were fixed on the floor and his hands were clutching onto his pants like if he removed them hell would break loose.

His plan had backfired on him. Initially, he had chosen you, a commoner, as his fiancée to gain favour with the people, to appeal to the majority of Aquaria’s population, who were commoners themselves. It seemed like a strategic move at the time. His father, the Emperor, was known for his peculiar love for equality and would occasionally volunteer in villages, much to his dismay. Rin had believed marrying you would show his alignment with his father’s baffling… values, and would increase his chances of becoming the next ruler.

But no. His darn prodigy of a brother had bested him once again. Sae was better at everything: swordplay, horse riding, diplomacy, even winning nobles’ hearts. And now, his brother had not only fallen in love with his fiancée, a dumb commoner from the slums that he had chosen to boost his image, but also managed to make her fall heads over heels for him as well.

If that hadn’t infuriated him enough, he despised how his father wore that sickeningly proud smile on his face as he clapped his hands together, and how the couples were cheering and twirling like morons on the floor. While he stood stiff and awkward in the corner, insides seething in mixed emotions, hearing your stupid giggles and his brother’s irritatingly sweet reassurances of a better life with him. Sae had taken everything away from him, and it felt like salt being rubbed into an open wound.

But Rin hated his older brother, and he hated you too.

So on the night of your wedding, the chambermaid in your room let out a blood-curdling shriek, her face as pale as the moonlight that shone through the window. 

Cruel streaks of mulberry and plum bruises painted the delicate canvas of your neck. The once-pure white of your nightgown now blemished with spreading stains of deep cherryrose dye called blood, seeping through the fabric and into the silken sheets beneath. 

A severed porcelain horse’s head lay propped beside the body with vacant eyes, and scattered across the carpet were shattered remnants of a pearl necklace.

“But Do not be Fooled, One Shall Not Bloom,”

A dagger, its handle carved from true blue sapphire, was loosely wrapped between cold, limp fingers of a lifeless corpse sprawled across a river of red.

“For This, Will Lead to One’s Gentle Doom.”

© 2024 bluelockmaniac — do not repost, copy, translate, modify, etc my work on any platform !

[ja3hwa]

♡ 𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐞 | 𝐉.𝐘𝐇 ♡

Day Twenty-Eight - Werewolf Au

【Synopsis】 : With Rogue's hot on the packs trail, Yunho had to make a tough decision. He needed to be able to know you could handle yourself even when you were away from him. So weekly training sessions became your new normal. But tonights training session went a little of course...

『Word count』 :  2.43k

-> Genre: Smut. Supernatural.    

Pairing: Werewolf!Yunho x Human!Reader

[Warnings] : No Prep. Unprotected rough sex. Kinda public (they fuck in the woods at night). Making you. Marking and claiming. Dirty talk. Pet name. Slight primal/prey play. Mention of blood, wounds, and death.

Networks: @cromernet @wonderlandnet @illusionnet @k-vanity

Thank you @kwanisms for the yunho pic in the banner hehe. I love it so muchh ♡♡♡

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The moon hung high in the ink-black sky, casting a low glow over the dense forest surrounding the pack's territory. You had never imagined that you'd become a part of this world—filled with wolves, ghouls and creatures alike who held the ancient power of their own history and lineages. The warmth of the pack's care and family nature enveloped you quickly, letting you fit in quickly, but nothing compared to the electrifying bond you had with Yunho.

Your Soulmate.

Yunho was unlike anyone you'd ever met, his presence was commanding, yet tender; his laughter was infectious, and his deep-set brown eyes held a world of mystery and desire. When he revealed to you that he was a werewolf, you actually didn't believe him. You knew there had to be something more than pure attraction but when he confessed you were soulmates you almost laughed. You weren't one to put faith in fate or bonds so otherworldly, let alone the supernatural.

Him shifting into a wolf quickly changed your mind. You were both fascinated and terrified when his wet snout brushed against you in a reassuring manner. But it was a heart-stopping moment when he leaned in, burying his face in your hair, nuzzling against you as you let out a burst of loving laughter that was contagious and with that everything changed. From that day forth, you became inseparable, your connection deepening every hour and every day spent together.

However, the tranquil and quiet life—well as quiet and peaceful a life as werewolves were—What you were building with him and his pack was suddenly disrupted when whispers of rogue werewolves starting to hunt near the pack territory and soon after attacking pack members. These rogues were seeking to dismantle the bonded circle that created strength out of unity, and you, being the only human, became their prime target. Fear clawed at your chest, along with the others in the pack but it was Yunho's determination to protect you to surge forth like a fierce tide and come up with a game plan.

Train you as if you were a wolf.

Of course you wouldn't be able to shift but if you had the fighting and sensory training young pups go through then you could at least navigate to safety or block any attacks.

So every day and night blended into an exhaustive training regimen for you, your body aching from the drills he insisted upon. Yunho was relentless; he showed you how to fight, to protect yourself. Yet, one particular night, the focus of your lesson shifted from physical strength to harnessing her instincts.

“Close your eyes, Darling,” Yunho instructed, his voice a low rumble in the stillness as he stood with his arms crossed watching you closely. “Trust in your other senses.”

You followed his directive, but frustration gnawed at you as you struggled to absorb the lessons. “Yunho, it’s not working,” you sighed, exasperated. How were you ever going to use your hearing to define footsteps let alone ffind your way out of the thick forestry. You felt completely useless.

“Don’t give up,” he replied gently, stepping closer, his presence radiating strength and warmth. He loosened his arms, running his fingertips along your arm lovingly. Your heart raced as you looked around into the dense forest, your senses trying to heighten but all you could suddenly think about was the man in front of you. Trying to rely on your hearing and smell to navigate alone had been proven more difficult than either of you could anticipate. It seemed your human limitations held you back a lot more and it was growing more and more frustrating every second of this time. "You'll get there, love," Yunho reassured you, his deep voice echoing through the trees. "It just takes practice."

You sighed, your annoyance and anger in yourself was evident. But then it was like in a sudden moment of boldness, you smiled, a mischievous glimmer in your eyes as an idea popped into your head. "Remember that time you told me about your scent cravings?" You teased, your voice laced with a hint of seduction. "How your wolf goes wild when you catch my scent?" You nuzzled into his neck, breathing in the comforting scent that was so uniquely him. The deep growl that grumbled deep from him made your heart skip, a reminder of the beast so close to the surface beneath his human facade. With your hands gently trailing down his firm chest, you tilted your head up to plant a playful kiss on his cheek, sweetly covering him in the smell of you.

Yunho's eyes narrowed, his wolfish nature stirring within him. "I recall," he panted lightly, his voice low and dangerous. "And I told you never to run if that happens." Your smile grew wider, your eyes sparkling with excitement as you looked up at him with desire swimming in your gaze. His breath hitched, his eyes darkening with a wild intensity. “Don’t you dare,” he punctuated every word he warned, the edge of his voice teasingly stern yet laced with underlying lust. A part of him wanted you to try. Try and run and see how you far could get. See if you could outsmart him.

With a laugh bubbling in your throat, you made a break for it, your laughter echoing through the forest as you darted between the trees, the thrill of the chase sending electricity crackling down your spine. The moment you took off, Yunho’s instincts kicked in, his eyes glowing yellow and his teeth being barred. The world around you blurred as the feral side of him unleashed, the chase transforming into a primal dance of predator and prey. Cat and mouse. Wolf and human.

Each step brought you further into the woods, the sounds of the night merging with the pounding of your heart. You could hear Yunho’s footsteps behind you, powerful and deliberate, an echo of his determination to catch you. The thrill only spurred you on, each breath a reminder of how alive you felt in this very moment. You weaved through the forest, relying on your other senses for the first time to guide you. The rustling of leaves, the faint sound of a distant stream, and the earthy scent of the forest floor—all became your allies in this game of chase. But little did you notice, Yunho was no ordinary werewolf. With lightning speed, he closed the distance between you, his powerful legs propelling him forward with need. Your heart pounded as you realised your mistake too late. You had underestimated just how fast he could be and in a blur of motion, before you could react, Yunho's arms encircled your waist, pulling you fiercely against him as you both collided into the sturdy trunk of a large elm tree. Breathless laughter spilled from your lips, but it quickly morphed into a sharp intake of breath when he pinned you there—a primal need to claim you.

In that charged moment, Yunho leaned forward, burying his face in your neck, inhaling deeply as if he wanted to savour every part of your essence. The sudden contact sent a jolt of desire through your body. Yunho's eyes blazed with an intense hunger, his wolfish instincts taking over. His sharp teeth suddenly grazed your neck, sending shivers down your spine. The sensation was electric, and you felt your body responding to his touch, your skin tingling with anticipation. “Mine,” he growled, his voice becoming guttural with need, the thrill of the chase still fresh in his eyes.

“Always,” You whispered, lost in the depth of his gaze, feeling the fervour of their bond that decorated your neck. Your breath quickened, your eyes locking with his intense gaze watching as he tried to calm himself down. But your hand found his cheek almost egging him on, "I want you to lose control, Yunho," You whispered, your voice barely audible. "I want to feel you, all of you."

Your confession caused Yunho's hands to roam over your body roughly, tearing at your clothing with an urgency fueled by his primal needs. Fabric fell to the forest floor, leaving your front bare for his fingers to trace along the curves of your waist, the swell of your breasts, and the soft skin of your inner thighs, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. You arched into his touch, your body yearning for more. To be close and away from the cold air of the evening. "You're mine," he rasped, his breath hot against your ear. "I’ll always protect you. No one will ever touch you.”

You didn’t know whether his words were for you or his own needs but without any other further warning, Yunho lifted you, his strong hands gripping your thighs, and positioned you against the rough bark of the tree. The cool night air caressed your exposed skin, heightening your senses feeling overwhelmed by unlocking a side of yourself you’d never thought about before until you met him... Your breath hitched as you felt his hardening cock pressing against your soaking core, a throbbing reminder of the desire coursing through him.

Pushing your torn panties off your body, feeling the burn of the fabric snapped off your sensitive skin you watch Yunho use his inhuman strength to hold you up against the tree with one hand resting under your ass while the other unzips his pants to help his cock spring free from it confinements. His glowing yellow eyes bore holes into yours as he watched your expression, looking for anything to tell him no. But when he only found need and lust he buried himself deep within you in one swift thrust. Your screams echoed into the forest, feeling yourself being stretched and filled by your wolfy boyfriend so quickly. Your body was trembling as you welcomed the invasion of this thick cock, your inner walls clenching around him in a tight embrace. The sensation was overwhelming, a raw, primal connection that sent sparks of pleasure coursing through both your and his veins. “Fuck..So..b-big…”

Yunho's movements were rough, his animalistic nature taking over as he pounded into you without another care, each thrust driving you both closer to the edge within seconds. This was unlike the care he would normally give you. the way he would normally take the time to prep you, love you, ease you. But this was different. This was quick, impatient and raw. Your nails dug into the bark, leaving crescent-shaped marks as you struggled to keep yourself grounded amidst the torrent of pleasure feeling your whole body tense up and skin be mauled by the tree behind you.

Yunho could smell your blood, smell your slick, see the sheen of sweat soaking your body dripping down to your breasts that bounce with each snap of his hips. "Oh, fuck, Yn," Yunho groaned, his voice a mixture of pleasure and desperation. "You feel so good, so tight around me."

Your head fell back, your jaw slacked as you surrendered to the sensations of painful pleasure. "Yes, Yunho," You panted, your voice laced with desperation. "Harder, please, I need you."

Yunho obliged, his hands gripping your hips possessively as he slammed into your abused cunt again and again. The rough tree bark continued to scrape against your back, adding a delicious sting to the pleasure building within you. Everything felt so animalistic, completely feral. You’ve never had such a feeling brew in the pit of your stomach and you knew it was going to become a feeling you’d be craving for the rest of your life. Your body trembled, your pussy clenching around his twitching cock, pleading for release. To milk him for his worth. He couldn’t feel you were close to the edge, reaching down to your clit to rub quick small circles causing your eyes to roll back into your skull as your tongue poked out with drool dripping down your chin.

"Cum for me, Baby," Yunho demanded, his voice thick with desire. "Let me feel you cream around my cock."

Your breath caught in your throat as the pleasure overwhelmed your being, a silent scream following. Your body trembled, every nerve ending alive with the sensation of him. With a final, powerful thrust, Yunho triggered your orgasm making your body convulse in ecstasy as you squirted all over him. Feeling the liquid run down your ass while he dripped down his thighs, staining his pants deliciously. As your high rippled through you, Yunho's own release was imminent. His thrust suddenly picked up once more, his wolfish growl filling the night air as he emptied his thick load deep within your tight sensitive pussy, marking you as his in the most primal way possible.

Breathless and satisfied, they remained entwined, your heartbeat matching his as it pounded loudly into the calming night. Your body was completely glistening with sweat, your skin flushed from the intensity of your successful encounter with your lover. You finally lulled your head up so you could look at Yunho. His eyes screwed shut as he basked in the feeling of your cunt still tightly clenching around him. Your lips sought his in a passionate kiss, tasting the wildness that still lingered on his tongue. But as your hand came to cup his cheek you could feel him finally physically relax, all the pent-up adrenaline finally dying down.

“Got you,” He whispered out a playful growl, his wolf rising to the surface for a moment, eyes still vibrantly shimmering like molten gold. Yunho’s lips crashed again, against you, the feverish kiss igniting the very depths of your soul. The rawness of his need sent shockwaves through you, captivating you, reminding you of the claim you hold on one another. You melted against his broad chest, the heat of your bond swirling with the love of the moment.

As you broke apart, breaths mingling in the cool night air, you couldn’t help but smile up at him. “I think I’ve discovered my other senses,” You whispered, your heart racing as you began to giggle.

“Seems like it,” Yunho replied, his expression softening with a bright puppy-like smile. He too couldn’t help but smile, but he still held onto the edge of ferocity. “But remember, it’s not just about running. It’s about standing your ground. You’re one of us now.” The full moon shone down on you and your lover, a silent witness to the intense connection between both of you. You nodded a newfound determination solidifying within You. Together, you would face whatever darkness threatened your pack, your family.

[swifty-fox]

the blanket for extra padding takes me out

Okay but have you seen the clip of the aussie dressage guy in the mankini. Shane Rose? Because i dont think gale would but im losing at that being someone on his or another countries team

I had not seen it before this made me look it up 😂.

Gale definitely would not do that, but let’s pretend someone else on another team did. Bucky would ask Gale about it, first if he’s seen it. Then he’d ask if that’s typical for the sport (no). And then he’d ask if Gale’s ever done it or if he would, and Gale would just… face palm. Look of disgust. Mixed with confused and exasperated laughter. Feelings of discomfort down there at the mere prospect. Bucky would ask why not, tell him he’s no fun and that he thinks it would be a good look. And Gale would turn all red and refuse to talk to Bucky for a few minutes.

I’ll link an article for those curious. Some highlights:

“Sport’s governing body confirms that [Shane Rose] has not breached its code of conduct.”

And “Shane Rose… who caused a stir when he wore a mankini in competition, has been cleared to continue his preparations for the Paris Olympics after apologizing for the eye-opening stunt, while warning others about the pitfalls of wearing a G-string on horseback.”

Wtf 😂

[habken]

Okay- no idea how much you know/have researched into figure skating, but as an ex figure skating coach i LOVE your battle-of-the-blades au. Specifically i couldn't get the idea of Jeanist having Bakugou practicing jumps on a harness (which, if you don't know, is well, a harness, connected to a pulley that the coach will yank, which helps skaters perfect their form/learn technique either on or off ice. Like the jumps version of training wheels, but for getting proper height (and thus rotation) on jumps lol.) out of my head xD Specifically cause i've KNOWN so many skaters who LOATHED the harness and would much rather just careen head-first into new jumps and fall a bunch/potentially get injured rather than practice properly, and i can TOTALLY see Bakugou being one of those people lol!

my figure skating knowledge is not very vast, so I love this so muchh thank you !! He's definitely the type to wanna jump (heh) into things

[aychama]

I'm not done yet obviously but hey! I'm working on a lil gift for you!! Love your AU so muchh 👀

I was about to sleep and the way this made my eyes bulge open i- dhıshwo9ehı1jdjrldşale 👁👁

This looks soooo good already.!?!?!??!?@? Both of their expressions?!?!?!? NARINDERS PRETTY ASS EYES?!?!??!?!?!?!?

[nessieartss]

just wanted to say i love the little details of your sibling au, most of all in the 'someone's going to die' 'of fun!' art how Yuji's hair changes between the two, from down in his normal style when holding Sukuna back, to pushed up and spiky like Sukuna when he's the one saying 'someone will die' p l e a s e i live for the little details in art like that, you're so amazing 🫂✨❤

Oohh thank you so muchh!! I like to think everytime yuuji gets angry/serious (which is rare) he runs his hand through his hair without realizing it. He would look the exact same like sukuna that people would think they're twins but no

[starlightazriel]

hey boo!!! how are you ?

BTW , I just wanted to say how much i loved your az and lucien fics <333 and- if reader and az have a lover already then how the hell are they supposed to get together? TBH az would NEVER cheat on his partner, and i love how az was like i cant take her to velaris cause of rhys and nyx, and the next moment hes taking her to velaris Also... An angsty fic idea: Az gets with elain and doesnt realize who his mate is and turns out its someone he knows but hes already broke her heart or az has a mate but then elain comes and tries to get between them , i think you get the idea right (i love me some angstt) HAHA i love you so muchh <3

ong i love you<3 thank you for being so concerned hehe

well first off if you've read my modern aus you know i love a good toxic cheating moment HAHA IM SICK IN THE HEAD I KNOW

secondly, reader is never going home she's stuck in prythian so as far as i'm concerned that's her ex HAHAH

third that's not really az lover per say i meant it like his fuck buddy but in prythian terms i think it's just called a lover? my idea was that after the whole bonus chapter scene and everything that happened az became a little bit risqué and has been taking many lovers, don't worry he doesn't owe anything to his spring fling

AND LMFAO I KNOW RIGHT HAHAHA cus truly AZ don't give a fuck he does what he wants

and i'm literally the queen of angst hehehehe i have so much on my plate with little time to write but i will keep this in mind thank you so much for the love boo im so glad you enjoyed

ps necessities part 2 should be up tonight <3 part 9 of the bee series is heavy and going to take me some time i love i love i love you

[d8nielaa]

please could i request a sky lakota-lynch fic! please just any type of fluff, maybe going on a date then ending up in bed cuddling? tysm🩷

Authors Note: Absolutely! I love sky so so muchh.

Date Night: Sky Lakota-Lynch x fem!reader

"y/n/n" - your nick name

It was Saturday, and Sky was home. Which was rare for a broadway actor but he had requested the day off work today to just rest. So, I decided to surprise him. With a date. We haven't gone on one in a while and with the musical finally getting the recognition it deserves, I thought it'd be nice to celebrate and also relax a little bit. Sky was currently sitting on the couch of our apartment. For the first time in a while, everything felt peaceful. Despite living in the bustling city of New York, it felt oddly calm. It's still warm outside, so I thought we could go take a walk in the park, maybe get coffee and whatever else we find. It's not the best date I came up with, but it works. I walked over to where Sky was sitting, and got ready to ask him. I was nervous, I don't know why.

"Hey Sky?"

"Hiiii y/n/n, what's up?"

"Well, I know you've been super busy with the show and everything and this is like your only day off for a while... I was wondering if you wanted to..go on a date? You don't have to say yes of course cause I know your so tired and everything and you-you work so hard so I can't blame you and I know being on broadway is really draining-"

I began to ramble, something that I did when I was nervous. I don't know why, but I kind of felt bad for asking Sky if he wanted to go out on his only day off. I continued rambling until Sky cut me off.

"y/n/n stop, take a breath." Sky said, standing up from the couch and walking over to me. I nodded my head, taking a deep breath just like he said.

"Yes, I'll go on a date with you." He replied with a soft smile, which caused a soft blush to rush to my cheeks.

"Okay, okay!" I replied, now excited and relieved that he said yes. We quickly got ready and made our way out the door, hand in hand like always.

After about 20 minutes of walking, we made it to our favorite coffee shop. Sky ordered for me like always as I stood behind like always. We sat down at a table and started talking.

"It's been forever since we went out." Sky said, a soft smile on his face as he reached his hand across the table and placed it on mine.

"I know, I miss doin' stuff like this with you. I miss you." I said, giving him the same smile in return as I squeezed his hand.

"I know, I miss you to. I'm sorry, I wish I could do more." Sky said, now feeling bad for not being able to take me out as much as he wanted to.

"Hey hey, stop. None of that. Its not your fault Sky, I know your a busy person. Your job is important, but it's also draining. So I wouldn't mind if you wanted to just rest." I replied, immediately stoping him from beating himself up over it. Sky gave me sad smile, and I leaned over to give him a kiss on his forehead.

"It's okay, you have nothing to be sorry for. Besides, I love watching you sing."

Soon enough, our orders were done and we left for the park. Once we got to the park, we sat on the bench and talked for what seemed like hours. We laughed, we smiled. We made each other feel loved. Once the sun began to set, we made our way home. Once we were home, I kicked off my shoes and took off my shoes, before laying down in our shared bed, feeling tired already. Maybe a nap would do. Sky followed suit and soon plopped on the bed next to me. He pressed himself against me and wrapped his arms around me, spooning me like he did almost every night. I felt his lips press soft, chaste kisses on my neck. I sighed in peace as I let his love and the warmth of his body take over me.

"I love you," Sky whispered, still kissing my neck.

"I love you more Sky." I replied, a soft smile creeping it's way onto my face.

"Not possible." He whispered back, causing a soft laugh to escape from my lips before we calmed down and soon enough fell asleep.

Authors Note: Yayyyy! My first fic ever!! Sorry if this isn't very good, I'm still getting used to writing but hopefully as I start to write more I'll get the hang of things. I hope you enjoy, sorry that it's short!

[inkdemonapologist]

Okayy I have a question, I love your Escape au so muchh aa its my fav au its amazing I've read every post about it and my question is you said something like crew would leave the house after sometime when they are ready its probably gonna take a long time foe Sammy ro recover to move on but what about Jack? Would he have a separate life or go with sammy?

I like to imagine Sammy and Jack are going to stay together as long as they’re both alive, and once they’re ready to try to live their own life, they’ll get a little house together not too far from Henry.

There was a comment I made once, half-joking, that instead of completely changing their names to escape their JDS history, they just swap last names to use the names of real life songwriters Jack Lawrence and Sammy Fain -- but when I mentioned this to @threadedsafetypin she wrote some really sweet ideas about this secretly being a way for each of them to take each other’s last name. It’s practical, too, of course, but they both know they actually mean it in a marriage way, and I got really attached to that concept actually.

[larzuen]

Holii, I'm using a translator lol sorry if it's misspelled. Anyways the wally x y/n in your au can it be possible?, I love your work 💗😭

Thank you so muchh !✨ and yes! Wally x Y/N stuff Is allowed In my AU!

but If anyone Is going to make content of It, my only rule Is to NOT make COTV!Wally this possessive yandere boy as It makes me extremely uncomfortable and Its a common reoccurring thing for Wally x Y/N stuff that I've seen for some reason 😭

[that-foul-legacy-lover]

I MISS YOU AND THIS BLOG A LOT TBHH!! I had to take a break from stuff TT^TT slow recovery and coping with mothman.. But I hope you've been doing well :3 :3

What's funny is that I think about both normal AND tsundere mothman and how he'd react and it's just so sillyy, this creature's one weakness is one (1) sour fruit. offers a slice of lemon and this creechur is fluffed up, glaring, and will move back if you push it close to him bHJVFHJFVHJF

Ngl every possible mothman AU I have in my head with this concept is cute and silly, one of them is a smol scenario where FL is like a little Endora~ (Possibly has two forms but that's for another time :3c) You offer a lemon while you're eating with Childe, watching this smol moth suffer the moment it licked or bite it </3 istg I love Foul Legacy so muchh

- 🩹 anon ~

i hope you are feeling so much better anon i am patting you on the shoulder right now!!

in any universe, Foul Legacy's greatest most feared enemy is a lemon. doesn't matter how big or small he is, lemons are his NEMESIS!! it's particularly egregious because lemons smell so good, and lemon zest tastes nice and light, but the pulp of the lemon- the FRUIT of the lemon tastes awful!! it makes his face scrunch up and he will genuinely hiss at the lemon if you happen to be holding one. lemonade is on THIN ice, you have to add a goodly amount of sugar to it in order to get Legacy to take a sip, or else he sticks his tongue out at it

if he ever finds out how much lemon juice BURNS when squeezed into any cuts or scrapes, oh, he hates them even more. what if you have a papercut!! and you're slicing lemons and suddenly it starts stinging because that horrible heinous fruit decided to be oh so acidic!! he insists on checking your hands for any wounds, no matter how small, before you even think about touching any lemons. if he sees anything he quickly nudges you away from the kitchen, sitting you down on the couch and curling up on your lap so you can't move. no stinging cuts on his watch!!

[startagainaprologue]

haii haiii haiii!!!!! jus wanted to say i think you’re really cool and neat and i love your art style so muchh!!!! also also also!!!!! im gonna be making an au and doing an art for it but after that,,, is it alright if i draw your ageswap au sillies. cuz. i love em so muchh!!!!! its such a wonderful au,,, they all so shmoobly goobly,,,

AWAHHH????THANK U SO SO MUCH??? and ABSOLUTELY THAT IS ALRIGHT !! jsut @ me and the others working on the AU we !!will be joyousses.

[spongeyyyyyycattohhhhh]

OMG I've just read the KOM!DJ fic and I'm already fanning over it, especially cuz there's not so much about DJ on he platform

Anyways, like your fics so much and hope you keep writing them!!

AAAAAAAA i'm glad you like it!!! KOM!DJ is my first AU that makes him the main character, I KNOW YOU GUYS DESERVE THIS, ESPECIALLY THE ONES WHO LOVES DJ!!! (GIVE THE GUY SOME LOVEEEEE). And i agree DD:, there is not much DJ centric fics around there :<<<.

I'm so excited for you guys to continue reading my KOM!DJ because like CS!Alan, he actually has lore in this one hehehehe! (I hopeeeee KOM AU will be able to live up to it's predecessor XDD)

And thank you for liking my fics, oh man im getting teary :'DDD. I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCHH!!!!

[downbadreading]

Ateez fic recs

some of this is mature themed so MDNI!

first of all, there's a lot more and i will edit it time by time! thanks for the authors for writing such a great fic that make me enjoy reading so muchh

my main fic recs is here!

THE LEGENDARY FIC IS MIST OF CELESTE BY @hongism (m)

-i've been dying to do this i always think whenever i do my own fic recs this fic MUST be on the very top because it's insane i'm telling you who never heard of moc???

OT8 / ateez x reader

SUBTLE VARIATIONS OF HEARTBREAK by @nonclassyparty (m)

please read this. I am begging. the heartbreak i feel for each chapter??? INSANE. MUST READ AND REREAD.

the answer by @berryunho (m)

A CULT. A HOT CULT LEADER YET I AM ONE THE VERGE TO CRY BECAUSE HOW GOOD IT IS.

into the aurora by @honeyhotteoks (m)

this is so cute. super cute. i'm having emotional attach. btw part 2 is coming soon so if you're done with the first part, stay tuned! it's a poly ateez fics!

like the moon by @sunmoonjune

poly ateez x female oc. i love this. i love bug. i want to protect her so badly i will kill for her. what i really like about this fic is it's so wholesome. read this and you will understand, I SWEAR.

Seonghwa

love is gone by @ateezmakemeweep (m)

i have no words. it's not yet done, but i really love this story. there's another must read story SO PLEASE CHECK THE MASTERLIST

read for me by @pirateprincessblog (m)

(fem reader x best friend's father) this one heheheh it's so fucking hot like you don't get it it's just another tier i'm kicking the ceiling jaw on the floor while reading it.

Wallflower by @tenelkadjowrites

This is not just a sexual thing between an officemate okay it's more than that because i'm so invested on this story. mc and nerdy hwa is so cute and sexy when it come to the time there's four part of this fic!

Accidental Destiny by @hoonieversed (crying throwing up because this blog has been deactivated)

based on how to train your dragon and YEAH IT'S TOOTHLESS HWA (shifter) with healer reader i love the concept

Hongjoong

paradise lost by @setsugekka (m)

i will cry. this fic is so special to me because it changes my reading style and that's how good it is. i remember all the reread session i did before this because I AM OBSESSED.

bla bla bla by @yoongiseesawmp3 (m)

Stylist reader x idol hongjoong their relationship make me wanna cry it's sooooooo good

game of thrones au by @wordstro (m) eventually i think

I'm a sucker for got. even for hod. a fic starring my favourite group with my favourite series? i'm super duper in. there's one part leave from this fic, it contains four part! (and i'm not ready for the ending yet actually)

yunho

the meaning of 'jeong' by @hwaightme

ANYONE JUST KICK ME THIS IS SO URHHHHHH HOW DO I SAY THIS YOU MUST READ IT FIRST AND THEN WELCOME TO A ROLLERCOASTE RIDE OF EMOTIONS

yeosang

laces by @ttalgiwooyu (M)

This makes me blush for soooo long i wanna die. and read it again.

san

ginger and cinnamon tea by @cheollipop (m)

THIS ONE IS SUPER CUTE. AND HOT sick san and caring partner (along with woo's nonsense idea) this is a must read!

2 a.m. || Choi San by @mingigoo (m)

where do i start? idol san with make up artis reader is so hot.

in this place, full of lies: series masterlist by @wordstro (m)

i'm on my knees. the impact this series have on me. the fact i read it on one sitting and it takes hours. YET SO WORTH IT. I LOVE IT. SO MUCH. TO THE CORE. this one is post-apocalyptic world, and i love it.

Say what you want,be my people pleaser by @chokchokk

Still ongoing but the writer can have my kidney for this story I'm so invested you don't understand this is the falling with your fwb when he doesn't (yet idk it's my wild guess) and conflict here and there my I love this way tooooo much

mingi

series 2: sector one of itpfol by @wordstro

-this one is still ongoing and not yet started but it's on a same masterlist as the s1 with different y/n BUT IT'S ON ITPFOL UNIVERSE SO FIGHT ME

wooyoung

i wish you would by @multiland (M)

THIS? so good. so fucking cute and wholesome and hot and bother me so much. reader here is like frustrated with woo because he keep flirting that lead to a situation (NOT GONNA SPOIL IT BUT HOLY SHIT)

° good lil boy by @sorryimananti-romantic

I read this fic at 3 in the morning. By the time I'm finished with it, it's nearly 4 (or past already) and I can't sleep because this fic is so super duper good. Prince wooyoung and princess y/n (different continent they're not related!!!) And I love their banter so much

jongho

PLEASE SUGGEST ME SOME

multi member

starring roles by @nonclassyparty (san and mingi) (m)

BIG CLAP FOR THIS ONE. you know this is more y/n centered like i couldn't care less with who she ended up with i want her to be happy and be her. i root for her and i will kick anyone who mess with her on their ass. (i do care ofc but you know what i mean y/n is everything for me!)

not all that glitter is gold by @the7thcrow (seonghwa, san, wooyoung and reader) (m)

a great storyline. a super duper great one. i can go on days about this fic and the backstory of each of them. IT'S INSANE! eventually poly!