#courting the crown mc

[courtofcrescent]

Hiiiii D ❤️

Okay get ready for a long winded one. I apologize in advance and also hope you are well btw 😇

Okaaaay sooooo. I read your marriage ask, so i have a few questions:

You mentioned if MC and Mallory are the same gender then he would need to take a concubine or would need to have that conversation late to produce an heir and also that MC may be his consort but that doesn't mean there wont be other concubines.

1. If MC is a female and they are on Mallory's route, would that change anything? Or would they still want to take on concubines?

And

2. if MC and Mallory are the same gender then they would likely need to produce an heir, right?

Awwwwwkwaaard conversation to have with your husband yikes 😬 😅 especially if you are on their romance route. Can't imagine it's a great image to have in your head.

3. If MC and M are not romantic and just have a friendship and MC takes on a different lover and M also has concubines how would that work. I suppose mc can't have kids with their chosen lover? But Mallory can have kids with a concubine if they don't produce one with mc?

Or did i get that mixed up? Lol, i doubt you have an idea of what I'm on about? 🤔🤣

Also realized now after pressing send i erased the i from your name when adding the heart ❤️ 🤦‍♀️😭

I'm sorry.

----

(Here's the marriage ask in question!)

Hiii dearest Liz!

Haha don’t apologize! I absolutely adore a long ask 😆 Also I’m doing fantastic—hope you are too! And no, you're not entirely wrong. Here’s a detailed answer under the cut!

If MC is female and on Mallory Romance Path, Mal will only take (or plan to take) concubine(s) if MC doesn’t want to have a biological child of their own. Worry not, Mal won’t have any romantic—or even platonic—feelings towards the future concubine(s)! Mallory’s heart will solely belong to MC (but he’ll still fucking the concubine in this path tho, sooo yeaa).

You’re correct! If MC and Mallory are the same gender, he’ll automatically take concubine(s) to produce an heir. But just like in the first case, Mal (if romanced) won’t have any affection for the future concubine(s)! And yes, it's still definitely not a great image to have in your head lol.

If MC is female and not on Mallory Romance Path, there will be an option to produce an heir out of duty to the crown. If you choose this option, Mal won't take any concubine because the deed will be done. If you don't choose this option, then Mal will take concubine(s).

Addendum to (3): just as MC can have opinions about Mal’s future concubine(s), Mallory will also have opinions about whom MC chooses as a lover! The dynamic may vary depending on who the MC’s lover is. Official lovers of the consort are mostly treated like concubines of the ruler, with the exception that consorts and lovers are prohibited from having children together. That’s the royal law, true. But since the founding of Luxendis thousands of years ago, do you think every past consort had a squeaky-clean record? 👀👀

Sooo if your MC meets one of the three conditions I’ve stated above—(1) if MC doesn’t want a child of their own blood with Mallory, (2) if MC and Mallory are the same gender, or (3) if MC doesn’t choose Mallory Romance Path plus combine with clause number 1—future concubine(s) will always be present in the plot. This particular MC cannot avoid this whole fiasco, I’m afraid.

The future concubine(s) plays a crucial role in producing the heir to the throne. Depending on your choices and relationship, MC can sway and influence Mallory’s decision or even have the final say on who will be chosen as the future concubine(s)! The consort has quite significant power in this matter, as only a consort can officially appoint any concubine (and only the ruler can officially appoint the consort’s lovers; I discuss this briefly here).

The future concubine’s role is vital, yes. But, what could happen once the role is fulfilled? We are at the Court after all, a lot of things can happen behind closed doors, Your Serene Highness 😉

Oh btw this whole fiasco will happen muchh laterrr in the story. The heir from the concubine may be born during the main story, but the heir from the MC will not. MC's child(ren) will only appear in the epilogue!

Pheww this is long haha! Hope this clarifies what you need 😆

Thank you for the ask! And don't worry about it, you can call me Di, D, Dee, or even :D (yes the smiley face) 🩶

[fictifile]

courting the crown / maeve’s route / part 6 of 6, the end of an era

[each-uisge-enthusiast]

world building is my favourite part of writing a book and what i’ll do is create these intense and detailed political settings and when i get to the actual plot i realise i have made the main character absolute milk toast in comparison to everyone else in the story so anyway meet the first few batches of political families of the faerie courts (plus uncle coria meme bc i was told she is serving dad on vacation energy)

[tsukii0002]

Mc: Diavolo

Diavolo: Yes Mc?

Mc: What did we say about the extravagant and more expensive gifts than my own life?

Diavolo: That you didn't feel comfortable receiving them... And that you were limiting them to once every 4 months.

Mc: Exactly, I wasn't clear enough?

Diavolo: No, no, you were very clear.

Mc: Then what is this? *seeking a crown full of sapphires from hell created in the depths of the deepest and most dangerous volcanoes of Devildom*.

Diavolo: A flower for a flower? Wait, it wasn't like that…

Mc: *sighing* Let's make a deal, I give this back to you and you buy me cheesecake, ok?

Diavolo: *happy demon noises* Sounds good to me.

.

.

The poor prince does not know how to court Mc in a non-demonic royalty

.

.

[harunayuuka2060]

MC: ...

A letter from Maleficia:

My Dearest Grandchild,

I trust you are in good health and high spirits. It brings me great joy to see how diligently you respond to my letters. I only wish your father would follow your fine example, though I suppose that is a hope long abandoned.

I know your studies demand much of your time, so I shall keep this brief.

When my royal duties allow, I am contemplating a visit to your school. Please anticipate this occasion, as I eagerly await the chance to meet you in person.

With all my love and affection,

Your Nana

Baul: I am sorry to inform you, Your Majesty, but that cannot be arranged.

Maleficia: Why is that? I have no pressing matters that require my immediate attention.

Baul: Your Majesty, your presence is greatly needed in the crown and the court.

Maleficia: I am fully aware of that, Baul. I shall not be absent for long. I simply wish to converse with my dear grandchild and will return at the earliest opportunity.

Baul: *doesn't believe her*

Baul: Perhaps we should wait for Their Royal Highness's answer?

Maleficia: *glares at him*

Maleficia: Are you trying to interfere with my plans, Baul?

Baul: No, Your Majesty. However, Their Royal Highness plans to visit you during their school vacation. Would it not be better for them to explore and experience Briar Valley instead of staying in their dormitory?

Maleficia: ...

Maleficia: You are right.

MC: Oh. Nana changed her mind.

Lilia: Thank goodness!

The rest of Diasomnia students: *sighed in relief*

MC: ...

[jinwoosbabyboo]

“Will You Marry Me?"

How I imagine LADS Men would propose. This is part 2 of 2. I tried to do the sweet elegant writing, but that ain't me so here you go....

Xavier

Our lover boy Xavier is a literal prince. I feel as though he'd be very traditional with his proposal. The only unfortunate part is he can't ask for your fathers/family blessing because you know .... Anyway :)

He would definitely court you for a week even if you’ve already been together for over a year. The day of his proposal he would take you to a spot only he knows that has zero light pollution. Of course it’s deep in the forest.

MC: If I didn’t know any better I’d say you’re trying to kill me and hide my body Xavier: You have such creative thoughts MC: Seriously where are we going? Xavier: Somewhere special MC: So mysterious even after a year of dating

He’d bring you to a clearing that seemed like it was being lit up by a spotlight. It’s not though he chose to propose on a night with a full moon and clear skies so you could see how beautiful the stars are without all the city lights.

MC: It’s otherworldly Xavier: This was my favorite place to come when I needed clarity MC: Why didn’t you show me sooner? Xavier: I wanted to save it for a special day MC: oh what are you going to propose or something?

You’d be laughing and boom he pulls a ring out of his pocket shutting you right up.

MC: Oh shit! You’re really proposing Xavier: Yes im really proposing

His speech is so sweet it could give you cavities not only would he emphasize how much he loves you he’d let you know just how much he is solely yours. Even if you were to one day forget him and how much he loves you he would still always be yours and would do anything to keep you safe & most of all happy.

Xavier: My lady will you marry me? MC: I want nothing more

He might’ve been sweet and soft spoken during his proposal but that shy boy facade went out the window when you two got back home.

Sylus

It’s canon that Sylus gets nervous when he wants to ask you out. So just imagine how nervous he is getting ready to propose! He already constantly gifts you pretty gems and the gifts just keep increasing over the course of 3 months.

He second guesses himself thinking you may say no so he keeps putting it off but continues to shower you in gifts, quality time, full body massages, shopping sprees, dinner dates, lunch dates, you name it he’s doing it, you want it he got it. He’d be spoiling you so much you’d have to sit him down and ask him what’s going on. He would dismiss your concerns of course.

MC: Are you guys leaving for a while? Kieran: Why do you ask? MC: Sylus has been acting weird I feel like he’s about to disappear again Luke: That was one time and boss only did that because you asked him to leave you alone MC: I know but I’m worried now Luke: Relax miss hunter you’re overthinking

The twins would indeed gaslight you while Sylus worked up the nerve to propose. When he finally has the nerve to do it he goes all out. I’m talking he'd rent out the most exquisite restaurant money can buy. A whole staff at your beck and call. He'd wine and dine you with delicious food and expensive wine. By the time dessert comes you'd want answers.

MC: You're leaving me aren't you Sylus: Jumping to conclusions are we? MC: I'm serious Sylus you haven't been yourself lately you're worrying me Sylus: I guess this is the part where I explain myself

With two snaps of his fingers the twins would rush out; Kieran placing a giant box bouquet of red roses in your arms and Luke placing a crown on your head before rushing out leaving the two of you alone.

MC: What's this? and what am I a Princess? Sylus: You are and I'd love to change your title to Queen MC: Stop are you....

I don't picture Sylus giving a long winded speech. I feel like he would be the type to write it down so you could cherish his words forever.

Sylus: Will you marry me Miss Hunter? You can say no if- MC: Of course I'll marry you

Yet again I'm tackling this man as soon as he slips that ring on. Need to be in his arms immediately. Expeditiously.

Zayne & Rafayel here…

[ataleofcrowns]

New Chapter Released!

Hello again! Hope your summer has gone well ☀️

With the public release of this new chapter, the romances are starting to intersect and interact with the main plot:

Unique paths for each love interest, encompassing a completely different plot event that the Crown will have to deal with

D and X's routes heavily involve the Imperial Court, where the Crown's previous choices on court positions will be first illustrated in the story

Meanwhile, R and A have unique events happening regarding some concerning magic that has left R in trouble, and an investigation that has lead A astray

Each route will force the Crown to make an important decision that will be remembered by their love interest. If you pick a bad choice here, even if you get a good romance later on, your love interest will remember it...

An additional note on this chapter: due to its sheer size and variability, I didn't have a chance to send it to my beta readers on time, so you may find more errors/bugs in it than what you're used to from me. Please report them in this Google Form or in the Discord server if possible!

Thank you for all your patience and support, I hope you enjoy the new chapter ✨

For those that are unfamiliar with the game

A Tale of Crowns is a high fantasy romance story, told in the form of a text-based interactive novel with choice mechanics. The setting is inspired by Kurdish culture as well as other historical settings in the Middle East such as Ancient Persia, but it also draws heavily from other cultures and countries in the region.

Your character is native to Arsur, a vast empire overseen by a single ruler known as the Crown. Unlike traditional monarchies, however, the title is not inherited through blood. Whenever the Crown dies, their famed golden eyes pass on to the one chosen by the Spirits of this world to be the new Crown. In this story, your MC takes on that role.

There are four different love interests to choose from, whose genders will be customized to suit the preferences of your Crown. You can find more info about them on the blog page!

Also note that this current version of the game is safe for those 16 years and older.

Like the premise so far? Play it and give it a try! The entire game is free!

If you enjoyed the game, please reblog! Share it with your friends! Recognition and reader interaction is just about the only thing I get in return for creating it ❤️

[rainsinheaven-if]

DEMO TBA - Q1 (Jan/Feb) 2025

First update will include: Prologue and Chapter One

Warnings: Blood and injuries, sexism, profanity, temporary character death, child neglect, parental physical and emotional abuse, optional sexual content, and more. Suitable for ages 16+. List will be updated in the future.

This game is in early development and a work in progress. There may be future changes to location names, plot etc.

You’ve never felt loved by your family before.

Born a twin but feeling more like a shadow, you’ve watched your younger brother, Nolan, receive all the love and praise you were denied. But no matter how unkind you are to him, Nolan’s loyalty and kindness towards you remains unwavering. It’s as if there’s a bond pulling you back everytime you think of leaving it all behind.

Now a mysterious illness has swept through Valorian Kingdom’s royal court, leaving many nobles, including the king at death’s door. The Oracle’s prophecy offers a single hope: the Crown Prince must gather five lost souls to join him in a dangerous journey towards Coven’s Swampy, an ominous and foreboding area hidden deep within the mystical forest.

You are chosen to be one of those five.

As you venture deep into the forest, the journey will push you to the limits of courage and loyalty, forcing you to question everything you believe about family and love. This might not just be a journey to save the day, but a journey towards self-discovery for you and everyone in your group. So when the journey ends, will there be anything left of the person who first stepped into the darkness? 

Customize your MC! Change your appearance and control your personality. MC starts out as female, but there will be transition options.

Grow a relationship with your twin! Choose to either continue being unkind to your twin brother or getting to know him instead. Your MC's relationship with him may affect some major events.

Develop relationships! There are six romanceable characters - 3 male, 2 gender selectable, and 1 non-binary. Or you can avoid romance and keep it all platonic.

Learn and improve your skills! With the option to choose to either be a mage, knight, or both, you can learn and improve your skills to become better at what you do.

Find yourself! Journey through the mystical forest to not only find a cure, but to self-discovery. There are plenty of secrets to learn about that may or may not change the way you think and feel.

More to be added…

Below are the six romanceable characters in this story. You can choose to flirt with everyone, but at one point, you'll have to decide on one. Also keep in mind that there are other important characters as well that are not listed here.

Ver/Vera Forrest | Gender Selectable | 21

Playful and energetic with golden-retriever-like energy, V is always ready for adventure. They never fail to be there for you when you need someone to rant to, or a shoulder to lean on. Their cleverness and sneakiness keeps them out of most trouble due to the way they were raised. And it’s exactly how they are raised that has made them hide their burden under their positive enthusiasm.

You are best friends, so why don’t you know any of her secrets? 

Oliver Astoran | he/him | 21

With a cold demeanor, Oliver holds a strong desire to protect the people he cares about, especially those whose kindness is exploited. Your unkind treatment towards your brother causes him to despise you. You are always able to press on the right buttons to rile each other up. He shows a strong sense of determination that marks his mental and physical strength. But perhaps there’s something more to the reason behind his behavior than what the eye sees.

Will you ever be able to see him in a different light, or will it just be fighting, fighting and more fighting?

Ethos Van Winston | he/him | 22

Burdened by the responsibility of being heir to the throne, Ethos is reserved, guarded, and serious. As a child, he was once carefree and one of your closest friends. But after an incident that left unspoken, lingering tension between you two, he now elicits a melancholic presence. His warm side is hidden away somewhere, and you wonder if there was more than just the incident that made him change.

You weren’t the reason he changed… right?

Theodore Eaves | he/him | 24

From a young age, Theodore’s life has been defined by duty and training. He’s mature for his age and has a tendency to act like an older brother to you and the group. He’s well disciplined and stoic, rarely having time to express vulnerability. His focus on duty has left him oblivious to romantic interest, despite his admired reputation due to his looks and status. His obliviousness goes further though, for reasons that he himself hasn’t fully discovered and understood.

Will you ever get to see a vulnerable side of him, instead of just that brotherly figure?

Mattie | they/them | 19

Curious as ever, Mattie often gets themselves into trouble. But with their charming personality and resourcefulness, they’re able to get themselves out of trouble. They are playful, enjoying the work of teasing others and instigating drama to get chaotic, and hopefully flustered, reactions. His skills and knowledge about the forest have proven him to be a good asset, but there is more to him than what meets the eye.

For someone who is so bright and playful, they can’t surely have anything to hide, right?

Yaran/Yara | Gender Selectable | 22

Nobody is sure they know who Y is. They seem ambitious, cunning, and deceiving; doing risky things to achieve their own goals at the cost of someone else’s pain. They are unpredictable, popping in and out of your group - sometimes being a guide, but other times hindering progress. Despite their ambiguity, they are charismatic and mysterious enough to leave your group intrigued. All there is to do now is truly learn who they are and what they have hidden inside.

Who is Y and can you trust them with anything, especially your life?

Demo | ROs Profiles

music inspiration

This is my first attempt at creating an interactive fiction game and using Twine Sugarcube. Please be patient and kind <3

Shares are appreciated :)

[azrielslittleslut]

"The Lost Queen" - Chapter 12

Azriel x Fem!Reader

Summary: A magical incident causes Azriel to unexpectedly tumble through a portal into modern-day Earth. Confused and injured, he is discovered by a compassionate human woman with a hidden past. She takes care of him and helps him discover the complexities of the modern world, completely unaware of who she truly is. Meanwhile, Azriel struggles with his conflicting desires: his duty to the Night Court and his growing love for the woman who saved him.

Their journey unfolds amidst ancient prophecies and the looming threat in Prythian. As they uncover the truth about forces conspiring against them, they must confront their deepest fears and make choices that will change their lives and the world forever.

Warnings: language, fluff, slight suggestiveness, violence, death (not mc), blood

Word Count: 6.2k

series masterlist

a/n: azriel in a flower crown... that's it. that's the post.

Enjoy!

You didn’t know what to expect flying would be like. You had been on one of those rides at the state fair, the one that had you strapped into a harness, suspending you in midair by a single cable. The moment you pulled the latch, you’d plummet toward the ground, only to be swung skyward by that taut line. You’d also been on a plane before, so you wondered if flying with Azriel might feel similar- smooth, graceful, perhaps even calming.  

You couldn’t have been more wrong.

Your squeal ripped through the night air as Azriel dipped low, his wings spread wide to catch with wind, the sudden drop making your stomach flip. The sensation wasn’t like anything you’d imagined- it was wild, exhilarating, and completely untamed. You could feel the sharp bite of the wind against your cheeks, your heart pounding in your chest as the ground rushed closer, only for Azriel to rise again. He held you tightly against him, and you could feel the warmth of his body radiating through the coat you had donned earlier.

Azriel caught an updraft, his wings carrying the two of you high above the city. Below, you could see the lights of Velaris shimmering, the river winding through the city, reflecting the soft glow of lanterns. You could barely make out the couples strolling, the faint hum of laughter and conversation. You could even hear the distant strains of music floating up, weaving through the air like a gentle lullaby.

The stars above sparkled like diamonds among the inky black sky, more brilliant than any you had ever seen.  

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” you admitted to Azriel, your eyes wide as you took it all in. “The stars are so… bright.”

Azriel chuckled, his wings flapping to keep the two of you steady. “Well, it is the Night Court. The stars are kind of our signature.” His tone was light, but there was a soft reverence in it, a quiet pride for the place he called home.

You craned your neck up to look at him, completely captivated by the sight of Azriel in his element. His shadows were still swarming his body and wings, seemingly content to enjoy a flight with their master. His face was softer than you’d ever seen it, open and at ease- so different from the stoic, unreadable mask he usually wore. The stars reflected in his hazel eyes, and a gentle smile tugged at his lips as he gazed down at his city.

Back in your world, Azriel had stood out like a sore thumb. You had thought that it was because of his size, as massive as he is, but it was more than that. It was simply that he truly didn’t belong there. He belonged here, in this beautiful place full of darkness and shadows and stars.

Mama Laveau had said that you weren’t born in your world, and now that you were here, you felt a calling, as if the very core of your existence belonged here. The wind, the stars, the soft hum of magic in the air- it all felt strangely familiar, like you were finding pieces of yourself you hadn’t even realized were missing.

 Was this the world you belonged in? Was Prythian your home?

“I can see why you missed this.” Your voice was so quiet you worried that it was drowned out by the wind.

Az pulled you closer, his strong arms tightening around you like iron. “Do you trust me?” he asked, his deep voice low. It sent a skitter of excitement down your spine, causing goosebumps to break out on your skin.

“Infinitely,” you replied.

You immediately regretted your words. Azriel, with a mischievous smile on his face, wrapped his wings around you, the wings he was supposed to use for flying, and the two of you plummeted toward the ground.

“Azzy!” you screamed as the wind whipped around you, but most of it was blocked by his wings. “I swear to God if you drop me-“ But your threat was cut off by the wild excitement surging through your veins.

Even as you could see the ground get closer and closer, you couldn’t deny the thrill of it. Deep down, you could feel the call of the wind and the sky. You remembered that fleeting feeling of freedom, as those wings had ripped from your back at your parents’ house. You recalled the dreams, the ones in which you were flying across a snowy mountain range, the voices of the people below chanting.

Rise up, rise up, rise up.

You gasped as Azriel snapped his wings wide, holding you close as you glided over the tops of the buildings below. You clung to him as he landed on the cobblestones, his feet so light that you barely felt the impact of his landing.

“I told you I wouldn’t drop you, love,” he murmured, his arms still tight around you.

“Well, you didn’t have to scare the shit out of me,” you grumbled as he set you down on your feet, his hands on your shoulders to keep you steady. “Do you think- do you think I will be able to fly? Since I have wings?”

Azriel’s eyes were wide as he glanced at your back, noting the current lack of wings. “If you can summon them again, I don’t see why not.” He ran a hand through his black hair, pushing the soft curls off his forehead. “You would have to learn, of course.”

You nodded in defeat, your shoulders sagging. “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe we should focus on Operation Defeat Evil Queen first.” You turned around, trying to keep Az from seeing the sadness on your face, but a warm hand on your shoulder stopped you.

“If you want to learn how to fly,” he said, “I can teach you. It would be my… honor to teach you.”

You couldn’t stop the smile that bloomed on your face. “Thank you for the offer, Azzy,” you said, turning back around to face him. “If all of this… madness is dealt with, you can teach me.”

Azriel pulled you in close, his lips pressed to your hair. “Not if, love. When.”

You breathed in his scent, letting it calm your nerves. He was right, of course. Being negative about the current situation wouldn’t help anything.

“So,” you said, stepping back and turning around to look at the city. “This is Velaris. The one from Serena’s painting.”

Looking at the city now, you could see why Azriel was so shocked at the painting. It was almost like Serena came here, took a picture of it, and went back and painted it exactly like the photo. You could see the same buildings made from white marble, sandstone, and red stone. You could see and smell the river, flowing through the heart of the city like liquid sapphires.

Azriel grasped your hand in his, his scars rough against your skin. You made a mental note to ask him again what on Earth had caused such damage to his flesh. “This is Velaris,” he agreed. “Also called the City of Starlight.”

The name from Serena’s painting. “When we were at Café du Monde, you said that Rhys had sacrificed a lot to keep this place safe.” The sound of laughter and children playing innocently in the streets echoed along the walls of the buildings. “What did you mean?”

A muscle ticked in Azriel’s jaw, and his eyes darkened with anger. “Do you remember at breakfast, when Rhys and Feyre were talking about the female?” He seemed unable to say her name.

You nodded, your feet moving as Az started to pull you gently down the street. “Yes. Amarantha.”

Azriel flinched. Whoever that female was… she must have done some horrible things. “She once considered herself the High Queen of Prythian. Five hundred years ago, there was a war between humans and faeries. At the time, they lived together, but some of the faeries, particularly some of the High Lords, kept human slaves. She was a General on the enemy side, the one in favor of slaves.”

The blood rushed from your face. You didn’t want to think of what it was like for the humans who were enslaved to beings as powerful as the Fae. “Did you fight in the war?” you asked, your voice small.

Az nodded once. “Not on the battlefields like Rhys and Cassian, but I had my own part to play.” His voice was dark, and you could tell he would speak no further on what he did during the war. “The war ended when a treaty was made between the mortal and faeries. It was so bloody on both sides that everyone agreed to sign it to end it all. After it was signed, Amarantha killed her own slaves instead of freeing them.”

You shivered as his words washed over you. “That’s… horrible.” Perhaps horrible was not a good enough word, but there were not any words to describe how awful that was.

Azriel continued on, lost in the story as the two of you walked, “One hundred years ago, she returned here as an emissary to Hybern, a country west of here. She managed to charm the High Lords with trade talks, but her real goal was to take Prythian as her own.” His expression darkened further, his gaze going near vacant as he recalled the past. “A little over fifty years ago, she threw a party, and all of the High Lords were in attendance. Rhys was there alone, so he had no choice but to bow to her when she took all of their powers as hers.”

You weren’t particularly fond of Rhys, but you couldn’t imagine what that must have been like for him. You had sensed the power radiating off him. This Amarantha must have been a real force to deal with if she was able to steal power like that. “What did he do then?”

Azriel ground his teeth, rage glittering in his eyes. “He made sure she didn’t know about this city,” was all he said.

Biting your lip, you looked down at the ground. “Was she the queen Nesta mentioned?” you asked, recalling the conversation at breakfast.

Surprisingly, Azriel huffed a laugh. “No,” he said. “That was a different one.”

Damn. What’s up with this place and evil queens?

You took a deep breath to calm your frazzled nerves. “What happened to her? Amarantha?”

“She was killed.” Az’s voice was as hard as stone buildings around.

So, she wasn’t the queen that Elain had mentioned. “Nesta said that a lot has happened in the last few years. Is that all of it?” You glanced up at him, noting how the wind had moved the hair away from his face. The lights from the city softened the hard angles of his face, and you had to fight the urge to run a finger along his jaw, his cheekbone.

“Part of it,” he said, meeting your gaze. Some of the light had come back into his eyes, and a small smile graced his full lips. “Are you sure you want to hear the rest of the story? I don’t want to ruin the mood.”

You stepped closer to him, happy to feel his body against yours. “I think I need to know these things, Azzy,” you said with a smile. “You know, since I live here now.”

You listened as Azriel talked, loving the sound of his deep voice. He spoke of Hybern and the Cauldron, pausing momentarily to explain how the Cauldron controls the life and fates of the people here. He talked about the battles, the wins and losses, his rescue of Elain, and the death of the King of Hybern. His voice dropped as he talked about Rhys sacrificing himself to restore the Cauldron, only to be brought back to life by the other High Lords. He explained how although the war was over, there were still remnants of it. People were still healing and grieving, while some were unhappy that it happened in the first place.

Once Azriel finished with the story, you were silent, content to listen to the sound of the river running close by. This world has truly been through a lot in the last few years. People had died, and Az and his family had been in the middle of it. Now, there was another evil force at work, and your heart broke at the thought of them being plunged into another conflict.

“Do you think there will be another war?” you asked once you had regained control of your thoughts. “With everything going on, it seems kind of inevitable.”

Azriel sighed, his wings drooping slightly. “I sure fucking hope not,” he groaned, his eyes on the city around him. “We will do whatever it takes to avoid another one.”

The two of you were silent after that, content to walk through Velaris. The night was chilly, but it seemed warmer here in the heart of the city. Children laughed as they chased each other, while families were gathered around the various shops lining the street.

There were bookstores, flower shops, and art galleries. You even spotted shops full of different weapons. Through the windows, you could see swords and knives, daggers and maces. Did Azriel know how to use any of those?

You remembered him asking if a dagger had fallen with him through the portal, and he had been visibly upset when you had told him it hadn’t. He didn’t know this, but you had even gone back to the bayou as he had slept that night, pulling back the weeds, searching through the water for it. With no luck, you had wandered back inside, your mind forgetting about it until now.

But Azriel still wore the sheath at his thigh, no doubt the home to his lost dagger, as if he expected it to suddenly return to him.

You smiled faintly as you listened to the music from earlier- louder now- and you could see a street performer playing a fiddle, the sharp notes floating through the air.

The moment was serene, so unlike the pace of the last few days. You hated to be the one to ruin it, but you still needed more answers.

“Azzy,” you murmured, turning your body to face him fully. “You still owe me an explanation.”

Azriel’s lips pursed, his attention pulled away from the laughing children as he looked at you. “I know,” he responded. “I’m assuming you’re talking about Serena seeing you in her dreams.”

You crossed your arms and nodded, waiting patiently for his explanation.

“I cannot express to you how sorry I am for that.” He took a step forward, gently cupping your face in his callused palms. “The only reason I can give you is that I was afraid to tell you.”

“Afraid of what?”

Az closed his eyes, and you saw the dark circles under them, a sign that he hadn’t been resting like he should. “Afraid of my feelings for you. I told you, at the ball, that when I’m with you I want to forget what I am, where I come from. I saw how simple your life was, and I envied it. But I also didn’t want to ruin that for you by telling you about the dreams and visions. I wanted to protect you. You see what is happening here, and I didn’t want to pull you in the middle of this. It was a bad call on my part, and a selfish one. I pray to the Mother that you can find it in your heart to forgive me for my stupidity, Y/N.”

As Azriel opened his eyes, you saw the sadness and guilt there. He truly was sorry. You tried to think if the roles had been reversed. Would you have hid the truth from him? Would you have done whatever possible to keep him safe and happy?

Yes, you decided. You would have done the same.

“Azriel,” you murmured, reaching your hand up to run a finger across his cheek. His skin was so soft. “I do forgive you. I forgave you the moment I saw you trying to protect me at my parents’ house. But you should know that I was afraid of my feelings for you, too. I was afraid of what I would face when you left, especially once I learned that something dark was happening here.” You paused for a moment, your eyes scanning his, hoping he could see the sincerity of your words through your expression. "We don’t have to be afraid anymore. We’re here now. Together. That’s all I care about.”

Azriel let out a breath, his body trembling as he pulled you against him. His lips met yours, and this kiss was nothing like earlier at the River House. This kiss was like the one at the ball, full of passion and tongue and teeth.

You leaned into him, groaning into his mouth as his tongue flicked against your bottom lip. The world went topsy-turvy as his tongue slid against yours, his hands running up and down your body, gripping your waist, gently cupping your breasts. You didn’t care that you were in the middle of the street in a crowded city. Your mind couldn’t focus on the fact that children were around, no doubt watching this unfold before their innocent eyes.

There was a feeling in your chest, a strange one, pulling you to him, filling your senses with Azriel and only Azriel. The strange sensation was enough to bring you back to reality. Slowly, you pulled away, slightly breathless as you said, “I need you to promise me something, Azzy.”

Azriel’s lips were red and swollen, his cheeks flushed. He looked so heartbreakingly beautiful like this. “Anything.” His voice was husky with desire as he spoke, sending a fresh wave of heat to your core.

Damn. This male has one hell of a bedroom voice.

“No more secrets between us,” you said, willing your desire-filled mind to clear. “If we want this to work, you have to tell me everything.”

Azriel smiled softly, his fingers drawing lazy circles on your back. “Deal,” he said. “No more secrets.”

You smiled triumphantly, reaching up a hand to push a curl of hair off his brow. “Good. Since that is settled, can we enjoy our evening now?”

Azriel took you by the hand, pulling you once again down the lively street. “Nothing would make me happier.”

You turned your attention back to Velaris, a smile forming on your face as you watched the scene before you. More musicians had joined the lone street performer. Some of them had flutes and lyres, while others had drums and tambourines. You saw a young male strumming a harp, and a female playing an accordion. They were playing an upbeat melody, the sound warm and vibrant. It reminded you of the Cajun parties back home.

Your body started moving of its own accord, and you took a step forward to dance, but you stopped as a group of children raced by. They were dancing in a circle and laughing, their tiny hands holding flowers and vines. As they danced to the beat, they would pass the flowers down, reminiscent of an assembly line.

“What are they doing?” you asked Azriel, giggling as you watched the children play and dance.

Azriel’s breath was hot against your neck as he spoke. “Making flower crowns,” he murmured, his lips close enough that you could hear him over the music. “The children here have done it for centuries. They weave the crown, and once it’s done, the oldest child in the circle will give it to a young, beautiful maiden. The young maiden will then place it on the head of her lover, a sign that no matter what happens, their love will overcome even the worst of trials.”

You smiled at the innocence of it. “What if the young maiden doesn’t have a lover? How does the child know?”

He wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling your back flush against his chest. You leaned your head against him, content to watch as the children continued weaving and dancing. “Here in Prythian, children are special. A gift from the Mother herself.” You felt him place his chin on the top of your head. “Perhaps they can hear things from her that we can’t.”

You turned your head to ask him what things the children could sense, but the crescendo of the music stopped you. The circle of children broke apart, all of them forming a line at the center of the street. A small child on the far left of the line stepped forward. He was young, wearing simple brown trousers and a white tunic. He had pale brown hair, and you could see the tiny points of his ears as he turned his head. In his hands, he held a flower crown, made of red roses, lilies, and daisies, all weaved together by dark green vines. The crown shimmered slightly, reminding you of the glimmering stars above.

The boy walked to a taller young female at the center of the line. She was wearing a plain red dress, and her dark red hair was pulled back into a simple braid. He silently presented the crown to her, and she nodded her head once in thanks as she took the crown in her small hands.

The young female raised her head, her emerald green eyes scanning the crowd of onlookers. You looked as well, searching for who the young girl would choose as the maiden for tonight’s festivities.

Azriel’s arms tightened around you in a way that slightly frightened you. Looking back at him, you asked, “What is it? Is something wrong?”

But his face was soft, despite the iron grip he had on your body. “Look,” he murmured, nodding his head to the center of the street.

You looked, a gasp escaping your lips as you saw the young female standing directly in front of you. This close, you could see the light dusting of freckles on her pale skin, as well as the dimples on her cheeks as she smiled at you. “This is for you, miss,” she said in her soft voice, raising the crown up to you. “The Mother smiles down on you tonight, our young maiden.”

Your heart leaped in your chest, pounding so hard you wondered if you would have a heart attack right then and there. “I’m not-“ you started, but you were unable to finish the sentence.

Up until three days ago, you hadn’t even lived here. How could you, of all people, be the maiden?

“Take it, Y/N,” Azriel murmured, and you could hear the awe in his voice. “It’s not wise to argue with the children.”

With trembling hands, you took the crown from the girl, the green vines pressing into your fingers. The girl smiled brightly and skipped back to the line of other children. They quickly formed another circle, once again dancing and laughing as the musicians began to play their joyful tune.

Azriel dropped his arms as you stepped out of his grasp, turning around to face him. You smiled as you raised the crown up and placed it on his head, the shimmering flowers bright against his inky black hair. His shadows swirled around the crown, forming their own crown of shadows above him.

“A crown for my lover,” you murmured, letting your fingers run down the side of his face as you dropped your hand. Azriel’s eyes fluttered closed, his lips parting slightly. “It seems the Mother has smiled down on us tonight, Azzy.”

You had never been a religious person, and you didn’t understand the religion of Prythian, but something sparked in your chest at the sight of Azriel wearing this crown. You wanted to laugh at the sight of this dark, shadow-wreathed male wearing something so bright and innocent.

“This isn’t how I expected the night to go,” he muttered. He raised a hand and lightly touched the crown on his head. He wrinkled his nose as he felt the silky roses beneath his fingertip. “How ridiculous do I look?”

You giggled, moving forward to wrap your arms around his slim waist. You tipped your head up and pressed a kiss to his jaw, your lips brushing against the stubble growing there. “Not ridiculous at all. You look as handsome as ever.”

Az raised a brow, his lips quirking in a goofy, almost boyish smile. “Handsome, huh?” he teased, his eyes shining with amusement. “I didn’t know I needed to wear a flower crown for you to admit you think I’m handsome.”

You reached down and pinched his ass, earning a quiet yelp from him. “Stop being difficult, Azriel,” you warned, but your tone was playful.

Suddenly, you felt a small tug on your coat, pulling your attention away from Azriel. The young female who had given you the crown stood behind you, that innocent smile still on her face. She beckoned you forward with a hand. “Come on,” she said, her braid swaying as he turned her head.

“There is one part of the ceremony I didn’t tell you about,” Azriel murmured, leaning down to smile at the girl. “The last part of it, anyway.”

You already had a feeling of where this was going, but you asked anyway, “And what part would that be?”

“After the young maiden places the crown on her lover, the two of them have to join the circle and dance with the children,” he responded, his voice like a lover’s caress on your skin. “They have to dance, and the lover has to keep the crown on their head for the rest of the night.”

“Or what?” Your voice was barely a whisper, your eyes on the children as they jumped and spun to the music.

Azriel nipped at your ear. “If the crown falls off, it’s considered a bad omen. A sign that bad things are coming for the couple that could tear them apart.”

The gravity of his words was overpowered by the sound of the lovely music and the laughing children. You glanced over your shoulder and offered Az a wink. “Then you better keep that crown on your head, Azzy.”

You took Azriel’s hand in yours, and together you let the young girl pull you into the circle of dancers. The music was wilder now, more infectious, the rhythm pulsing through your veins. Your heart raced in time with the beat as you moved in unison with the children, laughter spilling from their lips as they spun around.

You followed their lead, twirling in circles with your arms raised high, the world around becoming a blur of color and sound. The laughter of the children was contagious, and you found yourself swept up in the moment, spinning and dancing with abandon, the beat of the drums washing over your body.

Azriel’s hand stayed firm in yours, his usual stoic demeanor slipping away as he smiled, caught in the carefree chaos of the music. You couldn’t help but giggle at the sight of him next to the small children. He looked so massive, all dark and shadowy, save for the glowing crown of flowers on his head.

As the music slowed and the dancing ended, Azriel pulled you close, his chest heaving against yours. Sweat had gathered on his forehead, making his hair stick to his brown skin. “There is one thing I still need to tell you,” he said breathlessly. His eyes were almost wild as he looked at you, scanning your every expression. “I wanted to wait, afraid that I would scare you off. But we promised no more secrets.”

You twined your hands in his hair, careful of the crown. “What is it, Azriel? You can tell me anything.”

A shadow flickered across his face, his hazel eyes full of anxiety. He took a deep breath to calm himself. “You’re my mate, Y/N.”

The sound of the children and the fading music were drowned out as your brain processed his words. Mate. You were his mate.

You remembered Nesta’s words about mates. A soul-bond, she had said. Like a pull or a tug, connecting you to them. It all made sense now. That feeling in your chest when you looked at Azriel, that constant need to be around him and to taste him and to smell him.

Mate. He was your mate.

Even back in your world, you had felt a connection to him, though it had been dull compared to now. Perhaps that was why he showed up at your door, of all places. Maybe he was the reason you were here. He was yours and you were his, and suddenly, all of the nonsense of the world started to make total sense.

You didn’t know what to say, and Azriel seemed to pick up on this. “I know that’s a lot to process,” he said, his voice thick with worry. “I don’t expect you to accept me right now, and it’s okay if you don’t want to accept me at all. I just wanted you to know. I can be a lot to handle, and I’m fucked up beyond imagination, so-“

You broke off his rambling with a searing kiss, your lips conveying what your mind could not. You ran your hands over his broad shoulders, easing the tense muscles there, pleading with him to understand that you would love to be his mate. Azriel groaned as your tongue met his, his hands moving up to gently cup your cheeks, his thumbs brushing across your cheekbone.

You pulled away, your eyes full of tears. “I-“You opened your mouth to speak, but the words wouldn’t come. I choose you, you wanted to say. I love you. You took a deep breath, deciding it was best to force the words out anyway. Your lips parted, the confessions of your heart on the tip of your tongue-

The world exploded into darkness. Children screamed. People cried out in terror. The soothing music cut off abruptly, leaving only an eerie echo of the melody that had moments ago filled the air with warmth and joy. Now, it was swallowed by the void, replaced with a deafening silence that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

Azriel’s arms were around you in an instant, pulling you tight against him as the world seemed to shatter around you. His movements were swift as he brought you both to the ground. In one fluid motion, he rolled over you, his wings flaring out slightly, his body acting as a shield against whatever lurked in the darkness.  

Your eyes darted frantically across his face, your breath coming in quick, ragged bursts. “Azriel,” you managed to gasp, panic thick in your throat. “What is happening?” It wasn’t just panic you were feeling- it was fear. Deep, gut-wrenching fear that clawed at your insides, making it hard to breathe.

Azriel’s eyes went unfocused for a moment, his jaw going slack as if he were lost in deep thought. Then his voice came, low and barely audible. “Velaris is under attack,” he murmured, his gaze now darting over the chaos unraveling all around. Disbelief clouded his features as he said, “That’s impossible. The wards-“

But before he could finish, the sounds of blood splattering and bodies hitting the ground with sickening thuds reached your ears. Panic surged as you watched people-children- fall, their cries cutting through the night. You caught a flash of red hair tied in a braid swaying as the body hit the ground.

The head rolled to the side, the pale face splattered with blood, and you were met with the lifeless emerald stare of the young girl.

You screamed, your shrill cry echoing in the silence.

Your heart pounded in your chest as you watched, the healer within you screaming to rush to their aid. Your hands twitched at your sides, aching to help the injured, to stop the bleeding and save those you could.

You might not be human, and you might be in a world far away from the one you were raised in, but you were a nurse, through and through. Helping people was woven into your very being. Every fiber in your body urged you to run to ease the suffering around you, but Azriel’s body kept you pinned.

“Azriel,” you screamed, not caring that his ear was currently next to your lips. “Let me up! I can help them!”

Then, as if they heard your pleas, Azriel’s shadows- the ones that had become such a comforting presence to you- exploded into the darkness with a ferocity that made your breath catch. They surged outward like angry snakes, dark tendrils writhing and snapping like serpents poised to strike. They didn’t hesitate; they filled the streets, coiling around the screaming children and families, forming an impenetrable fortress around them.

You turned your head to the side, your eyes catching on a pair of black boots walking through the darkness. They were shiny, so shiny you could see your reflection in them as the person got closer. Moving your eyes up, you saw black leather pants on muscled thighs. A shiny metal chest plate that looked like armor, filled with those strange runes you remembered from your dreams, tight around an unmistakably masculine chest. Through the darkness, you saw dark hair and wings.

Cassian? You remembered the male from breakfast, the one who had looked at you with brotherly affection.

Your heart skipped, hope rising- but it faltered just as quickly. As the male got closer, you saw his ears, rounded and full of gold rings- piercings, you realized. His nose also had a golden hoop, shining despite the darkness around him. But those eyes, those dark, soulless eyes that held nothing but cold evil, and that smile. That sinister grin that had been haunting your dreams for the last three days.

Mathias.

“Azriel,” you breathed, slapping him roughly on the shoulder to get his attention. “Look.”

Azriel’s head snapped to the right, his eyes landing on Mathias. His beautiful face twisted into a snarl, his eyes going black with rage. “You.”

His voice was a low growl as he pushed himself off the ground, his hand going to the empty sheath at his thigh. He bared his teeth as his fingers found nothing but air, his expression turning as cold as ice.

Mathias chuckled. “You’re nothing without your little knife, are you, bastard?” He raised his hand, and now you could see the massive sword there, the silver gleaming in the darkness. “So sorry to crash your evening. Such a nice little party you were having.”

Azriel lunged at Mathias, siphons blazing, his body moving so fast he was nothing but a blur. His wings flared, and his shadows darted out, their smoky tendrils mere inches away from Mathias.

But Mathias only rolled his eyes. With a simple flick of his hand, he sent out a wave of darkness so black, it gobbled up all the remaining light. You could feel the wrongness of it, the scent of rot and decay filling your nose as you fought the urge to gag.

The power hit Azriel square in the chest, sending him flying back into a building lining the street. His wings crunched behind him, his siphons winked out, the blue light swallowed whole by Mathias’s dark power. He roared in pain as his body hit the brick with the full force of whatever magic Mathias wielded.

“Like I said,” Mathias crooned. “You’re nothing at all.” He quickly sheathed his sword, his attention now locked on you.

You trembled as you felt the weight of the lifeless gaze slither along your body.

He moved closer to you, so close now that you could smell his scent of death. You scrambled away, your mind racing, your fingers digging into the stones beneath you. But your gaze was locked on Azriel’s crumpled body against the wall. Get up! Please get up! you wanted to scream, but the words caught in your throat as a hand wrapped around your neck, cutting off your airway.

Mathias snapped his fingers, a cruel, satisfied smile on his face as a black obsidian collar materialized in his hand. Without hesitation, he snapped the collar around your neck, latching it closed with a single flick of his fingers. It was cold on your skin, so cold you felt like it was burning. You wanted to scream, to cry, to make sure Azriel knew you loved him-

The world around went silent. The flame that had been living inside of you died out as if a massive gust of wind had filled your body and blown it to ash. Numbness washed over you, heavy and oppressive, turning your limbs sluggish and your thoughts foggy. It felt as if your very soul had been dimmed, swallowed whole by the darkness around Velaris.

Mathias leaned closer, his breath hot and rancid against your neck, his voice dripping with sadistic satisfaction as he whispered, “Gotcha.”

The last thing you saw before the world splintered away was the flower crown on Azriel’s head falling to the ground, the once-shimmering petals now stained red with his blood.

a/n pt. 2: well, he told her. i hope you guys didn't think i was gonna make this easy... *evil laughter*

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[convenientalias]

Why Nirvana in Fire Wins at Revenge Story with Identity Porn

Nirvana in Fire was my first ever cdrama that was a revenge story with identity porn. Since then, I've seen many other dramas along similar lines. A League of Nobleman. Blood of Youth. City of Streamer. Fighting for Love. Legend of Anle. Long Ballad. Princess Weiyoung. Rise of Phoenixes. Sword Dynasty. Weaving a Tale of Love. Word of Honor. Some of them are quite good but none of them really hit the same way. So, apart from the fact that it was the first one I ever watched, I thought I'd made a brief list of reasons why I think Nirvana in Fire is the best.

Lin Shu's Identity

I just appreciate that when shit went down and Lin Shu's whole family and army and many of his friends were killed and he became a man on the run, he was a full-grown man (okay, still pretty young, but definitely not a child) with his own life and even an army position.

A lot of these identity porn dramas will have their MCs meeting ppl for the first time in many years, in disguise, but they only knew these ppl when they were children. Childhood friends are great and all that, but can they hit as hard as the complicated, fleshed out relationships that Lin Shu had and lost? He had a friendship of many years with Jingyan. He had an engagement and a longstanding friendship with Nihuang. He has friends from the army, younger cousins playing the role of "we don't even understand what happened back then and maybe that's better", older friends and relations who he actually knew as an adult.

Simultaneously, his past identity increases the threat of discovery for Lin Shu. He's a known factor to many, many people in the capital. Yes, they think he's dead. But small things like a hazelnut allergy or his mannerisms or his previous friendships with people are still memorable enough that even with a completely different face, if he's not careful, he might give himself away. He's not infiltrating a group of strangers or people who only knew him as a kid. He's infiltrating a group of people who were close to him for many, many years of his life.

HOWEVER. Lin Shu's identity is not so important that everyone in the capital is still obsessed with him twelve years later (with some exceptions). This isn't Mysterious Lotus Casebook where we're all still pining for Li Xiangyi, because...

2. The Chiyan Case Wasn't Even About Lin Shu?? (Also, No One Cares About That Ancient History Anymore (Jingyan, Sit Down))

The Chiyan case wasn't about the Lin family at all, really.

No one specifically wanted Lin Shu dead or had a big grudge against his dad or anything. It's all about power, military and political. For some conspirators, it was just about getting a leg up in court. But mostly, it was about Prince Qi, the previous crown prince. The Lin family just happened to be friends with him and ended up in an uncomfortable (highly murderable and frameable) position.

Lin Shu may mourn his family, but for the majority of the show, he doesn't talk about it. He doesn't talk about his mother and his family back at the capital either committing suicide or being killed indiscriminately. He only mentions his father's name a handful of times in the whole show. Lin Shu's drive is that his father's ARMY was killed, tens of thousands of men. That's the weight on Lin Shu's shoulders: the death of all these innocent men because they were in the way. The Chiyan Case; the Chiyan Massacre. The denouement of Lin Shu's victory (not to give too many spoilers) is not just his father's name being cleared of a treason charge. It's when there's finally a memorial put up for the Chiyan Army, with memorial tablets that he can publicly visit to pay respects.

Why does this make it a better revenge story with identity porn? A couple reasons. First, Lin Shu is very much the center of the story and has very personal beef, but he treats himself like a tool and his objective isn't about himself or familial connections (they're part of it but they're not everything). He doesn't even know all the people he's avenging. That's fine; he'll still carry that weight. I just think it's neat.

Second, the fact that the Lin family (and the whole Chiyan Army) were really just collateral damage for getting rid of Prince Qi really emphasizes just how careless the current regime is of the value of human life.

Third, as Meng Zhi says when Lin Shu comes to the capital, everyone at court is busy with their own little power struggles and no one has time to care about Lin Shu or protect him. Lin Shu's like yeah that's fine :) I'm not anyone's focus anymore and the Lin family has been swept under the rug like we never existed :) and no one even talks about the Chiyan case anymore for fear of being accuse of treason :) that's all okay because I'm about TO MAKE THIS EVERYONE'S PROBLEM ANYWAY and honestly the fact that everyone's trying their hardest to forget will just make them more oblivious when I come to fuck them up.

3. All Of This is Whose Fault, Again?

That's right, folks, we're in a show that knows that when shit goes down at court and your family gets framed for treason and the emperor orders them executed, sure, you can blame the conspirators who framed them all you want, but also, YOU KIND OF DO HAVE TO BLAME THE EMPEROR.

People have said enough about how great this is on a thematic level of accountability but seriously I've seen so many shows dodge this. ~It's not the emperor's fault bc he was misled by these conspirators~ or ~the emperor is only a puppet emperor, if he actually had power instead of this evil person, he would put everything right.~ Or, if they dare to blame the emperor, maybe he's just an evil emperor and was bad all along. NIF says yeah, he was lied to on many levels. There was a whole complicated conspiracy going on and many people to blame. But he could have taken things slower. He could have required better evidence. He could have trusted people who had supported him for many years, at least enough to listen to their side of the story BEFORE KILLING THEM. And why didn't he? It's not because he's an idiot. It's because he's an emperor, and emperors don't like seeing other people gain enough power to even potentially become a threat. It's because he wasn't looking for the truth, he was looking for an excuse to kill. And he's not unusually evil for that; this kind of callousness towards murder and grasping for power at all costs is more the norm at court than any kind of honor or morality.

The Emperor's a nice guy sometimes! He used to fly kites with Lin Shu when he was young! His sons give him a headache, but honestly, relatable, they'd give you a headache too! He likes Consort Jing and honestly, who wouldn't! And he killed one of his sons, one of his closest friends, and an entire army, and he would do it again without hesitation. He's not especially evil. Being an emperor is bad enough.

4. Other Bad Guys

It's worth mentioning that Lin Shu's opponents are not stupid.

Xie Yu and Xia Jiang, Prince Yu and the Crown Prince, even the Empress and Noble Consort Yue: They aren't all geniuses, but they aren't idiots flailing around in spite. They're pretty smart, and if Lin Shu wants to take them down, he has to be smarter.

It's also worth mentioning that this is not one of those shows where the protagonist happens to take down his opponents mostly by standing still and just defending himself when they lash out at him. This seems like an obvious thing in a revenge drama, but the number of times I've seen the opposite, the protagonist swearing revenge and then just struggling with self preservation.... but no. Lin Shu has A Plan. He is going to be proactive and actually take his enemies down. Admittedly he will do this by revealing their past misdeeds but this isn't a case of "the misdeeds will just happen to pop up". This is a case of "I will actively unearth skeletons from where you threw them in a well in an abandoned manor".

TO SUM UP

Without going into the things that make Nirvana in Fire a great show in general (great acting, good pacing and plotting, good costuming, and so on and so forth) I think the main things that make it hit for me as a revenge story with identity porn are 1) letting the MC's past identity be that of a grown man who actually had a life (more connections to the past, but also more to lose and more danger in the present as a result), 2) the fact that the offense that the MC is avenging wasn't even like a personal thing to the offenders (bc! it's fucking infuriating!), 3) the fact that the drama is willing to face the root of the problem (the problem is both corruption at court and the fact that the highest arbiter is flawed, not just individual conspirators), 4) the supply of multiple good antagonists, and 5) LETTING THE MC ACTUALLY, ACTIVELY PURSUE REVENGE AND THAT'S THE MAIN PLOT AND WE AREN'T SPENDING MOST OF OUR SCREENTIME ON SIDEPLOTS AND ROMANCE OR MERE SELF PRESERVATION. These may not seem like large things but my friends, you would be surprised how many revenge dramas I've watched at this point that can't do them.

ok I'm done ranting. Feel like most of this is actually stating the obvious but I'm just in a mood and had to get it out. (...also possibly I've been let down by some revenge dramas lately but I won't get into it. it's okay. we can't all be Nirvana in Fire; only Nirvana in Fire can be Nirvana in Fire.)

[tessa-liam]

Royal Adventures 

-Prologue- 

Book: Choices, The Royal Romance Series Finale +     A Smoke & Mirrors Series Alternate Universe

Pairing: King Liam Rys x F!MC Queen Riley Brooks-Rys OTP 

Rating: Teen, not beta’d-please excuse all errors    

Category: On-going series, fluff 

Warnings: a few swear words 

Most Characters belong to Pixelberry 

Music Inspiration: I Want It That Way, Backstreet Boys 

Series Inspiration: Royal Misadventures, A Smoke & Mirrors 1-shot 

Smoke & Mirrors Masterlist

My Main Masterlist

Series Premise: A collection of stories of the journey 12-year-old Crown Princess Eleanor Rys of Cordonia indertakes as she officially starts her Royal education. Tutors and advisors, that had been personally selected by Their Majesties King Liam Rys and Queen Riley Rys, were set to begin her royal lessons, and her days were packed full of knowledge. The young princess was a natural leader, and the King and Queen could not be more proud of their daughter.   

Royal Adventures 

-Prologue- 

Busy days turned into busy evenings when Ellie Rys enjoyed her free time. As a 12-year-old, her parents wanted her to enjoy her childhood as long as she could, but the Crown Princess' life was going to change forever when she would reach her coming of age, and she would be required to take her place at court, as her father had taken previously. 

Ellie knew her parents had a strong bond, and their love for one another was the reason their country had remained at peace for well over a decade. The Princess had always felt safe and secure, knowing she was loved and cherished. 

Ellie didn't have a typical royal upbringing and was a carefree and happy child.  Liam was more than happy that his children had an American mother as a role model, that grew up in a world of freedom.

She didn't have the same pressures that other royal children had, but the pressure would eventually start to mount in the next few years as she would grow older and need to learn more about the world and her duties of a future Queen.

Liam and Riley made it a point to ensure their kids were well-adjusted and had a happy childhood. 

They'd taken trips all over the world, and their favorite place was New York, where they'd visited during the last Christmas season. 

Ellie had seen the Rockefeller Center Tree, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Staten Island Ferry. However, what she enjoyed the most was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Broadway musical 'Wicked'. 

She'd been mesmerized by the performances and sang along to the music. Liam and Riley couldn't help but chuckle at their daughter's enthusiasm. 

"What?" she'd asked innocently, with her big blue eyes and her cute dimples. 

"You remind me of myself at your age," Liam replied, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and pulling her close. 

"I can't wait until we go back to New York," she'd exclaimed, as the family flew back to Cordonia on their private jet.

"Me either, Princess, but we'll make sure you have many more happy memories at home," Liam said, and planted a kiss on the top of her head. 

*** 

Liam walked into his study, after he escorted Ellie to the royal library for her first royal lesson. As he watched his daughter attentively listen and interact with the history tutor, the pride he felt was all consuming. He couldn't believe his little girl was growing up so fast. It seemed like only yesterday when he and Riley were watching their newborn daughter take her first steps. 

It was later in the afternoon when he looked up from his laptop to see Riley's soft smile as she walked in and closed the door behind her. 

"Hello, love. How was Ellie's lesson?" Liam stood and walked around his desk to greet his wife with a kiss.

"It was great, Li ... she's a natural. The tutor was impressed." Riley grinned as Liam smiled wide.

"Of course, she is. She's a Rys." 

"She's just like her father. Always eager to learn new things," Riley teased, kissing him softly in return. 

"And her mother. Ellie has the heart of a fighter, and she's smart, brave, and kind." 

"I hope she's ready for all of this. It's a lot to handle."  Riley sighed, biting her lip.

"She will be. She's surrounded by love and support, and we will always be here for her." 

*** 

Ellie's first day was going well, until ....

Leo had a mischievous grin on his face as he crept towards the library. 

"Leo, what are you up to?" Maxwell asked as he noticed him peering through the gap between the double solid oak doors of the Royal library.

"SSHHH! ... You'll see," he replied in a hushed tone.

"Come on, man, don't pull anything stupid," Drake warned him as he walked up to join Maxwell.

"Just watch and learn, boys." 

Leo peeked through the space and saw the tutor reading a textbook to Ellie. He knew it would only be a few minutes before the lesson was over, and he had to act fast. 

He reached into his bag and pulled out a remote control.

Leo found a way to sneak a glitter bomb into the library without anyone noticing earlier in the day. He'd done it a million times at parties, and he knew it would create a big mess. 

"This is going to be epic," he muttered. 

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Drake whispered.

"Oh, come on, Drake, it's harmless. I've done this tons of times. Watch and learn, boys. " 

"Fine, we'll see," Maxwell shrugged. 

Leo took a deep breath, and with one flick of his wrist, the balloon was triggered and exploded with a loud pop.

As it burst, the glitter covered everything, and the sound of the balloon burst startled everyone. 

The tutor had a look of horror on her face, and Eleanor was shocked, standing up and moving quickly away from the table.

"Oh no," Leo whispered. 

"This is not what I was expecting. Shit." 

"Well, you better think of something quick," Drake shouted.

Through the gap in the door, Ellie spotted her uncle. Her brow furrowed, she pushed the heavy oak door forward.

"I can't believe you, Uncle Leo," Eleanor scowled, "you've ruined my first royal lesson." 

"I'm sorry, El, it was supposed to be a harmless prank." Leo looked at his neice regretfully.

"Well, you ruined everything. I can't even look at you right now. " 

"I'm so sorry. I was just trying to make things fun. I was always bored in these sessions, and I was just trying to lighten the mood." 

"You are the worst Uncle, ever, you know that?"

Leo raised his eyebrows and chuckled. "Oh, come on Ellie, you know it's all in good fun." Ellie was fuming, "Uncle Leo, you've made me feel awful, and I can't believe you would embarrass me like that."  

"Hey...hey, Ellie, don't be upset. You have nothing to be ashamed of." 

"Really? How can you say that after what you did? I want Daddy to be proud of me. I want it that way!" 

Crossing her arms, Ellie stared down her uncle, smirking, "wait till mom finds out!" 

"Wait, you wouldn't. Not your favorite uncle," Leo pleaded. 

"Maybe, maybe not, depends how you behave from now on." 

"Alright, I'll do anything, just don't tell your parents." 

"Anything?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"I will not be your servant again, though."  Leo thought back to an earlier prank gone wrong, and shuddered.

"Then don't mess with my lessons again! Deal?" 

"Deal."  Leo sighed.

Drake and Maxwell were speechless as they watched their friend and their niece, banter with each other.

"Wow, El, you've got your uncle Leo wrapped around your little finger."

"I have no idea what you are talking about, Max. I'm a reformed man." Leo admonished.

"Yeah, whatever you say, Leo." Drake snorted.

"Okay, okay, free drinks at the beer garden. Now ... are you two going to help me clean up or not?"

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

📌tagging my perma's in the notes❣️

📌please let me know if you would like to be tagged for this series❣️

[fictifile]

courting the crown / maeve’s route / part 5 of ?

[three-realms-archive]

Debuting Change

Steps echo throughout the Demon Lord’s castle ballroom, light and heavy and foreboding. At the top of the grand staircase at the front of the room is a hulking, menacing canine - fearsome, fierce and three-headed. Someone has tapped their spoon against their flute of complimentary, aged Demonus - courtesy of the Demon Prince on this special occasion. The striking sound of metal tapping against glass had conducted the room into silence… But no one knows who made the noise.

… A hooded figure, donning a garment which shimmers as though made with sunlight, appears at the top of the staircase.

“Cerberus, dear. Do put on a smile.” They say, voice dripping with an alluring sweetness. They make their way over to Hell’s hound, caressing his fur. Slowly, their fingers move along and under Cerberus’ chin; like honey pouring out of a jar. A thick, lingering tension spills into the room as the crowd, filled with nobles from Diavolo’s court, notice the flute of Demonus and small spoon held in one of their hands. Smiling sweetly, they continue to coo at their obedient companion. “The Crown Prince has guests, Cerberus. Come down with me to greet them.”

The hoard of nobles erupt in hushed whispers and unsavoury observations - silenced only when Diavolo, who stands with his ever-loyal butler at the foot of the staircase - laughs heartily, pushing Barbatos forward.

“Ah - what an entrance, MC! Barbatos.” He orders, bringing silence to the room once more. “Go assist them. See to it our guest of honour’s needs are met.”

“Yes, young master.” The demon butler bows deeply, making his way up the stairs and to their side. As both hound and human are led down the stairs, the light from the chandelier above reaches the human’s skin.

Diavolo grins at the expressions he sees on the faces of the demons around him. Some are horrified, some intrigued, some in wonder. He takes a moment to appreciate the fresh, new entertainment. After all… It had been a while since any of these stuffy, ancient demons had ever seen change.

And as he watches the seven pact marks adorning your body glowing brightly under the light, finally revealed to all, he makes sure to thank you with a big, grateful smile.

With you around, his kingdom could finally start changing.

(i like to imagine diavolo debuting mc - they come to the devildom as a fish out of water initially, but they gain a weirdly insane amount of power through the pacts and all these supernatural beings that favour them lol. op mc is my favourite to write; not really op as in being able to do any magic, but op just by what is canon: they have seven avatars of sin, a demon king, his butler and a demon noble, three angels, an immortal sorcerer and a reaper all on their side???? like if i knew all that and then they suddenly showed up in a badass outfit showing all the pact marks, id be pretty intimidated.)

[dishonestlies-if]

(Dis)honest Lies

Demo: TBA || About The Archivists Age Rating: 16+ CW: Violence, death, child endangerment, child death/descriptions of child death, classism, manipulation, forced isolation/confinement (technically?), parental neglect, mild homophobia RO-specific CWs (contains spoilers): here

The king is dead, cries the crowd of mourners that line the path towards the Royal Tombs. As you walk down behind your father's coffin, you note that there are no commoners among them. Not surprising, given they are not allowed to entire the palace grounds, though you wonder if anyone beyond these walls are mourning with you. Your father was a much-beloved king, but no one beyond the Court had ever met him - or you, for that matter, or any of your predecessors since the Curse took effect. You wonder briefly what the outside world is like - the Advisors describe it as a beautiful place of wonder and innovation, at least in the capital. Perhaps the people are holding their own ceremony out there, in honour of your father.

You turn your attention back to the procession. There will be time to ponder this later.

You have a speech to give, a coronation to attend, a kingdom to rule.

There is no place for such pointless thoughts. You were born in this palace, and in this palace will you die. You will never see the outside world.

Will you?

Play as the newly crowned monarch of Batrinoa! Bring your kingdom to new heights, or send it plummeting into chaos - the choice is yours, and yours alone. After all, you are the monarch - who would dare defy your authority?

Customize the MC Veridas (27) (name changeable); gender, appearance, personality, etc!

Be swept off your feet by five potential love interests (gender selectable) - or don't! You can be swept off your feet by friends, too. And enemies. But that might be a bad idea.

Ally with your neighbours, or start a war - Batrinoa is powerful, why not utilize your military and expand your territory?

Solve problems that arise in your nation, or make them worse - where there's money to be had, who really cares if a few peasants die?

Face crushing moral dilemmas that make you question your reality!

Find the truth behind the web of lies that surround the Court - there are many hidden secrets, and if you look in the right places, you might find them. Assuming, of course, that they don't kill you first.

And why in the name of the Divine do you keep seeing the Archivist-in-training in your dreams?! You barely even know her!

Love Interests

The Guard Caelum/Celestine/Calytrix Hildebrand (28) is the fourth child of the Hildebrand family, your best friend and confidant, and godparent of your daughter. As children, you were inseparable, and even when C was in the army you kept in touch. Now they serve as your loyal guard - wherever you go, they will follow. It is their duty, after all; what the monarch wants, the monarch will get, nevermind how they feel about it. So long as it makes you happy, there is little they won't do to achieve it.

The Silver-Tongued Minister Elias/Elora/Elwyn Alinac (29) is Head of the House of Alinac, one of the Four Great Families and a member of the Advisors. They are, without a doubt, the Court's most charming noble. Intelligent and quick-witted, Batrinoa's Director of Foreign Affairs is well-versed in the art of communication, especially when it pertains to getting what they want. There are flocks of men and women alike who would kill to hold E's attention for even a fraction of a second. Fortunate, then, that they only seem to have eyes for you.

The Unapproachable Advisor Orpheus/Odette/Odilon Marchand (26) is Head of the House of Marchand, one of the Four Great Families and a member of the Advisors. O is rather unpopular with the nobility and common folk alike; their blunt speech, cold demeanour, and prickly personality make for rather unpleasant company, though none can deny their skill as Batrinoa's newest Minister of Finance. They maintain a professional distance from everyone around them, but perhaps you can close that gap - surely it must be a lonely existence, to hold everyone at arm's length as they do.

The Revolutionary Mervyn/Maira/Maverick (27) is a commoner of Batrinoa, a tailor who lives with their mother and three siblings near the slums of the capital. Passionate and rebellious, they abhor the monarchy and how the nation is run, and everyone knows it; M is an outspoken critic of the throne, and far from the only one. As the new monarch, you are the very pinnacle of everything they despise - can you show them that you are willing to do what your predecessors would not, or will you just add fuel to the fire?

The Flirtatious Informant Legacy (29) is the best informant in your employ (and the best assassin). They once swore loyalty to your father; now, they serve you. They're a shameless flirt, and never serious - about anything, really, not even their own life. You've asked where they came from, but you've received 14 different back stories at this point and you're not sure they're even capable of telling the truth if it doesn't pertain to their job. You wonder how Legacy ended up in this employ; surely this is not a job most would willingly choose to pursue?

Other Characters

Alix Morozov - your late spouse, the other biological parent of your daughter, and a relative of Drelix's King Vsevolod. They died three years ago, leaving you a single parent. Your marriage was for two reasons only - to end the war between your kingdoms, and to produce a precautionary heir for the Batrinoa line. Having succeeded in both, you considered them a good person and a dear friend, though there was never any love in your relationship.

Luminosa 'Lumi' Batrinoa (5) - your daughter from your marriage with Alix. Now that you are monarch, she is heir to the throne; a lofty title that may be, though it paints a massive target on her back. You can only hope you will not need to arrange a political marriage for her.

Beau Marchand (32) - the disgraced son of the Marchand family, his reputation for debauchery and excess is known far and wide throughout the capital. You remember him vaguely, having interacted with him as a child, though you haven't seen him since he was disowned thirteen years ago. O has since restored Beau to the family, but you have yet to see him return.

Dolion (53) - the Archivist, sometimes called the Secret-Keeper. One of the Blessed, his Miracle naturally makes people rather wary of him, and his sour demeanor does nothing to help his case. At the very least, none of the Advisors seem to like him, though you're fairly certain that's more because he was born a commoner rather than a child of the nobility.

Fialova Solanaceae (20) - Dolion's successor, the current Archivist-in-training. Timid and shy, she seems to dodge you at every opportunity, though you often catch her staring as if she has something she'd like to say. There's more to her than meets the eye, but are you brave enough to seek out the skeletons in her closet?

Helianthus Solanaceae (54) - Head of the House of Solanacaea, one of the Four Great Families and a member of the Advisors. She is the supreme judge of Batrinoa's legal system and handles all legal affairs within the kingdom's borders. As your godmother, she cares greatly for your well-being. She would happily spoil Luminosa rotten if you didn't stop her in time.

Volker Hildebrand (61) - Head of the House of Hildebrand, one of the Four Great Families and a member of the Advisors. Arrogant and conceited, he takes great pride in being the Minister of War. Objectively the most powerful member of the Council, he has the nation's military at his beck and call and takes great joy in lording over the other Advisors. The Court has no great love for him, though none can deny that it was thanks to him that the war with Drelix went as well as it did. Though he has little interest in anything besides battle and bloodshed, he has returned to the capital for your coronation and to assist you in acclimating to your new position.

[harunayuuka2060]

Sebek: WAKA-SAMA! THE LITTLE HUMAN IS NOT IN THE FIELD!

Malleus: What do you mean they're not in the field?

Sebek: We were practicing how to fly our brooms and theirs took off!

Malleus: ...

Malleus: You need to calm down, Sebek. And as for my child, you have nothing to worry about.

Sebek: Eh?

Kid MC: *flies past Sebek, laughing*

Sebek: !!!

Malleus: *smiles* MC, come back here. Sebek was looking for you.

Kid MC: *flies back* Hello, Sir Sebek!

Sebek: LITTLE HUMAN! DIDN'T I TELL YOU NOT TO SKIP CLASSES?!

Kid MC: I didn't skip class! The magic broom won't let me go down so I just enjoyed it.

Sebek: *frowns*

Malleus: It's alright, Sebek. I've already informed Vargas that my child is here.

Vil: Rook? Have you seen MC? I have checked their room and they're not there.

Rook: Oh! They told me that they would visit Leona in his dorm.

Vil: Huh. So they made a new friend, huh?

Rook: *chuckles* Yes.

Kid MC: *examining Leona's ears*

Kid MC: I think I see some dirt in there.

Leona: How dare you.

Ruggie: *wheeze*

Leona: Are you not done yet?

Kid MC: Almost. I just need to check if Sir Leona is a good cat.

Leona: *growls* I'm a lion.

Kid MC: I'm not asking if you're a lion. I'm asking if you're a good cat.

Kid MC: Is Sir Leona a good cat?

Ruggie: Nah. Cross that out.

Kid MC: Okay! I'm done now with my assignment!

Leona: That's one stupid assignment.

Kid MC: No, it's not! Sir Rook said it's important to know your prey.

Leona: And that what makes it stupid.

Ruggie: Anyway, MC. Do you need something else from Leona? He's quite free today.

Leona: Huh?

Kid MC: Nothing for now!

Leona: Tch.

Cheka: *enters the room* MC? Are you done talking with Unca?

Kid MC: *nods* Hm!

Cheka: Great! We can go to our date now!

Leona: Excuse me? What date?

Cheka: It's a picnic date, Unca!

Leona: ...

Leona: Aren't you too young for that?

Ruggie: Geez, Leona. It's just a playdate.

Malleus: Lilia, I found something concerning in my child's bag.

Lilia: Hm? Something concerning?

Malleus: Yes. *holding a flower crown*

Malleus: Who's trying to court my child?

[neonravengames]

⚘ Sword of Spring ⚘ Romance Options

Throughout your time in Tir Arandor, you'll be able to bond with other characters.

Some things to note:

All ROs are playersexual. Meaning you can romance them no matter what your gender is.

You can be Asexual

All explicit scenes can be skipped.

These relationships will span over multiple years, and the ages listed are the characters' ages during their 'commitment' scene.

The (current) poly option is Taryn/MC/Ali

Taryn - They/Them

Taryn, the second-born of the royal family, is a whirlwind of laughter and energy in a world that often feels too serious. With a sharp wit and a playful spirit, they bring a sense of joy to the stifling halls of Tir Arandor. But behind their humorous facade lies a deep struggle. Often called "The Spare," Taryn yearns for change, craving the freedom to carve their own path, yet they often feel powerless and trapped by the weight of their birthright. While their father supports Taryn's whimsical nature, their older brother—Lucian—watches with a mix of exasperation and concern. He carries the expectations of the kingdom on his shoulders and often finds Taryn's antics annoying, even as he understands the pressure they both face. As the responsibility of royal duty looms closer, Taryn finds themselves torn between their desire to be true to themselves and the role they must eventually embrace. Will you stand by Taryn as they navigate the treacherous waters of court life? Or will your growing feelings for them complicate their journey towards destiny?

Rhiannon - She/Her

Rhiannon is a formidable presence within the castle, a wall of strength and discipline as the best swordsman in Tir Arandor. With her striking red hair and unwavering focus, she commands respect in every training session and fight. But behind her stoic facade lies a heart riddled with doubts and fears that she dares not show. As the oldest child of the castle blacksmith, Rhiannon has trained tirelessly to prove herself worthy of respect—not just from the court but from the family she fiercely protects. Her loyalty to Taryn and the royal family runs deep, and she would lay down her life to fulfill her duty. However, earning her respect is no easy feat; she expects nothing less than absolute dedication from herself and those around her. If you can break through her defenses, the bond you forge will be unbreakable, and she may be your greatest ally or your most formidable opponent. Will you help her confront the fears that haunt her, or will your growing feelings complicate her already tumultuous world?

Lirien- He/Him

Lirien sweeps into the court of Tir Arandor like a whisper of wind through the Shadowbloom. Playful, charismatic, and brimming with secrets, he quickly becomes a figure of intrigue and danger. As the Fae ambassador, Lirien carries with him the weight of Val'Arath’s mysteries, never revealing more than he chooses to. His motives are as elusive as his smile, and his every word dances between truth and deception as he balances the unpredictability of Human/Fae relations. Despite his light-hearted demeanor, Lirien is anything but careless. There’s an edge to his charm, and his playful flirtations are laced with a deeper, more dangerous game. Will you risk getting closer to him, knowing the secrets he keeps could unravel everything? A relationship with Lirien may be intoxicating, but the price of his affection could be higher than you imagine.

Morgan - Female/NB (maybe)

Morgan serves as the apprentice to the king’s magic advisor, quietly mastering the arcane arts within the castle’s stone walls. With an analytical mind and a keen understanding of magical theory, Morgan is often reserved, preferring the company of dusty tomes and ancient scrolls to the political intrigues of the court. Their distant demeanor hides a fierce intellect and a deep curiosity about the world—and about you. While their loyalty to the crown is unwavering, Morgan is not without ambition. They seek knowledge and power, but also connection, something deeper that may lie beyond the realms of conventional magic. Your relationship with Morgan could blossom into a powerful bond, though magic always comes with a price. Will you explore the mysteries of the arcane together, or will the secrets they guard come between you?

Sorin - Selectable

Quiet, kind, and ever watchful, Sorin has devoted their life to healing others. As the castle’s healer, their days are spent mending wounds and tending to the sick. They rarely speak of their own pain, preferring to pour their energy into helping those in need. With healing magic that requires as much strength as it does compassion, they stand as a beacon of calm in the midst of the court’s chaos. But behind their gentle smiles lies a deeper hurt—one they’ve kept hidden for years. Will you be the one to earn their trust and help them confront the scars they carry? A relationship with Sorin/Sylvie is one of patience and empathy, requiring you to look past their exterior and discover the resilient heart that beats beneath.

Ali - Selectable

Alister/Alista (Ali) is the person chosen to marry Taryn, a union forged out of political necessity rather than love. The ninth born to a distant noble house with a reputation for ambition, they’ve been raised to fulfill the expectations of the court. Graceful, intelligent, and always composed, they are well aware of the duties that come with their position. While they seem resigned to their fate, there’s a quiet yearning beneath the surface—whether it’s for freedom from their obligations or a deeper connection with Taryn, even they may not fully understand. As the royal betrothal takes shape, your arrival throws everything into question. Will you challenge the expectations placed upon them or help forge a lasting bond with Taryn that’s more than mere politics?