#decaying royalty au

[rainbowrosegames]

It's been 300 years and I'm still 26 years old. Ever since around 200 years ago, I've had that river blocked off. It was that stupid fountain of youth. Wars have come and gone and I still can't die, I guess that I'm just unlucky that way. Yarrou, why can't you just release me from this? I've outlived my own husband and children and grandchildren. I've never abdicated the throne because I've been good enough to keep leading. The other kingdoms are afraid of us, too, saying that I must be using witchcraft, and that we could easily take them over. Some tried to attack us and lost. In fact, they're lucky that they're still kingdoms and didn't crumble for that move. I didn't destroy them or annex them because that's not what Yarrou wants. I'm sure they hate me for it too, even when I sent supplies and manpower over to help them rebuild. I never asked to be immortal, that's why I freed myself, the land, and the people from Ymitru'a influence and contracts. I should be grateful that I am not decaying anymore but it's only so good when you must keep on living, watching people die, and being forced to keep leading your people. At least I have my horse with me but still, I think he wants to die too. He drank from the river too, and he's probably very confused as to why he outlives the other horses in the stables. A century ago I had him moved from the stables to accompany me everywhere. Of course, he is toilet trained. I guess he learned some stuff and got smarter too in these past few centuries. It's such a pain going on like this. The nobles in government are trying to say that I'm crazy and lost all sense. They want my great grandchildren to lead the kingdom so that they get more power. At least I have the commoners on my side since I've been a good king to them. Honestly, I kept the title of king because it's cool, even though I should really be called queen. I was a queen when I had my husband though. I miss him sometimes.

If you would’ve known that that stupid river was the fountain of youth, you never would’ve drank from it. That was 300 years ago. You’re permanently stuck at age 26. The only one you really have left in your life is your horse, who also made the mistake of drinking from it.

[dissemmiart]

Fyodor, Nikolai, Sigma - Royalty AU Y (They may look like vampires, but I'm calling it royalty) | Decay of Angels fan art.

[sevenate-9]

wolfstar fantasy au:)

“I'm not dying for you.”

“Is that how the song goes now? Endless devotion to our Lord and King, except we should not die for him?” He sings idly. Remus imagines him swinging his arms, then goes back to pretending there isn’t a prince following him a few steps behind. It’s a feat. “Have they changed it since I've been away?” 

“I never sang it.” He swings his machete at a thin branch at eyelevel. This deep in the woods are thicker than he’s ever seen them, but they’ll need to pass through these parts undetected. The further out of reach from Lestrange’s watchmen’s horses the better.

“They do still make the knights sing it at supper, don't they? It's nothing like dear old dad to disturb a routine.”

Remus represses a scoff. “The king starts snoring halfway through, most days.”

“So then you do sing it.”

“I mouth the words.” 

Sirius guffaws delightedly and Remus regrets showing a slip of skin. “How charming.” He means it, too, Remus doesn't doubt it. "Do they not have an installed punishment for transgressions like those?”

Remus breathes out through his nose. Easy, now. “Flogging,” he grits out. Another branch whips to the ground.

“Ah, so you must be careful,” Sirius says airily. Remus swipes at a thin, low branch needlessly. “I myself have enjoyed thwarting duty over the years. I’ve gotten quite creative with it. Of course, I can't say I got out quite as clean as you have.”

“No?” Remus asks, mocking a conversational voice.

“Well, no, getting sent away was never part of any elaborate prank.”

“It must be the worst thing that has ever happened to you.”

Rustling leaves behind him, then silence. Minutes pass and several branches are cleared before Remus gives up and turns, jaw clenched. 

“Do you mock me?” Sirius asks, looking the part of a lost child, pouting and his torse near drowning in the shirt they’d nicked at the village. 

Remus starts walking back. “Only a man born with polished silver rattle will believe a necklace like that one,” he ticks his machete against the prince’s necklace, the one he’d refused to abandon with the rest of his clothes, poorly concealed under teal cloth “-makes him any sort of martyr.”

“Look,” Sirius levels, “I believe you’ve come to misunderstand a great many things about me. I hate the crown and all its frivolous frivolities as much as you clearly seem to, as much as any upstanding man with half a brain ought to.”

“You believe admitting selfcontempt earns you honor?”

“I am not my family,” Sirius grits out, at last having lost some of his princely levity. “Look at where we are if proof is what you seek, friend. Would true royalty wear cow’s leather boots as decayed as the meat it produced?” They’d had to buy those damn boots. Cost Remus three gold. 

“Any upstanding man would deem those boots fit for wear because they keep infection at bay. A friend, I would not dare call you even if you by all measurements proved to be such a man. You carry the crown in your blood, wherever you may go in whichever boots you so choose to be appointed.”

Sirius looks like he’s swallowed a lemon, eyes close to slits. “You remove choice from a test of merit.”

“You confuse reality with fanciful court fairytales. This is no test for you to pass, any more than this forest is a cave and monsieur Lestrange is a dragon. We are men in dire straits, one of us raised to be more of a self assuming prat than the other. That is all.”

“Well, then.” Sirius tilts his chin up, gesturing the path forward. “I should not wish to distract you from your own martyrdom.”

“Indeed you should not, seeing as it’s the only thing keeping your life,” Remus snarks before resuming his way North.

“But not to penalty of death.” A branch falls. Remus looks over his shoulder, locking eyes with the heir to his home kingdom. 

“No.” 

Sirius nods, as if it were his own choice. Like a prince is taught acquiescence. In his turn, Remus pretends he didn’t hesitate.

[secretswiftymarvelfan]

Checkmate - Steve Rogers x Reader (Medieval Royalty AU)

A/N: this is my entry into @the-slumberparty week three challenge: something new! I got Royalty AU and if you have been following me since my wattpad days you’ll know I’ve already given Modern Royalty AU but this is my first go at Medieval Royalty AU so I hope you enjoy it!

Summary: Sometimes you wished you were more than just a chess piece

Word Count: 2.6k

Warnings: Light Angst! Mention of Arrange Marriage! Fluff! One bed trope if you squint!

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Masterlist

You had given up hope that you’d be rescued, or at least rescued alive. In the weeks you had been held captive in this dungeon you had come to terms that your death would spark a war that would result in the deaths of countless others. A thought that you hated, you didn’t want the blood of innocents on your hands.

But with every passing day that thought became your reality. You weren’t even sure how many days had passed. Your cell was damp and dark all hours of the day, the air stale and thick with the stench of decay. You couldn’t even use meals to determine the passing off time, they were so sporadic. Your gown hung loose on your body, ripped and caked in mud making the chill in the air even worse.

You were huddled in the far corner, the only one that seemed to avoid the breeze. It was a silent night, with the exception of quiet groans from those who were also imprisoned in this dungeon. The sound of keys rattling had you curling up further.

“Princess” the guard said as he walked into your cell.

“Please, please leave me alone” you whimper with a small shake of your head.

The sound of his boots approaching made you curl up even more, shivers running through your body. You flinched and whimpered when you felt his large hand on your shoulder.

“Princess, I’m here to get you out of here” the guard said, his tone much softer than before.

You hesitantly look over your shoulder at him, first noticing how poorly his armour seemed to fit. All the straps were as loose as they could be so the metal could fit over his large frame. None of the pieces seemed to match either, it was as if he’d just picked up random pieces as he came across them. Your eyes finally met his through his helment, you blinked a couple of times at the warmth that they held before realising you actually recognised them.

“Steve?” You whisper in disbelief.

“Yeah, it’s me” Steve nods a small smile playing at his lips “I’m here to rescue you” he says holding out his hand for you to take.

“My father sent you?” You mutter not able to believe it.

“No, I’ll explain later but lets get you out of here” Steve says as he wraps a shawl around your body, pulling the hood up so it hung low over your face “i need you to stay completely still and don’t say a word” he instructs you, you had barely nodded when he swept you up into his arms, repositioning the shawl so every inch of you was covered.

Despite your surprise, you did what he said remaining silent and still as he carried you to freedom. Relaxing into his arm feeling safe for the first time in weeks.

Steve had carried you halfway out of the dungeons when someone called out “Hey where are you going?”

Steve didn’t even flinch “the vagrant in cell 23 died, I’m dumping his body in the woods for the wolves,” he told the other guard.

The other guard laughs “oh they’ll love fighting over that, barely any meat on him” he chuckles.

Steve hums “i’ll make sure to make a hasty retreat” he says as he continues his journey out of the dungeon.

When he stepped out into the open night air you instantly began to shiver. Steve wrapped his arms around you more and held you closer to him.

“Not long now, once we’re over the border we’ll stop for the night and I’ll build a fire” he reassures you.

He walked for a few more minutes before stopping and setting you back down onto your feet. His arm wrapped around your waist as your weak knees buckled beneath you.

You pushed your hood back enough so you could see, your breath catching when you saw your horse standing waiting to be mounted.

“Maximus” you breathe out, your voice catching at the sight of your beloved horse.

“He was just as desperate to rescue you as I was, so I had to bring him along, it’s a good thing we’ve always gotten along” Steve smirks as he lifts you up onto the horse.

You chuckle gently, shaking your head since you knew that wasn’t always the case. You had known Steve since childhood, his mother was one of the palace healers and he worked in the stables whenever he wasn’t fighting his own illness. The pair of you became fast friends and before you knew of your duty as a Princess you had always hoped he would be the man you spent the rest of your days with as nobody owned your heart like he did. Maximus and Steve had a love hate relationship, something that would always make you giggle when Maximus would grab Steve’s collar to stop him from walking away, and kicking over any bucket he could to make Steve’s life harder.

“Hold on as tight as you can, we’re gonna be going pretty quick until we get over the border” Steve warns you as he climbs up onto Maximus behind you, his arms reaching around you to grab the reins.

“Ready” you confirm as you grab hold and prepare yourself for the gallop.

You had been riding for a couple of hours when you finally came to a stop for the night. Steve had already dumped the armour he’d stolen to throw anyone who followed off your scent.

He gently helped you down from the horse, guiding you over to a large log that you could sit on “here eat some of this” Steve says passing you a roll of bread from his pack.

“Thank you,” you say gratefully as you start slowly tearing into the roll, unable to stop the sigh that escaped from your lips as you tasted the first nice bit of food in weeks.

As you ate you watched as Steve set up a small camp for the night, lighting a fire and creating makeshift beds for the both of you.

“How are you feeling?” Steve asked brushing his hands against his trousers as he rose to his full height.

“Better thank you,” you say quietly pulling the shawl around you tighter to fight the chill.

“It’s okay I’m sorry you had to stay there so long” Steve sighs as he sits down near the fire, adding a couple more logs to help warm you up.

You give him a small smile before looking down as you remember what he said about your rescue “you said my father hadn’t sent you… has he… had he given up?” You say, your voice barely above a whisper.

“No” Steve muttered instantly, his brows furrowing as shakes his head “no not at all” he tells you as he moves closer to you, hesitating for a second before sitting down next to you, putting his hand on your knee “your father is working tirelessly to try and free you but with the politics of it all it was proving difficult to organise an attack” he explains.

“Because if he attacked it could trigger a war, which is just what they wanted” you sigh shaking your head “so how are you here?”

“I tried to convince your father that a stealth attack would free you and prevent a war, the enemy would be too busy preparing for a large-scale attack that they wouldn’t notice some slipping in but he didn’t agree” Steve explains with a shrug of his shoulders.

“So you had to prove him wrong” you chuckle shaking your head at him “I should have guessed” You say knowingly earning a bashful smile in return “I’m glad it was you though” you tell him softly, shifting closer to him so you could rest your head on his shoulder.

It was silent for a few minutes, the only sound being from the pop and crackle of the fire before Steve cleared his throat “it’s late, you should try and get some rest” he says standing up and walking over to his pack and pulling out a blanket “that should help keep you warm”

“Yes, of course, thank you,” you say quietly taking the blanket and moving to lie down on the floor.

As you tried to get comfortable you look over to where Steve was sitting, the fire casting a warm glow across his features. His back seemed tense as he sat with his arms resting atop of his knees and all you wished to do was help him relax.

“Steve….” You said quietly catching his attention “will you lie with me?” You ask softly.

Steve’s lips parted slightly in surprise “I-I- I um don’t-“ he stuttered.

“Please? I’ll feel safer knowing you’re next to me” you tell him.

He pursed his lips and you could see his resolve breaking “okay” he said softly before moving to lie beside you, close enough that you could feel his warmth but far enough away that he didn’t risk touching you.

Silence once again fell and you tried to allow yourself to fall asleep. You should be exhausted, you had barely slept during your imprisonment and it had been a tiring day. But you just couldn’t, your mind was just too loud.

“I hate politics” you mutter mostly to yourself not expecting Steve to still be awake.

“What do you mean?” He hums behind you.

“Oh sorry I thought you’d be asleep,” you say looking over your shoulder at him.

Steve gives you a soft smile “I was waiting until you fell asleep first, so what’s on your mind” he asks.

You roll over to face him, your fingers fiddling with the buttons on the cloak he’d given you “its just rules my life, it nearly killed me, if you hadn’t saved me I don’t think I would have lived to see the next full moon” you sigh shaking your head.

“I’m sorry, I should have come and saved you sooner” Steve apologises with a sad look in his eyes.

“Shush” you mutter shaking your head as you look up, your eyes meeting his in the low light “you have nothing to apologise for, I’ll forever be a chess piece for everyone to just use,” you tell him “our enemies used me to try and start a war, my father will use me to create an alliance with another kingdom, they’ll just use me to produce an heir…. All because I was born, something I had no control over leaves me with no control over my life”

Steve looks at you sadly, his hand reaching out to take yours, his thumb gently brushing over your skin in a soothing manner “what would you do if you did have control?” He asked quietly.

You smile softly as you thought about what you would do, one idea instantly coming to mind “I’d marry for love, status means nothing to me, they could be a prince, a duke…. Or a stable boy” you say, the corners of Steve’s lips twitching upwards, the tips of his ears turning red.

“Would that make you happy?” He asks, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“The happiest” you smile softly.

“Well… I will wish on every star that you get that life princess” he promises shifting closer so he could press a gentle kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering for a few moments as he breathed deeply.

“Thank you Steve” you whisper moving so your forehead rested against his chest.

You willed your breathing to be deeper and slower to give the impression that you’d finally fallen asleep. Smiling to yourself when you felt Steve kiss your forehead again, his arm draping over your side securely.

When the sun began to rise Steve packed up the camp while you ate some of the rations he brought. Once the camp was dismantled and all signs of your stay hidden the two of you continued your journey home. As your strength had begun to return you sat behind Steve giving you the best opportunity to wrap your arms around his waist. It was a feeling you would savour as you knew you’d never get a chance like this again.

Your arrival into the kingdom did not go unnoticed, crowds all murmured and whispered as you rode past, the look of relief on their faces to see you safe and alive. Guards did not get in your way as you walked into the castle, straight to the throne room where you knew your father would be.

When your father saw you walk in his expression was one of pure shock and relief, he surged forward and hugged you tightly “my dear I am so relieved to see you alive and home”

“as am I father” you smiled reassuringly “and we have Steve to thank for that,” you tell him glancing over at Steve.

Your father straightened as he turned to look at Steve “I should have you punished for disobeying my orders but… you saved my daughter and for that, I will be eternally grateful” your father says shaking Steve’s hand “is there anything I can give you to repay this debt? Anything you desire? Anything at all, I could make you one of my knights” your father offers.

Steve glances over at you before turning his attention back to your father “I appreciate the offer of a knighthood but there is something I would value more” Steve says “I would like your permission to marry your daughter, I have loved her since childhood and I promise to continue to love her for the rest of my life” he asks.

You couldn’t stop the gasp that escaped your lips, you never expected Steve to love you in the same way that you did. You always believed the affection he showed was from your friendship and duty, not because he actually loved you back. your eyes dart between Steve and your father, praying silently to the gods that your father would say yes.

“Steve…” your father sighs “I respect you as a hard-working and loyal man but in this world, Love is not good enough for a prosperous match” he says shaking his head “Y/N has to marry someone who will be good for the kingdom, not just her”

“Steve is good for the kingdom” you interject making your father arch a brow in question “I can see no better way to show how we value are subjects that to show we don’t view ourselves as above them” you point out.

“but that would jeopardise our relationships with our allies” your father reasons.

“I believe a marriage with another kingdom could jeopardise our own, what if the man you pick for me to marry doesn’t value this kingdom as much as his own, our people could suffer, whereas a future king who is from this kingdom will forever value it and work in its best interest” you tell him “we have strong industries already, we could focus on them and use them to create allies with other kingdoms”

Your father smiles proudly back at you “you shall make a good queen someday” he says softly.

“then let me marry a man I love and that won’t stop me from performing my duty” you say stepping closer to Steve taking his hand in yours.

Your father lets out a long sigh before looking back at Steve “I guess I should start calling you son” he says shaking Steve hand with a warm smile on his face.

You smiled warmly up at Steve, you may still be a chess piece but you just won the game.

Sharing is caring so please reblog if you enjoyed this and maybe even leave a comment to make my day!

Masterlist

I don’t have a taglist so follow @secretswiftymarvelfanlibrary​ and turn on post notifications to be kept up to date!

[biinaberry]

omgomgomgomg please tell me more about the batfam dnd au. whos what class? whos each race (i can only guess half) what are their backstories....

I dont have everyone's backstory (nor do I have a firm grasp on DND yet) but this is what I have so far Tim- DM Bruce- Human Paladin Dick- Tiefling Bard Babs- Dragonborn Artificer Jason- Halforc Rouge (Turned halforc fighter) Cass- Kenku Rouge Steph-Halfling Barbarian Duke- Elf Sorcerer Damian-Dragonborn Druid

Dick's character, Robin, stays pretty close to his childhood. Robin was raised in the circus with her parents being musicians. She trained herself on the trumpet, tuba and french horn. Following in her parent's footsteps she wanders the world trying to bring joy to others through her music. Eventually turning to her wanting to learn to be the best gymnast and to entertain kings and royalty. Babs and Duke are both royalty however in two very different environments. Duke was born to the forest and has an innate ability to control and command fireflies. This left him with the in charge of their light source and acted as a guide to those visiting. This left him with the title "Solar Guide". Babs however is the in a kingdom of machinery and advancements. Born with a tinkerer's mind she visited Duke's kingdom to explore how to combine both machinery, magic and nature. As well as to broker a deal between the two of them.

Damian's character, The Inevitable, was once a powerful druid. They were so strong in fact that they were once the final boss of a prior hypothetical campaign. However once the heros of the campaign defeated them they cursed him to never retain his memories, seen with the mask chained to his face. So all the spells and abilities he once had are no longer in his head. He is able to piece together that he was a druid due to the plethora of animals in his domain. They specialized in rot and decay with a motif of mushrooms. His main goal is to break the mask and gain back all the information lost to him over the past hundred years.

[amorfista]

I have some news to share ^^

A few days ago I had a revelation while at work.

For over 8 years I've been a big fan of the Dark Souls franchise. The first Dark Souls felt to me like a journey; a full-on immersion into an incredibly complex world, marked by disparity: old royalty, splendor, trust, hope, magic, nostalgia, wonder, gold, light... but also decay, dread, betrayal, horrors, darkness, death, monsters, disease, anguish. This game left a deep print on me that hasn't faded. Ever since I played it, fantasy changed in my eyes. Dark Souls I, II and III became a standard, a reference point. Even when I didn't draw as much as I do now, I aspired to one day pay good tribute to the games that meant so much to me! And, of course, I created fan art, but I always felt like I could have given more.

Now. As you probably know I'm also a big Star Wars fan, specifically TCW fan. And a few months ago I watched The Bad Batch for the first time. This show left a print in a very similar way as Dark Souls had before. It fueled my inspiration significantly, motivated me and, most importantly, helped me form friendships that I'm incredibly grateful for ♥. So... the other day, while I listened to some Dark Souls music at work, I thought...

Why not combine my favorite show with my favorite videogame franchise?

So that's it guys. May I present to you:

-The Bad Batch: Dark Souls AU-

That's it! That's my brilliant idea! XD This is going to be a project, a BIG one. So I would like to briefly (i promise i tried) explain how it will affect my content, under the cut: (I'll also drop some older DS artwork at the bottom!)

TLDR: From now on I will focus on TBB DS AU as my main and basically sole project . Even if you didn't play DS, that's okay! I will make it people-who-didn't-play friendly, to ensure everyone enjoys the journey. However, if this isn't for you, it's okay to unfollow <3 -I would say that, since I came to tumblr this early summer, my "signature" drawings are the TBB beach episode ones. I have WIPs for this project but I've been feeling stuck for far too long, so I am going to put it on hold. In fact, I am going to put on hold virtually everything that I was planning on doing, with a few exceptions. This means that I will rarely draw anything outside this AU.

-I am CLOSING commissions. I found that they put a kind of pressure on me that doesn't feel too good, and, honestly, I'm lucky to say that I do not need the money at the moment. I'm still open to requests, though, so don't hesitate to send anything and I'll draw it if I feel like it :) I'll even try to set up a store at some point!

-The project will consist on three journeys, featuring the 6 members of the Bad Batch, and corresponding with the three Dark Souls games. Each of those journeys will, more or less faithfully, follow the events of EACH season of TBB, adapted of course to the universe of Dark Souls, AKA Dark Medieval Fantasy. This means that, until the third season of TBB is released, I won't make any DSIII-related drawings.

-The journeys are adapted to the universe, and thus, will follow the real player journey as faithfully as I can, staying within DS canon and allowing people who have played the games to enjoy my drawings. However,

-THE DRAWINGS WILL BE 100% NON-DS-PLAYER FRIENDLY. I know that my followers are not DS fans but TBB/TCW fans. I am NOT here just to please DS fans. I want TBB fans to enjoy this journey, without having to google meanings or go easter-egg hunt to understand what is happening. I will tell a story and you will only have to enjoy it.

-This is a project for myself. Both DS and TBB mean A LOT to me, and this idea had me vibrating with excitement. I am making this project to PAY TRIBUTE to two things I love. However that does not mean that I will neglect the very people who have motivated me to keep creating. I promise to still deliver my very best with every drawing.

Do not hesitate to unfollow if this isn't for you.

I can understand that some people might follow me only for my wholesome beach episode drawings or for regular, HC TBB content. And that's okay. That's what this announcement is for! To let you know. This community has given me so much and I want to give back. And if you do stay, I can almost 100% assure you that you will enjoy what's to come!! <3 It will be a long but satisfactory journey. I'LL BE POSTING THE FIRST DRAWINGS IN THE UPCOMING DAYS!

OKAY, SORRY FOR THE WALL OF TEXT!!! 😖 Here are some older DS drawings ^^ (jesus I have way more than I thought and these aren't even all of them)

AIGHT. NOW YOU KNOW IT'S SOME SERIOUS SHIT WHEN I SAY I LIKE THESE GAMES.

Anyway. Including a taglist, because I think it would be unfair not to let you guys know about this project in case anyone wants out (or to not be tagged). Send me a DM if that's the case, it's NO PROBLEM!!! I wouldn't want to tag someone who doesn't want this content.

ALSO PLEASE, ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE, TOSS THEM TO ME! And thank you kindly for making it this far <3

@dukeoftheblackstar @justalittletomato @darthmaulshispanichousewife @botherbother-blog @aftergloom @badolmen @ihaventpickedausername @ohboi @stardustbee @nik-barinova @the-chains-are-the-easy-part @gen-has-green-vibes @ejfivercommander @herbalinz-of-yesteryear @eyecandyeoz @noesqape @lune-de-miel-au-paradis @staycalmandhugaclone @callmesunny04 @freesia-writes @ginnymilling @sunshinesdaydream @sev-on-kamino @cloneloverrrrr @moon-wrecked @idontgetanysleep @tech-aficionado @followthepurrgil @renton6echo @queen-jiru @shoe-bag @eyayah123 @eloquentmoon @and-loth-cat @ladyzirkonia @stardusthuntress @bambambunny @morphofan @gt13tbbart @amalthiaph @cameronirat @nobody-expects-the-inquisitorius @anxiouspineapple99

[rjthirsty]

Chapter Eleven (Deceit and Decay)

Words: 3.5k

Tags: Self-Harm, Angst, Abduction

A/N: You can find my previous chapters on my masterlist, or on ao3. For a complete set of tags, please visit ao3.

What if Belle didn't fall in love with the Conqueror Beast? What if his last hope abandoned him, simply because she didn't know he existed? Would his black heart break and crack, or grow as hard as stone? An AU where Chevalier is crowned for Rhodolite, Gilbert lost his last shred of humanity, and MC (Dahlia) is thrust into a nightmare world where deceit and decay are everyday occurrences.

Rhodolite had not been idle during the last five days, though to say that a plan was underway to secure Dahlia’s safe return would also be oversimplifying a very complex set of decisions that may prove to ultimately be fruitless. King Chevalier had his kingdom to consider, and the actions of waging a war for a woman of common birth leading to Obsidian to overtake Rhodolite was likely a future that Gilbert had hoped would come to pass. And that was only one possible outcome. There were countless others that Chevalier could see, and finding the one that Gilbert had predicted would be difficult.

They had been entered into a game of chess without their consent, and now Chevalier had to keep his pieces from eagerly sacrificing themselves. His brothers didn’t have the foresight he did, and most of them could be hasty in their actions. They were more than pawns, they were worthy to carry their royal titles and all of them had something they excelled in. But they were all still far too emotional with a lack of concern for their own wellbeing and what their actions could ultimately lead to for the kingdom they were born to protect.

After the Obsidian Prince departed, his brothers inserted themselves immediately. First it was Clavis who refused to work until Chev confirmed Gilbert was responsible. Informing him did nothing to ease Clavis’ tumultuous emotions and he was the first that Chev had to warn from doing anything rash. He also barely functioned for the rest of the day, neglecting his work in lieu of spreading the information to his other brothers.

And thus, the parade of concerned princes who approached King Chevalier at every hour began. Most were still managing themselves and their designated tasks, but some were more constantly buzzing around as if Chev wasn’t attempting to find a way to bring Dahlia home himself. He hadn’t forgotten her. He wouldn’t give up on her. It was simply pointless to rush into something of this nature, especially with his duty to prolong the life of his kingdom resting on his shoulders.

There were also other issues that needed to be addressed before he could bring Dahlia back. Prince Gilbert had left Chevalier a crucial piece of information referencing ‘gifts’ that he had left for Chev’s coronation. Chev was certain it was meant to be an obstacle to prevent a swift recovery of Dahlia, and while he hated to admit it, it was going to prove to be a hefty project to clean up. If Prince Gilbert was involved, it likely had to do with weaponry, and if it was meant to cause discourse, it would be provided to the Anti-Monarchy Faction - a group that had assembled after Bloodstained Rose Day but hadn’t gained much traction until the last few years.

Most of the citizens that participated in the faction despised royalty, and Chevalier most of all. Clavis often set up ‘parties’ where they would gather and air their grievances, it also proved beneficial to keep an eye on the group in order to prevent them from becoming a problem to the crown. Clavis was all too happy to allow those with a grudge against Chevalier to network and hone their edge aimed at Chev’s throat. As long as Clavis didn’t personally provide support or involve himself in any misguided attacks, he was allowed to do as he pleased. Chev saw his worth even if Clavis did not.

Arranging an event took time, however, and there was no way to hurry that time along. Clavis had set it up, as ordered, but the party wouldn’t be held for another week. In the meantime, Chevalier had the Domestic Affairs Faction scoping out illegal sales and attempting to pinpoint Anti-Monarchy meeting places and warehouses. They were effectively down two members as Yves was not ideal for this sort of work, and Licht was under Yves care, forced into taking a leave of absence. Nokto had his hands full trying to identify smuggling lines from Obsidian, and Clavis was barely maintaining the Foreign Affairs Faction.

On the fourth day of Dahlia’s absence, King Chevalier met with a foreigner who operated a bookstore in Rhodolite. Mr. Akatsuki had no blood relation to Dahlia, however, he had functioned as a father figure to Dahlia since she was a young child. Dahlia’s disappearance wasn’t something that needed to be made public, but it had been brought to Chevalier’s attention several times that Dahlia’s family should be made aware. And so, a summons was sent, and Mr. Akatsuki, who had experience with royalty, princes, and Chevalier many, many years ago, arrived to be given the news.

It went about as well as expected when one is informed their adopted child has been abducted and everyone knew of the culprit but no one was able to do anything about it. In other words, it was a very tiresome meeting. Even with Clavis and Leon in attendance, there was very little anyone could say to assure Mr. Akatsuki that Dahlia would be brought home swiftly. She was not the highest priority at the moment for Rhodolite, and even if she were, Chevalier’s hands were currently tied by the lack of proof more than anything.

While Gilbert had given Chevalier enough to conclude that Dahlia was in Obsidian, he had not expressly stated it. Furthermore, Gilbert’s position as a prince of a neighboring country would offer significant protections for something as small as abduction of a commoner, even if she had been training to be a court minister. She offered no value as a political hostage, either. No one but those who care for her would care that she had been abducted.

Mr. Akatsuki leveled some insults about how useless Rhodolite’s palace full of princes was, driving the dagger deeper in the hearts of all three men and cracking the divide wider between Chevalier and his brothers. They already thought of Chev as heartless, and his steadfastness in handling things above board did nothing to lessen his cold character. Chevalier didn’t refute. He would not be shaken by words, having experienced harsher ones in his past. He could allow others their outbursts and insults and he would continue as he saw best… for Rhodolite.

Their guest stormed out of the meeting, yelling that he would collect his daughter himself. Clavis and Leon traded a look, and Chev understood what the both of them were considering. He knew it would be best to caution with another warning. He knew neither of them were a match for Gilbert’s intellect and strategic planning. He knew that even if both of them crossed into Obsidian, neither would return with Dahlia, and it was likely neither would return at all. He knew what was best. He knew what choice he’d make. But he hesitated.

He missed her.

If his life was so affected by her absence, surely his brothers with more human hearts were fighting something much harder than he was.

“Clavis,” Chev’s words were a rope that twisted around Clavis, tying him in place. “You are required for your gathering.” With that, Clavis was bound and tethered from any other foolish action.

With a faint hope that Leon would manage something impossible, Chevalier kept his eyes on Clavis, purposefully ignoring Leon’s hard stare as his brother tried to puzzle out Chev’s actions. It seemed like Leon was considering his own next move. Of all times for Leon to finally think things through and not act rashly, this was not the moment Chevalier expected nor wanted it to happen. Perhaps Leon was waiting to be shackled as well, for he waited much longer than necessary before he quickly followed after their retreating guest.

Chevalier knew he would live to regret this. This is what happens to kings in love.

Leon caught up to Mr. Akatsuki before he had left the palace proper. Jogging to get in front of the older man, Leon held up his hands placatingly. “Would you hang on for a minute? Give me just a little more of your time. I promise it’ll be worth it.”

The man from Ruby narrowed his eyes at Leon. “Spit it out. But you have two minutes before I walk out of here.”

Leon gave his best charismatic grin. “I won’t need two minutes. Allow me to go with you.”

Mr. Akatsuki remained silent, crossing his arms over his chest but allowing Leon his two minutes (or less, as he claimed). Leon had at least expected him to refute or deny him outright, however, it seemed that he was going to wait to cast his decision.

“Not as a prince of Rhodolite. You know I love your daughter, right? Dahlia means more to me than anything, even my title. I would do anything to protect her– and I was willing to fight everyone inside the palace the night she was taken from me– from us.” Leon swallowed hard, fighting the anger, frustration, and pain that came with this confession. But he knew that in order to convince Mr. Akatsuki, he needed to be honest. He had to lay his feelings bare.

“I get it– not to the same degree. I didn’t raise her. I have only spent a year by her side. But, please, if there’s even a chance I can get her back, I want to take it. I want to bring her home. I want to keep her safe.” Leon paused, waiting for some sort of sign from Mr. Akatsuki. The elder man pursed his lips and frowned, eyeing Leon.

“Will you take me with you? That's all I’m asking.” He kept his amber eyes locked on Mr. Akatsuki, showing his determination and his sincerity.

“You’ll need a change of clothes,” Mr. Akatsuki stated pointedly before he looked away towards the grand entrance, the main gate, and beyond to where Obsidian laid far, far away. “Dress for colder weather. Bring enough for a few weeks. Come to my shop before sunrise tomorrow.”

Leon clapped a heavy hand on Mr. Akatsuki’s shoulder, wanting to hug the man he had only met a handful of times, but restraining himself. “Thank you.” He met Mr. Akatsuki’s eyes once again to show how meaningful his approval was to him, then jogged off through the palace to set about gathering enough clothes for his trip.

He knew he couldn’t tell anyone he was leaving or else he’d be facing other obstacles outside of Chevalier. Sariel would surely find some way to tie him down, and Jin might just lock him in a cell to keep him from making a stupid mistake - like attempting to rescue his girlfriend from a foreign nation. Yves would tell everyone, and Licht would beg to come with him. It was a little ridiculous that Chevalier was the one who allowed him the opportunity to pursue his own choice. It really wasn’t like him.

Finishing his work for the rest of the day like nothing was wrong was easy enough. Leon felt no shame in his choice, and despite knowing he was lying to Jin and would be saddling everything with him come tomorrow, it wasn’t the first time he had kept things from his brothers and it wasn’t likely going to be the last.

The sun set on Rhodolite in blazing reds and oranges. The stars appeared in the sky, shining brightly, only dwarfed by the silver moon.

Clavis sat in his room on the sofa he slept on clutching at his chest. He hadn’t felt like this since he was a young child. It hadn’t hurt this badly since that day so many years ago when it rained and he began to hate the smell of wet roses. He hadn’t tinkered or created anything in days. He hadn’t dug a pitfall or planted any traps since before Chev’s coronation. Instead he sat in the darkness of his cluttered room, barely able to drag himself through the motions of his work. Even Chevalier had been giving him less errands to run. He was truly worthless, Clavis thought to himself.

Jin drank alone in the large sitting room. Drinking with company was always better than none, but company sounded like it’d be more trouble than it was worth tonight. Glass after glass, he tipped the liquor back, trying to rid himself of the worry that held fast to his thoughts. He was more perceptive than most people, he saw how his brothers were all hiding their dark thoughts of Dahlia being gone and never returning. Knowing she was in Obsidian did nothing to rid them of anxieties, because there was no way to easily retrieve her. His reach wasn’t that far. Not even Sariel could manage that.

Licht dragged the knife across his skin. The familiar burn of his flesh slicing and blood rushing to the wound seemed to be the only sensation he could feel beyond the numbness. He kept a blank face as he watched the dark red seep from inside him to fill the void he had made. The pain was nothing. Inconsequential. Perhaps he’d cut deeper tonight. Perhaps he’d add a new scar on top of old ones lined up in their rows. What did it matter anyways? No one would care if he took care of himself any longer.

Chevalier sat in the wooden chair positioned on one side of the chess board that decorated his room. None of the pieces had been moved, and there was no partner for Chev to play against. However, that didn’t stop him from moving pieces in his head. As he ran through strategies and tactics of every book he had ever read, he fought himself in a battle of wits on the chess board in his mind. He purposely busied himself so as to not put a stop to Leon’s misguided rescue attempt. If he gave himself enough time to reconsider his negligence in caging Leon, he knew he’d succumb to the logic and reasonable decision to keep him in Rhodolite.

Nokto stared into the darkness of the night, leaning against the window in his room. The roses several stories below were colored so dark, it looked like they had all been painted black. The dark circles under his eyes mirrored the deep shade of the flowers. He hadn’t been sleeping well. He never slept well without someone next to him. It had only been four days since she was taken, but those four days continued to stretch from evening to morning to another sleepless night to putting on another mask for the day. How was the world colored so plainly without her here?

Before the sun had risen, when the staff was waking to start their morning shifts, Leon discretely left the castle full of lonely beasts to meet with a foreigner who owned a bookstore. He walked the whole way on foot, not wanting to leave a palace horse as evidence for Sariel or Jin to find where he had gone. When he arrived at the bookstore that Dahlia had once worked at, he found a small but sturdy covered wagon hitched and Mr. Akatsuki had already loaded books and other supplies into it.

“You’re one of those that shows up right when you ought to and not a moment sooner.” Mr. Akatsuki eyed Leon and glanced at the thinning shadows on the horizon.

“That’s what a hero does, and Dahlia believes I’m one.” Leon grinned, tossing his clothing into the wagon and hopping onboard.

“Wouldn’t have hurt to get out of here before first light. It’s a long trip to Obsidian Castle.” The older man climbed onto the driver’s bench, collecting the reins for the harnessed horses.

“And you’ve got a way through, right? We’re not going to have to sneak across the border, are we? I don’t think this wagon will make it if we did.” Leon chuckled, ribbing the old man who seemed perpetually grumpy.

“I’ve got a way. You’re my apprentice, understand? Training to pick up the store once I give up traveling. You look young enough to pass for it.” Mr. Akatsuki gave the signal to the horses and the wagon began its bumpy journey through the streets of Rhodolite’s capital.

“Does that mean I call you Master?”

Mr. Akatsuki huffed, cutting a glance to Leon. “Mr. Akatsuki.”

“Alright, Mr. Akatsuki it is.” Leon watched Mr. Akatsuki for several minutes in silence, trying to come up with something to express his gratitude for allowing him to come along. But every time he grasped for a word or a sentiment that might come close, it didn’t feel like enough. There were no words to say how much this meant to him. So he said the only thing that he could manage, a sincere and firm “Thank you.”

It was several hours after the sun had taken its spot in the sky, slowly traversing over Rhodolite Castle when Jin poked his head inside the Foreign Affairs office. He had been running throughout the palace in search of Leon, unable to find the head of the Domestic Affairs Faction. Meanwhile, he was also picking up the slack for every other member who was missing, and now Leon hadn’t shown.

Clavis was sitting at the single desk, head down as if reading paperwork, but he sat there staring at the same page for far longer than would have been needed. Jin’s eyebrows knitted together and he frowned, watching Clavis who hadn’t even heard him come in. In an attempt to make himself known, he rapped loudly on the door he had already opened, startling Clavis from his inner thoughts.

“Hey, Clavis, is everyone else out?” Jin shoved his hands in his pockets and lazily strolled into the empty office.

“Oh, you know how it is. We’re not much for working together. Nokto is probably still sleeping, and Chev is handling kingly duties.” Clavis smiled the same smile he always had.

“And Luke?” Jin asked as he peeked out a window, attempting to keep the conversation casual.

“Who can say? Ahaha. He has never volunteered to show up to work.” Clavis shuffled the papers on his desk, the dark circles under his eyes giving away how many restless nights he had been experiencing.

“He’s still not interested in being a prince, it’s gotta be hard for him.” Jin agreed, circling back towards the door from the far end of the room. “Speaking of hard work, have you seen Leon? I’m swamped in Domestic Affairs all by myself. With Yves and Licht out of commission, it’s just me and Leon.”

Clavis paused in his organizing of his paperwork and looked up at Jin. Something about the way his smile fell and his eyes blinked wide for a moment didn’t sit right with Jin. Clavis slapped his mask back on and was smiling like he always did, his hands folding together on top of his desk. “Ah, I see. Of course he wouldn’t have told you. Chev all but gave him permission to force his way into Obsidian and gallantly bring our dear Dahlia back.”

“That’s not funny, Clavis.” Jin stopped moving, his feet frozen to the floor.

“I’m not laughing.” Clavis clenched his hands together tighter, squeezing his own emotions down, his white knuckles safely hidden under his gloves. “And I’m not lying.”

Jin sprang into a run and darted out of the room. He had to find Chevalier to verify where Leon had gone– No, he had to find Sariel to stop Leon from crossing the border. Shit. This was bad. This was really, really bad.

[sunnysideeggs4me]

I MADE A LIST OF WH AU'S all found on Tumblr or tiktok

Au name - creator name date made

Pokemon Au- party coffin 8/18/2021

2023

Emo Au- Clownsuu 3/10

Vampire Wally Au? - nonomives? 4/11?

Muppets Au- somethingsomething-bear 3/16

What if- Neonross 3/30?

Modern Au- muppetsbunker 3/31

Grey scale- sweetesrosiebee 4/3?

Pastor Wally Au? - smeetums?? 4/6

Howdy pillar Butterfly Au- swanpyart4/6

Actor au- Fillsand 4/7

Lovesick-halohelene 4/15

Opposite au- henneysilly 4/16

Red Wally Au- licoricecookie1 4/23

Skater Wally Au- pickledplumzz? 4/23

Rainbow factory- Dodozoi𓅰 4/24

Coralline Au- kylee_dottavioartist 4/25

Mob au- clownsuu 4/26?

Imaginary friend Au- ponponchu 4/26

Mirror Au- horrortheory01 4/27

Lovestruck Au- irl_neo 4/30

Cultist Au- ed3nn_m 4/30

XOXO Au- weakangei 5/1

Wallace Au- kylee_dottavioartist 5/1

Royalty Au- Neonross 5/1

Flowerbed Au- majorkro 5/2

Mistake Au- Mostly_ghostiy 5/3

Tattoo artist Au- weakangei 5/4

Demon Au- infohazardouz 5/4

Puppeteer Wally au-Reddsmess 5/5

ENA Au- eechytooru 5/5

paradise Au-halohelene 5/5

Stuck Au-sunflowe_00 5/5

Finfolk Au-Aerkame 5/6?

Gothic punk au- yamixd69 5/6

Unfinished au- jimpixj 5/6

Reboot Au- tonyr3ed_tt 5/7

High school Au- muffinturner 5/7

Homesick Au- nameko_nick 5/7

Forgetful Au- m0rtizz possibly 5/8-5/13

Wally the performer au- sleepysillyartist 5/8

DBD Wally darling Au- j_demi_creates 5/8

Watcher au- deadlyeyez5/9

Playfellow workshop- chez-cinnamon 5/10

Animated Puppetry au- mandasarts 5/10

Cosmic Au- L4cun_x 5/10

Self-aware Swap-Anonymous-paperbag 5/11

Error Wally Au?- neonross 5/11?

Doctor Au- silliestgooberalive 5/11?

Killer Wally Au- itskorrychang 5/11

Homesick Au- o_wally._.darling_o 5/11

Cupid Wally Au- fetusmeme 5/11

Candy land Au- shishiaMinty 5/11

Overboard Au- echoentities 5/12

slaughter Au- smeetums 5/12

Tailor Au- shroomycattiktok 5/13

Sky Au- kyleklown656 5/13

Crime puppets Au-Sweetest-honeybee 5/13

Midnight Mass Au- Vamletvair 5/13

Define Reality Au- Skattipes 5/14

Season of the neighborhood-iwuvcoffi 5/14

Rockstar Au- realityray 5/14

Haunted house Au- kamigui 5/15

Storyteller Au- sleepysillyartist 5/16

Smile HD Au- mostly_ghostiy 5/17

Decaying doll Au- lykangutz date unknown

Butler au - YourHellKeeper date unknown

Popstar au- Lemmiesleep date unknown

Infected home Au-⸝⸝ Sage ★ date unknown

[gay-flyboys]

It Sure Is A Wednesday

uhhh hey guysssssss I haven't been writing much bc I'm working and in school and spoilers! those take time. but. @rockyroadkylers has tagged me in a Sunday and Wednesday post, so. have this long bit of dialogue from the Celestial au that I wrote vaguely like a script and haven't filled in ft Henry and Philip's angtsy dynamic in this fic

“No? Henry, you sound like a madman. And you’re calling me, of all people. Now, I understand that you may be under pressure from Gran, but we were both there. We know–” “You weren’t there!” “I’m sorry?” “You weren’t there, when he went. You were never fucking there, Philip. You were away, every single time. We had to call you in, summon you. We thought our father was dying, and you couldn’t manage to step away from the bloody military for a month. You are royalty, Philip. And he was publicly ill. I think they would have understood.” “There were so many false alarms–” “He was visibly worse, Philip! Which you wouldn’t know, because you never showed up! He just started decaying, and you couldn’t manage to be there on fucking time!” “He had cancer! We never knew his timeline! I was halfway across the world, Henry. I couldn’t just show up on a whim.” (pause. Voice broken.) “Don’t you think it haunts me, too? Don’t you think I wish I was there? I see how Mum looks at me, when she decides to leave her room.”

Not tagging anyone bc it is A Day and idk who's actually writing these days flkjadshkj but open tag if anyone wants to participate

[moonshine999]

Alysmond : Hades and Persephone AU

Prince Aemond grew up amongst luxury and all the pleasures of life at his disposal. But being into royalty wasn’t enough for his ambition. He was a Prince? He wanted to be king. He was mocked for not having a dragon? He needed to claim the largest one alive. He was brilliant at wielding the sword, philosophy and history? He wanted to be the best. The one eyed never seemed to be happy with the brightness around him. “It won’t last forever so why not make the best of it?” Ser Criston always told him during their training. It was his want for more that kept him from doing so.

When the young Prince was made to send a message to the Riverlands, he flew there himself. Somehow he managed to stumble into a goddess’s den and was enchanted, a bit disgusted but whatever. 

Alys Rivers grew up with nothing. A bastard of house Strong and nothing more. But she cemented herself as a danger. “A witch who bathes in blood to keep herself young”, “go near her den and you’ll be tortured before you die a painfully slow death”, “she practices magic of the darkest kind, stay away”. 

She wasn’t used to visitors, let alone princes who were way too cocky for their own good quickly making himself at home. 

(side note : this is still very much rooted in canon and is sort of canon divergence but like a full on Greek gods AU sounds really fun as well)

Concepts 

For the aesthetic :

Aemond with braids and decaying flowers in his hair

Alys wearing a crown of bones 

Them sharing a pomegranate

Aemond in a flowy mesh shirt

The handle of his sword being designed with various flowers and vines imagery 

Alys in a long dark cloak embellished with gold 

Her slowly strumming her fingers on a skull 

Them covered in blood (I’m not crazy, I promise)

Alys untying his corset 

Aemond having dark blood lipstick stains near his mouth, on his jaw and neck

For the “plot” :

Criston and Alicent filling in the role of Demeter and frantically writing letters to Aemond to come back home

Them killing every Strong and Harrenhal becoming their underworld

Alys “petting” Vhagar as though the dragon is a three headed puppy

Them vowing they’ll burn anything and anyone for each other 

Them bonding over their ambition 

[rainbowrosegames]

John Graçol: "LIAN NOOO!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭"

Ellen Graçol, thinking: "Well, guess I'm the heir now"

The whole court sees it. The princess is cruel, vicious, and it will be a dark age for the land when she takes the throne. Alas, the law is clear that she is heir. But should a dragon take her, as dragons are want to do, and if you find the stupidest “hero” for the rescue mission…

[pyrosomatic-metamorphosis]

I genuinely love the term brainrot. like yes!! my love for this media IS composting my electric meat into acceptable nutrition for various mycelia and other detrivores! The earthworms of my brain are my blorbos from the shows and their work is vital to the ecosystem! god bless

[97-liners]

97-liners masterlist

for nct/wayv fic, go to @naptaemed [m] = mature, dni if you’re under 18 years old international age [gn] = gender neutral reader character

junk drawer (one-shots under 2k in length that didn’t make it to the main masterlist) 97.writings (all my fic stuff, including answered asks) 97.recs (fic recs)

s.coups 🍒

hello tutorial

in which you’re trying to deal with your crush on seungcheol in a normal way, but the meddling kids are making it harder than it needs to be. (or: five times the underclassmen try to get you and seungcheol together, and the one time it works.)

words: 7.3k | college au, frat au | fluff, comedy, romance

jeonghan 😇

fall back down to earth with you

in which your manager, jeonghan, thinks it’ll be good publicity for you to date hollywood actor and notable heartthrob, joshua hong

words: 9.5k | fake dating au but subverted, celebrity au | fluff, comedy, romance

hoshi 🐯

untitled pwp [m]

in which your best friend is convinced he can make you squirt because he read an article about it once

words: 2k

wonwoo 😼

knock on your door [gn]

in which wonwoo is shy and awkward and you’re a mess. or: mingyu persuades you to trade apartments for a week. he doesn’t tell you that his roommate, wonwoo, is hot.

words: 3.1k | college au | fluff

a 1.2k little companion piece/sequel here! this fic is NOT gender neutral, however. 

and another little 1.3k fic set in the same universe but takes place years later

untitled

in which you’re the crown princess and you have suitors lining up for you left and right, and wonwoo is your royal advisor who doesn’t approve of a single one.

words: 9.5k | royalty au, childhood friends to lovers, fantasy | fluff, comedy, romance

out of the frying pan and into your heart

in which y/n is oblivious, and everything could have been resolved with some proper communication

words: 9.3k | college au, childhood friends to lovers | fluff, comedy, rom com

woozi 🍚

just us and the moon (till the sun starts waking) [m]

in which there’s two things you knew when you were entering this arrangement: one, jihoon doesn’t like relationships. two, you’re a damn fucking fool for lee jihoon.

words: 10k | friends with benefits, college au | smut, fluff, angst, romance

the8 🐸

again, again, again, again, again [gn]

in which minghao walks, and he remembers.

words: 1.7k | angst

mingyu 🐶

sugar and you [gn]

in which mingyu is an idealistic pastry chef, and you’re a cynical wedding planner who doesn’t believe in love.

words: 4.5k | fluff, just really sweet (hah) fluff, one-sided enemies to lovers (?)

dokyeom ⚔

house that eats and pleads and kills [m]

there’s a ghost that lives in your house.

words: 3.4k | smut, horror | warnings for sexually explicit content, gore, decay/rot, grief, vomit, blood, major character death, body horror

[rainbowrosegames]

Maybe one day FKAU(Fresh Kingdom AU) will be smth like this but currently I'm working on school and an original work/novel?? called Decaying Royalty. Sorry for my absence, sincerely Rainbow/ @ask-king-fresh !!

crying loudly tears streaming down my face into a puddle i am lying in snot dripping out of my nose and beady little eyes shaky with tears

I MISS COMIC DUBS!!! I MISS ASK BLOGS!!!! I MISS THOSE STUPID ASK BLOGS THAT SOMEHOW GO FROM HAHA SILLY TO SERIOUS PLOT!!!! I MISS COMIC DUB MOVIES THAT YOU HAVE TO PREPARE TO WATCH LIKE A MOVIE NIGHT!!!!! I MISS DUBS THAT FOCUSED ON CANON UNDERTALE!!!!! I MISS CRINGE MISCHARACTERIZATION!!!! I MISS CHARA AND FRISK ALSO I REALLY FUCKING MISS THEM THEYRE MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS. NOBODG EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM TO ME. LIKE HELLO. COME ON.

im gonna rewatch handplates tonight

[yanderealm]

COPY & PASTE REQUEST FORM WHILE REQUESTING!

IN THE DARK YOU DIE ⫶ random horror oneshots

ANTIFRAGILE ⫶ oc x reader ( oneshot/ hc )

JINNSLAMMER ⫶ bungou stray dogs ( oneshot/hc )

A PEARL ⫶ genshin & honkai ( oneshot/hc )

THE EATERS OF THE SUN ⫶ honkai star rail ( oneshot/hc )

NIFELHEIM ⫶ record of ragnarok ( oneshot/ hc )

YOUR VAMPIRE S/O ⫶ gi & hi3 & hsr

WHORE SERIES ⫶ royalty au, genshin/honkai 3rd/star rail, bungou stray dogs & record of ragnarok

WALKING OVER MY GRAVE SERIES ⫶ genshin/honkai 3rd/star rail, bungou stray dogs & record of ragnarok

LULLABY FOR THE UNDEAD SERIES ⫶ decay of angels x reader

EVERYWHERE IS SOME WHERE SERIES !

BODY WORSHIP ⫶ blade ( hsr )

ONE SIDED LOVE ⫶ kafka ( hsr )

A, B, C, F, N & X ⫶ blade ( hsr / yandere )

I, N, S, R & F ⫶ vampire! blade ( hsr / nsfw )

I, L & M ⫶ apollo ( ror / sfw )

[flowered-mp3]

vermillion pt. 1 (encounter) - lim jaebeom

pairing: human prince jaebeom + vampire princess female reader

genre: fluff, angst, forbidden love (kinda?), arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, smut (eventual), vampire, royalty, fantasy au

word count: 8k+

warnings: cursing, mentions of war, violence, and death, hot jay b (lol this is a warning), suggestive sexual content, eventual smut

summary: in an effort to end centuries of war, you agree to a political marriage with the enemy. you never considered that your circumstances could allow you to indulge in matters of the heart. that is, until your intended pushes past your boundaries, tempting you with intelligent banter and salacious, midnight promises.

rating: 18+ (mdni)

author’s note: after a million years, i’m finally posting the first part lmao. ugh i just love fantasy au’s or any au that has mythical/magical elements to it. lol like just look at all those genre tags. they’re my favourite to read and write! i hope that you guys enjoy this series (also i have no idea how many parts it’s gonna be lmao, the series list is only an estimate) <3

p.s. happy birthday to my beloved lim jaebeom, lim leader, jay b, defsoul, producer, singer, dancer, artist, photographer. i know that i clown u all the time but tbh i actually think that ur really neat. love u dawg

[library] [got7 library] [vermillion series]

✧✧✧

encounter (en-koun-ter) - to meet with or contend against, possibly with difficulty or opposition.

✧✧✧

The concept of vampires has always been a children’s tale, for Jaebeom.

They were rumoured to be mythical, immortal creatures that freely roam the mysterious, cold, and dangerous lands of Styria in the North, isolated from the humans after their kind was banished centuries ago. It was told that both humans and vampires lived among each other in harmony before the Great War, but those times are long gone.

To make matters worse, further hate and violence were lit the to the flame in recent decades after a young Styrian vampire killed an Alsacian human child, amid them returning from a hunting trip with their family. Once the news hit Jaebeom’s home; the capital city of Alsace, pure mayhem and chaos erupted in the streets of the city, awakening the workers and soldiers within the halls of the castle. Jaebeom still remembers the way that his father’s best military strategists and generals gathered in the courtroom to swear fealty to the crown; the roars of men and women with the clash and clang of their armour against their weapons terrifying him as a child.

War is all Jaebeom knows, so he’s become accustomed to the sound now; the environment of combat and war; the smell of blood and decaying bodies; the sight of grieving people; but he’s never been one for violence.

While events laid out in the Great War are documented in books that he read as a child, little else is known about them. But Jaebeom knows one thing for sure; every single human that has entered that country has never returned.

Ever.

Yet here he finds himself, right outside the towering walls of the Styrian capital city in the dead of night, speaking to the possibility of a-

“Treaty?” Jaebeom questions, recoiling at the offer extended by the King of the Styria, King Jiho. Like the other elder members of the Styrian upper class, the King is tall and lean, fit with a cloak of deep grey furs, clothing fastened with leather straps, silver clasps, and chains. He nods, which prompts Jaebeom to ask further, “Such agreements were extended before. How do we know if the treaty will be sustained by both parties?”

King Jiho pauses, eyeing a man at his side. The man in question immediately rushes over King Jiho’s left, reaching into a wooden chest that he carried to the meeting. He pulls out a scroll of parchment, a pot of ink, and a quill, placing them on a silver tray before handing the items to Jaebeom’s father beside him.

His father frowns in suspicion, handing Jaebeom’s younger brother the bound scroll into his outstretched hand. Immediately, he breaks the dark red wax seal embossed with the sigil of the Styrian royal family, his fingers unravelling the burlap string to read the contents of their peace offering. The second that an expression of surprise and panic spreads over his brother’s face, Jaebeom takes the scroll from his hands.

With a single pass over the words contained on the parchment, it’s safe to say that Jaebeom does not enjoy the contents of the agreement. His eyes widen and his heart thumps out of his chest when he reads that the vampires are offering, fury overtaking his mind as his vision becomes red.

✧✧✧

Humans are strange creatures.

You’ve never been able to understand them. While you were human at one point, it’s been long enough for you to forget how fickle and fleeting their lives are, now that you’ve been cursed with an exorbitantly long life. While you’re lucky to have been reborn as a Styrian royal, finding purpose in a seemingly immortal life has been an ongoing journey. And on this ongoing journey, you’ve come to believe that humans are strange, never consuming blood for purposes other than simple sustenance.

At least, you do now. But you can’t say the same for yourself when you were freshly turned.

Even though you’ve trained yourself to control your thirst for blood centuries ago, you’re still able to recall how agonizing it felt. The experience of starvation was simply excruciating. The degree at which you felt its effects was so extreme that you nearly clawed your own throat out before deciding to kill the nearest living thing in your proximity, a consequence of craving that warm red liquid that you so desperately needed. Both your late father and your brother were absolutely mortified at the sight; the mere image of their faces overcome with debilitating fear made you promise yourself to never lose control like that.

Since then, that resolve of yours has never cracked. Not even once.

Nowadays, the only blood that you drink is from a glass, taken from a farmed animal. You’ve been able to curb your thirst like everyone else, to the point where the cravings are few in between. This training is what has allowed your kind to remain separate from the humans, that is, until recent years.

War has a level of destruction, sorrow, and poverty that seems to have turned into an ancient memory in the minds of foolish humans that wish to spark more conflict. That has been your perspective for centuries; humans are fickle, greedy creatures that look at war as an opportunity to achieve glory or fame; but you know far too well that all it does is fracture families, destroy economies, and ruin lives. You, frankly, want nothing to do with that wretched kind, and you believe that it’s safe to say that your fellow vampires agree.

That is, until your uncle, King Jiho, puts forth an absurd suggestion at a council meeting.

“Political marriage,” he puts forward to the Royal Council, his gruff voice taking your attention from the paper. King Jiho’s gaze drifts, adding, “The human king has two sons. One is of age, and we have two princesses at our disposal. Therefore, I propose the marriage of a member of their royal family with ours.”

Both you and the members of the Royal Council are taken aback by the shocking request. Never have such terms been a part of any peace treaty on both sides. Marriage between an Alsacian and a Styrian is frankly, inconceivable, and the marriage between an Alsacian royal and a Styrian royal is even more so. Within your shock, you run through the ranks of the central royal family, consisting of yourself, the Princess Regent, your older brother, the Crown Prince Suho, and your younger sister, Princess Yuna. Your older brother is already married, and your sister is not of legal age. So that leaves…

You.

Your mouth opens in protest, but King Jiho cuts you off with a raise of his hand and a boom of his voice, “Furthermore, the King of Alsace has already expressed interest in the union. We are waiting for the approval of the first prince.”

You’re speechless, and even more so when you discern that your uncle is genuinely considering the terms of the treaty. He might be a two-faced snake but this is low, even for him. The mere possibility of such a thing going through is absurd to you, it goes against everything that your father has taught you.

You’re the diplomat of your country. The Princess Regent. You didn’t attend all those gruelling war meetings, visit sites of war-torn destruction, intensively study the law and economy of your country to be married off; no, sold off, to a human.

You want to protest against this so badly, but you know better than to have emotional outbursts during council meetings. Your mind wanders to the teachings of your father; in any matter involving diplomacy and politics, your stance must remain neutral because once you take a side, you have an opinion. That situation suggests that they will eventually understand how you think. It’s a dangerous notion and coming close to something like that resulted in the fall of empires, no matter how great the empires once were.

Making eye contact with your uncle, you attempt to portray your displeasure and disagreement with the proposal through your stare. However, your uncle blatantly disregards your aversion to the offer, nodding his head at the members of the Royal Council instead. With a wave of his hand, he takes his leave, the guards pushing the doors open with a loud creak.

✧✧✧

“Uncle, you cannot be serious!” you yell as you furiously slam the heavy wooden door shut, finally in the safety of your quarters with your brother and your uncle. The men in question have already been escorted by soldiers to the military tents outside of the keep of the castle, but just the notion of having wandering Styrian’s in your city makes your stomach churn. What would keep them from wreaking havoc in the middle of the city?

“Y/N is right, Uncle. She’ll be killed as soon as she is alone with them,” your brother concurs with your outburst, equally as maddened. Upon hearing your brother’s defence, your eyes soften and your tenseness from before relaxes slightly. You’ve always counted on Suho for support, and this instance is no exception.

Your defiance causes your uncle to pinch his nose bridge in frustration, sighing out in exasperation.

“I understand your apprehension, dearest,” your eyebrow twitches at the nickname, condescension laced in his tone like poison on a needle, “But-”

“Apprehension? Disgust is more like it!” you counter, huffing dramatically in exhausted anger. Fed-up, you pull a chair from underneath the central table, slumping onto the cushion. Pressing your palms to your eyes, a defeated sigh escapes your lips as you attempt to lower your voice.

“I just… I’ve worked so hard, Uncle. To keep Alsace prosperous, even during times of war. Doing this… I would leave us vulnerable. I would be betraying my country; my people,” you plead with him, voice weakening with each word when your uncle’s resolve fails to break.

You hope that he would be able to understand, but your hopes are much too high for a man of his character. Instead, his temper rises, “As Princess Regent, you will do as I say! I didn’t keep you around after your father’s death to be useless.”

Fucking prick, you want to call him, barely restricting the curse from leaving your lips.

Instead, you squeeze your fist tightly while remaining seated, opening your mouth to protest seethingly, “I will not be sold off like a broodmare.”

Your brother decides to take a step further than you have, rising from his seat and stalking towards your uncle threateningly, “Father would not allow this to happen, and neither will I.”

You stare between the two men glaring at each other, your uncle leaving his seat as well to confront Suho, “She will marry the human.”

Suho doesn’t back down, so your uncle remains silent. However, a vile smirk begins to spread across his face before a threat leaves his lips, “If she doesn’t, I’ll just get the other one to do it for me.”

Your heart stops at the suggestion.

Yuna.

His tone is as entitled and poisonous as ever, but you understand that this isn’t a thinly veiled threat. After your uncle seized power after your father’s death some time ago, he reformed the Royal Council solely from his supporters, disposing of the past. He has the entire Royal Council eating out of his filthy palms so if he places this notion in front of them, they will all surely agree with it, even if Yuna is not of marrying age.

Chewing at your bottom lip, you understand that if you don’t go forward with the marriage, Yuna will have to fill your shoes. That is a possibility that you are not willing to entertain, not even in the slightest. There’s no way that you would let Yuna take the burden.

“How dare you,” you seethe, pausing to rise out of your seat as well, “Yuna is freshly turned. She’s a child! You can’t,” you argue.

“I can and I will. That is, if you decline, dearest,” he replies, voice sickeningly nonchalant.

Enough.

Your eyes narrow at your uncle in anger, magic seeping out of your body as fury begins to manifest at a speed as swift as your rising temper. Upon seeing this, your uncle wavers slightly, backing down from your confrontation for just a moment. Right when your power starts to activate in front of his eyes, you feel a hand wrap around your wrist, halting you. Turning around, you see Suho shaking his head at you.

Don’t, he seems to convey wordlessly, brows furrowed. For a brief second, your anger flares up and you think that you might ignore your brother’s advice. However, you catch the way that his eyes soften, realizing that violence isn’t worth it in this case. Saving your strength, you back off and your uncle scrambles back to his feet. He leaves the council room without another word, leaving yourself and Suho together.

“You can’t kill him, Y/N. You know that,” Suho advises you, sighing when you slump into one of the chairs.

“Brother, I can’t marry someone I’ve never met. I won’t do it,” you shake your head, pausing to take a laboured inhale, “I can’t betray my people.”

Your brother shakes his head, “You’re doing this to protect your people.”

And that, makes you shut up instantaneously because you know that deep in your heart, he’s right. It causes you to pause in contemplation. By agreeing to this arrangement, peace with the humans would become a potential possibility, and no longer an impossibility like it is now. Although you’re not sure that the Alsacian’s would uphold their part of the treaty, you’re beginning to realize that whether or not they uphold the agreement isn’t central to the offer.

The humans want peace as well; and who wouldn’t? Perhaps, trust is the point.

For diplomacy, both sides must negotiate. Both sides won’t receive everything that they want, but both sides will end up happy eventually.

You breathe out, pressing your fingers to your temples in thought. You were so blinded by personal bias that you weren’t even able to remember the core principles of diplomacy. But instead of your side trading money, land, or military might in this negotiation, you’re gambling on your own life. Maybe doing that is the only way to end this war.

“You do understand, Brother, that Uncle is marrying me off in the hopes that the humans will kill me for him.”

Suho nods.

“If I do this, I’ll be gone. I won’t be here to protect you. I won’t be here to protect Yuna. If I leave, Uncle will be one step closer to securing absolute power over vampire kind. If he gets his way, you’re next,” you remind him.

Suho shakes his head before pulling you in for a tight hug, pressing his palm to the back of your head, “Don’t worry about us. Do what you need to do.”

His words might be reassuring, but it doesn’t stop your heart from clenching in your chest, tears starting to gather along your lashes.

✧✧✧

“I will be going ahead with the treaty, Son.”

Jaebeom’s heart sinks at the news, anger bubbling up at his father’s disregard for his opinion in the arrangement. He could be in chains in a dungeon, captured by his sworn enemy since birth, but the idea of marrying a vampire makes him seethe even more than the possibility of being in prison.

“You seriously don’t believe that I’ll be willing to marry one of them,” he spits out, clearly displaying a distaste at the idea of marrying you.

His father remains silent, so Jaebeom continues, “I won’t betray my kind like this.”

Jaebeom argues with his father, shaking his head as it droops down between his crouched knees. His father senses the distress from his son; the conflict that he must be going through. So, he moves to wrap an arm around his shoulders.

“You’re doing this to protect them, not betray them,” his father counters, making Jaebeom stop his train of thought.

“I’m not expecting you to enjoy this arrangement. If anything, I knew that you would be against it. But if you want to become king in the future, you need to show that you’re capable of carrying the burden of leadership. Sacrifices must be made to ensure the survival of our kind. And that means that you must step up.”

His father’s speech causes Jaebeom to contemplate his next action. Since birth, he’s known that he would become the next king. There is no doubt in his mind that he is strong after leading the front lines and being awarded a Medal of Valor at the age of twenty; the youngest to receive the honour in Alsacian history. Hard work and brutal strength exhibited on the battlefield granted him that, but how far would that take him? He has no experience in the diplomatic parts of war; he’s always thought that such negotiations were his father’s job.

Furthermore, Jaebeom’s mind wanders to the members of his circle. First, there’s Jinyoung, his right-hand man, vital in controlling the others when they become distracted or overly rowdy. After that, there’s Mark, his trusted strategist. Then there’s Jackson, his combat specialist. Next is Bambam, his best intelligence gatherer, imperative in the process of reconning an area meant for battle. And last, there’s the youngest; Yugyeom, the all-rounder. Jaebeom has been there since his birth, and he’s grown up so fast that he can’t wrap his arms around Yugyeom anymore when he hugs him, and just the thought of it makes his heart swell.

Then, there’s Youngjae, the second prince, adopted by his father after his mother passed away. He was found in one of the border towns as a shivering and starving child, hiding underneath a blanket of hay. If it wasn’t for that camouflage, he would’ve been killed by a vampire during the attack that happened just hours prior. While he isn’t related by blood to any of them, he loves them all. He would die for them without hesitation or regard for his own well-being or life.

His father slaps a hand on his shoulder, bringing him out of his inner monologue, “Are you ready to step up, Son? To sacrifice what must be sacrificed?”

This shouldn’t be about him; Jaebeom realizes this now. The war needs to end for them, because Jaebeom wants them to experience a life without war and destruction.

Once his father sees him nod wordlessly, he grips Jaebeom’s hand in assurance, “Good. Once you marry the vampire girl, I want you to learn everything there is to know about their kind; history, strengths, and most importantly, weaknesses.”

Jaebeom frowns slightly at the implication, retracting from his father’s touch, “You want me to become a spy?”

His father nods vehemently before adding, “Within this seemingly… Unfortunate offer, lies an opportunity that no other human has ever been granted. We have a chance to infiltrate the society of the vampires; to learn their ways and use it against them.”

Jaebeom sees that his father is resolute, emphasizing his idea with a strong voice and a fist in the air. Although he can see where his father is coming from, a part of him greatly disagrees with the idea.

There is no honour in it, Jaebeom recognizes, displeased with the notion of using a peace treaty as a guise for underhanded betrayal.

But it’s against vampires. It’s different, Jaebeom justifies, ignoring his gut feeling as he reminds himself of the side that he believes that he should take. How could he forget that vampires have been his sworn enemy since birth? How could he forget the vampire that dug his filthy fangs into his mother’s neck, feeding off of her blood until she collapsed in front of his innocent, child-like eyes; her body lifeless and gaunt?

They’ve killed thousands; no, millions of humans over the years, and such heartless crimes are unforgivable.

Jaebeom will never forget. He refuses to forget.

And with that in mind, he agrees to his father’s request with a decisive nod, “I won’t let you down.”

“Good,” his father acknowledges, tapping Jaebeom’s shoulder in approval, “I will send word to King Jiho.”

With a nod of Jaebeom’s head, his father leaves him alone in the tent once again. An anxious sigh slips from his lips, his upper body slumping back to hit the back of the upholstered chair, the sensation strangely grating and uncomfortable. Maybe it’s because the course of his life is going to change tomorrow.

Tomorrow is the day that Jaebeom walks into the fire.

Tomorrow.

✧✧✧

Yuna is making that face again.

“Out with it,” you say to your younger sister, currently situated in a chair adjacent to you, frowning with her arms crossed. She’s evidently displeased; Yuna’s never been very good at hiding her emotions.

“What?” she responds, tone curt.

“You have those wrinkles between your eyebrows again,” you start, hand leaving your open book to gesture at the space in between your brows, “They always show up when you’re itching to say something. So, out with it.”

Yuna huffs in her seat, remaining silent. It’s as if she’s contemplating the possibility of divulging her thoughts to you, but that doesn’t matter in the end. She usually cracks by the end of it.

And as if she can read your mind, she does just that.

“You can’t marry the human. You just can’t,” she admits. Just by assessing her expression and tone once again, you can tell that she’s irritated.

“I haven’t even accepted the proposal yet,” you reply, trying to keep your voice as calm as possible, attempting to ensure that your answer doesn’t rile her up too much. Unfortunately, this doesn’t prove to be effective because Yuna rolls her eyes at you, frustrated.

“When have you ever put your personal feelings above duty, Sister?”

You stop reading the second that you hear that, unable to deny her assessment. Yuna scoffs, noticing your change in expression immediately, “See? I know you just as well as you know me.”

“I just…” you stop yourself, not wanting to expose Yuna to your uncle’s wretched thoughts. Her existence as a member of the royal family is precarious as it is. The second that she receives any political power or attention will mean instant punishment for her, and your uncle has made that possibility abundantly clear. Her protection is a priority to both yourself and Suho, so you’ve tried your very best to keep her out of your uncle’s grimy fingers, and as a consequence, the political spotlight.

“I can see the benefits of this alliance. I can see what it can do for the country. What it can do for our kind,” you tell her instead, but you’re able to see that she remains unconvinced. Yuna squeezes her fists together, as if she’s struggling to bring the words from her mind into actual speech. At first, you believe that she’s just being petulant, but you notice the way that she bites her bottom lip to stop it from trembling. She can barely make eye contact with you, and she just snaps.

“You can’t!” Yuna raises her voice and you halt everything. She never yells. Ever.

Caught off guard by her sudden outburst, you place your book down on the side table before walking over to her softly, responding, “Yuna, I-”

“You can’t,” she interrupts, tone much softer, almost meek in comparison to before. Her eyes peer upward to yours, eyes glassy with tears welling up in the corner of her eyes, “You can’t leave me.”

Your heart shatters the second that you hear her teary plead, reaching out to offer an embrace. She takes it immediately, breaking down and falling apart in your arms. You didn’t realize how strongly she felt about your decision, surely a consequence of only taking yourself and the country into account. The possible impact that this marriage might have on her didn’t even cross your mind, so you chastise yourself for being so selfish.

Yuna was turned illegally at the young age of sixteen, by some criminal that broke border rules for a quick drink. She would have been one of the youngest humans turned in history, if it wasn’t for your age of turning. You still remember the state at which you and Suho found her; it still makes you shiver to this day.

Her body was weak, face gaunt, and starving, nearly mauling Suho as you attempted to rescue her. It took your father nearly two years to teach her how to curb her thirst. So, since your father’s death, she’s relied on you heavily for guidance and support. You taught her everything there is to know about living as a vampire for the past 25 years, as her experience in turning practically echoes your own. It was only appropriate that her response would be so intense.

“I’m sorry,” you begin, shaking your head as tears threaten to slip down your cheeks, “It might be the only way.”

✧✧✧

Jaebeom hates it here.

Absolutely hates it.

He’s only been on this side of the country for a couple of weeks but it feels like an absolute eternity. Perhaps it just seems that way because the North is cold, dreary, and dark no matter the time of day or season; it’s no wonder that very little life can exist here. It definitely isn’t a place for a human that needs the warmth of the sun to survive.

To make matters worse for him, he finds himself right in the centre of Styria, the vampire capital, waiting around in enemy territory to sign a treaty destined to fail. It isn’t the most inviting place for a human either; not even in the slightest. If he wandered the streets alone, he wouldn’t be surprised if he’s pulled into the nearest alleyway by a thirsty vampire for a quick drink.

But alas, he has a duty to his father; to his people, to ensure that this strategy succeeds, even at the cost of his well-being and freedom. Unfortunately for him though, he doesn’t have a moment to contemplate the details of the situation any longer, as he is currently situated in a castle filled with vampires, likely seconds away from being killed.

Taking a deep breath, he waits for the two, fully armed guards to open the enormous doors that tower over his stature. Jaebeom looks to the side to glance cautiously at Jinyoung; his most trusted knight, closest friend, and confidante, as well as his father. Similarly, they are both calm, yet on edge.

His younger brother Youngjae however, isn’t very good at hiding how terrified he looks, given away by his shaky palms, sweaty forehead, and pale complexion. The weapons that they both had on hand before entering the castle were confiscated for the time being, including the infantry that travelled with them. The fact that they practically have no defence against possible attacks has them all on guard, including himself.

That thought continues when the guards step into Jaebeom’s line of sight, pushing the doors open as the metal hinges creak loudly. What looks to be a throne room is slowly revealed to him, his eyes looking upward to trace the huge silver arcs, beams, and columns that support the weight of the ceiling. Quickly, he gathers the details of the grand room.

Firstly, his eyes catch the silver vines that wind around the columns, polished to such a sheen that the metal reflects the glow of the torches and the chandelier that light the space. Next, he notices how warm the room truly is; the hearth located at the sides of the room burning bright and emitting so much heat that he can feel it through his pelts. Such a feeling is strange for a place that Jaebeom touted as cold and depressing. Finally, his eyes trail forward to the sight of you, perched upon a single ornate throne in front of him, adorned with filigree silver and velvet upholstery.

Immediately, he’s confused, leaning towards Jinyoung to whisper in his ear, “Who is that?”

Jinyoung pauses with a breath, “My apologies, Your Highness, but I’m not sure either. It was not communicated through our intelligence network that King Jiho would not be present. I-”

“Introducing the King of Alsace and His Royal Highness, the First Prince Jaebeom of House Lim; His Grace, the Second Prince Choi Youngjae; and their companion, Ser Jinyoung of House Park. Here, you are esteemed guests of Her Royal Highness, the Princess Regent Y/N,” the guard behind him announces loudly, right before stepping beside him with spears in hand. He hears Jinyoung say a hushed oh next to him, gathering the pieces of stray information to identify you.

“Thank you, Corvus,” you answer, lifting yourself from your throne to meet your human guests. As soon as you leave your seat, you adjust your dress with your hands, smoothing the front of the skirt before walking over to the four men, heels clicking against the polished stone flooring.

As you walk closer, Jaebeom is instantly dumbfounded that you’re the person that he may become promised to. Never did he think that King Jiho would have someone as poised; as undoubtedly beautiful as you are by his side. It’s almost alarming how perfectly you align with the look of royalty; elegant, pristine, and regal. There isn’t a single crease in your dress, nor a stray hair out of place.

“I am Y/N, Princess Regent of Styria. I am pleased to make The King’s acquaintance, as well as Your Highness, Your Grace, as well as Ser Jinyoung,” you smile at both of them before curtsying, “I apologize for the late notice, but I will be leading you all to the council room. My brother and my uncle will be waiting for us there.”

His entire party bows for this vampire princess in front of him, but his discussion with his father persuades him to take it a step further. If he is to truly win you over to the point where you spill all of the secrets that vampire society has to offer, he has to step up his game. So, he decides to reach out for your hand. As a response, the guards beside you immediately go on the defensive, stepping in front of you before pressing a dagger against his neck in record speed.

Instantly, Jinyoung steps forward to defend him but he raises a hand, wordlessly communicating with him to stand down. Similarly, you do the same with your guards. After the blade is removed from his neck, he takes a single step forward and gently wraps his fingers around your wrist, bringing it upward to press a soft, chaste kiss against the back of your hand.

Oh? She blushes, Jaebeom notices, interest piqued.

“It’s my pleasure, Princess,” he replies lowly, quiet enough for his words to be lost to the rest of the party, but just loud enough for you to hear. His eyes peer up to see your surprised expression before pulling away; if only he could hear the flurry of thoughts that begin to fly around in your mind after that single, innocent kiss.

He expected a much more… Dramatic response, though. Instead, you wordlessly gesture at him to follow you to the council room, guards trailing behind. A pleasant expression is spread across your face as you do so but there’s a glint of calculated austerity and coldness behind your graceful demeanour. Surely, there must be more to you than just a pretty face. It’s that inherent disposition and contrast that has him admittedly intrigued.

However, Jaebeom tries to shake away those thoughts the second that they enter his mind; how can he think that you, a vampire, an infallible ice-cold killer, are attractive in any shape or form? Regardless of his internal reservations on your kind and in your character, interest increases steadily in his mind when his eyes trace the curve of your spine and the sway of your hips, beckoning him to follow as you walk away.

Akin to a moth to a flame, he does.

✧✧✧

You weren’t sure what to expect from the humans.

You’re familiar with them, but intelligence gathered from reading reports and scrolls can only do so much for you. It was expected that the king and his infantry would attend, but only that much is true.

For starters, the King of Alsace seems to just be a standard leader; concerned for the wellbeing of his country and his own kind. He is burly, strong, and built with a gruff voice, very much the opposite of your uncle’s. The second prince, Youngjae, looks to have a gentle, almost naïve nature. He could barely look you in the eye when you met him in the throne room; it would take a fool to not see that he’s terrified. Jinyoung, the knight, did not speak a single word since your greeting, nor did he allow himself to take his eyes off of you. He acted as if you would slit their throats and parade them around the city for all to see with a single snap of your finger. Clearly, he seems to be the most outwardly cautious of the group.

The King, Jinyoung, and the Second Prince are what you would classify as classically handsome; prince-like, and poised. To be honest, you would’ve expected Ser Jinyoung to be the First Prince but instead, you’re surprised to see that another man takes that title.

The First Prince, Jaebeom… Or His Royal Highness; you correct yourself after remembering the details of etiquette, is not the prince that you initially envisioned.

The man in question is currently walking behind you but you can remember his face, even after only glancing at him briefly. His features are sharp with dark hair combed backward and away from his forehead, exposing two moles underneath his left eyebrow. You notice a small ring of silver metal pierced through his nose; an interesting choice. There is also a deep scar slashed perpendicularly to the line of his jaw; it makes you wonder where he got it from (or rather, who he got it from). Yes, he is admittedly handsome, but there’s something else in the way that he carried himself in the throne room…

It was as if no one else in the room was present; no guards, no King, no one. It felt like his gaze was focused on you and only you; eyes mysterious, piercing, and dangerous with every single stride that he took toward.

You try to shake the memory of his lips against your skin from your mind once you reach the council room, but the thought remains.

You expected him to hate you; to despise your very existence. This notion is completely discernable, as this situation that you both find yourselves in is not what either of you would particularly enjoy. The conflict that has existed between humans and vampires has been rampant for centuries now, and you understand that fact. You thought that he would be just as terrified as most humans are, but no. If anything, the man that showed up in the throne room turned out to be the exact opposite. Perhaps, it will take some time for his true nature to be revealed to you.

“Leave us,” you direct, gesturing for your guards to vacate the room before taking a seat beside Suho. He greets you with a soft kiss to your temple, a comforting sigh leaving your lips as he does so. As if he can sense your stress and anxiety at the meeting, he nods at you wordlessly in an attempt to soothe your emotions. Luckily, you’re able to calm yourself before completely disregarding the slimy grin that your uncle gives the group of humans upon their entry.

The guards open their mouths to protest against leaving you without protection, but are silenced once your eyes lock onto theirs. With a single glance from you, they nod and leave the room, shutting the door behind them.

You might be with a group of humans trained in swordsmanship, but you’re still a vampire. If you wanted to, you could easily kill both of them without even lifting a hand, and you’re sure that the men in front of you understand that fact as well.

“Please, take a seat,” you gesture at the chairs tucked neatly into the table, right across from your brother, your uncle, and yourself. Three of them take a seat immediately but are still incredibly cautious; their breathing and heart rate slightly elevated from before. In contrast, Jaebeom removes his outer clothing before sitting down at the table. He begins by unfastening the metal clasp that holds the front of his pelt together, glove-clad fingers moving quickly. The action reveals another fur-lined, thick leather coat that he also moves to unbutton, ridding himself of it to unveil a pair of simple beige slacks and a loose linen shirt, neckline parted to expose a portion of his bare chest.

You bite the inside of your cheek and look to window on the left side of the room, just to stop yourself from staring for longer than you already have.

To begin, your uncle rises from his seat to speak, “Greetings to the Alsacian’s. I am sure that you remember me from our previous meeting. Please allow me the time to introduce the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Suho, who is seated beside me.”

Suho leaves his seated position to bow out of respect, but you’re sure that he’s going to curse the humans in front of him as soon as he gets the chance. Your uncle continues, “I am sure that my beautiful niece has introduced herself as well.”

“Of course, Uncle,” you confirm, silently seething in contempt, “May I formally introduce the King of Alsace and His Royal Highness, the First Prince Jaebeom of House Lim; His Grace, the Second Prince Choi Youngjae; and Ser Jinyoung of House Park.”

“We are pleased to finally meet you all,” the King greets, so you nod at him in return. However, your mind catches a strange inconsistency; why does the First Prince belong to a House, yet the Second Prince does not?

Keeping that information in mind, you shift your gaze directly in front of you. By chance, your eyes meet Jaebeom’s directly; dark, narrowed, and sharp. You’re not sure why, but his incessant staring is starting to make you shift in your seat, suddenly self-conscious.

“Let’s begin with the first clause of the treaty,” the King interrupts your thoughts, looking towards Jaebeom with apprehensive eyes. Thankfully, this effectively stops Jaebeom from staring at you any longer; it was beginning to feel strange.

“We understand that peace is contingent on the marriage of the Princess and my son. This condition is one that we accept.”

Now that they have accepted the extension of the proposal, all eyes essentially land on you. Suho is evidently concerned but your uncle is something completely different.

His expression looks to be pleasant, but you know that he’s hiding the most vicious of threats within it. Just a single stare from him practically puts the threat of Yuna’s life over your head. You’re not even making eye contact with him but it doesn’t matter. Even an idiot would be able to sense how foul and despicable the man truly is.

You let out a sigh at how unfortunate this situation has become, eyelids slipping shut as your shoulders slump slightly. You sink into your chair at this outcome, displeased by the decision that you have to make.

“I accept your proposal,” you agree reluctantly, opening your eyes to meet Jaebeom’s in front of you, resolute and firm. At least, you’re trying to be, pushing down your feelings of disgust and loathing to the best of your ability.

“Fantastic!” your uncle is practically clapping in glee; it’s the most chipper that you’ve ever seen that man. You cannot believe that he is taking this much pleasure in your downfall; your body is itching to unleash your power on him; to make him suffer. By the time that the guards bring over a silver tray of stamps, quills, and ink, your uncle starts to brag about the potential success of the union.

“Your Highness,” he starts, slapping a hand over Jaebeom’s shoulder, “I’m sure that you will be very satisfied with the Princess. She will make an obedient wife.”

As if it couldn’t get worse, his comments have you seething. You’re in the middle of signing your name and attaching your seal on the treaty as his voice drawls on, the quill nearly snapping in your hand as when you hear his condescending, vile statements. Perhaps, you should extend your uncle a compliment; he truly is the most consistently awful person that you’ve ever had the displeasure of knowing.

By the time that the document is signed, you’re desperate to retain some semblance of control over your life. In your future, there’s only one man that would have a direct influence over how you live, so you decide to have a more intimate conversation, without your uncle’s prying, beady eyes.

“Your Highness,” you call out, pausing when you see Jaebeom turn around, “May I have a word with you in private?”

Based on the way that he switches to walk in your direction, you understand that he’s agreed. However, Suho reaches out for your wrist to stop you from doing the same, “Sister…”

You know that he doesn’t want you alone with the human, so you raise a brow in an attempt to wordlessly communicate with your brother.

Let me go, you hope to convey to him, I’ll be ok. Suho should know that you can handle yourself. It takes a minute but eventually, he leaves with the others, reluctantly allowing you to be alone with the human prince.

Jaebeom waits until the door clicks closed before speaking, “You wanted to speak with me, Princess?”

“I just wanted to see if we are on the same page, Your Highness. I understand that this marriage must remain strong. Publicly, at least. The strength of this union directly reflects the longevity of this new era of peace. I’m sure that you also understand that, correct?” you elaborate, brow raising to emphasize your point.

Similarly, Jaebeom raises a brow at you before responding, “Well, Princess, there is one method that we could use to show the public that the union is successful. I’m sure that you also understand that, correct?”

His response causes you to recoil slightly, put off by his sudden shift in tone and the repetition of a phrase that you used. There was a level of intensity to him before, a sense of seriousness, but now he’s a little more… Playful, perhaps? A smirk spreads across his face when you continue to remain silent. It makes you ask yourself; Is he mocking the way that you speak?

“I’m sorry?” you frown, cocking your head to the side.

Jaebeom lets out a heavy exhale at your reply, “We would have to produce an heir.”

Pause.

“Excuse me?” you nearly recoil at his blunt, unfiltered answer. He didn’t even hesitate with that response, forcing you to blink rapidly as you’re caught off guard. The fact that he would even think of something like that; that he would even consider such an act; that he would even insinuate such a thing has your mind imploding. You two just got engaged ten minutes ago, yet he’s seriously suggesting that-

“Oh, don’t tell me that I have to explain it to you, Princess,” he starts, your nostrils flaring when he utters your title in a condescendingly teasing manner, “See, when two people love each other very much, they-”

“I can assure you, Your Highness,” you interrupt him in a similar tone, satisfied when you catch Jaebeom’s brow twitching in irritation, “That I am very much familiar with the process.”

“Are you now? With whom have you become familiar with, in this fashion?” he challenges, taking a large step forward, his chest only a couple of inches away from you, “Who was among the lucky ones to be graced with the privilege?”

“I…” you stop yourself, huffing in disbelief that you are to marry this man. As if he’s trying to anger you; to rile you up, he stares right into your eyes in silent mockery, “You are…” you bite your tongue before a particularly colourful curse can leave your lips, “Surely, you aren’t implying that I would even agree to do anything of that… Manner, with the likes of you.”

He smirks at you; a grin so devilish that the sight of it has your irritation spiking, “Who said anything about me?”

“I-”

“Be careful of what insults you choose to throw my way, Princess. Because it seems to me, that your mind arrived at that conclusion, purely of your own volition.”

For the very first time in your life, you’re speechless, unable to form a response that would be able to counter his. You’re not accustomed to this level of blunt honesty, nor this degree of relentless tormenting. The room is silent for a couple of seconds, but it seems to extend into an absolute eternity when Jaebeom crosses his arms across the front of his torso, inviting you to just stare at his body.

He’s so… Broad, you observe, taking in the sight of his chest straining against the ties and buttons that fasten his linen shirt closed. You’re not especially warm; none of you really is but… For some reason, warmth begins to spread from the back of your neck before blossoming onto your cheeks. It’s possible that the proximity is to blame but you can’t help it; not when Jaebeom turns his head to the side to expose the line of his jaw and the slope of his neck, a single silver chain resting on his collarbones. Nothing about the way he looks should be particularly tempting but…

It’s as if he’s just begging to be bitten.

“Ugh. Enough,” you scoff, tearing your gaze away from him before he notices how long you’ve been ogling him for. Fed up with your sudden inability to control yourself, you call for your assistant, Corvus.

“Please escort His Highness to his quarters,” you dismiss abrasively. Your tone came out much harsher than you initially intended, but you’re unable to control yourself, not when you’re as irritated and annoyed as you are at the moment. You turn around to face the large arched window, gazing at the darkness of the night sky to calm your frustrations. Surprisingly though, you see Jaebeom bow to you in the corner of your eye before making his. Somehow, he retains a level of decorum and respect towards you, regardless of the mocking repartee that took place just minutes before.

“I hope to see you at the engagement ball, Princess,” he responds, relief taking over your body when you hear his footsteps gradually decrease in volume. Finally, the door clicks shut and your posture softens, alleviating your wound-up nerves and allowing you to mentally reflect on what has just occurred.

Jaebeom, this human prince, somehow managed to aggravate you to such a degree that you nearly cursed. Your mind is baffled by this turn of events; you’re over 200 years old but he is the first person that you’ve ever met that has managed to break past the practiced poise that you’ve developed throughout your life. To make matters even more infuriating, he succeeded with a couple of sentences, and nothing more. Even as you reminisce, your mind somehow shifts to the suggestive subject of his taunting. Normally, you would pay no mind to such tasteless, risqué allegations but…

Something about his tone; playful, yet undeniably assertive, made your breath catch in your throat. It was as if he genuinely considered conducting such provocative acts with you specifically, to challenge past lovers that you’ve previously invited into your bed. In addition, his statements not only seemed to denounce your previous lovers, but implied that he could surpass them.

Unfortunately for him though, you’re certain that you would never entertain such desires.

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[vermillion series] ⤏ [pt. 2]

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