#i swear the next time they reveal something it will be casual marriage confirmation

[amid-fandoms]

they shared a bed… they shared underwear… whats next a last name?

[danielfuckingricciardo]

Rise Like A Phoenix - Chapter Four

Pairing - Jenson Button x Reader + Charles Leclerc x Reader + Daniel Ricciardo x Reader

Word Count - 2728

Content Warning - Swearing, death mention, descriptions of violence and torture, blood mention, drugs mention

Synopsis - When a German agent goes missing investigating a diplomat’s disappearance, you are asked to take the case as your old adversary is revealed to be the one to blame. However, you soon find out that you will not be working alone, and will have to complete your mission with the help of agent Charles Leclerc.

Author’s Note - Our pair are finally together, so I think it might be backstory time! I didn’t want to get too graphic, but please let me know if there’s anything else you want me to add to the content warnings in future! I add whatever I think might be triggering to people, but if I’ve missed something off that you think is important do let me know. And without further ado… enjoy!

Chapter Four - Stranger Things Have Happened, Leclerc

You open the door of the cab and remember that this journey would not be one you do alone. Sitting in the backseat was your new partner, Charles, who was so invested in typing something on his laptop, he didn’t even notice you entering.

“You know, you need to pay more attention to your surroundings if you want to be a good spy.” You say, making him jump as the cab sets off through the streets of London.

“I wasn’t exactly expecting to get jumped in a cab owned by British Intelligence directly outside the MI6 building.” Charles says, his eyes returning to his screen, avoiding your own.

“Stranger things have happened, Leclerc.” You mutter, grabbing a compact from your bag to inspect the damage on your neck that Jenson had left behind.

He was never normally this possessive, it had always been casual between the two of you, though you had often thought of what it would be like to have something more. You weren’t usually the type to fantasise about commitment, but Jenson was different. He understood you, he understood your life, which would certainly make it easier for you if you did get into a relationship. Your job was one of secrets, you weren’t even technically a real person, your apartment was rented under an alias, your bank accounts in the name of someone else. It wouldn’t exactly be easy for you to sign a marriage license when you weren’t even sure which name to sign on the dotted line.

So your relationship with Jenson made it easy. He didn’t expect any of that from you, and he could sympathise with your circumstances. Sure, he was your superior, and almost twenty years your senior, having hung up his pistol and exploding pen in favour of a desk job before you had even joined MI6, but he had once done your job. He used to go out and capture bad guys, returning home the unsung hero of the state, so he knew the risks you took every time you left on a job.

Jenson had always made it back, others hadn’t been so lucky. Many of his colleagues had been buried before even reaching their thirtieth birthday. But they were the lucky ones, on many occasions bodies were never recovered, and instead Jenson had watched on as many an empty coffin draped in the Union Flag would be lowered into the ground. The person who was supposed to be inside presumed dead, missing in action, though it was never confirmed. Death seemed the kinder fate than the possibility of torture or imprisonment for life, knowing that no-one was coming to find you.

You understood why he was so nervous when you left, he didn’t want the next empty coffin he was burying to be yours. Knowing Fortescue’s penchant for torture, you would either be returning from this mission with his body in a bag, or would be forced to live out the rest of your days in one of his underground bunkers, cut off from the rest of the world, being beaten, hurt and abused.

Charles glances up from his laptop for a moment and notices the tears threatening to escape the corners of your eyes.

“Are you okay?” He asks you quietly, snapping you out of your trance.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine.” You say, blinking away your tears and stashing the compact away in your bag beside your gun.

“You don’t look fine to me. I don’t want to pry, but I was briefed before I came here, and they told me about your history with Fortescue. I imagine it’s tough having to deal with him again, especially after thinking he was gone for the past two years.” He says, shutting his laptop to fully focus on you. He offers you a small smile as you turn towards him.

Something in that smile, in those eyes, made you instantly want to trust Charles. Despite your earlier comments, and obvious distaste at having to work alongside someone else on this case, he was nothing but polite, having already shown concern for your mental wellbeing. He had a kind spirit, no doubt about that, and you couldn’t help but wonder what made a such a person who seemed to exude such happiness and light want to be a spy.

“Yeah, I can’t deny it was a big hit finding out he’s been around all this time, right under my fucking nose doing god knows what.” You finally say, shaking your head slightly.

“Monaco is a small place, he could have been my neighbour for all I know.” Charles says, returning his eyes to his laptop screen, and you chuckle.

“Maybe we should go and knock on a few doors in your building, just to check?” You joke, and Charles laughs slightly.

“Don’t worry, my neighbour is some old guy, I ran a background check on everyone on my floor before I moved in. He’s nice, he caught me collecting takeout a lot and now sends me a tray of pierogi every other weekend to make me strong because I’m still a growing boy. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’m actually 25 and definitely not getting any bigger.” He says, and you struggle to suppress a laugh.

“Sorry, sorry, I’m not laughing at you. He seems nice.” You say, while laughing, “Anyway, we have a while before we reach the airport, and I’ve gotta admit, I’m not used to doing this, you know, new partners thing. So, do we get to know each other a little, maybe?”

“I’ll answer any question I want to answer, so, fire away.” Charles says, and you hesitate for a moment, realising you don’t know exactly what you want to ask him.

“What made you want to become a spy?” You ask, and Charles stops for a moment, as if until this moment he’s never truly considered it before. He slams his laptop shut and chuckles.

“I wasn’t originally pursuing a career in espionage, I sort of became a spy by mistake, really.” Charles begins, resting his chin on his palm. “I was a pianist, a pretty good one too. And one day I was approached by some rich guy in a bar I was playing, and asked to perform at a private function. I did that sort of thing a lot, so I didn’t really need to question it. There’s a lot of rich guys in Monte Carlo willing to pay for a little classy ambiance for their parties. After I finished talking to the guy, I was immediately collared by police. It turned out that the guy who’d hired me was Evgeniy Sukharnikov.”

“You mean Interpol’s most wanted Evgeniy Sukharnikov? The St. Petersburg Shadow?” You say, a look of amazement in your eyes.

Lewis had spent a long time trying to track down Sukharnikov after a diplomat working at the British Embassy in Moscow had disappeared following a meeting with him. Despite his work, Lewis had never managed to connect Sukharnikov to the disappearance, and the case still remains open to this day, something which bugs Lewis constantly as you never fail to remind him of this whenever he chooses to butt in on one of your cases.

“That’s him. Well, they asked me to wear a wire at the event, as he was to be hosting a load of high ranking Russian mafia guys. Having an insight into what they were planning would be a real help in stopping drug trafficking, so naturally I agreed. How could I not?” Charles says, and you chuckle.

“That’s a pretty serious situation for them to be putting you in. A civilian, surrounded by the Russian mafia? If they’d have caught you, who knows what they would have done?” You say, and Charles shakes his head, his eyes closed, a thin smile on his lips.

“They did catch me, actually. One of the men had some sensor technology, and he was able to spot the device. Long story short, I was tied up, taken to a basement, interrogated rather violently, but several punches and kicks later they finally left me unattended. I was able to loosen my restraints and climb inside a dumb waiter to get out through the kitchens.”

“Lucky escape then, so what did you do?” You question.

“Well, the Russians had destroyed the wire, but they hadn’t taken my phone before the interrogation. I called my police contact, and not only had they recorded our entire conversation, but they were waiting for me outside once I’d escaped. Sukharnikov, as well as a few other men, were arrested based on the things they had told me during my interrogation. When I got home that night, after a few stitches at the hospital, I found two men in my living room. At first I thought they were mafia and they were going to kill me, so I ran out and made for the lift.”

“But they weren’t mafia?”

“No, they were Monegasque secret service. After they finally caught me in the lobby of my apartment building, and had explained who they are, they said that I had a natural talent for espionage and offered me a job. Apparently at the time they were desperate for field agents, and so were willing to take on a 23 year old concert pianist solely because he was able to outwit a few Russian Gangsters. But their gamble paid off, and now I’m regarded as the best they’ve got. They even gave my brother a job, apparently the talent for catching bad guys runs in the family.” Charles says, an awkward chuckle falling from his lips after his final remark.

“Hey, don’t downplay it, that was some real spy movie shit you did. I wish more civilians were that capable in hostage situations, would certainly make our jobs a whole lot easier.” You say, gently nudging him on the shoulder, offering him a friendly smile.

“So, then, what about you? What made you choose the spy life?” Charles asks, and your expression drops.

“Oh, um… I didn’t exactly choose it either. It was more thrust upon me as I couldn’t really do anything else. My dad was rich, like super rich. Made his fortune in international trade, tech supposedly, at least, that’s what he told us. Turns out, he was using his tech company as a cover-up to smuggle cocaine from South America. In 2012 he got busted, not by the government, but by Edmund Fortescue. He wanted control of the drug flow into the UK, and my father was his biggest competition. Fortescue sent his men to raid our home, captured my mother and myself, and sent my father a ransom offer - Give Fortescue control of the UK cocaine market, or we both die.” You say, an emotionless expression on your face.

“So he took the ransom?” Charles asks, and you shake your head.

“Nope.” You say, popping the p, “that bastard cared more about making money than he did about me and my mother. Fortescue killed my mother the moment my father refused. I saw that man slit my mother’s throat as she sat beside me. Her blood-“ You begin, but can’t quite manage to say the words that followed. You look at your hands in your lap and begin picking at the already raw skin beside your fingernail.

“Hey, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel comfortable talking about it.” Charles says, placing his hand reassuringly on your shoulder.

“No, it’s okay, I need you to know. I need you to know what this man is capable of, and how utterly wretched and foul he truly is. I was fifteen when this happened. And between the ages of fifteen and twenty-three, I was Fortescue’s prisoner, his servant. He kept me locked in his basement, only letting me out to torture and assault me for his own pleasure, or to serve as entertainment at parties with his sick gangster friends. He liked to force me to wait on his friends, serve them drinks, bring them drugs etcetera. He got a kick out of watching me suffer. And when he’d had a little too much to drink, or snorted so much shit he was delirious, he’d hurt me while they watched and encouraged him. Some real sick shit.” You say, finally looking up at Charles who’s expression was one of shock.

“Fuck.” Is all he manages to say. His eyes land on the lid of his laptop, which was adorned with a collection of cat stickers.

“Fuck indeed.” You say, and your phone buzzes from the depths of your bag. You pull it out, a text from George, three photo attachments. Open ending it, you come face to face with the man who had caused you so much pain, sat at a blackjack table, a smile on his face and a pretty woman on his arm. Your phone buzzes again, this time, a text message:

‘Hacked into the security camera footage at the casino. This is from last night but he’s spent the last four nights at that one table with a man in a black suit. His face is too blurry in all the camera footage to make out but he could be important. Call me when you’re airborne - George’

You smile at George’s text. It was so very him. He always signed off his messages, even though you had saved his number to your phone on your first day of meeting after he had promised you the exploding pen. You shake your head, shaking George out of your mind, and focus on the images he had sent you. You zoom in on the woman stood beside Fortescue, she was tall and slim, like a supermodel, with silky blonde hair and pale milky skin. A black silk dress flowed over each and every curve of her body before cascading to the floor dramatically.

“You okay?” Charles asks, looking up to see you intently staring at the image on the tiny screen.

“Yeah, George just sent me some pictures of Fortescue at the casino. The woman he’s with, I’ve never seen her before, do you know her maybe? A local?” You say, showing Charles the picture. He moves closer to you, squinting to examine her closely, before his eyes go wide in shock as he pulls away, his back hitting the leather seat of the cab.

“That’s Evgeniy Sukharnikov’s daughter, Polina, I’m sure of it. She was never seen much when he was alive, but she was there the day I took him down. Sure, she’s a little older now, but I’d recognise her anywhere. She disappeared that day, people assumed after her father was imprisoned she went back home to her mother but maybe she stayed? Maybe she took over where he left off and is now working with Fortescue?” Charles says, his voice wavering slightly.

“If you’re right, then maybe she was the one hiding Fortescue all this time when we assumed he was dead? And now they’re working together? Fuck, between them they must have control of over half of Europe’s drug trades.” You say, “it’s odd isn’t it?”

“What?” Charles asks, his eyebrow raised.

“It feels like more than a coincidence that you’re involved, knowing your history with Sukharnikov. Both our adversaries teaming up, forcing the two of us together.” You say, and Charles shakes his head.

“It has to be a coincidence, they never could have known that the Monegasque authorities would want to get involved with the case. And even then, they may not have sent me to work with you. There’s too many variables for it to be planned.” Charles says, and you nod.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” You respond, staring out of the window as the cab weaves its way through the heavy London traffic, wondering just when you’ll be able to see your home again.

Next Chapter

[sixeyesgojo]

soon-to-be father

Summary: In which Gojo proclaims that he will be a father soon.

Pairing: Gojo Satoru x female reader

Word count: 993

Content warning: spoiler warning (reference to Volume 0 - mentions of Yuta and his OPness), slight suggestive themes but not too bad

A/N: Idk, I was bored at 3am. Didn’t expect this to become this long.... Also, I don’t exactly remember if Yaga already had a kid or if I just made that up in my head (I do know that he is a divorcee though), so let’s just pretend he has a kid in this one lol

Filing written reports about curse incidents to submit to the elders ruling the jujutsu world was a tedious task. Nonetheless, it had to be done by every jujutsu sorcerer working for Jujutsu Tech.

Returning to the office with a newly filled cup of coffee in your hand, you sat down after putting your warm beverage on the desk. Work was waiting for you, so naturally you got back to writing these reports as soon as possible. You were determined to finish all those reports. Not gonna work overtime today, you thought while writing away your findings about recent curse activity. 

Not much time passed after someone burst into the room loudly. You didn’t even need to confirm with your eyes – it could only be that person.

“State your business, Satoru. I got work to do, unlike you”, you shot at him.

“Woah, so rude! I am wounded,” the man exclaimed and clutched his chest as if he was in pain. “I came here to tell you the good news!”

The tall man settled down on the couch in the office.

“Guess who is going to be a father soon?” Satoru’s voice rang across the room.

“Is it principal Yaga again?” you asked without looking up from your papers once. “Nope, nope, nopeeeeee,” being the obnoxious person he could be, Satoru made sure to pop the ‘p’ of the last one particularly loud. “You are absolutely wrong on this one. Though I suppose I can understand where you are coming from,” he added, waving his hand.

“Guess again, guess again,” he demanded excitedly.

Finally, you shifted your gaze from your lame reports onto the white-haired sorcerer.

“It’s definitely not Nanami,” you stated matter-of-factly as you made your way to him to join him on the couch – the idea of working flew out of the window. You knew how your colleague viewed marriage and romantic commitments as jujutsu sorcerer. Who else could it be? There weren’t many male people involved in the jujutsu world with a connection to you or Satoru-

“I swear, Satoru, if you were going to tell me some higher-up will be father, then I will have you know that I am not interested in this information in the slightest.”

You pulled a grimace and made a gagging noise.

“No, no. Literally ew,” he suppressed a gag as well, “I may have a rotten personality – which you love, I just know – but I wouldn’t do that to you. I’m not that much of an ass.”

“Gosh, Satoru, just spill it already. I can practically see your tail wagging, begging me to ask,” you sighed. Now even you were curious.

If Satoru hadn’t worn a blindfold, there would have been a bright glint from his cerulean eyes. A million-dollar-smile spread on his face, pride emanating from his body.

“It’s me! I am going to be a papa!” He clapped enthusiastically.

Your jaw dropped. Wait what?

“Hold up, wait. What did you just say?!” you burst out.

“I said what I said!” he exclaimed. Was it possible for a grin to be even wider?

“Enlighten my confusion? When did that happen? Did I miss something, like something super important you forgot to tell me?” you asked, bewildered.

“Oh, you didn’t miss anything at all, sweetheart,” the man in front of you replied oh-so-casually, “I’m gonna be a dad and you’ll be the mommy.”

Thousands of emotions flit across your face. The way your level of confusion shot up by a million times clearly amused Satoru to no end. You wanted nothing more than to punch him in the gut if this turned out to be some sort of prank. Mommy?!?!

Nevertheless, you tried to play along: “Too bad I don’t remember consenting to be your girlfriend or anything of the sort.”

A delighted laughter filled the space, “Well, you didn’t exactly turn me down either, just now.”

“If that’s how it’s going to be, I will just say I have no recollection of ever sleeping with you, let alone being pregnant,” you retorted triumphantly.

“Touché.”

“Do you remember Yuta?” he suddenly asked.

“Yeah, like I would forget the precious bean I jokingly called my son, who only narrowly escaped the fate of being executed in his teenager years because his own power was too great and deemed dangerous by the old stick-up-the-ass people we call superiors,” you said flatly.

“Yeah, exactly that Yuta. I am very pleased to tell you that I’m adopting a new one! Meaning you have to help me raise him. Well, technically he will be my student...” Satoru started explaining. “...but you don’t sweat the small stuff,” you finished his sentence. He beamed at you, praising you for how well you knew him and all that stuff.

Well, duh. A new student, huh?

“So explain. What’s the deal with this one?” you asked.

“You see, this boy – his name is Yuji, by the way –  is also facing execution because he swallowed a special grade cursed object,” Satoru revealed dramatically.

“Then... if he is facing execution, that means the special grade curse incarnated but you cannot exorcise him on the spot for some reason,” you theorized, putting two and two together, and the man next to you confirmed your theory.

Satoru clarified further, “You hit the nail on the head. The poor boy seems to be the vessel of Ryomen Sukuna. I managed to postpone his execution until he consumes all twenty fingers though. He will be the third first-year student, so you have to help me!”

“The Double-Faced Specter, huh...” you mumbled to yourself, then your gaze was directed at Satoru, “to me, it sounds like you’re being troublesome again, you ass.”

“Oh please, I know you love ‘troublesome’,” he teased you.

“Yeah, I do. Otherwise, I wouldn’t put up with your sorry ass.”

“Ouch. Will you raise our son with me, though?”

“Oh hell, yeah. Count me in.”

Yeah, work could wait.

[tokoyamisstuff]

Betrothred Ch. 1 - Illumi Zoldyck x Reader

Chapter 1: Bride

Summary: After making your choice, there’s no going back from it.

Warnings: Blood, Murder, Threats, Angst

Words: 2390

Story Masterlist

A/N: This first chapter is kinda angsty but it gets better, I swear!

Today is the day.

Even though only mere hours would separate you from becoming a part of the Zoldyck family, the whole situation still felt very much surreal to you.

To be invited and welcomned on their property was one of the greatest honor of all, but to be considered a fitting consort for their eldest son was just unimaginable.

One of the butlers was harshly braiding your hair, trying to get it in a position you’d usually never wear. Another one would be working on your make-up, something you’d usually find unnecessary considering your profession.

Why would an assassin care for their physical appearance anyway? Well, all of this was probably part of some kind of tradition or ritual.

No matter how roughly they were tearing and tugging on you, trying to modify your body until you wouldn’t even recognize yourself in the mirror, you’d take their invasion of your personal space in a calm demeanour.

Because that’s how you were raised.

Obey, endure and function.

Your bloodline had a long history of both feared and powerful Head Hunters, for decaded being third place of all known assassin families - with the Zoldycks claiming the indisputable top.

Torture, poison and death were your fellow comrades throughout your whole youth, even though there were limits:

Only the most promising children would be chosen to become Head Hunters. The others were free to choose their way as they wished.

Your upbringing was strict, yet loving. And it was forbidden to break your free will. Serving the family should be an honor, not a burden.

Other than the Zoldycks, your family believed that emotions could become the surce of strenght.

There were other moral standarts: Murdering children was off limits, for example.

And your ‘carreer’ was just about to begin when it took this unexcpected turn.

You had met your soon-to-be-husband after finally completing your formal training, now allowed to take on the Hunter Exam.

Already accustomed to the basics of Nen, it was easy for you to see behind the disguise of the man calling himself Gittarackur.

At first being rather passive, even as the two of you completed the Trick Tower together, he soon stated to be impressed by your exceptional strenght and capability.

Truth be spoken, you always thought yourself to be mediocre at best. So that sudden compliment hit you off guard, especially after he casually revealed his true identity and heritage.

Immediately after the exam, you gathered all of your courage and asked Illumi to teach you in the ways of a true assassin - so you could grow and become the next leader of your clan.

And much to your surprise, he instantly accepted, not even wanting anything in return. You were useful to him and his missions, he stated. That would be enough.

After that, it wouldn’t take long until the stoic man announced that you’d make for a formidable spouse, asking your father for your hand in marriage.

Even though you weren’t quite sure if you made the right decision, his proposal alone the greatest honor for your kin and you just couldn’t disappoint them.

Illumi had always been very reserved about anything else than his work, making you doubt he was even capable of feeling anything else than the joy of killing.

Yet he was a reliable ally, both smart and strong - and admittedly very good looking. You were convinced that he wasn’t the monster most people saw in him: He had just been molded to be the perfect assassin.

And because of that, he would make for a good husband as well.

“Well, don’t you look beautiful?” The voice behind your back was Kikyo, dismissing the servants with a single gesture of her hand.

You wanted to stand up and make a curtsy as a sign of respect, yet felt her palms on your shoulder, pressing down so you’d remain in your seat.

Looking in the mirror, you saw your mother in law behind your back, her visor making it hard to read her intentions. Her aura gave it all away, though.

Illumi’s proposal surprised her just as much as yourself, and she obviously wasn’t content with it. You actually doubtet that she’d ever consider someone good enough to marry one of her children, so you didn’t take it personal.

The pressure would only help you grow.

“You’ll become the perfect partner for my son, won’t you?” Her fingernails dug deep into your flesh, but you didn’t even flinch. “Of course, honorable mother.”

“Good.” Apparently your answer didn’t calm her fury, since her fingermails only turned in the wounds they dug into your flesh. She only stopped when she realized that the blood was staining your clothes.

“I don’t expect any less from a lowlife like you are.” Seems like you should stay alerted around her. But that was no surprise, and it didn’t scare you either.

You knew what you were getting yourself into. And it was worth it.

To prove your worth, you’d go even beyond your limits.

“It’s time, Y/N.”

Up until now, you hid your emotions very well - but hearing that familiar, monotonous voice, you couldn’t help but smile.

“Illumi!” Kikyo shreeked out, “You’re not allowed to see Y/N before the ceremony!”

“Unnecessary superstition” he retorted quite unaffected, approaching both of you.

Kikyo stepped back, revealing you fully. He took in your appearance, rather observing than anything else. “Is that your blood?”

“Nothing worth mentioning.”

He grabbed your ankle, forcing you up from his seat to look at him. “How did this happen?”

You didn’t dare answering. It was not your place to drive a wedge between your fianceé and his mother, even though you highly doubtet that he would care at all.

Illumi turned around, his blank stare now directed to his mother, who defendingly put her hands into the air. “I-I was just advising-”

“No need for that” he cut her off. “I can take care of any business concerning my partner myself.”

Now she got all hysterical again, just as you got to know her. “B-but-”

“Never touch them again, or I’ll kill you.”

Kikyo relented, then having a mental breakdown for excactly 5 seconds, screams and cries filling the room.

The air had gotten incredibly thick, the unsettling atmosphere making you wish to just disappear right on spot.

“Oh, Illumi!” she exclaimed, sounding jubilant all of a sudden. “Being so cruel to your own mother...You’ve grown so much!”

What a weird fucking family.

“Show me your arms” Illumi demanded after he told his mother to be left alone, yet you flinched away.

“I apologize for having provoked an argument” you spoke all humble, “My wounds are of no concern. Don’t worry.”

“Starting today, I’m expected to take care of you. So you should obey and let me patch this up.” You sat down with a small sigh, exposing your shoulders and presenting them to him. “It would be a shame if you get scarred by something else than a honorable battle.”

Eventually you found time to appreciate your fianceé’s exterior: Illumi had his hair braided back, wearing a fully black suit with a white shirt and a bow tie.

It was the first time you ever saw him in formal wear, and it actually suited him very well.

“You’re very handsome, Lumi” you absentmindedly blurted out as you watched him bandage the wounds on your shoulder.

And Illumi would acknowledge your looks in his own way. “Your appearance is very adequate for this occasion as well.” That counts as a compliment, right?

“Glad you like it” you smiled, “But sadly the stains won’t get out. And we have no time to clean off the blood.”

Illumi swiftly helped you on your feet once again, vaguely explaining “Don’t worry. It won’t stand out after the ceremony.”

You linked arms with Illumi, who led you to the main room as you still pondered about what exactly he meant with that statement.

The celebration would be a small one, not even your own family being allowed to attend. When you entered the generously decorated hall, there were only Silva, Kikyo, Zeno, Kalluto and Milluki.

“Welcome, Y/N” Silva spoke in a way more welcoming tone than his wife earlier. You bend your head as you stood in front of the table where the family had gathered, greeting them politely before making your way to the altar.

Zeno would be the one to confirm the bond. You were actually glad that it was him, because he had already grown fond of you.

“Are you ready?” the old man wondered, noticing how you were trembling.

“Far away from it” you chuckled without doubt, adding “But I’m prepared to do anything.”

“That’s a honest but brave answer, young adult” he paised in an attempt to calm you down, then arranging both you and Illumi to stand facing each other. “And just what you need to become part of this family.”

One sign of Silva and the door swung open, a Bunch of butlers dragging in a terribly inured human.

Much to your shock, the person was not dead - not yet.

“So it begins” Illumi whispered as he saw the man wince in pain, begging for his life, and he almost cracked something like a smile.

“Wha-” Before you could even comprehend what was happening, it hit you like a brick: You were supposed to finish that person off.

That was what Illumi meant. A few blood stains on your wedding dress really were your smallest problem considering what awaited you from this day on.

“That man invaded our property with the intend to kill us” Silva explained to you, his stare bringing across his demands. “You’ll prove your loyality through ending his life.”

At that moment, you knew that you’ll disappoint them - because you were frozen in place.

You had taken and destroyed so many lives, yet always had the full information on them and could decide through your own standarts. But now?

What if it was a lie? You didn’t know that man, why he was here or if he deserved death.

Maybe he had family or came for revenge. Goddamn it, he could even be a reporter who just sneaked in to snatch a photo! Or they had presented you a completely innocent man, seeing if you were the undoubting slave they wanted to have!

Madness runs in this family, apparently.

It was a test. You knew that much. Quite fitting for someone from a family which was only rank three, known for their rather humane way of working.

“No Nen allowed” Kikyo completed the task, “No guns or similar either. You may only use your bare hands or close combat weapons.”

Yes. It was way harder, imprinting your soul to kill that direct way. How you’d deal with the situation was crucial for the outcome of this wedding. 

But were you really ready to throw all of your morality abroad just for your own sake?

“We won’t kill you if you decline the order” Illumi cut off your brooding. Was it out of sympathy? You had no idea. “You’ll be considered unfitting, but you are free to leave and no one will ever bother you again.”

“N-No” you stumbled across your own words, “I’ll do everything for the family.”

“Interesting” Zeno stated. “I never doubtet your spouse, Illumi, but I thought they'd take longer to decide.”

"I think Y/N will make for a great companion.” Silva’s wide grin streched across his face, making his eyes wrinkle a bit. “In both family and business.”

When all was said and done, Illumi grabbed a knive that was placed on the altar. “Let’s do it together, then.”

You almost felt guilty that you became flustered in a moment like this, but couldn’t help it as Illumi genuinely smiled at you, taking your hand as you took firm steps towards the enemy.

“P-Please have mercy!” the man pleaded to no avail, and determination swelled in your chest at that intense moment.

Taking someone’s life together - it would connect two people in a cruel yet beautiful way.

Whatever else could be more fitting for the marriage of two assassins? 

It would be an easy kill. He was unable to flee or fight back. Just a single strike, ending his life quick as act of mercy.

“You should’ve known better than to mess with my new family.”

Both of your hands intertwined, wrapping your fingers around the handle of the knive before thrusting it into the victim’s chest.

And then it dawned to you.

“A needleman?” you sulked, ripping out one of Illumi’s needles out of the stranger’s head, while the others broke out in boisterous laughter.

“Yeah. He was already dead” Illumi shrugged. “I know you don’t like burdening yourself with victims you didn’t choose yourself. But we needed to test you anyway. It’s a tradition.”

Was he actually respecting your boundaries?! What the-

“I like your guts!” Silva attempted to pat your back, but it felt rather like he was going to break your spine. “Sorry for our harsh methods. I know it can be a bit much at the beginning. You’ll get used to obey our rules slowly, don’t push yourself.

Even Kikyo embraced you, now almost convincing motherly. “Reminds me of my first kill for the family!”

It almost felt like those people could actually feel compassion for others. They at least had undoubtingly strong bonds with each other, even if their way of living together was rather unusual.

Stiff movements as always, Illumi placed his hand on your head, almost as if a robot was trying to mimick human interaction. “I’m proud of you. I knew I chose well.”

The rest of the ceremony was just as you expected it: No vows, no rings, no music, no kiss. Just you and Illumi hearing to whatever Zeno had to say about bringing honor and wealth to the family, bearing strong offsprings, and other things that were the exact opposite from romantic.

“Blood for blood” Zeno stated now instead of “You may now kiss”, and every family member repeated it.

You took the knife from the altar once again, cutting your palm until it drew blood without any hesitation. Illumi would now do the same, then reaching out his hand for yours to hold.

As your fluids mixed before dropping to the floor, you unsucessfully searched for any hint of emotional reaction in your husbands expressionless face.

His eyes however would never leave yours, his hand firmly squeezing yours before Zeno announced:

“Your fates are now inextricably connected.”

____

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[snapdragon-mina]

Enchanted Pt. 2

Kuroo x GN!Reader

A/N: AYOOOO it's finally out! Part 3 up vv soon.

Warnings: No beta we die like men, swearing, implied death, poisoning, attempted murder, etc Crack treated seriously.

Word Count: 2.7k

[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]

A snake could be seen inside of Tetsurou's bag, though nobody looked hard enough to notice it.

Prince Tetsurou was allowed to travel alongside (y/n) and Shoyo, who had each been given a horse to help with their travels.

Tetsurou decided to pick up conversation. "So... Travelling with an elf. Your boyfriend couldn't make it?"

"Nope. Mostly because I don't have one." they answered.

"Oh? I would've thought for sure you had one." He grinned.

Rolling their eyes (y/n) asked him a question. "What about you? Your girlfriend okay with you leaving her alone?"

He glanced to the side and coughed. "I uh, don't have one."

"Oh?"

"I have many."

(y/n) started at him blankly as if their brain was still lagging from that. Tetsurou snorted at the look. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You shouldn't believe everything you read in a magazine."

As they chatted the moment was interrupted by a loud "Excuse me!" coming from Shoyo. They both glanced back at him and he rides his horse up to the two.

"Excuse me, Prince Tetsurou. Permission to speak?" He looked up.

"Sure, go for it."

"Well... it's a weird coincidence but I was going to the Royal Palace to discuss a few... career options that I-" The elf was cut off from his rambling.

"Shoyo wants to petition the kingdom so that he can become an Athlete." (y/n) told him.

The prince seemed comtemplative but ultimately advised Shoyo to speak to his uncle about it. (y/n) stopped talking to him after that and they eventually came across giants working in the fields. One of them stood up to take a break, only to be whipped and forced to continue working.

Tetsurou stared at the sight in absolute shock. His eyes wide open. "The... The giants have always been gentle. Why are they being treated like slaves? I'm... I'm sure my uncle doesn't know about this. There's no way."

They continue on their way to the wedding. Upon entering they're instantly greeted with loud music and dancing. The giants seemed to be having a great time.

"I hope they don't get to upset with me here, I know they must hate the Royal Family." Tetsurou looked around.

"Nah, They'd respect you having the balls to show up here. Plus, they don't hold grudges... They're bigger than that." They grinned at the sound Tetsu made once he realized the joke.

A giant noticed them. "Prince Tetsurou, what are you doing here?"

"I came to have a little chat, but I think I'll come back when there's been less drinki- OW." He got cut off by an elbow jabbing his side.

"He's here as a friend to hear your complaints." (y/n) told the giant. She nodded and smiled.

"Well then, welcome."

Before anything else, (y/n) asked for Satori and was pointed in his direction. They thanked the giant and rushed off, leaving Tetsurou and Shoyo behind.

They rushed over and asked around, only to be told that He'd left over an hour ago. They had no helpful information to give, So they turned to Ryuu. "Ryunosuke, can you show me Satori?"

The book opened up and he spoke. "Yeah he's getting an FWI. Flying while Intoxicated."

----⭐----

"I had no idea things were so bad. I promise the first thing I do after coronation is help you buy your farms back." Tetsurou told the giant.

"I'll hold you to that."

(y/n) hesitantly stepped in. "Excuse me, sorry if I'm interrupting."

"No problem, we were done," the giant told them. "That's a fine young man you have there."

Almost immediately (y/n) began denying and rambling before giving up. They turned to Tetsu and spoke. "Have you seen Shoyo? We need to leave, My fairy godfather isn't here."

"Leave? But it's the middle of the night, you have to at least stay for the party."

With a sigh, they reluctantly agreed. Tetsu furrowed his eyebrows. "You don't... have to stay. I don't wanna force you to do something you don't want to do." He spoke gently.

A small smile appeared on their lips. "Thank you, Tetsu... For everything. So, I'll see you around?"

Before they could get far, Tetsu spoke again. "But... I wish you would stay."

Turning to face the prince they smiled a bit bigger. "I guess one more night couldn't hurt."

A few minutes later, they sat on a giant's table, explaining their situation to Tetsurou casually when he suggested something way too good to pass up.

"You could always check the hall of records? I could pull a few strings to get you in there."

A huge smile was formed. "Really? You have no idea how much that would mean to me, thank you so much, Tetsu."

----💫----

After an impromptu performance that resulted in (y/n) and Tetsurou getting closer, they sat near a fireplace and just talked. Tetsu revealed that his mother had passed away a long time ago and (y/n) revealed the same. They talked about their memories with their parents and bonded more because of it. The conversation ended up going back to politics and (y/n) spoke of how easily Tetsu could win over the kingdom's subject, no matter what species.

"Wow was that, almost a compliment? From you? I must've died." He laughs.

"Yeah yeah. Don't get a big head over it. Your stupid crown won't fit." They smiled at him.

He was silent for a moment before he spoke again. "Tomorrow. I'm going to go to my uncle and ask for the Elven restriction law to be removed. I'm going to make sure I get to watch one of shoyo's games."

They stared at him for a moment before leaning in closer. "I think you're gonna be a great king someday. Your father... He would've been proud."

"Thanks. He would've really liked you."

They sat in silence for a moment, just basking in the comfortable atmosphere before Tetsu spoke again. "Kiss me."

They leaned in even closer towards him but he paused. "That... wasn't an order." He spoke hesitantly, almost as if he were afraid. But they just smiled at him.

"I know." And with that, the gap between them closed.

----💫----

When they reached the town the next morning, Tetsurou couldn't stop stealing small glances at (y/n) that seemed to be so full of love and adoration that anyone could see how much he cared for them. They approached castle, being let in easily by the guards, but Shoyo didn't have the same luck. Being an elf, one of the guards forced him out of the castle.

The two of them walked in, hand in hand, only to instantly freeze once they realized that his fanclub was taking a tour of the castle. Tooru notice the two of them first and the gradually, everyone else did. A beat of silence passed before Tetsu booked it, dragging (y/n) with him.

They'd found an area where they were safe from the mob and were greeted by none other than Kei.

"Tetsu, I've been looking all over for you." He spoke calmly. As Tetsu prepared his answer another question arose from the shorter man beside Kei. "And who might thiss... Charming young lady be?"

"This is (y/n). (y/n), this is my uncle, Kei and this is his... Tadashi." He gestured to the man with blond hair and glasses first and then the dark haired man with freckles covering his face.

"I assume your journey went well?" Kei asked.

"We ran into a few ogres but other than that, everything was good." They responded.

Kei raised an eyebrow. "You could've been killed." He glanced towards Tetsurou. "Oh well, you just have to grin and bare it, as I say." He turned and looked towards (y/n). "Grin and bare it."

Within less than a second, they had a grin on their face. This caught both his and Tadashi's attention but they said nothing of it. Kei turned back to Tetsu. "Can I speak with you for a moment? The crown maker needs to see you for a fitting."

"Cool, well I need to take (y/n) to the Hall of records."

"Fine, hop to it then." once again, (y/n) did as they were told.

The moment the two were out of sight, Kei spoke to Tadashi. "You were right about them."

"And they've been filling the Prince'ss head with "dangerouss" ideologiess." Tadashi hissed.

----⭐----

"(y/n) has lots of interesting ideas about the kingdom. I think you should hear them." Tetsu told Kei as he stood in front of the crown maker.

"Can't wait." He faked a smile.

"Giant's working conditions are just an example, it's unbelievable how shitty they're treated. I've talked with them though, and it seems like they're open for negotiations." Tetsu said.

"The only negotiations between me and the giants will be over vegetable deliveries." His voice was cold and Tadashi laughed.

"This isn't a joke, uncle Kei." Tetsu watched the blond get closer through the mirror.

He placed his hand on his shoulder. "We'll talk about it after your coronation, yes?"

"Fine. But we will talk."

"Of course." Kei confirmed.

A moment of silence passed before Tetsu took a deep breath. "I'm going to ask them to marry me."

Kei paused in his tracks and turned to face Tetsu. "Who? This (y/n) of frell?"

"Yes. Tonight at the ball. At the same place and same time as my father when he proposed to my mother."

Kei and Tadashi looked at each other. Tadashi walked off and Kei turned to stare at Tetsu as if he'd grown a second head.

----❌----

If (y/n) was getting sold out by their step brothers for the prince's hand in marriage, then that was between those two and who ever they sold (y/n) out to.

----💫----

"I can't find him in any of these books. Ryuu, show me Satori."

The book opened at their words, flipping until it showed Satori, blacked out on a bed. No luck. Not until they took a magnifying glass to one of the pages and read a flyer in his area that pointed him out perfectly. Before they could get too excited, Kei walked in.

"I... Hope you've found everything to your satisfaction?" He approached them slowly.

"Yes, thank you."

"Good." He glanced at a book on a desk and forced it off of it. "Oh no, how clumsy of me. Pick it up." He commanded.

A yelp left them as they were forced to pick up the book that he'd thrown down. "Very good. Now touch your toes."

They did as told, only to realize what was going on with a groan. "Oh no."

"Oh yes." Kei forced them to do a multitude of things, mostly testing the waters before the big one came. "As you know, tonight is the coronation ball. At some point, Prince Tetsu will sweep you away to the Hall of mirrors. Then, just before midnight strikes, he'll take you by the hand and ask you a question."

"How do you know all of this?" They cut in.

Tadashi spoke. "We know everything."

"The one thing we know with most certainty... Is that at the stroke of midnight, you will take this dagger and plunge it through his heart and kill him." Kei told them, holding the dagger out.

As much as (y/n) tried to argue and fight the curse, they could do only do so much before it kicked it.

"It's actually rather lucky your here. That way I wont have to do it myself." Kei sat down.

Shaking, they asked. "You would kill your own nephew?"

"Well why not? I killed my own brother."

"What? Why?!"

"I want to be king."

"Now leave, but before you go... You will not tell a single soul about this plan."

-----💫-----

"Can I help you?" A fairy asked.

"Yes I'm looking for Satori Tendou, it's extremely important." (y/n) told the fairy.

"Yeah sorry, he got kicked out last week."

"Do you know where I could find him?"

"Nuh uh."

The fairy walked away leaving (y/n) to do whatever it was going to do. (y/n) took a seat a a nearby table and wrote a goodbye letter to Tetsu.

Hours later, they found Shoyo and asked him to chain them to the trunk of a dead tree outside of the city. Once it had been done, they gave him instructions. "Look. I need you to rally all the elves and giants you can find. You'll need all the help you can get. Someone needs to sneak into the castle, steal Ryunosuke back, and keep Tetsu away from Kei."

"...Why? What's going on?"

"I can't tell you. But if you don't you'll be stuck singing and dancing for the rest of your life." They scowled.

"Fine! Into the stupid forest I go." Shoyo huffed, grumbling under his breath as he walked away.

----⭐----

The ball began and Tetsu sat alone on his throne. Tadashi slithered up to Tetsurou's right side. "Where'ss your little friend?" he mused.

"Yes, She should be here by now." Kei followed.

"I don't wanna talk about it." He walked away leaving the two of them there.

He walked up to Tooru and very hesitantly asked him to dance.

----💫----

As (y/n) remained chained to the tree, a light began to glow in the sky. No less than a moment later, Satori Tendou appeared. They called out his name in desperation until he approached them.

"Hmm? Do I know you?" He tilted his head.

"(y/n) of frell, you gave me a gift?" They explained frantically.

Recognition shone in his eyes. "Ahhh yes, the obedient one."

"I'm so happy to see you, I've been look everywhere for you. I need you to take the gift back."

He narrowed his eyes. "Take it back? Nope!"

"It's not that I'm not grateful, it's just, If I keep the gift I might do something horrible to this guy that I really, really like."

"Get rid of it yourself." He told them. "Ah but I will help you out this once. I'll unchain you." Despite their begging as pleading, Satori got rid of the chains that held them against the tree.

"Y'know what? Let's change your clothes and send you off, yeah?" A poof a smoke and They were in a shimmering sliver outfit and sent to the ball.

----⭐----

As he danced with Tooru, a loud crash was heard. Tetsurou turned to see (y/n) desperately trying not to get to him.

"Tetsu, tell me you never want to see me again." Was the first thing out of their mouth to him. Immediately, he shook his head.

"Why did you write that letter? Tell me how you really feel about me."

Unable to stop their words, "I love you" came out shaky and nervous. Quickly followed by "But I... I'm wrong for you and wrong for the kingdom."

His eyes softened and he placed a hand on their cheek. "Is that what this is about? (Y/n), that's crazy. Follow me."

As soon as the words left his mouth they started panicking again but they couldn't choose not to follow him. From the throne, Kei and Tadashi watched on with sick interest as Tetsurou led (y/n) down to the Hall of mirrors. "Thiss sshould be fun." Tadashi grinned while a grandfather clock ticked on in the background.

They reached the Hall of Mirrors and The prince stepped away from them for a moment. "When I was little, my dad brought me down here. Told me to look in the mirror and see myself as a great leader. I never could, at least, not until I met you." He stopped speaking and held them the moment he heard sniffling. "What's wrong?"

"I... I wish I Could- I wish I could tell you everything, but I can't." They all but sobbed.

"These last few days have been perfect, I mean, excluding the whole almost getting eaten alive, or that letter you wrote that made me die a little inside, and then I had to dance with TOORU, of all people. But none of that matters anymore. We're together now, aren't we?" He pulled them to the center of the room after he finished speaking. "I don't want it to end."

"I know, I know," they sniffled. "I feel the same but I—"

"I brought you here— I know you're scared and I'm scared too. This is... a big step." He held eye contact and slowly got on one knee, despite (y/n) shaking their head softly, with tears in their eyes. "(Y/n), will you marry me?" He stared up at them with big, hopeful eyes that shone brighter as they smiled at him.

Too bad the clock struck midnight.

[seoulnotes]

Luce in altis   |   ix. A Familiar Face

S Y N O P S I S | Passed down from centuries worth of history, the remnants of a hatred between two kings reside in a small village that serves as a border between their two feuding kingdoms. y/n lives in that village and must seek aid from one of the kings. Her trust is tested when she learns of the king that is truly wicked.

C H A R A C T E R S | Kim Taehyung, Park Jimin, reader (y/n) ; (mentions of other members)

G E N R E | fantasy, romance, drama — royalty au ; PG-15

W A R N I N G S (chapter specific) | none

W O R D C O U N T | 4.8k

All parts here

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The following afternoon as Isobel had said, a seamstress arrived at the palace. She had brought many samples of fabrics with many colors and patterns.

I spent hours with the seamstress, instructed to stand still for some time while my measurements were taken and then picked different fabrics for tunics, trousers, dresses, and on and on.

My eyes landed onto a certain sheet of fabric that was brought by the seamstress. Flowers were embroidered onto the gray tulle but only along the bottom as if fading away towards the top. Unconsciously, my fingers rose to graze the fabric, taking in the texture of the flowers with their beadings that stood out amongst the tulle.

“My lady, do you like the fabric? It is more elaborate; we don’t usually use it for day dresses,” she explained.

“No, it’s fine, I was just looking.” It would be ridiculous to have any plain day dresses made from that fabric and it looked too expensive to just simply waste for that.

“I’m finished for today. Since we spent enough time gathering your measurements, the styles you prefer, and the fabrics, as the pieces finish, they will be sent to the palace.” She bowed and began to pack her sketches and fabrics.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

“It was my pleasure.”

I felt like all I had to offer lately and especially at Hemera were thank you’s. I didn’t have anything besides what Jimin had provided me with as his guest.

That night Jimin had asked if I would dine with him alone or choose to dine in my chambers by myself as it was not usual for his entire court to dine together each evening. I agreed to dine with him since I was not fond of being alone during a meal. It would only remind me of my missing family and of the meals I had at Erebus.

I was surprised that he didn’t choose to dine at a grand table for dinner, but a private dining room.

“Do you dine by yourself here?”

He nodded with a half-smile. “It’s more comforting than a grand table by myself since I do not have family or others to dine with.”

The dinner was in fact as simple as the act of a king dining alone privately. It was not the large display Taehyung had at his dinner with guests rather something like sliced honey bread served on a plate along with vegetables and veal.

I was given a goblet of wine along with the meal.

“Do you have any intentions of courting anyone?” I was unsure of the appropriateness of my question, but I had already asked before I could rethink myself.

Jimin didn’t seem bothered thankfully and answered with genuineness. “When you are a ruler of a kingdom, it is hard to seek the true intentions of those who are around you. When you are busy reading their intentions, it becomes hard to make space in your heart for love.”

I nodded, half understanding what he had said. I can feel sympathy, but I was not a ruler and could not empathize with him. I did feel bad for the lonely position he had been dealt with.

“If I intend on finding a queen, I will want my marriage to be out of love, not out of an alliance.” The corners of his lips turned as he gave a self-deprecating chuckle, “Although, that is quite hard.”

We had such genuine conversations when we spoke and I much favored them to the conversations I had with Taehyung. He knew how to carry them well and most importantly, in these conversations, I felt like I was speaking to a friend who knew me well rather than a king who had the power to have me gone within seconds.

Soon, I felt a wave of fatigue cross me. We had long finished dinner but had spent a while talking about anything and everything that stemmed from our conversation. Jimin was speaking of a time when he was a young boy, centuries ago, when the kingdom was still one.

I did not know how our conversation had drifted there, but I was glad to hear of stories of a happy childhood.

Unfortunately, my fatigue was strong and I was not able to hear all the words; they were muddling together and my eyelids threatened to shut from heavyweights.

“Are you alright, y/n?” From my tired eyes, I could see the concern in his eyes.

“I just feel a bit tired, maybe since it is late. Perhaps, our conversation may continue another time?” My voice was dragged on, tongue barely curling enough to form proper words.

“Yes, you should return to your chambers and rest.”

I don’t know how, but it was black the moment I had hit my bed. Was I that tired?

I woke up to the beautiful daylight of Hemera, but a sour feeling on my tongue. My tongue felt like I had spoken words of betrayal; it tasted bitter, yet I had not eaten anything yet.

My mind fluttered back to last night’s conversation. I had spoken on Taehyung briefly, but it was nothing incriminating. I still felt like I had said something I was not supposed to.

Was I too drunk from a single glass of wine and let my mouth run?

I shook my head at the thought. I didn’t own a single detail in which I could betray him in any way. He had his own secrets that he had made sure to keep from me.

When a knock came to my door, I realized it was probably Isobel and my suspicions were confirmed when she peeped her head in.

“Good morning, your highness,” she bowed briefly at the door. “I hope you are well-rested. His Majesty had asked if you are rested enough to see more of the capital.”

It seemed that he had noted my fatigue last night but this morning, I was more than well-rested. I was hungry to explore more of the city.

“Of course.”

Although the seasons were still winter, it was like a completely different scene at Hemera. It was one thing I had failed to really take in until my second day at Hemera. With winter bleeding into the spring that was soon to arrive, the bitter cold was not there to bite, but rather a slightly chilly breeze one might experience during autumn. At the same time, I knew Erebus was much colder than here.

Interestingly, Jimin has dressed in extremely casual clothing, far from the embroidered tunic and jackets he wore. Instead, he adorned a simple white shirt and black trousers, neither with any decoration. The shirt wore loose on him and was tucked into the trousers.

My dress was along the lines of his clothing as well. The long dress was a plain off white with bell sleeve; the only decoration being the belt that tied at my waist. I wasn’t sure where this dress appeared from because it was not from my own clothes.

“How is it so warm? In Erebus, the weather was freezing the day we left.” We walked along a street which Jimin had claimed to be their famous street of crafts and many visitors of the kingdom came seeking a craft from this street whether it be clothing, art, or pottery.

“We’re much farther south. Our winter seasons are not as extreme. It’s great for the most part, but I miss the snow sometimes.”

Just as he finished speaking, we were steered around a corner. I spotted the bookstore and Jimin must have noticed my line of sight changing because his hand grasped mine as he pulled me towards it.

“I used to hate reading, but came to love it once I came to Erebus.”

“There’s a library at the palace since you like to read,” Jimin noted.

With a failed attempt at refusing, we were walking out of the bookstore, me an edition of “Through the Looking-Glass” in hand.

“If you had it in your library, I could just read it from there.” I couldn’t help the pout in my voice.

“I don’t, I swear! That’s why I bought it, I want it in my library,” He raised his hands in surrender.

“Thank you anyway,” my lips returned to a grateful smile.

“Anyway,” he drew out and I steered my focus to him, “what do you think about another ball?”

“Are you asking for my opinion for an event for your kingdom, Your Majesty?”

“Well, I’d like to know since it would be a ball in your honor,” he responded, hands tucking into his pockets.

“Why for my honor?” My brows furrowed in confusion.

“For one, you weren’t enjoying the ball at Erebus so I’d like for you to experience a different one. One here. Also, you’re my guest. My brother hosted a ball in my honor so I want to return the favor while you’re here,” he explained.

“You don’t need to,” I waved my hand. “It would be a lot of work and you’re already doing more than enough just showing me the capitol.”

“How about it would be my honor to host a ball?” He suggested, an eyebrow-raising to jokingly challenge me.

“Well, I don’t have a dress,” I responded.

“I’ll handle that,” a smirk curving on his lips because he knew he got me wrapped in his plans. “I guess it’s settled,” he clapped once in satisfaction, “a week from today, we’ll have a ball!”

I could only shake my head with a smile rising to my lips.

“Do you have anything, in particular, you’d like to see? To be honest, I ran out of ideas,” Jimin asked the next day over breakfast.

The spoon in my hand swirled the tea and then I remembered, “I believe I was owed a tour of the palace library.”

“Said who?” He brought a cup of coffee to his mouth with a teasing smile.

“Says you, Your Majesty.” No amount of holdings I had was able to stop the tease in my tone when I mentioned his title just to get a laugh.

So, I was left in awe as Jimin led me through the double doors revealing behind it the library. The walls were lined with shelves of books nearly two stories high which were only accessible with a ladder than ran along the walls.

“Wow,” my mouth left hanging agape.

After a few moments, Jimin was beside me and in his hand was the copy of “Through the Looking Glass” that he had bought yesterday.

“So, what made you like reading when you went to Erebus?”

I shrugged. “I didn’t realize that reading could take you away from reality.”

“Reality?”

“I guess the marriage wasn’t really what I had planned,” I revealed. In my mind, I was weighing whether or not to reveal more, to reveal why I was really at Erebus and what had taken place at my village.

“And reading took you away from that?”

I nodded. “Jimin, what do you think about the village between your two kingdoms?”

Why did I just ask that?

Taehyung’s voice rang in my head. A task that required me to look for mere humans of a defenseless village…

It would be better to see Jimin’s view beforehand right?

“It’s a shame that they have to be caught between all of this,” he said. “Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

I paused for a moment, attempting to wind up an excuse because clearly, his answer was not enough to compel me to give my true reason. “The festival happened recently; I was just wondering since it was on my mind,” my voice trailed off and I prayed that it was a good enough excuse.

Jimin seemed to have bought it as he nodded his head in response. “Yeah, a few months ago. I wish I was able to help the village with poverty, but the village is neutral land between our kingdoms. I can’t do anything.”

His hands secured behind his back as his gaze grazed passed shelves as if in deep thought with himself as he spoke.

I felt myself believing what he was saying. He had no reason to be telling me this if he hadn’t meant it.

Changing the subject, he asked, “Dinner tonight?” A faint smile on his lips.

“Of course.”

I found myself growing increasingly tired as nightfall came for days to come. Whenever I was at dinner right past nightfall, I would feel the heaviness on my eyelids and my mind beginning to grow lazy and losing attention easily.

Jimin noticed himself.

“Are you okay? You seem to easily tire recently. I’m going to send for a palace healer tomorrow.” Concern laced his voice and was present in his eyes. A frown took hold of his lips as he reached out a hand to grasp my arm gently.

“I’m not sure. I just feel like I have no energy to stay awake past certain times.” It was hard to muster the energy to even speak my words.

Jimin stood from his chair and wrapped an arm around my waist, helping me from my chair. “Here, I’ll walk you back to your bedroom.”

I only mustered the strength to nod. “Thank you,” my words came out in breaths.

Just like the past few nights, I entered the arms of sleep the moment I was in my bed. The last thing in my sight before my eyes shut was the worried frown on Jimin’s face.

As Jimin had stated the night before, a palace healer arrived in the morning following a concerned Jimin. The anxious king seemingly couldn’t stay still as the healer took my pulse. I felt perfectly fine when I woke up, but when night fell, especially after dinner, my energy disappeared into thin air.

I was sitting in bed having a healer examine me as if I was truly unwell with something.

“Her pulse is not weak, Your Majesty. There is no sign of illness.”

“Then why does she have such a lack of energy?” Jimin sounded annoyed at the lack of a diagnosis.

“I’m sorry, I am not able to tell if it is a condition I have not heard of before,” the healer bowed apologetically. Honestly, Jimin looked like he was ready to bring about punishment and I understood why the healer was frightened by his demeanor.

“It’s fine. I may not be resting enough,” I added to try and smooth over the healer’s lack of diagnosis and calm the irritated king.

“You’re dismissed,” Jimin waved a dismissive hand towards the healer.

The healer took another bow before leaving.

“It might be my fault,” I mustered a smile towards the displeased king.

“I’m going to send for herbal teas or something. It isn’t right my guest is feeling unwell in my palace,” he took my hand, letting his thumb gently sweep across the back of it.

“Thank you.” I was grateful he was placing so much care in a subject that was not as important. “Needn’t worry yourself over such an insignificant thing. It could be anything really, like getting used to the change in seasons so suddenly,” I suggested.

It really didn’t concern me as much as it seemed to concern Jimin.

“It’s just not settling that this is while you’re in my care. I couldn’t possibly return you in this state back to your home.”

Right, home. It was a reminder that I was technically still visiting this kingdom.

Taehyung wouldn’t care if I was on my death bed anyway.

“I assure you, the fatigue is gone by morning when I awake.” I offered a gentle smile.

Jimin sighed. “It could be the beginning of something more serious. At least drink the tea I send for later.”

I had no choice but to oblige to his request because God knew that he would just continue down the path of concern.

I had not seen much of Jimin for the next few days except when we met for dinner in which he would appear in the library where I was nose deep in another book or in my room, hands tucked behind his back and a smile on his face as he invited me to dinner.

Isobel didn’t ask in his place anymore.

The fatigue was not as frequent, only occurring sometimes and not every night as before. It settled Jimin’s worries.

Tonight was the night of the ball. Just as I had experienced at Erebus, the palace was in complete chaos. Even though I was the only guest from outside of the kingdom here, it seemed the decoration was just as elaborate.

“Your highness, I have your dress for the ball,” Isobel arrived in my bedroom with a white box in hand. She placed it down onto the coffee table and I rose from the bed to open it.

When I lifted the lid from the box, it revealed the familiar fabric with gray tulle and embroidered pale pink flowers.

My mouth went agape as my fingers glided across the fabric, through different flowers. Awe ran through me for a few seconds, how was this possible? How could Jimin possibly have the dress made?

“How could he have…,” I whispered to myself.

“His Majesty had ordered it from the seamstress that had come earlier this week,” Isobel responded.

I grasped the dress and pulled it from the box. It revealed a ballgown, full in the skirt as the flowers gathered at the bottom and dispersed as it reached the waistline. The dress had straps falling from the shoulder and the top focused on the flowers as well.

“It’s beautiful.” My eyes struggled to remove themselves from tracing through the dress over and over again.

“The ball will be in a few hours, do you want to begin preparing?”

I nodded, feeling eager to try on the beautiful gown.

Just like that, I was thrown into a flurry of activities beginning with bathing and ending with the dress being laced by Isobel and jewels being placed on me. Half of my hair was braided and wrapped around the crown of my head while the rest flowed down my back.

A knock came from the door.

“Come in.” I folded my hands together in front of me and waited. I knew it was Jimin who was behind the door.

The door opened to reveal a royal king, dressed like a true king, and standing like a true king. Jimin strode in, a smile gracing his lips. He wore an ivory suit jacket, the collar, and cuffs laced with gold trimming. Just beneath peeped a white dress shirt. Above his brow was a grand crown I had not seen much of.

I had not realized the gold crown had a jeweled sun in the center, but it only stood to represent the power he embodied.

Even a humble king didn’t miss the chance to dress for the occasion as rings adorned his fingers and a single earring hung from his ear.

“Beautiful,” Jimin spoke as he approached me.

The single word drew me from my thoughts and warmth to make its way to my cheeks as I bowed. “Thank you.”

“Shall we?”

He extended an arm for me as I took hold of it.

I didn’t know if I met Jimin’s standard of regalness, but he didn’t stop when we entered the ballroom allowing all eyes to fall upon us.

The similar feeling of self-consciousness fell onto me. I was definitely not the same flawlessness as them, but walking in with Jimin gave me a feeling of comfort.

People bowed and addressed their king as we walked by.

I wasn’t aware I gave away my thoughts until Jimin tipped his head over and whispered, “you look magnificent, don’t let any looks take that from you.”

Again, my cheeks felt warm and I ducked my head out of habit. I didn’t want to reveal the blush on my face. “Thank you, Jimin,” I replied, grateful.

His words kept some of the insecurity at bay.

“I think you’ll find our balls enjoyable,” he commented as he reached for two flutes of bubbling wine and handed me one.

“I’m already enjoying this much more,” I revealed.

“Then I’ve partially completed my mission tonight.” He took a sip from the flute, a satisfied smile on his lips.

My brows furrowed. “What mission?”

“Well, first, make sure you attend a ball and actually have fun,” he began. “Then, a waltz in much better music.”

He had remembered my note about the music from Erebus’s ball.

I felt a strike of courage as I asked, “then the waltz?”

“Would you do me the honor then?” Jimin picked up on my question as he plucked the flute from my hand and placed both glasses down before extending a hand to me with a curt bow.

“Of course, we’ve got to complete your mission right?” I took his hand as he led me towards the center of the ballroom.

As though the orchestra had known, another song had begun to play. Jimin was right, the music was better.

I realized I was not as terrible as when I had first danced in Erebus. Even though it was only the second or third time, my footing had gotten better.

We took a few steps before I remembered.

“How did you have this dress prepared?” He couldn’t have known about the fabric.

“The seamstress mentioned the fabric from when she came to take your measurements and I thought you’d like it for the dress,” he said, a clear smile due to how well received his choice was.

“I love it.”

With that, Jimin released a hand to spin me from him and pulled me back to him which caused me to release a laugh.

“I’m glad you did,” and this time, we were closer than before, his voice next to my ear. “Who knows how upset I would be if you didn’t,” he joked.

It felt more intimate, more intimate than we had ever been. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy this closeness and feared my heart was starting to fall for Jimin. Yet, I had to remind myself that publicly I was betrothed to Taehyung and had yet to dispel that.

Before I had a chance to distance myself to stand as an upcoming monarch of a different kingdom, Jimin moved first. It was clear there was displeasure on his features, a slight frown was on his lips and his eyes flitted around the room.

“I want to show you something.”

I allowed his hand to slip into mine and tug me from the ball. He led me down a hallway and into a room.

“Where are we?”

“Somewhere that isn’t the ballroom.”

“Why?”

“To be honest, I apologize for the way my people may have been treating you.”

I knew what he was talking about yet my brows furrowed in confusion. “What made you say that?”

“In the ballroom—,” he started. He didn’t have to finish.

“They were watching us dance,” I finished for him. “It’s alright, I understand I’m the outsider here.” I kept my tone casual because I had faced more discrimination at Erebus than simply people giving me strange looks.

“It was still discourteous,” he interjected.

“No, it’s fine. I mean it.” I gave a small smile. “I promise.”

“I’ll try to keep the impoliteness at bay.”

“So I assume that there wasn’t really something for you to show me,” I gestured to the room we were in. It was another empty bedroom in the palace.

“Actually,” he drew out.

I realized our hands were still intertwined as his thumb gently ran across the back of mine. He pulled me towards a pair of glass doors. This was something new that I had not noticed before.

“I intended to apologize, but this room also has a balcony with an amazing view,” he said cheekily.

“I’m jealous Jimin, I was not given a balcony in my room,” I teased him.

Leaning against the rails of the balcony, silence settled. We could only hear the gentle howling of the wind and the rest of the capital with all its lights in the distance.

“How about dancing here without prying eyes and impolite frowns?” Jimin suggested.

“In the silence?” I gave him a strange look although there was no refusal in my tone.

“The better.” He extended a hand which in a split second, I placed my hand into. His other hand fell below my shoulder which allowed my arm to rest upon as my hand landed on his shoulder.

In the silence, we waltzed. The only sound came from our shoes shuffling as we moved.

“You were right,” I said with an amused smile.

“I’m full of good ideas.” His mouth curved.

We paused in the dance and my heart began to race. With the moonlight cascading over the side of his face, I was able to finally see the king before me. It was different from whenever I had seen it before.

I noticed the way his eyes were twinkling in the moonlight and how they shaped with the smile he wore. I liked that smile a lot.

His eyes found purchase on my lips and I couldn’t help but mirror his actions, allowing my eyes to fall to his. The intention was there.

He leaned in then his soft lips were on mine. It was not a long kiss, rather a short one filled with enough emotion. It was clear where the intention of the kiss had come from. I kissed back to my own surprise and allowed myself to lean into his body with my hands finding their way to behind his neck.

He returned by circling his arms on my waist, pulling me flush against him. For the first time, I felt my flutters inside my chest and that warm feeling that made me want to seek more. For the first time in a while, I had felt safe and I felt safe in Jimin’s arms.

We were both surprised when we separated. I assumed my pupils matched his, dilated. I don’t know if the sudden kiss opened a door of trust for me, but I was compelled to tell him. “Jimin, I have something to tell you.”

His eyes encouraged me to continue and I was about to, mouth opening to tell him about my family and village who was taken away until there was a knock on the door that pulled the opportunity right from beneath my feet.

We escaped from each other’s arms and distanced ourselves. “Come in.” Jimin brought his authoritative tone back.

I’m sure my eyes grew wide and my heart plunged into my stomach when a familiar face appeared in a whirlwind of white.

It was a man that resembled the guard in my dreams of my village in the dungeon. The same nasty scar was beside his right eye.

I shook my head slightly. No, it was just someone who looked like him. He was a soldier, of course, he had battle scars.

My dreams were definitely not real.

A more unsettling feeling came when my curiosity surfaced. Was it possible?

I was nauseous immediately at the consideration. I had to be mistaken. My dreams are not real. They cannot be.

Why did this person resemble someone from my dream? I swallowed and began to reason my thoughts. This was a possibility, someone in my dream could look similar to others in reality.

My eyes were on the upper arm of the man’s armor searching for his crest. The fear settled. It was not the same crest from my dream. No bleeding moon. It was rather a sun with crossed swords below it. It certainly had to be the royal guard’s crest.

The guard eyed me strangely before clearing his throat.

“Pardon me, Your Majesty, it is time to discuss the guests from the continent and their stay.”

“Yes, I will meet you in the cabinet room in a moment. You’re dismissed.”

After the guard left, Jimin turned his attention from the door. “I’ll see you later?”

I had been too distracted by the thoughts of the guard to fully regard the nervousness in his tone and nodded.

I barely noticed him leaving the room.

Even though the chances were small, I couldn’t settle the thoughts that urged me to consider the possibility that this was someone from my dreams. And if he had been real, were my dreams real?

I shook my head at the thought.

Foolish, they were foolish. There was nothing besides a simple resemblance to someone from my dreams to point me towards the insane idea that my dreams were entirely real.

a/n

lowkey a little bit of filler and i hate some parts i wrote, but i really wanted more development with jimin’s character and y/n & his relationship which is how this chapter came to be, hope you enjoy reading it though! :)

[also really sorry to say this but i kinda dug myself into a whole of writer’s block for this series and might (potentially but not sure yet depending on the outlook of the next two weeks) put this series on hiatus or have the next chapter be posted in longer than the two weeks marks between chapters :( it’s just been tough to write the next chapter because i’m not really sure how i want to write it and i love this series too much (and it needs the justice) to just force myself to write it and have it written terribly. i really hope it doesn’t happen though]

yours truly, Selene ♡

[heroesoftherepublic-blog]

Dawn

The reluctant darkness returned the hills of Rome to the light, the first conquest of the daily struggle. Clients at the doors of their patrons, families gathered around their shops and ateliers, turning the sitting in something more welcoming for the Fortune-favored at the top. Two palms above the rest of the crowd, Lidia navigated it with calm confidence, head humbled low and a joyful smile, letting herself be cradled by the routine and simplicity of her morning duties: fill the enormous bronze vessel under her arm, not much heavier than her conscience.

Her grin widened as she found herself beneath the shadow of the magnificent stone structure whose massive raised arches invaded Rome. The legacy of the spoils seized from Pyrrhic’s ambitions that turned the dream of destruction into life-giving elixir.

Through way of human ingenuity the Anio valley was persuaded to abdicate its precious water, singing across new paths, gurgling about freedom and harmony.

Lidia allowed her mind to wander, resigning herself to wait; dozens of women, children and slaves waited for an opportunity to approach the fountain. It was arduous and ungrateful work, whoever, one essential to the industry and survival of Rome.

Hugging her vase, Lidia waited patiently, appreciating the lazy beams cast by Apollo Sol as they caressed her face. A shadow befell upon her and interrupted this moment of casual leisure, her eyes opening wide as she recognized that quickly replaced contemplation with horror. The metallic clamor of bronze hitting the stone slabs communicated the end of the placid hour, spreading murmurs and pointed fingers as all attention turned to the top of Aqua Anio.

A young woman, her arms covered in bruises and a vitreous gaze climbed the aqueduct; her limbs shook and trembled due to the effort, only finding strength in her despair. Finally reaching the top, she turned and looked back to the city that slowly woke hill to hill, a city that had no place for her. She discarded her sandals and approached the edge, where stone and water wielded to the domain of air. Behind her, only tragic oblivion.

Forwards, the only opening for liberty.

At her side, a speeding scarlet streak.

“I swear to the Manes, I will throw myself if you get one step closer!” She shouted, threatening that which soon took the shape of a tall woman covered by a scarlet hood. “I really mean it! I need this more than life itself!”

wind dances across the rushing water of the aqueduct, marking with ripples the silence between the two women.

“I understand.” Aeneid declared after calm observation. “It makes sense that you wish to end your life. Your life sucks.”

The suicidal woman stopped, mouth gaping wide. Lidia shrugged and crossed arms.

“Am I wrong’ Is it only apathy that brings you here, without a driving despair that seeks a solution of such finality?”

“N-no.” The youth muttered, not without hesitating for an instant, the slightest hint of incredulity in her own words. “It is true, my life is horrible. I am well within my rights to see it over.”

“Who knows, maybe you will complete it this time.”

“How do you...”

“I was the one that saved you the last three times” Aeneid extended her hand, palm open towards the sky. “Despise my striking looks, I can be discreet when I wish to. The majority of folks do not need more than a few nights of reflection after a close encounter with Dis Pater to find other alternatives; so many only need a nudge in the right direction. Someone must be in deep trouble to force me to reveal myself.”

“I do not understand what is going on.” Genuinely confused, the youth wondered what had brought Aeneid to the top of the aqueduct. “Are you here to persuade me to live?”

“Let me put this in no uncertain terms: if you throw yourself down, I will catch you. If you try to drown in the Tiberis, I will drag you to safety. If you leave home at night and wander the alleys of Rome in search of a violent end, I will follow you and assure that you will not find any ruffian until the new dawn shines again.

“What did I do to deserve such cruelty?” The eyes of the youth brimmed with tears. “Do you want to me to blackmail me into living this life? This is ridiculous. What do you care about it or what I do with it? Are there no tyrants to kick or fires to put off?”

Aeneid closed in despise the previous warning, pulling her hood back just enough to present the youth with a most radiant smile.

“If you finish this, you will be the first person to make such attempt for the fourth time after I tried to save them. I think that once you do that, your situation becomes extremely important to me.”

The youth unleashed a cynical laugh.

“I should have expect something of the sort. I insulted your heroic pride.”

Steady in her strong and inspiring smile, Aeneid did not say another word; if it helped the youth to believe that pride motivated her, let her continue to believe that is the truth. Despise her deceptively casual tone, Lidia’s mind was galloping furiously, trying to cover all the dark paths that could have led the woman to this mire. If she was definitively determined to end her life, she would have killed herself in secret at her house, where Aeneid or others would have problem intervening. Such public suicide attempts were a cry for help, a tragedy in the making all too easy to avoid with just a pinch of empathy. If the youth really believed that there was nothing worth to live for, the first step had to be validating her opinion, confirm her fears and finally extend a reassuring hand after having established themselves as someone that comprehended your problems. Having achieved this grounding gesture, Lidia finally could focus efforts in improving the fate of the other woman.

“What is your name, girl?”

“Novia.” She replied, bored. “Can we go down? I have other things to do if I am going to see the end of today.”

Aeneid leaned her head.

“Curious words. The dead people with which I usually deal do not have that many plans for the rest of their lives.”

“My husband is expected to return back from his voyages during the next days. I want to have the house well-tended and a new tunic waiting for him.”

Hymen Clementis. Husband? The girl was not much more than a child, Lidia uncertain if she had had her first period. And there she was, married and with a household under her care.

“They sound to be like happier plans than those that brought you all the way up here.” Aneied approach and put her left hand over Novia’s shoulder. “Houses and tunics are only things. How much would your husband suffering, arriving to a home in mourning?”

“Relief, most likely and little else. He would finally get rid of me.” Novia bit into her lower lip. “I am dead weight imposed upon him by our parents, a way to transfer proprieties in Pompey as dowry and to establish a new branch that could directly manage such houses. We are both mere pawns for the ambitious of our elders, cold tools without any bonds between them. He is nothing to me, a stranger without care and whose gestures fail to touch me.”

The youth winced, Lidia immediately reading the implications hovering over them, unsaid. Intimacy and love would only open new fears and dangers to someone that young.

“Why did you not just sell the proprieties?” Aeneid inquired.

“We would be left at the mercy of the decisions of the State and Municipium, as my father does not have full citizenship.” Novia explained the best she could, doing rather well for her limited comprehension behind her matrimonial situation. “This assuming that the family of my husband would have in the first place the means to pay a fair price; who has that amount of money in coins and metal? Talks dragged on and eventually my father was convinced that this union would be an opportunity to assure that the houses will bring prosperity to the family. After all, eventually he would have to set aside a dowry for me anyway.

Sad chuckle.

“They probably thought this would be the simplest and most obvious solution.

Aineid released her and turned her back to the youth.

“Maybe it was such for them. But here are the two of you, forced into a marriage without friendship, without common purpose or dreams.”

“Not even a common life, Triumphant. As miserable as that would be.” Novia followed Lidia and pulled the corners of her cloak. “You do not know how lonely my existence is. He spends weeks between our proprieties in Pompey, collecting rents, sending money to our parents and following suit with outrageous plan after outrageous plan. What do I have? An old house in the Urbe that I try to maintain by myself. Rome scares me and I do not know or trust anyone, leaving me alone between four walls and with all too much idle time.”

Fertile ground for living nightmares and transforming anyone into a mere prisoner of dread and terror.

“Married life is arduous.” Said the technically single woman without stable relationships or a marriage in sight. “It is made of high and lows; this period is one of the most painful, however, the situation can only improve. Rome can become your home, comprehension will bloom once you have time to know each other, good Fortune can germinate between the two. “

Novia turned her head away, passive way to communicate how much she disagreed with Aeneid.

“Ah. Of course, we are talking about it atop the aqueduct, is it not so?” Lidia was quick to correct herself. “Obviously you do not believe this can improve. This is all that your life can amount to.”

The youth faced her again, eyes shining with a hope she dared to feel again; someone that could understand her, would such thing be possible?

“Shortly after our wedding, myself and my husband traveled to the land of the ancestors of his family, so that I could present myself to her Sabine relatives and be accepted as the new heirs of their legacy, honoring it without with our union. I was beyond happy.” A soft smile crossed her lips. “I felt in love with the region and found everything charming and exciting. It was when we reached the necropolis that a dark cloud descended upon me and never dispersed. I read epigraph after epigraph, finding myself surrounded by the testimony of generations of young brides and mothers, not much older than me. Their story terminated before it even started.

Lidia started to choke; Noiva took her hands against her chest.

“There, between those epigraphs, lies my destiny; that is where this tormented path leads and there is no escape for me. I belong to the Underworld, I will never meet the person that I can become, or whom my sons and daughters will be. This idea took root, making a final solution tempting; my life is miserable and will end in a bloody bed. Why should I postpone the inevitable? Why should I not spare everyone the suffering that I cause me and the others by sustaining the illusion that I might survive?

Aeneid was struggling against tears, reminding herself over and over again that she was supposed to be the inspiring torch standing against despair. Bowing before Novia, making sure that her hood covered wet eyes, offered the woman the biggest smile of her life, to much torture of her gums and cheeks.

“Such thoughts do not belong in the mind of a brilliant girl with her life ahead of her.”

There it was, that shine in her eyes.

But what was Lidia offering?

What she could do to save Novia’s life?

Which words could drive off the specter of the history of horrors that she had faced in the necropolis? How could cheering words compete against those that the youth had read?

Wait. Read? Novia was literate.

Tears refused to be restrained any longer; Aeneid released warm and comforting laughter in an attempt to distract from them.

“Is it not obvious what do you need, Novia? A divorce!”

The youth opened her mouth wide, horrified.

“Our families will never accept such thing! I am lonely enough as it is, I cannot become a pariah in the eyes of my own, I have already enough problems.”

“Trust me, Novia. I am sure that your family will eventually validate your choices as soon as they see how much it benefits all parts.” The smile remained firm, immune to all the negativity.”

With the divorce the proprieties shared as dowry do not revert to your father, but to you, assuring its financial autonomy. Your husband returns to Rome, you return to Pompey; everyone where they belong. The houses will be administered by an entrepreneurial girl that knows more about the family business than they give her credit for. Your in-laws will become investors, and once both of you are mature enough, you can renew your vows.

Lips closing towards Novia’s ear, she added.

“Years will go by and Novia will grow, not only as a woman but as a citizen. Who knows the friendships she will cultivate in the meanwhile. Who knows if broken vows can be reforged. One thing is certain, the Novia that we still have not met will have a family the sort the one in front of me cannot even imagine.”

“I have no legal representation.” Novia replied, stepping away from Lidia. “None of our patrons will help me in what they will see as an act against my husband and his family.”

“Do you think I am the sort to make empty promises? The biggest threat for the freedom of a people is the difficulty the poor and oppressed have in obtaining just and fitting legal representation. I have in my team one of the best legal minds of this generation and he will be glad to defend your case.”

Crying of happiness, Novia hugged Aeneid’s waist. Caressing the girl’s head, Aeneid took the opportunity to cry together.