#ktaw day 5

[lizzybeth1986]

Too Little, (But Perhaps Not) Too Late

Book: The Royal Romance

Rating: PG

Pairing: Kiara & Penelope (platonic). Hints of Hana x Kiara.

Word Count: 3, 085 words.

Summary: At King Liam and Duchess Esther's bachelorette party, Penelope has something to say to her best friend Kiara.

A/N: This is supposed to take place during the events of TRR3 Ch 16 (the MC's bachelorette), but with significant changes that will be a part of my series Petals and Thornes. Penelope's surname is Drammir, the bachelorette is not in Vegas but at Côte d'Or in Cordonia, and by this point in the story Kiara and Hana are secretly a couple.

Tagging @kiaratheronappreciationweek for KTAW Day 5: Friendships, @choicesficwriterscreations for FotW, @choicesjunechallenge2024 for Ending/Beginning, @choicescommunityevents for Best Friend Day.

"Un Soixante Quinze, s'il vous plait."

Kiara has been to Côte d'Or - and this nightclub - enough times that every bartender there knows without even looking at her that her favourite is a slightly tart French 75; Deirdre smiles, her eyes trained on a violet-coloured bottle somewhere.

"I'll do you one better, Lady Kiara. How about some Empress Gin and a dash of lime?"

Kiara's laughter is a silent gurgle in her throat rather than the court-appropriate tinkle or a loud cackle (that for some reason, Hana seems to love so much), the amusement making her eyes light up. "That'll be fun."

Far more fun at least than watching half the court pair up for dancing from the sidelines, knowing she can't do the same. Yet.

She tries to make her sideways glance towards the other side of the bar look casual, but damn if Hana doesn't make it hard. In a black velvet minidress studded with diamanté, like stars in the night sky, she looks good enough to eat. There is a faraway, dreamlike feel to the way she stares, unseeing, at the opposite wall; Kiara shudders. The same dreams haunt her too, night and day.

Olivia seems to be sashaying her way to the spot where Hana stands, and Kiara turns away, swallowing. That woman has a knack for noticing everything and using that skill against everyone around her in the worst ways. Neither she nor Hana need the additional humiliation of being caught by Olivia Nevrakis of all people, before they're truly ready.

She jumps as she hears a jaunty hello right behind her. It's Penelope - practically prancing her way to Kiara from her spot on the dance floor, flushed and ridiculously happy, several tendrils of hair out of place, lips and cheeks rosier than usual. Kiara instinctively searches the crowd for her brother Ezekiel, and finds him talking to a minor noble some distance away, the dishevelment of his hair barely noticeable.

Kiara smiles back at Penelope. Clearly this night isn't going to be just a celebration of King Liam and Queen Esther's very obviously romantic union, but also a chance, for the many couples that have cropped up in the past few months, to be open about their love in the wake of that passionate love story. Cordonia seems to be changing, Kiara thinks, with a brief pang (she tries...really hard this time...not to look over at Hana again), right in front of her very eyes.

Penelope's attention has already shifted to the way Deirdre masterfully mixes Kiara's drink. The gin and the simple syrup had already been mixed and shaken before Penelope made her appearance; Deirdre's now getting to what Kiara knows Penelope would consider the fun part. She squeezes out a wedge of lime, quietly stealing a glance at her audience of two as the drink's hue changes from clear to a rather vibrant shade of purple.

"Ohhhh," Penelope's gasp comes out in a burst of pleasure.

"Empress 1908 Gin," Kiara whispers to her, "they infuse the concoction with butterfly pea blossoms. They change colour if you add anything acidic to it."

Penelope handwaves the information away with the carelessness she gives most pretty things - it only matters that they look pretty; she couldn't care less for the process that gave her that incredible sight.

Much as Kiara doesn't like to admit it...the word "careless" does seem to be the apt word to define how Penelope goes through her life.

Carelessness in court. Carelessness in her everyday life. Carelessness with belongings, with tasks, with people. Even the ones she genuinely believes (and she does. Truly) she loves.

Part of it - Kiara is aware - has to do with how overwhelming court life, on its own, can be for her. Penelope may have exaggerated some of the hardships she seems to face, but this she has never once lied about.

Navigating court is hard enough, even for Kiara herself, but too often Penelope exudes the appearance of a doe entering a den of lions. For every one thing she manages to get right, Penelope has to fear the hundred things she'll do wrong. At some point you just get resigned to the possibility that a good day might be one where you made fifteen mistakes rather than fifty.

But anyone who stays around Penelope long enough knows that there is a inherent lack of urgency about her, a certain reluctance to think things through, a certain comfort with being tended to, getting pampered, being let off out of sympathy even as her choices wreak havoc. A tendency to consider only her comforts and no one else's.

It isn't meant maliciously. These things just don't occur to her.

Kiara meets Penelope's eyes once, then nods and turns to Deirdre with an order for a strawberry daiquiri. Penelope passes her a grateful glance, relieved at having that decision taken out of her hands.

Kiara sighs. There are a great many things you learn to get used to as Penelope Drammir's best friend - her indecision and passivity being one of them. She shakes her head as she absently twirls her stirrer over her drink. The days Kiara allows herself to think of how annoyed she used to feel (way back during the engagement tour) around Penelope are few and far between, and she does feel guilty of doing her friend a disservice whenever she does. Of being ungenerous, judgemental.

Of abandoning empathy. Even if empathy is a gift she hardly expects to get herself from...well, from anyone.

Kiara steals another glance towards the other end of the bar. Hana and Olivia are standing side by side, their backs facing the bar, their eyes never leaving the dancing couples. From time to time Olivia seems to say something (and Kiara almost bites down her cheek to stop herself from going there and rising to Hana's defense, in case it's something nasty). If Hana is affected, you couldn't tell - so nonchalant is her stance against the bar.

Hana's words from a week ago - warm and soothing and smelling of melted chocolate - still ring in Kiara's ears. You deserve to have people you can lean on, Kiara. As much as anyone else. You need to be able to depend on your friends sometimes too.

Her hand barely ghosts over her side, but Kiara doesn't allow it to linger there. She allows the words to wash over her, like balm. Like some sort of elixir that she hopes will heal her, slowly, spreading its warmth and sweetness in small trickles, taking away the hurt and resentment and self-derision bit by bit.

When she's calm enough to turn to Penelope's side again, she catches her friend staring.

Her eyes no longer on her dairiquiri; she stirs it absently, very much the way Kiara just did a few minutes ago. Those very eyes are suddenly a deeper blue, a darker shade, her gaze more intent and more serious than anything she has ever seen from Penelope in all the years they've known each other.

Kiara takes a nervous sip of her drink (sweet. tart. refreshing), her laughter betraying a slight discomfort. "You're staring at me like I've grown an extra head."

Penelope's gaze doesn't shift back to her usual - the unfocused flitting of the eyes from corner to corner. The intensity of it makes Kiara shift a little in her seat. For all her faults, seeing Penelope be her usual thoughtless, fickle-minded self - always distracted by the newest shiny object or the antics of the nearest dog - has always been reassuring.

"I...I haven't been a very good friend to you, Kiki, have I," Penelope says, quietly.

She says it as if it isn't a question but a statement, as if she has thought enough about it that it has become an already-unquestionable fact in her mind - that for a few moments Kiara finds it hard to say anything in response.

"What makes you say that, Nena?" She says, using that old affectionate nickname that Penelope only allows family and close friends to use with her.

Penelope fiddles with the shell bracelet she usually wears with the dress she's wearing, a sumptuous affair in her house colours - completely inappropriate for Esther's bachelorette (they're all supposed to wear dark or muted colours so the bride could shine in her sparkly gold outfit). But because it's Esther - who honestly couldn't care less - Penelope managed to get away with it.

Much like she has managed to get away with a great deal of things, Kiara realises with an unfortunate twist in her gut. A terrible court performance. Being involved in smearing another courtier's name (learning about that last engagement tour, realising Penelope was comfortable expecting friendship from the woman she did that to and never even bothered to let Kiara know almost ended their friendship for good). Wanting Esther and her friends to pamper her within an inch of her life if they wanted her to accompany them for their tour, even though her past conduct demanded - ethically - that she at least offer unconditional support.

(And never, ever once asking about how Kiara was healing after she was released from hospital. But that was something, perhaps, that she couldn't lay blame on Penelope alone for. For the longest time, her injury really seemed to matter that little to most).

And whether or not Penelope seems to realize how good she has had it without making enough effort from her end, yet...she certainly seems to have made a good enough start right now.

Penelope's voice goes a little softer, her eyes suddenly unable to meet Kiara's. "I think it's all the time Zeke and I have been spending together," she says, one fingernail tracing the seam of a fake shell. "He's been feeling a bit guilty himself, you know. He always tells me he's the older one, he's the one who should be taking care of you...but it's you always playing that role instead."

Kiara winces. "Well... he's never asked that of me, has he?"

Has it been like that, really? Has it? All she knows of her relationship with Zeke is how often she loses patience with him when his reluctance to move out of his safe zone creates problems, either for himself or their family. It's the one thing she has always felt a little guilty about - as much as she has felt whenever she got frustrated with Penelope.

"That's the worst part, he says. That he let you adopt that role, and never give you the same level of support. That of course you find him a little hard to understand, but that never stopped you from trying to help. And of course you never ask for any help in return, but there were so many times you should have gotten it from him anyway," Penelope's sigh comes out in a shuddering breath, and Kiara notices a redness creeping up to her cheeks from her neck. "I never realised until he said that, that I've treated you that way too."

When Penelope looks at Kiara this time, her lashes are spiky with tears. Kiara tries to swallow the lump in her own throat, suddenly overwhelmed.

For a while now, these were thoughts Kiara did have. Thoughts she'd tried to quash in the many, many hours she spent struggling to move in that hospital bed without feeling that pain on her side, thoughts she fought off after being reminded - again and again and again - how she got hurt there. Thoughts that terrified her so much she suppressed them, experiencing a mixture of relief and disappointment when no one, not even her close friends, seemed to find what happened to her important enough to remember.

These were thoughts she could only allow herself to have for no more than a few minutes. They would damn near destroy her if she thought about them any longer than that.

These were the thoughts that made her want to kick herself for being so ungenerous and petty and judgemental. To hear those same words, the words she only allowed herself to think in her darkest, most bitter moments, from Penelope's mouth - without blame, without censure - and to know that Zeke has felt it too...there is a burn in Kiara's throat that she knows won't leave for a long, long time.

Oh, no, Nena, a part of Kiara still wants to say, you're a wonderful friend. Those words, constantly at the tip of her tongue whenever Penelope gets into one of her melancholy, self-pitying moods, seem to haunt Kiara again, urging her to keep their friendship the way it is. Unequal. Unbalanced. Practically one-sided. Kiara forever as protector, Penelope forever as protected. It must be better that way.

Hana's words come back to her - a balm to her bruised spirit.

You need to depend on your friends too.

"I may not have been the friend you needed all this time, Kiki," Penelope whispers, "but from today, I promise you I'll really try."

As Kiara does in the rare occasions she finds herself overcome with emotion, she lets out a wavering, watery laugh.

Will Penelope truly change that? She doesn't know yet. But damn does it feel good that she cares enough to try.

All this time, all this guilt and self-blame...for not being the kind of friend most people would insist Penelope needed. All this resentment, because people would certainly think long and hard about what it meant to be literally anyone else's friend and catering to their needs. Olivia's. Penelope's. Even (ugh) Madeleine's.

But not Kiara's. Never Kiara's.

"I don't know how to respond to this yet, Nena. But I need you to know that I appreciate this. Truly."

Putting her daiquiri down, Penelope crushes her in an impulsive hug that almost sends tiny purple droplets of Kiara's drink flying onto her outfit. Neither of them notice.

They part, reluctantly, and spend the rest of their time together drinking in companiable silence as the vibrations from the nightclub's loud music thumps on the floor beneath them. When the tune changes to a slower, more romantic tune, Kiara can't stop herself from taking a peek at the other side of the bar.

Penelope follows her gaze, and smiles when it lands on Hana. "You should go there."

"Hmm?" Kiara murmurs, barely hearing Penelope. Hana and Olivia are still talking, but the vibes feel far more chilly than they seemed to be a few minutes ago. Now Hana is the one slightly smiling, like the cat who got the cream, and Olivia looks surprisingly...pale? Perhaps a little ill?

Definitely not as smug as she seemed when she sauntered her way to Hana's side.

She isn't sure how that came about, but the possibility that Hana may have had something to do with it does fill her with an odd sort of pride. The kind of pride that makes her want to point to Hana in front of a crowd of twenty-plus nobles and announce, as loud as she can, "that's my girlfriend!!"

Penelope giggles so hard she almost snorts her drink out of her nose. "Go get your girl, Kiki."

Kiara stares at Penelope for a minute, then self-consciously runs her palms over her own outfit. "Am I that obvious?"

Penelope is still giggling. "Only right now, and only because I'm literally standing next to you."

Kiara laughs, relieved. This love she shares with Hana will still be her - their - secret. She wants it to stay that way, just a little bit longer.

The strains of the love song currently playing feel a little out of place for this nightclub, but Kiara's feet are almost itching for a slow dance in someone's arms. Head over heels when toe to toe. This is the sound of my soul. By the way Hana is looking at her now - alone at the bar again - Kiara can tell she wants it too.

Penelope places a hand on Kiara's shoulder, taking her leave with a grin and a conspiratorial wink. "Zeke must be looking for me. Have fun, Kiki!" Clearly in a mood for generosity, she kisses Kiara on the cheek before she leaves.

(For a woman who has never slept with, well, anyone before, Hana seems to be quite adept in the art of seduction already. Kiara has to bite the inside of her cheek just to fight the urge to whisk her to her hotel room for the rest of the night)

When she reaches Hana's side, the other woman's gaze moves over her in the most leisurely pace known to man. Slow, sensual, soaked in knowing, promising more than just one dance.

The soles of Kiara's feet tingle just from imagining the possibilities. She knows what they're going to be doing at least an hour (Kiara's being generous - she probably might not even last that long) from now.

"Lady Hana," Kiara says, holding out her hand and inwardly laughing at her own playful formality, "I believe I owe you a dance."

Hana breaks character, laughing delightedly. "A dance would be a good start."

Hana rests her head on Kiara's shoulder, her face nestled close to her collarbone. Her face is nestled close enough to Kiara's collarbone that she could breathe in her perfume if she wanted; she can feel Hana's long, deep inhale reverberate through her own body as she does. As Kiara runs a hand down Hana's back, she begins to sigh in tandem to the music too, drunk on her love for this woman. Ah ah ah haa haa. I know this much is true.

Even with her eyes closed, Kiara can feel the lights - deep purple and sea green - dancing behind her eyelids. The feel of Hana's palm against hers. A whiff of Gucci Bloom that comes and goes - that Kiara registers, instinctively, as the presence of her best friend stealing another dance with her brother. Kiara sighs happily.

Tomorrow might be as hard to live through as yesterday was, as this morning was, as every morning has been since this tour began. But every once in a while, she's gifted with tiny miracles.

This evening - every bit of it - has been a tiny miracle. And if this tour has taught her anything, it's that the tiny miracles are often the most memorable ones.

Almost as if they can both sense a desire to come closer, Hana and Kiara tighten their arms around each other almost imperceptibly.

Kiara smiles, again. Tomorrow may be different. But today...today has been beautiful. Today has been perfect.

This night of miracles does seem to be in any hurry to leave, and she's going to embrace it with both hands.

--

References:

French 75 - a cocktail made from gin, champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. It is also called a 75 Cocktail, or in French simply a Soixante Quinze.

Learn more about Empress Gin gin French 75 here.

The song Hana and Kiara are dancing to at the end is "True" by Spandau Ballet.

A/N1: I hint at a scene that is not part of canon but that will eventually show up at this point of the story when I write it in Petals and Thornes (basically Hana and Olivia talking. I won't be talking about it here, but it will be a major scene from Hana's PoV at this point in the story).

A/N2: Often, when the fandom speaks about the Kiara and Penelope friendship, there tends to be a lot of sympathy for Penelope and criticism for Kiara. But when you take a closer look at canon, the opposite applies. The narrative tends to center this friendship on Penelope alone, with Kiara needing to constantly worry and protect her, and Penelope rarely ever showing the same regard or concern for Kiara. It's a grossly imbalanced friendship, and I did want some acknowledgement of that.

A big thank you to @thecapturedafrique for suggesting this title 😁😁

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

We're on our final day of KTAW 2024!! It's been wonderful to see the entries so far - we saw some new faces and lots of fresh stories, and every work we've got so far has shown such love and admiration for a character so often overlooked!

Our final theme(s) tomorrow are pretty simple and straightforward! This day is about exploring how Kiara navigates her relationships with people - Familial, Platonic or Romantic! We all know she is protective of the people she loves even if she may not fully understand their way of dealing with their problems. It would be great to see how our Kiara fans will look at these dynamics!

Any content is welcome!! Just make sure your work centers Kiara, and presents a positive depiction of her. Fic, art, meta, headcanons, edits, icons, interactive media, even simple character appreciation posts!! We also accept WIPs, so if your piece isn't entirely complete by the end of the week, fret not - you can still send us the WIPs!

The themes are simply inspirations. If you bring a piece for one of the days later, it's entirely okay...just make sure you tag the posts with the day you meant it for! We will always be keeping a bonus week in case you couldn't complete the piece during the week itself, so our official deadline for pieces will be June 1st!

We'd also like all of you to know that KTAW 2024 will be open ALL YEAR ROUND. So if you're unable to finish a piece before June 1st, pls do send it whenever you're ready to (and tag us!), and it will definitely be up on our masterlist!!

Be sure to do the following when you send in your work:

1. Use the tags #kiaratheronappreciationweek and #KTAW in your posts. Make sure to tag the day as well (#KTAW Day 1, #KTAW Day 2, etc)

2. Tag @kiaratheronappreciationweek, as well as hosts @sazanes and @lizzybeth1986

Fan Community blogs are super important to our promotion of events, so we'd definitely love for you to check out some of these awesome blogs and their challenges:

@choicesficwriterscreations - Primarily fanfic and fanart (no AI allowed). Check out their rules and roster of events!

@choicesmonthlychallenge and @choicesmaychallenge24 - Any and all content welcome! This month's prompts are delightfully Greek mythology-themed!

@choicespride - Any and all content welcome, as long as it centers LGBTQ+ characters and/or themes! They will be hosting this year's pride event soon!

@choicesholidays - Any and all content welcome, as long as it is centered around one of the holidays listed! Currently, they are hosting Spring Fling!

@choicesprompts - Any and all content welcome! Currently no events, but you could check out all the cool stuff they've been up to so far!

@choicescommunityevents - Any and all art welcome as long as it is on-theme! Currently hosting the AAPI Heritage Month!

With Day 5, this week may be officially over, but as we mentioned earlier our bonus week will still be up!! You have time till June 1st to send in entries! The masterlist will also be open the whole year through for entries as well.

[sazanes]

Day 5 - Family/Friendship/Romance

"Every day with you is a priceless gift."

Thank you @kiaratheronappreciationweek and @lizzybeth1986 🥰🥰🥰

[masked-alien-lesbian]

KTAW Day 5: Relationships

A look into what Kiara is like in relationships be it a platonic friendly relationship, romantic or familial.(Imo anyway)

Platonic: Kiara as a friend

□ As courteous, polite, and well mannered as Kiara is, it's actually takes a little bit to become close to Kiara. She reminds me of an onion, with numerous layers. She keeps her cards close to her chest and isn't naive to trust newcomers at first. She is used to how catty some of the noble women can be and is able to navigate the minefield that the court can be. She is also aware that with her social and financial status, people can and have tried to get close to her to use her in some way. So it takes a little bit for her to trust someone who genuinely wants to get to know her.

□ As she gets more comfortable around you, you find out she is a very observant and witty person. Her humor is a little dry, subtle, and unexpected which is why she's funnier than you expect. She's not a stand up comedian by any means, but if she trusts you, any boring gala or ball is exponentially more entertaining when it's just the two of you.

□ Again, she's very observant, she can tell when you're upset or hiding something. She won't point it out to you in a social setting in case of embarrassing you but when she can get you alone, she'll ask you what is bothering you. If you don't feel like talking about it, she won't pressure you, she'll just let you know she's available if you need anything. If you want to vent though, she's a good listener. And if you want answers, she's very practical to helping you find a solution.

Kiara in Romantic Relationships

🌹 Kiara is a practical person and very duty minded. She had planned to marry someone who would benefit Castelsarrelian and Cordonia, feelings involved or not. So when she fell in love with you, it was not expected. It wasn't what she had planned, so at first she throws herself in her work and tries to ignore her feelings. Eventually though she realizes the feelings aren't going away, she'll try to rationalize her feelings, weighing the pros and cons of a relationship with you. Finally I feel like this when Kiara's mother Joelle, will give her a valuable lesson on following her heart. Joelle saw how her daughter is with you and sees a kind and gentle spirit in you. Hakim just wants his daughter to be happy and trusts in her intuition. With her parents approval, she finds the courage to pursue you.

🌹 Kiara isn't into big grand gestures, it's the little signs that show the depth of her feelings for you. She knows what you like, being an observant person that she is, she'll present you with whatever you're currently into, the food you love and support you in your favorite hobby or activity. She'll give you what is most precious to her, her time. Showing she cares and wants to spend time with you is her love language.

🌹 Courting and being in a romantic relationship with Kiara feels like coming home. She generates the feeling of safety. She's level headed, stable, warm and loving. What you see is what you get with Kiara, she's not into playing games so you'll never have to guess with her, just ask her.

🌹 Overall she's just green flags. She's mature, not clingy or a jealous person. She's a busy person so having someone who has separate interests who can occupy themselves when she can't be there is preferred. Though she can get busy she loves when you leave her little notes, text messages, videos or voice-mails for her to read/see/listen to when things slow down. It helps remind her that she has someone at home waiting for her in the early days of your relationship.

Kiara's Family Life

□ I actually see her being fine without kids. She has a busy fulfilling life with her diplomatic work, her duchess duties, keeping up with her friends and her life with her partner/spouse. But if her significant other really wants children, she's happy to become a mother if her SO wants to carry a child or adopt.

□ She's a loving mother and wife. Originally her work was to better Cordonia but now making sure you and her children are taken care of is at the forefront. You may have to remind her to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the little milestone with her family but she wants to be present in yours and the kids lives so she immediately begins to cut her long hours.

□ She's open to couple and family therapy if you and her or your family are going through a rough patch. But she is open to clear communication and is considerate of your feelings so as long as you're open to the same and meet her halfway, the two of you will be together even when you're old and gray!

@kiaratheronappreciationweek

@lizzybeth1986

@sazanes

[lizzybeth1986]

I have very fond memories of this fic and this series. Reading it now after you've done around 4 fics on this lovely couple really makes me see their relationship here again in a new light. It must have taken a lot of work and a lot of support to get to this point for both of them but it's heartening that the two are now in a happier place emotionally, with their curious little boy Noah.

Book: The Royal Romance AU

Characters: Rashad, Noah and his mother.

Word count: 760

Disclaimer: All characters belong to pixelberry except Noah.

Rating: Mature

Prompt: Features day 6 of TRR Appreciation Week hosted by @trraw

Link to the Series here.

"Once upon a time, when we were young…"

"How young?" Noah asked. Rashad smiled at his little son. Noah was a spitting image of his father with dark black hair that fell in waves on his temples. His eyes were dark and he had dusky skin and the brightest of smiles.

"Ten years younger. It was the day of the festival of five kingdoms. A day to celebrate the union of kingdoms under the single flag of Cordonia. The royal palace was shining in its full glory. The ballroom was decorated to attract all the nobles of the great houses."

"You were there too, Pa?"

" Yes, I was there and your Mama was there too."

" Were you married?"

"No. I was appointed as a lawyer in the royal council and she was one of the ministers in the council. That day brought us closer to each other." Rashad remembered the painful circumstances that they survived together.

" We were all enjoying ourselves when suddenly there was a black out with a BOOM!"

Noah curled up in reaction.

Rashad placed a calming hand over his back and rubbed gently. "Are you sure you still want to listen to this story?"

"Yes Pa, please!" Noah straightened up to show he was brave enough.

Rashad chuckled. "It was an attack by assassins."

"As-a-?"

"Assassin. Bad people. Enemy. They came for the king but hurt anyone who came into their way."

"Were you scared Pa?"

"A tiny bit." Rashad showed with his thumb and finger slightly parted. "But we knew we had to be strong and fight."

"You fought?" Noah asked wide eyed, his heart swelling with pride. "There were royal guards to help. I was saved. There were many noises around me. But then I saw your Mama fighting with one of the assassins."

"Wow. My Mama?"

Rashad nodded. "The assassin was running away when I rushed to help her."

He hugged Noah before giving him the details ahead. "Mama was hurt." Noah stiffened. "But she showed a lot of courage. I helped her to get to the doctor. The doctor took care of the wound and Mama was fine in few days."

"Then you married her?"

Rashad laughed out. "What is the hurry little guy?"

Noah relaxed and lied down on his bed. "That is when you live happily ever after." He reasoned.

"We got married the next year." Kiara's voice came down from the door.

"Mama!" Noah squealed getting up and as she neared his bed, he jumped into his mother's arms.

Kiara kissed him and settled him back into his bed.

"Mama, I am proud of you." He beamed. "Does it hurt you now, where the ass-ass-in hit you?"

"No dear. Not anymore. Your Pappy took good care of Maman. Made me strong again." She looked at Rashad lovingly.

Rashad smiled and patted her cheek.

Kiara focused back on her son. "And now that you know we 'lived happily ever after', it's time to say good night."

She kissed his forehead and he cupped her face with his little hands kissing her chin.

Rashad ruffled Noah's wavy hair. "Good night little guy."

The parents left a peaceful and content Noah to sleep.

"How are you?" Rashad asked Kiara once they were inside their bedroom.

"Okay." Kiara answered in monosyllable.

Rashad closed the distance between them. He rested his hands on her shoulders. "I know this time of the year is always difficult for you."

Kiara sighed. "Especially when they are going to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Cordonia's victory over its enemies. The saga will be narrated to the public to commemorate the valour of our people. But it will be like digging into the old wounds of few people."

Rashad placed his palm over Kiara's heart and repeated Noah's question, "Does it hurt you now?" Intending to ask her emotional condition.

"Every single time I remember." She said with tears in her eyes.

He embraced her into a warm hug. "Oh Kiki! I am so sorry."

Beads of tears rolled down her cheeks as she said in a heavy voice, "Thank you Rashad. For always being there for me."

He carried her to their bed where she snuggled close to him and slept.

Rashad's hand grazed at the hem of her shirt and when it crossed the barrier of the cloth, it landed on the scar. The ugly remanant of the fateful day that they had to celebrate with their countrymen tomorrow.

He rested his chin on Kiara's head and gazed into the darkness. His eyelids grew heavy and he slowly dozed of to sleep.

After all they were living their happily ever after.

****************

Next part here

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[hanaleeappreciationweek]

We are finally reaching our last day of HLAW!! And we've got such incredible entries - this time also from new people who have sent us such fabulous work! We're grateful to all our contributors - both old and new - for the love and enthusiasm you've shown us so far and hope to see more in store today as well!!

Day 5 is all about the relationships!! Whether familial, platonic or romantic, Hana gives each one her all 🩷 She is also someone who is attempting to learn a new normal - how to continue loving others while also taking care of herself! This is a chance to explore Hana's connections with other people, whether in canon or your OCs, and explore her unique way of navigating them!!

Any content is welcome!! Fanfic, fanart, edits, moodboards, interactive, media, headcanons, screenshots, playlists, meta...even screenshots of your favourite scenes would be great!! Our only requirement is that the content is centered on Hana, and that the depiction of her is positive. You can also send in WIPs in case you don't complete a work!

You can also send in a work on the days following a particular theme - this is no pressure for it to be put up exactly that day! We will also have an extra week for anyone who still needs time 💕 May 4th will be our final official date for entries (to incorporate into our video!) but HLAW will still be open for entries for the rest of the year until the next event!

You'll find all the HLAW 2024 themes here!

Be sure to do the following when you make your posts:

1. Use the tags #hanaleeappreciationweek and #HLAW in the tags (along with the day you made the post for - #HLAW Day 1, #HLAW Day 2 etc)

2. Tag @hanaleeappreciationweek and hosts @sazanes and @lizzybeth1986 in your posts, so we don't miss them!

FAN CONTENT BLOGS are instrumental in keeping the fandom alive - with events and fun activities that encourage us all to contribute and create. They have also been amazing in their support towards our character events. Do check them out to see all the new incredible events and prompts coming up!

@choicesficwriterscreations - Primarily fanfic and fanart (no AI allowed). Check out their rules and roster of events!

@choicesmonthlychallenge & @choicesaprilchallenge24 - Any and all content welcome (No AI content)! They have a collection of prompts you can use for the month of April!

@choicespride - Any and all content is welcome, as long as it is centered around queer characters and/or themes.

@choicesflashfics - Primarily fanfic under a 2500 word count. Every week they use new dialogue prompts. The prompts for the coming week will be out soon.

@choicesholidays - Any and all content welcome, as long as it is centered around one of the holidays listed! Currently, they are hosting Spring Fling!

@choicesprompts - Mostly fanfic preferred! You can check out their current Round Robin event here!

As tomorrow will be our final HLAW day, we'd like to remind everyone once again that we always keep a bonus week for entries!! So if you weren't able to finish your piece on time, you still have till May 4th!! We will also be keeping the event open all year round for entries - so if you finish a piece before next year's HLAW, don't hesitate to send it to us and it will find a place in the masterlist! We will be open all year round! 💕💕

We usually make a thank you video for all our contributors and signal boosters at the end of the bonus week! Typically it is put up on YouTube and we share it here. If you would prefer not to feature, do let us know and we will keep your name out of it based on your comfort levels.

@lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes will be hosting Kiara Theron Appreciation Week (KTAW) on the 21st next month! If anyone would like to be tagged on that or knows people who may be interested, let us know!! The blog for that event is here: @kiaratheronappreciationweek.

Happy Hana Lee Appreciation Week, everyone!!

[dcbbw]

Hidden Agenda

This story is my (late af) submission for #kiaratheronappreciationweek, utilizing Day #3 (diplomat/polyglot) and Day #5 (relationships/friendships).  This is also an answer to an ask: @twinkleallnight requested a portrayal of Kiara’s diplomatic skills.

@ao719 requested a fun/goofy side of Liara (Liam x Kiara) which I will have to answer in another story.

The story takes place within my Liara Arrangement AU; if you wish to catch up/re-read, it can be found on my Masterlist under Liam x Kiara. (It’s incomplete but should be updating soon)

This flashback chapter takes place before the story start, when Kiara realizes that she’s in love with Liam.

I also attempted to utilize Prompt #3 from @choicesflashfics: “I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.” Which I did, but word count … so I’m borrowing it instead.

THANK YOU to all who read this over and assure me it makes sense, and not-so-subtly reminded me I need to return to this series. Your feedback, as always, is invaluable.

THANK YOU to all who will read this story. Your likes, comments, and/or reblogs are appreciated more than you know.

Please excuse any and all typos, missing/extraneous words, and/or grammatical errors. MS Editor rates this story as 98% error-free.

Rating is T for Teen.

All characters belong to Pixelberry

Song Inspiration: Lay Your Cards Out, POLICA

Word Count: 4,127

The Royal Council was in recess, its members milling about the Palace’s East Wing Grand Conference Room partaking of refreshments as they grouped off to discuss the meeting’s progress thus far.

The room was an opulent mix of burnished wood furnishings, brass accents, and marble flooring. Cushions and curtains were a rich, plush burgundy. The Cordonia seal took prominence above the dais, and the country’s flag was strategically placed in corners throughout the space.

Lady Kiara Theron was praised for the effective forward movement of her plan to have Castelsarreillan Wineries, LLC purchase the Ramsford Vineyards. The Lady of House Theron successfully argued that wine export comprised only 12% of Duchy Ramsford’s total revenue, whereas it was 73% of Duchy Castelsarreillan’s.

One wine to represent Cordonia, with grapes picked from various regions throughout the country, would make the libation more exclusive, thus promoting a better demand for it while keeping workers employed and creating new jobs.

Lord Neville Vancouer was only slightly satisfied. While the Council agreed to his request for more allocations to Cormery Isle, they included the friendly amendment that upon completion of a second golf course to accommodate the increase in tourism, Cormery Isle would be subject to a tax increase up to but not to exceed eight percent of its current rate.

The Duchess of Lythikos was in discussion with A. Justin Severus, the Royal Communications and Marketing Director, about promoting her duchy as a year-round ski destination. “May as well make use of constant snowfall,” she pointed out as she sipped lemon tonic water.

Mr. Severus was in complete agreement and offered to set up an appointment to meet within the next two days.

The Queen prattled to Ana De Luca and her press team of the progress she and the King were making as they worked to unify Cordonia across race, political, and class lines.

The King was across the room, talking quietly with Rashad Domvallier, his personal legal counsel, and the country’s Comptroller regarding the upcoming closed session portion of the meeting.

“Are you certain Lady Theron is the correct person to lead the discussion?” Rashad asked, his brows furrowed slightly.

“It’s neither a legal nor a financial matter at this time. Preliminary hearing at best, which requires someone who will best represent and protect Cordonian interests in a sensitive, tactful manner. It requires a … diplomatic touch.”

The King’s eyes surveyed the room as he let his comrades process his explanation. They lit up at seeing Kiara, alone at the buffet table.

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me,” he murmured as he began making his way to his lover.

It was the night before Coronation; Liam and Kiara were in the hedge maze, standing beneath a large tree that held a lone wooden swing. Liam’s back was leaned into the tree bark, his hands shoved into his pant pockets. He studied the ground as he spoke.

“Tomorrow night, I’ll choose the Countess to be my bride and Queen,” he muttered in a broken voice.

Kiara’s palm cupped his cheek; it was damp with quietly shed tears. Her heart twisted at the feel; she wasn’t in love with Liam, but she did care deeply for him.

“Ne pleure pas, mon doux Liam,” she whispered. Don’t cry, my sweet Liam. “It’s for the best. I care for you and immensely enjoy our time together, but I’m not ready for duty and tradition. Madeleine is.” Kiara stared at her shoes before speaking again. “Et je suis désolé, mais je ne rends pas tes sentiments.”

And I’m sorry, but I don’t return your feelings.

Liam lifted his head, transferring his gaze upon Kiara. “I don’t care you aren’t in love with me! If I’m marrying for duty, why can’t it be YOU?” he questioned angrily.

There was the slightest impatience in her voice when she replied. “THAT is a question for your father and Duke Karlington! Frankly, I’m GLAD! I want a career, a chance to be free from titles and Court, to see the world and put my skills to uses that DO NOT involve pouring tea and kissing ass!”

“Are you referring to me, or to Court?” he asked tightly as his jaw jumped slightly.

“COURT, LIAM! I’m not HAPPY we’ll be broken apart, but I swear to you … I’m not Queen material at this point in time.” Her arms and hands raised in supplication. “There’s too much I want to do while I’m still young enough to do it.”

The lovers stared at each other, both breathing heavily from the intense emotions flowing through their blood. Liam’s gaze grew thoughtful as he pondered Madeleine’s offer the night before. He held out an arm, entreating Kiara into his embrace.

A pout on her lips, she relented; she inhaled his scent deeply when her head lay on his chest.

“If you’re agreeable, there may be a way for you to have what you want, and still be a part of my life.”

Kiara was a vision: Her long, straight dark hair had ringlet curls at the ends; her dress was an ankle-length black pinstriped affair with a skinny black belt buckled at her waist. A black slub cardigan covered the ensemble; gray snake-skin stilettos were on her stockinged feet.

“Hi,” Liam greeted bashfully when he was beside her.

Kiara was reaching for a plate when she glanced up. Her breath caught in her throat, and her heart beat a tad faster.

It’s ridiculous how handsome this man is, she thought.

She returned her attention back to the brunch selections offered, debating between citrus-glazed salmon, beef wellington, and grilled duck.

“Ahem! HI! Say it back.”

The future Duchess giggled at the irritation in her King’s voice. “You are so rude!” She lifted her eyes to meet his.

“You’re the one ignoring me,” Liam grumbled.

“Bonjour, monsieur,” she cooed sweetly.

He leaned in closer to her, his lips at the shell of her ear; Kiara repressed a shiver at his nearness. A smile curved her lips as she listened to his sweet nothings. She felt butterflies in her tummy and a giddiness overtake her.

Kiara Theron was in love. With the King of Cordonia. The married King of Cordonia. She wasn’t sure when it happened, or how. But ever since their return from America last month, Kiara found herself … dissatisfied with their arrangement.

Kiara’s first inclination was to turn down the offer. While Cordonian arrangements were commonplace, they were typically between a couple married to other people. As a single woman in an arrangement with the King no less, the Lady would be branded a gold digger which could bring a certain notoriety upon House Theron.

Liam promised her the utmost discretion; only four people knew of the agreement: Liam, Kiara, Madeleine, and Rashad. The Queen and the Counselor had both signed non-disclosure agreements. The contract drawn up offered something to all parties involved:

Kiara was appointed to the Cordonian Office of Ministries as the Diplomatic Liaison for Governmental Relations and given a Junior Ambassadorship representing Cordonia within the UN’s Alliance of Small Island States. Because her work would keep her in the Capital, a gorgeous three-bedroom, three- bathroom townhouse was purchased through one of the Crown’s many foundations for her in nearby Stormholt. In addition to her salaries, which were determined by the government pay sale, she received a robust monthly stipend for her availability and discretion.

Liam received three overnights a week with his lover; business trips abroad with Kiara where diplomatic services were deemed necessary, or the Queen’s presence was not required; daytime luncheons with the caveat that the couple remain businesslike while in public to avoid rumors and gossip.

The King modified his will so that Kiara would be taken care of in the event of his passing. It wasn’t a requirement of the arrangement, but something he wanted to do.

Madeleine was given the freedom to take a lover, or lovers, of her choosing excluding members of House Theron. The Queen would relinquish such lovers once the monarchs began in earnest to provide the country with heirs to secure the Rys line of succession. She was gifted Duchy Valtoria.

The couple agreed to use contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, and to not bring their romance inside of the Palace, or any of the Queen’s properties.

The day the contract was executed, notarized, and attested, the Queen met with a lawyer outside of Court circles to add codicils that no one else needed to know about.

Liam bought Kiara a black Jaguar XF to celebrate.

It had been a satisfactory arrangement so far for Kiara: She had a career doing what she loved, downtime when she needed it, a gorgeous house, and an attentive lover. But between the overnights, trips to countries she’d never visited, and once-a-month trips to New York City where Liam spoiled her with carriage rides in Central Park, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, and shopping sprees … Kiara found herself wanting more.

With Liam.

Only Liam.

She was in love with her lover.

But when to tell him?

“Are you prepared for closed session?” Liam asked as he partook heartily of a western omelet.

He and Kiara were seated at a small round table on the veranda. The King rose when he saw his Queen approach them, a plate of fruit and toast in her hand. He guided Madeleine to the table before pulling out her chair and placing her meal on the wrought-iron tabletop.

“What are we discussing?” Madeleine asked, her emerald-colored eyes darting between her husband and his lover.

Normally the Queen of Cordonia would not care what her husband and his plaything were discussing, but given that there was still more meeting to be had, she felt it best to see if there was any information they were willing to share.

“Auvernal,” Liam replied as he lifted his coffee cup to his lips.

“My research was quite informative,” Kiara offered in answer to Liam’s question before they were interrupted. “I must admit to some … curiosité as to why this task landed in my lap.”

She looked uncertainly between the two monarchs.

Liam’s fork speared another slice of egg, meat, vegetables, and cheese. “Auvernal has approached the Queen and I with an alliance; while they have not outright said it was a marital union they seek, one can only presume that is their agenda.”

“But there are no heirs yet, are there?” Kiara hoped she was hiding the dismay she felt at the thought of Madeleine being pregnant.

“Arrangements and alliances are formed decades, scores …  even centuries in advance. The very makeup of today’s Court, the laws we abide by … all formulated by the politics of our ancestors. Personally, I have nothing against an alliance with our neighbors to the east,” Madeleine said in a tone that suggested she was speaking to a small child.

Kiara’s eyes cut to Liam, who shook his head slightly, silently telling Kiara to ignore Madeleine’s tone. He placed his palm atop the back of her hand. “You’ll do wonderfully, Lady Kiara. Consider this a fact-finding mission, so that all parties have the information needed to make the best decision for Cordonia.”

A bell rang, three times. Madeleine rose. “The meeting is convening.” Her dress swished about her calves as she hurried back inside.

“You’ll do wonderfully.” Liam’s lips lingered on Kiara’s cheek. “I’ll see you this evening at the townhouse?”

Kiara nodded, motioning Liam ahead as she struggled to collect her thoughts, torn between hating him and loving him. Why would he ask HER to research Auvernal for a marital alliance between the Cordonian heir and Auvernal’s?

Why wouldn’t he?

Liam thought he was the only one in love.

She was his diplomat. He asked her to do her job.

Now that her duty was done, when would he begin his?

FUUUUUCCCKKKKK.

The thought made her almost physically ill.

When Kiara entered the conference room, she took in the surroundings: Councilmembers seated on the dais, conferring quietly amongst themselves, palms covering microphones. Kiara wondered why no one bothered to simply turn the devices off.

The monarchs were seated at the conference table: Liam and Madeleine sat beside each other on one side, Bradshaw and Isabella on the other, a seat separating them.

Rashad and the Comptroller sat along the wall, notepads and ink pens in hand.

Taking in a deep breath and plastering a smile on her face, Kiara took her seat at the head of the table. “Good afternoon, everyone.”

Head nods and murmured greetings in response.

Kiara shuffled through papers. “I am Lady Kiara Theron of House Theron, Duchy Castelsarreillan. I will be facilitating today’s discussion regarding a potential alliance between Cordonia and Auvernal, item G.1 on the agenda.”

She looked up, her gaze trained on the Auvernese rulers. “What exactly is your proposal? There’s nothing in writing, and the monarchs have not received any information.”

Kiara noted that Bradshaw was handsome in a feeble way. His body was lithe and held muscle definition, but his chin was weak, and his eyes beady.

“I am of the belief that one gets it in writing, not puts it in writing,” Bradshaw quipped, though there was no humor in his tone.

Kiara arched an eyebrow in surprise.

Beneath the table, Isabella kicked her husband sharply in his shin. Bradshaw winced before glowering at his Queen. Isabella was oblivious as she smiled brightly at both monarchs and the diplomat.

“What my … husband is attempting to say, in an extremely crass manner, is that we wish to have a verbal discussion first before drawing up a proper alliance. We don’t wish for either party to be short-changed in what we hope will be a mutually beneficial exchange.”

“King Bradshaw, how long have you been sovereign of Auvernal?” Kiara asked as she placed her palms flat against the table’s surface.

Bradshaw frowned. “Five years.”

Kiara nodded. “And how long have you and Queen Isabella been married?”

All the monarchs were frowning; the Councilmembers leaned forward ever so slightly in their seats. What the hell was Joelle’s daughter doing, and where was this line of questioning leading?

“Five years. Why?”

“July 26, 2017, to be precise, correct? One week after Isabella’s coronation as Queen of Auvernal following her father, King Renaldo, stepping down due to declining health. A wedding not one member of Cordonian Court received an invitation to.”

Everyone’s attention was focused on the Auvernese monarchs.

“What are you implying, Miss Theron?” Bradshaw growled.

“I am saying that you are not the ruling monarch of Auvernal; the Queen is. You are nothing more than Prince Consort.”

Liam’s eyes, which had narrowed at Bradshaw’s deliberate slight, widened at the revelation although he shouldn’t have been surprised. He recalled sporadic visits to Auvernal in his youth and meeting with Isabella, but never Bradshaw.

He cursed himself for the oversight.

“His title in no way invalidates his power nor his ability to speak for us as a couple,” Isabella interjected coolly.

Kiara offered a conciliatory smile. “I’m not saying it does. I’m merely getting the facts straight, so Cordonia knows who holds the power within your dynamic.”

“Bradshaw holds every authority,” Isabella affirmed.

“So again, what is the proposal you wish to present?” Kiara sipped from a glass of water.

“We wish to set forth a marital alliance between our children and the Cordonian heir. We have fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. Preferably, Cordonia will provide its country with more than one child, and an agreement can be placed for both our children.”

“Where would they rule?” Kiara inquired.

Blank stares from Bradshaw and Isabella; interested looks from the Council, Rashad, and the Comptroller.

The question was an excellent one.

In the modern age, a dual monarchy was a rare occurrence, happening only when two separate kingdoms were ruled by the same monarch, followed the same foreign policy, existed in a customs union with each other, and had a combined military but are otherwise self-governing.

That was not the case with either country.

Silence while the visiting rulers struggled to supply an answer. Kiara took the opportunity to gauge the room. Looks of begrudging admiration from the Council, a huge smile from Rashad. The Lady’s eyes met the King’s; he gave her a covert thumbs up. The Queen stared stoically at Bradshaw and Isabella.

“That would be a discussion to be had at such time we actually enter into an alliance,” Isabella responded slowly.

“This alliance you are offering has been paraded before other countries, no? Hidar, Monterisso, Vallenheim just to name a few. Why is Cordonia only now in your sight lines? Surely you are both aware the King has familial ties to your country, and that we have been neighbors since the unification of the Five Kingdoms. A unification Auvernal resisted.”

Bradshaw drummed his fingertips against the highly polished, massive table. “Precisely the reason we chose alternate avenues; despite our shared history and proximity, Auvernal and Cordonia are merely neutral at best. We have no trade agreements in place, no treaties … we exist peacefully, yet uneasily. When talks stalled between other countries, Isabella and I agreed to extend this olive branch in an effort to at least become allies.”

Kiara settled back in her chair, crossing one leg over her knee. Her foot swung rhythmically.

Liam felt his manhood rise in his pants.

“And what exactly are you offering, Your Majesty?” Kiara put sarcastic emphasis on the moniker.

“In exchange for the marital alliance of at least the firstborns of both countries, and an annual monetary gift of $1 billion US dollars until the desired marriage comes to fruition, Cordonia has unrestricted access to the Auvernese military, free reign and use of our ports, and we will provide you with border protection.”

Liam flushed red, disbelief and anger marring his features. “ONE BILLION US DOLLARS? A YEAR?” he repeated in a voice that bellowed throughout the room.

Madeleine leaned over to whisper in his ear.

The Council watched with wide eyes. The Comptroller began patting his vest pockets for his heart medication. Kiara looked at her monarch with concerned eyes.

“King Liam, do you need to be excused?”

He shook his head. “My apologies for the outburst. The amount took me by surprise.” He glared at Bradshaw. “What the hell do you need with that amount of money?”

“It would be a sign of good faith,” Isabella clarified.

“For far less than that amount, we could assemble our own military, which we are in the process of doing. We plan to have a fully functional army, navy, and air command within the next five years,” Madeleine pointed out.

“Cordonia is prospering at a rapid rate. With prosperity comes growth. And enmity, both within and outside of your borders.  A five-year plan is good, but a lot can happen in that time. Should your country be breached, it’s simply a matter of time before your foes are at our door. The use of our military is a preventive measure, albeit a bit self-serving,” Bradshaw explained.

Kiara followed the exchange carefully. “So, you are asking for the monarch’s firstborn at the very least, an estimated $21 billion dollars, and in exchange we get your military not only infiltrating, but surrounding Cordonia as well?”

Bradshaw nodded in conformation.

Kiara smirked mirthlessly. “Most countries would call that a takeover. Just ask Rivala.”

“It wasn’t like that with Rivala, and it wouldn’t be that way with Cordonia!” Isabella contradicted, her tan complexion paling at the mention of the country.

Kiara uncrossed her legs and pulled her chair back to the table. “Let’s discuss the children, shall we? How old are they?”

“Their names are Isaac and Lyra; they’re four years of age,” Bradshaw replied proudly.

“And yet, there are no medical records in Auvernal or any of your neighboring provinces to corroborate Queen Isabella’s pregnancy or hospital stay. I did find birth certificates for the twins; Bradshaw Achilles is listed as the father, but the mother has the same name as the children’s nanny.”

“Lady Theron, what exactly are you saying here?” Duchess Adelaide demanded.

Kiara kept her gaze trained on the Auvernese monarchs.

“My research has uncovered that Bradshaw’s children are not of royal or even noble lineage. Bradshaw Achilles is a decorated war hero who has never seen combat, and a commoner whose wealth bought him a seat on the Auvernese throne.”

Gasps and the buzzing of muffled conversations erupted within the chamber. Madeleine’s eyes were slits as she glowered at her guests. Kiara calmly sipped her water.

“I have a perfectly reasonable explanation for this,” Isabella’s calm tone cut through the cacophony.

“Please, explain to us how you expect to marry off commoner children to the future offspring of our King and Queen, whose noble lineage goes back centuries?” Bertrand questioned as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Isabella’s lower lip quivered; she was making the most of the attention paid to her in this moment. “What I am about to say is very private and personal between myself and my husband. I trust that it stays in this room.” She looked around, seeing the nods of affirmation from the Cordonian Court.

“Bradshaw and I tried to conceive, but it just … wasn’t working. We decided to attempt with a surrogate. The procedure was performed quietly, with outside personnel. Neither of us could risk the gossip and scandal. The children share my blood; they simply did not share my body.”

Liam and Kiara met eyes. She shook her head, indicating Isabella was lying.

The Comptroller cleared his throat. “May I inquire what became of King Achilles’ fortune? It is my understanding that the country’s coffers are not as full as they could be, confirmed by the financial assistance Auvernal seeks.”

“I spent my money building the mightiest military in the Mediterranean. Being prepared is expensive,” Bradshaw replied, his eyes shooting daggers at Kiara.

Drake Walker looked around the dais. “I think I speak for all of Council when I say we will not approve an alliance proposal at this time, or any time from Auvernal. It’s simply not advantageous to Cordonia, and quite possibly a threat to our national security.”

Murmurs of agreement from the dais.

Madeleine spoke. “I am willing to consider an alliance, given there are certain … modifications.”

Heads turned and spun in her direction. Madeleine looked around, a scowl on her face.

“WHAT? The King and I have a duty to this country to produce heirs, which we will begin trying later this month to do. It is UNHEARD of to have royal heirs not affianced by birth. Find us another alliance, and I am willing to review their terms. Until then, a revised proposal from Auvernal is welcome.”

Shocked silence as the Queen stalked from the conference room.

The meeting was adjourned.

Liam came to Kiara’s side as Council members gossiped amongst themselves. “Love, I had NO idea …”

Kiara stared up at him, her eyes threatening to spill tears. “You’re going to start a family …”

It was neither question nor answer. It was a realization.

Liam shook his head. “No, no, no …”

Kiara briefly shut her eyes. She had planned to tell Liam tonight that she was in love with him. But she couldn’t. The timing was too suspicious; the day the Queen announces that they were trying for a family, the King’s mistress tells him she loves him?

No.

Appearances were everything.

Her eyes opened and she began gathering her papers. “I don’t want company tonight. I’ll be busy summarizing this research for Rashad to review.”

Liam’s expression was stricken, his eyes wide. “Kiara, don’t!”

“You still have two nights this week,” she answered coolly.

It was breaking her heart, but she had to remember her place in this Court, in Liam’s life.

An arrangement. Strange how it never bothered her before.

Madeleine was his wife. Kiara knew they slept together on rare occasions, but that was just sex. A spousal duty. But now, children would be involved. It was now Cordonian duty.

Even stranger how much that hurt her very soul.

“Lady Kiara!” Rashad called out as he approached the couple.

She looked up, a false smile on her face. “Lord Domvallier! Walk me to my car? We can discuss what you’ll need from me.”

Liam slumped in a chair, watching the woman he loved walk away, upset by the rantings of a tantrum-throwing Queen. Not even Queen; Queen Consort.  He would find Madeleine and have a talk with her to remind her she held no political power, and her title was merely a formality.

A thought struck him as he ran his palms down his face. Was it possible Kiara could actually return his feelings?

No. She would have told him.

Elsewhere in the Palace, Madeleine was escorting Bradshaw and Isabella to the side portico where their car was waiting. She spoke in low tones; although unseen, guards were always around.

“I meant what I said. Provide me with a modified alliance proposal with far less money, and no military subversion and I will review it carefully, but I will have … needs of my own that will need to be incorporated.”

“Such as?” Bradshaw demanded curiously.

Madeleine’s green eyes bore into Isabella’s brown ones. “For starters, how did you fake your pregnancy?”

Tagging: @jared2612 @ao719 @burnsoslow @marietrinmimi @merridithsmiscellany-blog @queenjilian @indiacater @kingliam2019 @bebepac @liamxs-world @mom2000aggie @cmestrella @liamrhysstalker2020  @neotericthemis @twinkleallnight @umccall71 @superharriet  @busywoman @gabesmommie1130 @tessa-liam @phoenixrising0308 @beezm @gardeningourmet @lovingchoices14 @foreverethereal123 @mainstreetreader @angelasscribbles @lady-calypso @emkay512 @jovialyouthmusic @21-wishes @princessleac1 @charlotteg234 @queenrileyrose @alj4890 @yourfavaquarius111 @motorcitymademadame @bbrandy2002 @eversoaringqueen12 @queenmiarys @choicesficwriterscreations  

#KTAW: @lizzybeth1986 @sazanes @kiaratheronappreciationweek​

[cassiopeiacorvus]

KTAW | DAY 5 - ROMANCE/FRIENDSHIP

Tagging: @kiaratheronappreciationweek, @lizzybeth1986, and @sazanes

For Kiara's romance/friendship day, I decided to bring out this shipping template by gibslythe. My favorite headcanon associated with this chart involves driving. I'm firmly of the opinion that Hana doesn't know how to drive. She grew up wealthy and therefore had chauffeurs and her parents wouldn't dare give her the freedom that having access to a car would bring. By contrast, Kiara's parents definitely taught her how to drive and she loves it. (Don't talk to me about that fucking car show in TRH.) She wouldn't consider herself a car collector, but she does have one vintage car that she likes taking casual weekend drives in. She and Hana spend the morning making a picnic basket and then take the kids or maybe just themselves on an afternoon picnic under a tree.

[lizzybeth1986]

Oh I really loved this one, @thefirstcourtesan! All of it - whether it was Amelia's insecurities getting the better of her and Kiara pointing out to her how Hana has to constantly accomodate for her, and Amelia's immediate recognition of her blind spots and her need to be better for Hana. It's heartwarming to see a warm friendship between the MC and Hana, where the MC recognizes where she needs to work on herself and what characteristics in Hana make it hard for her to identify that. Kiara is the perfect person to point that out, and she does so with such passion and precision here. It makes you really glad Hana has a wife like her!

Support

By Misha

Disclaimer- Not Mine.

Author’s Notes- I started this fic for Hana Lee Appreciation Week and hated what I had. Then today it occurred to me, it needed the second part and I made it more of a Kiara fic for @kiaratheronappreciationweek. I don’t usually rake my MC over the coals but sometimes she deserves it. Tagging @lizzybeth1986

Parity- Minor Drake/MC, Hana/Kiara, Liam/Olivia

Rating- PG-13

Summary- Hana asks Amelia to be there for her impending labour and Amelia handles it badly until Kiara gives her a piece of her mind.

“So we have been going over the birth plan,” Hana told me cheerfully, “I want a home birth and I want you there, Amelia, as my support person, along with Kiara, of course.”

I froze and looked at her doubtfully. “Are you sure I’m the right person to ask?”

She looked surprised. “Amelia, you’re my best friend, who else would I ask?”

She had me there and I didn’t even know why I was so surprised that Hana had asked me to be her birthing support person. Hana and I had been friends for years, I had two children of my own and yet I felt completely overwhelmed by the idea.

“I just don’t know if I’m the right person,” I demurred, “I mean, you need someone calm and good under pressure, someone reliable.”

Hana looked at me carefully. “And that’s not you? Because I seem to remember you leading Cordonia through multiple crisis’s.”

“That was mostly an accident,” I pointed out. “Why don’t you ask Olivia?”

Hana stared at me. “Olivia? You suggest I need someone calm and you suggest Olivia???”

I had to admit, put that way, it eid sound a little ridiculous. “She was a great birth coach,” I defended. Hana had been undergoing an emergency appendectomy when I went into labour with Will and so Olivia had stepped up. “When I was threatening to stab Drake, she pulled out a knife and gave it to me.”

“I feel like Drake wouldn’t agree with that being a good thing,” Hana said dryly,

I laughed, “no, he told me if we ever had more babies I had to schedule it for a time you could for sure be there. But I appreciated the gesture.”

Hana was quiet for a moment, “Amelia, do you not want to be there for me?” She looked hurt.

“Of course, I do,” I assured her, “I just… I don’t want to let you down or disappoint you.”

I had been in Cordonia for almost a decade now, but there was some lingering part of me that still didn’t feel good enough, that still felt like the screw-up and suddenly when faced with the idea of needing to be there for such a big moment in my best friend’s life, all those doubts and old feelings had come rushing back.

Hana squeezed my hand, “Oh Amelia, you could never disappoint me, you’re my best friend. It is why I want you there with me, I feel like none of this would have been possible without you. I need you there.”

I smiled, feeling silly, “then, of course I will be. I’d be honoured.”

**

“Amelia, can I speak to you for a minute?” Kiara asked later, her expression severe.

I nodded and followed her into her office, wondering what I had done to upset her. She and I weren’t as close as Hana and I, but after an initial rough start, we got along well and she didn’t usually look at me like that.

As soon as the door closed, she looked at me with a fury I had never seen from her. “How dare you?” She seethed. “Olivia? Really? Do you think I would let her anywhere near Hana when she was vulnerable?”

I almost made a joke about how she was bordering on treason, but the anger in her face stopped me.

“How often has Hana ever asked anything of you?” Kiara continued. “And when she finally does, you make it all about yourself! This isn’t about you, Amelia, and whatever insecurities you might have. It is about Hana! She should be focusing on herself and the baby, not comforting you.”

I let Kiara’s rant wash over me, feeling ashamed. I had been so busy caught up in my own feelings that I had forgotten about Hana’s and I knew it wasn’t the first time.

“You’re right,” I said, not attempting to explain or defend myself.

Kiara let out a breath, some of her anger fading, “Hana needs you,” she said more gently, “but she also deserves to have this be about her.”

“I know,” I agreed, “I handled that badly.”

“Yes.”

“And it wasn’t the first time,” I acknowledged. I loved Hana, she way best friend, but I knew that I didn’t always treat her as well as she deserved or as well as she treated me.

“No,” Kiara said pointedly, then sighed, “Hana is so good and giving and sometimes it is easy to take too much from her without even realising you are doing it.”

“And she’d never say anything,” I said quietly, realising that Hana so rarely spoke her feelings, her hurts. I knew I could be tactless and self-absorbed, I was sure there were times I had hurt Hana without intending it and to my shame, I had never stopped to consider that until now.

“No,” Kiara agreed, “and we both know why.”

We did. Her childhood, her parents. Hana was used to holding her feelings in and I ached to know that I had contributed to that.

I paused, wanting to apologise to Hana, but… “I probably shouldn't say anything, should I?”

“No,” Kiara said again, “because then she would rush to assure you that you didn’t hurt her feelings and it would be all about you again. I don’t want you to apologize, I want you to be better. I want you to be there for her.”

“I will be,” I promised, knowing that words were hollow and that I would have to follow through with action, “Kiara, I am really glad Hana has you.”

“I’m glad I have her,” Kiara told me simply. There was a moment of silence. “Thank you for listening,” she said finally.

“Thank you for making me see clearly,” I told her.

She smiled slightly. “Despite what I said earlier, I do know how much you care for Hana and I just…”

“It is ok,” I assured her. Kiara had nothing to apologize for, I had deserved every word. “We should get back to Hana. I have some questions to ask about her birth plan.”

Kiara nodded and followed me out of the office, the mood much lighter. At least between the two of us, for myself, I had a lot of self-reflection to do, and some self-improvements to make.

End

[sazanes]

Day 5 - Relationships/Friendships/Throwback - First Waltz

"Ultimately, the waltz is like a conversation. You and your partner make a connection, responding to each other to make the dance work."

@kiaratheronappreciationweek @lizzybeth1986 @sazanes

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

We are on our final day of the Kiara Theron Appreciation Week! So far we have got some lovely entries: fanfic, headcanons, edits...with more to come soon. We will be extending the deadline for pieces by a week (until 3rd March), so if you still have an idea for Kiara that you'd like to send in, please do!!

On Day 4 we covered Kiara's home and family - and on Day 5 we will be covering her relationships! Whether it is a romantic one, featuring a love interest of your choice (be it Hana, Rashad, Liam, an MC or an OC, Olivia, Drake - anyone!!) or a platonic friendship - we would love to see how Kiara expresses her feelings for them or how she interacts with them! So for this day we will be focusing on Romance and Friendships!

Our final day is also a good time to show off your old pieces featuring Kiara, as it includes our Throwback theme! To make it a bit more fun, we encourage you to let us into the process of creating your content - where the idea for the piece came from, what challenges you may have faced, what you enjoyed etc. Here is a possible template you can use.

Any and all content is welcome - as long as it focuses on Kiara, and is a positive depiction of her. Fics, art, edits, moodboards, meta, interactive media, headcanons, playlists, even screenshots featuring her favourite scenes! We also accept WIPs so if you aren't sure you'll be able to finish your piece on time, you can still send us a few snippets!

Be sure to do the following when you are making your posts:

1. Use the tags #kiaratheronappreciationweek and #KTAW, along with the date/theme you're intending for the content (#KTAW Day 1, #KTAW Day 2)

2. Tag @kiaratheronappreciationweek and the co-hosts @sazanes and @lizzybeth1986 on your posts.

Fan-content blogs have been a major source of inspiration and promotion for us! We would definitely love for you to explore these wonderful blogs and participate in their events if you can:

@choicesficwriterscreations - Primarily fanfic. Check out their roster for weekly and monthly events here!

@choicesmonthlychallenge and @choices-february2023 - Any and all content welcome. Check out their prompts for February!

@choicespride - Any and all content welcome as long as the content focuses on queer characters or themes. They plan to host an Aromantic Awareness Week soon, and would appreciate suggestions for prompts.

@choicesprompts

@choicesholidays

@maxwell-beaumont-appreciation and @drake-walker-appreciation will be hosting events soon.

As mentioned previously, this may be the official end of the week, but we will still be allowing for entries till 3rd March!

Happy Kiara Theron Appreciation Week, everyone!

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

(this incredible poster is the handiwork of our lovely host @sazanes!!)

Welcome to our third Kiara Theron Appreciation Week! That time of the year when we get together and celebrate this wonderful character (though to be honest, every day is a great day to celebrate Kiara).

This year, we will be holding this event around May 21st, which is World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development! Basically, a day specially meant to celebrate all cultures and diversities. And which estate is best known for its rich culture, art and literature? Castelserraillan, of course!

Here are our themes for this year:

Day 1 - May 21st - Culture/Festivals

Day 2 - May 22nd - Character Appreciation/Throwback

Day 3 - May 23rd - Languages/Wine

Day 4 - May 24th - Diplomacy/Nature

Day 5 - May 25th - Family/Friendships/Romance

Any content is welcome - art, fanfic, edits, essays, moodboards, interactive media, headcanons...even short appreciation posts and screencaps! Our only requirement is that the content should be Kiara-focused and depict her positively.

Each day has a theme, and some will have two. For those days, you can choose whichever theme you prefer or you can even combine them! It isn't completely necessary to post the content exactly on the day it's meant for...just make sure you tag it with the day and theme even if you're submitting it on a later day.

We also will be accepting pieces after the event is over, and all year round until the next KTAW! So even if you have your post ready much later, please don't hesitate to tag us! 🤗

Blogs to Tag: @hanaleeappreciationweek, and hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes

Tags to Use: #kiaratheronappreciationweek, #KTAW, #KTAW 2024

There are some incredible fan-community blogs that work tirelessly both to promote creative fandom works and make the experience fun for their writers! Do check them out!!

@choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesmonthlychallenge, @choicespride, @choicesflashfics, @choicesholidays, @choicesprompts, @wordwarriors, @choicescommunityevents

If you know any others who would like to be tagged, please let me know! Here are the amazing works sent in for 2023 and '22 if you'd like to get more inspired!

KTAW 2022 | KTAW 2023

Can't wait to see all our fellow Kiara fans next month!!

✅✅signal boosts are always appreciated!✅✅

[lizzybeth1986]

Tagged for the @kiaratheronappreciationweek Throwback Theme! I wrote this for the first KTAW last year, on the theme of "Fashion". Ironically, I actually hadn't had a plan for this fic the way I did for most of my others, although I had a headcanon for a long time that Kiara would replace that awful canon gown with the one I referenced in this story!

1. What about this character inspired you to create this piece?

The sheer injustice!! Have you seen the heap of garbage the writing and art team of TRR dumped on poor Kiki? That too when all the other characters had more detailed costumes, and hers was just a bunch of ratty feathers pasted over an outfit plainer than her normal clothes. Even when I was making icons for her, I deliberately chose not to make any with that outfit because it was such a goddamn insult.

Another reason was to go a little meta with the "designers". I wanted to use the dress as a premise to hint at Kiara's larger treatment in the series, and used the "designers" to address the biases in canon towards white female characters in the series. That's why I have one severely attached to Olivia and another practically worshipping Madeleine - because that was what actually happened in the books.

2. What was your process like?

A tiny bit more chaotic than my usual process with fics. As I'd come up with it just before I began writing (whereas I usually take weeks and months, during which I'm able to zero down on a complete skeleton of events), I wound up adding as I wrote. But it really did work for this fic.

I do recall getting @cassiopeiacorvus' help for figuring out the material used for Kiara's costume! She was a fantastic source of knowledge 💜

3. What part of creating this work gave you the most joy?

The scene with Joëlle! I love writing about her relationship with Kiara because she always has Kiara's back and Kiara always tries to understand where her mother's thinking comes from. Having her be the one to show Kiara that dress meant I could show Kiki having support even when the world seems eager to pull her down.

Also I won't say "joy"...but writing about the treatment for Kiara's wound gave me an odd sense of comfort. Both in canon and often in fandom, what she went through is hardly acknowledged. Knowing that my fic was set after the Homecoming Ball, it felt essential to me to show her going through that.

4. Did you have a playlist for getting you into the mood for this piece? If so, what kind of songs?

Not a playlist per se...but I did occasionally love listening to Madonna's "Vogue" while letting this idea marinate. I know, I know, her "Vogue" is more a dance reference - but there are plenty fashion and style references in it too!

Fashion Faux Pas

Book: The Royal Romance, Book 3

Character: Kiara Theron (featuring a couple...AHEM...OCs). No pairing except for a hint of Hana x Kiara if you look really hard.

Rating: PG (a bit of cussing)

Word Count: 1,844+ words

Summary: You'd think the daughter of one of the most fashionable duchies in the country would be given the absolute best of haute couture. But alas...

Tagging @choicesficwriterscreations for FoTW

A/N: A thing just about every Kiara stan agrees on is that the outfit the team gave her for the Costume Gala was a fucking travesty. Ngl this fic was an opportunity to show off the gown I'd hc'd she would wear instead, to explore a bit of how Kiara was faring at the time, and to snark at the narrative a bit. It is set in the time between the Homecoming Ball and the Unity Tour visit to Castelserraillan, in my Petals and Thornes universe.

"This..." Kiara whispers, trying very very hard not to make it sound like a hiss, "this is what you want me to wear for the Costume Gala?"

This season's most favoured designers for the event ("the Gilded Three", Ana de Luca had called them in a recent interview) stare back at her, quite inexplicably impressed with themselves.

"Yes, Lady Kiara - look at this!" titters Karina L., running a seemingly-reverant hand over the dress, her words and manner of speaking fast and impatient. You can tell by the rapid flow of her sentences that this woman is a Lythikan. "The best fabrics money can buy - and all in your house colours!"

Kiara doesn't have to touch the dress to know Karina is lying through her teeth. The fabric feels scratchy and rough beneath her fingers - she might as well have been touching the fabric-equivalent of plastic. Cloth so cheap, Kiara is sure they have cleaning rags more luxuriant lying around in the estate.

"And not just your House Colours! See, my Lady, the feathers placed strategically over your sleeves. A fitting tribute to your House Crest, and to the Duchy of Haute Couture!" chirps Jenna Y., her repetitive flicking of her hair behind her right ear a clear sign that even she isn't quite convinced of what she's saying.

Keep those words out of your mouth! Kiara wants to yell, the smile she'd initially greeted the designers with now a thin grimace. Haute couture indeed. It's one thing if your feathers are faux - it's another if the ones you chose make faux feathers look like masterpieces! These, on the other hand, look like they'd been picked out of the garbage heap of a neglected owlery.

If she hadn't already seen samples of Team JKJ's work in secret, she'd have come to the conclusion that none of these people would know haute couture if it danced in front of them naked. But Maman had procured leaked sketches and photographs of Olivia's outfit - resplendent in satiny red, black lines weaving in and out of the fabric like a spider's web, glittering with shining beadwork and intricate detailing. And now these fuckers are standing here, in her estate, enjoying her lemon cakes and profiteroles and hospitality, shamelessly disguising their mothbitten leftovers as fashion befitting a lady of a Great House.

She can tell from their goddamned faces that they fully expect her to lie down and take this disrespect.

It's one thing to be disappointed in the result yet imagine that it was the result of sincere, heartfelt work. She's seen lesser-known designers provided with half their budget, who have showcased far greater work. This effort is about as sincere as Countess Madeleine's press-friendly "patriotism".

Rhythmically, Kiara taps a fingernail each onto the mound-of-Venus on her palm. The light sting on her soft skin is a welcome diversion. It's a calming technique she's been using since she turned 18, and right now she needs all the tranquility she can bring back on her face. An Olivia Nevrakis can throw a hissy fit and have the national papers gently laugh and gloss over her tantrums. She can't.

Jeff H., the final designer, truly pushes his luck when he pipes up. "I would have gotten the best hat to go with this outfit too - but I've heard that here in Castelserraillan there's scant appreciation for headgear." He sniffs in clear annoyance. Kiara briefly closes her eyes against the image of those dreadful faux feathers atop her head. She's heard enough about this man's obsession for hats - the perfect kind, according to him, is the kind that will render the subject's head invisible ("Heads are overrated!" She can just imagine Jeff say). No wonder Queen Mother Regina was always annoyed around him.

She wonders what dress Jeff would've had in mind for the Countess of Fydelia. It's been long known that the blonde "Two-Time Almost-Queen" (merci, Duchess Esther) has been his muse and inspiration, and he will undoubtedly save his best work for her. Already she's heard through the grapevine that he made orders for at least a hundred lookalikes of pine-tree needles, as authentic as he could possibly get them, to be artfully placed over her bodice in gold thread. One may claim that plans for the gown were in place before King Liam broke off his engagement to the Countess...but Kiara doubts that any of that would have made much of a difference to Jeff.

Kiara is hopeful that they've brought other options with them, but they seem far too confident that this outfit would automatically win the heart of the Lady of Castelserraillan. Or at least that she'll sigh and take it, fearing backlash and censure. This awful dress really was the only one they'd planned to bring for her. A disappointment she doesn't often feel settles deep in her stomach, but she pushes it away, pasting on her most genuine-looking smile.

"Give me a moment. Maman is at Côte d'Or at the moment...she insisted she see pictures of the outfit as soon as I got to see it."

The Gilded Three shift uncomfortably on their feet. "Is that completely necessary?" Karina's pacing of words sounds eerily slower.

"Of course! She'd think something was wrong if I didn't."

Pictures give way to frenetic messaging, the messages result in a fifteen minute phone call with the designers included. The trio leave barely twenty-three minutes after that phone call, polyester outfit in tow. Kiara is rather impressed at how well Maman handled that; she picked her words, and the rare fake compliment on their expertise, carefully...but you could tell from the look in her eyes and the way she pressed her fingers together that she was seething inside.

Kiara knows this, because Maman asks her to look around to see if anyone but their most trusted staff is around, and then asks her to move the call to where the wine cellars are.

Maman has to be really done with everyone's bullshit, to want to move a call to the cellar.

--

Kiara is getting a dressing-change done when Maman returns from Côte d'Or. She doesn't actually hear her mother come in; when they're changing the bandages and inspecting how far her knife wound has close, Kiara would much rather close her eyes and shut the world out.

If she focuses too much, thinks too much about what the medical staff is doing...she is bound to remember. The image of the split-second that that knife was hurtling towards her...no. No. She won't think of this. Already it's hard enough to handle the nightmares that will follow.

So she closes her eyes and thinks of the trip to Switzerland Baba promised for the entire family. Thinks of the clear, almost mirrorlike, waters of Lake Titisee, of feeding swans and sampling chocolate in Zurich. The fresh air is bound to clear her mind.

She knows Maman has arrived when she feels a trembling, manicured hand over hers, squeezing lightly when Kiara holds on. It stays that way till the medical staff leaves.

"Maman," Kiara gets up gingerly, giving her mother a weak smile.

"Doudou," her mother whispers back, engulfing her in a light, cautious embrace. "Did those miscreants leave our house with that dreadful excuse of a dress?"

A small smile plays on Kiara's lips as she nods. "I was rather impressed with your composure, Maman, that much I can tell you."

"Psh. It's a good thing I wasn't physically there. That garbage deserved to be doused in rubbing alcohol and set on fire!* And those "Gilded Three" would never be allowed to set foot in Castelserraillan again."

Kiara laughs. "I doubt Baba would be comfortable with things getting that far."

Maman shakes her head. "That man has the patience of a saint. I'm glad you didn't inherit all of that from him. Some of the time we do need to put up a bit more of a fight."

Kiara sighs, the resignation in her voice already sending frissons of apprehension down her mother's spine. "We have to learn to pick our battles, Maman."

She doesn't meet her mother's eyes. To her mother none of what Kiara says about court sounds like her fitting in. To her it sounds like too much compromise. To see her mother hurt for her like that, over something she'd made her peace with a long time ago...right now, after everything that's happened, after Homecoming Ball - it's too much.

Maman looks away. Kiara is grateful for this kindness, knowing how much it costs her mother. "Well. I'm glad this is a battle your father was prepared for."

Kiara looks up in surprise. "What do you mean?"

She smiles. "Do you really think we'd bank on designers we barely had a relationship with like that? For our daughter? Just because they're hot this season? We had to make sure we had backup, just in case."

Speechless, Kiara follows Maman to one of the many rooms in her bedroom.

Mon Dieu, to call this gown beautiful would be an understatement. She knows without even trying it on that its one-shouldered, heart-shape neckline would show off her shoulders, her collarbone, the cocoa-butter-enhanced smoothness of her skin in the most flattering way. The mermaid skirt is a vision in midnight black tulle; she can already feel its swish around her feet as she twirls around in a Cordonian Waltz (she tries, desperately, not to imagine the small, the golden-bronze-skinned hands that will spin her around, the brown eyes that she can only hope will return her gaze, the pink skirts floating as if they're on the clouds, together. But the image of her is relentless. It grabs her flush to itself, and won't let her go)

And their coat of arms! Weaved over the bodice in gold and silver thread, swirling into intricately interlaced patterns before descending into thin licks of golden flame just short of the mermaid skirt. The silhouette is designed specifically to mould her hips into their most desirable shape, making her voluptuousness impossible to avoid.

The last outfit would, at best, have spectators claim in a voice most nonchalant how cleverly chosen it is. This one will grab their attention and make it impossible to look away.

The owl is prominent on the design but now overwhelming. It's such a perfect representation of her home, of her...that she begins to feel something she rarely felt for a Costume Gala - breathless anticipation.

"Nothing like our local designers," Maman says, "Our lore, our traditions, our heritage...it all means the world to them."

"Maman," she breathes, "it's beautiful."

Her hand takes a playful chuck at Kiara's chin. "Nothing but the best for our Kiki," she says, "no matter what the rest of the world has to say."

As she often does when she feels emotional but doesn't want to express too much, Kiara wraps her arms around her mother, resting her chin on her shoulder. Even now, the idea of returning to that palace ballroom makes her stomach churn. But she's never felt more ready to go there, no matter when they're expected to leave for Switzerland.

Her family will be there. The people she loves will be there. She will be dressed in the most beautiful, most luxuriant fabric she has ever had the good fortune of wearing, crafted by the artisans of her home, weaved by her people. You bet she's going to feel like a million Cordonian drachmas.

For that one day, she's sure she can forget everything else. Nothing - and no one - will succeed in dimming her shine.

--

Notes:

1. Côte d'Or has never been mentioned in TRR, but it was very much present in RoE's version of Cordonia. It is one of the first places Leo takes the RoE MC for an outing, and is meant to be a more luxuriant version of Vegas.

2. * - This line absolutely came from the amazing @mand-delemonde, when I mentioned this point in the story. Many thanks to @cassiopeiacorvus for helping me figure out fabrics for Kiara's dreadful OG Costume Gala outfit too!

3. Drachmas was the currency used in Greece until they began using the Euro, so I just had the Cordonians use a version of it seeing as they hadn't fully entered the EU yet (tho I hc that they do later).

4. Reference for the Gown Joëlle shows Kiara:

5. I chose the names for the designers on purpose hdhshshsh

[lizzybeth1986]

A Child of Babel

Book: The Royal Romance

Characters: Kiara-centric. Hints of Drake x Kiara (unrequited) and Hana x Kiara.

Word Count: 3, 484 words

Summary: The five times Kiara uttered the proverb of a language under her breath, and the two times she did it to someone's face.

A/N: I really wanted to try out a 5+1 fic format but somehow it became a 6+1 fic instead haha

Tagging @kiaratheronappreciationweek for KTAW Day 3: Languages, @choicesficwriterscreations for FoTW, @choicesmaychallenge24 for Hermes: Travel

Wolof

Princesses Lerato and Lesidi will never forget the exact moment they knew Lady Kiara Thorne would become their friend.

At lunch today, it was hard initially to tell if the meal today was to her liking. She'd made all the right noises, said all the right words. Rich. Meaty. What bold flavours. But how does that count? She's the kind of girl who has likely been coached enough in courtly propriety and gastrodiplomacy (at age 11. Eleven!), that you can't quite tell if she genuinely enjoyed the food or just wanted to please her hosts.

The sisters shift uncomfortably in their plush seats at the dining hall of their palace, their eyes barely leaving the young girl's plate. Benachin jollof rice was hardly for the weak of heart (or stomach) but that never stopped the royal family of Orphys from showing pride in this particular dish. It was, after all, the jewel in the crown of their ancestral Senegambian cuisine.

So it would pierce the Orphysian soul to its core, in very specific ways, if one didn't like their jollof. Probably just as much as it would shatter a Cordonian's spirit, if you told them you thought their Cordonian Rubies tasted vile.

"Ohhh," Lady Kiara mumbled, visibly relaxed at last. "Xifuma wante samay bët suruñuuuuu". The final word comes out elongated by a leisurely moan of satisfaction. I’m not hungry but my eyes aren’t full.

For a moment, the two girls are stunned to stillness in their chairs.

Little Kiara - Lerato is beginning to recognise - is trying to utter an old Wollof proverb about the joys of their ancestral cuisine. It's said so softly you can barely hear her, and both she and her sister can hazard a guess as to why.

Of the five words said, she pronounced three wrong. Kiara knew that, and felt ashamed.

The sisters pass each other a look of knowing affection. Not many in Europe, outside of Orphys, know this proverb that well. It is indeed the kind of phrase you will chance upon only if you've been consistently trying to learn.

She had to have been learning for over a year to get to this point.

Terrible pronunciation be damned. Next time they meet Kiara again, Lerato and Lesidi sure as hell know they're gifting her the recipe.

French

"Dammit," Kiara hisses at...well...no one in particular, and especially not to the retreating figure of her longtime (and forever clueless) crush. Now that he's gone, the urge to kick herself is becoming increasingly more difficult to suppress.

Drake Walker's loose overshirt flaps against his back as he walks out of the stable, in quick, sure, decisive footsteps. There has always been some sense of purpose in his movements whenever he leaves someplace, even if - to Kiara's knowledge - he hasn't exactly had a job as such ever since that stint he took at the stables the summer she turned fifteen.

It's almost as if that is the only thing he's certain he wants to do here. Leaving.

Kiara presses her head against the door of the stable, his fists balled up so she can resist the unnecessarily dramatic urge to bang it against the wood. She's done everything - everything her admittedly-gauche, relatively-inexperienced 18 year old brain could think of - to catch his attention.

Educate herself on horses (for obvious reasons).

Read up on woodworking (Olivia had mentioned once in passing that he adored good carpentry - nothing much was said about whether he liked practicing. Still, not a bad idea for a conversation starter)

Tried to enjoy whiskey. (Didn't get past half a mug, unfortunately. It was...interesting. She treated herself to her favourite bottle of Tempranillo later).

Came to the stables today for what she tried to pass off as a friendly chat about the winning stakes at the upcoming Derby. (She could have been talking to a haystack for all it mattered. He just looked up from his saddle tack set, took off his disgustingly well-disguised earphones, raised his eyebrows and said, "You were saying something??" before leaving without an answer)

(She'd worked so fucking hard to sound like she knew what she was talking about)

Kiara groans again against the door, weakly punching it one final time before she opens it, muttering furiously underneath her breath.

"Just give it up, Kiki," she scolds herself, hands jammed into the pockets of her coat. "C'est comme pisser dans un violon."

"Eww," a high-pitched, rather sweet voice says behind her, "That sounds like an...uncomfortably specific preference for a place to piss."

Kiara tries - and fails - to hide her grimace. On any other day, she'd be proud of Savannah for coming this far in just a few months. She's certain that her dear friend's rather successful attempt at translation is more a miracle of guesswork. A combination of remembering the few words she has been taught so far, and figuring out the ones that sound closer to their English counterparts.

(And that is how it must be. That is how Kiara knows that Savannah is serious about learning this language)

On any other day she'd praise her. But today... today she just wants to erase the last ten minutes from her brain. The last person she wants to know about her deep, tragic humiliation is the sister of the man who had crushed her umpteenth attempt to impress him to dust. With his fucking headphones.

"Forget you ever heard that," Kiara mumbles, "come, let's go see what snacks they have for tea. I'm starving."

Darija

On the day Prince Leo and his fiancée, Countess Madeleine, visit Castelserraillan after their engagement tour, there are only two members of the Thorne family waiting to receive the entourage. Kiara, and her father.

Ezekiel is barely - if ever - noticed and he would rather leave it that way. But Maman...they had to create a story for her.

The official excuse is that she'll be hosting an immensely important international art fair around the same time - one that heralded the work of Cordonia's local artisans. One that was time-sensitive and couldn't possibly be shifted around, Crown Prince or no.

In reality, her mind had been made up, the moment Lady Kaouther - the young woman her parents had sponsored for the social season this year - returned to the province in tears, swearing to never set foot in the Capitol again, reluctant to even tell Maman and Baba what had gone so wrong.

But Maman had found out anyway. The press was loath to criticize the countess' treatment of her ladies-in-waiting, drooling like sick horses over every scrap of charm and quotable quote she threw their way.

But when Ana de Luca is close enough to you to have your number of speed dial, there's no end to the tea that'll be willingly spilled at your table.

Poor Kaouther was still getting threats and harassment from afar. Mostly to keep her mouth shut about her former employer's exploits. Both midly annoying and deeply sadistic. Both sober and rum-fuelled. Some may be impressed at how Countess Madeleine managed to maintain such secrecy, from even the royal family she is marrying into.

Maman cursed and swore she would never entertain a viper like that in her presence, and who could blame her?

Kiara swallows as she sees the entourage approached. Baba knew his relationship with the royal family was already hanging by a frighteningly precarious balance. He couldn't afford any further damage, and he hardly wanted to expose Madeleine's misdeeds without Kaouther's consent either.

So yes. They were going to go through the motions of greeting the royal entourage. They were going to be perfect hosts. But Madeleine would know. Madeleine would hear their words - cascading in waves of poisoned honey - and know. And be unable to tell anyone anything. That will be Kiara's unsaid, unheard promise to Kaouther, and to herself.

The Countess is stopped by the press before she walked over to their manor, her smile perfectly in place and her hand on a rather diffident Prince Leo's arm as she answers their questions. Yes, we are in love. Yes, our economy is strong. Yes, my aim is to build strong relationships with my people wherever I go. To let them know I do it all for them, and them alone. To be the Queen that Cordonia needs, that my subjects can trust.

Kiara has never heard so much horseshit spill out of a courtier's mouth, and she's been part of enough royal courts to see the worst.

"Shakuwn daha fik alhurirat 'aw albalbulat nahar aleid!" Kiara says roughly in Darija as the entourage - led by the Crown Prince and his future consort - approach. She thinks she's so special, but really she's only about as special as a plain harrira soup served at an Eid-ul-Fitr banquet.

Hakim gently nudges his daughter's shoulder with his own. "But ya Babba," he teases, probably to lighten her mood a little before the group arrives, "I thought you liked harrira soup."

Kiara gives Madeleine one last glare before schooling her face to a more neutral expression.

Her next words are going to be quite nasty by Castelserraillan standards, but for all the sacrifices they are making today her father can surely afford her this one luxury. "Not if it wears a face as sour as her's."

Greek

Just a five minute break, Penelope had promised, thirty minutes ago.

Kiara has only herself to blame for believing that nonsense, after being in close quarters with her for an entire month - but there's something about that woman that makes most people want to keep giving her the benefit of the doubt.

('Me,' Kiara wants to say, 'I'm people')

The beam she is carrying for the barn-raising is small, but heavy enough that you'd get tired out quickly if you didn't take help. By ten minutes Kiara has to will herself to move ahead. By fifteen her thighs begin to cramp, and by twenty her head is swimming and she has a brief spiteful thought about making Penelope carry twenty beams as a belated apology. Though knowing her (and it pains Kiara to admit this; she likes Penelope too much) she would find some way to make herself the victim.

Thirty minutes have passed now, and the only energy she has left is wasted in gritting her teeth and groaning "Just...a few more...steps...till I can drop this...stupid plank...Mon Dieu!!!"

Kiara's mind goes blank for several seconds as she feels the weight of the beam falling on her, a dull pain already throbbing on her ankle.

"Ohhh thée mou," she hears a rough, gravelly, rather disgruntled voice above her, its sound causing her heartbeats to pound violently in her chest and its owner already using his strong, strong hands to save her...

"Ópios den théli na zimósi," she whispers, completely drained, "déka méres koskinízi."

It's a proverb Kiara has often heard in the Capitol - specifically for procrastinators - and she has now lost count of the number of times Penelope has left something she doesn't like to do "for later"...often leading Kiara to finish the job alone.

Drake stares back at her, confused. Mentally, she kicks herself. Again.

Of course. She should've known. Drake Walker is familiar enough with Greek that he'll maybe cuss or blurt out a phrase he'd learned from his childhood in the palace, but clearly he has no patience for metaphors, allegories, idioms or proverbs.

"Oh, uh...merci beaucoup," she backtracks, awkwardly.

Drake shakes his head - his eyes, amused, still on her face - and throws the beam away. It doesn't mean much, but that ten-second glance is fuel enough at this point for a month's worth of dreams.

Almost as if from a great distance, she thinks she can hear Esther's voice, low and concerned. "Kiara? Are you okay??"

Kiara locks eyes with Drake, and for once he meets her gaze. Doesn't say anything, doesn't even show a reaction - but at least he isn't looking away like she doesn't matter.

She smiles brightly. "I am now."

Gujarati/Mandarin

Married as they have been for six months now, Kiara can tell by several small, subtle signs when Hana is nervous.

Not that Hana makes observing a very hard task, not at all. She has an immensely expressive face.

Kiara massages the soft parts of her palm - just the way she likes it - while Hana takes several deep breaths.

"This is the first Parsi wedding I'll be attending, ever," Hana says slowly. "The bride is my cousin. This is supposed to be my family, and yet all of this feels as alien as if I never had a mother from this community." She closes her eyes then opens them again, gazing at the wedding sign on the gate. Delnaaz weds Zubin. "What if I mess this up?"

"You won't," Kiara takes both Hana's hands in hers. "And even if you do make a sliver of a mistake, Delnaaz is not going to judge you. And she's the bride; she's the one who matters. She's nothing like your mother or your uncle Cyrus."

Hana lets out a shaky laugh. "God I hope not." Her finger strokes lightly against Kiara's cheek. "One last kiss? For luck?"

Kiara presses her forehead against Hana's after they're done, sighing gently. Mon Dieu, how I love this woman.

"Remember that saying you hear from practically all the nice people in Bethulia," Kiara winds her arms around Hana's waist. "It's so prolific they should start painting it on their coat-of-arms. In Gujarati."

"Khavanu, pivanu, majja ni life." They both laugh gently as they whisper the phrase, hugging each other tighter. Eat, drink and be merry, indeed.

Hana seems to take that advice to heart once they go in, and most of the family (whether enthusiastically, or under duress - the latter perhaps a result of Delnaaz having a stern talking-to with relatives who had rejected Hana earlier) openly welcomes Hana into the fold.

The wedding goes terrifically: Delnaaz appears resplendent in a gorgeous white silk-and-lace Parsi Gara sari (that, Hana informs her, has been the family heirloom for five generations now), her (now) husband looking very distinguished in his white dagli and a black fetah atop his head. Once she finds herself comfortable among people who should treat her like family, Hana practically shines in her interactions - scintillating at conversations, singing and dancing and joking with the rest when she can.

Her Gujarati is a little shaky still, but that's hardly a problem. After all, this is the first language we're going to learn together, ma moitié, Kiara had reassured her once.

A few hours later, when the party started winding down, Hana and Kiara shifted to a smaller, more secluded alcove within the wedding venue. Dinyar - another of Hana's Bethulian cousins - pointed it out to Kiara, whispering conspiratorily that very few in the wedding party noticed this place at all and they could have all the privacy they wanted. Hana made sure they carried a sweet along.

And so here they are, now, inside a romantic little gazebo, sitting together - Hana taking a spoonful of Lagan nu Custard and raising it to Kiara's lips. They close their eyes as they savour. Silky. Creamy. Decadent.

"Look at us, playing hooky at an event when you were so worried about behaving right just yesterday. Yet won't you say this little moment by ourselves was the best one?"

Hana winks. "You know me so well."

"Only as well as you do, darling," she says, cupping Hana's cheek, "My soulmate."

When they kiss, Kiara can taste hints of cardamom and nutmeg on Hana's tongue. She laughs into their kiss.

"Zài tiān yuàn zuò bǐ yì niǎo..." Kiara says, the grin hardly leaving her face when they part.

"...zài dì yuàn zuò lián lǐ zhī!" Hana wipes the last bit of custard on the tip of Kiara's nose, then uses that as an excuse to gently bite it off her.

They tighten their arms around each other. That saying has always been a favourite with both of them.

In heaven let us be two birds flying ever together, and on earth two trees with branches interlocked forever.

Bonus: English (with a tiny side serving of Cajun French)

Queen Esther seems almost transformed when their entourage sets foot in Louisiana. In some ways, she seems even more at home here than she had ever seemed even in New York. And to think, everyone thought that place was her home!

"It is," she'd explained once, when Kiara had asked her, "but NOLA was where I was born. I spent my entire childhood here. A part of me will always remain here."

She takes them to an old favourite of her parents', a mom-and-pop shop that's still miraculously standing and - according to Esther - that still possesses the same incredible flavours. Hana is already all praise for the gumbo and the bananas foster.

"Try the beignets, Hana," Esther suggests, her eyes sparkling at her open joy. "Dip them in the hot chocolate. Best that way!"

She does...and next thing they know, Hana's best friend and wife are treated to a happy dance on a chair.

Kiara's eyes are set on what seems to be a more humble (but moist, glistening, crisp on the outside!) preparation. A croquette of some sort?

"Boulettes de chevrette," the server replies, closely watching her face.

"...shrimp?" Kiara says, after a pause too significant for Esther to miss. The server nods.

"You certainly took a little extra time to mentally translate that," she says. "Is it called something else in French?"

"Yes," Kiara replies, "We call it crevette. But that's not the part I find interesting."

Intrigued, Esther raises an eyebrow, nodding at her companion to continue.

She clears her throat. "I'm beginning to find that certain words in your French have retained their original form from older versions of our language. And with others, they've evolved over time into different words, while in our language that word remained the way it was. Chevrette was what we used to call shrimp before we started using the Norman regional variant, crevette."

"Oh wow," Esther says, amazed, "I had no clue."

Kiara smiles. "Now you do."

Later that evening, the queen confides in her.

"You know...I used to be nervous speaking French in front of you."

Kiara's eyebrows are knit together in confusion. "Pourquoi?? You spoke very well."

Esther sighs. "It's silly."

"Tell me all the same."

Esther laughs, almost as if at the foolishness of her younger self. "I thought you'd make fun of me for "speaking French all wrong". That you'd look down on me."

Kiara's heart sinks to her stomach. "Did I really sound that snotty back then?"

"Oh no. No," Esther reassures her. "Especially not with languages."

Kiara is familiar enough with Esther now to teasingly nudge her arm a little with her elbow. "At least not unless you're asking me to sleep with you. You can't imagine how many people would just say voulez vouz coucher avec moi ce soir to my face, and think they could get away with it. And this was even before Hana introduced me to Lady Marmalade!"

Esther rolls her eyes, chuckling ruefully. "I introduced her to that one."

The laughter doesn't last very long. Lines of humour then dissolve into lines of tension on Esther's face. She isn't quite done explaining yet. "I guess I was just...feeling a little out of place. So I may have projected a little back then."

Kiara nodded. She did remember how hard that season, and the subsequent engagement tour (which she often things of with a little regret), had been on Esther. And she'd never allowed those fears and insecurities to show on her face. "That makes sense," she says, "but you know there's this saying I read a while ago..."

"What?" Esther asks, her curiosity now piqued.

"'We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly.' It's a quote by a Hungarian translator mamed Kató Lomb."

Esther seems to open her mouth to protest the appropriateness of the quote, when Kiara stops her. "For the record, it doesn't correctly apply to your use of Cajun French. That is a dialect. It has its own rules. En vrai, I'd love to learn more."

The Queen relaxes, even smiling at the casual reference to her - something she knows Kiara will only use when she's sure they are friends.

"I'm just saying that even if you did get phrases in a language wrong, that wouldn't be reason enough for me to scoff at you. I'd be a hypocrite if I did that. After all, I wouldn't be this good at ten languages if I weren't constantly making mistakes."

As she often does since that eventful first meeting in Orphys, she remembers the kindness Lerato and Lesidi showed her, despite her terrible, terrible attempt at saying something in Wolof. The recipe for Senegambian-style jollof, that they gave her the next time she had visited their kingdom, still holds pride of place in her personal collection of precious things.

"I think what I'm saying is," she says, taking a deep breath, "when you make mistakes but the result is that I'm hearing a new language come out of your mouth, it's a wonderful thing. To me, it means you want to learn. And everyone's pace is different, so I'm no one to judge if you take more time to learn it than on someone else. There is never anything wrong with that."

Esther smiles again, softer this time, and more admiringly. "Noted," she says softly. "And we should definitely pack some fried alligator and remoulade sauce from here to snack on later."

Kiara grins. Her mouth is already watering. "We certainly will."

--

Translations:

Xifuma wante samay bët suruñu (Wolof) - I’m not hungry but my eyes aren’t full (basically the food is really really delicious). Source: Grace in Senegal

C'est comme pisser dans un violon! (French) - It's like pissing inside a violin! (Used to describe something useless and ineffective, or to complain about not being listened to after asking somebody to do something. Pissing in a violin is ineffective, it won't make a sound.) Source: Untranslatable

شكون داها فيك الحريرة (أو البلبولة) نهار العي

(Darija)

Describing someone who is incredibly pleased with themselves, but in actuality they are like Harrira on Eid al Fitr. Used to criticize someone who thinks very highly of themselves but has no justifiable reason to do so. Kind of like saying "you think you're hot shit in a champagne glass when you are really cold diarrhea in a Dixie cup". To explain the cultural context a little, Harrira is the soup Moroccans eat every day during Ramadan. On Eid, it stays in the fridge and people eat a lot of sweets. Source: Arabic Easy Language blog

Όποιος δεν θέλει να ζυμώσει, δέκα μέρες κοσκινίζει (Greek) - "Whoever does not want to knead, sifts for ten days". It is used to describe a procrastinator who finds every reason not to engage with their assigned task. Source: GreekPod 101.

Khavanu, pivanu, majja ni life (Gujarati) - khavanu refers to eating, pivanu refers to drinking, majja ni life means life is fun/amazing or to enjoy life. So it's basically "eat, drink and make merry". It's a popular Gujarati saying, I think, but it's associated most with the Parsi community.

在天愿作比翼鸟，在地愿为连理枝。(Mandarin) - In heaven as two birds flying together, On earth as two trees with branches interlocked forever. Basically a romantic proverb about soulmates. Source: China Plus

Notes:

The full quote from Kató Lomb goes like this:

"We should learn languages because language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly. If someone knows how to play the violin only a little, he will find that the painful minutes he causes are not in proportion to the possible joy he gains from his playing. The amateur chemist spares himself ridicule only as long as he doesn’t aspire for professional laurels. The man somewhat skilled in medicine will not go far, and if he tries to trade on his knowledge without certification, he will be locked up as a quack doctor.

Solely in the world of languages is the amateur of value. Well-intentioned sentences full of mistakes can still build bridges between people. Asking in broken Italian which train we are supposed to board at the Venice railway station is far from useless. Indeed, it is better to do that than to remain uncertain and silent and end up back in Budapest rather than in Milan."

The line about chevrette/crevette is something I read from the LSU website, from their Department of French Studies. This is what it says:

"Change is inevitable for living languages. It would be unreasonable, however, to expect change to happen in the same way in places remote from each other. In some cases, Cajun French has maintained words, structures and pronunciations which the French have long ago abandoned. For example, Cajuns have maintained the original chevrette to refer to shrimp, while the French adopted the Norman regional variant crevette as their standard word. In other cases, Cajun words or pronunciations have evolved while the French word remained stable. The French recevoir, for example, has become reçoir in Cajun French."

Source: LSU Department of French Studies

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

Kiara fans! KTAW 2024 is coming up and we need your help to decide if you'd like a 3 day AW or a 5 day one!

[kiaratheronappreciationweek]

KTAW 2024: Masterlist

(this delightful poster is courtesy of our lovely host @sazanes!!)

KTAW 2022 | KTAW 2023

Day 1: Culture/Festivals

Culture

Fanfic

Holi: The Festival of Colours, Love and Spring by @masked-alien-lesbian

Laylat al-Henna by @lizzybeth1986

Festivals

Art

A Bouquet at the Flower Festival by @cassiopeiacorvus

Kiara as Rowan Thorn at the Five Kingdoms Festival by @sazanes

Day 2: Character Appreciation/Throwback

Character Appreciation

Art

Très Embarrassant 2.0 by @sazanes

Moodboard

Kiara by @masked-alien-lesbian

Edit

SpreadJoy Quote: Kiara Theron by @storyofmychoices

Video Edit

Character Appreciation by @a-cloud-for-dreams

Throwback

Fanfic

It Takes A Village by @lizzybeth1986

Midterms by @mand-delemonde

Ours by @mand-delemonde

Day 3: Languages/Wine

Languages

Art

Kiara's Passion for Languages by @sazanes

Fanfic

A Child of Babel by @lizzybeth1986

Wine

Fanfic

Wine Aren't You Mine? by @masked-alien-lesbian

Day 4: Diplomacy/Nature

Diplomacy

Fanfic

the art, the science by @exbex

Nature

Art

All Set for the Apple Blossom Festival! by @sazanes

Edit

Kiara the Fae Queen by @masked-alien-lesbian

Moodboard

Bellemere/Castelserraillan by @lizzybeth1986

Day 5: Family/Friendship/Romance

Family

Headcanon

Kiara in Relationships: Platonic, Romantic and Familial by @masked-alien-lesbian

Friendships

Fanfic

Too Little, But (Perhaps Not) Too Late by @lizzybeth1986 (Kiara & Penelope)

Romance

Art

"Every day with you is a priceless gift" by @sazanes (Kiara x Hana)

--

Note: If you still have a piece/idea for a piece that you weren't able to post during the week - fret not!! This masterlist will be open for entries all year! Don't forget to tag this blog or its hosts when you post any content you want to send for KTAW!!

Here are the themes if you want to reference them.

Until next year - thank you so much to all our contributors! To our readers, all the pieces sent here are incredible and we hope you get as much pleasure looking through these amazing works as we did!!

See you all in 2025!