#palace on wheels photos

[palaceonwheels]

Palace on Wheels: A Visual Feast of Opulence

The Palace on Wheels is an embodiment of royal grandeur combined with the finest luxuries modern travel has to offer. As one of the most prestigious luxury trains in the world, it takes passengers on a remarkable journey through India’s cultural and scenic landscapes. The Palace on Wheels images perfectly capture this blend of tradition, elegance, and comfort, making the train a photographer’s paradise.

A Royal Introduction to the Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels is a luxurious train that transports guests back to the age of Indian royalty. Its design is inspired by the personal carriages of Rajput princes, featuring intricate detailing, bold colors, and traditional motifs. Every part of the train, from the exterior to the interiors, reflects the richness of India's heritage. The Palace on Wheels pictures show off the impeccable attention to detail, from the royal architecture to the exquisite decor.

Travelers on board are treated to a unique blend of modern comforts and regal opulence, ensuring they experience both history and luxury. Whether you are traveling for leisure or capturing moments for your portfolio, the Palace on Wheels photos reflect the splendor of this extraordinary journey.

Unraveling the Visual Splendor: Exterior Highlights

Royal Inspiration in Design

The exterior of the Palace on Wheels is designed to resemble the lavish royal carriages of yesteryear. With ornate patterns, rich colors, and regal insignia, the exterior is as visually appealing as it is historically significant. Every element of the train's exterior, from its windows to the gold embellishments, is crafted to provide a royal feel.

For photographers, the train offers a wealth of opportunities to capture the grandeur. Whether stationed at a platform or gliding through the scenic landscapes of Rajasthan, Palace on Wheels photos highlight the beauty of the train against India’s iconic backdrops.

Photo-Ready Exteriors

The exterior of the Palace on Wheels is a visual masterpiece. The bold design of the train, coupled with its majestic appearance, makes it an irresistible subject for photography. Palace on Wheels images showcase the exteriors as the train halts at some of India's most beautiful locations, offering a contrast between the luxurious train and the rustic beauty of the countryside. At each stop, photographers have the chance to capture the train as it reflects the golden hues of the Indian sun.

Step Inside the Palace: Interior Opulence

Lavish Cabins and Suites

Step inside the Palace on Wheels, and you are immediately enveloped in royal opulence. The cabins and suites are designed to resemble the chambers of kings and queens. Richly adorned with handcrafted furnishings, each room provides both comfort and style. The Palace on Wheels pictures of the interiors display the rich tapestries, plush seating, and vintage décor, all of which contribute to the overall royal ambiance.

Travelers enjoy not only the luxury of space but also the thoughtful design elements that evoke a sense of India’s regal past. Palace on Wheels photos often capture the intricate detailing, including handwoven carpets and artistic touches that make each suite unique.

Royal Dining Experience

Dining on board the Palace on Wheels is an experience like no other. The two elegant restaurants, "Maharaja" and "Maharani," provide a royal setting for gourmet meals. The dining cars are as visually stunning as they are comfortable, with grand chandeliers, royal table settings, and an atmosphere of regal splendor. The Palace on Wheels images of the dining cars often feature beautifully laid tables, luxurious seating, and exquisite décor, all of which enhance the overall visual appeal.

The restaurants serve a wide variety of delicacies, blending traditional Indian cuisine with international flavors, and these gastronomic delights are perfectly complemented by the royal ambiance. For photographers, capturing the artful presentation of dishes along with the regal dining environment adds to the collection of Palace on Wheels pictures.

Luxury Lounges and Spa

Beyond the cabins and dining cars, the Palace on Wheels offers several other luxurious spaces, including elegant lounges and an onboard spa. These areas provide passengers with the perfect place to relax and enjoy the royal treatment. The luxurious spa offers a range of treatments that help travelers unwind after a day of sightseeing. The lounges, with their royal furnishings and comfortable seating, offer a cozy yet opulent environment for socializing or enjoying a quiet moment.

Photographers can capture moments of relaxation, elegance, and luxury, further enhancing the visual narrative of their journey. Images of the Palace on Wheels train often include these luxurious spaces, highlighting the attention to detail and the comfort provided to each guest.

Capturing Opulence through Photography

Framing Regal Interiors

Photographing the interiors of the Palace on Wheels requires a keen eye for detail. Each cabin, dining car, and lounge is filled with textures, patterns, and colors that make for stunning photographs. Symmetry plays a major role in framing shots that capture the regal essence of the train. Palace on Wheels photos highlight the use of chandeliers, rich fabrics, and artistic embellishments that reflect India’s royal heritage.

For photographers, capturing these elements in the right light can create images that tell the story of luxury and tradition. Palace on Wheels images of the royal cabins and dining spaces are often characterized by their intricate detail and the warmth of natural light streaming through the windows.

Natural Light and Interior Shots

The best time to capture the Palace on Wheels interiors is during daylight hours, when natural light enhances the beauty of the rooms. Mornings and evenings provide soft, golden light that adds a glow to the already grand interiors. Images of the Palace on Wheels train taken during these times often showcase the rich textures of the fabrics and the grandeur of the décor, offering a perfect balance of light and shadow.

Photographers can experiment with different angles and compositions to bring out the opulence of the train's interiors. Whether it’s the rich upholstery or the artistic wall hangings, each shot can highlight a unique aspect of the train's luxury.

Landmark Destinations and Cultural Visuals

Cultural Heritage Stops

The Palace on Wheels takes its passengers on a royal journey through some of India’s most significant cultural landmarks. From Jaipur’s pink palaces to Jaisalmer’s golden sand dunes, the journey is filled with visual delights. Palace on Wheels pictures often include iconic landmarks like the Amber Fort, Udaipur’s City Palace, and Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort. These stops offer endless opportunities for photographers to capture India’s rich history.

At each destination, travelers can document not only the grand architecture but also the cultural vibrancy of the local people. Palace on Wheels photos from these heritage stops often reflect the grandeur of India’s past combined with the warmth of its present-day culture.

Scenic Landscapes Along the Route

The journey on the Palace on Wheels also offers stunning views of India’s natural beauty. As the train passes through the desert landscapes of Rajasthan or the lush greenery of Udaipur, photographers have the chance to capture breathtaking landscapes. The Palace on Wheels images of these scenic views showcase India’s diverse terrain, providing travelers with unforgettable memories.

From the desert sunsets over Jaisalmer to the serene lakes of Udaipur, each landscape offers a new perspective for photography. Images of the Palace on Wheels train taken against these stunning backdrops highlight the train’s regal presence amidst India’s natural beauty.

Enhancing Social Media Presence with Opulent Content

Creating Visual Impact for Instagram and Pinterest

The visual appeal of the Palace on Wheels makes it a perfect subject for social media platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Palace on Wheels pictures of the luxurious interiors, grand exteriors, and scenic views are ideal for creating engaging posts that attract travel enthusiasts and luxury travelers alike.

Travel bloggers and influencers can use these stunning visuals to build content that resonates with their followers. Palace on Wheels images featuring the train’s royal elegance can elevate any social media profile, offering a glimpse into one of India’s most luxurious travel experiences.

Building Content for Travel Blogs

For travel bloggers, the Palace on Wheels journey offers a wealth of material to create compelling content. High-quality Palace on Wheels photos paired with detailed descriptions of the journey can engage readers looking for luxury travel experiences. The rich imagery combined with the narrative of a royal adventure makes for captivating blog content that draws readers in and keeps them engaged.

[sukirichi]

[ DUSK ‘TILL DAWN : 013 ]

“we who bear the burden of the crown do not need to love. you only need to stay here, with me, in power, in greed, in lust – in victory.”

cw. modern royal au. infidelity. slight angst. toxic characters & toxic relationships. 18+. smut (nothing explicit.) unedited. suggestive. fluff. alcohol consumption.

notes. feedbacks / reblogs/ comments are appreciated <3 ALSO!! i am very bad at describing places (i tried my best) but just so you guys can visualize things better, i included photos of where this chapter took place at the end of the fic

wc. 12.1k

series masterlist 

[ THIRTEEN ] it hurts to be something, it’s worse to be nothing with you. i’ve done the math, there’s no solution. we’ll never last – why can��t i let go of this?

“Rin,” you stopped his hands from going any further, your fingers closed around his. He paid you no mind as he merely flicks your hands away. The top three buttons of your blouse have already been popped open, the white lace of your bra visible to his eyes. They visibly darkened with lust. Grasping his hand again, you held him tighter this time around, preventing him from exposing you to him. “Rin, please. Stop.”

Rintaro finally stopped. His fingers froze in the air, his thumb caressing the button like he’s fighting back an itch to completely rip your blouse apart. Maybe on another day, you would’ve found his hunger to be flattering. But not here, not in the middle of nowhere, and definitely not when he smelled like smoke. Not when he smelled like all the horrible things he’d gotten from her.

Cocking his brow, he leant back at the hood of his car. He stared up at you, his pretty eyes narrowed into slits.

“What? You don’t want me to touch you?”

You vehemently shook your head no. You awaited it – some sort of angry response from him. It wasn’t often you rejected his advances, but it was written crystal clear on your face: he made you uncomfortable. He found it sickening, how you looked at him like he was some vermin.

“Fine,” he spat out, rounding the vehicle as he opens his door. “Get in the car.”

“But… I can’t just leave–”

“I’ll have someone take care of it. Get. In. The. Car.”

You glance back at your car. Kuroo’s cellphone was still inside, along with your gun engraved with your family crest. If anyone were to peek inside, it wouldn’t be far to assume that you were out to kill someone. Not to mention, it was your private vehicle, not the Palace’s issued ones. Quickly, you raise a finger to Rintaro and ask him to wait, running back to your car before slipping the phone inside your pockets. In less than a minute, you’d opened the passenger’s seat and buckled the seatbelt.

The silence was painful.

There’s nothing but the smooth hum of the car’s engine, the rhythmic tapping of Rintaro’s hand against the wheel. He didn’t bother turning the radio on, and you were too lost staring at the trees whizzing by to strike up a conversation. There were too many things to ask, too many answers that demanded your attention, and so little time for it all. You wanted him to break the silence first, until sleep beat you to it. With the clock reading half an hour past four, you found yourself nodding off, shaken awake by the constant road bumps ahead.

Six am.

You straightened your back. The scenery had shifted from the dense forestry. Beside you, Rintaro looked half-awake, cracking his neck from side to side.

You watched as the gentle fingers of dawn painted the sky in hues of rose and gold. With the car travelling along the coastal road, you glanced sideways, captivated by the mesmerizing vista unfolding before your eyes. You’d seen the sea before, but never at this time – never when the sun was beginning to stretch its arms as if to embrace it. The sea, that of liquid sapphire, shimmered under the first light of day, each tiny, soft wave crested with a translucent luminescence – something both haunting and mysterious that made it hard to look away. It was deep and bewitching, like it would whisper to you the secrets of the deep if you looked close enough.

Rolling the windows down, you gazed at the horizon – right where the ocean kissed the sky, and birthed with it the symphony of color. Pastels of pink and lavender blended into a cerulean blue. The sun, a radiant gem emerging from its slumber, cast a golden path across the water and shimmered across the ripples, inviting the soul to wander its glittering trail. You felt the need to reach out to it – to skirt your fingers across the horizon, wondering if somehow the sea could drown you in its beauty and your pain could be forgotten.

As the car cruised along, your eyes remained transfixed on the sea. Drawn to its endless, vast rhythmic dance of a push and pull. The waves rolled in a timeless cadence, their gentle roar a comforting lullaby. Each surge and retreat of the water mirrored your own steady breaths – in and out – a silent meditation that made you feel as if everything was almost okay.

Through the open window, the scent of salt and the crispness of morning air filtered through. It filled the car with the essence of the sea, masking the scent of Rintaro’s stumped cigarette. For a moment, you were filled with a profound sense of peace. A moment of stillness amid the journey. The sea, with its infinite expanse and eternal ebb, seemed to hold all the answers. It wasn’t like Itachiyama whose beauty brought calmness to your soul and silenced all your fears. It was entirely a beauty of itself, one that haunted you and prodded at your bones, picking your soul apart and gently sewing back them together.

Like an unstoppable force, like watching a car crash into another – it was hard to take your eyes off of it.

“Where are you taking me?” you broke the silence after a while, choosing to keep the windows rolled down. Beside you, Rintaro spared you a quick glance before turning his eyes back to the road.

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

Nodding, you propped your chin onto your arm. Now that you were awake, the events from the past few hours finally caught up to you. The meeting with Kuroo, Atsumu’s sex tape, being chased by Rintaro, and your call not reaching Kiyoomi – Kiyoomi. Gods. He must be so worried. But your phone’s battery died long ago, and there was a bigger matter at hand – Rintaro’s accusation, and the way he’d hid his hurt with a smirk.

It was a side of him you’d never seen before.

Sure, he’d been angry when you did anything that concerned Iris, or when you left for Itachiyama after his displeasure about it. But this time, he looked more hurt than angry, as if he couldn’t believe you would go so far.

You rolled the windows up. The sounds of the humming of the car and the breeze slipping through muted.

“Rin,” you mumbled, toying with your fingers in your lap. “I didn’t try to kill you, you know.”

Your husband snorted. “Oh, you didn’t? Could’ve fooled me. It’s not every day you see your wife’s new maid slipping something in my drink, but if you truly did not have anything to do with it, then I guess it’s safe to assume your maid is out to assassinate me,” grip tightening on the wheel, he forced himself to exhale through his nose. “Do you deny this?”

“Airi has nothing to do with this.”

“Do enlighten me, then, because I don’t know what to think of you anymore,” he gritted his teeth, and you were shocked into silence. It was quite the confession coming from him. “I have made mistakes. Many of them. I have hurt you, again and again, but do you really wish to end my life?” he shot you a look, only to turn his head away – staring out into the sea before you. You wondered if it’s because he couldn’t stand to look at you, or he didn’t want you to see whatever might show in his face.

“I didn’t think you could be so cruel, Princess.”

Your face fell, the light in your eyes dimming as his words sunk in. “I told her to crush some sleeping pills in your tea so I could sneak out without you noticing. I wasn’t trying to ‘kill’ you.”

“And where would you go without me? A lady like you should never leave the castle premises unsupervised,” he reminded, the edges of his lips curling into a dissatisfied smile. “Unless you don’t want me knowing who it is you’re meeting.”

Sighing, you let your head drop to your hands. “Enough with the accusations, Rin. How many times do I have to tell you I have never cheated on you?” you rolled your eyes at him, your arms crossed to your chest, irked. “If you really must know, I met up with Kuroo Tetsurou – yes, the man who wrote that article about your tryst and ruined your reputation. You know what I did? I paid him to disappear from this country, and to completely erase any traces of what he’d written. I did it for you. I did it because I no longer want to see you suffering from the hands of another, so don’t you dare go around treating me like I’m your enemy, because at the end of it all, I’m the only one on your side. Do you understand?”

It was a half lie, but a white lie in your defense. The end would justify the means. Rintaro didn’t have to know the whole truth, not when there was a chance he’d ruin your plans. He only needed to let his guard down, to completely trust you on this because that last part you would not lie about.

He could hurt you – take your heart and crush it until there was nothing left. But it would not change the fact that you were his wife, and he your husband. It wouldn’t change the fact you were bound by vows you’d spoken in front of Her Majesty, in front of the Gods they worshipped in a sacred chapel. You would never, and could never, go as far as to make Rintaro detestable in the eyes of others. He was yours to hate and love. No one else could take that right away from you. He simply wasn’t for the world to pick apart.

Silence clouds the car. With a quick glance, you saw his grip loosening on the steering wheel, his shoulders visibly relaxing as his brows pinched together. “You did that… for me?”

You scoffed. “You have no idea the things I would do for you.”

“Then why keep it a secret from me? I would’ve gone with you. I could’ve sorted it out myself.”

“You couldn’t. You’ve barely been touching any of your work ever since the scandal happened,” you pointed out, holding your hand up to flash him your ring – the one you never dared took off, not even in the shower, and especially not when Kiyoomi had been nudging his way into your heart. “I’m your wife. I promised to share the burden of the crown with you. If a time comes that you’re unable to handle the troubles coming your way, then I will step in and do it for you.”

Rintaro blinked rapidly, as if clearing away the images that troubled him. “I’m sorry,” he finally said, “I’m just… You said you hated me, and that you regretted marrying me. So when I saw Airi mess with my tea, I immediately thought you wanted me out of your life.”

You looked out the window. Pursing your lips, you couldn’t help but think to yourself – if only it were that easy.

“You’re my husband. I would be devastated if you died.”

Rintaro drove around for a few more minutes before finally arriving in a gated community. Although community was a stretch, considering there were no other houses around. Not a single person could be seen. The entire beach was closed off from that point on. He wouldn’t answer any of your questions either, simply smiling to himself as he drove past a grove of trees until you broke through – the sounds of the waves audible and muted, as if they were from a distance. Before you stood a large white mansion, hidden by the tall trees, but peeking just enough to be highlighted by the golden dawn.

“We’re here,” Rintaro announced, bouncing out of his seat to run around your side and open the door for you. You couldn’t help but snicker at his sudden chivalry. Nevertheless, you slipped your hand into his, following him as he led you to the pebbled walkway leading up into the house. “I bought this beach for us.”

“Rin, you can’t do that. The beaches should be open to the public.”

Rintaro squeezed your hand. There was a lightness to his step, almost as if he was floating through air – or maybe your reassurance had simply made his body feel lighter. “Indulge me a little, wife. Let me show you around first, and if you really don’t like it… then I’ll put it up for sale, okay?”

You couldn’t argue with that. It was hard to, anyway, when he struggled to open the doors as he refused to let go of your hand. After fumbling for the keys, he finally got them in and pushed the doors open.

You could see much from where you stood. At the break of dawn, the sun’s first golden rays began to dance across the tranquil surface of the sea, casting a gentle, shimmering glow that greeted the grand beach house with a tender embrace.

The luxurious abode, with its elegant arches and expensive terraces, stood proudly against the backdrop of the awakening sky. Its hues of pink and orange melded seamlessly into the lingering blue of the night. Your eyes widened, watching as the colors bounced off the water and reflected back onto the sturdy white pillars of the house’s exterior. The soft, ambient light illuminated its exquisite architecture, revealing intricate details and the soft contours of its stone façade.

Stepping onto the grounds for the first time, you let your hands run through the textures of the pillars, feeling its smoothened out surface. 

The house, a vision of opulence and warmth, beckoned you with its ethereal allure. Each window and glass wall, strategically placed, welcomed the sunrise with open arms, allowing the light to flood the interior spaces with a radiant glow. The reflections danced upon the surface of the pristine pool outside, playful patterns dancing along the walls and the ceiling. It made the entire house seem alive with its morning gentle touch.

You felt your breath get caught in your throat – stunned by the beauty of it all.

You moved towards the edge of the expansive backyard, where the manicured lawn stretched out like a verdant carpet leading directly to the soft sands of the secluded beach. The sound of the waves, a soothing melody, called out to you. It mingled with the rustling leaves of the palms that framed the house. The air, crisp and salty, invigorated your senses and filled you with a sense of profound peace and connection.

Unbeknownst to you, Rintaro was drunk on your expressions. He lit up each time you smiled at a corner, his heart blooming and swelling he felt it would burst out of his chest. For one of the few times in his life, he felt proud of himself.

“I bought this mansion a year after I started courting you,” he said, his gaze transfixed on the way your hands were still intertwined. It caused him to trail after you like a lost puppy; not that he minded. He just liked being here with you. With that thought in mind, he absentmindedly caressed your wedding ring with the pads of his thumb. “I didn’t have concrete plans in mind yet, but I knew I would end up marrying you someday, and the Palace didn’t seem like a good place for us to enjoy our married life. But here… we can live separately from the rules imposed on us. Here, we are not Princess or Prince. It could just be the two of us.”

You bit your lip, your heart hesitant. It fluttered at the sincerity of his words, swooned at the revelation he’d been planning this for years. You could imagine it – Rintaro walking through this property a year into your courtship, the young Prince nodding to himself because he just knew this place would be yours.

“It’s still mostly empty, of course. I didn’t want to decorate it without asking for your opinions, and I figured maybe you’d want to take the lead in that area,” he encouraged with a smile.

And really, who could say no to that? When he gave you such a beautiful house and handed you the reigns to do as you pleased, then you would turn this house into something you could call your home.

Every detail of the beach house was meticulously designed for both grandeur and intimacy. The spacious terraces offered the perfect setting for private dinners and joyful gatherings with family and friends, promising countless evenings of laughter and love under the starlit sky. You could already envision long, leisurely breakfasts on the balcony, the sea’s gentle murmur a constant, comforting presence.

You would sip your morning coffee in your nightgown, reading the newspaper, or letting your eyes close as you let the sea breeze gently wake you up from the remnants of your slumber. Behind you, your husband would sneak up in nothing but his sleep shirt, his voice deep and croaky with sleep laced to it. He would wrap his arms around your waist, coo good morning in your ears as he buried his face on the crook of your neck.

It was the perfect house to live the married life in.

The moment is too beautiful that it let the walls you’d put up slowly crumble. It gave way for your mind to entertain the thought of hope, of second chances, of a life where Rintaro apologized for everything he did and you forgave him for it. A life where he finally left Iris behind, and moved in here with you – being a loving husband and wife like he’d promised.

Regardless of his mistakes, you couldn’t deny he chose this haven with care.

He understood your yearning for a sanctuary that felt both majestic and personal. You could see his vision in every corner of the house – in the way the morning light filled the rooms, in the carefully carved openness that invited the outside world to become part of your home, and in the promise of countless memories waiting to be made within its walls.

“It’ll get very bright here in a few minutes,” he murmured, his voice echoing through the spacious expanse. “I know you hate dark places, so I wanted something that had a lot of room for sunlight.”

You hummed. “That was thoughtful of you.”

“I only had you in mind when I was looking for our place.”

Tugging at your hand, you let Rintaro drag you upstairs and show you around. “This is our bedroom,” he gestured, and you stepped inside, glancing back at him and down at your intertwined hands in a silent query. Rintaro smiled, nodding as he gently let go of your hand to let you look around the room.

Taking small, careful steps away from him, you let your eyes take in the sight before you. The room was a sanctuary of tranquility, bathed in the soft, warm hues of the rising sun. The bed, dressed in crisp white linens with accents of deep red, invited you to sink into its comfort. Candles flickered softly on a low, modern nightstand, casting a gentle, ambient glow that complemented the natural light streaming through the expansive glass wall.

The true masterpiece, however, was the view.

The entire far wall of the room was made of glass, offering an unobstructed vista of the ocean beyond. Palm trees gently swayed in the morning breeze, framing the horizon perfectly.

You moved closer to the glass, your heart swelling with awe and contentment. Outside, on the spacious terrace, two elegant lounge chairs awaited, promising peaceful mornings and serene evenings spent with the one you loved. The lush greenery surrounding the room blended seamlessly with the view, making it feel as though you lived in harmony with nature.

“Want to see the best part?”

You giggled. “You mean to tell me something could get better than this?”

“Of course. You know I’m only choosing the best for you.”

Leading you into another room at the end of the hall, Rintaro smirked – proud and barely holding back his excitement as he swung the door open. As you stepped inside, a gasp of pure delight escaped your lips – followed by bubbling laughter in disbelief.

The morning sun streamed through the grand, arched windows, casting a warm, golden light that danced sprightly across the room. The room seemed almost enchanted, a perfect blend of nature and comfort, invite you to lose yourself in your own world and let the time pass you by.

Towering bookshelves lined the walls, filled to the brim with volumes of all kinds, promising endless hours of exploration and discovery. The rich, earthy scent of aged paper and polished wood filled the air, wrapping around you like a comforting embrace. A graceful spiral staircase wound its way up to a second level, where more books awaited, their spines gleaming in the soft light.

Your eyes were immediately drawn to the cozy seating area, where a plush of sofa beckoned you to sink into its depths and get lost in a story. The soft, muted colors of the cushions and throws added a touch of warmth, making the space feel lived-in and inviting. A quaint reading lamp stood nearby, ready to cast its gentle glow over late night reading sessions. Behind you, you could hear Rintaro move through the room as well – gently picking up knick-knacks placed along the way.

“–And here is your reading corner, or… whatever you’d like it to be really. If you want to crochet, or paint with Tobio, you can use this room.”

“I thought you said this place was empty,” you joked, gazing up at the myriad of books displayed.

“Yes, it is,” smiling to himself, he leant against the wall and crossed his arms across his chest, content to let you indulge yourself by exploring. “But I made sure to fill this place up first, as I figured this would be the room you’d spent the most time in. I went ahead and collected all the books I know you liked, along with other things I thought you would enjoy.”

There it was again – the thumping of your heart over his words.

It was too easy to get carried away, especially when Rintaro was being unnecessarily sweet. It almost felt as if… nothing was wrong at all. And for a moment – just for now – you let yourself forget everything and focused on the present. With your heart tucked and hidden away for safety under your sleeve, you pointedly averted your gaze from your husband. You knew you wouldn’t be able to handle seeing him like that – content, unguarded, with hooded eyes watching you tenderly. Like he was in love with you, and he meant it when he said he wanted no one else to spend his future with.

You turned your attentions back to the room, the lush greenery that adorned the space, with ferns and potted plants that brought a taste of the outside world in.

You could already imagine yourself curled up on the sofa with a book, the sounds of the waves gently crashing in the background, or perhaps sitting by the window on a rainy day – the patter of raindrops providing a soothing soundtrack to your literary adventures.

You couldn’t help but feel your heart swell in adoration, even as you tried so hard to fight against it.

The Prince had carefully curated this heaven for you. He’d ensured you could have a space where you would spend countless mornings in, a cup of tea in hand, watching the sun rise over the horizon. Afternoons would be spent exploring the vast worlds in the many books that lined the shelves, each one a new journey waiting to be embarked upon.

This reading room was more than just a space; it was an escape from the world. A place where you could retreat and recharge, surrounded by the things you loved most. As you stood there, bathed in the soft morning light, you were bombarded by a mix of emotions – an internal debate whether to feel elated or depressed.

How could someone know you so well, and still hurt you in the process? Love truly was a dangerous thing.

However, you pushed that thought out of your mind. You did not want any arguments tainting this space, this home. Rintaro’s efforts didn’t deserve to be shattered, either. You would save it for another time. For now, you would explore every inch and corner of this house. “And here’s the backyard – plenty of space for our future kids to play in. I’m thinking twins, one boy and one girl, and then we’ll stop trying for another. Two little devils should be enough. The boy needs to be the eldest though, so he can protect his little Princess,” his eyes lit up, and you can see it already.

Rintaro must’ve seen it, too – the scene of your children running around, chasing other. Your little boy would be screaming at the top of his lungs, your little girl blowing bubbles as her hair bounced around her cute little face with each tiny step she took. If she ever tripped, her brother would immediately be there for her. He’d cradle her soft cheeks in his equally small hands, wiping her tears away and telling her it’d be okay. And then they would run to their parents for comfort – Rintaro would bring them into his arms, pressing kisses to their foreheads before he brought them back to their mama. Then, you’d pull out the first-aid kit, plastering band-aids on every scraped knee and kissing all the boo-boos away.

It was a beautiful thing to imagine. Letting your kids grow up in a beautiful place, with a loving father who would stop at nothing to ensure their happiness, building a family.

It put a smile to your face. “You do know I can’t control who comes out first, right?”

“Yes, but a man could dream,” he shrugged and faced your way, his eyes softening as he scanned your face. You didn’t know why Rintaro looked so beautiful in that moment. The picture perfect image of a Prince Charming, his hazel eyes seeing things you couldn’t, his smile hesitant yet hopeful. “I hope our little girl looks like you. She’d be very pretty just like her Mom.”

Heat rushed at the nape of your neck. It was a flood of emotions all at once – flustered, flattered, frustrated.

You immediately pointed your body in a different direction. Sliding the glass doors aside, you kicked off your heels and sunk your feet into the grass. It was a much needed reprieve after walking and driving for hours with those darned heels. Soon enough, you could hear Rintaro trailing behind you – a quick, curious glance letting you know he’d picked up your heels, your shoes dangling on his crooked fingers.

“Can we have a dog?”

“We could have a dog,” he grinned, and then gestured for you to come follow him. Feet sinking into the sand, your hands found solace in his bicep. Rintaro practically puffs up with male pride the moment your nails sunk into his skin. It was silly, enough to make you roll your eyes, but you kept on walking and walking – the sounds of sand crunching beneath your feet and the delicious warmth emanating from your husband a great way to start the morning. Eventually, you’d made it to the front of the house, where the crystalline pool stood just before the sea announced its presence.

“And in the beachfront, well, we could do pretty much anything. Barbecue, invite friends over for dinner. Oh, and there’s a wine cellar in the basement. I think I had that filled up, too. Do you want to have a quick drink before we go?” Shaking your head at him, Rintaro nods, gnawing at his lip before he decides – fuck it – and finally lets his hand rest on top of yours.

The position was oddly intimate. You weren’t embracing each other, yet you’d never been so close to him before. Your sides pressed against one another, your hand curled onto his arm, with his large, veiny hands caressing yours. It’s a little too perfect, and it makes you just a little too in love. Unable to help it, and drunk in the serenity of it all, you let your head fall back to his shoulder. Eyes closed, breaths shallow – your heartbeat in sync with his.

Thump, thump, thump. The schwaa of the waves. The whoosh of the wind.

It was like heaven on earth.

Above you, Rintaro cleared his throat. “So? What do you think? Is it to your liking? If it isn’t, I could always look for a different house–”

“It’s beautiful, Rin. Thank you.”

“You like it?”

“I love it,” you told him, opening your eyes to smile up at him, your cheek still smooshed against his broad shoulders. “It’d be a perfect home for us.”

“O-Okay,” he blushed, averting his gaze from you as he stared at the sea instead. The motion made you chuckle. It wasn’t always Rintaro could be such a flustered, affected man, but you adored the rare times when he was. Just then, an idea popped up in your head and you grinned, tapping his shoulder with your nails.

“Hey. Why don’t we have a little housewarming party to make it feel more like home?”

“We can?”

“We can do whatever we want, Rin,” you reminded him, and then scrunched your nose as you thought of the whole process. Furniture shopping, talking with interior designers, adding your personal touch, bringing in some of your most important things to this beach house that was literally miles away from the Palace. “–Although decorating it would take a lot of time and you must be busy–”

Rintaro’s eyes widened in panic. “I’m not busy. Well, I am, but I’ll make time. Let’s – Let’s decorate. I want to turn this into our home, too.”

You squeezed his bicep, warmth flooding your senses.

As you wandered through the house, your heart swelled with love and gratitude. The beach house wasn’t just a place to live in; it was a dream woven into reality. A testament to the life you would build together. Standing there, bathed in the tender embrace of the sunrise, you felt an unbreakable bond to this place, knowing that it would be the backdrop to your love story – however complicated it may be – a place where you both would grow, laugh, and find solace in each other for the years to come.

For the next few months following your arrival, you and Rintaro dedicated yourselves to transforming the beach house into a true home. It was a long, arduous process – infusing every corner with your touch, and Rintaro with his love for knick-knacks. Countless mornings were spent wandering through local markets, hand in hand, searching for pieces that spoke to you – the future you would create.

It was a great opportunity to fool the media, too, a silent declaration to the world that your marriage would not be swayed by petty rumors.

Well, they were not just rumors, but the Queen seemed ardently pleased by the amassed support.

Rintaro, suddenly the considerate partner and doting husband, would often pause to hold up a delicate vase or an intricately carved wooden sculpture, his eyes seeking your approval. You, in turn, would smile and nod, trusting his impeccable taste and loving the way he always seemed to know what would make your heart sing.

It was as if he knew what you’d like before you even said it out loud. Maybe it was because he’d spent two years of his life courting you that he now knew you like the back of his hand.

Whatever it was, the media ate it up. The article regarding his cheating scandal eventually became nothing but measly gossip. You remained in contact with Kuroo, however, his article about Iris only waiting to drop at your signal.

It should’ve been released months ago. You could’ve ruined her already, snatched your husband back right under her nose – you just couldn’t do it. Not yet. Not when she’d been pointedly avoiding Rintaro, and your husband was acting like he forgot she existed. Could it be both of them couldn’t handle the criticism, after all? Did they care more about their reputations and image than their ‘passionate love affair’?

But then again, neither of them wanted to be exposed for their trysts.

It was all Atsumu’s doing.

And that actress – poor Hiroda Yuki – still remained oblivious to the sex tape you hid under your closet. A secret you would bury there forever, a secret you’d take with you to your grave. You hadn’t heard news of her getting knocked up, and her career was still soaring. For now, you had nothing to worry about. It seemed peaceful – for now.

In the meantime, you dedicated your afternoons in the arrangement and rearrangement of everything you’ve collected – snow globes from your trips overseas with your parents, Rintaro’s random collection of weapons and key chains from his own adventures. The living room, with its expansive glass walls and view of the endless ocean, became a canvas for you to experiment with. There were no rules here.

You placed a soft, oversized rug in the center, its deep blues and greens echoing the colors of the sea. Comfortable chairs and sofas were positioned to invite conversation and relaxation, while vibrant cushions and throws added splashes of color and warmth. You insisted on color, ensuring that the beach house had to be vibrant and thrumming with life. You refused to let it be like the Palace – dull yet overwhelming with all its arching marble statues and golden chandeliers.

And then the dining area, envisioned as the heart of your home, where family and friends would gather, received special attention. You chose a large, rustic wooden table, its surface polished to a warm glow. Around it, you placed mismatched chairs (which greatly bothered Kiyoomi when you sent him photos), but you told him that each had its own story and character. The space was an organized mess, eclectic yet coherent. Above the table, Rintaro hung a chandelier of delicate glass orbs that cast a soft, magical light during evening meals.

The master bedroom was a different tale itself. It was the room you and Rintaro spent the most time on. You established several rules before proceeding, drilling it into his head that:

Rule no. 1: He was not allowed to bring any women inside. (He scoffed at it, offended, but agreed anyway.)

Rule no. 2: Lavender essential oils were the only scents allowed. Vanilla scents were forbidden. (He didn’t understand why you were so vehemently against it, but again – whatever makes the wife happy, was what he said. That alone made you question… did he not know what Iris smelled like? He knew all your favorite perfumes by heart, yet could not recognize the distinctness of vanilla? You quickly dropped the subject.)

And finally, Rule no. 3: No arguments inside the bedroom.

(Rintaro was barely able to hide his shock at you suggesting it. His eyes widened for a moment, an expression he quickly schooled into that of nonchalance. “Of course,” he’d said, “Any conversation that may require a debate will always be had outside. Never here.” To which you replied, “Never here, Rintaro. This is our space. We will not be enemies here.)

There it was, the master bedroom, a sanctuary of tranquility and intimacy. Soft, sheer curtains were chosen to filter the morning light. The bed was adorned with luxurious linens and a variety of textured pillows, making it a perfect retreat after long days spent exploring the island or entertaining the guests you would have over.

Personal touches, like framed photographs of your wedding, and the candid ones he’d taken of you each time he called for you in the Yuzuru Estate, were placed on the nightstands.

All that was left was to invite his brothers over for the housewarming party.

You and Rintaro decided to keep it a secret for now. After all, it wasn’t every day that the brothers all gathered together for dinner outside the Palace. You debated inviting the Queen over, too, but after that recent fiasco and her snide remarks about your mother, you were heavily against it. Rintaro, on the other hand, couldn’t care less. He just wanted to spend time with his brothers – saying they’ve never done that before. Hopefully, it wasn’t too late for them to rekindle their brotherhood.

It sounded like an absurd idea at first, you admitted. You didn’t have to go so far to help your husband get along with his own brothers, but whether you liked it or not, you were married – and marriage often came with demanding responsibilities.

Of course, there was still the issue of Iris: would she be invited or not?

You gauged it for the first few weeks. Waiting, listening, and watching with a careful eye on how Rintaro would be acting. You’d also piloted the agenda, peering over it like a hawk to see if he would sneak in a thing or two. Or maybe he had a room for her. But – much to your surprise – there was none. There were exactly nine guest rooms; one for each brother and their wife, and one for the Queen or your parents, whoever wanted to visit.

Still, it made you turn your nose upwards.

You didn’t fancy the thought of Kiyoomi sharing a room with Iris. In fact, the image of them sharing the same bed was enough to make your stomach turn upside down. But knowing Kiyoomi? He’d probably make her sleep on the floor than be anywhere near her.

Finally, after some finishing touches, you both sent out the invitations.

The housewarming party was an intimate, private event. It was challenging at first – their schedules did not align with each other, and Prince Wakatoshi was not warming up to the idea. However, his son, Wakashi, badly wanted to see the sea. That was all it took before he’d agreed, and soon, even the busybody Shinsuke accepted the invitation – with the promise Airi could also come.

Pride bloomed in your chest. It seemed like an impossible feat at the beginning, gathering all the Princes into one place. But they’re all here now – Keiji was reading books to Wakashi, Tobio is playing beach volleyball with Tooru, Rintaro, and Atsumu. Osamu declined his brothers’ invitation as soon as he caught sight of your kitchen, pushing past his blond-haired twin and declaring that your kitchen was now his. You all laughed about it, and Osamu hasn’t left since.

Wakatoshi was there in your living room, cuddled up on the couch with his wife, Camilla. They both snoozed in peace, lulled by the Princes’ distant shouts and yells from their game. Behind them, Shinsuke crouched over the paperwork he’d brought with him, Airi happily gazing at her Prince as she wiped glasses and silverware.

Kiyoomi and Iris, for some reason, did not participate in any of the activities. The Second Prince has worn a stormy expression the moment he parked his car, his wife in tow. Iris didn’t look great either – her face pale and lips chapped.

You made a mental note to ask him about it later. For now, you would enjoy yourself.

Stepping out of the living room, you walked past the pool and to the beach. The Princes were still playing on a 2v2, Tobio and Tooru on one team, Rintaro and Atsumu on the other. As you got there, your sundress puffing up from the wind, you noticed Maiko was already on one of the lawn chairs – smiling fondly at her husband who scored once more.

You followed her gaze. Now that was a sight, indeed. All the Princes were shirtless – their muscles rippling with each jump or aggressive spike of the ball. They’d already been tanned after playing under the sun for hours, their healthy golden glow illuminated by the setting sun. Rintaro himself had you struggling to look away. Wearing sun shades, a black compression arm sleeve, and his shorts hanging low on his hips – it suddenly felt hot despite the breeze.

Shaking your head to yourself, you tore your gaze away from him and sat next to the Princess. “Maiko,” you greeted, handing her a watermelon juice.

“Your Highness!” she beamed, gladly accepting the drink and playing with the umbrella before she continued, “Thank you for having us over.”

“It was my pleasure,” Smiling, you watched her closely, not missing the way her cheeks flamed each time Tooru scored and he looked her way. The movement was subtle, barely noticeable from another’s eye, but it was clear in that moment it meant the world to Maiko. Beside you, the Princess hid her giddy smile behind her drink, her bare toes curling into the sand beneath you. “So. You and Tooru seem to have gotten along more.”

“Hmm, I wouldn’t say that,” she scrunched her nose, “He was really worried for you, you know. He wouldn’t stop telling me how he was going to beat the Crown Prince up. And when that article went out…”

“We’ve moved past that.”

“You have?” she perked up, “I mean, that’s good. Have you forgiven him?”

You took another sip of your drink, and then snorted. “Of course not. But I think we’re at this point in our marriage where we’re pretending to be happily married, and it’s hard for me to not play my part,” when Maiko titled her head to the side, confused, you gestured to the grand abode behind you. “He’s bought me this house, helped me decorate it. We spent many nights talking about how we’d like it to be, and now we’re all here. His brothers, their wives – everyone is laughing and having fun. How could I ruin it by dwelling on the past?”

Maiko didn’t look entirely convinced. You couldn’t blame her – you weren’t very convinced yourself.

Things were going a little too smoothly for your liking. Until now, you still had your doubts that everything was suddenly okay, that Rintaro and Iris have suddenly decided to end their relationship. But you’d asked around, bribed the maids in Belleview Manor, and they all said the same thing.

Rintaro and Iris have not spoken to each other ever since your return.

It felt as if Rintaro had been sincere when he said he only slept with her because he felt lonely with you. A pathetic excuse, of course, something only an imbecile would fall for. But you’d long accepted that Rintaro was an oddity and complexity of itself.

The only way to truly understand him was to let him show all versions of himself, both the good and the bad, before you could see which one of him you could love the most.

And this Rintaro?

The loyal, caring husband who’d given you this home? The one who wouldn’t stop stealing kisses even when no one was looking? The one who proved to you that the master bedroom upstairs indeed had very soft, luxurious beds by fucking you in it all the way until the morning?

You liked that Rintaro very much.

“I’m always here for you,” Maiko said after a moment, her smile genuine as she gazed upon the secluded area. “The house is beautiful, by the way. I can see why you looked so happy ever since the Crown Prince showed this place to you.”

“It’s our home. It was the best thing he could’ve given me.”

Saying it loud felt like an accomplishment. Your mother had always told you that you would be great at managing your own house someday. It felt surreal to see with your own eyes that she’d been right.

“To be honest, I never expected I would have moments like this,” quipped Maiko, her smile wavering as she plucked out the cocktail umbrella. “Before I married Tooru, it was lonely in the Rai Estate. My mother died giving birth to me, and my father married the next woman who presented herself to him. Sometimes I think he did that because he wanted me to grow up with a mother, but my stepmother was never fond of me. It was a lonely childhood, I must admit,” she confessed with a sarcastic chuckle, lifting her head to stare at her husband. “But then Prince Tooru came along. The Queen started bringing him along whenever she visited my father, and the Prince and I would always have playdates. I remember I would cry each time they had to return to the Palace.”

You tipped your head to the side, curious. “The Queen brought Tooru to the Rai Estate?”

Maiko nodded. “Yes. You didn’t know? Her Majesty is my godmother,” she informed, absentmindedly spinning the ring on her finger. “She was close friends with my father, and they remained in contact even when she married the King. I’d say she was the closest I ever got to having a mother figure, but Her Majesty is too busy to waste her time looking after a little girl.”

“I see,” you murmured, and reached over to clasp her bare shoulder with a comforting squeeze. “I’m sorry about your mother, Maiko. I hadn’t known she’d already passed.”

“It’s alright, not a lot of people mourned her death anyway. And people easily forgot she existed because my father remarried very soon,” she shrugged, a forlorn look crossing her sharp features. “My father said I don’t look like her. Sometimes, I think that fact made it easier for him to move on, because he never saw her in me.”

“Did your father love her?”

“Probably not. You know how marriages between nobles are; I wouldn’t be surprised if it was arranged. He never talked about her either, so I wouldn’t know.”

You hummed to yourself, “Does the Queen still visit Lord Rai?”

“Not lately, no. She got occupied handling the Kingdom’s affairs when His Majesty passed away, but they still send each other letters during birthdays. I’m not sure the Queen has written back to my father in a while, though,” as quickly as she said it, Maiko’s back straightened, her free hands waving frantically in the air. “Oh, I hope this doesn’t change the way you see me, Princess. I promise the Queen does not hold any special favors to me.”

“Not at all, Maiko. You’re still the same Princess in my eyes.”

“TAKE THAT!”

Both of your heads snapped in the Princes’ direction. Tobio, pumping his arms in the air as Atsumu tugged at his blond locks from the other side of the net. Tooru was running around – or more like bouncing – while your husband was down on one knee, panting heavily with sweat dripping down his chest.

Before you could process what was going on, Tooru bolted for Maiko’s direction, whooping and hollering as he picked her up and twirled her. Maiko’s squeal was lodged in her chest upon Tooru’s crushing hug. He kept spinning her, enough to have Maiko wobbly on her feet when he finally put her down, holding her at an arm’s length away as he exclaimed, “Did you see that? Rintaro couldn’t receive my serve!”

“It was just a lucky serve!” defended your husband.

“Yeah, right.”

Rintaro turned to you, his ears turning red as he stood up and dusted the sand of his abs. “It was a lucky serve.”

You put your hand up to your mouth, concealing your laughter. “I’m sure it was.”

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the horizon, the air buzzed with excitement and the scent of blooming flowers from the garden. The sound of waves crashing softly in the background added a serene rhythm to the lively conversations that flowed as effortlessly as the wine. The brothers, their bond evident in their playful banter and shared stories, mingled around the spacious terrace, their laughter mingling with the music that floated through the air.

You eventually left Maiko, seeing as the Princes did not have any plans on stopping their game anytime soon. You didn’t want to rush them into dinner either, not when Rintaro looked like he was having the time of his life.

Dusting sand off your dress, you took yours and Maiko’s empty glasses back inside. Airi and Osamu were still in the kitchen; the former smiling at you when you handed her the glasses, while Osamu remained elbow-deep in some dough. You left them soon to their devices, heading out of the kitchen when you nearly bumped into a firm chest.

“Hey.”

“Kiyoomi,” you blinked up at him, joy radiating from every pore now that he was here. Kiyoomi looked handsome in just his cream, short-sleeved linen shirt, his curls tousled and falling beautifully to frame his face. Until now, you were still beguiled by his striking beauty. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. I heard you’d been occupied with some things in Itachiyama.”

“Nothing out of the ordinary, and I would never decline an invitation from you,” he said softly, dipping his head so you could hear him better. His close proximity set your heart racing, and before you noticed it, you had your dress balled into your fists. “You did a great job with the place. It’s lovely.”

“Thank you,” you breathed out, voice light and airy as you gestured outside. “Are you not going to join your brothers in their game?”

Kiyoomi shook his head, a mischievous smirk gracing his handsome features. “If I did, then Rintaro’s team would lose.”

“Oh, are you a better player than him?”

“I’m better than him in all aspects,” he declared, offhandedly gesturing to their brother on the couch.  “Though I could never hit as hard as Wakatoshi. You should’ve seen him in his prime – he was a monster as long as he had the ball in his hands.”

“I didn’t know you played volleyball, too.”

“We used to play a lot when we were younger. Before duties called.”

You nodded, silently escorting him out of the kitchen. You could already feel Airi’s gaze burning holes at the back of your head. “How is Iris, by the way? I don’t think I’ve seen her around.”

“She said she wasn’t feeling well, so she’s been holed up in bed ever since,” informed Kiyoomi, scratching his cheek in thought. “Did she have a fight with Rin?”

“No, I don’t think so. I think… it’s because Rintaro is ignoring her, and she might be upset about that,” wrinkling your nose, you raised both hands in the air as a form of surrender. “But let’s not talk about unpleasant things. How was your trip to Itachiyama? And Kanami! How is she? I didn’t get to properly say goodbye to her last time.”

Kiyoomi’s lip twitched with amusement. “She’s fine, just a little mad that I took you home without informing her beforehand. She really wanted to spend more time with you.”

I didn’t want to leave either, you almost told him, biting back your tongue at the last moment.

Finding yourself alone with the older Prince, the air thickened with unspoken tension. A palpable static seemed to crackle between you two. Every glance exchanged was laden with unvoiced words, and every accidental touch sent a jolt of electricity through you. He stood close to you, his presence comforting and warm, yet an invisible barrier held you apart – neither brave enough to bridge the gap.

Your heart raced as you felt the weight of his presence beside you, the magnetic pull urging you closer. The silence was almost deafening – filled with the potential of what could be said, yet the fear of breaking it kept you mute.

Finally, Kiyoomi, with a nervous swallow and a shy, almost boyish smile, broke the silence.

“How was the meeting with Kuroo?” he began, his voice soft but trembling with the same tension you felt.

You told him everything without a detail to spare. Your words were hushed, voice barely above a whisper in case anyone accidentally walked in on you. Kiyoomi nodded as he took everything in, the tension on his shoulders increasing. “I see. Has he contacted you ever since?”

“The last message I got from him was from a few days ago. He says he’s got everything he needs – he’s just waiting for the green light.”

“So we’re just waiting for him to drop the bomb.”

“Practically, yes,” you agreed, when an idea formed in your head. Clapping your hands together, you tugged at Kiyoomi’s sleeve. “Actually, could you come with me? I wanted to show you something.”

Kiyoomi wasn’t able to say his response before you’re dragging him upstairs. You already knew the house like the back of your hand, confident you could navigate through it even with your eyes closed. Once you’d reached your destination, you swung the doors open – arms outstretched to show it off. “This is my reading corner, a library of sorts. And here–” you led him to a wall you’d intentionally kept empty, “–is your corner.”

“My corner?”

“Yes, you know, like how everyone has their own space in your library back at the farmhouse.”

“That’s a family house. This is your house with your husband.”

“Rintaro bought it because he wanted to have a safe space with his family, and you’re his brother. That makes you my family too, doesn’t it?”

Your smile was warm, sincere and elated upon presenting him his ‘corner.’ Kiyoomi couldn’t blame you for not noticing the fleeting hurt in his eyes, his disappointment quickly masked with a practiced, cordial nod.

“Family. Right,” he echoed, “I’ll make sure to add my own things someday here. Thank you.”

“FUCK YEAH!” roared Atsumu from below. All too quickly, the moment is broken. You and Kiyoomi stepped away from each other, both releasing a breath you didn’t noticed you held.

“I should go–”

“Of course,” Kiyoomi agreed, his nods a tad too hurried. He’s looking at everywhere but you now. “I’ll follow in a bit.”

You were hesitant to leave. It’d felt like forever since you’d last spoken to Kiyoomi. Ever since that night your call did not push through when Rintaro chased after you, Kiyoomi had been restless. He’d text you every morning and night, without fail, to reassure himself you did not come to harm. He was sweet – undeniably so – and it felt like a waste. Everything did. You couldn’t spend time with him, or speak to him freely like you did in Itachiyama anymore. Here, in Inarizaki, the cameras devoured everything you and Rintaro did.

It came without question you’d unknowingly distanced yourself from the Second Prince.

With a heart heavy of doubt, you exited the room. The last you saw of Kiyoomi was him slouched over his corner, his eyes closed and his head resting on his arm.

You skipped down the stairs, careful of the ankle-length of your sundress. The living room was already a mess when you got there – Atsumu was shaking Wakatoshi awake by the shoulders, screaming that he’d won against ‘stupid Tooru.’ Tooru, on the other hand, was being comforted by his wife, a pout permanent on his face.

“Hey,” an arm wrapped itself around your waist. Tensing, you quickly smiled when you saw it was just Rintaro – now dressed in a plain white button-up, the top three buttons left open to cool himself.

“Hey back.”

“Why didn’t you watch me play?”

You almost laughed at him. It was a comical sight – your tall husband slouching and pouting like a kicked puppy. Shaking your head at him, you let him pull you into an embrace, his arms engulfing you completely. You’re wholly warm like this, his head on top of yours, your cheek on his warm chest that’s still slightly damp with sweat.

“We have guests over, Rin. I have to make sure everyone’s settled.”

“But I played good,” he whines above you, his head dipping to playfully nibble at your ear. Rintaro crushes you in the embrace, your bodies pressed close enough that the growing tent in his trousers poked you through your sundress. Breath hitching, your tilted your neck to give him more access – warily looking out for onlookers. Thankfully, his brothers were all occupied with searching for snacks.

“I’m not inviting my brothers over next time. They take up too much of your attention.”

“Don’t be weird,” you teased, “I’m all yours tonight.”

Tipping your chin to look him in the eye, Rintaro presses a tender kiss at the insides of your wrist. “All mine for a lifetime, hopefully.”

“We’re married. I don’t think we have much of a choice in that aspect.”

When Rintaro smiled, his whole face lit up, his teeth flashing wickedly. Squeezing your waist, his eyes took in the warm, golden lights of your house. The bustling noise his brothers made, and the aroma of dinner being prepared. “We really outdid ourselves, huh. This place turned out better than I expected.”

You patted his firm stomach. “Should we all celebrate with some dinner?”

Nodding, Rintaro pressed a kiss to your forehead before disappearing in the kitchen. Atsumu followed not long after, complaining that ‘Samu was taking ‘too darned long’ preparing his food. You can’t help the smile making its way into your face. Rintaro was right; you really outdid yourselves. The night was a success – everyone was happy, and it finally felt like everything was normal.

“Nee-chan,” Tobio appeared before you, a towel wrapped around his neck. His grin is bright, cheeks flushed from the game and still breathing heavily. “Thank you for the party. I don’t think I’ve had this much fun before.”

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Tobio,” you beamed at him, watching from behind him as Wakatoshi shook his head at all the noise his brothers made – not missing the way his lips curled just the slightest when his son joined in on the joyous atmosphere.

“You should teach me how to play volleyball someday.”

“Of course!” Tobio said, a little eagerly. Just then, his eyes dimmed, his smile wavering as he approached you, a hand cupped at the sides of his mouth. “But sis… are you sure you’re okay with Rintaro? He seems oddly clingy to you today. If he bothers you, let me know, okay? I’ll beat him up. I’ll ask Shinsuke-nii to help me too–”

“Calm down. No one’s getting beaten up today. Let’s just enjoy dinner, alright?”

Tobio sulked, his shoulders closing in together with a frown. However, all that disappeared when Osamu and Airi appeared with dinner. Within minutes, all of you were situated in the long table. Everyone dug in, a mumbled ‘thanks’ and a quick prayer led by Wakatoshi.

Beside you, Rintaro squeezed your thigh before standing up. The scraping of his chair alerted everyone – multiple pairs of heads turning your way as he raised a glass.

“I wanted to make a toast – to thank everyone for coming despite their busy schedules. This home – our home – means the world to me, and there’s no one else but family who I’d rather share this moment with. I want to thank my wife, too, for bringing light into my life,” he gestured your way, causing a bout of sniggers coming from Atsumu. You rolled your eyes and decided to ignore him. “Also, I am very happy to announce that the scandal has been officially cleared. The writer of that article has left the country, and the media is no longer attacking me. I am officially an honorable man again.”

“To honor?” Osamu raised his wine with a snort, and everyone glared at him. “Oh, my bad, I thought that’s what we were toasting for.”

“Osamu,” warned Shinsuke.

“To good memories,” you announced, followed by a chorus of echoes, “And to family.” Pointing your drink in Kiyoomi’s way, the Prince raised his drink, his small smile hidden behind the glass.

“To family.”

As twilight deepened into night, the garden lights twinkled like stars, and the gathering moved inside to the cozy warmth of the living room. Stories and laughter continued late into the evening, the house filled with the comforting sounds of family and the promise of many more cherished moments to come.

It was a night of celebration, not just of a new home, but of the bonds that made it a true haven—a place where love, laughter, and the warmth of family would forever reside.

It was a moment you would cherish while it lasted.

Everyone headed straight for the wine cellar after dinner.

It caused a ruckus – half of the Princes were passed out drunk in their rooms, while the rest stayed up playing Mario Kart. It had been Tobio’s idea, and with Rintaro eagerly joining in, it soon turned into the competitive bout it was now. Whoever lost would skinny dip in the pool without turning the heater on.

You shook your head at their antics.

You cleaned up after everyone, Maiko and Camilla apologizing that they wanted to tend to their drunk husbands and couldn’t help. You quickly waved them away, unbothered. If anything, you appreciated how the noise slowly dissipated – leaving you alone with Kiyoomi who’d volunteered to help clean up. The silence is comfortable as you maneuvered around the dining room.

“Your Highness!” exclaimed Airi, wiping her hands on her apron as she rushed to you both. “Please, leave that behind, I’ll take care of it!”

As gently as you could, you snatched back the wet rug from her hands. “Airi, darling, you can go ahead and rest. I’ll take over here.”

“Oh but Princess, I could never! I’ll clean everything up–”

Kiyoomi smiled at her. “It’s okay, Airi. I’m sure Shinsuke’s been dying to talk to you, too,” Airi flushed red, causing the Prince to rumble in laughter beside you. “Go. We’ll handle this.”

“T-Thank you.”

Airi dashed upstairs, sending you both one last grateful glance before disappearing.

Guilt washed over you at the sight of her. Airi and Kita seemed to be happy together, but you knew the harsh reality that the chances of them working out were low. Not only was she a maid, but she had completely nothing to her name – no family, no college degree, and had a mouth that required dire control. At least here in the privacy of your home, they would receive no criticism, but as soon as you all returned home to the Palace… you sighed.

You couldn’t tell whether you were comforted at the thought you were not the only one suffering when it came to love.

You’re elbow deep in the sink washing the dishes, Kiyoomi at your side silently wiping the plates, when you remembered an empty seat at the table. “Iris didn’t come down for dinner. Should I bring her some leftovers?”

Kiyoomi grumbled, uninterested. “I’m sure she’ll come around once she’s hungry, and that should be soon. She’s had a mad appetite lately.”

Speaking of the devil, a light tap came from the countertops. You whipped your head at the soft, lilting voice. Iris stood a few feet away from you, a basket covered with red cloth held in front of her stomach. She looked sheepish; her brown hair falling down her in graceful waves, but her eyes were red and swollen, as if she’d been crying the entire time.

You snuck a glance at Kiyoomi, questioning, but he merely shrugged, turning his back to her and resuming with his task.

“Your Highness. May I speak with you?” her eyes darted to her husband’s figure, shifting from foot to foot. “Alone?”

“Of course. Excuse me for a moment,” bowing to Kiyoomi, you quickly washed your hands and followed Iris. She led you past the living room and out to the pools. The Princes’ shouts and banters became nothing but background noise. There, Iris situated herself in the picnic table under the willow tree, tucking her hair behind her ear.

“What is it you wanted to talk about?”

She nudged the basket your way, lifting the red cloth to reveal… pastries? “I baked these cookies for you this morning before we left the Palace. Please, have some. Consider it my peace offering.”

You fell silent. Mouth opening and closing as you searched for the right words, you settled for a forced smile. “Thank you. That’s very kind of you.”

Iris gnawed on her lip, and dragged her chair closer to you. Much to your surprise, her hands landed on your knee, her big, green eyes pleading. “Listen, Princess, I know we got off on the wrong footing, and I really want to put that behind us and start new.”

“Uh,” you blinked back, “O-Okay?”

“I’m sorry for everything. I really am. I didn’t mean for Rintaro’s lies to drag on and go this far, and if you must know, I never supported him on his plan–”

“Why?” you didn’t mean for your words to come out harsh. But it did, and you tilted your head to the side, oddly calm as you asked, “Why don’t you support him? Don’t you want to be his?”

Iris’ bravado faltered for a minute.

“I-I did at one point. It gets tiring having to hide your relationship, you know? But his plans seemed too absurd to me, and it sounded impossible that he could achieve it.”

“Do you think he’s not fit to be King?”

“That’s not what I said.”

“It’s what you implied,” you reiterated, scanning her face for answers – for the truth – when realization dawned on you. Leaning back, you flicked her hands away from your lap, lips curling in distaste. “You look down on him, Iris. You don’t think he’s a capable Prince at all.”

Iris clenched her jaw in an attempt to bite back a retort. “He has his many great qualities, but sometimes the Crown Prince loses touch of what is real and what is not,” she said, her placid tone betraying the fire burning in her eyes. “This is why I’m hoping we can be friends and start anew, Princess. I’m letting you know I’m breaking up with Rin. In fact, we have not been talking as of lately–”

“You fucked him in my bed lately. Do you really expect I would believe you?”

Her gaze was ice cold as it cut to you. “That was months ago, and he was the one who brought me there.”

“Let’s say he did. But who’s to say you did not seduce him beforehand?”

“He said his room felt lonely without you there, and he brought me for company. Don’t you realize, Princess? Your husband longs for you more than you know.”

Unable to help it, you chortled out a laugh. “What, are you saying he loves me?”

“He might,” she gritted her teeth, “But he needs to get over me first. That’s why I’m letting him go – you’re a kind person and you don’t deserve to be treated as second best. I’m putting my heart aside so you can finally enjoy your marriage.”

Your jaw dropped. “You’re doing this for me? How very benevolent of you, Princess.”

“It’s really not that hard to believe I want you to be happy.”

You shook your head, refusing to believe it was this easy. “Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because you couldn’t handle being called a slut by everyone?”

“I am not a slut, nor am I a homewrecker. He loved me first, don’t you forget that,” she spat out, her words laced with poison. It had you narrowing your eyes at her, and the Princess cowered for a moment, dropping her gaze down her lap as she stumbled over what to say next. “But the truth is… I never loved him. Or if I did, it wasn’t to the point where I would throw away my marriage to him. I want stability, Your Highness, and my union with Kiyoomi provided me that. Stability, security, and power – I have it all. There’s nothing more I could possibly want.”

“Then why were you sleeping with my husband?”

Iris shut her eyes, her hands balled into fists at her lap. “Because my husband wasn’t around. He avoided me like the plague during the early stages of our marriage, and the Palace is too big a place for someone like me. I’m human, too. I got lonely. You cannot blame me for seeking out the warmth of another. He wasn’t yours during those times, so you can’t put this over our heads again and again.”

“You were using him,” you stated, shooting up from your seat. Kiyoomi had told you about it. Hell, even Maiko had an inkling their relationship was nothing but exploitative on Iris’ part, but hearing it coming from her – hearing how she used your husband like he was a mere toy or puppet for her to play with as she pleases… your blood boiled.

“You knew Rintaro was in love with you, and you took advantage of that. How could you?”

“Because he was there when no one else was.”

You stood rigidly, trying to quell the storm brewing within you. Fixing your gaze on the horizon, you avoided Iris’s eyes, afraid that even a fleeting glance would betray the torrent of emotions you fought to contain. Each breath was a deliberate effort to maintain your composure, your mind a battlefield of unspoken accusations and restrained fury.

Despite the turmoil, you held yourself with regal poise.

“I think I’m going to have a drink,” you decided, sending one last forced smile her way. “Care for some?”

Color drained from the Princess’ face. “No, I-I’m laying off the drinks for a while. I’ve never been a drinker anyway.”

You watched Iris from the corner of your eye, noting how she subtly used her arms to hug her stomach, her movements slow and deliberate. Since arriving at the beach house, Iris had looked unusually pale and sickly, her vitality drained. She kept her distance from Rintaro, a fact that hadn’t gone unnoticed by everyone.

A wild thought flickered through your mind – could Iris be pregnant?

You quickly dismissed the idea, shaking your head, but the possibility lingered – filling you with a growing sense of dread. The realization settled in her chest like a heavy stone, the implications threating to unravel the fragile ‘peace’ between you all.

“Hmm.” You dug your nails to your palm, licking your lips as you tried to still your beating heart. “I think I’ll head to bed soon. Good night, Iris.”

“Princess,” Iris called out from where she sat, her beautiful face crestfallen and desperate. “Have you forgiven me? Can we be friends?”

“I’ll think about it.”

You headed back inside the house, your breathing growing shallower with each step you took. Faintly, you heard Rintaro’s concerned voice calling after you. You paid him no mind, taking two steps at a time as you pushed open the door to their shared bedroom.

Kiyoomi was already inside, in the middle of taking off his wristwatch when you came bustling in. Your name fell on his lips. You ignored him, too, heading for the bed with crumpled sheets from where Iris must’ve slept. You threw the pillows on the ground, the blankets balled and discarded to the side, as you looked for something – searched for answers. Her belongings all came crashing to the ground as you picked it apart one by one, hauling her suitcase from the drawer before kicking it to the floor.

“Princess,” Kiyoomi sounded worried, his hands coming up to reach for you when you slapped it away. Concern flashed over his face, more so when he saw the tears welling up in your eyes. “What’s wrong? What are you doing?”

“She’s hiding something. I know it.”

It didn’t take much effort to open her suitcase. Clothes, shoes, her makeup bag – you emptied it of its contents and felt around for any hidden zippers. None. It was empty, save for some unused tampons scattering right beneath your feet.

Your vision began to grow blurry.

Pushing past Kiyoomi, you dashed for the bathroom and knelt on the ground, opening the trash bin and digging through the heap of dry paper towels. You stared at it, confused. Why throw away perfectly good and unused napkins? Determined, you flipped the bin upside down. A white, thin object fell on the ground with a soft clink.

You reached for it with shaky hands.

It was a pregnancy test – one that read positive.

Behind you, you heard Kiyoomi’s sharp inhale. “It’s not mine,” his words faded into the background, “I never touched her.”

When you found the strength to speak, your voice came out weak and cracked.

“…I know you’re not the father.”

from the left: beach house → master bedroom → reading room

[saintmeghanmarkle]

🍵 One person's experience meeting Meghan -- story found in comments here by u/ContentPineapple3330 🍵

One person's experience meeting Meghan -- story found in comments here Hi! Last week, I shared my own "2 degrees of separation" tea I heard on an airplane -- and we received some amazing comments from people sharing their own unique stories! However, below was a story we've never heard before, by reddit user Extreme-Sight who actually met her.

However, the comment appeared after the post was no longer "hot," and thus, it did not get the attention (I think) it deserved.

(Note: Ugh! I just tried to link to the subreddit so you can pass on the karma to the actual commenter, but alas -- it won't allow me to link it. So, just search for the username, and like the comment, if you have the time.)

The story, copy/pasted:

The Charity/third sector is packed to the brim in the UK, especially the cancer sector, and a Royal Patron can make all the difference. I'm lucky enough to have worked for one who had the late Queen as Patron. I was head of research, and we did (do) some great work in exploring holistic care for childhood cancers. One of the reasons I work in research and now in policy making for the Government, is that I'm wheelchair bound, and people can be uncomfortable with a disabled doctor.

My eldest son is a nurse who works in the same field.

So what's this got to do with Madam?

In 2019, planning had already started for the succession of Patronages once the Queen passed on, and it was suggested that Madam may want to take us on, a charity with children and families at its centre is a good look!So she came for a visit. These Royal visits are really important as big donors want meet and greets, we get a years worth of press and publicity and the staff and the families we support have a great day, we get donations for catering and funfair equipment and it's a party.

She was a fucking brat

She sulked when we told her team she couldn't have a photo op hugging the children and didn't want a sit down to talk to the mums about their experiences

My son wheeled me in the line for the meet and greet and when when I was introduced (I have a gender neutral first name) and our CEO explained my big patent, she reached over me to shake my sons hand, obviously flirting with someone almost half her age, completely ignoring me.

When he explained I was the genius (his words), she just said "oh" and walked off. Our CEO was gobsmacked at her rudeness and the Palace was so apologetic.

Anyway we got Queen Camilla. She's brilliant and has an amazingly dirty sense of humour.

Thank you for reading my TED talk on how not to make a first impression

📌 Link to original tea by u/Extreme-Sight post link author: ContentPineapple3330 submitted: July 18, 2024 at 04:03PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit disclaimer: all views + opinions expressed by the author of this post, as well as any comments and reblogs, are solely the author's own; they do not necessarily reflect the views of the administrator of this Tumblr blog. For entertainment only.

[canirove]

In The Name of Love | Chapter 19

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Masterlist

"How long until you arrive?" Pedri asks.

"5 minutes according to the gps."

"Are you ready?"

"To spend the weekend celebrating that my ex boyfriend is marrying a woman I hate? I'm ecstatic" I reply.

"Lucky you, you have me" Ferran smiles.

"Will you take care of her?" Pedri asks him.

"I will" Ferran says, quickly looking at my phone's screen and then back at the road.

"What was that?" I laugh.

"Uh?"

"That look you two just shared. Is that some bro code or something?"

"What?" Pedri says.

"Yeah… Something only you two understand."

"It was just a look of I will take care of your girlfriend so she doesn't do anything stupid like running away or killing the bride" Ferran says.

"Why would I run away?"

"Love that you are asking that instead of why would you kill the bride" Pedri laughs.

"I have reasons to do that. But running away?"

"That's what you did during their engagement party."

"Because we had had something like an argument and you were all I could think about."

"Awww, Val" Pedri smiles.

"Guys, please don't get cheesy while I'm present" Ferran says. He tries to make it sound as a joke, but I've noticed the way his grip on the steering wheel has tightened.

"Anyway, we are almost there. I will call you later or tomorrow morning, ok?" 

"Yeah, sure. Enjoy tonight's party or whatever they are doing" Pedri says.

"White party they've called it. So original" I scoff.

"Try to enjoy it, Val. You too, Ferran."

"Thanks, bro" he says.

"And again, don't do anything stupid. That goes for both of you."

"Yes, mum" Ferran and I say at the same time before starting to laugh.

"And then I am the kid" Pedri sighs, rolling his eyes.

"Yes. My favourite one" I smile.

"I love you, Val" Pedri smiles back.

"I love you too" I say before hanging up.

"So…" Ferran says.

"So."

"Ready to fake again that I'm your boyfriend?"

"Are you?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" he chuckles. "I said yes to this, didn't I?"

"I know, but…"

"Holy shit."

"What? What happened?"

"Val, are you sure this is the right address?"

"Yes. Why… Oh, wow" I say when I look at the road. At the end of it, there is a… palace? A castle? Both? I had seen photos of the venue online, but it was nothing compared to seeing it in real life.

"I feel like I'm going to have to call you my lady during our stay" Ferran laughs. "My Lady Valeria."

"Lord Ferran actually sounds like the name of someone who would have lived in a place like this" I chuckle.

"See? I can be posh too!"

"More like royal."

"That's cooler if you ask me. So, for the rest of the weekend, you may address me as Lord Ferran Torres" he says, straightening his back.

"Yes, my lord" I laugh, his weird faces and poses making me relax and forget about what is ahead of us. 

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"It feels wrong, you know? Throwing a white party in a freaking castle…" Ferran says from the bathroom. "We should be dressing as kings and queens, not like this. I've always wanted to try on those puffy shorts men used to wear."

"Puffy shorts?" I chuckle while putting on my shoes.

"Yes. The ones they wore with white tights."

"Maybe for your next birthday you should throw a party where people have to dress like that and make your dream come true."

"Maybe I should, yes" he says from the bathroom's door. When I look up, I see him leaning against the door frame like Pedri always does, his arms crossed over his chest. But it doesn't have the same effect on me. Not even when I catch him checking me out as I stand up.

"White suits you, tho."

"That isn't going to work, Val" Ferran laughs.

"What won't?"

"Flattering me. I'm not signing for Real Madrid even if white looks good on me" he smirks.

"Who says I want you on my team?" I tease him.

"Yeah, you prefer having me close to you" he says, slowly walking towards me and closing the space between us.

"Pedri" I blurt out. "I haven't called him and I told him… I should…"

"You should, yes. I'll wait outside" Ferran says, his voice sounding different. Cold. 

The moment he leaves the room, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. 

We are off to a great start.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I envy you so much Val… He is yummy."

"He is what?" I laugh.

"Yummy" my friend Alicia says. "Where did you find him?"

"I believe you can usually spot him at the Camp Nou" Sara chuckles. The two of them, Silvia and I, met when we were just 6, and we have been part of the same group of friends with Marc and some other boys since then. Though since he and I broke up, we haven't seen each other as often as we would like to. 

"I meant how did they meet" Alicia says, rolling her eyes. "You've kept him hidden from us, Val. Though I get it. I totally get it" she says, looking at Ferran from head to toe for the millionth time while he chats with some of the boys.

"I was on a night out with Silvia and we just met" I shrug.

"Just like that?"

"He offered to buy her a drink and 5 minutes later they were making out. What?" Silvia laughs when I give her a murderous look.

"It's ok, Val. I would have done the same" Alicia sighs. 

"Did you know who he was?" Sara asks me.

"Nope. He had just moved from Manchester, I wasn't familiar with him yet" I tell her. That was the story we had decided to tell everyone, a mix of how I met Pedri and a few lies here and there. 

"The sex is the best you've ever had, isn't it?" Alicia suddenly says.

"Careful there" Sara chuckles when I almost choke with my drink.

"I'll take that as a yes. He is young and a professional athlete, I'm sure he lasts longer than the average guy. And he definitely knows what he is doing, doesn't he?" Alicia smirks. "Just look at you, Val. You look hotter than ever!"

"Yeah, just look at the colour of her cheeks" Sara laughs.

"Urgh, ignore her" Alicia says, giving her a little push. "You've always looked great, don't get me wrong. But you've never looked this good, Val. You are glowing!" 

"And when you walked in, I saw a few guys looking at you" Sara adds.

"They probably were looking at Ferran because they recognised him" I say.

"No, they weren't. They were checking you out. So if I was him, I would not leave your side just in case." 

"And if I were you, I wouldn't leave his either" Alicia says, her eyes fixed on Ferran once again while taking a sip from her drink.

"Girls!"

"Oh, dear" I whisper when I hear Isabel's voice.

"Aww, girls. It is so nice seeing you here!" she says, hugging Alicia, Sara and Silvia. "Hello, Valeria."

"Hi" I reply.

"Congratulations, Isa!" Sara says, trying to lighten up the mood. "Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

"Where is he?" Isabel asks me, completely ignoring her.

"Who?"

"That boyfriend of yours."

"Right here" Ferran says as he shows up next to me, putting his arm around my waist and kissing my cheek. Before the party we had agreed about the arm, but not the kiss. "Isabel, right? It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Congratulations" he says with his best smile, taking her hand and kissing it, his eyes fixed on hers. He is giving her his fucker look as Pedri, Eric and Gavi call it, the one that gets him the girl 9 times out of 10.

"Hi" Isabel giggles, clearing her throat to try and hide it. But we have heard it. All of us have. Ferran's charm has worked on her too. "I thought you wouldn't be able to come and poor Valeria would be all alone" she says, back to her usual self.

"Almost, but you chose the perfect weekend to get married. Just after the preseason ended and before the season starts" he smiles.

"Ready to kick Real Madrid's ass?" Sara asks him before looking at me.

"She will kick my ass if we dare to win them" Ferran laughs. "Won't you, Val?"

"You will be sleeping on the sofa for a month, yes" I reply.

"If that's the case, my bed is very comfortable" Alicia smirks.

"Ali!" Sara laughs.

"What? I had to shoot my shot" she shrugs.

"I'm very flattered, but I only have eyes for one girl" Ferran smiles. 

"Yeah, well… Let's not get cheesy in public, shall we?" I say, feeling my cheeks on fire. I'm pretty sure he wasn't lying or pretending when he said that.

"Yes, please. It is my day, not Valeria's" Isabel says, reminding us that she still is there. 

"Of course. My apologies" Ferran says, using his famous look once again. Now Isabel is the one blushing.

"Yes… Umm… I better go find my future husband. Goodbye" she says, turning around and walking away as fast as she can.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Did you do that on purpose?" I ask Ferran once we are back in our room, the party finally over.

"Do what?"

"Flirt with Isabel and use your fucker look on her."

"I did, yes" he grins.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to see her reaction, if I could get to her. And I did. I'm sure she's spent the whole night hating herself because she has been turned on by her nemesis' boyfriend."

"Her nemesis" I laugh. "But she probably has. You made her giggle."

"I know" Ferran smirks. "Right or left?"

"Uh?"

"Which side of the bed do you prefer?"

"Oh, left. I like sleeping looking at the window."

"Ok" he says, taking off his shirt.

"You don't wear pyjamas either? Is that a Barça thing?"

"What?" he says, getting in bed.

"Pedri also sleeps in his underwear."

"I actually sleep naked, but, you know… I didn't want to make it more awkward."

"That's… that's very thoughtful. Thank you" I reply, quickly getting in bed too and trying to hide that I'm blushing.

"Yeah, thoughtful" he chuckles. "Bloody hell, Val."

"What happened now?"

"Your feet! They are frozen!"

"Oh, yes. Sorry. They are always like that" I shrug.

"Always?"

"Always. 24/7."

"How can Pedri sleep next to you when you have two blocks of ice for feet?"

"He doesn't mind. And he says that if he gets hot through the night, he can always count on them to help him cool down."

"That's… weird. But ok" Ferran chuckles.

"It's Pedri" I shrug again. "Anyway, good night. From the three of us."

"The three of… Val!" he complains when I touch his leg with my feet.

"Night night" I smile.

"Night night, yes" he replies, sticking out his tongue and moving his legs as away from mine as he can. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"At first I wasn't going to wear flat shoes because, who wears flat shoes for a wedding? But I don't know how to walk on heels, so in the end I said, fuck it. You can barely see them with the dress, and by the end of the night everyone will be barefoot and…"

"Val… Val!" Pedri laughs over facetime.

"What?"

"You are rambling."

"Am I?"

"You are" Ferran says while retouching his hair in front of the mirror.

"Sorry, I just… I am a bit nervous" I sigh.

"Just a bit?" Pedri laughs again.

"Yes" I reply, sticking out my tongue.

"You'll be fine, Val. You don't have any reason to be nervous."

"Don't I?" I say, trying to nod towards Ferran without him noticing.

"You don't" Pedri insists. 

"If Isabel tries something you know we can use my charm on her" Ferran says, still busy with his hair. It is taking him a lot more time than it took me, and he has a lot less.

"The fucker look almost never fails" Pedri says. "So relax and enjoy the day, ok?"

"Ok" I sigh again.

"You look beautiful, Val" he smiles.

"Do I?"

"You do. Doesn't she, Gavi? Gavi. Pablo!"

"What!" Gavi says. He is sitting next to Pedri, waiting for our call to end so they can go back to playing FIFA.

"Doesn't Val look beautiful?"

"Oh, yes" he replies, not lifting his eyes from his phone.

"Thank you, Pablo" I chuckle. "He is talking to her, isn't he?"

"When isn't he?" Pedri says, rolling his eyes.

"Don't let the teenagers know that the it boys are currently taken, their hearts may not take it" I smirk.

"Meh meh meh" Pedri replies.

"Ok, I'm ready" Ferran says. "You?"

"Yep."

"Then let's go."

"Have fun, guys" Pedri says. "And Val…"

"I'll try to relax and enjoy the day."

"I was going to say that I love you" he says. "But that too." 

"I love you too" I smile before hanging up.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"I'm glad Isabel left you out of the bridesmaids" Ferran says as we watch all the girls walk down the aisle.

"Why?" 

"You look stunning on the dress you picked, but if it had been down to her, I'm sure she would have chosen the ugliest one she could find."

"Definitely" I chuckle. "Do you think anyone has noticed?"

"That you look more beautiful than them?" 

"That I am the only one from our group of friends she left out" I say, trying to ignore Ferran's compliment. Again.

"Nah, I don't think they care. And here she comes" he says when the music changes, everyone looking at the end of the white carpet that leads to the aisle. "100€ she looks our way when she walks past us."

"Ferran, I'm not gonna bet any money" I laugh.

"Ok, fine. No betting. But she will definitely look. Should we do something?"

"Something like what?" I ask.

"Can I improvise?"

"I don't like it when you improvise."

"I won't kiss you, I promise."

"You better" I say before turning to look at Isabel. She is very close to where we are, smiling and saying hello to everyone. And she looks beautiful, I can't deny her that. "Shit!" I jump when I feel Ferran's arms around my waist, hugging me from behind.

"It's part of the plan. Relax" he says next to my ear. "But you should put your hands around mine."

"What?"

"Just do it, Val."

"Ok" I sigh, doing as he says and interlacing my fingers with his. 

"She's gonna look" he whispers, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"She…" She is looking at us. At first she looks all smug, but after noticing Ferran behind me, her face changes. And when he kisses my shoulder, she quickly looks away, her smile gone.

"Told you" he chuckles. 

"I thought we had said no kisses."

"On the lips."

"Yeah, well. We should… You know" I say, letting go of his hands. "The ceremony is about to start."

"Yes, of course" he replies, moving his too. But he does it slowly, definitely taking his time. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"They look cute" Silvia says while we watch Isabel and Marc do their first dance as a married couple.

"Yeah, I guess" I say, trying to focus on them dancing and not on Ferran standing behind me, his hands resting on my shoulders while his thumbs make small circles on my skin.

"Aww, and now their parents. Marc's mum looks so nervous…"

"Uhm…" I reply, Ferran's thumbs now moving to the back of my neck and slowly massaging it. Why am I allowing him to do this? It isn't part of our arrangement.

"Oh, our turn!" Silvia says, taking Pau's hand and dragging him to the dancefloor as everyone else joins the bride and groom and their families.

"Are we dancing too?" Ferran asks me.

"Do you want to?"

"I am not the best dancer but sure, why not?" he says, his hands finally moving from my body. "My Lady Valeria" he smiles, now offering me his hand.

"Lord Ferran" I chuckle, taking it and following him to join the others.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

I don't know for how long we've been dancing and singing, but I do know that I am having the time of my life. Maybe because I've had a few more beers than what I am used to and I am a bit tipsy, maybe because the dj is playing hit after hit.

I've sung my heart out with Silvia, Alicia and Sara, we've had a battle of boys dancing vs. girls, Alicia made her dream of being all over Ferran come true while they danced together and we all cheered for them, and now… now it is him and I the ones who are dancing together, barely any space between us.

My back is against his chest, his arms around my waist, mine around his neck. And his lips are leaving small kisses on my jawline, making me giggle while we just move to the rhythm of the music. 

When it changes, he pulls me closer towards him, moving his head to kiss my neck. At first I barely notice it, but as he gets closer to the spot that makes my knees feel like jelly, I can feel my body tensing, one of my hands moving up and down the back of his neck. And then, he finds it.

A gasp escapes my lips, goosebumps going down my spine as the hand that is on his hair looks for something to hold to like it is used to. But it finds nothing. Because this is Ferran. He isn't…

"Val" he whispers into my ear, the feeling sending another wave of goosebumps over my body and making me forget about what I was thinking before he quickly turns me around, the movement making me feel a bit dizzy. His hands still are on my waist, pulling me even closer to him and then… then his lips meet mine.

He is kissing me. Ferran is kissing me again.

But unlike that day at the school, I don't freak out. This time I find myself wrapping my arms around his neck, letting him take control over the kiss and be the one in charge while I just let go.

[theroyalsims]

BREAKING: HE'S MET THE PARENTS! GUS AND ANYA SEEN LEAVING PALACE TOGETHER!

This is not a drill. We repeat, this is not a drill!

Gus and Anya were seen leaving the Palace together after having dinner with The Queen and Prince Jacques!

Our well-placed source confirms that Gus was invited by both The Queen and Prince Jacques to a quiet dinner at the Palace:

"Anya often hosts her parents and her siblings at her home in Agneaux House, but with Prince Jacques still recuperating, they had to reschedule. It was then that The Queen and the Prince instead offered to host the dinner at home - the Palace - with strict instructions to bring Gus along."

This perhaps explains the new hairdo and look for Gus - after all, when one is personally invited by The Queen, one doesn't show up in muddy boots and a man bun! Maybe the flowers weren't for Anya! Maybe they were for Her Majesty - after all, lilies are her favourite! "Lily" even happens to be her nickname! If so, that's just very cute and sweet of Gus! Looks like someone was trying to win some points!

Our source further shares:

"It was a no frills dinner, a family thing. The Queen even cooked her signature dish: roast rack of lamb with garlic and herbs. It was very casual, very intimate. Of course, poor Gus was probably sweating bullets.

But I have it on good authority that things went along swimmingly. It wasn't an interrogation or anything sinister - they just wanted to meet Gus and get to know the man who has won Anya's heart. He's not a total stranger to the Family - there's history there - but years have passed, and I'm sure everyone wanted to catch up."

If Anya and Gus' smiles are any indication, things really seem to have gone well over dinner!

Gus is the first boyfriend Anya has "brought home" in a very public manner. Although it was reported back then that she has introduced some of her exes to her parents, we never really had any photographic evidence of such introductions - until now.

Now that Gus has officially met Anya's parents, what exactly does this mean for the couple? A royal expert reveals:

"It's a very serious thing, this outing. It's saying that Gus and Anya's relationship is solid enough that introductions have been made, and that Gus has been welcomed in to the inner circle of the royals. I think the fact that we have photos of it is very special. We've read reports about how Ingrid's boyfriend has gone through the same 'welcoming committee,' but they were often second hand accounts. But this - we have proof that he has, indeed, met the parents."

The lovebirds drove back to Anya's house, with Gus behind the wheel of his luxury sports car. Anya's security detail was right behind them in a heavily-tinted SUV. A few hours later, Gus was seen leaving Agneaux House - solo, this time - before heading off towards the Business District, where he is reportedly staying. Rumours circulated earlier this week that he closed a deal on a penthouse unit in the city, to help make his visits in Brindleton much easier.

He's cut his hair, met her parents, and even purchased real property for Anya. At this point, we guess it's safe to say that there's nothing he won't do make his Princess happy!

[canmom]

Annecy photodump 2 - museums

On Sunday, before the festival began, I went to a few of the museums around Annecy! Starting with the Palace de l'Îsle, then on to the Chateau d'Annecy and the Museum of Animated Film!

Probably the most iconic Annecy Building, it is presently a museum to both the building's own history and the industrial history of the town, which flipflopped countries a few times before becoming an industrial centre after the French rev. The Palace itself has been at various points a mint, a courthouse and a prison.

The museum is mostly captioned in both French and English. The industrial history gets a bit dry, but the downstairs section on the history of the building itself is cool.

My ticket got me into the castle too so I went up this absurdly picturesque little path...

...to be rewarded with the town skyline. Probably not quite as the dukes of Savoy saw it.

The castle doesn't tell you a lot about its own history for the most part, but it does have a couple of art galleries.

I saw a version of Peter Brueghel the Elder's Massacre of the Innocents - though apparently there's a whole bunch of different versions and this one might not be the real one? Art history is funky.

Much of the lower floor of the gallery had these big romantic nature paintings. And when I say big these are really fucking big, like very much 'this would be the whole wall if we weren't in a literal castle' big.

One thing that is really interesting to me here is that the panorama with its cylindrical projection seems to actually predate panoramic photography. Although I can't say whether this is strictly a cylindrical projection, the insanely wide aspect ratio seems to suggest it would be.

Here's a closeup, showing how a tree breaks down into individual dabbed brushstrokes which suggest the texture of leaves without getting lost in noisy detail - the 'painterliness' so beloved of shader designers. It's fascinating seeing these paintings up close like this!

I'm fairly sure this kid is a chimneysweep? Unfortunately I managed to frame this photo so the painting gets perfectly bisected by the corner of the glass box. I'm not quite sure the relationship of the sculpture and the painting.

They also have a bunch of furniture from the castle, if you like wooden boxes. They built things well chunky back then.

The upper floor of the castle was devoted to contemporary pieces. I don't seem to have taken many photos of these, but here's a bike wheel with bits of broken glass which look like mountains when a projector shines through them:

Later in the week I would go to the Museum of Animated Film! It's a bit of a walk from the town centre but well worth the trip. They had various 1800s-era gadgets that form the precursors to animated film...

...though sadly in the low light of the museum, not all my photos came out good. It's remarkable how well these devices work though! The narrow 'shutter' created by the slots works perfectly to make the images appear animated rather than spinning around. Also the illustration quality, and even general sense of motion, is remarkably sound! Like honestly they could give today's animators a run for our money!

The rest of the museum had production materials showing the full range of different animation techniques: storyboards, key drawings, cels, backgrounds, stop motion puppets, pinscreens etc. They covered the history of animation pretty damn well - go figure, it's the animation museum in Annecy of all places.

They also had a special exhibit on showing drawings from Regina Pessoa, whose films I saw as part of the Portugese animation block. These are so cool to see up close. I'm still not entirely sure what techniques she used to make this film, its style is unique.

(My main camera didn't do great in here due to the low light, but I'm learning how to control ISO to get that exposure time under control. My phone actually did a lot better.)

One thing I didn't manage to photograph was the intro panels to the museum where they defined animation. After various definitions based around e.g. constructing frame by frame, they eventually resorted to a negative definition - animation is basically any film that isn't live action. It was pretty funny reading them struggle to pin down such a broad but intuitive concept.

Next up: more movie related stuff!

[for-valour]

Happy centenary wedding anniversary to Bertie and Elizabeth! 100 years ago today (m. 26/04/1923).

'…I do love you Bertie, & I feel certain that I shall more & more.'

'You know how I love her & will always take care of her [...] to me, she is everything.'

Excerpts from The Queen Mother: The Official Biography by William Shawcross.

Photos, top: Prince Albert, Duke of York (later George VI) and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on their wedding day, April 26th, 1923. Prince Albert is wearing the full dress uniform of the Royal Air Force with the rank of group captain. Elizabeth's dress, typically 1920s Medieval Revival in style, was crafted with ivory-coloured chiffon moire, pearls, and silver thread. The intention was for the dress to coordinate with a gift of Flanders lace from Queen Mary. Elizabeth also opted to break with the tradition of wearing a tiara, and instead chose a headdress of leaves. Credit: Bassano Ltd.

Centre and bottom: Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon during their honeymoon, April 26th to May 7th 1923. After the wedding breakfast at Buckingham Palace, the newlyweds rode in an open landau (a four-wheeled carriage) to Waterloo Station. From there they travelled by train to Polesden Lacey in Surrey, which had been lent to them by the Honourable Mrs Greville. Sources: Royal Collections Trust, The National Trust.

[sonyaheaneycategoryromance]

(via Happy New Year! And an Excerpt!)

BRIELLA AILIONO SNAPPED another photo of herself, hoping the angle highlighted the long dark gown her best friend had designed for this final engagement. The image was about the dress, not her, but if she’d learned anything, it was that appearances were always scrutinized. If her mother was still talking to her, Brie might thank her for the multitude of lessons she’d taught on the subject.

She scrunched her nose as she examined the image. She wasn’t as bubbly as the other potential brides here, wasn’t bouncy and excited for the tiny possibility she’d win the “prize” in a few minutes. She only had one princess ticket in the giant glass spinning lotto wheel up on the palace’s balcony. One shot to become a princess. One shot to wear a crown.

One shot too many!

Prince Alessio’s Princess Lottery was all the country of Celiana had talked about for the last year. Throughout each week, potential brides had purchased tickets and then deposited them on Sunday while cameras watched. It was a year of spectacle.

If she could have devised any other way to launch Ophelia’s bridal gown and specialty dress shop so quickly, Brie would have. A standard rollout with a mixture of graphics across social media platforms, booths at bridal fairs, a well-placed billboard or sponsored “news article” were options.

Success lay down that path, in two or three years. This way, this scheme, with her standing next to all the brides in a new wedding dress designed by Ophelia as she rattled off comments about the gown and the spectacle… Well, it meant success was at Ophelia’s door year one. And wild success, too, not just keep-the-doors-open, scrape-by success.

And her own business was rocketing out of the gate, too.

Her marketing firm; her “little” business, the one her parents refused to acknowledge—it had a phone that never stopped ringing. An overflowing email inbox. Even buyout offers. There were possibilities at every corner.

Built from the ground up with no help from her family, it was Brie’s achievement. All hers. She was making the choices—finally in charge of her own life.

The cost was a ticket in the Princess Lottery. The winner got a crown, and Prince Alessio as a husband.

Blowing out a breath, she looked at the image on her phone. It was good, and the dark dress was highlighted nicely against the wall of white and cream behind her. She stood out.

Which was the point of this marketing campaign.

“If my name comes out, I think I might just faint!”

“Me too!” the women squealed, then looked at Brie.

She raised a hand and winked as their eyes widened. Her dress’s dark hue gave off a less hopeful vibe. Though like all Ophelia’s designs, it was gorgeous.

“Good luck, ladies.” Brie smiled as they walked away. She didn’t really mean the words. No one should “win” their groom.

You can read the whole first chapter here.

Learn more about How to Win a Prince and where you can find it here

Order your copy of How to Win a Prince from Harlequin’s website here.

Order your copy of How to Win a Prince from Mills & Boon’s website here.

Join my Substack here – and get a free book every month from a category romance author this year when you are subscribed.

You can find my website here.

[palaceonwheels]

A Royal Affair: Visual Highlights of the Palace on Wheels

The Palace on Wheels is not just a luxury train; it’s a royal experience that takes travelers on a journey through India’s grand past. Offering unparalleled comfort, elegant design, and cultural exploration, this train is designed to make you feel like royalty. Through these palace on wheels images, travelers from around the world can see just how rich and luxurious the experience truly is.

Exterior Elegance: The Majestic Look of the Palace on Wheels

The exterior of the Palace on Wheels stands as a testament to India’s royal heritage. Each carriage is named after a princely state of Rajasthan, paying tribute to the country’s regal past. The design is marked by bold colors and intricate motifs, with the royal insignia proudly displayed on every carriage.

As you travel, the train’s grand appearance stands out against Rajasthan’s diverse landscapes. The vibrant hues of gold and red gleam in the sunlight, creating a majestic visual effect. These palace on wheels images capture the stunning beauty of the train as it moves through deserts, cities, and rural landscapes. Every photo shows the train’s grandeur, a true royal convoy in motion.

Opulent Cabins: A Private Royal Retreat

Step inside the Palace on Wheels, and you’ll find yourself in a world of luxury. The train’s cabins are designed to reflect the elegance and grandeur of Indian palaces. Each cabin is a private retreat, offering travelers a space where they can relax in complete comfort. Rich fabrics, handcrafted furniture, and regal decor create a sophisticated atmosphere.

The cabins are available in two categories — Deluxe and Super Deluxe suites. Both types offer spacious interiors, plush beds, and modern amenities such as climate control and en-suite bathrooms. The palace on wheels pictures of these cabins reveal their exquisite design, showing every detail that enhances the royal feel. From traditional artwork to ornate woodwork, the cabins are truly a luxurious escape.

of these cabins reveal their exquisite design, showing every detail that enhances the royal feel. From traditional artwork to ornate woodwork, the cabins are truly a luxurious escape.

Personalized butler service adds to the feeling of being treated like royalty. As these palace on wheels photos show, every guest is provided with the utmost care and attention, making the journey an experience to remember.

Lavish Dining Cars: A Culinary Delight in a Regal Setting

Dining on the Palace on Wheels is more than just a meal; it’s a royal affair. The train features two grand dining cars — the Maharaja and Maharani — which are designed to resemble the banquet halls of Indian palaces. Both cars are adorned with crystal chandeliers, elegant table settings, and luxurious drapes.

The palace on wheels pictures of the dining areas capture the elegance of the setup, from the fine china to the gleaming silverware. These photos highlight the regal ambiance that makes every meal feel special. The cuisine itself is an exciting blend of Indian and international dishes, with each course presented in a visually appealing way.

As you dine, you can enjoy the passing landscapes from the large windows, creating a beautiful contrast between the luxurious interiors and the natural beauty of India. These palace on wheels images capture not just the food, but the entire experience of dining in such a royal setting.

Bar Lounge: Relaxation in Royal Style

After a day filled with exploring India’s historic landmarks, the Bar Lounge on the Palace on Wheels is the perfect place to unwind. Designed with rich wooden finishes and plush leather seating, the lounge exudes comfort and sophistication. Guests can enjoy a selection of premium wines, spirits, and expertly crafted cocktails while relaxing in this regal setting.

The lounge is an ideal spot for socializing, reading, or simply taking in the luxury that surrounds you. The palace on wheels images from the Bar Lounge show travelers enjoying their drinks in a serene environment, with soft lighting adding to the relaxing atmosphere. These palace on wheels photos highlight the warm, intimate ambiance that makes the lounge such a special part of the journey.

Heritage Carriages: A Journey Through Royal Rajasthan

The carriages of the Palace on Wheels are not just a mode of transportation; they are a tribute to the royal history of Rajasthan. Each carriage is named after a princely state and is decorated with traditional motifs that reflect the state’s unique culture. The exteriors are just as intricate as the interiors, with beautiful detailing that captures the essence of India’s heritage.

Inside, the carriages are furnished with rich fabrics, elegant wood paneling, and royal-inspired decor. The palace on wheels pictures of these carriages show how every detail has been carefully chosen to create a truly royal experience. Whether you are seated in your private cabin or exploring the common areas, the atmosphere of royalty is ever-present.

Scenic Journey: The Landscapes Along the Route

One of the most memorable parts of traveling on the Palace on Wheels is the opportunity to witness India’s breathtaking landscapes. From the golden sands of the Thar Desert to the shimmering lakes of Udaipur, the train takes you through some of the country’s most beautiful and diverse regions.

These images of palace on wheels train capture the stunning views from the train’s large windows, allowing travelers to see everything from bustling cities to tranquil countryside. The changing landscapes provide a perfect backdrop to the luxurious experience on board. Each photo serves as a reminder of the journey’s unique blend of adventure and comfort.

Excursions: Royal Adventures Off the Train

While the Palace on Wheels itself offers unmatched luxury, the off-train excursions take travelers to some of India’s most iconic landmarks. From Jaipur’s majestic Amber Fort to the blue streets of Jodhpur, each stop along the route offers a chance to explore the rich history and culture of India.

The palace on wheels photos from these excursions highlight the beauty of these sites, from towering forts to intricate palaces. Travelers are guided through these landmarks, learning about their historical significance while enjoying the luxury and comfort of the train. These images offer a glimpse of the unique experiences that await at every stop.

The Royal Atmosphere: Capturing Every Moment

Every moment on the Palace on Wheels is filled with luxury and grandeur. The train’s interiors, the stunning landscapes, and the royal service all come together to create an unforgettable experience. Photography plays an important role in capturing these moments, allowing travelers to take home a piece of the royal journey.

The palace on wheels images featured in this blog show how every detail contributes to the overall atmosphere of royalty. From the grand exteriors to the fine details inside the train, every part of the journey is worth capturing. These photos not only provide a glimpse into the luxury of the Palace on Wheels but also inspire travelers to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

[angelasscribbles]

The Best Christmas Ever

Series: None, this is a one-shot and you can find those here.

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Riley x Max

Rating: G

Warnings for this chapter: none

Word Count: 2,181

A/N: This is an ask from @squid-princess-teach-swallow from my follower prompt list/wheel event. The ask was for Max x fluff x embarrassing.

I'm also submitting it to @choicesholidays for the prompt "I'm so glad we found each other" and tagging @maxwell-beaumont-appreciation

My other stuff: Master List.

Maxwell Beaumont flung his car door open and jumped out. He was late.

He hurried up the driveway to his childhood home hoping they hadn’t started dinner without him.

“Sorry, I’m late!” He called as he stomped the snow from his boots and flung his jacket in the general direction of the coat rack.

The sound of laughter floated out of the sitting room as he made his way down the hall. An affectionate smile played across his face as he regarded his friends and family getting along.

Bertrand was seated on the plush, oversized beige sofa with his wife Savannah on one side of him and Riley on the other. Liam and Drake stood behind the sofa looking over his shoulders at something.

“What’s everyone doing?” He asked then his steps faltered as he noticed the large photo album in his brother’s lap. His good mood turned to horror, “No!”

Riley looked up with a sparkle in her eye, “Bert’s been showing us pictures from your childhood, Max! And telling us stories!”

“Oh, no…we don’t have to do that! Isn’t dinner ready?” Max asked in distress.

“We were waiting for you!” Riley told him.

“It’s fine,” Savannah said, “a few more minutes won’t hurt.”

“But-“ Max was sure that he did not want his friends and family telling the woman he was secretly in love with about his childhood.

“Ah, what a cute dog!” Riley pointed to a photo of both boys hugging a Labrador retriever.

Max smiled, “Her name was Penny. She was a great dog!” This wasn’t so bad. Just focus on the dog.

“Wasn’t she a rescue?” Liam asked.

“She was,” Max agreed, “She was one when we got her and I was seven. Our father explained how dog years worked and I thought it was really cool that we were the same age!”

“Oh Max, that’s so cute!” Riley smiled at him and a flush of pleasure crept across his face.

Of course, his brother had to ruin it, “Yes but when she turned two, Max cried for a week.”

“Why?” Savannah asked in puzzlement.

“He thought since she was turning fourteen, she wouldn’t want to hang out with him anymore,” Bertrand answered, “because he was still only eight.”

“That’s hilarious!” Drake said.

“I think it’s cute!” Riley gave him a sympathetic glance as everyone else laughed.

“Thank you,” Max said as he walked around to stand in front of the sofa ready to snatch the album from his brother’s grasp if necessary.

Bertrand flipped the page.

“Oh, I didn’t know you wore glasses when you were younger!” Riley glanced from the photo album to his face.

“He didn’t,” Bertrand explained, “Somehow he got it in his head that wearing glasses was what made you smart.”

“Oh, so they were fake.”

“Yeah, yeah, they were fake!” Max agreed shooting a death glare at his brother.

“No,” Bertrand contradicted him, “he convinced our parents that he was having trouble seeing and got them to take him to an ophthalmologist where he pretended he couldn’t read the eye chart.”

“No!” Riley gasped in delight, “He did not!”

“Oh, he did,” Bertrand assured her, “then he suffered with blurry vision for a month before finally confessing.”

“I hate you,” Max said yanking the album out of Bertrand’s hands.

“Oh, come on!” Bertrand protested, “We’re just having fun!”

“Yeah, Max!” Riley agreed, “I love hearing stories about your childhood!”

“Really?” He felt his heart do a little flip.

“Really.” She assured him.

“Oh! I have one!” Drake exclaimed, “You’re going to love this one, Brooks!”

Max ran a hand down his face with a groan, “Not the fucking closet story!”

“Yes, the closet story!” Drake chortled, “They had come to the palace to visit. We were playing hide and seek-“

“No, we weren’t!” Max interrupted, “I was hiding from you because I broke your favorite action figure and I was afraid you were going to murder me!”

“Whatever,” Drake said dismissively before plunging on, “He wouldn’t come out of the damn closet and his parents were ready to leave so I threatened to suck the air out of the closet!”

“But he still wouldn’t come out,” Liam added.

“He was a very stubborn child.” Bertrand supplied.

“What happened?” Riley asked, looking from Liam to Drake to Max.

Max picked up the story, “I was sitting in that closet and I see a straw slide under the door and I hear a sucking sound….”

“He came hauling ass out of that closet like he was about to die!” Drake howled.

“Yeah,” Liam broke in, “he broke the door, it had to be replaced.”

“I really thought I was going to die!” Max shook his head, “You were all assholes!”

“It was a straw under a closet door!” Drake scoffed.

“I was six!”

“Remember when you fell out of the window and broke your arm?” Liam asked.

Max sighed as his head tipped back and he looked up to heaven for guidance.

“How did he fall out a window?” Riley asked.

“Our parents sent him to his room for setting his pet crabs loose in the house and he was leaning out the window crying-“

“Wait, you had pet crabs?” she asked in astonishment.

“They were the little ones that go in the aquarium with your fish.” Bertrand offered.

“Okay. Why were you leaning out the window?” Riley directed the question to Max.

“I wanted my peacocks to hear, and any servants that were outside,” he answered, “I was being dramatic. I wanted the world to know I’d been wronged. Those crabs were falsely imprisoned and they wanted to be free!”

“Anyway,” Bertrand continued, “he leaned too far and fell out! But no one knew it had happened, he had to ring the doorbell to get back in!”

The room was howling with laughter.

“Okay, okay, I was a dork but why are we only picking on me?” Max asked, “Remember the time you asked mom why there were different colors of people?”

“Yes,” Bertrand responded, “She told me it was because God wanted a variety of flavors.”

“Unfortunate word choice,” Max said, “for three years, Bert thought that when people died, God ate them!”

“No, he did not!” Savannah wiped tears of mirth from her eyes.

“Yes, he did!” Max replied smugly.

“Fine, but one time when he was about eight, Max found dad’s driver’s permit and started crying hysterically,” Bertrand put the focus right back on his brother, “It took us almost an hour to get him to calm down enough to tell us what was wrong.”

“What was it?” Riley asked.

“He saw the expiration date and thought that was when he was going to die.”

“Yes, well….in my defense, when things expire, we throw them away, I thought the expiration date was for him, not the permit.”

“Ah, Max, that’s sweet!” Riley said, “You were a sensitive child!”

“We should probably get to dinner now,” Bertrand stood up and turned back to help Savannah up.

Max had been returning the photo album to the shelf, he turned and tripped over the coffee table, “Ow!”

He caught himself but his shin was going to be bruised.

“You okay?” Riley stayed behind as the rest of the group trailed out of the sitting room and into the dining room.

“I’m fine,” he assured her as he sank onto the loveseat grasping his leg, “nothing hurt but my pride.”

Riley sat down next to him, “Hey, I hope you aren’t upset about the pictures and the stories.”

“What?” he glanced at her face then back down at his leg as he mumbled, “No, I mean, they were just embarrassing…”

“I don’t think they were embarrassing, Max,” she told him, “I think you were an adorable child and the stories were funny but cute.”

“Yeah?” He looked back up at her and his heart skipped a beat. His face flushed.

Why couldn’t he just tell her how he felt?

She and Liam had formed a close friendship during the social season but had agreed that a romantic connection wasn’t in the cards. There had been a spark, yes. But it had never exploded into a flame.

He had been terrified she would leave at the end of the season but she had decided to stay and finish out her graduate studies at Cordonia University.

“Yeah,” she said, “Now, why were you late? Is everything okay?”

“Oh, I, ah…” he flushed an even deeper shade of red as he fumbled in his pocket, “I was picking something up. I wanted to give you this before you left to spend Christmas with your family.”

She glanced down as he thrust a small velvet box into her hands, “I can open it now?”

“If you want.” He still hadn’t met her eyes.

She opened the lid to reveal a delicate gold chain with a golden phoenix curled around a brilliant sapphire. Her mouth fell open as she pulled it out of the case, “Max!”

“You don’t like it! It’s okay, I can return it-“

“Shut up!” She slapped his chest, “It’s beautiful and I love it!”

“You do?” He asked hopefully.

“I do! It’s gorgeous! But-“

His face fell, “But what?”                   

“Nothing, just, this had to be really expensive and-“

“And it’s too much, isn’t it? I’m sorry! I knew I shouldn’t have-“

“Max, stop! That’s not what I was going to say!”

“Sorry, what were you going to say?” He stared down at his lap while silently cursing himself for being so utterly bad at this.

“It is expensive…I’m just wondering what it means.”

“I saw it and it reminded me of you. All the crap you’ve been through in your life but you just rise from the ashes every time….what?” The way she was looking at him made him stop breathing.

“Nothing,” She said slowly, “could you put it on for me?”

She handed him the necklace then turned her back and lifted her hair.

His hands shook as he attempted to fasten the clasp. He was successful on the third try.

When she turned back toward him, she fingered the necklace thoughtfully. Her voice was soft as she said, “You know, this is the kind of thing you usually give a girlfriend, not just a friend.”

Max froze as panic sliced through him.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

As he struggled to formulate a response, she reached out and touched his cheek gently, “Do you ever think of me like that?”

“I….yes…I just didn’t think that you…I mean, you probably don’t …..I’m sure you don’t-“

She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

His body jolted in surprise before melting into her with relief, happiness, and awed amazement.

“Maxwell! Riley!” Bertrand’s voice boomed from the other room, “Are you coming to dinner or not?”

They pulled apart, both a little breathless.

“In a minute!” Max yelled back.

“We should go,” Riley said.

“Can we talk when you get back from the states?”

“About that,” she replied, “I got you something too, I wasn’t sure if you’d like it, but now…”

“You didn’t have to get me anything, Riley!” He told her, “The fact that you like me is already the greatest gift I could get!”

“That’s so sweet, Max! And I know I didn’t have to, but, this is as much for me as it is for you.”

Curiosity swirled through him, “What is it?”

“A plane ticket,” she answered shyly.

“A plane ticket?” He repeated in confusion.

“Yeah, I was hoping you’d come with me.”

He blinked in surprise, “You want me to come with you to visit your family for Christmas?”

Riley felt her face heat as she responded, “Only if you want to! It’s okay if you don’t!”

Max’s face broke into the widest grin she’d ever seen, and that was saying a lot, “I would love to spend Christmas with you! I’d go anywhere with you, Riley!”

“Seriously you two! What’s taking so long?” Liam called.

“We’re not waiting anymore, I’m hungry!” Drake yelled.

“Coming!” They yelled back together.

Max jumped up from the loveseat and offered her his hand.

She took it.

He pulled her to her feet and they started for the dining room, hand in hand.

“So, am I like your boyfriend now?” He asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

She smiled as she cut a sidelong glance at him, “Oh, absolutely!”

“This is the best Christmas ever!” He told her as joy suffused his entire being.

And he meant it. Everything in his life had come down to this.

He had been slowly falling in love with her since that first night in New York. He’d never dreamed she would return those feelings.

As the snow continued to fall outside, they gathered around the table with family and friends. It was almost Christmas, he had a sister-in-law, a nephew on the way, and a girlfriend.

Riley was his girlfriend.

The thought made him feel like he might explode from happiness overload, and for the first time since his mother died, Christmas actually felt joyous.

[arcplaysgames]

If the Fortune Arcana is literally a fortune teller, I am going to slash some tires. Especially since, like, the point of the fucking Wheel is that you are not in a position to see where it will turn.

Some journalist I've seen for like five minutes makes a deal with Reverie. She'll give a name of the criminal running the scams in Shibuya but she wants access to someone at Shujin who suffered under Kamoshida's abuse.

Which is a shitty deal, so calling it: Devil arcana.

Morgana suggests Mishima for the deal, so, uh

I hate Mishima but this feels terrible. 8C Come on, he's gonna think it's a date and instead someone is gonna ask him about the volleyball coach beating him. This sucks, Persona 5 Royal!!!! I hate this!

And Ryuji gets accosted by... drag performers??? Or are they just queer people? I am literally looking through my screencaps of this scene and I frankly don't get what it's trying to imply here???? I feel like it's a joke at my people's expense but I'm missing context, so. SHRUG.

Kaneshiro's palace seems to be the entirety of Shibuya's central street. Which made me think they just didn't want to make new assets but I'm proven wrong in a bit.

Seeing people as walking ATMs doesn't make sense to me, like, you withdraw from your own account with ATMs, not from the magical ATM fairy. I don't get this metaphor. Whatev!

TURNS OUT THE ACTUAL PALACE IS A FLYING BANK. Alright. That's sure a thing.

I feel like this was an incredibly valid question. Unfortunately, Morgana cannot turn into non-car things. Which really begs a lot of questions about why he can become specifically a van.

Ryuji when was the last time you were useful, homes, you are the one who got us into this fucking mess with Makoto because you kept screaming about being a Phantom Thief, you absolute dunderfuck. Don't insult Morgana.

Dinnertime at the Nijima Household.

This is a totally inappropriate reaction but I started laughing in disbelief because like. This turn is SO hard and SO sudden and came out of nowhere???? Sae, bruh, what the fuck, are you having a bad day?

OH MY GOD SHE IS LMAO THAT'S HER EXCUSE. And then she says she's going to stop coming home for dinner from now on???? Holy shit?

lmao as the main caretaker of a very frustrating person who drives me batshit, I am judging Sae so fucking hard right now. Remember the halcyon days when we first met Sae? God, I barely remember. Now she's interrogating our card collection and making Dojima look like Parent of the Year.

The Thieves meet up to talk about how to reach the Palace and Makoto just invites herself along again, and Ann happens to call her "useless" and oh my god is this like her trauma trigger?

ATLUS

WHO THE FUCK WAS YOUR SCENE COORDINATOR FOR THIS SEQUENCE

AM I SUPPOSED TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY?

YOU JUST FLASHED BACK TO A SCENE THAT LITERALLY JUST HAPPENED 40 SECONDS AGO.

Makoto completely loses her shit and is like "okay fine I will go find you Kaneshiro" and storms off

Gets shoved into the back of an unmarked car by two thugs

Everyone very reasonably flips their shit too and chases after her, including Ryuji throwing himself into the path of a speeding car to make it stop

which: is the most Chariot shit any Chariot has ever Charioted, but also if he got hit doing this, I would have deleted the game in a rage-blackout, i'm so furious with Makoto

and oh she leads them to Kaneshiro! and he immediately snaps a photo of them all for blackmail purposes. he wants 3 million yen in 3 weeks.

HEY YUSUKE?

THANK YOU

Everyone gets a shot of sympathy for Makoto because she's like super sorry that she flipped her shit and ran off and confronted some mafia dudes and got in their car and wound up needing a rescue and then got everyone on the hook for 3 million yen, which is about what I make in a fucking year (roughly)

whatever, they bring her into the Metaverse, she pops her Persona, it's a motorcycle, which is way more fucking cool than she deserves

you know what, same here. same here.

I think I feel comfortable saying, yeah, this is worse than Ryoji. If anyone is hoping I turn on Makoto later, do not hold your breath, because this is a staggeringly bad prolonged introduction to this character. I am to a point I want to sit down with the writers and just ask them to explain to me what impression they intended to leave on the player, taking a character who has thus far only been a stalker and harasser of the protagonists turned outright blackmailer turned into oh now someone else is blackmailing us bc of her? and then handing her off like "here's a new teammate"

what

the actual

fuck

thank you and good night. I'm going to bed.

[grandmaster-anne]

A royally good start

Horse & Hound | Published 20 June 2021

WHEN The Queen’s childhood governess Marion Crawford first met a young Princess Elizabeth, she found “a small figure with a mop of curls sat up in bed”, who had tied the cords of her dressing gown to the knobs of the bed and was busy driving her team.

‘‘Do you usually drive in bed?” Marion remembered asking, in her 1950 book The Little Princesses, to which the princess replied: “I mostly go once or twice round the park before I go to sleep. It exercises my horses.”

The 30-odd toy horses that she had, each standing a foot high on wheels, had a strict stable routine; their grooming basket stood at the end of a long line of them, first at No. 145 Piccadilly, and later in the corridors of Buckingham Palace. Each night they had their saddles removed, and were attentively fed and watered. And after her and Princess Margaret’s annual trip to Olympia Horse Show with their parents, the toy horses would be put through several weeks of intensive training. On other occasions Princess Elizabeth would harness her nanny with a pair of red reins to set off on a fictional delivery round.

“I would be patted, given my nosebag, and jerked to a standstill, while Lilibet delivered imaginary groceries, and held long and intimate conversations with her make-believe customers,” wrote Marion. “Sometimes she would whisper to me, ‘Crawfie, you must pretend to be impatient. Paw the ground a bit.’ So, I would paw.”

And at Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, where weekends were spent, two lifesized rocking horses were put outside the then Duke of York’s study, so he could hear his daughters riding while he worked.

WHEN Princess Elizabeth’s grandfather King George V gave her the diminutive Shetland Peggy when she was four years old, it was her first real taste of life in the saddle - and a place for her to channel the attentiveness she’d shown her toys. A photo from the 2014 exhibition Royal Childhood at the Summer Opening of Buckingham Palace shows her proudly leading her younger sister aboard Peggy, with the bowler-hat clad groom Mr Henry Owen, who taught her to ride, in attendance.

“[Princess Elizabeth] liked me to come and watch her [riding lessons with Mr Owen],” wrote Marion. “Her first canter was a great day. I used to walk with the dogs, and it was pretty to hear her bell-like voice through the trees talking to Owen about burs, galls and girths.”

For all the stereotyping of Shetlands being comically naughty, they have continued to be the royal family’s choice of breed for a child’s debut in the saddle. It was Queen Victoria’s fondness for the breed that helped raise their profile in the 19th century, according to Anne, Countess De La Warr, president of the Shetland Pony Stud Book Society.

“It made them popular with other Victorian mothers,” she says. “They’re particularly good as a first pony, but also as what I call a family pony; if you have a trap or a cart, you can all go on family picnics with them. I have one friend whose pony is said to know his way to the pub.”

Flora and Alma, two Shetlands who were presented to Queen Victoria by King Victor Emmanuel of Italy, proved particularly popular with her grandchildren, and it’s a trend that Anne continues to see today.

“Grandmothers can have them in the field and when a child comes to visit, you can hoik them out and put a saddle on. They’re amazingly easy,” she says.

If it weren’t for the grand surroundings, BBC footage from 1992 of The Queen with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie riding Smokey at Balmoral could be any idyllic scene of a grandmother with her grandchildren.

As Anne explains, the best Shetlands tend to come via word of mouth and the royal family is no exception in following that ethos on the hunt for the perfect pony. Prince William learnt to ride on the pint-sized Smokey aged four; Llanerch Topaz, another that the future king was pictured on as a child taught the Princess Royal’s children to ride and it was reported that Zara Tindall provided a Shetland for Prince George to kick-start his riding.

WHILE these early rides are the grand sum of some royal family members’ foray into equestrianism, for others it is just the start. Aged two, Princess Anne was bundled aboard Fum, and although her memories of the Shetland are vague, the experience paved the way for a series of more memorable ponies that would lay the foundations for her Olympic eventing career.

Holidays as a child were spent at Sandringham, Windsor and Balmoral. Each offered a different terrain for Princess Anne to tackle on horseback, usually accompanied by her mother and older brother, and assisted by the groom, Frank Hatcher, who helped the children catch the ponies and brush them, and reminded them to pick out their feet.

“The miles of stubble fields around Sandringham were pure luxury by today’s standards of relatively restricted hacking,” she remembered in her 1991 equestrian autobiography Riding Through My Life, reminiscing about the “rides” which had been cleared for Queen Alexandra to be able to ride through the woods and all over the estate without getting her hat knocked off.

“The best ‘fun’ riding was at Balmoral: riverside paths, woodland paths, hill paths and the golf course. It was all right if you rode on the rough, but you were definitely not popular if you got ‘carted’ away with across the fairways.” As for a young Princess Elizabeth, who won a driving class at the 1944 Royal Windsor Horse Show with her Norwegian pony Hans, Princess Anne’s initially modest competitive career started from Windsor, where most of her riding happened at weekends (although not on Sundays, which was the grooms’ day off).

She was a member of the Garth Hunt branch of the Pony Club - although she can count the number of rallies she went to on one hand.

“They were memorable for persuading me that gymkhana games were not my forte. The pony I had at the time was a 13.2hh called Bandit, who was charming and reliable in every way except that he refused to repeat himself. By that I mean that he would take part in one bending race, but tried very hard not to take part in the next,” Princess Anne wrote in her autobiography.

It was this same pony that knocked a young Prince Charles’s confidence when it came to jumping. On clearing one round the grey was known to “indulge in his well-known imitation of a horse rampant if asked to face up to round two,” remembered Princess Anne. Discovering hunting helped renew the Prince’s interest in jumping, and being introduced to polo by his father at the age of 13 was a world away from the tedious early lessons inflicted on him and his sister with Miss Sybil Smith at Holyport.

Princess Anne remembered: “Being put on a small, fat, white cob, on the end of a leading rein, one each side of a large, fat, white cob, ridden by Miss Smith, and being led, very sedately, around a cinder circle was not our idea of riding!”

Even with the abundant privilege, being royal couldn’t negate the calamities that accompany getting to grips with ponies. On holiday at Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the Queen Mother, a favourite expedition for Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret was to take the pony down to Glamis Station to watch the Aberdeen Fish Express go through.

“The pony was temperamental about trains, and the station master very kindly let us shut him up in the waiting room,” remembered governess Marion Crawford. “Unfortunately, one day when, as usual, we did this, the stationmaster had forgotten to warn us that he had put all his best chrysanthemums ready for the flower show in there. The pony ate the lot.”

A tumble came for Princess Anne when riding her bay 14.2hh Watersmeet High Jinks in from the field while leading another, and making an unplanned dismount on some hard cobbles. “Not for the first time he looked genuinely surprised at the antics of his erstwhile rider,” she wrote.

An earlier mount, Kirby Cane Greensleeves, left a lasting imprint on the Princess after the Welsh pony trod on her toe. “In that endearing way that ponies have, the more I shouted, the more I pushed and the more desperate I became, the harder she leaned,” she wrote.

And while the royal ponies might have nestled alongside horses reserved for pulling golden state carriages when they were stabled at Windsor Castle, it was often a refreshingly low-key existence. At Windsor, the ponies lived a distance from the Mews, so the children would take the tack down in the car, tack them up in the field and take them out from there.

“These were pretty rough, scruffy little objects,” remembered Princess Anne.

What was drummed into the children however by The Queen was that whatever went wrong, it was never the ponies’ fault. Along with Zara’s Pony Club grounding, this was a mantra that Princess Anne instilled in her own children, and one that seems likely to exist for the next generation.

“There is no doubt that the level of involvement required in equestrian sport teaches young people a great deal about life, especially that ‘life’ is not fair,” wrote Princess Anne. “Horses are no respecters of reputation or ego and certainly not of wealth, making them a challenge to everybody, whether looking after or riding them.”

Pictures by AFP via Getty Images, Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

[houseofbrat]

WHAT is going on?

This is the best PR disaster I’ve seen in years 🍿

Photos are manipulated (aka edited) all the time - for this one to have been manipulated in ways that are concerning enough for 3 of the biggest photo agencies in the world to order a kill notice on it is significant.

The thing that I keep coming back to is that if everything is fine, why are they messing things up so monumentally? It feels like every pr attempt has been made in crisis conditions by a bunch of people with no pr skills running on zero sleep. Why did no one check the photo before posting it through official channels to make sure that it didn’t have any glaring errors given the fact that they know they have eyes on them?

That’s what I mean. I normally don’t follow the royal family at all and I personally don’t feel entitled to know what Kate’s medical issues are but I’m absolutely invested in this BECAUSE of how badly the PR is being handled. They are literally making it seem like something weird is actually going on when it may not be. It’s almost like they are doing it on purpose to see the public’s reaction 😂

What’s wild to me in this thread are the people defending this and pretending it’s no big deal. If you care about the monarchy at all, the handling of this situation by their own people is now a five alarm fire. They’ve lied and been purposefully deceitful since the original announcement of Kate’s illness and it’s only gotten worse since then. Having a photo pulled down for manipulation by multiple huge organizations is a huge deal and they no longer have the queen to smooth everything over, they are up the creek.

Another kick in the teeth for KP. Another round of cope for their defenders. Can anyone honestly say they’re surprised at this point? I kind of doubt cosmetic editing is the only issue, because Lord knows that Kate — and other public figures, ofc — have been shopped & filtered into oblivion over the years. Makes me wonder what AP & Reuters think is happening here. And this just makes me even more curious why Kate didn’t wear her engagement ring in the photo. If they’re editing the pictures anyways, there’s literally no reason not to plonk Big Blue on there. This is top notch royal drama right here, please keep it coming.

What do you mean another round of cope?

It’s referring to the excuses that some royal fans keep clinging to. It’s been so fun watching the stans say that all of this is totally normal, and how dare the conspiracy theorists, and won’t you think of the privacy — and then it all blows up in their faces AGAIN. It’s like Lucy with the football!

I genuinely think we could be seeing the beginning of the end of the Royal Family here. People will say it’s a stretch and that I’m a conspiracy theorist or whatever but I honestly don’t see how, given the way this whole shit show has been handled, the public are meant to trust anything put out by the Palaces in future. We’re yet to see how this one ends but my god, it has been a rollercoaster and with every passing day there are more questions. Even people like me who don’t generally care about anything royal are wondering what on earth is going on. If, and when, it turns out that there has been some kind of cover up, even if it’s relatively minor, the people who never cared for the Royal Family will be able to (rightly) argue that they’re duplicitous and sleazy, and those who believed every word of it and leapt to their defence time after time will (and should) feel utterly betrayed.

As a publicist I’m just going to say I continue to be astonished by how terrible KP is at PR.

What do you think is going on?

I’m obviously not going to speculate on her actual condition but suspect the PR team knows little and the Wales’ - likely William - only listen to yes people. So they are holding close to the vest the truth and this means the PR team is spinning its wheels working from behind in a reactive stance as opposed to proactively being able to get ahead of a story or message accurately against it.

The constant messy drip drip of info and KP being so inconsistent with BP to me suggests they are kept in the dark and have to scramble every time something else comes out.

It’s really hard to advise clients/principals who won’t listen to reason, who won’t take good advice, who say they will comply but then in the moment do the opposite. I get all of those vibes from William in particular.

Being the Heir he got away with murder and now I suspect it’s hard/near impossible to get him to see reason.

They should have just been honest, messaged it as a teachable moment kinda like KC did with his cancer and stayed transparent, but my guess is William thinks whatever the truth is will make them look bad, so gestures at all of this

What in the world is going on? I’ve definitely raised my eyebrows at the goings-on at KP over the last few weeks, but the editing errors he highlighted in his Tweet don’t seem all that uncommon to me, especially the warping around Louis’s legs… though I’m no expert. I think something is up, but also was leaning towards the pic being taken recently. I consider AP and Reuters fairly trustworthy though, so seems odd they would pull it for shoddy photoshop work alone. Idk anymore.

the Associated Press and Reuters (and others who have killed this photo) are journalism organizations with strict guidelines about photography ethics, which forbids anything other than minimal photo editing. a shoddy photoshopping would be exactly the kind of thing they would object to when it comes to photos they distribute/endorse through their service. they explain more here: https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/telling-the-story/visuals

I'm old. Like, remember when Charles was considered the Most Eligible Bachelor old, watched the Royal Wedding and was surprised by the separation old, was up watching Saturday Night Live when the news broke about Princess Diana's crash old.

The last time I remember a PR crisis this bad was when Diana died and the public was clamoring for some word from the Queen. KP needs to work to right this, but so far, everything they do adds gasoline to the bonfire.

Declining to comment just seem really daft. You can ignore tabloids, but when its the AP and Reuters you should calm things down.

I'm still of the opinion that they were messy, but ultimately harmless edits made to the photo

Just say that. Fess up, you haven't committed a huge crime. You used the clone stamp tool or whatever to make the image look cleaner but the job was not up to par.

I guess setting the precedent that future images could be accused of being digitally altered is why they don't want to? Either that or the photos really is extremely faked

At this point you need a picture of Kate holding a newspaper with today's date otherwise no one is believing anything. And this isn't normal, this is unforced error, and we are all dealing with KP media strategy catastrophic errors and frankly William messing this up for weeks.

For them to put out a kill notice goes beyond a little Photoshop or filtering. There are so many odd things about the photo. The unseasonable greenery (yes, I'm saying it again though I got deleted for saying it before), the placement of the hands over, esp. Kate's. The obv. photoshop of Charlotte's hand is what they called out as proof but the photo just looks off.

The greenery is the least problematic thing. My garden faces north (and is further north) and the grass looks green but needs a trim. They probably have a lovely well maintained south facing garden.

It’s amur honeysuckle or winter honeysuckle hybrid. They are semi-evergreen like what’s seen here. Some leaves on & older looking, some leaves gone. If you look at the KP bird site, there’s a pic of PW on grass that green the day before or so. I’m confident about the shrub, can’t say about the grass.

Omg. What a DISASTER! I have never seen so many PR missteps in such a short period of time. This whole situation will have lasting damage on the British monarchy. Whatever trust people had is broken.

They said the photo was SEVERELY MANIPULATED to the point where it doesn't meet the AP's publishing guidelines.

That would possibly point to “there’s no image at all.” I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but this is beginning to feel a little alarming.

[blog-moved-lol]

Yesterday I came to the realization that I currently have 47 OCs that I never use for anything, so I decided to try something new. I'm going to attempt to write a short story every few days or so centering around one of my OCs. I set up two wheels, one full of all my OCs names and one full of types of story(Fluff, funny, romance, spicy, hurt comfort, hurt no comfort, improv, lore, and I might add more as we go on), so the plan is A) Spin the first wheel to determine the main character of the story B) Spin the second wheel to determine what kind of story it is, and then C) Go to my Spotify playlist of my favorite songs and spam the shuffle button a few times, then use the song I get as inspiration for what I'm writing :] I don't know if I'll be able to do this consistently because I'm not very confident in my own writing so I don't tend to enjoy it as much, but I'd like to try.

Today's rolls were:

Main Character: Alistair

Story Type: Improv(AKA I make up whether it's fluff, angst, etc, as I go)

Inspiration Song: Why Didn't You Stop Me? - Mitski

Here we go lol-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Photograph - OC Stories Day 1

As the sun finally slips beyond the horizon, the forest is bathed in a cold darkness that's occasionally broken by an enchanted torch mounted on the fence or a fairy lantern hanging on the wall. Alistair used to find the dark somewhat unnerving when he worked in the castle, since it was always so bright and sterile in the halls, but since his exile he has gotten used to the comfort it provides. Marilyn had come to his cabin today and the two had worked on some new potions and enchantments for their weaponry, so now Alistair is spending his evening tidying his kitchen of all of the herbs and questionable inventory Marilyn had presented for their experimentation session.

As Alistair goes to place a jar of fireflies back where it belongs on his coffee table, his red eyes are drawn to the photograph of the crown prince he has resting there. Ah, Prince Theseus in all his loveliness.. Alistair trades off the fireflies for the picture, taking a break from cleaning to sit on his couch and observe the photo. His gloved fingers trace gently over the curves of Theseus' face, smiling softly to himself. He feels a pang of emotion, perhaps guilt, in his heart as he thinks about the prince he once served, and his smile falters as he realizes just how long its been since the two have gotten to see each other. Madeline says that Theseus has been doing well, so that's good at least, but Alistair still misses the prince dearly. While yes, he had been Prince Theseus' servant he had also been his lover and partner in life, even if their relationship had been secret due to their different statuses and the King and Queen's beliefs. He wonders if Theseus even looks the same as he used to, with his fluffy blonde hair so perfectly framing his face and his green eyes shining with an almost childlike curiosity. Alistair, of course, looks very different from when he lived in the palace. Would Theseus even find him attractive anymore..?

[loganslowdown4]

Incorrect Quotes

March-July 2023

Hope For Everyone

Romantic Advice + Haiku Bot

GPS Directions

Bad Boys (Logicality)

Mutual Smackings (Logince)

Worse Than Heartbreak

Midnight Snack (Logince)

Straighter Than That Pole (Roceit)

Stupid Cute Nerd (analogical)

How Do You Sleep

Height of Stupidity

See Through Dress

Anxiety Kidnapping Gone Wrong (prinxiety)

Traitor Scale

Peer Pressure

Saucy Tie

Fighting or Flirting (Roceit)

Condescending + Writing Logince Headcanon

Then Beg

Games We Play

Battle Bot James

Left Brain Dating Challenge (prinxiety, Intrulogical)

Honeymoon (intruality)

Truth or Dare: Roceit Edition

Cross Crossword

Odd Epiphany

Rip The Bandaid (moceit)

Tony’s 33rd Birthday

Cat Stuck In A Tree (prinxiety)

Janus Drunk Confession (roceit)

Patton’s Plan?

Everything Milkshake

Incorrect Quote Vol 2 Official Post

A Lot Dramatic

Incorrect Quotes Vol 2 Banner?

Cupid At The Beach (analogical)

My Quote Made The Cut (IQ Vol 2)!!!

Abstract Thoughts

Lonely Lips (dukexiety)

Kitchen Drawers

Chillax

Mocktopus

Ultimate Showdown (prinxiety)

Roman’s Toy Store

Stop Scrolling (Self Promo)

What State?

10 Types Of People

Move With Your Mind

Heaven Is A Couch Sleep

Ordering Pizza (Prinxiety)

It’s The Only Way (moceit)

Sweet Trick

Cold Shoulders (logicality prinxiety)

Walking Headache

Order In The Court

Baby Insults (logince)

Kidnapped Your Son

Roses Are Red

Future Husband (Royality)

Free Stuff

Snake Joke (moceit)

Poly Jolly Mind Palace

Buttercup

Random Letters (SaSi + CT crossover)

New Birthday Jacket + Roman Photo 2020 (Logince)

Wits End

Just A TV Show

Nice & Cute (Roceit)

Violently Worries

Drunk Loyalty (moceit)

A Year of Minutes

Serotonin Please

Sick Of Everyone

Bust A Ghost

Logan’s ‘Owl’

Tell Me Why

What Won’t He Eat

Steering Wheel

Atoms Don’t Touch

Other Friends

Big Idiots

Prepare For the Dark Sides

He Called Me Pretty (dukexeity)

Pretty Boy

Intrulomoceit Polyidiotry

Self Care List

Everything’s Broken

Logan Giggled

Garbage Day

Spicy Dream (Intrulogical)

Accidental Gay (intruality)

Worst Boyfriend (logicality)

Three To Journey (poly)

Fight or Flirt (loceit)

Bringer of Gifts

100% Off (logicality)

Call Daddy (logince)

Peaceful Dinner (moceit)

[toptrekkingnepal]

Discover Nepal's Gems: Unforgettable Day Tours in Kathmandu and Pokhara

Are you ready to explore the heart of Nepal? Kathmandu and Pokhara offer captivating day tours that showcase the country's rich culture and natural beauty. Let's dive into the must-see attractions and experiences in these vibrant cities

Kathmandu: A Journey Through Time and Tradition

Kathmandu Day Tours - Nepal's capital is a treasure trove of ancient temples, bustling markets, and historical sites. Here are some top day tours to consider:

Durbar Square: Royal Splendor

Start your day at Kathmandu Durbar Square. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts:

• Intricate wood carvings

• Ancient palaces

• Hindu temples

As you wander, you'll feel like you've stepped back in time.

Swayambhunath: Monkey Temple Magic

Next, head to Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple. Climb the steps to enjoy:

• Panoramic city views

• Buddhist stupas and shrines

• Playful monkeys

Don't forget your camera for this picturesque spot.

Boudhanath: Tibetan Tranquility

End your Kathmandu day tour at Boudhanath. This massive stupa is the center of Tibetan culture in Nepal. Experience:

• Prayer wheels and flags

• Tibetan art and crafts

• Peaceful meditation spots

Pokhara: Nature's Paradise

Pokhara Day Tours - Pokhara, nestled by Phewa Lake, offers a different flavor of Nepal. Here's how to spend an unforgettable day:

Phewa Lake: Serene Waters

Begin with a peaceful boat ride on Phewa Lake. You'll enjoy:

• Reflections of the Annapurna range

• Visit to Tal Barahi Temple

• Lush greenery surrounding the lake

World Peace Pagoda: Hilltop Wonder

Hike up to the World Peace Pagoda for stunning views. This Buddhist monument offers:

• 360-degree vistas of Pokhara

• Peaceful meditation areas

• A glimpse into Buddhist architecture

Devi's Fall and Gupteshwor Cave: Natural Marvels

Explore the mysterious Devi's Fall and Gupteshwor Cave. These natural wonders showcase:

• Powerful waterfalls

• Unique rock formations

• Hindu shrines hidden in caves

Making the Most of Your Day Tours

To ensure an enriching experience:

1. Start Early: Beat the crowds and the heat by beginning your tours in the morning.

2. Hire a Guide: Local guides offer invaluable insights into the history and culture of each site.

3. Respect Local Customs: Dress modestly and remove shoes when entering temples.

4. Stay Hydrated: Nepal's climate can be warm, so carry water with you.

5. Capture Memories: Both cities offer countless photo opportunities. Don't miss them!

Cultural Immersion and Local Flavors

Your day tours aren't complete without experiencing local life. In Kathmandu, visit Thamel for:

• Souvenir shopping

• Traditional Nepali cuisine

• Live music and cultural shows

In Pokhara, explore Lakeside for:

• Laid-back cafes

• Adventure sports bookings

• Stunning sunset views

Conclusion: A Taste of Nepal's Diversity

Kathmandu and Pokhara day tours offer a perfect blend of culture, history, and natural beauty. From ancient temples to serene lakes, these cities showcase Nepal's diverse attractions.

Whether you're a history buff, nature lover, or cultural enthusiast, these day tours promise unforgettable experiences. So, put on your walking shoes, charge your camera, and get ready to fall in love with Nepal's charm.

Remember, these day tours are just the beginning. They'll leave you yearning to explore more of this beautiful country. Are you ready for your Nepali adventure?