#trope: royalty

[starcurtain]

Another Phaidei Fic I Want to Read

It's the political arranged marriage AU but make it (ooooo) complicated~

Crown Prince Mydeimos of Castrum Kremnos was born under a dark star, with a prophecy of abject despair uttered at the moment of his birth: Mydeimos will be the last king of Kremnos. The city-state will fall, her people will be lost, and the glory of Strife entirely will fade into nameless oblivion. Year after year, the prophets repeat the same warnings: Mydeimos is cursed, and he will bring the downfall of their kingdom and all its inhabitants.

But no one in Kremnos knew just how cursed their prince was until the day the regent's war council convinced their king to do the unthinkable: If Mydeimos was sacrificed, perhaps their prophecy of destruction could be averted and Kremnos saved...

Only Mydei couldn't even die like he was supposed to. No matter how many times he was mortally wounded, the boy just kept standing up--not even Thanatos would take him. That glorious death in battle that all Kremnoan warriors were expected to achieve--even this most central aspect of Mydei's own culture rejected him.

This life of betrayal and total loneliness, with the promise of eventually destroying everything he knew and cared for, seemed inescapable--until one day, when Mydeimos had already passed the age of majority (and would have long since been allowed to challenge his father for the crown if it weren't for the despair prophesied to be his reign), a new vision was shared among all of their people's seers: There was a way to avert their kingdom's impending destruction and save their people. "Only the son of Aedes Elysiae can deliver Castrum Kremnos from the dark tide and restore the true king to her throne."

Aedes Elysiae is a tiny city-state with nowhere near enough military might to defend against a full onslaught from the Kremnoans. But the risk that the Elysian prince could be harmed--and all of Kremnos' future lost in the process--is too high to engage in a traditional war of conquest. Although it runs contrary to the Kremnoans' very natures, if it means securing their kingdom's future and hiding the truth of their foreseen fate forever, they will engage in any manner of subterfuge and political maneuvering necessary.

Namely, by using the threat of war to force Aedes Elysiae to surrender their crown prince to a permanent and binding political alliance. If the Elysians want to avoid obliteration by the military might of the Kremnoans, they will tie the destiny of their crown prince to the Strifewalkers' through blood and oath--a marriage to Kremnos' own Prince Mydeimos. In this way, perhaps the curse can finally be outweighed by the glory of a savior.

Enter Phainon: the pride and joy of Aedes Elysiae, the golden sun to his people, loved by everyone who knows him. Although his heart has always been soft and romantic, rebelling fiercely at the idea of marrying someone he's never met and doesn't love, there is nothing Phainon won't do to protect his people and his kingdom--even if it means sacrificing himself.

So Phainon agrees to leave his family and homeland behind, and makes the miserable journey to Castrum Kremnos to meet his destiny... as well as his new husband.

Too bad Mydei wants absolutely nothing to do with him.

Disgusted by his father's willingness to forsake Kremnos' sacred principles of pride and integrity by using underhanded tactics and falsehoods to force Aedes Elysiae's prince into compliance, Mydei refuses to even acknowledge his marriage to Phainon, let alone look in his fellow prince's direction.

Which wouldn't be a problem, honestly, if it weren't for the fact that poor Phainon is smitten within days.

When the Kremnoans were strong-arming Aedes Elysiae's king into giving up his beloved son, why had no one thought to just tell Phainon that Prince Mydeimos was so... so... upright and honest and brave and powerful and gorgeous and straightforward and humorous and quick-witted and honorable and also gorgeous? (Phainon thinks perhaps this last point should be repeated a few more times for good measure.) Truly, Phainon might have gone willingly if anyone had just thought to show him a portrait of his husband-to-be in advance!

While Phainon struggles to catch his own husband's attention and soften Mydei's seemingly unbreakable stone heart, Mydei struggles with his father's demands to keep his curse hidden, to not reveal the omen of destruction lurking behind this sham of a marriage. Though having to lie shreds every last tatter of pride Mydei has, if this prince of Aedes Elysiae discovers the truth, that he's been brought here solely to counteract Mydei's prophesied inability to reign, Kremnos' enemies will know it within the hour. A single weakness will be all the world needs to turn on the Kremnoans, to bring Mydei's terrible destiny to pass.

And... And if Phainon learns the truth about Mydeimos, about his curse, about how he is an abomination that not even death will accept, about the misery he is destined to bring, about the failures that are sure to come, about how he is hated by his country, his people, his own family--then Mydei will lose the first person who has ever smiled freely at him, ever wanted to walk beside him, ever spoke kind words in his direction...

There is no way Phainon would ever look at him the same again.

There is no way Phainon would stay.

And that would be cruelest fate of all.

(What Mydei and Castrum Kremnos don't know is that Phainon has a secret of his own: He's not royalty by blood in the slightest. He was a penniless orphan who just got lucky enough to be taken in by the castle and end up, through twists in his own destiny, to be raised by the childless rulers of Elysiae from nothing but the kindness of their hearts.

There is no son of Aedes Elysiae to save Castrum Kremnos from its fate--and the dark tide comes for all.

But visions bestowed by the gods must not be doubted. Perhaps the combined efforts of two lonely people--the one who forsook his own land for love and the one who could only be loved by someone from another land--will see the sun of Aedes Elysiae delivered to Kremnos once more...

And put a true and honest king upon her throne at last.)

[whumpwillow]

a royal who’s trained for assassination attempts, specifically poisoning. building up a resistance by taking small doses, getting sick, writhing in pain, and healing only to do it again and again and again until their body no longer reacts to it anymore.

then they switch to a different poison.

[lauri-rosehearts]

The lost royalty trope, they could never make me hate you 🫶😔

[avalanchinedream]

so when is someone gonna take one for the team & write a slow burn 'princess x her personal guard' melvika royalty au? where mel is the princess of the kingdom of piltover & sevika 'one of the greatest fighters in the nation' is sought after & hired to protect mel after a failed assassination attempt. the arguments, the tension, the TEASING omg...them both disliking the arrangement at first bc mel believes she can take care of herself & sev for obvious reasons but growing to fall for each other after spending so much time together. sev giving her loyalty to someone deserving of it. PLEASE SOMEONE HEAR ME!!!

[villain-enthusiast]

The hero knew they'd be found one day.

So they weren’t entirely surprised when they were ambushed in their house, drugged, and dragged off to the enormous castle that they used to call home. But their anticipation didn’t stop the dread from pooling in their gut as they were tossed, unceremoniously, onto the ground.

They stifled a groan, flexing their bound hands behind them as they tried to shake off the last of the sedative in their system. Someone grabbed the scruff of their collar and yanked them up to their knees before pulling down their blindfold.

They blinked several times at the ground, squinting through the sudden change in light. As their vision cleared, the marbled pattern of the throne room's floor came into view and they involuntarily stiffened.

"Dismissed."

Fuck. That voice. The cold, cutting power laced in every syllable, the venom in each word that had haunted the hero's dreams for years, even after they escaped. Or so they thought they did. The hero's mouth went dry.

They kept their gaze trained down, hearing the guards behind them leave and close the doors with a harsh, resolute click.

Silence stretched between the hero and the villain, who sat languidly on the throne in a grotesque show of vanity. Of pride.

After a moment, the villain sighed. "So you thought you could get away."

The hero swallowed, hard. "I guess I was just playing hard to get." They hated how unstable, how hoarse their voice was.

The villain chuckled dryly. "You, my prized possession, the greatest weapon I've ever had the pleasure of crafting, were just playing hard to get." The hero heard them shift in their seat. "I'm sure that's a fantasy you'd love to be true, but I knew you'd run. Did you really think I haven't dealt with this before?"

"Guess I thought I'd get lucky." The hero looked up then, to stare the villain straight into their eyes.

The villain held their gaze and smiled, flashing teeth. "Unfortunately, even the most precious treasures are always found at some point." They tilted their head, brow furrowing. "Come here."

The hero did not move.

The villain tapped a finger, and an invisible force pulled the hero taut, dragging them towards the foot of the throne. They grit their teeth, knowing better than to struggle, but hating the agonizing memories that flashed through their head of when they used to fight back, of what the villain was capable of beyond simple commands.

"I see you've grown into disobedience after so many years," the villain tutted. "That's certainly fixable, but what I want to know," they dragged a hand through the hero's disheveled hair, who shuddered at the familiar touch, "is if you still remember what I've taught you." Their touch suddenly turned sharp as they grabbed a fistful of—

The hero's body reacted to the pain before their mind did, and they kicked their leg around, slamming their foot into the villain's forearm. Apparently they still remembered a thing or two.

They landed on their stomach, panting as they faced the wide expanse of the gilded room before them. The villain crouched down beside them, placing a boot on their back and squeezing the air from their lungs.

"Look at you. You could've had all this," the villain hissed in their ear. They grabbed the hero's chin, forcing them to look up. "You could've been by my side, sitting with me on the throne. But you chose to run and try to become someone who could overthrow me, the very person who created you. You are nothing, nothing, without me."

For the first time since they've been back, fear struck the hero deep in their heart. "Please," they breathed, and immediately realized their mistake.

Begging was a weakness. A crack in the boulder. An infection in a festering wound. And the villain saw it all too well.

"Forgiveness," the villain murmured, honey-sweet, "is for the traitors. Punishment is for the cowards. Which one do you think you are?"

As the villain's hand tightened on their face, the hero closed their eyes, knowing the question had already been answered for them.

[profoundmakerdreamerss-blog]

Tomarry AU where Tom HATES this book he read because his favourite character dies a miserable death. So what if his favorite character was a no-named side villain? Why does it matter that he only had like seven lines (seven is Tom's favourite number anyways)? He was still gorgeous, smart and strong and beautiful — and it doesn't matter that others think he isn't all that because they would never know him— understand him like TOM DOES.

An AU where Tom has a healthy obsession with a character named Harry Potter, a no named baron's son who was the first to go against the king (MC's father, and the mc who is incidentally known as Draco Malfoy, ahem anyways); he tries to “poison” him. But he gets caught or to be more precise he ends up sacrificing himself for the common girl Hermione Granger (the female lead, I'm sorry guys but imagine the fucking drama.) who gets blamed for his transgressions.

But that is not why Tom falls for this weak villain, no — it's because he respects how this no-named orphan became a baron on his own two feet without anyone being there for him especially in a world where old money and title is everything— and he hates how he had to give his life for the MC to notice the female lead? (Harry is better looking and smarter than her anyways — Tom, in an online forum perhaps.)

Anyways, now imagine Tom dying (he hated it so yes he ends up looking for immorality anyways.) and waking up in the world he hated. Now imagine, Tom Riddle, waking up in the body of a Duke who wasn't even given a name in the novel. (He would know because he has a photographic memory, ok? It's totally not because he read it more than 14 times) and then saying fuck it and owning it.

Just think, Tom taking over the world slowly with his worldly knowledge while trying to keep Harry alive because even though he was right about Harry being smart; the guy treats his life like Draco treats his money - you get the idea.

[wigglebox]

Suptober [Extended] - Day 18 || Royalty 👑

[saintberceuse]

The whole theme of classism is just shoehorned in and pointless.

The Mastermind, Blitz randomly states that all he was trying to do was fight against the system that the Sins created. It feels like a big cool line, but where did that even come from!?

He's in court for a crime he didn't commit and even pleaded not guilty ???? Why is he now a martyr for all of imp kind ??? I get him switching from innocent to guilty to save Loona, Moxxie, and Millie, but the whole "I'm an imp that's upset at how lower demons are treated" is just so random and forced in.

And the way the episode ends with the other imps loving and celebrating Blitz ... as if he has ever actually done anything to help them :/

I'm sorry? Did they not all watch the rest of the televised trial where Stoals comes in and literally [lies] says he was behind it all ??? Why is Blitz a hero ???

I understand the angle from say Satan and Andy. Andy lied and framed the situation as a sort of coup (an imp tried to kill a goetia), and Satan bought it and set up the trial/execution around the idea of "lesser demons need to know their place." But beyond that initial scheme from Andy, nothing about what happened has anything to do with classism.

Nothing was changed or fixed, or at the very least, the issue wasn't even brought to light since the trial concluded in a way that moved away from that theme. A higher demon royalty is now believed to have set up his own kidnapping/hit (no imp uprising took place). A higher demon royalty saved the day. A higher demon royalty was the only one punished. A lesser demon did absolutely nothing wrong: didn't try to fight the system, didn't try to inspire an uprising, didn't save the day in any way, didn't get unfairly punished, etc. None of the "sympathetic" royalty/rulers in any way changed anything or had their eyes opened to the class imbalance and injustice-Ozzie and Bea ultimately do not care enough to actually try and do something. Stolas only saved an imp's life because he's in love with this particular imp. The only way any higher up demon cares about lower demons is because they're in love with one, but they really only care about the one.

"All I was trying to do was change the system you forced us in" - imp that is in love with royalty and is only able to make a living because he has this connection, plus is buddy-buddy with literal rulers that also created the very system he hates.

[silvertongues-emeraldlies]

“Fated” - Killian Jones x Princess!Reader

Masterlist

Pairing: Killian Jones x Princess of Agrabah!Reader

Summary: Years after a short but unforgettable meeting with Captain Killian Jones in Agrabah, you’ve moved on and are now engaged. But when a visit to your sister reunites you with the pirate who once captured your heart, old feelings resurface, challenging your resolve. As your wedding day draws near, you're caught between the life you’ve chosen and the love you thought you had left behind. In a world where duty and desire collide, you must decide if you’ll follow your heart or honor your obligations.

Warnings: Angst, unrequited(ish) love, mentions of an arranged marriage, possible cliffhanger

The sands of Agrabah seemed like a lifetime ago. The memories of warm desert nights and the aroma of exotic spices filled your mind as you looked out over the familiar horizon, lost in thoughts of what once was—and what could never be again. It had been years since you last saw him, and you had tried so hard to leave that chapter behind. You had even convinced yourself that you had succeeded. Until a night weeks ago… Fate has a strange way of dredging up the past when you least expect it.

When Jasmine invited you to visit Storybrooke, you thought it would be a chance to escape the pressures of your upcoming marriage, a way to clear your mind before stepping into your future with Amir, the noble prince to whom you were now engaged. You didn’t expect to find the one man who could unravel all your family’s carefully laid plans with just a glance. It had been a quiet night in the small town, the air thick with the scent of pine and earth—so different from the heady perfumes of Agrabah. You had just stepped out of Granny’s Diner, the warmth of the cozy establishment clinging to your skin, when you heard a voice you thought you’d never hear again.

“Y/n?”

You froze, the world around you falling away. It was impossible. This was Storybrooke, a world far removed from the one you had shared with him. And yet, there he was, standing before you. Captain Killian Jones. The pirate who had stolen more than just little trinkets from Agrabah all those years ago.

“Killian,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. The sight of him sent your heart into a frenzy, memories crashing over you like waves against a rocky shore.

He took a step closer, his eyes scanning your face as if trying to convince himself that you were real. “I never thought I’d see you again,” he murmured, his voice laced with a mixture of wonder and pain.

You swallowed hard, your mind racing to catch up with your emotions. “I didn’t expect to see you either,” you admitted, forcing yourself to maintain your composure. “What are you doing here?”

“I might ask you the same question, love,” he replied, a hint of his old roguish charm creeping into his voice. “But it seems our paths were destined to cross once more.”

Destined. The word lingered in the air, heavy with the weight of all the things left unsaid. But before either of you could say more, another voice cut through the tension—a voice that pulled you sharply back to reality.

“Y/n, there you are.”

You turned to see Prince Amir, your fiancé, approaching with a warm smile. He was every bit the regal, composed prince you had always imagined marrying—kind, honorable, and dedicated to his people. But standing there between him and Killian, the contrast between the two men was stark.

“Amir,” you greeted, your voice faltering slightly as you tried to compose yourself. “This is Killian Jones, an… old friend from Agrabah.”

“An old friend,” Amir repeated, his smile tightening as he shook Killian’s hand. “How fortunate that you should meet again. Though, I do hope this is a brief reunion. We have much to attend to before our return to Agrabah.” The words hung in the air like a death sentence. You knew what Amir was implying, and so did Killian. You could feel the weight of your impending marriage bearing down on you, the choices you had made now seeming more suffocating than ever. You could feel Amir’s gaze on you, but at that moment, it didn’t matter. All you cared about was the man standing before you, the one who had haunted your dreams for years.

“I won’t keep you,” Killian said, though his eyes never left yours. “But perhaps, before you leave, the princess might spare a moment for an old friend?”

Amir looked like he wanted to refuse, but you placed a calming hand on his arm. “It’s alright, Amir. I’ll see you at home in a bit.”

Amir stiffened beside you, but he didn’t object. With a slight nod, he released your arm. “I’ll be waiting,” he said, though his eyes held a warning that this conversation couldn’t last long. As Amir walked away, you turned back to Killian, your heart pounding in your chest. He finally faced you, his expression unreadable.

“Killian,” you began, but he cut you off with a shake of his head.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice raw. “Just… tell me, are you happy? Is this what you truly want?”

As you stood there, with Killian so close, memories of your time together in Agrabah flooded back. The secret meetings, the whispered conversations, the way he made you feel like the world was full of endless possibilities.

“I don’t know,” you admitted, your voice trembling. “Everything’s changed. I’ve changed.”

“But have your feelings?” he pressed, stepping closer, his voice low and urgent. “Tell me you don’t feel the same way, and I’ll walk away. But if there’s even a part of you that still cares for me…”

“Killian, I—”

You stopped, the words catching in your throat as the past rushed back to you. You remembered the first time you met Killian in Agrabah.

You were a princess, living a life of luxury and duty, content with your role until he sailed into your world. The moment you met him, something shifted inside you. He was everything you were supposed to avoid—dangerous, unpredictable, a rogue. But you couldn’t help it. You were drawn to him, like a moth to a flame. Days turned into nights as you spent more time together, sneaking away from the palace to explore the vibrant streets of Agrabah, talking for hours about your dreams and fears. And somewhere along the way, you fell in love with him. But you never told him. How could you? You were a princess, bound by duty and tradition, while he was a pirate, free to live by his own rules. The love you felt was a secret, something you kept close to your heart even as you knew it could never be.

Then one day, he was gone. No warning, no goodbye. Just… gone. You tried to forget him, to move on, but the memory of him lingered like a shadow that refused to fade.

Now, standing here in Storybrooke with him so close, those old feelings came rushing back. But the reality of your situation was unavoidable. You were engaged. Your life was set on a different path, one you had no choice but to follow.

“Killian, I can’t,” you whispered, your heart breaking as you spoke the words. “I wish I could, but I can’t.”

His face fell, the hope in his eyes fading to sorrow. “I lost you once,” he said quietly, “and now it seems fate is determined to keep us apart again.”

“I haven’t forgotten,” you said, your breath hitching. “But those were just dreams, Killian. They could never be real. You reminded me of that when you left”

“It was a mistake.” he pleaded, his eyes searching yours for answers. “Why can’t we make them real, Y/n? What’s stopping you from choosing your own happiness?”

You glanced down at the engagement ring on your finger, the symbol of a life you had agreed to—a life that, until this moment, you had convinced yourself was the right path. But standing here with Killian, all those certainties seemed to crumble.

“My family, my people… they expect me to marry Amir,” you said, your voice barely above a whisper. “He’s a good man, Killian. He’ll be a good husband and an ally for Agrabah. I owe it to them—to everyone—to fulfill my duty.”

“Duty,” Killian scoffed, his expression hardening. “What about your duty to yourself? What about what you want, Y/n?”

The tears you had been holding back finally spilled over, and you shook your head, helpless against the torrent of emotions that overwhelmed you. “I don’t know what I want anymore,” you confessed, your voice trembling. “All I know is that I can’t abandon my responsibilities. I can’t be selfish, no matter how much it hurts.”

Killian’s gaze softened, and he took your hand in his, his touch gentle despite the turmoil in his eyes. “Loving someone isn’t selfish,” he said quietly. “It’s the most selfless thing you can do. But if you truly believe you’ll be happier with him, then I won’t stand in your way.”

Your heart ached at his words, and for a brief moment, you considered taking his hand and running away from it all—escaping the chains of duty and expectation that bound you. But reality crashed back in, and you knew you couldn’t do it. You couldn’t abandon your family, your kingdom, your people. Not even for him.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, the words tasting like ash on your tongue. “I wish things were different, but this is the life I have to live.”

Killian stared at you for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a heavy sigh, he let go of your hand. “Then this is goodbye, Princess,” he said, his voice hollow.

You nodded, though the tears continued to fall. “Goodbye, Killian.”

He turned and walked away, each step taking him further from you, from the life you could have had together. As you watched him disappear into the night, a part of you died, knowing that you would never see him again. You were stuck frozen for a while, watching as Killian walked away until a notification from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts.

‘Why did Amir just walk into the house looking like he’s going to kill someone?’ Jasmine’s text stated, making you smile sadly. As you glanced up briefly towards the direction of where Killian walked before making your way back home. You had barely talked to Amir that night, choosing to let it go as you both spent the night packing and getting ready to return back to Agrabah.

The following day, the weight of your decision pressed down on you like a physical burden. You moved through the preparations for your departure from Storybrooke in a daze, your mind replaying the events of the previous night over and over. You knew you had made the right choice—at least, that’s what you kept telling yourself—but the pain of it lingered, a constant ache in your chest. As you gathered with Jasmine, Aladdin, Amir, and the others for the journey back to Agrabah, you felt the walls closing in around you. The return to your homeland should have been a comfort, a reminder of the duty you had to fulfill. But instead, it felt like a prison sentence.

Killian was there, of course—part of the group accompanying you back. But he kept his distance, his demeanor cool and detached. It was as if he had already accepted your decision and moved on. But you knew better. You could see the tension in his jaw, the way his hands clenched at his sides whenever Amir was near. The journey to Agrabah was long and silent, each passing day a reminder of the life you were leaving behind—the life you could have had if only you had been brave enough to choose it. And now, as the sun dipped below the horizon on the night before your wedding, you found yourself standing alone on the balcony of your chambers, staring out at the party happening in the courtyard. Everyone seemed so happy…so excited for the wedding, so why weren’t you feeling the same? You couldn’t bring yourself to join in. Your thoughts were consumed by the man you had left behind, the one who had walked away from you without looking back…twice.

You were so lost in thought that you didn’t hear the soft footsteps behind you until it was too late. “You’re not celebrating.”

You turned, startled to find Killian standing there, his expression unreadable. The sight of him took your breath away, and for a moment, all the emotions you had tried to bury came rushing back.

“No,” you replied quietly, your voice barely above a whisper. “I needed some air.”

He nodded, his gaze flicking to the horizon. “It’s a beautiful night,” he said, his voice soft. “Perfect for a celebration.”

“Is that why you’re here?” you asked, unable to keep the bitterness from your tone. “To celebrate?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’m here to say goodbye,” he said, his voice heavy with regret. “For real this time.”

Your heart clenched at his words, and you looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “I thought we already said our goodbyes,” you whispered.

“Not properly,” he replied, stepping closer. “There’s something I need to tell you before I leave.”

You glanced at him, your pulse quickening. “What is it?”

He hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. Then, with a deep breath, he spoke.

“I love you, Y/n.” he said, his voice low and intense. “I’ve loved you since the moment I met you, and I don’t think I’ll ever stop. But I can’t stay here and watch you marry someone else. It’ll kill me.”

The tears you had been holding back all night finally spilled over, and you shook your head, your chest aching with the pain of it all. “Killian, please don’t do this,” you pleaded, your voice breaking. “I’m sorry, I can’t—“

“Don’t,” he interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. “Don’t apologize, love. I’m not here to make things harder for you. I just needed you to know how I felt, before I walk away for good.” You took a shaky breath, your mind spinning with a thousand conflicting emotions. You had made your choice, and you knew it was the right one—but hearing Killian’s confession made you question everything.

He smiled softly, though the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable. “Take care of yourself, Princess,” he said, his voice soft and full of longing. “Be happy. You owe it to yourself.” And with that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the night. You watched him go, your heart breaking all over again. As the door to your chambers closed behind him, the reality of your decision settled over you like a shroud. Tomorrow, you would marry Amir and fulfill the duties expected of you. But tonight, you allowed yourself to grieve for the love you had lost—for the life you could never have.

The sands of Agrabah stretched out before you, endless and unforgiving. And as you stared out into the night, you knew that no matter how much time passed, a part of you would always belong to Killian Jones but this was the price you had to pay. The price of being a princess.

————

Author’s Note: This was kind of rushed but I wanted to post something. Let me know what you guys think!

There may also be a second part coming out, if you guys want it?

Thank you for reading!! <3

Masterlist

[shy-raccoon]

The princess uses her political power to protect her kingdoms dragon population from knights who are driving dragons closer and closer to extinction by poaching them for their teeth, claws, scales, and the title of dragon slayer.

[chaotic-orphan]

Semantics

“It’s quite simple really,” the usurper says, his face impassive but his eyes burning with a malicious promise of pain as he twirls his dagger between his fingers. “Bend the knee, or die.”

The nobles were corralled like beasts, and now cowered before Usurper on his blood stained throne. One of the oldest nobles, Sir Mourden something or other steps forward, well, more like hobbles forward, his beak nose high in the air.

“We do not bend to bas—” in one swift motion Sir Mourden’s head is severed from his body. His body gasps and stutters forward still, as if it didn’t know its head was missing yet, and crumbles to the ground on the steps of the throne. Screams ring out through the hall as Usurper grins, and catches the head of Sir Mourden that Black Knight threw at him.

“Old fart,” Usurper muttered fondly. He fists a clump of the old man’s hair and lifts his head so the other nobles can see. He either didn’t care or didn’t notice the blood and guts spilling onto his armour, but in any case he smiles and reaches to grab the old man’s chin like a puppet. “Bend the knee or die,” he says again, in a pompous, dry voice like Sir Mourden’s.

Gasps of disgust and rude, albeit true, insults fly his way, but one by one the nobles bend their knee, the ones in front first and working in lines all the way back. Regular as clockwork.

Usurper tosses the head away, ready to stand and say his piece when he notices the one noble that remains standing. His clever, cruel eyes narrow, but a small wicked smile graces his lips as he realises it’s a girl.

“You wish to die?” He asks her, his voice booming through the room. A wave of startled gasps ripple through the crowd, all turning to see the fool that refused to bend their knee.

A man beside the girl yanks at her dress, and tries to get her to submit with the rest of them, but the girl rips her sleeve out of his grip, head held high. She never drops eye contact with Usurper.

Usurper beckons her forward. “Bring her to me.”

“No, wait,” the man beside her begs as soldiers descend through the crowd. “Please! She’s just a girl, your highness, please!”

“Silence, subjects, you will all witness what happens to those who disobey your king.”

The soldiers hand the girl to Black Knight who tosses her in front of the steps to Usurper’s throne. She almost falls, but catches herself and remains standing. Her glare defiant.

“My, my,” Usurper purrs, descending the steps towards the girl. He takes slow deliberate steps, as if he were born a pompous nobleman’s son and walked with the same swagger they did. He kicks Sir Mourden’s body away from the steps, the tiles slick with blood as the body slides. “That look in your eyes could kill if you’re not more careful with it, love.”

“That is the intention.”

Usurper laughs. His hand snaps out and grabs her chin between his gloved fingers, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. Nothing. Not a flinch, or a flicker of doubt. This girl had nerves of steel.

“You dare threaten your King? You realise that is treason, right?”

Her lips curl back. “Tell that to the last one.”

Usurper smirks. There was something off about her, something inherently wrong with her. He just couldn’t quite put his finger on what. Usually, Usurper was a master at reading people, it was why this coup was so simple, but he didn’t know how to read this one, simple girl?

“You wish to die?”

“That was the ultimatum, right?” She hisses, grabbing his wrist and pulling his hand from her chin. “Bend the knee or die. I’d rather die than live amongst traitors, and bend a knee to a foreign Usurper.”

A hush falls over the crowd. Usurper’s eyes flash to Black Knight who has one hand on their great sword just waiting for Usurper to give the word.

“Alright,” he says and steps away. He motions Black Knight forward, and just before they swing their sword, Usurper hooks his foot around the girl’s ankle and she falls just in time for the sword to glide over where her throat should be.

Wide terrified eyes meet Usurper’s grinning ones as the girl tries to push herself up on the blood soaked floor. Her hand slips in the old man’s blood and she falls back with a gasp, adrenaline coursing through her body and leaving her trembling before him.

Usurper dropped to a crouch beside her, tilting his head as he spoke. “You are hereby sentenced to death. Not yet, though. I want to have some fun with you before.”

The girl’s eyes widened impossibly wider. “But— but you said—”

“Kneel or die. I didn’t specify when you’d die.” Before the girl can reply, Usurper stands. “Guards. Take her to the dungeons.”

“No! Wait,” the girl cries as arms encircle hers and yank her to her feet. Black Knight shackles iron cuffs around her wrists and gives the chain to her escorts as they lead her out of the throne room screaming. “KILL ME!” She screams. “KILL ME! Let me go!”

The heavy doors shut and muffle her cries for help. Usurper grins at his new subjects. “A bit of fun is always necessary when governing a kingdom,” he says as he stands, spreading his blood stained hands. “Now where was I before we were rudely interrupted?”

*~*~*~*~*

Continued here

[whumpwillow]

Abused royal Whumpee? Whumpee who is heir to the throne, but his parent passed away and kingdom is under a rule of regent until Whumpee is of age. But regent does not want to give away power and abuse Whumpee so he won't dare to go against them in the future. And fun part would be if Whumpee for example was starved and forced to sleep on the floor and beaten, but then all of the signs of abuse got covered up with pretty clothes and no one knows what Prince is going through. Bonus points if Whumpee is seen as spoiled. Whumpee is exhausted from spending night in cold cell and is taking breaks often and people see him as lazy. Or people see pretty clothes and say "you live in such luxury I bet you eat meat every day" and Whumpee does not even eat every day

op i want you to know that you are SO valid for this, this is delicious. I love it and I want it in everything

[dumplingsjinson]

I LOVED your new years one thank youuuuu may I request some royalty prompts/dialogue? Like maybe a royal x a royal OR royal x servant if possible please~

(happy new years btw hope you have a decent 2023). 🥂

(A late ass happy new year and I hope 2023 has been decent to you so far!)

List of “royal x royal” prompts 

“This castle’s ground is all that I ever knew, until I met you — you, who brought me a whole new perspective of the world beyond these walls. And God, is it fucking beautiful when I’m experiencing it beside you.” 

“My father hates you.” “Trust me, I know. My father hates me too, but I’m the only child who can inherit the throne so… You know. It’s rough out here.” 

“You’re indebted to me for life, love.” “…Fuck you.”

“We shouldn’t be doing this. We might run the risk of getting caught,” Character A murmurs as Character B’s hand settles on the small of their back. “Tell me you don’t want this and I’ll stop,” Character B says, staring into Character A’s eyes. Character A doesn’t say anything in response, and Character B smiles, hand straying further down. “Thought so.” 

“I promise you I’ll do whatever it takes to take you down.” “And so will I.” 

“I don’t want to take the throne. I don’t want any of this. I never asked for this.” “…Neither do I. Let’s… Let’s run away together? To somewhere else, where no one can find us. Where we don’t have to hide; where we don’t have to be under the control of our own parents.” 

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” “I came to see you, what do you think?”

“How did you get into my room?!” “Might have sneaked past the guards and bribed some of the weaker ones who saw me and injured the ones who tried to fight me?” 

Throwing cursory glances at each other whenever their families are in the same room as each other.

“We’re destined to be enemies, not lovers. At least not in this life. We’re not meant to be.” “I don’t care. Fuck destiny, we’ll make our own destiny if it means I get to be with you.” 

List of “royal x servant” prompts 

“You’ve been there for me since we were kids. You’re my best friend. You’ve been through the good and the bad with me. You’ve never left my side, and maybe you didn’t have a choice in the matter, but you never gave me any indicators that you wanted to abandon me. You’re everything I could ever want. I’m not letting them you send you away like this.” 

“The thing is, you can give me anything in the world but yourself. You’ve given the world yourself, but you can’t give the same to me. And I don’t want anything but you.”

“Let’s elope.” “I can’t make you throw away everything just to—” “I don’t want any of those things anyways. I never asked for them. I want you, and only you.” 

“Can you come into my room for a second?” “But—” “Do as I say before I make you.” 

“What’s all of this?” “I bought all of this for you.” “You know you can’t just worm your way into someone’s heart with money, right?” 

“Me or the throne?” “God, don’t fucking do this—” “Did I stutter? Me? Or the Throne?”

“Sir/Madam—” “I told you to use my name.”

“Did you ever think that maybe this isn’t going to work out? If you truly loved me, then you’d let me go and find someone I can actually be with.” “…But do you really want me to let you go?” 

“You need to get off your high horse; you’re not better than anyone else just because you have your whole life planned out for you. Destined to sit and die on that throne, or have someone murder you in cold blood to take your place, and then being remembered as the one who died to some backstabbing asshole; a little sad, don’t you think?” “…No one else other than you speaks to me like this. It’s hot. Keep talking.” 

“Status? That doesn’t mean shit if you’re not by my side.” Character A sighs, running their fingers through their hair, their head drooping. “Just— I’m sorry, I know it’s selfish for me to say, but please don’t leave. I’ve only ever had you. You’re the only one who can look me in the eyes and tell me how it is; the only one who understands what I really want. The only one who understands the real me.” 

[fictionadventurer]

Sometimes it's good to create stories that are nuanced and meaningful and explore deep themes and complex characters. And sometimes you need to create stories that make you CACKLE WITH DELIGHT because of how dumb they are.

[yuwuta]

i love love love regency aus princes and princesses and knights and bakers and blacksmiths and arranged marriages and secret marriages and going off to war for your beloved and sneaking into war for your beloved and starting a war for your beloved and sending letters and having candlelit dinners and horseback riding and secret rendezvous in abandoned woods and getting injured and then patched up by your beloved it's all so very lovely to me

[phishyie]

@theguardianofmagic

Digging through the vault and found these old sketches of these two, almost directly after the original scene I sketched of them! Bowen is a delightful character who I loved to make fun of in my old rp days (re: ten years ago, @heronarose )

For context, Bowen is a knight to the Princess, affectionately called “Darling” by most, save for the knight errant himself. He’s a bit more rigid and a stick in the mud than anyone else in this world, but let’s assume he means well. Guard dog privilege, very repressed feelings, lots of obliviousness (Darling) and yearning (Bowen).

Coincidentally, these two exist in the same universe as Donnie, who I also haven’t drawn in ages… but that’s a story for another day.

Meanwhile, back on the farm, and drawn far more recently - maybe they aren’t kissing, but certainly some not-so-sober longing gazes from one particular knight!