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kuroneko1815

Kuroneko1815

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kuroneko1815 · 7 days

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How to be the favorite uncle as told by Reynold Eckhart

Reynold stared at his new niece with a frown, he found her resemblance to the bast… uh… the emperor disconcerting but she was still adorable away from that. He turned to Derrick and smugly declared, “I’m going to be her favorite uncle!”

Derrick merely rolled his eyes. “You go do that.” He said as he turned his attention back to the baby in their father’s arms. The Imperial bastard was staring at them hard.

Father was still sobbing, upset about her resemblance to her father and the lack of features that she had inherited from Penelope who was asleep within her room, napping after an evening spent feeding the babe. The Emperor faired better than the Empress in this case it seemed. Penelope had refused to use a wet nurse for the little princess and the Emperor insisted on being awake as long as his wife and newborn daughter was awake.

“Hello, Princess. You and I are going to have so much fun!” He said happily.

Step one in Reynold’s plan was to spoil his niece with presents. She was too young yet for some of the things he planned. Like causing mischief within the palace and getting back at the emperor for stealing away his sister. Reynold decided that he was going to get the funds immediately.

"Father, I need..." He began.

"No!" Father said immediately.

"But..."

"Reynold..." Father trailed off too. "You should know that I'm most likely going to say no to whatever harebrained scheme you have."

"But you don't know what I'm even going to ask."

"It's still a no."

"It's for Judith." He said.

Father immediately straightened and reached for his cheque book. "What do you need?"

"I want some money to buy her presents."

Father handed him a blank and signed cheque within a moment.

Penelope hadn't looked pleased when he arrived with ten carriages filled with presents for a baby who was only two days old. Especially when he told her there were at least twenty more set to arrive soon. She sighed at the wasteful extravagance of it all especially the amount of clothes he'd gotten her since she would outgrow them all within a few weeks, well before she even managed to put any of them on.

He ignored her and focused on the baby in his arms, making faces and snuggling up to her.

Step two was quality time.

Reynold spent as much time as he could with Judith, often fighting against his sister and brother-in-law for more time when they came upon him trying to sneak the baby out for some play when she was due to be put down for a nap.

Reynold often also found himself getting kicked out of the imperial palace grounds for sneaking into the nursery to play with her and 'causing mischief' and being a bad influence on his rapidly growing adorable niece.

Though he was allowed to read books to her and was often invited to tea parties with her dollies and little adventures around the palace grounds and within the Duchy.

Step three was to be the adventurous fun uncle.

Read step two.

But to enumerate, they would go around the forest and look for cute little critters for Judith's ever-growing menagerie of pets. Did it get out of hand at times? Definitely not. Unless you ask Penelope, the Emperor, Father, and Derrick.

Speaking of Derrick, his brother was the level-headed calm uncle who always brought them down from their high of playing and enjoyment.

Step four was to be supportive.

This meant that Reynold was always there. Through every scraped knee, every derisive word sent Judith's way for her wings or gender especially in regards to her status as the heir. He was always there, ready to throw a punch or to give her a listening ear, a comforting word, a hug, anything she needed.

And it wasn't just for her, but for her siblings as well.

There were many, many, more things that Reynold had done to become the favorite uncle, things that eventually translated into becoming a good father.

Just wanted to write something nice about Reynold and how he became the uncle the kids were closest too. I feel like he had the most free time and the personality type that allowed him to become reckless and immature enough to play with them.

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for the villain #reynold eckhart #judith regulus #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #Reynold is an awesome uncle

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kuroneko1815 · 3 months

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Imperial Domesticity: Winter Days

Penelope and Callisto create fun winter traditions and heal their inner child in the process.

Penelope looked at the glistening snow and watched as the servants cleared paths in the snow. It was her fifth winter in the palace and the first since she’d become Empress. She gently stroked her womb and smiled at the thought that in a few months, she would be able to hold her baby in her arms.

Callisto came in, doors opening gently so as not to startle her. It had become a routine for him to check up on her at least once every hour or two. Her lover of five years and husband of mere weeks, he was an overly protective and doting man, and was quite a devoted husband, and one that she had no doubt would be a wonderful father to their little baby.

She smiled at him, a hand held out and waited patiently as he crossed the room and pulled her into a hug from behind. Their intertwined hands on her stomach, his face buried in her neck, tickling it with his breath. He hummed in contentment.

“I’ve dismissed court, there’s too much snowfall anyway and it seems as though more will come as the hours progress.” He said. “I sent them away through magical means.”

“And the paperwork?”

“I’ve finished it all.” He said proudly. “So we have the whole day off.”

Usually, such a statement would be met with a suggestion to retire to bed which often led to a bout of love making but Penelope had gotten a different idea. She had heard that the large reflecting pool in the garden had frozen over and she had already had some preparations made before hand for such an occasion.

“If you’re free, would you care to join me for a stroll about the gardens?”

“Won’t you be cold?” He asked her worriedly. Her attentive husband was always worrying over her health, especially now.

“I’ll be fine.”

“What are we doing? Callisto asked as he eyed the shoes.

“Ice skating.” She explained as she waited for her husband to finish tying on her shoes, something he’d been quite insistent about.

“Ice…skating?”

“Yes, we’ll be doing something fun today that isn’t within our usual activities.”

Callisto had picked it up immediately, something Penelope wasn’t surprised about, the man had perfect balance and could master almost anything in an instant. One of the things he struggled with was giving her independence, his need to know everything about her, to be able to ensure that nothing untoward was happening around her, meant that he had manipulated as much of her environment as he could, even the personnel she had worked with as an archaeologist. He’d gotten much better since that first argument they’d had when she ran away to the duchy and she could often bring him in line with a long conversation. And now that they were married, it was as though something had settled in him.

They laughed together as they spun around, hand in hand, over the reflecting pool he’d had placed in when he had begun planning the wedding, a feature for the gardens to commemorate their wedding. The wind whipped around as they twirled and danced, gliding on the ice. She loved watching him smile, watching him enjoy life and experience these things that a normal person would have had in a normal and loving childhood.

She loved sharing these new experiences with him as they tried to explore things they’d missed out on. Him from his duty and the war, and her through poverty and abuse in both lives.

They went ice skating every day as much as the weather permitted it, and they took Judith along as well when she was born. Judith, strapped to her father’s chest, often stared wide eyed at her surroundings, wings fluttering in excitement, a high pitched shriek of laughter as they played in the snow.

On Judith’s third winter, Penelope had decided on something new. Yes, they had gone ice skating, made snow men and snow angels, and now… now they were going up hill to where a sled would be waiting for all three of them. Callisto was now used to her wild ideas of play and went along with it easily enough, knowing that this was just as much for the two of them as it was for their daughter.

“Judith and I are getting on first.” She said. “And you come in after us, and then we’ll go down hill. Alright?”

He eyed the sled suspiciously. “Penelope, sleds like these are dangerous and they’re only useful for carrying supplies through wintery terrain.”

“Just trust me, it’ll be fun.”

He sighed, giving in easily, most likely knowing that he wouldn’t be able to change her mind nor win an argument against her.

She had sat down first, placing Judith on her lap and tying themselves down. Penelope wasn’t stupid, she had the sled made so that there would be magical protections in place to keep them safe, and she had the hill inspected after choosing one that wasn’t too steep.

Callisto got in after making sure that they were really secure. And then he braced himself, an arm around her and Judith before he kicked the ground and pushed them over the edge. Judith screamed loudly, a wide smile on her face as they sped down the hill.

When they finally stopped, Judith waved her hands. “Again! Again! More sled! Mama, Servant! More!” She demanded.

“Well, who am I to say no to my little princess?” Callisto asked as they got off the sled. He easily lifted it up with one hand and they trekked back up the hill.

After an hour or so of continuous sledding, Penelope had one last thing she wanted to do before they went back. As Callisto handed the sled over to a waiting servant, Penelope picked up some snow and made it into a ball, aimed for her husband and flung it as he was turning back to her. It hit him square in the face.

She laughed at the stupefied expression on his face. There was no killer intent, no malice or any of the sort to alert him. Just his wife’s regular mischief and good humour.

He huffed and picked up some snow as well. And with that, the imperial snowball fight began. Judith had even joined in, throwing a few poorly aimed and poorly compacted snow balls at her father before she merely jumped on him, ‘tackling’ him to the ground and tickling him into ‘submission’, though in truth it was her adorability that had gotten her husband to submit. Thus ending the snowball fight.

After dusting themselves off, they walked back into the sun palace and Penelope ordered some cookies and hot chocolate with marshmallows brought in for an afternoon treat. The quick change in clothes allowed her orders to be met and the three of them cuddled on a fur rug in front of the fireplace, a soft, warm, and fluffy blanket covering them as they had their treats.

She listened to Judith’s stories of her adventures and lessons, listened to Callisto’s voice reading one of their daughter’s favourite stories, and she herself sang some lullabies until their baby fell asleep. Yes, this was the perfect day among many other perfect days she’d had since she had been with Callisto.

Her eyes soft as she gazed at her husband who was staring at their daughter with so much love. The shadows in his eyes were mostly gone now, chased away by the love he surrounded himself in. And every time she found a new way to replace those horrible associations of war and death he had with things as mundane and fun as sleds with something fun and exciting, she felt as though she had won a great victory. In a way, she felt as though every time she made these core memories for her daughter, she and Callisto were also healing from the scarred and tormented children they’d been.

Their winter day traditions kept evolving, growing as the time passed and their family expanded and grew. Their children adapting and playing on their own when their parents were too busy. But it wasn’t uncommon for Penelope and Callisto to take one day in the winter when they’d be able to just spend time with their family rather than do some work.

The rug cuddles became more complex as they shifted around, pillows on the floor as they made little forts with the blankets and chairs, the servants already anticipating Penelope’s request for treats. The children would put on little acts or perform the songs or poems they’d written. Sometimes they’d fall asleep there, having taken their dinner in the family room, and wake up to their gift giving day. Her own take on Christmas and Saturnalia. And Penelope knew or at least she hoped, decades down the line, when her children began families of their own, they would continue with these traditions and cherish them. Holding these memories together as precious to them as they are to Callisto and Penelope.

I had this idea when I was shovelling snow the other week and one of the dad’s was running down the road for our little hill street with his daughter on a sled and pulling her back up. I wanted them to have this happy moment with Judith. And in the future, their other children would experience it as well. Penelope also liked the fact that she was changing Callisto’s perceptions of winter. Before they met, he hated it with a passion given the difficulty it made with moving his army and supplies, the fact that his men died from the cold, and the memories of the snow red with blood. The way the sleds were only used for the supplies also made him associate it with those negative memories.

After he met Penelope, she would spend winters in the palace because it was too cold to dig and the ground froze anyway so there was no point in her trying to excavate. But then she brought in mistletoe kisses, gift exchanges, New Year’s kisses, and now all of these other activities that he did with her and their family like skating, snow angels, snow men, snowball fights, sledding, rug cuddles, pillow forts. It was something so amazing he couldn’t help but look forward to snow days.

P.S. A love twice lived’s second chapter is now out.

#death is the only ending for the villain #villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #judith regulus #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus #penelope x callisto #penelope eckhart #fluff #family fluff #snow day

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kuroneko1815 · 3 months

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It’ll be more of a side plot than anything. I’ve been wanting to write Callisto being jealous of a dog for a long time. And I also wanted him to plead and argue his case that the dog’s name should be changed but Penelope saying no because it’s hard for dogs to get used to new names. Both Callisto’s being the same person, with Judith added into the mix. But the main plot itself will be about Callisto and Penelope, especially him trying to win her over both while she’s an amnesiac and when she remembers because that’s a lot of trauma there.

Redemption of the forgotten love

Funny little snippet for this little angst filled fic that is currently one of my WIPs. P.S. that’s just my working title.

Penelope stared at this man, this high lord who claimed to have been her lover, the father of her daughter, and yes, he very much resembled her. But her memories of him were gone, along with any other possible feelings to tell her otherwise. Despite that, he swore a magic oath to speak naught but the truth to her and that he would never hurt her or Judith.

She nodded and turned away still, intending to think things through when she caught sight of golden fur and a frivolously wagging tail. “Callisto!” She called out and her puppy ran to her.

The high lord startled. “Yes, what? Do you remember me after all, Penelope?” He asked hopeful.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him in confusion.

“You just called out my name.”

“Callisto!” She snapped when the rowdy puppy knocked into the high lord.

“There! You just called me again.”

She stared at him blankly. “Your name is Callisto?” She asked. Staring between the high lord and the puppy that was her daughter’s best friend.

Slow dawning realization appeared on the high lord’s face. “Don’t tell me… you were calling the dog, weren’t you? You named your dog after me.”

“Unknowingly, it seems.”

It seemed as though he deflated a bit, now reminding her greatly of when her puppy experienced great disappointment that the food was not for him.

Plot synopsis: Callisto fell under the Laila’s thrall, hurting and nearly killing the woman he loved and causing her to flee. After she escapes, Penelope loses her memory and she gives birth to his daughter. Sometime after that, Callisto breaks free from the thrall and launches a search. After being mistakenly believed to have died in the incident where she lost her memories, Callisto finds her alive and well, daughter, dog, and all. And now he has to win all three over.

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kuroneko1815 · 3 months

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I mean dog Callisto vs Callisto

Tough choice, one brings flowers, the other brings animal corpses 🤣

I leave it to you to decide which one would bring it on a given day.

P.S. yes, Callisto is very jealous of the dog that gets to sleep in the same bed as his not-wife and daughter especially because they prefer the dog over him. Cedric likes the dog too and likes the fact that he can tease his liege and call his name without repercussion because he would just pretend he was calling the dog.

Redemption of the forgotten love

Funny little snippet for this little angst filled fic that is currently one of my WIPs. P.S. that’s just my working title.

She nodded and turned away still, intending to think things through when she caught sight of golden fur and a frivolously wagging tail. “Callisto!” She called out and her puppy ran to her.

The high lord startled. “Yes, what? Do you remember me after all, Penelope?” He asked hopeful.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him in confusion.

“You just called out my name.”

“Callisto!” She snapped when the rowdy puppy knocked into the high lord.

“There! You just called me again.”

She stared at him blankly. “Your name is Callisto?” She asked. Staring between the high lord and the puppy that was her daughter’s best friend.

Slow dawning realization appeared on the high lord’s face. “Don’t tell me… you were calling the dog, weren’t you? You named your dog after me.”

“Unknowingly, it seems.”

It seemed as though he deflated a bit, now reminding her greatly of when her puppy experienced great disappointment that the food was not for him.

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kuroneko1815 · 3 months

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Redemption of the forgotten love

Funny little snippet for this little angst filled fic that is currently one of my WIPs. P.S. that’s just my working title.

She nodded and turned away still, intending to think things through when she caught sight of golden fur and a frivolously wagging tail. “Callisto!” She called out and her puppy ran to her.

The high lord startled. “Yes, what? Do you remember me after all, Penelope?” He asked hopeful.

“What are you talking about?” She asked him in confusion.

“You just called out my name.”

“Callisto!” She snapped when the rowdy puppy knocked into the high lord.

“There! You just called me again.”

She stared at him blankly. “Your name is Callisto?” She asked. Staring between the high lord and the puppy that was her daughter’s best friend.

Slow dawning realization appeared on the high lord’s face. “Don’t tell me… you were calling the dog, weren’t you? You named your dog after me.”

“Unknowingly, it seems.”

It seemed as though he deflated a bit, now reminding her greatly of when her puppy experienced great disappointment that the food was not for him.

#death is the only ending for the villain #villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus #penelope eckhart #penelope x callisto #sneak peek #upcoming

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kuroneko1815 · 4 months

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Imperial Domesticity: New Year’s Festivities

Penelope’s first new year’s celebration as the Empress meant that everyone would have their eyes on her. But she also wanted her New Year’s Kiss. Thankfully, her husband was willing to figure out a way to do it.

There was much to be done for the New Years ball, this was Penelope’s first new years as the empress, before that, she’d helped with the preparations as the Emperor’s paramour and fiancée, as well as the highest ranking woman in the empire. Now though, all eyes would be on her and they would be picking through the entire event, eyeing each detail to see what could be criticized and what parts of the traditions and rituals had she messed up.

Callisto tried to get Penelope to rest, trying to reassure her that he could take care of everything. Whenever such a thing would be brought up, Penelope would turn to him with a fierce look on her face.

“No! I’ve always handled this, even before we were married and now that we are, I am not going to give it up!” She said furiously.

Callisto tried to calm her down, subtly moving to soothe her by catching her hand and rubbing the back of her hand. He entwined their fingers together and kissed the back of her hand. The effects were instantaneous. Penelope’s shoulders relaxed, her breathing calmed.

“I’m sorry, I know you’re worried but it’s just…” so much of the tradition had been cut away by the late and unlamented former Queen that when Penelope had begun reinstating them, there were some push backs. The woman had been truly vain and lazy, discarding some of the more solemn traditions that had been the empresses and queens traditional roles, things of solemnity, and turned it into a mockery, a spectacle, of excessive extravagances, indulgences, and vice.

Part of the tradition had been to honour the fallen soldiers and others who had sacrificed for the good of the Empire, instead they toasted the fat purses of those which had managed to ingratiate themselves with her and her son, she had also done away with the new years alms and winter charities where the poorest within the city, the orphanages, and those who were the sickest were able to receive a meal.

The Queen’s excuse? There wasn’t any budget or funding for it. But of course there wouldn’t be, not when she and her son threw balls every other day, served only the finest wines and purchased gowns with money they’d taken from the coffers and funds set aside for such charity works. The empires worst state of finances was recorded during her tenure as the reigning lady of the empire.

And Penelope had no wish to leave the empire in such a state for her child. So she worked hard to set an example, to make sure that her babe and all other children they would have in the future would be beloved by the masses and would have their support. Because she knew one thing, there were far more commoners than there were nobles, and far more commoner knights than landed and enobled ones, and among them, quite a bit of the titled knights had relations still among the commoners.

And so, Callisto knew Penelope was trying her hardest to set things to right. He kissed her forehead and drew her close. “I know, love. But you don’t have to work so hard, let me share your burden.” He said. “Let me carry this weight for you so that you don’t have to be alone.”

“Alright.” She said as she hugged him back.

Callisto could see Penelope with her eyes out on the time. As they danced around the room, their eyes on one another, she would frequently call out the time under her breath.

“Is there something special that’s going to happen at midnight?” He asked.

“Oh, it’s just that I wanted to make sure I got the midnight kiss right for our first new year as a married couple.” She said.

“Hmm? A midnight kiss? Come to think of it, you did always pull me away in to the balcony just before midnight.” Callisto said, recalling the last few years.

“It’s meant to be good luck. If mistletoe kisses meant you’d stay with that person, then midnight kisses means a deepened bond and good luck, especially in our relationship.”

“Is that so?” Callisto said thoughtfully, an idea beginning to form in his mind.

After his speech honouring the soldiers, the scholars, mages, and the artists, and every other person who had worked hard to ensure the continued prosperity of the empire, it became increasingly clear that they wouldn’t be able to sneak away for their midnight kiss.

Callisto didn’t mind. He pulled Penelope up, a glass of wine in his hand. Everybody stared at him in confusion, the first half of the rituals had been performed to close out the old year, the speeches were done, so why were they suddenly to raise their glasses in a toast? He could see their looks.

But he took a sip and swallowed before he pulled Penelope into his arms, dipped her, and then kissed her full on the lips as the clock struck midnight marking a new year and then fireworks lit up the skies simultaneously in their first public kiss since their wedding.

Throughout the empire, the people celebrated the new year, magic used to broadcast to the people throughout the empire showed the observation of the rituals, a broadcast that allowed the people to familiarize themselves with their rulers, also showed the kiss.

In the aftermath of what would become a tradition of its own to see the Emperor and Empress mark the turn of the year with a kiss before they returned to the rituals of peace and prosperity for a new year and then to the festivities of the day, many couples would begin their own tradition of a midnight kiss, though none would get it quite as right in timing as the Emperor.

My idea is that the traditions would herald back to the time of the golden dragon and the old religion, i.e. the ancient mages, and despite the people not remembering the ancient mages for a long time, they still kept those traditions and held them sacred. The fact that some of the nobles and the Queen in particular, moved away from them left a bitter taste in their mouth. Especially when the war began shortly after the Queen began to do away with it. While it was never mentioned what had begun the war, the people still saw it as a bad omen and thought that the fact that they had taken away those rituals, many of which had to be done by the Queen or Empress, had a part to play in it, and let’s not forget the fact that a lot of the funding for the charities were cut by the Queen while she threw large celebrations and feasts, it was like a slap in the face to the people who had laboured hard but had no food to eat, and their husbands, brothers, and sons were dying on the battlefield.

So when Penelope brought back those traditions, gradually at first, until that year when she became the empress, they saw it as a good sign. And then Penelope gave birth to what people saw as the golden dragon’s second coming and they were convinced. Also, Penelope was the one who came up with the idea of broadcasting the wedding, well, technically, Callisto did, she just mentioned watching the royal weddings back when she was in Korea and he was so enthralled with the idea of showing his new wife off that he made the mages figure out how to do it. And when they had succeeded in that, Penelope thought about broadcasting just the ritual parts. And it did work and it became a tradition as ingrained as the midnight kiss.

Anyway, that’s it for now. Happy New Year! Stay healthy and safe!

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus #penelope x callisto #penelope eckhart #Imperial domesticity

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kuroneko1815 · 4 months

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Callisto and Penelope gave in to their attraction within the cave setting off a chain reaction. Penelope, unaware that she's carrying the Prince's child, is highly stressed by the arrival of the real daughter, Ivonne Eckhart who taunts her about the pregnancy. Afraid and out of options, she runs away, only to be found by the father of her child. The two then come to a compromise and navigate life as a couple until the Laila is dealt with.

Loosely based on @lillybelle238 Devil's Tango AU prompt on tumblr.

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #penelope x callisto #penelope eckhart #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus

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kuroneko1815 · 4 months

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Imperial Domesticity: Mistletoe Kisses

Siyeon staved off the holiday loneliness by watching movies to drown out the sounds of her family’s parties. She grew enthralled with the thought of a kiss under the mistletoe. Years later, as Penelope, she finally has someone to share those kisses with.

It started off years ago, on their very first winter together. The ground was frozen and far too cold to do excavations so Penelope spent that winter and every winter since, in the palace with Callisto. Something that thrilled him. Three months where Penelope was there when he woke, her magenta hair strewn across his chest, face, arms, pillows, everything.

Three months where Penelope took every meal with him, appeared on his arm in functions and danced every song during the balls and within their room. It was blissful heaven for the young emperor. And then there were the strolls along the garden paths.

It was innocuous and insignificant at first, Penelope walking arm in arm with Callisto along the snowy paths of the winter garden when she saw something growing on the trees that she was certain wasn’t part of it and certainly something she had seen before.

“Ahh, the mistletoes.” Callisto said when he followed her gaze. “The gardeners hate it, and so did my mother.” He said.

Mistletoe. How often did she watch those western shows while she spent her winter breaks locked in her room, away from the eyes of her family and their guests for Christmas? How often did she pause and sigh and dream quietly as she watched the Christmas kiss take place under the mistletoe?

Cheekily, she stared at her fiancé and when they passed underneath, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him in to a kiss. He deepened it after a moment or two of surprise before she pulled away and dragged him along.

But there were more trees and more kisses given along the way. And every day throughout the winter season, and the next three after that, she would kiss him. He came to expect it.

On the fifth year, when she was pregnant with their first child, the mistletoes had been removed and she stopped kissing him. It took him by surprise, she knew, when they passed by those trees and he went unkissed.

It went on for a few days, until they stumbled upon another tree with mistletoe. She pulled him into a kiss out of habit. There was something puzzled in her husband’s face as they continued to walk.

Three days later and he finally asked her.

“So, why do you kiss me under some trees and not others?” He asked.

Penelope paused and smiled. “I did wonder if you’d ever ask about that. But it’s just something from the other world. There’s a holiday in the winter where people gather together and exchange gifts.”

“Just like you’ve been giving gifts to all the servants and soldiers in the palace.” He pointed out. “And to me too.”

“Yes, but I… I never celebrated it.” She admitted. “Mother and I were too poor, and when I went to live with my father and half brothers, I wasn’t wanted around and I was the child of a scandal so I wasn’t supposed to show my face during their parties. I would drown out the sound of their celebrations by watching all of these shows from the other continents and countries and one of the things was about kissing under the mistletoe.”

“Hmm, so it was the mistletoe you sought. I know they finally eradicated the mistletoes in those older trees.” He said, thoughtfully. (She didn’t know that the Emperor put a ban on the destruction of mistletoes within the imperial residences.)

“Exactly!” She plucked a mistletoe sprig from the tree and held it up their heads and leaned in to kiss him. “See!” And then she pocketed the sprig and pulled him away.

Penelope walked through the palace halls and suddenly found herself in a hallway filled with mistletoe. She turned to her husband in surprised confusion. “What is this?” She asked simply as she laughed.

“Well, this way, you’ll have to kiss me.” Callisto said happily.

Penelope let herself be pulled into a kiss, a few actually, as they walked through the long hall. When they made it to the other side she smiled at him. “You do realize that you don’t merely kiss me do you? You have to kiss whoever you walk with, such as Cedric Porter.”

He turned green and shuddered. “I’ll take this all down immediately.”

Of course, there was one place he could get away with it.

Their bedroom’s ceiling was made in to resemble trees only mistletoes were used. The fire warmed the room, and soft, fluffy carpets were laid down around it to ensure their feet stayed warm.

Even over their bed, the canopy was filled with mistletoes. He used that to his advantage to kiss her as much as he could, wherever he could, and whenever he could within their room.

Her husband even kept it on his person to give the excuse of kissing her out in the open.

Judith grew up with mistletoe as a tradition of her family, as well as gift giving. She hadn’t known that it hadn’t been until her mother and father married that such things came to be. She knew that mistletoe kisses were supposed to be given when the snows fell and you saw them. And only, absolutely only, to the people you loved like her family.

But Judith didn’t know how it was applied.

Penelope smiled as her daughter came flying in to her room screaming “miss toe kissies!” Her nannies were all running behind her and stopped when she got to Penelope’s arms. Penelope waved them away as she laughed while her three year old daughter rained kisses on her face. And then on her father’s a few moments later.

Yes, her baby always thought that when you saw a mistletoe in winter, rather than kiss the person you were with, you would run to find your loved ones and give them kisses.

Merry Christmas everyone! This is a short one because I wrote it in under an hour and wanted to get it out for Christmas. Anyway, I firmly believe that Penelope would have brought in some traditions from the other world, mistletoe being one and gifting being another. I also believe that Callisto would misuse it to his advantage, and that little Judy will be a bit confused. So her mama, papa, grandpa, and uncles all get mistletoe kisses far away from any mistletoes. Anyway, that's it, let me know what you all think. Stay healthy and safe!

#death is the only ending for a villainess #villains are destined to die #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #judith regulus #penelope eckhart #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus

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kuroneko1815 · 4 months

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Penelope ran away from the Eckhart two years ago, it didn't surprise her that it took them weeks to realize she was gone. She returned to her roots, traveling the continent in her little wagon home, the last untouched one that had once belonged to her grandmother. She pedaled her wares and her tinctures while she chased the rumors of ruins and mana beasts. One day, her life changed when she fished out a golden-haired man. And though their relationship was brief, he left her something that would stay with her forever. Her daughter.

Callisto met his match, the dragon's mate, and was foolish enough to let her go. He couldn't get the commoner Penelope out of his mind and bitterly regretted not fighting harder to convince her to stay and at least let her be put up in one of his residences. Not too long after they parted, the war ends but with it comes the appearance of the ancient enemy. When the continent burns and the monsters roam, they take refuge in a small village where he's reunited with his lover and their daughter.

#death is the only ending for a villainess #villains are destined to die #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #cedric porter #judith regulus #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus #penelope eckhart

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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No, but for that he has Emily who plays wing woman. Emily firmly believes that her lady deserves to be the Empress and will help the relationship along. If he hurts her lady? No problem some poison can’t fix. Or a badly adjusted something or the other that can fail him.

So Emily happily provides him with pictures, nothing embarrassing or scandalous. Just enough to entice him and keep him wanting more until he pops he question and drags her lady to the altar and on to the throne.

Imagine if in Eorka they created a device similar to a camera, that was able to take photos. The device is of course quite expensive and powered by mana.

With this in mind, Penelope takes full advantage of it and tasks Cedric with taking pictures of Callisto while he is training, which is a sight to behold.

Cedric gets paid handsomely, and carries through with it without remorse.

Penelope now has a collection of Callisto’s pictures while he is shirtless and hot. Those are some of her most prized possessions hidden away from the entire world, only meant for her and her alone.

Callisto does notice at some point that his aide is doing this, and when he finds out about the whole thing he just willingly poses for the camera, he’s absolutely shameless and smug too:

Callisto: oh, so these are for the Princess?

Cedric: yes, so it appears

Callisto: make sure to catch my good side, which is every side

Cedric: respectfully—that’s disgusting.

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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Reynold who walks in on Penny one day hunched over and giggling to herself, practically drooling at the pics is mentally scarred for life.

Cedric doesn’t care what Penelope does with these just as long as Penelope continues paying him that exorbitant amount like always. (Side note: this is why Reynold came to bother Penelope, she’s been spending so much money that the Duke has stopped giving him his allowance and he can’t buy a new boat. Another note: No, the duke won’t give him money because he doesn’t want Reynold to buy a new boat and just run it into another cliff while drunk).

Imagine if in Eorka they created a device similar to a camera, that was able to take photos. The device is of course quite expensive and powered by mana.

With this in mind, Penelope takes full advantage of it and tasks Cedric with taking pictures of Callisto while he is training, which is a sight to behold.

Cedric gets paid handsomely, and carries through with it without remorse.

Callisto does notice at some point that his aide is doing this, and when he finds out about the whole thing he just willingly poses for the camera, he’s absolutely shameless and smug too:

Callisto: oh, so these are for the Princess?

Cedric: yes, so it appears

Callisto: make sure to catch my good side, which is every side

Cedric: respectfully—that’s disgusting.

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #cedric porter #death is the only ending for the villain

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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He’s so pretty when he smiles! It’s literally his dream come true!

Cause i see whanever

sparks fly you smile

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #death is the only ending for the villain #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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Inspired by Please marry me again, Husband.

When tragedy strikes the house of Eckhart, the only two left alive are Penelope and Reynold. The two are more strangers than anything. Where one clings, the other withdraws. But time brings them closer together.

Eventually, Penelope enters into a marriage of convenience with the Empire’s Crown Prince in order to help the house of Eckhart. Falling in love wasn’t part of the agreement, but she falls nonetheless. And she wishes desperately to save him. Even at the cost of her own life. Despite what they feel for one another, their marriage became a tragedy worthy of a song.

#villains are destined to die #death is the only ending for a villainess #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #penelope eckhart #Penelope Eckhart x Callisto Regulus #angst #sad #angst with a happy ending #eventual happy ending #time travel fix it

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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Imperial Domesticity: Childhood friends and first loves

Or little snippets of Judith’s life through the years. Her life with her friends and with the boy she’d eventually marry. In honour of our most lovely Calliope, let’s show their first baby’s life.

Judith was born into the most beautiful palace within the continent, the tasteful opulence dripped from every inch of the palace, when it was being rebuilt following the chaos of the Laila’s attack, her father, the Emperor, had it redesigned with her mother’s tastes in mind. And her mother eventually, through the years she’d lived there, even as a weekend tenant, designed the palace to her heart’s content.

When she was born, her Mama and Papa kept her close for the first few days before they grudgingly moved her to the Crown Princess’ palace. A palace that then simply became the palace of the imperial children. Their palace hadn’t been redone structurally, but her mother had it renovated, it was done with so much love and with the idea that it would be a child occupying it.

Her father’s former palace had been done formally, for one of his status and rank but it was done so in a way that was both opulent and austere, everything was rich and beautiful, but also it seemed bare and impersonal. But Judith’s room, her siblings' rooms, it was none of that.

Mama and Papa had worked hard to make it a place where she could grow up in peace, happiness, safety, and love. There was nothing barred from her, though Mama had set limits on her at times, or disciplined her when she, or her siblings, had gotten a bit too rowdy. And her parents had ensured that they would be surrounded by only the nice things of the world, a slow, gradual introduction to the real world was had only through the charity events her mother would host, or the Imperial tour they would take every few years.

Every aspect of their lives was carefully watched, the enemies her parents made, great and varied in its strength and influence. And one such aspect was the close circle of friends she’d had from early in her life. In the absence of her siblings, as the first, she had been the sole focus of her parents' devotion and adoration. Of her grandfather and uncles’ doting ways.

And her friends were no different. They always paid special care and attention to her, always conscious of how they acted, weary of having anything happen to Judith, as though one scrape on her knee was the end of the world. Papa, grandpa, and her uncles certainly acted like it, but Mama’s words had been, no bleeding, internal or external, no concussions, no broken bones or fractures, then she was fine.

Mama was definitely the one who was more practical, even if she was the more fearful between her parents, her worries filled with the tragedies and traumas she had faced as a child, the horrors that her papa had told her about from his own childhood.

So yes, Judith and her siblings grew up sheltered and loved.

From her earliest memories, they were always there. James, Llewelyn, and Esmeray. The three of them were the children of his father’s aide, Sir Cedric Porter and his wife, Professor Marianne Porter. James had been three and a half years older, Llewelyn or Llewy was two years older, and Esmeray was just a few months her senior.

James took responsibility for the three of them who followed him around like ducklings, though she had definitely bossed all three porter siblings around a lot too. Esme had been her most constant companion, the one she told her secrets to. James was her big brother, the one who was conscientious, always had a handkerchief on him to wipe away the crumbs and the jam from her face before doing the same to his siblings.

But it was Llewy who was like her knight. Her most constant and fiercest defender. Even when they played pretend. Llewy would always come to her rescue from the dread pirate Esmeray and her first mate Peg leg James. Though Judy would usually have escaped by then and would hide, laughing while she watched them scramble about looking for her.

It was always a race to see who would hug her first, Esme and Llewy tripping and pushing each other to get to her.

It was a childhood spent in bliss, enhanced by the arrival of Roxanna and her other siblings.

Gradually though, Llewy and James became busy, they all did, as lessons had begun to take over their days.

“Do you need any help with your lessons, Princess?” Llewy asked from where he sat across from her in the library of the Crown Princess’ palace.

“Just a bit, this problem is a bit hard.” She said, little flutterings in her heart at the smile he gave her.

Esme huffed. “I noticed you didn’t ask me if I needed help.”

“Do you?” Llewy asked rudely.

“Hmph.”

“Be nice to each other.” James said tiredly from where he sat, reading to Roxanna and Diana.

Esme raised a brow at her, making a disgusted face at what she’d no doubt seen on Judith’s face. She knew of her not-so-secret crush on her brother. Really though, was there any man as perfect as Llewelyn Porter?

He was handsome, from the chestnut curls he’d inherited from his mother to the green eyes his father possessed, the handsome face was a perfect blend between his two parents.

Judith just smiled at her best friend.

When Judith was eleven, dignitaries from a tributary kingdom arrived. She heard whispers, a lot of them. None of them good. All were about the Princess Bianchi who was said to be throwing herself shamelessly at Servant.

“What does that mean?” She asked James.

James had a sour look at her question. “It’s nothing to worry about Princess, only know that woman will never be anywhere as good as you or your sisters.”

She felt like she was missing something.

A few weeks later, she found out what kind of woman the other princess truly was.

She discovered it through the heartache of tears brought about by her cruel words that dug deep into her heart and mind.

Esme came to comfort her first.

“You’re nothing like what that horrible woman said you are. In fact… that woman wasn’t even a woman… she’s a… she’s a hag! A horrible, warty, flea ridden, hag!” She declared. “And her breath stunk so bad all the flowers died when she breathed on them. And she had smelly feet!”

Judith giggled as she listened to her friend rant and rave about the woman as they drank tea in her room. Cookies and sweets piled high in front of them. Melon sherbet would be served later.

Esme’s jokes and name calling kept up.

While James was tutoring her, he patted her head.

“Princess, no matter what, you are a wonderful person, someone truly special and amazing.” He told her.

His smile was warm and sincere.

She knew what he was talking about. She smiled. “I know, I’m perfect.” She said in mock arrogance, tossing her hair.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that. I’d say Esme is perfect.”

“Lies!” She teased.

“Truth!” He called back with a grin.

“Thank you, Sir Porter.”

He blushed. “Please stop, your highness.”

“Only if you call me by name again.”

“…”

“Then I take it, Sir Porter shall remain as thus.”

Judith knew that her surrogate brother was embarrassed by the fact that everyone kept congratulating him for becoming a knight at such a young age.

“How’s Lady Greere?”

The blush deepened. “I’ve no idea who or what you’re talking about.”

“Oh?”

“But if I did, I would say, you’d probably have seen her more recently than I.”

Lady Tabitha Greere was the fourteen-year-old daughter of Count Greere, a modestly wealthy noble from the countryside. She had come here for a small season, as the first Princess born into the Imperial family in… forever, she was hosting tea parties and gatherings with the younger ladies not yet out for all of them to experience what a season would look like. And it was also a way for her to expand her social circle and build her entourage and find her ladies in waiting.

Esme was at the top, of course. Next was Lady Tabitha. The older girl had caught James’ eye on first meeting, a sweet and mischievous girl not afraid of getting dirty given her life in the countryside. She fit in well with her and Esme. And both Porter siblings approved of their tentative sister-in-law.

Tentative because it was likely she wouldn’t become one if James didn’t get his act together. His default was either stuttering awkwardly around her, being clumsy, or shutting down and becoming some sort of stoic statue trying to act as a human, it was as though the muscles of his face forgot how to move. It left the poor lady thinking she’d done something to anger him, which they had to reassure her wasn’t the truth.

Llewy didn’t say anything for awhile. He merely frowned at her from time to time and it hurt. She thought he had believed what that woman had said about Judith being an abomination. But no. He came to her one day, upset.

“Why are you hiding your wings?”

“What?”

“Your wings? Why are you hiding them?” He demanded. “Is it because of what that woman said? Because that was complete and utter falsity.”

Judith bowed her head. “Do you think so? You’re not disgusted by my wings?”

“Dis… disgusted? What? Why would I be disgusted by it?!? I think they’re very pretty!” He declared loudly. “I think every part of you is pretty!” He blurted out immediately before he covered his mouth.

“You think I’m pretty? Really?” She asked. Seizing the opening and grabbing on to his hands, pulling him closer.

His strength born from his knight’s training was nothing compared to the dragon’s blood and she had easily maneuvered him close.

He swallowed audibly. “Well, yes, of course. I think you’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen. Like ever.”

She couldn’t help it, her cheeks felt heated and she fought hard not to avert her eyes bashfully. She smiled at him. “Thank you. It means a lot to me that you don’t find me disgusting.”

“As if I ever could.”

And then Judy did something she knew she would never regret. She leaned close and kissed him on the cheek.

“Judy and Llewy sitting in a tree. K-i-s-s-i-n-g.” Roxy sang as she teased her sister quietly over teatime.

“By the dragon, stop it Roxy!” She said as she tried to kick her little sister under the table.

“Is Llewy going to be our big brother?” Diana asked. Her five-year-old little sister looked at her with gleaming eyes.

“What?” She asked, startled. “No… what?”

“My, my.” Esme said teasingly. “It seems the Small Sun of the Empire is stuttering and at a loss for words. I wonder if my brother would be called the Empire’s moon after the wedding?”

Judy stuttered. “Uhh… why are you guys saying this?”

“You’re not exactly discreet, your highness.” Tabitha said genially as she sipped her tip with a gentle smile. The picture of regality that had her eyeing her tea and her surroundings. Her lady in waiting had two modes on her, elegant lady and raggedy ruffian trouble making country bumpkin. Those two weren’t always mutually exclusive. Not even close. Sometimes she used the face of the noble lady to prank you to high heavens and get away scot free.

Judy and her sisters could only get away because their father could never punish them. No, their doting father had never once scolded them or gotten angry at them. The only times she’d seen him angry was when someone said or tried anything on her, or her sisters, or their mother but Mama was fierce and often took care of herself.

“I’ll have you know, I’m the epitome of discreet.”

“No, you aren’t.” Mama’s voice rang out from behind them. They all turned around in surprise as she arrived with the twins in her arms.

“Mama!” She and her sisters called out in delight while Tabby and Esme stood up immediately and curtsied in greeting.

She waved them back to their seats with a fond smile. “It’s a wonder your father hasn’t caught on yet. But I’ve seen firsthand how deep fathers can go into denial when it comes to their daughter’s romantic lives.”

A chair was immediately set up for Mama and two highchairs placed on either side of her for Selene and Sophia. They were given little cups of juice that they drank carefully while Tabby served Mama personally.

Judy bent her head down and then looked up at her Mama shyly. “You won’t tell Servant right?”

“Oh, I doubt your father would even believe me. He thinks you too young to have any such interests.” She said with a mischievous smile. “Besides, he’s remained ignorant for this long, let’s see how long he could live on in denial. Consider this a harmless secret between us girls. So long as nothing transpires between the two of you, there isn’t really anything to tell.”

She smiled at her Mama.

“That being said, Llewelyn Porter is a fine young man, and a boon when it comes to paperwork, just like his father. You certainly could do worse than a man like that as Prince consort. He’d do his duties admirably. And if he truly is as wise as he seems to be, then he’d love you truly and honestly for who you are and not for what you bring to the marriage.”

“So, you approve of him?” Judy checked.

Mama frowned. “I do. But Judy, no, girls… don’t marry someone for my approval or your father’s. If he’s an honest young man who loves you dearly and is willing to work hard to stand by your side and help you in all your endeavours. If he’s willing to stand the scrutiny for the honour and great blessing to hold you and call himself your husband, then that’s enough for your father and I.”

“Even if we ran off with a woman?” Roxy asked. “Or a farmer?”

“Why not both.” Mama said dryly but her face was soft. “Even then. We want you all to be happy and safe. That’s something your father and I promised from the first moment we discovered we were going to be parents. We want you to be able to live your lives in happiness and love, no matter how hard we have to work to make that come true.”

Just a few months after that conversation, they all nearly lost Mama and Servant. The air around the palace was tense and anxious as they waited to see if Mama would get better, if her fever would break and her delirium would be gone. Servant stayed by her side the entire time, apologizing to Mama or bringing them to see her and their new baby brother. She couldn’t understand fully, not then, why everyone glanced at her Papa as though he were going to drop dead too.

But it scared her.

Was she going to lose them both?

And there were whispers going around the palace because a son had been born. There were whispers that Judith was going to lose her place. But she didn’t care about that. No. What she wanted was for Mama and her Servant Emperor Papa to be okay.

“Your parents are stubborn people, especially your mother, she won’t just give up like this. Not when you children need her.” Uncle Reynold said, reassuring them.

Grandpa came to stay at the palace for the next few days. Arranging everything for them. Uncle Derrick was busy running around squashing any and all rumours. Uncle John left his own countryside estate with Aunty Alice came stone faced and ready to squash any gossip.

One day, it became too much for Judith and she went to the fountain in the middle of the maze trying to get away from talks of succession and battles for the throne, of funerals and coronations.

“I thought I’d find you here, your highness.” Llewy said as he approached her with a worried smile.

“I’m not in the mood to talk right now, Llewy.”

“Alright. So let’s not talk. I’ll just sit here so you know you aren’t alone.”

And he did.

He sat there for hours in silence until she began to cry, and after receiving her permission to hug her, he did so. He rubbed soothing circles around her back, made no promises except to say she wasn’t alone.

“I’ll support you no matter what, Princess.” He said.

“And how are you going to do that?”

“I’m fifteen now.” He reminded her, not that she’d forgotten. “And I can now legally take the Imperial Aide’s exam.”

“Are you going to?”

“I am.”

She knew her father had scrapped the original exam and made it so much harder the older she got.

“You… you’d do that for me?”

He scoffed. “Haven’t we all talked about what roles we’d play when we got older? Why do you think I’ve been so busy the last few years. I’ve had to learn everything from mastering warfare and statecraft. I certainly wouldn’t have done that for a stranger.”

“Thank you.”

She smiled at the knowledge that she truly wasn’t alone.

And then a maid came running in telling her that her mother’s fever had broken and she was conscious and lucid. Judith stood up and said her goodbyes before running to her Mama.

“You must’ve been so worried.” Mama said as she cried in her arms. “I’m sorry baby.”

“It’s alright Mama.” She assured her mother. “Where’s servant?”

“Dealing with the noisy people your grandfather told us about. The ones who dare question your position as his heir.”

“Oh.” Judith really hadn’t thought much about the implications of suddenly having a brother, too worried about her mother to actually care about something that seemed so trivial and insignificant. Because it was her brother that was born, and her Mama who was sick. But it turned out it was actually a big enough of a ruckus that Servant dealt with it as soon as Mama was better.

“It’s alright, Sweetheart. Leave everything up to your Papa and I.”

Judith was quiet for a bit. “I don’t really mind if I don’t become Empress.” She confessed. “As long as I have our family, that’s all that matters to me.”

Mama gave her a gentle and warm smile. “We’ll do everything to make sure you and your siblings have everything you deserve and want. The happiness of our children is all that matters to your father and I. Just smile and let us take care of everything.”

The door swung open, and Servant entered, the twins were in his arms, Roxy and Diana were walking beside him. Their smiles wide when it fell on the two of them. They ran into the room immediately.

Just as Servant placed the twins on the bed, the bells rang. The announcement of her baby brother’s birth and Mama’s recovery no doubt spreading.

“Don’t worry about those flies, I’ve swatted them away and clipped their wings.” Servant said with a grin. “Have you let her officially meet her brother yet?

Mama laughed. “Not yet. I wanted to wait until everyone was all here.”

Judith had glimpsed her baby brother here and there over the last few days but had never gotten a good look, too focused on her mother than anything else. And even now, the baby was asleep in a bassinet on the other side of the bed.

Servant went to the bassinet and picked the baby up, walking back carefully to place the baby in Mama’s arms. They all leaned forward and realized something.

“He’s not blonde.” Diana burst out.

“Pinky pink.” Sophia said pointing at the hair.

“Like Mama.” Selene agreed.

“Huh.” Roxy said squinting and tilting her head different angles.

Judith stared on in amazement. “For some reason, I thought he’d look like us.”

“Had to be a first time for everything.” Servant said. “Meet your baby brother, Prince Nicholas Regulus.”

She smiled, letting the name roll around on her tongue as she repeated it quietly. She committed his features to memory, remembering all the other times her parents had done this, letting her meet her younger siblings. “Hi Nick! I’m your big sister. The biggest sister here. And I’m going to take good care of you. I promise.”

On her fourteenth birthday, she stood dressed in a white and red dress, a diamond and emerald encrusted tiara on her head as she sat with her sisters. The twins and Nick too young to attend, so the three of them stared on in excitement, watching as Mama and Servant danced around before Mama stepped back and motioned for her to join Servant on the dance floor.

Grandpa bowed to Mama and asked her for a dance while Roxy danced with Uncle Derrick, and Diana got Uncle Reynold.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Judy?” Servant asked.

Judith smiled at her father and decided she’d give him this one. “Yes, I am. Thank you so much Papa.”

His eyes widened and his grin was warm and wide before he twirled her around and pulled her back to him.

“You and your sisters are just as beautiful as your mother.” Servant said fondly. “My precious treasures.”

“And Nick too.” She said, reminding him.

“Of course, Nick too.” He agreed easily. “But I say this now because you and your sisters are getting older and some pests have already started buzzing around, trying to get at my treasures. Don’t worry, your father will take care of them. Enjoy your youth and don’t worry about those troublesome people. Let me know if they bother you and I’ll make sure to have the Imperial exterminator enhances pest control.”

“What?” She was completely lost.

Servant chuckled and the song came to an end. He gave her a kiss on the forehead. “It’s not important sweetheart.”

She was swarmed with well-wishers and it took her awhile to sneak away. Her eyes sought out her friends and she caught sight of Esme talking to a lordling. There was a blush on her face. She decided to leave her alone for now. James and Tabitha were on the dance floor, surprisingly. James’ movements were a bit stiff, his cheeks slightly red from what she could see with the enhanced vision of the regulus family.

And then she found Llewy with Gregory Markham. They were deep in conversation, a smile on their faces. She sighed and walked towards them. Gregory, her once gangly and awkward looking friend was really growing into his own. Vibrant red hair and grey eyes, the young knight was the son of the Captain of the Imperial Guards, Leon Markham who was Servant’s childhood friend and one of his most trusted people. The son of the Baroness Eloise Markham, who had been Servant’s former nanny and the head maid of the palace. She was now long retired to the countryside.

Gregory had been a frequent visitor to the palace, but he lived primarily in the country estate with his grandmother and grandfather when he was young. Still, he was among the inner circle that she and her sisters kept. As she got closer, she heard the two of them discussing the merits of certain sword lengths.

“I prefer longer swords.” She threw in. “Gives you more of a reach.”

The two immediately bowed to her, congratulating her on her birthday before quickly drawing her in to the conversation that they all knew too well.

“Shall we spar again soon, Princess?” Gregory asked happily.

“How about the day after tomorrow?” She asked. Her father had taught her to wield a sword when she was small, just as he’d done with her sisters. He trusted no one but himself to teach them properly.

In the end, Greg left them alone. Making his way happily towards the food.

She watched him go with a smile. “There goes our resident glutton.”

“It’s a wonder he hasn’t turned into a ball. I was certain with the amount he eats, we’d be rolling him around by now.” Llewy said dryly.

The two of them shared matching grins before they snickered. Watching as a lady came close to Greg, posing and addressing him. He paused from his perusal of foods and stared at her blankly before he grinned and pointed her on.

The lady left dejected.

“Do you think it’ll ever occur to him that the lady was trying to flirt with him?” She asked.

“No, not likely. Whichever poor woman he marries would have to lead him firmly to that conclusion, otherwise, they’d be wed with children before he realized he was even in a relationship with someone.”

“So… basically what happened between his mother and father then.” She stated, remembering her father’s constant teasing of Sir Markham.

“I suppose history repeats itself.”

They fell into a comfortable silence. “How goes the exams?” She asked.

“It goes.” Llewy said tiredly. “The final round should be finished sometime next week.”

“Then we’ll know if you’ve become my aide or not by the month’s end.”

Llewy nodded. “If not, then you’d still have James as an Aide, at least. And Esme as a lady in waiting.”

“I still want the complete set of Porters.”

He snorted. “Your highness is as greedy as always.”

“What do you expect? I’m a dragon.”

A few weeks later, Esme runs past her in tears. Despite their best efforts, no one can get her to explain why she’s been crying or why she’s locked herself in her room. Judith spends hours at a time talking to her through the door or singing songs just to let her know she was out there.

When she does finally resurface, something’s changed. She’s still sweet. She’s still mischievous. But she no longer tolerates or entertains the young lords. She’s put a boundary between men and herself.

She remembers the lordling from her birthday, the same one Esme had taken to walking with around the gardens. Esme walks away from him when he tries to approach, ignores his pleas, and stares at him coldly. It’s not hard to see that this was all because of him. She remembered him as Jeremy Dionne.

Judith also looks at him with contempt. Gives him the cut. And doesn’t question her friend’s decision.

One day though, she finds out.

“It would be better if we could get past Lady Porter altogether and get to one of the princesses.” One of the lordlings grumbled.

Young Lord Dionne, grunted. “I tried Lady Porter but it seems she got smart. If I can’t become the Emperor by marrying the Crown Princess, then being the husband of the Princess’ most trusted friend would be the next best thing. But it seems she caught on somehow.”

Judith’s blood boiled in anger at these young men. She wanted to tear them apart but decided against it. She spun on her heals and stalked off to find someone.

Esme was with her mother at the moment, helping out with sorting all of her research materials. That was a good thing, despite Judith’s earlier boredom, because she had called in those closest to her friend.

In the room, Tabby, James, Llewy, Roxy, Diana, and Greg sat. They were just as red faced and angry as she was. Or… well… James and Llewy looked as though they were about to commit murder.

“What are you thinking, Judy?” Roxy asked her.

She smiled viciously. “I’m going to make them cry.”

“Tabby, get me as much frogs and bugs as you can. Take Diana and Greg with you.” She said.

“James, Llewy, I need you to build somethings for this.”

“Roxy, gossip, make it bad and scandalous, but make it true.”

Roxy nodded. “Find and spread blackmail then.”

In the aftermath, several young lords had retired from the social season in disgrace.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Esme said while they read books under an apple blossom tree.

She raised her eyes from the riveting novel to turn to her friend. “Hmm? What are you thanking me for?” She asked. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Still… thank you.”

Judy hugged Esme with one arm. “Don’t mention it. You’re my sister too. I have to watch out for you. Even if you are older.”

“Older but not wiser.”

“Definitely not.” She agreed.

Judith began to understand what her father meant by flies when she turned fifteen and the suitors came out in full. It had been on her birthday, and seemingly a repeat of her fourteenth. Except it wasn’t.

Judith was surrounded as soon as she finished her dance with Servant but Grandpa came to the rescue securing the next set, then Uncle Derrick and Uncle Reynold. The Porter boys followed their father with Llewy being the last to dance with her.

“If I say I hate how they surround you so, what would you say to me?” Llewy asked.

Judy looked at him in confusion. “Who?”

Llewy looked at her, face straight, eyes serious. “The lordlings.”

“And why does it bother you?” She asked, needing, wanting, to hear his answer.

“It just does.”

“You’re going to have to tell me why so I can understand. It doesn’t bother James or Greg, so why does it bother you?” She prompted.

“Because it makes my blood boil to see the way they look at you, my skin feels tight like I’m about to explode at any moment with unfathomable rage and a desire to tear out their eyes to stop them from looking at you. To cut off their tongues before they can use it for meaningless words of platitudes and compliments that are as hollow as an empty jar. Before their glances can turn your head and their touches can even graze you.” He said before he sighed as though his mind cleared. “But it isn’t my place, I’m naught but an aide, an old friend sure, but an aide nonetheless.”

He bowed his head apologetically. “Please don’t trouble yourself with my words and forgive me, Princess.”

And then the song ended, and they bowed to one another, and he turned away, walking into the crowd before she could catch him.

It took her the better part of an hour before she was able to find him again. He was out in the balcony with Greg, who was handing him a glass of wine. The sixteen-year-olds were talking seriously, Greg seemed to be trying to cheer him up. She stepped through the door and the two of them immediately fell silent.

“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Greg said before he bowed and walked away hastily.

The silence was awkward and thick, but Llewy didn’t seem inclined to breaking it. Judy decided she may as well do it.

“What you said, I didn’t want to forget it.” She said. “But do you understand what you feel? Why you feel that way? And what it sounds like? Because that sounds like you’re jealous.”

“And what if I am?” He muttered. “Would that be so bad?”

“No. Not from you. But do you understand why you’re jealous?”

“I do.”

“And?”

“It’s not important, Princess.” He insisted.

Judy frowned. “It is, it’s very important because your answer dictates what will happen next.”

“I don’t want to destroy what we have now.”

“You can’t know that without even trying. I’d rather not live this one life in regret.” She said. “So let me decide how I’d react and respond, don’t make such decisions for me.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Llewy said before he took a large gulp of the wine. “I like you Princess, as more than a friend and not at all like a sister. I like you as a woman, as a man who likes women. I always have. From all the way back to our childhood.”

Judy smiled. “What a coincidence, I like you too.” And before he could reply, a grin just forming on his face, she leaned in and pressed her lips to his. Judy decided that her fifteenth birthday was the best she’d had yet.

Eventually, they parted, breathless and with matching smiles, cheeks-tinged red. “Wow.” She said.

“Wow.” He agreed. They sighed again before they righted themselves. “You should head back, Princess. I’m sure everyone’s looking for the star of the night’s festivities. I’ll follow after you to throw off suspicion.”

She nodded and with a last lingering glance, she walked out the door, only to be greeted by the sight of Greg and Esme talking to one another, casually blocking the balcony doors with the curtains drawn to hide them. Greg entered the door she’d just left through while Esme helped her reapply her lipstick and checked her one last time. Mother caught her eye from across the room a knowing grin on her face as she led Servant in the opposite direction.

“You’re going to have to tell your father eventually.” Mother said as she brushed her hair a few weeks later. “He’ll need some time to adjust to the realization that you’re growing up and aren’t the little baby he carried around in his arms or on his shoulders anymore.”

“Was that how grandpa was? How long did it take for him to accept it?” She asked her Mother.

“…” Mother was quiet for awhile. “What makes you think he’s accepted it? The amount of times I had to talk your grandfather down from rebellion whenever I was pregnant is truly astounding. Even when he retired, he still tried to rebel.”

Mother had said it with a teasing tone, but something told her she was serious.

She thought of her Servant and how his eyes seemed suspicious every time he saw her with Llewy and she recounted those events to her mother.

“Then it’s doubly important that you tell him soon. It’ll hurt more if he found out from someone else, and it’ll be truly deadly if he walked in on the two of you kissing.” She said. “He may go for his sword first, and I’m afraid to say this but as talented and skilled as Young Sir Porter is, he’s still not up to your father’s level.”

“I thought you said I could keep it a secret before this.”

“With the caveat that nothing happened.” Mother reminded her. “And now something has.”

“I’ll tell him soon.” She promised as the brush was set down and Mother stood up, placing a kiss on the top of her head. She had already seen to Judy’s younger siblings, and would no doubt just be making rounds to check that they were really asleep.

Unfortunately, soon turned out to be a lie as days passed and turned into weeks, then months. Eventually though, Servant seemed to begin appearing everywhere. Popping up at the most random times. It was nice sometimes when the suitors gathered around her to her eternal dismay, but he’d chase them away with nothing but a look their way.

One day, she dragged him out to tea with her. Servant followed along willingly, a smile on his face at the thought of some one-on-one father-daughter time. His face soft and eyes warm.

They talked about her lessons and her duties first, about what she’d been up to over the last few hours. And then she moved the conversation along to what she’d really been meaning to tell him. She opened her mouth, then closed it, unknowing of what to say.

“You can tell me anything, Judy.” Servant said in a calm and gentle voice.

She could. She wouldn’t face any consequences for anything, she knew that. But that didn’t guarantee that Llewy would get away unscathed. Still, she decided to just throw herself into the deep end. “Llewy and I are courting.” She blurted out.

Servant froze, smile fixed, and he didn’t blink or seemingly breathe for moments.

She waved her hand in front of his face. Poked him repeatedly. Nothing, there were no reactions.

And then his face turned red, before it paled, and he fell into a heap, hand on his chest and seemingly unconscious.

“Servant!” She called out in surprise. Rising to run to his side. Fanning his face and calling for the maid’s help. There was a flurry as even Mama went out to see what was wrong before rushing to Servant’s side.

“What happened?” Mama asked as she gently slapped his face.

“I told him about Llewy and I, and then he sort of just… froze. And then he fell down unconscious.”

Mama blinked. “Oh.” She sniggered, despite Judy and everyone’s distress. “He’s always been such a drama queen. I’ll have them bring him to our bed if this doesn’t wake him up. I knew he’d react funny, your Uncle Reynold owes me ten golden dragons for this.”

“You bet on his reaction?” Judy asked incredulous.

“We have to have some form of entertainment.” Mama said as she shrugged.

While the maids were away, Mama looked at her hand and then back at Servant as though she contemplated slapping him harder than she was now. She shook her head as she muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like ‘I’m too old to be pulling those sorts of stunts.’ Did Mama do that before? Had she ever truly slapped Servant? And in all earnest too?

Regardless, once Servant was carried away, she saw Mama and Uncle Reynold snickering as he passed her some money.

And that was how Judith’s confession to her father about her now existent love life ended.

Even if Servant didn’t kill Llewy and still smiled to his face, there was a distinct frostiness there, as well as a large amount of paperwork suddenly getting shoved towards his direction. It got so bad that they barely got any free time to spend together. And whatever time they did have was spent with Servant immediately appearing out of nowhere to sit in between them. Uncle Reynold, Grandpa, and Uncle Derrick also began interrupting them all the time.

Mama just always smiled indulgently when she complained.

“What did you expect? Be glad your relationship is progressing as smoothly as it is. It’s definitely not the wild ride your father and I had.”

“Oh, because of the Laila?” She asked, she knew the history and all, but there wasn’t much after that.

Mama nodded. “That and a few misunderstandings here and there.”

“It can’t have been that bad, can it?”

Her mother got a weird look on her face. “It’s hilarious in hindsight but horrible while you’re living through it.”

“Somehow, I can’t imagine something like that between you and Servant.”

Mama laughed. “That’s because you only came to us after we’d figured some things out.”

There was a knock on the door, and Servant entered when she called out. He was still dressed in his normal uniform, meaning that he was just returning from a long day. She smiled at him and he walked towards the bed.

“The dragon and his maiden fair?” He read out as he glanced at the book she’d been reading, a nostalgic smile on his face.

“It’s my favouritest.” She said, trying to imitate the childish voice she’d once used so long ago.

“Would you like me to read to you?” He offered.

She grinned. “Would you?”

“Of course.”

It had been so long since Servant had read her a story. Not since she’d grown independent and said that she could read on her own. Nowadays, he just snuck in to give a kiss on her forehead and to check that she was where she needed to be, sometimes carrying her to bed and tucking her in if she fell asleep on her desk or the sofa like her mother sometimes did. Judith’s room was the last that they’d visit, making sure that the younger ones were already asleep before they went to her. But not a day went by when they failed to make a visit to her room.

Right now, she felt like being a child again and let Servant order some warm honeyed milk as he tucked her in tight, adjusting her pillows for her, and even teasingly brought out Mr. Bun Bun the Sunny Bunny, her favourite stuffed toy. And he gently stroked her hair while they waited for the milk.

Once the milk was there and she’d taken sips from it, he opened the book.

“Once there was a mighty dragon, golden and brilliant…” He read out, using the same voices he’d used to act them out before.

Gradually, her eyes began to feel heavy, and she fell asleep just as Servant finished the story.

“Goodnight sweetheart.” Servant said softly, his voice still drifting through her dreams. “I love you very much.” And then she felt the kiss on her forehead that always chased away her nightmares.

When Judith turned sixteen, she was officially crowned and recognized as the first in line to the throne. There was a grand ceremony that her parents had spent literal years planning. She knew because she’d once seen the stack of documents dating back from when she was a few weeks old, after her father beat it into the minds of the stubborn traditionalists that he’d changed the laws of succession.

Ever since she and Llewy became a couple, he’d been her escort to every single event. And this one was no different. After the coronation was over, and after the procession, he escorted her into the ballroom wearing his finest uniform while she wore a red and gold dress, and danced with her after Servant, her uncles, and her grandpa.

He danced three times with her. And then they moved on to socialize with everyone.

From the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Greg and Esme dancing together and she turned her attention to it, the two of them were laughing as they spun about the dance floor. It seemed like two friends on the outside, but she had a feeling there was something more to it.

Vivianne, Greg’s paternal aunt, and the Countess Leigh, stood not too far from them. Her face set in a fond smile.

“If Esme wants to have a relationship with him, she should know better than to merely hint at it.” Lady Vivianne said.

“I don’t think she’s realized it yet.” Judith said.

Llewy looked at the two of them with an oddly pained expression that passed quickly. “Well, at least I know he’s a good man who’ll respect my sister. And they’re both dumb enough not to notice they have feelings for one another.” He said, though the latter was more of an afterthought.

Her friends took obtuse to a new meaning as they danced around one another for well over a year. As Esme’s coming of age drew nearer, her parents had flown into a mad frenzy that left the poor girl overwhelmed. Greg, ever the glutton offered her sweets and treats to try and comfort her.

Judy was of the firm belief that he could offer the best kind of comfort to Esme by kissing her and putting them all out of their misery. Especially with the weird tension and situation that had been going on ever since women began to flock to Greg in earnest. Esme often seethed in the background during those moments, ranting despite not understanding why she felt so upset.

Meanwhile, Greg waxed poetics about Esme, though sometimes it bordered on strange since food was always at the forefront of his mind. Specifically, food prepared by Esme when she felt like making any. A practical yet unusual past time for a Lady.

On the other end of the spectrum, James and Tabitha’s courtship was progressing quite well. To the point that James was on the verge of proposing.

“I get to come too!” Nick cheered as he ran in to her room. Her sisters were all already there, so was Mama. Servant stood by the door, teary eyed as he looked at her.

“I can’t believe my first baby is already celebrating her coming of age.” He said, voice shaky with the sheer amount of emotion that seemed to be going through him.

Mama held out her hand with a smile and he walked towards her quickly. Arms wrapping around her middle.

“My love, can you believe our Judy has already turned eighteen?” He asked. “What happened to the little baby I swaddled?”

“I’m still here, Papa.” She said, deciding to put aside the nickname for a bit. “I grew up, but that doesn’t mean I’m leaving or becoming a completely different person.”

She hugged her parents.

“Group hug!” Selene yelled out as they all gathered in for a tight hug.

“Geez Servant!” Roxy said as patted him on the back. “You’d think she was eloping or dying.”

Servant hissed. “Please never bring those words up in front of me again, especially in relation to you or your siblings. You’re all a thousand years to young to wed or die.”

Diana and Sophia tried to comfort him to no avail while Nick just gave him kisses on the cheek and nuzzled him like a cat, though that resulted in a very messy haired little prince.

Her coming-of-age ceremony was beautiful, flowers made of gems sparkled along the room, glistening with the mage lights that mother had designed. The whole place looked like a Fay’s hollow, and yet not. Her mother had wanted to show Judith’s love of nature into the very day dedicated for her. It was magical and whimsical and so utterly memorable that she knew she’d remember it forever.

Llewy looked so handsome as they danced the night away.

She noticed the strained smile on Servant’s face every time Llewy reached for her, but it often disappeared whenever Mama elbowed him subtly.

At one point, Mama and Servant disappeared for a bit. She found them on the very same balcony that she and Llewy had become a couple in. They were dancing privately, their eyes only on one another as they spoke of the past. The two of them shared a moonlit kiss just as the fireworks began, there were certain balconies that were private and purely for the Imperial family’s use. And that was one of them.

As the fireworks continued, she saw Nick and the twins run to them while Diana and Roxy joined her and her friends on the other balcony.

She glanced back at her parents and knew she’d do whatever she could to have that same everlasting love with Llewy.

When she was nineteen, Mama fell pregnant again. This time, everyone worried a lot. Nick’s birth had nearly killed her, and she was a lot younger back then. What would happen now?

Servant didn’t let on that anything was wrong but at the same time, he’d been preparing her and Roxy in case the worst happened, and they were left orphaned. She had seen the coronation ceremony that Servant had begun to prepare in case they didn’t make it and she swallowed back the fear.

Llewy and Esme comforted her.

“I can’t say nothing will happen. There’s never any guarantee.” He said. “But I can say that I’ll stay by your side no matter what.”

Esme nodded. “You aren’t alone. You’ll never be alone.” Esme said firmly.

Esme had finally figured out what she felt for Greg, but the hapless man remained clueless. That didn’t stop Esme from pursuing him, though he often mistook it for signs of their vast friendship. And Judith honestly relished the reprieve talking about her relationship, or lack thereof, brought to her soul. It was such a mundane thing too.

“You can always count on me.” Esme told her. “Her majesty is strong, and she has so much to live for, that alone will make her fight to stay with you.”

On Judith’s twentieth birthday, Mama sat on her throne for most of the festivities, she was due any day now and everyone had been watching her for any signs that the baby was coming but there was none. Mama had danced one dance with Servant before she retreated back to the throne, then Servant had danced with her then all of her sisters before he retreated to sit beside Mama.

Judith had found some time to sneak back into the very balcony where their relationship had begun. There was something she’d been contemplating for so long now. And she knew he’d never ask it because it would be a breach in protocol.

After all, as Mama had told her, ‘Judith would always have to be the one to make the first move.’

And so, she did.

She had turned to her lover of five years, five years to the day, and she kissed him sweetly before she asked her question. “Will you marry me?”

“Huh?” Llewy asked stupefied. “Did you just… did you just propose to me? I could’ve sworn I heard you did but I think I might also be going crazy.”

“I did propose to you.” She said with a laugh. “You’re a lot saner than Roxy and I that’s for sure.”

And then her face became serious. “I love you, Llewy, and I want to spend my life with you. I know you, I trust you, not just with my heart but with my Empire as well. So many things can happen in the next few days, and I want to move forward into that future with this as a certainty. I don’t thin I can become the Empress without you there by my side as my husband and greatest support. More than that, I want you to be by my side because I want to be with the man that I love, and I want to build a wonderful future with you, children and all.”

“Judith, I never wanted the Empire. All I wanted was you. I went through all of that training, studied until my eyes felt like they would melt, and my brain would explode, all so I could be worthy to stand by your side in any capacity. Even if I had to watch you with another. And I’m so happy, eternally so, that you chose me. That you’re asking me to stay by your side, and I’d be a fool not to take you by the hand and never let go. Let’s get married, but only when things have settled.” He said.

That was enough for her. She kissed him again, her hand wrapping around his neck. Even if they married years down the line, that was fine. Just knowing that he was hers and she was his was all she needed.

Mama gave birth early the next morning. The city woke to the bells ringing around the Capital as people celebrated the safe and successful delivery of a new princess. Felicity was Mama’s image, at least in colouring. It was too soon to tell with the majority of her features.

Judith decided to keep quiet about the engagement for now, content in letting her sister’s birth be what people talked about for the next little while. It was a happy secret between her and Llewy.

She did eventually tell her family that she was engaged. Servant just looked at her with teary eyes and a sad sort of resignation as though he knew this was coming all along. His only condition was that she not wed until she turned twenty-two.

James and Tabitha wed just before the next Imperial tour. Felicity was a few months old at the time and Judith’s engagement had been formally acknowledged with an engagement ceremony and a banquet. This time, Llewy was coming along as the prince consort to be, rather than as her aide.

When they returned, they were immediately thrown into the hustle of another wedding as Greg and Esme wed despite only being in a relationship for a few months. The reason for it made its appearance six months before Judith’s wedding.

Eloise Markham stood with her husband Ezriel, holding her great-granddaughter Eris.

When the pregnancy was revealed, there was nothing but fond exasperation from Sir Cedric Porter, who, as Judith came to discover later, also rushed into marriage following the pregnancy revelation of Lady Marianne as she carried James at the time.

Today, Judith had the pleasure of receiving the guests for her wedding.

Mama sat with Judy brushing her hair for the night, for what was most likely to be the last time. Her room was mostly packed away and moved to the new palace that Servants had built for her. Tomorrow, she’d be spending her first night as a married woman in her own palace before she left for her honeymoon. After that, there would be no more nightly checks or hair brushing from them. It would be awkward and inappropriate since she would be a married woman.

Servant entered after a few knocks and he sat beside her, he hugged her tight and Mama joined in too. “It’s not too late to back out, you know? If you don’t want to marry, you don’t have to.” He said.

“I love him.” She said firmly. “And I’m going to marry him tomorrow.”

Servant sighed. “It was worth a try.” He said. “I just hate the idea that you’ve grown up so much that you’re going to get married already. I look at you and I still see the baby that was placed in my arms all those years ago. I remember how perfect you looked, and how just staring at you made it feel as though I had no problems or troubles. And now you’re old enough to wed. Just a year younger than when I married your mother, actually.”

“You make it sound as though you were never going to see me again, or that I’m moving to a faraway place.” She said with a laugh. “I’m only going to be in a different palace that’s the same distance as this one from the sun palace.”

“I know, I just… I still feel so sad, proud and happy at the woman you’ve become, but sad nonetheless.”

“I love you, Papa, and that will never change. I’ll always be one of your little girls.”

“That you will be. I love you too, Judy.”

“And I love you as well.” Mama interjected.

“I love you too, Mama.”

Judith stared at her reflection in the mirror, her siblings were all lined up behind her, with Felicity in Mama’s arms.

“How do I look?” She asked.

“Wonderful.” Mama said.

“Pretty!” The younger ones said. “Pre-pre!!!” Felicity agreed. Her hands waved about.

Roxanna scoffed. “Was there any doubt you’d look anything less than perfect?”

“You’re absolutely stunning.” Diana agreed.

“One of the most beautiful brides I’d ever seen.” Servant’s voice said as he stepped into the room.

It was unusual for the Emperor to walk the Princess down the aisle but she insisted and Callisto was more than happy to do it. Though, of course, Mama was also going to be there.

And the twins would be helping walk Felicity, or Flick as she called herself, down as the flower girls. Nicholas would be the ring bearer, and Diana and Roxy would be her attendants, carrying the long train of her veil.

She stood, draped in a white gown, golden threads embroidering small dragons at the hem. Her wings were let out for the ceremony because she wanted to wed as she truly was. As the woman that Llewy had fallen in love with. She bent her head as Mama put a circlet of white gold and diamonds on her head, while the veil was carefully pinned in place by Roxy.

Sophia handed her the bouquet and then her siblings were off, going inside one by one.

And then it was her turn to walk. All the butterflies flew away as she saw him standing there, waiting for her.

Mama and Servant kissed her gently on the cheek before they walked up to the dais hand in hand, and she reached for Llewy’s outstretched hand.

The rest of the ceremony was a blur as they said their vows, their eyes only on one another.

When they kissed, there were cheers all around, though her dragon hearing let her know that her maternal relations were crying, her grandpa sobbing loudly at the scene. When she looked at her siblings, they were all still cheering. Up on the dais, tears dripped down Servant’s face. Mama smiled at her before she turned to him, a gentle finger wiped away the tears before Servant swooped down and kissed Mama’s lips gently.

As she walked out with Llewy hand in hand, the well-wishers threw in their own congratulations as they passed them. With one last breath, she took the last step outside the ceremony hall as a married woman. Married to the wonderful man that was now Llewellyn Regulus.

I love the idea that they have this routine of going one by one to their children’s room, no matter how busy they are. And I wanted to show a happy and loving childhood filled with nothing but laughter, basically what Callisto and Penelope had been working so hard towards. And yes, that balcony is where Callisto proposed the first time. That spot has been redeemed. Stay healthy and safe everyone!

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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Shatter me with a kiss or spare me my heart

Welcome to another instalment of El’s bedtime stories. This didn’t work and she proceeded to remain awake for another two or three hours. Anyway, this was based on the Descendants 3 song ‘one kiss’ that she sent me, so I guess kind of sleeping beauty. @eloise175 please go to sleep on time, or at least pretend to sleep after I send you a ficlet.

Penelope stared at Callisto, sleeping peacefully and deeply. Too deeply that it was unnerving. One would think he was dead. With the slow breaths he took, his pale countenance, and the slow beat of his heart. She was unused to such a quiet and still Prince. If anything, he was how she often wished him to be when he vexed her so.

‘Twas a curse from one of his enemies, they declared. Though she knew it was none other than his wretched, miserable, shrivelled up old stepmother who had long since chased away the emperor from her bed with her odious looks and personality that had caused this curse.

They all thought their relationship to be false and full of artifice, as though they had only put on a show. But she knew her feelings ran deep, as the saying goes ‘the course of true love never did run smooth’ or something of the sort. And Penelope loved him, loved her handsome, valiant, gentle, magnificently irritating lover of a dragon prince to the very depths of her soul and more. She would kiss him awake if only she knew it would work. If only she had any certainty that he felt even the barest of feelings for her other than amusement and fondness.

If he felt even the tiniest bit the way she had, she would kiss him true and break this curse. For surely her love would be enough to fill up what love lacked from him? But she was afraid to find out, to know, that she was nothing more than a whim and a moment in his life.

Outside those doors she knew Sir Porter waited to see his liege awake. She could walk out and lie, say that it didn’t work and let him sleep on forevermore, let her live with the delusion that he loved her and all she needed to do was gather her courage.

Or she could kiss him now. She could shatter it all, her delusions and her heart and kiss him to put an end to this farce and walk away from him and everything that reminded her of him. Let some other woman try their chance at being his true love, let her kiss be what woke him, her love be what healed the man broken by war and death.

She tried to imagine living her life in that delusion, that uncertainty always looming over her, that what if? Even if she walked away, she would never move on unless she knew. A broken heart she may have after this, she decided as she leaned closer, but at least she would have closure. Let this be the last then. “I love you, Callisto Regulus.” She said as she gathered what love she had in her for him, this insurmountably vast ocean whose depths were untold, fathoms and leagues unmeasured and unexplored, and put it all into one gentle kiss as she let what sadness linger in her eyes and heart, let a tear or two fall as she pulled away from her unresponsive prince.

So that was it then. She straightened herself. “Goodbye.”

And just as she’d walked two steps, a hand reached out and pulled her back, down she fell on to the bed and onto his chest, stunned and dazed as she looked at those piercing red eyes of the man who held her tenderly.

“And where were you to go, Princess?” He asked, voice hoarse from sleep and disuse. It had taken days for her to get the message and rush to his side after all. “I’d not given you permission to leave.”

“Your highness! You’re awake!” She cried happily, arms lacing around his neck. It mattered not that he couldn’t say it. Not yet at least. For she at least knew what he felt for her with the breaking of the curse.

Seriously though, if you have any idea how many plot bunnies, WIPs, and half finished chapters, stories, or instalments I have, you’d understand why I haven’t posted anything big recently. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this. Stay healthy and safe everyone.

#death is the only ending for a villainess #villains are destined to die #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #penelope eckart x callisto regulus #penelope eckhart #sleeping beauty curse made into Callisto #penelope eckhart x callisto regulus

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kuroneko1815 · 6 months

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Monsters and Treasures in Dungeons Deep

This came from my short walk to the bus stop and written while on the bus. Huzzah to the almighty commute boredom.

Deep in a dark, dusty, and damp dungeon was a monster’s nest. Riddled with the bones of treasure seekers and hapless adventurers who thought to try their luck to find the legendary treasure within the very heart of the dungeon.

On most days, the only sounds that could be heard were the growls and grunts of the monsters, but not today. At this very moment a warrior fought off the monsters, panting through the effort.

“This treasure better be worth it.” The warrior muttered angrily. Robes dirty from the near constant fighting.

Finally the warrior made it to the dragon’s chambers and took a moment to prepare. The dragon was said to be fierce and tyrannical. When the warrior entered the chambers, instead of a treasure guarded by a dragon, there was a man.

She approached the sleeping man. And looked around as though she’d missed the treasure. But there was nothing there.

“What the? I fought through six levels of hell in a dungeon to face a dragon and to earn the most magnificent treasure in the world so where is it?!?” She yelled out loud, turquoise eyes blazing with the promise of death. “Where’s the dragon? Where’s the gold and rubies I was promised?!? Damn you Secretary Porter!!!”

And then she brought herself close to the man, too angry to care about his handsome face or his golden hair and bunched up his shirt as she pulled him up, ready to question him. She raised her other hand and slapped him hard, repeatedly, until he stirred.

“What? Who dares slap me?” The man grumbled as he opened his eyes revealing ruby coloured eyes. “Do you know who I am? I am the dragon prince, Callisto Regulus, crown prince of the Empire.” He said grumpily. “Though I must thank you for waking me up from that terrible sleeping curse my step mother put on me. It was supposed to be broken with true love’s kiss.”

“True love’s kiss who? I slapped the ever living fuck out of you. I guess a slap works just as well.” She said bitterly. “I demand a reward of gold and rubies.”

“How about an entire empire as my empress?” He offered.

“Does that come with a lot of money and fine food?” She asked.

“Yes.”

She didn’t even have to consider it. “Then let’s get married today. I’m Penelope by the way. You may as well know the name of the woman you’ll be trapped with for all eternity.”

“All eternity is it?” He asked with an elegant brow as he reached for the sword at his side and hopped off the gilded altar made into a luxurious bed. He looked at it in disgust.

“I went through all this trouble to get here on the promise of treasure. If you’re going to make me the empress and give me the entirety of the imperial treasures, that’s great. But I also intend to make sure that you don’t replace me with another and make me lose the treasure.”

He snorted as the two fought their way back up the six levels. “I think you and I will get along great. Though if you do take a lover, I’ll end him viciously in front of you.”

“Any concubines you have won’t make it past a fortnight, nor would they ever give you any children.” She vowed, magic setting the monsters in front of her ablaze.

They continued to talk to one another as they went through each level at which point she revealed herself to be the youngest child of the Duke of Eckhart, adopted of course. She made sure to specify that part.

“I need at least one child from you.” He told her absently as he pulled her away from the path of the arrows.

“We need to show the picture of marital bliss. No less than three nights in my room, even if we don’t do anything. I won’t have anyone talk that I’ve fallen out of favour with my husband.” She demanded.

“Right to refuse intimacy.” They both said at the same time.

And then they spoke of the wedding. “Three weeks from today. That should give me enough time to deal with my step mother and half brother, his faction, my father, and plan a wedding.”

“Talk to my father as well.”

“Any thoughts on flowers?”

“Something red, no roses though, or at most, just three or four roses in my bouquet but the rest should be some other flowers.”

“Will you have trouble procuring a dress?”

She looked at him with a wry smile. “I’m an Eckhart. Leave the dress to me.”

By the time they had left the dungeon to where Secretary Porter was waiting eagerly to see his liege, they had ironed out everything from the marriage agreement to the wedding, even to the policies they wished to implement within their first five years.

In the wake of the Imperial Wedding, Captain Leon Markham would lean in close to his friend, Sir Cedric Porter as he watched the newly risen Emperor wed his Empress and get crowned together. The Emperor’s half brother was put on house arrest after being found to be too dishonourable, his mother imprisoned, and his entire faction dissolved. The former Emperor was glad to be rid of both crown and wife and went merrily on his way to retirement.

“Did you really have to choose her?” The Captain asked incredulous. The new Empress’ reputation as an Iron Lady was well known, he worried that the Emperor might not survive the bedding if he did anything wrong.

“I had no choice.” The Emperor’s aide said, as he defended himself, silently lamenting his liege’s new wife who still held a grudge. “Every other woman that would’ve wanted to rescue him and become his wife and empress had died in the dungeons, and the rest were either afraid of him, or afraid of the dungeons itself.”

“I had to trick her into believing there was a magnificent treasure there.” He still flinched at the thought of the woman’s words.

“The Emperor is no treasure, unless you count his looks and title, but his personality leaves much to be desired.” Captain Markham noted. “In that they’re the same. But that being said, will the Emperor be alright with her?”

“He’ll survive.” The Captain said resolutely stubborn in his faith that his liege could survive anything.

True enough, he survived. In fact, he was never in danger from her. He never spent a day away from his wife’s bed and they went on to have no less than seven children. The Duke and the Empress’ brothers never quite got around to liking the Emperor though they doted on their nieces and nephew, her sister however, was their biggest supporter.

The adventurer/sleeping beauty curse in reverse. With Penelope as the money hungry saviour and Callisto as the damsel in distress/princess in need of saving, the treasure, and the dragon itself. Penelope isn’t pleased she’s been conned. But they still got their happily ever after.

#death is the only ending for a villainess #villains are destined to die #vadd #callisto regulus #death is the only ending for the villainess #fanfic #death is the only ending for the villain #cedric porter #penelope eckart x callisto regulus #penelope x callisto #penelope eckhart #penelope eckart

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