Im in love with you and your writing, your malleus isekai is a work of beauty! Its nice to see a multi chapter well written reader fanfic. I'm a hundred percent looking forward to if you do more of these! â€ïžâ€ïžđ
Thank so much! đ„ș Iâll definitely be working on more stories đ«¶đŒ
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Melting the Dragon King's Heart (Part 3)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/F!Reader
Summary: After falling down some stairs, you wake up in the body of a villain from one of Idia's cheesy romance books. Destined to die a fiery death, you have to figure out a way to change your fate.
Word Count: 7,661
Notes: Hey all, sorry for being off the grid for so long! I've been busy and haven't had much time to do anything besides study. But we're finally at the end! I hope everyone enjoyed the story! It was a lot of fun to try my hand at writing this. Malleus is a fun character to write for.
I might have some more isekai/regression/reincarnation stories for Leona and Jamil. It's something I've been thinking about but haven't fully committed. Let me know if these ideas sound interesting and you'd like me to write on them.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Warnings: Physical abuse, emotional abuse, attempted murder, actual murder, death
Despite being in the library often, itâs always a little daunting when you first step in. There are plenty of staff to help, but shelves upon shelves of texts are still a bit much. A lot of the texts near the back are quite old. A lot of them have to be handled with care or they might just fall apart.
After asking for books on enchanted weapons, with a strange look from the librarian, you sit down and try your best to go through as much as possible. After a few hours of no success, you feel a headache coming on. Leaning back, you let out a deep, tired breath. There are plenty of enchanted weapons, some real and some just legend, but thereâs nothing about the specific weapon youâre looking for.
In the story, the dagger is described as being crimson with an obsidian handle. It was originally a sword blessed by a group of fairies to take down a corrupted dragon. However, once the blade had been dipped in the ancient dragonâs blood, the blessing turned into a curse. Somehow the sword was broken but enough remained to create a dagger.Â
Any cut made by the blade could not be healed. No magic, no potion, no artifact could stop the bleeding. The wounded person would bleed to death. If the person was lucky, they could die in a matter of seconds. Those not so lucky would have an agonizingly slow death. Even if they were to cauterize the wound, the bleeding would continue. It would only stop once the wounded died.
âVery grim,â you mutter under your breath. For such a light hearted novel, the curse of the blade was surprising. However, itâs never used since the main protagonist is able to get it.
âYour highness, is everything alright?â the royal librarian.
Sitting up straight, you clear your throat. âI donât think Iâll be able to find what Iâm looking for. Could you put these back?â You close the book with a thump.
âOf course. Is there anything else you need?â
âNo, thank you.â Deciding to head back to your office, you leave the library. By now you know how to navigate your way through the castle.Â
Your feet move on autopilot as your mind wanders. There must be something you can do. The only other thing you can think of is returning home to see if theyâve found the cursed dagger. Of course this would require you to figure out the relative time frame of when YĆ«ki meets Malleus to when it's found. However, youâre unsure if following the story timeline would even be helpful with how different everything is now.
Arriving back at your office, you eye the stack of documents still left for your review. Plopping down onto the chair unceremoniously, you rub your eyes. Instead of doing the work on your desk, you find the previous book you had been reading. You never thought books about laws would be interesting, but Briar Valley has some strange laws that make reading about them fascinating.
As you flip to the bookmark, you note with some irony that the next chapter is on divorce. Perhaps when your plan had been to divorce Malleus, this would have been helpful. Though, still curious, you decide to read it. Everything about Briar Valleyâs laws are complicated, though maybe not as complicated as the Queendom of Roses. There are separate laws for fae, humans, and fae-human issues.
You skip to the section on fae-human divorce since that would apply to you. â âDepending on whether the parties have participated in the soul ceremony, divorce can be rather difficult though not impossible.â Whatâs a soul ceremony?â
Before you can continue, Diablo knocks on the door. âYour grace, lunch is being served.â You quickly close the book before following him.
---
Youâre silently reading in bed while Malleus goes through some documents. The times he used to come to your room to âhold your handâ has extended to almost every night. Instead of holding your hand, you both comfortably sit in your bed either talking or reading.
Malleus still returns to his room once itâs time for bed. You almost asked him if he wanted to stay the previous night, but you lost your nerves. Thereâs something very different from just reading in bed to actually sleeping next to him. You wouldnât mind sharing a bed with him, but itâs almost been an entire year of marriage and you havenât once slept in the same bed, so youâre unsure about how to bring it up.
Malleus shuffles his papers with a deep sigh. Glancing over at him, he rubs the bridge of his nose while muttering to himself. âSomething wrong?â you ask.
He sets the papers aside on the bedside table. âNothing really. Just that grandmother will be visiting soon. And sheâs already placed certainâŠdemands on me.â
Your eyes nearly pop out of your head. âShe is?!â You had only met her a handful of times. Yet, in those few formal visits, all you can recall is how intimidating both in magic and overall presence she is.
Chuckling, the fae reaches out and squeezes your hand. âNo need to worry, my heart. Iâll take care of all the preparations.â
Book forgotten, you turn to him. âWhat did she ask for?â
âShe wants her favorite room overlooking the gardens. She, of course, expects to have dinner with both of us. And a few other things about her daily walks around Briar Valley that Iâm sure Diablo can take care of,â he answers, ticking off each one on his fingers.
Fiddling with the sheets, you ask, âIs there anything I can do?â
âHmm⊠She didnât say anything in her letters. But Iâm sure sheâll let you know if she wants anything.â His gaze flickers over to the book in your lap.
âI should do something for her. Since itâs been awhile, maybe I can get her some flowers. Or maybe plan an outing? Do you think sheâd want to have tea in the gardens? Or maybeâŠâ As you ramble, Malleus takes the book from your lap.
He nods occasionally while he skims the page. His lips press together in a thin line. Brows furrowing, his eyes narrow. You pause when you finally notice heâs not listening. âMalleus?â
Turning away from the book, he asks in a serious tone, âDid I do something wrong?â
Blinking owlishly, you cycle back to the conversation. Yet, nothing comes to mind about what he is referring to. âWhat are you talking about?â
He gestures to the book. âYouâre reading about divorce in regards to fae-human relationships. Did I do something wrong to make you consider divorce?â Though his tone is even, the stormy look in his eyes say otherwise. Thereâs a flash of lighting outside the window.
Ignoring the sudden change in weather, you shake your head. âIâm not planning to divorce you, Malleus.â
His shoulders relax and his gaze clears. âI seeâŠâ
Taking the book away from him, you set it aside. âIâll tell you the truth. I may have considered divorce at the start of our marriage because I didnât want you to be unhappy.â âI also didnât want to dieâ you add silently. âBut I realized that it would be unfair to ask for divorce based on a few months together. And it would be selfish of me to not consider your own feelings.â
âIf you arenât happy here, Iâd be fine with a divorce,â he says, his voice strained. âI want you to be happy.â
Leaning against his shoulder, you hum in agreement. âI am happy. And youâre happy too, right?â
âOf course,â he responds without missing a beat.
âThen thereâs nothing to worry about.â Except the fact your parents possibly have a weapon that could kill him.
He wraps his arm around your middle, dragging you closer to his side so your head rests against his chest. He leans back against the pillows. You can hear the steady beating of his heart. A comfortable silence falls and you're almost lulled to sleep. The thought of sharing a room pops into your head once more.
âHey, do you want to share a room?â you inquire, deciding to throw caution to the wind.
Malleus straightens up, which startles your comfortable position. âYou wish to share a room?â His eyes are wide.
Sitting up, you find yourself picking at the sheets again. âWell, you basically come here every night, so that would be the most logical thing to do. And we are married, so it wouldnât be strange if we decided to sleep in the same room.â
Shuffling out of bed, Malleus puts on his dragon slippers. âI will let Diablo know at once to prepare the master bedroom,â he says hurriedly.Â
âM-Mallues?â He has already gathered his papers and is about to head out before he stops halfway.
He walks back over to you. With a large grin, he leans down and kisses the top of your head. âI almost forgot, my heart. Good night.â Eyes twinkling, he leaves without another word.
Your mouth hangs open for a bit before you snap it closed with a click.
---
In less than a day, your new bedroom is ready. Diablo has your things moved in while you're working. The old butler seems at ease and comments how Malleus is in a wonderful mood. Everyone you pass by smiles brightly at you. Youâre almost embarrassed at the fact that it seems everyone knows why heâs in a good mood. But, itâs honestly adorable.
There is a nervous feeling that settles in your stomach as you think about the logistics of sharing a room. For one, you have to share a bathroom, which isnât much of an issue considering how massive the bathrooms are. The only thing youâre concerned about is possibly being walked in on while changing. It isnât like you havenât seen another naked person, but youâre self conscious about the scars on your back.
No one, besides your parents and the few people who treated you on occasion when you were unable to, knows about the scars. Theyâre all thin and straight, but there are so many. They crisscross from the top of your back to the small of your back. Some are very old while others are only about a year old.Â
You recall the faces of the few doctors who had seen the scars. Looks of shock and pity arenât uncommon. One, you recall vividly, did not react at all, but you could see the way her hands shook. Yet, none dared to ask where the marks came from nor did they ever say anything to your parents. They valued their lives far more.
How could you blame them?
Shaking your head to clear out the bad thoughts, you decide youâll figure out what to do when the time comes. For now, you have to decide what to do with two unexpected visitors.Â
There had been a commotion at the palace gates that Diablo had come to you about this morning. When you heard what happened, you immediately went to meet them. Now in the drawing room, YĆ«ki sits across from you looking sheepish. Grim happily munches on the food offered by Diablo.
âI didnât expect to see you so soon,â you start. Itâs true since YĆ«ki and Grim are not supposed to come for another two months. Itâs just another indication that the story is completely different.
YĆ«ki sighs. âGrim kept nagging about wanting to visit. When he wants to do something, he typically wonât change his mind. Iâm sorry for dropping in unannounced.â
You wave off their apology. âItâs fine. I just wanted to be able to prepare for your visit more. Diablo can prepare a guest room. Itâs a little busy here because Malleusâs grandmother is visiting soon.â you explain.
âShould we leave? I donât want to be intrudingâŠâ Grim doesnât seem bothered as he downs a cup of tea. Diablo pours him a refill without missing a beat.
âNo, itâs fine. Sheâs not supposed to be here for another month. So, how are your travels?â you ask, changing the subject.
They seem to relax a bit. âItâs great! We went to visit the Scalding Sands before coming here. We even got to ride a magic carpet!â Their eyes light up as they talk about their newest adventure.
You wonder how they felt in the original novel when they had to stay in Briar Valley at the end. The author didnât mention much about what happened except that YĆ«ki went on to rule alongside Malleus. It was implied that they never left Briar Valley. Could someone who loved traveling so much really be happy staying in one place?
At some point in the conversation Malleus comes in. He pauses when his gaze lands on YĆ«ki. You watch as he regards them curiously. Yet, itâs only a brief pause before he turns to you to ask you a few questions about a document. He leaves right after without a second look.
A part of you is a little disappointed at the underwhelming moment of their first meeting. However, another part is happy that there isnât some kind of instant connection between the two. Youâre selfish.
âHeâs scary,â Grim mutters once Malleus is gone.
âGrim!â YĆ«ki looks at you apologetically.
âWhat?! Iâm just telling the truth! The magic rolling off of him is intense!â The cat waves his paws around. âItâs suffocating! You might not be able to feel it henchhuman, but I can tell!â
âItâs alright. Malleus can seem rather intimidating, but he really isnât. I promise heâs a gentle, kind soul,â you assure them with a laugh.
YĆ«ki relaxes once more. âHe obviously loves you very much,â they state while chewing on a macaron. You face warms. âHe only has eyes for you,â they continue âand it seems the feelings are mutualâŠâ A single eyebrow goes up.
Trying to hide your embarrassment, you take a long sip of tea. Clearing your throat, you canât meet their amused eyes. âWellâŠyes, they are,â you say in a soft tone. You canât lie about your feelings. âHe has a good heart. We started off rocky, but weâre in a good place now.â
YĆ«ki and Grim both glance at each other. You realize youâre probably smiling like a fool and quickly school your features as best as you can. You steer the conversation to a different topic.
Later, Diablo shows them to the guest room and you head back to your office. Thereâs still paperwork you need to finish. On your desk is some mail with many of them being letters from other foreign dignitaries. However, one letter causes your blood to run cold. You know that sharp but elegant script as you know the scars on your back.
Rarely have your parents sent letters. Slipping the letter opener under the envelope, youâre almost tempted to burn the letter without looking. But the fact that they sent a letter must mean something important. Itâs only a single sheet with only three sentences. You blink a few times before setting down the paper. The page blurs as you feel your chest pounding and a distant, high pitched noise fills your ears.
Dearest child,
Your mother has passed. Come home so our country may mourn her. The funeral will be tomorrow.
Father
Before you can fully realize anything, the door to your office opens. Malleus steps inside with a concerned look in his gaze while holding a piece of paper. Breaking out of your daze, you zero in on the paper in his hand. Itâs the same sharp writing. Thereâs nowhere to hide.
âMy heart, I am so sorry,â he says, gently setting down the letter. You can see that your father wrote more to him in the letter. âAre you okay?â
He reaches out but pauses when he notices the look in your eyes. Thereâs a long pause before you find your voice. âIâm fine. Thank youâŠâ You carefully take your own letter and fold it back into the envelope. âI should prepare to returnâŠâ you whisper.
Malleus gently takes your hand in his. âTake all the time you need. I know the mourning process can take time.â
Your heart aches at his kindness. But how can you tell him that you donât want to go back? That youâre terrified of returning to a place that only holds bad memories? Malleus lost his parents, so heâs no stranger to loss. But you hold no sympathy for the woman who called herself your mother.
âIâll inform Diablo. Finish up what you need here.â He presses a kiss to your forehead before leaving to find the old butler.
You stand there for a moment. Your heavy breathing is the only sound that you can hear. You stumble your way out of the study. As everything fades in the background, childhood memories come back. Memories of a younger version huddling on the bed, knees draw close to her chest. Always shaking but never crying because it would only lead to further punishment.
A voice calls out as you stumble and fall forward. You hit the ground face first but you donât register the impact. A hand comes into your lines of vision and you instinctively jerk away.
âDonâtâŠâ you cry out weakly.
Suddenly YĆ«kiâs face appeared into your field of vision. They say something but you donât really hear. They move away for a bit and return with some water. They press the cup into your hands. They place a gentle hand on your back while rubbing slow circles. Your hands shake as you stare into the cup. As your breathing slows down, the pressure in your chest lessens. After a little longer, you take a slow sip.
âYour highness?â YĆ«ki hesitantly calls to you in a soft tone.
Swallowing, you look around. Somehow, you stumbled your way to YĆ«kiâs guestroom. âIâŠIâm sorry for barging in on youâŠâ you apologize.
YĆ«ki offers their hand and guides you to a chair. Setting the cup on the table, you sag back into the chair. âJust take your time,â they say, taking a seat as well.
Glancing around, you note that Grim isnât anywhere to be seen. As if reading your mind, YĆ«ki adds, âGrim went to grab a snack from the kitchen. He probably wonât be back for a while.â
You fiddle with your hands trying to find the words. Youâre sure YĆ«ki isnât the type to gossip, so whatever you tell them would be safe. But should you be dumping your personal problems on someone who youâve only met a few times?
âI donât want to burden you with my personal problemsâŠbut would you be willing to listen?â The weight of everything has always been there, but you had ignored it. But with the arrival of the letter, you canât ignore it anymore. Perhaps hearing the advice of someone from the outside would help.
Nodding, YĆ«ki offers an encouraging smile. So you tell them everything. Well almost everything. You tell them about the past, your parentsâ plan to take over Briar Valley using your unique magic, the fact that youâve been lying to Malleus from the beginning, that they may have the one weapon that could kill Malleus. Every word out of your mouth feels like a release. YĆ«ki listens without saying a word and keeping their facial expression straight.
Finally, you finish and it feels like youâve been speaking for hours. Your throat feels dry, but the weight has been lessened. You wait for YĆ«ki to respond. Itâs a lot of information to be telling someone in one sitting.
Clearing their throat, their brows draw together. âWellâŠsorry but fuck thatâs a lot!â
Your eyebrows go up as you stare at each other. Then, you start laughing. You both burst into laughter. Itâs the first time youâve ever heard YĆ«ki say something like that. Wiping away stray tears, you shake your head with a smile.
âSorry for dumping all that on you. I think I just needed to tell someone.â You sigh. âIâve been holding that in for so long, but it feels good to at least tell someone.â
They wave off your apology. âYouâd be surprised how many of my friends I had to play therapist for. Itâs nothing new.â
Despite the reassurance, you can see the slight sag in their shoulders. âStill, you shouldnât have to if you donât want to. Iâm being a hypocrite since I just did the same thing, but I want you to know itâs okay to just turn away if something becomes too much. You donât have to fix everyoneâs problems.â
Looking away, YĆ«ki chuckles softly. âYouâre the first person to tell me that⊠Thank you.â
You want to tell them that you know about the things they have to go through in the story. But donât because YĆ«ki isnât a character in Idiaâs book. Despite starting out in what you understood to be a story, youâve come to realize that the people youâve interacted with are not characters. Theyâre people with their own emotions and wills.
Breathing in deeply, you flex your hands. âIâm going to tell Malleus everything. I think itâs time he knew the truth, and he can decide for himself what he wants to do.â
âThatâs probably for the best. Lying usually ends up biting you in the ass later on.â You both laugh. âHe clearly adores you. So, you just need to trust in him to understand.â
âRight.â You offer YĆ«ki a wide smile. âThank you.â
âAnytime.â
---
After a lively dinner thanks to Grimâs antics, youâre getting ready for bed. Malleus is already tucked in reading. Though you plan to tell him everything, you canât help but move slowly. You had prepared a speech, but now you canât remember a word.
Standing in the doorway of the bathroom, you regard Malleus. His shoulders are relaxed and his facial expression is almost serene. The stress from hosting his grandmother has all but disappeared. Your heart swells with affection for him. You want to live the rest of your life with him in peace and warmth. And the only way that it can happen is if you tell him the truth. Together you can figure out a way to take care of your parents.
Feeling your gaze, Malleus looks up. âMy heart?â His head tilts to the side.
Taking a deep breath, you square your shoulders. âMalleus, I need to tell you something.â
He closes the book, giving you his full attention. âWhy donât you come here and we can talk?â
Hesitating, you shake your head. âI want to stand. What Iâm going to tell you will be a lot.â He nods.
As you tell him everything about your life and your parentsâ plans, he doesnât react at all. You pour out all your feelings and thoughts. As the words leave your mouth, you feel even lighter. A sense of relief washes over you as you finish. You wait in agonizing silence as Malleus remains quiet. His gaze is distant as he takes in everything.
Finally, he looks at you. He doesnât say a word as he holds his arms out to you. Tears prick the corner of your eyes as you walk over to the bed. Climbing in the bed, he wraps his arms around your form and pulls you close to him.
You bury your face in his chest. You can only mutter apologizes as he holds your tight. He doesnât say anything as you quietly sob. After what feels like an eternity, you seem to run out of tears. Your eyes are sore and puffy.
He kisses the top of your head. âThank you for telling me the truth. It must have been difficult,â he mumbles. âWeâll figure this out together.â
Ear pressed against his chest, you listen to the steady rhythm of his heart. âI wanted to tell you sooner, but I was too scared,â you admit. âI was afraid youâd hate me.â
âI could never hate you.â He gently wipes away the tears that have stained your cheeks. âHowever, I am upset. Very much so.â
His green eyes glow dangerously as he glances out the window. Dark clouds roll in and lightning strikes. âShould I go there myself?â he muses.
âMalleusâŠâ Placing a hand against his cheek, you turn his head so he looks at you. âDonât do anything rash. My father is to blame not the people of my country. You canât just go in and wipe out the country.â
Frowning, he looks thoughtful before he smiles sharply. âHow about I just kill him, my heart. Or I can give you the honor of doing that.â
Leaning against his chest, you shake your head. âHe might have that weaponâŠâ
âIâll squish before he even has a chance to think about using it.â
âThis would be considered a criminal act.â
âWhat your parents did to you and planned to do with me are criminal acts. Iâm only ending this before it can lead to something worse.â
âI donât know if I can do it.â
âThen Iâll do it for you.â
Letting out a deep sigh, you smile to yourself as you tighten your hold on Malleus. âLetâs talk about what to do tomorrow. But thank you for offering to help despite everything.â
âOf course. I would do anything for you.âÂ
---
The next day you wake up feeling at peace. Malleus knows the truth and he still cares about you. You donât have to go back to that place. Stretching, Malleus tightens his hold around your waste.Â
You still canât believe that someone as regal as Malleus likes to cuddle. Most mornings you spend a few minutes trying to get out of his hold. He can be rather clingy first thing in the morning. Itâs cute.
âWe need to get up,â you say, trying to worm your way out of his hold. He hums before releasing you.
Malleus sits up as you find your slippers. You can feel his stare and quickly look up. Heâs frowning with his brows pinched together. âWhatâs wrong?â
âYour scarsâŠI didnât realizeâŠâ
Right, you usually hide them long before he can see them. But last nightâs confession had taken a lot out of both of you. âItâs nothing. Donât worry about it, Malleus.â
Eyes narrowing, he shakes his head. âI need to talk to Lilia about what we should do.â He pauses, his brow smooths as he regards you. âCan I tell him everything you told me?â
You hesitate for a second but agree. âYes. You trust Lilia, so Iâll trust him too.â If youâre going to do this without blowing up an entire country, youâll need help. And Lilia seems rather level-headed under all the teasing.
Malleus leans over to peck you on the cheek. âIâll see him now. Let me know if you need anything.â
âIâm going to head to my office once I check up on YĆ«ki and Grim.â You feel your mouth stretch into a goofy grin as he pulls away. Youâre pretty sure the butterflies in your stomach when he kisses you will never go away.
Once youâre clean and dressed, you make your way to the guest room. YĆ«ki and Grim are already out, though the feline looks half asleep. âMorning, you two.â
YĆ«ki gives a short wave before a yawn overtakes them. They quickly cover their mouth. âMorninâ....â
âItâs too early to be up!â Grim grumbles.
You chuckle as he yawns. âIâm sure the cooks have prepared something tasty for breakfast.â
That perks him up. âWhat are we standing here for?! Let's go!â He rushes ahead as YĆ«ki follows at a slower pace.
âSo⊠is everything okay?â They give you a sideways glance.
âYeah. He took it well.â You give a small nod. âThank you for listening yesterday.â
âOf course.â They offer a reassuring smile. âI was also thinking about what you said yesterdayâŠabout not needing to fix everyoneâs problemsâŠâ
âYes?â
Chewing on their lower lip, theyâre silent as you near the dining room. They relax a bit when Grim turns around to beckon for them to hurry up. âYouâre right. I donât need to fix everyoneâs problems. I need to learn when to take a step back and say no. Iâm going to work on that. I just wanted to let you know.â
âIt might take a bit of practice, but itâs good youâre taking your own feelings and well-being into consideration.â Patting them on the back, you two share a look before theyâre pulled away by Grimâs shouting.
A flash near the window catches your eye and your blood runs cold. âYour majesty?â Diablo calls to you, worry etched on his wizened face. He looks out but doesnât react. âIs something the matter?â
âD-did you see him?â you ask, your hands curl into fists.
He shakes his head. âIâm sorry, I did not see anything. Should I have the guards take a look?â
You pause. You donât want to cause a scene if itâs nothing. But you also wouldnât put it past your father to show up uninvited to drag you home. âYes, have someone take a look. If they find Duke Wynters, please send him away.â
Without further explanation, Diablo leaves. You let out a deep breath. It could just be your own fears playing tricks on you. Joining Grim and YĆ«ki for breakfast, you try your best to forget about it.
However, after breakfast Diablo reports that the guards did not find anyone. Not even a trace of magic. Despite that, youâre still on edge as you head to your office. Hand hovering over the door knob, the hairs on the back of your neck prickle. Grasping the handle, you throw open the door to your study with a bang.
Thereâs no one inside. Everything is in its usual place. You let out another deep breath and shake your head. Taking a seat, you take the nearest stack of papers to start work. You throw the stack across the room as if burned.
The letter that you had burned flutters to the floor. You jump up. âDiab-!â
A cold hand clamps down on your arm. âDonât.â Duke Wynterâs grip is strong despite his age. Old memories hold you in place as fear settles in.
âYou know, I was so disappointed when you didnât come home for your own motherâs funeral. TskâŠâ His voice is calm, but you know better.
âH-how did you-â You hate that your voice shakes.
âGet in here? There are things magic artifacts can do that can even trick a mighty dragon.â He snorts. âNow, weâre going home. And Iâm sure your dear husband will follow.â He bares his teeth in a ruthless smile.
Duke Wynters pulls a small pocket mirror from his breast pocket. He tosses it out and it expands into a full length mirror. A disembodied face stares back at you. âTake us back home, Mirror,â he orders.
âAs you command,â the mirror murmurs. The surface of the mirror ripples and slowly changes until it shows the image of the manor. Gripping your arm tightly, he drags you toward it.
You donât want to go, but fear grips your body. So, you let your panic swell along with your magic. The room becomes so cold you can see your own breath. Your vision blurs as Duke Wynters screams and something explodes.
Then everything goes black.
---
Malleus sends the doors of the study flying off. The entire study has been destroyed. The windows have been blown out and a thick layer of ice coats everything. His breath comes out in small puffs of fog.
He shouts your name. The frozen chandelier shakes.
Lilia places a hand on his arm. âTheyâre gone. Most likely back to his home. We need to leave now if we want to catch up to them.â
Turning to Sebek and Silver, Lilia gives them both a hard look. âMalleus and I will go after the queen. You both stay here and make sure everything is okay.â
They both give him a salute. âPlease take care, father,â Silver says, forgoing the formalities.
âStay safe, your majesty!â Sebek bows deeply to Malleus.
The two fae give one last nod before they vanish.
Standing at the entrance to your home, itâs oddly quiet and deserted. Dark, gloomy clouds loom threateningly in the distance. For a brief moment Malleus wishes he could have seen you during your childhood. But that thought quickly fades as he remembers the scars that criss-cross your back. Bitterness fills his mouth and anger boils to the surface.
The front gate is locked, but he simply blows it away with a snap of his fingers. Placing a hand on his shoulder, Lilia gives Malleus a reassuring squeeze. âEverything is going to be okay. ButâŠmaybe we shouldnât destroy everything.â
Thereâs a beat of silence before Malleus calms himself, though his fists remain clenched. âLetâs head inside.â
They enter the home but thereâs still not a soul to be found. Thereâs an eeriness to the dead silence. Passing rooms, thereâs evidence of the occupants hastily leaving. The two fae follow the strong presence of magic. They enter an outdoor courtyard though it looks like itâs seen better days.
There in the middle sits a figure slumped over. Malleusâs eyes widen as he rushes over calling your name. However, heâs stopped by another voice. âIâm so glad you could come, your majesty.â Duke Wynters stands on a balcony that overlooks the courtyard. Malleus notes he seems to favor his left side. Small flecks of ice cling to his tattered coat sleeve.
Clenching his teeth, his hands itch to burn him without thought. But the smug look on the manâs face makes him cautious. He has something up his sleeve if he can confidently speak down to two powerful fae.
âLet her go,â he orders. âAnd I will make your death a merciful one.â
The duke cackles. He gestures to the still slumped over figure. âUnfortunately, I cannot give you my dear daughter unless youâre willing to make a deal.â
His eyes burn with disgust. âOr I could just kill you right now.â
âYou could. But then youâd also be killing her.â Duke Wynters raises both hands and starts moving his fingers. Now, Malleus can see whatâs going on. Thin strings of magic are connected to each of the dukeâs fingers. And theyâre attached to you.
Your body suddenly moves. You jerkily raise your head and stand up. You're holding a dagger in one hand. Like a puppet, you mechanically point the blade at him. The strange crimson metal gleams under the low light. However, Malleus can see the pain and panic in your eyes. Despite your body being controlled, youâre fully conscious of whatâs going on.
The duke continues, âYou see, my unique magic allows me to control a personâs body like a marionette. However, my life and their life are connected until I end the magic. I believe youâre a smart one, you understand what Iâm saying.â He grins sharply.
âWhat do you want?â Malleus finally asks.
The man chuckles. âAll you need to do is to take her place. Call off your man and promise no harm shall come to me. In return, Iâll release your beloved.â
âHow can I guarantee that once I die, youâll keep your word?â
âMalleus I don-â Lilia is cut off with a look.
The duke sighs. âHonestly, you should have more faith in your father-in-law. But I will make a magic oath with you.â
Malleus doesnât hesitate. âI accept.â
A wide, crazed grin forms on the dukeâs face. âI knew youâd make the smart choice!â
âMalleus!â Lilia protests. âDonât do this!â
âWhat choice do I have, Lilia?â Tears are streaming down your face. âIf I donât do this, sheâll die. And if sheâs gone, IâŠI might as well be dead.â
The older fae canât find any words. Of course he wants the queen back. But if Briar Valley loses their king, heâs not sure what will happen. However, Lilia canât think of a way out of this. If what the duke told them of his unique magic is true, then they canât kill him without killing you. And even if it might not be true, Malleus isnât the type to take that sort of gamble. Not with you on the line.
Duke Wynters sighs. âThis could have all been avoided if my dear stupid child had followed the plan. Instead she goes and falls in love with you.â Clucking his tongue, he shakes his head with feigned sadness. âThat blade sheâs holding is special. We spent so much time and resources looking for something that could kill such a powerful creature like you. The blade is cursed so that no wound made with it can be healed with magic or potions.â
Suddenly you start to jerkily walk toward Malleus while wielding the blade. The fear in your eyes shines brightly as you hold the blade inches from where his heart is. Your hand shakes.
Malleus meets your gaze. He had vowed to never make you unhappy, but it seems heâs unable to keep that promise. Reaching out, he cups your face and brushes away the tears. âDo not worry, my heart, everything will be okay.â Pressing a kiss to your forehead, he can feel the bladeâs point press into him. He closes his eyes.
âNO!â The shout that breaks through the tense silence chills him to the bone. Eyes opening, he only briefly sees you smiling through your tears with the blade plunged deep into your chest. You crumble to the ground.
The duke lets out a horrified scream that turns into a choke gurgle. He clutches at his chest as he loses his balance. He falls forward and plummets from the balcony. His body hits the ground with a sickening crunch.
However, Malleus is preoccupied with the blood that seeps from your body. Holding you close to him, he attempts to use magic on the wound. He ignores the blood that soaks into his clothes. But the blade only seems to absorb it. He mutters an apology as he pulls the blade out and attempts to heal the wound. Still nothing happens.
His voice cracks, âLilia, what do I do?!â For the first time, Malleus is powerless.
Lilia shakes his head. âI donât knowâŠâ
Your eyes flutter open. You attempt to touch him but you have no energy, so your hand falls uselessly aside. Malleus cradles your body. âDonât leave me! Please!â
Your eyes glaze over. âNo!â Malleus screams your name, but you donât move. Dark clouds block out the sky and the wind howls outside as green lightning flashes.
A loud, mournful roar shakes the very earth.
---
You wake to bright fluorescent lights and the sound of a steady beeping noise. Thereâs also the familiar music of Idiaâs favorite idol game playing. Turning your head to the sound, you spot Idia sitting in a chair with his eyes glued to his phone. Itâs strange seeing him. Your head feels like mush as you try to gather your thoughts. Your heart throbs painfully for a moment before the feeling fades.
âIdia?â you call him.
He looks up from his screen, eyes widening. âYouâre finally awake!â
Trying to piece together the last thing you remember, you ask, âWhatâs going on?â
âYou fell down the stairs to the subway.â He pauses his game. âThe doctors said you might be confused. Do you still remember everything?â
Sitting up, you glance at the clock on the wall with a slow nod. âHow long was I out?â
âAbout a day.â
Touching the back of your head, you wince. âAre you sure? I swear it feels like Iâve been asleep for a long time.â
âYup. You left me a message yesterday. By the way, itâs not a cringe book! Only noobs like you would think that,â he scoffs.
âBook?â Your head feels like a jumbled mess.
He rummages through his backpack before pulling out a familiar book. âThe one I lent you. âMelting the Dragon Kingâs Heartâ is a heartfelt strangers-to-friends-to-lovers royal romance! It has everything you could ask for! Evil queen, hot dragon fae, spunky protagonist and a talking cat!â
You take the book from him. Frowning, you stare at the cover. The dragon king looks like a generic dark haired man. Yet, it looks wrong. âAre you sure he always looked like this?â
âWhatâs wrong with the way Malford looks?â You can see the annoyance in his face.
âMalford? Are you sure thatâs his name?â You point to the cover. âI swear he looked differentâŠâ
Idia shrugs. âThe dragon king is Malford Drago. Heâs always looked like that. Yeesh! I know you didnât like the story but at least pay attention to the main leads.â
When trying to remember, your head throbs painfully. Letting out a deep sigh, you fall back into the pillow. âMaybe I did hit my head harder than I thoughtâŠâ
Glancing at the time, India starts packing up. âVisiting hours are almost over. Iâll let the nurses know youâre awake and come back tomorrow. Do you want me to bring anything for you?â
âIâm good. Thanks, Idia.â Smiling briefly, you close your eyes as you suddenly feel tired. Even as you drift off again, you feel like somethingâs missing.
---
A month after your fall down the subway stairs, youâre darting across the street. Dodging cars and people, you shout into the phone pressed to your ear. âIâll be there in a few hours, Idia! I promise! I just forgot to grab some food.â
âI have food,â he grumbles. You can hear battle music in the background.Â
âYou have cavity-inducing candy! I need real food!â You skillfully weave your way through the people. âThe raid can wait, my stomach canât. Iâll text you when Iâm heading over.â You end the call before Idia can argue further.
Despite going back to your usual routine, something feels off. The doctor had reassured you that you might feel a bit confused, but that you would be fine. You feel like something is missing. When youâre sleeping, you have such vivid dreams. Yet, when you wake up, you canât recall anything and thereâs a painful throbbing in your chest. When you checked with your doctor, they just passed it off as part of your bodyâs response to the accident. You tried your best to ignore it since then.
Pausing, you realize youâre standing near the subway. The same place where you fell because you werenât paying attention. Tucking your phone into your pocket, you carefully descend down the stairs. Youâre only halfway down when someone bumps into you.
âHey!â The perpetrator rushes down without looking back.
Grumbling under your breath, you take a step. But your foot misses. You briefly wonder what Idia will say when he finds out you're in the hospital again. However, the fall never comes because the person coming up the stairs reaches out to save you.
Pressed against them, you meet familiar green eyes. Theyâre wide with surprise. âAre you okay?â Something about the voice sends a spark through your body. You know that voice.
Righting yourself, you frantically nod. âY-yes! Thank you!â
He smiles. âOf course.â He pauses, brows furrowing. âYouâre the one from before.â
âHuh?â Youâre pretty sure youâve never met despite the strange feeling.
He nods. âYes, I remember. You fell down the stairs a few weeks ago. I tried to catch you but unfortunately didn't make it. Iâm glad to see youâre okay, though.â
So he was the voice that called to you when you fell. âIâŠthank you for catching me this time. I should be more careful.â
When he smiles, the corners of his eyes crinkle. âMaybe keep both eyes forward. Wouldnât want you to get hurt again.â
ââŠâ You donât know what else to say. Heâs breathtakingly beautiful and even more so when he smiles. His sharp green eyes are warm when they meet your gaze. Youâre usually not the type to fall for a pretty face, but you canât deny the instant attraction.
He seems to take your silence as the end of the conversation. âItâs nice to see you again. I hope you stay safe.â He nods before heading upstairs.
You stand there on the step frozen. The further he gets, the more your heart aches. Why? Touching your chest, you bite the inside of your cheek. Taking a deep breath, you rush back up. Looking around frantically, you see him already halfway down the street.
âW-wait!â you shout. Phone pressed to his ear, he turns with a slight frown, but his expression softens when he sees you.
You rush across the street, nearly getting hit by a car. They honk loudly while yelling unintelligible out the window. Ignoring them, you rush to him. Trying to calm your erratic heart, you take a deep breath.
âLet me call you back, Lilia,â you hear him say into the phone before ending the call and tucking the phone into his pocket. âAre you okay?â he asks, a single eyebrow raised.
You nod. âI-I wanted to ask if youâd like to grab a drink with me if youâre not busy. To thank you for saving me.â Yes, that sounds like a valid excuse. And it's not like Idia expects you anytime soon.
He tilts his head to the side. âYou donât have to.â
âI want to.â You swallow nervously. âIf you want to, that isâŠâ
He regards you silently before agreeing. âIâd love to.â
Beaming, you hold out your hand. âGreat. Iâm (Y/N).â
When he takes your hand to shake, butterflies fill your stomach. He eyes your clasped hands with interest. âIâm Malleus,â he replies.
You stand there like an idiot still holding his hand. But he doesnât seem to want to let go either. Your heart feels full and for the first time since the accident, the pain is no longer there.
Tag list: @candlewitch-cryptic, @whatstheoccasion, @nimko, @yo4sblog, @mc-cos-charm, @mochiclouds, @41sh4, @unloadingdata, @noctifer-cynoct, @rincommittedarsin, @liesatemyocean , @mavix
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Melting the Dragon Kingâs Heart (Part 2)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/F!Reader
Summary: After falling down some stairs, you wake up in the body of a villain from one of Idia's cheesy romance books. Destined to die a fiery death, you have to figure out a way to change your fate.
Word Count: 8,000
Notes: I decided to split this part into two. The original is about 11k words and counting. This way I can work on the final part but also provide everyone with something.
Reader uses she/her pronouns
Warnings: Physical abuse, emotional abuse
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
After revising the proposal and sending along the messengers, you spent a lot of time filling out paperwork. Malleus seemed to trust you to do more, so you found yourself given more work. Though youâre glad he trusts you more, you hate all the new work.
Because of all the work, youâre unable to do much besides hole up in the office. Thankfully Diablo is always there to bring snacks and remind you of the time. You often get lost in the paperwork and forget to do the basic necessities such as eating dinner. Malleus is always happy to answer any questions you have, and having his office across the way is very handy.
Itâs a few weeks later that you notice the castle is abuzz with more activity than usual. You can hear everyone rushing back and forth while signing off on a few things. You can see staff rush by with vases, flowers and linen.Â
âDiablo, whatâs going on?â you ask the butler, who places a new cup of tea down.
âThe palace is preparing for his highnessâs birthday,â he informs you. âIt is a national holiday so Briar Valley throws a party for the citizens. Thereâs also a ball that is hosted in his honor where we invite the surrounding kingdoms. This year's theme is a masquerade.â
You had completely forgotten about his birthday. Setting aside your work, you lean forward on your elbow while strumming your fingers on the desk. âWhat should I get him as a gift?â you muse aloud.
Glancing over at the butler, he pretends to stare straight ahead. After a moment, he sighs before shaking his head. âI apologize, your highness, but I do not think I should tell you what to get his highness.â
âBut I donât really know what he likesâŠâ Thatâs not completely true, but it would be nice to get something that you know Malleus will like.
âMy advice is that as long as the gift has your thoughts and feelings, his majesty will like it.â Diablo bows slightly before leaving.
Letting out a deep sigh, you jot down a list of things you know Malleus likes and dislikes. From your previous conversations, you do know some things. He likes gargoyles, abandoned places, and cold treats. He dislikes whole cakes and gargoyles that serve no function.
âWhat to get himâŠâ A maid gently raps on the door, disrupting your thoughts.
âI apologize for disturbing your highness, but a letter just arrived.â She hands you the cream colored envelope with a rose wax seal.
Once she leaves, you open the rather thick letter. Reading through it, your eyes slowly widen with each word. Excitement and trepidation fill every fiber in your body. Leaving your study, you make the very quick trip to Malleusâs office next door. Your sudden intrusion startles him from the paper heâs reading.
âHe responded!â you exclaim, slapping the letter down on the desk.
He quizzically looks at you before taking the letter. You watch as he quickly scans the contents. âRiddle Rosehearts wants to meet about our proposal,â you explain. âItâs a good sign, right?â
He sets the letter down and nods. âIt would seem he wants to iron out the details. Iâm surprised he responded so quickly, since Iâve heard heâs the type not to make decisions without careful consideration.â He ponders, âPerhaps heâs been wanting to establish relations with us and this gives him a good excuse.â
âRight! So, when do you want to go?â
âYou wish to do this soon?â he asks.
Nodding, you explain, âI think it would be ideal to do this sooner rather than later.â
âHmm⊠I have a few meetings to attend with some diplomats from other countries. And then thereâs the banquetâŠâ He shifts through a notebook containing his day-to-day schedule. âMaybe we could go⊠no that wonât work.â
After a while of going through his schedule, he sighs deeply. Brows furrowing, a small frown appears on his lips. âIt seems I will be busy for a few months. We may not be able to do this as quickly.â
Thereâs a pause before you throw out a suggestion. âWhat if I go and meet with him?â
âAlone?â His frown deepens.
âYes. I believe I can work on this with him. We wonât sign anything, but it will at least iron out the details.â You want to do this. Itâs something you worked on for a while, so it would be nice to be the one to close the deal. And you canât say youâre not curious to see what the Queendom of Roses is like.
âI know you might be worried about my abilities, but I would like the opportunity to prove myself beyond paperwork and readings.â
Malleus regards you quietly. The frown has left his face but his brows are still creased. âI do not doubt your abilities. I just worry about you being in another country alone.â
A small laugh escapes your lips. His concern for your safety is endearing. âI can bring a guard or two with me, if that will ease your worries,â you quickly add.
That seems to alleviate some of his worry. âYes, I think that will be fine. When would you like to leave?â
Taking the letter, you fold it back into the envelope. âHis highness said he could meet starting next week. How about a week from now? It should give me enough time to send a response back and prepare for the trip.â
âSo soonâŠâ he mutters. Letting out a huff, he waves off whatever is concerning him âI will instruct Silver and Sebek to accompany you. Diablo will help you prepare everything else.â
Youâre surprised heâs having his two closest knights go with you. âAre you sure? I could take someone else.â
He shakes his head. âThese two are one of my most trusted knights, so it would be appropriate that they guard you on your journey.â
Seeing the firm set of his lips, you know not to argue. âThank you. I will gather some material and start packing.âÂ
Turning to leave, Malleus calls to you. âHow are your parents doing?â he asks suddenly.
You halt, almost stumbling in your steps, before slowly turning toward him. âTheyâre fine. Why do you ask?â
âI was thinking we can send them an invitation for my birthday ball,â he explains. You canât read his expression.
Every fiber in your being wants to scream ânoâ and that you never want to see them. But you know you canât. You have to keep up appearances for now. âIf thatâs what you would like, then please invite them,â you respond as calmly as you can.
Heâs quiet as he studies you before nodding. âIf there is anyone else you want to invite, please let Diablo know. The invitations will go out in about three weeks.â He returns to his papers.
You suddenly have an idea. âIs there anything you want for your birthday?â you inquire, walking over to stand in front of his desk.
âNothing in particular,â he says, not looking up.
âReally? Nothing at all?â Youâre hoping heâd give you some ideas. Buying birthday gifts for Idia was easy since he usually wanted something related to his games or anime.
Malleus finally looks up from his papers. âIâm sure whatever you decide, I will like.â
You resist the urge to groan. âDiablo said something similar, you knowâŠâ Placing both hands on his desk, you give him a stern look. âIf I give you something you hate, let me know right away. Okay?â
He blinks twice. âI doubt youâd ever give me something Iâd hate.â He pauses when he sees the slight turn of your lips. â...but I will let you know if that happens.â
âGreat!â Turning on your heel, you leave his office. You miss the smile on his lips as he watches you go with a fond look.
---
The trip to the Queendom of Roses is an uneventful ride. Silver and Sebek do accompany you on horseback. Neither say much so youâre left going over things in your head. Youâre not sure how this will go, but can only hope you donât start a war.
The Queendom is lush and green with picturesque homes. Everything reminds you somewhat of images from the Victorian era. When you arrive at the castle, youâre greeted by the queenâs personal advisor, Trey Clover.
âItâs a pleasure to meet you, your highness,â he greets with a deep bow.
Taking his offered hand, you step out of the carriage. âThank you for having me, Mr. Clover.â
âPlease call me Trey. If youâll follow me, his majesty has prepared some tea.â Silver and Sebek follow a few paces behind as youâre led through the rose garden. Some of the roses, you notice, are white while others are red. And some of the red roses almost look to be dripping in paint.
When you arrive at the heart of the garden maze, you are greeted by the queen himself, Riddle Rosehearts. Heâs dressed impeccably, though you wouldnât expect less from someone who follows rules strictly. Though much shorter than Trey, thereâs something about his presence that seems to tower over everyone.
He greets you with a bow. âItâs nice to meet you in person.â Heâs polite but firm.
âThank you for having me.â As you dip into a bow, you canât help but marvel at his composure. For someone whoâs around your age, he carries himself as if heâs much older and wiser.
âTrey, please place her highness across from me,â he orders. Silver and Sebek melt somewhere into the background without a word.
As you take the offered seat, you give him a tentative smile. âYou can call me by my name. Iâd like to think weâll be good friends soon.â
He seems to sputter a bit before finding himself. âIf you insist. Please just call me Riddle, then.â
As tea is served, you engage in small talk. Though youâre eager to get on to the topic of the proposal, etiquette dictates you share pleasantries. It would be considered rude since the tea and treats were specially prepared. The strawberry tarts are delicious so you donât really mind.
After enjoying the tea, Riddle wastes no time getting onto the business. âYour proposal is indeed interesting to us, however, I want to ask you something.â
âGo ahead.â
He leans forward, hands propped under his chin. âWhat would you do if we said no?â
Thereâs a pause. You hadnât actually considered they would reject your proposal. After a moment, you carefully choose your words. âI would respect your decision. Ultimately, you do not need to accept the proposal. We are not the type of country to force our will on to another. Though, I do think it would be foolish not to take the deal.â
He gestures for you to explain. âThough the Queendom is rich in crops, you do lack magical resources. As youâre aware, Briar Valley is old and has many deposits of magic, which have been refined into its purest form. Iâm sure trading between us would help increase the Queendomâs magical might.â
Riddle leans back as he mulls over your words. Your heart beats rapidly in your chest, wondering what is going through his head. After a few moments, he smiles. âLet us draft up an official agreement, then.â
âYou accept?â you ask, a bit surprised considering how serious he had been looking. He almost looked like he was about to reject the offer.
âYes. Iâve always thought it would be good to become allies with our neighboring countries,â he explains. âI realize we havenât really interacted in the past, but I hope this will be the start to a good relationship between our kingdoms.â
Relief washes over you. âI agree. I think this will be beneficial to both of us in the long run.â Thereâs a loud commotion that causes you both to turn and look around. âIsâŠis everything okay?â
Riddle frowns. âThere shouldnât be any problems⊠Trey?â The green haired man from before does not appear, which causes Riddleâs frown to deepen.
Then, thereâs a loud shout. âGet back here!â
A gray blur bursts through the bushes and makes a beeline toward you and Riddle. A redhead and a brunette follow suit, both looking disheveled. âYou canât be here, Grim!â the brunette shouts.
The gray blur stops short and you realize itâs a cat. A strange cat that can stand on two feet with blue flames coming from its ears. You canât help but stare as you realize who this cat is. And just as you thought, another person comes through the maze, out of breath. YĆ«ki, the protagonist of âMelting the Dragon Kingâs heartâ and the one who saves Malleus, stands before you.
âGrim! Trey said heâd feed you some tarts later!â YĆ«ki shouts.
âMrrrawh! I want a tart now!â Grim howls.
Riddle stands up, his chair falling to the ground. His face is bright red. âWhat do you think youâre doing! We have an important guest and you make a spectacle!â
âUhh⊠uh oh!â The cat slinks back at the sudden anger rolling off in waves from Riddle.
The redhead manages to grab Grim by the scruff of his neck. âGotcha!â
Trey steps in along with Silver and Sebek. âI apologize, Riddle. We werenât able to catch him.â
You, however, canât take your eyes off the protagonist. In the books YĆ«ki is a magicless human in a world filled with magic. However, that never stops them from traveling to different places and having adventures with their friend, Grim. Itâs during one of their trips that they happen to meet Malleus, and everything else falls into place.
You never thought much about where YĆ«kiâs last adventure was before coming to Briar Valley since the story glossed over everything. But to see them before the start of the novel is strange, yet youâre curious.
Feeling your gaze, YĆ«ki turns to you. Their eyes are bright and filled with wonder. âHello, your highness.â They bow. âI apologize for interrupting your meeting.â They ignore the others who are still squabbling. Riddle doesnât look ready to calm down any time soon either.
âItâs nice to meet youâŠ?â
âYĆ«ki! And that,â they point to the cat whoâs munching on leftovers, âis Grim. Weâre adventures.â
Though youâve only spoken a few words, you can feel their warmth and sincerity. No wonder theyâre able to break the magic on Malleus so easily. Theyâre like an early spring day coming to thaw the remaining coldness from winter. Ironic, you think.
âAn adventure? Where else have you traveled?â you asked, genuinely curious.
âWell, we just came back from visiting the Island of Woe. But weâve also seen the Shaftlands, Scalding Sands, Coral Sea, and the Sunset Savanna.â They tick off each location on their fingers.
From your memories, youâve never been anywhere besides your home and then to Briar Valley. The Queendom of Roses is the first place youâve ever visited. âThatâs a lot of places! You must have a lot of fun.â
YĆ«ki chuckles, rubbing the back of their neck. âYeah⊠we always manage to get into some kind of trouble, so itâs not that great. Iâve heard Briar Valley is a nice, quaint placeâŠâ
âYes, itâs quiet but the people there are wonderful. You should come visit someday.â The offer is genuine.Â
They smile, making their face light up. âWe definitely will. I think right now Grim and I are going to rest a bit more here.â
âIs the food good there?â Grim suddenly butts in. There are crumbs all over his mouth, which YĆ«ki begins wiping off with a napkin.
You nod thoughtfully. âI would say so. If you come to visit the castle, Iâll make sure to have our chefs whip up a wonderful meal.â You havenât had much complaint about the food. Though there are some comfort meals you miss from home.
âSweet! Letâs go there next, YĆ«ki!â The catâs eyes light up at the prospect.
They groan while crossing their arms. âI still need time to rest from our last adventure. Anyways, Riddle said we could stay as long as we wanted, which means youâll have access to unlimited tarts.â
Grim huffs but doesnât seem too bothered. âI guess youâre rightâŠâ
Riddle, having calmed down, sits back in his seat. âI do apologize for the abrupt intrusion from my knights.â
The two who had been trying to catch grim, kneel. âWe apologize for intruding, your majesty,â they both say in unison
Trey shakes his head. âHonestly⊠this is Ace and Deuce. Theyâre newly appointed knights, so theyâre still rough around the edges.â
âI donât mind. Youâre knights are a lively bunch.â The two have the decency to look embarrassed.
âA bit too lively,â Riddle mutters. Letting out a sigh, he gestures to YĆ«ki and Grim. âThese two are esteemed guests.â
âThatâs right! Me and my henchhuman are super important!â Grim boasts, crossing his short arms while puffing out his chest.
YĆ«ki glances at you with an apology in their eyes. âDonât go getting a big head, Grim,â they warn jokingly.Â
âToo late! His head is already huge,â Ace teases.
âMy headâs normal sized!â
You hear Riddle sigh once more as he rubs his temples. It seems any talk about the proposal is over, but you donât mind. With how lively everyone else is, things are bound to never be boring.
Your gaze once more turns to YĆ«ki. Theyâre different from what you expect. Seeing them laugh without a care in the world reminds you about something in the book. In the story, YĆ«ki does lament the fact that they wonât be able to travel anymore once they marry Malleus. They put their adventures on hold. You donât remember the story ever saying that YĆ«ki laughed in such a carefree way.
Meeting your intense stare, they regard you curiously. âIs there something wrong, your highness?â
You wave them off. âNo. It just seems like youâre really close with everyone hereâŠâ
They nod eagerly. âThe thing about adventuring is that you meet people from different backgrounds and walks of life. I enjoy adventuring for that very reason. I guess I canât imagine staying in one place for too long when thereâs places I still havenât seen.â
âSo, would you want to adventure your whole life?â
âYes, thatâs the goal!â Their grin is infectious.Â
As Deuce and Ace draw their attention away, you find yourself thinking. Seeing an enthusiastic YĆ«ki and Grim compared to the more subdued versions in the story is so jarring. Itâs almost like once the events of the story happen, all of YĆ«kiâs personal dreams and goals get pushed to the back.Â
By now youâve accepted your life as the queen. And perhaps with you here, the story has changed. Perhaps you donât have to follow the story in order to live. A very selfish part of you doesnât want to leave Briar Valley like you had originally planned. And maybe thatâs okay.
As you watch the two adventures talk animatedly, you make a decision. Youâll figure out how to stop your parents your own way.
---
Returning to Briar Valley after a few days away, something has changed. It seems like Malleus has started following you around more. The moment you stepped out of the carriage, Malleus was there to greet you, which you thought was sweet. However, heâs started coming into your office for nothing in particular. Heâll sit in one of your chairs pretending to read whatever papers or book heâs brought with him. You can often feel him hovering, gaze following your every move. Itâs like heâs watching and waiting for something to happen.Â
Itâs much like how your parents were always watching you, and if they couldnât monitor you, they had one of the maids do it. Like a bug under the microscope, you never had peace to yourself until you slept. By then, you were too tired to do anything more than just sleep.
Itâs starting to get on your nerves. When you ask him what he wants, he simply says he doesnât want anything. But you can tell he wants something! But he wonât tell you!
SNAP!
You blink as you stare down at the now broken pen in your hands. Black ink oozes out and drips onto the paper you were working on. Malleus immediately perks up from his spot across from your desk.
âIs everything alright?â
Letting out a long breath through your nose, you summon some magic to clean up the mess on your hand. The broken pen is tossed in the trash. âIâm fine,â you mutter, not looking up.
Thereâs a pause though you can feel him staring once more. Finding your spare pen, you crumble up the ruined papers. âIt seems youâre upset,â he muses. âIs there anything I can do for you?â
âNo,â you reply curtly.
Perhaps your tone is a bit too icy because when you look up, you can see the hurt in his gaze. Sighing, you lean forward and cover your face. âI⊠I didnât mean to be snappy with you, Malleus. âŠWhy are you hovering so much?â
Thereâs silence before he answers, âI missed you. Lilia said that if I missed you, I should spend more time with you.â
Looking up once more, youâre not sure what to say. You let out a dry chuckle. âI see⊠If you want to spend time together, just let me know. I donât mind spending time together, I just donât like you hovering.â
âI didnât realize. Iâm sorry,â he apologizes sincerely.
âIâm sorry too for not communicating with you better about this.â You sit back, body suddenly feeling tired. âIâve spent a lot of my life being watched, and it wasnât pleasant. I want to spend more time with you, but not like this.â
You glance at him tiredly. Thereâs a harshness in his gaze but it vanishes too quickly for you to fully understand. âI apologize for making you uncomfortable. It was never my intention.â He lowers his head, his lips are pressed in a firm line.
âI know.â He would never do anything to intentionally hurt you.
âDo you want to take a walk in the gardens?â he asks suddenly.
A break would do you some good. Following Malleus to the gardens, you stroll through the roses. Though the Queendom had lovely roses, thereâs something about these roses that you like more.
He leads you to the center of the garden where you sit. You lean against his side, eyes closed, enjoying the fresh air. Malleus traces patterns on the palm of your hand. You sit like that for a while before Malleus breaks the silence.
âWhile you were away, I walked into your office wanting to see you. It made me realize how little time we spend together outside of our work. Iâd like to spend more time with you doing things like this,â he admits.
You hum in agreement. âIâm always open to spending time together.â
Malleus weaves your fingers together with his. âEven if we donât do anything?â
âYes. Sitting here and enjoying each othersâ company is enough.â Opening your eyes, you smile back at him. âI prefer this over you hovering.â
He nods. âI will keep that in mind. Perhaps next time I should be more clear with Lilia on my questionâŠâ
âOr you could ask me. Why not go to the source?â you suggest. Itâll save you from any miscommunication.
âAlright. Iâll come to you if I have any questions or concerns.â He chuckles as he squeezes your hand.
Thereâs a pause before you ask a question thatâs been plaguing your mind for a while. âWhy did you marry me? I donât come from a country that can offer much, so itâs not like Briar Valley gained anything.â
Pulling away slightly, his brows crease. âDid your parents not tell you of the deal?â
âNo. They just told me it was an honor to be marrying you.â They had told you nothing beyond that you were to marry a complete stranger. The glee in their gazes as they concocted their scheme to take over Briar Valley remains fresh in your mind.
He mutters something under his breath before shaking his head. âOne of your ancestors from long ago sought out my grandmother for a blessing. Apparently their land was on the verge of collapse and my grandmother offered to bless the land once more. In exchange, they or their descendants would have to marry off their first born to her grandson. I wasnât born then, but it seems grandmother already knew I would be eventually.â
You slowly process the information. âSo essentially, it was just timing that it happened to be me?â
âMy grandmother never really explained but when the time came, she told me Iâd be marrying you.â He runs his thumb over your knuckles. âBut I am glad it was you that I married.â
Your face warms as he gazes at you sincerely. âIâm glad too,â you manage to sputter out. Sometimes Malleus can say the sappiest things with a straight face. Yet, you know heâs always true to his feelings. It never fails to make your heart flutter.
Your gaze drops to his lips and stays there for a bit longer than you mean. You havenât kissed him, and now youâre wondering how it would feel. You wonder if he would be a gentle kisser or would he bite at your lips with his sharp fangs. You wouldnât mind either wayâŠ
Feeling your face warm at the sudden thoughts, you realize that Malleus has shifted a bit closer. Peering back at him, he watches you with half-lidded eyes. His usual bright eyes are dark with swirling emotions.
âMalleusâŠ?â Your voice is barely a whisper.
He reaches up to stroke the right side of your face. He traces the curve of your jaw before gently grasping your chin. Thereâs a fire burning in his gaze as he leans closer. You stay completely still, barely daring to breathe.
His lips are inches away from you before he asks, âCan I?â His gaze flickers to meet yours.
You nod wordlessly and he-
âKING MALLEUS!â The voice that echoes through the garden causes you to jerk back in surprise. You almost stumble off the bench if not for Malleusâs quick reflexes as he steadyâs you with a hand to the small of your back.
âSebek, I donât think you need to yell so loudly,â another voice admonishes with little heat.
Nervously clearing your throat, you quickly stand up. âLooks like your knights are looking for you.â
Warily turning in the direction of where the voices are coming from, his eyes narrow. âIt would seem so.â He hands clench and unclench a few times before he stands. âI should go see what they wantâŠâ
âRight⊠See you later!â You make haste to leave before he can say anything else. You rush past Silver and Sebek on your way out of the garden.
âYour highness?â Silver calls to you, but youâre too busy running away to stop.
Face still warm, you canât get the image out of your head. The way Malleus looked at you was like he wished to devour you whole. And you wouldnât have minded.
---
The birthday party is as lavish as you could have imagined. A full orchestra plays music while guests mingle, eat food and dance. As guests arrive, they each approach Malleus to wish him a happy birthday. Presents are left in a different room as theyâll be opened later. Standing beside Malleus, you can feel your mouth aching as you politely smile at everyone that comes over.Â
Speaking of the birthday boy, heâs dressed impeccably in black silk accented by silver thread embroidery. His black mask is much like your own except the gems match the color of your eyes. His hair is slicked back though there are still a few stubborn strands that refuse to stay put. You can understand why heâs the love interest with how beautiful he is. Your heart did a weird flip when you saw him before the party.
âAre you alright?â Malleus asks once another guest leaves.
Meeting his gaze, you give a tired nod. âI didnât realize how strenuous just greeting people can be.â From what you could remember, no one ever approached. You spent most parties trying to melt into the wall.Â
His lips turn slightly down in a frown. âYou may rest if you wish. I can handle the guests.â
Shaking your head, you chuckle. âIâll be fine. It seems like there arenât too many more people coming.â
âIf youâre sureâŠâ He trails off as another guest arrives. This time, you recognize the guest as none other than the ruler of the Queendom of Roses, Riddle Rosehearts.
âHappy birthday and thank you for inviting me,â Riddle says, inclining his head in greeting. You admire the vibrant red mask he has. The design incorporates a subtle rose pattern.
Malleus greets him just as politely. âThank you for coming, Rosehearts. We are both glad youâre able to come.â
With how many times heâs said the same thing, you can repeat everything word for word. âIs YĆ«ki and Grim here?â you ask.
He shakes his head. âThey went to the Coral Sea for something. They should be back in a week or so.â
âOhâŠâ You did want to speak with YĆ«ki a bit more. You wanted to hear more about their adventures.
Riddle pauses as if wanting to say more. He shakes his head. âThis is a celebration, so I will not bring up business. But perhaps we can meet again sometime. Iâll be in Briar Valley for a few more days.â
Nodding, you gesture for Diablo, who stands a bit away. His sharp eyes never miss anything. âDiablo, please discuss with his majesty when we can meet.â
âOf course, your grace.â To Riddle, he bows. âPlease let me know when you would like to discuss scheduling, your highness.â
The redhead nods. âIâll have one of my men reach out.â He turns to you with a smile. âItâs nice to see you again.â
As Riddle leaves, Malleus shifts closer to you. âIt seems that the agreement with the Queendom is going smoothly.â
âYes. Riddle Rosehearts is fair but has a firm hand.â He has his eccentricities, but from your conversations, heâs a good ruler. From the rumors you heard while in the Queendom, heâs loosened up a bit from when he first ascended the throne.
âYou should come next time weâre invited to the Queendom of Roses,â you continue. âItâs a lovely place and so vibrant.â
âDo you prefer the Queendom to Briar Valley?â Malleus asks. The way heâs looking at you, you can almost hear sad puppy dog whines.
Biting your cheek to keep from laughing, you shake your head. âOf course not. The Queendom is different from Briar Valley. But Briar Valley will always be home because the people I care about are here.â And thatâs the truth. Youâve come to like the people in Briar Valley. And though you wonât admit it aloud, youâve come to like Malleus a lot more.
Before he can say anything else, a voice that sends chills down your spine breaks in. âHappy birthday, our dear son-in-law.âÂ
Malleus turns to greet your parents as you try to contain your fear. Though youâve only experienced them through old memories, your body involuntarily stiffens as you try to hide your shaking hands by clasping them behind your back.
âDuke and Duchess Wynters, thank you for coming,â you hear Malleus say. However, his voice becomes muffled as those old memories try to resurface. To outsiders, they look like a sweet older couple.
However, you know the truth. Their eyes are too cold. Their smiles filled with malice. Their hands are covered in your blood and the blood of others. Their hearts are darker than any ink and colder than ice. You force the memories that are trying to surface and adopt a neutral expression. Youâre glad for once that you have a good poker face.
When you meet your fatherâs eyes, you almost forget to breathe. âDear?â The sickeningly sweet way your mother calls to you fills your mouth with bile.
You managed to force a smile. âMother, father, Iâm glad you could make it.â As much as you didnât want to, it would look suspicious if they werenât invited.
âHow could we miss our dear son-in-lawâs birthday?â she chortles. âAnd we miss having you home. You havenât been home at all since you got married. Your father and I are starting to think you donât want to see us anymore.â She feigns hurt, but you know the truth.
You bow your head slightly. âIâm sorry. Iâve been so busy with everything that I didnât realize how much time has passed. I promise to visit soon.â
âYou should come too, Malleus,â your father says. âWeâd be all too happy to host you for a few days.â
Digging your nails into the palm of your hand, you gently touch Malleusâs arm. âI think I will check in with Diablo,â you murmur.
Malleus nods though thereâs worry in his eyes. âOf course. I will see you later.â
âFather, mother, if youâll excuse me.â You force yourself to walk even though every fiber of your being wants to run.
When youâre out of their line of sight, you head outside to the garden. More guests mingle in the rose garden. Floating lights illuminate the garden making everything seem almost dream-like. Feeling the cool night air on your skin, you let out a big breath. The anxiety is still there, but at least you no longer feel like throwing up.
You didnât think youâd have such a reaction to meeting the parents. You had memories, so you knew about the vile things they did to their own child. Yet, you had thought since you hadnât seen them in awhile, things would be fine. But the moment you heard their voices, you lost all control.
Wandering away from the guests, you find a secluded area of the gardens. Itâs quiet though the music from inside drifts faintly by. Taking off the mask, you breathe deeply for a bit. If you can avoid them for the rest of the party, you should be fine.
After a few more minutes alone, you decide to return. However as you turn to go back, something catches your eye. In the low light, it looks to be a rope of sorts. You reach down to pick it up but when your hand brushes against the rope, it moves.
You let out a startled gasp as a voice from the bushes grumbles, âYouâre either brave or a fool for trying to touch my tail.â
The bushes rustle before a figure sits up. You stare wide eyed at the sleepy-eyed guest. His cat-like ears twitch as he regards you with annoyance. âAre ya gonna just stare at me with that stupid look on your face or apologize?â He glares at you as he pulls himself up and out of the bushes. His mask is nowhere to be seen.
Finding your words, you raise an eyebrow. âWell if you didnât just leave your tail hanging around, I wouldnât have mistaken it for something else. Maybe donât go napping in other peopleâs bushes,â you bite back.
His eyebrow twitches but you can see the way his emerald green eyes light up. âHeh⊠youâre a brave one to be speakinâ to me like this.â
Standing up straight, you regard him coolly. âYou speak so freely for being one of my husbandâs guests, Prince Leona.âÂ
You remember him now as he came with King Falena of the Sunset Savanna. He barely gave Malleus a glance before stalking off, though his nephew immediately ran after him. Youâre pretty sure he didnât even notice you as he seemed to want to get away as quickly as possible. You had read about Beastmen in the books, but this is your first time meeting them.
Leona was decked out in brightly patterned material that showed off both his lean physique and the wealth of the nation. The deep reds and turquoise complemented the gold mask that hung at his hip.
He scratches his ear nonchalantly. âSo, youâre the one married to the lizard. Huh⊠youâre not what I expected.â
âAnd what did you expect?â You tilt your head to the side. He has a few leaves still stuck in his hair. Your hand twitches but you resist the urge to remove them.
He smirks. âA weak little herbivore. But it seems you actually have a spine.â
You feel your own eye twitch and his smirk grows wider. âSo, what were you doing in the bushes?â you ask, changing the subject before you decide to do something un-royalty like.
Yawning, Leona stretches. âI was trying to take a nap.â He notices youâre staring at him intensely. âWhat are you looking at?â
Pointing to your head, you gesture around. âYou have some leaves stuck in your hair.â He lazily swipes at his head but it does absolutely nothing. âNo, you missed! No, no, a little more to the left.â
Grunting, he gives up. âWhy do you take them off for me, huh?â He leans closer with a wicked glint in his eyes.
âHonestlyâŠâ You know you shouldnât since youâre a queen and all, but the leaves are bothering you. Reaching up, you gently pick the leaves out of his hair. His hair is surprisingly soft to the touch. âDone!â
Looking up, his face is much too close. âThanks, herbivore.â Your cheeks suddenly feel warm as his gaze doesnât leave your face. His eyes are hooded as he watched you like youâre some kind of prey.
ââŠâ
âThere you are.â Whatever spell Leona had you under breaks as Malleus steps forward. You move away to a more respectable distance from the second prince.
The look on Leonaâs face could kill a man. He scowls as Malleus places his hands on your shoulder. âKingscholar, itâs nice to see you again.â
Leona mutters, âWhatever. Iâm heading back inside.â He walks off without another word. Seems he canât stand being in Malleusâs presence for even a second.
âHe left in a hurry,â Malleus muses.
Taking Malleusâs hand, you ask, âDid you need something?â
âI was just wondering where you wandered off to.â He glances at the direction Leona left. âYou seemed to be very close to KingscholarâŠâ
âI found him napping in the bushes. He had some leaves in his hair, so I was just helping him get them out.â You chuckle when you notice the slight pout on his lips.
âHmm⊠I see.â Sometimes he can be quite childish.
Deciding to distract him, you lead him to a back entrance to the palace. âI know itâs early, but I do have a birthday gift I wanted to give you.â
That perks him up. âYou didnât have to get me anything.â
âOf course I have to. And since you werenât much help in figuring out what to get you, I had to do a lot of thinking.â You lead him to the kitchen, which is empty. âStay there.â Finding what youâre looking for, you bring over a plate that holds a miniature cake.
He stares at the cake. â...â
Slicing the cake in half, you hand him a fork. âJust try it.â
Malleus hesitantly takes a piece. You watch as his confused expression melts into shock. âIce cream?!â
Grinning, you nod vigorously. âYup! Itâs an ice cream cake. The pastry chef helped me make it since Iâve never done it before. It took a few tries but we got it eventually. I used some ice magic to keep it from melting.â
He chuckles as he sets his fork down. âYou know I donât like whole cakes, but you played quite a trick on me.â
Taking a bite of your own slice, youâre surprised how tasty it actually is. âI thought a small one wouldnât be so bad, and one filled with ice cream sounds even better. You donât have to eat cake alone, Malleus.â You set the plate down on the table. âYou have Lilia and your retainers. You have Diablo and the rest of the staff, who would love to share with you. And you have me.â
Reaching for his hand, you give it a gentle squeeze. He leans forward pressing his forehead against yours. âThank you for the present. And thank you for being here with me.â
You recall your almost kiss in the gardens two weeks ago. Not quite brave enough, you gently grasp either side of his face. Moving back, you meet his tender gaze. You press a kiss to his forehead; his breath hitches. The scale markings on his forehead are cool to the touch. Pulling away, you watch as the apples of his cheeks slowly turn red. It spreads to his ears as he stands there frozen.
He doesnât speak and you wonder if you broke him. âMalleus?â
Blinking a few times, the red has faded away. Itâs honestly cute how the tips of his ears are still red. âCan IâŠcan I kiss you?â he asks.
Heart thumping in your chest, you nod. No interruption this time.
You move your arms to drape around his shoulders as he grasps the side of your face. Leaning closer, you admire his long lashes. Closing your eyes, you feel his lips brush against your like a whisper. Then a little more firmly. His lips glide against yours in a sweet and hesitant kiss. He smells like magic, old parchment, and ink. He spends so much time working, youâre not surprised the smell has seeped into his very being.
He pulls away all too soon. He stares at you with the same look as in the gardens. He wants to swallow you whole. His hands have drifted to your waist as he hesitates to make another move.Â
Youâre not quite done with him. âCome here,â you mumble before dragging him back for a better kiss.
You lead him in the kiss. Itâs not hesitant as your mouth moves against his. You nibble at his lower lip before giving him a nice, sharp bite. He grunts before you soothe the sting with your tongue. His body shudders. You slip your tongue into his mouth causing his grip on your waist to tighten. Your fingers play the hair at the nape of his neck, twirling the strands around your finger and gently tugging. Your heart feels like it's going to beat out of your chest as your lungs beg for air.
Finally, you pull away with a gasp. Your face feels hot. He breathes heavily as he holds you flush against his body. Meeting his gaze, his pupils are blown wide. He licks his lips as he regards you. A pleasant shiver runs down your spine when you see his sharp canines glint in the light. You wonder again what it would feel like if he were to bite you.
He leans close again. âCan I have another?â he asks in a hoarse whisper. Youâre all too eager to agree.
---
The party goes on long into the early mornings. After your alone time with Malleus, you both returned hand-in-hand. Thankfully it seems the guests are all too tipsy to even notice the birthday boy had disappeared. Only Sebek, Silver and Lilia notice. The green haired half-fae frets over where his master went. Lilia has a devilish smile on his lips while he gives you both a knowing look.
Malleus bids the guests goodnight, though the party continues. Youâre about to follow when your parents stop you. Your grip on Malleusâs hand tightens for a second, but you quickly try to relax.Â
You smile as sweetly as possible. âIs there something you need?â
Duke Wynter picks off invisible lint on his jacket. âYour mother and I have something to discuss with you, dear.â
Glancing over at Malleus, you want to tell them to fuck off. However, you know you canât. âDiablo, can you bring my parents to my study?â
âOf course, your majesty.âÂ
As he leads them away, you turn to Malleus. âIâll see you tomorrow?â
âOf course.â He leans forward and kisses your forehead. Your face grows warm at the gesture. His eyes sparkle as he smiles, amused. âGoodnight.ââ
Letting out a deep sigh, you head to your study. Diablo is there waiting at the door. âYou may leave, Diablo.â
âYour graceâŠ?â
âYou donât have to stay. Iâm just having a chat with my parents.â You offer a too bright smile.
The old butler hesitates before giving a bow. âAs you wish. Goodnight, your highness.â
Stepping into the study, you close the doors. Your parents are busy looking around. Walking over, you square your shoulders. âWhat did you want to talk about?â
Your body tenses before your brain can process the pain.Â
SMACK!
Your mask flies off and clatters to the ground. The force of the backhanded slap causes your ears to ring. The left side of your cheek throbs painfully and a metallic taste fills your mouth. You stare at the ground blankly.
âYou idiot!â your father hisses. âWhat did you tell the king!?â
You count backwards in your head from five before answering, still keeping your eyes on the ground, âI donât know what you mean, father.â
He scoffs. âThe war with the Queendom of Roses! We were supposed to have a war with them!â
You had almost forgotten about that. âI thought that making a deal for resources would be more beneficial. The land would have been otherwise destroyed beyond repair if a war broke out. It would be useless to you, father.â
The man paces back and forth. âWe couldâve expanded our territoryâŠâ
Your motherâs shoes come into view. She grabs your face, tilting your head up so she can stare into your eyes. She squeezes your cheeks together and digs her nails into your skin. Your cheek hurts even more. âOh, our silly, dumb child,â she tuts, clicking her tongue. âYou donât need to think. Just do what we have instructed and leave the rest to us.â
Her cold, sharp eyes gaze at you with disgust. She releases her hold. âCome, dear, no need to be agitated. We can always start a war after everything is complete.â
Your father stops pacing and sighs. âYou're right.â He glares at you. âStick to the plan,â he orders. You recoil when his hand raises, but by some miracle he decides not to hit you again.
The two brush past you. âMake you sure you heal that unsightly face,â your mother calls. âWe donât want anyone to get the wrong impression, do we?â
The door to the study opens and then closes with a thud. Staring at the wall, you fall to your knees. Hand resting lightly on your cheek, you run on autopilot as you heal it. There are many memories of something similar to this happening. And each time youâre left to tend to yourself.
You canât tell Malleus. Not yet. If you reveal your parentsâ plans, theyâll make sure to bring you down with them. Youâre not sure how Malleus would react if he finds out you were trying to control him. Anyone in their right mind would be upset if they found out the truth. He might be understanding, but youâre pretty sure Lilia and the others wouldnât be.
And thereâs still the issue of the weapon. In the story, your parents find a dagger that can kill anyone, including a being as strong as Malleus. YĆ«ki is able to get their hands on the dagger before it can be used. Yet, the story never explains where or how your parents got this magical dagger. It also glossed over how YĆ«ki was able to get it. You need to find out.
So even as your body shakes, youâre determined to take them down.
Tag list: @candlewitch-cryptic, @whatstheoccasion, @nimko, @yo4sblog, @mc-cos-charm, @mochiclouds, @41sh4
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Hi all! Iâm alive but classes and studying have taken a huge chunk of my time. I havenât had much time to myself or really any energy to write.
Iâm still slowly working on Melting the Dragon Kingâs Heart, but I realize itâs a lot longer than I had initially planned. I may split the chapter up into two parts, so the story may be 3 parts in total. I havenât decided just yet as Iâm still writing. I may just decide to keep it as one, so you might end up with a much longer part.
If anyone has a preference please let me know and I will add it to the consideration.
Thank you all for your kind comments and support! It means a lot to me that everyone is enjoying the story. Stay well! ( ÂŽ â `)ăïœ âĄ
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Melting the Dragon King's Heart (Part 1)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/F!Reader
Summary: After falling down some stairs, you wake up in the body of a villain from one of Idia's cheesy romance books. Destined to die a fiery death, you have to figure out a way to change your fate.
Word Count: 6,974
Notes: I've been reading a lot of isekai lately, which sparked this story. Hope you enjoy!
Warnings: Mentions of past physical and emotional abuse, reader uses she/her pronouns
Part 1 Part 2, Part 3
âThe person you are trying to call is unavailable. Please leave your message after the beep. After, you mayâŠâ Letting out a deep sigh, you wait for the message to finish.
âHey, Idia, itâs me. I know youâre probably gaming right now, but I wanted to let you know Iâll be dropping by later today.â You pause before darting across the street. You nearly get hit by a car but make it on the sidewalk unscathed.
âAnyways, I finished âMelting the Dragon Kingâs Heartâ and that was the cringiest thing Iâve read! Iâll give you the full review when I come over.â
Ending the call, you shake your head at the phone screen. You head down the stairs to the subway while shooting Idia another text. Not watching where youâre going, your foot misses a step and you're sent careening down the stairs.
âWatch out!â a voice shouts.
---
You black out momentarily before regaining consciousness. Something feels off but you canât quite place what. Your head pounds and your body aches. You can hear muffled voices.
Eyes opening, unfamiliar faces stare down at you. âYour highness?â someone asks.
Sitting up, you reach for your head but freeze when you realize that isnât your hand. âPlease be careful, your highness.â
Slowly studying the hand, you wave it around. You ignore the whispers and looks. You slowly reach your face, but it doesnât feel like your face. Looking further down, you notice the clothes youâre wearing are completely different.
âW-whatâs going on?â You slap a hand over your mouth. Definitely not your voice.
An elderly man leans down. âYou fell off your horse, your highness. Are you feeling okay?â
You stare at him, before pointing to yourself. âA-are you talking to me?â
His brows draw together as he gives a concerned glance behind you. âYou took quite a tumble so you might be a little out of sorts.â
He reaches to help you up, but you jerk away. Standing on your own, your head continues to throb painfully. You push past the group of people. Youâre not sure where you're going, but your feet seem to know. Your brain is too scrambled to even notice your surroundings. Rushing down hallways and past other people, you enter into a room and lock the door.
Your gaze immediately falls on the full length mirror. As you slowly approach, the reflection in the mirror is not your own. You touch the cold surface and so does the image. Reaching up, you slap your cheeks a few times, the image does too. Your face stings.
âWhat the hell!?â And then your headache intensifies. You crumble to the floor clutching your head. Memories that arenât yours flood your mind before you blackout once more.
---
You canât believe youâre in Idiaâs horrible isekai novel. Worse, youâre in the body of the secondary villain! She wasnât very important to the story besides a vehicle to drive the plot. She didnât even get a name. The story was from the protagonist's point of view, so you learned very little of the queen. In the end, she and her family died a fiery death after their nefarious plans to control the dragon king, Malleus Draconia, were uncovered by the protagonist.
Based on her memories, her marriage to the dragon king was six months ago. So, you had six more months before the arrival of the protagonist. Which also meant you had half a year before youâd be burned to death. You had no plans on dying. Again.
Crawling out of bed, you head to the connected bath. The maids had drawn a hot bath. Glancing in the bathroom mirror, you get a flash of her back. Old and newer scars crisscross the expanse of skin. The first time you saw them, you were flooded with horrible memories. Memories of a younger version crying while being beaten within an inch of her life. You tried to stay away from mirrors as much as possible.
Being the secondary villain, she isnât really what youâd call evil. In the story, she came off like an emotionless puppet. The queen has a unique magic that can turn someoneâs heart to ice, which allows her to control them. Ironic really. From what you remember from the story, the dragon king is too powerful, so her unique magic didnât work right away. Over the course of a year, she uses her magic on him everyday. This causes him to become distant and easier to manipulate. When sheâs almost successful, the king meets the protagonist, who immediately melts his frozen heart. Itâs honestly so cliche, you had a hard time getting to the end. When you read the story, you felt nothing for the villains.
Having the queenâs memories, you feel bad for her. Her entire life was dictated by her parents, the duke and duchess. From what she wore to what she ate to what kind of instrument she played, it was chosen for her. Any sense of rebellion was quickly beaten out of her from a young age. She was molded into the perfect puppet that her parents could control. She had no say in the plan. From what you can tell, she didnât even have any feelings about the king. Or anything for that matter.
Truly a sad villain.
After being found passed out on the floor, you were put on strict bed rest for a few days. According to the doctors the fall from the horse caused the queen to stop breathing for a few minutes. You wonder if at that time she had died, you had somehow entered her body. It didnât feel like youâre sharing the body with anyone. The only thing left behind are her memories and lingering emotions.
During the mandatory bedrest, you hatched a plan. You need to get the dragon king to be your ally. Sure heâs technically this bodyâs - your body now - husband, but at this point in time, heâs become very distant because of her magic. You would stop using the magic on him, and hopefully he would return to normal. Then, when the protagonist shows up, they can take down the real villains. Youâd have an amicable divorce and live the rest of your life out in peace.
Taking a deep breath, you steel yourself. Operation save yourself from certain fiery death starts now!
---
âYour highness, are you feeling better?â the old butler, Diablo, from before asks. He sets down a tea tray. Having been with the Draconia family for ages, heâs assigned to watch over the queen.
âYes, my head doesnât hurt anymore. The delicious food helps.â If thereâs one thing you like about this new life, itâs the food. You could stuff your face with food and never be tired.
The salt-and-pepper haired man pauses but quickly collects himself. He pours another cup of tea while you finish up breakfast. âIâm glad to see youâve gained a healthy appetite.â
Pausing mid-bite, you remember that the queen only picked at her food. Her memories often depicted a somber scene while she ate by herself. No talking or eye contact was ever made. She never bothered to hide her disinterest.
When you read the book, you didnât feel too bad for the queen. The author barely wrote about her except when the story needed to continue. Perhaps thatâs why you didnât like the story. The queen was a lackluster villain while her parents were almost cartoonishly evil. The protagonist had been a little better, but still somewhat flat. However, you assumed the appeal was the sweet romance between the two. The romance was actually kind of cute. Speaking of romance, you have yet to see the dragon king in person.
âYour highness?â Diablo brought you from your thoughts.
âHmm?â You realize your teacup is empty. âDid I drink that?â
He nods. âYes, your highness. You were deep in thought while taking sips.â
Youâre surprised you didnât dribble any on you. Maybe itâs all due to the rigorous etiquette training the queen had gone through. âIs there anything I have planned today?â
âNot today, your highness.â
Great, you have the whole day to do whatever you want. âDiablo, where is the king?â
âIn his study. Heâs been up before the crack of dawn,â he informs you.
Thanks to her memories, you know exactly where his study is. You also know she never bothers him until she has to use her magic. However, now that this is your life, you plan to do whatever it takes to save yourself from dying.
âThank you, Diablo.â Leaving the dining hall, you head to your dear husbandâs study. Diablo follows a few paces behind.
âAre you planning to visit his highness?â he inquires.
Heâs always with you. âYes. I thought we could spend some time together.â Glancing behind you, his face is a neutral mask.
He merely nods when he meets your gaze. âAn excellent idea, your highness.â
Arriving at the door to his study, you knock. Thereâs no answer. âAre you sure heâs here?â
âYes. He rarely leaves his study until lunch time, your highness. Would you like me to check?â He gestures to the door.
âNo, thatâs okay. I can do it.â Grabbing the handle, you pull the door open. The room is mostly dark due to the curtains being drawn closed. Stepping inside, your eyes adjust to the gloom.
Malleus Draconia is an intimidating figure. Even sitting down he seems to tower over everything. His inky black hair contrasts with his pale skin. His most characteristic trait are the obsidian colored horns on his head. They gleam even in the low light. The lamp on his desk casts shadows on the bookshelf behind him. Heâs very fitting for a male lead.
He doesnât make a move to look up from his work. âIs there something wrong, Diablo?â
The old butler clears his throat. âNo, your majesty.â
âI came to see you.â You paste on a smile though itâs a lot more work than you thought. Itâs as if this face has never smiled, which wouldnât be a surprise.
Malleus does look up when you speak. For a brief second his eyes widen before his brows draw together. âIs there something wrong, my queen?â His gaze remains dull. His eyes are like the color of old, dried leaves.
Stepping forward so youâre standing in front of his desk, you shake your head. âNothing is wrong. Do I need a reason to visit you?â
His expression smooths. He has a cool, detached look. âOf course not. This palace is your home, you are allowed to go wherever you want. Do you need something?â
Clasping your hands together, you lean closer. âI was wondering if we could do something together. Once youâre done with everything, of course.â
He returns back to the paperwork. âI donât know if Iâll have time. Thereâs a lot of things I need to do. And the war with the Queendom of Roses takes precedenceâŠâ
You blink twice. âWar?â
âYes. Your father had mentioned how the Queendom has been encroaching on his territory. He says theyâre looking to take over more and more of Briar Valley. We should act before they even have a chance,â he explains.
Well this is the first youâve heard of a war. However, if memory serves your right, your parents had invested interest in the land bordering the Queendom of Roses. Your home is a small land squished between two mighty kingdoms. Though not technically royalty, your parents are basically the rulers. They wanted to expand, but couldnât. UnlessâŠa war breaks out somehow. Compared to the Queendom, Briar Valley is far superior in magical combat. Youâre pretty sure all Malleus has to do is wave his hand to annihilate the country off the map if he so wished.
Chewing on your lip, you wonder if thereâs anything you can do to prevent this. Youâd rather not let your so-called parents win anything. âHow about we have lunch in the garden later?â
His hand pauses in writing. âYou wish to eat together?â he asks, not looking up.
âYes, Iâd like to.â Youâre determined to spend some time with him. Your life is at stake!
âAlright.â He returns back to writing.
Inwardly giving yourself a pat on the back, you flash him a smile even though he canât see it. âIâll see then, your majesty.â
Leaving the office, Diablo quietly closes the door. âWhere can I find more information about the Queendom of Roses?â
âWe can start at the royal library. Iâm sure the head librarian can help find what youâre looking for.â Diablo leads the way.
---
You're late for lunch. Getting lost in the research about the Queendom of Roses, you forgot the time. Thankful Diablo came to remind you. Rushing to the gardens with an armful of papers and a few books, you easily navigate your way through the maze of the palace thanks to the former bodyâs memories.
Arriving, you immediately spy Malleus waiting at the table. Food is set out along with a tea cart. He looks utterly bored. However, he seems to perk up a bit as you come closer. Diablo immediately pulls out the chair for you to sit.
âSorry Iâm late! I got so lost in reading that I didnât realize the time.â You place the books and papers on the table.
âWhatâs all this?â he asks, gesturing to the mess.
Trying to make a neater pile, you tap the top of one book. âIâve been doing some research on the Queendom of Roses. And I donât think going to war with them would be beneficial.â
âOh?â He leans back, interest sparking his usual dull green eyes.
Opening one of the books with a map, you point to the page. âThe Queendom of Roses is rich in natural resources when it comes to crops. A war would most likely ruin the land, and even magic wouldnât be able to bring it back to what it once was.â
You rifle through your papers before finding the one you want. Placing it over the book, you continue, âBriar Valley lacks in certain resources when it comes to agriculture. We could make a trade agreement with the Queendom for their crops. It would greatly benefit the people.â
Malleus ponders your words. âAnd what of them encroaching on your country?â
âThey have no need to expand nor do they have the power to do so.â You gesture to another book. âI doubt itâs on purpose.â
He stares at you. âSo, are you saying your father lied? Was he trying to spark a fight between us and another country?â
Biting your tongue, you resist the urge to spill the truth. âIâm sure he was overreacting. Being such a small country, father takes the peopleâs safety as utmost. But I do think a war would be a waste of resources, time, and lives.â
Diablo clears the table of your things before serving lunch. Malleus eyes you curiously. âYouâre sure about this?â
âYes,â you answer firmly without hesitation.
Picking up a fork, he spears a tomato slice. âAlright. We wonât go to war with the Queendom.â He turns to Diablo, âLet Lilia know to stand down. Iâll work on drafting a proposal to the Queendom later.â
The butler bows before leaving. You let out a deep sigh but straighten up when you realize Malleus is watching you. âThank you, your majesty.â Youâre glad he didnât fight you on this. Though maybe due to the queenâs magic, heâs too apathetic to care.
âSomethings changed about you,â he muses aloud. You stiffen as panic starts to build. âAre you feeling well?â he inquires.
âIâm fine, your majesty.â You try to smile convincingly but it probably looks more like a grimace.
âI heard you fell off your horse a few days ago. No lingering aches or pains?â he probes. Whyâs he suddenly interested? He didnât visit once while you were on bedrest.
You stab a carrot. âI feel fine. I did some thinking and decided I wanted to take a more active role. I am the queen, so I should be doing more.â The lie slips easily off your tongue.
Heâs quiet for a moment. âI seeâŠâ
---
For the rest of the day, you try your best to read into the current situation of Briar Valley. It seems the queen didnât bother with anything related to politics. All she seemed to do was sit in her room until she was needed. You had many memories of staring blankly at a wall or something equally mundane.
You know thereâs probably rumors of how the queen seems to be a different person. One of the maids had mumbled something about the fall knocking her brain around. You could care less what they said as long as you managed to change your fate. Knowing the situation of the country you supposedly co-ruled is a good start.
At least it doesnât seem like your parents are causing too much trouble. Beyond trying to instigate a war with the Queendom of Roses, theyâve been quiet. Perhaps theyâre waiting for the queenâs magic to take hold before doing anything drastic. If your plan works, theyâll be in jail soon.
Youâre curled up in bed with a thick history book about Briar Valley. Having taken out a few books from the royal library, your room is starting to look like a mess with the books all over the place. You know the basics about the country from her lessons, but you want to go more in depth. Itâs best to know everything you can.
Thereâs a knock at the door that links to Malleusâs room. Out of habit you glance around for the digital clock at your bedside. But itâs not there. âOf courseâŠâ
During your isolation in the bedroom, you found out from her memories that Malleus and the queen do not share a bed. Instead they each have their own rooms, which are connected by a door. However, the queen keeps her door locked. The only time itâs unlocked is when Malleus comes over for an hour before bed every other week. She had made up some excuse about wanting to spend a little time with him before bed. Itâs the dumbest excuse youâve heard but somehow he bought it.
Maybe he wanted to please the queen? Maybe he really is that naive about what couples do? Whatever the reason for him to agree to this ritual, it had made it easier for the queen to cast her magic.
Slipping out of bed, you unlock the door. Malleus stands there in casual clothes. He doesnât look ready for sleep, but he does tend to stay up late from what Diablo said. You have to bite back the smile when you notice the black dragon slippers on his feet. Very dignified.
âUh⊠hiâŠâ This is certainly awkward. âThe roomâs a little messy, but the bedâs mostly clear.â
Malleus glances around, his eyes landing on the book you had been reading. âHistory of Briar Valley?â
You lead him to the bed. He sits at the edge of the bed while you scoot closer to the middle. You draw your legs up to your chest. Without asking, he holds out his hand. âJust some light reading,â you joke as you take his hand.
â...â
â...â
You really canât just sit there in silence for an hour holding his hand. âWhereâd you get those slippers?â you ask suddenly.
He blinks slowly while looking down. âLilia gave them to me for my birthday last year. He said a king shouldnât walk around barefoot.â
Very reasonable. âTheyâre cute.â
âThank you. Would you like a pair?â
âUm, sure.â His hand is surprisingly comfortable to hold.
He nods. âI will ask Lilia to order once he returns.â
â...â
â...â
You glance at your discarded book. âDo you mind if I read?â You arenât sure how she was able to sit for an hour staring off into space. This is too weird!
He shakes his head. âGo ahead.â
Grabbing the book with your free hand, you adjust your position and place it on your lap. As you return to reading, you can almost forget Malleus is next to you. Almost. A few times you can feel his intense stare, but when you look back, heâs looking at the far wall.
Youâre only a few chapters in when he clears his throat. Looking up, he opens his mouth, but then closes it. âYes?â You wait patiently for him to gather his words.
âThe book mentioned the war with the old fae, but itâs wrong,â he informs you after a pause.
âIt is?â You glance down at the date. âThis took place almost a thousand years ago. Donât tell me you were there?â Fae are long lived creatures, but you donât think Malleus is that old.
He shakes his head. âNo. Lilia would sometimes tell me stories from when he was in the army. I remember everything he said clearly. The war did not start the way the book states. Though I assume the author could only speculate since most donât know the truth.â
âHow did it start?â You lean closer, interested to hear what he has to say.
âWellâŠâ
---
â...and then everything went up in flames.â
âNo!â Eyes widen as your mouth falls open.
âUnfortunately, yes. I hate to admit it, but my control on my flames was not that good.â He sighs, covering his face with his free hand.
Chuckling, you give his hand an involuntary squeeze. âYou were young. Itâs not like you meant to set everything on fire.â
âThatâs true, but for a long time I wasnât allowed to do anything related to fire.â His lips quirk upward while you try and fail to cover your laughter.
âI-Iâm not laughing at you. I just had an image of a smaller version of you.â Your shoulders shake. âIâd love to see a picture of when you were younger.â You can just see a small Malleus pouting while being told heâs not allowed to use his flames.
âI believe thereâs a few portraits that were done when I was younger. Theyâve been put away, but they should be in the royal storehouse,â he says thoughtfully.
Having calmed down, you shake your head. âToo bad thereâs no candid photos of youâŠâ
âHmm?â He peers at you. âIs seeing a younger version of myself really that interesting?â
You flash him a quick smile. âOf course. Seeing a mini version of you would be so interesting. Iâm sure you were very cute,â you tease.
He doesnât seem to know how to take your comment. Staring at you blankly, his hold on your hand tightens slightly for a second. âCute?â
âWell, I mean you lookâŠyou look, um, nice now. So itâs easy to assume youâd be a cute kid.â Now youâre starting to feel a bit embarrassed.
âI see⊠So that means you were also cute as a child,â he says in all seriousness.
Did he just give a compliment? Youâre unsure what to say. Eyes darting around the room, you clear your throat. âRight. I think weâve gone over time.â You immediately release his hand.
Malleus straightens up. âIâm sorry.â
He almost looks hurt. You quickly wave off his worry. âNo need to apologize! I shouldnât keep you.â
Standing, you follow Malleus to the door. You catch a glimpse of his dark room. âGood night, your majesty.â
âGood nightâŠâ He glances back as the door closes. You turn the lock in place with a click.
Heading to bed, you lay there surrounded by many pillows. A feeling of loneliness settles deep in your chest. You wonder how Idia and everyone else has taken the news of your death.
---
You let out a cough as dust billows out from the curtains. The once gloomy study at least looks a little better with natural light. The queen has her own study across from Malleusâs, but she never used it. It overlooks the garden below. You decided it would be a good place for you to work. And having so many books in your bedroom is starting to be a little too much.
âI do apologize for the dust, your highness. If you want, I can fetch someone to do a quick clean,â Diablo offers.
Wiping a finger along the desk, you note the layer of dust. âI think that would be for the best. While someone cleans up here, Iâm going to gather the materials from my room.â The butler bows before leaving.
Leaving the study door open, you go back to your room. Gathering all the books and papers into a stack, you eye the leaning tower. You could make a few trips to ensure nothing will fall. But the less trips you have to make, the quicker you can get down to business.
Carrying the precarious tower of books while tucking the papers under one arm, you walk slowly down the hall. A few maids stop and offer to help, but you wave them off. Youâre fairly certain you can handle this.
Youâre nearly there when the papers from under your arm slip out. Narrowing your eyes, you shift the balance of the books to one hand. Slowly squatting, you reach out your free hand to try and pick up the papers while keeping an eye on the stack.
âCome onâŠâ Your fingers brush against the papers. âThere!â And the tower of books wobbles dangerously. âDonât you dareâŠâ Unfortunately the books do not listen and the stack tilts over.
But before they can fall, they start to float. Staring at the sight, the rest fly out of your hand. Realizing now that youâre not alone, you finally notice Malleus standing outside his study. He waves his hands and the books fly over to him. They stack neatly while floating at his side.
He gestures to the books. âIt seemed that you needed help.â
Picking up the papers, you sigh. âThank you. I thought I could make itâŠâ
He follows you into the study. âYouâve decided to use the office,â he mumbles aloud. He sets the books on the now clean desk.
âI thought it would be better than my bedroom. And the view is nice,â you explain with a chuckle. âSince youâre across the way, feel free to visit.â
Malleus takes in the nearly empty room. Since the queen had never used it, there were no personal items. He turns back to you. âDo you want to write up the proposal for the Queendom of Roses?â
You owlishly blink. âM-me?â
âYes. You are the one who came up with the idea. It would only be appropriate for you to draw up the proposal.â
Sure you had all her memories of how to be a proper queen. But she had never done any of her duties. Instead they were all dumped on Mallues. From her memories, he never said a word. He left the queen alone to do what she wanted.
Nervously licking your lips, you slowly nod. âIâll try my bestâŠâ
âI can look over it once you're done,â he offers.
âOkay⊠Right, let me just start working on this.â Scrambling around your desk, you start shuffling through the papers. Malleus leaves you to your work.
---
Pouring through books on treaties and negotiations, you attempt to draft up a proposal. Diablo provides you with a few old proposals that were made back in the day. You also try to keep in mind the etiquette the Queendom of Roses has. They have a lot of rules; eight-hundred and ten to be exact.
If you want the proposal to be accepted, you need to ensure youâre following all their rules as well. Itâs honestly ridiculous, but youâre determined to get this done right. If you can do this and show Malleus youâre capable, itâs bound to make you more favorable in his eyes. All you need is for him to think of you favorably by the time the protagonist shows up.
You crumble up another sheet of paper and toss it on the floor. The proposal writing isnât going very well. Letting out a deep, frustrated sigh, you set down your pen. âDiablo, what time is it?â
âItâs nearly five, your highness,â he answers right away. You hear him snap the cover of his pocket watch closed. He comes in and out of your office offering tea and snacks. âPerhaps, itâs time you take a break,â he advises.
Groaning, you stand up. âFine!â You probably sound like a child, but you wanted to get this done as soon as possible. However, youâve barely made a dent.
âMight I suggest a walk in the garden to clear your head?â He bows. âThe weather is lovely and some sun will do you good, your highness.â
Following his advice, you head out to the garden. It really is a beautiful place. Inhaling deeply, you feel some tension leave your body. âMhmm! Youâre right, Diablo. I needed this.â
The old butler bows. âIâm glad my suggestion is helping.â
You continue your leisurely walk through the gardens. Thereâs still something bothering you about this marriage. Your country is much smaller and weaker compared to Briar Valley. In regards to value, Briar Valley got the short end of the deal. And based on what you remember in the book, Malleus had no feelings for the queen. His one true love would be the protagonist. So why on earth did he agree to the marriage in the first place? The author never explained it.
âYour highness?â Diabloâs voice brings you out of your thoughts.
âHmm?â He gestures to Malleus, who had at some point shown up. âOh! Hello, your majesty.â
Malleus looks surprised to see you. âI did not expect to see you here.â
Right, because the queen usually spent her days locked in her room. âI just needed some air. Iâve been working on the proposal but havenât had much luck.â
He nods. âI see.â You watch as his eyes dull and his face falls back into a stoic expression. The queenâs unique magic is still in effect. âIf you need help, Iâm sure there are some old proposals Diablo can find for you to use as samples.â
âHeâs already done that. I think I just need more time to wrap my head around it.â You can only hope the unique magic effects will wear off eventually. âWhat brings you out here?â
Mallues holds up a watering can. âI wanted to tend to the roses.â You realize now that heâs actually dressed down. âI know we have the gardeners to take care of everything, but I do like to tend to the roses once and awhile,â he continues. âI havenât felt up to the task recently, but today seems like a nice day.â
The image of the regal king of Briar Valley taking care of flowers pops into your head unbidden. Itâs actually quite a heart warming image. âI didnât realize you had a green thumb,â you joke. He really doesnât seem the type to get down and dirty.
Head tilting slightly, he regards you coolly. âThereâs a lot of things I like to do. I guess we just havenât had much time to learn about each other.â Thereâs no maliciousness in his words, but it still hurts. And even though you know itâs not your fault, you still feel a bit bad.
âI guess weâve been busyâŠâ you respond lamely. Sighing, you look over to Diablo, but heâs busy minding his own business. âDo you mind if IâŠif I help?â
âIf you want to.â He hands you the watering can. âIâll do some pruning over there. You can start watering them over in that area.â Heâs all business as he directs you.
Despite not being dressed properly for garden work, you donât comment. Watering plants is fairly easy compared to pruning. As you silently water the plants, you watch Mallues from the corner of your eye. Heâs laser focused as he works quickly and efficiently. Heâs obviously done this a lot.
By the time you're done, you're sweating, dirty and exhausted. Your clothes are smeared with dirt from the times you leaned a bit too close. Wiping your forehead with the back of your hand, you can feel the fatigue in your body. The queen never did hard work, and you can tell just by how raw your hands feel. Gripping the watering can so much had caused the skin to blister and break.
âYour highness, I believe it would be best to go inside and rest,â Diablo called. The old butler had hovered around you with concern, but you had waved him off. You were determined to get this done without any help. Anything to get on Malleusâs good side.
You can feel the sweat clinging to you like a second skin. âI think youâre rightâŠâ you huff. The sun continues to shine down rather harshly as you peer up. âI think I need a bath,â you mumble.
Swaying as you walk, you stumble a few times. Diablo is by your side immediately. âYour highness!â
âDamn this body,â you mutter. Your vision is blurry as Diabloâs voice fades in and out. âI need a nap, Diab-â Then everything goes black.
---
When you wake, your body no longer feels like lead. You sit up in bed. Someone had changed you out of your clothes and into something clean. Panic settles in unbidden at the thought of someone seeing your - the queenâs - back. Itâs something she wanted to keep hidden from everyone. Even if sheâs no longer in the body, her emotions still linger. Some are stronger than others. This particular topic is a sensitive one.
âYouâre awake, your highness.â Diablo stands from his seat in the corner of your room. Your head whips around in his direction.
âWho changed me?â you ask, not bothering to beat around the bush.
Standing at your bedside, he bows. âI did.â
The silence stretches on. Then, âDid youâŠ?â
âI did not see anything, your highness,â he responds smoothly.
Your body relaxes. âOkay.â
Standing up straight, he adjusts his jacket. âYour highness, if you ever wish to talk, know that I am here. Whatever you say to me remains confidential. From everyone.â
A small smile forms on your lips. âThank you, Diablo.â
Diablo nods. âHis majesty wanted to know once you woke up. I will get him.â Giving one last bow, he leaves your room. After a few minutes, Malleus sweeps into the room and to your side.
He suddenly drops down on one knee and bows his head. âIâm sorry.â
âPl-please stand, your majesty!â You wave your hands around uselessly.
Looking up, thereâs something different in his gaze. âI should have realized you arenât used to working outside like that. Instead of watching out for you like a good husband, I ignored you. Please forgive me.â
Reaching over, you try to push his shoulders to stand, but he does not budge. âYour majesty, I am fine. Itâs partially my fault as well. I shouldnât have pushed myself when I knew I needed rest.â Hands falling on your lap, you sigh. âPlease stand, Malleus.â
That seems to have an effect. He slowly stands up. âStill, I should have checked in on you. I promise this wonât happen again.â
Patting the bed, you gesture for him to sit. He perches himself precariously on the edge. âI donât mind helping with the roses. I want to spend more time with you doing things like this,â you tell him. âYouâre right that we barely spend time together, so Iâd like to remedy that.â You take his hand in your own.
Heâs silent as he stares at your connected hands. Then, âIâd like that as well.â
Thereâs a comfortable silence between you two. Holding his hand feels comfortable. And dear you say his hand feels safe? Itâs a strange feeling but not unwelcome. You feel closer to him now.
âWhat do you want to do?â he asks suddenly.
You manage to pull your gaze from your interlocked hands. âWhat?â
He runs his thumb over your knuckles absentmindedly. âYou said you want to spend more time together. What did you want to do?â
âRight now?â He nods. âUhâŠI donât think my body can do much.â You look around before your eyes fall on a stack of books. âI was planning on reading a few of Briar Valleyâs folklores. Do you want to read together?â Itâs rather boring but you really donât want to move.
Malleus gets up to grab the books. You scoot over to make room for him. He hesitates. âCome on. I promise I wonât bite.â
Sitting on the bed while propped up against the headboard, he hands you the books. âLilia has read these to me before. But itâs been a long time,â he comments.
âItâll be a refresher for you and something new for me.â Sharing the book between you two, you flip open to the first story. âOnce upon a timeâŠâ
---
As promised, you spend a little more time with Malleus. You donât do anything too exciting like little walks through the garden or reading together. The latter he seems to enjoy a lot. Sometimes he would pop into your office just to check-in. He even starts showing up for breakfast and dinner.
Honestly, it felt strange at first seeing him so often, but you quickly got used to it. And itâs nice to be able to talk with someone else besides Diablo.
âDiablo, where is Malleus?â you ask, setting down your pen. Stretching, your body feels stiff from sitting so long.
âHeâs on the training grounds.â Taking the proposal in hand, you leave your office. âMaster Lilia has returned with knights Silver and Sebek.â
You pause in your walk. Brief, blurry images of these three people emerge from the queenâs memories. It seems that she didnât have many memories of these three. âReturned from?â
âThey went on a mission in regards to the Queendom of Roses,â Diablo explains. âSince a possible war with them has been called off, there is no need for master Lilia to continue. Iâm sure Sebek is thrilled to be back at his highnessâs side.â Diablo chuckles while shaking his head.
Continuing your walk to the training grounds, you wonder what theyâre like. Since the queen didnât have any interactions with them, youâre going to meet them for the first time. From the brief information she had, the two knights are meant to protect Malleus. Master Lilia was Malleusâs caretaker from when he was a baby.
As you come to the outdoor training grounds, you can hear the murmur of voices. Malleus stands with the three Diablo mentioned. They seem to be having a good time as he even cracks a smile. At least the queenâs magic is weakening.
Sensing your presence, Malleus turns to you. His eyes immediately fall on the paper in your hands. âHave you finished the proposal?â
âYup. I wanted you to check it.â Holding out the paper, he starts reading. You notice the other three are staring at you. âHelloâŠâ
Silver and Sebek bow. âYour highness,â they say in unison.
Liliaâs gaze darts between you and Malleus. He smiles slyly. âItâs nice to see you two talking and getting along,â he says aloud.
âHmmâŠâ Malleus makes a noncommittal noise as he finishes reading the proposal. âItâs not bad. There are a few things I believe you can change, but itâs a good proposal overall. Iâll leave the edits in your office tomorrow.â
If there werenât people around, you would've patted yourself on the back. âThank you, Malleus!â
âHrrk?!â Sebek makes a noise in the back of his throat.
You glance over at him as he tries to compose himself. Continuing, âI also think that once we send the proposal, we should do it the way the Queendom of Roses would.â
âThat sounds like a good idea.â Malleus nods thoughtfully. âWhat are their customs?â
Ticking off the rules on your fingers, âWe need to send two messengers on white horses. Each messenger should wear a red rose on their lapel. It must be before or after noon time as the queen typically takes tea then.â Your nose scrunches as you recall all the rules you read.
âTheyâre rules are unusual,â Malleus murmurs. âBut Iâm sure this will help better our stance with the queen of hearts.â
âThatâs what I hope. Anyways, Iâm going to finish up some of the other paperwork. Iâll see you for dinner?â You usually donât ask since heâs been joining you for breakfast and dinner as of late. However, you want him to catch up with everyone.
Smiling, he nods. âOf course.â
Giving him a wave, you and Diablo return to your study. You can feel the other three staring the entire time.
---
Once you disappear Lilia leans in close to Malleus. âIt seems that the queen has finally come out of her frozen shell, hmm?â
âSh-she called you by your first nameâŠâ Sebek mutters, bewildered.
âWeâve been getting to know each other,â the dragon king replies. He has a faint smile on his face as he stares off into the direction you went.
The three exchange looks. Silver clears his throat. âIâm glad to see you two are getting closer. And you seem more yourself, your majesty.â
Hand under his chin, he hums thoughtfully. âNow that you mention it, I do feelâŠlighter.â
âHoho, to be young~!â Lilia teases.
Shaking his head, Malleus's smile falls into a serious expression. âDid you find anything?â Down to business. His eye flash green as he casts a silencing spell around them.
All three straighten up. Lilia speaks first. âUnfortunately, we do have some bad news about the queenâs parents. Itâs too bad seeing as you two are getting alongâŠâ He sighs.
âGo on.â Malleus is stone faced as Lilia tells him the news.
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In This Timeline
Fandom: Obey Me
Diavolo&GN!Reader
Word Count: 666
Notes: Just something short and quick. Lets pretend that everyone knows MC is from a different timeline and it doesn't cause issues. There's lot of angst potential for this that I'm sure others have written about. Takes place in the NB universe.
Warnings: Angst, one sided feelings
While the meeting drags on, Diavoloâs eyes wander around the room before settling on you. Youâre busy taking notes, eyebrows scrunched together. He chuckles, which causes Barbatos to pause. The demon butler regards him for a moment before continuing.Â
When Diavolo looks back, he meets your gaze. You give him a teasing grin before returning to your notes. His heart does a flip-flop. Itâs not the first time itâs done that either. Diavolo wouldnât admit it aloud but heâs fallen for you.
Heâs very much aware of his feelings, but knows theyâll always remain one sided. Not because heâs the future demon king. Not because youâre human. You canât return his feelings because you're in love with someone else. That someone else being a different version of himself from your original timeline.Â
Diavolo knows he should be happy that you at least love a version of himself. But the darker part of him wants you to love him, and only him. This other version is lucky to receive your affections, and Diavolo hates him.
Of course you donât know that he knows who holds your heart. He had accidentally overheard you tell Asmodeus while waiting for a RAD meeting to start.Â
---
âSo who is this mystery person that has your heart, (Y/N)?â Diavoloâs hands freezes on the handle. He knows he should listen, but heâs not thinking with his head. He waits with bated breath to hear your response.
Thereâs a stretch of silence before, âPromise you wonât tell anyone?â
âOf course! My lips are sealed!â
âItâs⊠Diavolo.â
âWhat?!â You quickly hush Asmo. Diavoloâs heart beats faster. He canât believe you have feelings for him. He never imagined it could be possible. âWhoops!â
Thereâs a deep sigh. âItâs not what you think, Asmo. Iâm in love with a different Diavolo. With my Dia, from my timeline.â Diavoloâs breath catches. Heâs not sure what to think.
âOh⊠So you donât have any feelings for this Diavolo? At all?â Asmo asks, confusion clearly evident.
âYeah. I mean this Diavolo is just as wonderful. But I know my Diavolo. Theyâre not the same.â Thereâs a sense of sadness in your tone. âHonestly, I used to have a hard time facing Diavolo here while thinking of Dia. Itâs gotten easier, but I miss him so muchâŠâ your voice cracks.
âOh honeyâŠâ Diavolo doesnât stay to hear the rest. He needs to get away as far as possible. He needs to clear his head. He ends up in the courtyard of the school. Thereâs a heavy weight on his chest.
---
âMy lord?â Barbatos calls him. Diavolo blinks a few times, looking around. All eyes are expectant.
He had zoned out. âHmm?â
âI was asking if you had anything else that needs to be discussed,â Barbatos clarifies.Â
Shaking his head, Diavolo decides to end the meeting. Everyone looks tired. âI think that will do for today. Thank you for coming!â
The brothers all grumble as they stand. His gaze follows your form as you gather your things. You laugh at something Mammon says. His heart clenches painfully.
As you pass by, you flash him another smile. âSee you later, Diavolo.â
He offers a heart smile. âThank you for coming!â Heâll always be Diavolo to you.Â
Once everyone files out except for Barbatos, he sighs. âIs everything alright, my lord?â Nothing escapes Barbatosâs keen eyes.
âIâm fine.â As skillful as Barbatos is, thereâs nothing the demon butler can do in this case.
âWould you like me to prepare snacks and tea?â
âYes, that would be nice.â Giving one last bow, Barbatos leaves as well.Â
Alone in the meeting room, Diavolo slumps down in the chair. Is it cruel to say heâs happy you canât return to your timeline yet? The longer it takes to figure out how to send you back, the more time he has with you. Thereâs an ugly, dark part of him that wants to make you stay indefinitely.
It would be selfish, but heâs a demon after all.
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The Littlest Dragon (Part 3)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/GN!Reader
Summary: Your quiet life as a herbalist is disrupted when you take in an injured dragon
Word Count: 5,482
Notes: So, I wrote this with the idea that there's still room to grow in regards to relationships. This is the last part, so enjoy!
Warnings: None
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
âIâll let my grandson show you around. But we must have tea tomorrow.â With a wave of her hand, she dismisses the two of you.
You follow Malleus through the rose garden. âIs sheâŠis she always like that?â you ask after a moment of hesitation.
He takes your hand as he answers. âShe can beâŠeccentric. Sheâs a wise and kind ruler, but grandmother has always had her own ways of doing things.â
There are many twists and turns to the rose garden. âShe wasnât serious, right?â He raises an eyebrow. âThat I should call her grandmother?â
âOnce sheâs made up her mind, itâs best to just go along with it.â He holds your hand gently. âDonât worry. She likes you almost as much as I do.â
âShe called me adorableâŠâ you mumble. Perhaps she sees you as a cute little human. Though you can only assume everyone looks little to her. She even towers over Malleus.
Malleus chuckles. âDo you take offense to that?â
âNo⊠I just havenât been called adorable before.â Shaking your head, you shift the conversation to the roses. âThese are beautiful. Thereâs so many too!â
Pausing, he reaches out to gently touch a rose. âCan you believe these started out as a handful of seeds? Iâve taken care of them for so long, I almost forget how barren the garden used to be.â
âYou did all this?â Eyebrows shoot up. âThatâs amazing! I canât imagine the time and dedication this would take.â
Turning to you, he asks, âDo you like roses?â
âSure. I think theyâre beautiful .â Shrugging, you reach out to touch a rose. The petals are like velvet against your fingers.
âDo you have a particular flower you like?â he probes further.
The entire garden smells of the soft rose scent. âNot really. I mean Iâve never given it much thought. There are so many flowers, how can I pick just one?â
âHmm⊠I see.â He thoughtfully looks at the roses. Finally he turns back to you. âShall I show you the rest of the castle?â
âLead the way!â Giving his hand a squeeze, you meet his affectionate gaze with a dazzling grin.
---
Standing in the guest room alone, your eyes are still wide with shock. The place is much larger than your own cottage. You're pretty sure you could fit five cottages in the room. After Malleus had shown you around the castle, complete with the history, he dropped you off at the guest room. He promised to let you know when dinner would be served.
Feeling completely out of depth, you wonder if youâve packed the right clothes to have dinner in a castle. Probably not. Youâre almost too afraid to touch anything in case you break something. However, the large bed looks so inviting, you canât resist.
Kicking off your shoes, you launch yourself onto the bed with a laugh. The moment your body touches the sheets, you never want to get up. The silky sheets and soft mattress is heaven on earth. Letting out a deep sigh, youâre tempted to fall asleep.
But first, you need to unpack and get into something for dinner.
Youâre changed when someone knocks on the door. When you open the door, youâre not met with Malleus. Instead, a fae with magenta streaks in his dark black hair smiles back at you. âHoho, I finally get to meet the famous potion master!â he chortles.
âUhâŠâ
âIâm Lilia, Malleusâs caretaker of sorts.â He heartily shakes your hand. âWell, letâs get going. Donât want to leave the queen waiting.â
As you follow him through the halls, you ask, âSo youâve been taking care of Malleus since he was young?â
âThatâs right! I remember like it was yesterday when he had an egg shell stuck on his face.â He briefly touches the tips of his hair. âYou know, once he set my hair on fire by accident.â
âReally?â Itâs hard to imagine him doing anything like that.
He leads you down a flight of stairs. âHe was young, so he didnât have much control over himself. Iâll have to show you some pictures later if youâre interested.â
The idea of seeing pictures of a baby Malleus does pique your interest. âIâd like to.â
âWonderful!â Clapping his hands together, he stops in front of a door. âI have to go get Mallues, but enjoy your chat with the queen.â
âW-wait! Alone?â Heâs gone before you can protest. Standing in front of the door, you wonder if you can just sneak off for a bit until Malleus comes. Youâre not prepared to speak with her alone.
âPlease come in, (Y/N).â Her voice rings loud and clear despite the closed door.
Swallowing nervously, you slip inside. The queen sits at the head of the very long banquet table. You notice some fae standing off to the side. One directs you to the seat on her left. The seat to her right is set but empty.
She smiles widely when you meet her gaze. âI thought we could talk while Lilia fetches my grandson. The palace is quite large, so it might take them some time. You donât mind, do you?â
You feel heat prickling along your neck. âO-of course no-not, your highness.â She gives you a sharp look. â...grandmother.âÂ
A pleased smile falls on her lips. âSo, tell me about yourself.â
âMyself?â You uselessly point to yourself.
She nods. âYes. My grandson has told me all about you. But I want to hear it from you.â
âUm, well⊠I run make potions for clients who send requests. I also sell them in town to the general store. I was taught to make potions by Divus Crewel. Uh, I live in a cottage outside of town with three chickens and a goat.â
She drums her fingers on the table. You notice the wicked looking nails. âTell me, do you enjoy making potions?â
âYes, I do.â You answer without hesitation.
Her keen eyes watch you closely. âWhy?
You blink a few times. Itâs been awhile since someoneâs asked you that question. â I know those without magic can have fine lives, but I wanted to do more. I decided that if I canât cast spells, I wanted to make potions. For me, making potions is like casting a spell, it can do just about anything. And if what I create can help someone, thatâs even better.â
She regards you quietly. Youâre unsure what else to say. âI see. Your honesty is refreshing. I was half expecting you to spout some noble reason. My grandson has chosen well. You have a good heart, I can tell.â
âTh-thank you.â Her praise is honestly a little embarrassing.
She sighs. âSeems our little chat has to be cut short.â The doors to the dining hall open, and Malleus strolls in. He glances between you and his grandmother. âMalleus, weâve been waiting for you.â
His eyes narrow. âLilia informed me dinner was running behindâŠâ
She feigns ignorance. âReally? Nothing out of the ordinary has happened.â
He takes the seat across from you. âI hope grandmother wasnât making you uncomfortable.â His gaze softens when he looks at you.
âNonsense! I was just telling your friend how wonderful I think they are.â She grins, flashing her sharp teeth.
You give him a small reassuring smile. Thereâs not much else you can say as the food quickly arrives.
âDo you always eat like that?â you ask Malleus. You're almost close to bursting. Everything was delicious of course, but by the time dessert arrived, you were ready to pass out.
After bidding the queen a goodnight, the two of you leave the dining hall. With your arm looped through his, Malleus guides you back to the garden. âTonight was a special occasion, so the cooks made a little extra.â
âA little?â You donât want to imagine what a lot would look like. âHey, where are we going?â
Though dark, magical lamps float around to light to way. âI wanted to show you my favorite spot.â
The air is cool but pleasant. Youâre not too concerned about where Malleus is taking you. You trust him. Winding through the garden, the bright moon shines a spotlight. It almost feels magical. Malleus leads you out of the garden bounds and deeper into the woods that surround this side of the castle. Everything here is overgrown and wild. You come to a clearing with a large, clear lake.
In the distance the crickets chirp and frogs call to each other. The moon reflects on the lake making the water glimmer. âWowâŠâ Youâre in awe at the natural wonder.Â
Sitting at the edge of the lake together, your feet hang off the edge. âItâs been abandoned for years, so no one comes.â
You find yourself leaning into his side. âDo you come here a lot?â
âItâs quiet and peaceful.â Sitting there staring at the lake, you can almost forget everything else. Malleus hums a tune under his breath.
The yawn youâve been trying to suppress manages to escape. He chuckles. âGuess Iâm more tired than I thought.â
âShall we return to the castle?â Nodding, you take his offered hand.
---
The next day, youâre woken with knocking. Lilia is there once more with a bright smile. âThe queen would like to have breakfast with you.â
âOh, okay. Um, let me get dressed.â You wonder how early, or late, it is. You slept like a rock.
Once youâre properly dressed, you meet Lilia outside the room. He leads you to the garden, easily navigating the castleâs twists and turns. âDid you enjoy dinner?â he asks.
âYes. It was all very delicious!â Your stomach grumbles at the thought of breakfast.
âYou should try my cooking one of these days. Iâd love to share a meal,â he offers. His eyes seem to glimmer at the idea.
Nodding, you offer him a tentative smile. âThat would be nice.â
His smile widens. âIâll hold you to that!â
You arrive in the garden where the queen waits. She greets you the moment you arrive. âGood morning, my dear. Did you sleep well?â
Taking a seat, you find yourself trying to straighten your posture. âYes. Everything was so nice,â you lie. How can you tell her that you barely got any sleep? Even though everything about the bed should have sent you to dream land, you spent most of the night tossing and turning.
She chuckles. âLovely.â Turning to Lilia, her mouth curls upward. âPlease get my grandson, Lilia.â
âOf course, your majesty.â He gives a bow before leaving.
The queen returns her attention to you. âWhile Lilia fetches Malleus, why donât we talk some more. Iâm sure you have a few questions.â
Fiddling with the napkin in your lap, there are a few things that have been nagging you. âSo, I was told the reason Malleus was in that form was because of a punishment?â
âYes,â she sighs, âsometimes punishments are necessary. He was neglecting his duties as prince and future king. Despite my repeated warnings, he continued to wander off for hours on end.â
âWasnât there anything lessâŠextreme you couldâve done?â you ask. âI mean, he did get kidnapped by a demon bird and hurt,â you point out.
She takes a sip of her tea before continuing. âNot to worry, dear, I knew where he was at all times. And if I hadnât punished him like I did, you wouldnât be sitting here. That would be such a shameâŠâ
As food is placed on the table, you glance around for Malleus. He still hasnât arrived. âI guess something good came out of it,â you mumble. You can feel her sharp gaze on you. ââŠdid the spell do anything else?â
She ponders for a moment. âHmm⊠It did limit his ability to use magic as well as reduce his cognitive functions to more simple, basic instincts. But nothing else. Of course, his magic was already working on breaking the curse from the inside when you encountered him.â
âIs that why he was so affectionate? He was always asking to be held or cuddledâŠâ you muse aloud. You remember all the times he would cuddle with you or beg for your attention in dragon form. You just thought he was naturally affectionate. However, Malleus as he is now isnât as touchy though he does like to hold your hand.
The queen laughs, head thrown back. The gold chains in her horns jingle as they shake. âMy, that's a site Iâd like to see!â She shakes her head as her body shakes. âI can only guess that part of it was due to the spell. However, Malleus is very fond of you, so I believe he wanted to express his feelings in some way..â
Your face warms at her words. Itâs odd hearing that from his grandmother, and she seems to approve. Yet, you havenât really heard the words from Malleusâs mouth. You wonder if you ever will. Or will you continue to stay in this strange not-quite-something limbo?
Her features shift into a pleasant smile. âGood morning, Malleus,â the queen greets. He easily slides into the seat next to you.
âGood morning, grandmother. It seems Iâm late for breakfast this time.â He gives her a pointed look, but she ignores it.
She takes another sip of tea. âPerhaps you should go to bed earlier so youâre not late next time?â
He can only sigh.
---
Malleus leads you to the training grounds. As you approach, you can hear the clang of metal. Silver and Sebek are sparring in the ring. You stand at the edge watching them.Â
âWhy do they train with swords if they can use magic?â you inquire. They both move quickly back and forth.
âBecause itâs good to train all muscles, physical and magical,â comes a voice from above you.Â
Jumping, you jerkily look up to see Lilia floating upside down. He gives a wave. âOh! I didnât see youâŠâ Your heart nearly lept out of your chest.
He descends back down to the ground. âI saw you two coming down the path a while ago. Finally introducing me to your friend, Malleus?â He lightly elbows Malleus in the side.
âLilia, this is (Y/N).â He gestures between you two. âLilia has been my caretaker since I was born.â
You shake hands. He has a strong grip for someone his size. âItâs nice to officially be introduced.â Despite his youthful appearance, you wonder, for the third time since meeting him, how old he actually is. If heâs been taking care of Malleus since birth, he must be over a few hundred years old. Your head spins just thinking about it.
âDo you know how to fight?â Lilia asks suddenly.
âNo, I never really found the need to. I stay close to the village, the cottage, or the nearby woods.â Life has always been somewhat uneventful. âMy two friends know how to fight since they go out adventuring.â
He eyes your form. âHmmm⊠I think you could handle a sword. Would you like to learn?â
Eyes widening, you look at Malleus. He looks calm as ever. âI-I never thought about it. Um, maybe?â It wouldnât hurt to know how to defend yourself.
âAlright. Later, Iâll teach you how to wield a sword.â He points at the two still sparring. âThey need to cool down first.â
The two come to a draw. As they wipe the sweat from their forehead, they finally seem to notice you. Sebek immediately rushes over. âLord Malleus! Forgive me ignorance, I didn't realize you were here!â He bows a few times.
âItâs okay, Sebek. I was just showing (Y/N) around.â He rests a hand on your shoulder. You unconsciously lean into him.
Sebekâs brows knit together as he straightens up. âI seeâŠâ You can see him biting his tongue. Probably doesnât want to yell at you in front of his prince.
Silver joins while handing Sebek a bottle of water. âStay hydrated.â
You smile brightly. âHello, Silver,â you greet. He is the nicer of the two.
âOh, hello, (Y/N).â He gives you a brief nod. âFath-Lilia, what else are we doing today?â
The shorter fae glances up at the sky. âWeâll take a break for today. I can make lunch!â Both men visibly blanch. You feel Malleus stiffen as the hand on your shoulder briefly tightens. âI promised to make something for (Y/N),â he continues, not noticing the sudden change in demeanor.
Malleus quickly butts in. âActually, we have plansâŠâ
âWhat a shame. Next time?â Lilia sighs, shaking his head sadly. âGuess that means more for you two!â
Before you can say anything else, Malleus quickly guides you away. You briefly see the pleading looks from the other two. Once youâre far enough away, Malleus relaxes. âYou donât want to eat Liliaâs food. It can fell even the mightiest of beasts,â he informs you.
âOhâŠâ You just escaped possible death it seems.
---
Night time falls quickly and you share another meal with the queen. Youâre laying in bed staring at the ceiling. Unable to sleep, you roll over on your side. The curtains are drawn back, and you can see the large moon hanging in the sky. Itâs strange not making potions or picking up ingredients. You almost feel like youâre wasting time.
Thereâs a soft knock on the door that has you sitting up. You wait a few seconds and thereâs another knock. Slipping out of bed, you open the door a crack to Malleus standing there. âMalleus? Is something wrong?â
âI couldnât sleep. I was wondering if youâd like to talk like we did before?â You can hear the hopeful tinge in his tone.
You fully open the door and gesture for him to come in. âSure. I couldnât sleep either actually.â Sitting down on the plush carpet, you lean against the side of the bed. Malleus joins without complaint.
Thereâs a pause before he asks, âHow are you liking your stay so far?â
You grin. âNo complaints! The food is delicious, the accommodations are really nice. And Iâm enjoying the time I get to spend with you. Your grandmother is also really something.â
âBut?â He can see right through you.
Sighing, you lean your head on his shoulder. âBut I do miss home. I know Iâve only been away for two days, but I just miss it.â
âI can take you back if you want. I donât want you to be unhappy here,âhe says while reaching for your hand. He laces his finger with yours.
âIâm not unhappy, Malleus. Just a little homesick.â You give his hand a squeeze.
He hums. âI can understand thatâŠâ
Thereâs a heavy silence between you two. You donât want to leave, but you also canât shake the feeling of wanting to go home. âMalleus?â
âHmm?â
You sit up in order to look him fully in the eyes. âWould you like to go back with me for a bit? I know I was supposed to stay here for a week or so, but how about you stay with me for a little? Now that youâre no longer in dragon form, I can take you around town, and you can officially meet my friends.â
âYou truly wish to introduce me?â He blinks a few times.
âOf course! I met your friends and family. Itâs only fair if you meet mine. I want you to meet them since youâreâŠyouâre special to me, Malleus.â
Lips pulling into a smile, his sharp teeth glint in the moonlight. âThank you. You are special to me as well.â
---
âYoung master, please let me come with you!â Sebek begs. You can see the tears in his eyes.
The next day, Malleus had informed everyone he would be returning home with you. The queen immediately gave her blessing. Youâre surprised sheâs willing to let him go since heâd technically be neglecting his duties. You do stay for a most of the day before preparing to leave.
Lilia chuckles as he side-steps the prostrating half-fae. âHave fun, you two. Ah, to be youngâŠ!â He claps Malleus on the shoulder. âDonât worry about us, weâll be okay.â
âWe look forward to your return,â Silver says with a bow.
The queen leans over and whispers something in his ear. His eyes widen a fraction before he composes himself. She laughs and presses a kiss on the top of his head. âTake care, my dear.â
Malleus gives them one last farewell before walking over to where youâre waiting. He wraps his arms around your form. âHold on tight.â Even as youâre teleported away, you can hear Sebekâs cries.
Eyes adjusting to the light, youâre standing in front of the gate to the cottage. âI think Iâm getting used to that,â you mumble, still trying to clear your head. You can feel Malleus hovering in concern, but quickly reassure him youâre fine. âWell, at least the cottage is still standingâŠâ
Walking through the gate, the three hens are there to greet you. They loudly cluck around your feet. âHello, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather,â Malleus greets with a slight incline of his head. The three leave you to flock around his feet.
âSeems they like you. Maybe they remember you from before,â you comment with a chuckle.
The door of the cottage opens as Ace steps out. âOi! Why are you making so much noise-...!â His eyes widen when he sees you. âWhat are you doing here?!â
âNice to see you too, Ace,â you comment dryly.
âAce, don't be mean to the chickens!â Deuce comes rushing out but knocks into Ace. âOoomf!â He stumbles back a bit before glowing at the redhead. âHey, wha-...!â
âHey you!â You wave. Dumbfounded, the two are speechless for once. You notice their gaze is squarely focused behind you.
Malleus is busy petting Philis on the head while murmuring something to her. He glances over when the silence stretches. âAre we going in?â he inquires.
âYeah. I need to unpack.â Malleus gives Philips one last pat before following you. You lead him by the hand past the two still gawking. âThe inside doesnât look bad either,â you note after doing a quick look.
You set down your bag on a chair. âAre you two going to stand outside all day?â
Breaking out of their stupor, they shuffle inside. They each give Malleus a hesitant look before looking back at you. âY-your back early,â Deuce comments, finally.
âI missed home. And I thought it would be nice for Malleus to meet you two. You know since the last time you saw him he was smaller.â You look at them expectantly.
Ace blurts out, âYou tried to roast us alive! Twice!â
Letting out a deep sigh, you pinch the bride of your nose. âI apologize for that,â Malleus says. âI was not fully myself at the time. I was only trying to protect (Y/N).â
âIâm pretty sure the second time was because you call him fat,â Deuce mutters.
You steer the conversation away from roasting. âAnyways, thatâs all water under the bridge. Iâm going to put my things away, so Iâll be right back.â
You ignore their protests. Up in your room, you unpack all your clean clothes before storing them away. The clothes you did wear are tossed in the laundry hamper in the bathroom. Standing in the middle of your room, you let out a satisfied sigh. It might not be as grand as the guest room you stayed in, but itâs your place.Â
Back downstairs, itâs dead silent. The two sit on the couch ramrod straight. Malleus is perched on the other chair staring at them. âDid I miss some riveting conversation?â you tease.Â
Malleus shakes his head. âYour friends seem a bitâŠintimidated by me.â He turns to them with a frown on his lips. âI do apologize if Iâm making you uncomfortable. I sometimes have that effect on peopleâŠâ
Rolling your eyes, you give the two a look. âHeâs not going to roast you.â
âHeâs a prince!â Deuce squeaks out.
Ace is bewildered at your nonchalance. âDude, heâs fucking royalty and youâre justâŠjust you!?â
âHmm?â Malleus tilts his head to the side. âIf you want, you can think of me as just another fae. Since we are not in Briar Valley, my title should not matter. Right?â
â...â
â...â
Walking over, you bop the two over the head. âGive them a day, and theyâll get over it,â you tell him. âWhy donât you two head back to the guild? Iâll bring Malleus by tomorrow.â
The two leave while casting one last glance behind them. Closing the door, you let out a sigh. âWellâŠthat went about how I expected.â Shaking your head once more, you arenât too surprised at how they acted. âDo you want something to eat?â
Thankfully the fridge is stocked. You notice a box from the local bakery. âThat explains why thereâs food,â you mumble to yourself. Trey must have dropped by to make sure everything was okay. Youâre glad you had the foresight to ask him.
âCan I help?â Malleus asks.
Grabbing a few things to prepare a meal, you hand them to Malleus. As you prepare dinner, Malleus follows your instructions. Itâs almost like those times he would help you set the table when in dragon form. Though, it is quicker having an extra pair of actual hands. Dinner is nowhere near as grand as you had with his grandmother. But Malleus seems just as happy to be eating the smaller meal.
Now the only issue at hand is where heâll sleep. The couch looks woefully small now that youâre looking at it. Sure Ace and Deuce have crashed on the couch in the past, but theyâre not as tall as Malleus.
âAre you sure youâll be okay?â you ask, holding out an extra blanket.
âOf course.â He takes the blanket from you along with his specialized pillow. âI donât require much sleep, so I may spend time in the garden out back.â
âAlrightâŠâ You hesitate but he doesnât seem bothered. âIâll see you tomorrow. Good night.â
âGood night, (Y/N).â You give him one last look before heading upstairs.
Sleep eludes you once more. Though itâs your bed, you canât seem to get comfortable. Perhaps itâs due to a certain someone downstairs sleeping on an ill-sized couch. Thinking back to when you used to snuggle with Malleus in dragon form, he was like a warm pack. There was something comforting in having him curled against you.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, you get out of bed. You grab a sweater from your closet. Heading downstairs, Malleus is not on the couch. You head to the garden in the back. Heâs sitting on the bench looking up at the sky. He turns as you come closer.
Brows creasing, he moves over. âCan you not sleep?â Sitting down, you scoot closer to him. Malleus immediately wraps his arms around your form. You lean against him with a smile.
âYeah⊠It seems I havenât been able to sleep well for a few days.â Really if you think about it, you havenât slept well since he left. However, you ignored the thought in favor of going about your daily life. But it seems the lack of good sleep is finally catching up.
Heâs silent as you close your eyes. The night is filled with different sounds. âI could not sleep either,â he confesses after a while.
âHmm?â
âIt seems I have gotten used to sleeping next to you. Fae donât need much sleep, but even the little I do require has been fitful,â he continues. âI miss your warmth. There was a sense of comfort being in your arms.â
Your heart thuds loudly. He says all this without a hint of embarrassment. Youâre not sure what to say. Instead, you keep quiet. âYou know, my grandmother said something interesting before I left.â
âOh?â You do recall the slight surprise in his expression.
His hand, which had been tracing patterns on your arm, stills. âShe said that I shouldnât let you go.â
Your breath hitches. â...â
He chuckles. âI agree with her on that. You know what they say about dragons and how theyâre greedy creatures. I want to keep you all to myself.â
Sitting up so you can look at him fully, you're taken aback by the intensity of his gaze. âMalleusâŠâ You break eye contact, unable to hold it. You remember wondering if youâd ever leave that strange limbo of not being quite something with him.Â
He holds out his hand. âI have a gift for you. May I?â You give him your hand without hesitation. Holding your hand palm side up, he pulls something from his pocket. A small round device is placed in your hand.
Your brows furrow as you inspect the device. You recognize it as one of the old children's toys. It was very popular when you were a child. You wanted one but could never afford it. âThis isâŠâ
âGao-Gao Drakon-kun was a gift from Lilia. Itâs my most prized possession. Iâve been taking care of it since I was child,â he explains. His gaze softens at the memory. âI want you to have it.â
âNo!â Hurt shines in his eyes. â I mean I canât take something thatâs your most prized possession, Malleus!â You quickly shake your head. You suddenly feel the weight of the palm sized toy.
He closes your fingers over the toy. âI want you to have it. As a symbol of my affections and trust. I wouldnât trust just anyone with Gao-Gao Drakon-kun.â
Chewing on your lower lip, you hold the toy close to your chest. âI- thank you for trusting me with something so precious.â Slipping the toy into the pocket of your sweater, you take his hand.
Fiddling with his fingers, you stare down rather than at him. Youâd probably lose your nerves if you did look him in the eyes right now. âI donât really have a prized possession, but I want you to know I care about you. Immensely.â You interlace your fingers together. âI want to spend more time with you, Malleus.â
You glance up to see his reaction. His eyes are wide with his mouth slightly open. Then, he breaks into a beautiful smile. âI wish to spend as much time with you as possible as well. We can figure things out as we go.â Thereâs a sense of relief that washes over you.
 Reaching up, you frame his face. You press a soft kiss to his forehead. Pulling back, you canât help but laugh at his slightly dazed expression. It very much reminds you of that time you kissed him in his dragon form. Heâs adorable in either form.
âCome on, let's go to bed.â You take his hand and lead him back inside. You make sure to grab his pillow from the couch before heading up to your room.
Tossing the extra pillow on the nearby chair, you place Malleusâs pillow down. You take Gao-Gao Drakon-kun out of your pocket and place it on the bedside table. Slipping into bed, Malleus pulls you closer to his side. With his arms wrapped around you, itâs pleasantly cozy.
A yawn escapes your mouth. âGood night, Malleus.â
He lets out a content sigh. âGood night.â
Itâs the best sleep you have had in a long time.
---
âCheck mate.â The queen smiles. âMy, it almost feels like you let me win, Lilia.â
The former general chuckles. âOf course not, my queen. I was merely distracted.â
She waved her hand and the pieces moved back to their original spots. âThat doesnât sound like you at all. Whatâs on your mind?â
Leaning back in the chair, Lilia regards her with sharp eyes. âSomething about the day Malleus was kidnapped by a demon crow has been bothering me. You see, I remember distinctly that you were in the garden having tea. And from where you sat, you could easily see what was happening.â
âHmm⊠I was enjoying such a lovely new blend on that day,â she sighs at the memory.
âWell, Iâm sure being as powerful as you are, my queen, you could have easily taken down the creature. Yet, if I remember correctly, you just looked on.â Lilia leans forward placing his folded hands under his chin. âCould it be that you wanted Malleus to be taken away?â
A single eyebrow goes up. âAre you accusing me of orchestrating my grandsonâs kidnapping?â
âKheehee⊠Just thinking aloud.â He bows his head with a grin still on his lips.
She reaches for a pawn while chuckling, âWell, if I did play a hand in that, itâs worked out better than anyone could imagine. However, those two need to figure out the rest for themselves.â
âOh? No more meddling?â He slides a pawn forward.
She returns his grin with a wicked one of her own. âOnly if I think itâs necessary. Though, it looks like theyâre on the right track.â
Tagging: @starsilluminateourgalaxy @stormyovent0aster @hanafubukki @mscarterakaviola98 @sparkleypancakez @youaskedfurret @yokokai @hajimeseyo @ravenlking @peter-the-pan @enchanted-nerd @nocturneabyss @chaasworld @lechuko @bloomsapphire @amar-farashaa @itszzmoon @xlifexdeathx @supernovaicloud @mysterypotatoink @illytian @depressed-bitchy-demon @cheyuma @liquidfurby @bigcandlesmolbrain @thetruepair @chibishae34 @strawberry-soap-bar @sus0daddy @inana-mm @liliaviper @musclefanatica @loivre @chuchotheblackcat @lorkai @ennonzi @yo4sblog @aloodonut @deepdinosaurwizard @zozoni @nightqueensk @barbatos-mybeloved
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The Littlest Dragon was amazing! I NEED the part 3 PLEASE!
Iâm glad you enjoy the story so far, anon! Iâm working on the last part but itâs taking awhile due to personal issues. I hope to have it posted sometime next week ( ÂŽ â `)ăïœ âĄ
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Even though Leonaâs my favorite, Iâve been having a lot of Malleus brain rot. Expect an isekai/arranged marriage inspired fic for dragon boy đ
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The Littlest Dragon (Part 2)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/GN!Reader
Summary: Your quiet life as a herbalist is disrupted when you take in an injured dragon
Word Count: 7,251
Notes: I might write a part 3 as an epilogue. Hope you enjoy!
Warnings: None
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
With no word from Riddle, you go about your life as usual. Unfortunately, Tsunotarou is unable to accompany you on your trips into town due to his sudden growth. Though he gives you sad puppy dog eyes, you firmly tell him to stay home. Heâs also a lot heavier so trying to carry him would be too difficult. Though you feel bad, you heed Riddleâs warning of keeping him out of sight.
It is a bit lonely without having his constant presence while you shop, but you quickly get used to it once more. Browsing the shelves at Samâs, you grab a new mortar and pestle. Turning down another aisle, you nearly collide with another person.
âIâm so sorry!â you apologize quickly.
âMaĂźtre herboriste!â You recognize the voice immediately before even seeing his face.Â
Rook Hunt in all his feather hat glory, smiles widely at you. âHello, Rook,â you greet. A bit eccentric, you know him through Vil.
He points to your loaded basket. âShopping for supplies?â
âIâve worn out my mortar and pestle, so I thought Iâd get a new one,â you explain. You note his basket is filled with top of the line beauty products.
âAlways so busy, MaĂźtre herboriste! I hear you have a little assistant, no?â The glimmer in his eyes tells you all you need to know.
Sighing, you nod. âYes, I do have an assistant. No, you cannot hunt him.â
He gasps dramatically, hand flying over his heart. âI would never ask something like that! I just wish toâŠobserve him a little closer than from the trees.â
âTrees?â Pinching the bridge of your nose, you inhale sharply before exhaling. âHave you been spying?â
âNon! Not spying, just observing.â His bright smile does nothing to make you feel better.
Now youâre starting to realize why Tsunotarou spent a lot of time glaring out the window as of late. He most likely sensed Rook and saw him as an unknown threat. And here you thought heâd liked watching the hens.
Heaving another weary sigh, you shake your head. âI donât think coming would be a good idea. At least not alone. If Vil needs to drop by, youâre welcome to join.â Saying ânoâ to Rook is useless. Heâd just continue his spying or try something even more extreme if he really felt like it.
âOh, so thoughtful of you! You truly are so trĂšs gentil!â He beams brightly.
After a few more compliments and praises, you manage to buy what you need and leave the shop. Rook can be a bit exhausting at times, but he means well. You just hope Tsunotarou doesnât decide to roast him the moment he walks through the door.
---
You wake up suddenly from an odd dream. Yet, the moment you try to remember, it disappears. The feeling of the dream remains. Rolling over on your side, you reach for Tsunotarou but are met with nothing. Sitting up, you glance at the open window. Though you leave it open for him in case he ever wants to go out, you do sometimes worry. Sure heâs a dragon and can probably fend for himself, but you still remember how he looked when you first found him.
Getting out of bed, you head downstairs. Taking a quick peek out the window, you donât see anything out of the ordinary. The full moon hangs low in the sky, illuminating the quiet night. Heading out the garden, you inhale the scent of moist grass and crisp air. Itâs warm with a slight breeze, a nice night stare at the stars.
Sitting down on the bench swing in the back of the garden, you have a view of the cottage and the rows of plants growing. You idly swing your legs back and forth causing the bench to gently sway. The soft chirping of crickets and buzzing of insects fills the air. Fireflies lazily float by, giving the night an ethereal glow.
So distracted by the sight, you miss the approach of someone until theyâre nearly standing a few feet away. Stiffening, you halt the lazy movements of the swing. Looking at the uninvited guest, you realize heâs the naked stranger from last time. Thankfully not naked this time.
Heâs wrapped in a long black cloak that matches the inky color of his hair. Sharp, almost glowing peridot eyes gaze down at you. Your gaze lingers on the pointed ears and horns atop his head. His pale skin glows under the moon, almost making him seem ghostly.
âH-hello?â you greet, hesitantly. Unsure what else to say, you at least want to break the staring contest.
He smiles, flashing sharp incisors. âHello, child of man. What brings you out?â His voice is smooth and low, like a warm whisper.
âJust couldnât sleep,â you answer truthfully. âWhat are you doing here?â What you really want to ask is why heâs in your garden. It isnât because youâre afraid, no he doesnât give that sort of aurora. Youâre genuinely curious why heâs here again. And since heâs not naked, your freak-out meter is low.
He gestures to the garden. âItâs very peaceful here at night. I thought Iâd take a walk.â Pointing to the bench, he asks, âMay I sit?â
You could say no. You really should say no. Heâs a complete stranger, who you first saw in the nude. However, you nod and scoot over. The bench swing dips at the added weight. He quietly tips his head back to stare at the stars.
Leaning back, you observe the night sky. Itâs been awhile since youâve been able to just enjoy nature. Potions and salves keep you busy enough. By the time night comes, youâre dead on your feet. Though with the extra help, you arenât so tired anymore. Having Tsunotarou around has made your life easier. And less lonely.Â
You didnât realize how lonely you actually felt until he showed up. Sure Ace and Deuce visited sometimes, but it wasnât often. You did correspond with some other people through letters, but it didnât make up for the lack of physical contact. Though he canât respond in words to what you say, he understands. He does his best to let you know heâs listening.Â
âYou seem to be deep in thought, child of man,â the stranger interrupts.
Realizing heâs now staring at you intently, you sit up straighter. âJust thinking about stuffâŠâ
âWhat sort of âstuffâ may I ask?â His tone is gentle and curious.Â
Looking away, you wonder if youâre really going to tell a stranger your worries. However, you donât take much time to spill. âI recently made friends withâŠsomeone. And I realize now that as much as I enjoy my solitude, I was lonely. Itâs funny how spending time with someone can change your views so quickly.â
He nods sagely. âSometimes it only takes a little change to open our eyes.â Glancing at him, he seems to be lost in his own thoughts.
You continue, âIâve gotten so comfortable with his presence that Iâm afraid of what will happen when he leaves. Everyone has to leave at some point. And someone like him probably needs a change in scenery.â
âAnd have you asked this person if he wants to leave?â he asks, gaze once more focused on you.
You chuckle, scratching the back of your neck. âThat would be easier than needless worry, wouldnât it?â
âHe did say humans can be very convoluted about their desires,â he muses.
An eyebrow goes up. âOh?â Not sure who heâs referring to, youâre somewhat offended. But thereâs truth in his words.
He nods but flashes what you assume is supposed to be a reassuring smile. âBut I can say you are not like that.â
âHow do you know that? Weâve just met! For all you know I could be the worst human youâll ever meet,â you half tease.Â
He shakes his head. âNo, youâre nothing like that.â
Itâs almost as if he knows you. But thatâs impossible! Youâve never spoken to him until now. The only time youâve seen him was a month ago when he was standing naked in front of your chicken coop. Youâd remember seeing someone as beautiful as him. Unless heâs someone like Rook, who likes to spy from afar. That sends an unpleasant shiver down your spine.
âHow are you so sure?â you ask, curious to see what answer heâll give.
His bright eyes sparkle. âI just have a good feeling.â
Since heâs not elaborating further, you can only nod. âSo, this might sound rude, but youâre not human, right?â
Chuckling, he shakes his head. âThatâs correct. Iâm a fae. You may call me whatever you wish.â
You know very little about fae, though you vaguely recall a lesson on them. A species that had many different types, theyâre well connected to magic, though some more than others. With their long life span, it wouldnât be much of a surprise if the fae next to you is hundreds of years old. And one more thing you remember is that fae donât lie. They might twist the truth to fit their needs, but itâs never a lie.
âIâm not the best at giving nicknames, so Iâve been told,â you warn. Eyeing him, you try to wrack your brain for something. However, nothing comes to mind until your gaze settles on his horns. âHornton!â
Thereâs a pause as he blinks twice. Then, he bursts out into laughter, throwing his head back. âYou never cease to surprise me,â he says once he manages to gain his composure.
Shaking your head, you point out, âI did warn you.â But since he doesnât seem offended by the name youâve chosen, perhaps your nicknames arenât so bad.
âItâs a wonderful name,â he reassures.Â
Thereâs a pause before you blurt out, âWhy were you naked last time?â You immediately bite the inside of your mouth. Itâs something thatâs been bugging you for a while now.Â
âCertain circumstances made it so that I had no clothes at that moment,â he answers, not at all bothered.
âSo whereâd you get your clothes?â Did he steal them from someoneâs laundry? Not that youâre too concerned with that. You do prefer him covered as youâre pretty sure seeing him naked again wouldnât be good for your health.
âThis was made by magic. Unfortunately my magic is being limited right now, or I would have created something more elaborate. And this wonât last for very long.â He plucks at the black fabric, brows creasing.
So heâll be naked. Again. Covering your face with both hands, you mutter, âSo youâre suddenly going to lose your magically made clothes?â
âSomething like that.â His tone is nonchalant as if the idea of being naked in front of a stranger isnât concerning.
This really sounds like a Cinderella moment except itâs way past midnight. A deep sigh escapes your lips. Perhaps fae arenât as concerned with nudity as humans. Or perhaps itâs just this particular fae.
âIs something the matter?â
You quickly shake your head. âNo. All good!â Deciding to take your mind off the topic, you switch gears. âSo whereâs home?â
âBriar Valley. Itâs a small place west of the Queendom of Roses.â Youâve heard of Briar Valley. Though you havenât traveled since your school days, you have a vague idea of where heâs from.
âItâs noted for its black forest, right?â Something you recall reading about places to visit. Youâre not sure if you would want to visit the forest considering itâs said no one comes out.
He nods. âYes, though Iâd suggest against visiting. Humans tend to get lost in the forest unless guided by a fae who knows the area. Even then, some fae can get lost too.â
âDefinitely not on my bucket list,â you mumble.
âYou should come visit Briar Valley. Itâs quite charming. Iâd love to show you around.â He grins, eyes glimmering.
Ace and Deuce would probably berate you for this, but theyâre not here. âSure! Traveling isnât something Iâve thought about, but I wouldnât mind going away once and awhile. A friend from school, Kalim, has been asking me to visit him in the Scalding Sands. But I always put it off because of work.â
âIâve only been to the Scalding Sands when I was a child,â he muses. His brows draw together as if trying to recall something. He shakes his head. âI wonder how much has changed since thenâŠâ
âWe can go together someday.â You can almost hear the duo shouting at you. Maybe you shouldnât be making deals with a fae. But youâve always been a bit reckless. You havenât done anything dumb in a long time.
He smiles. âWonderful! I canât wait.â
---
You wake up feeling tired and groggy. Maybe staying up to chat until the sky started turning light wasnât the best idea. However, it was nice to speak with someone. Your new friend had bid you goodnight once the first rays of light started peeking through the horizon. He promised to visit the next full moon, which you found odd, but chalked it up to fae stuff.
Yawning for the nth time, Tsunotarou chirps worryingly. âIâm okay. Just didnât get much sleep last night.â You pat his head. âWe donât have much to do today, thankfully. Think Iâll take a nap later.â
However, just as the words leave your mouth, thereâs a sharp knock at your door. âBonjour, MaĂźtre herboriste! Vil and I wanted to pay you a visit.â You sigh as you recognize Rook right away. He doesnât even need to complete the sentence and you know itâs him.
Tsunotarou bristles. âItâs okay,â you reassure. âTheyâre friends. No need to set anyone on fire. I know Rook has been spying, but he doesnât mean any harm.â You hold your hands out in a stop motion. He settles down a little, but his eyes remain narrowed.
Opening the door, you give the two what you hope is a pleasant smile. âHello, you two. I didnât think youâd be coming around today.â
Vil sighs. âIâve been working with Riddle, but I decided I needed to see the dragon for myself. And you know why Rook is here.â
Said huntsman gives you a cheery wave. âOh! Is that the magnificent creature?!â Spotting Tsunotarou from over your shoulder, you step aside to let the two in.
Rook makes a beeline for him. âSimply magnifique! Heâs gotten even bigger than last time!â While Rook is busy studying Tsunotarou from all angles, Vil examines him from afar.Â
âHe is a sight,â the guild master murmurs. âFrom Riddleâs description, the measurements are off. Though he did mention that the creature seems to be growing in size. How much has he grown since the last time?â
Scratching your head, you shrug. âNot sure. I donât keep track, but he does seem a little larger than yesterday.â Maybe âa littleâ is an understatement. His head reaches your shoulder when heâs sitting on the floor. You woke up to him taking up half the bed.
âI do sense the magic. Itâs as potent as Riddle said. This wonât be easy and we might not be able to do anything,â Vil tells you. His attention is momentarily taken away as he leans in closer to your face.
You inch back under his scrutinizing gaze. âVil?â
âYou have bags under your eyes. What have I told you about getting proper sleep, spudling? Sleep is vital not just so we look refreshed but so we feel refreshed.â He shakes his head. âTsk, it seems all my lessons on good health have been for naught.â
âIâm sleeping fine, Vil. I just couldnât sleep last night, thatâs all. I promise itâs not a common occurrence.â Eyes darting over to Rook and Tsunotarou, you attempt to turn the conversation away from you. âAnyways, will Riddle be coming over too?â
âThis conversation isnât over,â he warns. âNot today. He has some things with his guild he needs to take care of. I just wanted to come here and take a look at what weâre dealing with. Thereâs no potion in this world thatâll be able to break a curse of this magnitude.â
Tsunotarou, completely ignoring Rook now, is focused on Vil. The two stare at each other much like the staring contest Riddle had. Vil chuckles. âHeâs a smart one. Already assessing if Iâm a threat, it seems.â
âOf course! Such a powerful creature recognizes a powerful mage!â Rook pipes in between taking pictures.
âWe should head back to the guild. I need to do more research now that I know what weâre dealing with.â He pauses and turns to you, âCan I speak to you outside?â
âIâll be right back,â you call to Tsunotarou before leading the two outside. Coming to the front gate, Vil stops before glancing back at your cottage. âWhatâs up?â
In a low tone, he says, âYou probably donât realize this, but that creature in there is dangerous.â
âArenât all dragons da-â
He cuts you off. âThatâs not what I meant. Iâve seen a few dragons before but none as powerful as this one. The magic radiates off him in waves. Iâm not sure if Riddle didnât notice because of the curse or if something has changed since last time. Iâd be careful with him. Dragons are temperamental creatures by nature.â
âTsunotarou wouldnât hurt me. At least not intentionally,â you argue. âHeâs different and I trust him.â
âTsk. Still reckless as ever. Just keep what I said in mind.â You can see the concern in his eyes.Â
âIâll be careful,â you promise.
---
âWhat are these?â Horton asks.
You had handed him a bundle the moment he appeared. âClothes. I had to guess your size, but I think theyâll fit.â
He seems surprised. âFor me?â
âI thought real clothes might be better than magically made clothes that only last for a while,â you explain.Â
You had asked Jack for advice on what to get considering you didnât know his size. He looked to be a little bigger than Jack, so you hoped the bundle the beastman got together would fit. Jack had mumbled something about underwear while looking away, so you can only assume thereâs undergarments in the package.
âThank you, child of man. This is a wonderful gift.â He looks all too pleased to receive a plain white shirt and black pants.
The way heâs looking at you is like you gave him the greatest gift in the world. âThey didnât cost me much, so itâs nothing big.â
âMay I put them on?â
âSure.â The moment those words are out of your mouth, he snaps his fingers and the outfit he was wearing disappears in a flash of green. âA little warning!â you shout, covering your eyes.
Thereâs a chuckle and you can only imagine the amused look on his dumb face. The rustle of fabric is all you hear. After a few moments, he says, âI am dressed.â
Pulling your hands away, youâre quite pleased to see that the clothes mostly fit. The pants are a little short, coming a little above his ankle. âYou look great!â
He holds up a thin white string. âIs this meant to go somewhere?â
Laughing, you take the tie from him. âCome sit.â While he sits down, you hover over him. âItâs mostly for decoration, but you just weave it through the holes up here to make a crisscross pattern.â
Leaning down, you carefully pull the string through the loops of his shirt. After fiddling for a bit to make sure itâs even, you glance up. âPerfect!â
Your eyes meet and you suddenly realize how close to his face you are. âThank you.â
Heâs probably the most beautiful person youâve ever seen. Sorry Vil. With long, thick eyelashes that brush against his pale skin, you wonder absently if all fae are as beautiful. Up close, you can even see the specks of darker green in his eyes.
âSo pretty,â you whisper.
His eyes widen and thereâs a sharp intake of breath. Realizing you just said that aloud, you pull back with a jerk. You suddenly find interest in something far away. âA-anyways, I hope the clothes are comfortable. Cotton is good for this weather even at night. I guess I shouldâve gotten you shoes too,â you ramble.
âYouâve already given me so much. Thank you again, child of man.â The way he thanks you is almost reverent. âI wish to return the favor. Is there anything you want?â
Quickly shaking your head, you canât imagine taking anything from him for something so simple. âNo, I donât need anything.â
He frowns. âAre you sure? Arenât you supposed to return the favor when receiving a gift?â
âNot all gifts require something in return. This is something I wanted to do, so donât worry about giving me anything.â His brows are still drawn together.
Tilting his head to the side, he studies you. âYouâre very strange for a human. Many would jump at the chance to receive a favor from a fae.â
The pressure of his gaze makes you nervous. Looking away, you stare at the grass. âLike you said, Iâm a strange human.â
His chuckle sends a shiver down your spine. âYes, very strange. But thatâs what makes you so charming.â
You ignore the fluttering of your heart.
---
Waking up to being half smothered to death by a dragon has become the norm. Tsunotarou has grown so big, your full sized bed is starting to feel too small. At this rate you might need an upgrade. You donât mind that heâs grown, itâs just waking up because you canât breathe isnât the most pleasant.
âIâm pretty sure you're almost as tall as Riddle with his shoes onâŠâ You eye him as he sits patiently on the stool while you stir the cauldron.
Tsunotarou makes a noise in the back of his throat. âIâm not complaining about your sudden growth spurt. Just that we might have an issue with sleeping if you keep getting bigger.âÂ
You toss in a few dried rosebuds. Stirring clockwise three times, you pour in a handful of pink sand. Tsunotarou drops a jar of fresh newt tails in your outstretched hand. You throw in a handful of those before stirring counterclockwise four times. The concoction bubbles and steams before changing colors.
âHmm⊠That should be enough for six bottles.â While you pour the potion into bottles, he corks them before putting them on the table in a neat row.
Youâre almost done when you hear loud, angry clucking. Then an even louder voice. âGET OFF YOU FOUL BIRDS!â
Glancing at your dragon companion, he doesnât seem concerned about the sudden commotion. âAlright, guess we get another guest.â You canât pinpoint the voice as anyone you know.
Taking a look out your window, you can see the three hens surrounding a very angry looking person. He waves his arms around trying to scare them off, but the three ladies just continue to peck at his boots.
Thereâs another person standing next to him, but he doesnât do anything. The more you look, the more you think the silver haired one is sleeping. If he is sleeping, itâs quite a feat to do while on his feet and next to someone shouting.
Deciding to try and save your hens, you step outside. You let out an ear piercing whistle, which causes the green haired to stop his shouting. The one sleeping blinks awake as well. The three hens leave the stranger alone to go back into the coop. Though you note that Merryweather gives his boot one last peck for good measure.
âCan I help you two?â you ask once the hens are gone.
The loud one straightens his outfit before clearing his throat. âWHAT KIND OF HUMAN ALLOWS PEOPLE TO BE ATTACKED BY SUCH VICIOUS BIRDS?!â
You resist the urge to plug your ears. âThey tend to not like strangers wandering near their coop. Also, no need to shout.â
He seems to stand up straighter and open his mouth, but the other one quickly intervenes. âWe apologize for trespassing. My name is Silver and this is Sebek.â
âDONâT GO GIVING MY NAME TO THE HUMAN, SILVER!â Sebek admonishes.
After a beat, you ask once more, âCan I help you?â
âWeâre looking for someone. A signal was sent from somewhere in the area,â Silver explains.
âIâm not in town as often, so I might not be the best person to ask. Iâd suggest trying the guilds in town.â You gesture in the general direction of the main road.
Giving you a brief bow, Silver nods. âThank you.â He turns to his companion. âWe should head to town then.â
âHold on! We might as well ask if the human has seen him. Itâs hard not to notice such a magnificent person,â Sebek says, pointing at the human in question. His eyes zero in on you. âHuman, have you seen the great Malleus Draconia?â
Your face twisted into something akin to confusion. âWho?â
The green haired one lets out a gasp. He looks equally offended and shocked. âYOU DONâT KNOW WHO THE GREAT MALLEUS DRACONIA IS!?!â
You proceed to plug your ears. Forget about being polite! âCan you stop yelling? And yes, I have no idea who youâre referring to. Like I said, check with the guilds.â
âHow can someone not know the glorious young master???â He mutters to himself, not hearing a single word you said.
Giving you an apologetic look, Silver tugs his companion. âThank you.â
Once they disappear down the road, you go inside. Tsunotarou, who had been peeking through the window, turns to you. He makes a series of grumbles. âI have no idea what that was about.â Shrugging, you go back to your potions.
After packaging everything, you plop down on the sofa with a deep sigh. âIâm already tired and it isnât even that late.â Huffing, you close your eyes. The sofa dips and extra weight is dropped on your lap.Â
Tsunotarou rests his head in your lap while chirping at you. Opening your eyes, you chuckle. âHey, you.â You affectionately rub his head. Adjusting your position so youâre laying across the sofa, Tsunotarou nestles half on top of you. His tail hangs off the couch and onto the floor.
âOoof! Youâre getting a little too big for this.â With his head resting on your chest, he peers up at you. âDonât look at me like that! Iâm just stating a fact. Youâve grown a lot.â
Scratching him around his horns, you canât help but study them. They remind you of something, but your brain is too tired to figure it out. âEver since youâve come into my life, it seems my days arenât so monotonous. Donât get me wrong, I enjoy the quiet and routine. But Iâve come to realize I cherish having you around.â
He gurgles happily. âBut youâll have to leave someday, right? You canât stay here forever and if you continue to grow, I donât think the cottage will be enough.â Chuckling to yourself, youâre reminded of the conversation you had with Hornton.
Tsunotarou nudges your cheek with his snout. âDo you want to leave?â you ask. He shakes his head while making a few noises. âI donât want you to leave either. But I donât think weâll have much of a choice. Weâll deal with it when the time comes.â
The two of you doze lightly, but a sudden knock on the door sends you tumbling off the couch. Tsunotarou somehow managed to catch himself as he peers down at you. âWhoâs visiting at this hour?!â Grunting, you get up and march to the door.
Youâre greeted by the two from before. The shorter of the two opens his mouth to speak but is quickly interrupted by his companion with the loud mouth. âHOW DARE YOU LIE TO US, HUMAN!â
âW-what?!â Confused, you look between the two. âCan someone explain what I supposedly lied about. Without yelling.â
âExcuse me!â Riddle shoves his way from the back. You hadnât even noticed there were more people. Ace and Deuce pop up as well giving you nervous looks.
Riddle holds his hand up to prevent the green one from shouting. âSorry about that. They came saying they were looking for someone. After they explained what happened, I figured out who it was theyâre looking for. And rule 233 states I should escort guests to their desired location.â
âOkay, but that doesnât explain the accusation.â Youâre too tired to be nice.
Shaking his head, Riddle sighs. âTheyâre looking for him.â He points over your shoulder. All eyes turn to the dragon sitting on the couch.
âYoung master!â
âYour highness!â
Sebek pushes his way past you to get inside. Grumbling a few not so nice words under your breath, you allow the rest to come in as well. Sebek falls to his knees in front of the dragon while wailing something incomprehensible.
Silver turns to you. âI apologize for the accusation. Sebek can be a littleâŠexcitable when it comes to his highness.â
âHighness? Wait, so Tsunotarou is a prince?!â Angry green eyes turn to you.
âHOW DARE YOU REFER TO HIM WITH SUCH A VULGAR NAME!â Even Riddle looks put out. Seeming to realize his volume, he tones down just a little. âNot only did you kidnap him, but you subjected him to a ridiculous name?!â
Ace and Deuce move to stand in front of you when Sebek advances. âItâs okay guys. Iâm not afraid of him.â The two give worried looks as you step forward. âListen here. I did not kidnap him. I found him unconscious and injured in the woods. I took care of him and heâs been staying with me of his own free will. Tsunotarou is free to leave whenever he wants.â
He opens his mouth to say something, but you stop him with a sharp look. âI donât appreciate people barging into my house making accusations! So, sit down and use your inside voice or I will kick you out on your ass!â
Ace lets out a low whistle as Sebek stands there slack jawed. âAre we done now?â Riddle asks, having taken a seat during your little speech.
Thereâs a moment of silence before Silver gives a small cough. âAgain, I apologize for everything. Weâve been looking all over for his highness for a while.â
âItâs fine. Letâs sit down and have a civil discussion.â You take a seat on the couch. Tsunoartou sticks to your side despite the forlorn look Sebek gives him.
Once everyone is sitting, you gesture to the two. âSo, who are you?â
âAs we said before, I am Silver and this is Sebek. We are personal guards for his royal highness, prince Malleus Draconia,â he explains.
Looking at the dragon leaning against your side, you eye him curiously. âSo youâre actually a prince?â He gives a nod. âYou do know I was joking about the whole cursed prince thing, right?â
He grumbles deep in his throat, seeming not too pleased about something. âYour prince is a small dragon?â Deuce asks, scratching his cheek as he tries to wrap his head around it all.
âOf course not!â Sebek glares at him. âThe young masterâs true form is much more elegant and refined. Even his real dragon form is better than this! Not that you humans would understand the beauty of fae.â
âSo how did he end up like that?â Ace pipes in.
Pressing his fingers to his temple, Silver sighs deeply. âIt was punishment from his grandmother for not doing his duty. We didnât think he would get carried off by a demon crow when we werenât looking.â
âWhat kind of person is your grandmother to curse her own grandson? ScaryâŠâ It sends a shiver down your spine. His grandmother must be very powerful since both Vil and Riddle said the curse was created with old magic.Â
âThe curse thing has happened before,â Silver explains, not sounding concerned at all. âGetting lost is new.â
âHeâs been living with me for almost a year, and you just decided to search for him?â If heâs a prince, shouldnât they have been looking for him sooner?
Silver sighs. âThe queen assured us that he was fine and ordered us not to search for him. However, a few weeks ago, she told us to find him. Iâm not sure why she changed her mindâŠâ
âI assume the one who put the curse on him can take it off? Weâve been studying ways to lift the curse, but havenât had any luck.â Riddleâs cheeks are puffed out, most likely annoyed that he couldnât find a way to break the curse himself.
Silver nods. âYes. We will take him back home so the queen can lift the curse. Though looking at his form, it seems his own magic was working on breaking the curse from within. Iâm sure fath-Lilia will be interested to hear thisâŠâ
The two stand up. âWe need to head back home, immediately!â Sebek announces.
âRight now? But itâs night time. It could be dangerous,â you point out.
âWeâll be fine. We have a charm that will take us directly to the castle,â Silver explains.
âOf course you do.â You canât delay the inevitable. âCan I have a moment alone with him? Please?â
âOf course. We will wait outside.â Despite Sebekâs protests, the two head out.
Riddle, Ace and Deuce also stand to leave. âIâll head back to town to let Vil know what happened.â
âWe'll be outside if you need us,â Deuce informs you.
Once everyone leaves, itâs just you and Tsunotarou once more. Suddenly a heavy feeling settles on your chest. âYouâre leaving⊠I guess the time has come, Tsunotarou. Sooner than I would like, but you have to go home.â
Sitting up to his full height, he places his front paws on your shoulders. Staring at eye level, he silently conveys his message. Chuckling, you press your forehead against his. Wrapping your arms around his body, you give him a squeeze.
âIâll see you soon Tsuno-no, thatâs not your name. Iâll see you soon, Malleus.â Pulling away, you press a kiss to his forehead. He freezes while his eyes widen. You laugh at his shocked expression. âI just wanted to see if it would work.â
You give him one last hug. Youâre not sure when you'll see him again, but you have a feeling you will. You just have to wait.
---
Half a year goes by and things return back to how it was before you found Malleus. The same routine that you once found comfort in feels empty. You go through the motions but none of it really registers. You tell yourself youâll get back into the groove of things eventually. Youâre lying.
Ace and Deuce drop by more often, which you appreciate. Though they donât say it, they know youâre feeling down. However, they can only stay for so long before theyâll have to find a new commission to take.Â
âHey, do you guys actually know who Malleus Draconia is?â Ace asks one day over breakfast.
Deuce throws him a look, but you wave him off. âItâs fine, Deuce. Itâs not like we canât talk about him. And no, I don't know who he is.â
âHeâs the next king of Briar Valley! And heâs considered one of the most powerful mages in the world! Can you believe that someone that scary was living with you?!â
You shrug, not really caring. âTo me, he was just Tsunotarou. And even now that I know who he is, I donât care.â
Ace snorts. âOf course you wouldnât. Still, can you imagine how powerful his grandmother is? Thatâs one terrifying family you donât want to mess with.â
âThough now that you mention it, Briar Valley sounds familiarâŠâ Thoughtful chewing on a piece of bread, you wrack your brain. âOh! Thatâs where Hornton is from!â
âHorn-what? Whoâs that?â Deuce asks between mouthfuls of food.
Taking a sip of your juice, you nonchalantly reply, âYou know the naked stranger I mentioned a long time ago. Turns out heâs from Briar Valley too.â
âAre you asking to be killed? Why would you talk to someone who canât even wear clothes?!â Ace looks at you like youâve grown too heads. âAnd what kind of name is Hornton?â
âItâs a nickname. He didnât give me his real name so I gave him one.âÂ
Rolling his eyes, Ace shoves the rest of his breakfast in his mouth. âYew swuk at maming!â Bits of food fly out of his mouth. You childishly stick your tongue out.
Deuce is quiet before asking, âHave you seen him recently?â
âNo. He usually shows up during the full moon, but I havenât seen him.â You did spend a few full moon nights waiting, but he never came. After a few times, you gave up. âNow that I think about it, he hasnât shown up since Tsunotarou leftâŠâ
â...â
â...â
â...â
âYou met one of the most powerful beings in the world and not only did you give him one dumb name, but two?!!â
âI didnât know!â
Covering your face, you let out a frustrated groan. The table falls silent once more. Then from the redhead in a barely contained laugh, âSo, you saw his crown jewels?â
âAce!â Deuce's face turns bright red.
âWhat the hell is wrong with you?!â Thereâs a pause before the table erupts into laughter. Sometimes you question your choice of friends, but at times like these, youâre grateful for them.
---
âDo you have everything?â Deuce asks for the umpteenth time.
You adjust the straps to your bag. âYup! Iâll be back in a few weeks at most. Just donât burn down my home. Please.â
âIâm not that bad! If anything Deuce will burn down the cottage,â Ace shouts in the background. Merryweather gives his shoe a hard peck. âEvil bird!â
Shaking your head, you turn to Deuce. âI want all my ladies to be here when I get back. Or else.â
âDonât worry, weâll be fine,â he reassures. However, seeing Ace run away from three angry hens does little to relieve your concerns.
âMaybe I shouldnât goâŠâ
âGo! You got a personal invite from a prince to visit.â He waves you off. âAnyways, Trey will be coming to make sure your house is okay.â
âAt least someone responsible will be here,â you mutter. Giving Deuce one last goodbye, you head over to where Sebek and Silver are waiting just outside your front gate. âBe nice to them, Ace!â you shout.
Heâs too busy trying to fend off the hens to say much. âThey truly are vicious creatures. Are you sure you didnât train them to attack?â Sebek shudders at the sight of the redhead getting pecked at.
âTheyâre just overprotective. So, how are we getting to Briar Valley?â With a suitcase and backpack, youâre ready to leave home for the first time in a long time. Malleusâs invitation is safely tucked away in your bag.
Silver produces a small piece of paper from his pocket. You note there are some ruins written on it. âEveryone, hold on to me.â Placing a hand on his shoulder, he rips the paper in half. The ruins light up momentarily, before youâre engulfed in a blinding light.
You blink rapidly, trying to clear the spots dancing in your vision. Once you can see again, you look around. No longer home, youâre standing in front of a gate. A marvelous castle looms above. Despite all the opulence, youâre solely focused on the figure standing on the path leading to the castle.
Pushing through the gate, you rush forward. âW-wait!â You ignore Sebekâs shout.
Stopping just a few feet away, you break out into a grin. âI see youâre wearing clothes this time.â
He returns the smile with one of his own. âI wanted to look my best to greet you. Youâre a very important guest after all.â
âCan I give you a hug or is that breaking decorum?â you ask, ignoring Sebekâs sputters of protest.
âCome on, Sebek. Fath-Lilia wanted us to see him right when we returned.â Thereâs a few words exchanged, but they leave you two alone.
Malleus opens his arms. âI would like that very much.â
Without hesitation, you wrap your arms around him. Despite not knowing Tsunotarou and Horton were one and the same until recently, thereâs a sense of familiarity. He might not be a scaly black dragon like youâre used to, but he holds the same scent and warmth. His gaze has the same wonder and affection.
He nuzzles the top of your head. âI missed you.â
âI missed you too.â Pulling away, you take his hand. âThough I do kinda miss your little dragon form,â you tease.
Malleus squeezes your hand. âPerhaps I should ask grandmother to curse me once more?â
âNo!â However, you note the way his brows are lifted and his mouth quirks up. âYouâre teasing me, right?â
âOf course. I guess I missed the mark on that.â He shakes his head. âBefore I can show you around, grandmother would like to meet you.â
âRight now? Iâm not even presentable!â This is not what you expected. Youâve only been in Briar Valley for a whole 5 minutes, and now youâre expected to meet the queen!?
Malleus doesnât seem worried, though. âYou look wonderful as always. Come, let us be off.â
Before you can protest, he pulls you to his chest. Arm around your waist, you temporarily lose the ability to think as youâve never been this close to him before. Well at least not in this form. In a blink, youâre no longer standing outside the castle.
You stand in a large gazebo surrounded by rose bushes as far as the eye can see. Theyâre all in full bloom. Thereâs a lot of time and effort put into the garden. You also notice a rather scary looking gargoyle further away.Â
Someone hums with interest causing you to turn your attention away from the roses. The only other occupant in the gazebo is a regal looking woman holding a teacup. A table filled with small dishes and a tea set are laid before her. She has the same inky black hair as Malleus, though you note streaks of white in her impeccable style. Her horns are intricately decorated with delicate gold chains studded with gems. Green eyes flash with interest as she sets down the teacup without making a sound.
âMalleus, what a lovely surprise. Who is this?â she asks, eyes never leaving you. Her knowing gaze sees right into your very soul.Â
âGrandmother, Iâd like to introduce to you (Y/N).â You realize heâs still holding you close to his side. Disentangling yourself for him while stepping away at a respectable distance. You donât know if you should be bowing. She is the queen after all!
She smiles, revealing shiny, white teeth. You briefly wonder if the smile is meant to be inviting or intimidating. Maybe both. âItâs a pleasure to meet you in person, little human. My grandson has been talking about you non-stop since he came home. And I must say, youâre as adorable as he described~â
âI-Itâs nice to m-meet yo-you too, your highness!â Did she just call you adorable?? Your neck prickles as you suddenly feel too warm.
She stands up, towering over your form. Not only is she intimidating just by her aura but also in height! âHoho, so formal! You can call me grandmother.â
Thereâs silence as your brain stutters to a halt. You can hear Malleus let out a deep breath while the queen's laughter echoes in the garden.
Tagging: @starsilluminateourgalaxy @stormyovent0aster @hanafubukki @mscarterakaviola98 @sparkleypancakez @youaskedfurret @yokokai @hajimeseyo @ravenlking @peter-the-pan @enchanted-nerd @nocturneabyss @chaasworld @lechuko @bloomsapphire @amar-farasha @itszzmoon @xlifexdeathx @supernovaicloud @mysterypotatoink @illytian @depressed-bitchy-demon @cheyuma @liquidfurby @bigcandlesmolbrain @thetruepair @chibishae34 @strawberry-soap-bar @sus0daddy @inana-mm @liliaviper @musclefanatica @loivre @chuchotheblackcat @lorkai
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Your littlest dragon story is so cute â°â (â âžâ âžâ âžâ ÂŽâ êłâ `â âžâ âžâ âžâ )â âŻ.
When you don't give Tsundaro affection because you are too busy he was just go sit in a corner and sulk lol
Thank you anon! Iâm enjoying this story a lot. I hope to have part 2 out as soon as possible!
Mini-dragon Tsunotarou needs snuggles everyday or he becomes the âno talk me angryâ meme ê (ÂŽâïœ)ʱÂȘʱÂȘʱÂȘ
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The Littlest Dragon (Part 1)
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/GN!Reader
Summary: Your quiet life as a herbalist is disrupted when you take in an injured dragon
Word Count: 5,768
Notes: I just really want a mini-dragon
Warnings: None
Part 1, Part 2 Part 3
You almost mistake the bundle of black for a pile of cloth. Upon closer inspection, you can see shiny obsidian scales that shimmer in the light. The creature is larger than a squirrel but smaller than a house cat. Unsure what to do, you approach him cautiously but he doesnât move.
Gently turning him over, your eyes widen. âA dragon?â Despite his small size, he has definite features of the powerful beasts just squished together in a smaller form.
A quick once over, you can see a twisted front leg and one wing bent at an odd angle. The creature's chest moves up and down but you can almost make out a pained gasp. Making a snap decision, you carefully wrap the dragon in your coat before rushing back home. Your half filled basket of herbs forgotten.
Bursting through the gate, you startle the three chickens resting nearby. The cluck loudly as you give a quick apology. Setting the dragon down on your table inside the cottage, you wash your hands before grabbing what you need.
Setting the armload of potions, salves and bandages, you get to work patching up the dragon. Thankfully the little guy stays passed out throughout the process. You clean and disinfect the wounds before applying salves. You create a makeshift splint for the front leg and wing. After finally satisfied, you slump down in a chair.
Watching the creature curiously, you decide to let him rest until he wakes up. You arenât sure about the healing rate of dragons let alone such a small one.
Resting your cheek on the table, you gently stroke the top of his head. Youâre fascinated by the two horns that curl back into his head. âI didnât realize they could be so small,â you mumble.
Letting out a deep sigh, you take the dragon upstairs to your bedroom. You place a pillow on a chair in the corner of your room and set him down. Recalling a lesson on dragons, you bundle a spare blanket around him for a makeshift nest. Leaving the creature to rest, you return downstairs to clean up.
---
A few days go by but the dragon remains asleep. You periodically check in on him to change the dressings and reapply the salves. Youâre happy to say the wounds are healing nicely. However, youâre starting to worry if the dragon will ever wake up.
Itâs the middle of the night when youâre roused from sleep. Blearily opening your eyes, you meet the deep green gaze of the dragon. He stands on the pillow next to your own. His tongue flicks out making you flinch.
âOh, youâre finally awake,â you mutter. Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you sit up, which causes the dragon to step back. âHowâd you even get over here?â You finally notice the bandages on the wing missing, but he seems perfectly fine.
He tilts his head to one side. Dragons are said to be intelligent creatures, you recall. âDo you want something to eat? I assume youâre probably hungry after sleeping for five days.â
Without waiting for an answer, you get out of bed and head downstairs with the little creature flying after you. You manage to make a simple plate of beef and vegetables. Watching the dragon attack the meal with such ferocity, you realize he must have been starving despite seeming so calm. Once he finishes the meal, he sits back with his claws on his stomach.
âSatisfied?â You chuckle as you notice food all over his face. He stays completely still as you clean his face.
Leaning an elbow on the table, you both stare at each other. âSo⊠what do I call you?â He only lets out a gurgling of growls in response. âHow about Tsunotarou?â He seems to nod as if your silly name is an acceptable one for a dragon.
âWell, it seems like your wing is healed, but your front leg still needs a bit of time. If you want, you can stay here until then,â you offer.
He says something you donât understand once more, but looks satisfied as he decides to perch on your shoulder. âAlright, let's go back to bed. I have an early morning.â Yawning, you head back upstairs for some sleep.
---
You live in a cottage away from others. It was a gift from your late parents. Small but cozy, you donât mind the solitude. In the front, you have a chicken coop with three hens. You also have a small barn for your goat, Phillis. In the back, your garden grows a few vegetables, fruits and herbs. The woods nearby provide you with wild herbs and berries. Anything else you need, you can go into town or ask Ace and Deuce to bring them.
As a herbalist, you create salves and potions, which you sell in town once a week. Unlike most herbalists, you lack magic. However, thatâs never stopped you from doing your job. Plus you were taught by the best of the best, so the quality of your work is great.Â
The usual day consists of you getting up early to feed the chickens and goat. Then you take stock of your inventory. After, you usually head into the woods to gather herbs. The rest of the day consists of brewing potions and salves, and tending to the garden. At night, you make dinner, make sure the chickens are in their coop, and do some light reading before bed. Rinse and repeat.
It may seem dull to most, but you enjoy the routine. Sometimes your day is broken up by a visit from Ace and Deuce, an adventuring duo, who youâve known since school. They argue and fight, but ultimately work well as a team when needed. Their antics never fail to make your day entertaining.
Today when you get up, the dragon follows you. In the kitchen you make a breakfast of eggs and a fruit bowl. It seems Tsunotarou isnât too picky on what you feed him as he gobbles everything up. After a quick cleanup, you and your new companion head outside. Your three chickens are already awake. They strut around the front yard as you grab a bag of feed.
âAlright, ladies, time for breakfast,â you call. Sprinkling the food, the three descend near you in a flurry of white and brown feathers.
Tsunotarou, who perched himself on your shoulder, leans forward watching in rapt interest. âDo you want to try to feed them?â you ask, holding the bag of feed up.
Using his good claw, he picks up a small handful before tossing them in the air. Most of the feed falls on the ground, though some does fall on the chickens. âMaybe aim a little more toward the ground,â you chuckle.
The three start trying to eat the feed off each other's backs, which causes a lot of squawking. One pecks another on the head rather viciously. âFlora, thatâs not nice! Now apologize to Merryweather,â Scolding the chicken, she seems to deflate a bit before sulkily wandering off with a sad cluck.
Shaking your head, you set aside the chicken feed to grab food for Phillis. âThose two always seem to be fighting,â you tell Tsunotarou, who continues to watch the three hens. âFauna is the mild mannered one of the group, thankfully. I guess she balances them out.â
Phillis comes trotting over the moment you're within sight. Patting her head, you scratch her behind the ears. âMorning, princess.â She bleats happily at the attention. The little dragon flies off your shoulder to get a better look at Phillis. She noses his stomach curiously as he reaches out to pat her on the snout.
âSheâs a gentle one.â You smile as she nudges your side to hurry you up on getting her breakfast. âOkay, okay! Iâm getting there.â
Once you give her food and water, you head back inside to your work room. You go through your current stock of ingredients while Tsunotarou flips through the thick tome of recipes. You wonder briefly if dragons can read, but knowing how highly intelligent they are, it wouldnât be much of a surprise.
âThat was given to me by my former teacher, Crewel. He taught me everything I know about brewing potions,â you explain as you check things off. âHe was a tough teacher, but I learned from the best. I still have nightmares about that riding cropâŠâ Not that he ever used it on you, but when he wanted to make a point, he made one.
You continue, âThe potion and salve I used for you is for speeding up the healing process. It supposedly works on all living creatures, so I was hoping it would work on dragons.â
Tsunotarou leaves the tome to come over to your side. You shake your head as you reread your lists. âI seem to be out of a lot of stuff,â you mutter to yourself.
Pinching the bridge of your nose, you sigh. âIâll have to make a trip into town.â Glancing at the creature on your shoulder, you regard him silently. His intelligent green eyes stare back as he stretches his wings.
âSo, I either have to leave you here alone.â He bristles, eyes narrowing. âOr, you have to stay hidden until we get back from town.â You arenât sure how people would react if they saw a small dragon on your shoulder. It would be better not to take the chance of possibly causing a commotion.
He agrees to your second option as he flies off your shoulder and lands in the satchel you keep hung up near the front door. His head pokes out when you donât move. âIâm coming. Iâm coming.â
You leave for the main shopping center with the dragon in tow. A bit nervous, you try to calm yourself through the walk. Tsunotarou pokes his head out taking in the scenery. At least someone is feeling fine.
The hustle and bustle of the town can be heard as you near the gate. The guards let you through without much of a glance. Here, adventures and merchants can check in the numerous guilds while stocking up on supply. Itâs always busy as people move in and out. You only really stop here every few months to get supplies. By now, the shops you frequent are familiar with what you need, which makes shopping a little easier.
First stop is to pick up some herbs. Looking at your herb list, you easily weave your way through the streets. âI was dangerously low on four leaf clovers and died mandrakesâŠâ
âHello?â The greenhouse is quiet as you donât see anyone. âJack?â You tap the little bell on the front counter.
Finally, someone comes to the front. âHey, (Y/N),â Jack greets with a nod. Though just a part-timer, he knows the greenhouse inside and out.Â
Smiling, you point to your list. âJust need to restock a few things.â Handing the list over, he quickly looks everything over.
âIâll be right back with everything.â Heâs gone in a flash.
You feel Tsunotarou wiggle around in the satchel before poking his head out. âYou have to stay hidden,â you whisper, placing a finger over your lips.
His head turns this way and that way before he retreats back into the bag. Just in time too as Jack returns with your things. Scratching his head, his ears twitch. âUh, sorry weâre out of powdered death caps. We oughta be getting some next week.â
âThatâs fine. I donât think Iâll be needing them right away. Can you put me on the list to set some aside when they come in?â He leans over to hand you the other items. He pauses for a moment, his brows drawing together as his eyes dart around.
âJack?â You inch back a bit. You can only hope heâll ignore whatever heâs smelling.
Seeming to remember himself, he pulls back with an awkward cough. âS-sorryâŠâ He hastily scribbles your name down in a small book. âThatâll be thirty-three for the rest.â
As you reach in your satchel for your coin purse, your hand brushes against the dragon hiding there. Freezing up, your gaze darts over to Jack, who thankfully is busy doing something else. You feel coins being pressed into your hand. Glancing inside your bag, Tsunotarou looks up at you expectantly. He flicks his tongue out a few times.
Counting the coins in your hand, you canât help the grin spreading across your face. He had given your exact change. âSomethinâ up?â Jack inquires, noting the way youâre looking down.
Snapping your attention back to him, you shake your head. âNope. Hereâs the money.â You hurriedly hand him the coins. âIâll see you next week, Jack.â Giving him a rushed wave, you quickly leave the greenhouse.
Once a good distance away, you let out a deep sigh. âI think that went well.â Opening your satchel a bit, youâre met with judging green eyes. âDonât look at me like that! I panicked!âÂ
Shoving the bag of herbs into a corner of the satchel, Tsunotarou curls deeper into the bag. Letting the satchel bag flap fall back down, you return to the other lists you made. âGuess weâll visit Samâs shop nextâŠâ
Samâs is busy as usual when you arrive. Pushing through the throng of customers, you make your way to the shelf filled with bottles. Picking out a few that you need for potions, you move on to the jars. By the time you go to checkout, you can feel Tsunotarou squirming inside the satchel. He pokes his head out every now and then, but only does it when there arenât many people around. People are too busy with their own shopping, they donât even glance your way.Â
âWelcome back, little imp!â Sam greets.
You return the greeting with a wide smile. âHey, Sam. Just the usual.â As Sam wraps each glass bottle in brown paper, you mentally do the math of how much you owe.
He carefully splits your items into two bags. âThatâll be one-hundred unless youâre looking for something out of stock?â
âNo, Iâm good for today.â You reach into your satchel and Tsunotarou presses the coins into your hand. âHere you go.â
Sam eyes your bag with interest but doesnât say anything. âSee you next time!â
Youâre thankful that Sam doesnât pry. The next stores are all uneventful. By the time youâre walking back home, you have an armload of bags. Your satchel can usually hold more, but the extra guest makes it difficult to fit anything beyond the herbs in there.
Once home, you put everything away before feeding everyone. Later, youâre stretched out in front of the fireplace with a botany book in hand. Tsunotarou is curled up on your lap while you read and take notes along the pages. Though youâre used to being alone, itâs like a familiar comfort to feel his weight on your lap.Â
When itâs time for bed, you carry the still sleeping dragon upstairs. Putting Tsunotarou in the makeshift nest, you climb into bed. However, before you can fall asleep, Tsunotarou flies over with the blanket in his mouth. Standing at the edge of the bed, itâs almost like heâs giving you puppy dog eyes.
Rolling your eyes, you pat the empty spot near your pillow. âFine, come on.â
He lets out a satisfied chirp. He wraps the blanket in a neat pile before laying down. Laying on your side, you chuckle while scratching the top of his head. âGood night, Tsunotarou.â
---
At the end of the month youâre preparing a few potions that need to be bathed in moonlight. Tsunotarou sets down the vials youâve finished in the rack on the windowsill near the front door. You're grateful to have the extraâŠclaws while juggling a few other things at once.
âOne more glamor potion and that should be the last of the orders,â you tell Tsunotarou as he perches on your shoulder while youâre stirring the cauldron. âThanks for the help.â You give him a little scratch under his chin.Â
You swear he purrs with the way you feel his body vibrate. âI swear youâre a cat disguised as a dragon,â you chortle while bopping him on the nose.
He stares back at you before slowly blinking in return. âYou canât blame me for making the connection. You even caught a snake and left it as a gift,â you continue while sprinkling in some crushed rose petals. âAlso, you shouldnât do that again.â
The dragon grumbles deep within his chest. âItâs not that I donât appreciate the gesture, but let's leave the wildlife alone.âÂ
Pouring the potion into a vial and sealing it, you hand it off to Tsunotarou, who takes it into his paws before flying off to put it in the rack. Taking a seat, you lean back with a deep sigh.Â
Tsunotarou returns, taking a seat on the table. His front paw is fully healed and is no longer wrapped in bandages. Despite being back to full health, it doesnât seem like he plans to go anywhere.
Suddenly thereâs a commotion of loud squawking before the front door is thrown open. âOi! (Y/N), weâre back!â Ace shouts while letting the door bang.
You tumble back in the chair and hit the ground. âAhhhkk-ow!â Your head rebounds off the floor with a loud smack.
Two things happen at once. Deuce, whoâs behind Ace, rushes over to help you up; however, heâs met with a hissing dragon blocking him that spits red flames at him. His sleeve automatically catches fire and the cottage is filled with panicked, confused screaming.
âAhhhahhhhhck! Put it out!â
âIs that a dragon!?â
While the two run around screaming, you stare in a daze at the ceiling. Tsunotarouâs face suddenly fills your vision. He chirps a few times before you finally respond with a pat on his head. âIâm okayâŠâ
Slowly sitting up, you notice the two idiots are now quiet. Deuce is no longer on fire, thankfully. However, they take in the sight of Tsunotarou sitting on your shoulder from a safe distance. You wince when you touch the already forming lump on the back of your head.
You huff before glaring at the redhead. âWhat did I say about suddenly bursting through the front door, Ace?! Canât you knock like a normal person?â
âWellâŠI-IâŠ!â Ace sputters unintelligibly before he jabs a finger at the dragon on your shoulder. âForget about me for a second! Whatâs that thing?!â
Tsunotarou bares his teeth with a low growl. âWe are going to have this conversation later,â you tell him before shifting gears. âThis is Tsunotarou. I found him in the forest a little over a month ago.â
âIs he like a baby dragon?â Deuce asks, eyes wide.
Picking up the fallen chair, you shake your head. âI donât think so. Anyways, baby dragons are much larger. Maybe heâs just a special type of dragon?â
Ace leans closer but pulls back when Tsunotarou snaps at him. âKinda vicious. He almost barbecued poor Deucy.â
âYou also busted in here suddenly. He probably thought you two were threats,â you point out. âAnyways, What trouble did you get into this time?â
âPsssh! Whyâd you think we got in trouble?â
âBecause you have an infected, bleeding wound on your arm, Ace.â Rolling your eyes, you go to your workroom before returning with a handful of potions, salves, and bandages. âSit.â
As they plop down, you hand them each a potion. âWe had a commission to take down some orcs that were terrorizing a small village,â Deuce explains. âBut, uh, turns out it was actually a colony of orcs.â
âSo you got beat up?â You clean Deuceâs cuts, which are mostly minor. A few do need some salve and bandages.
You move on to Ace, who looks the worse between the two. âWe didnât get beat up,â Ace grumbles. âWe took them down! Aaaa-ouch!!â Biting your lip, you continue to dab his infected wound.Â
âYou two get into more trouble than anyone I know. Did you at least get a good reward?â
âOf course!â Ace pulls out a hefty coin purse and lets it fall on the table. âAll in a day's work.â He grins smugly with his nose in the air.
Flicking his nose, you shake your head as he covers his face. âDonât freely show that off or youâll get mugged. Again.â Finished with his wounds, you place a small container of salve in his hand. âUse this once a day until everything is gone. It should, hopefully, not scar.â
âUm, (Y/N), can we crash here?â Deuce asks. He shrinks back when you give him a look.
Rubbing your temples, you sigh, âFine. But one of you is gonna be sleeping on the floor cause I only have one couch.â
Ace jumps up. âDibs!â
âWait, you got the couch the last time! Itâs my turn!â Leaving the two bickering adventurers, you head upstairs to find some spare blankets.
Tsunotarou gives you a questioning look as you rummage around in your closet. âTheyâre good friends. A little annoying at times, but theyâve always had my back.â You canât count how many times theyâve slept at your place.
âTheyâre just as rowdy as they were in school,â you mutter as you head back down with two pillows and some blankets.
---
You canât sleep. Tossing and turning, you finally settle on your back to glare at the ceiling. Ace and Deuce both snore loud enough to be heard from your bedroom. Tsunotarou had disappeared though you werenât too worried. He would sometimes leave in the middle of the night, most likely to hunt, but he would always return by the time you got up.
Sitting up, you carefully make your way downstairs. âMaybe something to eat will help,â you mumble. You spot Ace hanging off the couch, so you know who lost the argument.
Just as youâre about to tiptoe around Deuce, you hear some loud clucking. Eyes furrowing, you wonder why the hens are up at this hour. Forgetting about your midnight snack, you head to the front door. Stepping outside, the air is warm but nice enough for early summer. Before you can move, you notice a figure standing near the chicken coop.
Not only is it strange to see a person at this time, but thereâs also one other thing making you pause and rethink your plans. The moon hangs large in the sky and bathes the world in an ethereal silvery glow. The stranger stands there, head tilted upward to the sky, completely still.
And completely naked.
Slowly closing the door, you slide the deadbolt in place with a muffled click. Hopefully the naked stranger will leave. You doubt the deadbolt would keep anyone out if they actually wanted to break in. However, the act of using it at least gives you a small peace of mind.
Deciding the hens can take care of themselves, you head back to bed. Youâre far too tired to deal with whatever nonsense is happening outside. As you drift off to sleep, your last thought is of Tsunotarou. You send a small prayer to whoever is listening that heâs alright.
However, you're woken by a loud crash. And then. âAHHHHHH!!!â âDO SOMETHING!!!â
Bolting out of bed, sunlight filters through the window. Despite feeling like you didnât sleep at all, itâs morning. You grab the nearest object, a broom, before rushing downstairs. In your haste you nearly slip but manage to catch yourself. Wielding the broom, youâre ready to smack whatever intruder is causing trouble.
Instead of a naked intruder, you witness Ace trying to put out a fire with one of your spare pillows. Deuce is rushing over with a cup of water and dumps it on the flaming blanket. It goes out with a loud sizzle. Both boys let out a relieved sigh as you set the broom down.
âMind telling me whatâs going on?â you ask, not amused.
âYour overgrown lizard,â Ace jabs a finger at Tsunotarou, who is sitting on top of the table, âtried to set me on fire! He tried to murder me!!â
You glance at Deuce, who is still clutching the cup, then back at the frazzled redhead. âDid you do anything to him? Tsunotarou doesnât just attack people out of nowhere.â
Ace rubs the back of his neck as he suddenly loses the fire in his eyes. âIâŠI might have said he got fat⊠And that you should get rid of him,â he admits. âB-But! Iâm not wrong! Heâs gotten bigger overnight. Soon heâll be too big for your house!â
Your attention goes to the dragon, who sits patiently while watching the scene. You canât deny that heâs gotten bigger. Now heâs the size of a large cat, possibly even bigger. âDo dragons usually have growth spurts?â you wonder aloud.
âI donât remember reading about this at school,â Deuce says, nodding thoughtfully.
âWould you two think about the bigger issue!? Heâs gonna grow too big and probably eat us all! Thatâs what dragons do!â Ace shouts, waving his hands around wildly.Â
Walking over to Tsunotarou, you gently stroke his head. âYou wouldnât do that would you?â He gurgles happily, leaning into your touch. âSee. He wouldnât eat us. Weâre not very tasty anyways.â
Ace slaps a hand over his face. â(Y/N), heâs a dragon! Not a pet!â
âI know. And dragons are highly intelligent, which means they can understand us.â You chuckle when he rubs against your arm. âIâm pretty sure if Tsunotarou wanted to eat us, he wouldâve burned us all alive by now.â
Deuce shudders. âMorbidâŠâ
âOh yeah!â You completely ignore the last comment. âThereâs possibly a naked stranger wandering around this area. I saw him standing near the chicken coop last night.â Tsunotarou makes a noise in the back of his throat.
â...what?â Both boys stare at you before scrambling for the front door.
âPretty sure he left already!â They donât hear you as they race outside still in their sleepwear. Lifting Tsunotarou into your arms, you huff, âYouâve gotten heavier too. Iâm not sure if youâll be able to fit in my satchel now.â He only nuzzles your face with his scaly snout.
Coming outside, the hens are just fine. Tsunotarou flies out of your arms to grab the bag of feed. Deuce watches in rapt interest as he throws chicken feed in front of the hens. âHe actually helps out?â he asks, surprised.Â
It really is a sight to see. âYup. Heâs been helping with small things here and there. He even hands me ingredients when I make potions.â
Once the hens are properly fed, he flies off to take care of Phillis. Despite her initial fear of him, Phillis seems to have gotten used to him. You two follow behind to Phillis's pen. Tsunotarou pats the top of her head while she eats.
âI never thought Iâd see a dragon taking care of a goat instead of eating oneâŠâ Deuce looks both perplexed and awed.
âHey!â Ace storms over with twigs and leaves in his hair. âWhat the hell, Deuce!â
âHuh??â
âI thought we were looking for the weirdo (Y/N) saw. Instead you leave me to do the work.â he grumbles.
Deuce gestures over to Tsunotarou. âI-I got distracted,â he sputters.
The redhead barely passes a glance over to the dragon. âExcuses like always, Deucy.â
âDid you find anything,â you ask, distracting Ace.
âNah. Think whoever it was left.â Ace shakes his head.
Resisting the urge to say âI told you soâ because he didnât listen, you head back inside. âCome on, unless you wanna stay in your pajamas.â
While Ace gets cleaned up in the bath, Deuce helps with getting breakfast ready. âHey, do you want us to ask Riddle to come over?â
You hand a plate to Tsunotarou to bring to the table.âWhy?â
âTo get some protective runes made around the perimeter of your place. Maybe itâll keep the weirdo you saw out.â Thereâs a huff and light growl from behind him. âUh⊠is he okay?â He inches away from the irritated dragon.
You scratch the top of Tsunotarouâs head, which causes him to almost vibrate. âSomething wrong, Tsunotarou? Are you worried about the weirdo too?â You chuckle when he butts your arm with his head.
âYou donât seem too worried,â Deuce points out.
âMilk or orange juice?â You hold up two jugs.
âMilk, please.â
âI mean, I think if that stranger wanted to hurt us, he would've broken down the door. The deadbolt doesnât do much,â you say while setting down glasses. âIâll be fine, Deuce, so donât worry.â
â...sure,â he agrees hesitantly. You can still see the concern on his face, but before you can say anything more, Ace comes down.
âBreakfast ready?â He slides into a chair looking around expectantly.
You hand him a bowl of fruit. âNo thanks to you.â
Breakfast is a lively affair with the two extra guests. Ace and Deuce keep the conversation going as they regale you with their latest adventure in detail. It goes by far too quickly for your taste. Sure your days arenât so quiet with Tsunotarou, but it does get somewhat lonely having a one-sided conversation.
âWell, Tsunotarou, itâs just you, me and the girls again,â you say with a deep sigh. You set him on the ground with a groan. âOkay, buddy, youâre a little too heavy to hold for long periods now.â
He lets out a pitiful sound before rubbing his head against your thigh. âCome on, let's get the rest of the day started.â As you go back into the house, Tsunotarou doesnât immediately follow.
His sharp green eyes survey the area around your home. Tongue flickering out, a low snarl starts in his chest. Something catches his eye in the trees just beyond your fence. His back bristles as he opens his mouth. Green flames swirl around his mouth as his eyes narrow.
âTsunotarou, are you still out here?â you call, coming back outside. Lifting him up, you donât notice the way his gaze is focused on something else. âAre you mad that I canât carry you?â you ask with a chuckle.
The dragon doesnât respond as he rests his snout on your shoulder. As you close the door, his gaze never leaves the line of trees. Thereâs a flash of yellow before the door is firmly shut.
---
To your surprise Ace and Deuce return a few days later. And even more of a surprise, Riddle is with them. You nearly slam the door in their face when you see them. Nervously looking between the two adventures, you can feel heat prickling the back of your neck. Ace avoids eye contact while Deuce sheepishly mouths an apology.
Riddle is the first to speak up. âThese two let it slip that youâre harboring a dragon. Being the head of the Heartslabyul Guild, I thought it would be prudent for me to check. Rule 134 states no unregistered magical creatures within 10 miles of the guild are allowed. They must be taken to the appropriate handlers.â
Casting dirty looks at the two, you open the door wider. âPlease come in, Riddle.â You rather like having your door on its hinges.
As he enters, he looks around before his gaze zeroes in on the dragon resting on the couch. âIt really is a dragonâŠâ
Ace and Deuce carefully slink past you before you shut the door. âAs you can see, Riddle, heâs not a danger to anyone.â You try to smile as innocently as possible.
He turns to you. âI realize the rules may not apply to you, (Y/N), since youâre not a part of our guild, but a dragon is dangerous regardless of its size. Ace mentioned he grew bigger last night. Whoâs to say he wonât stop growing and then lay waste to everything?â
Said redhead suddenly has a keen interest in your hanging herbs. âTsunotarou isnât like that,â you argue. âHeâs never hurt anyone and heâs been living with me of all people.â The magicless human who would be a prime target for magical creatures.
Riddle walks over to the now awake dragon. Tsunotarou regards him with keen interest unlike Ace and Deuce. They both size each other up. Riddleâs brows draw together as he continues to observe him.
âEverything okay?â you ask when the staring seems to drag on.
âDid you know thereâs a curse on him?â He walks around the couch to observe Tsunotarou on all sides. The dragon doesnât move an inch but seems fairly relaxed despite Riddle being a complete stranger.
You and the two boys share a look. âNo, I didnât. Is that why heâs so small?â
âMaybe.â Heâs unsure. âItâs old magic and very powerful. I honestly donât know what kind of curse it is.â Standing in front of Tsunotarou once more, Riddle sighs while touching his head. âThis is more complicated than I thought. Iâll need to do some research before trying to determine the curse. I might have to ask Vil for his help on this.â
Sitting on the arm of the couch, you stroke Tsunotarouâs head. âAre you cursed?â you ask him. His head bobs up and down. âHow come you two didnât notice?â Your question is directed at the two bean spillers.
âThey probably wrote it off as the creature's magical powers leaving a residue,â Riddle answers. He gives them a stern look. âTheyâll need to go through more training later.â
Both stiffen as the color drains from their faces.
âSo what now?â
Shaking his head, Riddle glances at his pocket watch. âI need to head back to the guild for tea. Iâll look into curses and consult Vil about this as well. For now, just make sure no one else sees him. We donât want people to think a dangerous creature is on the loose and panic.â
âAlright. Thank you!â At least heâs going to try and help. You know Riddle could have decided Tsunotarou was a danger and taken him away.Â
When theyâre gone, you plop down on the couch. Tsunotarou immediately climbs into your lap and makes himself comfortable. âCursed huh?â You lift his face so you can look into his eyes. âAre you secretly a prince who got cursed by an evil sorcerer and only true love's kiss can break the spell?â you ask with a teasing grin.
He stares back before blinking slowly. Laughing at the ridiculous thought, you bop his nose affectionately. âI hope Riddle figures out your curse. Iâd love to see your full form.âÂ
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Jealous?
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Leona Kingscholar/GN!Reader
Word Count: 283
Notes: Just something short. The tsum event is so adorable! I would love a life-size Leonatsum to hug <3
Warnings: None
Leona is not the jealous type. He is not jealous that youâve been cuddling the tsum version of him a lot. He is not upset that you enjoy hugging the tsum more than your own boyfriend. Heâs not the jealous type. Definitely.
âAww youâre so cute, little tsum!â you gush as the Leonatsum jumps into your arms. Holding the tsum tight, you nuzzle its soft face.Â
âTchâŠâ Leona rolls over on the bed to get a better look at you and the tsum.
You're too busy with the tsum to notice him as you sit on the floor. Despite coming over to his room to nap, you quickly got distracted by the tsum. The tsum immediately left Leonaâs side the moment you stepped in.
Your cooing continues as you cradle the now sleeping tsum in your arms. âYou're shaped like a potato. A very adorable potato, hehe.â
Leona huffs, âHeâs an ugly plushie.â
Leaning your head back, you observe Leona from his perch on the bed. âI think heâs cute! Heâs a small, plush version of you.â Grinning, you finally get off the floor and join him on the bed. You gently set the tsum on one of his pillows.
âIs someone jealous?â you ask, a teasing smile on your lips.
âAs if,â he scoffs, looking away.Â
Chuckling, you wrap your arms around his waist. âDonât worry, Leona, youâre still my number one~! No need to get jealous âcause no one can take your place.â
You can feel his body relax as his arms snake around your form. Legs tangling together, he presses his face into the crook of your shoulder. âIâm not jealous,â he grumbles, though he squeezes you a bit tighter.
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Just curious what people like to read in regards to their faves.
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Iâm so close to wanting someone to kick Idiaâs butt (lightly) after seeing Grim be all sad
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Might be silly but Iâm feeling kinda strong since I was able to complete all the EX battles this time đȘđŒ
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Four Times
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Malleus Draconia/GN!Reader
Summary: Four times someone realizes how Malleus feels. And the time he finally realizes it himself.
Word Count: 3,032
Note: Something I've been thinking about for awhile. Some Malleus fluff because why not?
Warnings: None
---
Leona grumbles as he trudges through the halls. Profesor Crewel had sent the Ramshackle prefect after him. He follows behind you as you walk ahead, hands stuffed in his pockets. Despite rolling over when you found him, you persisted until he got annoyed enough to give up on a peaceful nap.
âYouâre such a goody-goody, herbivore,â he grunts.
Tossing him a smirk, you pause to poke at his arm. âProfessor Crewel said heâd give me extra credit if I managed to drag you to class. How could I pass up that opportunity?â
Scoffing, he swats your hand away. âYour grade doinâ that bad?â
âKinda⊠Malleus has been helping me out with potion theory. But Grim tends to mess up our potions because he just dumps everything in without reading the instructions.â You sigh while shaking your head. âIâd be doing fine if it wasnât for thatâŠâ
You presume walking. âTo think the overgrown lizard would actually tutor someone,â Leona grumbles. âYa shouldâve asked Vil. Heâs the potion expert.â
âI was, but I mentioned needing help with potions to Malleus, and he offered to help first. He knows just as much, I think,â you explain.
Thereâs a pause as you pass by the athletic field. âChild of man?â Speak of the devil. Malleus floats on his broom above. Leona feels his annoyance rise immediately as he lands.
âHow fortunate to see you,â he says with a grin. His gaze flickers to Leona. âAnd Kingscholar.â
âTchâŠâ Crossing his arms, he only glares back.
âHello, Malleus. Howâs gym class?â you ask.
âNothing too exciting. What about you? Are you off somewhere with Kingscholar?â Leonaâs ears twitch at the mention of his name once more.
He blocks the both of you out once he realizes youâre actually lingering to have a chat. However, his keen eyes watch as you happily discuss some mundane topic. Gaze flickering over to the overgrown monster, his nostrils flair.Â
Thereâs a certain scent coming from the dorm leader of Diasomnia. Itâs really only noticeable for those with enhanced senses, and it seems even he doesnât notice. The way the lizard is angled toward you speaks volumes. Leona scoffs as he notices the slight dilation of his pupils. These are small things most wouldnât pick up, but to Leonaâs perceptive gaze, itâs like waving a giant red sign while wearing flashing lights.
And based on the way youâre reacting, youâre just as unaware. Just a couple of oblivious idiots. No wonder you both like each other.
He scoffs. Loudly. âSomething wrong, Leona?â you ask, breaking away from your conversation.
âArenât ya supposed to bring me back to class?â
Eyes widening, you quickly grab his arm. âSorry, Malleus, gotta go! See you later!â you spit out a rushed farewell before bolting down the hallway.
One glance over his shoulder, he sees a confused and slightly dejected lizard. Leonaâs barking laughter echoes down the hall. He canât wait to tease you about this once you finally know.
---
Aceâs glances donât go unnoticed as Deuce takes a look behind them as well. âWhat are you looking at?â he inquires, seeing nothing of interest. Itâs just you walking with Malleus Draconia while casually chatting.Â
The redhead gestures behind him. âThem! Isnât it weird?â
âUhhh⊠I mean yeah it was a little weird when he first started showing up, but the (Y/N) seems alright with it.â
âThat isnât the point! Heâs been hanging around a lot lately. Whatâs one of the most powerful mages hanging around us scrubs? Isnât it weird??â Ace hisses while throwing more glances behind him.Â
Deuce hums thoughtfully. âTrue⊠Maybe he just wants to make friends with other dorms?â
âMeh! I donât know what you two are worried about. Obviously, heâs realized that Iâm gonna be a powerful mage and wants to learn from me!â Grim boasts, cutting into the conversation.
Rolling his eyes, Ace snorts, âOnly in your dreams.â Taking another peek, he nearly chokes on his spit. Youâre busy tracing the palm of Malleusâs hand while muttering something about palm reading. The third year watches you intently as you point out something.
Even Deuce looks startled as they lock eyes. âSee???â
âHey, hench-human!â Grim turns to you both, crossing his arms. âWhatcha doinâ?â
Pausing in your walk, you show Grim Malleusâs palm. âI read a book about palm reading a few days ago. I was just trying to see if I could actually read anything off Malleus,â you explain, still holding his hand as if itâs not a big deal.
âPalm reading?â Grim tilts his head as he stares blankly.
âWell, itâs a way to read into someone or even possibly guess their future. Itâs all for fun though.â You point to a long line on Malleusâs palm. âSee this is the life line. Depending on the length and curve of the line, itâs supposed to tell you how long youâll live. Malleus has a really long one, so I guess that means heâll have a long, prosperous life.â
âItâs a very intriguing method of fortune telling,â Malleus muses.
âHey, can ya read mine!?â Grim asks, excitement on his face.
You glance at his paws. âUm⊠I donât think itâll work since you donât have hands.â
âMrrrww! What a load of baloney!â Grim huffs before rushing ahead. âI donât need anything to tell me my future!â he yells.
Ace and Deuce had remained silent as they watched the entire exchange. Not once did you let go of Malleusâs hand. The owner of said hand doesnât seem to mind at all. He looks entirely too pleased with himself.
âDo you thinkâŠ?â Deuce trails off gaze wide.
âYeah. I donât know if we should be relieved or scared,â Ace mutters as they share a look while you walk ahead of them with Malleus in tow.Â
---
âKalim, thanks for the invite!â You greet the second year with a smile
He returns the greeting with a big grin of his own. âIâm glad you could make it! And you brought Malleus!â
âI had to make sure this one didnât forget the time,â you joke, nudging Malleusâs side.
âItâs my first time in the Scarabia dorm. I didnât realize it would be so warm,â Malleus mumbles to himself. Heâs busy looking around at the other party-goers.
âPlease, enjoy the food and the music!â Thereâs a large table filled to the brim with amazing food.
âThatâs a lot of food⊠though Iâm pretty sure Grimâll finish most of it,â you mutter, spying said cat already piling his plate up.
As Kalim leaves to greet more guests, Malleus turns his attention back to you. âWhat should we do?â
âWe could get some food if youâre hungry or dance?â You point at the dance floor where everyone is gathered. The music is upbeat and loud.
âHmmâŠâ Malleus ponders for a moment, before deciding. âIâve heard Viper makes excellent food.â
As you near the food, the students all part. You hand Malleus a plate, ignoring the looks and whispers. âSince this is all Scalding Sand cuisine, a lot of it will probably be spicy. Are you okay with spice?â
âYes, I donât mind.â You start putting one of everything on the plate.
By the time youâve found a place to eat, youâre carrying three plates between the two of you. âJamil really knows his stuff.â
âEverything is very seasoned,â he notes.
Kalim stops by once more after youâve polished off most of the meal. âDid you like the food? Jamil spent all day preparing everything!â
Malleus nods. âViper is indeed very talented. Please, send him my compliments.â
âSure!â Kalim glances around, but Jamil is nowhere to be seen. âIâll let him know later. I think heâs busy preparing some more food.â His gaze darts around before he seems to find what heâs looking for. âYou two should join me on the dance floor!â
Malleus hesitates as he takes in the other guests. âI donât know if Iâm suited for this kind of dancingâŠâ
âDonât worry about how you dance, just have fun! Come on!â Grabbing both your hands, Kalim drags you two on the dance floor.
Some people stop to stare, but most are in their own zone. As Kalim starts dancing, Malleus stands there looking lost. Confusion spreads on his face as he eyes Kalimâs movements. âPerhaps this kind of dancing isnât for meâŠâ
You take his hand before he can leave. âDonât worry, Tsunotarou, we can do this together. Just follow my lead.â The dance lessons Vil had beat into you awhile ago are about to come in handy.
Taking both his hands, you start swaying to the music. Eyes focused on you, Malleus follows your lead as you move quickly around the dance floor. Itâs less polished than what Vil had taught, but itâs exhilarating to move around while throwing in a few spins. Ducking under his arm, youâre spun around and meet Kalim before being spun once more into Malleusâs arms.
Laughter and cheers fill the room as more people join. Malleus throws his head back in laughter as you spin him around. Green eyes glitter with joy as the music slowly fades away. Wrapping his arms around your waist, he pulls you close to his chest.
âThank you, child of man. That was probably the most fun Iâve had dancing,â he whispers, pressing his forehead against yours as you attempt to catch your breath.
Standing a bit away, Kalim watches the scene thoughtfully. Smiling to himself, he claps his hands. âIâm happy for them!â His words are lost as another lively tune starts.
---
If you were to ask Sebek what he thinks about the Great Malleus Draconia tutoring a magic-less human, he would scoff. His lord has better things to do. So, heâs not sure if heâs still sleeping when he comes down to the library to study, and he sees the future king of Briar Valley teaching the Ramshackle prefect.
Sitting side by side with a few books open in front of them, they talk in hushed whispers. Youâre hunched over with brows pinched together as you work on the latest potion homework. The young master points to something in one of the books. Eye lighting up, you quickly scribble something down with a satisfied nod.
As Sebek draws near, he bites his cheek to keep from raising his voice. âYoung master?â he greets. He notes that others studying nearby have stayed a good distance away, which is right as Malleus Draconia deserves space to study.
His dorm leader looks up. âHello, Sebek. Here to study as well?â
âYes, sir! I needed more information for class.â He glances over to you.
Smiling at him, you gesture to the seat across from your own. âDo you want to study with us, Sebek? Malleus is helping me with potion theory.â
The half-fae jumps at the opportunity to be taught by his lord. âOf course I wo-â However, the words get caught in his throat. Malleus peers at him with a look that he hasnât seen before.
Recalling some advice Lilia had given him, Sebek quickly shakes his head. âErm⊠I would rather study on my own for now.â He quickly excuses himself to find a place to work.
He had thought he knew all about Malleus Draconia. However, the look he had given him is new. He isnât sure what to categorize the look into. The way his lips pursed and brows pinched, spoke of annoyance. Yet, the flat look in eyes and the slight set of his shoulders, said more. What it said, Sebek would need to think about it.
Finding a table, he canât help but look back. Malleus leans over to whisper something, which causes you to laugh. His lips spread into a smile, showing off his sharp fangs. His hand lingers on yours as he points out something on your work. His gaze focuses only on you even when youâre busy writing. Thereâs a softness to his eyes that Sebek has only seen a handful of times from someone else.
âMother?!â he gasps loudly, standing up suddenly.
All eyes turn to him. Sebek slowly sinks back into his seat and ducks his head. The realization settles on him like a weight. Taking another peek, he canât help but see his parents. They always share the same looks, looks of pure adoration and love.
---
Thereâs a constant frown pressed on Malleusâs lips. He realizes itâs a bit childish to be sulking at his age, but he canât help it. His favorite human has been busy for the past few weeks. He hasnât been able to see the Ramshackle prefect due to their duties taking over. He knows that duty comes before personal matters, but he didnât expect them to be busy for so long.
Another heavy sigh echoes in the dorm living area. âYoung master, is something wrong?!â Sebek asks, having counted that Malleus had sighed exactly sixteen times within the span of ten minutes.
Even Silver is a bit worried at the deep sighs from him. âIs there something bothering you?â he inquires.
Malleus waves them off. âMy child of man has been very busy lately. I havenât seen them for almost three weeksâŠâ
âI did hear there were some renovations happening at Ramshackle,â Silver muses aloud.
âThey said they would let me know once I can visitâŠâ He sighs once more. 17 times now. His fingernails tap incessantly on the table as heâs lost in thought.
âKhee hee, it sounds like youâre quite fond of the Ramshackle prefect,â Lilia chortles, eyes shining knowingly.
Scratching his head, Sebek still canât wrap his mind around his recent revelation. âExcuse my ignorance, but I do not understand what makes them soâŠspecial?â
Malleus frowns, fingers stilling in their movement. âTheyâre kind and brave. Theyâre wiser than most despite being young. They can be humorous and witty,â he lists easily.
Lilia grins, leaning over Malleusâs shoulder. âYouâre more than just fond of them, hmm~?â
âOf course. I likeâŠâ Brows pulling together, Malleus stares off as his voice fades away. The other three are quiet as they watch him. Thereâs a sudden glint in his gaze. âI see now,â he mumbles to himself.
âOh ho? Did you figure something out?â Despite the question, Lilia already knows the answer.Â
Standing up, Malleus nods. âYes. Iâm going to see the prefect now.â
Before anyone can say anything, he teleports away and appears at the gate of Ramshackle. The dorm is quiet despite the renovations that are supposed to be taking place. Walking up the path, the door is already open. He knocks, but thereâs no response, though he can hear some noise from inside.
Walking in, Malleus heads in the direction of the commotion, which is coming from one of the many rooms. Youâre setting down a table while Grim pushes a chair in place.Â
Grim is the one to notice him first âEh? Hey, itâs Tsunontaru!â
Wiping your face with a clean towel, you greet him with the usual dazzling smile. âMalleus, what are you doing here?â
Your clothes are disheveled. You look sweaty and tired. Despite all that, he canât help but think you look as wonderful as ever. âI wanted to see you,â he states plainly. âItâs been twenty days since we last spoke.â
âIâve been so busy with redecorating the dorm, I havenât had time to do anything else,â you say more to yourself than him. âDo you want something to drink?â
He shakes his head. âCan we go for a walk?â
âSure! Let me clean up first. Iâll meet you outside.â Ushering him out to the hall, you leave to put on a clean shirt.
It doesnât take you long to come back down. The path around Ramshackle is familiar and worn. Youâve walked the same route with Malleus many times. Heâs quiet as you round the corner to the back of the dorm. With the slight curve of his brow and the way his gaze remains unfocused, you can tell heâs thinking about something. You wait patiently for him to tell you whatever is on his mind.
He finally comes back to the present. âI had a sudden revelation today,â he starts, âabout myself. It was quite surprising. Have you ever felt anything so strongly that it changes how you view things?â
âWell,â you hesitate before nodding, âyes, something like that has happened recently.â You chew the inside of your cheek as you pick your words. âRecently, Iâve been thinking about my feelings and how theyâve changed for a particular person. I may have known, but I chose to ignore it out of fear.âÂ
Inhaling deeply, you let the confession tumble out. âIâŠI like you. A lot. As more than just a friend!â You feel suddenly too warm as lime green eyes study you with such intensity.
Malleus holds out his hand, void of his usual gloves. âMay I have?â You give your hand to him without a second thought.Â
He places it, palm down, over his heart. You can feel the thumping of his heart, and it almost seems to echo in the quiet night. âMalleus?â Your voice is barely a whisper as you stare at his hand that covers your own.
Using his other hand, he reaches out to cup your cheek. His thumb rubs against your face with an aching slowness. âMy heart knew how I felt, but it took a bit for me to realize how I feel about you. I was planning to confess to you, but it seems youâve beaten me to it.â
Leaning into his touch, your eyes close briefly. It feels almost like a dream for him, one he doesnât want to wake up from. Eyes opening once more, you ask, âSo what now?â
âIâd like to court you properly, if youâll let me.â The look on his face is serious with a touch of wonder.
You grasp the hand thatâs stroking your face and interlace your fingers together. âAs long as I can court you too.â Heâs sure you can feel his heartbeat quicken as he responds with a bright smile and a squeeze of your hand.
Itâs no surprise to some when they see the two of you hand-in-hand the next day.
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