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believingispowerfulmagic · 12 days

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A Royal Affair

Summary: Queen Regina of Mist Haven is slowly losing hope that she will ever be able to marry for love. Almost every aspect of her life is controlled, especially when it comes to her friends and possible love interests. It also doesn’t help that the media portrays her as an Evil Queen who only cares about herself, focused more on living lavishly than caring about her people. She finds the only men willing to date the Evil Queen are more interested in her crown than her. And then Robin Locksley becomes her new assistant and she believes in love at first sight, wondering if maybe her happy ending is possible after all.

Robin is grateful for his job at the palace even if it means working with the Evil Queen herself. His plan is to work as her assistant for a year to prove himself and then transfer to another department within the palace. But his worldview is shaken and he realizes that things aren’t always what they seem, especially when it comes to Queen Regina. As he starts to see her for who she really is, his feelings for her deepen into something dangerous.

Intrigue, romance and danger swirl around Robin and Regina as they fight for their happily ever after.

Chapter 1: FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Chapter 3: Summer Arrives

FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Excerpt:

Summer arrived in Mist Haven and everything seemed to slow down. Businesses started their rolling closures throughout the summer months so their staff could enjoy holidays and rest before everything picked up again when schools reopened in September. The government was no different except for Regina. Queens did not take holidays. Instead, they went on state trips and stole some moments here or there to relax.

"So, where do you want to go this summer?" Tink asked, joining Regina on her balcony overlooking the royal gardens. "France? Italy? Spain? The States?"

"You know I don't pick my state visits based on where I want to go," Regina reminded her chief of staff, pouring her some lemonade sent up by the kitchens. She handed the glass to Tink. "I go where I need to go and when I need to go."

Tink sighed. "No, you go where and when your advisors want you to go. It's your life, Regina, and you're allowed a holiday, no matter how much you don't think so."

"I know you worry about me, Tink, but I'm fine," Regina replied, sipping her lemonade. "I grew up doing these state trips."

"And you mean to tell me that your father never took you and your mother on vacation without any matters to also deal with?" Tink asked, raising an eyebrow.

Regina paused, recalling winters spent in their mountain chalet and summers spent in a seclude villa in Italy. They had a reduced staff there – and really only for her mother, who refused to do anything for herself since she was a queen – and they were almost like a regular family on holiday. She had enjoyed those escapes and her father always looked more relaxed when they were there.

Heavy is the head that wears the crown. That Shakespeare quote rose up unbidden to her mind yet again. It was always there, ready to remind her of the gravity of her responsibilities as Queen.

"That was different," Regina replied. "And maybe it will be different once I have a family."

If I ever have a family.

"Maybe," Tink said, looking unconvinced. "So, if you are able to go somewhere, where would you go?"

Regina shrugged. "Maybe I'd spend some time visiting towns in the country. I haven't done that since I was Crown Princess."

"True," Tink agreed. "It might get some positive press."

"Maybe," Regina replied. "But we both know the media will find some way to turn into a big scandal."

Tink sighed. "They are exhausting. I wish you would really start letting us push back against some of the claims. Or at least give us more control of your image in the press. The Windsors do."

Regina hummed. "The Windsors have their own issues."

"All royal families do."

"I suppose so," Regina replied with a shrug. "But really, the press here is harmless."

Tink frowned. "Your people think you're some evil queen who cares only about money and power and not them. In short, they think you're your mother."

Regina shifted in her chair, knowing that Tink had a point. "They aren't storming the castle demanding my removal."

"Yet," Tink replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if someone did manage to convince them to do that. And my money would be on Sidney Glass."

"That would probably be a good bet," she said, thinking of their short relationship. She had ended it when it was clear he desired power more than anything and had a vindictive nature that terrified her.

And she knew he had turned it toward her.

"You need to stop Sidney," Tink told Regina.

"I can't," Regina replied, feeling helpless. "If I attack the press, we could attract the wrong attention and could damage our chances at joining NATO. I can't risk that."

Tink sighed. "It's not censorship when the press is telling lies about you. Don't you care about that?"

"You know I do," Regina said, hurt that her friend would even ask that. Tink knew how much pain she felt when every good deed she tried to do was twisted into something nasty and malicious. It was draining and soul-crushing.

"Then stop it," Tink pleaded. "You can do it."

Regina shook her head. "We both know there's only one way to really stop it and I told you why I don't want to go that route. I have our communications department working to counter the negative stories as best we can."

"You let the narrative get away from you," Tink replied.

"Maybe," Regina agreed, "but control of the narrative doesn't belong to just me exclusively. We keep arguing about this and we always end up in the same place."

Tink nodded. "We do. I argue that you've ceded too much control of the narrative and you insist everything is fine. We agree to disagree and drop the subject for a few months before doing this all over again."

"Exactly," Regina said. "Maybe we can stop this cycle and not pick it up again ever?"

"I can't promise that. I will never stop trying to protect you, Regina," Tink insisted. "I only have your best interest at heart."

Regina reached out and took her hand. "I know."

Tink gave her hand a squeeze. "And that's why we all keep pushing this. We don't want to see you get hurt."

"I know," Regina replied, knowing who Tink meant by "we all." Several of her longtime staff members as well as the few friends she had been able to retain since becoming queen also often brought up how the media treated her. They all suggested ways she could counter it but Regina insisted everything was fine.

Though sometimes she did wonder if they were right and she should be doing more to take control of the narrative about her. But her advisors would then assure her that she was doing the right thing and not to worry.

She had to trust them.

"I guess this is the point where we agree to disagree?" Tink asked, giving her a small smile.

Regina nodded. "It is."

"Alright," Tink said. "Until next time."

"I hope there isn't one," Regina replied, hoping her friends finally stopped interfering and understood that the media coverage didn't really hurt her.

Tink nodded as someone appeared in the garden below. Regina leaned forward as her heart skipped a beat, recognizing Robin even from the back of his head. He took off the tan suit jacket he wore before rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbow. Draping the jacket over his arm, he began walking down a path toward the fountain. It seemed he was enjoying the beautiful weather on his lunch break just like her and Tink.

"You're ogling your assistant," Tink teased her.

Regina glanced over at her friend and chief of staff, seeing her smirk. Scowling, Regina said: "I'm not ogling. I'm just observing."

"Please, you're practically drooling," Tink teased her.

"I am still your boss," Regina warned her, though there was no real heat or threat in her words.

Tink smirked. "I'm off the clock right now. So I'm your friend, not your employee."

Regina sighed, turning her attention back to Robin as he admired some of the flowers near the fountain. "Then as my friend, can I tell you how handsome I think my assistant is?"

"You can," Tink replied. "Though I figured it out already."

"I've never been this attracted to anyone before," Regina admitted. "And it's a little scary but also exciting."

Tink chuckled. "Crushes usually are."

"I don't know," Regina said. "It feels more than a crush."

"Okay, infatuation then."

Regina frowned, not sure that was the right word. She shook her head. "This feels deeper, Tink."

"Deeper?" Tink frowned now. "Regina, he barely talks to you."

"I know." Regina covered her eyes as she groaned, leaning her elbows on the table. "I'm a mess."

Tink sighed. "You're not a mess."

Regina was about to protest when she noticed that Robin was walking back to the palace. Seeing a chance to talk with him, she stood and approached the railing. Looking down, she called out: "Out for a walk?"

He paused, looking up at her. Shielding his eyes, he answered: "Yes, Your Majesty. It's my lunch break."

"I'm glad you're enjoying the gardens," she said. "And getting a little fresh air. It always helps to get through the rest of the afternoon, right?"

"I suppose so," he said, shifting his arm and revealing some ink on his wrist.

That intrigued Regina and she leaned closer. "Do you have a tattoo?"

"Oh." He lowered his arm and looked at his wrist before rolling down his shirt. "I'm sorry. I usually keep it covered."

"That's okay," she replied, wanting to ask more about it. "I was just curious that's all."

He nodded. "Well, I promise you'll never see it again. I'll get back to work now."

Disappointment flooded her as he disappeared beneath the balcony before she could say anything else. Regina returned to her chair as she sighed. "Is it me?"

"What?" Tink asked.

"He is so clipped and abrupt whenever I try to have a casual conversation with him," Regina told her. "And he is always so eager to get away. It's me, isn't it?"

Tink sighed. "I think it's probably more the media coverage of you than you."

"How can I get him to see I'm so much more than the Evil Queen I'm portrayed as by the media if he won't even have a conversation with me?" Regina asked, wondering if it was best if she tried to get over her crush on him. Maybe then it would hurt less.

"I don't know," Tink replied. "Do you want me to ask for a new assistant for you? I'm sure we can find a good assignment for Robin within the palace."

Regina shook her head, her stomach twisting into a knot. "No, not yet. Letting him go would probably just reinforce all his negative beliefs about me. I think I just have to readjust my expectations."

"Alright," Tink said. "But if you change your mind, just let me know."

"I will," Regina replied. "And maybe you can find out what I'm doing wrong? See if there's any way to get through to him?"

Tink nodded. "I'll see. I can't promise anything."

"I know," Regina said, taking her friend's hand. "I appreciate it."

Checking her watch, Tink sighed. "I need to head back to work myself. I'll see you later."

#once upon a time #outlaw queen #oq ff #oq au #a royal affair

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