#manorian mag au
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Modern Manorian AU - Royals Magazine - Feature: Dorian Havilliard
And Dorian’s feaure is finally here! Hope you all enjoy it. Manon’s feature is coming afterwards and I’m soooo excited for that ;D
Includes full interview under the cut. Read on AO3 here.
Tagging: @rufousnmacska, @heir2chaos and @gimmedafood (to say thank you for your comment!) Let me know if you want to be included or you can also subscribe on AO3 too :)
In the midst of a geopolitical crisis that had threatened the existence of the realm of Erilea stood a young king bent, broken but unbowed as he raced against time to thwart the enemy that has long kept his father's kingdom and now his own in its shadows. Now, years after the passing of the storm, King Dorian Havilliard II finds himself in reflection of the years lost and the years found as he governs Adarlan in stride.
Since the first appearance of the then heir apparent on the tabloids of the Rifthold Journal in a splendid attire fit for the handsome royal, it was a lascivious rumour of the young prince’s escapades inside the glass palace that permanently marked Dorian as that of an aristocratic hedonist whose existence lived off the extravagance and luxuries of the wealthy, knowing that he could absolutely get away with it.
While Dorian played the game of pomp and distraction amongst celebrity A-listers, prime ministers, and the one percent, a sinister plot by political conspirators had slowly been brewing – the overthrow of the Havilliard bloodline that has governed Adarlan for a thousand generations.
In the highest tower of Rifthold Palace is where Dorian prefers to spend his time perched on a deep-red velvet armchair sipping on a cold glass of what looked to be a fruity beverage as he pores over the latest fiction novel – a pleasure he shares with his dear friend, Queen Aelin of Terrasen. Their shared bookshelf, The Royal Fleetfoot Bookclub (named after Aelin’s beloved golden retriever, a present from the king one Yulemas) is Erilea’s most popular Book Club. And decidedly so.
Dorian’s misplaced faith on his father, then King Dorian Havilliard I, had been his constant companion after his untimely death that led to Dorian’s premature appointment as sovereign. But as the war raged on between the countries of Erilea, the formalities accustomed to a monarch were lost, which ultimately led to Dorian’s displacement from Adarlan. The young king was lost, angry, and untethered as he navigated the political landscape alongside his powerful friends: Queen Aelin of Terrasen, Lord Rowan of Doranelle, Queen Manon of the Wastes, and his closest friend and confidante, Lord Westfall, whom he sent as an envoy to the Khaganate in the Southern Continent. Dorian became known as The King Without a Crown.
Dorian ushers me to a leathered couch next to an occasional table where he pours a cup of brewed tea. He asks if I’d be interested in something stronger and I decline. He winks, a promise of our eventual liquored celebration after the successful sit-down.
King Dorian is charming, refined and a proud intellectual with a taste of an epicurean. Delegates from all over Erilea would comment on the king’s graceful charisma as he fulfilled his role of a sovereign in all its stringent social specifications. It’s as if the dark years of his early adulthood never existed when you’re in his presence. Dorian is adored by the masses and the politicians alike, and it isn’t hard to see why.
While we share a few niceties – he’s become quite a dear friend over the years – you can’t miss the way his sapphire eyes would steal longing glances out the open balcony. One can observe that it overlooks Rifthold Palace’s private airstrip, and soon everything makes more sense.
King Dorian’s wife Queen Manon Blackbeak rules from her kingdom in the Western Wastes, a two-hour plane ride from the Adarlan capital. After settling into their roles as respective monarchs of their kingdoms, the pair continued their relationship, much to delight of the common people, who were far too enamoured by their relationship for it to be considered healthy. No surprises there though. They’re really that pairing that’s pretty much straight out of a YA fantasy novel with their unbelievable good looks, seemingly opposite yet highly complementary personalities and the kind of sexual tension you could only dream of.
Nonetheless, despite the distance and their responsibilities, no one can deny just how smitten the king is of his wife. He assures me, in his usual playful charm, that she’s most likely missing him more than he is. I laugh. Even he doesn’t believe his own lie.
He makes himself comfortable, draping his suit jacket on the back of his armchair as he settles down and shows off his polished Derbys almost as if he’d like to take them off.
LYSANDRA: Should we both take our shoes off? I think we should both take our shoes off.
DORIAN: I thought you’d never ask!
LYSANDRA: I may not be born royal, Your Majesty, but I do know when someone just wants to let loose.
DORIAN: Gods, I want to let loose all the time. Do you think they’ll conspire against me if I do?
LYSANDRA: Judging from your friends in all the high and right places, I’d say there’s a higher chance of Aelin breathing ice than that happening. And even if they tried, I’m sure no one would get past Manon Blackbeak’s wrath.
DORIAN: She’s terrifying, isn’t she?
LYSANDRA: You don’t sound scared of the fact.
DORIAN: Are you scared of your husband, Lady Lysandra?
LYSANDRA: He’s a soft little mushy bear.
DORIAN: Exactly my description of Manon.
LYSANDRA: I really have to ask – for me, for Rowan and for your rabid fans. How did you convince the High Queen of the Witches to get married? Was it ever in the books for you two?
DORIAN: It wasn’t so much as my convincing her as her convincing me.
LYSANDRA: Oh, please.
DORIAN: You’d be surprised to know that she asked me to marry her first. Of course, it was all political expedience at that time coupled with a reasonable amount of care and affection.
LYSANDRA: And you said no?
DORIAN: Not technically.
LYSANDRA: So… technically yes?
DORIAN: I was drunk on self-loathing. I didn’t think I deserved her.
LYSANDRA: Doesn’t love usually overcome these sorts of things?
DORIAN: To some extent. We were at the climax of the war and we both needed to make important decisions for ourselves, for both our kingdoms and for the future we desperately wanted to have. It wasn’t the right time.
LYSANDRA: But you wanted to say yes to her, didn’t you?
DORIAN: Desperately.
LYSANDRA: If it helps, I was really rooting for you both.
DORIAN: So was I.
LYSANDRA: You know, I admit this is quite a treat being your very own interrogator.
DORIAN: Our plans to make Aelin jealous are succeeding.
LYSANDRA: Oh, she'll definitely be furious.
DORIAN: I've always admired her fiery rage. Despite it being extremely dangerous to those unfortunate enough to be close in range.
LYSANDRA: I've had my share of that.
DORIAN: I think we all have.
LYSANDRA: Tell us about Adarlan's relations with Terrasen. Even better, tell us about yours and Queen Aelin's.
DORIAN: It's tabloid worthy.
LYSANDRA: I'm not saying I've read all about it...
DORIAN: I met Celaena first before I met Aelin. And in some ways Aelin also met some counterpart of myself all those years ago. We were young and generally when you’re that young, you’re also that stupid.
LYSANDRA: But isn't it just a perfect time to make mistakes?
DORIAN: Not for a prince. Though, I did not care at that time. Sometimes I still think I don’t. But you want to know about Aelin. One thing, you see her more than I do, and I admit, it does break my heart.
LYSANDRA: Technology helps though, doesn’t it? I can’t remember how many times I’ve interrupted one of your virtual repartees.
DORIAN: She can get quite heated in our discussions. Especially if she has to wait a year or more for the next instalment of a book series.
LYSANDRA: What makes the great King Dorian Havilliard furiously out of element?
DORIAN: The monarchy.
LYSANDRA: Do you ever think back on the good old days?
DORIAN: Mm.
LYSANDRA: What did that consist of for you?
DORIAN: Well, I don’t know if I could really call it the good old days. As heir, I wasted away on frivolity and debauchery. Chaol once remarked on my depravity, and I could have resented him if it hadn’t opened my eyes to the truth.
LYSANDRA: Well, that’s an insight. I noticed the construction of the new palace has been coming along nicely.
DORIAN: It is.
LYSANDRA: The Glass Palace once stood as a symbol of Adarlan’s wealth and power. Now, you’ve opted to modernise the construction except for the addition of the thirteen towers.
DORIAN: The Rifthold Journal has been nagging me about their meaning since the blueprints were made public. They’re relentless.
LYSANDRA: I don’t want to be that friend but I’m dying to know…thirteen? Really?
DORIAN: You caught me.
LYSANDRA: Gods, I knew it. Rowan will have a fit.
DORIAN: As much as I’d like to take credit for being a Royal Romeo (but feel free to use that from now on), they each symbolise an iteration of hope, love and life. Every single one of them deserves their own monument.
LYSANDRA: What a beautiful gesture, Your Majesty. And it’s true. I will never forget them.
DORIAN: Sobering thought for a Yulemas special, isn’t it?
LYSANDRA: More like a winter exclusive, so we’re good there. But speaking of, I do have a serious bone to pick with you, Your Majesty.
DORIAN: Don’t tell me it’s the time I coerced you and Aedion to go on that Giant Swing when we were in Terrasen, is it? If I remembered correctly, you really enjoyed that.
LYSANDRA: We almost died!
DORIAN: And that makes it more exciting, doesn’t it?
LYSANDRA: You’d be surprised at how many people who don’t think of near-death experiences as something exciting.
DORIAN: [laughs] Am I that cruel?
LYSANDRA: Remember that snow leopard bobble head I once gifted you for Yulemas? Remind me again what you did to it, Your Majesty?
DORIAN: It was godsdamned terrifying, Lysandra. Why are the eyes glowing? Why are they glowing green!
LYSANDRA: That was the whole point of Bad Yulemas!
DORIAN: Manon fished it out of the trash anyway. She has it on my side of the bed at the Wastes. Should I be concerned with this friendship?
LYSANDRA: You and Aedion are lucky bastards, Your Majesty.
DORIAN: Touché
Lysandra Ennar is the Lady of Caraverre and the editor for ROYALS magazine.
~
MANON: I don't think this will go well.
DORIAN: You think? I really had to charm my way to do this, you know.
MANON: You charm your way out of everything.
DORIAN: And into things too.
MANON: Your favourite past time.
DORIAN: Are you angry? Here, let me compliment you.
MANON: Dorian...
DORIAN: Witchling.
A sneak peek of the Royals Spring Issue featuring Queen Manon Blackbeak and interviewd by King Dorian Havilliard.
#manorian#manon and dorian#manon blackbeak#dorian havilliard#throne of glass#manorian fanfic#manorian fic#manorian modern au#manorian mag au
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