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neoninky · 1 year

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TWST Fanfic "Her Ivory Crown": Chapter 15

Alright so this GIF pretty much sums up the crux of the chapter and I refuse to look for a better one lolol

Ch. 15: Frabjous Day

The dorm leaders of Sacred Crown stood in a tense half-circle facing Reine as all of them stood inside the dorm. The ivory princess stood solemnly before everyone, taking a deep breath before beginning.

"I owe all of you a great apology..."

The dorm leaders looked at each other but said nothing.

"I can't really explain what happened but I also can't deny that I had experienced...symptoms beforehand that should have warned me of what was to come. But I ignored them. It was very foolish of me to do so, I know that now. Had I not ignored the signs, I wouldn't have put myself and others in danger as I did...I'm so sorry, girls. I never should have let it get that far."

"No, you shouldn't have. You SHOULD HAVE said something!"

Manari's rare serious and sharp tone took everyone by surprise. But Reine took her friend's criticism with grace, letting her speak uninterrupted. The Almascaber dorm prefect rubbed the tears out of her eyes and continued, "Why do you always try to hide it when you need help?! I get it, you're going to be a queen but here you're one of us! You're a student, a dorm leader! Don't you trust us?"

While not every single one of them was best friends, all seven of the prefects had always gotten along famously and had proven many a time that they could rely on each other when it counted. No, it wasn't a lack of trust that kept Reine from leaning on them...

"It's not that, Manari, I swear...I just..." now it was Reine's turn for her eyes to water, "I've been forced to isolate myself from everyone for so long. I know that's not a good excuse but it is a reason. Everything in my personal life pushed me away from those I wanted to be near and wanted to involve in my life. So much that I let that happen here too...I'm so sorry. I should have said something so much sooner but it felt so impossible. How can I possibly make it up to all of you?"

At this point, Reine was sobbing like a frightened child. Manari quickly approached her and wrapped her arms around her friend and gave her a tight hug.

"If you're mad then be mad! If you're scared or in trouble then tell us!"

Elise soon followed suit and hugged the two girls, "That's right, you don't have to hide here. Like Manari said, you're one of us. It's ok to scream, yell, cry, all that...just don't go over the edge and put yourself in danger like that again, ok?"

"O-ok...I promise I won't do it again. E-ever again!" Reine's weak trembling voice practically made everyone in the room's hearts break. Even the usually sarcastic Petra.

"Reeeeiiine, noooo. PLEASE stop crying! It's like watching a baby bunny cry!!" the third princess waved her hands in front of her face trying to stop her own tears from forming.

Reine sniffled out another pitifully sad apology until finally all of the dorm leaders had to verbally insist that she was forgiven just so they could get her to calm back down. Once she finally did and her eyes were dried, it was then that Manari finally noticed the new addition on her left hand.

"Wait a second-" Manari grabbed Reine's hand to get a closer look at the fancy rose ring, "WHAT is THIS?"

How Elise didn't fully expose her to the others the millisecond Reine told her about the official courtship was the biggest shock of the day, which was saying something, but alas here they were.

"Oh yes, that...Riddle and I are officially courting one another-"

Reine could barely get the words out before the dorm exploded with squeals of jubilation. She was surprised the ghosts didn't flee the building to get away from all the noise.

"YES! About DAMN TIME!" Manari pulled Reine into an even tighter hug, practically knocking the wind out of her, "I KNEW IT, I knew you were going to choose hiiiim!"

Adela, always being the elegantly poised 'big sister' that she was, gave Reine a delighted smile as she applauded, "Congratulations our dear rose. He is a fine match." And then proceeded to scold Manari "Don't crush her, dear, she's been through enough physical trauma."

"I'm so glad you all approve of him," Reine giggled in the center of all their hype, "I'd also like to ask for your help in dealing with the rejected one..." Reine didn't have to say his name. They all knew. Hell, all three schools probably knew by this point. But the girls' eyes lit up with curiosity as Reine showed them the envelope her father had passed onto her.

"By Royal Decree, Zehn Cavalier is being summoned to the Queen's Court. My court. And I believe a display of power is in order for that stubborn fool to get my point once and for all. Of course, I won't have my own official council until I take my mother's place. So...I need to ask you all one last favor."

"Now you're talking," Petra had a sinister look in her eyes as both she and Manari wore wicked grins.

"And not just my fellow dorm leaders, but all of our vices as well. Zehn Cavalier needs to be reminded just who he's dealing with. And don't worry about the Headmistress, my father contacted her personally to let her know exactly what is going on. So...we shouldn't be deterred at all once my darling Riddle finished preparing the courtroom," Reine's voice sounded so sweet when she mentioned her intended but the look on her face was dripping with smug triumph.

"Oh boy...you and 'darling Riddle' are either going to be absolutely intolerable or absolutely terrifying now aren't you?" Manari teased. Reine just gave her a deceptively sweet giggle and just as sweet smile.

"A bit of both I think..."

It was late afternoon once a bruised and run-down Zehn Cavalier had returned to the Night Raven campus. Foul didn't even begin to describe his mood. His cohorts were nowhere to be seen and none of them had answered their phones. The mage didn't try to hide his gruff scowl as he made his way to Crowley's office alone. He didn't even bother to notice that every student he passed along the way - Night Raven, Sacred Crown, or even his fellow Royal Swords - either quickly got out of his way or was whispering bitterly as he passed by. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, Zehn was livid. First, he was brutally rejected by a mad princess on a rampage, then tortured by those beastly mermaid sisters, and now he was being summoned back to this god awful place by the Ravens' crackpot Headmaster after suffering the worst night of sleep of his life?!

...Well was he in for a surprise?

Dire Crowley didn't flinch from behind his desk as Zehn rudely slammed his office door open. Mostly because the scowl on the boy's face very quickly turned into a look of confusion and panic. Ambrose, the Headmistress, and Jasper Elfern along with a couple of other Heartslabyul 4th years were all waiting for him in the office as well.

"Ah, Mr. Cavalier, good to see you made it back in one piece," Crowley grinned, his eye twitching from the scuff made on his wall from how violently this punk pushed his door open.

"What is going on?" Zehn was all out of pleasantries. Luckily no one else was in the mood for them anyway. His headmaster cleared his throat and stepped forward to address the boy with a disappointed look.

"Zehn Cavalier, you've been called here today to be expelled from Royal Sword Academy," Ambrose quickly removed Zehn's magic pen from the shocked boy's jacket, "and to return this since you will no longer be needing it..."

"E-Expelled?! On what grounds?!" Zehn barked.

Ambrose's put-out expression didn't change, "You embarrass yourself with such questions but if you must be reminded then so be it. The first and most heinous, I should think, harassing and assaulting a member of the royal family to the point of triggering her into Overblot thus putting her very life in danger. Secondly, assaulting a student from our dear sister school while being a guest on another school's campus, during a joint festival meant to build camaraderie between the three bodies of students. And lastly, doing those two things while also involving your fellow students thus also putting them in harm's way...are the grounds clear enough for you now, Mr. Cavalier?"

Ambrose might as well had punched him in the gut with how belittled Zehn now felt. The mage turned to the equally disappointed Headmistress in an attempt to garner her mercy but she was already a step ahead of him.

"Save your breath, Mr. Cavalier. Your expulsion is out of my hands but I will say this, not only are you lucky that you are not under my jurisdiction, you have much bigger things to worry about today. Mr. Elfern, the floor is yours."

Jasper gave the Headmistress a charming smile and kissed her hand in a gentlemanly fashion, taking an obvious jab at Zehn's signature, 'charming' tactics, "Thank you, dear Headmistress."

Zehn seethed at the older senior's smug expression as Jasper stepped up to address him, "Mr. Cavalier, you have been summoned to the Queen's court by royal decree to receive your sentence. I, the queen's chamberlain, have been ordered to escort you there personally. I don't recommend keeping their Majesties waiting long. They're both in quite a mood today."

The other Heartslabyul seniors surrounded Zehn, two of them grabbing him by the arms and forcibly dragging him out of the office, ignoring his protests.

"W-Where are you taking me?! And what do you mean 'their Majesties'?!"

Jasper explained with a snide grin as he walked in front of the disgruntled mage, "Why the future Rose Queen and her King, of course! And just think, you're their first convict to be sentenced! Aren't you lucky?"

Zehn couldn't believe what he was hearing but before he knew it, he was being dragged through the Heartslabyul mirror.

The Heartslabyul courtroom was packed to the brim. The crowd was a mixture of Heartslabyul boys and Rosabyrine girls all watching silently as Zehn Cavalier was dragged before a very tall podium. Seated inside the jury box were the other six Sacred Crown dorm leaders and their vice prefects. The fact that each girl happened to be bearing symbols of their positions did not go unnoticed. Being princesses themselves, both Elise and Petra were wearing their families' royal crest in the form of medals on their dorm uniforms along with the sash of their homeland's colors. Jinnah and Luna were dressed to the nines, signaling that while they weren't royalty, they definitely came from families of influence. Other such representations showed on each of the girls as they all glared down at him in silence. This was already a bad sign. Jasper addressed the room once Zehn was forced to stand at the much smaller podium, "All rise, presenting Her Royal Highness Princess Reine Castilene and her betrothed, Heartslabyul Prefect, Sir Riddle Rosehearts."

Everyone in the room stood as the two suddenly appeared on the tall podium, staring Zehn down each in their dorm's regalia. Reine took the liberty of updating her dorm attire to now have a diamond version of Riddle's Heartslabyul scepter and a shorter Rosabyrine-colored cape, also inspired by her beau. The change would have been endearing had the two of them not looked like two wolves about to hunt a frightened lamb. Zehn could only stare slack-jawed and wide-eyed. Reine silently motioned for everyone to be seated and then addressed Jasper directly, "Chamberlain Elfern, read the crimes of the accused."

Zehn could only blink incredulously as Jasper began to read off of a tablet. Surely this wasn't actually happening...right? Even his denial felt like weak tea at this point.

"Yes, Your Highness. Item 1..."

Jasper stated the same information that Headmaster Ambrose had inside Crowley's office but then the list kept going which made Zehn break into a sweat.

"Item 4. Threatening Sir Rosehearts directly and trying to interfere with Her Highness' choices in regards to her courtship-"

Zehn practically hissed like a cat, "That's absurd! Where is your evidence?!"

Jasper calmly stopped and looked up to address Riddle, "Would you like to testify to the court, Prefect Rosehearts, sir? It would seem the accused believes you are in fact, a liar..."

The room filled with mutters as Riddle's eye narrowed down at Zehn, "I have a better idea, Lord Elfern. I believe we have some other witnesses that can confirm that this particular crime isn't fabricated."

In the next minute, Zehn turned around to see four of his cohorts being herded into the courtroom by Trey and Cater. They looked deeply nervous and embarrassed, unable to look Zehn in the eye. Riddle continued to speak directly to the boys.

"Gentlemen...you were there were you not? I distinctly remember you pushing me about in line as I patiently waited to have my photo taken with Her Highness at the Music Contest."

All eyes were on the four shaken boys as one of them hesitated to mutter, "Y-Yes..."

"Speak up!" Riddle demanded.

"Yes. Yes, we were there when Zehn approached Rosehearts and took him into an ally talk in private..."

Zehn scoffed, as if he still had a chance, "That proves nothing. Is it wrong to want to speak in private away from nosy eyes and ears?"

Riddle wore a smug expression, "I suppose Mr. Cavalier makes a fair point...although, I do recall another witness that was actually there when the 'conversation' happened: our own Malleus Draconia. I'm sure he wouldn't mind being invited here to clear things up..."

At the mention of the Diasomnia prince's name, all of the RSA boys turned white with terror. Jasper just smiled, "An excellent idea, sir! Surely we can all agree that Lord Draconia's word is as good as gold, yes?"

"N-No. No that won't be necessary...what Rosehearts said is true." Zehn stared a hole into the ground, cursing under his breath. Being faced with the fury of one Malleus Draconia had to be so much worse than whatever verdict they had in store for him! Jasper redirected his attention to the tablet and continued.

"Excellent. Glad we worked that out. Now then - Item 5: Not only did the accused continue to show aggression towards Her Highness but also injured her several times, causing physical damage to her body and agitation to her already triggered Overblot state. Witnesses to this event being Sir Rosehearts himself, Her Highness Elise Coralette, and Cerulamare Vice Prefect Luna Cerith....any argument there, Mr. Cavalier?"

"It was unfortunate collateral," the room filled with bitter-sounding mutters from the crowd, "But I used my magic to try and contain her so the Overblot could be stopped! I was trying to protect her and the rest of us!"

"Is that so?" Reine spoke for the second time in a cool but sharp tone, "You were acting out of a noble ambition then, Mr. Cavalier?"

Zehn's eyes softened as he pleaded, "Of course I was, Lady Reine. I would never threaten you or intentionally harm you, you know this. This is just a huge misunderstanding."

Reine and Riddle looked at each other with unamused gazes before Reine spoke again, "Chamberlain, I'd like to call Che'nya before the court, please. I do believe his witness account and evidence will be very illuminating."

Jasper didn't even have to lift a finger before Che'nya magically phased into view before everyone, humming an amused little tune, "Currtainly it will!"

The cat boy pulled his phone out of his pocket and pulled up a certain album of photos and videos. The Ignihyde dorm was kind enough to lend a projector just for the occasion...and by a projector, they meant Ortho who gladly volunteered to lend his abilities to this whole endeavor. The phone was handed over to the robotic boy who loaded up the album into his circuits, confirming first that none of the data had been edited or tampered with before projecting some very incriminating pictures of Zehn yelling, grabbing Reine's arm, and of the other boys just standing, idly by not lifting a finger to help the princess while all this happened. Before Zehn could protest, Ortho showed a video clip of him actually pulling Reine to him and yelling in her face about rejecting him and everything else that initially caused her to go into Overblot.

"That looks pretty threatening to me..." Manari said loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Indeed it does," Reine's eyes narrowed down at Zehn who looked like he was starting to shrink a bit, "Perhaps Mr. Cavalier needs to be re-educated on the word's definition...Ortho, Che'nya, thank you for your assistance today. I don't think any further explanations will be needed. Chamberlain, I don't think the rest of that list will be necessary either, do you?"

"Not at all, Your Highness. The jury looks pretty unanimous."

Every single member of the jury looked ready to lynch Zehn into the next dimension. He felt himself growing desperate as the situation only grew worse and worse. He couldn't even feel angry about the sneer Riddle was currently giving him. He had nowhere to run and Riddle knew it. Everyone did. Except for Zehn who was stubborn until the very end.

"I-I object to this hearing! It's a farce and an insult to the real Queen!" He shouted. He almost regretted his words when the entire room seemed to snarl their resentment towards him. Riddle slammed his scepter on the podium with a sharp thwack.

"SILENCE. After everything you've done to Reine, you still have it in you to throw your misguided arrogance-"

Riddle stopped when he felt his princess' gentle hand on his shoulder. He quickly relaxed when she gave him a soft smile. He stepped back, allowing her to take the lead. Her smile vanished as soon as he addressed Zehn directly, "You object? Do explain, I am curious."

Zehn made the grave mistake of thinking this wasn't a trap. "You call this a Queen's court and yet you let outsiders have a say in affairs that should be judged strictly by the Rose Queendom only!" Reine knew he was talking about the other Sacred Crown girls but that didn't throw her whatsoever.

"I will allow your stupidity just this once, Mr. Cavalier. This is in fact a Queen's court. Why? Because you have already been sentenced by His Royal Majesty Revon Castilene, King of the Rose Queendom, and His Royal Majesty entrusted me to deliver said sentence in this fashion which has received his approval. So just so we're clear: by insulting me, you insult him, my father and YOUR king..." Reine's tone could cut diamonds like butter, "Furthermore, they-" she gestured to her fellow SC girls, "-are here because I have deemed them worthy council which I am entitled to do in cases such as these whether or not I am the official queen or not. Also, they are here to remind you that while your crime was directly against me, it was also against them. When you attack one of Sacred Crown's esteemed dorm prefects, you attack them all...and my, my did you ever pick the wrong group of young women to raise your voice and hand to, Mr. Cavalier...perhaps you need a reminder."

Reine left the podium with Riddle following her from behind. They both stood in front of the jury box as Reine proceeded to do as she previously promised the girls back at the dorm: remind Zehn exactly who he was messing with.

"Two other princesses from well off kingdoms, both with impressive military force, stocks, and trades I might add," she said gesturing to the proud Elise and Petra before moving onto Jinnah and Manari, "the eldest daughter of the royal vizier to Prince Yasmine's royal family and the daughter of very prominent silk merchants directly stationed in Silk City, not only very close in proximity to the esteemed Asim Family but directly supplies their silk stores as well," Manari and Jinnah both wiggled their fingers at him in smug waves as Reine passed them, "and of course, you've met Miss Luna Cerith, the eldest daughter of a family known for their security services, interrogation tactics, and bodyguard training within the Coral Sea," The mermaid gave the mage a wicked grin as her eyes glowed under the brim of her hat, making him feel sick to his stomach.

The point that Reine was making was this: each of them, royalty or not, had connections. Connections to powerful families, countries, businesses, etc., and not a single one of them was to be trifled with and by doing so, Zehn Cavalier had damned himself. Reine stood before his podium with a look that shredded any will to fight back to ribbons.

"So with all that said, the reason my girls are here is so you know that there isn't a single place within Twisted Wonderland, land or sea, that you won't be deemed a charlatan. One whisper from any of them into the right ear is all it would take. All because you had the audacity to raise your hand against me. Objection overruled. Jasper, issue the sentence."

Reine turned away from her rejected suitor and returned to Riddle's side as Jasper opened the envelope and read the King's decree.

"Zehn Cavalier, you and your family are hereby stripped of your status within the White Queen's court and banned from ever re-entering any and all future courts of the Rose Queendom royal family. You and any future descendants of the Cavalier family are banned from entering any form of courtship with any other member of the royal family or any and all personnel connected to them. You are banned from setting foot within 1000 feet of the royal castle indefinitely. Should you break protocol on any of these rulings, you will be sentenced to imprisonment or banishment from the Rose Queendom itself entirely. Effective immediately."

Zehn looked like he would absolutely fall apart any second now as Reine and Riddle both tapped their scepters against the floor like gavels, "You have been sentenced. The court is dismissed." Reine announced abruptly. She turned to leave the room with Riddle but heard an upset as Jasper and the other seniors dragged the convicted mage off his podium. An absolutely broken Zehn Cavalier called out to her.

"Lady Reine PLEASE! S-Surely there is still mercy in your heart!"

Mercy...? The royal couple turned back and stared into the pitiful boy's eyes, showing no signs of mercy whatsoever. The fact that he hadn't learned his lesson was almost impressive. Almost.

"My queen," Riddle's voice softened just for her, "I do believe there is yet another crime this outlaw has committed against you...his head is above yours."

Riddle never really leaned into pettiness for it was a terrible human notion that served no constructive purpose...until right now. Reine gave her beloved a sweet smile for being so clever, "My goodness, you're right, my king. This cannot be overlooked."

The young queen and king to be walked over to the disheveled boy and Reine gave him a displeased look, "Mr. Cavalier, you beg for mercy and yet your head remains above your queen's? Really and here I thought the court life had taught you better."

"Terrible form, really," Riddle added in another verbal jab, trying not to show how much he was enjoying it too much.

Zehn immediately bowed his head to the two of them, "Forgive me, Your Highness!"

When he turned to meet Reine's gaze again, she was contemplating his form with a delicate finger tapping her chin, "Hmm...no, no...lower."

Zehn bowed even deeper.

"Lower."

Zehn fell to one knee on the verge of desperate tears as his entire life hung in the balance. Reine looked him up and down before turning to Riddle, silently asking for his approval. Riddle shook his head. In response, Reine started to remove her boots and Riddle took her hand to help her step out of them. The princess, now barefoot and at least a couple of inches shorter, leaned down to look Zehn directly in the eyes.

"Lower..."

The boy fell to both of his knees and bowed forward onto both of his hands, trying to hide the shame on his face. He didn't dare lift his head even as he heard Riddle's mocking tone above him.

"Oh yes, much better. This position really suits you...are you pleased as well, my queen?"

"Indeed I am," Reine chirped happily, "However, now that you're in the proper state to listen, Mr. Cavalier...I'm afraid I have some terrible news."

Zehn slowly raised his terrified gaze to meet Reine's cold one. She stood at her full height, looking down at him with nothing short of contempt.

"I don't owe you a kindness, Zehn Cavalier. Remove him from my sight."

Before he could utter another syllable, Zehn was forced out of Heartslabyul and removed from the Night Raven campus entirely. As Jasper Elfern shoved him past the front gate, Zehn fell into the dirt, wondering what on earth he was to do now. He lost his place at Royal Sword, he lost his place in the royal court! Now he was just some commoner?! His distress was written all over his face but Jasper just waved him off, his rogue smile still in place.

"There should be a lift back home waiting for you once you get back to Royal Sword...but it's gonna be getting dark soon so I'd start walking if I were you. Good luck being a regular ol' asshole, Cavalier!"

The slam of the front gates sounded with a finality that shook Zehn to the core. He just sat in the dirt, alone, Jasper and his mates' departing laughter burning in his ears.

To say that the atmosphere on the campus was noticeably lighter after the trial was an understatement. Now that the serious verdict had been properly given, the felony properly punished and kicked out, Elise, Manari and Reine were all having a good laugh about it back at Monstro Lounge with Riddle and the Heartslabyul boys. Reine just reveled in it all with her head on Riddle's shoulder. She was clearly exhausted and who could blame her?

"Congratulations Your Highness on a record-breaking week," Manari raised a glass to her and her beau, "You got your crown and queendom, you were the first and only Sacred Crown student to Overblot and survive, and you traded up in the fiancee department tremendously, and Zehn Cavalier's reign of tyranny is finally OVER. Best festival ever."

"Cheers to that," Elise laughed.

Reine gave them both a tired smile, "I will say this...I really do not recommend Overblotting. At all." Riddle seconded the notion. "With that said, I'm officially on magical bedrest for the next two weeks per the Headmistress' adamant request. Just in time to start up again for exams."

Manari groaned at the mention of the dreaded 'e' word, "Uuuuugh stop. I don't wanna think about exams right now. Jinnah's going to go into overlord mode as soon as we get back to Sacred Crown and make the entire dorm study like crazy, I know it."

Elise gave her fellow dorm prefect a playful look, "Who's actually the leader of your dorm, Manari? You or Jinnah who's always in the top 10 of exam scores?"

"You hush. I don't wanna hear it from you, Miss Second Place. Everyone knows you and Reine are always in the top three for exam scores."

"I was Miss FIRST place until a certain best friend of mine showed up as a clever first year," Elise pouted making Reine giggle. They were best of friends always but also fierce rivals when it came to academics.

Riddle just grinned at the girls' banter as he and Reine's fingers intertwined under the table. He wasn't surprised that his Reine was so smart and it made him feel even more proud of her. Though he had to wonder...but Cater beat him to the punch.

"Ooh princesses and scholars! So who's Miss Third?"

Elise beamed with pride, "For the longest time it was Luna. Cerulamare is known to turn out the best grades and test scores of the school...aside from Rosabyrine, of course. But now it's our darling first year, Cowrie, who takes the third position in the top three students~"

The younger Cerith sister was still in her Octavinelle suit, flitting about, waiting tables, and laughing as she watched Floyd threaten a Savanaclaw boy that was being a bit too rude to her. The Heartslabyul boys blinked their wide surprised eyes as they looked from Elise to the odd mermaid as if this was a prank.

"I know she doesn't seem like the studious type but don't be fooled. She is very clever and quite formidable when she's motivated. I'm so proud of her," Elise cooed like a proud parent. Azul happened to be walking by to check on everyone right at that moment.

"Mr. Ashengrotto! I hope Cowrie isn't causing any trouble. She can get a bit carried away at times..."

The octopus just smiled charmingly, "Oh no, not at all, Your Highness! She's probably one of the hardest workers I've had in a long time. And I didn't even have to make a contract with her..." Ace and Deuce felt cold shivers run through them as they remembered their time not too long ago working for Azul and the twins. A mistake they will never make again. What Azul didn't mention was that Cowrie didn't ask for any payment once her designated detention was over. Now, she was just doing it for fun because she was bored...and also to get in close proximity to Jade. Speaking of which, Jade arrived at the table a moment later to refill any drink or food orders that the group may have wanted. That is when Elise noticed a familiar boutonniere pinned to his suit coat.

"Jade...is that Cowrie's boutonniere by chance?" she asked with a curious grin on her face.

The twin's calm smile stayed on his face but his eyes widened as if he forgot that it was even there, "Ah. Why yes it is."

Manari waggled her eyebrows up at the poker-faced boy, "Ooo the freshman huntress got you, huh? I hope she didn't scare you too bad," she laughed.

Turns out that, unlike her sister, Cowrie preferred to hunt her prey instead of waiting for it to come to her, and much like another eel mermaid, she was pretty straight to the point in her approach. Jade chuckled lightly at the memory...

It happened early during a lull in business. Azul allowed Cowrie to take a break and the younger girl immediately approached Jade while he was still at the bar.

"Jay Jay..."

Jade smiled at the cute nickname she had given him and was about to respond when he suddenly jumped, startled by her quickly slamming her hands down on the bar table and propping herself up on it so she could look him in the eyes. His smile was frozen on his face but his eyes held a rare deer in the headlights gaze.

"Jay Jay. I like your handsome face and your terrariums. Go to the dance with me."

Jade found himself with more pros than cons to this situation, the biggest one being just how unexpected this entire interaction was and how strangely good it felt. Also, did she just say he was handsome??? He looked down at her hand she had extended to him and saw her boutonniere and a homemade cookie shaped like a mushroom. The soft pink blush on her face didn't escape his notice either.

Back to the current moment, Jade gave an amused chuckle, "She certainly took me by surprise. Not something just anyone can do."

The rest of the evening flowed by with an easy atmosphere. The girls were informed that their dresses for tomorrow's festivities were currently being delivered back at their foster dorm and excitedly rushed back. All except Reine who was allowed to stay behind with Riddle a bit longer without question. The other Heartslabyul boys dismissed themselves so the two could have some alone time. The lounge was still pretty full but it still felt nice to have a booth to themselves. Riddle sighed contently as he wrapped an arm around his lovely fiancee. He'd never get used to that word but it wasn't exactly mad about it.

"You're brilliant, you know that?" he softly praised her before kissing her head.

The princess snuggled closer to him with a happy sigh, "It helps when I have an equally stunning partner. I couldn't be happier with you, my love."

Riddle felt butterflies flutter all through his system at her praise. She looked so tired and felt so light to his touch but disturbing this moment of bliss seemed criminal. Reine seemed to read his thoughts and just nuzzled her face into his neck.

"Just a few more minutes, please..."

"Yes, my queen."

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*drop kicks Zehn for old time's sake*

Tagging:

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