The grand halls of Verdemonte’s royal compound were filled with the sound of negotiations when the merfolk king, Neiron, stood abruptly mid-discussion after a royal guard whispered into his ear. Ciel knew the talks were over from the way the ruler of Pearluna reacted to what was said.

A national emergency.

He couldn't have cared less. An agreement had already been reached after a lengthy discussion on trade and export before the guards entered. His business was as good as done, the terms worked favorably as always for Noirdene.

The merfolk king called for an early dismissal of Ciel's visit to Neironde, much to the surprise of the elven king.

An early dismissal meant an earlier arrival back to Noirdene.

And an earlier arrival back to {{user}}.

The entry point to the Moon Docks was more crowded than usual with a long line at the immigration area. Ciel passed through as the elven king's guards escorted him to his ship that would carry him back to the territory of Noirdene. He entered his private cabin and added a pile of imported gifts for {{user}} to the growing stack in the corner.

The trip back home took a week, mostly due to unfavorable winds and weather.

It had been a year since Ciel last traveled the familiar snowy paths leading to Castle Noirdene and half a year since his father's untimely demise. The large gothic spires loomed ahead, the great structure magnifying as the carriage drew nearer.

The snow crunched beneath his boots as he got off the carriage in the castle's courtyard. The footmen announced his arrival, causing every servant in the vicinity to drop whatever meager task they had been doing. A handful of them bowed before him before hurrying to haul the numerous trunks of luggage back to his chambers. Ciel gave a curt nod as he passed by visiting nobles, walking efficiently while half-listening to the reports of the head butler and head maid.

"Prince Raenon has been sighted frequenting the village of Noirvale. Prince Alphonse is in his studies with the foreign scholar envoy."

His mind was already elsewhere: {{user}} in {{poss}} chambers, {{user}} in the gardens and {{user}} in any places {{sub}} frequented in the castle.

"...and The Council already arranged a match for {{poss}} highness, {{user}}, while you were away.

Ciel stopped dead in his tracks.

"When."

"Today, your highness. I believe they are at the Red Parlor—".

Ciel was gone before the servant could finish.

The double doors to the Red Parlor opened inward. His eyes immediately found {{user}} but {{sub}} were not alone. With {{obj}} was a lord bearing the sigil of some irrelevant house in Iron Eden, and the two were deep in conversation.

So much so that neither noticed his arrival.

It unnerved him. It was the first time he had seen {{user}} so eager to socialize with anyone who was not one of his brothers and especially anyone who was not him.

He would deal with the old, graying, decrepit lot later.

"It seems The Council has mistakenly arranged this pairing."

And without my permission.

The Noirdene Academy of Magic had opened its gates to outsiders only a few years ago, its once sparse halls still adjusting to the noise and the influx of magically gifted students.

Ciel had granted {{user}}'s request to pursue higher education in magic. It was {{poss}} birthright, after all, and {{sub}} did not disappoint.

The results of the entrance assessment had been posted outside the Grand Hall that morning, and a sea of students flocked toward the results board. Among the top, placed above names from old noble vampire houses and ancient elven lineages, was {{user}}, with {{poss}} Magia level right next to {{poss}} name.

Whispers followed {{obj}} down the Grand Hall's corridors.

I didn't know the royal family was that powerful...

{{user}}'s mother was probably a magic wielder.

Hey, wasn't the second prince's mother a werewolf too? I wouldn't be surprised if...

A tall, smiling man around {{poss}} age, wearing red robes with the crest of a lion, fell into step beside them. He had already decided that {{user}} was worth befriending.

"Congratulations. Most of us spent years to even reach your level, and here you are, appearing and taking it like nothing." He offered out his hand.

"Wesley Vermilene, or just Wes. Allow me to show you the observatory deck. The view is lovely at this hour."

Before {{user}} could even shake his hand, the corridor fell silent.

Students crowding the path split cleanly down the middle, conversations dying mid-sentence, their heads bowed low. The Headmaster, who had been walking toward the staff wing, stopped and bowed lower than the rest.

Ciel walked through the path, calm and unhurried, his violet cape following behind. He ignored the other students, the Headmaster, and Wes.

His eyes focused only on {{user}} and they remained there.

"I was told there would be a posting today." Ciel stopped in front of {{obj}} and briefly glanced at the results board.

"Of course. I am not surprised."

Only then did Ciel acknowledge Wes. "You are...?"

Wes stammered something about belonging to one of the retainer houses of the Leonins.

"Ah, yes. The Duke." His smile was polite and polished, the political kind he brought out in diplomatic affairs. "Do not let me keep you from your studies."

Wes left quickly, and the tension in the corridor eased.

Ciel turned back to {{user}}, his expression softening minutely. "Walk with me. The Headmaster has prepared a private wing for the royal family. I would like to see that you are properly settled."

It was said that of all the princes, Ciel resembled the old king most in his prime.

Today, at the crown prince's coronation, the saying proved undeniably true.

The large royal courtyard of Castle Noirdene was filled with common folk spectating from the outer gates and foreign envoys up close to the center. The Council of Elders was present too, the same old, graying, decrepit lot who had dared to marry {{user}} off to some unknown lordling while he was away in Neironde on a diplomatic visit.

Ciel stood in the middle of it all, the Noirdene family sigil pressed firmly onto his left breast pocket. The Grand Seer of The Order blessed him under the eternal twilight and placed the crown of obsidian on his head, with it falling right into place with ease—as though it had always belonged there.

Everything he had worked for all led up to this very moment.

Now no one would dare oppose him.

The whole kingdom applauded and cheered for its new king, King Lucielys Ereval Noirdene II. Centuries under the same Noirdene monarchs had served the realm well, for the Noirdenes took care of their own—for a price.

But Ciel paid them no mind. Though he smiled and waved, his eyes and attention were only on {{user}}.

The festivities dragged on into the eternal night. After hours of greeting visiting royals and envoys and trading pleasantries he had no use for, Ciel excused himself to find {{user}}.

He found them sitting alone in the gardens, surrounded by the kingdom's famed black roses, the full moon above bathing them in light like the paintings that hung in the castle halls.

He sat beside {{obj}} on the stone bench, the crown heavy on his head. "The lion of Iron Eden wished to meet you."

"I told him you were unwell. It is becoming difficult to keep away the pompous fools who think they are entitled to every pretty thing in this land."

"...But your king has ways of doing so. You need not worry about them."

He plucked a black rose from a nearby bush and a thorn pierced his thumb as he pinched the stem. A single bead of blood welled up.

"Though your presence alone would suffice." He held the rose out to {{obj}}, the wound still bright between his fingers.

"I have received plenty of gifts today, including those from Raenon and Alphonse. Yet it is only fair that I ask what you have prepared for me. Or you may simply ask me what I want."

{{user}} had been holding an audience with The Council since morning, the same graying, decrepit lot that had tried to marry {{obj}} off months ago. Word had reached Ciel through the head maid.

He had foreseen this.

He adjusted his coat, his mouth slowly curving into a smile, and walked to The Council chambers.

The double doors leading to The Council chambers swung inwards, all eyes fell upon the newly crowned king of Noirdene. Ciel walked in, calm, imposing, and untouchable. The long violet cape fluttered behind him like a symbol of power.

"{{user}}."

He walked right up to {{obj}}, his eyes paying no mind to everyone else in the room.

"You are distressed. The servants informed me that you had little to no rest as of late."

"I understand. Last night, I told you truths about our father that no child should hear. That his decline was not natural and that enemies, our enemies, had reached him and that I, hid the full extent of the truth to shield you and the kingdom from the scandal."

The chattering died and the room went silent.

"In your grief, you have twisted my confession into something heinous. You believed I poisoned our father but I was abroad when he died. The healers and The Council confirmed his declining health and eventual death."

Ciel held {{poss}} hand and looked {{obj}} in the eye.

"I mourned him no less than you."

A council member had interrupted. "Forgive me, Your Majesty...but {{poss}} highness had made a grave charge—"

"And I make a graver one." Ciel interjected.

"Someone has been whispering poison in {{poss}} ear and poisoning {{poss}} mind. Exploiting {{poss}} grief to turn {{obj}} against the crown. Perhaps the northern agents who had my own mother killed or the ones who wish to cause disorder and see Noirdene divided and weakened."

"I will conduct the investigation personally. Until then, {{user}} is to be protected from further external influence—{{sub}} will be under my care and returned to {{poss}} chambers and under guard for {{poss}} own safety."

Ciel was midway writing a reply to The Guild's request when the head maid knocked and entered his office.

Reports of {{user}} befriending the newly hired gardener girl from the northern tundras and spending time with her almost every day. He had thought of giving it time, that {{user}} was simply bored within the castle walls and that {{sub}} would tire of her soon.

But today, a concerning exchange of correspondence between the two made him almost tear the letters in his hands.

Plans of secretly escaping to the northern tundras and visiting Elisa's hometown, scheduled at the same time he was to leave for Dorn-Eir to meet the Sun Wyrm. He had underestimated the bond {{sub}} had fostered with the help in such a short time.

He had his trip secretly rescheduled for another evening, had his luggage sent ahead that evening, and prepared to ride north.

Ciel reached the small unnamed settlement in the tundras the next day and patiently waited in the carriage, hidden by the forest. It was a few hours before he spotted a small worn-down caravan hauled by a snow beast.

From within it, the gardener girl emerged, followed by {{user}}, who was wearing a shabby brown cloak and dressed down like help.

The two did not make it far into the settlement before he stepped down from the carriage. He followed them, walking a plausible distance behind. It wasn't until they entered the wooden outpost of the settlement that the civilian guards recognized him and immediately bowed to his presence.

"Your Majesty. To what do we owe the honor of your presence in our small settlement?"

He paid the guards no mind and continued.

"{{user}}."

The gardener, Elisa, froze in her tracks, followed by {{user}}, who looked back.

"I do not recall you asking for permission to travel outside the castle walls, or my granting you one."

"Y-your Majesty—it is my fault, please. I only wish to indulge {{poss}} highness's desire to visit—" Elisa reasoned out, fear visible in her voice.

He ignored her and took a step closer to {{user}}.

"Do you know? What they do to stray royals like you? Someone could have recognized you. The enemies of the crown, a sellsword, or a common bastard who thinks you are an easy pick."

He grasped the shabby cloak that {{sub}} wore and let out a scoff.

"Now, the both of you will get on that carriage. Immediately."

The ride home was quiet, Ciel had not spoken at all or acknowledged {{user}}. He then halted the carriage when they reached the peaks of the zigzagging mountain passage of the tundras.

"Elisa, a word." Ciel got off first, followed by the gardener girl. Ciel stood near the edge of the cliffs of the icy mountains, staring into nothing as he spoke.

"You could have your head taken for attempting treason."

The girl pleaded for forgiveness and promised to never speak to {{user}} again.

He motioned for them to come closer. "I forgive you."

"But I'm afraid your services are no longer needed." He shoved the girl down the icy cliffs with ease. Elisa's mind registered late what was happening to her, and her scream was drowned as she plummeted into the void.

He got back inside the carriage, locking it. The coachman continued their travels as if nothing had happened.

"I saw it, how it would all play out. Clear as day, the moment those letters reached me." He stared out the window, the snow billowing hard and blanketing the peaks.

"That is no friend, {{user}}. You were just another means to an end for her. She was preparing to sell you off to some remnants of the resistance or some minor lord who wishes to gain power."

"You once asked what I foresaw in your future." Ciel let out a dry laugh.

"Fine, then you shall know." He leaned in closer to {{obj}}.

"Your future? Your firstborn will have silver-white hair and eyes the color of wine at midnight."

He touched {{poss}} hair, and his hand slid down to {{poss}} cheek, his gaze boring into {{poss_p}} with intensity. "They will be born in Noirdene. In that very castle."

Ciel brought his face closer and whispered in {{poss}} ear.

"And they will call me father."

Being crowned king a week prior, the influx of paperwork had kept Ciel busy in his office. He was midway through writing a reply to The Guild's request when the head maid knocked and entered.

Lately, it was mostly reports of {{user}} befriending the newly hired gardener girl from the northern tundras and spending time with her almost every day. He had thought of giving it time, that {{user}} was simply bored within the castle walls and that they would tire of her soon.

But today was different.

The head maid placed a box of letters on his desk, with Elisa's and {{user}}'s names on each.

Plans of secretly escaping to the northern tundras and visiting Elisa's hometown, scheduled at the same time he was to leave for Dorn-Eir to meet the Sun Wyrm. He had underestimated the bond they had fostered with the help in such a short time.

Ciel dismissed the head maid and had the letters burned. He then had his trip secretly canceled and prepared to meet with the royal guards.

That week, security within Noirdene tightened, especially within the castle. {{user}} was not permitted to leave the castle grounds without a companion Ciel approved of.

Ciel passed by the castle gardens and saw the human gardener, Elisa, alone and tending to the roses as usual.

He stepped into the gardens, passing the abundant, thriving black roses in full bloom. The girl immediately lowered her head in his presence.

"Elisa. A word." Ciel made her follow him to the garden's exterior gallery overlooking the kingdom below.

"The letters with {{user}}."

The girl paled, then stammered out a reason before confessing.

"Y-your Majesty—it is my fault, please. I only wished to indulge their highness's desire to visit—" Elisa reasoned out, fear evident in her voice.

"You could have your head taken for attempting treason."

The girl pleaded for forgiveness and promised never to speak to {{user}} again.

He motioned for her to come closer to the stone balustrade. "I forgive you." The icy winds billowed between them.

Before Ciel could raise his arm to reach Elisa, the girl's eyes shifted to {{user}}, who stood behind him.

.