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Love Begins
Cosimo Galluzzi
2025 on Tumblr: Trends That Defined the Year
Three Goblin Art
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Xuebing Du
Misplaced Lens Cap
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dirt enthusiast

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AnasAbdin
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
taylor price
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almost home
Peter Solarz
will byers stan first human second
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@digitalwavemedia
Is a little visual novel about how you just met a handsome man on the afterlife, how will this turn out?
Happily Ever After // Yandere! Prince Charming x Reader! Cinderella.
“You…”
It was supposed to be beautiful.
After years of suffering and sorrow and soot, you were to have your one beautiful moment. Was that truly so much to want? Was your wish so selfish? You had not felt as though it was. For so long, this one little wish had been the only thing that kept you going through your struggles. You refused to let go. You refused to stop believing. And just when it seemed like you might give up…she came.
Your fairy godmother. A flick of her wand and a flash of light changed everything. Suddenly you wore a glimmering gown and shining jewels, petals and diamonds strung around you and tiny glass slippers on your feet. When your dirty rags had melted away into gold silk and lace, you had felt…
Beautiful and happy.
Happy for the first time in so many years. With joy in your heart, your fairy godmother whispered a warning in your ear and sent you off in a white carriage, granting your one wish. After so much loneliness and sadness, you were finally allowed one night of pure joy…
All you’d hoped for was just one dance, it didn’t matter with who.
All you wanted was one beautiful night. One dance and one bit of happiness before going back to your cinders and chores.
So when the handsome man approached you and took your hand without a word, you didn’t argue. Smiling, you fell into the man’s arms and danced…and danced…and danced…You danced with him all night, the rest of the dancers fading away as you looked into his eyes. Something sweet swelled inside, some beautiful feeling you’d long since forgotten…
Oh, it was beautiful!
It was so perfect!
The music swelled and dancers swirled but you slipped away with your partner, standing in the starlight as he reached up with soft hands.
“My I, my lady?”
With your smile as an answer, he removed your silver mask from your face slowly. Your heart went wild, a million and one questions rushing through your mind. After years of hard work and harsh words, beauty became something that meant so little. But when the stranger smiled at you and called your beautiful…you believed it.
You believed all of it.
When he took your hand and kissed it and covered you in compliments, you believed every word of it. How could you not? You’d spent so long in the cold…and the warmth he gave you felt so good. When he told you that the was the prince the ball was held for, your heart skipped a beat. When you told him you were no one, he swore that such a thing couldn’t be true.
“You’re to beautiful to be a no one…you’re perfect.” He whispered.
Oh, you were so happy! Everything seemed so…wonderful. Deep inside, you wished that this night would never ever end. That you could stay with the prince forever and be so happy everyday…but you couldn’t. All you had was this one, precious night.
Maybe that was why you stayed, ignoring the rest of the ball.
It seemed as though the only place you ought to be was with him. All night you walked beneath the stars and talked and laughed. How strange it seemed, for a girl like you to get along so well with a prince!
Maybe that was why you kissed him, shy lips pressing to his.
It was strange at first and, oh, you were so embarrassed! But soon you were falling into his kiss, closing your eyes and kissing the prince again and again…oh, it was so perfect! It was so sweet! You stole kisses in between laughter and soft whispered all night.
Maybe that was why you ignored your fairy godmother’s warning.
What was it that she had told you? You were so distracted…soft kisses and glitter and magic swam in your mind but her gentle voice seemed to come back to you…what was it that she had warned you about?
“Be back by midnight. My magic will protect you until the clock strikes but afterwards the enchantment wears away, anything might happen.”
Her words had you pulling away, looking behind the prince and towards the clock tower. The eleventh hour was quickly disappearing and, with a cry of surprise, you pulled away from him and gathered your skirts.
“I have to go,” you called out as you ran, “I’m so sorry!”
To your surprise, the prince ran after you and called out for you to please stop running from him, begging you to please come back.
“Wait! You can’t leave me!”
You pondered if you should stop and explain it all to him but, oh, you didn’t have the time! Time was ticking away, magic getting ready to leave with it, and how would you explain that? Through the glimmering halls you ran and ran, glass slippers clicking across marble floors as the prince ran right after you.
“No!” He suddenly screamed.
A cold hand grasped your arm, yanking you back and pulling you to the ground. You fell with a shocked scream, crashing down to the cold floor as he stood over you. Before you could say or do a single thing, the clock began to strike, loud rings resounding through the air. Silk and lace melted away into your old, patched skirt and thin cotton blouse. Your jewels were gone, your hair was loose, and your eyes were wide as you looked up at him.
“You’re NEVER leaving me.” He snapped.
The charm, the kindness, the sweetness…it was all gone. It as as though everything had vanished at midnight. His once pretty, warm eyes were now cold and focused, a determined frown fixed upon his face.
There was something terrible about him now. Something cold and cruel and utterly terrible about the once wonderful prince…and suddenly you were scared.
Was there a darkness about him that you hadn’t noticed before? How had you not seen the shadows? How had you not felt the coldness? How had he changed from charming to terrifying so quickly? You didn’t know…you didn’t understand…and, oh, you were afraid!
“Please…” You whimpered, tears beginning to fill your eyes.
He didn’t say anything. He didn’t look away from you. Instead, the prince stood over you, almost shaking with anger as he glared down upon you. A sick, cold feeling bubbled inside as you stood up, legs shaking as you backed away from him.
“I have to go…”
“No!” He said again. “Don’t you see, darling? You’ll be so much happier here with me! I’ll marry you! I’ll make you my queen! Oh, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
The prince reached out again, this time taking your hand in a more gentle manner. He knew, you thought, that you were scared…that HE had scared you. And he was trying to act charming and sweet, putting on his pretty mask and playing the part.
“We can be happy! We’d love each other!” He begged, tugging you towards him.
Hot tears began to stream down your cheeks as you sobbed, your whole body shaking. Terror and confusion filled you and, though you didn’t understand what was happening, you knew that you had to run away. That something was wrong with this prince and you…
You had to escape.
Ripping your hand away, you escaped his grip and ran, running as fast as you could through the palace doors and down the mighty staircase. He ran after you you once more, catching you again. His hand grasped your long hair and yanked it hard, causing you to fall. The cracking of glass struck through the air as you screamed in pain and shock.
The slippers.
You were still wearing them.
Though your gown and jewels were long gone, the glass slippers had remained on your feet..and one of them was now cracked, your foot bloodied and your ankle swollen and red and painful. With a wide smile on his face, the prince pulled you into his arms and began to carry you back to the palace. You fought and screamed and tried desperately to escape but he seemed to ignore it all.
“You’ll love me,” he whispered, “I’ll MAKE you love me.”
It was supposed to be beautiful.
Magical, wonderful, a dream come true. But your dream ad morphed into a brutal nightmare…and now you were trapped. A beautiful moment became a terrifying eternity and now faced with dark uncertainty…you had no clue what was to become of you now.
“You are my happily ever after!”
(I couldn’t decide between an unwilling Cinderella who fears the prince for kidnapping her or a willing Cinderella who loves the prince for taking her away from her step family. I really like both so I might write the other one day…)
A Curse and a Kiss // Yandere! Prince x Sleeping Beauty! Reader.
Once Upon a Time…
There was a prince.
A brave and charming prince, handsome and heroic as princes ought to be. For many, many years the prince had roamed the lands in search of one thing:
His one true love. The prince searched and he searched through the starry nights and shining dawns and, after so long, he finally found her.
Once upon a time…
There was a princess.
For many moons and many suns and many, many years, the princess had slumbered. The young prince knew the story, they all did:
A king and a queen who longed for a child, the beautiful princess they had…the curse that a wicked woman had brought upon her.
A golden spinning wheel. A cackling crone. A little finger.
Into a deep sleep the princess fell, her slumbering form placed upon a soft bed of silk and lace. One by one, all around her began to fall into this sleep as well until the entire kingdom was…quiet. And cold. And all were lost in their dreams, men and women and animals alike sleep, sleep, sleeping so very deeply.
This was the tale of Sleeping Beauty.
The story was very well known to all of the people and the sleeping kingdom still existed, still sleeping the eons away. But…no one went there anymore, in fear of falling into the cursed sleep as the king and queen and the princess.
Except for him.
The prince feared no curse and went to the kingdom. And it was in this cursed land that he found her, the slumbering princess.
Oh! How lovely she was!
Sleeping upon her silken sheets, the many years had not touched her beauty. Hair spread out around her pillow, lips red and skin soft, oh, how beautiful! How sweet! The prince crept closer, staring down at the sleeping beauty.
The sunshine was pale and dim compared to her brightness!
The starlight was weak and cold compared to her glow!
Her heart was kinder, her smile was sweeter, and her demeanor more gentle then any princess that had ever worn a crystal crown and kissed her prince. The prince had been surrounded by great beauty all of his life but, oh, there was nothing in this realm or any other like the darling princess! He felt as though she had waited as these years for him, waiting and waiting for the prince to find her.
Waiting for him to kiss her.
To love her.
To adore her.
And found her he had! Her lips were kissed so many times by the prince but…she did not wake. And for that, his heart nearly broke. Though he was forced to leave the sleeping beauty behind him, he never truly left her.
The prince’s heart stayed with her. Daily he thought of her. Nightly he dreamed of her. Her vision would come to him often, a sweet and hazy dream that left him hungry.
Oh, she was so lovely! So perfect and sweet!
Oh, how he WANTED her!!
He had to have her! Did he not suffer without her? Did his very soul not beg for his darling? Suffering and wanting and dreaming, the prince knew only one thing:
Sleeping Beauty must become his own.
Again and again he visited her, kissing her nearly a hundred times each night! But she slept on and one, her slumber deep and oblivious to the prince’s breaking heart. He loved her! He needed her! His heart wished and wished for his darling princess!
There were ways to make such a wish come true.
Dark, terrible ways and dark, terrible magic. Oh, he knew that it was wrong! But he did not care! To the thirteenth Wise Women he went, begging for her help in his quest for love. A cunning smile came upon the old woman’s face, dark eyes gleaming wickedly as she croaked,
“I will help you, my prince, and I shall have my vengeance still!”
Her dark magic came alive, shadows swirling and voices whispering as the wise woman cackled and croaked.
“I cursed the little princess to die upon a spindle wheel!” she said gleefully. “My dear sister changed it with her magic, rather then die the princess only sleeps and sleeps for now near one hundred years. Only true love’s kiss may awaken her.” She smiled once more, hobbling to her black cauldron and laughing. “True love! That I can create!”
Red rose petals.
Black thorns.
The blood of a fairy.
A nit of jasmine.
A lock of hair.
Tears of the lovelorn.
She cackled and whispered her plot to the prince, handing him a hot, bubbling potion.
“Drink half yourself and slip your darling princess the rest on the last day of her hundred years. When she awakens, she will belong to you! You will have your happily ever after, dear prince.”
With his many thanks, he road to the slumbering kingdom…to his true love. The prince dreamed of her daily, wanting and waiting. Again and again, he came to her and counted off the days. The prince visited his princess nightly, creeping into her bed.
He kissed her.
Cold lips pressed to her sweet, warm ones. Oh, her kiss was so soft! So sweet! Each kiss left him hungry for another, burning and begging.
He touched her.
Shaking hands pulled away the silk sheets and long dress, roaming over her warm skin. Every inch of her was so perfect! Oh, how he wanted to make her his!
He whispered in her little ear.
“My princess…”
“I love you!”
“My beauty…”
“I cannot wait to have you!”
“My darling…”
“Mine, mine, mine!”
And the prince waited, dreaming of the day when he could finally rouse his sweet rose from her slumber. When a hundred years had nearly came, the prince road to the slumbering kingdom, his heart beating and beating in his chest.
He came to her in the quiet.
It was the same as the first time he’d been there. Dark and quiet and cold. Red roses had grown and grown through the kingdom. Red petals and sharp thorns had taken over everything, covering it all in a blood red wall.
The sky was dark and the sun ceased to shine.
The wind no longer ran through the land.
All was deathly quiet.
All slept soundly.
The blood red roses blanketed the entire land and the castle and all else, twisting and tangling and creating a wall of thorns. The roses tore and tugged at the prince, as though to keep him away from the princess. His cloak was shredded and blood dripped but, oh, he didn’t care! The prince walked on, smiling wide as he ran to the tallest tower.
“My princess~”
He found her laying upon her silk and lace, looking so very lovely as she slept. Was she dreaming of him, he wondered? Could she feel his presence as he crept closer? Closer and closer and closer until he lay by her side, finally.
He kissed her.
Once more, his cool lips pressed to her warm, red lips. He thought of how he would kiss her everyday now, her lips would be his!
He touched her.
She would be his soon, both body and soul. He would kiss her and hold her and make such wonderful love to her! Oh, how perfect it would be!
He whispered in her little ear.
“My darling…my true love!”
And to her sweet lips he pressed the bubbling bottle, pouring the love potion down, down, down her throat. Kissing her neck, the prince smiled and took one final look at her slumbering form. And then he leaned low, smiling as his lips hovered above hers.
“I love you, my sleeping beauty.”
With that…he kissed her.
And with his kiss, her eyes opened wide…and she smiled. Into his arms she fell, smiling and kissing her sweet, sweet prince.
Her hero!
Her true love!
All at once, the dark curse that had controlled the land for so long began to melt away. Magic seeped back into the darkness and light and laughter began to fill the kingdom once again, returning it to the way it had once been.
The sky grew bright and the sun began to shine (how pale it’s light seemed, though, as if it was not as bright as it should be…).
The wind blew sweetly through the land (what was this strange voice that road upon the wild winds, whispering such odd things as it did…).
The king and queen and all their people were roused from their sleep (how dreamy they all seemed, as though a sleep touched them still…).
And the prince and the princess were lost deeply in their love, just as they were meant to be.
It was Happily Ever After!
(An idea: a kiss from Sleeping Beauty’s real true love breaks the affects of the love potion. Is her true prince kind and willing to protect her from the yandere prince? Or will she be caught between two yanderes, each as wicked as the other? I super wanna write a smut of this too…)
Rewriting disney stories with yandere characters x readers
Yandere prince charming x cinderella reader
You were a simple girl, born into a loving family. Your life was perfect until your mother's sudden death followed by your father who also passed away unexpectedly. Before dying, your father had married your stepmother and that was how you got two stepsisters (they're hideous by the way).
Ever since both your parents died and your stepmother inherited everything, you have been living like a maid in your own house. Your stepsisters took your room, your stepmother took what used to be your parents bedroom and worst of all, you got thrown out to go live in an animal shed behind the house. Surrounded by rats and lizards and birds nests, you now live with pests.
What made everything worse was all the household labour that you had to do. All alone. Only you. You went from being a loving daughter to two amazing parents to suddenly being a maid in your own house.
But there's one thing you don't know, one thing that's slightly strange about your life. It's the man that secretly watches you. You don't know about him. No, you don't even have an idea that he's obsessed with you. You're oblivious.
But for him, you're his everything. He's been watching you for months now. Washing clothes by the river, walking barefoot in the forest or picking berries in the bushes. He finds you innocent and pure.
Who is he? His name is charming, literally. He is the prince charming of the kingdom. Next in line for the throne. The only heir of the king. And he's been in love with you for a long time. Tonight he will make his first move to make you his.
In the evening, when the Sun is starting to set, royal guards come to the town to make an announcement. "THE PRINCE WILL GET MARRIED!" they say. "HE WILL PICK HIS FUTURE QUEEN AT THE BALL TOMORROW. ALL WOMEN FROM ALL HOUSEHOLDS, NOBLE OR NOT, RICE OR POOR, ARE TO ATTEND! ANYONE CAN BE CHOSEN AS THE FUTURE QUEEN!" The news sends an uproar in the kingdom. Within one night they are supposed to get a ball gown and be ready. It's not possible. It's too sudden, too quick.
When the news hits your household, everyone is running around. Everything is in chaos. Your stepsisters want the perfect dress to seduce the prince and your stepmother wants the prince to pick one of them as his bride. You think that it's too sudden, too much too quick. But you don't know that this was his plan- the prince wanted it to be like this.
The announcement is just a formality. What he actually wants is to announce you as his wife in front of the entire kingdom. He doesn't care if the other women got enough time to play dress up or not. He only cares about you.
So, on the night of the ball when your stepsisters and stepmother leave- you are left wondering how you could also attend the ball. You don't have a dress, a carriage or even any money.
You're sitting at the gates of your house, sighing in sadness when suddenly a large carriage stops in front of you. You look at it with curiosity.
A man steps out, he walks in front of you and bows deeply. "Ms. (Y/N)." He says, his head still bowed. "W-what? Who are you?" You ask.
"I am, Gideon. The personal messenger of the prince. He has sent me to deliver these to you." He stands up straight and points at the door of the carriage that is suddenly opened by another man. Two women step out from inside carrying a huge vanity box and a beautiful blue dress.
You gasp at the sight of it. "Oh. . . This is stunning."
"I'm glad you feel that way Ms. Now, if you may allow us then these women shall dress you up and down your hair and makeup. We must be quick however, as the prince is growing impatient for you."
You don't get any time to question or ask what's going on? Or even why the prince is doing all this for you. Instead, you're grabbed by the women who take you inside the house and immediately start undressing you. Their hands are quick at taking off your shabby robe and dirty clothes. They quickly put you in your new blue dress.
Your face is powdered in no time and your hair is out in a quick updo. Finally, they put on a beautiful pair of earrings on you as well as a set of glass slippers.
You try to thank them for their work but you're instantly pushed out the doors and into the carriage.
"Take her to the prince." Gideon says simply and the carriage starts moving. Now, It's just you and your thoughts along with a very beautiful set of glass shoes on your feet. You don't know what happened to the women or Gideon as they did not get in the carriage with you.
Too many questions on your mind.
On the other side, Prince Charming stands in the balcony of one of the empty rooms near the ball. Why aren't you here yet? He keeps on thinking. He sent the best dress and shoes for you. He even sent his personal messenger to ensure that you'll reach the ball safely. But you're still not here.
He just needs you to be near him once. Then he'll never let you go.
Suddenly, a large royal carriage comes into view and he knows that it's you. Without wasting a moment, he walks into the ball just as you are about to enter.
You get off the carriage and are immediately rushed into the ball by the palace guards who were already waiting at the gates. There's no explanation that is given to you or even a moment to breathe. By the time you enter, the whole hall has gotten quiet and right in front of you, at the center- stands the prince himself.
You stop breathing for a moment. He's stunning. You think. He's thinking the same about you. That you look so stunning in that dress, god, why did he have to choose that? He wants to rip the eyes of everyone in this hall so he's the only one who gets to look at your beauty.
He walks over to you and gently takes both of your hands into his. "May I have the first dance with you, (Y/N)?" You nod.
"How do you know my name?" You ask as he leads you to the center. Music starts playing and you're both moving to the melodious tune together when he answers, "I've always known about you. . . You're beautiful, you know that?"
Your face heats up and you look away. "It's because of the dress that you sent. Thank you for this. It's very generous of you."
His hand has been on your waist this entire time. It's a firm grip that doesn't allow you to put any space between you two. Everyone is watching you two. You're very well aware of the eyes around you.
"Come with me." He says and starts guiding you outside the hall. He takes you to a garden, far away from the noise of others.
You're standing face to face, close to each other. "I have always wanted you so badly. This ball, I want to announce you as my future queen." He doesn't let you answer, doesn't let you protest and refine doesn't let you say no.
His lips capture yours in a firm kiss. It lasts long and it's hungry and passionate. You have to push him away to get some air in between the kisses. He laughs. "I'm sorry, my love. Was that too much for you? It's only going to get more from here."
You try to take a step back but he pulls you closer. So close, you feel claustrophobic. "I'm sorry, your highness, but this is too fast. I wanted to attend the ball. I didn't know that you would pick me. I-" you don't know how long he's known you for. Or how he knows you so well. Your exact dress size and your exact show size. Just how well does he know you? How long has he been watching?
"shhh. . . " He tells you to stop. "You don't get to say that, love. Not after you stole my heart all those months ago. I've seen you, I've watched you from far away. This isn't too quick. If anything I've been too slow. Waiting for a ball to announce you as my future wife. I have wanted you for way too long."
"I don't think this is right. I should get a say in this." You protest. He laughs louder this time. "Absolutely not. I decided that you're mine. End of story." He is grinning now. Grinning as if this is just so simple for him. But for you, this is your whole life. He's just deciding what your life will be from now on.
He kisses you once more. This time you use your full force to push him away but he doesn't even budge. "Come now. I must announce to everyone that I have found my future queen." Just as he starts to drag you back you push him down. He stumbles forward for a bit. You use that moment to twist out of his grip and run.
You don't know where you're going or who you'll go to buy you just run. You're at the stairs of the palace when your foot slips and you're falling down. You scream in pain when your body hits the cold steps. "STOP HER! SHE SHOULDN'T GET AWAY!" You look back to see that it's the prince yelling at the guards. Guards who are coming towards you.
You get up and try to run when you notice that you're missing a shoe. It's on one of the steps. It must've come off when you fell. You don't waste any time in going back for it. Instead, you get up and run into the woods.
You don't know how long you ran for or even what time it is. But you know that it's been at least an hour since you ran away. There's no one around you. Meaning you're safe for a while now. You sit near one of the trees, your back against its trunk and decide to rest.
When you wake up, it's early morning. The Sun is out but the air is chilly and the view in front of you is foggy. You don't know when you feel asleep. Scared that you'll be found soon, you decide to keep on moving. You don't know where you'll go or what you'll do. You have no place that the prince won't find you in. You need to leave.
But more than that you need clean clothes and supplies. After debating for a while, you decide to go home, take some supplies and leave forever.
When you walk in, the house is empty and cold. You think no one is inside when a voice startled you, "Just where do you think you're going?" You yelp and then around to see your stepmother standing with your two stepsisters.
You open your mouth to speak but you're instantly cut off by your stepmother's yelling, "You think you could seduce the prince and get away with it! He was supposed to pick MY daughter, not some filthy servant of my house. You will pay for this."
You take a step back- try to reach for the door but one of your step sisters pulls grabs your hair and pulls you back. You yell in pain. Another step sister, grabs at your dress and tears one of the sleeves off. This process of pushing and pulling at your continued for a long while.
"STOP!" Your stepmother yells. You are immediately let go off but not without one final push to the floor. You fall down with a loud thud. "Someone's outside." She says. "Be quiet." It's a threat directed at you.
You can hear the sound of some men standing and talking outside. She slightly opens the door and steps out. Not without giving your one final glare of a warning. Your stepsisters follow her. "Oh, your highness. To what do I owe the pleasure of having you here at my house?" Your eyes widen when you hear her.
The prince is at your house. No doubt for you. You need to leave. You quickly run into the attic, also known as your dirty dusty room. You quickly take what little possessions you own. Two pairs of clothes, a pair of shoes and some silver coins that will last you a few days if you ration them.
You quickly go down the stairs and move towards the backdoor of the house. You stop when you hear what your stepmother is saying. "That is so strange. (Y/N) Has not been home since last night. You won't find her here at all."
"She is my future queen and this is her house. I will personally check the property to ensure that she's not here." The prince says. As soon as you hear that, all doubt about running away leaves your mind and you open the door to leave.
As soon as you step out the back door, a pair of hands grab you. "Your highness we found her!" Gideon yells. You start at him horrified. "No! Let me go!" You struggle in his arms but his grip is strong and persistent.
You hear the sound of footsteps. Prince Charming comes into view and now he's standing face to face with you. "Looks like you're trying to run away." His gaze falls on your feet. "You can't walk like that." He pulls out your lost shoe from the inside of his coat- He gets on one knee and gently puts it back on your foot. You don't protest in fear of angering him.
He stands and looks at your stepmother, "It looks like you were lying about where she was." He doesn't wait for her to apologise. With one swift movement of his sword he beheads her.
Your eyes widen and you just stare at her headless body that is now on the floor. "Throw the sisters into the dungeon for life." He takes your chin in his hands. "And you, my dear will live your happily ever after with me."
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Which story/fairytale should I do next?
https://archiveofourown.org/works/82790301
Why am I continuing this Cinderella Story, Yandere!Prince Drabble? Because I’m in love, and judging from the votes I’ve gotten for a second-part, some of y’all are too. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to keep up the minimalistic style of the first part, but… I’m a sucker for dialogue, I guess.
You’d never given him your name. Of all things, the simple fact that you’d forgotten to introduce yourself was the only thing that gave you hope.
And god, you were thankful for it.
Upon returning home, your step-mother had been furious, just as you’d predicted. The punishment was swift, your dress burnt for having the audacity to be finer than anything either of your sisters owned and a wooden switch taken to your back, leaving scars among the many others that’d already been carved into your back. It was the first time your step-sisters had looked at you with sympathy, rather than envy, or hatred, or any of the other vile emotions they often directed towards you. The younger of the two had gone as far as to offer a roll of bandages, from the medicine cabinet you weren’t allowed to touch, let alone use.
You’d declined. You didn’t need their pity.
You’d survived this long without it.
After that, you went on like nothing had happened, ignoring the rumors of a royal combing over the village, the girls suddenly limbing through the market place, gossip of a traitor hiding among loyal citizens. You never spoke about the ball, keeping your head down and going out of your way to avoid the palace. As far as you were concerned, that party never happened. You weren’t in attendance, and you’d never seen the prince in person, let alone danced with him.
But, your avoidance could only buy you so much time. Weeks passed before there was a knock at the door of your secluded, isolated cottage, so far off the path that even the most lost of travelers couldn’t find your home. Before you could hide yourself away, or even wipe the ash and grime off your face from your earlier chores, your step-mother was inviting in royalty, letting him and his armed guards call down your sisters before leaving you alone, wishing your siblings on the best of luck. And so, so suddenly, you were staring down Nikolai, the very man you’d only seen in your nightmares since the party.
And then, he was taking a step towards you, his mouth open and lips curled into that tight, toothy, predatory smile-
“(Y/n) stayed home.” Your sister was quick to step in, the older of the two, Anastasia. She was lying through grit teeth, to a nobleman, no less, but you were more stunned that she was lying for you. You kept your eyes trained on the ground as she spoke, willing her not to go on. She’d never been great at reading the room, unfortunately. “It was only Eliza and I, and our mother. (Y/n) stayed home.”
Your younger sister nodded along. They’d both seen you stumble through the door, bare-foot and sobbing. “(Y/n) didn’t go, the carriage wasn’t big enough.”
Nikolai stopped, his smile quickly dropping, a light frown taking its place. With a wave of his hand, a guard stepped forward, presenting a poorly reconstructed, fractured glass slipper to the elder sister, his movements emotionless, bordering on rehersesred. Hesitantly, your sister reached out, stopping short of the hazardous item, only chuckling as she glanced down at her own feet.
“This can’t be safe.” Her voice was light, but forcefully so. Like she was about to cry. The guard raised an eyebrow, and her face paled. “I mean, you’re not serious, I wouldn’t-”
Nikolai interrupted her, sighing loudly, dramatically. He didn’t bother explaining himself, his piercing gaze drifting onto Anastasia at his own leisure, like an entitled child who didn’t feel the need to exert himself. “I’ve been to every home, every apartment, every gutter in this god-forsaken town, and this is the only place left that has a chance of housing the person I’m looking for. You can either put on the fucking shoe,” He paused, nodding towards his guard. You watched your sister’s breath hitch as a dagger was thrust into the wall, barely a hair’s width from impaling her cheek. “Or you can cut away until it fits perfectly.”
There was a moment of silence, of stillness, before you took were forced to break it, stepping in front of your step-sister and taking the shoe from the guard’s hand. You didn’t say anything, not trusting your voice to stay strong. The glass was already cutting into your palms, all jagged edges and razor-sharp corners, but you swallowed down the pain, smiling towards the increasingly excited prince.
You didn’t need your sisters’ pity, but they needed yours.
Without looking away, you rolled the object over in your hands, letting it fall out of your grip unceremoniously. You could hear the glass shatter, breaking as soon as it made contact with wooden floor-boards, and you shrugged, catching still semi-solid piece under your heel and pressing down until something sharp dug into your skin. Your smile remained, but it couldn’ve reached your eyes.
No, you were much too scared for that.
“My apologies, Your Highness,” You said, hoping the guards would simply kill you on the spot, rather than drag this out for another second. “It slipped.”
Looking back on it, you couldn’t have known how happy he’d be, disregarding broken shards to pull you towards him, practically lifting you off your feet in an effort to keep you as close to his chest as possible. The kiss that was hastily pressed against your lips, though sweet and soft, stung worse than any whips or bullet you could ever imagine. You tried to pull away, Nikolai barely stronger than yourself, but instantly, the muzzle of a rifle was pressed against the small of your back, silencing both your protests and the sobs soon forming in your throat.
“Kill me.” Your voice was more of a whisper than a demand, more of a plea. You tried again without thinking, pushing at his shoulders. “I stabbed you! Execute me! Have my head chopped off and leave my family alone!”
Nikolai laughed, running a hand through your hair, ignoring the way you struggled against him. “You were afraid, darling, and I can’t say that I blame you. Not when I’ve seen why you’re so hesitant.” Another soft kiss, another playful squeeze to your hip, like he was trying to be comforting, of all things. “But, you don’t have to be scared anymore. After our wedding, I’ll make sure you never have to lift a finger again.”
Our wedding.
The thought was more painful than thoughts should be, tears forming in the corners of your eyes. Not breaking down completely took more self-control than it should’ve, your grip on Nikolai’s arm growing tighter, bruising. You opened your mouth to respond, but the words died in your throat as he hummed, bringing a hand up to wipe at the ash on your cheek, his white gloves shortly stained grey.
“You’re upset now, but… our love will be a happy one, yet.” Kissing your now-clean cheek, Nikolai pulled away, if only to better stare down your step-sisters. His intentions were more than clear, pleas and apologies flowing from your lips as you begged him not to do this, not to kill anyone. But, if Nikolai heard you, he didn’t show it, only laughing as you tore at his coat. “Please don’t cry, this’ll be over soon.” You didn’t look up, he wouldn’t let you, but you could hear the other two guards positioning themselves away from the prince, your sisters’ voiced suddenly becoming louder, more frantic.
More frightened.
“All we have to do is get rid of these villains.”
I don’t even have an explanation. I’m just selfish, and I’ve been reading a lot of folklore lately. I always forget how intense the protagonists can be… Maybe this’ll be the first part to a mini-series, if only because I love me a Prince.
It was supposed to be your fairy tale.
Your moment in paradise, your one night away from that tiny, secluded cottage. Your step-mother wouldn’t be able to tell you to do your chores, or to fetch something from the market place in town during a monsoon, or reward your step-sisters with gifts using your inheritance. Your sisters wouldn’t be able to mock you, or tear at your clothes, or treat you like the servant they didn’t want to pay for. You wouldn’t be expected to cook, or clean, or do much of anything for one precious night.
And that was all you wanted.
One single night.
It’d been a miracle when that older woman caught you walking home, after your step-mother had sent you to a nearby town only hours before the carriage was supposed to arrive. Her intentions were obvious, but you’d already expected this, complacent with your place beneath her foot. And yet, that kind, kind woman had practically shoved a dress into your hands, two glass shoes on top of the pile of lace and fabric.
“Someone so young shouldn’t be doing chores tonight,” She’d explained, dragging you into her over-sized, silver carriage. “Come, I’ll help you change. Just make sure you get back home before the rest of your family.”
In just an hour and a carriage ride, you went from cursing your own name to wandering through the ballroom, lost and bewildered and so, so happy. You ate anything you could get your hands on, drinking wines that burnt at your tastebuds and dancing with whoever extended their hand. Another peasant girl who was just as amazed to be there, a kind merchant who said you reminded him of his daughter, and…
And him.
A nobleman, you thought. Your age, with curly red hair, cut short on the sides, and more freckles that you could count. Cute, sure, but you were more focused on how much he seemed to know about the castle, how fluent he was with refined guested and how easily he managed to find the more private areas where visitors weren’t supposed to wonder. And as soon as he mentioned the castle having a garden, you were dragging him outside, running through rows of flowers and statues as quickly as glass shoes would let you. He just laughed, fighting to keep up with your enthusiasm as he desperately tried to introduce himself.
“Nikolai,” He’d mumbled, while you knelt next to a bed of white hydrangeas that shined so brightly in the moonlight. The words were said quietly, more out of habit than any real obligation. “…and you’re amazing.”
Amazing. He’d called all sorts of sweet things, that night. Amazing, beautiful, witty, brilliant, compliments both worked into conversations and mumbled absent-mindedly, when he thought you weren’t paying attention. Of course, you tried to return the favor, but your efforts were much more clumsy. Nikolai was clever, even if he was prone to day-dreaming. And you liked him… you liked this. Talking to someone, not caring about how clean the floors were or what time dinner had to be on the table by.
You were free, and you loved it.
“I could stay here forever,” You laughed, tugging him in the direction of a small, unnecessary bridge stretching over a thin stream, water-lilies and koi crowding the water. “Why would anyone ever want to leave? ”
“I’m not against it,” Nikolai replied, taking your hand in a more… intimate way. Softer, less rushed. “As long as it means I get to see you again.”
A sweet sentiment for a sweet boy. You didn’t hesitate, your reluctance having been left at the door. Leaning in, you strung your arms over his shoulders, kissing him in a shallow, short display of affection. You could feel Nikolai grin against your lips, his hands finding their way to your hips as he attempted to keep his mouth pressed against yours. Giggling, you pulled away playfully, running a hand through his hair and letting the boy lean into your palm. You opened your mouth, ready to tease the love-struck expression on his face, but the loud, deafening chiming of the castle’s clock cut you off.
Twelve Strikes. Midnight.
You family was always home by this time, if not earlier.
Cursing to yourself, you pulled away, one hand gripping your skirt and the other resting against Nikolai’s chest. You kept your eyes trained on the castle’s gates, gaze darting from one face to another, trying to determine whether or not they’d already left, how much trouble you’d be in if they found out you’d dared to show your face in public, whether or not you’d be locked in your room again. Excuses flowed from your lips as you tried to get away from the man in front of you, his hand catching yours before you could take a proper step.
Reflexively, you looked back at him, guilt flooding into your veins when you saw the confused, hurt expression painted across his face. “Don’t leave, I… I can have a room set up for you here. Or you could stay in mine for the night.” Again, you apologized, trying to pull yourself out of his grip. A cold hand tightened around your own, the boy glaring down at you, forcing you to stumble with one jerk of your arm. “No. You said you didn’t want to leave, so you’re not going to. You’re going to stay here, with me…” Trailing off, he scanned over you, a smile soon plastered across his face.
Wide and toothy, like a cat with a mouse in its claws. Predatory.
“And we’re going to love each other.”
It only took a moment for you to react, lifting your foot and slamming a glass heel against the stone bridge. It cracked, the tip becoming shaper, jagged, while the base chipped and cut into your feet. Still, you gritted the teeth, driving the now pointed pitch into his foot, shutting your eyes as the glass cut through his shoe, embedding itself into his skin with some… less than appetizing sounds. You slipped out of the broken heel easily, throwing off its twin and sprinting for the front entrance as Nikolai fell to his knees, trying to nurse the limb slowly bleeding out.
It was only as you ran through the doors, trying to blend into the crowd while praying that your step-mother was drunk enough to put her in a merciful mood, that you noticed the giant, golden insignia adorning the castle’s gates. Something you’d easily missed in your earlier excitement.
For a moment, you wondered why Nikolai would have the same crest sewn onto the sash he wore so casually.
Then, you wondered if the guards would be kind enough to kill you. Guns and swords had to be preferable, compared to the wrath of a Prince.
They were the first to meet...