This event will run from Nov 17th to Nov 21st 2024. Details for the themes on the pinned post. Looking forward to some amazing Liam content!! (Header from the Dreamstime site)
Chapter 14: Make You Mine from Turning the Page by @tessa-liam (ft. art commission by artbyainna)
Part 1 of Rainy Days by @missameliep
Family Addition by @lorirwritesfanfic
Chapter 1: The Statues of Legacies by @lizzybeth1986
Chapter 4: Garídes Saganáki from Eleanor's Kitchen by @lizzybeth1986
Estranged by @twinkleallnight
The Start of Forever by @liaromancewriter
Three Princes Walk Into A Bar by @thosehallowedhalls
Undone by @dcbbw
Backstory: The Briefcase by @dcbbw
Video Edit
Once Upon A Time... by @ao719 (recommended by @kristinamae093)
DAY 2: VANILLA/CHARACTER APPRECIATION
Character Appreciation
Art
King "Liam" x Iara by @lilyoffandoms
Commissions
King Liam by @bayleedraws-sometimesx (commissioned for @angelasscribbles "Dark Elf" series)
Fencing by @sazanes
Fanfic
O Bom Nom do Rei de Cordonia by @madamealien
Chapter 9: Acts of Defiance from Forevermore by @khoicesbyk
Part 1 & Part 2 of Heartstopper by @katedrakeohd
Headcanon
Character Profile: Liam Rys by @lorirwritesfanfic
Vanilla
Fanfic
Part 5 of Estranged by @twinkleallnight
Commissions
Shower (🍋) by @pilitella (commisioned by @tessa-liam)
DAY 3: ROSES/MONUMENTS
Roses
Art
The Royal Wedding by @lilyoffandoms
Juliet Rose by @sazanes
Edit
Liam with a Bouquet of Roses by @angelasscribbles
Fanfic
Rosas de Aniversário by @madamealien
Fallen Petals by @lorirwritesfanfic
Video Edit
When Liam Sings for You by @twinkleallnight
Monuments
Art
Commissions
Pont des Arts, "Lovelock Bridge", Paris, France by artbyainna, for Chapter 15: Bridge of Dreams of Turning the Page by @tessa-liam
Moodboard
The Cordonian Royal Palace by @angelasscribbles
Applewood by @angelasscribbles
DAY 4: RELATIONSHIPS/COFFEE
Relationships
Art
King "Liam" x Iara by @lilyoffandoms
King "Liam" x Iara: Wedding by @lilyoffandoms
Edit
Riley and Liam's Wedding by @aussiegurl1234 (recommended by @angelasscribbles)
Fanfic
To Catch A Killer from The Defiant King by @angelasscribbles
Chapter 2: The Dark Lord from The Dark Kingdom by @angelasscribbles
Chapter 10: Dèja Vu from Forevermore by @khoicesbyk
Break - Part I by @lorirwritesfanfic
Estranged - Part 3 by @twinkleallnight
Coffee
Fanfic
Água de Lava-Louças by @madamealien
Pause for Coffee by @lorirwritesfanfic
Moodboard
Liam, Coffee and Coasters by @lizzybeth1986
DAY 5: HEALING
Fanfic
Lírio e Mogno by @madamealien
Brothers-in-Arms (WIP) by @tessa-liam (ft. commissioned artwork by artbyainna)
Part 3 of Estranged by @twinkleallnight
--
This is an amazing masterlist of pieces, with incredible variety, and we can guarantee you will enjoy each of these pieces!
As always, this masterlist will be open to entries all the way into the next KLAW event! Be sure to send in stuff whenever you'd like (and here are the themes!)
Here is my second submission for the Luck of the Draw event hosted by @moodmusicmonday .
I was not quite done playing with videos so, I made another video edit. Hope you all like it. Thank you so much for watching and leaving your comments for my First Video Edit
This is unlike the first one. Again I am new to this art so please ignore the flaws. The second song I recieved was 10,000 hours by Justin Bieber and here is what I made:
(this beauty of a video is from @sazanes, our co-host and one of the best artists in our fandom!!)
We still can't believe it's been three years since we first started appreciation weeks for Liam! It's always been a beautiful experience, seeing the love and creativity you all shower on this amazing character. Even though the series met its end a long time ago.
It is a testament to how enduring and memorable Liam is, that he still captures imaginations long after the series that introduced him is over.
This year saw some incredible pieces, and fantastic commissions and recommendations from fellow fans. Our CONTRIBUTORS amazed us with their innovative interpretations and enthusiasm, and each entry we received was a labour of love!!
You all have given us so much joy, and so much love through each piece here. Not a day of this appreciation week passed by where we weren't thrilled, enthralled, amazed by the talent and spirit on display here. You all are the jewels on the crown that is this appreciation week. We cannot imagine this week without you.
Some of our contributors also sent in incredible recommendations of work from a wonderful constellation of artists! We were treated to work from @bayleedraws-sometimesx, @ao719 and artbyainna (Instagram) by @angelasscribbles, @kristinamae093 and @tessa-liam. Thank you so much for your dedication in lifting up fellow artists!!
FAN COMMUNITY BLOGS are an incredible source of inspiration and creativity. Many of them have been helping us, year after year, in promoting these events and increasing our reach. Their dedication and commitment to providing a space for our creativity has been nothing short of amazing. We hope to see them continue to do more fantastic work in the future.
And last but definitely NOT the least - our wonderful SIGNAL BOOSTERS!! Where would we be without you all? You have always been our pillar of strength, the reason we keep these events going. How your support and encouragement makes us feel cannot even be put into words. Thank you so much, from the bottom of our hearts.
The week itself may be over, and the masterlist will be out soon, BUT this blog will be open for entries all year long! Please do not hesitate to send in any work you had planned for KLAW even into next year - it will be open until the next KLAW event.
We hope to be back with more themes, more fun and more joy celebrating Liam next year! Until then, stay safe, have fun and have a great year!!!
Summary: In her first few months as Queen, Regina Amaranth bonds with her youngest stepson over an unlikely sweet.
Word Count: 2, 653 words
A/N: Inspired by Regina's "parent advice" in the MC's baby shower in TRH - "Don't let the palace kitchen serve baklava after midnight" . Regina and Constantine have just been married for a few months, and Liam is just a couple months short of turning 12.
Tagging @kingliamappreciationweek and @sazanes for KLAW Day 1: Baklava, and @choicesficwriterscreations for FoTW
For the hundredth time tonight, the newest Queen Consort of Cordonia shifts uncomfortably in her bed - her eyes heavy with the promise of slumber, yet refusing to remain completely shut. As if in defeat, they stop forcing themselves closed, and rest wearily upon the steady, almost-hypnotising rise-and-fall of her husband's chest. It moves in a slow, steady rhythm; a rhythm perfectly matched by the deep, broken rumble of his snores.
Regina sighs heavily, and stifles the very childish urge to bury her ears beneath her pillow. It's been five months now since their wedding. Surely that's enough time to get accustomed to a man's - any man's - oddities and idiosyncracies? Even the ones that disrupt your sleep and force you to consume pill after pill for your morning migraine?
Constantine snores on, blissfully ignorant of the woman glaring in the direction of his half-open mouth. The loud, crackling rattle seems to emerge not so much from his nose as from his chest; so deep is the sound. Most nights, she can manage to drift off into slumber before he does - tonight, she is not that fortunate.
Regina winces; her forehead throbs, in what she knows to be a precursor to a particularly vile, sleep-deprived headache. She grabs her robe and hauls herself, reluctantly, off their bed. If she can just get someplace else, just relieve herself of the sounds of snoring for twenty minutes, she is sure she can salvage this one awful night with at least five hours of sleep.
Gingerly, she ties her robe, feels her toes around for her slippers, then pads her way out the bedroom with a measured softness, still taking furtive glances at the slumbering form of her husband. She runs a nervous hand through her hair, tousled and very unlike the sleek updo she prefers to be seen in, in public, and hopes fervently that no one else is awake. "Carefully rumpled" is more her cousin's style.
The corridor is mercifully dark, except for the thin slivers of light emerging from two rooms.
Regina stands still and keeps her breathing a bit slower, a bit more measured, listening for sounds. Five months and she still feels as much of a stranger here as she did on her wedding night. Part of her wants to believe that it is most likely because she is the sole woman in a family surrounded by males, the one who came into this family when it had already spent several years functioning as a unit (even if a little dysfunctional sometimes) with an altogether different type of woman.
A woman who clearly knew how to work around "her boys", even if they couldn't work with her.
But another part of her wonders if the lack is within her. If it is because - no matter how she and Constantine feel about each other - she could be the right queen but the wrong wife...and, most importantly, the wrong mother for their boys.
Regina faces the first door with narrowed eyes and a pinched mouth, sighing as she strains to ignore the reedy rasp of a rock star's voice and frantic guitar strumming, made faint by the door that blocks any entry into her eldest stepson's most private space. Neither knocking the door nor telling Leo off would change things - if anything, he would snap back with what he believes to be a smart remark, or increase the volume just to get a rise out of her.
Regina shakes her head. It's almost hard to believe that it hadn't always been this way. And depressing to know, that there was a time when the boy seemed to at least try. Murmurs in court from as recently as last year seemed to indicate that while his far-younger brother was clearly better suited to be heir to the throne, Leo was beginning to show a little interest in the role.
Looking at him as a member of this family, Regina wonders now what changed for him so drastically. Yes, the cruel, untimely death of Queen Eleanor would doubtless come to mind - Leo had already lost a mother figure, to lose another at this vulnerable age would have broken anyone - but she is beginning to get the feeling that there may have been more to it than even that devastating loss.
Still...even if that were the case, Regina knows that she would be the last person Leo would want to confide in. He has made no secret of his resentment of her even since her engagement with the King, of his displeasure in having her as part of their family. No compromise, no olive branches, no attempt to reach out to him seems to work.
She cannot blame Leo entirely either. Perhaps, embracing Queen Eleanor and accepting her as his mother had taken up so much of the boy's energy, that he has none left for the woman who has now - unfortunately - taken her place.
Regina shakes her head, moving away from Leo's door. She isn't losing hope, not really, that she will...one day...succeed in changing things between herself and Leo. But she is beginning to sense that she shouldn't hold her breath for that moment either.
Softly, soundlessly, she makes her way across the corridor. She stops midway, at the door of her younger stepson. By the little sliver of light she can just about see from the slightly-ajar door, she can tell young Liam has made a rather appalling attempt at pretending to be asleep. Surreptitiously, she knocks.
A pause. Perhaps he is still weighing his options, still wondering if he can still get away with acting like he is asleep.
Unconsciously, Regina taps out a rhythm with her foot as she waits for Liam to decide. It is ironic how, of the two boys, it is far easier for one to get a read on Leo. What you see is what you receive.
Now Liam...is another kettle of fish. He is a wonderful boy, really - gentle and generous of spirit. He has made all the effort a young teenager could possibly make, to ensure his new mother experienced no distress in her first months here. He has been affable, he has been charming, he has been kind.
But there is a wall. And so far, any attempt to be a mother to him, adds yet another brick to it, making it almost impossible for her to reach him.
Regina genuinely likes Liam, even if she doesn't feel particularly maternal towards either of the boys yet. If she continues to fail with him, Regina will consider that the more crushing failure.
She doesn't knock again, giving Liam the opportunity to decide what he wants. He could wave any questions he gets in the morning, with the excuse that he had forgotten to switch off the lamp in his room. She would be impressed enough with his ability to spin at age eleven, that she'd pretend to believe it.
He does not. He opens the door, fully. Hair tousled, bags under his eyes, not a single wrinkle on his plain blue pajamas. And the look on his face spells - plainly - his intent to not lie to her.
Regina is a tad bit more impressed than she expects to be.
"Not asleep yet?" she asks him lightly, as if it's just 10 PM, and not quarter to 2 in the morning.
Liam's eyes flit from behind Regina to around her to her slippers and the floor - anywhere but her eyes. On closer inspection, she thinks she can spot crumbs of something around his mouth.
When he finally lifts his eyes to her own widened ones, he quickly, and guiltily, covers his mouth, mumbling inaudibly. Biting back a smile, she moves her gaze from his face to a spot behind his shoulder. A spot on his bed where only sheets should be. A spot on his bed...where a small, half-finished golden box of baklava now rests.
Regina's brows raise almost to the level of her hairline. "I thought you liked baklava."
Taken aback, the boy lifts a finger to a corner of his mouth, furtively directing a stray crumb inside, almost as if to savour the honeyed taste he had just enjoyed a minute ago. "I do," he says, hesitantly, "a lot."
She takes a mental inventory of the box. One...two...five and a half pieces left, glistening in the soft light from Liam's bedside lamp. The box itself looks half empty - it came from Istanbul packed with twenty pieces of baklava, five pieces each for four varieties. Walnut, almond, cashewnut and pistachio.
It had been addressed specially to Liam two weeks ago, from Evrim Köse, the Turkish ambassador to Cordonia. And by specially, she means that not another soul but him could lay a hand on those sweets. Which suited the rest of the palace just fine - most of them tended to find such a treat too cloying, too sugary for their tastes.
Regina feigns flicking lint lightly from a few fingers. "I thought you'd have finished that box by now. The last one didn't take you two days!"
Liam tries, and fails, to stifle a giggle. "I really, really wanted to savour it this time."
Intrigued, Regina turns her gaze back to him. It's not every day she hears of an eleven-year-old extol the pleasures of waiting. "What do you mean?"
Slowly, Liam pads his way back to the bed, gingerly touching the box. There's a certain glow of pleasure in his eyes, as he remembers that first exhilarating experience of biting into a baklava in Turkey three months ago. As if he only has to look at the sweet to relive how that one bite nearly changed his life.
"The last time I took a box like this home, I gobbled it up in two days." The two chuckle together at the memory. "It got over so fast. I'd wake up at night craving one more bite and wishing I hadn't hurried up so much, eating it," Liam says, his murmur tinged with slight regret. "This time I promised I'd take my time with it. That lovely little feeling every time I have a taste... I want it to last a little longer."
As he says it, Regina can already see in her mind's eye the way Liam would hold that sweet, carefully, delicately...the way he would chew, slowly...the way he would close his eyes so every available sense would be attuned to the golden glow, to the sweet rosewater scent, to the delicate crunch of forty layers of filo pastry. The way he would prolong this bliss till that was no longer possible.
How long she's spent, attempting to be mother to this boy. Yet how little she - really. truly - knows him.
Almost as if he is reading her thoughts, Liam raises his eyes to the level of hers. He holds a piece out to her.
"No, no," Regina whispers guiltily, wondering if anything on her face could give the impression that she wanted the sweet. "It's all yours. I am not as fond of it as you are."
Neither do his eyes leave hers, nor his hand the baklava. She relents, holding the piece for a moment, her gaze soaking in its heavy, golden perfection. She pops it in like it's candy, then grimaces.
"You don't like it?"
Liam's voice is soft and unnervingly speculative, for a mere boy on the cusp of adolescence. Regina cannot make out from his gaze whether he expects her to feign a liking for the sweet, or be honest with him. Every bit of maternal advice she has heard from noblewomen who used to be her friends - noblewomen who settled into marriage and children far earlier than she did - has recommended appeasement, especially at this delicate stage in a child's development.
One more look into Liam's eyes, and Regina opts not to pretend. Her grimace stays unmoved on her face.
"Too sweet for me," she murmurs back.
On the face of it, Liam's expression seems to remain unchanged. Quiet, watchful, casually moving from her face to the baklava in her hands, and back. But Regina can sense a shift in the air. There is a glimmer in his eyes, some trace of an unspoken need reflected there, that she has unwittingly met. The muscles around his mouth relax more, his stance feels less guarded. He takes out another one, not exactly smiling, but Regina can feel the welcoming sentiment in the gesture regardless.
"This one has walnuts."
Regina smiles. She can't pretend not to be a little touched. "I do like walnuts," she says as she accepts this little treat, grateful not just for what it is but what it represents.
All this time, Regina had focused on being a mother to Liam and Leo. Inwardly cursing herself for not feeling that maternal instinct straightaway (or at all), wondering whether her new sons will resent her for not being mother enough. Especially for Liam, who had just lost his mother two years ago, and who was still too young to fully process that loss.
When all this time, what Liam needed hadn't been another mother at all.
Regina bites into the baklava Liam has offered. It's a tad bit better than the previous one; the walnuts prove a better, slightly more bitter contrast to the sugar syrup...but the latter is still too overpowering for her to ignore. It shows on her face, again; she begins to feel an involuntary pang of regret, then shakes it off.
She isn't sure yet what it is that Liam needs from her. What would strengthen this tentative bond that has blossomed between them tonight. But one thing she does know: whatever their relationship grows to become - a friend, a guide, a mentor - the foundation of it has to be her willingness to be honest with him.
For the rest of their time in the room (twenty minutes at most), Regina is content to merely watch as Liam finishes off the remaining contents of the box. "Anaïs told me I should finish them off now before they start going bad," he explains to her when she remembers his wish to savour the baklava slowly.
Aha! Regina stifles a bubble in her throat that feels suspiciously like laughter. So it's the head chef who has told him where the baklava was kept!
"It's almost two now, Liam," Regina tells him, a frown wrinkling her forehead. "You ought to get some sleep."
Liam appears a little taken aback when he looks at her, perhaps in response to the doubt in her voice. Somehow she highly doubts he will be able to sleep tonight. He's had so much baklava tonight that the ensuing sugar rush would make him too keyed up to sleep at all.
Regina isn't wrong. When Constantine - bright-eyed and alert - casts suspicious glances upon all three members of his family at breakfast time, she knows he has seen the bags beneath all their eyes.
"Has no one gone to bed on time tonight, besides me, Regina?"
Inwardly, Regina bristles. Indeed, it is so easy to sleep soundly in the face of such earth-shattering snores, when you're the one doing the snoring!
Meanwhile, she is conscious of the way their two sons stare at her. Leo's resentful and defiant (although he couldn't possibly know she was outside his door last night), Liam's nervous and hesitant.
"Surely I would have known if they were up all night," Regina feigns a bored drawl, "You know how sensitive I am to noise, darling."
The sigh of relief from the two brothers, once Constantine leaves the dining table, is almost audible. Before Liam leaves for his morning lessons, he rewards her with his biggest smile.
Regina bites back her own, and moves to her study so she can write a note to Chef Anaïs, in anticipation of any future kitchen-related adventures from the youngest prince. It is simple; a single line. Regina has to remind herself to not laugh, even as she passes the note to a member of the palace staff.
Let Prince Liam have baklava at any other time, except midnight. We really can't afford any more midnight sugar rushes at his age.
--
Notes:
1. The reference to Liam's first experience of baklava comes from this headcanon.
2. This story also hints at Leo's relationship with Eleanor and his secret relationship with a boy named Damien, which is explored to some extent in Eleanor's Kitchen, Chapter 6.
At this point in the story, Constantine has paid the family to leave Cordonia for good, after discovering Leo's romantic relationship with Damien. Leo - who before Eleanor's death was willing to work hard at being a Crown Prince despite not being fit for the role - now has lost all motivation to learn or become Crown Prince after losing both his mother and the boy he loves in the span of months.
Prompt: The @kingliamappreciationweek (day 2:Vanilla ) thank you @lizzybeth1986 beta reading this.
🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀
Liam had promised Savannah that he won't meet Fabian without her permission but he couldn't control himself. ‘I am only going to watch from a distance. I am not meeting him so technically I am keeping my word.’ he thinks. And so when Savannah walks down to Fabian's day care he discreetly follows her.
He eagerly waits behind the dense hedge of the Mastic tree, for Savannah to come out of the day care. Liam's heart soars high at the first sight of his son. He is mesmerized at the sight of his own miniature form trotting down along with a grown up Savannah. He steps back to keep away from them. They cross over, Fabian busy narrating the events of the day to his mother. He picks up on their conversation. Fabian is explaining, “....I told her it's simply milk, cream and plain vanilla, isn't it mother?” Savannah nods. Fabian punches his fist in air. “I knew it. I couldn't be wrong with my favourite drink.”
‘He likes Vanilla, just like me!’ Liam is excited on discovering a tiniest detail about his son. He wants to know more but he has to patiently wait for Savannah’s call. He starts walking back to his hotel. Seeing Fabian with Savannah takes his mind to the memories of yesteryears when he was with his mother…..
Little Liam walked with a skip to his mother. She could see through his focused eyes that he had an agenda in his mind. He stopped a few steps away from her and stood with his arms pushed back, his fingers wrapped tightly around each other behind his back.
“Mother, when are we going to visit Drake’s place?” He asked, hiding his nervousness.
“After two days my son,” Eleanor replied wondering where his thoughts are wavering. “why?”
“Oh, it is nothing, mother.” Liam tried to make it light.
Eleanor pulled him to her holding both his arms. “I can see you are pretty excited about something. What is going on in that smart head of yours?”
He brought his hands ahead, fidgeting with Eleanor’s scarf. Coyly, he raised his eyes to her. “I… I am fond of the vanilla shake that Drake’s mom whips.”
“Aahaan ! So you want to visit them just for that milkshake. I bet I can make one too” Eleanor teased.
Liam jerked back. “Not just any milk shake, mother. It’s Bianca’s special vanilla milkshake. Besides, playing around their cozy little rooms with Savannah.” He tried reasoning.
“I never knew you like to play with that little girl.”
“I meant Drake and Savannah.” Liam added.
“Hmm. So Drake and Savannah?”
“And Vanilla shake.” Liam reminded her.
“And the vanilla shake.” Eleanor repeated. “You are sure you are not hiding anything else ?”
Savannah had narrated many bedtime stories about King Liam to Fabian and she had narrated many stories about his father though she was always careful not to overlap any of those. But today everything seems difficult. She tries to speak to Fabian throughout the day and each time she finds herself beating around the bush. She always thought she would be ready and exhilarated to introduce Fabian to his father. Now she is at a loss of words.
After dinner, Fabian makes his bed with his mother and gets under the covers. Savannah keeps roaming around his room still pondering where to start.
“Mom?”
“Yes, baby.”
“Are you worried about something?”
She stops replacing things idly and looks at him, “Not exactly, dear.”
“Did I do something wrong?”
Savannah leaves everything aside and moves towards his bed to sit beside him. “You didn't…Why would you say that?”
“Because I can see you picking up the same things and placing them back again, going round and round the room. You do that when something is bothering you.”
“Oh Fabian!” Savannah bends down to place a kiss on his forehead. “You are such a sweetheart . Always so observant and caring.” ‘Just like your father’, she thinks.
“Does this mean there is something nagging you?”
“Nothing, dear. Actually it's just that… I want to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
She pats on his blanket and moves her fingers gently through his golden locks. “You remember, you lost that set of colour pens I gifted you last Christmas?”
“That one? I found it, mom. It was just misplaced under the pile of my colouring sheets.”
“And how did it feel, getting it back?”
He claps his hands gleefully, “I was so glad, I found those. They are the best gift.”
Savannah smiles. “What if I tell you that you are going to get the best gift you could have ever wished for?”
“What could that thing be?”
“Fabian, it's not a thing. It's a person who wants to meet you.”
“Do I know them?”
“Yes, you know him by certain names , now you will see him right in front of your eyes.”
“Does he know me?”
“Yes, very well.”
“Is he important to you, mother?” he asks in a serious tone making Savannah smile. His change of tone taking the matter at hand seriously reminds her again of the similarities he shares with Liam.
“Yes. He is someone very important.”
“Someone like….do you mean… like is there... is he… is he your boyfriend?”
Savannah laughs out loudly at that and starts shaking her head in denial.
Fabian pouts his lower lip and lowers his eyelids in embarrassment. “I am sorry. I just…”
Savannah cuddles him up. “You don’t have to be. Fabian, it’s time you meet your family, my child. He is one of the important part of our family. Let’s just meet once and then we take it ahead from there.”
The word family has Fabian thrilled. He has been patiently waiting to see uncles and aunts, grandparents and cousins like all other children do. He leaps at the opportunity. “Okay, when are we meeting?”
“Whenever you are comfortable.”
“I am ready, mom. Like, right now .” he emphasizes with his small hands.
“That’s great. Although right now won’t nd possible. How about breakfast tomorrow?”
“I would love that, mom” he beams at her.
“Okay, tomorrow morning then it is. Breakfast.”
“Will you be able to make some vanilla shake?”
“Why not. See you my sunshine. Good night. “
“Good night mom.”
Savannah trudges to the bedroom still smiling at Fabian’s vanilla shake request. ‘Like father, like son.’ She remembers how Liam too used to like Vanilla shake . He had once visited with Drake after a polo match and they all had shake made by Savannah.
She got into her bed, remembering the young age fun.......
“What man! I defeated the prince and all I get is a vanilla shake?” Drake whined to Liam.
“Vanilla shake is a good celebration, Drake.” Liam tried to convince.
“Yes, try it.” Savannah said walking in with three tall glasses in a tray.
“Cheers!” said Liam, picking up his glass.
Without a minute to waste he took a big sip and so did Savannah while Drake just watched them in disinterest.
“Who has vanilla shake for celebrating a victory?” he was mumbling when he heard his sister giggle.
He followed her gaze settling on Liam’s face that had a big white moustache of cream. Drake smirked.
“What ?” Liam asked looking between both of them.
She pointed out snickering, “ You got a big Moustache like an old man.”
Instead of wiping it off, Liam got up to look into the reflection on the TV’s black LED screen.
He turned towards Savannah and boomed, “Ho,Ho,Ho. I am Santa Claus. I am here to give you the Christmas present. What do you wish? Tell me young lady and I will grant it.”
Savannah shied looking at Liam’s playful manner and giggled more while Drake rolled his eyes.
She shakes her head to come back to reality and messages Liam inviting him for the breakfast. Next moment she goes into a deep slumber while thinking about the golden days. It has been a long day.
Next morning
Savannah greets Liam and ushers him into her humble abode. There in front him stands his replica. Fabian’s sandy blonde hair and ocean blue eyes are a straightforward giveaway for anyone to see.
Savannah awkwardly smiles and tries to break the ice. “Fabian, Come meet William.” She introduces.
“Good morning Fabian. I am William.” Liam says.
“Good morning sir,I am Fabian.” He moves ahead and shakes his hand in a very formal manner. Liam is surprised and impressed too.
“Pleasure meeting you.”
Savannah guides them to the dining table where Fabian already has his glass placed. “Please have a seat. I will be back in a minute”
She goes to the kitchen leaving them alone for sometime.
Fabian is slurping his favourite Vanilla shake while his eyes are fixed on the man who has come to meet him. Surprisingly his looks are too familiar to him. So he is observing him with his big blue eyes.
Liam smiles at him waiting for Savannah to join them.
“You like Vanilla Shake?”
Fabian nods, “Its my favourite drink.” He swallows in another sip and asks, “What is your favourite?”
“Same as yours.” Liam bends over the small round table, to whisper.
Fabian imitates bending towards him and whispers back . “My Mommy makes the best vanilla shake. You can ask her for some. She won’t deny. She has a big heart.”
Liam straightens. “I know, Fabian. I love the one she makes.”
Savannah walks out of her kitchen holding two glasses and offers one to Liam.
Vanilla shake. His favourite drink that Bianca made, that Savannah learnt and mastered from her mother, that his son is also fond of. He gives out a heavy breath that he didn’t realise he was holding up and takes the drink from her hands and places it on the table.
He gives a dry smile, first time at loss of words.
Savannah nods slightly telling him to wait. She is going to handle it. ‘The way she handled everything in her life. Alone.’ Liam thought. She is stronger than anyone can think of. She is stronger than him. He knows. So he lets her take the reins of this moment.
She sits down beside Fabian, her son and starts. “Fabian, you remember those bedtime stories?” she pulls him into her lap.
“Yes, Mother.” He answers and Liam thinks. ‘Oh, he answers like me!’
“Do you remember, you always felt strongly about one person in particular, in those stories?” Savannah continues.
Fabian nods, stealing a glance at Liam.
‘Was it me?’ Liam questions himself silently.
“Mommy?” Fabian holds on to her hands, “Is he really King Liam?”
While Liam is surprised that his son has recognised him, Savannah isn’t. She knows how her eight year old was smarter than any kid around. She simply nods.
Fabian’s gaze is intense making Liam squirm in his chair. The fear of rejection grappling him. ‘What if … ? ‘
Before Liam’s mind could wander into the threatening possibilities, Fabian shocks him with another question. “Are you my father?”
Liam expected Savannah to tell Fabian about him. But his son is intelligent enough to connect the missing dots. Liam loses control over the stoic appearance he carries. His emotions are raw as he looks at Savannah. She nods at him.
He Is scared, ‘What if…?’ his mind is continuously taking him down the spiral, ‘What if Fabian doesn’t accept me? What if he hates me?’ He shakes away the wild thoughts and swallows. He doesn’t realise his mouth has gone dry. A heavy minute passes before he answers, “Yes.”
Fabian breaks away from his mother’s arms and leaps to hug Liam taking him back with surprise, yet again. His short arms circle Liam’s neck as he hugs tightly, resting his head on Liam’s broad chest.
“I knew it.” He utters. “I knew it, father. I am glad you could come. I am very happy that you came.” He keeps repeating. “ I am sorry, you had to go through so much, Father. I am sorry I couldn’t help you. I am sorry, I wasn’t there to tell you that we love you and we care for you, father. We do, we really, really do. Both Mommy and I do.”
Savannah had told Liam that Fabian knew about him. But he didn’t expect the little one to forget his own hardships and instead console his father. Liam hugs him back, tears falling unfiltered from his eyes, breaking his strong façade of a king. Fabian has not only accepted him but is pouring out all his love and affection forgetting all the wrong that happened. His little boy is already so grown up and he has missed it all! His heart brakes at the thought and he looks up at Savannah.
She sits there, quietly watching the reunion, wiping away her tears. Fabian made her proud. And then, this man! She catches his gaze and he mouths the words at her, ‘Thank you.’
He caresses Fabian, moving his hand over his head and then placing a kiss in his hair. His other hand is still snuggled around his son’s little frame. Fabian looks up and Liam cups his face placing kisses on his forehead and cheeks and the nose and his eyes. He can never get tired of kissing his son but Fabian shakes his head. Liam stops. ‘Does he not like my kisses?’
Fabian shakes his hand while he raises his tiny little fingers and starts wiping Liam’s tears.
‘Oh dear God! I need to learn a lot from my son.’ Liam thinks and smiles through the tears, hugging his son again. He stretches out an arm for Savannah to join in and Fabian circles his one arm around his mother other arm latching on to his father.
After a long time, they finally sit around the small circular table, Fabian settled in Liam’s lap.
Savannah pushes the vanilla shake that sat idly on the table towards Liam.
Liam instantly indulges into his drink. After a gulping half the glass in one go, he smiles at Fabian.
Fabian looks wide eyed at Liam and then back at his mother . He is not sure if he can react in front of his father. When he sees his mother chuckling, he joins in.
Liam gives them a confused look.
“What happened ? He asks.
“You got moustaches like Santa!” Fabian splits into a laughter.
Liam catches Savannah go stiff at mention of Santa. The memories come back to her like a whiplash. Before Fabian could notice his mother’s sad face, Liam jumps at him and grabs him. “Ho,Ho,Ho. I am Santa Claus. I am here to give you the Christmas present. What do you wish? Tell me young boy and I will grant it.” Liam circles his arms around Fabian
Fabian rolls out laughing, “Really?”
“Always!” Liam beams hugging Fabian and looking at Savannah with a promise in his eyes.
Prompt: The @kingliamappreciationweek day 5 : Healing.
Thank you @lizzybeth1986 for beta reading this.
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Liam walks down the corridors of the ‘Middle School of Maltifao. He is excited. In years, this is the first time he is excited about something. Finally, he is going to meet Savannah after almost eight long years. So much has happened. He has a son! They have a son. Liam shakes his head and smiles at the thought of Fabian.
‘Fabian. I would love that name for my son.’ He had once mentioned in a casual teenage chat amongst his friends.
‘She remembered.’ He whispers to himself.
A smile plastered on his face, he walks down to the classrooms. The class has just begun. He politely stands outside listening to her voice. He didn’t realise how much he had missed her. The children are learning about Cordonia.
‘What a coincidence!’ he leans against the walls and closes his eyes. Soon the discussion in the classroom shifts from Cordonia to King Liam and his Subjects. He chuckles. ‘Its fun to listen the views of these little ones’, he thinks. His heart somersaults with happiness when Savannah describes him. ‘She still loves me.’ But then he realises she abruptly cuts off the discussion and dismisses the class.
The children run out and he faces the exit, waiting for her to walk out. He doesn’t know how to greet her. He is unable to recollect the things he had planned for this very moment. So, when she bangs into him, he says the first thing that comes to his mind.
“If you like me so much, why did you leave me?”
He gives her a minute. He is sure she recognises him. Just by his touch. His heart is beating fast in anticipation. But when she looks at him, his world comes crashing down. She quickly turns away her head and pulls away from him.
‘What was that? Did I see fear in her eyes? Why? Who is she scared of? Me? Why?’
He controls his spiralling thoughts and tries to speak again.
“Hello Savannah.”
“Hi.”
‘Just a plain hi ? Is she upset to see me? Why?’ Liam has a parallel row of thoughts going on.
“Sava...”
“Can we talk somewhere else? Not here.” She pleads.
“Yes. Yes.” Liam starts nodding his head. “Sure. Sure. My car is standing...”
“No, no, no.” She again cuts him. “There is a coffee shop down the road. It has a private cabin. We can sit there.”
“Coffee shop? Okay. Okay.” He starts nodding again. “Lead the way.”
“Please, wait for a minute. I need to inform in the office.”
“Sure. Sure.” Liam realises he is repeating and nodding again. He tries to shake away the nervousness that has shadowed his excitement within fractions of meeting her.
Savannah quickly comes back from the office and starts walking. Liam follows. On his way out he signals his security standing around an SUV to stand down. Its a small village of Lozzi on the island of Corsica, faraway from the hullabaloo of the cities and capitals. It looks safe. He wants her to feel safe. So he quietly follows her to the coffee shop.
“Hey, Maria!” Savannah walks in, waving to the old lady behind the counter.
Maria’s smile falters for a second before Liam acknowledges her forced smile, “Bonjour Madame.”
“Bonjour.” She stutters.
“Maria, puis-je utiliser la cabine privée?” Savannah asks.
“Oui.” Maria replies and Savannah scurries to the small secluded room in the back.
Liam trudges in. ‘She was very fluent out there. Did Kiara teach her that well or has she refined her language over all these years? And Maria? Does she know who I am to Savannah?’
Savannah clears her throat. He looks at her gesturing to the seat across her. He sits down.
“Liam, It’s been years since I travelled anywhere or contacted anyone.” She starts immediately explaining herself. “I have never called anyone in Cordonia, at any given point of time. I have made sure that even my own brother doesn’t know my whereabouts. I am living a quiet secluded life here. I don’t know what brought you here but..”
“You.”
“Me?” she looks at him wide eyed.
“I came for you.”
“Why?”
“Why not?” he questions her back.
“After all these years?”
“Yes, even after all these years, Savannah.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want you to come back. It was a mistake . Letting you go. Letting you walk away. But believe me, not a day went by when I didn’t think about you.” He says, with his gaze intense.
Savannah shifts in her chair. “Liam, that day when you were talking to your father, I overheard the conversation. I heard you agreeing to him that a commoner will never fit in the nobility of Cordonia.”
“No, Savannah. That’s what my father said. I replied back to him.”
“I know, Liam. I understand. It’s okay. He blackmailed you with Leo’s abdication and he was calling you his sole support. After all, he was your father and I know you, being you, could never say no.”
“Savannah, I think you did not listen to the complete conversation. I did say ‘No.’”
“No.” She lets out a heavy breath.
“Yes, Savannah. It was the only time in my life that I felt strong enough to stand against the odds and fight for what was mine. I had a major argument with my father that day and I said such things to him that I would have never ever dreamt of saying.”
How could she miss it. Did she make a decision in haste. Was it all futile. ‘Oh no!’ she thinks.
“Savannah, I had a misunderstanding when I came to you next day. But you made it all sound so real. I was already shaken and I got carried away with your white lies. I must say you are a fine actor.” He smiles at her.
Savannah on the other hand is thoroughly confused. What has she done? If he was fighting for them and she heard only half part of the conversation, it means she misread all the signs and she threw everything away. The love of her life.....the family she could have had.....all the happiness her son could have had. Fabian! The thought of Fabian sends her in a panic.
She jumps in her seat. “Liam! I am so sorry. I am so sorry, Liam. I ... I never told you. I wanted to. Actually I had come to tell you but then I heard your conversation with your father and I thought other wise.” She puts her head in her hands and pulls on her hair. “Oh dear God, What have I done! Please forgive me.” She looks back at Liam again with tears in her eyes. “That day , I came to tell you... Tell you that...
“That you were pregnant. “ he completes her sentence for her.
“You knew?” she stares at him in surprise.
“No. Not then. I came to know few months back.”
Now another worry starts picking up in Savannah’s mind. “Liam... So you are here to take away your heir? You want to take him away from me, don’t you? You can’t take away my only happiness from my life. You can’t do that to me.” Tears start rolling down her cheeks. “God cannot be so unfair to me.” She shakes her head wildly in dismay. Her fright sets in and she unknowingly squeezes farther into the corner of the booth.
“Savannah! Savannah! Sav.... Look at me.” Liam tries to pull her back. He gets up moving on her side. He grabs her tightly closed fists in one hand and with the other hand he tries caressing her cheek.
“Savannah I came for you, my love!” she stops shaking. “Knowing that we have a son is just an icing on the cake. But you and I? We come first . I made a mistake once. I won’t like to repeat it ever again. So I have come to see you. Only, and only if you allow, I would like to meet our son. Please.”
Savannah wipes her tears with the back of her hand. “ It’s a lot to take in, Liam. Can you please give me a day to settle things. My son...”
“Our son.” Liam says with a pride, cupping her face.
“Our son..” she corrects herself. “I will have to tell him.”
Liam pulls his hands down. He starts pulling on his fingers to curb his apprehensions. His eyes shy away, “Did he ever ask about me?”
“Yes. He is as curious as you were as a child.” She reminisces. Her words make him gaze back at her again, with hope.
She tries to reason, “You know, I couldn’t tell him who you are but he knows his father as a wise man who is protecting lives of many people. He takes pride in it. He knows his father loves him and will come one day to see him.”
Liam presses his lips tight. His trembling hands try covering Savannah’s. “I wanted to be good. A good son, a loyal friend, a just king. But while accomplishing these roles I didn’t realise that I betrayed my love and never stood up for my son.”
“Liam, you never knew.”
“How can I give you back all the years that you lost?”
“Stop giving all the time Liam. You deserve to have somethings for yourself too.”
“ I don’t know how to apologise. I want to make up for all the loss.” He pulls at her hands in a pleading tone. “Tell me how can I abate the fear I saw in yours eyes when you met me?
“You noticed?”
“How couldn’t I, Savvie? I was seeing you after ages and while I was so thrilled about our reunion it broke my heart to see you distressed.”
It was Savannah’s turn to lower down her eyes, to hide her emotions. “I thought I had saved myself from the prying eyes and in turn saved my son. When I realised I have been found, I got scared that....” she chokes.
“Hey there. Shhhhh!” Liam circles his arm around her trying to reassure her.
Savannah whimpers, “I thought you have come to take what is yours.”
“Mine?” He looks at her puzzled.
Savannah nods. “Fabian.” She whispers.
“No Savvanah. Never. Do you think I can be so cruel?”
She shakes her head, the fear still lingering in her mind.
“I told you Savvanah, I won’t even meet him without your permission.” He wipes her tears and talks while her sobs fade away. “I am afraid of imagining how you must have gone through all the hardships alone. I was not there for your pregnancy or childbirth. You brought him up all alone. The least I can do is....”
Savannah’s phone starts vibrating. She looks at the caller id and signals Liam to wait.
“Allô?” She receives the call.
“Désolée!” She starts picking up at her purse. “ J’arrive. S’il te plaît, donne-moi dix minutes.” She quickly cuts the call and addresses Liam.
“I need to pick up Fabian from the day care. I am sorry, you were saying something.”
“You should go. I was just saying that...” he scratches his sidelock making Savannah smile.
“You were saying , the least you could...”
“Oh yes! I wanted to tell you that the least I can do is make this meeting pleasant for you and for him. I don’t want to be a monster in his eyes, someone who separated him from his mother.”
Savannah stands up while talking, “You can never be a monster to him. I will talk to him and once he is ready, I will call you.”
“Thank you. I will be eagerly waiting to hear from you.”
“Bye.” She starts walking towards the door.
“Savannah?”
“Yes?” She turns back.
He looks around to check if anybody is watching them. He closes the distance between them and hugs her. Savannah stiffens for a moment.
In a minute that passes, she relaxes and takes a deep breath of hopefulness. She lifts her head to look up into his optimistic eyes. He bends down to place a kiss on her forehead. “Go my love, I will wait for your call. I hope we meet this time to never let go.”
"Have you ever seen a Juliet Rose? Also known as the Five Million Dollar Flower. It's rumored that the man who created this specific peach-colored rose spent fifteen years and five million dollars to do so. Truly it must've been a labor of love."
Thank You @lizzybeth1986 and @kingliamappreciationweek 🥰😘
A/N: The @kingliamappreciationweek (day 4 ) made me dust some old drafts and bring this forgotten tale to you. Thank you @lizzybeth1986 for bringing life back into my writing by encouraging me and beta reading this.
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Cordonia, nine years ago. Liam’s study.
“Father, I dont think we need to have the whole social season and waste money.”
Constantine chuckled, “So, I can call Godfrey and Madeliene back from England. Thank goodness. At Least, one of my son saved some grace.”
“Father, I never said anything about Countess Madeliene.”
“Who is it then?”
Liam grinned like a fool in love thinking about her. “Someone you know and you have loved and cared about all these years.”
“I care for her as a royal responsibility although I never liked her, Liam. But I am fine if you choose Olivia. At least it’s someone who will be loyal to you. I have done enough for her and this is the least she can do to repay.”
Liam’s jaw dropped listening to Constantine’s thoughts. But it was not the right time to nudge him on that. “Father, it’s not Olivia.” He said just a note above a whisper.
“Who else then?”
Liam looked down at the majestic blue carpet, a smile playing on his lips. “Savannah.”
“Savannah who?”
“Savannah Jane Walker, sir.” Liam said puzzled at his father’s incomprehensibility. “Daughter of your most loyal kings guard and friend.”
“That commoner? Oh Liam, you are just like your father. Falling so easily for some random dame. Guess what? You are a royal, son. You can have all such damsels dancing to your tune. And you can even choose someone as your mistress.”
Liam was disgusted at such a cheap thought. But he tried to maintain the decorum. “Father, I am serious. I really like her and would want to marry her.”
Constantine fumed, “How can you disrespect me like that Liam? You are the crown prince. The whole country is looking up to you. They want to see a queen by your side. Not some roadside commoner, who doesn’t know a thing about what’s it to be noble alone, forget being royalty. This is preposterous and utterly irresponsible behaviour on your part. I am so disappointed in you at this moment, Liam.”
“Father...”
“No, Liam. You can’t betray me like this. Not after what Leo did. My son, my hard work, my life, everything depends upon your this one decision. Don’t let me down my child. Not you too.” He choked.
The air felt thick around Liam. He loosened his tie trying to breathe. The burden of the throne was feeling heavy on his shoulders. He sat down on the sofa with a thud, unlike his gentle mannerisms. How many times he had to sacrifice his wishes for the country?
“A commoner will never fit in the nobility of Cordonia, Liam. You need to be practical.” Constantine said in a pleading tone.
“You are right, father.” Liam closed his eyes. “A commoner will never fit. Mother did not fit . Even if she tried, they won’t let her live. You are right, father. A commoner will never fit.”
He got up with a resolution in his mind, thinking of Savannah, feeling her love giving him strength. He bent over the table in front of Constantine and looked him straight into his eyes.
“If a commoner like mother could not fit, how can her poor son fit in, father? I think you need a pure blood to carry your legacy ahead.”
“Liam, you are crossing line.”
“No Father, I am creating a line for you to stop at. I did everything you asked me to do. I stood firm for your nobility, on my own mother’s funeral, when all I wanted to do was hug her and cry. I accepted Regina even before I was done mourning for my mother, because you needed a queen besides. I sat sincerely for all my classes and trainings. I picked up the burden of Leo’s responsibilities for you.” He heaved.
“You dont get all these luxuries for free, Liam. This palace, the richest, the comforts are all I built up.”
Liam started laughing making Constantine stop and look at him in confusion. Liam scoffed, “I should have known, you can only love yourself.”
“Liam!”
“No, Father. I have been what you wanted me to be, what this country wanted me to be. But this country needs stability too which I can give them.” Liam emphasized by slapping his chest , clearly showing Constantine, who is in power. “Savannah brings me that calmness and peace. So if you want me, you get us together or you may start searching for a new heir. “
Liam slammed his hands on the table and stomped off leaving a speechless Constantine.
That evening , Liam decided to meet Savannah. He phoned her and to his amazement she called him to her room. He had never dared to openly visit her but he was done hiding so he walked down undeterred to the chambers in the left wing. The door was wide open. He was deep in his thoughts and entered in without knocking. He stopped in his tracks. Tariq sat idly on the recliner, checking something on his phone. The bed in front of him had a suitcase half filled. Savannah walked out of the walk in closet and chimed, “Prince Liam!”
Tariq straightened up and greeted, “What a pleasant surprise! What brings you here?”
Liam couldn’t understand what Tariq was doing with Savannah? “You are going out somewhere?” he asked.
“Yes Li. Savannah agreed to accompany me on my next business trip."
Liam still was clueless. He had too many thoughts running in his mind. He waved off what Tariq said and turned to Savannah . “I need to talk to you. “
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“Tariq?” Liam asked in a tone demanding privacy.
Tariq fumbled with his belongings and got up. “Sure Li.” He waved at Savannah throwing a flying kiss at her, “ See you soon, beautiful.”
What shocked Liam even more was Savannah giggling at the flirtation. “What was that?” he couldn’t resist but ask.
“Nothing.” She said smiling still looking after where he left.
“What am I missing? Why is he sending you flying kisses. ” Liam probed again.
“Oh that?” Savannah shyly looked away, folding the clothes in her hands. “He proposed yesterday.”
“He what? “
“He proposed and since then he has not stopped making it public to each and every one.”
“Savannah, let me get this straight. He proposed and you said no. “
“ Why will I say no to such a lucrative offer?”
“Savannah, are you in your senses? You are telling me that you accepted Tariq’s proposal?”
“Yes, silly. Stop beating around. “ She started meticulously rolling her socks into pairs and placing them in the bag.
“Savannah! Please stop it. What kind of joke is this?”
She stopped and looked at Liam repeating in a serious tone, “Its not a joke Liam. I am engaged to Tariq.”
Liam lunged at her, grabbing her shoulders and jerking her. “What about us? What were we doing all these years?”
Savannah shook his arms away and moved out of his clutches. “That was two young people having fun.”
Liam looked at her in disbelief. “I thought you loved me Savannah.”
“I loved you.” She whispered. But the next moment she turned away to harden her heart before she spoke. “But things have changed now. You are not the spare anymore. You need to understand Liam. You are going to be a king. There will be tons and tons of never ending responsibilities. I can’t just submerge myself under all that weight and spoil my youth and my life.”
Liam was shocked to see this image of Savannah. “And you think you will enjoy yourself with a person like Tariq?”
“Definitely yes. He has all the money I need. He goes on lot of business trips , so I get to see the world. He has contacts with all the who’s who so I get to be in the best company without carrying the burden I have to carry with u.”
“I can’t believe I loved you, Savannah. You turned out to be a chameleon. How can you be daughter of a man like Jackson or sister of my best friend Drake? You seriously can’t be this shallow.”
“Oh please! Don’t start a lecture now. I am packing for a cruise to Thailand. Don’t spoil my mood.”
Liam started walking away agitatedly. He stopped at her doorsteps and turned around to look at her one last time. “Bon Voyage!”
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The Royal Caribbean Cruise ship
Savannah sat on the desk in her cabin, trying to write a letter.
“Dear mom,
By the time this letter reaches you, I will be far away.” she shook her head and crumpled the paper.
“Dear mom,
I am pregnant…” she sucked in a breath thinking about her mother's reaction to dropping a bomb with a news like that. She tore off this one into tiniest pieces so that no one knows.
“Dear mom,
I know you must be worried about my whereabouts…”
She let out a sigh. ‘This will do’, she thought. She took some time to jot down the details for her mother. She was folding the letter when there was a knock on the door. She opened it to let Tariq in. She pushed the letter in an envelope and sealed it.
“We are reaching Port Said in some time, Savannah.” Tariq informed her.
“I will get my bags ready.” She got up.
Tariq stopped her. “Savannah, you don't have to do this. You can stay. Just come along. It will be a good distraction.”
“Thank you. But I have many things to sort out before,” she abruptly stopped. She can't spill it in front of Tariq. So she tried to cover up. “...before next season.”
“As you wish. I would still suggest that you should try talking it out with him. He is a good man, Savannah. We have been close friends.”
“I know. I have known him since I was a toddler, Tariq. But this whole mess cannot be sorted out just by talking. He has to stand for his country. I can't stand besides him in that role. And staying there, watching him so closely will be very painful. It's for the good.”
Savannah bid Tariq goodbye, thanking him for all his help and deported on the port of Egypt. She found the nearest courier service and sent the letter to her mother. She proceeded to her final destination immediately.
It was a long journey of two days via road and ferry. Finally after a few more days of settling down in the small village, Savannah sat one day on the serene banks of the river Golo. A lot had happened in the past few days. And all she could do was pen it down.
So she decided to find closure through a letter.
Liam,
I love you. I will always love you. I am sorry I had to leave. I am sorry I hurt you. But I couldn't bear the rift that was being created within your family because of me.
Li, you have been beside me since I was a little girl. You made me feel like a princess even when you had the real ones fawning over you. You spoiled me, you pampered me, you loved me and I can't thank my stars for having you in my life. But sometimes that's not enough.
I know you will be disturbed by what transpired. You will be upset, but when your people and your country needs you, I know you will leave everything aside and you will again stand up and be the great person you are, Liam. I admire you for this strength, grit and determination that you always display. I hope I am able to teach our child these amazing qualities of yours.
Yes Li, we are going to have a baby. You are going to be a father soon. It's sad that you will never know but believe me I wanted to tell you. I came to share the good news with you but the way your father turned the whole conversation into an emotional hurricane for you, I knew you would have to agree with him. I didn't want to put you in a dilemma. I did what I could think of that moment to push you away from me, to give you the freedom to choose your duties.
Someday, when and if we ever meet, I hope you will realise and understand my actions and forgive me. Till then I am going to keep your memories and your love safely hidden in my heart.
You have a lot happening around you and the world isn't a fair place. I want you to take care of yourself, my love and I promise to look after our baby till we meet next.
Until then..
Au revoir Liam
Yours always
Savannah Jane Walker - Rhys.
She read it a few more times until the tears started blotting the written words. She then let the letter down the stream of river and watched as the black ink on the paper vanished into the blue waters and the wet paper drowned into the nethers of the river.
(This incredible poster is the handiwork of our wonderful co-host @sazanes!! You guys, she made a freaking VIDEO POSTER!!! Love so much how this turned out 😍😍)
Welcome to our third edition of King Liam Appreciation Week!! Last year saw a record-breaking turnout of stories, art, headcanons and all kinds of creative work - all celebrating this amazing character.
And while the fandom may not be what it used to be in the past years, we still hold out hope that there will be plenty of people who still love Liam and want to show that through their creative work!
November 17th is World Baklava Day, and can you think of a bigger fan of this irresistible sweet than Liam? 😃
This year, the event will run from 17th - 21st November. The themes for the days are as follows:
Day 1 - Nov 17th - Baklava/Throwback
Day 2 - Nov 18th - Character Appreciation/Vanilla
Day 3 - Nov 19th - Roses/Monuments
Day 4 - Nov 20th - Relationships/Coffee
Day 5 - Nov 21st - Healing*
(*Healing can be interpreted any way the reader wishes, both physical and mental healthwise - though we tend to lean a bit more to the latter because of how stoicism is such a central aspect of his growth)
Keep in mind that you don't have to send the content on the exact day of the theme - if you give it a little later as well, it's still fine as long as you tag the piece with the day it was meant for (#KLAW Day 1, #KLAW Day 2, etc).
Any content is welcome! Fanfic, fanart, edits, moodboards, meta, interactive media, headcanons, character appreciation... anything! As long as it celebrates Liam as a character, focuses on him and shows positive depictions of him. We also accept WIPs and a specific day (Throwback) is set aside just for past pieces on Liam. If you like, you can even tell us about the process of creating that piece!
Make sure you tag @kingliamappreciationweek in your posts, as well as the hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes in your content so we don't miss it! It would also make it easier to track if you use the tags #kingliamappreciationweek and #KLAW in your posts as an extra precaution.
Various fan content blogs have helped in promoting our weeks and also run great events on a weekly/monthly basis. We would definitely love for our participants to check them out in case they'd like to be part of those too: @choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesmonthlychallenge, @choicespride, @choicesprompts, @choicesholidays, @choicescommunityevents).
Once the week is officially over, we will keep a bonus week for participants who have trouble sending content during the week itself. Additionally, this blog will be open for entries all year round!
We have about a month to get ready for KLAW, and we're super excited to see what our fellow Liam fans might have in store! See you all in November!!
Cast: Drake Walker, King Nicholas, Kate Darling (MC), other characters.
-_-_-👑_-_-_
Constable Jim Turner walked through the sliding doors of the Capital General Emergency room. It had been an hour since the accident had been cleared of victims, and he was hoping to follow up with Drake Walker. Mr. Walker had fled the scene before Turner could finish his questions. He still didn't know the name of the female passenger either. The words: bodyguard, abduction, and royal were underlined on his notepad and warranted a closer investigation.
He walked up to the Nurses Station and the nurse behind the counter looked up from the clipboard she was writing on.
"How can I help you officer...?"
"Turner, Jim Turner with the Capital Police Department. I'm investigating a car accident. There were three victims in the wreck, and another man with secondary smoke inhalation injuries. I was told they were brought here."
The Nurse set her patient clipboard aside and then picked up another one listing the emergency admissions for that evening. She slid her finger down the page, "Two of the passengers arrived D.O.A. , the female unknown is in Curtain Three, and the man who walked in on his own is in Curtain Four. If you give me a moment I can take you to see them."
Turner shook his head, "No need to show me the DOAs, they were identified at the scene. The guy who walked in on his own is who I'd really like to see."
The Nurse left her station and then led Turner down into a ward with curtained off sections with beds in them. He was surprised to see other burn victims. He asked the nurse quietly, "Was there a house fire or something?"
She nodded, "An apartment building caught fire. Most of the people in this area are being treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns."
They passed Curtain Three and Turner saw a nurse and a doctor tending to the female he saw at the accident scene. He couldn't see much of her because people were leaning over to administer care, but he heard the hiss of the oxygen machine and saw that her face was bandaged. Poor girl, you're lucky that Walker guy showed up in time.
The nurse pulled back the curtain at bed number three. "Here he is. Be aware that he's been heavily medicated, and is on oxygen. He might not be able to speak much."
Drake opened his eyes when he heard the curtain open. He wasn't sure what medication he was on, but he knew it made him feel weird. He wasn't in any pain, but his head swam like he was drunk. The nebulizer mask he was wearing periodically puffed a medicine that he couldn't help but breathe in with the oxygen. It was slightly annoying, but at least he could breathe more easily now that the tightness in his chest was gone. But damn his mouth and throat felt as dry as an old sock.
He blinked and tried to focus on the people who were now staring at him from the foot of his hospital bed. He recognized the pretty blonde nurse he'd encountered when he first entered the emergency room. The other person was a man in a uniform. He closed his eyes again, as an overwhelming dizziness overtook him. Sorry officer, I didn't mean to drink and drive...I promise.
The blonde nurse indicated to Drake, "He's all yours. If he tries to get out of bed just gently set him right. In the beginning before his sedation took hold he kept trying to go over to see the girl next door. The poor thing, he would be more harm to her than help at the moment. The medicine has probably made him more docile by now. If he gives you any trouble just push the red call button on the wall behind his bed and I'll send help."
Turner nodded, "Understood, thanks..."
"Tiffany," she answered with a smile, holding up the ID batch that dangled from a lanyard around her neck.
"I'll try to keep my visit as brief as possible."
She left him to go back to the Nurses desk.
Officer Turner picked Drake's suit jacket up off the chair and laid it across his lap as he sat down. He felt the weight of various objects in the pockets. He presumed they would be his phone, wallet and car keys. He looked at the various monitors that were keeping track of Drake's condition. There weren't any indications that he was in immediate distress, and the blips and numbers seemed to be in a normal range as far as he could tell.
The cellphone vibrated within Drake's jacket. The sound filtered through the drowsy haze that clouded his mind and he slowly regained consciousness. "Do you want me to answer that for you?", came a voice to his left.
Drake opened his eyes at hearing the unfamiliar voice, who was that?
He blinked and tried to focus. He tugged the mask away from his face, "No, and who the fuck are you?" He whispered hoarsely.
"Officer Turner, we met briefly at the accident scene. I have some more questions."
Drake vaguely remembered Turner as being the dumbass who had tried to accuse him of running the SUV that he was following off the road.
He glared at him as best he could, although he wasn't sure how menacing an expression he could make with an oxygen mask hanging off his chin.
Drake tried to swallow and clear the cotton mouth feeling he was going through, he coughed and a gob of mucus came up. "Are you still trying to accuse me of something?" He graveled around it.
"No, but our investigation is ongoing. Since you're claiming to be her bodyguard, can you tell me her name by any chance?"
"I could, but I won't." Drake put his mask back on.
His phone buzzed again in his pocket, probably the reminder to check his message. "Could be important. Want me to hand it to you?" Turner asked.
Drake shook his head, but then instantly regretted it as the room tilted. He squeezed his eyes shut and held the mask tight against his face and took deep breaths. His hand shook as he dropped it back down on his lap. He rested his head back against the pillow again and waited for the dizziness to subside.
Officer Turner checked the time, he had to get back on patrol and Walker wasn't willing to give him answers. He sighed and then got up from the chair. He gave Drake his jacket, laying it on his lap. At least that way he could check his messages.
If the bodyguard isn't going to be much help, then I guess I'll have to contact the King's Royal guard and get information that way.
..
King Nicholas looked down at the cheap cellphone in his hand. It wasn't his personal phone, because he knew that Bastien and his men could track it. This device had been acquired for temporary and anonymous use from a close friend.
There had been a large turnover in the security guards at the Palace since they had left Applewood during the social season. Nicholas had been too busy doing news interviews, and attending other social engagements related to his approaching Coronation to keep up with his regular Sunday security briefings with Bastien. Someone had authorized the hiring of new guards to replace those loyal to Constantine. Presumably, so Nicholas could have a younger and freshly trained crew going forward. But he hadn't personally met each new candidate and knew nothing about their past or politics. How could he trust a bunch of strangers to protect him and his new family?
Something that Bastien had said was also raising personal alarm bells. Bastien had insisted that the deportation of Kate had been an order passed down by Constantine. Nicholas knew this couldn't be true because his father had been non-verbal for weeks. Since their stay at Applewood Constantine's condition had taken a turn for the worse. The former King has lung cancer and was being kept in a medically induced coma in a private wing of the Palace. Palliative care nurses were monitoring his condition around the clock, and it was predicted that he only had a matter of days left.
Either Bastien was lying, or someone else was trying to influence the crown and make decisions for him. Nicholas couldn't let that happen.
Drake hadn't responded yet to his text messages. He sounded terrible during their last conversation, and Nicholas hoped he was under treatment at the hospital. Nicholas knew how stubborn he could be about accepting help. Drake had his nose broken once, during a training exercise, by one of the guard candidates. He had been more pissed off than hurt and it wasn't until the blood started to choke him that he relented and tapped out of the fight to get medical attention.
Nicholas sent another message to his friend as he impatiently paced back and forth across his room.
Drake? Please respond.
..
At the hospital Drake listened to the beep and blip of the various medical machines around him. With only curtains separating each patient bed from the next, it was hardly a quiet place to get some rest. He knew that Kate was only a couple of curtains away to his right, and it bothered him that he couldn't see or talk to her. He'd overheard the medical staff talking about various aspects of her condition. From what he could figure out, she was being treated for severe smoke inhalation, and kept sedated. If he saw the blonde nurse again he was going to ask for more information.
He felt his phone vibrate in his lap. Blinking his eyes open again he was surprised to see that the officer had left. Fishing around inside his jacket with his left hand, he found his phone. On his right hand there was an IV attached, and a heart beat monitor was clamped to his finger. He didn't want to set off any alarms so he fumbled through unlocking his phone with his left hand and the use of his right thumb. There were several messages from an unknown number.
With a frown he juggled with his phone and pulled the oxygen mask down under his chin.
18059378: What's your status? We need to meet and talk.
18059378: Drake? How is she?
18059378: Drake? Please respond.
Shit, this had to be Nicholas. But why is the phone number different?
Drake: I'm at the hospital, being treated for smoke damage. Not in any condition to leave yet. Sorry.
18059378: And Kate?
Drake: She's worse off than me, as far as I can tell. But stable. She's sedated I think. What's with the new phone number?
18059378: I have to be careful. If we could only talk privately in person I could explain everything.
Nothing like being vague, Your Majesty.
Drake: I'm going to ask the nurse how soon I can leave. And have the hospital contact me if Kate's condition changes. I'll list myself as her next of kin if I have to.
18059378: Thanks, Drake. I don't know what I'd do without you. Call me at this number as soon as you're released. But do it outside so that we can't be overheard.
Book: The Royal Romance
Pairing: Liam Rys x MC (Jade)
Rating: M
Word count: 2124
Reading time: ~8min
Summary: After dinner in Fydelia, Liam sent a message to Jade asking her to meet him so he explain why he didn't stood up for her and chose Madeleine to be fiancee. But neither of them were ready to face the outcome of their conversation.
Based on the prompt: @kingliamappreciationweek day 4: Relationships
Author's note:
Jade Bourbon is a creation of this author. The other characters belong to Pixelberry Studios;
This year's KLAW brought me back to the days I wrote incessantly about Liam, so I decided to revisit some old fics and revamp them. This piece was originally part of Coming Back With a Bang, but because I've been frustrated with book two scene in the balcony with Liam since 2018 and my attempt to write a fix-it fic then lacked emotion, I'm rewriting it and hoping this time I can do justice to Jade and show how she felt;
There may be some lines from canon in here. I just don't know which ones 😅
Thanks to @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes for hosting KLAW again. I don't know if a rewritten fic will be accepted, but regardless it is or not, thank you for once again inspiring me with prompts to write Liam.
While Maxwell waited outside the ladies room, Jade looked at herself in the mirror and heaved a sigh. She was a mess. Sure, she could fix her makeup and go back out there. But what for? Watching Madeleine snaking her hands over him? For more people to tell her how she became a pariah in the kingdom and should just leave? What was the point of all this anyway?
Turning on the sink, she washed her hands and placed them on the back of her neck to freshen up. She was still resolute not to give up. But for the night, she had enough.
As she walked out of the ladies room, Maxwell stood up from the settee with his usual encouraging smile.
"You seem better."
"Thanks..." She simpered. "Can I go back to my room now? We congratulated the happy couple, toasted, dined on their honor and blah blah blah..." Jade gesticulated as she twisted her lips in annoyance.
"Sure. I think the staff already has it cleaned. I'm kinda beat too."
"Let's go then."
Lacing arms with her friend, Jade and Maxwell walked towards the grand staircase.
"Wait, we don't have to go back and say goodnight to them, do we?" Jade made a face.
"Nah... It's okay. It's been a long day for all of us."
"Tell me about it..."
A soft knock on the door echoed in the room, waking Jade up. She had no idea how much time had passed or who could be knocking on her door right now.
After getting out of bed and taking a quick look in the mirror, she reached for a robe and answered the door.
"Hey you!” Her eyes soften at the sight of Maxwell. “What’s with the flowers?”
“Special delivery!” Maxwell beamed as he walked in carrying a huge red roses arrangement. “Housekeeping sent over a new centerpiece for your end table.”
"Now?"
"The staff apologized for sending it so late, but they thought it'd be nice for you to wake up and see the flowers."
"Aw, it really is nice..." She smiled, burying her nose on the centerpiece to smell the roses when she noticed a small envelope wrapped around one of the stems.
Opening the envelope, she picked up the note inside and her eyes rose in surprise.
"I wouldn't blame you if you're furious with me, but please meet me so I can at least explain. I'll be on the balcony outside my room in twenty minutes."
- L.
As if pulled by a magnet, Jade walked outside to search for Liam's balcony.
Maxwell picked the note from the floor, read it while following Jade outside. "You're thinking about it, aren't you?"
"I shouldn't..." Jade bit down her lip as her eyes began to water.
“Hey..." Maxwell approached her, placing his hand on her arm. "I cannot imagine how much it stung to see him with Madeleine. But Liam wouldn't send you this if he didn't think he owed you an explanation."
"Should I go?"
"You're my friend, but I'm also his friend and I kinda want to say 'hell yeah! Go get your man!'" Maxwell enthused, making her giggle, but immediately his features grew a bit serious. "I'm rooting for you two, but if you say it's too much for you right now, I'll get it."
Jade chewed on a nail.
“Whatever you decide, I'll support you. Don't forget to get some rest, okay?”
"Thanks, Max."
"Have a goodnight, Little Blossom." Maxwell said as he left the balcony and then left her room.
Alone once again, Jade mulled over Liam's note and remembered their encounter earlier. The way he gazed at her, complimenting her, kissing her hand as gentle and passionate as ever, his eyes searching for hers throughout the dinner...
Jade walked back into the room and searched for the nicest yet comfortable clothes she had in the closet. She needed to be ready to climb his balcony if necessary, but still look her best in case they end things. Maybe he did have an explanation. She just hoped it'd be a good one.
As soon as Jade stepped into the garden, her eyes darted to Liam's balcony. As one of his fingers idly ran on the rim of a nearly empty wine glass, Liam sat by himself, lost in thought. Ignoring her racing heart and dry mouth, she walked towards the pillar under his balcony and hoped she could not only climb it, but manage to tell him everything that was choked inside her.
“Jade!” Liam murmured in surprise as he rushed to help her get into his balcony.
Her feet barely had touched the ground when Liam swept her into his arms. His nose buried on her hair, tears fell down her cheeks as the inebriating scent of his cologne overtook her. It was so hard not to lose herself in his embrace. If there was any place she yearned to be again, it was certainly within his arms.
Yet, flashes of coronation night and the dinner earlier came to her, reminding her of her current situation. Reality always seemed to hit her as hard as a slap on the face.
After wiping her tears discreetly, Jade pulled away from his eyes and said, “You're engaged."
Liam swallowed hard and nodded.
"We need to talk."
“Yes, of course. It’s just…" Liam took a step closer, gazing into her eyes. "Damn, Lady Jade, how I’ve missed you.”
Jade averted her gaze for a moment to gather strength and say what she had to tell him. “Aren’t you going to ask me if it’s true?”
“No. I don’t need to ask to know it was a set up.”
“You knew?”
Her eyebrows rose as she tried to process what he said.
"You knew?!" As she repeated, a wave of anger took over her. “Then why? Why did you let me go?" Her eyes glisten with tears again. "Why didn't you try to reach out to me? Why did I have to hide like a criminal if you knew I was the victim? Why did you have to choose… her?” Her lips quivered, her emotions taking the best of her as she cried again.
"Oh, Jade..." Liam whispered, pulling her back into his arms. "If only you knew how much I wanted to tell you that I believe you, that I always knew you'd never spoken more than a few words to Tariq because you were simply polite to him... But I couldn't."
Her hands balled into fists as she tried to push him away, yet Liam didn't let go. She continued, hitting his chest harder as hot tears streamed down her face.
And in spite of it all, Liam didn't pull away nor tried to defend himself. He simply continued to hold her as tight as he could. When she finally hugged him back, Liam kissed her forehead in adoration. He waited for as long as it took her for her to calm down then led her to the settee so they could talk.
"Why did you say you couldn't?"
"Though I knew it was set up because Drake told me about the broken lock on your door, I had no proof. No one knows where Tariq is, who could've told him to go to your room. Someone had gone to great lengths to frame you." A muscle in his jaw twitches. "If I chose you that night or tried to remain in touch with you or the Beaumonts, I might have put you in greater danger."
"Oh?"
"I haven't told you about my mother."
"You mentioned she died when you were young."
"The details of passing weren't disclosed to the press, but she was poisoned."
Jade's mouth fell open.
"We still don't know who caused my mother's death. And if that person is still out there, walking freely into the country estate that was built to be secure..." He shook his head. "I can't think about the possibility of losing you, Jade."
Jade chewed on a lip, not knowing what to say.
"I'll regret what I did at the Coronation for the rest of my life because it hurt you and I'm sorry that it happened as it did. But in that moment, the only thing that I could think of to keep you safe was to make whoever is behind this believe that they won. But I am so, so sorry... This must have been miserable for you."
Liam reached for her hand and kissed her knuckles.
"You could've called..." Jade murmured.
"I had to make it seem like I had no more ties with you. But I knew you were safe at Ramsford. Bertrand kept you distracted with etiquette, ballroom dancing and Cordonian history lessons."
Her eyes widened. "How do you know that?"
"Bertrand and I talked briefly through a secure line. I told him to cut you slack so you could have time to go jogging. I heard you were playing the piano sometimes..."
"He did keep you up to speed," she concluded, still annoyed.
"In case you were wondering, we only had short calls. If I had talked to you, I wouldn't be satisfied with a one minute call every now and then."
"Me neither..." Jade sighed. "Okay... I guess it makes sense. But I still have one question. Why her?"
"Madeleine is different from the other suitors. We never really got along, she doesn't care about that I feel nothing for her. I couldn't ask any of the other ladies to go through an arrangement like this. I wouldn't want to hurt anyone else's feelings."
"But you don't care about Madeleine?"
"You've had time to talk to her."
"Unfortunately... Is she awful with you too?"
"To put it mildly..." Liam made a face.
"I thought she was mean to us girls because we were competition."
"Perhaps it was, but in my opinion, that's Madeleine being herself."
"This arrangement you have with her…" Jade pressed her lips together, struggling to think about what she was going to ask. "Does it make me your mistress?”
“Hardly. You’re the woman I love. The only one.” Liam locked his fingers through hers. “I know this is not what any of us hoped for, but all I could think about at that moment was finding a way to keep you in my life.”
“Liam, I—" She shook her head. “This is a lot.”
“I know. But my hope is that it's all temporary. Just until we find whoever schemed against you. After all of this, if you still have me, our love won't have to be a secret.”
“But what if we can't find who did this?"
"I'll still be all yours even if I have to marry Madeleine. But if you don't want it, I..." He trailed off, then took a deep breath. "I won't stand on your way."
As tears welled up on her eyes once again, Liam went down one knee and cupped her cheek, wiping a tear with his thumb. “Stay."
"Liam..."
"I'm talking about tonight. Stay here. I need to see with my own eyes that you’ll be safe.”
Jade sobbed. This was too much. Becoming his mistress was a hard limit for her. Yet, how could she leave him if every part of being came alive under his gaze? Unable to find words to express what she felt, she just sat there and sobbed while Liam took a plce by her side again, pulling her close in his arms.
It was still dark when Jade woke up. Around her waist, one of Liam’s arms pressed her back against his chest. On the sleeve of his shirt, makeup stains. Signs of how much all of this has been tough on them.
She took a deep breath, taking in the scent of his aftershave lingering on the pillow, the warmth of his arm and chest protecting her. She knew deep inside he would do anything to shield her from insults, dirty looks and any threats. But it still was a lot for both of them.
“Liam,” she whispered, rubbing his hand.
He frowned a little before opening his eyes.
“Hey...” she turned to face him and gave him a weak smile.
Hey,” he said, stifling a yawn. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I just have to go back to my room now.”
“Of course. Let me talk to the guards outside first.”
He then got out of the bed, ran a hand in an attempt to fix his tousled hair and opened the door. A couple of minutes later, he returned.
“You can take the hallway. None of the guards will ask questions. As far as they're concerned, you were never here,” he said, placing his hands inside his pockets.
“Thank you.”
Jade sat up, put her flats back on her feet and headed to the door.
“Jay...” he called, taking one of her hands before she reached the doorknob. “What about us? Will we be okay?”
“I hope so... But I need time to think. It’s a lot to process.”
Liam nodded, looking down at her hand as his thumb stroked her mother’s ring on her finger.
“Hey," she uttered, cupping his cheek gently. "We're not over. I just..."
"I know."
Before they could think about it, her arms wrapped his neck as his hands clenched on the back of her sweater. Would things change between them if they stayed away from each other? Would life give them another chance? They didn't know. But as far as anyone else knew, there was no way back for them.
Book: The Royal Romance / The Royal Heir [x Desire & Decorum (Modern day AU)]
Characters: Liam Rys, MC (Jade), Jackson Walker, Eleanor Rys, Leo Rys, OC (Andrea Edwards), OC (Gianna Rossi) [Mentioned: Constantine Rys, Drake Walker, Prince Hamid, Daphne Wang (D&D MC|OC)]
Rating: T
Word count: 2459
Reading time: 10min
Summary: Cordonian apple tea is the official drink of the kingdom, but the Cordonian king prefers another hot drink whenever he needs an energy boost.
Based on the prompts: @kingliamappreciationweek Day four: coffee
Author's notes:
Jade Bourbon-Rys, Andrea Edwards, Gianna Rossi and Daphne Wang are creations of this author. The other characters belong to Pixelberry Studios;
Thank you again to @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes for hosting another KLAW! I got so inspired by the event this year that I wrote more than I planned. Thank you for still acepting late submissions 😍
Cordonian capitol, June 2021
Blue, pink and purple hues painted the sky as Liam rested on the chaise lounge of his office before the last meeting of the day. Though this week has been calmer than usual, he still needed a couple of minutes before the video conference with Cordonian ambassador in the US. Returning to work after Elise's birth hasn't been easy. Fortunately, there's one thing that never failed to help him restore his energy.
"Your Majesty?" His assistant called after a soft knock on the door.
"Come in."
Carrying a tray with a cup of coffee and sparkling water, his assistant walked in and placed the tray on the side table. "Your coffee, sir."
"Thank you, Andrea."
As his assistant left, Liam smiled as the comforting smell of brewed coffee filled his lungs, bringing back memories of the day he tasted it for the first time.
Cordonian capital, February 2000
The doors to the Royal conference room opened as the young prince walked out of the room. With his eyes downcast, Liam ambled through the hallway, embarrassed with what just happened during the King's meeting with the Royal advisors. Being lectured again in front of all those people was no fun at all. Especially when his father was the one who noticed the moment he dozed off.
Why was it so hard to stay awake during meetings? Sure, a Royal meeting wasn't the most entertaining activity for him. He'd rather play with his friends or have a Babylon 5 marathon night with Drake and Maxwell. But it couldn't be so hard to stay awake through those meetings, right? If Leo never slept before 12 am could do it, why couldn't he?
On the way to his room, he nodded to the guards when a familiar smell spread across the hallway: caramel and toasted nuts. It wasn't the first time he sensed it, but was the first time it got his attention. Whenever he passed by the staff kitchen, that fragrance always was in the air. He just didn't know exactly what it was. Following his instincts, he went to the staff area, where the smell was coming from.
"Your Highness," Drake's father, Jackson, nodded to him and took a sip of something in a mug.
"Good morning, Mr. Walker." The boy simpered as he sat next to his father's personal bodyguard.
"Everything alright, sir?"
"No..." Liam frowned. "I fell asleep at the meeting again."
"Did anyone see you?"
"Father did."
The man grimaced.
"Yeah..." The boy looked down again, fiddling with the hem of his sweater.
"For what it's worth, I think you're too young to be there."
"Oh?" Liam looked at the guard in confusion.
"I understand this will be a part of your life and eventually you'll have to be there to partake in all those meetings. But those are boring meetings even for a smart kid like yourself."
"Do you think they're boring too?"
Jackson looked around suspiciously, to make sure no one else was hearing and then he uttered, "A little bit."
Liam giggled.
"Have you slept through the meeting too? Is that why you weren't there?"
The man shook his head. "No. Never. I always have to be alert on duty. I just made a pause for coffee."
Lifting his still steaming mug of coffee to his lips, Jackson took a gulp, closed his eyes to savor the hot drink and then smiled softly.
"Look, I know you don't want to be in there, especially to be lectured about things you don't understand yet. But if the King wants you there, make an effort to be there. Your father will appreciate it."
"But how do I stay awake when I'm there? Even Leo can..." Liam frowned.
"Start by obeying the Queen when she says it's time for you to go to bed. A good night of sleep can change everything. And don't do what Leo does. You're too young for that."
"Okay..." Liam's brows furrowed in confusion. His brother did something to stay awake. But what was it?
...
"Nope," Leo said as he threw a dart near the center of the dartboard on the wall.
"But, Leo!" Liam whined.
"You heard Jackson. You're a kid. You can't have what I have," Leo replied with a smug grin.
The young prince scowled. Though he knew his brother was old enough to have some privileges like learning how to drive or traveling on his own, this was just a stupid drink. He wouldn't go down with a fight.
Liam was about to say when a maid knocked and opened the door to leave a travel mug on the side table. Both princes then rushed to pick it up, Liam climbing on his brother's back in hopes to steal the mug Leo had already got.
...
The following day
Liam hid in a broom closet as he waited for Drake's signal. He knew the chef was about to have a break for lunch and always left the carafe full for the guards. The entire palace security drank that thing, so why couldn't he?
Just then, he heard three short whistles. That was their signal. Time to get in.
The young prince then tiptoed into the kitchen and the powerful smell of caramel and nuts overtook him. Walking towards the coffee maker, Liam reached for a small cup when a hand tapped his shoulder. As he turned around, Queen Eleanor pursed her lips at him while his friend was nowhere to be seen.
"What do you think you're doing, young man?"
"Nothing... I was thirsty so—"
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
"But mom! I truly am thirsty!" Liam protested.
"The water filter is right there, Liam." Eleanor then pointed to the opposite side of the kitchen.
The young prince looked down at his hands.
"Why are you trying to drink something I already told you it's unhealthy for you?"
"Because I have to stay awake in the meetings..." The boy frowned.
The queen cupped her son's cheek and smiled fondly. The king could be too harsh on his sons sometimes.
"All you have to do is rest, eat your vegetables. You don't need to have coffee."
"Why can Leo have it and I can't?"
"My dear, Leo doesn't drink this type of coffee."
"Doesn't he?" Liam's brows furrowed.
"He already reached an age in which he can experience a couple of things adults can, but it doesn't include a cup of espresso in the middle of the afternoon."
"What does he drink then?"
"A mochaccino."
"Can I have that too?"
"As long as you or Drake don't try to steal coffee from the kitchen without an adult's permission, yes."
"Thank you, mom!" Liam hugged his mother tightly.
"I'm going to prepare us a special mochaccino. Why don't you go ask Bianca if Drake and Savannah can join us?"
The young prince nodded in excitement and rushed to the Walkers house while the Queen made her way to the Royal kitchen.
Cordonian capitol, June 2021
The king smiled to himself. Back then, he had no idea the mochaccino he had once in a while with his mother and friends was actually a babyccino. He understood her reasons now and was glad to be part of the experience of having coffee with his mother sometimes. Even if it was decaffeinated coffee.
As he lifted the cup to his lips, his brows furrowed. Liam put the coffee on the table and pressed the buzzer to call his assistant.
His assistant immediately opened the door again. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Did the kitchen staff prepare me a lungo? This isn't a espresso."
"No, Sir. They made you a Turkish coffee."
"Turkish coffee?"
"Yes, sir. It's made with the Arabica coffee beans Mr. Osmanoğlu and Lady Foredale gave to you during the Royal Heir baby shower."
Liam pressed his lips together, still remembering the sassy note his cousin and his teenhood friend that came with it.
"Switch the espresso for a nice and steamy cup of Türk kahve and you won't have the drawback espresso gives by the fourth cup of night while the baby still hasn't fallen into slumber. You're welcome! ;)"
"The handwriting was Daphne's, but the content certainly was Hamid's doing, That prick..." Liam thought to himself, shaking his head. "Andrea, I especifically asked for an espresso."
"Yes, you did, Sir. But since it would be your fourth doppio espresso today, the queen was adamant about changing the Italian roast for the Arabica coffee."
"The fourth?"
"Yes, sir."
Liam was about to say something when a yawn escaped his lips.
"If I may be so bold, sir, I still have the list of nurses pre-approved by the Queen Mother and your security staff," Andrea prompted.
His brows rose in surprise. Andrea has being working with him since he became the crown prince and always followed his orders without question. The very few rare moments she started a phrase with 'if I may be so bold...' meant that he was doing something he probably would regret later.
"I need to talk to Jade first, but send the list to me."
"As you wish, sir."
Liam gently rubbed his eyes in hopes to fight against sleep, then reached for the coffee. He couldn't recall the last time he felt this tired, given how little he had slept in the past three months. At least, Jade wasn't trying to forbid him of having his coffee.
Capri, January 2018
A gentle breeze blew against the curtains while Liam read a few documents still pending his signature. The king didn't wish to start his reign by letting the paperwork pile up in his office back in Cordonia during the engagement tour, so he might as well get started before his schedule got busied by dinners, meetings and conferences he had to attend while being abroad. To handle the paperwork, nothing would be better to start his day than a nice cup of coffee and a pastry.
As he waited for his coffee, voices coming from the hallway reached his ears. His lips twisted in displeasure, but hopefully his security detail would handle the situation.
A few minutes later, the hotel room maid walked in and placed a cup of tea and the tartlet on the coffee table.
"Excuse me, I didn't order tea."
"I know, sir." The maid looked down at her hands. "But a blond lady stopped me and told me to throw the coffee away because you only have apple tea."
"A blond lady?"
"The guards said it was your fiancee."
Liam pinched the bridge of his nose. It had been only two months since he forced himself go through with the arrangement with Madeleine, but he had lost count of how many times she has meddled into his daily routine.
"I'm so sorry, sir. I know this isn't your business, but my boss has been on my back because I missed work last week to take my son to the emergency room. If he finds out about this, I think I'll be fired."
Liam's heart sank at the pleading look on the woman's eyes. He couldn't be the cause of anyone losing their job because Madeleine interfered in his life again.
He glanced at the name on the maid uniform and smiled. "It's alright, Mrs. Rossi. Did you say this is apple tea?"
"Yes, it was made with Cordonian apples, just like your fiancee requested."
Liam looked down at the tea and tried not to grimace. If it didn't have sugar, it would be so hard to swallow.
"There's honey on the serving tray cart if you want."
"Thank you. I definitely want some."
The maid nodded and left the suite to get the honey. Once she returned and added honey to his tea, Liam took a sip.
"That's better. Thank you."
"I'm glad, sir. And I promise I'll bring you a doppio espresso the next time you order coffee."
"Well, in this case, bring me a doppio espresso in five minutes."
The maid grinned. "Yes, sir."
"And if your boss gives you a hard time again, talk to one of my guards. They'll call the human resources from my staff and find you a new job in case you need one."
The maid beamed. "Thank you, sir. I'll be right back with your coffee."
Cordonian capitol, June 2021
Once the meeting with the Cordonian ambassador in Argentina was over, Liam left his office and went straight to the Royal Apartment. Despite the tiredness, he could hardly wait to see his wife and daughter.
As he passed by the hallway, his wife's velvety voice reverberated on the walls as she sang a lullaby. Smiling to himself, Liam ambled towards the nursery and sang along with Jade in hopes to lull Elise to sleep.
"Are you some kind of baby whisperer?" Jade murmured as she slowly closed the door to the nursery. "I've been trying to make her sleep for at least half an hour, but the minute you swoop in, she falls asleep."
"She was half asleep when I walked in. You did most of the work yourself, my love."
Liam smiled, placing the baby monitor on the coffee table as his wife leaned in for a kiss.
"Did you just have coffee?"
"No, I had a cup over an hour ago."
"Really? Your lips taste amazing."
"I thought you had overcame caffeine abstinence."
"Ugh, don't remind me..." Jade grimaced, resting her head on his shoulder.
"The decaf isn't working, huh?"
"The maid you hired makes a mean cup of coffee, but the lack of caffeine is so tough. If Elise wasn't sensible to caffeine, I swear I'd fill our tub with coffee right now."
"I'm sorry, love. If you're sure about not switching to formula..."
"I'm not going to stop nursing Elise just because I miss coffee. I can handle it." The queen affirmed resolute.
"If you say so..." Liam gazed at his wife in worry. Her fulltime dedication to Elise was admirable, yet he couldn't help but think how exhausting it must have been for her. "But perhaps we should reconsider taking care of Elise by ourselves. It'll be less tiresome for both of us now that I returned to work, don't you think?"
The queen made a face, but caved. "Alright... We're going to have to hire someone eventually. Do you still have the list of nurses Regina made?"
"Andrea sent a copy to my email."
"We'll take a look at it after dinner and see how it goes."
The couple was watching the baby monitor when their new maid walked in.
"Good evening, Your Majesties." The maid bowed to the king and queen. "Dinner is served."
"Oh, I'm starving! Your timing is impeccable, Gianna," Jade praised.
"I couldn't agree more. Thank you, Gianna."
The maid nodded in gratitude and left to the dining room.
"I'm so glad my husband stole you from the hotel you worked in Capri. The food smells amazing," Jade commented as they walked towards the dining room.
"Wait until you try her apple tea," Liam said with a smile.
A/N: this is the next chapter in the journey of my OTP. Follow along for the fun.
Rated: Mature (at times can and will be Explicit. I'll be sure to change the rating when and if that happens). | Contains sexual content and strong language. (You know? The usual. Y'all should be used to this from me by now 😁) | Bolded and/or italicized words are conversations and thoughts of the characters. | Main Characters: King Marquise Rys (LI) and Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys (MC) | All Characters and names: (except MC and original characters created by me and/or other authors [their characters have been mentioned and/or used in the story with their permission] ) are property of Pixelberry.
Current Word Count: 9,875 words. (may be slightly more or may be slightly less. Look, I stop counting after editing and re-editing and driving myself insane. 🤷🏾♀️)
If you’d like to be added to my tag list. Just reblog or DM me and I will gladly add you! 😁😘
This series is rated Mature and/or Explicit. It is NOT reading material that is safe for those under 18. Reader discretion is STRONGLY advised!
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Tag List: @choicesficwriterscreations @kingliamappreciationweek
Chapter 10.) Dèja Vu.
Shanelle couldn't believe what she had just heard. Again.
"I'm sorry but what did you just say?" Shanelle asked her doctor.
"The urine test you requested came back. You're pregnant ma'am." Dr Andersen replied.
She stared at him.
"Again?!"
"Yes, my Queen. You're pregnant again."
"But! But! I just gave birth! To twins!"
"Yes, you did. Over a year ago. And now you're pregnant again."
Shanelle felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Your Majesty?" he asked.
"And you're 100% sure doctor?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am. Your test was positive," he replied.
"Should I take another test?" she asked, "Maybe this one was a false positive."
"We can take another one ma'am but it more than likely won't change the result."
Shanelle let out a defeated sigh.
"I can not believe this is happening again."
Dr. Andersen looked at her sympathetically.
"I know that you might not want to hear this but this is a happy time. For you and The Royal Family. You and His Majesty are great parents. I've seen it with my own eyes. And I am happy for you."
Shanelle smiled softly at him.
"Thank you, Dr. Andersen. I appreciate it."
"Of course My Queen. I will contact your Obstetrician."
"Thank you again."
Dr. Andersen nodded before taking his leave. The reality was finally hitting her.
"Oh my God! I can't do this again! I can't be pregnant! Not now! I have way too damn much going on to be pregnant!" she thought to herself.
To make matters worse, she found out she was pregnant two days before her father's birthday. She was so in denial, that she snuck out of the palace and headed to a local pharmacy and bought as many drugstore pregnancy tests as her arms could carry. When she got back to her office she took every last one. And they were all positive. She is indeed pregnant.
"Damn it all to hell! Of all the times to be pregnant, Mother Nature chooses to do this to me now?!"
Shanelle let out a frustrated sigh.
"I can't believe we're doing this again," she said out loud but not alone, "doing what again?"
She was startled by her husband's voice.
"Don't do that!" she said as she caught her breath, "You scared me half to death."
"I'm sorry."
He took in the look on her face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"No. Yes? Maybe? I don't know?" she replied.
"What's wrong?"
"Umm..." She struggled to come up with words.
"Okay, now you're starting to scare me. What's wrong? Why do you look like that?"
Shanelle took a shaky breath as she sat down at her desk.
"Close the door and have a seat."
He closed the door and then took a seat across from her.
"Okay, I'm sitting down. What is going on? What's wrong?"
Shanelle sighed.
"You're about to be a father again," she said quietly.
"What?"
"You're about to be a father again," she spoke up.
"What?!"
"Do NOT make me say it to you a third time!" she snapped at him.
Marquise blinked in realization.
"Wait! You're pregnant?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm pregnant. Ya, happy now?" she asked in a frustrated tone.
Shanelle closed her eyes to keep tears of frustration from falling.
"Shanelle, look at me," he said to her.
Shanelle exhaled and then looked at him.
"You're absolutely sure you're pregnant?" he asked.
"Yes. I had Dr. Andersen do a pregnancy test and it came back positive. Then I went out and bought my own. They're all positive." she replied as her voice hitched.
Marquise reached across her desk and gently took her shaking hands in his.
"If this is true, why do you look so upset?"
"Because I don't have time to be pregnant! We have two one-year-olds and a six-year-old to raise already. On top of the fact that two cocky idiots are gunning for our thrones. I can't be pregnant now. It will derail my entire year not to mention that it would derail my life! I can't afford that!" she replied as tears started rolling down her face.
Marquise stood up and brought her to her feet.
"First of all, I need you to breathe."
"I am breathing."
"No, you're stressed out and upset. I need you to breathe!"
"Is that an order?"
"Yes. Now breathe."
Shanelle closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
"Good. Now I want you to hear me. I know you're upset because of the timing of this but my love this is not something to be upset about."
"You don't understand Marquise!"
"I do understand. I understand that you don't want to be inconvenienced. I understand that you don't want to stop. I understand that you'd rather not have to think about being pregnant. I understand that you feel we have enough to deal with. Between raising our children, running and governing our kingdom, and especially having to deal with this god-forsaken challenge. I know what you're feeling. I know you feel like being pregnant will get in the way of all we're doing. But this is not a bad thing. We will do what we always do, we will breathe, straighten our shoulders, hold our heads high, and rule together."
Shanelle felt him rub his thumbs in circles on her knuckles.
"This is great news, my love. Our family is growing again. Our parents will be thrilled. Our nieces and nephews will be over the moon. And God knows Khari will be insufferable."
Shanelle chuckled.
"And our boys, they will be big brothers. Can you imagine how adorably hilarious they will be?"
Shanelle nodded.
"Yeah, I can."
He tilted her chin up so she was looking at him.
"I know this isn't what we expected. Especially you. But this is the hand we've been dealt. And like all things we do in love and life, we will handle this head-on. Because you know I would never allow you to walk this journey alone."
"But I don't know that I'm ready. I don't know if I can devote time to this."
"The woman I married. The woman I share a life with. The woman who gave me my three beautiful children. The woman who has had my heart since the first time I laid eyes on her. The woman I will always say I love you to. The woman who leads one of the greatest nations in the world. The woman I will lay my life down for. The Queen of Cordonia...is always ready."
Shanelle exhaled slowly.
"Okay okay. You win." Shanelle said before taking a shaky breath, "While I wish the timing of this was much better, you're right. I can do this. We will do this."
Marquise nodded.
"Never forget. You are a fantastic mother. The way you love, nurture, protect, teach, and defend our children always leaves me in awe. You are gentle, silly, firm, and caring. Our children are blessed not because of me but because of you."
Shanelle smiled softly at him.
"I wanna wait to tell people though. I want to take one last test. Just to be extra sure before we start telling everyone."
Marquise nodded.
"When do you want to tell everyone?"
"Next week. Since my parents will be here to celebrate their birthdays."
"Alright. For now, only we will know. So go ahead and order one more test."
"Okay."
"And don't worry, my love. You'll see that this is a good thing. Even if it doesn't feel like it right now. You'll see, it will be alright."
"I know it will be. I'm just..."
"Still in shock and disbelief?"
"Yeah."
He pulled her into a loving embrace.
"Listen to me, I know it's a shock. But once it settles, you'll see the joy in all of this."
"I know I will."
"So let's breathe then get ready for the madness this is about to cause."
Shanelle exhaled slowly.
"Thank you for talking me off a ledge."
He chuckled softly.
"It's what you married me for."
Shanelle smiled at him.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
She kissed him.
"Thank you."
"Keep that up and you'll be pregnant twice."
"And...he ruins the moment."
"You love meeee."
Shanelle shook her head with a small smile before she took one last look at the pregnancy test on her desk before putting it away In a drawer and then leaving her office with him.
The couple was able to keep Shanelle's pregnancy to themselves until her parents arrived that weekend. And that Sunday was the big reveal. After Khari and her brothers sang Happy Birthday the best they could to their Grammy it was time for cake and presents. While Marquise got the cake with the children, Shanelle gave her parents the news. In the cutest way possible.
"Got an early present for you and Daddy before the kids get cake everywhere," Shanelle said as she handed her mother a small gift bag.
"What's this butterfly?" her mother asked.
"Open it and find out."
Shantel gave her daughter a look.
"It's not bad. I promise."
"I don't know, this may be revenge for that gag gift we gave when you were 9." her father piped up.
Shanelle rolled her eyes.
"Your father has a point."
"Oh my goodness! Just open it!"
Shantel set the gift bag down and began taking the tissue paper out of it.
"Is there a present in here or is this just a bag of paper?" her father asks.
Shanelle merely shrugged.
"Honey, you may be right. Your daughter may have finally got her revenge." Shantel said to her husband.
"Good Lord! You two are impossible."
Her parents laughed as Shantel continued taking out more and more tissue paper. When she finally got to the bottom of the bag, she pulled out a small box.
"What's this?" Shantel asks.
"You have to open it to find out," Shanelle replied.
Shantel looked at her and then at her husband before opening the box. She nearly dropped the box after opening it.
"Oh my God!" she gasped out loud.
"What? What is it?" Damien asked.
Shantel held up a positive pregnancy test for her husband to see.
"What?!" Damien asks.
They both looked at her stunned.
"Happy Birthday?" Shanelle said to her parents.
"Are you serious?" her mother asked.
"Yeah. It's real." Shanelle replied.
"You're really pregnant?" Damien asked Shanelle.
"Yes, Daddy. You and momma get to be Grammy and Pop Pop all over again," she replied.
Their shock slowly turned to joy.
"Oh my God! Congratulations baby!" her mother said to her as she hugged her.
"Thank you, momma."
"Another one? When did you find out?" Damien asks.
"Yes, Daddy, another one. I found out I was pregnant two days before your birthday." she replied, "I hope you and Momma aren't mad that I didn't tell you right away."
"Of course not my darling," he said as he hugged her. "We couldn't be happier for you."
Shantel dried her eyes.
"Does Margo know you're pregnant?" Shantel asks.
"No, I don't think Marquise has told her yet," Shanelle replied.
"Hasn't told me what?" Margo asked as she walked up grabbing everyone's attention, "I apologize to everyone. I didn't mean to startle you all."
"It's quite alright Margo." Shantel said to her, "This is what your son hasn't told you yet."
Shantel handed her the small gift box. When Margo looked into the box her eyebrows shot up.
"Oh my goodness!"
"Oh God no!" Shantel said with a laugh, "Not me Margo."
"Then who?" Margo asks. That's when Shantel nodded to Shanelle and it dawned on her.
"Wait! You mean?" she asks before looking at Shanelle.
"Surprise?" Shanelle replied sheepishly.
Margo's jaw dropped.
"Welcome to the Grammy for a third-time club sweetie," Shantel said to her.
"My goodness! Congratulations my dear!" Margo said as she hugged Shanelle. "I am so happy for you and my son!"
"Thank you, Margo. I just hope I didn't steal His Majesty's thunder. He wanted to tell you himself."
Margo shook her head with a tearful smile.
"My heart is so full. I am thrilled for you and him. And especially my grandbabies. They'll be thrilled."
"I'm not too sure the boys will understand."
"This is true. But they can learn." Margo said with a happy sigh, "I wish George was here. He would be over the moon with happiness."
Shanelle smiled at Margo.
"I miss him. I remember how happy he was when we found out I was pregnant with Khari."
Shantel hugged Margo.
"Oh, sweetie. He's here. I can hear his laugh now."
Margo smiled.
"I can too."
That's when Marquise popped his head in.
"I was sent here to ask if we are ready for cupcakes."
Margo gave him a look.
"What? What's that look for?" he asked Margo.
"When were you going to tell me?!" she replied.
"Tell you wha—" he asked before seeing his wife mouth the words "She knows", "Ohhhhh! That."
"Yes. That," she said with her hands on her hips.
"I promise I had every intention of telling you."
Margo shook her head with a smile.
"If only it wasn't considered treason to pop you." she playfully warned before hugging him, "Congratulations my love. I am so happy for you."
"Thank you, mama."
"Daddy! Are they ready yet?!" Khari asked from the other room.
"Yes, my love! They're ready. Bring the cupcakes in." he replied.
"Otay (okay)! We toming (coming)!" Kylo replied.
The kids brought in a cart full of cupcakes with lit candles in them.
"Alright boys! You ready?"
"Ready!" they replied.
"Okay. One...two...three!"
"Happy!" Zyon said.
"Birthday!" Kylo followed.
"To Pop Pop and Grammy!" Khari cheered.
Everyone clapped.
"Okay, now Grammy. You and Pop Pop gotta make a wish and then blow out the candles."
Everyone watched as they blew out the candles.
"And now the best part!" Khari said.
"Cupcakes!" the twins said together.
As everyone was enjoying a cupcake, Khari noticed the small gift box.
"What's that Grammy?" Khari asked.
Shantel chuckled softly.
"That is a very special gift from your mother and father to me and Pop Pop," Shantel replied.
"What kind of gift?" Khari asked.
Shantel looked at Khari's parents.
"I'll let them tell you."
Khari looked at her parents.
"Looks like the jig's up," Shanelle whispered to her husband.
"Yup," Marquise replied before clearing his throat, "Come here, my love. There's something your mother and I have to tell you and your brothers."
Khari brought her brothers with her.
"What is it, Daddy?" Khari asked.
"Yeah? What?" Zyon asked.
"Well, it's about our family," he replied.
"Huh?" Kylo asked.
"I don't understand Daddy," Khari said to him, "what's wrong with our family."
"Nothing's wrong baby. This is a good thing." Shanelle replied.
"Oh okay. So what is it?" Khari asked.
"Our family is going to be getting bigger," Shanelle replied.
"Huh?" Zyon asked.
"What dat (that) mean Mommy?" Kylo asks.
"Hmmm..."
Khari thought for a minute then gasped.
"Wait! Is mommy pregnant again?!" she asked.
"Yes, my love. Your mother is pregnant." Marquise replied.
"Oh my goodness! I'm gonna be a big sister!" Khari said.
"You already are a big sister sweetie. But your brothers will be big brothers now." Shanelle said to her daughter.
"Big brudder (brother)?" Kylo asks.
"Me and Kyyo (Kylo)?" Zyon asked.
"Yes, my boy. You and Kylo will be big brothers." Marquise replied.
"What's that?" Kylo asks.
Shanelle shook her head with a smile.
"I don't think they understand."
"That's okay mommy. I'll teach them everything I know!"
Later that evening after telling the rest of Marquise's family, Shanelle was out on her balcony before she was joined by her husband.
"How are you feeling my love?" he asked her.
"I'm relieved. Part of our family knows. I still have to break the news to a certain group of women."
Marquise snorted.
"They will eat you alive."
"I don't mind them. It's the rest of the world that I'm worried about."
He kissed her forehead softly.
"We will reveal to the world when you're ready and not a moment before."
"Are you sure that we can?"
"Of course. This isn't the first time we've hidden a pregnancy."
"But what about my appointments?"
"You and I both know that there are a million and one ways in and out of this palace. And in terms of your Obstetrician's office, there's a service elevator that we can take to avoid detection."
Shanelle shook her head impressed.
"You really do think of everything."
"Any way that I can alleviate any of your stress and keep you at ease, I will employ."
"I don't know what I'd do without you but I'm not willing to find out."
Marquise chuckled.
"I do it because I adore you. That's why."
"Well, you've certainly set the bar high for your daughters' future suitors."
Marquise scoffed.
"It's cute you assume she'll have any."
Just then, there was a knock at their bedroom door.
"Now who could that be at this hour?" she asks.
"I'll go find out," he replied.
He walked to the door and when he opened it there was an attendant on the other side.
"Apologies for the late intrusion sire but this just came for you and Her Majesty." the attendant said as she handed him an envelope.
"Thank you. That will be all."
"Of course, my King." the attendant replied with a curtsey before leaving.
Marquise curiously turned the envelope over in his hand.
"What is it?" Shanelle asks.
"Let's find out, shall we?" he replied.
Marquise broke the seal on the envelope and then pulled an invitation out. He read the invitation with an eyebrow raised and finished with a scoff.
"What does it say?" she asked.
"Your presence is hereby formally requested to be in attendance at the official Welcome Ball of Lord and Lady Aldon Douglas Joseph of House Gallagher. Saturday, May 19th at 5:00 PM at the Palace of Dalevandon." He read aloud.
"No, they didn't." Shanelle hissed.
"They did. And they're having this ball at King Elgin's old palace."
Shanelle scoffed.
"So this is bait?"
"Mmmhmm. They want a public spectacle and have sent us this in hopes that we'll reject their invitation."
"Well, they're right. We are not going."
"Oh yes, we are."
"What? Have you lost your mind?"
"You have to remember, this is about optics. If we don't go, the people will wonder why we're letting them intimidate us. Also, I am not about to be intimidated by a couple of amateurs."
"Ugh, I don't want to go."
"We don't really have a choice, my love. By sending us this they're forcing our hands. And if we don't go, they can say that they tried to extend an olive branch and we refused it."
Shanelle groaned.
"I hate courtly politics", Shanelle muttered with a frustrated sigh, "Fine. We'll go but we're not staying all night. I want to tuck our kids into bed at night."
"Deal. I'll have word sent that we'll be in attendance."
"In the meantime, I'm getting in the shower."
"Hey! Wait for me!"
Shanelle rolled her eyes playfully.
The couple spent the next week flying under the radar until her first appointment with Dr. Ramirez that following Wednesday morning. After coming through the service entrance, they were taken to a private room where they waited for her doctor.
"How are you feeling my love?" Marquise asked her.
"Everything all at once. I still can't believe I'm pregnant. But here we are about to have another baby." Shanelle replied.
"I'm sure. But this is an exciting time for us and our family. I know you're nervous but I am always with you."
"I know. It's just all the changes that are gonna happen. With us. With the kids. With the kingdom. I don't want to not be present and available for them."
"You have my word, my love. I will make sure that no matter what happens, you will always be seen, heard, and felt. Understood?"
Shanelle nodded just as there was a small knock at the door.
"Well, this is it," he said to her.
"Time to get this show on the road."
Dr. Ramirez and her nurse entered the room.
"Hello, and good morning Your Majesties. It's good to see you both again."
"You as well Dr. Ramirez," Marquise replied.
The doctor smiled at Shanelle.
"And a very good morning to you my Queen. Let me say congratulations to you and His Majesty on your soon-to-be newest bundle of joy."
Shanelle smiled softly at Dr. Ramirez.
"Thank you, doctor."
"So how are you doing? How are you feeling?" Dr. Ramirez asked.
"So far I'm okay. No early signs of pregnancy or morning sickness yet."
"That's good to hear. As always we'll check in periodically to be sure."
Shanelle nodded.
"Okay."
"In the meantime, we have an ultrasound to get started. Are you ready?"
"Yeah, I think so. Even though I hate this part."
Dr. Ramirez chuckled.
"I understand why my Queen. But I assure you that this won't take too long."
"Alright."
"Now I need you to lie back so my assistant Mara can apply the gel."
Shanelle laid back while holding her husband's hand while Dr. Ramirez turned on the ultrasound machine and her assistant applied the gel.
"Eek! Cold! Still cold!" Shanelle squirmed while Marquise stifled his laugh.
"I'm sure it is but the chill will dissipate soon." Dr. Ramirez replied as the screen came to life.
"Now, let's find that heartbeat."
Dr. Ramirez gently pressed the wand to Shanelle's stomach, moved it around, and then stopped when the heartbeat was heard.
"Say hello to your little one Your Majesties," she said gently to the couple.
The couple was in awe.
"Oh my God. They're real. Our baby is real." Shanelle with tears in her eyes.
"They're real. This is real. This is actually happening." Marquise spoke up.
They watched as Dr. Ramirez moved the wand around a little more.
"And this time, it's only one baby."
Shanelle let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank God! I would've died if you said it was twins again."
Dr. Ramirez chuckled.
"No no. Just one."
Marquise nodded slowly.
"At least now we know. Thank you, Doctor."
Dr. Ramirez smiled at Marquise.
"Of course Your Majesty. Again I am happy for you both."
"We appreciate that," Shanelle said to her.
"We'll get you cleaned up then we'll give you two a moment alone. But so far we're off to a great start."
After cleaning the gel off Shanelle's stomach, the couple sat together in shock and love.
"Life loves playing jokes on us, doesn't it?" Shanelle asked her husband.
"Indeed. How are you feeling?" he replied.
"I think reality is finally setting in. I think I'm slowly coming to terms with all of this," she replied.
Marquise nodded.
"It's a lot. Like a whole lot. But I know you. I know your strength. I know your perseverance. I know your tenacity. And God knows I know your love. I promise this will go smoothly. Unlike everything else in our lives."
Shanelle snorted.
"Well, when you put it that way, bring it on."
"There ya go! That's the spirit."
He rubbed circles on the knuckles of her right hand.
"You never cease to amaze me."
"You always say that."
"Because it's true. Every single day that I get to spend in your light is a blessing I will never take for granted. That's how much you mean to me. That's how much I adore you."
Shanelle smiled softly at him.
"Hey."
"Hmm?"
She leaned over and kissed him sweetly.
"I love you."
"I love you too, my love."
He smiled against her lips.
"I'll call the car."
Shanelle nodded before he stepped outside. When he did he was greeted by Dr. Ramirez.
"Your Majesty. I'm glad I caught you. I wanted to know if we should do the monthly check-ins that we did the last time Her Majesty was pregnant."
"Yes ma'am. I would. Again it's not that I want to hide anything from her but if something should arise."
Dr. Ramirez nodded.
"You will always be my first call."
"Thank you, Doctor."
Marquise stepped away from her to call their car. Later that day, it was time for Shanelle to tell the girls.
"Now that I have you all gathered here today I have something to tell you lot."
"What is it, Princess?" Nina asked.
"Now before I tell you girls what I have to say I just wanna preface what I'm gonna say with this, it's all Nina's fault! Y'all can blame her for what I'm about to say." Shanelle replied
"Me?! What did I do?" Nina asked.
"You were breathing on me! This is all your fault!" Shanelle replies, "You infected me with your cooties! I blame you!"
"Oh my God! I haven't seen you since January!"
"That's how long your cooties have been on me. And now..."
The girls were stuck. They didn't know what Shanelle was talking about.
"What are you rambling about Nelle?" Nina asked.
Shanelle shook her head with a hand covering her smile that's when it dawned on Nina.
"OH MY GOD! YOU'RE PREGNANT!" Nina guessed.
"What?!" the rest of the girls asked.
"Told y'all it was Nina's fault. She was spreading her pregnancy germs around and I caught them."
The girls cheered.
"Congratulations baby!" Robin said to her.
"Thank you, babe."
"I can't believe you're pregnant again!" Bron quipped.
"I know right?" Shanelle said to her.
"How are the kids?" Dee asked.
"Well, the boys don't quite understand what's going on just yet. But Khari? She is...excitedly insufferable." Shanelle replied.
The girls laughed.
"Stop that! My Princess is allowed to be happy." Nina said to her.
"We're so happy for you," Chutney said to her.
"Thank you, my love," Shanelle replied.
"How are you feeling?" Aly asks.
"I am...everything, everywhere, all at once. Honestly when I found out I didn't believe it at first. Hell, I didn't want to believe it. But when it was confirmed that I am indeed with child...I couldn't deny it anymore." Shanelle replied.
"When did you find out?" Nina asks.
"Two days before my dad's birthday," Shanelle replied.
"And you're just now telling us?" Robin asked.
"Again I was deep in denial. At first, I thought the first test I took might've been a false positive. But when I took at least 8 more tests, they all said the same thing. And well here we are." Shanelle replied.
"So are you having twins again?" Bron asked.
Nina cackled.
"No! Thank God! Besides, my uterus would've staged a mutiny if it was revealed I was having twins again. Thankfully for me, there is only one bun in this oven." Shanelle replied, "this time around the only one having twins is your sister-in-law."
Bronwyn laughed.
"Well, congratulations anyway. You're a great mom."
"Thank you, baby. Thank you all really. It means a lot to me that you all are happy for me."
"Of course we're happy. Our family is getting bigger." Robin said to her.
"Some might say that we're the mob." Aly quipped.
The girls all laughed.
"Nah. The mob is way too disorganized. Besides, they never get away with it. Unlike us." Shanelle said.
"True!" the girls agreed.
After speaking with the girls Shanelle found herself out on her bedroom balcony and was joined by her husband who was just ending a phone call.
"Yeah yeah. Asshole. Thanks again. I'll talk to you soon. Love you too." he said as he hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" she asked him.
"Leo. I told him you're pregnant," he replied.
"Oh good. How is he?" she asks.
"He's good. He's excited for us. How are the girls doing? How'd they take the news?"
"They're good. They're excited."
"You didn't blame Nina for you being pregnant did you?"
"It's her fault. And you know it."
Marquise shook his head with a smile before wrapping his arms around her waist.
"And now it'll soon be time to tell the world."
"We will tell the world when you're ready. Not a moment before."
Shanelle sighed contently.
"So we're really doing this again?" she asked.
"Mmmhmm. We are doing this again. We will be welcoming a new little one into our family." he replied.
Shanelle smiled softly.
"I swear I'm not in denial. It's just..."
"You're still in shock?" he asks.
"Yeah. I keep thinking I'm dreaming. But nope! I'm wide awake."
He kissed the back of her left shoulder.
"I'm excited for us. I know I could never go through the changes that you'll go through but I will always be with you and at your side."
"You'd be sickening if I didn't have such a giant praise kink."
"That's why I do it," he said before kissing the back of her left ear.
"I guess I'm still struggling with the timing of this pregnancy. Well, that and the fact that we're being forced to attend this Welcoming Ball in a few weeks."
That gave Marquise an idea.
"That gives me an idea."
"What?" she asked.
"Since we are discussing timing, why don't we announce your pregnancy on Mother's Day? Which is also a week before their so-called ball," he replied.
"That would certainly steal their thunder. And would force them to share their spotlight that night with us."
"Precisely."
Shanelle nodded.
"Okay. We'll announce it then."
"I love it when a plan comes together."
Over the next few weeks, The Royal Couple was able to keep Her Majesty's pregnancy quiet until their announcement on Mother's Day. It took the kingdom by storm and as Marquise predicted, stole the momentum from Lord and Lady Gallagher. Many were happy and excited about the soon-to-be newest royal baby.
On the day of the Welcome Ball, the couple got ready. Choosing to go with a 20s glam. Shanelle picked a strapless navy blue crushed velour dress that fit and flattered her beginning baby bump with long white gloves. Marquise whistled low when he saw her.
"Now what is a fine-looking filly such as yourself doing in a place like this?" he asked, showing off his Boston accent.
Shanelle snickered.
"You've been working on your Boston accent again."
"You like it?"
"I certainly do," she replied in a southern belle voice, "well sir, if you must know I happen to enjoy the very finest things in life."
The couple laughed before saying goodbye to their children and making the journey to Dalevandon in what was once West Cordonia. The ride was quiet and pleasant, taking them through the Gianko Valley. As they arrived in the former capital of West Cordonia, Marquise took a deep breath.
"Are you okay?" Shanelle whispered to her husband.
"Yes, I'm fine. It's just been a while since I've been here. I have...mixed feelings about this palace."
"I'm sure. You spent a lot of time here. After all, your ex grew up here. It's perfectly okay to feel conflicted about being here."
Marquise nodded as they pulled into the motor court.
"Well, we're here," she said to him.
Marquise peered out of their limo window.
"Indeed. And so is the press."
"Hmmm...with us announcing my pregnancy last Sunday, how do you think Lord and Lady Gallagher will react?" she asked.
"Forcibly polite," he replied as he fixed his watch, "now shall we go dazzle the masses?"
"Lead the way, Your Majesty."
Marquise was the first to step out of the limo, shielding his wife from the various camera flashes. Once she exited, he took her hand in his and smiled at the cameras.
"Good evening everyone!" Marquise said to the members of the press. Many clamored to the King.
"Your Majesties! Your Majesties! Over here!" many were heard shouting at the couple for their attention.
"Your Majesties! Giacomo Torres here! First off let me say congratulations to you and Her Majesty on your new bundle of joy." He said to Marquise.
"Thank you kindly," Marquise replied.
"With Lord and Lady Gallagher challenging for the throne, many want to know why you're here tonight?" he asked the couple.
"We were invited by Lord and Lady Gallagher and it would be incredibly rude to refuse such an invite," Shanelle replied.
"Agreed. Speaking of you Your Majesty, how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm doing good, thank you for asking. No early signs of morning sickness so far."
"And how are the heirs? Are they excited?"
"Our boys are still very young so they don't really understand what is going on. But their sister is ecstatic at having another sibling." Marquise replied.
"Thank you both for your time. Do enjoy the ball." Giacomo said to them.
Both smiled and waved at the members of the press before making their way into the palace.
"Well that was fun," Shanelle said to her husband.
"It always is a fun time to show you off, my love. Now let's go steal the show from the idiots."
The couple was led to the doors of the grand ballroom for their entrance.
"Introducing His Majesty King Marquise Rys and Her Majesty Queen Shanelle Miller-Rys!" the herald announced as the doors opened. Their entrance grabbed everyone's attention.
When they got to the center of the grand ballroom, they were greeted in the receiving line by Lord and Lady Gallagher as well as their parents. Prince Dante Laurent and Duchess Josephine Grimes-Laurent and Duke Allastair Joseph and Duchess Daphne Ballenger-Joseph.
"Your Majesties. It is good to see you both. Our son wasn't sure you'd be joining us this evening." Duke Joseph said in greeting to them both.
"Thank you, Your Grace. Your son's challenge aside, I would never miss a good party." Marquise replied.
"Thank you for joining us, Your Majesties." Lord Gallagher said stiffly.
His mother cleared her throat.
"Yes, it is good that you're both here," she said to Marquise.
Marquise nodded politely then looked over to Lady Makenna's parents. Who bowed and curtsied in his direction.
"Your Highness. It's good to see you and the former Headmaster again. It's been quite some time since we've seen each other," he said to them.
Prince Dante nodded politely.
"Indeed it has. You were His Highness the last time my wife and I saw you." he said to Marquise before turning his attention to Shanelle, "Hello Your Majesty. It is good to meet you. And let me congratulate you and His Majesty on your pregnancy."
Shanelle smiled politely.
"Hello, Your Highness. It's lovely to meet you and Her Grace. Thank you very much for your kind words," she replied.
Lady Makenna rolled her eyes.
"You and Mama don't have to be so formal Papa. They won't be royals for very much longer."
Prince Dante gave his daughter a withering look.
"Makenna! You will show respect! You are not Queen yet! So until you are, you will represent our family with dignity! Now fix your face!" Prince Dante snapped at his daughter. This caused Shanelle to laugh quietly.
"Do excuse our daughter's lack of manners Your Majesties. She forgets herself sometimes." Duchess Josephine said to them.
"It's quite alright. Tell me, Your Grace, how is Elgin?" Marquise asked.
"He is well. Well as well as he can be." Prince Dante replies.
"His dialysis treatments are going well, yes?" Marquise asked.
"Yes, Sire. They are going well. My brother is still stubborn but he's still alive." Prince Dante replies.
"Papa! That is none of his business!" Makenna fussed.
Prince Dante gave her daughter another withering look.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I'm glad His Majesty is doing well. I think it's time that Her Majesty and I should take our seats. Be well, everyone." Marquise announced before walking Shanelle to their seats.
As they walked away, light bickering could be heard from Lord and Lady Gallagher to their parents.
"Well, that was awkward," Shanelle said to Marquise.
"Indeed but it was also informative," he replies.
"What do you mean?" Shanelle asked as they took their seats.
"Because Prince Dante lied to me. That's what I mean. He's not supposed to be within miles of the old palace," he replies.
"Why not?" Shanelle asked.
"Because Prince Dante is the reason why King Elgin owed a debt to my father in the first place. He had a gambling addiction when he was much younger and stupidly he risked his entire family's fortune on a race during the Royal Regatta one year and suffered a devastating loss to my father. And he seized on the opportunity." Marquise replied.
"Yikes!"
"And when King Elgin found out about his younger brother's blunder, he had no choice but to pay my father. Because of this Elgin banned his brother from ever stepping foot back in this palace. That's why Makenna was mad at him. Because she knew he would be lying to me. Truth is I doubt he's seen his brother in years. The last time he was here I was maybe 12 at the time. He hasn't been back since to my knowledge."
"So do you think King Elgin knows his brother is here?"
"Hard to say but with the state he's in, I don't think there's much he can do about it."
"Curiouser and curiouser. Do you think she's playing on her uncle's sympathies?"
Marquise shrugged.
"She wouldn't be the first noble to do so. And I doubt she'll be the last. That's probably why Dante sent Makenna to court. She was meant to be a peace offering. But I don't know if it worked."
The room quieted down as Lord Gallagher gave his opening remarks.
"Good Evening everyone! On behalf of my wife Lady Makenna Laurent, I want to welcome you all to our first of many balls here at my wife's family palace. I know some of you are loyal to Their Majesties. And I understand why. I don't blame you for your loyalty to them. I will be honest I didn't think Their Majesties would have had the decency to join us this evening. I am glad to see I was wrong. It is good to have you both here with us tonight. And my wife and I do wish you a warm and sincere congratulations on your new baby-to-be."
Marquise raised an eyebrow and then nodded at him.
"Now I understand that many of you don't know us. Therefore you're not sure you can trust us. My wife and I understand that. We also understand that we must earn the trust of the noble houses and the people. That is our goal for tonight. And let me just say, we are not challenging for the throne because we want to overthrow the monarchy. While it is hard for me to admit, I will give the current monarchs their credit. They have indeed done things for Cordonia. Many nobles and commoners alike have prospered under their leadership. Her Majesty's overhaul of the healthcare system of our kingdom alone is a feat that should be marveled at and celebrated. Because of that overhaul, many of our people were able to afford the life-saving healthcare they needed. My wife's uncle included. I thank them for that. But I am not blind to their misfortunes either. It was because of them we all were threatened by the Via Imperii."
Shanelle rolled her eyes quietly.
"And the unfair taxes many of us have had to pay. While yes, I can admit that money goes toward the healthcare system, education system, and emergency services and yes, none of it goes directly to either of them, we are well off now. We don't need to keep paying higher taxes. We don't need to keep doing trade, especially risky trades with hostile nations. And we certainly don't need to involve ourselves in petty squabbles between other nations. As many of you know, Kasnia is at war with Sulovaria and your King wants to involve us in that. That is military resources we don't need to expend. Not to mention he and the Queen spend more time gallivanting across the globe than they do at home."
His Majesty set his jaw.
"That is the irresponsibility my wife and I are trying to avoid. Unnecessary and costly wars and useless vanity points. We need leaders who have common sense solutions for everyday problems. They don't have common sense solutions. They don't have Cordonia's best interest at heart. But my wife and I do. That is why we are throwing this ball. It is our hope that tonight we will be able to change your minds about us and them. With that, let dinner be served!"
Servants busied themselves serving the first course of dinner. While they ate, Their Majesties discussed Lord Gallagher's opening statement.
"Well, what did you think?" Shanelle asked her husband.
"Not as bad as I expected. I knew they would take shots at us, but they played well to the crowd by keeping them at a minimum." Marquise replied.
"This is gonna be a long night isn't it?"
"Unfortunately but we're here and you are still pregnant. Which is something they didn't account for. We can still use that to our advantage."
"I love it when you get all political strategist."
"It's literally my job."
The main course, which was venison medallions in a wild boar ragu with chanterelle mushrooms and roasted Brussels sprouts, turned Shanelle's stomach.
"Are you alright?" Marquise asked.
"I don't think I can eat any of this. The smell of the mushrooms is making me queasy." Shanelle replied.
"Hmmm...let's see if one of my favorite of King Elgin's staff is working tonight."
Marquise was able to flag down one of the staff.
"Your Majesty! It is so good to see you again! I haven't seen you in ages!" the staff member said to him.
"Thank you, Tarlov. It's good to see you as well. Listen I don't mean to be a bother, but could I get something else for Her Majesty to eat? With her being pregnant, her senses are sensitive, and the mushrooms of the entree are making her feel sick. Perhaps you could indulge me just this once and have something lighter prepared for her."
"Oh dear! Of course sire. Right away!"
"Thank you again, Tarlov. Give Winnie my regards."
Tarlov nodded before taking Shanelle's plate away to the kitchen.
"Ugh! Thank you. Another second and I would've ruined the china." Shanelle said with a groan.
He rubbed the knuckles of her right hand.
"You're welcome. I'm surprised Tarlov is still here after all these years."
"You two greeted each other like you knew each other."
"Tarlov has worked in the palace for years. He's one of the last bit of loyal staff that Elgin has left."
With a new entree delivered Shanelle was able to eat. After dessert was served it was time for dancing. Lord Gallagher took to the middle of the dance floor.
"After what I said earlier this evening, this may seem surprising but if Her Majesty would be so kind as to join me for the first dance?" he asked the gathered crowd, "I promise you, Your Majesty, I mean no harm."
With all eyes on her, Shanelle took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked onto the dance floor.
"Thank you. And I mean what I said, no tricks. Just a dance." Lord Gallagher said to Shanelle as he offered his hand.
"One dance. That's all you get," she said to him as the music started to play. As they began to dance Lord Gallagher regarded Shanelle with an appraising eye.
"I saw you had your entree switched. Was the food not to your liking?" he asked.
"No. The mushrooms made me queasy and rather than have me ruin King Elgin's fine china, His Majesty asked if a different entree could be prepared." Shanelle replies.
"Well you'll have to forgive me. When we planned this menu we had no idea you'd be pregnant by the time we threw our ball. Also, you could've asked me. I would've happily had another dish prepared for you."
"No thank you. I'd rather not eat rat poisoning."
Lord Gallagher rolled his eyes.
"Despite what you may think—", he began to say before she cut him off, "save it. I'm just here to dance. Not have a conversation."
"I am trying to be polite," he said through clenched teeth.
That's when Shanelle accidentally stepped on his right foot on purpose.
"Why you!" he hissed.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, my Lord. How very clumsy of me!"
As they danced, Lady Makenna took the time to sidle up to Marquise.
"That was quite a speech your husband gave Kenna. It was almost convincing albeit a tad bit boring."
Lady Makenna let out an exasperated sigh and then cleared her throat.
"As much as I don't want to do this, Your Majesty would do me the honor of dancing with me?" she asked.
"No," he replied.
"No?" she asked.
"You heard me the first time. But for the sake of appearances and because I want to get my wife as far away from your husband as possible," Marquise said as he adjusted his cuff before offering his hand, "shall we?"
Lady Makenna huffed before taking his hand and going out on the dance floor. They danced until it was time to switch partners. Shanelle couldn't get away from Lord Gallagher fast enough
"My knight in shining armor!" Shanelle said to her husband.
"That bad?" he asked.
"Let's just say there are only so many times I can accidentally step on his toes on purpose."
Marquise chuckled.
After an hour of dancing and mingling with others, it was time for Lord and Lady Gallagher's closing remarks.
"Here we go," Marquise said to Shanelle.
"Can we just get this over with?" Shanelle replied.
"Once again, my wife and I would like to thank all of you for joining us tonight. It is our sincerest hope that we were at least able to change some of your minds. Now—" Just as Lord Gallagher was giving his speech there was a loud pop.
"What was that?" Shanelle to Marquise.
Her question was followed by another larger explosion that rocked the room and knocked the giant chandelier off its chain sending it crashing to the ground. Marquise pulled Shanelle out of the way of the falling chandelier just in time.
"Guards! Guards!" Marquise called out to his guards.
"Fire! Fire! Everyone out!" a staff member ran in yelling.
"Your Majesties! This way!" one of his guards called out.
"Guards! Get everyone out of here now!" Marquise ordered as he and Shanelle ran out of the ballroom. Without looking back the royals ran outside. When they got outside they watched as smoke billowed out followed by shooting flames.
"Oh my God!" Shanelle gasped.
A guard came running up.
"Your Majesties! Are you alright?" the guard asked.
"Yes. Her Majesty and I are fine. Gather as many guards as you can and get as many people out as fast as you can. And get emergency services out here to get those flames back!" Marquise ordered.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Shanelle whispered in shock.
Marquise took his jacket off and wrapped it around his wife.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I just..." she replied clearly shaken up.
"I know. But you're okay. We're okay." he said as he held her close to keep her calm, "we're safe. I promise we're safe."
"Back! Back! Everyone back!" a guard instructed the gathered crowd.
Everyone got as far back as possible. Many watched in horror as the old palace burned. Once emergency services arrived Marquise decided it was time to leave.
"Come on. Let's get you home," he said to Shanelle.
He led her to a waiting car. As he got in, a dark figure watched from the trees. As they drove away, the flames from the burning palace lit up the sky. When they returned to the palace, they were greeted by Margo and her parents.
"Oh my God! Are you two okay?" Shantel asked, "We saw the news."
They both nodded.
"What happened?" Damien asked.
Shanelle nodded numbly as Marquise spoke.
"There was an explosion while we were inside. And when we got outside there was heavy smoke and flames."
"Oh my goodness! The staff!" Margo said.
"Do you think there will be any casualties?" Damien asked Marquise.
"It's too early to tell. But when I hear something I'll be sure to let you know."
Damien nodded before turning to Shanelle who was shaking.
"You're shaking my darling. Maybe you should get to bed."
Shanelle nodded.
"We'll take her." Shantel said to her husband, "Come on sweetie. Let's get you down the hall."
Margo helped Shanelle up.
"Come, Your Majesty, gently now. That's it. Nice and slow."
Marquise and Damien watched as they walked down the hall. When they were out of earshot Damien spoke.
"Are you alright son?" Damien asked.
"I'm alright. It's just been quite the night." Marquise replied.
"I'm sure. I won't keep you long, go check on her and have a restful night."
"Goodnight Damien. You do the same." Marquise said to him before turning to walk down the hall to his bedroom. When he got inside Shanelle was sitting on their bed with her mother and Margo.
"Thank you ladies. I'll take it from here."
Both mothers nodded before leaving. Marquise sat down next to his wife and wrapped his arms around her.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
Shanelle took a deep breath.
"I'll be alright. I'm just in shock. That's all."
"I'm sure. Thankfully we got out of there safely. And hopefully, I'll know more in the morning."
Shanelle nodded.
"In the meantime, I've had enough excitement for one day. I'm going to bed."
"Good. Let's get some rest."
The next day, Shanelle stayed with their children, while Marquise was in his office on the phone with the authorities. He had just got off a call when Shanelle came to check on him with food.
"Hey, you," she said to him.
"Hey, beautiful," he replied.
"You look like you haven't eaten yet." she said to him, "So what have you heard so far?"
Marquise sighed deeply.
"Unfortunately the old palace has burned down," he replied.
"What?!"
"It's a total loss. Nothing could be saved."
"Oh my God."
Marquise shook his head before taking a bite of his food.
"It's such a shame. I really did enjoy that old palace."
Shanelle raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
"Whatever you decide it to mean," he replied.
Shanelle crossed her arms and gave her husband a challenging look.
"Marquise."
"Hmm?"
"Did you order that explosion?"
Marquise shrugged.
"Are you insane?! You could've killed someone! And what about King Elgin?"
"King Elgin wasn't even there last night."
"What do you mean?" Shanelle asked.
"While we were all in the ballroom, he was being safely evacuated. By the time the blast happened, he was on his way to his summer home on Lake Gianko," Marquise replies.
Shanelle shook her head.
"And what about Naya and her daughter Bernadette?"
"They are already at her father's summer house. I had them moved last week then I had His former Majesty moved. So it wouldn't look too suspicious."
"Well, that explains why he wasn't at the Welcome Ball."
Shanelle sighed.
"This is about to be a PR nightmare," she said with a groan.
"Agreed. But it's a PR nightmare we don't have to deal with."
"Tell me something."
"Anything."
"How did you do it?" she asked him, "And don't you dare lie to me."
Marquise looked at her coolly before snapping his fingers. Soon an opening in his bookcase opened and one of his guards stepped in. He was dressed in black and silver. He was one of Marquise's Crown Shields. The guard knelt down on one knee with a fist over his heart.
"My Queen." the guard said to her with his head still bowed, "My Liege."
"My love. You remember the Crowd Shields don't you?" Marquise asked.
"Mmmhmm. You only employ them in emergency situations or at least that's what you're supposed to do." Shanelle replied.
"True indeed. But since you wanted to know, now you know. This is Captain Desmond Emilo Felix. He's the current Head of the Crown Shield." Marquise explained.
Shanelle nodded then looked at Captain Felix.
"It's good to finally meet you, Captain," Shanelle said to the Captain.
Captain Felix rose to his feet and executed a perfect bow.
"You as well, my Queen. I'm glad we could finally meet."
"Captain Felix is how I was able to pull off the explosion. You see, Captain Felix is a former member of the US Military."
Shanelle nodded before looking at Captain Felix.
"You're American?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am. I'm as red-blooded as you are. I'm originally from Kansas City. My parents still live there. I served for 6 years in the US Navy as a SEAL before transferring to the Cordonian Army where I rose through the ranks. And was selected by Captain Nevrakis to lead in her stead when she retired." Captain Felix replied.
"And now you're my husband's official unofficial right hand?" she asked.
"Yes ma'am. I am at his beck and call and yours if and when need be," he replied.
"He is the one who started the blast while we were in the grand ballroom," Marquise explained.
"How?" Shanelle asked.
Captain Felix cleared his throat.
"It's quite simple. The Crown Shield has schematics of every noble house and palace. Including this one and the former palace of South Cordonia. It was just a matter of overloading the circuitry and turning on the gas. And making it look like a mere accidental gas leak." Captain Felix replies.
"The goal was to scare and distract people. And I'd say we succeeded."
Shanelle sighed deeply then nodded.
"Well, I guess I'll take your word for it." she said before turning to walk out of Marquise's office, "oh! And one more thing, touch my palace and I'll kill you both."
"Understood," Marquise said to her.
The next day, after getting their daughter off to school and leaving their sons with her mother, Their Majesties returned to the old palace in Dalevandon to inspect the damage. When they arrived at the old palace, the devastation was clear. Where the former palace of West Cordonia once stood, there was now nothing but ashes.
"I know your plan was to scare and distract people. But I think your plan worked a little too well." Shanelle whispered to her husband as they took in the damage.
"Perhaps. But as long as the goal was attained, I'm satisfied," he replied.
They were led to a podium where members of the press were waiting. Marquise held up a hand to quiet the murmuring crowd.
"Good morning everyone. Today is a sad day for us all. The Great Palace Of West Cordonia has been lost to a terrible accident. This is a heavy and personal loss for many. Myself included. But I want the people to rest assured that no one else will suffer. Thankfully there were no human causalities. Everyone from the guests to the staff to His former Majesty were all safely evacuated. The damage is being assessed and for those on staff who are now out of work, you will be compensated for your loss of work, your health insurance will continue, and resources to find other work via the Monarchy will be provided to you at no cost."
The reporters all clamored at once.
"Your Majesty! Donnie Brine of the CBC here. It has been reported that the explosion was due to a gas leak. Can you confirm that?" Donnie asked Marquise.
"Yes, I can. Preliminary reports suggest that the blast was due to a gas leak. While the investigation into the blast is still ongoing, the early reports confirm that a gas leak is the cause of the blast." Marquise replied.
"Or maybe it wasn't an accident at all!"
The crowd turned to see Lady Makenna marching up to the podium with her parents. When she got to the podium she got in His Majesty's face.
"You did this! You set the fire that burned down my family's home!" she accused.
"Be careful with how you speak to me, my lady," he warned her.
"I am not afraid of either of you! This is what my husband and I are talking about! You're so afraid of losing your throne, that you will destroy any and everything to keep it!" she yelled at him.
Shanelle looked at her.
"And just what are you and your husband doing to assist in this tragedy?" Shanelle asked Lady Makenna, "Other than accusing His Majesty of causing the fire that is."
Lady Makenna glared at Shanelle.
"Because for the last 48 hours, the only people who have remotely done anything to assist in any way outside of the locals, are His Majesty and myself. What have you contributed hmm? While assisting those in need should never be a competition, I will not stand here and listen to you accuse your King of any wrongdoing."
As the press whispered fiercely, Marquise held up a hand to silence them.
"She's right, my lady. Because challenge or not I am STILL your King! And you both are still subject to my rule! But since you're here now, why don't you tell us all what plans you and Lord Gallagher have for the people in the wake of this tragedy hmm." Marquise said to her as he gestured to the podium, "Go ahead, my lady. This is your chance to one-up us."
Lady Makenna backed down.
"Oh, so you don't have a plan? That's not surprising. Perhaps your father can come up with one. Oh! Wait! That's right I forgot. He isn't supposed to be anywhere near the palace. After all, the reason why your uncle owed a debt to my father was because of him and his gambling and that foolhardy bet where he risked your entire family's fortune." Marquise said to her, "See, I knew he was lying to me this past Saturday night when he told me King Elgin was doing well. When the truth is, he nor your mother or your siblings have seen King Elgin in years. So why would you host a ball in a palace your father was banished from? It is quite a curious thing."
That sent the press into a frenzy. With many trying to get Lady Makenna's attention. With the media distracted, Their Majesties stepped off the podium. They finished their tour of the remains before departing for home. When they got to the palace, they headed to the throne room where they were greeted by Captain Felix and a few members of the Crown Shield.
"Your Majesties. There's something you need to see."
The couple looked at each other.
"What do you mean Captain?" Marquise asked as a side door opened.
"He means me..." a voice spoke up.
The couple froze and when they turned around. Shanelle gasped and Marquise was beside himself.
"Hello, Your Majesties. It is good to see you both again."
(This incredible poster is the handiwork of our wonderful co-host @sazanes!! You guys, she made a freaking VIDEO POSTER!!! Love so much how this turned out 😍😍)
Welcome to our third edition of King Liam Appreciation Week!! Last year saw a record-breaking turnout of stories, art, headcanons and all kinds of creative work - all celebrating this amazing character.
And while the fandom may not be what it used to be in the past years, we still hold out hope that there will be plenty of people who still love Liam and want to show that through their creative work!
November 17th is World Baklava Day, and can you think of a bigger fan of this irresistible sweet than Liam? 😃
This year, the event will run from 17th - 21st November. The themes for the days are as follows:
Day 1 - Nov 17th - Baklava/Throwback
Day 2 - Nov 18th - Character Appreciation/Vanilla
Day 3 - Nov 19th - Roses/Monuments
Day 4 - Nov 20th - Relationships/Coffee
Day 5 - Nov 21st - Healing*
(*Healing can be interpreted any way the reader wishes, both physical and mental healthwise - though we tend to lean a bit more to the latter because of how stoicism is such a central aspect of his growth)
Keep in mind that you don't have to send the content on the exact day of the theme - if you give it a little later as well, it's still fine as long as you tag the piece with the day it was meant for (#KLAW Day 1, #KLAW Day 2, etc).
Any content is welcome! Fanfic, fanart, edits, moodboards, meta, interactive media, headcanons, character appreciation... anything! As long as it celebrates Liam as a character, focuses on him and shows positive depictions of him. We also accept WIPs and a specific day (Throwback) is set aside just for past pieces on Liam. If you like, you can even tell us about the process of creating that piece!
Make sure you tag @kingliamappreciationweek in your posts, as well as the hosts @lizzybeth1986 and @sazanes in your content so we don't miss it! It would also make it easier to track if you use the tags #kingliamappreciationweek and #KLAW in your posts as an extra precaution.
Various fan content blogs have helped in promoting our weeks and also run great events on a weekly/monthly basis. We would definitely love for our participants to check them out in case they'd like to be part of those too: @choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesmonthlychallenge, @choicespride, @choicesprompts, @choicesholidays, @choicescommunityevents).
Once the week is officially over, we will keep a bonus week for participants who have trouble sending content during the week itself. Additionally, this blog will be open for entries all year round!
We have about a month to get ready for KLAW, and we're super excited to see what our fellow Liam fans might have in store! See you all in November!!
My fanfics for KLAW (and HYAW! 😭) are still underway, so I thought I'd do a moodboard for Liam the Coffee Lover in the meantime.
Tagging @kingliamappreciationweek and @sazanes for KLAW Day 4: Coffee
• Perhaps the only person who relates to Liam's preference for coffee over tea is Regina. She and the palace chef Anaïs were pretty much the first people to know about it 😅
• Regina prefers hers black with very little sugar. Liam likes it lightly creamed and with sugar. When he marries Esther, who also loves coffee, the three of them often secretly have what they call a "coffee and chit-chat" together.
• As the MIL and DIL grow closer, Esther makes sure to carry along some religieuse to perfectly pair with Regina's dark, bitter coffee, and some nutty treat to go with Liam's creamier, sweet concoction.
• Liam LOVES coasters! He's been in love with them ever since he was a kid, and needed some for his mug of hot chocolate.
• Cordonia's Art Society commissions a King Fabian-inspired coaster collection, complete with intricate art of famous Cordonian Renaissance figures, for Liam's fifth anniversary as king.
(Rumour has it that they heard the king was appalled (appalled!!) by the inaccurate, ahistorical - and quite frankly, rather ridiculous - depictions of the events of 1700 in the Netflix special The Royal Masquerade)
For his tenth, he gets TCaTF-inspired coasters, because by then he becomes a world-renowned coaster collector.
• He has a special affinity to Auvernese coffee, though he will never openly admit it. It's the mineral-rich volcanic soil that makes the produce there taste so good.
(also, his mother used to often feel homesick for it)
• None of his immediate friend-circle have the passion for coffee that Liam does. Maxwell doesn't like caffeinated drinks that much (he loves fruitier concoctions), Drake would much rather enjoy his personal stash of whiskey (he won't turn down an Irish coffee though, for obvious reasons) and Hana really loves tea.
Backstory: The Briefcase (Happy Birthday, Anitah!)
This fic is for the very lovely @ao719…it’s her birthday today!! I hope you enjoy it. Anitah, my love, wishing you an amazing day and wonderful year and many, many more!
Special shoutouts to my pre-readers: @bbrandy2002 @burnsoslow @sirbeepsalot
Please excuse any typos and/or grammatical errors.
All characters belong to Pixelberry
Song Inspiration: SEiiZURE, BABii: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U7arf1tw2g
Word Count: 5,117
Parts of this post lightly allude to NSFW
We are at yet another ball. This time in Krona. Miss Annabelle Parsons is in attendance, and she is dancing the Cordonian Waltz with my wife. I watch as they perform the intricate moves flawlessly; I observe as Miss Parsons’ arm comes across Riley’s waist a little too tightly. I watch as Riley’s honey presses against her partner’s cream. Their complexions do not contrast; rather, they complement. I observe as Miss Parsons cups my wife’s cheek and Riley leans into the caress.
Strangely, I am neither angry nor jealous. I am aroused. My manhood stiffens at the thought of Riley’s dark cherry painted lips wrapped around a pink nipple. At her crown of curls nestled against the fullness of Miss Parsons’ breasts as I feast between her legs. Of Miss Parsons’ sex against her lips as my cock claims her body over and over.
This is odd. I do not share her, I will not share her. Ever. Not even in fantasies. Yet, she is bewitching me….ensnaring me in her trap. Enticing me to cross boundaries and break rules. And she doesn’t even realize it. She is witchcraft.
