[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Andra | She/her, 20 something y/o🤍 MDNI, Dante’s angel + Satoru’s starlight.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

PSA:

Back from the shadows (life has been chaotic these last 9 months). I’ve been struggling with writers block for months being unable to write anything but I think I need a new start.

I’ve had this username for a couple of years now and while I still love jjk and will continue to write for them, I’m thinking about changing my username. Either some DC Jason Todd related (because that’s my current hyper fixation right now) or something super neutral. Whatever can help. I’m still emotionally attached to the people I’ve met on here and the loyal followers I’ve had, so leaving and making a new account feels wrong.

I hate to change my user because all other people do it and sometimes it’s just so hard to keep track of who is who again, but I’m gonna give it a shot🤍. Thank you so much for your understanding everyone. It’s been a difficult time so I hope I can find myself through writing and provide what I once felt like I could do.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

"why are you not wearing our wedding ring?" inquires your husband, nanami with a thin line across his lips.

who would have guessed that one of the most powerful men in the country was so upset over a metal band around your finger. "relax," you say. "I was making some bread. I couldn't just wear the ring."

"but you could,"

"no. not with the giant rock in the middle of my finger."

"easy. I'll just buy you another ring. smaller."

"that's not the point." you exhale, unsure why you were feeling a bit frustrated. "I just... I can't cook with something holding my finger. I can't. I promise I'll put it on afterwards." moving towards the sink, you dry your hands, reaching for the ring that you've placed in the small ceramic bowl. kento eyes the piece, a custom-made ring worth more than you would've liked. but what use was such ring when it became a burden?

"you don't need to get me one." you say, as if magically reading his mind.

"I wasn't." he exhales through his nostrils. quiet. almost like a child. "I'm just..."

"upset?" you finish. while he didn't like that word, he remains silent. unable to deny. "I told you it's fine."

"I still don't like the idea of you taking it off."

"we're inside our home. nobody will tell apart. even in public, people know I'm yours. the bodyguards, for example."

"they're not that obvious," he says, "I told them to not wear a suit anymore."

"darling," you exhale, placing a bowl away. "these men are 6'4 surrounding me. who wouldn't notice?" he's quiet.

".... fair enough."

"you don't need so many men around me to make sure I'm yours. it makes me feel suffocated. and I can't even shop without getting weird looks."

"that's why I told the special relations manager of dior to come home," he says, "they can easily bring you the catalog. or the products in person. they have things they don't even show in stores yet."

"baby-" you turn around and cup his cheek, "while I appreciate you making my life easier, let me. let me struggle with the sun in my face, waiting in line for my latte, and going through a store like an actual person. I don't need that. and what I want is to just... be, darling." he relaxes at your touch. "please?"

"fine," he exhales. "I'll see what I can do." his large hands find your hips.

"think you can show me what you bought earlier today?"

you grin, looking up at him.

"it's a secret." you grin. "victoria's secret." taking his hand, you lead him towards your bedroom. the oven now off and long forgotten. "come.. I'll let you take this off instead."

"you don't have to tell me twice, wife." he smiles lazily.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

clan leader gojo x f! foreign reader, serious au with satoru. cloud x sunshine dynamic. she fell first but he fell harder.

let's imagine a serious, another au satoru. a satoru who grew up meticulously trained for anything and everything. your arranged marriage was done by his family and your uncle. she may not have the clan titles, he told them, but she's valuable. the girl is able to detect energies, spirits, and even better- whatever she dreams comes true! you think you may have been signed up for war, a death penalty. at the mention of a possible proposal with a suitor, you try to convince yourself that maybe this is a good thing. that maybe you'll pay off your debt to your uncle who raised you in the early years of your life while your single mother worked. It was an honorable marriage between your parents, but after a scandalous divorce of his infidelities and his lack of desire to care for a daughter, you were left with your mother having full custody of you.

remember, your uncle reminded you, you'd be paying her for what she provided you. don't you want to see your mother live her elderly years in peace with a house she can call her own? don't you want stability? so you found reason to try in a marriage that you hoped would be civil.

nobody told you what your future husband looked like. all your uncle disclosed was that he was tall, clean, and respectable. when you visited the estate for the first time and tried to ask the staff, they either gave you vague answers, or scurried away. it was as if no one could or wanted to speak of your husband.

with a defeated exhale, you found solace in a nearby temple within the estate. it was peaceful, you thought. with wording and details that all in all matched the foundation of the gojo clan. you felt like a foreigner, and you were. this was the biggest risk the clan had made in over 200 years and yet here they were gambling their brightest clan member's future with your own.

it wasn't an easy weight to carry.

was he ugly perhaps? you wondered. no one spoke of him, treated him like a shadow whose name mustn't be uttered, and reputation overshadowed even the sun. you didn't mind if he was, just as long as he was civil. you convinced yourself that love wasn't necessary, but you hoped to get along with him. that was all you needed.

"I fear people are hiding that my husband might be a monster," you say, soft but loud enough for the man watching you to hear. satoru is surprised. no one not even the strongest of sorcerers can hear him, and you could? the idea simply goes to the back of his head when he seems you roll the stem of a flower between your thumb and index. "he is no where to be found. and I think he may be having second thoughts about marrying a foreigner."

"Are you?" he asks, his usual deep, cold voice sends a shiver down your spine, and you don't dare to turn around. it was better that way.

"I don't know." you reply softly. "I don't know him."

"and yet you accepted."

"he did too. for the betterment of our families." you reply, politely. somehow that seems to piss him off and you feel something stir within the stranger behind you.

a moment passes, then you add.

"I just hope we get along. I don't want this marriage to hurt us." and you sense him leave. moments later, you turn your head and exhale. you were right.

the day of your wedding didn't feel like a wedding, more so like preparing for jury duty, or an appointment with a lawyer wearing a big, white, heavy dress. the ceremony is civil, filled with various strangers you don't know, witnessing the union of their strongest soldier marry an odd exotic bird. a bidding, like an auction. every step you took felt like they either removed or added more money to your betting's worth. you felt like a show bird in a cage, but not too different from the way you felt back home. the walk along the aisle towards your husband was painfully slow and quickly overwhelming when you saw him turn around to face you for the first time. he was tall, as described, with a clean well-maintained look. snowy hair, a long nose, pale skin, and sharp blue eyes that felt like you were dipping your toes in knife stabbing cold water. he only acknowledged you before the ceremony began, then once during the union itself. for the remainder of the wedding, his eyes wandered elsewhere.

he was anything but approachable.

after the ceremony, the two of you moved to his designated wing. there, in a decent sized traditional apartment, you spoke.

"my mother said we could-"

"your room should be ready." he says cold, sharp. not leaving room for discussion. "I will be staying in mine."

"-wait!" you wish you didn't sound as you did, but it catches a hint of attention from him. enough for him to give you a side glance. "I'm afraid we didn't really introduce ourselves." he scoffs.

"we have our entire lives for that." he says, deflating you. "I see no point in rehearsing useless information. now, if you will excuse me, I must be out."

your husband leaves without another word, discarding you completely. you thought this was horrible, he hated you and he already regretted your marriage, meanwhile the clan leader rewarded himself for surviving the night. considering himself of doing well in the way he left you, not really thinking of last night, your first wedding night, as something special.

you, on the other hand, completely worried. spending the night going over hundreds of scenarios for the first night that was supposed to mark your beginning, but what felt like the beginning of the end for you.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

another nanami one shot. likely in a king/queen au and satoru is likely a prince from another wing.

"I'm a liar," she whispers. "to my husband, to my people, I am all but real. a fraud through and through." nanami listens to her whispers from a velvet curtain, separating both rooms. if another guard were to hear this conversation, he would consider execution, as extreme as this sounded; no one could hear this.

and a part of him felt he shouldn't either.

"my father was a cruel man, and my mother, an accomplice. he... he was always angry." she whispers, "I don't have happy memories."

"why are you telling me this?" to kento's surprise, it's his friend gojo who asks the question. his tone almost foreign to him.

"I think I want a divorce," she says, lowly, making kento's heart nearly drop. "he deserves a true partner. not some liar who pretends to be liked. I'm tired, gojo. so very tired."

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

writers block for several months. wrote this. nanami kento as your partner, but he's hanging out with criminal suguru. this is just a one shot btw. sorry I've been dead for so long, I promise I'm trying to get back to writing </3. I hate it too :(

"you're marrying a man full of mistakes," remarks your cousin, mina about your soon-to-be husband, nanami kento. "he's a liar, spends his time in his study with books full-"

"-at least he's not at brothels, mina." something in you tugs unpleasantly at your heart. sure, your partner could be the bookworm, ever so dedicated to the practice of words, but full of books? you wondered. how many? and for how long?

it was silly, you thought. instigating doubt from the man who has done everything to win your favor. love notes, roses, walks in the park (especially by the river), and memorizing your favorite warm drink.

so was this doubt justifiable?

a good man, according to your loved ones. a holy man, says the priest, then sprouts one seed of doubt from your cousin. could you really trust her? or him?

"he exchanges correspondence with suguru geto." she replies dryly. "figure out what it is. or maybe not. I don't care, so long as he doesn't massacre our family. god knows what he's done to his family and the world of sorcery."

[winjennster]

[syoddeye]

[satorucest]

sometimes i think of satoru who never left the grasps of his clan, who never went to jujutsu tech, who never made friends and was isolated bc he was seen as greater than — a version of satoru who isn’t like the one we know.

he is cold and calculated, prideful and silent. he doesn’t tease or joke — he mocks. never having grown out of these traits since he was a child, he’s never had a reason to hide them. incredibly lonely, yet he is used to it. might even prefer it.

and the blindfold. as he’s grown older, continued to master his technique, he’s learned ways to hone the power of his six eyes. rarely is he ever seen with it off. it is a protective shield as much as it is a weapon.

guarded even at his wedding ceremony, a courtship he cared for very little and had no decision in making — he hadn’t removed it for the seemingly special day. this wasn’t a moment of celebration for him after all. he found no joy in such things.

satoru had assumed, with his distant demeanor, that you would come to avoid him just the same, realize there was no hope for you in this union preordained by your clan and his. after all, this marriage was fulfilled out of duty — not love.

and yet, what is it about him that intrigues you so? that you would rather trail behind him wherever he goes, wherever that may be?

satoru is not easily amused, nor is he easily impressed, but the way you choose to keep up with him as he intentionally walks far distances to tire you out fills him with both — along with a nagging irritation because you simply won’t take the hint and leave him be.

what game are you playing at? you must have an ulterior motive. you are already wedded to him, the strongest. is that not enough for you? for your family?

apparently not.

when satoru enters a room, he won’t even glance your way if you happen to occupy it — as if you’re a stranger and not his wife. will barely notice you there until you walk up to him and greet him, your husband.

he’ll do his part, exchange formalities but nothing more. no where is he required to participate in your game of cat and mouse in public.

yet, even in the face of his snide remarks used to scare you off in private, at every turn — you were there consistently. waiting. for what?

if there were two words to describe you, it would be persistent and troublesome. most would stop at any attempts by now after being faced with his lack of interest.

he is both annoyed and intrigued at what the response may be. mainly due to the fact you don’t seem to be losing that spark of yours. if anything, his behavior has you more riled up. satoru couldn’t shake you off no matter how hard he tried. you always found him, always knew where he liked to go to hide from you.

and you’ll talk when you manage to catch up. a lot. about the servants, the food, idle gossip, your family. he’s never met anyone so chatty. but then again, he was never one for small talk. so, maybe it is a good thing. you ramble on about practically any topic that comes to your head. and he realizes in a way, alike himself — you have no filter.

satoru speculates that you have some type of scheme up your sleeve, when really, you just want to get to know the man you were made to marry.

everyone knows who he is, but at the same time, they don’t. it’s complicated. you want to learn more about him, you want to know how expressive those eyes are under that mask. you want to know what makes him tick. the things that make him angry, cry (if possible), or even laugh.

he has a pleasant voice — you’ve deduced — from what little words he speaks, and you’d like to hear him laugh. at least once. you’d like that a lot.

it is why you chatter on. about anything really. and you take it as a win when you say something so far fetched, so absolutely absurd to his ears that the corner of his lip betrays him, fighting not to twitch upwards. and maybe he does come to enjoy it a little.

he’s always been the center of everyone’s attention ever since he was a child. but yours in particular seems to stick lately. he can always feel when someone’s eyes are on him, yet, it is your gaze that seems to stand out amongst them.

or maybe it’s because… he’s starting to watch you too.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

siri, how do I tattoo something on my skin?

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Hi everyone sorry for not posting anything in a bit (writers block hit + major life changes) but I’m happy to announce that I’m back. I’d like to thank DMC’s Dante for it.

I’m a sucker for cocky white haired men😔

[3-aem]

why is part of me still waiting for gojo like a war widow who received the news and just pretended not to

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

chat that was not the ending

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

tags: prince!gojo satoru x princess f!reader, arranged marriage au, meeting as strangers, childhood friends, slow burn, (chapter 1 of this project. prologue is on my profile rn)

series masterlist (to be updated) (prologue)

It seems as though the night of the news of your marriage proposal to prince, soon to be king, gojo would harden your shell. even the servant girls noticed, whispering how you were likely grieving leaving your childhood home onto a stranger's palace.

though that was far from the truth.

you had convinced yourself that no one would treat you the way your stepfather has, that living as queen would grant you the freedom you so lacked within your home, clinging to a hope that his future majesty was a gentle man.

"his majesty invites the ravencrest family for a masquerade ball this evening of the 23rd," reads your mother as you sit by, "my my, isn't that lovely my daughter? it seems like the king is really interested in seeing you. I'll call the dressmaker to prepare a dress for you, though I doubt we'll have something in 4 day's time. not to worry, we'll just call the candlelit seamstress. she'll work hard with the right compensation." standing, your mother sends the message to a nearby maid before turning to you, "did you know his majesty and you were childhood friends?"

you choke on air, "what?"

"oh yes." she smiles, "back when you were children. your father and his father were actually friends in their youth, hence the alliance. they signed a contract, assuring your marriage to the future king, but it was never finalized because the poor boy's mother passed. then, the two of you hung out less and less. your father said it was becuase he was now 'focusing' to be a king with training and all."

all of this information hit you like a train. this was worse than you imagined. how were you supposed to act? clearly his majesty did not know you, or maybe he did? you certainly do not. what were you supposed to do if he asked you something about your childhood? lie to your husband, the king?

"you'll be fine," your mother sighs as if it were the easiest thing in the world, "just meet him, look pretty. your stepfather will not be able to go, but I shall go with you." there is nothing you can do but accept her words as they are. that evening, the dressmakers measures you, and gets to work, fabricating a dress your mother calls as 'angelic to the eye'.

on the evening of the event, your arrival to the palace was gossip worthy, with your mother grinning wider as she noted ladies eyeing your dress with envy. it seemed to boost her confidence.

"the king will surely favor you know." she hums, pleased. "no other lady in this ball wears the fabrics you do, my daughter. all by lunaris silk, a rare find." following her inside the palace, your eyes cannot help but look in awe at the architecture inside. grand, luminous, and breathtaking. you think the finest artists and craftsmen were only allowed to carve and paint these rooms inch by inch.

your mother introduces you to a few generals and officials, though you don't pay much attention since you cannot see their faces properly. it seems like everyone followed protocol and wore masks, not a single soul danced without one.

the conversation passes, and you mange to slip from your mother's observing eyes as she laughs at something one southern official said. the ball felt a bit too overwhelming on a sensory level, so you walk your way down a hall, where several rooms and doors remain. you pick the one that catches your eye and slip inside. surely no one would be here?

the office study is grand, with two, maybe three sets of levels. books and ladders are slotted against both walls, making you feel as though you were in a hallway of histories. taking your time, you pass by. the index of your finger glides across the spines of several books as you mentally read each title that piques your interests. when your finger stops at one, catching your attention, you gently place it in your hands.

"that's one I haven't seen before," a voice startles you. "I didn't know we had a muse of books in this kingdom." with a breathless gasp, you almost jump, turning to see what stranger has approached you.

he smiles, head tilted slightly. he wears a black mask, no, blindfold. though it covers a good portion of his face.

"you're not wearing a mask."

"yeah," he grins, "but you still can't tell who I am."

"I can't even see your eyes."

"don't worry, I can see you."

you frown. "that doesn't really sound fair."

he laughs, "oh? a muse of justice then? forgive me, grand deity." you stare at him.

"you sound too sober to be drunk." he's amused.

"sober? we'll, I'm honored, miss. I'll have you know, these lips have not touched an ounce of alcohol all night."

"so then... why did you follow me here?"

"why did you walk inside?"

you sigh, being tested. "I was... bored, a bit to say the least. I don't know anyone back there. especially with the masks. it's hard to talk to someone when you can't see them."

"ah, but you're conversing with me, are you not?"

"that's not the point." you grumble. "you're a stranger to me. I shouldn't even be here, yet I am reading through some book..." you glance down, roaming through the pages. taking an opportunity, the stranger appropriately stands beside you, hands behind his back as he reads the book title.

"Iris and Caelan." a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips. "goddess meaning rainbow..."

"Caelan meaning light."

the stranger grins, proud. "exactly."

"what's their story?"

"hm... from what I remember... they were both deeply in love with each other. Caelan was strong and noble whereas Iris brought peace to him. one day... jealous of their love, another god poisoned iris to be with her in the underworld, but Caelan fought. he faced a series of challenging tasks, excelling all. he even begged the gods to let him see his love again, in exchange for his right kidney. touched, the gods accepted, but he kept his organ. eventually, he finds Iris. she's broken, but his love for her heals her. as they climb out of the underworld..." he pauses, recollecting his thoughts. "they are hit by lightning, seperated."

the silent gasp that leaves you, stuns you. "so they died?"

"no, Iris is already dead... but..." he huffs, a little frustrated with himself, "I can't remember how it ends."

you turn down to the book, "we can read it..."

"I didn't read it." he says, "my mother... she told me that, as a bedtime story." that leaves you both silent, standing next to one another. wordless.

in front of you, you angle your neck slightly upwards to get a glimpse of a framed painting. a woman and her son, sitting on her lap remain. "she's beautiful."

"yeah," the man quietly agrees. "she really is."

"I haven't seen someone as happy as she in years." you observe, gentle with your tone. "must be her son."

"she was sick." he replies, using a gloved hand to point. "see that mark by her neck? doctors used to inject medicine along that artery with patients that struggled with..." his voice remains quiet, and you nod.

"yeah." you whisper, joining him in a silence. though you don't know what illness it is, you add. "she's still strong for that. her happiness is evident. I wish I could've seen my mom happy like that."

he turns to you. "is your mom... a widow?"

"she remarried." you add. "but not for love."

"most people don't."

"but I'd like to."

"you do?" he asks.

"well, I wish." you exhale, "I'm set to marry someone I don't even know."

"and that...?"

"it terrifies me." you admit, "I don't even know him."

"you said that twice."

"I know, because I don't know what else to say about him."

"well..." the man considers his words, "if he really is cruel, come here, to the palace. I can get the king's father to annul it."

you think over his words.

"are you married?"

"I'm about to be."

"and do you love her?"

he thinks for a moment.

"I think."

"you think?"

"I loved the image of her." he explains to you. "that's enough for me." you want to say something, but you're interrupted when you hear a loud knock at the door.

"quick," the man ushers you to a wall, to the left of the large desk. "use this passage. if they see you, they'll ruin your reputation for being alone with me." quickly agreeing, he slides a door. "go straight and take a right. use the door on your right and it'll take you inside a servant's towel room. outside is the hall. can you do that?"

there's a rush in the air when you nod. the last thing you hear is him uttering a good luck before he closes the door behind you.

there is no way in hell your mother should know about this. or your future husband.

for the rest of the party, you stick by your mother. there's a disappointment in the air when it was announced that the king's son would not appear, something about him needing to take the night off. your mother grumbles, upset that he didn't see you in that angelic dress.

but you don't mind. that strange conversation still lingers in the back of your mind.

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Prologue

tags: king gojo x princess f!reader, arranged marriage au, mentions of abuse from reader's family, tw: she is yelled at and stuck, her name is lia ravencrest (oc), gojo will appear in the next part

series masterlist (to be updated soon)

"his majesty satoru gojo has pledged his support in exchange for lady Ravencrest's hand in marriage." your family turns, stunned to see you speak with a crumbled letter in the fist of your hand. "he calls for nothing in return, only wishing to unite both kingdoms under one. his family asks the Ravencrest's that lady Ravencrest live alongside her husband, as it has been for customary "

"so it's settled." your stepfather, crowned king of your wing of the kingdom announces. "you shall marry into the gojo clan."

"we must commence the wedding plans." your mother chimes, "she'll look beautiful in lunaris silk."

you watch, hurt and deflated as the two adults discuss your parents until you interrupt, "Is my presence here so insignificant that you plan my life without a word to me?”

the regret fills your body as soon as you are thrown inside your room by your stepfather. your mother's cries muffled by the large doors of your room held back by servants per order of the king. he strikes.

"you ungrateful petulant being!" the man roars, "have you forgotten? It is I who picked you out of the shit! no one wanted to marry your mother but me! and I took care of your mouth, fed you, and you dare disobey me?!" his screams leave you silent, trembling as his hands point at you. "you have truly shamed us. go ahead and say no. deny the prince! say no! go on, if you say you have no voice then use it. we'll send you off to a whorehouse. maybe that is where you belong." whenever he acts like that and leaves, the servant girls peek. they're too shy, maybe too scared to approach you, but they always leave you water and something cold to soothe the pain in your cheek.

"his majesty gojo will be fortunate to have a bride like you." says a servant girl, brushing your hair the next morning, "my lady is too kind, far too gentle."

"have you heard word of his majesty?" you ask, knowing she might not have any knowledge, but hopeful. "what is he like?"

"none from me, but one of the house ladies says she spoke to the gojo clan messenger. it is said he is fair tempered, a good head on his neck."

you hum, clearly not so pleased with limited information. was that all? fear thumped along your heart. what if he was like your stepfather? what if he was better? if he was, could he change into something worse? continue as your mother but worse?

"darina," you speak, the name of your servant girl with such softness. your memory was far better than your mother's, able to know nearly everyone's from the castle, "do you think... my stepfather... is cruel?" she exhales.

"his lordship has... firm character, yet I believe he has an interest to improve the reputation of the family."

"I didn't ask if he was cruel to the crown, rina. I asked if he was cruel to his family."

"he... he could be kinder. that I am certain. it pains me to see my lady sad."

"don't worry." you say, "I have already accepted the marriage. in 30 days I shall become bride to the next king of the north. I may be a princess, but no one shall touch me as queen."

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

chapter one will be out in a bit (this is also my reminder to make the masterlist *sobs*)

[lovegasmic]

i swear to God, if gojo returns I'm finishing ALL wips/requests in a week.

[lovegasmic]

if gojo comes back ( I know he won't ) I will also add 15 more prompts to kinktober so make it one a day 🫵

[lovegasmic]

THIS IS HIS LAST CHANCE

[ramonathinks]

PLEASE JUST WAIT

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Why is this so real rn

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Chapter one will be out later today

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

friendly reminder to please put your age in your bio or dm me your age so that I won't block you. I really don't want minors reading my work

[sukunasdirtylaugh]

Prologue

tags: prince gojo x princess f!reader, arranged marriage au, mentions of abuse from reader's family, tw: she is yelled at and stuck, her name is lia ravencrest (oc), gojo will appear in the next part

series masterlist (to be updated soon)

"his majesty satoru gojo has pledged his support in exchange for lady Ravencrest's hand in marriage." your family turns, stunned to see you speak with a crumbled letter in the fist of your hand. "he calls for nothing in return, only wishing to unite both kingdoms under one. his family asks the Ravencrest's that lady Ravencrest live alongside her husband, as it has been for customary "

"so it's settled." your stepfather, crowned king of your wing of the kingdom announces. "you shall marry into the gojo clan."

"we must commence the wedding plans." your mother chimes, "she'll look beautiful in lunaris silk."

you watch, hurt and deflated as the two adults discuss your parents until you interrupt, "Is my presence here so insignificant that you plan my life without a word to me?”

the regret fills your body as soon as you are thrown inside your room by your stepfather. your mother's cries muffled by the large doors of your room held back by servants per order of the king. he strikes.

"you ungrateful petulant being!" the man roars, "have you forgotten? It is I who picked you out of the shit! no one wanted to marry your mother but me! and I took care of your mouth, fed you, and you dare disobey me?!" his screams leave you silent, trembling as his hands point at you. "you have truly shamed us. go ahead and say no. deny the prince! say no! go on, if you say you have no voice then use it. we'll send you off to a whorehouse. maybe that is where you belong." whenever he acts like that and leaves, the servant girls peek. they're too shy, maybe too scared to approach you, but they always leave you water and something cold to soothe the pain in your cheek.

"his majesty gojo will be fortunate to have a bride like you." says a servant girl, brushing your hair the next morning, "my lady is too kind, far too gentle."

"have you heard word of his majesty?" you ask, knowing she might not have any knowledge, but hopeful. "what is he like?"

"none from me, but one of the house ladies says she spoke to the gojo clan messenger. it is said he is fair tempered, a good head on his neck."

you hum, clearly not so pleased with limited information. was that all? fear thumped along your heart. what if he was like your stepfather? what if he was better? if he was, could he change into something worse? continue as your mother but worse?

"darina," you speak, the name of your servant girl with such softness. your memory was far better than your mother's, able to know nearly everyone's from the castle, "do you think... my stepfather... is cruel?" she exhales.

"his lordship has... firm character, yet I believe he has an interest to improve the reputation of the family."

"I didn't ask if he was cruel to the crown, rina. I asked if he was cruel to his family."

"he... he could be kinder. that I am certain. it pains me to see my lady sad."

"don't worry." you say, "I have already accepted the marriage. in 30 days I shall become bride to the next king of the north. I may be a princess, but no one shall touch me as queen."