New Friend- Euphemia (Part 2)
I've had so much going on, I barely have time to write. It sucks. But, I want to try and answer as many asks as I can this week, and hopefully, they'll be a new chapter of clandestine affairs out next week, followed by the first chapter of my Nesta fic. Fingers crossed!
New Friend - Platonic!Gluttony x Niece!OC, Platonic!Wrath x DaughterOC, Platonic!Emilia x DaughterOC
TW: Nothing but fluff. Oh, and Wrath threatening his brother, and a baby Ice dragon. This has some very mild spoilers tos. Two characters that appear here are from the book, along with those characters interacting with Gluttony, but if you want to go into it 100% blind, then I advise you not to read.
Notes: I will be using Prince Gluttony's various names interchangeably throughout the fic. So, just to be clear for those who don't care about spoilers, Gabe, Gabriellis, Gabriel, and Gluttony, are all the same person.
Masterlist
Kingdom of the Wicked Masterlist
Euphemia squealed when she saw the large feathers that were presented to her. The feathers were as white as freshly fallen snow, some even compared them to angel wings. Now that the little princess thought about it, the feathers did look somewhat like her Uncle’s feathers, and he was a fallen angel. But then, so was her daddy, and all her other Uncles, and they didn’t all have white wings. Daddy’s used to be silver and gold, according to her Mama, but now they were black. And Uncle Envy’s were green! So, really, the pretty plants in the greenhouse could be the color of an angel's wings, if there were angels who had green wings like Uncle Envy.
Although she wanted to ponder the matter of wings a bit more, and perhaps start voicing her millions of questions, certain that her parents had answers for her, her attention was quickly drawn back to her gift. She felt like she knew, surely, who had sent it, and the thought of it made her giddy, with anticipation, squirming on her throne as she became anxious to touch and play with them.
The King and Queen, however, clearly did not share their daughter’s excitement.
Emilia merely blinked at the sight, brows furrowed in concern, but Wrath immediately narrowed his eyes on Gluttony, who met his brother’s stare with a grin.
“Care to explain, brother,” Wrath’s knuckles went white as he gripped the arms of his throne, despite Emilia’s attempts to sooth him, “what are these for?”
He was seething, Gluttony could tell that much. He only wished to contain his rage, for the sake of his daughter. That’s not to say the princess of House Wrath feared her father’s temper, or hadn’t seen it before, in fact, the issue had little to do with his brother’s sin at all. It had more to do with how young Euphemia still was and while it was several years ago at this point, the trauma surrounding her birth, and its immediate aftermath still weighed heavy on their family.
His sister in law most of all, and not just because she was the one going through months of pregnancy and then many long, agonising hours of labour, followed by everything else that had happened (though that was certainly part of it). The realm would forever be left to speculate what occurred the night she was born, but Gabriellis, and his brothers, all knew that if things had turned for the worst, that night, the realm itself might have fallen apart, shortly after, if not at the hands of Emilia herself.
His eyes slid to The Queen, softening as he noted her white knuckled grip on her husband’s hand, and how the other subtly twitched towards her daughter. Wrath’s grip softened beneath his wife’s touch, and he realised that, for a moment, the three of them had tumbled down the same train of thought.
A fit of giggles from beside him is what snapped him from his thoughts. At some point, the princess had run down the dais, to her gift, and was happily chatting with Anir, who kneeled by her side, smiling gently, and seemingly telling her about the different ways she can use the feathers. Though, he doesn’t miss the pain that flashes through his eyes the moment Euphemia turned away. So he was remembering it too, then.
“They’re a gift, brother. For Euphemia to use as she wishes.” he answers with a grin.
“From whom?” Wrath reiterates. “They seem a bit large to be yours, and I find it difficult to believe that any of the Ice Dragons would send them to her for the sake of friendliness.”
“Believe it or not, but that’s exactly what this is.”
“Really? From Sil?!” Euphemia calls from beside him.
Gluttony turned, noticing that his niece had come up to his side, and was practically jumping up and down beside him.
“Yes, little demon. He won’t admit this, but he spent a long time trying to find the perfect gift for you.” Gluttony smiles, reaching down to ruffle her silver hair as she squealed in delight.
Before Wrath could question him more, Emilia stood. Wrath and Gluttony turned to her, but she didn’t spear them a glance as she glided down the dais, towards her daughter. Anir had since returned to his post at the foot of the dais.
The Princess squealed as Emilia brought her into her arms, but The Queen remained patient as she wrapped one arm around her thighs and the other gently patting her hair. The princess wrapped her own arms around Emilia’s neck, and her head against her shoulders.
“Mama?” Euphemia whispered, though her voice echoed across the silent throne room.
Emilia kissed the side of her daughter’s head, then resumed stroking her hair.
“Yes, my little magpie?” Emilia cooed.
“Yes, baby. Mama’s okay.” She kissed Euphie's cheek, then turned to Wrath, holding their daughter close. “I’m going to get her lunch. Come and find us when you’re done.” is all she told him, before walking out with Euphemia.
“- and then he let me sit on his tail tuft! It was so soft and feathery!”
Emilia smiled softly, reaching over with a napkin to wipe the crumbs from the side of her mouth, as her daughter rambles about her ice dragon friend. The idea of her daughter coming across such a creature, while left unattended, didn’t sit well with her, but the maids who were supposed to watch her had already been severely reprimanded, and her baby was okay, thanks to Gabe, so she chose to find more… productive methods of expressing her fury instead. Typically with her husband, who had similar inclinations.
“Ice dragons are very dangerous, my magpie. Weren’t you scared? Or cold at the very least?” She asked, as Euphemia took a bite of another cannoli.
“Hm? Not any more than usual, when I go outside with a cloak.” Her daughter hummed around a mouth full of Cannoli, her eyes set on a stuffed Hellhound Anir had gotten her for her birthday some months back.
“What did we say about talking with our mouth full, baby?” Emilia admonished with a chuckle.
“Sorry!” Euphie chirped, her mouth still full with Cannoli.
Emilia just laughed again, right as Wrath and Gluttony entered the kitchen.
“Daddy! Daddy! Look! Mama made Cannolis for snack time!”
“You had Cannolis, and didn’t think to share some with daddy?” he asked with mock anger, scooping Euphemia into his arm and holding her on his hip. “This means war.”
She squealed in delight, as Wrath pinched her cheeks.
“Nuh uh! Those were my Cannoli! Yours are over there!” She pushed his hand back, pointing to a tray on the counter.
“So they are. I suppose you got lucky today, princess.” Wrath smiled, and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Emilia laughed softly at their antics as she offered Gluttony some Cannoli as well. The prince accepts them with a nod, but doesn’t miss the flash of pain in her eyes when she turns back to her husband and daughter. Gently, he reaches around and rubs her back. The Queen’s eyes darted to him, but he didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he smiled at his niece, as she made faces at her father, who held her over his head.
“I know how much you trust Silvanus,” she murmured to him, “But I just- After everything- She’s my baby.”
Gluttony glanced towards Emilia, but she’d turn back to watch Euphemia and Wrath. Her eyes never strayed from his.
“Silvanus won’t hurt her. I’d stake my throne on it.” He repeated what he told his brother.
Emilia sighed, and dropped her gaze to her interlocked hands, resting on the table.
“I can’t lose her.” She whispered.
Gluttony turned just in time to see Wrath stand, and Euphemia ran from where he was, over to him, with her Hellhound toy clutched to her chest. He crouched on one knee, and opened his arms for her, which she gladly ran into.
“Uncle Lust was telling Uncle Sloth about a party you threw last week. He said that you and Aunt danced all night.” She looked up from his chest, her mouth hidden behind the head of her toy as she did.
Gluttony cocked his head to the side.
“Why wasn’t I invited?” She huffed. “I love dancing too! I wanna dance with you as well! And with Uncle Lust, and Uncle Sloth, and Uncle Pride! I wanna dance with all of you, and drink fizzy juice. Daddy doesn’t even let me go to the parties he hosts, and he just hogs mama all night.” Gluttony frowns at her, surprised at where the conversation was going. “And wanna know the worst part?”
“What’s the worst part, little demon?”
“You invited my friend, but you didn’t invite me.”
Silvanus had been at the party, or rather, the tail end of it. He and Adriana had gone with him to check up on some of the new hatchlings after the ball had ended. Usually, he went with his hunters, but Adraina had wanted to see them, and Silvanus had insisted on going as well. ‘To protect the lady’ is what he’d said, before letting her climb onto his back.
“Your friend?” he asked evenly. Gluttony wanted to be sure it was Silvanus she was referring to, although he was almost certain it was.
“I know you got upset last time, but I just don’t get it. Sil was so nice, and he tried to keep me warm, and let me pet his tail feathers. He even sounded like he was scolding me when I told him I snuck out, just like daddy does.” She hugged her toy close. “I just don’t understand why you have to take my friend away. He was the first one I ever had.”
“You have Val. She’s your friend. So are Anir, Fauna, and Alexi. Blade agreed to be your friend too, remember?” he reminded gently, as he wrapped an arm around her legs, and stood, holding her to his hips.
Gluttony frowned, knowing she was right. Being ‘friends’ with her adult family members, and the people who worked for them (regardless of how close they are) was very different from growing up with your own peers. Although, he wasn’t sure that being friends with an ice dragon was any better.
“Euphie,” Emilia called. Gluttony turned to his brother and sister in law, his niece still in his arms. A servant stood beside her. From what he recalled, this woman was Euphemia’s head maid, Ana. “Go with Ana and get ready. We’re going outside to meet someone. Oh, and be sure to dress warm.”
Euphemia grinned, squirming in her uncle’s arms until he let her down, then ran off, with Ana jogging after her.
“If anything happens to my daughter, Gabrielis, I will wipe him, and his kind off the face of the realm.” Wrath’s voice was low, and laced with a promise of bloodshed.
Gluttony turned to his brother, not at all perturbed by the icy promise in his voice, and nodded.
Emilia stepped forward, and placed a hand on her husband’s arm.
“You’re certain he won’t hurt her?”
“If I thought there was any chance Silvanus was a threat in any way, I wouldn’t allow him anywhere near Adriana.”
Emilia pressed her lips together, and searched his eyes. Eventually, she nodded at him, then left the kitchen, rose gold gown trailing after her.
Wrath and Emilia remained vigilant, as the four of them headed out to meet with Silvanus. Gluttony didn’t need the ability to sense emotions to feel his brother and sister-in-law’s anxiety, but he chose not to comment. Instead, he glanced down at Euphemia, holding his hand and chatting happily with Gluttony, seemingly oblivious to the tense atmosphere, as she skipped at his side.
“-Aunt Addie said it’s really just like horse riding. Is it really?”
“Do you even know how to ride a horse, little demon?”
Euphemia turned to her uncle, meeting his raised brow with a grin, shut-eyed grin.
“You’ll need a horse first, dear.” he mused, “And I don’t think there’s a hell horse in the realms on which your feet would reach the stirrups.”
“They can too! I can borrow Death! Or Tanzi!”
“I think Uncle Gabe is right, princess. Perhaps when you’re older.” Wrath interrupts.
“Why bother with horses, when dragons are clearly the superior creatures.”
Gluttony rolled his eyes, but kept a grip on Euphemia’s hand, even as she tried to tug it loose. They had Celestia cast the spell to allow him to communicate while the princess was being wrapped up in a warm, pink cloak, lined with white fur and held together by a gold serpent brooch.
“Yet you're both just as likely to drop her.” Gluttony reminded him. “And don’t forget to mind your manners, Sil.”
“Sil!” Euphemia shrieked happily, as she finally pulled herself free from her uncle, and ran towards the dragon. “You came to visit!”
“Of course, little Princess.” The dragon tilted his head to the side, watching the princess. “Is it not normal for one friend to visit another?”
Euphemia opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a happy bleating that sounded across the yard.
A smaller head poked out from behind Sil’s paw. The baby Ice dragon wasted no time in taking in his surroundings. He bleated happily, running back and forth between Sil’s giant paws, trying to decide where to explore first.
“You brought Vex?” Gluttony hissed, still staring at the little creature that, unlike Sil, hadn’t gotten permission to be here.
Vex, on the other hand, didn’t seem bothered by the tense atmosphere at all, and seemed content in its exploration of House Wrath.
“Had I not, he’d be wreaking havoc in your palace, Prince. You named him Vexus for a reason.” Sil huffed. “Besides, he was intrigued by the concept of a ‘play date’.”
Gluttony blinked at Sil, still processing his words.
Play date. He brought Vex for a play date?
“This wasn’t part of the plan.” Wrath growled, eyes trained on Vex.
“Unfortunately, Vexus derails plans as a hobby. I dare say his sense of adventure rivals my own.”
“So I’ve heard. Adriana thinks he’s in the dragon version of terrible twos.” Emilia added, seeming tired at the very thought.
Wrath winced as he recalled how Euphemia was at that age, but his rage was forgotten for only a small moment, before he turned back to his brother.
“My daughter’s safety isn’t a joke. If he bites her-”
An excited shriek pierced the air, followed by a thud, and the adults immediately whipped their heads to the source. Euphemia’s face lit up in a way Gluttony had never seen, as she sat in the snow, Vexus’s paws on either side of her, as he nuzzled against her. She giggled at the baby dragon, reaching up to pet the side of its head as she did.
“You’re like my daddy’s puppies,” she smiled, Sil snorted.
Even Wrath had to snort at that one.
“I think Ice dragons are a bit more deadly than Hellhounds, lovely.” Emilia called, biting back her own chuckle.
“Even your sister in law is wiser than you, prince.” Sil mused.
It was only after becoming bored with the pets, that Vexus noticed Gluttony. The baby dragon’s eyes widened and it charged towards the prince. Gluttony staggered a bit when he caught him. Vex nudged his chest, and he rolled his eyes, before beginning to pet him.
“Oh, how sweet,” Emilia cooed, drawing the dragon’s attention.
Vex cooed, and started nudging the air in her direction too. His sister-in-law giggled, and reached over to pet him, only for Wrath to grab her hand.
“Bite her, and I will mount your scaly head to my wall.” Wrath warned, then let go.
Emilia rolled her eyes and Gluttony scoffed. But the dragon paid him no mind, and cooed as Emilia began to pet it. Gently, Gluttony set Vex down, allowing him to keep nudging at Emilia’s gown, wanting more pets. He patted Wrath’s shoulder, but the demon of war remained vigilant, eyes glued to Sil, apparently having decided he was a bigger threat.
“Is that your baby, Sil?” Euphemia asked, the older dragon that now sat with his scaly stomach pressed to the snow covered ground.
“Vexus is part of my pack, but he is not my spawn.” Silvanus explained, but gluttony can see something like sorrow flash through his iridescent eyes.
Euphemia caught it too. She raised her arms up, and made grabby hands towards him. Sil lowered his head, and allowed the princess to splay her arms across his muzzle.
“Oh, you are cold!” she squeaked.
“Would you like me to warm the scales?” Silvanus asked, and Gluttony thought back to when the dragon asked Adriana the same question.
“Is it not too cold, though?” Sil asked, iridescent eyes, glued to the girl, still hugging him.
“All of Hell is cold. It’s just the climate of our home, and I still love it. If it wasn’t cold, would Ice dragons even exist? And if they did, would they be the same way they are now? Probably not. I think it’s all perfect, just as it is.”
Silvanus let out a puff of icy air that sent a small flurry of snow towards the adults. Wrath scowled at him, keeping one hand on his dagger, the other around Emilia.
“You are a wise child.” Sil hummed, “I’m sure you’ll grow to be a just princess.”
“That’s high praise coming from a dragon.” Euphemia giggled, then stepped back, but kept a hand on his muzzle.
“Euphemia. What do we say when someone brings us a gift?” Emilia asked, now holding Vexus.
Silvanus’s iridescent eyes flicked between the Queen and princess.
“Oh, right.” She gasped, then took her hand back from the dragon, taking her skirt into her hand and dipping into a somewhat wobbly curtsy. “Thank you so much for your gift. I truly love it.”
Silvanus raised his head, letting out a proud huff, accompanied by a puff of icy air.
“I’m pleased that it’s to your liking. I took care to ensure the feathers shed were of the highest quality, fit for a princess.”
Gluttony swore he heard Emilia giggle behind him, and even Wrath let out a huff of amusement.
“Hey, Sil? When I’m all grown up, can I hunt with you like Uncle does?”
“That is up to your family. However, should you wish to join the hunt one day, then I look forward to meeting you in battle. I’m certain you’ll be a worthy opponent.”
“Then I’ll be sure to live up to your expectations. Let’s make it a fun battle.” she grinned, happy to welcome the challenge.
Gluttony grinned too. To those who had found Euphemia to be too timid, or sheltered, especially from her father’s rage, let her excitement for battle be proof that she was House Wrath, through and through.
Emilia smiled from her spot on the blanket, and took another sip of her wine. She, Wrath and Gabriel had spent the last two and a half hours watching, as Sil lounged across the ground, allowing Euphemia and Vexus to use him as a climbing frame while they played. They hadn’t expected Silvanus’ visit to last this long. They thought their daughter would thank him, pet him, beg to go on a flight, only to be denied, and that would be that. Now, Emilia couldn’t help but want to coo over the scene.
Euphemia and Vexus were curled up in the crook of Sil’s tail, as it wrapped around the rest of his body. Gluttony had confirmed that Sil heated it enough for her to be comfortable, and Vex clearly didn’t mind, since he’d fallen asleep almost instantly. She sighed, passing her glass to Gabriel, and walked over to the dragons.
“Thank you for looking after my daughter. And for today,” she whispered to the dragon.
“It’s been a pleasure, milady.” Sil nodded, then turned back to the freshly hunted Hell Deer that Wrath had someone bring out for him to eat.
Though, Vex may have woken up a couple of times to steal a leg or two.
“The two of you are welcome to come back and see her, if you’d like.”
“I should like that very much. As would Vexus. We have grown rather fond of the little demon.”
Emilia nodded, walked over to Sil’s side. The dragon was happy to allow her up, to take Euphemia into her arms. Vexus shifted in his sleep, but settled quickly, after Emilia gave him a few gentle pets. Euphemia shifted in her mother’s arms, nuzzling her head into the crook of her neck as she gave Sil one last nod.
Wrath stood as she returned, and gently pet Euphemia’s head.
“Bed time?” He asked Emilia, who nodded.
“Thank you, Gabe. I was weary at first but this really made her day.”
“I only wish there was a more permanent fix.” Gluttony sighed, lifting the flue to his mouth.
“There would be if you and the lady had one of your own.”
Gluttony choked on his wine, while Emilia and Wrath tried to hold back their laughter (just so they wouldn’t wake their daughter). Even Sil snorted at that.
“If you have no answer, I’ll ask the lady about it later.” Sil nodded.
“Don’t you dare!” Gluttony hissed.
“Perhaps you and Adriana should consider it, brother. I’m sure Euphemia would be excited.” Wrath added.
Gluttony groans, and Wrath grinned wider.
Emilia shook her head at the bickering, and instead turned to Euphemia.
“I know you feel alone right now,” she whispered, “But Mama, and daddy, and all your aunts and Uncles love you, so dearly, my little magpie.” Euphemia began to shift in her arms, so Emilia gently shushed her. “Just wait, my darling. Everything will work out. You’ll see.”
