| Royalty!AU | King Jaskier |
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@inspiration-in-progress @jaskicr @witchersjaskier @artemis-demonicus @doveandunicorn @kittynannygaming —>and many more! Thank you 🙏
As Julian stepped through the gate leading to the throne room, he felt nothing. He simply let himself be escorted by the royal guards, he saw his mother in all her glory sitting on the throne. Her gown black, symbolizing her grief, her blonde hair pinned neatly as a silver crown with blue gems rested on her head. And finally her cornflower eyes that mirrored his own, glaring at the mare sight of him.
They stopped right in front of the stairs leading to the throne, Julian didn’t shy away from his mother hard gaze as one of the soldiers proudly called.
“My Queen! May I present your son, Julian Alfred Pankratz the first, prince of Rivia and Lyria!”
The Queen pulled a fake smile that Julian knew all too well and said “Thank you sir Tovan. I’m glad that you found my son all well” Sir Tovan bowed to her, looking really proud as the Queen added “Now. Please leave me with my son, we have much to talk about”
Sir Tovan led his men out of the throne room, leaving only Julian and his mother present. They stared at each other for a long time, but it was she who spoke first.
“Julian”
“Mother” answered Julian in a bitter tone.
She of course glared at him and said “I have to admit that I am greatly disappointed in you”
If Julian was a boy, it would’ve hurt him but now he simply answered “I can say the same about you”
That made the Queen raise from the throne and walked down the steps where her son stood. She glared at him and slapped him saying.
“ You run from your home! Make me and your father look for you for the last 20 years! While you run with Butcher of Blaviken of all things, playing some peasant music! And dare to insult me?! Your own mother and The Queen of Rivia and Lyria?!” she let out a huff adding “I should sentence you to stoning for such thing!”
Julian glared down at his mother saying “You won’t do such thing”
The Queen glared at him asking “And why is that?”
He stood straighter as he said in cold voice “Because now mother, I am the rightful King of this kingdom. You might be the bound by blood to this kingdom but we both know that since father passed away your title as The Queen of Rivia and Lyria, means shit. So now that I’m here? I won’t let you ruin our kingdom any longer, I saw how you manipulated father into doing everything you wanted. And the poor man just loved you too much, to see what a bitch you really are. But no more of that. By today I am taking all your rights to the throne and to make any decisions even if I’m gone. And after my coronation, you’ll be transported to our summer residence near Yaruga, where you will live from now on”
“Y-You wouldn’t do this! You can’t!! You need me to run this kingdom! Just like your father did!” she screamed in hysterics.
Julian smiled at the woman coldly and called out “Guards!” as they entered the throne room he continued “Please escort my mother to her room and call my father’s advisors. I need to speak to them about my coronation and some other matters”
“Right away my prince!” said Sir Tovan as he bowed and signaled his people to take the Queen out of the room. She of course didn’t put up a fight, she was too proud to do that and went with them quietly.
As they all left the room, Julian looked up at the painting of his father that was hanging on one of the walls.
“Father you know that I’m not made to be a King! I want to travel and sing! Just like you once did! Before you married mother!” said seventeen year old Julian, while pacing in his father’s solar.
The old king let out a sigh, running his hand through greying his hair “Julek… I know but you’re the only heir to the throne, you need to fulfil your duty as a prince” Julian let out a groan as his father continued “I know that it’s hard for you, because I didn’t want to become a King either. But the destiny made it my path, so I have to follow it”
Julian groaned even louder as he threw himself dramatically at a sofa “Oh please father, spare me from this destiny crap…”
His father out a chuckle saying “Okay, okay… now how about you play something for me huh? I have few letters to write and with your beautiful music, it surely will go faster”
The young prince smiled brightly and took his lute saying with a low bow “Your wish is my command, Your Grace!”
The king let out a laugh at his son’s theatrics and continued on working, while a catchy song was filling his solar.
Julian smiled at the memory and said out loud “I wish you were here father… I could use someone to talk to…” he took a deep shaky breath saying “I won’t fail you and I will be a good King. There’s no one for me to go back to any way…”
The doors opened as Sir Tovan walked in saying “The advisors and awaiting your orders, your royal highness”
The soon to be King took one last look at his father’s portrait, before nodding to himself thinking.
It’s time to make his father proud.
______________
Few months after his coronation, the new king got his first problem to solve. In the nearby forest was probably a nest of kikimores, they already killed five villagers from what the man in front of him was saying.
“And why didn’t this matter reach me faster? Before so much of our people have lost their lives?” Julian asked the old man that came to him in order to seek help.
The man wasn’t even looking him in the eyes as he started at the stairs leading to the throne “W-We didn’t think t-that you would care! Whenever someone c-came to your father with such matter, t-the Queen told them not to b-bother them with such problems Y-Your Grace”
Julian let out a soft sigh and rubbed his tired eyes, his mother really didn’t care about the people of Rivia and Lyria.
“Do you think that maybe our soldiers could deal with it, Your Grace?” his advisor, Lord Henrik asked, from where he was standing beside his throne.
“No. Kikimore are dangerous creatures, we must hire a witcher” said Julian, trying not to think about, how the thought of his witcher crushed his heart even more. He then looked at the poor man in front of him asking softly “Did you lose someone to the monster?”
The man looked up at him in shock but nodded slowly saying “Aye after one girl got murdered… my son went to try and kill the creature with three other boys. But they died”
Julian’s heart ached at the pain the parents must feel, he saw many crushed families whose loved ones died because of some monster, while traveling with Geralt “I grief their deaths along with you and the others. We will take care of this matter, you have my word. For now don’t let anyone close to the forest, I will be sending food to your village every week so that you won’t have to hunt and risk your lives”
“T-Thank you! Thank you so much, Your Grace!” the man bowed in gratitude.
The king simply nodded with a small smile saying “I’m glad that I can help my people, that all”
Three weeks later, Julian was in his father’s solar or rather his own solar now. He was reading a letter from the King of Temeria, the man was checking if their truce was still in tact now that Julian is the King of Rivia and Lyria. When a knock interrupted his reading, Julian raised his head calling out.
“Come in”
It was Lord Henrik, the advisor bowed to him and said “My King, a witcher has come to talk about the monster”
Julian’s heart stopped as a thought came through his mind “What if it’s Geralt?” but he quickly shook his head mentally and cleared his throat saying “Bring him here”
“With all due respect but wouldn’t it be safer to meet him in the throne room?” asked Lord Henrik.
But the young King shook his head saying “I want to talk to him in private, no need for the theatrics Lord Henrik. Now please bring the poor man here, he’s probably standing outside in this rain”
“Right away, Your Grace” said the Lord and left.
Julian stood up and poured himself some wine as his hands shook slightly, the door opened and he turned just to see Lord Henrik along with a wet, tall, bulky man with a large scar on his face. Julian’s eyes quickly traveled to his medallion and instantly he knew who it was.
“May I introduce Master Witcher, Eskel” said Lord Henrik as the poor cat-eyed man bowed awkwardly.
“Your Grace” said the witcher, his voice quite pleasant and calm. Nothing like Geralt’s harsh and rumbling one.
Julian nodded to the man, before looking at his advisor saying “Thank you, Lord Henrik. Now please go and tell servants to arrange a room, a bath and warm food for our guest”
Lord Henrik’s face was priceless as he said “Forgive me… Your Grace but who is our guest?”
The King smiled at the awkward witcher and said “Master Witcher of course. Can’t you see that the man is clearly tired and wet? Oh and please do ask them also to take care of his horse, let them take it to my personal stables. Now leave us Lord Henrik”
“Y-Yes, Your Grace. I shall take care of everything” with that Lord Henrik left the room and Julian let out a sigh saying.
“I apologise for his behaviour, I will talk to him later” he looked at the shocked and clearly uncomfortable witcher and said “Please take a sit, Master Witcher”
Julian sat down at one of the sofas as the witcher also took a seat in front of him on the other one. The scared man cleared his throat saying.
“The room and… all that isn’t necessary, Your Grace. I’ll get the information that I need and I’ll leave peacefully”
The King frowned saying “It is necessary, you’re here to help my people and before you came here you were helping someone else. You deserve it, so please accept it” he ended with a smile.
The witcher returned it and said “Please call me Eskel, Your Grace”
Julian let a grin past his royal act and said “Only if you call me Julian”
Eskel looked a bit troubled before nodding “Sure thing… Julian. Now tell me about the kikimore”
And so Julian explained everything and tried to mention every little detail that could help Eskel. The witcher seemed a bit shocked by his knowledge of monsters and eagerness to help.
“-- and then we have your payment. I think that around 2000 guldents? Or do you want more?”
The witcher paled a bit and said “Y-You’re offering that much? And asking if I want more?”
Julian took a sip of his wine and said “Witcher’s are always not getting as much coin as they deserve. You risk your lives for people and you get insulted, attacked and not even get a fucking ‘thank you’. So as a decent human being I will offer you 2000 guldents now and another 1000 once you’re done with the kikimores”
“Julian that’s far too much I can’t--” started Eskel as Julian stopped him saying.
“You can and you will Eskel. You deserve it”
Eskel stayed silent for a moment, simply looking at Julian. After few moment’s his eyes widened as he said “You’re Geralt’s comannion! Jaskier!”
Julian flinched at the use of his old name and simply asked “How can you be so sure?”
The witcher didn't take his eyes of him as he said “Geralt always talked about you when he came home for the winter. He talked a bit about how you look and the fact that you indeed smell like a dandelion… which is a bit weird I suppose”
“That’s rather… specific” mumbled Julian as he continued on looking at his wine.
“But he failed to mention, that you were a Prince and now a King of Rivia and Lyria” said Eskel with a frown.
Julian let out a sigh saying “He didn’t know. I ran away from home when I was eighteen, to become a bard. Few months later I met him and stayed with him for 20 years, before it was time to wake up from this wonderful dream. Geralt sure as hell helped me with that and so I went home”
After a moment of silence Eskel said “He’s looking for you, you know?”
“Then let him look. I’ve been doing the same thing for years, now it’s his turn”
Eskel let out a laugh saying “I’ll drink to that”
______________
Eskel left a week later after the job was done, leaving Julian all alone once again. Although he promised to visit before winter, which warmed Julian’s heart a bit.
Now four months later Julian got a letter from Cintra. It was Queen Calanthe, who wanted to meet the new King of Rivia and Lyria, and even sign a treaty now that the war with Nilfgaard was upon all of them.
“I wouldn’t accept it, Your Grace. Queen Calanthe will bring doom over all of us!” said one of the members of the royal council.
“I agree! To hell with her!” added another one.
Julian let out a sigh saying “Thank you all for making your opinions known. I will think about what you said”
“Now there’s another problem that you should think about, Your Grace” said Lord Henrik.
“What is it?”
“You need to select a sorceress for your court” said Lord Henrik sternly.
Julian wanted to just bag his head at the wall, no matter how many times he said that he didn’t want a sorceress the council simply ignored him and continued on pushing him about this matter.
“I said it before and I will say it now. I don’t need a sorceress and that will be the end of this topic” said Julian harshly.
“Maybe we will be able to change your mind, Your Grace”
Julian looked towards the door where an elegant woman stood, dressed in a fine red dress, her dark hair neatly pinned. But it was who was with her made Julian’s blood boil, because it was Yennefer of the fucking Vengerberg. She glared at Julian, clearly unhappy to find out who he really was.
“This meeting is over, now leave me and our unexpected guests alone” said the young King, as everyone left without a question. Julian himself got up from his place at the council table and walked towards the window, saying “You won’t change my mind. I don’t want a sorceress, sorcerer, mage or a druid” he took a deep breath and turned towards the women adding “But I’m willing to at least listen to you”
The unknown woman nodded saying “That’s all I ask of you, Your Grace” before adding “I am Tissaia de Vries and this is---”
“Yennefer of Vengerberg” said Julian darkly “I had the unfortunate luck of meeting her”
Tissaia sent an unpleasant look towards Yennefer, but the purple eyed woman ignored her saying “Jaskier. I see that you decided to play King, tell me is Geralt playing with you?”
Julian glared at her saying “No. Geralt isn’t here, so I suppose that he won’t be able to be your plaything tonight”
Yennefer visibly flinched at his words, before turning and leaving the room. With her gone, Julian turned his attention to the confused Tissaia. He sent her a warm smile saying “I apologise for my manners, Lady Tissaia. Now would you like some wine?”
______________
In the end Julian refused the sorceress’s offer and only agreed that if Cintra will fall then Rivia and Lyria will help them fight. Julian also sent a 1000 men to help, Queen Calanthe but in the end they lost.
And now Julian was using all his resources to try and locate Princess Cirilla. Geralt’s child surprise, but little did he know that he won’t only find the lion cub of Cintra. But also his witcher, Geralt of Rivia.
This work has been expanded, posted and finished on ao3.