I'll be re-writing at least Louis Howard's route in a novella style. Some story beats/events may be altered for the sake of the overall story but by and large it will be the same, including most of the suitor's dialog.
Full work on Ao3
The prologue mostly establishes the OC princess & additional worldbuilding. If you want to skip it and go right to Louis' route - my notes are here, should have whatever you need to know starred & up top. (whatever you need to know assuming you're familiar with Midnight Cinderella.)
Prologue 1: Witch / Ao3 Link
Prologue 2: Princess / Ao3 Link
If you read 'in a novella style' and then cackle with laughter when you open the prologue - I deserve that lol. I promise the route chapters will be shorter & easier.
Louis Route 1 / Ao3 Link
Louis Route 2 / Ao3 Link
I hope with the princess and additional worldbuilding I didn't stray too far from the original game to defeat the purpose of a re-telling. If i did... I dont know what i'll do lol. I hope you can at least still enjoy the fanfiction, my favorite part of MidCin has always been the suitors' personalities and relationships and I think I will at least do well in exemplifying that.
Summary: King Byron said many times that he does not let others sway his decisions, but what if the ones closest to him are the reason there is a strain in his relationship with the Princess
Warning: Angst, tears, breakups, bad guys and fluff at the end
The sky was black, and the rain was pouring, Antoinette sighed softly as she looked out the window. She wishes that she didn’t say anything, but she couldn’t keep it in anymore, but he needed to know how they were making her feel, how he chose their point of view instead of hers, how even though he mentions many times he values her input he would never accept them and only took the advice of them. And now because of what was said, she returned the ring and he left, she told everyone that she doesn’t want to be disturbed for any reason, not even for King Ronold.
She couldn’t help but to dream of him and how much she wanted to be back in his arms while she cried herself to sleep. Back in Stein, King Byron was no better, ever since he returned from Wysteria with the ring heavy in his pocket, at first, he didn’t see what she was talking about and few days later he noticed how much Albert was slightly pushing his own agenda and trying to get a new princess for him or how Albert put it a “REAL” princess with TRUE noble blood. Byron didn’t say anything at first until a few days later when Albert and Nico were at it again as always when he suddenly stood up “Enough, now I see what the Princess was talking about, you both have influenced my decisions and especially you Albert, no wonder she didn’t felt at ease here and why she called off the engagement. Nico write to the Princess that and say that I am sorry for what I said to her and would love to see her again.” After that Byron left his office and went to the stables. He took a ride to clear his mind and prayed that Antoinette could forgive him.
It took a few days before she was able to get out of her chambers, Giles was kind enough to listen to her and one of the maids made a cake that her own mother always baked when she was upset. It was a month before a letter came from Spinner, the letter was from Nico that King Byron was sorry for what said and would like to talk to her. Antoinette gave some food and water to Spinner and while he ate, she ripped the letter and put inside a pouch with the necklace she had received from him long ago and she tied the pouch to Spinner’s leg before he flew away. “I do not want to know about anymore personal letters from Stein and Giles. You can take care of the official letters that we receive from them.” With that Antoinette got up from her desk and went back to her room for the rest of the day.
When Nico came back with the ripped letter in a pouch, he understood that it would take some time before the Princess could forgive him but when Nico pulled out the necklace that is when he felt a pain in his heart. Dismissing both of them, he took off his patch and began to cry, whispering to the necklace that he clutched in his hand for his love, his Antoinette to forgive his stupidity. Over time the mood of the Princess changed, once all cheerful to one of somber mood and never with a smile on her face. Even though she was trying to forget him she couldn’t, the love she has for him was too great and the pain of their separation was ever more that she cried herself to sleep every night since the first letter arrived and true to her request, Giles made sure that any letters from King Bryon was swiftly returned unopened. Bryon would see the returned letters, sighed and tried his best to get back to work.
This is how it went for the next few months and everyone in both kingdoms felt the sadness from both of them and guilt was eating Albert the most that he did the only thing he thought he would never do, ask Nico for help. Nico didn’t say anything because he felt terrible as well and was more than willing to help get the Princess and King Byron back together. So when a quick dispatch was sent to Giles requesting help from them on trying to get them back together and quickly sent a response back while getting Alyn and Leo to his office to discuss the plan. A few days later, Giles arrived at the Princess’ office “What seems the problem Giles” Antoinette asked “King Ronold has requested for you and Alyn to go to the forest to investigate some disturbing reports that children have been dumped due to being illegitimate. He would have gone himself but he felt that this situation needed a delicate touch.” Giles told the lie like it was the absolute truth, when he came to the King a few days ago, asking for help, The King was more than willing to help and came up with the ruse, knowing that Antoinette would not be able to refuse to help children in need. He was right, because right after she finished the report she was working on, she quickly changed and went to the stables where Alyn was waiting for her with a horse and Hedwig ready to go.
Albert and Nico came to King Byron’s office with reports of poachers in the forest, putting his papers that he was reading down and out the door. Once at the stables he summons Spinner to fly ahead.. Antoinette and Alyn were the first to arrive at the forest and she gave Alyn a look before asking why they were at the forest near the border of Stein. “I am sorry but this is where the children are rumored to be dumped.” he shrugged as he got off, “Why don’t you go ahead and see if there is any truth to the reports, I will be there is a second,” she gives him another look before making her way into the forest. At the same time on the other side of the border, King Byron and Spinner arrived in the forest and he made his way into the forest. Unfortunately they were not the only ones there at the forest, indeed there were two poachers and were about to kill a wolf and her two pups when out of nowhere they heard the Princess call out for the children and make her way to where they were.. They were not the only ones who heard her, Byron thought he was dreaming and shook his head and continued to where he thought he heard her voice. Arriving at where the wolf family were, she was shocked and then quickly went to try to free them when she heard a dark laugh “ I would not do that if I were you, it is a wild animal you don't know when it will destroy that pretty face of yours.” Antoinette stood up and stood between the wolf and them and the wolf growling at the poachers and out of nowhere two flashes of white nose dived and attacked them, it was Spinner and Hedwig trying to protect the Princess. One of them came towards her and tried to attack her but with help of the owls she was able to use one of their weapons against him and killed him but the other one got behind her grabbing her by the neck and was about to stab her when he let go and fell to the ground dead. Antoinette turned around, dropped her weapon due to seeing Bryon with his sword out and panting because he heard everything and ran as fast as he could due to seeing the owls’ nose diving to protect his Queen. It took her a minute to register what had happened and forgetting what happened in the past, she went running into his open arms, he kissed her passionately, not letting her go and she returned his kiss with equal passion. A few minutes later Alyn arrived and got to work on healing the wolf before they left, not before howling in gratitude. When they returned to the castle, everyone from King Ronold to Albert and Nico were waiting for them.
After dinner, Byron and Antoinette went to the garden to talk. As they made their way to the garden, Byron took off his eye patch because he wanted to truly see his love, his Antoinette. Taking a seat close to the fountain, he began to apologize and explained that he now understood what she was talking about. “For now on, as God as my witnesses, I promise that you and your opinions will come first.” Looking into his eyes she knew that he was telling the truth and smiled sweetly at him. Out of nowhere he stood up as Spinner swooped down and dropped something in his hand, and Byron got on one knee “Would you do me the greatest honor and say yes on becoming my queen, my love” he places the sapphire ring on her finger “Yes, a thousand times yes” she whispers as he rose up and gather her into his arms kissed her like he never kissed her before. For the rest of the night, he proved to her that he never stopped loving her and he will never break his promise.
