→ lady in red | rebel leader, urban myth, tesslan milae
i. she had entered a meeting half curious and half sated. her hands are shaking when someone asks her for her name, (people are staring at her face, looking like she’s atoning for a killers sins, torn apart and gaunt), she can’t bring herself to answer.
ii. the first time she talks, people feel a uniting somewhere inside them, closing the gap they usually fill with alcohol and sex in this city, (people didnt know raw anger was what the rebellion lacked, they didnt expect to find it in a haunted girl)
iii. once people love you it doesn't take long for you to become bigger than your name (what is it they call me?) the lady in red (why?) because you're the bringer of death and roses.
She nodded her head slightly, a few curls falling forward. She pushed her hair back very her shoulder and smiled, waiting for him to say something. It was impossible not to stare a little at Matthel, everyone did. Even when they were children everybody had said it, he was beautiful.
“Let me show you inside,” He didn’t use her name, she noted. There was no way to be offended, it had been years and she wasn’t really the kind of person future kings made allies of. She followed him up to the large gates, turning left inside. “I’m so sorry, what is it now? Lady…”
“Milae,” She told him. He looked at her then, through eyelashes that weren’t fair. Matthel wasn’t as tall as she had thought he would be, taller than her, but not by too much.
“Oh, I’m so sorry I thought I heard that you got married,” He shook his head, clearly embarrassed. Tess was inside now, but it felt like a gust of icy wind hitting her square on. The pain felt like the gnawing of hunger in her stomach, like she might be dying slowly. And then he added sounding moderately offended, “I know your maiden name, Tess.”
“I did,” And here she was, admitting to a King that she was worthless. And ignoring the flutter in her chest at how casually he said it. She wasn't a Lady or a Princess or a Mrs, he just called her Tess. When was the last time someone had done that? “And then I got divorced.”
“Well,” He was stuttering. Did he usually stutter? “I’m very sorry.”
“I’m not,” She scoffed a little and then stopped, turning to face him. The heat rising on her cheeks was searing, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“I won’t tell anyone,” He smiled down at her. Tess didn’t really know what it was turning in her stomach, whether she was nervous or about to throw up. Probably a bit of both. “I’m sorry I missed it anyways.”
“Don't worry, you sent a very nice gift,” She tried to phrase it like a joke, but it fell completely flat. Matt was nice enough that he gave a customary, short laugh. He was probably wondering what happened, asking himself if he had used to enjoy her company. “Or I guess you’ll just catch the next one. At the rate I’m going it’ll be by the end of the year.”
That got her a genuine laugh, a head thrown back laugh that had people around them turning to look, “I will clear my schedule.”
“Well if we have a prince coming I’ll make sure to try and stay sober for this one,” Another laugh, and then the back of his hand brushing against hers as they walked. These types of jokes could have her stripped of her title, but she suddenly didn’t care.
“I’m sorry about Lillian, I'm sure you remember what she’s like?” He gave her a look and she answered by raising one eyebrow. “You spent enough time here to know what a nightmare she is to deal with.”
“She never liked me very much,” Tess let herself laugh, just a little. It sounded small and stupid next to his.
“No, she really didn’t,”
She heard the laugh and turned, to where Matthel had no doubt seen her face drop, “Shut up.”
“Sorry,” He reigned in the laugh but kept grinning at her. Matthel had never changed, just getting older. He still had the same smile, with dimples, and those bright blue eyes. “I tried to convince her not to come and meet you.”
“Try harder next time,” He gave her a mock salute in reply.
→ innocence | lack of guile or corruption; purity.
"You know, you’re still my sister,” Kier stood up from behind the desk and started towards her. “I think that owes me a little loyalty.”
Tess wanted to laugh in his face, wanted to see if any part of her was enough to leave his corpse in the room. She hadn't been his sister when he’d given her back to Eli like she was something borrowed, like nothing more than returning a slave to its master. He’d allowed her to be left on the street, bleeding to death for hours after Eli had decided he didn't want her back.
“Your sister,” She thought of every terrible thing that had happened, that he had allowed to happen. And when she spoke it had more bite than she knew she was capable of. “died quite a while ago.”
Whatever emotion showed on his face, she couldn’t decipher. It was the truth whether he liked it or not, even if she didnt want to admit it.
But it was true, his sister, the person he’d grown up with, was dead. The girl who wanted to be pleasant and happy had died that day, and now? Now she wanted to light his pyre and let it burn.
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“What did he call you?” Tess asked as her brother walked away from them, leaving her stood alone with Matthel.
“Hollow,” Matt said with a sigh, rolling his shoulders back like he could smooth out the tension in either him or the room. “It’s an old slur.”
“Because you’re Lorgonian?” Even if they now had a black queen, it didnt make people like her father and brother any nicer to people who didn’t look like them.
“No,” There was a slight laugh in Matt’s voice as he met her eyes. It was impossible not to stare a little at Matthel, everyone did. Even when they were children everybody had said it, he was beautiful. “Children of the blessed families born without the gifts, they used to call them Hollows.”
“Oh,” Tess pushed her hair back over her shoulder and surveyed the hallway quickly. “So my brothers a historical bastard now?”
Matt laughed, a deep and honest thing, and met her eyes. There was something almost sweet about it, the attention, like he didn’t want to let her out of his sight.
The last boy you thought was sweet broke two of your ribs, some small part of her screamed without warning, a visceral and immediate reminder that had her stepping away from him slightly. Her wedding band burned on her finger.
“Your brother,” He took a moment, his hand moving up like it might push the hair back that had fallen across her face. Tess held her breath, his hand stopped. “Your brother is a bastard in every sense of the world.”
Matt dropped his hand to his side and cleared his throat, a futile attempt to clear the awkwardness. Tess didn’t want to admit it, that she had wished he’d moved towards her when she moved away, even if it was selfish. Even if it was a wretched thing to want when the weight of metal on her finger reminded her she wasn’t her own to give away.
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19 | prince of darana | competitor for high general | prince of honest men | ENTJ
The second born prince of Darana decided at a young age that his skills did not lie in politics and diplomacy, and took up his place in the army. Him and his sister begun training at a young age, and soon became feared and skilled fighters. He joined the army not long after and was determined to work his way up the ranks, to be seen as anything other than his title. He wanted to earn their respect on his own merit and not his family name, which meant doing grunt work, working longer hours than anyone else and keeping himself constantly educated. Now, he’s a respected and beloved general, with the full force of the Daranian army behind him.
TESSLAN MILAE
19 | lady of darana | former princess of devene | the lady in red | ENFJ
Tesslan Milae grew up with every luxury life could offer, at the cost of her future. Since she was young she has known that once she was old enough her father would marry her off to whomever gave him the most power. She was married to Eli Nadeer, the prince of Devene, as soon as she turned eighteen. She had a seemingly happy two months of marriage before it imploded and she decided to divorce him. Her father and the prince were mortified that she would try and leave a future king and their rage quickly turned violent. Now, the young Lady hasne been seen for over six months, with both her father and ex-husband unable to account for her whereabouts, the rumours quickly returned dark.
MATTHEL TORNELL
21 | crown prince of darana | ISFJ
The prince of Darana was born to be a king. There has never been any other options in his life, and he wouldn't want them either if there was. He loves his country and his people, and if he has a chance to devote his life to helping and serving them, he will grab it with both hands. Matthel has always known that there would be a cost of ruling, he never thought it would be an intense loneliness, as he watches his brother travel the world and his sister fall in and out of love with the world and herself. He’s accepted that he’ll enter into an arranged marriage one day, for the benefit of his country, and that maybe he’ll always be this unendingly lonely.
LAINI TORNELL
18 | princess of darana | commander of the Tornell guard | INTJ
Laini grew up as the illegitimate daughter of a dead slave, alone and fighting to survive in the occupied city of Aelita. When the king of a foreign country came to visit and saw her fighting in the streets, smart and vicious and ruthless, he adopts her and takes her to Darana. She could never adjust to the role of princess and, along with her brother Caspian, began to train. Instead of joining the military, her natural leadership and knowledge of politics means she joins, and eventually leads, the Tornell guard, the elite protectors of the royal family and castle.
ROMAN DEBUNTE
20 | leader of the cas ulpita | ESTP
In the city of Amedle, people learn young that to survive you’ll have to grow teeth. The stories about how Roman Debunte came to the city are broad and far reaching, when they truth is that he was found by a sailor, abandoned on the docks. Since then, he has made himself a formidable opponent, working his way up the ranks of the most elite gang in the country, and taking over after a well staged coup of the old leadership.
AMARISA BUILOTINI
18 | lost princess of Jayni | second in command of the cas ulpita | the widower| ENTP
Amarisa Builotini grew up as a feisty and beloved princess of the largest empire in the world. When the royal family is slaughtered by a branch of the Builotini line, the Cotains, she is the sole survivor and flees the country to try and stay safe. In the search for safety, she arrives in the city of Amedle and meets Ace and Roman, kids who are just as scrappy and alone as she is. Together, they join the most elite gang in the city and work their way up the ranks together, determined to be the leaders, even if it means coating the city in blood on their way. Amarisa wants to forget her royal life, but when she hears that challengers are coming for the Tornells’, she acts on impulse and warns the young prince of the danger, entrapping herself in a careful game.
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“Gods help us,” Tess looked across the room at where Eli was talking animatedly with a small group of young women, Laini wondered how many gods she had prayed to when he’d seen if he could hurt her enough to make himself feel more like a man.
Amarisa barked a shallow laugh, “The gods are either dead or they no longer care. Whichever it is, I don’t imagine they'd be helping any time soon.”
“Your gods, maybe,” Laini stared her down, “Mine is alive and well. And I get the feeling she’d be okay with us getting some revenge.”
Tess grinned over the rim of her wineglass while Amarisa gave her a long look, and then her face broke into a smile. It was less a happy thing and more an opportunity to show teeth, “Oh, I think we’re going to get along.”
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