A Royal Conundrum, or a Royal Deception? Chapter 2
Chapter Fandom/Ship: Smallville/DC - Clex - Clark Kent/Lana Lang/Lex Luthor/Chloe Sullivan, Clark Kent/Lex Luthor, Lana Lang/Lex Luthor, Lana Lang/Chloe Sullivan
Rating: Explicit
Chapter Word Count: 6,320
Chapter Warnings and Tags: royal au, polyamory, bisexual Lana Lang, bisexual Chloe Sullivan, pansexual Lex Luthor, bisexual Clark Kent, arranged marriage, angst, gothic horror, fear of being watched, first meetings, flashed backs, backstory, haunted castles, ghosts, magic Clark Kent, kissing
Chapter Summary: Princess Lana travels to Luthor Castle to discuss their wedding and their secret loves. Much like the Prince the castle holds more than Lana expected.
Author Note: God what an act to follow, please take a look at the first chapter here by the amazing @idabbleincrazy before giving my chapter a read. Those who read my less fluffy things know I love horror especially in the summer. I tried to keep it light and atmospheric, but still the creeps befitting if the prompts I picked. I hope you enjoy the chapter it's been so fun trying to blend styles with dabbles for @mariekoukie6661 Fic Wars challenge.
Happy Reading! I appreciate every like, comment, and reblog! ❤️
Read the opening from Chapter 2 of A Royal Conundrum, or a Royal Deception?, Rated Explicit, below or in full on my Ao3.
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A Royal Conundrum, or a Royal Deception? Chapter Two
As her carriage pulled past the gates to her future home, nerves and stories that had been long forgotten filled the Princess's heart and swooping stomach. The castle was surrounded in shades of green, from the stone to the yard. Its swirling bushes at one point must have been painstakingly shaped into fantastical beasts, but now seemed to be nothing more than eldritch creatures as Lana's carriage made the journey between them. Her eyes drifted to each daunting hedge. She could not help but be taken with the oddity of them of what time and the absence of the Crown had done to the grounds as the carriage continued to carry her through the morning light. The light seemed to dim the closer the carriage brought her to the main doors and despite the surprise of Lex's changed ways, the childhood stories of terrors lurking within the walls filled her stomach with apprehension.
Lana had heard the stories in her youth of Luthor Castle. The stories of disappearing servants, of ghosts and ghouls that lurked in the shadows of its dark towers and large sweeping grounds. There had once even been a rumor of the former Queen, Lillian, haunting the grounds and her husband. Looking upon the unruly grounds and crumbling stone, Lana did not doubt the cause of the tall tales. At the start of the journey she had thought herself far too old for fairy tales, but the ivy-covered dilapidated nature of the Luthor Castle prayed on the imagination.
Princess Lana’s jade eyes roamed the looming fortress in the distance. It was such a large space and time and disuse had done it no favors over the years. The Lady-of-the-House-to-be imagined she would make due, while it was no Talon, the dower castle and unkempt shrubbery would feel more welcoming in no time. Especially if Lex was as changed as he seemed, a private smile filled her lips as the carriage stopped before the grand doors at the thought of their kiss. Lex was certainly not what she had feared and had stirred her night with Chloe to be one filled with love and passion. She only hoped that instead of stories filled with ghosts the ones they would make within these walls would be filled with happiness for them all.
“Your Highness.” A footman opened the door for her, hand outstretched and a step stool placed over the stone walkway. “Please mind your step, the path is not as even as it once was.”
The footman’s words startled her attention away from the grandeur of her dreams for their future within the old castle. She offered a smile and took the offered hand, holding her dress as she stepped from the carriage. Now that she was closer, she could see the wind take to the windows, broken and damaged as they were, and a breath escaped her. Her eyes widened as her gaze caught on a dark figure in the window, her hand unthinkingly clenching the one guiding her from the carriage. The specter seemed to dance in the dark window that was only lit by the sunlight as it fell through stained glass.
The Princess, well versed in keeping her smile, didn't look away from it as it seemed to disperse in the next gust of wind through the window. Her eyes danced along the pane, trying to see where the person had gone before she cleared her throat, pushing it out of her mind as a maid tasked with cleaning for her arrival. She instead looked back to the servant, glad for once for the distance of other positions as the man had not noticed her tightened grip or the fear within her as he avoided her gaze. She loosened her grasp on his hand as her heart calmed from the scare, focusing on him rather than the mysteries of the castle before her.
