#rinea support

[despotbled]

[@tomestobetold​ Wanted something with Albein AU Berkut!]

Berkut was always present at every ball thrown for the Rigelian nobility. His mother had hammered it into his head from a young age: attend every social gathering, put your name out there, learn every source of petty court drama playing out behind the scenes, make a good impression with the people you would be leading for the rest of your life.

What a joke.

It was all much easier said than done. No one EVER wanted to speak with HIM. Not while Albein was around, soaking up the spotlight with his charisma and theatrics. Even when Albein wasn’t present (which was a frequent occurrence, seeing as his cousin didn’t care much for “fancy, froufrou” events), all anyone would ever ask Berkut was where Albein was. Once he told them his cousin wouldn’t be attending, they lost interest and wandered off. 

Today after a halfhearted attempt to remind everyone that he existed, Berkut gave up and retreated to a quiet, secluded room where he could simply read in peace. Adjusting his glasses so that they didn’t slump off his nose as they often did, Berkut buried his nose in a book about some historical conflict or another. 

[despotbled]

[This Royal Ain’t Loyal]

[ @devotedrigelianflower​ submitted: ]

Dear Prince Berkut of Rigel,

       I, Lady Rinea, hereby send this letter for a termination of marriage engagement due to catching you having an affair with a man. If you had simply told me that you are attracted to men sooner, I would have understood. I know you will tell me that I am just overthinking this but here let me remind you of your own words in those halls. Such as, “What an intriguing way of putting it… After all, I seem to remember the so-called ‘servicing’ going both ways… Are you honestly trying to imply you didn’t like it, then?” Or perhaps when you said, “I get my needs fulfilled, and my dearly beloved gets to stay pure until the day of our wedding without me sullying her innocence with my sinful desires. Everyone wins in this situation – why would you ever want to ruin it?”  Sound familiar? Why it’s because I saw and heard everything you did.

I will not tolerate marrying someone who will have a mistress on the side before and after marriage. You broke my heart and I will never love you nor trust you ever again. I have attached the engagement ring to this letter to show that I will not be returning to your side. 

From your former fiancée,

Lady Rinea

P.S: I will make sure that the Emperor is aware of all of this and give him all of the details.

 ~*~

Berkut blinked, hands shaking as he read the letter. He thought back to the footsteps he heard in the corridor -- had she been listening in the whole time? She had heard everything? Curses -- he’d gotten sloppy and presumptuous. He should have been much more careful, but there was no use lamenting that now.

He frowned, stashing the letter into his breast pocket as he rose to his feet and marched over to the women’s barracks. Finding her room easily, he pounded on her door forcefully, mouth set in a grim frown. This was nothing. He’d surely get her to see his point of view.

“Rinea!” he shouted, scowling. “OPEN UP!”

[despotbled]

Save the Last Dance for Me

[ @tomestobetold​ ]

A month came and went seemingly at a blistering pace compared to how slowly time seemed to crawl by when it felt as though he were going to drown in his own restless apathy. The days after his unexpected meeting with the Ausfalken girl -- Rinea, he’d come to learn -- he had thrust himself wholeheartedly into trying to brush up on his dancing techniques and ballroom etiquette. He had to make certain he was prepared for the next night they spent together. He wouldn’t be caught unawares again.

The ball would carry on with or without his input, but he made certain to make several specific requests for his own purposes. The most apparent being a duet of strings in the lovely courtyard gardens to greet guests as they came in. Once everyone was settled, the two of them could journey back out together and share a dance in private, if that was what she preferred. 

The royal letter of invitation was sent to the Ausfalken house, asking for Rinea to be present by name. But that wasn’t all he prepared for her arrival. He stood, far in the back of the glitzy ballroom, fiddling with the lovely white gardenia corsage he’d had made specifically for her on this occasion. And pinned to his lapel was a simple moonflower boutonniere. After all... further research had informed him that the simple, beautiful looking flower had more in common with him than he could have ever guessed.

He tried not to worry too badly as he scanned the ballroom for any sign of her lovely blue hair standing out among the crowd. Part of him was anxious that she wouldn’t show at all and all of his preparation had been for naught. But... He didn’t want to think like that. They’d shared something together all those nights ago... He couldn’t waver in his faith that she’d be back. If he had to wait all night, he would. 

[despotbled]

@tomestobetold answered your ask: [@despotbled, to Rinea] “Who cares?"

Her brows pursed together lightly. Rinea couldn’t help but frown a bit. She didn’t like it when Berkut was so dismissive, but she knew why. He was burdened by stress and obligations. Sometimes, that meant he snapped.

“…Well, I care, My Lord,” she mentioned quietly. “I… I know that they’re just birds, but… I’m fond of them.”

“They’re animals, Rinea. They can’t feel pain,” Berkut sneered. “There are countless birds still flitting around everywhere. Are you really so bothered by the deaths of just two?”

He rolled his eyes and tossed the carcasses for the dogs to tear apart, which they did with glee. “You expected our forest outing to be for sightseeing instead of hunting? Why did you think I was bringing the hounds, then?” 

He smirked at her.  She really was too cute when she was upset about trivial matters.

[despotbled]

@tomestobetold answered your ask “[ @despotbled, SOV timeline ] "Tell me something. Why were you...”

Rinea had to wring her hands together to keep them from still shaking. Her eyes were puffy and pink, but her tears had subsided. She’d holed herself away in the place which was now her room– the Zofian castle was lovely, but foreign, and she didn’t like being here– to cry without him seeing.

Berkut… liked watching her cry. He said she was adorable when she cried. Beautiful in her distress. But Rinea didn’t feel beautiful then. She only felt–

“I… I was afraid, My Lord,” she admitted softly. But she didn’t say of what, because truth be told, she was afraid of him. Of the ruthless look in his eyes and the malicious smiles he wore.

“This castle is r-rather intimidating and I… have n-never been so far from home.”

That wasn’t a lie, and it certainly contributed to her fears, but it wasn’t the whole truth. The whole truth was that being so far from home, with him, made her terrified. Because she had nowhere she could really escape to if he wanted to frighten her again.

... Awww. How sweet... He could practically feel his heart bursting with affection. She was frightened by the castle of all things? She was like a trembling little kitten... HIS trembling little kitten. 

He chuckled, shaking his head and gently cupping her cheek. “Fear not, my darling... You’ll have me by your side. I swear to you that no harm will befall you while you’re here with me.”

He scoffed, shaking his head. “Your horrendous parents... They probably won’t even notice you’ve gone. You’re much safer here. These walls are solid stone. Nothing will get in without escaping detection, I assure you.”

Or out.

He gave her a soft, gentle smile then, encouraging her to put her silly fears behind her. “Your Prince Charming is here to rescue you, Rinea. Don’t fret...”

[minorindech]

☕️

Fleeting Snow

The sight outside the window was beautiful. Bernadetta couldn’t help sigh in content as she watched it, resting her head atop her palm neatly as she let out a soft sigh. It was a flurry, enough so that if she was outside she would be worried about freezing to death or getting so cold she lost all her fingers and having to live her life with only stumps that clumsily fumbled and dropped every knitting needle she tried to hold but thankfully she was not.

She was inside and warm and watching safely with a cup of tea that released a soft steam that perfumed the air around her...The snow danced around the window pane, a soft ballet of flakes that was absolutely mesmerizing to watch.

Bernadetta was lost in thought, head full of ideas of how she could paint the scene outside the window to try and recapture it. It was only the sound of someone else’s teacup returning to the saucer that jostled her out of her trance.

“O-oh! I’m sorry!” Bernadetta squeaks as she looks back to the blue haired student. Oh, her face is definitely a bright red, she can feel it without even putting her hands to her cheeks. “I-I just...I’ve never really seen it snow like this before, and it’s so pretty to look at...I didn’t mean to ignore you, I’m sorry!”

[verseandrhyme]

[ Apple cider ]: Rinea catches up to the pink haired girl once more, this time addressing her proper and with two drinks in her hands. "Hello again," she greets with a small smile and nod of her head. She offers one of the cups out to Mitama. "Would you to try it? I believe the vendor called it apple cider. It's quite delicious~"

Mitama hummed absentmindedly, focused on carefully noting down all the details she could. The entire festivity seemed to not be in her favor, judging on the series of events that had followed her. Best for now to gather what she can and save the moments for later. What better way to ensure that what mattered was memorialized in the written word than waiting to see what memories she remembered? 

It is only as the cup enters her line of sight that she looks up, surprise plainly painted across her expression. Eyes follow cup to arm to face and she lets out a soft noise of acknowledgement. “Hello to you as well. How droll to see you again in another festival of sorts.” She muses.

Mitama rests her brush on her pad of paper as she takes the offered drink. “Apple cider, hmm?” She gives it a quick sniff. There is a sting to it that surprises her. She would not have anticipated the church handing out intoxicants so freely. “I thank you for this unexpected gift. Should you wish, feel free to join me.” Mitama gestured absently to the empty space on the bench next to her. “Traversing the crowds is certainly exhausting. You should take the rest when you can find it.”

[despotbled]

@devotedrigelianflower answered your ask “[@despotbled] "Let me handle the drudgery of communicating with the...”

Rinea was happy when he kissed her hand and he did have a point but she had noticed he had been stressed as of late.

“But Lord Berkut, if I am to be your future empress then I must learn how to communicate with the servants. I also noticed you have been stressed and I wish you to not be as much. I know you have so much work to do. I can handle at least this much. Don’t you trust me? You know you are the only one who has my heart Lord Berkut.” Rinea was trying to be helpful so that her beloved would not worry too much.

Berkut gritted his teeth, grinning in a way that showed entirely too much teeth. “My darling, I assure you that I’m fine,” he all but growled, staring into her eyes with a fierce sort of intensity. “The only stress I’ve accumulated over the past few days is due to trying to wrangle up votes for this silly game we’ve been roped into. I’m quite fine -- well enough that I can order around a few servants without issue.”

That smile never faltered, though it didn’t speak of any sort of warmth. “One might start to wonder why it is that you’re so insistent to spend time with my new servant, darling. I’m only worried of your reputation. What might happen if you were to spend long periods together with him while I’m away performing my duties for the courts? Some might begin to talk, you know. And then what would become of my proud, noble line?”

He patted her hand, face relaxing into something a bit less strained, yet no less sinister. “I couldn’t bear to hear others drag the name of my beloved through the mud like that. We even look somewhat similar, so I doubt any rumors would subside even after the first of our children are born. Really, my sweet... I’m only looking out for your sake.”