Yuu: Tell Us, Is There Other Spirit In This Dorm?

Yuu: Tell us, is there other spirit in this dorm?

Ouija board: Y-E-S

Grim: Great, your portion of the rent is 1000 madols. It's due the first of the month.

Ouija board: W-T-F

"Squeeze or be squeezed"

TWST Incorrect quotes#411 I LOVE YOU!

In Briar Valley-Vanrouge Cottage

Yuu*Leaving for the Farmers Market, kissing each of your boy's cheeks*

Sebek(5)*Waving as you leave while holding Silver's hand*I love you so much!

Yuu*Snickers and waves back still*I love you!~

Sebek(5):Hav a gud day!

Yuu: Have a great day!~

Sebek(5):Byeee!*Smiles wider still not wanting to end the conversation*

Yuu: Bye!~

Sebek(5):I LOVE YOUUU!

Yuu: I LOVE YOU TOOO!

Lilia*Smilling looking back and forth as you two have your love scream off*Hehe~

Sebek(5): I LOOOOVE YOUUUU!?

Yuu: I LOOOOVE YOU TOOO!

Sebek(5): I LOOOOVE YOUUUU!?AAAAAAAHHHH!?

Yuu:OMG!-Hahah~*Blows him kisses*

In which (Y/n) hosts a Halloween party! She's dressed up as a princess, which somehow automatically activates Malleus' dragon instincts.

'Kidnap the princess and put her in a tower,' his mind tells him — as cliche as it sounds — and so, he does exactly that.

I know it's not Halloween but the idea won't leave my head so bear with me aiqhsuaha

"Grim, have you put the cobwebs up, yet?"

You pranced through the lounge of Ramshackle, a big bowl of popcorn and bags of chips from Sam's shop under your arm. As best as you could, you made sure not to bump into the skeletons and hollowed-out pumpkins that stood around the room as decoration. Eventually, you arrived by the buffet table, where you threw everything in your arms onto the surface with a loud huff.

Who knew how hard it was to organise a Halloween party?

Grim came strolling in, his head held high and mighty as to not let the crown around his ears slip off his head. He smacked the bottom of his golden cane against the creaky flood of the Ramshackle lounge in exasperation. "Are you blind, or do you not see the crown on my head?" he grumbled, pulling the red cape over his shoulders with an angry huff.

"I'm sorry." You rolled your eyes, doing a curtsy for your ruler. Grabbing the billowing and swishing fabric of your (F/c) princess-gown, you said, "King Grim of Ramshackle, have you put up the cobwebs, yet?"

The cat hummed in satisfaction and began to laugh. "Much better, my princess." He marched right past you and grabbed a few cans of tuna you had specifically put there for him — but for later, not for now. You furrowed your eyebrows in irritation when he began to peel open a can; the party hadn't even started yet. The cat ignored your protests, merely replying, "And no, why would I put up fake cobwebs? There are plenty natural cobwebs there already."

You held your head in frustration, letting out a drawn-out sigh. Then, you lowered your hands again to glare at the mighty cat. "And have Ace and Deuce returned from getting Trey's tarts yet?" you asked, your fingers impatiently tapping against the surface of the buffet table.

"No, my dear princess," Grim said, putting on a posh accent, "the knights have not returned yet."

You were about to complain to the ghosts of the old building when the sound of the doorbell ringing echoed throughout the high ceilings of this place. Rolling your shoulders and putting on a smile, you happily announced, "Ah, the first guests have already arrived." Grim didn't look like he would be so kind and open the door — no, such a task was below the great king. So, it naturally fell to you. "Let me see who it is."

You made your way to the front door, making sure the little tiara on your head hadn't moved from its original position before opening the door. Your gloved hand rested on the door knob as you found the Diasomnia quartet standing on your door step.

Lilia, who was dressed like a vampire, flashed you a smile that showed off his pearly white fangs. "Good evening, (Y/n)—" he chirped, but stopped himself once he realised as what you had dressed up in. He had to hold back a chortle as he gazed you up and down. "Oh my, are you a princess?"

"A princess?" Malleus repeated, your costume somehow having managed to catch his attention. His pupils dilated into slits, and he suddenly felt something draconic awaken inside of him. A princess — perfect for kidnapping. Wait, what was he thinking? No, he couldn't do that. Malleus was snapped out of his thoughts when you stepped aside and allowed them entry to your humble abode.

"Indeed, gentlemen, I am Princess (Y/n) of Ramshackle!" you announced, doing a little curtsy that served well to entertain the three Diasomnia students. Upon straightening your back, you waved them inside. "Do come in. Do come in. I hope you'll enjoy the party."

You snickered as they walked past you — well, Silver wasn't with them since he had fallen asleep while getting into his costume. Sebek, who was dressed up as a real knight in shining armour, shot you small smile to thank you for the invitation. He immediately made a bee-line to the buffet table to get a drink for his young master, who very much fittingly, was dressed like a dragon.

You felt Malleus' stare lingering on your frame as you gently shut the door again. Before you could run off to scold Grim for not being a good host, Malleus had already grabbed you by your wrist. "You look— marvellous, dear," he drawled as he raised your gloved hand to his lips to press a soft kiss to your knuckles. "Like a true princess..."

Laughter spilt from your lips as you wholly turned around to face him properly, suddenly forgetting about how Lilia and Grim were having a sword-fight by the fireplace. "Thank you! Vil made the dress for me, and I love it!" you swooned, turning your torso so your puffy dress would dance around your ankles. The motion very much managed to entrance Malleus, and a mischievous grin appeared on his lips. "You look good yourself, Sir Dragon!"

Malleus laughed as you curiously peered around him to get a glimpse of the tail you had spotted earlier. It seemed to have a life of its own as it curled around your waist and pulled you closer to him, evoking a little gasp from your lips.

"I thank you, my precious princess." Malleus smiled, his eyes flashing in an eerie way; yet, his voice was so sickeningly sweet that it did a good job at hiding his intentions as he asked, "Say, could I kidnap you for a little while?"

"Kidnap?" you repeated, tilting your head to the side and causing your tiara to almost slip off. Malleus hummed in amusement as he let go of your hand, and extended his own hands to fix the tiara on your head. "You mean, if you could speak with me privately for a second?"

Malleus' smile grew to a size bigger than his face, and the aura he exuded turned almost cold to a point where you shivered slightly. "Yeah sure, that's what I meant," he muttered and shrugged innocently.

"Yes of course," you retorted, briefly turning around to find Lilia standing atop Grim, the heel of his boots digging into the latter's squishy stomach. Laughing and shaking your head in amusement, you returned your attention to Malleus. "I'm sure King Grim will manage just fine without me if it's just for a short while."

Malleus hummed in satisfaction, and his tail retreated back to its original position. Instead, he offered his forearm out for you to take, and you took it gratefully. He led you straight out of the front door, excited that you were coming on your own accord. "Great!" he chirped happily. "I have a fancy tower to show you."

After approximately half an hour, Ramshackle started to get fuller with guests of various dorms. Grim, being small as he was, had a hard time getting through the crowd that inhabited the lounge. He was searching for you, but no matter where he looked, he just couldn't find you. The cat was both irked and concerned at that — he just hoped you were alright.

Eventually, the cat found the first-year gang standing by the non-functioning chimney. All five of them had dressed up as knights in silver armour, even with helmets on their heads and swords at their hips — an entourage of courageous knights.

"My loyal knights," Grim yelled as he leant against Ace's leg, a little bit tired from having been pushed around by the crowd so much. They all shot him surprised looks, wondering why he looked so concerned. "Have you seen my princess daughter?"

"You mean (Y/n)?" Deuce asked, tilting his head to the side and causing the lid of his helmet to fall down with a loud clink. Everyone laughed at him, and he grumbled a few curses before turning to the king again. "No, none of us have seen her."

Sebek stroked his chin, his eyebrows furrowed like he was deep in thought. Jack, Epel, Ace, Deuce, and Grim all shot him expectant gazes, hoping he at least had a clue of where you were. Eventually, he hummed, giving in under the pressure, and hesitantly explained, "Last I saw her was when the young master led her out through the front door."

"Wait, wasn't Malleus dressed up as a dragon?" Jack asked, his ears twitching in curiosity — he was the only one who didn't wear a helmet due to his ears that would otherwise be squished against his head. Something akin to horror occupied his eyes, and the others felt a little bit unsettled by the worried look on his face.

"Yes, he was," Epel said with furrowed eyebrows. "Why are you asking?"

Deuce let out a little hum, understanding what Jack was thinking. "If— If he's a dragon and (Y/n) is a princess," he explained in a grave voice, remembering all the bedtime stories his mother used to read him when he was just a child. A worried look flashed across his eyes, and he crossed his arms. "Then Malleus might have kidnapped her! You know, dragon things; because dragons like to kidnap princesses."

"Yeah, we're not stupid." Ace rolled his eyes and punched Deuce's shoulder. Yet, his merely gloved knuckles hit the metal of the blue-haired student's arm guard, causing him to howl in utter pain as he cradled his hurt hand. The rest of the friend group snickered, but Grim looked concerned to death. It wasn't often that he showed any gratitude to his henchman, but he loved you dearly.

Grim threw his hands into the air, biting back cries of concern for his beloved human. The others shot him looks of pity that he returned with a fierce and determined glare. "A dragon having kidnapped my daughter?!" he hissed, slamming the end of his cane against the ground and startling everyone. "Unbelievable! Knights, retrieve her at once!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" they all replied simultaneously, saluting to their king.

Ace peered at Sebek. "You know where she is, right?"

Sebek's eyes widened in horror at the question. He couldn't betray his master, but neither could he lie to his friends. "Uh—" he stuttered out, his words never coherent and loud enough for anyone to understand.

Deuce's eyes darkened as he took a condescending step towards Sebek. "We'll just have to get it out of him, somehow—" Deuce said when Sebek stubbornly shook his head, having made up his mind to — under no circumstances — betray his young master.

Jack quirked an eyebrow. "I don't like threatening people— but we need to help (Y/n)." The wolf narrowed his eyes at Sebek as he quietly muttered, "If you don't tell us where (Y/n) is, I'll tell your young master about that one time you didn't join training because you were too lazy—"

"No! The young master can't know that I skipped training!" Sebek's eyes were wide in horror, and his legs began to shake — much to everyone's twisted amusement. He clasped his hands together while lowering his gaze to the floor in shame. Taking a deep breath, Sebek finally gave in and meekly announced, "I know where the young master might have brought her, if it's true that dragons like to hoard their treasures and kidnapped princesses in a tower."

"Lead," Epel yelled loudly, "us forth, fellow knight!"

"All knights have a horse," Deuce said while his gaze wandered across the other students dressed in armour. "Who's gonna be the horse?"

"Jack! Because he's the strongest!" Ace chimed as he shot around to look at the wolf with puppy eyes he hoped would make him look more convincing. He clasped his hands together and bowed as much as his chest plate would let him. "Jack, would you be so kind and turn into a wolf for us?"

Jack would have ripped Ace's head off right then and there for such a silly suggestion, but they all had a princess to save. So, pushing aside the annoyance that bubbled up whenever Ace asked him for something, the wolf sighed and complied. "Only because we need to save Princess (Y/n)."

The first-years bid a farewell to Grim before they marched towards the front door, weaving their way through the ever-growing crowd of partying students. They were pushed around here and there — especially Epel because of his height and fragility — but they eventually managed to make it to the exit... almost.

A Diasomnia student dressed up as a vampire barred their way, his arms sprawled away from his body. "Hello, children!" Lilia chimed, a big smile on his face. "Where are you going already?"

The knights shot one another a strange look before Ace turned to Lilia and said, "We're looking for Princess (Y/n), Lilia. Have you seen her?"

The ancient fae's grin grew to something scary, and a sudden gust of wind blew through the corridor that made everyone shiver uncomfortably. Then, Lilia stalked towards them, evil laughter spilling from his lips. "Muahaha, your princess is in another castle!" he exclaimed loudly, causing the others to shrink in surprise. It wasn't like he was scary — especially with his over-the-top villain behaviour — but Epel still clung to Jack like a scared baby-koala. "But before I let you continue your way to save her, I must battle you foes first!"

Sebek rolled his eyes at his fellow dorm member's behaviour and merely walked past him, waving his other friends after him. "Alright... bye, Lilia," Sebek said casually whilst he opened the front door for everyone to leave. Sebek just wanted to get this shameful act of saving you behind him. Although surprised, everyone dashed out through the door their friend had so graciously opened for them; before Sebek himself left too, he sent a little sigh to Lilia. "See you later. And don't have too much fun."

Lilia stormed out after them, but they had already disappeared, riding off into the horizon on a big wolf. "Hey, where are you going?!" Lilia yelled, disappointed that he hadn't been able to put the wooden sword on his belt to good use. "We haven't fought yet!"

Meanwhile, Malleus had brought you into a high tower at the Diasomnia dorm after a short nice walk outside. You let your eyes gaze around the interior of the tower while Malleus seemed to be busy with casting a spell you couldn't really decipher — something with 'thorns' and 'barrier'.

"That's a nice tower you have here, Malleus!" you chimed, a smile on your face as you walked around the rather small space. You approached the table placed in the centre; it was filled with sweets of all sorts, a kettle of tea and two tea cups. "And woah, you prepared tea for us?"

Malleus stopped his spell-casting, and the tower shook for a little while until everything calmed down again. Before you could ask what that was, he swept over to you and shot you a charming smile. "Of course, everything to make your stay here as comfortable as possible," he cooed and led you over to one of the two chairs at the table.

You followed him, albeit only hesitantly. "I'm afraid I can't stay for too long..." you said, a worried frown on your face. Yet, Malleus managed to coax you into sitting down by gently pushing down onto your shoulders until your behind hit the soft cushions. Still not assured that all was fine back at Ramshackle, you sighed in concern as he sat down across from you. "Grim needs me at the party."

Leaning forward to put his elbows onto the table, Malleus shook his head in feigned sadness. "Sadly, I can't let you go, dearest princess," he murmured, slowly tilting his head to the side while he let a smug smile bloom on his face. "You've been kidnapped just now."

You silently looked at him for while with a dumbfounded expression on your face, not understanding what he meant at all. Your confusion simply caused his amusement to grow even more; he basked in the way you furrowed your eyebrows at him so adorably — like a helpless little doe. That's when you shot up from your chair, an enraged scowl on your face upon finally understanding what he meant. "So you meant it literally when you asked to kidnap me?!" you screamed whilst glaring down at him with squinted eyes.

"And you said yes," Malleus casually remarked, hiding the big grin on his face as he lowered his gaze at the table to pick up the tea kettle. You watched him with disbelief-filled eyes while he silently filled your cup with tea. Finally, he looked up at you, grinning from ear to ear. "So, do you want one or two cubes of sugar, my princess?"

"Malleus! Let me go!" you hissed, stomping your way over to him so you could grab him by his shoulders. He let you shake him back and forth, simply smiling up at you innocently. "You evil evil dragon."

Malleus laughed like nothing was wrong as he grabbed you by your waist and pulled you into an embrace, so that you sat sprawled out across his lap. "You flatterer~" he cooed as he snaked his arms around your mid-section to keep you in place despite your thrashing and protests. "Now, just sit still and drink your tea, dearest." As if you were a doll, he grabbed your abandoned cup of tea and pushed the edge of the porcelain against your lips.

You refused to open your mouth to take a sip, and merely jerked your head back. "But— you can't just keep me here!" You put your hands onto his chest to push him away, but you made the fatal mistake of looking into his eyes that stared at you like those of an adorable puppy. You had a hard time not swooning at how cute he was, and so, you eventually relented with a frown. "Fine. I hate your puppy eyes."

You turned your head to the side so he wouldn't see your cheeks redden in colour. He merely chuckled, elated that his simple plan had worked.

He set the cup of tea down before that now free hand cupped your cheek and tilted your face back towards him. "You're adorable when you're angry, dear," he drawled happily; you swore you could hear his tail wagging and dragging across the stone ground behind him. Then, he once again picked up the tea cup, about to raise it to your lips again — but then he noticed the liquid's lack of warmth. "Ah, I'm afraid the tea has already gone cold... but it doesn't matter. Let me rewarm it for you."

Malleus sighed in disappointment, but he knew just the solution to warm the tea up again. Turning his head to the side, so that you wouldn't be harmed, he raised the cup into the air and opened his mouth to breathe a blast of fire that was aimed at the porcelain cup. It was only the bottom of the cup that was engulfed by the green fire.

Your eyes widened in utter awe, and you brought up your hands to shield your face from the sudden warmth. "Woah! That's so cool!" you marvelled, breathing out audibly.

Malleus merely laughed as he stopped once the liquid inside started steaming slightly. The handle was still slightly heated, and the bottom was scaldingly hot, so he decided not to hand it to you, lest you injure yourself. "Don't burn yourself," he whispered as he brought the only slightly warm rim of the cup to your lips again, and this time, you opened your mouth compliantly to take a careful sip.

The sweet tea was at a comfortable temperature, warm enough to make a fuzzy feeling appear in your stomach but not hot enough to burn your throat and mouth. After a few sips, Malleus removed the cup from your lips and set it onto the table again. You shot him an amused smile, muttering a shy, "Thanks."

Malleus nodded with a smile on his own face, having the time of his life. Your face was so close to his own, and the moonlight cast an almost ethereal glow to your skin. Having lost himself in the moment, he dreamily proposed, "So, how about you stay in this tower even after Halloween is over?" He stayed serious even when you quirked an eyebrow to test if he was joking — that didn't seem to be the case. "I'm sure we could arrange—"

Your sudden laughter was what caught him off-guard and even managed to make him stop in his tracks. Cupping his cheeks in your hands, you cooed, "Malleus, my dear and precious dragon, I absolutely adore spending time with you." Then, you took a deep breath and shook your head. "But I'm sure my friends are already on their way to rescue me from this evil dragon who kidnapped me."

Malleus grinned at your words, and he fearlessly brought his face closer to yours. You retreated slightly, not having expected such a reaction from him. "They can try to get past the thorns on the door to this tower." His grin adopted a determined and a slightly unhinged look as he condescendingly continued, "But it will be no easy feat, for I'm not going to give up my treasure so easily—"

In that exact moment, the wooden door to the tower room was flung open, and Malleus almost jumped in shock as his head turned to the entrance of the tower. A total of five knights streamed inside, making a smile break out on your face; your friends had come to save you.

"Are we interrupting something?" Ace asked, a big grin on his face. "A tea party?"

Deuce didn't seem nearly as amused as Ace, and he merely yelled, "Let her go, you cruel dragon!"

Malleus furrowed his eyebrows, not wanting to deal with such nuisances right now. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath as he lifted you up before gently setting you down onto the chair he had been sitting in. Pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead, he then turned to the intruders, his gaze suddenly not so soft anymore. "How did you get up here so quickly?"

A rare smile appeared on Jack's face as he pointed to the very nervous green-haired student next to him. "Sebek knew where the backdoor was — or better said, hatch."

Malleus looked a little bit betrayed as he turned his head to look at his very own retainer, whom he had expected to be on his side. Sebek squirmed a little bit under his young master's angry glare, and he felt shame boil in his veins. "They blackmailed me!" he cried out as he wanted nothing more than to hide under his blanket for eternity.

Jack patted the boy's head, quietly apologising that he had been so mean. Sebek didn't feel better when the wolf muttered, "I'm sorry, but it was the only way to save the helpless young maiden."

"What?!" You shot up from your chair with an angry scowl on your face. Putting your hands onto your hips, you screeched, "I'm not a 'helpless young maiden'."

Malleus raised a hand to silence you, and it strangely worked — your mouth automatically stopped speaking. "Don't worry, my princess," he murmured as he rolled his shoulders to prepare himself for a fight. "Let me defeat these weaklings so we can return to our tea party—"

He was interrupted by Epel, who had stepped forward and, without hesitation or fear whatsoever, extended a hand to slap Malleus across the face. Silence occupied the tower after the surprising sound of a hand making contact with a cheek. "Give (Y/n) back to us!" the Pomefiore student screeched, very much comparable to a barking Chihuahua, as everyone remained frozen, shocked that he had dared to slap the great Malleus Draconia.

Even Malleus seemed surprised and taken aback as he held his red cheek in pain. The little fragile boy was stronger than he thought he was. "You slapped me—" the great dragon mumbled, his voice full with disbelief and his eyes ripped wide open.

"Woah, Epel!" Deuce whispered, trying to hold back a smile. "I'm kinda proud of you..."

Ace didn't try to be as subtle, and immediately broke out into cheering when Malleus retreated to the table and lowered himself into a chair, still caught in utter disbelief. Ace, snickering, proudly proclaimed, "And thus, the dragon has been defeated by this courageous entourage of knights, and the princess has been saved from his evil clutches!"

You smiled at them, sending them a grateful nod. "Thanks, guys." Then, you shooed them out of the tower, not making any moves to leave this prison yourself. "Go on ahead and return to the party. I'll come later."

They all nodded in unison, too caught up in their victory to really care that you wanted to stay behind. In truth, it seemed like defeating the evil dragon was more exciting and important than saving the princess. "Fine, see you, (Y/n)!" Epel yelled as he was carried out by his fellow friends as a celebration of him defeating the monster. Sebek trudged behind them, his head hung in shame.

Once their cheering had died down to ensure you that they were gone, you turned to the dragon fae that sat alone at the table, a little frown on his face as he still clutched his cheek in pain.

You walked over to him, and, in an unexpected turn of events, wrapped your arms around him to engulf him in a sweet hug. Malleus seemed slightly taken aback as he slightly jumped when he felt your arms snake around his shoulders and your chin land on his shoulder. "Aw, my poor Malleus has been slapped..." you cooed in amusement while your thumbs rubbed circles of comfort onto his arm.

Malleus wasn't sure if it was the little boy's slap that hurt him, or if it was the notion itself of being slapped. He held back a sniff as he whispered, "It hurts, (Y/n)."

You temporarily pulled away from him to gently cup his one cheek with your other hand. "Ah, hush... don't think about it," you muttered before you leant forward to press a kiss to where Epel had slapped him. "There, is the pain gone now?" Malleus watched you wide eyes when you retreated once again, his fingers ghosting over the place where you kissed him.

"Yes... thank you..." he stuttered out, a smile spreading on his lips. "I'm sorry for kidnapping you."

You began laughing, shaking your head in amusement. "No no, it's alright." You appreciated his apology — at least he was polite enough to do so. Playfully wagging your finger in front of his eyes, you teased, "Just be so kind to kidnap me when I'm not busy next time, alright? So, how about we return to the party?"

Malleus' eyes widened in surprise at your proposition. "You still want me at your party?" he asked, his gaze downcast in embarrassment and shame at his actions.

"Of course!" You grabbed him by his hands and tried your best to pull him up with you. Malleus chuckled slightly, and then he finally relented, letting himself be pulled up to his feet. You hummed in satisfaction as you led him out of your tower, happily exclaiming, "Who else am I supposed to dance with if my favourite dragon isn't present?"

The Red Darling

Yandere! Vil Schoenheit x Female! Reader

I’ve been obsessed with Luz’s song called Darling Blue. The storyline is still confusing to me, but the old song vibes is just *chef’s kiss* I might just write the Neige version. Also, Epel here isn’t/wasn’t Vil’s junior.

“Honestly, how could she neglect her own health like this?”

Vil sighed as he exited the Magicam that once showed the video of you signing your albums to the fans. It wasn’t the first time he’d watched it, nor was it the first video he’d ever watched, but it wasn’t what he focused on the most. It was your sluggish movements, your droopy eyes, your stifled yawns, and your fatigued smiles. Your fans might not see those signs, or they might choose to ignore them, but he did see and he did pay attention.

After all, Vil Schoenheit was your biggest fan.

Despite your imperfect voice, he admired how you always strived to improve yourself. He, out of all people, knew perfection didn’t exist yet he chose to be the best version of himself anyway. Although, there was a lingering regret that Vil wasn’t able to find and support you from the beginning of your career. Regardless, he wasn’t too late. He was there when you performed in a small stage, and he was there when you performed in a bigger stage.

But it seemed that you tried too hard this time.

Pressing a certain number, Vil put the phone to his ear.

“Hello, Adella. When is [Name]’s next concert?”

“Huh? This is the first time you ask that kind of thing.”

“Just tell me already.”

“Wait, let me check.” There was a momentary pause, and Vil tapped his foot impatiently. “It’s on the second week next month. Why?”

“I need the VIP ticket.”

“What?!”

“Do not make me repeat myself, Adelle.”

“O-oh, of course. I’ll purchase the ticket and send it to you as soon as possible.”

“Good, thank you. I’ll be sure to repay the money.”

He turned off the call before she could utter another word and huffed. Honestly, why was she so surprised? It wasn’t as if he’d ever hidden his fondness for you, even if he didn’t particularly gush over you like many of your fans did.

Stroking the photo of you smiling to the camera with a microphone in hand, while the crowd was cheering on you from below the platform, Vil leaned forward and kissed your face. It was his favorite photo due to the perfect mixture of spotlight and sweat that illuminated your glowing features.

And very soon, he’d be able to see it from up close.

***

You sighed wistfully as you stared at the photos of you and your ex, Epel. Your relationship used to be a secret, as it should, due to his status as a mere apple juice merchant. But, suddenly, a news broke out that one of his products was apparently poisoned and it froze the victim until morning. They sued him, and although it was fortunate that he didn’t get imprisoned, Epel still lost a significant amount of money and fame. You tried to help him, because you knew he was planning to propose you, but Epel feared for your futures.

And, thus, he decided to break up with you.

You were devastated, although deep down, you were still in denial of his charges. Epel was the type to pick a fight with someone if they pissed him off rather than poisoning them. Not ‘manly’, he’d say. And yet, even that wasn’t enough to save your relationship. Wasn’t enough to make him believe in you the same way you did in him. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. Too much was at stake here, and no matter how much you tried to convince him that you could be the breadwinner later on, he still refused. For him, a job was another part of his pride.

And now, not even his apple cutting skills could save him from shame. Internally and externally.

So, you threw yourself to work. You practiced day and night, all to forget the depression that crept up on you when there was no music as a distraction and to avoid your manager’s scolding. There was only so much she could tolerate from you, and isolating yourself in your room might just be the end of her patience. The exhaustion shook your body, worsened by the starvation caused by your diet, but you forced yourself to smile. To your fans, and now…

“Vil Schoenheit will be attending your concert later as a VIP. Please show your best self.”

To him.

It wasn’t as if you hated him. Oh, no. If you looked at it from another angle, his perfectionism was admirable. He showed and deserved nothing less. In fact, you could even say you preferred him than Neige. But today was different. Today, you were at your worst self. You didn’t even know if you could survive five minutes on the stage. What would the Vil Schoenheit think of you, then? Being the second most famous actor in Twisted Wonderland was bound to sway some opinions easily, and after all the hard work you’d put in, you didn’t know how to handle the breakdown should you fail to impress him later on.

And you succeeded, even if it was just barely. Otherwise, your manager wouldn’t have told you that he was waiting for you at his private room. At the very least, you managed to stand and smile at the crowd and cameras earlier. It was still an achievement in itself, no matter how petty it seemed.

“Excuse me, Schoenheit? My manager said you want to talk to me.”

“Oh, yes. Come here, and don’t call me Schoenheit. It looks like you’re calling my father instead.”

You tittered and sat down beside him with enough distance to be appropriate.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“I’ll be honest, you didn’t reach the high note in your first song.”

You flinched, not expecting the abrupt comment. You knew you made a lot of mistakes, especially recently, but it still stung.

“I-I see. I was trying, though.”

“I know, but your exhaustion has hindered your performance. I expect you to take care of yourself the same way you do to your work.”

He was right, but it didn’t mean you could accept it easily. It wasn’t as if you overworked yourself because you wanted to, anyway.

“… Yes, thank you for your advice, Schoen– I mean, Vil.”

“Don’t just thank me. You should apply it from now on.”

“Of course.”

Somehow, he made you feel as if he was your manager. Or, worse, your mother.

“Therefore, I decided to bring you to dinner with me. Regardless of your mistakes, you still did your best for the sake of your fans. So you deserve a nice meal, at the very least.”

You wondered how many whiplash you’d get from him. First, he suddenly attended your concert as a VIP. Then, he judged your performance so harshly. And now, he invited you to dinner? No, you realized, it wasn’t an invitation. It was an order. And the restaurant wasn’t a typical five star one, either.

No, it was the kind that took months just for a reservation.

Luckily, Vil didn’t talk much during mealtime. He ate calmly and gracefully, savoring each bite. You felt even more conscious of your table manner, and you clumsily tried to follow everything he did. You weren’t sure if you should be flattered or embarrassed when he huffed in amusement.

“Let’s go to my house. I just bought [flavor] tea and I want you to taste them.”

You wondered where did he find out that you liked that particular flavor. Did you tell it to your fans and you happened to forget? If so, then did that mean he was your fan too? The thought flattered you. Of course, it was only logical considering he came to your concert. Still, all of his invitations had been startling despite being a fan. Maybe because he was also as popular as you, if not more.

“You have a lovely home.” you remarked, glancing around the spotless living room.

“Of course. A tidy house reflects a tidy mind.”

You smiled bemusedly, too accustomed by forced humility that his confident answer surprised you a bit. And yet, you found that it suited him very well. He wasn’t lying, anyway, so he deserved to feel proud of himself. You could learn a thing or two about not putting yourself down too much.

“Sit down. I’m going to prepare the tea for a moment.”

The couch was plush and comfy, and after all the whirlwind of activities and the fatigue that came with it, you might as well be falling asleep here.

Luckily, you had a stronger self-control than that.

Your back immediately straightened up when Vil returned with a tray of porcelain cups depicting the poisoned apples. Despite his conduct befitting that of a queen, his elegance when he poured the tea from the teapot was no less amazing.

You sipped the tea as silently and slowly as you could, savoring the flavor and warmth as if it was your last drink. You’d refused the wine from the restaurant earlier, fearing that you’d make a fool out of yourself by getting drunk. It didn’t matter if you could hold up your alcohol well; Vil’s presence demanded only perfection.

“How does it taste like?”

“Refreshing. The scent really calms down my nerves.”

It wasn’t a lie; it did recompose you, even slightly.

“I’m glad you think so. I’ve been wanting to taste this as well.”

You wondered why he didn’t do it himself, but you supposed that drink, just like food, was more delicious and memorable with company.

“Um, may I use the restroom?”

“It’s the third door on the right.”

You passed the kitchen, where the window displayed the darkening sky. Not from the moon, but from the upcoming rain. Hastily, you did your business in fear of being staying over for too long. It smelled vaguely of apple, and the yellow light illuminated the sparkling bathroom. Branded toiletries lined up neatly in the cabinet, and the towels were meticulously white.

It wasn’t until you spotted a slightly ajar door did you stop on your tracks.

Now, of course, you knew curiosity killed the cat. And, in this case, the cat was your job. But when your gut feeling compelled you to approach the room, and see your pictures pinned on the dressing mirrors, you knew it was simultaneously a good and bad thing to do. One of them was you smiling to the camera with a microphone in hand, while the crowd was cheering on you from below the platform. There seemed to be a few lipstick marks on it, cementing Vil’s position as your fan. While the other was a photo of you and Epel, with an X sign crudely slashed onto his face.

It was your anniversary photo, and you wore your best camouflage outfit at that time, so how did he have it? Did the paparazzi stalk you without your knowledge and send it to him somehow? It had to. You couldn’t think of any other possibility.

But the question was why? Why would he have that? You thought he’d at least understand how hard it was to date someone, being a celebrity himself. And yet, the sign on Epel’s face suggested that he didn’t understand, let alone accept it.

He couldn’t accept it.

“Don’t you know that it’s rude to peek into someone’s room?”

You froze, and for a split second, you were tempted to rush inside and slam the door on his face. But that would be a suicidal move, wouldn’t it? It was his room, after all, and he could easily find a key to unlock the door.

“V-Vil,” you tittered. “I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

The said man squinted at you.

“Long enough to catch a mouse lingering near a place where it shouldn’t be.”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to be rude, I swear! I was just–”

Curious? Nosy? There was no point in defending yourself, and he knew that. So, you sighed heavily as your shoulders sagged in resignation.

“Why… do you have my photo?” you asked, almost whispering. “The one with my… friend. It was supposed to be a private event. You–” you paused, already doubting your impromptu decision to confront him. Was it even worth digging your grave for the sake of your practically nonexistent privacy? “You shouldn’t have that.”

Vil was quiet for a moment, but you didn’t dare to look up. He didn’t criticize your composure, either, or your posture.

“… Sometimes, I wonder about that too.” he mused softly. “When I first saw that photo, I should’ve burned it to ashes and stomped on it with my heels. But, instead, I let my hands shake and ultimately hang it on the mirror, if not as a source of… motivation.”

Somehow, you had a feeling it wasn’t a good kind of motivation. Your stomach churned at the thought.

“I did a background check on him, and was thoroughly disappointed in your choice of men.”

You flinched instinctively and opened your mouth to defend Epel, but his withering glare silence you quickly.

“I mean, an apple merchant from a small village?” he scoffed. “It was all just too easy, honestly, to set him up. I just needed to have someone buy one of his products, used my unique magic on it, and ordered them to give it to someone so they could have a ‘taste’.”

Your stomach plummeted, and you wished you could run back to the bathroom and puke all of that fancy food earlier.

“I almost pity him, really. He went from poor to destitute, but I suppose it’s still a lot better than death.”

“Why…?” you asked breathlessly, eyes stinging at the upcoming tears. “Why did you do that to him?! What did he do to you until he deserved that kind of fate?! Answer me, Schoenheit!”

His eyes darkened at the name usage just as the thunder boomed outside.

“Because a queen deserves a king by her side.”

You gaped at him. A king? Who was the king? Was it you? If so, didn’t a king deserve a good, sane queen by his side too?

Why did you feel more like a girl under the queen’s unfair wrath instead?

“… It’s getting late.” you mumbled. “I have practice tomorrow. Excuse me.”

Vil grabbed your arm, and you wondered if he could crush an apple with his grip.

“Where do you think you’re going? Can’t you see that it’s pouring out there?” he scolded as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on you. “You’re going to get sick, especially in that kind of condition.”

“It’s fine. I always have a painkiller ready…”

Suddenly, everything started to blur and move upside down. You clasped a hand over your mouth and collapsed to your feet, resisting the urge to vomit all over the marble floor.

“See? I told you.” Vil’s voice sounded distant despite him crouching beside you. “You’re sick, because you’ve been avoiding your much-needed rest. Don’t worry, I’ve told your manager that you’ll be staying with me for a few days.”

You were too weak to fight him, let alone escape from him. So, you allowed him to carry your body inside and lay it on the bed. He pulled the blanket to your chin and stood there for a moment.

“I won’t let you neglect your health anymore, especially over that pauper.” he hissed. “Under my care, you shall return to your best version. And I’ll be there as your number one fan and man.”

Deep down, you knew that your predicament wasn’t just because of your fatigue. He did something to you, to the tea, and you’d been too naïve to believe that the queen couldn’t be evil as well.

And his crooked smirk proved your suspicion.

MC: *a voice actor* *has just recently learned how to copy Malleus's voice*

MC: Sebek.

Sebek: Yes, Waka-sa— STOP!

MC: *chuckles like Malleus*

Malleus: ...

Leona: *minding his own business*

MC: *sneakily approaches him from behind and covers his eyes*

Leona: What the—

MC: I like kissing every inch of your body, Leona. *sexy Malleus's voice activated*

Leona: ...

Leona: Fuck off, Herbivore. I know that it's you.

MC: *laughs* *letting go of him*

Leona: And will you quit using his voice? You're creeping me out.

MC: Fine. Can I use yours instead?

Leona: No.