#the royal heir fanfic

[lorirwritesfanfic]

Bedroom Warfare

Book: The Royal Heir Pairing: Liam Rys x MC (Jade) Rating: E Word count: 1117 Reading time: ~4min Summary: Jade will have to face a tough opponent to get what she wants.

Author's note:

Jade Bourbon-Rys is a creation of this author. The others are owned by Pixelberry Studios;

 I got an ask from my dear friend @missameliep​ about which one of my OTPs made it to Santa’s nice and naughty lists and it got me thinking about Jade and Liam. One would assume Liam be on the nice list. And yeah... He could be. If it wasn’t for his wife... 😂

Jade scratched her dogs' fur one more time and stood up to leave the room. Once she stepped into the hallway, her eyes darted to the door of the Royal Apartment, where Liam's security detail took their positions at last. With a smile, the queen began to whistle a Christmas Carol and ambled to her private chambers. Although she no longer argued with her husband about his tendency to work overtime, it didn't mean she gladly endure the long hours of waiting for him to come back.

"Your Majesty," Bastien bowed and the other guards followed suit.

"Hello, everyone." She then turned to Bastien. "Bas, did my ears deceive me or were Liam and the guys rehearsing to sing at Christmas brunch to cheer up Elise and Leo's twins?"

"I cannot confirm nor deny that information, ma'am."

She narrowed her eyes jokingly. "Really?"

The guard looked ahead, barely blinking.

"If it's a surprise, it's okay. I promise I won't tell or try to record it again. I just need to know when to ensure Elise will be awake to see it. The chickenpox leaves her a bit tired."

"I have no information of when it will happen, ma'am."

"So it is true."

"That's classified, ma'am."

"Okay..." Jade grinned. "Will you please remind my husband to include Silver Bells in the repertoire? It's very soothing and one of Elise's favorites lately."

Bastien glanced at the queen from the corner of an eye and nodded in response.

After giving the guard a gentle pat on his shoulder and biding everyone good night, Jade walked into the apartment made her way to the ensuite.

"Finally!" She said, shutting the door behind her. "I thought you'd never—"

Her eyes narrowed at her husband reading what looked like official documents as a pile of paperwork rested on his bare stomach.

"You've got to be kidding me..." She grumbled.

"Is everything alright, my love?"

"That depends... Are you going to ditch me for work again?"

"I'm afraid these documents can't wait," he apologized.

Huffing, she kicked off her shoes and stormed into the room, heading towards the walk-in closet.

"Jade, you weren't here when I arrived."

"Because I just put Elise to bed and took Bowie and Shirley for their night walk!" The queen shouted while she pressed a roll-on serum under her eyes and began to massage them with her fingers. Maybe that would help her relax.

"I assumed you were working late too. Your schedule is always busy in December."

"I think you're missing the fact that I have bigger priorities than planning fancy parties and socializing with nobility nowadays, Liam," she implied, leaning against the threshold.

His eyes widened. "What is it? Is Elise okay?"

"She's fine."

"Well, if Elise is okay, then what do you mean?"

The queen folded her arms and glared at him.

After a few seconds of silence, it finally hit him. "Oh..."

"Are you still going to keep working?"

"Five more pages to go."

"It's almost midnight, Liam. The kingdom can wait until you get to the office tomorrow."

"My love, I have to review next year's budget for each duchy before the holiday festivities."

Jade closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. From the very beginning, she knew marrying a dutiful man would be no walk in the park. Yet, she didn't think she would miss battles against paperwork so often.

"Fine. Next time anyone asks me again why I'm taking so long to get pregnant again, I'll tell them to ask you," she said, marching back to the closet.

"Oh, come on! You know if we have sex now, I'll crash right after," Liam shouted.

"Face it, Rys. You're getting old," she joked.

"Hey!"

She giggled.

"Besides, we can't conceive a child the way we've been doing lately."

"Funny..." She then strolled back to the bedroom. "I don't recall any complaints from you whenever I'm on my knees giving you head. Plus, you always seem to have extra energy at the slightest hint of lube, toys, anal..."

Liam heaved a sigh. "I know what you're doing and why you're doing it. But I need you to be a bit more patient while I finish these. Please."

Jade huffed and sat down on the plush chair next to the bed. Dr. Ramirez did mention the hormones would increase her libido. She never said anything about getting impatient. Was it included in the mood swings package? Hm...

She looked back at the bed, where Liam calmly read the documents. This was so unfair. How come she was there, half naked, so needy and he was still looking into documents? How dare he?!

Just then, she stood up and went to the walk-in closet once more, returning with a strawberry and vanilla body butter in one hand.

"I'll be damned if I go down without a fight..." she murmured.

Sitting back on the chair, Jade pushed her robe aside to reveal her legs and lack of underwear. With a nice portion of the butter in her palm, she warmed it between her hands and then massaged her leg on the ottoman with firm strokes.

As she switched legs, a gentle shift on the mattress caught her attention. Pretending not to notice it, Jade proceeded to warm the thick cream between her hands and apply it to her leg. Her hands ran up and down her thighs when his physical closeness became more evident.

"Aren't you supposed to be looking into finance budgets, Your Majesty?"

"There is an urgent matter I must attend to now. Otherwise, it will be too late."

"Too late?" She arched an eyebrow. "What could be so important right now?

"Well..." Liam kneeled before her, placed some of the body butter in his palm and reached for her foot. "You've been forgetting to massage your feet, my queen," he said as his hands kneaded the sole of her foot.

"Have I?"

Her gaze followed the path his hands made on her left foot and ankle.

"You spend all day walking around in high heels. Even though all shoes are custom-made for you, I believe your feet still need proper care," he whispered.

A mischievous grin spread on her lips as the king lifted her foot to kiss its bridge and switched to the other foot.

"I do forget to moisturize them sometimes..."

"We can't have that, Your Majesty."

"We certainly can't."

As his lips brushed over her ankle and trailed upwards, her breath quickened.

"Is it okay if I take care of your legs as well?" His eyes darkened as he waited for her answer.

"I guess there are other parts of my body that require your attention, my king," she murmured, spreading her legs.

"Let's see what I can do about them."

With her head lolled back while his tongue lapped on her center, a satisfied grin formed on her lips. Jade (plus vanilla-scented butter): 1 x Paperwork: 0. Victory had never been so sweet.

#choices fanfic #the royal romance fanfic #the royal heir fanfic #liam rys #liam x mc #lorirwritesfanfic #lorircreates #n*fw

[txemrn]

TRR Father's Day Prompt!

Hey, sweet tumblr friends and mutuals!

I hope this messages finds you doing well!

I have received several messages about the TRR Father's Day prompt, and I thought I'd create another post to help clear things up just in case you or someone else has the same question!

NO STRESS ALLOWED! lol But seriously, this is supposed to be a very laid back and fun challenge! If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed, go get an ice cream cone and join us on the NEXT prompt challenge!

This is a TRR challenge; however, you may incorporate another fic if you feel like you need to, but please try to stick with our main guys.

The child having the temper tantrum does NOT have to be the heir. It could be Liam's 3rd child, Maxwell's twins, or one of Drake's many, many kiddos (shout out to @burnsoslow). It can even be a group of children! Just as long as they're young (around the age of 5), and they're having a bad day.

MC can appear in the fic, but SHE CAN NOT INTERVENE.

Ideally, I'd like to have all fics turned in by Sunday the 19th (Sunday is Father's Day here in the States), but omg! I get it! Things totally happen. If you need an extra day or two, let me know ASAP! I don't mind waiting (but I am also expecting a fic from you).

Don't forget to tag me! @txemrn I will comment that I received it when I've added you to our masterlist. The masterlist will be post at some point at the beginning of NEXT week.

Thanks again to everyone who is joining in and participating! Let's have some fun! Spread the word, and let's write some silly, fluffy fics about our favorite characters!

#trr father's day prompt #the royal romance #the royal romance fanfic #the royal heir #the royal heir fanfic

[sky-neverending]

bored. send me a ship from the following fandoms and a prompt n i'll write it. no smut but thats my only real limit ?

Stranger Things, Six of Crows, Shadowhunters, Good Omens, Heartstopper, TBOSAS, Young Royals, NPMD and TGWDLM, TWST, Newsies, Heir's Game, RWRB, JATP, Doctor Who, and a lot of random queer media!!

#sky’s stardust #stranger things #six of crows #shadow and bone netflix #shadowhunters #good omens #heartstopper #tbosas #young royals #npmd #tgwdlm #disney twst #newsies #heir's game #rwrb #jatp #fanfic asks #writing asks open

[angelasscribbles]

Thro(n)es of Passion Part 2: A Bad Romance One-Shot

Series: Bad Romance Continues

Original Series: Bad Romance

Fandom: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Pairing for this chapter: Riley x Max x Liam, Riley x Drake

Rating: NSFW 🍋🍋🍋

Warnings for this chapter: Lemons, sexually explicit

Word Count: 3,323 

I almost called it a two-shot, but these are not two distinct chapters, so really it's a one-shot in two parts. If that even makes sense. You can find part one here.

My other stuff: Master List.

Also, if you want to see the full piece of the below artwork by the amazing @rosefuckinggenius, please click here.

Drake was the last one through the bedroom door. His eyes swept around the room, taking in his lover and his two best friends. All four of them were naked. Max was the only one still completely hard. His eyes inadvertently dipped down to take it in, flushing when Max noticed.

“Like what you see?” Max sauntered over to Drake and let his gaze drift across his body, as he reached a hand out toward him, “Because I sure do…”

“Stop it, Beaumont!” Drake slapped at the other man’s hand as he stepped away from him, “I didn’t mean to look! It was just natural curiosity, that’s all!”

“So, you always check out other men’s packages?” Max raised his eyebrows.

“Have you checked out my package?” Liam asked, a little miffed that it was Max Drake had ogled.

“What?” Drake’s eyes flicked to his best friend’s face as he struggled not to let his eyes drift down, “No, of course not! I mean, I’ve seen it…”

“And?

“And what?” Drake snapped, embarrassment heating his cheeks, “Are you saying you’ve never checked me out in the shower?”

It was Liam’s turn to flush, “Let’s drop this whole conversation.”

“Gladly!”

Max pouted, “But-“

“Max, that’s enough!” Riley grabbed him by the collar and pulled him away from Drake.

He stumbled into her, “Yes my queen, but can I see his naked ass, just this once?” He hadn’t gotten a good enough peek when they were in the living room.

Riley tapped her lips as her eyes flicked back and forth between the two men.

Drake shook his head, “You’re not seriously considering-“

She twirled her fingers in the air, “Turn around, please.”

“Seriously?” Drake looked to Liam for help but found none. “Fine,” he huffed as he spun to give everyone in the room a clear view of his backside, “The shit I do for you, woman. Happy?”

“Yes,” Max breathed out, then to Riley, “Can I touch it?”

“No!” Drake spun back to face them, “Absolutely not!”

Max turned pleading eyes to Riley.

“No, Max. He does not consent to that.”

“Fine,” Max turned back to Drake with a grin, “But if you ever decide you want to experiment a little, I’ll let you touch mine.”

“Shut the fuck up, Max,” Drake snarled as the memory of Max on his knees in front of Liam sprung unbidden into his mind’s eyes. He may have slid his gaze sideways once or twice, just out of curiosity.

“Excuse me,” Liam interrupted, “Can we get back to the sex now?” Watching Max check Drake out had him at half-mast again.

“Yes, please,” Drake agreed, “If everyone is done staring at my ass.”

Riley pushed past Liam and Max to stand in front of Drake.

Liam reached for her, and missed, as she dodged around him, “What are you doing?”              

“Keeping myself between you two deviants and the straight boy!”

“Deviants, are we?”

“Yes!”

Liam moved quickly. He was suddenly pressed up against her back, one hand pulling her head backward by the hair, the other pinning her arm behind her back as he whispered roughly, “You like it when I’m deviant!”

She sucked in a hiss of pleasure.

Drake’s eyes tracked the movement. He struggled to maintain his composure as he fought against every instinct he had not to rip Liam’s hands from her body, and possibly break one. Not because he was touching her in a sexual way, but because he was touching her in an aggressive way.        

She didn’t seem to mind though.

He had not been aware she was into that. He wondered if she wanted that from him. He’d ask her later. He hoped not. He wasn’t sure he was capable of it.

He had no problem taking control during sex, and he had no issue with things getting a little rough, but even when he led, she was really in charge. Topping from the bottom. And when pain was inflicted, it was inflicted by her. He wasn’t into some of the stuff Max was (he’d seen their toys), but he liked the way her teeth felt embedded in his skin, the sting of her nails biting into his back and the sharp shock when she yanked his hair hard.

Her comfort, and her pleasure, were always the goal. Taking her to the edge of the abyss and then pushing her over it was his favorite thing to do.

Her gaze fell on him as Liam attacked the side of her neck, her hair still gathered in his fist. She took in his agitation as their eyes met. “What’s wrong?” She breathed out as she fought to keep her attention from being completely subverted by the things Liam’s mouth was doing to her.    

He shook his head, “I can’t turn it off,” he said in reference to the protectiveness she brought out in him. When it came to safeguarding those he loved, he was ruthless, brutal, and methodical. He might kill with impunity, but when it came to her….there wasn’t an inch of him that was willing or able to do her harm—even the kind of harm she apparently liked.

She understood immediately, “Liam, stop.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” He released her and looked around in bewilderment.

“Nothing…just….” She spun to face him, pinching his cheeks between her fingers, “I think you’re going to need to let me take charge tonight. For Drake.”

“Drake?” he repeated in bemusement, his lust-clouded brain spinning to catch up.

Riley brought her lips to his ear and whispered, “The protective guard thing…”

Liam’s eyes darted to Drake's face as his fingers slowly untangled from her hair, “Okay….” He regarded his best friend, taking in the scowl, the clenched fists….. the still naked body…he swallowed as his gaze roved over the sculpted muscles and the hard lines of his chest.

“My eyes are up here Your Majesty,” Drake shook his head in amused disbelief, but the tension had gone out of the moment. At least the non-sexual tension. He reached out and pulled Riley into his body, “Maybe I should handle her, you’ve got Max right there.”

“Oh, I don’t think so,” Liam pressed himself up against her backside again, but gently this time, “It’s definitely my turn.”

“Hey!” Max shot Liam a pout before turning to grin at Drake, “I can keep you company while they’re busy if you want.”

“Not gonna happen, Max.”

Liam gestured for Max to come closer, “I’m not leaving you out, love. I’m simply saying that our queen requested all three of us tonight and only one of us has complied thus far.”

“Hm, you make a fair point,” Max added himself to the tangle of bodies, pressing his erection into Liam’s ass as he laid a flurry of kisses along his neck and back.

“This is fun,” Riley giggled, Drake pressed against her from the front, Liam from the back. She drew Drake into a heated kiss and then told him, “But Liam’s right. I’m turning around now, but don’t you go anywhere!”

Riley spun in their arms, so she was facing Liam and Max. “Keep doing whatever you want back there,” she told him. He complied by running his fingers gently through her hair and then moving it to the side, giving himself access to her now-exposed neck.

Riley tilted her head to the side with a little moan as Drake’s mouth on her skin sent chills cascading down her spine.

“Don’t forget about us,” Max reminded her.

“Oh, I haven’t!” She kissed Liam first, delighting in the way his mouth hungrily devoured hers while Drake’s lips continued to caress the back of her neck. She tangled her fingers in Max’s hair as he nipped at the sensitive spot just behind Liam’s ear.

When she came up for air, she uttered one word, “Max,” and his head immediately snapped up. Their lips collided over Liam’s shoulder. Their tongues danced against each other as Liam drew soft lines along the exposed flesh just below her collarbone with his.

She let herself get lost in the moment, the sensations the three of them provoked in her, the titillation of having them all touching her at the same time. She was undeniably wet again. Her entire body was on fire as six hands and three tongues sent promises of ecstasy sparking through her.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around her body, sweeping her off her feet. She cracked her eyes open to see who it was. Liam stared down at her with a smolder so intense it turned her insides to liquid. She couldn’t have spoken at that moment if her life depended on it.

Drake watched as Liam laid her on the bed, spread her legs apart, and lowered himself between them. Max climbed onto the bed next to him and added his tongue to the equation so that they were simultaneously both licking Riley and kissing each other, their tongues twirling together in a mesmerizing dance that they had clearly done before.

Fuck. Why was that so hot? Drake’s hand wrapped around himself and started moving slowly up and down as he watched, his eyes moving from what Liam and Max were doing to her breasts as her squirming caused them to jiggle, to her face which was contorted in bliss. His eyes were locked on her face when she exploded over the summit, her cries of pleasure filling the room as her body bucked violently upward. His hand started moving faster, pumping harder, but there was no way he was going to finish that way. Not with her right there.

Liam stood up with a satisfied grin as he wiped his arm across his mouth. Pulling her by both legs to the edge of the bed, he sank himself inside her and began to thrust. He watched her face as he pounded into her, moving closer to the edge himself. He spared a glance at Max, then at Drake, both of whom were watching him fuck Riley while pleasuring themselves.

Shit! He was going to bust too soon if he wasn’t careful.

He had already known what Max looked like in the throes of passion. He was fucking beautiful with his eyes glazed and his breath coming in short jagged little gasps. But he’d never seen Drake that way before. Drake, with his head thrown back, eyes half closed, a flush covering his features, his hand fisted tightly around his cock as the muscles in his arm rippled with movement, was just as beautiful.

He pulled out of her with great effort and took a step back. “Max,” he managed to pant out, “I want you to finish inside her.”

Max didn’t have to be told twice. He was rock hard, and his dick was coated with precum. Liam’s voice was low, rough, and demanding, sending electricity thrilling through him. He positioned himself in front of Riley but before he could move, Liam’s hands grasped him roughly by the hips, holding him in place as he ordered him to stand still. Max did as he was commanded, freezing in place as Liam probed and explored his body, his fingers playing at his hole as he spread the lube on, his hand wrapping around his cock and squeezing it, jerking it a few times before rubbing it around Riley’s entrance.

Liam’s voice was rough in his ear, “Okay, you can fuck her now. I’m going to fuck you at the same time. Do you understand?”

Max felt his knees go weak and he struggled to remain upright as he slid himself into Riley. He couldn’t speak, so he just nodded.

“Make her cum,” Liam ordered.

Max moved in and out of her as his fingers played at her center, coaxing another orgasm from her. The moment her body arched off the mattress, Liam entered him from behind, slamming into him.

Drake watched in fascination as the three of them moved as one, Liam’s thrusts pushing Max forward to thrust into Riley. The strangled moans of pleasure spilling out of her were almost too much for him, even from the sidelines. Then she turned her head and made direct eye contact with him, and he realized there was no reason for him to be a passive observer. He moved quickly to the bed and climbed up beside her, capturing her lips in a searing kiss before moving his mouth lower to claim a puckered nipple, teasing it between his teeth and flicking it with his tongue.

Max’s gaze darted from Riley’s face to Drake’s as he felt her tighten around him while Liam filled him, hitting the exact right spot with every demanding thrust. “Fuck!” He called out as all the built-up sexual tension coiled tightly inside his body exploded outward, and he collapsed forward as he erupted inside her.

Riley and Max crying out at the same time was it for Liam. Pushing himself deep inside of his lover, he exploded as well. Buried in Max while Max was buried in Riley was the closest he could come to being inside them both at the same time and it never failed to propel him to heights of euphoria unequaled by any other sex act he had ever experienced.

Drake had to move out of the way to avoid Max falling onto him as he collapsed onto Riley. Liam dropped his body onto Max, pinning him between his two lovers.

Max certainly didn’t mind. Riley underneath him and Liam on top of him was the perfect ending to the night as far as he was concerned.

Liam finally pulled out and stepped back. He leaned forward and lifted Max off Riley, laying him on the bed next to her and drawing him into his body, holding him as he ran his fingers through his hair and murmured in his ear about what a good boy he was.

Riley flipped over onto all fours and crawled toward Drake with a predatory glint in her eyes, “Your turn!”

“I…” His words were cut off in a hiss of pleasure as her lips closed around his cock. He sank both hands into her hair as a guttural groan was ripped from him. He didn’t even care that Max and Liam were right there, watching. He was so on edge from watching everything that had gone before, that he would have proceeded if God himself were in the room.

His grip on her hair tightened as he thrust himself into her mouth. She clamped down as she sucked the soul from his body. She lunged forward as she aggressively forced him to the precipice. They moved together in perfect synchrony as he teetered on the edge for what felt like both an eternity and no time at all before plunging over it. She scooted closer to his body as his cock spewed its payload down her throat.

“Shit…” he breathed out as he watched her lap every last drop from him. He disentangled his fingers from her hair and dropped back onto the bed, “That was fucking intense!”

“It was,” she agreed as she snuggled into his side.

His arm went around her, and he lifted his head to look over at Max and Liam. He’d almost forgotten they were there. Max was tucked under Liam’s arm, nuzzling into his side in much the way Riley was nestled in his own embrace. His eyes met Liam’s and he quickly looked away, letting his head fall back against the mattress. It was a little awkward, but not as awkward as he had imagined. And he had Riley wrapped up in his arms, a place she would stay for the rest of the night, even if Max or Liam moved over to cuddle her from the other side.

It was worth it. He was content. The sex had been amazing, but the intimacy of the immediate aftermath was the best part. He turned his head to smile at her, sweat still plastering his hair to his forehead. She smiled back. He was happy.

Max and Liam did move closer so that the four of them were all pressed together in the center of the double king bed that graced the master bedroom of the royal suite.

No one was ready to sleep yet. Quite giggles and soft whispers spilled through the growing darkness.

Drake’s fingers traced down Riley’s arms as he listened to the other three converse, content just to be there.

“Hey, Drake…”

“What is it Beaumont?”

“Now I know what your face looks like when you cum.”

“Shut up, Max,” he tried for a harsh tone, but couldn’t suppress a smile, “I know what you look like when you suck dick.”

“You lucky bastard,” Max laughed, “I am a master at it.”

“He is,” Liam confirmed.

“What do I look like when I cum?” Max teased, “I bet I look hot, right?”

“Like you don’t know,” Liam laughed, “You literally have a mirror over your bed in Ramsford.”

“As if I can see straight when you’re making me cum.”

“That’s true,” Riley giggled, “His eyes roll back in his head and his toes curl.”

“Okay, I’ve heard enough!” Drake sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, “I’m thinking of having some dessert sent up. Who’s in?”

“Oooh, I am!” Riley sat up as she purred seductively, “Get something we can lick off each other.”

Drake turned back to her in astonishment, “You haven’t had enough yet? How many times did you cum?”

“Four? Five?” She shrugged, “I lost count.”

“I’ve seen her cum as many as eight times in one go round,” Liam interjected, “Might as well make the most of our child-free night.”

“Oh! I know!” Max exclaimed, “Let’s have dessert sent out to the pool so we can go for a late-night swim!”

“That’s…actually not a bad idea,” Drake agreed only halfway surprised. Max did tend to come up with some good ideas and was usually the instigator of most of their more questionable enterprises.

Liam snapped his fingers, “We’ll use the private pool on the west lawn so we can skinny dip if we want to!”

Riley jumped out of bed in excitement, “I’m getting that new bikini you bought me in Paris!”

“You can thank me later,” Liam smirked at the other two men.

Drake called the kitchen while Liam called the head of the King’s guard to clear and secure the area around the pool.

Ten minutes later they were walking through the halls of the palace, talking, laughing, and touching each other. Riley looked from Liam to Max to Drake, each man’s face flushed with happiness. Sometimes it was hard to believe the series of circumstances that had landed her here, but there was no doubt in her mind that fate had been at play the night these three had walked into that dingy dive bar in New York City.

She pushed thoughts of her old life aside as they emerged through a side door and arrived poolside, the Cordonian night air filling her lungs. She was in love; she was safe and protected. She had a child that she adored. She had partners that she adored. She was a literal queen. What more could she possibly want?

She nudged her husband as she watched Max cannonball into the pool while Drake pulled his shirt off and ran after him.

“Yes, love?”

“Let’s make another baby.”

“What? Now?”

Riley laughed, “No, but maybe next year?”

Liam took her hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing the back of it before wrapping his arms around her, “I will put a baby in you whenever you want my love.”

“I know.” She sighed in contentment as she laid her head on his shoulder, Drake and Max’s laughter in her ears, Liam’s warmth surrounding her, and the very stars in the sky seemingly within her reach.

#trr au #why choose #trr fanfic #the royal romance #the royal heir #trr #liam rys #drake walker #maxwell beaumont appreciation #riley brooks #trr poly #angelasscribbles #choices fic writers creations #choices stories you play #cfwc fics of the week #the royal romance fanfic #choices

[tessa-liam]

All is Fair in Love & War

Book: TRR, The Royal Heir Book 2 AU 

Summary: The King and Queen of Cordonia VS The King and Queen of Auvernal, battle for dominance in Tango 

Song Inspiration: King of My Heart, T. Swift 

Video Inspiration: Tango for Two, L. Tarantino & G. Cocomero 

Visual Commission: Liam & Riley @artbyainna 

Dance Tutorial: Argentine Tango by Diego Blanco & Ana Padron 

Pairing: Liam Rys x F!MC Riley Brooks-Rys, OTP (LiRi) 

All characters belong to Pixelberry, except Daniella, who belongs to me. 

A/N1: This is my submission for week #8 @choicesflashfics, Prompt #3 “I’ve never done something like this before.” 

A/N2: This story has not been Beta'd, please excuse all errors. 

Rating: A, 18+, adult conversation 

Word Count: 1663 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Riley's POV 

As Dr. Ramirez gently places the baby on my chest, I am overwhelmed with emotion, at finally holding our beautiful baby. Gazing upon her for the very first time, I forget about all the pains of childbirth and all the fears I had dissipated. 

“She’s perfect, Riley.” Liam says with tears in his eyes. 

“I can’t believe that just happened! This moment...It’s just so amazing. I’m just so happy to be here with you right now...and with our baby!” Riley tearfully confesses. 

“A little girl...It’s been a long time since we had a princess running around the palace. I’m going to give you the world, my little princess.” Liam emotionally whispers to Eleanor, taking Riley’s hand in his. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Liam’s POV 

It feels like yesterday since our baby was born. From that birthday on my primary focus is, and always will be, Riley and my children. 

Their happiness and security are my highest duty; as a husband, as a father and as the King of Cordonia. 

 I refuse to waste my time dwelling on the problems with Auvernal.  Their attempts at coercion to force a betrothal will not succeed. Thus, I delegated the mundane task of dealing with those issues to my Royal Council. 

It’s Monday morning, and I have my usual morning conference with my advisers scheduled to begin in 20 minutes. 

While taking a sip of my coffee, I touch Riley’s number on my cell, knowing that she is in the palace gymnasium. 

“Hi Liam, how is everything?” Riley answers breathlessly on speaker. 

“Riley, you're not overdoing it with these exercises, are you?” 

Maxwell interrupts by saying, “Li, don’t worry, we are fusing dance with the exercises. I will make sure it’s a relaxing and fun experience.” 

“Thank you, Max. I’ll hold you to it. Riley, I will come down after my meeting to take you to lunch.” 

The call is interrupted by a knock on the door, and Liam ends the call and directs his advisors to enter. 

“Your majesty, good morning.” Rashad, Olivia, Bertrand, Kiara, Hana, Drake and Bastien step into his office, each taking seats at the boardroom table. 

Rashad, acting as Liam’s chief legal counsel, begins the meeting with an overview of the challenges caused by the Auvernese leaders.  

After listening intently to each presentation by each council member, Liam states, “whatever actions we decide upon today, always remember, to keep your friends close, your enemies closer.” 

Liam goes on, “One of the greatest books on war strategies, was written by Sun-tzu, a Chinese general and military strategist, ‘The Art of War’. This dispute is not about military force; it is psychological warfare.  

At the end of the productive meeting, a practical action plan was devised. Liam left the meeting with the direction for the council to plan the implementation. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Riley and Maxwell had finished their workout and were chatting and enjoying a light snack of fresh fruit and infused water on the patio outside the gym. 

Feeling energized, Riley spotted Liam walking towards her carrying Eleanor in his arms and got up to dance her way to him. 

Liam burst into laughter watching his wife sashay towards him. 

“Hello, my love,” Liam bends down to reward his wife with a kiss. I see all this exercise hasn’t worn you out.” 

“Never! Max is teaching me how to tango,” Riley animatedly exclaims while gently lifting Ellie from Liam’s arms. 

“I wouldn’t say I am an expert...but...tango dancing is a great cardio workout and body toner,” Maxwell states. 

Liam nods in agreement, “tango is a ballroom dance. I learned the Argentine tango as part of my Royal training, as a matter of fact. 

I will arrange for that instructor to join the two of you tomorrow morning. 

...and I will join you as well.” 

“Really? You will work out with us tomorrow?” 

Liam wrapped his arm around Riley, “let’s go for lunch. Max, you are more than welcome to join us.” 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

“I have an idea that I want to run past you, Riley.” Liam sits back on his chair at the dining table, cradling Ellie at lunch. 

“...and you as well, Max.” 

Riley smiles, “you’ve got my attention.” 

“Mine as well,” Maxwell responds. 

Liam moves the baby to rest on his chest, holding her close with one hand. 

“How would you feel about dancing with me at the military charity ball being held in Auvernal later this month? An Argentine tango?” 

Riley’s expression turns inquisitive.  

“I’ve never done something like this before.” 

Maxwell smiles wide and exclaims musically, “that would be awesome! You are so ready to handle this, little blossom. And with Liam leading you? Wow, this will be epic!” 

In the royal gymnasium the next morning, Liam and Riley arrive early to warm up for their first joint dance lesson. 

As the dance instructor enters, followed by Maxwell, 

Liam teasingly calls to Riley, “Okay, your majesty, get into position.” 

“You are so bossy this morning!” Riley saucily responds back, bending down to adjust her shoe strap. 

Liam smirks, tempted to smack her behind, but he has to show decorum. They were in public. So, instead he murmurs in her ear, “just wait till later!” 

Riley stands and straightens, standing beside her husband. Her smirk quickly changing into a smile as they stepped forward to greet their instructor. 

After pleasantries are exchanged, Daniella, the instructor begins, 

“The Argentine tango is a passionate ballroom dance that is great for expressing love between two partners.” 

Riley bashfully smiles lowering her gaze to the floor. Liam gives her hand a squeeze, winking at her when she looks up at him. 

“Tango dancing involves quick, graceful, and playful movements with plenty of room for improvisation. These fun moves create a simple, yet elegant dance that consists of eight steps taken across eight counts.” 

Daniella turns to Maxwell, “we will partner to demonstrate each step.” The grin that formed on Maxwell’s face was enormous.  

“The tango is a fairly straightforward walking dance that just requires precise footwork. It is relatively easy to perform once you master the eight basic steps and understand how the count works.” 

These dance lessons continued daily for the next 3 weeks. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

Military Charity Ball, Auvernese Royal Palace, Auvernal 

Arriving at the palace in Auvernal, Liam and Riley, along with their Royal council, are ushered to the ballroom. 

Rashad, Bertrand, Kiara and Hana enter the ballroom, while Isabella and Bradshaw meet with Liam and Riley before being heralded into the Ball. 

Olivia, Drake and Bastien stealthily went up the stairs to meet with their contacts on the viewing balcony above the ballroom. Leo stood with Queen Amalas with wide grins as they held up the folder with the birth records for the twins 

As Liam and Riley were learning the tango, the Royal council learned that the children claimed to be royal blood by the King and Queen of Auvernal were illegitimate. Bradshaw’s lover was pregnant with twins. Isabella needed an heir, arranging for the affair to continue if she could falsely claim parentage. Since Leo was courting Queen Amalas in Monterisso, he volunteered to bring the proof with him to the ball, along with Amalas. 

“King Liam and Queen Riley, welcome to our beautiful country,” Bradshaw pretentiously croons. 

Isabella meanwhile studies her queen rival with a jealous eye. 

Riley, after all the dance practices over the past three weeks, was down to her pre-baby weight with added curves that Liam adored. Her shimmering gold cocktail dress hugged her curves perfectly. 

Her dress didn’t go unnoticed by Bradshaw and noticing his lustful gaze, Isabella was shooting seething glares at him. 

Liam’s facial expression remained neutral as he took notice of the unwelcome gawking by his rival towards his wife. He does, however, protectively wrap his arm around Riley snugly, barely keeping the distance required for proper decorum. 

“Yes, thank you for hosting this charity event.  I am sure the military paraphernalia will be well received,” he conceals his contempt for the pair knowing that they now have legal documentation that annuls the betrothal agreement. 

As the evening moves forward, the orchestra begins the first notes of the Argentine tango.  

“Are you ready for this?” Liam questions Riley. “Oh yes, let's bring it on.” Riley answers enthusiastically. 

Liam leads her to center of the dance floor, and once there, he moves his body close to Riley. He extends his left hand forward to capture Riley’s upward flexed right hand. Liam places his right hand on Riley’s back moving her flush to him. Riley places her left hand on Liam’s shoulder. 

Liam nods to the maestro to begin the music, and he takes the first step of the tango. 

All the practice they had dancing allowed them to perform the steps flawlessly. They ended the dance provocatively as she ran her leg up the side of Liam’s leg to his waist. Riley then wrapped her hand around his neck and Liam returned her affection with a passionate kiss. 

The applause was deafening, as they bowed to the audience. 

Isabella was livid. As she began her dance with Bradshaw, she angrily moved around the ballroom like a ‘bull in a China shop’. Bradshaw looked so uncomfortable and he stopped dancing. 

Kiara and Hana, watching them, couldn’t believe the spectacle they were witnessing. Rashad and Bertrand and members of the Cordonian Royal guard encircled Liam and Riley, as Bradshaw and Isabella stormed out of the ballroom. Olivia, Drake, Leo and Amalas intercepted them to confront them. 

✨✨✨✨✨ 

 Returning back to Cordonia at once after the ball ended abruptly, Liam glances down to Ellie sleeping peacefully and securely in her crib. Riley wraps her arms around him and smiles down at their baby, knowing that all is good in their kingdom. 

@txemrn @bebepac @ao719 @peonierose @phoenixrising0308 @queenmiarys @karahalloway @twinkleallnight @703cowbarn @mom2000aggie @malblk21 @queenrileyrose @indiana-jr @winkyluxhumanoid @rubiwalker @harleybeaumont @kingliam2019 @marietrinmimi @imashybish @angelasscribbles @isha26 @sfb123 @tinkie1973 @belencha77 @honey358luv @jared2612 @urfaveaesthetic101 @xpandass420x @kyra75 @jerzwriter-reblogs-asks

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[sfb123]

I was lucky enough to win a commission by the wonderful @/artbyainna for @ao719’s Tumblrversary giveaway, and I am absolutely FLOORED!

LOOK AT MY BABIES! This is Liam and Riley from a pivotal scene in my series Sapere Aude. I was going to post a snippet, but it's completely loaded with major spoilers, so iykyk. If you don’t, check out the series master here. If you don’t want to read the whole thing, and want the spoilers of this scene, it’s from chapter 8.

Thank you so much to Anitah for your generosity (and congrats again on that Tumblrversary), and to Ainna for using your incredible talent to help me bring one of my silly stories to life yet again.

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#choices #play choices #choices stories you play #pixelberry #choices trr #trr/trh #trh fanfic #trh fandom #trr fandom #choices trh #trh book 3 #trf #choices trf #choices the royal finale #choices the royal heir #choices the royal romance #liam rys #trr liam x riley #liam x riley #liam x mc #trr liam #trh liam #trr fanart #trf liam #trr fanfiction #trr fanfic #trr fan fic #trr fan fiction #sapere aude

[eadanga]

Liam

One Shots

Eternal Love

A Summer Romance

My Lost Love

Royal Love

The Royal Romance

A Royal Christmas

#king liam #trr liam #trr fanfic #choices trr #the royal romance #the royal heir #the royal finale #liam x mc #choices fan fiction #choices fandom #choices fanfiction

[phoenixrising0308]

The Time Apart: Faded Memories

Books: The Royal Romance

Rating: G

Triggers: None Identified by this author

Pairing: (no pairing) The Beaumont Family & Jessica Garica (Friendship)

A/U: Agent Phoenix: Forged in Fire - The time apart: This timeline occurs during Jessica's absence in Cordonia or when not formally paired in Cordonia with Liam as the TRR cast and original characters deal with her absence as well as Jessica and Liam attempt to go through life without each other. Stories may or may not have an in the present timeline component and are not always in order. It depends on the prompt, random inner thoughts, and the muse whenever they stop by. There are no chapter numbers as they are written as just a series of events in story form. Multi-part stories, as always, are labeled.

Detailed disclaimer

Catch me here

A/N #1: Bartie remembers Jessica after their time apart

Choices Flash Fic Week # 6: Prompt 3: “I’m just ... I’m a little bit confused.”

Song Inspiration:

Word count: 2,000 *As always, forgive my typos and grammatical errors.

* Reading time: 6 minutes

Years ago...

Liam & Jessica's Apartment in the Captial

Liam and Jessica sat on the floor, letting Bartie show them his toys. The toddler was walking and starting to talk as he used short names for all his prized toys and stuffed animals. 

Bartie excitedly handed a toy to Jessica. 

"Oh, what's this?" She said as she held the toy squid. 

"Squid!" Bartie informed while Jessica acted surprised.

"Wow!" 

"Yeah! It's…" Bartie thought for a moment and continued. "Our…Our-" He trailed off, not knowing the word.

Liam smiled fondly at the toddler and said, "That's right, the Squid is your family's emblem." 

Bartie looked confused, and Jessica added, "You know, like a mascot! Or a favorite animal." 

Bartie nodded to himself.

"Did Uncle Max give it to you?" Liam asked. 

Bartie shook his head and eagerly showed them a stuffed hippo. "Uh uh. This." He showed Liam and Jessica. 

Jessica chuckled to herself, remembering the tattoo Maxwell was embarrassed to show them at first…Or more like Bertrand was embarrassed Maxwell had it. 

"What's his name?" Liam asked.

"Max!" 

Liam gave him a puzzled look. "So he's named after Uncle Maxwell?" 

"No." Bartie simply gave as Liam smirked to himself. 

Jessica chuckled and nodded at Liam to just agree with the toddler logic. "Makes perfect sense to me. It's a good name, Bartie. I'm sure Maxwell agrees. " 

Bartie mumbled words here and there as he shuffled through his other toys. 

Liam held up Sir Winston and said, "What's his name, Bartie?" 

Bartie excitedly smiled and replied with a slight lisp, "Winston!" 

Liam smiled as Jessica sat beside him on the ground. "That's right. He goes by Sir Winston. Aunty Jess gave this to me." Liam said. 

Jessica smiled down at the toddler and patted the bear on the head. "The moment I saw him, I knew Uncle Lamb Lamb should have him." 

Bartie sat the stuffed bear down and extended his arms out to Jessica. 

Jessica smiled and didn't hesitate to pick him up as she stood up with him in her arms. She gave a playful groan as she lifted him. Spinning around with him in her arms as he released a contagious giggle. "You're getting to be such a big boy! I swear you were lighter the last time I watched you. Have you grown?" 

Bartie nodded. "Big!" He wrapped his little arms around her neck as she grinned at him. 

Liam said, "Don't get too big! How will Cordonia handle a giant?" 

Jessica snuggled up to Bartie and said, "Don't worry, we'd build you the biggest house Cordonia has ever seen if you become a giant."

Liam chuckled and got close to Bartie and Jessica as he placed a hand on Jessica's back while looking at the toddler in her arms and said over her shoulder, "I heard you have Mac n Cheese waiting for you in the kitchen for lunch." 

His eyes lit up. "Dino nugs?" 

Jessica replied, " I don't care what your Daddy says; Uncle Max is right. They taste better and are shaped like Dinosaurs. " 

She heard Liam chuckle at that as she sat Bartie down, only for his tiny fist to refuse to let go of her shirt. He protested, his lower lip jutting out with a whine. 

Liam sadly smiled and shook his head. "I wish I could eat some dino nuggets and stay longer, Love, but I've got to go back to the Palace soon." 

Jessica frowned just as Savannah came in to get him. She took him off Jessica's hands and cooed to him before she gave a grateful smile to Jessica and Liam. 

Savannah said, "Thank you so much for watching him. Bertrand has been so busy lately, and I have my own duties now that I'm being reintroduced back to the Court, so to speak. I just don't want Bartie to grow up with maids and Governesses his whole life. Drake and I didn't, and I want Bartie to have as much of a normal childhood as possible." She offered with a sigh.

Jessica smiled and replied, "I understand completely, Savannah. It's really no big deal. I love playing with Bartie." 

Liam nodded and added, "We really appreciate you letting us watch him for a while, Savannah. It's great practice for us one day, hopefully soon." 

Jessica smiled at Liam as he wrapped an arm around her and smiled tenderly back down at her.

Savannah said, "I truly hope you both get the joy of children one day as King and Queen when this is over. You both would be wonderful parents…Please excuse me; I see lunch is ready for him so I will feed him so he can nap on the car ride home." 

They both watched Savannah leave as Liam kept an arm around Jessica's shoulder as they walked. He whispered to her, “You will be an amazing mother, Jessica. I don't know how you can be even more beautiful than you are, but every time you hold Bartie or any other child, it's the first thing I see. I can't wait till it's our own child." 

She leaned into him as they walked. "I can't wait, Liam. It sounds like a dream come true to have our own…I hope it's soon, and we can start our life together." 

Jessica walked Liam to the door, and he stopped at the entrance cupping her face in both hands to gaze down at her. "You are my life, Jess. You know that." He kissed her forehead before continuing. "We will be rid of Madeleine and any pestering from Constantine, and you will be my wife for everyone to see. And the Mother of our children. We'll have a quant home somewhere with a simple garden and pattering feet running around, and you will have the life we both deserve together." 

Jessica smiled softly up at him. "Promise?" 

"Promise." 

Many Years Later…

Cordonia Capital Square park

Bartie played in the park as his Mother and Father watched him from a bench. His Father tended to get nervous over him climbing things or falling as well as being too dirty, but his Mother always seemed to smooth it over that he was supposed to get dirty or a bruise once in a while

Bartie was sitting in the grass when he saw a woman he couldn't help staring at. She wore her long dark hair in a ponytail and was slightly taller. He couldn't help staring at her as she busied herself talking to a man. 

He couldn't put his finger on it, and then it came to him and said, "Aunty Jessie." He pointed at the woman and ran towards her Savannah ran after him. Bartie tapped the woman, getting her attention, and said, "Aunty Jess?."

Bartie's eyes began to water as he said, "But." the woman gave him a puzzled look and coldly said, "Are you lost?" Savannah caught up to them and sighed, "Im so sorry." 

Savannah looked at her son and could feel her heartbreak for him and herself and said, "It's not her."

"Momma, she looks like..." 

Bertrand rolled his lips and said, "Bartie, she looks like…Like Lady Jessica. The resemblance is there." He mumbled as the woman started walking away.

Bartie remembered her. It was vague with how young he was, but he remembered her. She was always kind to him, playing with him when she and Uncle Lamb Lamb came to visit. He missed her and never knew what had happened to her.

Bartie tugged at Savannah's jacket, a bit of urgency in his little voice. "Wait!" The boy was trying to get one last look at the stranger he believed was Jessica.

Bertrand sighed heavily and grabbed his son's hand. "It's not, Bartie. It is not like you to run up to a stranger like that. Frankly, "I'm just a little bit confused as to why you would do that." 

Bartie felt tears welling up in his eyes. He felt as if it was her and his parents weren't trying. He whimpered in protest, "It has to be her! It has to be!" 

Bartie began crying as Savannah picked him up, tears in her eyes as Bertrand frowned sadly at his family. Bertrand cleared his throat and kissed her forehead while rubbing his son's back. 

"I think it's time to go home, Bartie… We'll talk on the way." Bertrand gave.

Meanwhile...

Central Park, New York

Jessica sat on a bench in central park on her day off. It was something she tended to do to pass the time. It reminded her of happier times when she and Liam would walk hand in hand in the palace's gardens.

She reclined on the bench watching all the people pass by. 

Then she heard a little boy laughing a high-pitched contagious shriek as his Dad chased him in the grass. 

Jessica smiled as the boy's Dad caught him and held him in his arms. However, her smile faltered and slowly faded as a memory came to her mind.

She sat on a blanket in the grass next to Savannah as Bertrand and Maxwell went inside the Beaumont Estate for something for the picnic. Jessica smiled to herself as Liam chased a shrieking Bartie in the grass. Bartie ran towards Jessica for safety.

Jessica held up a hand and said, "Back, Beast! You have no power here!" 

Liam chuckled to himself as he crouched down, crawled towards them, and said, "That's where you're wrong, Princess. For I have THIS!" He held up a simple flower.

Jessica played along, shielding herself. "Oh no! Bartie, the Brave, save yourself! He has…The scepter! He's too powerful!" 

Bartie screamed with laughter as Liam pounced on them both, growling and kissing Jessica's cheek and tickling Bartie. Jessica couldn't contain the excited giggle contagious from Bartie's giggles. 

Savannah laughed to herself as Liam sat back with a chuckle to himself. 

Bartie hugged Jessica as she smiled down at him, and he smiled up at her. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. She loved Bartie, but the idea of one day having her own child with Liam filtered through her mind.

Jessica kissed Bartie's little head, cradling him to her, and she sat up as Liam kissed her head too. Both watched Bartie wobble over to his Mother.

Jessica sat on the bench and watched that little boy around the age Bartie should be now run to his Mom to hold her hand. The Dad wrapped an arm around the Mom as they walked away.

Jessica couldn't help staring. Remembering Bartie and how soft his little cheeks were, how his eyes twinkled when he smiled at her, how excited he was to see her. The idea that she hurt him by leaving, that she would never get to hug him again…It was heartbreaking. She just prayed he understood and maybe barely remembered her being as young as he was. At least that way, it wouldn't hurt as much on his part.

The little boy must have noticed her staring. He smiled and waved at her. As she watched them leave the park, Jessica waved back with a sad smile.

Her hand shakily went to her mouth as she felt her eyes water. She had no choice but to leave Cordonia, no matter how much it pained her.

Jessica sniffled to herself as she stood up. Thoughts of what she left behind and what she almost had were painful reminders to her now. She hoped that one day she could have the courage to return to see her Cordonian family again, even if it meant having to face the fact that in her mind Liam was happily married with children because maybe in knowing that she could find her own sense of closure and start anew.

@choicesficwriterscreations

@choicesflashfics

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[lorirwritesfanfic]

The Fairytale Ball

Book: The Royal Heir Pairing: Liam Rys x MC (Jade) Characters: Liam Rys, MC (Jade), royal heir (Elise), Maxwell Beaumont, Hana Lee Rating: T Word count: 3415 Reading time: ~13min Summary: The Queen's Ball is the event of the year for the young generations. But Princess Elise isn't as happy everyone hoped she would be on her debut. Based on the prompt: @choicesnovchallenge: National Princess Day

Author’s notes:

Jade Bourbon-Rys, Elise Bourbon-Rys, Charlotte Amaranth, Zain and Gael Maldonado are creations of this author. The other characters belong to Pixelberry Studios;

This oneshot is part of Liam and Jade's universe, but I'm sure you'll have no problem reading it if you never read anything from my TRR series.

"One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two, three," Hana counted as she passed by, watching every young couple dancing in the ballroom. 

"Relax your shoulders, Toshio." Maxwell instructed, gently tapping a young boy's shoulder.

"That's beautiful, Marnie!" Hana praised another girl.

In the corner of the ballroom, Elise counted the steps as she tried to follow her partner's steps. Her mother and godmother always said Cordonian Waltz wasn't that hard. She just had to let her partner lead. Unfortunately, the dance partner Queen Mother Regina chose for her wasn't as good advertised. At least, not in her opinion.

"Ow!" The boy complained, wincing in pain.

"Sorry, Zain..." She said with a weak and apologetic smile.

"Is everything okay?" Hana asked, placing a hand on Elise's shoulder.

Elise grimaced. She knew her godmother wouldn't scold her as her grandmother probably would. But she still didn't wish to disappoint.

"It's alright, ma'am," Zain forced a smile as he continued to dance. 

How could he go on, given how hard she stepped on his foot? It was a mystery to her. 

The Queen's Ball was an annual ball/cotillion hosted by Queen Jade of Cordonia during Elise’s month of birthday to raise funds for the orphanages and community centers of the kingdom. It was a tradition in which all noble women she knew were involved and her mother was adamant about the princess joining the young couples dance this year. However, she couldn't say she was as excited to join as she hoped to be.

"One, two, three. One, two, three. One, two—"

"OW!" Zain whined. 

This time, however, it got a few other couple’s attention. The music stopped.

"Crap... I'm so sorry, Zain..."

"It's okay, Your Highness. I'm fine," the boy murmured.

"Watch out for Princess Klutzy, Zain!" A female voice in the middle of the room mocked. A voice Elise was unfortunately quite familiar with.

Suppressed giggles echoed in the ballroom.

Elise glared at Lady Charlotte, who replied with a smirk.

"That's enough." Maxwell called out, a rare scowl adorning her godfather's face. "Back to your places, everyone!" 

"Pay close attention to your partner, ladies. And don't forget your posture," Hana said, roughly straightening Charlotte's head.

Elise pressed her lips together to hide a smile when Zain winced again. 

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah... I'm kinda beat from football practice."

The princess frowned watching the boy kept dancing, trying to disguise he was limping slightly. 

"It's okay if you admit I hurt your foot. We can take a break."

"I'm fine, Your Highness."

"You don't have to play nice with me. And you don't have to call me Your Highness all the time. I don’t call Lord Zain of Bellmere."

"All right... If you let me lead, we'll do a lot better, you know," Zain suggested.

Elise smiled shyly. "Okay..."

Maybe she was overthinking again and just needed to chill. She had tons of dance classes over the years. Cordonian Waltz wasn't that hard after all.

For the next couple of minutes, things went smoothly between them. The princess even started to enjoy the dance and the company of the young Earl of Bellmere.

"One, two, three. One, two, three. Excellent! Now spin!" Hana instructed.

"Ready?" Zain asked.

"Yeah," Elise nodded.

But as Zain lifted her arm for the princess to spin, a couple bumped into them, pushing them both on the floor. 

Laughter rose in the ballroom as Hana and Maxwell rushed to help Elise and Zain.

"Damnit!" Zain complained, massaging his left foot.

"I'm so sorry..."

"Are you two alright?" Hana asked in worry.

"My foot hurts..." Zain winced.

Elise frowned.

"I told you Princess two left feet would hurt you." Charlotte snickered.

Something snapped on Elise as she heard Charlotte's voice again. Standing up, the princess stomped her way to the other girl and jumped over her. 

"Elise, no!" Maxwell yelled and darted to the princess, followed by the royal guards.

"You stuck-up bitch!" The princess bellowed as she mounted on the girl, grabbing her hair with both hands. 

Before Elise could do any real damage, four guards split the girls while the others sent everybody out. 

A few hours later

Steps and murmurs reverberated through the walls as Elise sobbed in her room. The Royal guard may be discreet, but the servants loved to gossip. By the time she locked herself in her room, the entire kingdom already knew she got into another fight with Charlotte Amaranth again. But having her name on the tabloids and strangers judging her was nothing compared to Queen Jade’s reaction. And the princess certainly didn’t want to face her mother now.

Just then, a gentle knock on her door interrupted her thoughts.

“Go away!” She whined.

Much to her disappointment, the door opened. 

“Hey, you can’t tell the King to go away.”

Elise sat up as she recognized the voice. The moment her father sat on the bed, she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Dad!” She croaked.

“It’s okay, my Lil Bunny…” Liam murmured.

“Is it though?”

“I just talked to Lord Zain and his parents. He had already injured his toe during football practice. He just didn’t tell anyone because he didn’t want to be cut out of the team before Junior League started.”

Elise pulled away from the embrace. “But I stepped on his foot over three times!”

“Zain mentioned it, but he still doesn’t blame you. His doctor also said that landing on his feet when he fell most likely was the real cause of the injury.”

“Fine. Now what?"

“As we speak Maxwell and Hana are searching for a new dance partner for you. So now we have another matter to talk about..."

“Ugh…” The princess laid down again, pressing her face on a pillow. 

“What happened during the rehearsal?”

“You know exactly what happened," she grumbled.

"I do. But I still want to hear your version of the incident."

Her father had a point. As always. 

She then sat up again and began to speak. "I hate Charlotte!"

"Hate is one very strong word."

"It's how I feel about her!"

"Very well. Does it justify you mounting on top of Lady Charlotte to pull her hair and beat her up?" Liam arched an eyebrow.

"She said what happened to Zain was my fault!"

"Elise, you've had spats with her before, but it never came to physical fight. What happened this afternoon that made you cross that line?"

The princess looked down at her hands.

"Is there something you're not telling me?"

"She is a bully, dad."

"I see..." Liam said, not surprised to hear that Madeleine's only child took after her mother.

"I don't care when she says something about me..." Elise fiddled with the hem of her sweater. 

"Did she say anything about something else?" 

"Charlotte said Aunt Hana needs to grow a backbone. She put a melted candy bar on Sophie's seat to make it look like crap and mocked her in front of the entire school."

Liam's eyes widened in surprise. "That's why Sophie was upset today."

"The only reason I didn't beat that girl up at school was because Ava and Louis stopped me so I wouldn't get suspended."

"I assume what happened this afternoon was the last straw."

"Yeah..."

Liam pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.

"Are you mad at me?"

"No. I don't approve of what you did. This is absolutely not how we raised you and your siblings, but I understand your reasons."

"How bad is the press talking about it?"

"They're loving it. The rivalry between you two is being strongly associated with the one your mother had with Madeleine during my social season and engagements."

"Do they think Charlotte and I dislike each other because of a guy?!" Elise made a face. "Tabloids are so stupid."

Liam chuckled. "They usually are. Little did they know only Jade was fighting about a guy."

"Oh?"

"That's a story for later."

"Okay... What do we do now?"

"You go back to being my sweet daughter and future heir of the throne while your mother and I talk to the Royal Communications department to handle the press."

"But Charlotte's mom is the head of Royal Communications! Lady Madeleine will make it worse!"

"How so?"

"She doesn't like me."

"Madeleine doesn't like anyone in our family except Regina and Leo. But she's still loyal to the Crown."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Whoa..." Elise mumbled in astonishment. "Okay. If you say so..."

"You still have to apologize to her."

"Dad!"

"I'm not asking you to be friends with Lady Charlotte. Just be polite."

"But she—"

"Do it for Regina's sake. Your mother and I will be present to ensure you'll keep it civil."

Elise folded her arms. "How do you know Charlotte won't be the one to start a fight?"

"I was watching the rehearsal from the security cameras when the fight started. She can't win a fight against Sophie's turtle Pabblo."

Father and daughter exchanged looks and chuckled. 

"Dad?"

"Yes?"

“I don’t wanna dance anymore.”

"Pardon?"

"I'm not going to dance."

"Sweetheart, you've been talking about partaking in the Young Couples Dance for years," Liam tried to reason.

"I lost my dance partner, I'm the talk of the kingdom today... Maybe it's for the best." She gave her shoulders. 

"You know your mother won't like this, don't you?"

"Can you talk to her?"

"Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"I can try..."

"Thanks," Elise murmured, resting her head on her father's shoulder.

About an hour later

"She's not quitting!"

"My love..."

"She's not quitting, Liam!" Jade demanded, glaring at her husband from her vanity dresser mirror. "Our daughter is not a quitter!" 

"Elise doesn't want to cause a commotion with the press and the guests being in the same room as Charlotte."

"That's it?! Fine! I'll cut mini Madeleine out of the dance." Jade put down her face cream on the nightstand with full force. "There! Problem solved."

"Jade..." Liam called, staring deadpan at his wife.

"What? No one is gonna miss her anyway."

Liam suppressed a chuckle as he sat on the opposite side of the bed. "Regina won't be happy with this..."

"I don't care!"

"Don't you?"

The couple exchanged knowing looks.

Jade rolled her eyes. "Why do you always have to be reasonable?" 

"Somebody has to be. Plus, I know you don't want to have animosity with Regina."

"I created this ball for Elise! I'll be damned if I allow Madeleine's daughter or anyone to get in my daughter's way of having her dance!" Jade fumed.

"Did you truly create this ball for her or for yourself?" 

"You know precisely why this ball exists." Jade scowled.

Liam looked back at his wife and arched an eyebrow.

"Sure... Maybe I've been daydreaming about Elise's first dance with her high school crush for years. But I created the ball because she wanted to dress and dance like a princess."

"Jade, she is a princess. It's her birthright."

"This is not about monarchy and titles, Liam. Do you remember when we attended Calenvia's Baile de Debutantes? And the Queen's Debutants Ball in the UK? How mesmerized she was by cousin Manuela dancing with her girlfriend?"

"Yes."

"Well, that's the only thing she hasn't experienced yet!"

"A fairytale moment."

"Exactly!"

"She was a five year old fascinated by fairytales. And I doubt her fairytale moment would come given how she barely seemed comfortable around Rashad's son."

"You don't get it, do you?" The queen pursed her lips in annoyance. "She has a Pinterest board with inspirations since she was seven. She booked herself an appointment with Galia Lahav to get an exclusive design for her gown. She may not have a crush on Zain, but they looked good together. We all saw the day she explicitly told Zain what type of flowers he should get for her corsage and his lapel!" Jade then stood up and sat next to her husband. "I'm telling you: Elise wants this. She cannot let go of her childhood dream just because that little project of Regina George pissed off my daughters."

"Hmm..." Liam pondered for a moment. "Fair point. But I guess we both know there's only one person who can convince her to attend," he said, giving his wife a knowing look.

"What if she thinks I'm forcing her to do it?" 

"You're fully capable of persuading anyone, my love," he said, kissing the back of her hand.

"Okay..." She heaved a sigh, resting her head on his shoulder.

Liam smiled as he once again realized how much his daughter took after his wife.

The next day

As the young princess finished her homework, Elise left the library and walked down the hallway, looking out the window. The Queen's

Ball night was near, so the servants began decorating the gardens, adding snowflake-shaped string lights on the walls and on the maze. The Winter Wonderland theme was her idea and she was completely sure it'd look amazing. Too bad it felt like a dream she would have to postpone for a while.

"Elise?"

The princess stopped in her tracks as she heard her mother's voice. They haven't talked since her mother left the palace to take Zain to the hospital. The queen looked furious then. Was she still mad at her?

The princess turned around to look at her. "Yes, ma'am."

"I heard you have a free schedule now. Follow me to the entertainment room."

"The entertainment room?"

"You'll understand why soon."

Oh, man... Was she going to use one of those educational videos just like the ones her parents showed Louis about STIs? Educational videos were part of her father's style of educating. Her mother's approach was a bit more straightforward.

Once they stepped into the room, Elise took a seat in one of the chairs on the back and Jade followed. On the cinema screen, small clips of Elise as a toddler dancing in the ballroom with the queen, watching her parents dance then joining them, clapping as she watched the first young couples and her dance lessons while growing up. 

As her eyes welled up, Jade changed seats to be closer to her daughter. "I know why you don't want to join the Young Couples Dance after what happened yesterday. Facing the press after a scandal isn't easy. But I want you to know why I created and have been hosting The Queen's Ball all these years."

"What?" Tears streamed down Elise's face. "But you always said it's an event to celebrate Grandma Eleanor and Grandma Elaine and help kids in need."

"I know. I'll keep mentioning them and their charity work they did because The Royal Communications said it'd be a good excuse to turn a ball into a charity event and attract more donations. But its first name was Fairytale Ball." 

"Fairytale ball?"

"Yes." Jade reached for her daughter's hand. "All I wanted was to give you a fairytale moment."

"Mom..." Elise threw her arms around her mother's neck and hugged her tightly. "Aren't you mad?"

"I should be." Jade replied, stroking Elise's hair. "I should scold you and ground you for weeks. But honestly? I wish I had slapped some people's faces during your father's social season and engagement to Madeleine."

"People?" Elise pulled away and stared wide-eyed at her mother. "Who?"

"Literally everyone in this palace except Hana and Max."

"Even uncle Drake?"

"Oh, sweetie... Drake was the worst sometimes..."

"Really?"

"We can talk about that later. Right now, I want to know what you want to do."

"I want the fairytale."

"Okay."

"But I don't have a dance partner!"

"Actually, Maxwell found three candidates for you. Next?

"Mom, there's the press…"

"Your father and I can handle them. What else?"

"I don't want to be anywhere near Charlotte."

"I can throw her in the dungeon." 

"We don't have a dungeon..."

"Well, not in this palace... But my guards can certainly escort Charlotte to Valtoria lower ground floor..." Jade commented with a sly grin.

"Mom!"

"I'm joking."

"You're so not!"

"You say it as if anyone is going to miss her..." 

Mom and daughter shared a glance and laughed.

"I want to dance. But I don't want to harm anyone in the process."

"I know..." Jade smiled, glad to realize how much her daughter had in common with her husband. "We'll figure it out. Now, onto more important things." Jade fished her phone out of her pocket and showed it to Elise. "These are your possible dance partners."

"A girl?!"

"And this lovely gender-fluid person who just won a scholarship at The Royal Dance Academy."

"Really?"

"What? We're keeping our options open just in case."

Elise looked at each picture, and though one person caught her eye, she prompted. "Mom, I don't know... Is there a way I can talk to them?"

The queen smirked. "I thought you'd never ask."

A few days later

Purple, blue and white lights tinted the Royal Palace walls as the guests arrived for the Queen's Ball, one of the most opulent events of Cornodia's social calendar. Among the many attractions of the night, young members of nobility and wealthy families across the world traveled to the Cordonian capitol to partake in the Young Couples Dance. Their hopes were to be introduced to the crème de la crème of world society, sharing their accomplishments and plans for the future. 

This year, however, the press was far more interested in news about the Royal Heir, Princess Elise Bourbon-Rys. After the incident between the future queen and Lady Madeleine's daughter, rumors about more spats, feuds between the princess's friends and her rival's at school and possible absence of both of them from the ball spread fast. Yet no one from the palace confirmed nor denied any information. Would the princess miss her own mother's ball? Or was it Lady Charlotte who took the fall?

"Your Majesties! A word, please!" A reporter chanted.

The king and queen smiled to the press, signaling for them to step closer.

"Good evening, everyone!" Liam replied.

"We hope you're enjoying the ball," Jade continued.

"Lady Charlotte just arrived with her family. Does it mean Princess Elise is still grounded?"

"Elise wasn't grounded. Queen Jade and I believe that encouraging our children to do volunteer work is a much more effective way to teach them about compassion and non-aggressive methods to deal with their feelings." 

"Can we expect the Princess to attend the ball then?" A paparazzi asked.

"Yes. Elise is preparing herself to join the festivities, just like all the other teenagers partaking in the Young Couples Dance," the queen affirmed.

"Aren't you concerned about another disagreement between the young ladies, sir?"

"There's no reason for concern. They've made amends that same day and they've been working together at the senior's shelter."

"Are they friends now?"

"What about the situation with Lord Zain?"

The reporters continued to ask more questions when the Queen's assistant approached her and whispered something in her ear.

"We would be glad to talk to you some more, but the first attraction is about to start. Please join us in the celebration of this magical evening honoring the children of our country," the queen stated before walking away with the king.

After outstanding performances of Cordonian Royal Ballet academy and a play presented by Queen Eleanor's children home, it was time for the Young Couples Dance. All couples were introduced by the herald and as soon as they took their places in the ballroom, musicians played a traditional Cordonian Waltz. The crowd eagerly waited for any kind of mishap or incident. Contrary to all expectations, the young couples gracefully danced to the song, making it another successful performance. 

"Maxwell and Hana did an excellent job with the kids this year," Liam commented.

"I know. Aren't they lovely?" Jade beamed as the couples spinned in perfect synchrony.

"They are. But there's one couple stealing all the attention though." The king nodded towards Princess Elise, who was all smiles to her dance partner. "Who is he?"

"Gael Maldonado, heir to the Ducado de Rivas."

"A Calenvian lord."

"Maxwell was betting on Amalas's child, but I saw how our Lil Bunny was like when she facetimed Gael."

"I see... Did Drake run a background check on him?" Liam asked, scrutinizing the boy.

"What would he—" the Queen then arched an eyebrow in amusement. "Are you jealous, Your Majesty?" Jade teased.

"No..."

"Liam..." 

"It's just a precaution."

"You don't say..." she grinned.

"Our children won't have a social season. We need to find out more about their possible..." Liam made a face as the boy whispered something in Elise's ear, making her giggle. "...suitors."

Jade chuckled, hugging the king's arm. "Honey, they just met. Let them enjoy the night with no pressure."

"Are you really not worried?"

"Why would I be? Look at them!"

Elise beamed as Gael spun her around and held her with back pressed against his chest.

The king then gave his wife a knowing look. "You already did a background check on him, didn’t you?” 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Jade reached for her champagne flute to avoid his gaze.

“Uh huh…” 

The king and queen smiled proudly, watching their eldest daughter dance.

#choices fanfic #the royal heir #liam rys #liam x mc #hana lee #maxwell beaumont #choicesnovember2023 #lorirwritesfanfic #lorircreates #liam and jade's love story

[txemrn]

Déjà Vu

Chapter 2

New? Check out the first chapter HERE! (Go ahead; you're not late. Sure, we can wait.)

Series Summary: After an unforgettable night with a stranger, Princess Eleanor finds herself caught in a secret love triangle between a noble and a commoner.

Chapter Summary: Drake attends dinner at the palace, and even though some things will never change, he discovers quickly everyone has moved on without him.

Pairing(s): Liam x Riley; Bertrand x Savannah; Maxwell x m!OC; Olivia x Amalas

Word Count: ~4885

Warning: 🔞 Mature Audiences Only 🔞 language (like, a lot); references to infidelity, pregnancy; teasing/bullying

A/N: Welcome to my Crack Fic! If you are new, hi! Thank you for joining us! This story takes place approximately 2 decades after TRR/TRH. I have made some canonical changes (they will be mentioned). Characters and some plots belong to our friends at Pixelberry! This was not Beta'd; please excuse my errors.

~🖤~

Drake

The gentle purr of the engine beneath my grip of the steering wheel shoots pleasurable waves of pure octane ecstasy. My nerves ignite with palpable electricity, coursing through my every cell. The cream leather interior is like butter against my skin, and the scent of luxury leaves me completely intoxicated.

Lucky little shit.  

I still can't believe my nephew–my fucking nephew–owns this beauty. How many twenty-four-year-olds own an Aston Martin Vantage convertible? I wish I could give him more shit about it, coming from such privilege as being the oldest son of a duke, but Bartie has more than earned it. 

He may not have exactly been planned, but he was the answer, and essentially the savior, of Ramsford. Back when I lived in this God-forsaken country, some twenty-odd years ago, Ramsford was in financial ruin. My brother-in-law, Bertrand, Bartie's father, scraped, scrapped and pinched every monetary morsel to keep them afloat for years.

Then along came Bartie: finished the top of his class at some preppy private institute at Stormholt with a degree in finance, and in just three fucking years of working with his dad… well, that little shit has an Aston. 

I'm actually very proud of him. Surely he knows that. We weren't much for talking over the years, but I'd send cards telling him I loved him, and I'd ask about him during video calls with my sister.

Judging that I am sitting in his custom-painted cherry-red luxury car right now? Yeah, Bartie knows I care the world about him. The fact that he's going to allow me to drive it? Fuck, I don't think I even trust myself, especially on these European roadways. Sure, I learned how to drive in Cordonia, but that was over two decades ago. And it wasn't a stickshift.

Can't be that hard, right?

I study the mechanism of the gear shift, comparing it to a quick Google search on my phone as I wait for my nephew to return to the car with a necktie–my suggestion.  Afterall, we're heading to dinner with the royal family… A.K.A. my childhood best friend, his daughter. And his wife.

The love of my life.

Eh, don't feel sorry for me. I'm over it. Seriously. And besides, technically, Liam had first dibs on her; but then again, he had first dibs on several other women at the exact same time, social season and all for his highness, the fucking crown prince of Cordonia. Whoop-de-do.

He's the one that asked me to look after his hot American suitor during his own personal season of The Bachelor. Are you really surprised I fell for the chick? The guy was never around. And Riley and me? She... she was fun, smart. She was fucking hilarious, gave those noble bitches a real run for their money. And yet, she was still kind and caring. She was easy to talk to; I found myself opening up to her in ways that… well, no one else could. 

Riley Brooks. I guess you could say she's the reason I never settled down with anyone. No one–and I mean no one–ever measured up. 

Oh well. That was a long time ago. And she made her decision. Him. And even though he was like the brother I never had, I… I couldn't. I just couldn't sit back and watch them play house and build a life together. Well, for Liam, it was real. 

I had fallen for her. But so had Liam. I knew that if I stayed–if I had stayed, the secret of Riley and me wouldn't end. Shit, if it didn’t end after they said, "I do," when would it?

Time heals all wounds, right?

Bartie opens the door, and slides into the passenger seat with two neckties in hand, both black as he holds them up to his crisp white oxford. "What do you think?"

"Think about what? The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost? You look like a fucking mormon," I jest as I point to the one with a subtle matte paisley design. "Why are you fussing about this anyway?"

"Just cause," he passively offers as he stares in the visor mirror, knotting his tie. "I'm speaking with King Liam privately after dinner, and… well, I just want to look alright."

Sensing his raw nerves, I pause for a moment, watching him fidget anxiously with the garment. Jesus, when did my baby nephew become a fucking man?  I smile, placing my calloused fingers on his shoulder. "You do, kid." I fasten my seat belt as I turn my attention to the dash. "So, how do I put this thing into drive?"

------

It’s surreal walking into the palace after so many years away. White marble floors. Crimson curtains with gold accents.  Childhood memories flood my mind of our sword battles on the grand staircase, pretending to be blood-thirsty pirates. Or when we would gallop through the secret labyrinth of corridors deep within the estate, charging on our make-believe stallions like mighty Spanish conquistadors. 

We would always sneak to the kitchen between meals to taste the desserts being made for dinner–unless Ms. Marta was working. That fucking old hag. Most of my ass whoopings were from her tattling on us. 

Liam was a fucking weirdo on our kitchen raids.  We would slip through the window of the bakehouse, and when we would confirm that the coast was clear, he would always head straight for the pantry to a bag of pistachios. We're talking about a place that had every sweet, every chocolate, every cookie imaginable, readily available in sealed containers. And he chose nuts. 

I always had my eyes on a nightly staple in the palace: warm apple pie. They were made daily, and I could always find at least one cooling on the window sill. 

Fuck, now I'm salivating over a fucking pie.  

To this day, I humbly have to admit that Cordonia apple pies are the best–don't let the taste of a raw ruby fool you. Something about the bitter compounds reaching a certain temperature causes… something-something to do something… ah, hell. Tell you what. If you're that curious, ask Liam. I mean, I'm assuming he's still a nerd–

"Drake!" 

I startle at the greeting, instantly recognizing the tall, broad-shouldered blond striding closer to me, wearing… an apron? The fuck? The apron has the phrase, 'I love you a bushel and a peck'.

Oh, yeah. He's still a fucking dweeb. 

His outstretched hand takes mine as he shakes it before pulling me into an embrace. "It's so good to see you, old friend," he pats my back before standing back to take me in.

He looks so different, but undoubtedly, he still looks like Liam Rys. Stray pieces of silver litter his perfectly styled, perfectly placed waves. His strong jawline and high cheekbones were cut more razor-sharp by his more mature, thinned face. His strong chest and the swell of his biceps made him look like a fucking Greek god. Lucky bastard. It's like turning forty didn't wreak havoc on his appearance or metabolism, save for a few fine lines around his eyes and smile.

"Bartie," Liam smiles endearingly, "always a pleasure." He extends his arm to my nephew before the scared kid had a chance to bow. I could see the flood of panic in Bartie’s eyes, but I gave him a reassuring nod as he hesitantly took his majesty's hand.

Don't worry, kid. I won't tell your daddy about your ‘poor manners’.

"Please," Liam rests his hand on my shoulder while turning to guide us to the queen's hall, the largest dining area in the palace for private parties. The room boasted an impressive, custom eight-meter-long table that could easily fit twenty-five guests comfortably. "Come, come. Everyone is just being seated." We follow him down the east corridor when suddenly, the savory aroma of roast and… something garlicky teases my senses. Liam obviously caught the delicious waft too, turning back with a devious grin. "I hope you brought some hearty appetites. Riley and I have something special for you tonight."

Riley. Why does the mere mention of her name make me–shit. Get it together, Walker. You're over it.

As expected, my closest friends during my time in Cordonia are all present along with their families. Well, 'friends' might be too strong of a word to use on this crowd. They were nobles and friends of Liam. I was friends with Liam. Ergo, we were friends. Sorta. 

My sister Savannah and her husband Bertrand were sitting at the end towards my right, speaking in hushed tones to one another. They came separately from Bartie and myself from their estate since, well, there wasn't enough room for them and the triplets. Yes. You read right. Triplets. As in three babies at once. They had tried for years to have more children with sadly no avail, and it took a terrible toll on their marriage. I still remember Sav's tearful call five years ago, revealing to me that they were separating. I was preparing to hop on a plane to execute my brother-in-law's accidental demise for breaking my little sister's heart when I got a second call a few weeks later. They were pregnant. I got a call a week after that. I had three nieces on the way.  Sydnie, Stella and Simone: the cutest little shits you've ever seen… and not just because they have their uncle's dashing good looks. 

I'm talking about me, their uncle. Not their other uncle.

Maxwell Beaumont–said other uncle– was sitting next to his brother Bertrand. He officially married Baron Friedrich von Lehndorff twelve years ago when Cordonia overturned their marriage clause of traditional unions. One hundred forty-eight same-gender couples came forward that day to be legally married; Max and Rich led the way to the Capitol. They became a beacon of light and love, not just for Cordonia, but to the world. I remember reading about their march for equality and their victory in my local paper. Maxwell and I weren't necessarily best friends, but a sense of pride bloomed in my chest, seeing him do something so incredible and bold with his life.  

He and Rich have a 9-year-old daughter Gia and 4-year-old son Ollie, both adopted from South Korea. Don't tell them I told you, but I follow their TikTok. Those two are fucking adorable.

Across from the Beaumont-von Lehndorffs is the Scarlet Duchess herself. Olivia Nevrakis. And… I almost can't believe the sight myself–

"Hey, Walker!" She waves, a smile growing on her face.

What. The. Fuck. Was she… happy to see me?

She stands up and makes her way around the table of guests to greet me. 

With a hug.

Shock number two: she’s touching me in a friendly manner. But that's when I was hit with shock number three.

Is she? No, no… she can't be. Is that a–?

She must've seen the curiosity etching across my face as I stared down at a rounded abdomen that just pressed up against me during our embrace. She instinctively cradles her belly and giggles.

Giggles. 

Was I in the Twilight Zone?

She married Amalas a few years after I moved away. I wasn't surprised; the few times Livvy and I hooked up felt odd, like something was missing. I mean, not that I didn't satisfy her. That was never a problem for me with women. Turns out, ol' red was looking for a queen. 

Together they serve as queen and queen consort of Monterisso, and apparently are known for creating quite a riot at international events. I'm not surprised. They have four children: Macaela–Amalas’s daughter with her late husband–Josefine, Joaquin, and Joseph.  And then baby Timothy will be joining them soon. Because that name makes sense.

I'm starting to feel a little self-conscious. It's been over twenty years, and everyone seems to have grown up. Had families. Changed the world. And what did I have to show? Nothing. I mean, I did have quite a successful construction company that I developed with almost seventy employees under my leadership, but… well, that went under thanks to my business partner fucking me over. Fucking twat-waffle. 

But is this really what my life comes down to? Is this how you would sum up my life? Compared to childhood friends, I was still nothing. And here I was again on the coattails of Liam.

An abrupt delicate tink to a wine glass echoes over the various conversations and children squealing, silencing everyone as we turn our attention to the head of the table. 

And there she was. Just as breathtaking as the last day that I saw her.

"Drake," she gasps as I pull her into the dark shadows behind the barn. "We can't. Not anymore." 

I shake my head, her eyes refusing to meet mine. I took a step towards her, but she instinctively shifts, her back pressing against the wall.

"Brooks–"

"Rys," she interjects, the correction like a serrated blade piercing my skin. A sob escapes her as rivers course down the planes of her velvet skin.

Placing my arm against the splintered wood next to her head, I lean closer to her, capturing her intoxicating scent. My hand slips up her neck, my fingers tenderly lifting her chin to look at me, to captivate me with those ocean eyes.

My thumb caresses her rosy lips, feeling her breath hitch. I flutter my mouth across her wet cheeks, my feather touch kissing away her tears.

But we suddenly freeze.

"Riley?"

Liam's smooth voice carries over the moonlit pasture, drowning out our abilities to hear the bustle of the reception.

"Riley…Don't–"

But it's too late. Before I could stop her, she was gone.

I blink. Casually shifting in my seat, I glance nonchalantly around me. Whew, everyone is still staring at the head of the table. No one seems to notice that I got lost in my thoughts for a moment.  I nervously scratch through my stubble before grabbing the water glass in front of me. I take a longass sip of water, but when I pull the glass from my mouth, two crystal-blue orbs with long, flirty lashes are locked on me.

Fuck, I choke on the water on my attempt to swallow it down. I start coughing violently as Maxwell starts patting my back.

"You okay there, Drakey?"

I finally take a gulp of air, and glare at him. "Yes… and it's Drake, Maxi pad." Okay. I admit it. It was childish to retaliate by calling him the name me and some of the other guys called Maxwell growing up. But to my surprise, he laughs before finger-gunning me.

"Good one, Drake. I haven't heard that in years."

I turn back to our royal hosts just in time for Liam to give me a friendly nod, as if to ensure that I'm okay without creating more of a scene. But when I glance over at Riley, she quickly averts her eyes, slipping her hand into Liam's. 

Jesus Christ. If that was a sign of how things were going to be, her cowering and treating me like I'm some kind of criminal for something she did willingly… something she pursued… fuck that. Send me back to Texas.

"We brought wine!" Rich singsongs, pulling out two large bottles from a nearby refrigerated wine rack. "Who'd like–?"

I refused to let the poor bastard finish.

"Me."

------

I can't remember a single time in my life where I have been so positively and exuberantly grateful for Maxwell fucking Beaumont. He fended off the anticipated awkwardness and helped the dinner conversation progress, making the casual assist to include me in this special meal that was supposedly in my honor. 

I'm not saying the others were rude to me, Liam especially. He was treating me like a long lost brother, like the prodigal son that has finally returned home. And I'm not going to lie: it felt good to be reunited with him.

But Riley couldn't even look me in the eye, and judging by the flashes of guilt and her over-eagerness to leave the room every chance she got, I know she never told her husband the truth about our relationship.  He had his suspicions. And I owned up to falling for her, thus the ending of our friendship and me moving to Texas. I mean, I thought it was the end…

But, I didn't just fall for her; it wasn't pining for her from afar, hoping she would give me the time of day.

We were in love.

"This was absolutely divine," Savannah sings praises, taking a sip of her tea. Everyone begins chiming in with their sentiments, thanking the royal couple for the delicious meal. Yes, they prepared it. I know; I was impressed myself.

Individual conversations continue through dessert and coffee when suddenly, the ring of a phone interrupts us into silence.

"Excuse me," Amalas whispers with the phone against her ear, "I need to take this. It's Josie."

Liam and Riley flash looks of concern at one another. "I hope everything is okay," Riley says softly as she twirls her necklace between her fingers, turning to her husband with a more hushed tone. "Did Ellie text you?"

Liam is already looking at his phone, but he's casually shaking his head, appearing more relaxed than his wife. His gaze catches my curious look as I try to put the pieces together of what's going on this evening.

"Josie–err, Josefine–is out with our Eleanor and Madeleine's daughter Bethany this evening." 

Ah, that's right… Josefine must go by Josie, Amalas’s second daughter, her first daughter with Olivia. Shit, I can’t keep these spawn straight….

"Crisis averted!" Amalas sweeps back into the room, placing her cell into her pocket. "The girls said the restaurant was too crowded, so they're going over to the Vancoeur's for a–" she imitates an American valley girl, "girls' night."

"Vancoeur?" I mutter, turning to Maxwell. "Did he… reproduce, too?" The idea sounded ridiculous. What woman lowered her standards that low to sleep with that bastard?

"Yep," Maxwell responds, "he has a beautiful daughter." He takes an obnoxious sip of his espresso. "You know, Bethany, the girl that's out with Eleanor and Josie."

No. Fucking. Way.

"I thought Beth was Madeleine's kid?"

"It is." Maxwell chuckles as mischief glows in his eyes. "Oh Drakey, you missed it. Maddie and Neville were actually married for about ten years." Pulling a napkin up to his mouth, he lowers his voice. "Rumor has it she was about to lose what was left of her inheritance, slept with that weasel, then faked a pregnancy to get him to propose." He snickers. "I wish I could've been a fly on the wall when her fake pregnancy turned out to be a real pregnancy."

"What the–?"

"Mhrmm," Maxwell bounces his eyebrows, "she claims she had no idea." He stares at me intently before rolling his eyes and gesturing with his hand a dramatically large curve over his stomach. “Agnes, my seamstress–can you believe she’s still working for us? Well, anyway, that woman can work absolute miracles…” He takes another sip of his drink.  He quiets his voice while he averts his eyes, slowly crossing his legs. “There was no hiding that bump.”

I shake my head in disbelief, chuckling under my breath when suddenly, I feel a large hand on my shoulder. I whip around quickly, pulling my body away, when I see–

"Shit, Li–"

"I didn't mean to interrupt," he offers a friendly smile.

I blow away the air I had quickly sucked in, willing my heartbeat to slow down. I guess I'm still a little on edge being here, but fuck, that scared me.

"I thought before you left tonight, we could discuss, um… arrangements. For you."

"Yeah… yeah, of course." Following his lead, we start to make our way to the exit for privacy.

When Liam invited me to Cordonia, he was very specific that he wanted to help me get back on my feet. And I believe him. I know his generosity is genuine; he doesn't have any ulterior motives or some secret vendetta against me from the past. At least I hope he doesn't. But this isn't a vacation for me; part of the deal was I needed to work. I'm not sure if that meant finding temp jobs or something more long-term. 

“Do I smell imported cheap whiskey?”

I stop short of the door.

Fuck me. Leo Rys. Liam’s older brother and notorious international womanizer. The man just turned fifty last year, and it’s like he unlocked a new group of admirers, especially now that he’s sportin’ a little silver around the edges these days. 

He and Liam are complete polar opposites. Apples and oranges. Night and day. If Liam was thoughtful and selfless… well, you get the gist. And clearly by his entrance, I’m discovering that some things never change.

As if his deep bellow wasn’t warning enough, his black leather boots announce his presence as he struts across the polished tile, his arm hooked around his helmet. He slaps his free hand on my shoulder, squeezing it firmly as he obnoxiously sniffs me.

"Cheap whiskey… and… is that a hint of beef jerky and cow patties I'm detecting?"

"Good to see you, too." Jackass. I slap his chest before pushing him off of me. I may have used a little more force than I should've. My bad. 

"Am I late for dinner?" He slaps Liam on the back before walking towards the kitchen.

Liam sighs. "Just… a little–"

"Ahh, don't worry," he stops to kiss Riley on the cheek. "I'll serve myself."

As Leo disappears, Liam and I give each other a knowing look before leaving the room as well.

------

"Trust me, you're going to love what Riley has done with the guest quarters."

Liam and I had a good talk. A really good talk. We didn't have to say it, but it was clear: we missed each other. We missed our camaraderie, the confidence we had in one another. He was the first person I called when Dad died; I was the first person he called when Leo abdicated. We grew up and became men together.

But then Riley Brooks happened… but, I'm guessing you know that by now.

Liam has already a number of jobs for me to sift through, several carefully picked out that would play to my strengths with architecture and construction. But since these jobs were either on the grounds or here locally in the Capitol, he insisted I move into one of the private guest quarters with its own private entrance and balcony.

'You don't need to be making that drive from Ramsford everyday.' He's right. It's quite the journey, not to mention I don't exactly have a vehicle of my own here. So, I'm back in the palace. Ain't life a bitch?

"Now I hope you don't mind all-electric. The gas lines and how they were designed don’t–"

"Beggars can't be choosers, love."

Her words are like ice, the sharp chill making even her husband shudder. 

"Riley–"

"What?" She giggles under her breath. "I was joking." She turns a venomous stare towards me. "Drake knows I'm kidding. Don't you, Drake?"

I clear my throat. "Yeah," I play along, "good one."

"Love?" She slips her hand around Liam's arm, lowering her voice into a whisper. "Bartie Beaumont has requested to speak with you privately."

"Oh!" Liam brightens. "Sure. Of course." He gives me a pleasant nod. "Excuse me, Drake. And, please. Feel free to look around."  He begins to make his way towards the dining area, Riley following in step behind with no acknowledgement to me.

I breathe a sigh of relief. I needed a moment to myself anyway.

"Actually," Liam turns on his heel, waving a finger in the air. "On second thought, Love?" He smiles lovingly towards Riley, placing his hands affectionately on her shoulders. "How about you go show Drake the renovations you made?"

Shit.

------

Riley barely spoke two words to me besides pointing to the obvious fixtures and control buttons in the guest suite.

Light... Refrigerator… Bathroom… 

"This, uh, looks really nice," I try to converse, combing my fingers through my hair. "I never thought I'd see the day this room would have a–"

"We don't have to do this." She walks out of the room and into another part of the suite.

Why was she being such a frigid bitch? 

Fuck, I need a smoke.

I take a deep breath, shoving my hands in my pockets as I stroll back out into the hallway of the apartment.

"Is there anything else you needed to see?" She swallows thickly. She tries to remain stoic with a stiff bottom lip. Her jaw ticks… but her glare betrays her as something else brews that I … can’t quite discern.

But then, without warning, Riley's eyes roam down my body, catching on the crotch of my khakis before returning to my face.

Eyes up here, your majesty.

She clears her throat, pretending I didn't just catch her checking me out. "Um, anything else you wanted to see… of the suite, that is? Because, uh, we should probably –" she shuffles backwards, pointing aimlessly behind her, towards the door.

"You go on ahead," I tell her. "I'm gonna check out the balcony if you don't mind."

A heated swirl of rouge ignites on Riley’s cheeks. She nods, turning on her heel quickly without saying a word, and exits the apartment in record time. 

Thank God. I don't know what just happened, but… this is a very interesting turn of events. Does she still have feelings for me?

No. Stop.

Shit. Maybe moving in is a mistake.

I make my way outside, and damn. The view from this balcony is stunning. It actually overlooks the Cordonia countryside, which means less lights from the city and plenty of stars to be seen at night. It's... actually a nice reminder of home.

Taking a seat on the balustrade, I pull out a cigarette and nestle it between my teeth as I search for my lighter. I pat my pockets, both in the back and front of my pants before checking my shirt.

Shit. Can the universe just pass me a fucking bone?

I slump over, resting my elbows on my knees. Holding my hands in front of me, I begin to pick at my calluses as the events of the evening replay like a movie reel in my head.

But suddenly, there's a snick, then a spark; then a single flame is held in front of me. Fishing my cigarette out from behind my ear, I fix it between my lips and lean into the fire. I pull heavily, deeply until the familiar burn touches my anxious nerves, and I blow away my initial puff.

"You know smoking can kill you."

I raise an eyebrow at the deep voice, taking another inhale before blowing it in Leo's face.

"Malaka."

I chuckle at his insult, watching that smug grin pull out his own cigarette to light. He leans against the side of the balcony before hoisting himself up onto the balustrade.

"So," he licks his lips, looking at me inquisitively. "How does it feel to be back in lovely Cordonia?"

I look at him, scrunching my face. Really? That's the best you can do? I look back down, flicking some ash on the ground.

"How does it feel–" he blows smoke over his shoulder, "--being back close to Riley?"

My head shot up.

"Ohhh," he snickers, "that got Walker's attention really fast."

How the fuck does Leo know? How the fuck does Leo know anything? I can feel my heart begin to pound, my eyebrows furrowing in anger.

"Now hold up, Walker," he holds up his hands in defense. "I come in peace. I don't care that you fucked my sister-in-law once upon a time… okay, fine. Maybe just a little–"

"What do you want, Leo?"  I interrupt, irritation baited in my voice.

He looks down fidgeting with his fingers.  When he turns back to me, he has an indiscernible expression on his face, as if a wave of vulnerability is crashing over him.

"I know it can be… challenging, you know? Moving back to Cordonia after a hiatus, and I figured tonight was probably a lot for you."

And now Leo is trying to have a heart-to-heart with me… What the fuck happened to these people while I was gone?

"I thought maybe… you could use a friend."

"Well," I stand up, taking a step away. "Thanks. I appreciate it–"

"I mean it," he holds a hand to his chest. "Say–" he jumps to his feet, sandwiching himself between me and the door. "What are you doing tonight?"

Besides leading the exciting life of letting my nephew drive me back to his parent's house, eating a bag of Doritos in my boxers and getting shit-faced?

"There's a new club opening in town tonight. Tons of people. Who's who. VIP–" 

"Thanks, but–"  I try to shove past him, but he stops me, putting his hands against my chest.

"Six full bars, and–" he wiggles his eyebrows. "Lots… and lots… of fresh Cordonian-grade pussy. How do you like them apples?"

Like I said, some things never change.

"C’mon, Walker… you in?"

~🖤~

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------

Thank you so much for your support! Every like, comment and reblog means the world to me! 🖤

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[alj4890]

Day 1: Distraction

(Thomas Hunt x OC) in a Choices Red Carpet Diaries/ The Royal Heir crossover fic.

Masterlist

Rating: PG for some mentions of sexual situations. Mostly fluff all over.

@krsnlove @my-heart-beats-for-ya ​ @aworldoffandoms ​​ @flyawayboo ​​ @trappedinfanfiction ​​  @sophxwithers @twinkleallnight @hopelessromantic1352 @tessa-liam @choicesrcd2022 @promptnonny

Premiere Date

Two months earlier...

"Maxwell said the premiere for The Royal Romance will be December first." Amanda balanced her phone on her shoulder while finishing up reviewing the servants' wages. "Would you like to be my date for it?"

"Of course." Thomas jotted it down on his calendar. "I believe we made it official last month that I would be your date from now on."

Amanda couldn't help but smile when she looked at her engagement ring. "Yes, we did but I thought since it is a Tommy Phelps film, that might stretch your affection for me.

Thomas snorted in response. "There are not enough explosives in that man's mixed bag of mediocre cinematic tricks to ever stretch what I feel for you."

"I love how you're able to take an insult to someone else and turn it into something romantic for me." She replied with a giggle.

His lips curved. "As was my intention. I should be in the process of editing my film by then." He double checked the date. "Are you able to remain in Los Angeles after the premiere?"

"I believe so." Amanda flipped through her own calendar. "I don't have any court events I have to attend until after the holidays."

"Good." Thomas motioned for Holly to bring him his schedule for the day. "Then we can begin our plans."

Amanda smiled even more. "Our wedding plans?"

"Exactly." He quickly scanned the day's shots. "I don't intend to start any film projects until the end of next year so that we can enjoy the beginning of our marriage."

Thomas glared over at Holly and Addison making aww noises. He turned away from them in an attempt to keep his conversation private.

"Plus I want us to have a honeymoon away from everyone we know."

His frown eased when he heard Amanda laughing.

"Have you got your usual audience around you again?" She teased.

"I do." He grumbled.

"I see." Amanda smiled softly. "I suppose this means no, I love you, at the end of this call, hmm?

"Of course not." He replied. "I'm not going to let a few irritating individuals stop me from saying that."

"Then I will let you get your day started while I wind down for the evening." She replied. "I love you, Thomas."

"I love you, too." He sent another glare over his shoulder when he heard Addison and Holly's overly dramatic sighs. "Sleep well."

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, my love." Amanda promised.

"I look forward to it." Thomas ended the call with a dark frown towards his two assistants. "Don't you have something you should be working on?"

"Just waiting upon your usual demands, boss." Holly replied.

"Is Amanda coming to visit?" Addison asked.

"Unfortunately," he quickly counted the weeks, "not yet."

"You miss her a lot, don't you?" Holly prodded.

"I do." His frown reappeared at them involving themselves in his private life. "Well, don't just stand there! Make sure everyone is waiting on the set!"

Their grins let him know they weren't the least cowed by his bluster of anger. He knew he'd have to do something about that at some point. A soft smile formed as he realized he wasn't too worried about it.

In eight weeks, he'd be back with the one he loved.

*************

Seven weeks later, Taos, New Mexico...

This had to be one of the inner circles of hell Thomas was trapped in. There was no other explanation that could make sense better than that one. All his plans, his intentions, everything was one monstrous nightmare.

Nothing about filming his new take on the western genre was going like he'd envisioned.

He'd lost numerous supporting actors due to some type of food poisoning. Two of his stunt doubles were in the hospital due to accidents off set. The hotel they were originally at caught on fire and most of the costumes were damaged from the smoke and embers.

Holly fell while hiking and twisted her ankle all while dragging Addison with her and causing the costume designer to break her wrist and three fingers.

Matt Rodriguez had to leave for a few weeks, halting production since his character was the one the entire plot revolved around, when his father suffered a heart attack.

Jessica Clarke, Hollywood's favorite new actress since her starring role in Thomas's The Last Duchess, had to stop filming her own horseback riding scenes the moment she found out she was pregnant.

Thomas was certain that all of this was occurring at just the right moment to drive him completely insane.

There was no way he'd be able to up and leave to start over. They were halfway done with filming the needed scenes on location. Plus, the backdrop to this desert town was exactly what he needed to convey the sheer hopelessness of Matt's character finding peace and redemption.

He eyed his phone, knowing he'd have to make the dreaded phone call.

He wouldn't be able to be Amanda's date for the premiere.

He needed to stay and combat these problems.

He knew she would understand. It was one of the many things he adored about her. He simply hated the thought of letting her down. And to be honest, he wasn't looking forward to seeing her in pictures on the arm of anyone else.

Who else was more perfect to be her escort to a movie premiere than the one man many regarded as a cinematic genius?

Thomas rubbed his face, softly groaning at what must be done.

He visibly jumped when his phone vibrated loudly on the table with an incoming call.

"Hello?" He tried to not sound so disgusted.

"Oof." Amanda replied. "That might be the most depressing hello I've ever heard."

Thomas pinched the bridge of his nose. He didn't know how to begin letting her down.

"Production must be going rough." Amanda softly said. "I'm so sorry."

"What do you have to apologize for?" Thomas snorted. "Unless you have become some maniacal sorceress and placed a curse upon my film, you have nothing to be sorry about."

He realized how bitter his tone was when he was met with nothing but silence.

"Amanda, I apologize." Thomas began again. "I didn't mean to sound like--"

"I know you didn't." She quickly interrupted before he spiraled on with guilt. "I only meant how sorry I am that I can't do anything to make it better for you."

"You make everything better." He grumbled. "In fact, hearing your voice is the only thing keeping me from yanking my hair out right now."

The sound of her laughter bubbling up brought a softening to his frown.

"We can't have that." She sighed. "I hate I won't get to see you next week."

He blinked. "How did you know I wouldn't be able to take you to the premiere?"

Her chuckle held a touch of sadness.

"Because I know how hard this shoot has been for you and I know you need to be there to complete it."

Thomas shook his head, marveling at how she always knew what he needed before he even said a word.

"I'm going to miss you terribly." She continued. "If Maxwell hadn't made us all promise to stick by his side, I'd find a way to sneak over to Taos."

"I understand." He slumped in his chair. "I was looking forward to finally having a chance to be with you." He rubbed a hand down his face. "I'm sorry I can't be there as your date."

"Then you better make plans for when you are free for the two of us." She replied.

Thomas could imagine the smile she must have just by the sound of her voice.

"What kind of plans would you like me to make?" He asked.

"The usual kind, Mr. Hunt." Amanda replied. "Time where we can be alone without anyone or anything else bothering us. I want no distractions taking your attention away from me."

"My favorite kind of plan." His lips curved. "And you should know that every time I am with you, nothing can take my attention away from you."

"That's all I want to hear." Amanda softly sighed. "I probably should let you go so you can get some rest."

"I doubt I'll get any sleep." He grumbled. "I've got another rewrite to work on with Holly."

"Try for my sake." Amanda gently urged.

He groaned.

"I will for you."

"Good. I love you so much."

Thomas relaxed some in knowing she must truly not be upset with him for canceling their plans by hearing her say that.

"I love you, too."

After he ended the call, he sat there staring at nothing in particular while thinking of Amanda. His frown formed once more in knowing she'd be coming to America and he couldn't enjoy her visit.

He reached over for the script, picked up his pen, then paused.

He wondered if there was a chance she could come here after the premiere.

*************

December first...

"Earth calling Thomas, Come in, Thomas."

He looked up, blinking the world around him back into focus.

"Welcome back." Holly grumbled, handing him a new cup of coffee. "Are we going to change up the scene with the argument Jonah and Marlene have since Jessica can't chase him down during the stampede?"

"Hmm?" Thomas glanced at the script. "Yes, of course."

Holly waited for him to give her something to write down.

Thomas stared at the scene for a few silent seconds.

"Okay." Holly threw her pen down. "Talk to me, boss."

Thomas quirked an eyebrow at her.

"We've been moving at a snail's pace with this script. You've barely shot any new footage. Every time I come into your trailer, you're staring off into the distance." She folded her arms. "There's only two possibilities for you to lose focus."

His eyes narrowed.

"The first one," Holly continued, unfazed by his glare, "is that this desert town has now drained your heart of filmmaking."

He rolled his eyes in response.

"Or you are distracted with a serious issue." She concluded.

He averted his eyes from her.

"What's wrong?" Holly repeated. "Come on, Thomas. I've worked with you too many times to be ignored."

He cleared his throat. "I don't know. Each time I think about the scenes that need to be addressed, I find myself..."

He squirmed in his chair, glaring down at his cup of coffee.

"You find yourself, what?" Holly prompted.

"I find myself thinking of Amanda."

Holly sat back with her jaw dropped.

"It isn't that shocking." He grumbled. "She is my fiancée after all."

"I know that." Holly leaned forward. "But I've never known you to be so lost in thought over her that you weren't able to work!"

"I am working!" He snapped.

Thomas snatched his pen up and x'ed out the entire scene. "There!" He threw it down. "I just made a directorial decision!"

"Thomas!" She scolded.

He rubbed a hand down his face.

"Why don't you take the next couple of days off and go see her?" Holly asked.

"Because I have a job to do, here." He argued.

"Which you're sucking at." Holly mumbled

"That was unnecessary." Thomas bit out.

"No. It's pretty necessary." She took the script and set it back in her portfolio. "Take a break. Everyone else has needed one for various reasons. You need one to clear your head so we can finish this shoot strong."

Thomas groaned, shaking his head.

"You know I'm right. Go surprise Amanda. It will put you in a better mood." Holly swiped up her stuff on her way out. "And we certainly need a more pleasant director right now."

"I won't make it in time to take her to the premiere." He mumbled.

Holly paused at the door. "Then get there in time to take her home."

His eyebrows raised while he calculated the hours he'd need to do just that.

*************

"What'd you think?" Maxwell eagerly asked.

"It was amazing!" Riley exclaimed.

"I never said any of that." Drake snapped. "Why did you--"

"I loved it!" Hana interrupted before Drake could destroy Maxwell's excitement. "I wish I was as graceful as Cassandra Leigh."

"You are even more graceful." Liam told her while slipping his arm around Riley. His smile grew when his wife kissed his cheek. "And I am moved seeing our love story come to life."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "At least you made me true to form." She eyed Amanda. "You're awfully quiet."

"Hmm?" She looked up at her friends. "I'm sorry, did you ask me something?"

"The movie?" Maxwell took her by the shoulders to playful shake her. "Remember seeing it just a few minutes ago?"

Amanda laughed. "Yes. It was great."

"It's a shame you were out of the country during all that." Maxwell slung his arm around her shoulders as they followed everyone out to the lobby. "Then you could have been cast as someone awesome."

"I doubt anyone is more awesome than Ryan Summers." She teased. "You lucked out."

"I know!" Maxwell grinned at her. "Wasn't it like looking at my twin brother?"

"Sure."

Once they were out in the lobby, the group looked around at the crowd.

"Now what?" Drake asked.

"After party, baby!" Tommy Phelps joined them. "We are going to celebrate our success!"

"I've been waiting all my life for an after party." Maxwell exclaimed.

"My man!" Tommy fist bumped him. "I knew you would be down for one." He eyed the other Cordonians. "You're all coming too, right?"

"We are." Riley replied. "Right guys?"

Liam, Drake, and Hana answered in the affirmative.

Olivia rolled her eyes with the pleading looks from Maxwell and Riley.

"I suppose I could go for a drink or two." She responded. "Amanda?"

She nudged her when the duchess remained quiet.

"Hmm?" Amanda tried to focus on the conversation. "Oh! No. I'm not going."

"No!" Maxwell pouted. "How come?"

"Jet lag." Amanda latched on to the excuse. "I think I'll go back to the hotel and get some sleep."

After another firmer refusal, she was able to escape her friends.

All she wanted to do was to go back to her room and call Thomas. It felt so wrong being in Los Angeles without him. Her first premiere had been as his date for The Last Duchess. She'd assumed as quickly as their relationship developed that all premieres would be spent by his side.

She could just imagine his reactions to the overly dramatic scenes, the unneeded explosions, and the way the scenes were framed. Her lips curved into a sad smile as she also thought of how he would have remained by her side, his arm around her or holding her hand, whispering that he thought she looked lovely tonight.

She could almost feel the kisses he would have placed upon her knuckles and temple as they sat through the film. Her skin tingled with how he would have insisted they not go to the after party so that they could return to his home for an evening alone.

Her imagination was vivid enough to conjure all they would have gotten up to once within that peaceful, empty of all well meaning friends, and able to express their love. The kisses and caresses that would follow once the door was shut. The clothes slipping off.

Her cheeks colored as she walked outside of the theater. Her eyes scanned the now empty red carpet, searching further for a taxi or town car to take her back to her hotel. The number of limos lined up made her softly groan over the possibility of having to walk a few blocks in her uncomfortable heels.

As she dismissed each limo and waiting driver without a second glance, she doubled back on the sight of a tuxedo clad man leaning causally against a limo.

Thomas watched as recognition flashed in her expression. Unfolding his arms, he broke out into a smile as she rushed to greet him.

Chuckling, he caught her in a hug that lifted her off the ground. His lips sought hers as she slipped her arms around his neck.

"You came." She breathed against his lips.

"I did." He deepened the kiss, feeling at peace for the first time in weeks. "I've missed you."

"Nowhere near as much as I've missed you." She leaned back to look into his handsome face. "I can't believe you're here!"

He took her hands while motioning with his head toward the limo. "Shall we go home?" He eyed the people beginning to spill out. "Unless you have other plans."

Keeping his hand in hers, she got into the limo, tugging him in behind her.

"My plans only involved returning to the hotel and calling you." She snuggled against him once he settled his arm around her. "Now that you're here, I'm rethinking them."

"Oh?" He pressed his lips to the side of her neck. "I hope they align with my own."

She melted against him as his hands began to wander along her curves. Their lips met again and again in a more heated exchange than the last one.

"I feel very confident that our plans are going to align perfectly."

#rcd2022 #rcd appreciation week #choices red carpet diaries #choices thomas hunt #thomas hunt x amanda #thomas hunt x oc #chocies the royal heir #choices trh #choices fanfic writers creations

[lizzybeth1986]

Legacies

Book: The Royal Romance, Book 3

Pairing: None - mostly Liam and Hakim bonding, mentions of Hakim and Constantine's friendship

Rating: G

Word Count: 4, 813 words

Summary: In the aftermath of his father's death, Liam struggles with the lionizing of Constantine's rule, and wonders at the legacy he wants to leave behind. Answers emerge from an unlikely source.

Tagging @kingliamappreciationweek and @sazanes for KLAW Day 2: Historian theme, @choicesficwriterscreations for FoTW, and @aprilchallenge for the prompt "Garden".

Music: "Father to Son" by Queen.

Chapter 1: The Statues

(Faceclaims:

King Liam - Daniel Henney

Hakim Thorne: M’Barek Bouhchichi)

There is a gaping emptiness in Liam's chest, from the minute his father died right before his eyes. No overwhelming grief, no soul-ripping pain, not even anger. Just a void where a beating heart should be.

Father is lying in state now at the Queen Kendra Hall - not too far from Bossina Cathedral - where he will remain for the next twelve days. Liam almost hates himself for having far clearer memories of his father's cleaned, lavishly-decorated (in every medal he'd recieved since the age of 18) corpse, than of the moment he died - before reminding himself that at least with Father he remembers something. With Mum he doesn't even have that.

Liam keeps his eyes down, his head bent and his face studiously blank as the current crowd of mourners disperse, making way for more. The Vigil of the Princes is only twenty minutes...but in that time he can see, from the corner of his eye, a wide range of people come and go - most of them from the military and the coastal communities. As Liam had suspected, the people who benefited most from Father's rule were the most invested in soaking in that one last glimpse of him.

Leo is at the other end of Father's casket, also dressed in military garb, the torchlight from the walls making both his and Liam's medals sparkle. Liam cannot see his elder brother now but he knows, instinctively, that the struggle on his face to hold himself together must show. In the past this struggle had baffled him. There had been times when he pitied Leo his inability to uphold the family propensity towards being stoic. Over the years there have been times he was grateful Leo didn't have to worry about the consequences of his emotions showing on his face anymore.

But not today. Today, Liam envies his brother for the luxury of feeling.

Five minutes before Bastien - from his vantage point on one of the smaller balconies - taps his staff five times to signal the end of their vigil. A brief flash of Father in his last seconds blazes behind Liam's closed eyes, before disintegrating into an image of his gnarled, faintly-discoloured hands this morning. Clutching a book in his right hand, his left barely touching a blue flower placed on his chest.

Every member of the royal family is buried with at least 3 items that were either close to their hearts, or that acted as symbols for their reign. Father was one of the... dubiously fortunate few in recent times, who could draw up a will that included this (and other) details: a fresh blue Aster - their national blossom - plucked the day they prepared his casket, a small decanter of the calvados that had been made almost 62 years ago in celebration of his birth, and a copy of An Insighte Into The Great Apple War of 1244 by Artemisia Fierro and Sofonisba Vescovi, two scholars of the Renaissance who had once held connections to Cordonian nobility.

Liam takes in a deep breath as memories of his father's love for that book flood him. It had been only the second tome ever written on one of the last and most successful war campaigns in Cordonia, he'd whispered almost conspirationally to Liam once, and was considered the better-researched text of the two.

Father had always had a fascination with studying past wars. Almost as if to gear himself up for some sort of battle.

Was any of that ever worth it? Liam wants to ask his father one last time. The fear, the paranoia, the frowns that deepened almost to permanence on his skin in his final years, the forever impulse to look over his shoulder for the knife in his back...did any of it do any of them any good in the end??

As if in answer to his questions, Bastien's staff hits the floor five times. Without even looking around, Liam's footsteps move on instinct alone towards the area where Esther stands patiently with the Queen Mother, waiting. Her eyes are sheilded by the half-veil from her black box-hat, and the rest of her face is the very portrait of serenity. But as she places a hand over the crook of his elbow, he notices how they tremble.

They both nod in Mother's direction, their hearts turning over at the sight of her pale, pinched face, and move away.

This week cannot possibly have been easy for Esther. All week she has had to give interviews - as the last person outside of the King Father's family to speak to him before he died. All week the press has been badgering her to wear the medallion he had bequeathed to her, if only in his honour. She has been listening to every kind word, every eulogy, every speech with studied calm - only the rise-and-fall movement in her throat giving her away.

Brilliant strategist. Ruthless towards his enemies and devoted to his people. A truth pioneer of his times. The lifeblood of this land, a lion among men. A man who devoted his life in pursuit of ensuring the safety of all under his reign.

Liam's eyes were trained towards the dias when that speech was being given. On his arm, the light sting of Esther's manicured nails digging into his flesh grew sharper. He pressed his lips together and bore the pain, shaking his head and smiling weakly as she fretted over the half-moons left behind on his hand an hour later. It's nothing.

And that isn't a lie.

The truth of her feelings towards the father he had once loved and hero-worshipped...the father he still catches himself admiring sometimes...settles on Liam's chest like an unbearable weight. It is one he is prepared to carry - their whole lives if need be. Because as much as it hurts him to see the woman he loves lose all respect for his childhood hero, it is nothing compared to the hours and hours she has spent sitting through a thousand emotional tributes to the man who had so coldly planned such a complete violation of her space. A space that, as a foreigner in King Constantine's land, she had trusted him to keep safe for her...at the very least.

As he turns away from Esther to watch The Vigil of The Great Houses - their observance half the time of the Princes' - Liam steals a glance towards Olivia, the ruby on her brooch the only spot of colour against her black attire and pale visage. Her countenance is solemn until the moment her eyes rest on her aunt - the sight of the woman making her lock her jaw in such defiance that he can almost hear the message she is sending.

I am the Duchess of Lythikos. I will make sure we do our duty and pay our respects to the man who was once our king. Yes, auntie, Lythikos' king. Fight me.

Standing a few feet away is Bertrand, his senses strangely attuned nowadays to the cries of babies and toddlers...the mental calculations of what his little son sounds like now writ large on his face.

The Duchesses Emmeline and Adeleide, of Portavira and Krona respectively, fold their hands in front and bow their heads solemnly. Liam supposes he can only be grateful that Countess Madeleine's mother chose the sheer dreariness of sobriety today rather than her usually unflappable high spirits; for besides a few furtive glances in her determinedly stoic daughter's direction she shows nothing but a muted (but perhaps not entirely sincere) sorrow.

But it is the Duke of Castelserraillan - standing directly in line with Liam's field of vision - that captures Liam's attention. Jaw set, eyes dark and glittering, his face such a tapestry of restrained grief and resignation that Liam is certain he juat imagined the flicker of bleak anger in the older man's eyes.

The last time he had seen Duke Hakim was at the Costume Gala. Amid the festivities, Liam spotted him with Father, their heads leaning slightly in each other's direction, as if exchanging long-repressed confidences...the Duke on occasion placing a hand on Father's arm with a familiarity that Liam had only heard of secondhand. There was even a point in the conversation where Duke Hakim looked directly at his father, eyebrows raised, a subdued delight glimmering in their dark depths.

Esther would inform him later on that the two had fought over Father's repeated snubs and Duke Hakim's fraying patience at the beginning of the ball, but patched up in seconds.

Looking at Duke Hakim's face now, he wonders which sentiment haunts the older man the most - relief over that one second chance they got, or an unhealed hurt. Unhealed hurt over the the fact that King Constantine didn't have a chance to make good on the promises he'd broken, long ago.

Promises, perhaps, that the Duke may not even be sure his best friend intended to keep.

--

For as long as Liam can remember, he has always associated the moonlight with the Capitol Square. Walks around the city were a luxury the little prince could ill-afford with his Father's packed schedule. When these little excursions did happen, they happened at night, in the light of the moon and the street lamps, the air fragrant with the scent of wildflowers. He would take Liam alone. Mum would often find reasons to demur...although in later years Liam suspected she made them up so her husband and youngest son would have their own time together to spend.

He would look up at the strong, chiseled features of his father's beloved face, admiring the way the moonlight emphasized its sharp, decisive angles. Father loved to show strength and control, even on a casual outing with his children. His was a jawline that seemed carved out of marble, softened only by full lips that dazzled when he offered the rare smile. A smile Liam saw most often when they stood at the Capitol Square.

Look at these statues, young man. Father would say, his hand gesturing vaguely towards the sword on famed Captain Guard Valentina Greaves raised left hand. At the age of 5 the statues - with their weapons and their fierce gazes - terrified him, at age 12 they intimidated him. Look at these faces, look at the resolve in them. To better their country. To fight for it. To keep it safe. Cordonia has always depended on the best of us to take her forward into the future - and these indeed represent the best of us.

He hasn't come here since his Coronation. Indeed - one could always put it down to the amount of travelling the new King had to undertake since...but Liam knows better. He has been hesitant to visit this place since the night he had confronted his father on his hospital bed in Shanghai.

Tonight is different. Tonight he needs answers. Tonight he needs to understand, for himself, if in refusing to play in the shadow of his father he is making a mistake - or circumventing another tragedy.

Both he and his future Queen have been sitting through three days straight of eulogies. Of stump speeches that have been lightly modified to suit the gravity of the moment, of stories and anecdotes that lionized and whitewashed the man King Constantine was. Not just from nobles but from businessmen, fisherfolk, soldiers and generals.

Liam has long determined that he will never follow the route his father swore by. It is not who he is as a man; it will never be who he wants to become as a king. But on nights like tonight those words of praise for his predecessor haunt him. If the ghost of his father were to ever take shape, it would do so in just one question.

You have become so stubborn in your need to be the antithesis of me. Will Cordonia end up paying price for that?

So tonight he takes that walk to the square alone. In anticipation and in dread.

Until he finds himself at the foot of the statue of Valentina Greaves, and discovers he isn't alone, after all.

"Your Majesty," the voice behind him is deep and rumbling, its sound resembling the depths of a pounding waterfall. Duke Hakim has discarded his jacket this warm night, the waistcoat and shirt registering the straightening of his shoulders. In his right hand, an ornate gold pocketwatch.

Liam smiles briefly in welcome, letting the older man know he isn't intruding in on a private moment of mourning.

"Good evening, Duke Hakim," he straightens his own shoulders. There was once a time - a time that has faded into blurred memory - that he took joy in calling this man "Uncle". When did that stop? It has been so long he cannot even recall.

The two keep silent for a time. There is, after all, far too little and far too much to say. Stripped of their titles and reduced to the basics, Liam is the son of the Duke's best friend. He is also the son of the man that had his friendship and loyalty in the palm of his hand for years, and never understood or appreciated it. So much of what Liam knows of Father's friendship with Duke Hakim, he knows in bits and pieces: in the exchange of disappointed glances between his mother and Kiara's parents, in piling-up of invitation cards to events on Father's desk that went unanswered. In the too-long pauses Queen Regina would take every time she returned from an event at Castelserraillan, where she went as the King's representative. Even in the rare moments Father remembered his university days. There isn't a single second in those memories that Duke Hakim didn't play a starring role in.

It is in silence that they move from the statue of Val Greaves to the next. The night breeze brings with it the scents of orange blossom and french lavender - gifts from Duke Hakim's great-great-grandparents to an ancestor of his. The next figure of marble glares defiantly to his right, a spear in one hand and an apple cupped in the palm of the other.

"King Aithan." Is it his own imagination or is Duke Hakim's smile truly trembling on his lips? "who won the Great Apple War of 1244 in the most decisive victory since his grandmother united the Five Kingdoms."

Queen Kenna, the aforementioned ancestor, is right behind them, her legs standing apart and an array of weapons from all over the Five Kingdoms at the base of her statue. If you took in the sight of both figures together, Father had told him once, you could almost convince yourself that she seemed to stare directly at Aithan, imparting her blessings and her wisdom. More than the words, it is the shine in Father's blue eyes that Liam remembers most.

Duke Hakim's eyes glitter oddly in the moonlight. There is a moist sheen to them now that Liam is almost afraid to ask about for fear of intruding. The next words that come from his mouth are uttered softly, so softly that it's as if he is saying them to himself, as if he has forgotten that the man next to him exists.

"I've lost count of the times we used to played tag here." Absently, he runs a tender finger along the back of the watch fob he is holding, staring at it with a gaze soaked in muted grief. "It wasn't very hard to find Kontos. He always chose King Aithan's statue to hide behind."

Liam offers a sad smile of his own. "My father was nothing if not predictable."

The two men share halting, reluctant chuckles over this shared image. An image neither of them expected the other to recognise. It unravels some tightened cord between them - one that made it impossible for them to speak as if they knew each other.

"I didn't realize you and Father knew each other so well as children," Liam whispers as they pass other statues. Queen Ilona, 1346, who staged several successful attacks on the more hostile of their neighbours. King Calix, 1420, who thwarted at least three coups in his lifetime and finally managed to keep the Nevrakis family in a stronghold that they found impossible to wriggle out of until two centuries later. Queen Flora, 1492, who held her two year old child in one hand and slashed down the traitors who had entered her bedchambers with the other. The sword on her right hand is sculpted to appear as if it's still in midair, perhaps to complement the fire and brimstone in her eyes. "All the stories Mum told me of the two of you seemed to happen in university. I always assumed you weren't close till then."

A small frown pierces the skin between the Duke's eyebrows. When he speaks, his words are suddenly clipped, as if they are strangers again. Liam bites his tongue, chiding himself on his uncharacteristic carelessness.

"We weren't close until University. Just playmates whenever my mother brought me down to the Capitol. Duchess Emmeline and Duke Barthelemy could have boasted of the same." His voice is a hoarse rasp, his nails scraping lightly over the watch. "I'm more surprised you heard those stories from Ellie's mouth, not his." As if she were the only one who cared enough to keep them alive, Liam can imagine him thinking, and on an instinct fostered by years of now-destroyed blind worship, he leaps to his father's defence.

"I did hear a few from him. Just not as many. You'd know when he was the happiest because those were the stories he'd tell."

Duke Hakim respectfully appraises his King in a speculative glance, not entirely convinced. Liam cannot find it in him to blame the elder man. For years, Queen Regina - and then himself - had been the mouthpieces Father used to deliver excuses for his rejections of Castelserraillan's overtures. Each time the Duke would briefly glance over their shoulders as if expecting someone else - each time the glow of hope would dim from his eyes when he saw no one. Over the years it has made him wary not only of his old friend, but of them too.

The distance between the men has undoubtedly created a chasm amongst the families - one Liam doesn't know yet how to break through. There is no real reason for Duke Hakim, or his wife, or his daughter (who he had befriended himself over the course of the social season, and who has been around less and less since the Gala. It's gone long enough for him to begin worrying. Should he change the subject and ask the Duke about her?)...no reason at all to believe that Liam is different, that he is a man who will not abandon his well-wishers. Or even that he is a king who shares their goals, their dreams for this country.

There may come a time when Duke Hakim will believe Liam cares about what he thinks. Today is not that day.

As if to encourage a change in the subject, Liam looks around at the many statues dotting the Square. "Every single figure here is that of a warrior."

Duke Hakim grants him a weak, resigned smile. "I hear there used to be more. It was your grandmother who had them removed."

Yiayia Cassandra. Whose intimidating, terrifying countenance made his own father appear like a lamb in comparison - a statement both mother and son would've loathed to hear. Who hated the Nevrakises but kept tomes and tomes of their ancient books on war strategy. Who scoffed at art as being a useless, ego-fuelled and far too fanciful exercise.

Father would often speak of her with the same blind worship Liam had once reserved for him. It isn't surprising then his politics turned out the way it did, that despite his disdain for Olivia and her lack of courtliness, a part of King Constantine wouldn't wholly disagree with a lot of what she could propose.

Strength and authority. Those were the qualities the Royal Family wanted above all others in their heirs; anything different would spell failure.

Already, as Liam poses the question to the man beside him, he realises with a lump in his throat that he knows what the answer will be. "Which statues were those?"

"Artists. Scribes. Inventors. Scientists. People who advanced the nation in times of peace."

Liam smiles sadly. "And who are often overlooked in favour of the drama and glamour bloodshed brings." He responds with a shiver.

He is rewarded for this admission with a sharp, shocked look from Duke Hakim. An emotion, a memory, seems to flicker in his eyes before it swiftly disappears in the neutral game-face he has been showing around Liam all this time.

"I don't have the most trustworthy memory on the ones I did manage to see; it's been too long." The watch fob disappears into his fisted hands. "One of our own was part of this esteemed gathering. Dominique Lavigne, a master sculptor of her own time, who dressed as a man to get recognition. Yusuf Hadid from Domvallier, who combined Arabic calligraphy with our own Cordonian arts in handwriting. Saengdao Adair from Krysanthe, a pioneer in herbal medicine and the reason Krysanthans excel in both traditional and allopathic medicinal fields even today."

Liam freezes. "That last name? Could you repeat that again?" It's a name he's read about, vaguely, in obscure texts...but the fact that there's a statue...

"Saengdao Adair," the Duke says, locking his companion in a quizzical gaze. "Her statue -"

" - was mentioned in my father's will. Among others." Liam whispers, almost to himself.

Hakim's eyes widen. The contents of a passing monarch's will - even one who had passed on his throne to the next in line before his death - would be jealously guarded by the Palace, only released to the public years or maybe decades later. This is clearly information the King wouldn't impart so arbitrarily to just anyone.

More than once he has tried to stop himself from wondering if the boy had more of his mother in him. It was a hope he'd always held to his chest in the early years of Constantine's withdrawal...one that died when it became clear that he wanted little - if at all - to do with the Thornes. Against all wisdom, this small exchange is beginning to allow that hope to flare up within him again. Belatedly, he loosens his grip on his old, trusted watch fob - a gift from Kontos the year they graduated.

Liam rubs the space between his brows, trying to remember. "His will mentioned the King Fabian Alcove," he whispers, "that arrangements were to be made to shift it there from the Stirling Halls."

"Stirling Halls," Duke Hakim repeats, his voice suddenly hollow. Liam knows he must be remembering it as the place that was open to no one barring the Royal Family - not even members of the Great Houses. That was where all art went to die?

"The date on the will is from two and a half weeks before the Costume Gala," Liam says softly, his eyes searching Duke Hakim's face, then the hands that have dropped to his sides. The pocket watch is still there, his thumb running distractedly over it. "They only transfer artifacts to the alcove when they -"

"...when permission is granted to reveal those works to the public."

The two men stand still, soaking in their collective memories of the man whose body now lies in wait, to be descended into the Royal Family Vaults. To be buried beside men and women he'd read about in textbooks, loved, idolized. Who embodied his favourite words: Bravery. Valour. Strength. Warriors.

But he would also be buried next to men and women who understood the value of times of peace. Who - as he had often heard in Duke Hakim and Duchess Joëlle's speeches - advocated that a country gave you its best when its environment made you feel safe enough to create. And that was a safety that went far beyond border protection and weaponry.

People that Father would regularly dismiss when he and Leo were growing up. People that Cordonia wouldn't give a second thought to, nowadays. Because the value of their advancements were seeped so deep into public consciousness that they were often taken for granted.

Here in Cordonia, the mindset of the reigning monarch and the collective mindsets of their people often fed on each other. Yesterday's history books could hail one man a hero one minute, and a weakling the next. And for at least two centuries - perhaps bored from decades and decades of peace and good diplomacy, who knows? - the popular view seemed to favour a fondness for the most dramatic and bloodthirsty of their ancestors. Father was no different in holding that view.

When had that changed?

The moonlight casts the Duke's face into a fascinating interplay of light and shadow. The lines of his jaw are softer than Father's, but signify its own unique brand of strength. The air around them is scented and heavy, almost as if this moment promises a watershed of sorts, and that very air is drawing a bated breath.

"I haven't visited that alcove in a long time," Liam admits, looking away, "I don't remember where it is."

Duke Hakim swallows, then motions his hand vaguely to their left. "It's this way."

The alcove is inside a garden - a fairly large one, made of old red brick and surrounded by an array of beautiful creepers. The two men stop short of going inside, halting their steps and drawing a gasp at the sight in front of them.

"... Saengdao Adair?" Liam whispers, drinking in the sight of this pioneer with his eyes. Her hair is long, her voluminous folds of her robe billowing almost realistically as if they were real linen, not marble. A mortar and pestle rests in one hand; her other is raised, delicately holding a sprig of stinging nettle.

There are others. So many others. A woman with a map and a compass, staring ahead into horizons not yet explored. A man with a richly-feathered quill in his hand, a book in the other. A woman holding a jewel-embellished half-mask. A simple sculpture of a man dressed in the garb of the ancient Technocrats, his eyes glowing at the sight of the nails and bolts in his hand, ready to invent something new.

A woman seated on her heels, hammer and chisel in hand, lips pursed and eyebrows scrunched together as she worked at transforming stone to a work of art.

Liam lets out a small, watery laugh. "A sculpture for a sculptor."

The Duke responds with a smile, shaking his head. "Fali Kraine from the Blackspine Mountains."

Liam nods. "They say she had this precise look on her face and sat exactly this way while sculpting this piece. What I wouldn't give to witness that."

But the centerpiece of the alcove is a woman. A scribe. Hunched over - in the rough cotton garb of a scribe from the Renaissance - books and parchment. Transcribing - letter for letter and word for word - the history of her nation so that her descendants could share it with their children. His ancestor. Queen Lisabetta.

"King Fabian commissioned this," Hakim's voice is a hoarse, shaky whisper, "to remind his beloved wife of the value of the work she had once done."

Liam swallows a painful lump in his throat. Back in the palace, an hour ago - he had stayed in Esther's room, knowing she would need him more these next few nights if she were to preserve an ounce of her sanity.

"You're a good man, Liam," she had murmured against his throat.

He held her tighter, smiling slightly against her hair. "That won't always translate into becoming a great king, my love."

Against her own will, she let out a long yawn. Her fingers ran lightly over his chest before resting against his heart. "But it certainly helps."

He had held her until he was sure her body was resting softly and heavily against his, her breathing slow and deep...and then quietly slipped out of her arms to walk to the Capitol Square.

He looks at the Duke too. Both he and his children took this trip without Duchess Joëlle, who chose to go to Switzerland. He remembers every account of how attached the couple are and how much they dislike being apart - including his own mother's. Liam winces; he never recognized until now the sacrifice Duke Hakim made in coming here without her.

Yet here he is. For a country that will not always respect him. For a friend who would not always accept him. For a King he isn't entirely sure he can trust.

For an ideology that won't capture the country's imagination, the way valiant heroes on horseback do. But if these commemorations had been shifted to this alcove, with the intention of placing them around the Capitol Square...that must mean some change was underway. Within his father, and with Liam's help perhaps within the rest of the country too.

"It's getting late," Liam says, straightening up and getting ready to leave the alcove. "We'd better head back to the palace."

"In a minute, Your Majesty," Duke Hakim says, giving him a brief bow, then turning to the statue of Queen Lisabetta.

As Liam leaves the alcove, he hears a voice so soft he wonders if he had imagined it.

"Kontos," the voice said, a sigh released from deep inside a man's chest, "Kontos, you listened."

--

A/N: This mini series takes place in the Petals and Thornes universe, that revolves around a romance between Hana and Kiara. While a lot of the story beats follow canon, I do make a lot of deviations from the text, including with other characters who aren't central to the story but whose stories have a definite influence on the larger plot. I'm hoping to make Legacies one of them. At present I plan for it to be a four part series.

A/N2: In canon, Constantine's funeral and burial arrangements lasts just a week, all of which was skipped entirely to the Lythikos leg of the Unity Tour. I have increased that time to 12 days.

The Vigil of the Princes is based on the British tradition (of the same name) in royal funerals - esp that of the monarch - where the family members stay vigil for 10-15 minutes near the casket of the deceased. Family who has served in the military perform this ritual in their military uniform.

The Great Houses' Vigil is my own creation but with elements borrowed from the above tradition. My HC is that it is shorter and unlike the surviving royals, the members of the Great Houses are not required to wear military uniform.

Kontos is a playful nickname that Constantine's close ones were allowed to use for him, as long as they didn't use it in public (because apparently the meaning in Greek is "short")

Krysanthe is the modern-day Aurelia, with Hana being their current Duchess/Head of House. Saengdao is indeed Annelyse's descendant. Here is my HC on the duchy and Hana's rise to Duchess.

Characters from my playthrough of TRM in this story:

Artemisia Fierro - Hunter (f!Asian)

Sofonisba Vescovi - Kayden (f!Black)

Lisabetta Rosario - MC, who fell for Artemisia initially but married Fabian later on. Artemisia and Sofonisba keep in touch with the royal couple and are protected by the Crown.

#king liam #kingliamappreciationweek #KLAW #the royal romance #the royal heir #the royal finale #KLAW Day 2 #KLAW Day 2: King #KLAW Day 2: Historian #lizzybeth1986 #content: fanfic #Spotify

[angelasscribbles]

Heir Apparent Chapter 19: Going Public

Series: Heir Apparent.

Fandom: The Royal Romance

Pairings: Drake x Riley, Liam x Riley (past)

Rating: R

Warnings: Mature themes, language

Word Count: 2,749

A/N: Huge thank you to @karahalloway, @harleybeaumont and @dcbbw for brainstorming ideas with me for questions hurled by the press, insults tossed around, and newspaper headlines.

Everything else: Master List.

Liam waited for silence and order as he stood at the podium shuffling note cards.

Not that he needed them. He had his statement memorized.

He turned his head slightly in Riley’s direction. She seemed fairly well composed all things considered. The bombshell they were about to drop on the public was going to blow up her life far more than his.

If anything, this was going to make his life easier, while hers became infinitely harder. He recognized that and had taken steps to minimize the impact on her as much as possible.

Her medical records had all been transferred quickly, discreetly, and securely to the royal doctor. Both Valtoria and the palace had been equipped with state-of-the-art obstetric equipment, including its own ultrasound machine.

Her security detail had been ramped up and extra staff had been hired so that she didn’t have to go out in public unless she wanted to.

The plan was to make their public, joint statement, ask the public for privacy and then have her stay out of the spotlight as much as possible.

Drake was on the stage with them. Liam’s press secretary had assured them that it was crucial for him to be there to show his support. Riley was less likely to be viewed negatively by the public if her husband was beside her.

It infuriated him that anyone would cast her in a negative light because she made an error in judgment that night.

If it had been an error, it was one they had made together.

Not that he saw it as an error. He didn’t regret it and it had given him a child. He would never regret that.

It took longer than usual to quiet the room, mostly because it was obvious why they were there.

The curve of Riley’s belly gave them away.

Her oversized t-shirts and baggy clothing had been replaced with a designer wardrobe of maternity clothes.

The simple dress she had chosen for the press conference showed off her baby bump on purpose.

The press secretary thought that the visual proof of an heir would highlight the securing of the line of succession and hopefully minimize any drama surrounding the circumstances of the conception itself.

“Thank you all for coming,” he began, “I am aware of the rumors circulating in the press and I’m sure you’ve already surmised the reason for today’s press conference.”

He waited for the murmurs that rippled through the crowd to subside before continuing, “I am delighted to announce that the rumors are true. Cordonia has an heir on the way. The line of succession is secured.”

He ignored the hurled questions from the press corps.

“Who is the mother?”

“Is Duchess Riley pregnant with your child?”

“Will there be a royal wedding?”

“Are you using a surrogate?”

“Have you been having an affair?”

He turned and held his hand out to Riley, the smile lighting his face was genuine as he took her hand and helped up step up beside him.

Right where she belonged.

He shot a quick glance at Drake, who was seated on the stage behind them, back ramrod straight, jaw clenched, face blank.

Riley stepped up to the podium and smiled out at the crowd.

She also ignored the hurled questions.

“Are you pregnant, Duchess?”

“Is that a baby bump?”

“Is it the king’s baby?”

“What does the duke think about this development?”

“Will there be a divorce?”

Liam’s countenance grew serious as he called for calm to be restored.

When silence once again fell across the crowd, he continued, “As the public is aware, Duchess Riley and I shared a whirlwind romance before circumstances forced us apart.”

The murmurs were more sympathetic this time.

“We both moved on,” he lied, “but there was one last dalliance prior to the duchess’s marriage to her husband, Duke Walker.”

There were a few gasps, but mostly a lot of nodding heads.

Almost everyone understood closure with an ex.

“That dalliance, which again I would like to stress took place prior to her marriage to another man, resulted in a pregnancy.”

A small roar ran through the crowd as more questions were shouted.

“Surely the king should be married to the mother of the heir-“

“If there’s no divorce, then will custody be given to the crown?”

“Will Duke Walker give up custody?”

“Will King Liam raise the child alone?”

“Will the child be brought up traditionally, I mean considering the untraditional nature of the conception…”

“How can you be sure it’s yours? Was there a DNA test?”

Liam waited patiently for the tumult to die down before continuing, “Though our romantic relationship ended, Duchess Riley and I remain close friends and we are thrilled by this news. Paternity was verified by DNA testing and we look forward to co-parenting together, along with her husband, Duke Walker.”

He waited for the crowd to absorb the fact that Riley would remain married to Drake despite carrying his child before finishing, “Cordonia owes its future to the duchess.”

“Isn’t that a bit dramatic?” a reporter called out, “You’re a young man, Your Majesty, you have years to marry and produce heirs.”

Liam’s jaw clenched imperceptibly at the irony.

The press had hounded him relentlessly about the need for an heir. Now that he had produced one, suddenly he had plenty of time. He was used to the fickleness of the press, but it was still galling.  

Liam glanced at Riley. She didn’t know the next part was coming. He leaned into the microphone and announced, “As you all know, I found a loophole in our laws. I only needed to be engaged to ascend the throne, not to retain it. Given that there is no provision in our laws about a sitting monarch’s marital status and given that I have an heir, a biological child, I have no plans to marry. Ever.”

This time pandemonium broke out.

“What the fuck, Liam?” Riley hissed too low to be picked up on the mic.

He covered the microphone with his hand as he smiled at her and whispered, “It’s true. I will never marry. You may have moved on, Riley, but I don’t seem to be able to stop loving you. I’m sorry.”

The din was so loud, they couldn’t hear the questions being shouted at them.

“Quiet!” Liam thundered.

Once order had been restored, what he said to the crowd was, “No one should have to marry for political reasons. Effective immediately, the law will be adjusted to allow our child,” he turned his head quickly to smile at Riley, then looked back out over the crowd, “and every member of the royal family from here on out, to marry whom they wish, if they wish, for love and not duty.”

“What about necessary political alliances?” a reporter called out.

“Yes, alliances still need to be made,” Liam answered, “but by diplomacy, not by bartering the next generation out in what amounts to legalized prostitution.”

Shocked gasps and a few indignant shouts ripped through the crowd, but they were interspersed with sporadic applause and some approving murmurs.

The old guard, his father’s generation versus the newer, more progressive generation.

More questions were fired at them by the press.

“Those are very American ideals…are you being influenced by Duchess Riley?”

“Did you mention marrying for love because you’re still in love with Duchess Riley?”

“Is she the reason you refuse to marry?”

“Is she your mistress?”

Once again, Liam ignored the questions and finished the speech he’d come there to give, “the duchess and I appreciate your support. We promise you regular updates on the health and well-being of the heir and ask for our privacy to be respected as we navigate new parenthood and learn how to blend this family. There will be no questions taken at this time. Feel free to submit them to the royal press secretary to be answered in next week’s official update. Thank you.”

Liam gestured to Alec to clear the way, they had a short walk back to the safety of the palace walls.

Drake was next to Riley before she was off the stage, guiding her down the steps and along the natural flagstone path to the palace, Liam just behind them. He kept an arm protectively at the small of her back as they made their way through the throngs of people being held back by stanchion ropes and security.  

Camera’s flashed, the crowd pressed forward and reporters continued to hurtle questions at them.

“Duke Walker, did you know?”

“Did you pimp your wife out to your best friend?”

“How long has she been cheating on you?”

“Why did she even marry you?”

“Did you do it for the money?”

“Your Majesty, are two commoners fit to raise the heir to the throne?”

Drake clenched his teeth together and ignored every demeaning question, every insulting remark, and every humiliating pronouncement flung at himself. He didn’t care about that, had never cared what others thought of him.

The vitriol lobbed at her was harder for him to ignore.

“Did you get knocked up by the king for the fame, the fortune, or the notoriety?”

“Is that why the king gave you a duchy? Because you’re still sleeping with him?”

“Do you and the duke have a Cordonian arrangement?”

The questions from the press were bad enough, but there were a few hecklers in the crowd as well.

“Gold digger!”

“Crown chaser!”

“Whore!”

Riley kept her eyes forward and her shoulders back, pretending not to hear, her hand tightening in Drake’s.

Liam’s fists clenched at his side and the muscle in his jaw jumped as he struggled to maintain his composure.

They should not be talking to her like that, but he had the crown’s image to protect, he couldn’t react overtly.

Drake had no such qualms.

Fuck his reputation.

Liam saw it coming before it happened, but he couldn’t react fast enough to stop it.

Drake released Riley’s hand and turned in midstride, delivering a staggering uppercut to the jaw of the man who had just called his wife a whore.

The man staggered back into the crowd, falling into several other people, including several members of the press.

The man who had been standing to the right of the fallen man swung on Drake and a struggle ensued.

The man had hold of Drake’s shirt with one fist while trying to hit him with the other. Drake blocked his attempted blow easily and attempted to push the man away.

The first man picked himself up and shoved his way through the crowd to jab Drake in the stomach.

Liam reacted without thought, all his years of training in letting his guards handle things flew right out the window as he witnessed his lifelong best friend get sucker punched by one man while he was grappling with another.

The king of Cordonia sidestepped his personal guard and jumped into the middle of the fray, thudding into one of the assailants with his entire body.

They went down fighting. The guy landed a right hook to the king’s mouth before Liam delivered one of his own across the other man’s cheek.

Complete chaos descended on the scene as guardsmen swarmed the crowd, quickly pulling Liam and Drake out of the tussle and hauling the other two men away in handcuffs.

Drake and Liam found themselves tossed into the back of an SUV while the guard restored order.

Even though the press conference had taken place on palace grounds, vehicles with bulletproof glass were always kept nearby just in case.

An assassination attempt was a more expected thing than the king jumping into the middle of a brawl, but a security event was a security event.

“Well, that went straight to shit!” Liam groused as he gingerly touched his swollen lip.

“Yup,” Drake agreed, “what did you expect though?”

The two men regarded each other for a moment before breaking out into gales of laughter.

The king of Cordonia was flush with victory and adrenaline, “Fuck, that was fun!”

“I can’t believe you decked a guy, Li!” Drake marveled.

“He hit you!” Liam said with such vehemence that Drake stopped laughing.

“Wow, man. I didn’t know you cared so much.”

“Of course I do,” Liam gave him a reproving look, “no matter what else has happened, you’re still my brother!”

Drake clapped him on the shoulder and gave it a little squeeze as he replied, “I feel the same way.”

The panel between the front and back seat lowered and the driver said, “We’re going to drive you back to the palace, Your Majesty.”

Drake looked around in concern, “Where’s Riley?”

“Duchess Riley was removed from the situation as soon as the first punch was thrown, Your Grace. She’s waiting for you back at the palace.”

“Thanks, and just call me Drake, please.”

The driver’s eyes flicked to Liam, who nodded, before answering, “Sure thing, boss.”

Another guard slid into the passenger side of the front seat and handed them each an instant cold pack.

“Thanks,” they said in unison.

The panel slid back up as the car started to move.

Liam squeezed the cold pack to activate it as he said, “I understand now what she meant when she told me that you’ve always been there for her, and I haven’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…I wanted to punch that guy too, Drake! But I couldn’t because I’m the king and I have to represent Cordonia!” Liam slammed his elbow into the side of the door in frustration.

“Yeah, well, I don’t think anyone would recommend following my example. I shouldn’t have let that guy get to me. It’s going to cause issues for you and her. I can see the fucking headlines now.”

“What do you want to bet there already out there?” Liam asked as he pulled out his phone and swiped it open. “Shit, look,” he held the phone between them so Drake could read with him.

Royal press conference descends into royal brawl

King Lands Knockout Punch

This is the man that will raise the heir to the throne

Has the king been compromised by American ideals?

Walker: Texas Liability

“Shit, Li. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Liam shrugged, “as I said, I wanted to punch him too. Maybe if I’d done less worrying about optics and more worrying about standing up for her, things would have worked out differently.”

“Yeah, well…” Drake trailed off, uncertain how to respond to that. He liked the way things had worked out just fine.

The car rocked to a stop and the intercom crackled to life, “We’re here, Your Majesty.”

“Give us a few moments alone,” Liam instructed.

“Yes, sir.” The intercom clicked off.

Drake turned to his lifelong best friend, brows raised in question.

Liam sighed as he brought the cold pack to his face. Leaning back into the leather seat he said quietly, “I still love her, Drake.”

“I know that…” Drake responded carefully.

“I’m not going to stop just because she married you.”

“I know that too.”

“As long as we understand each other.”

“I’m sorry for your pain, I truly am. I wish there was a way we could both be happy,” Drake regretted the distance between Liam and himself but had no idea how to fix any of it.

“What if there was?” Liam’s tone was restrained, purposely neutral, and even.

Drake turned his head in confusion, “What do you mean?”

“What if I could have a relationship with Riley that didn’t threaten your relationship with her?”

“I don’t follow.”

“What if we could come to some kind of an understanding? An arrangement if you know what I mean.”

“I’m not sure I do,” Drake snapped, “What are you trying to get at?”

“I’m talking about a Cordonian Arrangement, Drake,” Liam’s tone stayed measured and calm, “She stays married to you, as she obviously wants to. But you allow her certain….freedoms.”

“Are you suggesting I let you have an affair with my wife?”

Liam shrugged, “Not suggesting, outright asking you to consider it. After discussing it with her, of course.”

Drake stared at him in astonishment, “What if she doesn’t want to be with you, Liam?”

“Then I’ll accept that,” Liam replied quietly, “But what if she does?”

“I…”

“Just think about it, okay? You don’t have to answer right now.”

Liam opened the door and exited the car, leaving Drake staring after him in stunned disbelief.  

#heir apparent #trr au #drake walker #drake x mc #choices fic writers creations #cfwc fics of the week #angelasscribbles #riley campbell walker #duchess of valtoria #the royal romance #the royal heir #the royal heir au #the royal romance fanfic #trr fanfic #choices trr #trr #trr fanfiction #liam rys #king liam #trr drake #drake x riley

[trrvisuals]

Bad Romance Visuals

From Bad Romance and Bad Romance Continues

Fandom: The Royal Romance/The Royal Heir

Riley and Max

Max with his collar

Drake in the baseball pants

Disney Adventure

Cordonian Royal Family

#the royal romance #trr visuals #angelasscribbles #trr au #trr fandom #trr poly #trr #liam rys #riley brooks #drake walker #maxwell beaumont #bad romance #bad romance continues #trr fanfiction #trr fanfic #choices trr #the royal heir #the royal romance fanfic #why choose #ai art #ai generated #ai image #ai artwork

[whatisreggieshortfor]

The Royal Heir’s Royal Romance

Drake x MC

Heir x OC

#choices fanfic #choices Royal romance #the royal heir #the royal romance #choices royal heir #drake walker #Drake Walker x mc

[moodmusicmonday]

I'm sure I sound like a broken record... but this playlist got me in my feels this week! Seriously. Click on the playlist, open up your Spotify, get lost in the music. Fantastic job as usual!

If you see anything below that is underlined, it is a working link and you should TOTALLY click on it. Just sayin'.

Love you all dearly, and we will see you next week! Thank you so much for sharing and following!

~🎵~

@ao719

“Give Me Your Attention” - The Waiting (Candelion);  Vancross, Chapter 5, You’re Looking At Me (Multiple Crossover Series; Liam x f!OC)

“Ghost (Acoustic)” - Ben Woodward; Untitled, a request follow-up to This Isn’t How It Was Supposed To Be (TRR)

@bebepac

“I Love You” - Billie Eilish; The Rotten Apple, Chapter 13: Sincerely, Lady LIberty [TRH & Beyond; Liam x Riley; Eleanor x m!OC (Nico)] 

@charlotteg234

“Wicked Game” - Daisy Gray; Don’t Break, Chapter 2 (TRR; f!OC x ?)

“Elastic Heart (piano version)” - Sia;  Don’t Break, Chapter 3 (TRR, f!OC x ?)

@kat-tia801

“Heart Beat Here” - Dashboard Confessional; Undeniable, Part 10: You Remain My Time and Place (TRR AU; m!OC x f!OC; Drake Walker x MC; Liam Rys x f!OC)

“Closer to You” - Rasmus Hagen; Undeniable, Part 11: Fighting For So Long Against My History (TRR AU; m!OC x f!OC; Drake Walker x MC; Liam Rys x f!OC)

~🎵~

Tags (please let us know if you wish to be added/removed):

@21-wishes @alj4890 @ao719 @atsuinawa @aussiegurl1234 @axwalker @bebepac @burnsoslow @charlotteg234 @chemist-ana @choicesmonthlychallenge @foreverethereal123 @issabees @jerzwriter @karahalloway @kat-tia801 @lovingchoices14 @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @neotericthemis @nestledonthaveone @peonierose @queenrileyrose @quixoticdreamer16 @sfb123 @socalwriterbee @tessa-liam @twinkleallnight @txemrn @walkerdrakewalker @zaffrenotes

#Spotify #mood music monday #moodmusicmonday #choices #choices fanfic #choices fanfiction #choices fanfic music #choices fanfiction music #choices trr #choices trh #the royal romance #the royal heir #Liam Rys #Drake Walker