Aʟʟ Is Fᴀɪʀ ɪɴ Lᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴᴅ Wᴀʀ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* {Zᴇᴘʜʏʀᴀ x VᴀɴɪᴛʏFᴀɪʀ}

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

Ɱetal parts and gears lay strewn about the city square, the remnants of a great, hulking beast of steel. The steam that once spewed from its cylinders had dissipated into the air as it powered down, defeated at last. The whirring of its engines ceased, a deafening clanking sound as it collapsed onto the cobblestone, the force of its weight leaving cracks in the earth beneath them. The manmade monster had resembled a warthog of sorts, giant ivory tusks and pointed hooves large enough to take out a small building. The creature had wreaked havoc across the center, stampeding through crowds and fixtures alike as it decimated all in its path. Many would starve or find themselves homeless thanks to the food stalls and houses it had destroyed, ensuring that the townsfolk would be scraping by and rebuilding for months to come. Yet worst of all were the innumerable lives that had been lost, the streets coated in the blood of innocents as mothers clutched their limp children to their chests and husbands mourned over the bodies of their wives.

Everywhere she looked she saw death and destruction, the people stricken by despair. The wails of hopeless souls tortured her ears, her heart breaking for them with every strangled sob that ripped through their throats. Some others were already starting to pick up the pieces, good Samaritans running around as they sought to provide aid to the wounded and quell the flames leftover from the aftermath of a hard-won battle.

All things considered, Violet had come out of that fight far less the worse for wear than she'd anticipated. Stumbling backward, she fell onto her bottom, her breathing ragged and strained as she clutched at her chest. An abundance of smoke in the air burned her eyes and lungs, each painful inhalation of breath sending her into another coughing fit. The dark purple bruises along her side ached from the movement, sweat beading along her brow as she turned her head to look around. Her hands still shook, entirely numb from the cold bite of frost that sank deep into her skin, nothing but puddles of water left behind from her ice crystals. A cut above her temple had blood matting her hair to the side of her head, while another gash in her shoulder appeared much deeper. With the adrenaline crash came the pain, searing and sharp. She ground her teeth together, her pale silver eyes searching for her twin.

"Caleb?" The young woman called out for him, a note of desperation in her voice. Had they lost each other in the midst of the battle? She began to sit up, struggling to raise herself to her feet as she tried to remind herself to stay calm, to not immediately assume the worst had befallen him. "Where are—"

A hand gripped her arm, that iron grasp yanking her upwards and forcing her to stand once more. Wincing, Violet tilted her head back to lock eyes with the cold, unreadable helmet of an enforcer. Her heart sank into her stomach, panic seeping into her features as her body tensed up. Had she done something wrong? What would possess a guard to seize her at a time like this? Her pupils darted around, finally spotting her brother in the crowd. He was being restrained in the same fashion, and though she was relieved to know that he was alive, she couldn't help but cry out when she was jerked forward, dragged along like some uncooperative dog on a leash.

"Unhand me!" She cried, struggling against the metal restraints placed upon her wrists. "I have to go to him! Please, you can't do this!"

In the end, her pleas fell on deaf ears. The guard smacked her across the face with the hilt of his sword, the force of his swing prompting her to spit blood onto the pathway beneath their feet. The Ash Lord who'd fought alongside them was nowhere to be seen, and the two found themselves without any allies to defend them. In no time at all they were separated, pushed into different holding cells while they awaited their verdict at the hands of the ruling class. It wouldn't be for another few hours until the bars of her cage swung open and she was ushered along once more, but this time she was treated with much more care.

---

Violet had been given quick medical treatment for her wounds, a linen bandage tied around her shoulder and a cup of herbal tea to help soothe the pain. Eventually, she was uncuffed and brought into the most lavish room she'd ever seen. It appeared to be an office of sorts, but all of the furniture was more expensive than anything she'd ever owned in her life. Polished hardwood flooring creaked underneath her dirty boots, oil lamps lighting up the room with their orange glow. A man sat illuminated at a desk in the back of the room, his suit threaded with the finest silk in the city. His workspace was littered with baubles and bottles of luxurious liquor, the sound of wine sloshing around in a glass as he poured one out for himself reaching her ears. She was nervous and withdrawn, though she reminded herself to stand straight, recognizing that she was in the presence of a nobleman.

The door opened and shut once more as another figure entered the room. Her brother was led inside shortly after her, directed to stand next to her where they would both be facing the desk. Reaching for him, she took hold of his hand, silent worry plastered across her features. Violet had never been adept at hiding her emotions on her face, and the concern she felt for him now had her busted lips pulling into a frown. But she didn't have time to assess the damages, for her attention was taken away when the mysterious man cleared his throat, commanding the twins' focus.

"I'm sure you're both wondering why you've been brought here. We'll get to that part, but please, take a seat." The man gestured to the leather couch behind them, his voice gravelly and coarse from a lifetime of smoking cigars. Hesitantly, she took a seat, still holding onto her sibling's hand if he sat down beside her. She could use the comfort.

After drinking deeply from his glass, the man introduced himself. "My name is Sir Ambrose Hargreaves, an ambassador for the prime minister. I've been told your names are Caleb and Violet Blackwell, is that right?" She nodded gingerly, confirming his question. "Wonderful. You know, the things you two did out there for the city today could go down in history. I've never seen such a gripping display of heroism in all my years working with young upstarts just like yourselves. You've taken the whole town by storm."

Violet could hardly contain her shock at being addressed in such a way, having expected a scolding or worse thanks to their earlier reception. What had brought about such a drastic change? She slipped her hand out of Caleb's, placing them in her lap as she leaned forward just so. "You flatter us, sir..." She bowed her head somewhat, strands of her wavy black hair falling into her face. "But we weren't trying to be heroes. We did what had to be done, and we couldn't save everyone..." Her eyes lowered to the floor, shame and guilt crossing her features. In fact, she knew that in many ways, this was all her fault. Not the beast breaking through the Ash Wall, but the fact that her and her twin had ended up here in the first place. If she hadn't begged him to take her to the marketplace today, if she'd only stayed in the hideout and let him do his job elsewhere, they wouldn't be in this situation. Caleb never would have had to jump to her defense and reveal himself in the process, and neither of them would've gotten hurt.

"Nonsense. The people of this district will be singing your praises for years to come, mark my words." His words carried warmth, but his smile was too thin, not quite convincing. "Now what if I offered the two of you the opportunity to keep protecting our fair city? Why, with your talents, Mister Blackwell, you could find yourself among the ranks of the illustrious Ash Lords yourself." Violet's gaze flickered over to her brother, gauging his reaction to that bombshell of a statement. Surely he couldn't mean that he wanted to recruit them into the upper level of the military? They were both still so young, largely inexperienced in combat and untrained in the ways of a soldier. To go from being mere paupers to veritable nobles themselves was a leap too great for her mind to comprehend.

Ambrose gestured to her, that thin smile tightening at the corners. "And the lady, of course, would be your Handmaiden. Now, we do have to keep up certain appearances here, you see. The people aren't so willing to accept a Lord without a bride, and we'd hate to have to separate such a loving family. You understand what I'm getting at, of course. Miss Violet here should fill that role nicely, wouldn't you agree?"

The aforementioned woman nearly keeled over right then and there. Did I hear that right? She thought, her face flushing from the suddenness of it all. Her, a bride? To her own brother? Her fingers tightened as they clutched at her roughspun skirts, feeling her heartbeat racing as it pounded up against her ribcage. She knew better than to speak her dissent— not only as a woman, but as a commoner, to boot.

Their host lit a cigar as he let the silence fill out the room, an awkward, almost palpable sort of tension in the air. He puffed on it between sips, the smell of the smoke nearly causing Violet to scrunch up her face in disgust. Of course, she had a functioning sense of self-preservation, and as such she did her best to maintain a straight face. Now she didn't even dare to look at Caleb, her reddened ears a sure sign of her discomfort. Ambrose's hazel-eyed gaze passed over her to land upon her twin once more, something dark underneath his amiable act. "What do you say, Mister Blackwell? I assure you, your acceptance of such an esteemed role promises a great many benefits, not the least of which would be an elevation in status."

As if dangling a carrot on a stick in front of them, the ambassador leaned back in his chair, observing the young pair before him. There was merely the illusion of a choice, for in reality, no such choice existed. Something in the hard edges of his gaze, in the crow's feet that stretched from his eyes and dipped to meet that simpering smile spelled it out for them clearly. They could not refuse. Not if they wanted to survive to live another day.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

View attachment IMG_6117.webp
<< Caleb >>
“There is nothing out there, nothing is something, too"

---

Caleb was still standing, silent and unwavering as the ambassador made his proposal to them. He stood there with a busted lip, a bloody, broken nose as well as multiple bruises, cuts and wounds. All of those were crossed over with either bandages or some sort of white plaster. His right shoulder was hurting like hell and he knew that a good night's sleep would be off the table for at least two days. But that was the least of their problems, now they had one of the most powerful people in the city offering them an opportunity, at least that's how his words sounded like.

As he swallowed, Caleb avoided staring into the hardened look of the man's eyes and his head tilted to his side for a small glance at his sister. She didn't have to say a word, her reddened ears were speaking volumes. The quick bow she gave was rather confused than courteous, but she had always been the well mannered half. When he sat down next to Violet, Caleb took a small breath and grabbed the hand of his sister out of her lap, holding it tightly between his palm. An uncanny feeling arose inside of him, but he needed to display strength, even if that was the last thing on his mind. The jug of water they gave him in the nursery was barely enough to keep him standing for much longer anyway.
In an attempt to get rid of the dry rasp in his voice, he cleared his throat and answered in a slightly shaky, even unsure tone.

"The title of an Ash Lord is surely impressive, I can't deny that, but…" He was cut off instantly by the Ambassador, who flicked away the ash of his cigar into the blue glass tray on his maple wood table.

"Do I hear doubts in your voice, Mr. Blackwell? What possible concern can a young man like you with such powers have? Don't be foolish now! You made the right decision by using your abilities to stop the machinery from killing even more people, you can make another good decision by accepting our generous offer. I saw it right from this very balcony, it was a real spectacle." The man smiled and looked straight ahead at Caleb, he went as far as folding his hands and putting his cigar away.

"Look outside the window behind me, Mr. Blackwell and tell us what you see. Isn't it misery? Poverty? Murder? Do you really think you can go back and pretend none of this ever happened?" Sir Ambrose laughed in an absurd way, as if he was amused by Caleb's polite declination.

Caleb's face went pale for a moment, because deep down he knew the Ambassador was right. They couldn't go back and steal their way through to life. Everyone would recognize them even more after what had just happened. He braced himself and sat up straight again. There was only one way out of this situation and they knew it. She knew it, he could feel it lingering in the air. It was the reason she couldn't look at him in the first place.

"I'll accept your offer, sir." Caleb stood out of his seat, his face lacking all expression. Under normal circumstances, he would've never made such a decision without consulting with Violet first, but Mr. Ambrose seemed like an influential man, his words weren't meant as mere suggestions. Caleb had no idea who he was exactly, but he knew that the high society of Ashborough was powerful.

"As expected…you will not regret this, Mr. Blackwell. And you, Ms. Blackwell, will be a worthy handmaiden. Many people have been waiting for this day to come, the prophecy is fulfilling itself…now, you will be escorted to the Lord's quarter, an exquisite house, right up near Ravensfield Park. Mrs. Kerrington will instruct both of you for the ceremony tomorrow morning, as we do need to hurry with the proceedings…shall we?" Mr. Ambrose motioned to the guards and told them to accompany Ashborough's new hope to their quarters. Caleb had no idea what would expect them, but this was the only option they had.

"The ceremony will be tomorrow?!" He asked, confused by everything the Ambassador had just told them.

"Yes, yes, it will be tomorrow in the afternoon! You don't have to worry about a thing, everything will be taken care of, that is a personal promise! But I strongly advise you to get some much needed rest and freshen up at your new quarters, tomorrow will be a long day for the both of you." He pointed them towards the guards and they walked away in silence. The halls were nearly empty, their footsteps echoed through them. They haven't looked at each other even once since he made the decision for them. What if this was their death sentence?

---

Caleb let go of Violet's hand and the guards escorted them out the grand building. Everything happened so fast, none of them stood a chance of arguing against anything that happened to them and neither did they have the energy or clarity to do so. They were greeted with warm and friendly faces as they were walking through the streets of the High Wall, where life seemed mostly normal, as if the attack was nothing but a nuisance to these rich people. There were no beggars on the street, everyone was dressed nicely and formal. Caleb was left in awe at the looks of the buildings. No holes in the brick walls, no militia patrolling through the district and everything felt so oddly safe that it almost scared him.

After another turn to the left, they could see Ravensfield Park and right next to it an estate. The area was fenced off with spiked steel, like spears stuck into the ground and a huge entrance with some mystical statue in the far distance. Every hundred feet or so, there were two guards stationed underneath the shadows of the tree avenue that led to the mansion itself. The statue in the distance turned out to be a giant man, and the massive structure was placed right in front of the entrance doors. The guards knocked on the door with the round golden knob attached to it and waited. Slowly, the door opened and a dolled up woman greeted them with excitement. "Please, come inside, we have awaited you for a long time!"

The chirping of the woman was slightly annoying, and she was most likely double their age and had dark wrinkles under her eyes. She looked almost macabre, but Caleb didn't want to insult her, perhaps this was Mrs. Kerrington.

"You go first." He told his sister and almost shoved her inside. The entrance hall was grandiose, a bright chandelier was hanging down the middle. The floor was made of a hard material, some shining stone, almost mirroring his reflection. Several paintings with red and gold frames were on the walls, depicting landscapes, two women fighting a strange creature and many other paintings were of a similar kind. The house smelled of nothing, there was a comfortable cold in the air. Despite the hot weather outside, it wasn't warm inside at all. Who was this woman? And what was she doing inside the Lords quarters?

---

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .

┊ ┊ ⋆˚         

✧. ┊         

⋆ ★

---

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

Caleb had sealed their fate with one simple sentence, but she knew that his hands were tied just as hers were. There was no going back on the decision, but there was no avoiding it, either. She tightened her grip on his hand slightly, shaking as the ambassador addressed her once more. 'You'll be a worthy handmaiden', he'd said. Truthfully, she didn't really know what being an Ash Lord or a handmaiden even meant. Whatever it was, it was foreign to her, and entirely nerve-wracking. She'd heard stories of warriors and their dutiful brides, strong, stoic men who wielded great power and even greater control over their maidens. Were she and her brother truly to take on such impossible roles?

Still, she nodded her head politely, standing up next to him with another bow. She heard his exclamation about the ceremony from beside her, and she shared in his bewilderment, but she held her tongue out of respect. She needed more time to process all of this, but she was expected to be ready for an induction in less than a day? Still avoiding her brother's gaze, Violet followed along after him when he released her hand, keeping her head down throughout the walk.

Well, that is until they made it into the Upper City. Her eyes grew wide as she marveled at the impressive, spiraling architecture and the cleanness of the streets. There was no trash or riff-raff among them, the people of this district donning suits and dresses of luxurious make. It made her feel wildly out of place in what were essentially rags that she wore, a dirtied white blouse and torn brown skirt some of her only clothing. Even her shoes were shoddily made out of tanned hide, little more than wrappings around her feet to protect them from the broken glass and rubble that adorned the Lower City's streets. She looked on in wonder at the nobles and their displays of wealth, finding herself growing a tad jealous that they could live such carefree lives. Envy was an ugly thing, one that she did her best to suppress as she looked away, gazing ahead at Caleb's back.

Upon their arrival at Ravensfield Park, the young woman's eyes fell upon the Lord's Quarter as it loomed over them, tall and imposing. As a little girl, Violet could only ever dream of living in such an opulent manor. Even the brothel, while having been four walls and a roof at the very least, was still given to poverty and disrepair. The twins had slept in the cellar beneath those creaky old floorboards where they could hear the squeaking and banging of beds above. She could remember sneaking a few sips of the cheap wine they kept in stock down there to 'encourage' their patrons into spending more time and money on their services, at one time being severely reprimanded for it when she was caught. Nowadays, they tended to sleep wherever they could find a spare bit of floor— in abandoned buildings or back alleys full of rats and teeming with roaches.

When the door opened, she stiffened slightly, straightening her back in the presence of the noblewoman that greeted them. She seemed friendly in that same way that Sir Ambrose had, that was to say, artificially. However, Violet wanted to believe that she was genuinely on their side, eager to help them prepare for an event that neither of them had ever even heard of before tonight.

As the lady beckoned them inside and she felt her twin push her forward, she turned to shoot an annoyed glare at him, begrudgingly taking the lead after his insistence. Who ever said that they didn't still have their moments of sibling rivalry? Letting out a soft sigh, she followed the other woman as the doors closed behind them, her eyes taking in the grandness of the interior hall. She had to remind herself to be careful lest she accidentally break one of the expensive vases that were probably worth more than her own life. Still, those large paintings captivated her, her eyes roaming over them as they crossed the threshold and headed for another room. Such history depicted on these walls, art an eternal reflection of the human soul. Not that she was any sort of aficionado, but she'd learned to appreciate the finer things in life, if only ever from a distance.

They went up the staircase and entered into what appeared to be a large bedroom, the four-poster canopy bed in the back pushed up against a large triangular window with sheer curtains. Evening light filtered across the floorboards, the darkening skies prompting their hostess to strike a match and light the candles that stood on the hardwood nightstand. Then she turned to them with a smile, striding over to stand closer to them.

"This will be your new living quarters from now on. Isn't it darling? But, please, if you have any requests don't hesitate to let me know. We want this space to be perfect for you." She gestured around her, clearing her throat lightly as she seemed to remember something. "Right, my name is Mrs. Kerrington, and I'll be your advisor. Come, come."

Beckoning them over to the huge walk-in wardrobe, she began to inspect them for a moment. She pursed her lips, her face turning a bit sour as she acknowledged their state of dress. Mrs. Kerrington pinched the fabric of Violet's long hewn skirt, holding it up for a minute. "Well... I suppose I've seen worse..." Her hands brushed over Caleb's shirt, singling out any loose threads or buttons with a click of her tongue. The older woman turned on her heel, dismissing that thought as she began to dig through the trunks and racks that lined the walls, searching for something. Violet glanced up at her brother uncertainly, standing with her hands folded in front of her.

"We'll need to get you measured and fitted for some properly tailored clothing in time, but this will have to do for now." She pulled out a few garments of varying sizes, dresses and skirts for Violet and button-down shirts and vests with trousers for Caleb. Placing her selections into their arms, she put a hand on each of their backs and directed them towards the adjoining bathroom. "I must insist you freshen up first, what with your... Present state." Their advisor ushered them inside, her hand still gripping the ornate doorknob as she lingered in the frame. "I mean no offense, of course, and am greatly appreciative of your heroic efforts, indeed; but we cannot continue with our practice until you're presentable. Do hurry now, before the day is out."

After that brief order, Mrs. Kerrington closed the door behind them, leaving them alone together in the washroom. The floors were tiled and spotless, a deep basin of a sink off to their side and a toilet beside that. However, what really caught her attention was the large porcelain tub at the opposite end of the room, its depths already filled with lightly steaming water as though it had been prepared for them in advance. She briefly glanced at herself in the mirror, becoming privy to her own dirtied, bloodied visage. A chance to clean herself up would be nice, and yet...

Violet flushed, locking eyes with her twin brother nervously. "Why did she send us both in here?" She mumbled, shaking her head as she examined the fancy soaps and shampoos lining the edge of the tub. The water smelled particularly pleasant, as though infused with lavender oils. The intention was for them to bathe together, that much was clear... But Violet hesitated, her hands clutching at her skirts as she stood by the door sheepishly. They hadn't done such a thing since they were kids. It went without saying that a lot had changed since then.

"A-alright... Caleb, you can go first. I won't look." She turned around, facing the wall respectfully as she waited for him to act. In the meantime she was occupied with no shortage of anxious thoughts, her heart still racing as though the battle had never ended. They were safe, for now, but how long until that might change again? Life as they knew it would never go back to the way it used to be, which seemed like a good thing, and she truly hoped it was. But there was that nagging little voice in the back of her head that had its own fair share of doubts, a voice she tried to silence by talking to him instead.

"I'm sorry, brother. It's my fault you got hurt trying to protect me..." Violet's voice was tinged with remorse, her silver eyes downcast to the floor. "I never meant for something like this to happen. But... I'll do my best to be your handmaiden, if that is what's expected of me. If it means not losing you, I'll do anything it takes, so..."

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

He exhaled a deep breath of relief after Mrs. Kerrington closed the door ever so swiftly. While he agreed with Violet, there was no point he could make to ease the situation. This washing room alone was more spacious than most homes in the old town, he thought to himself and kept marveling about the spotless floors, the perfectly cut stone bricks inside the walls that insulated the warmth and kept the heat inside. He found himself in agreement that they could use a bath, and partially grateful for having some much needed time alone with his sister, he turned around as she voiced her unnecessary apology.

Caleb looked at her with an expression of uttermost care in his eyes, and not even the bloody cuts and bruises extinguished the tender prettiness she still carried. Without saying another word, he wrapped his arms around her, his body shook and trembled as he embraced her. Cupping her head from behind, he pressed her deeply against his chest, as if she still needed his protection at this very moment.

"I'm sorry, sister…I failed you when the guards came. Hearing you scream was terrible," he whispered against her temple.

"I'll never leave, I promise. We'll be fine." Caleb let go of her and changed his tone immediately. They had to prepare for the ceremony now. This was the only break they were granted and he wanted to make use of the privacy they had.

"But I won't go in first, we will both get in there. And I don't care if you look or not, you have seen me that way before. How else are we going to get through the ceremony tomorrow?"

He tried his best appealing to her reason, her ability to plan ahead. Caleb undressed himself right in front of her and shrugged.

"Fine, I'll go in first," he said and rolled his eyes in a joking manner. Anything to lighten up her mood again.

"Besides, my shoulder hurts like hell and you're the only one who can help me." Caleb nearly tumbled into the tub, and a small amount of water swept over the edge of the smooth tub. He breathed through a surge of pain while sitting down, the warm water soaked the bandages wrapped around his wounds. Caleb only waited for her to join him and stared at the rounded ceiling, steam ran down his cheeks, like drops of rainy pearls against a window glass and he closed his eyes for a moment, leaning back against the walls of the tub.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .

┊ ┊ ⋆˚         

✧. ┊         

⋆ ★

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

As Caleb moved to approach her Violet gave a start, surprised that he was coming to embrace her. The hands that came to caress her back and head were firm but gentle, a familiar grip that she could get lost in if she wasn't careful. Her eyes closed as she wrapped her arms around him in return, burying her face in his solid chest. There was almost the urge to cry into him like she would when they were younger, her tears staining his shirt even as he did his best to soothe her like the good brother that he was. But she had to be strong for him, too. She suppressed that feeling, instead focusing on breathing in his scent, that aroma which lingered on his skin never failing to calm her. Listening to his steady heartbeat, she could remind herself that they were still alive and still together. That was enough for her.

Once he pulled away she gazed into his eyes and nodded, looking up at him in that moment like he was her whole world. His comforting words were just what she needed to hear. Though, her expression soon turned bashful when he insisted that she join him in the water. She chewed on her lower lip nervously, knowing that he had a point, but that didn't make it any easier.

"But—" Violet froze when he began to strip down right in front of her without a care. A surprised squeak left her lips as she quickly covered her eyes, her entire face glowing red like a fireplace full of embers. "C-Caleb! That's improper!" Her voice quavered as she chided him, the young woman before him as innocent as she was oblivious. Sucking in a breath, she refused to open her eyes again until she heard him get in the water, the lower half of his body blocked by the tub and submerged from view. Still, she could see his chest and the injuries that littered his skin, the sight of them causing her to temporarily forget her embarrassment as she was overcome by concern instead.

He appealed to her more caring nature, the idea that he was in pain not one that she could just simply ignore. "A-alright, alright... But I do care if you look, so, you'd better not!"

Relenting finally, Violet glowered at him until he made some kind of an attempt to look away or close his eyes. Sheepishly, she peeled off her top first, folding it and setting it neatly on top of the counter. Her skirt was next, fingers hooking around delicate white undergarments as she let those fall around her ankles as well. Now completely bared, she did her best to cover herself until she was able to climb into the bath as well, lowering herself so that the water blurred her feminine bits. She dipped her head underneath the surface only to come back up a moment later, inky black hair clinging to her face and neck.

Breathing in the lavender fumes, his twin sister soon let out a sigh that sounded like a mix of relief and exasperation. The bath was spacious, allowing the two of them plenty of room away from each other, but she decided to inch closer to him and close the distance. It was obvious that she was still blushing, even if she wanted to pretend that was only the heat of the water causing her skin to flush.

"Geez... What did you need help with?" Violet huffed, putting on a show of indignation yet worrying for him as she always did nonetheless. Her fingertips ghosted along his back as they grazed his skin, searching for that spot which he sought to have pressure applied to. "Right here?" With a hand perched on each of his shoulders, she tested his sensitivity by pressing down gently, her eyelids half-lidded as she observed his reaction, trying to be careful so as not to hurt him on accident.

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[VanityFair]

Caleb didn't look at her bare skin, just as he promised. He only dared a gaze at his sister when he heard the membrane of the tub as she emerged into it. Violet's face was painted in red, and her embarrassment was undeniable. To spare her, he turned around as she put her hands on his shoulders, her fingertips applied a firm pressure and traveled down his back bones.

"Now, you're being improper," he teased, then nudged her blindly with his right elbow, accidentally hitting a soft spot on her chest. For a moment, he forgot that they weren't the kids fooling around in a bathtub anymore and put his arms in front of himself.

"Yes, just stay right there," he hissed out, refusing to let her know that she was almost killing him on the inside. After a few strokes, some of the tension stored up finally left his body. His back was easing up little by little and he could sit with an almost straight spine again. Violet had graceful hands and Caleb would have enjoyed her massage far longer than he liked to admit, but they didn't have much time left before they had to see Mrs. Kerrington again.

"We should talk about tomorrow," he said. Regret voiced over his pursed lips, and he was speaking more quietly, almost reserved. Caleb was usually more straightforward and wore his heart on his sleeve, but this time it was different. She wasn't just somebody, she was his sister. His own flesh and blood would be his bride. Those thoughts confused him more than anything else, and he wasn't ready to think through the consequences. The haunting words of the Ambassador were still in his mind.

"I only agreed because I wanted to protect you. I didn't know that the ceremony would be this early…but I'm glad that it's you, Violet." He lifted his head and gently swiped her hands off his shoulders, slowly turning around to his sister. Her long hair was stuck to the side of her fairly defined cheeks, his jaw muscles contracted and he swallowed his nervousness down as his eyes flicked across her face. Swiftly, he tucked the loose branches of black hair behind her ears and placed his hands on her shoulders.

Caleb gave his sister a quick, reaffirming kiss on her flamboyant cheekbones and got out of the bath, grabbed a towel and silently handed it over to her. Tomorrow, everything would be different. He will be declared as Ash Lord, and she will be made his handmaiden, his bride and before he thought it out even further, he shook his head and put those thoughts to rest. He was already anxious enough, but wasn't allowing himself to show any sign of weakness in front of Violet.

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┊ ┊ ⋆˚         

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⋆ ★

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

Violet rolled her eyes at her brother's teasing, though the sentiment was short-lived. When she felt his elbow collide with her breasts she jumped, making a small splash in the water around them. Glaring daggers at him, it took everything in her to bite her tongue and hold herself back from digging her nails into his shoulders instead.

Not one to hold a grudge, however, she only sighed and complied with his desires, her delicate fingers pressing into his shoulder blades as she massaged that sore spot, diligently working out the knot under his skin. There was something about it that felt quite intimate, particularly due to their nakedness and their ages. If she'd been giving him a massage any other time it would just be normal, but they were in a private bath together and were now expected to act like husband and wife... She blushed slightly, realizing that that was exactly what they were doing without meaning to.

"I suppose we should..." She agreed rather hesitantly, her fingers lingering on his back, raptly watching the transparent beads that slid down his skin until they melded with the surface of the water below. Below... The area below his waist was obscured, but she found her eyes lingering there as if she might catch a glance of something taboo, something forbidden. Now her own thoughts were driving her crazy. Shaking her head, she looked up at Caleb when he turned to her, her breath catching in her throat when she felt his fingers dance across her temple to tuck inky tendrils of hair behind her ear. It was wrong to shudder so sinfully at her brother's touch, she knew, and she was shamefaced for it.

"Thank you for always thinking of me, brother. I'm glad, too." Violet's voice was sweeter than sugar, a soft smile lighting up her features when her twin grabbed her shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek. She let out a breathless giggle, bringing a hand up to rub the spot he'd kissed as though she was trying to wipe it off. "Gosh, you still treat me like a child sometimes, though." With a click of her tongue, she turned away as he exited the bath, finishing up her own routine. After she'd rubbed the dirt and dried blood off of her skin and lathered her hair with shampoo, she took the offered towel and carefully eased her way out of the tub. She held the towel in front of herself the whole time, using it to cover her body as much as she could while drying off.

Then her eyes landed upon the clothes that Mrs. Kerrington had provided them with. She sifted through the choices, holding them up with varying expressions of interest and distaste. "Still, this doesn't mean things have to change between us. Maybe in public, but you'll always be my crybaby brother." A smirk as she referred to how he was when they were toddlers. Waiting until he was looking away, the young woman finally dropped her towel once she was done with it and changed into her new outfit. It was a pristine white blouse with a purple ribbon tying the collar together, accompanied by a long black skirt that sagged slightly below the knees. A pair of black flats completed the ensemble. Violet wrung the excess water out of her hair and then dragged a hairbrush through it, swiftly detangling any leftover knots. When that was done she turned towards the door, placing her hands on her hips as she mentally prepared herself for what was awaiting them outside.

Gingerly, she turned the knob and was greeted with none other than Mrs. Kerrington again, the woman smiling widely at the two of them as she held a silver platter with a kettle and tea cakes arranged neatly upon it.

"Ah, there you two are. Oh, and look at you! Such a beautiful young couple; you'll make such adorable children."

Violet felt herself turn red again, making an attempt to dispel the woman's assumptions as politely as possible. "I-It's not like that between us, ma'am, we've never..."

The lady laughed, a high-pitched, almost shrill sort of sound as she waved a hand. "Oh, worry not, you'll have plenty of time for that later. Besides, you could've fooled me. From the way you were talking in there you certainly seemed like lovers." It troubled Violet greatly to know she'd been listening in on their conversation the whole time, discomfort clear on her face. "Well, that's neither here nor there. Come, let's have some tea. You must be hungry after all that action earlier, yes?"

Some food certainly did sound tempting, now that she thought about it. Ignoring the rumble of her stomach, Violet followed after the advisor with her brother. She took them down the stairs again and into a different room— this one seemed like a parlor of sorts. There was a large hardwood desk and a chair pushed up against the posterior wall while a smaller table sat off to the corner. That table was surrounded by a velvet loveseat and a wooden chair that had been pulled up across from it. Mrs. Kerrington led the pair over to the tea table and placed the platter down upon it, beckoning for them to sit.

Chewing her bottom lip, Violet lowered herself onto the loveseat while their advisor sat in the chair. She poured them each a cup of the steaming hot tea, pushing the tray closer to them and encouraging them to partake. "Thank you." Dipping her head respectfully, the young woman lifted the porcelain to her lips and blew on the liquid inside gently. As she did so she crossed her legs, leaning back against he plush material of the couch. Never before in her life had she been subject to such comfort, wholly unused to being pampered or accommodated. It felt nice, but she wondered for how long it might last...

"Now then, we'll be going through the basics tonight and then we'll do a quick repeat tomorrow morning before the ceremony begins. Mister Blackwell, you will be crowned Lord Blackwell. And Miss Blackwell, you will be his handmaiden. As Sir Ambrose probably already told you, there are certain ways you'll be expected to act when you're together. You'll want to be chaste and proper, but still show your dedication to one another. You should be on his arm at all times, Violet, except for when you're entertaining other guests. Now, Caleb, as for you—"

As she continued to speak, Violet found herself struggling to take mental notes of everything, her lips parting as she stuffed another tea cake between them. It was hard to concentrate because of how hungry and tired she was, so she secretly hoped that Caleb was paying attention, otherwise they were in for quite a disastrous event.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
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[VanityFair]

"Crybaby brother?!" Caleb gasped, and was ready to get back at her with another snarky remark, but before he could do that, Violet had already opened the door and no other than Mrs. Kerrington was standing in the doorway. Fortunately, Caleb had already pulled into a pair of fine linen pants, brown colored, and was given a white shirt with silver buttons. The arms were a bit too long, but these pieces of clothes, which included some robust leather boots, were of great quality. Simply putting it on made him feel like he was already part of their world. In a weird way, he liked the change, even welcomed it after these past few years.

But the wishful thinking in his head was bursted by the supposed compliment they received from Mrs. Kerrington. A couple? Children? Multiple ones? Lovers? Caleb was fuming at her insinuation, angry at Mrs. Kerrington, for she was so comfortable eavesdropping on them. But simultaneously, Caleb was even more embarrassed that he let her words take vivid manifestation inside his mind. But Violet was right, things wouldn't change between them. Before he had any more time to ponder, they were already sitting down in the parlor room, drinking a warm cup of tea. He took a sip, way too eagerly and the first taste of herbs burned his tongue.

The wooden chair was uncomfortable, and it creaked with every inch he moved. His elbows rested on the wooden desk, but he immediately removed them after Mrs. Kerrington directed her attention to him, away from Violet, who sat opposite of him in a soft cushioned seat. As she spoke, Caleb lifted his head, his eyes widened at her words and he couldn't help but look at how distracted Violet was eating her cake.

"You will be an Ash Lord, the most honorable of all titles, equal to the nobles of our lands. As such, the both of you will have certain responsibilities, but yours will be worthy of most attention, young man!"

Mrs. Kerrington was not a bit less suggestive than Mr. Ambrose had been and she spoke fast, memorizing all of her mentions would be impossible, but he tried.

"The ceremony will begin tomorrow in the afternoon, the preparations are taking us all a bit longer than we anticipated, but it will be a glorious event! The people of Ashborough will love you, and it is your job to keep them in love with you, for all of our sakes," she sighed and continued. "Then your training will begin, our precious city needs you outside the walls. Mr. Ambrose has not disclosed those details with me, but I suppose he will tell you all about it after the ceremony. As part of the ritual, the handmaiden will walk behind the Ash Lord, and will only stand next to him on the altar, where your sister will be made your bride. Our people need hope, and what can inspire hope more than such a lovely couple as you?"

"But we are not a-...," Caleb's objection was shut down instantaneously and Mrs. Kerrington carried on, but her demeanor changed into a sudden earnestness, an almost sinister grin, the same kind as Mr. Ambrose faintly had, curved around her lips.

"None of that is important, young man! What's important is that you two publicly display your love for each other, make it believable or else there will be severe consequences for the both of you! I suppose I made myself clear now…the ceremony itself won't take long, a priest will be there to further instruct you, so the only thing you need to worry about is that the both of you are well rested, you need to be presentable. And now, I have to excuse myself from your presence, Lord and Lady Blackwell. I urge you to leave this room in less than ten minutes. The servants will start cleaning soon. Your bedroom is upstairs, take the big staircase with the white banister, you really can't miss it. Have a good night."

She snapped with her fingers at a nearby servant and rushed out of the room. The door fell close heavily, an unassuming silence lay heavy on each of the siblings, like the milky evening fog over the grass in the gardens. Caleb let everything sink into him, then he emptied the cup of tea and paced back and forth around the table, his arms were steadily crossed and his head tucked in between his neck. But no matter how hard he thought of a solution to get them out of this situation, there was not a single option where they both escaped alive.

"Come on, let us go upstairs now, I don't like it down here." Caleb took his sister's hand again, he clutched it with intent, and he pulled her out of the chair and they hurried up the spiraling staircase. The upper floor was just as pompously decorated as the main floor, paintings, a red satin carpet reaching from one end to the other and golden candleholders on the furniture. There were two rooms on the left and right side of the hallway, but one big door at the other end stood wide open, like a personal invitation to both of them.

After Caleb closed the door to their new sleeping place, he observed the grandeur of the bedroom. Eight people could live inside of here, he thought to himself. And much like the rest of the house, this room looked similar. And besides the large bed, which was its own separate area, closed off by white curtains attached to four posts raking out of each corner of the light brownish frame, this room was filled with all sorts of furniture. Two small tables with a chair each, writing papers, bottles of ink next to it, three closets with enough space for a lifetime of clothes and a tiny washing room. The bed was placed parallel to the door, and on the right wall next to it, a huge window with a view across the sanctuary gardens. A gazebo with an old well could be seen from the inside, but everything else behind was already covered in a blueish night light.

"I'll sleep on the left side," he uttered without hesitation. He always slept closest to the door, taking cautionary measures became as elemental as breathing. For the past few years, they always had to sleep with one eye open, and Caleb was often awake half the night because he thought he had heard a strange noise. But after a while, he realized that it was his own cautiousness causing him to be startled by the tiniest of noises during their sleep.

Too tired to take a closer look into each closet, Caleb unclothed himself until nothing but a pair of shorts were on him. Not being the most careful with his hands after everything that had happened, he almost ripped the bed curtains off while he opened them. Falling inside the mattress was worth it all, and he exhaled deeply into the cold pillow.

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[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

Outside the walls. That statement of Mrs. Kerrington's stuck out to Violet, giving her pause as she held the teacup in midair, suspended inches from her lips. No one knew what exactly was outside of the walls— well, no one other than the Ash Lords and all the soldiers and prisoners who had never returned. Normal people were not permitted to cross them, and indeed, no one sane of mind would ever try. The stories about the outside world and its history were aplenty, many warped and faded by time until they were littered with lies and inconsistencies. While nobody knew for certain what was truth and what was a falsehood, there was one thing that the young Lady Blackwell knew. Hours earlier, they'd witnessed their first glimpse of what lie beyond, exposed to just one of the creatures that inhabited the wastelands surrounding Ashborough. The existence of more like it made a knot form in the pit of her stomach, her fingers tightening around the porcelain handle of her cup.

Caleb's voice cut through the woman's ravings, stirring Violet from her unpleasant reverie. Again with the whole 'couple' thing... She dipped her chin, hiding her face behind her mug as she took a long, uncomfortable sip. Was it really necessary for them to act like lovers? She knew that Ash Lords and their brides were practically a cultural icon at this point, a status symbol of their power and devotion. But surely it was unheard of for them to force twins or even siblings together in matrimonial union. As the advisor excused herself, the raven-haired girl stared into the golden liquid of her cup, watching the ripples that broke the surface tension inside of it. They, too, had created ripples in society with their exploits today.

She looked up, watching her brother pace anxiously, sympathizing with him. In silence, she ate the rest of her cakes and drained her tea, hungry enough for a feast with how malnourished they often were. As soon as she'd set her silverware down she was clasped by the hand and taken from her seat, pulled along after her impatient twin. "A-alright..." She supposed they didn't have much longer to sit around in there, anyhow. As he guided her up the stairs and onto the second floor, she did her best not to stumble in her pursuit, tired and injured as she was. The estate was breathtaking, but all she could think about was melting into a comfortable bed and letting sleep take her at last.

When she heard him claim his spot, Violet nodded, aware of his reasons for doing so. "You should actually try to get some sleep, Cal." She yawned, kicking her shoes off as she sat on the edge of the king-sized bed, her bottom sinking into the plushness of the mattress. Her muscles ached, wrists sore from being handcuffed and skin littered in fresh, sensitive bruises. "I think we'll be safe tonight. Not that I know for sure, but hey, at least we finally have a door that locks." Being in an actual room was in itself a miracle. "And no rats or roaches to be seen." That was a blessing.

She changed out of her blouse and skirt into a long, flowing nightgown, the fabric dyed purple and appearing gossamer. It felt good to be clean and comfortable before bed, and for a moment she wondered if this was all merely a dream. To test it, she pinched herself, and found that she was still standing in the lavish room unchanged. It truly was a novelty.

Violet climbed into the bed next to him, though she was much more graceful about it. She tucked her legs in under the thick blankets and turned onto her side to face her brother, her silver eyes meeting that matching pair of his. While she had told him to get some sleep, and she herself was exhausted, the events of the day kept running through her mind and were making it nearly impossible for her to actually close her eyes and drift off. She kept worrying about tomorrow and how this new dynamic might irreversibly alter their relationship with one other after all.

"What do you think is going to happen to us?" She whispered, her eyes searching his face as if he somehow held the answers to all her queries. Resting her cheek on her arm, she reached her other hand out and laid it gently over his. "I'm scared to go out there. Beyond the barrier, I mean. I... I don't want to know what it is that took our father from us." It was a topic they seldom ever talked about, but she was vividly reminded of it now. She couldn't remember anything about their parents, but they'd heard everything that had happened from Madam Pennworth when they used to live in the brothel. In those days she'd intimidated them with the story, using their own mother and father's deaths to bring the rowdy children into line. Her fingers squeezed his, seeking warmth and comfort in his touch. "We'll be okay, won't we?"

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[VanityFair]

​

View attachment IMG_6117.webp

⚔ Caleb ⚔
「❝There is nothing out there, but nothing is something, too.❞」​

For reasons beyond his own understanding, Caleb observed his sister for the first time since they defeated that monstrous machine. The gown she was wearing was filmy, and he didn't look away this time. Although the words of Mrs. Kerrington deeply embedded in the back of his mind as Violet spoke to him, he realized that his sister's thoughts were circling around similarly. Vividly, he looked back into her eyes, her touch was one of consolation and warmth, almost like she knew exactly what to say to him. But there was something else inside those silver eyes, she was riddled with questions and he was saddened that he couldn't give her the answers she sought for.

He sighed, and clasped the warm hand laying on top of his. Caleb didn't know what would happen to them, what lay outside the walls that shielded them for two decades. But he knew that it would be difficult, nothing was freely given and something was simply not sitting right with him. First there was the Ambassador, who seemed more dangerous than anyone else he had ever met in his life. Then Mrs. Kerrington, who babbled to no end about them as a couple and all sorts of ceremonial matters.

"Vi," he whispered back. "I don't know what's going to happen to us, besides that we will get married tomorrow…you know what that means, right?" His tone was one of sorrow, as if he was robbing her of something precious, but marriage was sacrilegious and all eyes would be set on them for a very long time. Caleb inched a bit closer to her.

"Let's not talk about what happened to father, we don't know the whole truth and we will never find out. Madam Pennyworth told us all kinds of crap. Truth is, we never had a father, and not much of a mother either." A dry response was all he could muster. It was the only way to avoid the uncomfortableness of a topic they seldom spoke about. Ever since a young age, they had been on their own. Not that any of them required pity, it wouldn't have helped them anyway, but they truly only had the other person to rely on. Violet was like a calm summer breeze, although her hair was nightly, her smile carried affection and her eyes benevolence.

"But we'll be okay." A faint smile came over his thin, pursed lips. He caressed her smooth cheek with the back of his hand, then wandered down the side of her arm. She had bruises and wounds all over. "We will be okay, Vi...sleep now." He softly repeated, like a lullaby, a mantra spoken out loud to put her at ease. Without saying anything else, he slowly turned around to face the side of the door again. While his sister had been right, they had locks now, he didn't feel much safer by any means. A closed door felt more like a trap, but all of his bones were aching and Caleb was too tired to open it.

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔯𝔬𝔴𝔫 𝔦𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔦𝔯𝔢
𝔓𝔲𝔰𝔥 𝔪𝔢 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯, 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔰𝔲𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯.❞」

``You know what that means, right?``

He'd questioned her, but the gaze she shot back at him suggested that she didn't truly understand it herself. She looked away, deciding not to respond to that. Yes, she knew what marriage was, and what married men and women often did... But she couldn't fathom how such a thing could happen between and her brother.

He reassured her that they would be fine, and she nodded faintly, believing him. "Good night, brother." She whispered back, her hand releasing his when he turned over to face away from her. For a few long moments she remained, staring at his back in the darkness of the room. And then she scooted closer to him until their bodies were touching, her eyes closing as she basked in the warmth and safety that came with his presence. It wouldn't take long for her to fall asleep after that, her chest rising and falling slowly as her breathing grew soft and even.

---

In the early hours of the morning, a knock resounded at their door. Violet was slow to awaken, blinking the sleep from her eyes as she sat up. The muscles in her back popped just a bit as she stretched her arms above her head and threw the blankets off to the side to go answer it. Somehow, the twins had made it through the night without any complications. She'd experienced the deepest sleep she'd probably ever had in her life, and even though she was half-awake now, she could hardly believe that yesterday had actually happened.

Mrs. Kerrington was standing in the doorway when she opened it, beaming at her in a way that shouldn't have been possible at such an ungodly hour. The lady's face fell, however, when she regarded the state of the girl. Violet's bedhead and disheveled nightgown were none too impressive, apparently. She stepped to the side as Mrs. Kerrington entered the room, a pair of brunette maids tailing along after her.

"Oh, dear... I hope you two didn't consummate already. We've not even held the ceremony yet."

Violet nearly choked on air, finding that it was far too early to be dealing with this already. "Wh-what are you talking about?" The absurdity of her statement served to wake the young woman up, at least. Mrs. Kerrington made sure that Caleb was out of bed and then grabbed his arm, quickly ushering him along after her.

"Come, Mister Blackwell, it would not do to have you get changed in the same room as your bride. Miss Blackwell, Rosemary will assist you in your preparations."

The aforementioned Rosemary stepped forward, the maid with longer brown hair and amber-colored eyes. The other maid, Cherise, had short brown hair and blue eyes. Cherise and Mrs. Kerrington left the room with Caleb, while Violet was made to be undressed by Rosemary. Despite the former's bashful protests, the maid did her job diligently, grooming and primping the new handmaiden for her debut. It would be a few hours before all of the preparations could come together, and by that time the afternoon sun was high in the sky, its rays beaming down through the clouds and illuminating the city's two newest idols.

---

Violet sat shoulder-to-shoulder with Caleb in the carriage as it rolled along the city streets. Across from them, Mrs. Kerrington and Sir Ambrose sat together, the two chattering about the upcoming event. All Violet could think about, however, was how nervous she felt. She touched her fingers to her lips, amazed at the foreign feel of red lipstick upon them. They'd really dolled her up for the ceremony, rouge tinting her cheeks and mascara on her lashes that made her silver eyes pop. The dress they'd stuffed her into was the most extravagant thing she'd ever seen or worn in her life. It was that of a traditional wedding dress, with a long, flowing train and lacey sleeves that hung off of her shoulders. Yet there was something objectifying about it in the way that it dipped down just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage, how the cinched waist drew one's attention to prominent hips, and the slit in the thigh showed off a generous amount of leg. Never in a million years would she have imagined wearing such a thing, and certainly not out in public.

But here she was. The carriage bumped and jolted as the horses galloped through the Upper City. She tilted her head to look out the window as more beautifully-constructed buildings whizzed past them, not a chip in the paint nor a crack in the walls to be seen. It all felt so big and open, but there was something rather terrifying about that, too. After the scare they'd had with the beast yesterday, Violet couldn't help but feel on edge, wondering if perhaps such a thing could happen again.

The carriage came to a stop outside of a massive amphitheater, its arches wide and foreboding as it lured them inside. Even now, a huge crowd was already waiting, kept back only by the city enforcers as they waited to catch even a glimpse of the rumored heroes when they emerged.

Violet glanced at Caleb apprehensively, her hand squeezing onto his before they had to part. The coachman dismounted his steed and opened the doors for the party of four, his head bowed respectfully as all of them exited. Violet was the last to step out, her hand shooting out to Caleb's shoulder to balance herself in her heels. She'd never worn them before, and the limited practice she'd had in them with Mrs. Kerrington could only help so much...

"Miss Blackwell. Stand straight, and take his arm."

The voice of Ambrose came from beside her, and she stiffened up instinctually, her back as straight as a rod. Looking to her brother, Violet placed her hand in the crook of his elbow, her fingers lingering on his bicep as they walked. It was nice to have some support, especially while in heels, but she'd never been so petrified. All eyes were on them, a slew of unfamiliar faces peering at the pair from the crowd. Sir Ambrose strolled next to her side while Mrs. Kerrington walked beside Caleb, and of course a pair of guards trailed behind the quartet, their helmets glinting in the light of the sun. Some people cheered when they saw them, nobles throwing roses into their path as though they were veritable celebrities, celebrating the new Ash Lord and his handmaiden.

But others, still, regarded them with quiet malice. Those sets of eyes judged them harshly, a sharpened, deadly edge to their gazes. Violet swallowed hard, her brows creasing worriedly behind the transparent veil draped over her face.

"Caleb, please don't let me trip." She whispered to him, her grasp tightening as her legs felt like jelly. They were heading straight into the amphitheater where an ivory altar had been set up in the center, its smooth surface adorned with flowers and candles. Behind it, a great firepit was filled with orange flames, and she could have sworn she saw iron tools resting alongside it. Everything was too far-off in the distance to make out, but she had a bad feeling about all of this nonetheless.

"Come on, you two. Smile! You have to make a good impression."

The corner of Violet's lip twitched into a nervous, wholly artificial smile, one that her twin would surely be able to identify as more of a cry for help than anything else.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

"Consumate already?"

Caleb was appalled by the vile suggestion of Mrs. Kerrington, but he didn't say anything back. It had been too early and he was still too tired for what was about to happen to them. Before he could even glance at his sister, the Housekeeper, or whatever her role was in all this chaos, had taken him outside into another room. A tailor was situated downstairs, in one of the smaller rooms, Caleb supposed it was a guest room, half as spacious as the one they had just spent the night in.

"Here he is, the man of the hour, our new Ash Lord." Mrs. Kerrington sounded quite chirpy and introduced him to the tailor, who had all sorts of suit jackets, cylinder hats, pants and shoes presented in a big open chest, one with multiple drawers in it. He had never seen such clothes like that before, the shoes were shiny and new and probably worth a small fortune.

"Wonderful, Mrs. Kerrington, you haven't promised too much." The tailor had a similar obnoxiousness about him and Caleb was more than glad when they proceeded into the coach. Now sitting right next to each other, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful his sister looked in her dress. She had always been a pretty girl, but now she had red paint on her lips, and her cheeks looked like a faint blush. However, it was her eyes that left the most impression on him. Her lashes were like black wings and made the silver of her iris shine bright like the moon. She was all dolled up, but he thought of himself as pompous and phony. The black traditional suit, the long cylinder hat, he looked like one of those rich men walking down the street, they all ventured towards the same location.

Caleb simply nodded at the whisper of help from Violet. They were walking arm in arm, straight ahead into the theater, built like a round bowl, some people cheered, others were rather indifferent and there was another group; their eyes filled with disgust and sickness for them. He was baffled and confused at the same time. Didn't Mr. Ambrose promised them that the people would love them? They arrived before the altar, a great pit with flames bursting out of it, big candlelights with iron tools next to it.

A priest came out from the back of the theater stage, he was wearing a white robe, a religious symbol across the middle of his garments. Caleb had no idea of its meaning, nor did he care about it. Finally, they were left alone by Mrs. Kerrington and the guards. Now standing before the priest, Caleb looked him dead in the eyes, to which the priest didn't react at all. An old man he was, with a gray beard and little to no hair on his head. He raised his arms out wide and the loud, hysterical chatter came to a threatening silence. It got so quiet, that he thought the priest had put a spell on the crowd by just raising his arms. Instead, he motioned and another man came forward and stood next to the firepit, patiently waiting for further instructions.

"We are gathered today to join this man and woman in matrimony. He will be crowned Ash Lord and she will be his bride, his handmaiden." The priest's voice echoed up until the end of the amphitheater, accelerating in loudness with each passing row. The people cheered and clapped in unison, more out of obligation than sincerity, but they cheered nevertheless.

"Exchange your vows now," he said in a stern tone. "Caleb Blackwell, do you take this woman to be your bride, to live together in matrimony, to comfort her, to love her and to protect her, forsaking all others, for as long as you live?"

Caleb answered without hesitation and nodded "I do." He moved Violet closer to him as the priest acknowledged his vow. The old man's eyes wandered towards Violet.

"Violet Blackwell, do you take this man to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to comfort him, to love him, to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you live?" The priest looked at her, and then gave the blacksmith a sign. The man dressed in a leather coat held an iron stick with a branding sign at its end into the fiery pit, carefully rotating the heavy piece in circles. Caleb knew that the ritual for their coronation involved a test of strength, but he didn't know that they were about to get branded. His posture stiffened in preparation for the ritual, holding his chin up high, this was the most important event of their lives and while he felt like fainting, it took him all concentration to resist the urge of every fiber in his body.

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

The sight of her brother dressed up like a proper gentleman baffled her, so used to seeing him in rags that she couldn't help but gawk at these new riches. However, she couldn't fully decide whether she liked it or not. On one hand, he'd always been dashing, his natural good looks oftentimes attracting the attention of girls in the Lower District despite his lack of wealth. In her eyes, he was charming no matter what he wore, but his current attire seemed stuffy. The suit did complement his masculine frame quite well, however, a fact that she tried fruitlessly to ignore.

Her heels clicked against the tiled stone pathway as they entered the amphitheater with their entourage in tow, her arm secured around his as she held on for dear life. Everything was so big, so unfamiliar. Her wide eyes hardly had enough time to take it all in, her attention caught between a hundred things all at once. The architecture, the altar, the crowd, Caleb, the enforcers, the firepit... All the new sights and sounds were overwhelming.

The siblings made it to the center stage and took their places before the altar. Violet watched nervously as a balding man wearing a priest's garb emerged, his gait purposeful as he strode over to the two. So this really was a wedding — she was actually getting married to her twin brother. Her shoulders stiffened, palms feeling clammy suddenly as the man began to speak. Hundreds of people were watching them, but not a single one thought to speak out against the strange injustice taking place. Hell, even if their appearances weren't enough of a dead giveaway, the two of them already shared the same last name. Yet not one person seemed to mind. Was she truly all alone in feeling that this was wrong?

She gave a start when she realized that the priest was talking directly to them, her head whipping towards Caleb. They stood at arm's length across from one another now, facing each other earnestly. A gentle breeze blew midnight bangs from her eyes as she angled her chin upwards to meet his gaze, her painted lips quivering in her apprehension. Her brother vowed to commit himself to her as a husband, and she heard the sincerity in his words.

When the priest directed that same question to her, Violet's solemn gaze remained on Caleb's face, unwavering.

"I-I do..." The slightest tremble accompanied her promise. They already loved and protected each other, that much was a given, but the connotations of this union were not lost on her. Even if it had been forced upon them, the deal was sealed. She was his.

The priest gestured to them, leaning over his podium to speak. "Then you may now kiss the bride."

Violet was certain her heart was going to stop in that moment. On some level, she'd expected this, having a general idea of what weddings were like. If anything, she should've been relieved it was only a kiss, surely that was simple enough, right? The two of them had only ever shared the occasional peck on the cheek before now, so when her eyes fell upon her brother's lips the young woman felt her breath catch in her throat.

With all eyes on them she knew there was no backing out now. Swallowing audibly, his sister leaned in, allowing Caleb to brush the veil from her face as their lips connected. It was only for a few moments, but the electrifying sensation that coursed through her left her with a tingling feeling that lingered upon her skin. When at last they parted, she could see the scarlet smudge of lipstick that had smeared across his mouth. Her cheeks flushed as she looked away, delicate palms resting in his as their fingers intertwined.

But their brief trance would be cut short when the blacksmith approached with his branding iron fresh off the fire. He pulled Caleb to the side even as she reached out for him, her face twisting in her horror. Another man approached with him, this one heavyset and scarred. He also carried a hot iron, but the design was different. The one he brandished for her had a flower pattern, the metal warped into the shape of an intricate lily. Violet was made to kneel beside her groom, her pale back exposed by the cut of her dress as she leaned forward, a curtain of raven hair covering her face.

"Thus concludes the rite of ascension." The priest held his hands up as both men pressed their branding irons into the Blackwell twins' skin simultaneously. It took everything she had not to scream, her nails digging into the stone beneath her as she felt nothing but a white-hot flash of pain. They were only held in place for a few seconds, but those excruciating moments felt like hours. Violet had been clenching her teeth so hard she feared they might break, her chest heaving with the herculean effort she'd put forth just to conceal her agony. It was so bad she felt she might faint, her flesh darkening as it cauterized. They had been forever marked by the cruel fires of Ashborough, forced to live with the scars that would remind them of this very moment for the rest of their lives.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

Their kiss was short, strange but there was a prickling feeling leaving his lips as they parted from his sister. It was official now, they had been married to each other, a fact too hard to comprehend at that moment. The blacksmith approached them and as they both sank to their knees, their backs were harshly exposed. He felt the flaming gaze of the iron coming closer, it was so warm it made his eyes teary, but this was the last rite of passage. Unable to see the symbol forever burned onto his skin, he just closed his eyes and pressed his teeth together so that his jaw felt like breaking apart at any given time. It smelled like rotten flesh for a few seconds, he clenched his hands into a pair of fists and then it was all over. He held his breath for a second, and coughed up heavily after inhaling some air.

The adrenaline shooting through his body couldn't extinguish the excruciating pain, but two nuns came rushing forward with towels and gently pressed them down on each of the twin's shoulders. A strong herb or some other kind of medicine was smeared into the red-hot wounds, instantly numbing the pain to a minimum. The priest made them stand up again and face the erupting crowd behind them. Mrs. Kerrington and Mr. Ambrose came forward and congratulated them both while the priest coordinated the people to leave in a certain order as the newly wedded couple left the amphitheater for the carriage to the palace.

"Well done, Mister Blackwell." Ambrose firmly shook Caleb's hand and said the same to Violet.

Mrs. Kerrington was equally pleased; "Oh, you two are the loveliest of them all! Now, let us hurry to the palace! The people can't wait any longer, and you must be equally starving! We will have plenty of food, wine and whatever your heart longs for," she cheered and motioned them to get moving. "Shall we?"

Caleb gave her a quick nod, took Violet's hand and let his fingers intertwine with hers. "Just play along and smile," he whispered. "We'll have some time to talk in the carriage."

As they marched out of the theater, Caleb's eyes stared up and down the rows of people. Several hundreds were there, all dressed in their finest of clothes, their hair perfectly done and the formality of them all was still uncomfortable, but he'd get used to it sooner or later. To his own disbelief, he was almost glad they would get to enjoy themselves a little bit, although he would've preferred a more private setting for the occasion, they were given no other choice.

Two white horses with shining black manes were pulling the carriage. It had windows and blinds, its wheels were not just made out of a strong wood, they had golden bolts nailed into them. The coach driver greeted them with a bow and opened the door for the bride. Caleb helped her up and left out a sigh of relief after the small door closed behind them and the noise was drowned out a bit. He sat opposite of her, completely unsure how to behave around her. She was still his sister, and he was still her brother, but they were married now. This was insane.

"Does it hurt?" He didn't want to allude to anything that had just happened and whenever something came up that he wasn't willing to speak about, he'd retract by distracting from said topic. The coach driver whipped the horses with a loud shout and the wheels were rolling towards the Grand Palace.

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

Unable to focus on the cheering of the audience all around her, Violet barely registered the nun that came up behind her and cleansed her fresh wound. It came as a huge relief when that agonizing burning was finally alleviated, the flesh of her shoulder blade still raw and pulsing with a dull ache. She blinked the tears from her eyes that she hadn't realized were there, her head turning to look at Caleb when they were called to stand. Her legs shook and the girl was finding it difficult to support herself after that, but she managed. The crowd blurred and then faded away as they were steered back the same way they came, the towering walls of the amphitheater disappearing behind her turned back.

Violet only nodded at her brother's words, her hand holding onto his faintly when she felt him take it. She could hardly muster a smile at this moment, but she tried her best for him, pale grey eyes passing over his familiar face to look upon their escorts. Sir Ambrose and Mrs. Kerrington only wanted to help them, she truly wanted to believe that, but...

This time they were led into a different carriage, a far more ornate one that looked like it may have been specifically for weddings. What's more, they got to sit in there alone, finally free to spend a quiet moment together. Once Caleb helped her inside, Violet settled into the seat across from him, her long dress flowing around her ankles and exposing a bit of her smooth, milky thigh. She was silent for a while, her head tilted down as she stared at the floor of the cab. Not only were things incredibly awkward now, but she was so overwhelmed that she wasn't sure she'd be able to form a coherent sentence, let alone say anything that could lighten the mood or fix their circumstances. She placed her hand over the mark on her back, wincing as it felt sensitive to the touch.

"A little bit..." She admitted, placing her hands in her lap as the carriage swayed and rocked, swiftly rolling along to the palace. Would they meet the prime minister there? She'd heard he was an imposing man with many wives, the hedonistic type that lived in luxury and bathed in pure gold while his people suffered in the streets. Supposedly, it was he who had decreed their wedding, he who forced anyone with the touch of magic in their veins to fight for his corrupt regime. She was seldom a spiteful woman, but she didn't wish to interact with somebody like that.

Shaking her head, she looked up at her brother again, unable to hold back her thoughts any longer.

"I'm sorry, Caleb. This is all wrong." Sucking in a deep breath, she dug her nails into her thighs as they rested there, a tormented expression twisting her features. "It shouldn't have been me. You should have gotten married to a nice girl, maybe one of the barmaids at The Lily Liver. I know how those other girls were so interested in you, they'd probably do anything to take my place. You deserve to have a real wife that will love and care for you, not to be chained to your twin sister forever..."

Letting out a sigh, she turned to stare out the window as the peaks and battlements of the castle came into view, the city's denizens staring at their carriage with awed expressions as they rode by. Despite what she'd said, the thought of him being married off to someone else had always made her uncomfortable. Perhaps she just didn't want to lose the bond she had with him to another, or perhaps it went a bit deeper than that... But at the same time, Violet only wanted what was best for him. She didn't want to steal away his future like this.

Leaning forward, she brushed her thumb over his lips to clean off the smudge of her red lipstick that had been left there, a faint blush on her cheeks. "I don't know the first thing about being a wife, or a handmaiden, or whatever else they want me to be. All I know is that I want you to be happy..." Her eyes softened as she looked at him, troubled by their circumstances. They would soon be escorted into the palace, but before that she wanted to savor the fleeting privacy they shared while they still could.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

He hadn't even been aware of the red lipstick on his mouth, nor did he care that she thumbed it off his lips. It was difficult to stomach her words, he felt his sister's remorse, as if she was entirely at fault for everything. In an instant, he seated himself right next to her, almost tripping over as the back wheel hit a rock on the street. The look in her softened eyes was filled with doubts and sorrows.

"Doubt that the barmaids know any of that either," he countered, a hint of a smile carved around his face as he put an arm around her shoulders. He removed the piece of vail from her head and had to be careful in his attempt of not ripping all her hair out.

"You know that marrying one of those girls was never my plan, Violet. It shouldn't have been me either, you could have been married to one of the market boys, the one who always let you steal his fruits. He always saw it, but never said a word." Caleb took a deep breath before he continued.

"We made our choices," he said stoically. As she looked out the window, Caleb didn't let his eyes slip off of her for a second. And while he wasn't able to sort out his thoughts in completion, there was a new sense of belonging growing inside of him. There was a bond between them that went beyond their blood relation. She was all he ever truly had. The one constant in his life.

"And I'm not chained by you, nobody forced me to say yes." It was as much of an admission as it was a confession coming out of his mouth. He took off the cylinder hat and threw it lightly onto the other side of the coach. "Anyway, I'm starving for some good food. And wine. The rich here are used to all of this, but I won't hold myself back today. These fine people are so cautious with their words and what not to say, we will stick out like a sore thumb…or maybe you won't, you're all dolled up, you could pass as a viscountess," he joked and bustled through her black hair.

And now he saw it too, the outer buildings of the Grand Palace. Even the road has changed, it was more pristine, more luxurious and pompous than anything he has ever seen before. From the outer districts, only the dome and the tall towers raking into the sky were visible, but seeing it in person was way more impressive and left his mouth wide open for a few seconds. Royal guards were parading left and right on each sidewalk, they marched in unison with the carriage and came to a sudden halt. Then the carriage stopped and the driver yelled to them; "We have arrived, mylord and mylady."

The driver opened the door and asked Caleb to step out first. Once outside he held his hand open for her to grab. "We will get through this, you'll be fine."
__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

Violet's gaze shifted to her brother when he moved to sit beside her on the leather seat, his familiar warmth embracing her as an arm was draped around her shoulders. As her veil was removed and Caleb tried to comfort her she paused, turning red when he mentioned some boy at the market. Had that really happened? She couldn't recall such a thing, but it was a bit embarrassing that he would notice.

Still, at least he didn't seem too upset about it, even if she felt that he probably should be. They had just gotten married, after all, one of the most binding agreements in existence. She worried that he may be acting a bit too laissez-faire about the whole thing. Letting out a soft sigh, she chose to drop the subject for now, sensing his urgency to move on.

"A-a viscountess?" She repeated, pouting when he ruffled her hair like she was a child. With a roll of her eyes, she crossed her arms over her chest and sank into the backrest, the pink color of her cheeks taking a little bit longer to fade than she would've liked. "You're right, though. Agh, I have no idea which fork to use for what or how many napkins I'm allowed to ask for..." Violet lamented, a shake of her head accompanying her words. Nobles could be so picky about those sorts of things, and they hadn't exactly had much time to perfect their etiquette with less than a day to prepare.

As the driver hailed to them, the young woman once more glanced out the window, surprised to find that they were already there. Being referred to as "Lady" was certainly new, and she couldn't figure out how she felt about it as she ducked out of the carriage, placing her hand in Caleb's so that she could use him for support on the way out. Once she was certain she wasn't going to topple over, she started to walk beside him, her hand still clasped in his as they were led over the drawbridge and through the open portcullis gate. It really was like a stereotypical castle from a fairy tale, moat and everything.

The two of them were led through the bailey and into the front entrance where a butler appeared to take over for their coach. The butler bowed to them respectfully, and Violet awkwardly bowed back, though from the strange look he shot her it seemed that wasn't the right thing to do. Embarrassed, she pushed her hair over her red ears as they strolled through the grand hall. The floors were made of pure marble, the finest silk carpet she'd ever laid heels upon stretching out beneath their feet and leading to a central staircase. Their new manor was big, but the palace was far bigger, so wide and open that she could run laps around the front room alone. The sight of expensive chandeliers and vases intimidated her, each fixture and decoration alone worth enough to feed everyone in their old neighborhood for weeks, at least.

Violet tried not to gawk as they entered the banquet hall, her eyes flitting from one end to the other as she took everything in. There were three long tables lined up next to each other, candelabras burning atop them. Already, there were plenty of rich people rubbing elbows as they sat side-by-side, the sounds of idle chatter and the clinking of silverware filling the air around them. Taking a deep breath, she followed the butler as he took them to their seats, nervously watching as even more droves of nobility filtered into the room after them.

"There's a lot of people here..." She whispered to Caleb, her hand tightening around his as they were directed to sit together at the very end of the middle table. The spot was quite clearly set up just for them, with their chairs being the largest and most ornate-looking in the entire hall. Once she was seated she placed her hands in her lap and tried not to make eye contact with any of the guests who were staring in her direction, putting her focus into keeping her back straight and her face as blank as possible. She hid her face behind a glass of water as she watched the castle servants bustling about in their rush to set the tables. Platters with all kinds of food in them were set before them, ranging from luxurious desserts to rich and tender meat dishes. Violet couldn't help the growl that left her stomach upon being presented with so many delicacies, the quality far beyond that of anything she'd ever eaten. Before now, she was lucky to get a piece of bread that wasn't stale or an unbruised apple.

Before they could dig in, however, it seemed that there was an announcement to be made. Everybody turned to look as a man entered, his stride purposeful and the robes he wore gilded with golden threads. He was flanked by four enforcers, two in front and two in back, and from behind him trailed five women, all wearing sumptuous but revealing dresses that showed plenty of skin. The sight made even Violet in her wedding gown feel modest, her face burning as she looked away from the scene. The whispers around them died down as the man raised his hands, his gaudy crown nearly slipping off of his silver-streaked head.

"Tonight we celebrate the addition of a new Ash Lord into our ranks. It is thanks to Lord Blackwell that our fine city continues to stand as a beacon of hope against the wilds, her people spared the wrath of a destructive beast hellbent on destroying everything in its path." The man, who somebody else at the table had identified as the prime minister, gestured towards the twins with a warm smile. "A toast to the young Lord and his Lady on the day of their union. May they find happiness in each other's arms as they continue to valiantly defend the good people of Ashborough."

The prime minister raised his glass before taking a sip of the dark liquid that swirled within. Everyone else around them imitated him, glasses clinking together as the partygoers cheered and drank, congratulating the newlywed couple on their marriage. Violet glanced over at her brother, hardly able to believe that they were actually husband and wife now. With shaky hand, the young woman raised her own goblet to take a sip, the bitterly sweet taste of fermented berries blossoming across her tongue. Exhaling, she set the cup back down and picked up her utensils as each entrée was swiftly uncovered, her pale eyes meeting with matching ones as everybody began to talk and laugh once more.

"Look, do you see over there?" She leaned in to whisper to him, cupping her hand over her mouth conspiratorially. "Those are the prime ministers' wives... Do you think he's trying to show them off?" She gossiped to him, turning to look at the scantily-clad women once more. They hung back at his heels and focused on looking pretty, each one as beautiful and emptyheaded as the last. Violet could only shudder, pitying the poor maidens as she stuffed a piece of fresh, warm bread into her mouth, the taste like a little slice of heaven.

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐
┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊
┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .
┊ ┊ ⋆˚         
✧. ┊         
⋆ ★

 

[VanityFair]

Caleb was provided with a much more difficult time than he'd anticipated. The dining hall was promptly filled and the nobles and wealthy mingled all around until the prime minister settled them down. His speech was short, precise and it seemed as if he wasn't the kind of man to waste any words. The man was an unknown figure to Caleb.

Sure, they have all heard of a rich old man pulling all the strings from a mansion up the Hillsides, but nobody gave two pennies about whether the story carried any truth or was just a made up fairytale. But like this palace, it wasn't a made up tale. Their union. Hearing those words made him shiver, not out of disgust or discontentment, but more because those words didn't bore any significant meaning to him, up until that very moment.

Caleb tried some wine and gulped the whole glass down without questioning as to whether or not this dark potion would poison him. His gaze shifted as Violet leaned against his shoulder, whispering in a suspicious manner. Telling her off would send the wrong message, but he noticed some eyes following their every move and motions. "Yes, those are his concubines, they flock to him, they're probably forced to," he answered hastily and in the same whispering manner. "But we're surrounded by too many ears, let's keep our conversation to their expectations. They are already watching us."

He grabbed the fork and the knife and packed himself a big piece of meat onto his plate. While Violet was scrunching on her piece of bread, Caleb ate the most delicious piece of food and looked all satisfied to the outside world, but he had been to keen with his words before; this evening was surely not to his enjoyment, and if he would have acted on his honesty, he would've stormed out of this place with Violet.

A few more minutes passed before Mrs. Kerrington surprised the newly wedded pair and put her lanky, skinny fingers on their shoulders. "What a lovely evening it is, am I right? How's the food, Misses Blackwell?" She smiled brightly at Violet. "Oh, you must try the venison cut with the salads later on, they're our specialty inside these walls. Is everything according your taste, Mr. Blackwell?" Her sharp eyes turned to Caleb, and she gave him a similar smile that soon vanished after she noticed his general aloofness. Immediately, he nodded to her and affirmed her question.

"Everything's fine, we're just not used to so much food and drinks," he answered. This was true, however his problems were not related to the cuisine, but the guests. And then he realized something and felt a knot tying itself tighter and tighter around his chest. They were nothing but prisoners. Rich prisoners. Declared as free and heroic, and yet they were nothing but. Why did they have to encounter that monstrosity before? Why couldn't it have been somebody else with those gifts? And who in their right mind would've agreed to a marriage with his own flesh and blood?! Usually, during this later hour of the day, one of them would be off to the marketplace and check it out, looking for leftovers and scraps that nobody else wanted to buy. Mrs. Kerrington interrupted his wandering thoughts with another question, one that wasn't really proposed as a question.

"Before I forget; mylord and mylady," she excused herself for coughing. "You do have to try our white wine. It's exclusive to our region and only available for special events. I'll be right back…" She disappeared into the crowd and they were left alone again. The prime minister was chatting with a few other people, they all seemed important, some had glasses on, with expensive suits, multiple layers of fine clothing, mostly black and gray colored. Who were these men? So many unanswered questions plagued him, and impatient as he was, he could not wait to discuss this with Violet back home, at their new place.

This time, it was him leaning into her, but he pretended to kiss her cheek as he whispered something into her ear; "We should probably introduce ourselves to some of these people, it's always better if we're taking the initiative, keep the facade and pretend that this is the happiest days of our lives." He looked at her with uncertainty, his confidence wasn't really there, although he tried sounding like he had a damn clue why he was telling her what to do. As he stood up out of his seat, he extended his hand to her and shrugged. "Ready?"

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[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

When Caleb cautioned her against speaking too freely, Violet flushed, pulling back from him as though she hadn't considered that. It made perfect sense. Perhaps she'd just been too excited when faced with all these new things at once, the more rational part of her brain ignored in favor of sating her curiosity. At the same time, Caleb always was one to mistrust the people around them— sometimes overly so, to the point where she thought it a bit much. Still, she decided to listen to him for now, turning away from him as she finished her bread and dug into the steak instead. It was pretty rare for the two of them to get their hands on meat, with sirloin of this quality entirely unheard of for the twins. Violet found herself eating far more than was necessary, her malnourished stomach soaking up every bite of food that she could stuff into her mouth. Though, when she noticed the look some noble lady was giving her she reminded herself to slow down, remembering that it was seen as 'improper' to indulge oneself.

Mrs. Kerrington's hand on her shoulder startled her, the girl nearly toppling over in her chair when she was touched. Her instinct was to react violently, since in the Lower City being grabbed from behind usually meant a thief or molester was afoot, but she calmed when she remembered that they weren't in the Lower City. This was the palace, and there were more aristocrats in attendance than there were appetizers on their plates. "Ah, um, the food is divine, Mrs. Kerrington..." She responded, a note of reluctance in her tone. It wasn't a lie, actually, it was the best food she'd ever had. Regardless, her brother's words rang true, the source of her discomfort lying in the novelty of their situation. In many ways, things had vastly improved for the siblings. They had a roof over their head, food security, clean clothes, and each other, even after everything... But had things really improved? Or were they just dismal in an entirely different sort of way?

Their advisor left to go fetch more wine, despite the fact that Violet hadn't even finished her own glass yet. She took another swig, nearly spitting it out when she felt Caleb's lips against her cheek. Realizing he was just whispering something to her, she swallowed the liquid down with some difficulty and pretended to be the blushing bride that adored her new husband. Truthfully, she only needed to half-pretend, considering she was already blushing.

"S-sure..." She muttered, glancing over at him as he stood. Dabbing wine from her lips with a napkin, she took his offered hand and pulled herself to her feet. "Ready as I'll ever be." Her voice was uncertain as she took his arm, hanging off of him more like a doting wife rather than a loving sister. It felt strange and unnatural, but she couldn't claim that she disliked it. Their bond was already strong, so they didn't have to fabricate that much, at least.

They walked forward, approaching a group of nobles chatting off to the side, each one of them wearing an opulent suit or dress that served as a means of flaunting their status. Violet felt her mouth go dry from how nervous she was, and she couldn't decide whether she should speak up and say something or let Caleb do it. She was expected to be silent and demure, wasn't she? A woman talking over a man wouldn't be received too kindly, so she settled for putting on a shy smile, her gray eyes scanning over the faces around them.

The first person to engage with them was a young lady, probably around their age by the looks of it. She had platinum blonde hair and wore a pink dress with a matching bow, her verdant green eyes practically sparkling as she looked upon the honored guests.

"Ah! Lord and Lady Blackwell, what a pleasure it is to meet you!" The girl was practically giddy as she introduced herself, placing a gloved hand over her chest as she smiled. "My name is Kasia Alden. I'm the daughter of Baron Alden from the north district." She giggled, all too eager to acquaint herself with the new Ash Lord and his handmaiden. Kasia shook their hands in sequence, her eyes opening wide in a curious manner when she got a closer look at them. They darted from brother to sister, her lips parting in an expression of shock. "Gosh, you two look so similar! I knew you were related, but are you actually, like, real twins? Wow!"

Violet nodded politely, still finding it strange that nobody seemed to bat an eye at the fact that they were, well, married in spite of that.

"Calm yourself, Kasia. That's not exactly the kind of question you should be asking these people you just met."

A man strolled up from behind her, auburn hair slicked back over his forehead and thick brows lowered, their lines deeply set into his face. It gave him an austere sort of look, his cold brown eyes examining them with marked disinterest. The girl let out a huff, hands on her hips as she turned to the redheaded male, her displeasure evident on her face.

"What would you know, Byron? It's not like you ever had any social skills to begin with." Despite her vitriol, the man named Byron gave no outward reaction, prompting Kasia to continue speaking for him in his silence. "Since this brute won't introduce himself, he's Byron Elshire, son of Duke Elshire. We're neighbors, actually."

Based on the roll of his eyes that he gave just then, Violet guessed that he wasn't too happy about that fact. "Don't remind me..." She watched as the shorter girl nudged him in the side with her elbow before turning back to them, a bright look in her eyes.

"So, how are you enjoying the party? It was such short notice, but when I heard that there'd be a wedding for the new Ash Lord today I practically had to yank Byron out of bed to attend with me. The prime minister really went all out for you guys. Ah, did you know there's a dance at the end of the night? Maybe you'd like to dance with me now, Lord Blackwell? I could help you prepare for the main event with your bride."

The words flew out of her mouth rapidly, such a lively young lass hardly able to contain herself when it came to her new acquaintances. Violet covered her mouth as she allowed herself a soft giggle, swept up in the blonde's endearing ramblings. "Thank you, Miss Alden, Mister Elshire. We certainly appreciate the warm greetings..." She squeezed Caleb's arm, glancing up at him with a questioning look, as if asking him if he really did want to have a dance with Kasia. She wouldn't try to stop him if that were the case, it wasn't like she was actually his lover anyhow, and the offer seemed more out of the goodness of the lady's heart than anything.

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[VanityFair]

The questioning look from her sister was met with reluctant eyes. Meeting Mister Elshire and Miss Alden was a welcome change, they only seemed a tad bit older, Caleb thought and hesitated if he should take the friendly offer for a dance with the smiling Misses. Some time had passed since he danced lavishly on the tables in one of the old bars, arm in arm with some pretty girl. Most of them had been blonde too, but none of them were ever as well clad as Miss Alden. He wondered if the Duke's son and her were engaged in some kind of way, but poking around wasn't in his veins and it wasn't a question of importance by any means.

Clearly flustered and confused by Miss Alden's offer, Caleb hesitated; "It's a generous offer, Miss Walden, but I'm not a gifted dancer. We'd trip and fall and you'd be embarrassed."

"Why should you trip, mylord? You don't have any short legs…please, Byron, tell him to go for a dance with me," she cried and turned to Mister Elshire, who just scoffed at her silliness and looked at Caleb with a glance that was unmistakable in its nature.

"She's indeed a fine young lady, that sweet thing. But I am aware of your concerns about your perception in public, since this is the day of your wedding with your sister," he chuckled, but not in an offending manner. The small laughter was genuine amusement and jolly. The Duke's son took another sip from his crystal glass before he added his last words.

"I'd suggest rescheduling the dance for another time, Miss Alden," he said in a more strict tone. "We can invite the Lord and his handmaiden to my house in a few days. We can play cards, talk about dear life and recite some poetry. That compromise must surely be in your favor, miss."

"Your poetry is just fine, so while I'm a little bit let down, I'm not ill-mannered, mylord. Think about your steps then and be careful that you two don't stumble...I would've gladly prepared you for it," she sighed and gave up her efforts to convince Caleb.

"At another time then, now excuse us," he smiled hastily towards them both, nodded goodbye and took Violet with him to the line of tables with fruits and vegetables. There was a bit more quietness than at the table and while he grabbed a few things and put them on a plate, he became increasingly worried. Normally, he would've taken the chance and danced with a woman like Miss Alden, but he couldn't do it this time. Something held him back, prevented his mind from even thinking seriously about dancing with another woman. Their parents died young, but he had always imagined what their family life would've looked like if things didn't go down the way they did.

"You would have been okay with that? I mean - me dancing with another woman?" Bashfulness was written all over his face and he couldn't hide it anymore. The sudden complications were new for him, and he had no idea about his approach to deal with his sister from that point forward. "I just think it wouldn't have been appropriate. And I'm not risking making a fool out of you and myself. But we should take the invite, we need some friendly faces and they seem nice enough." His head swiftly turned left and right, making sure nobody was within earshot of their conversation.

Simultaneously, behind the back of the newly wedded, Mrs. Kerrington brough two cups of the promised wine to their table, meticulously placing them at the top right corner next to their plates. She threw a satisfied glance towards the Prime Minister sitting indulgently between his concubines and left their table ever so gracefully. Little did they know she enhanced their cups with a special herb, one that made her smile so satisfyingly, as if everything was going according to plan. She ventured down the dining hall and got back to her table with Mr. Ambrose sitting right next to her.

"I've seen you already took care of it," he said in a mocking tone. The viciousness and hatred soured over his lips. "Good, very good. They might have powers we don't have, but this is our world. They're only allowed in it and need to follow our rules. Make sure to visit them in the morning."

"Of course I did, Mr. Ambrose. It is my duty as their housekeeper…as soon as this party is over they'll tumble into their beds and will succumb. But I'm telling you, do not underestimate that young fellow. He's not educated, but he's surely not stupid. The small bird is all mine, she's naive and will fall in line. You better take care of him! Or else…" Mr. Ambrose cut her off with a distinct and subtle hand sign.

"The boy is mine, I'll have to apply some pressure, but he will pose no threat to our operation." He assured her and felt disrespected by the lack of trust from Mrs. Kerrington. "You need to catch her early on however. If her brother's influence grows on her, you'll stand no chance and we'll be facing severe consequences!" Mr. Ambrose warned her in serious fashion, the one that she couldn't help but acknowledge.

Her eyes went looking for Caleb and his sister, and she was growing impatient, but she had done her job well, the two wouldn't suspect a thing. "Your lack of confidence in my abilities is not the fun it once was, my dear mister."
—

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

Kasia and Byron disappeared from their vision as Caleb spun her around, steering her away from the other two nobles accordingly. Violet thought that he seemed a bit too eager to get away from them, his reluctance at Miss Alden's offer confusing her somewhat. When had he ever had trouble accepting a beautiful maiden's hand before? She'd always been at his side and she'd seen the women he'd occasionally flirt with, and like a supportive sister she would only ever offer up smiles of encouragement for him. But today he had turned down a fine young lady in favor of retreating to the dining tables once more with her. It was unlike him.

Throwing one more glance over her shoulder at the future Duke and Baroness, Violet looked up at her brother when they came to a stop in front another table that was set up with food, wondering if he was merely eating out of stress at this point. "Huh?" She paused, a puzzled look on her face as he spoke. In truth, she hadn't even thought about that. Perhaps the act of the groom dancing with a woman other than his bride would have been some sort of social faux pas, especially right after they'd just vowed under holy oath to commit themselves to one another. "Well..." The ravenette averted her eyes for a moment, considering. "I figured it might help. I know we're both rusty, after all."

Still, that answer didn't seem to be enough for him. Caleb was wearing an expression she'd never seen him make for her before, her own cheeks tinting pink when she saw it. Why was her heart fluttering around him so much more than usual? "I didn't want to impose. We might be... um, m-married now, but... I don't think I'll be able to satisfy you the way that a wife should..." Gods, it was so awkward saying that aloud. She wanted to facepalm in that moment, wishing she could just melt into a puddle and seep into the floor. "N-nevermind! Yes, let's accept their invite. I doubt we'll be able to hide away in our estate at Ravensfield Park for long..." With their sudden entrance into high society, they could kiss any hopes at a quiet life goodbye. Surely the twins would now be expected to attend parties and gatherings galore to maintain their status, else they might risk angering the nobles organizing them.

Stuffing a few grapes in her mouth as an excuse to avoid the topic further, the young Lady Blackwell would have her attention taken away when the butler that had escorted them inside approached them once more, his head dipping low in a bow. She was sure not to copy him this time, her brows raising as she watched him rise and address them.

"Pardon, m'lord and m'lady, but it's nearly time for the dance to begin. His Excellency requests that you two start off the waltz together as his honored guests."

She swallowed the rest of her grapes with some difficulty, her throat tightening up from how nervous she was becoming. Dancing alone was one thing, but in front of an entire crowd of people? Not just any people, but judgmental nobles who would no doubt be watching them like hawks the whole time, and she was expected to pull it off all while wearing heels and a dress with a long train... It was most certainly a recipe for disaster. Shooting a look to Caleb, she nodded once, dismissing the servant. "Right. Thank you, sir."

Sure enough, when her eyes wandered over to the prime minister she could see that he was staring at them expectantly from across the room, his chin leaning into his fist as he sat upon his throne with his wives sprawled out across pillows at his feet. Violet waited for her brother to finish his food before she would urge him closer to the center of the room where a large space had been cleared away from the tables. As the pair took their spots, the chattering around them began to die off, a few elegant notes of classical music springing up in its place. Everyone seemed to gather in a circle around them as they waited for the newlyweds to have the first dance, allowing them alone the spotlight before anyone else could join in.

But what was their cue? Had it already passed? Feeling completely lost, Violet slipped her hand into Caleb's and placed her other one on his shoulder, her body trembling slightly as her knees nearly locked up. She would have to rely on him to lead her as much as he could and hope that she could make up for the rest.

"Are you ready?" She whispered to him softly, her doelike eyes searching his uncertainly.

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[VanityFair]

Not much time had been given to them, the wealthy wanted to see the twins dance; it felt as if they were being played and counted for fools. Caleb distrusted them all, and he got almost angry at his sister's naivety. He wasn't a part of this fine society and everything seemed to point that shamelessly out. The ridiculously expensive decorations, the pompous dining hall, their mansion and clothes he wouldn't have never been able to afford otherwise.

"I'm not," he whispered back. "But we have to do this one way or another." Caleb knew how to dance in a loose rhythm, but this wasn't a tavern, and there were no pretty girls with curls that invited him. He squeezed Violet's hand a bit, letting her feel his lead. The prime minister threw his hand up in a circling motion and the string ensemble began to play, alongside a woman playing softly at the piano. The stage had been set for them.

Carefully, he guided her, placing a firm hand at her left hip, and he took one step back, one to the right and then another step back with the other foot, repeating the whole procedure. As clumsily as it looked, he moved slow enough to make sure Violet wouldn't trip and could keep up.

"Just keep going." A slight smile appeared on his face as he pulled his other half closer to him, they were dancing in half-circles from left to right and then reversed it, not further apart than a few inches from one another, chest against chest. Caleb tried focusing on her eyes, but the rapid change of his heartbeat prevented him from keeping his gaze on her. The pounding against the cage of his chest thumped so loudly, he heard it pumping through his ears. Then the music came to a slow end, and after what felt like the 100th turnaround, he stopped moving and stayed silent.

The gathered congregation clapped and whistled themselves into a short ecstatic cheering, Mrs. Kerrington looked proudly at Mr. Ambrose, as if this was her own merit. "I told you they'd do a wonderful job!" She cried out in happiness.

"We have seen much better, but we didn't choose them for their unskilled dancing, did we?" Mr. Ambrose replied in a sarcastic manner.

For a short moment, Caleb hesitated, his eyes flickered from her eyes down to her lips and back up again. The wrongness of his thoughts was apparent to him, but she had said it herself before; they were married now. Without further ado, he cupped her cheeks and pressed his lips onto hers and kissed her, and this one wasn't a ceremonial act, he did as his last act to convince everyone around them. At least that was the lie he repeated to himself over and over again, but deep down there were a few other reasons hidden underneath that lie; curiosity, keenness and a strange longing that hadn't been there before. It only lasted a few seconds, his cheeks reddened and he felt embarrassed for what he had just done.

"I didn't - ," he stammered. He was trying to justify himself so desperately, but those words got stuck in his lungs and he pursed his mouth instead. Confused by his own actions, by the sudden intimacy and closeness during their dance, Caleb decided that it was for the best to not say anything else. His heart began to race, he was afraid of her reaction, deeply worried that he had broken something and wouldn't be able to repair it.

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[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

At least he was honest with her. Violet cracked a small smile at his response, though it was more nervous than reassuring. As the music took off, she pressed herself into Caleb, their closeness allowing her to feel his body heat as it radiated off of him in waves. The twins had never danced in such a manner before— this was far more formal and a lot stiffer than the jigs they got up to at the taverns. Some nights they would link arms and step in rhythm to the bard song floating from an elderly man's lute, their mugs of ale spilling over with the movement. She held fond memories of spending her evenings at the various Lower City bars with him whenever they had the coin to spare, such outings often full of raucous laughter and cheer. But here in the castle there was no laughter, no joy to color the otherwise tense atmosphere. They were expected to be silent, proper, and perfectly coordinated.

Though she fumbled a few times at first, Violet was starting to get the hang of their slow dancing. Her brother was doing quite well in leading her patiently, allowing her the opportunity to work off of him and maintain a certain flow. As they swayed her smoky eyes met his for a moment, but she quickly averted them at the same time as him. Her own heart was almost pounding louder than the music itself, a ringing sound in her ears as she felt, for a fleeting instant, that they were the only two in the room— nay, in the world, even. Just Caleb and Violet Blackwell, the way it had always been.

She halted her motions at the same time that he did, her eyes finally finding his face again as their noble audience cheered for them, some more enthusiastically than others. It was no doubt a lukewarm display at best compared to the aristocrats who'd practiced ballroom dancing their whole lives, but it was acceptable enough for a pair of paupers-turned-patricians. Letting out a soft sigh, the raven-headed girl tilted her chin up slightly to regard her brother when she felt him release her, his hands grazing against her face as he captured it between them. Her eyes went wide. "Cal?"

He cut her off with a kiss, his lips pressing into hers in a way that seemed rather more intimate than the embrace they'd shared during the wedding ceremony. Her skin flushed scarlet, slender form turning tense and rigid as her joints locked up. Why now? And in front of so many people... Perhaps it was just a publicity stunt, but she couldn't stop herself from getting flustered either way, her eyes squeezing shut as she tried to act natural. She should've been disgusted that her own blood would do such a thing, maybe even told him off for it, making a show of theatrics as she slapped him across the face and stormed off. But aside from the initial shock she felt, Violet... didn't dislike the kiss. In fact, the butterflies in her stomach told her that what she felt was far from revulsion. It was fervor.

As Caleb pulled away and stuttered in an effort to justify himself, she leaned forward in kind, her heart leaping into her throat as she pressed a finger to his lips. Her own expression was bashful, uncertain, a myriad of thoughts swirling in her mind; but the night was still young and it wouldn't do for them to stress over it now. "I-it's okay." She whispered, moving her hand to caress the side of his jaw instead, her steely gaze intensifying. "We'll... talk about this later."

"Ah! Aren't they just the most darling couple?" A noblewoman nearby called out, her circle of friends agreeing with her.

"Indeed. Young love is so endearing. Reminds me of the early days of my marriage."

The rich ladies giggled and tittered like a gaggle of geese as the blushing young woman turned her face away, unused to being cast in such a light alongside her own twin. The prime minister motioned for the music to resume and the other nobles began to break off from the crowd as they made their way to the dance floor, men in suits and women in lavish dresses joining together in a grand waltz. Violet pulled Caleb away from the twirling couples and back towards their chairs, her dark brows raising when she noticed the two new glasses of liquor at their table. This liquid was transparent and sparkling rather than the opaque, blood-red color of the other wine. She vaguely recalled Mrs. Kerrington promising to fetch them more drinks earlier. Rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly, she took up the glass and raised it in the air. After all that, she'd need it.

"Well, uh... Cheers, I suppose?" She held her cup up to her brother's and clinked them together in a toast, swiftly draining the contents inside. She was pleasantly surprised to find that it was even better than the red variety, the taste leaving something of a tingling feeling in her throat as it went down. It warmed her up almost instantly, the alcohol pooling in her stomach and giving her a light buzz that took effect much more quickly than she'd anticipated. Trying to shake it off, she turned to her groom with a questioning look. "Ah... The feast is almost over. Anything else you want to do before we leave?" Personally, she'd been eyeing the chocolate fondue, though they'd likely have many more opportunities to partake in the future, if the promises of their new life together were to be believed.

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[VanityFair]

The dark liquid was exactly what he needed, and it tasted like nothing he'd ever tried before, more sparkly than usual wine and almost as strong as the nasty hard liquor from the taverns of the old town. It was of sustenance, which helped him tremendously to keep his calm. What was he even thinking? Not expecting such an unfazed reaction from his sister after the kiss, Caleb was sure she'd scold him for it afterwards. The drink showed its effect and the warm buzzing in his head was a telltale sign that he may have had a little bit too much. The guests were mostly finished with eating and mingled around again, suddenly their interest in the twins turned into neutrality, as if they were there, but merely bystanders. Even better, he thought to himself and made no secret about his intentions of leaving as early as possible.

But of course, as soon as he thought it, Mrs. Kerrington approached them yet again and showered them both with insincere compliments. Caleb only listened with one ear and began to feel more lightheaded.

"Yes, thank you very much," he replied. Now that he was intoxicated, it was much harder to hide his disdain for her, but for some reason, she only smiled back at him.

"You both must be tired! Now that the whole ceremony is over, I suggest the two of you go home, your carriage is already waiting outside, everything has already been arranged." She clapped her hands and whistled two guards over who were supposed to accompany them safely back. "We'll talk about everything else tomorrow."

After they said their goodbyes to her, Caleb and Violet were escorted outside to their carriage. It was already past sundown when they seated back inside the carriage and he sat down right next to his sister, his wife and looked down at his shoes. He hated them, they were far too shiny and expensive, a growing disgust towards all those people inside kept harboring inside his mind, especially Mrs. Kerrington and her ingenuity put him off the most. The coach driver whipped the horses and they had a good ten minutes until they'd reach the mansion at Ravensfield Park. Their new home. Although it had only been a day, he already felt disconnected to his old life, everything had been turned upside down and now there was nothing left besides questioning everything and everyone.

"Vi." He lowered his voice and felt even more embarrassed than before. He had put his lips on his sister. His twin sister. The worst part about it was his inability to deny that he didn't enjoy it. What the hell was wrong with him?

"Can we talk about this now? I don't know why I did it," he blurted out and already slurred in regret. "It's what married couples do, but I shouldn't have done it…at least not like that." They weren't prepared for any of this, he wasn't prepared for any of this. The thoughts racing through his mind became more twisted by the second, he glanced at her, at the beautifully done hair, and how she had looked him in the eyes during the dance.

It was all blissful and he couldn't resist anymore and thought about the bath they had shared, how his elbows touched her soft breasts. Caleb's gaze was now fixated on her bosom, she had always been a pretty girl, and the boys had always liked her. She'd get whistled at and in return, Caleb retorted to swearing and threatening the other person, just like he was supposed to do as her brother. No, he couldn't help it anymore and apologized some more.

"Fuck." He turned his head away and felt his pants growing tighter, his heart jumped against the cages of his chest and there was nothing he could do about it.

 

[Zephyra]

⚔ Vıolet ⚔
「❝𝔜𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔩𝔦𝔭𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔣𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔴𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯;
ℑ𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔭𝔞𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫, ℑ 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔩𝔬𝔰𝔱.❞」

"Good night, then, Mrs. Kerrington."

Violet politely bade their advisor farewell as her and Caleb were ushered out of the party by their guards. A few nobles watched them leave with interest, but most of them were already getting drunk or too engaged in gossip to care. The last thing she saw before leaving the dining hall was the sight of the prime minister leaning in to speak with his wives, one of them sprawled out across his lap while another draped her arms over him from behind his chair.

With the fresh buzz in her mind, she made her way back to the carriage, stumbling once or twice along the way. As soon as they were seated inside she took a moment to rub her head, her thoughts scattered and fuzzy. She always was something of a lightweight, but to get this drunk off of wine in such a short amount of time? It was unusual, to say the least. Unfortunately, her critical thinking skills weren't exactly at their best while intoxicated, so she didn't even take a moment to consider why that might be the case.

Violet looked up when she heard her brother address her, her own silver eyes appearing a bit cloudy as she tried to focus on his face. "Hm? Ah..." It seemed that their kiss during the dance was really weighing on him, but she wished he could've chosen a better time to bring the topic up. She was having trouble formulating her thoughts into words, the swaying of the carriage only making her feel even more dizzy and confused.

"It's alright, I... I figured you did it to, er, convince everyone, right?" Her speech came out slurred and hesitant, her cheeks flushed with heat as the alcohol and... something else spread through her system like wildfire. "I know we're probably going to be expected to... to do it again, so..."

Gods, what was it that was making her feel so hot? The weather was mild tonight, a gentle breeze wafting in through the open carriage window. Her dress showed enough skin that it couldn't possibly be the culprit, either. Some unbearable heat was taking her whole body by storm, and it felt like there was nothing that could soothe it except...

Her eyes landed on Caleb, pupils sweeping over the collar of his shirt as she took in the bare sliver of his chest that was visible beneath his suit. She noticed then that he was staring lower, too, the both of them drinking each other in in that brief moment before they looked away. Hearing him curse under his breath, she bit her lip, her heart pounding louder as blood rushed through her ears. In such a confined space, all she had to do was lean forward a little bit and she could close the distance between them, touch him freely and bask in his warmth that she'd always found such comfort in. The way that she longed to feel him now was different from the chaste, platonic embraces they'd always shared as siblings, however. Such wanton, depraved thoughts were surely forbidden, just as lusting after one's own twin brother must have been a cardinal sin all by itself. But she couldn't help herself— some sort of spell had come over her, and it was causing her to think and act in ways she normally never would have dreamed of.

"Maybe... we should practice some more..." Despite her slow, fragmented statements, it was obvious what she was getting at. It was impossible to think of anything else but that burning heat in her core, wetness pooling between her thighs as she squished them together and shifted slightly. No, she couldn't resist any longer.

Fingers cupping his chin, Violet turned Caleb's face toward her fully, her eyes dipping down to trace his alluring lips. Her own lips parted as she leaned in and captured his in a single motion, her hunger and desire for him evident in the way that she pressed herself into him, her mouth moving against his far more aggressively than before. This kiss was nothing like the previous two they'd shared, so awkward and fleeting that they could've belonged to nervous schoolchildren. It was raw, lustful, and almost sloppy in its impulsiveness. For a young woman who was normally so soft-spoken and reserved, it was wholly unexpected, even. The fingers of her other hand tightened around his shirt as she clutched at him, pulling him in as though she sought to drag him further into the depths of her depravity.

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