Wicked Steps

Being in Adaba was a literal assault on her senses, but Emberlee persevered through sheer determination alone. Oberon seemed all too aware and amused by her experiences while Prince Damien was utterly unaffected and unaware, though visibly concerned as she required his assistance to stay upright for a while longer.

"It's not quite right to say you're seeing everyone's auras," Oberon finally explained, "but it's the closest I could explain so you'll understand."

"Obviously not everyone can see it," Prince Damien didn't seem disgruntled to be excluded, likely as being included had had such a detrimental effect on Emberlee.

"Fairies see it," Oberon's satisfaction oozed around him as much as his peacock aura did.

"Adabans are colourful," Emberlee bypassed the declaration entirely, already aware that she was different than the human girl she'd been before Cinderella.

But she wasn't even referring to the 'auras' she could now see hovering around people like a metaphysical stain, Emberlee meant the astonishing array of hair colours and styles. Oberon's teal belonged amongst the shades of green and blues of every shade, and there were reds, yellows and oranges aplenty. Pinks, magenta, and purples seemed to appear less frequently, at least in the areas they went through on their way to the Heart of Adaba, but Emberlee was surprised to see there were even more standard browns amongst the bronze and brass colours, and even silver appeared. Once Oberon had outright admitted that Adaba didn't have black hair like hers, and she saw he meant it. There also wasn't any white hair; silver and gray and palest pastel all brightly glowed but none were perfectly white. The colours contrasted with their darker completions made Adabans as a whole rather lovely to behold.

"In your Empire," Oberon was finally acting like a proper Ambassador, "your custom is to immediately present yourself to your Emperor. In Adaba you must wait until Méabh sends for you, but as her Guests, it's unlikely that you'll be waiting on her summons for long."

Oberon seemed different now that they were back in no homeland, he looked more at ease and was far less flirtatious. Now he seemed almost indolent, like a spoiled house cat in the sun. Emberlee wondered if he were literally basking in Méabh's power, it was an almost palpable sensation that only grew heavier and more saturated the closer they got to the Heart.

"I've set it up so that you'll be residing with me so I'll be on hand to assist with your settling but you'll also be introduced to Titania and the other Oberon. We will all be sharing the duties of supporting Méabh so you'll be able to turn to any of us for assistance if required." Emberlee found it interesting that Oberon had his palace, separate from Méabh and the other spouses. It implied a fair amount of independence which was at odds with Oberon's adherence to Méabh's rules. He didn't seem to mind belonging to Méabh and having to share her with others, so Emberlee had mistakenly assumed they lived more communally.

Instead, Oberon the Pretty's Palace lived up to his Name. Xutian castles were built to withstand siege and storm, they were impressive but not externally beautiful. Adaban architecture was geometric and stunning, although there were no statues the designs built into the function were as varied as the colours staining them. Windows and archways gave every hallway and room an airy feel, and Emberlee was hard-pressed to find a closed door, but design and layout still somehow ensured privacy.

"Welcome to my home Cinderella and Prince Damien," Oberon grinned as he walked into his palace with a swagger. "I would love for you both to make yourselves at home here," and he was back to more regular flirtation, "and I know Méabh would be even more thrilled if you did."

"Trying to keep them all to yourself already?" the man who stepped into view was as colourful as Oberon was, but so dissimilar in appearance that it was almost starting. Oberon had long teal locks and a lithe fame, the stranger was built like a boulder and his wavy crimson hair looked like fire against dark brown skin. "The Pretty one would like the attention keeping you both would get him, but I doubt he'd like the consequences." Now he bowed, surprisingly elegant for a man of his girth and height, ignoring both Oberon and Prince Damien to address her directly. "I am Oberon the Monolith," as he kissed the back of her hand his eyes caught hers, locking them in truth even as she marvelled at their burnt orange hue. "Do tell me Cinderella, what makes you so special that Méabh's focus is on you?"

The stare-down with Oberon the Pretty in Xutia had been a crush of pressure she couldn't shove off, this felt like being struck by lightning. It prickled and tingled over her skin in a painful rush, suiting the glittering yellow aura burning around this Oberon Monolith. Her Oberon had been friendly and seductive, he wanted to lure her in, but this Oberon doubted and didn't want to include her. "Wouldn't that be a question for Méabh to answer? I exist, if that's all it took to steal your Méabh's attention from you then you're not all that impressive, are you?" As she had with the Pretty one, Emberlee grabbed the Fairy's truth and welded it like the double-edged blade it was.

It was a painful enough experience that she couldn't focus on anything but the snarl on the Monolith's face, Prince Damien and the Pretty ignored as observers. He still had her hand in his, the gentlemanly introduction discarded but Monolith used it as a chance to test her mettle, pulling her forwards so he could whisper in her ear, "Even if Méabh keeps you, I'll always have been first," he made it seem like Emberlee would be compliant at being kept.

"But not only," she reached up and patted his cheek as if they were friends. "Now step back and be a good boy." At least the stare-down was over, her skin felt singed raw from the anger he did nothing to hide.

"Oberon," now a strange woman approached, her aura a soothing blue that paired with bronze hair as if she were a Xutian painting made flesh, "play nice with our new Cinderella." This had to be Titania; bronze hair that had more curl in it than even Oberon the Pretty's, and bright pink eyes that seemed almost innocent looking as she regarded Emberlee and Prince Damien equally. Emberlee knew she was tall, but Titania was short even for Xutian standards and had such a voluptuous figure compared to Emberlee's more willowy proportions. "I can't wait to get to know you," Titania didn't introduce herself before freeing Emberlee's hand from Oberon the Monolith's grasp. "And I hear you bring the handsome man with you as your fiancé?" Her eye contact was more subtle but no less deliberate.

"Imperial Crown Prince Damien Landquist," she formally introduced, able to tear her eyes from Titania because the other women didn't fight to hold her gaze. "We are engaged and he is my plus one as Méabh allowed."

"What are you two doing here," Oberon the Pretty demanded, clearly annoyed at their unexpected interruption.

"We felt your arrival through the portal," Titania started to answer but Oberon the Monolith interrupted.

"And if we felt you then Méabh certainly did, so it's only a matter of time before you're sent for," he glared at Emberlee as if the were all her fault, and Prince Damien looked amused at being all but ignored.

"So did you come here to try and intimidate Méabh's guests, or guarantee that I don't get preferential treatment for bringing them to her?" Oberon the Pretty smiled as if it amused him instead of frustrated.

"We've missed you Pretty," Titania seemed to be the peacemaker, soothing the sparks from the Monolith and the pressure from the Pretty, "you've been gone for months so you can't blame us for rushing over to see you."

There was a lot of casual touch between the three spouses, Oberon the Pretty stroking Titania's face even as she held on to the Monolith's arm still, "You missed me so much you can't take your eyes off of our guests."

Emberlee stood next to Prince Damien, both of them aware that this was not the time to interrupt. Whatever dynamics existed before the alliance had been disrupted and a new distribution was going to occur. All three of the existing spouses were acting like it was a given that Cinderella would be joining their ranks, even if she was engaged to Prince Damien.

"She is something," Titania didn't argue or disguise her intentions, "I cannot wait to see her with Méabh, they will be a beautiful set."

"If Méabh keeps her," Oberon the Monolith tried to deny.

"If I would be kept," Emberlee couldn't help but interject. "Need I remind you all that I am betrothed to the Imperial Crown Prince, so I'll be returning to Xutia with him."

They all looked at her as if she were delusional, "I believe that us being married wouldn't matter to Méabh at all," Prince Damien finally spoke up, looking at ease despite the topic.

"It would matter to me," Emberlee went along with Prince Damien's play of being comfortable, "I don't share." She recalled Oberon the Pretty's comments about Oberon the Monolith not enjoying sharing, so she met the angry Oberon's eyes to establish what she said next as the Truth, "And I will not submit. I'm here to be an Envoy, I am Cinderella and Emberlee both and I will show you what it means to be the first of my Name."

"I can see why you like her so much," Titania spoke to Oberon the Pretty, "She's uncorrupted."

"You're arrogant," Oberon the Monolith condemned her attitude, "You'll learn like I did that we're nothing in the face of Méabh's will."

"Good thing you have practice at that," he wanted to take anger out on her but Emberlee's words had fangs, "keep being nothing, it makes it easier to step over you on my way by." She'd initiated the eye contact and broke it easily now despite the Monolith's fury. "Now you were going to get us settled in before Méabh calls for us," she looked at Oberon the Pretty and saw him grinning at her.

"Yes Cinderella, I was," he agreed, gesturing for Emberlee and Prince Damien to follow him as if the other two spouses hadn't intervened. "I suggest baths and drink to settle body and mind, and a light meal after liberal applications of both."

"Both sounds to be a far better use of our time than this exchange has been," now it was Prince Damien playing along with Oberon, their friendship from Xutia turbulent but set by now.

"Absolutely my dear Prince," he led them into the palace and they ignored the other spores entirely now.

She could feel their eyes on her as they walked away, and it made her skin crawl in a way this Oberon hadn't done. He'd flirted and made innuendo, but always with the sense of play about it. The Oberon and Titania behind her had been serious about their discussions of her joining their ranks as if it were already confirmed. "I absolutely need a drink," she confessed to Prince Damien, the combination of her rough arrival and that not-quite interrogation making her feel endlessly weary.

"You should have time to enjoy both bath and drink," Oberon insisted, "Ignore them, Méabh knows better than to crowd new arrivals."

"Especially when she has no intention to let the Marchioness go easily," Prince Damien wasn't surprised by this obstacle.

"Méabh is loath to lose anything she finds interesting, it's Cinderella's fault for being so alluring," Oberon carefully tried to defend his wife without insulting them.

"The burden of being Blessed by the Beloved," Emberlee made it a joke but it certainly seemed to be true.

She did wonder what Sirs Eloise and Ludwig thought of the exchange between the spouses, they'd been silent witnesses to it all even if the rest of the Knights were with the Morrigan in their barracks. Thankfully Oberon had given both Damien and Emberlee enough of a heads-up to forewarn their respective Knights about how handsy Adabans were and to not take it as an offense or a threat. As Méabh's guests, it would take a fool or a madman to threaten them because it meant Méabh's retaliation, and that was a fate far worse than mere pain or death. It gave them as much protection as possible, but also made them the obvious topic of gossip and speculation.

Emberlee sat in a bath, after ensuring there were no Mirrors in her room, and drank the same savoury wine Oberon had magically served them months ago. Even if the alliance only brought this wine into Xutia and nothing else, it'd be worth it; the flavour was thoroughly enjoyable and it didn't give her a headache to drink it. But she had to face the reality of having to reject Méabh but still somehow keep the alliance alive; she certainly had no interest in STAYING in Adaba. No matter how appealing Méabh may be in person, Emberlee wasn't attracted to women so it'd be lost on her.

The robe provided for after the bath was luxuriously soft, like a combination of silk with something less clingy, and felt like a butterfly's wings against her skin. It would have been a dark colour in Xutia, and embroidered if Stussican, but an Adaban robe was incandescently white. And thanks to Emberlee's natural paleness, it looked almost to match her, making her absently wonder if Damien's was more tawny to blend in with his colours. As if her idle curiosity summoned him, a knock at the door barely warned her before he stepped into her room as if they were still in Xutia. For some reason, Emberlee was a little disappointed that his robe was as pale as hers was, but she buried all thought of it after seeing his serious expression. "Tell me if I'm wrong Marchioness," he seemed almost angry at her but she didn't understand why, "but I take it that your coming here has put you at risk of being held here because Méabh may want to keep you." He stood close before her, as if ready to grab her and make a run for the Xutian border if needed.

"Does it bother you to know that I used you against Méabh the same way you used me against Clara?"

"It bothers me to hear everyone discuss you being Méabh's already. I told you before dragons are territorial with their treasures, and you promised to be just as possessive back," his concern seemed genuine and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd had too much to drink to be so transparent. It'd explain why he seemed so worked up over it, alcohol could muddy anyone's logic.

"Have you noticed the jewelry I wear?" Her demanding question seemed to surprise him.

"You still wear a ring and earring, but the necklace you used to continuously wear is gone," he frowned at her, able to answer correctly but not understanding her point yet.

"I wear the pieces that you gave me; the moonstone pendant was a gift from Méabh to mark her favour," she didn't have to explain further as Damien cut her off by kissing her as had become his custom.

Being in Adaba made her senses feel saturated, and in response, Emberlee's instincts all seemed to be a little reckless, an effect Prince Damien may have suffered too. His ancestor had been the precursor, yet he seemed oblivious to the Fairy side of Adaba, but that didn't mean it couldn't still affect him. She still didn't know if the Imperial Prince and Emperor were planning to use her as a sacrifice to secure Xutia, but she did know they were using her as a Shield regardless of her paranoia. And yet Emberlee enjoyed Damien's almost visceral need to convince her to stay with him, his arms holding her tight to his affections.

Yes, it wasn't entirely inappropriate since they were engaged, but as they were both only wearing the thin Adaban robes it was good that there was another knock at her bedroom door to distract them, "Mistress, deliveries have arrived for both of you and his Imperial Highness, "Sir Ludwig called through the door without entering.

"Do not let anyone in here, "Prince Damien warred in a disgruntled tone.

"Are you jealous of a Knight now?" She teased, more convinced that the Crown Prince was affected by Adaba but didn't realize it yet.

"I'm in a thin bathrobe and we were just being affectionate, give me a moment," he snarled dryly.

And despite her discipline, Emberlee blushed as she realized what he'd implied. "I'll take them at the door," she called out to her Knight, giving Damien a moment to regain his composure as she retrieved the bundles from the palace's servants.

Both Sir Ludwig and Sir Eloise had carefully blank expressions, aware that the Prince was in her bedroom. The deliveries being gifted seemed to be Adaban casual wear, though she did notice a lot of teals incorporated into it. And thankfully no commentary was made when she took both sets of clothes into her room with her, though she knew everyone in the Palace would know the Prince was in with her before long; servants gossip.

She didn't know what to say, carefully keeping her eyes up and handing him the delivery without looking to verify that he was composed once again. Her delivery consisted of a pair of slippers, and a lightweight but modest tunic dress, as the rest of her luggage had already been brought to her room all she required to change was privacy. "It would probably be best if you - " her words out in surprise as Prince Damien's robe fell to the floor with a whisper of sound. She spun to face away even as he laughed, unable to forget the sight of all that golden skin.

"Now you know how I felt at midnight on Vivian's debut," he reminded her of her incidental nudity.

So she turned back around to face him, calling his in-the-buff bluff. For the sake of her sanity, it was a bad thing that he stood proudly under her regard, not at all uncomfortable with her seeing him bared. Her only frames of reference were the medical journals she'd read as a child, and the sensual literature she'd more recently consumed; regardless of comparison, he had nothing to be ashamed of and she stepped closer to her nude fiancé while he watched her intently. And maybe she had lost her mind a little because she had to set a boundary until she was certain he didn't plan to eventually kill her, so she grabbed what his boldness had exposed, feeling his body react even as he drew a surprised breath, "Not until we're married, do I make myself clear?" She wasn't gentle but neither was she trying to a permanent damage to his genitalia.

His head thumped down against her shoulder, body bowed to keep her from causing further discomfort even as having her handle him had an effect. "You've made yourself clear, now for both of our sakes, let go."

She did, watching him step back and pull on his robe without looking away. As she'd expected he was built in broad strokes, having trained with some kind of weapon for the condition he was in, and he didn't blush under her regard as he belted the robe in place. He simply covered himself back up, collected the clothes given to him, and showed he wasn't entirely demurred by kissing her briefly before leaving.

Pushing the encounter from her mind was difficult, but she managed to pull on the gifted clothes quickly. The dress was once again white with turquoise liberally beaded onto it in a meaningless but beautiful filigree, the slippers a teal dyed leather with white gemstones beaded onto them to contrast the dress. The ribbons lacing the dress tight on her were a perfect match to the teal of Oberon's aura, and she'd even been provided with a ribbon to pull her hair back with. Wearing the gifted clothes was easy, despite the unfamiliar fastening and style trends.

Sir Ludwig came to attention as she left her room, and Sir Eloise smiled at her as she knocked on Prince Damien's door. It was hard to resist the urge to enter without waiting with the same cavalier attitude he did hers, but she'd put on enough of a show today already.

At least providing Heirs should be a pleasurable endeavour, her Fairy self, unfortunately, remarked as he opened his bedroom door, making it impossible to look him in the face without blushing.

His tunic top was entirely teal, but unlike hers, it had black accents and beading, and his trousers were also back though his slippers were teal. They looked like part of a collection but not necessarily a matched pair and Emberlee knew her usual jewelry clashed with it entirely. A blood-red relic and her amethyst engagement ring, and it occurred to her that she should gift Damien an Ortegan silver ring when they returned home. Like the one Mother had once given Father and he still wore; it was an Ortega custom to make the ring themselves if possible. But currently, Damien wore no accessories except the attire provided, though the colour did suit him well.

"Are you feeling hungry, Prince Damien?" she kept it polite not referring to their altercation earlier.

"Ravenous, Marchioness, absolutely starving," he tucked her arm into his to escort her. "But I'm keeping your earlier decree in mind so let's go eat instead."

Emberlee couldn't help the laugh his subtle ribbing garnered, and they followed the silent servants from earlier to a dining hall. She was distracted from her humour by the realization that the servants lacked the colourful glow she'd seen on others. It was like they lacked an aura entirely, except Oberon the Pretty had said it wasn't an exact comparison, so she had to deduce from there that it was more likely that they locked Fairy Magic. Given that both Oberon and Titania had the white band of Méabh's power twined around their auras it was fairly easy to figure out even without an overt explanation.

The servants led them not to a dining room like Xutia would have hosted, but a table outside where a meal and all three spouses waited for them. Oberon the Pretty looked good in an entirely black tunic; white pants and teal beading to make him the missing piece of the collection. Oberon the Monolith only matched the blood-red Relic in Emberlee's ear, and Titania's hair was far more metallic than hair could be in Xutia, though their style of attire was similar. It suited the lingering heat of the day, all their arms were left bare and the fabrics were so light they felt like a dream, and she was growing accustomed to the kaleidoscopic glow of Fairy Magics.

"You put a lot of thought into those outfits Pretty," Titania sounded like she was complimenting him, but Emberlee caught the undercurrent; teal was Oberon the Pretty's colour.

"I put a lot of effort into the visit, "he carefully corrected Titania, ignoring the thundercloud that was Oberon the Monolith. "And teal suits them so well don't you think?"

It occurred to her that Oberon was using them in much the same way Emberlee and Damien were using each other. A political world where there were three Imperial Spouses meant that any sign of favour from Méabh would have a corresponding wave of favour with Adaba's Social powers. They didn't have Nobles like Xutia, but social striation was based on power and favour fluctuations. She looked at Prince Damien and saw the same awareness on his face, so it didn't surprise her when he casually hooked his arm over Oberon shoulder's in a friendly manner.

"I think teal suits us, it grew on me," he made an innocuous statement that they would all read innuendo from.

"It is such an invigorating colour," she sat on the Pretty's other side, finishing the collection.

Titania looked thrilled to see them behave like a united front, but Oberon the Monolith still glared wholly at Emberlee. As if she alone were the cause of all his ire and frustration, and the two men she'd conspired with were negligible. Teal for Oberon the Pretty, White for Méabh, and she suspected the Black was her own; only Damien had no individual glow but they were treating him as Hers so he remained paired.

"You think doing this will protect you," she couldn't tell who Oberon the Monolith was talking to, "but I warn you that Méabh's coronation is not the time to draw her focus."

"But if her attentions are to be endured, "she found herself adding, "isn't it better to do so as a united front?" it was a careful balancing act to try and gain allies without threatening Méabh's established boundaries, "After all; isn't Méabh anticipating us all coming together like this?" Now she used Oberon the Pretty's penchant for innuendo to her advantage.

"Yes"," Titania's enthusiastic reply was almost as suggestive.

Despite his angry demeanour Oberon the Monolith held Titania's hand gently, his fingers woven with heed. They sat almost couple-like, the food before both of them looking delectable and untouched. "You want me to work with you?" at least they were all on the same page.

"I am not a competitor," she finally got to explain, "Méabh's favour and focus is flattering but I only intend to marry Damien, and I will be no one's toy." Why did it feel like the very air was listening to her declaration? "But unlike you all, I believe Méabh's desire for an alliance is greater than her passing fancy to bed me, so isn't it in your interests to help me successfully negotiate with her so we all end up satisfied?"

Titania had come here wanting to be convinced to be on her side, but Oberon the Monolith was truly more implacable. As she didn't have a clue about the breadth of hi온라인카지노게임 shared, her tactics to convince him were limited. "Are you truly so unaware of the intensity of Méabh's favour? She wants you and l can only jealously hope that she means to share us all so I can have a little bit of her focus on me. And you would reject that?" He seemed utterly perplexed by her decision.

"I want her to focus on you instead of me too," it was blunt but seemed to convince the Monolith. "I cannot accept a condition that requires me to stay in Adaba, until our eventual departure will you please help me?" They stared at her as if it never occurred to them that she'd straightforwardly ask for help, but meeting Gemini Piiklani had been inspiring. If she wanted them on her side, she couldn't behave like a typical Xutian Noble and talk around the subject. Especially since Fairy Magic involved so much dreadful honesty. Of course, Emberlee was still obviously trying to manipulate them, but now she was doing it with their permission.

"And how exactly do you expect me to help you?" at least Oberon the Monolith didn't just laugh at her, and Titania stayed cuddled into him as if visibly willing to go along with any answer he gave.

"I'm certain even you have a useful talent" Oberon the Pretty nearly coughed into his wine at her reply, "How do you think you can help me keep Méabh's preference on you?"

"She would quickly grow bored if you were a corpse," it was an overt threat and yet not at all alarming.

"Yes but can you imagine the mess, after a while I'd start to rot so the smell would be dreadful," she sipped her wine as if it were a completely normal conversation.

Now Oberon the Monolith gave her a slight smile, the only indication that he had a grander emotional range than just anger and irritation. "You would find a way to make my life miserable, even as a corpse, wouldn't you?"

"If properly motivated to, yes," it was honest but not driven by Fairy Magic. "I'm not asking that you appreciate having me around, just that you don't become a real problem I have to resolve, neither one of us would enjoy that."

"You're... threatening me?" Oberon the Monolith sounded astonished to realize it, he was double her size and likely had far more experience being violent but none of that deterred her.

"Motivating technically," now she shrugged as if it truly didn't matter to her, "it's up to you whether you're more inspired by fear than self-interest."

"What if I'm motivated by the idea of you trying to hurt me?" he emphasized the word trying, doubting her ability to be cruel.

"One of us will be entertained," she saluted him with her glass, "are you certain it'll be you?"

Oberon the Monolith looked at her thoughtfully, and Emberlee had been right to assume that his angry facade was a mask to hide real intelligence behind. "The only thing I'm certain of is that Méabh's eyes are on you and I don't like it; the more you talk the more I understand how bad this combination is."

"Why do you think I dressed them this way?" Oberon the Pretty interjected, drawing the focus onto him.

"At least you admit that you're trying to monopolize her," Titania sounded triumphant as if this were a long-established argument.

"We all play our games Titania," Oberon the Pretty leaned forward, "and Méabh rewards us greatly for our efforts or else why would we endure?"

"I'll help you," the Monolith stayed determinedly on topic, no longer glaring at her at least, "if only because helping you means getting rid of you sooner." Oberon the Monolith didn't like sharing Méabh with the existing spouses, the idea that Emberlee may be added to that must have been distressing.

"I'm disappointed that I won't get to try you," Titania pouted but didn't seem upset, "but if you don't want to stay that means all the more for me."

Emberlee took that to mean that Titania was also going to help dissuade Méabh from being interested in Cinderella. All of the careful consolidating was pre-emptive but not necessarily going to prove effective, from all the implications Méabh was a driven woman. She looked at Oberon the Pretty and Prince Damien, their coordinated attire still visually impactful. "How soon do you think Méabh will call for us?" since they were all gathered anyway, she could turn a hierarchical confrontation into a council of advisors.

"If it were any other guest, she'd wait at least a day to settle and recover from travelling," Titania started to explain.

"And then wait another day or two to make the guest restlessly anticipate," Oberon the Pretty added with the voice of experience.

"Until you're all but begging her to think of you and call on you," Oberon the Monolith was just as jaded.

"But she's not just any other guest," Prince Damien finally added himself to the discussion, "and she's not begging for Méabh's time."

"So expect to be summonsed soon, and you should be prepared to bear witness as a plus one," Titania promised while batting her eyelashes as if she were flirting and not cautioning Prince Damien.

He raised his glass, saluting the spouse, " 'I'll take my cues from you then since you'll be relegated to watching Méabh and the Marchioness interact along with me."

"If this goes a certain way, it won't be the last time you'll be tortured observer," Titania flirted with Prince Damien while still cuddled into Oberon the Monolith and Emberlee had to bury an almost overwhelming urge to throw her wine in the woman's face to shut her up. "But at least we're able to find comfort in each other," Titania's affection for Oberon the Monolith made sense, "don't you want to know that consolation?"

The table fell silent; Emberlee didn't throw her drink in Titania's face but had instead called her Relic to hand and the tip of the blade rested on Titania's pulse point. "Fairy Magic is Air and Darkness, Light and Illusion," something about being in Adaba made it harder to reign in her emotions," Oberon the Pretty is Air, the Monolith is Light, and you're illusion, but my Darkness isn't something you're prepared to handle. Be cautious as I only give one warning."

"For one who does not know, you're instincts are quite accurate," Titania didn't flinch despite the sword at her throat.

"For one who doesn't fight, you certainly like stirring conflict," since their arrival Titania had been pulling the strings of the others deliberately. Less a puppeteer and more a weaver, but Emberlee's spiders were the best in the world so she knew what to look for. "It's preferable to be the comforting shoulder, that way even if you aren't the center of attention you're still needed." She hadn't meant to make eye contact, but Emberlee had met Titania's pink gaze and Veracity was established.

And like the Relic in her hand, Emberlee's words were a lethal weapon as needed. Titania had been beautiful, friendly, seductive, and as appealing as possible since appearing but it had all been a ploy; there was a calculation to every action and Emberlee recognized it because she did it herself, though with slightly different approaches that played to Emberlee's assets. Confronted with the realization that Emberlee wasn't fooled by it, Titania's seemingly unshakeable friendliness dimmed down to a more assessing wariness.

"I'm a people pleaser by nature so you can't blame me for making it a strength," her eyes were the pink of thorned roses and just as deceptively lovely. "We are all bound to Méabh's will and whims, I've simply learned to enjoy it. After all, look at the perks even when I'm not her center of attention," she gestured to the Oberons.

Despite the demonstrations of complicity, Titania had always intended to align with Méabh's desire, even if it meant trying to persuade Emberlee on Méabh's behalf. Like Oberon's flirting Titania's friendliness was a part of Méabh's seduction. Emberlee smiled and it was as sharp as the blade she put away, "How constraining are the allowances Méabh has given you, his were quite extensive," she gestured at Oberon the Pretty, and with that managed to lie by implication despite the eye contact. Let them assume Emberlee had followed that list of rules, by the widening of Titania's pink eyes that still left quite a lot of shenanigans to perform. "You share each other, often whether it's your nature to or not, so can I presume that you mean to share me and Damien too if that's what Méabh allows?"

Both Oberons had bound Emberlee in truth, using their experience to overpower her attempts to escape. Titania's power was less overt but harder to detect for it; like a fragrance filling a room that she couldn't escape. She was wrapped up in it like a comforting embrace with no regard to escape it, but unfortunately for Titania Emberlee did not need to escape to be victorious. "It's inevitable Cinderella," Titania shrugged as if she'd gladly accepted that reality," Méabh is eternal and what she wants, she always finds a way to get. And you will willingly go to her, she may even let you keep your fiancé but I promise you that in the end we will all be called on to share each other at her bidding. Getting a little practice in now just makes sense in the face of all that does it not?"

"I'm not the permissible creature you are," Emberlee's resolute rejection made Titania blink and look away, freeing them both.

"And yet you are Cinderella," Oberon the Monolith pointed out, quietly reminding than all that she was Fairy bound too.

"Names only have the power I allow over me; Cinderella is merely an aspect of who I am, as is Marchioness Ortega. Both those Names could cease to exist and I would remain Emberlee," her emotions settled as she spoke a Truth, needing no Fairy Magic to compel it. "And for now I've had just about enough of your failed hospitality as I can tolerate." As she stood from the table Damien did too, and they both ignored the Adabans entirely as a united front.

The same all-but-silent servant from earlier guided them back, disappearing once they were in the guest wing, and they were provided a moment of privacy as their Knights cleared their respective rooms.

"Why do I feel like half my problems on this trip of would be resolved if you and I were already married?" he sounded frustrated.

"There wasn't time to plan an Imperial wedding," she remained pragmatic, "Just imagine what I'd be enduring if we weren't engaged." Politically she'd have far less protection that'd be for sure.

The look he gave her was agonized, as if his mind had conjured some horrid worst-case scenario of suffering, "You know how to test my patience, Marchioness," she didn't understand his comment, "and I suspect this entire trip is going to be more uncomfortable than I anticipated."

The Knights returned from their inspections and Emberlee didn't know what to say to the Imperial Prince to assuage that concern. "Did you need me to spend the night do you feel better?" He'd held and comforted her so it'd be fair to reciprocate.

"Not unless you're reconsidering your earlier declaration, I'm feeling demonstrative and your warning was potent," that clued her into what he'd partially implied by saying being married would resolve issues. "If not, Marchioness, this is goodnight," he held her close, careless of observers as he kissed her with enthusiasm.

"Manipulative dragon," it wasn't quite a term of endearment but nothing about their engagement had been typical. "Goodnight Damien," she didn't fight the smile that followed her to bed.

She expected a fitful night of uneasy sleep but the moment she laid down Emberlee slept deeply. It felt different to be within Adaban borders, and she knew they hadn't scratched the surface of it yet. Cinderella wasn't just a voice in her head but her innermost impulses, her senses were given scope to detect things she'd never experienced before, and an unknown power lurked within her still waiting to be explored. Méabh and her spouses were a mixed lot of motivations and personalities, and Emberlee was in an unfamiliar landscape trying to negotiate an alliance that didn't have hostages.

They'd theorized that Méabh would give her a few days to acclimate to being in Adaba, but that had been underestimating how eager the ruler of Adaba was to meet her in person. Emberlee was eating breakfast with Oberon and Damien alone when a servant who wasn't from the Palace entered; like the others, they had no aura of their own but she could see Méabh's white coiled around him like a jealous lover.

"Oberon the Pretty, you are instructed to bring your guests to Méabh's chambers for a proper introduction." His voice was devoid of personality as if he were a suit of armour given life and duty, and he left once the message was delivered.

Today she'd bypassed the Adaban attire gifted the day before and was wearing clothes from her closet in Ortega, so Emberlee decided to stay dressed for her comfort instead. Her smoky gray dress and blue accessories showcased her heritage in a suitably subtle fashion and suited her role as Ambassador from Xutia, as well as displaying her resistance to being claimed by Adaba. Oberon the Pretty seemed a little disappointed that she didn't once again don his colour and matched outfit, but she noticed that he wore pure white to win Méabh's approval, and Prince Damien looked sharp in his suit featuring gold accents.

"She felt your arrival yesterday, didn't she?" Emberlee teased Oberon once the servant left.

"My darling Cinderella," Oberon seemed more serious and subdued here but some aspects of him remained the same, "She felt us arrive. You are as singular as your Name, and I am merely attending as your accessory."

"I don't think it's a good idea to inform your wife that my fiancée is using you like a decoration," Prince Damien seemed to be adjusting well after a night of sleep. "We don't want to get her hopes up, do we?"

"Even if it is permissible according to her rules," she added on, finding the same strange humour in it the Prince did.

"How did you know Méabh had different rules for each of us?" Oberon seemed impressed.

"Because I would if I collected a menagerie," she admitted with a soft laugh, "every single lover would have a list of rules suited to their personality and our relations." She didn't look at them, knowing both would be wearing similar expressions of surprise.

"So you bluffed with eye contact?" Oberon seemed offended at that fact.

"I got to experience firsthand what rule one on my list was, didn't l?" Prince Damien gave her a look as if he didn't doubt it all.

"Let's go meet Méabh," she refused to answer either directly and they let her bypass the matter.

The Heart of Adaba wasn't a singular Castle like the Imperial Family Kept in Xutia, but an actual territory of space filled with individual Palaces. And Oberon the Pretty's palace looked almost mundane as they viewed Méabh's through a Mirror, Méabh's residence looked like it'd be grown from crystal instead of constructed by hand.

"Once we step through we'll be on her domain," Oberon obliquely warned as they regarded Méabh's lair.

"So to leave we all have to take the long route? "she wanted to confirm, certain that Méabh would carefully control the Mirrors in her territory.

"If she is of mind to allow we can Mirror back here, if she is displeased then it'll be a longer commute," He answered easily enough.

"And what if she is pleased?" Prince Damien had to ask.

"Then we'll be staying the night." Oberon wasn't joking.

Emberlee didn't want to hear Prince Damien's reply to that so she stepped into the Mirror to Meabh's domain. It wasn't as jarring as entering Bipedee had been, but she could feel the feathery touch of Power track her arrival. And she felt it when Méabh closed the Mirror so Emberlee couldn't step back through it, and the others couldn't enter yet. Only Sir Ludwig stood with her, and he couldn't fail Méabh's power.

"Brace yourself," Emberlee managed to warn him before the footsteps heralded Méabh's entrance.

Emberlee wasn't surprised to see a mature woman approach them, but her appearance was only an aspect of her as the age she appeared was still far too young for how old her power felt. Méabh's hair was perfectly white, but not from the passage of time, no her hair and even eyelashes were white, her eyes were even blacker than her skin, and the combination of features was very beautiful.

Emberlee carefully avoided eye contact by curtsying to the ruler of Ababa, "Cinderella presents herself to Méabh as delivered by Oberon the Pretty."

"You've finally come," Méabh's voice we rich, the honeyed bite of brandy. Her eyes took in Emberlee's appearance, her body getting rigid as she saw no moonstone pendant around Emberlee's neck; all the spouses wore similar ones.

"As my Emperor has commanded, I am the Xutian Ambassador, and I have arrived with my fiancé, His Imperial Highness Damien Landquist." She'd only get one chance to reject an Empress' romantic advancements.

"It doesn't have to be like that my dearest Cinderella," Méabh smiled and so skilfully entrenched her in eye contact that Emberlee didn't blink. "Do you throw how long I've waited for you?" Her power was an addictive caress, as dangerously appealing as her regard was, and now she understood why even Oberon the Monolith found himself consenting to her; wanting what Méabh wanted was so much more satisfying than the pain of defying her.

"You waited for me, or for what I have become?" she could talk but it was abysmally difficult to try and think instead of just going along with Méabh's requests.r

Right now Méabh was lightly running her thumb across her cheek, standing far too close, "there is no difference between who you are and what you've become; you're my Cinderella."

Her hand came up to hold Méabh's still against her cheek, every ounce of Power around her begging her to say yes. It was more painful than the lightning of the Monolith's power, more alluring than Titania's, and somehow more pervasive than the Pretty's. It promised answers, companionship, and protection; a place for her to always belong and be wanted, and she could focus on delving into what it meant to be Cinderella. Her skin felt hot compared to Méabh's cool, dry touch, and it was so tempting to let that wash over and through her, relieving the endless anxiety of being Marchioness Emberlee Ortega.

"No." It took everything she had to say It, the word pitifully whispered instead of being defiantly declared, but it was said. And standing all but nose to nose, eyes locked, Emberlee could see Méabh's shocked expression at the rejection. She couldn't break the eye contact, not a match for Méabh's power, but putting distance between them at least made Emberlee feel better.

Though she nearly had a heart attack when Sir Ludwig's hand carefully steadied on her shoulder so she'd know he was there. "Mistress?" the Knight's voice sounded far away, but every heartbeat gave her a sense of settling back into her skin without Méabh's power. And he'd successfully drawn Méabh's attention enough to break the paralyzing eye contact, letting Emberlee free.

With their intimate moment over, Méabh allowed the missing members of Emberlee's group to come through. Prince Damien looked slightly anxious while Oberon looked mildly surprised. His Fairy Magic would tell him that she'd managed to swim the tide of Méabh's power instead of drowning in it. And maybe her friend was a little surprised to realize that he'd been prepared to try and rescue her for it. "What are you?"

"Tired," she answered in a more literal way than he'd intended, but it wasn't any less honest for it. It wasn't even noon, and it was less than a day after arriving in Adaba, and Emberlee was as tired as Cinderella felt; burnt out from standing resolute.

And they hadn't even started the negotiators yet, or the festivities. She still had so much left to do, but since she's taken a harder route than the one Méabh had offered Emberlee would have to succeed or fail without that safeguard. "There are many things I'll sacrifice if needed, myself not being one of them." Sir Ludwig still stood close behind her, literally guarding her back, Prince Damien watched her with intelligent assessment, Oberon looked like he wanted to pester answers out of her, and Emberlee ignored them all to address the still silent Méabh. "I am not a replacement for the Landquester of old, the Bond broken and lost." She said that as much to Méabh as she do the fear inside. She hadn't been certain that her intuition was right, but she'd guessed correctly in assuming that Méabh and Landquester had once been Fairy and Godchild; the tension her words roused was almost palpable.

Oberon had avoided answering her when she'd asked him during her debut but now their reactions provided the confirmation she needed. "You plan to wed her descendent," Méabh's eyes looked over Prince Damien, "I can smell the Cursed blood in your veins."

"A Curse even you couldn't lift once cast." Damien smiled as he executed a perfect bow, and referenced details of hi온라인카지노게임 that weren't widely known. Fairy Magics were only slightly less proliferate than Fairy Secrets.

"It's all a matter of timing," Méabh didn't seem offended by the reminder, "You're the latest child of my long lost love, and you're marrying a love I lost out on. Quite interesting to see what your future offspring will choose to be."

That sounded almost predatory and none of this was conducive to establishing a permanent international alliance. "You indicated timing Méabh," it was a careful dance to get them onto safer topics while still resisting the tide of Méabh's power, "it's no coincidence that you waited until Xutia had opened its border for expansion to try and make contact with its Emperor. I had only summonsed after my Father was years at war."

"My gesture of friendship to Xutia is in retaliation for Stussica overreaching itself," Méabh corrected, leading them further into her Palace even as they spoke, "I have awaited something like you for far longer."

Prince Damien walked beside her as Oberon did to Méabh, not ignored but not acknowledged in the conversation. Emberlee stayed silent in contemplation, trying to piece together all the seemingly unconnected details to determine Méabh's meaning and intention. She was the first Cinderella, so it wasn't a simple recreation of Landquester, and that meant she should focus on the differences instead of familiarities. Landquester had found a Fairy Bond within Adaba, Emberlee had called hers to Ortega, through the protections set up by Landquist in the first place, though they'd been weakened. Oberon had said a natural Bond like hers was rare, while a forged one was more common; she'd taken it to mean there were a handful of bonds like hers. But maybe there was only one other Bond like hers.

This time when Emberlee met Méabh's obsidian gaze she knew what she was doing, "Have you forgotten your name after being Méabh for so long?"

When Méabh smiled, Emberlee almost expected to see fangs, "Méabh is eternal, but now not alone. I did not intend to make you one of my Titania's Cinderella; I want you as you are, full of the potential to be my equal."

"You called the first Fairy and Bonded, all the rest were created by your hand. I made my Bond in Ortega, bringing a Fairy into a place they had never been," she mused out loud, able to withstand the power of Méabh's eye contact by giving it partial truths without divulging everything.

And in return, she was finally getting the answers she needed to understand the Games being played. Like realizing that if they were so similar it meant she'd one day be able to forge Fairy Bonds for others; and then taking it an intuitive leap forward to understand that included Breaking a Bond as she saw fit. But Emberlee was also unlike Méabh, she's been gifted a Blessing and all their commentary implied that even Méabh couldn't overpower that legacy, so the potential to be Méabh's equal, and yet different. But that still implied staying to learn from Méabh for a time. Though even without instruction, or even intending to, Cinderella had used the blood of her enemy to anoint Mirror. Having Méabh teach her would be far more effective than mastering it all on her own, but that was the bait in the trap.

"Are you telling me that you want me to be in Xutia what you are here in Adaba?" Not spouse as incorrectly assumed, but equal; a counterbalance. "Or are you asking me to become powerful enough that eternal Méabh can finally rest?"

"You are so stunning," Méabh frustratingly didn't answer, her hand once again coming up to caress her face almost lovingly. "Bear witness to my coronation Cinderella, learn what you can from it and then we will see how we fit together."

That was a week and a half away, and the coronation was a three-day affair. Birth, Life, Death; a cycle of rebirth that Méabh seemed to be bound by if Oberon's comment on her rebirth was literal. Whomever she had been before Méabh, it was obvious now she couldn't remember.

"I'll celebrate your coronation and rebirth, but I cannot promise anything else," she carefully agreed.

She'd learn what she could in the next week and a half, and have a formal contract of the alliance drawn up, but after that, she suspected things would become a lot more complicated for her. Méabh insisted that the alliance was unrelated to her interest in Cinderella, so regardless of the outcome of the are there should still be a friendly alliance of Nations.

"Please wander my palace with your Beloved," Méabh's change in topic was enough to break their eye contact, "I wish to spend some time with my long absent Oberon. Have a meal and explore the grounds, when the sun sets I'll send you all back to the Pretty Palace." There was no need to argue, or linger, so Emberlee gladly accepted the invitation and felt Prince Damien clasp her hand in silent acquiescence as well.

They'd take the opportunity to talk, share interpretations, and work on a plan. Or at least that's what Emberlee had thought.

Méabh's Crystal Palace wasn't translucent, but the opacity of the crystal allowed an astonishing amount of light in without requiring windows. And the Palace's air was filled with an alluring scent that made it pleasingly restful to breathe deeply. Their walk was unhurried, but despite all that had transpired they didn't talk. Prince Damien seemed to simply want to hold her hand and enjoy their time together, and the bemusing atmosphere aided that. It certainly made it difficult to track the progress of time, the only impulse to go eat was their hunger in the absence of clocks to indicate the time. And still, they found a buffet set for their enjoyment, the food fresh and waiting as if the servants had been certain of their arrival time. But not a single trace of those servants themselves remained, and Emberlee wondered if it was simply magic. That'd be fantastically efficient but she could see how isolating it could also become.

"Are you having as difficult a time thinking as I am?" Prince Damien sounded at ease despite his words.

"I think it's the incense it feels almost like I'm sleepwalking," she confirmed.

Being outside again helped clean the fog away, and they both looked at the foreign food with hungry suspicion. "Aren't there Fairy tales warning us to not eat their food?" he referenced a children's 온라인카지노게임 but got some of the details wrong.

"Wasn't it the witch that trapped people in an edible house? The Fairies in Grimauld's tales used music and lights" It had been Aubin's favourite series for her to read when they'd been avoiding Traimorian assassins as kids.

"I preferred the Robbing Hood," Prince Damien's admission wasn't surprising; it featured a rogue with a noble heart and a loyal band of unusual people.

"What did you think of Méabh?" it wasn't the most discreet place to discuss their host, but Emberlee had a strong feeling that Méabh would hear them regardless of where they held their conversations.

"I think I'm grateful I'm not the Ambassador after all," Damien had once tried to replace her. "I could handle the negotiations, but Méabh's interest seems far too perilous for my tastes. You're a malevolent Fairy, she's a Nightmare made flesh."

"A dream with a dangerous bend," she didn't disagree with the description at all.

"Why does she believe you could be her equal?" He didn't seem to doubt the veracity of the statement, but it was hard to explain things when he couldn't experience Fairy Magic like she could.

"I'm not there yet, but I could be one day," she took a moment to eat and contemplate. Their food was as spiced as their attitudes and some made her mouth feel numb while others burned. "Méabh is OLD, I mean since the settling of the Southern continent old," almost a thousand years being the only one of your kind. No wonder she needed the love and support of a polycule. "She's had all that time and experience while I only became Cinderella three years ago."

She'd reached out for a Fairy Godparent at 14 and had spent every moment since entwining herself as deeply into Cinderella as the Fairy had right back. From first appearing as her Mother's facade to now being seated in Emberlee's very reflection, Emberlee had become Cinderella but hadn't lost her sense of self to the experience. But Méabh had suffered almost a thousand years of life and all the varied experiences it brought. After that long, after enduring that many tragedies and triumphs, would Emberlee be any different? She'd used her Fairy self as deliberately as she'd been used in turn; ever since the night of Vivian's debut, there'd been no separation between them. Cinderella was just the deepest impulse of Emberlee's nature given its Name.

"It does seem like we'll be able to return to Xutia with a signed alliance," Prince Damien took them onto an easier topic.

"Where the most dangerous thing to worry about is the assassins your stepmother keeps sending for me," Empress Clara was still a major threat, but for the moment remained distant enough to be less immediate than Méabh.

"It would truly be a shame if she befell some unfortunate accident while we were away," Prince Damien's insincerity almost dripped in the humid air.

"Heartbreaking," she agreed with as much diligence.

They'd found ways to diminish Empress Clara's social support, disrupt the tenuous peace between Stussica and Zacia, and do as much damage as they could without resorting to direct violence. If Empress Clara were to die, it'd have to be witnessed by a multitude and be in such a way as to be deemed undeniably an accident. That'd be the only way to keep the Stussican alliance but eliminate their plot. It'd be far more premeditated than any of the other deaths Emberlee had caused but was likely the most necessary. Clara would not foolishly condemn herself like Jimena had.

"Sunset is much faster this far south," the Prince marvelled and Emberlee agreed, the sun almost plummeted out of the sky.

Their time in the Palace was up, somehow they were collected the moment they stood from the table to be returned to the Mirror. The incense inside once again bemused and befuddled, a pleasant dreaminess that was hard to fight against, until Emberlee caught sight of Oberon the Pretty and burst out laughing. He looked thoroughly dishevelled and rather exhausted. If he was a heroine in one of those trashy novels he'd be described as ravaged and the look on his face said he knew it. Meanwhile, Méabh looked glowing.

"Your hospitality has been admirable Méabh," she played the safer game of politics.

"Work out the wording of the treaty with my Oberons and Titania, I'll sign it before the ceremonies of my coronation begin," Méabh's pleasure did seem to facilitate the matter. "I still plan on discussing your nature further Cinderella, so I'll call on you again later." It wasn't ominous but it was unsettling, the feeling following her back through the Mirror to Oberon the Pretty's Palace.

And almost expected, Oberon the Monolith and Titania both eagerly awaited their return.

All it took was one look from them for it to be realized, and they reacted simultaneously, "You said no," Oberon the Monolith seemed almost devastated, but not because he'd wanted her to say yes; he hadn't been strong enough to resist Méabh.

"So I'm still the only Titania!" she twirled about in happy excitement. Today Titania wore a light purple corseted vest dress that made her generous cleavage a dangerous weapon. "This calls for a celebration!" she snapped her fingers and suddenly they all had wineglasses in hand.

"Does it?" Oberon the Monolith sourly doubted, "Look at how the Pretty is, he's had Méabh all to himself."

"And barely survived," Oberon the Pretty didn't seem bothered by the Monolith's ire.

"He's been gone for most of the year, don't be so jealous," Titania scolded Oberon the Monolith. "You know how hard it's been with just the two of us here." She once again cuddled into the Monolith to comfort him. "Now let us toast to our impending Alliance, Marchioness Ortega may not be joining our ranks but you remain a valued ally..." Emberlee lifted her glass back to Titania's salute, "I look forward to our negotiations, and then the preparation for Méabh's coronation."

Today had been an overall success, but Emberlee was weary to her very bones. There was so much she still didn't know or understand, and now she was up against those with far more experience with Fairy Magic. Her only support here was Méabh's spouses, leaving both her and Damien in a tenuous position.

"Tomorrow we will write the Treaty, then the hard work of introducing you to Adaban Society begins," Oberon the Monolith's words were a warning.

Emberlee had no idea how complicated a social hierarchy based on Fairy Bonds and Magic could be, but she was about to get an advanced lesson firsthand.