Fantasy i am the villain

[Nano]

Alder Llewyn

the advisor

Each step through the palace’s opulent halls fell with an uncomfortable weight, made heavier still with the hollow echo of the advisor’s footfalls through the empty corridor. The only accompaniment to the click of stiff boots was the distant chatter of songbirds providing far too quiet of a mumble to distract the blonde from his thoughts. Demons. The Woodcrests. War. It was always one thing after another with Parlton. This time, however, the perpetual motion of the events unfolding within the nation contributed only to the negatives. The more Alder ruminated over everything on his plate, the more he felt the consequences of his recent actions dawn on him. He’d always steeled himself to push onward, regardless of who his desired outcome required him to use as a stepping stone, yet when the nation balanced haphazardly upon the cusp of war, he found himself wavering. Before he knew it, an exception to his rule had entered his vision.

“Lady Vilina. A word, if I may,”

Alder spoke, intercepting the noblewoman before she could enter the meeting room. The enigma who’d stepped into his life for the first time scarcely a week ago was a cautious woman who kept a strict distance, effectively the perfect fiancée in their sham of an engagement. In any other circumstance, the blonde knew he would’ve been capable of tamping down the guilt of knowing she’d only caught the king’s eye and become involved in this war due to her relation to the crown prince’s advisor. However, the traces of nostalgia that brushed past his mind each time she drew near haunted him like a specter he recoiled from yet simultaneously couldn’t keep off his mind. Vilina Tremayne’s powers were a great potential boon to the nation, but Alder feared the regrets that would pile up the more bloodshed and strife she experienced would crack the vessel that had staunchly held his guilt in check for so many years.

“Though it is nigh impossible to change His Majesty’s mind once it has been made, I plan to petition His Majesty to sever your direct involvement in the upcoming war should that be what you desire,”

Alder spoke with an even cadence, taking on a tone that sounded kind yet didn’t reveal the depth of the concern plaguing his mind.

“Should certain…unfortunate events occur in the near future, it wouldn’t bode well on the images of either of our houses. Naturally, if you possess the confidence to contribute to the war, then we can forget this conversation ever happened.”

Dicentra

Code by Nano

 

[Dicentra]

Vilina Tremayne

The Animal Whisperer

The Palace Entrance

What makes the difference between coincidence and destiny? Vilina might have called it a coincidence if it happened once. Maybe twice. But three times? Three times was a pattern. And what was it exactly that bothered her most?

The curse of five letter names. It was ridiculous, petty even, to fixate on something so trivial, but how could she not when every misfortune in her life seemed to be tied to a name of exactly five letters?

Maria. Hearing it now sent a chill dripping down her spine. She wasn’t supposed to be here - not like this. Her role in the story had changed, diverged from what Vilina remembered. And if Maria’s path had shifted, then what else had? What crucial moments had been rewritten in ways she couldn’t predict? She hated the unknown.

And then there was Alder. Another five letter name. Another unknown. His proposal. The very thing that could seal or save her fate - it dangled above her like a hanging blade. Coincidence? No, Vilina didn’t believe in that anymore. Not when fate seemed to be spelling out her doom, letter by letter.

And then there was the final name. Greta. Vilina let out a slow, dense sigh. If not for her mother, perhaps she would have run. Perhaps she would have fled from the palace summons, disappeared into the wilderness, let the kingdom fade behind her like a half forgotten dream. But duty clung to her like a veil, stitched in by hands that had never truly held her.

What would happen if she abandoned it? She didn’t know. And it was that very unknown that bound her here, a tether far stronger than any attachment she held for the woman who had "raised her". If she knew for certain that the story would simply erase her existence, let her vanish without consequence - she might have risked it. She might have lived as her animals lived. Wild. Free. Unburdened by the weight of names that haunted her.

Maria. A threat. A divergence from the script she knew.
Alder. A potential saver. A prospective demise.
Greta. A chain. A mother. A duty she never asked for.

Vilina had long stopped believing in coincidence. Maybe it was destiny then, that Alder was the first one she ran into upon her arrival at the palace.

His words dripped with promise, laced with something far too alluring for her own good. More than she would have liked to admit. The idea of battle, of carving out a name for herself beyond her lineage - it had its appeal. Once, she might have thought it enticing, an opportunity to rewrite her place in history. But late reality had grounded her lofty ideas. After enduring the grueling training of General Delmar, that dream had been swiftly and mercilessly thrown out the window. She was not ready for war. Not now. Not realistically. So she stood there, keeping her hands at her sides - poised, collected, a mask of grace over the uncertainty twisting in her gut. She refused to fidget, spurned to let her hands seek each other out, to betray her nerves. Alder’s presence was a dangerous thing.

Her eyes flickered over his, scanning for intent, for anything beneath the polished veneer of his words. Was he worried about her? No, surely not. Alder wasn’t the type. Instead, he spoke of their houses' reputation, of what it meant, of the consequences that followed a name like hers. She bit the inside of her cheek. This was a man who chose his wording carefully. He never offered something without knowing exactly what he stood to gain from it.

Which meant that all she could do was take him at face value. He was offering to speak on her behalf. It wasn’t a guarantee. It wasn’t a promise. But it was something. The idea might not be approved, but an advisor’s voice carried weight. More than hers did, at least. And right now, her best chance at survival was taking every possible advantage - no matter who it came from. And if accepting his offer meant avoiding an early grave, then so be it.

She smiled - the kind that never quite reached her eyes.

"I would appreciate it. I agree, it would be quite the predicament for both houses…" Then, she leaned in. Just a little. Close enough for her words to settle gently. "Considering the engagement was meant to grant us freedom, it would be quite unfortunate if either of us, if not both, lost that opportunity. And if one was lost…" Her lashes fluttered, her lips curling with the faintest trace of amusement.

"Then the engagement would have been for nothing, wouldn't it?" A subtle warning. A careful reminder. Their fates were intertwined, whether he liked it or not. And if she was doomed to fall - well, then he might just fall with her. What a unity, marriage was.
Nano

Code by Serobliss

 

[Atamita]

"Good morning, your majesty," he gives a slight nod towards Virgil, "Lady Woodcrest would join if you would like her to."

His mind calls back to the interaction with Maria as a look of annoyance dons his face. Every question was met with fear, and any pressure would have written Marinus off as a bad guy as much as he wanted to be the good guy in this situation. She doesn't know how she ended up there, she doesn't know what she did the day before, and she doesn't even know how she got her hands on the letter. For Ophelia's sake, what does this girl even know?

He can already hear it in his mind with the Marquis cheering for his resignation if he dared to "misuse" his power and pressure a poor battered girl. A sigh escapes him.

Marinus has given thought that he might have been too terrifying as he easily towered over her but even Kerus' attempts to assuage Maria didn't work. Her answers matched the ones she gave to Marinus. She never slipped on why she was there and how she got her hands on it. Magic? Perhaps Adelaide could answer as his eyes slide over the Goddess for a quick thoughtful moment.

"Though," he cocks his head to the side as his soft gaze is now divided between the two, "it may help to have Lady Adelaide speak to Lady Maria."

A reassuring smile appear on his face as he looks at Adelaide, "I do believe Lady Adelaide has a touch of gentlness that could make any woman speak compared to myself or the absent Demoness-"

A look of slight surprise appear on his face as his ears perk up. His head turns the door where muffled voices reach his ears. His eyes concentrates at the door as his ears search for the voices. He can tell it's voices he's been familiar with for some time now. Alder and Vilina.

"Speaking of which, we have a few guests who are feeling a little too comfortable with being a little too close to the private doors."

He turns towards the two before his voice becomes quieter hush with a slight smile on his face, "Want to find out who's behind those doors?"

 

[houseplant]

scroll

adelaide st.clair

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"Greetings, your majesty."

She gently lowered the top half of her body in a small bow, not bothering to stand up as he sat at the head of the table. The conversation they had the day before played through her mind as she watched him. He would never let himself show a hint of weakness, would he? She smiled softly, shaking her head.

As Marinus turned towards her, she gave him a warm smile a small laugh escaping her lips. The general was ever amusing.

"You flatter me, General Marinus."

She shook her head at his antics, though anxiety bubbled in her chest. Being with Maria would be a surefire way too sign herself up for her impending doom. If she were too come today, she'd have to be on her best behavior, even if Virgil fell for the perfect female lead. She hadn't noticed she had leaned towards him slightly, the cold radiating off his body helping ground her nerves.

Well, she always knew it'd come too this, didn't she? She sighed softly, glancing up as Marinus peered at the two with a mischievous glint in his eyes. She could hear the faint voices of Alder, and was that Vilina? The two hadn't gotten too speak much, but something about the silver haired girls demeanor at the ball made her believe she didn't want too speak to her anyways. Though, she always loved taking any opportunity she could to tease the blond male.

"We shouldn't listen into private conversations between a man and his fiancé."

Though she hid her laugh behind her hand, shaking her head.

"Which reminds me, I tried to get into contact with Lady Rosegrave to check in on her since I hadn't heard or seen from her, and was unable too get into contact. I don't believe she will be here today. Prince Sirius can relay any information once he arrives."

 

[A Murder Of Corviknight]

Sirius Parlton

The Hot Head

Just when Sirius thought that he could finally get a quiet peaceful morning to himself, he was kindly notified by a messenger that General Marinus had called for a meeting. And as the prince read through the missive, he felt his brows furrow deeper and deeper. Just like how his hopes for a morning full of nothing to do was slipping further and further away with each sentence. Like how his chance to send a reply of rejection fled with the messenger. Apparently the look he gave the messenger over his steaming morning tea said enough to send the poor fellow tripping over himself to disappear without even a proper “by your leave”. With an exasperated scoff, he folded General Marinus’ missive back up before setting it next to three other summons. Both most likely referring to the matter of the broken engagement that he had no hand in arranging or breaking. One from the King and of course two from the Queen. All of the summons he had rejected in favor of being “busy with his tasks”. … Eventually, his eyes slid back over to General Marinus’ missive thoughtfully.

“Well, it’s a good excuse if anything. One conversation will definitely be less wasteful than the other.”

✦·┈๑⋅⋯ ⋯⋅๑┈·✦​

“I have no information about Lady Rosegrave. We’re all adults here with our own agendas. She is her own person and her choices are hers to make,”

he deadpanned from the seat nearest to the door. With those words the delicate disillusionment disguise shattered, revealing the now dark haired prince with steaming teacup still in hand. He mainly used it to avoid disturbing bears or wrathful queens…but apparently it worked on nosy Generals sniffing into private conversations as well. The thought made him smile a little in amusement as he slid his teapot over to St. Clair as a peace offering of sorts for the mishaps during training. Of course, he made sure the temperature was just right and it was the side furthest from his brother to prevent any iced tea.

“Since Lady Rosegrave is most likely not going to be in attendance, is there anyone else we’re waiting for?”

Though the ‘mind your own business’ was not said outright. The implications were clear…

@.player

Code by Nano

 

[Nano]

Alder Llewyn

the advisor

Vilina’s threat was conveyed as gently as a spring breeze, but it carried with it a subtle bite that seized his attention nonetheless. For a noblewoman hailing from a destitute house and one of many who pined after the Crown Prince, every word from her sang of a dangerous temperament he typically despised keeping close by his side. When he had first chanced upon her, he’d thought of her as someone far simpler—someone whose status would make her easy to manipulate—yet she was not without the sharpened fangs of the beasts that reveled in running by her side. Her message was clear: just as much as he intended to use her, she planned on using him. The same went for the mutual, assured demise that awaited them should one fall. Truly, he was grateful she caught on quickly to the hidden meanings laced within his words, though if she were anyone else, he would’ve loved to entrench her even deeper into the kingdom’s affairs. Both for her magic and her wit. Alas, he had yet to discern whether or not she held such ambition.

“It would be a shame if it came to that.”

From start to finish, there hadn’t been a fraction of a change in the advisor’s expression. His gaze lingered on hers for another second, before he passed her by, traversing the last few steps needed to arrive within a hand’s breadth of the ornate doors leading into the meeting room. What awaited the pair when the blonde pushed the right door open was not the warm glow of a brightly lit room and the scent of fresh parchment but a familiar face, mere inches away from being subject to a face full of lacquered wood. When that grin reeking of mischief entered Alder’s view, he couldn’t hold back the reflexive twitch of irritation in the fingers still holding on to the handle of the door, though he hoped the small movement had been subtle enough to escape anyone else’s attention. Perish the thought of ever knowing peace in the presence of Marinus Delmar.

“My word, I don’t suppose it’s quite safe to idle about before closed doors. Is it not more comfortable to mark time while seated?”

The flicker of surprise raising Alder’s brow petered out into a wry smile of amusement. However, the distinct lack of emotion in his gold-colored irises as he trained a hardened gaze onto Marinus subtly but succinctly warned that he wasn’t in the mood for any strange antics that would encroach upon his hard-set boundaries.

“Or was there some business concerning the door you needed to tend to?”

As soon as he felt the door click into a stable position where it wouldn’t slam shut the moment he released his hold on it, Alder brushed past the general and took quick inventory of the occupants of the room. It appears they’d arrived last, save for the young demoness whom the Crown Prince had deeply upset during their training session.

Dicentra

Atamita

Code by Nano

 

[Atamita]

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  in the conversation...

  
  
  
  

  Nano - Alder; Idiot Doom Spiral - Virgil; Dicentra - Vilina
  

  
  
  

  
  
  

marinus

the general

Spatial awareness is a must have especially for someone trained in hand-to-hand combat but so is the ability to not flinch when necessary. His face remains still as his eyes followed the door swinging by him for a split second before his eyes finally lands on the two. A small breeze blew by the door ruffles his hair slightly.

“My word, I don’t suppose it’s quite safe to idle about before closed doors. Is it not more comfortable to mark time while seated?”

The Advisor stares into Marinus but Alder's glare gives little worry to Marinus when the little jolt in Alder's fingers catches his attention. Marinus makes no attempt to hide that he may have noticed. He may not know much about Alder but he feels confident enough in perfecting the art of "annoying alder without him blowing up". Just enough to irk Alder but never enough for Alder to really do anything about it. He looks at Vilina for a moment before he flickers a small glance at the golden-eyed man with the corners of his mouth curling more and more-

“Or was there some business concerning the door you needed to tend to?”

His demeanor returns to the usual before he shrugs,

"Hey now, secret meetings should be happening on this side of the door."

He gestures to the inside of the room where Adelaide and Virgil are before pointing at the outside,

"Just making sure you're on the right side of the door."

He steps aside as the two walks in before he follows up behind them and settles into a chair.

"Sit,"

he gestures towards the chair,

"save some energy for your brain before we discuss the headache known as Maria Crestwood and the damned war letter."

He turns towards Virgil,

"Lady Rosegrave's absence wouldn't put a dent in our meeting but Maria Crestwood's absence might if we don't get an opportunity to question her directly."

A sigh heaves from Marinus,

"She just refuses to answer me or Kerus or anyone... but to be fair, everyone who has questioned her so far are men."

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[houseplant]

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maria woodcrest

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Large hands gently pulled the young woman along, making sure she didn't run as she was led down the hallway. She had finally agreed too speak after a night of rest, her nerves finally having calmed enough. Honestly though, she also didn't know a lot. All she could remember was the scent of blood, a copper taste in her own mouth, and the sounds of screaming before she woke up outside of the palace gates covered in blood and clutching the letter.

Pieces came back in her dreams, her going out on her nightly walk before she was knocked out and stuffed into the back of a carriage. Then when she awoke she was aboard a ship, tied up in the cargo deck. There were a few other's just like her, women and children mostly. But once she arrived they were all slaughtered- everyone except for her. She was tortured endlessly, until she had finally broken down enough for them to do what they had truly wanted. One was to deliver this letter, but what else was she missing?

Though, she still didn't know what she actually did. That was the only missing puzzle piece. Her head ached as she tried too remember under the scrutinizing glare of the Parlton Commander and his second in command. She had heard that those involved in this war were meeting, and that once she wanted too talk, she could join them. But honestly, she was afraid. She had heard the Prince's were especially ruthless and cruel, and with her family lineage she doubted they would take kindly towards her.

Though after a bit of prodding from Kerus, she had finally agreed. This might be her only chance to save herself. If she could get those in this meeting to protect her, she'd be free. She'd do anything to escape the clutches of the demons and Zulbric, and seduction wasn't totally off the table either.

As Kerus opened the door for her, she stepped inside, eyes scanning the group of people in front of her before she quickly bowed.

"Greetings to your majesties." She said softly, before glancing over at Marinus. "And you, general." She seemed to ignore the rest of them, only focused on those here with true power. She had a mission, and she wasn't going to waste time.

"I have remembered a few things." Kerus pulled up a chair for her, nodding too Marinus.

"She does not pose any threat, so I have left her untied. But I will leave the rope here in case, General Marinus." He bowed towards the rest of the group, before leaving the room, the door shutting softly behind him with a click.

♡coded by uxie♡

 

[houseplant]

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adelaide st.clair

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"Thank you, Prince Sirius."

She took the teapot, careful not to burn herself as she poured a cup, careful to leave it further away from Virgil. She was not a fan of cold tea.

Her head snapped up as the door opened again, and Kerus stepped inside, alongside the woman she had been dreading the most. Maria Woodcrest. Though, something felt weird. Why was her aura kind of dark? Adelaide shivered, instinctively scooting further away from the woman her body tensing in a fear that hadn't been their prior. Was it because of the fear of being killed by the hands of her fiancé over this woman, or the weird aura surrounding her? She didn't want too say it in front of everyone, in case it was just her fear, but maybe she'd pull aside Virgil later.

As Maria spoke, blatantly ignoring everyone but the princes and Marinus, her fear slowly turned into anger. Who was she too look down on them? That disgraced family was nothing compared to the nobles sitting here, maybe she needs to be a taught a lesson- Wait. Why was she suddenly thinking these ugly thoughts?

Since coming into this body, Adelaide hadn't once thought about the class difference between her and the commoners. Nor did she really care since it hadn't been a thing in her previous life. Was the former Adelaide coming to life with the introduction of the main character? Her face paled and she gripped her dress, eyes refusing to look towards the blonde. If that's what was happening then she'd have to be careful, even if she made a move on Virgil.

Adelaide relaxed her body, taking another sip of tea as she avoided looking towards Maria, the darkness threatening too swallow her whole. Her gaze flickered towards the chandelier, the light glowing a bit brighter in her attempts to turn the shadows away.

 

[Dicentra]

Vilina Tremayne

The Animal Whisperer

The Council Room

Vilina had never been particularly gifted with words - neither spoken nor written. She hadn’t grown up pouring over books or reciting prose like the other noble children did. Formal education had always felt like a chore, like something that belonged to a world she was only ever meant to exist on the edges of. And truth be told, she’d always found more interest in the warmth of Mishka’s fur than in any ink stained parchment. Even in this second life, reborn in silk - time had not been generous. Between trying not to die and trying not to cause political ruin, learning the intricacies of the empire’s written tongue had been a laughable luxury. She still stumbled over official documents, still squinted at ornate characters as if they'd rearrange themselves out of pity.

And reading people? That was no easier.

Alder, in particular, was a maze of glass walls. Always polite, always composed - yet never quite reachable. His face was a seminar in diplomatic indifference, his expressions carved by discreteness, and his eyes gave nothing away. Not warmth, not disdain - only the elegant blankness of someone who knew just how much to show, and how much more to hide.

So when he finally turned his back to her, reaching for the polished handles of the council room doors, Vilina’s shoulders finally relaxed. She wasn’t sure if it was relief or merely exhaustion from the last few days, but she’d take it. At least for that moment, his gaze wasn’t something she had to decode - and the conversation was less weighty than she had been expecting.

Maybe he even seemed concerned for her wellbeing? It was a thought that drifted through her mind softly - delicate, easily dismissed, but still there. It was hard to say. With Alder, everything came layered, his silver tongue sharper than most - concern could just as easily be strategy. Still, curiosity got the better of her. As he reached for the doors, her body tilted instinctively to the side, trying to catch another glimpse of his expression - just to double check. But what she ended up finding was.. amusement?

She blinked and straightened up, only to realize the reason: beyond the now cracking doors sat several all-too-familiar faces, poised like guilty children caught outside a locked room. The general stood among them, feigning innocence so poorly it bordered on performance art. Vilina’s eyes darted from Alder to the general, then back again, then back again. Was this how their engagement was going to reach the public ears?

Her heart leapt to her throat, but no one looked particularly shocked. So… perhaps not everything had been heard. Or if it had, perhaps no one was surprised. Which, in its own way, was almost more concerning.

Vilina’s eyes narrowed, scanning the room as subtly as she could. She was trying to read the faces around her, but everyone seemed quite disinterested. They'd all gone back to their own conversations almost immediately. If any of them had overheard what happened behind the council room doors, they were doing an impeccable job of pretending they hadn't. She exhaled, long and slow. Crisis averted. Probably.

But as she continued to glance around, her gaze faltered on the absence of someone rather glaringly missing from the usual participants - the demon princess. Her brows drew together. Where was she? The poor girl - accused of treason with barely enough time to defend herself, dragged from scandal to scrutiny and then shoved unceremoniously into training as if that alone would cleanse suspicion. Was that the point the crown was trying to make? Keep her tired, keep her busy, keep her from having the strength to fight back?

Or worse… was she locked up again? The thought sent an uneasy prickle across her spine. Were the royals just keeping an eye on her - or quietly tightening a leash? Vilina looked toward the throne for any sign, but she ultimately found nothing out of either prince's typical behavior. Vilina rolled her shoulders back, though tension still hummed beneath her skin. Her steps carried her toward two unattended chairs and Alder, ever the picture of propriety, was already pulling out her seat. She offered a quiet word of gratitude barely above a whisper, the words caught between habit and sincerity.

Politics, she thought bitterly, lowering herself into the seat, were still a language she hadn’t quite learned to speak. Too many layers, too many masks. She had animals to understand, instincts to trust. Here, she felt like a wolf dressed in silk - out of place and one wrong word away from being hunted. But, beyond that, she had more immediate problems. Tangible ones. Breathing ones. And, as if summoned by the very thought, there she was.

Maria.

Vilina’s eyes locked onto the familiar figure entering the chamber with all the ease and elegance of someone born to be watched. The same fluid walk, the same perfect posture, the same smile that could warm a frozen heart - she was truly the same protagonist from the game. Vilina’s fingers curled around the fabric of her gown beneath the table. With a quiet panic, Vilina turned her head just slightly toward Alder. She was looking for a crack - any shift in his expression that might reveal something. Surprise. Recognition. Interest. But her gaze hadn’t yet met his before the weight of her nerves seized her throat, cutting off whatever flimsy plan she might’ve had. To avoid her bad ending, she just had to make sure that Alder did not fall for Maria, right?

She moved on instinct instead, her fingers curling around the teapot the Saintess had placed down. Without a word, she held it out toward Alder, her brows lifted just so, her lips curved into something resembling a smile - awkward and a little tight, but still passable. Tea? Her silent offer asked, like a hopeful peace treaty over porcelain.

Interactions: Nano Mentions: Atamita Fabrikator.Nova houseplant

Code by Serobliss

 

[Idiot Doom Spiral]

fluticasone fluticasone

Virgil Parlton

location

Parlton Palace

interactions

Marinus, Adelaide, Maria

tags

houseplant Atamita

"A person with something to offer is a person worth having a seat at the table," Virgil threw Marinus a pointed look before glancing at Adelaide. "I have no doubt that Lady Adelaide can persuade Lady Woodcrest if there is no alternative; however, I'd prefer everyone be present when she gives her firsthand account."

Sans Lady Rosegrave anyway. In a rare instance of sibling solidarity, Sirius implicitly agreed with Virgil's hidden sentiments--what started as ideological clash turned into silence, presumably to seek counsel with her pet partner. Lacia's father was wholly human and a subject of the kingdom so short of whisking him away, her choices moving forward would be limited. It would not be long before she returned or sent a representative.

He busied himself with a cup of tea while waiting for the remaining members of their group to take their seats. It was uncharacteristic for Alder to be tardy (certainly later than his brother); for Lady Vilina to arrive shortly after added a bit of extra curiosity, though it was quickly overshadowed by Lady Woodcrest's entrance.

"Greetings, Lady Woodcrest. You may be seated."

Soft spoken, dull-eyed, and without magic, she was a particularly unremarkable woman by aristocratic standards. Much like Lady Vilina, her title was vestigial--they bore no authority in the kingdom. There had to be a reason why Zulbric chose her to beat, batter, and send as a messenger. An esteemed noble would be less suspicious and one with magical abilities would be more readily accepted among their team.

"If you would please, tell us all that you can remember." His eyes lingered on her as she took her seat, searching for any signs of insincerity.