Our Last Liaisons

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<h1><span class = "bigfont"><span class='fadeIn'>Our Last Liaisons</span></span></h1> <<timed 6s>><<goto "Warnings">><</timed>>

<b>Our Last Liaisons</b> by RottenInk <<if $guide is true>> <<link "Guide" "Guide">><<script>>var viewportWidth = window.innerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth; if (viewportWidth < 1000) {$("#sidebar").toggleClass("toggled");}<</script>><</link>><</if>> <<link "Content Warning" "Content Warning">><<script>>var viewportWidth = window.innerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth; if (viewportWidth < 1000) {$("#sidebar").toggleClass("toggled");}<</script>><</link>> <<if $fguide is true>> <<link "Family Guide" "The Family">><<script>>var viewportWidth = window.innerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth; if (viewportWidth < 1000) {$("#sidebar").toggleClass("toggled");}<</script>><</link>><</if>> <<if $rmcguide is true>> <<link "The Royal" "The Royal">><<script>>var viewportWidth = window.innerWidth || document.documentElement.clientWidth; if (viewportWidth < 1000) {$("#sidebar").toggleClass("toggled");}<</script>><</link>><</if>>

AUDIO! <<nobr>><<cacheaudio "rain" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/1i3opcgc3f93leagf6yam/Royalty_Free_Rain_Sounds_for_Looping_ASMR.mp3?rlkey=44d65rrum2kudv2s3z33dobsd&st=wlghr6ls&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "snow" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/9zbvyppdtzytaqwau42hm/wind__artic__cold-6195.mp3?rlkey=xpc1yctmkmf2bv9lfsjli3qif&st=lormxf9k&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "walking-in-snow" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/uxafqelruod77knr028m9/footsteps-crunching-on-snow-335508.mp3?rlkey=onr3n0k4axkji2vdswi5v4sj9&st=ym9onnhd&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "nostalgia" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/dd486hl4ayfgta17ne5ie/nostalgia.mp3?rlkey=4uexdy1slzr7qpoul4b0bprvt&st=f0t1yfky&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "bathsound" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/6wcvonu9m1d9a1yywcy7m/bathtub_wave_2-79985.mp3?rlkey=kph8jjavgv5wp7uh5dd7afbah&st=2n4jy315&dl=0">> <<cacheaudio "crash" "https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/scl/fi/a1flqdk48ox9ncpo661ce/box-crash-106687.mp3?rlkey=64xyff4vtdhuz52nr6oayglga&st=xwtvb3n7&dl=0">> <</nobr>> <<set $violence to false>> <<set $death to false>> <<set $sa to false>> <<set $cannibalism to false>>

<<set $guide to true>>Our Last Liaisons is a side game for <a href="https://v0id-b0nes.itch.io/the-rot-of-the-witchwood">The Rot of the Witchwood</a>. Set a century past, it fills out some lore regarding the Witches as well as the wider world. There are four different types of symbol, showing what sort of interaction you can have in the game. ☾ is for a more oblivious response, while ✴︎ is for those who know exactly what they want. A general flirt is ৎ୭ Then comes the symbols you've been waiting for. For a romantic encounter, go for ♡ and for a sexual encounter ♥ is what you're wanting to pick. Also, each RO has a symbol attatched to them, but it'll be accompanied by their name as well. They are the following: Arkasha ᴓ Dasha 𒉽 Sasha 🜲 Priest J ▽ The Aide 𓁿 Pasha ❖ <h1>Content warnings: </h1> <b>Themes for the Servant MC:</b> <ul><li>Overworking</li> <li>Discrimination</li> <li>Classism</li> <li>Depersonlisation </li> <li>Stalking</li> <li>Infantialism (From The Priest)</li> <li>Experimentation (From the Lesser Noble)</li> <li>Objectification (From the Royal)</li> <li>Emotional Abuse (From the Servant) </li> <li>There is a potential for: Dubious Consent, Non Consent, Drugging, Impregnation regardless of gender, but these will all be given a warning if you are about to go down one of these routes. </li></ul> <b>Themes for the Royal MC:</b> <ul><li>Gold Digging</li> <li>Dismissive attitudes towards their emotions</li> <li>Stalking</li> <li>Constant Surveillance</li> <li> Incest (From the Royal- they are half siblings)</li> <li>Manipulation (From the Noble)</li> <li>Obsessive behaviour (from the Servant)</li> <li>Religious Indoctrination (From the Priest)</li> <li>There is a potential for: Dubious Consent, Forced/Rushed Marriage, Incest, Drugging. Again, there shall be a warning given. </li></ul> <<link "Toggle sensitive topics">> <<dialog 'Sensitive Topics'>> <<nobr>> <h2><b>Trigger Toggles</b></h2> For: <ul><li><<checkbox "$violence" false true autocheck>> Violence</li> <li><<checkbox "$cannibalism" false true autocheck>> Cannibalism</li> <li><<checkbox "$sa" false true autocheck>> Sexual Assault</li> <li><<checkbox "$impreg" false true autocheck>> Impregnation</li></ul> <h2><b>Relationships</b></h2> If you don't want to see content from these side relationships: <ul><li> <<checkbox "$aisha" false true autocheck>> The Aide x Pavel Volchek</li> <li><<checkbox "$sashdash" false true autocheck>> Sasha x Dasha</li> <li><<checkbox "$albabr" false true autocheck>> Albina x Abraim Kiss-Kosa</li></ul><</nobr>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link "Confirm" "OLL.01">><<cwList "violence death cannibalism sa" true>><</link>>

<<audio "snow" loop play>>''17-??: Midday, with the watery sunlight barely warming the world'' The snow falls heavier than ever, blanketing the entire world in a thick white haze. The wind can do nothing but pick up, ripping dead leaves from their place on the trees. You could do nothing but take it all in, your lips feeling blue with the cold, cheeks feeling raw from the frigid air cutting across them. You were sure if you shed a tear, it would crystallize into a perfect diamond. But, you wouldn't ever cry, at least not from the weather. No, you had grown up in this tundra, more unused to the fleeting warmth of summer than you were to living in constant snow, sleet, slush and rain. It is said that that's what made your fellow countrymen strong. You belonged to the only people that could ever brave lands that had never been thawed, more used to ice than the feeble lives of flowers and the greeneries of healthy, thriving plants. Sadly, none of that patriotic stuff prevented your behind from feeling like it was about to freeze completely off. You abandoned your sandwich, putting it back on the cloth it had been wrapped in. You stood up, the numbness of resting against the ice cold rock being chased away as soon as you moved just a bit. You took the time to admire the red breasted birds hopping from branch to branch, unwilling to fly in the strong gales, but still wanting to warm themselves. You picked the sandwich back up, managing another two bites before deciding that was enough stalling. There was still some time to go before you finally got back to the Salander House. The name was always humorous to you, even when people stopped agreeing. As a child, it was funny that the palace, archaic and large and beautiful, had been called a "House". Of course, all the biggest noble castles had been called "Houses" but it was always a bit too silly. Also, the full name? House Aureus of Salander House. No matter how silly it was, you still had... Quite a few hours to go. You turned away. <ul><li>[[You looked back at the road, where your carriage sat, waiting for you.|RoyalMC]]</li> <li>[[You looked back to the road and sighed, before tightening your shoe laces. The walk wasn't going to get any shorter.|ServantMC]]</li></ul>

<<set $MC to "Royal">>You made your way down, back to the carriage and the two horses and the coachman, currently chowing down the rest of his dried sausage on rye bread. You took your time, not wanting him to choke, and then you'd have to figure out how to drive the contraption yourself. Instead, you gave him a nod, and tucked your hands back into the muff, warming them beyond what gloves could do. You were pretty sure it was... Mink fur? Your mind wandered as you idly stroked the fur, imagining it getting caught in the trap... Then lifted out to be skinned. No, no. The doctor that had personally attended you in Helvetia had warned you against purposefully thinking about things that would upset you. You could still feel the aftershocks of being so ill for so long, coming of age away from home, not seeing your entire family in years. Apparently, not only did you have to have your body tended to, but also your mental state. No bad thoughts, no sad thoughts, no... Well. Nothing that could turn your mood sour. You could imagine her now. ''"Don't think about the dead, butchered minks. Enjoy your hands being warm thanks to them. Now, another bowl of crushed fruit, nuts in lemon juice and vodka."'' You shuddered a bit. It had taken you five days to get this far from Helvetia and you were already sinking back into what she had called your "mopey place". A stupid phrase, one that any of your siblings would have bitten her for. The thought nearly forced a laugh from you. Were you remembering them wrong? Kissy probably wouldn't still bite. Pasha would never, even though you remember that whenever he ground his teeth, he was thinking about it. Were Albina and Abraim as bad as you remembered? If so, then they would definitely still bite. Was the urge to return to a lupine instinct purely hereditary or... Was it something about your home? Growing up in Salander House would surely have done some sort of damage, but you hadn't heard of any of your cousins being in trouble for biting, as much as you and your siblings had been. Speaking of your family... You slipped a folded letter free from the muff (thinking only for a moment how you basically hid a piece of paper up a mink's... rear and were now pulling it right back out. Poor thing) and opened it back up, unable to stop the small smile at the sight of your mother's curling handwriting. It begun... //Darling..// <ul class="a"> Suggestions for feminine names<div id="section15" class="hidden">&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Maria|Character Creation][$name to "Maria"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Ekaterina|Character Creation][$name to "Ekaterina"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Anastasia|Character Creation][$name to "Anastasia"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Natalya|Character Creation][$name to "Natalya"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Valentina|Character Creation][$name to "Valentina"]]</div> Suggestions for masculine names<div id="section14" class="hidden">&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Dmitry|Character Creation][$name to "Dmitry"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Mikhail|Character Creation][$name to "Mikhail"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Alexei |Character Creation][$name to "Alexei"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Nikolai|Character Creation][$name to "Nikolai"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Artyom|Character Creation][$name to "Artyom"]] <ul><li> <<click "Insert a custom name">><<toggleclass "#section16" "hidden">><</click>> </li> <div id="section16" class="hidden"> <<textbox "$name" $name>> <<button "Confirm">> <<set $name to $name.trim()>> <<set _invalidNames to ["Arkady", "Arkadina", "Arkasha", "Daniil", "Daria", "Dasha", "Aleksandr", "Aleksandra", "Sasha", "Janos", "Janka", "Pavel", "Pasha", "Aksana", "Stanislav", "Stas", "Albina", "Abraim", "Evdokiya", "Inga", "Laszlo", "Sirje", "Iiris"]>> <<if $name is " ">> <<replace "#textbox-error">>Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<elseif _invalidNames.includes($name)>> <<replace "#textbox-error">>This name is already in use during the story.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<goto "ShortName">> <</if>> <</button>> </div></ul> <span id="textbox-error"></span>

<<set $MC to "Servant">>It was probably the hardest walk you had ever undertaken. At least when you first delivered to Salander House, you were on the coach, bundled up and squished between two farmers, who were biting into raw beets to sustain themselves. No, this was far worse. You hadn't saved up enough for neither the coach, nor one of the boat rides back. No, you had enough for the funeral there and then little else. Just some food and something warm to drink. Then off you went, back the way you came. You were... On your sixth hour of walking? You could definitely feel it in your feet. You were just lucky that your shoes had been long since broken in. And that you could traverse the snow without worry. You had seen some foreigners slip head over heels on ice just from the lack of experience doing so. You just hoped that when you got back, Lebedev would let you go straight to bed, instead of making you jump straight back into work. You couldn't imagine running the dishes or turning down the beds or lighting the evening fires or... Or anything really, after such a long time on your feet... And given what you were coming from. The funeral had lasted three days but you could only get out there at the end of the second day. Your father apparently, had demanded all of his children to attend, but you got the feeling that he hadn't meant... Well, you. You had gotten the letter from... An uncle? Once it was read out loud to you, you had to go. You had arrived, held out the letter and was immediately stormed by his actual wife. You got a slap around your face for daring to show up. Then mocked by his children. You should have guessed, perhaps, that a bastard shouldn't have been invited. Your cheek still stung. Or maybe that was the wind. Wrapping your coat tighter around yourself, you set off again, trudging slowly but surely. You still had the letter of course. It was... The third one you had ever gotten in your life. It had begun the same way as the others too. //Dear...// <ul class="a"> Suggestions for feminine names<div id="section15" class="hidden">&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Maria|Character Creation][$name to "Maria"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Ekaterina|Character Creation][$name to "Ekaterina"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Anastasia|Character Creation][$name to "Anastasia"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Natalya|Character Creation][$name to "Natalya"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Valentina|Character Creation][$name to "Valentina"]]</div> Suggestions for masculine names<div id="section14" class="hidden">&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Dmitry|Character Creation][$name to "Dmitry"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Mikhail|Character Creation][$name to "Mikhail"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Alexei |Character Creation][$name to "Alexei"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Nikolai|Character Creation][$name to "Nikolai"]] &emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;[[Artyom|Character Creation][$name to "Artyom"]] <ul><li> <<click "Insert a custom name">><<toggleclass "#section16" "hidden">><</click>> </li> <div id="section16" class="hidden"> <<textbox "$name" $name>> <<button "Confirm">> <<set $name to $name.trim()>> <<set _invalidNames to ["Arkady", "Arkadina", "Arkasha", "Daniil", "Daria", "Dasha", "Aleksandr", "Aleksandra", "Sasha", "Janos", "Janka", "Pavel", "Pasha", "Aksana", "Stanislav", "Stas", "Albina", "Abraim", "Evdokiya", "Inga"]>> <<if $name is " ">> <<replace "#textbox-error">>Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<elseif _invalidNames.includes($name)>> <<replace "#textbox-error">>This name is already in use during the story.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<goto "ShortName">> <</if>> <</button>> </div></ul> <span id="textbox-error"></span>

<<nobr>><<if $name is "Maria">><<set $nickname to "Masha">><</if>><<if $name is "Ekaterina">><<set $nickname to "Katya">><</if>><<if $name is "Anastasia">><<set $nickname to "Nastia">><</if>><<if $name is "Natalya">><<set $nickname to "Natasha">><</if>><<if $name is "Valentina">><<set $nickname to "Valya">><</if>><<if $name is "Dmitry">><<set $nickname to "Dima">><</if>><<if $name is "Mikhail">><<set $nickname to "Misha">><</if>><<if $name is "Alexei">><<set $nickname to "Lyosha">><</if>><<if $name is "Nikolai">><<set $nickname to "Kolya">><</if>><<if $name is "Artyom">><<set $nickname to "Tyoma">><</if>> <</nobr>><<if $MC is "Royal">><<set $eyecolour to "$Reyecolour">><<set $haircolour to "$Rhaircolour">><<set $skincolour to "$Rskincolour">><<set $hairtexture to "$Rhairtexture">>//Darling $nickname.// //For my following words, you will have to think of me as your sovereign, as your Tsarina, and not as your mother.// //''You must come home.''// //There. Now you have been ordered by your Tsarina, and not as your mother, and hence, you must abandon those beautiful mountains and fresh springs and make your way back to House Salander. You have been away for too long. Your father, your siblings and I have missed more birthdays than I can bear to think about, and most importantly, you have come of age in a distant country. This will not do. Inga has grown taller, ==Kissy== Dusia (she has now stated she is old enough to be called something more grown up, as if she is not still a baby!) has now started her horse riding lessons. Your sisters miss you, not to mention your older siblings. Aksana wants to see you before she leaves for her engagment, Stas now has another daughter (she's quite pretty for a bastard). Abraim and Albina have been asking about you in fact! Sasha has been... Well, Sasha. ==And Pasha...==// //Your father and I agree that if your doctor sent word that you are fine to travel, then we're sending a carriage to bring you home. If they deny that your health has improved, instead we shall send guards and claim that they've kidnapped one of the Tsarina's children. With that threat of war, I am excited to see you once again before the year is out.// //All my love,// //Tsarina Tatsiana of House Aureus// You folded the letter back up and tucked it into the muff once more. The snow seemed to be getting worse, thicker. It was starting to get hard to see. You glanced around for privacy, just to make sure there was no one else around, before you pulled the hood of your coat down, and ran a hand through your $haircolour hair. Your normally $hairtexture hair felt like dried hay from the frigid air. You couldn't wait to get back and properly warm back up after such a long journey. You let out a puff of breath, watching it form into a crystal cloud before you. [[It was getting darker...|RM.CreationContinue]] <<elseif $MC is "Servant">><<set $eyecolour to "$Beyecolour">><<set $haircolour to "$Bhaircolour">><<set $skincolour to "$Bskincolour">><<set $hairtexture to "$Bhairtexture">>//Dear $name,// //You don't know me, but I am your father's brother. It is my deepest sadness to share that he has passed on. His gout had worsened over the years and according to the doctors, his heart could not take it anymore. It gave out.// //We are gathering to pay our respects on the first Sunday of the last month. He wanted all of his children to be there. ''All''. So, I have taken it upon myself to extend word to you as well as the others. I hope this letter reaches you before the funeral, all I had to go off of was an address where you grew up in and stars willing, they will pass it onto wherever you have gone. I look forward to seeing you.// //Your uncle, Evgeny.// <<if $name is "Evgeny" or $name is "Yevgenia">>//P.S. Your father named your for me. We had been fighting at the time and he found it funny to name his ==bastard== ==byblow== ==illegitimate== last child after me. He still found it funny on his sick bed.<</if>> You could remember each and every word off by heart, despite not being able to... Well, read it. The snow seemed to be getting worse, thicker. It was starting to get hard to see. You glanced around for privacy, just to make sure there was no one else around, before you pulled the hood of your coat down, and ran a hand through your $haircolour hair. Your normally $hairtexture hair felt like dried hay from the frigid air. You couldn't wait to get back and properly warm back up after such a long journey. You let out a puff of breath, watching it form into a crystal cloud before you. [[It was getting darker...|SM.CreationContinue]]<</if>>

//In the culture you come from, it's customary to have a diminutive name, a shorter almost-nickname, to be used by friends and family and in more casual situations. Please enter one below.// //For example, Ivan becomes Vanya, Evgeny becomes Zhenya, Tatiana becomes Tatcha, Victoria into Vika, Semyon into Syoma and so on. If your name is already short enough, just put in a nickname.// <div id="section16" class="hidden"> <<textbox "$nickname" $nickname>> <<button "Confirm">> <<set $nickname to $nickname.trim()>> <<set _invalidNames to ["Arkady", "Arkadina", "Arkasha", "Daniil", "Daria", "Dasha", "Aleksandr", "Aleksandra", "Sasha", "Janos", "Janka", "Pavel", "Pasha", "Aksana", "Stanislav", "Stas", "Albina", "Abraim", "Evdokiya", "Inga"]>> <<if $nickname is " ">> <<replace "#textbox-error">>Please enter a name.<</replace>> <<elseif _invalidNames.includes($nickname)>> <<replace "#textbox-error">>This name is already in use during the story.<</replace>> <<else>> <<replace "#textbox-error">><</replace>> <<goto "Character Creation">> <</if>> <</button>> </div> <span id="textbox-error"></span>

You let the Aide spread a blanket over your knees before looking around your side of the carriage. You could still kill some time. You had run out of books to read, there was no chance of conversation with your silent shadow, and you were full from your earlier feast. No, instead you were going to <<cycle "$hobby">> <<option "play your instrument. You had grown up loving music and nothing could stop you from picking up an instrument yourself." "Music">> <<option "practise your singing. You were a natural and you could take the time to do some warm ups." "Singing">> <<option "pick up your sketchpad. A talented artist could always use the practise." "Art">> <<option "mentally run through your excercises. You were a natural born dancer, even if the carriage was too cramped to show that off." "Dancer">> <<option "play with your cards. Gambling was a vice, yes, but you were so damn good at everything to do with cards." "Gambler">> <<option "pick up your pen. You were an expert at the written word, no matter the form." "Writer">> <<option "go through a script you were sent by a friend. You were an excellent actor, and usually the first pick for when people wanted to put on a show." "Actor">> <<option "re-open your notebook, filled with notes about plants and soil composition. You had a natural green thumb and had a greenhouse all to yourself." "Gardener">> <</cycle>> It would keep you busy for quite a while. At least until you finally arrived back home... [[Night fell. Stars came out. And in the distance. There it was.|RM.1]]

After your time away, it seemed more beautiful than you remembered. The castle itself had stood for over three centuries and all it had done was get bigger. Constant expansions, growing more and more... Grand. Mulitple towers, gargantuan gates, gargoyles leering down. Everything. Your feet ached but you made sure to go around to one of the side entrances, the guards giving you a stiff nod in recognition. You went into a small courtyard, the dogs raising their sleepy heads before resting again. Despite being at the back of it... Nothing could extinguish the palace's opulence. No, it seemed even more prevalent if anything. You drew nearer to the back door, but before it could open, it swung wide, as if yawning. There stood Lebedev. <<if $height is "very tall" or $height is "tall">>Ah. Yes. The familiar crick in your neck made itself known when you looked down on him. He was a small man and every time you two were together, it seemed almost comical. You staring down, him glaring up.<<elseif $height is "average">> You had almost forgotten how small he seemed. You had to look down a bit to maintain eye contact, but your time away seemed to have further shrunk him.<<elseif $height is "short" or $height is "very short">> You were probably the only person that stood face to face with him. Everyone else was too tall, and he seemed to take that as a personal affront. Not that he treated you any better.<</if>> "Ah. There you are, $name. We thought you'd be back earlier." He leaned his shoulder against the doorframe, squinting through his spectacles. "Sorry, Sir." You let your bag slip down to the crook of your arm. "A snow storm swept in." "Hm. Very well. Hurry up and get out of sight. I'll allow you to take the evening to unpack and get yourself sorted. We're still waiting for one of the Tsarina's children's arrival this evening. Get some dinner too. Hurry now." Lebedev stood aside, and you eagerly followed the warmth that greeted you in the innards of the palace. Finally. Home. <<audio "walking-in-snow" stop>> [[End of Servant Demo.|Credits]]

You gave up on stretching your legs. The coachman hopped down to open the door for you and you slipped back in, giving your Aide a polite smile when they reached out their gloved hand to help you in. They had been the one person from your home country that had come with you. They had been a silent ghost ever since your sixteenth birthday. You had never seen their face, or knew their gender, or anything. Their blank mask gave nothing away, their body covered up head to toe. The Aide sat back in their seat, slipping a book back into their coat. The moment it disappeared into the black depths of the garment, they resumed their usual hobby: sitting as still as a statue, as if they had never moved once in their life and didn't plan on doing it now. You yourself sat back, sinking into the soft cushions and letting the warmth retake you. After a moment the coach lurched sharply and you were off again. Glancing to the window, the snow had gotten all the thicker, the world now becoming nothing but a sludgy smog of grey and white, with only a few dashes of the inky night air. The window became almost like a mirror and you could see yourself clearly. First, a set of $eyecolour eyes, striking against $skincolour skin. You had <<cycle "$freckles">> <<option "a few freckles" "a few freckles" >> <<option "many freckles" "many freckles" >> <<option "no freckles" "none">> <</cycle>> and <<cycle "$beautymark">> <<option "a beauty mark by your eye" "eye">> <<option "a beauty mark by your lip" "lip">> <<option "many beauty marks" "many">> <<option "a beauty mark on your cheek" "cheek">> <<option "no beauty marks" "none">><</cycle>>. You had <<cycle "$dimples" autoselect>> <<option "no dimples" false>> <<option "dimples" true>><</cycle>>. You had <<cycle "$glasses">> <<option "no glasses, unlike your sister Albina." false>> <<option "glasses, like your sister, Albina." true>> <</cycle>> Your hair, <<if $haircolour is 'ebony black'>>darker than the deepest shade of midnight <</if>><<if $haircolour is 'tawny brown'>>rich like a bear's coat<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'chestnut brown'>>deeper than a shiny chestnut<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'mahogany brown'>>like a stag's soft coat<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'honey brown'>>richer than the most expensive honey<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'ash blond'>>striking like one of the coin's that held your mother's likeness<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'dark blond'>>like molten gold<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'ash gray'>>matching the dark snow storm outside<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'deep red'>>looking just like spilt blood<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'bright red'>>striking like fresh strawberries<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'white'>>brighter than the stark white snow outside<</if>><<if $haircolour is 'strawberry blond'>>soft like candlelight in the evenings<</if>> was <<cycle "$hairstyle">> <<option "shaved" "shaved">> <<option "shorn" "shorn">> <<option "in cornrows" "in cornrows">> <<option "short" "short">> <<option "shoulder-length" "shoulder-length">> <<option "reaches the middle of your back" "middle-back">> <<option "down to your hips" "hip-length">> <<option "usually tied up" "done up">> <<option "kept covered" "kept covered">> <</cycle>>. You had <<cycle "$facialhair">> <<option "no facial hair." "none"<< set $fh to false>> <<option "a clean shaven face." "shaven">> <<option "stubble." "stubble">> <<option "a beard." "beard">> <<option "a moustache." "moustache">> <<option "sideburns." "sideburns">> <</cycle>>. You looked away from the window and stretched your legs out. Which was <<cycle "$height">> <<option "very easy, given how very short you were" "very short">> <<option "no problem, since you were short" "short">> <<option "alright, the coach was roomy enough for, since you were of average height" "average">> <<option "a bit of a squeeze, given your tall height" "tall">> <<option "uncomfortable, given you and your Aide's tall height" "very tall">> <</cycle>>. You had a cushioned bench to yourself, which gave you lots of wiggle room for your <<cycle "$bodytype">> <<option "thin" "thin">> <<option "lean" "lean">> <<option "average" "average">> <<option "chubby" "chubby">> <<option "curvy" "curvy">> <<option "well built" "well-built">> <<option "plush" "plush">> <<option "fat" "fat">> <<option "muscular" "muscular">> <</cycle>> body. It was going to be another hour or so before you reached your home. Just as the inside of the carriage started to darken, the Aide pulled down a lamp from the ceiling, the velvet cord making no noise, and stuck their finger inside of it, a pretty flame bursting to life inside of it. They let go of it again, and the soft candlelight filled the space. <ul><li>[[You smiled at them. "Thank you". You had always enjoyed their presence, as ghost-like as it was.|RM.0][$AideRelationship = "friendly"]]</li> <li>[[You gave them a nod. It was disconcerting to have a mute phantom trail you everywhere but you didn't mind. It just meant you two weren't the best of friends.|RM.0][$AideRelationship = "neutral"]]</li> <li>[[You ignored them. They should have done it earlier instead of letting the carriage get dark.|RM.0][$AideRelationship = "unfriendly"]]</li> <li>[[You didn't even look up. You had always been somewhat... Afraid of them. Silent, staring... Imposing. They most definitely knew that they gave you the shivers.|RM.0][$AideRelationship = "afraid"]]</li></ul>

<<audio "walking-in-snow" play loop>> Well, enough waiting around wasn't going to make the journey back any shorter. You tucked your food back into your travelling bag, leaned down to tighten the laces of your chunky boots. You swung the bag back over your shoulder and started slowly walking. The wind whipped around your face, chapping your lips further and all you could do was pull your hood down further, trying to cover as much of your skin as possible. No wonder people went mad in the snow, you thought to yourself. The only sound being the snow on the wind, the crunch of your footsteps, the creak of your own coat. You heard stories of hikers who went blind from staring at the white of the landscape too long, who just ''had'' to strip their clothes off and disappear into the wilderness. You tightened your grip on your bag. Not you. You had spent years traipsing around, on ice, on snow, on frozen ground. You had yet to even get frostbite. The thought of blue, mottled feet just let you to think about your father and his own bloated pair of legs. It was very noticeable at the funeral too. The trip, between getting slapped and scorned by your half siblings was hardly worth it. It was only due to your uncle that- Oh! Your stomach dropped for a moment and you stopped walking. What if you had dropped it? You patted around your pockets, getting antsier until your fingers felt the lump in your trousers. There it is. Your only inheritance. You pulled it out, the metal freezing your already chafed skin. A little pocket mirror. Your uncle had pressed it into your hands. The only thing that had gone unclaimed by your father's wife or his children. So, you could have it. Uncle did whisper for you to high tail it out soon, in case they noticed it missing and suddenly wanted it back. The cover was inlaid with a pearl, with a hypnotising pattern in the silver. It was pretty in a quiet way. You, standing still in the snow, slowly popped it open, revealing an unblemished mirror. The reflection made you flinch. You didn't get to look into many mirrors, so it was always a bit odd... Seeing yourself. You always seemed to forget your eyes were $eyecolour. Less hard to forget about was your $skincolour skin. Despite barely being of age, it was already hardened and coarse, especially in your hands. You had <<cycle "$freckles">> <<option "a few freckles" "a few freckles" >> <<option "many freckles" "many freckles" >> <<option "no freckles" "none">> <</cycle>> and <<cycle "$beautymark">> <<option "a beauty mark by your eye" "a beauty mark by their eye">> <<option "a beauty mark by your lip" "a beauty mark by their lip">> <<option "many beauty marks" "many beauty marks">> <<option "a beauty mark on your cheek" "a beauty mark on their cheek">> <<option "no beauty marks" "none">><</cycle>>. Your eyes had been feeling sore lately, <<cycle "$glasses">> <<option " but you didn't need glasses, at least not yet." "none">> <<option "probably from needing to get new glasses, your current pair covered in scratched and chipped." "glasses">> <</cycle>> The wind felt like razors against your hair, which was <<cycle "$hairstyle">> <<option "shaved" "shaved">> <<option "shorn" "shorn">> <<option "in cornrows" "in cornrows">> <<option "short" "short">> <<option "shoulder-length" "shoulder-length">> <<option "reaches the middle of your back" "middle-back">> <<option "down to your hips" "hip-length">> <<option "usually tied up" "done up">> <<option "kept covered" "kept covered">> <</cycle>>. You had <<cycle "$facialhair">> <<option "no facial hair." "none"<< set $fh to false>> <<option "a clean shaven face." "shaven">> <<option "stubble." "stubble">> <<option "a beard." "beard">> <<option "a moustache." "moustache">> <<option "sideburns." "sideburns">> <</cycle>>. You snapped the pocket mirror back shut and crouched down to slip it into your bag. It could fall out of your pocket, and you weren't going to chance that, not at all. After tucking it away, you rose to your full height, <<cycle "$height">> <<option "which... Wasn't much. You were quite short" "very short">> <<option "which wasn't that impressive. You were somewhat short." "short">> <<option "stretching a bit before relaxing. You were of roughly average height." "average">> <<option "which was quite tall, you were one of the tallest of the servants." "tall">> <<option "which was quite impressive. You were probably the tallest of your peers, bar one or two." "very tall">> <</cycle>>. You swung the bag back up onto your shoulder and took a deep breath. Your <<cycle "$bodytype">> <<option "thin" "thin">> <<option "lean" "lean">> <<option "average" "average">> <<option "chubby" "chubby">> <<option "curvy" "curvy">> <<option "well built" "well-built">> <<option "plush" "plush">> <<option "fat" "fat">> <<option "muscular" "muscular">> <</cycle>> body already felt sore, tired. But you had to keep going or else you... Probably wouldn't even be found. Just a corpse, frozen against a tree, clutching your inheritance. You continued on, sighing as you went. [[Night fell. Stars came out. And in the distance. There it was.|SM.1]]

<<audio "snow" stop>>After your time away, it seemed more beautiful than you remembered. The castle itself had stood for over three centuries and all it had done was get bigger. Constant expansions, growing more and more... Grand. Multiple towers, gargantuan gates that yawned open when the coach approached. The inner courtyard, with a fountain twice your size. Old brick meeting new, warm light spilling out from the windows, distant music and chatter of one of the parties inside getting louder. Not even under the cover of night was its opulence extinguished. No, it seemed even more prevalent. And then, as your Aide took your hand to help you down from the carriage, your thighs smarting from how long you had been sitting, a jubilant cry rang out from the gates. "$nickname! My little one!" Your father's voice rang out. You turned to him, lit up by the firelight spilling out from the grand entrance, his smiling face showing nothing but the utmost joy. He ran to you and in quite the unseemly sight for the Prince-Consort, swept you up in his arms.<<if $height is "very tall" or $height is "tall">> It was a bit awkward, given he was shorter than you, but it meant nothing to his strong arms, his own chest rumbling with laughter.<<elseif $height is "average">> It was easy for him to pick you up, despite being the same height. He couldn't help how strong he was, your father's laughter ringing in your ears.<<elseif $height is "short" or $height is "very short">> It was like you were a child again, being swept up. Your father hadn't done it in so long, easily picking you up, but you could tell... Tell from his smile and laughter, that he had missed you.<</if>> Here, in your father's arms, his strong accented voice babbling happily, you felt it. You were home. [[Back in your rooms...|Royal MC Sets]]

<b>Thank you so much for playing!</b> I cannot say enough how happy I am you took the time to play this game, no matter what stage it's in. If you want Behind the Scenes and NSFW snippets, you can check <a href="https://www.patreon.com/Rotting_Ink">my Patreon</a>! I also publish mini nsfw games with the RO's and maybe some of the NPCs in the future. Want frequent updates and the ability to shoot me any questions at anytime? Then check out and follow me on <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/rotting-ink">my Tumblr</a>! The art in light mode is Konstantin Flavitsky's Princess Tarakanova (1864) while the dark mode art is Nikolay Dubovskoy's In Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius (1917). All music and sound effects came from Pixabay. <<nobr>><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>SPECIAL THANKS TO:</h1> </div> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Contributors''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> </ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Duckies''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Dandelion</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://angrelysimpping.tumblr.com/?source=share">Quiet</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.tumblr.com/quoththe-ravenn">Raven</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/kathellll">Kat</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sydneystarlights.tumblr.com/">Sydney</a></div></ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Beta Testers''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Brit</div> <div style="text-align: center;">Dandelion</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/mothrbs?source=share">El</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://poisonouslili.tumblr.com/">Lili</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Oceanodestrellas</div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://angrelysimpping.tumblr.com/?source=share">Quiet</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href=" https://www.tumblr.com/quoththe-ravenn">Raven</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/blog/kathellll">Kat</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.tumblr.com/crushoncaleb">Emma</a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sydneystarlights.tumblr.com/">Sydney</a></div></ul> <ul><div style="text-align: center;"><h1>''Decay Tier Patrons!''</h1></div> <div style="text-align: center;">Nyssa Rose</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Parson</div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Tay</div> <div style="text-align: center;">Boo</div> <div style="text-align: center;">Kraken</div> </ul> <</nobr>> Without any of these people, this game would be... Well, bug riddled, filled with mistakes and not half as fun. A thousand thanks and kisses to my favourite people here. Also a big thanks to my patrons, each and everyone! They help alleviate other stresses so I can spend just a bit more time on working on my games! <<link "Replay the game">><<run UI.restart()>><</link>> <h1> FUCK COLLECTIVE SHOUT!</h1>

<<audio "nostalgia" play loop>> Before you knew it, you were back in your old family rooms. Your father had slipped your arm in his, leading you back into your home, slipping right past the rooms filled with ongoing revelry. He couldn't help but to chat your ear off all the way. Despite the rush of jubilation at seeing your beloved father, unchanged in spite of your years away, and flying in the face of the fact you had just spent most of your days in a carriage, you felt yourself grow more and more tired. Passing the familiar, opulent halls with beautiful portraits hanging from them, the soft lights slowly flickering to light by themselves, and the stone-faced servants standing to attention as you two went along, with the Aide following closely behind, their arms folded behind their back. Music drifted pleasantly through the air and you felt your father's arm wrap around your shoulder. "Tired, little one?" He asked in his native tongue. "We had your room all readied up. Do you want to have a tray in your room, or will you go right to bed?" "No, thank you, Papa." You rubbed your eyes. The smell of the place too... Polish, incense, perfumes and caramel, it all came rushing back. Suddenly you were fourteen again, and wanting for your father to pick you up and carry you the rest of the way. You had to fight a smile at the image. Your father <<if $height is "very tall" or $height is "tall">>struggling to keep you aloft for the rest of the walk, still happily gushing about the refurbishments to the north wing.<<elseif $height is "average">>needing a moment to lift his child, fully into their twenty-first year, before trotting onwards, gushing about the new puppies the hunting hounds had delivered just the week before.<<elseif $height is "short" or $height is "very short">>easily picking you up, like you weighed nothing, and letting you doze, not a strand out of place, crown perfectly balanced, as he yapped about the upcoming days out the family has planned.<</if>> All the while, your guard following like a dog, more than capable of carrying you, and probably your father too. You were dead on your feet by the time you got to your room. You felt like you were gently drifting down a stream, with sounds muffled and the feeling of peace sinking in as something inside of you sunk deeper into comfort. Then finally... You were at your bedroom door. The Aide stepped in front of you and opened it for you. Nostalgia hit you like a runaway horse. It looked... Smaller than you remembered. It felt like you had been a child when you were in this room last... Not a teenager who was bed bound for weeks. The same decorations, the two doors leading to the walk-in closet and to your wash room. It... It was kept exactly the same... <<set _oldroom = ["Nothing", "Cutesy", "Dark", "Astrological", "Nature", "Ornate", "Religious"]>><<listbox "$oldroom">> <<optionsfrom _oldroom>> <</listbox>> <span id="oldroom-info">(Nothing)</span> <<script>> $(document).one(":passagerender", function (event) { var description = { "Nothing": "Please Select", "Cutesy": "Your tastes back then were pastels. Soft colours for the walls and the furniture, with old soft toys you never threw out lining the room, looking as soft and as cute as they did back then. You even still had a shelf of some of Aksana and Sasha's old dolls they handed down to you.", "Dark": "You had claimed that it helped with your headaches back then, but also you did enjoy the look of it. Heavy curtains to keep the light out, dark shades painted over the walls. Your mother used to say it reminded her of a vampire's domain. Heavy, dark decorations, shades of dark red and black.", "Astrological": "You always had a passion for the night sky, the wonders that lay outside your window. It was easy to bring it inside your room. Dark blue ceiling, carefully painted with stars that seemed to catch the light perfectly, glinting no matter how you looked at them. Constellations spiralling along the walls with gold trims to the ceilings and walls..", "Nature": "You had preferred large windows that let in lots of natural light. Your plants had been obviously watered in your absence, all still flourishing. Flowers had been inked on the walls, along with curling vines, that looked near identical to the real ones that crept along the ceiling.", "Ornate": "Your room perfectly fit what a young royal's bedchamber should look like. Velvet bed covers, lush deep reds and vibrant golds. Some of the portraits you had begged your mother you could have in your room, along with some from the newer court painters. You even had a display of all your old crowns, going back to when you had just turned one. Also the jewels you had gotten to wear. All a bit small for you now probably.", "Religious": "It... Had been a dark period of your life... Unable to breath, in pain, headaches. You had turned to the Priest within the palace. He had spent hours with you every day, reading to you from scripture. Slowly your room turned into the perfect prayer room. The symbol of Creation, an upside down triangle with a circle resting in the middle. It overlooked the entire chamber (it always did look quite like an eye), with replicas of different holy items kept in little boxes around the room. It was dark but in a subdued way. Dark reds with blacks, with dashes of silver. Stained glass bathed the room in soft greens and blues and yellow.", }; $(event.content).find("#oldroom").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.oldroom]); $(event.content).find("#listbox-oldroom").on("change", function (event) { $("#oldroom-info").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.oldroom]); }); }); <</script>> [[Your father looked around the room...|RMC.RoomCheck]]

<<if $oldroom is "Nothing">><<goto "ROYALMCSTART">><</if>><<if $oldroom is "Cutesy">><<set $petname to "sweet one">><<set $cpetname to "Sweet one">>Your father's face was soft, fond. Maybe he hadn't been in your room much since you were gone, but also you knew that he had loved your room. He always said he adored the soft colours, that you saved all the soft toys he had given you for each birthday, the dolls, even the set of ceramic horses your eldest brother had gotten you for your birthday. "Hm?" He said when he caught you looking at him, his smile remaining steady. "What are you looking at, sweet one?" "Nothing, Papa, nothing." You turned to admire the gently aged dolls, looking as pretty as ever, catching sight of the Aide taking the time to gently readjust a plush rabbit that had been leaning precariously to the left.<<elseif $oldroom is "Dark">><<set $petname to "bat">><<set $cpetname to "Bat">>Your father made the usual face he did when he entered your room. Exaggerated looking around, squinting, even clicking his fingers to turn the soft flames in the candles to burn a bright lighter. "A pitcher of blood for you tonight, little bat?" He joked, looking all too pleased. "Papa, there's no chance of a strange creature crawling into my room to bite me. They would have been killed a hundred times over by now." You rolled your eyes but couldn't help the smile. You noticed the Aide gave a tiny nod, as if agreeing. <<elseif $oldroom is "Astrological">><<set $petname to "star">><<set $cpetname to "Star">>"You know," Your father said, smiling up at the ceiling. "I'm pretty sure Sasha had people coming in here to keep your own sky up to date." You couldn't help but to smile at that. You used to spend some evenings scanning the sky, wanting to make sure that the paint lovingly daubed across your ceiling was accurate. Staring at the night for hours, until you fell asleep. It wasn't until your mother sternly informed you that she would have a servant stay up all night to do it for you, did you finally relent. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the Aide examining a cluster of stars in the corner nook of the ceiling. Your father patted your shoulder gently. "It's lovely to have you back, little star."<<elseif $oldroom is "Nature">><<set $petname to "sprout">><<set $cpetname to "Sprout">>"Ah, yes." Your father cleared his throat. "I had forgotten you liked to keep a small jungle in your room." He sniffed a few times and started patting around for his handkerchief. "Y'know, I moved to Varan to escape my allergies. Little did I know my little sprout wanted to make sure I could never be truly free." Your father always seemed to enter sneeze mode when around anything floral, even bouquets of flowers. But the room was always so soothing to you. Even now, with its vines and flowers, the deep, dark green of your covers. You ran a hand over the folded blanket as the Aide stepped forward and offered your father a handkerchief, which he took gratefully.<<elseif $oldroom is "Ornate">><<set $petname to "jewel one">><<set $cpetname to "Jewel">>"Huh. I wondered where that painting had gone." Your father immediately headed over for one of the older pictures in your room. It showed a pure black hound, curled around several orange kittens, not even old enough to open their eyes. You had a soft spot for it ever since Aksana had flatly compared it to you and Pavel, when he was home in his military garb. "Hmh. Mama allowed it." You bluffed. Your father could only laugh softly. "Ah, I'm sure, little Jewel." He put his arm over your shoulder and dropped a kiss to your temple. You turned to the rest of the room. The Aide was examining a larger painting, of two women, one a bride, and the other a woman with a baby, crying and hitting a groom while a cocker spaniel ate the wedding cake in an ornate room. <<elseif $oldroom is "Religious">><<set $petname to "pip">><<set $cpetname to "Pip">>Your father paused in the doorway, looking anxious. "I... Well, your mother wanted to change your room while you were gone. If not for Inga coming up and liking to read in here, she probably would have." It had been a sore spot. Your mother had despaired of your fixation on the same religion that was barely even tolerated in Varan. The fact House Salander even had a singular priest had been a strained concession, a courtesy for House Pardina, whose Tsar had remarried a while ago. His husband had been brought over from the far East and was deeply religious. In your mother's eyes, her cousin's love had been a playing part in your sudden upheaval of views... It didn't make you popular, but then again, you never saw anyone, except your family and the Aide. Your father hadn't made as much of a fuss, but it still made him weary. You turned to look at the large stained window. It showed a vague humanoid outline, its palms raised to hold up the sun and the moon. A bright red gash went from its chest to the lower stomach, and inside... A little green pip. You felt your father at your back, resting a hand on your shoulder. "You know, you'll always be my little pip. Preferably pear though." He said, half jokingly. So he had been doing his reading of the books you had left behind. The Pip symbolised a new start, born of love. "Thank you, Papa." You murmured, you glanced over to the Aide, who was looking right back, paused in their dusting off of some of the religious artifacts, obviously left untended to in your absence. They were one of the few who ever stayed with you at length in this room. No one else wanted to. You two maintained eye contact for just a moment more before they turned back away.<</if>> "So!" Your father clapped his hands together, breaking the soft, sincere spell that could only ever be cast when standing in your old room, vacant for years. "I'm dying to have a sit down and properly catch up but you look ready to be brought to the crypt to sleep instead. So, I'll let you sleep and then when you wake up, we'll have a nice long breakfast together, hm?" You nodded and let him enfold you into a tight hug. He rested <<if $height is "very tall" or $height is "tall">>his bearded cheek against your upper arm, not tall enough to reach your shoulder.<<elseif $height is "average">>his bearded chin against your shoulder with a sigh. As per usual, like it did all those years ago, it tickled your skin.<<elseif $height is "short" or $height is "very short">>his bearded chin against the top of your head, sighing gently. Your own face was tucked securely into his warm chest.<</if>> Just a bit too soon, he broke away, gave your temple a kiss and headed for the door. "Goodnight, $petname." And the door shut softly after him. Your heart felt full. Good. Your father <<cycle "$adopted" autoselect>> <<option "had been good to you. No matter what others would whisper about you not being the family's true blooded kin. You had been with them since you were two years old and your father was the only one you had ever had. And you loved him. (Adopted)" true>> <<option "was the best. You felt deep inside that you two had a special bond, even if your other siblings felt like they did too. There were not many fathers you knew that liked spending time with their children... But him? He loved it. And you loved him for it. (Not adopted)" false>><</cycle>> [[Alone again...|RMC.01]]

There are four different types of symbol, showing what sort of interaction you can have in the game. ☾ is for a more oblivious response, while ✴︎ is for those who know exactly what they want. A general flirt is ৎ୭ Then comes the symbols you've been waiting for. For a romantic encounter, go for ♡ and for a sexual encounter ♥ is what you're wanting to pick. Also, each RO has a symbol attatched to them, but it'll be accompanied by their name as well. They are the following: Arkasha ᴓ Dasha 𒉽 Sasha 🜲 Priest J ▽ The Aide 𓁿 Pasha ❖ <<button "confirm" `previous()`>><</button>>

<<nobr>> <<if $adopted is true>> <<set $LAhaircolour to "dark brown">><<set $LAskincolour to "warm black">><<set $LAhairtexture to "dreadlocked">><<set $LAeyecolour to "black">> <<set $SThaircolour to "dark brown">><<set $STskincolour to "light brown">><<set $SThairtexture to "curly">><<set $STeyecolour to "green">> <<set $ALhaircolour to "light brown">><<set $ALskincolour to "pale brown">><<set $ALhairtexture to "wavy">><<set $ALeyecolour to "black">> <<set $ABhaircolour to "light brown">><<set $ABskincolour to "pale brown">><<set $ABhairtexture to "wavy">><<set $ABeyecolour to "black">> <<set $KIhaircolour to "dark blond">><<set $KIskincolour to "dusky brown">><<set $KIhairtexture to "straight">><<set $KIeyecolour to "black">> <<set $INhaircolour to "mousy brown">><<set $INskincolour to "pale brown">><<set $INhairtexture to "wavy">><<set $INeyecolour to "green">> <<else>> <<if $Rskincolour is "deep black" or $Rskincolour is "cool black" or $Rskincolour is "warm black" or $Rskincolour is "dark brown">><<set $LAskincolour to "warm black">>>>set $STskincolour to "dark brown">><<set $ALskincolour to "bronze">><<set $ABskincolour to "bronze">><<set $KIskincolour to "russet brown">><<set $INskincolour to "bronze">> <<elseif $Rskincolour is "golden" or $Rskincolour is "bronze" or $Rskincolour is "tanned" or $Rskincolour is "tawny">><<set $LAskincolour to "russet brown">><<set $STskincolour to "bronze">><<set $ALskincolour to "tanned">><<set $ABskincolour to "tanned">><<set $KIskincolour to "golden">><<set $INskincolour to "tanned">> <<elseif $Rskincolour is "rosy" or $Rskincolour is "pale">><<set $LAskincolour to "golden">><<set $STskincolour to "tawny">><<set $ALskincolour to "pale">><<set $ABskincolour to "pale">><<set $KIskincolour to "tawny">><<set $INskincolour to "pale">> <</if>> <<if $Rhaircolour is "ebony black">><<set $LAhaircolour to "ebony black">><<set $SThaircolour to "ebony black">><<set $ALhaircolour to "ebony black">><<set $ABhaircolour to "ebony black">><<set $KIhaircolour to "ebony black">><<set $INhaircolour to "ebony black">> <<elseif $Rhaircolour is "tawny brown" or $Rhaircolour is "chestnut brown" or $Rhaircolour is "mahogany brown">><<set $LAhaircolour to "mahogany brown">><<set $SThaircolour to "chestnut brown">><<set $ALhaircolour to "tawny brown">><<set $ABhaircolour to "tawny brown">><<set $KIhaircolour to "mahogany brown">><<set $INhaircolour to "tawny brown">> <<elseif $Rhaircolour is "honey blond" or $Rhaircolour is "ash blond" or $Rhaircolour is "strawberry blond" or $Rhaircolour is "dark blond">><<set $LAhaircolour to "dark brown">><<set $SThaircolour to "$haircolour">><<set $ALhaircolour to "$haircolour">><<set $ABhaircolour to "$haircolour">><<set $KIhaircolour to "$haircolour">><<set $INhaircolour to "$haircolour">> <<elseif $Rhaircolour is "deep red" or $Rhaircolour is "bright red" or $Rhaircolour is "ginger">><<set $LAhaircolour to "deep red">><<set $SThaircolour to "deep red">><<set $ALhaircolour to "bright red">><<set $ABhaircolour to "bright red">><<set $KIhaircolour to "deep red">><<set $INhaircolour to "ginger">> <<elseif $Rhaircolour is "ivory white">><<set $LAhaircolour to "ivory white">><<set $SThaircolour to "ivory white">><<set $ALhaircolour to "ivory white">><<set $ABhaircolour to "ivory white">><<set $KIhaircolour to "ivory white">><<set $INhaircolour to "ivory white">><</if>> <<if $Rhairtexture is "dreadlocked" or $Rhairtexture is "coily" or $Rhairtexture is "braided">><<set $LAhairtexture to "dreadlocked">><<set $SThairtexture to "dreadlocked">><<set $ALhairtexture to "coily">><<set $ABhairtexture to "coily">><<set $KIhairtexture to "braided">><<set $INhairtexture to "braided">> <<elseif $Rhairtexture is "corkscrew curled" or $Rhairtexture is "curly" or $Rhairtexture is "wavy">><<set $LAhairtexture to "curly">><<set $SThairtexture to "corkscrew curled">><<set $ALhairtexture to "wavy">><<set $ABhairtexture to "wavy">><<set $KIhairtexture to "curly">><<set $INhairtexture to "wavy">> <<elseif $Rhairtexture is "straight">><<set $LAhairtexture to "curly">><<set $SThairtexture to "wavy">><<set $ALhairtexture to "straight">><<set $ABhairtexture to "straight">><<set $KIhairtexture to "curly">><<set $INhairtexture to "straight">><</if>> <<set $LAeyecolour to "$eyecolour">><<set $STeyecolour to "hazel">><<set $ALeyecolour to "$eyecolour">><<set $ABeyecolour to "$eyecolour">><<set $KIeyecolour to "$eyecolour">><<set $INeyecolour to "hazel">><</if>> <</nobr>>It was strange. Some sort of phantom pressure made its home between your lungs, expanding slowly. The sensible part of you knew that it was from all the memories. Your sickness had written over the years you had in this room, tinging each remembrance with the feeling of struggling to breathe. You had played with your siblings in here, you had your friends in here. Your father had sat, cross legged on a cushion, <<if $hobby is "Music">><<set $abraimrep +=1>>smile steady yet strained as you tried to perform your first concert for him. You had just started learning how to play your <<cycle "$instrument" autoselect>> <<option "balalaika">> <<option "violin">> <<option "piano">> <<option "flute">> <<option "cello">> <</cycle>> and you could admit now, not very well. Still, he remained through it all. He did later have to go lie down with a headache and had made Pavel, Aksana, Sasha and Stas be the ones to join him in the future. Strangely, it was Abraim to approach you with quiet, measured steps. He murmured something about... Holding your instrument wrong, you think. Abraim himself only liked to play the clarinet, but he had his tutor to cover the basics of other instruments. In... The rarest show of solidarity, he sat with you in the music room, watching you play with soft eyes, sometimes correcting you. Not when Albina was around of course, but when it was just the two of you...? He'd give you a secret smile and asked how your practise was coming along. You mourned the closeness that was lost during your time away... But you had hope. He never answered your letters, but had sent you sheet music every now and then.<<elseif $hobby is "Singing">><<set $mamarep +=1>>mouth slightly agape as you tried, quite foolishly, to sing one of your mother's favourite operas with no preparation outside of memorising the songs. Quite impressive until you lost your voice. You weren't able to speak for nearly two weeks. The twins had become utter beasts towards you, whispering that now that you couldn't be a songbird anymore, your mother would realise that you were just a little beast and would start to hate you. It wasn't until Sasha had threatened to shave both of their heads and pay a servant to send them to the silver mines did they stop. Your voice, of course, recovered, and you knew better than to sing more than you could, at least without preparation and hot lemon water. You <<cycle "$singing" autoselect>> <<option "still preferred opera over everything else" "opera">> <<option "had gone off opera, and stuck to non-operatic songs" "normal">> <</cycle>> and were glad for it. These days your voice was utterly perfect, thanks to your own persistence as well as your teachers. In fact... Your natural talent had brought you closer to your mother. She always loved opera, but she just seemed so pleased with your voice from a young age. Apparently no one else in the family sounded so good, even with your untrained voice. That's when you started seeing her an hour more than usual. You'd be led to her rooms, singing tutor in tow, and practise in front of her, sometimes even with her. Your mother would start each hour just listening, but would end it with a proud gleam in her eyes, a smile on her mouth and her hands clasped together... You knew Stas and the twins especially had been jealous that you had become such a star in her eyes, but it didn't matter. You and your mother shared this...<<elseif $hobby is "Art">><<set $aksanarep +=1>>smiling fondly as you had basically set up a mini gallery in your room, giving him a run down of each and every piece. Looking back, they weren't very good, even though your father refused to let you or anyone else throw them out. It was Aksana that took you aside with a sigh and sat with you while you drew, her own sketchbook flipped open as she did her own pencil sketch of you. Your mother still had it in her office. You had your tongue sticking out, eyebrows scrunched together. Since you went away, you found a style of your own. Your own sketchbook was now full of <<cycle "$pstyles" autoselect>> <<option "watercolour">> <<option "charcoal">> <<option "pastel">> <<option "acrylic">> <<option "oil">> <<option "ink">> <</cycle>> drawings. You liked to do <<cycle "$psubjects" autoselect>> <<option "landscapes, capturing nature. The health resort was located in the mountains and it afforded you the most stunning views. You'd spend hours, sitting on one of the balconies, capturing the way the mist settled on the snowy caps, usually with a blanket around your shoulders and the Aide holding a cup of something hot for you. " "landscapes">> <<option "still life, having spent most of your time staring at inanimate objects. The other patients even had fun with it, when they noticed what you did. They'd gather their own remedies and medicines, and try to... Lure you into drawing theirs. It was funny when you noticed." "still life">> <<option "portraits, having filled the pages with most of the fellow patients and doctors from your time away. Sometimes, so that you'd be calm during one of the more... Hair raising procedures, they'd let you draw one of the nurses. It worked too." "portrait">> <<option "abstracts. For a while your doctors wondered if it was a key to what was wrong with you. One of the Doctors, Herr Haus, thought it meant something was fried in your brain. To his sadness, nope. You just enjoyed your heart leading your lines." "abstract">> <<option "illustrations. You took inspiration from many things, the books you read, scenes from plays, whatever you could. Once a week, some of the noble girls would come in to read, or act, and you had started to draw out the scenes. They were always so delighted with the outcome. You had given away a few pictures, but kept some. You liked the one where one of the younger girls had fallen off the stage. She wasn't hurt that badly and you got a good drawing of the Evil Witch tripping down the stairs of her tower." "illustration">> <</cycle>> When you had looked at them in the carriage ride, they... Well, it gave you some nostalgia.<<elseif $hobby is "Dancer">><<set $sasharep +=1>>applauding with every attempt to pull off every clumsy spin and plié. Sasha had just started ballet lessons along with some of the other nobles' children. The entire group seemed to warm to it quickly, but Sasha was better than all the others. You started to copy some of the moves you had seen the other kids do and at the time... You did think you did really quite good. Despite how many times you had fallen over and your father made a strained sound of trying not to giggle. After a while, Sasha had realised what you were doing and started to give you your own private lessons. Now, you <<cycle "$dancetype" autoselect>> <<option "still danced ballet. You had gotten far far better now. You had heard that Sasha had quit dancing a few years ago and you had felt somewhat sad about it. You were looking forward to dancing with your teacher one day." "ballet">> <<option "preferred ballroom dances. The waltz, the quadrille, anything from slow, to fast. You enjoyed having a partner, and your doctors had encouraged the exercise." "ballroom">> <<option "preferred to take where the music took you. You didn't follow any pre-taught steps, and made up your own. It was... Freeing." "free">> <</cycle>><<elseif $hobby is "Gambler">><<set $stasrep +=1>>whistling every time you managed to pull off a card trick. Which was about three times. The other times, cards went flying everywhere. One hit your father in the nose and he couldn't stop roaring with laughter, unable to calm himself in the face of your pouting. At first you just liked playing with the cards. Shuffling seemed to make something in your brain purr at the sound. Then Stanislav caught you one day. He couldn't help but laugh and, in a rare moment of brotherly affection, ruffled your hair. He showed you how to properly handle the cards, a few magic treats, but mostly, how to shuffle well. Then the card games. It started small. Three of your toys for two bags of sweets. You two would spend hours just swapping items with every hand won. It was probably the most time you had spent with him ever. Stas was having fun! In your presence! It wasn't until you left did you start spending actual money. And you were damn good. One of the women there, with her entire face wrapped in bandages, even taught you card counting. You found that you liked <<cycle "$cardgame" autoselect>> <<option "poker">> <<option "baccarat">> <<option "blackjack">> <<option "gin rummy">> <</cycle>> the most and you were probably the best player at the resort.<<elseif $hobby is "Writer">><<set $pasharep +=1>>listening with rapt attention as you read out some of your short stories and poems you had experimented with. Looking back... They were probably not that good. At one point you were sure you used "orbs" to describe eyes and the memory made you shudder. After your father praised your abilities, you finally got up the courage to show your eldest brother. Pavel had listened with a small smile, his eyes gentle. Then, he showed you his own poetry. Apparently his own father had a book of poems that Pavel had saved from being thrown out all those years ago. He liked couplets the best. You two would pass small strips of paper to each other when you could, exchanging the two lines of rhyme. It was nice... Then Pasha had left. Then once every six months, enclosed with a letter, there was a strip of paper with the usual couplet. They had become darker in theme too. In fact, the way you had come to trust the Aide when they first arrived was when they dropped a folded piece of paper into your lap. //Here, I have sent you my fierce friend, And they will protect you to the very end.// Since then, you had <<cycle "$writing" autoselect>> <<option "stuck with poetry. You had fond memories from Pasha, and you found it... Fun! You were good at it." "poetry">> <<option "focused more on your prose. You loved writing stories, and the words seemed to escape your quill so quickly, sometimes you'd write for hours and would only stop when your hand started to cramp." "prose">> <<option "found a love for script writing. You loved to write out the dialogue, the actions, and were good at it. The doctor encouraged some of the patients to take part in them!" "script">> <</cycle>> Sometimes it felt like the only way to properly express yourself, it had to come from ink first and foremost...<<elseif $hobby is "Actor">><<set $albinarep +=1>>fighting back a small smile as you acted out scenes from your favourite plays. It hadn't mattered that you stumbled over lines, or forgot your words, your enthusiasm more than made up for it. When she was younger, Kissy even joined in. She was the only person you knew who insisted on being a tree, only to suddenly declare she was a dryad the entire time and take over the play. It was in one of these plays that at the end, you finally noticed Albina watching, struggling not to smirk. You had a sinking feeling until she had cornered you in the garden. "You're not terrible. Not unless you're acting with Shitty-Kissy." You expected a shove into the pond, or her to snap out of her earnest look with her suddenly producing scissors from behind her back and lunging to cut a chunk of your hair off... Again. But she didn't. No, she sat with you, helping you recite lines. Apparently, she had always wanted to boss around actors, and she was quite good at it. You always thought you two had reached some sort of mutual... Friendship? Then Abraim would appear and she'd either shove you to the floor or stick a spider down your shirt. Then you had to leave... The night before, she had come to your room. You hadn't seen each other for months, with you being bed bound and too sickly... Albina had said nothing, just shoved a script she wrote herself at you and slammed a mug of warmed tea down and left. The tea was good. The script too. It allowed you to figure out that you were a born <<cycle "$acting" autoselect>> <<option "tragedy">> <<option "comedy">> <<option "drama">> <<option "romance">> <</cycle>> actor. The story suited you and a part of you... Somewhat hoped that you'd get to show Albina how much better you had gotten. Maybe.<<elseif $hobby is "Gardener">><<set $paparep +=1>>listening as you showed off each and every one of your plants. You two used to lose hours just to talking about the different types of flora that was kept in the greenhouse. Due to your father's allergies, they were filled with flowers and plants that didn't make so much pollen, like peace lilies, ivy, roses and snapdragons. But it was still beautiful. Apparently, his love of gardening started out as a sort of exposure therapy for him, and when it turned out he was fully allergic, he had grown a love for digging in the soil and planting and caring for them all. He often said that the only reason the palace didn't have four more greenhouses was because he was so involved in raising his children. Your mother would just say that the day every single one of her children had reached adulthood, the builders would have to be alerted. When you had to leave, your father had gifted you his favourite little pot, with a small cactus still growing out of it. You couldn't wait to show him that you managed to keep it alive after all this time. But also <<cycle "$plant" autoselect>> <<option "it had helped you discover that you loved caring for succulents." "succulents">> <<option "you had discovered a love for growing flowers. You had done wonders for the resort's greenhouse." "flowers">> <<option "you had a gift of planting the most delicious vegetables. You doubted it would come in handy, but you felt pride." "vegetables">> <<option "you found that you were a natural with plants, multicoloured with bright, strange leaves. Most of them had medicinal properties, but you enjoy the look of them." "plants">> <</cycle>> Hopefully, now that you were back.... Well, maybe you could see to adding to your father's greenhouse. Maybe even get one just for yourself.<</if>> Thinking back to simpler times seemed to help, and you stayed, dazed, looking out one of the windows of your room as servants quietly scuttled in, unloading trunks and quickly putting things away before making themselves scarce, all under the Aide's gaze. The pressure ebbed away and you rested your hand against the side of your ribs. Would it always be like this? Struggling to breath and needing to force your brain to calm itself? The sound of the door finally snapping shut after the last servant left finally let you emerge from whatever dark depths you had slipped to. You needed to get changed first and foremost. <ul> <li>[[You looked at the Aide. They knew what you wanted. They inclined their head and seemed to melt away, staying out of sight so you could change.|RMC.O2][$AidePrivacy to true]]</li> <li>[[You didn't even look at the Aide. They had seen you change plenty of times and you didn't care about your modesty anymore, at least not in front of them.|RMC.O2][$AidePrivacy to false]]</li></ul>

<<set $mamarep to 0>> <<set $paparep to 0>> <<set $pasharep to 0>> <<set $sasharep to 0>> <<set $aksanarep to 0>> <<set $stasrep to 0>> <<set $albinarep to 0>> <<set $abraimrep to 0>> <<set $kissyrep to 0>> <<set $ingarep to 0>> <<set $familyguide to true>> <<set $aidetrust to 0>> <<set $TAFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $AFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $DFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $SFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $JFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $PFlirtCount to 0>> <<set $TASexCount to 0>> <<set $ASexCount to 0>> <<set $DSexCount to 0>> <<set $SSexCount to 0>> <<set $JSexCount to 0>> <<set $PSexCount to 0>> <<set $TAFlirt to 0>> <<set $AFlirt to 0>> <<set $DFlirt to 0>> <<set $SFlirt to 0>> <<set $JFlirt to 0>> <<set $PFlirt to 0>> <<set $TArep to 0>> <<set $Arep to 0>> <<set $Drep to 0>> <<set $Srep to 0>> <<set $Jrep to 0>> <<set $Prep to 0>> <<goto "ROYALMCSTART">>

Alpha Build access for Patrons! <<textbox "$Password" "" "Password">>

<<if $Password is '8448'>>[[Unlocking further scenes!|0000]]<<elseif $Password is not '8448'>>Incorrect- Try again.<<textbox "$Password" "" "Password">><</if>>

<<if $AidePrivacy is true>>They were gone within seconds. You had no idea how they did it, slipping out of your sight and then, like a ghost, they were gone. As if they had sunk into the walls, become one with the air.<<elseif $AidePrivacy is false>>They turned away and began to inspect the room for any dust, adjusting the paintings that lay there, even dragging their gloved finger against the wallpaint. You didn't care if they were there or not, not really. You had grown used to it now...<</if>> You made your way to your walk-in closet, the clothes that had been packed into your trunks already folded and hanging up. No doubt your old clothes would be brought up in the morning, to be measured. Perhaps even new ones ordered. It was nice and roomy, with a floor length mirror and a loveseat for you to sit when putting your shoes on. Also, enough space for a few servants to help clothe you. Stripping yourself free of your travelling clothes, you felt like a butterfly freeing itself of its cocoon. You weren't going to touch these garments for a year, you already had spent far too much time in them. Sitting in the carriage, in the same clothes for far too long, meant that you somewhat wanted to burn them. Instead, for now, you discarded them, throwing them into the corner. What you //could// do right now... Was a nice, hot bath. You leaned over to the rope hanging by the door to your bedroom, pulling on it a few times. Your muscles were always looking forward to a good soak. But first... You glanced at yourself in the full length mirror. Your $bodytype form was reflected perfectly, with the soft, orange candlelight casting a gentle glow upon it. With your bare form on display, it was all too easy for your eyes to drift to your <<cycle "$genitals">> <<option "cunt" "cunt">> <<option "small cock" "small cock">> <<option "average cock" "average cock">> <<option "large cock" "large cock">> <<option "cock, with your cunt hiding behind it" "both cunt and cock">> <</cycle>>. You took the moment to drag a hand over your <<cycle "$chesttype">> <<option "flat chest." "flat chest">> <<option "flat chest, dragging your thumb over the surgery scars." "flat chest with scars">> <<option "small breasts" "small breasts">> <<option "medium breasts" "medium breasts">> <<option "large breasts." "large breasts">> <</cycle>>. Taking the time to look at yourself, properly, was strange. The last time you were in front of this mirror was when you were barely emerging out of puberty, when your body was smaller, still trying to settle into itself. It was like someone else had crept back into your old life, able to breath, having filled out... At the resort you never really gave much thought to your body, wrapped in warm clothes and examined by doctors and Blood Healers and the like. It was like as if when you were away, you could only look at yourself in a clinical sense. And now you were back... You had to look at yourself like a person... Your body was <<cycle "$bodyopinion" autoselect>> <<option "sexual. You had never noticed before, but there was... Something about your form that you yourself found titillating." "sexual">> <<option "perfect. You were quite comfortable with your body as is." "like">> <<option "alright. You had never really thought about it really." "neutral">> <<option "... Well, you weren't comfortable with it. It felt more like an outfit that you were forced to wear." "dislike">><</cycle>> There was a knock on your door. "Yes?" You called out, <<cycle "$roomnude" autoselect>> <<option "picking up a robe to cover yourself." "covered">> <<option "heading towards the door without covering yourself." "nude">><</cycle>> "<<cycle "$title" autoselect>> <<option "Prince (he/him)" "Prince">> <<option "Princess (she/her)" "Princess">> <<option "Royal (they/them)" "Royal">><</cycle>> $name? Your bath is ready." [[You left the room.|RM.03]]

<<nobr>><<if $title is "Princess">> <<set $pronouns to "sheher">> <<set $they to "she">> <<set $cthey to "She">> <<set $their to "her">> <<set $ctheir to "Her">> <<set $theirs to "hers">> <<set $ctheirs to "Hers">> <<set $them to "her">> <<set $cthem to "Her">> <<set $themselves to "herself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $sibling to "sister">> <<set $csibling to "Sister">> <<set $child to "daughter">> <<set $cchild to "Daughter">> <</if>> <<if $title is "Prince">> <<set $pronouns to "hehim">> <<set $they to "he">> <<set $cthey to "He">> <<set $their to "his">> <<set $ctheir to "His">> <<set $theirs to "his">> <<set $ctheirs to "His">> <<set $them to "him">> <<set $cthem to "Him">> <<set $themselves to "himself">> <<set $cthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $sibling to "brother">> <<set $csibling to "Brother">> <<set $child to "son">> <<set $cchild to "Son">> <</if>> <<if $title is "Royal">> <<set $pronouns to "theythem">> <<set $they to "they">> <<set $cthey to "They">> <<set $their to "their">> <<set $ctheir to "Their">> <<set $theirs to "theirs">> <<set $ctheirs to "Theirs">> <<set $them to "them">> <<set $cthem to "Them">> <<set $themselves to "themselves">> <<set $cthemselves to "Themselves">> <<set $sibling to "sibling">> <<set $csibling to "Sibling">> <<set $child to "child">> <<set $cchild to "Child">> <</if>><</nobr>>You walked out, into the main room, <<if $roomnude is "nude">>still completely bare, <</if>>passing by the servants carrying vials of different coloured liquids and little ornate containers. Your washroom billowed out steam the moment you opened the door,<<if $AidePrivacy is true>> the Aide watching the servants get everything ready, but quickly turning away when you made your way inside.<<elseif $AidePrivacy is false>> the Aide closely overlooking anything, before clearing their throat a bit.<</if>> Most of the servants scuttled out of the bathroom, not even looking at you in the process. <<if $oldroom is "Cutesy">> The ceramic tiles were different shades of soft pastel blue, while the crystalline holders for your soaps were in the form of animals. The stained glass, despite it being dark outside, still cast the room in gentle pinks and yellows. Swirls were painted into the ceiling and the coloured glass holders for the candles made the room feel cozy. You took the lid off the top of one of the little containers, revealing soft purple salts to fill the air with the scent of something sweet, candy-like, soaking it into your skin. The other vials with liquids- soft, opaque with a rainbow sheen for bubbles, a seafoam green for relaxing muscles, a bright, golden yellow that would cause bubbles to immediately float upward- were kept in a holder shaped to look like a heart. You had enjoyed watching them as a child, and you guess they made sure to keep it topped up for your return.<<elseif $oldroom is "Dark">> The black tiles were beautifully gilded, giving it a cracked appearance and put back together and inlaid with molten gold. The clawfoot tub looked like it was made from pure obsidian. Despite the dark decor, it didn't feel suffocating, especially with the frosted look of the painted windows and the golds and reds. All of the soaps were held in crystal basins, shaped to look a bit like a dagger. The holder for the vials was shaped like a cast iron candelabra, but instead of the candles, it was the little shaped glasses. Each filled with different coloured liquids- pearlescent white-silver for the shimmering, frothy bubbles, one slate coloured for relaxing muscles, a bright crimson that could make bubbles float upward to the air the moment it touched the water. Even the little container, when you took the top off of it, was filled with what looked like little pieces of onyx. When dropped into the warm tub, the scent of spicy, smoky perfume gently filled the room, not too strong. It would also soak into your skin, letting you smell sublime for the rest of the day. <<elseif $oldroom is "Astrological">> The tiled floor was a soft, swirling off-white colour, almost like you were stepping on seashells. The walls matched your bedroom, a deep, vivid blue that got darker as it went up. Silver and gold stars had been lovingly inked in, with the moon right in the middle of the ceiling, giving off a soft, silvery glow over the tub. The crystal holders for your soaps were in the shapes of crescent moons while the vial holder was shaped like a swirling cluster, a holder for each star. The actual liquids within the glass were all soft colours- deep blue to make foamy bubbles when added to water, silver for relaxing muscles, a burnt-sun yellow for the bubbles to drift up from the surface and hang in the air like little clouds. You took off the top of one of the smaller containers, revealing dark purple bath salts. When added to the bath, it filled the room with the scent of incense, which also soaked into your own skin.<<elseif $oldroom is "Nature">> You kept the plants that always needed a more humid climate in the bathroom. It was like a small jungle, vines criss-crossing over the walls, exotic flowers blooming steadily from the cabinets. Even the deep, dark wooden bars that were inlaid into the soft-white ceiling were sprouting tiny flowers, no doubt attended to by some of the Nature Witches. The floors also had some beautifully carved wood inlaid, looking like the swirling rings of a tree. There was a holder for the vials, shaped to look like a curving tree, a weeping willow, except there were little dips in the branches to hold the bottles. Each held coloured liquids- a soft, sunshine yellow that created bubbles that began to float upwards the moment it hit water, soft, light fern green to create the normal, foamy bubbles, one more sage coloured to relax your muscles. For the soap, there were little crystal holders shaped like flowers. When you took off the top of the little container, it revealed little brown gems, looking like pieces of Tiger's Eye. When dropped into the tub, they would slowly fill the room with the scent of something woodsy and slightly floral. It would soak into your skin too, letting you carry the aroma with you for the rest of the day. <<elseif $oldroom is "Ornate">> According to your mother, your bathroom was modeled after one of your ancestor's famous indoor pools. He had converted it to a bathroom that was still in use today, by your parents. You had asked to use it when you were younger and your mother used to laugh softly and gently pinch your nose. "Not until you sit with my crown on your little head." It was a direct duplicate, minus the pool that took up most of the room. Velvet curtains hung heavy over the painted windows, with gilded silver inlays of soft white tiles. It looked like each one was made up of thousands of beautiful pearls, all gentle shades. The bathtub, looking like it was carved from ivory, gleamed beautifully, the claw feet all made from gold. The soap holders were made from crystals, shaped in the form of oysters, probably the same ones that would have made the pearls. The rack for the vials was made in the form of one of your own crowns that you wore on the public celebration of your parent's anniversaries. Instead of the diamonds at the tips, though, were the holders for the bottles. Each one held a different coloured liquid- rich gold to create bubbles that began to float upwards the moment it hit water, shining silver to create the normal, foamy bubbles, brilliant bronze coloured to relax your muscles. You took off the top of one of the smaller containers, revealing bath salts, looking like chips of tanzanite. When added to the bath, it filled the room with the scent of incense, which also soaked into your own skin.<<elseif $oldroom is "Religious">> You don't think your mother ever forgave you for the overhaul of your bathroom. Instead of being inlaid with beautiful gems and spending thousands to hire expert carpenters and crafters and artists to make it into a work of art, it was now quite plain. Simple painted walls, stone for the floors. The only thing that really stood out was the painted windows. High arches, allowing lots of natural light in, but also painting it in soft yellows, reds and blues. The holders for everything were simple, just dishes for the soap and a rack for the vials. But, at least you kept the liquids for the water and the bath salts. A range of vials, with fluids coloured soft pink, blues and yellows. To relax muscles, for simple bath foam, for the bubbles that liked to drift upwards, and one that caused the soft scent of sandalwood and cedar to fill the room. The aroma would even settle onto your skin and keep you smelling like it throughout the day. <</if>> You decided to <<cycle "$bathpreference">> <<option "sprinkle in some bathsalts" "bathsalts">> <<option "pour in the liquid to make the bath foam" "foam">> <<option "pour in the liquid to make the drifting bubbles" "bubbles">> <<option "pour in the liquid to relax the muscles" "muscles">> <<option "make sure to get some of everything" "alll">><</cycle>>. <<audio "bathsound" play>>Perfect.<<if $AidePrivacy is true>> The Aide didn't leave until the last servant did. They bowed and quickly made their way out, shutting the door behind themself. You finally got to slip into the steaming water with a grateful sigh.<<elseif $AidePrivacy is false>> The Aide settled into a chair in the corner, crossing one leg over the other and slipping a book out of their coat, giving you some privacy as you got into the steaming water.<</if>> Immediately, your body felt relaxed. Warm. Good. You couldn't even help the soft almost-moan from escaping you. <<audio "nostalgia" fadeout>><ul>[[You soaked in the warmth, finally feeling yourself release all the tension in your body.|RM.04]]</ul>

<<set $sexualitydone to false>><<set $genderdone to false>><<audio "bathsound" play>>You didn't even start cleaning yourself right away. The resort baths were refreshing but kept lukewarm. Letting the water be this hot felt like a newfound luxury to you. The wonderful aroma was soothing, you could almost feel yourself drift off. It would be somewhat humorous. You hadn't been home in years, and your first evening back, you drown in the tub. With a hum, you pull yourself upright, and picked up one of the soaps, giving it a smell first before lathering it up with your hands. Your mind gently began to wander as you scrubbed at yourself, feeling like the gross sweat of sitting still too long was being washed away. You thought back to... <ul> <li>[[Your friends at the resort.|RM.05]]</li> <li>[[Your own nostalgic memories of your home.|RM.065]]</li></ul>

<<if $looks is "Nothing">><<goto "RM.66">><</if>><<set $sexualitydone to true>>You somewhat already missed the others back in Helvetia. Uorsin Bieri who turned out to be one of the most in-demand painters on the West side of the continent and just so happened to be suffering from the worst insomnia.<<if $hobby is "Art">> He seemed to delight in your own drawings, wanting to sit together and draw.<</if>> He wasn't much of a talker but seemed to delight in everything around him. Apparently Uorsin had a pair of twins with his husband and ever since then struggled to sleep, both after the recuperation of birth but also the two keeping everyone up. You even saw his husband from time to time. Grettina Keller was a grandmother who had her entire face covered up with bandages,<<if $hobby is "Gambler">> the same one that taught you how to card count<<else>> a lady that always seemed to win at every card game, giggling through the fabric<</if>>. Everyone else hated playing with her but you never grew tired of it. There was Quiteria, who had been sent there by a wealthy patron. A contortionist who had developed vertigo, which was hampering her act apparently. Something about her rolling across the tightrope walk instead of slowly walking.<<if $hobby is "Dancer">> She seemed keenly interested in your dancing and had suggested some of her own, though some of the moves she suggested were... A little out of your flexibility.<</if>> There was also... Well. Someone. <<cycle "$preference" autoselect>> <<option "He was handsome. Quiet. Deep eyes that you struggled to look away from. He had only arrived near the end of your stay, and was placed in the same exercise group as you. He was deaf it turned out, from being mugged and beaten. Next day he woke up, and couldn't hear anymore. But the way he watched your lips to know what you were saying... Well... He smiled everytime your breath hitched around him. You felt so warm around him..." "male">> <<option "She was beautiful. A young mother who was struggling with the death of her husband. She'd sit for hours, looking out the same window, but she had started to smile at you every time you sat down beside her. She had a lovely smile. Before too long the doctors had made it a part of your schedule to go sit with her. One day she finally spoke, asking if you wanted to go take a walk. She was unstable and liked to take your arm. Her touch... It left you feeling warm. Dizzy..." "female">> <<option "Two someones really. You grew close to two of the patients, the deaf man in your art therapy class, with deep eyes that followed your mouth as you spoke, but also the near-catatonic woman who preferred to sit by the window, staring out. She seemed to perk up every time you came near. Before too long, you three had started to form some sort of friendship... Both of them made you feel warm... Soft." "both">> <</cycle>> You felt warmth pool in your belly, coiling like a snake. It's not like you hadn't experienced attraction before. But... Well, this was different. You had come of age... And... [[The thoughts lingered.|RM.051]]

<<set $genderdone to true>>It was strange to be back here in a way. It was like somehow stepping back in time after living in a haunted house, and seeing all those ghosts alive again. Memories, hazy with age and nostalgia, now sharpened into reality. At the resort, they slowly became distant, as if you had read about your experiences in a picture book, instead of living them. Now... Well, it was real now. Except you were a grown up now, and the childish ghosts that had kept you company hadn't aged with you. Was everyone just as you left them? Did you expect to walk into breakfast tomorrow, and see them all as you left? You shook off the thoughts with a sigh and cupped your palms together under the water, bringing it up to splash your face. It was better to get all your strange.... Thoughts, about being back, imagining all of these fanciful things, here. In private. Instead of out there. Among the nobles of the court. Among everyone. You couldn't be seen... Struggling like this, especially outside of the comforts of the family. To your kin, you were just one of the babies of the family, sometimes bullied, other times coddled. To outsiders? You were the seventh <<cycle "$gender" autoselect>> <<option "daughter" "female">> <<option "son" "male">> <<option "child" "nonbinary">><</cycle>> of House Aureus<<if $adopted is true>>, even if some circles loved to snidely whisper that you were only adopted<</if>>. You were born strangled by the umbilical cord and by pure faith, you survived. You were known for<<if $hobby is "Music">><<if $instrument is "flute">> your talented lips upon your flute<<else>> your deft fingers upon the strings of your instrument<</if>>, able to let your instrument sing the most sweet songs.<<elseif $hobby is "Singing">> your deeply impressive voice, able to bring anyone to tears with the right song.<<elseif $hobby is "Art">> creating such beautiful artwork, it was the only ones allowed to hang up beside the works of celebrated artists from centuries ago.<<elseif $hobby is "Dancer">> being able to keep up with the professional dancers when brought in for a performance. <<elseif $hobby is "Gambler">> being able to keep up with people thrice your age at the card tables, and even take most of their money, even if your mother made you give it back. <<elseif $hobby is "Writer">> being already able to play with words as if they were just toys to you, your <<if $writing is "poetry">>poems already showing a greater range of talent than most people ever understood when it came to the form.<<elseif $writing is "prose">>writings already showing a degree of talent that was hard to find among most people these days, nevermind your age group.<</if>><<elseif $writing is "script">> play scripts able to keep even the most bored adults interested. <<elseif $hobby is "Actor">> being able to be the only one in your sister's plays to... Well, it was mean, but to be able to act. You were believable in your role, but also had enough charm to keep people watching. <<elseif $hobby is "Gardener">> being the only child of the Tsarina allowed in her husband's precious greenhouses, along with the usual gardeners. Even without magic, you could tease life out from damp soil. Most weren't truly impressed with that, sure, but the ones who understood.. Well... It had made you feel so grown up when they'd eagerly engage you in conversation.<</if>> You always <<cycle "$personality" autoselect>> <<option "struggled with the limelight, even when it was shared among the siblings. You preferred to spend time within your own family the most, as well as by yourself." "introvert">> <<option "seemed to thrive with the attention of others. You liked being at court the few times you were allowed, getting to meet new people and shine oh so brightly for them." "extrovert">><</cycle>>. It was harder with your illness. You were supposed to be formally presented at court, instead of the announcement that had been released on your birthday. Mourned that you were abroad, but still had the usual celebration. It was as if you had gotten lost on the way to your own birthday party and people still went ahead with the celebration. Probably didn't even leave any cake for you. Worse... Is that you finally got to find yourself while away. You had grown up away from them, flourished in a way they'd probably never understand. The only person who had ever actually left was Pavel, and now it felt like you two shared a secret. That there was a life outside of the Palace, you among the mountains, learning how to breathe again, and your eldest brother among the army, disinherited from his crown. <ul><li>[[You had even... Found your truest self. You didn't know exactly when you started to realise your old self didn't fit anymore, like an outfit that was too constricting, but you got to finally reveal who you were. You weren't the person you were raised as. You changed your name, you changed the way you presented. And you finally became who you were always meant to be (Transgender)|RM.Trans]]</li> <li>[[Growing up among more or less strangers that became family... Well, it allowed you clarity you never thought you'd have if you had stayed here. You sigh and stretch in the tub, water sloshing gently.|RM.66]]</li></ul>

<<if $looks is "Nothing">><<goto "RM.66">><</if>>The bath slowly but surely cooled. You knew you could have it heated back up, but you were scrubbed and scented and the grime of the carriage ride felt like it had been peeled off from your skin. You gripped the edges and rose, making sure to let the water out, watching the liquid trickle down, into the spiral groove of the floor, that slowly but surely led it to the grate, letting it disappear down. You found your folded night clothes, <<cycle "$nightclothes" autoselect>> <<option "a nightshirt that ended just above your knees. No need for anything more since you had a mountain of furs on your bed anyway." "nightshirt">> <<option "a night gown, ending at your ankles. It was soft and snug, perfect for the cold nights." "nightgown">> <<option "a nightshirt with pantaloons, loose and comfortable, while also not overheating you." "shirt">><</cycle>> After drying yourself and doing your usual routine, you slipped into your sleeping clothes and finally exited the bathroom<<if $AidePrivacy is false>>, the Aide following behind you silently<</if>>. The room was toasty, bed warmer already under the covers, the curtains pulled tight. You took the moment, with drowsiness slowly sending your senses into a cloudy haze to look around the room you grew up in. You picked everything out at a young age. You <<cycle "$changeroom" autoselect>> <<option "decided you wanted to change it. What to, you didn't know yet but you wanted to shed its old walls. It was time for something new." true>> <<option "decided to keep it. It was... Comforting. Safe.. And still you." false>><</cycle>> And that was it. The Aide pulled back the covers for you and you slid in, feeling your eyes shutting, weighed down even as you were tucked in, the blankets pulled up to your chin, strong hands carefully seemingly to swaddle you. <<cycle "$sleepaide" autoselect>> <<option "You couldn't help the question from slipping from between your lips. A mumbled question- To stay with you. The air stilled and for a moment you thought they had left. Then you heard the sound of a chair gently scraping the floor and the squeak of them sitting down, right by the bed. As they started to softly hum, you finally slipped off." true>> <<option "You slipped into sleep easily, nothing but dark, dreamlesss slumber for you." false>><</cycle>> [[Before we continue...|Royal.Recap]]

You only had two weeks left of your stay when you finally got to invite<<if $preference is "both">> <<cycle "$RMwho" autoselect>> <<option "your male friend" "male">> <<option "your female friend" "female">><</cycle>> up to your room.<<elseif $preference is "female">> her up to your room.<<elseif $preference is "male">> him up to your room.<</if>> It was just a planned hang out, sparkling cider being poured, food brought up, lively discussion. Even the Aide had allowed you some privacy, standing outside the door. They would come in if they heard anything untoward but it was still exciting! The night stretched on pleasantly, music floating up through the open window, as well as the rare warm breeze. [[The night was...|RM.052SetUp]]

<<set $aidetrust -= 1>><<if $preference is "male" or $RMwho is "male">>His warm hand was distracting. The two fingers dragging over your knee, his easy smile, his eyes. You <<if $genitals is "cunt">>felt your... Well, you felt heat in your stomach, its twin warming between your thighs.<<elseif $genitals is "small cock" or $genitals is "average cock" or $genitals is "large cock">>felt your... Well... Part.. Get harder, stirring to press against your clothes.<<elseif $genitals is "both cunt and cock">>felt your...Well... The heat in your stomach swirling before it slowly proceeded downwards, awakening your... Part. Then even lower, to between your thighs. It was messy, feeling your hard part get wetter, pressed against your clothes, while the restricted appendage pressed against your... Oh, embarrassing.<</if>> His gaze slowly dropped to the neckline of your garments, swiping his tongue along his bottom lip. His hand reached out, dragging along the fabric, just over your <<if $chesttype is "flat chest" or $chesttype is "flat chest with scars" or $chesttype is "small breasts">>chest, skimming along and nudging a sensitive nipple.<<elseif $chesttype is "medium breast" or $chesttype is "large breasts">>chest, taking a moment to greedily cup a breast, thumb swiping over a sensitive nipple.<</if>> You couldn't help the breathy sigh that escaped your lips, especially when your eyes fell to his... Excitment. He wanted to... You were about to... He leaned in, nose brushing yours and you couldn't stop your eyes from fluttering shut. But his lips never met yours.. You only heard the sound of a strained breath and the bang of a body hitting the wall. Your eyes shot open. <<if $violence is false>>The Aide had pulled him away from you. Their empty, dark gaze from behind that mask settled on you before it turned back to your friend and would-be first kiss. He was scrambling back, raising his hands when the Aide's boot made contact with his mouth, sending his body flying backwards. His head smacked against the wall and the Aide didn't even wait before gripping his ankles and ripping him back towards them. They stepped over his legs and firmly brought their knee down onto his chest, knocking all the wind from his lungs. His breathing was loud and uneven, panicked, while the Aide didn't even make a sound. Instead, they brought their boot up and yanked a knife from it and pressed it to his throat, digging it in slightly. A small rivulet of blood began to leak down from where it made contact. The Aide didn't move. Didn't slice or stab. Just stared. Then... He... Raised his hands in a surrender. And pointed to the door. The Aide gave a nod and stood up swiftly, standing between you and him, even as he scuttled from the room.<<elseif $violence is true>>The Aide had pulled him away from you. Their empty, dark gaze from behind that mask settled on you and they walked forward, undoing the velvet sash around their midriff. You couldn't move as they draped it over your eyes, securing it snugly so you couldn't see anything. A hand patted your cheek. There was nothing but darkness with the occassional sound of a body hitting the ground, or something else. It felt like it went on for too long before the sound of the door opening broke the spell. A grunt was heard as he was tossed out and the door shut again. You pulled the velvet tie from your eyes.<</if>><<elseif $preference is "female" or $RMwho is "female">>Her warm hand was distracting. The two fingers dragging over your knee, her easy smile, curved and soft and warm. You <<if $genitals is "cunt">>felt your... Well, you felt heat in your stomach, its twin warming between your thighs.<<elseif $genitals is "small cock" or $genitals is "average cock" or $genitals is "large cock">>felt your... Well... Part.. Get harder, stirring to press against your clothes.<<elseif $genitals is "both cunt and cock">>felt your...Well... The heat in your stomach swirling before it slowly proceeded downwards, awakening your... Part. Then even lower, to between your thighs. It was messy, feeling your hard part get wetter, pressed against your clothes, while the restricted appendage pressed against your... Oh, embarrassing.<</if>> Her gaze slowly focused on your lips, biting her own for a moment before leaning in. You felt her hand reach out, dragging along the fabric, just over your <<if $chesttype is "flat chest" or $chesttype is "flat chest with scars" or $chesttype is "small breasts">>chest, skimming along and nudging a sensitive nipple.<<elseif $chesttype is "medium breast" or $chesttype is "large breasts">>chest, taking a moment to greedily cup a breast, thumb swiping over a sensitive nipple.<</if>> You couldn't help the breathy sigh that escaped your lips, especially when you couldn't help but think about what lay between her own thighs... Her nose brush yours and you couldn't stop your eyes from fluttering shut. But her lips never met yours.. You only heard the sound of a yelp and a rush of air brush your face. Your eyes shot open. <<if $violence is false>>The Aide had pulled her away from you. Their empty, dark gaze from behind that mask settled on you before it turned back to your friend and would-be first kiss. They advanced, and she could only hold up her hands, as if trying to calm a wild animal, approaching for the kill. "I wasn't... $they... Please..." She tried but fell silent when a knife slipped from the Aide's sleeve into their gloved hand. They kneeled down, knee inbetween her legs and pressed the knife against her lips, pressing hard until a small rivulet of blood began to seep down, to her chin. A silent agreement passed between them and the Aide stood back up. She scrambled to her feet and darted out the door without ever looking back at you.<<elseif $violence is true>>The Aide had pulled her away from you. Their empty, dark gaze from behind that mask settled on you and they walked forward, undoing the velvet sash around their midriff. You couldn't move as they draped it over your eyes, securing it snugly so you couldn't see anything. A hand patted your cheek. There was nothing but darkness with the sound of a gasp and a whimper of fear. Then the sound of the door opened before slamming shut. You pulled the velvet tie from your eyes.<</if>> <</if>> Silence settled over the room, the Aide breathing heavy before sliding their knife back away. They approached you again, just to start gathering up the glasses, the food, balancing them perfectly before putting it all outside your room door. You didn't move even when they came back and pulled back the sheets on your bed and motioned for you to get in. It was as if you had been caught doing something naughty, the way you obediently scuttled over and got in, letting them pull the blanket up to your chin. You could feel them stare down at you, even when their left hand pulled and made a swiping motion, the lights in the room growing dimmer, the candle fires shrinking as if being choked out of oxygens. They stood to full height and headed to the back of the room. <ul><li>[[♥𓁿But you... Still felt... Oh.. You couldn't stop from calling out for them.|RM.054]]</li> <li>[[You snuggled down and shut your eyes... Maybe it would turn out just to be a bad dream?|RM.055]]</li> </ul>

<h1>Content warnings: </h1> <b>Themes for the Servant MC:</b> <ul><li>Overworking</li> <li>Discrimination</li> <li>Classism</li> <li>Depersonlisation </li> <li>Stalking</li> <li>Infantialism (From The Priest)</li> <li>Experimentation (From the Lesser Noble)</li> <li>Objectification (From the Royal)</li> <li>Emotional Abuse (From the Servant) </li> <li>There is a potential for: Dubious Consent, Non Consent, Drugging, Impregnation regardless of gender, but these will all be given a warning if you are about to go down one of these routes. </li></ul> <b>Themes for the Royal MC:</b> <ul><li>Gold Digging</li> <li>Dismissive attitudes towards their emotions</li> <li>Stalking</li> <li>Constant Surveillance</li> <li> Incest (From the Royal- they are half siblings)</li> <li>Manipulation (From the Noble)</li> <li>Obsessive behaviour (from the Servant)</li> <li>Religious Indoctrination (From the Priest)</li> <li>There is a potential for: Dubious Consent, Forced/Rushed Marriage, Incest, Drugging. Again, there shall be a warning given. </li></ul> <<link "Toggle sensitive topics">> <<dialog 'Sensitive Topics'>> <<nobr>> <h2><b>Trigger Toggles</b></h2> For: <ul><li><<checkbox "$violence" false true autocheck>> Violence</li> <li><<checkbox "$cannibalism" false true autocheck>> Cannibalism</li> <li><<checkbox "$sa" false true autocheck>> Sexual Assault</li> <li><<checkbox "$impreg" false true autocheck>> Impregnation</li></ul> <h2><b>Relationships</b></h2> If you don't want to see content from these side relationships: <ul><li> <<checkbox "$aisha" false true autocheck>> The Aide x Pavel Volchek</li> <li><<checkbox "$sashdash" false true autocheck>> Sasha x Dasha</li> <li><<checkbox "$albabr" false true autocheck>> Albina x Abraim Kiss-Kosa</li></ul><</nobr>> <</dialog>> <</link>> <<link "Confirm" `previous()`>><</link>>

The night carried on. It was... <<set _attempted = ["Nothing", "Friendly", "Flirty"]>><<listbox "$attempted">> <<optionsfrom _attempted>> <</listbox>> <span id="attempted-info">(Nothing)</span> <<script>> $(document).one(":passagerender", function (event) { var description = { "Nothing": "Please Select", "Friendly": "It stayed a light hearted affair, with your friend leaving at the end of the night with a hug. It had been too long since you had a proper one and you enjoyed the touch. You got to leave the resort, with the sad knowledge that you would probably never see anyone there ever again...", "Flirty": "It had started as a light hearted affair but there was something about the drinks flowing, the way they had looked in the soft candlelight, the murmured words... A hand against your knee, drawing circles into it...", }; $(event.content).find("#attempted").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.attempted]); $(event.content).find("#listbox-attempted").on("change", function (event) { $("#attempted-info").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.attempted]); }); }); <</script>> [[Then...|RM.0521]]

<<if $attempted is "Flirty">><<goto "RM.052">><<elseif $attempted is "Friendly">><<goto "RM.053">><<elseif $attempted is "Nothing">><<goto "RM.052SetUp">><</if>>

<<set $aidetrust += 1>>The evening ended nicely.<<if $preference is "male" or $RMwho is "male">> He was nothing but sweet to you the entire time, making you laugh, making you feel heard, sharing a drink. It did make it sink in more that... That you were going to miss him. He already had a busy life outside of the resort and... Well, Varan was very out of the way. It would be nice if he could come visit, but you doubted it, even with the optimism daring to lift it's head and sniff at you, like a bright eyed rabbit, unaware of the hungry hunter standing before it. But you couldn't stop the smile gracing your features as he stepped towards the door, bowing down to kiss your knuckles before opening it. The Aide glanced at him, giving a small nod before looking directly at you, scanning for a hair out of place. Happy with what they saw, they gave a bow to your friend and the two of you watched him leave, down the hallway, to his own room. You went back inside and the Aide busied themself with tidying. The drinks, the finger food, the blanket for the floor that you two had sat on, the books strewn about. They put it all away as you got ready for bed, and came to your side just in time to pull the duvet and blankets up, tucking you in before giving your head a pat, like a puppy. You got to say goodbye to him before you left...<<elseif $preference is "female" or $RMwho is "female">> She was nothing but sweet to you the entire time, making you laugh, making you feel heard, sharing a drink. She even offered to read your palm, sweetly saying that you were on the cusp of finding a place in life where you could be satiated, happy and loved. It did make it sink in more that... That you were going to miss her. She already had a busy life outside of the resort, with her children especially and... Well, Varan was very out of the way. It would be nice if she could come visit, but you doubted it, even with the optimism daring to lift it's head and sniff at you, like a bright eyed rabbit, unaware of the hungry hunter standing before it. But you couldn't stop the smile gracing your features as she stepped towards the door, whispering that it was such a pleasure to meet you and giving your cheek a kiss before opening it. The Aide glanced at her giving a small nod before looking directly at you, scanning for a hair out of place. Happy with what they saw, the gave a bow to your friend and the two of you watched her leave, going just a few doors down before going into her own room. You went back inside and the Aide busied themself with tidying. The drinks, the finger food, the blanket for the floor that you two had sat on, the books strewn about. They put it all away as you got ready for bed, and came to your side just in time to pull the duvet and blankets up, tucking you in before giving your head a pat, like a puppy. You got to say goodbye to her before you left...<</if>> The memories dissipated like the soap in the water. You sighed and leaned back, closing your eyes. You should say goodbye to them now, so they don't creep up and ruin your happy reunion with your family... <<if $genderdone is false>> [[You couldn't help but also think back to memories of your time here, at home, before you had to leave.|RM.065]] <<elseif $genderdone is true>> [[You couldn't help but sigh and relax back into the bath.|RM.07]] <</if>>

<<set $TASexCount += 1>>The Aide paused in their stride and looked over their shoulder at you, tilting their masked head in a question. Your silence just brought them closer, coming all the way to your bedside, crouching down to examine your face. You <<cycle "$AideFirstTime" autoselect>> <<option "☾ shyly shifted your weight, breathing quick. The Aide leaned down to you, their hidden gaze burning into you. You struggled to put what you needed into words, having never felt anything like this before. Slowly, you started to push down the covers, and pressed a hand against your pelvic bone, praying they understood. They straightened up and reached down, gripping the bottom of your sleep shirt and carelessly yanked it up, to your stomach." "shy">> <<option "✴︎ kicked the sheets down, before tugging up your sleep shirt. You could feel their gaze drift down to your crotch. An intoxicating tingle flooded your body at knowing they were looking at your most intimate place, giving it the usual hard study that they gave the rest of the world. All it did was make you more excited the longer it went on, their fingers finally reaching down and roughly pulling your thighs apart." "bold">><</cycle>> The Aide glanced back at you for only a moment. Those empty eye holes drilling into you, nothing but an abyss that drew you in, hypnotised you, soothed you, made.... Made your<<if $genitals is "cunt">>... Lower area just all the more excited. You felt something wet down there, slick slipping down your thigh and probably staining the bedsheets.<<elseif $genitals is "small cock" or $genitals is "average cock" or $genitals is "large cock">>... Appendage twitch. You had never been so hard, not even the few times you had gotten an embarrassing erection before. It felt... Achy. Slippery. Like you wanted to grind it against anything just to release the tension in your lower stomach.<<elseif $genitals is "both cunt and cock">>... Bits feel warm. It was always embarrassing when you got "excited", both getting wet and your thingy getting hard. Especially when your clothes restricted them both, tucking your appendage against your warm parts, getting it warm and wet in turn. And now it was twitching in the heated air, while slick was messily coating your skin.<</if>> They took another beat before swinging a leg over and putting a knee inbetween your legs, pushing them far apart so they could settle down on the bed. You couldn't help but let out excited little puffs of air as they continue to man handle you roughly, in a way they'd never had before. Before this, it was all gentle touches, cupping your elbow when helping you down icy stairs, tucking you in, so these harsh, tight grips, tugging at you to get you into a position of their choosing... It was dizzying. No one had ever handled you like this. You were ripped from your haze when you felt a pinch to your thigh. Looking over, they slowly held up a hand, pressing their index and middle finger together for a few moments before curling them slowly and making a thrusting motion. Then slipped them under their mask. You had no idea what they were doing until they pulled the gloved digits out, covered in saliva. You still blinked at them, confused. You heard an audible, soft sigh. Their hand disappeared downwards and for a moment there was nothing. Then<<if $genitals is "cunt">> a flick to your most sensitive bundle of nerves, by something wet.<<elseif $genitals is "small cock" or $genitals is "average cock" or $genitals is "large cock">> a wet squeeze to the base of your hard thing, moving as if something was licking it before letting go.<<elseif $genitals is "both cunt and cock">> a flick to your most sensitive bundle of nerves, by something wet before it went up to grip the base of your hard thing, moving as if something was licking it before letting go.<</if>> You shakily asked for the <<set _zerofivefour = ["Nothing", "First One: Fingering", "Second One: Oral"]>><<listbox "$zerofivefour">> <<optionsfrom _zerofivefour>> <</listbox>> <span id="zerofivefour-info">(Nothing)</span> <<script>> $(document).one(":passagerender", function (event) { var description = { "Nothing": "Please Select", "First One: Fingering": "They gave a hum and stuck their fingers back under their mask, moving their hand slowly. You stared for a moment, before realising that they were... Sucking their gloved fingers. Before too long they pulled them free again. You exhaled slowly, glancing from the Aide to the ceiling, feeling your breath rattling in your chest. Then... Something slowly rubbing at your hole, just using two fingers to pull it open. You felt embarrassment flood your body. They were <b>looking</b> at you. Just using the middle and index finger they were playing with you, happy to just slowly stretch open, before stopping and then using the tip to circle your hole again. You felt your leg twitch, as if slowly getting a mind of its own, about to kick the Aide into action. They must have felt it, because they finally stopped the teasing, slowly pushing one finger into you, the saliva making it only somewhat of an easier slide inside. It brought with it a flush of warmth, an electric pleasure that had you curling your toes and bucking your hips. They twisted their gloved finger, the feeling of the leather in your softest, most tender place driving you crazy. You were too sensitive for it, breathing too fast. Your lungs were still weak and you felt black spots dance before your eyes. Sweat slicked your back as you let out the most desperate, wanton moans. The way they sped up their finger, their chest rising and falling with audible breaths was so lewd, it was already too much. You tried to hold back, tears springing to your eyes, but you couldn't... You... You arched your back and gasped sharply, hips beginning to twist as you finally, for the first time, orgasmed. It crashed over you like a wave, stunning you for just a moment before it receeded, leaving you unable to move, your limbs too heavy... Chest panting, mind hazy...", "Second One: Oral": "You heard a soft hum before they put their weight on their knees, straightening up before slipping the velvet sash from around their waist. They leaned over you, cupping the back of your head to lift it, slipping the fabric around to blindfold you. It wasn't too tight, and their deft fingers worked quickly on the knot, lowering your head back down to the pillow. You couldn't see anything, only hear the sound of fabric rustling. Their weight on the bed shifted before you felt your knees roughly gripped, slipping under to grip the back of them. Your entire body was yanked down a bit, your head leaving the pillow but your own yelp froze in your throat as you felt hot breath against your most intimate parts. Your brain struggled to catch up to your senses. A mouth close to touching you in your most sensitive places. Your Aide has shed their mask. Your legs were being settled over a pair of broad, strong shoulders. A tongue- You threw your head back with a gasping moan. A tongue, a hot, wet tongue was dragging over your... You... It felt //filthy//. People weren't supposed to touch down there, nevermind lick it, but you couldn't help the whines and desperate mumblings that left you as they trailed the tip of it over the tip of your most sensitive part before connecting the rest of their mouth with it too. Lips tightened over it and- Oh, you were going to die! Pleasure felt like electric shocks, jolting your limbs and frying your brain, as they began to suck relentlessly. They wouldn't let up, you could feel their bare face nuzzle further into you, like the dog back home when you tried to take away their bone. Your breaths left in embarrassing whimpers. Sweat trickled down your back, your chest rising and falling with desperation when- Your entire body tightened. You let out a whine as your first orgasm washed over you, drowning you, feeling yourself relax even when tightened, taut like a spring. You didn't know how long you laid there, panting, even when the tie was pulled from your eyes, the Aide's mask back in place.", }; $(event.content).find("#054").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.zerofivefour]); $(event.content).find("#listbox-zerofivefour").on("change", function (event) { $("#zerofivefour-info").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.zerofivefour]); }); }); <</script>> You felt like all the strength had seeped out of your limbs. The Aide maneuvered you like a doll, righting your clothes, slipping away to get a washcloth and cleaning up the mess left behind. Then pulling the sheets and blanket up to your chin, tucking you in securely. A pat to your head, like a puppy. Then they straightened up and seemed to dissolve into the shadows... The memory slowly dissolved, like the soap in the water. You felt a faint heat in your lower belly... <<if $AidePrivacy is true>>You thought about, for a moment, calling them into the bathroom... Asking to... You shook your head and roughly scrubbed at your thighs. They hadn't touched you like that since, even if some part of your body hungered for it...<<elseif $AidePrivacy is false>> You slowly turned your gaze to the Aide, sitting with their book in the corner. They seemed to feel your gaze and also looked up, looking right at you. You could feel the demand, the question, the plea on the tip of your tongue. //Touch me again.// But you shivered and turned back, their abyssal gaze still burning into the back of your neck.<</if>> No, not tonight. <<if $genderdone is false>> [[You couldn't help but also think back to memories of your time here, at home, before you had to leave.|RM.065]] <<elseif $genderdone is true>> [[You couldn't help but sigh and relax back into the bath.|RM.07]] <</if>>

But it wasn't a bad dream. You had noticed that the Aide was a lot more stiff with you in the morning. Everyone else would have had a hard time telling, but you could. Their sharp movements, the way they stayed an extra step behind you, The way their abyssal gaze swept over you even when it used to affix itself to your face with intensity at any sound you made. It was worse with <<if $preference is "male" or $RMwho is "male">>him. He struggled to even look at you, and it became obvious he was avoiding you. It hurt more, given that you only had a few days left of being together. But the way the Aide tensed whenever you even looked at him made it clear that you two would not be left alone together. Ever again. A part of you knew it was their job to stamp out... Well. What had happened, but also it felt cruel. Lonely. He didn't even see you off on the morning of your departure. <<elseif $preference is "female" or $RMwho is "female">>her. She struggled to even look at you, and iit became more obvious the way she could only shoot you a smile before going to chat with someone else. She was avoiding you. It hurt more, given that you only had a few days left of being together. But the way the Aide tensed whenever you even looked at her made it clear that you two would not be left alone together. Ever again. A part of you knew it was their job to stamp out... Well. What had happened, but also it felt cruel. Lonely. She didn't even see you off on the morning of your departure. <</if>> The memories dissipated like the soap in the water. You sighed and leaned back, closing your eyes. There was nothing left of your time at the resort anymore, outside of the medicines packed into your bags, and the time spent there. No reason to pine, especially now since you finally got your family back. <<if $genderdone is false>> [[You couldn't help but also think back to memories of your time here, at home, before you had to leave.|RM.065]] <<elseif $genderdone is true>> [[You couldn't help but sigh and relax back into the bath.|RM.07]] <</if>>

<h1>The Royal Family</h1> <b>Tsarina Tatsiana of House Aureus. Aged 54</b> Your mother. Ruler since she was just nine years old, she is not known for her warmth, more for her sharp intellect. Your memories of her from childhood were faint. Looking back, she loved her children, obviously, but she didn't enjoy spending time with them. You could remember being lead into the dining room to give her a good morning kiss. Some Septsolis afternoons you got to enjoy tea with her. <b>Laszlo Kiss-Kosa. Aged 47.</b> Your father! The second husband of the Tsarina, after her first died. He was seen as her "love-match" instead of a political marriage. Deeply unpopular at court due to his disinterest in hosting "Courtly Activies" such as balls, hunts, etc. Instead that has fallen to both $Sname and Stanislav these days. Laszlo enjoyed the out of fashion idea of spending most of his time with his children, wanting a hand in raising them. Has been accused of babying all of the children, not just his biological ones. <b>First born: Pavel Tasiavich Volchek. Aged 32.</b> Pavel, or, as you knew him, Pasha. You haven't seen him in years. He went off, to everyone's horror, into the military. He came home once or twice but too many arguments has... Well, you fear, driven him off for good. He was stoic, called aloof at times, but he was the one who taught you how to ride a horse when your teacher made you too scared of your little sleepy pony, with stories of people kicked into mental impairment drilled into you. He was always gentle with you. He called you his little soldier. He is the first child of the Tsarina's first marriage. <b>Second born: $Sname $Spatname Volchek. Aged 28.</b> Sasha! Probably the one that doted most upon you growing up. According to stories, $Sthey had been one of the few of the siblings that would sit with you after your birth.<<if $adopted is true>> The usual celebration for the Duke's first and only child was subdued, quiet, your life in distinct danger. $Sname had wandered to your room, ignored the tired nurse and just sat with you. Then, gently, placed $Stheir finger into your small palm. Apparently, the first thing you did that wasn't sleeping, nor staring, was to curl your fingers around it. The second child of the Tsarina had since that moment been very fond of you, more so when you were adopted into the family after the death of your parents.<<else>> Your mother had had a terrible labour. You had gotten stuck and once they finally cut you free, it turned out that the umbilical chord had been wrapped tightly around your neck. You were blue and barely able to breath. Your father refused to leave your side, the usual celebration at the birth of a royal child replaced by quiet, tepid waiting. Waiting if your blue lips to fill with colour. Waiting for your breathing to be more steady than a few rushed breaths every now and then. According to your father, $Sname had come in at one point, after Pavel had brought in the younger siblings to see you. Sasha was the only one who stayed after being sent away. And with a slight interest, $Sthey had placed their fingertip against your palm. And the first thing you had done outside of giving uneven puffs of air? Was to squeeze $Stheir finger. Ever since then $Sname had doted on you endlessly.<</if>> $cSthey is the second child of the Tsarina's first marriage. <b>Third Born: Aksana Tatsiavna Volchek. Aged 27.</b> Born a year after Sasha. Looks more like Sasha and her late father. Always tried to be quite motherly towards the youngest children, but since her engagement to the second son of the Monarch of the Isles, she's been rather preoccupied with packing up her things and getting ready to take her household with her. She had always liked to read to you at night and would take them on picnics when the weather was clear for it. She is the third and last child from the Tsarina's first marriage. <b>Fourth Born: Stansislav Tasiavich Kiss-Kosa. Aged 26. </b> Stanislav, or Stas, is the worst trouble maker of the bunch. The first son of the Tsarina's second marriage, his own father's nonchalance rubbed off on him. A rebel, a rogue, a lazy good-for-nothing are all things he's been called. Not that close to you, unless you've been into helping him with his... Exploits. Has a harsh rivalry with Sasha especially. He split his court away from the family one as soon as he was able to, and it's quite popular with the rowdier folk. <b>Fifth Born and Sixth Born: Albina and Abraim Tatsiavna and Tasiavich Kiss-Kosa. Aged 24.</b> The twins. <<if $adopted is false>>The reason why your mother took such a long break between your own birth and theirs.<</if>>Their birth was so tumultuous it was said your mother couldn't even walk for over five months after it. They are... Known sadists. Ever since childhood, they've been your bullies, even lightheartedly. They were so bad at times that to this day, they have been banned from the nursery. <b>Seventh Born. $name $patname Kiss-Kosa. Aged 21.</b> You are the seventh child. Born a few years after the twins, your birth was a strained affair.<<if $adopted is true>> After the death of your parents, Leoni and Jasmina, the Duke and Duchess of Zara, Laszlo, their closest friend, took you in and adopted you as his own. Hence why you've been known as a Kiss-Kosa, instead of a Volchek.<</if>> Spoiled by your father and eldest siblings, while contending with the twins, the first half of your childhood was care free and simple. However, just as you were hitting your preteens, you got deeply sick. You lost contact with most of your friends, instead relying on visits from your family and a servant close in age with you to be your gentle playmate. Once you got too sick, at age 15, you were sent off for Helvetia and their health resorts, with no one to accompany you but the Aide your eldest brother had sent especially for you. <b>Eighth Born: Evdokiya Tatsiavna Kiss-Kosa. Aged 11.</b> Currently fondly nicknamed Kissy, instead of her demanded "Eve" (more grown up). There is 10 years between the two of you, so for a fraction of your life, you got to spend with her in the nursery before coming of age. She's still quite demanding of her time with you, as she isn't able to connect to the other siblings like she can with you. <b>Ninth Born: Inga Tatsiavna Kiss-Kosa. Aged 7.</b> The baby. Even closer in age with Evdokiya, Kissy sees herself too old to play with Inga. The last child, that came as quite a surprise. She's babied by all except the twins, of course. She's quiet and likes to stick to her imaginary friends but does like it when people visit the nursery. <<link "Back" `previous()`>><</link>>

<<set $transgender to true>>You didn't know if it was sometime in your childhood that you started feeling that way. Or if it crept up as your body changed, realising it was wrong. Maybe it wasn't even until you time away from home, meeting new people, did something gently click for you. Your doctors had noticed a shift in you. One even sat you down to talk about it. You thought they'd be... Interested in your new circumstances, wanting to slip free from your coccoon and see what you could become. Except they didn't. No, their easy smile had frozen on their face, and their eyes seemed... Like metal. A shield had gone up. They had nodded and hummed but nothing else. No. Word most have spread because all the doctors started handling you with kid gloves, lessening your more strenuous activities, letting you spend most of your time on your hobbies and in the heated pools. Then, one day... "Good news!" One of the doctors that personally supervised your day-to-day activities bustled in, her shoes making the usual clicking noise as she descended. "So, your parents have approved your adjustment." You had looked up from your lunch, brain not quite keeping up with what was happening. Not until she laid down the piece of parchment she was holding, now filled with your details changed. As well as an opened letter, addressed to you. "Something the Tsarina and Consort sent along for you too!" She was chirpy, looking so pleased. You brushed the crumbs from yourself and took up the letter. Inside was... Well. Vague confirmation from your mother that she read and understood the message from the resort about your change and how she'll notify the correct people. And boundless enthusiasm from your father. Mostly about how you were growing up more like him than he thought. Letting the paper slip from between your fingers, you felt <<cycle "$transout" autoselect>> <<option "good... Maybe the doctors only had the best of intentions. At least they took the burden of telling your parents off of your shoulders." "positive">> <<option "... Well, it was nice, not having to tell your parents yourself. But the way they had quietly.... //Tattled// on you? To make sure it was okay. It was a bit... Uncomfortable." "positiveneg">> <<option "... Not great. You had wanted to tell them yourself of your choices but they had taken that from you. Though... Maybe they had done it with the best of intentions? What's done was done..." "negativepos">> <<option "bad. They had taken away the chance for you to tell your parents. Ran off the moment you shared it, as if you were a child again and Stas had gone to tell on you for breaking something, only to find out that they weren't mad." "negative">><</cycle>> You knew your parents... Well, knew. But did the rest of your family? Your father had never mentioned talking to them about it, while your mother just said the "correct" people. Which would mean the chroniclers that would spend half their time writing down every single event that happened at court, while also trying to update their current books by deciphering the old writings from the days of the Northmen. You had no idea. <<if $gender is "male">>But you did know you were yourself. You were a boy. You didn't know if you had become a man yet, but it felt like you had left something behind. A childhood that you wished was filled with spending more time with the boys, running with Stas and Abraim for your routine swim in the lake, instead of being kept inside. To ride normally instead of side saddle, not that that really mattered. Pavel usually let you ride however you liked when you went with him anyway. Time spent on subjects outside of music and needlework and etiquette and and and... But you had time now. And with that you leaned back with a sigh.<<elseif $gender is "female">>But you did know you were yourself. You were a girl. You didn't know if you had become a woman yet, but it felt like you had left something behind. A childhood that you wished was filled with spending more time with the girls, staying inside with Albina and Aksana to take your shared lessons with the governess, happy with the solidarity as the boys went off to rough-house. Time spent on things that weren't just sports and hunting and history, instead getting to spend hours painting, or doing music, or figuring out how to work a needle without stabbing yourself in the thumb... But you had time now. And with that you leaned back with a sigh.<<elseif $gender is "nonbinary">>But you did know you were yourself. <<cycle "$gender" autoselect>> <<option "You didn't fit into any category, you were just you. You wore clothes that didn't emphasise much of a feminine or a masculine side, but balanced something else. Something that made you feel unique. Not a boy, not a girl, just a child, just a person." "nonbinary">> <<option "You fit into too many categories. Sometimes you prefer to dress more feminine, with long stockings and soft skirts and pretty dresses. Other times you fit right in with the boys, with breeches and waistcoats and high collared shirts that emphasised your jaw. Sometimes it was a mixture. It depended. You loved being in all boxes, you were more than just one thing." "genderfluid">><</cycle>> A part of you wished that you could have gotten to switch between the different lessons of childhood, some days getting to learn history with the boys and then getting to paint with the girls. You were pretty sure the others would have agreed. Abraim would have enjoyed learning music earlier, while the sooner Aksana got a gun in her hands, the better time she'd have had, making sure she was getting to go on the hunts when she was older. But all that was in the past. And you had more than enough time now to find new things to interest yourself in. And with that, you leaned back with a sigh.<</if>> [[You got to pick your name then too. And in a blink of an eye, your life was different.|RM.66]]

You drummed your finger tips against the surface of the water, watching it ripple out gently. Catching your reflection, your face wet from washing it, beads of water stuck to your $haircolour hair. Your eyes tired, your mouth set flatly... Did you somehow age from your time coming home? Hopefully you just needed a good night's sleep. But you couldn't look away from your reflection. After a while the waves calmed and settled back into a still surface. Revealing you. <<set _looks = ["Nothing", "Plain", "Pretty", "Handsome", "Attractive"]>><<listbox "$looks">> <<optionsfrom _looks>> <</listbox>> <span id="looks-info">(Nothing)</span> <<script>> $(document).one(":passagerender", function (event) { var description = { "Nothing": "Please Select", "Plain": "Maybe it was because you grew up next to Aksana, Sasha, Pavel, the epitome of pretty, attractive and handsome. But you never felt like you reached their heights of beauty, even with the others alongside you. Your two younger sisters were cute, Stanislav was boyishly handsome, the twins had a strange etherealness to them. And you... Never felt like you grew into your looks like the others did.", "Pretty": "There was something charming about your face. Maybe the eyes, or how your features were graceful. It used to irritate you as a child, when your tantrums weren't taken seriously, just because you looked too sweet. And it never left. The curve of your mouth, the way you held yourself. You were simply pretty. When the family was posed for a family portrait, you'd sit with Stanislav and Aksana. Stas always made a fuss, grumbling about sitting with you two, but his soft, boyish looks complimented Aksana's sheer, almost ethereal beauty. You two fit well together, looking as if you three were taken right out of an ornate, romantic scene.", "Handsome": "It couldn't be helped. You were striking. Strong features, imposing and very hard to ignore. You looked right at home with the portraits of your ancestors, strong and stately. At least the ones that were painted at the head of armies, looking regal and yet elegant. You noticed some of the younger girls at court loved to hand you flowers and swooned when you looked at them, while the boys preferred to try and entice you into play wrestling, seemingly getting a thrill when they could pin you down, even with a vivid blush on their faces. At least that stopped when you got ill. When the painters came to court, they liked you and Pavel and Albina to stand together, allowing the viewer's eye to immediately draw to you three, looking dignified and statuesque.", "Attractive": "It was hard to properly place your looks. It was a mixture of pretty and handsome, but most of all... You were bewitching. There was something alluring about the set of your eyes, your nose, your mouth. Something captivating. You once heard someone call you sensual and that word seemed to electrify you. When it was time to update the family portrait, you'd sit at Sasha's feet, while Abraim sat beside you on the step. Something deep inside of you was pleased to be counted as one of the more celestial beauties, deigned to be given a seat by your mother as the others had to fan out around the crown.", }; $(event.content).find("#looks").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.looks]); $(event.content).find("#listbox-looks").on("change", function (event) { $("#looks-info").empty().wiki(description[State.variables.looks]); }); }); <</script>> You splashed the water, letting it obscure your face again. The warmth of the bath was slowly making you sleepier too. <<if $sexualitydone is false>> [[And yet you couldn't help but to think back to some of the friends you made at the resort....|RM.05]] <<elseif $sexualitydone is true>> [[You couldn't help but sigh and relax back into the bath.|RM.07]] <</if>>

<h1>Recap for the Royal</h1><<set $customRO to false>> You are playing $title $name <<if $adopted is false>><<if $gender is "male">>Tatsiavich<<elseif $gender is "female">>Tatsiavna<<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">>Tatsiavino<</if>><<elseif $adopted is true>><<if $gender is "male">>Leonievich<<elseif $gender is "female">>Leoniovna<<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">>Leonivino<</if>><</if>> Kiss-Kosa. You are the <<if $adopted is true>>adopted <</if>>seventh child of the Royal House Aureus. You prefer <<if $preference is "male">>men, romantically and sexually.<<elseif $preference is "female">>women, romantically and sexually.<<elseif $preference is "both">>both men and women, romantically and sexually.<</if>> <<if $transgender is true>>You confirmed your transgender identity while abroad.<</if>> You have $hairtexture $haircolour hair that is $hairstyle. Skin that is $skincolour, with $eyecolour eyes.<<if $freckles is "none" and $beautymark is "none" and $dimples is false>> You skin is completely clear.<</if>><<if $freckles is "a few freckles">> You have a few freckles over your skin.<<elseif $freckles is "many freckles">> You have a lot of freckles all over your body.<</if>><<if $beautymark is "eye">> You have a beauty mark by your eye.<<elseif $beautymark is "lip">> You have a beauty mark by your lip.<<elseif $beautymark is "many">> You have many beauty marks sprinkled over your body.<<elseif $beautymarks is "cheek">> You have a beauty mark on your cheek.<</if>><<if $dimples is true>> You have dimples, most easily seen when you smile.<</if>><<if $glasses is true>> Just like your sister, you need a pair of glasses.<</if>><<if $facialhair is "shaven">> You have a clean shaven face.<<elseif $facialhair is "stubble">> You have stubble.<<elseif $facialhair is "beard">> You have a $haircolour beard.<<elseif $facialhair is "moustache">> You have a $haircolour moustache.<<elseif $facialhair is "sideburns">> You have $haircolour sideburns.<</if>> You are <<if $height is "very short">>quite short<<elseif $height is "short">>short<<elseif $height is "average">>average<<elseif $height is "tall">>tall<<elseif $height is "very tall">>quite tall<</if>> and you have a $bodytype body. You have a <<if $chesttype is "flat chest with scars" or "flat chest">>$chesttype<<else>> pair of $chesttype<</if>> with <<if $genitals is "both cunt and cock">> both a $genitals<<else>> a $genitals<</if>>. <<nobr>> <<if $preference is "both">>If you're happy with all this and want to custom select the gender of the RO instead of them being randomised, please [[click here!|RM.ROCustomSelect]]<</if>><</nobr>> If you're happy with all of this [[please continue|RM.2]]. Otherwise please [[click here|OLL.01]] to redo your character.

<<nobr>><<if $preference is "both" and $customRO is false>> <<set $Agender to either ("male", "female")>> <<set $Dgender to either ("male", "female")>> <<set $Sgender to either ("male", "female")>> <<set $Jgender to either ("male", "female")>> <<set $Asex to either ("male", "female")>> <</if>> <<if $preference is "male">> <<set $Agender to "male">> <<set $Dgender to "male">> <<set $Sgender to "male">> <<set $Jgender to "male">> <<set $Asex to "male">> <</if>> <<if $preference is "female">> <<set $Agender to "female">> <<set $Dgender to "female">> <<set $Sgender to "female">> <<set $Jgender to "female">> <<set $Asex to "female">> <</if>><<if $Agender is "female">> <<set $Athey to "she">> <<set $cAthey to "She">> <<set $Atheir to "her">> <<set $cAtheir to "Her">> <<set $Atheirs to "hers">> <<set $cAtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Athem to "her">> <<set $cAthem to "Her">> <<set $Athemselves to "herself">> <<set $cAthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Aname to "Arkadina">> <</if>> <<if $Agender is "male">> <<set $Athey to "he">> <<set $cAthey to "He">> <<set $Atheir to "his">> <<set $cAtheir to "His">> <<set $Atheirs to "his">> <<set $cAtheirs to "His">> <<set $Athem to "him">> <<set $cAthem to "Him">> <<set $Athemselves to "himself">> <<set $cAthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Aname to "Arkady">> <</if>> <<if $Dgender is "female">> <<set $Dthey to "she">> <<set $cDthey to "She">> <<set $Dtheir to "her">> <<set $cDtheir to "Her">> <<set $Dtheirs to "hers">> <<set $cDtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Dthem to "her">> <<set $cDthem to "Her">> <<set $Dthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cDthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Dtitle to "Lady">> <<set $Dpatname to "Ihorivna">> <<set $Dname to "Daria">> <</if>> <<if $Dgender is "male">> <<set $Dthey to "he">> <<set $cDthey to "He">> <<set $Dtheir to "his">> <<set $cDtheir to "His">> <<set $Dtheirs to "his">> <<set $cDtheirs to "His">> <<set $Dthem to "him">> <<set $cDthem to "Him">> <<set $Dthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cDthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Dtitle to "Lord">> <<set $Dpatname to "Igorovich">> <<set $Dname to "Daniil">> <</if>> <<if $Sgender is "female">> <<set $Sthey to "she">> <<set $cSthey to "She">> <<set $Stheir to "her">> <<set $cStheir to "Her">> <<set $Stheirs to "hers">> <<set $cStheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Sthem to "her">> <<set $cSthem to "Her">> <<set $Sthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cSthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Spatname to "Tatsiavna">> <<set $Stitle to "Princess">> <<set $Sname to "Aleksandra">> <</if>> <<if $Sgender is "male">> <<set $Sthey to "he">> <<set $cSthey to "He">> <<set $Stheir to "his">> <<set $cStheir to "His">> <<set $Stheirs to "his">> <<set $cStheirs to "His">> <<set $Sthem to "him">> <<set $cSthem to "Him">> <<set $Sthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cSthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Spatname to "Tasiavich">> <<set $Stitle to "Prince">> <<set $Sname to "Aleksandr">> <</if>> <<if $Jgender is "female">> <<set $Jthey to "she">> <<set $cJthey to "She">> <<set $Jtheir to "her">> <<set $cJtheir to "Her">> <<set $Jtheirs to "hers">> <<set $cJtheirs to "Hers">> <<set $Jthem to "her">> <<set $cJthem to "Her">> <<set $Jthemselves to "herself">> <<set $cJthemselves to "Herself">> <<set $Jtitle to "Miss">> <<set $Jname to "Janka">> <</if>> <<if $Jgender is "male">> <<set $Jthey to "he">> <<set $cJthey to "He">> <<set $Jtheir to "his">> <<set $cJtheir to "His">> <<set $Jtheirs to "his">> <<set $cJtheirs to "His">> <<set $Jthem to "him">> <<set $cJthem to "Him">> <<set $Jthemselves to "himself">> <<set $cJthemselves to "Himself">> <<set $Jtitle to "Mister">> <<set $Jname to "Janos">> <</if>> <<if $adopted is true>><<if $gender is "male">><<set $patname to "Leonievich">><<elseif $gender is "female">><<set $patname to "Leoniovna">><<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">><<set $patname to "Leonivino">><</if>><</if>> <<if $adopted is false>><<if $gender is "male">><<set $patname to "Tatsiavich">><<elseif $gender is "female">><<set $patname to "Tatsiavna">><<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">><<set $patname to "Tatsiavino">><</if>><</if>> <</nobr>> <<set $fguide to true>>[[The Family Guide Unlocked!|The Family]] <<set $rmcguide to true>>[[Your Profile is Unlocked!|The Royal]] Your sleep was deep. As if you had floated to the bottom of a black lake, ice frosted over the top, trapping you in endless darkness, everything muffled. Pressure on your chest and sides but not suffocating. Just endless as you drifted. Suffice to say that when you did finally awake, it was slow. Struggling to open your eyelids, as if they had been sewn together, becoming aware of the dryness of your throat, your tongue too heavy to move properly. Limbs like solid gold. You gave a soft mumble and struggled to bring yourself to the surface, not until a timid knock broke the ice that kept you down. You surfaced finally, from your sleep, when you heard footsteps to your bedroom door, sound of it opening and then a soft murmur. Finally, your eyes opened. The curtains around your canopy bed had been drawn, so you were left in a timeless state of utter darkness before your fingers gently scrabbled at the fabric, pulling it open just a bit to let some watery light in. Only one singular curtain was pulled aside, no doubt by the Aide, to reveal a flurry of a snow fall, coating everything outside in a weak greyish light. There were foosteps heading to the bed and the sound of your walk-in closet door opening. With a yawn, you pulled the curtains open, the Aide standing, arms crossed, by the door. They inclined their head, their travelling mask (one that was black, to blend in with their hood) changed to their usual pearly white one. Footsteps again, this time heading out of the walk-in closet. The servant stepped out and shut the door, only to turn to the rest of the room. Only then did $Athey seem to notice that you were up and took a shaky, involuntary inhale. $cAthey seemed... Awed. "G-Good morning, $title. I-I mean, your royal highness $name... Oh no, I'm... No, sorry!" $cAthey babbled, seemingly getting more flustered. You didn't recognise this one. To be fair, it was hard to remember any of the servants, there were so many of them. This one had dusky, freckled skin, with <<if $Agender is "male">>chin-length light blond hair, kept loose.<<elseif $Agender is "female">>light blond hair kept in two braids, one tucked over her shoulder, the other sliding behind it.<</if>> $cAtheir eyes were big, almost like a puppy's, wide, as if afraid you were about to throw something at them, and the darkest, deepest green you hadn't seen outside of the hunting forests. $cAthey had scars criss-crossing over $Atheir left cheek. $cAthey seemed to steel $Athemselves and stood a bit straighter before pulling off a perfect <<if $Agender is "male">>bow.<<elseif $Agender is "female">>curtsy.<</if>> "Good morning, your royal highness. Welcome home." "Are you new?" The words slipped out without any thought, the dregs of sleep still coating your tongue. "Ah... Somewhat. I've been at House Salander for most of my life, but only recently have I been allowed to work above stairs." $cAthey seemed to glance at the Aide, who was no doubt frowning beneath their mask. "My name is $Aname, your highness." <ul> <li>[[You glanced away and looked towards the Aide. Get it out.|RM.21]]</li> <li>[[You blinked at them. "... Well, nice to meet you."|RM.22]]</li> <li>[[Annoyance spiked within you. "You're not allowed to talk to me like that. Get out."|RM.23]]</li> </ul>

<<set $preference to "both">><<set $customRO to true>>//You want to select the gender for your romances yourself?// //Is Arkasha, your servant, a <<cycle "$Agender">>?// <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> //Is Dasha, a newcomer to the court, a <<cycle "$Dgender">>?// <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> //Is Sasha, your older sibling and heir to the throne, a<<cycle "$Sgender">>?// <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> //Is the Priest that comes to bless the court, a<<cycle "$Jgender">>?// <<option "male" "male">> <<option "female" "female">> <</cycle>> There are two RO that were added in later, whose gender won't be changed. Pavel, your eldest brother shall remain a man, while the Aide is Nonbinary, but you can select their sexual organs. //Does your nonbinary bodyguard, The Aide, have <<cycle "$Asex">>?// <<option "male sexual organs" "male">> <<option "female sexual organs" "female">> <</cycle>> <ul><li>[[Onwards|RM.2]]</li></ul>

The Aide immediately snapped to attention, striding over to $Aname and roughly gripping the back of $Atheir shirt. $cAthey shrinks away from the Aide, as if $Athey thought $Athey was about to be hit. "R-Right. I just came to drop off your clothes. I should get-" $cAthey didn't get to finish $Atheir sentence as your guard yanked $Athem towards the door, uncaring that $Aname couldn't keep up with their long strides and stumbled a bit. Finally, the Aide shoved $Athem outside, and shut the door again. With no more thoughts given to the servant, you swung your feet out of bed and got up with a sigh and a stretch. You ran through your routine, washing your face, applying the usual scents you liked, attendants had slipped in at some point, and started to help you get dressed, first into your under clothes as you caught up on letters that had been sent to you but weren't important enough to be sent abroad. It was mostly letters from extended family in the other houses, of birthday congratulations and well wishes about your health. As per usual they had all been opened and resealed, with the dark grey seal of the spymaster. Approved and ready for your eyes. By the time <<cycle "$clothes1" autoselect>> <<option "the buttons of your waistcoat were done up" "waistcoat">> <<option "the buttons of your shirt were done up" "shirt">><</cycle>> and <<cycle "$clothes2" autoselect>> <<option "your trousers laced up" "trousers">> <<option "your skirt laced up" "skirt">><</cycle>>, you had gone through all of them. Nothing left to keep you stalled. It was time to reunite with the family you had left behind all that time ago. Out you went, the Aide trailing after you. The familial wing of the House was kept away from all the courts. It was the place where the family didn't have to put on a mask, or worse, take theirs off, uncaring about the views of their peers, not like they cared of Mother's view of them. Down a hallway, to the left. All the bedrooms were here. The private rooms, to eat and to rest in. The nursery. The exits straight to the stables. Another left, longer hallway. Then. The closed double doors to the family dining room. Voices on the otherside of the door. Them. You took a breath and pushed open the doors. [[The room fell silent.|RM.DiningRoom2.4]]

<<set $Arep to 5>>$Aname seemed to flush with happiness. $cAtheir cheeks coloured just a little bit and $Athey tugged a bit on a stray lock of $Atheir hair. "Thank you. Thank you." $cAthey seemed to be in a daze before blinking $Atheir big, soft eyes rapidly. "I... Well, I also wanted to ask you... If you saw anyone on the way home? Yesterday?" "Excuse me?" "Oh. Ah." $Aname shifted $Atheir weight a bit. "A... Friend of mine was also coming back and they were supposed to have arrived yesterday evening, around the same time you did. I-I mean, they could just be late, or stuck somewhere. But I just... Wanted to-" "We didn't see anyone, did we?" You turned to the Aide, who shook their head before staring at $Aname and jerking their head at the door. The servant straightened up and nodded. "Thank you, your highness. Have a good day, your highness!" $cAthey immediately headed for the door, "Thank you again, your highne-" The door was shut firmly in $Atheir face. You shook your head at the Aide for their impoliteness but said nothing. You swung your feet out of bed and got up with a sigh and a stretch. You ran through your routine, washing your face, applying the usual scents you liked, attendants had slipped in at some point, and started to help you get dressed, first into your under clothes as you caught up on letters that had been sent to you but weren't important enough to be sent abroad. It was mostly letters from extended family in the other houses, of birthday congratulations and well wishes about your health. As per usual they had all been opened and resealed, with the dark grey seal of the spymaster. Approved and ready for your eyes. By the time <<cycle "$clothes1" autoselect>> <<option "the buttons of your waistcoat were done up" "waistcoat">> <<option "the buttons of your shirt were done up" "shirt">><</cycle>> and <<cycle "$clothes2" autoselect>> <<option "your trousers laced up" "trousers">> <<option "your skirt laced up" "skirt">><</cycle>>, you had gone through all of them. Nothing left to keep you stalled. It was time to reunite with the family you had left behind all that time ago. Out you went, the Aide trailing after you. The familial wing of the House was kept away from all the courts. It was the place where the family didn't have to put on a mask, or worse, take theirs off, uncaring about the views of their peers, not like they cared of Mother's view of them. Down a hallway, to the left. All the bedrooms were here. The private rooms, to eat and to rest in. The nursery. The exits straight to the stables. Another left, longer hallway. Then. The closed double doors to the family dining room. Voices on the otherside of the door. Them. You took a breath and pushed open the doors. [[The room fell silent.|RM.DiningRoom2.4]]

<<set $Arep to -5>>The colour drained from $Atheir face, $Atheir mouth parted gently. "Oh, oh, I'm so sorry, your highness! I forgot- I didn't mean to- I'm sorry, it just felt like I //knew// you for a second, and I misspoke and I-" $cAtheir voice gnawed at you. Why was $Athey being so annoying first thing in the morning? Your hand moved before your thoughts did. It reached up and slapped $Athem around the face, finally snapping $Athem out of $Atheir ramblings. $Aname stared at you, eyes wide and glassy before <<if $Agender is "male">>bowing<<elseif $Agender is "female">>curtsying<</if>> and scarpering for the door, the Aide shutting it firmly after $Athem. With no more thoughts given to the servant, you swung your feet out of bed and got up with a sigh and a stretch. You ran through your routine, washing your face, applying the usual scents you liked, attendants had slipped in at some point, and started to help you get dressed, first into your under clothes as you caught up on letters that had been sent to you but weren't important enough to be sent abroad. It was mostly letters from extended family in the other houses, of birthday congratulations and well wishes about your health. As per usual they had all been opened and resealed, with the dark grey seal of the spymaster. Approved and ready for your eyes. By the time <<cycle "$clothes1" autoselect>> <<option "the buttons of your waistcoat were done up" "waistcoat">> <<option "the buttons of your shirt were done up" "shirt">><</cycle>> and <<cycle "$clothes2" autoselect>> <<option "your trousers laced up" "trousers">> <<option "your skirt laced up" "skirt">><</cycle>>, you had gone through all of them. Nothing left to keep you stalled. It was time to reunite with the family you had left behind all that time ago. Out you went, the Aide trailing after you. The familial wing of the House was kept away from all the courts. It was the place where the family didn't have to put on a mask, or worse, take theirs off, uncaring about the views of their peers, not like they cared of Mother's view of them. Down a hallway, to the left. All the bedrooms were here. The private rooms, to eat and to rest in. The nursery. The exits straight to the stables. Another left, longer hallway. Then. The closed double doors to the family dining room. Voices on the otherside of the door. Them. You took a breath and pushed open the doors. [[The room fell silent.|RM.DiningRoom2.4]]

<<set $DRStasAsk to false>><<set $DRPavelAsk to false>><<set $DRKisIngAsk to false>>For just a moment, probably for the first time in any of their waking lives, the entire family was silent. Forks paused in the air, eyes unblinking, mouths paused mid chatter. Even the cigarette smoke seemed to freeze. "My $petname!" Your father immediately rose from his seat. The long dining room table was ladened down with food, with every seat but three filled. Your father scuttled around, napkin still clutched in his hand, to envelop you into a hug. "I was going to come wake you, but you were sleeping so deeply I decided to let you get your rest!" His dark hair was tied back from his face for once, showing off his sparkling, bright eyes as he looked at you. Finally, he gently took your elbow and turned to the others. Illuminated by the chandelier hanging low, casting a soft light over them. Pavel's seat remained empty. The twins were watching you with keen disinterest. Albina had cut her $ALhairtexture $ALhaircolour hair short, looking more like Abra- No. He had let his matching hair grow out, the strands curling along his shoulders. Abraim's eyes seemed to curve a bit when your $eyecolour eyes met his $ABeyecolour ones. Albina's matching ones didn't mimic her twin's. Your heart thudded loudly in your chest. Your two biggest bullies in your youth, sitting side by side, Abraim dropping a sugar cube into his tea, while Albina stirred a cup of muddy black coffee. Your gaze skittered away. Aksana. Sitting towards the head of the table, her plate bare but for four thin slices of an apple, two grapes and a cut up plum. Her pastel eyes met yours with ease and her painted lips purved into a small smile. The dark blue seemed to make her eyes pop even more, her near-black hair glossy and endless. Still the most beautiful person in the room, easily. She pierced the flesh of one of the pieces of fruit with her fork, her thin fingers curled around the metal as if it would break if she put too much pressure on it. Away, again. Stanislav. Stas. Messy $SThaircolour hair yet to be forcibly tamed into somewhat presentable <<if $SThairtexure is "dreadlocked">>dreadlocks.<<elseif $SThairtexture is "wavy">>waves.<<elseif $SThairtexture is "corkscrew curled" or $SThairtexture is "curly">>curls.<</if>> His $STeyecolour eyes were razor focused on lighting the cigarette hanging from his bottom lip but they flickered up with vague interest and he tilted his head to you. Then... A chair was pushed back. A figure stood. $Sname. Your Sasha. <<if $Sgender is "male">>He was the same, but he was also different. He had his usual colourless eyes, almost completely white. Black hair, tousled as per usual. Pale skin. More or less the spitting image of his own late father. But also he was taller. His cheeks dangerously sharp. And there was a smile you had never seen before gracing his lips. Teasing, yes, you knew that. But there was something sharper in there. Aleksandr's head was tilted, like a predator seeing a small animal in their territory that they'd never encountered before. And it took you a moment to realise his eyes were skittering up from your ankles, to your face.<<elseif $Sgender is "female">>She was the same, but she was also different. She had her usual colourless eyes, almost completely white. Black hair, pinned back with a few strands curling along her soft, skin, almost completely pale except for a soft pink blush. More or less the spitting image of her own late father. But also she had grown. Her cheeks dangerously sharp., And... There was a smile you had never seen before, gracing her lips. Teasing, yes, you kenw that. But there was something sharper in there. Aleksandra's head was tilted, like a predator seeing a small animal in their territory that they'd never encountered before. And it took you a moment to realise her eyes were skittering up from your ankles, to your face.<</if>> "Look who's back." $cSthey murmured before approaching you with firm, long strides.<<if $height is "short" or $height is "very short">> $cSthey smiled down at you, something stirring in those milky eyes. "And <<if $pronouns is "theythem">>$they haven't<<else>>$they hasn't<</if>> grown a bit. Still so small." You braced yourself just in time. A well known, gentle, playful flick to your forehead with a soft laugh.<<elseif $height is "average">> $cSthey gave you a teasing look. "And look at that. Finally caught up on me." $cStheir hand flicked upwards, a pinky touching your temple before tapping their own. "Or just still a bit smaller. Still a baby."<<elseif $height is "very tall" or $height is "tall">> $cSthey smirked as $Sthey got closer. "Look at you." Fondness filled those milky eyes. "Finally all grown up." There was almost awe in $Stheir voice, unable to stop $Sthemselves from going onto $Stheir tiptoes and touching your forehead with two fingers. <</if>> After $Sthey took a moment just to smile. Your <<if $adopted is true>>adopted<<else>>half<</if>> <<if $Sgender is "male">>brother<<else>>sister<</if>> enveloped you into a hug. There was a groan from behind the two of you. "And back at it." Stas muttered. "Alright, back up. $name is more my $sibling than yours, anyway." Sasha was pulled away, replaced by Stas. The scent of pomegranates and something else was replaced by cigarette smoke and sea salt. His hug was quite brief, more of a squeeze than a longer hug. He pulled away just to scrutinise you. "You're older." "So, you noticed?" You couldn't help but tease. Stas always brought that side out in people. Stanislav gave a side grin and stepped back, heading back to his own chair, pulling on the cigarette. Sasha took your elbow and gently pulled you to the seat next to $Stheirs. Your father happily took his seat, opposite of Pavel's empty one and next to... Your mother's vacant chair. "So, how was your time away? Still our little wheezy?" Stas ashed his cigarette onto one of the tea cup saucers, empty since his other hand was holding the actual cup. "If <<if $pronouns is "theythem">>$they are<<else>>$they is<</if>>," Aksana leaned across and plucked the cigarette from between his fingers and stubbed it out on his freshly buttered toast. "you shouldn't be smoking around $them." Stas angrily swatted her retreating fingers and tossed his ruined bread towards her, which landed short and just shy of Abraim's plate, who just wrinkled his nose and drank more of his tea. "Now, now." Your father smiled as he gently chided, smothering his rye bread with pate. "It's our first breakfast all together again." "Except for Pavel." Albina said flatly, picking through the fruit bowl to discard any raspberries. "And Mama." Abraim immediately followed up with, fingers immediately nabbing any of the berries his twin had discarded. "And the girls." Aksana swallowed a tiny bite of her apple and patted a napkin to her lips. "Huh?" Stanislav looked up from his newly aquired toast. "No, my girls are coming by to say good morning any moment now." "Not your bastards, Stas." Sasha drawled, leaning back in $Stheir chair, fingers playing with the candied almonds on $Stheir plate. "Inga and Kissy." You felt lost as you gathered things for your plate and asked the first question to come to your mind. <ul><li>[[Stanislav's bastards? Wait. Nicer word. "Your girls, Stas?"|RM.DR.Stas]]</li> <li>[[Was Pavel not coming? "What was that about Pasha?"|RM.DR.Pavel]]</li> <li>[[Wait! Your baby sisters! "Oh! Where is Kissy? Inga?"|RM.DR.KisIng]]</li></ul>

<<set $DRStasAsk to true>>"Oh, yes." Albina said flatly, turning her $ALeyecolour gaze to you. "No wonder Mama never said anything in her letters. The last bastard got tossed out in the cold-" "Shut up." Stas grunted, his jaw tense. But it seemed to relax a bit more when he looked at you. "I have two little girls now. Sirje and Iiris." You couldn't help but blink at him. He never enjoyed children. Even as a child he wanted to be playing with the big kids, although he had some strange jealousy over whom he considered to be <b>his</b> younger siblings. Protectiveness wasn't the same as wanting to spend time with you all though. He hated holding Kissy and Inga as babies, and no doubt he had been squeamish around you too. <<if $hobby is "Gambler">>He only started to like you properly when you found an interest in cards, and he only spent time with you in order to teach you how to gamble properly.<</if>> You had only been gone for six years. And in that time, he was now a father. Your irresponsible older brother, who had spent most of his time sneaking out and blaming his own misdemeanors on his innocent siblings... Was now a father of two. "They're sweethearts." He continued, rubbing his knuckle against his freckled cheek. "Sirje is already a smart little cookie. Bothering Inga to play animals together or something. Iiris has just started to learn that she can use her feet, so that's cute." "And... What about their mother?" You ventured. "Hm? What about her?" "... Shouldn't she be eating with us?" You tried again, feeling a bit smaller as Sasha let out a huff of amusement next to you. "Oh, that's cute." Albina snickered and rolled her eyes while Abraim gave you a crooked smile. "She's a maid that he really likes. The way she polishes his shoes really gets him going-" Sasha leaned over to whisper loudly, only to get an apple flung at $Stheir head. $cSthey caught it easily and picked up a knife to start slicing it into neat pieces with a hum. "Now, now. There's already been too much food flinging already." Your father raised his slice of bread, pointing it at both $Sname and then Stas, as if his breakfast could threaten them into behaving. "Sasha, no need to be so uncouth." "Sorry, Papa." Sasha smiled sweetly. "And Stas. Eat food, don't waste it." Stanislav just grumbled. He took a bite of his toast begrudgingly. "It's not like that. She's nice. And she's not a maid anymore. She gets to enjoy breakfast in our rooms. You're just mad that Mama got her first grandchildren from me." "Bastards aren't real grandchildren, Stanislav." Aksana rolled a grape across her plate with a keen disinterest, before working the prongs of her fork deeper into the skin. "You're the first in decades to claim his bastards." "Stop using that word!" "Sana." Your father sighed gently. "You know Stas doesn't-" "I know, I know, sorry, sorry." She finally ate the tortured grape. "I'm just saying Sasha isn't mad. $cSthey still gets to make legitimate heirs." You felt another fight brewing along the table. <ul> <<if $DRPavelAsk is false>> <li>[[Back to an important question. "What was that about Pasha?"|RM.DR.Pavel]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRKisIngAsk is false>> <li>[[Time to switch topics! "Oh! Where is Kissy? Inga?"|RM.DR.KisIng]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRPavelAsk is true and $DRKisIngAsk is true>> <li>[[You hadn't been home in ages. So where was Mama? "What's keeping Mama?"|RM.DR.Mama]]</li><</if>></ul>

<<set $DRPavelAsk to true>>"Who said anything about Pasha?" Stas grumbled. "I did." Albina said flatly, cupping her coffee with both hands and raising it to take a sip. Her eyelids fluttered shut for a moment before reopening and pining you with one of her usual stoney looks: dark, uniniterested and $ALeyecolour. "Mama invited him home for your arrival. He never sent anything back. Seems like you're not his darling little //soldier// now, are you? When he's got so many new shiny ones to play with." Your stomach twisted unpleasantly, as if you had just drank curdled milk. It was a disgusting mixture of panic and hurt. It was childish, a faint, hazy memory of his large, warm hand holding yours, your smaller fingers clinging but safe in the knowledge he'd never let go. Stable, firm, stronger than the ground beneath your feet, stronger than Atlas holding up the sky, just so it wouldn't crush you. Then him letting go. It didn't matter what. The memory broke at that point. It was most probably him pulling the reins of his favourite horse, Thunder. Or letting go to pick you up to put you on the saddle. Or just letting go so that Sasha could take it instead. It was strange, the effect that memory had on you. The feeling of your stomach dropping out, as if you had just been gutted, at the thought of the strongest, steadiest entity in your tiny world slipping away. Then hurt washed over the panic, like water on a campfire, it doused the orange, crackling flames, leaving behind the billowing black smoke. Charcoal insides but the heat was out, "Oh." Was the only thing you managed. "Albina, stop it." Your father put down his cup rather harshly. "You know he's in the Dying Lands. It's a long journey on horse back, nevermind on foot." He gave you a warm, soft look, before reaching across to take your hand. "We shall see him at the march in Kiovia. The parade for your mother and I's anniversary. He will be there and he'll be so happy to see you." His smile was genuine, his eyes bright. You felt your body relax immediately. You weren't a child anymore, you had been so much worse- Why did you still rely on Pavel like this? You couldn't figure it out, and you doubted you would until you saw him again. Your thoughts broke away from their endless tangle when you heard a soft chuckle and your eyes flicked upwards, just to find Abraim's on you. His empty $ABeyecolour eyes on you, his $ABhaircolour locks falling carelessly in his face. His lips weren't even curved into a nasty grin like Albina's was. But he was laughing at you. For what? Pavel was one of your few constant companions when you were younger, along with $Sname, and along with one of the servants close in age to you. You never saw the twins when you got ill, why was he laughing?<<if $hobby is "Music">> Was the time you two had spent together, endlessly playing together on your instruments truly gone? For a moment you felt the warmth of his fingers against yours, trying to make sure you were curling them correctly for your instrument.<</if>> He didn't break his gaze away from you and just popped a grape into his mouth and continued to slowly chew. <ul> <<if $DRStasAsk is false>> <li>[[... Hold on. Did someone mention bastards? And Stas? In the same sentence? "... Wait, what was that about your girls? Stas?"|RM.DR.Stas]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRKisIngAsk is false>> <li>[[Just thinking about Stas' own little girls made your thoughts turn to your younger sisters. "Oh! Where is Kissy? Inga?"|RM.DR.KisIng]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRPavelAsk is true and $DRKisIngAsk is true>> <li>[[You hadn't been home in ages. So where was Mama? "What's keeping Mama?"|RM.DR.Mama]]</li><</if>></ul>

"Sorry, $petname." Your father gave you a kindly look. "She's busy with a newcomer to the court. She'll be down when done." "Or she'll forget we exist." Abraim leaned back in his chair, taking the napkin from his lap and dropping it on his plate. "If she was coming, she'd have arrived ages ago." "Hm. She seems to really like the newcomer too. Something about "broadened horizons." Albina said, taking off her glasses to polish them on her shirt before putting them back on. "More like-" "-broadened legs." "-broadened legs." The twins grinned at each other, pleased. Your father sighed, his bread paused halfway to his mouth. He thought about saying something but just muttered under his breath and popped it into his mouth anyway, chewing. "She most probably lost track of time." Aksana drained her cup and placed it back with a dainty //clink//. "You know how she is." "I think it's taking longer because she wants to start setting up marriages too. Apparently it won't be too hard, whatever that means." Stas looked around, seeing mostly emptied plates and your bare one. A sign. He popped open his cigarette case again and tucked one against his bottom lip. Sasha scoffed, $Stheir thumb roughly piercing the flesh of $Stheir last piece of fruit, slicing it in half. "//Apparently it won't be too hard?// Does little Stanislav want to get to making more bastards, or are these going to be legitimate?" "Fuck off, <<if $Sgender is "female">>bitch.<<else>>bastard.<</if>>" Stas snapped. "$Sname, Stanislav, stop it. You'd never use this language around your mother!" Your father finally snapped, but immediately took a moment, closing his eyes before sighing softly. "$name, be a darling? Go fetch your mother. I don't want her to miss breakfast. And you haven't eaten yet. You two can eat together!" Your father leaned across the table to squeeze your hand. "I'll stick around." Stas immediately said, taking his cigarette from his lips to tuck behind his ear. "The girls will want to see her." "And your daughters too." Aksana motioned to stand and a servant rushed forward to pull her chair out for her. "... That's who I was referring to. Don't you have a tapeworm to eat, Sana?" "Not till this evening, Stas." She smiled sweetly. "Be nice to Kissy and Inga, they're still family." You ignored those two and just gave your father a smile and stood, your chair being pulled back for you. Leaving behind the dining room, the Aide rejoined you at the door, shadowing you as you went. Your mother's offices were on the top floor of the family wing, past the nursery and the private bedrooms and swimming pool and living rooms. Past the art rooms and the libraries and the play rooms. Up and up. You hadn't been in her offices much. Forbidden as a child outside of some Septsolis afternoons where you got to take tea with her. When you got older, you were too sick. So you ascended the stairs, the final spiral one all the way too the top. Up and up and up and up and the door. Voices behind it. You raise your knuckles and knock. Voices cease. "Enter." Her voice. Your mother's voice... [[You opened the door.|RM.MamaMeet]]

<<set $DRKisIngAsk to true>>"The girls?" Aksana picked out a sugarcube from a little pot and began to crush it to pieces, digging her nails into each granular piece before it was all nothing but fine sand. She then dips her pinkie in her water before pressing it against a small section of sugar, lifting only a bit of it away. Then- into the cup of green tea. She swirls the finger around before taking it back out and drying it on a napkin. You can't help but notice your father's pained expression at this. <<if $hobby is "Art">>You could understand. When you two got to sit together and draw, there was always lemonade and sweet water and watered down wine for Aksana, but also food. Sugared plums and violets and almonds, with soft little cakes and flaky pastries with soft, sweet insides. You two would gladly eat and drink and chatter, Aksana licking her fingers to get the sugary liquor aftertaste off of her palms, after the juice from the fruits had dripped down. She didn't care then. She shouldn't care now.<</if>> "They should be coming up when Mama is with us." $Sname rolled a clementine around $Stheir plate with $Stheir palm, softening it before beginning to peel the outer flesh away with deft, precise fingers. You watched as $Stheir pale fingernails dug in slightly, juice gently bleeding past it, before $Sthey tore the strip away, revealing the soft insides. Soon Sasha had a pile of identical pieces of bleeding fruit in a pile. "Kissy is going to be old enough to sit at the table soon, though." "Yeah. That's going to be fun." Stas grumbled, looking more as if he was pouting than actually annoyed. "Whining and sticky and-" "She's eleven, not an infant. She knows not to throw her food," Laszlo gave a pointed look at Aksana and Stas. "nor to eat with her hands. Or fingers." Another look, again for Aksana who was brushing the sugar off her plate, then to Sasha who just smiled and ripped another piece of soft fruit from its shell. "The last time we had to eat together she spilt her lemonade and jam all over her dress and cried for two hours." Stas muttered. "My kids make less of a mess when eating." <ul><<if $DRStasAsk is false>> <li>[[... Hold on. His kids? Didn't someone say something about his bastards? "... Wait, what was that about your girls? Stas?"|RM.DR.Stas]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRPavelAsk is false>> <li>[[All this talk about your siblings... "What was that about Pasha?"|RM.DR.Pavel]]</li><</if>> <<if $DRPavelAsk is true and $DRKisIngAsk is true>> <li>[[You hadn't been home in ages. So where was Mama? "What's keeping Mama?"|RM.DR.Mama]]</li><</if>></ul>

<<if $Rhaircolour is "honey blond" and $Rhairtexture is "wavy" and $Reyecolour is "hazel" and $Rskincolour is "pale">><<if $adopted is false>>It was often remarked, that while the rest of your siblings took mostly after their respective fathers... You were the only one to truely take after your mother. A spitting image. The same hair, eyes, skin.<<if $beautymark is "eye">> Even the same beauty mark, kissed by your eyelashes everytime you blinked.<</if>><<else>>It was... Strange. You weren't related to her. Your mother. You were adopted by Laszlo, your father. You had no blood connected to either of them. And yet... You were the spitting image of the Tsarina. Hells, you were easily confused for her blood kin, while... Others, like Stas or Inga, were confused for other members of the family.<</if>> <<if $looks is "Plain">>Except... To you, there was something... Distinctly ethereal about her. Something that you didn't have.<<elseif $looks is "Handsome">>Except your features were more... Striking than hers. She was soft, to hide the steel interior, while you were the opposite. She once took your chin and looked closely at you. "... Hm. If I had been born a man, I'd have been very popular with the women of court." Then patted your cheek. It was her way of calling you beautiful.<<elseif $looks is "Pretty">>It was amazing. You two were near identical, even in how your eyes were. Soft, pretty. Though your mother had innards that were the opposite of sweet and soft, but she seemed to enjoy that you did.<<else>> There were a few differences in how you presented. She was softer, more feminine, more real. She always preferred to say that you seemed to have been plucked right out of a children's book about fae folk.<</if>><<elseif $Rhaircolour is "honey blond" or $Rhairtexture is "wavy" or $Reyecolour is "hazel" or $Rskincolour is "pale">><<if $adopted is false>>While most of you and your siblings largely inherited traits from your father, you got to enjoy a few from your mother. It must have been grating, having nine children in all and hardly any of them looked a lot like her, even from her first marriage. Pavel, Aksana and $Sname all inherited their looks from their father, with only a few traits from her. But she always said she didn't mind, she liked that her... Later children looked like her husband. "Love matches make beautiful children" She'd say when it was just the six of you. <<if $looks is "Plain">>She'd smile, oblivious to the little spark inside of you that curled up and wanted to die. Stas was pretty in his way, Abraim was attractive in a more ethereal, timeless way, while Albina was deeply handsome, striking in her eyes and cheekbones. Kissy was already looking pretty, and Inga... Well, she was cute. You felt like you stuck out a bit among them.<<else>>You had noticed whenever she said it, your siblings sat up more, practically preening under her gaze. You did it too. It couldn't be helped.<</if>><<else>>You somewhat looked a like the Tsarina,<<if $Rhaircolour is "dark brown" or $Rskincolour is "warm black" or $Rhairtexture is "dreadlocked" or $Reyecolour is "black">>roughly the same amount you shared traits with Laszlo, your father. But, with both, everything that seemed shared was slightly different.<<else>>unlike her husband, who you didn't share that much with.<</if>><</if>><<else>>You didn't look like the Tsarina.<<if $adopted is true>><<if $Rhaircolour is "dark brown" or $Rskincolour is "warm black" or $Rhairtexture is "dreadlocked" or $Reyecolour is "black">> But you did look a bit more like Laszlo, your father. It did make you wonder if you birth father and he were somehow related, but no dice.<<else>> It just made it all the more obvious that you were... "The Adopted One". But you were no less glad to be apart of their family.<</if>><</if>><</if>> And here she was. Sitting in her office, with high domed ceilings and painted windows and dark wooden furniture, her personal library decorating the walls. Sitting there, stately, at her desk, looking at someone in the chair opposite before her eyes flickered to you. Her soft lips parted in surprise and she held up her hand. "Excuse me. My child has come home." And she stood, coming around the desk. She was still tall. She was still timelessly pretty. She still wore her dresses bright, the current one a soft pink. And when she hugged you, you felt whole. Like stitches that were lax, suddenly tightening, cinching fabric closer together. Your mother smelled of her usual perfume, mint and white jasmine. Her cheek was powdery, and automatically, like you had done every morning for over a decade and a half, you turned your head to kiss it. Something in you wanted to cry. You were home. You closed your eyes and tucked your face against her shoulder, hearing her sigh softly as you did so. Then softly- "My baby." She let out a gentle breath. "My baby is home." You stayed like that for a while. Just... Getting to be with her. Hugging her. Then her arms gently loosened. "Oh dear. And there was me, missing our reunion breakfast. How was everyone else?" She pulled back a bit just to smile at you. You always forgot there was a slight chip in her one of her teeth, her canine. It wasn't noticeable until you got close. "It was fine. Stas is waiting so his girls can say hello to you. I think Papa might also be waiting? The twins focused on making fun of everyone else for a change, so that was nice." You couldn't help but smile at your mother's tinkling laugh at that. But something else caught your eye, over her shoulder. Someone was looking at the two of you, resting $Dtheir chin on $Dtheir hand. <<if $Dgender is "male">>An attractive man. Rich, dark tawny skin, with even darker eyes, endless like the night sky. No, not deep enough. Like the sea, late into the night, with only the few specks that was the waves reflecting the stars above. The only thing deeper, was the inquisitive swirl found there, like a whirpool, pulling deeper into his pupil, where there lay nothing at all. His hair was darker than wood from the walnut trees, a soft brown that curled around his face and along the nape of his neck, already tangled. It gave him a roguish look that was hard to find at the court, among any of the nobility. He must have come from farther East than where Salander House currently stood but you wouldn't know of any of the provinces he would have come from. Upon meeting your eyes, his blank expression gently curved into a smile, showing a hint of teeth, but no points. A practised smile. Pretty.<<else>>A beautiful woman. Rich, dark tawny skin, with even darker eyes, endless like the night sky. No, not deep enough. Like the sea, late into the night, with only the few specks that was the waves reflecting the stars above. The only thing deeper, was the inquisitive swirl found there, like a whirpool, pulling deeper into her pupil, where there lay nothing at all. Her hair was darker than wood from the walnut trees, a soft brown that curled around her face and drifted all the way down to her hips, already tangled. It gave her a roguish look that was hard to find at the court, among any of the nobility. She must have come from farther East than where Salander House currently stood but you wouldn't know of any of the provinces she would have come from. Upon meeting your eyes, her blank expression gently curved into a smile, showing a hint of teeth, but no points. A practised smile. Pretty.<</if>> "Ah, oh yes, my apologies. $name, this is $Dname $Dpatname Aleksenko. Newest arrival to our court. $Dtitle Aleksenko, this is one of my younger children, $name $patname Kiss-Kosa. Recently returned from Helvetia after a too long absence." Your mother gently took your elbow and steered you closer. $Dtitle Aleksenko stood from $Dtheir chair and <<if $Dgender is "female">>curtsied, bowing her head deeply... But you swear she flicked her dark eyes upwards, meeting yours for just a moment.<<else>>took your hand as he bowed, brushing the knuckles with his lips... But you swear he flicked his dark eyes upwards, meeting yours as his lips held for a second too long before letting go.<</if>> "Charmed." $cDtheir smile showed no teeth this time, but $Dtheir eyes curved, crinkling at the corners. A bit more real. "Oh yes." Your mother happily sighed. You glanced at her and she didn't look back, just smiling at the noble before you. "We suspect $Dname will become quite the jewel in our midst." You glanced back at the noble, but your eyes flickered down when there was movement behind $Dtheir legs, under the desk. Two eyes, staring and wide, the colour of deep, unrelenting amber. It came closer, slipping out of the shadows, into the light. A leopard? Fur dappled white and black, looking slightly too big for its size. With a soft pink nose and a tail that was far too long, wrapped around its paw. Staring. "Yes, as well as you Sabnock." Your mother inclined her head. "We only have a few Witches of the Inferno here, and we appreciate you coming all this way to take your rightful place at court." Oh. Your stomach tightened. $cDthey was of the Inferno. No doubt the leopard was $Dtheir Other. Hell-Kin. $cDthey was Empowered. Due to your own... Well. You didn't have any gifts. Your three elder siblings inherited your mother's blood magic. Stas had some Elemental magic he never looked into practising. The twins might have Illusionary magic. Then you and Kissy and Inga... Nothing. Due to your own status as child of the Crown, you had a good standing at Court. But barely. In a different world, $Dtheir position would surpass yours... According to some nobles, it already did. Any Inferno Witch was above non-magicals, even if they were royalty. You took a breath. Your manners. "Welcome to Court, $Dtitle Aleksenko, Sabnock. I'm sure you both will be very happy here." Sabnock slowly bared it's teeth at you, showing off the black gums and teeth that looked like glass stained with black. $Dname, however, gave you a pleased look. "I can tell I am going to enjoy my time immensely." $cDthey tilted $Dtheir head. "Now, please excuse me. I don't wish to keep you from your reunion breakfast. Your majesty." $cDthey inclined $Dtheir head at your mother as Sabnock gave a gentle leap, climbing up $Dtheir back to rest along $Dtheir shoulders. $Dname glanced at you. "$title $name." $cDthey said with a smile. Then $Dthey strode past you and your mother, the door opening on its own before shutting after them. Silence tinged the air for only a moment before your mother turned to you once more. "My apologies for running so late, sweetness. $Dtitle $Dname is just quite enjoyable to talk to, and so intelligent. It's hard to believe that $Dthey was nothing but a serf not too long ago. Shows you how even the lowest of creatures can bring themselves upwards. If they tried." She rounded her desk again, picking up her quill to scribble down a note before putting it back. "Now. Let's go down, shall we?" She happily slipped her arm into yours, and away the two of you went. Back down the stairs, as she eagerly told you about the parade planned next month, how Pavel definitely will be there and the family will finally sit down to a meal with him once more. The three new Inferno Witches that joined the court. That you'll love your two nieces. That Kissy, sorry, Dusia, was counting down the days to her twelfth birthday so she could sit with you all at the table. Asking about your time away, if "that brute Pasha sent from the battlefields" was treating you correctly. If you were excited to be back? [[Then, back to the dining room.|RM.25]]

True to his word, Stas was still there, along with your father, except there was now four more newcomers. Evdokiya, your second youngest sister immediately straightened up and curtsied to your mother when she came in before running over to hug her, her $KIhaircolour braids flying behind her. Inga was harder to see, but she eventually peaked out from under the table and fixed you with a stare. "... $csibling?" She was looking up at you with her $INeyecolour eyes, somehow flat and unfocused. You couldn't help but to crouch down, not having seen your baby sister for so long. The last time you saw her she must have been... Two? "Hello, Inga." She smiled at you faintly. "Back on the path with the rest of us, on and on." She blinked at you like an owl, and waited, as if you could ever respond to that. "... I guess I am." She nodded thoughtfully and crawled back, further under the table. You finally gave your attention to the two youngest in the room. Sirje was the older one, maybe about three, who immediately asked who you were. Then if you had a present for her. She was really cute, with round, freckled cheeks and $SThaircolour hair that struggled to be contained into two bunches. Iiris was barely a year old. She mostly just mumbled and kept trying to stand up as your father cooed at her. You and your mother finally got to have your breakfast, Stas taking his own daughters back to their family apartment and Kissy begged to be able to stay. It was allowed, as a treat. You, your mother, your father sitting by her and helping himself to "a second breakfast. Being a grandpa is tiring work", Kissy sitting next to you and excitedly swinging her feet and Inga, still under the table, whispering to herself sometimes. <<if $changeroom is true>>You took this moment to bring up maybe changing your room.<<if $oldroom is "Cutesy" or $oldroom is "Astrological" or $oldroom is "Nature">> "No!" Your father looked up from his milky coffee, biscuit paused halfway to his mouth. "But... It was just so adorable!"<<elseif $oldroom is "Dark">> "Oh. Well." Your father popped the biscuit he was drowning in his coffee into his mouth. "It was a bit... Gloomy. A change would be good for you!"<<elseif $oldroom is "Ornate">> Your mother gently laughed. "Really?" She gave you a soft smile. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd want to get rid of your cornets and little trinkets." Your father gave a whine, turning his big $LAeyecolour eyes to her. "But the room was so cute!"<<elseif $oldroom is "Religious">> "Oh, thank goodness." Your mother slumped back into her seat, as if a very tense string had been cut free. "It's about time." Your father immediately leaned across and squeezed her hand. "Your mother means to say that... It's good to let go of a very trying time in your life." "No, I mean thank goodness that we can get rid of all that paraphernalia. Hopefully I-N-G-A," She leaned forward as she spelled out the letters, pointing with one finger at the table, everyone knowing your youngest sister was busy... Playing? Underneath there. "doesn't want any of it."<</if>> You took the moment to jump in and explain what room idea you were thinking of next. Your mother gently put her hand up. "We shall discuss it later. We will need the architect with us." You nodded happily and added another morsel to your plate, relaxing into the chair. Privately, you were thinking... <<if $oldroom is "Cutesy">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Something a bit more... Dark. Darker colours, a more dramatic look. Somewhat how books showed gothic castles." "Dark">> <<option "Something with stars... Constellations and moons and dark blues and deep blacks and silvers. Yes. The night sky under your very roof." "Astrological">> <<option "Maybe... A bit more natural. Lots of plants, shades of brown and green, flowers. A little greenhouse in your room." "Nature">> <<option "A reflection of your status. A bit fancier, with jewels, gilded edges, maybe mementos with your older crowns from events long past. A few paintings... Yes." "Ornate">> <<option "Something.... Well. Mother would have a fit. But something that veers a bit more religious. The Eye of Creation, Stained windows. A bit more plain. It would make you feel... Better." "Religious">><</cycle>><<elseif $oldroom is "Dark">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Maybe something a bit... Sweeter? You wanted to see a bit more colour in your room. Some softer, pastel colours, old mementos from your childhood and a few more of the cuter variety..." "Cutesy">> <<option "Something with stars... Constellations and moons and dark blues and deep blacks and silvers. Yes. The night sky under your very roof." "Astrological">> <<option "Maybe... A bit more natural. Lots of plants, shades of brown and green, flowers. A little greenhouse in your room." "Nature">> <<option "A reflection of your status. A bit fancier, with jewels, gilded edges, maybe mementos with your older crowns from events long past. A few paintings... Yes." "Ornate">> <<option "Something.... Well. Mother would have a fit. But something that veers a bit more religious. The Eye of Creation, Stained windows. A bit more plain. It would make you feel... Better." "Religious">><</cycle>><<elseif $oldroom is "Astrological">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Maybe something a bit... Sweeter? You wanted to see a bit more colour in your room. Some softer, pastel colours, old mementos from your childhood and a few more of the cuter variety..." "Cutesy">> <<option "Something a bit more... Dark. Darker colours, a more dramatic look. Somewhat how books showed gothic castles." "Dark">> <<option "Maybe... A bit more natural. Lots of plants, shades of brown and green, flowers. A little greenhouse in your room." "Nature">> <<option "A reflection of your status. A bit fancier, with jewels, gilded edges, maybe mementos with your older crowns from events long past. A few paintings... Yes." "Ornate">> <<option "Something.... Well. Mother would have a fit. But something that veers a bit more religious. The Eye of Creation, Stained windows. A bit more plain. It would make you feel... Better." "Religious">><</cycle>><<elseif $oldroom is "Nature">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Maybe something a bit... Sweeter? You wanted to see a bit more colour in your room. Some softer, pastel colours, old mementos from your childhood and a few more of the cuter variety..." "Cutesy">> <<option "Something a bit more... Dark. Darker colours, a more dramatic look. Somewhat how books showed gothic castles." "Dark">> <<option "Something with stars... Constellations and moons and dark blues and deep blacks and silvers. Yes. The night sky under your very roof." "Astrological">> <<option "A reflection of your status. A bit fancier, with jewels, gilded edges, maybe mementos with your older crowns from events long past. A few paintings... Yes." "Ornate">> <<option "Something.... Well. Mother would have a fit. But something that veers a bit more religious. The Eye of Creation, Stained windows. A bit more plain. It would make you feel... Better." "Religious">><</cycle>><<elseif $oldroom is "Ornate">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Maybe something a bit... Sweeter? You wanted to see a bit more colour in your room. Some softer, pastel colours, old mementos from your childhood and a few more of the cuter variety..." "Cutesy">> <<option "Something a bit more... Dark. Darker colours, a more dramatic look. Somewhat how books showed gothic castles." "Dark">> <<option "Something with stars... Constellations and moons and dark blues and deep blacks and silvers. Yes. The night sky under your very roof." "Astrological">> <<option "Maybe... A bit more natural. Lots of plants, shades of brown and green, flowers. A little greenhouse in your room." "Nature">> <<option "Something.... Well. Mother would have a fit. But something that veers a bit more religious. The Eye of Creation, Stained windows. A bit more plain. It would make you feel... Better." "Religious">><</cycle>><<elseif $oldroom is "Religious">><<cycle "$room" autoselect>> <<option "Maybe something a bit... Sweeter? You wanted to see a bit more colour in your room. Some softer, pastel colours, old mementos from your childhood and a few more of the cuter variety..." "Cutesy">> <<option "Something a bit more... Dark. Darker colours, a more dramatic look. Somewhat how books showed gothic castles." "Dark">> <<option "Something with stars... Constellations and moons and dark blues and deep blacks and silvers. Yes. The night sky under your very roof." "Astrological">> <<option "Maybe... A bit more natural. Lots of plants, shades of brown and green, flowers. A little greenhouse in your room." "Nature">> <<option "A reflection of your status. A bit fancier, with jewels, gilded edges, maybe mementos with your older crowns from events long past. A few paintings... Yes." "Ornate">><</cycle>><</if>><</if>> You were home at last... You were... Home. [[Elsewhere...|RM.TAPreviews]]

With a low exhale, the Aide finally pulled away from the whining servant, leaning back on their haunches to try and catch their breath. They enjoyed the feeling of their orgasm washing over them, after so long not being able to do anything. The resort had more than enough interested parties that kept them entertained while their royal was abed, but the long ride back to Varan? They thought they'd go insane. But it was surprising how many servants, indentured or otherwise, didn't mind immediately trying to paw at them. They were used to a degree of fear, but apparently that went hand in hand with the amount of people that wanted them to grip them by the throat and use their bodies thoroughly. The current one that was slowly pulling herself out of bed, breathing heavily, had practically ambushed them. <<if $Asex is "male">>They idly used the basin in the room to clean themself up, dragging a wet cloth against their cock before hunting down their trousers to put on.<<else>>They idly used the basin in the room to clean themself up, dragging a wet cloth against their thighs and cunt before hunting down their trousers to put on.<</if>> They only had a bit longer until they had to be at your side again and they weren't going to be late. They never were before. And won't stop now, especially since the danger to you is going to be more real than ever. [[Outside...|RM.APreviews]]

$Aname was waiting outside. Again. For the tenth time that day. $cAtheir day started at just past midnight so... Probably not as much as $Athey could have gone down to stare at the gate. They weren't back. Not yet. $cAthey should have asked the $title about it, properly. It was unlikely they would have used the same path as the royal carriage but... They should have.... Shit. $Aname sighed and rubbed at $Atheir arms. There was no use waiting outside the entire time, but still. Maybe another few minutes... Just until... "$Aname! Get back inside! The storm isn't letting up and we can't have a pair of hands missing at dinner, not with the full family dining again!" Lebedev shouted from the kitchen exit before ducking back in. ... $cAthey was supposed to be sleeping right now anyway, before the evening shift. $Aname could nap or... <<if $Arep is 0>>Yeah. Sleep is the best way to go. $cAthey was dead tired from all the extra work that day. Bedtime it was. At least for about two hours before $Athey was up again.<<elseif $Arep is 5>>Well... $cAthey could spend some time doing some of $title $name's laundry. All that was left was folding. And $they... Well. No one with blue blood spends that much time being nice to $Athem. Maybe $Aname couldn't help the little smile that stole over their face.<<elseif $Arep is -5>>$cAthey had been meaning... To do something ever since that slap this morning... $Aname had been dying to get back to $Atheir rooms, or at least someplace quiet... To deal with... It.<<if $Agender is "male">> He had been hard as anything leaving that room. He couldn't help it. The $title looked... Well... Good. Bedhead, frowning at him, and then the slap? He was dying to deal with his issue for a while now, the erection flagging after a while, but the desire still burning in his stomach. Every time he thought about it, sparks shot through his veins. And hells, he really needed to spend some time touching himself or he'd go insane.<<else>>She had been wet as anything leaving that room. She couldn't help it. The $title looked... Well... Good. Bedhead, frowning at her, and then the slap? She was dying to deal with her issue for a while now, the desire still burning in her stomach. Every time she thought about it, sparks shot through her veins. And hells, she really needed to spend some time touching herself or she'd go insane.<</if>><</if>> $cAthey turned on $Atheir heel and headed back inside. [[Walking down the halls...|RM.SPreviews]]

Sasha enjoyed the stretch of hallway between the private rooms and $Stheir court. It was close but not too short that $Sthey didn't get to spend some time thinking about the newest arrival. $cSthey knew $Sthey had missed $Stheir little $sibling, but it never dawned on $Sthem how much until $Sthey got to hold $name in $Stheir arms. It made $Sthem feel warm. $Sname didn't easily connect to most people, not because $Sthey couldn't, but mostly that $Sthey didn't really want to. A long time ago, Sasha had chosen to actively love $Stheir baby sibling, in the way $they needed. Protected and adored. <<if $adopted is true>>$cSthey could even remember talks between $Stheir parents and Uncle Leoni. About the two of you marrying when of the proper age. An advantageous match, the spare and the heir, to unite Dalmatiae and Varan. At the time you were... Just about to turn two, and Sasha was eight. At the time, $Sthey was grossed right out. "I'm not marrying a baby!" $Sname had grumbled and had started to kick at things until Laszlo pointed out it would only happen when you would reach your twentieth year. And now here you two were. Sasha in their twenty-eighth year, you on your twenty-first. In another world, where your parents were alive, you two would be married. Not siblings. And Sasha... Thinks this is the first time they ever regretted not having the former over the latter.<<else>> $cSthey remember getting annoyed that there was talks about you being married off to one of your cousins when you were... About six? One of the snots from House Pardina, after the recent "scuffle" between the two, just as a gesture of good will. Sasha had thrown a tantrum, so much so that Pavel had to heft $Sthem up, a lean thirteen year old being hauled up by a seventeen year old like $Sthey were nothing but a sack of clothes. It was "normal", Pasha had tried to explain. First of all, the "cousins" were so distantly related to each other, they shared basically no blood at all, but the Houses remained close. Second of all, their own parents had been related. That shut Sasha up immediately. Their father, Marlen was their mother's uncle and husband, right up until his face made contact with the rocks so hard it more or less exploded. While Sasha maintained that their parents should sell off the twins instead of you, it did make $Sthem check out $Stheir own family history. Many interkin marriages and love affairs, but not too many to pollute the line. Those who did, were cut off, like fat off the meat. Dumped by the wayside. Then $Sname shut the book and put it away. $cSthey forgot about it. Until now.<</if>> $Sname didn't understand the shock of pleasure that invaded $Sthem at the sight of $them. You were a stranger but also $Sthey knew you. Better than anyone probably, even if you didn't think $Sthey did. The sight of you nourished $Sthem in a way that nothing else really ever had. And $Sthey took that taste, that feeling of finally being full after feeling like $Sthey'd been starving for so long and pocketed it. Then $Sname threw open the doors of $Stheir own court, met with the cheers of their peers. Time to sate some other hungers. [[In the library...|RM.DPreviews]]

Sabnock was prowling along the shelves again. $Dname didn't know if it was because it wanted to make sure $Dthey got $Dtheir privacy, or because it wanted to see if it could scare some other library goers. Silly thing. It should know better. Dasha was quite sure that $Dthey was the most well read among them all. Books were more than just words to rattle off in speeches. You had to understand the meaning behind them, not take them at face value. And $Dname knew that $Dthey were surrounded by the most incompetent idiots that couldn't understand the subtext behind most things laid in front of them. $cDtheir first two weeks at court were... Underwhelming. But also overwhelming. The splendour was almost too much. After spending most of $Dtheir life serving in the fields before being given to the kennels, $Dtheir hands already calloused and rough, the opulence... Almost made $Dthem sick. It made $Dthem wish $Dthey had gone snow blind in the three months it took to get there. From nothing but dirt browns and sky blacks and muddied greens, to the rough earthy tones of the dogs. Then the endless white of the snow, the grey of the slush, Sabnock's fur nearly blending in if not for the black rings on it's fur. To... What? Golden gilded walls, off-white paint, deep rubies and emeralds and pearls and sapphires indenting everything from brooches to the fucking silverware. It was astounding really. To go from nothing to excess, but not immediately gorging on it. $Dname knew what happened to those who did. $cDthey had seen the peasants, starved to nothing but skin and bones. Then a moment of charity, sweets and rich meats tossed into the mud for them to immediately shove into their mouths. Their stomachs later exploding from the excess. Because they didn't take their time to slowly expand the shrunken organ. Like trying to overstuff a dried leather pouch. Dasha never gorged. Instead $Dthey watched. Like $Dthey always did. And $Dthey was not too impressed with what $Dthey saw. There were only a handful of Black Conjurers- Inferno Witches, Inferno Witches, Witches of the Inferno, dammit- among the court. Dasha didn't think much of them. A few were nice. It was hard to imagine them scrabbling at life, the same way $Dname had, wrenching $Dtheir soul from $Dtheir body, to hand over and hope for the love of everything that existed, that it was enough to keep living. Then to go from living... To being alive. From existing to being, from living to being alive, from toiling in the fields, $Dtheir back fresh with lashes from a belt, to sleeping in, eating whatever $Dthey wanted, to not even having to do $Dtheir own laundry. But what $Dthey truly saw... Was that $Dtheir place in this life was not truly cemented. The only ones that were, was the family. But anyone could be killed ($Dname was quite sure that four murders had occured in $Dtheir time here. Three from "horseplay" gone wrong and one from an affair made public) or exiled, or... Well anything. Displease one of the spoiled children, out. Misstep at a party? Out. Probably use the fish fork instead of the fruit fork? Out. So, $Dname had come up with a plan. $cDthey had started... Experimenting while first with Sabnock. Finding things out. About the infernispawn. About how more infantile Sanguine Conjur- Witches were more or less born with a hell-kin. What $Dtheir own research had brought to life was... Fascinating. And after seeing what... Marriage prospects there were around here, Dasha had finally decided to go all in with it. Until now. It had been disappointing. The Tsarina herself was enthused about a marriage to her own kin. Either her children or the closer relations. She didn't seem to have the same thoughts about the other Inferno Witches at court, which was quite the compliment. But Dasha had started to think $Dthey would have to turn down the prospects. What the hells even was there? The would-be heir, now thousands of miles away, playing soldiers? The new one, who had judgment in $Stheir eyes every time $Sthey deigned to look at $Dthem. Aksana, already betrothed and not looking to break it. No wonder, since she'd be standing- sitting? The man was in a wheelchair- next to the spare to the Isles. Stanislav was a contender for a while, but Dasha was not interested the moment it seemed that his entanglement was more than physical. The twins? They both were stricken with mindless sadism that didn't peak $Dtheir interest past a few cursory appraisals. The last one on the list of eligble children had spent a number of years abroad. Also unavailable. So, this morning, $Dname had taken the plunge and told the Tsarina about $Dtheir experiements. How $Dthey wanted to find out how to make sure that every Witch-child would be born with a hell-kin and not passed over. $cDthey knew it was a sore spot for her especially. Three children, Sanguinemancers, three others blessed with some uninteresting gifts, the rest barren. Then the most surprising event occured. $title $name walked in. Embraced $their mother. And looked at $Dthem with soft $eyecolour eyes. It reminded Dasha of two things. The newly born calves that were pulled from their mothers in the field, blinking with nothing but wet trust. And the dogs at the kennels. Ready to bite. $cthey... Hm. A polite thing, at least on first impressions. It made Dasha's teeth hum. That happened more, when Sabnock wanted to sink its canines into soft flesh. Maybe $Dtheir plan wasn't dead yet. $Dname glanced up from the ancient tome $Dthey had been pouring over, to $Dtheir hell-kin. The snow leopard was staring right back. It licked their maw with a blackened tongue. And chittered. "Hm. It's one path to explore, isn't it?" [[On the fields, thousands of miles away...|RM.PPreviews]]

It was quiet for once. The Bloodless ones that retreated to safety from the sunlight, made all the more intense by the unblemished, blinding snow that coated the world as they knew it. It meant that Pavel got to finally eat, drink... Get stitched up. Last night was more intense than it has ever been so far. The Blood-Called-Upon needed more than the usual amount. So now one of the Aides was stitching up his forearms, his own cuts clean from his sharpened knife. It was no problem to be seen to, skin sewn back up until a proper healer came along. So the ex-heir sat by his tent, greedily eating his rations and drinking his water, still with jagged pieces of ice put in, when one of the soldiers came along, emerging from the smoke like a phantom. "Post has finally arrived. The boy sent to pick them up was fucked to death." She said flatly before handing over a few letters. "... Literally or figuratively?" "I think he thought a werewolf wouldn't eat him after getting his knot stuck in his ass." She couldn't help a faint smile. "Ah. Right. Like overgrown mantises." Pavel couldn't help but return it, slipping a battered cigarette case out from his inner pocket of his coat and flicked it open. "Stay to share one?" "Nah. I'll take one to go. Still have to deliver all this shit." Pavel shrugged and handed her one of the better rolled ones before tucking his own into the side of his mouth, shutting it again. He then lit it with one of the flickering gas lamps not yet put out. He needed the hit before reading the letters. One from his mother, obviously. Another from his stepfather. And one... From Helvetia. Yes. He tucked that one into his inner pocket, against the case. Safe. He'd need it after reading whatever guilt trippings his mother was sending him. Pavel wasn't even sure that she did it on purpose anymore, it just came natural whenever she wanted to talk to him. //How's the weather, is he eating properly, please come home and wear my crown, how is he treating his horse?// Using the nail of his thumb, he tore open the wax seal and unfolded the letter, exhaling smoke as he did so. Skimming it, Pasha made a few mental notes, taking a moment to scratch his bearded cheek before taking another draw. Anniversary next month... Be sure to show with the rest of the regiment- waste of time-, Stas' youngest was growing up well- cute-, Sasha and Stas had had enough of each other and split their courts- that took longer than it should have- and $name was going to be coming home- $name was coming home. His baby $sibling. Pavel paused when taking the cigarette from his lips, his fingers resting against his mouth. He rubbed his bearded chin. Then folded up the letter and put it in his pocket, leaning back in his seat. <b>Fuck.</b> There never was a drive to go back, unless it was to see $them. Pavel didn't think of himself as lonely, but it did dawn on him not too long ago, that the reason he probably did spend all of his time with $name, was under the pretence of $them being the lonely one. The isolated one. But these days, Pasha did believe it was because he was lonely as well. His friends had become sardonic with the war creeping closer, too aware of what they hungered for, the sexual urges that drove them to below the stairs, to "try" out what felt good. He just... Never understood it. Taking advantage, using people. Then he realised that was his entire life. In one way or another, he was just using people. The person who served his food, the chef who cooked it, the farmer who slaughtered it, the animal that was born just so he could eat half of his meal and then waste more of his time with some frivolity. Something that didn't matter. For what? For him to wear a crown and play nice with the other houses, to pick a woman to have legitmate children, whom he'd never see anyway. So it was nice. Getting to be with you. Pretending that he wasn't a strain. Something that just ate and ate and ate and never gave anything back. Pavel rubbed his eyes tiredly. Turns out those feelings never really did go away. But you did make everything feel just a bit better. "Hey," He called to one of the boys, no older than a child. "If I walked to Kiovia from here, how long would it take?" "Nah, you joking." The youth turned to him, spoon of stew halfway to his mouth. "Like... more than two months. Aren't ya going back with the regiment anyway? For the parade thing?" "... I wasn't planning on it. Guess I will now." [[In the forest the Royal passed through in the carriage...|RM.JPreviews]]

An older <<if $Jgender is "female">>woman<<else>>man<</if>> emerged from the snowy treeline, $Jtheir overcoat dusted with white. Black and white. Everything about $Jthem was black and white. $cJtheir hair, black peppered with white. $cJtheir clothes, when they weren't black, there was the white that promised a holy occupation. The snow against $Jtheir coat. Except for $Jtheir gloves. Soaked in red. The priest tried to pat it off in a futile attempt but alas. $cJthey would have to get new ones. After burying a poor mangled body and saying a prayer, $Jthey didn't mind sacrificing $Jtheir gloves, but still. Mindless, senseless killing was one of the many things about Varan that $Jthey found deeply distasteful. But $Jthey carried on, towards Salander House. $Jname Telmányi wasn't going to stop until $Jthey finally reached the place where $Jtheir words were most needed... Those poor lambs. [[End of Demo...|Credits]]

<h1>The Royal</h1> You are $title $name <<if $adopted is false>><<if $gender is "male">>Tatsiavich<<elseif $gender is "female">>Tatsiavna<<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">>Tatsiavino<</if>><<elseif $adopted is true>><<if $gender is "male">>Leonievich<<elseif $gender is "female">>Leoniovna<<elseif $gender is "nonbinary" or $gender is "genderfluid">>Leonivino<</if>><</if>> Kiss-Kosa. You are the <<if $adopted is true>>adopted <</if>>seventh child of the Royal House Aureus. You prefer <<if $preference is "male">>men, romantically and sexually.<<elseif $preference is "female">>women, romantically and sexually.<<elseif $preference is "both">>both men and women, romantically and sexually.<</if>> <<if $transgender is true>>You confirmed your transgender identity while abroad.<</if>> You have $hairtexture $haircolour hair that is $hairstyle. Skin that is $skincolour, with $eyecolour eyes.<<if $freckles is "none" and $beautymark is "none" and $dimples is false>> You skin is completely clear.<</if>><<if $freckles is "a few freckles">> You have a few freckles over your skin.<<elseif $freckles is "many freckles">> You have a lot of freckles all over your body.<</if>><<if $beautymark is "eye">> You have a beauty mark by your eye.<<elseif $beautymark is "lip">> You have a beauty mark by your lip.<<elseif $beautymark is "many">> You have many beauty marks sprinkled over your body.<<elseif $beautymarks is "cheek">> You have a beauty mark on your cheek.<</if>><<if $dimples is true>> You have dimples, most easily seen when you smile.<</if>><<if $glasses is true>> Just like your sister, you need a pair of glasses.<</if>><<if $facialhair is "shaven">> You have a clean shaven face.<<elseif $facialhair is "stubble">> You have stubble.<<elseif $facialhair is "beard">> You have a $haircolour beard.<<elseif $facialhair is "moustache">> You have a $haircolour moustache.<<elseif $facialhair is "sideburns">> You have $haircolour sideburns.<</if>> You are <<if $height is "very short">>quite short<<elseif $height is "short">>short<<elseif $height is "average">>average<<elseif $height is "tall">>tall<<elseif $height is "very tall">>quite tall<</if>> and you have a $bodytype body. You have a <<if $chesttype is "flat chest with scars" or "flat chest">>$chesttype<<else>> pair of $chesttype<</if>> with <<if $genitals is "both cunt and cock">> both a $genitals<<else>> a $genitals<</if>> <<link "Back" `previous()`>><</link>>

<b>One warm morning...</b> The ground, for once, was clear of snow. The leaves had retained a soft green hue, over their usual dead brown. Groundsworkers were clearing the walkways of fallen leaves and remains of the slush, but otherwise, for once, their day was scheduled to be easy. No shovelling snow, chopping logs, keeping an eye out for roaming predators that got a bit too close and lighting the lanterns for travellers and courtiers to find their way to Salander House. Little did these men know that they were being watched by a pair of young eyes. A child, with their nose pressed to the window, breath fogging up the painted pane. They fought to see through the daubed on sheep, trailing after a wolf that the child already knew was going to eat them at home. The usual macabre ending that was present in most of their books. "Come away from the window, your highness." A voice called them back. Another child, slowly emerging out of childhood; at most, a six year gap between them. The child whined and pulled away. On a second look, it seemed like they were feverish. Their cheeks too bright, their skin too clammy, and some dried blood on the inside of their lips that would have been hard to wipe off. "I wanna play outside." The older child glanced out the window, their hands pausing in tidying up the toys from the floor. "I don't think your papa will allow that." They said after a moment, with a calming smile to the little royal. Their <<listbox "$Beyecolour" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "light green">> <<option "dark green">> <<option "light blue">> <<option "dark blue">> <<option "near red">> <<option "grey">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "lavender">> <</listbox>> eyes were dulled, tired. They had been up since dawn, lighting the fires in the house, helping in the kitchen, eating a meagre portion before being sent up to spend the rest of their day with the second youngest royal of the House. They needed the company now more than ever, with a newborn eating up their parents' attention. The child's own too-bright <<listbox "$Reyecolour" autoselect>> <<option "black">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "light brown">> <<option "hazel">> <<option "light green">> <<option "dark green">> <<option "light blue">> <<option "dark blue">> <<option "near red">> <<option "grey">> <<option "yellow">> <<option "lavender">> <</listbox>> eyes became watery and they waddled over to their only friend and collapsed onto their lap with a whine. "But we never get to go outside. Everyone else gets to. I saw them! Pasha was riding Thunder around the grounds, a-and the twins were throwing pebbles at my window, and Stas snuck out with one of-" "We don't want you to get sicker, your highness." The servant said with patience. Who knows if they were naturally even-tempered or they just had a soft spot for the child under their care, but either way, it would do no good to snap at them. They had overheard from Lebedev, the footman, that one of the nannies had struck the boy twin. His highness had proceeded to bite her hand, going down to the bone of the pinky, before running off and telling on her. No one had seen her since. Spoiled brats, said some. Poor children said others. But the one leaning forward to grab one of the toys out of the box again, to the Servant, was a sick pup, not allowed near their peers due to contagion. The world wouldn't shake if a serf dropped dead, and what did it matter? As long as the sixth spare head for the crown had been entertained for a while. So, while the Royal continued to make demands to leave for the day, while making their plush bear chew the face off one of their dolls, the Servant just played along, stroking their little back, where, inside, their lungs rattled with each breath. [[A knock on the door interrupted them...|OLL.02]]

His highness entered, Consort to the Crown. Out of all the family, both the Royal and the Servant probably saw him the most. A frequent visitor, at playtime, bathtime, tea time, and every time the child fussed, it was as if he could sense when was best to go see his child. "Hello, littlest devils." He came closer, looking at both of them with a gentle adoration. For the Royal, it was a natural look, a soft one. One that they earned through being his child, and all the hard work that came with it. Getting cuddled and doted over and encouraged and getting to ride on his shoulders even while the older siblings had grown out of it. For the Servant, it was confusing. At least at first. The immediate sweetness Royal Prince Consort Laszlo had in his eyes for them. At first they thought he was one of those nobles that liked their meat young and wondered if his hands would come wandering after a playdate. But months stretched on and no stray fingers slipped inside their clothes, and his smile remained innocent and bright. It took them a while to understand that anyone who made his child happy, made him happy. It was a strange change of pace, especially since they were ignored by the Tsarina and the younger siblings. The three older ones from her first marriage sometimes spared a glance but quickly looked away each time. "So, Mama thought it'd be nice if you got to finally ride your pony for once." The Father kneeled down with an eager smile. "Will Pasha come?" The child bounced up, their little hands shaking eagerly at the thought. "Can we all go and have a picnic?" "I'll ask, but I think he has to go back to packing. He has to return to his regiment soon, little one." He said gently, and patted their head. "I'll ask though." The Royal made a happy squeaking noise that immediately had their body stiffening up, struggling to hold back a cough. The Servant knew when it happened, their little body freezing in motion and their face becoming taut. They were holding back a cough, in case their father would walk back the idea. So, they quickly stood up and moved in front of the little thing. "Do you wish for me to bring down their highness' laundry and make an early start on it while they are out?" "Oh no!" Laszlo looked taken aback. "You're coming with us! Can't keep their favourite playmate away!" As he spoke, the child shoved the lower part of their nightgown into their mouth to muffle the wet, struggling cough that erupted from their throat, heaving until tears shined in their eyes and watery blood had spattered across the white fabric. After a moment they finally spat it out and quietly padded to the little bathroom at the back of the nursery. "I'll get changed, Papa!" They called and the Servant hurried after them, as Laszlo continued to happily yap away in the main room as the pair successfully stuffed the dirtied nightgown away and got the Royal into some proper clothes for the outside. The Servant's palms tickled when they touched the bloodied spot and they flexed their fingers to make it go away. The Servant always found it humourous that none of the family ever changed themselves. They had been forced to learn how to dress themself from a very young age and couldn't imagine someone else doing it for them. Before too long, the two were standing outside, waiting for the horses to be brought around, as Laszlo was off, asking about the presence of the eldest child. The Royal had their <<listbox "$Rhairtexture" autoselect>> <<option "straight">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "curly">> <<option "corkscrew curled">> <<option "coily">> <<option "braided">> <<option "dreadlocked">> <</listbox>> <<listbox "$Rhaircolour" autoselect>> <<option "ebony black">> <<option "tawny brown">> <<option "chestnut brown">> <<option "mahogany brown">> <<option "honey blond">> <<option "ash blond">> <<option "strawberry blond">> <<option "dark blond">> <<option "deep red">> <<option "bright red">> <<option "ivory white">> <<option "ginger">> <</listbox>> hair tucked underneath a fur hat, firmly tucked over their head to keep their ears warm. They looked quite sweet, swaddled in enough furs to make anyone believe it was deep in the Varan winter weather, instead of the cold breaking into a tepid summer day. The Royal had crouched down, to stare at a mouse darting in and out from one of the bushes, probably remaking a nest that had been destroyed by snow earlier on in the year. The Servant watched, cold in their threadbare jacket and head feeling far too cold. When they were younger they had quite long<<listbox "$Bhairtexture" autoselect>> <<option "straight">> <<option "wavy">> <<option "curly">> <<option "corkscrew curled">> <<option "coily">> <<option "braided">> <<option "dreadlocked">> <</listbox>> hair, like most children of the upper class, but ever since they entered service, their head had been shaved every time it started to grow even a little bit. They would have to be on their eighteenth year before they were finally allowed to let their own <<listbox "$Bhaircolour" autoselect>> <<option "ebony black">> <<option "tawny brown">> <<option "chestnut brown">> <<option "mahogany brown">> <<option "honey blond">> <<option "ash blond">> <<option "strawberry blond">> <<option "dark blond">> <<option "deep red">> <<option "bright red">> <<option "ivory white">> <<option "ginger">> <</listbox>> hair show. Right now they had nothing more than stubble gracing their head. And nothing to cover it. Just in case someone confused the shapeless, dark clothes for new fashion, and thought they were a Royal somehow. Some had made the mistake apparently. Madam Petrova overheard it once while the Servant was fresh in service, and immediately grabbed the scissors to hack all the hair off. Apparently. They didn't remember that much. According to the fellow chattelchild, Arkasha, she had been let go soon afterwards for some other reason. The Servant then asked them what colour Arkasha's hair usually was and they laughed before running off. "Do you know where snowflakes come from?" The child asked after a moment. "Umh... I'm pretty sure it's just frozen rain that's made in the clouds." The Servant attempted. "Nooo." The Royal smiled at them. "They are the tears of the Snow Queen. When she cries, the world becomes snow." "Oh. So why does she cry?" "Dunno. I think it's about finding her husband in bed with someone else. Which she shouldn't be sad about, I like it when I can share my bed!" The Servant choked back a laugh and turned away, covering their mouth. The sound of two pairs of boots on the gravel made both of them look to the newcomers. Laszlo, with his stepson behind him. Pavel, the heir to the throne, currently doing a stint in the military that everyone agreed was just a rebellious phase. His hair was short, like the Servant's, but he stood tall, with perfect posture and his near colourless eyes matched the brightness of his second youngest half sibling. "Pasha!" The Royal flung themself at his legs. "You came!" "Of course I did, little soldier." He replied smoothly, running a gloved hand over his cropped black hair before jamming his hat on. "I'd never miss a ride with my favourite person." [[And off they went...|OLL.03]]

The Servant rode behind the Royal, keeping them secure with their own body, upon what the child had called their "pony" but was a tall Criollo horse. The beast was nearly as big as Pavel's Friesian horse, who was lovingly named Thunder. Laszlo was on a smaller specimen, whom he playfully called Kolach. The group wandered deeper into the woods, following a riding path that still had snow melting away. The Royal needed to take deep breaths in between their excited yapping, pointing out the birds flitting to and fro, the reindeer tracks that crossed the pathway. Even asking if you saw a lemming, could you keep it, to which Laszlo laughed and Pavel gently reminded you of the last time the twins had a furry rodent in their grasp. The child hadn't, but their companion did and shuddered at their memory of the clean up. The ride was nice. Pavel knew to avoid the topic of his departure, Laszlo knew not bring up the question of how the Royal's lungs were feeling, the Servant knew not to mention that they could barely control the horse, and the Royal did nothing but babble on about whatever entered their head, dizzy from the pleasure of getting to be with their favourite people. It took two hours of riding, before they finally tired out and fell asleep against the Servant, mouth open and drooling slightly. Laszlo couldn't help but chuckle and lift their little body from the saddle, onto his own so they could rest against the thick furs of his coat. Pavel, meanwhile, leaned over and took the reins of the horse from the Servant. "Your first time riding, isn't it?" He murmured, eyes smiling along with his slightly cracked lips. "Never seen anyone so stiff from it." "Thank you." They whispered back, resting their palms on the horse's neck instead of clutching the leathers straps of the harness. But the niceness was not to last. While the Servant was worrying about the cracking of their <<listbox "$Bskincolour" autoselect>> <<option "pale">> <<option "rosy">> <<option "tawny">> <<option "tanned">> <<option "bronze">> <<option "golden">> <<option "russet brown">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "warm black">> <<option "cool black">> <<option "deep black">> <</listbox>> skin, they hadn't noticed the sweaty sheen that had appeared on the Royal's own <<listbox "$Rskincolour" autoselect>> <<option "pale">> <<option "rosy">> <<option "tawny">> <<option "tanned">> <<option "bronze">> <<option "golden">> <<option "russet brown">> <<option "dark brown">> <<option "warm black">> <<option "cool black">> <<option "deep black">> <</listbox>> skin, their little coughs sounding more and more wet as they slept, twitching every so often. It wasn't until their $Reyecolour eyes flew open, buldging slightly from an unforseen pressure deep within. "Little one? Oh, hells!" Laszlo roughly yanked on the reins of his horse, the beast whinnying. "Get them back to the House!" Pavel barked at the Servant, too aware Thunder was built for strength, not speed. The Servant slipped the child from their father's lap and pressed their little face into their jacket before roughly kicking at the horse's sides, the beast immediately taking off, back up the pathway. They could feel blood beginning to soak through their shirt, the Royal struggling to do anything but spit fluids out, without being able to draw breath. Every second felt like a minute, every minute felt like an hour, and when House Salander came into view, the Servant just started shouting. "Please help! Get a physician! Please!" A few of the workers looked up and two immediately sprinted inside the palace, trekking in slush and mud. The Servant more fell off the horse, rather than climbed down, dragging the child with them. Looking down, the Royal's lips were slowly turning blue, blood being coughed up, running down their chin and cheeks. "Please... Please no... Please..." The Serf cried out, raising their hand to wipe away the crimson liquid, smearing it more over their clammy skin. Their fingers dragged over the weak pulse point of the child. It fluttered like a bird in a cage. A thought stilled their body, breath catching in their throat, for a moment unable to breath just like their charge. They could... But... Arkasha had begged them not to. To never... A little sob ripped from the Royal's mouth. Staring up at them with scared eyes that slowly went duller and duller. A gurgled whimper followed, that tapered off slowly. This wasn't a member of the royal family anymore. This was a child... Looking up at someone they loved... To save them. "Please." The servant tried once more, as if it would clear their little airways. No answer, just lips going pale, a tongue going stiff, and the light struggling to remain in those eyes. So the Servant, a no name bastard, ripped the gloves from their hand and pressed both hands against their small throat, throbbing with blood and a trapped breath every now and then. And pressed their thumbs against the skin, nails just about digging in. Then they concentrated on... It. Their life blood. Rushing, like a mortal's. And called to it. Nothing happened for a moment. Then the gurgling got louder. They felt a pressure slowly move up the throat, twisting and growing like some sort of engorged creature was scurrying through a pipe. The Child's flickering eyelids suddenly shot wide open, their mouth wide open as darkened blood gushed forth freely, before the Servant rolled the Royal on their side, letting a festering chunk of lung burst free, rolling a bit in the melting snow before stopping. The shaking inhale was the sweetest sound in the world to the Servant who immediately pulled the child up, squeezing them gently into a hug. The Royal was gently wheezing, able to breath clearly for the first time that day. Blood still soaked their mouth and dripped from it, but felt secure in their playmate's arms. But also... They thought... Whatever was on the tip of their tongue was stolen away, just as the Servant was ripped away from them as Princess Aksana arrived with her guards, separating the two. The beautiful Princess, 5 months younger than the Servant, swept onto the scene, picking up her half sibling and holding them close. She stared at the Servant, with her wide, colourless eyes before turning away, hushing the little Royal as they began to cry. "Hush, baby, it's okay. We're taking you upstairs now." She whispered, but the Royal weakly stretched out a bloodied, grasping, sticky hand to their friend. And the two were separated... [[The Royal...|OLL.04]]

The Royal was carried up stairs, Blood Workers following the Physician up to the nursery. Aksana just kept shushing them softly, dropping kisses to their sweating temple. "It's okay. I promise. We'll get you cleaned up, and a teaspoon of laudanum will make it all better, hm?" She whispered. Aksana was not known as the warmest of the children, but as she felt her little half sibling shake and whine in her arms... She hugged them just a bit tighter. They were stripped down by the nanny that was roused from her slumber, wiped down with a warm, wet rag, mouth washed out, given a gulp of bitter liquid, mixed with honey, and put to bed. But while they got sleepy and doozy, they didn't fall into a deep slumber. Their body hurt... Breathing hurt... Their chest hurt... They wanted their playmate. The Royal thought they had died for a moment. They saw... Something. Staring back. A bear, thick, black drool hanging from its maw, pulling the flesh back to smile widely with his crooked teeth. Welcoming them down to The Nothing. Ebony fur that blended in with the rest of The Nothing, with thick, red eyes that stared. But something was crawling up their throat, having oozed from their innards, and with every inch covered by its slow, sluggish movement, their own body was slowly, slowly pulled away. But by the time the thing, the milky white and squirming thing, finally crept from their mouth, The Nothing had been left behind. But it was still there. In their future. Somehow. The child gave a whine. The left side of their chest was really hurting. They began to sat up when the door was flung open and Pavel, Sasha and Laszlo came striding in. Pavel, looking shaky, Sasha, looking horrified, and Papa, who looked as if he had been crying. "My baby, my little one, forgive me." Father immediately kneeled down at their bedside, leaning over to kiss their hand. "I shouldn't have brought you out-" "It's okay, Laszlo." Pavel gently patted his shoulder and fixed them with a soft look. "How are you feeling, littlest crown?" Sasha rounded the bed and sat on the covers, still in their dancing clothes. Did they come over the moment they heard? "If you want, we can blame this all on Stas and-" "Don't blame it on me!" The younger boy shouted as he skidded in, looking frazzled. "Someone said the Barnacle had exploded." The Royal weakly giggled and Sasha glared at their half brother, who just stuck his hands into his pockets and frowned. "Fine. Aksana told me she'd box my ears if I didn't come to check on them." The family crowded around, even Aksana eventually coming back to sit on the covers, hugging the Royal close. And they drifted off to sleep finally... Their lungs growing heavier and blacker and festering with each breath. [[But the Servant...|OLL.05]]

The Servant was dragged up multiple flights of stairs by the guard set to personally guard Princess Aksana till her engagment was finalised. They were covered in blood that was not their own, and they felt it staining their shirt further. They felt the rush of blood from the bodyguard as they continued to drag them up. It took them too long to realise they weren't supposed to be able to do that. Only the- The Guard kicked open the door at the top of the tallest tower, throwing the Servant in. They landed on their front, scraping their chin and biting down on their tongue. Their own breath was the only thing they could hear, rattling in their throat, not unlike how the Royal's was earlier that day. "So. Our little bastard has been keeping a secret from us." The Spymaster's voice echoed through the room as a polished black boot tilted their chin up. The most feared man in the palace was looking down at them, the lit torches reflecting in his smug almond eyes almost looking like fire was dancing in those merciless pupils. The white hair falling into them looked exactly like the untouched snow that they had ridden past that morning, and like the patch of ground where the Royal had thrown up a chunk of lung. Silence hung in the air for a while before he roughly kicked them in the face. "Didn't you hear me?" He snarled and crouched down to grip their face with his gloved hand. "Come on now. 'Yes sir.' It isn't too hard." "Yes... Sir..." They wheezed out. "Good." He squeezed their face gently and raised his other hand to pat their head. "Now. How long have you been keeping this little secret?" "I... I was told not to share-" A slap echoed around the room, a spray of blood bursting from the Servant's lip as the Spymaster's ring sliced the skin. "Don't blame your own stupidity on someone else." He snarled and shook their face. "Now. How long?" "Two... Two years ago." They whispered. "I was able to get a blood stain out of a shirt by... Concentrating." The Spymaster stared for a long time before rising up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He paced a bit and as he did, they finally took the room in. Black curtains over the windows, an overflowing desk of reports and pages and a jet black hawk shifted its wings and fluttered them, making a horrible clicking noise as it did. Only two torches for the entire room and he continued to stride. After a moment he stopped and swung his head back to stare at the Servant, orange eyes staring as if it could burn a hole through your very being. "Well. I think it would be better for all to send you off to see your mother-" The door was flung open and as the Spymaster turned, probably ready to shout at the intruder before his tongue stilled. The Tsarina swept into the room, looking grand and terrifying, even just in her sleeping gown, still looking tired from the birth of her youngest, but anyone who dared to say that to her face would have been killed. A bear with pitch black fur ambled in after her, snorting as it did, black drool hanging from its maw. "What happened." She snapped, ignoring the Servant and staring at the Spymaster. "Your Majesty." He swept into a low bow, before straightening up. "I have found out that the Bastard of the House was in possession of..." He paused and she turned to shoot you a nasty look before looking back. "What? I hear a commotion that my child nearly drowned in their own blood and then it turns out you dragged this thing up to your office. What. Happened." The Spymaster hesitated again and glanced at you. "... Your sister's bastard has Sanguinemancy. They used it to save the young Royal's life." Tsarina Tatsiana took a deep, shuddering breath. She swallowed thickly before exhaling. "... Who saw?" "Princess Aksana might have. We're not sure about the Royal- they were hacking up a lot of blood at the time. Three guards but they won't say anything." The Spymaster murmured. His hawk continued to stare before sharply turning its head and ripping two feathers free from its wing without even a flinch. The bear snorted again. "You." The Tsarina... Their aunt... Turned to them. "Don't you dare even think that this makes you even worthy to sit at my table. You disgusting piece of filth. She didn't want you, no one did. By the grace of my husband do you stay at all. And if you know what's good for you... You will not ever share that you happened to inherit the family's power. Because you are NOT family. You are Nothing!" The Servant bowed their head and struggled to hold back a sob. "Say it." The Tsarina whispered. "... I am Nothing." They echoed softly. "Very good. Shackle them. And make sure they never re-enter my sight. They will not play with my child, nor come near the family." "Yes, your majesty." The Spymaster said smoothly and the Tsarina left, the bear ambling after her. The Spymaster retrrieved something from his desk and came back over. "Hold out your wrists, little one." He murmured and opened the polished wooden box he had set down. Firmly gripping their hands, he slipped two ebony black, leather wrist cuffs around them, tightening it firmly. The Servant could already feel the effect... Draining them. Tiring them. Stilling the power in their veins. "You will never take these off." The Spymaster murmured, low. "And you will report to me in the evening for training so you do not cause a Magical Upset. Understand?" The Servant nodded, feeling sick. "I said," His voice was sterner, gripping their chin. "Do you understand?" "Yes, Lord Rune Alexeyev." They whispered, feeling small and disgusting. The almost gentle pat to their cheek had them flinching, once again when the Spymaster yanked them up, onto their feet. "Begone. Retire for the day, under my orders. And remember. You will never set foot in the same rooms as the family again." The Servant nodded and slowly descended, struggling to hold back the overwhelming loss they felt in their body... [[That was the last day...|OLL.06]]

That was the last day that the two, the Royal, and the Servant would see each other as they had. As equals. As friends. As Family. [[Years later...|SnowStarts]]