Chapter Text
‘Mother, father,’ Iida announced, so filled with nervous tension he was practically vibrating. ‘I have found the woman I wish to marry.’
‘Wonderful. At long last. Oh, aren’t you lovely!’ Iida’s mother cooed. She was a tall woman, as broad and powerful as her sons, and she scooped Uraraka up into a cheerful hug, pressing a kiss to her cheek that left a smudge of magenta lipstick behind.
Iida, who had warned Uraraka of the high probability of this, already had a handkerchief at the ready to wipe the mark away.
‘This must be the princess you have told us so much about,’ the man Uraraka took to be Iida’s father said. He seemed calmer, a little more like Tensei, Tenya’s older brother.
His mother’s eyes sparkled.
‘He writes all about you in his letters, Princess. I have never received such lengthy reports on anything other than his duties before. It is wonderful to finally meet you at long last.’
‘… She… is no longer a princess,’ Iida said awkwardly. ‘Or that is what we plan. We called this family meeting here to introduce her before we go to the castle in the capital. Uraraka would like to announce she is cutting all ties from the royal family.’
There was a moment of silence as the group seemed to ponder the implications of this.
Leaving the royalty was a wise decision, but it did leave Uraraka without a title.
A commoner.
A commoner did not marry into the nobility, not easily, at least.
Tensei was the one to break the silence.
‘About time!’
‘About time,’ his father agreed sternly. ‘The Iida’s have been advisors and guards to the royal bloodline for generations, but … there are times we must act in the best interest of individuals of that blood and not the family as a whole. You will be much happier with my son, young princess, than the royal family.’ He flickered icy blue eyes to Iida. ‘Do you hear that, son? You are by her side now, Tenya. She will still be a princess, though it will be of the Iida family and not the royals.’
‘I understand, Father.’
‘You make it sound like it is a blessing,’ his father’s solemn expression cracked, just a touch.
‘It shall be, for the both of us.’
‘I do not think that the royal family will permit you to leave the bloodline,’ his mother said solemnly to Uraraka, who had, until this point, felt a little at a loss in how to interact with such a vivacious family. ‘To lose you would be to publicly acknowledge your existence. I think it more likely they wish to keep treating you as a shadow.’
Uraraka could see why people often found Iida similar to his mother, thorough, conscientious and thoughtful.
‘I should enjoy it if they continue to treat me as though I do not exist.’ Of that she was certain. But with Iida by her side, Uraraka would certainly try to cut ties. ‘It will not be easy. But I am willing to face the difficulties.’
His mother nodded, seeing the resolve in her eyes, and pulling her into another hug.
‘The Iida family holds more power than the royals would like to admit,’ she murmured in the hug. ‘No matter how much they may try to deny you, they cannot deny you are the eldest child of the family, and though you are not in line to inherit the throne, your value cannot be ignored.’
‘You best treat her like the princess she is, son. Even when she parts from the family, they should never be allowed to forget their transgression,’ his father warned. ‘Let nothing change in your treatment. After all, she is the heir, no matter how much they try to deny you.’
Lord Iida turned cool blue eyes to Uraraka.
‘Your family will see you as a burden no matter how this falls. But you are correct in your assertion that you must leave. You are an heir, and in their foolish minds they would be better without you. Let that be your power, not theirs.’
‘Yes sir,’ she murmured, emboldened.
For the first time in her journey it felt like an advantage, and not a sword hanging above her head.
‘You have the weight of the Iida family name behind you, Princess,’ Lady Iida said firmly. ‘Use it to your advantage.
Uraraka nodded firmly. Reassured and entirely overwhelmed that a family could accept her so quickly.
‘So after you go to the castle, what shall you do?’ Tensei asked.
‘Plan for a wedding, of course,’ his mother replied quickly.
‘Of course,’ his father agreed firmly.
Iida looked at Uraraka. She smiled reassuringly.
‘We shall be planning for the marriage, yes,’ she agreed. ‘And until that time, we shall take an opportunity to travel.’
‘The curse has been lifted and Uraraka has much of the world to explore,’ Iida added. ‘I shall be an adventure for us both. I presume the King will not wish to see my presence for some time after our revelation. We shall travel at our leisure.’
‘Will you be returning to your castle?’ Tensei asked.
Uraraka shook her head.
‘I have arranged for the animals she lived with to be transferred here for the time being,’ Iida explained.
‘Such as?’ Tensei asked, a little perplexed.
‘Goats, cows, chickens.’
‘A farm?!’ His mother seemed shocked. ‘And what of the castle?’
‘It shall be returned to royal hands,’ Uraraka said firmly. ‘I will not live under their reluctant charity anymore.’
There was a glimmer of pride in the Iida family’s eyes.
‘I guess I shall hire some farm hands to assist with your menagerie,’ Lord Iida said after a moment.
‘I have always wanted to learn about goats,’ Tensei added. ‘I’ve heard they can have the most splendid personalities.’
Uraraka grinned.
Looming over her, weighing on her heavily was the knowledge she would soon have a meeting two decades in the making. She was not looking forward to one jot. She’d be face to face with her father, the man who cursed her from his own selfish cowardice, who lived like he wished she had not been born. She’d perhaps see her mother, who had been happy to pretend she hadn’t existed. She was happy to fawn over her other children, spoil them, and bless them with her love, yet neglect her eldest. But despite her apprehensions she would traverse the difficult path one more time. She would put an end to the unhappy chapter of her life and enjoy the new one that was already unfolding.
She was free.
So free.
No longer were her nights burdened by the curse.
No more would she be confined to her decrepit castle like a ghost.
Nevermore would she live in fear and hunger.
Those days were done.
Before her lay greener fields, strange and beautiful new sights, exciting days and thrilling nights.
Before her lay her future with Iida, a world illuminated so wondrously by true and earnest love.
Before her lay the start of her happily ever after.
Uraraka’s true story was only about to begin.