Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You were currently taking a nap in your soft bed beneath the castle, but it could never feel the same as the one you used to share with your husband. Your prison cell was nicely furnished with all your favorite pieces of furniture and knick-knacks that can keep you occupied while you waste your days away down here, and the prison cell walls were replaced with floral wallpaper.

There's a painting that you haven't finished way off in the corner of your room. You, Dark Cacao, and Dark Choco stand in the center together, but you found it difficult to remember your son's face. You have intentionally left that blank until you saw him again so that you could finally finish it. A cloth was covering up the canvas just in case he was to witness it, so all you had to do was hide it.

The giant doors keeping the prison secluded from the outside world suddenly creaked to life as they were opened, and you were startled awake in the process.

But this was a good thing. A very, very good thing.

Your beloved husband has finally come to visit you for one day out of the whole week. You wished he could be with you 24/7, but he had work to do as a king, so there were times where he was unable to visit without being missed by his subjects and guards.

"Why must you make this so difficult, Affogato?" Your husband's deep voice was practically enraged, and his boots shared this as he stomped down the hall and to your cell. "And watch your tongue when speaking about my wife."

You quickly found yourself bursting with life from your quick nap and hurried out of bed to get prepared for his arrival. You promptly made your hair look nicer, and your leisure wear needed to be ironed later.

It's such a shame you couldn't look the part of a queen anymore, especially since you needed to be hidden for your own protection against your exiled son, but Dark Cacao told you time and time again that you were the most important thing in this world to him now, and that you must heed to his demands.

In the midst of organizing your bookshelf, you heard Affogato respond to him.

"But sire, I must protest." Affogato's voice echoed throughout the halls of the Dark Cacao Kingdom's prisons. "I say it's about time you discard this feeble good-for-nothing hag and find someone new. Certainly falling in love again and conceiving a new heir is better than keeping your own wife locked up in a wretched place like this, wouldn't you agree? Dark Choco Cookie has already been banished, so what's the point of having her locked up?"

"What did I just tell you about speaking ill about her? I cannot just discard my queen after everything we've been through." Dark Cacao Cookie's voice was laced in pure anger. "Need I remind you that it was not her fault that our idiot son attacked me and left me for dead. I have locked my wife down here for her own protection. If my exiled son is stupid enough to come back to this kingdom to finish the job, I will not have my lover get caught up in the mess."

You almost drop a book on the history of this ancient kingdom as soon as Affogato suggested such a thing. He always liked to gossip, that much you knew, but you thought you and Affogato were on fairly neutral terms. Not entirely friends, and not entirely enemies.

...Discard you? Why would your husband discard you?

After everything you've been through together, he must still love you, surely?

But, with the possibility of Dark Choco coming back to this kingdom and causing an uproar, what would happen then?

Their steps slowly begin to get louder, indicating that they are going to make their arrival shortly, so you make do with what you have and hurry to the cell door.

Unbeknownst to you, your sudden imprisonment after Dark Choco's disappearance wasn't entirely thought up by your husband. Affogato took it upon himself to order you sent into the bowels of the kingdom after your husband kept slipping in and out of consciousness, so he wasn't entirely all there.

Unofficially the king's power of attorney, he simply "did as he was asked of the king and protected you".

You wouldn't learn this until years later, but the thought that he convinced your husband to have you locked up and out of the way still hung above your head. Affogato was not to be trusted, and Dark Cacao was a fool for siding with him over you.

Your hands tighten around bars of the nicely furnished prison cell he's kept you locked inside for who knows how many years as you make eye contact with your husband. Your heart begins to palpitate, almost like you've fallen in love all over again.

His terrifyingly dangerous armor is nowhere to be seen. Instead, your husband is donned in his own leisure wear, with a long fur cape clasped around his shoulders. His silky black hair was stuffed inside his cape, and the mantle was covered in puffy fur that looked soft to the touch. His usually cold and calculating demeanor all but vanishes in an instant the moment he locks eyes with you.

Affogato scoffs to himself over this whole ordeal, but does so in a way that Dark Cacao was unable to see it. "My lady, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance. Sincerest apologizes if we've woken you, but King Dark Cacao was anxiously awaiting this moment for a very long time. He just had to see you. It seems even I could not make him listen to reason."

Hopelessly devoted to him, you slightly crane your neck to get a good look at your husband's face as he got out his key to your cell that was hidden in his pocket. This special key only has two copies made in the entire kingdom, as himself and Affogato are the only ones allowed entrance into your safe-haven. A very few special guards were allowed to bring you food, specialties, gifts from the outside, and share the occasional small-talk in case you ever got incredibly lonely. "I'm so happy to see you both again."

These guards were unable to set you free, however, and were discharged from their post for the day to allow you and your husband some alone time.

Your husband, in all his graciousness and godliness, unlocked the door and spoke up while stepping inside. "That's right, my love. I could not wait any longer to visit you. Unfortunately, my kingdom had to come first due to some very peculiar visitors we had outside our walls, but I can assure you, I will never make you wait this long again. I swear it."

Affogato waited by the prison cell door in the event that you might make a mad-dash for the exit as you've done countless times before, but after succumbing to the harsh reality that you truly were stuck here forever, you didn't move a muscle.

All you could do for now was smile up at your husband, who smelled of the freshly fallen snow and of the pine trees that dotted this frozen landscape, and sigh longingly. "I've missed you, my dear. I'm eternally grateful that you came to see me despite working so hard to keep our kingdom as powerful as it can be, but I can assure you, I will wait as long as it takes for you to visit. How have you been?"

"My liege," Affogato spoke up before your husband could answer, "If you are content with staying here for the time being I will take my leave. Would you like me to lock the door behind me?"

"No, Affogato," Dark Cacao replies, his face full of annoyance at the very thought of Affogato ruining this very special moment, "I will lock it in my own time. Leave us be." Your husband pulls you in close and intertwines your hand with his.

Watching the two of you embrace, Affogato smiles to himself, promptly gives your husband a, "Yes, sire. Long live the Dark Cacao Kingdom, and please enjoy your free time. Have a wonderful time together." speech just as he always does, then leaves.

Knowing that you were finally alone with your husband for as long as he was willing to stay, you bury your face into his warm and welcoming leisure wear and feel his arm tighten around your waist from the pure sight of you. Finally getting to embrace you like this after so long was something rewarding in of itself.

Simply taking in each other's bodies and remembering every little detail that you may have forgotten since the last time you saw your beloved husband was something you did each and every time you were together. His prominent eye-bags were unchanging and his alluring purple eyes were still as heavenly as they were when you first met him. "It's so wonderful to hold you in my arms again, my love. How I've missed you... I'm so sorry I left you alone for so long, but there were so many things to do that I lost track of time. I hope you can forgive me."

Smiling and holding him tighter than before, you reassure him that it was alright. There was still so much to do and show him that you almost forgot that he had already spent most of his time elsewhere. "No need to apologize, my darling. You are so selfless, and you always make sure to protect your kingdom. I see you're exhausted from working so often, but may I skip the formalities and show you what I've been spending my time with as of late? I know you must be dreadfully tired, but I was hoping you could give me some insight."

Your husband momentarily untwines his hand with your own and moves some hair out of your face as you ask this. "Of course. I would love nothing more to hear your voice and the creations you have managed to procure using the materials I have provided you with, my love. What would you like to show me first?"

Promptly straightening your back to give your husband a kiss on the lips, Dark Cacao accepts it graciously and tries to keep his composure as you give him more affection. You chuckle to yourself as Dark Cacao finds it difficult for him to let go of you, but there would be time for romance later.

Quickly making sure the painting you've been working on was truly kept hidden and out of sight, you momentarily glance at the cloth to make sure it wouldn't rouse his suspicion. After a quick sigh once you realize that it was safe to show your husband around, you grab him by the hand and practically drag him to your workbench for the surprise you've been waiting to show off.

"Close your eyes! I wanted to show this to you in the hopes that the children of our glorious kingdom could have more toys to play with!" You chuckle out, trying your best to guide him and stare at him to make sure he really did have his eyes closed. "No peeking! A king must do as he's told!"

"Alright, my love, I have them closed. Just be sure that I don't trip on anything, hm?" Dark Cacao uses his other hand to keep himself steady as you take him over to the workbench, and you let go of his hand. Unbeknownst to you, he opens one eye just long enough to sneak a small glance at some of your handiwork. 

"Alright! Go ahead and open them!" You instruct, showing off a mini "Dark Cacao Kingdom" replica surrounded by the wall. Little subjects were stationed in tiny homes and businesses, but you still needed to finish some important agriculture such as trees and riverbanks. The miniature castle was the tallest building of the bunch, save for the wall surrounding the kingdom itself.

"So, this is what you were doing with all that wood you ordered. Goodness, my love, it's... incredible." Your husband was speechless as he picked up a building and began to inspect it. You were right by his side, grinning ear to ear as soon as he took in every little detail. "I always knew your work was intricate, but goodness, you can see every face on these tiny inhabitants." 

"Living down here gives me the opportunity to work on it! The guards occasionally give me feedback on what needed to be changed or redone, but everything is perfect! Just how I remember it!" You boast, occasionally rubbing your scarred hands together as if you still felt the splinters from so many hard hours of carving. "I even made one of you!"

In the midst of inspecting the castle you've carved, your husband looks to you in surprise once you held up a slightly larger carving of himself. It was of Dark Cacao, donned in his armor and carrying his giant sword. The tiny sculpture is expressionless, but as your husband stares back into his miniature form, complete with the painted white streak in his hair, he smiles to himself and nods. 

"How amazing that you went into so much detail." He begins to walk around the prison cell as you twiddle your hands together in embarrassment, but you were proud to consider your work to be amazing. "I will inform the toy makers of your handiwork immediately. This really is incredible... Hm?"

Your husband sets the mini version of himself onto a stable surface, but you were too engrossed with your trinkets to notice where he was headed.

"I'm sure these adorable little trinkets would look lovely in the toy stores, wouldn't you agree? I think I need more-" You were so busy playing with the functional horse toy that you haven't noticed Dark Cacao moving dangerously close to the cloth covering the painting. "Ah, darling, wait a moment, that's not finished yet! Don't look at it!"

Your heart begins to practically beat out of your chest as your husband makes his way towards the painting, but he does not listen to your pleas. "I just wanted to take a look. You've always been a wonderful painter, nothing... wrong with that."

You watch your husband pull back the white cloth just enough where your son was visible in the darkness, donned in his white armor before he was exiled. In one swift motion, and out of pure anger that you would ever even think about that traitor, your husband rips the cloth off the painting and inspects it. He's gripping the cloth with the intent to rip it apart if you spoke out of line, but the fact still remained.

The painting, though unfinished, was of King Dark Cacao, you, and your son, Dark Choco, all in the center of the painting and surrounded in a makeshift frame of iron and fake snow.

Though your husband had his back towards you as he stared at what used to be a royal family, you could tell he was trying to keep his composure. He let out a disgruntled sigh and dropped the cloth to the floor just as he heard you set the trinket you made back onto your workbench. His hands were placed at his waist, but his cape was in the way.

"What is this?" Dark Cacao's voice turned back into that of a king; dangerous and cold. It was no longer full of safety and warmth. "Why have you drawn this? Why have you painted that traitor?"

You involuntarily gulp out of fear, and you try to focus on the floor. "I'm his mother-"

"That's not what I asked. Why have you wasted your time adding him into this work of art when he tried to murder me?" Dark Cacao finally turns on his heels and stares you down with narrowed eyes. "Had he been victorious, he would have come back to slaughter you as well."

Backing against the workbench and struggling to maintain eye contact, you look around the prison cell and try to ease your husband's nerves. "Can we please not fight about this right now? I just wanted to paint... I know he attempted to assassinate you, but he-"

"You're mumbling." Dark Cacao's voice was monotone as he spoke, and his hand promptly went up to his forehead. "Dark Choco has been banished from this kingdom for good, even if you try to remember the positive things he's done, it won't change what he tried to do to me." 

"I miss my son, is that such a crime?" You blurt out, your voice laced with fear for what's to come for even remembering Dark Choco. Your throat feels dry and your stomach feels like it's sinking from the fear, and your husband can tell. "I'm already locked up in this prison cell, and I heard what Affogato told you earlier! Do you even love me anymore? Or do you just put up with me?"

"I am not going to argue with you over our exiled son. And pay him no mind! I already told him I care about you too much to just dispose of you so easily." Dark Cacao's voice practically made the walls shake as he let his anger get the better of him. "Damn it all! I'm keeping you here for your own protection because I love you! If you leave this cell, you'll die by your son's sword. I am doing this so I don't lose you! Time and time again I have experienced nightmares where I find your corpse, and I do not want these horrid visions to come to fruition!" 

"I'd rather die by my son's hand and be branded a traitor for loving him than spend another waking moment locked up in the hellhole. You and Affogato call me a Queen due to my status, but I am no queen. I am a prisoner of my own damned kingdom-"

"Watch your tone, this kingdom is prosperous and will not fall as easily as you think. And you are still a queen, and you are still my wife. But that... that disgusting painting is going to be burned whether you like it or not. You have no say in this matter."

It seemed silly now, even as you were close to crying and you wanted to beg with your husband that you aren't happy here in this prison cell, but you gained your courage to speak. "I wish our son really did kill you back then; that way I could live my life how I see fit instead of simply surviving by your good will."

You watch Dark Cacao's expression turn from anger to outrage, but he has never once struck you, even during arguments like this. Even when you are too terrified to even call the guards for help, you stand near your workbench and slightly hide behind it for your safety.

Your husband notices you gripping your carving knife with the intent to use it in case he lunges at you for speaking out of line, but he didn't blame you. Even he scared himself with his temper sometimes, but there were sensitive parts of himself that he was not used to. The pure and genuine fear of hearing you ask if he still loved you made his heart ache from the inability to tell you how he really felt. 

"If that is how you feel... then maybe I will take Affogato's suggestion into consideration." Dark Cacao watched your expression turn from fear and anger to surprise and anguish that he would even suggest such a thing, but he would never in a million years actually mean it. "Maybe my next wife won't side with an attempted murderer, and she'll actually give me a son or daughter that doesn't betray me."

Even as you try to scare him into thinking you didn't care about him anymore, he was well aware of the consequences if he ever left you for dead underneath the castle.

"W-What? No, no, Dark Cacao, darling, wait! Don't go! I didn't mean it! Please don't leave me all alone in this cell! I'll be good to you, I promise!" You plead with your husband not to actually follow through with it, but he pays you no mind. "Please say something to me, at least! Don't follow through with it, I'll do anything not to let you be swayed by another woman!"

You try to take a stop forward and place the carving knife back onto the workbench, but he does not bother to answer your pleas. This causes you to huff, and a few stray tears begin to fall. "Would you at least look at me? You can't do this! Answer me, please!"  

Dark Cacao promptly picks up the canvas and carries it with him to the cell door, where you still watch him from the workbench with tears almost streaming down your cheeks. Glancing at the painting one last time with a heavy sigh, almost like he is also trying to remember the good times, he rips open the cell door and proceeds to lock it after slamming it shut. 

Flinching at the noise, your breath hitches in your throat. The door almost broke off the hinges from his anger alone.

Making eye contact with you for a brief moment, he lets out an exasperated sigh and stomps down the hallway without even looking at you. "Cry all you want, you still aren't leaving this place for your safety."

"Sire, that painting-" One of the guards was about to question him about it, but he only shoved it into his hands and started walking down the corridor while taking great strides.

"Burn that piece of junk, and do not allow my wife anymore painting materials as long as she lives." Your husband darkly responds, and he disappears down the hallway. "And ready my armor, I will take care of those suspicious outsiders myself." 

The guard could hear your sobs quickly follow his angry tone of voice, but like a good soldier, he does as he is asked and prepares to burn your painting by also disappearing down the hallway and out of sight.

Unbeknownst to you, a certain exiled prince was making his way to Dark Cacao Kingdom with a few friends in tow.

Chapter Text

Tension was rising amongst the guards and occasional passing Watchers that were keeping you safe, but from what, you did not know. All you could do was make use of what little wood you had left until a new stock came in. A few books were strewn about the floor from your unfortunate anxiety attack you suffered at the hands of your husband, but there was always a chance to clean it up later.

But, after that argument the two of you had earlier, there was a chance that you couldn't paint the miniature Dark Cacao kingdom the way you saw fit, especially since he forbid you from painting as long as he lived just from adding Dark Choco to the family portrait. You could still remember the disdain on your husband's face the second he laid eyes on your traitorous son that was hastily added to the painting in a fit of depression you experienced.

You've often asked your husband what his subjects must of thought of his lies. When he was finally well enough, and once he finally persuaded you to stay in the prison cell beneath the castle, he held a grand speech to all his subjects and soldiers alike.

"My queen, distraught with the assassination attempt on my life, as well as the banishment of our son, has indefinitely taken to a life of solitude in her great chamber. It is there where she will most likely spend the rest of her days, I am afraid. But do know this, my wife, our queen, will look upon our kingdom from her bedroom window with love, and will bless you all and bring you good tidings in the days you awake, and in the nights you slumber. Rest assured that in the meantime, I will provide you with updates on my current condition, as well as the wellbeing of my wife. May that two-faced and traitorous whelp, Dark Choco, regret his actions here and now, and may the fires of prosperity burn bright! We will not be deterred from Dark Choco's betrayal! Thank you all for your time, and long live the Dark Cacao Kingdom!"

That was the true reason why you attempted to flee from your prison cell for the first few years you were trapped beneath the castle. The fact that your husband lied to his own people that you were safe and happy in your great chamber with all the amenities you could desire. Instead, your husband managed to persuade you that this was for the best.

Before you were accustomed to the dark and decrepit walls that surrounded you day and night, you were still a lady with high honor. Coming from a family of nobility and grace, you were used to beautiful floral wallpapers and high quality furniture. With a wave of your hand, you were able to take up a new hobby almost immediately, for your family and your wonderful butlers and maids were never one to turn down an opportunity to learn something new.

You know how to sow, you know how to write short stories, you know how to carve, you know how to play numerous instruments of all different kinds of different backgrounds, and above all, you love to cook and paint whatever image comes to your mind.

Whether it be a person or a landscape, you could draw it, then paint it to completion in less than a month with the proper utensils.

It hurt too much to dwell on the past, but this was how you and Dark Cacao met, and eventually fell in love. You wanted to remember at a later date.

Dark Cacao knew that Dark Choco would come back to finish the job eventually, but the guards were on high alert 24/7, so there was no way he would manage to come to the castle alone. Your son wouldn't be stupid enough to search for you in the prison cells, which is what your husband kept telling himself. He would try to find you directly.

But you still felt betrayed, no matter how often your husband tells you he loves you. 

Every waking moment, back in the early days of your solitude, you would make a beeline for the cell door whenever it was unlocked. When you heard a guard delivering you your meal in the morning, you would always be awake and on high alert for the opportune moment where you could catch them by surprise.

You remember dashing out of bed, donned in your nightgown with your multiple blankets held tightly in your hands, and you threw them at the guards stationed outside your cell to buy yourself some time. While they were trying to free themselves of the heavy blankets, you paid them no mind.

The one and only time you were really, and truly free by your standards was when you managed to sprint down the prison halls, barefoot, your heart beating as fast as it could.

You could only do basic exercises in your cell, so finally being able to run like this was exhilarating, but hard for your heart to catch up with lost time.

Even with the guards slowly but surely catching up to you and demanding that you stop, you managed to sprint into the garden long enough to enjoy your solitude.

The snow that covered most, if not all of the ground due to the indefinite snowfall that forced this kingdom into seclusion. Unfortunately for you, it made your tracks visible enough that if you were to hide, no doubt you would have been found. Shivering and enjoying the beauty that used to be your home, you narrowly escaped the guards that were hot on your tail and took in the fresh air that you haven't managed to enjoy for so long.

A search party was released into the garden in the hopes of finding you before the townsfolk managed to hear about your escape and question what was going on, but you were too busy enjoying your solitude for the time being.

This was unfortunately a very big mistake.

Though you managed to escape many years ago, this occurred during the early days where your husband was just starting to get well, and was mostly bedridden while you wasted away your days beneath the castle.

You remember that Affogato would often take you through the secret passageways into what used to be your bedroom that you shared with Dark Cacao so that you could visit him before you were missed. It was hard to leave him in such a sorry state, but you would often caress his hair while he slept.

The one and only time that you managed to escape, also caused your husband great suffering while he was trying to heal and stay warm.

King Dark Cacao heard from his soldiers that you managed to escape your cell, and that your last known location was somewhere in the cold garden.

You know now that you were not being selfish, after all, you were terrified of never seeing the clouds or smelling fresh air again, but you were unprepared for what you witnessed the day you managed to escape.

You should have ran as far away from the kingdom as your feet as carry you, even while the guards were still shouting your name and wondering where your tracks went this time as you fled from hiding spot to hiding spot, but the second you saw him, you immediately froze.

It seemed that when your husband heard of your sudden escape, he took it upon himself to get out of bed, even with healing scar tissue, to try and find you himself if his soldiers were unable to do so.

But... he was clearly out of it.

Breathing heavily from descending so many flights of stairs in a panic and standing outside in the cold with nothing but his night-pants, as well gauze bandages tightly wrapped around his torso to prevent his scars from opening up and bleeding, he finds himself unable to stand without holding onto a nearby statue. His other hand was gently pressed against his bandages, almost like he's desperately holding them together.

Your husband tries to blink away the tears in his eyes that have amassed from the pain he was in, and you immediately gulped in regret.

A soldier quickly rushes to his aid in the hopes that he can send his king back to his bed, but your husband quickly smacks his hand away and squints his eyes shut in agony.

"Can't you see I'm doing this for your own good?" Your husband gasps out, his pitch black hair mostly covering his exhausted face. "Why... why can't you see that I'm doing this for you, my love?" 

The soldiers try not to get distracted, but even they believe that locking you beneath the castle instead of keeping you safe inside your great chamber is a fate worse than death.

It takes everything within you not to rush to his side and hold him close, but this is probably what he wanted in the first place. Your husband must of thought that if he tried to find you himself, then you would be more likely to help him if he collapsed in the snow.

This was the one and only time you managed to escape your prison cell, and this is the only time you have actually succeeded. It was entirely understandable that you didn't want to return to him after everything he's done, but you still loved him.

"All I want to do is protect you... from our son. I... I already lost our son. I can't lose you next." Your husband was rambling and yelling things that he would probably regret later in his mournful state, but the cold weather and his exhaustion forced him to slump onto the ground. "What is a king without his queen... I need you."

"My liege!" One of his faithful soldiers cried out, already rushing to his aid, but you beat him to it.

"There she is!" Someone cries out, but you don't pay attention.

Your feet may be bright red and scraped from running around and hiding in the snow, and your nightgown was probably indecent by royal standards, but your body acted on its own volition.

Your brain was telling you to sprint into the castle and find an exit that way, but your heart told you to stay when you saw him struggle to come to a stand as he locked eyes with yours.

Coming to your husband's aid and trying to help him out of the snow, you were quickly surrounded and pulled away from Dark Cacao, already spouting how much you needed to help him in his fatigued state.

"Stop it! I know I tried to run off, but I-I need to help him!" The soldiers, your soldiers, treated you like a petty criminal at this moment. One even had the audacity to put their gloved hand against your mouth to cease your cries. "Don't take me back to that horrible cell! Please, I'm begging you-" You bite their finger through the glove. "Stop! It hurts!"

Despite being manhandled so long ago, you can still feel their hands and arms on your skin. It still makes you sick to your stomach knowing that they took their job more seriously than your safety.

You often wondered if the soldiers thought you were delusional. Your son, whom you and Dark Cacao raised together as a family, was no longer in the picture and exiled. To make matters worse, your beloved husband was on death's doorstep when he arrived back to the kingdom.

Without any information to go on, this kind of situation would make anyone spiral into depression, especially since it happened so suddenly.

"Let her go before I have your heads mounted on a pike." Your husband's voice cuts through the yelling like a sudden gust of wind. Even while he was helped up by the one and only guard that wasn't stupid enough to grab you, his eyes narrowed at the very thought of his precious wife being shoved around like this. "I want you to stay in the cell. Did I not make myself clear?" Dark Cacao coughs, but it's very faint.

The soldiers immediately do as their told and let go, but they still have their eyes on you in case you try to flee again. "Dark Cacao, I just-"

"What is the matter with you? Does your safety matter at all to you?" Your husband only continues to shiver, and the weather makes his hot breath turn to condensation. "Do you have any idea how afraid I was? When I heard the news you escaped your cell, I thought you were murdered or taken as ransom... or-"

"I want my freedom, you selfish man! I would rather spend the rest of my days locked in my bedroom and chained to the floor than spend another minute in that disgusting, dank, and moldy cell you call a home for me! I could care less if it's for my protection, I'm not happy! I'm afraid of isolation, you know this already! I want to breathe in fresh air, I want to listen to the birds sing in the mornings! I want sunlight! I want to stay by your side as you slowly get better! Why are you too stubborn to understand that this isn't what I want?"

Affogato steps into the garden as if out of nowhere, his hand gripping his staff tightly. With his other hand, he uses his sleeve to hide his face as he descends the stairs as if to hide his excitement. "I sincerely apologize for the way these horrid soldiers treated you, my lady, I can assure you we will provide the best care in the world for you. My, my, the queen finally had enough guts to escape that cell of hers, hm? That won't do, will it, my liege?"

"No, it will not. But I can't stand to see her so unhappy. I will fix this, my dear. Rest assured I shall renovate your cell and turn it into a bedroom you can enjoy." Your husband was clearly out of it, so Affogato waves his staff.

"See to it that the king's bandages are changed and that he is properly bundled up. I will handle his queen's return to the cells, you can all go."

"Thank you, Affogato..." Your husband grumbles, but he doesn't make eye contact with him at all. All he can do is stare at you with narrowed eyes, and he grits his teeth.

Before the soldiers could even protest that you would just run away if you had the chance, Affogato already interlocked your elbow with your own and practically dragged you down the garden pavement that led underground. "Shall we get going, my lady? Rest assured I will visit you again later to let you know how husband's condition is once he gets warmer. Now, let's discuss how we can turn that cell of yours into a bedroom fit for a queen!"

Those cold purple eyes of his have changed in the past few years. Those gorgeous eyes that once drew you to him in your youth, the same eyes that used to look upon you with so much love and adoration, now seemed to pierce right through you whenever your husband was enraged.

Sometimes, even when he tried to romance you the same way he did all those years ago, where his expression grows soft and a smile creeps onto his usually stoic face, your husband has since grown... tired of having you locked away.

Despite putting on a contented smile, you knew that he regretted locking you away like this, never to see the sun, never to touch the snow and experience the joy of springtime as a family... instead you were in the depths of the castle and stored away like a lost treasure that only he was able to witness.

His hands were always cold and scarred to the touch, and when you would make love, the large and prominent scar caused by your son's blade would be a constant reminder that if your exiled son ever did come back, you would surely be marked with the same wound.

Your husband pretends not to notice the look in your eyes whenever you stare at it on occasion, almost like you're mesmerized that he managed to survive, and terrified that your son managed to make such a clean (albeit deadly) slice through your husband's chest. 

If a guard or a Watcher that were stationed outside your prison cell ever spoke out of line, or if they threatened to tell the commoners of your whereabouts, Affogato or your husband would quickly have them discharged and a new bright-eyed protector would be your only company until your husband came to visit.

This time, however, strangers were threatening to reach the castle, so everyone was frantic. 

"Outsiders!" The soldiers and Watchers cried. "Two groups of them are headed our way. But we have no idea whether they are friend or foe." They whispered to themselves. "If our fortress falls, so too will our kingdom. But we will sacrifice our lives for the royal family and our subjects."

This whole thing was ridiculous. You knew your husband was adamant on protecting you from whoever and whatever came across the Dark Cacao Kingdom with strictly corrupt intentions, but this was taking it way too far.

Instructing his people to act as your defense, sacrificing their lives just to see you prosper, it would all be worthless. You never understood why Dark Cacao forced his subjects to die purely for the royal family and the kingdom, but you always made absolutely certain that their lives matter, at least in the end.

You've never really been scared of death, but the bodies of friends and relatives haunted you in more ways than one. Nightmares often plagued you in your dark cell, for even the candles in your bedroom must go out in the night. 

This kingdom was bound to fail from the start, and yet despite all your attempts to make King Dark Cacao see it, it was really all in vain.

Perhaps now, King Dark Cacao would truly take Affogato's suggestion into consideration and find someone to wed instead of you. You can't bare the thought of your husband actually going through with it. Marrying someone else strictly for the opportunity to produce an heir worthy enough for the throne? Preposterous.

The thought of being discarded so easily made your skin crawl, but a part of you knew that your husband wasn't stupid enough to get rid of you. Having another heir at his age would produce negative side effects that both parties would regret.

You only hoped that Affogato was truly looking out for you... maybe that was his plan all along. Dark Cacao would finally be rid of you, and Affogato would allow you to live out the rest of your days in a gorgeous manor off in the countryside with a few animals.

Even in the midst of battle plans being put into place by the guards outside your cell, you already found yourself imagining what freedom would be like.

A pretty manor... with lots of beautiful paintings dotting the walls, all painted by you of course, and comfortable furniture would be in every corner of the room so that you could always admire the scenery outside your windows.

And hanging from the ceiling in the foyer would be an age-old crystal chandelier as a departing present from the kingdom itself.

Maybe, just maybe, an old friend or two would be reading in the library or helping you cook breakfast in the kitchen, but there was a chance they had no idea where you were.

While that whole fantasy seemed like a fairy tale, it helped you sleep at night

The giant doors that led to the kingdom's prison cells suddenly burst open as if an army of hundreds of soldiers combined their strength into one, but there was only one set of footsteps hurriedly walking through the corridors. Slipping out of your daydream, you widen your eyes and find it hard to control your breathing.

Has your husband come back for yet another argument?

It sounded as if they were clad in the finest of armor, and the tip of their sword scraped against the cobblestone floor as they continued walking. It didn't sound like your husband, that much was certain.

"Leave me be, or suffer the consequences." Their voice was deep and brooding. It was strange, it had the same powerful reach that your husband's voice had.

This mysterious person sounded awfully... familiar.

Immediately standing to your feet in fear of who this outsider was, you grab your sculpting knife. At first, you thought about hiding beneath the bed or behind the bookcase, but it seemed this person came here for one thing and one thing only.

You.

Hiding was the last thing you could do right now, especially since you were confined here. It would take mere minutes for them to find you, and potentially kill you.

"Protect the queen!"

"For the glory of Dark Cacao Kingdom!"

"We won't let you leave here alive!"

Brandishing any weapon they could find, the soldiers stationed at your prison cell door did their job. They were to lay down their lives to allow you to live, and they were going to see to it that this comes to fruition.

"...It can't be."

"He really has come back."

"Don't let him hurt the queen!"

"If he's here, than where is King Dark Cacao?"

You feel a sense of dread when you lock eyes with your one-eyed son, who in turn, stares at you without any emotion at all. Your husband once told you that your son, once full of life and vigor to become a hero like his father, came crashing down once he found a strange sword that seemed to overtake him. Dark Choco became a shell of who he used to be.

"Son...?" You practically whisper, almost dropping your sculpting knife once you realized who it was.

In turn, Dark Choco finds it difficult to respond to a familial title he hasn't heard since he attempted to assassinate his father, but a small smile begins to creep onto his face before his mouth curls back into a sneer.

At first, you thought your husband was overreacting. How your intelligent, thoughtful, kind, and proud son could turn into a cold, calculating, and traitorous monster was beyond your comprehension, but now you knew what he meant. Everything he said was true.

One of his eyes had a scar running down it, and you found that he could not open it.

Even if your son is here to assassinate you, you can't help but feel bad. He seemed so tired; as his mother you wanted to hold him in your arms and let him rest for just awhile.

Your heart begins to race and your stomach drops once you watch him turn towards the attacking soldiers, and he raises his sword defensively. With one narrowed red eye, Dark Choco sneers towards the advancing soldiers.

"I'll rescue you, mother. I swear it."

Chapter Text

Coming from a house of nobility, you were allowed to learn and be taught many things that were normally unavailable to the common folk. That included a large array of hobbies that gave you the opportunity to learn something useful or "marital attributes" as your family liked to call it. While you knew from a young age that your family often pushed you into potential bachelors with expensive backgrounds, you never took the second step into gaining their approval.

Painting and sculpting have always been your strong suits. Whether it was with oil or acrylic based paints, you could use your creativity to paint portraits and landscapes in less than a year if you focused enough on them.

Wood sculpting and ceramics were also very fun, but you didn't like getting splinters and playing with mud was considered "unladylike" despite your mother and your father collecting your pottery and miniature sculptures to display in their Study. 

That was until your mother received a letter from the Dark Cacao Kingdom's royal advisor in the hopes of sending you away to find a suitor. A man calling himself Affogato heard from your mother in her letter that you were incredible with a paintbrush, and asked for you to come to the kingdom directly for important royal duties.

Affogato went so far as to offer a free room and board as long as you could be useful to the king and his advisors, and would provide the materials required without any hassle at all.

The kingdom's royal advisor also made absolutely certain to mention that the king was unwed, and your mother immediately accepted without your prior approval.

Understandably, you felt somewhat betrayed that your mother would send you away so easily knowing that a king was involved, but if you got to paint and sculpt as a job, then you weren't going to say no.

The only problem was that you've never met the king or the royal advisor before this. You've been taught royal etiquette numerous times throughout your life in the event that someone would be interested in taking you in due to your skills, but you've never even met King Dark Cacao before this.

The day you arrived in the Dark Cacao Kingdom, a light snowfall bathed the fortress in a foggy white blanket that made it look like a mirage in the distance. You were practically freezing in your carriage as found it difficult to stop shivering, even with your multiple layers for the journey, but you noticed that there were soldiers stationed on the towering wall above you.

They were covered head-to-toe in warm uniforms and proudly held their weapons as they watched you enter the kingdom itself, but they weren't shivering, even out in the cold.

...This place snows everyday, doesn't it?

Great, not only are you going to live here as a live-in royal painter, but now you have to get used to the cold 24/7? What if you slipped on ice and made a fool of yourself? Your outfit wasn't equipped for this kind of whether, and your gloves were thin enough to cause frostbite if you stood outside for too long.

"Welcome to the Dark Cacao Kingdom, my lady! Right this way to your bedroom! A few of our maids will be with you shortly to get you dressed in warmer clothes! Sincerest apologizes for not warning you about the sudden snowfall beforehand." Another Watcher came to your side as you stepped out of the carriage, and her dark brown hair was tied into a ponytail. A bow was hung around her shoulder and she saluted you with grace and nobility, so you assumed she was meant to be your bodyguard for awhile.

"It's alright! The cold is honestly refreshing after such a long journey. But, um... what is your name, by the way?" You ask as the girl opens the door of the carriage. You noticed that every time you breathed, your breath turned to condensation and disappeared into the air. "Think of me not as an Aristocrat, but as a friend."

With a proud smile, her dark brown eyes seem to shine with glee and she salutes with her other hand. "First Watcher of the Great and Powerful Dark Cacao Kingdom, Caramel Arrow, reporting for duty! It's an honor to finally make your acquaintance!" 

A few of the Watchers that were anxiously awaiting your arrival helped you get your bags almost immediately, almost like they wanted to make a good first impression.

Without your knowledge, the king and his royal retainer were also watching you in the highest reaches of the castle, almost gossiping to themselves before they even had the chance to get to know you.

"Her carriage is certainly... colorful." King Dark Cacao mutters under his breath. He moves closer to the window, and his metallic armor clinks. His large crown was atop his head, but he had worn it so often that weight of it felt like nothing. "So are her clothes."

"It's about time that Aristocratic painter has finally arrived. Everyone has been anxiously anticipating her arrival for quite some time now. It's not everyday that an outsider is specifically chosen to live here in exchange for their work, much less from the likes of you." Affogato Cookie told his superior. His cat-like eyes narrowed in anticipation for what the king had to say about you, but the smile that graced his features was almost as fake as his kind tone. "I never would have thought you would see to it that a woman of such high honor would get to live in the castle with us. Much less a woman you have never met."

"Hmph, I was given the opportunity to view their paintings and sculptures in an art gallery in my youth. She's an exceptional artist, and is capable of realism that I myself have not perceived. She will be living here in the castle as the royal court's personal artist, so what is the problem?"

Affogato blinks once more and watches you elegantly step out of your carriage with Caramel Arrow's help and take in the kingdom's beauty, but the cold weather forces you to rub your gloved hands together to stimulate heat. A few of the Watchers arrive to take your luggage from the back of the cart and quickly escort you somewhere warm. Even from afar, you seemed full of life and warmth; the likes of which King Dark Cacao needed in his life. 

"Well, if I may be so bold, my liege... You aren't getting any younger. And the great Dark Cacao kingdom needs an heir to the throne. You can't always be a hard-shelled warrior, and this kingdom needs youthfulness. I think she's the perfect opportunity for-"

King Dark Cacao takes in a breath that was a gasp and scoff all at once. "Watch your tongue! I have not even met her yet! And besides, I do not wish to have children any time soon, Affogato, much less have a personal relationship with the kingdom's royal painter. Besides, the power difference is too grand."

Affogato chuckles to himself and stands beside the king once more, but he does not apologize. "But of course, my liege. However, there's no telling what the future holds."

"As your king, I suggest you do not entertain that idea... Then let us proceed to the Throne Room so we can meet our guest in person." He turns away from the window and makes his way to the stairs, all while Affogato continues staring at you.

"Perhaps if you do the work for me... Maybe the king will grow softer." Affogato's smile only continues to grow, and he quickly follows behind the king.

"Now presenting, The Almighty and Powerful King Dark Cacao of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, and his Royal Retainer, the Smart and Illustrious Affogato!" A Watcher blew a horn as soon as the king seemingly emerged from the shadows, but your heart was beating so fast you must have missed him opening a door and you were surprised for nothing.

Nevertheless, you felt as if your heart was beating out of your chest as you stood in front of the throne. You were anxiously awaiting his arrival the entire time you made pleasant conversation with Caramel Arrow and the other Watchers, but one of the announcers caught you off guard. 

King Dark Cacao's deep purple eyes were beautifully mesmerizing. Like a moth to a flame, you were instantly drawn to him the second he stepped into the throne room... but dear gods above was he terrifying up close. Your eyes slightly widened from the sheer... breathtaking elegance that he carried with him as he walked.

Instinctually straightening your back and intertwining your hands together in the hopes that he wouldn't notice your nervousness, you watch as he makes his way out of the darkness as his subjects cheered for their king.

The crown, though gem-less, was large and pointy, almost like he could easily use it as a weapon if he misplaced his sword and had to defend himself in some way. The crown itself could have easily weighed as much as his armor, but you were still unsure.

...You're supposed to paint him? You would never admit you were afraid of him to his face in fear of what he might do or say, but he was spine-chilling. Constantly on high alert, with his dark purple eyes narrowed, it was almost like they were studying you as you stood there, and his mouth was seemingly curled into a permanent frown. You were almost too afraid to shiver, from the fear or of the cold, you didn't know, but you felt that if you moved incorrectly or spoke out of line, his voice would erupt through the quiet and echo across the throne room. 

Countless souls have met their maker from the sword he kept at his side, and yet his armor seemed spotless. The dark velvet cape attached to the intimidating armor swayed with every step as he made his way to the throne, and his royal retainer, whom you assumed to be Affogato, the one who sent you the letter regarding the job, was right by his side. A large staff was in his hands, and he carried it with grace.

You swallow and try your hardest to maintain eye contact, but it was incredibly difficult. It was almost like he was sizing you up for even being in his presence, and his royal retainer was no better.

"Introducing Lady (Cookie Name), Aristocrat of a neighboring kingdom, and an Artist who has taken the opportunity to paint the king and his illustrious kingdom!" The Watcher exclaims, and you awkwardly step forward after being given a gentle nudge by Caramel Arrow as she stood right by your side.

You had almost forgotten she was there, but you were too busy taking in the décor of the kingdom and trying not to pass out right on the spot to notice. Staring at him with a small smile on your face, you gracefully bow and try to get on his good side.   

"It is an honor to finally meet you in person, King Dark Cacao of the Dark Cacao Kingdom. I am truly grateful for this grand opportunity to paint you and this glorious kingdom I will now call a home, and I will do my absolute best to ensure that you appreciate the hard work and dedication I will put into this grand painting." Against your will, your voice slightly cracks near the end of your sentence, but you earn a few whispers amongst the crowd.

With only a wave of his hand, the king stops all conversation within the group of Watcher's, but his expression does not change. You find this odd, but do not comment on it in fear of King Dark Cacao taking offense to your question.

"Thank you, my Lady. We are just as lucky to have such a skilled artisan such as yourself working and living with us. Rest assured that we will provide the canvas and the materials required in order for you to work at your very best. Caramel Arrow will show you to your living quarters, where all the basic amenities you require will be waiting for you. Do you have any questions before we part ways for the day?" 

"That is very kind of you, King Dark Cacao." You bow once more to show your gratitude towards the king for such kind words, but you had some questions. "Pardon me for asking, but just how large is the canvas I will be working on? Is it a portrait? A landscape? If the canvas is large I will need to use a stepping stool of some kind." 

"No need to apologize for a genuine question. I am quite glad you asked. The canvas we've procured for you will be housed in the foyer for all my subjects and visitors to see. It is quite an honor for you to paint such a thing, if I may be so bold." King Dark Cacao does not smile, but you find yourself getting less and less nervous around him.

The only thing you were nervous about now was how long it was going to take to paint such a large picture.

"T-The foyer? It is going to go on the empty wall I saw as I made my way to your throne room? But, my liege, if I may, the wall of your foyer is larger than the wall of my bedroom back at home. Even if I were to work on such a large canvas every hour of everyday, I will still need to take breaks to ensure that my hands and wrists do not cramp. Even if I use every last drop of paint to the best of my ability, the amount of money it will cost you will be astronomical! Not to mention that it will probably take me more than a year to even see it finished-"

"If you do not think you are up to the task, we can offer our services to someone who believes they are worthy enough to complete such a difficult assignment." The king cuts you off, and his voice begins to rise from your worries. King Dark Cacao notices you freeze up and he tries his best to deter the situation. "Forgive me, my Lady, I know that this is going to be a long and difficult time for you, but we can assure you that it will be well worth the trouble. We have seen your art galleries and the portraits of those who were fortunate enough to be your muse, and the landscapes of your kingdom is truly a sight to behold. Do not fret about the money, I have taken care of everything. I can only hope that I can be graced with the opportunity to be painted by your hand, but it is up to you." King Dark Cacao finishes, and this once again causes a few conversations within the crowd.    

Surprisingly, despite Affogato's cheeky grin being hidden behind his sleeve, he does not try to ask the king in front of his subjects just what he meant by that.

You stay silent for a moment, almost as if you're trying to process what he just said. Did King Dark Cacao just indirectly flirt with you?

"Oh, no, I-" You stumble over your words and try to answer him without making a fool of yourself. "I was simply uninformed of just how large the canvas was going to be until now, but rest assured that I will complete it without any complaints. Thank you so very much for this opportunity, King Dark Cacao. I will see to it that I procure a masterpiece for your glorious kingdom."

Your kind words make the king nod in satisfaction, and the frown, which you first thought to be glued to his face, suddenly falters. "I already know you will create a masterpiece. Caramel Arrow will show you to your room where you can gain back your strength and energy for tomorrow. I know it is sudden, but you will be starting the painting immediately after breakfast tomorrow. You and I will discuss creative ideas as we eat. I hope you do not have any complaints, my lady?"

"No, none at all." Your brain is completely running on autopilot by this point. "If we are finished here, then I shall take my leave. Once again, thank you for giving me a home here."

He... wants to eat breakfast with you? You initially thought that he would care less about being painted when he had much more important things to do when he's the ruler, but perhaps there were less things to do now that now that the land was fairly peaceful. 

Caramel Arrow stands by your side and salutes the king, who in turn gives her a nod of acknowledgement. "I will see to it that she remembers where she shall be staying!"

"Thank you, Caramel Arrow." He says, and he proceeds to leave with Affogato.

You manage to bow once more as Caramel Arrow leads you to a staircase nearby, and you ascend the stairs as she talks about the kingdom's history. 

After an incredibly restful night of sleep after your long journey, you were surprised and confused when you woke up in the early hours of the morning. In your sleepy haze, you had almost forgotten that the Dark Cacao Kingdom was going to be your new home. It took you a minute or so to finally realize that you were going to be living here as a full-time painter, but you were honestly too tired to even get out of bed.

The cold weather wasn't any better, either.

Though the curtains shielded the sunrise through your window, the dark browns, blacks, and purples were a very strange contrast to the white snow that never ceased to melt in this kingdom way off in the mountains. Before you had fallen asleep, another night-long snowfall kept you from seeing the stars, and you were unable to sleep as peacefully as you wanted to. 

A part of yourself also tried to pretend that you were simply back in your old manor, and the bed you were sleeping on was a new mattress. Even while the blizzard howled outside your window, you tried to tell yourself that it was the middle of winter and you had to use the thick blankets to keep yourself warm.

The sheets were nice and warm, and definitely comfortable, but if you didn't have at least three layers of blankets, you would be shivering in your own bed. The pillows were very soft and stuffed with feathers, but this room was much different than the one back home.

By this point, you were too nervous about the days to come to fall back asleep. You figured you may as well close your eyes and wait for Caramel Arrow or Affogato to wake you up in order to get ready for breakfast, but it was far too early for anyone to be awake right now.

At least... that was what you thought.

A knock at the door broke you out of your dozy trance, and you quickly sat up in the bed while trying to get the heavy blankets off of you. "Yes, I'm awake! Who is it?"

"It's Caramel Arrow! How was your sleep, my lady?" It's barely sunrise, and she's already up and raring to go. Her energetic voice sounds almost like an alarm clock so early in the morning. "May I come in?"

"I slept well, thank you for asking!" You called back, already pulling the covers off your body and trying your best to get up without yawning as you spoke. "Yes, you can come in!"

Caramel Arrow opens the door and shuts it as soon as she's inside just in case any of the soldiers happened to walk by. You give her a sleepy smile and rub your eyes to rid yourself of the tiredness, but it was still there since you just woke up a few minutes ago.

"The king is already up and preparing to share breakfast with you, so he asked me to wake you up as well so you can get your fill while the food is still being cooked!" Caramel Arrow mentions this so quickly that your brain barely manages to register it. "King Dark Cacao is doing his daily exercises with the Watchers at the moment, so I can procure a nice and relaxing bath for you if you'd like. Or did you want to wait until later?"

"Mm... is that so? It's cold right now, but I think I'll manage. Besides, I will need to get ready to share breakfast with him, so I wouldn't want to be late. Thank you for the offer, Caramel Arrow, but I can wait to have a bath later. I feel like if I take one now I'll fall asleep in the tub." You make your way over to the vanity to get ready for the day, and Caramel Arrow shuffles through the closet for a nice and comfortable outfit you can wear throughout the entirety you paint. 

"Um, my lady... If I may..." Caramel Arrow chuckles a little and continues looking through the clothes you brought with you on your journey, but neither of them had enough layers to keep you from shivering, even in the heated castle. "Unfortunately, your outfits seem ill-equipped to be of any use to you in this weather. I'll put in a good word to the tailors and they'll make adjustments to the ones you have now, and I'll put in a few orders for you to have a few dresses made. The best I can find is your winter-wear."

Still battling sleep and anxiety, all you can do is fix your hair and try to make yourself look presentable for the time being, but you've never been a morning person. "Wonderful, Caramel Arrow. Please leave the best dress you can find on my bed and I'll put it on after I get ready. Thank you for the help, b- Wait, are the clothes coming out of my paycheck, or..."

Caramel Arrow chuckles and shakes her head. "No! Of course not! You're a guest in our castle! Our great king specifically told the Watchers that you are to be treated with kindness and respect for taking on such a difficult and laborious assignment."

"Ah, I see." You can feel your cheeks grow hot from embarrassment once more, but you try not to think about it too much. You've only spoken yesterday, so he simply must be kind enough to give these things to you for free because of your hard work and dedication. "Thank you again, Caramel Arrow. I'll be out shortly."

"I'll let the king know you're awake and ready to eat, my lady." Caramel Arrow says, then silently exits through the door to wait for you to get ready. You still don't know your way around, so she didn't want you to get lost.

You thanked your past self for remembering to pack a few winter clothes before the trip, because if you hadn't, you would be shivering the entire time you did anything remotely simple.

Your gloves were much warmer than the ones you wore when you first arrived, and your dress had more layers of protection than the one you had on yesterday. You only hoped you didn't look silly, but you had no idea what the weather was like in this kingdom beforehand since you were sent here without your prior approval by your parents.

Now you were being taken to the dining hall while trailing behind Caramel Arrow, who in turn continued the historical lesson from yesterday on the kingdom King Dark Cacao himself founded.

You tried to listen, of course, but you still needed to remember the way to the dining hall without Caramel Arrow's help since she was the first Watcher of the kingdom, and the most important. She was to protect and serve the kingdom and its people, and here she was, chatting with you over something you could easily read in a book.

Shouldn't Affogato be the one to show you where everything is? Maybe he will eventually, but it was nice to have someone as nice as Caramel Arrow around. But Affogato was the one who sent your mother that letter that the king needed a live-in artist, and that the king was unwed.

The signs that he liked you and respected you were there, but would he ever like you romantically? He's so stoic and apathetic, you were surprised he offered you to live in the castle with him instead of renting out a house or an apartment with the common-folk.

But you were a lady of noble stature, so it was expected of a king to give an Aristocrat such as yourself the "special treatment" you honestly didn't desire. All you want to do is paint, sculpt, write, carve, sow, and train using a weapon on occasion.

You were skilled in many things, but sharing decent conversation with a man who seems like he's constantly on edge made you almost dread breakfast. Placing your hands to your stomach, you hear it growl in anticipating for the food.

"...And if we turn this corner and come to this door, we have arrived at the dining hall. The king should be waiting for you at the table, by the way!" Caramel Arrow explains, but she doesn't turn the handle for you. "Unfortunately, I have to take my leave to complete my duties for the day, but hopefully you can use what I've taught you in the future. Is there anything else you need?"

"No, thank you though, Caramel Arrow. You've been a big help. Good luck with your duties as a Watcher, and please stay safe in the meantime." You tell her, and she salutes you.

Heading off to start her day, you watch her as she makes her way down a corridor it disappears. Sighing and turning back towards the door, you wrap the palm of your hand around the handle and turn it.

Did you hair look alright?

Your dress doesn't have any wrinkles on it, does it?

What if you have dark circles from waking up so early in the morning? Will he notice?

Wait, the king has prominent dark circles as well. As long as he doesn't comment on it, you won't comment on his.

What if you make a mess in the middle of breakfast?

What if you say something out of line around him?

Does King Dark Cacao even like being in your presence? What if he's only tolerating you? You saw how he looked at you yesterday. What if that wasn't just a permanent frown on his face?

This was a bad idea. You want to leave. You don't want to eat breakfast, you want to go home, you want to wake up in the bedroom you've known all your life surrounded by your friends and family as they doted on you without a care in the world.

You don't like the cold snow. You want rolling fields of green grass and colorful flowers that once flourished in the garden of your manor. You want to stargaze again. You want-

"Lady (Cookie Name). I am glad you could join me for breakfast. I was unsure as to what you normally ate back in your manor, so I made the chefs procure a wide array of small dishes that you can taste test while we chat. Affogato will not be joining us this morning, it will strictly be you and I as we discuss what kind of painting you'll be making." King Dark Cacao watches you open the door to the dining hall and almost immediately breaks you out of your anxious thoughts.

There, sitting at the dining table in leisure wear after his morning exercises, was King Dark Cacao. He had a small plate of food and a cup full of liquid you couldn't quite place since you were slightly startled. You quickly noticed that he has not touched his food just yet, even if it took you a little longer than you would have liked since your winter dress takes a longer time to put on.

"Ah, good morning, King Dark Cacao. It is an honor to share breakfast with you, and I hope you had a nice rest!" You barely remember to bow in his presence and try to make eye contact. As you quickly make your way to the table with small dishes laid out for you, you came to realize that there were multiple different kinds of food. "Thank you once again for allowing me to paint you."

Small portions of French toast, Belgian waffles lightly coated in powdered sugar and fruit, regular eggs and bacon, and a fruit bowl were laid out out on the table on dark plates. Some milk, orange juice, and a small cup of coffee was laid out as well, but you weren't going to touch the coffee if it didn't have sugar and cream in it. Plain black coffee made your stomach hurt, no matter how much you tried to like it.

Sitting in the chair and smelling the aromas that the different kinds of food give off, you lick your lips and smile excitedly. "Goodness, I'm not sure if I can finish all of these before they get cold, but I will remember to savor them." 

"We did not have the opportunity to discuss your preferred breakfast foods yesterday due to my duties. As such, I had the chefs cook a wide variety of foods that are hopefully to your liking. Feel free to let me know which one you like best, and I will ensure that the chefs remember it." King Dark Cacao gets started on his own meal. "Now, shall we begin swapping ideas for the painting?"

As you pick up a fork and butter knife to cut the French toast first, you tilt your head to the side and give it some thought. You had been thinking about how the painting should be completed, but it all depends on whether or not the king will like that idea.

"Yes, King Dark Cacao, that sounds splendid. Shall I offer my creative prowess first or did you want to say whatever is on your mind?" You put the perfectly cut French toast into your mouth and savor the taste. The milk and maple syrup, as well as the cinnamon, clashed together into an amazing mesh of flavors that left you craving more of the food, but you still had so many options to choose from that you didn't want to eat it all at once and waste such a bountiful feast.

Apparently he noticed your expression, because his mouth curls into a small smile as he nods. "I take it by your expression that the food is to your liking? Let me know which one you like best and I will relay it to the chefs for tomorrow, my lady."

"Yes, it reminds me of home. Thank you, King Dark Cacao. Please give my compliments to the chef, if you could. I'm quite fond of the French toast at the moment, but I still need to taste test the others."

Upon further inspection, the king has two toasted slices of bread with a small amount of butter, three pieces of bacon, and a cup of black coffee, which you assumed was brewed from the same pot as yours. A very small bowl of various chopped fruits were off to the side, but he seems to save that for last. Though his breakfast wasn't as delicious as your own, you still hoped that the smaller portions would be saved for later or given to someone else.

You take a sip of some milk as the king opens his mouth to speak. 

"Please, in order to make things easier, simply refer to me as "my liege", "sire", or "your majesty". Hearing my own name over and over is often frustrating and takes up too much time." He puts some toast into his mouth and begins to chew, but his expression softens once he finally got to eat after laborious exercises so early in the morning. "But to answer your question, you may go first. I have never been a creative man, so I would like your input first. After we eat and freshen up, you can begin the sketch."

The canvas is almost as large as a castle wall, which was something you weren't particularly happy about. You enjoyed painting, of course, but something this large will be strenuous and if anything were to happen with the final product, there was a high chance you would have to start over. You haven't even picked up a paintbrush yet and you could already feel your wrist begin to cramp.

"I see..." Lost in your thoughts, you try to come up with a few ideas. Taking a bite of the cut up Belgian waffle, you savor its taste, the begin to speak. "Hm, you mentioned before that you wanted to be in the center of the painting, but your attire is made up of very... dark and cool colors that wouldn't contrast well with a common background. Color theory suggests that opposite colors catch the viewer's eye, and are generally nicer to look at when everything is clearly visible. I recommend that you are outside in the snow, with the castle and the wall in the background. A few snow-covered trees could also be in the background, and maybe an animal or two could be in the foreground. I will need to study the exterior walls of the kingdom, but I believe it would look nice. What do you think?"

The king understandably stays silent for a moment and closes his eyes, almost as if he's imagining what the painting will look like inside his head, but he does take a few bites of bacon before it gets cold. He nods as you cautiously take a bite or two of the toast before the butter is no longer melted, and he opens his eyes.

"An excellent idea, my lady. However, I cannot spend hours of my time outside in the cold, and neither can you or we risk getting sick. So how will we-" The king begins to ask, but you cut him off on accident.

"Oh, it's simple! We can stay in the Study as I add you to the painting! That way, not only are we both warm, but I can focus on painting your form first, and then I can add the background once you are completed." You take a sip of the orange juice, but it doesn't mix well with your bacon, so you set it back onto the table. "Ahem, pardon my outburst, my liege." You try to smile, but he does not take offense to it.

"Then it's settled. Let us continue eating breakfast in the meantime, and we can get started." He proceeds to raise his black coffee into the air to celebrate, and you raise your own glass. 

A few months pass by and the painting's canvas went from plain white to a wide array of dark and brooding colors that the king has specifically requested. He wanted you to paint him first and then add your own personal background later on once you're done drawing him to the best of your ability, but it was going to take quite a long time until you were able to add anything else.

Since the canvas was so large, you had to not only use a stepping stool from time to time, but you need to make King Dark Cacao the exact same size as he was in real life, if not a little larger to make him the main subject. You weren't against making a life size version of the king, of course, but it did make your heart skip a beat every time your own work of art would make eye contact with you as you added highlights to his pitch black hair. The white streak was the most fun part for you to paint, especially since it felt like you were given the creative opportunity to do as you pleased.

In the middle of painting, you try to make decent conversation. You're well-equipped with a paintbrush, so you make little to no mistakes, even while preoccupied.

"I still can't comprehend how you're able to hold such a heavy sword in one hand for such a long time, my liege. Are you sure you don't need a break? I wouldn't want your arm getting sore." Looking up from the extravagant canvas you've been carefully sketching and painting for a few months, you carefully add a few more details to King Dark Cacao's armor, such as highlights and shadows.

"No, I am alright. Thank you for worrying about me. What about you? Would you like to take a break? Your hand seems like it's cramping." He states, but he has not moved for a few hours now. It was almost... a bit odd to only see him blink. If he moves, you could potentially lose the current pose, but you could manage with a bit more practice.

"A break sounds perfect. How about ten minutes?" Carefully stepping off the stool and wiping your hands on a nearby cloth rag, you sigh and stretch your back from standing so long.

As you do this, King Dark Cacao inspects the painting with one hand on his hip, and the other holding his sword. 

"This part of the sword is wrong." King Dark Cacao states, and moves his finger in the air as he points out the sketch's flaws. "There are not triangles on the blade. There are diamonds. And the gem near the hilt is the wrong size. Also, one eye is bigger than the other."  

"Sincerest apologies, your majesty. I am afraid that I have not practiced drawing weaponry, but I can assure you this will change." You didn't have the guts to tell him that this was a simple sketch and you could easily change it later as you painted the final product. "I will need to-"

"Do you need to see the sword up close, my lady? It is alright if you touch it." King Dark Cacao offers, already using his strength to lift it into both hands. "Feel free to make a small sketch of it now and fix the drawing on the canvas later."  

Understandably hesitant, you look upwards in order to meet King Dark Cacao's gaze in the hopes that it was really alright for you to inspect such a heavy and dangerous sword. The sword glints from the light of the Study, almost as if the sword is beckoning for you to finally see for yourself what kind of incredible craftmanship went into creating it.

Smiling to yourself, you press your hand atop the flat side of his great-sword, the Grapejam Chocoblade. It was severely cold to the touch and the materials required to make such a gorgeous object were probably so expensive that it was going to be impossible to make a new one any time soon.

Two intricately carved diamond shapes caught your eye as the glinted in the light, but you were too nervous to touch the sharp edge of the blade in fear of cutting your finger.

Giving you a simple nod of consent, the king tightens his grip on the hilt to signify that he wasn't going to drop it. "The Grapejam Chocoblade is so heavy that it requires three of my soldiers just to make it budge. I alone am strong enough to lift it with ease." The king proceeds to boast, but he still does not smile. Instead, all he can do is readjust his grip on his weapon so that you can can a look at the giant purple gem housed near the hilt.

You chuckle to yourself and take your eyes off the sword for a moment to look into his purple eyes. "Is that right? It's a very lovely great-sword. Beautiful, even! But, if it takes three grown men just to make move even an inch... then you must be a very strong man. You truly are incredible, my liege. Amazing even..."

In turn, he blinks and slightly tenses up at your compliment. While you strictly had a working relationship with the king, you still wanted to let him know that for as long as you planned on living in his kingdom, you were going to get to know him. He swallows quickly, clears his throat, and rests the pointy end of the sword on the priceless floors once you're finally done inspecting it.

But, you do not back away. Instead, you quickly realize that you indirectly... teased the king. All you can do is chuckle once more to ease the awkward tension, and you restate what you meant. "You are a hero, and the wielder of the Grapejam Chocoblade. It is an honor to even be able to touch, much less be offered by you to do it."   

"Forgive me, my lady, but I am afraid I do not know how to laugh." Dark Cacao mentions, his voice surprisingly soft compared to how low it normally is. "I... thank you for your kind words, my lady. Did you want to get back to painting now?"

"...Yes, yes I do."

With the painting slowly but surely becoming more and more beautiful every time you had in more details or extra highlights, you realized that eventually it will be completed and you won't get to spend as much time as you would have liked with the king anymore.

Sure, the two of you often shared breakfast with Affogato and discussed civil affairs, but you were never great with politics and chose to eat in silence and speak only when spoken to. They would often chat about the well-fare of their citizens or how the newly appointed soldiers were fairing in training, so you weren't particularly interested.

This involves not only the dining table, but you were never one to start a conversation in the middle of painting unless you asked for his advice. King Dark Cacao's constructive criticism mattered to you more than simply "taking the easy route" as your art instructor liked to phrase it.

Constantly being told to fix something so intricate allowed you to notice any blemishes or mistakes on the canvas, allowing you to quickly fix it with a new coat of paint and redraw it to the best of your ability.

You unfortunately had to fix the sword one too many times to suit the king's needs, but it came out realistically shiny in the end. A few glints here and there made it look like a duplication of the real sword and plastered onto the canvas, which you took great pride in.

In the middle of painting the taller portion of the canvas, you had to stand on the stool in order to reach where you wanted to paint, but even then, you were having some issues, and the king noticed it.

It took a bit more time and effort to paint in the far corners of the painting, especially since you were preparing to add the citadel's walls behind the king in the picture, but having such a large canvas made it difficult for you to stand still. Since you were slightly afraid of heights, you wouldn't dare stand on your tippy-toes in fear of losing your balance.

What was worse was that you were on the second step of the stool, and even with a handle to keep you steady in case you needed to lean closer, it wasn't going to do any good if you fell.

Trying not to think about it too much, you sigh and use your arm to move some stray hair out of your eyes from working for so long. Luckily, you got to wear comfortable painter's attire, and not a large and overbearing dress. You still had to keep yourself warm by wearing a shawl, but it didn't get in the way either.

"How is the painting coming along?" The king asks, noticing that you were already preparing for a break. "I'd like to take a look at it." He keeps his sword in one hand and stretches as he makes his way over to you.

Pleased with your handiwork, you placed your dirty paintbrush onto the table beside you that was full of other supplies to wipe off your hands. "Personally, I think it looks great! You're just about finished, too! I completed your facial features to the best of my ability, your armor is spotless and almost perfect, and I added some flair into your cape! You'll notice it's swaying in the wind due to the snowfall, I hope you like it!"

Taking his time to stare at your work of art to take in every single detail, he nods in satisfaction and looks up at you since you were still on the second step of the stool. "Truly incredible work. I couldn't have asked for a better self portrait, my lady... It's outstanding how you can take in every little detail to the best of your ability and paint it from memory onto a canvas."

Your heart skips a beat once more and you smile at his kind words, but this leaves you flustered. "Thank you for your kind words, your majesty. I tried my best to-" Attempting to step off the stool in the middle of your conversation, your heart sinks in fear and you struggle to find your footing.

You missed the step in order to keep your balance as you descended from the stool in the middle of talking to the king. Not only were you going to make a fool of yourself in front of royalty, there was a chance you would be greatly injured in the process and unable to work on the painting.

It all happened so quickly that even the king couldn't register how you lost your footing, but he still leapt into action nonetheless in order to protect you. King Dark Cacao's expression was laced in shock, which was an expression you've never seen before until now.

Gasping in fear and surprise as gravity pulled you back, you tried to reach for anything or anyone so that you wouldn't be hurt. Since you lost your footing on the stool, you desperately attempt to steady yourself, but it was impossible to save yourself in this situation. But someone else saved you.

That someone was King Dark Cacao, who didn't hesitate to grab you.

Dropping his priceless great sword to the ground so he could catch you with both arms, you heard it loudly clank to the floor as he caught you after such a terrifying moment.

Your heart was practically beating out of your chest as you make contact with his armored chest and squeeze your eyes shut in pain. You would never admit it to his face, but falling against his metallic armor was almost the same as hitting the floor, if not worse.

"(Cookie Name)! Are you alright? Did you faint due to the cold? How did you lose your footing on the stool? Do you need a doctor?" King Dark Cacao exclaimed one after another. He was speaking so quickly your brain couldn't register what he was saying, but you did open your eyes to figure out if you made contact with the floor at all. "Is anything sore? Can you stand?"

"I...I'm fine. I just slipped-" Your cheeks grew hot from being so close to the king like this. His armored arm was protectively wrapped around your waist and only continued to tighten if your shoes slid against the tile floors, and his other hand attempted to shield the back of your head from the fall. "King Dark Cacao? What are you-"

Your arms, which at the time struggled to grab onto anything to keep you from any injuries, were wrapped around his neck. His silky black hair, which was now slightly tangled from rushing in to save you, mixed in with your fingers and you tried your best not to enjoy the softness of his hair, but you would need to ask him what kind of shampoo and conditioner he uses later.

King Dark Cacao gulps once your hands readjust themselves around his neck and shoulders, and he proceeds to press you closer against his body despite the armor in the way. "I'm so glad you are alright. If I hadn't been any quicker you could have been seriously injured. Are you sure nothing hurts?"

"Don't worry, sire. I'm a little shaken up, but I'm alright. I promise." You reassure the king, who in turn, sighs in relief.

"Thank goodness." King Dark Cacao mutters under his breath, and his hair almost touches your cheek.  

It was hard to tell due to his dark skin, but it seemed his cheeks had a slight tint to them, almost like he was just as nervous as you were from holding you so closely like this. You never would thought that he would be holding you so gently, especially since the two of you strictly had a professional relationship, but you couldn't pry your eyes away from him.

He was so close to you that you could feel his hot breath hitting your skin as he checked you for any injuries or bruises that might have amassed as you fell. On impulse, you try to reassure him that you were alright by giving him a smile.

If anyone were to see the two of you like this, rumors would spread almost immediately. This pose was anything but decent by royal standards, even if it was easy to tell that nothing was going on between you and the king.

Anyone who was smart enough to understand what was going on would have seen the misplaced sword and stool and simply would have realized he rescued you from falling, but the pose you and the king were in was a... sensual and romantic embrace.

It wouldn't be too difficult to make up a more "interesting" story for how intimate you two were due to your closeness. How your fingers ran through his hair and his crown was slightly tilting off the top of his head due to its weight, and how his armored body was shielding you from view in case anyone walked in. His muscular arms, though overwhelmingly protective, did not falter. He wasn't going to let you go until he knew you were really alright.

But, wow, his eyes were even more stunning up close like this. Did he also think your eyes were beautiful in this moment? You've never been this close to him before, but you didn't want to pull away, and neither did he. The two of you just held each other like this, even while your artist's attire had a few dried paint splotches here and there, he simply held you close and kept you safe. 

His eyes weren't narrowed for once, and looked upon you with so much worry that it almost seemed like he was in a panic. "Ah, forgive me, I... I have no idea what came over me, my lady, I just..." King Dark Cacao could not find the words to deter the situation, but he breathed a sigh of relief and almost pressed his forehead against your own. "Here, let me help you up. If anything hurts-" 

"It's fine, really. I'm alright." You reassure him by caressing the back of his neck with your hands, and his breath hitches in his throat from your actions. "Thank you, but you... you called me by my first name-"

"My liege, I heard a loud noise in here, is everything alright? My lady, did something happen?" Affogato's voice is muffled through the door of the Study, but you still find yourself struggling to stand to your feet after such a scary predicament. "I'm opening the door just in case!"

King Dark Cacao's expression turns sour from the sudden outburst Affogato exclaimed, and he attempts to lift you up just as the door opens. You fix King Dark Cacao's crown as you stand to your feet to make him look presentable, but his royal advisor knew what was going on.

"My oh my, did I happen to catch you at a bad time, sire? If I didn't know any better, you two were-" Affogato starts, but King Dark Cacao quickly cuts him off as soon as Affogato smirks.

You back away from the king and try to gather your materials together to keep your composure, but that was the closest you've ever been to the king. You can still feel your skin tingling from the way he held you, and somehow, you missed the touch. 

"Watch your tongue, Affogato!" The king snaps, making sure you were alright and no bruises could be seen. He picks his sword off the ground and explains the situation while trying to keep a straight face. "She fell off the stool in the middle of stepping off of it. I had to rush in to save her and I needed to drop my sword in the process to catch her with two hands. That was what you heard, Affogato. But she's alright, and the painting is intact."

Affogato stares directly at you, and if you didn't know any better, he was either smiling due to seeing the two of you in an awkward situation, or he was smiling to check if you were really okay after this whole ordeal. "Hm, is that so? You look a little shaken up, (Cookie Name). Perhaps a visit to the hospital will allow you to relax and unwind."

"What? No, it's fine, I can get back to painting. This has happened before, I just need to take a break." You try to say, but you couldn't find the courage to climb onto the stepping stool again after falling off of it.

"My lady, though you may feel alright, I would advise you to get a check up at the doctor in case of any possible internal injuries. If all is well, we can return to painting tomorrow, but for now, I'd like you to get your rest." The king says politely, but he's finding it hard to forget your touch.

"Don't worry, I will. Thank you again for catching me, my liege." You put your hand up to the back of your head and smooth out your hair in case it was tangled when he caught you, and you bow towards the king and his advisor. "I will see the two of you at breakfast tomorrow then."

With your painting supplies in hand, you almost rush past them and walk down the hallway while trying to keep your composure, but you can't help but feel incredibly embarrassed from getting caught being held in the king's arms.

"...I saw the way you looked at her, sire. You're in love, aren't you?" Affogato cooed, and the king looks away.

Ignoring the question, he exits the Study and Affogato follows close behind. "I cannot confirm nor deny that I have... feelings for her." King Dark Cacao mutters under his breath, but Affogato heard it.

The painting was all but finished after about a year and a half's worth of work, and you couldn't have been prouder of yourself. All that was left was to make the finishing touches on the tree bark, the bricks keeping the walls of the kingdom intact, and the particles of snow.

The finest syrup ink was prepared with an exquisite dark choco inkstone to paint a portrait of His Majesty the King of the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Though it was your creation, you can almost feel the weight of responsibility looking at Dark Cacao's stoic expression painted in bold yet meticulous strokes.

This painting was undoubtedly one of your finest works, and the entire kingdom knew that. 

But tonight, you were pleasantly surprised to finally see the stars after a very long and difficult absence. Normally, the clouds kept causing blizzards or general snowfall that prevented you from doodling at night. Even in the freezing cold, you immediately ran outside once the sun set, but a strange phenomenon was occurring.

You and King Dark Cacao have grown closer over the year and a half you've known each other, and you hadn't planned on leaving the Dark Cacao Kingdom anytime soon. You've made a home for yourself here, and you took on commissions from Watchers and common-folk alike. 

"You're here. That is an Aurora Borealis, right?" You whisper, trying your best to not only look at the light shining in the night sky, but also trying to maintain eye contact with the king as you walk through the snowy garden. Affogato told you earlier that the king had something important he wished to speak to you about, and that he needed to show you something once you saw the lights in the sky. "This is so exciting, your majesty! The sky hasn't been this clear in a very long time!"

"Indeed I am. I wanted to show you this since the moment you arrived, but I was unable to do so for awhile." The king states, his stoic expression turning kinder once he see's you practically sprinting down the pavement to get a closer look. "Breathtaking, isn't it? I often find myself lost in its majesty as well, my lady."

He almost has to catch you from slipping on some ice, but you find your footing and crane your neck to get a better look.

"Breathtaking doesn't even begin to describe it! You failed to mention that you get to experience an actual Aurora Borealis whenever you want! My family has to go on whole expeditions to the mountains just to see something that's right outside our bedroom window! ...Oh, it's chilly, I'm alright though! I practically sprinted down the stairs to see this." You rub your hands together and realize that you forgot to put on a warm shawl, but the majesty of the sky kept you enamored.

"Are you sure you don't need me to get you anything?" King Dark Cacao offers, but you decline by shaking your head. "...Ah. I take it you like astronomy, then. You are truly a wonder."

"Thank you. I've always loved stars. Back in the kingdom where I grew up, I could see countless constellations outside my window every night. Sometimes I would just stay up and create little pictures of them all. I've often pulled all-nighters just to paint the view." You take in a breath of air that smelled of the freshly fallen snow. "Ever since I came to your kingdom, I was worried that the indefinite snowfall would keep me from watching the stars or seeing the sky at all. And to my displeasure, the snow clouds did prevent me from seeing them. I know they're not gone, of course, but... it almost felt like I lost a friend. But I never thought that the Aurora Borealis was right above my head every night! I wish I had a small canvas and some brushes to capture this moment... It's absolutely gorgeous."

King Dark Cacao watched you the entire time you watched the stars with a small smile of his own. With a childlike smile on your face as the Aurora Borealis' bountiful colors continued to grace your eyes with its magnificent display, you shivered against the cold. 

Sighing, he does not dare turn his gaze away from you. The lights will surely come back another night, but this? Where you are experiencing a phenomenon you've only heard of in stories and journals? King Dark Cacao wouldn't miss your reaction for the world. These lights would come and go as they pleased, but you? You were forever in his eyes.

Even the full moon, in all its grace and divinity, could not deter his attention away from you.

"If it were my choice, I would part the clouds every night for as long as I lived if it meant you could watch the stars with me again." He finally tells you, hoping to break the comfortable silence.

Oh.

Oh.

"P-Pardon?" You feel butterflies in your stomach from his words alone, but you can't seem to turn your eyes away from the greens, blues, yellows, purples, and reds that you've only ever seen in drawings.

The king steps closer to you than before, almost like he was hoping to close the empty space between the two of you as he finally says what he's been meaning to say for so long. A part of himself also wanted to warm you up by sharing body heat, but even then, you had no plans to move away from him. Even while the two of you were all alone in the garden, with only the stars watching you from above, you couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of overprotectiveness from the king.

That overprotectiveness could keep you longing for more, if you could obtain it. You leaned into him as if signifying that you were not nervous around him. 

"I... I cannot deny my feelings for you any longer, my lady. We've known each other for almost a year now, and each and every time I see you, I feel a sense of... warmth. It is a special warmth... It is love. A kind of love that I have never felt for another person... except for you." King Dark Cacao stays silent for a moment. "And I need you to know that if you need time to think about your decision or decline my offer altogether, I will not take offense, and our relationship will strictly be professional from now on." 

In the midst of watching the countless stars twinkle in the night sky, your eyes widen and your heart skips a beat in surprise. Even while he was so brooding, cunning, and unbashful, King Dark Cacao was truly a gentleman. He couldn't have picked a better place to tell you that he loved you.

"How long have these feelings for me festered within you, sire?" You try to keep your composure, even in the sheer cold of the snow-ridden garden, but this was all so sudden.

"From the very day we met, my lady." The king answers truthfully, and you finally look away from the array of lights as they lit up the snow-ridden garden all around you in a vibrant light-show. "I have wanted nothing more than to spend every waking moment by your side."

You keep your gaze upon his leisure wear and the intricate design therein, but you still find it difficult to look him in the eyes. Your breath turns to condensation from the cold, but you pay it no mind. "...Is that so?" You manage to whisper, but the shyness was there. "I feel the same. Not a day goes by where I do not think about you and all the exceptional things you've done for me."

Much to your surprise, he cups your face with his hand and turns your head so you can look him in the eyes. Despite the clumsiness, King Dark Cacao was delicate with you. Almost like you were made of glass, and the slightest touch would break you.

Caressing your cheek with the palm of his hand, he leans in closer, almost to the point where your foreheads touch, and you do the same.

King Dark Cacao looked upon you with so much fondness and adoration that this hardened shell of a man seemed to break away from the sheer beauty and friendliness that was bestowed upon you.

A king, usually so stoic and unwavering could falter in an instant purely from the sight of your smile. The way your shining e/c eyes lit up with so much awe and wonder from a natural phenomenon he's seen many times before, and the way you held him close in the freezing cold of night... he was truly and utterly in love with you.

His dark purple eyes were no longer narrowed. He's learned to smile again. He's slowly beginning to remember how to laugh again in the short time he's known you.

Surrounded by the beautiful night sky and held in the king's strong embrace, you finally break the closeness between the two of you and gently press your lips to his own to take the first step. The bitter cold snow in the garden did not seem to bother you anymore, for King Dark Cacao's arms wrapped themselves around your back and pulled you even closer than before.

You caress his cheek and run your hands through his pitch black hair as you continue to kiss him, and you hear him let out a small, yet distinguishable chuckle from your actions. His grip around your back was strong, but it was a comfortable strength.

It was almost as if the king was saying, "I'll protect you, and I will never let you go. Nothing will ever come between us for as long as I love and cherish you. And that will be forever."

You will do the same for him in a heartbeat. 

Finally breaking apart for a moment, you stare into King Dark Cacao's captivating purple eyes once more and place your hands against his chest after caressing his hair. You want to keep staring at the Aurora Borealis, you really do, but the king trails his hands up your back, then plants yet another kiss onto your lips. It is there where you will stay for awhile, with only the stars watching over you.

Occasionally whispering sweet nothings and walking through the garden, you teach him where some of the constellations are, and he holds you close and listens.

Chapter Text

After many months of sharing one another's company since falling in love in the Dark Cacao Kingdom's garden, your beloved, King Dark Cacao, finally gained the courage to propose to you in his gazebo after an entire day of showing you nothing but love and adoration.

He would be the one to do everything in his power to prove his loyalty to you, and you would mirror his flirtatious remarks and keep him close to your heart.

The wedding was lavish, yet modest. The kingdom was beautifully decorated with streamers from every street lamp to building, and dozens of imported flowers were brought to his kingdom from the guests you have met throughout your life.

The only thing you regretted was not being able to keep all these beautiful flowers from dying or saving the decorations from frost, but Dark Cacao offered to let you decorate your Study using a few extras since the bedroom you originally stayed in was modified to be your own personal safe haven. A home away from home, if you will.

Your friends and family back home came flocking from your kingdom of origin to the illustrious Dark Cacao kingdom to appreciate its grandeur architecture, and Dark Cacao's friends also came to celebrate.

Pure Vanilla, Hollyberry, White Lily, and Dark Cacao were known as the Ancients, a wise and powerful group of leaders dedicating their lives to protecting Earthbread and establishing kingdoms around the world.

On your wedding day, you had the opportunity to meet them and offer your gratitude for their benevolence, including actually taking interest in yours and Dark Cacao's wedding despite having their own kingdom's to take care of. It was incredibly overwhelming to spend time with Hollyberry, especially since she was so outgoing and exciting, but White Lily was a median amongst the chaos.

Pure Vanilla was very wise and calm despite his young age, almost like he was exuding a "perfect" and "pure" aura without even trying. He was the one to provide most of the flowers and table pieces to help "liven the place up" as he put it.

Hollyberry was obviously the most delighted about the wedding, as she and White Lily were with you 24/7 with a few of your bridesmaids in tow. Even if you barely just met these Ancient Heroes after announcing the date of the celebration, you were grateful to know they accepted and loved you for being able to break Dark Cacao's hard outer shell and allow him to be himself. 

Preparing the celebratory alcohol was Hollyberry's duty, but making sure your wedding dress was spic and span was White Lily's top priority. They would constantly be by your side, already your companions on such a very special day, and you were truly gratefully for this.

Dark Cacao promised he was going to love you until his very last breath.   

Days turn to weeks, and weeks turn to months in the Dark Cacao Kingdom.

Dark Cacao always wanted to teach you the art of swordsmanship so you can learn to protect yourself and grow closer as a couple. You couldn't be more thrilled, and he was a very kind teacher. Always strict, but never rude, your husband taught you the most important stances, attack strategies, and ways to block incoming attacks.

Though you would listen carefully and try your best to mirror what he was showing you, the freezing temperatures made your body stiffen up and sweat quickly stuck to your skin. You had planned on living in his kingdom indefinitely, so you did not hesitate to follow his movements, but they were still difficult to learn nonetheless.

He even went so far as giving you your own armor and sword, straight from the ancient blacksmiths of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, and was forged with care and attention. Both the armor and the weapon were your favorite colors, allowing them to match.

Dark Cacao always wanted to give you more of anything and everything to show how much you meant to him, but it always clashed with his exterior. On the inside, he was a kind and thoughtful man who always wanted to give and never to take, but on the outside, you could never tell what he was thinking.

Sometimes during dinner or during a snack break, he would just stare off into space with narrowed eyes and have a scowl replacing his usual frown. His food would often stay untouched and grow cold until you managed to snap him out of his musings.

He would apologize, and you would often ask him what he was thinking about. He would always give a very simple answer.

"I was thinking of how I can protect you and this kingdom from the terrors of the Licorice Sea or the wildlife that threaten us." 

You were always grateful for his selflessness. 

Since marrying the king, you have become a crowned queen and are allowed full and unrestricted access to the entirety of the castle, which is something you were excited about.

You would often spend many hours just roaming the halls in the hopes of finding an unused room full of knick-knacks or a forgotten library that could house more knowledge on the history of your new home.

He even went so far as to ask you if you would like one of the room redecorated into an infant's bedroom if you had plans for one. 

But, you did not get pregnant on your wedding night, for you and your husband did plan on having children eventually.

Your darling Dark Cacao would often put emphasis on eventually.

It wasn't as if he didn't want to be a father, far from it, but he didn't feel ready. Dark Cacao would often put his kingdom, and yourself, first before anything else.

Normally it takes a few years into a couple's marriage to even talk about having children, but you had always wanted to have a child or children of your own to continue your legacy, but you were unsure of your husband's thoughts on this matter and didn't want to push him into it.

Dark Cacao spent most of his time training new recruits out in the yard or exercising to keep his youthful vigor, but there were many dull and underwhelming days where he was forced to sit around and take part in trivial matters when all he wanted was to care for you as you worked.

Most, if not all of the time, you were somewhere else in the kingdom and taking on commissions for subjects who wanted their portraits painted for their descendants or for a family member. They could only ever afford smaller portraits of their busts, but you were always willing to provide. 

This left the two of you unable to spend as much time together as you wanted.

But on days where the two of you would finally enjoy one another's company, you would make sure to spoil him rotten. Sometimes he would be so content with your company that he would fall asleep on your shoulder or on your lap as you caressed his long black hair, and you would read a book as you listened to him breathe in his sleep. Affogato would always be the one to rudely awake him for his royal duties, but now that the two of you were married, you could always help him.

Getting pregnant with a potential heir to the throne was bound to happen eventually, but you were often worried if maybe this was all too sudden.

It took careful planning, including a few words of encouragement from Affogato, to finally tell your husband when you were absolutely certain Dark Cacao wouldn't be too exhausted to listen to you.  

"Darling, there's something I must tell you. It's highly important, so please listen well." You twiddle your hands together in nervousness, but you maintain eye contact with your husband. "You might have already noticed, but I haven't been feeling well as of late."

Affogato was right beside you, grinning ear to ear as usual to keep up his good graces in front of the king. That, or he was genuinely happy for the two of you. He proceeded to nod in the king's direction, further exaggerating the importance of what you had to say.

"Yes, what is it, my beloved? I could ask for a doctor to come to the castle, if you'd like. You're not ill, are you? The freezing temperatures can do that to a person if they are not used to it." Your husband replies, but he doesn't realize the truth. 

"Forgive me for butting in, sire, but I already called for a doctor to check on your wife's condition. She has not contracted a virus..." Affogato tilts his head to the side. "Go on, your majesty, tell your beloved king the news."

You can feel your heart involuntarily beginning to palpitate, but why was it so difficult for you to say this? You're already married, and telling your husband that you were going to have his child was a dream come true.

An heir to the Dark Cacao throne would give your husband a sense of ease knowing that a potential son or daughter could take over the kingdom in case one of you were to pass on, but you were still worried if this was too sudden.

When your Dark Cacao was awake and high alert, you could tell he was always dreadfully tired, but there were times where he would simply spend time alone in his gazebo. He would breathe in the freezing cold air and close his eyes, almost as if he was relaxing amongst the bitter and harsh weather to raise his spirits. You always wanted to join in and take in his kingdom's beauty by his side, but a part of yourself understood that even your husband needed his alone time. 

It's only been a few months into your marriage as well, but Dark Cacao was a very sensual man when the two of you were alone in your bedchambers. Always ready and willing to admire and pleasure you in more ways than one after spending all his time taking care of the kingdom, it was no wonder that most of your free time was spent training you with your specially made armor and sword, or enjoying one another's company away from his subjects, maids, and butlers.

It was no surprise that you got pregnant so quickly with how often you offered to help Dark Cacao ease his stress. But in all honesty, despite being a cool and collected "fair maiden" on the outside, on the inside, you would often find yourself craving more and more of his touch with every passing day. Carnal desire was something you were not afraid to enjoy.

Smiling and grabbing your husband's hand, you look him in the eyes and prepare to speak. He stares back, his smile never leaving his gorgeous features as he waits for the news you planned to tell him.

"Well, as you already know, I've been feeling ill as of late, but don't be alarmed." You then place his hand against your stomach and watch his eyes widen, almost like he understood what you were trying to say before you could even say it. "You are going to be a father, darling! Isn't this wonderful?"  

"Y...You're pregnant?" Your beloved's voice is slightly shaky from the announcement, but he was overwhelmingly delighted. "Yes, yes it is wonderful! We're going to be parents!"

In his excitement, Dark Cacao proceeds to lift you up into his arms and holds you close, earning a surprised chortle from you. Sometimes your husband surprised you from his strength, especially since he let his emotions get the better of him.

Dark Cacao gives you a kiss on the lips as he sets you down onto the floor, and caresses your cheek with his hand. "I will inform our subjects at once! Come, Affogato, we must prepare a celebration! And my dear, please inform the Watchers that they are more than welcome to celebrate with us."

You put your hand to your stomach once again, and your husband quickly follows suit. He almost doesn't want to leave you now that he knows you're pregnant, but he needs to get ready. "A-A celebration? Right now? But of course! Yes, darling! That sounds perfect!"

At first, what you thought to be a happy occasion, unfortunately turned sour quickly.

The kingdom was built on top of a freezing cold mountain, so not only was it difficult to breathe in enough air at such a high altitude, but you got pregnant at a very bad time.

Early winter.

If you had gotten pregnant in spring or autumn, there was a higher chance of sunnier days and bearable temperatures that could have helped you stay healthier, but unfortunately, you were extremely unwell due to the sheer cold.

The freezing old blizzards didn't help either, and shivering half the time made you queasy. 

Your first pregnancy was not an easy one, especially since the below zero temperatures kept you from going outside. Even if you tried to feel well enough to join your husband on a stroll through the garden when there was a light snowfall, you would feel incredibly woozy and he would have you taken back inside in fear of losing the child due to overworking yourself.

Sometimes, due to the high altitude of the mountain and the location of the kingdom, the sun wouldn't set or it wouldn't rise at all. Long nights and long days prevented your body to get the proper sleep it needed to keep you healthy due to such a strange astronomical occurrence.

Oftentimes, the cold would be so severe that you would only ever consume soups or warm tea to help with the morning sickness, but it was a struggle to even eat food from constantly being in bed. But it was the safest place for you to be, and it helped you stay warm.

There were times where you were forced to stay bedridden from your husband's request, even if you were feeling well enough to paint something or read a book in the library.

Dark Cacao would often keep you away from the paint on the off-chance your body had a negative reaction to the fumes or the ingredients therein, often leading to more and more isolation in the coming months. Most of your other hobbies were deemed "too dangerous", especially woodcarving and ceramics.

Reading was one of the only things you got to do, but even that got repetitive.

Rarely getting to exercise because of this dilemma, you would try to sneak out and walk through the castle, and then hurry back inside the bedroom before you were missed by a Watcher or your husband. It wasn't as if you were unhappy that you were pregnant, but being forced to go through this much "safety" just to prevent a miscarriage didn't make you excited to have another child.

In the coming months, your pregnancy did get easier, especially since the temperatures were slowly starting to become bearable again, but it was still hard to enjoy your husband's company and be a queen at the same time. Sometimes your subjects would be more than thrilled purely from the sight of the royal family, but even then, you were too out of it to even care what day it was.

You couldn't wait to have a child, despite knowing what kind of pain you'll go through.

Your due date was sometime during spring, thank goodness. Winter came and went, and the warmer days were finally going to keep you awake and alert enough to finally enjoy yourself in the few weeks you had left in your pregnancy.

The nursery was completed in less than a year, but your husband was the one to oversee the construction while you were mostly bedridden. Keeping up with the general theme of the brooding and colorless kingdom, the room was nicely furnished with blues, purples, blacks, and whites that were aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but you often hoped that you could throw in some different colors here and there.  

One fateful afternoon, while you were enjoying your solitude in the library with an incredibly quiet Watcher standing at the door as your guard, you contractions started as you read a book in a chair. "Ma'am, go get help... please." As soon as you dropped the book and held your pregnant stomach in pain, she rushed out of the library to get help while also keeping a close eye on you.

"It's time! The queen- she, uh..." The Watcher who was protecting you today hadn't prepared her speech and was clearly new and overwhelmed, "The baby's coming!"

Dark Cacao was off training new recruits during this seemingly normal time, and Affogato was doing who knows what in some part of the castle.

You struggled to come to a stand as more Watchers came to your aid after frantically entering the library, already keeping you steady and helping you into a wheelchair to take you to the makeshift hospital room in the castle. Your husband wouldn't dare send you to a common hospital, so a live-in doctor has been staying in the castle for the last few weeks of your pregnancy.

Now that you were actively in labor and preparing for the birth of the first prince of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, everyone was ready and willing to help you however necessary.

"Has anyone alerted the king?" Affogato makes his grand entrance as soon as he catches up with your doctor, and the Watcher pushing your wheelchair is following them to the room you had been dreading to enter. "Goodness, would everyone just calm down?" He practically grumbles under his breath. A few of the Watchers were actively trying to get supplies that weren't going to be needed for a number of hours, such as the temporary crib and medical instruments.

You mentally wondered the same thing. Even as you struggled to handle the pain, everyone was just making you even more nervous.

You couldn't even begin to imagine how your husband will act once he finally see's you crying out in agony.

"Yes, he should be here shortly!" Another Watcher, a male, calls out to the royal advisor as he carries a bundle of towels in his arms. "As soon as he heard that the queen was in labor, he dropped everything and ran into the castle!"

"This is so exciting! An heir to the throne! Do you think it'll be a boy or a girl? Maybe twins? Maybe triplets? Maybe-" A younger Watcher gossiped to their comrade as you're taken into the room with a single bed.

"Hush! Enough of that." Affogato snaps, slamming his staff onto the marble floor. Everyone immediately flinches due to his anger. "Go stand guard somewhere else if you aren't going to be of any help to the royal family."

...You hadn't even thought about the possibility of having more than one child. "I don't know if I can do this-" You mumbled, and your heart was racing. You knew that this was only the first stage of labor, and it would probably take hours for the heir or heirs to arrive, but your fears were cut short the second you were helped into bed by the Watchers. "Where's my husband-"

Maids and butlers proceeded to get towels and any medical tools that may be required for such a procedure, ultimately fueling your nervousness even more. You couldn't bare the thought of something going wrong in the middle of this. "My lady, you need to lie against the bed!" The doctor tries to help you

Through the chaos, you heard your husband's voice.

"Where is she? (Cookie Name)! How far along is she?" Dark Cacao pushed through the crowd in the doorway and rushed to your side. His pitch black hair was astray and his eye bags were more prominent than usual, probably from the lack of sleep from the fear of something going wrong. "I'm here, darling, you'll be alright." He presses his hand against your cheek to help you calm down.  

"Ah, sire! Impeccable timing! The queen was just asking about you!" Affogato exclaims, and the Watchers who wheeled you into the room proceeded to leave to give you privacy. "I fear that this may take a few hours; she only just went into labor. If you do plan on staying by her side throughout the entirety of it, we will need someone to watch the kingdom for the time being. May I?"

"Yes, yes, just do whatever you think will be appropriate." Your husband tries his hardest to help you calm down despite the pain, but he's cut off by the doctor.

"Forgive me, my liege, but this will take a long time. The queen will be in a lot of pain but if you need to attend to your royal duties, you are free to do so." He's helping the nurses and his assistants as he says this. 

Dark Cacao immediately shakes his head and reassures you once again by moving some hair out of your eyes. "I want to stay with my wife during this difficult time. I don't care how long it takes. Affogato, please inform our subjects that the queen is actively in labor."

"Yes, your highness." Affogato bows in your direction and leaves you and your husband to it.

Momentarily breathing a sigh of relief, you give Dark Cacao a small smile, then proceed to wince in pain again from the contractions.

"Right then. Let's proceed." The doctor says, instructing the Watchers to leave the room.

Everything after that was a complete blur.

Labor lasted over eight, long, grueling, and painful hours, but it was worth it.

Despite all the pain you went through for such an unbearable amount of time, you had given birth to a healthy baby boy that looked almost exactly like Dark Cacao. You were still overwhelmed by the fact that you finally got to meet your son after so long, but it was still exciting to finally meet him nonetheless.

Your newborn had crimson red eyes instead of his father's beautiful deep purple ones, but the noticeable white streak through his small tuft of black hair was, so he inherited most of his facial features than yours. Your son's skin was dark like his father's, and his cheeks were flushed from crying after coming into the world.

Your mind wandered as the doctors and nurses worked on your son; getting him warm, cleaned, and bundled up was their top priority, and your husband watched in awe as he realized that he was a father to a son.

He was equally overwhelmed from this whole ordeal, but he showered you in words of praise and admiration for going through so much pain but still managing to persevere throughout it all. Kissing your head and holding your hand as the doctor and the nurses finish bundling up your son, he exclaims, "Wonderful job, darling! We have a son, isn't that wonderful?"

He pain and the aching still lingered, so even though you nodded along with what he was saying, your mind went blank and you struggled to pay attention. All you wanted to do was sleep and get better.

"Congratulations, your majesties! You have a healthy son. A fine heir to the Dark Cacao throne!" The doctor and the nurses congratulated you both and placed your son in your husband's arms due to your exhaustion. "We'll leave you both to it, but we'll be waiting outside the room in case of an emergency."

"Thank you, everyone." Dark Cacao doesn't bother looking at them, all he can do is sit right by your side and show you your son as he gently held him, but the baby was still crying.    

Finally, finally being able to hold his son in his arms after nine long months of waiting to meet him, Dark Cacao was so overwhelmed with joy that he held his son close. Carefully wrapping his arms around the baby, he moves his son up to his face and closes his eyes as they touch; cheek to cheek. 

Your son went from crying to whimpering, then nothing at all as your husband somehow knew exactly how to help him calm down. Dark Cacao chuckled as he watched his son finally relaxed into his father's strong embrace. 

You were still too out of it to tell, but Dark Cacao seemed to let a single tear fall from his right eye as his son began to sleep, and you smiled while witnessing him treat the newborn with such delicacy.

"...He's beautiful, isn't he?" You whisper out, still struggling to stay awake despite the pain. You didn't want to risk holding your son when you were so close to passing out, but you smiled regardless. "Beautiful... just like his father. We still have to name him."

Dark Cacao's smile never faded. He only proceeded to show you the baby and leaned in close. "Didn't we like the name Dark Choco? If it was a boy, we agreed on this name, I recall." 

"Dark Choco is perfect. It suits him." You tried to keep your eyes open, but it was difficult to do so. Your vision began to blur, but it could have been the tears of pain and joy. "Honey, c...could you take care of him for awhile, please? I really need to rest."

Your husband immediately understood and nodded, then kisses your head. "Yes, yes, of course, darling. I'll be by your side as you sleep."

With your little family now watching over you as you slept, you close your eyes and fall into a dreamless sleep.

"Mama! Papa! Wake up, wake up!" Dark Choco exclaims, his small body struggling to climb onto the large bed, ultimately pulling a few blankets and sheets off the bed in the process. "Today's the day!"

Immediately woken up in the middle of sleeping, you groan and pull the warm blankets closer against your body, and your husband does the same. Holding one another close, you try to ignore your five year old son as he tries his best to shake the two of you awake.

You both had no idea what time it was, but being rudely awakened by Dark Choco was not something you were expecting so early in the morning. 

You struggle to speak amidst your tiredness, and open your eyes just long enough to hold a basic conversation. "Dark Choco, what... what time is it?" You noticed that little to no light was peaking through the curtains.

"Before sunrise! Today's a very special day!" Dark Choco kept dropping hints that you and Dark Cacao should be catering to his every whim, but you were so sleepy that you kept drifting off. 

"Hm? Is that so? How come?" You mumble, already pressing your body against your husband's chest to get warmer, and he wraps his arm around you.

"It's my fifth birthday, remember?! Papa promised to teach me how to wield a great sword today! You promised to teach me how to paint a picture, mama! And I get to eat cake, and get presents, and-"

Dark Cacao gained enough alertness to place his free hand atop Dark Choco's head and ruffle his hair while sitting up. He was never one to wake up on his own these days, so you were always the one to gently nudge him awake. "Patience, son. A good warrior must practice self-restraint, even in the most exciting of situations."

Due to doing so many things throughout the day, as well as teaching his son the art of swordsmanship, he would collapse into bed and often fall asleep by the time you managed to put Dark Choco to bed in his own room.

You got up as well despite the sleepiness, and Dark Choco hopped off the bed to start the day. "I'll wait for you both in the dining hall with Uncle Affogato!"

Laughing to yourself, you pull the bedsheets off and kiss your husband. "Looks like we have a birthday to celebrate. Our subjects will be happy to enjoy the festival."

Dark Cacao smiles and nods as he gets up as well. "And I'll get to show you both how to wield a great-sword. Dark Choco has always loved the Grapejam Chocoblade, I hope he loves his own sword."

"I'm sure he will! Then we'd better get ready!" 

Chapter Text

~~ Before Dark Choco Found You ~~

Dark Choco arrived at the Dark Cacao Kingdom with Pomegranate, Poison Mushroom, and Licorice earlier than expected. With his father presumed dead after shoving him off the wall of the kingdom and the walls collapsed due to the horrors unleashed from the Licorice Sea, there were little to no Watchers that would be ready and willing to protect his mother.

His former subjects were most likely shielding themselves within the citadel and barricaded themselves inside their homes. The cowards didn't even bother to fight back. 

He was finally going to get you back however possible, and his comrades knew that.

A Mama's Boy, they called him.

But Dark Choco was simply worried for your well-being after betraying his kingdom. He wanted to make things right, but he had no idea if you were even mentally stable.

Pomegranate used her dark magic to figure out your whereabouts before the mission; in the dark depths of the Dark Cacao Kingdom. 

Knowing this, he did not want your fate to be sealed in a prison cell on the day of the kingdom's destruction, so he had to be quick about this. Dark Choco needed to rescue you from the cruelty of Dark Cacao.

Pomegranate covers her mouth with her sleeve as she speaks. "The Great Wall is finally falling... I have looked forward to this moment."

"All thanks to my powers over the Licorice Sea! Haha!" Licorice exclaims, gripping his scythe tight and practically shivering with delight. "...But Dark Choco, what do we do next?"

Dark Choco hums to himself and grips his sword tighter. "Dark Cacao's Soul Jam waits somewhere within the citadel... Someplace dark, deep inside, I'd wager. We have to find it."

Despite the cold, Pomegranate doesn't shiver. All she does is continue staring out at the monsters descending upon the Licorice Sea with a cold and calculating stare. "You seem well prepared. I will leave the rest in your... capable hands. After all, you know your way around the castle better than any of us. And... you still need to rescue your beloved mother, don't you?"

Dark Choco tenses up from embarrassment, and Licorice laughs at him. "What of her? I want to rescue her because she's been trapped in a prison cell for almost a decade."

"We do not have the luxury of time. Finding your mother so she can join us is important, but finding the Soul Jam is our top priority. Raze the castle to the ground before sunrise if you must." Pomegranate narrows her eyes just as Licorice butts in.

"This'll be a piece of cake! Dark Enchantress will finally acknowledge my genius and fervor for this plan! Hahaha!"

"And we'll get a new friend!" Poison Mushroom laughs out, but the others don't bother to pay attention.

"No more chatter. Time to attack." Dark Choco narrows his one good eye. "Let's give the Dark Cacao Kingdom a cold and heartless end befitting it. My mother will no longer have to waste away her days in this hellish place."

"Let's give them shroomies too! Wait for me!"

The group goes their separate ways for now, but Licorice stays behind with Pomegranate for a moment.

Licorice whispers, "Do you really think the queen would be dumb enough to join us? We are destroying her home, after all. Dark Choco told me she was completely reliant on Dark Cacao."

"The visions I've received through the dark arts show otherwise. She's been wasting her life in a cell because of her husband. Her mental and emotional states have been warped by Stockholm Syndrome, but with a little nudge from her son, she might just join us." Turning away from the kingdom, Pomegranate gets to work. "Enough dawdling. We have our own jobs to do." 

Try as they might, the Watchers stationed outside your cell were doing little to no good against your son. You hid in the corner and watched the fighting with wide eyes and didn't dare to egg them on in fear of distracting them.

Despite being one enemy against four guards, Dark Choco was capable of blocking blows and pushing the soldiers back with ease. And yet, despite this, he didn't try to kill or injure them whatsoever. What was even sadder was that he used the exact same movements he learned from his father to attack them.

The strategical slashes he managed to procure were seemingly lightning fast despite the fact he was holding a great-sword of all things. Great-swords are incredibly heavy and difficult to wield, so the fact that he was throwing it around like a common sword scared you more than you let on.

If he's able to carry a heavy great-sword with ease, then using it to kill you should be no trouble. 

Even as the weapons noisily clashed together, your son still did not falter. In fact, he was actually winning against the guards that were meant to kill the exiled prince if he got too close.

Dark Choco could block incoming arrows and knocked the crossbows out of the Watcher's hands, he could kick your soldier's heels and send them flying to the floor, losing their weapons in the process. Even as they struggled to block to the best of their ability, the exiled prince was still too much for them.

Somehow, despite this, Dark Choco had barely even broken a sweat and made sure to maintain his breathing.

All Dark Choco could do was be quick and fast about the way he blocked incoming attacks and used his armor to his advantage by knocking them all aside.  

Attempting to breathe was almost impossible for you, for every time you managed to suck in air, your heart was practically beating out of your chest. The fallen Watchers were struggling to even move as they laid there on the floor, but they were not dead.

One even had the courage to try to use his weapon as leverage, but Dark Choco knocked him out cold using the blunt end of his sword.

The soldiers stationed at your cell to protect you from this very moment were simply stunned, thank goodness, but they weren't going to get up any time soon. They were already beginning to faint from the looks of it.

Even though you felt bad for them, you still felt angry that despite being stationed at your cell to protect you, they had failed. You were going to die because your son was a walking killing machine, and your soldiers didn't lay down their lives like they said they would.

Dark Choco took that as a sign of weakness in his eye, but he does not do anything about it. Your exiled son does not deliver any finishing blows, nor does he attempt to slaughter them like a wild animal, but he simply gets his bearings and catches his breath.

Moving some of his short hair out of his face, he coughs and groans in pain from having to block so many incoming attacks at once. He takes a momentary glance at your terrified form as you search for a weapon.

Any weapon or object was better than a tiny carving knife. If your son was capable of bringing down multiple grown men with ease, there was little to no chance that you will survive his blade.

A few scratches were poking through the fabric of his armor, and his blood was the same color as his eyes.

Crimson red.

Those same eyes that looked upon you with so much love and adoration in his youth now looked upon you without any emotion at all. He almost seemed to despise you even though none of this was your fault.

He was going to kill you, and you had no idea if your husband was still alive. By the expression on his sullen face, he seemed to have done something horrible.

"Hold on a moment, mother. I need to search their bodies, but they are not dead. I'm not going to hurt you, I swear it." Dark Choco quickly puts his sword at his side and tries to reassure you that everything was alright, but there was no emotion or life in his voice.

Pure poison and gruffness was all he was now.

"You know, a part of me wanted to deny any possibility that you would be the one to murder me. Oh, Dark Choco, my boy," You hiccup and try not to cry as you bought yourself time, "My sweet boy... Your father always knew you would come back to get rid of me next. You probably killed Affogato already too, didn't you?"

Dark Choco doesn't even bother registering what you said and continues searching the guards for the key to get you out of the prison cell, but he finds none. This makes his one good eye narrow and a scowl graces his features. "Where is the key to get you out of here? I would have thought they had extra copies made, but I can't find a single one."

He completely ignored you. Of course he did.

"...They didn't make any other copies. Only Affogato and King Dark Cacao have the two keys that keep me safe in here! I'm safe from you, you traitorous fiend!" The words came out of your mouth involuntarily. "Your father and I both knew you would come back to our kingdom to finish the job! And look at you! You're more akin to a petty criminal rather than a prince of an isolated kingdom! What a vagrant you've turned out to be!"

You didn't entirely mean to call him that, but from the expression on Dark Choco's face, you could tell that the words still stung.

But the point still remained. You didn't trust a word he said. "I'm not here to hurt you" he says, and yet he's still holding his sword.

"I don't have time to find a key, mother. If you stand back, I can break the lock using my weapon." Dark Choco takes a step forward, but you throw one of the miniature wooden buildings through the bars of the cell.

It hits your son in the shoulder, but unsurprisingly, he's not phased by it.

"How am I supposed to trust you? You tried to assassinate your father!" You say, still staying as far as possible from your exiled son. "I won't die by your hands!"

"Stand back. I won't be asking you again." Dark Choco hits the metal door with his sword and sparks go flying from metal hitting metal.

Without saying a word, you watch Dark Choco rip the metal door off its hinges using his great-sword and simply tosses it to the side. The door hits the floor with a harsh "clang" and "clunk" before finally going silent, and your son begins to walk towards you with his sword at his side.

He's... much taller than you remember. Despite having horrible posture from slouching a lot, him and his father practically shared the same height. He was up to your forehead when he was younger, but now he seemed to tower over you like a giant.

The lights in your cell light up his face with an ominous glow as he makes his way into your safe haven, and you try your best to get away.

"Stay away from me! Don't come any closer or I'll... I'll-" You sputter, slicing the carving knife diagonally to deter your son. You almost manage to hit him, but he quickly dodges despite his poor eyesight. "I know how to fight!"

"I am not here to kill you, mother. Far from it. I am here to rescue you from your life of solitude."

"Mother? Mother?! You dare to call me 'Mother' after all the awful things you've done to make my life miserable? You indirectly caused me to get stuck down here in the first place! Why would I ever trust you after what you've done?" You tried to attack him again, but you were still so scared that he could dodge with ease.

You weren't surprised that this war-hardened outcast didn't even budge. In fact, all he could do was pity you and your fear of him. He places his sword against your workbench and tries to calm you down the only way he knew how.

Delicately grabbing your wrist with one hand and throwing the carving knife to the floor with his other hand as you struggled and thrashed, Dark Choco wraps his arms around you, almost like he was hoping his actions spoke louder than words.

Still shaking and threatening to cry out in fear, you don't hug him back. His hair is pressed against your head and his armor is hard to the touch. All you can do is take in his warmth and kindness that you haven't gotten to experience in almost a decade and try your best not to touch his cape.

He shivers against your older form and sighs in relief once he realizes you're alive and well, but he seemed... out of it. Dark Choco knew you had gotten older, but did he think you looked worse for wear?

Did you look older than your current age? 

There had to be something more to this. Why wasn't he stabbing you in the back? Why wasn't your exiled son using his sword to slaughter you in cold blood? Why hasn't he kidnapped you or held you for ransom yet?

...Why hasn't Dark Cacao come to your rescue?

"Why are you holding me like this? Why are you showing me kindness? Dark Cacao told me time and time again that you wouldn't hesitate to kill me..." You begin to cry and slowly wrap your arms around your exiled son as you suddenly realized that everything your husband told you was a lie.

"I'll explain it to you later, but for now, we really have to go! I have comrades that can help you-"

"How do I know you're telling the truth? How do I know you're not lulling me into a false sense of security just to stab me in the back? The kingdom is falling, isn't it? Your father knew this would happen."

"Mother, if it is for your sake... I will become as monstrous as I must. Even though you no longer see me as your son, I will lay down my life to protect you. But we really don't have time for this. We need to find your armor and your sword that the king stored away after your imprisonment. You have to help me find the Soul Jam as repayment for freeing you. Can you do that?" He's speaking softly and reassuringly.

Never one to raise his voice around you, your son caresses your hair with his hand. The same way you used to calm him down when he would get fussy, or scared... or angry.

Your grip tightens on his cape as he promises you that he will do whatever it takes to keep you alive, but you want an honest answer on the whereabouts of your husband. A stray tear begins to fall as you bury your face into his armor to hide your current expression.

Gasping in a breath as you try not to cry, your voice cracks and breaks, "Before I help you, I want you to answer this question. Did you... did you kill your father before coming to find me? And don't lie. I can tell by the sound of your voice when you aren't telling the truth."

You can feel Dark Choco tense up and he stops caressing your hair as you ask your question. His breath hitches in his throat and he finds it difficult to speak, but he nods despite his nervousness. "I shoved him off the wall of the kingdom before I came to get you, yes. But I have no idea if he's dead. He is stronger than he looks, and I didn't stay long enough to check if he was alive. But... I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't make it."

Your son's answer was more than enough for you. Imagining such a horrible thing made you queasy, so you close your eyes and try to think about something else. "Oh. He's... He's really gone? Oh, no, it can't be true..." Your tears fell more freely now, and your grip on your son's outfit tightens. "Please no, Dark Cacao... my darling."

Dark Choco stays silent as you sob for a minute or two, but the regret was there. Being forced to hold you close as you cried and wailed for your husband wasn't something he had mentally prepared for, but he closes his one good to keep the tears from falling.

"How many years have I been locked down here, son?" You hiccup and suck in a breath.

"Almost a decade. I was still fairly young when I was banished."

"You swear that you won't kill me? Even though I have nothing else to live for? My home is in ruins, my husband might be dead... no one knows of my whereabouts or if I'm alive-"

"You don't have to abide by that tyrant's rules anymore. You can live for me. And for yourself." Dark Choco whispers, hoping to break you out of your depressive spell.

"You are less than nothing to me. Therefore, I have nothing to live for." The news of your husband's potential death still hands over your head. For so many years he has shown you love and compassion in these decrepit walls, and now he was gone. "He was my everything and you took him away for the second time."

Never to hold you in his strong embrace again, never to whisper sweet nothings in your ear as he worshipped the ground you walked on, never to give you gifts and imported souvenirs again, your husband's corpse could be frozen from the snow. 

The last time you ever saw him, you told him you didn't love him anymore. The look on his face chilled you to the core. Oh, how you regretted your past actions.

You would do anything to go back in time and hold him one last time, but now here you were, hugging his murderer.

Your son grumbles under his breath. "Need I remind you that he was the one who locked you down here in the first place... Please, mother, I know you're grieving, but we don't have much time. We have to get your personal armor and sword in case of an emergency, and we need to find the Soul Jam. Dark Enchantress needs it for her plans, and you're going to help me in exchange for sparing your life."

Unwrapping his arms around you and taking a step back, Dark Choco watches you rub the tears from your eyes and grabs a nearby handkerchief for you to clean yourself up with. Saying nothing, he shoves it into your hands and turns around.

Accepting it, but not thanking him for the handkerchief, you blow into it as he gets his sword and keeps it close to his side. He doesn't look you in the eyes and sighs as you momentarily take one last glance around the prison cell.

"I know where your armor and your sword is, by the way. Dark Cacao turned your old Study into a makeshift shrine of sorts. Everything you have ever owned is stored there and on full display, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get them back." Dark Choco beckons with his hand for you to leave the cell, but you stop as soon as you reach the doorframe where the gate used to be.

Even though all you had to do was take a simple step forward to be free from your metallic prison, you find it hard to do so. For almost a decade, you had been locked down here for your "protection" against your exiled son who threatened to kill you next. This place was no longer your home, and yet you found it difficult to leave. "What if your father comes looking for me and he see's that I'm not here? What if I die in the middle of battle?"

The fear and anxiety that kept you longing to stay overtakes your need for freedom, but Dark Choco wasn't leaving without you.

"I'm here for you, mother. Just take a step forward." He pulls you out of the doorway and forces you to exit the doorframe before you could waste anymore time, and he shields your eyes from the fallen Watchers. "We must go now. The others are waiting for us, and we need to get you into something warmer."

Dark Choco wasn't kidding when he said that your husband turned your old Study into a makeshift shrine. From the looks of it, he ordered the butlers and maids to keep this place spotless, almost as if you were still living here in the castle instead of below it.

Countless pieces of jewelry you often liked to wear were sheltered inside display cases that were sitting atop tables. You tried to ignore your ceramic pottery and sculptures, but they were so colorful and full of life that you couldn't help but pick one up and walk around the room with it. It was of a Cake Hound, but it wasn't your best work.

Dresses and the occasional suit you liked to wear for comfort adorned the countless mannequins within your former Study, but those didn't catch your eye the way your old paintings did.

"It's been quite awhile since I've had the fortune of witnessing all of my art projects. I hadn't realized just how much your father loved these little trinkets."

A few self portraits you had made of yourself in different attire were strung up on the walls of the room. Sighing to yourself, you realized that you were smiling in everything single portrait, and your youthful facial features were almost foreign to you now.

The dark circles underneath your eyes, the strands of grey hair within your original color, and the wrinkles around your face, neck, and arms were a sight for sore eyes compared to the woman you painted all those years ago. You quickly noticed that your skin also had a youthful glow to it compared to the skin you have now.

Then, as if things couldn't possibly get any sadder, you saw the portrait you made of you and your husband the day you had gotten married. Sporting a small smile as he held you close in the painting, you managed to capture a brief moment in time where Dark Cacao felt pure and utter bliss while he was still wearing his formal attire. Right beside him, you painted yourself with a grin in one of the finest dresses the tailors of the Dark Cacao Kingdom could create.

That very same dress was on a mannequin beside his own attire in this very room, but you didn't want to remember it.

The painting seemed to be heavily favored by your husband, for it was housed near the entrance to make for easy viewing. But, despite this, you couldn't bear to see your husband's face after hearing the news of his assassination attempt.

Unable to go outside and bask in the sun's light the way you can now, your entire body has fallen into a state of disrepair from being underground. The air you breathed back then was not fresh, so you would need to exercise more to get your strength back up, no doubt.

The pent up stress, anxiety, and aggression caught up with you beneath that cell, and you proceeded to cough from the cold air reaching your lungs. Witnessing all these objects again was overwhelming.

Keeping the ceramic Cake Hound close to your chest as you walked around the room in a daze, Dark Choco kept a lookout near the door on the off chance someone were to see the two of you raiding the castle. "Mother, please, hurry up and put on your armor. We don't have time for you to dwell on the past. Use that to change out of your leisure wear." He points at a nearby partition.

Staying quiet and placing the Cake Hound onto a nearby table, you clear your throat and make eye contact with the armor and sword your husband made absolutely certain to take extra care of in your absence.

The sword was displayed inside the scabbard to keep it away from dust and the freezing cold weather, but as you picked it up and momentarily unsheathed it, you could tell that he sharpened it on occasion to keep it from becoming dull. Placing the sword onto a nearby desk, you caress your armor with your hand.

Quickly realizing that you can no longer hide behind your husband due to his potential death, you had to become stronger in the face of danger. Your son swore to you that he would protect you from the monsters outside the warmth and safety of the castle, but you also needed to protect him from the monsters as well.

You know how to wield this sword. Dark Cacao taught you and Dark Choco how to wield weaponry. All you had to do was remember how to block, strike, and swipe at the perfect moment and this would be a breeze.

No longer just a queen of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, you swore to yourself that you would soon be your own hero. "I'll be quick about it, Dark Choco."

Breaking out of your fearful shell, you sigh and narrow your eyes as you lift the heavy cuirass off the armor stand and proceed to walk behind the partition.

Putting on the armor to the best of your ability as you take a few pieces off of the armor rack, you realize that the armor doesn't fit you as easily as it used to. All those years spent in a small cell prevented you from getting the exercise you needed, so the armor was a little snug, but it was nice and warm compared to the leisure wear you had on.

Walking out from behind the partition and making your way towards your old jewelry, dresses, and ceramic sculptures, you stop in front of your old full-length mirror and rub your eyes.

After readjusting the gloves and putting on your protective crown serving as a helmet, you looked yourself in the mirror and realized you were more akin to a soldier than a queen of a fallen kingdom. The crown was almost a perfect copy of your husband's, with the sharp ends wrapping around your head as a shield.

Picking up your sword and attaching it to your belt as you inspected your outfit to make sure you hadn't forgotten anything, you make brief eye contact with Dark Choco in the mirror as he stares at you.

"Something wrong, son?" Your voice is low and barely full of life as you check the tightness of your belt to make sure the sword won't fly off.

"No, I just..." He momentarily looks away and rubs his arm with his hand. "It's been a long time since I've seen you in such serious attire."

"You and I both."

"Are you ready to leave now, mother?" He's growing antsy from having to wait to long, but you have only just found your freedom.

You hadn't planned on taking it for granted.

"Not just yet, Dark Choco. There's something I still have to do."

Her Majesty, the Queen of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, (Cookie Name). Wife of King Dark Cacao, mother of Prince Dark Choco, and beloved by all her subjects, was now nothing more than a betrayer of her family and her people.

Working for Dark Enchantress and the Cookies of Darkness for a short amount of time until you know your husband really and truly is dead, you swear unending loyalty to your son and his comrades by unsheathing your sword.

In one swift and cruel motion, you make your way to the painting you created for your wedding day, then struck. Swipe after swipe from your sword sent it falling to the floor with a harsh thud, where you still proceeded to destroy it. Bits of canvas paper and wood flew all around you as the sword continued to hack and slash at it, ultimately leading to your son coming to your aid.

You were still so full of grief that you let your emotions get the better of you. It didn't seem fair that Dark Choco had to be the one to set you free from your cell and not someone you actually trusted and cared for.

You wanted to ask your husband if locking you beneath the castle was worth your unhappiness. You wanted to be there if he breathed his final breath. You wanted to be there for him in his final moments. You felt angry, betrayed, dejected, and miserable.

A woman so full of life and wonder for the world around her ultimately succumbed to her own husband's will and developed Stockholm Syndrome with nothing to show for it. And it was all Dark Cacao's fault.

Despite claiming that he wanted nothing more than for you to be safe and comfortable beneath the castle, you were nothing more than a caged animal, never to see the sunlight, never to breathe in the fresh air... never to see the world outside again.

It was Dark Cacao's fault for locking you beneath the castle. It was Affogato's fault for giving your husband the idea. It was Dark Choco's fault for attempting to assassinate his father. Caramel Arrow didn't even bother to visit you.

It was your parent's fault for sending you to the Dark Cacao Kingdom in the first place.

"I'm willing to protect you, Dark Choco. But if I find out that my deceased husband is actually alive and well, we will be getting rid of you and your comrades by force. Do I make myself perfectly clear?" You say, hoping your son understands that his life was on the line.

"Y...Yes." He whispers, but he doesn't egg you on due to fear.

Pulling you away from the painting that no longer even looked like a painting, Dark Choco helped you sheathe your sword and helped you out of the room in case someone heard the commotion.

With a heavy heart, and definitely not a healthy mind, you swore to yourself that if Dark Cacao really was alive, you were going to get answers.

No longer a queen of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, and certainly not King Dark Cacao's wife, you followed your son through the hallways to the kingdom as his personal bodyguard.

If any Watcher were to come between you and the only family member you had left, you would see to it that they met their maker. No matter who they were.   

Chapter Text

Gingerbrave and company rushed into the castle with their weapons held tight once the Licorice Sea continued attempting to break the wall from the outside. They fought valiantly and finally made it.

"Phew! We barely made it. I almost lost my hat on the way..." Wizard groans, holding his staff and his hat close.

"You there! Trespassers!" One of Affogato's Disciples exclaimed, their voice echoing off the walls. "Who let you in here?!"

King Dark Cacao stirred to life in the bitter cold snow as he felt hands practically shake him back to life. Their voice carried along with them, but he couldn't quite make out what they were saying in his unconsciousness. All he could do for now was groan in pain and agony from being shoved off the wall of the citadel by his own son.

How he wished he could forget the words his own flesh and blood spat out before attempting yet another assassination.  

The voice, that which had a female tone to it, broke him out out whatever concussion induced daze he was in and brought him back into the realm of the living by giving him a gentle (albeit worried) nudge.

"Mmh." Dark Cacao tried to say, but he focused on waking up first.

"Your majesty! You're awake!" Caramel Arrow exclaims, her expression immediately turning from fear into relief once she notices that he's alive.

It takes a bit more of his strength than he would have liked, and Caramel Arrow offered him a hand, but he managed to get up from the floor just enough to sit up. "You...? You returned."

Caramel Arrow nods as she stares down at her superior. The below zero temperatures make her breath turn to smoke. "I returned to come to your aid. As soon as I arrived at the Black Citadel, I saw you fall off the cliff and ran as fast as my body allowed." Placing a hand against her chest as a small smile graces her features, she continues, "Aside from a few cuts and bruises, I'm relieved to see you are unharmed. It's almost a miracle you are alive."

Dark Cacao sighs and looks away. Keeping his eyes closed, he finally manages to stand to his feet and brushes some snow off his attire. "Then... did you see who attacked me?"

"...I did. But I refused to believe my own eyes. It was the prince, your son, who attacked you, Your Majesty. The very same man who once taught me how to wield a bow. I was dreaming of the day I could once more stand by my prince; my commander. I cannot believe it truly was him..." Caramel Arrow tries to reminisce on the past, but it hurt to remember the Dark Choco they once knew.

"...But his stance, that unmistakable technique..." Dark Cacao narrows his eyes. He can feel his sore body beginning to get weaker and weaker by the second. "It could not have been anyone else than Dark Choco." He grunts and falls to the floor once again.

"Your Majesty! Please don't overexert yourself!"

"Do you know whether or not my wife is safe?" He risks, his heart palpitating from the stress. "Have you managed to check the cells?"

"I'm afraid that I have no idea if she is safe or not. We have very capable guards stationed at her cell, but I am also worried for her safety." Caramel Arrow says, looking back in the direction of the citadel. "But I doubt that Her Majesty would be able to protect herself under these circumstances... I'm sorry to say it."

"Why do you stay loyal to a king whose very son attempted to assassinate him? A king who locked away his own wife in a cell like a criminal beneath the castle. Such a disgrace..." He attempts to stand up, but doesn't bother trying.

Caramel Arrow furrows her brows together and frowns as she readjusts her outfit. "Indeed, our kingdom is in chaos. Many of your once-loyal soldiers no longer put faith in their king, but... I still remember. I remember you leading the vanguard to protect our subjects from the monsters of the Great Ridge. The resolve in your eyes has ever remained the same, Your Majesty. I believe that you can restore our kingdom's former glory!"

"Former glory, huh... I see... There's only one way left to protect this kingdom." Trying his best to come to a stand, he clenches his fists and narrows his eyes. "I must fix the errors of my past. After all, the responsibility for a son's sins lies upon the shoulders of his father."

"What will you do, Your Majesty?" Caramel Arrow asks, ready as ever to follow her king to the ends of Earthbread.

Dark Cacao's expression grows sour, eyes full of disgust and hatred at the very thought of his own flesh and blood coming back to his kingdom. If he discovers your lifeless corpse in some part of the castle, or worse, huddled in a corner of your cell with a look of terror on your face, Dark Cacao will make sure that his son suffers a fate worse than death for his betrayal. "Be it by my own hand, I will make sure Dark Choco falls."

"Wh...What?!" Caramel Arrow widens her dark brown eyes and opens her mouth, almost as if she has more to say, but her superior beats her to it.

"Help me up, Caramel Arrow. I have to get to the Black Citadel right away. There is something that must be done. My wife... She's still in there somewhere, and the Licorice Sea will breach our defenses any second now."

"Was I enough?"

"You were more than enough, Dark Choco. You know this."

"Is that why you and Father never had any other children, Mother? You both loved each other very much, and yet... whenever I would ask for a sibling, you would always deny my request. I wanted children my age to spar with." Dark Choco narrows his one good eye and frowns. "I never got to play with children because I was forced to be a perfect prince."

"Something like that... But I had many complications throughout my pregnancy. I was either bedridden half the time due to the cold or I was too weak to even keep my balance as I stood. I either ate too much, not enough, or nothing at all sometimes. Your father was understandably worried about us, and would spend as much time as he could with me in case something were to happen if he wasn't there to protect us. He was worried you wouldn't be strong enough to survive when you came into the world. You were alright for the most part. Yet somehow, despite everything, we are here now. That is why I never had any other children despite wanting to give you siblings. The doctors theorized that even if I did get pregnant again, there was a high chance that neither I, nor your sibling, would survive. Your father wasn't willing to take that chance. I believe I have never told you this story before, in fear of instilling guilt upon you."

"Did I make you proud that I survived?" 

"...We were proud of who you used to be."

"Father was never proud of me! If he actually loved me or praised me, he would have done so in my youth!" Dark Choco exclaimed in anguish, and he pressed his left hand against his injured eye.

"Dark Choco, your father loved you more than anything in the world. He told us time and time again that the day you were born was the most amazing thing that ever happened to him."

"But I don't deserve your pity-"

"When you came into the world, and your father got to hold you in his arms for the first time, I saw his eyes light up in awe and wonder at how perfect you were. Your father often liked to deny it, but he was so overcome with joy and excitement from finally getting to hold you after so many months of waiting, that he held you close to his face, wrapped his arms around you, and began to cry from the sheer existence of you. Your father has always been a cold man, even if he loved us. But I swear to you, Dark Choco, despite being exiled from the Dark Cacao Kingdom, he missed you just as much as I did." You rest your hand on his cheek and move some hair out of the way.

Dark Choco says nothing, but you could tell by the way he was frowning that he regretted the life he's chosen for himself. You don't blame him, of course, but he is an enemy of the kingdom now, so if your soldiers saw the two of you walking together, they would probably think he had you under Dark Enchantress' spell.

"But I'm a traitor to my own people. I'm a traitor to my own family. I'm no prince. If it wasn't for me, you could have been a proud and illustrious woman in your old age. Instead, you've been trapped beneath your own castle. Father ruined your life, and yet you insist that he was a good person. Mother...? I want to go back to the way things used to be, but I know they can't."

"I'm not that old!" You try to laugh out, still caressing his silky black hair with your hand. You hadn't noticed this before, but you did have more wrinkles than you initially thought you did, despite spending almost a decade underground. "The world has not been kind to us, but that doesn't mean we can't be kind to each other. This kingdom is in ruin, my son."

"I just wanted to be a hero..."

"I know. Everyone wanted you to be a hero, and you were a hero for the longest time. It's just that blasted sword... it corrupted you. The darkness enshrouded your sense of right and wrong and turned you into a villain capable of destroying anything and anyone in your wake." You lament, your fingers delicately caressing your son's cheek. "But, you regret your actions, don't you?"

Dark Choco chooses not to speak, instead relishing in your motherly affection before he loses it in the years to come. "I wish life could go back to the way it used to be, mother."

"You and I both, my dear boy. I often dream of those seemingly endless days and nights where you, your father, and I would just spend time together. Hiking through the woods, playing in the freshly fallen snow, practicing with archery or swordsmanship... it was everything I could have ever dreamed of. Having a family and subjects who cared about us made me look forward to the days to come."

"But... But I took that life from you! Mother, you have every right to be disappointed in me, you have every right to be angry with me!" He turns his head in such a way that you stop caressing his face, and your hand hovers in the air from how quickly he moved away from your touch. "You can't let your emotions overtake your hatred of me just because I'm your son! I don't deserve such kindness! Not after what I did. The Dark Cacao kingdom is falling because of my comrades and I. The only man you've ever loved has once again been slain by my hand."

You bring your hand back down, a small sigh leaving your lips once you realize that your son was partly right. A part of yourself told you to never forgive him, that your maternal instincts were warping your sense of right and wrong and that this shell of a man in the body of your one and only child took everything you held dear to your heart.

A moment of silence passes between the two of you as Dark Choco stares down at his sword that was still grasped in his hands, and you struggle to find the right words to say next.

You part your lips to speak to your little prince.

"And yet, despite all the heartache you've given your father and I, I am the one who still loves you all the same. For you are my son, and you are my boy. My flesh and blood," You whisper softly to him, and place the palm of your hand back against his cheek so you could make him look at you, "My world wouldn't be complete without you in it."

As he stares, Dark Choco furrows his brows in discontentment, but still sports a sad smile all the same. "...Come along, mother. We have work to do."

Before you could even say anything, Dark Choco was already nearing the exit of the castle. Leaving the cursed sword behind in his wake, you could not help but stare and linger at the weapon he once used to almost assassinate his own father.

And yet, your husband was alive.

Your maternal instincts told you to make Dark Choco stay just a little longer.

Maybe you could somehow convince him to stay, but you knew it wasn't going to be that easy. No one would feel worthy enough to be forgiven after all of the horrible things he's done, and the consequences amassed from them.

The weight of the world was on his shoulders. He still considered himself a traitor; banished from his own kingdom by the only family he's ever known, never to feel the warm embrace of family again.

Maybe somehow he could redeem himself on his own terms, but because of everything he's done, you could not find it in your heart to miss him. Everything he's ever done was to prove to his parents that he could be strong in the face of adversaries. On the off chance he had to be strong enough to defend himself, he could do so, but only through fearless and heartless determination.

Dark Choco was now forced to carry heavy burdens, despite wishing for something more. Clinging to a past he wished he could forget, you could tell that it was taking everything in his power not to turn on his heels and look at you one final time.

The weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and as his mother, you wished you could take them all away. That somehow there could be a way to start over. That you could reassure him that everything would be alright in the end, and everything would go back to the way it used to be.

But all of the words that have been said in such a short time cannot simply undo almost a decade's worth of hardships, struggles, and unhappiness.

Your husband was still a good person in your eyes, for your husband also carried heavy burdens that made it impossible for anyone to be genuinely cheerful.

As quickly as you had your son back, he was gone. Fleeing the castle with a newfound identity, he no longer served Dark Enchantress Cookie or the Cookies of Darkness. He was his own person now, but he did not feel worthy of being a prince of the Dark Cacao Kingdom.

He did not feel worthy of being called your son after everything he's put you and his father through.

Instead, he went off on his own, no longer tied to the past, and decided to look towards the future.

And you decided to do the same.