Chapter Text
Bells rang all throughout the castle, even through the streets of the city in the glorious Eavumeian Kingdom. People crowded the streets, pouring in from all across the continent for the occasion deemed so important by King Jeralt Reus Eisner, that the castle gates had been flung wide open, inviting those across the land to enter its halls. Many of the commoners whispered amongst themselves in awe, many never having seen the castle so close before, with the sunlight gleaming off the magnificent steel gates. The crowd hustled across the drawbridge to the castle, nobility and commonfolk alike getting to witness this event, where the royal princess was going to be revealed to the public eye for the first time. They were greeted by a brown-haired man checking off an invitation list to ensure everything was in order.
“Good day to you! Hello! Welcome, one and all!” The Master of Ceremonies blurted out cheerful greetings to each person that crossed his sight as he furiously checked names off the list. A scant few in the crowd replied however, as they hustled past the man, named Alois, to get the best view possible of the young princess. “The royal family will be arriving soon, I promise! P-please, proceed in an orderly manner!” Alois protested, sighing as he was largely ignored. But nonetheless, proceedings went smoothly as Alois finally checked off the last name on the invitation list. “That was a bit too close for comfort…” he mumbled, wiping sweat off his forehead, though his thoughts were soon interrupted by the sound of trumpets, signaling the arrival of the King and Queen’s royal carriage.
The horses were perfectly groomed, their white fur and silvery manes flowing with their movements as their powerful muscles drew forth the carriage, adorned with gold trimmings and shaded to cool the royal family inside. King Jeralt couldn’t help but sigh before plastering a smile on his face and waving to the eager crowd. The part he was looking forward to the most about this whole ceremony was getting his hands on the vintage beers and wines that people had doubtlessly brought as gifts to congratulate him and his wife. Queen Sitri sat at Jeralt’s side, a smile on her face as she just enjoyed being with her family. Her long, dark turquoise hair hung low around her, framing her body and waving in the breeze. She only looked at the crowd for a moment before looking down at the child in her arms.
“Hello, Byleth…” She said softly, holding a finger down for the baby to hold onto. It had been said that the child was a princess in order to secure the approval from King Lambert Egitte Blaiddyd to allow his own son, the crown prince of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, to be betrothed to Jeralt and Sitri’s child. In reality however, Byleth was a boy, though one Jeralt and Sitri loved with all their hearts. “Today’s your big day, and you’ll get to meet lots and lots of people…” She tickled the baby’s face, and though Byleth wasn’t the most expressive child ever, she did manage to get a couple of quiet giggles out of him.
“If he’s anything like me, I don’t think he’ll care for meet and greets too much,” Jeralt commented dryly from Sitri’s side as the carriage approached the castle. “But it is Kingdom tradition to bring the child in view of the public when they’re half a year old, so we may as well.” He scratched his beard and sat back against the seat of the carriage, groaning as he felt it begin to slow.
The procession went about as Jeralt had expected it to, with the people handing over what they had as gifts to the royal family, loath as Jeralt was to receive those gifts, especially from the commonfolk who couldn’t offer much. Not that Jeralt and Sitri didn’t appreciate such gestures, they just felt bad taking things from their citizens. Many more people still were focused on showering Byleth with adoration, none paying enough attention to notice that he was in fact a boy and not a girl.
The trumpets blared once more, playing a new anthem as Alois stepped forward to present newcomers to the gathering. “Your Majesties, may I present the fairies, godmothers to the young princess!” Alois turned to the side with a bow, holding out his arm as three figures came into view.
“Oh my, I hope we aren’t late,” one fairy, named Mercedes, said worriedly as she looked around at the crowd that was now staring at them expectantly and letting out “oohs” and ahhs” when the saw the glimmering wings that fluttered behind the three fairies as they came in. Mercedes wore a fluffy pink dress, while the other two fairies wore matching dresses in green and blue.
“I am ever so excited to meet the young princess!” The fairy with green hair in long curls that draped around her face chimed in with excitement, clapping her hands together. She was evidently the leader of the group with how she flew in ahead of the other two, despite looking the youngest.
“I already know what my gift will be too!” The third fairy, named Annette, was dressed in a shimmering blue dress, and she eagerly grabbed Mercedes’s hand as she flew. Her shoulder-length orange hair flew out behind her along with her dress while the crowd stared in awe as the fairies and the other denizens of the forest approached, bearing gifts for Byleth and his parents.
“Your Majesties, it is delightful to see you and to meet Her Highness as well!” Flayn said, landing in front of the gold-adorned crib that Byleth was lying down in. She bowed deeply to the royal family with Mercedes and Annette following suit. “We arrive bringing nothing but ourselves and our best wishes for you and your child… oh, and gifts too, of course!” She giggled before flitting her wings and flying above Byleth’s crib, and the little boy reached up his hand, looking curious when he saw the fairies flying above him.
“You didn’t have to bring gifts, I promise…” Sitri said softly, shaking her head with a gentle smile. “But if you truly wish to give them to us, then we will accept them, honored that those in our lands show such goodwill towards us.” She and Jeralt were a short ways away from the crib, watching as Byleth reached up to the fairies.
“Think nothing of it, please!” Flayn simply shook her head, raising a magic wand into the air. “I bestow upon you the gift of divine beauty! Every bit will help for the day you try to charm your prince!” She giggled quietly as she waved her wand, sending a shower of sparkles down upon the boy, who was still reaching up to the sparkles, but was apparently now trying to eat them. The boy gave Flayn a small pout when he found that he could not, in fact, grab the sparkles. This earned a laugh from Jeralt, Sitri, and the rest of the crowd as Annette flew up to give her gift next, though none of them noticed Byleth’s eyes flash to a bright green for a moment when the magic hits him before changing back to their normal blue color.
“My gift to you shall be wit and intelligence!” Annette happily declared before noticing the dubious glances Flayn and Mercedes were giving her. “What, they’re kind of the same thing… and who says we can only give *one* gift?” Before anyone could object, she waved her wand, and more fairy dust settled on the boy’s body.
“In that case, I bestow Your Highness with the gifts of generosity and liveliness,” Mercedes added, waving her wand and adding her magic to Byleth. “I’m sure you’ll lead a wonderful life that will make those around you very happy,” she said with a smile as she and the other fairies looked at Byleth’s deep blue eyes.
The other forest dwellers brought their gifts forward, and all was going well until a rumbling could be heard approaching the castle, causing the people to mutter and whisper to one another worriedly, wondering what was on its way.
“Alois!” Jerlat issued the one-word command, not wanting any danger to approach his family or the citizens of his kingdom.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Alois gave the brown-haired king a bow before bravely heading to the castle doors and stepping outside to see what was approaching. The crowd continued muttering amongst themselves nervously, the drone of their mumblings filling the castle with a low hum. Jeralt and Sitri attempted to calm the masses, though they too, were waiting anxiously, not knowing what was coming - until Alois came rushing back through the door.
“It’s… It’s Rhea!” Alois called, out of breath as he ran over to Jeralt’s throne. “I don’t think she was invited!” Hearing the name of Rhea sent more mumblings and nerves throughout the populace, for they knew her to be an evil fairy, bigger and more powerful than all the others.
A grim look crossed Jeralt’s face as he checked the invitation list desperately for the sorceress’s name. He really didn’t want her there, but with her wickedness, he was afraid of what she would do if he *didn’t* invite her. To his horror though, after searching through list after list, checking it time and time again, the king nor his wife or servants could find Rhea’s name on the list. “I don’t understand, I was sure I invited her…” Jeralt grumbled, shaking his head as his eyes kept darting towards Byleth’s crib. The king was battle-hardened, but even he wouldn’t dare fight the evil fairy.
“Well if she expects us to welcome her here into our castle, then she should have second thoughts,” Sitri suddenly said with a glare at the castle doors. It was rare to see a look like that cross the queen’s face, so perhaps there was more history behind this than it seemed… “I will not let her come here and think she can do whatever she wants!” She began to stand up before Jeralt grabbed her arm.
“Sitri, wait… going out there like that isn’t going to accomplish anything.” The king shook his head as the rumbling got closer and closer, but he didn’t waver, even as the people began running towards the walls of the castle to hide. “I don’t trust Rhea either, but we can’t change the fact that something got messed up when we were sending out invitations. I’m not going to let you face her on your own.”
“Rhea…?” Flayn lifted her head, a look of fear in her eyes showing, though it seemed something else was on her mind as well. “This is not good… We must protect the princess!” She declared, flying in front of Byleth’s crib, where the little boy was sucking his thumb, unaware of any potential danger nearby.
“Right!” Annette nodded and joined Flayn, brandishing her wand. The rumbling drew closer and closer, until after what felt like an eternity, the castle doors flew open.
“What a delightful little party you seem to be having, Your Majesty…” a voice hissed as a tall woman with long green hair stepped into the castle, looking around at everyone with cold, calculating, reptilian eyes. “Though it seems… I wasn’t invited…” Her head made a sweeping motion and a smirk crossed her face as she enjoyed the terrified looks of the citizens when they backed away from her. “But of course… I don’t blame *you* for that, Your Majesty…” the fairy said in a taunting tone, her voice laced with sarcasm as she walked closer and closer to Byleth’s crib. The raven perched on top of her staff cawed as it looked around with beady eyes before its gaze settled on Byleth.
“Rhea…” Jeralt gritted his teeth and clenched his fists tightly as he began to stand up, only to be cut off by the evil sorceress.
“Calm yourself, I am simply here for the same reason every single one of these people are…” Rhea gestured around the room with her staff, pausing as she approached the crib. “To pay my respects and bring gifts to the princess,” she said with a malicious grin and slitted pupils that made Jeralt’s stomach turn.
“Wait!” Alois suddenly jumped between Rhea and the carriage, bowing his head to the evil fairy. “It… It was my fault your name wasn’t on the list, I’m sure of it… Just don’t hurt Their Majesties or Her Highness…” he begged, kneeling down on the ground in front of Rhea.
“How noble of you to throw yourself at my feet…” Rhea grinned wickedly, reaching down to grab Alois by his hair and holding him up to her eye level. “How about instead of hurting them… I just hurt you instead?” She raised her staff, causing the crow to fly off it before she began battering the poor man. Each hit, a sickening thud while the crow dove at anyone who dared try to intervene. “Each step will be a painful reminder of your uselessness at delivering a simple invitation!” Rhea mangled Alois’s legs, whacking them with her staff over and over again, the crack of his bones echoing throughout the hallway as his legs were broken by Rhea’s strength. “And I am not finished with you yet!” She roared, slamming Alois’s stomach with her staff, making blood gush out of his mouth as he began coughing in pain.
“Please-” he tried to protest, but Rhea wouldn’t have any of it. The commonfolk tried to flee, but with a snap of her fingers, Rhea conjured a massive gust of wind that slammed the doors shut, forcing the people to watch as Alois continued to get beaten and mocked.
“No, I will not recognize requests of such a useless, inconsiderate beast!” Rhea snapped, her eyes wide with mania as she threw Alois to the ground. “Now accept your punishment!” She yelled as she brought her staff down upon Alois’s head, a deafening crack filling the castle before being replaced by a deadly silence. All was silent in the castle for some time, all the onlookers looking in terror in what Rhea had done to one of the king’s closest advisors and friends. The blood spilled from his skull as he clung to life, and Rhea could only stare down at him with malice in her reptilian eyes.
“You… What have you DONE?!” Jeralt rose from his seat, the sound of steel slicing through the air as he removed his sword from its sheath. “I’ve put up with you before, but this ends here!” He stepped down, hurrying towards Byleth’s crib to protect his infant son.
“Now, now, I’m alright now.” Rhea waved her arm, conjuring magic chains that wrapped around Jeralt’s arms and legs, pinning him against the wall. “And getting back to the true purpose at hand, I wish to bestow this child with a gift…” Her voice was dripping with disgust as she kicked Alois aside and looked into the crib, down at Byleth, who stared back up at her with his big blue eyes.
“No! Please do not curse her!” Flayn flew in front of Rhea, waving her arms desperately. “She is simply a child who has done nothing wrong! She is not to blame for the actions of her parents or Alois!” She protested, her heart pounding in her chest.
“That’s right!” Mercedes joined Flayn’s side, nodding and spreading her arms out to block Rhea, her pink dress shimmering behind her. “Byleth doesn’t deserve to be hurt or cursed! Please just leave… I’m sure the King and Queen would be willing to give you payment of some kind if you would only leave their daughter alone!” She pleaded, clasping her hands in front of her.
“A-And we will too!” Annette added, quickly nodding her head in fear. “After this, we’ll head back with you and figure something out together!” She slowly was reaching for her wand, her wings flitting as she took her position next to Mercedes.
“Silence!” Rhea slammed her staff on the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked the three other fairies away and bound Sitri in chains as she stepped to the crib to look down at Byleth once more. “I care not for your excuses, and I will do this as I had planned…” She hissed and shot a glare at the fairy trio before holding her staff in front of Byleth. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes as the people could only wait, wondering what Rhea would say next. “...You will grow up to be the most beautiful and enchanting royal in the land…” she began, her words causing her captive audience to murmur in confusion about the statement. “...But by your 22nd birthday, you will prick your finger on a spindle… and die.” A wicked grin spread across the evil fairy’s face as a dark green mist spilled from the end of the staff, surrounding Byleth. The boy waved his hands at the green mist, coughing as he inhaled it by mistake.
“No! You can’t do this, dammit!” Jeralt struggled against the chains that bound him, his sword clattering to the ground. “You lift that curse right now!” His voice was a growl, but Rhea simply smirked at him, relishing his helpless state.
“Or what?” She raised an eyebrow and stepped closer to Jeralt. “Such is your punishment for refusing to acknowledge and honor me on such an important day… Just think of all the wonderful gifts I could have bestowed upon Byleth here, if only you had remembered to think of me…” The baby starts crying in his crib as the mist continues seeping into his body, solidifying the curse more with each passing moment. “It is a shame that she had to suffer for your negligence, but such is my will, and so it came to pass.”
“How…?” Sitri looked down, her tears plinking against the stone floor of the castle as she cried, lamenting the fate of her son. “How could anyone… fairy or otherwise, be so cruel as you…? You curse our child simply because someone made a human mistake when making the list of guests to invite?” She glared at Rhea, heartbroken as rage filled her, her bloodline meaningless as she loathed every inch of Rhea’s body and soul. “It could have been anyone on that list that Alois forgot to write down, and yet not one of them would have reacted as immaturely as you!” She snapped, surging against her chains and wanting nothing more than to save her son from this monster.
“...Such bold words… from a failure such as yourself…” Rhea hissed, stepping towards Sitri now and grabbing the queen’s chin in her hand. “You should be thanking me… I could kill you right this moment, and in fact, I should… but I am choosing not to.” She smiled in a way that made Sitri and Jeralt want to strangle her even more than they had before. “It will be much more satisfying to see every heartwarming, tender moment you share together being plagued by the knowledge that her clock runs short. And even better, there is nothing you sinners can do to stop it!” Lightning crashed outside the castle as Rhea burst out into maniacal laughter, cackling at the apparent genius of her plan.
“You may have accounted for the King and Queen…” Flayn’s voice said quietly as she, Annette, and Mercedes slowly got up. “But you didn’t account for us!” She took out her wand quickly, her wings flapping a mile a minute as she flew to Byleth’s side.
“Yeah, we aren’t gonna let you kill the princess!” Annette flew over, readying her wand. “You’ve had your way long enough!”
“Yes, and while we aren’t as powerful as you are, together, we can weaken your curse.” Mercedes pulled out her wand and gave a solemn look to Rhea before turning to face Byleth. “Byleth’s finger will be pricked on a spindle on her 22nd birthday, but she won’t die… she will fall into a deep sleep until a prince finds and awakens her with a kiss, and the love of the two will see them get married, their kingdoms uniting harmoniously.” She and the other fairies waved their wands in perfect synchronization, sending a burst of sparkles of light falling gently down upon Byleth, reaching him before the very last bit of Rhea’s curse took hold, effectively overriding it.
“No… NO!” Seething with anger, Rhea went into a rage, firing off blast after blast of magic at the fairies. “I will find her! And I will kill her myself! Magic or no magic! And you all will be there to greet her in the afterlife!” She flew at the other fairies, the citizens screaming in panic as the magical battle began to rage inside the castle.
Flayn shook her head, blocking each bolt of magic with a wave of her own wand, though Rhea was far more powerful, so it was difficult to hold her off. “No… it is as Her Majesty said… You will no longer be allowed to do as you please!” Raising her wand, the fairy cast a healing spell on the castle, affecting all those within its walls, restoring their strength and health.
“Yeah, you’re not getting away so easily!” Annette flicked her wrist, launching a spell of wind magic which knocked Rhea away towards the castle doors. “Everyone has had enough of you!” She stomped on the hem of Rhea’s cape, causing her to stumble and be exposed for another attack.
“Please leave… things never would have had to be like this if you didn’t choose to do such terrible things…” Mercedes’s voice was full of sorrow and lamentation at the situation, and she was determined to protect Byleth and the citizens just like everyone else. “You’ve brought this upon yourself!” A wave of her wand sent an arrow of light flying through the air towards Rhea, slamming into the evil fairy in a blinding explosion.
In all the chaos, Jeralt broke free of the chains that bound him, thanks to the other fairies weakening Rhea. “Come on… we have to get Byleth!” He yanked the chains off Sitri and held her in his arms, lowering her to the ground. “Are you alright?” He asked as something of a side note as too many thoughts were flying around his head right now.
“Yes, I’m fine.” Sitri nodded briefly, a light blush gracing her face when Jeralt held her in his arms. “This has turned into such a disaster… all because of her…” She looked down with a sad look and sigh, feeling terrible.
“It isn’t even close to your fault, Sitri, and you know it.” Jeralt placed a hand on his wife’s shoulder and shook his head before leaning down to pick up his sword. The magic battle raged on, so his focus was solely on getting Byleth to safety.
“Graaaaaah!” Rhea was slammed against the castle doors from the fairies’ combined magic and she slowly rose to her feet, taking ragged breaths as she glared at everyone present with hatred. “This… this isn’t the end!” She roared and turned, storming out the door to return to her own carriage, which rode off into the jagged mountains she called home.
“I…I’m so sorry, Your Majesties…” Flayn slowly flew over to the royal couple as the crowd was finally free to take their leave. The gorgeous castle decor had been damaged from the magic duel, with carpets and tapestries going up in smoke and flames as the castle staff tried desperately to put them out.
“It isn’t your fault…” Jeralt shook his head and sighed as he gently held his son in his arms. “It wasn’t anyone’s fault really… she shouldn’t have responded like that… Like Sitri said, it’s pretty immature to be throwing temper tantrums like that.” He made an attempt at a joke there, but the fairies only replied with sad smiles.
“I think that we should stay here to protect the princess just in case Rhea tries to come back,” Annette piped up somberly as she looked around the now dreary castle. “Plus our magic should help make cleanup a bit easier.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.” In truth, Jeralt was relieved to have the extra aid and protection, especially in a time like this. However gladdened he was that the curse had been weakened, he still didn’t wish for this slumber of Byleth’s to come to pass. “Spread the word! I want everyone in the land to know that from this day forth, all spindles are banned from this kingdom!” He waved his hand as he issued the command to the messengers, and the decree was carried out swiftly. But would the king’s drastic measures end up being enough to stop the curse that Rhea had placed on young Byleth…?