Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Blue floating window.

Status and a jargon of numbers.

A game.

Was it…?

Ruby had no idea what was hovering in front of her face, but the giant blue square looked vaguely familiar. A character window, she had guessed. Something she had seen in games, except why did it look realistic? It was as if someone wanted to burn down their computer by cranking up the graphics to its maximum capacity.

“What the heck?” Ruby carefully inspected the blue window one more time. Abbreviations, numbers, status charts, experience points, a list of — oh wow, that was a super long list of skills at mastery level…

“Young heroine.”

Ruby pulled herself out of her jumbled thoughts.

“Uhh…” she said lamely, as she stared at the older gentlemen with blank eyes. He returned her confusion with a polite smile. He adjusted his spectacles and lowered his head. The second he did, every knight — huh, she realized there were even more people present in this room — adorned in heavy armor took a knee. “You’re talking to me?”

“Young heroine,” the older gentleman confirmed her question with a nod. “We humbly welcome you to the Kingdom of Vale.”

Cries sounded from all directions, praises trilled through Ruby’s ears, and chants were being lifted to the high heavens. It was rattling Ruby’s brain like a percussion instrument, and she was having trouble processing everything that came hurling to her all at once. She had no idea what was going on, and she was getting the worst headache in her entire life.

The wise gentleman lifted his arms in the air and silenced the crowd. “I am King Ozpin. I can see you have many questions. Come, allow me to address them all to the best of my ability.”

Oh.

She remembered reading about this once upon a time in a comic book. Except, she didn’t get hit by a truck. She vividly recalled racing out of the lecture hall because her stomach overturned. Once she squeezed inside the restroom stall and locked its door shut, she winded up here.

Wherever here was…

Ruby followed King Ozpin to a meeting room. The interior was lavishly decorated, fit for royalty, but it wasn’t archaic like the encased artifacts she had seen in museums. He gave her a crash course on history.

Remnant had been at war with the demons who ruled the northwestern side of the world. With the demons’ power increasing exponentially each day, the human race was drawing closer to their imminent ruin. To save themselves from a horrible fate, King Ozpin received authorization from all neighboring kingdoms and used the last of his diminished power to summon a hero. According to the prophecy by the two Brothers, a hero from another world had the power to slay the demon lord and would bring harmony across Remnant.

“I see…” Ruby got the gist of it. Her main questline was to kill the demon lord. That sounded simple enough, she supposed. She just needed to grind… like every other game she had played. “Do I just go… Like, now?”

King Ozpin chuckled. “While I did say the demons are growing in strength, it’d be wise to practice combat and learn a bit more of our culture before setting off.”

Which was a really good idea Ruby could get behind on.

As often as she skipped the tutorial in her games — because tutorial was for noobs — she didn’t know how magic worked or how to swing a real sword. Most important of all, she lacked basic education. Currency, law, yada yada.

“I’ll have Commander Arc oversee your training. Professor Goodwitch will tutor you in subjects you will find useful in your journey.”

On the first day of training, Commander Arc arranged a straw dummy to test her strength. Sitting at an embarrassingly low level 1, Ruby split the dummy into halves with her wooden sword. The powerful force of her mighty swing slashed through the castle walls and reduced it into rubbles. Now there was a notable, gaping hole exposed in the impenetrable walls for all of Vale to marvel.

On the second day, Commander Arc lectured Ruby about magic. He said magic wasn't as simple as swinging a sword because it required specific incantations. A person needed to be diligent, patient, concentrated… Chantless, Ruby snapped her finger and accidentally obliterated the royal garden using one of her long, unending list of spells.

On the third day, Commander Arc taught her how to dial down her strength before she annihilated the Kingdom of Vale. After many trials and errors, she got the hang of it.

On the fourth day, Commander Arc told her to apply everything she had learned during their spar together. One swing in, Vale’s champion was brought to his knees. The match was halted because they were done. He was so proud to see Ruby was capable of holding back, he shed a manly tear. He congratulated her with a well deserved high five, which sent him flying backwards.

On the fifth day, Commander Arc was bedridden with a few broken bones. Ruby profusely apologized.

On the sixth day, King Ozpin bestowed Ruby with the kingdom’s heirloom [Legendary] Amorphous. It was a weapon capable of shifting to any form. With its practicality, he hoped it would aid her journey.

She nicknamed her new, shiny weapon Crescent Rose.

On the last day of the week, Ruby set off to slay the demon lord. She traveled alone because they were afraid she might accidentally commit friendly fire. Before adventuring to the outskirts, she explored the heart of Vale. She wanted to try some of their cuisine, do a bit of sightseeing, and —

“Oh my gosh, a side quest!” Ruby lit up with excitement when she saw a billboard with a giant yellow exclamation mark hovering at its head. With how boldly bright it was, it could’ve been a lighthouse to steer ships.

Besides, how could she ever think about defeating the demon lord if she couldn’t help a poor grandma find her long lost puppy? There were other quests about collecting herbs, cleaning out a den of goblins, searching for a few adventurers who had gone missing, and many more.

While Ruby accepted all the side quests, she overheard a rowdy group of people at a nearby table.

“I play a spell card from my hand!”

Curious by the lively noise, Ruby waltzed over and squeezed through the crowd. Two adults were sitting face to face and playing cards she had never seen before.

“Say goodbye to your monster, Knight of Atlas!” Player One continued to exclaim.

“Not so fast, I activate my trap card!” Player Two countered and flipped their card face up.

“What are they playing?” Ruby asked an older gentleman who had been spectating the match.

“This lil’ miss? Why, it’s called Heart of Remnant. Plenty of folks around the world play this mini card game.”

“This looks really awesome! How do I play?”

“You can get yourself a starter deck and a guidebook from a nearby shop. The only thing unwritten in the rule book is that the winner of the match takes one of their opponent’s cards.”

For the next two years, Ruby forgot about her main questline to slay the demon lord. She got distracted by side quests, explored dungeons to find lost artifacts and collectibles, and collected all the cards for her favorite game Heart of Remnant. She found herself journeying to a hidden village on a remote island that wasn’t marked on the world map. The last card she needed to complete her collection was located here.

After doing grueling amounts of errands to befriend Villager A, Ruby was able to request a fair match with him for his super, ultra rare card Winchester the Tormentor. As the villager was making his final stand, their match was cruelly interrupted by a destructive explosion.

The island quaked and trembled. A demon with a pressurizing presence made an appearance. With a small purse of her lips, her voice resonated across the sky.

“I am Cinder.” She was setting the huts on fire and turning anything flammable into ashes, which was everything within line of sight. “You humans are now under our demon lord’s command! Bow, you filthy creatures. Resistance is futile.”

Before Ruby had the chance to claim victory, Villager A swept all his cards into his hands and scrambled. He fled, screaming, with his tail tucked between his legs. Ruby sat there, her eyes twitching. Now her card collection will never be completed. It was going to sit at a pitiful 99%, and the completionist inside of her was tattered.

“How dare you!” Ruby hissed and pointed at the demon general who was cackling like a hyena. “Do you know how many weeks I spent trying to convince him to duel me?”

Cinder ceased her laughs and glowered at the insignificant human dressed in — what in the world was that revolting outfit…? No thick armor or anything protective. A thin skirt with frills. Plus there were so many gaudy accessories and blings, it was starting to hurt her eyes.

“Who are you?” Cinder asked.

“The person who did all the side quests.” Ruby revealed her weapon and transformed Vale’s heirloom into a shape that was blood-curdling chilling. She was going to be the demon general’s living nightmare.

“Is that…” Cinder crinkled her nose at the legendary weapon. “...a fly swatter?”

Ruby snapped her fingers and applied a whole list of debuffs onto herself. “Yep.”

Cinder snorted. “You seriously want to challenge me, one of the demon lord’s trusted generals, with a fly swatter? You have lost your mind.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll be begging for death soon.”

Ruby kept her words. It wasn't a fair battle, it was a one-sided slaughter. Within two minutes, Cinder was pinned to the floor and Ruby was beating her with a fly swatter.

“Stop—” Cinder hissed once she got smacked again. “—hitting—” she winced again. “—me!”

It was an absolute humiliation. Degrading, for an all-powerful being. Demons were meant to rule, and yet she was being conquered.

It was impossible for Cinder to shunt the girl off. She could struggle all she wants and it would be meaningless. What made it more mortifying was that the so-called fly swatter hurt a lot more than she anticipated. However, it wasn’t powerful enough to put her to death even though Cinder wished it did.

“I didn’t hear please.” Ruby raised her weapon and swatted Cinder again. The murmuring villagers gathered around them to witness the beat down.

Cinder cowered and shielded her head with her arms. “Please!”

Ruby stopped at the magical word, but she held her fly swatter threateningly over Cinder’s face. She finally remembered why she was summoned to this world in the first place.

It was time she continued her main quest line.

“Where can I find the demon lord?”

The debuffs hadn’t worn off, but Ruby marched herself straight into the towering castle where the demon lord resided. Cinder had warned her that the castle was heavily guarded, but Ruby wasn’t afraid. She was still mad that the funny looking blue window said 99% complete under Heart of Remnant.

“You look lost, little lamb.” A demon whose hair was as blue as her floating window blessed Ruby with his presence. As if he was sitting in the pinnacle of heaven, his entrance was even more dazzling than all of Ruby’s cosmetic blings.

“Do you know how to get to the throne room, mister?” Ruby bothered to ask. She wasn’t sure why the weird-looking blue haired demon was striking a bunch of poses like a possessed spirit that needed to be exorcized.

“I can give you directions to my room, there’s no need to hurry,” he said with an unmistakable flirt in his tone. He struck another provocative pose, and they stared at each other in dead silence. He gave it another minute, but the silence hovering over them was unbearable. “This is kind of awkward…”

“Tell me about it,” Ruby retorted. “I’m the victim.”

“I’m Neptune, the incubus. Why aren’t you being charmed or seduced?”

“I’m supposed to be the heroine, and I'm pretty sure I’m immune to seduction.”

“Oh,” Neptune realized. After she mentioned it, it really felt embarrassing to be posing like this. Also, why was she holding a wooden bat in her hands? When the heck did that get there?

“Oh,” Ruby parroted. She bonked him once, and Neptune was out like a light.

As Ruby navigated through the castle with the system’s map as her guide, it didn’t take long for her to encounter her next adversary. There was a giant red dot obviously marked and tailing her icon on the map. It kept warning her about a nearby foe, so Ruby just paused in her tracks in an empty room.

“I know you’re there,” she announced to no one specifically. “You can come out of hiding.”

One minute, and the silence was deafening. Ruby sighed and transformed Crescent Rose into a rolled up newspaper. She quietly crept to where her map had pointed, and the chilling air suddenly got nervous. If she were to describe in words, it was as if a gigantic sweat drop visually manifested into thin air.

Ruby lifted her threatening, rolled up newspaper at nothing particular and —

“Wait a minute!” the enemy blurted out, undoing her stealth and revealing herself. There were adorable cat ears sitting at the top of her head. “Sheathe your… weapon? I can explain myself.”

Too late, Ruby struck. “Bad kitty.”

The demonic cat hissed when she got thwacked in the face. “Why does that actually hurt?”

Ruby raised her weapon and whacked her again. “Where’s the shortest and safest route to the throne room? I’m tired of encountering low leveled mobs.”

“Low leveled mobs—” The demon’s questioning remark was interrupted by another whack.

“I ask the questions here,” Ruby said.

“I’m Blake,” the demon managed to say in time before the newspaper came bashing on her head. She withstood the brute force, then dashed out of striking range. “What makes—”

Whack.

“—you think—”

Another thwack and she bit her tongue.

“How exactly are you keeping up with me?” Blake hissed out loud. Her efforts were futile; she couldn’t put distance between them. The girl was chasing her faster than a hellhound. Every time she tried to escape from the newspaper’s range, it came back hitting harder.

“Tell me the shortest route.” Ruby struck Blake again with her terrifying rolled up newspaper.

“Hah,” Blake laughed at her threat as if she hadn’t learned her lesson. “I will not betray—”

Thwack.

Thwack.

Thwack.

“Go into the red door right there, turn right on the first corner, take the door with the gargoyle statue, climb the stairs, make a left, and go down the hallway,” Blake rushed out to say. Like Cinder, she was cowering with her arms protectively around her head because the newspaper was both humiliating and painful.

Ruby stopped her unrelenting attacks and thanked Blake with a smile. She followed the directions to the throne room and had a peaceful walk on the way up. No weak mobs to block her path, no annoying obstacles, or tedious traps. She found herself standing before a large, heavy door that screamed ‘big, bad boss’, and she entered the room without a knock.

The boss room was just as grandiose as the games would depict it as. The unlit torches suddenly burst into flames and lit up the dark room. It wasn’t as dreary as Ruby thought it’d be. There were splashes of color in between the monochrome. At the top of the few steps of stairs, a regal being sat menacingly on an imposing throne.

“An intruder,” the demon lord drawled. She did not rise in her seat as she looked down upon Ruby. “I, Weiss Schnee, do not recall mailing out invitations to my castle.”

“I’m here to file a complaint against your employee.” Ruby shook her fist angrily. The air was frigid cold, but she had resistance against freezing temperatures.

“Go ahead,” Weiss mused, “complain.”

Ruby kindly did exactly just that. “I was having a peaceful game of Heart of Remnant.”

“Mmhm.”

“Then one of your so-called demon generals came bursting into the village I was at and ruined everything!”

“Their name?”

“Cinder!” Ruby huffed in frustration. “You don’t even understand the amount of time I poured into convincing that guy to have a match with me!”

“I cannot sympathize,” the demon lord replied. “Is that all?”

“Yes,” Ruby said as a matter of fact, crossing her arms.

“Okay, get out.”

“What?”

“You’re done complaining, right?” Weiss asked, her expression unreadable and stoic. “Now get out of my castle.”

“I want compensation,” Ruby demanded.

“Or else what?”

Ruby cast her rolled-up newspaper onto the ground and let it morph into a new shape. After many experimentations, she learned she was able to shift her legendary weapon into anything she desired. If she could put her mind to it and had the mana for it, then it wasn’t impossible.

Weiss rose from her throne with narrowed eyes. The object before her was something she had never seen. A body built with what looked like steel and a very slim snout. Was it supposed to be some kind of horse, or a mount? What was that?

Ruby, rudely, opened fire. The armored tank blasted a highly condensed energy of magic towards Weiss, but Weiss backhanded it as if she was swatting a bug. The beam of light shredded through the side of the roof and shot outside into the sky. It exploded into a supernova. The shockwave shook the castle as hard as a seismic earthquake.

“Whoa…” Ruby’s jaws dropped with awe. She still had her debuffs, but it was amazing to see the demon lord repel magic that could one-shot a SSSSSS-Rank dragon. “That’s pretty hot.”

“Is that all?” Weiss raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

The mockery baited Ruby into close quarter combat. She morphed her armored tank into a scythe and swung at the demon lord. Her movements were reckless, but her undoubtedly cheat-level skills compensated for her foolhardy actions. Every swing cleaving to kill was beyond the human’s eye, but Weiss parried every slash with the rapier once at her hips.

It was no wonder Remnant was destined for ruins. The demon lord was on par with the heroine, an entity who broke the limitations of reason.

Ruby grinned widely. She had never felt so alive or felt this much adrenaline in ages. Since the beginning of her summoning incident, every creature fell at her feet.

“Please don’t disappoint me,” she whispered, almost pleading. The debuffs were now worn. All her stats that had dipped redder than Earth’s stock market flipped green. Every integer that represented her strength climbed exponentially.

Weiss picked up the sudden change in air. She blocked the incoming slash more seriously which left her stumbling in her defensive stance.

“Hm.” She assessed the raw power that trembled up her arm and frowned. Words could not describe what she thought about the shift in tides. Weiss Schnee had never been pushed back by a human before. “Interesting.”

Weiss flicked the remaining vibrations coursing through her weapon and reinforced her grip. “Come, best me if you can.”

Ruby lunged with all her strength, and Weiss fought her with true respect. Their weapons clashed. High level spells were thrown, some were canceled as well. The sheer force of their power obliterated everything around them but not each other. They were strong, a calamity no one on Remnant could hold a candle to.

The fierce battle that would go down in history waged on for three days and three nights. It was a constant fight. The heavy injuries inflicted onto each other delayed their auto-regeneration, and inevitably both sides were wounded.

Ruby gradually recalled what it was like to feel pain and body aches. Back in the other world, she remembered crying about a paper cut underneath her finger nail. Now her worst pain was the gash on her thigh and shoulder. For the first time in a couple of years, she remembered what it was like to be human.

She had found the one. Someone equal, someone who could sympathize with her. She staggered forward, breathless and weary. She was also bleeding but that was the least of her worries. Give it some time and eventually her wound would close back up, like Weiss’.

“You are stubborn.” Unlike Ruby, Weiss stood tall and did not show her weakness. She was regal. However, she couldn’t hold herself up without the aid of her weapon. She tried to imitate the wicked demon lord depicted in stories, but she didn’t look any different compared to Ruby. Gashes and cuts, dirt and grime, a demon who looked just as human as Ruby.

“I’m more hungry,” Ruby joked, but it hurts to laugh because Weiss somehow left a nasty bruise on her stomach. “Aren’t you hungry?”

“Starving,” Weiss truthfully admitted. She cast a glyph underneath Ruby, a powerful spell that would shake the crust of the planet. She hoped, and this was a very strong hope, that this will bring the end.

“Aw man, not again.”

A pillar of dark energy surged down like lightning and struck Ruby, but the heroine was still standing as if nothing had happened.

“Ugh, this is so unfair!” Weiss shouted at the top of her lungs. She wanted to pull all of her hair off with how frustrating this battle was becoming.

Ruby rubbed her noggin, whining. “That actually hurt…”

Weiss scowled at her in disbelief. “Don’t give me that rubbish.”

They weren’t going anywhere with their fight. They both understood, and yet Ruby still pressed forward, closing in on Weiss. Her movement was barely a walk, and Weiss stood her ground, ready and waiting to take whatever unpredictable magic or brute force the heroine had hidden up her sleeve. To her surprise, Ruby was the first to fall on one knee, but the heroine delivered the final blow.

She unequipped her legendary ring that boosted her stats by 50%, and proposed. “Wanna get married?”

Weiss blinked. “What?”

“We can’t kill each other,” Ruby said, smiling and shrugging at the same time. “So, let’s get married.”

A human marrying the demon who was responsible for wreaking havoc across the land. It wasn’t wholly sane, but under first impressions this human wasn’t sound in the first place.

Weiss laughed. “What kind of logic is that?”

“I might have a couple of loose screws in my head.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Weiss hummed, agreeing. She carefully considered her proposal. The heroine was the only obstacle in her way. Through this farce marriage, she could capture and manipulate her feelings, and together they could, 'romantically', destroy each and every kingdom on Remnant.

“Very well,” Weiss decided. It was an infallible plan. “I accept.”

Three days and three nights, their battle ceased. The shocking marriage between the young heroine and the demon lord was broadcasted to the public.

Whispers of skepticism and uncertainty spread throughout the kingdoms, but Ruby wasn’t worried. Meanwhile, Weiss was pleased to see her plans come into fruition. Things were progressing smoothly. Little did she know, instead of magic and swords, her future was going to be a losing battle against her own emotions.

Chapter Text

[Secret ending unlocked] Until Death Do Us Apart

Conditions: Marry the ruler of all demons

Congratulations! You are now married to the most powerful demon known on Remnant.

Doesn’t this make your heart race?

I bet it does! A marriage is the joining of two people in a bond that lasts until death.

This contract is not to be entered into lightly.

Making your relationship work will take love, trust, dedication, loyalty, and commitment.

[New quest unlocked] Make The Demon Lord’s Heart Go Doki Doki

Quest goal: Completely capture Weiss’ heart

The ruler of all demons does not hold the same value as you.

Do not fret, it is possible to make her fall in love with you naturally.

The question is, do you have what it takes to steal her heart?

[Would you like to accept the quest?]

Yes                   No

[You have accepted the quest!]

The church bells tolled in the Kingdom of Atlas, the biggest military fortress known to stave off demons from trespassing human lands. The sound of chiming resonated for everyone to hear about the matrimony of the young heroine and the demon lord.

Wedding bells were symbolic. It delivered good news across distant lands. It warded evil and granted wishes and happiness. It wasn’t until this day, however, people realized how ironic some of these symbols were considering the young heroine was about to marry the epitome of evil.

For the first time, aristocrats and the upper echelons of the demons gathered together to witness the greatest moment in history. Seated on the far, very far and scootched together in fear, left side of the church were nobles and rulers belonging from the human kingdom. The right side seated the scariest and most vile demons.

“D-Dearly beloved humans and demons,” the highest priest of the temple gulped.

His legs were shaking with fear, Weiss noted from the corner of her eye. She didn’t understand why they needed to follow through with traditions, but she supposed she needed to keep up with the appearances. These dim-witted humans were foolishly gullible.

“We have gathered here today to witness a sacred ceremony: the union of Ruby Rose and Weiss Schnee.”

She wore her coldest frown on this so-called special occasion. On her opposite, Ruby had a disgusting, cheek grinning, bubbly smile that might as well have been a holy spell used to eradicate darkness.

“We are blessed, truly blessed, and I have faith that the two Brothers are also blessing us…”

If she wasn’t standing on display, she would’ve snorted at his last, desperate prayer.

“...to be here. Marriage is sacred. Ruby and Weiss have made the decision to take the vow of marriage and are committed to spending the rest of their lives together.”

Weiss shifted from foot to foot impatiently. It hadn’t been long since they started, and she wanted to leave already.

“Let us revel in the happiness —”

“Skip scene!” Ruby abruptly cut in.

Her disgraceful interruption shocked everyone in this vicinity except for Weiss. She found her unruly chaoticness quite entertaining, a character unlike the heroes described in fairy tales. What she wasn’t mentally prepared for was the rushing kiss Ruby pulled her in for.

Weiss was taken aback as she stared with eyes wide open when she received her kiss. She didn’t think to reciprocate because things were proceeding too quickly for her to follow.

Rather than the bridal carry described in cheesy romance novels, Ruby hefted Weiss over one shoulder and carried her out the door. No one objected to her baffling antics. Naturally because no one could physically defy the heroine.

“Where are we even going?” Weiss went with the flow. If this was part of human tradition, then it was oddly peculiar.

“I have no idea!” Ruby was filled with laughter. She escaped the crowd of commoners by leaping across the rooftops. “I didn’t want to be in there because it was way too boring.”

Weiss was delighted to hear they were on the same page. She wasn’t going to complain despite being thrown over Ruby’s shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

The reception was mandatory, unfortunately. The high officials begged Ruby to stay for the celebratory meal because it was customary. Many people traveled far to honor and to pay respects to their marriage, even if it was just for appearances. The least she could do was not skip.

In Weiss’ opinion, they needed the heroine at the reception for complacency since demons weren’t excluded from the party. There was no one else better suited to stop the echelons from rampaging, if such a situation were to accidentally occur.

Which would never happen under Weiss’ rule. She had her people wrapped on a tight leash. Disobedience equaled death. She wasn’t going to let anyone get in her way of her master plan.

Their reception was held in the most extravagant ballroom in Atlas. Although the celebration welcomed everyone to have a merry time, the atmosphere was heavy and uncomfortable. Which, honestly, wasn’t any of Weiss’ concern.

“Where do you wanna go for our honeymoon?”

“No where,” Weiss stated the truth and nothing but the truth. She didn’t want a honeymoon due to its implications.

But of course, Ruby brightened up once a thought came to mind. She manifested a world map from thin air, and Weiss didn’t want to question how that was possible.

“I know! How about here?”

She knew Ruby had a few loose screws in her head but she didn’t realize it was this many. “You want to have it in the middle of the ocean?”

“Don’t be silly, it’s not in the middle of the ocean.”

“You’re pointing at nothing but water.”

“It’s…” Ruby stared at the map and turned it sideways, as if it would somehow make it any better. “…Would you believe me if I said there’s a secret island at this coordinate?”

They were bound by a farce marriage, and because of that, Weiss played along to whatever nonsense Ruby wanted to share. “If I say I believe you, then why specifically there?”

“Well…” Ruby began hesitantly. “There’s this guy…”

Weiss raised an eyebrow so high, it could’ve touched the heavens. “How scandalous of you.”

“No, not like that!” Ruby blurted, waving her hands to dismiss the accusation. “He has an ultra, rare card. Plus, it’s a nice island.”

“A what?”

“It’s a nice island,” she repeated.

Weiss pinched the bridge of her nose. “Before that.”

“Oh, he has a card that I want. Remember when we first met I was telling you about Heart of Remnant,” Ruby blabbed. Deep down, Weiss didn’t want to listen anymore. She forced herself to pay attention though. She recalled their conversation but that didn’t mean she understood the context. “I plan to take it from him.”

Weiss cupped her chin and nodded thoughtfully. “I see. You’re going to kill him for it.”

“Uhhh… No, I have to duel him for it.”

“That’s what I just said. You have to kill him.” Weiss rolled her eyes because Ruby lacked comprehension. She got married to a dunce.

Ruby face-palmed. “Yeah, sure. Let’s say I need to defeat him in a battle. So what do you say?”

“I say, his days are numbered.” Weiss readily agreed. Slaughter wasn’t an activity she had in mind for their honeymoon, but she wasn’t going to pass up on it. She and Ruby had so much more in common than she initially thought.

“Yay!” Ruby threw her hands up and cheered. “This is going to be so awesome. It’s going to feel so good to bump that 99% to a sweet one hundred.”

Ruby was back at it again with her rambles, and Weiss was not following. Heart of Remnant and percentages, such words were unfamiliar to her. The heroine saw the confusion on her face so she tried to give a relatable example.

“Does this bug you?

Weiss watched Ruby transform her legendary weapon into a long, cutting knife and staked the center of their wedding cake. Rather than slicing a fair and even piece, Ruby cut an asymmetrical circle and served it on a plate.

Weiss’ eye twitched. A perfectly good cake was completely ruined, and there was no magic they could cast to salvage it.

“Ruby, you are forever banished to the couch unless I say otherwise.”

At least now she had a proper excuse to not share the same bed with her.

Today was their honeymoon.

The day they were going to commit a legal execution. It didn’t matter if it didn’t make logical sense. Everything the heroine did was considered just and right, therefore lawful.

Ruby had challenged Villager A to a duel, but the man refused unless in exchange for an odyssey of grueling quests. A trade for a trade, and Weiss didn’t know what that meant but she understood it wasn’t good news. She picked that clue up because Ruby fell to her knees and sobbed out in frustration.

If her partner was unhappy, then through this farce marriage it was Weiss’ responsibility to fix that. She unleashed a fraction of her power, a menacing presence that only a demon lord could wield. The island rumbled and quaked under her whims.

“You will have a life or death battle with her,” Weiss threatened.

Villager A cowered under her pressure and accepted her demands in a hurry.

Blood was spilled and guts were ripped out, at least that was what Weiss thought was going to happen. Instead of magic and swords, it was a battle of tactics where cards were drawn and flipped face up.

“I sacrifice my three monsters and summon Winchester the Tormentor!”

Weiss wasn’t sure how to form an opinion about this… children’s card game.

“Spell card,” Ruby yawned.

Though, it was entertaining to watch.

The duel ended anticlimactically and Villager A surrendered his ultra, rare card. He stomped off crying after a humiliating defeat.

“Yes!” Ruby shouted with joy. “I have all three ultimate cards: Winchester the Tormentor, Winged Dragon of Russel, and Sky the Sky Dragon! Oh thank you, thank you, thank you, Weiss!”

Ruby dashed and scooped Weiss in for a back-breaking hug. She twirled her in circles out of happiness.

“I would’ve been forced to do an unending chain of chores, and oh my gosh, I think that would have driven me insane.”

Weiss grimaced at the touch, but she accepted the gesture because of obligations. “Yeah, sure. You’re welcome. Please put me down now.”

As requested, Ruby placed Weiss back onto her feet. Because of her not unexpectedly spontaneous nature, she was quick to jump onto something else.

To Weiss, Ruby was a mystery. She did not behave like a noble. She spoke out of mind regardless of the consequences. She was strange and unpredictable, and Weiss could not stress those words enough because she was currently watching Ruby swipe and prod the air as if it was tangible.

For lack of a better description, Ruby looked like she was possessed by a demon and needed to be exorcized pronto.

“Wha—” Ruby started panicking out of the blue. She kept pressing the air with her finger frantically. “—why is it sitting at 99.9%? No, oh no, no, no, no, there can’t be another card out there.”

By now, Weiss grew accustomed to her behavior. She categorized this as normal, and normal was… subjective.

“How dare — arrrgh, you stupid system!” Ruby yelled at the air. “Why are you giving me another quest? I don’t want it! Ugh, what do you mean there’s a secret surprise card out there somewhere. What the heck is a Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dove?”

Weiss could almost see the row of question marks appear at the top of Ruby’s head.

Ruby broke down onto the floor with a long, frustrated shout. “Noooo! My 100%…”

It wasn’t a permanent death, but there was something satisfying about watching the heroine fall. Weiss crouched at her level and patted her head. She couldn’t sympathize or understand what ridiculousness was going on, but she offered her condolences anyway.

Because their battle had waged for three days and three nights in home territory, Weiss was forced to stay at Ruby’s residence until her castle finished repairing. It was adequate for someone of her stature. Anything was better than that dinky island. It reeked of peasants, and Ruby obliged at her request.

The sun had already set, and Weiss rolled up her sleeves. She was going to make Ruby bow and kiss her feet. The heroine will soon realize who was the true conqueror.

“Whatcha making, Weiss?” Ruby popped by in the kitchen even though Weiss had ordered her to keep out.

“Sustenance.” Weiss hurled a ball of fire into a pan. She forgot Ruby was not confined by rules.

“Neat.” Ruby watched the pan erupt into a pillar of flames. “It’s a good thing I reinforced everything with magic.”

Weiss added sugar, spice, and a lot of dark magic because she had no affinity for holy, the ‘niceness’ in this world. When she was finished, she was satisfied with the outcome and served dinner for two.

“Awww, did you make dark chocolate brownies for dinner?” Ruby picked up what could’ve been charcoal that had been rolled in grease and charred several more times. “It’s my second favorite, cookies are my first.”

“I’m not familiar with dark chocolate brownies, but my dinner is to die for,” Weiss said proudly.

Ruby bit into the questionable atrocity she thought was a brownie and struggled to chew through it. “Hm—” there was a loud, cracking crunch into her bite. “—it’s really, mmmh, crispy. Like—” she tried getting another bite and struggled. “—rock solid.”

“Well?” Weiss waited for a concluding remark.

Ruby swallowed. The grits of partially chewed mystery food scraped the inside of her throat like stainless steel wool. “It’s terrible.”

Weiss couldn’t believe her ears. Her vassals had praised her cooking before. She even witnessed Pyrrha breaking down into tears and complimenting about her food being too good to be served.

“You’re lying.”

Ruby grabbed another piece and popped it into her mouth. “Mmh—” she tried to see if the taste would change on the second try. “Oh hey! Would you look at that?” She was staring sideways at nothing. “My poison resistance activated. Hm—” then she kept trying to go at her food. She gave up and swallowed the rest. “—yeah, sorry. It’s awful.”

Weiss looked at her own plate and tried a piece too. The texture was concrete tough, almost impossible to bite through. The taste was mostly bitter but there was a hint of an unidentified flavor.

“It’s not that bad,” she concluded. Humans were so picky with their taste buds. She watched Ruby scrape the entire plate into her mouth in one go and frowned. “If you don’t like it, you don’t need to finish it. The rest can be trashed.”

This time, Ruby was tactful and buffed herself to help eat. She munched and kept munching. “I don’t want to waste it since my wife made it for me.”

To be called her wife was strange.

But it’d be best if Weiss got used to this since she was in it for the long run.

Ruby folded her sleeves and grabbed an apron. She searched through her cabinets and that metal box she called refrigerator. “How about trying some of my cooking?” she asked with a grin.

“Do whatever you want.”

It took Weiss ten minutes to whip up a simple meal. It took Ruby an hour to set up a feast. Weiss didn’t know how to describe what she saw. Ruby was moving swiftly and fluidly around the kitchen. She would carefully measure the amount and combine items together as if she was practicing alchemy. She used heat from a stove rather than magic. The end result was gorgeously mouth-watering.

Ruby rested her cheek on her hand and was beaming. Whether it be the smallest of things or insignificant, she’d be smiling at Weiss. “Tell me how it tastes.”

Weiss hesitantly put the food between her lips. At the touch, her taste buds exploded with a harmony of flavors. Waves of euphoria traveled through her body. It was crispy and juicy, rich in butter and deep herbal flavors. It was as if a motherly hen wrapped in a thin blanket of butter was stroking her with a rosemary bush. The dish was so delicious and profound, the sheer power of its flavors was capable of sending her clothes flying off.

She had never tasted anything like this before. Her vassals who were responsible for her meals didn’t cook beautiful foods that looked more visually stunning than paintings.

“I bet you’re having a foodgasm.” Ruby waggled her eyebrows, barging through Weiss’ euphoric fantasy of flavors.

Weiss didn’t know what this ‘foodgasm’ she spoke of. Since it was directly coming out of Ruby’s mouth, it must not be a good thing.

“No, but your cooking is decent.”

“Tough crowd, but I’ll take it!”

A simple compliment rewarded Weiss with a warm smile. It was open and kind, satisfied and happy. She glanced away from Ruby and took another bite.

She got seconds and even thirds.

Ruby called it a date.

Weiss called it being dragged against her own free will. Ruby was holding her hand and wouldn’t let go.

They were at a market where rows of shops and stalls sold miscellaneous items and food. There was so much going on around them, Weiss found everything about this place obnoxious. There were chatters from all directions. A random mix of smell that didn’t blend well together. But she toughened it out because Ruby promised it’d get better.

The longer they wandered around scouring for nothing in particular, the more Weiss didn’t understand the purpose of this trip. It was a waste of time and energy.

They were looking at trinkets but did not buy anything. Ruby had fed her food from stalls, but they weren’t nearly as good as her cooking. They watched an outdoor play, but spectating Ruby playing a children’s card game was a better form of entertainment. Simply because she loved the sight of a victor trampling a loser’s pride.

Ruby was having the time of her life, so Weiss supposed it did get better in the end. They could’ve done something more productive today, but she didn’t mind such useless activities.

She got to witness humans in their natural habitat, and she learned they weren’t any different from her kind. Some were nice and offered free flowers after calling them a lovely couple. A few had hidden motives as they tried to swindle their money. Others were plain stupid, like this thief who just nabbed something out of Ruby’s pocket.

He thought he was clever by blending inside the crowd.

“Was what he stole important?” Weiss decided against giving chase. Her intervention was unnecessary since it was Ruby the thief had stolen from.

“Nah,” Ruby answered. “But I can’t turn a blind eye to a crime.”

She started applying a heavy helping of debuffs onto herself. Weiss could’ve taken the gamble to cut the heroine down while she was vulnerable, but she saw it was far more amusing to let it play out. Ruby had turned her legendary weapon into a tool that every adolescent grew up fearing.

The slipper.

Ruby enforced discipline. She lobbed the slipper high in the air, and Weiss watched it arc down until it comically nailed the target square on the head. The perfect hit knocked his balance and he tumbled down, face splat on the floor. He tried staggering onto his feet, but Ruby smacked the back of his head with the slipper. He fell face first into the ground again, unconscious, and the guards dragged him into prison without a struggle.

Weiss grew accustomed to her new lifestyle. Ruby slept on the couch and made their meals. Once in a while, Ruby disappeared without a word and came back before supper, muttering about a ‘dumb, last card’.

Heart of Remnant played a huge role in Ruby’s life, and Weiss couldn’t help but be curious. She opened an unguarded box labeled ‘Lololololololol Meta’ and shuffled through the assortment of cards Ruby had stored in there. They were encased in a clear protective sleeve, which evidently showed how much Ruby adored her cards.

“Hey, Weiss —” The door jostled open, and Ruby came into the room but flinched at the unusual sight of Weiss holding onto her cards. “Uhh, those are mine right…?”

“Well, yes.” Weiss frowned when Ruby pointed out the obvious. She would never go out of her way to collect them. “I don’t believe I damaged any of them, in case you’re wondering.”

“Oh, no! It’s not that.” Ruby was all smiles and grins as she couldn’t contain her excitement. She went from the door to Weiss faster than she could destroy a mountain, which was pretty much a flick of a hand. She blurted everything she wanted to say in one breath. “I can teach you! If you’re interested, that is.”

Weiss reached an unprecedented level of skill. She was amazed in her own ability to catch every word vomited out. After being together with Ruby for quite some time, she learned and got used to her quirks.

“I’m not against it.”

Then came the whirlwind which swept through the entire house. Footsteps echoed in a hurry and a sense of excited urgency charged the air. Ruby dashed and gathered all the materials she needed to make the perfect learning environment.

Being the ruler of demons wasn’t just for show. Weiss was a quick learner. She grasped the concept within the first explanation and translated her theoretical knowledge into practice. When the echoes of battle faded, she tasted bitter defeat.

“How?!” Weiss hissed. She fought the urge to hurl the table out the window after another unsightly loss. “Why are you drawing better cards than I am?”

“You gotta believe in your deck. Let the heart of the cards guide you.” Ruby shared another of her bullshit wisdom.

Weiss scoffed. “My cards guided me to my downfall.”

“You remember the rules when you lose, right?”

Of course Weiss remembered. She didn’t need Ruby to remind her. One explanation was enough.

“The victor claims a card from their opponent,” Weiss said. The cards she was using weren’t hers to begin with, and yet Ruby held out her hand as if she was expecting something. “What, you want to take from yourself? These belong to you in the first place. I don’t have anything to give you.”

“That’s not true.” Ruby picked up Weiss’ hand while smiling. It was the look she was giving her. The tender gaze, the softening of eyes, an unspoken warmth that surpassed Weiss’ comprehension. She woven herself into the fabric of Weiss’ life without Weiss realizing it. “You can still give me something.”

Weiss was suspended in the moment, stumbling at the way Ruby looked at her. There was a subtle shift inside her chest. She steeled herself despite the uncomfortable and unfamiliar uncertainty.

“Like what?” she asked.

Ruby winked. “Your heart.” 

Weiss' pulse quickened at the mere thought. Something stirred and unfurled inside her chest. If she listened closely enough, she could hear the quiet sound it was making.

Ba-dump.

Chapter Text

The first and the very last time Ruby kissed Weiss was on their wedding day. It was a memory that had long since dimmed like the fading light of a distant, waning moon. The ceremony had been a brief whirlwind of… stuff — just because Ruby deliberately skipped scene. But she could still feel the ghost of that kiss, soft and fleeting against her lips. It lingered in her thoughts, an itch she couldn’t quite scratch.

There had been so many moments when Ruby had wanted to close the distance between them. To bridge the gap with a kiss that felt more real than that flyby, ceremonial peck. Yet, each time she found herself on the brink, she hesitated. 

They were married. Married people kissed. It was allowed — encouraged, even! But every time the thought crossed her mind, doubt reared its head, and she chickened out. Without fail, her brain would hit her with the most needless hypotheticals that made a simple kiss feel like some high-stakes mission. 

What if Weiss didn’t want to be kissed? What if Ruby had misread the situation, and instead of a sweet, romantic moment, Weiss ended up giving her a stare so icy it reverted Remnant back to the ice age? Or worse — what if Weiss’ displeasure escalated into something catastrophic.

Like a divorce.

Ruby shuddered at the thought of getting a divorce. Sure, she could probably stop Weiss from summoning meteors or initiating planetary destruction. But a divorce?

She was powerless. 

That useless, blue system window was of no help either. No current status update, no progress bar to gauge her romance levels with Weiss. Nothing to reassure her. So, she found herself guessing. She weighed each interaction like a delicate negotiation. Their date had seemed to go well — at least, she was pretty sure it had. Weiss had also complimented her cooking, deeming it ‘decent’, which Ruby took as a win. 

That was when Ruby concocted her master plan. A grand scheme so foolproof, she could barely believe she hadn’t thought of it sooner. If she couldn’t just go in for the kiss, she’d earn it. 

“Weiss, let’s spar!” she declared with so much enthusiasm, it was borderline suspicious.

Weiss glanced up from the paper she’d been reading, her elegant features framed by a look of mild curiosity. She was skimming a rather lurid gossip column on the King of Vale’s alleged 'hush-hush hanky-panky' with a witch named Salem. The story baffled Weiss. Why anyone, let alone royalty, would willingly pursue a clandestine affair with a demon whose hairdo had a life of its own was beyond her.

Romance had always seemed like a bit of a mystery to Weiss, anyway — especially her own relationship with Ruby. She was still trying to wrap her head around that one. 

“You want to… fight?” Weiss asked, eyebrows raised in that familiar, skeptical way. “May I ask why?”

Ruby hesitated as she scrambled for a plausible excuse. She couldn’t exactly say, Because I want to kiss you, in case there were repercussions. Instead, she blurted out, “Because we need to exercise!”

Weiss didn’t look entirely convinced, so Ruby, in a fit of misguided enthusiasm, added, “I think you’ve been getting fat.”

The silence was instant and icy. Weiss’ expression shifted from curiosity to something much colder as she lowered her paper. Her gaze pierced straight through Ruby.

“Excuse me?” she asked, her voice quiet and dangerously calm. 

Oh no. Ruby’s brain backtracked. “Oh, no, no! I said I think I’m getting fat!” she corrected hastily, with an awkward laugh that sounded more like a desperate panic. Divorce might happen quicker than she realized. “Just a little exercise!” she pressed on, hoping to salvage the situation. “You know, to keep us both in peak fighting conditions. And what better way to exercise than a sparring session? Just the two of us!”

Weiss eyed her with a level of suspicion, but she decided to let Ruby’s slip of the tongue go, choosing to believe she had misheard. 

“We are in peak fighting condition, Ruby,” Weiss stated coolly. The heroine and the demon lord. There was no one on Remnant who could compete against them. Still, a glimmer of curiosity flashed in her eyes. “But, if I were to entertain this idea of ‘exercise’, what would I get in return?”

Ruby’s heart raced. This was it — her chance to make an offer. “A… kiss?” she proposed, trying to sound casual.

Weiss looked thoroughly unimpressed. “Mmh, not very persuasive,” she said, picking her newspaper back up as if the conversation were over. 

Darn.

“A kiss on the back of your hand to show my devout loyalty to you?” Ruby tried again.

Without a glance up from her paper, Weiss replied dryly, “Isn’t that what our marriage is for? Your undying loyalty to me — oh, I mean, to each other.”

Weiss had a good point. One that Ruby couldn’t argue with, not that she’d even want to. Still, she opened her mouth to counter with some clever retort, but Weiss lowered her paper just in time to catch her mid-thought.

“But…” Weiss set her paper aside. “I’ll let you kiss the back of my hand, since I’m not in the mood to spar.”

With the grace of a queen bestowing a royal favor, Weiss extended her hand, palm down, as if it were a precious gift descended from the heavens. 

Ruby’s heart skipped a beat. She scrambled to her knees like a knight swearing fealty and took Weiss’ hand. She held it gently, carefully, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might shatter the spell of the moment. 

With a soft press of her lips, Ruby kissed the back of Weiss’ hand. But that one kiss was far from enough. Slowly, she turned Weiss’ hand over, her lips brushing a trail from the back to the delicate skin of Weiss’ inner palm. She savored each second.

When Ruby finally pulled away, she kept their fingers intertwined. Her face glowed with a quiet and innocent smile as her eyes met Weiss’. Her gaze shimmered with a soft warmth, so sincere it could have melted snowcap mountains.

Weiss’ usual composure wavered ever so slightly. “I-I suppose that’s… adequate,” she stammered, the poise in her voice cracking just enough to reveal the faintest hint of surprise. She quickly collected herself, her expression smoothing back into its usual elegance — but not before a light flush crept up her cheeks. 

“Perhaps,” Weiss continued, regaining her regal tone, “it wouldn’t be too bad to allow you to kiss my hand every night. To affirm our loyalty to each other.” 

Ruby’s heart skipped again and the word flew out of her mouth. “Deal.”

Sure it wasn’t a kiss on the lips, but this was a start. And honestly? She could get used to this kind of ritual. 

When the messengers finally brought news of the demon castle’s repair, Weiss was elated. Her home — her majestic, brooding fortress of power and intimidation — was back. After the chaotic home invasion that had left her place in shambles, all thanks to Ruby, the prospect of returning felt like nothing short of a glorious reclamation.

Of course, it wouldn’t be the exact same castle she had left behind. After a few humbling experiences of domestic life with Ruby, Weiss had reimagined her stronghold.

It would still exude terrifying power, but now with certain… adjustments: plush armchairs, Ruby’s ‘modernistic’ amenities, a roaring hearth that could not only roast prisoners, but also marshmallows, and maybe — just maybe — a designated cookie room. Her castle wouldn’t just be a fortress, but also a five-star accommodation, putting it into Ruby’s terms. 

Yet, there was a small issue. The castle was a two-month journey away. Well, that was the estimated travel time for normal creatures. And them? Normal? Hah, that would’ve been rich. 

With a flick of a wrist, Weiss summoned a teleportation glyph at her feet. The swirling magic lit up the ground as if heralding the arrival of a storm. She stepped onto it with her usual poise, her gaze fixed on the horizon with an almost regal sense of purpose. 

“Are you coming?” she asked, casting a glance back at Ruby.

Ruby pointed at herself. “I get to go too?”

“Yes, unless you’d prefer to walk. In which case, that’s fine by me. Just don’t keep me waiting.”

“Ahh, hold on, wait!” Ruby scrambled forward with the grace of an overly eager puppy, hopping onto the glyph beside Weiss. 

After Weiss closed her eyes, she focused on the teleportation glyph. She couldn’t snap her fingers to make the magic happen. This ancient magic required more effort. She felt the intricate mana weaving around her, aligning just perfectly for a smooth journey.

She was deep into the spell’s flow, feeling each tether, each strand of energy connecting her to her castle — until Ruby’s voice cut through her concentration like a fork scraping glass. 

“Hey, Weiss, how does teleportation actually work?” 

Weiss’ eyelid twitched, but she kept her composure, determined not to let Ruby’s questions interfere. “Ruby, I need silence for this to —”

“Oops! Right, right! Silent as a shadow. But I just wondered, like, do we actually split into tiny atoms and get reassembled? Or is it more like a ‘poof and whisk’ kind of thing? I can smash stuff and run super fast, but I can’t like, you know, teleport. I only teleported once — well, actually, I got summoned once. But that’s almost like teleporting.”

A thin line formed on Weiss' lips. “Ruby, this requires precise focus.”

“Oh! Got it, focus. No more questions!” Ruby waited a full two seconds before curiosity got the better of her. “But, like, if we were split into a million pieces, what would happen if you sneezed in the middle? What if my butt gets reassembled on my head?”

Weiss felt her magic stutter. The carefully woven threads of mana began to unravel as her concentration wavered. “Ruby, stop talking, or I swear I’ll leave you here.”

Weiss desperately tried to piece the spell back together, but Ruby carried on with fascination.

“Or what if we get assembled together! How awesome would it be if our bodies combined?”

That did it. The glyph under them sputtered and sparked like a faulty firework. They vanished — though not, as Weiss had intended, straight to her castle.

Instead, they found themselves crashing into a dense, eerie forest. Tall, twisted trees loomed overhead, their branches weaving a tight, shadowy canopy that cast everything in dim, hazy light. Fog clung to the ground, hovering around their ankles, and a distant, low howl echoed through the trees.

Ruby looked around at their misty, ominous surroundings. “Ooh, is this your castle’s new look? I mean, I liked the dark fortress vibe, but I also dig the haunted forest theme too!”

Weiss inhaled deeply. She closed her eyes and tried to summon all the patience left in her soul. “This… is not the castle. Thanks to your lovely commentaries, we’re somewhere else entirely.”

“Oops, sorry.” Ruby smiled apologetically. “Can you try to teleport us again? I promise not to talk in the middle of it.”

“I’m out of mana. Teleportation magic is strenuous.” 

“Oh… Then I guess we can think of this as a date?”

“A date…” Wess repeated, rolling her eyes with a sigh. Leave it to Ruby to find a silver lining in absolutely everything. “Fine, sure. Let’s take a stroll through a dense, creepy forest swarming with bloodsucking stirges. Perfectly romantic.”

“See? That’s the spirit!” Ruby held out her hand, beaming, and wiggled her fingers expectantly.

Weiss raised an eyebrow. “You’re serious?”

“It’s only proper dating etiquette to hold hands.”

Weiss sighed. With a surprising lack of argument, she slipped her hand into Ruby’s who gave back a squeeze of pure, unfiltered delight. It was in that moment Weiss realized she wasn’t being dragged into Ruby's absurdity. She was willingly following it. And, to her surprise, it didn't bother her nearly as much as she thought it would. In fact, it was strangely... comforting.

Ruby grinned as if she had won a prize. “And now, we bravely venture into the ominous, monster-infested forest together.”

“Fantastic.”

They walked through the forest hand in hand. It felt like any other date, as if they were strolling through the city streets or wandering through a quiet park. Aside from the occasional suspicious rustles in the bushes, Weiss found their unintentional date quite peaceful. 

For once, Ruby let the silence linger. Her usual chatter was replaced by what seemed to be an admiration for the forest’s ‘haunted’ charm. But Weiss wasn’t naïve. 

Time and again, she felt Ruby’s gaze — lingering and just a shy bold — slip away the moment their eyes might meet. Ruby would quickly feign interest in the gnarled trees and shifting shadows. But Weiss wasn’t a fool. She knew full well who Ruby was truly admiring.

A small smile tugged at Weiss’ lips as her ego swelled. She allowed herself to enjoy the attention.

The peace remained unbroken. No monsters dared to emerge from the shadows. Ruby attributed this to the power of their ‘romantic aura’. 

“True love,” Ruby had claimed with a smile. “It’s a universal monster repellant.”

In truth, it was Weiss’ unhinged glares that sent the creatures skittering back into the underbrush. She had essentially intimidated the whole forest into silence, ensuring their privacy, simply because she was in too good a mood to deal with interruptions. 

They arrived at Weiss’ castle much sooner than anticipated. The haunted forest turned out to be nothing more than the far corner of her sprawling backyard. As they strolled inside, Weiss braced herself for the usual royal fanfare, fully expecting her subjects to herald her return. 

What she didn’t expect was the sight of Cinder lounging across her throne, one leg propped up as she leisurely painted her toenails. She looked every bit as if she owned the place.

“Pink does not suit you,” Weiss deadpanned, her icy tone cutting through the silent air of Cinder’s shameless entitlement.

Cinder’s hands jerked in surprise, the nail polish bottle slipping from her grasp and tumbling to the floor. A thick glob of pink splattered onto the pristine, newly-installed flooring.

Ruby cocked an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the show, as Cinder scrambled with all the grace of a startled opossum. 

The lazy smugness vanished instantly. Cinder zipped from the throne to Weiss’ feet, dropping into a bow so deep it looked like she was auditioning to be part of the floorboards.

“My Liege!” Cinder cried with an over-the-top devotion. “I was merely keeping your throne warm in anticipation of your grand return!”

“I bet she farted on it,” Ruby announced loud enough. She couldn’t resist after remembering how Cinder sabotaged her Heart of Remnant game with Villager A back in Chapter 1 — right after word count 1,342 or line space 44.

The memory still stung.

Ruby’s blunt proclamation echoed off the ornate walls. Weiss shook her head in mild disgust. She’d long since accepted that Ruby’s distinct lack of filter was simply part of her charm. It was Ruby, after all. There was never a dull moment.

Meanwhile, Cinder kept her head bowed in an exaggerated show of submission, though her clenched fists betrayed her inner turmoil. 

“I…” she began, her voice tight with the effort of restraint. She bit her tongue and swallowed whatever scathing retort she had no doubt crafted.

The accusation was absurd and ludicrous, but Ruby wasn’t just anyone. She was Weiss’ wife, and that title carried a terrifying, unspoken authority. Cinder wasn’t foolish enough to test those waters lest she wished to be obliterated by the master she served.

“I… assure you, My Queen. I would never dream of such disrespect.”

“Isn’t throne-squatting basically treason?” Ruby asked, her tone mockingly inquisitive and provoking. “You know, punishable by death, or something?”

Cinder flinched so sharply, it was a miracle she didn’t drill her face into the ground. Occupying the throne without permission was technically treason. And treason was, indeed, punishable by death.

Weiss sighed heavily and raised a hand. The movement was slow, deliberate — enough to make Cinder squeeze her eyes shut in anticipation of being vaporized on the spot. Her imagination ran wild with visions of her ashes being swept out of the castle by some bored servant.

Instead of reducing her to dust, Weiss simply ran a hand through her own hair, her exasperation palpable. “Cinder,” she said, “clean that up. Now.”

Cinder’s eyes snapped open in disbelief. Mercy? Actual mercy? For a moment, she questioned if she had misheard, or if this was a cruel trick Weiss had devised to lull her into a false sense of security before delivering the final blow. But no, Weiss hadn’t reached for her weapon. The demon lord stood there, regal and composed, her expression betraying no malice. 

Cinder was alive, intact, and miraculously still in Weiss’ good graces.

Wasting no time, she scrambled to her feet with a speed that defied gravity. She bowed again with newfound enthusiasm. “Of course, Your Majesty! Anything for my most esteemed and benevolent queen!”

Ruby chuckled at the excessive groveling. “Benevolent,” she repeated with a snort.

Cinder, ignoring the mockery, snatched a cleaning cloth from a passing servant and threw herself into scrubbing the pink stain. She scrubbed with all the fervor of someone trying to erase their sins.

Weiss watched the spectacle unfold, but her mind churned relentlessly. The phrase formed in her thoughts, unbidden, and escaped her lips before she could stop it. 

“I’ve gone soft.” The words tumbled out like an unpleasant revelation. Her tone was distant, almost horrified, as though she had just stumbled upon the first gray hair of a midlife crisis. 

Soft.

The word struck Weiss harder than she cared to admit. Before Ruby, the concept would’ve been laughable. Mercy, as Weiss had once defined, was a swift and decisive end — a cold, calculated removal of problems that served to protect the efficiency and order she demanded. 

To spare someone like Cinder, who had the audacity to lounge on her throne, would've been unthinkable. Her punishment wouldn’t have been a verbal reprimand or cleaning duty. It would’ve been swift justice, without hesitation, without a second thought.

And yet…

Benevolent.

Weiss’ eyes flickered to Cinder, who was still scrubbing furiously, her back hunched like a scolded dog.

What happened? 

When did her hard edges dull? 

When did she become…

“Guess that’s what happens when you marry me,” Ruby said, breaking Weiss’ spiraling thoughts with her casual charm. “I make you soft.”

Ruby had joked, but it answered all of Weiss’ questions. The words clung to her. It weaved its way through her actions for the rest of the day. Even as night fell and they returned to her chambers, the word lingered and gnawed at the edges of her mind. 

“You’ve been quiet,” Ruby noticed, breaking the stillness with her usual lack of tact. She tossed an extra pillow to the far end of the couch — her bed, since marriage. “Thinking about something?”

Weiss sat on the edge of her bed, her posture rigid and gaze anchored on the floor. “Soft,” she finally spoke, her voice low and contemplative. 

Her fingers traced the seam of her sleeves, a nervous tic she hadn’t indulged in years. Her thoughts sunk deeper, pulling her in places she had never touched before. 

It wasn’t just letting Cinder walk away with little more than a bruised ego.

No, it was bigger than that.

Her plan. Her carefully crafted plan. This entire farce of a marriage — to play pretend, to manipulate Ruby’s affections, to dismantle and dominate every kingdom on Remnant — it all felt… hollow now.

The motivation that had once driven her so fiercely slipped through her fingers like sand. 

The most damning realization of all? 

She didn’t mind. 

She didn’t mind Ruby’s presence. Didn’t mind the warmth, the light, the unrelenting optimism that had wormed its way into her life. Didn’t mind Ruby’s affections, her persistence, her ability to disarm Weiss with her unorthodox antics. She didn’t mind the quiet moments, or the way Ruby filled the silence with mindless nonsense.

“I’ve gone soft.” It became a confession rather than an observation. Weiss wanted to cry, and she actually did start crying.

Ruby’s eyes widened in alarm. She was used to Weiss’ sharp words and nearly unshakable poise, not this raw, unguarded vulnerability. Panicking, Ruby scrambled off the couch and rushed to Weiss’ side, pulling her into a tight hug.

“There’s nothing wrong with being soft!” Ruby said frantically. “Totally nothing wrong with incinerating fewer people for looking at you funny! Soft is good! Soft is healthy!”

Weiss let out a humorless laugh through her tears, though the bitterness in her voice was unmistakable. “And whose fault is that?!” she snarled, but it had no bite since she buried her face into Ruby’s shoulder. “This arrangement — this marriage — was supposed to be nothing more than a tool. A means to an end. I was supposed to manipulate you. Use you. But now…”

Ruby’s breath caught her throat. This wasn’t just about sparing Cinder or Weiss’ uncharacteristic mercy. This went deeper — far more personal.

“But now…?”

“This marriage feels dangerously real!” Weiss choked out. Her hands gripped Ruby’s shoulder tightly, and she gave her a small accusatory shake. “I’ve gone soft, and it’s your fault!”

Ruby, unbothered by the outburst, curled her lips into a nervous, lopsided smile. “Dangerously real, huh? That’s not… entirely a bad thing, is it?”

Weiss pulled back slightly, her hands still clutching onto Ruby’s clothes. Her tear-streaked face twisted into a glare, her eyes shimmering in frustration and something deeper — fear, maybe. Even now, there was a surprising amount of bite behind her sharp gaze. 

“Not a bad thing?! Ruby, do you have any idea what this means for me?”

The very foundation of who Weiss had been was cracking beneath her feet. 

Ruby reached out and took Weiss’ hands in her own. “Weiss,” she began softly, “I mean… if this feels real, then maybe that’s because it is real.”

As if she was affirming her loyalty, as if she was sealing her words with a vow, Ruby lifted Weiss’ hands and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. 

“This has always been real to me,” Ruby continued gently. “I wasn’t faking anything — not then, not now. I know this whole thing started as a… whatever it was for you. A plan. A tool.  But if it’s something else now — if it’s real for you too — then maybe… maybe that’s not the worst thing.”

Weiss opened her mouth to argue, to deflect, to say something, but nothing came out. The words Ruby had eloquently spoken felt like a mirror, forcing her to confront what she had been trying so hard to deny. They were just the truth laid bare.

Weiss’ gaze dropped to where Ruby still held her hands, as if the warmth of Ruby’s touch alone was enough to anchor her. That touch wasn’t just grounding — it was unraveling.

This was real.

And for the first time, Weiss couldn’t bring herself to deny it. 

She liked Ruby.

The thought sent a fresh wave of panic through her, and her lips parted to speak. “I…” she faltered, her voice catching in her throat. She swallowed hard, the weight of everything she wanted to say pressing down on her.

Ruby tilted her head with an understanding smile, her thumbs brushing gently over Weiss’ knuckles. “You don’t have to say anything. It’s okay.”

But Weiss didn’t want the silence to speak for her. Apologizing might have been beneath the demon lord, but right now, she wasn’t just a ruler. She was also Ruby’s wife. And as much as it terrified her, she wanted to apologize, to confess, to explain — to say something. 

But no words felt enough.

So instead, Weiss acted.

Taking a shaky breath, she leaned forward and closed the distance between them. Her lips met Ruby’s in a kiss that was soft and hesitant at first, as if testing the waters of truth she had been too afraid to face. 

But as Ruby responded, her lips warm and welcoming, Weiss felt the hesitation melt away. It wasn’t just a kiss — it was an answer.

This was never supposed to happen.

But as Weiss pulled back, her forehead resting against Ruby’s, her breath shaky and her cheeks flushed, she realized something.

She was okay with this.

More than okay. 

[Quest completed] Make The Demon Lord’s Heart Go Doki Doki

Congratulations! You have successfully stolen the demon lord’s heart! 

[Quest reward]

Return back to Earth

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