Chapter Text
Chapter one- When it all started
Idia was walking towards the library , Ortho had nagged him for a week about attending class in person rather than using his tablet, unfortunately the blazed haired boy couldn't do much but comply with his brother's wishes.
That's why he was here, in the midst of walking towards the library to return a book he originally borrowed.
Snow white.
Though named like a normal story book, the story was oddly enough ‘true’.
Snow white, the main character, had been one of the very Queens that had reigned over some kingdom long ago- He couldn't care less to remember the name, she was considered a great beauty in her time as she was a relative of the ‘fairest Queen’. One of Idia’s professors had briefly mentioned her name as they were summing up their lesson about the history of monarchy. It had caught his interest oddly enough, so as soon as class ended he decided to search about this ‘Snow white’.
Only to find nothing.
Absolutely nothing .
Now his interest was piqued.
If Snow white was a relative of the great Queen then many should have preserved information about her, shouldn’t they?
He looked through several readings online about the Fairest Queen and went down from there, but was yet to find anything.
The Queen only stayed true to her beauty and Kingdom, her parents had passed when she reached the age of 30, her husband shortly after, leaving her to make a name for herself.
Ortho had noticed how Idia took interest in the matter and happened to gain curiosity as well.
It was only when he was about to drop the matter– since it was easier to do so- when Ortho said he found a book in the library, not just any book, a book named after the mysterious Queen herself ‘Snow White’.
Honestly, he could have just given up on the task because the quest in front of him was something that wasn’t truly worth it in terms of rewards.
Going IRL seemed like a waste of time, and he’d rather die..tbh
But Ortho struck back once more and got him the book as soon as lunch started.
So he read it in one sitting before classes resumed, and was now walking back to the library at the end of the day to return it, whilst also questioning his life choices.
The book… had an interesting plot, it picturized the Fairest Queen to be a ‘villain’- Which isn’t much of a surprise if you consider the people who admire her- cough cough Vil..
Apparently Snow White was the stepdaughter of the ‘Evil’ Queen- as that's what they referred to her as, she quickly became the antagonist by almost never letting the dear Snow away from her watch, as the story progressed Idia finds out that not only does the Fairest Queen feel jealous and envy for her stepdaughter for being the new ‘fairest’ she also very much wants to kill her.
And so without hesitation killing her is what she decides to do throughout the entire book.
Eventually Idia could see where this was going to lead up to, this poor utterly unfortunate ‘Snow white’ would have found her sweet prince to rescue her. Ugh.
If this was a modern day novel many would love to read it- what's with the heroine always being weak and needing a random ass man to rely on?
Things didn’t stop there, turns out the housewardens speculation was indeed true.
After being poisoned by an apple, ‘Snow White’ eventually falls into a curse, the only way to save her from ultimate death is a ‘true love's kiss’.
She eventually gets one by Prince Florian, he wasn’t the slightest bit attractive- whilst Snow White on the other hand…
In conclusion Idia was disappointed by how the story went. It was interesting how one of the great seven was depicted as an unruly villain but he still had no other ideas as to how Snow White was her step daughter when there was no information of her husband marrying.
Even if the Queen despised and hated her daughter, there still would be many who would spread the story, but there was no trace of such a tale at all.
Except this very book.
Idia sighed as he finally reached the library.
“Don't worry brother, no one should be here! Everyone has long since left campus to their dorms or are at clubs right now- so it's ok if you return the book yourself!”
Ortho’s words repeated in his head, as he turned the doorknob and opened the door.
It's alr, Ortho said no one will be here, all the normies are away.. Its fine
He thought, finally pushing one of the many doors leading to the library and entering the large and vast area.
It's fine…
He said silently to himself once more, looking for a counter to check in his book.
“Shroud?”
Shit
He silently hissed at whatever Seven was cursing him, probably the Fairest Queen- for this misfortune.
He looked around to find the source of the voice, the owner? Silver- it was Silver.
“Are you returning a book?”
He was seated in a chair, rubbing his eyes, it seems he just woke up, his silver hair slightly messy, with a small sign of water residing on the rim of his eye.
Still too princely for a low level NPC like me.
“y-y-yes…I-i am”
Idia manages to stutter.
“Oh that's right- I wanted to ask, were you the one who borrowed a book called Snow White?”
Huh?
H-h-how did he know that!?
Did he ask the attendant? Or was it-
“Don't worry brother, no one should be here! Everyone has long since left campus to their dorms or are at clubs right now- so it's ok if you return the book yourself!”
…
A familiar voice whispered through his ears, reminding him once more the type of extroverted brother he truly has.
Ortho seriously!?
His own brother set him up….
Gosh he’s turning into me.
“Well I wanted to read it, so is it alright if you could give it to me right after you finished checking it in?.. if you’ve finished it that is.”
He seemed to have no problem in waiting for Idia to finish it, on that note why did he want to read it anyway? It’s not a very well known book.
Who knew Silver enjoyed these types of stories? It seems like a character twist- But ig its a pretty OK book..
“O-ok..”
The housewarden replied, pressing the book closer to his chest.
The younger said thank you as Idia rushed for it.
He needed to find the desk so he could quickly check the book in, give it to Silver and leave.
He went through the mazes of books, and after what seemed to be an eternity he found it.
A desk with a computer and a cart for checked in books.
*sigh*
He walked towards it, finally loosening his anxious grip on the book in hand. He put it down and started to type his library info in.
Why did Ortho set me up to talk with Silver of all people!?
Especially when he knows Silver is out of his league!!
He heaved another sign and continued typing, lost in thought for a minute before pressing the enter button on the keyboard.
“S-silver..”
He whispered silently to himself.
The name made his cheeks warm.
A faraway prince…
Idia recalled the events of the book beside him.
A prince to whisk you away into a land full of love.
What a nice dream.
He sighed again for the third time before catching himself thinking such thoughts, silently scolding himself to even think that he snatched up the book beside in a rush of embarrassment.
“Huh?”
He paused, staring at the book.
“HUH!?”
The letters engraved on the book no longer read the same letters as before.
Selcouth Apple
….
“W-what's going on!?”
Why did the letters suddenly change???
Once again panicked he looked around in case he placed it elsewhere without knowing, but no, he did not. This was indeed the same book..
Without a second thought he rushed out of the maze of books once more.
I need to find the librarian..
“U-um..”
He blurted out, looking around once more.
“Shroud?”
Shit (2)
“S-silver”
He turned around to see the Diasomnia student once more, he was looking through some books in the bookshelf.
“Is something the matter? You seem distressed?”
In a singular second he face had changed into something more stern, in full alert by Idia’s expression.
Eeek!
Now I just wanna run away and hide- you cannot hit me with such a big main quest out of nowhere!?
“I-i i need to find th-the librarian.”
He stuttered.
From the few seconds he had, he had deduced that this book wasn’t something ordinary- probably made out of magic- he needed to get it confiscated as fast as he could.
“Right. Follow me, I think she said she would be in aisle 5 if we needed her.”
For the fourth time Idia heaved a sigh as he started to walk behind Silver.
Gaaah!! Crowley’s going to have to owe me big time for this one!
But why would such a magical book be in a library where students come and go?
That's stupid, some normie is going to find it and whisk themselves into some trouble.
But it had been Idia who had opened it, thank god he finished it before it started to act funny.
This obviously meant the story inside the book was fake.
Snow White may have been fake for all he knows as well..
Abruptly the housewarden felt something hard on his toe.
In a flash of a second, his thoughts all clustered as he fell.
If the book falls down then-
He felt it slip and slip and slip .
Until he didn’t have it anymore.
Noob mistake.
Preparing himself to be feeling the cold hard ground he can't help but wonder about his life choices once more.
Except the fall wasn't hard.
Rather soft?
And warm ?
“Are you ok!?”
A worried voice called as he opened his eyes.
He saw a well felt green waistcoat underneath a black blazer of some sort.
It was unbearably soft, and he heard a fast beating heart beat.
Thump, thump, Thump , thump
The blue haired boy blinked for a moment and then blinked again.
“Silver?”
This time he spoke clearly, no stuttering, nothing, as if his heart ushered him so hard to cease with it for now.
“Id- Shroud are you okay?”
“Y-..”
The ‘yes’ burned on his tongue.
“Crap”
He muttered.
The book had fallen and opened, glowing a disturbingly huge amount.
“Silver brace yourself-”
They were sucked in.
All that remained in the library was a book.
Selcouth Apple the tale of Idia Shroud and Silver Vanrouge.
Two idiots in love.