Chapter Text
Epel dragged the long purple robe behind him, sweeping the fine carpeted floors of the dorm as he came up to large white and gold double doors at the end of the hall. Peering behind him, he scanned the hall empty of students before standing on tippy toes and pulling down the golden door handle. With a click, Epel wiggled himself through the small opening, careful not to open the door wide enough so people could see.
Bundling up the purple robe into a ball, he dumped it in front of the large golden mirror across from the bed. It towered over him, easily three times his height and the large red apples that dotted the frame were as large as his hand. He pulled out the red rope belt stuffed in the front pocket of his apple green sweater and dropped it next to the robe. Then he made his way to the large closet, high on his tiptoes, one of his fingers managed to wrap around the handle and he pulled with all his might. The force pushing him and causing him to stumble, his back hitting the soft bed.
Yet, Epel continued on his adventure, for the closet was open and he could now obtain his prize. The shiny black heels sat on the floor of the closet alongside a couple of boots and some crystal studded shows. Clutching the purple soled shoes to his chest, he then toddled over to the mirror and dropped his wares with the shoes softly clacking as it fell. Emboldened by his success, he ran to the vanity and climbed on top of the white and gold chair. Struggling to get his body onto the cushion, he grabbed the edge of the vanity table and pulled himself up for the last piece of his puzzle laid on a purple and gold velvet pillow. The golden tiara shone like a forbidden apple, tempting him to take it even though he knew he would be in a world of trouble if he did.
Plucking the tiara off its throne, treasure clutched in both hands, he ran over and began to put his puzzle pieces together. First, he took the long purple robe and put it on, crossing it over his chest like a kimono and fastening it with the belt. The sleeves flowed on on the floor and the robe's train reminded him of the fancy wedding dresses he saw in fashion magazines. Then he took off his shoes, the lavender velcro strap loosening easily as Epel kicked them off and tossed his shoes aside. Next came the crown, the circlet was far to big for his small head but with some careful adjustments, the tiara rested on his head like a headband. The shoes turned out to be a bit difficult with him having to crouch and put them on and standing absolutely still so he didn't fall.
But the struggle was worth it because to Epel, the image in the mirror was the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. He beamed and turned back and forth, his hand clasping the folds of the robe and swinging it around as if he was a princess in a ball gown.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the fairest one of all?" Epel announced to the silent mirror.
After waiting a minute for a response, he cheerfully shouted "Vil is!!! Hahahahahaha!"
Epel dissolved into a fit of giggles and lost his footing in the heels. Collapsing, he rolled around, hand clutching his sides as he laughed. Once he regained his breath, he picked up the tiara and put back on the heels with great care.
Swishing his sleeves back and forth dramatically, he held out both hands and declared to the mirror once more "Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the strongest one of all?"
A minute paused before Epel smiled and shouted "Vil is!"
And he repeated it again.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who works the hardest of all?""
"Vil!!"
And again.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the smartest one of all?"
"It's Vil!"
And again.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the bestest one of all?"
"Vil is!"
Epel collapsed to the ground, his cheeks bright red and blushed like an apple and the shoes knocked to the side as his little feet could no longer bear them. The tiara had rolled off his head as Epel laid exhausted in a pool of purple fabric. His heart light and bouncy as he grinned and giggled.
Epel did not know where he was or how he got here. He remembered his grandma telling him she was off to the market and when he woke up from his nap, he was in the woods with five other kids his age and a ton of adults who all wore fancy black uniforms. They had taken him to a man dressed in black and white who took his temperature and made him drink yucky medicine. Than a man dressed like a bird told him he would be staying with Rook and Vil.
At first, Epel remembered being terrified of everything around him. The people, the school, all the fancy furniture — they were so very different from his little town. However, Vil was nice and fed him yummy food, had tucked him into bed and told him to find him if he needed anything. Rook was weird but Rook also gave him macarons and treats and played games with him. They dressed him up in fancy clothes and Vil had sat him on his lap as he applied on makeup. He had only ever seen the women in the fancy shops use them or in movies when the starlet is preparing for evening dinner. The sparkling palettes and the shiny packaging of the lipstick was alluring and Epel wanted to touch the soft brushes that laid down pigment. but Vil had chided him, saying he was too young before giving him a powder puff to play with.
He loved it here. He didn't mind being woken up and dress in soft clothes and having someone do his hair while he ate oatmeal and berries. He loved being around Vil the most. He loved sitting on Vil's soft bed and watching him get ready for the day, especially when Vil was dressing up really fancy for a dorm event and needed to wear his purple robes, heels, and that shiny tiara. Epel especially loved the evening when he would sit down for dinner next to Vil and Rook before taking a warm bubble bath and tucked into bed with a story about the Fairest Queen.
Vil could only sigh and silently accept his fate when looking at his schedule.
2:00 PM — 3:30 PM Poison Making
4:00 PM — 5:00 PM Film Club
5:30 PM — 6:30 PM Dinner
7:00 PM — 7:30 PM Epel's bath time
7:30 PM — 8:45 PM Epel's time
8:45 PM — 9:00 PM Epel's Bedtime
9:00 PM — 11:00 PM Homework
Children needed attention from their guardians and for Epel, he especially needed attention. Vil was used to the loud and combative Epel who only respected strength, not the tiny little kid with no sense of danger or any ability to take care of himself. He thought Epel would be a difficult child or even a poorly behaved one, but he given quite a shock. This Epel was cute and curious and looked at Vil as if he was the coolest person in the world. Vil had made no attempt to ingratiate himself to the little apple, in fact, he and the rest of the house wardens were more furious at Crowley for not having a solution besides having them babysit.
Yet Epel, with his feet dangling from the chair, had jumped down with an 'oomph' and toddled over, pulling on Vil's pants for attention. With sparkling eyes and a toothy smile, he pleaded "Can I stay with you?"
However, Vil was busy and thought of giving the responsibility to Rook but the moment Rook appeared to take Epel, the child clung furiously to Vil's jacket and cried. "No! I want Vil! I want Vil!"
And Vil, for all his annoyance and exhaustion, could not bring himself to let go of Epel when he said that. Wanted. It's been a while since a kid has wanted to be by him. He played the role of the villain. He always did and children, in their innocence, believed it to be real. Children preferring photos of Neige over him or running away and screaming when they saw him, and as a professional, he would smile kindly at the parents and take no offense. Though it scratched and carved at his heart, leaving scars that would heal and open over and over again.
In defiance of fate and expectation, Epel wanted him. The one who threw a fit when Vil scolded him for being rude or reprimanded him for caring too much about gender divides. The one who made him clean all of Pomefiore's window by hand and personally checked his grades before Spelldrive tournaments. Epel wanted him the most.
Rook had relented and Epel had hugged Vil tightly around the neck. That night, Epel had climbed into his bed under the pretense of nightmares and monsters, and curled up under Vil's duvet.
Vil looked up to see Rook crouched by his bedroom door, which was opened and Vil was very sure he closed it. "Rook, what are-"
"Shh" Rook held up a finger to his mouth before waving him over.
If it was anyone else shushing him, Vil would have had strong words but Rook seemed unusually ecstatic. As he dress closer to the door, he could hear Epel's high-pitched voice from within the room and when he drew close enough to see, he found a sight that melted his heart.
Like a balm over the scars and wounds, the minty cold kind his father would put on his scraps and bruises when he trained too hard. There in a robe that was far too big, in heels too large, and a crown that was massive compared to the little head it rested on, was Epel.
Epel, dressed up as him and asking his plain bedroom mirror as if it was the Dark Mirror.
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the fairest one of all?"
"Vil is!!!"
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the strongest one of all?"
"Vil is!"
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who works the hardest of all?""
"Vil!!"
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the smartest one of all?"
"It's Vil!"
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the bestest one of all?"
"Vil is!"
Each question received no answer yet to Epel, he already knew the answer. His heart already knew, there was no need for a mirror.
Vil had dreamed of little fans dressing up as the characters he played. Running up to ask for autographs and hugs and looks of awe, yet every character he embodied was for the sake of showing fear. However, he had one fan. One who dressed up not as a character he played but as him, just him, and extolled the greatest compliment he had ever witnessed. He couldn't look away even if his eyes were burning.
"Oh, what's this?" Vil softly pushed the door open causing Epel to shoot up.
"Vil! You're back!" Shoe and tiara forgotten, Epel ran forward, no care given to the long, purple tripping-hazard wrapped around him.
The child leapt into Vil's arm, his rosy cheeks red and his exhaustion forgotten. "Look! I'm you! I dressed up as you!"
"Are you now?" Vil walked over the mirror, its reflection something Vil could only dream off.
"Yeah! And I talked to the mirror just like in the story! With the queen and she said 'Mirror, mirror, on the wall! Who is the fairest one of all?''
"And what did you say?" Vil brushed his fingers through Epel's hair and the boy babbled on.
"I said it's you! You're the fairest in the land!"
"Am I?"
"Yes!" Epel kicked his feet and Vil could see Rook taking out his uniform from his closet, the housewarden uniform in its purple garment bag.
"Well, how about I dress up like you them?" Vil smiled as he placed Epel on the bed.
"Like me?"
"Yes, just give me a minute." Vil took the bag from Rook and walked into the bathroom.
It took only a couple minutes for him to put on his uniform. Muscle memory worked its magic through layers, buttons and ties as he magically put his hair into a bun. He could hear Rook entertaining with Epel as he fiddled with something. By the time he exited, Rook had set up a professional camera and tripod. His heels were placed just by the door and Epel was holding onto the crown.
"Wow!" Epel, filled with amazement, stared as Vil walked over.
"Now, I look like you." Vil smiled before taking the crown out of Epel's hand and with a wave of his pen, shrunk it to fit Epel's little head. "There, now it's fitting of the fairest in the land."
"I'm ready, Roi du Poison" Rook declared and bowed dramatically.
"Come here," Vil held out his arms as Epel grabbed onto his neck and allowed himself to be picked up.
With careful steps, he and Epel stood in front of the camera. His heart as light as a feather as Epel waved.
"1, 2, 3, SMILE!"
"Ah, Schoenheit." Malleus appeared behind him.
"Malleus, how are you?" Vil placed his phone down on the table as Malleus sat beside him.
A smile dancing on the prince's face and a little charm hanging off the black and green phone case. A bat, a crocodile, and a golden crown strung on a black and gold thread cord. "More than well, a bit busy with everything that has happened. How is everything at Pomefiore?"
"It is going well, as if I would let it be otherwise. Is the charm new?"
Malleus ran his hand along the charms with that sentimental smile he gives when Sebek is loud and annoying and Malleus has no desire to reel him in. "Yes, my littlest brother gave it to me. I assume the same can be said about that photo?"
Vil tapped his phone to reveal his lock screen photo. He was smiling in his uniform his eyes on the treasure in his arms as Epel beamed, his expression full of cheer, as radiant as the crown on his head. "Yes, a gift to his biggest fan."