Chapter Text
He heaved a tired groan, trying to shake off the drowsiness as another sleepless night slaving himself from studying weighs on him.
The upcoming term test only made him muffle a strangled sigh, the sight of the umpteenth letter simply intensifying the bone-deep exhaustion to a fault he has half a mind throwing it out. Well, given the thing won't ever be grazed by a generous reply from his Lady then at this point he might as well be doing the sender a favor.
That, or he might find himself thrown into the cold unforgiving corners of Mewni's gallows or Underworld's guillotine if he ever dared such a thing. Honestly, Marco isn't keen on finding out of which of the two would be less merciful on him.
It was quiet on the halls, in oppose to the kitchen he was certain already alive with the madams and head mistress preparing for breakfast. He'd kill for a cup of warm bitter coffe and slice of bread but he has more important agenda to get throught unfortunately.
He grunts in exasperatjon at trekking the long staircase towards her room, ignorning the phantom aches on his back and throb on his ankles (the impromptu exercise definitely not appreciated after a night hunch over his desk) in favor of botheringone single knock on that oak wooden door. Simply for courtesy sake and all but slammed it wide-open when one second she didn't open the door. With the twittering distant sounds of birds and still the fresh crack of dawn, adding a night spend with no sleep he thinks he can afford of being ill-mannered. At least this much won't hurt anyone.
"..Princess." he drawled, watching unimpressed at the way she's already brooding over her study table.
If anyone had ever witness the way he addressed the sole heir of the land he was sure the madams would be foaming in the mouth by now. Not that he find himself bothered of such trivial thing, he'd spend good enough of his childhood and teenage years by the Lady's side, more than proven his loyalty and servitude in a number of ways to be able to get away of anything. Well, with the exemption of dealing with..Star.
Despite his less subtle entry, she grazed him a helpless whine that simply came out gibberish from the way she's slump face down over the wood. He sighs "..how long are you going to make him and me miserable? This is like the fifth letter of this week that I have to retrieve them for you. By Eclipsa put him out of his misery already will you, Princess?"
"Burn it." She orders feebly, "burn it until nothing is left."
"I won't if it means disobeying your parents," he muttered before walking towards the lounging area within her room. He dropped the letter on the low coffee table, the last week's pile still untouched and now seemingly growing as another batch is to join this upcoming week. As things turns out, more would surely be coming given the stubbornness of this particular suitor.
A very very..persistent one.
He wasn't sure at this rate if that guy is really just enamored so quickly of their newly establish connection with his friend or outrightly smitten and a idiot. This Prince's consistent show of letters is almost impressive if it wasn't so pitiful.
He rubs a hand over his face and glance at her again.
She keeps groaning, amplifying the persistent throbbing behind his eyeballs so he sort of just lean his head at the backrest for a bit. A pointer finger and thumb pressed on his temple so he can at least soothe himself while he's still not drugged with the morning black coffee. To be awake of this time and without his fuel is basically crime against his humanity you know. It was a good thing Sir Glossaryk is out of the borders and won't be coming back for his exam, or god forbid he'll be drooling over morning scrolls again.
"..come on Star," he speaks finally, dropping the pretense of lady-servant registers the moment he had manage to relax and settle himself comfortably against the plush cushions, "This is almost two weeks already since the announcement. How long are you going to pout?"
Finally, she did raise her head and look at him square in the face.
Her glare, though awash him a brief sense of guilt, did not deter his pointed look.
"..you're suppose to be supporting me, Marco" she accuses childishly.
"I am though—"
"In a way that's just pleasing my parents but not me!' She cuts in,"who's loyalty have you sworn to anyway huh?"
Here we go again.
"Unfortunately, the Queen is above the princess," He murmured, a little dry, "..my daily service is yours while your Mom orders me for you own good—"
"Marrying a guy I don't know isn't choice of my own good!"
Marco sighs and sits up, and can only smile fondly at her sullen face, "..sorry, I know it's hard but what can I do? Underworld isn't a country so easily pleased you know. It's a miracle they even considered officially allying with Mewni given the history. So your parents really want me to get you and this..Prince of theirs sorted out..soon."
And she knows this too. As twisted as it is, he was grateful of the Prince for going out of his way for reaching out first. Most fresh political betrothals couldn't be bothered to do such things of getting to know each other know not until formal assemblies are enacted or any soirees as a proper time to formerly get acquainted. The minimum could have been done was dropping their prospect's name to each other and that's it. Yet, Star's betrothed is obviously laying down some rapport between them, despite the absence of any reciprocation from the Princess, that guy never stopped since the announcement two weeks ago.
If Marco is going to be asked, he rather want for Star get to know the guy outside of stifling gatherings unless she plans for their own coming of age to commenced first before even thinking of looking twice to her betrothed as if he wasn't the current bane of her freedom. Marco huffs a bitter weak laugh at that, given how she is that might as well close to th truth
The alliance being such a fragile and new thing simply made Marco wary and stressed enough as it is. Not including how Queen Moon was undeterred in asking for any updates of progress between these two so honestly, he's stuck between an immovable rock and hard place.
"..no it's just.." She whispers, almost leaning against her chair. Marco watch with his chin resting on a closed fist, trying not to smile sadly as she curled on her folded legs. The usual jolly of the renowned untamed girl of Mewni is reduced as a princess displaying raw uncertainty, one that he doesn't exactly like the way she'd been secretly anxious since the announcement; expertly hidden under the covers of rebellion and exasperation.
He doesn't like it that she's forced into things. To see her shackled even more than she already is. But Marco may be a friend to her since they were in their silken diapers doesn't exactly mean to disobey the Queen is an option.
Star is his best friend before his Princess, but his family owe it all to Mewni's Royal family for Marco to not adhere to the Queen.
And despite Star's penchant of going against her Mother's words, she knew what she needs to do that's right.
Well, if she actually suggested deserting the kingdom just to escaping marrying she doesn't want Marco will definitely follow her without hesitation.
It just happens this union doesn't have such kind consequences.
"..it's all just starting to be too much," she murmurs, her delicate face framed by the mess of her morning bed hair. The luscious goldilocks looks untamed hides of a beast, free and unkempt. Something that suits her really but simply an imagery never to be realized when the demand was to be prim and proper, to follow without any protest and with no shred of freedom whatsoever.
Marco sighs softly, discarding the depressing thoughts, "I know..if it's any consolation, that guy seems sane. His letters are all just asking how you are."
Star looks at him, lower lip protruding "..I thought we aren't going to read them?"
Marco actually laughs, "..no that's what you decided. As for me, I won't be able to report anything to your Mom if I don't at least get the situation clearly on both ends. Can you imagine her face each time I tell her for a week that Prince Thomas' opening greetings remained consistent of 'how are you today?' She almost bust a nerve by the fifth report I did."
Star scoffs, grumpy, "..you should have told her things are falling out then!"
Marco points an unimpressed look.
"Yes, if she doesn't know already that you barely touch a quill and scrape it on papers so she knows the lack of progress is purely to be blamed on you." Marco sags back on the couch, exhausted "..then of course, she just has to ask me to encourage you to at least respond to one godforsaken letter."
She snorts, "did she actually said that?"
"Not the exact words but you get the point," he expressed rightfully defeated "..the Silver Bell Ball is just around the corner, and Underworld's entourage is coming. You need to reply to the guy or so help me I will, Star."
"..but seriously! Why do I have to deal with letters?" She complains while pulling a lock of her hair in obvious agitation."why can't he just contact me through the mirrors? If he's so eager to talk!—"
"—and if you had simply read the very first thing he wrote then you'd know he doesn't want to jump a hasty contact and would wish a letter for a simple formal hello." Marco counters, holding an exasperated groan when she blinks in surprise."just because you mingle with the townsfolk and rough house with rugged guys doesn't mean every one of them is the same. This is a prince, Star, and obviously treating a lady with decorum."
She scoffs, a look of pure offense at the term 'lady' and Marco huff a weak amused laugh. Honestly, you'd think she'd be used to it by now considering he calls her that since they were kids. Well, not most of the time, but still.
"..what a pain in the butt," she complains grumpily.
"Please don't let your Mom hear that" Marco pleaded half-heartedly. She stuck her tongue, uncaring of his words. He sighs, "..so please, even just for me, write something to him. I don't care what it is, but anything will do at this point."
"Fine, fine. I get it already" she grumbles, clearly unhappy and any given day Marco would have the extra patience to accommodate her whining but not today. She gives up when his unimpressed stare remained unwavering, looking away with another heavy pout. "I'll do it later"
He wasn't reassured by that but considering this is Star, it's better than a flat out disregard on the matter.
"I just hope that 'later' doesn't mean 'never' you hear me?" He crossed his arms for added emphasis of him sternly judging her across the floor.
"I know, Marco!"
He jolts when his mirror suddenly rings, cutting through his deep readings of Elven scripts of Planteology. He groans, expecting Star whining again but chokes a little when the name appears on the device.
He fights a grimace and reaches for it, already bracing himself for what's about to come as he swipes on the glassed surface.
The Queen's furrowed brow is enough for him to know it's in fact about Star again.
"..In my defense, I manage to get an 'fine' out of her mouth." he reasons plainly and the Queen, pinch the bridge of her nose. His years of basically existing the same time beside her daughter had really wane his attitude in front of Star's mom. At this point, given he's majority the one who keeps Star in check she really regard Marco with eerie respect.
If not, he wouldn't get out unscathed in simply speaking informally with the Queen. He thinks the guards would have already haul his bum and thrown into deepest dungeon Mewni ever has.
"..well, as much as I appreciate your efforts, another letter have arrived—"
Actually, scratch that, Marco might even welcome getting thrown in a dark dingy chamber or better yet, he needs a vacation to the east summer mountains seriously.
"—while not a single one is being sent out by our own royal messengers. I assume her words of 'fine' is exactly not meant with earnest, hm?"
Marco doesn't know what else to say. Other than perhaps a petty 'don't you think it's about time for another heir instead?' but that probably won't land quite confidently as a jest, especially to her.
Before he can even maybe, complain that her daughter is a wildcard that a betrothal is basically an equivalent of life prison or maybe demand a raise because he's not paid enough to deal with this kind of bull in the daily.
She sort of beat him to it.
"And I assume as well that she won't ever be sitting down soon and touch a quill because she escaped and now currently at the central plaza again for the night markets"
Oh for Eclipsa's sakes, Star.
He helplessly groans out loud. You have dance class tomorrow for the upcoming Ball!
And she always go insane when she scuffles around the night games at the central plaza. She'll be dead tired and hard to wake up by come morning.
"..Sorry, I'll drag her back after she takes the stress out of her system," He says, and handle this instead. She's probably unwinding because of what's happening lately. Marco definitely understands the urge to escape. "..I'll deal with the letter—"
"— as a matter of fact, I do want you to deal with it."
Marco looks at her in confusion.
Her own exhausted reflecting back at him.
"The treaty is already brittle as it is. I've heard Underworld's rulers are quite fond with their son." she speaks tiredly, looking like she aged a few years as she waves a hand "..send out a reply, I trust you enough to know how to appease the boy."
"..under Star's name?" He questions in bafflement.
"..hm, yes." She says with finality and Marco can only gape at the queen. "..nothing drastic, simply make something short that Star would say. If we wait until my daughter entertains the prince I'm afraid I will get white hairs first."
Marco feign a cough to hide his laugh and nods instead. "..just to be sure, Your Majesty. I'll consider this as Queen's orders and the repercussion of your daughter's wrath won't be answered by me..?"
She actually pinch the space between her brow this time, Marco stopping not to snicker. "..goodness children these days..yes, yes I'll take full blame. Now, Marco dearest..please deal with it for me before it ends us all for Eclipsa's sake.."
Marco mocks a salute, grinning at the low sigh Queen Moon did before she smiles in..quiet affection.
"..what would I do with Star if not for you.." she added almost a mixture of gratitude, wistfulness and resignation.
Marco grins cheekily, "probably driven into a edge because you can't tame her?"
"Exactly." she agreed before she shakes her head in wry amusement, it didn't take long before Marco witness the way she whisk a hand and already expected as a letter landing on top of his desk out of thin air. He can't help but gaze at it with contempt, then she hears her tired voice, "Now I must leave you to it."
The call ended right after and there goes his night supposed to be spend on studying.
He's guessing that's the aforementioned letter she was getting frazzled about and the same godforsaken thing he'll have to deal with.
"Hooray to me," he says dryly, taking his time in pushing his wooden chair closer before reaching over the envelope. He inspects it gingerly, the crest of the Underworld isn't a new sight for him now. So he simply grab the letter opener and slowly swipe the dull blade under the wax— the strong scent of smoky roses assaults his senses almost instantly.
"..too much," he grimaces at the strong odor of the scented paper. Something like this isn't exactly an unusual approach for someone expressing intentions of courting but by god this Prince is doing it too much. Star might have her bouts of interest on flowers but there's a limit of how eager you are to impress someone. And whatever the Prince is doing, isn't it. Anyway, not his problem, "..I bet it's 'how are you today' is the first line again.
He unfolds the crisp paper, the familiar charred edges is admittedly aesthetically pleasing, at least this part is always commendable. The rest of the contents not so much.
Marco steeled himself with a weary groan then brace for another reading of this week's quota of this thing—
Dear Princess Star,
The nights of our realm are kind tonight, as the Moons gazes upon across the warm crimson sky.
The moon is lovely in our realm, Princess, that I cannot help to reach out once more and wish to share it with you. Just as the sky filled with bright stars it also did not fail to remind me of your name among them.
Then he notice another paper left inside the envelope, Marco didn't hesitate to pick it up in mild curiosity.
And to his surprise, there's actually a picture included, the evident sky doused in warm red and stars stretching over the horizon with the Moon as the focal point. Just as the letter describe it reflects quite well in the photo.
Well..this is new. And very..
He might feel slightly guilty considering the correspondence is clearly not for him to parse through but given his charge— the charming gesture is either going to end up collecting dust or entirely ignored. Both of which didn't grazed with a proper reply.
Besides, this isn't the first time this guy attempted romanticizing his way through Star, and certainly not his first rodeo of reading them. Although the efforts this time certainly taken up a notch— well, he suppose two weeks of being ignored will do that to someone.
Marco snorts, the guy changed tactics huh.
I hope this letter and the photo finds you well. I am aware this query might be wearisome and I must ask you to forgive me for how persistent I had been but I find it hard not to write again. I still await of a word from you and now ponders of how are you this lovely evening?
Just as I sat on the windowsill of my own chamber, wistful on my lonesome, but content and just as delighted to write to you once more. I wish you are having a delightful night just as I am.
Although I have not yet receive a reply but worry not, you don't need to feel pressured. I simply wish this had brought a smile as—
"..a headache, this had brought me a headache is what you mean, Sire." Marco answers flippantly to himself after reading the succeeding sickeningly sweet words. It derails off to a more detailed poetics even Eclipsa will coo over it from her sacred tomb. He lays the paper down before reaching for his writing materials closer to him. His own scented sheets, inks and a few brushes that he never thought will be used other than to his friends and now to some..yearning determined Prince next. He grumbles as he prepares the stuff.
Hm, this one smells like wood and a hint of dark cocoa. Goods that he had impulsively brought when he needed refills of his ink from the town's market. He glances curiously as he shuffles his writing parchments. He didn't think he has stationeries that would be enough to use as a reply but he bets Star wouldn't even have half of these anyway. He literally deals with her letters whenever her tutors assigned her with her writing exercises, a reply to a prince was doomed in the very beginning in hindsight.
He can already imagine her grabbing whatever scrap of paper she can find on the next dingy corner if she's actually going to be forced to reply to Prince Thomas.
And Marco would like to save his head and Mewni as well from the embarrassment and maybe stopping the Underworld in choking at the insult.
So alright, this paper it is, he decides resolutely, grabbing the materials.
He grab the jar of his ink, then then his quill next.
Then he starts.
Dear Prince Tho—
He sighs as he stops the strokes of the tip of his quill against the scented papers and realized how exactly is he going to construct a response.
He stifles a miserable groan. The Queen said write something enough that it will sound like Star but if Marco actually does that then the paper will end up majority as blank space with a few words of 'you are a pain and I don't want to marry you' which in principle is the one thing Marco is tasked to avoid.
Alright, he can work something..acceptable that will appease both this guy and won't result of Star skinning him alive. Unlikely, considering he has a sixth sense that she might even be overjoyed knowing he had wrote in her stead especially when it also means she can shirk her responsibilities now that Marco took it upon himself—
Correction, forcibly placed on his hands by none other than her mom.
Uh..what headache..
Anyway, he can butter this up or make it totally Star-like but given this will be the first reply— and as much he refrains from being entirely dramatic but the two kingdom's alliance relies solely of how successful he can establish some rapport here. So maybe he can..
Ah, seriously..
Dear Prince Thomas,
He strokes the name with a crude end of the letter 'S', mimicking Star's poor handle of cursive then fights a grimace as he writes the rest.
Good evening, the moon is indeed lovely tonight...