Work Text:
First step, know the subject.
When Juliana Loki graced the earth with her presence it was comparable to Jesus’s birth.
It was already a prosperous year, trade was excellent, female rulers had just been legalized in France, the first humans had taken up residence in the International Space Station.
She lay in her golden cradle, in her white silk, Hugo knew because her father had taken her with to present Loki’s birthday gift. When the young girl laid eyes on her, only a year older, she knew immediately she was in the presence of a goddess.
Maybe it was the elegant aura Hugo didn’t yet understand radiating from the cradle, maybe the five heavily armed knights at its side, maybe it was the excited murmurs of the adults, or the celebratory songs of citizens in the streets.
Hugo didn’t know much about what she was doing, her father simply pressed a pretty velvet box into her tiny hands and pushed on her back to encourage her forward.
Vivenne almost stumbled over the hem of her long ceremonial dress, each step measured twice, she could barely walk at her age but here she was now presenting gifts to royalty, trying not to stare back at the curiously amused eyes tracking her uneven steps.
At the foot of heaven, the gates eyed her and stepped out of the way. Now she was left with the sleeping newborn, perfectly curled up like a doll, no crying, no snoring, perfectly still like a decorated corpse.
Her coarse scruffs of hair were so short she was pretty much bald, her limbs were confined to white and gold silk.
Vivienne was awed a bit, the future ruler of this nation, the one she lived in, was before her asleep. Just a vulnerable child, it is a great honor to ever catch a glimpse of the royal heir before they reach their teens.
Hugo set down the small box at the gold crib’s (if you could call it a crib) side so carefully there was no sound. She pulled back carefully like she was balancing a bike on a coin instead of a box on a surface. She moved two steps back when she was done to bow as low as she could, and the peering adults clapped and cooed and giggled.
The king and queen were close, too close, in their gold clothes and their gold eyes. Their thrones were grand, not as grand as the throne room’s, more for comfort than power. They sat right behind their first child, imposing, protective.
She scurried back to the underside of her father’s wing, he smiled at the audience, not at her, he laughed like a merchant.
“How cute.” The queen noted, like a comment, like a critique. Her voice was so confident and stable it made Hugo quiver.
The king laughed, big, bold, “Cute indeed, I’m glad Juliana will have a girl her age around in the place.”
Hugo’s father laughed in a matching way, but less big, more submissive, couldn't ever threaten the king with too much confidence.
“Of course,” He ripped Hugo from her hiding place, she didn’t scream, “I’m sure they will grow to be the best of friends.”
“She walks very well for her age, and she exceeds in her preclasses, yes? I’m sure she will be a great influence on the princess.”
“May they get married on the same day? How cute would that be!”
“They shall be inseparable, I just know it!”
Now, Hugo didn’t know what marriage, or inseparable meant yet. She did know that she had just come face to face with a baby goddess. A tiny messiah.
What would she do with this information? That is for a few years later.
Despite all of that talk of being ‘best friends’, it was nine years before Hugo met Loki again.
Funny enough it was in one of the castle gardens, her father was in a trade meeting, she had just finished all of her classes for the day, so she went out for a walk.
The gardens were shut off from the public, and most servants other than cleaners. They were mainly used to keep up appearances with important guests.
They were just down the hall from her room, so she could sneak into them almost whenever she wanted.
It was peaceful, and clean in a natural way, not as regal as the castle halls. Hugo stared into the green to give her eyes a break from the gold, so much gold and so many shiny stones she had to learn before next week.
Hugo loved the white brick walkway through the flowers and moss and stone. She loved the tiny creatures the gardeners missed in their daily checks. Her favorite was a tiny bird that was thrown out into the wild every day but always came back.
She didn’t want to admit it, but she snuck her meals every once in a while. Just small crumbs of her leftover bread, the best bread that little bird has probably ever tasted, she told herself.
Hugo liked to think it was the bird’s destiny to live in the garden. That’s why it kept succeeding.
That day Hugo slipped into the lush walls of green and white pillars. The small crust of a loaf she’d managed to take from dinner was heavy in her pocket.
The large, deceptively dainty gate of the garden clicked shut. A few leaves rustling in the process.
Hugo’s steps hit the clean white brick below him almost too rhythmically. It was a nice day today, it would be too hot but the breeze cooled it to just the right temperature. It was so nice, that Hugo hummed a bit under her breath.
Her steps thumped a bit louder, just enough to cover her voice. At the center of the garden there was a beautiful man-made lake, with always fresh clear blue water, slippery river stones that reflected the light of the sun so strongly it could cause a fire.
She liked the rare fish kept in them most of all. All sorts of colors, most were a nice royal blue, however.
Hugo stopped by the edge, sitting down at the river's edge, just far enough not to ruin the legs of her trousers.
The water was so blue it looked artificial, not in a tacky way, more like the stream was so beautiful it looked unreal.
She shouldn’t. She reached out to feel it. Slowly.
The gardeners always scolded her about it, about how it disrupted the fish, but there were no fish in the area, and she washed her hands not too long ago…
Just as her fingers could graze the top, she froze.
“I don’t think you’re supposed to touch that.”
Hugo whipped around, a girl was standing right next to her. She jumped back.
The girl giggled, her bright white and gold lined dress was without even the slightest wrinkle, her eyes the sharpest gold, her skin the smoothest soft brown, her hair flawlessly slicked back into a soft puff of curl, a gold pin held at the side of her head.
Hugo flushed, “I don’t think you're supposed to be in here.”
The girl tilted her head curiously, like a cat, Hugo noted. The girl then giggled a bit more, “If I cannot be in here you definitely should not either.”
Hugo hummed, “Is that so?”
The girl nodded, she tilted her head again, “Who are you?” She asked, leaning closer.
Hugo leaned back from her spot on the floor, away from that too symmetrical face, away from those golden eyes, “My father is Victor Hugo.”
“I asked who you are.” The girl sighed, “Not who your father is.”
Hugo looked away from that intense gaze, “Then I am no one.”
The girl stared, face unreadable, then she smiled again and sat down beside Hugo.
Vivienne scooted away in shock, eyes wide, the girl scooted closer.
“Do you know who I am?” She tilted her head again.
Hugo blinked slowly, eyes slowly narrowing back to their normal position.
She winced, “Someone of a higher rank than me probably.”
The girl laughed, hard. Hugo was surprised to find she actually kind of liked watching her laugh.
There was just something about her. Maybe her voice, it projected naturally like someone important. Or maybe it was how she seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun.
“My name is Juliana.” She said between a laugh.
“I’m Vivienne,” Hugo said in response.
Juliana tilted her head again, smile much wider, “That a funny name for a boy.”
Hugo sputtered, before she could explain that she was a girl, she spotted that bird, her whole reason for being in the garden, out of the corner of her eye.
She turned, and it zipped past her sight. Hugo gasped.
Juliana watched curiously, as Hugo looked back and forth in search of the bird. Watched as Hugo reached into her pocket and pulled out the scrap of bread.
Hugo stood slowly, still looking around, she slinked to the lowest tree nearby and placed the scrap on its lowest branch.
She took a cautious step back, Juliana was standing now too. Right by her side.
They stood a few steps back for a few moments, waiting, silently. Hugo peered at Juiliana, confused as to why she was just going along with this.
Vivienne’s own pristine white clothes were stained with dirt. The hem of her jacket was scuffed as well.
She stared for a while, at Juliana’s jaw, at her lips, at her soft looking hair.
Then at her golden eyes.
The realization came like a bucket of cold water over her head. She was drenched, shivering, and wide awake.
Juliana, Juliana Loki turned to Hugo’s sudden noise of shock.
The crown princess.
Hugo was getting in so much trouble.
“I’m so sorry princess, for my disrespect earlier.” She might as well have whispered.
She raised an eyebrow, “Why are you apologizing, you weren’t rude.”
“I was, my princess.” Hugo nodded firmly, “I will write a letter of apology and report myself to your mother immediately–”
The princess held up a hand, “Are you calling me a liar?” She asked, her voice still.
Hugo almost started sweating, “What? N-”
“You're questioning my judgement.” She was interrupted.
“Miss, I–”
“Hush,” the princess smiled, “I’m messing with you. You’re not in trouble as long as this is never brought to light.”
Hugo swallowed, her expression souring, “You scared me…”
Loki smiled, it was devilish, it was supposed to be evil, but on her it was but slightly playful.
“The bird took the bread, by the way.”
Hugo turned so fast she could’ve broken her neck, and sure enough, the scrap of bread was gone.
When Hugo turned to look back, Juliana was gone too.
—
“This is to say that you must have a bond with your target that no one else has. You must have seen a side of them they hide from others. You must have every part of them to truly fall in love. First, understand their destiny, then their personality.” She recited.
Charlotte blinked, unimpressed.
“That’s so boring.” She hissed, falling back into the pillows of her comfortable lounge chair. “Does it really take all of this?”
Hugo shrugged, legs crossed on the ground beside her, “Yeah.”
Charlotte groaned, “That’s so much workkkk.”
“Emotions are very fickle and even more so inefficient." Hugo hummed, “To successfully make someone fall for you it usually takes time.”
“Can you make this story go faster at least? That first step took 6 hours.”
Hugo huffed, “Well I guess you don’t want to hear the rest then—”
Charlotte sat up quickly, her blonde hair bouncing with her movement.
“No, no, no!” She blushed, “Uh, it’s fine. I don’t mind. Take 50 years, I don’t care.”
Hugo didn’t react, she simply raised an eyebrow casually.
—
It is important to be desirable as well.
The second step is to figure out what you want to be to them, and what they want you to be.
It is good to get this out of the way early to keep confusion from getting in the way of the final step.
The palace was remarkably busy, everyone with their own tasks. Especially the nobles and their offspring.
Loki and Hugo met again at 15. The day they were to start their advanced diplomacy class.
Vivienne remembered Loki’s hair then like an old friend. Long braids fell down her back, stands of unbraided hair were left out purposefully that would make it look like a mane. When she would walk it would swish with her hips like an extension of her spine.
Hugo was attracted to her. She had recognized this in the split second they’d locked eyes before the grand door of the palace library.
Her lips were so full and beautiful, her eyes so big and sharp, her nose pointed up slightly like an adorable button.
This was also the time where the girl had begun to…develop, as teenagers do.
Loki’s dresses were no longer as puffy as they were when she was younger. Now her skirts were relatively simple for royalty. They were more modernly fashioned and stylish. Short plaid skirts, white blouses, off the sleeve tops that drove Hugo absolutely insane.
Juliana’s hips had a curve to them now, she had noticed delighted, her chest was visible against her shirts too.
Outside the door, Hugo with an arm around her books and study materials and her primary servant at her heel, Loki, with servants carrying her things behind her, one hand in her pocket, another fidgeting with her hair.
They had both stopped walking when they saw each other. For Hugo it was like time itself had stopped. She was beautiful, so painfully beautiful that the breath was knocked out of Hugo’s chest.
An angel, as always, now big enough for others to recognize her. No longer a doll. Now with expressions, hopes, dreams, commands.
They took in every change in silence. Loki was visibly stunned as well, but she recovered faster.
“Vivienne? That’s you?” She whispered in disbelief.
Before Hugo could process Loki had spoken she was tackled into a hug, the other girl pressed against her like their lives depended on it. She giggled into Hugo’s ear, who let it happen, happily, she added mentally in surprise.
“I miss you,” She felt Loki hum into her ear.
Vivienne flustered, “I…missed you too.”
Loki laughed, pressing her own body harder into Hugo’s, something choked in her throat.
“Oh!” Loki gasped suddenly, “You’re a girl?”
Hugo flushed hard as Juliana stared down at their chests pressed together.
She took a step back, regretting it when Loki stumbled slightly, “Yes?”
“Oh.” Juliana blurted, her face now turning red as well.
They stood there embarrassingly long, their servants didn’t dare speak. Hugo had to admit she felt a little giddy, Loki, Juliana Loki, had just been pressed against her after all. It was like she had taken a swing of alcohol. Lightheaded, buzzing.
She studied the red on Loki’s face, who was avoiding eye contact. Was that a flush of embarrassment? Most likely, she shouldn’t get too confident.
Hugo was smart, she knew not to lose herself in delusion.
Another example was Hugo’s first time observing one of her father’s meetings with the king. He was responsible for calculating the logistics of trade then overseeing the relationship between supply and demand and making a report detailing such to the king.
She was sat at his side. Allowed because the adults loved how Hugo tended not to speak, or react to much of anything.
She was to take note on how he spoke to the king, on what was included in the report, and when everyone was designated to speak.
Vivienne was prepared to be a ghost the entire meeting, it was important for her to be updated on the current economic state as she was to take over it in a few years. There was nothing for them to hide.
The king arrived, an advisor by his side, and everyone was made to stand and bow their head respectfully.
He sat at the head of the room, at the head of the meeting table, his heavy robes decked in gold clinked against each other when he moved.
“It seems we have a visitor today.” He smiled warmly in Hugo’s direction.
“Yes, your majesty. I am only observing the meeting for study purposes.” Hugo kept her head down while speaking, her voice was level and monotone.
The king chuckled, “Well hopefully you won’t be too bored.”
“Never, your highness.”
“Then let us begin,” He hummed, and it was then that Hugo noticed the other set of golden eyes in the room, twinkling cheekily at her.
Her breath caught as Juliana, sitting at the side of the table’s maw, smiled at her.
There was a moment before she smiled back hesitantly.
Juliana giggled silently at her turmoil, winking, then turning to her father as he spoke.
The meeting was smooth, every one spoke at just the right time, each report flowed like water into the next. It was purely an economics meeting, the only thing new Vivienne learned was that there have been floods in the south as of late that had messed with crop production and the boats that were currently docked.
Solutions were presented easily, simple things Hugo could comprehend with little brain power. The head of oil trade across from her had just finished his report when Hugo stopped paying attention.
She turned to Loki, as she was meant to, the light in every room now subdued to make room for the other, brighter star. Hugo was shocked when their eyes met.
Loki was staring, pretty hard she might add. The look on her face made Hugo want to shrink and bask in the glory all at once.
Whatever was in her golden eyes was magnificent. Hugo had never seen anything so perfect, so intimate, so hungry. She was high on it from just a glance, she sat up straighter, she tore her eyes away from Loki’s.
Loki was still looking, if not harder this time. So intense she could feel the beams as they raked across all of her body that she could reach.
Hugo finally relented and drew her eyes back to Juliana’s, when they returned to their rightful owner, the girl, that sorceress, that goddess, she winked and it nearly sent Hugo into a cardiac arrest.
The meeting couldn’t have been over faster
—-
“I don’t know…” Charlotte sighed from above, “It kinda sounds like Julie is doing all the work here.”
Hugo didn’t offer a reaction, “No.” She started hesitantly.
“Name one move you made that contributed to the growth of the relationship.”
Hugo hummed noncommittally, “I’m getting to that.”
Charlotte sighed.
—--
A few days after the meeting, Loki had caught her alone again.
This was rare, for one because she was never alone, a nurse or servant was forever at her side to tend to her needs, second because Loki never had the time to spend catching Hugo alone.
She was in the library this time, intently focused on a rare book she’d found.
Loki seemed to pop out of thin air, “What are you reading?” She’d asked directly into Hugo’s ear.
The noble jumped, almost dropping her new book in the process. She fumbled to catch it for a few moments then sharply turned to Juliana.
“You should really wear a bell or something.” She huffed.
Juliana laughed under her breath, “Are you suggesting that the crown princess should stoop as low as to wear a collar for your comfort?”
Hugo rolled her eyes, albeit playfully, “...Maybe.”
Juliana’s face was closer now, “That’s execution worthy, I’d mind my tongue if I were you.”
“It would be for your comfort as well.” Vivienne argued, “There is no way you enjoy scarring people like that. You must hear things you shouldn’t occasionally.”
“It’s just you actually,” Juliana said softly, her eyes narrowing just right. “Everyone else is already bowing when I turn a corner.”
Hugo groaned, “So there is a bell on you, I just can’t hear it.”
Juliana nodded, “I think it’s all the gold, actually.”
Something light broke through Vivienne’s chest, and a bubbly laugh released into the air. It was small, barely a chuckle, Loki caught it and froze all the same.
It was a second of those intense golden eyes on her again, and it was like time around froze. The air was still, the book in her hands faded to a memory. It was just Vivienne and those eyes again. Her laugh flattered then stopped in its tracks.
There was silence for exactly two seconds, before Loki exhaled happily, “You should laugh more, I enjoy it.”
Hugo blushed, taken aback, she met those eyes again, looking down at her like she was a lover, like she was worth something.
Vivienne coughed into her arm to hide the red, “Did you need something your majesty?”
Loki smirked, “You.”
Vivenne coughed harder, actually turning away this time.
“W-what?” Juliana laughed at her.
“Your intelligence, your efficiency.” She stated, “I need that right now…so long as you can keep a secret.”
Hugo swallowed, her long wavy locks falling over the front of her shoulder when she strongly shook her head yes. “Of course I can.”
“Mother and Father have been hard at work trying to take my throne.” Loki sighed, “It’s been years and they’re still at it, every week a new child is born, do you know why, Vivi?”
Vivienne looked down into her book, away from Loki’s intense stare and too close face, “They want a boy.”
Loki smiled, “Yep, and they’ve been failing, but this time, the doctors say that it’s male.”
Hugo’s eyes widened, the royal couple’s children are kept under the utmost protection, each bit of information safeguarded with multiple lives in the way.
“We are going to arrange for my soon to come little brother’s…relocation.”
Hugo blinked, she wasn’t stupid, she knew what that truly meant, the demonic connotation behind Juliana’s perfect smile.
She faintly hummed nonchalantly, “Of course, princess. I’d be honored.”
Loki’s eyes widened, “Really?” she asked, a bud of a smile starting to present itself on her face.
“Anything for the future queen.” Hugo hummed, flipping a page in her book.
It made sense why Loki would suggest the assassination of her own little brother. A male child would immediately assume her position, no matter her age or how ‘progressive’ things are nowadays. She was still in line solely out of fate, the six siblings after her had all been female, meaning the oldest was the next ruler.
Hugo believed that Loki was destined to be queen, she had an aura about her that none of her sisters had, something her younger brother would never have.
But the princess was clearly inexperienced in acts of foul play, asking Hugo to help for one. That was just plain stupid, no matter how trustworthy she may seem.
“Why me?” Hugo sat up suddenly, “You're the crown princess, you must be able to get into contact with someone more suited for something like this.”
Loki sighed, “Any payment I make would leave a trail to follow, besides, I know you won’t tell.”
“How?”
Juliana smiled fondly, “You didn’t tell on me when we were kids, you won’t tell me now.”
Hugo narrowed her eyes, “That was an entirely different situation! Telling wouldn’t benefit me at all then—”
“Will you?”
“What?”
Juliana’s smile sharpened into a blade, held directly over Hugo’s throat, “Even if you did it’s my word against yours. Crown princess or dutchess, who will the people believe…”
Hugo swallowed cautiously, “You’re right, my mistake.”
“It was your mistake.” She hummed, her smile softening, “I’ll contact you in a bit to help you take care of it. Find me here if you need anything.”
Juliana turned to leave, Hugo couldn’t help but think about how sad this was. A goddess having to fight for her throne against a child who is only predicted to be male.
Naturally, Hugo had no clue how to assassinate anyone, let alone a baby, and then get away with it.
On the third day following, the princess knocked on her bedroom door.
It was simple oak, only one guard stationed it and only during the night.
Midday is when Loki chooses to knock, Hugo was in her room, classes finished for the day. She had been pointedly avoiding the princess as well as thinking about her task.
Why was she doing this? She gained nothing from it, she should’ve refused and been on her way.
Was it the potential of favor in the future that pulled her to accepting with no hesitation? Did Loki’s soft smile enchant her out of any thoughts of refusal? They were in over their heads, two teen girls freshly starting charm school.
Another knock, more insistent this time. Hugo shot up and was there in half of a second.
Loki was wearing white fur lined everything, a skirt that stopped just above her knees, a matching coat that almost completely covered it, and a pair of sleek cream boots.
Hugo opened the large door wider, and Loki stepped in without a word. She looked around as she walked deeper inside, Hugo staying back to close the door carefully.
“You have a nice room,” Loki commented, when Hugo finished.
“Thank you princess,” She sighed, “What brings you here?”
Loki laughed a bit, “Straight to the point, I knew I liked you.”
Juliana brought out an herb from her coat project, it looked like a dandelion, but bigger. Collections of its frail white flowers extended into a dome shape. Each was the size of a small seed on its own.
“This is Angelica,” Loki answered before she could ask, “It works to aid digestion, reduces inflammation, and reduces the symptoms of menstruation."
Hugo eyed her, “You're bringing me flowers now?”
Loki hummed, “Consider it an apology, I’ll get you a bigger one in a few weeks.”
She used her other hand to motion for Hugo’s, which the red-head obeyed easily. The flower was pressed gently into the crevice of her palm. It tickled, she noticed, each flower brushed against her skin, almost itchy.
Hugo felt something faint tug at her chest, “Thank you…”
Juliana smiled, “Of course.”
The second the door shut after her, Hugo rushed to her bookshelf. When she didn’t find anything there she ran down the halls straight for the library.
Angelica sinensis, also known as Dong Quai. A Chinese herb famous for its use to treat various gynecological conditions, it also increases the risk of misscarige in pregnant women.
—
“This did not happen.” Charlotte stared at Vivienne.
Hugo shrugged, “Julie is empress at the moment, isn’t she?”
Charlotte huffed, “Is this still the second rule? It’s been like three stories.”
Hugo sighed deeply.
—
Hugo had simply passed the herb along to an uneducated, unsuspecting servant in the kitchens, selling its healthy effects and how it would be nutritious for the queen.
The entire castle mourned, there was even a funeral held. Each princess held a different flower in honor of their unborn baby brother.
Loki was at their head, her tears reaching the entire world.
A simple photo of her in her funeral dress. All black and mostly lace.
I hope she’s alright.
Our future queen :(
I hate to see her sad…
WE LOVE YOU, CONDOLENCES #riptotheprince
Hugo caught Loki smiling at her phone not even twenty minutes after the funeral concluded. It was live streamed, because there was no such thing as privacy as a princess.
She waved Hugo over frantically when she caught her staring. One of her black arm length gloves was removed already, Loki beamed and turned her screen for Hugo to see.
“The citizens are making sad edits! I really like this one, the song they chose is so beautiful.”
Hugo leaned in to listen, the song was sung with heartrenching emotion, its melodies were so crisp and emotional she could feel the singer’s pain.
“...It is beautiful,” She concluded after the edit finished, it returned to the beginning, the end flowing into it perfectly like the video never ended.
Loki smiled wider, a crease forming under her eyes. “Right? We should really have an editing division in the public relations department… but Vivienne.”
Loki’s smile curved into something softer, something open, something crooked, less perfect.
“Thank you.” Juliana purred, and it was in that moment that Hugo decided exactly where she wanted to be.
She would be by Juilana’s side until the day she couldn’t breathe with life support. Until the country split in half and dragged her down to hell. Until the sky fell and the sun exploded.
“I want to be your advisor.” Hugo blurted.
Loki gave her a surprised look, “When you become queen, I want to be by your side, that is all I ask in return for this.” She continued.
There was deafening silence, only a moment before Loki laughed, “That’s what I was going to offer you, funny enough.”
“My mother has been pestering me for my choice a while now, thank you!”
Hugo now stared shocked, then she laughed.
“You’re welcome.”
—
“So,” Hugo continued, “now we both knew what we wanted to be to each other. I wanted to be by her side and she wanted me there.”
Charlotte frowned, “Should I clap?”
“You should take notes.” Hugo corrected.
—
The final step is to create a need.
Doing so is quite simple, you simply have to take the desire that’s there and let it fester and build until it is too powerful to be contained.
A perfect example of this is but a year later.
Hugo and Loki had become quite close, from studying together, to reading together, to Hugo’s new advisor courses.
It is also imperative to mention that Hugo is…gifted, in more than one sense. One way, the way that Loki seemed to enjoy the most was in her… chest region.
—
“You have big boobs?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
—
So Hugo decided, as a test, she would use her gifts to her advantage. Just to see if Loki would fall for the trap.
The scene was simple, Hugo would wear slightly revealing clothing and observe the reaction of the people around her. Normally Hugo didn’t enjoy using her body as a tool, but for Loki desperate strings were pulled.
Mixed signals were driving Vivienne insane, one day they’d go to a cute cafe together and drink from the same cup, the next Loki would threaten her with execution for not finishing the homework with enough time for her to copy it.
Or maybe threats were her love language, is what Hugo would come to realise. Control and worship aroused Loki, she loved the thought of Hugo following her commands like a dog, Hugo guiding her with absolute devotion.
Devotion is what that was, Hugo pushing her selfishness to the side temporarily to please her princess.
Is what she would say, if she didn’t chicken out halfway through and settle for a tighter shirt and bra than normal.
The effect was still what she had hoped. She had found Loki in the main hall, the one used for balls and big events.
She was alone, it seemed she was deep in thought. Hugo walked to her side and sat on the same step as her.
It was a while before she was noticed, just Loki’s even breathing and the white noise of the lights that have been too dim for two centuries.
“Vivi,” Loki hummed eventually, “I…”
Her eyes trailed down, and they didn’t come back up.
“Nice shirt.” She settled on. Hugo could’ve laughed if her face wasn’t so red.
“...Thank you. It’s been rotting in my closet. I figured I should wear it.” She croaked trying to hide the amusement in her voice.
Of course, Julie noticed, “What’s with that tone?” Her voice lowered in suspicion, but her eyes were still trained onto Hugo’s chest.
“Nothing, you just seem lost in thought. I want to know what you're thinking about.” Hugo stated calmly.
Other than breasts, her brain chimed unhelpfully.
Loki still wasn’t looking up, and didn’t look like she was going to anytime soon so long as Hugo’s bar had a new detail to notice through her shirt, but she did yawn. “I’m going to be enrolled in the military in a few ‘eeks.” She drawled.
“Or was it the navy?” She wondered aloud, then she yawned again, eyes tearing away from Hugo to close as she stretched her back.
“Are you tired, princess?” Hugo asked, barely noticing Loki’s face redden just a hint.
“No…”
Hugo sighed and stood, holding out a hand for Juliana that she stared at in confusion.
“You have to go to sleep, get all the rest you can before you lose the luxury entirely.”
Loki shook her head, “No, I have to… what did I have to do?”
“Check on the preparations for your departure party?”
She nodded and giggled, “Yeah, that, you’re gonna be a great advisor in a few years…”
Hugo blushed, “Stop, I’ll handle it, you get to bed.”
“Seriously,” Loki sang drowsily, “Smart, loyal, eye candy,” The woman’s eyes flickered downwards and Hugo blushed again.
“You’ll make some lucky man so happy one day…” She sighed, a tad of irritation laced in her voice.
“Are you okay?” Hugo asked firmly.
Loki glared at her, the grip on her shoulder cutting off circulation.
Then a sigh, “Yeah, just tired.”
“I’ll do the rest of your chores. You desperately need a nap.”
Loki chuckled, “Yeah.” a breath, “Yeah, I do.”
Hugo did change after Loki went to sleep, he body was to be displayed only for Juliana’s eyes and Juliana’s eyes only.
That was the first seed, the start of the finishing play in Hugo’s little emotional game of chess. Jealousy and desire are an ugly mix, but it is incredible how well they work together when used properly.
A fruit finally began to blossom later. After a long two years of separation, the hard discipline of the military had matured Loki. Her face was sharper, her eyes predatory, her smile a sword not a dagger. A party was thrown in celebration and there was where they’d met again.
Loki was 18, making Hugo 19. The party was meant to make up for every birthday the kingdom had missed when she was away.
She had traded long braids for an elegant pixie cut. Her short hair was straightened and laid semi flat against her scalp, layers flared out in an alternative fashion.
Juliana had smiled when she saw Hugo. Big, genuine. Something that strung Vivienne’s heart like a violin.
She had approached, her steps careful, measured twice. Loki in her throws of gold, in her wraps of royal blue silk swimming in blinding white.
A slit in the dress displayed the side of one of Loki’s absolutely perfect dark brown legs. Hugo’s eyes drew down the curve of her hips.
She swallowed.
Loki got closer and the oxygen was sucked out of the room. She was beautiful, too beautiful.
Then there was only a breath between them, and Loki’s body was against hers.
Hugo exhaled softly into Loki’s neck, then grasped the smaller body on hers. They held each for what felt like forever, it could’ve lasted forever, she wouldn’t mind.
Loki’s voice was different, it was powerful, but soft, calm and dominant. The voice of a true queen.
“Vivi,” she breathed lightly, the air constricted around Hugo’s nose, “Long time no see.”
Vivienne smiled softly, genuinely, “Long time no see, princess.”
The dark skinned woman laughed a bit, “You’ll never stop calling me that, will you?”
Hugo shook her head, “Not unless you tell me not to.”
Juliana hummed thoughtfully, “I’ll allow it, at least until I become queen.”
“What shall I address you as when that happens?”
Tension simmered between them, years of separation on top of unresolved lust and romantic passion twisted and churned into a filthy brew. It smoked into the air between them, magnetic almost, pulling them towards each other.
Loki was impossibly closer, too close for the public. Hugo tried to back away but Juliana held her still.
“How have you been?” Hugo changed the subject.
“Well,” Loki played along, “The Navy was difficult, but the discipline I learned there was a once in a lifetime lesson. I think it better prepared me to be queen.”
“That’s wonderful.” Hugo smiled, finally gaining the strength to move back out of Loki’s arms.
Juliana nodded, “It is, how have you been doing, though? Are the classes still running.”
Hugo’s face soured, “Yes, but, something else has happened.”
Loki smiled sweetly, “What is it?”
Hugo almost felt bad, ruining the joy of being reunited with bad news.
“My older brother, have I told you about him?”
Loki nodded, “The one who was lost at sea during travel for trade, yes I remember.”
Hugo sighed, “They found him, it’s been years but with new technology they were able to locate him.”
“That’s not good…” Juliana hesitated.
“My father wants him to take my position as your advisor, since y’know, he’s—”
“Male.” Loki finished, and Hugo nodded slightly.
“It’s mostly because he wants to marry me off, there is this Italian–"
“Enough, Hugo.” Juliana’s voice rang firm, and Hugo froze.
“So you want to be my advisor?” She asked.
Hugo nodded, blushing, “Yes, more than anything.”
Juliana smiled, that soothed her only slightly.
“Do you wish to marry this man your father has lined up?”
Hugo stared into Juliana’s intense golden eyes, searching for malice, for mocking, for relief. To her delight, all she could find in Loki’s holy eyes was the crawling, overwhelming sin of envy.
“No, princess.” Hugo said.
“Then you don’t have to worry about that anymore.” Juliana smiled wider.
The king died a year later, the kingdom mourned him as they always do. As his ashes fell a new flame was born, Queen Juliana of France.
With her crowning was the speech of history books, a declaration, a promise that France would be the strongest nation in the world so long as she ruled, and that she would rule forever.
Hugo was right there by her side at the podium, at the altar, hands in hers during their first dance as married.
It was grand, because Loki always liked grand. She was similar to her father in that sense.
The princess of Japan, the Baroness of Spain, the head knight of Italy, and the princess of German, all attended the wedding of history books.
The first ever French queen to marry another woman. The first French queen to name herself empress. The first ever French queen to wipe out half of her countries population and have her approval rating still be through the charts.
Loki was truly destined to be queen.
—-
Charlotte rocked back and forth in her chair, “Ok cool, but how does this help me pull?”
“I just gave you the steps,” Vivienne started to stand, “It is your choice on how you go through with them,”
The blonde grumbled, “I should've asked Julie, or better yet Ryusui.”
Hugo blinked, “Julie is a bit busy, I don’t think she’d be able to help.”
“Better than you, you did absolutely nothing but flashed her once in your teens. That’s not the big contribution you think it is.”
Hugo sighed, “You have a lot to learn still, and not enough time.”
Charlotte growled and was interrupted with a: “You’ll get it one day.”
The as of recent princess of France growled louder, and Hugo stood from her spot on the ground.
“It's late,” She commented, “I’m going to bed.”
Charlotte’s growl softened, it was fascinating how the child she had adopted acted so much like Loki. An example of nature vs. nurture in the flesh. Her cat-like eyes lowered, Charlotte nodded, “Alright, thank you Vivi.”
Hugo wanted to smile, she could’ve smiled, something small and weak replaced it, “Of course, good luck with that Italian girl.”
The halls of the palace were silent, at this hour they always were. Hugo remembered the golden banners hung from the walls, now bold royal blue. The white remained, but it shared its dominance with pure gold.
Her steps clipped against clean marble, the only other sound being the air filtering through her thin, purely stylish jacket.
Guards bowed as she walked, holding their breaths like she could have their throats slit with a nod. She could, but she wouldn’t.
A noble passed her, and she stopped him. He shook when she asked him, “Where is the empress at the moment.”
“T-To my understanding of your grace, she is in her study.” He avoided her bottomless black eyes at all costs, Vivienne hummed.
“Thank you.”
The noble scrambled away, just quick enough to be as fast as possible without raising offense. Hugo continued her stroll to the empress' study.
White doors towered over the rest, even if the room itself was modest, Loki loved being the best, the biggest. The one others looked at half with envy, half with fear.
Vivenne pushed through the doors without knocking, Loki was sitting, back straight, eyes completely cast onto the document before her.
Servants stood still as rock around the room, mimicking the six guards sharing the company. One stood by Juliana, holding her pen as she rubbed her temple.
“Knock, knock.” Hugo announced, Loki didn’t look up.
“Vivi, what do you need?” She sighed, leaning back into the stiff rolling chair.
Hugo looked around the room, then back to Loki who now was staring back, “... It’s late, it would be optimal for you to get the proper rest.”
Loki sighed harder this time, “I’m busy love, I’ll be just another hour I swear.”
Hugo pursed her lips, “At least seven hours of sleep is required for you to perform your best the next day.”
“Thirty, exactly, I swear.” Loki pleaded.
“I’m just saying…” Hugo tapped the side of the door, “It’s illogical to wait until the very last minute to rest, it strains your deadline and leaves room for error–”
Juliana stood, shaking her head. She waved a hand to the servant holding the pencil, “Put those back where I took them out.”
Her voice was stony, it had grown to that over the years, when addressing young servants to be firm to raise the margin of success in their tasks.
“It would be optimal if you did so quickly and accurately.” Loki smiled, and the servant tried to smile back but was shaking too hard to make an expression other than terror.
This didn’t bother Loki, or rather she didn’t take the time to torture the poor girl like she normally would. She obeyed her lover's wish and stepped out into the hall, Hugo held the door for her.
Loki waved off the guards moving to follow, and Hugo took her rightful place at Loki’s right side.
It was silent as they walked, that was fine.
No sound was made between the couple except the click of fancy shoes and the soft breaths they shared.
Hugo tried to stare subtlety, at those eyes, those lips, that nose, that jaw.
Hugo was never subtle, Loki stared back. Her cat-like eyes trailing along Hugo’s face.
Their steps were leisurely, not a care in the world despite Hugo’s insistence on getting to bed. Vivienne stepped to the side to be even closer to her empress.
“Do you remember our wedding day?” Vivienne whispered into the night.
Juliana turned her eyes back forward, smiling, “Feeling nostalgic?”
“A bit.” She admitted. Hugo drew one of her hands to rest on Loki’s hip, pulling her even closer. Loki laughed.
“Remind me?” She purred into Hugo’s shoulder.
—
The day was the definition of perfect.
Clear sunny skies, birds singing louder, rose petals covered the streets, the palace buzzed with activity.
Hugo woke up herself, just in time for servants to knock at her door. When she answered they burst through like a tsunami, sweeping her up and quickly dragging her, still dreary with sleep, to her lavish bathroom.
Her room had upgraded since Loki became queen, it was around twice as big with thrice as comfortable sheets. Her bathroom also had comforts they didn't have before, such as a bathtub and a shower, and a bluetooth mirror that she would never use.
This was a temporary room, now that Loki had taken Hugo as her spouse, as her wife (Vivienne blushed to herself), they would be sleeping in the same chambers in twelve hours time.
First they had spent an hour rubbing oils and scented lotions into her skin, bathing and shaving every crevice of Hugo.
She carefully ate a light meal of fruits as they fussed with her hair, she had lost feeling in her scalp by the time they were finished. Even then they only reluctantly stepped away because they were running out of time before the ceremony.
Vivienne was measured, poked prodded, her weight was discussed, some vitamins were added to her plate.
“To clean your insides as well,” A shairdresser nodded dismissively, Hugo figured any other questions would only serve to fluster her.
Three of Loki’s favorite stylists came together at her instruction. It took hours designing a dress Hugo absolutely loved, something the queen would be pleased to look at as well. It took even longer time to manufacture it.
The corset nearly cracked her ribs, her intestines were pushed down, so much gold was sprinkled throughout the dress and her gloves and her hair.
Time was nearly running out when it got to makeup. Hugo’s face was powdered two shades lighter, making her dark eyes look even emptier. Her lips were painted red, mascara worked to make her lashes look impossibly longer.
Vivienne didn’t recognize herself in the mirror, In her place sat a doll. A dressed up toy about to be shown off to the world.
The ceremony was set for one p.m, sharp. That was when Hugo and the queen of France would be married as the first lesbian royal couple.
It was surprising how little nervousness Hugo felt, in her chest was a slight buzz of excitement, of overwhelming happiness she knew too little about to process.
“Are you ready ma’am.” A woman dressed in all black called for her from the door. Hugo took one last glance in the mirror, blank eyes glanced back, something like light in them for the first time in her life.
She nodded once.
The woman nodded in return, rushing off to who knows where. Vivienne took in a breath, her lungs pressed against the dress corset, she exhaled a second later.
Then she stood.
—
Loki chuckled, Hugo glanced down at her, leaning on Hugo’s shoulder, eyes closed as she walked because she trusted that Hugo would guide her.
“What is it?” Hugo inquired.
Loki giggled hard, “No, it just, I love listening to you speak.”
Hugo’s brows furrowed, “Are you mocking me?”
Loki smiled warmly, “Never, please continue.” She sighed in delight.
—
There were so many lights, she remembered.
None of the cameras compared to the beauty just steps away.
She didn’t have to walk down the alise, no that was saved for the queen, Loki would never torture her like that.
Is what she thought, before she went through the longest minutes of her life.
Loki took her time with her steps, each deliberate and powerful. Meant to put on a show and send a message, ‘yes she is getting married, no this isn’t a joke.’
The process of the message being sent involved Hugo sitting still and waiting for Loki to finish peacocking. That was the true torture.
Her dress was made of intricate laced designs over ruffles of cotton. Her hair was wrapped down, every curl flowing on her scalp like waves to be mapped. Loki’s eyes were shaped with eyeliner that ran thin over her lid.
Juliana’s skin glowed in the sun, sharp lights making her shine like a mirror.
When those golden eyes finally, finally met her, everything else fell away.
The crowd was silenced from their chatter, the lights faded away, reporters stopped trying to get her attention.
She only belonged to one woman now, Juliana Loki as she stepped down to the altar that resembled the Lord’s throne.
The ceremony was over before she needed it, vows and prayers spilling from her lips more passionately than she had rehearsed them.
Hugo had captured those lips, finally, and it was as if the earth had stopped spinning.
She doesn’t remember the royalty in the front row clapping, or the hateful glances of their relatives, or the press getting every angle of their moment.
Something so sacred between them, her and Loki, married, being broadcasted for the world to see didn’t bother her as much as it should’ve.
As long as her wife was there by her side.
—
The couple’s room came into view at some point, at the door Hugo asked, “Do you remember our wedding night?”
Loki smiled wider and sighed pleasantly, “I could never forget.”
Vivienne asked, “You remember that but not the actual wedding?”
“I remember our first moments alone truly together as a unit, yes.”
Vivienne took her hand off of Loki’s waist, instead it moved to caress Loki’s jaw. The queen leaned her face into Hugo’s palm passively.
“Well, I still want to talk about it…”
“Please,” Loki drawled, leaning further into Hugo’s hand and peeking up at her teasingly, “I’s like it if you did.”
Hugo pushed open the door to their room.
—
Hugo remembered carrying Loki to their room.
The queen had laughed in her arms, and Hugo promised herself she would do everything in her power to keep her laughing like that.
She had laid her gently on the mattress, as she deserved. Crawling in between her perfect legs, nudging them open with her thigh.
They had kissed again, powerful, passionate, Hugo pushed her every desire into the kiss, Loki had allowed it and accepted it with open arms.
Vivienne felt those hands against her, elegant but strong. Against her breasts, her hips, the side of her face. Hugo returned what she was given.
Loki gasped when Hugo’s tongue breached her mouth, it met hers and they danced for control. Loki was getting louder, her gasps picking up into moans when Hugo touched her body more aggressively, a swipe up her shirt, a squeeze to the nape of her neck.
When the women pulled back from each other a string of saliva connected their mouths. Loki looked so beautiful, panting and red, the sight was enough to feed Vivienne for days. The string was broken as Hugo pressed a kiss to the corner of the other’s mouth.
Then she pressed lower, like an experiment. A soft press of lips to her cheek. Then to her jaw, then her throat.
At that Loki sighed, sinking into the pillows below her. Hugo dragged her lips on that spot, once, twice. Then she moves lower to Juliana’s left collar, her tongue ran flat along the bone making Juliana shiver.
—
Loki hummed, “Your memory is hazy, I wasn’t that reactive.”
“Yes you were,” Vivienne sighed into her gorgeous neck.
There was a flick to her forehead, she just buried her head deeper into her empress’ body.
She would stay there, for as long as Loki would allow her to.