A/N: Hi! I really hope you all are enjoying this so far. I wanted to make a story that began by exploring the more domestic side of Time Lord life, before it got to adventure. And don't worry, the Master will certainly be crazy in upcoming chapters, but there will be certain events that makes him so. I would beyond appreciate it if anyone could send me feedback, since it is my first story on this website. Thank you for reading!
I'd also like to thank icohbh for making my day with your review. You were so encouraging, and I appreciate it so much!
Oliviana shifted from foot to foot, uncomfortable in her best Time Lord traditional dress. While she normally got away with wearing simple dresses, today she would not be able to. The Feast of Omega only came around once every century, and the last one had been just before Thandel was murdered.
No, there would be no way of getting to wear anything but the scarlet velvet gown. She disliked the weight of the golden bead embellishments and, even more, she hated the gold lacing winding through the back of the dress's bodice. Oliviana wondered who could have possibly thought it was a good idea to make the traditional dress both heavy and restricting, but then remembered- it had to have been a male.
A gently knock at her door rose her from her thoughts. Lady Oakdown gracefully entered the room. "Oliviana, you look beautiful in that dress," her musical voice complimented as she turned the young Time Lady around to assess her from all angles.
Upon seeing Oliviana's undone hair, Lady Oakdown affectionately clucked her tongue. "Although your hair could use a little work. Sit down over there and I'll do it for you."
Oliviana sat silently as Lady Oakdown worked her long dark hair into an elegant up-do and chattered about the guests who would be in attendance at their celebration later.
"And I know you're not on the best of terms with Lady Rysra, but her family is important and apparently have an announcement to make."
Grimacing, Oliviana thought of no one she would rather see less than Koschei's ex-fiancee. "As long as she stays away from Koschei and me, there won't be any problems."
Lady Oakdown laughed lightly. She added golden jewels to Oliviana's hair. "I'm sure she won't try anything, dear. Everyone knows not to come between the two of you."
"We're not that bad, are we?" Oliviana blushed.
In the early years of her stay at the Oakdown manor, Oliviana had been uncomfortable and bashful at the best of times. But after one century's time, she finally felt at ease with the Oakdown family.
Lady Everton smirked knowingly, but didn't reply verbally because Oliviana already knew the answer to her question- of course they were.
Koschei had always been possessive over what was his, and that tendency was only exacerbated concerning Oliviana. In addition, Oliviana relied on Koschei for comfort and love as she had done ever since her father cast her out of her house and since Lady Everton was sent to a hospital in another galaxy for treatment.
"So maybe we are that bad actually," Oliviana conceded, examining her finished hair in the mirror, pleased with the results.
Lady Oakdown patted her on the shoulder. "I wish your father would finally consent to a marriage alliance between you and my son. It's too bad that he's been acting in such a rotten manner."
Oliviana agreed and sighed loudly. "The only way he would agree would be for him to die. If that would happen, I could legally consent to a marriage alliance, since my mother lacks the capability to make, or consent to, legal arrangements."
"With the way things are going in the political sphere, I fear all men will be at risk in the coming years," Lady Oakdown confided quietly.
She was still for a moment before throwing her hands in the air and plastering a smile on her face. "Enough of that, let's get downstairs before all of the guests arrive. It's in bad form to do otherwise," she said, leading Oliviana out of her room.
"Have you gotten a present for Koschei?" Lady Oakdown inquired. They were standing at the top of the grand staircase overlooking the dimly-lit ballroom below.
Oliviana nodded and pulled out a small, dark box from her clutch. It was ancient Gallifreyan tradition to give only one present, just for the one person who means the most to you, in celebration of the holiday.
Oliviana had the symbolism explained to her time and again by Thandel, but she was always too distracted by the holiday's happenings to actually listen.
"Good! Shall we?" Lady Oakdown linked her arm with Oliviana's and they descended the staircase slowly. Oliviana searched the small crowd gathered below for Koschei, but she couldn't immediately see him.
She turned to Lady Oakdown when they stepped onto the shiny ballroom floor. "I'm going to find Koschei, if that's alright with you?" Lady Oakdown smiled knowingly and waved her on.
Oliviana's gaze flicked around the room as she decided who she would dislike talking with the least, as she awaited Koschei's arrival.
"Dear me, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me, Oliviana."
Closing her eyes to muster up all of her patience, Oliviana knew she couldn't cause a scene in responding to Rysra's taunting tone. She knew that once she turned to face Rysra, she would have to be polite as Rysra flipped her honey-colored tresses and pouted her glossy red lips, as Rysra flaunted her most likely luxurious gown, which would be decorated with a multitude of expensive diamonds and jewels that would sparkle, accentuating her generous feminine curves. Curves that Oliviana was currently lacking.
Oliviana inhaled deeply and turned to face her rival. What Oliviana saw was definitely not what she had expected to see.
Rysra sneered. "Oh, didn't anyone tell you? I'm pregnant. Do close your mouth, it's very unladylike to have it hanging open so."
"You're pregnant?" Oliviana shot back snidely. "Dear me, I thought you just let yourself go once you married Theta."
Rysra laughed and raised her dainty eyebrows. "At least I am married."
"Like that actually matters. Everyone knows that Theta had to settle for anyone after he was exiled. I suppose you seduced him, thinking he was still my fiancé," Oliviana mused, a cruel smirk on her face as she circled around Rysra like a predator around prey.
"But it backfired, didn't it, Rysra? You got pregnant, knowing he would have to break off his engagement with me and marry you. Only he did marry you, just before you found out about how low his social stock actually dropped."
Rysra's grin faded and she clutched her drink with whitening knuckles. "You really are a piece of work, Oliviana," she spat. "No wonder you can't live with your family anymore."
Oliviana cocked her head to the side in amusement. "No, instead I get to live with the family that you were supposed to marry into before you mucked it all up. Thank you so much for that, by the way. I couldn't be this amazing without your help."
Rysra opened her mouth to respond, but caught sight of someone over Oliviana's shoulder and clamped her lips together immediately.
"Looking for anyone in particular, my Lady Duchess?" a warm breath tickled Oliviana's neck.
Oliviana spun around and threw her arms around Koschei's neck in greeting, purposely exaggerating her movements to spite Rysra. "Koschei, thank goodness you finally found me! I was having the most dull conversation imaginable."
Koschei grinned as he realized what Oliviana was doing. Placing a hand on the small of her back, Koschei dipped Oliviana as his lips captured hers in a heated kiss. Oliviana, of course, tangled her fingers in his dark hair, deepening the kiss.
Koschei smiled smugly against Oliviana's lips as he heard Rysra sigh in aggravation. Oliviana straightened away from Koschei slightly and looked at Rysra, mirth blazing in her eyes. "Oh, you're still here, Rysra? You just love hating me, don't you?"
Rysra growled, looking between Koschei and Oliviana, before turning away swiftly and stomping through the crowd in the opposite direction.
"You are incorrigible, Oliviana," Koschei remarked, a slight hint of pride in his voice.
Oliviana's eyes flicked to Koschei's, an alluringly mischievous smirk still gracing her lips, tantalizing Koschei's self-control. "I learned from the best, didn't I?" she all but purred, knowing she was driving him wild.
Lowering his gaze to her plump lips, he bowed his head to press his to hers once more, not caring one iota who saw their improper embrace. "You look ravishing tonight, Liviana," he murmured in a husky voice that made Oliviana imagine what other sounds he could make under certain, indecorous, circumstances.
"Ravishing," Oliviana repeated slowly, "now there's an idea."
Koschei's dark eyes smoldered, making Oliviana's hearts pound harder in her chest, a feat considering how tightly-laced up she was. She knew she was tempting Koschei, knew she shouldn't be acting in such a manner with someone who she wasn't arranged to marry, but she didn't care anymore. She was the Duchess, and she'd be damned if she didn't get everything she wanted.
Koschei took her hand and led her briskly through the much-increased crowd of Gallifrey's elite families, all coming together to show-off and discuss politics and scandal under the guise of celebrating the Feast of Omega.
Lining the walls of the ballroom were heavy curtains of crimson and ermine that obscured covert cavities in the walls where guests could relax away from prying eyes. Koschei languidly draped himself across the single velvet chaise-lounge and shot a challenging look at Oliviana, encouraging her submission to his desires.
She knew he expected her to sit at the edge of the cushion so he could take control and pull her to him, ravishing her until she whimpered his name.
And that's exactly why she tossed her clutch aside, turning away from him to secure the curtains and door, shut completely.
"Oliviana, you know I don't like waiting."
She faced him, slowly strolling to his side. "And you know I don't like being told what to do, Master," she teased demurely. Placing her palm against his chest to prevent him from rising, Oliviana straddled his hips in one swift movement.
"Now," Oliviana purred, unfastening the golden buttons that held the front of his robe shut over the simple shirt beneath it, running her hands under the robe once she had succeeded, "what do you have hidden from me here?"
Koschei narrowed his eyes as Oliviana grasped the small dark box hidden in the folds of his garment. "Why don't you open it and see?"
Oliviana grinned with excitement as she took the small box wrapped in parchment and sat up in anticipation of unwrapping it, still straddling Koschei's hips. "What is it?" she asked, referring to the multiple pages of parchment.
"I've been meaning to talk to you about that, Oliviana. I've spent some time devising a plan for us in case war erupts."
"Are you so sure Gallifrey will go to war?" she asked, her voice wavering with confusion. "I won't lose you too."
"I know, Duchess," Koschei conceded, his voice softening. "That's why we're going to run away together at the first sign of impending violence."
Oliviana's eyes closed slowly, deciding that Koschei would be her best bet for keeping her alive if it came to that. "But what if the High Council imposes a mandatory draft?" she worried, her voice rising in pitch. "Koschei, I'm not sure I could fight in a battle, let alone a war."
"Don't read the parchment now, save it for when you're alone. They contain the plans for escape," he instructed affectionately. "Open the box now, if you'd like."
Oliviana's delicate hands trembled as she gingerly lifted the lid. Her hearts stopped and her eyes blinked rapidly as she stared at the item inside.
Koschei gently took the ring from the box and help it in front of them. "It's a white point star diamond. I know it was silly for me to have purchased such an item considering your father's disapproval, but when I saw it, I didn't care. One day when we are safe, I will make your father give us his consent, and we will be married. I don't care how long I have to wait, as long as I can legally call you mine according to the laws of our people."
Koschei took Oliviana's hand and slipped it onto her finger. Oliviana looked from the ring to Koschei, bringing her hands around the back of his head to press her lips against his. "I love it, thank you, Koschei," she whispered against his lips and kissed him once more.
"I have a present for you too," she said, pulling the small box from her clutch. She handed it to Koschei who opened it immediately.
"It's a life locket, like the one my brother gave me," Oliviana explained, referring to the locket she had thrown into the lake after Thandel's funeral. "The one he gave me glowed when he was alive, but I thought you would prefer something a little more subtle. It's designed to be carried in a pocket and feels warm. If anything happens to me, it'll go cold."
Koschei rolled the locket between his fingers pensively. "No matter where we are, I'll be able to know you're still alive," he murmured, placing the dark locket in the pocket against his chest.
Oliviana nodded softly and stretched her body on top of his once more; their embrace wasn't heated like it was moments ago, but it was more tender, more special. "Koschei, can we just stay here forever?"
Koschei rubbed circles into Oliviana's back and pulled her closer to him. "I'll see what I can do, Duchess."