III. 3 Days Left… [Part I]


A/N: This is supposed to be Legacy Day… buuuuut my brain wanted Corvus to piss Headmaster Grimm AND Apple further. And wants to add more scenes so I can set up a world similar to canon EAH but has some glaring differences. I'm guessing we have... either one or more chapter before Legacy Day.

Sidenote: I've edited the first two chapters and changed what I think needed to be changed.

WARNING/S:

-Alcohol drinking.

-Smoking.


[72 Hours… (10:00 a.m.)]


"I, Apple White, am ready to pledge my destiny to become the next Snow White!"

The skies are clear above them, proudly presenting a brilliant light blue. The birds resting on tree branches can be heard chirping, some are in the middle of a flight with their flock. The gentle breeze passing by makes Corvus want to go take a nap somewhere in open fields. Preferably under a tree shade.

Nonetheless, he promised a certain someone he'd be present during Legacy Day practice. So, now he's here, standing on a stage in an open auditorium, painstakingly watching said certain someone joyfully declare her destiny. Albeit to an empty open-space.

Honestly, there are just times where Corvus wants to just throw the towel and just give up. This entire boring farce has been done repeatedly for eight days now. Had he not promised to Apple that he'll practice, he'd be somewhere right now. Hex, he'd take watching a bookball game than this- and he finds bookball utterly dull! You'd think that the tenth time Apple has sworn her destiny, she'd be tame about it, but nope! She's as energetic as she was days ago!

"Corvus Queen!"

'Oh, that's my cue.' Corvus thought, blinking sleepily. With a small, bored sigh, he trudged forward, hands in his coat pockets. 'One week of practice is more than enough. What the hex are we gonna do other than walk up to the podium, sign the damn book then leave!? Are we going to bust out some dance moves?' He blinked at that thought. 'Well… that'll be a sight- the entire cast of fairytales breaking into a dance.'

He looked at the ridiculously heavy-bound tome of 'reasonable' school rules. "Sweet Fairy Godmother…" He muttered underneath his breath. Who has the time to memorize all of these!?

Behind him, Headmaster loudly cleared his throat. Corvus gave him a bored look, holding his hand out, hexpecting the 'key' to the 'Storybook of Legends'. Grimm handed it to him with a scathing glare.

'Hey,' a small voice whispered in his thoughts, 'you know what would be entertaining right now? Make a show of it.'

Corvus smothered the mischievous smirk bubbling up on his face. He faced the empty auditorium, taking his time to rake his eyes over it, leaning on the podium. He can feel their confused, and slightly worried, gazes. He is, after all, known to do something completely unhexpecting at the absolute worst of times. Corvus tapped the edge of the key on the edge of the podium.

Tap.

He hears Headmaster Grimm sigh angrily under his breath.

Tap.

He hears footsteps coming near.

Tap.

"Mister Queen. You're holding up the line."

Tap.

Another angry sigh, this time louder.

Tap.

"Mister Queen-!"

"Headmaster." Corvus turned to him, speaking in his most 'innocent' voice along with an equally 'innocent' smile. It was a sight they've never seen before, earning unnerved looks from the onlookers. Corvus smothered a grin. Good. "I have a question."

"Yes…?" Grimm hissed through gritted teeth.

Corvus took a deep breath, feeling anticipation thrumming through his veins. "What would happen if we don't sign the Storybook of Legends?" He asked.

A beat of silence.

Then the horrified gasps collectively sounded throughout the stage. Corvus raked his gaze on the crowd, observing his handiwork with a small smirk. The people behind them whispered and hissed amongst one another, casting him terrified looks. When his gaze landed on Apple, he faltered. She staring at him with hurt so fairy evident on her face. Her mouth is set on a thin line, brows slightly furrowed, and eyes beseeching for… something.

Corvus looked away from her, turning his sights to the headmaster. "Do you royally want to know?" The headmaster looked at him gravely. Yes, he's angry but the seriousness on his looks caused Corvus to blink. He raised a clenched fist, keeping it in place for a second, before spreading his fingers apart. "We will all. Go. Poof."

A louder, much more frightened collective gasp echoed throughout the stage. Corvus held his blank stare for just a moment longer.

He threw his head back and laughed. "That's a stupid way of saying we will disappear, Headmaster." He wiped a fake tear from his eye.

Without waiting for a reply, Corvus turned back to the 'Storybook of Legends.' "I, Corvus Queen, swear to pledge, yada, yada, next Evil Queen, yada, yada." He flippantly waved a hand, using the 'key' to 'unlock' the book. He mimicked signing on the book using the 'key'. "And done!"

He tossed the key to Grimm, who took it after a fumble, and jumped off the stage. "Where are you going!?" He demanded.

Corvus used magic to land safely. "I still have classes!" He shouted above. "You forget, Headmaster, I'm a senior- not a sophomore like them!"

"You're hexcused from your classes for the hour until after Legacy Day, Mister Queen!" Grimm's voice grew fainter and fainter. "Get back here!"

Corvus didn't even look back.


[68 Hours… (2:00 p.m.)]


After being released from Headmaster Grimm's office- where he was yelled at for nearly an hour- Corvus made his way to his room, intent on sleeping. Hopefully until next week. Screw Legacy Day!

The sound of the door slowly opening had him tensing, though. He lifted his head, just in time to look at Apple straight in the eye. The look of hurt on her face earlier flickered in his mind's eye. He swallowed uncomfortably. The niggling feeling of his gut being slowly churned crept upon him.

"Good afternoon, Corvus." She greeted simply before walking to her desk. There was no animosity in her voice, only the usual warmth. He blinked, swinging his legs over the edge of his bed, staring at Apple questioningly. She glanced at him over her shoulder. "If you're worried about earlier," she turned back to her desk and pulled out her MirrorPad, "don't be. You were just doing your role as a villain… right?" He stood, grabbing his coat and making a beeline for the door. "Corvus, really, it's f-"

"I'm the last person you'd want to see." He donned his coat, not turning around. "I'll give you some space."

He exited the room, closing the door behind him. He stayed there, resting his back on the door. The bone-deep weariness still rests on his shoulders. He rubbed his eyes using his thumb and pointing finger.

Corvus internally debated where to go. The Lifairy's a good choice; he can bury himself in books in relative silence. The only problem is that he doesn't want to read, he wants a soft spot to lie on. The school gardens is another location but he doesn't royally want to see Rakish or Ella. Not yet. The Mirror Lab is also another place where he won't be disturbed. The two people who usually use it, Dexter Charming and Humphrey Dumpty, never-after bothers him and gives him a wide berth. He can always stop by the Mad Hatter's Teashop, maybe he'd be able to hang out with Raven and her frie-

Raven.

He walked away from his room, finally deciding where to go. Raven's dorm room is more than perfect. She has no roommate so far, so he's free to go there and take a nap. If she's there, that is.


[Est. 68 Hours… (2:28 p.m.)]


At the sight of his little sister, turned away from him, a mischievous grin formed on his face. Though, at the sight of whoever-after she's talking to, that grin dropped. Completely.

The lopsided grin on Dexter Charming's face is adorable, Corvus is going to admit. What isn't adorable, however, is the growing urge to keep him away from his little sister.

'Oh, fuck,' Corvus thought, watching Dexter act like a lovesick fool with his blushing, 'SERIOUSLY!? Are you kidding me!? A Charming!? And it's Daring's younger brother, too. Fairy Godmother, why the fuck!?'

He walked closer, making sure to tense his shoulders and clench his fists. For good measure, he put on his fiercest glare. As he grew closer, Dexter's eyes flicked over to him and whatever-after's adoration there is quickly replaced by slight fear. Raven- observant as she is- turned around, her smile fading into hexasperation.

"Corvus." She greeted coolly.

"Little sister!" He grinned, more to bare his fangs- not necessarily to Raven but to pretty boy behind her. He enveloped Raven in a tight hug while sending a sharp thousand-yard-stare at Charming. Dexter averted his gaze and stepped back, unease written all over his face. Corvus pulled away, hands on Raven's shoulders. "How are you?"

"Why are you here?" She demanded in a firm voice.

Corvus gasped dramatically. "What? Can't I visit my little sister?"

"Not after the stunt you pulled." She sighed, rubbing her forehead. She turned to Dexter with a sweet smile, earning Corvus's narrowed stare. "Thank you for walking with me, Dex. You royally didn't have to."

Dexter sent her an awkward grin. "A-Any time, Raven!" He pointed behind him, eyes constantly flickering between Corvus's hostile stare and Raven's sweet smile. "I-I'll just- I'llseeyouaroundbye!"

He bolted away, like there's fire licking at his heels.

Corvus turned away, snickering. "Corvus!" Raven whirled at him, slapping him at the arm. He yelped, rubbing at the spot. "Don't do that again!"

"A Charming, really?" He followed her inside, closing the door behind him. "They're enemy, Rae."

Raven scoffed, taking a seat on her office chair. "That's not how you treat Rakish." She summoned parchment and quill, along with an inkwell, setting it on her desk. "In fact, I walked in on you two," she turned around to send him a glare, "making out just this summer vacation!"

Corvus sputtered, cheeks red. "I- I-! Rakish and I are nothing more than friends!"

"Friends who kiss each other?"

He stomped his way to her bed, falling face forward on the soft, soft mattress. "I am his teenage rebellion and he is my…" he lifted his head, squinting his eyes, "way of sticking it to those damn Charmings."

She looked at him blankly. "You need professional help."

"Ra-"

"I'm serious!" She hissed, annoyance settled momentarily on her face. Then, she turned to the side, lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed. "Corvus… what if… what if you don't sign the book?" She glanced at him beseechingly.

Corvus blinked, alarmed. He pushed himself up, sitting on the mattress with his legs crossed. "Raven…" He frowned at her, leaning to her direction. "I don't like where this is going…"

"When you asked Headmaster Grimm…" She continued, like she just hadn't heard what he said, "I thought- I thought you'd be brave enough to not…"

"We'd cease to hexist." Corvus pointed out. "I don't know why, but the fate of our world hangs onto that stupid fucking book! And, since the privilege of being the biggest bad goes to me, it is my duty to-"

"It's not about duty!" She interrupted. Corvus looked at her. Royally looked at her. Her shoulders are shaking, her jaw is clenched, and her hands gripped the chair's side-rests until her knuckles whitened. "It's about not being able to be yourself! It's about feeling trapped! Do you want to be a villain? Do you want to be like mom?"

He flinched. That statement hurt so much, tears stung at his eyes. "Of course not!" He snapped, teeth bared. He quickly realized what we did, however, causing him to look away in shame. "I'll never be like her."

A thick silence fell upon them.

"I think…" Her voice is so small yet it seemed to bounce off the walls. "I think if I were in your place…" He snapped his gaze to her, stricken. She held his gaze determinedly. "I wouldn't… I wouldn't sign the book."

At once, he's close to her, holding her by her shoulders. "Do not," he snarled, despite the tears stinging his eyes, "ever-after say that, Raven! You will not be in my place! You will not be put in a position where you shall ever-after feel like you don't have a choice- not while I'm here!" His voice was hoarse with emotion but damn it, he's going to say it! "It's… It's my job to look after you."

His grip on her shoulder sleeves tightened. "Besides..." He sent her a weak grin. "Your destiny is so much better already. Don't throw that away."

For a while, their labored breathing was the only sounds in the room.

"But whose job is it to look after you?" She asked. His already weak grin faded away entirely. He bit his lower lip, almost hard enough to draw blood, as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"I'll be fine." He whispered, pulling away with a tight smile. "I've always been. Let your big brother handle this. I mean it this time."

With those words, he turned around and made his way to her door.

"You've seen what happened to mom!" She yelled, causing him to glance at her. Raven's face scrunched up in anger and sadness. "She was evil because she has no choice and now she's imprisoned!"

"She's imprisoned because she tried to take both Wonderland and Ever After." Corvus countered, turning around completely. "She's imprisoned because she was greedy. She was imprisoned because she tried to…" He faltered, seeing the hurt and sadness deepen in her eyes. "I won't become her. I wouldn't- I won't-" He cut himself off with a gasp, spending a few moments just looking at her desperately. "Don't you trust me, Rae?"

She kept silent, mulling his words over. "I do, Corv." She assented. "After your story has ended, will… will you be able to be free? Free to choose? Free to be yourself?"

he said nothing, merely swallowing down saliva. He can't lie to her- not about this. He's never-after fond of lying at Raven's face either way. So, he said nothing.

"Corvus…?"

"I'll see later, Rae." He fled the room, leaving her to call out behind him.


[64 Hours… (10:20 p.m.)]


The sun has long since set. What was once a brilliant orange-yellow color is now dark blue littered with twinkling stars and the occasional passing cloud. The air around him has gotten cooler, causing him to pull his coat around his body tighter. The school had just hit its curfew, yet Corvus is still perched up on one of the trees in the Enchanted Forrest.

His emotions are a jumbled mess of anger, frustration, and sadness. The conversation from earlier kept repeating on his head, chanting itself like a mantra. It wasn't that long since then but his mind has morphed Raven's sad tone into an accusatory one.

"Do you want to be a villain? Do you want to be like mom?"

"No," Corvus muttered, closing his eyes, "I don't. Stop it."

"She was evil because she has no choice and now she's imprisoned!"

"I know that," Corvus hugged his thighs closer to his chest, "shut up." He pressed his face on his knees, letting his pants soak in his tears. "Please, just, shut up."

'She has a point,' a niggling voice whispered in his ear, 'you know. Raven always had a point. Mom was imprisoned because she adhered to her destiny- and so will you.' He remained silent, trying to even his erratic breathing. 'Oh, wait, mom was imprisoned because of what you did.'

"I GET IT, OKAY!?" He yelled, snapping his head upwards. "I GET IT! I'M A VILLAIN AND IT'S MY JOB TO BE AS MUCH OF A DIPSHIT AS POSSIBLE BUT I DON'T NEED MY FUCKING MIND TO MESS WITH ME TOO!"

He ended his tirade gasping for air. The chirping of crickets and a hoot from an owl was the reply he earned. Hexhausted, he slumped once more, mouth resting on his arms.

"I get it. I'm the big bad Evil Queen who's born to be nothing more than the scum of Ever After, I. Get. It. So please…"

Whether or not the traitorous voice in his head listened or it saw his yells as sufficient enough for its entertainment, it remained silent nonetheless.

"I just wanted her to stop." He sobbed to himself. "I just wanted to make her stop."

In the midst of his sobs, he pulled a flask out of his coat pockets and took a swig. The harsh medicine flavor of the vodka caused him to gag. He involuntarily shook his head from the aftertaste, relishing in the heat it brought to his cold body. He stayed there, crying silently, flask in hand and sitting on a tree alone. Pocketing his flask of vodka, he let one of his legs dangle midair while he pulled a packet of cigarette smokes from his coat. Taking one and lighting it with magic, he stared at the stars dotting the night sky.

He bit onto his cigarette and fiddled for his flask. Holding his cigarette away from him, he downed another drink. The mixture of alcohol and nicotine in his system alleviated his anger and sadness.

"What would happen if we don't sign the Storybook of Legends?"

"We will all. Go. Poof."

"You were just doing your role as a villain… right?"

"When you asked Headmaster Grimm… I thought- I thought you'd be brave enough to not…"

"I don't know why, but the fate of our world hangs onto that stupid fucking book!"

His own words echoed in his head. He froze, smoke lifted half-way to his mouth, blinking at the realization of what he just said. 'Why,' he asked himself, 'does one book hold so much power over us?'

Inhaling his cig deeply, he mulled this over. WHY does the Storybook of Legends hold so much power over an entire world?

They've shaped their culture, their lifestyle, to fit everything hexactly like the book says. His Magic is deeply ingrained in the Dark side- he finds it easier to use 'evil' and 'destructive' spells. Raven's is too, since despite the kindness in her heart, her Magic seems to be fond of rebelling against her wishes. They have a school dedicated just so they can sign the book, for Fairy Godmother's sake!

From what he got from reading those old, dusty tomes in Queen Castle's lifairy, the Grimms have always been those who watch over them. Their purpose is to oversee if anybody steps one toe out of line and ensure that all pages in the book is signed.

The Queens have always lorded their might over other villains, although a few upstarts tried to take-over. The Whites have always been the High Queens whose main purpose is to watch over all the kingdoms of Ever After- and the ones to keep the Queens in line. Both families have been at each other's throats for nearly a thousand years now.

And it's all because of that book.

'Who,' he thought, anger increasingly rising in his gut, 'or what made this book so powerful!?'

He finished his cigarette, extinguishing what's left of it and tossing it away. He stood, bringing his flask on his mouth- intent on downing all of its contents. With one last shudder from the taste, he pocketed it.

He lifted his foot forward, hands now limp at his sides, and let the change in balance bring him crashing onto the soil. The rushing of wind felt nicely cold against his warm face. Ignoring the uncomfortable feeling in his gut, he shifted into an eagle midair, using powerful beats of his new wings to change the direction of his movement.

He has something to research… before he commits his life to it.


[Est. 63 Hours… (11:26 p.m.)]


Apple set her MirrorPad on her desk, glancing at Corvus's side of the room. She sighed, seeing that he's yet to be back.

She was truly being honest when she said that she didn't mind his presence earlier. She's had hours to process in his actions back at the Open Charmitorium and let it go. The sting is still there, but hey, it means that he's doing his job as a villain spelltacularly well!

THUD!

She froze, snapping her gaze to the balcony door. Seconds later, she heard muffled cursing and groaning, then the sound of movement. She trudged to the door cautiously, grabbing a one of her heavier books as a makeshift weapon. She knows she's not a fighter but she'll try, damn it!

She pressed her back against the wall, readying herself to make the first move. When the balcony door opened and the intruder shuffled in, Apple lunged with a shout. She brought the book down on his back as hard as she can. The intruder stumbled forward, yelling in pain.

Apple halted her second attack. "Corvus!?" She dropped the book, her hands flying up to her mouth. "Oh, I'm so sorry!"

"Ow," he grunted, rubbing at his back and turning to her with a glare, "wha… what the fuck, Apple!?" He groaned. "Do I ge' hit for goin' in now!? Th's is my room too, ya know!?"

"I thought you were an intruder!" She reasoned guiltily. "Why are going through the balcony?" She gestured to the wide doors. "The door's over there!"

He blinked at her lazily, still rubbing at his sore spot. Upon further inspection, Apple noticed something's… off. He's swaying lightly where he stood and there's a jerkiness to his movements. The heavy blush on his cheeks- ending to his ears- and his drooping eyes remind her off something.

"Are… Are you okay?" She tentatively asked. He gave her a noncommittal grunt, opting to walk to his side of the room. Well, perhaps walking is too generous to describe his movements. They were slow and lacking the control he usually has, occasionally even tripping over nothing.

'Is… Is he…' She narrowed her gaze. He's taking off his coat in rough, graceless motions, dropping it on the floor without a care. Then, there's his scent… 'Is he drunk!?'

Drunkenness isn't a common sight to behold to her. The only instances she's seen drunk people were her distance family members during reunions parties- those who indulged in the wine far too much. They were often giggly and just overly honest, but harmless.

"Corvus!" She hissed, clenching her fists and glaring at him. "Are you drunk!? On a school night too!"

He ignored her, halting his slow trudging in front of his dresser. 'Oh, for the love of Fairy Godmother!' Annoyed, she made her way to him but abruptly stopped when he pulled the edges of his shirt over his head in one smooth motion. Her eyes widened at the sight, cheeks heating up fairy, fairy quickly.

She was never-after hexposed to the sight of a shirtless man before. Even when she caught glimpses of soldiers and knights training, the most bare they've been is a sleeveless undershirt and some shorts. So, this? This is entirely new.

She can't help but stare at his biceps that flex at the slightest of movements. His shoulders are wide, showing great strength. (For a split second, she wonders what's it like to be carried by those- nope, nope, not going there! NOPE!) His wide upper back is etched with hard muscle lines, lessening its width the closer it gets to his waist. And when her eyes gazed further downwards, ending up on his-

'NO!' She mentally wailed, feeling shame at her staring. Her cheeks heated up further- if possible. She pressed her cool hands on her cheeks, looking away from Corvus's hextremely pleasing physique. 'Nope, nope, nope, nuh uh, not going there! Corvus is your VILLAIN, White! Get your head out of the gutter!'

She knows Corvus looms over people with his height and body, but she thought it was is ridiculously large coat! Apparently, she stands corrected… especially after seeing…

'Oh, Fairy Godmother…' She whined, pressing her face closer to her hands. She's sure that her ears are also blushing at this point!

"Oh?" He said. "Thought you're back to your studyin'."

Apple faced him, fully hexpecting him to have put on another shirt, hands lowered. Yes, he has a shirt. No, it's not on his body, but in his clutches. He's walking towards her.

She can't help but stare at his upper body. He. Has. Abs. Six of them, carved lightly on his body almost like an old statue Apple has seen in Muse-ums. Forcefully, she tore her gaze from his abdomen and pushed it upwards- 'How does it feel to rest my head on those ches- nope, stop thinking about those things, WHITE!'- to his slightly dazed hexpression. A light blush dusted his cheeks, although she suspected it from his state of drunkenness, his head mildly lolling forward.

"'S s'methin' the matt'r?" He asked, blinking slowly.

She swallowed, looking away. "P-Put a shirt on, for hex's sake!" She whined. After a few, agonizingly long moments, she turned and- wow, the shirt does NOT help with how tight-fitting it is.

"Happy?" He asked, sounding hexhausted- almost sleepy.

She nodded, then glanced at the clock. "Corvus!" She whirled to him, he jumped back, blinking lazily. "It's barely half-past eleven and you're already drunk!"

"'M no' drunk!" He whined, throwing his head back. "'M tipsy!"

She threw her hands up. "That's still drunk!" She hexclaimed, pushing him towards the joint comfort room they have. She tries to ignore how solid he feels underneath her touch. "Take a bath! You reek of alcohol!"

Despite clearly having the body to easily push her away, Corvus allowed himself to be corralled to the bathroom. "But, Aaapple," he merely whined, "I g't res- rese- reseersh to do!"

"You got drunk and you didn't even bother to do your thronework!?" Apple slapped a hand on her forehead.

'How did he move on to the next school chapter!?' She stared at his drunken self staring at the bathroom mirror with bleary eyes.

He faced her, pointing to the mirror. "Th's one's lookin' at me f'nny."

She shouted in frustration, pulling the door shut. "Take a bath!" She commanded, stomping to her side of the room. "Unbelievable." She muttered as she picked up her book and set it on her desk.

An hour later, Corvus hexited the bathroom, looking absolutely shame-faced. Focus returned to his eyes but there's still a slight halting to his movements.

They stared at each other for some time, unsure of what to say. "I'm-" Corvus clenched his jaw, looking away. "I'm so, so sorry I acted like that, princess." He said, causing Apple to blink. Ooookay, that was NOT was she was hexpecting. "And I royally didn't mean to be… indecent around you. I was hextremely out of it."

"That's one way of putting it." She found herself saying.

He blushed, gulping and nodding. "Yeah, I'll just," he made his way for the door, "I have somewhere to b-"

"Where?" She asked incredulously. "It's nearly eleven!" He froze, back faced to her. "If this is about earlier, then, rest assured, it's… it's not something that bothered me." Quite the opposite, royally. "So, Corvus, there's no need to flee."

"I truly have somewhere to be." He insisted, looking at her over his shoulder. "Uh, my research. I have research."

"It's eleven! Surely you can ask one of your classmates to give it to you tomorrow." She countered. "Or maybe use the MirrorNet. It always had the information you'll need."

"Not this one."

She faltered and Corvus took that as the moment to abscond. "Corvus, wait!" She rushed to him. He jerkily turned to her, shock evident on his face as she latched on to his arm. "Seriously, it's midnight, how important it this?" She whispered, eyeing the generously spacious hallway. "You might get caught!"

He gulped. "I'm going to search for answers," he paused, sending suspicious looks all around the empty space, "about the Storybook of Legends."

Apple furrowed her brows together. "What…?"

"Why is the Storybook of Legends so powerful?" He asked. "Never-after thought about that? What about; why does our world rely so much on it?"

She blinked, loosening her grasp on his wrist. "I have, princess. I want answers." He said earnestly. "I won't sign away my life without having answers. I won't." Upon saying those words, he blinked- as if he realized what he had just said. Guilt spread through his face, causing him to look away.

She just kept her gaze at him, unsure of what to say. Unsure of how to process this. She's thought he'd be fully willing to… to sign as- to be- her villain. Apparently, there's now a condition to that.

"What happened to your promise to me…?" Apple found herself asking. Her voice was small. Scared.

The guilt deepened. "I didn't mean-" he sighed, rubbing at his face. "I just need answers, Apple. I need to know why our lives- our children's lives- will be devoted to- to this!"

'It's tradition!' She wants to snap. 'It's what our parents have done! It kept our world in tact and it kept us safe! Can't you just accept that!?'

But one look at his desperate, solemn face and she realized that; no, he wouldn't 'just accept' it. With or without her approval, he will go out there and try to find answers- probably from the Lifairy. He might get caught. He might have an accident.

She thinks back to earlier, in his drunken state. How red his eyes were. 'He's been crying.' She realizes again. 'Is… Is being the Evil Queen such a cruel fate?'

At her silence, he turned around. She lunged for his arm again. "Wait," she begged, "a-at this hour, there will be hallway patrols and you might get caught. We have all of the weekend to find what you want."

He snapped his gaze at her, shocked. "Are you sure?" He lowly asked. "You probably have plans and-"

"This is more important than those plans." She said resolutely, looking at him straight in the eyes. "This is your destiny we're talking about here."

The hexpression on his face is unreadable. "If I wasn't in your fairy tale," he whispered, "would you still care?" She blinked, caught off guard, tightening her grip ever-after so slightly. He sighed tiredly, and sent her an equally tired- but grateful- smile. "Alright. Tomorrow. When I finally have my answers, then I'll be all yours." He declared with such conviction.

Apple gasped, cheeks reddening again. He didn't mean it like that, yet it sounded like he did.

She pulled him into the room. "Tomorrow." She repeated. "But first, let's get you to bed, okay?"


Reply to:

James Birdsong: Aw, thanks, man. I'm glad you think so.


A/N: I'm actually having summer classes, so chapters will either be sporadic or QUICKLY ARRIVING (because I'm running away from my responsibilities). There is no in-between. Aaaaaand, I've been editing and re-editing the summary too. There's just this SOMETHING I can't quite reach when typing it out, so it's bound for changes still.

Yeah, I placed in the typical shirtless scene in every hetero romance book known to mankind because why not? I didn't need to but I saw the opportunity and I TOOK IT!

I'm not sure if they have their own bathrooms in the dorm but since they're catering to royalty, I think they should've.

Don't drink liquor and/or smoke, kids. It can cause serious health damages and addiction- which leads to your life being ruined. It's not worth it. I repeat: Corvus is not a good role model. Do not smoke and/or drink liquor.

[Shameless Plug Alert!]

Check out 'Overseer of Ever After'. That's originally where Corvus came from. This fic is an idea of what could've been if Corvus never left Ever After. It's less romantic and more friendship (with some galactic empires). Corvus is less of a dickhead there and more of a tired teenager who just wants to stay in the sidelines.

edited: 10/12/2020

edited: 7/21/2021