She wasn't always like this, the Witch Queen of Froiya. Once she was only a scared, naive fourteen year-old girl with too big hazel eyes. Petra didn't start out a monster hellbent on destruction. Levi still remembers that time when he was sixteen and just taking up his job of being the new Queen's body guard. Her biggest flaw had been being sheltered and having to take the throne before she was even an adult.

Honestly, he never understood why the King let her take control of the throne at such a young age. Everyone knew the former Queen's death had hurt him beyond comparison, but it was still such a thoughtless action. She was just a child who was still learning all the intricate workings of leadership, and of course she made mistakes. But oh neither the nobles or commoners could accept that.

Assassination attempt after assassination attempt plagued the sunset-haired queen. He did his best to keep her safe, and he managed to keep her alive that first year. Still Petra was obviously rattled by it. Paranoia and insomnia soon settled in. Levi knows because he'd often spent the night in her personal chambers, reassuring her he wouldn't let anyone lay a finger on her head. She only trusted him. The once unbreakable bond she shared with her father was gone. Petra believed he was the only person to not hurt her and to care about her without wanting anything in return.

He can't say she was wrong.

When on her 15th birthday, a distant 'cousin' revealed she had magic in her blood, Levi swears she smiled for the first time in weeks.

"I'm not useless, Levi!" Hazel eyes glowed brightly. "I can be a good queen like Mother!" It was too much for him. He was scared he was falling for the Queen during those days. When she started smiling again and seemed to thrive for the first time in a long time.

It was highly inappropriate, but she was just so bright now he couldn't make himself look away. She was a natural at magic, and with each spell her confidence grew. It's probably the reason he didn't stop her before it was too late.

It came slowly, like a cancer sneaking up on the entire kingdom. First she fried a nobleman who challenged her to a duel. Everyone was terrified by such a display of power, but it had been justified. He would have killed her otherwise.

Then, dear god, she sunk an entire invading fleet. All it took was a few chanting words and a bright light. The ocean opened up and swallowed them whole. It was awe-inspiring and terrifying, but Levi couldn't watch for long. After the spell, his Queen collapsed, and he had to rush her to her bed and a doctor.

The long night that followed was filled with fright. It wasn't until sunrise Petra woke again. His relief was beyond words. It took every inch of his willpower not to embrace her and push his face into her hair, instead choosing a deep bow.

"Why'd you risk yourself like that?"

"I needed to prove I was strong."

"Strong? That's what I'm for." The days of rulers storming the battlefield were over. What did it matter if you could swing a sword but not manage the treasury?

"But the reason why I can barely breathe without dodging an arrow is because they all see me as weak," Hazel eyes narrowed in contempt. "I can't let them even think of betraying me like that again."

This type of thinking was so different from the sweet girl that valued peace above all else. However Levi wasn't a man of words, and before he could format what he could say, she was cupping his face.

"That's why I need you, Levi," Not Sir Ackerman, Levi. "I can't lose you. I won't be able to survive without you by my side. Promise me you'll stay with me forever."

How could he say no to her? He couldn't. He could barely speak, so he only lifted her hand and grazed his lips against her knuckles. However he couldn't miss the way her face glowed at his acceptance.

Levi thinks that was the last time she was the Petra he was familiar with.

For the next months, she rooted out seditious nobles and squashed commoner uprising before they could start. He was mysterious promoted to Captain of the Guard, only it wasn't a mystery to a single person. Everyone could tell the Queen favored Levi above the suitors brave enough to court her. Gossips wondered if he had deflowered her yet and if he had decided back then to try to grow close to the Queen in order to gain the crown. If Levi cared about what others said, he would have flatly told them he never touched her more in private than he did in public. He would have told them he didn't want power or prestige. He just wanted a young girl to not have to fear for her life every day.

But he didn't say a single word. He just continued doing his job, being her sword. He personally executed several of the treacherous nobles. He was the one who quieted many riots. He didn't care if more blood stained his hand. He'd taint his soul if it kept her's clean.

He had been blind, so so blind. When Petra finally learned who the biggest conspirator had been, her faithful aunt, his Queen had exploded. Never before had he seen her so furious. With her red dress she appeared to be a raging flame, ready to consume the entire kingdom. She personally executed that entire side of her family. Each man, woman, and child. She burned them all to a crisp.

It took that to finally open his eyes. He couldn't ignore her wanton slaughtering anymore. When that night he questioned her about it, she had lashed out at him of all people.

"What could I do? Froiya couldn't survive if I let them get away."

"Petra, you murdered children!"

"Children that would have followed in their parents footsteps." Hazel eyes held no regret over her actions. He had seen many horrors in his eighteen years, but this was the worst nightmare of them all.

"You've turned into a monster. You're nothing but a brat playing god!"

"You still think I'm a child?" That manged to bring life back into her dead eyes. It gave her a dark look of humor. "You think this is a body of a child?" She grabbed his hands and forced them to wrap around her waist. It was only then he noticed she was in nothing but a sheer night gown. Indeed she had grown from the petite thing she was two years ago. Before he could let go and escape this temptress, she kissed him, deep and darkly.

To his surprised he kissed her back.

The next morning, they awoke together in her bed. She smiled brightly at him, as if nothing had happened last night. However, he couldn't relax as she pressed butterfly kisses down his neck.

He could smell the scent of the blood on her hands.

However he couldn't do a thing about it. He loved his black-hearted queen, despite her evil deeds. The noble thing would be to end the Witch's reign, but he couldn't kill her. She had trapped him in her love, and he couldn't escape. Maybe deep down he didn't want to escape.

And so the Witch reigned with an iron fist. As the years passed, she started joining him more when he suppressed riots. She took glee in killing her subjects. Froiya couldn't let those unloyal to her survive she always said. The nobles were more subtle about there complaints now. If she has in a bad mood, she might kill you for the slightest insult. If she really was feeling nasty, she might imprison them, forcing them to live out the rest of their days in fright.

The only whispers she allowed were the ones who questioned when she married. After all, the Queen was approaching eighteen now. Heirs needed to be created, especially after losing an entire line. Petra adored talk about that. At night, she talked about children with copper hair and silver eyes like it was certain. Like she could see the future.

But maybe she could. Her power extended beyond human understanding, and Levi knew once more he wouldn't say no.

Soon she announce their engagement. The crowd politely clapped, only a bit surprised. The option she'd marry to form an alliance wasn't out of the question. She could always keep her knight as a lover. But no, apparently she wanted to mark what was her's.

A feast was held shortly after. They sat side by side, brazenly holding hands. As expected, she gave a speech, boasting of creating a Golden Age to continue forever. During it, Levi couldn't help but notice the way she held her hand to her stomach. The message rang loud and clear.

When it was Levi's turn to speak, he could only say a few words.

"Long live the Queen. May her line reign til the end of time."

A.N. So I've been playing this game called Long Live the Queen on Steam and a storyline that always interested me was dark Elodie. I transferred some of the games events here to see how they'd play out.