#choiray

It was like a dream. 

You were there with him and he didn’t have to worry about anything anymore. He didn’t have to be afraid of someone tricking, hurting you, or whisking you away before he had the chance to be there and covet your heart. You didn’t know how badly you needed to be protected, and it wasn’t until he came into your life that you started to learn how blind you had been. You started to see it clearly when he began to whisper the truth of the world into your ears whenever you were alone in the garden. 

It was just a little truth here… a little reminder there… just words that you needed to hear. It didn’t matter if he had to stretch his words to cover everything you could think. 

You couldn’t go back into the outside world, why would you want to do that when you would be forced to go into a job where you did everything and nobody once dared to ask if you needed help for any of it? Why would you go there knowing that you would be struggling to pay for meals every day, with nobody once thinking twice about asking you if you needed a hand in paying for something, simply assuming you had it covered before you feared asking for too much. Why go back to a place that essentially made you sell your soul to be able to survive? 

How was that fulfilling? How happy was that? How could you live knowing that the world out there had tainted your soul and made you give up all of your dreams to survive instead? Why should it be about surviving while all you ever wanted to do was thrive? You spent so many of your nights crying on the floor, begging and praying for someone to whisk you away so that you would never need to suffer anymore… so, why would you go back to that life after you came to Mint Eye and realized your value was appreciated? 

It was a miserable life out there. It wasn’t a life for you. It wasn’t what he wanted for you. It wasn’t something that you deserved to go through over and over again. 

That was just torture and putting yourself in that was only going to hurt you. You didn’t need to be hurt. You didn’t need to be destroyed. You needed to be loved and coveted like the shining star you were. Ray couldn’t have that. He refused to see your beautiful face stained in tears when all he wanted to see was your lovely smile. He could protect it but only if you understood what he was trying to do. You had to be broken a little before you could realize what he said. 

It was all that he had gone through he had been saved, but now that he knew how to save you… 

Well, Ray was okay to stomach making you cry this much. You were just as beautiful when you cried… he loved seeing any side of you, even the miserable parts, and even though it stung to cry and weep for a world that had never loved you… Ray knew that you needed to learn this lesson.

You had to understand. You had to know that he wasn’t trying to upset you. He wasn’t trying to hurt you. He wasn’t trying to make you feel horrible for being tricked. You weren’t stupid and it stung to see you live in a world that was never made for you. You had to learn and this was the only way that he could ensure that you knew. He had to make you cry just enough to remember your place and your spot. He was trying to help you and to get help in paradise, you had to taste a little sour-sweet candy against the back of your throat first. 

Even if it was painful to hear those things spoken, Ray had to be the one to tell you. He had to be the one that let you know just how badly you’d been tricked. He hated to see the way that tears pricked at the corner of your eyes whenever you got scared, but it was worth it. You would lean into his arms and clutch at the back of his coat like you knew he was your protector. He would be the one to save you from this horrible world and slowly but surely, you let him take care of every worry you had. All it took was a little patience and tugging to show you the way. 

The trickiest part was trying to weasel the RFA away from you. After the first couple of days, he could tell that you found them interesting but given how loosely and simply you spoke to them, it was easy to see that you didn’t see them as people worth your time… at least, as far as he could tell from his position in the workroom. He would check the chats when you were talking to see to it that the bastard never once cut through the signal and tracked the location, but when he did that, he would watch how you spoke with them. 

You humored them. You laughed with them. You explored thoughts and ideas with him. You seemed to treat it like the game that you were meant to be playing. But, it was obvious that while you thought the game was fun, whenever Ray would come to visit you personally, you had stars in your eyes. You looked at him like he was your entire world… and he was, but you had learned that on your own. 

You would smile and laugh when he complimented you and made sure that you had something to eat for the evening… or the morning, he had the luxury of coming to see you wake up as the sun rose. Both were a treat for him to enjoy, but what meant the most to him was how curious you were. You wanted to know more about him and his goals, his thoughts, his feelings, and more. 

You engaged with Ray in a way that made him feel adored… and the more that he came to enjoy his time with you, he knew that he wasn’t going to be able to share you with those bastards for a long time. He loathed the idea that you were trapped talking to these people all the time. You had wanted him. You wanted to be with him… you wanted to spend time with Ray, not all of those broken and beaten down people that did nothing for your happiness. 

The glimmer that had come with a video game always lost its luster over time, and he knew that you’d grow bored of the RFA eventually. 

But, eventually… didn’t have a due date. Ray didn’t like that. He knew that the Savior wanted you to get information out of them slowly and steadily but that wasn’t securing anything. It did not do anything to sustain paradise. It didn’t bring over the toys that she wanted, and it didn’t do a thing to destroy the liar or the traitor. Knowing that he got the brightest idea in his head to do something that would kill two birds with one stone. He could manipulate the RFA and make all of them fall at once and save you from their callous hands in one swoop. It would only take one plan to do it. 

So, Ray acted on that plan as swiftly as he could think of it. His first action was to remove you from the RFA. He smiled and convinced you that the test period was over and that the game did not go further than what you’d done. He thanked you greatly for what you’d done for him and gently asked if you would be willing to stay to help him further develop the game with every bit of thought that you’d had while you played. After spending so much time with him and hearing how you belonged here, you decided to stay with him. That secured his victory in all of this. It was the key. 

Knowing that you couldn’t contact them anymore… oh, it made him so happy that he couldn’t stop smiling. It nearly made his face ache because he couldn’t stop. He couldn’t bring himself to stop smiling and laughing because he’d won you at last. His daily tasks changed as you grew closer to him, too. He would come to see you more often, letting the algorithm fight against the redhead who could never beat it while he was gone. You were so happy when he’d come to see you. You’d jump out of your chair and scurry to his side, so grateful to see that he had returned. 

You’d become a bit more skittish since you’d understood how much you’d misunderstood the world at large. When you realized that there were people out there using you and abusing you for your kindness, well, you feared reaching out or being around anyone that wasn’t your precious and dearest Ray. You needed to be protected. You were just the helpless doll on the shelf. You’d always needed him, but now you needed him more than ever. You counted on him to be strong for you. 

You could trust him because he’d never lie to you… he always told you what you needed to hear. It was cute to see your eyes widen and your lips plead with him to never leave you behind again. He never would, he was grateful that you trusted him with your heart and soul. He would wipe away your tears and hold you tightly each time it happened. 

It empowered Ray greatly… and it made him wonder why he’d ever been afraid of not being good enough for you. His insecurities meant nothing to him anymore. He had you and he wasn’t going to lose you ever again. You had given him the strength and confidence to believe in what he was doing and your adoration for him only fueled the flames of his desire. 

He wanted to be strong for you and he was going to be that way. You needed him as much as he needed you and that fact alone gave him the strength to be good enough. He could be your knight if you wanted him to be one. If it meant your tears faded away, he could slice any dragon or any foe that stood in his way. It was a simple matter now and he couldn’t believe why he had never felt so inflamed before.

That’s what effect you had on him. 

You were that kind of person. 

Of course, the hardest part about all of this was coaxing you to take the elixir. 

It was a part of your ceremony and you needed to do it. He spent hours trying to taste better to your liking but there was only so much that he could do. He could add in just a few drops of this or that to soften the blow of the acidity but your discomfort would always be something that he would need to be cautious of. He didn’t need you to drink as much as he did. The Savior didn’t demand that he give you that much to drink but she did remind him that you needed to be given something since Magenta ensured that everyone did the same thing to give their lives over to the cause. 

As sweet as he managed to make it, you still had a difficult time holding it down. It was to be expected since not everyone could drink it readily but he had to ensure that you were saved and guarded. You gasped and strained to make it go down but Ray did what he could for you. He gripped your shoulders and the tiny bottle so that you would have to drink every last drop. When you had succeeded the first time, he kissed the last traces of that glimmering liquid from your lips. Your eyes had glossed over almost instantly but you clung to him and needed him by your side. You were foggy, lost, and afraid of what you didn't understand. 

You longed for his kisses… so he gave them to you to suffocate the burning pain inside of your chest until you dozed off to sleep. You had been feverous for some time, but once you came out of that cocoon, it was like you were the lovely butterfly he always knew you to be. He doted on you and made sure that it wasn’t a horrible experience. You were coated in his love when you woke up. You weren’t alone in a basement. You were safe and comfortable in your bed as he tended to you hour after hour with a smile on his face. Seeing you resting peacefully at the end made him burn up inside. He could’ve spent time fixing your makeup and clothes if he didn’t think it’d be too much for you if you still felt sick… the illusion of a fairytale was important to his fantasy, after all. You needed to feel the entire time. 

As far as the elixir went, a few doses every other week kept you lucid, but just enough that you wouldn’t need to overwork yourself.

He didn’t want you to burn out and lose yourself so he only made sure that you drank it when it was required or needed… only with enough time passing by so, you wouldn’t be hurt by withdrawal. It was another minor discomfort that you needed to stay safe.  Drinking the elixir had been what allowed you to stop thinking so harshly all the time. It was a sudden transformation. You didn’t need to be afraid anymore. You still clung to him and needed to have his arm around your waist if you went to the garden or a salvation ceremony held in the prayer center, but the elixir took away your worst fears. It hadn’t changed your soul or your heart. It only allowed you to finally relax. You stopped thinking about the fears of the outside and let yourself have Ray do it instead. 

You no longer spend hours crying about what the past meant or what you had “lost”. You allowed yourself to exist as Ray’s precious doll. His affectionate nickname for you, of course. It was an easy life. You didn’t have to do anything too hard, rather, you had to let him take care of any need that you had. Ray was your humble servant. All you had to do was stay in your room and enjoy your luxury in paradise. Ray took great care to ensure that you had nothing to think about that was too stressful. He knew that it was better that way. You were so much better when you didn't think about all of those nasty things. 

You were so caught up in the whimsical aspect of your fairytale that memories of the RFA began to slip away one by one. Ray would make sure to engage you in other topics, such as the weather and things that you enjoyed doing. He would spend hours with his hand brushed to your cheek as you told him about your favorite hobby, occasionally losing track of the time and dozing off due to the after-effects of the elixir pooling in the back of your head. But, you’d always wake up, later on, curled up in bed with Ray’s coat draped over you so very carefully. He would be working at the window, eyes on the outside as he continued to do what he needed to do while his body remained where it was meant to be. Right here, in this room, where his entire world resided. It was like a dream… a fantasy… living in this castle with Ray with no worries to think about.

You were… blissful, weren’t you?

Ray was erasing the RFA one by one from your memory. One of the benefits of the elixir was that it could easily warp one's memory and leave them grasping at straws to understand what happened to them. It happened to him and it happened to you. The difference was that you weren't burned in the process. He was very careful and deliberate with what he did for you. He didn't want to take away all of those pieces too suddenly. You would have too many questions. So, he spent more time trying to help you focus on other things. He would correct you if you asked about the RFA or something that held no value to you in paradise. He'd change the conversation, sigh, and remind you that your memory was messed up from hitting your head. You believed it, too. You believed that you had taken a tumble in the garden because he said so.

You hung to his words, treating him like he was the prince that awakened Snow White. 

He was your Savior, wasn't he? 

He was your prince, wasn't he? 

Ray could settle comfortably into a new routine. He was beating the RFA with his eyes closed and they were at the end of their ropes. It was a sweet sight and his Savior was pleased with all that he was doing. It was like everything was going right for once in his life. It was all because he’d chosen you. You were his lucky charm. His favorite way to spend all that free time that he had been given was spoiling you rotten. He would spend his mornings with you. You would get up and wait for him to help you out of bed as a doll would. After all, you didn't need to worry about rushing to do something when he was around. Ray was the one that took care of those fine details. All you needed to do was obey. 

He’d praise you with his lips ghosting against your cheek, and you'd lean into every word for safety. “That’s a good doll, isn’t it? I’m so happy that you’ve learned that you don’t need to worry about anything. If you just let me take care of everything, you don’t need to fill your head with anything anymore… just the bliss you feel, right?” 

You would nod and do anything he asked. "Yes, Ray... of course, Ray."

That dreamy look in your eyes was always there. You’d let him help you into your clothes for the day and sit down so that he could take care of your hair. It was one of his favorite things to do for you. You only needed to sit there and meet his gaze in the mirror now and again. That tiny smile brewing at the corner of your lips was all he needed to know that this was the life that you deserved… and it would only continue to grow to what he desired. Even if you became frightened and started asking questions about things that didn't belong in your paradise, he corrected them. He'd clicked his tongue and repeat himself. He was patient. He could wait for you to understand. This was your castle. You had come to him for love and protection. You didn't know the RFA. You weren't in love with any of the liars. You were in love with him. 

You just needed time to acclimate. 

Once you were settled and he didn’t need to worry about you being deceived, he set in motion the second part of his plan. 

The part of the plan that allowed the Savior to get what she wanted. If she wanted to keep the RFA like playthings, he didn't care, as long as they stayed far away from you after the party, he could care less for what his Savior wanted. He crafted the invitations for the eternal party and let you sign them personally. You didn’t know what you signed, you knew it was something good, though… because Ray kept telling you that he was planning on giving you something that you always dreamed of. Once the letters were mailed and delivered, that was the moment that he knew this would play out as he planned. Once they read those letters, they would no doubt come looking for you. They wanted to find you... they wanted to "save" you. Little did they know that you were going to be the reason they were "saved". 

Once the RFA was given their invitation to the salvation, and the liar and the traitor found themselves in the basement, life would become what he always knew it would. The thought exhilarated him whenever your memory would act up. He knew that once they were gone forever, there would be safety in these castle walls. You could be protected from every threat. There would be nothing to do but live happily ever after! Forever! 

The night of the eternal party came without warning. You had no way to tell the days between the nights. You had to wait for Ray to tell you when things were happening. Your days were always filled with plans but today was important. Ray surprised you with a special outfit that he’d sewn personally and you were giddy by the minute realizing that he’d gone to the trouble of making you an outfit fit for a masquerade. When you were done, you looked every bit the royalty he knew you to be. You were the star of the show, apart from the Savior, of course, and you had to look your best. You were the piece that was going to bring everyone together once and for all. The Savior’s dream would be realized and Ray could be happy with you forever after once the night came to a close. It would all begin tonight. 

Ray was particularly proud of himself for the effort that he had been into your attire. You seemed to be admiring every detail whenever you trailed your eyes away from his. Whether it was from the subtle details that he'd added along the way etched deeply into the fabric, or the way that it fit you like a glove. What he loved the most was crown of poppies that he weaved together painstakingly over the course of the evening before the party. He wanted the crow to rest on top of your head to make your outfit compliment it. You were his precious one, bathed in the flowers that he adored, so it was crucial that those details be tidy as can be. The red suited you. He had long detested the color red but on you... on you, he loved it. 

You could make anything beautiful again. 

And so there you were, leaning into Ray’s arms as you swayed to the music that played in the grand ballroom. Your dreamy eyes whisked away to a fairytale that Ray had painted for you all this time. You were smiling and laughing whenever you twirled around, never taking your eyes off of Ray for a second. Even with a mask on, he charmed you and delighted you like the prince you knew he was. It was a wonderful event and you didn’t stop to think twice about any of it. It was a party and you loved parties, right? That's why you agreed to come and meet him in the first place. You liked the idea of having a party where you could be yourself and not worry about the eyes on your back. He wanted you to enjoy a party that was worthy of your beauty, after all. You deserved nothing less than the finest in life. 

As you spun around and around, you couldn't hide the smile on your lips. You laughed and giggled whenever he could lean in closer and whisper something into your ears. It didn't matter what he said, you clung to his words like you were being told the secrets of the universe. It was your dream, after all, and in your dreams, you could be the royalty that stole the center stage. You could dance with the prince all night long until your feet began to ache and burn. But, you'd never whine about pain. You could never do such a thing. You were too happy to enjoy the moment to stop and consider what aches might catch up with you! Happiness in your dreams was much more important. 

You didn’t have to do anything but enjoy yourself in Ray’s arms. You kept close to him but only paused when Ray looked over your shoulder and brushed his lips against the shell of your ear, “I need you to do a favor for me, doll. You know how I said that tonight is your eternal party? That tonight is the first night of the rest of our lives? Well, I invited some guests that I want you to try and greet if you think you’re up to it. I think they’ll be happy to see you. What do you say? Is that something you can do for me, sweet poppy?” 

Ray had faith in you… he always did, even if you were anxious or nervous to do something, you would always try to do the things that he asked of you. You seemed surprised that he wanted you to be the one to greet the guests. A shy look crossed your face before you seemed to mull over what it was that you wanted to do. Eventually, you nodded at his order and spun around in his arms to face the doorway that he was staring at. You still seemed so lost in a trace of bliss that you didn’t even flinch at the sight of your guests. It was like you were looking right through them. You had no clue who any of them were anymore. They didn't matter to you. 

Only Ray mattered. 

“Welcome to paradise,” your sugary sweet voice seemed to float on air as you relaxed at Ray’s side. You bowed with such grace and wonder in your eyes. “I’m so happy that you could join us tonight. If you’ve come to stay forever with us, then you’ve chosen a good night. It’s the eternal party. It's a party that never ends and if you're happy to take part tonight, we’re happy to welcome all of you to join our happiness, so that it may become your happiness. After all, paradise is a heaven made up of our hopes and dreams. It's everything that you could ever wan and more. You could be happy here if you choose to stay. Join us, why don’t you? It would make the Savior and Ray so very happy.” 

"[Y/N!]" 

"Don't you know where you are? What's wrong with you?!"

"If this is some kind of joke, it isn't funny, [Y/N]." 

Ray was proud of you as the horrified guests realized who you were and what you were saying to them. You didn't miss a beat. You said exactly what he expected of you. You didn’t comment as they called out your name or tried to make sense of their confusion, in fact, you let yourself turn away from them so that you could look back for Ray’s adoration right after that fact. 

You pressed your arm against his and cocked your head to the side. Wordlessly, he knew that you waned to go back to enjoying your evening. That was all you wanted. You didn’t need anyone else in your life. His heart had begun to thunder with joy and he could've wept if he wasn't so happy. 

"Shall we?" you asked. 

He squeezed your hand and smiled with your favorite smile as he whisked you away once more, “Only the sweetest of dreams lay ahead for you, dearest.” 

Saeran stared at the scene below as the guards took away people one by one. The castle grounds had become more of scenery that looked like it was on the brink of war rather than a kingdom that’d been in peace for such a long time. Trampled were the roses and flowers that had once called the castle their home and in their place was devastation and destruction. 

It was a small price to pay for revenge and righting what had been wronged, or rather, who had been wronged. 

He knew nothing but anger and frustration. The second that this crown had been placed on his head, he knew that he had to get back at Red Hood and anyone that had worked with them. It was the sole thought in his mind. He couldn’t think of anything else and when he did, he was dragged back to his anger and plans. 

He watched until Rika’s hand rested against his shoulder and pulled him back inside of the castle walls so they could discuss plans. She had been hard at work with her master detective that had found out the identity of Red Hood. He was a man with brown hair that had somewhat faded with time and golden eyes. 

Something about him felt familiar to Saeran but he didn’t know why that was. It was like a memory that he couldn’t touch. But, the queen trusted him and she was the only person in his life that had not ever lied to him for a moment. So, he trusted that she knew who was working with and this was for the best. They were working together to round up who remained of the villains and thieves. 

“My king,” she said, once he took his spot at the table. “It’s hard to say who hasn’t been deceived by that villain, Red Hood. The limits of their powers seem to know no bounds, even within our castle walls. It seems like they’ve received more than we can count. It seems that the only ones that we may trust are in this very room.” 

He rested his hand against his open palm. 

It made sense to him. 

Deception was one of the more advanced forms of magic. It was one thing to be a liar and it was another thing to be a skilled liar. One could hold all the cards in their hands if they know just how to enchant people to get them to do as they wanted.

It would make sense for someone to place a curse on people to assume that their lies were true. It was no wonder why people assumed that Red Hood was still a wicked man in his growing years. 

You were the worst kind of liar and he never saw it coming. It was bad enough he was already cursed to be trapped in this castle forever but to pour salt in his wounds and laugh?

Now, that was what a villain would do just to hurt him for added measure. It wasn’t right and just thinking about it burned him to his core. The idea of you was the only target that he could focus on. His hands curled into fists in his lap as he glowered at the map on the table in front of you. 

He just needed to find all the pieces of the puzzle so that he could punish you in front of all of them for good. 

That’s what he needed to do, he knew that for sure. He needed to see it through to the end but his veins were itching for a better kind of punishment that he was still considering since he had spoken with you a few hours prior, it hadn’t come to him yet. 

Saeran couldn’t make up his mind on what he wanted. There were so many useful punishments in his mind but he kept thinking of better ones before he settled on a single thought. Annoying, but such is the life of someone in power of a kingdom. 

“That being said,” Rika drew him from his thoughts. “While we know that we can only trust each other, we need to destroy whatever hope the criminals have in Red Hood. That is why you must get rid of them as soon as possible. Within the next day or so, my king. We need to set an example so they will have nowhere to run and full knowledge of what awaits anyone that dares to break the law set by the crown.”

“No,” Saeran pressed his hands against the table in a firm slam. He didn’t understand why she was trying to rush him to punish you. He was the king now, and she was supposed to listen to him and his word was meant to be law. She was only meant to advise and do whatever he asked of her hand. He knew that she had a point. 

But it was his choice to do whatever he pleased with you. 

“No?” Rika repeated, her eyes on him as she watched him stare at her with a clouded look in his mint eyes. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. Are you saying that you’ve decided that they shouldn’t receive the highest punishment for their crimes? What would you do instead? Keep them around because you hold a fondness for a liar that tricked you?” 

He clenched his jaw. Saeran could feel his teeth grinding against each other but he didn’t care. 

He didn’t care about you. He didn’t. This wasn’t about him holding some fondness for you, because he didn’t hold anything for you but hatred and anger. He wanted you to know what it felt like to have salt in your wounds. It was only fair but he knew one thing, death wouldn’t be enough to show you what it felt like. 

What it felt like to be humiliated in front of the world. 

Everyone had seen how pitiful and easy it was to trick Ray, and someone had to pay for breaking his heart into a million pieces. The person that had looked into his eyes and made him think that he knew what it felt like to be free only to shatter that freedom away like a bit of glass. He should have known better but there was no changing it. 

Freedom was dead and gone, wasn’t it? 

Saeran paused, his eyes resting on the window just beyond his reach. The magic that sparkled and caught his eyes. He could see the walls of the castle in the distance. The ones that were enchanted to keep him inside of the walls. His price of life was to know what it felt like to see the world pass him by while everyone else got to live their dreams to the fullest on the outside. 

He was punished by jealousy. 

His curse was to know what he could never have as he watched it. 

Isn’t that true? 

He knew what he wanted to do with you now. 

“I’ve decided that death is too light of a punishment for Red Hood,” he said, flatly. “Death means that the darkness takes them away and that’s frankly too kind of a hardened punishment. Why should they get eternal rest instead of wallowing, knowing what they’ve done and that they will never taste what it feels like to rest?” 

Rika doesn’t say anything, nor does her companion. 

Nobody could argue with the king, not even people that once bore the crown. It was about the respect and transition of power in the line of succession. His word was law. Everyone understood that and it didn’t matter what anyone thought about it. 

Saeran would get what he wanted, and that was that. Saeran has made his point known. He rises from the table and spares a look between the two of them, “Now, I’ve made my point clear on what I wish to do. I ask that the two of you keep working to find every member that you can find and bring them here. I promise that I’m going to make an example of their precious leader, but they need to be alive for me to humiliate them and destroy the hopes of every fucking criminal in this country.” 

The former queen didn’t voice her approval or disapproval, but Saeran knew that she wasn’t very happy about his choice. If she had faith in her son, then she would trust him to see this through as he wanted to. “Of course,” she said, simply. “If that is what you wish, my king. We will continue to see this thought to the end.” 

Saeran left the room without another word. The door to the room closed with a hard slam as he returned to his chambers to tend to other matters that he had one his hands. Rika blew out a sigh, shaking her head at his tantrum. She wasn’t happy with this. 

The crown was supposed to make him listen to whatever she wanted of him. 

The anger charm that she had placed on him was seemingly stronger on him than she intended, but no matter, she thought. She knew what she had to do to make the magic control him in the right way, it was just the fickle nature of magic to bite back in the wrong way if you didn’t have the right amount of power for a specific spell. 

It wouldn’t be much longer until she had what she wanted in her hands. She turned her attention back to the true Red Hood, who seemed amused by all of this more than anything. She wasn’t surprised by that either, this man was known for thriving on chaos and control. He liked being able to do whatever he wanted. 

Power corrupts, but only those that don’t know how to handle what they were handed. 

 “I suppose you find his tantrums adorable,” Rika said, turning her eyes onto the table as she looked over the marks that they had knocked down. “Magic can be a powerful force when imbued with the right charm but when the wrong amount of power is placed into the object, it can warp someone in an unintended way.” 

“I find it amusing, yes,” Red Hood responded. His arms were crossed over his chest. “I knew that the legends were interesting but to see its power in person is much more intriguing than I thought it would be. When that fool Zen brought me the stones, he had no idea just how much power these items held within them.” 

“Yes, but they’re useless without the right item to embed in them,” Rika said. “The crown was forged with the same elements as the stones. That’s why it only works for the wearer. Traditionally, the power is only sprinkled in small doses to the ruler over their life but we’ve given him such a large dosage of my magic. That explains those dark fits of childish desire.” 

Red Hood merely chuckled. They both knew what that was about. “Forgive me for my curiosity, but may I ask why you aren’t donning the crown yourself?” 

That brought a smile to Rika’s face. She merely cocked her head with a curious look in her eyes, “Why, aren’t you an insightful one? You know better than anyone how important it is to have a puppet take your place at the last second to ensure that you’re holding all the cards in your hands. We both know well to mind our reputations. I must commend you, though, the Sparrow made the perfect person to tip him over the edge.” 

“They’ve always been too naive for their own good,” he chuckled. “It’s what they earned after trying to fight against monsters bigger than them. I frankly don’t care what happens to them. I’m interested to see what your king does to them if he’s not going to kill them so quickly. The power that you hold in your hands is deviously delicious, my queen.” 

Rika’s hand traced a location on the map from the castle as she looked through the layout of the land to see if she could locate the spot she was searching for. She closed her eyes and let magic rush through her fingers to reveal hidden spaces on the map. Underneath an unlabeled mountain range was a small building hidden away. 

She began to laugh as if delighted by what she had seen. “I only aim to gain more magic to ensure that the stones never run out, dear Red Hood,” her finger tapped against the paper. “Look here, deep in the mountains is the home of the coven that is training my next well of power that we need to cement our win before the battle starts. I need you to bring this letter to my crow the second he returns from the Han kingdom.”

He took the note from the queen’s hands and nodded. “Absolutely,” he said, simply. “I get the full picture. Consider it taken care of. I can’t wait for you to show me what your darkness looks like.”