#royals!au

she wasn't supposed to be up here. she knew that. but then again, neither was he. didn't make it right, but that was at least how she was validating it in her head for now. sneaking away from the noise of everything, from the endless parade of people pretending to care about things they'd forget by morning. the old servants' stairwell opened out onto a narrow ledge above the courtyard. too forgotten to be guarded. she perched there now, orbs scanning over a garden lunch that was well underway. " did you see your aunt, lady elenora ? " the words came out half whispered, amusement floating through them. " she had six dogs this time. six. I don't even think she likes them. it's like collecting bracelets to her. they all had matching ribbons. " there was a small pause as hues feel back to him. " are you sure you don't need to mingle or something ? "

his entire life had been a lesson in utility. learn to be useful, and maybe they'll let you stay. find you useful. fight well enough, lead well enough. blend, don't cause a scene — better yet, don't really be seen. that part was a bit hard. it seemed like whispers tended to follow him around whichever corridor he took. he'd been fine with that. fine with being the bastard as long as he stayed in good graces and afloat. he had a goal, plans to get away from that namesake that haunted him anyways. this was not that plan. marriage ? politics ? that wasn't his direction. his father's signature scrawled across a future he hadn't spent his life preparing for. steel clashed, the ring of it cutting through the silence. another strike. another dodge. felt even more relentless, or maybe he was simply more distracted. " jesus. " muttered, breathless as blades locked. " you trying to break something ? "

it wasn't supposed to go like this. she'd known her path since she was five. the dress, the crown, the man. every step of it mapped out so clearly she could've walked it blindfolded. sure, she'd fight it a bit. basically made a game out of it all these years. but deep down she'd made peace with that a long time ago. it was supposed to end with him. with them. xavier wasn't the problem. fine enough. handsome, some would call him a catch, even. but he wasn't hers. a half empty glass sat in front of her, fingers still around the stem though she hadn't lifted it in some time. she didn’t bother to look up right away — didn't bother to fix her expression either. " I'm celebrating, clearly. " the words landed flat. dull. lifeless. that usual bite lost somewhere between shock and the bottom of the glass.

they said she needed to start taking things more seriously. or maybe that wasn't exactly the words, but it was what she heard. what it always came down to. serena, you have responsibilities. serena, you need to focus. serena, stop climbing down the trellis by your balcony that's not what it's for. like she hadn't spent her whole life listening to the same speech just dressed up in different words. heard it enough times it went in one ear and out the other with quite ease at this point. his words weren't any different, didn't matter if he was to be her husband. she had hardly registered what he was even asking, already working on her excuse. " I'm busy too. " matter of fact in each word as they tumbled off her lips. " the ducks in the east pond had ducklings and I've been guarding them. lots of waddling, very helpless. " ridiculous excuse for getting out of anything but that wasn't the point was it ?

The only difference, Sara Lance had the voice of an angel. And every night as she sang to herself, or her musical laugh as she darted past him, he found himself falling a little more in love.

‘Yours,’ Del agreed amiably enough, once she pulled away. ‘But there’re nicer ways to claim someone.’

Del allowed herself a flicker of a smile, before face settled into impassivity once more.