Royalty Shifter AU starter for @thethreefaes
“I really wish you could abide by the standards I’ve set.” The darker-skinned bearded man in fur robes lamented, his clandestine almost pearlescent crown adorning his head as he escorted his daughter on his arm. This was the pentannual summit where all the dragons and minor nobility gathered and the first where King Flavio’s heiress would be making a proper appearance as such. All the dragons were meant to be partially shifted as a way to demonstrate their status and power, and yet Rachel refused. She insisted on staying in her human form while everyone else’s horns, wings, and tails were out taking up space. She insisted that she wanted to be one with her own people rather than above them. It was a noble sentiment, but one that he considered too much of a risk to take in the infancy of her status and reputation. “You must consider what the other dragons will think of the king’s daughter openly abandoning her father’s rules. They will take it as a challenge.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You know I have great respect for both you and the standards that you’ve set, but you really must stop seeing everything as a challenge. It makes you look shrewd and paranoid… and that invites challenge.” Princess Rachel pointed out, taking a sip from the expensive wine that had been ordered specifically for this ball hosting all of their esteemed guests. She kept her own draconic indicators tucked away, sporting a much more revealing dress considering how warm it was and opting for feathers instead of fur to compensate. Dragons from all over the world came to reaffirm their allegiances and respect towards the Guardian Dragons, some of the few whose natural attunement is that to the very essence of life and the very world itself, inhabiting every facet of their reality. Their palace built on the mountainside is emblematic of that ideal, built high upon the tallest mountain that reaches towards the sky overlooking a towering waterfall that spilled over into the mighty vast ocean surrounded by only the lushest of woodlands and forests. And deep within the mountain itself, a molten core. It was as if all the elements converged on this one spot, giving the Guardian Dragons the ideal place as the focal point of their territory. “Besides, if I am going to someday take your place, then I have to establish my own standards early on. Only fools choose to remain stagnant, but I want to push forward towards the future and I want to do that being able to trust my own judgement… and that has to start now.”
The king snorted, rolling his eyes as he spotted his pearlescent wife in blues and greens, her dress adorned in aquatic dragon scales and silken scarves to look like flowing water. By her side was a much taller man with long golden hair and greedy green eyes, dressed as if he cost as much as he weighed in gold. “Speaking of pushing forward, you also haven’t spoken to or much about your newly betrothed.”
Rachel groaned, the smaller woman rubbing at the garish and opulent golden ring on her finger so incessantly that it was practically obvious that it felt dirty to her. She felt no such love for the gold dragon and Howard felt no such love for her, just what his whole family lineage felt - greed and a desire to own and have all that was precious. The only reason she had agreed to marry him in the first place was because of how aggressive and suspicious the gold dragons were becoming. Her father was concerned and while Rachel didn’t exactly enjoy this solution, she did actually agree with him… even if she detested the man.
But if it meant keeping a closer eye on him and keeping them from jeopardizing the tenuous alliance all the dragon clans have, it was a worthwhile sacrifice. She would have to practice her templated pleasantries and rehearsed smile for him so as to not visibly grimace every time she had to share presence with him. “Just because he’s my betrothed doesn’t mean I have to like him or pretend to.”
“And besides, he knows whose authority he’s beholding to.” Her loyal sister chimed in, her own dress and scales the same colour as that of their mother. While Lady Bianca was the older of the two sisters, because she didn’t inherit their father’s Guardian Dragon traits, she wasn’t in line to be heiress. Though, thankfully, there was no jealousy between them because of this. They were close as close could be. Although, when not taking on their full dragon forms, it was rather amusing that Bianca took after their mother, Queen Beatrice, in all but height and the same was true of Rachel. “He’s the one that has to play nice, not her.”
“Thank you, Bianca! At last, someone with some sense!” Although it was meant to be playful, their father clearly didn’t take it that way, his thick brows furrowing together in equal parts warm affection and ever present frustration.
He shook his head, still taking Rachel by the arm as he gestured towards his wife and his future son-in-law. “Look, may we at least introduce the two of you to the others who are in attendance? Such as the Queen of the Frozen North and her sister, Lady Lyra of the Verdant Everglades?”
Sharing a look with her sister, Rachel rolled her eyes and sighed. They both knew what to do. They had done this enough times to have this down to a science. “Yes, father. I will introduce myself and I will introduce Howard as my betrothed.”
“Thank you.” Her father sighed in exasperation, his arm loosening just the slightest and allowing Rachel enough of a window to slip away and slink off. “See, now was that so hard?”
Her sister stayed by their father’s side, Bianca casting a playful smile back towards Rachel, mouthing the words you didn’t say when at her.
She slipped expertly through the crowds to a more secluded section of the ballroom, making her way towards the stage where a band of harpies and sirens were playing for the guests that had gathered. Rachel always did love music and it would make it easy to drown out conversation… she felt bad about snubbing some of the guests, but she wanted to introduce herself got them in her own terms. Not on someone else’s arm.
As King Flavio and Lady Bianca had approached the Queen and Howard, the sea dragon visibly perking at the sight of her husband and daughter approaching. “Ah! Excellent timing! I was just speaking with Queen Kiara and Lady Lyra about you. I’ve been so anxious to introduce you.”
“Yes, and I’ve, of course, been ensuring our allies of the financial and military security of my clan and regaling them with tales of our exploits to further reinforce the validity of our collective power.” Howard said, raising his glass towards the king and his daughter - though, the wrong one, notably. He groaned audibly, forked tongue slithering out of his fangs as he took another sip, raising a coy eyebrow. “A shame that my wife isn’t as enthralled by such stories as these two are.”
“Future wife.” Bianca is quick to correct, casting a stern glare towards Howard, the gold dragon looking down his nose at the sea dragon who was of no consequence to him.
His eyes were a bright blazing green, though some would say that they were green with an ever persistent envy. “Yes. Future wife. Of course. Pedantry.”
Ignoring him, Bianca extended a hand towards the two other dragons and bowed, smiling pleasantly toward the both of them. “Lady Bianca of the Western Sea. Pleasure to meet you both.”
