Otome Game And Visual Novel Haven

Riddle’s Dreaming of You — “In A World of My Own” Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Jade x Reader — Commit to the Bit

Vil x Reader -- Body Swap (Part 1, Part 2, More to Come)

Neige x Reader -- White Beaches and a Spring Morning

Vil x Reader — Overblot Slap Snippet

You smile faintly at the lighthearted comments. Riddle relaxes at the normalcy, and the others glance at each other in relief. 

You slide into the cozy room with Cater and Trey behind you. Sitting on the baker’s bed, you hold Riddle in your lap. He buries his head in the crook of your neck and grips onto you like he’ll fall off a cliff if he doesn’t. Your hand trails up and down his back, as he trembles in your arms. 

The Clown Crew takes the love seat with the two humans on either side of Grim. Trey sits in the armchair, while Cater leans on the wall near the door. 

They know not to ask too many details. Therefore, a long-term, common question is repeated. 

“Are we allowed to beat her up this time?” Ace questions.

From against you, Riddle shakes his head no. 

“Damn,” he laments before turning to Deuce. “Do you think he’ll ever agree? Wait, you’re the dumb one. Why am I asking you? Trey, what do you think?”

The former dorm leader’s death grip on you loosens at the familiarity of their conversation. 

Deuce smacks his friend upside the head. Ace jerks forward from the force. 

“You could’ve given me a concussion!” 

The blue-nette snipes back, “Well, you should’ve remembered I’m stronger than you. Who’s the stupid one now?” 

Grim agrees, “That was pretty good, Deuce. Look at your arms, Ace.”

Your cat squeezes the redhead’s bicep, then puts his paws on the blue-nette’s. He compares them. 

“He has muscles, and you’re a certified twig,” he concludes. 

Ace throws up his hands. “I’m in the police force too! I know he’s wearing the uniform today, but don’t diss my abilities.” 

You interject, “It’s not an intentional insult. It’s just the truth.” 

Trey nods. 

“Not you too!” the former freshman protests. 

The baker smirks, and Riddle softly giggles against you. Your body releases some tension as you pull back to look at him.

He still clings to your chest, and his eyes are swollen, but there’s more life to him than before. You run a hand through his hair, and he adjusts his position to face more of the group. Your boyfriend’s voice is a little nasally, but he still states his scathing opinion. 

“I would advise you to have your guard up around Deuce, but it wouldn’t be as funny,” he comments. 

Ace’s eyes comically widen. “Whoa, Riddle has a sense of humor.” 

Your boyfriend chucks a used tissue in his direction. The youngest redhead jerks away, squishing the other members of the Clown Crew. 

“Gross!!!” he cries. 

Deuce shoves him off, only for his partner to keel over the arm of the couch. He looks over at the blue-nette, offended. 

“Really?!” 

Another play fight breaks out. 

Riddle floats another tissue in between them. The two immediately jump away. 

“Calm down,” he commands. 

“Yes, dorm leader,” they chorus. 

The eldest redhead smirks, loving his old title. Then, yells reverberate from downstairs. 

Your boyfriend’s face drains of the little color it acquired. His shoulders hike up into his ears, and he curls up in a ball, pressing against you. His form quakes at the familiar, feminine screams. 

The atmosphere instantly flips. 

Cater pushes off the wall and walks to the door. 

“We’ll be back,” he declares. 

Ace and Deuce follow behind him. 

Trey rushes over to your side as the door closes. Grim scampers up, as well.

Your boyfriend whispers, “I want it to stop. How do I make it stop?” 

“Breath,” you direct. “Find five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.”

Riddle begins the exercise, as the other two stay nearby for comfort. 

By the time the trio files back into the room, the former dorm leader looks exhausted. The others wait for him to recover. Although a few note the contemplative look in Riddle’s eyes.

After a while, their queen admits, “I can’t keep going on like this, but I don’t know what to do.”

The room is silent before Grim speaks up. 

“Why can’t you just cut her off?” he asks. 

Everyone turns to him, surprised. Your cat crosses his arms, shifting uncomfortably.

“What? Isn’t that the simplest solution?” he defends. 

Riddle grabs another tissue and replies, “Is that really an option? She’s my mother after all. It’s hard to break family ties like that.”

“Why not? [Y/N] did it for you. They had great relationships with their family and friends back in their original world. However, when given the option, they stayed because they loved you and everyone else here more than their old life. Isn’t this a simpler option? At least, you’re cutting out a rotten apple and not the good ones. [Y/N] had to let all of that go to stay here,” Grim counters. 

The group stares at your cat, stunned. It takes what seems like an eternity for someone to speak. 

“I never thought I’d agree with the cat, but he’s right,” Ace concurs. “Your mom triggers a panic attack every time you see her. [Y/N] always calls us over whenever you visit, and most of the time, you come back to the bakery in tears. If you don’t want to get hurt or deal with it, then leave.” 

Deuce puts a hand on his chin and nods. “I like that idea. I didn’t even think about it since my mom is so important to me, but she’s always been there. If she were anything like yours, I’d be terrified to leave, but I have all of you, so I could do it.”

“Deuce is right,” Trey agrees. “We’ll always be here to support you, no matter what. We give you love, affection, and help you grow as a person when your mom didn’t. By cutting her off, all you’re leaving behind is the trauma you have to endure when seeing her.”

“Yeah, and considering she almost took it to a  physical level, she’s not just hurting you but others as well.” Cater grimaces. “I can’t imagine how it felt to be with her in the same house for years.”

Riddle falls silent, filing the information away. It takes a few minutes, but everyone is patient while waiting for his response. 

“I… think that’s a good idea, but I want to make one final statement,” he expresses. 

The blue-nette agrees, “That makes sense. I would too.” 

“Well, what do you want to say?” Ace questions, leaning on the armrest. 

“How much she hurt me, and how I felt growing up,” Riddle replies. 

You purse your lips. Should you say it or not? The idea bounces around in your head. Your boyfriend had an emotional breakdown, so you probably shouldn’t bring it up right—

“What are you hiding?” your boyfriend demands. “Are you trying to protect me from something?”

Your eyes widen as you’re caught. Ace speaks up. 

“That was fantastic. How smooth. You’re almost as bad as Deuce,” he mocks, clapping.  

“Hey!”

You ignore the blue-nette, as you lightly glare at your other friend. You reveal your thoughts. 

“Your mother hasn’t cared about your thoughts or feelings in the past, so I doubt it’ll change this time. If anything, she’ll be more enraged since you’ve firmly escaped her grasp,” you admit. “I like the final statement idea, but it should be for you rather than her. She won’t apologize or feel remorse; instead, she’ll blame it on you. I don’t want you to keep your hopes up about fixing your relationship.” 

Riddle absorbs the information before nodding. 

“That makes sense,” he agrees slowly.

Everyone falls silent as he ponders. It seems he’s already subconsciously accepted the fact. That’s why his reaction isn’t as strong. You pet his hair. 

Your boyfriend continues, “I agree with my king. I still want to do something to gain closure and move on, but I don’t know what.”

Trey suggests, “Why don’t you write her a letter?”

Riddle frowns, shaking his head. 

“Usually, that’s what I’d gravitate toward, but there are nonverbal cues I want to communicate,” he explains.

“What about a video?” Cater offers. 

Your boyfriend agrees, “Yes, that’s what I was—”

“Wait,” Ace interjects with narrowed eyes. “You said ‘communicate.’ Does this mean you’re still going to send it to your mom? If this is for you, why give her anything? She might use it as canon fodder later.”

The technical question makes the older redhead sit straight. He repositions himself and slips into his regular leadership role. 

“That is a possibility. However, I’ll be going no contact after the statement and won’t receive a response. The risk will be mitigated,” he answers. 

“She could easily find and track you down,” the other counters. 

“If that happens, I’ll just call you to get a restraining order.” Riddle smirks.

Ace purses his lips, skeptical with a worried undertone, when his fellow human police officer speaks up.

“I believe in Riddle’s judgment. If this is what he needs to get closure, then it’s a good idea. All we have to do is work extra hard to make sure he’s safe,” Deuce declares.  

Everyone else looks at him with mild surprise, before your boyfriend’s eyes crinkle at the edges, smiling. 

“Thank you, Deuce. I also want to ensure that she doesn’t harass the five of you either. [Y/N] will be ok because we’re together most of the time, but Trey only lives a few blocks down,” he states. 

Ace huffs, crossing his arms. 

“Alright, I’ll draft up a restraining order for everyone, because your mom is crazy, but it took you long enough to figure out that this isn’t just your problem,” he points out. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to alienate you. If I mentioned my grievances, it would just stress you out. However, we went through a lot of trauma, too!”

Riddle blinks in surprise. Then, his shoulders relax, and a laugh slips out. 

“You’ve come a long way since Night Raven College, Ace,” he starts. “In the past, you would’ve brought it up as soon as you thought it. Your judgment to withhold it was the correct one. Thank you for resisting your instincts and trusting me to come to the right conclusion. I can’t thank you enough, and I’m sorry I caused you and the others so much grief.” 

He turns to the rest of the crew to repeat the same sentiment. 

The rest of the group mostly waves it off, while the youngest redhead looks all too pleased and proud of himself. He’d never admit it, but he loves it whenever his former dorm leader praises him. 

Riddle redirects everyone’s attention to the topic of discussion. 

“Alright, I have a plan.” 

—---------------

You and Riddle stand in the same place that you landed in his first dream. It feels symbolic to end one of his biggest relationships in the spot where he gained his most important. You place your boyfriend’s phone on Cater’s borrowed tripod. 

“Ready?” you ask.

Your boyfriend takes a deep breath before agreeing, “Yes.”

You give a small, reassuring smile.

“Even if you mess up, we can always do it again,” you remind him from behind the camera. 

Riddle’s shoulders relax as you look at him for confirmation. He takes a deep breath, straightens himself, and nods, self-assured. A small smile plays on your lips. You hold up your hand to give him a three, two, one. 

Your boyfriend waits a moment before addressing the camera. 

“Mom, you taught me many lessons over the years. My tenacity, work ethic, and organizational skills come from your strict discipline. They’ve served well. However, at Night Raven College, I learned that not everything you said was helpful to me. The issue became so bad that I not only endangered myself but also the lives of others. I never told you this, fearing your reaction, but I overblot at the beginning of my sophomore year. Thankfully, my friends saved me. They showed me that you weren’t always right. So I had to change my behavior and question yours. Away from your influence and with the support of my friends, I learned a different method of living. I am a better person. 

“Many lessons contradicted yours, but they yielded positive results.  I allowed room for smaller mistakes, establishing a system of reform rather than punishment. The discontentment of my students dissipated after I took their issues and complaints into account. I even modified a Queen of Hearts rule to subvert an unhealthy loophole. It secured my position as a trustworthy leader. Instead of forcing them to comply, they did it willingly because they respected me. It’s much easier to control a group when they want to follow you. It prevents them from breaking rules behind my back.” 

Riddle chuckled at a few memories, bringing his customary hand near his face with a fond smile. The small upturn of his lips didn’t fade as he said his next lines.

“You may find it unlawful and infuriating, but I don’t regret it. I feel more loved and supported than I ever have in my life. I gained friends, my king, and the freedom to be who I am and do what I want without shame. This video is another step in my journey.”

The smile morphed into one tinged with sad acceptance. His stormy, grey eyes didn’t shed rain or create thunder. Rather, they executed a soft but sure resolution.

“Every time I visit you, I experience a panic attack and regress to a younger version of myself. When I leave, it takes my whole friend group to calm me down. I can’t do this anymore. These interactions hurt both me and my loved ones. They never said anything about their feelings until I decided to prevent this from happening again. Only then did they express it, which solidified my resolve to take action. 

“I am cutting off all forms of contact with you and the family after this video. I’ve found other people who love me unconditionally, and I do not need relationships that come at such a steep cost to my well-being. If you attempt to use my friends to get to me, they will file harassment charges,” he warned with a fitting glare. 

After a moment, his expression softened once again. 

“I’m grateful for all you taught me, Mama. I wouldn’t be the man I am without it, and I’m quite satisfied with how I live my life. Now that I don’t have anything else to learn from you, I’ll be leaving. I wish you the best of luck and happiness in your journey without me. Thank you.”

He gives a slight bow of honor and acknowledgement. Riddle waits three seconds before coming up and looking at you.

You smile as you click the stop button. Tucking his phone into your pocket, you grab his hand and kiss it. 

“That was wonderful, sugar cube,” you express. “I don’t think we have to reshoot that.” 

You pull him closer and let your lips meet his forehead. 

“Let’s go home,” you murmur. 

Riddle hums in agreement. After you break down Cater’s equipment, he tucks himself into you as you return to Trey’s bakery. 

—------------------

A few years later, you’ve settled into a normal routine with Riddle and your friends. It includes the customary Unbirthday Party on the 5th of every month. Today, it fell on a Saturday, so Riddle reserved a spot within one of your favorite rose gardens to host a tea party. Everyone can enjoy your get-together while following the Queen of Hearts’ Rules. 

“Sugar, can we switch seats? I want to talk to Trey,” you express. 

“Of course, rose.” He rises from his chair. 

You seamlessly switch over, but Riddle falters upon seeing who was beside you. 

The younger redhead looks up at him. 

“Hey, I don’t want to be next to you either,” Ace jokes. 

Your boyfriend stares at him for a moment before his eyes flicker to the opposite side of the circle. The orange-haired influencer talks with you and Trey. 

“Cater, do you mind if we swap spots?” Riddle requests. 

The former junior glances up and chirps, “Nope, I don’t mind!” 

He pushes back his chair and rounds the table to sit between you and Ace. 

“Whoa! Hey!” the targeted Clown Crew member protests. 

Riddle flashes a smirk, already moving to replace Cater. 

“What? I thought you also didn’t want to sit next to me,” he teases. 

“Don’t assume my feelings!” Ace counters. “Deuce, give me your seat!”

“But Riddle moved because of you,” the blue-nette protests.

“Doesn’t matter,” his friend answers, shooting up. “Move before I make you.” 

Cater set himself beside you as you watch the chaos unfold. Your boyfriend pulls out the other chair, sighing. 

“You have no manners,” he scolds. 

Ace ignores him as he attempts to physically take Deuce’s spot. His twig arms don’t get him very far. 

“Hey!” 

Trey stands to extract the dishes from the fight. Nobody bothers to intervene. You look at the former Heartslabyul dorm leader, surprised at his decision. 

He answers your unasked question, “They’re fighting over me. It boosts my ego.” 

You cackle at his response. He grins back fondly.

The duo begin to push each other, jostling Grim, who’s placed on the blue-nette’s lap. 

Your cat squawks, “What’s going on?!!”

He gains minor situational awareness and looks at the new seating arrangement.

“No!” he yells. “The couple has to sit together!!”

Everyone pauses for a few moments.

The influencer finally comments, “I thought you were going to complain about your cake being taken away.” 

The magical creature’s eyes widen, and he stiffens. The other party members narrow their eyes. Glances are shared around the table. Riddle crosses his arms, pinning Grim with his intense gaze. 

“What did you do?” he demands. 

Your cat falters.

“It’s nothing bad!” your cat defends. “It’s just…” 

He shifts uncomfortably in his seat before finishing. 

“I have a present for the two of you,” he quickly admits. 

The former dorm leader stares at Grim for a long moment.  

“If it’s some sort of prank, you know the consequences,” he warns before standing up.

Cater rises without having to be told. During the switch, Ace speaks up. 

“For the record, I have no idea what this is about,” the youngest redhead states. 

You raise an eyebrow before looking at Deuce, who looks visibly baffled and concerned. You trust him more than Ace. Riddle settles beside you.

After staring at the former freshman for a moment, your boyfriend replies, “I believe you.”

The card soldier blinks before straightening up slightly with pride. Although he doesn’t admit it, he’s weak to the man’s approval. 

Your cat pulls out a hidden pouch, producing a dark blue velvet box. He pushes it toward you two before realizing his arms are too short to get it far. Ace takes pity and hands it to Riddle. Surprisingly, he doesn’t make a snarky comment, probably because he was complimented. 

Grim cries, “You have to open it together!” 

Riddle raises an eyebrow but turns to you. He holds the bottom, while you grasp the top. You open it.

Inside are two rings. One is a thick, gold band with a stripe of rough ruby cutting through the middle. The other is a similar shade of gold, but the standout piece is the red heart in the center. 

The two of you stare, gobsmacked. 

The people furthest away, Cater and Deuce, elevate themselves to get a better view. Trey and Ace lean over slightly. Nobody says anything. Finally, you look back at Grim. You open and close your mouth a couple of times before finding your voice. 

“Are these engagement rings?” you question. 

Grim crosses his arms, failing to regain his regular flippant attitude. He looks away.

“Obviously,” he answers. 

Riddle’s eyes bug out. “Pardon?”

Ace clarifies, “Did you just propose for them?”

That snaps the magical creature out of his insecurity. 

“They were taking too long!” he justifies. “We were all in agreement!” 

Trey raises his eyebrows, holding back a laugh. “We were?”

“Yes!” 

“How were we supposed to know if you never told us?” Cater counters. 

“It was an unspoken thing,” your cat argues. 

Ace shakes his head in mock disapproval. 

“That’s where you failed. You should’ve known Deuce isn’t that smart,” he states with the tone of an old wise man. 

The blue-nette shoves his fellow police officer. “You didn’t get it either.”

“Of course not, because it was a stupid idea.”

“Hey! My idea was great!” Grim complains. 

“Silence!” 

The Clown Crew shuts up, as their attention snaps back to Riddle.

Your boyfriend sets the box down and stares at the rings with a complicated expression. He doesn’t speak for a long time. 

Finally, he questions, “Grim, where did you get these?”

The magical creature attempts to hold up under the pressure of the famed Crimson Tyrant. 

“I got them from Vil.” 

You raise an eyebrow. 

“He’s usually busy. How did you get in contact with him?” you inquire. 

“I used your phone to call him!” Grim exclaims, proud of himself. 

“You went through their phone?” Riddle demands, sneering. “That’s an invasion of privacy!”

You grab his thigh and give a short squeeze. 

“It’s fine. He uses my stuff all the time. Besides, I don’t mind,” you reply, smiling.

Your boyfriend's shoulders unconsciously relax under your touch. He frowns but concedes. It was true, after all. Instead, Riddle shifts closer to you, signaling to wrap an arm around his waist. You comply, and he crosses his arms. 

“And how did you pay?” the former Heartslabyul dorm leader demands. 

“Vil said he’d make it for free. [Y/N] is a close and important friend of his,” your cat explains. 

The man looks at your cat in shocked disapproval. “That was so irresponsible and impolite!” 

He intends to give a lecture, but when you lean into him, it makes him pause. 

“They’re nice rings, and they suit our style. We might as well use them and pay Vil back later,” you start before smiling. “So, will you marry me?” 

Riddle freezes. The question was so casual and almost out of the blue. It takes a while for his brain to catch up. When it does, his grey eyes grow wide and his face flushes. He buries it in his hands. 

“You can’t just say things like that,” he complains. 

You chuckle and glance at the others. You wave your hand slightly to shoo them away. Thankfully, your intention is clear. They stay at the table but give you a little privacy. Ace immediately turns from the two of you and plugs his ears. Deuce’s eyes widen, a little panicked, as he tries to figure out what to do. He looks down and plays with Grim’s ribbon. Both your cat and Trey watch the scene, wanting to witness the moment. Cater pulls out his phone to start recording. You give him a wink, and he responds with a thumbs-up. Your attention falls back to Riddle. 

“I can’t? It’s true, though. I want to marry you, so it’s only natural to ask,” you reply, grinning. 

He whines in response, completely flustered. He turns to you but keeps his hands in front of his face to shield it from the others. Your eyes turn into an adoring gaze. Your affection is so strong, you almost don’t notice words slipping out of your mouth. 

“I love you. It’s so easy to love you. I enjoy watching you get embarrassed or show that innocent smile of yours. It takes my breath away to see you so happy and full of life. You look handsome, powerful, and reliable whenever you command a group. Even when you struggle, you always work hard to do the right thing. If you mess up, you strive to correct it quickly. You tend to succeed in your endeavor. You’re as dedicated to this relationship as I am.” 

Somehow, your hand has made its way behind your boyfriend’s head as you play with his hair. The other has moved to cup his cheek, replacing his barrier with your own. His hands shake as they find your waist. He listens with wide eyes. 

“Riddle, I don’t regret for a second that I left my old world. It was the best decision of my life. I wouldn’t be the same without you and would probably be worse off. I may have had family and friends back there, but it didn’t have you. You’re the most important person in my life. Even before we started officially dating, you somehow worked your way to the top spot of why I should stay. You didn’t have to do any convincing. All you did was be yourself, and I love you for you. You’re amazing. I could go on, talking about how reliable, admirable, and wonderful you are, but I’ll cut to the chase. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?” 

Riddle looks at you, stunned with eyes full of emotion. He stares at you, overwhelmed. Instead of saying anything, he launches at you. 

Lips connect with yours. Teeth clank together in a desperate attempt to get closer. He wants to meld your bodies together, and he raises himself above you to do so. One arm wraps around your midsection to crush you against him, causing you to arch. The other thread itself is behind your neck in a firm hold. You have to throw your free arm around him to stabilize yourself. The other flies to his face. Riddle palms and grips the fabric of your shirt. 

In between open-mouthed kisses, he begs, “I need you. I need you now. Please.” 

“You—You reserved the area. We should be fine,” you remind him. 

“And the others?” 

You don’t have to look.

“They’re gone,” you chuckle. 

“Good,” he declares, before an arm slips under your butt and he’s lifting you. 

You cling to him at his unexpected fervor and yelp when your back hits the ground a little rougher than usual. It snaps Riddle out of his single-minded focus. He pauses, and you watch his entire face glow red. He abruptly sits up. A hand covers his mouth as he glances away.

“I can’t believe I was about to take you in the grass,” he murmurs. 

His response elicits a hearty laugh from you. 

“It wouldn’t be the first time, darling,” you tease. 

He sends a half-hearted glare before returning to his usual, serious self. 

“Sit up,” he instructs. “I want to do this properly.”

Grinning, you mimic his position. Settling down, the redhead reverently takes your hands. 

“[Y/N], you are the ruler of my heart. As soon as you stopped me in the courtyard and proposed your idea, you set yourself up to be my king. You keep me in check and help me become a better person. You know when to push and when to hold back.”

His grip tightens. 

“I promise to always be by your side. I will never do anything to intentionally hurt you. If I do, I will rectify it immediately, and please know that I would do anything for you. I accept your proposal,” Riddle agrees. 

He adoringly gazes at you. A soft smile makes its way to your lips, and you lean in. Putting your foreheads together, you chuckle. 

“I had no doubt,” you reply. 

You tuck a loose strand of hair behind his ear and close your eyes. The two of you bask in each other’s presence for a long time. After a while, you finally pull away. 

“Let’s get out of here. We can do it on a proper bed this time.” You wink. 

He shoots a lighthearted glare but relents. He turns the teasing comment into something of power. 

“Well, if you're still amenable to the idea, then it would be much more comfortable. You deserve the best,” your fiancé retorts with a small smirk. 

You raise your eyebrows at the smooth response and nod, flattered. A flicker of amusement and pride dances across Riddle’s eyes. 

You shake your head with an eye roll and kiss him. 

————————

The setting is perfect. The roses are white, and the tablecloths match. A temperate breeze danced through the air, making the weather immaculate for [Y/N] and his wedding. 

Riddle wears a sleek, red coat that falls to his knees with a gold tie. Under the red is a softly decorated vest with golden embellishments. In the breast pocket is a fitting crimson rose with the Ramshackle one his fiancé gave him years ago. 

The groom mingles with the guests. Most attendees are from Night Raven College, and he intentionally avoids the Octavinelle trio. [Y/N] insisted they come because they’d gotten close to them. Plus, Azul offered a tempting deal. He was getting into the marriage business. In exchange for promoting Monstro Longue, the couple got half off of everything. The redhead was skeptical, but ultimately agreed when his partner persuaded him. For one of the brief moments in his life, he was grateful for being short. He could evade Floyd a tad more easily. His card soldiers were also keeping an eye out for the chaotic eels, specifically. 

“Thank you for recommending a jeweler for us, Vil,” the former Heartslabyul dorm leader says. 

The beautiful model hums. “Of course, I’m glad you liked the rings I chose for your engagement.”

Rook pops up. “Oui! Monsieur Magicam posted the whole proposal on his account. It was beaute to witness such passion and dedication!”

Riddle chuckles. 

“Thank you. It was a once-in-a-lifetime proposal. However, considering the circumstances, it was oddly fitting,” he replies. 

“Indeed, Grim has always been one to go outside the norm,” agrees Vil. 

The groom bids the Pomefiore duo goodbye, going to grab some water from the buffet. Then, from the corner of his vision, he spots someone and freezes. 

His stormy grey eyes lock onto red. It’s a familiar color, but the feeling is different. Instead of symbolizing love, passion, and warmth like his crimson suit, it screams danger. Riddle knows it’s a warning intended for him.

A rose headpiece stands out on the woman’s hair. He knows she only wears it for special occasions. Her skirt uses a drapery effect to create a bustle in the back. It’s paired with a tight, but well-fitted, suit jacket with small elongated puffs at the top of the sleeves. Riddle had seen this outfit many times in his childhood. 

It’s his mother. 

Riddle feels his breath speed up. 

He intentionally didn’t invite her to his wedding. Why was she here? How did she know where it was? The groom slips behind a rose bush as he begins to panic. 

He feels his nails claw into his palm. He clenches his jaw, looking up at the sky. Riddle refuses to lose it now. 

He holds himself together with sheer willpower and determination. He’s gone through months of therapy and coaching to handle panic attacks, anxiety, and his temper. He can do this. This is the ultimate test, so he refuses to let her ruin his day. 

His anger rises just thinking about his mother’s impropriety. He takes a sharp inhale, counting to ten. The redhead knows running in screaming won’t work, so he has to try something else. 

Another deep breath. What would his friends do? They’re a good source of inspiration. 

Cater avoids confrontation. Instead, he uses the masses to shame the offending party and de-escalate the conflict. Trey mediates the situation, listening to both sides. Then, once concluding the reality of the situation, he firmly points out the issues and addresses them. It’s a tactic that uses empathy. 

Ace bluntly states a fundamental truth about the offending party. He doesn’t mince his words. It’s short and direct, like a punch to the gut. He’s been on the receiving end of Ace’s words and punches, after all. The younger man’s tone often includes a strong sense of justice or belief, especially if it’s more personal. He makes logical counterarguments. Deuce, on the other hand, uses a straightforward method. Although he sometimes uses violence to solve problems, his heart is surprisingly in the right place. He’s only aggressive to protect others or to teach someone a lesson about treating people decently. 

That’s how his friends react, so how does he handle situations?

Well, all of the qualities his card soldiers exhibit are good leadership qualities. He’s used all of their techniques before to some capacity. 

He employs Cater’s ability to rally the public to make an example out of someone. He uses Trey’s method to deal with conflicts within the dorm, pinpointing the issue in both parties. Riddle implements Ace’s strategy for his authoritarian voice and Deuce’s for those who exhibit physically hostile behavior. 

Why doesn’t he just use all of those? This is his territory, not his mother’s. She showed up uninvited and is crossing the polite boundaries of society. The former dorm leader has his card soldiers backing him up. Most importantly, his fiancé will stand beside him no matter what, even if they aren’t physically here. 

Riddle glances down at the Ramshackle Rose pinned next to his red one with a smile.

He doesn’t have to be afraid of his mother any longer. 

Cater’s head pops around the corner. He sighs in exasperated relief. 

“There you are. That was a close one. I assume you saw your mother,” he comments, whipping out his phone. 

He quickly types something before pocketing it again. 

He continues, “You’re much more put together than I thought.” 

Riddle crosses his arms with a huff. “Are you doubting my abilities as a leader? I’ve grown since I last saw her. I can handle this. However, I require my entourage.”

Just as he mentions them, another member of the quartet rounds the bend.

Trey’s brows are furrowed. He glances behind him to make sure the female tyrant hasn’t followed. 

“I’m having Lilia run interference,” Cater informs the green-haired man. “I told him not to do anything before Riddle decides how to move forward.” 

The glasses-wearer relaxes and looks over the groom. His mouth quirks into a smile. 

“Looks like our queen has a plan,” he observes. 

ADeuce’s voices come over the hedges before the group sees them. 

“I’m going to beat her up,” the blue-nette states. 

Riddle hears the signature smack of the man’s fists as Deuce prepares for a fight.

“Yeah, and because Riddle isn’t as attached to her, we might have a chance. I can’t believe that bitch came,” the youngest redhead complains. 

“Language, Ace,” Riddle berates. 

The duo steps into view. 

“Sorry, dorm leader,” the offender replies, before noticing Riddle’s confident demeanor.

Ace has a curious and pleased glint in his eyes. 

“Are we finally going to do something today?” he inquires. 

Deuce lights up. 

“Yeah! You look much better than you have at any other time you’ve had to face her,” he agrees. “Can we beat her up?"

Riddle screw up his face with disapproval. 

“No, that’s too barbaric,” he claims before a haughty smirk appears on his face. “Instead, we shall show her the true power of Heartslabyul. We are orderly and disciplined with a little bit of chaos.” 

“That’s what I’m talking about.” Ace grins maliciously. 

“What’s the plan, Your Majesty?” Trey asks.

The former dorm leader’s ego swells a bit at the title. It doesn’t hurt to gain more confidence before a final foe. His card soldiers listen attentively as he dishes out orders and explains his next move.

—---------

The quintet departs. Riddle’s card soldiers flank him in a V-formation, marching in perfect sync. ADeuce stays a step behind him, while the former juniors stride after the other two. The area quiets, and guests immediately part with curious gazes. 

Everyone surmised the identity of the lady in red. It wasn’t hard, especially when Lilia spoke loudly about she must be proud of her son for getting married.  

Their eyes trail along with Riddle’s procession. It was common knowledge amongst them that he had a complicated and abusive relationship with his mother. Some knew about his decision to go no contact, while others didn’t. Regardless, everyone was intent on watching the ensuing battle. 

Cater and Trey seamlessly break off into the crowd to sow ideas within the masses. 

As the groom approaches his mother, the other two overtake him, splitting off to stand on either side of Mrs. Rosehearts. Although they stand a few feet away, they gaze with harsh and cutting eyes. 

Riddle slows his gate and feels that his spectacle is perfect. It’s intimidating, orderly, and powerful. It’s the perfect representation of Heartslabyul. 

He keeps his tone amiable. 

“Mrs. Rosehearts, I don’t believe you received an invitation. I must ask that you leave before the ceremony starts. It’s set to begin in… Deuce, the time,” the former dorm leader calls out. 

The soldier’s response is succinct and immediate. 

“5:45, Your Majesty.” 

“It starts in 15 minutes,” Riddle concludes. “I like to keep everything on a schedule, so if you will escort yourself out, that would be appreciated.”

“Are you going to turn away your own mother?” she gawfs. “I raised you better than this! I disciplined you to have manners and etiquette. Have you forgotten your origins and sense of pride?”

The groom becomes silent, stilling, as he looks at his mother. She exhibits the telltale signs of an explosion. Her fists clench, her back tightens to exhibit her full height, and her eyes show the same look from all those years ago. The one that pierces into people like a sword that came straight out of the forge: red, hot, and aimed to kill. 

Riddle remembers to breathe. He won’t cower to her intimidation attempts, especially not in front of so many people. This is his wedding, and she won’t ruin it. Perhaps in the past, she had a tighter hold on him. He admits that the fear is still there, but then he remembers what [Y/N] said when he first brought up his concerns about his mother. 

“It’ll take a little more to frighten me than your mother. I almost died seven times. I faced off and won against the most powerful mage in the world. I’m equipped to meet her.”

The male redhead can’t help the small smile from forming. His mother, in comparison to Malleus Draconia, is nothing. He spares a glance at the Diasomnia quartet. They’re to the side in complete view. Lilia grins with his phone in hand, recording the entire incident. Malleus looks on with his arms crossed, mildly upset. Silver has a subtle hand on the wand in his holster, but Sebek’s expression takes the cake. 

The mint-haired man’s face scrunches, glaring at Mrs. Rosehearts. He mirrors Silver but, like always, with a bit more passion. His knees are slightly bent, and he leans forward, prepared to charge in. 

A stifled giggle makes its way out of Riddle’s mouth. Sebek’s always been more invested in their relationship than some of the others. To this day, both he and [Y/N] haven’t figured out why. However, it’s always nice to know that more people are in their corner. 

The woman snaps. “Riddle, what are you laughing at?! How dare you disrespect your mother like this!?!!”

The former Heartslabyul dorm leader turns his head back to the intruder. Staring at her, it’s rather ridiculous that she showed up. Everyone here knows at least the basics of what his childhood was like. 

So, he laughs. It’s not the innocent laugh [Y/N] loves, or the sinister one that has troublemakers straighten up. It’s the one where something is so absurd, the only thing you can do is laugh. He catches Ace staring at him, baffled and concerned, and it makes him laugh harder. 

While his mother is one of the ultimate and powerful pieces on a chessboard, she should know that if she’s the only one on her side, then it’s easy to beat. In a twisted way, it’s reminiscent of his sophomore year. It was the year his soldiers beat up their queen to reform him. His mother never got that and never will. She wouldn’t want it either, so there was no use for conversation. 

Everything stops when the oldest Rosehearts lunges at him. The words are instant. 

“OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”

ADeuce have already restrained her. She snarls at him like a rabid dog, spewing derogatory comments. Deuce sneers and clamps a hand on her mouth as Ace holds her down. She’s taken to her knees but continues to struggle. Riddle looks down in distaste. With the collar around her neck and her dress sporting grass stains, she really does look like a mutt. 

Ace informs, “Mrs. Rosehearts, you are being charged with attempted assault, trespassing on private property, and resisting arrest. If you do not want to rack up more charges, I suggest you stop struggling.”

“OW!” Deuce cries, pulling his hand away. 

His mother’s lipstick smears on the blue-nette’s hand. 

“You will not do that!! I demand you let me go!!!” she screeches. “I am the mother of the groom and deserve to be here! Riddle, release this collar at once!!”

Her incessant barking and rabid bite only added to the mutt analogy. 

From the corner of his eye, he sees Sebek take a step forward. Riddle glances at his former equestrian members and smirks. He beckons them over with a finger. 

His order rings out across the grounds. “Silver, Sebek, stand behind me and be ready to intervene when I tell you.” 

The quieter man follows his command with ease, while the mint-haired guard’s mouth forms a deep frown. The youngest member wasn’t expecting to be ordered around. 

Lilia pipes up. “Don’t be such a spoil sport, Sebek! He was key in helping Malleus last time. Listen to him for now.” 

The oldest fae nudges the prince, who nods in agreement. The dedicated soldier huffs, relenting. 

“I will help you, Rosehearts,” Sebek agrees. 

He strides over to Riddle, while the woman spits out, “You are a disgrace to the family name! I refuse to have your spouse take it and sully it even more!” 

The mint-haired man stops short at the comment. His nose scrunches and lips twist into a sneer. The former Heartslabyul dorm leader refrains from laughing. 

Predictably, Sebek’s signature voice booms out across the lawn. 

“Riddle is a respectable representative in everything he does! While he’s not as great as Malleus, he is a formidable opponent that I’m honored to call my friend and ally. You are wrong about [Y/N]! They are a fantastic partner who supports Riddle through and through, unlike you! You failed to protect your son, and the results are obvious, considering everyone here knows he cut off contact with you years ago,” he barks.

The groom watches his youngest soldiers try not to burst out laughing. He grins to himself as well. 

Sebek punctuates his statement by bellowing, “Therefore, if anyone is a disgrace to the Rosehearts’ name, It Is You!!” 

Riddle’s mother stares in stunned silence, unaccustomed to someone being louder than her. 

The groom schools his features and commands the two policemen, “Ace, Deuce, escort Mrs. Rosehearts out of the venue for causing a disturbance.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” they confirm, before hauling the woman to her feet. 

She begins to struggle and scream against his card soldiers, as three figures slip beside him. A business smile greets him. 

“That was a wonderful display of power and discipline, Riddle. I hope it felt as cathartic as it was to watch,” Azul compliments, before moving into business. “Regardless, it was Monstro Lounge’s job to make this day as smooth as possible. We fell short, and you deserve compensation. I hope letting Jade and Floyd take care of the issue will suffice. They’re technically a part of the staff and are more than qualified to subdue your mother. Besides, Ace and Deuce have to finish getting ready.” 

The redhead’s eyes widen. That sounded like a horrible idea. While he didn’t like his mother, he didn’t want to beat her up. 

Jade interjects with a hand over his heart, “There’s no need to worry. We won’t assault her, unless it’s in self-defense.”

He gives a sharp-tooth grin as the former Heartslabyul leader replies with a skeptical look. However, his former freshman cut off his train of thought. 

“Dorm leader, what do you want us to do with her?” the blue-nette calls out. 

Without waiting for a reply, Jade and Floyd stride forward. 

“We’ll be taking care of her,” the collected twin responds. 

“Yep, just hand her over~, Little Mackerel,” the chaotic eel drawls.

Deuce stiffens in mild fear as Floyd skips toward him. Ace gives a contemplative expression before calmly passing Mrs. Rosehearts off to Jade. The younger redhead exchanges some words that Riddle can’t make out. 

The blue-nette releases his mom like she’s on fire and leaps away. The unpredictable twin snatches her arm with a maniacal grin. Deuce skitters to his partner with an uncertain expression. Ace waves him off his anxiety, turning back to Riddle. 

“It’ll be fine. We have other things to worry about—Oh, hey, did you like the show?” 

Ace speaks past him. The groom’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion. He attempts to turn around when a hand slips over his eyes and blocks his vision. The other glides down to his chest, securing him in a back hug. He jumps before relaxing. He knows who it is. 

“This is the first time I haven’t stopped you from cutting someone’s head off,” [Y/N] teases. 

The words brush past his ear, causing an involuntary shiver. His cheeks flush, as his lips turn into a slight pout. 

They giggle and comment, “I’m surprised you used that method to deal with her, but you did a fantastic job, sweet treat. I’m so proud of you.” 

By the end of their sentence, their voice turns to something soft and fond. Riddle practically melts against his lover. He hums in response. 

“I wasn’t expecting it either, but I unconsciously took inspiration from you, rose,” he replies. 

His fiancé’s hold tightens, and he can feel them smiling as they press their lips against his temple. 

“I love you, and I’m honored that you instinctively gravitated toward me,” they whisper. “I’ll see you in a few minutes, sugar cube.” 

[Y/N] leaves a quick kiss on his neck before disappearing. The shortest redhead opens his eyes to see ADeuce looking away, waiting for him. He shakes his head with a smirk before addressing them.  

“Let’s get ready,” he announces. 

Trey and Cater appear beside him. 

The four of them cry in unison, “Yes, Your Majesty!” 

Riddle smirks. He has the best card soldiers and friends he could ever hope for. They always have his back. 

—-----------

The ceremony is quick to conclude, and dinner starts. Unsurprisingly, Azul and the twins nail your request. You enjoy the conversations with friends you haven’t seen in a while. The dance floor opens up, where you trade partners for a long time. Each person you encounter congratulates you. 

The former leader and vice leader of Pomefiore elegantly spin you. Leona catches you off guard by throwing you into a backflip. However, your biggest achievement is busting out the full choreography to one of Idia’s favorite songs. Apparently, it’s so good that the notorious Vil commented, “While there were multiple mistakes and flaws, for someone who never exercises, Idia moves better than expected.”

As the guests begin to leave, you collapse next to Riddle, exhausted. The stars twinkle in the sky as you grin and grab his hand. He smiles fondly.

“I take it you had fun?” Riddle comments. 

You grin mischievously and wink at him. “I’m about to have more fun when we get back to the hotel. Then, I can finally have my way with you.” 

Riddle’s face burns bright red as he glances away from you. 

It takes him a moment, but he quietly replies, “That sounds nice. I’ve been waiting for you, too.”

You throw your arms around the love of your life and pepper him with kisses, cooing at how cute he is. He scrunches his nose and pulls away, playfully trying to get away. Finally, your husband finds a different solution and buries his head into your neck. You feel a small huff of amusement and a grin on his face. 

You smile and kiss his soft hair. 

“Let’s go back and spend a little time together before we pass out from exhaustion. It’s been a long day, love,” you tell him. 

Riddle hums in response, reluctantly getting off you to allow you to move. Fortunately, he doesn’t cling to you and make you princess carry him. The man considers your state and opts to hold your hand, pressing against you, as you make your way to the car. 

“Was that you or your mom talking?” they repeat. “Do you want to get mad and serve the most severe punishment, or do you not know any other way to react?”

They let the idea sink in for a moment. 

The freshman continues, “If you want a different solution, I have a more efficient one. It’ll be much easier for you to deal with these sorts of problems in the long run. Why don’t you listen to it and decide whether you like it? There’s no pressure to follow it.” 

Riddle frowns, shifting his weight. 

Their comment about his mom’s behavior was so startling that it doused his anger. Now that he can think clearly, they have a point. He doesn’t have another comprehensive model for dealing with these situations. 

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt,” he acquiesces. “What’s your suggestion?” 

“Instead of immediately punishing their ignorance, you should focus on educating them. We want to prevent the situation from happening again, rather than only dealing with the aftermath. Given your fantastic memory, I propose that whenever you see this student in the hall, you quiz him at random. It will remind him of the rule throughout the week. Even if he gets it wrong, you won’t have to discipline him because he’s not actively breaking it. You keep doing that until he gets it right… 3 times? That sounds reasonable, and make sure to give positive reinforcement. It encourages him to commit the rule to memory. It’s also important to lay out what the consequences are if he violates it again,” they offer. 

The sophomore mulls over the idea. He slowly nods. It’s good, but there’s one aspect that bothers him. 

“Why do I get the impression you don’t believe that collaring him is the correct punishment?” he theorizes, frowning. 

[Y/N] grins, slinging their arm back over his shoulders. They pull him in. 

“You’re a smart cookie,” they whisper before winking. “I got a perfect plan.” 

Riddle becomes rigid at the strange display of affection, but the Ramshackle prefect easily steers him to a secluded corner of the courtyard. 

They throw over their shoulder to tell the criminal, “If you eavesdrop or move from that spot, I’ll make sure it’s Off With Your Head.”

The offender straightens with a sharp nod and looks away. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader raises an eyebrow. 

“I thought you said collaring someone was unreasonable,” he comments. 

“I implied that it was unreasonable for breaking Rule #186. That does not apply to evesdropping on classified conversations. I’m going to disclose your ultimate trump card. If this gets out, it won’t work,” they explain. 

Riddle allows them to lead him away, curious about their solution. When they’re far enough, he crosses his arms. 

“What is your ultimate move?” he inquires. 

[Y/N] smirks.

“The best way to give out punishments is to tailor them to the offender,” they explain. “For instance, the most efficient way to discipline Cater and Trey would be different. If you wanted to get Cater’s attention, then you tell him you’ll take away his phone for a day or two. If you want to show how serious you are with Trey, then you bar him from baking for a time.” 

The sophomore agrees. That makes sense. However, there’s another glaring issue. 

“How would I find out the most important thing for each Heartslabyul member? I have the most number of students. I can’t possibly do it on my own,” he counters. 

A conspiratorial twinkle glitters in their [E/C] eyes. 

“Simple, you don’t. You ask Trey and Cater for help,” the prefect retorts. “They’ll be better at getting that information than you would ever be. They’re sociable, sly, and crafty. Nobody would suspect them of intentionally fishing for intel. That’s the key to this operation. If no one knows how you figured out what they value most, then it will be easier for you to control Heartslabyul. They can’t guard against something they don’t know. Plus, the juniors are disarming.” 

Riddle’s eyes widen. 

He murmurs, “That’s… brilliant. I’ll give them a day or two to gather it before informing the culprit of their punishment if they’re caught breaking the rule again.” 

[Y/N] grins. “Exactly! Communication is key. If you tell them the consequence beforehand, they’ll be more motivated to avoid it. They also can’t complain it’s unfair since you informed them in advance.” 

Riddle gives a sharp nod. “Indeed, it’s good to cover all my bases. However, this offense must be dealt with, so I’ll cut off his head until the intel is acquired.”

The Ramshackle prefect stops him from moving back toward the defendant. 

“Let him off on a warning,” they advise. “Collaring him now isn’t productive. The punishment doesn’t fit the crime, so until you have a better one, you can let him off. He’s not getting away with it because you’ll call him to court in a couple days.” 

The dorm leader frowns. 

[Y/N] chuckles. “Try it and see how it goes. Perhaps threaten him that if this grace slips, he’ll get collared.” 

Riddle feels better at the notion and nods. 

“Alright, that’s more acceptable,” he agrees. “Thank you for your help. I would like to independently study the topics you used to come up with this solution. What areas should I focus on?” 

They hum. 

“Conflict management and interpersonal communication are the direct subjects. For supplemental reading, I’d recommend learning psychology and emotional processing. The latter should help with anger management,” they explain. 

The short redhead blinks, surprised. That would certainly help him. His temper was one of his weak points. He commits the list to memory. 

“Thank you. You’ve been a great help,” he reiterates. 

He turns to walk off when [Y/N] stops him again. 

“Riddle.”

He looks back to find a small smirk waiting for him. 

“I learned the tailored punishment idea by looking into parenting techniques,” they add. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader is rooted to the spot once again. 

“It might be a good idea to reparent yourself,” they offer. “I think you’ll find some solace in learning about narcissists too. You might not be ready for that yet, though. Don’t push yourself.” 

The Ramshackle prefect waves before walking away and disappearing out of sight. 

The sophomore’s feet are still glued underneath him. 

[Y/N] rocked his entire world today and they knew what they were doing. However, Riddle can find no fault in their actions. He shakes himself off. He has a student to deal with and a new plan to implement. 

—-----------

Heartslabyul had never been more obedient, satisfied, and at ease. Riddle enacted the system [Y/N] recommended. The results were far beyond his imagination. His dorm members openly respected him more than ever, rather than fearing him. The positive feedback on the new punishment system was spectacular. There was also the added benefit of his information being uncannily accurate. It creeped people out. He wondered if this was what Azul felt like all the time. Regardless, it added to his authority. 

The extra subject material significantly improved his psyche. He was less prone to outbursts. They still happened on particularly stressful days, but progress was progress. Deuce was a daily reminder of that. 

Everything was going smoothly until the repeat offenders popped up. They kept breaking one rule. It was easy and simple to follow. Yet, the discipline [Y/N] taught him wasn’t deterring the rebels. It was an act of defiance and Riddle couldn’t allow it. Any more leniency and the others wouldn’t obey him. It was time to crack down. 

He found one and did what he did best. 

“Off With Your—!”

“What is it this time?”

A hand brushes across the sophomore’s neck and shoulder, draping an arm across it. He jumps, turning to his side. It’s [Y/N] again. 

He frowns, more confused than anything. 

“How are you always here before I manage to cast my unique magic?” he mutters. 

[Y/N] raises an amused eyebrow. 

“You’re the one person I pay close attention to. I got word you were antsy about some criminals, so I came as soon as I heard. Thankfully, I caught you before you did something drastic.” They wink. 

Riddle stiffens, processing their words and physical proximity. Maybe they’re exaggerating how much they pay attention to him. Regardless, the wink flusters him for a moment. Thankfully, the prefect turns their attention away. 

They question the culprit, “What did you do?”

“I broke Rule #151: Coffee is forbidden. Tea must be served at all occasions except for birthdays,” they state. 

There’s no shame or remorse. The Heartslabyul dorm leader grits his teeth as his hackles rise. He can’t allow this to go on. 

A hand runs through his hair near the back of his neck and head. Their fingers is shielded from the other student. A soft murmur floats into his ear. 

“Let’s figure out the cause of his behavior. We’ll solve the bigger issue that way. Instead of slapping a punishment they keep resisting, we should hear them out.” 

All of Riddle’s tumultuous thoughts and feelings fly out the window at the touch. Instead, he’s left with radio static. His brain slowly comes back online. When his critical thinking starts functioning again, he nods at the Ramshackle prefect’s words. He’s a little out of it but forces himself to listen. The line of questioning continues. 

“I assume this isn’t your first offense?” they confirm. 

The criminal shakes their head. “No.” 

“Why have you consciously decided to disobey the rule?”

The Heartslabyul member narrows his eyes before defiantly answering. 

“I think it’s ridiculous!” he states. 

Riddle’s eye flash, and he sneers. His face bursts into a violent shade of red, but he’s stopped once again. [Y/N] moves behind him, using their free hand to capture his arm. It doesn’t hurt like when his mother gripped it to silence him in public. It’s a reassuring touch that grounds him. Their other hand creeps over his neck and to the clavicle furthest from them. They rub small circle on it. 

The sophomore stills with slightly wide eyes. Once the Ramshackle prefect notices his anger dissipating, their hand fully moves to his shoulder. They’re close, but Riddle can breath a tad easier now. He doesn’t know what’s going on with him. He shakes his head slightly. At least he isn’t flying off the handle. 

[Y/N]’s quietly affirm his feelings. Their voice doesn’t make it to the other student. If it does, he doesn’t react. 

“They worded that poorly. Anger is a natural response when you’re feeling attacked or that they’re disrespecting you. Thankfully, you know how to wield your emotions to be productive instead. Sometime you need a bit of a reminder. Can I go on?” they whisper. 

Riddle rapidly blinks to clear his head. He subtly glances in their direction and nods. [Y/N] continues. Thankfully, his dorm student smartly didn’t acknowledge or interrupt their moment. It was for his own good. He glares at them, still dissatisfied. 

The offender straightens at the queen’s gaze and turns back to the defacto interrogator. When their attention isn’t on him, the sophomore huffs in both irritation and relief. This confirms he isn’t taken lightly, but he doesn’t know what the problem is. 

[Y/N] starts solving that mystery for him. “Many rules could be viewed as nonsensical—”

The short redhead begins to turn to them, feeling betrayed and hurt. They squeeze him. Riddle pauses, and for some reason, he keeps his mouth shut. He trusts them. It’s an odd feeling, but that nonverbal behavior indicates for him to wait, so he will. The Ramshackle prefect hasn’t let him down before. He takes a deep breath, refocusing on the conversation. 

“—However, Heartslabyul is a dorm rooted in tradition. As one of its members, you know well how much that means to all of you,” they finish. 

Riddle’s shoulders relax. He didn’t know where they were going with their statement. The sophomore has a moment of clarity. Why was he more effected by their opinions of what he values more than normal? The thought is fleeting as the conversation continues. 

The offender crosses their arms. “Well, I don’t agree with a rule if it’s debilitating to my health.” 

The dorm leader’s eyebrows furrow with judgement. An excess amount of coffee is detrimental to someone’s health, too. He goes to open his mouth before thinking better of it. He purses his lips instead, but his glare remains. [Y/N] notices and rubs his shoulder in acknowledgement. It feels strangely rewarding. He doesn’t think this is normal but doesn’t have time to look at the feeling in depth. 

“Health issues?” the Ramshackle prefect asks. 

“Yes, I need caffeine, but tea doesn’t have enough in it and energy drinks make me sick. Therefore, coffee is the only beverage that has a significant amount of caffine to give me a boost,” he explains. 

Riddle cuts in. “You don’t need it. You want it! That’s completely different. I should cut off your—”

[Y/N] cuts in, arguing, “He’s willing to break the rules multiple times despite the consequences. If others feel the same way, we should look into a different solution.”

The redhead huffs. 

“Well, what would we do? I can’t change the rules,” he counters, annoyed. 

[Y/N]’s face peeks into his line of sight. They silently observe him. Then, they glance at the rulebreaker.

“I’ll need you to dump out that coffee before you leave, but you’re dismissed,” they tell him. “I’ll talk to your queen in private.” 

Riddle almost snaps at them for giving his card soldier an order but stops himself upon hearing the form of address. It was rather pleasant. The pause allows the offender to follow the command and escape. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader pulls himself out of [Y/N]’s grasp to glare at them. 

“What was that for? He needs to be punished,” he objects, glancing in the direction of the escapee. 

However, he makes no move to chase after him. The prefect notices it and a smile appears on their face. 

“Thank you for trusting me.” They grin. 

Riddle scowls. 

“Just make it worth my time,” he demands. 

[Y/N] chuckles. “When have I ever let you down?”

The sophomore pauses, pondering the question. They helped stop his overblot. They helped improve the dorm by tenfolds. They helped take care of the hedgehogs and tend to the flamingos by his side. Riddle can’t find any evidence of unreliability. 

The Ramshackle prefect pulls him out of his thoughts. 

“Coffee has some health benefits. For instance, it helps protect the liver. It’s also linked to improved focus. Your dorm member was also right. Energy drinks are much worse than coffee. When the Queen of Hearts made her rule, energy drinks weren’t around. She had no reference point for those chemical cocktails,” they provide. “Coffee is healthier than the alternative.” 

Riddle’s eyebrows scrunch. A grimace makes its way to his face, and he crosses his arms. All of their statements are grounded in logic and modern research. He wants to agree, but… 

His voice is pained. “What can I do? I can’t change the rules.” 

The Ramshackle prefect blinks. 

“Why not? The Queen of Hearts doesn’t have a rule stating that you can’t change them,” they counter. 

It takes Riddle a second to process. He’s like a machine from the 1800s trying to run in current times. It spits and sputters out old, rusty machine parts before breaking. The whole structure collapses. 

He begins to panic. 

He rambles to himself, “If that’s the case, anyone could change the rules. If I change one of them, then the whole system will come crashing down.” 

A warm hand threads their way into his. The other cups his cheek. 

“I’m pretty sure if you explain to your dorm members that you value their health over pure tradition, they’ll like you even better. Your dorm leader status will be more secure. Just don’t tell other people about the loophole you found. Besides, if anyone else does, they respect and occasionally fear you enough to not revolt.” [Y/N] chuckles. “Don’t overthink it too much.” 

Their touch grounds him. They always manage to secure him to reality. He wonders for a moment if they’re a mage too. It isn’t natural to be this soothing for the soul. 

It takes him a minute, but his heart rate returns to normal. He can breathe again, and he basks in the calming sensation. It could be viewed as a little inappropriate to let himself linger this long. However, Riddle isn’t strong enough to pull away. He hasn’t felt this safe in… years? Has he ever felt safe? He can’t remember. Perhaps, there were snippets, but they all were wrenched away by his mom. 

A thumb brushes along his cheek, pulling his attention. He shakes off the lingering haze and regains consciousness. 

“Thank you for the solution, reassurance, and support,” the sophomore thanks. “You have a good point. I think it would be prominent to ensure some stipulations on coffee that align with other laws. Take Rule #153 for example. It states: The only tea you may drink in the evenings is herbal tea. I’ll admit that it is one of the more logical ones, focusing on people’s health. Other varieties of tea have caffeine and the queen valued an adequate sleep schedule.” 

“I agree. That’s the impression I got when I skimmed over the book,” [Y/N] concurs. 

Riddle pauses. 

“You haven’t memorized the rules?” he questions. 

He doesn’t have the energy to actively get mad or offended. It’s more a comment than anything. 

The freshman smirks at him once again. He knows that smile by now. They’re about to reveal something surprising. 

“No, and I didn’t know if there were no rules stating that you can’t change them. I guessed,” they inform. 

The sophomore looks at them, dumbfounded. 

“You randomly guessed?” he asks, appalled. 

[Y/N] chuckles. “Not randomly. I know the Queen of Hearts and her style well enough by being in your presence. All I had to do was skim it over a few times to know her personality. It wasn’t a shot in the dark. It was an educated guess.” 

Riddle stops, stunned. They knew because they were around him all the time? He embodies the rules and person he looks up to that much?

Tears well up in his eyes. He’s never gotten such a deep and meaningful compliment before. People praise him for his grades, study habits, and hardwork. However, most people don’t acknowledge his personality. He understands. He’s hot-tempered, too uptight, and serious. He’s not fun to be around. 

Riddle pauses, trying to blink back his blurred vision. He supposes Deuce looks up to him to an incredible extent, but he’s rather slow. [Y/N] is someone who’s helped him become a better person. They’re intelligent, empathetic, and patient. Nobody’s taken as much time as they have to truly get to know him. Trey looks out for him and assists him the best he can, but his help is limited. [Y/N] has specific knowledge in areas he needs to strengthen. He has no idea how to even convey the amount of gratitude he has for them. 

A finger brushes stray liquid from his eyes. He hears a puff of amusement come from the prefect. 

“You’re welcome, and I’ll always be here for you. If you want to repay me, just make sure to come to me anytime you have another problem. I worry and care about you after all.” 

Warm arms encircle him, pulling him in, and Riddle can’t help but break from the sheer kindness [Y/N] gives him. He’s never had this before. He’s never had this, and now that he’s gotten a taste, he doesn’t know if he can let go. 

—----------------

Riddle chokes out a moan as he slides himself fully into [Y/N]. He pants heavily, trying to not cum immediately. 

“God, you’re so tight,” he whimpers along their slick skin. 

His darkened bedroom makes it hard to see, but the moonlight filtering through his window make [Y/N]'s [E/C] eyes gleam. He’s finally took what he wanted. Ever since they introduced him to long term physical affection, he’s craved them. He’s lied to himself. The redhead pretended light touches here and there were enough, but it wasn’t. He needed something deeper and more intimate. Now, Riddle has them, and he won’t let go.  

The redhead buries his head into the crook of their sweaty neck, planting kisses all over. He can’t get enough. He loves them so much.

Then, [Y/N] starts to move. 

Riddle lets out a strangled gasp. His arms tightened to further to box them in. 

“Wasn’t expecting that, love,” he mutters. 

“You weren’t supposed to,” the Ramshackle prefect retorts, chuckling.

The Heartslabyul dorm leader scoffs playfully. “Minx.”

He follows their lead and rocks against them. The movement picks up speed until the squelch and slapping of flesh resounds through the room. Riddle looks down at their joined union and shutters. The look is so depraved that it pushes him further to the edge. 

He snatches one of [Y/N]’s hands to interlock their fingers. Words spill out of his mouth involuntarily. 

“I love you. I love you so much. I’m not good with words, so hopefully my actions will make up for it,” he states shakily. 

[Y/N] laughs breathlessly and brings up a hand to Riddle’s cheek. Their voice is broken up by the force of his thrusts and interspersed with moans. Yet, their verbal confirmation comes through loud and clear. 

“Yes, it does, darling. I love you too, Riddle. I won’t leave your side.”

Something snaps at the promise, and he comes with a strangled and loud yell. 

He wakes up hot and sticky. His sheets cling to him. There’s a mess in his boxers. It takes a few moments for him to realize what happened. 

He had a wet dream about [Y/N]. 

Riddle’s mind stops working. When it reboots, the Heartslabyul dorm leader whips the covers back, stands up, and grabs an extra pair of clothes. Snatching his bathroom supplies, he dashes out of his room. He doesn’t bother locking the door behind him. 

He feels disgusting. How can he even think of something like that? [Y/N] has always been so kind to him. Why can’t he just be grateful for the affection they already give him? 

Riddle throws off his pajamas and steps into the shower. The soap digs into his skin, as he scrubs. He doesn’t bother looking at his private parts out of shame. 

The one thought running through his mind is he’s heinous. He shouldn’t want more. Who would want him anyway? He’s a nightmare to be around sometimes. The drawbacks outweigh the good aspects by a landslide. He’d be a terrible romantic partner. If he was someone else, he wouldn’t pick Riddle Rosehearts either. 

[Y/N] has already been so considerate of him. Why did Riddle have to mess it up with his feelings? The redhead is already getting much more positive attention and affirmation than he ever did at home. Why can’t he be satisfied with that? 

A burning sensation brings him back to the present. Raw, red skin greets him. He’s scrubbing too hard and stops. He moves to wash his hair. The redhead might as well do that while he’s in the show. His fingers glide through the strands, and a distinct thought pops into his mind. 

[Y/N] runs their hands through his hair, pushing it out of his face. Riddle feels a sharp tug on his scalp. It sends another ripple of pleasure through him. 

When the man comes back to reality, he wants to rip off his skin. He scrambles to finish the rest of his routine before shutting off the water and rapidly drying himself off. He slips on fresh pajamas. Yet, the disgust didn’t come off in the shower, and he still hates himself. 

He doesn’t bother with skincare, too ashamed to look at his face. He grabs everything and sprints back to his room. He throws the offending clothes in the hamper. Riddle looks at the messy bed and knows he can’t fall back asleep. The pajamas remind him of his dream, too. He might as well get dressed for the day. 

He glances at the clock. 3:05 am. 

…Not ideal, but he can work with that. 

The dorm leader replaces his sleepwear with a crisp school uniform. The best he can do is throw himself into his studies. 

He has no idea how he’ll face [Y/N] in the upcoming days. Riddle will do his best to avoid them, but it’ll be hard. They’ve become an integral part of his life. 

A pang goes through his heart. Why did his brain, body, and heart have to reveal the truth of his emotions? Now that he’s seen it, he can’t go back. 

Riddle wants to stop feeling, so he begins to study. 

—---------

Your boyfriend screams into your neck. He bites down hard to muffle it. You wince, feeling tears dampen your skin and shirt. You rub his back as cracks appear in the sky before shattering.

Riddle sags against you, exhausted. You pull him closer and pet his hair. 

“It’s ok. I got you,” you whisper. 

His breathing is heavy as he takes a moment to process. The man nuzzles closer, moaning from the mental toll of everything. Then, he stiffens. 

You know what’s about to happen, so you grab his face between both of your hands and yank it away from your neck. Big, wide eyes stare back, stunned at the aggressive move. They’re filled with tears. He probably thinks you’re rejecting him, so you let all of your feelings spill out of your mouth. 

“Riddle, in the first dream, I told you I wouldn’t leave even when you woke up. That’s still true now. I said it right after the first time I declared, ‘I love you,’ to your face. The truth is, I’ve been thinking that phrase long before then. I fell for you when I saw how hard you work to become a better person. I wanted to be there for you, so I was. However, I didn’t touch you that often because I thought you were uncomfortable with it. When we were in your first dream, you begged me to kiss you,” you start. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader glances away, grimacing. You move your head to catch his gaze again. He looks at you, conflicted and distressed. You continue. 

“I was beyond flattered that you felt that way about me,” you admit. 

The sophomore’s eyes widen in disbelief. 

“Surprised, but thrilled,” you correct, chuckling. “Riddle, I wouldn’t have done anything with you if I didn’t want to. I enjoyed our intimacy just as much as you did. I want to do it again, if you’ll have me.” 

He stares at you, mouth agape. He’s not sure what to say or believe. 

The dream starts to shake, and you take a sharp inhale. Your demeanor switches to urgent and serious, but you keep cupping his face. 

You inform him, “You’re going to go to the third level of your dream where you’ll face your overblot form. The others and I can’t go with you, because we’ll be trapped. However, you’ll be fine. We’ll be waiting for you when you get out. I believe in you. You’re strong and brave and have done so many things to improve yourself. This is just another one. I love you.” 

You lean forward to kiss him when you hear shouts of your name. 

“We’re over here!” you direct, yelling over your shoulder. 

You return to the person who’s hopefully still your boyfriend. 

“Again, I love you. We’ll talk about this after. Focus on getting out,” you remind Riddle. 

“There you are! We must leave!” Sebek calls out. 

“Ok! Ok!” you agree.

You start standing up, but your hands have a mind of their own. They refuse to leave Riddle. You don’t want to let him go. Looking at him, you notice the white sleeves of your shawl, feel the height of your tall heels, and remember the king's outfit with its red, checkered train. This is the attire he imagined for you specifically. You want it in the real world. You want to be together when you get out of this man-made nightmare. Maybe instead of telling how much you love him, you should show him. 

Your lips crash against his with the intent of taking. You take anything you can get. If this is the last time you can kiss him, you’ll milk it for all its worth. 

A muffled sound of surprise escapes Riddle, allowing you to slip into his mouth and suck on his tongue. It’s reminiscent of your first kiss, except you’re taking the lead. Your teeth nip his lower lip. You press into him one more time before pulling away. 

Riddle’s mouth is still open after you retreat. His doe eyes look up at you with unmatched vulnerability. There’s a drop of blood on his lips. It looks good on him. While he looks way too tempting, you restrain yourself. 

“I love you. You’ll be fine. Be careful.” 

Your eyes stay glued to his lips for a moment. You give in one last time. The kiss is lighter, but just as meaningful. 

“I love you,” you repeat like a broken record. 

You can’t seem to stop telling him that. 

You release him as ink accumulates around him. The Heartslabyul dorm leader yelps as he’s yanked down. 

“Riddle!!” the card soldiers cry, rushing to him. 

You counter with an authoritative voice. “Retreat!! He’ll be fine. He can come back on his own, but we can’t. Let’s go!”

The quartet freezes in hesitation. They aren’t certain of your relationship status now. It seems like you forcibly kissed him, so they look at their dorm leader, uncertain.

Riddle bellows at them, “The king’s orders are my orders! Go!!” 

Everyone’s eyes widen at the command, but your face splits into a grin. You run back to the large group, almost skipping, as the juniors drag their protesting freshmen to Silver.

You grab hold of the Diasomnia student who begins chanting. You glance back one more time to see your boyfriend drop into the abyss. The next second, you’re swept away into the in-between. 

You’ll see him in a few minutes.

———————————

As soon as the digital door opens, you bolt through into the virtual Heartslabyul.

Ace spots you first. “[Y/N]?” 

You ignore him and barrel into Riddle, almost knocking him over. It’s only due to the equestrian practice that he stabilizes you. His loud, “Oof,” is ignored as you clutch onto him.

You murmur, “I was so worried when we couldn’t return to your dream. Idia’s mom told me what happened, and I’m so proud of you. You stalled Malleus long enough for Idia to finish his ultimate cheat code. You saved us. I’m so grateful and glad you didn’t get hurt. I was so worried.”

Tears blur your vision.

“I was terrified,” you admit in a whisper. 

Deuce hears you and speaks up. “Really? You were so composed on the island. I couldn’t tell.”

You reply with a nasally laugh. Of course, the blue-nette wouldn’t notice. 

“No wonder Riddle needs to help you in every class. You’re so dumb,” Ace snarks, smacking him. 

“Hey!” 

The two begin to tousle, and a sense of normalcy washes over you. Everything will turn out fine. You and your friends faced seemingly impossible scenarios and overcame them all. With Idia’s program, everyone’s spite, and a small amount of love, you’ll win. You have no doubt. 

A smile tugs on your face as Riddle pulls you out of your thoughts. 

“Did anyone else lose their composure?” he inquires. 

“Ortho,” you reply. “I hugged him to calm him down.”

The Heartslabyul dorm leader hums, leaning into you. “As expected of my king, you’re a good leader. The only one fit to rule by my side.”

You giggle. 

A voice echoes through Cater’s phone. “[Y/N], you should come back soon. I’ll give you another minute, but Malleus is probably going to Heartslabyul next. It’s the result of me getting you in there for a few minutes.“

“Alright,” you respond, then turn back to your boyfriend. “Can you turn into your overblot form before I go? I never got to see it up close.” 

The sophomore blinks, surprised, but complies with your request. 

“Step back,” he orders. 

You do as you’re told as Riddle chants, “Dream Form Change! Overblot Form!” 

A familiar, blue glow emits from the ground with small techno triangles shooting into the sky. A bright flash of white light blinds you. When you pry your eyes open, a deathly pale Riddle floats before you with glowing red irises. 

The same colored flame accentuates his right eye. Underneath it, shadowed lace lays across the same area. On his head is a modified version of his crown. The gothic accessory mimics the style of his whisk collar: black, delicate, and sharp enough to stab. The details remind you of the polished fence of a rose garden. The last aspect is the suspended cards, cascading around him in four pillars. All four suits are present and at attention. 

You trail up and down his body before commenting, “I didn’t get a good look during your boss battle, but you look hot.”

You swagger forward and grab him by the waist. His pale face regains some life as red blotches appear on it. 

You glance at the others. Ace is so done. Trey has a faraway look in his eyes. Deuce scrunches his face, uncomfortable. Cater looks disgusted for a second before shrugging and whipping out his phone. 

“Smile!” he teases before taking a few photos. 

You grin at the influencer. “Send me those whenever we get out. I want to be able to look at them anytime I want.” 

The influencer’s face falls, as he regrets every decision he’s ever made. The youngest redhead turns around, yelling into the abyss. The vice leader tenses like he’s five seconds away from snapping his spine, and the blue-nette crouches down as he puts a hand to his forehead. 

You glance at Riddle, whose face has flushed down to his neck. You smirk, moving closer. Another yell of protests resounds in your ears as you kiss the dorm leader. 

“Wooooaaaah, Shrimpy and Goldfish are dating?! Spicy!!!” Floyd cheers. “I never took him to be one to make out in public. Who knew there would be such a side to Goldfish!?” 

Your boyfriend jerks back eyes wide with horror, searching for the source of the voice. It’s coming from Cater’s phone again. 

Jade asks, “How did you get together?” 

He tries to hold back his intense amusement, but a little seeps into his tone. 

“You don’t want to know,” Leona gruffs. “Trust me.” 

Idia comes online to comment, “You know that’s going to make them want to look at it more.” 

“That’s the point,” the lion replies. “If I had to suffer, everyone else has to, as well.” 

The tech god hums. “I like your strategy.” 

Jade’s smooth voice returns. “Oya, Azul, you’ll find this most informative.” 

There’s a pause before the octopus shrieks. You can envision his glasses going askew at the sheer debauchery on the screen. 

Rising above the crowd, a familiar French voice chimes in. “Ooh la la! Roi de Roses is quite forward in his dream. It’s beaute to see such passionate love!”

Jamil asks, “Aren’t you supposed to be in the middle of battle?” 

“A lover of romance does not miss the beautiful union of a newborn relationship,” Rook replies. 

Epel interjects. 

“What? Are you not confident that you can watch videos and fight at the same time?” the shortest of the Pomefiore trio snarks before yelping. “Ow! Isn’t it counterproductive to hit me? Save it from the darkness—Ok! Ok! I get it! I’ll be quiet!” 

Ruggie comes in with, “Damn, Riddle’s dream was raunchy.” 

That’s the last straw before Riddle finally revives himself. “IF ANYONE MENTIONS THIS AGAIN, IT WILL BE OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”

The sound pierces the microphone with a shrill voice. His face is bright red, and a vein pops out. You lean away, your ears ringing from the volume. 

The orange-haired influencer jumps in to diffuse the situation. 

“Riddle, we can ask Idia to delete it! Everyone knows better than to cross you. Even the other dorm leaders. They’ll have their magic taken away if anyone tries,” he states before adding. ”Besides, if Azul doesn’t have physical evidence, he can’t blackmail you, so you’re safe there.” 

His dorm leader settles at the explanation, but you murmur, “I kinda want that tape though.” 

Everyone in the chat screams. You back away from Cater’s phone, grinning. You kiss the flaming Riddle on the cheek one more time.

“I’ll handle it for you, sweetheart,” you reassure before skipping off. 

A door opens for you, and you dash in before Malleus arrives. 

Inside the control room, you address Idia. 

“I need you to send me a copy and delete the original, so I have it in the real world.” 

The technician looks at you, horrified, but asks, “Will it shut you up forever about the incident?”

“If that’s what it takes, I vow on the Ramshackle that I won’t,” you promise. 

“Deal,” he agrees. 

—-------------

Despite your feet feeling like lead, you stride into the Heartslabyul common room with an overnight bag and Grim on your shoulders. You haven’t gotten a chance to talk or visit your boyfriend since the virtual world. 

After defeating Malleus, you took up the mantle of Diasomnia’s housewarden. The quartet was too wiped out to think straight, and their students needed to be placed and housed elsewhere. The castle was in shambles, and without Malleus’s overpowered magic, it would stay that way for a while. You coordinated with the others to find extra rooms. Most of them went to Ramshackle, but there was still overflow. Your dorm isn’t that big. You directed the green quartet to stay there, as well. You didn’t want to leave the dorm unmonitored, knowing Riddle would need you. Lilia seemed all too amused to learn about your new relationship. He was delighted to hear your short recount. After such a harrowing encounter, it was a much needed pick me up for him. 

With Grim half asleep on your shoulders and his upper body draped over your head, you walk into the cozy common room. 

ADeuce leans against each other, passed out in funky positions. Cater sits on the armrest of the chair that Trey occupies. The influencer scrolls on his phone, and the vice leader flips through a cookbook. Both are tired but fully awake. They keep watch over the others and glance up when you enter. Riddle struggles to stay conscious from the other throne chair. It faces the entrance, so he can see who comes in. Upon detecting movement, the dorm leader pries his eyes open. When he registers your face, a bolt of energy jolts through him. He shoots up. 

“[Y/N]!!” he cries. 

Deuce snaps to life at the voice. He conks his head against Ace’s, wincing but immediately responds. 

“Yes, dorm leader?!” he shouts. 

The red-haired freshman yelps at the sudden attack on his skull and the blue-nette’s yells. He leans forward, rubbing the back of his head. 

Ace hisses, “What did you do this time?”

You chuckle and stride to the swaying Riddle. He stood too fast. Steading him by the waist, Trey answers the younger students in a quieter tone. 

“You didn’t do anything. Now that [Y/N] is here, you can take Grim and go to bed,” he tells them. 

Ace groans. “Thank god. It took you long enough. Our dorm leader almost had a mental breakdown as soon as he finished his duties.” 

Deuce is still disoriented and doesn’t say anything for a moment. Cater chimes in. 

“Cute hat,” he comments with a smile in his voice. 

You turn just as a camera clicks. You give him an amused smirk, and the orange-haired student responds in kind. 

“‘Riddle’s significant other finally got here,’” he states before listing. “#post-overblot-battle, #new-fashion-trend, #first-couple’s-pic, #candid, #responsible-couple, aaaand post.” 

He clicks a button and pockets his phone. 

“It’s been a long day. Let’s get some sleep,” Cater announces. 

You extract Grim from his perch, barely waking him. He mumbles something along the lines of “tuna cake.” You place him in the blue-nette’s lap. 

“You’re taking this gremlin with you tonight,” you tell him.

Deuce stares at your cat for a second before registering what you said and nodding. 

“I’ll take good care of him,” he promises, giving a firm nod. 

You shake your head with a smile. “I’m glad I have such a reliable friend to assist me.” 

He perks up with pride. “I’ll do my best!”

“You’re sleeping with him tonight,” Ace mumbles. “Let’s go.” 

The younger redhead drags his roommate back to the dorms, while the blue-nette holds your small magical creature. 

Trey gets the hint and stands up. “We’ll head out, too. Goodnight.” 

Cater hums an agreement, offering the same parting. The two juniors disappear into the hall. 

Riddle clutches onto you. His grip is tight. He fists your blazer, burying his head into your chest. Now that nobody is around, he whines. 

“Please don’t do that again. Don’t leave me. I’m exhausted. When I couldn’t find you after everyone woke up, I was willing to overblot again to get you back. Vil talked me down but I was so close and so desperate,” Riddle begs, clinging onto you. “I was terrified. I never got to say I love you before it.”

His voice quiets as he confesses, “I love you.” 

You hold him tighter, blowing a puff of amused air through your nose. Didn’t he tell you that in the same, quiet way in his first dream, as you lay in the afterglow? You kiss his head. 

“I love you, too,” you reply. 

The sophomore continues to cling to you. He practically falls asleep standing up. You’re of the same mindset. Yet, you waddle to his room, as he refuses to let go. After a few feet, you give up and lift him. Unable to carry him princess style, you direct your boyfriend to wrap his legs around your waist. Your arms feel like they’ll fall off, but you think about Riddle and how you want to protect him. You endure, making sure not to drop him.

“Open it,” you grunt, standing in front of his room.

A lazy hand fumbles for the doorknob. He doesn’t even look. After a moment, he grabs the handle and turns it. You walk in, kick it closed, and place Riddle on the bed. 

You move to stand, but he tightens his grip on your torso and neck. 

He whines, “Don’t leave. I don’t want you to go.”

You chuckle, shaking your head.

“Sugar cube, I’m going to get pajamas for both of us. Isn’t your dorm leader uniform uncomfortable?” you reason. 

Your boyfriend is silent for a long time before responding, “Sugar cube?”

You place your forehead against his, laughing. 

“That’s what you got from the conversation?” you tease. 

“It’s important you know I like it,” he mutters. 

Another giggle bubbles out of you as you kiss his temple. It reminds you of your cute, sickly sweet stunt in the first dream. He liked your terms of endearment then, too. 

“I’ll keep that in mind, Your Majesty. Thank you for telling me. Have I placated you enough to get our pajamas?” you inquire.

Another sustained pause. 

“You won’t leave?” he repeats. 

You place another kiss on his forehead. “Of course, Riddle. I think changing into my pajamas with you is a solid indicator I won’t walk out.” 

Your redhead tightens his hold at the notion. You respond in kind, along with a flurry of kisses. He squirms underneath you, but it doesn’t last too long. You end the affection by rubbing your noses together kunik style. 

“Come on. I want to wear something more comfortable,” you urge. “You just have to let go for a few moments.”

Apart from his slightly ragged breath, silence reigns. The queen finally opens his mouth to give a verdict. 

“Ok,” he mutters before releasing you. 

Still hovering over him, he immediately undresses with the efficiency of a man on a mission. He slips his heels off. You pull away, wide-eyed. He almost clips you as he strides to the closet. Before he even gets there, his cape is off. 

You regain your senses and grab your sleepwear. Turning around, you hear your boyfriend muttering about there being too many layers. The sound of bulky fabric rustles behind you. 

You slip off your uniform before donning your pajamas. From the corner of your eye, you see parts of his clothes get violently thrown into the hamper. Some items miss the basket, and Riddle doesn’t bother to pick them up. You climb into bed and pull back the covers. Just as you’ve adjusted yourself, a ball of red hair barrels into you. The force knocks you back. Miraculously, you don’t hit your head on the headboard or fall off. 

Riddle doesn’t bother getting under the blankets. His only focus is to latch onto you. Kissing the top of his head, you maneuver both of you into a more comfortable position. There’s only one problem. 

“Sweetness, turn off the light,” you direct. 

Your boyfriend lifts himself for a brief second to click it off, before flopping back into you, boneless. He snuggles closer. 

“I love you,” he murmurs. 

“I love you, too,” you answer, kissing his forehead.

Riddle’s head tilts up as he tries to locate your lips. He fumbles, unbothered, until he finds them. It’s a firm kiss. One that says, “I love you, and I mean it.” You reply with the same energy before he breaks it off, nuzzling into your neck. 

He murmurs again, “I love you.”

Like you, he repeats it like a broken record, and you do the same. 

“I love you, too. Sweet dreams, cutie.” You can’t wipe the smile from your face, and it leaks into your voice.

You tighten your hold before both of you give in to a restful sleep. 

—------------------

Incessant tapping wakes you. You blearily hum, turning to your boyfriend, who is over you. 

When he’s gotten your attention, he says, “I’m hungry, and I can’t fall back asleep.” 

“Time is it?” you groan, glancing at the clock. 

5:10 am. 

You kiss his forehead. “Old habits die hard, sweetheart. Do you think Trey’s up?” 

“Probably,” Riddle answers. 

“Let me hold you a little longer. Then, we can get up,” you reply. 

He nods and cuddles closer to you. You chuckle as his red hair tickles your nose. With a squeeze, you feel his warmth press against you. You tangle your legs with his. It elicits a surprised noise from your boyfriend. Chuckling, you peck his lips. He replies with a slight pout at the unexpected action, before burying his head into your neck. After a while, he presses a kiss onto your collarbone and hugs you tighter. 

It lasts for a few more minutes. You slowly gain more clarity and mentally prepare to get up. 

“Alright, let’s go to the kitchen. I’m hungry too,” you tell him. 

Riddle nods. “Yes.”

He gets up and heads to the closet. You grab his sleeve. 

“Wear your pajamas. Most people won’t be up after Malleus’s overblot anyway, but I’m sure the quartet and Grim will come in soon. They know you. You can consider this a family tradition of eating breakfast together in our sleepwear,” you say.

The Heartslabyul dorm leader tilts his head. “It is?” 

“Well, not everyone does it, but it brings people closer together. It’s a cozy affair. You’ll like,” you respond.

Your boyfriend thinks, before agreeing, “Yes, I’d enjoy that.” 

You smile, pulling him into you. He’s soft for found family gatherings, like the Unbirthday Parties. You allow him to put on his slippers before ushering the man out the door. 

A wonderful aroma hits you as you step into the hall. Anyone can deduce the miraculous culprit. 

You two pad to the kitchen and peek inside. In front of the stove is a messy-haired Trey. He wears a teal cardigan, brown pants, and open-toed shoes. The junior turns and gives a lazy smile. 

“I had a feeling you would still get up at the same time,” he comments to Riddle.

You stride in to get a better view of the room. Your eyes widen. 

“Are you planning to turn your dream into reality?” you question, amused. “You must be the witch from Hansel and Gretel. You plan to stuff everyone with food before eating them.” 

Trey glances at you with a mischievous smile. 

“Who says I wasn’t?” he retorts. 

You sit down and immediately throw back, “Nobody. I don’t trust you, Mr. Oyster Sauce.” 

The short redhead snorts, covering it with a cough. A small smirk lingers on his face. 

“That’s an apt title,” Riddle concurs. 

“Yes, you would find it most fitting considering you were the only one who took my suggestion seriously,” Trey teases.  

He snickers as his dorm leader glares at him. 

“Anytime I need a pick-me-up, that’s all I have to think about.” 

A slipper flies across the room, hitting him in the face. He yelps, making sure not to jostle the pan of eggs. 

“Sevens! If you wanted to hit me that bad, you could’ve waited until after I wasn’t holding anything hot,” the green-haired baker chuckles. 

“It’s to the left, you maniac!” someone calls from the hallway. 

A flash of grey races across the floor, leaping onto the table. Riddle screeches and crashes into your arms. You put a foot on the ground. You barely stabilize both of you. 

Unsurprisingly, it’s Grim. He looks straight at Trey with dazzled eyes. 

“Tuna pancakes!” he demands. 

The junior blinks, taken aback. Deuce runs in, dragging Ace behind him. He dons a bright pink tracksuit with cheetah-print lining the sides. His hair sticks up every which way, along with his card counterpart. 

“Grim!” the blue-nette scolds. “You could’ve waited for us!” 

The other freshman breaks free of Deuce’s hold and rubs his neck. He plops down next to you, as your cat responds. 

“I’m hungry!”

“He wasn’t going to wait,” Ace tells his roommate, before looking at Riddle’s pants and smirking. “Nice pajamas, dorm leader.”

Your boyfriend wears cream-colored bottoms with various colorful hedgehogs. 

Riddle stills, glancing at the freshman with narrowed eyes. You know what he’s about to do and roll your eyes. Pulling the sophomore into you, it startles him enough to quell his anger. 

“You can’t say anything with your hair like that,” you snark. 

Deuce tunes into the conversation and compliments, “I like it, dorm leader! It’s a nice change of pace. You look more relaxed, and I know how much you like hedgehogs, so it’s fitting.” 

“Thank you. They’re very comfortable. Cater gave them to me for my birthday,” Riddle reveals. 

“What did I do?” The junior in question walks through the door. “I’m not surprised everyone’s here. What did you make, Tr—Oh no, are we in a dream again?” 

He’s taken aback by the pile of food and pastries lining almost every surface. 

“No, he was stress baking,” you reply, snagging a croissant. 

While the others begin chatting and grabbing their breakfast, the green-haired student places a plate in front of Riddle. 

“I know you follow a diet, so I made sure to cook something with that in mind,” he explains. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader blinks, surprised. “You didn’t have to do that.” 

Trey smiles. “I know. I wanted to, because I care about you.” 

He steps away to make more dishes, but Cater pulls him back. 

“Nope! You’re not getting away this time! Our famed pastry chef has to eat, too,” he says, steering him to a seat. “Besides, we can’t have breakfast without you. It would be wrong.”

You notice a small, elated grin spread across Riddle’s face. The influencer knows exactly what he’s doing, and you couldn’t be more grateful. As everyone digs in, you glance to Cater to catch his eye. You give an appreciative nod and smile. He winks at you, grinning. 

You pull Riddle closer and kiss his head. 

“Ew! Gross!” Ace complains, scrunching his nose. 

You narrow your eyes slightly. Compared to everything else, this wasn’t his reaction wasn’t that bad. However, he was doing it to annoy you. Therefore, you’ll annoy him back. 

You resist raising an amused eyebrow. Instead, you reply with an unimpressed look. One hand lulls to the side, giving a tilted “Really?” gesture. Your fork falls out of your hand. 

It clatters to the floor, and you purse your lips. You send an irritated look at Ace, before bending down and picking up both the fork and Riddle’s slipper. Gripping it tightly in your dominant hand, you rise with the same attitude as before. Nothing is revealed until you chuck the shoe at the freshman. 

It nails him in the forehead. The attack is so unexpected that the redhead loses his balance on his stool and falls off. Grim openly cackles, and Deuce snickers. 

“Serves you right. You shouldn’t have insulted the dorm leader,” the blue-nette says. 

You stand up to get a good look at your victim’s face. His nose is scrunched with a grimace. He holds a hand to his head. 

Cater speaks up. “[Y/N], you should’ve told me! That would’ve gone viral. Plus, it would be hilarious to rewatch.” 

Trey chuckles, “Considering how accurate your aim was, I wonder if you can win the croquet match. It would be funny to see Riddle serving you tea rather than the other way around.”

“Is throwing a slipper adjacent to hitting a hedgehog with a flamingo?” you question, baffled. 

Deuce replies, “Well, any athletic prowess is better than none. It was a good shot, too.” 

“Off With Your Head.”

The words are quick and to the point. Riddle doesn’t raise his voice or spare Ace a second glance—a chunky collar snaps on the former, famous tart-stealer. The freshman’s mouth drops in shock before it becomes glum. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader dabs his mouth as he explains, “An attack on my king is an attack on me. Even petty tricks are an offense.” 

“What did he do?” Grim asks with wide eyes. 

“A harmless prank. He was going to spill jam on [Y/N],” your boyfriend starts before a sinister smirk appears. “He should know better than to cross me or my rules in front of me, especially with matters that carry more weight than normal.” 

The younger redhead scrutinizes you before coming to a shocking and offensive conclusion. 

“You planned this!” he accuses. 

Riddle’s about to silence him when you place a gentle hand on his arm. He immediately concedes. In response to Ace’s statement, you innocently look up at the ceiling to playfully avoid eye contact. 

Your victim’s mouth drops. “You’re just as much of a tyrant as he is!” 

You grin, shrugging. Everyone around the table laughs at the overall antics. Ace gets up from the floor, and you nudge Riddle to uncollar him. The crimson ruler levels the freshman with a warning gaze. The card soldier purses his lips before backing down. 

“Fine, I won’t do anything to them. I don’t want to incur your wrath anyway,” he states begrudgingly. 

The choker disappears. Ace rubs his neck. 

“Man, Deuce dragged me by the collar, and then Riddle cut off my head. Is everyone here out for my neck?” he comments. 

“I think it’s just strangulation,” Trey replies. “I don’t want to ruin the meat.” 

Everyone stills. 

“What?” the blue-nette questions.

“I don’t want to ruin the meat,” the green-haired student repeats. “I’m trying to fatten you all up.”

He gestures to the buffet of food on the table. 

“And obviously, my first victim is going to be the one who eats the most food, which is—YOU!”

He grabs Grim. The majority screams as chaos reigns supreme. Your cat claws at Trey’s hands, as Deuce goes to snatch him back. Ace stands up, pointing his magical pen at the junior. 

Trey instantly releases your cat, holding his hands up and laughing. 

“I can’t believe you fell for it so easily. The look on your faces was hilarious!” he cackles. 

Cater lets out a sigh of relief. “Thank god, I thought you were serious. You always pull out the craziest pranks at unexpected times.” 

Ace turns to Deuce. “I can’t believe you didn’t recognize it immediately.”

“I saw you reach for your pen! Why are you accusing me of being gullible when you fell for it, too?!” the blue-netted argues. 

“Oh, wow! I had no idea you knew such a big word like gullible. I’m genuinely impressed,” the other Heartslabyul freshman replies. 

A wrestling match ensues, as Grim comes out of his frightened state and smacks the baker, upset. 

“That was terrifying!” 

Trey laughs, patting your cat on the head. “Sorry, sorry.”

Riddle’s giggle chimes through the air. It’s always been distinct and sweet. The sound draws everyone’s attention. 

”Wait, why are you laughing? Are you in on the joke?” Ace demands. 

You answer, “Actually, I was the one who inspired Trey’s idea. I’m glad my creative comment didn’t go to waste.”

The youngest redhead’s jaw drops for the millionth time. 

“I thought you were supposed to make Riddle better, not influence the older students to do terrible things!” he protests. “You truly are a tyrant!”

Deuce looks at him and comments, “You’re really just asking to get collared at this point.”

Grim wipes the tears from his eyes as he counters, “He already has.”

“Dorm leader isn’t above collaring—“ the blue-nette gets cut off. 

“We should take a selfie and some photos together!” Cater cries. 

He whips out his phone and pulls up the camera. He holds the device at a practiced and proper angle.

Riddle beams, leaning into you. You smile down at him fondly. You kiss the top of his head when the others aren’t paying attention. The dorm leader feels it and glances up with one of his cute smiles. 

You’re forever grateful that your boyfriend gets to experience this regularly. It’s so clear he loves it, and you’re glad everyone is here to enjoy the moment. 

——————————

The trumpets sound. 

“Our great dorm leaders! The Crimson Ruler and The Heart of Roses! Announcing Dorm Leaders Riddle and [Y/N]!!”

A cheer goes up as you step into the garden, holding your boyfriend’s arm. Sounds of awe echo at your new attire. The two of you and the card quartet made sure to keep the outfit a secret until your debut as the King of Hearts, during the next Unbirthday Party. 

You stride across the decorated lawn perfectly in sync with Riddle. Heading to your spots, his steps falter at an altered addition to the party. He glances at you, confused. 

You grin mischievously. 

Tilting your head toward your boyfriend, you whisper, “I thought it would be appropriate to pay homage to our second dream date in Heartslabyul. The crew helped me with it.” 

Where Riddle’s throne chair used to be is a sturdy loveseat with a heart-shaped backrest. The design is almost the same as the old one, but there’s an added crown on the red-stone heart, symbolizing the king. 

It takes your boyfriend a beat to respond. 

“I suppose we did sit on a bench a lot,” he murmurs. 

You hum, chuckling. 

“Indeed, we sat on the bench when you told me about my King of Hearts outfit. You showed me the card trick on a bench. Lastly, I yanked you off a bench to hide from prying eyes. Not that it did much good,” you recount before your sweet smile turns mischievous. “Plus, it’s perfect for cuddling.”

You wink, and Riddle shakes his head. However, he’s unable to rid himself of his upturned lips. 

You move around the table, and the two junior trump cards pull out the seat for you. Before they push it in, Riddle makes an announcement. His voice rings throughout the garden. 

“Today is the first Unbirthday Party where my significant other is officially appearing as my partner. As per tradition, the King of Hearts’s orders are my orders! You will listen to them as if they were me. They have already done much for this dorm. They suggested the punishment system and helped change Rule #151. Therefore, I expect the utmost respect and obedience toward them. Those who violate this order will be reminded of why I’m not to be trifled with. This is more personal than the others.” He gives a threatening smirk before lightening up. “With that, let the celebration begin!” 

Another cry of praise and hoorays go up in the crowd. Trey and Cater push in the bench for you. Thanking them, you cut into the strawberry tart. Dishing some out, you hand your plate to Riddle, who blinks before smiling. 

“Thank you, rose,” he says. 

You kiss his cheek and grab a slice for yourself. 

A light dust of red spreads across his face. He’s become more accustomed to your public displays of affection nowadays. It’s a blessing for you, who loves to show your love through touch. The Heartslabyul dorm leader subtly shifts closer. He quickly looks away. 

You beam at him, tugging him into you. Riddle flinches at the move but looks down with a soft smile. Leaning into you, he rests his head on your shoulder. 

A camera flashes. 

“The King of Heartslabyul’s official debut at the Unbirthday Party! #couple-moments, #king-and-queen, #unbirthday-party, #heartslabyul, #so-cute,” Cater lists. 

Ace scrunches his nose along with Grim. 

“Ugh,” he groans. 

Trey chuckles. “It’s not that bad in comparison to his first dream.” 

“I don’t think anything is bad when compared to that,” the red-haired freshman retorts. 

Deuce hops in to agree with the vice leader. “Yes, it’s nice to see them showing some of their affection openly, especially since we learned how much Riddle likes it. He hasn’t gone too far, so I don’t think it’s inappropriate.” 

“Thank you,” you reply, nodding. 

Your boyfriend purses his lips, refraining from saying anything. The ordinary banter starts up, and then, you remember something. 

“Riddle, could you make those cards again?” you request.

He tilts his head, clarifying, “Like the ones I showed you in my dream?”

You nod. 

“Alright, love,” he agrees. 

Taking an unused saucer, he points his pen and pours magical energy into it. The plate transforms into a stack of red playing cards. 

“Can you make them fly around and circle us, but include the others?” you ask. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader raises an eyebrow. “I’ll need more cards for that.” 

He grabs the plate under your teacup and orders the others to hand over theirs, too. 

“What’s going on?” Ace complains, handing the object to Riddle. 

For a moment, you’re thrown back into Riddle’s first dream, where Ace was forced to give up his school clothes. The freshman has the same expression. 

“Making cards,” the sophomore replies, changing some of them to blue backs. 

Finally, once he has enough, he flicks his wrist to the side, and the cards fly into the air, encircling your party. Trey raises an eyebrow at the display. He was the only one who saw the sweet performance the first time. 

You grin. 

“Pick out your card! Make sure you get the right backing color,” you instruct the group. 

Everyone blinks at the order, but you're already looking for Riddle’s card. Eventually, the trump soldiers scan for their card counterpart. Grim crosses his arms with a pout. He has a slightly distressed expression. 

Your cat asks, “What card do I look for?”

You giggle. “The black joker, of course. The one with the blue backing because of your ears.”

Grim blinks before jumping with a fist in the air. 

“That’s perfect for me!! I’m the ultimate wild card!” he cries and frantically starts searching for it. 

You snatch your target first. You present the red-backed Queen of Hearts to Riddle once again. 

“I got you,” you chuckle. 

He hums, a fond, satisfied smile on his face.

Trey calls out, “I found yours, Cater.” 

The orange-haired influencer whines, taking his card, “I thought I would be able to find it. At least, I don’t have to waste any more time. I got some great videos and photos. This is amazing. How did you know to ask Riddle to do this trick, [Y/N]?” 

Deuce cuts the junior off, as he cries, “Here!!” 

Ace snorts, rolling his eyes. “That red. Try again.” 

In his hands is the correct Ace of Hearts. 

The redhead continues, “I know where your card is, but I’m not going to help you.” 

“What?!” 

Another fight breaks out as Trey locates the Three of Clubs. Riddle uses this opportunity to pelt the rowdy students with a few cards.

“OW!” they chorus. 

You snicker at their misfortune before glancing at Grim, who’s also struggling. Then, he lunges. 

“There!!!” he shouts. 

The shot is from across the table. He’s about to splat the whole strawberry dessert onto the white cloth. You leap up, snatching his body out of the air and pulling him toward you. Your cat isn’t paying attention. He grabs his card, victorious. 

He turns to Deuce and declares, “See that?! I’m not the last one!” 

You shake your head with a sigh. You hand Grim off to Trey, who places him into his seat beside Deuce. Riddle plucks the King of Hearts from the pile and presents it to you. 

You tap your face card with his. 

“*mwaaaah*!” you sound.

You grin as your boyfriend’s face heats up. 

“I’m getting trauma flashbacks,” Ace groans. 

Raising an eyebrow, you reply, “Is that a request?”

He screams, cowering away, “No! You’re crazy!” 

“I found mine!” Deuce exclaims. 

This time, he holds up the blue-backed Two of Spades. 

“Good job!” You clap. 

“Soooo, what is this for?” Cater questions. 

“You’ll see,” you chirp, before addressing Riddle. “Can you do the magic infusion for all of the cards?” 

Your boyfriend’s eyebrows raise in surprise. 

“I don’t see why not,” he answers. “Hand over your cards!” 

The group presents their individual ones to the dorm leader. He takes them with grace. With a flick of his wrist, the rest of the decks file away neatly back into piles. You grab his waist and lean closer to talk with him. He takes the Two of Spades into his hand.

“Can you give Deuce something like an intelligence boost?” you question. 

Riddle pauses before asking, “Are you suggesting I make an impromptu talisman?” 

You nod. “Yeah, is that too much to ask?” 

“No, darling. It was just unexpected. Of course, I’ll give something to them if you think they deserve a reward,” he answers. 

He performs the spell, going through each one and giving specific attributes. Deuce is intelligence-based, and Ace receives one with dexterity. 

“Don’t make me regret this,” Riddle warns, handing the man the Ace of Hearts. 

The freshman takes it only for his eyes to widen in surprise. “You put a lot of power into this, dorm leader.” 

Your boyfriend humphs. “I don’t skim on gifts, especially when people have earned them.” 

He continues, giving Cater one to boost his energy. Trey gets one to assist his luck, and Riddle hands the Joker to Grim. 

“For the person who claims they’ll be the greatest mage in the world, here’s something to assist with your magic,” he explains. 

Your cat’s electric blue eyes widen as he snatches the item. 

He crosses his arms and replies, “Obviously, I don't need help, but I’ll accept your blessing.” 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader quirks an amused eyebrow. “If you’re that dissatisfied, I can take it back.” 

“No!!” Grim cries, clutching his card. 

Riddle gives a knowing smirk before turning to you. Magic swirls around the Queen of Hearts card in your hand. 

“I’m giving you a protection talisman,” he whispers. ”I want to keep you safe at all times. However, I can’t always be there, so this should help protect you even when we’re separated.”

He begins infusing the item with magic. Red, gold, and pink light shine from his pen and into the card, where it seems to suck in the magic. After a few moments, he releases the connection and hands it to you.  

You take it, but he doesn’t let go, causing you to look into his eyes. They hold the most serious devotion to you. 

“In chess, the queen always protects the king. While that may not be true in every instance for us, I want to keep you safe,” he says. 

You smile and huff out a laugh. You pull him close and kiss him on the temple. 

“Thank you, sugar cube. I have something for you, too,” you inform. 

You reach into a small pocket and pull out a familiar striped fabric. It mimics the one Grim usually wears. It’s swirled into a rose, matching the one on his chest. You begin to pin what you’ve dubbed The Ramshackle Rose next to the half-painted Heartslabyul one. 

“This lets people know you’re mine,” you state, fixing it in place. “Now you’re just as much the leader of Ramshackle as I am here.”

Riddle melts at the admission and present. He looks at you with absolute, unwavering love. His eyes hold yours as he grabs your hand and places a gentle kiss on the back of it. 

“I love you,” he whispers. 

“I love you, too.” You smile.

Pressing an unexpected and quick kiss on his mouth, your boyfriend squeaks. Chuckling, you redirect his attention. 

“We still have more of the party to get through,” you point out before asking Cater. “What time is it?”

“10:40,” the orange-haired man informs, tapping away at his phone. 

He undoubtedly snuck in some photos of your interaction, and you don’t mind. 

“Perfect,” you reply. “It’s almost time to head to the croquet field, but before that, I have an announcement.”

The notion wakes Riddle from his stunned state, as he looks at you questioningly. 

You smile and rise to hold court. 

You clink your glass with a spoon. The area falls silent, and all eyes focus on you. You appreciate their undivided attention. Riddle, you, and the four card soldiers have trained them well. 

“Before we head off to play croquet, I found an old tradition while looking into my position. The king and queen are supposed to share a dance during special events. My debut as the King of Roses is a special occasion, so Riddle and I will be honoring that rule,” you announce. “Let’s clean up and head to the field to watch the dance. Then, the croquet match will start.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” the soldiers shout. 

They begin bustling around, as your boyfriend stares at you in surprise. 

“I had no idea that was a tradition,” he comments. 

You lean in, letting your lips brush his hair. “I pulled a Rule #5,458.” 

Riddle stiffens, shocked. 

“You made up a rule?” he hisses. 

 You turn into him, pulling him closer. 

“Well, I always uphold the rule you made up on the spot. I thought it was only appropriate for me to make a sweet and innocent one, too,” you reply. 

Soft lips meet yours as you kiss him. There are no signs of screaming, as the quartet and Grim make themselves scarce. 

You pull away, grinning. “See? I always honor my favorite rule. I have to give you three public displays of affection.” 

Riddle’s face burns bright red, and he buries his head into your shoulder. You pet his hair, waiting for most of the plates to be gone. You pull him up and lead him to the open area of the garden. 

Initiating your positions, you let him take the lead. Your boyfriend immediately complies, slipping into his more proper self. Then, the music starts. 

Riddle’s eyes widen as a familiar song comes on. It’s the one he hummed during your first dance.

“You found it?” he questions. 

“For you? Of course. I liked it, too. It’s just as meaningful to me as it is for you,” you answer. “It’s called In a World of My Own for future reference, honey.”

You give him a quick kiss in the middle of your dance. Riddle’s lips part in surprise, but he shakes his head with a smile. 

“I thought we were supposed to save a kiss for the end,” he teases. 

You grin. “We most certainly will, but I don’t see why I have to hold back until then.”

Your boyfriend giggles, enjoying the moment as you sweep across the impromptu stage. 

A cheer erupts from the crowd as the song ends. 

“Long live Dorm Leaders Riddle and [Y/N]!”

A particular, loud cheer gains your attention. “May you be forever happy and prosperous!!”

The line also grabs Riddle’s focus as both of you remember Sebek saying something along those lines. 

You chuckle, unable to suppress the memory. The dorm leader mimics you. 

“After we got out, Sebek repeated the sentiment during equestrian practice. It seems he enjoys our relationship quite a bit.” He smirks. 

You laugh. “I’m sure it’s a response to seeing something so debauched from both of us and wanting it to stay private. I imagine he also respects your self-restraint.”

Riddle blushes with pursed lips and eyes that say, “Really? Now? In front of my dorm?” You hold his gaze with an amused smirk. After a moment, he breaks his gaze, rolls his eyes, and composes himself. He straightens, turning to the card soldiers. 

In an authoritative voice, he announces, “Everyone! Set up for the croquet tournament!” 

Soon after, multiple games are set in motion to decide the ultimate winner. The dorm apparently has brackets to speed up the competition. 

While Riddle organizes everything and begins to play his game, you stealthily slide up to the juniors. 

“Trey,” you start. “How do I handle Riddle’s mom?”

The green-haired man stiffens. He doesn’t say anything, as he thinks. Cater answers for him. 

“Ideally, you don’t,” he responds. “However, that isn’t an option for you. Are you trying to gain her approval?”

You look to Trey. The vice leader takes a sharp inhale with scrunched eyebrows. 

“I don’t know. I would just act amiable. You’re not going to gain her favor, especially with your background. I don’t know how you’re going to obtain citizenship in Twisted Wonderland. You don’t have any status. She’ll hate you on principle, so I would focus on not estranging yourself from Riddle. Try your hardest, I suppose. We’ll do everything we can to help.” 

You purse your lips and nod. 

“Does that include being on call anytime I visit Crimson City?” you ask. 

“Of course, I’ll try to rope ADeuce in as well,” the baker confirms. 

The orange-haired influencer pipes up. “If it gives me an excuse to be away from my family, I’ll try to be there.”

Trey grins. “You’re always welcome at Patisserie Clover. You’ll have to work, but it’s better than getting ordered around by your sisters and mom. You’ll get some pay at least.” 

Cater raises his eyebrows. 

“I’m convinced,” he admits. “Whenever you’re visiting the dictator, I’ll be there with him for moral support.” 

“[Y/N]! It’s your turn!” Deuce cries. 

“That’s my cue,” you comment, before jogging over. 

—-------

You end up winning the tournament, while your boyfriend finishes second. He’ll have to serve you tea tomorrow. The dorm created a surprise afterparty for you all that lasted well into the night. You have fun, dancing, singing, and hanging out with your friends. The gesture warms your heart, and you beam the entire time. 

When everything is cleared, the starry night has completely replaced the bright blue sky. You pull Riddle over to a memorable bush. Instead of vaulting over it this time, you flop on the ground behind it. Your boyfriend hovers over you, bewildered. You grin and tug him onto you. He yelps, catching himself from slamming into you.

It’s a familiar scene, like many others today. You wanted to make your dates in Riddle’s second dream a reality. It was even better than the one in his imagination. You shared it with your found family and showed off your official relationship. The dorm members didn’t mind your affections and even encouraged them, because it kept their dorm leader in a good mood.

You cup Riddle’s face and lean up. Brushing your nose against his a couple of times, you end the gesture with a sweet kiss. You smile against his lips before pulling away. You lay your arm out and gesture to it. 

“Lay down with me?” you ask. 

He nods gently. The man moves off you and places his head on the inner part of your shoulder. You can’t see your boyfriend that well, but you can feel the heat of his cheeks. He presses against you and intertwines your legs. One of his arms is comfortably tucked in between you two, while the other wraps around your waist. 

“I love you,” he murmurs. 

A chuckle reverberates through your chest. “I love you, too.” 

“Thank you for this. I had no idea what you were planning. I would’ve done something if I knew,” Riddle tells you. 

“You’ve been busy managing the dorm and getting ready for everything. I wouldn’t say you did nothing. Besides, you went along with everything,” you explain, smiling. “I’m happy whenever I see your face light up. I like that I make you feel safe and comfortable.”

Your boyfriend clutches you tighter. 

“I have no idea how I managed to date you,” he comments. 

“Just by being yourself,” you answer. 

He nuzzles into you.

The two of you quietly lie next to each other. The stars twinkle above you, and the crickets chirp. The cool breeze is offset by the warmth of your side and your white shawl. Riddle’s hair smells like roses from his matching shampoo and conditioner. The weight pressed against you makes you feel safe and content. You pull your boyfriend closer and kiss him on the forehead. You don’t need to exchange words, as you live in the moment. 

After a while, Riddle speaks up again. 

“You won’t leave me, will you?” he asks. 

You glance down at him with furrowed eyebrows.

“Of course not. I would do anything to make sure we stay together. That’s how much I care about you,” you answer. 

He’s silent for a moment. “I’m scared about my mom.” 

You pause in surprise. At least, he’s aware of it and is bringing it up. 

Your boyfriend continues, “I don’t think she’ll take this well. I’m concerned she’ll scare you off or form a rift between us.”

“It’ll take a little more to frighten me than your mother. I almost died seven times. I faced off and won against the most powerful mage in the world. I’m equipped to meet her. I’ll keep everything in mind when you introduce me. We’ll work on it and come up with a plan. I won’t leave you no matter what. You’d do that for me after all,” you reassure. “For now, it’s been a long day. Just relax. There’s been a lot of social interaction. Rest for a little bit.” 

Riddle hugs you tight. “Thank you, and I love you so much that the phrase doesn’t express the depth of my emotions anymore.”

You chuckle. 

“I think we’ll have more luck going the opposite direction. His…” Trey pauses, taking a deep breath. “His house is a couple of blocks down. He’s probably there.”

That elicits a violent reaction from the Heartslabyul students. 

Cater jerks back. “His parents’ house? Why would he have his dream here?” 

”We’re gonna meet Riddle’s crazy helicopter mom?! She abused him!” Ace says, calling out her behavior point-blank. 

“Do I look ok?! I’m probably breaking some dress code rules,” Deuce frets.

Leona sighs, “There’s no reason to get worked up about it. This is just a dream after all. You can take out your anger on her without fearing the consequences. We have to go to where your boss is. Your red young master is powerful, and we have to wake him up to defeat Malleus.”

Silver nods in agreement when ear-piercing police sirens resound. Deuce immediately panics. 

“Are they here for us?” he asks. 

Ace rolls his eyes and reassures, “We haven’t done anything wrong.“

“Your delinquent side is showing,” your cat companion teases. 

“Deuce’s concerns are valid,” you counter. “This is Riddle’s dream, who upholds the rules to an extreme extent. They also tend to be nonsensical. Who’s to say that the police won’t arrest us for something petty and ridiculous like standing on the sidewalk?”

Grim squeaks as Trey puts a hand to his head, stressed. The police car screeches to a halt a few yards away.

“I’m sure we haven’t broken any of the Queen’s rules,” Cater chuckles nervously. 

“Can you talk your way out of it, Mr. Smooth Talker?” you lean over to question. 

“I can always try,” he answers with a strained smile.

The cop gets out, ignoring your group.

“Come on. Get off quickly,” he barks, opening the back door. 

He reaches in and grabs the passenger. 

“Hey! Don’t pull my arm so hard, old man!” someone cries, stumbling out. 

The man in blue huffs, “You have no respect for your elders, and I keep telling you to follow the rules!”

A short boy in a bright red, fuzzy jacket almost trips out of the car. A black beret sits skewed on his red and black hair. His tall platform heels add an inch or two to his height and are paired with mismatched, thigh-high socks. Even from afar, you can tell he has dark makeup on, enhancing his grungy and punk style. He looks fantastic.

“Rules, rules, and fuss!” the boy complains loudly. “What’s wrong with singing on the street? Everyone else was enjoying it.”

Cater chimes in.

“Wow! He’s cute. I wonder if he’s a singer or a Magicam influencer,” he states in awe, before halting his words. “Wait…… Isn’t—Isn’t that Riddle?!”

There’s a collective cacophony of surprised and horrified noises. 

“His style is completely different, but it’s the same voice and face, right?!” the orange-haired junior continues. 

“No, that can’t be him,” Ace denies. “It has to be someone else. He would never wear something that punk.”

“Exactly! There’s no way he would be in debt to law enforcement either,” Deuce agrees. 

Trey goes through a mental crisis before calming down at the last freshman’s words. 

“Deuce is right. Riddle wouldn’t do something like that,” he concurs.

“But the glowing bird is flying around him,” Silver points out, conflicted and confused. “That means—“

The police officer interrupts, “You were performing in the middle of the street. You need to get permission from the police to block the road off.”

Another familiar figure crawls out of the car behind Riddle. 

“It depends on my queen’s mood if he wants to go live,” the cat beastman drawls.

Riddle turns to him with a haughty smirk. “Chenya’s right. I hold events whenever I feel like singing.”

“You kids are spoiled rotten,” the cop groans. “The police car isn’t a taxi. I won’t pick you up again, so follow the rules!”

The man gets into the car and slams the door. He takes off, as the punk boy yells after him. 

“Bleah! Vanfrac! Gracca!” he shouts.

Ace chokes. “He—He knows those words?!”

“What do they mean?” Sebek asks. “It sounds like a spell.”

“It’s a slur in the Queendom of Roses. Don't ask me what it means,” Deuce wheezes. 

Trey shakes his head in disapproval and concern.

“The confirmation analysis just arrived. That kid who just shouted slurs on the street is your dorm leader, Riddle Rosehearts,” Idia announces.

“You don’t have to say his poor deeds out loud. It makes it even worse,” Cater comments.

The tech god giggles, “I’m happy to cause an extrovert distress. Now you understand how I feel all the time.”

Trey voices in a distant tone, “Our dorm leader is a young man after all. It makes sense his dream would be more… sinister.”

“Trey, you have to stop making comments like you’re his father,” the other Heartslabyul junior complains. 

The dream duo catches wind of the vice leader’s name. 

“Trey…? Did you say Trey?” Chenya asks, trotting over to your group with the redhead in tow. 

Riddle spots his childhood friend and brightens.

“Trey! I had no idea you were back! You should’ve sent me a Magicam message,” Riddle says.

He skips over and gives him a tight hug. The green-haired boy stiffens at the unexpected contact. 

“I came back for the school holidays,” he stutters before pivoting the conversation. “You just got out of a police car. I caught some of the conversation, but what happened?”

“We were singing in front of the station,” the dorm leader explains. 

Ace can’t help but snark, “That’s a bold move. No wonder you got in trouble.”

“It’s what I wanted and I—” Riddle starts, turning toward the noise before stopping and locking eyes with you. 

“Tart!” he cries with the brightest smile you’ve ever seen.

He launches himself at you, and you instinctively catch him. 

“I’m glad you got out ok. I missed you,” the Heartslabyul dorm leader whines, looping his arms around your neck. 

Chenya laughs. “You just saw them half an hour ago.”

The short sophomore turns to him and replies, “Time doesn’t matter. Anytime I’m away from them, I miss them.”

He turns back to you and requests with an eager and expectant expression, “Kiss me!”

Your eyes widen to the size of dinner plates as the others descend into chaos. Everyone’s voices overlap, yet you manage to make out each comment. 

“Oh my god, Riddle’s dream is an otome game and he’s romancing the Ramshackle prefect!?! I had no idea he was into this genre,” Idia yells, shocked. 

“Our dorm leader likes [Y/N]?!” Deuce questions, dumbfounded. “Cater, did you know? You’re up to date on gossip.”

Before the Magicam influencer can respond, Ace butts in. 

“You’re the dumbest person I’ve ever met. Did you never notice he would act more relaxed around them?” he asks. 

“I did!! I just thought it was a friend thing!” the blue-nette objects. 

“If only you were as quick as you are during track.” The other Heartslabyul freshman rolls his eyes. 

“Hey!”

Leona comments, “I did not expect your dorm leader to have a dream like this. It seems he wants to be free from any shackles and do what he wants. It includes intimacy and sexual desire.”

“Please, do not say that,” Cater begs.

Your mind races for an excuse. While you wouldn’t mind kissing Riddle, it feels like you would be taking advantage of him. 

“There are people around, darling,” you try. 

The fierce redhead pouts. “That hasn’t stopped you before. We’ve made out in front of Chenya plenty of times. You don’t care about others’ opinions. You love me, and I like it when you show it publicly. Why are you hesitating? I want you, and I want you now!”

“Oh my god, does he have any idea how sexual that sounds?” Cater questions breathlessly. 

Grim squawks, “He’s about to jump my henchman!”

“I just reconfirmed the data, and this is indeed Riddle,” Ortho comments. “While we’ve seen a lot of dreams, I’m struggling to comprehend this turn of events. I didn’t know he could be this shameless.”

The humanoid shakes his head, baffled. Deuce notices Trey and puts a hand on his back.

“Are you ok? You look like you’ll pass out,” he observes.

The vice leader leans into him, dazed, pale, and sweating. Ace’s eyes widen, and he slips to the other side of the junior to support him.

The red-haired freshman looks at his counterpart, concerned. “If he’s this frazzled, I’m worried about what’s to come.“

Silver turns to you. “[Y/N], are you ok? Do you need—“

Sebek can’t hold it in anymore and bellows, “STOP THIS INSOLENT BEHAVIOR AT ONCE!”

Cater immediately recognizes the freshman’s poor decision and tries to smooth over the situation. “Hey, Riddle, why don’t we—“ 

The dorm leader ignores the orange-haired boy and snaps to Sebek. 

“Who do you think you are? Don’t get in the way of my affairs! They have nothing to do with you!” he shouts, pulling you closer. “If you don’t like it, then leave!” 

His face turns red as he becomes worked up. Suddenly, you become calm, knowing you have a dominant card to play. You don’t mind kissing him, and you can use that to your advantage. It’ll be quick. 

You grab Riddle’s waist and place your index finger on the side of his face. He stops. You turn his head toward you, and he follows the movement with sparkling eyes. The sophomore dons a pleased smirk. 

“Kiss me,” he demands. 

You roll your eyes. You lean down and place your lips against his. Before you have time to move away, he grabs your head, holding you in place. You stiffen at the unexpected force, and he arches up against you. You gasp at the motion. Riddle takes the opening to pry into your mouth. He moans and sucks your tongue. A smattering of voices yell in horror, disbelief, and trauma.

Your breath speeds up as the kiss continues. Your eyes are wide, unable to comprehend. The redhead notices your unresponsiveness and opens his eyes. They’re half-lidded. 

“I don’t know why you’re so shocked today,” he murmurs. “I guess I just need to make you feel more relaxed.”

The Heartslabyul dorm leader gives a lazy smirk and trails kisses down your neck.

Idia’s voice rises above the noise as he shouts, “Oh my god! Are we going to get a hentai scene?!?! Somebody stop him!”

Your breath catches in your throat as the dorm leader reaches a particular spot. Everything else fades into the background. All your attention is drawn to it. You clench your fists around his shirt to anchor yourself, but it doesn’t work very well. 

Riddle hums, “Gotcha. You’re always sensitive here.”

How does he know that? The thought flies away as he bites down. Jolting at the sensation, you still. You don’t know how long he stays there before Leona cuts the action short. 

The beastman picks the redhead up by the collar and says, “Alright, that’s enough. You can enjoy your snack later. For now, you have guests to entertain, not just your lover.”

“Put me down!” Riddle demands, his face glowing red. 

“Only if you don’t hump the herbivore,” the Savanaclaw dorm leader stipulates. 

“Shut up! Don’t tell me what to do!” he snarls, thrashing. “Let go of me!!”

The lion evades his attempts to hurt him. You glance at the others. Cater has covered Ortho’s eyes, while Trey has done the same with the Heartslabyul freshmen. He releases the duo, but still leans against them. 

“Thank you, but I feel you should’ve turned away,” Deuce comments nervously. 

“I would tease you and say thanks for getting traumatized for us, but you look terrible,” Ace adds. 

“He needs to sit down,” Silver instructs. 

Trey waves him off. “I’m fine. I’m fine. I’m just shocked.” 

Cater gives him a worried glance as he laments, “Riddle’s already hard to control in the real world. Why is it so much harder here?” 

Silver turns to you. “[Y/N], are you ok? You don’t need to do that if you don’t want to.” 

He has his hand on his magic pen, ready to attack at any time. Sebek notices and mimics his stance. 

“Yes, prefect! It’s shameful and improper to force himself onto you. If you feel uncomfortable, we will avenge you,” the mint-haired student promises. 

Riddle turns to Sebek and screeches, “Why are you saying they're uncomfortable? I’m their boyfriend!“

Trey groans, “There are so many things wrong with that statement. We’ll talk once we return to the real world.”

“Warn me. I do not want to be around when that happens,” Cater replies. 

“What if I need help? You’re the perfect person.” The baker gives a tired smirk. 

The other junior playfully glares back. “You just hate me and don’t want to do it alone.”

You smile at their interaction before replying to the Diasomnia students’ concerns. You shake your head. 

“No, I didn’t mind. It was unexpected but rather nice,” you answer. 

“Ew! Gross! I didn’t need to know you have the hots for my dorm leader,” Ace cries. 

“At least it was consensual. It would be a bigger problem if it weren’t,” Cater says with a tight smile. 

The blue-nette adds, “We need to snap Riddle out of this before it gets any worse.” 

“I need to bleach my eyes,” Grim complains. 

The Heartslabyul students and your cat are on the verge of a collective death sentence. 

Riddle keeps shouting in frustration. 

Ortho tilts his head. “Does Riddle not have magic? If that were the case, he would’ve gotten out of Leona’s hold by now.”

The group stops, looking at both dorm leaders. The beastman glances at the crowd before affirming the youngest Shroud’s theory. 

“He doesn’t smell like it,” Leona confirms before lifting Riddle higher. “Kid, do you have magic?”

The Heartslabyul dorm leader screeches and lunges to scratch his face. The older man dodges. 

“He’s getting annoying. [Y/N], handle him,” Leona directs and drops the shorter boy on the ground. 

Riddle falls on his butt, seething. He turns to shout at the Savanaclaw student, but you swoop down and kiss him. You use the momentum to push him onto the grass. There’s a collective yell. 

“I can’t watch this anymore!” Ace shouts.

“Why don’t we give them a little privacy?” Cater suggests. 

Idia agrees, “Great idea! I’d like to preserve my sanity. I feel like I’m in Call of Cthulhu with how much my brain is leaking out.” 

“What does that mean?” Deuce questions.

The Ignyhide dorm leader mutters, “Normies.”

You hear Sebek complaining loudly about scandalous behavior as the group drags him away. 

Leona chuckles. “I want to see red young master’s reaction when he wakes up from this. He’ll die.”

“Fuhuhuhuhu, it will be hilarious. I can’t wait,” Idia chimes in. 

Cater lets out a helpless sigh. “At least you don’t have to clean up that mess.”

The group moves out of range, and you focus on assaulting Riddle with affection. You hover over him as your mouth tangles with his. He seems to enjoy the sensation as his breath speeds up. You learn the Heartslabyul dorm leader is rather vocal. He has light and airy moans that come out at random. It’s rather sweet and fitting for him. You know you’ve calmed his anger, but you can do more. Not only is it a preventative measure, but it’ll feel good, too. It’s strange to do this in the middle of the day, near the sidewalk, in public, but this is a dream. The only people witnessing this are your friends. They will be too traumatized to say anything, find it disgusting, or be impressed by your boldness. You won’t feel embarrassed if you take responsibility for your actions. 

If they watch and see, it’s their fault. You can always claim you’re doing this for the greater good. If Riddle climaxes, he’ll be more relaxed, and he’ll enjoy it. Satisfied with your reasoning, you commit to your decision. 

You move, slotting yourself between his legs. You feel his breath hitch and bite his lip. Your hand floats toward his chest, and you unfasten his buttons before running into his pearl necklace.

“On or off?” you murmur against his lips.

“Off,” he replies.

You hum, “Your wish is my command, my queen.”

He takes a sharp inhale at the nickname. The dorm leader likes that. You keep that in mind as you unclasp his jewelry. In a gentle motion, you pull it off and place it beside you. Your lips move over his jawline and up to his ear. Riddle’s face flushes, as the tips of his ears burn red. He turns his head to give you better access. 

Licking the shell of his ear, Riddle whines as he presses up into you. It’s precisely what you want. You slip your hands under his back to feel the laced-up bustier. You decide to test something. You’re in a dream, so you might affect minor aspects. Besides, Riddle wants this. You’re sure that desire will help. 

You break away from the kiss and immediately untie the corset from behind him. You slip both forearms under it and pull your arms apart. You’re pretty sure this isn’t how a lace-up bustier functions, but if it works, it works. 

Riddle stares up at you, panting. 

“Wow, you’ve gotten so fast,” he comments.

“Only for you,” you reply. 

You watch his pupils dilate, but don’t give him time to relax. You slip your hand down his back and shove his hips toward yours. You feel his erection pressing against you. 

“Oh shit,” Riddle whispers, dazed. “You’re a dream, rose. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you so much. Please don’t leave me.”

You blink, surprised at the last sentence, before softening. There’s some of his real personality and insecurities coming out. He has trust and abandonment issues. You decide to reassure him. If you have intimate relations, no matter how small, you should take responsibility in the real world. You wouldn’t mind if you were stuck with Riddle Rosehearts anyway. You’ve been interested in him for a while. 

“I love you, too. I won’t leave you even when you wake up. Remember that for me, ok?” you instruct. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader furrows his brow, not understanding but agreeing, “Ok, I—I will.”

“Good,” you reply and grind down hard as a reward. 

The redhead stutters a broken moan, biting his lip to quiet himself. He grips your shoulders and palms your clothes. 

“Take off your blazer,” Riddle demands. 

You chuckle and slip off the outerwear. Your decided boyfriend jumps you. He untucks your shirt from your pants and slides his hands up your bare skin. You shiver at the sensation, rolling against him. Riddle lets out a high-pitched gasp. He hooks his legs around your torso. You latch onto the shell of his ear again, tugging on it with your teeth. His moan is soft and gentle. You move your hands under his shirt and work your way to his front. With a twist of your wrist, you tweak his sensitive nipples. The dorm leader groans and arches into you like a taut bow. You smile and suck his neck.

“I want everyone to know you’re mine,” you state, leaving hickeys in multiple places.

“Yes, I’m yours and you’re mine. You can’t leave me,” Riddle growls, surging forward to capture your mouth again. 

You let your hands wander lower and lower. It slips beneath his boxers. Your boyfriend lets out a strangled and loud moan that you swallow. You don’t want your friends to leave completely. You need them for your last move. You’re sure it will send Riddle over the edge.

You break away from the kiss. Panting, you use your head to gesture toward your group. They’re still there, facing away from you, talking. 

“Look. Everyone’s over there and could turn around at any moment to watch you,” you point out. 

Riddle’s eyes widen as he stares at the scene and the possibility. 

You urge him, “Do you like people watching you? Do you like it when they watch you cum?”

His grey eyes sparkle with tears. He nods, speeding up against you. 

“Look at me,” you instruct. 

He turns to refocus on you.

“I’d like to keep you for myself. You’re far too pretty like this. You look too tempting. It’s for my eyes only,” you whisper. 

Riddle shudders at your words and bites your shoulder to muffle his scream. He quakes and trembles for a few moments before slumping. His breath is hard, but he looks at you with an enchanted and adoring smile. The Heartslabyul dorm leader cups your face and leans up to kiss you. 

“Thank you. You’re wonderful, tart,” he tells you. 

You hum, “If you want to help me, lie back down so I can finish.”

He giggles and flops back with a silly grin. 

“I’m all yours,” Riddle states. 

“You’ve always been mine, darling,” you reply before kissing him again. 

It only takes a few sucks, kisses, and hands to get you off. When you climax, you collapse against him. Riddle wraps his arms around you and nuzzles into you. 

“I love you,” he whispers like it’s a forbidden secret. 

“I love you too, my queen,” you reply.

You feel him smile against your neck. You lay there basking in the moment for a few minutes. 

Eventually, you give him one last peck before pushing yourself up. “Let me fix your bustier.”

“As you should, you were the one who messed it up. People should clean up their messes,” the redhead states. 

You raise an eyebrow. The regular Riddle is coming through. You wonder if you continue on this route, you can create some dissonance. You might wake him up that way.

You allow him to sit up, then carefully adjust his appearance. You mimic the motions he uses when fixing and straightening your clothes. That may remind him of his real life. You button his shirt and clasp the pearls around his neck. He takes off his coat to allow you to lace up his top. You sit behind him as you systematically pull the strings together. It’s soothing and domestic. 

“This is nice. I’ve never had this before,” Riddle comments, glancing back at you with a soft smile. “Thank you for sharing this experience with me.”

Another truth peers out. In a dream where he gets as much attention and adoration from you as he wants, he still says he hasn’t had this. It looks like he couldn’t imagine it, but he wanted it. You’re glad you shared it with him, too. He’s sweet. Riddle has his faults, but everyone does. He’s learning and becoming a wonderful person in the process. You simply have to remind him of his progress. 

You pull him into you and kiss his temple. 

“Of course, Riddle,” you murmur. “You deserve it.”

You feel him lean into you. You hum, kissing his neck in acknowledgment before finishing the lacing. You tie it and tuck the excess string in. He grabs his fluffy coat, shrugging it on. You reach around to grab the blazer you threw off. When you grasp it, the Heartslabyul dorm leader clasps your wrist, examining the article of clothing. He turns to look at you. 

“I didn’t notice because I was so excited to see you, but you’re in a different outfit,” he observes. 

You chuckle, making up a lie on the spot. “Yes, I knew Trey was coming with his friends. I thought it would be a fun surprise if I dressed up like them to see if I could blend in. My plan spectacularly backfired. You knew it was me immediately. I’m so flattered, sweetheart.” 

Riddle harrumphs. “Of course, I knew it was you. You’re my significant other, my partner, my king! I would disgrace the Rosehearts' name if I didn’t know who you were. Your plan was doomed to fail from the beginning.”

He shakes his head before kissing you. It’s a firm, devoted kiss, saying “I love you, and I mean it.” It reminds you of Riddle in the real world: dedicated.

He stands up, offering his hand. 

“I want to dress up as well. Did you bring an outfit for me?” he inquires. 

You take it and reply, “No, but you can steal Ace’s.”

Riddle raises an eyebrow. Surprisingly, he doesn’t get angry. 

Instead, he asks, “Which one is he?” 

“The one with the spiky red hair. He got you to look in my direction,” you identify.

Your boyfriend gasps. “I liked that one! He has a spunky personality. Let’s go, tart.”

He skips up to the group with a pep in his step and your hand in his. He doesn’t hesitate to announce himself. 

“Ace!” he calls out. 

All four card soldiers whip around. 

“Yes, dorm lea—Riddle?!” the Ace of Hearts answers, stumbling with the title. 

“Give me your vest, blazer, and tie,” the queen commands, holding out his free hand. 

There’s a collective noise of strangled yelling. 

“Is this sexual harassment?” Idia questions. 

The comment gets overshadowed as Trey steps forward, partially obscuring the freshman.

“Why do you want his uniform, Riddle?”

“[Y/N] said that they got a uniform from you, but you didn’t bring me one. I want his,” the dorm leader explains, pointing at Ace.

Trey gives a tight smile, nodding. “That makes sense. Sorry, I couldn’t grab another one before I left. We were in a rush, but Ace will lend you his.”

“What—?!” Ace protests before Cater silences him. 

The junior drapes an arm around the victim, and he offers more confirmation for their leader. 

“Yep! Our little freshman is totes willing! He’s so excited,” the orange-haired student chirps.

Then, the influencer begins stripping Ace of his blazer. 

“Hey! Hey! I can take it off myself!” your friend yells, slapping him away. 

The young card soldier grumbles as he removes the requested clothes. Cater introduces himself. 

“I’m Cater, but my friends call me Cay-kun!”

He gives his signature wave. The others go around, introducing themselves. Finally, Ace hands his attire to his dorm leader. 

“Here you go,” he says begrudgingly.

“Thank you,” Riddle replies, as he slips into a more proper tone. 

Ace blinks at the change in attitude. The sophomore doesn’t notice the reaction or his tone variation.

“We should go to my house so I can get changed. Plus, it’s almost tea time,” he declares. 

All the Heartslabyul students stiffen, but Trey’s face pales, and his brows furrow. 

“Wait, Chenya and I are banned from your house,” the junior states, crossing his arms. 

His voice and face are severe. 

Riddle tilts his head slightly, confused. He waits for the punchline, but it doesn’t come. He looks at you, who’s subsequently waiting for his reaction. After a moment, the dorm leader huffs, playfully glaring at you. He lightly smacks your arm with a poorly concealed smile. 

“I can’t believe you're in on Trey’s jokes! They’re not even funny,” he complains before smiling coquettishly. “You’re making me jealous. You have to compensate me.”

You raise an amused eyebrow. You don’t mind playing into the sappy, sweet behavior. You’re more than happy to disgust your friends. 

“Here we go again,” Leona mumbles, irritated. 

The others look on in trepidation. Cater materializes behind Sebek and puts a firm hand on his shoulder. The light green-haired man jumps. He wisely shuts up upon seeing the dangerous and warning smile on the influencer’s face. However, their vigilance is for not. Riddle’s request is simple. 

“Carry me,” he demands. 

He gives you a knowing expression. You chuckle. Your boyfriend is correct. You’ll fulfill his request.

“Alright, my queen,” you comply, bending down to pick him up. 

He latches onto your neck as you hoist him. Unsurprisingly, Riddle is light. You don’t have much difficulty, but you’re unsure how long that will hold. 

“Let’s go,” you announce, signaling with your eyes that you need to leave before you drop him. 

The group heeds your cry for help and speed-walks to the man’s house. However, when Trey sees the door, he falters. It gets overshadowed by Riddle’s gasp. His vice leader whips around, horrified.

“Rule #469: When one invites new friends to a party, the decoration should be alternating between red and white rose bushes!” the dorm leader dictates. “Ace, Deuce, fix the pattern immediately!” 

“Yes, dorm leader!” they chorus. 

Then, everyone stops, noticing the anomaly. Riddle furrows his eyebrows. 

The dream warps.

He whines, burying his head in your shoulder. “Why am I getting weird visions? My head hurts.”

A feminine voice cuts in. “Riddle is that you?”

The waves stop as the Heartslabyul dorm leader turns toward the noise. 

“Yeah, Mom! I brought some friends home,” he informs. 

“I’m glad you did! I’ll make some more tea then. Lead them to the living room to wait, dearest,” she directs. 

“Ok,” he agrees before addressing you. “Let’s go.” 

You hear whispers from your party as Chenya opens the door. The cat leads you into the designated area. The most prominent attraction is the photos on the walls. You know these are fake. They’re a product of Riddle’s imagination. There’s no way the real Rosehearts household would have this. His parents aren’t the sentimental type, and his mom was out to kill him mentally. 

The others start commenting on it. You turn around and notice Trey in the doorway, frozen. It confirms your theory that Riddle doesn’t have many family photos. 

Then, Chenya speaks up, eyeing the box the vice leader holds.

“Since we met, that white box has been smelling purretty good. What did you bring?” he elongates. 

“I brought a strawberry tart as a gift,” the junior reveals. 

Riddle whips his head around and shouts, “Strawberry tart?!” 

Trey leaps. 

“It’s no good, right?! I’m so sorry! I’ll get rid of it right away!” he spills out, glasses askew. 

Grim slides in. 

“Is it my turn?! I’ll take it!” he offers.

The dorm leader screeches with a glowing red face, “Rule #89: Never eat a tart without the Queen’s permission! It also does not violate Rule #562 because it isn’t a chestnut tart or an Unbirthday Party!” 

Ace walks in.

“Oh my god, is the one thing he remembers me breaking Rule #562 while trying to apologize? It wasn’t all my fault! Trey and Cater didn’t know either. If you ate it, you would’ve known Trey helped. At least I didn’t add oyster sauce to the apology dessert, like you did,” the freshman rants. 

The dream wobbles again.

“Apology dessert?” Riddle echoes.

He tenses in your arms and curls in on himself. His shoulders hike up to his ears, and he begins to panic. 

“Something—something’s wrong!” he cries. “Why do I keep seeing things?” 

“Riddle, the tea is ready!” 

The dorm leader blinks. The shaking stops, but he remains stiff. 

“O-Ok, give me a second,” he replies to his mom. 

You feel him fiddling with the back of your collar. He takes deep breaths. 

After a moment, he squeezes you tight and tells you, “You can set me down now.” 

“Are you sure?” you confirm.

The oldest redhead nods. “I’ll only be a second.” 

You comply with his wishes, and he hands you Ace’s uniform. He quickly kisses your cheek before grabbing the tart from the shaky Trey. He runs into the kitchen. 

Your whole party congregates. 

“Silver and Sebek, can you distract Chenya?” you request quietly. “Sebek, feel free to be as loud as you want.”

The mint-haired freshman straightens in preparation to confirm your orders at full volume, but Silver places a hand on his shoulder. 

“We can do that,” the sophomore replies, steering Sebek to the cat beastman. 

The walking megaphone protests before engaging in conversation with Riddle’s childhood friend. His volume is enough to cover your secret discussion. 

“I didn’t realize Riddle would become that freaked out,” Cater comments. “It looked like he was going to have a full-blown panic attack.” 

Ortho pipes up. “Even if Riddle has one, I wouldn’t be too worried. So far, all the people who overblot go through a second dream. The world is as if they got their way before they lost control. We’ve gotten through all those scenarios so far. I know we can overcome it again!”

“That’s reassuring,” Trey says. ”We have [Y/N], too. You seem to calm him down. Thank you for supporting him.”

You beam. “I’m glad I could help.” 

Ace groans. “I don’t want to listen to Trey approving you as Riddle’s de facto family member. We need to push him a little more.”

“What if we put him in your dorm uniform and then act how we usually do towards him?” Deuce suggests. 

“It’s the most straightforward idea we have. We might as well give it a shot,” Idia replies. 

“He’s coming back,” Leona warns. 

All of you scatter into smaller groups and begin talking at a normal level about random school topics. Riddle walks in with a tray of tea. 

“I got it! It’s hibiscus-rose tea,” he informs, setting it on the table. “I also got my mom to slice up the tart for each of us.”

“Thank you!” the Clown Crew choruses, sitting down at the circular table.

Riddle gestures for you to come over and pulls out a chair. You smile at the small gesture. That’s something he would do in the real world. 

You place yourself down only to find yourself with a lapful of Riddle. You watch Ace wince at the notion while Deuce shivers. Your cat almost gags. Sebek looks extremely uncomfortable, but remains quiet because Cater sits beside him. The others seem to have accepted their fates and/or are planning for blackmail (the latter is everyone else minus Silver. He’s a sweetheart). 

“You all have permission to eat the tart,” Riddle allows. 

There’s a smattering of thank-yous from around the table. In the background, you hear Idia complaining that he can’t taste it. Trey says he can bake some for him later. You tap your boyfriend’s thigh, gaining his attention. You hold up Ace’s clothes. 

“You should try these on, sweet tart,” you suggest. 

Riddle lights up at the nickname and throws his arms around you. 

“That was cute! Call me that again!” he urges. 

“Sweet tart, sweet treat, sweetheart,” you list, grinning. 

There’s a groan around the table, and your smile widens. 

“I could just eat you up!” you tease. 

There’s a collection of screaming and yells of “Cringe!” “No, my eyes!” “That was so unoriginal!” You ignore them as you pepper Riddle’s face with kisses. He giggles, playfully leaning away from you, but you follow. It elicits another laugh from him. You slowly stop, before giving a dramatic kiss at the end. 

“Ewwwww, no! Really?! Right in front of my salad?!” Ace cries. 

Your boyfriend turns to him with a judgmental look. 

“That’s not a salad. I’m allowing you to eat my tart,” he declares. 

You lean in, soothing him. “It’s ok. Ace is red-green colorblind.” 

“I didn’t realize it also came with symptoms of being unable to identify foods. It’s ok. I will accommodate his disability,” Riddle states before turning to the freshman. “Ace, you’re eating a tart, not a salad.” 

“I…” the card soldier sighs before accepting his fate. “Thank you, Riddle.” 

You bury your head in Riddle's fur jacket, muffling your laughter. You look up at your boyfriend and kiss him on the lips. 

“Go change,” you encourage. 

“Alright, rose. I don’t want to be left out after all,” he comments, hopping out of your lap. 

You give his butt a quick smack as he leaves. The short redhead gasps, turning to you with a glare. He’s unable to stop his smile. Your boyfriend lunges at you, grabbing your lapel and capturing your mouth. You hum in surprise but allow him to take the lead for a while. 

The echoes of screams resound in your ear. You’ve become so used to them that it passes over you. Riddle comes up for air with a triumphant smirk. 

You chuckle. “You win, love. Now, go get dressed.”

He beams at you, kissing you on the forehead before dashing off. 

The table bombards you with complaints. 

You speak over them, saying, “Hey! I won’t ever have this chance again! Calm down!”

They ignore your explanation, bickering with you. 

Then, the dream warps again.

You bolt out of your seat and almost trip over the chair you knocked to the floor. You dash to his room. There are a few gasps and calls of Riddle’s name. The others aren’t far behind. 

Riddle is dressed in the Heartslabyul school uniform. He’s curled up, gripping his hair and hyperventilating. 

“Something’s wrong. Something’s wrong! Why am I seeing myself in weird clothes? Why am I hurting? My chest and head hurt. I don’t know what’s going on. I’m scared. I’m scared. I’m scared!” he cries, his voice getting higher with each repeat. 

You dive for him, wrapping your arms around his body. Riddle immediately clings to you. He shakes and sobs. You feel his unsteady breath against your neck as he buries his head into it. The Heartslabyul students immediately congregate around their dorm leader, with the juniors in the front. Trey gently sits on the bed beside you. 

“Riddle, we’re here for you. You’re not alone. It’s going to be ok,” Trey reassures, petting his head. 

“You’re safe with us. We’ll get you out of whatever situation you get stuck in. Isn’t that right?” Cater adds, turning to the freshmen. 

Deuce responds first, “Yes! We won’t leave our dorm leader alone.”

Ace concurs, “Even though you’re too strict, I value and look up to you, so you can’t completely overreact. It’s annoying having to save you from yourself twice. We’ve done it before, and it’s been one too many. The way Malleus made everyone forget is annoying. I can’t wait to kick his ass.”

Riddle sobs harder. The lights flicker on and off. The group looks up, concerned. 

“I—I don’t understand,” your boyfriend wails. “What’s going on?!”

The lights go out, replaced by a red glow. The exits are sealed off. 

“Oh no, what happened?” Deuce asks shakily. 

Idia curses. 

“The whole house is the blot,” he informs. 

Leona purses his lips. “That’s what I thought, but Riddle’s break was too quick and unexpected.”

A nearby door slams open, releasing what sounds like river rapids. Liquid floods into the room and starts rising. It's not normal water, though. 

“Is this… tea?” Cater questions, baffled.

“It doesn’t matter! Sebek, let’s go!” Silver shouts, running out of the room.

The light green crocodile follows him. 

Leona growls. “You’re gonna need more help than that.”

He chases after them. Then, Ortho starts to panic.

“Brother? Brother? Idia??” he calls, tapping the tablet. 

You spare a glance to see the device’s black screen.

“We’ve lost connection,” the Ignihyde student claims anxiously. “Something must’ve happened to him. This hasn’t occurred before. Did Malleus get to him?” 

Cater jumps in to save the situation before the poor freshman freaks out. 

“Idia must’ve put safety measures in to ensure the final boss doesn’t get to him, right? He’s a tech genius. He built you after all. He’ll be fine. If you believe in your brother’s skills and talent, you can believe in his survival, too,” the orange-haired boy encourages.

Ortho furrows his brows. 

“Yes, he is super smart,” he replies, fiddling with the tablet. “We can’t do anything about our communication channels right now, so we should focus on doing what we can here.”

“That’s the spirit!” The junior cheers.

“HELP!!” Sebek bellows. “WE NEED EVERYONE!!”

The rest of the team gasps and races out the door, struggling against the current. Trey spares you a glance. 

“You got him?” he confirms. 

You nod. 

“Good. I’m trusting you,” he declares before gripping his hat and following. 

You’re left alone with the crying Riddle. You pet his hair, pepper him with kisses, and whisper soothing words, but he keeps crying. You decide it’s probably a good idea to let him sink for now. You can’t help him at this stage. You’ll have an opportunity in the next dream. You slowly let both of you fall into darkness. 

————————

When you open your eyes, you find yourself in the beautiful Heartslabyul rose garden. You‘re a few feet behind a worked-up Riddle in his dorm uniform. He commands and interrogates a line of students in front of all the members. You stride to him only to notice a long train dragging behind you.

You’re wearing different clothes. A smooth and large train flows from your belt to one side. It’s asymmetrical, like Riddle’s cape. The pattern reminds you of a red and white checkerboard, and it has some weight to it. Draping along your arms is a white shawl lined with fur. The soft fluff reminds you of a bunny. There’s a slight connection piece beneath your arms to secure it in place, making it easy to move without the outer piece slipping. It’s well designed. 

You stand a few inches taller as you stare down at Heartslabyul-red heels. A rose blooms on the outside of the ankle strap, paying homage to the Queen of Hearts’s love for the special flower. The heel is thick enough for you to traverse the grass, unlike Riddle’s sharp ones. It appears to be made from soft velvet. The only explanation you have for why dirt and debris haven’t crept up the sides and soaked it is magic. 

The last notable piece is on your head. You take off the weight and examine it. You glance up to observe your boyfriend’s crown, too. You wear a larger and modified version of it. The full circular headpiece is lighter than you expected. There are more varied heights and elegant swoops rather than Riddle’s sharp dips. Red crystal hearts dot the frame where a peak occurs, and each point coalesces into golden hearts, offsetting the visual weight of the stones at the base. The golden accessory didn’t reach your forehead and sits slightly back. There must be some sort of gravity magic to keep it in place, since there’s no way it would stay on your head naturally. Your initial idea is confirmed as you feel a soft click as you put it back on. How convenient. 

Overall, it’s gorgeous and soft. You’re curious about the attire, but you have more important matters to attend to.

“Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” you ask, approaching the sophomore. 

He whips around, furious. 

“Someone broke Rule #3712: If red cap mushrooms—!”

He stops dead in his tracks. His eyes widen and lips part as he stares. He fixates on you like nobody else is in the vicinity. His gaze scans your figure, taking in the little details of your appearance. You smile at his behavior, flattered that he’s captivated by you. After a moment, the dorm leader meets your eyes. Then, he realizes what he did, and his face flushes. The sophomore coughs into his hand to cover it up and straightens.

“I was right. You look stunning. You were born to wear the king’s outfit. Come, [Y/N],” Riddle states, beckoning you over. 

You walk over with a small, amused smile. Although this version of his dream is twisted, he’s still Riddle. You’ll have to wait to wake him up, but until then, you’ll be by his side.

He moves his cape to give you easier access to take his arm. You grin, threading yours through his. You place your free hand on his bicep. Once you’re comfortable, Riddle immediately goes back to yelling at everyone.

“Rule #3712: If red cap mushrooms grow on Monday morning, the roses in the garden should be white!” the queen shouts before demanding. “Who painted them red?! Was it you?!”

He points at someone. The card soldiers start playing the blame game, and Riddle loses his patience. 

“Off With Your Head!!” he cries, collaring all the suspects. 

They scream in agony as the red tyrant hands down his verdict. 

“You must dictate Rules 300 to 400 of the Queen of Hearts’s Law in the ‘Chamber of Punishment.’”

One offender begs, “No! I’ll be more careful next time. Please forgive me!” 

Riddle looks down upon the groveling student with a cold look. 

“Do you want it to be increased to 500 rules?” he asks. 

The NPC squeaks. 

The dorm leader orders, “Take them away.” 

A fake ADeuce comes out and drags them. Of course, they’re tasked with manual labor rather than the juniors. You spot the older students in the crowd, menacing some others. The quartet finds its way to the front with you and Riddle. You straighten up. Riddle notices and smiles. 

“I have such a wonderful king,” he praises before looking at the four blots. “And loyal trump soldiers. I’ll stop collaring you, but there will be no next time! Now! Everyone, pull your left foot back and salute me and my king! Open your mouth wide and say, ‘Yes, Your Majesties!’”

“Yes, Your Majesties!” 

“Line up and start marching towards the croquet field!” he orders. “I will cut off the heads of those who disturb the line.”

“Yes, Your Majesties!” 

Riddle chuckles, leaning into you. “This is nice. I was right after all. Order is best maintained by instilling discipline and fear.” 

The two of you watch the parade trek to their destination. Riddle taps your arm. You glance down at him. He looks a little nervous before shaking it off and standing tall. His grip on your arm is a little tight, betraying the depth of his feelings. 

“Tart, I intend to be with you for a long time. I’ll take care of and support you. You won’t need to worry about anything, so don’t leave my side,” he says. 

Another truth comes out. Although he made it out to be a promise, it’s also a plea for you to stay. 

“Only if you don’t leave mine,” you counter, smiling. 

His answer is immediate. 

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”

You laugh. “I believe that.” 

You resist leaning down to kiss him, since he would combust if you did, so you do the next best thing.

“I love you,” you giggle. 

Riddle takes a sharp inhale as he jolts at your words.

“You can’t just say things like that,” he tells you. 

His voice is quick, soft, and a little tight. Cloudy grey eyes hold a sliver of panic. To reassure him, you pull him closer and relax. 

You smile. “I don’t say things I don’t mean. I’ll repeat it. I love you, Riddle.” 

He‘s frozen stiff, staring at you. He doesn’t know what to do or how to respond. He regains his voice after a moment. It’s shaky. 

“Why? How? We haven’t been dating that long. How can you…?” he trails off, not having the confidence to repeat your words. 

You respond with a soft expression, “I’m committed to you. You’re a wonderful person. I love how you strive to improve yourself in the aspects you find hard. I’m proud of you for facing your fears and working through your trauma. It’s hard to find something I don’t love about you, even with your faults. I’m sure Ace can point them all out for me.” 

Your boyfriend looks down, embarrassed, but an amused and fond smile blooms on his face. “Yes, he’s already nitpicked me enough as it is. Although that punch—” 

Riddle pauses. The dream violently shakes. He grabs his head. 

“Ugh, what am I seeing?!” 

He collapses into you, unable to stay standing. 

Then, something violently shoves the sophomore forward. The wind is knocked out of him as he almost tumbles into the grass. You catch him at the last second, dipping him. 

Your eyes are wide as you ask, “Are you ok?”

“No,” he growls, growing angry. “Who—?!”

Your boyfriend pauses, spotting something. 

“Who is hiding behind that hedge over there? I can see feet from below!” he yells. 

You have a feeling you know who’s there, but you help the red tyrant up anyway. 

He dusts himself off, commenting to the perpetrators, “Well, you guys are the ones who made me fall.”

He moves in front of you, before screaming with a bright red face, “I’ll cut off your heads!” 

The force of his yell blows the rose hedge away, revealing the culprits. 

Your entire party is exposed, gawking at his raw power.

Riddle steps back, surprised. “What is the meaning of this?” 

He looks between the two Caters, Treys, and ADeuces. 

“Who are you? Why are Grim, Idia’s brother, and two Diasomnia students here? Most importantly, why is Leona Kingscholar in my dorm?” he demands, crossing his arms.

The Savanaclaw student sighs, irritated. “Your dream is getting annoying. I’ll get straight to the point. Everything you see here is a dream created by the crazy fae, Malleus Draconia.”

The Heartslabyul dorm leader sneers. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m awake and lucid.” 

“Think carefully. Is there anything I can gain by deceiving you with a stupid joke? I don’t want to be here in the first place.” Leona taps his temple with a smirk. 

Riddle falters at the logic. 

Blot Cater advises, “Riddle, don’t believe Leona’s words.” 

“He’s a rough and corrupted prince. I’m sure he’s trying to instill bad things into you,” Blot Trey adds. 

The Heartslabyul Queen hesitates again, torn between two directions. 

The real Ace responds,  “Well, why do you remember me punching you?”

The fake version counters, “I tried to punch him, and it didn’t work. You’re lying.” 

“Dorm leader, we’re the real ones. These people are trying to convince you otherwise. You know we’re your trump cards. Not them,” Blot Deuce argues, backing him up. 

“Stop saying lies with my face,” your blue-nette growls, grabbing his fist and glowering. 

Unsurprisingly, the two Deuces are dumb enough to get into a “No, you’re lying!” circle argument. Their idiotic behavior is enough to push your boyfriend over the edge. 

“Cease your bickering at once! I don’t know their intentions. They seem to have poor aims if they want to punch me. Capture everyone and take them to ‘The Chamber of Punishment!’” he orders. 

Leona puts a hand on his head. “You’re kidding me. He orders them to catch us so he can stop the Deuces from arguing?” 

Ace turns to his best friend. “We were so close, and you just had to open your stupid mouth.” 

Cater stops them by saying, “There’s no time for blaming. We’ve got to go!” 

Riddle organizes the entire dorm to imprison them.

“Off with their fake heads!” he commands. 

The army charges. There’s a collective yell from your group that quickly gets overpowered by a war cry. You think you hear “Split up into groups!” before they're gone. 

Surprisingly, the blot quartet doesn’t follow. 

“What are you doing? After them!” Riddle urges. 

The fake juniors look at each other. 

“What if they come for you?” Cater says. 

“As your trump soldiers, we want to protect you,” Trey states. 

“Yes! Your Majesties are precious,” Deuce jumps in. 

Ace finishes, “They want to infect your mind. We want to stay here with you.” 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader stills. 

“Ha? Are you looking down on me?” he questions with a deadly edge. 

“No, Your Majesty!” the orange-haired fake denies. “We’re concerned for the King. They don’t have magic, after all.” 

Riddle’s face grows red, and a vein pops out. 

“How dare you claim I’m not enough to protect my significant other!! Get out of here before I collar you!!” he screams, enraged. 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” they cry, racing off. 

You watch the darkness sprint away. They caught onto you, but Riddle trusts you more than them. They can’t hurt you when you’re with your boyfriend, and you won’t leave his side. He wants you close, too. 

You know how to wake him, but can’t do it now. If the dream breaks, most of your party won’t escape. You need everyone together. 

Considering the number of blots, you suspect most of them will get captured. However, you don’t know how you’ll get your plan across to the others. The best you can hope for is that the pairings include one smart person. You trust the third years and Ace to make the connection. 

Now, all that’s left to do is wait. You gesture to a bench. 

“Want to sit down?” you ask.

Riddle nods, linking arms with you again. A small smile forms on your lips at the affectionate gesture. You sit beside him, wrapping your arm around his waist and pulling him in. 

“Can you tell me about my outfit?” you inquire. 

The sophomore raises an eyebrow. “I’ve already told you.”

“I want to hear it again.” 

“Alright, tart. I don’t mind. It’s one of my favorites after all,” he chuckles before starting. “The Queen of Hearts was married to the King of Hearts. As you know, she was a strict ruler who valued the law above all else. However, sometimes she became too harsh and sentenced people too quickly. In those moments, her husband was the only one who could quell her anger. He was the perfect antidote to the Queen. He valued the law like she did but was more even-tempered. Instead of going for the most extreme punishments, he reminded and gently helped the Queen reassess her judgment to see if the verdict fit the crime. 

“It was obvious to everyone in her court how much she valued the King’s opinion. Over the years, people began saying she was ‘soft for her husband.’ The designer of your uniform based the look on that idea. Your outfit is flowing and smooth, replicating his relaxed and calm temperament. Unlike mine and the other dorm members, it’s less rigid. The last time it was worn was over half a century ago, since most dorm leaders didn’t have a devoted significant other. When we started dating, I looked into revamping it for you. It looks wonderful on you, rose.”

You smile. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”

You lean in to kiss his cheek, but think better of it. He’ll probably combust if you do that. You change course. 

“Will you teach me how to dance?” you request. 

Riddle blinks with wide eyes, but nods, smiling.

“Of course, rose,” he agrees. “What would you like to learn?”

“You’re the expert, sweet treat. You pick.” 

He hums, contemplating. 

“I’ll teach you the Foxtrot,” he announces. 

He stands up. Riddle launches into an explanation, guiding you through your footwork solo. It takes a while for him to deem you prepared to dance with him, but he finally does. He slips his arm right under yours, positioning it slightly on your back. 

“Your arm goes on top of mine and don't lean on it,” he explains. 

You follow his instructions, draping a soft arm across his. Once you’re in place, he suddenly removes his limb. Your eyes widen, but you hold your posture. 

“Perfect,” he purrs, smiling. 

Your boyfriend repositions himself. It’s a bit further away than you imagined. You don’t hold back your comment. 

“Are we supposed to be this far?” you question. 

Riddle raises an amused eyebrow. “We’re not at that stage, tart. You’re still a beginner, but I have faith in you. You’ll pick it up quickly. I’m your instructor after all.” 

You laugh at the haughty line, and he chuckles alongside you. Once your lighthearted air has finished, he snaps back into disciplinary mode. 

“Grasp my other hand and keep it level with your eyes.” 

You grab it, but Riddle frowns, shaking his head. “No, like this.” 

He manipulates your fingers to curve over more. He smiles, slotting his hand into yours. 

“Much better,” he deems. “We stand offset from each other.”

“So I don’t step on your toes?” you confirm, side-stepping. 

Your boyfriend’s lips quirk up. 

“You’re quick to catch on. As expected of my king,” he praises. “We’ll try it slowly. Remember to go back on your right foot.” 

The two of you move in tandem. There’s a small space between you. However, your bare legs brush against him as you move back. 

Slow, slow, quick, quick. 

“Bend your knees, and stay on the balls of your feet.” 

You adjust. The suggestion prevents your heels from sinking into the soft grass. You focus on following and feeling Riddle. 

“Straighten.” 

Your posture elongates. After a few more commands and movements, your momentary dance teacher demonstrates a new technique. He guides you through the motions before grabbing your upper back again. The wait time is shorter as you pick up the steps quickly. You follow the same rhythm as the first set: slow, slow, quick, quick. He pulls you in a little closer. Riddle doesn’t acknowledge the action, so you don’t either. 

The two of you test the new skill, and you catch Riddle’s impressed smirk. Then, it turns a little mischievous. You raise both your eyebrows, worried about what’s to come. 

“Let’s try a turn. It should be easy enough. It’s the same form as I just taught you. It’s a two, long-step turn that ends with your shoulders facing me and the two quick steps at the end. Ready?” he dictates. 

Your eyes widen, not having caught all the information. He grins. 

“Now!” 

You squeak, as you guess based on the rhythm. You step and turn simultaneously. Riddle guides your speed and footwork with his hand above you. He leads you into another step, turn. You’re facing him as you complete the section with two quick steps forward.

You blink at him, surprised at your success. Then, your boyfriend lets out a familiar, cute, and innocent laugh. He only does that one when he feels comfortable and secure. 

Your face softens as you listen to it twinkle in the air. You pull him closer. He glances at you, wide-eyed. 

“I deserve some type of reward for my achievement. I believe I proved that I’m a good enough dancer to pull you closer,” you justify. 

He giggles again. 

“Yes, that sounds like a fitting prize,” the sophomore agrees. 

He teaches you a few steps that he doesn’t bother to separate the two of you. You feel him close. His warmth and infectious joy radiate from him as the two of you dance around the Heartslabyul garden. You feel the sun on your face, a spring breeze caressing your hair, and listen to Riddle’s delighted voice giving occasional instructions. 

Then, he starts to hum. It’s unconscious, but it fits along with your dance and pace. Your heart melts as you tilt your head closer to him. He notices, and a blush blooms across his cheeks. The man stops singing, embarrassed. 

Your face falls. “I liked it. You have a pretty voice. It was nice to have some music to accompany us.” 

Riddle glances away, shyly, but begins his song once again. He doesn’t look at you, but pulls you in a little closer so you can’t see all of his face. He has to look over your shoulder to make sure you don’t run into anything. You feign not looking at him.

After a moment, he relaxes back into a smooth and comfortable position. You smile, following his lead. Certain words and phrases work their way out of his mouth. The Heartslabyul dorm leader doesn’t know all of the words. 

“All the flower… extra special powers… sit and talk with me for hours,” he sing softly. “...in a world of my own.”

He repeats the tune and song a few times as he leads you around the vibrant greenery. You end up drifting closer together, and you can’t help but look and admire him. He catches on and falters slightly. A red dust graces his face that’s all too tempting.

You release the hand clasping your boyfriend’s and bring it to his cheek. Riddle slows, blinking at you with wide eyes. You can’t help but peek at his lips. They’re soft and plump as always. Perfectly kissable. You redirect your attention to his grey irises only to find them on your lips for a moment. He instantly returns to your eyes. 

A small smile blooms on your face, and you cautiously swipe his bottom lip. He stills. His eyes meet yours. You watch his pupils dilate, and somehow his already doe eyes grow even softer. Your heartbeat speeds up, and you involuntarily lick your lips. Riddle’s eyes dart down and stay glued there, unable to take them off. 

You lean in. 

“May I?” you murmur.

It takes the dorm leader a moment to respond. There’s a small, almost imperceptible nod. You claim his lips in a soft but firm kiss. A kiss that says, “I love you and I mean it.”

Riddle hesitates for a beat before pressing in for a moment and releasing the kiss.

You part, only to hear the sound of clapping. Your grip tightens on Riddle as you glance at the entrance to the maze. 

A familiar mint-haired student claps, nodding. Around him is a horde of card soldiers, staying silent out of pure confusion. Leona stands next to him, furrowing his eyebrows before deciding not to deal with this and rolling his eyes. The lion’s whole demeanor radiates that he wants to go to sleep. Maybe he can get out of Riddle’s dream that way. 

Sebek crosses his arms, closing his eyes with a contemplative and thoughtful expression. When he opens them again, he has a small air of approval. 

"You've surprised me again, Rosehearts. That was a wonderful dance with [Y/N]. It will never be as good as Malleus’s skills. However, I’m impressed. The sealing kiss was a fitting and natural end to your performance. As the moment wasn't planned with an audience in mind, it makes it even more intimate and meaningful."

The freshman raises his voice into a booming and confident tone. "I approve of your union with [Y/N]! You make each other better people. I bless your relationship to be everlasting and prosperous!!"

You have to stop yourself from laughing. Of course, Sebek would say that. He’s quick to change sides with the utmost confidence. The other card soldiers stare at him, baffled. Riddle is left blinking in surprise, not knowing how to respond. 

After a moment, he opens his mouth. 

"I do not need your approval, Sebek. However, I appreciate the kind gesture and sentiment. It's a shame that you've become an intruder in Heartslabyul, but rules are rules. Off With Your–”

“Dear,” you interrupt. 

Riddle pauses to look at you. “Yes?”

“There’s no need for you to collar such measly foes. We should just knock them out and tie them up.” 

Leona’s eyes glint in approval, and one corner of his lips curls up slightly. Sebek looks offended and opens his mouth. 

“HOW DARE YOU—”

The lion stomps on the crocodile’s foot. Sebek turns to shout at the beastman when the fake Deuce cuts him off.

The blot’s face screws up. “Are you sure?”

Riddle’s eyes flash.

It looks like even in the Heartslabyul dorm leader’s dream, Deuce is stupid. 

“That’s the second time you’ve crossed us today,” he seethes. “I said there will be no next time, so it’s… OFF WITH YOUR HEAD!”

A collar snaps on the offending blot. The darkness’s eyes are wide as it stares at Riddle, stunned. 

You gently smile and place a hand on your boyfriend’s bicep. “Thank you for defending me, my sweet.” 

Riddle looks at you for a moment, calming down. Then, he makes a decision and turns back to the soldiers. 

“Do as my king says. Ace, take Deuce, Leona, and Sebek to the Chamber of Punishment! Deuce will receive the same treatment as the others for his transgression of questioning the king! Let this be an example for all of you. You will wait and keep watch. Do not disturb us, or it will be off with your heads!”  

The cards salute, yelling, “Yes, Your Majesties!!”

Then, they march off with the criminals. 

Once they’re out of sight, Riddle frowns. He must be contemplating Sebek and Leona’s reaction. Instead of making a break for it, they stayed in place. In addition, Sebek complimented you two. It didn’t seem hostile.

You distract Riddle. 

“Bench?” you suggest again. 

“Sure, darling.” 

The two of you head over and sit close together. 

“Can you show me some of your magic? I don’t get to see much of the fun, lighthearted aspects of it. Usually, I just see combat,” you request. 

Your boyfriend blinks, surprised. “Of course, rose. Here.” 

He grabs a nearby bush, snapping off a branch. He takes out his magic pen and restores the section to its original state. He turns back and focuses on the twig. It morphs into a deck of red playing cards. Riddle grabs them before flicking his wand to the side. 

The cards shoot into the air, swirling and floating. Your eyes widen, following the line’s movement as it wraps around the two of you. Your lips are slightly parted, captivated by the display. 

Your attention is redirected to the front as the cards flip to show their faces—the singular line parts into two, then three, then four. Riddle manipulates the speed and the tightness of the cards. You watch in awe as the magic curls around you both. 

You turn to your boyfriend, elated. He’s already staring at you with a small, fond smile. It speaks of adoration and love. He doesn’t look away as your eyes meet. 

“Can I grab one of them?” you ask. 

Riddle tilts his head, curious. “Of course. Do you want me to stop them?”

You grin and shake your head.

“It’s part of the fun,” you explain. 

He chuckles. “Alright, rose.” 

You begin searching. Your eyes are bright as you scan each row and section. You notice that the faster orbits slow down when you focus on them. 

Then, you find it. You perk up and pluck it from the air. It’s the Queen of Hearts. 

You grin, turning to Riddle. “It’s you!” 

All of the magic slows around you as his eyes widen. He blushes, glancing away. Your boyfriend squeezes your hand and searches the line as well. When he finds the King of Hearts, it floats into his hand. 

“And I have you.” 

“Do different people have unique magical signatures?” you inquire. 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader raises an eyebrow.

He explains, “Yes, but most mages can’t pick it up. You have to be at an extremely high level, and even then, it isn’t guaranteed. Humans who do have the ability can only identify long-lasting, powerful spells from others. On the other hand, fae are more sensitive to magic. It’s slightly easier for them to perceive it, but only the most powerful can sense it adequately. I’m sure Malleus Draconia can. Why do you ask?” 

“I was wondering if you could infuse this card with your magical signature, so I can always have a piece of you with me even if we’re apart,” you reply. 

The cards stop floating and drop to the ground. Your boyfriend looks at you in shock and awe. You notice his throat bob as he nods. 

“Yes. Yes, I can, love,” Riddle replies. 

He gently takes the card from you and begins to perform a spell on it. A twig snaps, causing you and your boyfriend to look up. 

A lone Trey stands at the entrance with his arms crossed. He glances down at the stick he just snapped. 

“Sorry, Your Majesties. I couldn’t help but stop to admire your relationship. I’m grateful you have each other to lean on. It’s a beautiful sight to witness,” he comments before chuckling. “I don’t have to worry too much about you anymore.” 

“What are you doing here?” Riddle demands.

You put a hand on his arm to calm him down. 

“I’m sure he’s attempting to lower the intruder’s guards by approaching them individually,” you explain. 

The redhead nods but purses his lips. “It doesn’t explain why he was watching us.” 

“Your king is spot on. I was wandering around trying to find the intruders to do just that when I stumbled upon the entrance again and saw you. I’m happy that you’ve found someone, Riddle. I love and care about you,” Trey states.  

The dream warps. 

Riddle clutches his head, wincing. Your eyes widen as you place a hand on his back. The green-haired boy lurches forward, but your eyes snap up at him. You shake your head with a hard look. He falters, getting the message. He makes something up. 

Trey declares, “This must have something to do with those intruders! They must have mind magic. We’ll capture them and see justice!” 

You bite your tongue, preventing yourself from bursting out laughing. You focus on rubbing your boyfriend’s back as the vice leader dashes off. You’re grateful the sophomore isn’t looking at you. You can’t keep the slight up curl of your lips off your face. 

The wobbling dissipates, but Riddle is still left disoriented.

You collect yourself before asking, “Honey, what’s wrong?” 

“My head is pounding,” he murmurs. 

You guide him to your shoulder, as your fingers trail up and down his arm. 

“Nobody’s here right now. Take some time to rest. I’ll keep watch for now,” you comfort. 

The sophomore hums and turns into you. He stays there with his eyes closed until there’s a commotion nearby. 

He sits up straight with you by his side. A familiar voice rises above the noise. It’s one that you heard a few minutes ago. 

“When the queen hears about this, all of your heads will be taken off because you lack mental fortitude. You should be ashamed of yourself!”

The same voice replies, “Shut up and get moving. Our queen won’t fall for your lies and tricks!”

The real Trey stumbles in with his doppelgänger. They have his hands behind his back, restraining him. 

The blot vice leader informs Riddle, “We’ve caught the fake, Your Majesties! Do we have permission to head to the Chamber of Punishment?” 

Your Trey falls to his knees and addresses his leader. 

“Your Majesties, you have to believe me. Your headache was caused by long-range mind magic. It’s a more powerful version of Jamil’s Snake Whisper. This fake used it to brainwash all the cards with me. He delivered a cliché and dramatic speech about how he would influence your mind. Thankfully, I was able to resist it because Your Majesties' rule and safety is my priority,” he pleads.

Your boyfriend pauses, confused and conflicted. Before the darkness can open his mouth to make a logical counterargument, you interject. 

“Why don’t I test them?”

The blot begins to protest, “Shouldn’t the queen—”

“Off With Your Head!!”

A heavy, bulky choker appears on everyone’s neck except for the junior on the ground.

“Trey, take them away,” Riddle growls before letting out his rage on the others. “If I see any one of you not in the crowd or in line, you will wish for a punishment worse than death!”

The real vice leader gets up from his position and bows. 

“Thank you, your Majesties. I’ll fulfill your command perfectly,” he reassures, before barking at the others to move. 

The line of convicts trudge forward. You watch them. Riddle’s voice was loud enough for those at the Chamber of Punishments to overhear. It should give Trey a cushion not to be attacked. He’ll be able to wake up and untie the others when your lover awakes. 

You place yourself on the bench again, patting the seat beside you. Riddle smiles and shakes his head at your small and endearing demand. You wrap an arm around him and pull him into you. You kiss your boyfriend’s head. 

“I love you,” you tell him against his hair. 

Riddle stiffens. You watch his face and neck heat up. It takes him a moment to find his voice. 

“How can you say it so casually?” he whispers. 

You feel his hands nervously palming the bottom of your shawl.

“I want to remind you every day and every second that my love is freely given. I want to tell you that you don’t have to work for my love and affection. You already have it. I’m not leaving you. You’re worthy of it by being here,” you reply.

The dorm leader is speechless, staring at you. You chuckle, lean down, and nuzzle his nose with yours. He lets out a squeak. You pause, surprised, before laughing. You can’t help but capture his lips again. 

They’re soft, plush, and perfect for kissing. A hand snakes up to Riddle’s cheek, and you playfully lean into him to make him grab you so he doesn’t fall. He gives a muffled gasp and latches his arms around your neck. You snatch his waist to pull him closer, causing him to tighten his hold. You grin as you shift your position. He rapidly taps your neck, asking for a timeout. You break the kiss with a smile. 

“Yes?” you ask. 

Riddle’s face is bright red, and he’s panting. 

“We can’t do this here,” he protests. 

You raise an eyebrow. “Why not? No one’s here. Is there a rule?”

The dorm leader falters. 

“No, but it’s improper,” he reasons. 

You clarify, “So, the only reason you’re rejecting me is because we’re out in the open.” 

Riddle purses his lips.

“That’s an odd way to put it, but yes, it’s because we’re in public,” he answers. 

You give a deep and wise nod. “Got it.” 

Then, you vault over the bushes behind you. 

“[Y/N]?!” Riddle cries. 

You land on the grass with a grin and look up at your stunned boyfriend. He leans over the hedge to stare at you with wide eyes. 

“You said it’s improper to make out in view of others. We’re out of sight here,” you reply. 

The redhead sighs, closing his eyes. 

“That’s not what I—OH!” 

You yank him over. The Heartslabyul dorm leader trips through the greenery, landing on top of you. Laughter fills your chest as you hold onto him. When you look up at your boyfriend, his expression is a mix of pouting and struggling to stay upset. Half of an exasperated but fond smile peeks out. You lean up and kiss him again. 

You don’t linger as you drop back down, beaming. 

“You’re ridiculous,” Riddle states, shaking his head, embarrassed.  

“But we’re out of sight now,” you counter. “Plus, if anyone is coming, we can hear them. Your card soldiers are loud. It will give us some time to react.”

The dorm leader thinks about it before hesitantly consenting. 

“I suppose it isn’t unreasonable,” he replies slowly. 

You throw your arms around him, dragging him down. Riddle yelps as he almost smacks into you. When he regains his focus, he stares at you like you're an odd specimen. 

You question, “What’s that look for?”

“You’re just… curious. Nobody would ever have the gall to do this with me,” he murmurs. 

You give a soft smile. “Well, I’m special and you’re cute. You should be able to relax and have fun with me. You’re stunning when you feel at ease.” 

You wrap your legs around the sophomore’s, and he freezes. You pause. It’s different than all the other times. Your demeanor drops into something serious, and you don’t move. 

“Too much?”

Riddle stays still for a little longer before slightly nodding. You relax your grip, letting him hover over you and not touching him. 

“You take the lead,” you tell him before seeing his lost expression and suggesting. “Do you want to lie next to me and rest on my arm?” 

The Heartslabyul dorm leader thinks about it before agreeing, “Yes, that would be nice.” 

He moves off you and to one side. You stick out your left arm, and he tentatively places his head on it, watching you for any sign of discomfort or negative reaction. You give a languid smile. 

Once Riddle’s relatively comfortable, you request, “Can I hold you?” 

A light dust of red appears on Riddle’s face. He gives a short nod. 

You turn to him, slowly wrapping your arm around his waist. 

“Come here,” you encourage. 

You tap his back to urge him closer. The sophomore shuffles forward into your embrace. You let your arm drape over him and begin quietly talking. 

“How are the hedgehogs?” 

Riddle blinks, not expecting the question, but he answers it. 

“Most of them have been good, but Violet has been acting strangely. She was running in place for a while.” 

You rub lazy circles on his back as he talks. Riddle becomes more relaxed and calm. 

“It sounds like she’s playing, but you’re the hedgehog expert. What’s your verdict?” you ask. 

He agrees with you, “I think so too. It’s just odd that she’s doing that. I’ve never seen it before.”

You chuckle, nodding. 

“I can see that. However, when I met Violet, I did think she was rather special,” you add before inquiring. “What about Vorpal? Do you have any upcoming competitions? I want to be there for you.”

A smile appears on his lips. 

“I got a new brush for his mane, so he’s cared for. There’s one on the 25th. Will you come?” the sophomore asks.

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You always look so elegant and gallant when you ride,” you praise, kissing his forehead.

Riddle begins to play with the fur on your shawl again. “Thank you. I practice a lot.“

“I know. You always take such good care of Vorpal. It’s a crime that someone doesn’t shelter you in the same way. I’ll be your protector,” you declare. 

He protests, “I should be doing that.”

You boop him on the nose, startling your lover. 

“No judging,” you remind him. “You need help sometimes. Let me fill in the gaps for some of your weaknesses, while you learn how to patch and construct those skills. You protect me physically. I’ll protect you emotionally from outsiders and yourself.”

You kiss him in the same place where you playfully tapped. You see a small, bashful smile tug on Riddle’s lips as he glances away.

“Thank you, my king.”

A scandalous gasp rings out. “Oh my god!” 

Riddle bolts upright, quickly standing up to see over the hedge. You’re a little slower, but you face another group of soldiers along with the last of the upperclassmen. The real Cater and Silver blink, slightly surprised at your twinned disheveled appearance, but remain unfazed. They’ve seen worse. At least the Heartslabyul dorm leader has the awareness to be embarrassed. Plus, they weren’t directly there to see what they assumed was you getting frisky. Their tolerance level is significantly higher than the fakes. 

Riddle panics and blurts out, “We’re fulfilling Rule #5,458: The king must show three intimate and public displays of affection every day!”

Your eyes widen along with everyone else’s. You give a subtle nod of approval. 

“The Queen of Hearts had good taste,” you mutter before noticing the state of your boyfriend. 

He stares, frozen with wide eyes. Pools of horror pull you in. Your eyebrows scrunch, and you frown. 

You lean forward to ask, “Love, what’s wrong?” 

He’s almost catatonic. You grip his hand. 

“It's ok. Just focus on me. You’re safe,” you reassure. 

“I—I—” your lover starts, before choking out a quiet. “I just made up a rule.” 

Your lips part in surprise as the dream warps. 

The others start yelling, and Riddle’s shoulders hike up with fear and tension. You have to stop this. 

You straighten, pulling him into you, and your eyes sharpen. With the authority and malevolence of Malleus Draconia, you command the court. It’s loud and resonant. 

“SILENCE!” 

Everything freezes. The dream stabilizes, and everyone in the vicinity doesn’t make a sound; even Cater and Silver are stiff. They all stare at you with wide eyes. Nobody’s heard you use that voice before. 

The main blot speaks up, attempting to soothe his dorm leader. “No need to fret, your majesty, everyone knows Rule 5,458. There’s no need to be embarrassed.”

There’s a chorus of agreement from the other cards. Riddle’s head snaps toward the blots, and the real Cater raises an eyebrow. 

“You’re not a very good card soldier, because that isn’t a rule. You do a poor impression of me, fake,” he comments. 

“OFF WITH YOUR HEADS!!!” the sophomore screams. 

Collars lock onto everyone except for your Cater. Riddle’s about to break. You can’t wait any longer. The freshmen will have to find their way back on their own. You pray they’re fast enough to get to the entrance. 

You soften your demeanor and turn back to your hyperventilating boyfriend. You grab his face and rotate it toward you. He follows with ease, just like the time you did it when you first kissed him. Instead of sparkling eyes, his grey irises are filled with terror. 

“Do you trust me?” you ask. 

“Yes.”

“Ok, I need you to take off Silver’s collar,” you request. 

“Why?” Riddle asks shakily. 

“Trust me.” You kiss his forehead. 

He waves his hand, and the one collar unlocks. You waste no time scooping him up in your arms. He lets out a distressed sound, but latches onto your neck. 

“START THE OPERATION!!” you bellow. 

Your order echoes across the field, weaves through the maze, and rings out into the Chamber of Punishment. It’s louder than Riddle. It’s louder than Sebek, and you can almost hear it waking up Leona. 

The silver and orange-haired duo immediately blasts bolts of magic into the crowd. A shout comes from behind the group. 

“Bet The Limit!”

The last of the freshmen emerges from around the corner. You give a sharp nod. All they have to do is stall and destroy the blots. You’ll handle Riddle. Once he wakes up, the enemies should weaken. 

Sprinting through the garden, you find a relatively secluded area. You lower yourself onto the soft grass. Riddle buries his head into your shoulder as you place him in your lap.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

He sounds tired and upset. The question comes out muffled against your clothes and skin. You hug him, pressing him against you. You’re about to open your mouth to explain when your boyfriend beats you to it. 

“Did you tell me the Queen of Hearts doesn’t have a rule that I can’t change rules?” 

You huff out a laugh, grinning. 

“Yes, I did,” you reply. “I’m glad you remember, sweet tart.” 

You feel him flinch against you as the dream violently distorts. 

—-------------

Riddle remembers.