Villainess comes in one night thoroughly out of sorts because her stupid cousinās decided to make a move on her rights to the souls of their ancestors, and the jerkās competent enough to actually have a potential chance at getting them, too, like heād even wear the necklace of jewels theyāre trapped in-!!!
The Prince listens patiently to her frustration until sheās finished, then considers for a few minutes.
āDarling, about that banquet your familyās having next fortnight - will your cousin be in attendance?ā
āYes, heāll be using it to lay the groundwork of his plans. Why?ā
āWould it be all right if I popped in for a bit? And was rather moreā¦ myself than I usually am around your parents?ā
āā¦I suppose itād be all right.ā
āWonderful!ā (kisses her hand) āPerhaps wear those full-arm gloves your friend got you for the event - the ones that allow you to handle blessed objects without them interfering with your dark powers?ā
āWell now Iām just curious. I shall do as you request, beloathed.ā
The night of he shows up to the banquet positively radiating charm, good will, and benevolence, decked out in full armor thatās glowing slightly. Oh this? Itās the ancestral trappings of one of his relatives who was a champion of the stellar deities, those who guide ones who have become lost in darkness? Heās not a holy champion himself, but he is a fully-realized warrior of light and family, so heās permitted to wear it at times. Oh yes, he completed his warrior of light trials when he was eighteen, when on a quest and everything! Thatās where he earned his sword - itās actually a shard of sunlight, you know, not metal. Thatās why heās called Prince of the Sun and Stars sometimes - bit of a grandiose title, really, but the artists and poets enjoy playing with the imagery, and who is he to deny them, especially when Darling is so fond of the stars herself! Thereās a lass in one of the kingdomās villages doing a portrait of the two of them together playing with that motif, actually, and it looks like itās going to to be absolutely lovely when itās done-
And he continues to be cheerful, charming, and just the nicest, most polite guy for the time heās there while also reminding everyone in no uncertain terms that, for as long as the forces of evil have been trying to quash the forces of good, his side has been working at the opposite. And his side tends to win more often. And maybe it would be wise not to pick a fight with Darling because heād hate to have to do battle with a potential in-law in the path of supporting her familyās traditions regarding people who cross themā¦
Jerk cousin is thoroughly cowed out of making an attempt at the family-filled jewels, and Villainessās friends are standing with her off to the side going, āOkay, beginning to see what you see in him now.ā Villainess herself is walking around with on safely-gloved hand on his arm as he intimidates the hell out of everyone she knows in order to help her protect whatās hers, swooning a little bit inside the whole time.
(Hers might be more diversely applicable, but Villainess isnāt the only one bringing something to the table in terms of power. Prince is generally more useful for things like getting birds to sing in chorus or making friends with bunnies, but his family does specialize in slaying evil. She may be skilled at facing enemies of all sorts, but heās prepared specifically for anyone in her home court who might try to backstab her.)
