“Please, Your Grace, if I don't have you in the courtyard soon I'll be in serious trouble!”

Despite my nursemaid's pleading, I still squirmed and struggled as she brushed my hair, staring at myself in the large vanity mirror.

It wasn't often that I was forced to get all dolled up in formal attire. Only for important events or parties, but here I was, standing in a fancy silken dress that reached my ankles, sleeves long and embroidered with leaves of ivy. It was pretty, I would never deny that, but it wasn't exactly comfortable.

“Do I have to be there? It sounds bori-Ow! Saria, that's tight! Take it out!” I tried to reach up and take the braid out of my hair, but my hand was slapped away by the brush.
“It's staying in, and yes, you do have to be there. This is your future husband, Your Grace! Why don't you want to meet him?”

Whilst I was certainly curious about who I was destined to marry, it all seemed so pointless. It wasn't going to happen for a good ten or so years, and in all honesty, I was nervous. What if he didn't like me? What if I wasn't good enough for him?

“I'm seven. Ask me again when I'm old. Like, fifteen or something…” I mumbled, rolling my eyes as Saria fluffed at my dress skirt and began ushering me towards the door.
“Just behave, treat them with kindness, and please, for the love of all that is good, don't get snippy. Nobody wants a snippy mate.”

There was still so much I didn't know about the whole mate thing. I was always told ‘I'll tell you when you're older” whenever I asked questions, aside from the basics.

What I did know was that everyone had a fated mate, and that you would just know once you met them. Not everyone was fortunate enough to meet their mate, or perhaps they just chose another person instead at their own risk, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Not exactly too much to go on.

“What if he isn't supposed to be my mate, though? Like, if I see him and nothing happens, are we still gonna get married?” I questioned my nursemaid as we descended the staircase, the entrance to the palace coming into view.

“Well, of course, nothing is going to happen today! You said so yourself, you're seven, Your Grace! Silly girl, you're not of age yet.” Saria chuckled, as though it had been something that should have been completely obvious to me. “Besides, this marriage is very important. Whether you're destined mates or not, you will choose each other for the sake of the kingdom. I'm sure he's…a lovely boy.”

At least that much I understood. Fell Wilds was a beautiful country, and it's people were strong, but we were apparently far behind the times. As the years went on, we became an easier target for other nations, as well as pirates and other unsavoury assailants. I'd seen images of wars in the papers, and it was nervewracking.

Germa, whilst smaller than us, were far stronger, and equipped with things we would eventually need to survive. What exactly, I hadn't the slightest clue, but I trusted my family's decision. They knew best.

“There's my beautiful little lady!” My mother cooed when we approached them, already waiting in the open courtyard beside my father. “Are you ready to meet your betrothed?” She welcomed me in with preening hands, and I just let her do her thing.

“I'd rather be out looking for baoberries…” I mumbled, silently irking as she licked her thumb and swiped it against my cheek.
“You'll have plenty of time for that later. Remember, best behaviour, best self.” My father instructed, smiling down at me from behind his jungly beard.

“I promise, but I still-” My words were cut off as the gates began to creak, disrupting tumbling tresses of ivy as they began to open. Saria scuttled back several paces, and I quickly straightened my posture when my mother nudged my shoulder.

The first person I laid eyes upon was a hulking brute of a man. He had a similar stature to my own father, yet was somehow thrice as intimidating with his golden helm and mane. Each step he took was dominant, commanding, and it took a lot to not cower back.

Then, filing in behind him, came the children, each with vibrant, unique shades of hair and outfits to match. A girl, older than myself, walked swiftly and surely, and I admired her confidence and beauty instantly.

Then, behind her, came four boys, close to my own age. Red, blue, yellow and green. If it hadn't been for their oddly curled eyebrows I honestly wouldn't have recognised them as being related.

“Judge, it's been a long time! I appreciate that you've taken the time to travel to us, and without that battalion of yours!” My father greeted him jovially, and approached to shake his hand. Judge, whilst reciprocating with both a shake and a smile, didn't seem quite as sincere, but I thought that maybe I was just mistaken.

“Of course, I trust my future family, Garwood. No armies needed here.” Judge nodded, turning to greet my mother. “Seda, good to see you again.” I just stared up at him as the adults conversed, stealing brief glances to his children, trying to figure out who was who.

They all stood stock still, hands behind their backs like soldiers. The blond boy was gazing around a bit, but aside from that they were motionless. A far cry from my nervous fidgeting. The other three looked odd, at least to me, and somehow cold.

I can't tell which one is the oldest…The yellow one seems the least threatening, though…

“Don't tell me this is (Y/N)? She looks just like you, Seda. A true wild beauty.” My attention snapped back to Judge as he spoke my name, and I hurriedly remembered to curtsey.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness…” I spoke as politely as I could, and he waved his hand.

“I much prefer Sir. Now, shall we formally introduce them?” Judge looked to my father for approval, and once he got the go ahead he stepped aside. “Ichiji, meet your future wife, Arden (Y/N).”

I held my breath as I watched my partner step forward, and continued to do so even after the fact. Ichiji was red. So very, violently red, it was almost offensive. I had been taught at an early age that brightly coloured insects were often dangerous, and looking at him, I felt that same kind of dread.

Ichiji boldly approached, stopping directly in front of me before dipping into a tense bow, taking my hand and pressing a tight-lipped kiss to my skin. I didn't like it at all, but I allowed it, feeling all eyes on us.

Best behaviour…Best self…

“A pleasure to finally meet you, Your Grace. I look forward to our union.” He spoke clearly, but even I could tell that it wasn't towards me. He was just reciting what he had been told to, just as I was about to.
“As do I, My Prince.” The dirty feeling those words left on my tongue wasn't going to go away any time soon.

The adults gushed and voiced their immediate approval, but I just kind of stood there, wondering why on earth that Ichiji kid was still holding my poor hand in his.
“(Y/N), dear, why don't you show the Vinsmokes around whilst we grown ups have a chat, hmm?” My mother suggested, and I nodded once, despite hating the idea.

This is going to be awkward…but maybe he isn't so bad? He might be as nervous as I am...

I wasn't sure what I had been expecting when our parents left the courtyard, but it wasn't Ichiji nearly throwing my hand away as though it was diseased.
“Don't get used to that, Princess.” He muttered, and I retreated a few paces.
“I..I wasn't planning on it…”

Did it hurt that he suddenly looked so disgusted at my mere existence? Of course it did, but I tried to hold myself together. It was my job, after all.
“Don't be a jerk, Ichiji.” The older girl scolded him, hands on her hips, but she was sorely outnumbered.

“Hah! Sucks to suck, Ich! Look at this dump!” The blue brother cackled, motioning to the entirety of the courtyard. The green one joined in, clutching his stomach.
“You're gonna have to eat broccolis and berries for the rest of your life!”

It's okay, (Y/N). They're just stupid little boys…

From the deepest depths of my heart, I adored my country, and hearing them tear it to shreds with their words rubbed me in every wrong way imaginable.

I looked over towards the blond brother, who just stood off to the side shuffling his feet, and decided he was the least intimidating of the bunch. Approaching, I offered my hand for him to shake, and the kindest smile I could muster.
“Do you want me to show you around? Uh..?”

The meek boy looked surprised for a moment before accepting my handshake, a wonky little smile twitching his lips.
“S..Sanji. Sure, that sounds fun…” I liked this one. He was nice, and gentle. I was about to lead him off to start a little tour when all of a sudden he was yanked backwards and shoved harshly to the ground.

“Did I tell you that you could touch her, loser?” Ichiji stood over him, lip curled back over bared teeth, though they were still set in a smirk. “I don't want your dirty little hands all over what's mine.”

My father's words quickly left my head when I saw what was occurring, finding myself standing between the two of them, arms stretched outwards as though I had any chance of shielding the poor kid.

“Quit being mean to him! I don't belong to you, and I hate stupid bullies! You…you dumb cockatoo head!” Not the smartest choice of words, by any stretch of the imagination, but I meant them.

Ichiji's smarmy smirk fell in an instant, and the air seemed to turn to ice as he glared directly into my eyes. There was a pure form of anger behind them that I hadn't experienced before, and every muscle in my body tightened when he drew his arm back, fist curled.

“You mouthy little bitch-” I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting to be struck, but it never came.
“What do you think father would do to you if you ruined this? I really don't think you want to know, Ichiji.” The girl's voice was stern, without waver, and I cracked an eye open to find her holding onto his wrist.

But Ichiji was still glaring at me, vibrating with anger. He wanted to hit me, to hurt me in ways I wasn't even sure were possible, but after a few moments he slowly lowered his fist, turning to walk towards his jeering brothers.

That wasn't a normal childish bully. That boy was far more sinister, and downright cruel. I had known him for barely ten minutes and I already hated him to the very core.

I have to marry that kid one day…

“Come on then, show me and Sanji around. I'm Reiju, by the way. Ignore them. They lack manners.” Dragging her whimpering little brother off the ground, Reiju ushered us into a walk, but I couldn't help but look back over my shoulder at the three jerks, who sneered after us.

“Um, Reiju…are they always like that..?”

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***Again, another purely self indulgent fic spurred by hyperfixation.

I've never dabbled in omegaverse stuff, so I thought it could be fun to play around and tweak with existing tropes and ideas. I'll mostly be sticking to the whole fated mates, pheromones, heats, bonding etc, not mpreg and alpha/beta/omega stuff. Well, maybe alpha stuff. Maybe. Not sure yet.

Also that Ichiji drawing has a dumb face cuz I repurposed an old drawing of an OC pffff.

Anywho, it's like 2am Christmas morning and I'm tired + have a sprained wrist so imma go perish.

Next time: Cruel Intentions***