𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐏𝐔𝐑𝐏𝐋𝐄 || 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗼𝗼𝗸

𝟐.𝟎𝟏 - 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝

╔══ஓ๑☼๑ஓ══╗
— 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝟐 | 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏 —
╚══ஓ๑☼๑ஓ══╝

TRIGGER WARNING: BLOOD AND GRAPHIC CONTENT AHEAD

(Third Person POV)

Ruby Fitzherbert stood there while clutching a small clipboard to her chest with a blank look, unmoving as flashes of cameras constantly snapped in front of her. A hoard of voices shouted over each other as they tried to get her attention, as well as the former violet-haired girl next to her. For the past few months after Ben's coronation, Ruby had been asked by Mal to be her royal advisor to help her with her new duties before she became a lady of the court, but even with the princess' help the blonde girl was a hot mess. Mal finally snapped out of one of her usual dazes and surprised herself with the sudden chaos the press had created in front of her. 

"Only three days till the royal cotillion. Ever think a girl like you could be a lady of the court?"
"How does it feel to be the most envied girl in Auradon?"
"Do you like being blonde?"
"Princess Ruby, have you had any suitors since being betrayed by a villain?" A fire kindled in Ruby's eyes as she went to go say something before Mal held her arm out in front of her to stop her from perusing the reporter.
"Is your mother still a lizard?" Mal snapped her head in the direction of the question with a look of offense and Ben drew the line there as he pardoned his way through the crowd to get to Mal.

"We will let you know if and when that particular situation changes," Ben said calmly.

"Did you ever think you'd be with a villain kid?" Another reporter asked before holding the mic up to him. Ben only chuckled dryly and leaned toward the mic before saying,

"We're done here." The reporters started to bustle once again before Fairy Godmother slid in to save the three teens.

"Shush shush, shush shush, okay." She said and got them a little quieter "This is still a school, so if you're here, you're either skipping... or trespassing. Each reporter tried to bustle her before being promptly 'shushed' by the woman and ushered away.

"Thank you, guys," Ben said flatly but kept his smile.

"Thank you." The two girls said after him, both of them releasing a well-needed sigh before giggling quietly to one another.

"Mal, Ben, Ruby." Fairy Godmother said with a nod before leaving on her way.

"Fairy Godmother." they all said and watched her walk off. The King and his future lady turned to look up at each other, laughing amongst themselves as Ruby swayed in place. It had been like this the last few months, Ruby constantly tailing Mal or third wheeling when she was with Ben. She stayed quiet and minded her own business most of the time, but being around them and their love tugged at her heart the more it happened. Ben was just about to kiss Mal on the cheek as he had announced he was late for a council meeting before Mal was quickly pulled away by Evie.

"If we don't do a fitting for your gown right this minute, you'll be dancing in your bathrobe, okay?" She said sternly to her blonde best friend before giving a quick and airy "Hi" to Ben "Let's go, let's go." She said as she dragged the tired girl away, Ruby just routinely following as Ben and Mal said goodbye to each other.

In the girl's dorm, Ruby was sitting on Mal's bed going through some documents she had to get settled for the day as Evie fitted Mal into her cotillion dress. If she was being honest, Ruby was sick of that dress, not just because the colors were a complete eyesore, but because amid all the cotillion drama, everyone seemed to let the idea of getting Harry back just slip away. Maybe they didn't care anymore, or maybe they were just too wrapped up in their own thing right now to put any effort in, she didn't know, but she did know it frustrated the hell out of her.