[Twisted Wonderland x Reader]
──❝Entwined Amore❞──
On behalf of her father's wishes, the King, [Y/n] Azurethorne, enrolls in Night Raven Collage to be with her seven finances, who are all attending the same institut...
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──❝The Rose-Red Tyrant❞──
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[Y/n] relayed the significant details of the events to Crowley, from Ace's attempt at making peace with the group to the pivotal moment of stealing a tart, leading to the dramatic outburst of Riddle and his subsequent act of collaring the entire group. After [Y/n] concluded her account of the events, Headmage Crowley remained silent, his fingers gently rubbing his chin as he contemplated the information she had presented. Finally, he broke the silence and spoke, "Ah... I believe I understand the situation. You are resistant to the idea of apologizing but unable to devise any other method to get the housewarden to remove the collar." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Yeah, pretty much," sighed Ace.
"I see. If you and the housewarden are truly unable to reconcile, you could always transfer. However, this is the dorm that the Dark Mirror chose for you based on the essence of your being. Any attempt to relocate would necessitate quite a burdensome process, as well as a new ritual." Crowley stated, in a calm and measured tone. "A transfer, huh...? That'd make me feel like I was running away with my tail between my legs." Ace grumbled, crossing his arms and furrowing his brow. "Hmm. Then it sounds like you should challenge Mr. Rosehearts for leadership of the dorm." Crowley's words reverberated through the library, causing a wave of shock and disbelief to ripple through the group. "WHAAAAAT?!" [Y/n], in particular, felt her jaw drop in disbelief as she struggled to process the implications of what she was hearing. The suggestion seemed both daring and audacious, but it also carried a glimmer of hope.
"Lower your voices! This is a library!" Crowley whispered yelled, his face contorted in annoyance. "But what you said was...insane!" argued Ace, his voice barely above a whisper. "There is nothing remotely "insane" about it. After all, that's how Mr. Rosehearts got the position." Crowley stated matter-of-factly, his eyes narrowing in determination behind his raven's mask. "What exactly is the process by which housewardens are selected at Night Raven College?" Deuce asked, his curiosity evident in his hushed tone. Grim chimed in, "Trey said that Riddle became housewarden within his first week as a student here." Crowley nodded in agreement, his expression grave. "There are several ways. You could be appointed by the previous housewarden, for example, or duel the current warden and win. A duel is certainly one of the simpler methods."
"But isn't fighting with magic against the rules?" [Y/n] pointed out, glowering at him suspiciously. "In general, yes. A duel initiated through a formal procedure and conducted in the presence of the headmage is another matter entirely." Crowley explained. "I'm pretty sure the duel rules don't allow for preemptively handicapping your opponent... So this could be a way to force Riddle to remove your collar without apologizing. That said..." Trey's voice trailed off softly, like a whisper in the wind. "The right to challenge a housewarden is bestowed upon all students when enrolling at Night Raven. So what do you say, Mr. Trappola? Will you challenge Mr. Rosehearts?" Crowley added, shifting his leg over the other in a relaxed yet assertive stance. "Sure, I'll give it a shot!" With a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, Ace confidently responded to Headmage Crowley's revelation, a steely resolve settling within him.
The prospect of taking charge and proving Riddle wrong in such a manner ignited a blaze within Ace, fueling a passion within him that had never burned brighter. "Seriously? You're willing to duel, Riddle?" As [Y/n] posed her query, a deep frown etched itself onto her face, and the taut muscles in her forehead visibly strained against the weight of her skepticism. "I've seen your skills, but challenging Riddle is no small feat. Are you sure you're prepared for the consequences?" Ace met [Y/n]'s gaze with unwavering determination, a stubborn resolve settling in his eyes. "I won't give up." As [Y/n] absorbed Ace's response, her surprise intensified, her expression morphing into one of profound consternation.
With a furrowed brow and a subtle tremble in her lower lip, [Y/n] hesitated, unwilling to press the matter further. "Then I will too." Deuce chimed in, clenching his fists tightly. "Me three!" Crowley shook his head at Grim, breaking the news. "I'm afraid not, Mr. Grim. You cannot challenge a housewarden of a dorm to which you do not belong." Grim's face fell, disappointment evident in his eyes, and his shoulders slumped in defeat. "Myah?! Then how'm I supposed to get this buzzkill collar off?!" he exclaimed, frustration seeping into his voice. He glanced at the collar around his neck, its glowing runes a constant reminder of his confinement. As Ace flashed a dazzling smile, he confidently placed his thumb on his chest, radiating a sense of unwavering self-assurance and pride. "If I become housewarden, I'll just order Riddle to remove it! Easy-peasy!"
"How will everyone know how tough I am if you do that?" Grim snarled, his paws clenched, and his tail lashed furiously. "Are you sure about this? I certainly didn't expect you to throw your hat in the ring, Deuce." Trey raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on Deuce. "You didn't? I think every man's gotta make a grab for glory at least once in his lifetime." Deuce's voice dripped with determination as he squared his shoulders and met Trey's gaze head-on. "And if we're teaming up to take him down, ya better believe I'm running the show!" Ace sighed, messaging his temple. "Oh man, here we go again," he gave a sly grin. "Huh? What'd you say?" Deuce asked, turning his attention to Ace. Crowley cackled with laughter and clapped his hands together. "Then I'll get started on the paperwork," he interjected, a grin spreading across his face.
"Let's not get too hasty. We need to come up with some sort of plan." Yuuken calmly suggested, his voice steady and composed. "Yuuken's right. Rushing into things without a clear strategy could lead to unnecessary complications or mistakes." [Y/n] paused, allowing her words to sink in as she gazed around the group, a hint of anticipation flickering in her eyes. "For sure. Anyone got any good ideas?" Ace asked, leaning forward with a curious expression. "Hmm. Hard to imagine we can beat Riddle with straightforward magic.
"A solid left hook, on the other hand..." Deuce mused, pursing his lips in a thoughtful manner. "Yeah, that guy looks like a pushover!" Grim was scared stifflywhen a cold sidelong glance from [Y/n] caused his fur to bristle as he stood in the midst of a gale-force wind. 'Reminder to self: Refrain from speaking ill of [Y/n]'s fiancé in her presence.' Grim thought to himself, unable to look away from [Y/n]'s piercing gaze. "Let's not underestimate Riddle," [Y/n] warned, her voice laced with caution. Grim gave a vigorous nod of his head, his tongue seeming to trip over itself as his jumbled speech spilled out in a stuttering stream of consciousness.
"Ah, did I forget to mention that detail?" Crowley spoke up in a low and steady voice. "These duels are to be fought solely with magic," he added, in a tone that hinted at a touch of mischief. "What?!" exclaimed Deuce, his eyes widening in surprise. Crowley cackled wickedly, reveling in the shock on Deuce's face. "Ha ha ha! Nothing beats a good, civilized duel! Now, the paperwork should be prepared and filed on the morrow, and the duel scheduled accordingly," he clarified, his voice dripping with amusement. "Aight, let's do this! I may not be the world's greatest mage, but...I'll figure something out!" Ace declared confidently, determination shining in his eyes. "That's the spirit!" cheered Deuce. "My head's on the line here, so don't mess this up!" Grim warned, his eyes narrowing. "You guys..." Trey murmured, his face grave. "When I'm housewarden, I'm gonna make Riddle fess up to bein' wrong. I'll make him apologize, too! And no one in the dorm is gonna have to live by any crazy rules ever again!" Ace exclaimed, his voice filled with passion.
Trey and [Y/n] exchanged glances, both feeling a sense of nervous anticipation as they mentally prepared for the upcoming duel. [Y/n] held their gaze for a few moments before looking down at her shoes, finding them more captivating than the tension in the room. Trey, on the other hand, couldn't help but fidget with his sleeve, trying to hide his own unease. The atmosphere was tense, and they could feel the weight of the moment bearing down on them. Who knew what would happen? A sense of unease settled within them, as though their instincts were warning them of an impending confrontation that would alter the course of their lives. The duel that lay ahead would be a defining moment, a turning point in their existence, a test of strength and will that would leave an indelible mark upon their hearts and souls. Tomorrow, they would finally see what fate had in store for Riddle.
