Sleeping Death | DISCONTINUED

[ 01 ] unum

BEN WAS ALWAYS THE TYPE to take things a little too far. Evelyn found this especially true one morning when she was present in his room – his tailor had come to alter his clothing to be fitted for his upcoming coronation, and Evelyn couldn't bring herself to leave the room; she hadn't hung out with him in so long. She remained sitting on Ben's bed, watching as he glanced at her from time to time, rolling his eyes in exaggeration when the tailor would prick the needle against the hem of his pants.

"So," Evelyn said, sitting at the foot of his bed. Ben glanced her way.

"So...?" he pressed.

Evelyn rolled onto her stomach, propping her elbows against the bed, her head resting in her palms as she cocked her head to the side, adding emphasis to her question. "So...what is going to be your very first proclamation once you're King, your Highness."

Ben grinned, being forced to turn his head the other way by the tailor. He looked back at Evelyn, raising his eyebrow. "You'll find out."

The dark-haired girl rolled her eyes, mimicking what he had said in an exaggerated expression before laughing, rolling over onto her back. At that moment, Ben's parents – current King and Queen of the United States of Auradon – entered the room, smiling at the sight of their son at his fitting. Queen Belle glanced Evelyn's way, heading towards the girl as she squeezed her shoulder, smiling warmly. King Beast nodded to his son. Evelyn hummed to herself, sitting upright at the foot of the bed, swinging her legs as she looked around the room; she was quite familiar with it. She and Ben had grown up knowing each other, and she was grateful to have him as one of her closest friends – aside from Genevieve, daughter of Rapunzel, of course. She looked to the soon-to-be-King, smiling in admiration: she knew he would do an excellent job. But the one thing that was nagging at her insistently was his proclamation – he had been teasing her about it since day one, telling her he had the perfect idea for when he would become King. At first, Evelyn began to think he was joking – but the more he said it, the more she came to realize he truly meant it, which only infuriated her curiosity even more.

"I've chosen my first official proclamation," Ben stated, gaining Evelyn's attention. She looked up, watching as King Beast and Queen Belle exchanged excited looks, glancing back at their son with pride.

"What is it, son?" King Beast asked; Evelyn noticed the humor laced in his tone, almost as if he thought it a bit funny how his son had already come up with his first declaration before he was even king.

Ben's gaze flickered to Evelyn for a moment before he grinned broadly, looking back to his parents. He seemed to stand a little straighter, agitating the tailor slightly who continued to fumble around with the cuffs of his pants as he stated confidently: "The children of the Isle of the Lost should be given a chance here to live in Auradon."

Evelyn gaped. A sort of uncomfortable silence followed after Ben's statement, and she noticed his gaze falter slightly at the sight of his parents' reactions. They deadpanned, staring at their son as if he had wished for a death sentence. Evelyn swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. Queen Belle looked as if she had seen a ghost before she glanced warily at King Beast.

"Which children were you thinking of, sweetie?" she asked uncertainly. Ben met her gaze evenly.

"The son of Jafar, the son of Cruella de Vil, the daughter of the Evil Queen, the daughter of Maleficent – " King Beast's fist clenched as Queen Belle's hand shot up to her chest, her breathing hitched at the mention of the most powerful villain in all of Auradon – even Evelyn felt her skin begin to crawl at the mention of the wicked sorceress. (She was already on edge at the mention of the Evil Queen – the wicked woman had attempted to kill her mother for being too pretty so long ago; what a foolish reason, but then again, Evelyn always thought the Evil Queen was thick-headed). " – and the son of Captain Hook."