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Chapter Text

The sky was black with the smoke and fog of the Noxian and Ionian war, filling his lungs and making it harder to inhale each second.

The smell of blood in the air, the taste of the metallic liquid dripping out of his mouth, as he tried to crawl, the pain was unbearable, but he couldn't just die like this. Oh Mordekaisers eye.. No. No he can't.

But the pain was too much. He could still feel that damned blade slicing his right arm off with ease, the sight of the blood spewing out in gallons as he merely stumbled back, the feeling of those soldiers crushing his knees, as he paused his crawling, his body giving up, collapsing as he panted from pain and exhaustion, inhaling the smoke which made him struggle to breath, staring at the bodies that were enveloped into the smoke and fog as he felt his eyes slowly closing.

He can't die. Not after everything he sacrificed. Not after his ability of exposing LeBlanc. Or.. Or was this all meaningless?? As his mind trailed off, a sudden caw was heard, a Ravens caw, as he could see the black raven landing ontop of his body, pecking at his cheek as Swain stared deeply into those red, beady eyes, those eyes staring back at him.

It.. was odd. This raven had more eyes then any normal raven. Its beady eyes staring directly at Swain, and in that moment. It.. it was no raven. Swain knew that. Its eyes held knowledge. Wisdom. Power. The power his parents once longed for before their executed, the one they wanted so badly. And now? He knew—

—He wouldn't die.

Not yet.

Jericho Swain could barely handle opening his eyes, the migraine making him hyperaware of everything. His shakey breathing, the thick blanket that just seemed to be making his body temperature uncomfortably rise, the soft static ringing in his ear that didn't seem to stop at all.

And then, the sound of a stern, yet audibly exhausted voice from his right startled him out of his loud thoughts “You've finally awoken, I thought you had given up like that.” The voice mumbled, as his eyes opened just enough to see who was there.Aceline, her stern face glancing at him as she leaned back against the soft cushions of her chair, “...You're confused.” She mumbled.

“... w-.. what?” Swains voice was shakey, almost slurred as he tried to comprehend what... even happened. The last he remembered was him weakly crawling before collapsing onto the ground, the smoke of all the explosives from that war being the only thing he could remember, along with the feeling of his muscles as he felt his arm being cut off—“Hey,” She snapped him out of his hazey thoughts. “How do you feel?”

Aceline leaned closer, brushing a strand of his hair away as she sighed. “.. Mi..” He trailed off, closing his eyes tightly as he felt another painful thump in his head from the migrane. “Migrane.”

“Well.. that is quite expected. The explosives would most definitely cause that..” She sighed, rubbing her face. “.. You're too drugged up to feel the pain, anyways.”“.. wh-.. wha—..? what pa—in..?”

He slightly tilted his head, the tilt causing his migraine to almost worsen in some sort of way, as he glanced at her face. Stress was visible, even as she tried to conceal it, the slight eyebags that formed on her typically calm face was a new sight, as her hair was tied in a braid, unlike its typical styled hair, her blackened out hands clasped tightly, her hand visibly calloused. “.. Just.. do— do not glance at your knees. Or right arm. Or just.. do not look at your body entirely, if you may spare me the headache?..” She fumbled her words, sighing as she placed a hand underneath his neck.

"Still a high temperature, though that is.. also quite expected, too.” She paused. “.. You foolish general,” She spat out, “You should have planned better. You don't go head first into a campaign as soon as Darkwill says so. That is pure insanity. A suicide attempt, some might even say.” She began to scold, an annoyed tone in her voice.

He audibly sighed, moving (or more like attempting to move) to sit up straight, a sudden pain shooting through his knees as he grunted, his left hand pulling the heavy blanket away slowly, glancing at his knees to see what was the pain as he fell silent. His eyes slowly widening at how... well, dislocated they looked. “.. Wh-.. oh.. oh go—” “I just told you NOT to look!” She immediately pulled the blanket over him , a pain shooting all over his body as he groaned in immense pain, the dislocation of his knees making him sudden hyper aware of each muscle he felt in his body. Aceline visibly frowning in worry.

“.. God. Please do not pass out again..” She buried her face into her hands as she mumbled. “Do.. do you need another injection? Is the pain bad?”She watched as Swain was at a loss of words, stammering as he couldn't even comprehand his words no longer, his breathing becoming worse as he slowly began to hyperventilate, his eyes flickering to Acelines face and his missing arm as his eyes began to shut once again. “No— Oh— Mordekaisers eye—! general. Genera—....”

...

A few hours later.

Swain found himself waking up yet again, the drugs seemingly wearing off as it was now midnight, the horizon slowly darkening and consuming the skies in darkness, a full moon watching over Noxus. Thankfully, his migraine had calmed down by abit, it was.. more tolerable, as he tried to sit up, yet could barely even move wouldn't his body protesting, god— just how bad were his injuries..?

He glanced to his right side, Aceline tiredly resting her head against the edge of the bed Swain rested on, his gaze locked onto her, her body relaxed as she calmly slept. God, how much he needed some water. His throat felt like it was closing, his breathing somehow still uneven despite it being hours since he passed out earlier, as he glanced down at his missing right arm, dried up blood on the bandages as he just.. stared.

It was unreal. Hes a general. Generals are.. are not weak. Generals had all limbs, for gods sake! He was weak. What would Darkwill think? What will everyone think? Damn that cursed war. Damn his foolishness. Damn.. Damn everything! Slowly, his gaze drifted to Aceline, still tiredly asleep as he could catch the small glimpse of her face, pain shooting through his muscles every time he breathed, he... definitely had gotten a hit or two on his ribcage, thats quite certain.. those soldiers had fun destroying him under their boots.

At the small movements of the blanket, Aceline found herself slowly waking up, rubbing her face as she glanced at him, silence filling between the two as they merely.. stared at each other, yet the silence was.. quite comfortable.

“.. How do you feel?” Her voice broke him out of his staring, rubbing half of her face as she watched him, the hint of concern peaking through her eyes despite her attempts of concealing it. “.. Better then before.” He mumbled, his voice dry as he cleared his throat, “.. Can— i get some water?” He rubbed his throat, sheepishly asking, god. Why did that feel embarrassing.

".. Yes. Of course,” she spoke calmly, sitting up straighter, “l’ll go and get a cup, do not.. attempt moving too much, yes?” The chair creaked as she stood up, her voice soft as she glanced at him. “Yeah. There is no need to tell me that.” He grumbled, groaning as another sharp pain shot up his body.

Aceline soon disappeared from the room, leaving Swain alone with his thoughts that plagued his head. God. What will Darkwill say? Fuck. What will the entirety of Noxus say? The campaign was supposed to go smoothly. Easily. It was ionia, they barely fought, didn't even have a military, and yet he brought shame. As he now is.. what? A disgrace to Noxus? He can't be.. a general with a missing limb— generals have all limbs intacted, for fucks sake. Now hes repeating the same words. Thats how he feels, his mind is driving him fucking insane.

A minute or so passes as he merely stares off, his thoughts becoming louder and louder before the sound of Acelines footsteps broke him out of his thoughts, a glass of water in hand as she walked over to him and handed it to him.

“Here.. let me help.”She sat back down, bringing the glass to his lips as she gently tilted his head up, helping him drink the water entirely as she sat down with a soft sigh. “...” Silence. It was.. awkward, at least. “Does Darkwill know you're here?” Swain suddenly mumbled, able to finally speak without sounding like he was dying of thirst. “.. We got into another argument, of me being too involved into this entire.. Campaign. Typical. Its hell being married to a.. manchild ruler and barely qualified enough general, ” She trailed off, burying her face into her blackened out hands as Swain merely listened, a stoic expression on his face, though it was softer with Aceline.

"But.. what else am i able to do, other then merely nod like the sweet wife i am.” Silence for a few seconds. "Quite the life.” Swain sighed out. “... I assume you will stay here for abit.” “Obviously.” She sat up straighter. “I can not stand him nowadays, and plus.. I should probably start near you from now on, considering you almost died.” She gestured briefly to himself, as he nodded.

“Im sure he will.. at least excuse it, in a—..way...” He mumbled, his words trailing off as he struggled to move into a better position, Acelines hand immediately going to his shoulders to stop him briefly.“Stop moving on your own. You're already bruised badly enough.” she suddenly scolded, a hand on his lower back as she fixed his position.

A sigh. As she stared at him, her features softening up. “.. Are you hungry? Do you need anything?” She softened up slightly, locking eyes with him as she gently brushed a strand of hair away from his face.

“.. Im fine. I'm.. not that hungry. You've already done alot for me, Aceline.” He spoke, his pained expression briefly softening up. “You should rest.” “.. Are you sure?” She insisted. “Yes. Yes i am.” He sighed out, rubbing his face. “Im.. still somehow tired, so. Yes. You've done more than i could ask for, Aceline.” “.. Alright then. I.. will be close, i will checkup every now and then, yes?” She began to stand up, stretching her sore arms as she gently patted his shoulder. “Sleep well.. general. ”

Chapter Text

headaches, intense phantom pain, nausea, lack of appetite... Swain felt like he was experiencing every imaginable pain there was, and in some way, he was. Because god was he unable to blink without his head feeling like it was so tightly wrapped, or couldn't inhale correctly due to the amount of bruises that scattered all over his ribcage, and basically the insane amount of Phantom pain he had now that irelia decided to entirely rip his arm off, which wasn't the nicest act, was it??

The door soon swung open as Aceline entered, heels quietly clacking against the marble floors as Swain closed his eyes shut at the noise, it may not sound loud to Aceline, but god was the noise so loud it honestly was more annoying then painful.

A frown coated Acelines lips as she sat down awkwardly, glancing at the few medical herbs the physician had given and many full glasses of water all on the side table, as she sighed softly. ".. How do you feel? Is the pain still— unbearable?" She spoke quietly, taking hint of his visible annoyance at basically any sound he heard, i mean.. Even breathing was unbearable, at this point. "Still." He mumbled quietly after a few beats of seconds, as she nodded. "Okay, uh.. Have-" she fell silent, visibly taking her time to form her words. ".. Have you ate yet? Should I ask the maids to prepa—" "No." He cut her off, as she immediately fell silent. ".. Alright."

She leaned forward, "you need take your meds, in abit. The physician informed me that you needed to take them both in the afternoon and midnight." She mumbled, while he merely kept his eyes still squeezed shut, a tiny nod of his head. "..do you wish for me to fully close all the curtains?" She questioned softly, it was the least she could do for now, she supposed, as she watched his eyes peel open just a tiny bit. "..May you?" He whispered quietly, as a tiny smile appeared on her lips. "Of course." She stood up slowly, trying to reduce all the noise as she briefly paused, was this a silly move, perhaps. But... He did seem to hate the noise of her heels, as she glanced over her shoulder briefly, soon leaning down as she pulled off her heels, before finally walking over to the large glass balcony door as she pulled down the curtains, enveloping the room into darkness, with the tiniest bit of dimmed light mostly peaking from under the door and at the sides of the curtain, as she walked back to the chair, sitting down.

His eyes slowly opened, the migrane still lingered from yesterday, of course. But at least it wasn't unbearable from the light, as he moved to glance at her, taking notice of the forgotten heels now laying on the marble flooring. ".. You took your heels off." He muttered quietly, locking eyes with her as she fell silent momentarily, glancing down at her own heels. "Quite the uncomfortable pair, yes." They were comfortable, a good pair for the daily wear. "That so?" He hummed curiously, as she merely tilted her head and smiled lightly. "Did you sleep well?" She changed the topic, as he sighed, eyes closing yet again. "... No. I couldn't. Pain was.. Unbearable." She hummed softly, "i know." She mumbled. "The physician said you might experience insomnia for... Quite a while. But if you consistently take your sleep aids, along with... The many other medicial herbs provided— im sure you'll start getting a goodnights rest." She leaned forward, a gently hand brushing a small strand of his hair aside as she soon pulled away. ".. Hopefully." He murmured, as she nodded.

"... Listen." She started, momentarily falling silent as she briefly thought on how to word her thoughts. ".. Darkwill, hes.. Quite enraged, considering how—.. Well, how terribly the campaign went, but i suppose hes always been like that." She scoffed briefly, ".. He.. He dismissed you. From the noxian army. Of you being.. 'To cripled for noxus.' He said.. I disagreed with his words, he had gotten mad, obviously. Like the hallucinating manchild he sure is." She said quietly, eyes softening as he watched Swains reaction, which.. wasn't much, as he kept his eyes closed. ".. I expected this." He sighed out, as she fidgeted with her blackened out hands.

".. Im sorry, Swain. I wish i could have done something." She mumbled softly, watching as the brief flash of disappointment, anger and misery appeared in his eyes seemingly all at once.

".. It isn't your fault. Never was." He merely mumbled, as she briefly rubbed her temples. Watching his expression. "Still, im.. Sorry. For everything. But i promise, i'll be next to your side, helping you regain all your strength back."

".. You promise?" He murmured, a hint of vulnerability peaking through.

".. Of course, i promise. We're—"

"We're 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴."

Chapter Text

It has been a week since Aceline really spoke with Darkwill, blaming it all on her busy schedule due to Darkwill disallowing her visits to Swain— though she didn't care. With Aceline consistently visiting Swain, making sure his needs were covered, trying her best to ease the pain he went through.

The sun was shining brightly for today, clouds nowhere in site, the clock striking ten, making the city of noxus lively— with vendors yelling about new offers, or of new sales occuring, while the quiet wind gently blew against the windows of House Swain, as Aceline sat on the couch that rested in his current resting chambers, Swain sitting in a separate chair as aceline stared at him, his cane resting against the couch, calloused hands holding a teacup.

"You say that raven has said— all that. " She mumbled in confusion, eyebrows slightly furrowed, her gloved hand holding her teacup.

"Yes. Leblanc deceived darkwill. That damned woman is still alive. It was.. All deception." He grumbled, his right hand shaking slightly as he quietly sipped on the herbal tea Aceline made for him, feeling the warmth of the tea through his palm. ".. And a.. Raven. Said that." She repeated, unamused. "Swain. I know it is quite hard going through all this but, you—"

"No." He cut her off. "I speak the truth."  He insisted. As she stared at him in a moment of surprise. ".. Alright then. " She sighed, taking another sip of her tea.

"Shes not dead. Your tyrant of a husband got deceived by her. Thats why he insisted on that.. Curse of a war.." He spat out, glancing down at his damaged knees and now missing left arm, the phantom pain never seeming to stop at all.

".. Deceived, you say." She hummed softly, rubbing the bridge of her nose. ".. I-.. Hm." She paused, rethinking the times she last seen darkwill, maybe Swains words held some truth. ".. You know, i have witnessed him constantly opening letters." She mumbled curiously, her hand which held her tea moving in small gestures as she spoke.

"Letters?" He repeated, an eyebrow raising as curiosity appeared in his eyes, "have you ever witnessed the stamp of theirs? Or anything?"

".. hm." She paused her movements, thinking quietly. ".. Yes. If i remember correctly—.. A dark purple stamp. Though im not sure which symbol it was .." She nodded, her elbow resting against the arm rest as she raised an eyebrow. "You believe those her letters?" She questioned curiously.

"Most definitely." He mumbled, taking another sip of his tea as she huffed. ".. That diagusting tyrant."

"She is using him for her greater good, Aceline. And it appears she already has him following orders—" "—And she is feeding into his delusions that there is a magical artifact that will prevent his death." She continued, tilting her head as she took another sip.

"Exactly." He said confidently, as she glanced away, staring at the ground for abit, her thoughts consuming her as she rubbed her temples with her free hand, ".. Oh, Mordekaisers eye.. Her and her damned cult of hers. Now hes obsessed with— with immorality. Yet i wish for his death, on my own." She scoffed. "That so." He hummed curiously, leaning forward slightly as he grunted at the sharp pain of his knees, his tea cup slightly forgotten in his hands.

"Perhaps we should think of.. something to do." He suggested, as she placed her palm against her face, rubbing her eyes momentarily. "Like what?" She mumbled in interest.

"He can't lead—" Swain started, leaning back into the chair as the wind outside picked up in speed. "Noxus can't be led by a single man whos incompetent. A man who is so obsessed with immorality he forgets his own citizen's who lie in danger from his insane campaigns he forced me to take."

"Do you suggest a council?" She curiously hummed, as he fell silent for abit, visibly thinking about her words. ".. Well, not my first thought, though— i am not against it. Quite a nice idea."

"He won't allow it, Darkwill prefers noxus being led by him and him only. Like the insane man he is.."

"... Perhaps i can cause some new orders." Swain proposed. "You have no power anymore, Swain. Darkwill dismissed you and marked you as a cripled man—"

"You forget i come from House Swain." He cut her off. "And darkwill may have respected your family, yes— but must i remind you, most of your power came from you being a worthy general? Respected, yes. But darkwill wont listen to yo—"

"What about you." He suddenly spoke up. "... What?" She raised an eyebrow, taking another sip.

"House De Vail. You have power. No?"

"Not good enough." She sighed, eyes narrowing briefly. "My family is powerful because i married into power, must i remind you that?"

"Fine.. We orchestra a coup, then."

"Pardon me?" She raised an eyebrow, shock appearing on her face as she almost instantly abandoned her cup.

".. We— we're not orchestrating a coup, swain. We are not overthrowing darkwill—"

He merely watched her visible stuttering, taking a long sip of his tea which.. Slightly became cold, actually. "What good has he brought to noxus other than destruction?" Swain stated calmly, which was... A valid point, Aceline supposed. As she sat up straighter.

"No. Can you hear yourself? A coup? That is.. Firstly, dangerous. Secondly, quite foolish. Thirdly, lnsane?! Do you wish for death?! If it fails, we are executed. So we—"

"Aceline—" he cut her off, as she scoffed, arms crossing over her chest. "May you stop cutting me off?!"

"No. Now listen to me—"

"This will not be discussed. We are not overthrowing him—"

"Let us at least plan—" "No."

"That is final, swain." She grumbled, standing up as she glared at him sharply. "You prefer him destroying the entirety of noxus?" Swain spat out, eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. "Do you not understand the dangers that follow just by him even breathing and torturing all those soldiers with those meaningless campaigns!? With us knowing LeBlanc is twisting every part of his mind?!"

"I do. But i will not— hes my husband." She protested with a shaky tone. A quiet huff escaping her as he merely looked up at her, a calm expression on his face.

"Yet you said you wished for his death." He suddenly mentioned, as she fell silent, her face falling into a frown. "And i do. But i will not be the one who is the cause of his death." She spat out, eyes narrowing. "Depsite you hating him and wishing for his death?" He calmly continued.

"You keep twisting my words—" "— i am merely repeating what you said." He huffed, as she scoffed. "I do not care—! I will not spill blood on my hands."

"Then you are no Noxian, Aceline."

...

Silence filled the room, tension filling the room as Swains right hand gripped his cane tightly, pressing the cane into the ground as he grunted, slowly rising to his full height as he locked eyes with her.

..

".. Pardon me?"

"You do not fight for Noxus. You do not spill blood for your people. You may be his dear wife— but when has he made you feel proud to be his?" He murmured. As she took a deep breath in, about to open her mouth— and yet no words seemed to come out her mouth, as she stood there, now feeling.. A mixture of emotions. Annoyance, anger, shock, but also.. Guilt. Deep down in her heart— a bit of guilt and realization began to overtake her.

"N-..no. I am no.. I am no murde—"

"Tell me. Would you experience grief at the announcement of his death? Or would you be quietly glad of his passing?" He spoke over her, his hands shakingly as he kept his grip on his cane from standing despite his injuries.

"... Me refusing to spill blood does not make me any less Noxian than you."

"You didn't answer, Aceline." He hummed calmly, before letting out a sigh as she fell silent yet again, grunting as he sat down in slight relief, letting go of the cane as it rested against his chair.

"You wish for his death, yet you tremble like a toddler. You wish for me to heal well, yet you forget he is the sole reason why i am injured— why so many souls were lost in our failed attack and the sudden ambush. He is causing death, just so he finds a meaningless relic or a meaningless artifact— that allows him to escape his own death."

Silence fell in the room yet again, tension intensifying the longer Swain spoke.

".. Be against it, all you wish for. I do not mind. But we both acknowledge that overthrowing him is our only option, considering that spilling blood once is better than spilling it... Thousands.. And thousands of times. Which is what he will do to citizen's." He spoke casually, eyes still locked onto her.

"But if you wish too—"

"Fine." She cut him off, quietly sighing before she hesitated, her eyes falling onto the couch as she slowly sat down. ".. But that doesn't mean i am pleased with any of this, i am doing this for the... Citizen's." She exhaled slowly.

He stared silently, nodding his head in approval. "Good. I will not make my moves yet, but—" he trailed off.

"We should begin planning. For when i do heal fully."

".. Fine. We shall plan the coup, then."

"....good."

Chapter Text

The night was dark, the moon barely visible between the fog of the sky, humidity in the air, making it harder to breath. Coating Noxus in darkness as Noxus fell into deep slumber.

Silence. Swain always lived in silence, he enjoyed it, it was.. soothing, when being in his own thoughts, allowing him to think clearly, growing up and getting used to blocking the unnecessary noise that tried to disrupt his peace and boundaries he set up. The walls he carefully built, to avoid anything and everything.

Sitting in his king sized bed— a tiny table sat on his lap, allowing him to write and plan with ease, while having the pleasure of resting in his comfortable chambers, unlike having the pain of going to his studyroom— in which would probably take an hour to reach, considering how his knees can only handle his weight for a few seconds before Aceline has to rush in and stop him from falling— which is.. Quite the humiliation ritual, in all honestly, but.. He appreciated the help, he supposed.

His right hand held the fountain pen tightly, the slight trembles as he tried to write anything— candelabras illuminating the room and blank paper as he sighed silently, it was like his.. Head wouldn't focus on the present, only the past, it seemed. Like his head wished to torment him, in an odd, sickening way.

He still had remebered that day.

That disgusting day. 

That cursed day, the invitation, despite his initial refusal due to his dislike to large weddings, darkwill was polite, insisting. So he reluctantly accepted. Finding it better to attend and leave— disappear as soon as the vow exchange was over and return to his House in peace— Well, thats what he wished to do.

The noise, the alcohol and laughter— all he.. Didn't enjoy, but he put up with him, a charming smile and short conversations that didn't last too long, the compliments of his achievements, the boasting.

And that.. Entrance of hers. Her— he was marrying her. He thought Aceline left Noxus— 'persuing her political career—' her family said, and now shes—.. Here. Being married off.

He still remembers the feeling, how his gut twisted into a knot, the hint of nausea from his earlier sips of a few beers suddenly intensifying, her visibly rigid body language, the tension in her body, the obvious displeased look in her eyes, the smile that didn't seem to look quite right on her face— the one that didn't reach her eyes, all concealed behind a lace veil, and that large ballgown of hers, the jewelry that looked a few pounds heavy, all hanging around her neck, her posture slightly slouching as she stared at the ground, with—.. Darkwill. Besides her.

Holding her arm with a grip that wasn't enough to raised eyebrows—

but tight enough to ensure she doesn't move a wrong way.

And then her— Aceline, locking eyes with Swain.

Visibly unpleased.

So visibly upset.

And then immediately glancing away.

.. Marriage of power, everyone told him— when she was already powerful enough.

When her family was already powerful enough.

But he supposed greed got to everyone, eventually.

"Swain." A stern voice, immediately glancing up from his paper, glancing at Aceline who tiredly stood there, her bag in hand. ".. I said you needed to rest, not continue planning." She sighed, walking over towards him, her shoes quietly clacking against the floors as she sat on the edge of the bed on his right side, placing the bag onto the ground. As she sook lifted the paper up, a raised an eyebrow at the sight of the empty paper. "..blank?"

"Haven't planned, yet." Swain mumbled after a few silent seconds, taking back the paper as a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Well you can plan tomorrow." She hummed, gently tapping his right shoulder before leaning forward towards his side table that held his candelabras, blowing them out as Swain sighed. "I am capable of resting.... Later. I must plan."

"No. You have quite the long time for you to truly begin planning the coup." She took his paper away, standing up as she walked to his vanity table as she placed it away, a quiet huff escaping him at her audacity. "Seriously?"

"Yes. Seriously. I must return home— and you must be asleep. If Noxus is resting— so should you." She grumbled in an almost scolding tone, almost like scolding a misbehaving child as he raised an eyebrow, "quite the attitude, i see." He scoffed, though a tiny bit of a smile lingered, as she calmly screwed the cap of the ink back on, the fountain pen gently being pushed back into the case as she took the table off his lap.

"And— this table is for eating." She sighed, glancing at the small ink mark he may have accidentally dripped due to just staring at the paper for a few minutes on end. 

"Not writing." She crossed her arms, retaking her seat on the edge of his bed, with that faint smile still on her face.

"Aceline—" he started, her eyes on the window as she noticed the tiny silhouette of some type of.. Bird, resting on the trees. How... Odd? She didn't know birds had red eyes.

.. Eh. Noxus was weird, so not shocking. Dismissing it with ease. 

".. Yes?" She finally turned to him, as he stared at her silently, glancing at the annoying wedding— the large diamond, the gold band, just that ring in general.

".. Apologies. For my sudden.. Outlash, from earlier this morning." He quietly apologized, as she nodded her head. "I.. I understood why you had done so." She softly sighed. Glancing at her ring. ".. I care for my citizens. My people. That is why i wanted to be a politician— forgot? To help others in any way i could." She said in a longing tone, fidgeting with her hands.

".. Why give up, then?" He asked curiously, eyeing her as she quieted down.

".. Im a wife, forgot? I have duties."

"What duties." He questioned.

"Other then him forcing you to stay at home?"

...... 

She fell completely silent.

".. Do you mind if you stay here for a few minutes, before you head home?" He asked mutteringly. As she glanced over her shoulder, locking eyes with him with a soft sigh. "Of course. Though, i must get going soon— urgently, before darkwill decides to yell at me for arriving home late."

.. Darkwill, of course.

".. Darkwill." He merely said, despite his calm tone, Aceline could sense the resentment in Swains body language, his tightening grip on his covers before his hand unclenched in an instant.

"... I have no other choice, you know—" She huffed. "—i never did." She continued. "..I never do." She quietly mumbled to herself, an almost defeated tone as she stared at her blackened out hands, the lightly sparkling wedding ring resting on her ring finger, a reminder of her vows, the fake promise she had quietly whispered, the murmured 'i do.' '' that she had to say while eyeing his disgusting eyes.

Her lost opportunities.

Her dreams..

Her wishes... 

A quiet, long exhale soon escaped Swain, as he tilted his head back lightly, the back of his head resting against the headboard lightly, silently watching her in his peripheral vision, her visible longing as she fidgeted with the wedding ungently.

odd. she thought to herself. Slouching slightly as she stared at her blackened out hands— Her urge to rip off the curse of a ring off her fingers, the urge to hide it— destroy it, anything possible to get rid of it, and it felt.. Odd.

Because she could never find herself truly taking it off. Never found herself truly trying to take it off and never wear it— like an unbreakable chain wrapped around her neck, tightening with each breath, with each slow minute that passed, a reminder that she can never escape him, truly.

Even at her last breath,

he would follow her.

Even in death.

Like a hungry dog—

chasing for any scrap of food.

".. Suddenly thoughtful, i see." Swain hummed, as she sat there silently, her bag long forgotten on the ground as she slowly stared at it, soon sitting up straight as she rolled her shoulders back lightly. "It is merely nothing." She glanced at him briefly, rubbing her temples briefly.

"Nothing, you say." He said with a curious tone, "considering you fell silent, i assume it was.. Something quite important." He spoke, though not questioning, as if he was merely stating the most obvious thing. ".. I should get going. Darkwill will be quite furious if i arrive lat—"

"Wait."

He suddenly grabbed her hand gently, pausing her from rising up as he quietly grunted as his fast movements, sitting up straighter. He was quiet for a few seconds, his hand gently holding hers as he hesitated.

".. Be careful. Understood?"

His eyes softened lightly, as she stared at his hand, a faint smile appearing on her lips, one that seemed more of a reassuring act to him

".. I will. Rest well, Swain." She hummed softly, hesitating before she slowly pulled her hand away, rising up to full height as she picked her bag up, quietly walking over to the door as she pressed down against the handle.

"And—" he called out, watching her glance over her shoulder with curiosity. "We discuss tomorrow, about the plans we will make." He said calmly, watching her soft nod with that faint smile appearing on her lips again.

"Understood— general." She hesitated yet again, soon exiting the chambers as the door quietly shut closed behind her.

Silence, for now. 

... 

Should have been him. Not darkwill. 

.. But oh well. 

He should rest.