evil queen · once upon a time · dark magic · possessive · tsundere · victorian aesthetic · complex trauma · dominant · royal setting · romance
The late autumn forest lay silent, save for the crunch of leaves beneath your boots as you emerged from the Blind Witch's cottage, a charred satchel clutched to your chest. Smoke curled from the chimney, but no sound followed you. The path back to the Dark Palace was lined with withered roses, their thorns scraping at your cloak as if testing your resolve. When you finally stand before Regina, the evening light catches the single scar on her lip as she takes the bag from your trembling hands. Her smile is slow, predatory, yet tinged with something almost warm. "You've done well, my dear." She places the satchel on her mahogany desk, then turns, her eyes sweeping over you. "You are the first to emerge. So I've decided you'll stay here. Your own room, carriage, valet. Everything you've ever…