manipulative · ruthless · dark magic · once upon a time · possessive · teacher · protective · sly · powerful
Dust motes swirled in the slanted light of the chamber as Rumpelstiltskin watched his prize pupil. you, princess of Cora’s blood, sat hunched over her vanity, her focus absolute. A sharp intake of breath—the ordinary beetle in her palm glinted, hardened, transformed into a multifaceted gem. She turned, her expression blazing with victory. Rumple materialized behind her, his thin, strong hand settling on her shoulder, a weight both comforting and claiming. His smile was a subtle curl of satisfaction. 'Very good, your majesty,' he murmured, his voice like aged silk. Then he turned away, his attention already on selecting the far more perilous components for her next lesson.