In a fantasy world where humans are in conflict with fairies, Lucia, lady-in-waiting to Lady Kirsi, the future queen, helps prepare her for her upcoming wedding.
Just one catch — Lucia is a fairy, with a set of wings and pointed ears she has to keep carefully hidden. If discovered she could face anything from imprisonment to Torches and Pitchforks.
At a royal tournament, a new challenger is introduced: a suit of Animated Armor created by the Court Mage. It trounces the competition and earns the right to bestow a rose upon the lady of its choice, choosing Lucia. The king and audience are amused by the whole thing, but Lucia is touched by the gesture, and finds herself drawn to the construct, which she gives the name Modeus. Modeus in return seems to reciprocate her regard, particularly after being assigned to guard her.
Can a romance between these two work? And can he keep her safe when she is surrounded by those who would destroy her for what she is?
Can be read here.
Tropes:
- Animated Armor: Modeus. Quite scary-looking, with clawed hands, spikes and a skull-like face. He's a Gentle Giant most of the time, but dangerous in a fight.
- An Arm and a Leg: Elves are revealed to be fairies with their wings cut off, whether by choice or unwillingly.
- The Apprentice: Norrix asks Lucia to become his apprentice, after she used magic to escape the west tower.
- Armor of Invincibility: Modeus gets stabbed by Baynard in his first fight, which has little to no effect on him.
- Arranged Marriage: Lady Kirsi is betrothed to King Reimund since their childhood.
- Ban on Magic: Magic is highly regulated, with only a handful of licensed mages in the kingdom, and unlawful use of magic is strongly prosecuted. Norrix's mother escaped her home country when it was being torn apart by unrestrained spellcasting, so it seems to be pretty justified.
- Beast and Beauty: Modeus and Lucia, respectively.
- Beware the Nice Ones: Modeus: He's a Gentle Giant usually, but will go to Terminator Robot very quickly when ordered to
- Closet Gay: Sir Baynard and his squire Peres are in a Secret Relationship.
- Cold Iron: Ep. 44 reveals that iron only dispels magic, and that the concept of it hurting fairies is only a rumor. It’s how Modeus got past Lucia’s magic barrier in Ep. 33.
- Court Mage: Norrix. Magic is considered dangerous and highly regulated, with Norrix being one of the few people legally permitted to use it.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: When Baynard fights Modeus in the tournament, Baynard at first seems to have the advantage and even drives Modeus to his knees. Then Modeus stands up and promptly starts manhandling Baynard like a little child.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Modeus. He looks threatening, but he’s pretty docile (unless Lucia’s being bothered in any way).
- Evil Uncle: Reimund's uncle Ricon is creepy, smarmy, and appears to enjoy murdering fairies way too much. He's popular in general for fighting fairies, but everyone who meets him tends to be put off.
- The Fair Folk: They're in conflict with humans, and are considered dangerous or frightening to most humans due to their magical capabilities.
- Fairy in a Bottle: Lucia catches Lazuli in one in Chapter 12.
- Fairy Companion: Quinn has one in Lazuli. They later assign her to Lucia.
- Fantastic Racism: Humans hold low opinions of fairies. In addition, many characters doubt Modeus’ level of self-awareness.
- Gentle Giant: Outside of battle, Modeus is much nicer than his scary appearance would suggest.
- Geometric Magic: Many magical spells use runic circles.
- Heroic BSoD: Lucia has a small one in the beginning of Ch. 8, and a larger one at the end of Ch. 29.
- Huge Guy, Tiny Girl: Modeus is almost twice as tall as Lucia. Reimund is also considerably taller than Kirsi, although its not as stark a difference.
- Human Disguise: Lucia, by matter of tucking her ears in her hair and tying her wings down with a corset.
- It Is Dehumanising: Several characters use "it" or "thing" to refer to both Modeus and fairies in general.
- Just a Machine: Most people treat Modeus as a thing. Lucia and a few others that have gotten to know him realize this is terribly wrong.
- Killer Robot: Modeus was created specifically to terminate fairies. Fortunately, he develops free will. Subverted in that Norrix says that Modeus was made more for defense than offense in Ep. 44.
- Lady and Knight: Lucia and Modeus.
- Lady-In-Waiting: Lucia was taken in by Lord Goldborne to serve as one for Kirsi.
- Mage Species: Fairies are naturally attuned to magic in a way humans are not, able to use their wings as a near-limitless source of magic, allowing them to cast curses on the spot where human spellcasters would need lengthy preparation and animal sacrifices.
- Magically-Binding Contract: Fairies that swear an oath or make a contract are bound to its exact terms, and die if they fail to fulfill it. Humans took advantage of this to win the war — they signed a peace treaty with the fairy leaders, then immediately broke it and attacked. When the fairies tried to defend themselves, they started dying for breaking the terms of the treaty.
- Master Swordsman: Baynard was the kingdom's undefeated champion, until Modeus came along and trounced him. He's very put-out about it.
- Our Elves Are Different: "Elves" are fairies that have had their wings removed, rendering them unable to use magic like normal fairies can. Some have it forcibly done, others have it done to themselves in the hopes that they'll be accepted in human society, or at least get them removed on their own terms without being butchered in the process.
- Plot-Driving Secret: Lucia’s hiding the fact that she’s a fairy ( and the fact that she's hiding a pixie in her room), Modeus is hiding the fact that he can talk, and Baynard and Peres are hiding the fact that they’re dating.
- Pointy Ears: A Fairy trait; they all have pointy ears. Lucia hides hers under her hair.
- Princesses Prefer Pink: Kirsi is super girly and wears pink often, but her official title is that of a Lady.
- Properly Paranoid: Lucia takes extra precautions to ensure that no one finds out that she's a fairy, and for good reason.
- Protectorate: Modeus is assigned to guard Lucia after Quinn attacked her while trying to find Modeus.
- Non-Human Non-Binary: Quinn, the fairy who infiltrated the castle.
- Of Corset Hurts: Lucia has a specially made one that lets her tie her wings down.
- Secret-Keeper: Lucia, accidentally, after learning of Peres’ and Baynard’s relationship, as well as the fact that Modeus can talk. That’s not to mention her hiding the fact that she’s a fairy.
- Secret Relationship: Sir Baynard and his squire Peres are secretly a romantic couple. Homophobia seems to be alive and well in their kingdom.
- Shipper on Deck: Baynard goes out of his way to arrange romantic moments alone for Lucia and Modeus.
- Sitcom Arch-Nemesis: Modeus to Baynard, initially. Baynard was irked over Modeus defeating him in the tournament, and Modeus treated him like a petulant child he was humoring. They do become genuine friends later, with Baynard becoming a wingman for Modeus and Lucia's romance.
- The Speechless: Modeus at first. He gradually learns to speak (haltingly) around Lucia, although he doesn't know how he is able to. He seems to want to hide it from most people save for Lucia, Baynard and Peres.
- Was Once a Man: The Fairy Beasts are rumored to be shapeshifting fairies trapped in their animal form, among other things.
- Winged Humanoid: Fairies look like humans and seem to naturally have wings.
