"Ophelie," He said softly, taking her hands into his. She seemed to be glowing, just then. How could he have been such a fool, to have let her go before? But- he had found her now. And he would never let her leave his side again. He would protect her from anything, til' his very last breath. "Ophelie, marry me."
Her breath caught in her throat at his sudden words. Surely, she'd misheard him. She was the daughter of a Baron, and he was the Grand Duke. Of course, she misheard. Nobody could ever think such an impossibility of a Baron's daughter- but even still, she adored him. She wished, desperately, that she could be with him for the rest of her life.
She looked away from him. "You're tired, Your Grace. You can't be thinking straight-"
"I love you, Ophelie," He said breathlessly. Their eyes met once again, and once more, he felt he was coming undone. "I love your voice. Your smile. I love the way you try to give away your own love to others- trying to make them happy, when you yourself, are not. I love that you are gentle and truly kind, and I love that when you look at me, it's like an undeserving caress. Throughout my life, I had been expected to marry a woman that never even tried to like me. That never loved me. A woman that I couldn't love. I thought that love didn't exist. I thought.... But, no. I was wrong."
"Your Grace-"
His hold tightened on her hands, as if she would vanish any second.
"I know you're afraid of being close. I was, too. But Ophelie, I was wrong. Love does exist. And I feel it with you," He said. Tears welled in her eyes, but he couldn't stop yet. "And I know the world is cruel to you, and I know I cannot force you to trust me, but I'm sure- I'm certain- that you must feel some sliver of the way that I do. And if that's so, I beg of you, Ophelie, tell me. Tell me, and I swear that never again in my life, will I ever let you be hurt the way you have been."
She began to tremble. It was so much to take in- and yet- she was the happiest she had ever been. She was crying, but smiling.
She nodded. "Yes. Yes, I do. I do. I love you. And-"
"Really!?"
"I love you, Arian. And I'm so sorry that I was such a fool to-"
He pressed his lips against hers. She loved him- so why waste another single moment talking about anything else? She was his, and he was undoubtedly hers. For the first time in a long time, the world seemed to be going right for them. So he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Why should he waste another moment doing anything else?
This was the start of something better. The end of something old.
This was their beginning to the story's end.
But as the blade in her hand pierced through his heart, his blood seeping into the cloth of his tunic, he realized- eyes shocked and betrayed- that he was wrong.
This was their end to the story's beginning.
꧁ ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ Am I Your Villain? ﮩ٨ـﮩﮩ٨ـ ꧂
"Duke Derosier," The man tells me as though I'm a child. "He's stolen important shipments from us. You need to tell us where he is currently. Once we've dealt with him, we can-"
I stare, shocked and frightened. "I would never utter a word of Arian to a filthy man such as yourself-"
His eyes narrow; I've hit a nerve.
"You rich trash all have a foul mouth. You think you can hide behind your money now? This is war. You either tell me where he is, or I'll find another use for you. Lady or not, you're just a little girl."
I tremble, pushing myself further away. "You're a monster."
"You little bitch!" The man screams, and I can't help but cower down beneath him. I sink into myself, helpless and defeated with my hands bound behind my back. Broken and bleeding and useless. "Tell us where that bastard is!"
I look up at him through my tears. I grit my teeth and straighten my shoulders
"I will never let you have him," I spit. "You won't touch him!"
Before I realize, I'm kicked in the ribs and falling flat on my back. I feel the odd sensation of metal in my mouth- feel the blood begin to settle in my throat. I roll on my side to spit.
The man laughs; It must amuse him to see a defenseless woman bleed. I glare up at him.
"Such a shame," He says, "You were somethin'. Could've' made a pretty penny off you."
I panic, "The future king will look for me-!"
"Future king!" The man laughs loudly, patronizingly. I feel a chill creep down my spine as I flush red, caught in my lie. "The Grand Duke doesn't care for you a single bit, and everyone knows it. Why are you struggling? Give up now and tell me where he is. If you satisfy me, I might just let you go..."
I'm scared. I've never felt so frightened before- never been so horrified. I'm alone.
No one cares for me now.
I look up bitterly. "Arian will build a new Kingdom with someone else. He will be happier and stronger than ever before. And if you think for a moment that I would ever betray him...well, you might as well just kill me now."
But the man catches me off guard by laughing again. "Happier, huh? I don't suppose you mean with his new Fiance?"
I'm confused, I struggle through my tears. "Yes- he loves her. What does it matter!?"
"Don't you love him?"
I freeze, panic creeping around me. I can't breathe. Do I love him? I've been fighting for him- supporting him in everything. Do I love him? I miss him- even now, while I am so cold and alone- I can't help but miss his eyes, his voice. Do I love him?
"How...how I feel is meaningless," I say softly. "He will have a beautiful queen. And he will remake our beautiful empire. That is what matters."
The man sighs. "Very well. I suppose we'll just have to head East and meet him ourselves then."
I freeze. "Wait," I whisper, eyes darting up at him. "How would you have known he's going East? I haven't disclosed that information at all!"
The man smirks, and I shake my head, in fear of the worst. "We have our ways," He says.
"No- no, not many people know of his plan. His soldiers are loyal. They would never-"
My heart sinks. Slowly, the world spins around me and I realize now, how these awful men know of Arians whereabouts. It wasn't a soldier that betrayed him.
"Love is a careless thing," The man says, sly and sick. "It's a weakness. Even the most powerful man can turn blind to love."
My tears are endless from the horror.
"Ophelie used Arian!? But- But he loved her!"
He grins. "Love doesn't always go both ways. He loved a fiction."
"No!" I struggle against my shackles, but my bones are warped and broken, and I'm dizzy from the loss of blood. I sob uncontrollably, frightened and alone and tired. "What are you going to do to him!?" I scream again, "Don't touch him! Leave him-"
"With his death, the Délisaut Empire will be no more," He says. "And with yours, the noble families will end."