Not Who You’re Supposed To Be (Yandere! Revolutionary Servant POV x Captured Princess Y/N)
They took the nobles. Every last one. Most had tried desperately to escape. To blend in with the commoners, or to off themselves with dignity. Some slipped through, but in three days' time, the most important figures had been rounded up like hogs.
Ready to be slaughtered.
Among the first was the 12th princess. The attackers that burst to her room noted how calm she appeared, sitting on her chair with her favorite wine in hand. She'd given them a smile and told them they did a good job.
She was sent to the dungeons with the rest of her family.
Saber knew he shouldn't face her. What was done was done. She had served her purpose as his master, and now, he was free from her command. He was free.
And yet, he grimaced every time he passed the heavily guarded chambers to the underground. They beckoned him.
Only a day was left until the executions. They would be public and humiliating. The best show the country would ever get. And she would be a part of it.
He knew going down would be a mistake. He knew, as much as he denied it, that he'd regret it. That seeing her look at him after his betrayal... would be able to break him.
And still, that night, he ventured.
He used the guards' blindspots. This was a... private affair. He didn't want to explain this to the others. The dungeons creaked and wails prevailed. Heavy doors kept him from seeing their faces. But he had already memorized everyone's place, so he skipped to the end of a row. When he reached her cell, he was surprised by its stillness. Knowing her, she would have been one of the wailers. Her pampered lifestyle meant she'd get aches from the floor of her cell.
A thought targeted him, fast and quick.
What if she's sick? Already dead?
He fumbled with the lock, his initial fear was replaced with the anxiety to check. A swing of the door later, and his terror vanished.
She was standing, facing the outside on the small barred gutter with her head resting in her arms. She hummed as the door closed.
"Is that my little shadow?" She turned to look at him. She had expected him.
Knowing this made him feel conflicted.
Why wasn't she crying? Why did she look... content?
She wasn't being herself.
"You did it." She grinned. "You succeeded. I'm so proud of you!"
She came at him fast. He braced himself. Punches. Thrashing. A slap. Something would make contact, surely this would be her petty litte revenge but-
No.
An embrace.
It felt the same as others she had given him.
She hugged him completely, wholeheartedly nestled into his chest.
And she repeated herself.
"I'm so proud!"
He hated this outcome.
He pushed her. She stumbled but didn't fall.
"You... knew?"
"Of course!"
"How??"
She laughed. It was genuine and hearty, with a snort at the end.
"Saber... I've always known."
What the hell was she talking about.
"I... need you to explain."
She nodded. An explanation of everything was owed. A long one. She theatrically sat in the only bench available, and smoothed her dress.
"I am not a good person, Saber. You of all people know well my wickedness." She held a cheek with a hand. "I knew of the people suffering. I knew that I had the power to stop some of it. But... well, I'm lazy, Saber. I'm lazy and... It was easier not to. To believe that as the least favorite, I couldn't do a thing.... So I'd planned on living life quietly, sending prayers for the poor.
But then they gave me you."
She gazed at him. Met his eyes. They were warm and deep and welcoming. The same eyes as the day he had met her.
"You hated me. You hated everything about us, of course, but serving me especially... you directed it towards this foolish, stubborn princess. And you know what? I found you so admirable for that! You were a person who would change the world! And you'd make it so much better for everyone! So strong, so committed, so intelligent! Oh Saber! You're wonderful!"
Her grin brought him back to annoyance. There was an expression he finally recognized. The one he always felt was patronizing... but... perhaps it had never been. Her words...
Wait-
"So you knew about my plan to betray you? Did you recognize then... my disguise- those nights!"
His cheeks burned. The princess was hysterical.
"Saaabeeer, I knew, I knew! And I liked it. I always loved your touch, Saber. I was so happy too. You saved me from the anxiety of parties and people that I hate... I treasured those moments filled with passion..."
Both cheeks were in her hands now. Saber felt the need to explain himself.
"Those weren't supposed to happen... I had lost myself in the alcohol! I wouldn't have-"
"Oh. I know Saber. It's okay!" Her reassurance quieted him. "Your spite never went away. I'd never delude myself into thinking otherwise! You had a goal. It was just... the wine."
There was a pause. He couldn't look her in the eye.
The alcohol. He'd never drunk any, and... if she had known it was him, she may have been sober enough to know that too. But she was going along for him. He felt ashamed.
"I'm just a dumb princess."
He looked back up.
"I knew that's all I would be. But if I could help you... I thought, at least that'd be good for you. So, I played my part. I never paid attention in my classes. I let you do my homework for me. I made you memorize the secret passageways for dumb errands.... I blabbed about all the gossip I could gather at those stupid parties. And everything fell into place."
She shook a bit. He almost took a step towards her. He was getting distracted. Pieces were falling into place...
"You never once disappointed me. Or the people. You're a hero, Saber! You'll be legendary."
She got back up. He took a better look at her now. Her unkept hair. Her dress had torn and become dirty from sweeping the floor. Her eyes showed her lack of sleep, and the moon made her skin deathly.
But she was still the girl chained to him. She was still the girl with eyes that were glued to him, never out of malice but always out of love.
She had loved him.
She still loved him.
"Princess..."
"When will I be killed?"
His blood ran cold. Reality came flooding back..
"I heard the guards talking about an execution. But I never got the date... and it's been..." She looked to the wall. Three little notches had been made.
"Three days. When will the day be? How much longer will I have to stay here?"
Saber was back to feeling lost.
"I... I don't know."
He lied.
It would be tomorrow.
The princess crossed her arms. She blew out a breath like she always does when she's annoyed.
"Well, I hope it's soon. And I hope you can be the one to do it."
"Me?"
His voice almost cracked. Now she looked stunned.
"Of course you, you jerk! Don't tell me you weren't planning on doing me in yourself! With those eyes? With that built up grudge? I won't have it any other way! It has to be you!"
She got right up to his face. The usually warm eyes were cold. This was a demand. He hated when she did this.
But his usual defiance couldn't be mustered now for some reason...
He couldn't find any bite at all.
He felt his shoulders slump.
Killing her...
"Why are you so okay with this? Why did you let this happen?"
The flame of anger was welling up inside again.
"You could have stopped me. You could have- helped me! If I had known-"
She laughed again. "What do you mean? You hated me! You still hate me! Telling you I'm helping you would've only made you despise me more. Or it'd make you seem unreliable to the others on your side. We nobles are the enemy. Why would they trust in me?"
She shrugged.
"Theres no use in thinking about what could have been. What's done is done."
What's done is done.
"My fate would have been the same. For a better tomorrow with no future royal blood, we will all need to be killed."
No mercy was their rule.
Saber recalled the plan. The guillotine. The space made for the heads and bodies, each to be separated. And to be paraded around.
He couldn't help himself from reaching for her. Softly, he touched her neck.
"So, a beheading?" She had guessed.
It dawned on him how clever she actually was.
He had never noticed.
"Well," Her hand brushed over his. She held it firmly there and was back to meeting his eyes. "I'm glad you came to visit. And I hope you're getting everything you ever wanted."
How can she say such things without an ounce of malice?
He left her cell with her words in his heart. What is it that he wants? The moon was still high. The execution would be in the morning. Her place in line would be near the middle, with the lesser nobles.
She'd be surrounded by the people that mocked her. To die with those she hated.
The hand that touched her neck burned.
He could kill her now.
Surely that'd be preferable?
He imagined it. Squeezing her neck. Watching her eyes bulge. No longer would they smile.
He wanted to cut off his hand.
He can't.
He needed another plan.
He made his way to the servant quarters.
Tonight, he would be a villain.
~
(Doodles of this story found here!)
