Chapter Text
The dim world draped against Shiho like a blanket, her steel sword plastered to its sheath while she sleuthed. Shiho always found the architecture distasteful when she had visited the royal abode, almost to the point of resentment.
Wind traced her every step, leaving Shiho frustrated as she endlessly navigated the expansively lavish labyrinth she brought herself into. From the daintily carved pillars to the stained glass portraits, it all seemed so wasteful when the city would sit in such dirty, pathetic housing.
No, there’s no time to fuss about the architecture, Shiho reminded herself. She had a mission to complete, one that if she failed would put her whole family into jeopardy.
Shiho’s heart welled in her chest like a flickering candle, her mind wandering towards the thousands of outcomes that could conspire. Not even Shizuku knew she was doing this. No, if she found out, it would ruin her.
Shiho snapped her eyes back onto her main goal, her body now manoeuvring through the shadows, her mind in a state of alertness. Guards would pass by at any moment – moments where her hesitation would lead her into faltering. She had not to falter. She had to keep moving, to keep thinking, to-
The sound of shallow footsteps wafted against her ears like that of a conch. Her breaths were thin as her head swerved, trying to find the mysterious location of the footsteps.
“You should be careful, princess,” Uttered an estranged tone, one that lusted with gentle vows, like the plucking strings of a harp. Yet, beneath the softness of the twanging melody sung by this person, there was grit – alarmingly anxious grit that caught Shiho off guard. The princess was here, but she wasn’t Shiho’s target. She was merely a thought to her plan, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a glimpse. Maybe if Shiho was careful, she could see the tyrant’s kin.
“-But I’m fine when you’re around,” Uttered the honeyed voice of the princess, who exuded with carefree excitement and naïve bliss. Just as I expected, Shiho deducted.
“Besides, you’re my friend!” The princess exclaimed. “And I trust you.”
A chuckle came from the person guarding the princess, who still seemed buried in doubt. Shiho clenched the hilt of their sword and squinted their eyes, hoping to catch a peek at the two of them. No risk, no reward.
Shiho began to take small paces towards the two of them, making sure to keep her weapon out of sight while moving. Stay calm, Shiho. Stay absolutely calm.
“You know, I always wondered why the white knights don’t like us,” Murmured the princess, almost in a daydreamy tone.
“Hm… I suppose it’s because we’re not like them.” Replied the person next to her, who seemed to be the princess’s sworn sword. It made the most sense in Shiho’s head, at least.
Yeah, cause all of you are prissy rich assholes, Shiho thought to herself. All of Imperia knew how much harm the royals had made to the commonfolk. From constructing lavish palaces to sacrificing residents, to even dividing people that thought differently… maybe if the royals realised all of this would they actually get recognition.
“No, I get that…” The princess pouted, her tone swaying into something melancholier. “…I just feel like, it’s my fault.”
“Why would it ever be like that? You’ve done everything for us. The white knights just see us as- as monsters.” The sworn sword choked out, almost recklessly so. It made Shiho’s blood boil that royalty had to have yes men everywhere that they went.
“Remember that day? When you told me that you wished for a day where-” The sworn sword began, but a sigh of dissonance exited the mouth of the princess.
“-Ichi, I’m not five. I just…” The princess swallowed, her tone gently breaking apart. Now, I can strike in, Shiho realised.
Without missing a beat, as the sworn sword focused on the princess, Shiho unsheathed her sword within the silent night, taking a look at the younger girl. The princess.
Princess Saki Tenma.
Shiho froze, seeing the younger girl that she once knew as royalty. The optimistic, star-loving younger girl that chose to stay within the gates of the royals. No wonder. Shiho’s shock turned to madness as she stepped into frame, keeping her steps silent, but even then… she wanted to make herself clear. She wanted people to know that she was the one that murdered the princess.
“I miss them too, princess.” Whispered the voice of the sworn sword. It was someone who Shiho didn’t know, yet oddly enough, she knew that she was talking about her.
Pathetic, Shiho reminded themselves. First, she realised Saki was princess, and now Saki’s sworn sword was talking about her?
Bubbles of fury arose inside the veins of Shiho, her breathing now noticeable as she arched up her sword. The indigo moonlight shimmered across the steel, the soft petals that had once belonged to the past now charred against every living whisper that dignified every action. You will forget her, Shiho reminded herself. She doesn’t deserve to live.
And with a solemn step and a furious swing, the princess was seconds from death.
“Shii… chan?” Whispered the princess, her last breaths filled with bewilderment as her life dwindled. Her blood spewed everywhere, pooling and rippling, tarnishing the carpet.
Shiho stepped back, watching the blood pool from the royal, yet she couldn’t bring herself to finish the job. She knew that there was a chance she could still live and that their efforts would then prove fruitless, but as Shiho’s blade sunk to her side, she just couldn’t.
“No!” Screeched the sworn sword, falling on one knee with a wave of grief. She unsheathed her sword and looked around, but Shiho had already turned her back from the princess.
“You- you are a monster!” Screamed the sworn sword, who rushed at Shiho with reckless abandon.
“Get Saki to safety, If you care so much.” Shiho muttered, meeting the guard’s furious swings with her own blade. Shiho’s job was done, in her eyes. She had sent the message she needed, after all.
“You…” Seethed the sworn sword, stumbling forward, attempting to grip them by the collar. Shiho remained unmoving, watching the madness unfold from the sworn sword, who desperately wanted vengeance.
“I said, go. Unless you want me dead more than you care for her.” Shiho elaborated further to get the point across, attempting to knock some sense into the grief-harboured zombie.
“Shiho…” Spat the sworn sword, wiping the blood off of her cheek. She turned back to Saki, her sword barely supporting her body weight.
“Do I know you?” Shiho replied, fully expecting her not to answer. It was silly that she was even indulging in such wasteful chatter.
“…” Snarled the sworn sword, who sheathed her weapon, scooping up Saki’s corpse with her bare hands. She didn’t care that blood now soaked her fingertips, only that Saki was still barely breathing.
“I will remember you, and hunt you down until you pay.” She growled, her words reverberating across the hallway.
“…” Shiho didn’t see much of any reason to respond. She got the memo, understood what was said, yet the person in front of them still wanted her to, for some odd reason.
Shiho sighed, turned away, and finally let the girl send Saki to some form of medical ward. Yet, she didn’t know why she wanted to let her go. Why she just let them pass, and didn’t cut the princess’s life short.
No, she shouldn’t be worrying about this. Not now, not ever. This was merely the past, painted in ash and blood. Shiho knew that she’d end up forgetting Saki, forgetting this moment, and forgetting any trace of the sworn sword. That was a good thing, after all. Then, she could simply return to the life she knew without feeling obligated to start a war.
Shiho sighed, steadied her heart, and finally left the palace, never to return there, either if Saki did die or not. And the sworn sword, would she forget her too?
Shiho sheathed her sword, and began marching her way back home before the dawn of a new day.