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“Sir Avanzini, I heard your daughter was just made your squire.” King Godfrey congratulated.
The royal knight nodded, a hint of pride in his voice as he spoke.
“Yes, she has. She's progressing very fast, I'm sure in no time she'll kneel before you and be knighted as well.”
“In that case, I want to offer a position for her.”
“Of course my king, what position are you offering?”
“Lady Daniela.” A voice called, Dani stopped polishing her father’s armor and looked up to see the king’s royal messenger approaching her.
The young girl stood up quickly, dropping whatever irrelevant part she was polishing and ran to the messenger with urgency.
“Has something happened to my father?” She asked worriedly, a million different scenarios playing in her mind. The kingdom wasn’t at war currently so he shouldn’t be fighting any battles. But what if there was an attack at the castle? And her father was ambushed? What if he had been injured gravely or worse–
“No my lady, in fact the king has requested an audience with you.” The messenger reassured her, handing her the letter with the seal of the royal family. An official invitation to see the king face to face. Dani read it over and over again, like the words would change after the 100th time telling her this was actually a joke and if she came to the castle she would humiliate herself and her father. But they said the same, and so it meant that they were real. The invitation was real.
She was going to see the king.
“Your father tells me that you’ve just become his squire.” King Godfrey recalls as he waves over some of his royal attendants to serve them a drink as well as offer Dani something small to eat.
Dani accepts it, but has difficulty swallowing whatever she ate down due to her nerves and nearly chokes on her water. But she quickly composes herself, nodding.
“Yes, and it’s a great honor. I hope to make him proud and follow in his footsteps.” She manages to get out her voice only shaking at the end instead of the entire sentence. The king lets out an amused chuckle but makes no comment on her nervousness.
“Follow in his footsteps, huh? I could see that for you one day, becoming a great general just like him. Alongside me in my war room.”
Hearing that from the king himself gives Dani such a sense of accomplishment even though she hasn’t achieved anything. It also fills her with a sense of need, to not let him down.
“But unfortunately I don’t need another general for my war room.”
What?
“What?” Dani can’t help but blurt out.
“What I need.” Godfrey continues. “Is someone more important than a general. I have hundreds of men who can become generals, what I need you to become I will only have one of. And the task I will give you at hand is more important than leading any battalion in any war. Do you understand Lady Avanzini?”
Dani nods her head, too focused to say words. Too desperate to prove that she is exactly what the king requires. Godfrey stands up and motions for her to follow him deeper into the castle. They head into the east wing where the royal family’s rooms reside. Dani walks carefully, like every step she takes in this wing taints it. They stop in front of a giant door.
“This is my youngest’s room, but knowing her, she’ll also be in here.” Godfrey says, knocking on the door before opening it.
Dani pokes her head out behind the king and sees the inside of the room is decorated to appease a young princess. Most of the inside is a soft pink and the top of dressers uphold more dolls than Dani has seen in her lifetime. Inside the room are two girls, one who looks no older than ten and the other fifteen. Dani recognizes them as princess Yoonchae and crown princess Sophia.
“Sophia love, this is Lady Daniela from the house of Avanzini, she is the daughter of sir Avanzini and his squire. And when she is ready, she will be your personal knight.” Her father introduces.
Dani’s eyes widen for a moment before she regains her composure and bows down.
“It is an honor to meet you, your highness.” Dani says a bit too loudly, internally cringing.
Sophia and Yoonchae look over at each other before back at Dani and then back at each other. As if silently communicating whether or not they would give Dani a chance. They must come to a positive conclusion because Sophia nodded at Yoonchae and then turned her attention back to Dani giving her such a smile that, for a moment, Dani's heart stopped.
“It’s an honor to meet you too, Lady Daniela.”
~~~
They’re fighting a losing war, Dani knows this, she could have told King Godfrey that after the first year of the war. She had voiced her opinions to her fellow knights who waved her off. To them she was just crown princess Sophia’s glorified bodyguard and with her father gone there was no one who would force the council to listen to her.
And if power hungry egotistical old generals wanted to protect their pride more than the kingdom’s territories then so be it. Daniela would not waste another breath on such foolish men and do what she did best, protect Sophia. She would come to regret pulling away from the war table when Switzerland’s forces were right outside the castle.
The peace treaty was rather simple, the House of Bannerman– the rulers of Switzerland– would take three quarters of the territory they gained in the war as well as one other thing. Sophia would be taken back to Switzerland and be given to princess Manon Bannerman to be her wife.
There was an outrage at the table, King Godfrey’s voice louder than the rest as they argued such a condition, Dani stayed silent, it was not her place to speak. But she held Sophia’s hands as they argued the girl’s fate, squeezing it every now and then to remind her that amidst all this chaos Daniela was still here, right by her side.
“Why don’t you consider sending Manon to our kingdom?” Godfrey tried to compromise. “Where she’d become queen alongside Sophia once the time is right. Then you’d have a member of the house of Bannerman in the seat of the Philippines monarchy.” There were words of outrage from his own generals at suggesting such a thing, but this was not a king trying to do what was best for his country. This was a father trying to keep his daughter safe in any way he could.
Manon’s father– Dani never cared to learn his name, perhaps it was Zacharius– shook his head, a smug smile on his face.
“No, she comes with us.” And it is at that point they all realize that this is more than gaining power, it’s a way to humiliate Godfrey. His voice starts to rise again when Sophia raises her hand, silencing both parties.
“Then if we can’t make you change your mind. I agree to these terms.” Dani jerked her head towards Sophia. “On one condition.”
“Yes, your highness?” The king asked.
“My personal knight, Lady Daniela, gets to come with me.”
The king of Switzerland took one look over at Dani and nodded. “Of course your highness.”
“Then it’s settled, I will go with you to live in your kingdom and marry your second born, Manon.” Sophia declared, keeping her eyes trained to the wall in front of her instead of at anyone else’s, her grip on Dani’s hand deathly tight. Ignoring her father’s begs to reconsider, to come up with a different deal, to take him instead. The king of Switzerland watched with amusement at his groveling. But Sophia didn’t back down, at the moment she wasn’t a daughter whose entire life was about to be turned upside down. She was a princess making a great sacrifice for the sake of her country.
Whatever composure she held at the treaty meeting broke when it was time to say goodbye to Yoonchae. Upon hearing the news, she had thrown herself against Sophia, clinging on tightly and refusing to let go as she hid her face in Sophia’s shoulder to hide her soft cries. Sophia hugs her just as tightly, crying alongside her little sister. Dani watches from the front of the room right next to the closed door with a blank face. At least, she kept one for as long as she could, until Yoonchae turned her head so that she could look over at Dani and reach a hand out to her. As soon as the action was done Dani approached Yoonchae and Sophia kneeling down so she could join the hug. Ignoring the sniffles that left her as Yoonchae held onto the both of them tightly. The three stayed in that position before the door opened revealing king Godfrey along with servants who held Sophia’s and Daniela’s belongings. Next to him stood king Zacharius, looking rather unbothered by the fact that he was the reason two sisters were about to be separated.
“It is time for us to depart, have you said your goodbyes?” He asked like Sophia was going on a trip instead of her entire life being derailed.
“Give her a moment.” Dani hissed, while she would never use this tone for king Godfrey, she had no respect for king Zacharius.
“Daniela, manners.” Sophia scolded, giving her a warning look before turning her attention back to the king of Switzerland and nodding. “Yes, we’re ready, let’s go.” Sophia planted one last kiss on top of Yoonchae’s forehead before standing up to join the king, Dani began to stand up as well when yoonchae grabbed her arm.
“Protect her, please.” She begged. “Protect her just as you have all these years.”
Dani said nothing, only nodding, a silent promise to the princess' request. Upon reassurance, Yoonchae let go of Dani, watching as the knight joined Sophia alongside Zacharius. Dani tried to remember all the details of the girl’s room; how pink was still the main color theme, how she had replaced many of her dolls for countless books that held blank pages for her to sketch in. She tried to remember all the details of Yoonchae, how her and Sophia looked nearly identical despite having different mothers. How Yoonchae held herself up with so much composure in the public but let herself go when with Sophia and Dani, how the girl couldn’t keep up her mask because the enemy was stealing her older sister and no one was going to stop them.
“I love you Yoonchae.” Sophia said, desperately trying to keep her voice from cracking and stop the tears from flowing again, to remain brave for her little sister as her entire world crumbled from under her. “Remember that ok?”
Yoonchae nodded, too overwhelmed to speak and Sophia quickly turned away, following Zacharius and his men. Dani lingered a little longer before joining Sophia’s side, Yoonchae wasn't her little sister, but after years of staying by Sophia’s side Dani had come to feel as though she was. And she couldn’t help but feel heartbroken at the thought of never seeing her again. Upon making it back to Sophia’s side, the girl grips Dani’s hand so tightly it hurts, but Dani lets her. Because she knows that Sophia needs something to cling onto so that she doesn’t slip underneath the water and drown.
~~~
Dani and Sophia had met Manon before, when they were younger. It was during a time where Switzerland and the Philippines’ tension was still trying to be resolved diplomatically, a time when Sir Avanzini was still alive and Daniela’s role as the knight of crown princess Sophia was nothing more than a glorified companion. Sophia had often accompanied her father during meetings of diplomacy so that she could soak everything in when she eventually inherited the crown, and while Manon was not the crown princess of Switzerland, she also came along as her father commanded, sitting next to her older sister, a bored look on her face while she stared at Sophia and Dani. Dani turned her attention towards her own princess and found that Sophia was staring back at Manon with a sense of awe. Something ugly settled into her stomach.
“You know, I have the perfect solution to our kingdom’s disputes.” Manon says as Dani escorts the two princesses to the garden that Sophia loves so much, it rained yesterday, Manon’s dress is a soft yellow. She hoped the princess wouldn’t be too upset if some mud splashed on it.
“What’s your solution Manon?” Sophia asked and Dani rolled her eyes, she doubted that whatever Manon’s idea was actually a serious one. Manon stopped walking, taking Sophia’s hand into hers, bowing slightly as if she was trying to court her. “Me and you should get married when we’re older, to ensure peace between our kingdoms.”
Dani stops walking abruptly, jaw clenched as she turns around to face the princesses. Sophia's eyes are wide, cheeks flushed as Manon smiled at her. Dani itched to wipe it off, jealousy boiling over. Even though she had no right to be jealous, Dani was nothing more than Sophia’s personal knight.
Sophia, to Dani’s surprise, pulls her hand away to walk over to Dani, wrapping her hands around the girl’s arm.
“I’d have to decline, if I marry you then I can’t have my Dani.” Sophia chimed sweetly.
Her Dani. Those words ring in her ears like beautiful notes of the greatest song she’s ever heard. Daniela has been many things in her short time of living, lady Daniela of the house of Avanzini, the daughter of sir Avanzini, The royal knight of crown princess Sophia, and so much more. But Sophia’s Dani? That was the best title she could have ever received. She was Sophia’s Dani and Sophia was hers. She moved her hand upwards so that it could cover Sophia’s, a slightly smug smile on her face as she nodded at Manon as if to say “Yes, she’d choose me over you.”
Manon’s eyes trail over to their hands then look up at Sophia before landing on Dani. Instead of a shock or offended gaze, she looked amused. Like the notion of Dani amuses her in a way the knight didn’t understand. Manon takes one step forward, then another, and suddenly she’s right in front of Dani, pressing a kiss to the girl’s cheek. Confusing the hell out of her.
"I'm not picky.” She teases, grinning like she’s won their game of chess that Dani wasn’t aware they were playing “I’m actually quite greedy.”
Dani sputters and backs up, still keeping her grip on Sophia’s hand. Her face is burning hot, Sophia looks like she’s considering this and Manon’s smug grin is still plastered on her infuriatingly beautiful stupid face.
“You’re ridiculous! Just like your father!” Dani scoffs, turning around. “Let’s go to the garden!”
She leads the way, Sophia never letting go of her hand as they walked side by side. Dani hears Manon laugh as she closely trails behind and tries to ignore how beautiful she thinks it sounds.
~~~
“You’re highness, I wish we could have seen each other in different circumstances.” Manon says as she pulls Sophia into a gentle hug which Sophia easily melts into. Dani’s not jealous… Dani’s not jealous at all…
“Well, my dear Manon, I’m at least glad it’s you I’m to wed.” Sophia sighed, a resigned tone in her voice. Dani notices how Sophia’s eyes drift over to her and her jealousy simmers away. Of course, in a perfect life Sophia would have become the queen of the Philippines and made Dani her wife. In a perfect life.
“Come along, the three of you.” Dani turns to find Manon’s father behind them, when did he get there? Without Dani noticing? Has the turmoil of this entire situation caused her to lose her touch? “We have much to prepare for.”
~~~
“When I get married, what color should my dress be?”
Dani looks over at the princess, who is staring at the texts that should be studying but not reading them.
They are seventeen and nineteen at this point of life, Dani has taken a permanent residence in the castle so that she could dedicate her life to protecting the princess.
“Don’t brides wear white dresses?” Dani asks, the words tumbling out her mouth, she’s still not used to talking to Sophia despite years of closeness. Her face still flushes and her heart still beats wildly around the princess.
“Yes, but if I were to get married I would want to dress how I prefer, not how tradition tells me too.” Sophia answered, looking up at Dani with a smile and the poor knight’s heart stops. “Help me please.”
Dani thinks for a moment, recalling Sophia in different colored dresses from the past. Purple keeps appearing in her mind, she really likes when Sophia wears purple for some reason. Is that weird? She hopes not.
“Purple.” She says. “You look really beautiful in a soft purple.”
Sophia repeated the word softly to herself, considering it. She comes to a conclusion with a nod.
“Purple, I like it. What about you, my dear Dani?”
My dear Dani. Was the princess actively trying to kill her?
“I like blue, I think I’d wear blue.” She answered.
“Purple and blue do go together, don’t they?” Sophia asked.
“Your highness?”
“Don’t they?”
Dani nodded, “They do.”
~~~
“What do you think?” Sophia asks as she steps out the room wearing the 500th dress they wanted her to test out before the wedding.
Dani, for the entire affair, had only been quietly observing while standing guard at the door. But the woman who was helping Sophia with these dresses had stepped away for a moment and now Dani had a chance to speak.
“It’s not purple.” She says, and watches as the smile falls off of Sophia’s face.
“You’re right my dear Dani. It’s not purple.” She agrees, a tear slipping out from her eye and within an instant Dani is right in front of her, wiping it away.
Sophia leans into Dani’s touch, holding her hand so that it stays on her face. Dani whispers soft apologies to Sophia, apologies for everything even if such things were out of her control. And Sophia accepts them all, because why wouldn’t she? Daniela was hers, her dear Dani. She leans down to press a soft kiss to Dani’s lips, her own apology to Dani for everything that is out of her control. The door opens just as they pull away and Dani quickly moves away from Sophia, but the woman who was helping Sophia with the dresses narrows her eyes.
“Lady Daniela.” Dani hates how the woman says it with such animosity. “Why don’t you accompany Princess Manon?”
In other terms, stop kissing a soon to be married woman and get the fuck out of here.
“My duty is to protect the princess.” Dani responds. “I am to not leave her side.”
In other terms, fuck off.
“I think she’ll be okay for a few moments, go along now.” The woman orders, like Dani is a servant girl and not a knight of the Avanzini family.
Dani glances back at Sophia who gives her a nod that tells Dani to just listen this once.
“As you wish, your highness.” Dani says out loud before heading towards the direction she had seen Manon disappear to.
After a few moments of blindly wandering, she’s eventually led in the right direction by a groundskeeper who felt bad. Dani knocks on the door once and it opens to reveal Manon half dressed.
Dani quickly covers her eyes, spewing out apologies as Manon drags her inside, closing the door behind her.
“You are alright Dani.” Manon chuckles as she finishes putting on the dress her father had chosen for her wedding.
“My name is Daniela.” Dani corrects, opening her eyes once she’s sure it’s safe.
“Oh? I could have sworn it was Dani. either that or my dear Dani as Sophia calls you.” Manon teases before turning around. “Help me with the lace please.”
Dani walks forward, and begins gently tying up the dress as Manon requested.
“Only Sophia gets to call me that. And only people close to me may call me Dani.”
“Aw, are we not close? I remember when you once escorted me to your kingdom’s royal garden. I even kissed your cheek. Does that not make us close?” Manon joked.
“No.” Dani tried to ignore how Manon remembered that day as well as she did herself.
“A shame. I figured we would have been best friends afterwards.” Manon teased and Dani can’t help the flare of annoyance inside of her. Why couldn’t Manon take this seriously? Did she not understand what Sophia was giving up to be here, to be married to her?
“Could you be serious for once?”
“Unfortunately or fortunately, I cannot.”
“I mean it.”
“As do I, Dani.”
Something inside the poor knight snapped as she finished lacing up Manon’s dress and then pushed her away with a scoff.
“You’re ridiculous! I can’t believe Sophia has to spend her life with someone like you! Someone who has no idea what she had to give up for this!”
Manon stayed silent and Dani took this as a sign to continue.
“I'm prepared to lose my life for the princess. Who is prepared to lose the only home she's ever known to go be married to a brat like you.” Dani scowled, glaring at the girl. “What are you prepared to lose?”
Manon stared at her with an amused expression, like this entire conversation was beneath her. And maybe it was, maybe Manon had better things to do than indulge in the tantrum of a foreign knight.
“Everything.” She answered. “I'm prepared to lose everything.”
Her answer confuses Daniela, what did she mean by lose everything? It was not Manon who was taken from her home or forced to watch the one that she loves marry someone else.
“You’re an enigma, I’m going back to Sophia. I don’t care if your servants try to throw me out again.” She hisses, leaving the room.
The wedding goes on as planned, Sophia looks as beautiful as ever in her white dress. Not purple. Dani begrudgingly can admit that Manon looks beautiful in her own dress too. Not blue and worn by the wrong person.
She wants to look away when they kiss but can’t. Her eyes stay locked on them as they lean away and as Manon pulls back to press another kiss to Sophia’s cheek. Manon, not her. She can’t help but stare as Sophia giggles at Manon, not her. Sophia, who looks gorgeous in her white dress, not purple.
Dani feels sick to her stomach.
~~~
The door to the closet opens and Manon’s raspy voice fills the air, interrupting Dani’s soft cries.
“Sophia is looking for you, she’s worried.”
Dani looks up to find Manon staring down at her, her wedding dress has been replaced by a night gown. Her natural hair out freely, she looks beautiful Dani can’t help but think. A perfect bride for Sophia. Dani can’t help but sob harder.
Manon’s eyes widen and she crouches down wrapping her arms around the knight like it’s nothing.
“Oh Daniela.” She soothes, stroking the girl’s hair. “I’m so sorry.”
Dani would like to pretend to know that she has no idea why Manon is apologizing but she does, she does know. And it only causes her to continue her crying. Manon pulls Dani onto her lap and what a strange sight it must be for anyone to see had they stumbled onto them. The princess comforting a foreign knight on her lap. A knight who is supposed to be strong all the time reduced to ugly sobs followed by the occasional hiccup. But no one does, Dani’s vulnerability is not witnessed by anyone else. This moment belongs to her and Manon and only her and Manon. Once the sobs had subsided Dani pushed herself off of Manon, standing up. Manon followed in suit. A wave of shame hit her at such weakness displayed, this was unbecoming as a knight.
“I apologize for my behavior.” Dani quickly says, trying to brush off the moment but Manon only looks at her softly, standing up herself and pressing a kiss to the girl’s forehead. So tender Dani wonders for a moment if Manon’s lips even touched her forehead in the first place.
“You deserve more than what you were given. Come now, Sophia is waiting.” Manon coaxes, taking Dani’s calloused hand into her own smooth one.
Dani doesn’t have the strength to pull away, letting Manon lead her back to her room where the princess, her princess, was waiting.
Sophia immediately stood up and wrapped her arms around Dani upon noticing the girl’s drying tears, to which Dani immediately reciprocated.
“What’s wrong my dear Dani?” She asked softly and Dani shook her head, her laughter full of sorrow.
“It’s stupid, it’s just.” She trailed off for a moment. “Your dress wasn’t purple.”
Instant understanding filled Sophia’s face and her own tears started to form.
“Yeah.” She agreed quietly. “It wasn’t purple.”
The two stood in each other’s embrace before Dani suddenly remembered that there was a third in the room. She quickly cleared her throat and removed herself from Sophia.
“I apologize for asking you this so late, your highness, but I fear the servants never showed me to my room.” Dani coughed out, avoiding Manon’s gaze.
If Manon was bothered by the intimacy that Dani showed towards her newly wed wife, she said nothing of it. In fact she even looked amused.
“I told them you would be sharing Sophia and my room, just in case of any threats. My room and bed are big enough to hold three people after all. Dani raised an eyebrow but made no move to protest as she was handed a pair of sleeping clothes. After getting changed she quickly joined Manon and Sophia who had already retreated to the bed. Sophia squashed in between the middle of them. And while she faced Daniela, Manon’s arm was thrown around her waist like it belonged there, like it always had. Dani kept her limbs stiffly to herself.
“Goodnight my dearest Dani.” Sophia whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of the girl’s head. How spoiled she is tonight, getting a kiss from both Manon and Sophia in one night. She mumbles a soft goodnight and ignores whatever blooms in her chest.
The next morning Dani wakes up earlier than her princess and her princess’s wife. Somewhere in the night the two had become tangled together, jealousy fills Dani. A burning feeling in her chest, she pushes it down alongside whatever she felt when Manon had comforted her yesterday. That was a moment of weakness that couldn’t happen again.
It’s early in the morning and most of the castle still seems to be asleep, Dani uses this as the perfect opportunity to do her own little patrol of the perimeters. Switzerland, though smaller than the Philippines, was significantly richer than Dani’s former home. Not to mention guards around just about every place Dani would consider someone trying to sneak in. Some gave her nods of acknowledgement while most ignored her. It was a new and strange feeling to Daniela, to not have the weight of her family’s name on her back here. She would be lying if she said she hated it.
When her mother died her father had thrown her into training, dead set on turning her into a knight just like him whether she wanted to or not, then when he died the burden of upholding the reputation that was the Avanzini name fell onto her.
But now she is here in Switzerland. She had no other family besides her parents, which meant the house of Avanzini was no more. Nothing but a distant memory that truly died alongside her father, because Dani had no desire to find a husband and create an heir. No, all she has wanted was to stay by her princess’s side since she was assigned such a role.
Speaking of her princess, Dani should return to her. What knight would she be if something had happened and she wasn’t by Sophia’s side to protect her?
Dani entered the room to find Sophia and Manon awake, Sophia assisting Manon with her hair. Such a domestic moment that Dani can’t help but feel like she was intruding.
“Good morning my dear Dani!” Manon greeted warmly, and Dani should hate that Manon is saying those words when they should only be coming out of Sophia’s mouth. But she doesn’t for some reason.
“Good morning, the perimeter is secure, I admire how much thought your father puts into safety.” Dani reported.
“Yes, my father is a paranoid man. You will find that if you ever need a job in Switzerland,his majesty is always hiring more guards." Manon joked and Sophia chuckled at it.
And while Dani didn’t find anything particularly funny, it was always nice to hear her princess laugh and draw out a smile from Dani.
“So, what’s the plan for today, your highness?”
For some reason, Dani had imagined that since Manon was not the crown princess, the spare to many, she would spend her day to day life in leisure. She was wrong. She shouldn’t be as surprised as she is. Dani has seen Yoonchae be the face of public events a million times as Sophia was tutored to inherit the crown. Perhaps it’s because she never could envision Manon actually doing work.
But here the princess stood at this gala, engaging with diplomats from around the world, charming them with her smile to ensure trade deals for her kingdom. Introducing Sophia to them as her wife.
Her wife, Manon’s wife.
“And this is our beloved knight, Daniela Avanzini.’ she would always say right afterwards.
Our beloved knight. Not my, not her, our. Dani didn’t understand Manon, how quick she was to assume that Dani was also hers and not just Sophia’s. But she also never made any move in correcting her. Never pulls her hand away when Manon’s own wraps around it.
The gala continues without a hiccup, Manon charming their foreign visitors into trade deals and ending petty disputes before they could escalate into something worse. And while Dani could appreciate and show some respect for the princess's diplomatic skill, she also couldn't help but wonder that had the three of them been older, or had the tension between Sophia’s and Manon’s kingdom not boiled over as fast as it did, could Manon have been able to prevent it? Could she and Sophia have stayed home? She did not want to think about the possibilities.
Dani looked up to try and locate her princess, a huge mistake on her part because when she did lay eyes on Sophia she was met with the sight of Manon pressing her lips against Sophia’s cheek that was practically right on the corner of her lips. Followed by Sophia smiling brightly.
Dani quickly looked away. Fuck, why did she have to see that? Why did she have to be reminded that Sophia wasn’t hers to love anymore? And that Sophia didn’t mind being loved by Manon, actively enjoying it even? It wasn’t fair. Why did Dani ever have to meet Sophia in the first place? Why did Dani fall in love so hard?
“You look troubled.”
Dani flinched and turned around to find a young princess staring down at her with an amused glint. It took her a minute before she recognized the girl.
“Megan!” Dani sighed, allowing Megan to pull her in for a hug. “It’s been forever since I saw you!”
“Only a few months. But I'm sure it has been a long few months for you.”
“You have no idea.” Dani groaned.
“Tell me about it?”
“Sure, let's find somewhere to sit.”
Dani and Megan sat in silence after a good half an hour of catching up, that was more so Dani telling the young princess her heartbreak whenever she saw Manon and Sophia together.
“I'm sorry Dani, I can only imagine how much hurt you are currently enduring.” Megan said, offering Dani her hand. Dani took it and let out a sigh she didn't know she was holding.
“Thank you, your highness. But enough about me, tell me. Have you been to visit Yoonchae yet? Before the war took a bad turn I know she was moping around because she missed you.” She teased, nudging Megan.
Megan blushed and nodded happily, a smile forming on her face.
“Actually, after this gala me and Tyler will depart to the Philippines to go see her.” She said excitedly.
“Just her?” Dani questioned.
“No, actually it's for diplomatic reasons but I'm going straight to her the moment we arrive.”
“Oh? What diplomatic reasons?” Dani asked but before Megan could answer her Sophia popped into their hiding place, along with Manon.
“There you are! You know, for Sophia’s personal knight, you sure do love to hide.” Manon teased and Dani rolled her eyes at her.
“Megan!” Sophia exclaimed, hugging the girl tightly. “It’s so good to see you!”
The two catch up while Manon inches closer to Dani, something’s changed in her demeanor since discovering the young knight crying last night. She still rips jokes to annoy Dani but she also softly awaits the girl’s reaction and doesn't push as much as before. Dani doesn’t know whether she likes it or not.
“Are you alright?” She asks softly while Sophia and Megan catch up.
Dani considers telling her yes and leaving it at that but knows that Manon wouldn’t take that as a proper answer. Plus, the genuine concern in Manon’s voice makes her want to tell her the truth.
“No, but I’ll live.” She shrugged.
“It’s ok to not be ok, Dani. The love of your life was stolen from you. And now you are forced to see it everyday.” Manon tells her.
Dani stays quiet, letting the words hit her. Letting the truth of them wash over her. Manon was right, but this was for the good of their kingdoms, and Sophia wasn’t stuck with someone that would hurt her. So in the long scheme of it all, Daniela’s feelings didn’t matter. She felt Manon place her hand on her shoulder.
“Yes they do.” She said, “You’re inside thoughts are very loud.” She teased when Dani looked shocked.
Manon’s hand slid from Dani’s shoulder to hers, leading her back to the party with Megan and Sophia following close by.
“Come on now, it’s almost time for the dance.”
“Dance?” Dani asked.
“Yes! We host a dance with every gala we have. Don’t tell me you can’t dance dear Dani?”
Dani scoffed before handing Manon over to Sophia so that the two could dance together while she watched. The music being played was fast paced and lively, one you’d play for a festival instead of a royal gala. It was oddly nice, watching the royals here dance in a relaxed manner.
“Dance with us Dani!” Manon projects her voice louder than the lively music playing as she spins around in a circle with Sophia, whose face is flushed from dancing and laughing so much.
It’s not like Dani can’t dance, Dani can dance. Better than anyone in this entire kingdom she bets. But she hasn’t danced ever since her mother died and her father made her pick up the sword. She shyly shakes her head, half expecting Manon to roll her eyes or scoff. But instead the girl gives her a soft smile, taking both of her hands into her own.
“You know, my kingdom loves dancing because we believe that the souls of the fallen dance alongside us. Dance with us Dani, and perhaps your mother will stop by to dance too.” She coaxes with such gentleness that Dani doesn’t even notice when Manon has pulled her towards the floor and placed Dani’s left hand into Sophia’s while holding on to her right.
The princesses return to their spinning with their beloved knight hand in hand. It isn’t dancing, at least not the dancing Daniela was taught. But for a moment it was like she could feel someone else holding onto her hands, spinning alongside her. Someone that she hadn’t felt in a long time. And the smile that escapes the young knight is so bright, Manon and Sophia can’t help but mirror it.
~~~
After that moment, Dani decides to give Manon a chance. She tells Manon good morning when she wakes up. Helps her along with Sophia to get ready for the day. Offer replies when Manon asks for advice on what to wear for the day or what to eat for lunch, and even political advice on which trade deal Manon should go with. And in return Manon’s jokes aim to actually make Dani laugh more than make fun of her. As well as making sure that Dani was included in everything she and Sophia did.
“I’m glad you and Manon are getting along.” Sophia said one night.
She was laying on their shared bed while Dani sat on the floor next to it as she read, watching Dani. Dani turned her head to look at Sophia. Who was wearing a lazy smile and a look full of love, Dani’s heart sped.
“Yeah, Manon’s not too bad I guess.” Dani shrugged, smiling when Sophia snorted and rolled her eyes.
“Manon’s wonderful if you actually get to know her.” Sophia reasoned, defending her wife.
“I’ll be the judge of that.” Dani replied. “Not more wonderful than me, right?” She asked, suddenly self conscious.
Sophia shook her head, cupping Dani’s cheek with her hand.
“No one’s more wonderful than you.” She reassured before pulling Dani into a kiss.
Dani happily returned the kiss back, her own hand running through Sophia’s hair. She missed this, missed kissing Sophia, missed being the one who held her attention the most. This was what she needed the most, Sophia’s love and the feeling of her lips. Nothing could ruin this.
The door opened, and in walked Manon. Eyes widening at the sight, the three froze. Dani and Sophia’s eyes on Manon’s and Manon’s on them. She quickly turned around and left the room without saying anything, closing the door behind her.
“Oh fuck.’’ Sophia mumbled before getting up to go chase after her wife.
Dani sat there, before slowly standing up. What the fuck was wrong with her? Sophia was married? Why did she kiss her? Why did she fuck up a marriage that was supposed to bring peace between two kingdoms? What was wrong with her?
She headed towards the door only for Sophia to enter the room again, shaking her head.
“I can’t find her.” She says, “I have no idea where she went.”
“I’m sorry.” Dani immediately apologized. “I ruined your marriage, I ruined the treaty. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have kissed you.”
“I kissed you first.” Sophia sighed, pulling Dani into a hug. “You didn’t ruin anything, it wasn’t your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have kissed you back. I just couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize Dani.” Sophia reassured her. “Come, let’s go to bed. We’ll figure it out in the morning.”
Dani nodded, letting herself be led to bed, holding onto Sophia tightly as if afraid that they’d be torn away in their sleep.
When they woke up the next morning still together and not yet thrown into the dungeons much to Dani’s relief, Manon was still nowhere to be found when they tried searching the places Manon loved to be in. Eventually they saw her again when it was time for Sophia and Dani to join the royal family at lunch. Manon was there, sitting next to Lena instead of next to Sophia. But before doing so, she planted a kiss on Sophia’s cheek to make it seem like there was no ill intent for this choice. Sophia and Dani shared a look before sitting down. Manon hadn’t revealed Sophia’s infidelity to her family, in fact besides the ignoring of Sophia and Dani which she hid by talking to her sister one would not notice that something had happened. Manon was covering for them, and Dani couldn't believe it. After lunch she tried to talk to Manon but the princess was nothing but successful in avoiding both her and Sophia, whether that be attending to her political duties or just straight up hiding from the two.
“Do you think she’s mad?” Dani asked one night while she and Sophia cuddled in their shared bed which was truly Manon’s bed in Manon’s room. But once again Manon had disappeared for the night, like had had every night since she saw them kissing two weeks ago.
“No, she doesn’t look mad whenever we accidentally look at each other during meals or when I need to accompany her for public appearances.” Sophia replied, burying her face into Dani’s shoulder. “She just looks sad.”
The next day Dani made sure to not let Manon out of her sight during a meeting and when Manon tried to sneak off to be alone she followed in suit. Which lead to the two of them ending up in Manon’s room for painting, Manon was aware of Dani’s presence but said nothing as she sat down to continue working on one of her projects, a painting of a knight laying in a field of grass. Something bubbled in Dani’s chest at the sight of it.
“I’m sorry, for kissing Sophia.” Dani blurted out, manon’s hand stilled for a second before she went back to painting.
“Don’t be, Sophia is the love of your life.” Manon mumbled. “I knew watching us be married hurt you.”
“And I saw how me kissing her hurt you too.” Dani replied.
“It really shouldn’t hurt me. It’s stupid of me to feel that way, after all you're the one she loves." Manon chuckled dryly. But Dani could hear what she tried to hide.
Manon had once told Dani that she was prepared to lose everything by agreeing to this political marriage. Was this what she meant? A chance for Sophia to actually fall in love with her, and reciprocate Manon’s own feelings? A marriage formed from love instead of duty? Was this Manon’s everything? Suddenly, Dani understood. Because Sophia’s love was her everything. How could she have not understood Manon’s words before?
“You’re not subtle, I know you’ve liked her since we were young.” Dani pointed out.
“Don’t call me out, lady Avanzini.” Manon laughed.
Lady Avanzini, she hated Manon calling her that.
“I thought you preferred ‘dearest Dani’?” she questioned.
“I do, but isn’t that name only reserved for Sophia?” Manon questioned back.
“No, I was wrong. It is reserved for Sophia and Manon.”
Manon set down the brush, looking over at Dani. Dani smiled at her.
“You know, Sophia thinks you’re wonderful. Has thought so ever since we met you as children. Your feelings for her are not one sided.”
Manon looked down at the floor, letting Dani’s words wash over her.
“And what about my feelings for you?” She asked, looking back up at the knight.
“Well, let’s just say that as much as I hate to admit it.” Dani groaned. “I think you’re wonderful too.”
Manon smiled before gesturing her closer.
“Would you like to see what I’m working on?” She asked, Dani nodded and pulled up a stool so she could sit next to manon and listened intently as the princess explained the painting.
“So, are we ok?” Sophia asked once she saw Dani and manon returning to their room at the same time. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two nervously.
Dani gave her a reassuring smile while Manon stepped forward to give Sophia an apologetic kiss on the lips. And for once, jealousy did not plague Daniela at the sight.
“Yes, I’m sorry for ignoring you and Dani.” Manon said, placing another kiss on Sophia’s cheek.
“I understand why you did” Sophia replied, accepting her apology. “Besides, I'm sure you can make it up to me and our dearest Dani, can’t she Dani?” Sophia asked, her fingers trailing up and down Manon’s side.
Dani, getting the message, smiled and walked over towards the two, her own hands settling on Manon’s waist.
“Of course she can.”
~~~
Daniela believes she’s come to enjoy living in Switzerland. At first she was greatly opposed to it, because the circumstances were terrible. Sophia being married off as a tool for peace between two wars. But now after nearly a year since that dreadful day, her opinion has greatly changed.
It’s because of me.” Manon brags when she says this to her and Sophia. “Admit it, I was too beautiful for you to resist me.”
“Yeah it’s because you were so annoying I had to start loving you just to shut you up, actually.” Dani yawns and quickly dodges a pillow sent her way by Manon.
“Children, children settle down.” Sophia giggled as she opened up a letter sent to her by Megan, silently reading it. Her face going from happy to shocked in a manner of a few seconds.
“What’s wrong?” Dani asked, instantly on edge because of Sophia’s expression.
“I’ve been formally invited to come to Singapore.” Sophia explained.
“What? Why?” Manon asked.
“Yoonchae is getting married to Megan.”
“I’m confused, if Yoonchae and Megan were getting married. Wouldn’t Megan move to the Philippines since Yoonchae is the crown princess and not the other way around?” Dani inquired.
They were less than twenty minutes away from arriving at Megan’s castle, the three of them sitting in a carriage while a few guards rode horseback. Daniela had wanted to lead the guards but was stopped by Sophia and Manon because they wanted her by their side in the carriage. Still she wore her armor as well as had her sword on her.
“I’m not sure, it doesn’t make much sense to me.” Sophia wondered.
“Maybe it’s because she’d be able to see you more if she was the princess of Singapore?” Manon offered.
The three of them considered this possibility, while Switzerland and the Philippines were considered peaceful to each other on paper,there was still unspoken tension between the two. Sophia herself wasn’t even allowed to return back for both diplomatic missions or to just visit her little sister. All visits in the last year were made by Yoonchae due to this. And even then those were scarce just because of the kingdom’s fear that Switzerland would try and steal their second princess from them like they did Sophia.
“But then wouldn't the letter specify that Yoonchae was only in Singapore for this meet up then? It calls her a princess of Singapore. She’s living there now.” Dani countered.
“Wouldn’t that leave the Philippines with no heir to the throne then?” Manon asked.
“Yes.” Sophia said, swallowing thickly. “It would.”
The three sat in silence at the revelation, agreeing that they would get there answers from Yoonchae once they made it to the castle.
“Sophia!” Yoonchae called out.
“Yoonchae! You get taller everytime I see you!” Sophia laughed as she hugged her little sister tightly.
Yoonchae smiled. “Father said the same thing before I left.”
Sophia perked up.
“Speaking of father, why did he agree to you leaving the Philippines for Singapore? That leaves the kingdom with no heir. Unless he had another kid in the time I was gone?”
Despite her attempt to make a joke, neither sister were laughing. Yoonchae shook her head.
“No, actually he’s going to abdicate his title soon, there will be no more monarchy for the Philippines.” Yoonchae says.
Sophia’s eyes widened at the news, urging Yoonchae to tell her more on this matter.
“Father felt as though he failed the country after you had to leave. The war dragged on longer than it should have due to following generals who were more focused on their pride than the wellbeing of the country. So when Megan visited, asking for Yoonchae’s hand in marriage, their father had decided that the monarchy and its system needed to go. And that he would create a republic to run the country and then give up his title.
“Most of the people were for it. The only ones who truly had opposed it were the generals and advisors who were going to lose their status and political power.” Yoonchae finished catching Sophia up, watching her older sister process this information.
“It’s hard to wrap my head around, the monarchy has existed for hundreds of years. But if father thinks that’s truly what’s best for our people then I don’t oppose it.”
“I had a feeling you would say that.” Yoonchae nodded.
“Well enough about politics. So, Megan and you are getting married?” Sophia asked, grinning when Yoonchae blushed.
“Yeah, I was surprised when she said that was her reason to visit.” Yoonchae smiled.
“No you weren’t.” Sophia called out, to which Yoonchae grinned.
“No I wasn’t, I was waiting for her to do that for a while. I said finally when she asked for my hand.” She admitted.
“I thought so.” Sophia laughed, nudging her sister. “When are you getting married?”
“This summer.”
“Oh?” Manon asked, suddenly appearing, Daniela right beside her. “It better not be in June, I don’t want my birthday over shadowed.”
“It won’t be in June.” Yoonchae promised. “We were thinking maybe in August.”
“Perfect, that means Dani’s birthday won’t be overshadowed either.” Manon smirked and Dani rolled her eyes but wore a fond smile.
“Well of course, we wouldn’t want to ruin Dani’s month.” Megan teased, joining the crowd, sitting right next to Yoonchae, interlocking their hands.
“Well if it isn’t my second favorite sister in law.” Sophia remarked.
“Second?!” Megan asked, offended to which Sophia shrugged.
“What can I say, I really like Lena.” She said in a deadpan tone, causing the others to laugh.
“I’ll change that soon, don’t worry.” Megan promised.
“I’ll enjoy seeing you try.” Sophia smirked. “Yoonchae come on, we have to go pick out the perfect dress for you.”
~~~
“That was a pleasant visit.” Manon commented as they rode back home in the carriage.
“It was.” Sophia nodded, she had been wearing a smile the entire time. “I hadn’t realized how much I missed Yoonchae.”
“Well, with her being Singapore’s princess now, you should be able to visit her much more.” Dani commented.
Sophia nodded. “I still can’t believe my father’s eradicating the monarchy.”
“It’s what’s best for the country, truly.”
“I know, still I hope such a decision doesn’t cause any problems.”
Before anyone could say anything else the carriage stopped abruptly, and the three could hear shouting from the guards. Dani quickly shielded Manon and Sophia with her body as she kept her hand on her sword, watching the entrance of the carriage.
The door was ripped open and someone grabbed Dani, pulling her out of the carriage and onto the floor, attempting to stab her chest with their sword after successfully removing her chestplate. Sophia and manon both screamed her name and Dani quickly rolled away before the weapon made contact with her, getting up and striking the man down. “Stay here!” She ordered Sophia and Manon before closing up the carriage and joining the guards to aid them in their surprise assault.
“What’s going on?!” She asked one guard after tackling an assailant off of him.
“These men wear the uniform of the Philippines military, they’re after the princess.” The guard explained as the two of them fought off more of their attackers long with the other guards,
Dani’s eyes widened, Manon was in danger. “I’m going to lead the princesses to safety, I need two guards to come with us while the rest hold them off.
“Of course lady Daniela.” the guard replied, he gave these orders to his men and him along with another followed Dani back to the carriage.
“We have to go, Manon is in danger.” She explained, quickly helping the two out of the carriage and onto the back of a horse.
“What’s going on, who’s attacking us?” Sophia asked when they created a bit of distance.
“The Philippines though I don’t think it’s your father.” Dani answered.
“It’s probably one of the generals.” Manon offered. “If they somehow convince my father that yours ordered them to kill me as revenge for our marriage then that restarts the war, which stops your father from changing the system.”
The sound of an arrow whizzes past Dani and lodges itself into Sophia’s side, causing her to fall off the horse with a yell. Dani quickly stops her own horse and joins her side, Manon in suit. The two guards start to do the same before Manon stops them.
“No! Return home and warn my father, we can’t let this war restart!” She orders.
Both guards nod before riding off. Dani unsheathes her sword and finds herself fighting off two soldiers while trying to keep an injured Sophia and disoriented Manon safe. Manon helps Sophia back up to her feet and onto the horse when another attacker appears from nowhere, using the metal handle to hit her head hard. So hard that it bleeds as Manon crumples to the floor.
“Manon! Sophia!” Dani calls out, turning her attention towards them. A fatal mistake on her end because it allows her attacker to stab her stomach with his sword.
Dani immediately coughs up blood as he pulls out his sword, falling to the ground as well.
“Come on, we can finish them off after we kill the guards!” Their leader exclaims.
But Dani’s not out of the fight yet. She swings her sword, badly cutting the leg of one soldier before getting up and stabbing the second one, who was too shocked to notice. And when the leader tried to get away she picked up the bow used to attack Sophia as well as an arrow, shooting him in the back, watching his body fall off his horse before dropping the bow.
“Sophia. Manon.” She wheezed, spitting up more blood as she limped towards them.
Sophia helped Manon up and the two of them met Dani halfway. Their horses were long gone, spooked from the fight, so they would have to travel on foot.
“Does anyone know where the closest village is?” Dani asked.
“There’s one a few miles north. Beyond the fields.” Manon replied, and Dani nodded.
“We have to hurry then.”
~~~
“Dani, you need to rest.” Sophia gasped out, every breath more painful than the last as she clutched her bleeding side, “You’re exhausted.”
The truth was they were all exhausted, Manon and Sophia were on either side of Dani being held up by her. Though it was more of a group effort between all of them to keep each other walking. They were each other’s lifeboats and they were all sinking faster than they could throw out the water.
“No, I can’t, not until I finish my duty.” Dani joked which was followed by a cough filled with blood.
“You have finished your duty.” Manon says, voice slurred and head drooping as blood ran down it. “Our kingdoms will learn the truth, you saved them another meaningless war. Let’s rest, just for a minute.”
The words seemed to calm Dani out of her need to fulfill, she reluctantly nodded slowly lowering herself and the others to the ground.
“You’re right.” She mumbled as she laid her head on the grass, which has never felt softer before in her life. Sophia and Manon lay on each of her side, holding her as tightly as she held them. “Just for a few minutes.”
The three laid there in a blissful silence as they slowly passed away, the pain subsiding into nothingness as the sun shined down on them. It’s peaceful in a tragic way, Dani thinks back to Manon’s painting of the knight laying in the field and thinks it fits them perfectly. She tries to speak but finds that her tongue is too heavy. And for some reason it doesn’t bother her, she wonders if Sophia and Manon are experiencing the same troubles too. And if they are as unbothered as she is.
She’s not sure who slips first, or maybe they all slip at the same time. She just knows when she reopens her eyes she’s no longer in the field, just that she’s surrounded by darkness that drowns her. Dani tries to speak, tries to scream, but she can’t. So instead she reaches both of her hands out, and is met with the hands of two women who no longer held the heavy title of princesses, just as she no longer held the heavy title of a knight. Light spills into the darkness brighter than a million suns and Dani is home.
~~~
What should have been the happiest time of Yoonchae;s life was filled with grief. Grief for her sister both blood and in laws. The news of Sophia’s murder along with Manon's and Dani’s hit her like a knife to the chest. And yet her heart was still beating. She kept on living, her sisters had not.
She mourned, she mourned deeply for their deaths and for the losses of the people most precious to her. And for a while,Yoonchae was convinced that she would never feel anything else but grief.
But she was wrong because Megan was there, by her side the entire time. And she stood by Yoonchae’s side until the pain was no longer unbearable, until the grief didn't suffocate her anymore, until she was able to feel more than just sorrow.
Now it was August, and she could officially call Megan her wife. And she felt nothing but happiness while the two of them danced, her mind focused only on Megan and the giant smile on her face that she gave Yoonchae, who was without a doubt returning it to Megan.
Three souls, invisible to the living, watch the newly wed couple dance. The brightest soul holding the most fondest gaze.
Shall we join them? One asks and the other two nod without hesitation.
Why not? I never say no to a dance. Another replies and for a short moment, Yoonchae feels as though she is dancing not only with Megan but as well as the sisters she lost.