Stolen Heart (yandere! King x reader)

9. Delusions of Grandeur

Rather than the guest room you had previously stayed in, you woke up in a luxury suite that Caspian had prepared for you. The room was almost entirely grey, except for a few touches of rose gold on the pillows, curtains, and frames. The grey carpet was thick and soft, a luxury that you were still getting used to. On the right, your bed was the softest thing in the world, rivaled only by the clouds. On your left was a bookshelf that smelled simultaneously like old books and new books. The room was on the highest floor, making a beautiful view from the balcony. Although, you could not enjoy the balcony without seeing at least a few guards below. Both the base of the castle and the wall outside were always guarded. Besides ruining your view, and making it more difficult for you to sneak away, the guards had yet to cause any trouble.

Meanwhile, Caspian was becoming increasingly paranoid. He was convinced that the Thief was just biding their time--which you were. He often spent the day pouring over evidence and trying to figure out the Thief's identity. Because of this, Taciturn often carried out his highness' mundane tasks around the palace. Today, however, Taciturn had convinced Caspian to have a lesser-ranked servant carry out his work and rest outside. Echoes of the neighboring workplaces, guards, and messenger birds resonated through the air as they lounged beside the garden fountain. Taciturn turned the pages of a familiar purple-bound book beside his king.

"What are you reading?" Taciturn inquired while sharpening the tip of his pencil with a small plain blade. Caspian was tapping his foot in frustration.

"The list of prisoners that escaped the other day. Yet another problem that the accursed Thief has caused. What are you drawing?" He asked. Taciturn had been drawing a lot lately, aspiring scribbles that seemed oddly familiar, although Caspian could not tell why.

Taciturn stared at the eyes, which he just couldn't get to shine as they did in real life, "For the life of me, I cannot stop drawing that beautiful painter of yours. She has conquered my thoughts. Are you sure she is a commoner and not some sirenic enchantress?"

Caspian scoffed at the drawings, which covered nearly every page, "Don't be absurd. That looks nothing like (Y/n)."

"Jealous, are we?" Taciturn teased. The king looked up from his papers immediately.

"Why would I be jealous because of a drawing? That is ludicrous."

"If that is the case..." Taciturn stood up and cradled the book in his arms, "Enchanté, mademoiselle. Do you believe in love at first sight? Or should I walk by again?"

"Enough." Hissed Caspian, "Go tend to tonight's banquet. I need to think."

Taciturn smirked, but said nothing as he walked away.

You, on the other hand, had spent most of the day in your room. It was a beautiful room, but that was not your reason. When Caspian was around, none of the nobles dared to offend you. You were his most honored guest. But, when he was out of sight, the king's suitresses judged the way you dressed, the way you talked, the way you walked, everything. One of them, who you later discovered was named Lady Maria, noticed Caspian's affection for yourself and made no small point of copying everything about you: how you dressed, your hair and even the way you smiled. It was no less creepy that you had never met Lady Maria yet she acted to be your doppelganger. Princess Amity, one of Caspian's longest-standing suitors, was like honey and sugar whenever Caspian was around, and like putrid tar to everyone else. She made no small effort to place everyone else beneath her. The servants in the castle hated her, almost as much as they hated you--the lucky gold digger. The one who somehow stole that tyrant's heart. Everyone was questioning why someone as plain as you had the attention of his highness. Some -like Lady Tremaine- openly asked about it, in a very rude way. Tremaine reminded you of a former client, Cati Halliday. They both called you "peasant thing."