Twisted Wonderland x Kny ~ Princess of the Sun and Moon Special Edition

Special Chapter: Swear By the Pirates' Code! pt. 7

Dark waves crash against the wood of the ship, their sound doing nothing to ease the tension all around.

Conard: Where is your so-called hero now!?

RSA Student: He'll come! Just you wait!

With his goading done Conrad struts back to the wheel of the ship. Tink comes behind him, leaning in to whisper.

Tink: ... Do you think this'll work?

Conard: Of course. With a scenario as perfect as this, our main lead has no choice but to appear. He might have evaded us before, but his ego will do the work for us here.

Tink: At least someone is having fun

Both turn to look at the side of the ship, where among the rails two pair of golden eyes lurk in the darkness. One of the tied boys is looking intently in the same direction, practically jumping out of his skin at the low growl from the beast.

Krok: –Boo!

RSA Student: AAAH! W-w-we're not scared of you!

t's just a dumb game, but Rose still feels bad for the boys next to her being so scared of this so called beast. Even Grim is shaken up. Poor dears. She can see Krok laughing as he lowers himself back to sea level.

Conard: Maybe we ought to speed things up. Bring out our honored guest everyone!

Rose: !

Grim: HEY! GET YOUR HANDS OFF HER! I'LL BURN YOU TO A-HMPH!

Conard: Gag that pest already! Do I have to tell you rats how to do everything!?

In one swift motion, Conrad rams a cloth onto Grim's mouth before partly untying Rose from the mast. The rest of the crew have their wands at the ready, making sure none of the younger students see this as a chance to break free.

Rose: What are you doing!?

Conard: Making you walk the plank dear. That is, unless a hero come- hey, hey, stop struggling, you'll only make the rope dig into your skin.

The Captain sighs. All of Rose's kicks miss him completely, her struggling does little to loosen the rope around her wrist until Conrad shoves her to the plank.

RSA Student: N-no way, he's really going to do it-!!

RSA Student: Run!! Kick him!!

Rose: ...

The ocean below is dark as night, seeming to have no end. The horizon has long since fused with the sky, adding to the appearance of an abyss. As she stands up in the wobbly plank, Rose spares a glance back. The warm lights of the torches, the salty breeze, and a bunch of children making noise. The truth of the situation hits her, as she calmly walks to the very tip of the plank.

Conard: And there she goes! Confronting her fate with her head held high!! Oh, it's enough to bring a tear to my eye. What a brave princess!

Rose: There is nothing to be afraid of.

Her voice rings calm but clear, looking at Conrad directly in the eyes. There's no anger or resistance, Rose's face is perfectly neutral. Composed. Bored. The same gaze she'd give her brothers when they played past their bedtime and tried to rope her in. And just like that, Rose shifts her weight to her heels, and falls backwards into the darkness as Conrad's eye widens.

Tink: ...She totally called your bluff.

Conard: ...

RSA Student: She fell to the sea!! Help her!!

RSA Student: I can't look! Someone cover my eyes!!

Grim: HMPHMHG!

Tink: (sigh) Buncha kids. That why I can't stand brats, they didn't even notice there was no splash.