Anchor

A fool's heart

Trigger warnings: 18+

Contains death, blood, sadism, madness
Mild spice

~~

Sweat was dripping down my back, soaking my clothes as I bowed, one hand on my chest, the other high in the air. This would normally be the part where the crowd would cheer. Applaud. I was good at what I did, yet now it remained completely silent.

Carefully I looked up, watching the face of my one and only spectator. The King himself.

"My king?" I asked carefully, as I stood up, wiping the sweat off my brow. He nodded.

"It'll be fine for tomorrow. My guests will be entertained. I expect you to distract the ladies, so us men can talk business." I nodded again, trying to avoid his gaze. He scared me. His red eyes were never kind, never smiling. His teeth were sharpened from all the battles he had been through. It made me work harder, because I knew he would never be satisfied with me. Ever.

"Of course, my king. I know what is expected of me."

The king then turned around and marched away to the thick oak doors, without saying another word.

"Oh, don't be late, fool. Or it'll be your head." I shivered as I watched him leave. He wasn't kidding.

I retrieved my outfit from the seamstress on my way back to my house. I always hated the colors, they were bright and flashy.  The hood that came with it made it look like I had horns. All orders of the king, of course. Who was I to complain. He let me live on castle grounds. He paid my wages. He made sure I had food in my belly at the end of the day.

Besides, parties like tomorrow weren't too bad. There was plenty of food and wine. Plenty of women too. I swallowed hard as I rounded a corner, my feet silent on the stone floors. Women were easy. I knew what they wanted. What they desired. Despite my young age, I was experienced. Not always by my own wishes, though. I was good at what I did, yet I didn't always enjoy it.

There was one young lady that I had my eye on, though. She was beyond gorgeous. Lucious blonde hair that shone like it was made by the sun itself. The deepest green eyes you had ever seen. Greener than grass. Curves to die for. And her smile. My lords, her smile. They would light up my entire world. Juliette.

She was the baker's daughter, so I would often see her carrying baskets of fresh bread to the castle. Soon I would ask the baker for her hand in marriage. I was nineteen, it was about time to start a family. I couldn't hide my smile as I stepped in my cold little cottage. It wasn't much, and I couldn't exactly call it home. It had an actual bed, a table with four chairs and a stove, where I had some stew waiting for me. Left over from the night before. Quietly, I started a fire under the pot, my thoughts with Juliette.

~~

This time, the room burst out in laughter, cheering and applauding. With a goofy smile and a lot of flourishes, I bowed as deep as I could, my nose pressed beyond my own knees. The little bells on my hood jingled as I moved again. A couple of the guests stood, slamming their fists to the table. This was my cue to backflip, throwing my hands in the air as I landed swiftly on my feet. I caught eyes with the king, who applauded politely with the rest of the crowd. He gave a single nod and my grin widened. I had earned myself another wage, another meal. A step closer to my love.

I danced away from the small clearing between the tables, just as a young bard stepped forward. He sang of his tales in the far Lands of Ishness. He had traveled everywhere, but I didn't have time to listen to him. I cracked jokes here and there as I made my way to the front, getting closer to the ladies and the queen. She stood, beckoning me closer. With a charming smile, I danced towards her, winking and quickly licking my lips. Flirting with the queen herself provided more than fruitful.