I'll save the villainess! (GL)

Chapter 9: Festival of Wishes

A long time ago, a young princess was born without the ability to feel emotions. Her parents grieved and mourned, prayed and begged for gods to make her 'normal'.

The young princess didn't understand her parents' views, but didn't want to upset them. Her parents set her up with several suitors, princes from other kingdoms, wise and famous scholars.. even the most attractive man could never phase her.

Each suitor was turned down, one by one, everyone gave up. Her parents were devastated, they thought they'd never get an heir. For sure, this kingdom was doomed.

One day, the princess met a young commoner. The young commoner had already lost everything. Her mother died after birth, and her father left her on the streets. The young commoner starved everyday, but her will to struggle and survive was commendable.

The princess couldn't understand the commoner. Why would someone who has nothing strive to survive? The commoner and the princess became friends later on. The commoner would teach the sheltered princess about life on the streets, lessons on survival, and lastly, the one thing the princess never had, emotions.

"Why would I want emotions? It makes us feel pain and sorrow. It is a weakness."

"Princess, emotions make us feel good too. Happy, excited... love. And even if it's a weakness, it gives us a reason to live."

"Love? I don't believe in it."

The commoner chuckled.

"One day you will."

The princess and the commoner continued to teach each other new things. The princess, who was a proud noble, taught the commoner how to protect herself.

"Dear commoner, you are far too naive. You trust too easily."

"Is that so, my princess?"

"That's right. This way, it'll only be easier to take advantage of you."

"Then... will you protect me, princess?"

The princess was confused. She was clearly cursed with no emotions. No one would want to stay with a cold and stoic person. Yet this commoner here... was different.

"Protect you? Hmph. Very well. It seems you are far too weak to take care of yourself. Consider it done."

The commoner smiled at her. The princess' heart softened. Her parents had only grieved and sobbed in front of her, on their knees and begging for her to be normal. Everyone else around her spoke bad words about her. Even if it was just a smile, the princess couldn't help but feel weird.

Weeks went past, and the princess' father became gravely ill. The princess' mother had gotten herself tangled in some affair. The kingdom itself was in shambles.

Neighbouring kingdoms took this opportunity to work together and take down the princess' kingdom. The princess couldn't care less about the kingdom itself. She took the commoner with her and ran away.

"Commoner, rest assured. I will protect you."

This young commoner was too innocent after all. If she ever lost her innocence, the princess wouldn't know what to do. The princess then made a camp for her and the commoner.

"Dear commoner, stay in the camp. It is dangerous outside."

The princess grew protective of the commoner. If she ever lost her, the princess would go mad.

Just a few weeks later, the princess returned to the camp.

"Commoner, I have brought us some food. Commoner?"

Silence.

Even though the princess knew this day would come... she didn't expect it to be so soon. Her last bit of sanity went out the window. The camp was looted. Everything she had built, the fortress for her commoner and herself, it was torn to shreds. Yet the only thing she could care about at the time was to find the commoner.

She picked the letter up, and it read. "Princess, we have your friend hostage. Surrender yourself to us, and she may live." The princess was furious- no, furious is an understatement.

She devised a plan. She grew connections. She recruited her own batch of soldiers. Her influence in the underworld grew each day. And when the time came, she stormed into the enemy kingdom with her soldiers.

When she reached the palace dungeons, she ran towards the commoner's cell.

"Commoner! I have come to save-"

There, the commoner sat. Her body battered and bruised. Her arms were shackled to the wall, and her eyes were empty. She was still alive, but she lost all her emotions. She was now merely an empty shell, just like herself- no.

The villainess had been changing throughout her time with the commoner. She had gained her emotions. But what was the point if the commoner had lost hers? What was it all for?

That night, the princess buried herself in the arms of the commoner- no, her lover. She cried and grieved, sobbed and wailed like never before. She had finally fulfilled her long time wish, but at what cause?

The princess' plan had failed in the end. The princess had failed to save the commoner, she had failed to return to her kingdom with the commoner. And she had failed to protect the commoner's innocence.

The princess was captured by the enemy soldiers, she was beaten up and tortured. But all this time, she could only keep her eyes on the commoner.

"Ah... I understand now.. this is love, isn't it?"

Those were her last words before she had killed the commoner and committed suicide right after.
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I closed the cover of the book.

"So that's the origin of the Festival of Wishes... who knew it was so sad?"

"Zzz..."

Batman and Elise were already curled up on the bed, sleeping peacefully.

I tucked a strand of Elise's hair behind her ear.

"I wonder..."
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Will the villainess find her true happiness now that I'm here?