Loss of Ignorance (Yandere male x female reader)

A Surprise Encounter

She knew him. Short, messy dark brown hair covered his head, and his eyes were a light brown, almost caramel in color. A brown cloak rested on his shoulders, and black leather gloves covered his hands. He wore a loose beige shirt and brown pants, which were tucked into his black leather boots. A sword rested on his side, and he wore a brown leather chest holster with ten daggers. All of the blades had a blue sheen to them, characteristic of the man's work.

(F/n) hadn't spent much time around him, but she knew that he was skilled not just in his craft but in his combat as well. She had seen him practice his weapons with some of the castle's knights. Keiran was the royal blacksmith, having taken it over after his mentor had passed from old age two years ago. Though in reality, he probably could have taken it over sooner. She believed it to be respect for his mentor, one she used to have.

At the thought, a frown touched her once confused countenance. When she met his eyes, though, she returned to her original expression. Why did he save her? She hardly knew the man beyond what he did for the kingdom, and she doubted that he would be retaining his position given that he was helping her. If he was caught, he'd earn the same punishment.

Gleaning what she was thinking from her look, he picked up a chair that was out of her view and seated it by her. Keiran took a seat and glanced over her wounds. "They're healing as best as they can given the situation," he muttered more to himself than to her. She remained puzzled but welcomed the distraction. Hopefully, it'd remain only that and not turn into something sinister. He met her eyes once more. "I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you sooner, my highness."

(F/n) paused at the title and a tight, saddened smile touched her lips. "You shouldn't call me that." Before he could clearly try to argue her comment, she continued, "You're the royal blacksmith, Keiran." He nodded at her pause. "Why help me?" As much as she needed the distraction, she wanted to make sure that he didn't plan to add to her suffering and that the medical aid wasn't false hope. "You've ruined your life by saving me. I don't even know you that well. I don't see how this benefits you." She wanted to clutch at the sheet over her, but what was left of her arms only tensed at the thought. A heavy frown graced her lips. Her eyes turned to her lap. "You should've let me die."

"My qu -"

"Don't." She wanted to hide under the sheets, but all she could do was lie there. "... Can you prop me up please?" As if on cue, he gently helped her sit up against the headrest, causing her to wince despite the careful treatment. If she could, she'd touch one of his weapons; that's all she needed to give herself some defense, but she couldn't even do that. "Just use my name." At his hesitancy, she continued, "My first name is fine. I have no crown now." He looked ready to argue, but he stayed quiet for a moment instead.

Keiran felt odd calling the princess, now queen, simply by her first name. His admiration for her kind nature and helpfulness with the sick and wounded told him to call her by her proper title even if he didn't mind deep down. To be on such a personal level with her ... Well, it did make his heart skip a beat.

"So again, why help me?" Her gaze hardened in an attempt to keep herself from crying at her lack of ability to do anything about any of this and to refrain from letting fear take hold of her mind at what this man wanted from her exactly.

"Because, I know that you didn't kill your parents. Someone like you could never do that. I know that you loved them, and you care too much for others to take such a dark turn out of nowhere. It doesn't add up," he answered clearly. She couldn't hide the shock that graced her face, and her brows furrowed.

"I ... Then, why weren't you at my trial?" She tried to sit up more but couldn't. He went in to help her, but she glared at him instead. Keiran paused before he leaned back. Hopefully, she wouldn't remain this stubborn in the future, or what they needed to do after her recovery would be all the more difficult. That was assuming that she agreed to his plan. "Why do you think you know me so well?"