Tyrant's Favorite | Sukuna Ryomen x Reader

022. Mutuals

"Bastard, bastard, bastard..." You muttered to yourself, thinking about what had happened with King Sukuna a few hours ago.

You paced back and forth, biting your nails and frowning as your mind stormed in a whirlwind of thoughts. The tyrant's actions had been disconcerting, contradictory and hypocritical. One moment he was romantic, protective and kind, and the next, cold, pedantic and cruel. A clumsy juggler, delighted in dropping one of your fragile feelings only to see it explode. Every time they took a step in that confusing relationship, Sukuna took three steps back, as if he didn't want, or was afraid, to reach the goal. You had never wanted to punch and understand someone at the same time.

Not only his actions, but also his words were a turbulent sea. After ignoring you for a whole month, he would return with whispered sweetness that didn't seem to fit his rough character. It was as if he immersed you in a warm sauna only to suddenly throw you into a rapid river. He could fulfill all the promises of luxury and riches he once made you, but none of it mattered to you anymore. Not the jewels, not the dresses, not the flowers...

You stopped next to the vase that stood elegantly next to your bedroom window and noticed that, among the bunches of yellow tulips, daisies were hidden. They weren't red, nor blue, nor yellow. They were white, twenty in total. Now that you thought about it, all the bouquets in the castle treasured white daisies among the refined arrangements. That morning you would have thought they were just another flower in the pile, but after hearing the king's words that were still fresh in your mind, they took on another meaning. You grabbed the bow, another gift from the tyrant, and examined the hilt: a daisy engraved on the wood. "White daisies are a symbol of purity and innocence," you quoted in your mind.

"Pure and innocent..." You repeated with an offended smile on your face. "So he thinks I'm easy to manipulate."

It was the only explanation that made sense of his disconcerting attitude. He lured you in with promises, luxuries, and sweet words only to snatch them away later, leaving you with the insatiable desire for more. After all, he was a tyrant. He knew well how to manipulate his subordinates, how to squeeze every last drop of use out of those who were caught in his trick-filled game.

You plucked a daisy and sat on the windowsill. You twirled the stem between your fingers, mesmerized by the swaying of the petals as it spun before your eyes. Gently, you took the first petal and gently plucked it, feeling it slip through your fingers.

"He loves me." You plucked another petal. "He doesn't love me." Another one. "He loves me."

Petal after petal, they slowly fell out of the window. They tumbled down along with your hopes that the king would ever see you as an equal. You held back the urge to cry as you realized how naive you had been to think, even for an instant, that he truly cared about you. But just as you could accept that Yorozu was a trashy bitch who deserved her tragic end, you could also admit that Sukuna was nothing more than a terrible king, who never cared, cares nor would never care about you.

There was only one petal left on the flower. The reality was clear, and there was no turning back. The war may not have started yet, but the game was already underway. On this board called life, the first move is always crucial. Many believe that chess begins when the first pawn advances; in truth, the game begins when you come face to face with your opponent. When you shake your opponent's hand and study their face in detail. Before making your first move, you had to shake the tyrant's hand, with the understanding that this game had already begun as soon as he sat down.

"He doesn't love me." You sighed from the depths of your soul before throwing the last petal out the window.

The next morning, you walked with a determined step through the cool halls, looking for the king. The morning breeze filtered through the large windows to counteract the afternoon heat. Before leaving, you had sent Mrs. Inoue to the beach to collect seashells, an errand with the simple purpose of distracting her away from your affairs for a while. She refused at first, but agreed when you told her that they would be for the servants in Sukuna's kingdom. Upon reaching the hall, you found Kenjaku, directing curses that were cleansing the imposing fountain at the entrance.