The Royal Runt (Blackstar x Reader) [AU]

Chapter 8: Stiff

[Blackstar's POV]

I'm outside the throne room at the moment. It's been a few weeks since that fight with Fleitte, and believe me, I sure have marked his damn mind. He's been praising me each and everytime we see each other.

...Not like I don't like it... I'm awesome and all that stuff !

But still ! Whatever. You wouldn't understand anyways.

The king and queen are talking to (y/n) right now. I don't know what they're talking about, though. I'm just here outside.

"I might take a while. And I don't want you to just stand out here, so... Go do something else while I'm off. I'll just say I made you do something and another maid would escort me."

So here I am now, walking away from the throne room's door. No way in hell I'd stay there. That's damn boring !

I went to... (y/n)'s room. And mine. I don't know why, I just did. Her bed's soft... And it has (y/n)'s scent on it. Smells like... Vanilla.

Don't tell her I thought of that.

So I went in, and locked the door. I then grinned, before jumping to her bed, bouncing a bit from the bed's large and soft futton.

Ahhhh, so comfortable !

This reminds me of my bed back in the castle... Tch. In case you're wondering, yes, (y/n) has a small bed a few meters away from hers. It's where her last knight used to sleep---so if something happened, I'd be right beside her.

The only thing that separated us is a thin, wooden wall with a door.

(y/n)'s space is like---two classrooms wide; while mine ? Three-fourths of a classroom. Her bed's more than twice than the one for me.

Tch. Servants are servants, huh.

Well, whatever. My futton's soft but this is softer !

...Plus (y/n)'s scent...

But anyways.

I snuggled up to her pillows, and sighed comfortably. If I was (y/n), I'd be happy to be stuck here my whole life ! But that would suck. I wouldn't be popular.

Yet, when I did snuggle up to the pillows... I felt something hard under it. It's a... Box ? No. Actually a bit smaller than a box...

I removed the pillow---and saw a book.

...No... A locked diary !

What's this ? Damn---is this hers ?

I turned to the door, and gulped. It's locked... Good !

Now... How should I open this locked book ?

Shadows.

Right.

I sent shadows in it---and hardened it while using the keyhole as a mold, and twisting it open. It worked.

Curiousity killed the cat, they say...

But I'm not a cat. I'm a prince.

I stared at the book's front, and saw a handwriting. A beautiful, cursive one. "T.N."

Well, that's certainly not (y/n)'s damn initials... So it's...

Tsubaki Nakatsukasa

That's right !

So it's her last knight's diary. And I'll be able to read it ! Great.

I flipped it open in the middle...

"I took the princess out again today, in the town park. She really loved the outside world... I can understand that---she's been stuck here for years and only had window view.

...I... Feel bad for her. As a child, I was always thought to 'put your master first'. Since then, I wished I was a royalty and had my own knight to serve me... But if this was what it meant to be one---I'd happily be a servant my whole life.

I'm happy to see she's happy with what I'm doing... But I'm sure she wouldn't be if she found out what the consequences were."

...Consequences ? That's weird.

"I've been taking her to places once a week for two months now... And these wounds hurt so much. The bruises, too. Every time I escape with the princess just to let her know more of the world outside the castle... I break a rule. They gave me one chance---back at the first time I did this. They said I shouldn't do it again. For her safety.

But I did.

And I get beaten up because of that.

Luckily enough, my whole body is covered in knight uniform so her highness can't see it. And I plan to keep it that way..."

...Wait, what ?

She gets hurt ?

What the hell is this ?

I feel like I shouldn't read more... I feel like I shouldn't know more...

But it's too late.

I flipped to the next page, and saw more writings.

"I got to her when I was about seven, I think. I don't remember it clearly. But what I do remember is, my mother telling me the queen was so kind and understanding. The king... The king was kind, too. They spoke so gently and so carefully...

Until one day---according to mom---this man cursed his youngest child. The most powerful of the siblings. Since then, the couple changed... The queen was still kind, but seemed more depressed. The king---his heart was cold as ice. It's like they were cursed, too...

Then I got there as (y/n)'s knight, who was gasping for air when I first saw her. She had an attack when I came, so we properly introduced when she woke up hours later...

I knew her life ever since. Alone, uneventful. And mentioned she never left much. So I asked the couple's permission to tour her in the kingdom.

And what I said earlier happened... And came down to this. Having new wounds everyday---new scars. New bruises to hide from the princess.

Someday---if I die, protecting her or enduring these... I hope one day, her new knight sees this.

If he, or she, is reading this... You're strong. This book's key is to dissolve when I die---making it unopenable. I got it from my mother. And because you're strong enough... It's okay to tell you this. That this, This is a warning. Knight, the king and queen...

They're not the re---

*knock knock*

I tensed, and turned to the door. "Blackstar ? Are you here ? It's me, (y/n)..."

Shit ! I didn't read the last part !

...I'll do it later. When she's gone again. I closed the diary---let it lock, before putting it back under her pillow. Then, I ran to the door, grinning.

"H-heyya !"

"Why'd you lock the door ? Yeesh." (y/n) went in, sighing. I made a laugh. "Nothing. Reflex, I guess."

"...Oh." She sighed. "Well... Mom and Dad just told me about the marriage thing..."

"Yeah ?"

"Yeah. They said I'm going to be married in a few months... Three, I guess."

"To who ?" I stepped aside as she went in, and sat on her bed. Three months...? Married...? Wait---that's somehow familiar...

"...This prince from the kingdom of Eine. Death the Kid, I think."

I tensed, gripping the door knob tighter than I should be.

...Kid... She's going to marry Kid ?

I don't care... I'm not supposed to, but...

I have never been so stiff for my whole life... Not until today, that is.