For You

"I'm in love with you."

knight

What was forbidden produced the sweetest and most delicious-looking fruit from the tree of temptations. The last heir to her name, you were promised to a man you couldn't love and desired the affections of another who swore eternal loyalty at your feet. You cursed the gods for their cruelty - the knight was nothing but fodder to keep you alive for a dying bloodline. Desperation kept you safe in hopes you could continue a legacy your father sacrificed his life for, but you wanted nothing but to watch that dream burn in the same flames that killed him. The years of innocent love warped by the wants of the heart made you jump at any opportunity to get close to him, even if it endangered you and garnered irritation from his fellow warriors.

Greed ruins those who know no limits.

"I have nothing to apologize for." Standing against a wooden pole with your wrists tied tightly against its smooth surface, you smiled. Genuine happiness washed over your dirty figure as you laughed in the face of millions of horrified onlookers that held bright torches in their hands - your doom. With this final act of defiance, you were granted a painful death that would tarnish your family's reputation, your name, and keep your sin buried in your ashes. Your king stood before you with a look of true sadness on his features while your knight merely stared at you, expression entirely illegible as his eyes reflected your manic visage.

"You dare trick our king with your magic, witch!"

"Burn her!"

"Burn her!"

"Death to the witch!"

The child you were carrying had disappeared due to a number of unfortunate accidents. Many rumored of your ability to grant wishes, particularly curses, for your personal benefit while absurd stories cannibalizing your own unborn child circulated from the mouths of nobles. Claims as ridiculous and outlandish as those took little effort to ignore, but soon it was impossible to protect yourself from those who viewed you as a disposable pawn. Perhaps the dream you kept locked away for many years was revealed to a nosy aristocrat, but it was too late to investigate the matter to quell your curiosity. Before your eyes was flames that danced and showed you a fate most horrendous, one that was perhaps worse than what your family suffered.

If only you knew better than to trust those of an unfamiliar royal court.

"...and let the flame cleanse your spirit and send you back to the realm of which you belong!"

Your eyes find themselves focused on the gaze of Ushijima, the faithful vassal who refused to leave your side and supported your actions without question. If you concentrated hard enough, maybe your thoughts would pass onto him so he wouldn't be bothered by your instability. All you've felt finally surfaced, successfully breaking your facade maintained through forced suppression and sadness as the tears you've held poured from your eyes. Maybe he knew just from telling from your expression, or maybe he had known long ago how you felt about him.

"Ushijima, I've always loved you." The words you whisper to the night sky are swallowed by roaring flames as your confession is carried by the wind. The last act of your consciousness forces a smile on your face as the tears on your cheeks melt into your flesh.

__________

have you heard of that knight

yes i have

have you heard of his wish

what was it

he wanted the witch

what did he do

he killed her

then what

he killed himself

too bad