ᴡᴍᴍᴀᴘ: ℌ𝔢𝔯 𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰

Noir Depravity, the Hierophant: II

(Attempted suicide!!!! she won't actually but a warning nonetheless!!! So this is a TRIGGER WARNING!!! blood and gore, violent murder!!!!  Skip skip skip!!!! if you DO NOT want to read!!!!!) a note: this chapter is SENSITIVE as it covers some graphic material regarding torture and murder, please understand that I do not in any way, shape, or form, encourage, promote, or support violence. 

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"I- I'm going to kill myself!! Get away!!!" Jennette was hysterical, lashing out at the maids that were trying to get her away from the barred windows with a long rope connected to them.

"Miss Margarita-" 

"Don't call me that!!" Jennette screeches as she points her finger this way and that, stabbing at the air in front of her with a ferocity that was rarely seen outside of the privacy of her room. 

"I'm Jennette de Alger Obelia! I'm the eldest princess of this empire! Daughter of your emperor- my father! I - I read the book on Obelia's succession! It doesn't matter who's smarter- who ever is older gets the crown heir seat! I'm a princess too! Why can't any of you get it into your thick skulls?!"

Athanasia standing below her, her hand stroking her rings before looking at Jennette whose head is halfway through the noose. "That's for children of the current emperor, Jennette. You are the spawn of Anastasius, the previous, now dead emperor. The current emperor is my father, and I'm the only child of his name." 

Athanasia looked up at Jennette, the corners of her mouth lifting up as she smiled a sad, sad smile that one used when heartbroken. "Not you. Not anyone else. Me." 

Jennette's hands trembled on the noose, her bare feet dirty, and shaking as she shook like a leaf on a tree in the dead of winter. "I'm- I'm not- I'm not  father's daughter?" Athanasia's light, saddened laugh made everyone smile a bit at each other as they basked in the glow of their highness's bell like laughter. 

"I just said so, Jennette. Why else do you think my daddy said those words to you before?"

Athanasia's face lit up, and she spoke again. "Just cede your place here, Jennette, and you can go free! Just like you've always wanted." Athanasia's hands clasped in prayer hands before her, a bright smile on her face, the very picture of a benevolent saint. 

Enough to make anyone give her their last copper, their last loaf of bread- add tears and an entire city would be on its knees for her. But that wasn't what Jennette wanted.

Jennette wanted more. More like Athanasia, to have all that Athanasia had, and to take it all away from this perfect crown princess of Obelia's- and both of them knew that all too well, that the gig was up. Jennette's lips turned down, tears slipping free and dropping onto her skirt. 

Onlookers seemed to sympathize with her at first, but when they looked from the pitiful girl to Princess Athanasia, they seemed to forget about Jennette Margarita as they gazed upon the beautiful crown princess. Jennette resented her, loathing filling her very soul. "No. Never." Jennette's hands were white against the sturdy rope.

"You're so.." Athanasia paused, before shaking her head in faux resignation. "..insular, Jennette.. you could have lived quietly outside the palace. I would have given everything you wanted to live comfortably and in happiness. I'm not a monster, you know." 

But, you are. 

Both Jennette and Athanasia knew it, but more so for Athanasia, that wasn't what Jennette really desired.