Coronation day, exactly a decade after Rapunzel had first met her husband, the booming orchestra and fumes had contributed to her bloodshot gaze at the ceiling before her. A clock had chimed in an uncanny fashion from somewhere, perhaps at war with Eugene's light breathing.
"Rapunzel." Came from behind her, as if her pillow had spit in her ear.
"Who . . . what?" She was on the floor now, and with soft thuds, her panic managed to fight her to the floor.
"Don't be shy! I'm only your friend." The voice was neither effeminate nor gallant and, as far as she could register, it could be a worm writhing under her scalp.
"Are you in my head?" She simpered, pulling at her waist-length hair.
"Ouch! Stop that!" It snarled.
"You're my hair!"
"Well of course! I've been with you through it all. I've seen every snide move behind your back. I know you more than you know yourself." It was gentler now.
"What 'snide moves'?" Rapunzel was trembling now, struggling to bring herself outside to her balcony in efforts not to disturb the sleeping Eugene.
"The snide moves of your lover, of course!"
"What? He would never."
"Never what? Hurt you?"
"Yes! He would never try anything!" tears streaked down her cheeks and dotted the marble flooring.
"Do you think he'd never steal anything? He was once a thief, only meeting you to save his arse! Why do you think you'd change his mind? He never wanted you from the start; not until it was revealed that you have power."
"What are you saying?"
"Only a selfish man would need to steal so much. How do you know he isn't using you and charming you into giving him the crown?"
"He risked his life to save me from my captor of a mother!" She began to scream, but the voice only stayed in its little tremor.
"You still had the crown." It sniggered.
"You're wrong!" The events of the last ten years flashed before her, filling her to the brim with woe.
"Just listen to me, darling." It was hardly a faint whisper.
"What do you want?"
"I only want what best for you."
"Which is?"
"Slaughter the selfish man."
"No! I don't know what you see in him, but I'm the one who feels our love!" Huddled in a ball, her frail arms thrashed at the floor.
"He doesn't love you. I'm the sensible one, not the infatuated one. Only I can set you straight." It was stone-cold.
"I would never kill him!" She sobbed into herself.
"I can guide you to greatness." It hissed.
"I love him." Rapunzel hummed.
"Rapunzel?" came the drained call of Eugene as he neared the balcony. "Where'd you go?"
"You know what to do." It cackled, "I'm still here." The pressure, Rapunzel now noticed, ceased to force on her.
"Eugene!" She cried, leaping up to kiss him as he pried open the door.
"What are you worked up about?" He brushed away her tears lightly.
"I guess . . . I guess I was just worried, is all." she sighed.
"About what, hun?" He lead her to sit on the bed.
"Well, don't be mad but, I was worried if you'd been using me all this time."
"Using you? For what?"
"Power."
"Oh, Rapunzel. You know I'm afraid of it." he pulled her in tightly.
"I know. You're right; I'm just being silly." She smiled.
"Think you'll be able to catch some sleep?" He yawned, stretching an arm around her.
"I think so."
They exchanged their goodnight kisses then resumed in rest, clinging onto each other in serenity.