"You will protect her."

"I have no choice."

"You love her."

His gloved hand clenched the dagger.

"Haven't you ever wondered why?" His friend asked. His expression was stoic, but the tears running down his face paradoxed it.

He did not answer. The blade of the dagger dug into his hand. Had he not been wearing the glove, the blade surely would have sliced his palm.

"But I understand." His friend looked up and smiled slightly.

No, don't smile. Don't act calm! He screamed in his head. I just killed her, the one you love. Take the dagger from my hand. Kill me! Avenge her! Because –

A tear ran down the Knight's cheek. I loved her too.

His friend brushed his white bangs back, leaving spots of blood on his forehead and the locks of pure hair. He reached forward with trembling arms and drew the beautiful corpse into his arms. "I understand… why you did it. Because the Princess ordered you too, and you love her. And yet…" His friend looked up again, and the Knight's heart broke when he saw the rising resentment in them.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you for it!" His voice broke, and he lowered his face into her hair. The luscious pink hair hid his expression, but the shaking of his shoulders betrayed him.

The tears wouldn't stop streaming down the Knight's face. They dripped, one by one, off his chin and onto the stained floorboards. He grit his teeth, trying to hold back his sorrow, and sheathed the dagger. I loved her too!

The Knight turned and left without looking back.

The White Prince was left mourning the slain Pink Maiden's body.

She was waiting atop the highest tower when he finally returned. He was weary and weak, drained; but she turned to him and asked regardless. "Did you do it?"

The solemnity in her red eyes was out of character. Her dark hair spilled about her shoulders as she let down her bun.

He bowed his head in the shadows to hide his tears. He forced himself to straighten his voice. "Yes."

She really looked at him then. "I know it was difficult, but…" She went to him. "Thank you, brother." She took his hand.

You take my hand like we're still young…. Like we're still children…. Like you didn't just order me to kill the one I loved, and out of petty jealousy. You chase after the Prince, and…

You killed her.

"It's good that she's gone, though, don't you know? I will wed the Prince now that the Maiden is out of the way. The kingdoms will combine, and… the Prince will finally be mine." She strolled along the glass walls of the tower, staring out absently at the kingdom. "There was no room for that swan." The Princess plucked a rose from a nearby vase of flowers. "The Prince is mine. She should've known that. Her ignorance cost her her life." She shred the rose coldly. "Farewell, Pink Maiden."

The Knight's tears did not stop.

Farewell, Pink Maiden.

The Princess turned back to look at her brother. She froze when she saw that the tears had not stopped. Her expression fell into one of regret.

"I'm sorry, brother. But… isn't there another maiden you'd rather have?"

No, none. Only her. My Maiden… The Maiden that danced, that the swans followed about the village, that had charmed the Prince unconsciously and died for it.

"I will find you another, my Knight." She grabbed his hands and held them tight in her own smaller grasp. "I will, I swear."

He looked up at her. The Prince's words echoed through his head.

"You will protect her. You love her. Haven't you ever wondered why?"

Because she is the Princess… and I am the servant.

"I understand… why you did it. Because the Princess ordered you too, and you love her. And yet…"

"I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you for it!"

The Knight's head remained bowed. My friend and the love of my life are both gone.

"Come, Knight. Would a snack make you feel better?" The Princess smiled tentatively at him.

"There's something I must tell you," he whispered hoarsely. The Princess's smile froze, her eyes wide.

"What is it?"

"The Prince… walked in. He saw. He saw… the Maiden lying there." The Knight's voice finally broke. His hand went to cover his eyes, to hide his tears. "And he knew why I'd done it. Because…"

The Princess's face grew pale.

"Because you ordered me to."

Her head bowed as well. There was a long, tense moment of silence.

"And… what did he say?" Her voice trembled.

"That he would never forgive me." The Knight's voice wavered. "He… He was my friend, sister."

The Princess burst into tears then. His lovely sister that could do no harm, that loved snacks and could dance beautifully, that could turn her presence from fire into ice and back… That had ordered him to murder the love of his life… She fell to her knees and wept bitterly.

The Knight crouched next to her and tilted her chin up. "Don't cry, sister. I… I will protect you."

"Protect me?" Her tear stained face was confused. "What do you mean?"

The look in the Prince's eyes when he'd held the Maiden… The Knight finally realized that the resentment was not just towards himself, and neither were his words.

"I understand… why you did it. And yet… I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive you for it!"

The Prince wanted revenge against the Princess.

The Knight would not allow it. The Prince knew that.

And just like that, the last fragments of the Knight's heart were torn to shreds. The Prince would attempt to kill the Princess, he realized. And the Knight would protect the Princess.

The Prince was willing to kill the Knight to get to the Princess. He wanted them both dead.

"I will not allow it. I will protect you." The Knight gathered the Princess into his arms. "No matter what I must do."

"You are the princess, and I am the servant."

The Knight's words sunk in, and the Princess began to weep bitterly again, holding tight to him. For now they both realized what would happen.

You are the princess, and I am the servant.

Inspired by the Servant of Evil song by Kagamine Len. Check it out.

This story follows the concept that the Princess, Rue, has ordered her brother, Fakir, her Knight, to murder the Pink Maiden, Tutu. She does this because the White Prince, Mytho, loves the Maiden - but Rue loves the Prince and wants him to herself. However, her brother also loves the Maiden...

But in the end, he will follow his sister's wishes.

I put Fakir as Rue's brother because it is a long-standing theory that the two are actually siblings. There's no concrete proof, but among the cues are the fact that Fakir's mother had hair very, very similar to Rue's and on the family tree Autor shows Fakir there is a sibling of Fakir's that is crossed out. Hm...

But I still ship the two. Heheheh. Oh, well.

I might add onto this. Enjoy!

In response to SoSaysL's review: Actually, not even close lol But good guess, I suppose. After all... What's the point of a story with a predictable ending?