I cannot say that I did not see it. I just tried to wish it away. And you helped that wish…
Scratching could not make it worse and t'were a face such as yours were.
If only your heart had reflected your words, then perhaps, I would have stood a chance.
But, no, you truly loved him, and not me. T'was an odd feeling for one such as I. A man whom women swooned over. Not simply for my looks. Who would not swoon over a Don? Over a Prince? Only you. You swooned over no man. Pined away in his absence, and laughed in his face, but swoon? Never. Perhaps that is why I admired you so. And what drove my admiration to the name of liking. And liking to the name of love.
I saw it in your eyes that noontide. I heard your whispered pain.
You always end with a jade's trick, I know you of old...
I had thought, mayhap to heal that hurt, but like all your wooers, I was rejected, though not with wit and poniards from your tongue, but with caring, and respect. A friend, always.
It was then, I got my brilliant plan. If I could not make you happy, then I would make sure you would be happy. I watched you leave that night, in high spirits. Nothing ever got you down, it appeared. To be merry does best become you. But I watched you disapear with a sad smile and a tear lingering in the corner of my eye.
And then, I enlisted the aid of friends, and your family. To woo Benedik for you, and to woo you for Benedik. My two dear friends.
It was simple, really.You both loved the other, I simply had to plant that into your heads, that your love was not unrequited.
My brother, evil bastard that he is, had a hand in bringingyou together as well, though unintentionally. If not for his plot to tear apart Sweet Hero and Claudio, it might have taken months. But, Claudio's and my apparent slander of Hero brought the two of you together against us. The only timeyou wept, Benedik told me later.
After the ceremonies he had drunk himself into a near stupor and poured his heart out to me. How seeing a lady whose eyes were always bright with laughter weep... It had melted his resolve completely.
I almost wept to see my friends marry. To see my most dear friends, and two closest comrades finally made into honest men... And I, all alone.
And then Benedik had to be witty.
Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife...
I smiled sadly, glancing at the beautiful and free-spirited woman in his arms.
Yes, perhaps one day, I swore. But none too soon.
Your memory shall live forever, my dear Beatrice...
End Part One