The next morning in the early freezing dawn, Sir Bruno had finally made his way back to house Passione in one of Giorno's horses. He'd been separated from the Princess earlier in the night as he stayed behind to resolve the situation with Prince Giorno. His journey had been long, and strenuous but now he found himself standing outside of Castle Passione, wanting to speak with the princess about the decisions that had been made at the Joestar castle.
However, King Diavolo had fled back to his castle, sensing that Prince Giorno and Sir Bruno were conspiring against him. He abruptly took his family back to his castle and rushed the long journey back into their kingdom, in the middle of the freezing-cold night, refusing the invitation of the Joestars to spend the night at their castle.
He'd gone mad with paranoia and was filled with rage for he knew Bruno would try to come back to the castle and take everything away from him. He found out from his younger brother Doppio, whom he'd sent on a spying mission to find out all the details about the conversation between Bruno and Giorno, that Princess Trish had not yet consummated the marriage to the Knight. King Diavolo knew that Sir Bruno would be coming back to the castle to end the marriage arrangement, part ways, and conspire by aligning himself with the Joestars.
King Diavolo was a brutal, tyrannical swordsman but would never risk his own life by getting into any type of physical battle with the knight. Diavolo never entered a battle he wasn't certain he was going to win, by any means necessary, and so he waited by the entrance of the castle in front of the gates just outside of the courtyard. He sharpened the edge of his hunting dagger against the steel of the iron door, waiting for Bruno to return. He waited hour after hour, in the freezing, cold darkness of the night, fueled by his unwavering paranoia.
As soon as they'd arrived King Diavolo had sent one of his errand boys to fetch the experimental doctor he'd sometimes do business with. The doctor had been suspended from furthering his career in his village due to negligence and malpractice. King Diavolo knew this and decided to give him a chance to re-establish himself in the Passione kingdom so long as he helped him with any obscure needs he might desire. King Diavolo had set a plan in motion to get everything back in order and although he was King and could technically do as he pleased, he still needed to cover his tracks for political reasons. Times were changing and Diavolo was anything but pleased. The Joestars were advocating for people to have more power and autonomy and word had gotten to the villagers of his kingdom, expecting the same treatment. If he wasn't careful he could face a pesky mob of rebellion against him. No, he would be most careful and do all his bidding in silence, in the darkness, with the help of only the most morally ambiguous and discreet.
As Diavolo waited in silence, alone with nothing but the cooing of owls every few moments. The castle was hidden in the middle of a long and vast green valley, anyone coming could be seen from miles away before they made it anywhere near the castle. King Diavolo's gypsy ancestors had built the castle most strategically, the long narrow hills leading to the main road, however in the back of the castle ran a major riverway connecting the castle to the ocean, in case the King or his guardsmen needed to flee.
"Fool," Diavolo said, in the middle of the vast darkness. King Diavolo would make Sir Bruno regret his betrayal, he was going to make him pay by any means necessary.
Meanwhile across the narrow valley, sir Bruno was simply the shell of a man. He decided to end things with the Princess after speaking with Giorno. It had been the longest, most tiresome night of his life. He was simply exhausted. Although he was young in years, the night had taken a toll on him. It was only a day ago he was making the same journey eager to meet with the princess and start their life together. And now he was making the journey to end his marriage to her and would probably be the last time he would ever see her. Their marriage was fleeting, it lasted only a couple of days, but Bruno was sure that he had found the love of his life. The fact that the princess did not reciprocate his feelings was a real tragedy. Bruno the eternal optimist, even despite the situation, was grateful for everything that had happened. He never thought he was capable of loving someone with such furious passion and he'd discovered the meaning of true love with the Princess. Even if it was brief and unrequited, his profound love for her had changed him.
The knight galloped at a steady pace trying not to rush but also knowing there was no use in delaying the events any longer. His nose was dry and sore from breathing the cold air, his chest hurt with pain from sustaining the cold inside the lungs. As he became more and more tired with extreme fatigue, his vision had gone blurry from the long strenuous day and night but wouldn't even think to stop to rest, as he was motivated by doing right by the princess. He would set her free, and that's all that mattered to him.
When he finally arrived at the castle's main entryway he was surprised to find King Diavolo there, waiting for him. "Your majesty, I didn't think you'd be awake and waiting for my return… I need to speak with you in regards to the Princess."
King Diavolo stood still, motionless. He was leaning against the large iron gate, and pushed himself off and walked over to the stone pathway to meet Sir Bruno. "You will never see my daughter again, Knight."
Bruno intuitively sensed King Diavolo had been made aware of his intentions to end the marriage to the princess. He didn't understand how, as he had been extremely discreet in his conversation with Prince Giorno. But alas it did not matter anymore. He needed not waste more time in details and finally see the princess even if it was for the last time.
"Your majesty, I don't know what you've heard." Sir Bruno steered the reins of Giorno's yellow maned horse, Gold Experience, to walk the distance towards Diavolo who was standing in front of the gated doorway.
"May we speak inside the castle, in private?" The knight looked down at the solemn Diavolo. The large man sported a wild and long, pink mane much like his daughter's except for a few dark spots. He had an oppressive aura that sucked the air of anyone and anything around him.
"You will never step foot inside my castle, ever again." King Diavolo took a couple of steps forward. "You will never see my daughter, ever again." He gritted his teeth.
Sir Bruno then tried to get off the horse but Diavolo pushed him back on using brute force, it was at this moment Bruno realized how physically strong King Diavolo was. He had heard the legend of King Diavolo and his powerful gypsy blood which allowed him to have super-natural, unparalleled physical power. Legend has it that the devil king was abandoned by his mother at birth and left him stranded in the middle of the forest. Somehow Diavolo survived and when he finally returned home, his mother had given birth to his younger brother Doppio and immediately died from childbirth complications just after giving birth. Sir Bruno always thought that it was one of those impossible stories, a foolish tale that people tell to pass the time, but when he felt the blunt, bone-shattering force of King Diavolo's fist push his side to block him from getting off Giorno's horse, he immediately realized that the legend was true.
"Your majesty, whatever you've heard I promise you I can explain!" Sir Bruno shouted in pain, bits of blood dripped from the corner of his lips. Bruno was exhausted and irritated by King Diavolo's unnecessary violent reaction but managed to stay calm and collected. "I wish to see the Princess and explain everything."
"You... have betrayed me." King Diavolo then pointed his sharp, shiny knife at the Knight. "I know about your little arrangement with Prince Giorno…"
Sir Bruno looked to his side and made eye contact with the King, he understood why Diavolo was so upset and wanted nothing more than to clear things up. He leaned forward, making Diavolos' blade touch his skin. "I just want to say goodbye to the Princess… and if you allow me to explain myself… You'll see that it's for the best." The knight stopped himself, he was getting emotional. "As the Princess's father I'm sure you'll agree with me in what I'm about to say…"
Diavolo looked up at the knight puzzled by his bravery. Sir Bruno had courage, that much was certain, nevertheless, he was a fool being so careless as to place himself between him and his blade. "You are not getting away with this. You signed the paperwork with the bank, you cannot turn back on your word."
Sir Bruno gave him a weak, exhausted smile, he had no intention of arguing or fighting. He was there to relinquish everything for the princess. He would give away his life for her happiness if he could. "I have no intention of that, your majesty. I gave you my word, I paid your debt with the bank and I will not turn my back on you now." Sir Bruno looked at the man standing in front of him and thought that perhaps if he explained that he wanted the princess to be free so that she would choose her destiny out of love and not out of necessity, he would understand.
"I'm here to free…" Sir Bruno stopped, as this was the beginning of the end. "-I want to give the Princess her freedom back." Sir Bruno tried to explain himself, he wanted to see the Princess as soon as possible and nurse her heart as much as he possibly could before leaving her.
King Diavolo smirked. "You didn't fuck her, therefore she's my property, she is mine." He adjusted his posture and looked at the Knight with arrogance and disdain. How dare the knight go against his wishes and plans. "And now she is useless to me… I should have married her off to Sir Polpo as I had originally planned." He said, giving Sir Bruno information that had been kept from him until this moment.
Sir Bruno felt sick with nausea, "Polpo? T-The merchant?" Sir Bruno was speechless, he'd worked with Polpo in the past the man was quite literally an enormous disgusting beast. He was however the richest man in the Kingdom Alliance. "You jest with me?… You cannot tell me you find Sir Polpo a good fit for your daughter? For young princess Trish???" Sir Bruno could barely get his words in order, he was so shocked and offended.
Diavolo laughed, he was amused by the Knight's ridiculous naivete. "Any man with power and riches would do and as you know Sir Polpo is filthy with both, he would have been an excellent match for my stupid, incorrigible daughter." The King had only been persuaded to choose Sir Bruno over Polpo due to Queen Donatella's influence, as she had been relentless about finding their daughter a man who could love her.
Sir Bruno then realized he couldn't return the Princess to her father, for it was dangerous. He'd try to marry her off again. If there was one thing Prince Giorno and Sir Bruno had decided was that it was unfair for either of them to decide whom she should marry. Prince Giorno had made it clear that even the unspoken arrangement that had been made for them as children, was unfair to the Princess. They decided that neither of them deserved to be married to her and that she should be set free from the shackles of any marriage arrangement.
"Diavolo, you keep saying I'm the one who betrayed you… but you are the one who has been dishonest with me from the start." Sir Bruno finally realized whom he was truly dealing with, and there was simply no way he would ever let Princess Trish at the mercy of her father ever again.
"You are the one who betrayed me!" Sir Bruno pushed aside the blade and shouted in Diavolo's face in a fury. "I'm going to get Princess Trish as she is still my wife and we are leaving Castle Passione at once!" Sir Bruno maneuvered the horse sideways to side-step King Diavolo and attempt to storm into the castle gates. As he pulled on the reins of the horse King Diavolo grabbed Sir Bruno by the back of his collar and held him, making him fall off of Golden Experience. Sir Bruno's back landed so bluntly against the ground it instantly triggered his fight or flight response, he felt the blood and adrenaline rush to the top of his head and immediately started thrashing on the ground trying to free himself from Diavolo's choking grip. Sir Bruno ripped the shirt from his chest with his bare hands and quickly crawled out of Diavolo's space.
"You will never step foot in my castle, ever again." King Diavolo, scoffed. He slowly and menacingly stomped his feet, as he'd finally get to make Sir Bruno pay for his insolence of going behind his back. "You ruined everything!" His face contorted into a horrific scowl, partly illuminated by the light from the sun coming in from the east as it was finally dawn.
Sir Bruno didn't have any weapons on him, as he was still dressed for the party, but during his journey in the middle of the night, he'd noticed a small satchel on Prince Giorno's horse. Sir Bruno quickly lifted himself off the ground and jumped then ran the distance between himself and the horse. He maneuvered his arm inside the bag while keeping his eyes focused on Diavolo and managed to grab one of the tools, a pair of metallic pliers. "It didn't have to be like this, Diavolo…" Sir Bruno protested while slowly getting into a defensive stance.
"Shut up, insolent! It's far too late now!" The King threw his fists at the knight, trying to do him any kind of damage. He had tremendous physical strength, but the Knight also had a reputation for being a skilled combat fighter. "We could have had the best of alliances and you blew it all…" He spat at the knight. "Why?! "He threw another jab at him this time with the knife, the Knight swung back and dodged him almost completely, Diavolo couldn't reach him.
Bruno no longer answered him, he no longer wanted to talk. He would have to get rid of the devil king, capture the princess and leave. He was exhausted, but the adrenaline rushing through his veins would be his best ally. "Let it be done, Diavolo." Sir Bruno said.
Bruno knew that his best strategy right now fighting against someone physically stronger and with a better weapon would be the element of surprise. He tried to intimidate Diavolo by making quick random movements right and left, to disorient him. He then took a couple of steps back to get some distance.
Giorno's horse sensing the fight became uneasy and started stepping away from them. Bruno immediately started stepping closer to the horse remembering one particular instruction Giorno had given him right before he took off, "Whatever you do, do not let go of the reins." Bruno saw the reins on the ground moving freely along with the horse, at any moment Golden Experience would sense its freedom and start trotting back to the Joestar estate, as Giorno had taught the horse to do. Sir Bruno slowly tried to walk near the reins, and grab them, before the horse spooked away.
"You're not getting away." Diavolo cautioned, as he saw Bruno trying to get a hold of the reins, Diavolo kicked the dirt on the ground and tried to spook the horse. "Hi'ya!" Golden Experience started trotting away from them. Sir Bruno felt his heart sink, his chance for escape had scampered away. Bruno kept dodging Diavolo's attempts to stab him, walking back as he watched the horse scatter away and to the side of the castle to finally disappear.
King Diavolo thought about throwing the pointy edge of his dagger right in the Knight's heart but whatever he did needed to look like an accident. He thought about this all night, and he had to figure out a way to get Sir Bruno unconscious without actually causing any physical damage. He decided he would throw the dagger and damage a part of the Knight's body, long enough to slow him down so he could beat him. Hitting a vital organ strong enough would be all he would need.
The knife flew at full speed towards the knight, sir Bruno tried to avoid it but the distance was too short and the blade dug right into his forearm as he tried to protect his chest from it. Bruno felt the sensation of fire from the pain caused by the blade breaking his skin and slicing his bone. He blinked a few times, trying to take in the pain and keep fighting. He tried to pull out the knife to use it, but it was completely stuck in the bone. He felt the gush of blood dripping on his arm. "There's no coming back from this Diavolo ..." he told himself, knowing that the king had gone mad, and simply didn't care anymore.
"No, for you will die." The devil king said one last time, before raining down on him with his fists against him.
Sir Bruno defended himself as best as he could but the fight had become impossible, he was tired, wounded, and bleeding without so much as a proper weapon. The skies had forsaken him, and the fight was not in his favor. But he thought of her, in that moment of despair he thought about Trish's lovely innocent face. If he didn't rescue her, who knows what the monster devil would do with her. Bruno decided that neither of them would come out alive from there. When he realized this, his fighting style changed completely. He would have to end Diavolo's life even if it cost him his own.
Bruno thought of the princess and put morality aside, he threw himself at the devil king and with the savagery of an animal tried to hurt him in the most lethal body part, the jugular vein in the neck. The Knight slipped through the punches and grabbed Diavolo by the neck and pulled him against the pointy edge of the pliers.
King Diavolo tried to pry off the Knight's hands from his neck, he grabbed the knife stuck on the Knight's forearm and twisted it as much as he could, the blood gushing out of the wound making the knight cry in horrible pain.
"AHH!!!" Sir Bruno shouted, but wouldn't stop pressing the tip of the pliers against Diavolo's neck. He pushed the tool harder and deeper into Diavolo's neck, making a dent in the skin, about to pierce it. Bruno had nothing but one goal left in life, to push the sharp edge into Diavolo's neck, break the skin and end his life. He continued to press forward and push King Diavolo backward. He pushed him against the wall of his castle but as Diavolo pushed back they were stuck in a stand-still. Diavolo choking, but unable to free his hands as he was pushing away Bruno, and sir Bruno pushing forward trying to stab him, not backing down.
"ARHG!!!" Bruno yelled and pushed forward with all his might. Suddenly Sir Bruno felt a cool sensation of numbness quickly spread through his body, at first he thought it was sweat, or perhaps the blood loss making him weak. But the look on Diavolo's face, the smirk on his lips, it was all too calculated. He let go of his neck and chest and slowly stepped back. He was forced to remove his hands from King Diavolo as his vision became dark and cloudy. When his hand reached the nape of his neck, he felt something then yanked it out, a small arrow. He looked back at Diavolo, as he had ceased to attempt to hurt him. He looked at the item in the palm of his hand. He realized it had all been a setup. The darted arrow was without a doubt poisonous. Sir Bruno attempted to run away and simply survive for the princess. But it was too late, his legs had given out and he fell on his knees, and then backward. The last thing Sir Bruno saw was Diavolo standing over his body.
"You should have fucked her."
Then everything went dark.
--
Earlier that night at Castle Joestar
--
Sir Bruno and Prince Giorno had just finished signing the paperwork which confirmed that the entire estate and wages of Sir Bruno Bucciarati now belonged to Princess Trish of House Passione, regardless of their marital status. It was clarified that the estate belonged to her, and only her, the riches could not be transferred to anyone else she married, nor would her father, the king, have any claim over them. Princess Trish would be the sole proprietor of Sir Bruno's wages as a captain, along with any estate inherited from his father, who passed away, including a small cottage in the outskirts of Naples.
Sir Bruno was getting ready to leave the castle. He was readying a horse prince Giorno had provided. "Prince Giorno, I will return your horse as soon as I speak with the princess about the arrangement." He said, as he carefully mounted the golden stallion.
"That is perfectly fine Sir Bruno. I have trained this horse to return to me, from anywhere in the land. When you get to Passione and no longer need him, just set him free, he'll come back to Castle Joestar." Prince Giorno said as he stroked the Golden Experience's golden mane.
"What if someone tries to take him?" Sir Bruno asked, adjusting the reigns on his hands.
Prince Giorno smiled and shook his head. "He will not obey anyone's commands once they let go of the reins… So whatever you do… don't let go of the reins, or he will leave you in the middle of nowhere." Prince Giorno laughed. He'd gotten more comfortable with Sir Bruno as they'd spent the last few hours speaking about the princess. "Once he left Trish stranded in the woods, it was quite amusing… You can ask her about it when you see her."
Sir Bruno smiled weakly and looked at the horizon, he wouldn't get a chance to exchange any more stories with the princess because he was going to annul their marriage. "I'm afraid that won't be possible Prince Giorno… I'm only going to tell her about the cessation of the marriage and let her know we've filed the paperwork with your lawyer so that all of my assets belong to her now."
Prince Giorno continued stroking the horse's hair, "Sir Bruno… I can see how in love you are and how much you truly care for her. Giving up everything... for a woman you practically just met… I have to ask…. Are you sure you don't want to just try and make the best of it? You're already married... And she's grown fond of you. Why not just make the best of it?"
Sir Bruno looked at Prince Giorno's emerald eyes filled with empathy and kindness. "She didn't want to marry me… I want her happiness, that is all I care about."
Prince Giorno nodded, for he agreed. He looked up at Sir Bruno and could see he was heartbroken, his eyes looked tired and defeated. "I will honor your resolution, Sir Bruno. It's truly admirable. I wish we'd met under better circumstances, I'm sure we would have been best of friends."
Sir Bruno smiled. "I too wish we'd met under different circumstances, Prince. Now I must go. I have a long journey ahead."
Prince Giorno waved Sir Bruno goodbye and then returned to his duties as Prince. He would explain to his father about the situation with Sir Bruno and Princess Trish. He wasn't expecting his horse would be returned the same day but it had only been a couple of hours after Sir Bruno's departure and Golden experience was back in the Joestar estate. Prince Giorno went to the courtyard to receive his horse, as he normally would. Make sure everything was alright from his journey.
As Prince Giorno examined Gold Experience he noticed bright fresh blood on the neck of the horse by the reins, not by where the hands would be but further up. Prince Giorno felt his stomach turn, he didn't like this one bit. He examined the horse to make sure the blood was not caused by a wound inflicted on him, but there was no wound. As he examined the horse's head, a long pink hair was entangled by the horse seat. He thought it might be Trish's as it was pink, but upon closer inspection, it was much longer and it had dark spots, like those of King Diavolo.
Prince Giorno furrowed his eyebrows, his instincts told him something had gone terribly wrong. "What exactly went on over there?" He asked the horse as if he could respond.
He looked at the satchel on the horse's back and it looked as if it had been ripped open and a pair of small pliers were missing. Prince Giorno had all the confirmation he needed to further investigate and put Golden Experience back in the barn and quickly mounted Requiem, his racehorse, immediately taking off to Castle Passione.
