(Arte's POV)

Heart pounding frantically, Arte rushed through the palace halls, her golden hair flying behind her. Her ocean-blue eyes searched the area for someone, anyone, but they were all gone. No one was there. Where had everybody gone?

The sound of footsteps that were not her own caught the girl's attention, and she followed the noise until she spotted Yuka, one of the palace maids, running toward on of the many secret escape routes scattered about the palace. "Yuka!" Arte called. The other girl stopped and turned around, eyes wild with fear as Arte caught up to her. Once she recognized who it was, though, some of the panic vanished from her eyes.

"Yuka, where is everyone? Where are you going?" Arte questioned.

Yuka stared at her with her frightened brown eyes. "The people...the people have risen in rebellion. We can't hold them off, so we're fleeing! There's not much time left."

Arte's orbs widened in understanding. So the news of the revolution had already reached the palace. "So you're all running away?" she asked, not in an accusatory tone, for she understood. Xerxes was an awful prince - he treated servants, soldiers, commoners, anyone, like dirt. It was completely reasonable that they would abandon him rather than risk their lives to fight for him.

In answer to Arte's question, Yuka nodded. "I think I'm the last one." she informed her. "Except you, of course." Much to Arte's surprise, Yuka grabbed her arm. "Come on, Arte," the other girl said hurriedly. "You should come with me."

With a melancholy smile, Arte pulled her arm away. "I can't right now, Yuka." she said cheerily. "You go, and I'll catch you later, alright? Don't wait for me."

Yuka's eyes widened. "But - "

"Just go." Arte gave her a gentle push toward the secret passageway. "I'll be fine, Yuka. Don't worry about me. Just go, and stay alive, understand?"

Her face visibly confused, Yuka nodded uneasily. "O-okay." she looked doubtful, probably for Arte's sanity, but she listened to her order and climbed into the secret passageway, making her escape. Arte watched to ensure that Yuka fled, before pressing the wall and covering up the tunnel again. Then she turned away and continued running through the palace toward Xerxes's room.

However, a sight in the great hall stopped her.

Arte was so taken by shock, she froze in horror.

Collapsed on the floor of the great hall, blood pooling around her from a stab wound on the back, was Head of Maids, one of Pandora's Three Heroes, Mariam Futapie.

Regaining control of her limbs, Arte rushed over to the fallen woman and felt for a pulse, a breath, something to show that she was still alive. She found nothing. Mariam's skin was cold and her body was stiff, without the slightest hint of movement.

She was dead.

But how? Arte wondered. The citizens haven't even reached the palace yet! Who could have killed her?

Did they have a traitor in their midst? Or perhaps, more plausibly, a supporter of the rebels? It wouldn't have been a far-fetched idea.

What if this person, or maybe there were several, had already killed Xerxes?

Heart filling with terror at the thought, Arte leaped to her feet and sprang like a gazelle up the countless flights of stairs until she arrived at the highest peak in the palace - Xerxes's room. Almost afraid to look, she forced herself to, with hesitant hands, open his doors.

Xerxes was there, standing in front of his windows, watching the rebellion approach. He turned around when he saw her, and shock ripped through the relief Arte had felt when she'd seen that he was alive.

Her friend had always looked so carefree. His eyes had been bright, and his smile had been ever-present, unaware of the hatred directed at him, unaware of how much everyone despised him.

But right now, his red orbs were filled with stress and worry. His posture, usually so poised and proud, was set in a defeated slump as he observed the rebels.

"Arte." he greeted tonelessly.

Stepping into his room and fully shutting the door behind her, Arte hurried over to Xerxes and took his hand comfortingly. "I'm here." Deciding that he did not need to be staring at the revolutionaries on their way to storming the castle and killing him, she led him over to his bed and helped him take a seat, not wanting to meet his eyes and see the horrible strain in them.

"I..." Xerxes's voice was faint. "I'm going to be executed, aren't I?"

Horror-struck, Arte whipped around to face him, her eyes wide. Xerxes, however, wasn't looking at her. He was staring at the floor, eyes resigned but filled with fear that was steadily increasing. "They're never going to forgive me for all the things I've done, right?"

It was then he finally met Arte's eyes, his red orbs saturated with panic. "I...I don't want to die, Arte." he stammered. His fingers around hers clenched tighter, almost painfully.

"Shhhh." Arte patted his head gently and pulled him into a hug. He was trembling. He was trembling, and it broke her heart - Xerxes, who never showed fear, horror, or terror.

"The servants left, didn't they?" Xerxes asked.

Arte bit her lip. As much as she wanted to lie and say they were fighting for him loyally, he had to realize the full gravity of the situation - that no one was on their side. "Yes." she whispered. "They're all gone."

"And you?" the maid froze at Xerxes's question. Feeling her stiffen, the prince pulled out of her embrace to study her face. "Why haven't you left, Arte?"

Suddenly, Arte was angry. Angry at the citizens for revolting, even though it was understandable. Angry at Alice for sparking this whole mess, even though she had the right. Angry at the rest of the servants for abandoning Xerxes and fleeing, though he really didn't deserve their devotion. Angry at herself for so many things. And angry at Xerxes for ever believing she'd leave him to death and run away.

"I will never leave you?" Arte said firmly, taking Xerxes's shoulders and staring him straight in the eye. "Do you understand me, Xerxes Break? I will never leave you."

Xerxes turned away, his gaze dropping to the floor. Clenching her fists, Arte stood, ready to carry out her plan, when he grabbed her hand. Startled, she looked at him to find him smiling up at her.

"I thought I was alone." Xerxes said faintly. "I thought I had no one. But you, Arte...you were always by my side. Even now, you're doing everything for my sake." he paused, as if the next words were ones that he didn't say often, and was therefore almost unsure of how they went or how to say them.

"Thank you."

Hearing those words, Arte's eyes widened. Never once had she heard Xerxes thank someone. Not even her.

He was growing. He was changing. He was maturing.

Smiling softly, Arte kissed his forehead. "You're welcome." she murmured. Standing up once more, she stepped toward the door. "Wait for me, Xerxes. I'll only be a moment - I have to get something."

Squaring his shoulders, Xerxes nodded.

Leaving the room, Arte ran toward Queen Charlotte's room - or at least, where her items, things such as cosmetics, dresses, and jewelry, were stored. Even though the queen was dead, her items had been moved to another, less extravagant, but still grand room in her honor, as had King Oswald's.

Reaching said place, Arte hurried to the wardrobe and threw open the door, briefly looking through the available outfits for the most fitting one she could find. Eventually, she pulled out a dress and grabbed some hair clips from the vanity. Then she turned and left, closing the door behind her, running her her next destination - the servants' quarters.

Arriving in it, Arte threw open the door and was surprised at just how poor the quality of the room was. The beds looked small, lumpy, and hard to sleep on, and the bedposts had cracks and scratches due to age. A musty smell saturated the air, making the maid wrinkle her nose. Though she was technically a servant, she'd never slept in here - Xerxes had ordered her own room furnished for her, and it was far better than this one. No wonder the maids, butlers, and other workers held such resentment against their prince.

Throwing open the small closet full of clothes that the servants wore, Arte picked out the plainest trousers and shirt she could find, slung them over her arm as she had with the dress, and hurried back out, closing the door and hurrying to her final goal - her own room.

Entering it, Arte was unprepared for the surge of emotion that hit. She'd loved her room, and still did, and now would be her last time in it.

Now's not the time.

Shoving aside her emotions, Arte searched through her own closet until she found it - a traveling cloak that Shelly had given to her. It was long, but short enough to allow the wearer to move their legs and run without danger of tripping, with a full hood that could completely cover the wearer's face.

Perfect.

With all these tucked in her arms, Arte rushed back upstairs to Xerxes's room. He was still sitting on his bed, face pale. When she entered, he looked up, eyes turning bewildered when he spotted all of the various clothes she held.

"Arte? What...what are you doing?"

Without answering, Arte walked over to him and thrust the servant's clothes and the cloak into his arms. He looked at them, confusion plain on his face, then back up at her as she smiled and began to unfasten her maid's dress. "Put those clothes on, Xer." she said, turning away to give him a little privacy. Still not knowing what was going on, he did the same and put them on.

Arte finished, her maid's clothes shed. She was now clad in the beautiful yellow dress that Queen Charlotte had worn. It was a bit big, but she'd tied the ribbon around the middle tighter to compensate. As for her hair, it was pinned up in a graceful ponytail with a red rose clip for ornamentation.

Despite the dire situation, Xerxes gave a lopsided grin, which made Arte smile. "These shabby clothes are surprisingly comfortable." he said teasingly. "And that dress looks good on you." With a playful bow, he offered his hand like a gentleman to her. "Ojousama."

Arte dropped her gaze to the ground at the word. It was exactly what he'd called her ten years ago when he'd given her that flower crown.

"Xerxes." she said. He looked up to see the serious expression on her face. "Put on that cloak and stay in this room. Be very quiet and don't make any noise. When the revolutionaries come, they'll take me instead. You wait in here, and when you're sure they've left, take the secret passageway in this room and run. Run far away to some other country and don't look back."

(Xerxes's POV)

Eyes widening, Xerxes stared at her.

"What are you saying, Arte?" he whispered.

"Just what I'm saying. I want you to wait in here until the revolutionaries come. They'll take me away instead, and then you use the secret passageway in here to run away. Don't stop. Don't worry about me, Xer." she smiled sweetly. "I'll be fine."

Xerxes shook his head wildly. "No. No, Arte. I won't do it. I won't let you do that. How would you...how would you even convince them to take you instead. It's hopeless. It won't work, and you know it. Don't be foolish, Arte." Mind blank with panic, he rambled on, desperately snatching excuses from the back of his head to dissuade her from this. He couldn't lose Arte. He couldn't.

He might've babbled on forever, but suddenly, Arte surged forward and pressed her lips to hers.

Time stood still.

His friend wrapped her arms around his neck and wound her hands into his hair.

And on autopilot...

Xerxes found himself kissing her back.

It was bliss.

It was ecstasy.

It was utter perfection.

Arte pulled back, blushing. Xerxes was sure he was, as well. Had he just kissed her? Arte, his childhood friend? His maid? He'd just kissed her.

"Shut up." Arte muttered. "Stop babbling, Xer."

Her blunt words snapped Xerxes back to reality - that people were coming to kill him, and that Arte intended to sacrifice herself for him - and in the span of a second, he was pleading with her again. "Don't do this, Arte. I can't lost you too. Please don't...just..."

"It's alright." Arte smiled. "I will lie for you, Xer. No one will ever call you evil again."

Here, take these clothes.

Put them on and escape.

It's alright, I will lie for you

No one will ever call you evil again.

Tears blurred the prince's vision and he felt his heart rending in two. Why? Why was fate being so cruel to him? He'd only just realized how much he loved Arte, and now, she was being taken from him.

No.

Charging forward, Xerxes grabbed her arm. "You're not going." he said firmly. "I won't let you go."

Arte met his eyes, and he faltered and the sheer determination in her ocean-blue orbs, but then his grip tightened again. She was not leaving him. He wouldn't allow it. "You're not leaving me alone, Arte. That's an order."

She looked at the ground, her eyes disappearing from view under the golden strands of her hair. "Yes," she breathed, "I am."

"No. I won't let you - "

"It's not for you to decide, Xerxes."

And with that, Arte raised her hand and shoved him.

Stumbling backwards, Xerxes found that he couldn't regain his senses, mostly from shock.

Arte had...she had just pushed him.

"Goodbye." her voice called.

Goodbye.

No.

No! Arte, wait! Wait! Don't go! Please don't go!

The door closed just as a scream of agony ripped from Xerxes's lips.

"Arte...don't leave me!"

(Arte's POV)

"Arte...don't leave me!"

His voice was filled with such pain and torment. A sad smile crossed the maid's lips. How ironic fate was. She'd sworn to protect Xerxes from all harm, but in the end, it was her who'd hurt him the most.

Even if that's the case...I will protect Xerxes!

The smile vanished off the maid's face. Now, she had to convince the citizens that she, Arte Rainsworth, was the true evil behind it all. To do that, she'd have to become a different person.

If they called Xerxes a Prince of Evil...

Then now, she had to change into the Princess of Evil.

Finding a shelf, Arte dragged it over and barricaded Xerxes's door. If he was left to his own devices, he'd surely try to come after her. Sweet, loving Xerxes, who'd finally realized the error of his ways.

But it was too late.

Someone had to pay for his sins.

And that someone was her.

After all...

Hadn't she killed Shelly? Hadn't she driven her knife through Gilbert's heart? It hadn't been Xerxes. It had been her.

She was just the same as Xerxes.

I, too...am evil.

Arte glanced back at Xerxes's room. If I'm evil as well, it doesn't matter. If someone must die, if we're both evil, then it might as well be me.

Arranging her face into a cruel smirk, Arte held her head high and descended gracefully down the stairs toward the great hall. I am now...the Princess of Evil.

Just as she took a seat on the throne, the doors burst open.

Alice, accompanied by Ada Vessalius and several other rebels stormed into the hall, their weapons ready. Their faces were drawn with determination, but upon seeing Arte, dressed like a princess, they stopped.

Her sister was the first to unfreeze. "Arte..."she stuttered, her face shocked. "What are you...what are you doing here?"

Arte sneered. "Alice." her icy gaze traveled over to Ada, whose green orbs were fierce.

"My, my, what's this? I never expected the peaceful Ada Vessalius to join a revolution. After all, you could barely hold up a sword without impaling yourself with it, isn't that correct? And to worsen matters, I find you in the company of," she let her eyes fall on the rebels, "peasants."

Alice stepped forward. "We don't have time for this, Arte. Where is Prince Xerxes?"

The girl snorted. "That gullible fool? You plan to execute him?"

"Of course!" cam the fiery retort that was so expected from Alice. "He's the one responsible for everything!"

Allowing a scornful look to cross her face, Arte tittered behind her hand. "You are even more of a fool then I initially believed, Alice. Do you honestly think Xerxes Break acted on his own? An incompetent pig like him could never possibly rule a kingdom. He couldn't even slice a loaf of bread without assistance, the spineless idiot."

"What...what do you mean?"

With an exaggerated sigh, Arte waved her hand arrogantly. "Xerxes Break was nothing more than a puppet ruler. Do you know who ordered him to commit all of those atrocities?" A cruel smile twisted the maid's face. "It was me."

Her sister's face blanked over. It was as if she'd heard Arte's words, but their meaning was not sinking in.

"You...you did that?"

"Of course! He was wrapped around my little finger from the day we met. Like an obedient little dog, so eager to please me. It was quite adorable, actually. So why shouldn't I use him? He was the perfect pawn - I became the true princess of Pandora through him, thanks to his foolishness."

Now I'm the princess and you the escapee

Destiny divided these tragic friends.

If they must call you evil,

Then I too shall become evil as well.

"No." Alice whispered, her face uncomprehending. "I don't believe it, Arte. You wouldn't. I know you wouldn't."

Arte sneered. "I just told you everything, and even now you stand there and try to deny my words, because you can't bear the face that your dear little sister, a person you thought you knew so well, was behind it all. I'm disappointed, Alice. You and Xerxes Break - both of you are laughable. Truly, you're utterly pathetic."

"But you...Arte, you can't have..."

"Still in denial, are we? Face the reality, Alice. It was me. I am the one responsible for all those deaths that you thought were Xerxes Break's fault. The truth hurts, doesn't it? Ignorance is a bliss, as they say. But if you want to wallow in self-pity and deny the truth of the matter, so be it. I'm sure she would be so very proud." Smirking, Arte laughed at the look of despair on her sister's face.

Hurry up, Alice. Declare me the real evil, and arrest me. Alice, I know you can do it. You're strong - one of the strongest people I know. Alice...my sister.

As if God had heard Arte's mental plea, Alice squared her shoulders. "Very well then. Arte, I know see the truth - you are the true clarity behind it all." she turned to Ada. "Xerxes Break was never the Prince of Evil - our true foe was Arte Rainsworth, the Princess of Evil."

Yeah, I know that chapter pretty much sucked. I'm sorry, guys.

This one was so long, and I was on a massive writer's block. I was like, "How can I play this scene out?" The end result was this crappy thing. I may revise it in the future, who knows.

But thanks for reading, and I'll see you guys soon!