Princess Heart[1] : The Day He Left

(POV: Vynesaa El'Leather)

Why?

Why am I feeling this way?

Why do I feel guilty after killing him?

Isn't this what I wanted? To win?

Then why?

Why did I strike him from behind?

Where did my pride go?

As a princess, as a warrior, I should have faced him head-on. So why?

Was it fear?

Was I afraid that I would lose if I didn't kill him then?

From when…?

From when did I start prioritizing victory over my pride?

And from when—when did I start wanting to make Ed mine?

And why?

----

[Years Ago…]

The wind howled through the open courtyards of the royal palace.

Two small figures standing in the middle of a grand dueling ring.

Zareth and I.

I was eight. He was ten.

And yet—

SMACK!

His wooden sword flew from his hands, skidding across the marble floor.

His knees buckled as he collapsed, gasping for breath.