No Man's Land | San x reader fanfic

⟡°. ⋆༺☾ One 𖤓༻⋆. °⟡

It was easy to feel overwhelmed by the bustling streets of downtown Sundsvall, one of the most popular town in Utopia, mainly because of its proximity to the main palace of the House of Bernadotte, the Tre Kronor. The palace loomed over the small town like a beast, casting a shadow over parts of the town that were nearest to it. Down below, the chaos was daily. Regular arguments over pricing, the occasional drunk man waddling around aimlessly before quickly being subdued, and perhaps an oblivious child knocking over a stall.

Strutting through the overcrowded streets of downtown Sundsvall, two white maned horses walk past smaller townsfolk who quickly step backwards to create a long gap in the centre of the street for the golden-blue carriage to pass through uninterrupted. Large, white wheels roll across the bumpy stone road, gently rocking the carriage up and down, to the discomfort of the two women sitting inside. The carriage was adorned with swirling gold in intricate patterns like gusts of wind, reaching up to each corner of the white vehicle. Small, delicate unlit lanterns stand in each corner on a short, gold pillar. A detailed crest of the House of Bernadotte is placed on both side of the carriage, its surface glistening in the bright sunlight. Behind, two suited men stand unmoving on the vehicle like statues, while another sits in front, their faces motionless.

Inside, sat two princesses: You and your sister, Jang Wonyoung. You sat opposite of her on the plush, navy blue couch, your eyes locked to the thick book in your hands. Large crowds outside didn't mean anything to you, they would come and go. There was no reason to look outside or interact with townsfolk, you would return eventually and be forced to anyways. Meanwhile, your sister gazed out into the streets, her smile sweet like honey and eyes filled with content. The ride continued in silence, with none of you daring to speak to one another. Most of the noise outside was muffled by the insulated walls, and their faces were hidden behind tinted windows, but Wonyoung still made an effort to wave calmly to the crowd, laughing quietly at their reactions.

"Why bother interacting with the townsfolk? Just do it when father and mother forces us to wave."

Upon hearing your jeer, Wonyoung turns around slightly, her focus shifting towards you. Your book now lay abandoned on your lap as you rested your head on your palm, gazing up at the bright sky above with a bored yet disgruntled expression. "That's because I want to, dear sister. There will come a day where acting all stoic won't save you. There will be a day where your attitude can mean life or death, and you need to face the reality that you cannot stay cooped up in your room forever," She replies calmly with an undertone of seriousness. "The least you can do is try, even if it doesn't seem like much. We are royalty, princesses to be exact. And this is what princesses do. We don't have another path."

The words seem to just go in one ear and fly out the other, your sister's words felt muffled and unimportant to you, like it was just another conference your father always drags you to to "prepare you for the future". You refuse to look back at Wonyoung, your azure eyes focused on the ever-moving road of grey stones of all sizes to try and distract yourself from the truth. You knew she was right, but why would you ever admit that to her?

Wonyoung's gaze shifts to concern, her sapphire eyes softening as she shifts closer to you. "(name). Listen to me. I know you don't like being told what to do, especially by someone like me, but this is important. You've spent most of your life in the Tre Kronor, surrounded by servants and maids waiting on your every command. Most of your life was struggle-free. Most of your life is filled with extravagant diners and an endless supply of wants. Most people don't have it like that." She pauses, reassessing her words. "You can't hide behind the safety of your status every time you struggle. This goes for the both of us."

The carriage falls into an uncomfortable silence once again, with the trotting of the horses coming to a stop. A guard walks to the door, his voice muffled. You could only assume that he was announcing their arrival as he opens the door. Wonyoung shuffles out first, carefully holding her expensive dress up. With the help of two royal guards, she elegantly steps onto the paved street, her baby-blue dress flowing around her like gentle waves brushing against the shore. After her, you exit the carriage, your shoes clinking as they touch the ground. Gazing around, you notice the port town was unusually empty, the crowds seemingly disappearing into their homes. You walk towards your sister, who stood at the edge, her hands lightly pressed against a waist-level stone wall. Following her gaze, you spot a fleet of navy ship arriving at the naval port, many of them damaged in some way.

"The situation between Wonderland and us has worsened, and I don't think it's getting better any time soon. I just hope it doesn't reach Utopia." Wonyoung murmurs quietly to no one in particular, staring off into the ever darkening skies.

You turn to look at her, your expression slightly softening, before turning stoic again. "It'll be fine sis, Wonderland's no match for our navy anyways. Let's go back in before it rains."