"... I smelled gas, there was an explosion, and then I woke up in another body, in the Ninth Lord's manor with Chloe as a slave." I finished my story, pausing to take a breath, feeling mentally exhausted.
"..." Luke stared at me silently, his expression unreadable.
I felt nervous. "What are you thinking about?"
"Thinking?" He shook his head slowly. "It's definitely... a lot. This world was a book, a fantasy story in your world?"
"I'm sorry, it's crazy..."
"You said I was the villain in the story?" Luke reach out and grabbed my hand, interrupting me.
"Y-yes."
"And in the story you read, I went back and slaughtered everyone in the Ninth Lord's household. I killed anyone who stood in my way and eventually tried to take the throne by force?" Despite the terrible things he was saying, I couldn't help but smile at how ridiculous it all seemed.
"I know it's hard to believe..."
"I believe you."
"What?" As he answered me in a deadpan tone. I stared at him in shock, "Just like that?"
Luke rubbed his forehead, looking pained.
"Because it's true." He finally whispered. "If I hadn't met you... I without a doubt would have taken that path."
"Luke..." I wanted to apologize, but wasn't sure where to start.
"So if every major character in the story dies..."
"Except the main hero and the villain." I interrupted.
"Except for me and Graham." He corrected with a slight grin. "Then you thought if you didn't have a name it would protect you?"
"It's not about having a name or not. It's about being important enough to the story to have a name." I sighed. "Every character in a book has a name, but the ones who are just extras, unimportant side characters, you never learn them. That's the character I wanted to be."
"..." Luke stared at me for a moment, and then laughed.
"Why are you laughing?"
"Because haven't you done the opposite of that?" He counted off on his fingers. "You saved the villain and changed his life. Led the heroes team through their second challenge. Saved the villain again after he was betrayed. Was proposed to and refused by the main villain... and now you're helping the villain beat the third test and become king?" He stopped, looking up at me with an amused grin. "Am I missing anything?"
"...Technically I also refused the hero's proposal... and drugged him." I muttered.
"Pardon?"
Ignoring Luke's sudden intense stare in my direction, I coughed awkwardly and tried to change the subject. "So does that mean it's too late for me?" I felt gloomy at the thought, remembering with a shudder Fetter's undisguised atmosphere of barely controlled violence. "I'm doomed?"
A warm hand grasped my own. "I wouldn't say that. This world is different then the book you read, right?"
"In some ways, yes, but in others..."
"But it might have changed enough that you can't be certain that everyone important will die." He squeezed my hand. "Don't give up hope yet."
I thought it over. Maybe he was right. So much had changed already... "Can I still not have a name for now?"
"Sure." Luke grinned. "Take as long as you need."
"After the third test. After that, I'll take on a name." My voice shook slightly with anxiety at the idea, but I answered him firmly.
He stared at me "You had a name before, right? In your old world? Will you take that name back?"
"No." I shook my head, thinking of my life before I arrived in this world. "I... was a very different person" A weak person. Dependent on Chloe and her good opinion. Scared to be alone. "I don't want to be that person again. I'll choose a new name."
I met Luke's eyes as I spoke, surprised to see him blush slightly. Looking away, he mumbled. "Well, when you do want a name... there's something I call you in my heart..."
Seeing his embarrassed, flushed appearance, I couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, when we've gotten through this safely. I'd love to hear you call my name."
"..." He nodded slowly, his hand still tightly holding my own. The warmth of his palm seemed to travel up my arm, settling in my chest, my heartbeat increasing as the silence stretched between us.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. "So... the second party."
Luke let go of my hand, leaning back in his chair to sip his now-cold tea. "When you told me you know how to convince the Nine Lords to support me...?"
"It was because I know how Graham did it in the books."
"But then no one has the advantage, right?" he frowned as he thought. "Graham's party can convince the Lord's, and Fetter has your sister who has the same knowledge as you do."
"That would be true... if this world were the same as 'Deadly Crown.'" I rubbed my hands together. "Which is why I have a plan."
We spent the rest of the night plotting and scheming.
___________________________
Before long, the next party had begun.
Everyone had gathered again, but the tension in the room had greatly increased, to an almost palpable level. I clenched my fists into the skirt of the grey silk gown Luke had prepared for me, the smooth sensation against my palm strangely comforting as I stared at the battleground before me.
There were nine Lords, nine keys, and we needed five of them.
"Are you ready?" Luke leaned in closely, grabbing one of my hands in his own with a grin. Before I could answer, a loud voice interrupted, grabbing the room's attention.
"His Royal Majesty would like to say a few words!" The servant bowed deeply as he spoke, turning the room's attention towards the gold encrusted throne and the figure sitting upon it.
It was my first view of the king, Luke's father. He was older than I imagined, his hair and beard grey. His straight-backed form was draped in deep purple robes, a tall golden crown resting on top of his head. His face would have been considered attractive, I could see certain similarities to Luke and Graham, if not for his eyes.
His eyes were a dark green, filled with a certain arrogance as he stared down at the crowd. But there wasn't just arrogance...
His eyes were filled with madness.
We're all crazy.
I remembered Fetter's words from the last party, and shuddered. I felt the hand holding my own tighten almost uncomfortably. Looking up, Luke's solemn face stared down at me, before seemingly forcing a reassuring smile. I smiled back, trying to hide my unease, before looking back up to the man on the throne.
"Welcome all to the final test of the remaining heirs to the throne." The king grinned, appearing unconcerned regarding the fact that the majority of his sons were dead. "Over tonight and tomorrow night, the nine Lords will make their selections of who they believe to be the next best king. Whichever of you three brings five keys at the end of the third party will be allowed to open this chest which contains the next crown and seal." He gestured to a solid gold chest on the platform next to him which had five locks around its closure. "Good luck."
I shuddered at the bloodthirsty delight in his eyes as he spoke. "What a terrible person."
"What happens to him, in the book?" Luke leaned forward, whispering the question in my ear.
Lucien laughed as blood splattered on his face and hands, still clutching the saw and his father's severed head.
My eyes met a gentle concerned gaze. "He died." I gave a simple answer, praying he wouldn't ask for details.
"Good." He smiled. "Should we start recruiting Lords?"
I returned the expression. "Let's do it. Remember, Graham's success in the novel was mostly based on the Lords' hatred of you and their desire for revenge."
"But I haven't been slaughtering indiscriminately, like in the story."
"Exactly. So a lot of Graham's persuasive power is gone. And even more so for Fetter if he's relying on my sister." I shrugged. "She'll try to go along with the story, but she doesn't know how much you've changed it."
"So who do we go after first?"
I pointed. "You mentioned that you saved the Fourth Lord's daughter after she was kidnapped and returned her home, right? Let's start there."
The conversation went smoothly, and just a few minutes later Luke was clutching his first key.
"I can't believe he handed it over so quickly!"
Luke grinned at my words. "I'm glad I was trying to make sure you wouldn't be disappointed in me."
The Ninth Lord handed over his key quickly, having only earned his spot after Luke had captured the previous Lord and imprisoned him.
"I'm grateful that you were merciful at that time." The young man shook his head slowly. "Given how you were treated, you had every right to take our lives."
"I know." Luke took the key from him, a solemn expression on his face. "Thank the nameless slave who saved my life and begged for me to spare the innocent."
The third key was somewhat of a surprise. It was the First Lord, who approached us first with a reverent expression.
"You are the Nameless One?" To my shock, he ignored Luke, reaching out to shake my hand.
"...Yes....?"
"I am in awe of your teachings, after hearing them from my valet!" His smiled widened. "I too have sought to cast off my name and joins the ranks of safety and obscurity."
"..."
"..."
Luke and I stared at him, unsure how to respond. Laughing brightly, the man thrust a key into Luke's hand. "Good luck, main character. May one day you find the peace of casting off the spotlight as well." With those words he walked away, seeming to almost have a spring in his step.
"..."
"..."
"Luke..."
"Seems like your cult has spread to the nobility..."
"My cult?"
Luke chuckled, reaching out and pulling me to his side gently. "Even when you aren't trying, you somehow manage to save me. How can I ever let you go?"
I felt conflicted, equal parts warmth and fear warring within me at his words and touch. I cared for Luke, I wanted to stay by him...
But isn't this exactly what happens to side character women before they are killed?
Just as I was pondering how to respond, however, a shrill voice called out, and the owner of which strode towards us with a grim expression.
"How dare you show yourself at this party, you whore?"
I smiled at the newcomer. "Lady Lindel, I was just wanting to work off some excess stress. How about I kick you in the face again?"
Her eyes widened. "Have you no shame?"
"Not towards you." I reached out and grabbed Luke's arm, recognizing the dark look on his face, squeezing my hand tightly until he looked towards me again. "I'll take care of this."
His forehead wrinkled as he stared at me with concern, despite my whispered assurance. "But..."
"Mother!" Graham ran forwards, placing himself between Lady Lindel and myself, his arms spread out as if to separate us. "How dare you speak to my future wife like that?"
"Future wife?"
"Future wife?"
"Your future what-now?!"
Luke, Lady Lindel and I all spoke out almost in unison at his shocking declaration.
"How dare you seduce my son?!"
I shook my head. "Honestly, I'm more curious at how you raised him, given his ability to make up such fantasies."
At my words, Graham frowned. "Don't be shy dear. Once I become king, you'll be by my side always. No matter what." His gaze turned cold as he looked towards the woman who had given birth to him. "If you try to separate the two of us, I will kill you."
Lady Lindel stepped back, shocked. "I am your mother!"
"You aren't useful to me anymore." Graham's voice was laced with the threat of violence. "Feel free to enjoy the fame of being the mother of the future king, but if you stand in the way of me and my chosen person... I'll make you beg for a merciful death before I'm done. She is mine. No one can take her from me. Not even you."
I inched away, positioning myself partly behind Luke as the obsession in his voice overwhelmed me.
Graham noticed my actions, his eyes dimming. "Why are you standing so close to my brother, dearest? I'm the only one you need to look at now. The only one you should watch." His voice slowly raised in volume, as he stepped closer, a hand reaching out as if to push Luke aside. "Why aren't you at my side? Why aren't you looking at me?!"
"What is this commotion?" A cold voice stopped Graham in his tracks, his outstretched arm falling to his side even as his eyes continued to be fixated on my face. I glanced over at the source, surprised to see the King who had stepped down from his throne and now stood only a short distance away. "Who was the cause of all this?"
Lady Lindel opened her mouth, her finger already pointing in my direction, but Graham spoke up first. "My mother, Your Majesty. She was targeting my chosen consort and threatening the peace of your third test."
The hero's mother turned pale as her husband's eyes looked her up and down, his face expressionless. "I see."
"No, Your Majesty, I didn't..."
The king waved a hand. "Kill her."
Without hesitation a guard at his side drew his sword, and swung it at the defenseless woman. Her chest caved in at the blow, blood and bone fragments flying through the air as she fell to the ground, blood pooling beneath her and soaking her dress and hair. A few drops hit my skirt, and I took a few steps back in shock. She died quickly, clawing at her wound, her mouth open in a silent scream she couldn't release.
"There, now it's quieter." The king smiled warmly, the expression completely at odds with the violent scene in front of him. "I think we'll end the party early tonight so that this mess can be cleaned up." He looked around at his sons. "Five keys have already been given, four keys are still not claimed. One of you has the lead..." His eyes stayed on Luke for a few moments. "So the rest of you will have to work even harder to get the remaining keys." With that he walked away, never looking back at the body of the woman who once called him husband.
I felt dizzy, staring down at the now dead Lady Lindel.
I had been so happy being at Luke's side that I had forgotten.
My hands were shaking at my side. I clenched them tightly.
I had forgotten how much I hated this world, that kills people terribly, violently without reason or warning.
I closed my eyes slowly, blocking the disturbing sight from view, but the look of terror on the woman's face was engraved in my memories.
This is the fate of anyone important enough to the story that meddles in the plot.
"Are you okay?" The gentle question brought me out of my silent panic, but as I opened my eyes it was not the person that I expected to see.
"Leave me alone, Graham."
The hero's face was a perfect look of concern and affection, something that would be sure to stir any woman's heart...
If not for the blood drops splattered on his cheek.
Or the still-warm body of his mother on the floor.
"Don't worry, Dearest." He never looked down even once, his gaze focused on me. "She can't hurt you anymore. No one is standing in our way now!"
"She told you 'no' Graham." Luke stepped in between us, allowing me to let out a sigh of relief as he broke his brother's line of sight.
"Stay out of this, brother. She gave you back your token. She'll be mine."
"She's no one's. And if you try to force her, I'm happy to let you join your mother in the afterlife." The threat in Luke's voice wasn't forced. He seemed ready to pull out a weapon at any moment.
"This from the prince who's terrified of getting his hands dirty?" Graham laughed. "I'm terrified."
Remind me again who is the hero and who is the villain of this story?
"Fine. I will wait until tomorrow night, and claim my throne and my wife together."
With these words he turned away, leaving his mother's corpse on the ground behind him.
"Luke?" I called out quietly, grabbing onto his hand as if it were a lifeline while taking a few slow deep breaths. The old terror, the fear that had gripped me from the moment I had entered this world slowly faded. I wasn't the same helpless girl that had first arrived. I had changed. I had grown strong.
In response to my anxious call, Luke's hand tightened on my own. His gaze was stuck to Graham's retreating back, an air of barely restrained anger and violence hovering around him.
"Let's go."
We walked away hand in hand, an uncomfortable silence between us as we both wrestled with our own thoughts.
___________________________
Knock. Knock.
I woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of someone knocking on my window. Lifting my head off my pillow, I looked around my darkened room, trying to get a sense of my surroundings. I was in a small but luxurious room, my strewn belongings on the floor a mismatch for the graceful décor. I was on the ground floor, with the single window facing a rear garden. The courtyard should be protected by patrols of guards, but that didn't mean it would be impossible for an intruder to reach my window.
Knock. Knock.
The sound repeated. I stood up, clutching my sword that I had stashed at my bedside. Looking through the glass, I saw a familiar face looking at me with a smug expression.
Fetter.
He gestured for me to open up the window. Let me in. I could see him mouthing the words.
I pointed at my sword and then at his throat. Come in and I'll kill you. I mouthed back.
I turned away, planning to leave the room and find Luke, unwilling to face off with this terrifying person alone.
SLAM!
His palm slapped against the glass, the sudden noise causing me to jump. But as my eyes traced back to the window, it wasn't the sight of him that stopped me in his tracks, but the parchment in his hands, pressed against the window, a single word written on it on full display for me to see.
I felt the blood drain from my face, my hands tightening on the sword hilt, the leather cutting into my palms. Slowly, I approached the window, opening it and slashing my sword forward at the same time.
"Watch it!" Fetter jumped backwards, but didn't move fast enough to save the paper, which was cut into two pieces, both halves fluttering to the ground on either side of me. They landed face up, still allowing me to see the word that had been written on it. I stepped on the pieces, grinding them into the dirt, tearing them to shreds beneath my feet. The dirt and rocks in the garden path cut into my feet, but I ignored the pain, focusing on destroying the word until it could no longer be read.
"Do you really hate your name that much?" Fetter was smiling, but the expression looked more like a wild animal baring its fangs.
"..." I stared at him silently, my weapon still held ready. It had caught me by surprise. That parchment he had held had a single name written on it. My name. My old name in my old life. "It's not my name anymore."
"Then why did you destroy it?" Fetter laughed quietly. "Seems to me that you care greatly about your old name and it being known." A long finger tapped his chin as he pretended to think. "I wonder how you would react if I announced your name to everyone?"
"..."
"Then you wouldn't just be a nameless person anymore, would you?"
"..."
"I wonder how long you would last after that?" He stared past me, as if imagining it. "I would love to see my brothers' faces when they look at your corpse."
"..."
"Hey, this is no fun if your don't fight back!" Fetter leaned forward. "What if I agree to keep it a secret if you agree to betray your precious Lucien?"
BAM!
My left fist connected with the prince's smirking face before my thoughts could catch up. Fetter flew through the air, stumbling backwards as his back struck a nearby tree trunk. Sliding to the ground, he rubbed his face and stared up at me with an affectionate expression.
"Yes! Just like that! I love your struggling face the most! I'm so happy I could get my hands on the one thing you are the most scared of!" He clapped his hands. "You know, Graham has already become absolutely delusional at the idea of being cared for my someone who doesn't want to use him for personal gain, while Lucien is at his absolute breaking point. I bet it won't take much of a push to send him into a killing spree." He leaned back against the tree, chuckling, wincing slightly as the movement hurt his face. "The more they want you. The more they care... the more I want to break you. And now I know your name."
"I won't join you." I raised the sword to hold it between us. "Name or not."
"You say that now, but hear me out!" He raised his hands, as if surrendering. "I'll give you until the party tomorrow. If you agree to join me, send me a message. If not... Well, I hate to keep such a juicy secret to myself, you know? "
I want to kill him.
But even as I stepped closer, I heard the sounds of others close by. A careful glance around showed several archers hidden in the plants around us. Fetter had left nothing to chance. Seeing my gaze, he smiled, using the tree to help himself to his feet.
"Think about it." He leaned forward, whispering my old name in my ear. "Goodnight."
And with that he was gone.
___________________________
I stared at the tree where he had sat moments ago, my whole body trembling with rage and fear.
It's over.
Trying to avoid the plot. Trying not to have a name. All of it would be useless in the end. I couldn't betray Luke. Couldn't avoid Fetter.
Should I run?
"This is your fault, you know."
Chloe's voice pulled me from my thoughts. Startled, I looked up, to see a dark expression I didn't recognize on her face. Tired, I slumped down, sitting down against the tree that Fetter had fallen against just moments ago.
Isn't this area supposed to be secure?
Chloe must have taken my silence as me blaming her, as she spoke up defensively, coming to stand in front of me with a self-righteous air.
"Don't look at me like that! So what if I told Fetter your name? Your stupid theory of being an unnamed character isn't even true anyways." She spread her hands widely. "I've been using my name all along, and I'm just fine!"
I sighed. "What do you want, Chloe?"
"You were never supposed to be here." She stared down at me with increasing intensity. "This was supposed to be my adventure! I was supposed to come to this world and be the heroine. That was the deal!"
The world around me seemed to freeze.
"What do you mean 'deal'?"
"The ritual was only supposed to be for one person! I was supposed to be important... but you're getting in the way. Everyone is only focused on you... even Fetter, who should be scheming against the other princes, is wasting his time trying to get your name from me!"
I was standing now, with no memory of how I had reached that position, the sword in my hand trembled in the air, the tip slowly rising to point at my sister.
"The ritual?" My mind raced, as I remembered our last night before we woke up in this book world.
The smell of gas...
"Chloe?" My voice broke on her name. "What did you do?"
"I just wanted to live in my favorite world! Is that such a bad thing?"
"Please... don't say this." My free hand reached out and grabbed her shoulder. "Say it was a freak gas explosion that killed us. That this was a just a weird, unexplainable event. That you're just as confused as me."
"..."
"Please?"
"I found a ritual, a paper, folded between the pages of my copy of 'Deadly Crown'. All it took was a small sacrifice."
"Our lives?"
Chloe shrugged, her voice emotionless. "Well, it actually said I only need to leave my life behind... but I read online that additional sacrifices increase the success rate of rituals like this..."
"..." I couldn't help it. I threw my head back and laughed. A loud, broken, painful sound. I slowly let go of my sister, stumbling back towards my open window.
"Don't act so innocent! You always thought you were better than me, Especially after Mom and Dad died..."
I had just been about to jump back into my room, but her words forced me to pause and look back.
"Do you really think anything you say will justify what you've done? You're lucky I don't just kill you here."
Her eyes widened. "You wouldn't dare!"
"I wouldn't be so sure. This world changed me, for better or worse." I smiled. "But you, sister dear... you were always someone who belonged in a world like this."
I thought of Graham face, splattered with his mother's blood as he happily talked about the future. Of Fetter's eyes, that looked at each person as an animal to be slaughtered. Of the king, that forced his own sons into a game of death and laughed while he watched them struggle.
"You fit right in." I jumped through the window, getting ready to close it.
"It's too late! Fetter already knows your name! You won't survive this book! Everything will go back to normal! I'll be the heroine! Everyone will love me! Do you hear me?"
I closed the window, shutting out whatever else she had to say.
I wanted to kill her. I desperately wanted to kill her.
But I wouldn't.
My last concession to the fact that she was my sister.
"From now on... we're strangers."
"Are you sure you don't want her dead?" A quiet voice behind me caused me to spin around. Luke, dressed in dark clothes, his sword at his side, leaned against the wall, half hidden in shadows, his expression unreadable.
"Let her go. The world is changing, she has very little advantage to her now." I looked at him closely. "Why are you here?"
"I heard shouting."
I smiled at the genuine concern I could hear in his voice. "Thank you for checking on me. I'm fine. I'll just be going back to sleep."
"... Are you sure?"
His question gave me pause. "What do you mean?"
"Are you sure you're alright?"
I thought of Fetter's threat, the name written on the parchment. The time limit he had given me before releasing my name to everyone around us. Of Chloe, her ranting... the truth of our crossing over.
"I'm sure." I said the words with certainty. No matter how scared I was about Fetter knowing my name, my brief hesitation was over. I wasn't going to run away. Because no matter how much this world terrified me, no matter how much I hated it. I couldn't leave it alone.
Because he was here.
Luke has changed so much. He's no longer the terrifying villain that he was in the story. I have to protect him.
I said goodnight to Luke, lying back down in my bed, my thoughts full of what the next party would bring.
___________________________
"Should I just kill them all?" Luke whispered quietly to himself, staring into the flames of his bedroom fireplace. "Is that the only way to protect her?"
"Your highness?" The masked servant trembled on the floor where he knelt nearby. The bloodlust radiating off the prince was more than even a seasoned soldier like him could handle.
"Is there anything else to report about my brother's visit to her?"
"No. Just that whatever word he had written on the paper seemed to terrify her." The servant shuddered as the air seemed to freeze over at his words. "Should I try to recover the pieces?"
"... Destroy them, instead. Do not attempt to read the contents."
"Yes, Your Highness." The servant stood to leave, but was stopped by a sword to his throat.
"That is not an idle threat. If you attempt to look at the word written there. I will kill you. Slowly and painfully."
"..." Too terrified to move, the servant nodded slowly, until the blade slowly was pulled away.
"Good. Then go. Gather everyone, be prepared for anything tomorrow night."
The servant left, and Luke was left alone.
He stared into the flames; all too aware of the dark turn his thoughts had taken. The idea of his half brother threatening her... scheming against her... was more than he could bear calmly. The antics of Graham hadn't helped matters at all. He had barely been able to restrain himself from taking the fool's head right there and then as he babbled on about her belonging to him, marrying him. Everything was closing in around him, but the focus, the danger wasn't on himself as Luke had expected, but at the person by his side.
What use is this world if it kills her? His hands tightened into fists.
"It's not too late." He muttered finally. "I'll protect her."
But no matter how much he tried to reassure himself, he couldn't escape the sense that everything had slipped beyond his control.