Love Stories From Starlight Kingdom (ch1)

EARLY RELEASE FOR MY $30+ PATRONS!

Here we go! The Mahikaren chapter is the only one with 3 characters instead of 2, so I try to give each of them their own little scenes with the others in the ship, and of course plenty of moments of all 3 together.

The first tale will start off in the spring. I'm sure you'll figure out the base fairytale pretty quickly.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.

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											Chapter 1. The Knights And The Princess

Once, there was princess who was born into Starlight Kingdom, but she was born under a curse.

Her wealthy parents had been known to hoard their riches from those in need, and thus had been visited by a cautioning spirit. The spirit warned that their firstborn would suffer a cold, eternal sleep if the child should ever come to bleed for reasons unnatural.

The king and queen tried to bribe the spirit away with riches and money, but it only hissed a threat before vanishing.

The rich couple regretted and relented their curse, but they were determined to keep their child safe for the sake of their public image, if nothing else.

Some people said they deserved the curse for being so selfish, but others believed the child should not be the one punished. Others still said they should kill the child either before or after it was born so it would not have to live a life of fear and despair.

But the king and queen refused, no matter how tempting it might've sounded. They didn't want to risk their reputation, and perhaps some small part of them wanted to care for the child as well.

In spite of their riches and comfort, darkness surrounded them every day, up until their daughter was born.

And so they named her Hikari – their little light.

Their plan was simple – to keep her locked away inside a tower with limited contact from people, so that she would never be cut or come to bleed. They raised her themselves when she was a baby, kept her inside their castle at all times.

But it was very expensive to care for the child constantly – even for a king and queen – and their money began to dwindle. It wasn't long before Hikari's parents decided they did not want to care for her themselves any longer.

So they announced to the town that they would pay anyone who was willing to assist them with a plan. They wanted children Hikari's age to be her guards, to live with her in seclusion through all her years and keep her safe, while Hikari's rich parents would pay only for essentials and nothing more.

Immediately there were two couples unwanting of their children who agreed. They each exchanged a baby girl for a heap of coins and left without a second glance.

And so Hikari's parents raised and trained the two young girls – Karen and Mahiru – until they were old enough to understand Hikari's condition. They trained them to be her guards, so they knew no other purpose in life than to protect the cursed princess.

When the girls were all 15 years old, the weary king and queen left the castle one night and never returned, abandoning the three girls and taking what was left of their money with them.

Some say that, even though it was twisted and selfish of them, it was still a form of love for their only child.

And even though Karen and Mahiru had been given away by their own unloving parents, and conditioned to be what they were, they never saw it that way. They loved Hikari, and they wanted to protect her however they could.

And so the girls have lived alone together in that tower for three more years now...

. . .

. . .

Even though Mahiru and Karen had their own beds, they never used them, especially since the three of them had been left on their own. Hikari suffered from frequent nightmares thanks to her curse, so her two friends always slept together with her in the middle to make her feel safe and warm.

Because the nightmares often kept her up, Hikari tended to sleep in late.

So even after the curtains have been painted yellow with sunlight, she is still fast asleep. Mahiru and Karen wake around the same time as per usual and quietly greet one another.

"Good morning, Karen-chan."

"Good morning, Mahiru-chan."

Both of them smile and stretch out a little bit as they gaze fondly down at the girl in between them. Hikari's white nightgown and dark hair against her pale skin make her appear so frail when she sleeps. Luckily, her expression is relaxed and peaceful now. Karen looks at Mahiru to discuss things as per their morning routine.

"She woke up about 3 times last night."

Mahiru nods.

"Right. In total, she lost just as many hours of sleep."

"Poor Princess Hikari..."

They each rest a hand on Hikari's head and pet gently. When she might usually just continue sleeping peacefully beneath their touch, this time Hikari whimpers and her breath catches. Karen and Mahiru share a frown.

"Don't tell me she's having another nightmare."

"This isn't fair..."

They wait a moment, but Hikari doesn't seem to be getting any better. So her two knights come to a silent agreement to wake her. Slowly, they both lean over her and press soft kisses to her cheeks.

"Princess," Mahiru coos. "Please wake up."

"Princess Hikari," Karen hums. "Our Sleeping Beauty."

Hikari's brow furrows with discomfort and distress, and her fingers curl tightly into the sheets. Mahiru and Karen each take one of her hands and hold them gently.

"Princess-"

"You can do it!"

Another frightened sound escapes her lips, and she flinches a little, but eventually Hikari's eyes begin to flutter open. Her knights sigh in relief.

"Thank goodness."

"Princess Hikari!"

Frazzled and puzzled, Hikari blinks up at them until a spark of clarity lights in her eyes.

"Karen... Mahiru..."

They both keep trying to smile, but the sound of Hikari's exhausted voice – just from a night of trying to rest – makes them both flinch.

"That's right," Mahiru says gently. "It's us."

"Good job waking up, Princess Hikari," Karen praises her.

Hikari is still breathing a little harshly from her fright, but she does her best to smile. Karen and Mahiru both lean forward over her, wrapping their arms around Hikari's back to help pull her up.

They sit her up slowly, and Hikari makes a dizzy-sounding moan. Both of her friends support her, hugging her close until she's calmed down a little.

"It was just another nightmare," Karen whispers.

"That's right," Mahiru says. "You pulled through and woke up, just as you always do, Princess."

Hikari swallows thickly and does her best hug them both in return.

"Thank you..."

"There's no need to thank us."

"We'd do anything for you, Princess Hikari!"

After a moment, the trio eases apart a little. Hikari's eyelids fall shut again almost immediately simply from how exhausted she is. Karen and Mahiru share a glance.

"I'll go start on laundry and then breakfast," Mahiru offers.

Karen nods.

"Thanks, Mahiru-chan. I'm gonna stay with her a little longer."

Mahiru nods in turn. She kisses Hikari's temple again, then slowly gets out of bed. She crosses the room to gather her uniform for the day - vest, skirt, boots, and mace - before exiting the bedroom and closing the door behind her.

Mahiru is the one who typically cooks and cleans most around the castle, simply because she's better at those than most other things.

Karen, on the other hand, is a bit more skilled in terms of handling people and their emotions, so she tends to stay with Hikari to help her get ready.

But this morning, Karen can tell her princess is still shaken from the most recent nightmare. Having her get out of bed now would only cause her to be dizzy and unbalanced all day, and that only heightens the risk that she might get hurt and come to bleed. So for now, Karen comes to a decision.

"Princess, Hikari?" Saying her name rouses the other girl a bit, but when she opens her eyes they're glazed with exhaustion. Karen pats her shoulder for her. "I think it might be best if you try to sleep a little more for now."

Hikari swallows. There's still the underlying fear of the nightmares clutching her heart.

"Karen, will you... stay with me...?"

Karen pulls her close in a warm hug.

"Of course I will!" She can feel Hikari's pulse beating quickly against her chest, still scared of the things that haunt her. Karen eases back and kisses her forehead. "Please get some more rest, Princess Hikari. Your heart is still beating so quickly..."

Karen carefully lies her down onto her back, giving her the middle of the large pillow as always. She pulls the blankets back up over her princess and smooths out her long black hair to ensure it doesn't get stuck or tugged on.

Hikari exhales a shaky sigh as Karen lies down beside her. She drapes an arm over Hikari's stomach to help her feel more secure; when they go to bed each night, Mahiru would do the same thing from Hikari's other side so she would feel safest.

Hikari's eyes are already closing even before she's completely settled. Karen brushes her cheek against hers and kisses her nose, feeling the last conscious breath leave Hikari's chest. Her pulse gradually slows down, and Karen continues to monitor it for any signs of distress.

She stays with her tired princess and lets her sleep for about another hour this morning. Karen only rouses her again when she can smell that breakfast is ready.

"Princess Hikari," she whispers. "It's time to get up."

If she could, Karen would let her rest all day if it meant she could sleep in peace. But she wants her to eat something to maintain her health. So as Hikari opens her bleary blue eyes, Karen kisses her forehead.

"Good morning, Princess."

Hikari sighs, and her lips curve upward just a little.

"Good morning, Karen. Haven't I told you and Mahiru to just call me by name?"

"You have," Karen confirms. "But we're just so used to this! You are a princess, after all!" Karen slips an arm around her back and helps her sit up, smoothing her hair out for her. "It smells like Mahiru-chan has finished breakfast! Let's go eat."

Hikari simply nods.

Karen helps her out of bed and into the wash room so she may change and freshen up. Karen dresses herself in the meantime and secures her sword on her hip.

When Hikari emerges dressed in a blue gown and silver shoes, Karen dips into a bow and offers to escort her. They descend the staircase together and are greeted at the kitchen by Mahiru, who has tied a pink apron around her stomach.

"Good morning, Princess!"

Hikari dips her head.

"Good morning, Mahiru."

"Wow!" Karen beams. "Breakfast looks delicious!"

"Th-Thank you."

The three of them sit down to eat the plates of freshly-cut fruit and omelets.

As a precaution, just about all of the utensils in the castle are plastic, save for a few necessary silver cutting knives. Other than those, a few pairs of dull scissors, and the knights' weapons, there wasn't anything else Hikari could risk cutting herself on.

Either Karen or Mahiru would always escort her down the stairs in case she were to slip, and one or both of them was constantly beside her for anything.

Even the food they ate was checked and re-checked by Mahiru as she was preparing it. She would ensure they only ate soft things, nothing with nuts or hard shells, and nothing with bones.

It was a very challenging life to lead, but for Hikari's safety it was more than worth it to them.

They eat quietly this morning, only kicking up casual conversations.

"So Princess," Mahiru asks. "What books would you like to study today?"

Hikari chews slowly and thinks for a moment.

"I would like to read a bit more about history."

"Great choice!"

"Mahiru-chan," Karen says. "We've gotta do some sparring, too."

"Yes, you're right."

It's another calm spring morning as per usual. Their days don't typically consist of much, as doing most things in life could potentially cause some form of injury, and they just aren't willing to risk much more than reading and bringing Hikari along for slow, short walks.

It isn't always the most eventful or entertaining lifestyle, but it's the safest and best for their princess' wellbeing.

This morning goes as typically as most, until Hikari suddenly flinches.

As soon as it happens, the calm about the kitchen bursts into controlled panic. Both of her knights notice immediately and are up from their seats in seconds, each grabbing one of her hands in earnest.

"Princess!"

"Princess Hikari! What's wrong?"

Hikari shakes her head and swallows, trying to pacify them.

"It's nothing. I just bit my tongue a little..."

"Are you all right?"

"Can you taste blood?"

"N-No," Hikari mumbles. "I'm fine."

Her two knights let out a mutually-relieved sigh.

"Thank goodness..."

"I'm so glad..."

They let Hikari have her hands back. The princess folds them into her lap and fidgets, bowing her head.

"I'm sorry to have worried you..."

"N-Not at all!"

"P-Please raise your head, Princess!"

They pat her shoulders soothingly until she looks back up at them.

"You two are too good to me."

"Of course," Karen smiles. "We love you, Princess Hikari!"

"We do!" Mahiru agrees. "Our greatest fear is that you might get hurt."

"Gosh, I'll never forget the first time you lost a tooth," Karen says. "There was blood dripping down your lip and I was so scared."

"I was terrified!" Mahiru whimpers. "But since it was something natural, your curse didn't take effect."

"It was such a relief..."

Hearing them talk fills Hikari's conflicted heart with warmth. She's always known they love her, just perhaps not how dearly. That's probably an amount she can't even fathom.

They've kept her safe all her life, from anything and everything that could ever possibly hurt her in any way. She can't even begin to imagine just how difficult and stressful that must have been for them. After all, you never really think about all the things that can cause injury in life unless you've been tasked with protecting someone with such a tedious curse.

Hikari has often thought about all the things they must've sacrificed for her sake.

And all she's ever done in return is worry them.

Hikari lowers her head a little and eats the rest of her food in silence.

When they all finish, Hikari picks up her plate with hopes to bring it to the sink, but Karen quickly intervenes.

"I've got it, Princess Hikari!" She takes the plate out of her hands and carries it herself. Hikari's shoulders slump. She isn't even allowed to help with the dishes for fear one might break in her hands.

But she's determined to help out today. She wants to show her knights how much she appreciates their hard work.

"Mahiru. Karen," she says softly. "Please let me help today."

"Eh?" Mahiru pauses at the sink and looks to Karen with startled eyes. "P-Pardon my saying, Princess, but I'm not sure if-"

"I'll be fine. I'll wash them very slowly and with only a sponge." Her knights remain quiet a while longer, so the princess presses on. "Please. I want to help you both. You do so much for me, and I never give anything back..."

"That's not true!" Karen protests.

"Yes it is!" Hikari snaps. The other two are taken aback by her passion. Hikari narrows her eyes. "All I ever do is take from you and cause you trouble. I want to help, too. It is my castle, after all."

Her knights share another worried glance. But eventually, Karen gives a nod.

"Okay."

"Eh?" Mahiru yelps. "B-But Karen-chan, the King and Queen said-"

"The King and Queen abandoned us and Princess Hikari years ago. I don't think their rules still hold water here." Karen gives her a determined look. "As long as she's careful, Princess Hikari will be fine. We'll make sure of it, won't we Mahiru-chan?"

Mahiru stiffens, but eventually nods.

"Right."

So they both walk with Hikari to the sink while carrying their plates. Mahiru hands her a sponge and some soap, and instructs her on how to scrub and when to rinse. Karen is on standby, ready to lunge and pull Hikari out of the way if the plate should slip and shatter.

But with Mahiru's calm voice guiding her, and her own determination in her heart, Hikari manages to wash and clean the plate without incident. Once she's placed it on the counter to dry, both of her knights give a squeal and throw their arms around her.

"Princess! That was wonderful!"

"You did it!"

And Hikari doesn't react right away. She can't remember the last time she'd done something out of her usual routine, let alone succeeded in it. A smile quickly spreads across her lips, and she hugs both of them back in exuberance.

"Thank you Karen, Mahiru!"

The little victory boosts everyone's confidence for the day.

They first head to the study, where Hikari chooses which books she'd like to read in order to learn basic knowledge of the world. One of the knights always sits with Hikari at all times and turns each page for her to avoid the possibility of her getting a paper cut, and today that's Mahiru.

Meanwhile, Karen takes up the role of scouring the vast royal library in search of clues or references about Hikari's curse. There was no known way or any hints on how it might be broken, so whenever Karen or Mahiru have a moment to spare from all their other duties, they are searching for answers.

They've read thousands of books by now, researched different kinds of mischievous spirits and witches that cast all sorts of curses, some that have cures and some that don't.

But in all their years scouring that colossal library and making orders of new books as well, they've found nothing about Hikari's curse, nor of how to break it.

Today it's Karen's turn to search tirelessly for such a clue, but ultimately she finds nothing.

After a few hours, they head to lunch. After they eat, Hikari washes another dish without incident, and they hug her all over again.

Such a minor accomplishment is so massive to Hikari. She wants to try doing it every day from now on to make them proud.

In the afternoon, her two knights decide to venture outside to do some training.

They're always nervous about bringing Hikari outside, because even a scrape from a stick or an insect bite could seal her fate. That's why there are no trees or bushes within a certain radius of the castle, nor any flowers with thorns. It's a windy day, so the breeze will deter insects, so that's why they bring her outside.

They give her her usual seat on a cushioned chair, getting ready to head off a good distance away into the courtyard. But before they go, Hikari spots something in the grass.

"Oh! It's that little one-"

Her two knights look up to see a small black bundle underneath the distant bushes and instantly are both on high alert. The cat raises its head and gives a mew as it begins to trot over. But Karen and Mahiru step in front of it, gently deterring it and sending it away. Hikari watches them sadly.

"I wish I could pet it..."

Karen turns back and walks to her slowly.

"I know. But we can't take the risk of it biting or scratching you."

"I'm sorry, Princess." Mahiru bows her head.

Hikari sighs, but eventually shakes herself off.

"Don't apologize. It isn't your fault I was cursed."

Leaving the cat at a safe-enough distance, the two girls head back to the courtyard. Hikari gets comfortable in her seat near the castle doorway, eager to observe.

Karen and Mahiru are surely two of the most skilled knights in all the kingdom, especially since they began training at such a young age and were burdened with such an important duty. She's watched them train just about every day of her entire life, even if it's from inside the castle, and they never cease to amaze her.

The two of them stand apart and bow respectfully before drawing their respective weapons. Mahiru wields a heavy mace with such ease and elegance, and Karen is quick and graceful with her sword.

They both charge and begin sparring, the hard clang of metal on metal resonating around the property over and over again.

Hikari has always loved them for all they do for her. But she's always envied them, too; for their freedom, for their ability to train and move as they please.

She'd always wanted to learn how to wield a weapon too, in order to protect herself and the two of them.

But of course she couldn't touch any kind of blade or get involved with any kind of confrontation. All she could ever do was watch.

There had been times when people had come to the castle in search of her, often times to do her harm. Some wanted to see if the curse was real and have Hikari prick her finger. Some didn't like the rumors of their country's cursed princess and longed to get rid of her themselves.

That's why any person who approached the castle was met with her two knights, and regarded as hostile no matter the circumstances. Even deliveries of mail and food could never come into Hikari's hands until one of her knights had opened and checked everything first.

They'd had to draw their blades and fight people off before, and Hikari had evacuated into a secret, secure room underground. She'd once stayed there for an entire day until the coded knock had come to let her know she could emerge.

Karen and Mahiru went through so much trouble on her account every day. Some days it was loads of trouble, and others it was hardly anything. It's all Hikari can do to lessen their burden as much as she can, in any way she can.

But she is at least relieved to know they enjoy training together like they are now.

Both of them are smiling as they spar, giving pointers here and there, or otherwise trying out combination moves together.

Hikari watches them both fondly. She thinks they're both most charming when they're fired up like this, but not in actual peril, of course. Their hair and skirts flutter out behind them as they clash again and again. They're both so strong from being able to exercise and train, unlike Hikari who is almost pathetically frail.

The princess sighs and waves at the little black cat from across the courtyard, imagining what its fur might feel like after soaking in so much sun. She'd come to accept long ago that she could never do many things most people of her kingdom could do. But even now after eighteen years, she would still often suffer pangs of longing.

Hikari closes her eyes as the sounds of her knights' training fades into the back of her mind. She dozes lightly, not enough to invite nightmares, but just enough to give her body some sufficient rest.

They spend a good portion of the afternoon like this. Hikari wakes a while later to find the two of them still training at full enthusiasm.

She's almost about to doze off in the comfort of the sunlight again when she hears a noise that disrupts the tranquil soundtrack.

"Ah-!"

"Mahiru-chan!"

Hikari opens her eyes instantly to see what's happened.

Off in the center of the courtyard, Mahiru has dropped to her knees, her mace clattering beside her. Karen instantly sheathes her sword and crouches beside her.

"I'm sorry, Mahiru-chan! Are you okay?"

Even from here, Hikari can see the dark red dripping from Mahiru's hand, and her heart clenches. She's on her feet in seconds and hurries over.

"Mahiru!"

Mahiru looks up, flustered as her princess nears.

"Ah, i-it's all right, Princess! I'm fine! Karen, don't worry about it. It's nothing serious." She soothes each of them as Hikari reaches her. She can see the blood oozing from between Mahiru's fingers, but thankfully it isn't a lot. Karen is already pulling a roll of bandages from her skirt pocket.

"Geez, I'm sorry! It's all my fault!"

"It's fine, Karen. I got a little careless, too."

Hikari watches in silence as Karen begins cleaning and wrapping Mahiru's hand. Her eyes are drawn to the blood speckled on the cobblestone below.

She's almost never seen blood in all her life, and most people would assume that was for the better.

But to Hikari... she envies even this. She can't even bleed like they can, or be healed like they can...

"Princess...?"

"Princess Hikari?"

"Eh?" Hikari blinks to find both her guards looking worriedly up at her. Karen helps Mahiru to her feet, but all their attention is on her now.

"You look a little pale," she says with concern.

"I'm sorry," Mahiru bows her head. "I know the sight of blood must make you uncomfortable."

"Not at all," Hikari says quietly. "I'm just glad you're both all right. I wish there was something I could do to help..."

"It's all right, Princess!" Mahiru bows. "Please don't worry yourself! I'm fine! Karen-chan has patched me up wonderfully." She lifts her injured hand, now covered thoroughly in bandages. "It's a good thing I've trained to use both hands efficiently in combat, so I can still fight even as this one is recovering."

Mahiru's words reach Hikari, but she doesn't really listen all that well. There's a stinging feeling in her chest, one she can only recognize as guilt. If it weren't for her and her curse, Mahiru and Karen wouldn't have to do any of this...

Hikari reaches out to take Mahiru's hand, and silently brings it to her lips, holding a kiss to the bandages. Mahiru stifles a squeak.

"P-Princess?!"

"I'm sorry," Hikari says, gently letting go. "If not for my curse, you wouldn't have to get injured training like this." She turns to Karen and offers her hand. Karen tilts her head, puzzled, but eventually understands. She gives her hand to Hikari, and the princess kisses that too. Karen blushes.

"P-Princess Hikari..."

"I know you're feeling guilty about accidentally hurting Mahiru. You're both hurt in different ways, and it's because of me..."

"N-Not at all!"

"That isn't true, Princess!"

Both of her knights earnestly take each of Hikari's hands and squeeze, their eyes ablaze with honest passion.

"Please don't blame yourself!" Mahiru says.

"She's right!" Karen yelps. "Mahiru-chan and I do this because we want to keep you safe, Princess Hikari!"

"We want nothing more!"

"We love you, Princess Hikari!"

And Hikari wants to believe their words are true. But there's a dark shadow over her heart, one that makes her doubt. She can't look at either of them right now. Bowing her head, Hikari pulls her hands away from them.

"I'm tired..." she murmurs. "Let's go back inside..." A dreadful feeling of defeat seizes her and makes her movements stiff. Her knights share a worried glance before hurrying after her.

All the rest of the evening, Hikari barely says a word other than mumbles of gratitude to them, and she doesn't lift her head. They eat dinner in silence, get dressed in silence, and get ready for bed in silence. Karen brushes Hikari's long hair for her while Mahiru sits in front of their princess on the bed.

"Please, Princess," she says. "I just want to be sure you don't have a fever. You haven't seemed well all afternoon."

Hikari makes no protest as Mahiru rests the back of her good hand against her forehead. After that, she measures Hikari's pulse for a moment, but ultimately concludes she isn't ill.

Once Karen is finished with Hikari's hair, she puts the brush aside on the nightstand and moves in close from her side of the bed.

"Princess Hikari, it's going to be a bit cold tonight, so please keep close to us."

Hikari simply nods.

The knights share another worried glance, but in the end they lie down on either side of her as always. They adjust the blankets and the pillow to give Hikari the most of each, then slide in close on either side of her.

Hikari lies on her back, and Mahiru and Karen each drape and arm across her stomach in a loose embrace.

"Goodnight, Princess," Mahiru whispers, and rests her head beside Hikari's shoulder.

"Goodnight, Princess Hikari," Karen whispers, and does the same.

Hikari's eyes are already closed, and her response is thin in return.

"Goodnight, Karen... Mahiru..."

She drifts off more quickly than usual tonight. Her guards aren't sure if they should be relieved or worried, since she'd been acting a bit strangely today. But she isn't sick or injured, so for now they simply hope she'll be better by morning.

So the two of them murmur quietly to each other.

"Night, Mahiru-chan."

"Goodnight, Karen-chan."

They curl around Hikari to keep her warm against the slight chill in the air tonight.

For a little while, they all sleep soundly.

However...

. . .

Hikari finds herself in one of the usual nightmares.

She's in her castle, the only place she's ever truly known, but Karen and Mahiru are nowhere to be found. She searches everywhere and even calls out for them, but they never come.

But she's seen it so many times before, she's learned to push through it, for the most part.

The worst thing about it all is the gripping, almost nauseating feeling of loneliness. It weighs heavily in the pit of her stomach, making her cold from the inside out.

She patrols her castle like a spirit, calling out knowing full-well there will be no answers. It feels like she's been doing this for eons, for lifetimes, lost in this cold, lifeless castle, with no sound other than her own voice.

Not even a bird chirps outside the windows. Not even the wind blows. Not a single sound.

Not until she hears footsteps.

But they aren't Karen or Mahiru's. She'd know them, even in her dreams.

This is something she can't recall ever happening before.

Hikari freezes as her blood run frigid. She can feel her heart thudding harder against her chest. She turns and flees, running to her secret room and hiding in the corner behind a false wall, pressing herself into the darkness.

She can hear heavy footfalls and deep voices, shouts of rage and hurtful laughter. She hears things crashing and shattering.

They're saying her name.

They're hunting for her.

No matter how tightly Hikari covers her ears, the muffled voices get through. Her stomach turns itself inside-out for what feels like hours as she cowers in terror.

By the time the intruders leave, she can smell smoke.

She bursts free from her hiding spot, legs shaking, and finds the room clogged with flames and black smog.

And at the center of it all are Karen and Mahiru, lying broken and lifeless in thick pools of blood.

The smoke fills her lungs, and the red at her feet stains into her skin and clothes. She drops to her knees.

She can't move. She can't even scream-

"Princess!"

"Princess Hikari!"

Mahiru and Karen both wake in a panic when they realize something is wrong. Hikari is shaking violently, and her heart is thundering. They sit up quickly, both reaching down to help Hikari up as well, trying to rouse her.

A short scream bursts from her lips just as her eyes fly open. Hikari throws herself forward in her terror and confusion, but both of her friends are there to catch her.

"Princess!"

"Princess Hikari!"

They steady her as best they can, locking their arms around her so she can't thrash about and hurt herself.

"Princess!" Mahiru calls again. "It was only a dream!"

"It's okay!" Karen whimpers. "Princess Hikari, please calm down!"

Hikari wails and struggles in their arms, and tears pour down her face.

"No!" she gasps. "It isn't okay! N-None of this..." She tries to pry them away, nails digging into their clothes, legs kicking. But that only makes them hold tighter.

"Princess! Everything's all right! You're safe!" Mahiru desperately tries to take hold of Hikari's hands, fearful she might accidentally scratch herself somehow. Karen grabs Hikari's shoulders to prevent her from thrashing.

"Princess Hikari! Please be still! We don't want you to get hurt!"

But Hikari shakes her head roughly and sobs, pouring all of her feeble strength into her violent motions as she tries to escape.

"Of course you don't!" she cries. "That's what my parents hired you for, isn't it?! You two don't actually care about me! It's just what you were always forced to do-!" She tries again to wrench herself free, clawing at them now like a trapped animal.

But her knights are much stronger than she is, though they're trying painstakingly hard not to use too much pressure on her.

"Wh-What are you saying, Princess?" Mahiru cries. "That isn't true at all!"

"Don't lie to me!" Hikari shrieks. "I know! I know it's all a lie! You were both forced to do this your entire lives! You don't actually care about me! My parents made you do it! You don't actually-"

"Of course we do!" Karen shouts over her, holding firmly onto her shoulders. "Of course we care about you, Princess Hikari!"

"You don't!" she screams. "You can't-! H-How can you... when you're trapped here...? My curse... I've trapped you both here... I've robbed you of the lives you were supposed to have. It's all my fault..." Her voice and body lose energy all at once, almost entirely depleted now. She sways and slumps weakly. Both her knights frantically hold her up.

"Princess-!"

"Princess Hikari!"

Mahiru has successfully managed to take one of Hikari's hands and keep her from balling her fingers into a fist that might've let her nails pierce her palm. Karen holds onto her other hand now, interlocking her fingers with Hikari's to do the same. She runs her free hand up and down Hikari's back, feeling just how badly she's still shaking, just how roughly her heart is still pounding.

Mahiru reaches up to gently cradle Hikari's head against her chest, trying to wipe the sweat and tears away. Hikari chokes on her sobs, but is too weak to try and push the others away anymore. She just wails into Mahiru's collar.

"It's my f-fault... You're both w-wasting your lives in here with me... I'm killing you both-"

And Karen notices the sudden venom in Hikari's voice, this deep-rooted guilt directed at herself. She's never heard her sound like this before. It terrifies her.

Even in the darkness, she can see the very second when her princess decides to end it all.

Hikari opens her mouth and bites down as hard as she can-

"No-!"

Karen moves with desperate speed to thrust one of her fingers across Hikari's lips. The princess' teeth come down hard and instantly draw blood, but it's Karen's and not her own.

Karen flinches, but she can feel that Hikari's lip hadn't been split in the process.

Mahiru realizes what's happened and yelps in terror.

"Princess! Karen-chan!"

"It's okay..." Karen grunts. Slowly, she draws her bleeding hand to her chest.

And it's that horrible feeling – the taste of Karen's blood in her mouth – that finally snaps Hikari back into reality. Her eyes grow wide, and all of her anger fades into nothing.

"K... Karen..."

She swallows, and she can taste the salt of tears and the tang of blood go down her throat. Coughing, she grabs onto Mahiru, shaking as if she'd been put through a snowstorm, breathing erratically.

Karen wraps a sheet around her finger to stop the bleeding and then is instantly refocused on Hikari, rubbing her back.

"Princess Hikari, it's all right."

"Princess," Mahiru whimpers. "Please breathe. Please take a deep breath."

Both Karen and Mahiru do their best to comfort her as she continues to weep – bitter, guilty tears. Somewhere in between all the sobs, apologies spill from Hikari's lips.

"I'm s-sorry... It's my fault..."

Karen and Mahiru shared a tortured look. But it isn't their duty to protect Hikari that torments them; it's seeing her in so much pain like this. With gentle fingers, they comb through her hair, over her shoulders, down her back...

"Princess," Mahiru whispers to her. "Please don't apologize. You've done nothing wrong."

"We're telling the truth," Karen insists. "We don't feel trapped, or like we're being forced to live an unwanted life. We love getting to spend every day together with you!"

"That's right!" Mahiru goes on. "Our parents gave us away willingly. Eagerly, even. If we hadn't gotten sent here to live with you, Karen-chan and I would surely be living miserable lives with our cruel families. But you saved us from such a terrible life, Princess."

"And maybe..." Karen tapers off, thinking carefully, then tries again. "Maybe it might seem that way. That we're only doing this because it's all we've ever known..." She lifts her eyes, seeking Hikari's. "But... to Mahiru-chan and I, we don't see it that way. We love being your knights, Princess Hikari. We love taking care of you and making sure you don't get hurt."

"And we love cooking for you!" Mahiru adds on. "We love reading with you, a-and eating with you, and we love getting to sleep beside you every night."

"All in all," Karen says softly. "We love you, Princess Hikari."

Hikari listens to every honest, heartfelt word they speak now, and feels awful for ever having accused them of anything short of genuine affection in all they did.

Gradually, the tears come to a stop; slowly, wearily, she lifts her head and looks up at both of them in turn. Her eyes are still watery and lined with redness, and there's a smear of blood on her lips. Karen carefully wipes it away. Mahiru kisses Hikari's temple.

"We do," she murmurs. "We love you, Princess."

"There's no other life we'd rather have," Karen says. She leans in a little bit, resting her forehead against Hikari's, brushing their noses together.

Hikari feels a throbbing in her chest, but it doesn't hurt like before. It flutters softly, seeming to make its way up her chest in the form of little hiccups.

"I-I..." She blinks, and two more tears drip free. "M-Me too... I... I love you too... Karen... Mahiru... I love you, too..."

And for the first time all night, the two of them smile.

Of course they've all always known how they feel about one another. It was in everything they did together, day in and day out.

But there's just something so special about finally being able to say it, and to hear it being said back.

"Princess..."

"Princess Hikari..."

"We love you!"

"We love you so much!"

They both throw their arms around her lightly, and Hikari manages to hug them both back. She cries, and this time they cry with her, with smiles on their faces.

They cry until there are no tears left to shed.

Mahiru gathers Hikari into her arms and helps her out of bed so Karen can bandage her finger up properly, and then replace the sheets.

All the while, Hikari holds onto Mahiru's injured hand, bringing it up to her chest. Mahiru wraps her free arm around Hikari's shoulders and nuzzles against her cheek affectionately.

"I'm relieved, Princess. Your heart isn't so troubled anymore." She can feel the soft pulse beneath her palm, much slower and steadier than it had been earlier. Hikari sniffles and merely turns to her for a small hug.

By the time Karen has finished with the clean sheets, all three of them are very tired. Karen takes Hikari's hands and guides her back onto the bed, while Mahiru supports her back.

Just as always, they lie her down in the center, where the pillow is softest and the blankets are warmest. As they settle in on either side of her, Hikari faces Karen and reaches for her injured hand.

"Karen, I'm-"

"There's no need!" Karen says. "Mahiru-chan and I will heal if we bleed. If it were you... that might not be the case. So we would much rather it be us."

Hikari nods.

"I'm sorry. I... I won't ever try to hurt myself again."

Karen leans over to kiss her cheek.

"I'm happy to hear it."

"Thank you, Princess." Mahiru kisses her other cheek in turn.

At long last, Hikari closes her eyes, holding Karen's bandaged hand in one of hers and Mahiru's in the other. Her knights snuggle close, gingerly resting their heads on Hikari's chest. Her heartbeat fills their ears, providing a rhythmic lullaby. But they only allow themselves to fall asleep after Hikari has slipped into slumber.

Karen and Mahiru stay awake a while longer to ensure she's all right. When they're absolutely certain, they both shift a little to kiss each other's cheeks softly.

"Goodnight, Mahiru-chan."

"Goodnight, Karen-chan."

Then they both turn to kiss Hikari's cheeks one more time.

"Goodnight, Princess. Rest well."

"We love you, Princess Hikari."

And with this, they rest their heads and close their eyes, and all three girls sleep soundly until morning.

For the first time in as long as she can remember, Hikari wakes feeling fully-rested. The sun isn't even up yet, and her guards are still asleep beside her, but Hikari feels as though she'd slept the entire night, as if the bad dreams had never haunted her at all.

For once she doesn't feel groggy or sluggish, and she doesn't just want to lie back down and close her eyes again. Energy is coursing through her like she's never known it to before.

Slowly, she pushes herself up, carefully untangling herself from Karen and Mahiru's loose embrace. She knows they must have stayed up most of the night taking care of her and making sure she was resting well, so now they're exhausted. She wants to let them sleep, and she wants to do something for them in the meantime.

Her heart feels light and happy as she recalls their honest words from last night, how they truly did love her and didn't feel at all pressured or trapped in their roles here at the castle.

They've both given so much for her. She just wants to give back, even if it's just a little bit.

Today, she wants to try something one step above washing a few dishes. Hikari already has a plan in mind. Gingerly, she leans down over Karen's sleeping form and kisses her cheek, then turns around and kisses Mahiru's.

After that, she meticulously slips her way out of bed without rousing either of them. She picks out a clean dress for the day and heads to her bathroom, carefully freshening up and showering as always. She knows her knights will be worried to find she's done everything by herself this morning, but she also knows they'll be delighted to discover she's successfully managed to make them breakfast for the first time ever.

With this thought fueling her, Hikari quickly gets dressed, dries and brushes her hair, and then scurries out the door. The sunlight is just beginning to trickle into the bedroom, telling her it's going to be a fine spring day.

Hikari makes her way toward the staircase and stops. Only now does she realize she's never gone down or up the stairs without one of her guards to hold onto, lest she slip and scrape her leg and start to bleed. She lingers nervously at the top, almost having second thoughts.

But she's determined to do this. It's the only way she can think of to pay back the two people who love her the most in the world.

So she grips the railing firmly with both hands and conquers one step at a time, planting both feet firmly onto the marble before descending the next. It takes her quite some time to make it down due to her legs shaking, but when she finally reaches level ground, Hikari feels excited enough to squeal.

But not yet. She wants to wait until she's prepared her knights' meal and seen the looks on their faces before she begins to celebrate.

So she makes her way to the empty kitchen and gets started right away.

She gathers all kinds of ingredients, including fruits, vegetables, and eggs. Omelets are some of the only things she knows how to make, so she's set on trying that this morning. They only require a flat, harmless spatula to flip, so she'll be safe from cuts.

She turns on the stove and prepares a pan, then begins cracking and folding the eggs when ready. The shells are soft enough that she doesn't have to worry about them. She'd watched Mahiru do it a thousand times, but trying it herself is rather difficult. They end up coming out a little sloppy and runny, but ultimately Hikari is satisfied with the results.

Mahiru usually puts out several cups and bowls of fresh fruits as well for each meal. So Hikari goes to the pantry and brings out some of the things that had been brought in yesterday's delivery.

She pulls grapes off their vines, washes them, and drops them into a bowl. She peels oranges and tangerines with only her hands, and pulls the slices apart. And she leaves a bundle of bananas at the center of it all.

The table looks nearly perfect, with all of their plates and omelets set in their respective spots, the purple grapes, oranges, and yellow bananas.

All that's missing is that splash of red.

Hikari knows Karen and Mahiru both like apples, but they don't always prefer biting into them whole. Instead, Mahiru typically cuts them up first.

So Hikari grabs an apple and brings it to the counter by the window. She takes out a plastic knife from the drawer underneath and puts in her full strength. But the tough skin of the apple barely breaks, and it doesn't cut the fruit underneath at all.

Hikari pouts. She wants this breakfast to be perfect for them.

So she tries again and again to cut the apple, but it's to no avail. The plastic knife just won't do.

That's when her eyes wander to a very dangerous place.

The only sharp knife in the castle is kept safely wrapped in the back of the drawer most out of reach. Mahiru hardly ever uses it, but Hikari has seen her when she did, and she believes she knows how to handle it properly.

So she draws in a deep breath and struts to that drawer. She opens it and finds the knife wrapped in plastic and a hand rag. Hikari reaches for it timidly before stopping herself.

Maybe she should stop here. Maybe she should just go wake them now.

But it's almost as if something is pulling her toward the blade with a magnetic force.

If I'm not confident, this will never work.

So she straightens up and grabs the handle as if she'd been doing this all her life. The knife isn't very big, but it's a bit heavier than she'd expected. She can't fathom how Karen and Mahiru wield weapons so much larger and heavier.

She carries the knife slowly with both hands back to the apple waiting at the counter, then unwraps it.

The blade is clean and shiny, catching in the first rays of morning sunlight coming in through the window.

Hikari draws in another breath. She isn't scared.

She lifts the knife and positions it on top of the apple, holding the fruit in place so it won't role. She tries to ignore how hard her heart is suddenly pounding now and stops her hands from quivering.

I can do this! For Karen and Mahiru-

Hikari musters up all her courage and her love for them, channeling it into her actions-

The knife cuts straight down cleanly, halving the apple into two perfect pieces. Hikari blinks, and then a smile spreads across her face.

"I did it..."

Karen and Mahiru are going to be so impressed, so happy, and she can't wait. They should be waking up any moment now.

Hikari decides to cut the apples slices just a bit smaller, so she cuts them each a few more times.

But then, something outside catches her eye.

It's that little black cat she always sees in the courtyard. It's climbing its way up a tree in pursuit of a squirrel.

Hikari watches it fondly, knowing it will probably have to give up, as the squirrel is already out of sight. She lifts her knife to make one final cut on the apple, and then her perfect surprise breakfast will be complete.

The cat leaps up for a branch-

But it misses.

Hikari's heart clenches.

"No-!"

The cat plummets, and her knife comes down at the same time. Hikari closes her eyes as a sharp pain shoots through her, as if feeling the cat's landing for herself.

When she finally peeks her eyes back open, she finds it has landed safely on all fours. It turns around and scampers off into the bushes. Hikari lets out her breath.

"Thank goodness..."

With the scare over now, she prepares to gather up the apples and arrange them onto the table.

It's then she looks down and sees something red on her fingertip. She tries to wipe the bit of apple skin off, but it smears, and then more drips down.

That's when she realizes it isn't part of the fruit.

Hikari's breath catches in the back of her throat.

"No..."

More blood pools at her fingertip and drips down onto the counter, her dress, the floor...

"No... P-Please no..."

She wraps her finger in her dress to try and stop the bleeding, but it's no use. Every beat of her terrified heart only seems to send more and more blood spilling out from the tiny cut.

Hikari staggers back, hitting the table and making all the glasses and plates rattle.

"No- no-! Stop!"

She collapses to her knees, head spinning, vision blurring. Her body feels cold.

Suddenly, she's extremely tired. More tired than she's ever been in her entire life.

Her eyes close against her will, and she slumps forward onto the cold marble floor. Her heartbeat echoes in her mind as her conscious fades, sapped away like dew in an oppressive desert heat.

All of her years together with them. All of her happy days and warm nights.

It's all over so quickly.

She just hopes she'll be able to dream of Karen and Mahiru one last time.

It isn't often the two knights sleep in. Typically, they're up even before the sun, and preparing the castle for the day long before the princess awakens.

But this morning there is no sun, or where it had once been, it's now been clouded over and has vanished.

They're both tired from last night. Hikari's nightmares and guilty tears had kept them awake even long after it had all come to pass. And so, they've slept in a bit longer than usual.

As they blink their eyes open, Karen and Mahiru each expect their sleeping princess to be the first sight they see. She always has been.

But not today.

Today, they blink in confusion at one another, and that confusion quickly transforms into fear. They're both awake instantly, pushing themselves up and casting worried eyes around the bedroom.

"Princess?"

"Princess Hikari?"

There's no response. Karen and Mahiru turn back to one another, terror already forming in their hearts.

"Perhaps she's in the shower?" Mahiru proposes anxiously.

So the two of them leap out of bed and make instant work of getting dressed and putting their weapons at their hips, ready to face any possible intruder in the castle. They rush to Hikari's personal bathroom to find the door ajar, and evidence that she had already used it this morning; a bit of water still in the bath tub, a damp towel hanging to dry. But the princess is nowhere to be found.

"Princess-?"

"Princess Hikari-?"

This time their voices are higher, more desperate. At the very least though, it appears she had gotten up and gotten prepared at her leisure. It doesn't seem like an outside party had intruded and taken her, or that she'd been in a panic. When they realize this much, the two knights share another glance.

"Perhaps..." Mahiru says. "Perhaps she simply... woke first and wanted to let us sleep."

Karen nods slowly.

"Maybe... But why isn't she answering us? E-Either way, let's search the rest of the castle!"

"Right!"

They make quick work of scouring the remainder of the top floor and the balcony, but Hikari is nowhere to be seen. And no matter how much or how loudly they call for her, there's never an answer.

Karen and Mahiru meet back at the top of the steps, anxious and scared, and shake their heads. They come to the same conclusion together.

"The kitchen..."

They race down the steps, jumping the final quarter or so, and run as quickly as they can. As they go, they notice no signs of intrusion in the rest of the castle, no evidence of a break-in or struggle.

They find themselves almost wishing that had been the case; that someone had come and taken her away, that she might be scared, but still all right. They would be able to come find her and rescue her soon...

But it's clear no one has come for her.

Which can only mean the worst of their fears has become reality.

Both of them are already crying even before they enter the kitchen, and scream.

"Princess-!"

"Princess Hikari-!"

And she's there, lying motionless on the floor, collapsed in all the fabrics of her dress, dark hair pooling out all around her. A knife sits on the counter above, stained with a speck of red, too deep a scarlet to be from the apple. Drops of blood smear the floor as well as Hikari's dress, all leading back to the tiniest cut on the tip of her finger.

It isn't just the feeling that time has stopped, or that the world has shattered.

It isn't just the feeling of immeasurable, nauseating sorrow.

It's a feeling of living inside a nightmare they know is real, and they know they can't escape.

It's a feeling that everything they've ever done in their entire lives has led up to this moment, and it's all ended in tragedy.

They've failed her, and so now they must pay the price.

Karen and Mahiru rush to her side and collapse to their knees in tears.

"No... no-!" Karen reaches for her bleeding hand and lifts it gently to her chest. She presses Hikari's finger to the bandages on her own wrapped hand, hoping it will somehow stop the bleeding. "N-No, please no! Princess Hikari!"

Mahiru quickly tries to wipe her eyes, but more tears just keep coming. She leans over Hikari and rests an ear against her chest, biting back her sobs to listen. She sits up a moment later with a gasp.

"Sh-She's alive! Karen, she's still alive!"

"Eh? B-But then what... what do we do...? H-How can we save her-?"

"I... I'm not sure..." Mahiru bows her head. More tears fall. She puts a hand to her mouth as if she's about to be ill. "We never... found a way to break the curse... Once... Once her heart stops beating... she'll be gone..."

Karen feels as though the entire castle has crumbled and fallen directly onto her. She shakes her head slowly, tears streaming.

"N... No... s-she can't be-"

"Karen..." Mahiru's voice has become drained and hopeless; lifeless. "We've... we've known it all our lives. We've always known this could happen... We've stopped it so many times in the past, but... just this time... just this one time..."

She can't say anymore. Mahiru breaks down, her voice rising up into a wail like nothing she'd ever cried before.

"Princess... I-I've failed you... I'm sorry..."

Those broken words are what make it final in Karen's mind.

This... This is really happening. After all this time, they've finally failed her.

Whatever she and Mahiru do for the rest of their lives now, they'll never have Hikari back. They've failed her.

"N-No... it can't be... it can't..." Karen chokes on a breath, coughing. "I-It can't end this way! It can't-!" She clutches Hikari's frail hand in both of hers, pressing her face into the soft, pale skin. "Princess Hikari, you can't leave us! Not like this..." The tears roll onto Hikari's hand and drip down her wrist. Karen sobs. "Not like this... we... we couldn't even say goodbye..."

Her heart is still beating. Karen can feel it in Hikari's wrist, very faintly. Which means they'd only missed saving her by mere minutes, perhaps even seconds. She's still alive, but only just.

If they knew how to break the curse, they could still save her, bring her back...

But as they are, the two strongest and most loyal young knights in all of Starlight Kingdom, they can do absolutely nothing to save their princess. They've fallen short of their one true purpose in life.

All those years of training and researching had been for nothing. All those mornings waking up beside her, the nights falling asleep together, the days of cautious fun and laughter in between...

How were they to know that yesterday would have been their last opportunity for all those things?

And now the two of them can do nothing but weep and lament as they feel the last of Hikari's warmth fading from her skin.

They leave tearful kisses on the backs of her hands, and lay their heads against her chest. The breath that comes and goes from her body is faint and shallow, and the pulse fluttering underneath is even more so.

But even though the cruel reality is right in front of them, Karen and Mahiru refuse to let her go. They'll fight until the very end, clinging foolishly onto the thinnest thread of hope that there's still a way to save her.

But as the seconds tick on, and Hikari's breathing stops, it becomes clear that foolish hopes won't help them this time. Her heart thumps softly one last time, and not again.

Karen and Mahiru lift their tearstained faces as the weight of their loss finally settles in. The least they can do is kiss her goodnight, one last time.

So they wipe their eyes to no avail, as more tears just keep coming, dripping down onto their princess' cheeks as the two knights lean over her. Their hearts beat sadly, aching, wishing they could give such movement back to hers.

Mahiru leans down over her princess and kisses her cheek.

"Farewell... Hikari-chan..."

If only she'd mustered up the courage to say her name a little sooner, so the princess herself might have heard it.

Karen, too, leans forward to kiss her.

"Farewell... Hikari-chan..."

Their lips and their tears paint her skin with the final traces of warmth, as their voices speak the words just as powerful.

"We love you."

"We love you, Hikari-chan."

Told too little, too late.

And so with one of Hikari's hands in each of theirs, the princess grows still and cold, just as her curse demanded.

And her knights, her guards, her two best friends, weep until they have no tears left to shed.

Some might think it a miracle they'd kept her alive for this long, though it was common knowledge throughout the kingdom that it would have been impossible for Hikari to have lived a full life with such a curse placed upon her.

For what she did live, though, it had been a good life.

Karen and Mahiru can only hope as much.

The last of their tears fall and seep into her dress.

What now?

What are they to do now...?

What kind of lives are they to live now without her...?

They can't even begin to imagine.

And it must be due to how desperately they are clinging to her hands, but it's almost as though her skin regains a bit of heat. Their minds play horrible tricks on them in that manner, making it seem as though some color has returned to her ashen face.

Karen and Mahiru don't allow themselves to be fooled by such trickery of their broken hearts. They share a silent, dutiful glance and come to the agreement that they cannot allow their princess to lie here on the cold floor any longer, as it would be a disgrace to her honor. She would be much better rested upon her own bed until they could make proper arrangements for a royal funeral.

So the two knights solemnly gather the princess into their arms together and prepare to stand.

What stops them isn't that strange warmth, but something else.

It's a movement, a pulse...

They both feel it in their fingertips, a weak, unsteady beat that doesn't come from their own heavy hearts. Tight breaths get lodged in the backs of their throats, and stinging heat rises up behind their eyes.

But Mahiru shakes her head.

"No... it can't be..."

Karen understands her unwillingness to be deceived by some cruel magic, but she's certain she feels that pulse beat again.

"Mahiru-chan, wait-"

Both of them are still for a moment with their fallen princess in their arms. Each of them slip a hand beneath Hikari's head to support her neck, and their other hands rest gently over her heart.

And they feel it again. A small, flickering beat that grows a little bit stronger with each pulse.

Eyes wide, they stare at one another, unable to find words, just as a small shudder moves beneath their palms. Hikari's chest rises with a sudden breath, and her lips part to inhale.

It can't be an illusion. It can't be...

They're both already crying again, even before Hikari's pretty blue eyes flutter back open.

"Princess-!"

"Princess Hikari!"

They pull her up into a loving embrace, one so warm and joyful it can only ever be given by those who had been shattered enough to lose the one they hold dearest, and blessed enough to get her back.

Hikari's mind whirls, but she would much rather have it do that than be still and dark in death. She lifts her trembling arms as best she can and wraps one around each of her knights, using her newfound breath to weep like they are.

"Princess!" Mahiru whimpers. "P-Princess Hikari!"

"You're back!" Karen wails in turn. "You came back to us, Hikari-chan!"

A part of Hikari still believes she's dreaming from the other side somehow. But the warmth and love of her two best friends is something so strong and pure she could never imagine it quite like it truly is. And she knows this is real.

"K-Karen... Mahiru..."

"Yes!" Karen sniffles. "You came back to us!"

"Pr...Princess..."

The three of them must cry for a dozen minutes or so, huddled up on the kitchen floor, hugging and kissing and thanking goodness. By the time the shock has settled and been replaced with wonder, Mahiru is the first to wipe her swollen eyes and voice her amazement.

"But... what happened...?"

"Was... was the curse broken...?" Karen wonders.

"How...?" Mahiru repeats. "Y-Your heart stopped beating, Princess. Surely, you must have been..." She doesn't even dare to say the word. Karen leans forward to brush their foreheads together.

"It's okay, Mahiru-chan. Princess Hikari is back now. One way or another."

"B-But-" Mahiru shakes her head, still unable to understand. She looks to her princess, frightful just to remember what had happened. "You were so pale, Princess. And so terribly cold..."

Hikari is quiet for a moment. She can only imagine the agony and terror they must have suffered upon finding her that way, of believing she was dead, of believing they'd failed...

"I'm sorry..." Hikari wraps both of her arms around Mahiru first and kisses her forehead. "I should never have done what I did... None of this ever would have happened..." She turns to Karen next and kisses her forehead as well, letting out a heavy sigh. But Karen nudges her cheek against Hikari's, having her raise her head.

"You're right, Hikari-chan. If you hadn't tried to make Mahiru-chan and I breakfast, we never would have broken your curse! So please don't be sorry."

"But... But I-" Hikari's tears begin to fall again, guilty and ashamed of what she'd put them both through. She begins to jolt and hiccup softly. But Karen and Mahiru each reach up to wipe the tears away and leave kisses in their place.

"Karen-chan is right," Mahiru murmurs. "I'm not sure how exactly... but your curse must be broken, Hikari-chan."

"It doesn't matter how," Karen sniffles. "All that matters is that Hikari-chan is here with us again."

Karen pulls them both in to her, and Mahiru hugs them both from her side. Hikari slowly lifts her arms to complete the embrace. Her heart beats steadily, strongly, as that wonderful warmth spreads throughout her body once again. It feels like sunlight spreading through her, thawing out cold, brittle petals to let them blossom. She cries, and suddenly she understands.

"I see..."

"Hm?"

"Hikari-chan?"

Mahiru and Karen look to her curiously. Hikari keeps her head bowed and allows the tears to continue falling, just for now.

"My curse..." she whispers. "If I were ever to bleed, I would fall into a cold, eternal slumber. But..." Her arms curl more firmly around each of her knights, bringing them ever closer to her. "But... who knew I would have people who loved me so much... they would give enough tears of their own warmth... to restore all of mine...?"

And so they had broken her curse.

The three girls cry together once again, but this time they smile.

It's finally over. All those years of walking on eggshells, of living in caution and fear of every little thing...

With the curse broken, now all three of them were free to live their lives.

Eventually, Karen and Mahiru help Hikari up, and they eat their breakfast together as the sun shines brightly outside. When she's finished, Karen sits back with a sigh.

"That was delicious, Hikari-chan!"

"K-Karen-chan!" Mahiru gasps. "Please address the princess properly!"

"Ehhh? But you called her Hikari-chan too, Mahiru-chan!"

"E-Eh? I did? I hadn't noticed..."

Hikari giggles. "It's all right, you two. I've always wanted for you to call me by my name. Please feel free."

She doesn't want to be a trapped princess anymore. She's no longer bound to this castle or her curse. From now on, she is free.

Karen and Mahiru happily agree.

So for the very first time that day, they bring Hikari outside, farther than she'd ever ventured before. She touches the flowers and the trees without fear of being scraped, and pets her little black cat for the first time. He purrs and licks the finger she had cut, as if apologizing for it.

They spend the afternoon outside in the courtyard, laughing and enjoying themselves together. Karen and Mahiru pick flowers for their princess. And even when Hikari pricks her finger on a thorn, no curse takes effect on her any more. And so they know it is truly broken.

Thus, Karen, Mahiru, and Hikari begin to live their lives to the fullest...

. . .

In the daytimes, the three girls venture into the market and meet the villagers, who are all amazed and humbled by their princess' presence. Children bring her toys and flowers, and adults shake her hands and bless her, overjoyed at the news that her curse has been broken.

And at nighttime, the princess and her knights return to their castle. They cook together, read together, and curl up to sleep together, just as they've always done.

Only now there is no need for crippling caution, no fear of every little object.

And for Hikari, there are no more sleepless nights, no more nightmares. She is no longer an ensnared, tragic princess. Rather, now she is a future queen, earning her place among her people day by day now as she prepares to one day claim the throne with her knights at her side.

But since her curse had been broken, Karen and Mahiru had become so much more than just her knights and her very best friends. The kisses they share every morning and night are no longer just on cheeks and foreheads, but unabashedly on lips as well.

One day, the kingdom would have not just one queen, nor two, but three.

But until then, Karen and Mahiru continue their duty as Hikari's faithful knights and lovers, teaching her to do all the things she'd been robbed of in her earlier years. She cooks, cleans, goes for walks, and even takes up a sword.

Now that she is free, the two of them live under much less stress and fear for her wellbeing, and they are able to enjoy themselves more than ever.

And Hikari now loves every second of the life she'd once dreaded. She loves petting her cat, meeting her people, and kissing her knights without fear or hesitation.

She loves living every day, not caring about a scratch on her arm or a scrape on her toe.

She loves breathing the air, and feeling the sunlight.

For a curse of cold and death – when broken – will lead to a life full of warmth and love.

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A/N: This one was a bit tricky to come up with (mainly the part of making up fake parents for the three of them was tedious, but I needed to give them their justified backstories and whatnot). It was a fun challenge to think of all the precautions and restrictions that would have to come into play to keep Hikari from getting injured in any way.

Re-reading it for edits, it felt a little fast to me... It was a lot to build up the backstories, the world itself, and the characters, so it felt rushed. I hope you could still enjoy it though!

Please review!