Chapter Text
Will always thought that he could wiggle his way out of this. After all, he had tried as hard as he could—and a little more— to be whatever his beloved father and perfect sister wanted him to be. It didn't matter that he couldn't care less for heraldy and old history, it didn't matter that the horses he cared for and adored were sent to war with the current best knight of the kingdom and he was not allowed to shed a single tear. It definitely did not matter that he had stated that he did not want to marry since he was five years old.
Because he was.
Oh, he was.
With all the pomposity and snobbery the entire royal house could muster, in fact.
You see—his father did not want to risk war over such a simple request.
"We just want what is the best for everyone," said his sister one night after supper. "You will learn to love your spouse and enjoy ruling when I'm gone." Will tried not to enlarge that condescending smile with his fork. What good would it do to him? He would just get married quicker and thrown into the dungeons after the marriage is consummated.
But sometimes at night he dreamt of freedom. It came in different forms—the easiest was flaying his heart open and getting his so-long-sought freedom, the hardest was escaping and finding refuge somewhere in the wilderness.
The happiest...
The happiest was sneaking into his father's chambers at night and, with a silk thread, cut his neck open in one swift motion.
He didn't want to murder his sister, not really. She had endured the same suffering in a different way and did what he could with the options she had been given. Sometimes she was nice. On rare occasions, understanding even. None of them knew, of course, of the black ponds he hid behind his corteous smiles. Of the thick weight of his imagination killing them over and over again... and again, you know.
So when the day came and nothing had been done yet, he wondered. Maybe he did not hate this as much as he always thought. Maybe he was much of a coward, too used to his rich beddings and warm clothes. Maybe he actually loved his father.
Or maybe... he could kill them all.
He could kill his soon-to-be partner proclaiming he tried to force him to indecency. He could kill his father stating he was in for the game all along. He could kill his sister... for trying to defend their father probably, we will get to that.
The timing for his day dreaming was not ideal tho, for while he was up in the clouds with his perfect plan, his... groom was just walking in. High cheekbones, slicked-back ash blonde hair, velvet deep dark plum mantel with gold stitched in the cuffs and neck.
"Show off," Will thought. It made no difference. They will all die by his hand. His blood will mix and disappear into those carefully crafted lapels. He was walking on borrowed time.
Will smiled.