It was the day of their wedding and Ryuko was nervous all day. The previous night, they slept in separate beds because yay more traditions! The bride and groom weren't supposed to see each other until the ceremony. So she was supposed to avoid Shinya all day.

She wasn't supposed to see Shinya and he was the only person who she knew wasn't going to spread rumors about her. She was saddened that Keigo actually had said what he had said. She thought he was trustworthy, especially since he was Rumi's husband.

"Lady Ryuko? How are you doing today?" A woman asked. "I'm supposed to be your handmaiden for the wedding. I guess I'm supposed to be handling your baths and stuff." She said. Her hair was a very loud blonde and her eyes were bright red. "Oh yeah, I'm Moe." She said, walking up to her, proceeding to sniff her, and squinting.

"Why did you sniff me?"

"I think you smell perfectly fine. Your step mom said you smelt awful or something like that."

"Her... great." She sighed. "Well, I guess we should get started?" Ryuko grumbled, turning around and walking with Moe into a nearby bathroom. It was already ready? Oh?

And then more maids walked in. Goddamn it was almost perfect! She sighed and looked at the bath. It looked the same as it usually did. A light purple in color, white flower petals decorating the water, vanilla scented candles in the room, and a white robe to place on after the bath.

Ryuko took her shawl off and tossed it to the ground, stripping down completely. The water was extremely warm and Ryuko was comfortable with it.

"I heard you and the King were going to sleep together. Is that really true?" A handmaiden asked. Ryuko just nodded and leaned her head back so someone could wash her hair.

"You should lose weight. Your curves and rolls are really unflattering."

"There are rumors that you're a witch, is that true?!"

"How do you have so many little scars? What happened to you?"

"Ladies? You're getting really personal. Can we talk about something different?" Ryuko asked. Moe leaned forward when she saw the anger on Ryuko's face.

"I'm sorry on behalf of all of them," Moe whispered, "They clearly don't know how to treat you." She shouted in annoyance. Her coworkers pissed her off. Ryuko sighed and sank deeper into the water. "How about everyone else leaves and I handle Ryuko?" Moe asked. The other handmaidens got up and left the room at Moe's request.

Ryuko let out a sigh of relief.

"Can I be honest with you?" Ryuko asked. Moe immediately nodded. "I honestly hate it here. I don't wanna go back home, but I hate it here. The wedding isn't according to plan, everyone has it out for me, Shinya and Reiko are the only people who really care about me."

"I know we just met but, you can add me to that list if you want. I think it's cool that you ran away to get with his Majesty." Moe said. Ryuko lightly chuckled.

"Of course you can be added to that list."

——————

Ryuko got out of the tub and was currently being prepared for her wedding. The guards outside were making sure no one walked in while she was getting ready, even the king.

"He's going to die when he sees you in this!"

Ryuko was wearing a white dress with puffy off the sleeve shoulders. There were red and pink flowers decorated throughout the dress. The skirt was large as expected.

Her tiara was a diamond one with a veil, similar to the dress she wore for the party two nights ago. She took in a deep breath because her corset kind of made it hard to breathe.

Out of no where, she could hear all the guards begin running away. Moe cocked her head to the side. "What's going on?" She asked a handmaiden.

"Someone has tried to assassinate the Grand Duke!" The woman asked, grabbing Moe's hand. As Ryuko looked at her, Ryuko thought it was weird that the woman had ash blonde hair and gave her a large smile on her way out...

"Hello Ryuko."

The white door creaked open. Ryuko's eyes widened as she saw the dark skin of her step mother, Chitose.

"I missed you oh so much! I can't believe you put a restraining order against me!" She said, poison on her tongue, speaking through her teeth.

"Drop the dumb act, no one is in here."

"Oh thank god- pretending to be nice is exhausting. But right now, I'm wondering, how are you enjoying life, you know, in this beautiful heaven, that you so desperately escaped from me."

"Well I can't say I really like it. But why are you here?" She asked, backing into the corner of the room. "I can't have you kicked out, but I can have you arrested. You're breaking the restraining order."

"You think I'm trying to stay here long, don't you? Well nope! I'm here to test out a theory." She said.

"And what's that?"

"If I have you attack the princess, will Shinya forgive you?" She said, pressing Nejire's white wand to her chin. "Answer should be no, and if it's not, I'll be executed, but it's worth it!"

What the actual hell?

"I want you to kill Princess Reiko the moment you see her. You will do this, or else." She said, gripping Ryuko's dress.

Ryuko feared this for so long, and now she was actually cursed.

A purple haze was forming around her. She was terrified and fell to the ground, screaming. A silver knife with a red Ruby on its handle appeared in her hand. When she tried to throw it across the room, it appeared back in her hand. Ryuko was an assassin now...

"I hate you." She said, crying her eyes out. The day was awful. The ladies in waiting shaming her, the wedding having nothing that she wanted, this dumb shit, and not being able to see Shinya all day.

"The feeling is oh so mutual Ryuko." Chitose said, leaving the room.

Ryuko locked herself in her room and sobbed, even after the guards and Moe returned. She couldn't go outside even with the wedding starting soon.

"Can you please let me in?" Moe shouted. "I'll get Reiko if you want to speak with her instead! I know you're both really close, so-"

"No! Don't bring Reiko in her, keep her far far away from me!"

Moe was confused. The mixed messages she was receiving confused her. "I thought you were close with her?"

"I am! Just not now! Ok?"

"The ceremony is starting soon you know." Moe said, looking at the door. She had a key but she wanted to give her new friend space. "Can I come in? I can't help if I don't know what's wrong."

"No no, it's fine, please just go." Ryuko said, wiping her tears and holding the knife in her hand. She didn't know where to hide it, especially since if it left her body, it'd just reappear in her hand.

"Alright, I guess."

"Thank you."

✨✨✨✨✨✨

Ryuko's special day is special for another reason :).