her Loyal Fool

by Anastasia Mist

“Why is it you adore your subjects and kingdom?” The Jester questioned as he stood at the top of the princess’s tower, her across from his humble form. He knew he shouldn’t of been in there to begin with but his desperate heart had yearned for her laugh like it was the air he needed to breathe. 

"Because people are just so… so wonderful and intriguing. People's expressions and lives are so magical. How we all laugh and cry and love and hate. How children so easily find enjoyment with just their small imaginations, to grow into adults with even bigger hopes and dreams. I love how we all learn in different ways. Although we are all learning the same things, we all do it in unique ways with different outcomes and viewpoints. How we all experience the same things but with different mindsets..." She travelled to the arched window with grace, sitting on the sill with a wistful expression. Her eyes looked longingly down at the town in the far distance of her cold castle that ruled under her father's every bidding. That very castle where they both stood feeling like a torturous and tormentive cage that dangled them before one another with the promise of never being able to touch.

"It's so beautiful..." Those were the final words he remembered hearing fall breathlessly from her peachy lips. That, and the last he had spoken to her before he was dragged away from her embrace by the guards.

“You, My Princess, are as beautiful as the town The whole world in fact. Not only in semblance but in spirit. It is why I’ve made you my world. My every thought and beat of my heart.” He still could see the tears pouring from her eyes as she was held back from his retreating form. And he only got a harsher reminder when he saw them again as she knelt before him, holding his face, the executioner barking a quick order to be quick with it.

“You are a fool.” Her voice was bitter and broken. He wanted to hear her laugh again. He felt too helpless to do his only job at this very moment but he needed to try. He needed to peacefully go hearing the melody of her joy one last time. In an attempt to make her at least smile he spoke his final words.

“Your fool, Princess.”

“My fool…” And she didn’t smile, her lips falling into a sorrowful cry as the blade fell swiftly.