Tip. Tap. Tippity. Tap.
Echoing as her toes hit against the cold marble floor. She moves in a graceful manner yet there was something holding her back.
One, two. Twirl. One, two, three. Jump.
Each move took great effort as she tried desperately to maintain her composure. Choking back tears before she couldn't any longer, finishing her performance as the tears flowed unrestrained.
Then, applause echoed the great hall. Sitting above on his golden throne, the hero watches, delighted by the lady's performance.
He exuded a aura of a power and poise, his golden hair shining in the light of the room. In a pristine white suit, he practically looked like an angel.
However, the blood staining each step leading up to the throne told another story.
The heads of his rivals scattered on the floor only reinforced the presence of a hidden cruelty. All that yet his suit remains untouched from the carnage around him.
"My dearest Marina, you have outdone yourself again. That was immaculate!" He rises from the throne, continuing his applause as he descends the steps.
"Please," she quietly pleads on the floor.
"Let me go…" she choked no longer able to hold back her tears.
"…"
The hero holds his applause, but the calm almost maniacal smile was still plastered on his face.
"You know I can't do that, my love"
His voice softened as he kneels down to embrace Marina. Running his fingers through her hair.
"The world outside is not safe, I've made it safe in the palace. So stay here with me, won't you? Stay with us."
"I…"
She takes in view of the dozens of heads of her dearest friends and family. Somewhere, her persecution was twisted. She wouldn't leave her friends and family would she? She wouldn't betray them, right?
What was she supposed to do? There was no strength left in her body and she was most definitely not going to win against a swordmaster.
With her mental and physical energy drained. There was only one option left.
To surrender.
"A-alright"
.
.
.
At that moment, the spoon dropped out of Ellien's mouth onto the desk as she's dumbfounded. What the fuck did she just read???
She was bored that night and decided to pick up something to read and it just happened that there's a novel that's been recently gaining traction.
It was a dark fantasy type romance and as someone who like dark twists to a story she was more than happy to dive in. But damn, this was not what she had expected.
The story followed the typical formula of school life romance in a fantasy world. But it has the addition of twisted characters each with their own interpretation of love, and it's a whole lot of obsessiveness.
There were several arcs exploring the messed up romance between each pairing.
The one she just finished is the one where the male lead locked up the heroine. By gaslighting her daily and giving horrible living conditions, he mentally exhausted her to the point where she gave herself up to him.
"They're all deranged." Ellien never felt this flabbergasted before.
The author spared no one, not even one of background character's pet goldfish. (Rest in pieces)
Shutting down the PC, it was about time that Ellien fulfilled her promise that she would sleep early 5 hours ago. Now the birds were chirping outside indicating the early morning .
Tucking herself into bed, it's time to get in as much sleep as possible before she has to go to work in a few hours.