Work Text:
Without the slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right and opened it. Every breath in the amphitheater seemed to stop as the lover gripped the handle- all eyes were on that door. That door that led to the fate of this seemingly innocent man whose only crime was falling in love. The door couldn’t have opened slower, every pull seemed to bring his fate closer and closer. It all happened in a flash. The lover flying back, the screams of him masked by the excitement of the crowd. Yet, the princess did not blink. She did not move. Even watching her lover being demolished by pieces did not phase her. If she couldn’t have him, how was it fair for the world to? The princess imagined the lady, waiting eagerly behind the door, awaiting her future husband. The smallest chuckle escaped gritted teeth as she thought about the woman’s disappointment. The woman who threatened the only thing the princess had loved. She was no longer focused on the tiger, now prancing around his fallen prey. She kept her eyes locked on her father. Hatred flashed through her eyes. If she had one wish, it would be to put him in that arena instead of her lover. Pain had been overshadowed by fury, as her father had caused her more pain that seeing her lover mauled to death had. Life was not fair. It was quite the opposite. Even a princess, who had everything she could ever want- was cheated out of the only thing that could truly make her happy. At least before, love was within her grasp. Now, it was a mauled mess lying in front of the eye of the tiger. She had tried- and failed, to get the one thing her heart had truly desired. Now her lover was the one who paid the price. Her love had gone as quickly as it came. Now, it was only up to chance to decide what her future held.
