Fandom: Princess Tutu
Title: The Bliss of Ignorance
Author: lostinabook
Theme: #10 : Messenger (you belong to no one)
Character: Rue
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: Princess Tutu does not belong to me; it is the property of Ito Ikuko
Summary: One important forgotten detail can change everything in a moment. Continues the plotline started in “Tragedy.”

“A message for you, my queen. It just arrived at the gate.”

Rue plucked the plain-looking envelope from the silver tray. It was far different from the ornately decorated letters that the nobles who oversaw the kingdom sent periodically. Those letters were always suffocated with over-inflated language and suffered from such an overdose of flourishes that the paper more closely resembled an ivy-covered wall. It was rather refreshing to see such plain paper, obviously sent by someone who didn’t feel the need to impress.

She opened the envelope silently as the servant rushed off to perform some other unknown task. The paper inside was plain as well, and addressed simply “To Mytho and Rue.” She blinked, uncomprehending for a moment. Rue was the only one who called the prince Mytho; no one else in the castle (or the kingdom, for that matter) understood the meaning behind the “nickname.”

Unless…

Rue’s eyes quickly scanned the first half of the letter, uncharacteristically exclaiming in delight.

“Mytho!” She ran down the hallway towards her prince’s chambers. “Mytho! It’s a letter from Fakir! They’re coming to visit us!”

The door swung open with a mere push. Rue stopped short, momentarily struck by how regal her prince appeared. He was standing by one window, hands crossed behind his back, gazing out, looking every bit the royal prince he was born to be.

“Mytho,” she said again, remembering why she had come. The prince turned, smiling as soon as he saw her, making her heart skip a beat.

“Rue. What is it?”

“A letter came.” She handed it to him, another smile blossoming on her lips in excitement. “It’s from Fakir. They’re coming to see us.”

Rue sat down in a nearby chair as Mytho read the letter himself. Her mind was spinning with the news and in anticipation. She needed to plan something special for their arrival. Some sort of party, maybe? No… that would be far too public and out of character for them, really. She could hardly see Fakir being excited about a bunch of fanfare due to his presence. And as for Ahiru…

She’d probably feel more left out than anything else.

Imagine how little Duck feels, having sacrificed everything for a person that she also loved, only to be condemned never to be with anyone, no matter how strong her love.

Rue bit her lip. As good as her intentions were, she couldn’t lie to herself about the meaning behind them. She was genuinely happy that she would be able to see Fakir and Ahiru again… She owed everything to them…

But… She would have to be a fool to think that a mere party to make up for what she had put them both through for her own gain.

“I don’t understand.”

Rue looked up to see Mytho still reading the letter with a confused expression on his face. “Why does he say that he’s going to bring Ahiru?”

Rue blinked. “Surely you’re joking.”

“Well…I mean…” Mytho seemed to be straining to find the right words. “She was… a very nice person, but I can’t say that I was close to her. Sometimes it seemed like… she knew something about… “

A cold chill of understanding swept through Rue as Mytho trailed off on his thoughts.

He doesn’t know?

The shock must have registered on her face, since Mytho suddenly turned to her with a concerned look. “Rue? What’s wrong?”

“I thought… That you had…”

“Had what?”

“…Guessed for yourself.”

“…A guess? Rue, what are you talking about? And why are you so pale…?” He took a step towards her, but Rue shook her head.

“Mytho… Ahiru was Princess Tutu.”

Four simple words that should have been so easy to say. Why did they feel like weights crushing down on her heart?

Even worse was watching her prince’s face change from a look of concern to that of a mixture of shock, surprise, and pain. The silence was choking.

“I thought… that you knew.” Her voice sounded as if it belonged to someone else.

Mytho stumbled away from her. “Ahiru was… Ahiru was…”

He collapsed on the floor.

“MYTHO!” Rue rushed to his side, cradling his head in her lap.

I thought that you knew!

She hadn’t expected him to react this way. Well… she had expected him to be surprised, at the very least, but… Rue stroked his hair worriedly.

The look that he had in his eyes…

Why was she suddenly thinking of ravens?

Love only me! Hate everyone else!

“Rue.”

She shook her head, dispelling the resurfaced memory of Mytho as the Raven Prince.

“Are you all right?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Her hands unconsciously tightened around locks of his hair.

“…I’m sorry.”

He turned away from her, gazing at the opposite wall. “You didn’t lie to me, exactly… But you weren’t entirely truthful, either.”

And there was that glint in his eye again…

“…Mytho?”

“The letter said… that they should be here in a few days.”

He sat up slowly, brushing away her hands she tried to help him. It was worse than if he had shouted at her. Rue wished that he would.

“Never hide anything from me.”

His voice had become cold while still sounding neutral. Rue could hardly stand it.

“I’m sorry, Mytho! I… didn’t think that you would take it this way! I thought that you already knew! I don’t—“

Rue’s words were cut off as his gaze caught hers. He had never looked at her this way—not a look of anger, but of pure abhorrence.

His voice stayed the same. “Of course. It’s always about your perspective of events, isn’t it?”

Rue’s eyes widened in shock. This was wrong. Her prince wouldn’t say things like that to her. He was always gentle and kind… She couldn’t believe that her statement had affected him that deeply.

“Mytho, you know that I didn’t—“

“I don’t want to hear it!” His eyes flashed red.

Rue’s hand flew to her mouth, stifling a scream.

It can’t be. It can’t be. The effect of the Raven’s blood was stopped, wasn’t it?

“I don’t want to hear excuses or apologies.”

Rue instinctively shrunk back. For the first time in a while, she was scared of him.

Mytho rose shakily to his feet. “…Leave me alone.”

“…M-Mytho!”

“What?”

Startled again, Rue fell back on the floor.

Somehow… Somehow telling him the truth about Ahiru had awakened the Raven in him.

“I thought so.”

With a final red-eyed glare, he slammed the door shut behind him.