The Missing Third

He removed her gag, giving her water she was hesitant to accept. Seeing this he took a sip first, “See, no poison.” He offered it again and this time she drank. She was wearing a white dress with white gloves up to her upper arm. Her beautiful blonde hair was tied in a bun, with white rose clips holding it in place. Initially she had believed this beast had undressed her and had his way, however the Scourge had his female grunts take the task of helping her change.

He admired her beauty as he sat back down. Her wedding dress was on, all he needed now was her approval. “Princess, seeing you like this hurts the soul. I do wish you would come to your senses. Am I not your perfect match? I am wealthy, powerful and I am motivated… What more could you ask for?”

She couldn’t look him in the eye, her cheek grew red. “M- marriage needs love…” It was a good excuse for him to take her hand, which made her blush more. “There is not a man or woman in these kingdoms that has more love for you, Princess, not even your precious Reinhardt.” His eyes met hers, those big beautiful seas of the deepest blue. Her lips of pure orchid invited him close…

“I’m sorry!” The princess shouted, Täter stopped in place, his lips close enough to hers he could feel the warmth of her breath, and the smell of nectarines and honey. “I don’t feel that way for you, Sir Täter…” Her words were quiet, she was always a shy girl. “I… I am in love with someone else.”

He remembered his first meeting with her. He was still in his early years, ready to take up the spear and be presented to the king by his servant father. She was a few years younger than him, like a fairy she was. His heart stopped beating that day… and then she chased after heroes… the one that his heart yearned for, and now she had thrown him away. It almost made him gag. That anger was not for her though, he would not show it to her, that pain would befall her so called lover. He stood back up, casually throwing his chair across the room while still facing her. “They will come for you, Princess. In the coming days they will find their way to me… and I will show you, and the rest of the world who’s love truly is stronger!”

*-*-*

Nightfall had taken the heroes away from the empty streets and towards a nearby tavern. The place was brimming with laughter and joyful song, and yet they were sat facing each other saying

nothing at all. Liking their wounds and filling themselves with the taverns specialty, which was a nice lamb roast, alongside their honey mead. Without really looking at his plate, Arata was slowly playing with the food, thinking of their departing.

“I said, I can’t send my men to help you.” It was one of the guards, the sergeant in fact. The Queen tried to argue with him but he wouldn’t have any of it. “Milady, say we went with Sir Reinhardt and Ms Leona, we would struggle all the same against Mühelos, and we would be leaving the palace unguarded. I’m sorry, I understand how important it is to return Princess Plotgerät safely… but I cannot in good faith leave you and the King at such a risk.”

Finally he spooned in a mouthful, remembering the Queen apologising, but then also begging him to bring back her daughter.

Leona sighed, seeing Arata so absent minded. “You can’t blame them.” Arata sort of half heartedly lifted his head. “Täter got that close to the palace without being spotted, what’s to say he couldn’t do the same while the guards are out? He obviously wants the throne, it’d be the perfect time to kill his majesty.”

“I think he wants a little more than just the throne.” Arata added, his letters to the Princess sprung to mind. But then, the way Täter looked at him, when he mentioned the Princess’s love for another. He felt weird about it for some reason, he couldn’t remember any scenes of the Princess showing affection for anyone. In fact, other than her father and the servants the only men in her life were her friends growing up. Naturally, Reinhardt was one of them, so there were thankfully scenes he could try to remember but… was it one of the servants? Wouldn’t make sense if so, none of the ones still at the palace were there when she was growing up. Surely there was someone… was it Leona? He looked at her suspiciously and she just sort of looked back confused. “What?” She asked.

“Nothing.” He jumped. Scraping the bottom of the bowl and what was left of his food as his mind wandered. “Surely they can’t expect us two to get the Princess back alone… all the guards at the Palace couldn’t even so much as touch the guy…”

Leona too was absent minded, staring at the night sky and the stars above. She looked to the West, to the polar star and the Zeta. She knew of a set of them seated near by, and sure enough there they were. She tapped Arata on the arm. “Reinhardt, look!” His eyes got there eventually, it was a set of three stars. They were in close proximity, but there wasn’t much else that really made these stars interesting, he just assumed she was some nerd for stars or something, he might’ve missed that from the story.

“The Terzett Stern. Do you remember that night?” She asked with a joyful smile. The wording wasn’t exactly good for his impure mind, immediately he thought this story had somehow gone X-rated however she looked so innocent!

“We just took down the Sprungbrett gang and the Queen had us commended that day. We were like what? Ten? Eleven? We took Plotgerät with us to the hill by the lake… you vowed you’d become a brave hero, under those stars the three of us called out to destiny.” It almost looked like a tear would fall. It felt strange for Arata, living a history he had not experienced, such a huge moment for the three of them… three of them?

“Wait…” He muttered.

“What?” Leona asked, hearing him speak under his breath but seeing his mind active.

“You said three, three called to destiny.” He recounted her words, he couldn’t remember such a scene, in fact he couldn’t remember any backstory in Reinhardt the Saviour at all, but… something felt off. “Reinhardt and Leona are called heroes. So under those stars they wished to be such but, a third?” It couldn’t have been Plotgerät, even if she was there, after all she wasn't called a hero, she was a Princess…

“Leona… who exactly was there that night?”

She looked slightly annoyed, “You can’t be seriously telling me you forgot! Good lord Reinhardt I didn’t know you were so scatter-brained. It was you, me, Plotgerät and…” Her eyes widened.

“And?” He lead.

Her hand slapped her mouth as she realised. “Franz!”

*-*-*

“The royal guards won’t help us, nor will the police force. Even if it’s only one more person we need him. Leona, where is he? Where is Franz?” The night had grown darker and both heroes had left the tavern behind, now pacing down the street.

“I don’t know… after, after THAT happened he just left. I think he still reports to the King though, we might be able to find his location from Queen Anna.”

Arata held Leona back by the arm. “Stop. What do you mean THAT? What happened?”

Once again, his lack of a knowledge of Reinhardt’s backstory left Leona with a sour expression. “Seriously?” Her eyebrow raised. “You two fighting? You don’t remember that? Really? After that huge brawl that ended up with both of you behind bars?”

Instantly it felt as though their mission was completely gone. They needed at least one more person, Arata knew Leona could handle most of Täter’s men but… the man himself was untouchable. If they could gang up on him then maybe, but if this Franz refused to cooperate with them there was no chance!

“You think he still remembers?” Arata asked, slightly hopeful that he would get the answer he wanted, Leona’s forced smile said otherwise. “Then we’re doomed…”

“I wouldn’t say that much.” Leona retorted. “He may hate you but…”

“But?”

“He’s in love with the Princess!”