Ludo

“Footsteps thudded down the stairs, and the flickering figure of Hendry Lowe appeared outside Alistair’s prison bars.

“You’re too late,” Alistair told him. “I’ve long descended into madness.”

“It’s been fourteen hours.”
― Amanda Foody, All of Our Demise

“Unfortunately,” he said, “I am not a fan of fairy stories.”
“That is unfortunate, as you are in so many of them.”
“Yes, but I am always cast as the villain.” He craned his head. “Even you cast me as the villain.”
“It is hard not to, my lord. Why, just this morning you abandoned four children by the side of the road, their hearts devoured by nachtkrapp and their bodies left to the rest of the scavengers.” Her chest squeezed and she dared not look at the spirits standing at the king’s side, knowing she would dissolve into tears if she did. “I think you rather like playing the villain.”
Finally, a real smile graced his features, down to the sharp points of his teeth. “And who is the hero of this story?”
“I am, naturally.” Serilda hesitated for a moment before adding, “At least, I hope to be.”
“Not the prince?”
It felt like a trap, but Serilda knew better. She laughed lightly. “He’s had his moments. But no. This is not his story.”
“Ah.” He clucked his tongue. “Perhaps you are trying to save him, then.”
― Marissa Meyer, Gilded

“You're a hero and I'm a monster", she whispered. "There's only one way that story ever ends.”
― Vanessa Len, Only a Monster

“But there are others who worship him still, the Starless One, patron saint of those who seek salvation in the dark.”
― Leigh Bardugo, The Lives of Saints