Iâm so, SO glad that Fakir didnât confess his feelings to Duck in the Lake of Despair.
One of my first questions after watching Princess Tutu for the first time was
âDoes Fakir love Duck?â
For anyone who might be in the same position, the answer is yes. Maybe Iâll explain why I think he ends the story in love another time. All you need to know now is that he does.
The followup question after watching the series for the first time was
âDoes Duck love Fakir?â
Hmm. This one is a little tricky. I believe that by the end of the story, sheâs certainly heading down that path. I believe that what she feels toward Fakir are feelings of love, but she isnât able to recognize them as such. To her, love feels like a schoolgirl crush. Itâs exciting and nervous and giddy. It makes her want to giggle and blush and run around in circles.
Compared to the puppy love she felt for Mytho, her feelings for Fakir must seem alien. Duck isnât able to give it a name, but she is able to identify it. Feeling weak, but someone makes you feel strong? Trusting someone to stay and fight by your side, without being able to see that theyâre there? Letting someone see you cry? I mentioned this earlier, but Duck doesnât really do that. How could I have forgotten that at the end of her rope, she finally exposed her heart and fears and tears to someone, and it was Fakir? Sheâs close. But sheâs just not there yet.
In the Lake of Despair, here is what Fakir knows.
Duck, during that moment, was in an incredibly difficult position. She was forced to face her secret, selfish desires because at the end of the day, she isnât the perfect, pure-hearted Princess Tutu. Sheâs a waddling, toddling duck who was cursed with the opportunity of a lifetime, which she accepted because she had nothing to lose, and couldnât finish the deal because she wanted to keep it all.
Mytho was going to make Rue his princess. Duck wanted to be his princess. That sucks.
Duck was afraid of being alone again. Afraid of going back to being a regular old duck who doesnât dance or go to school or have silly friends or a cat for a teacher. Itâs horribly selfish and she knows itâs horribly selfish, but despite knowing that everyone would suffer should she not finish the story, she doesnât want the story to end.
But this isnât her story. Itâs Mythoâs, isnât it? It always has been.
Regarding Fakirâs love for her, this isnât their story either. Duck isnât in a position to be emotionally available for handling a confession. Whether she loves him back or not, romantically or otherwise, the two of them have a mission, and love will have to wait.
To choose not to confess is an act of love. It is! Fakir could have chosen to impose his feelings on her, to burden her with another thing to worry about while the weight of their known world was on her shoulders. To confess to her, to kiss her, to force her to consider him as a romantic partner, would have been selfish of him.
Instead, all he gives her is a promise. Not to be dramatic, but to this day, it is one of the most beautiful promises Iâve ever heard. It is one built upon unwavering faith and loyalty, and does not require a platonic or romantic label to be true.
And as Fakir dips her low, he takes her in. Duckâs eyes are closed, you may remember, so she might not realize how carefully he studies her face. This is truly his last opportunity to tell her while sheâs still guaranteed to be human. Theyâre alone, theyâre dancing, this is such a emotionally meaningful moment for both of them. âItâs just too perfect.â
But no, he wonât. Because he loves her