Like the MCs in the usual plots, everyone could keep it a secret at first and leave the others guessing who did.
Maybe the executioner and present guards also went back, at some point curveballing the main cast who are focused on each other.
Question is how you'd get readers to root for that ship, then.
Because I've seen quite a few stories where the LI is a dickweed, which at first the MC also thinks themselves, but in the end it's that person instead of a decent human being that exists as a side LI.
Unless you worded the first post really weirdly, that featured those friends actually dying.
This was the scenario I was referring to.
Because other than putting intent before consequence, I don't see why this sort of selfishness at the expense of others should be better than the others you...
Once again I disagree, at least in the name you gave the idea.
Detail by itself doesn't make a story dark, it's about which details you include.
This does to some degree imply that little detail means light tone, but the other way doesn't work like that in my opinion.
If instead of the shitty...
Remember when some people though that arbitrary rules declared universal brings stagnation and that therefor everything should be questionable?
Damn I sure want to know what people made of that philosophy.