Unfated Love - DainAether (Dainsleif x Aether) fanfiction

Part 1- The Prince and his Knight

The sun had risen from its long night slumber and peeked between the higher mountains. Rays of light hit the thick clouds on the sky, creating various shapes of shadows on the gigantic castle below. The tapping sounds of the footsteps can be heard across the hallway as the blonde tall man was walking. He was wearing a black outfit with a pair of matching high knee boots. His dark blue cape was flowing gracefully as he walked and immediately stopped in front of the big wooden-carved door.

Knock. Knock.

"Your highness, it's time to wake up,"

No answer. He sighed and slowly turned the doorknob and entered the room. The room was dark as the thick curtains covered the big windows in the room. He squinted his eyes to adjust his vision with the dim light and made his way to the windows and drew the curtains out.

Bright light filled the wide bedroom. It was decorated with various types of antique decors. The walls were decorated with framed paintings, pictures and ornaments. The man moved his legs towards the king-sized poster bed. Silky white curtains covered around the bed, slightly hiding the person who was sleeping inside.

Slowly, the man slid his hands between the curtains and pushed them aside and looked at the price who was still soundly sleeping on the soft bed. His thin light blue nightgown had hiked up, showing off his bare milky-white thighs. His untied long golden hair loosed and was messy around the pillows above his head. He was curling up while hugging a soft pillow.

The tall man sighed once again. He threw away his cover, again. He then gently shook the prince's shoulder. "Your highness, it's time to wake up. It's almost time for your breakfast,"

"Mmghn," the prince lowly groaned. Clearly, he didn't want anyone to disturb his comfy slumber. The man didn't stop and kept on waking him up until finally the prince slowly turned his body to face the blonde man and opened his heavy eyelids. "Mghnn... Dain...sleif?" he called out.

"Yes, it's me, your highness. Now please wake up or the majesty and her highness would be mad at you." Upon hearing those words, the prince forced to open his eyes and slowly sat on the bed. He covered his eyes to block the morning sunlight.

Dainsleif stared at him. His long hair shone like gold and his fair skin sparkled like diamond as the bright ray hit him. His nightgown slipped from his shoulder, showing half of his chest. The young prince rubbed his golden eyes and turned to the man who was standing beside the bed. "It's still early, Dain..."

Dainsleif snapped out from his stared and cleared his throat. "Your highness, you have a meeting with the majesty himself and her royal highness this morning," he replied. The small prince tilted his head and looked at him confusingly. "It's for your birthday celebration next week, your highness,"

"Oh... you're right," the prince replied and looked back to the big windows.

Dainsleif turned and tried to take a leave when suddenly the golden-haired prince called him.

"Dain..."

He stopped. "Your highness?"

The prince slowly turned his head towards him and rubbed his back neck as he felt nervous. "Dain... I told you before, right? Just call me Aether when we are alone," he blushed.

Silence took a moment before Dainsleif decided to reply. "As much as you want to, your highness, I apologize as I cannot grand that wish of yours. It is so unappropriated and rude for me, a mere knight of yours, to call you by your name. To remind you, I'm just a knight who was tasked to protect you with my life and not someone who is closed to you," he said in a monotone.

Aether lowered his gaze and refused to look at Dainsleif's ocean eyes. Dainsleif lowly sighed and bowed to his prince before taking his leave through the door. "Dress him properly," he ordered the servants who were waiting outside the room.  

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The Kingdom of Mondstadt or known as The Kingdom of Freedom was reigned the by the mighty King Aleph. With the blessing from his God, Barbatos, he was blessed with two beautiful and smart children. The firstborn, the Royal Princess Lumine and his secondborn, the Royal Prince and also the future king, Prince Aether. The King had a wide glory kingdom under his reign.

Aether walked through the hallway and made his way to the throne room. The guards who were standing in front of tall doors bowed and greeted him well before pushing the doors for him to enter. He slowly entered the throne room and saw his father was already sitting on his throne while his sister was standing beside him. "Father, sister," he greeted the two people.

"Come closer, Aether." The king ordered his prince. Aether walked forwards and stood in front of them. "Aether, my royal prince, my faithful son," he started. "You're becoming a 18-year-old man next week. Are you ready for that?"

Aether nodded. "I've been waiting for this moment, father,"

"Growing up means you will carry your full responsibilities as the prince on your shoulders, Aether," Lumine reminded him. "It's also mean you need to sacrifice and give everything for this kingdom," she continued.

Aether kept silence. He knew well about his role as the next king for his kingdom was heavy for him to handle but...

"We are celebrating your birthday next week and we've invited our neighbourhood kings and queens together with their princes and princesses. This probably would be your great opportunity to... make 'friends' with them," the king said. "You are almost at the age to start getting your own future queen, my son,"

Aether forced himself to smile. Since he was born, his life had been arranged and he never had the chance to live his own life. He had always obeyed whatever people around him had planned for him as they said they wanted to 'shape' him to be a perfect future king. Hence, they knew everything about him.

But, the idea of them arranging his love life with someone who is worthy for his title as a prince and also the future king was kind of made him wanted to disagree but he kept his mouth shut as he knew it would bring no good for him. What they didn't know was....

He was already in love with someone who was not even worthy and has the same status as him.