Unfated Love - DainAether (Dainsleif x Aether) fanfiction

Part 5- Distance

Aether was looking out through the royal carriage's window and stared at the scenery outside. The tall mountains were far away from the wide green land. The mountain peaks covered with ice mist but the rays from the sunlight made the mountain tips looked golden. The air was cold outside as the glass window turned foggy whenever Aether breathed out his warm breath near it.

Would he be there? He thought to himself. Would he avoid me? Aether's heart skipped a beat at the thought. He was actually nervous and excited at the same time. His mind can't stop thinking about why Dainsleif avoided him all this time. The excuse of him being 'busy' with his duties wasn't actually valid for him as Dainsleif will make his own time to attend by his side no matter how busy he was.

"We arrived, your highness," Aether snapped from his thoughts when the guard informed him from the outside. Aether cleared his throat and straightened his back. The guard turned the doorknob and pulled the door open. He stepped out from the carriage and took a deep breath of the fresh air.

"Your highness," Aether's heart skipped a beat when he heard the familiar voice called for him. His breath startled when he saw Dainsleif who was approaching him.

"Dainsleif..." as much as he wanted to run at him and ask the questions that had been running in his mind, he kept his composure and acted calm. He missed him so much.

"I'm glad you arrived here safely, your highness," Dainsleif bowed at the prince. Aether forced himself to smile and tried to reply him something but only kept his mouth shut. Seeing no answer from the prince, Dainsleif turned to his back. "We should get going now, my prince. They are waiting." Aether nodded and went inside the big building in front of them. Guards and soldiers under the command of the Twilight Knight himself were guarding the building to secure the prince's safety.

His duty was simple, officiate the ceremony. The ceremony was to publish a new orphanage under the king himself at that place. The king himself was supposed to come but he was a bit unwell for the past few days so as his prince, Aether was tasked to attend the event to replace him.

He spent his great time giving some speeches, talking to the organizers and the caretakers, and also spent his time playing with the orphans. Dainsleif who was spectated him from afar felt a little tingling in his stomach after seeing the prince's smiles.

"I'm glad you managed to handle this event perfectly, Sir Dainsleif," a voice was approaching him. Dainsleif turned his head and found the red-haired knight was talking to him. "I believe... his majesty asked you for this?" Diluc continued. He was wearing a dark blue outfit with silver sash around his body. Dainsleif turned around and noticed that Diluc and few other knights accepted the invitation to attend the ceremony.

"Indeed, Sir Diluc. It was supposed to be your brother, Sir Kaeya's event but it was a last-minute change of plan as he needed to attend to his last-minute military duties at the north with his army. So that's why I replaced him," Dainsleif replied him.

"The north... the warfare never ends there..." Diluc lost into his thoughts.

Dainsleif then turned around as he was looking for someone. "Lady Jean is not coming with you, Sir?" he asked. He tried to make a small talk with the knight.

Diluc shook his head. "She was already about to enter the carriage to come here when suddenly her morning sickness kicked in. She's resting at home now accompanied by her sister," Diluc replied.

Dainsleif nodded. "I pray for her health," he said. Must be nice to be married with someone you really love...

Diluc simply smile and turned his eyes to the prince who was talking to one of the orphans. "Was everything alright on that night? I heard the prince himself fell sick on the next day," he suddenly asked.

Dainslief startled at the question. He cleared his throat. "As you already know, he's a lightwe-"

Ding-dong.

The big bell on top of the tall stoned clock in the middle of the orphanage rang loudly. Everyone turned their eyes to the gigantic clock as the clock showed it was already mid-day.

Aether turned his eyes from the clock to Dainsleif who was caught off guard staring at him. Dainsleif quickly turned to Diluc and bowed. "It's time for me to bring the prince back to the castle, Sir Diluc,"

"I believe so. I'll see you around, Sir Dainsleif. Say my wish of well to my brother when he returns," Diluc shook his hand.

Dainslief bid him well and turned his heels towards Aether. "It's time for you to go back to the castle, your highness,"

Aether nodded and bid everyone goodbye. Dainsleif led him to his carriage and helped him into the vehicle. "Aren't you coming with me, Dainsleif?" he asked his knight.

"A knight shouldn't be in the same carriage with the future monarch or the monarch itself without any important reason, your highness," Dainsleif replied in a flat tone. Aether's face turned upset at the reply as he really wanted to talk to him. Seeing his reaction, Dainsleif's heart tightened. "I'll meet you up at the castle," he bowed and closed the door.

_________________________________________

Aether slammed his head slowly onto the table. Right after he set his foot back at the castle, he was given few more paper works need to be read and signed. He sighed lowly at the letters and papers on the table and took a glance at study's door.

Where is he? He had been waiting for Dainsleif to meet him but it seems Dainsleif didn't even attend to him. It's impossible for him not to keep his promise with me. Aether thought to himself. He then stood up and opened the door. He looked around the corridor, hoping to see the knight coming to the study but he only saw few guards under the knight's command were patrolling the place. They bowed at him when they saw him walking out the study.

Aether started to walked around the corridor, hoping he would bump into his knight. Failed to do so, Aether decided to walk out from the building and went into the mini garden right outside his study. He took a deep breath once he stepped outside. The fresh air filled his nostrils and expanded his lungs.

He breathed out calmly, trying to clear his heavy and his messy mind. But it was only lasted a few seconds when he suddenly saw Dainsleif was walking inside the castle through the same entrance Aether just used to go out to his mini garden. Aether quickly turned his heels and started to ran to the entrance.

"Dain!" Dainsleif turned around when he heard the familiar voice called out his name. How he missed for him to call him that. Dainslief saw Aether was running towards him. As he ran, his flowing untied golden hair shone as beautifully as the sun hit the strains, making him looked angelic in Dainsleif's eyes.

"Your highness, please do not run like that. You might sli-"

"You didn't meet up with me as you promised. Why?" Aether quickly asked him. He tried to catch his breath while locking his eyes with Dainsleif's blue eyes.

"I apologize, your highness. I had an important duty I need to do," Dainsleif lied. He didn't have any duty, he just wanted to avoid the prince as he felt himself was so guilty around him.

"Come to my study, Dain," Aether ordered his knight. "There's something I want to clarify with you,"

Dainsleif tried calm himself. Does he know? Dainsleif took a step back. His heart was beaten hard in his chest. "I apologize, your highness, but I have another duty I need to-"

"Sir Dainsleif, are you trying to disobey my order?" Aether suddenly spoke up in a serious tone, slightly raised his voice. Dainsleif was stunned by his prince's words and quickly got down to his knee while lowering his head down.

"Forgive me, your highness. That wasn't my intention at all," he replied. Aether really hated to use this kind of method to make Dainsleif listen to him. He felt like he was forcing him but he had no choice because he was so desperate to talk to him. He just wanted to know the reasons of why suddenly Dainsleif took a distance with him. He never done this before even though he had done so much worst to his knight. Dainsleif never leave him no matter what... so why?

"Come with me, Dain."