Unfated Love - DainAether (Dainsleif x Aether) fanfiction

Part 9- Engagement

The blonde prince walked through the hallway that morning as the king wished to see him immediately. He moved his legs calmly to the throne room. The sun was bright in the clear blue sky and hit its rays onto the prince's white outfit. The short blue cape on his back was gracefully flowing while he was walking. He looked even more angelic as his long golden braided hair was tied up at the back.

"Do you know why it is so sudden for him to wish to see me, Dain?" Aether asked his knight who was walking alongside him.

"I'm afraid I don't, my prince," he replied. He nodded to the guards and servants who bowed to them as they walked through the hallway. "But I believe, it might be something very important." They stopped in front of the throne room's big door. Aether turned to him and nodded.

The guards who were guarding the doors pushed the heavy doors open for them to enter. Together, they both walked inside the throne room. Aether noticed his father, King Aleph, already sat on his throne together with his sister, Princess Lumine, beside the king as they were waiting for him. Aether also noticed few other nobles and knights were also there, waiting for his arrival. Dainsleif bowed at the prince and started to bring his legs to where the other royal knights were standing.

Aether felt all alone in the middle of the hall. Everyone was looking and bowed at him. Nervousness took over his veins. He was so confused. What's going on? Why is everyone here? Aether walked towards the throne and bowed to his father. "You wished to see me, father?"

The king got up from his throne. "Indeed I am, my son. We have a great news for you," he smiled at his prince. Aether titled his head, confused. "You are already at the age where you should get yourself your own wife, my son. And we already found a perfect wife for you,"

Aether's face fell. "I'm sorry, what?"

"Congratulations my prince. You're now betrothed with our neighbouring kingdom's youngest princess, Princess Ayaka from the Kingdom of Inazuma. Both kingdoms agree that this engagement will be a great opportunity for us to build a great friendship between us! And believe me my son, we all agree that the princess is going to be the best wife for you. The best queen for our kingdom," King Aleph continued. Everyone started to clap and cheer for him, congratulating him on his engagement.

Aether felt the world had stumbled upon him. Engagement? With another person? No. This can't be. He didn't want this. He did expect this thing will come but not so soon. Not when he was just started to enjoy his own love life. He slowly eyed Dainsleif and he regrated it. Dainsleif was looking at him.

His brows frowned. His lips were stuttering no words. His eyes sketched pain and fear. Fear of losing the person who had grows in his lonely heart. Aether felt a sharp pain in his chest upon seeing Dainsleif's reaction. He was suffocating.

He turned to his father. "Engagement? At this time? Father, we have a war that we need to concern about! And plus, you didn't even consult me about this first! How can you just simply decide my engagement with someone I never meet?"

"My dear son, this is the perfect time for you to marry as Inazuma can land a hand for us to defeat our enemy," the king explained. Aether wanted to scream in protest but he couldn't. A lot of people were watching him, the prince, the future king. "Why you look anxious? Are you perhap... have someone that is dear in your heart?"

Aether was stunned. YES! He wanted to say. I DO HAVE SOMEONE THAT I LOVE ALREADY AND HE'S RIGHT HERE, IN THIS HALL, LISTENING TO YOUR DAMN NEWS! He stared at the king as he was waiting for his reply. But... none of you will understand. Every of you guys will hate me... and him. Aether brought his head down. "No... no I don't,"

Dainsleif gasped. His heart broke into pieces. It's not like he expected for the prince to tell them the truth but the fact the prince clearly denied it sent him down. He didn't know what to expect. He slowly retreated himself from the hall with an excuse he had an immediate duty he needed to attend. Aether held his tears from pooling in his eyes. He cursed slowly under his breath. Yes. They both already knew this moment will come, but will they just accept this cruel fate?

"Well, that's not even a problem at all. It's decided then. I'll ask your knight to make an arrangement for your visit to Inazuma next week,"

"Yes... father," he replied. Lumine frowned at her brother's reaction. She knew well about his brother's secret relationship but there's nothing she could do. This was his fate that he needed to accept. It broke her heart seeing her brother like that.

Aether bowed and left the throne room.

_________________________________________

The prince took his head in his hands, ruffling his hair. His braided hair was now scattered around the table and chair as he sobbed, wetting the papers under him. His eyes were swollen red and the smug on his cheeks due to the ink dirtied his beautiful face. He refused to let anyone enter his study. He even refused to touch his paper works on the table and pushed them away on the floor.

Knock. Knock.

"I told you I refuse to see anyone right now!" Aether yelled in frustration.

"It's me, my prince," the familiar voice answered.

There was a long pause until the door creaked open and reveal the Twilight Knight in front of the door. He closed the door behind him and walked towards the prince.

"My prin-" he stopped. "Aether," he called out the prince's name. His chest tightened when he saw the prince's state. Eyes swollen. Lips chapped. Cheeks wetted. Hair messy. He looked miserable. The room looked miserable. Few vases had been broken, papers and clothes scattered everywhere.

"Why it happened so soon, Dain? I thought everything is fine," Aether finally spoke up after a long silence.

"It is not my place to say, Aether," Dainsleif replied. Yes. It was not his place to say anything about it. Yes. He felt the world turned down at him. The both of them. But he had no power to do anything. Pain? His heart shattered already. He was given love to embrace and now they had taken them away, instantly. Dainsleif looked up and stared at the prince's swollen face. "I... already make the arrangement for your visit next week as your father requested. All we have to do is... wait," he stuttered. "Congratulations on your engagement, my prince".

Soon he felt a sharp pain on his left cheek. He turned and met Aether's frustrated eyes. "Don't you dare congratulate me, Dainsleif! Don't you ever... dare..." Aether clenched hard his palm that he used to slap Dainsleif. "I don't want this, Dain. I don't want to live my life with someone else. I just want to be with you," he brought himself down on the floor and buried his face in his keens, sobbing.

Dainsleif quickly knelt beside him and took his small body in his embrace. Tears started to pool in his eyes. What came out from Aether's mouth stunned him.

"Dain... let's run away,"