Unfated Love - DainAether (Dainsleif x Aether) fanfiction

Part 14- Sacrifice

For the rest of their days in Inazuma, they were served nicely by the prince and princess. Prince Aether managed to meet his future father-in-law once before the man went out for his duty in another state.

While the Twilight Knight and the Kamisato's knight were busy with their duties, Aether was walking alone in the corridor while gazing outside the wide sand garden. Two big dark brown rocks were carefully placed in the middle of the decorative sand around them and a beautiful bonzai in a white craved ceramic pot was on top of one of the rocks. At the end of each corner, there were trees that almost the same height as him and some small white stones decorated the garden. It was something simple but Aether was mesmerized by the art of it.

A gentle breeze hit his face as he was strolling around the place. The hanging bells chimed beautifully, filling the emptiness around him. His soft golden haori that matched his hair waved gracefully as the breeze hit it. That was when he heard footsteps were coming towards him.

"I hope you find this place entertaining, your highness," Ayato greeted him. Aether turned and returned his smile.

"I rather found this place... calming,"

"Glad to know that. When I was young, I used to spend my time here with my sister to calm our thoughts after our study sessions," Ayato continued to walk towards him. His light blue haori was waving beautifully nehind him. "Ayaka was a great student. Our tutors adored her intelligent and skills very much. She could solve any problem better than I am, actually. She is so kind to other people regardless their statues; fair with everyone around her. Her ambitions, passions and dreams were so much different than any other ladies at her age, " Ayato continued, adoring her sister.

Aether smiled at the prince in front of him. He understood that so well. Ayaka was nothing different from his own sister. More intelligent, more skills and more passions over something.

"That is why it's kinda hard to let her go," Ayato looked straight into Aether's eyes "especially when it comes for her duties, not for her love".

Aether raised his eyebrows. "Whatever do you mean by that?" he asked while keeping his calm smile.

"We know that this engagement was only for the sake of our diplomatic relationship and nothing more. She must sacrifice herself for this country. She will soon belong to you, not to us anymore. We will lose our own fair lady," the tall prince replied. "She will be given to Mondstadt... all when her own husband is in love with his own knight," Ayato walked pass him.

Aether's eyes widened. "Lord Aya-"

"I do not care what kind of affair you are having but if you truly understand this job of yours, do your part. As the next kings like ourselves, there are so many things that we need to sacrifice for even it means to be the puppet our our own nation," Ayato turned to him.

Aether looked deeply into his blue eyes. The usual gentle blue eyes were now turned into fierce ones, filled with disgust, anger, regret and... sadness.

Ayato sighed and smiled at the golden-haired prince. "I was like you too.  I made a huge sacrifice by cutting all those feelings and emotions for the sake of my kingdom. I realized my people needed me soon and I shouldn't let my own personal desires to take over my role and abandon my people," he continued.

Aether tried to understand his word. He was like me too?

"Think carefully before you decide something, your highness. One wrong choice, your people will die," Ayato ended his words by bowing lightly to the other prince and walked away, leaving him alone in the corridor.

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"Any track from the previous day, Sir Thoma?" the short blonde man asked while walking towards him.

"And that's why I called you here, Sir Dainsleif," he replied as he gestured Dainsleif to look at papers on the table. "As I've told you before, I sent my special force to investigate the suspicious movement you had told me and unfortunately they didn't find anything," Thoma carefully flipped the other pages. Before Dainsleif could say anything, he continued, "however, some of them found few pieces of traps scattered around of said route." He stopped and looked at Dainsleif. "And I believe it was meant for the prince, Sir Dainsleif".

Dainsleif felt his blood started to boil but he kept his mind on the discussion. Thoma sighed and asked one of the guards in the room to come near them. The guard held a long cylinder-like metallic rode as big as his palm and put it on the table.

"I hate to say this, but these people were indeed from the north. But that's not the worse case yet," he held out the rode out in front of Dainsleif of the better view. On the shiny surface of the rode, something stopped Dainsleif's breathing for a second when he saw something familiar. A long star-shaped mark. "An expected reaction from you,"

Dainsleif closed his eyes as he tried to focus on the conversation when suddenly the door burst open, revealing a sudden messenger from Mondstadt. "Pardon me, Sir Dainsleif. I've come here from our palace to inform the Royal Prince to return to the palace immediately".

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"I enjoyed your company, your highness," Aether gentle smiled as he walked with his fiancé's pace beside him. The young princess returned her smile and started to fidget her ringed finger.

"Ayaka. Just call me Ayaka," she stated. "When we're alone of course," she awkwardly smiled.

"In that case, Aether," the young prince returned her smile once again to lessen the awkwardness.

Ayaka walked again through the bright red soribashi to across the lake while Aether followed her from the back. The red tall trees blended beautifully with the other colourful flowers under the bridge as the walked around. Unique patterns of koi fish swimming around in the clear water. Ayaka stopped at the centre of the bridge and leaned slightly on the rail to look clearly at the fish. From under her sleeve, she took out a small blue pouch with flower embroidery. Slowly she untied the pouch and took out some breadcrumbs in it and her silky light green kimono fluttered across her beautiful face as she threw them into the pond. Her smiled grew bigger as she saw a group of fish started to eat the food she gave them.

Aether watched her movement. He liked her. Her charm can indeed make everyone love her regardless the gender or status. But not him. He liked her. He can accept her existence in his life. He tried to love her but... he just couldn't. His heart was unbothered with her. But he knew she can make a good relationship with him. Just relationship  but not his feelings.

"Have you ever fallen in love, Aether?" Aether snapped from his thought as he heard the question. He saw her standing still by the handrail as her hand dirtied with crumbs.

He walked to her slowly, tried to gather his words. "I'm pretty sure everyone does,"

The young princess smiled and turned her head towards scenery in front of them. "Surely,"

Silent took the moment as they enjoyed the beautiful sky in front of them. Aether took a glimpse of her pretty face and drew a deep breath. "Ayaka, I know that this engagement is totally political. I understand if you are frustrated to be the victim of this selfish arrangement of our kingdoms but just so you know, I'm in the same shoes as you are," Aether broke the silent. Her beautiful face turned to him in confusion. "We can never breathe our own life. We're just like puppets to please everyone and everything. And... we can never love the one we want to love,"

"Aether... are you-" Ayaka was about to speak when suddenly the Twilight Knight approached them.

"My apologize to disturb your time, my prince, your highness, but I have an urgent message for the prince,"