~𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞~/ 𝐤𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐱 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐁𝐋)

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐈: 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝

The Asteria Kingdom basked in the glow of a golden sunset, its castle towering majestically against the vibrant hues of the sky. Within the fortress walls, Dave, a courageous knight, wandered the corridors with a heavy heart. Ever since Ares, the prince of Asteria, had uttered those cruel words, Dave had found himself drifting further and further away from the one he loved.
As Dave meandered through the dimly lit halls, his thoughts were consumed by memories of Ares's harsh rejection. The wounds of his heart still raw, he couldn't shake the feeling of hurt and betrayal that lingered like a persistent shadow. Desperate for solace, he sought out his closest confidante, Giulia, who could always be found tending to her duties with unwavering dedication.
Entering the castle's grand foyer, Dave spotted Giulia perched atop a ladder, diligently cleaning the towering windows that overlooked the courtyard below. With a heavy sigh, he approached her, his footsteps echoing softly against the marble floors.
"Giulia," Dave called out, his voice tinged with hesitation.
Giulia turned to face him, her warm smile faltering as she took in the solemn expression etched upon his face. "Dave," she greeted softly, her eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong?"
Dave hesitated for a moment, his gaze falling to the floor as he struggled to find the words to convey the turmoil raging within him. "It's Ares," he confessed at last, his voice barely above a whisper. "After what he said to me... I just can't seem to shake the feeling of... of inadequacy."
Giulia's heart ached at the pain evident in Dave's words, her own resolve strengthening as she reached out to comfort him. "I'm so sorry, Dave," she murmured, her voice laced with sympathy. "No one deserves to be treated the way Ares treated you."
Dave nodded silently, the weight of his emotions threatening to overwhelm him. "I know," he whispered hoarsely, his voice thick with unshed tears. "But what hurts the most is... I still love him, Giulia. Despite everything, I still can't help but love him."
Giulia's heart broke at the anguish in Dave's voice, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I understand," she replied softly, her hand reaching out to grasp his own in a gesture of solidarity. "Love is never easy, especially when it's unrequited. But you deserve someone who will cherish and appreciate you for who you are."
Before Dave could respond, a cold voice pierced the air, shattering the fragile moment of intimacy between them. "What's this? The knight and his lady love sharing a tender moment?"
Dave's heart sank as he turned to find Ares standing before them, his expression twisted with disdain. Pride burned bright in his eyes, a barrier of defense against the vulnerability threatening to consume him.
Giulia's jaw clenched in frustration at Ares's callous interruption, but she remained composed, her gaze steady as she met his icy stare. "Ares," she greeted evenly, her tone devoid of the anger that simmered beneath the surface. "What brings you here?"
Ares scoffed dismissively, his lips curling into a scornful sneer. "I could ask you the same thing," he retorted, his voice dripping with contempt. "But I suppose I already know the answer. No doubt you're here to console poor Dave after I shattered his fragile heart into a million pieces."
Dave winced at the venom in Ares's words, his chest tightening with a mixture of anger and sorrow. "Ares, please," he pleaded softly, his voice cracking with emotion. "I don't want things to be like this between us. Can't we at least try to talk things out?"
But Ares merely laughed derisively, the sound ringing hollow in the silent corridor. "Talk? What's there to talk about?" he spat, his gaze cold and unyielding. "You're nothing more than a lowly knight, Dave. You could never hope to be my equal, let alone my lover."
The words struck Dave like a physical blow, the pain of Ares's rejection cutting deep into his already wounded heart. Tears welled in his eyes as he struggled to maintain his composure, his hands trembling with suppressed rage.
Giulia stepped forward, her voice firm as she addressed Ares with quiet determination. "Ares, you have no right to speak to Dave like that," she admonished, her gaze unwavering. "He may be a knight, but he's also a person with feelings, just like you and me. You need to show him the respect he deserves."
Ares bristled at Giulia's words, his pride wounded by her boldness. "Respect?" he scoffed incredulously, his tone dripping with disdain. "Why should I respect someone who's clearly beneath me?"
With a heavy heart, Dave turned away from Ares, the sting of his rejection burning like a searing flame in the depths of his soul. He had hoped that their conversation would bring about some semblance of understanding, but now, all he felt was the bitter taste of disappointment.
As Ares stalked away, consumed by his own pride and arrogance, Giulia reached out to Dave, her hand resting gently on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Dave," she murmured, her voice filled with compassion. "But please remember, you are worthy of love and respect, regardless of what Ares may think."
With a heavy sigh, Dave nodded silently, the weight of his emotions pressing down upon him like a suffocating blanket. As the echoes of Ares's cruel words faded into the darkness, he knew that he would carry the pain of their encounter with him for a long time to come. But in the depths of his heart, a flicker of hope remained, a beacon of light guiding him through the shadows of his own despair.