I'm chatising Danni in his bedroom, I'm scolding him as if he's a misbehaving child.
I'm scolding him for being so reckless for training with a soldier who could've easily harmed him in an instant.
But he's not a child. He's gone to war, he's got scars to prove it. But he shouldn't need to go to war again. He can't. I won't let him.
Danni's facing the window, his hands on the sill.
"Diz, my people expect me to end this war. I promised them I would. I will be going to war again, which is why I need to train, why I need to be ready. And I am going to die for my people if necessary." Danni said calmly.
But how could he be so calm?
How could he give his life away just like that?
Why does he have to be so selfless? I want to scream, 'Be selfish for once!'
But instead, I say nothing. Because I'm worried. I'm worried about losing the boy I swore to protect, and I know that anything I say won't change his mind.
And at the end of the day, he knows his position in this kingdom, and I know mine.
I just wish it didn't have to be this way.
"Diz, can I ask of you a favor?"
"Of course, your highness. Anything." I'm too loyal, too trusting to a boy I hardly know, and I'd die on the spot if that's so what he wished.
"If I die in war, I want you to become the next ruler of this kingdom." He replied.
What?
My body tensed up. How could he ask such a thing of me? "I don't think I quite understand.." I really don't.
He lowered his head, looking down upon the good people of the kingdom, "my mother, she's getting old. Soon enough, she'll pass down the crown. And my father, well, he's ruling a whole other kingdom. And then there's me," he pauses. He's hesitating as if he's not really sure what he's saying, "Diz, if I die under any circumstance, I want you to rule this kingdom, and surely enough you'll find somebody to rule along side you."
I want to say no. I want to back out of his room and deny his request.
But it wasn't a request or a suggestion. He wasn't asking nor telling me. He was demanding me to, commanding me to.
And it is my loyal duty to not only protect him but to serve him and see that his commands come true. He was finally using the authority he's always had over me.
Only to give me an impossible task. My most important one.
"Okay."
That was all I could say. That was all I needed to say to make him feel good about his decision.
He finally turned around to face me, only to walk past me like he always does.
His shoulder brushed past mine, "Good, I'm glad you understand the importance of this."
But I don't.
How could he simply say something like this and then walk past me like it was nothing?
