Fighting is Meaningless

8. Home

When Dan Heng opened his eyes, he almost flinched as he noticed he was on Blade's horse, riding with the duke's arm holding him tight and the chin laid on his left shoulder.

"What..." Dan Heng turned a little and looked at the duke whose figure was looking brighter than usual "Insolent" he muttered feeling still dizzy and tired.

Blade sighed, holding him tight "My apologise, your Highness" he whispered "But I wanted to bring you as soon as possible in my manor to get medical attentions" he tilted his head as the red eyes were getting pleased by the image of a docile and tired Crown Prince, who closed his eyes once again.

"There's no need." he said to then grit his teeth "It seems you really can't help but not keeping those hands to yourself. I could really request them to be cut, duke."

Blade did giggle a little "Oh? But I am doing this just to be sure you won't fall from the horse, your Highness"

Dan Heng sighed heavily "Duke, you probably have understood I don't really care when I will die since anyway it's something I can't stop, but.." his blue eyes for a moment did shine of determination, and Blade tilted his head surprised "If you're planning anything shameful like the first night, then I won't stay still. I am still the Crown Prince regardless, and I want to at least decide this time to die with dignity and not as a man has his way with me."

Blade couldn't help but smirk "Bold of you expecting people to accept this wish of yours when you would let any man or woman in your chamber to kill you" he said and Dan Heng's eyes looked for a moment at the bright blue sky.

"You're right... Indeed they hadn't stop" he muttered lost in his thoughts and Blade tilted his head, leaning closer to his cheek

"What do you mean?" he whispered as his eyes for a moment did focus on his knights giving him a signal to announce their arrival to his territory, making him smirk proudly.

"If you saw the future ahead and noticed that whatever decision you make will lead to the same ending... after so many trials, would you at least try to get to choose how to die?" he muttered lost in his fever and Blade sighed

"Dying is natural, but yes, you can try to choose how to die also by how you live your life, your Highness... At least you would close your eyes with no regrets" he said and Dan Heng looked around, seeing so many soldiers leaving glances at them.

He sighed, feeling grateful they didn't know he was the Crown Prince. Nobody knew except the knights and probably Blade's relatives, else it would have been really shameful.

"Regrets..." Dan Heng looked at his own hand for a moment "I... I had... I do... I always will, but... cage... it's cage... it's not warm... it's cold... lonely... curses" he muttered and Blade held him, feeling like he was getting carried by the fever. He was being a little delirious.

"Hold up, your Highness" he whispered "You're definitely sick, fret not, we're almost home" Blade said and Dan Heng leant on his chest, having no strenght to actually stand on the horse without laying the back against the duke's chest.

"Home...? That's not my home"

Blade sighed "It will be a good place for you to stay safe"

Dan Heng let out a laugh "Whatever you're planning... I don't really care anyway."

The sun was high but he could definitely the air cold... He felt shivers even though he knew he was...

What?

Dan Heng closed his eyes embarassed when he noticed he was wrapped in Blade's uppercoat "What is this... How... shameless" he muttered and the duke laughed a little