Love Amidst Wars

forty-one

Jay took a deep breath and slowly climbed up his desk. He held the rope tightly before taking a deep breath. Tears began to trickle down as he inserted his head through the loop, closing his eyes as he suppressed all the pain he suffered from the suffocating sensation.

"Your Highness, for our next plan–" Jake nonchalantly entered the Prince's tent before widening his eyes in horror, seeing the Prince's body swinging above him.

"Jay! For fuck's sake!" He immediately pulled Jay down from the rope and slapped him continuously to knock some sense into him, "What the fuck were you doing?!"

Jay coughed out and held his now bruised neck. "Let me die! Fuck!"

"No! You have a kingdom to look after!"

"There's no use! My parents are dead! What more is there to take care of!"

"Jay–I mean, Your Highness... You are the next heir to the throne. You can't just... abandon your people..."

"Fuck you, Jake. Why do you care?" Jay elbowed him before standing up. The Duke grunted in pain before holding his waist that had just been attacked, "Because I am assigned to protect you. You are the heir to the throne."

"Nothing matters anymore."

"I get it... We're not friends anymore. We're not close anymore. So just assume I'm saying this as a Duke and your right-hand man. Don't do anything stupid."

Jay sighed before letting his head hang low, "Just take the throne, Jake."

"What? What are you talking about?"

"You are the second in line for the throne since I'm not married and I don't have a son yet. Just take it. I don't wanna do anything anymore."

Jake glowered at the sudden request and smacked the back of the Prince's head. Jay groaned out of frustration before rubbing his head, "What?"

"You're the dumbest person I've ever met."

Jay exhaled heavily as he rubbed his neck continuously, soothing the pain he felt from the attempt to hang himself. Jake glanced at him before fidgeting with his fingers, thinking thoroughly about how to arrange his words.

"What? Cat got your tongue? What are you looking at me for?" The Prince asked aggressively, still holding a grudge against his former friend.

Jake smiled to himself before sighing, "She likes animals and nature. She often wanders around in the forest. Especially in the evening."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"It's Juliette. Focus, will you?"

Jay rolled his eyes and finally gave his full attention.

"She enjoys painting and drawing. So make sure to never ruin her sketchbook. I did that once and it did not go well."

"I know that. I have her painting back at the palace."

Jake frowned, "Let me talk, will you?"

Jay finally kept quiet and gave a questioning look to the Duke, wondering why he was telling all this.

"She likes flowers, she picks them a lot with her maids in the garden of her manor. Sometimes she plucks them in the forest to surprise her mother with it."

"She enjoys embroidery. It helps her think while her hands do all the work. She loves mingling with the commoners more than the nobles since they are more free and entertaining. So make sure to take her to the commoners' bar whenever you have the time."

"What do you mean–"

"It means," Jake interrupted, "I'm giving her up. For you."

"Jake? Giving up something for someone else? That is so unlike you. Is that a way for you to deceive me in the end?" The Prince mockingly scoffed before rolling his eyes.

"No. I am giving up. If that's the way to bring back the sanity of your mind, I am willing to give up. Then you'll have a reason to return to the kingdom. Alive."

"Don't you get it?! She's head over heels for you, you bastard! So shut up. And stop acting like you know how to solve everything. Saying that is just gonna make me pissed off."

"Then what more do you want?! If that's the only way to get you back to the kingdom as the next king–"

"Shut up. I don't need your help."

Jake watched as he stood up and left the tent. The Duke sighed to himself before running his fingers through his hair out of annoyance.