knight's Royal Duty || Gonkillu ||

I can't...

The palace loomed ahead, its once familiar walls now feeling more like a cage than ever. As they crossed the threshold into the grand halls, the sense of foreboding deepened, weighing heavily on Killua's shoulders.

The advisor led them to the throne room, but instead of his usual place by Killua's side, Gon was instructed to wait outside. Killua bristled at the command, but Gon gave him a reassuring nod.

"I'll be right here," Gon said quietly, his eyes steady and calm.

Killua nodded, though the knot in his chest tightened. He wasn't sure what was waiting for him on the other side of those doors, but the fact that Gon wasn't allowed to come with him made him feel even more vulnerable.

The throne room doors creaked open, and Killua stepped inside. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing along the walls. At the far end of the room, seated on her throne, was his mother. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but there was a coldness in her eyes that sent a chill down Killua's spine.

"Mother," Killua said, keeping his voice steady. "You wanted to see me."

She didn't respond right away, her gaze sweeping over him with a calculating intensity. When she finally spoke, her voice was as sharp as a blade.

"There are things you don't understand, Killua. Things that have been in motion for far longer than you realize."

Killua frowned, his heart beating faster. "What are you talking about?"

His mother's lips curled into a thin smile, one that held no warmth. "The time has come for you to fulfill your role, Killua. The games you've been playing, the freedom you've tasted—it's over. You are the crown prince, and there are decisions that you will no longer be allowed to avoid."

Killua's heart raced as he stared at her, his mind spinning. He had always known that his mother had plans for him, but the cold finality in her voice made it clear that something had shifted. The air in the throne room felt suffocating, as though the walls were closing in around him.

"What are you talking about?" Killua asked, his voice tense. "What role?"

His mother's smile widened, but it was not the smile of a loving parent. It was the smile of someone who held all the cards, someone who had been waiting for this moment. She leaned forward on her throne, her eyes glinting with a predatory intensity.

"The kingdom is at a crossroads," she said, her tone measured and deliberate. "There are alliances being formed, deals being struck. As the future king, your marriage will solidify those alliances. Your union is crucial to securing the throne."

Killua's breath caught in his throat. Marriage? His mind reeled, trying to process her words. This was what she had planned for him all along? To be a pawn in her political games, forced into a marriage to secure her vision of power?

"No," Killua said, shaking his head, his voice laced with defiance. "I'm not doing that."

His mother's expression darkened, the smile disappearing from her face. "You don't have a choice, Killua. This is your duty to the kingdom. It has been arranged."

Arranged. The word hit Killua like a punch to the gut. The future she had laid out for him was not something he could control. It had already been decided, long before he had even known what was happening. His life, his choices—they weren't his. Not in this world. Not under her control.

"I don't care about the kingdom," Killua said, his voice rising. "I'm not going to be forced into a marriage for some political deal. That's not my life. It's yours."

His mother's eyes narrowed, and she stood from her throne, the air around her turning cold. "You are my son, Killua. Your life is not your own. You belong to this kingdom, to its future, and you will do what is required of you. The sooner you accept that, the better."

Killua's hands balled into fists at his sides, anger coursing through him like wildfire. He had spent his entire life under her control, but this—this was too much. He wouldn't let her dictate his future like this. He wouldn't let her take away the one thing he had left: his freedom to choose.

"You can't control me forever," Killua said, his voice low but fierce. "I'm not a puppet."

His mother's gaze was icy, unflinching. "You're already mine, Killua. And soon, the entire kingdom will see that."

Before he could respond, the throne room doors opened again, and a new figure stepped inside. Killua turned, his heart sinking as he recognized the man who entered—a royal emissary from a neighboring kingdom, a powerful ally to his mother. The man's cold eyes flicked over Killua before settling on his mother.

"It's time," the emissary said, his voice formal, yet the meaning behind his words was clear. The arrangements had been finalized.

Killua's mother nodded, her smile returning as she looked at Killua. "You'll be meeting your betrothed soon."

The words felt like a death sentence. Killua's mind raced, panic threatening to overwhelm him. He couldn't do this. He couldn't let her control him like this, force him into a marriage he didn't want, a future he despised. But even as he searched for a way out, he realized how deep her control went, how little choice he really had.

His mother waved her hand dismissively, signaling the end of the conversation. "You're dismissed. Prepare yourself, Killua. This is your destiny."

Without another word, Killua turned on his heel and stormed out of the throne room, his heart pounding in his chest. As soon as he was outside, he found Gon waiting, concern etched across his face.

"What happened in there?" Gon asked, stepping forward, his eyes scanning Killua's face.

Killua's jaw clenched, his anger barely contained. "She's trying to force me into a marriage. For the sake of the kingdom."

Gon's eyes widened in shock, and then a flash of anger passed through them. "What? She can't do that."

"She can," Killua said bitterly, his fists still clenched. "And she is."

They stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing down on them. Gon reached out, placing a hand on Killua's shoulder, his touch grounding him in the storm of emotions that threatened to consume him.

"You don't have to go through with this," Gon said quietly. "We can figure something out. You're not alone in this."

Killua's heart ached at the sincerity in Gon's voice, at the unwavering support he had always given him. But as much as Killua wanted to believe that they could find a way out, he knew that the odds were stacked against him. His mother's power was vast, her control over the kingdom unbreakable.

"I don't know if there's a way out of this," Killua admitted, his voice tight with frustration. "She's too powerful."

Gon's grip on his shoulder tightened, his voice firm. "We'll find a way. I'm not letting her take your life away from you, Killua."

Killua looked up at him, feeling the fierce determination in Gon's gaze. It was that same unwavering loyalty, that same stubborn refusal to give up, that had gotten them through so much already. And yet, Killua couldn't shake the fear gnawing at him.

"I don't want to lose you," Killua whispered, his voice breaking slightly.

Gon's expression softened, and he stepped closer, his presence a comforting force. "You won't. I'm with you, Killua. No matter what."

Killua's chest tightened with a mix of emotions—fear, anger, but also gratitude. In this moment, with Gon by his side, he felt like maybe, just maybe, there was still hope.

But then, as they began to walk toward the hidden passage beneath the palace, Killua's mind was racing, and a thought crossed him: what if he could overthrow her? What if he could finally take back control of his life by dethroning the very person who had bound him in chains his entire life?