knight's Royal Duty || Gonkillu ||

Confession

Later that night, long after the banquet had ended, Killua stood on the balcony outside his room, staring up at the stars. The chill in the air did nothing to calm the storm raging inside him. The announcement had been made. His mother had secured his future, and there was no going back.

He was trapped.

The sound of footsteps behind him broke through his thoughts, and Killua turned to see Gon approaching, his face serious but filled with concern.

"You didn't say anything," Gon said quietly, coming to stand beside him. "Not during the announcement. Not afterward."

"What was there to say?" Killua replied bitterly. "It's done, Gon. She's won."

Gon's jaw tightened, and he shook his head. "It's not over, Killua. We can still—"

"There's nothing we can do!" Killua snapped, cutting him off. "Don't you get it? She's already decided everything! My life isn't mine anymore. I'm nothing but a pawn in her game."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and raw. Killua's voice cracked, the weight of everything finally breaking through. He turned away, gripping the balcony railing as his anger and frustration boiled over.

"I hate this," he whispered, his voice trembling. "I hate her. I hate all of it."

Gon stepped closer, placing a hand on Killua's shoulder, but Killua shrugged it off, his emotions too volatile to handle the comfort.

"Don't," Killua muttered, his heart pounding. "Just don't."

Gon's hand fell to his side, but he didn't leave. He stood there, silent, waiting. After a long pause, Killua finally spoke again, his voice quieter this time.

"I don't know what to do, Gon. I'm losing everything. And I can't stop it."

Gon's heart ached at the pain in Killua's voice. He had never seen him like this—so defeated, so lost. It scared him.

"You haven't lost everything," Gon said softly. "You still have me."

The night air felt colder than usual as Killua stood on the palace balcony, his hands gripping the stone railing so tightly his knuckles turned white. The stars above were indifferent to the storm inside him. Their light seemed distant, unreachable—just like the future he had once dreamed of, now snatched away from him by his mother's iron grip.

But it wasn't just the marriage or the crown weighing him down. It was the thought of losing everything he cared about, losing Gon—his best friend, his anchor. The one person who had always stood by him, no matter how heavy things got.

"My prince...?" Gon's voice was soft, cutting through the stillness.

Killua froze at the sound of Gon's words, and his heart clenched painfully. Gon had called him "my prince" so many times before, but this time, something in his tone made Killua feel vulnerable, exposed in a way he wasn't ready for.

He hesitated, his breath catching in his throat as he stared out at the dark horizon. He didn't want to look at Gon—not right now. Not when the weight of everything was too much to bear. If he looked at Gon, he feared he might break down completely.

"Killua," Gon said gently, stepping closer, his presence warm even in the cold air. "I think it's time I tell you something."

Tell me what? Killua's heart thudded loudly in his chest. Gon had always been direct, but something about his voice was different now—heavier, more serious. Killua could feel the tension building between them, an unspoken confession lingering in the air, waiting to be released.