knight's Royal Duty || Gonkillu ||

Are

As the days stretched on, the tension in the palace reached a boiling point. The queen's preparations for war were no longer just rumors—they were visible, even to those who tried to ignore them. Soldiers patrolled the palace halls, and the once-luxurious atmosphere had shifted into something darker, more foreboding.

Killua and Gon worked tirelessly, piecing together the web of alliances, dissidents, and military movements. They discovered that several high-ranking officials in the court had begun to quietly question the queen's decisions, but none of them had the power to stand against her.

"We're close," Killua said one evening as they poured over stolen documents in their hidden chamber. "If we can find a way to unite the dissenters, we might be able to stage a coup before the war breaks out."

But even as they made progress, the weight of the coming conflict hung over them. Killua could feel it in the air—the queen was about to make her final move, and when she did, the kingdom would be plunged into chaos.

"We need more time," Gon muttered, his eyes scanning the documents. "But I don't think we have it."

Killua nodded, his heart pounding with both fear and resolve. They were racing against the clock, and every second brought them closer to the inevitable. War was no longer a distant threat—it was at their doorstep.

And when it arrived, there would be no going back.

Despite their best efforts, things began to unravel faster than Killua and Gon could keep up. The queen's plans, which had seemed distant and shadowy, were suddenly in motion. It started small—an increased military presence in the capital, followed by whispered rumors that one of the neighboring kingdoms was preparing for war. But soon, the entire palace was buzzing with activity.

Killua had hoped for more time. He had hoped to gather enough allies within the court to mount a resistance against his mother's plans. But with every passing day, it became clear that they were losing control of the situation.

One night, after a particularly tense meeting with a court official who had quietly expressed his doubts about the queen, Killua rushed to meet Gon in their hidden chamber. The weight of everything was pressing down on him, suffocating him.

"It's happening faster than we thought," Killua said breathlessly as he entered the room, his heart racing. "The queen's already made her first move. She's declared martial law in the capital. She's claiming it's to keep the kingdom safe from outside threats, but we know what it really is. She's consolidating power. It's only a matter of time before she starts purging the court."

Gon, who had been waiting for him, looked up sharply. "Martial law? She's not wasting any time, then."

Killua shook his head, pacing the room as his mind raced with possible solutions. "We're losing control, Gon. We don't have enough allies to stop her. Every official I've spoken to is either too scared or too loyal to her to make a move. And the ones who might be willing to act... they're too few. I don't know what to do."

Gon stood, placing a hand on Killua's shoulder to steady him. "We'll figure this out. We've faced worse before. We just need to keep pushing, find more allies. There's still time."

But even as Gon said the words, Killua could see the doubt in his eyes. They both knew that time was running out. The queen's grip on the kingdom was tightening, and their window of opportunity was closing.

Hate...

The next morning, everything changed. Killua awoke to the sound of commotion outside his chambers—raised voices, hurried footsteps, and the unmistakable clang of armor. His heart leaped into his throat as he rushed to the window, pulling the curtains aside just enough to peer outside.

Soldiers. Dozens of them, marching through the palace grounds, their armor gleaming in the early morning light. But these weren't just any soldiers—they were the queen's private guard, her most loyal enforcers. And they were heading straight toward the court chambers.

Panic surged through Killua. Something was happening—something big. Without wasting a second, he threw on his cloak and rushed out of his chambers, making his way through the palace corridors as quickly and quietly as he could. He needed to find Gon. They needed to figure out what was going on.

But before he could reach their usual meeting spot, he was stopped by a group of soldiers.

"Prince Killua," the lead soldier said, his voice firm but emotionless. "By order of the queen, you are to remain in your chambers until further notice."

Killua's heart pounded in his chest. "What's going on?" he demanded, trying to keep his voice steady. "Why is the palace under lockdown?"

The soldier's expression didn't change. "There are matters of state that do not concern you, Your Highness. For your safety, you must remain in your chambers."

Killua's blood boiled. He knew exactly what was happening—his mother was making her move. And she was doing it in secret, without his knowledge, without his participation. She was keeping him locked away, just as she had always planned.

But there was no time to argue. Killua turned on his heel and headed back toward his chambers, his mind racing with possibilities. He needed to warn Gon. He needed to figure out what his mother was planning and how to stop it.

As he hurried through the palace, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps behind him. He spun around, his heart leaping into his throat—only to find Gon rushing toward him, his face etched with worry.

"Killua," Gon said breathlessly, "I've been looking for you. Something's happening."

"I know," Killua replied, his voice tense. "The soldiers—she's locking down the palace. I think she's about to purge the court. We need to move fast."

Gon nodded, his eyes dark with concern. "I heard some of the soldiers talking. They're arresting officials—anyone who's spoken out against the queen is being rounded up."

Killua's heart sank. It was worse than he had thought. His mother wasn't just consolidating power—she was eliminating anyone who might stand in her way. The purge had begun.

"We have to stop her," Killua said, his voice shaking with desperation. "If we don't do something now, she's going to win. And once the war starts... there won't be anything left to fight for."

Gon grabbed Killua by the shoulders, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. "We'll stop her. But we have to be smart about this. We can't go in blind."

Killua nodded, though his mind was racing. There was so much at stake, and time was running out. But they couldn't rush into this without a plan. They needed to act carefully, strategically—otherwise, they risked being caught in the queen's web.