𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 | 𝐃𝐃 𝐗 𝐃𝐃𝐎𝐓 𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐒

𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐊𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

The morning sun painted the castle in gold, but Darrian was already bored before breakfast had even ended. His parents' talk of trade routes and treaties made his head ache. Across from him, his younger sister sat quietly, properly listening like the perfect royal child. Darrian? He had other plans.

David, his assigned royal knight since he was five years old, stood behind his chair in full armor, still and silent as always.

Darrian glanced over his shoulder, mischief curling at the edge of his lips.
"Let's go to the forest," he whispered.

David's frown was immediate. "Your Highness—"

"They'll want apple pie for supper," Darrian interrupted smoothly. "And I'll be the one to pick the apples. That's not dangerous, is it?"

David stared at him, clearly unconvinced, but the alternative was letting Darrian sneak off without him. He sighed. "We'll be back before sunset."

--

The forest greeted them with birdsong and the sweet, green smell of summer. Darrian's basket swung at his side as he plucked apples from low branches, humming a tune. David trailed behind, his boots heavy on the dirt path, sword at his hip.

But then Darrian spotted a glint of silver through the trees. "What's that?"

Before David could answer, the prince darted toward it.

A river spread before them, wide and glittering in the sunlight. Darrian grinned, dropping his basket in the grass.

"Your Highness, don't even think about—"

Too late. Darrian was already unlacing his corset.

"Darrian." David's voice was firm now, knightly. "We're here for apples, not—"

The corset hit the ground. Then the tunic. Then the trousers. In seconds, the prince was bare, the sun turning the droplets of water on his skin into molten gold as he waded into the river.

David spun away so fast his armor clinked. "This is improper—no, it's wrong. There's an age gap—"

Darrian's voice floated from the middle of the river. "David, I've known you my whole life. And it's just swimming."

"It's more than that," David muttered, still not looking.

"Not unless you make it more than that. Come on."

David gritted his teeth. "No."

"Please? What's the worst that could happen? The great Sir David falls into the water and ruins his perfect hair?"

David sighed. He should walk away. He should drag the prince out. But the laughter—light and familiar—pulled him in like a tide.

Piece by piece, his armor hit the grass. Then the boots. Then the tunic. His sword leaned against a tree, forgotten for the moment.

When he finally stepped into the river, the cold bit into his skin, but Darrian's smile made it worth it.

"Took you long enough," Darrian teased.

For a while, they just floated in the cool water. Darrian lazily paddled, hair plastered to his forehead. Then his curiosity kicked in.

"I've known you forever, but I don't actually know you," Darrian said, treading water beside him. "What's your favorite color?"

David's brows lifted. "Blue."

"Blue? Why?"

"It's the color of the river near my village."

Darrian's eyes lit up. "You have a village? Where is it?"

"South of the capital. A farming town," David said, his voice softer now. "My parents still live there."

"Do you visit them?"

"Once a year."

"That's not enough," Darrian said, frowning. "Do you have siblings?"

"A younger brother. Works the fields."

Darrian floated on his back, eyes half-closed. "And how old are you?"

David hesitated, then sighed. "Twenty-eight."

Darrian grinned. "That's only... eleven years older than me. Not so bad."

David shot him a look. "In royal terms, that's a lifetime. And I'm your knight, Darrian. My duty is to protect you, not—"

"Not what?"

David looked away, water rippling around him. "...Not blur the lines."

The silence that followed wasn't heavy—it was thoughtful. Darrian drifted closer, watching him like he was reading a map. "You're more than just my knight, you know."

David didn't answer, but the faintest smile tugged at his mouth.

When the sunlight began to fade to orange, David finally said, "We need to head back before your parents send a search party."

Darrian groaned but didn't resist when David waded over, wrapped him in his cloak, and lifted him effortlessly into his arms.

"Sleep if you want," David murmured as they walked.

Darrian's eyes were already fluttering shut, the steady rhythm of the knight's steps carrying him toward the castle.

And though David's mind told him this was just duty, his heart whispered something else entirely.

-----

just pulling out anything from drafts atp lol.

hope yall enjoy!!