Kill Me : Six Years Until I Die

Chapter 1: You Smell Putrid

Chapter 1: You Smell Putrid

The room was quiet for a while. "Father, with all due respect, I don't need a new partner. Saro will do, thank you very much." Alyn groaned, standing before his father, the king.

"Alyn, that's not what I meant, and you know that. Son, you're fifteen now. It's time to start looking for a suitable princess."

Alyn threw his hands in the air. "I'm still a kid-"

Saro placed his elbow on the prince's head. "You say that far too much, your highness."

The king raised his eyebrow at this scene, but didn't note it. "Be reasonable, Alyn. Princess Elaine has already agreed to marrying you."

"That's super great and all, but no thank you."

Saro smirked at the boy. 'I could give him twenty years and he still would never change.' Alyn turned to him, and pouted. "Help me, Saro."

He laughed mockingly, and flicked Alyn's forehead. "Fight your own battles, your highness."

Alyn groaned before storming out of the throne room. He heard Saro following close behind him, but didn't stop to confront him. Simply, he yelled, "I can practically feel your smirk."

"Oh Prince Alyn, I am so sorry. I really am." Saro snorted, appearing next to Alyn in no time.

"Father just believes he can decide everything for me. I don't want to even think about marriage yet." Alyn ranted to Saro. "I mean- we still have our promise to fulfill." Saro breathed in sharply at his words, but gained his composure again soon after.

"And right you are, Prince Alyn. Do you know how hard it was to convince hi- ... My client to postpone your assassination?"

Alyn turned to him, hazel eyes full of wonder and puzzlement. "How did you postpone my- uh... Assassination for six years, anyways? I mean I know you told me before, but I forget." Saro gaped at him for a second before laughing slightly.

"What a grand prince you are, Alyn." Saro chuckled. "My client was a somewhat kind man. He allowed our wishes to be heard, so here we are now."

Alyn nodded. "Thanks."

It was now Saro's turn to look at him in wonder. "What do you mean, Prince Alyn?"

"Thanks for telling me."

Saro rolled his eyes. "Well, of course. You have the right to know... Besides, lying was never my forte."

Alyn giggled. "I get your terrible pun. It didn't even make sense. I mean, what does a sword have to do with this?"

Saro cracked a pure smile. "Well you are with an assassin."

"True." Alyn snorted.

Saro's smile faded back into his crude smirk. The two walked down the corridors, stopping by the royal garden that belonged to Alyn's kind mother.

Alyn's breath hitched, and he felt tears form in his eyes when he saw the blooming flowers. Daffodils, daisies, roses, tulips, marigolds, and lilacs. His mother would have loved to see this beautiful sight. Saro sent him a small frown of pity.

"Oh good lord, don't look at me with pity, Saro."

"I mean it's a pity I can't look at you any other way." Saro grinned.

"You really need to find a hobby that isn't following me around all day." Alyn retorted, his lips tugging into a smile. "Or making terrible puns." He added.

"Nothing is as interesting to me."

"That's highly unfortunate because I probably won't be here long enough for you to follow me or make bad puns with me another year." Alyn joked, but the two felt the tenseness in the air.

In three months, it would be Alyn's birthday, and the anniversary of that day they made the promise. They'd both been dreading the day they'd have to fight each other because they had grown quite a strong bond, that half the country didn't seem to like. Saro decided to just call Alyn by his name only when they were absolutely alone, so he wouldn't further ruin his reputation.

"Yeah, because I'm going to smash you into your next lifetime." Saro replied halfheartedly.

"Yeah right. I'm way too strong for you to do that now." Alyn said, lightly brushing his fingertips to the petals of the various flowers.

"On that note then, would you like to practice now? Or perhaps you'd like to stay in the garden more. It's your call." Saro confirmed, looking down at the chestnut haired boy. Before he could respond though, Saro muttered out a single word. "Putrid."

"What?" Alyn knitted his eyebrows together in confusion.

"You smell putrid. Another choice would be taking a bath... Or two." He joked, red hair, like fire, sprawled all over his pale face.

Alyn scrunched up his face in horror. "Your personality can't get any better, can it?"

"Nope." He popped the last letter.

Alyn groaned, but felt no irritation, whatsoever. 'It's the beauty of nature that's making me happy.'

_______

"Alyn! Don't grip your sword so loosely." Saro hissed, eyes slanted in a aggressive way.

Nodding, Alyn adjusted his fingers on the hilt of the sword, his grip becoming firm. He brought the metal sword in front of him, waiting for Saro's next instructions.

"Defensive stance." The red haired man called out.

Alyn immediately went into the next pose, sweat matting his tangled hair onto his forehead. He gasped slightly when he saw Saro dash forward. The older man slashed at Alyn so quickly, he barely had time to react.

CLANG.

Clang, clang, slash. Alyn brushed his hair out of his eyes, hastily glancing around, almost as if he was looking for Saro's next move. The two fought steadily, until Lucas walked into the room.

"Your highness, Saro." Lucas greeted, bowing slightly.

"Lucas, why hello. What brings you here?" Alyn asked, lowering his sword.

"I am here to summon your highness to dinner. Oh, and Saro, I'm afraid the knights meals haven't been made so you can't eat yet." Lucas informed the two.

"I don't mind. I'll be going out anyways."

Alyn glanced at Saro, eyes holding worry. He turned his attention back to Lucas and smiled. "Thank you, Lucas. I will be there in a few moments, so if you'd excuse me I'd like to do something first."

Lucas nodded. "Of course, your highness. I will tell his majesty."

Alyn grabbed Saro's wrist, and dragged him to the corridors. "Where are you going, Saro? Is this another assassination you have to do?"

Saro looked away in guilt.

Alyn groaned. "Just don't get killed." With that, he let go, and walked away silently.

Saro watched him go, and sighed. "As you wish, your highness."

_______

Alyn walked into the main hall, and made his way to the feasting room. He could already smell the delicious steak, which was one of his favorites.

Before stepping into the room though, he stopped upon hearing his name.

"Prince Alyn could certainly become my husband." His recognized her voice. Princess Elaine.

"I'm sure, your highness." He heard his father laugh.

"Please, just call me Elaine."

"Then, call me father." Alyn could already feel bile crawl up his throat at this exchanging of words.

Thus, he strode back to his room, hand to his mouth in horror.