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a quiet knight gazed out from his balcony, eyes taking in the scenery around him. with a small smile, he realized that this was his kingdom, a beautiful land that he had the privilege of ruling over.
“ah, there you are.”
the knight wasn’t started by the voice, as he recognized the soft and almost teasing tone of it’s owner.
“hello, princess. i was beginning to wonder where you had wandered off to.” dice said said, and the young princess approached the man with a knowing grin, his bright eyes surveying the land the knight was observing just moments prior.
“tell me, daisu. what’s on your mind?” he asked after a moment of peaceful silence. the knight struggled with the proper answer to give her, and gentaro sensed his hesitation.
“you don’t have to tell me, you know. you just seem troubled.” he said gently, leaning on the cool stone of the balcony. dice glanced at the princess out of the corner of his eye, a smile tugging at his lips.
gentaro’s soft hair was being blown back by the breeze, and the moonlight cast an eerie glow over his serene features, making him look ethereal.
“just thinking about the future of the kingdom, that’s all.” he lied, and gentaro nodded, as if he believed what the knight was saying.
“as am i. my father wants me to agree to an arranged marriage.” the princess admitted, and dice balked at her statement.
“gen, with all due respect, you’re not going to accept his offer, are you?” the young man asked, and the princess let out a small sigh.
“there are some things we cannot change, i’m afraid. i do love my father, and i will agree to his wishes if he thinks i should find an heir to my throne.” he replied, now looking over to the knight.
“you would sacrifice your own happiness for your father’s?” dice asked, and gentaro noticed that the stars that blotted the sky were reflected in the knight’s beautiful eyes.
“i’m sick.” he said bluntly, shifting to look at the castle grounds instead of dice. dice furrowed his eyebrows, feeling like a snake was coiling around his heart.
“you’re sick, princess?” dice asked, and the princess nodded, face unmoving and emotionless.
“my father wants me to find an heir so the kingdom can continue its rein, that’s all.” he said, a small shrug of her shoulders accompanying his words.
“why didn’t you tell me?” dice asked, lump rising in his throat. gentaro moved his hand to gently wipe a tear that had slipped down his cheeks.
“i didn’t want to hurt you, dice.” he admitted, and dice felt like gravity was pushing on his shoulders.
“hey now, don’t cry.” gentaro cooed, gently cupping the knight’s face in his hands.
“but you’re so young, you have your whole life ahead of you!” dice exclaimed, and gentaro let out a sad laugh.
“the world moves in mysterious and cruel ways, as i’m sure you know.” the princess said, wiping away the tears that tainted the knight’s skin.
that night, the knight held his princess while he gently wept, and the knight reveled in his night spent with the man that he loved.
exactly a week later, a messenger arrived at the knight’s castle, bearing bad news.
“it’s the princess, your majesty. he’s fallen gravely ill, and his father fears he doesn’t have much time left.” the messenger relayed quickly. the knight knew the princess was sick, but he was shocked by the grim message.
he quickly ordered for a carriage to head to the princess’s castle, as fast as the horses could carry him.
upon reaching the princess’s sleeping chambers, dice felt as if his boots were strapped onto concrete blocks.
the princess that he had seen full of life and angelic a week ago was now laying in the middle of his bed, looking sickly and pale.
“dice, is that you?” he called, and dice surged forward to her bedside.
“yes, darling, it’s me.” he replied, voice barely above a whisper. gentaro let a happy smile cross his face, and he gently took dice’s hand in his own.
“i’m glad you came. i wanted to see you before i left.” he said casually, as if he was simply going for a walk in the courtyard and would be back shortly.
the knight shook his head in denial, squeezing the princess’s hand.
“you can’t go.” dice choked out, and the princess’s happy smile was replaced with a sad one.
“it’s my time, my knight.” gentaro said, and dice shook his head furiously.
“but you can’t go, because i-“ he started, but was cut off by gentaro gently kissing his wrist.
“because you love me?” he guessed, and the prince nodded, still managing to feel bashful at the confession of his feelings.
“how cliche, daisu~.” gentaro joked, trying to lighten the air in the room.
“i love you too, but i can’t stay here.” he said, releasing the knight’s hand. dice was crying harder now, tears blurring his image of the princess he loved dying in front of him.
“this isn’t goodbye, my love. we’ll see each other again.” the knight said firmly, and the princess nodded weakly.
“in another life, we can be happy together.” gentaro confirmed, giving dice’s hand another squeeze. dice watched through tears as the last bits of life faded from gentaro’s body, and his hand went slack in his grip.
“goodnight, my love. i’ll see you in the morning.”
gentaro awoke with a start, clutching at his heart through his pajamas. he almost started laughing hysterically at the dream he had, and decided that he was going to tell dice about it.
he gently shook the man’s shoulder, who awoke with a start.
“gen?” dice said groggily, rubbing his eyes and glancing over at the brunette.
“you wouldn’t believe this dream i had.” gentaro laughed, taking his boyfriend’s hand in his. he explained the dream in immense detail, adding in extra events as needed, which sent dice into a laughing fit.
“i’m not laughing at the prospect of you dying, love. i just find it funny that you have these dreams after writing your cliche romance books before bed.” dice said, gently squeezing his lover’s hand.
gentaro let out a hum, looking out the large window of his bedroom. he glanced down at dice, who had managed to drift back to sleep and had currently resumed his snoring.
with a gentle smile, he gently kissed the gambler’s forehead and laid back down.
“good morning, my prince.”