Chapter Text
The wary knight was called into the throne room. Today felt strange — a cold atmosphere lingered in the castle, and all the maids and knights were unusually silent, almost... scared? Gossip was spreading and it was spreading quickly judging by the fact that all Akito heard were urgent whispers and hushed voices while he made his way. The little voice in his head taunted him - nothing but a dull ache that almost always assumed the worst. He brushed whatever notion aside and concluded that it was most likely a bad week of some sort. Quite cowardly. But it kept him moving. Oblivious to how this ‘bad week’ was about to get even badder.
Walking into the regal room he was greeted by King Ken and Queen Yuka, sat on a slightly lower throne but still beautifully decorated in red roses and white, smooth pearls. A soft exhale could be heard from the man perching on the overly decorated chair. His elbow rested on the arm on the throne and his fist was plopped against his face, squishing his cheek a little. Tentatively, he began to speak.
“Akito. you’ve been summoned here for a reason..”
His tone was dead serious, and not the sort of serious where we was telling someone off or giving orders. No. That serious that wasn’t frightening but frightened - and it took no effort to send a shiver up the boy’s spine.
“And what is that reason your majesty..?
Akito managed to mutter past his fear, eyebrows now perked up with curiosity as Ken glanced at Yuka with nothing but worry plastered all over his face. she just nodded back to him, her expression firm, the vulnerable glisten in her eyes basically a stab to her own back. The king's gaze was now back onto the befuddled boy stood before him. He announced.
“Someone has declared war on our kingdom."
“What..!”
His heart began pounding in his chest, his eyes widened and he felt his palms getting sweaty. The amount of responsibility he had basically just tripled. Not only was he considered one of the king's best knights (he was head knight) but he guarded his precious daughter. After being told this news there was no doubt that the King would most definitely ask him to be EXTRA vigilant of the princess. He bet all his prosperities on it.
“As my knight I trust you to be extra vigilant of my daughter."
He knew this man too well.
“Do you plan to tell her..?"
Ken sighed, dragging his hand down his face. He spoke flatly.
"That is something that’s crossed my mind. But no."
"May I ask why not?'
Akito’s mind was basically ruin after being told about the war but he had gradually come to terms with the news, calming his uneasy nerves and rebuilding the practical destruction in his head. The king just shot him a glare in response to his question before furrowing his brows and exhaling deeply for the second time that conversation. From the corner of Akito's eyes he saw Yuka. She was faced away staring intently at a wall with a disgruntled look on her face. Her lips slightly parting, wanting to say something but her voice came out in a quiet gasp. Holding her tongue for the time being.
"That's none of your conce-"
"Ken! An isn't a little girl anymore she can handle it! You need to stop being so protective or so help me I'll tell her myself."
Yuka lifted herself forcibly off her throne facing the King with a stern scowl, her fists clenched. After all these years working with the queen Akito learnt about her underlying passion for anything she put her mind to, it was very rare that she didn’t act on her thoughts - whether they were good or bad. But he saw it more than ever before in that moment from the way she stood to how her blaring voice echoed around the room how adamant she was on the matter, making even the knight flinch just a slight bit.
"Yuka.. I-"
"OH nononono! I am done! I am done with you treating our daughter like she's some sort of precious diamond that needs your constant protection! Jesus Christ you even assigned her a personal knight because she grazed her arm against a table!"
"Hey. that's not true and I'm certainly not that useless.."
Akito mumbled with an offended frown on his lips.
"You're excused!"
Yuka turned to Akito speaking in a slightly softer tone still laced with authority. The awkward knight bowed and quickly scrambled out of the room. Shutting the door behind him and taking a deep breath, his mind swirling with questions and concepts. He looked at the ground.
"I'll protect you princess.."
He whipped his sword out of his black scabbard and stared at his reflection in the shiny metal.
"No matter the cost."