Chapter Text
Seven years have passed since Chuuya got in contact with his friends physically. Seven years ago did he take lead in helping the rebellion take that next step forward by being the first successor to break into castle walls. It started off small: protests that never really mattered, rumors that purposed as a warning to the king to watch the hell out for them. But then, for one reason or another, the prince took a liking to him.
Osamu Dazai, the Demon Prince. He was seen as a cunning, mysterious man. Seven years ago, that meant danger to people, the society chose to neglect him until it came time they were forced to accept him as a result.
If the prince had no one else he could care more about, then Chuuya was the natural candidate for this task. Plans and meeting were spaced out among that year, until he officially went into training to be a knight at the age of 16.
He'd been a nobody in these thick, suffocating walls. After all, he'd been chosen not for his expressed skills but simply because the prince personally viewed him.
In terms of the king, that would be reason enough, but a Demon Prince's opinion was like a black cat. Lonely. Cursed.
It was up to Chuuya to prove himself with his fighting skills and build himself up to the rank of Prince Dazai's personal guard, thus bringing him to now.
Now. The next part of his mission had been assigned. He had to kill Dazai by June 19th.
{May 19th, 7:03 AM}
"Chuu... I don't wanna wake up yet."
A scoff. "Too damn bad, His Majesty will kill me if I let you be late to a meeting with your fiancée. Get up."
"No."
"Tch." That's it, he kicked Dazai out of the bed, discreetly using For The Tainted Sorrow on the furniture for good measure as the brunet tumbled out unceremoniously.
"Ow!! This is cruelty and assault against the prince, Sir Nakahara!"
The ginger would roll his eyes in response. "I would've thrown you out the window if I could. Now hurry up and get ready."
For some reason, Dazai's ability in itself was a revolt against other abilities: nullification. That made him a layer more untouchable than he already was with his royal origins. Another reason for society to despise him in the past.
Though, nowadays... Chuuya glanced at the brunet whom was now flirting with some maids walking down the hallway, the Demon Prince is a flirt that ladies just so happen to adore. Ironic. They were once the same group that wanted the former Queen's child dead.
Once they reached the throne room, Dazai's expression visibly darkened into something more empty and neutral. It'd happened before, and although his knight would raise a brow like always, an audible dismissal was enough to leave it as just that between them. A dismissed idea.
"Ah.. Osamu, you're here," King Mori Ougai grinned at him, clasping his hands over his lap as he did so. The man was unnerving.
"Yes, Father. Where is she?"
"She'll be here later," the king replied in that fake-cheerful tone of his.
For some reason, important guests from another kingdom were not to have the princess' name exposed to public in another, some concern about loyalty and respect of titles.
"I did want to speak to you about your recent... expeditions to other woman though."
"..."
"No worries, it's not punishable yet, but surely you're aware of the responsibility you have as a fiancé, hm?"
"I am aware."
A nod. "Then, I'll ask that it doesn't happen again," Mori replied, quickly switching up his tone as she entered the room. "It's nice to meet you once again, Meiko."
-- that's not an actual author/character btw --
"Likewise, Mori-san. And Prince Dazai," she gave a curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."
"Ah. Yes," he gave a deceptively sincere curve of his lips, taking her hand with utmost respect before taking her out of the room for the royals to talk in private, his knight coming with.
In deception, Dazai was a mastermind. He used every trick in the book to appease this woman that was to be his fiancée, and yet, he hardly touched her and dodged any questions about their relationship with ease. A man who lived in half-truths, if not white lies. Chuuya could only see the signs because he spent these past few years with the brunet to know what genuine actions were from him. Meiko wouldn't know any better.
The knight still didn't, to be honest. It's not like they were close enough that he could convince Dazai to go somewhere with him. No, the prince was too confident in that regard, bossing him around with the excuse that it's his job as a knight to follow. The leash wouldn't be the other way around unless some miracle occurred that made the brunet lower his guard.
So Chuuya waited, as he always had. He watched from the sidelines with straight posture and hand on the hilt whilst the prince talked away with his fiancée. Her name was Meiko, he'd have to report that to the gang. Seeing their romance, however fake it was, couldn't help but make him remember his own with Yuan. How was she doing now? How was Shirase?
"Sir Nakahara. It's time for this damsel to leave," Dazai would jest with a dramatic flick of his hair. Meiko had already left and the prince himself was already a few feet away from him.
"... Right."
And the tale of the Demon Prince's death would begin...