Chapter Text
1519
A hushed silence fell over the bathhouse when Knight Banneret Daniello entered the marbled phremises.
His expression was unreadable as ever when he settled down in the bath.
The other knights glanced at him nervously, all afraid to speak up.
“So… Sir Daniello?” one knight finally said, voice wobbly but loud, cutting through the tension. It was Sir Christopher.
“What?”
He cowered. “We simply wanted to offer congratulations!” he squeaked. “We heard that Phrincess Philippus is to be wed. H-how joyous that must be for you, his most loyal phrotector.”
The other knights murmured in agreement.
Daniello’s head snapped upwards. “Repeat yourself,” he commanded.
“…Phrincess Philippus is getting married?…Congratulations?”
In one swift motion, Daniello leapt out of the tub, donned his tunic and cloak and left.
The other knights rounded on Sir Christopher.
“Now, you’ve done it.”
“We told you to hold your tongue!”
“You fucking dumbass.”
.
Daniello arrived at the Phrincess’ chambers in quickness and haste, dismissing the guards that stood at either side of the double doors.
After they shuffled away, he rapped his knuckles on the wooden phanelling.
“Phrincess? T’is your knight. May I enter?” Daniello called out.
Only silence greeted him.
Softly, nearly inaudible, a voice said, “No.”
Daniello must have heard wrong.
“Dafuq? What do you mean, ‘No’?”
“Dan.”
Daniello rested his head on the door, exhaling heavily. “Phil, please, open the door.”
He heard Philippus move closer, until he was just on the other side. Daniello could hear his shaky breath; he had been weeping.
“I am to be wed, Dan,” Phil- I mean, Philippus sobbed. “My father has decided upon it and there’s nothing I can do.”
DanIELLO restrained himself from cursing aloud.
“…Is it to the waiter?” he finally asked.
A pause.
“Wot?” Philippus asked, suddenly Northern.
“That waiter you were eye-fucking all night. Is he your husband-to-be in this scenario?” Dan snarked.
“Shut up! Stay in character!”
“Ugh, fine.”
Daniello phressed his phalm on the door, phanning his phingers out.
“No, Your Royal Highness. I am your knight of wands, and I will stay by your side. No matter what,” Daniello said reverently.
“Show me that high-nussy,” Phil sang out suddenly, and began laughing uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry!” he exclaimed when Dan groaned in protest. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it! Ahem.”
Philippus exhaled deeply. He took a moment to answer.
“No, Sir Daniello. You cannot stay by my side for much longer. I will have to leave here with my bethrothed, Lord Kicken Le Peejayus, in 6-7 moons.”
“But I will miss you,” Daniello whispered.
Daniello swore he could feel the warmth of Philippus’ phalm radiating through the wood against his own.
(“Not a chance. You’re like a corpse.”)
(“Dan, actually shut up.”)
Philippus went quiet again. Daniello feared he’d retreated back to his chambers.
But then Philippus cracked the door open.
“And I you.”
All inhibitions broke within Daniello. He wrapped Philippus in a tight embrace. He heard Philippus draw in a sharp breath.
“Oof! You just hit me in the noz,” Phil cried.
Daniello phulled back and raised one eyebrow in question.
“Are you being for real?”
“Yes! That hurt!”
“No way! Fine, right, show me where it hurts.”
Phil tilted his head back. “I think I might have a concussion.”
“Alright,” Dan said, dusting his hands off. “It was fun while it lasted. Bye, honey.”
Phil laughed aloud. “No wait! Ahem.”
Philippus’ eyes glazed over, a thousand unsaid words hung over them.
There was nothing they could do.
“Goodbye, Sir Daniello.”
Daniello felt his throat constrict. “Don’t you mean, ‘goodnight’?”
“Goodbye, Sir Daniello.”