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"His highness has returned!" Chaos erupted around the halls, gossiping and whispering echoing through the halls. It was a rare and welcomed change in the usual quiet and constant silence that dampens the mood of the throne room. Before you wallow deeper into your thoughts, it clicked. "His highness?" You sat as the Queen of Philos and you're completely sure that you didn't magically have a consort or a lover. Who was it that they called "His Highness?"
"Inform Her Majesty of the Prince's arrival, quickly!" "You! Inform the chefs. We must have a feast!" "It has been decades since his highness's departure to the sea of stars... We are lucky to be in his presence once more!"
The sea of stars... Decades since "his" departure...?
Not even a moment of silence passed as you tried to connect the dots when your attendant barged into the throne room, his face a mixture of shock and confusion. "Your Majesty... The prince— erm, duke Xavier has returned.."
Xavier. A name that hasn't been utter in what feels like eternity. "He.. Xavier... He's back? Truly?" "I would never dare lie to you, your Majesty." Everything else seemed to disappear at the single utter of his name. The last time he was within arms reach was 12 years ago when he abdicated his title and made you Queen of Philos. It didn't feel right. You trained your whole life to become a knight! But the sight of him with his back turned, walking away for what seemed like the last time finalised his decision. "Xavier..." The taste of his name on your lips is one that you haven't felt in such a long time. "Bring him." With a nod, your attendant left in a hurry, and chaos returned to the halls.
You were left once more with nothing but the silence accompanying you—even the slight breeze stopped, the song of the birds halted. Is he alright? Why has he come back? Does that mean that he achieved his mission? Will he stay for good or leave once more without notice? Countless thoughts plague your mind, the beating of your heart is deafeningly loud in your ears, feeling your limbs shake and weaken.
"Your Majesty!" A pause, "His highness, Xavier, has arrived."
There he was in all his glory— walking in from the doors, the light from the windows seeming to bend to his will as it showers him in light, making it seem as if he was the only person in the room. "...Your Majesty." Oh how you missed the softness of his voice—the comforting tone makes you release the breath you didn't know you were holding.
"Is it you..? Have my prayers been answered...?" Your legs, moving on their own, walked slowly towards him. The only sound in the throne room was the clacking of your heels until you now stood before him. With you being within arms length, he bows down, intending to drop onto his knees and kneel in respect for the monarch before you stopped his action, hands gripping his shoulders. "Am I dreaming once more? Xavier..." Your attendants and servants have long left the room, leaving you with your old friend. You could see him clearly trying to avoid your gaze, but within a second, gentle hands cradled his face. "You..look different. Your eyes look tired and you seem to have gotten lighter. Where has your radiant smile gone? Why can't you look at me with your twinkling eyes? Xavier, is it really you?"
He pauses, frame stiffening for a moment before words leave his lips once more. "I am not the man you knew. My hands bear the weight of a thousand souls. Pristine white uniform stained with the blood of our own. I am not the kind and gentle love. I am not the star you knew before." Once again, he avoids your investigating gaze; finding the floor to be more interesting. "...If that is true, will you do me a favor?" "A favor?" He asks, curiosity piqued. "See that star shaped knight badge? I want you to get rid of it." For a moment, the air in the room thickens and you feel Xavier freeze from his spot. "How could you say this? You gave me this knight badge; have you forgotten? Do you realize what you have asked of me? I would be getting rid of the one thing that reminds me of you."
His voice grew slightly louder, his hands finding purchase on your shoulders, dropping the polite and regal persona that he wore in the face of the monarch. "Only my star would know that, so I guess that makes it you." He blinks and with that one split second, your arms wrap around him. His body radiates heat like the sun on a cold winter day; enveloping you in a warmth that you have since missed. With every second that passes, your hold tightens on him almost as if you loosen your hold, he will disappear once more.
You remember that moment before he left; when he told you of his journey 200 years in the past, of how in his first lifetime, you were also his first love. And as if fate likes to play games on you both, it's as if you're destined to love and be separated in this lifetime once more. You pull him closer, if that was even possible before speaking in a volume only heard by the two of you.
"I will fall in love with you over and over again. I don't care how, when, or when. No matter how long it's been, you're mine..!" Arms loosened around Xavier before finding their place on his face once more. "Don't tell me you're not the same person. You're always my love and I've been waiting patiently. No one will ever take your place from beside me." Your foreheads touch, a gentle moment shared by two people who have yearned for each other through lifetimes. "Do you mean it..?" "I will never lie to you like this, my star." Silence envelops you both in a gentle embrace, basking in each other's presence.
"I'm sorry for making you wait." It was his arms now that held you gently. "It was worth it if it means I get to hold you like I once did before when we were still students." "...Will you listen to what I have to say...?" "What is it, my ever bright star?"
"I love you."