"Will we finally be able to live free?" said he—my friend whom I'd become one with years ago, the one who'd be with me for centuries if death ever arose.
I sat there, staring at the kingdom gate of the Slolas Kingdom, one of the largest yet most profound kingdoms of the Lagon continent.
The kingdom I come from is named Larori Kingdom, which is yet another large kingdom with high resources that jealous the world.
We have now arrived at the Kingdom of Slolas with my king to declare eternal peace with Slolas.
We enter the king's castle, when my king orders all twenty-five of his true trusted knights to stand outside, as bringing us in might create suspense. That includes me and the rest of us whom he brought with him.
The garden was big, with each plant planted like a maze.
We all separated ourselves, though still in connection through various ways, one being able to shout "fucking help"—our code word for a girl has approached me, now find me and bring me away.
As I look through the pandals built outside the large king's castle, my eyes find one knight stationed at one of the pandals.
She sat on a bench, alone, hot steaming cup of tea rising to her golden-brown hair. Scanning her rose-red lips, I became eyeless. For one moment, I found myself staring blankly at her blue eyes that would stare out the entire ocean itself.
Her newly forged steel armour reflected under the molten-gold sunlight, the mere aroma around her felt soundless.
I slowed my breathing, though I myself had not known when I had closed the gap between us that allowed me to stare at her—only at her.
Her biscuit fell into the hot cup of tea, she gasped. "That was my last biscuit for today... I'm going to ask the maid for more secretly!" she whispered as a small droplet of water streamed down her cheek, as if that biscuit mattered to her more than any person ever could.
Then suddenly, she noticed my presence. Her eyes twinkled as she ducked, seeing a steel armour standing just beside her staring at her as if he'd just abduct her.
She looked scared; realising the shock, I quickly disarmed my helmet.
"Hello!" I said as I held the helmet in my right hand.
"He—hello," she replied, and then quickly fell into depression seeing the rest of the biscuit falling—partially my fault as I had stolen her attention.
"Ah, sorry, had I not distracted you, might you have been able to eat it." I tried to apologise as I walked to the other bench stationed just afront her bench, bordered with a table in between.
"Oh no, it is me who feels sorry, I should have brought more!" she exclaimed.
But then her eyes rolled to my knight badge.
"Larori? Are you here for the meeting?" asked she, as she slid out a bell from inside her armour, pressed it, and it rang.
"Yes, and I assume you are a knight of thee king and have left the castle to not create suspense?" I asked, assuming she had been sent out for the same reason.
"Oh no, absolutely not. I am one of the seven front guards so I stand outside always, and at the front of any battle!" She prouded herself. I liked her quirky smile that blasted in my eyes; I had seen a woman smile so diligently one time in my life, and this was that one time. And mayhap, the last.
Seeing the chance I'd been given, I thought fast.
'The relations with Slolas will become good soon, should I?...'
Thinking no more, I played my card.
"Hey, so uh... I know that I do not know thee name still. Your beauty outshines every woman I have witnessed thus far! And that's why," I stated.
"Than—"
"I love you!" I noticed she tried to say something the moment I paused to hesitate. Though my excitement did not allow her to speak, no words were spoken when I heard a break of glass.
When I looked at the direction of the sound, I found a maid standing afar, below her a broken glass of tea now spilled all over the grassy dirt.
I turned back to the woman.
Her eyes widened, mouth widely opened. Had I shocked her?!
Though her eyes looked at mine, it felt as though she'd been sent to a dimension where she saw nothing but black and white.
I spoke in concern.
"Sorry, I shou—" but before I could finish, she brought herself back to reality.
"I accept!"
What?
What?
WHAT?!!
I punched myself by instinct—had I heard her right?
Did she just say 'I accept'? Did she!?
"Are you sure?" I asked, as even though I'd liked her at first glance, she wouldn't possibly do the same!
"Yes, a knight who brings courage for himself to ask another knight of a different kingdom must be a great one." She replied with a smile, her white reflective teeth revealing themselves at last.
"What is your name?" she asked.
"Shyam, yours?"
"Raitha. Honestly? I'd never thought a knight of the Larori Kingdom would even dare approach me, let alone confess—and at first glance too. That's just very amusing!"
I smiled awkwardly.
I confessed and got accepted… now what?
Before I could answer her, I heard my friend call for my name.
I stood up the moment I heard it.
"I hope we can meet again, Raitha," I said as I kneeled and lifted up my hand.
She touched the palm of my hand.
"I hope it is not the battlefield," she replied, her words carrying worry.
I smiled and stood up, "Can't possibly," and then I left.
Days later, only twelve days later.
Only twelve days after I'd got a girlfriend,
I found myself sitting on a horse, the twenty-five true trusted knights standing beside me and...
Thousands of warriors behind.
Afront stand seven knights, and thousands of knights more.
Around, just around a thousand.
I held my sword tightly, as if losing it would mean losing my life to those who had killed my king.
Afront me, I see the twenty-five true trusted knights whom my king has offended by killing—but who'd be there to tell them that our king too has been killed.
I lost my grip on the sword, as if I'd lost all hope.
I see the small space between the helmet and his head—the neck in him.
I see the small space between the helmet and her head—the neck in her.
"Why?" I whisper.
"Why now?" I think.
"God, tell me why?!" I think out loud as I charge forward, lifting my sword up.
I see her horse moving automatically as she lifts her sword.
"CHARGE!" I yell as I do the same.
My hope targeted at the neck.
My life targeted at the neck.
The world slowed down; the more gap my sword filled, the slower the world felt.
As if it stopped for me.
As if it stopped for me.
As if it stopped… for both of us.
The moment when I first saw her hair wave.
The moment when he confessed.
The moment when I kneeled.
The moment when I touched the palm of his hand.
The moment when I found myself on the battlefield.
The voice of her saying "I love you."
The voice of him yelling "Be with me!" jolted through my mind.
The tear I shed moments before now flew airborne.
My sword slicing through his neck.
My sword slicing through her neck.
Our swords slicing through our necks...
I saw her face one last time as the helmet flew off.
It looked just as beautiful as it did the day I first met her.
He had the same smile he had that day.
We felt just as happy, even at death.
"I love you," I try to whisper. Though no sound escapes my mouth.
"I know, and I too," I see her try once more.
Just… as… me.
---
Written by { dhoben }
Published by { noobBooks studio }
Published on { webnovel TMR }
Editor { raitha, leaf on books studio }
Translation { nooblate eng studio & sub studio }