𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙠𝙮𝙬𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨

• the prince and the knight •

unspecified time period AU

warning: A N G S T

    
  
•
            

   
Love can bring life to a heart
Just as easily as it can
Steal breath from the lungs

  
   
•

  
 
The throne room was decorated with the regal colors of the kingdom of Finterzia; black, white and blue. Curtains hung from the high ceilings, the room itself illuminated with the help of the lavish chandeliers. It was a pretty sight indeed, but not for eyes which had seen it so many times before.

Prince Anakin stood in front of the three golden thrones. It was rare to see him there without his parents on either side of him, but he was being granted more independence now that he was approaching his mid-20s.

In front of him was a line of knights. Fresh from battle, this group especially had shown incredible teamwork and skills in fighting against the monstrous creatures that regularly troubled the kingdom.

A knight stepped forward and removed his helmet, giving the Prince a nod before receiving a blue medal for bravery and walking to the side, joining the other knights. It felt tedious, awarding each of them their medals one by one, but Anakin knew it was his duty to respect and commend the soldiers. After all, they put their lives on the line for him and for Finterzia.

Finally, the last knight stepped forward, and removed her helmet. Anakin was ready to put the red medal (the highest honor saved for only those who showed true leadership and strength) around her neck, when he felt his heart skip a beat. He wasn't expecting to meet eyes so synonymous with beauty, yet here they were. Here she was.

The knight was similarly shocked at the sudden jolt she felt. The Prince's good looks were no secret to her; she had seen him plenty of times before, but this was different. Up close, it was like taking a sip of cold water after wandering the desert for a year. Like falling from a circle of hellfire into a pile of snow. Like a thousand needles had pierced her heart.

Prince Anakin slowly placed the medal around her neck, his fingers brushing against her skin and making her shiver. With a shaky breath, she quickly gave him a nod before walking away to where the other knights stood.

That night, they each wrote entries in their journals. Their words had never before sounded so poetic or looked so elegantly written, but it was clear to both the Prince and the knight that they had given up their hearts with just one look.

  
  
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A common mistake made by fools
Is assuming that the heart is clever
When choosing who it gives itself to

  
 
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It was easy for the Prince to guess exactly what ulterior motive his parents had with each lavish ball they threw. Be it to show off their wealth to neighboring kingdoms, ensure their subjects that they had control over the looming threat of war or famine, or, Anakin's least favored, to find him a wife.

This ball, unfortunately, was for the third option.

"Oh, Ani, you just have to meet King Julino's daughters," His mother, Delia, sang, taking his arm and pulling him over to where his father, Vern, and King Julino were talking. Next to Julino stood three girls, relatively similar in age and looks.