" By my sword my ass, Rediculous-Ragvinder!"

==========================================================

            "Ew~ All I can think about is master Diluc ~" I mimicked Donna as we both watched the young heir of the Ragvinder title, Prince Diluc Ragnvinder, pass by on his high-horse. Literally.

               "S-stop that! He might hear you!" I girl blushed endless shades of red as she bashfully slapped my armored arm.

                I scoffed and rested my hand at the hilt of my sword as I watched the royalty stroll by with a few knight from my unit. "Tsk, honestly why did I have to send my soldiers to guard him on his stupid business trip to Liyue?" I spoke as Donna's complaints blurred into my ears, something about me not belittling the red-headed Ragvinder heir. "Ridiculous."

        I chuckled to myself and turned to Donna," How does Ridiculous-Ragnvinder sound?"

         The girl's face turned into bright red at me ignoring everything she was saying and continuing to poke fun around her love interest . . .Well more like her obsession. " Tsk, how about you worship me the same way you worship that spoiled red head?" I snapped." After all, I'm always protecting your pathetic ass every time you go outside the city walls to deliver flowers, right?"

           " That's just mean and cruel! Isn't that you're duty as a knight anyway?!" She pathetically reasoned.

            A sigh left my lips as I pushed myself away from the wall and began following my unit that was protecting the heir.  "I'm a First Class Commander Donna, please don't give me your ridiculous lecture about my duty," I hissed, adjusting my light armor." There are more serious matters I have to take care of aside from helping you with delivering flowers, and that spoiled daddy's boy with ridiculous business trips."

         Shooting down the girl's confidence, I patted her on the back, and gave her a "polite" smile, before walking away, "See you in a few days, Donna."

***

            "Ow Commander !" Wyratt offered a quick salute along with the other knights upon noticing my approach.

            I glanced over at the red, vast and volcanic eyes silently eyeing me, and tried hard to ignore his piercing gaze as I offered a small bow. "Sir, as assigned to me by the Acting Grandmaster, me and my unit will be ensuring your protection during your trip to Liyue as requested by your father, his Majesty," I kept my gaze stern and blank of emotion as I held back glaring at his blank face.

"You're pathetic," I froze upon hearing the heir's response to my greeting.

             He sighed, before looking at Lawrence, who seemed troubled and confused by the situation. "You. make sure the cargo is ready at the gates," Lawrence gave me a troubled look, but I waved him off to do as what was told of him.  

             I remained silent as the prince turned to me." You," he called out to me," Stay by my side the whole time, the rest make sure the wine remains untouched by any bandits."

           "As you wish your Highness," It only took a moment until I was shouting out his commands to my men, giving him and me some time alone.

             " It has been a while, " he cut the piercing silence between us, but I did not reply.

             " Sir, I am here only to abide by my duty," I spoke, feeling my eye twitch in irritation. "I don't wish to mix my duty with personal issues."

              "But I haven't said anything about personal issues," he spoke calmly and got off his horse, and handed me the reins. "Are you perhaps still made about what I did years ago?"

               I did not reply or complain about him embarrassing me in front of my unit, and snatched the reins from his hand. "I'll take that as a no," he sighed, and reached into the pocket of his fine, white vest that had gems for buttons, and undid the silver phoenix-pin that clung to it, before stretching it out for me to take it.

                "Are you crazy?! If someone sees you doing this you will get us in BIG trouble!" I hissed at him and pulled him, along with the horse to a deserted alleyway. "Stop it with this none sense of your's before _"

                "Then let me make up for it!" his expression shifted for the first time in years, and the memories of the past seem to resurface as he grabbed my wrist and forcefully placed the pin in my palm.

                The little crimson gems that littered the eyes, feathers, and claws of the silver phoenix that littered the glossy surface of the pin made it more than stunning, but I could not take it. " Forgive me your highness," his face washed over with dread as I returned to speaking formally. " Even though we were close as childhood friends, my duty as a Commander remains with me protecting this city. Any distractions will only waver the legacy my ancestors had passed on as knights."

          His flaming red eyes became slightly dull and hid beneath his crimson coloured bangs, but his hands didn't leave mine. " So you still haven't changed your mind? After all this time? " no . . .Why does it feel agonizing to see him like this. . . Stop.

           His lips quivered but subsided into a thin line. "I-I see . . ." That voice it holds back the sadness that lies within . . . Stop. Just stop. Stop.

             " Commander!" I jumped slightly upon hearing the Acting Grandmaster' s voice, and shoved the pin into my pants' pockets. " Ah! Acting Grandmaster Jean! "

            I gave her a quick salute, but her attention instantly shifted to the silent Prince. My back was turned to him, and prayed he was able to bottle up his thoughts without arising suspesion. "I see you and the Prince are together, good. The cargo is ready to depart, the knights await you," she spoke, her attention fixated on Diluc, who simply nodded, before walking past her.

***

        We made our way down the city's street, until a familiar face greeted us at the gates . . . Prince Kaeya himself. 

         "If it isn't my one and only younger sworn brother," the blue haired Prince shot the red head a sly smile, with a hand over his heart. " It would be a shame if I don't bid you farewell on your trip, no?"

              I did not utter a word and mounted on my horse, after handing  the reins of the red headed Prince's white hoarse over to Lawrence.  " Ah it's good to see you again, Commander," I glanced over at Prince Kaeya, as he handed me an odd looking bottle.

           "May I ask what is this Your Highness ?" His heart seemed to drop similarly to Diluc's upon addressing him formally, but swiftly recovered, with a light chuckle.

              "But the fairest of wine of course! Death Afternoon~ Consider it a compensation form me," I mentally sighed, and pulled up a polite smile as I accepted the gift.

              Guess he didn't change his bad habit of drinking. Tsk, royalties.

               I could spot Diluc's glare burning into the back of the head of the blue haired Prince. "Um i-i Sir, I believe your carriage is waiting," the red head's mood seem to brighten once noticing my attention had shifted to him and away from his sworn brother.

           " Agreed, we really must be on our way, and I'm sure you have more matters to attended Kaeya," sparks seemed to play between the two princes, but Kaeya shrugged it off nonetheless.

"I wish you a safe journey~"

***

              By the time dawn had settled, we had settled down to camp for the night. Tents were never to my liking, but I had somehow come to adapt to it being my only comfy place to sleep when camping. I glanced over at Lawrence through the slit of my tent, who seemed to doze off  while guarding the front of the Prince's  tent, while I finished with sharpening my sword.  My eyes danced off to the wine bottle sitting in my leather bag, and sighed heavily.

              Pushing my sword's blade back into its sheath, and picked up the bottle and pull the cock out the head of the bottle. A strange-sweet aroma filled my senses. Is this really wine? I took off my gloves and dipped a drop on my index finger, before tasting. Grape Juice. I sighed. How many times am I exactly gonna sigh in a day? Placing the bottle on my desk, I sealed the tent shut, and began taking off my armour and untiying  my hair. Damn it feels good to take off that weight. 

          " Commander," I glanced over to the entrance of the tent and slided it open, only to stumble back as Diluc walked in.

          Tsk, I'm gonna kill Lawrence for this. The Prince did not give me the chance to say anything and cupped my cheeks, with his flushed strawberry red. "Please . . ." He begged, his breath brushing over my lips. " . . . Just . . . Let me in a little."

No . . . No. . . Stop him! Stop-

        But I can't. I can't pull away with him looking at me like that. Why? Why does it have to be him? It takes me a moment to take notice of me unable to move as his head dipped down to capture my lips with his. His gloved hand was warm against my cheek and lips soft as that of a rose petal. So gentle. . . It felt nearly magical, like the old stories of princess and princes from fairy tales, but I an no princess. . . I'm a knight.

          My eyes are wide open as they gaze into his half lided ones. His other hand finds its way to my waist, to hold me in place as he pulled away and came back down for another kiss.

           . . .  I'm indeed a knight. Little gentle pecks shower my lips, before he pulled away and as if I was made of glass, lay a dainty kiss on my forehead. The scent of his perfume is light like a daisy, but his eyes burn with so many emotions even I can't understand. Nevertheless, my hands wrap around his hips, and for once in my life, there is something I want for myself. Not for the kingdom. Not for my family. Not for anyone. All I want is him, and deep down I know. I know his love will burn me down to ashes . . . But I don't mind. Not anymore that it. "Diluc .  . ." Tears sting my eyes as he waits for my answer, and my hand subconciously reaches out to the pin in my pocket. "We'll find a way . . . Somehow. . .Someday. . .Sometime"

         But he does not mind my response. It brings a relived smile to his face and it sent me mentally melting at the spot. "We have all the time we need, Commander." I chuckle at the formal addressing, and grab the bottle of grape juice form my table.

      " Not fond of wine," He grumbles as I slipped out of his grip and pour him a glass.

       "Just drink it for goodness sake," I chuckle, handing his the cup, while he sighs. " To a bright future!"

          He smiled cheaply, and clicks his glass against mine," To a bright future."

==========================================================

Kaeya Next?