Chapter Text
What do you, dear readers, consider a dramatic story? Some will answer that it's one where the protagonists start out as forbidden friends or even rivals, suffering for a long time until everything ends happily, right? Well, yes, you're right, but not every story has a happy ending.
Fortunate are those who are lucky enough to have a happy ending, and others… Well, the others didn't even have the chance to have their happy ending, and that, my dear readers, is so sad and unfortunate.
Few were those who tried to fight for their happy ending, for their special person, but… What awaited them was only pain, suffering, and loneliness, often leading to death.
A tragic end, I know, but you can't control fate.
Now you ask me: "What does this have to do with the story?"
Everything, my dears!
The story I'm going to tell is about two childhood friends. One was the son of King Houston of the Kingdom of Houston, and the other was the son of a high-ranking knight, one of the king's closest knights.
The prince of the kingdom and the knight's son connected immediately. A single glance was all it took to seal the fate of those poor souls who dreamed of ruling the kingdom side by side, living countless adventures together, and… having their long-awaited happily ever after.
However, fate was cruel to those young dreamers. Oh, poor things, my heart aches just remembering their end.
Well, I won't ramble on any longer, let's get to what really matters!
The beautiful and tragic story of Prince Xeno Wingfield and his faithful knight, Sir Stanley Snyder.
It all began with a friendly conversation between the king and the knight.
The king and the prince were visiting the training grounds when they were spotted by Sir Snyder and his son, Stanley.
"Your Majesty!" Sir Snyder smiled broadly. "To what do I owe the honor of having my old friend and king here?"
King Houston laughed loudly, accepting a handshake from the knight. Xeno — the prince — simply remained quiet, observing and listening to the conversation between the two adults; the prince was, until then, unaware of the existence of the small blond boy beside the older knight.
"Just showing my son Xeno where he will begin his training," the king explained with a smile. "Xeno has a brilliant and extraordinary mind, however, he is still very clumsy with practical skills such as sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat."
The king rested his hand on his son's shoulder as he looked at him with a loving smile. The king loved his son Xeno, but feared that Xeno would not be strong enough to defend himself; after all, not everything could be avoided with kind words and a good conversation.
"So, is it time for the prince to begin his training?" The knight crouched down to Xeno's height and smiled at him. "Don't worry, Prince, my son is probably the same age as you. He can help you with details I can't."
Xeno looked at Sir Snyder reluctantly; he definitely preferred being in the library reading his precious books to that fighting field for hormonal youths and old men covered in sweat and disgust, but Xeno knew his father would be proud and happy, so he was there; in the training field. He was doing this for his father. Everything for his father.
Stanley — the knight's son — had his arms crossed, his analytical gaze fixed on the prince. Xeno was too frail for a 10-year-old, short in stature, though compensated for by his small tuft of hair, adding a few centimeters to his height, and his large, doe-like eyes that conveyed boredom at being there, but at the same time a curious and eager look, eager to explore the inexplicable. Stanley had found the prince intriguing.
"Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Stanley Snyder, and I aspire to be a knight one day and inherit my father's position," Stanley introduced himself with a bow.
Xeno finally looked at him, his gaze filled with genuine curiosity about the young blond boy. The king chuckled at the little blond boy along with the boy's father.
"Haha, my dear, your son has grit for such a young age," the king approached, ruffling the boy's blond hair. "I see he dreams big and far. You have potential, little Stanley."
Stanley felt his eyes shining with the recognition of King Houston. Xeno looked at Stanley with a subtle air of amusement; it was the first time he had heard a child his age speak with such conviction about wanting to be part of the king's personal guard — even the sons of knights of lower ranks didn't have that much conviction when speaking. This was intriguing.
This caught the prince's attention.
Xeno approached the aspiring knight, never taking his eyes off the other boy.
Stanley held his gaze, but was even more captivated by the gleam behind those dark orbs that could rival a starless night sky. They were beautiful in the boy's eyes.
Xeno, on the other hand, was certain that Stanley's honey-colored eyes were the most beautiful and elegant he had ever seen. The warmth and willpower that emanated from that gaze… Ah, he was completely captivated and didn't even know it yet.
"I'm Xeno," Xeno said, extending his hand to the blond boy.
The prince had a subtle smile on his face, showing his excitement about the potential new friendship. Stanley looked from his small hand to the older men who were merely observing and encouraging the interaction.
Taking a step forward, Stanley shook the prince's hand back, smiling slightly.
"I'm Stanley."
The adults were pleased with the interaction between their children. The men could see the friendship that would form between Xeno and Stanley, but, in that brief moment, the cruel fate of those pure young souls was being written by the cold and unhappy hands of the universe.