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“How about we take a trip?”
He didn’t really answer, but they were already in the car — counting the lamps ahead of them. If Cadel had to be honest, they were having second thoughts about this, but at least they were taking the wheel. Cadel didn’t really want to think about what would happen if he of all people drove again. Their gaze fell to him,
“Feeling young as the passenger princess?” Small pep talk, a lighthearted banter.
Yet Akio — or rather Dios does not respond, looking over his side of the view. They expected some retaliation, but nothing. Dios once hated being called a princess, despite how empty the label was to Cadel.
They still talked regardless, “Utena sent me a letter from the world outside. She and Anthy are having a wedding.” They held their steady gaze on Dios to see any body reactions, but there was only slight tensions upon the mentioning of Anthy yet there was still nothing for him to say.
It was warming for Utena to still consider them after all they’ve been through. They had seen her as their own daughter, unsure if she’ll see them as family herself for her rebellious attitude but a simple notion like a letter was confirmation that they are memorable.
“I thought of going, but pended her offer. I wrote back to her saying I’ll consider it and gave my blessings to her and Anthy instead.”
Silence. Nothing but the humming of the running engine, then..
“… Why didn’t you say no?” It was Dios’s voice.
Then Cadel responded with a chuckle, “I still want to be there for her.”
“Then why can’t you just go?” He asked immediately after.
Cadel leaned on their knuckle with one hand on the steering wheel, “There’s still much I’d like to do here.”
“Like what.” That was a question spoken in a deadpan way. Cadel looked over to see the floating palace from the distance, rising under the sea of stars.
“Like waking up my prince.”
Darkness completely enshrouds them, as they entered the tunnel. Akio’s voice echoes,
“The prince is dead.”
“..Not yet.” Says Cadel.
“There’s nothing for you to find here.” They felt Akio’s eyes lingering on them now, yet there was no power to intimidate them. That was always the case. Perhaps it was part of the curse that protected Cadel. The curse of being a Rose Knight.
“I’m always looking.”
Their words felt like swords at the risk of impaling themselves. There was a sharp edge on those words that could spark passive anger within Akio. Was it frustration? Cadel couldn’t tell. The tunnel felt smaller. They added,
“And I don’t know why.” They knew why. They could piece together and comprehend how they feel. Yet a string of words are easily scrambled once more upon confrontation.
“You are no longer Dios. You are not Akio, but also not Dios.”
“ Then who am I? ”
They continued forward, out of the tunnel. Yet no one was driving. Cadel blinks the light away, and the Prince was on top of him — hands on their throat, to squeeze the air out of the knight. Their seat adjusted all the way down, where the stars hung behind the Prince.
“ Who am I? ”
Who was he? Cadel would always wonder that. The man he faced was the man he no longer knew, yet they stayed by his side. Out of loyalty? Or compassion? What did it take for a knight to be loyal?
Cadel mirrors the Prince, their hands around his throat.
“You are…” Cadel begins, though they felt their air running out. The roads were screaming to stop, to say no more. The palace hangs over them — drowning the sea of stars.
In the softest voice, they utter, “My eternity.”
The car brakes harshly, forcing Cadel up. The Prince was no longer here. A railroad crossing had blocked their way, but no trains were coming. Red flashes back and forth, but Cadel was only empty.
They sigh, leaning on their knuckles again … looking over the castle that was so close yet far away.
The Prince hides away yet again.