chapter 4: bound by the barriers of society

Chapter 4: bound by the barriers of society

Kenneth's eyes widened, his face pale. "Henry, we can't do this. We're princes from different kingdoms, and... and our love is forbidden."

Henry's face fell, his eyes filled with disappointment. "What do you mean?  I've just confessed my  feelings..."

Kenneth's voice cracked. "I know, I know. But think of the consequences. Our kingdoms will never approve. Same-gender relationships are seen as an abomination. We'll be ridiculed, shunned... or worse."

Henry's jaw clenched. "So, you're willing to let fear dictate our fate? Can't we find a way to make this work, together?"

Kenneth's eyes pleaded for understanding. "I want to, Henry. But we have to be realistic. Our duties, our responsibilities... they won't allow for this kind of relationship."

Henry's voice rose. "Our duties? Our responsibilities? Are those more important than our happiness?"

Kenneth: "Henry, I understand what you're saying, but we can't just ignore the consequences. Our kingdoms have been at peace for generations, and our friendshio is supposed to solidify that peace. If we pursue a relationship, it could jeopardize everything."

Henry: "So, you're willing to sacrifice our happiness for the sake of politics? That's not a life I want to live, Kenneth. I want to be with someone who loves me for who I am, not just for their title."

Kenneth: "It's not just about politics, Henry. It's about our duty to our people. We can't just think of ourselves; we have to think about the greater good."

Henry: "The greater good? You mean the greater good of those who refuse to accept us for who we are? I don't want to hide who I am to appease those who wouldn't understand anyway."

Kenneth: "I understand that, but we have to be realistic. We can't change the world overnight. Maybe someday, things will be different, but for now, we have to be careful."

Henry: "Careful? You mean hide our true selves and pretend to be something we're not? No, Kenneth, I won't do that. I'd rather be honest and risk everything than live a lie."

"I... I have to go", Henry said as he got up from the study desk they were seated on

"Hendry wait!, don't leav....." Kenneth stopped talking as he was interrupted by the echoing sounds of the door as Henry slammed the door shut as he ran out of the palace.

Kenneth's eyes widened in shock, his words hanging in the air as the door slammed shut. He leapt from his seat, rushing to the door, but it was too late. Henry was gone.

"Henry, wait!" Kenneth called out, but the only response was the echo of his own voice in the empty hallway.

He slumped against the door, his heart racing with a mix of fear, anxiety, and regret. What had he just done? Had he pushed Henry away for good?

With a heavy sigh, Kenneth pushed off the door and made his way back to the study desk, his eyes falling on the papers and books scattered across the surface. The words blurred together as his mind replayed the argument, his thoughts consumed by the fear of losing Henry.

"Whatever I don't need him" Kenneth said as he tried to focus on the books scattered on the table

Kenneth's mind drifted away and started to replay their short lived memories, from the second they met to the last second of their argument

Kenneth's words echoed in the empty room, a hollow attempt to convince himself that he could move on without Henry. But his mind refused to cooperate, stubbornly replaying every moment they shared, from their first meeting to their bitter argument.

As he sat there, surrounded by dusty tomes and flickering candles, Kenneth's thoughts became a jumbled mix of joy and sorrow, love and anger. He remembered the way Henry's eyes sparkled when they laughed together, the way his voice trembled when they confessed their feelings.

The memories swirled around him, a bittersweet reminder of what they had, and what they might never have again. Kenneth's resolve began to crumble, his facade of indifference slipping away with each passing moment.

With a heavy sigh, he pushed aside the books and buried his face in his hands, allowing the tears to fall freely. For the first time, Kenneth acknowledged the truth: he needed Henry, and he couldn't imagine a future without him

As the tears flowed, Kenneth's mind raced with thoughts of Henry. He pictured his bright smile, his infectious laugh, and his unwavering optimism. He remembered the way Henry's eyes crinkled at the corners, the way his hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck.

With a newfound sense of determination, Kenneth wiped away his tears and rose from his chair. He couldn't just sit there, wallowing in self-pity. He needed to act, to find a way to make things right with Henry.

But where could he even start? Henry had left the palace, and Kenneth had no idea where he might have gone. He couldn't just search the entire kingdom, could he?

As he pondered his next move, a soft knock at the door broke the silence. "Enter," Kenneth called out, his heart skipping a beat. Could it be Henry, returning to him?

The door creaked open, and a hesitant figure stepped inside. It was Thomas, Henry's loyal servant. "Your Highness," Thomas said, bowing low. "I've come with a message from Prince Henry."

Kenneth's heart leapt with hope. "What is it?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Thomas's eyes locked onto his, filled with a silent understanding. "Prince Henry wants to meet with you, Your Highness. He has something important to say."

Kenneth's heart raced with excitement. This could be his chance to make things right, to apologize and win Henry back. "Where is he?" he asked, his voice filled with urgency.

Thomas smiled, a small, knowing smile. "I'll take you to him, Your Highness. But you must come alone."

Kenneth's heart raced as he followed Thomas through the winding streets of the kingdom. They walked in silence, the only sound being the soft clip-clop of their horses' hooves on the cobblestone pavement.

As they approached the outskirts of the kingdom, the buildings grew fewer and farther between, until they were surrounded by rolling hills and dense forests. Thomas led Kenneth to a small clearing, where a figure waited beneath the shade of a towering oak tree.

"Henry," Kenneth breathed, his heart leaping with excitement.

Henry turned to face him, his eyes locked onto Kenneth's with a mix of sadness and determination. "Kenneth," he said, his voice low and husky. "We need to talk."

Kenneth dismounted his horse and approached Henry, his heart pounding in his chest. "I know I messed up," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I was afraid, Henry. Afraid of what our families would say, afraid of what the kingdom would think."

Henry's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in anger. "You should have thought of that before you rejected me," he said, his voice cold and detached.

Kenneth's heart sank, realizing the depth of Henry's hurt. "I know," he said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I was wrong, Henry. So wrong. But please, don't give up on me. I love you, Henry. I need

"Kenneth I'm sorry for what earlier, you made it clear that you don't need me I have no reason to be here so I... I decided to go back to my far away kingdom"

"Henry, no! Please don't go!" Kenneth exclaimed, his voice filled with desperation. "I was afraid, I was stupid, but I realize now that I can't lose you. You're the only one who truly understands me, who truly sees me. Without you, I'm lost, Henry. Please don't leave me." Kenneth's eyes welled up with tears as he pleaded with Henry to stay.  

Kenneth's heart sank, feeling a sense of despair wash over him. He knew he had to think fast, to say something to make Henry change his mind. "Henry, please, don't go. I'll do anything, just name it. I'll confront our families, I'll announce our love to the entire kingdom. Just don't leave me, Henry. I can't bear the thought of living without you." Kenneth's voice cracked as he spoke, his emotions raw and exposed.

"Good-bye Kenneth" Henry said while wiping his tears

Kenneth stood there frozen as he was unsure on what to do, he stood still As he watched Henry dissappear into the distance

The silence was deafening as Kenneth stood there, his eyes fixed on the spot where Henry had vanished from view. His mind was a blank, his heart heavy with grief and regret. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of sorrow, unable to move or speak. The only sound was the echo of Henry's goodbye, haunting him like a ghost. Time seemed to stand still as Kenneth remained frozen, his eyes fixed on the horizon, hoping against hope that Henry would reappear, that this was all just a cruel joke. But deep down, he knew it was real. Henry was gone, and he had no one to blame but himself.

Kenneth wondered how he fell dismally I love with a person he just met "you're so dumb!, how could you have fallen deeply in love with someone you just met, a bare STRANGER!!" Kenneth scolded himself as a way of dealing with his grief.

Kenneth's inner turmoil was palpable as he struggled to come to terms with his emotions. He paced back and forth, his mind racing with thoughts of Henry and their brief but intense encounter. "What is wrong with me?" he lamented, his voice laced with frustration and despair. "I've known him for what, a few days? And yet, I feel like I've lost a part of myself. It's absurd!" Kenneth's self-reproach was a futile attempt to distract himself from the ache in his heart. He couldn't shake the feeling that he had let something precious slip through his fingers, something that might never come his way again.

"Thomas, let's return to the palace" Kenneth said with a cracking voice, with tears threatening to fall on his face

"Is everything well sire?"Thomas asked as he saw the melancholy plastered on Kenneth's voice

"All is well"these were the only words Kenneth could utter

Thomas's eyes filled with concern as he gazed at Kenneth's distraught face. He knew better than to press the issue, having seen the prince's emotional struggles firsthand. With a gentle nod, he led Kenneth back to their horses, helping him mount up with a supportive hand. As they rode back to the palace, the silence between them was heavy with unspoken understanding. Thomas knew that Kenneth's heart was breaking, and that sometimes, words were useless in the face of such pain. He simply rode alongside his prince, a steadfast and silent companion in his darkest hour.

They soon arrived the castle and Kenneth headed straight to his room, ignoring everything and everyone in his trail

As Kenneth opened the door, hearth breaking memories of the time they spent together came reeling on his head

The door creaked shut behind Kenneth, and he leaned against it, as if trying to shut out the world. His eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar sights and sounds that now seemed eerily empty without Henry by his side. The fireplace where they had shared stories, the window seat where they had laughed together, the bed where they had... Kenneth's thoughts trailed off, unable to bear the weight of his memories. He felt like he was drowning in a sea of longing, his heart aching with every breath. He slid down the door, his back against the cold wood, and let the tears he had been holding back finally flow.

-"Where am I?, how did I get here?", Henry interrogates himself as he gets up from an unfamiliar bed

"Whoa, take it easy baby, you'll hurt yourself" a tall slim teenage boy with blonde short hair and blue eyes cautioned as he merged unbeknownst on the kitchen door

Henry's eyes widened in confusion and fear as he took in his unfamiliar surroundings. "Who are you?" he demanded, his voice shaking slightly. "Where am I? How did I get here?" He tried to stand up, but his head spun and he stumbled back onto the bed. The blonde boy rushed to his side, helping him sit back down. "Hey, easy does it. You're safe, I promise. You're in my apartment. I found you outside, wandering around like a lost puppy. You didn't seem to know where you were or what was going on, so I brought you here." Henry's mind raced as he tried to piece together what had happened. He remembered leaving Kenneth, feeling heartbroken and lost... and then nothing. How did he end up here, with this stranger?

"You were so drunk I couldn't just leave you out there in the wild" the voice added as a breath taking smile merged exposing his well formed K-9's

Henry tried to remember what happened until it finally struck him that he stole a bottle of red wine from campers and drank it all, leaving no drop to waist."I'm sorry if I caused you any problems l" Hendry said as he finally remembers the events that followed after his break up

"I'm Henry by the way" Hendry firmly smiled as he was still in the duvet."Kendrick" the boy replied with yet another killer smile.

"Let me prepare us breakfast, I'm sure you must be starving", the shirtless blonde boy stood up and made his way to the kitchen

Henry tossed the duvet and made his way to the big mirror beside the bed "why....why am I naked?" Henry asked himself as thousand scenarios came flushing to his mind

He stood before the gigantic mirror and examined his body" What's this?" Henry continued to interrogate himself as he slowly touch areas of his body that were covered with what seems to be kiss marks.