[Whenever Childe speaks, there's this odd sensation washing over Aether. Maybe it's guilt, because he's hurting his knight. Maybe it's pain, because the prince is trying to ignore his heart's desires. Maybe it's a wish to just drop everything and run to Childe, but no matter how much he wants that his feet are stuck in one spot.
Aether curls his hands into fists, trying to convince himself that there really is nothing he can do now.]
The princess... Her visit is planned for the next week. She'll be joining us for the dinner.
[Next week it will be all official - he'll be engaged to the princess and nobody will ask his opinion. Childe needs to accept that... And Aether needs to accept it, too. For now it all feels quite surreal, like a dream that you're hoping will end soon.
The prince takes a deep breath.]
But Childe... if you ever get hurt again, remember that I will always patch you up. That will never change and it's no burden either.
[That's the least he can do for his reckless knight and frankly, he doesn't want it to change. If Childe will ever get hurt or sick, Aether wants to be able to check on him, help him. He will cling to this one selfish wish.]
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Aether curls his hands into fists, trying to convince himself that there really is nothing he can do now.]
The princess... Her visit is planned for the next week. She'll be joining us for the dinner.
[Next week it will be all official - he'll be engaged to the princess and nobody will ask his opinion. Childe needs to accept that... And Aether needs to accept it, too. For now it all feels quite surreal, like a dream that you're hoping will end soon.
The prince takes a deep breath.]
But Childe... if you ever get hurt again, remember that I will always patch you up. That will never change and it's no burden either.
[That's the least he can do for his reckless knight and frankly, he doesn't want it to change. If Childe will ever get hurt or sick, Aether wants to be able to check on him, help him. He will cling to this one selfish wish.]