All I Ask of You

"Are you sure this is the place? The prince's banner is not in sight," Gianni looks over the rows and columns of tents that fluttered, not the markings of Prince Julien. "Golden carnations—the queen."

"Indeed," Leon remarks, "the queen has joined the battle. Now we are unstoppable."

"Stay here, I must report to the queen." Gabriel says, riding off before Gianni can react and say a word.

"Report to the queen?" turbulent questions turn his mind to turmoil. "Since when has he served in the army?"

"He's a butler like you, correct?" Leon replies before giving a look of suspicion. He rides following Gabriel.

Gianni dismounts, tying the horse to the branch of a thin birch tree that appears to have had its share of the war. The cuts and slashes of weapons on its bark and trunk are a memory of its part in the war. Gianni sits down on its base, leaning against the slash-glazed body.

Meanwhile, Leon follows Gabriel to the queen's tent. The two bow down before her presence. She sat on a birch chair, kissed by lacquer. A silk cushion braces her back as she gazes at a map to the left side of the golden fabric-walled chamber. Her armor arranged neatly on the right side, attracts Leon's attention. The emblem of the royal family breathes proudly on the carpet under them.

"Your Majesty, the prince, has retaken Calcister and with it the Lancalster domain," Gabriel declares, taking a knee. "He sent me to report to you the great news. He also bids you to relieve me of my duty so that I may perform my original duties as a butler."

Leon—completely dumbfounded—glares at Gabriel, who completely ignores him.

"Oh, is that so?" the queen also looks puzzled. "If that is true, then his mission is a success. I predicted his success when I thought he would be great for the operation. If there's one thing I haven't predicted—that would be your presence here—it's you, butler."

"I beg your pardon, your Majesty."

"I know my son. He would never send a messenger to tell me of his success. He would personally come and brag it to me—share to me the details, every inch of tactic, and every essence and drop of strategy that he applied to achieve success. He would not send a messenger, let alone a butler, whom he does not completely trust."

"The prince and I grew up together, your Majesty. We see each other as brothers."

"Ever since that other butler came, his eyes became wary of you. He looks at that boy as if he has seen the rarest flower in existence. He looks at you as if you are an insect wanting the flower for yourself—corrupting it and sending it to its demise. Now my son has duties as prince, but he can mingle with that boy as long as he fulfills those duties. And his duty to his country he did as he liberated Calcister."

"He is a hero to Gallia, your Majesty."

"As for you," Queen Sophia points to Gabriel, "you say the prince wants me to relieve you of your duty so that you may once again be his butler. If I may ask, what are you doing here?"

"I do not follow, your Majesty."

"Prince Juilen is in Calcister is he not? If you wanted to perform your butlery duties, then you should be with him in Calcister, not here blabbering potential lies. A real butler knows where his duty lies, not in the presence of another, but at his master's side."

Gabriel grunts as he takes his leave. But before he could step out, the queen ordered the guards to seize him. They instantly apprehend the butler pinning him down against the ground before binding both hands and feet with ropes.

"The look in your eyes told me everything," the queen turns to Leon, whose face painted a flabbergasted reaction as he witnessed everything. "What did this butler tell you?"

"Your Majesty, it is truly an honor beyond my wildest dreams to be in your presence," Leon slams his forehead into the ground. Dizziness turns his head but continues to speak. "He told us that he would take us to the prince's army. Everything he said to you—he did not reveal to us."

"Your Majesty, let me explain," Gabriel struggles as he wiggles to face the queen. "The prince is having relations with my fellow butler. And I believe that it is my duty as the prince's servant to ensure that there are no distractions in his path."

"The whispers of the maids in the inner palace contain even your darkest secrets, butler." The queen grabs a goblet half-filled with red wine. She slides her left finger over the silver goblet's circular mouth, producing a low-humming sound. "Of course, I have known of my son's activities. I have also known of your interest in this said butler. You intend to covet him for yourself."

"The prince has dishonored the royal family."

"Shush now, even you must have spent some time with the stable boys in your youth. The fiery passions of the young simply burns stronger than the brightest flame. Extinguish it and you end up getting burnt. Lock him up and send him back to the Capital for treason."

After the commotion, Leon takes Gianni to the queen. She bestows upon them a place in her army. Queen Sophia grants Gianni a neutral look before dismissing him to his chambers. He performed his duties well, rising among the ranks of his peers. However, the words given inside the queen's chambers permeated outside. Like wildfire at the heart of dry and dead grass, the rumors spread throughout the camp.

The soldiers began harassing him. They threw tomatoes and mud whenever they crossed paths. Some soldiers even refuse his treatment for fear of homosexuality. At night, promiscuous soldiers would visit him in hopes of laying with him, but he rejected them all.

Deep inside, Gianni was suffering. How could he live through this humiliation? Gabriel promised him the warming arms of the prince. Instead, he got the cold platter of embarrassment. Rumors believed that the queen intended to spread the rumors herself, with the goal of driving Gianni to leave. But Gianni wanted to see the prince again, despite the circumstances.

His pain peaked when one night, under the light of a new moon, three soldiers entered his tent. Together, they pinned him down. One bound his legs and feet, covering his mouth with layers of cloth. They stripped him of his clothes and were about to perform their lascivious behavior when Leon jumped on them.

In a fit of rage, Leon punched the three naked soldiers, sending them to unconsciousness. Tears fell from Gianni's eyes as Leon clothed him and released him from the ropes that bound him. He fell to his arms and instantly succumbed to slumber. From that point on, Gianni slept with Leon, but he once did not please him in any manner or form. They just slept together for protection.

Two days later, the prince's forces return additional bearing soldiers from the Lancalster domain. When Julien hears of Gianni's presence, he gallops to his side. Under the shade of the thin, slash-adorned birch tree, Gianni watches the sun slowly descend on the horizon.

The cool sunset breeze gently collided against his cheek, and the sweet minty smell of the grass gave him a moment of peace—far from the revelation that Gabriel wanted to separate him from the prince.

"Time parts day and night; stars climb up and disappear; souls linked defy time," Julien cites as he approaches the peaceable Gianni. "One of the haikus written by Princess Ariana. It tells of two destined lovers who stand undaunted by the test of time."

"Your Highness," Gianni's gaze meets the prince's. His eyes tremble as he sees the battle-battered man standing before him. A small graze on his cheek marked the area red. His brown eyes pierce his very being. This was the prince that Gianni knew, but he felt that something was different. "You're safe."

"Gianni, my thoughts are only of you, when we were separated in battle," Julien places himself beside Gianni. He crosses his right arm over the latter's shoulders. "I called for many to search for you. At night, I could not sleep until I hear you are safe."

"Your Highness, Gabriel…he…."

"No more, Gianni," Julien places his index finger by Gianni's lips. "No more talk of the darkness around us. Forget your fears—I am here—nothing will harm you. I promised, didn't I? Je serai la, I'm here with you, beside you. I'll guard you from all the pain."

Gianni's white conjunctiva paints red as liquid dances down from his eye to his cheek. Julien's warmth wiped away all the suffering he experienced—his scent, presence, and calming words. Gianni fell asleep in his arms.

"Say that you love me every waking moment. Share with me one love that will last for a lifetime."