------------ Dangou ------------

In a dark alley on the side-streets of Brimlo, stood the leaning figure of an utterly depressed man.

His name was Dangou.

It was meant to be a happy day for Dangou. He had just returned from slaying the foul beast of Grimshire forests under orders from the Queen. Aside from being completely unharmed, he was also about to receive quite a large reward. But here he stood, slouched backwards, over a trashcan, talking to his enchanted sword companion, Osiro, about women.

"Look I understand that the Queen is hot," Said Osiro in her typical uninterested tone. "But like, going for her is like, super stupid."

"Uh, yeah, but have you caught a glance of those hips?” replied Dangou. "They’re like, perfect child-bearing hips.”

“But she’s the Queen.”

“But those hips.”

“Dangou, no. There’s not a chance in the world. Go for someone else.”

Dangou sighed and slouched further onto the trashcan till his elbow touched something soggy and he recoiled in disgust.

“Not even after I killed the foul beast without receiving so much as a scratch?” He complained.

“Uh, she might be impressed, but-“,

“Not even after I’ve been beside her for seven years?”

“Look that’s not the prob-“

“Not even after I saved her that one time from those tentacle vine things?”

“Those were just normal vi-“ Stopping short, Osiro lit up with orange frustration, “Look Dangou. If you’re so serious about it, why don’t you just confess and see what happens?”

Dangou raised an eyebrow.

“What like actually?” He said, suddenly standing up straight.

“Yeah, totally Dangou!” Osiro beamed, suspiciously enthusiastic. “You never know till you try, right?”

“But I’ve been single all my life you know… No, no, no. I can’t ruin our relationship…”

Osiro sighed.

“We’ve been doing this for weeks and months and years! Can you please just confess so I can stop hearing you nag?” She begged.

“Hey that’s kind of rude, you’re my sword and I’m your master you know?” Dangou frowned.

“Come on! What’s the worst that could happen?” Osiro reasoned, “You’d be awkward for maybe a month and that’s it. She wouldn’t fire the best knight in the Empire!”

Dangou paused.

“She wouldn’t huh.”

“Of course not!”

“And maybe after spending more time together she might even like me back?”

"Uh huh."

After a moment of thought Dangou nodded and grinned blankly.

“Right? What’s the worst that could happen?” He concluded.

“Yeah!”

“I’ll show her what the D in Dangou really stands for!”

“Uh. No you shouldn’t.”

------------ Break ------------

“Okay so, here’s how it’s going to go,” Dangou explained to the uninterested guardsman, “I’m going to straight up ask the queen out for lunch.”

The guardsman frowned.

“…what?” He said.

“You know, like just casually.”

“But all the best food is in the royal court?”

Dangou stopped dead in his tracks.

“… Oh shit...that's true isn't it?”

------------ The Queen ------------

Queen Eliade sat, poised with elegance, in her hide-covered throne, practicing her smile as she prepared to receive her best, and most loyal knight, Dangou Sheen. She had known this man for the majority of her peaceful, sheltered life, and unsurprisingly, held towards him, a well-hidden affection. Sometimes she dreamed that had she been born as a country girl, she could have perhaps married him without any consideration. But as she was the Queen of the Empire, she had a duty to the nation and that duty meant she could never wed herself to a man with the meagre status of a Queensguard. She sighed, unsatisfied at her fate until at last the halls reverberated with the sounds of the Drasci Honour Horn, and she snapped back into reality.

------------ Dangou ------------

Dangou was in deep contemplation as he opened the door to her highness’ court. Second thoughts, piled themselves onto his mind.

“My dear Dangou, you have returned!” The Queen beamed, her precious, pink lips dancing with each syllable.

“Uh yes your highness, I return unscathed.” Dangou glanced down awkwardly, scratching his head. “Actually didn’t even receive a scratch! Hahaha…”

“That was kinda lame…” Osiro whispered slyly in her sheath.

“Is that so?” The Queen clapped joyfully, followed by a burst of genuine laughter, “That is quite amazing indeed.”

Dangou nodded, smiling sheepishly.

“Well,” Queen Eliade continued, “I assume you’re here to claim your reward?”

“Ah..." Dangou paused, "Yes.”

The Queen glanced at the knight, nodded and sighed wistfully. Perhaps wishing that something else could have happened.

“No problem, Sir Sheen, I will have it called for immediately.“

Dangou hesitated, his palms were sweaty and knees were weak like spaghetti. If he didn’t do it now, the timing would pass.

“WAIT!” Dangou burst out.

“Yes…?” Queen Eliade blushed.

“Instead of a monetary reward…” He gulped, “Could I have you instead?”

The courtroom fell deathly silent as all eyes shifted onto this unfathomably bold and daring man. The guardsmen mumbled with respect as they looked upon the absolute Alpha of a idol, but the nobles sat unimpressed, sending daggers of glaring hatred at yet another enemy.

Sitting at the edge of her seat, the Queen’s face quickly flushed to a perfect crimson. Her mind reminded her of her position as Royalty, but at every attempt to speak, her tongue and lips begin to form the word ‘Yes!’.

The court sat in silence, both in awe at the audacity of Dangou, and in wait for the Queen’s response. But before she could speak, the immense mental conflict rendered her dizzy, and finally, she fainted.

------------ Narrator ------------

Before innocent little Eliade could recover from the shock of Dangou’s confession, the council of Nobles banded together as one, voted and banished the dangerous man from the Kingdom on behalf of the Queen. It would mark the beginning of the most extraordinary and fantastical journey and love story that the world had never expected.

------------ Prelude End ------------

- Dangou, right after being banished from the empire-

“WHatS tHe wOrSt ThAt COulD hApPen? SHE SAYS.” Dangou snapped, throwing Osiro into a bush along with her sheath.

“Look I didn’t mean for this to happen!” Osiro shouted, but Dangou, infuriated, had already started stomping away. Making sure to mock Osiro with every step.

“I dIdN’T mEaN foR ThIS tO HaPpEn! SHE SAYS.”

“No seriously, I’m sorry Dangou!!”

“nO sErioUsLY, i’M sOrRY! SHE SAYS.”

“Dangou come back!!”

“daNgOU cOmE bAcK! SHE SAYS.”

“I’M GOING TO RUST IF I STAY HERE!”

“I’m goInG tO rUsT iF I sTaY HerE! SHE SAYS.”

“DANGOU!! I’M SORRY!”

“DaNgOu!! I’m SoRry! SHE SAYS.”

....

...

..

.

"Hope you enjoyed the prelude!"

- BBBTheSecond

"hOpE yOu eNJoYeD tHe PrEluDe! HE SAYS"