Kael
What has gotten into me?
I push the chair away and stand beside the window. The moonlight showers me at midnight.
The garden incident of the afternoon plays inside my head.
The stone hitting my head, Princess Aelira healing my wound—though she was the one for whom I was hurt in the first place—her cat and the serenity of the shared silence in that fragrant garden.
But why did I tell her all that thing?
Haa..
I sigh. It must be tiresome to stay in this good-for-nothing kingdom. That's why I'm speaking nonsense to just anyone.
Just anyone… Yes. She's just anyone.
"Yeah, I'm the gardener!"
"There! The cut is gone!"
"What's do you want, your highness?"
Now, I'll even hear that voice in my head? Hmm.
I haven't experienced something like this in a while. Something that could enter my head other than bills and issues.
Interesting.
I swirl the wine inside the glass of my hand. Then take a sip.
Quiet the unique taste.
Oh yeah, what more than fancies can I expect from this country after all?
I grit my teeth.
Fsshh
A small flame of fire appears in front of me. A call at this hour?
I place my hand under it and bring it closer to my face.
"Kael." A firm, authoritative voice called out my name from the other end.
"Yes, father." I say in a tone I've been familiar with since the day I remember I existed. Calm, calculative and obedience—these are the traits I must keep in my voice while talking to this man.
"How are things going?" He asks. Clearly interested on the alliance than anything.
"We've talked about the issue. Our count has been going through questions after questions lately."
"I'm asking about you, my son."
Translation: I want to know how much of work you have done.
I pause for a second longer to think of a clear answer.
"I… I've talked to them about it on the surface. Father, we can't ask for their help before the alliance is signed."
And I know you can do anything to make it happen.
"It seems.. they're not going to sign it. This kingdom is diplomatic for over two hundred years. It's not going to be easy."
He stays silent for more than necessary. The fire slowly crackles and trembles in the wind.
King Daven de Viremont— he's not an easy opponent in chess. I wonder which move he is gonna put next.
While father is still busy thinking, my eyes catch a silhouette of some small animal. It's mostly shadowed but visibly roaming down the window.
Pudding
My lips curve up at the thought of that weird name of the cat. Is the princess also—
"Sylvarian royal family has a princess too."
My thoughts pause mid-air. What?
"Hmm. She's come of age too." He says again.
"Father." I struggle to keep my anxiety under control. Though my heart takes a rather strange beat. One I get when I have a bad feeling about something. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh!" He laughs. A deep laughter which is eerily commanding at the same time.
"Don't worry, son. Velmora is not going to propose a marriage to Sylvaris!"
For some unknown reason, a heaviness seems to drift away from my chest. I exhale a short breathe, trying not to get myself noticed by him.
"That's good. Either way, that princess isn't someone Velmoran royalty would need." I don't know why but I felt like I needed to say this.
"Is that so? You seem to have noticed her with quiet keen eyes."
I grip the wine-glass tighter. That's not what I wanted you to understand.
"'You need to learn your opponent before you make a move'— those were your words, father."
"You're speaking fast nowadays." Though he said that, I know he's amused.
I'm no longer the boy who thought for minutes after minutes just to say one word to him.
"Sleep, Kael. We've approached them ahead of time. Now it's their turn to approach us."
And the fire faded away with the wind.
I stood there still. What did he mean by that? What is he scheming?
I gulped down the wine in one go and was about to throw the glass on the floor to hear a satisfying shattering sound but… well, I don't think an act of violence on their utensils will be a good move for alliance.
So I place the glass on the table and go to the bed instead.
Thuck
Thuck
Thuck
Several hard punches land onto the mattress. I punch it until I start to pant.
"Haa.. haa.." I lay down on my back on the crumpled bedsheet, placing my hands over my head.
She doesn't deserve to be dragged into this. No.
"Fuck…" I groan. This is so frustrating.
The throne room is so quiet after all the commotion with calling me out of my respected room at the brink of dusk.
The king looks like he's going to vanish with no time. Why is he restless like that?
And here is his son—shooting daggers with eyes toward me. What? You changed your glaring target from my count to me?
I shift my position while sitting on the chair. I can't understand these men. There are only two ministers present here. And they're constantly staring at my direction like I'm some auction lot.
Disgusting
"Ahem," King Edvan clears his throat.
Yeah, please, get off with this already. My mood is—
"We would like to make a proposal to Velmora, crown prince Kael. It's regarding the matter of our alliance and… our princess and you. If you have the will."
"...."
It takes me a minute to work out the meaning of his words. And when I do...
I look up at his face. My eyes take a shape of disbelief. A shadow of anxiety and lines of tension falls over my face.
And for once in a long time, I forget how to hide my expressions.