(Edited)
Matthew Wild
As I lay in bed, watching the sun rise, as a new, quite gloomy day begins, my thoughts wonder to the conversation yesterday with the prince. What I do know, is that he seems like a genuine man, who somehow, I'm seeming to trust. Everything about him seems honest and authentic. If I was talking to my past self, he would say 'I'm trusting him too easily', and 'I don't really know the prince too well'. A part of me wants to listen to that side, but another wants the opposed.
Today we have 2 other families who have arrived at the castle. Lord and Lady of Winchester and their daughter Elizabeth and the Earl and Countess of William and their daughter Alice. I myself have never met these people, nor do I want to put effort into getting to know them. But I know I can't get what I wish for. Today a small dinner is being held with the families, a way to get to know each other and take a judge out of each person's character. This dinner will surely not be pleasant, after all, all families are competing against each other, the prize which is the title of Princess and one day Queen.
After a quick shower and change of clothes, I was out of my room. The dinner does not start until 7 in the evening, so there's ample enough time to go exploring on my own. There's something surreal being on your own, in a new place. It's just yourself, your mind and the unknown world to explore. I don't have many talents, but I am passionately curious.
The castle grounds are phenomenal. It was impossible for anyone to find their way around from how confusing all the pathways where. Just outside, stood bounteous of trees all swaying in the wind, almost like it was waving with hundreds of tiny hands. Off I walked further out and entered the private gardens. The weather suddenly darkened, with clouds forming together and drops of rain began to fall. But hey, rain makes the flowers grow, so I continued my adventure. Gardens are always a shad brighter in the rain. It was as if the gift of the skies wasn't water, but liquid magic, washing our world to show what was there all along, nature in our humble brilliance. The buttercups became gold, the grass the shade of every dreamer's meadow, roots quenches, soil renewed.
I was becoming drenched now, but oh, it felt great. Guess this is what life should feel like.
"What exactly are you doing?"
Startled, I turned to see the prince, also as equally drenched looking directly at me.
"You frightened me!" I said, putting a hand over my chest.
"Sorry" He replied with a daring smirk across his face. "Why are you out here in the rain?"
"Why are you out here in the rain?" I retorted back.
"To see what you are doing here" I waited before I could respond to his statement, but the prince beat me to it. "Plus, I've just finished my daily dose of exercise"
"Well, I've come to explore the grounds" I said, once again taking in the breath-taking surroundings.
The prince looked me up and down "In the rain?" he answered.
"Yes, rain doesn't hurt, you know" I turned to look behind me, through the entrance of the gate to see a group of maids, all with sliver trays above their heads and running in doors.
"Come inside, I'll show you something incredible" The prince said, also following my gaze. "But before that, let's play a game". He held a casual smile on his face.
...
After a quick change of clothing again, the Prince and I made our way to the drawing room.
The room itself was grand, huge windows faced the front of the castle, looking out towards the courtyard. A sofa and two armchairs sat all perfectly neat and next to each other. In the middle an ostentatious fireplace warmed up the room.
The prince's face was bright. I'm not quite sure what type of game he has planned. Like I've said before, I'm not a very talented man, but I'll put in effort when it comes to something that I want. In the corner of the room was an Old Charm games table. Chess. That's what the prince had in mind.
"Take a seat" The prince said with eagerness in his voice. He motioned towards the chair facing the front door of the room.
"You want to play a game of chess" I asked, amusement on my face too. "Good thing, I'm the best in my family" That's a lie, but confidence gives us courage and determination to win.
The prince, smiled, taking his seat in front on me, "Really now, I'll tell you what, let's make this game much more interesting" he said, with a gleam of humour in his eyes.
"What do you propose?" I asked, mirroring his look a joy and delight.
"If I win, you have to listen and do everything I say" he said, his smirk widening.
My smile dropped, "And what is my benefit in this?" I asked, not won over by his request.
"The opposite, if I lose, I will do everything you tell me to" he said, setting the conditions.
"And how long will this arrangement last for?" I asked.
"Till the last night of the ball" The prince said, still with that gleaming smile on his face.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What if I lose and the prince asks me to do awful and uncomfortable things? Giving it a moment of thought, it was too hard to decline his offer. Although, I'm not talented, I sure am competitive "Okay" I said, agreeing to his term and conditions. "Are you ready to lose?"
The prince let out a hearty laughter "Oh we'll see about that" He placed all the pieces in their correct places, Eight pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, one queen and one king. "Let begin". The prince made his first move.
It took a little while, to get into the game, both I and the prince taking turns to move each piece. Concentration was heavy and the air, still. Playing this game with him, was much harder than I thought. He was very skilled, I tried using all the tactics that I had learned but somehow, he always found a way to still be ahead of me. it was a little frustrating, because I was eager to win. I didn't want to become his pawn; he was to become mine.
"I win" The prince says, triumphantly.
I sighed, knowing the ultimatum. To be fair he played well, and there was little hope in me winning. I put my last chess piece down and looked at the prince and his face beamed.
"So, what is the first thing that I have to do" I asked, feeling a little defeated.
"Hmm" The prince thought for a moment. "Let's first start off with, when all the families arrive for the ball, join me to see them"
A little confused by his first request. "You want me? To join you, when seeing all the families?"
"Yes" the prince stated plainly. "You seem like a well-grounded man, who can advise me in what woman will make the perfect partner"
My eyes widening in shock by his statement, I asked "You want me to help you choose your wife?" My brain freezes for a moment and eyes stayed fixed on the prince, unable to move them. What he is asking me to do, has nothing to do with me. I'm just the son of a Duke and Duchess, not an adviser who can help him.
"Are you going to repeat everything I say?" Again, there was humour in the prince's voice. He seems unfazed, compared to me. His eyes looking at every part of my face, with that glistening smile.
"I'm a little biased, don't you think" My eyes still glued to the prince, as if in a trance "My sister is one of the women who may be betrothed to you"
"That's true" The prince said "But for some reason, you're not pushing your sister onto me, which tells me enough that I can trust you to not be biased, plus, you might find a woman for yourself, that is if you don't already have one"
Still astonished by his suggestion, still unable to look away from his face, just to be sure he isn't clowning around "It's my sister's choice in who she wants to marry. My parents might think otherwise, however to me, Kathy needs to love the man she is going to marry, that way I know she will be happy and can live a peaceful life"
Taking in what I have said, the prince slowly nodded his head "I like your response, see, you're a well-grounded man, who knows what he wants" The prince then stood up, straightened the bottom of his jacket. "Come let me take you to the top of the tower"
"The tower?" I asked, also standing up and following the prince out of the room.
"Yes, I promised I would show you something incredible" The prince, took long steps, being a little taller than me, I was rushing a bit to keep up with him.
We reach the stone staircase which spiralled right to the castle's top. It was a narrow and tight, only allowing us to walk up in single file. The prince walked in front, with me right behind him at first. Each step we took echoed all around us.
"No one really comes up here, it's usually a bell boy who would come up and sound the chime to alert the Kings guards of a threat to the castle" The prince said. I have no idea how he is not huffing and puffing. I was here beginning to break out in a sweat.
"Gosh it's so many stairs" I said, really to myself rather than the prince.
He sniggered "Maybe you should join me for my daily exercise sessions with the rest of the Kings Guards"
"No thank you" I responded, "I'm not into working out" More like I didn't want him to see how unfit I was or that I will not be able to keep up with them. We were coming towards the top and the stairs were becoming narrower. The prince reached the top first, and I followed slowly up, my legs aching with every step that I took.
"Careful, there's no handrail up top" The prince said, turning to watch me struggle up the stair. And not heeding to his advice, and being the clumsy fool I am, my foot missed the last step and then I was falling, or so I thought. Before I could even let out a scream, I felt a hand grip my forearm and pull me up. My hand instantly went to hold onto the prince by his arms and my stiff body, stood rooted to my spot.
"And the bell boy is expected to run up the staircase?" I asked, still holding on to him and turning my head behind me to look down. It was dark and a long way down. If I fell, I would have died or at least suffered from serious injuries.
"I told you to be careful" said the prince, pulling me away from the edge of the staircase and towards the wooden door.
"I think you should fit a handrail in" my legs were shaking, and my feet padded nosily behind him. "It will be less dangerous for the bell boy"
The prince just laughed "Come on" he said, opening the door dragging me along with him.
Outside, the wind blew fiercely in our faces, it was cold, but the rain had stopped. We stood together facing the cityscape and no words could describe how beautiful it was. It was almost like art in every sense. You could see the whole city and each light was likes a constellation, as if each one was a star of Earth.
"Beautiful, isn't it" The prince spoke, eyes fixated on the breath-taking view in front of us.
"This is more than beautiful" I responded, letting go of the prince's hand and taking a step closer to the railing.
The prince took a step forward too and leant onto the railing. "I guess so" he turned to look at me then said "Back in the drawing room, I asked you if you had a woman, do you have one"
I turned to look at the prince, the wind, blowing sharply around us. "No, I don't"
"What about a man?" he asked, with no emotion.
Taken aback from his question, I answered "What! No, that's frowned upon and pretty much can get you killed"
The prince turned back to the cityscape taking a deep breath "Just asking, even though its prohibited, there are people out there like that"
"Are you one of them?" I asked. If he was, then the rumours about him are not true, unless the thousands of women who he takes to bed every night are men and it was just a miscommunication that was spread among the people. Personally, I believe there is no problem with men who have those preferences, but to have a prince like that would be shameful and indecent. After all princes needs to marry and produce offspring's to keep the royal line going on.
The prince laughed, then said "No" I let out a breath that I didn't realise I was holding.
"Are you trying to find out if I'm one to get me in prison?" I joked at him.
"Maybe" The prince said, the laughter lines at the edge of his eyes deepened. "People like that shouldn't exist and goes against everything God says and preaches. And that's what scares everyone, because something that God said shouldn't exist, does"
I didn't know the prince felt so strongly about people who love differently. I personally have no care for them or have ever thought of them before. "So, your saying, all of them should be killed, so Gods words are upheld?" I asked.
The prince didn't answer my question and took a step back from the railing. "Come on, let's go, I can't feel like fingers anymore"
Both of us made out way back down that deathly staircase.
...
All the families met in the drawing room before dinner started. The ladies all sat next to each other, engrossed in small chatter. Kathy stood next to my mother, who was talking to one of the other ladies. I wasn't sure which family she was from. The prince stood talking to a man, who again, I didn't know which family he was from. His eyes found mine, and then he said something to the man before making his way towards me. He was dressed in his usual formal attire: black suit, white shirt, and a black tie. He looked striking, as a prince should.
"Haven't got a drink yet?" he said, with a hint of amusement in his voice. He clicked his fingers at one of the servers, who was holding a silver tray with glasses filled with wine. He took one and offered it to me.
Taking the glass, I said my thanks. The prince motioned his head towards the group of women talking next to my mother and Kathy. "Following our arrangement after the game, which woman looks more pleasing to the eye?" he asked.
I took a sip of my drink and followed the prince's gaze. "Shouldn't you be making that decision?" I replied. Both women were beautiful, no doubt about that. I was still very confused by this whole arrangement to begin with.
"Let's go and say our hellos," the prince said, turning to look at me.
"It's okay, you go. I'm fine where I am." I didn't want to be here to begin with, let alone introduce myself to the other families. It was not my place, and there was no reason for me to get to know the women.
The prince took another sip from his glass. "Come on, we have an arrangement that you need to follow. I need you to judge the women's character."
Before I knew it, I was being dragged by the prince to where the ladies were. All chatter ceased as soon as they noticed us making our way towards them.
"Good evening, ladies. I hope you all are enjoying your time," the prince said smoothly, a charming smile on his face. All the women curtsied and lowered their heads slightly.
The Queen introduced Elizabeth and Alice. Elizabeth had blonde hair and blue eyes, with soft, beautiful features. She let out a soft "hello." Alice was the opposite of her: brown hair, brown eyes, and a more confident demeanor. She extended her hand to the prince, who took it while she curtsied.
"You look dashing, just as everyone said you would," Alice said, her eyes locked onto the prince's with an unmistakable spark. She leaned in slightly, her hand lingering in his.
He smirked, looking straight back at her. "You sure look beautiful too," he said, bending his head to leave a soft kiss on her hand. Alice's fingers curled lightly around his, a playful smile dancing on her lips.
"You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" Alice purred, her voice low and sultry. "I've heard so much about your...reputation."
The prince raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Is that so? And what exactly have you heard?"
"Oh, just that you're as cunning as you are handsome," she replied, her thumb lightly caressing the back of his hand. "Quite the combination for a prince."
He chuckled softly. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Alice."
Alice leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper meant only for the prince. "I don't need flattery to get what I want."
The prince's smirk deepened, and he looked at her with a mixture of amusement and curiosity. "And what is it that you want?"
She leaned back slightly, her eyes never leaving his. "Let's just say, I'm interested in getting to know you...better."
The Queen, sensing the rising tension, stepped in smoothly. "Alice, Elizabeth, it's a pleasure to introduce you to the prince. I'm sure you'll have more opportunities to converse during dinner."
Alice let go of the prince's hand, but not before giving it a gentle squeeze. "I look forward to it," she said, her eyes glinting with mischief.
As the group began to move towards the dining hall, the prince turned to me and whispered in my ear, "So what do you think? Which one?"
"Not Alice," I whispered back, my head slightly turned to the prince, but my eyes focused on everyone in front.
"She seems fun though," the prince said with amusement in his voice.
I just rolled my eyes and started making my way towards the dining hall. Of course, he would be interested in someone like Alice.