"Huh? Why?" Dove asked as he looked away realizing how strange their interaction was.
"Well, have a seat in my carriage. I'll check your wounds and my horsemen will even drop you to your destination." The prince said.
Dove's cheeks turned red. This gorgeous, well-dressed, and kind-hearted gentleman wanted to take care of him. Well, he had just helped Dove escape an abduction so maybe he could be trusted.
"O-oh, well, okay thanks for all your help till now. What's your name by the way?" Dove asked shyly, sub-consciously arranging his hair to look more presentable.
He smiled as he let go of Dove and led the way to his carriage. The horsemen treated his hand. Once done, he helped Dove sit inside, making sure his cloak didn't get caught and then hopped inside to sit parallelly in front of him.
"I'm Cedric. And you?" he said, smiling, showing off the perfectly shaped dents formed over his cheeks.
"I'm Dove," Dove replied sheepishly, his eyes falling over Cedric. The more Dove avoided it, the more he wanted to stare at Cedric's attractive face, which made him feel both intrigued and confused.
He had often found himself admiring men far more than women. Was it because he was scrawny and insecure about his slightly feminine facial features? Or was it because he had less body hair than other men? Maybe it was a normal sign of maturing.
In the past few months, during the combat practices with the palace guards, he had found himself gazing at their well-built, muscular bodies from time to time.
Was it because he was jealous that he wasn't as well-built as them? Yes, that must be it. He was jealous, not attracted to them.
"Wait, you're the prince of Cascadia, right? What were you doing here? Who were those people after you? And why are you dressed like that?" Cedric asked snapping Dove out of his reverie.
Dove blushed profusely when Cedric's eyes locked with his. "W-well, I tend to visit my people from time to time in the marketplaces and other local areas," Dove explained, subconsciously arranging his hair to look more presentable. "Hence, the disguise and my clothes. And those people who kidnapped me, let's just say I'm not the most liked person in the royal court. The court members see me more as a nuisance than their prince."
"Huh? How can they do that? You still are a prince. And prince means future king, they have to respect you and your position," Cedric argued, his voice filled with disbelief.
Dove's voice turned sad as he replied, "Well, my stepmother sits on the throne, not me. And as I said before, it doesn't matter if I'm the sole heir. All the decisions of the kingdom are made by the queen. I'm absolutely of no value to her or the kingdom."
Prince Cedric's jaw dropped noticeably. "That's outrageous. Y-you are the prince! You need to do something, you need to stand up for yourself. Is this how you want to continue your life? Are you happy being your stepmother's puppet?"
Dove let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Of course not, but you don't know my stepmother. In her kingdom, when she says something is to be done, it gets done. And honestly, I don't think she ever plans to give up her rule over this land. If she does, she has the right to the next king. That can be anyone. And I'm positive that person won't be me."
Cedric pursed his lips, "Well, that's true, butâ"
Before Cedric could continue, Dove cut him off. 'We've been talking about me for a long time now. Tell me more about you, your highness.'"
"Well, what do you want to know?" Cedric asked, amused, a smile gracing his face.
Dove stopped for a minute to admire the scenic atmosphere outside their carriage. The sunsets were beautiful, and one could see the mist rising like a dragon's breath. It drifted up, circling the trees with its ghostly tentacles.
In the distance, Dove's eyes were drawn to a cascading waterfall, its shimmering streams resembling threads of frozen silver, tumbling and crashing into the depths of the pools below. The water possessed a profound cerulean hue, frolicking over the rocks and sending sprays that glistened like effervescent lemonade. A handful of fishermen stood with hope in the crystal-clear currents, awaiting their fortunate catch.
The grass of the surrounding forest exuded a vibrant green reminiscent of the fabled gardens of Eden, reaching up to the height of a thrush's thigh. As the winds rustled through the woods, their force stripping leaves from the trees, the foliage remained resilient in its youthful verdancy and opulence. The gusts howled and groaned, causing the branches to strain and creak under the pressure. Yet, the trees appeared skeletal, their skeletal forms indicating an imminent threatâa harbinger of an even more perilous adversary lurking within the forest.
Dove shivered and then spoke, "Well, for one thing, I'm woefully unaware of the affairs of my kingdom. So, tell me, where are you from?" He asked, trying to redirect the conversation.
"I'm from the neighboring kingdom, the kingdom of Alynthi."
"Oh, I've heard about your kingdom. I've read from a book in the royal library that your kingdom was one of our first allies."
"That's true."
"So when is your coronation taking place, Your Highness?" Dove asked, curious about Cedric's own journey to power.
"In a year, once the trifecta for my marriage is decided, and I turn twenty-one," Cedric said thoughtfully, his eyes gazing into the distance.
Dove nodded, contemplating the weight of responsibility that came with royalty. Cedric was older than him by four years, but that didn't matter. He had perhaps found a friend, someone who understood his frustrations and ignited a spark of rebellion within him.
The driver then announced that they would reach the castle in a few minutes.
"So, this is where I take my leave then," Dove announced, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
That's when Cedric reached over and wrapped his hands around Dove soothingly. Dove's heartbeat became erratic as soon as their skin came into contact, and he was also very self-aware of his clothing, nervous to get dirt on Prince Cedric's clothes.
"Will I see you again, Dove?" Cedric asked, his voice filled with hope, placing a soft kiss on the bruise over Dove's wrist as Dove's cheeks turned crimson.
"I hope you do," Dove said shyly, his mind filled with determination to change his circumstances and make a stand.
"And I hope you do something to make that happen," Cedric replied, his eyes filled with unwavering support.
Dove nodded, feeling a surge of determination coursing through his veins. As the carriage arrived at the castle, he stepped out with newfound resolve.
A/N
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