A feast in honor of something I had little to do with. Being the second son and disgrace of the royal family with my particular… indulgences. My father still requiring my unseemly presence always appeared as a last ditch effort to force me into a roll I would never take. Of course my brother, Basilius, sat at his right hand as I entered through the large double doors a few minutes late. Conversation halted only momentarily once those present realized it was only me. Lazily I found my place next to Bas and a servant, appearing out of nowhere, placed my meal before me. Taking a bite my father acknowledges me “I hope your food hasn’t lost it’s vigor. Perhaps you’d do better to arrive when the food is served warm.” “Apologies, I was otherwise engaged.” His grunt was expected but my brother passing a withering look was not. Whatever dignitary, representative, or politician we were hosting must be more important than I realized. I glanced down the massive banquet table to the man dressed in a fine robe that occupied the other head seat and then found his advisor smirking at his plate clearly amused by my incompetence. “And what exactly had you so captivated that the time escaped you your highness?” The advisor stared awaiting what he expected to be a humiliating response and indeed the truth would have been, but I’d learned to lie as a boy trying my best to escape my fathers wrath. In truth, I had been fucking a servant girl in the stacks of the library, one I’d taken to bed before but who’s name I never managed to recall. “I was actually in our greater library reading about the military strategies my great grandfather employed in the war that brought about our great province.” The advisor, clearly disappointed regained his interest in his meal, “Indeed a great victory within your family history.” A faint smile flashed across my fathers face and the tension in Bas’s shoulders relaxed. My meal was in fact cold and I quickly lost my appetite. I had told the girl to come to my rooms after dinner but I might need to swing by the kitchens before another round. Across the room a group of ladies giggled and quietly took turns appreciating Bas. He’s always had an inch or so on me and never let me forget it. Constantly training and learning with my father both his body and mind a spectacle. He’d chosen to wear his decorative military uniform tonight probably a reminder of our strength while maintaining an air of sophistication. There didn’t seem to be a single thing out of place from his shoes to every hair on his head. I, on the other hand, was a sophisticated wrinkle with just as much decorum but a touch of chaos as well. My mother liked to say that I was always making sure to lighten the mood. She’d been away to see her own father who was currently dying within the borders of his own estate. Without her attendance to be a buffer between me and my father, I’d taken a fair few lashings in the last months regardless of the fact that they made more ruthless in my pursuit of unseemliness rather than the disciplining my father was going for. The second and third courses came and went while the noble daughters of our province became more dauntless as the sky darkened when seating no longer remained a requirement and gentle music filled the hall, I watched my brother take a turn with each of them as was his duty at such events. I clung to the perimeter grabbing drink after drink off the trays that passed hoping the night would end with the servant girl tangled in my sheets. Just as my father left the hall with his guests and advisors I thought I could make my escape when Bas took my arm. “Can’t you take a turn? Cilka has stepped on my feet more times than I can count and Aideen becomes more bold with every sip of wine.” “Indeed it must be difficult to be pursued by noble end daughters who all seek your hand brother.” His eye roll was brief but enough to acknowledge me. “We’re not going to have this conversation again.” “Why not? Just pick one to favor and take her to your bed. The rest will move on.” “I cannot play with these women’s virtues without creating a civil war.” I groaned as yet another high daughter began to move our way. “I’ll take this one for you, but then I’m expected in my own room.” I smirked and Bas scowled as I turned and intercepted Wren. “Care to dance?” “Oh, we’ll I was actually going to…” “Ask my brother? I’m sure. He is however feeling momentarily ill.” I smiled as a proper prince would and a blush found her cheeks. “Well… of course I’d be honored prince Drystan.” I tipped my head to her and lead her out into the music. The room spun for both of us while the music crashed through the room and I noticed yet another court daughter beseeching my brother for a conversation. As the music ebbed and the participants applauded I grabbed her wrist and spun her into my chest earning a small embarrassed gasp. “It would serve you and the other birds better to let my brother breathe.” She yanked out of my grasp before shooting me with a withering glare. “Just a recommendation.” A forced curtsy and she was off to tell the others what I’d mentioned. My brother, still looking desperate for an exit from his current companion, searched the room, but before he could find my face, I slipped out through a servants entrance. A few scurried past on my escape route but none stopped me. I stepped out into a main hallway off of which my bedroom lay. My door would appear closed to anyone who passed, but was in fact open. The mechanism just barely off of its latch. With smallest impact it silently opened and standing in front of the bookshelf she inspected a few older volumes. Silently, I crept in closing and locking my door behind me and moving in behind her. I gently wrapped an arm around her waist pulling her back into my chest and she gasped while a wicked laugh escaped me. “Why is there all of this cloth in my way?” “I wasn’t sure how long you’d be and if anyone else found me here I wanted to be able to pretend I was cleaning.” “A decent plan, though no longer necessary” Lifting her was like lifting a shield or a sword. Something I’d come to know so well I no longer required practice. I lay her on my bed and reached up under her dress finding warm soft skin and just as she began spreading her legs for me, a loud authoritative knock sounded through my room. “Open up Drystan!” I sighed and strolled to the door opening it just a hair. “Have I not assisted you enough this evening Basilius?” “Send the girl away and let me in.” “Unfortunately brother, I find her company far more entertaining than yours.” With brute strength he through a shoulder into the door pushing me back and giving himself entrance. With a mere glimpse in her direction, my brother sent my made running out the door along with my good mood. “How is it Bas that you manage to ruin even the simplest of pleasures.” “Father just informed me of some news.” Flinging off my jacket and kicking my shoes off in different directions I sarcastically bowed in his general direction. “Pray tell.” “The King and court we hosted tonight are from a crumbling monarchy.” “Fascinating.” “Their king never sired an heir and as such, his kingdom lies on the edge of ruin when his passing comes.” “And how exactly does any of this pertain to me?” “It may mean your betrothal to the eldest daughter of that kingdom. Or possibly mine.” The realization hit me of what he meant. Our tradition since the Great War was for a prince to marry a noble daughter within our own borders. We hadn’t needed to seek alliances through marriage as of yet since we’ve not needed strength outside of our own means. But, a country on the verge of collapse seeking to marry an eldest daughter to a prince outside their borders would be an opportunity to acquire their resources with little to no exertion on our part. My father would want to maintain our counties expectation that a noble daughter would marry my brother in order to please the noblemen which meant the likely candidate to marry this princess would be “me…” “Yes.” “I would marry this girl only for you to take control of her country and merge it into our own.” “Yes…” “Father has lost his mind.” “He’s actually struck an unbelievable bargain.” “There is no princess in this realm who would drain to marry me and my reputation.” “The daughter of a desperate king just might.” I felt as though the air was being pulled from my very lungs. “I’m not… I can’t marry. I’m not meant for it. I’m meant to be the simple disgrace of this family till the day I drink myself into a grave.” “Pull it together Drystan. How can this be worse than how you go about your days now.” “Bedding some chaste princess is not my idea of a good time.” “And bedding dirty servant girls is?” “At least she knows what she’s doing.” “God your a prick.” “Yes we’ll I’ve worked very hard to establish that.” “Hard work indeed. She’ll be arriving within a few days. Mother will return soon, it seems our grandfather has made yet another miraculous recovery.” As much as my mother loved both Bas and I, her marriage to my father was not something she could always endure. She occasionally would be called home on account of the health of her father who’s never really come close to death from what I’ve gleaned. “You let father call her home after only a few weeks?!” Bas paled looking out the window. He loves our mother as much as I do, but his loyalty lies with my father as he’s been taught. “A small reprieve is better than none at all…” he whispered, “besides you’ll need her here to guide you and maintain some distance between you and father.” “It will take far more than our mother’s siren voice to keep us all civil.” “Get some sleep and look presentable in the morning.” He stalked out of the room closing the door behind him. Crawling into bed, I must have passed out from the wine before I really settled in.