|| 20th of Junil, 999 || Kainesborough, Edan ||

  25 years old

  I wake to the warm press of a hand on my chest, soft fingers tracing over the skin of my chest. I blink into the soft, early light filtering through the curtains and find myself wrapped in the arms of not one, but two gorgeous women, their bodies tangled with mine beneath the sheets.

  Their hands continue to drift across the planes of my chest and stomach, seeking warmth in the closeness of my skin. The blonde’s breath is hot against my neck, and the ginger one’s fingers leave faint trails of fire as they move lower. The feel of them, the scent of perfume and sweat mingling, sends a smile curling at my lips, though my mind is still thick from sleep.

  One of the women leans in closer, her lips brushing against my ear as she whispers, “Good morning, your highness.”

  I can’t help but let out a slow grin, my attention shifting to the second woman who is now running her hands lower still, her fingers dancing dangerously close to my crotch as her long auburn hair spills over her bare shoulders.

  “Good morning indeed,” I reply, my voice still rough with sleep. I stretch, muscles groaning in protest, feeling the weight of last night in every sore and satisfied limb. “And what a lovely way to start the day.”

  The blonde one lets out a soft laugh, before leaning closer, her full perfect breasts merely inches from my face as she says, “We thought you might appreciate the wake-up call. Can’t let the future king of Edan miss his own party, now can we?”

  Ugh, The Banquet.

  The reminder sends a sharp pang of dread twisting through my gut, a sudden reminder of what waits beyond this bed. I had banished the thought last night, lost it to wine and flesh and laughter, but now it returns, an unwelcome guest in the cold light of day. I gaze up at the ceiling for a moment, my mind already buzzing with reminders of todays schedule.

  Banquet starts at 6, so that gives me enough time to relax abit before.

  but that also depends on what time it is now and judging by the light its already pretty late.

  Shit.

  I really shouldn't have let them talk me into that drinking competition last night.

  I sigh, long and reluctant, my gaze drifting from the ceiling back to the women at my sides. For a fleeting second, I consider staying right here, wrapped in the softness of sheets and bodies, far from the world outside. But duty tugs me from that fantasy, and with a groan, I sit up, disentangling myself from their warm, eager limbs.

  “Unfortunately,” I start, my voice tinged with a hint of regret, “you’re right. It wouldn’t do well for the future king to be late to his own celebration.” I lie, barely resisting the urge to roll my eyes at the ridiculous statement.

  Celebration? Funeral is more like it. Here lies Sonny Kaine, or what’s left of him.

  But hey, at least Edan will get a new princess.

  I stand, reaching for my discarded trousers and pulling them on with practiced indifference. Just as I finish buttoning them, there’s a sharp knock on the door, heavy and impatient. I let out a sharp sigh and shake my head in mild annoyance. Just as I open my mouth to speak, the door swings open.

  Sure, come right on in.

  Lia storms in, her eyes immediately scanning the room with that familiar look of disgust, lingering for a moment on the two nearly naked women sprawled in my bed. Finally, her gaze lands on me, and her lips press into a thin, disapproving line.

  “Really?” is all she says.

  “Good morning to you too, dear sister. I take it you slept well?” I tease, leaning against the banister of the bed.

  The women barely stir at the intrusion, the blonde’s hand tracing the other woman’s hip in slow languid strokes.

  Damn...

  Last night was...

  “Sonny…” Lia sighs dramatically before turning away from the women and pinching the bridge of her nose. “If you could please ask your whores to leave, we have matters to discuss.”

  I nearly wince at her harsh choice of words. Thankfully the women don’t seem to mind, looking to be much more interested in each other than either of us right now. I try to hold back a knowing smirk as I watch Lia pointedly avoid looking at them, despite the growing blush on her face.

  Very subtle Li.

  No one would ever guess.

  “Ladies,” I say, my voice taking on a playful seriousness, “I’m afraid I’ll need you to go now. Surely you understand?”

  “Of course your highness, whatever the crown demands.” the blonde teases with a wink before playfully smacking me on the ass.

  I give her a pointed look over my shoulder, pretending to be offended. "Easy now, I think there are enough bruises thank you." I tease with a cheeky wink.

  With a shared laugh they move with the grace of those used to being admired and begin to slip back into their dresses from last night. I make no attempt to hide my gaze as a warm smile slowly grows across my face.

  These two were fun, I wish I could see them again.

  But alas..thats not really an option anymore.

  As they head towards the door, the ginger one leans in and presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “Next round is on us so don't be a stranger.” she purrs.

  I nod and smile, though I know this will likely be the last time I get to see them.

  I resist the urge to watch them as they leave, instead fixing my gaze on Lia, who it seems is doing the exact same thing.

  “Where were we?” I ask, trying to maintain a casual tone despite the annoyance I feel at her intrusion.

  “You’re supposed to be meeting the tailor today,” Lia responds, arms crossed, voice taut with barely restrained annoyance. “Final fitting before the banquet. And as usual, you’ve slept through half the day.”

  I rake a hand through my hair, fighting the urge to groan. The fitting—right. I’d forgotten. My mind was otherwise occupied last night, as was the rest of me. “Sorry, I must’ve lost track of time.”

  She scoffs, striding to the window and yanking the curtains open, flooding the room with blinding sunlight. “That’s because you’ve been too busy indulging yourself, as always.”

  I roll my eyes and sit back on the edge of the bed, tempted to crawl back under the covers just to vex her. “We’ve been over this, Li. What I do in my free time is my business.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  She turns to face me, her arms crossed and her expression stern. “Yes, it’s your business. Until you forget that you have responsibilities that go beyond screwing every pretty woman in Edan.”

  I feel my jaw tighten, and I force a breath through my teeth. “And I know that. But sometimes, I need a little distraction, something to take my mind off all of this madness.”

  Lia’s glare doesn’t waver. “And how’s that been working out for you?”

  I meet her gaze, my patience fraying. “Can we not do this now? I just woke up, and the last thing I need is you lecturing me first thing in the morning.”

  “It’s nearly three in the afternoon!” she snaps, before she grabs a pair of red satin knickers from the floor and throws them at my head. They hit me against the side of my face before tumbling over onto the bed spread.

  “Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, waving a hand dismissively, as I snatch the underwear up with the other, my mind suddenly filled with memories of removing them last night.

  I think these were the blondes, or did she wear the blue ones?

  “Just tell the tailor to head over. I’ll be ready.” I mumble, still trying to remember who these belonged to, not that I plan on giving them back.

  Lia’s eyes narrow, but she turns on her heel, muttering something about being a 'bloody messenger' as she marches out the door.

  With a heavy sigh I shove the underwear into the pocket of my trousers, before flopping backwards on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling once more.

  It’s going to be a long fucking day.

  My sulking is interrupted a few moments later when I hear a polite knock on the door. I tense, hoping more than anything that it’s not Lia again, or even worse, my father.

  “Come in.” I grumble.

  The doors open and thankfully it’s only Ethan, one of my regular attendants, striding in with two other men trailing behind him.

  Ugh, I wish they’d stop sending me just blokes.

  “Good morning, Your Highness. I trust you slept well,” Ethan says, his smile small and practiced, yet there’s a flicker of irritation beneath his polished demeanor.

  “Oh, like a baby wrapped in satin,” I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm. His whole 'faithful servant' act grates on my nerves, and I have no patience for his polite little lies today. God only knows what he will end up telling my father today.

  Yes, well it seems your son was involved in what the degenerates call a "trifecta" last night.

  yes, yes quite nasty business indeed your grace.

  With a soft groan I sit up, resting my elbows on my thighs as I watch them disperse around my chambers, scurrying about to remove any traces of last night.

  And just like that, the royal illusion is maintained.

  Before long, the sound of running water echoes from the direction of the bathroom. I glance toward the door, “Is my bath ready yet?”

  Ethan nods, his expression perfectly blank, “OfCourse, Your Highness.” He gestures toward the bathroom.

  “Perfect as always Eth,” I mutter, stalking past him into the bathroom, dismissing the attendant there with a wave of my hand. I slam the door shut behind them and immediately feel a small pang of guilt.

  I know I should try to be nicer, its not their fault after all, Lia’s the one who soured my mood today. Though she’s certainly not the one to blame for me getting married tomorrow, and I’d be wise not to forget that either.

  This is all his fucking fault.

  Him and his greedy whore.

  The bathroom greets me with a wave of warmth, the air thick with the overwhelming scent of roses. The gold-plated bathtub in the center of the room is filled with hot water, the surface shimmering with bubbles. I start to strip off my clothes, letting them fall in a careless heap onto the floor. Then I slowly sink down into the water, hissing slightly as the heat licks at my skin.

  Once settled, I close my eyes, trying to let the warmth ease the knots in my muscles. But its no use, my body is still too tense, just as my mind is too cluttered. I close my eyes for a moment in an attempt to quiet the buzzing in my head, but instead my thoughts only get louder.

  What If I can’t do this?

  What if Averie hates me?

  What if I end up just like…

  Thankfully a soft knock on the door pulls me from my thoughts, but before I can answer, the door creaks open slightly. A woman’s face comes into focus, framed by soft brown curls with the rest of her hair drawn into a tight bun.

  “Your Highness, do you need assistance with your bath?” She asks, her voice damn near musical.

  “Yeah, sure,” I say, a hint of charm creeping into my tone. “Come on in.”

  She moves with grace, closing the door behind her, and coming to kneel next to the bathtub. She immediately reaches for one of the colorful bottles of soap near the tub and begins to lather a sponge. Finally, she touches me, and I sink back into the water, enjoying the gentle drag of the sponge against my skin. The heat of the bath mingles with the heat of her touch and I feel my muscles relax with each stroke of the sponge.

  “So,” she says, her voice breaking the silence, “I hear you’re getting married soon.”

  The words are light, casual, but they dig into me like barbs. the fitting, the banquet, even this bath—all of it is a prelude to that damned wedding. I force myself to keep my eyes closed, to pretend that her hands are enough to drown out my growing dread.

  “Yeah,” I say, my tone flat, unfeeling. “Tomorrow, actually.”

  She doesn’t miss a beat, her hands still gliding over my shoulders. “That must be exciting,” she says, the cheer in her voice thin, forced. “I hear your bride is very beautiful.”

  I let out a laugh, short and bitter. “Beautiful, noble, rich. All the things that make a good match, I’m told.” The words taste sour in my mouth, and I can’t help the edge that creeps into my voice.

  The attendant’s hands falter for a moment, her touch hesitating. I can feel her curiosity, her desire to pry into the spaces I don’t want to share, “Forgive me but you don’t sound too thrilled, Your Highness,” she says, clearly trying her best not to offend.

  I turn my head, meeting her gaze over my shoulder. The urge to spill the truth—to tell her that this marriage is a cage, that every promise made is another link in the chain binding me to a life I never wanted—flickers and dies on my tongue. Instead, I offer her a tight, practiced smile. “I’m just… processing it all,” I say carefully. “Big change, you know?”

  She nods, sympathy etched across her features, but it feels hollow, another empty gesture in a palace full of them. As she leans in to scrub my back, her form catches my eye, the uniform clinging to her in ways that make it hard to think of anything but her curves. I shift slightly in the tub, trying to keep my thoughts in check, but it’s a losing battle.

  “What’s your name?” I ask, my voice a bit too husky.

  She hesitates, surprised, before finding her composure and responding, “Dolores, Your Grace.”

  “Dolores,” I repeat, savoring the sound of it, letting it roll off my tongue. There’s something in her eyes that intrigues me, a spark hiding beneath her meek exterior. “What a beautiful name.”

  “Thank you Sir,” she says, her voice tinged with nervousness. “It was my grandmother’s.”

  I hum in acknowledgment, my gaze still fixed on her. I can feel a strange pull towards her, a magnetic attraction that I can’t quite explain. There’s something intriguing about her, a hint of defiance in her eyes that makes me want to know more.

  I shift slightly in the bathtub, the water sloshing gently against the sides. “How long have you worked here at the palace, Dolores?” I inquire, my voice low and smooth. I hope she doesn’t notice the way my eyes keep roaming over her figure, betraying my obvious interest.

  “Not long, Your Grace. A few weeks.” She gives me another tight smile.

  Ah, so she’s new.

  No wonder she’s jumpy, still learning the ropes, trying to figure out which of us royals are to be trusted.

  Yet when my eyes meet hers, I see very little fear there. Instead, the tension between us thrums like a pulled bowstring, taut and electric, and I can’t help but tug on it.

  “You know,” I say, my voice taking on a teasing tone, “I don’t think I’ve ever had such a beautiful attendant before. are you sure you’re in the right place?”

  “Well yes sir, the big golden castle is hard to miss.” she jokes, nearly mocking me but no part of her seems worried about that.

  “Well you certainly are...” I immediately flirt back, not even bothering to hide my wolfish grin as I look up at her.

  Her eyes widen and I watch as her cheeks flush to a vivid pink.

  To my surprise, she recovers quickly. “Thank you, Sir. Though it seems you’re all done now, so I’ll leave you be.” She stands abruptly, breaking whatever spell this was.

  “You’re leaving already?” I can’t quite keep the disappointment from my voice. “I thought you might stay to dry me off.” My eyes are trained on hers, holding no doubt a devilish glint.

  She gives me a polite smile before responding, “I’m sure you’re more than capable, Your Highness.”

  With that, she turns and slips out of the room, the door clicking shut behind her.

  I watch her go, my chest tight with a mix of frustration and regret.

  I’m such an idiot.

  Why do I always do this?

  I absentmindedly begin to run my finger up and down the scar that spans the length of my forearm.

  It's the only real scar I've got, and it was given to me by a 9-year-old girl from the lower ward.

  Fuck, where's Lethal Lena when you need her?

  I sigh and sink down beneath the water for a moment, letting the quiet distortion of the water quiet my thoughts. But still, like always, they come anyway.

  Let's be honest, she probably burned with the rest of them.

  I resurface just as my lungs run out of air, and for a while I just sit there as the water cools around me. Eventually, I grab the sponge Dolores had left behind, and begin scrubbing at my arms roughly, not stopping until my skin starts to burn.