Okay! So I removed this story awhile back because there were several things I was unhappy with, but several of you requested that I put it back up. So here it is!

By the way, the name Perelandra comes from C.S. Lewis's Space Trilogy. I liked the name, so I borrowed it.

"His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Fitzwilliam Darcy Andrew Geoffrey of Kopeland."

He really hated his name. If there was an award for the worst name in the world, he would win it every time. Growing up, he'd always questioned his parents' love for him. What kind of parents gave their child such a long, antiquated series of names? When he asked them, they would simply laugh and tell him the more names he had, the more he was loved. He disagreed. It seemed the more names he had, the more people antagonized him. Eventually, he'd convinced them to call him 'William,' and he'd grown into his name. A little bit.

It wouldn't be so bad if propriety didn't dictate that his entire name was announced upon his entrance into every social event of the season. But it did. And here he was.

Prince William looked upon the crowd below him as his name was announced before his entrance into Lady Philip's debutante ball. Below him rolled a sea of taffeta and light flashed upon the interspersed jewels. He had to admit, there was a lot of beauty to be found in a ballroom. Exterior beauty, at least. This group of people in particular was nothing more than a brood of vipers. As much as he hated formal occasions with these people, they were a constant staple in his life. He couldn't avoid them.

He stood at the top of the stairs in his tuxedo and nodded to the masses. The crowd simultaneously bowed to the Crown Prince of Perelandra. He remained at the top for a photo op before making his way down the staircase, trying his best to look more poised and stoic than he felt. He had found out early on that a firm mouth and a slightly raised brow made sycophants less inclined to approach him. So every time he entered a room, he tried to hold on to that look. If they were his friends or had something important enough to talk about, they would look past his haughty expression. Finally, he reached the bottom of the stairs where he met his younger sister, Princess Georgiana. He was relieved to see that the guests had returned to their former conversations.

She smiled and kissed his cheek, her diamond and ruby tiara glittering in the bright lights. It had been a favorite of their mother's, and he had made sure that it was passed down to Georgiana on her sixteenth birthday.

"Georgie, you look stunning." He placed her hand in the crook of his arm and smiled. "That color suits you."

She smoothed the pink chiffon gown with her other hand. "Thank you. I designed this one myself. You look rather dashing yourself, but you know what would make you look even more handsome?"

He looked at her, eyebrows raised. "Please, enlighten me."

She leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, "A smile."

William rolled his eyes. "You know I hate these things." He led her toward their seats, strategically avoiding anyone who looked eager to converse. "They're a waste of time and money. The Season is just an opportunity for Aunt Catherine to flaunt her status. Or rather, make me flaunt her status when she decides she's too good to come."

"I know. But I also know that, like it or not, you will soon be King of this country, and as such you will need to learn how to make friends. You cannot do much in this country without friends, Will."

It was easy for William to forget that Georgiana was no longer a child. It was moments like these that he was struck by her age and intelligence. His baby sister with pig tails had grown into a beautiful young woman who had wisdom to share, and the realization never failed to throw him for a loop.

"I have friends!" he cried defiantly. She may be old and wise at the ripe age of eighteen, but that didn't means she was always right. "I am just careful of whom I allow within that circle."

"And by that, you mean your circle is only big enough for three people?" She smirked, knowing she had won the battle.

"I have more than three friends," he insisted as he pulled her seat out for her. "I have Charles and Richard and- and you." He trailed off.

Her eyebrow arched. "So, one of your three friends is your sister, and the other is your cousin. You have one friend who isn't required to be so. You need to wipe that scowl off your face and work on being nice to people! Right now you may be considered 'The World's Most Eligible Bachelor,' but if the rags get any more pictures of your perpetual scowl, they might rename you 'The World's Most Curmudgeonly 28 Year Old.' I mean, really. You're wonderful! Why don't you let more people experience your greatness?"

"First of all, you're biased. Second of all, you know what makes me curmudgeonly? My little sister telling me what to do!" He nudged her good-naturedly, and she nudged back.

"Your Highness," a young woman interrupted with a poor attempt at a curtsey. "What a pleasure."

"Lady Hannah," he grunted. "The pleasure is mine."

"I was just telling my friends how talented of a dancer you are." Her simpering in an aim to get a dance with a prince was going to be all for not.

"Thank you. I am so sorry, but will you excuse us? I have an important matter to discuss with my sister."

Disgruntled, the already inebriated woman stalked off, undoubtedly to gossip about the rude prince.

"It's going to be a long night," he groaned, lifting a glass of wine to his lips and taking a large gulp. "Everyone is so conniving and selfish."

Georgiana couldn't help but nod in agreement. "At least there will be dancing. You will dance with me, right? You used to love dancing!"

"That was before I had to dance with every woman wanting to be queen someday. I'll dance with you, but I can't make any promises that I will dance with anyone else."

"You're going to die alone," she muttered.

"Better than having to dance with that bimbo."

She couldn't help but laugh. "You're not wrong."

Hours later, sometime after midnight, William returned to his apartments in Kopeland Palace and immediately yanked off his jacket and bowtie, tossing them somewhere in the kitchen as he walked through. The maids would pick them up later. As he moved through the apartment and into his bedroom, he kicked off his shoes and flopped onto his bed. He stared at the ceiling, wondering at what his life had become.

He was never supposed to be the Crown Prince. He had always known that there was a possibility he would someday rule Perelandra, but it was never a real threat. Unfortunately, his family had experienced a series of tragedies that resulted in him being cast into a role he wanted no part of.

His aunt, Queen Catherine, had a son named Leopold who was two years older than William. He was the first in line to inherit the throne, and William was third in line after his father, and that was assuming Leopold didn't have children of his own. William constantly prayed that his cousin would marry and have lots of children who would bump him further and further down the line. Unfortunately, it was not to be. When Leopold was twenty-two years old, he died suddenly of a drug overdose, which resulted in William moving directly into the line of succession. William was only twenty years old when his life took a drastically different course. He was no longer allowed to study architecture and travel the world during his years at university and chase the dream of creating iconic buildings. Instead, he was forced to switch his major to International Studies and attend meetings and parties without end. He managed the pressure, though, because he had thought his reign would not be for years down the line. His father would become King first, and he would be able to live the life of the second-in-line Prince for a long time. That was not to be, however, because his father died in a plane crash when William was twenty-five.

Not only did William grieve his father, but he was tasked with taking care of his younger sister, who was only fifteen at the time. Queen Catherine had also insisted on him taking on more engagements and joining the military. Georgiana had made the observations many times that the first two years after their father's death had drastically changed him. He had always been more reserved, but he became stoic and taciturn. Where he had once been willing to relax and spend some time with friends, he now spent all his available time working or in solitude.

If he were being honest with himself, he did appreciate the job. There was so much to running a country, and he was learning a lot under the tutelage of his aunt. He loved learning about his country and the inner workings of politics. He loved affecting change. What he did not love, however, was the show of it all. The pomp and circumstance of the monarchy was exhausting for him, and unfortunately, that was the main chunk of the job.

His life was a raging river of meaningless events. He felt like he was constantly being swept away from the life he wanted by the photographers and fans. The state dinners and balls were the rapids of his life, causing him to use every amount of energy to simply keep himself afloat. He wasn't meant for this life, yet it was the life he was resigned to.

What he needed was a vacation. He needed to get away from the insanity of his life- away from the immoral family members, the incessant photographers, and the never-ending meetings. He needed a break from being Crown Prince William, the future King of Perelandra. He needed to have a chance to be William Darcy, a wannabe architect and businessman.

His phone rang, plucking him from his pity party. Groaning, he rolled over to get his phone from the nightstand.

"Hello?" he mumbled.

"Will! It's been awhile. How are you, mate?"

William sat up in his bed. He hadn't heard from Charles Bingley in at least six months. He hadn't seen Charles Bingley in a year and a half.

"Charles! Man, it's good to hear from you. Although, do you have any idea what time it is?"

The other man laughed. "I never know what time it is. Sorry if I woke you."

"You didn't. I just got home, actually. How's Africa treating you?"
Dr. Charles Bingley had been William's best friend at university and the son of Sir Elliot Bingley. They met in one of their first year classes and remained friends ever since. Dr. Bingley had spent the last three years working with Doctors without Borders in Sudan. The friends had stayed in contact over the years, but their communication was sporadic at best.

"I'm actually coming home for a bit. That's why I called. I am starting a three month furlough next week, and I've had trouble deciding how I want to spend it."

"I'd have thought you would spend it with your family." It was more of a question than a statement. If it were William's family, he would avoid them at all cost. Bingley was a much friendlier fellow, however. He had two sisters who had done their best to control the man's life since he was born. His older sister, Louisa Hurst, was an accountant. She was married to Timothy Hurst, who was, in William's opinion, nothing more than a rude drunk. He had never seen the man sober. Charles's younger sister, Caroline, was an aspiring fashion designer/party planner and quite the character. She would make a pass at William whenever she saw him, without fail. IT took everything in William to be kind to her.

Charles sighed. "I am. I just feel like I need to get away. So I have a proposition for you. Come stay with me in Hertfordshire for a month. Maybe more. It will be just the two of us for the first week, and then the girls will join us."

"Hertfordshire?" questioned William. "Why Hertfordshire? We could go anywhere, and you want to go to the middle of nowhere?"

"Well, Meryton, to be more specific. It sounded relaxing, although it is a ways away from Kopeland. I rented a house there. I figured it would be a good opportunity to get away from the chaos of life. Apparently, there is plenty of game to hunt, there is fishing, and they say downtown Meryton has a hopping nightlife."

William snorted. "Meryton has a nightlife? Sure, if you mean nocturnal animals."

"Seriously, Will. Come with me. I'm sure you need a break just as much as I do. The house I rented is an old estate, and it has an extensive library. It actually reminds me of Pemberley on a smaller scale. You could get lost in there. Please."

He considered it for a moment. "Well, I was just thinking about how I need a vacation," he trailed off. "Alright, fine. I'll have to confirm the timing with my assistant. A month is a long time for me to be away from the circus."

"Great!" Bingley never heard the caveats. He only heard what he wanted to hear. "I will see you in Hertfordshire in a week!"

William hung up the phone and rolled back over onto his pillows. He was finally getting a vacation. One where no one would expect anything of him.

A week later, William found himself on the two hour drive to the small town of Meryton. It had been a battle to get the month off, but he finally managed it. Aunt Catherine had balked at first, but he gently and firmly explained to her that it was the perfect time for a break. After an hour and a half of pleading, she finally relented. Really and truly, the woman didn't have any legitimate reasons against his vacation. She just wanted to exercise her control. Queen Catherine may have been a head of the Perelandran government, but she still did her best to create situations in which to exert more of her power. And it drove William nuts.

William followed his GPS all the way to an old estate. Charles was right; it was like a smaller version of Pemberley, the estate his mother had inherited that was now a part of his own holdings. Netherfield was a large, gray stone house that had at one time been the home of a great family. The main house was on a large piece of land that had been farmed by tenants long ago. Now, it was lovely and wild, full of trees and ponds and tall grasses. Perfect for hunting.

He pulled his Land Rover into the long driveway and grinned when he saw his friend waiting on the steps. Charles' bright red hair flapped in the wind and matched his bright smile. William couldn't help but laugh as he jumped from the car and pulled his best friend into a hug.

"It's been too long, man!" exclaimed Bingley. "I'm glad you were able to make it!"

"I had to fight the old bat for it, but it was worth it. She actually claimed that the monarchy would fall if I were gone for a month. I don't really know what that says about her diplomacy skills…"

Bingley was the only person who heard such ungracious words come from William's mouth. He laughed, and the deep sound scared some birds out of a nearby tree.

"Come in, come in! I should warn you, though. Caroline insisted on coming early, and she wouldn't take no for an answer."

William resisted the urge to groan. He should've known. The second Caroline would have heard he was coming, she would have invited herself. And Charles wouldn't have had the heart to tell her no.

Charles grabbed William's duffle bag and hurled it over his shoulder.

"I'm surprised, old man, that this is all you brought. I would've expected the Prince to bring his entire wardrobe. Caroline is going to be disappointed that you didn't bring your entourage."

"I decided my entourage wouldn't be necessary for a month of reading, hunting, and fishing. It's not like there are going to be hoards of people to fight off," William said as he followed Charles into the foyer. He didn't mention that there was another bag full of formal clothing his aunt insisted he bring.

Charles stopped and glanced at William. "Yeah, about that."

William glared at him. "Don't tell me."

Charles winced. "I met this man when I arrived yesterday, William Lucas. He is having a party in two days. Practically the entire town is invited."

"Seriously. You do realize that requires a whole other level of preparation for me. The only way I could convince Samuel to take the month off was because I told him that we wouldn't be in public. And even then, I'm pretty sure he's going to show up in about three hours because the man can't take a break."

Charles handed the duffle to the nearest butler and led William into the study where he poured him a glass of port.

"You can't spend three hours with Meryton society, probably the most docile and friendly people known to man, without calling your security team? You've changed."

William bristled at that word. It infuriated him when people pointed out that he had become a different man because of his title. "Excuse me?"

"The Will I know would have said 'screw it' and gone with me anyway. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Uh, someone assassinates me."

Charles actually laughed, and William couldn't help his own smile.

"Yeah, mate, I guess that could happen. I didn't even think about that. Still, you're going. Call whoever you need to call, but in two days you're coming."

Before William had the chance to complain, Caroline waltzed into the room. Her orange hair was curled around her face, and her make up was done to perfection. She was wearing designer workout clothes, but the only working out she appeared to have done was strutting from her bedroom to where the Prince now stood.

"Prince William! Oh, darling, it is so good to see you again!" she exclaimed affectedly. She pulled him into a hug that he hesitantly returned.

Again, William stifled a groan.

"Hi, Caroline. How are you?"

She kissed his cheeks and stood back to look at him. "You look good, Your Highness. No wonder you're the World's Most Eligible Bachelor!"

Charles laughed. "Is that what they're calling you now? Man, I leave the country for a few months, and the world is turned upside down. Next thing we know, they'll have Queen Catherine strutting down the catwalk."

"Is your sister here?" William was eager to get the conversation away from himself.

Caroline waved her hand. "Louisa had to work. That woman is a workaholic. She needs to take more breaks. She's supposed to join us next week, but knowing her she won't bother to show up."

Charles took a swig of his drink. "She has a job that she enjoys, and she makes money doing it. I don't understand why it's confusing to you that she can't take a break every other day. When are you going to get a job?" He loved his family and was easily persuaded on many things, but when it came to Caroline he did not have much patience.

His sister crossed her arms. "I do have a job. I am a party planner. And I'm a student. That's more than some people can say."

William rolled his eyes, but left the talking to his friend.

"First of all, you're not a student. You read fashion magazines and give poor girls unwanted opinions on their outfits. Second of all, party planning for some friend every few months does not a job make. You need a job that will allow you to go somewhere all day every day and work towards something. I won't support you forever, you know."

Caroline huffed and stomped out of the room.

Charles sighed. "I keep threatening to cut her off, but I just don't have the heart to do it."

William, used to being involved in his friend's affairs, did not hesitate to give his opinion. "Charles, she is twenty two years old. She needs to be doing something with herself other than spending your money and partying. The magazines have been calling her a playgirl. You need to reign it in, or you need to let her go. Otherwise, she'll make your entire family a laughing stock."

Charles drained the rest of his drink. "I just don't know if I can do it."

William shrugged. "Well, it's your deal. In the meantime, let's go fishing."

His best friend grinned and stood. "I've got the bait and poles ready. We've got enough to last us the entire month."

The Prince couldn't help the smile that graced his face. This trip wasn't going to be so bad.

Please let me know what you think!