Bound
Announcement
Everything was still. You could have heard a pin drop, even though the throne room was filled with a crowd of people. All eyes were a blue-haired young man who was kneeling in front of two thrones, anxiously anticipating his reaction. The nervous silence stretched on until—
"Wha…what?" blurted Crown Prince Hector of Ostia Kingdom incredulously, his mouth hanging open in a quite undignified way. He couldn't have heard his parents right; it had to be a lie! The king and queen wouldn't do this to him, especially in Ostia, the land of supposed freedom.
"A visit, my prince. A visit from Lady Fiora," repeated his mother, the queen, patiently looking down at her thunderstruck son. "You have heard of her. She is the second princess of Ilia. Her noble parents wish for you to—"
"To decide on the matters of our engagement, I know! But you made it sound like it's already been settled!" raged Hector, childishly. He was used to getting what he wanted, and an engagement is definitely what he had in mind. He had heard such horrible stories concerning marriage, like how you were forced to only be with your wife at all times (which consequentially leads to never seeing your friends again), how people expected you to be only centered around work and responsibility, etcetera, etcetera. Don't even get him started on the subject of screaming little children.
"Well…" his mother said, looking guilty. He knew it. He had assumed as much, but her tone confirmed his suspicions. They had said yes, didn't they? The beautiful lady Fiora, ever so graceful and so noble…you couldn't even being to compare her with the Crown Princess! She was surely to inherit the royal crown instead of her crazy sister, Princess Farina. So they probably thought, why go for Princess Farina, who was certainly going to lose her throne, when the royal rulers of Ilia offered their second daughter's hand in marriage? That would secure Ostia's own throne as well! Let's accept the proposal without asking Hector's opinion!
"Cancel it! I am not getting married, I'm only nineteen! I refuse—"
"Please, Prince Hector," pleaded his mother, glancing around at the nobles anxiously. His father stayed deathly silent, which was never a good sign. "Keep your voice down, there's no need to shout."
No need to shout? His freedom was at stake here, for Elimine's sake! "I—am—not—"
"Hector," said his father, his voice low yet deadly. Hector fell silent immediately, sensing the impending danger. He was still frowning, however, as the king continued to speak. "Do not be a child. Accept the proposal for your kingdom's and your sake." At his words, Hector's short temper immediately flared up again. Always the kingdom first, and him second—what kind of parents were they!
Sensing the approaching outburst with her motherly instinct, the queen put a hand on her husband's arm then turned to her son. "We can discuss it later," she said softly, more to restrain her enraged husband than the angry Hector. She was worried what the king would do, more than her prince's sulkiness, if he continued to disobey his father so openly and rudely. "You have until the end of her visit to decide. We're not asking you to make a decision right now; just be prepared for her stay." Hector clenched his fists, nodding his head grudgingly, though he had no intention of ever doing what the wanted him to do. He had always gotten what he wanted, and this time wasn't going to be an exception.
Author's Note: A spoiled and immature Hector. Can you imagine? I realize that he's OOC, but due to the story's plot, that couldn't be avoided. Have no fear, however! He's going to grow more mature as the story progresses…
Reviews and constructive criticisms are always appreciated!