"Prince," a servant murmured, giving the heir's shoulder a small rock. The prince mumbled something nonsensical, before curling up again, stretching and sitting up. He rubbed his eyes blearily, looking around before gathering his senses and remembering where he was. In his carriage, which bobbed up and down the sandy path. He peered out past the velvet curtains covering the horse-drawn cart, peering out at the unfamiliar landscape. An expanse of sandy deserts stretched beyond, but if he turned his head, he could see the large stone structures of a kingdom not too far off. A kingdom he'd never been required to visit. "You must change into your formal wear, my prince, we will be within Alternia within the hour. He nodded, straightening, and slipping on a vest, and then a dress coat, buttoning them up hastily and cramming a cravat into it, checking out the curtain every now and again. He smiled at his servant, a young maid who he had known most of his life. She smiled back, pushing her thick black hair behind her shoulders.
"Remember, there are going to be all sorts of ladies to impress, John!" She laughed, adjusting his coat, and nitpicking with his hair, which he had mussed up sleeping in the carriage overnight. "You must look your absolute best." He sighed.
"It isn't as though I'm that interested in having all sorts of ladies falling over themselves. And they definitely won't do so because my coat isn't wrinkled, Jade." She shook her head, sitting back.
"Still. Your father expects you to-,"
"I know. I know. It is always 'father expects me to.' And I am not exactly so keen on my own marriage being turned into a peace treaty!" He huffed, crossing his arms and reclining in his seat in the carriage. He glanced outside again. He'd never been to such a kingdom in his life, and Alternia already seemed exotic compared to his homeland, Skaia. His House Egbert was the ruling dynasty, which left him as the only heir to the throne.
He didn't keep up much with the politics of Alternia, but they had been a long time rival of Skaia, until the old queen had been overthrown and House Vantas had taken the throne. The two kingdoms sought a peace treaty, and marrying two of their royalty together would be the perfect opportunity to lower hostilities.
"Besides," he muttered, resting his head on his hand. "Shouldn't we be focusing more on the fact that it is their prince's coming of age day? Wouldn't it be rude to be more interested in his ladies than his festivities."
"Oh, come now, John, it's really all parties ever seem to be for. Meeting ladies and meeting gentlemen." He sighed.
"Of course," he snapped, right when the carriage pulled to an abrupt halt, making him grip onto his seat. Jade smiled, jumping out of the carriage nimbly and holding out a hand for him. He took it, stepping down, and looking around. They stood before a large wall, constructed of some sort of rough, grey stone. Towering above the wall was a large palace, made of similar stones, but many others, cobbling together to make some sort of random pattern. Alternian flags and sashes hung from it, along with the emblem of House Vantas, a crest bearing a large sort of sea monster.
With a sigh, he adjusted his coat. Skaian guards walked in front of him, bowing to the Alternian guards, before continuing on, John and Jade scurrying after them. "If anything," she murmured, with a small smile, "Consider this a break from your father." They laughed lightly, before continuing on.
The Alternian prince sat within the ballroom already. It was beginning to fill with people, who made glances over at him, but did not dare approach him until he was clearly ready to be approached. He sighed, adjusting and readjusting the stiff coat he'd been forced into hours ago. He was expected to welcome them, but it hardly made sense yet, considering how few people had come. He wasn't used to huge parties being throne like this in his honor. One one hand, it was only his fourth year as a prince, and secondly, his coming of age day was meant to rival all other celebrations he'd been throne yet.
His servant stood beside him, rattling off names of people who entered, and titles, all which he made a point of promptly forgetting. After a while, a band begun to play. He sighed, fidgeting in his spot and adjusting his coat over his shoulders.
Karkat had been born a peasant- and had remained that way the first twelve years of his life. It was his father's popularity as a revolutionary leader that got him a spot in the royal court. Four years later, he was still debating whether or not he wanted it.
Especially considering, today being his sixteenth birthday, the whole palace seemed eager to marry him off. He sighed, sitting back and refusing to make an asshole of himself yet, trying to speak publicly. Around the palace, he was allowed to speak in his normal dialect, using his normal language, but at these sort of gatherings he was expected to act like a prince.
It couldn't really matter that much. Everyone here was below him, they weren't about to make a scene if he made a mistake. The doors opened again, and his servant leaned over to speak to him.
"Johnathon Egbert, heir to the Skaian throne." Karkat looked across the room and the hoard of people escorting the young man. He swallowed. So much for everyone being below him.