The 'Wild Prince' strikes again
"It's no secret that our beloved Prince Alixander is notorious for loving a good party. But after last night, the Wild Prince has taken a whole new meaning. Prince Alixander is pictured (down below) dancing wildly inappropriate with multiple girls, drinking excessively and even stripping at one point. While this may seem fun and good natured to some, is this really how we want our future king to act? Some foreign nations are allegedly skeptical about making or even carrying on alliances with Illéa after yet another Prince Alixander scandal. A remarkable 75% of the illéan people have considered Prince Alixander and his actions an embarrassment not only to the monarchy but to the nation. Read page 10 for the full article on the debate of Prince Alixander"
King Barrett, my father, roared with anger while reading the article written by Illéa's finest magazine. His finger shaked with anger while he pointed it directly at me "you have beyond messed up, son" he sneered at the very word of 'son'. I tried to avert eye contact but he quickly grabbed my face and forced me to stare into his unrelenting icy eyes. "I'm ashamed to even call you that. This is a complete embarrassment, Alixander"
Queen Calista sat in the corner with her glare fixed on me. Her lips remained puckered, something she did when she was absolutely furious. She stood abruptly, even surprising Father for a split second before regaining his terrifying demeanor. She stormed over to me, with her dark green dress flying behind her making her look like dark streak ripping through the room. She stopped right in front of my chair and got in my face "you listen to me right now. I have never been so mortified in my life. Ever! Who do you think you are? You are not king, and you certainly do not hold any pier over me, I thought I made myself very clear the last time you embarrassed this family. I don't even want to look at you! You disgust me!" She was screaming now and her lips were curled in disgust. Even after all these years, it still hurt to be told this.
Father shoved her aside causing a cold glare from her. "You're going to fix this. Considering you have no idea how to control yourself or even come up with a half intelligent idea, I will be coming up with the idea and you are to follow through with it without so much as a groan. Do you understand me?"
"Yes" I muttered weakly, staring into my hands that rested on my gray suit.
Father roared with anger and took his glass bottle containing whiskey, and threw it against the wall. Making it shatter into thousands of pieces and the air instantly reeking. "Yes sir! You say sir! And you look into my eyes"
"Yes sir" I all but whimpered looking up at him. Cursing myself for not being stronger. When it came to my parents all my strength seemed to disappear leaving me the weak little boy. I'm known for my cockiness and my 'wild prince' reputation, but not a single soul besides my siblings know that all of that is gone with my parents.
"Leave" Mother snaps "I don't even want to look at you anymore."
"Wait" Father commands almost immediately after. He grabs my shoulder and whispers quietly enough that only I can hear "we will talk more about this later."
All the color in my face disappears. I know what this means. Was I really stupid enough to hope that I would go unscathed my his cruel hands after all of this? Honestly I don't remember the night that well, the alcohol made it fuzzy. All I know is that girls were all over me, I drank a lot, lost in strip poker (to many girls delight) and took one of them to the bedroom. Even all of that is fuzzy, but I do know that I woke up to the whole country knowing what happened and my parents screams echoed down the hall until I went into father's office with them to be yelled at in private.
I nod my head at him and walk out of the room, relifed that I was out of there but dreading my other 'talk' with father and also dreading his solution. The report was tonight and I could only hope that they would tell me before the report.
Turning into the hallway next to the women's room I saw my other two siblings talking in a hushed whisper. I am the oldest of the three triplets, 9 minutes older than Giselle, and 20 minutes older than Kade. Making me the future King, not that I deserve it.
"Alix" Giselle says when she sees me and runs over to me wrapping her arms around me. Her wavy chestnut hair, flys in my face but I don't care as I hug her tighter. Her smell of gardenias and vanilla fills my nostrils, I would recognize the smell of Giselle's perfume anywhere. "Alix, are you okay? What happened?"
Kade puts his hand on my shoulder with his eyebrows creased in concern. He told me I shouldn't go last night, but he's much to humble and kind than to tell me "I told you so."
"Just the usual screaming." I shrug like it's not big deal, they nod as they know exactly what happened.
"Did father ask you for… another… um, another" Kade stutters, clearly scared to ask out of his own memories of 'talks' with our dear father.
"Yes, he did" Giselle gasps. She's never experienced a talk herself but the three of us are extremely close and tell each other everything, so she knows exactly how bad it is. She knows that when father has had a hard day or when we do something wrong he will tell us after dinner to come to his office for a talk, that we will most certainly return covered in bruises, cuts and welts. Giselle has the medical supplies hidden in her room at all times just in case. The worst she has gotten from father is a slap across the face but she had to learn how to do everything right at a young age because most of the times Kade or myself would be forced to take her place, selfless to her core she tried her hardest to do everything right so we wouldn't have to pay for her mistakes. On top of her feeling guilty knowing that we were paying for something she did, she would have a talk with our mother which always ended up her coming into one of our rooms sobbing. I can't help but think that Giselle has it the worst.
"He also said that he had a solution and that I was to follow this said solution."
Kade looked confused "what could that possibly be?"
"I have no idea but I'm sure I'll probably be miserable" I sighed and Giselle hugged tighter. "Don't worry about me Giselle, I'm okay. Besides your dress today looks amazing, how long did it take you to do that?" Giselle's biggest secret was that she adored fashion, while I was in the magazines for partying she was in there as the fashion icon of Illea. But what they don't know is that she makes them all herself. She has to hide it because our parents would be furious if they found out she was doing the work of a six, so it's a secret that only Kade, myself and a couple of maids knew about.
She blushed and grabbed her beautiful marina blue dress that matched her eyes exactly. "Thank you, this one took only a couple of days!"
"It looks great G, really" Kade added with a smile making her smile. Those two looked more like siblings than I do, they have the same chestnut brown hair except for Kade's is messier like mine, but mine is a dirty blonde. Kade had fathers icy blue eyes except his were kinder, whereas Giselle's looked like melted ice and mine matched our late grandmothers startling green eyes. We didn't look like triplets but we are, and have been for eighteen years now.
A slam a couple of hallways down made all of us jump as we heard our mothers screaming voice from here. Taking out her anger on what we assume to be a servant because if it was father he would be screaming right back. Giselle cursed under her breath and looked around for somewhere for us to hide and Kade is the one who actually made us move.
We hurried down a couple of hallways before finding our triplet room. Technically it's a guest bedroom but it's the biggest one and ever since we were kids we would come in here as our spot. We've spent more time in this room than anywhere else. Kade closed the door behind us before flopping on the bed. Giselle went over to the corner where she hid some thread and fabric, and started hand sewing them together. She couldn't use the machine in here out of fear of someone hearing and seeing and possibly telling our parents. We're not sure if they even know about our spot, probably not because they don't seem to care enough about us to see where we go but also possibly because all of the servants know we spend most of our time in here.
Kade got to work on one of his drawings, he was the best artist you've ever seen and could do portraits like no one else. Yet another thing we've had to hide from our parents. I started to watch the Angeles basketball game they had going on today, personally I quite enjoyed sports but father scuffs everytime I go outside and play one of them saying it's a stupid hobby for a future king. And since I can't exactly try to sneak that inside I'm stuck watching it on TV and going to the gym to work out.
The three of us stay like until Giselle's maid, Alessandra, came in and told us we had to start to get ready for the report.
"Giselle" I ask as she started putting away her materials "how bad do you think the report will be tonight?"
"Honestly, I have no idea. I think we have to address it because the whole nation knows and we can't exactly pretend like it didn't happen. I have no clue how they will actually address it though" she sighs and runs her hands through her hair.
"I guess we'll just have to see what happens" Kade says while getting up. "Alix, if you need me to step in tonight-"
"Kade don't even finish that" I cut him off. "I messed up and I'm going to be the one to take this responsibility. I appreciate it, more than you know, but Kade I'm not going to let you do that." I've always been slightly jealous of how easy Kade finds it to be selfless. I try to be selfless like him but I'll admit it, I'm not always as selfless as I want to be. Like I proved last night, sometimes I just think of myself.
Us three go our separate ways when we walk into our rooms. Kade's room is across from mine and Giselle's is on the right. So I'm not really ever too far from them, Thank God.
My butler Sebastian is waiting for me in my room, with a too big grin plastered on his face. "Hello your highness" he greets warmly.
"Sebastian, you've known me since I was a kid, please call me Alix" I tell him for the millionth time. It's true, in ways Sebastian has been more of a father to me than my actual father. He's certainly a lot nicer. He always has a grin on his face and will remind me of the positive always. He even would take me outside and play sports with me until father instructed him not to let me go out and do that.
"Yes, I know" he chuckles "but I figured you might want to hear today that you are still considered royalty."
I frown slightly hoping that Sebastian's opinion of me didn't change after last night. He must have heard my thoughts because he says "I didn't mean that in a malicious way. I just wanted you to know that even though you made a mistake, we still see you as our future king. In fact we were all rooting for you last night, we're happy you were having some fun, until you started playing strip poker" he makes a funny face which makes me laugh.
"I'm sorry" I say while laughing "I wish I knew what I was thinking."
"If it's anything" he says looking me dead in the eye "all the girls in Illea can't stop gushing over how handsome you are and… well… I don't know how to say this but they were very impressed with the royal family jewels" I burst out laughing at his uncomfortableness but also can't help feeling a little bit of pride. I mean, it's no secret that you can destroy a man's pride by saying his groin was small, so the fact that the girls of illea are impressed with my leaked pictures is one positive side.
"The abs too they liked" he added with a smirk "as they should for how much time you spend in the gym." I chuckle and get up.
"I think I should start getting ready." I say and he nods and brings out my suit. I start putting on the blue pants, when I wonder how today has been for the servants. When my parents are upset… the whole castle knows about it. "How was today?" I ask nervously and start on my white button up.
He avoids eye contact white fiddling with my suit jacket. "Two maids left Queen Calista's room in tears and one went to the infirmary for some ice." I shudder thinking of the poor maids who have to endure my mother's wrath. The entire staff is remarkably loyal even though they get treated horribly, my mother is still known as Illea's sweetheart. How ironic. I look in the mirror and see my blonde hair, messy as ever. It refuses to stay in place no matter how much gel gets put in it. My mother absolutely loathes my hair, on the contrary I like the messy look it gives, but she hates it and always says I look like a heathen. I probably look most like my mother, I got her dirty blonde hair and her summer tan look whereas Giselle and Kade are paler. I even inherited little things like her small nose and a sharp jawline, but in the male version.
A soft knock is at my door just as Sebastian is putting on my jacket. He opens the door and Giselle steps into the room in a floor length pretty pink dress with her dark brown hair pulled half up and half down. The dress seems to sway with her and her sheer sleeves adds even more to her princess look. I see what angle she's playing at tonight, she wants to look as innocent as possible. Probably hoping mother won't criticize her tonight. A wish that will likely go ungranted.
"We need to be on time tonight, Alix. We should leave early just in case." I nod knowing she's right.
"Thank you Sebastian, wish me luck." I nod to him as he smiles once more.
"You'll be fine. Miss Giselle, you are looking as beautiful as ever" Giselle blushes and thanks him and bids farewell as she takes my hand and we leave the room. Kade is already waiting for us outside in a gray suit.
"Here we go" mutters as Giselle loops her arm with his, doing the same with me. The three of us walk down, all trying to do as we were trained. Seem calm even when we are not. We all are afraid, but we can't show that. I push the door open and find everyone running around trying to do something.
I find my mother immediately, sitting on her chair onstage while two maids fix up her makeup. She looks irritated as ever and ready to snap. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a complicated updo and wears a regal blue dress. She spots us and stands up and strides over to us.
"Sit" she barks at me right away and gestures to my seat on the report stage. She turns her cold gaze to Giselle, I notice she holds her breath as mother gazed over her. She merely scoffs at her and gives her an unapproving look.
Giselle struggles for words, giving mother a satisfied look. She fixes Kade's tie, roughly I might add, before telling him that grey makes him look ridiculously common. "Alixander, what did I tell you? Sit! Oh for Gods sake!" She notices my messy blonde hair and tries to fix it but it just can't stay put. She huffs out and casts a glare at me as if I'm the one choosing to make my hair do this. "Sit" she demands once more and this time I obey and walk straight over to my chair with my siblings behind me.
"Two minutes!" Someone calms and everyone starts scurrying around trying to get to their spots. Mother and Father stride over and cast a glare at me before sitting down. I stare at the floor because I can't bear to even look at them out of fear.
"Hey" Kade says "don't worry about it Alix. You always figure it out. You'll be okay." He finishes with a reassuring smile. Even though my brother isn't the most talkative, he always knows the right thing to say. I smile back at him and give him a nod. Words just aren't coming out for me right now.
"Sixty seconds!" Another person calls.
"Remember what we said, Alixander" Father's voice booms from his seat "sit there with a smile through everything we say. Every single thing." I struggle to nod my head.
"Ten… Nine… Eight!" Flora Fadaye runs to her spot on stage panting a little. Her fiery red hair still remains in her perfect curls and brightens up the set. I like Flora, not only is she a great host and always helps you out on set, off set she's just a really humble and fun person to be around. Even my parents like her.
"Three! Two! One!" I force a smile on my face and out of the corner of my eye I see my mother put on her dazzling smile she uses only for the camera. She's Illea's sweetheart, the people absolutely adore her. As far as they know she's humble, charming, regal and kind. Mother puts on an excellent act. Next to her father puts on his show smile, he's not as adored as mother but the people do like him, they like him for his food program he has going on for the people of the lower castes.
"Hello citizens of Illea!" Flora greets warmly "we have a lot in store for tonight's report, so let's get right to it! King Barrett, would you like to give updates on the trade agreement with the island of Altran?"
My father talks for a little bit about a new trade agreement with Altran island, a small island located near Italy. He gives updates on other causes in illea but if I'm being honest I'm not paying attention, all I can focus on right now is smiling and looking as prince-like as possible. Any minute now they are going to address last night and I have no idea what angle they are going to play at. What could they possibly say to win back the people's love for me? The thought that the whole nation has been my private parts makes me uncomfortable, but I brought it upon myself.
"Alright now speaking of fun, we heard Prince Alixander had a bit of fun last night" Flora giggles "care to elaborate?"
Father chuckles good naturedly and looks over to me "yes we have heard about that. Although it looked like fun, that was not my son" thankfully father had me trained in the art of not letting my emotions show on my face, because if he hadn't shock would be all over my face. This is how they are going to address it? I should be taking responsibility not hiding. "Last night, Alixander and myself were in my office having some father son bonding time. I believe he tried to teach me a game that, admittedly I was terrible at" he chuckles and looks over to me. If I didn't know better, I would think that was pride in his eyes, but the cameras around me tell me that it's just another lie. "But that was not my son. We found the gentleman who is in the pictures and videos and while he does resemble Alixander greatly, it's not him. For his safety we have decided to keep his name a secret but to prove it was him, here is a picture of the gentleman."
On the screen shows a boy who's probably about my age, maybe a little older. He's got similar dirty blonde hair, but his is neater than my messy hair. His green eyes are paler than mine, but it's not like you could see my eyes very well at the party. His nose is a bit bigger than mine and my jawline is sharper. We have the same full lips and lightly tanned skin. Of course I'm noticing all the small things because I know what I look exactly like but for the people of Illea who don't know the small stuff, he does look very similar. And to the advantage of my father's story, it was dark at the party I was at. I can't believe some poor innocent boy is having his face plastered for all the nation to see over something he didn't do. I know father must have paid him a great deal of money to take the blame but I still feel bad. He's innocent. He shouldn't be taking the blame. I should.
"But on the topic of that, it has brought my attention to the future of Illea, which is my son Alixander. He is going to need a wife alongside him to help him rule and provide him with everlasting happiness and love, like my wife Calista" he gives her a look he saves for the cameras, which is so full of love and adoration it could make anyone believe him. Anyone except for his children and wife who knows the looks he gives her when the cameras are off. "While many other countries have eligible young ladies for Alixander to marry, we want for him a chance to fall in love. With one of Illea's own. Which is why, we will be hosting a Selection."
Everyone in the room gasps. I force myself to smile brighter, hoping to seem excited about the idea. "Applications have been sent out to every eligible young lady in Illea, and will arrive tomorrow morning. We are absolutely thrilled to be hosting such events-"
Mother makes a squeal of excitement "I'm sorry I'm just so excited" she gushes "for an opportunity for my son to fall in love and to have another daughter someday… it's just" she fans her face as she tears up. Fake. "I'm just so excited and we all can't wait."
Again, my fathers gives her the look of 'you're the most precious thing in the world' "I couldn't have said it better."
"Well this is exciting news!" Flora says with enthusiasm "soon thirty five girls will be in this palace! And possibly on this stage, how long did you say until they will be announced, your majesty?"
He chuckles "in two weeks we will be drawing the names live on the report. And in three weeks the girls will be here at the palace."
"Wow! Thirty five more girls! How is it gonna feel not being the only young lady, Princess Giselle?" Flora asks.
Giselle gives a breezy laugh "I think it will be good. I'm thrilled for an opportunity to meet more amazing young women from all over the nation, and to watch my brother meet his future wife. Besides, I'll finally have a sister!" She smiles grandly like the lady she has been trained to be.
"Well that's great to hear! Having all brothers can't be that bad can it?" Giselle shakes her head no with a silly smile. "And I know we're all dying to hear Prince Alixander's response about this! So, Prince Alixander, how are you feeling?"
I can't mess this up. "I'm ready to meet my future wife. I can't wait to see where this journey will take me." I mentally curse myself for not having a better response but the way Flora reacts makes it sound ten times better than it actually was.
"Well Illea, that's all we have time for in this week's report. And ladies remember to get your applications in! Good evening Illea!"
"And we're off!" My parents smiling faces turn off immediately. I turn over to Giselle and Kade who both wear the same expression. What has happened. That threw me for a loop. My parents met in the selection, they used to be in love from what I have heard. But I never heard the fallout. All I know is that they now can barely stand each other but seem to respect each other's thirst for power. And of course united against their three children.
My thoughts are cut off as my father places a hand on my shoulder. "Let's go to my office for that talk, Alixander."
I hope he doesn't notice the way I tremble.
Hi! I'm Starzzy! This is my first fanfic, so I hope you enjoy it! This will be a SYOC, fifteen slots are open! You can reserve a spot but please try to get the form into me asap. The form is on my profile page as well as some more descriptions for the characters because it's hard to get a full read of them after one chapter. I'm really excited to get started on this story!