I was late, which was a great talent of mine but could you blame me. It had been snowing for the last week and the little pond tucked away in the woods had finally frozen over. I don't know if it made me strange but winter was my favorite season. The cold crisp air, the long nights, the snow flurries falling peacefully from the sky. I figured no one would truly miss me at the welcoming dinner, this was Torrin's moment, all I would do would be in the way. So I snuck out which was surprisingly easier now with the thirty-five new additions to the palace. Nothing was better than skating under the stars. There was something so freeing about gliding across the ice, feeling weightless.
"There you are, your highness." a breathless guard says appearing from the trees
"Jeremy come and join me," I say skating over to him
"You're late, your father expected you at the welcoming dinner. If we leave now you can make it for dessert," he says
"You're no fun," I say getting off the pond "let me change into my shoes."
I quickly change out of my skates and pull my snow boots on. Jeremy is quick to move us once I'm ready.
"You know dinner was quail tonight, I can't stand the taste of quail," I tell Jeremy as we make our way through the woods back to the palace. "But it's Tori and dad's favorite so what can you do?"
Jeremy just ignores my ramblings as I speculate what dessert would be. When we get back to the palace a maid is waiting with a change of clothes for me. Never really being the modest type I quickly change into the suit and tie right then and there. Once I was properly dressed Jeremy guides me to the banquet room where my family and the selected were dining. Before Jeremy opens the door I straighten myself getting ready to be who my father expects me to be. When I'm ready Jeremy opens the door.
"His highness, Prince Alixander," Jeremy says announcing my entry
The banquet room is all decked out and a few cameras are sprinkled across the room for Friday's Report. I'm quick to note that Torrin had already dismissed three girls this afternoon as three chairs are left empty. My brother's selected were mostly Two from extremely influential families with a few Threes and Fours sprinkles in so it didn't completely look like they had all been handpicked by father. If I were to wager a guess, Torrin had already dismissed the only two Fours that were selected and one of the Threes. Like my father, Torrin cares deeply about how he appears to the people. He was only going to marry the best Illéa had to offer.
When I reach my seat I do a deep bow to father.
"My apologies, I was on the phone with Princess Catalina," I lie. Princess Catalina was the rich princess of the German Federation that my father expected me to marry. But she was more suited to marry someone like my brother than me. We were never going to get along.
"Take your seat," My father says gruffly seeing through my lie, but not wanting to cause a scene with all the selected around.
Slices of chocolate cake were quickly delivered to everyone at the table. I poke it with my fork before look over to my brother.
"So are there any stands-outs Tori?" I ask knowing the question will annoy him and peak the selected interest.
"Of course not brother, I've only known these wonderful ladies for a couple of hours." He lies
If I knew my brother like I do the answer was simple, he would marry who he thought was the prettiest and came from a good family with a known name. And he already knew whichever one that was. Things like love and compatibility were of no consequence to Torrin.
"Leave your brother alone," Mother says eating her cake
"Surely…" I start but I'm stopped when I see my brother
Blood runs down from his nose and a second later he starts to cough with more blood coming out. I quickly look around it's everyone at the table. The room quickly devolves into screams and gasps for air. I look to both my mother and father who are both cough up blood and gasping for air.
"Get the Prince out of here," I hear someone scream as I try to rush over to my brother's side but before I can get over to him, I'm ripped off the ground by a guard and pulled from the room. The screams of horror echo on the palace walls as I'm taken away before they stop altogether.
Short I know but more to come soon. I don't think syoc are really that big anymore but I'm hopeful to at least get three or five interesting girls for this story. If you want to submit a girl the information is on my profile and must be submitted through PM so ff rules aren't broken.