Chapter Three: The Crown Prince
Author's Note: Many thanks to everyone who reviewed! It's great to see how many people are hitting the page and checking out my story! Anyway continuing on, I hope this will make the history more clear.
"You are the Crown Prince of Varcia! And I will not have you parading around all your summers in some peasant village!" King Alexander stormed at his eldest son. When he would pass away, his eldest son would take the throne. Many times he had wished that his younger son had been born first, but he could not change Varcian law.
"I can do whatever I wish with my life, why don't you go and torture Luis instead," Syaoran replied bringing his father's favourite subject into the argument.
"He should have been born first, but lord forbids you were. Listen to me son, you have a responsibility to your country, you can't run away from this forever."
"And I don't want the country, or the crown. Give it to Luis, seeing as he wants it so bad." Syaoran retorted, making his way towards the court grounds where soldiers were training.
"Sir" Syaoran turned to find the captain of the Varcian Royal Guards address him.
"Listen here boy, you are twenty one, and sooner or later you are going to have to accept it's yours." King Alexander interrupted the Captain as he turned towards him "Empty the grounds." He ordered the Guard, who saluted him and left with the rest of the guards.
"You should stop ordering them around," Syaoran replied coldly towards his father.
"I will not have them watching me scold you, it's improper," King Alexander replied, anger seeping through his veins. "What am I going to do with you boy, you will not look at any lady we have shown you, beautiful and charming they have all been. If you do not your mother and I will choose and you will have no say in the matter," he threatened.
"I'm not interested." Syaoran replied staring off into the distance, avoiding his father's eyes.
"Don't tell me your not interested boy, you fight better than the rest of the Royal Guards and yet you will not join the army. A lesser man might call you a coward, but I will not make that mistake." His father countered. His oldest son, Prince Xiao Lang had always been a playboy. He would never take anything seriously. Girls he had dismissed, King Alexander had always found himself covering his son's tracks in case any talk would escape the castle walls.
"Your mother expects more from you, she's had enough of comforting poor girl's hearts." He continued hoping to strike a chord, continuing when he found his son had no reply. "I'm holding a royal ball this week celebrating the Second Division's recent victory over the Lyon's fort. Ladies from all over the country will be there. Do not treat them like you always have, you are treading on very thin ice." He ordered.
The war between Varcia and Lyon had lasted for centuries, each side bitter towards the other. Thousands of men had already been lost on both sides, and an end to the conflict was still nowhere in sight. King Alexander himself had visited battle grounds where he had seen his men slain mercilessly. They were like beasts, who would never give up no matter what. Hundreds of times Varcian Kings had driven them back, and hundreds of times they had fought back.
"They deserved it," Syaoran replied in reference to all the infatuated giggling girls he had encountered.
"I will have you say no such thing," his father reprimanded him, smiling as a servant came bumbling past, bowing apologetically. "You may rise," he permitted.
"Your majesties, King Alexander and Crown Prince Xiao Lang, May I present my mistress Lady Sara," bowing off, as a young woman came before him, curtsying gracefully.
"My dear, please stand up, there is no need for you to bow here," King Alexander observed the girl in front of him. Lady Sara of Withershire famed across Varcia for her beauty and sweet disposition. One of the newest members of the royal court since she was of age, she had been spending quite a lingering time around the court.
"Your majesty, you are too kind." She answered, throwing a meaningful glance in Prince Xiao Lang's direction.
Syaoran turned away abruptly sickened at how obvious and indiscreet her actions were. Lady Sara was the youngest child born into a wealthy family who had spoilt her since she was a baby. Ever since she had been introduced into the court, she had developed a strong establishment for herself and her family name. Syaoran's mother, the Queen saw the girl's determination and had openly decided her to be a fine acquaintance which she had pushed her son to acknowledge.
"I pray you are well child?" King Alexander inquired after her health, glancing towards his son he frowned. Couldn't the boy even try to show a little respect for the lady in front of him? Lady Sara was by far the most beautiful and well endowed young woman in the country; she would make a most suitable match for Prince Xiao Lang. He would not let his son get away from his responsibilities; this was the last time he was going to be put through all the humiliation.
"Yes indeed," Lady Sara replied, pulling the rest of the trail of her gown towards her. Her mother had insisted that she always looked her best when in court, subjecting her to hours of torture to fit her gowns perfectly making sure they all accentuated her form.
"That is good news dear, Xiao Lang is it not?" King Alexander commented, bringing his son which he assumed was her primary object of affection into the conversation.
"Your highness," Sara interrupted him, bowing her head slightly.
"Oh my dear, there is no need for formalities, is there Xiao Lang?" he insisted.
"Of course not," Syaoran answered, glaring at his father and his devious schemes.
King Alexander smiled courteously back at his son, whether he liked it or not Syaoran was going to have to be polite to Lady Sara. He had spent too long of his life in a blissful ignorance of his obligations. Syaoran's mother and he had already decided Lady Sara as a suitable match for their eldest son, and she herself seemed more than willing to accept.
"I'm sorry to leave our talk, but I must get on with the day's work. Sara are you in a hurry child?" he continued, making up excuses to leave them together.
"Oh no I'm not in any rush this morning," Sara replied. In fact she had an appointment with her dressmaker for fittings later this morning but it was nothing she could not reschedule. Her mother had always insisted she never said no to any request the King would make.
"In that case I will leave my son Xiao Lang to accompany you for the rest of your walk. I hope I will see you at the celebration ball Lady Sara." Alexander set, as he made his way towards his chambers, leaving his son in a foul mood and an elevated Lady Sara.
Author's Note: Well that was Syaoran's perspective, and I hope it cleared some of the history, as it gets pretty important later on. Please review. It's not much to you, but would mean the world to me.