"M-master? You called?" the tentative voice of the royal candle-lighter-now-turned-candelabra, Lukas, called.
I barely nodded; I barely looked up. Who else would call? No one. I am the master of this castle. I am the prince. I… I'm hideous, yet my servants still respect me.
"If you won't be needing anything, sire, I shall leave you now." And he began backing out the door.
"DON'T NEED ANYTHING? WHY ELSE WOULD I HAVE CALLED YOU HERE, YOU FOOL. I WOULDN'T HAVE IF I DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING!" I roared. "Now come here, Lukas." He bounced over to me. "Do you think it's hopeless? It's been four years and no human has even set foot in the castle let alone a girl. It's… hopeless."
"No, sire… it isn't hopeless…. Not yet. There is still a year until it is truly hopeless. Someone is bound to come in that time…. Is there anything else, master?"
"No…. Go now if you wish." He left. I turned to the window. It was hopeless.
It was hopeless.