Ludus

v

V

"The Spoiled Royal"

"THEY'RE ALL WORTHLESS." Prince Perci spat in disgust while narrowing his dark green eyes at the growing throng of women all dressed in exquisite attire.  His light brown skin was freshly cleaned along with the curls above his head.

"Your Majesty, your mother insists that you greet the candidates immediately." One of the maids tied the knot to the prince's navy blue tie, smoothing the creases on his jacket. "It's for the good of the palace."

"Does she really think that I'd stay committed to one girl for the rest of my life? She can't possibly be that dense." Perci cursed at his mother, strutting down the marble stairs of the white palace decorated in gold and murals. "I mean, I can't even stick to one type of crown for the rest of my life, what more a lady?"

"Sir, you are to enter to the dining room," one of the butlers muttered, bowing entirely to the light brown prince who had irritance in his features.

"We all know what they want." Perci scoffed, pulling out a wad of cash from the inner pocket of his suit. He waved the light blue papers in front of his servants and slammed it onto the cherrywood table. "Money."

"Your Majesty, that can't be completely accurate—"

"Why are you here again?" Perci cut off the maid with her hair tied into a strict bun, not a ringlet of blonde falling from it. The spacious room had sunlight dripping from every corner, the velvet curtains were pulled back to convey a welcoming aura for the candidates. The maid pressed her lips together while the prince laughed. "Exactly. You want to benefit from the money of the palace because that's what all you commoners do. Isn't that right?"

"Yes sir," she breathed out, her voice wavering in fear of losing her job. She had a family down in the East Quarter that she had to take care of, and no one really makes a good profit in the East Quarter unless you counted owning a business or being part of Fiare.

"Pitiful but not surprising. Bring in the slags, will you? If Mother won't listen to me, I'd rather milk out the opportunity by messing around with as many filthy blooded civilians as I can." Perci propped his legs onto the table, arms crossed over his abdomen with a silver crown on his head. Snapping, he waved the butler off. "Go on, will you?"

"Yes, your Majesty." The butler, pounds heavier than the prince, scurried out to the front doors of the palace, Perci could already hear the high pitched voices squealing in excitement. He picked up a wine glass from the table, swirling the contents before waiting for the first victim.

An uneven rhythm of heels clicked on the marbled floor from the opposite end of the palace which made Perci tap his fingers in irritance. He came in sight with a olive skinned girl with large eyes —a vibrant yellow dress cut down at her knees. She bowed before smiling brightly at him, her light brown hair straightened and fell on the tips of her revealed shoulders.

"And what would your name be?" His hazel colored eyes observed her fidgety stance as she attempted to sit at the plush seat across from him. Royal guards —Bruxias— were standing outside of the room dressed in navy blue.

"Astria." She let out, her tanned hand held out to shake his, but he merely just glanced at it before she retracted. His tongue licked the tip of his cupid's bow, eyes casting through her body.

She was clearly above average, but she wasn't irresistible.

Her curves were decent, perhaps too covered in Perci's opinion. He was about to open his mouth when she cut him off.