• if • {c. calore}

chapter 001.

I slip out of my room, closing the door behind me. as soft as I can. tomorrow is the Queenstrial, The beginning of the bottomless pit of responsibilities of being Father's heir.

I pass Sentinels, who know better than to ask what I'm doing out of bed. The only people I need to avoid are Elara and other nobles of court. I'm so caught up in avoiding those Silvers I don't notice when I bump into Maven.

"Cal? What are you doing? The Queenstrial is tomorrow, you need to - wait, you're not sneaking out again, are you?" Maven gives me a quizzical look, even he hates the pageantry tomorrow will bring.

"Um, no," I lie.

"Then what are you doing?" He hisses as I grab him and pull him out of sight of the oncoming Lord Samos.

"Nothing," I hiss back. "Go back to sleep."

Maven pushes himself off me once Volo has turned the corner. "I'm not a little kid anymore, Cal. You can't just push me around. You're sneaking out, I can see it in your eyes." He scowls. "You've always been a horrible liar."

"Fine. Just promise to keep your mouth shut and don't run into your mother."

Maven rolls his eyes at my childish whims. "Okay, I will. Same goes for you."

I grin, ruffling his hair. "Thanks, Mavey."

He slaps my hand away flattening his already messing hair. "When will you stop calling me Mavey?"

"When I'm dead, or you're dead - whichever comes first."

"It's probably going to be you and your idiotic impluses," Maven growls, smiling softly. He's enjoying this, he's never in my shadow when it's just us. Besides, I haven't seen him in while since Father sent him to the front.

"Nah, it's going to be you and your big mouth that goes first." I bump him on the shoulder.

"We'll see, Tiberias," He jokes.

I roll my eyes. I hate it when people call me by Tiberias and Maven knows it all too well.

"'Night, Mavey."

"'Night, Cal."

With that we head our separate ways. Maven to his bedroom and me to the outside world. I visit the same Red village I always do when we stay at Summerton. I hear it's close the Stilts, a village we always pass when we head back to Archeon.

I weave in and out of the Reds, they pay me no mind. It's the best part of visiting villages like these, no one notices I'm the crown prince. It's a great feeling, especially with the looming burden of tomorrow. I already know who the winner will be: Evangeline Samos. She's almost as snarky as Elara. I can't stand Elara, let alone Evangeline at my side for the rest of my life. The idea of her even being queen makes me sick. I wish I had Maven's privilege of choosing a wife.

I follow the crowd into a tavern, not bothering to buy anything. Hopefully I look like any other servant, just milling about after a long work day. I find a seat towards the back where no one will care to bother me, except the occasional waitress.

"Can I get you anything?"

I glance up from the wooden table, to be met with the eyes of a flirty-looking waitress. Her copper hair curls around her chin, cut in a fashion so that it stays out of her face. I've got to admit, she's attractive, but I already have a future laid out for me.

"I'm fine, thanks."

Her ears flush in a way that only a Red can, I'm suddenly self conscious of my own blood. She giggles in a girlish way, "Okay... suit yourself."