Rahis was felt like he'd be relaxed for the remainder of the day. As he walked down the hall, he conveniently ran into Camayla. "What's gotten into you?"
Rahis raised his eyebrow, shooting her a curious gaze.
"You're walking much more confidently than you did before."
He shrugged his shoulders. "Guess I'm just relaxed."
"Why, did something happen?" He shook his head. "Oh my gods, tell me what happened!"
He smiled, happy to have a friend who knew him so well. He pulled her aside to a corner away from everyone. "Prince Joelin just gave me a massage."
"What!"
"He was just showing me how to do it proper, but it was amazing, I feel so relaxed."
Camayla just looked at him in amazement. "That's incredible! You probably shouldn't tell anybody though, as he is a prince and you're... you. Why he's taken such a liking to you is a mystery to us all."
Rahis playfully shoved her shoulder, obviously getting her joking tone. They had become practically best friends over the past few weeks and could read each other well. Of course, Rahis got to befriend many other servants over the time there and greeted most by name as he passed them in the halls. With a few parting words, he continued on his way, needing to clear a few things up in the kitchens before dealing with the laundry and Camayla needed to wrap a few things for Nathiana to take care of in the morning.
The big day had finally arrived. Princess Aylissa was finally coming. Rahis had never been so busy in his life. Ever since the early hours of the morning, he was cleaning and cooking.
When it was time for the Princess to arrive, the excitement was high. He knew they weren't supposed to look at royalty, but all of the servants were clearly sneaking peeks out the window to see if she'd come yet. It's been a while since someone of such importance had visited. And since she was the Princess, the King would most likely follow.
When he heard the sounds of horses, Rahis couldn't help but stop by the window, staring out. A beautiful carriage had stopped in front of the main doors, pulled by two white horses.
Rahis saw a large man he'd only ever seen in pictures walk to near the carriage, followed by a lady with white hair. The King and Queen. The carriage doors opened and a round man wearing a comically large band of gold on his head stepped out. With what he saw, Rahis knew him to be King Maurin Mercimmons of Nauplia. He wasn't what he expected him to be, well neither was King Therond. They both looked like they could be just regular lords, unlike the Prince Joelin and Queen Fanna, who looked to be actual royalty, but Rahis knew that both men had been training for their position since birth. He had heard that their presence was very kingly and powerful, but he had never been in the same room as them so he didn't know.
King Maurin greeted King Therond with a smile, laugh, and hug before turning and gesturing to the carriage door. A young woman stepped out, her head held high. She had very long brown hair tied up intricately and wore an emerald green dress. Her features were fair and she indeed looked every bit as royal as it was said. Rahis caught himself before he snorted, at least Prince Joelin ought to be happy that he'll like at least one thing about her. With the way she walked, she clearly felt entitled.
When he heard a throat clear behind him, Rahis turned to Camayla with an apologetic look on his face and went back to work.
It wasn't till dinner that he saw anything worth noting. Of course this thing worst noting was more than many could hope to be around in their lifetime.
Rahis stood next to Camayla near the wall with his head bowed, occasionally stepping forward to help serve food. A few paces in front of him sat Prince Joelin, who was talking to his family and Princess Aylissa's. Although Rahis didn't really care what they spoke about, he'd catch things here and there. Just as he thought, Princess Aylissa was a bit of a snob. He could also tell that Prince Joelin was getting tired and Prince Bradlan was drinking too much. His laughter got louder and drunker every few minutes.
After a particularly loud bout of laughter, it seemed they would finally address Prince Bradlan's drinking. "Brother, I think you've had enough." An unfamiliar voice told him, Rahis figured it had to be Prince Rodier.
"Yes, perhaps you would consider heading in for the night." Prince Joelin added.
"What? The party's just gettin started!" Prince Bradlan slurred.
Low murmuring started, obviously between Prince Joelin and someone who wasn't his brother, perhaps a lord, before Prince Joelin softly called his name, bringing Rahis to attention. He stepped forward and waited for instruction.
"It seems my brother has had too much to drink. Take him to his room and prepare him for bed."
Rahis nodded, trying not to panic over the directions. He walked further forward and allowed Prince Joelin to drape his brother's arm around his shoulder. He was lucky that he had an inch or so on Prince Bradlan since it was obvious he would have to hold up most of his weight.
Rahis was right. He was stumbling down the hallway, practically carrying the Prince, who was mumbling incoherently under his breath.
When he finally made it into Prince Bradlan's room, he almost threw him in the bed, rolling his shoulders to stretch them out. He then looked around the room in disgust. He knew what things happened in there and despised the prince for it, but he couldn't show that. Not if he wanted to keep his head. He turned to the Prince and thought what Prince Joelin had said. 'Prepare him for bed.' What did that mean? He settled for taking off his shoes and some of his more lavish garments and tucking him in.
However, as soon as he took off one shoe, Prince Bradlan started to regain some sense of the world. "You trying to undress me?" Before Rahis could process his horror or start to respond, Prince Bradlan let out a loud, drunken laugh. "Of course you are, everybody wants some of me." Rahis certainly didn't, but he couldn't say that. In all honesty, Prince Joelin was more impressive than Prince Bradlan, but he wasn't looking to go making enemies of a prince. "They want me." He sighed, before turning to Rahis, his eyes clouded with alcohol. "Have you ever been in love?"
This was a question Rahis could answer. "Once, when I was very young, not even fifteen years. She moved away though." Rahis took a second before deciding to continue talking. With how spacey Prince Bradlan was acting, he probably wouldn't even remember this later. "Have you?"
Prince Bradlan shook his head. "What's it like, love?"
"It is wonderful and painful. I cannot say much because my feelings weren't returned, but it made me feel alive to be with her. Since she left I've been too busy for love."
"I wish I had somebody to love, who loved me for who I was beneath the crown. That's why I bed so many women, to try and replicate what I fear I'll never have." Prince Bradlan sighed and turned his gaze to the ceiling. "Jealousy seems to be what I'm best at. Jealous of Rodier for the crown, like all boys are, but more jealous of Joelin. He knows what he wants. He knows what he's looking for, that's why he's fighting so hard. Do you get jealous too?"
"Of course I get jealous, I'm a human, after all." Rahis laughed lightly. "But I don't want power, I've never lusted after a crown. Perhaps I am a little jealous of Prince Joelin. He seems so fit for his life, like once he gets through this problem that's come up, he'll be so happy and important. I do think he'll find a way to twist this whole marriage thing to his advantage, from what I've heard your father does a lot to make him happy."
"Ah, my father." Prince Bradlan said, his voice now slightly bitter. "I'm his least favorite, you know. He's always so proud and supportive of Rodier and dotes on Joelin. He treats me like the garbage the maids take out every day. It was just easier to lean into his view of me. I'll never change it. I'll always just be Bradlan the Whore Prince. Bradlan the Disappointment. Bradlan the Dragged Along, Good-for-nothing. Bradlan the Prince who lived an unfulfilling life and died alone."
Rahis felt sympathy creep into him, something he'd never thought he'd feel for someone who's done such terrible things. "I'm sure you'll find somebody."
Prince Bradlan scoffed. "I can't even make friends, how am I supposed to find someone to love?"
"Well, if you need a friend, I would be happy to fill that slot." Rahis said without thinking.
Prince Bradlan turned his heavy eyes to Rahis and gave a crooked smile. "I'd like that." His eyelids got heavier and heavier until they closed, his neck still bent in the awkward position it was in to look at Rahis.
As soon as the Prince was asleep, Rahis just thought about what he'd done. Before panic could overcome him, he reminded himself of someone very important. Prince Bradlan was out-of-his-mind drunk. There was no way he'd remember what was said, right?