~Daniel~
"With all due respect, go fück yourself."
Marcus took that as an invitation to stab me with another pin.
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I winced.
"It's tradition to wear robes for the engagement." Marcus said, dryly. "Forgive me for not being an expert at making a human burrito."
In about one hour, I'd be getting engaged looking like Red Riding Hood. Fantastic.
"I miss my pants." I said, wistfully. "And my alcohol."
"Don't we all." Marcus muttered.
Ten minutes later, the butler was done making me look like a cloth ghost but from the Victorian era.
I peeked in the mirror. The robes were dark red with a gold lining. I cringed.
Xavier's going to have a field day with this.
There was a knock. Marcus opened the door and the temperature inside dropped about five degrees.
"Where is my son?"
King Anton Grigori slowly entered, leaning on his cane. He was a frail man with salt and pepper hair but presence shouted power. Marcus and I bowed in respect to the Crown King of Europe.
"He's here, Your Grace." I hesitated. "He isn't ready yet-"
"How many years?" Anton coughed. "Where is my son?"
"I need time." I said. "I'll convince him. I promise."
He stared out the window.
"You always listen to me." He zoned out. "You're a good boy. You'll make a good king, son."
I led him out and called for a maid. He kept going.
"Just like your mother. Yes, you're a good boy."
I felt tremors as I held his hand.
"You're a good boy, Xavier."
I sighed, as the maid helped him to his chamber.
The King often slipped into these 'episodes'. I knew he'd never been kind to Xavier when he was growing up.
So naturally, I felt like crap when he mistook me for his son.
Despite the man's illness, Xavier deserved to hear this from his father.
"Alcohol?" Marcus offered me a glass.
"Pants?" I countered, downing it.
"Don't push it." He held the door open. "Time for your grand entry, sire."
Great. I thought, groaning. All I'm missing now is a broom and the cackling.
The ceremony wasn't too bad. Alexandra looked stunning in her white robes. As per tradition, we read our oaths, exchanged rings and greeted each other's families.
Well, I did trip once and almost land face first on the ground.
Xavier was standing next to me, the poster child of innocence.
"You need any help there, Your Highness?" He asked sweetly.
Naturally, I was furious.
"Did you push me?"
"Nope. Just good timing." The bästard smiled. "Wonder Woman called. She wants her cape back."
I groaned. And so it begins.
"A rare sight, ladies and gentleman. Mario without his overalls."
"Laugh all you want." I said, holding my head up high. "You're never going to look this fabulous."
"Spoken like a true Angry Bird." He saluted. "All hail the motherfücking king."
I sighed. "Are you done yet?"
"For now." He shrugged, eying the buffet table. "Someone wants to meet you by the balcony."
I arched a brow.
Xavier sighed and dragged me outside.
"Victoria better not be waiting there to pull some shîtty prank on me." I fumed. "I swear that woman is Satan's twin sister-"
Lady Adriana was standing in the moonlight, her mismatched eyes looking at us curiously.
"I'll be sure to pass along the message to Shortcake." Xavier said, deadbeat. "Also, you look like you sneezed on your period."
My mouth fell open as Adriana stifled a laugh.
"Now I'm done." Xavier smiled. "You kids behave."
He left me alone with her.
Which was awkward as fück.
What could I possibly talk about with the sister of my future wife? The weather?
"Um, it's a cloudy night." I managed.
I groaned on the inside. That line with this dress -
President of the great country of Can't socialise to save my life.
"Yes, I like cloudy skies." She said softly, looking up. "I like to think they're magical."
"Yeah, I find evaporation fascinating too."
Victoria can just kill me now.
She smiled politely. "Would you like to go for a walk, Your Grace?"
"Sure."
We headed downstairs into the garden in comfortable silence.
A long time later, Adriana turned to talk to me.
"I just wanted to congratulate you on your engagement, Your Grace."
"Oh." I don't know why I felt disappointed. "Thanks. Your sister seems quite nice."
The truth was I didn't even know her sister's middle name. This was a political marriage - heirs weren't expected and neither was love.
"She is." Adriana said, quietly. "She's outgoing, smart, talented, beautiful-"
"But?" I asked, as we sat down on a bench.
"Nothing." Adriana looked away. "She's perfect."
I cleared my throat, knowing full well I was going to regret whatever I said next.
"I think perfection is overrated," I managed a small smile, looking at a blade of grass. "Anyone can be perfect. Not a lot of people would dare to be different though. It takes a lot of guts how we live."
She turned to me and looked like she wanted to say something. But it began raining. For some reason, we just sat there.
Her eyes looked like they were scanning my very soul.
But then the moment was gone and the awkwardness returned with a bang.
Did I just hit on my fiancé's sister?
Shît.
"I have to go." She said, bowing. "It was, um, nice to meet you, Your Grace."
"The pleasure was mine, Lady Adriana."
Suddenly, there was a painful wail. I ran toward the bushes and saw a man clutching his chest. He wore a gilded mask covering his eyes, much like a lot of the other higher ranking guests.
I knelt down and realised he'd been stabbed.
Adriana gasped, holding back a scream.
The man tried to tell me something but I heard only two words. I looked around for the murderer and came up short.
He died, clutching my hands. His blood seeped into the ground and onto my robes.
It took me a minute to process it all after which I called Xavier. He came running, along with Victoria.
Xavier looked at me, then at the body.
"What did you do?"
"Nothing. I - I don't know what happened." My voice trembled. "He died. J-Just like that."
Victoria gently pried my hands off the body and I let her.
"Do you know who this is?" Xavier asked quietly, as he took off the mask.
There was a soft sob in the corner. Lady Adriana was shaking violently, eyes glazed. Her voice was barely a whisper.
"That's my father."
*****
Daniel : "Vote for this and I'll send you a robe." XD