King O'Sullivan sits on his throne and eyes his younger son Archibald walk up to him. Archibald kneels and bends his head showing his father respect.
"Father, it is done"
King O'Sullivan smiles to himself and looks over his son
"And it went well?"
Archibald remains quiet and his father leans forward
"Archer?"
Archibald goes to open his mouth but hears his brother's voice.
"Ah, father!"
The king turns eyeing his eldest son and smiles looking him over as he comments.
"ah my prince, come here"
He taps the seat next to him and Edmond sits next to his father eyeing his younger brother.
"Am I interrupting father?"
King O'Sullivan shakes his head warding off his elder son's worry.
"Small matters noting to concern my future king with."
King O'Sullivan pats his elder son on the back of his head and motions to his younger son.
"The guests will be arriving soon Archer why not make yourself presentable we don't want a repeat of the last party, aye?"
Archer nods his head glaring to his father and looks to his brother who shrugs and hears his father's voice boom in the empty throne room.
"I said aye Archer?"
Archer nods his head
"Aye father"
Archer gets up and walks by his father hearing the laughter and rolls his eyes as he steps into the hall. He hears yelling from down the hall and wipes his mouth hearing a girl's voice scream out echoing off the walls around him.
"I will do what I want!"
An older woman's voice hushes the yelling.
"My lady, house O'Sullivan has rules and as your overseer, for the days you are here I must advise you not to break those rules as a Lady and guest of the house."
A girl's voice raises, and Archer stands in the doorway seeing Mila pace around the room angerly and listens to her yell.
"I am a princess and I can't even leave this room!"
Archer eyes Mila screaming and interrupts her questioning.
"Perhaps you should act like a princess than, Lady Mila?"
She turns eyeing Archer who grins to her and the overseer bows her head towards her prince.
"Lord Archibald"
Archer walks into the room and smiles to the older lady eyeing over her tattered robes and smiles.
"Overseer Liva I don't think you aged a bit."
The old woman laughs and looks him over in his black attire nodding her head impressed.
"You have grown quite a bit young lord, your 18th year is today congratulations my lord"
She bows her head showing respect and he laughs out waving her off.
"Oh, it's just another year, another boring party and not much change in respect to my father and me."
The overseer frowns as she looks to Mila and then back to Archibald.
"My lord would you like a private ear?"
Archibald shakes his head looking to the ground and changes subjects focusing back on Mila.
"Perhaps later I heard lady Mila making a fuss and thought I would offer her a walk out?"
Mila looks over Archibald eyeing his well-prepared attire and nice black hair. She looks away disgusted questioning.
"with you?"
Overseer Liva whispers to Mila watching Archibald stiffen angerly.
"Hush girl, you should feel honored the prince has asked for a walk out with you"
Mila rolls her eyes and stares over Archibald commenting.
"I rather not, my mother warned me about your kind."
Archibald crosses his arms as he smiles looking the girl over and she covers herself under his gaze feeling uncomfortable with his eyes.
"Oh, did she now? And what is it your mother believes of my kind?"
Mila goes to speak but Overseer Liva comments to her putting her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Choose your words carefully girl you're in the clan's grace don't upset the prince"
Archibald interrupts Liva with a sharp smile and tease.
"Now, now Liva let us hear it. Are we barbarians, murders, rapists, thieves, or what else have I heard before?"
Archibald grins and Liva looks to Mila as Mila turns her head and Archibald comments.
"Go on girl have at it. What does your mother think of the very clan who was nice enough to help you?"
Mila looks Archibald in the eyes and speaks firm as she nods her head smiling as she lets her words slip.
"She says your rotten blood."
Archibald looks to Liva and steps towards Mila as he raises his hand to smack her but Liva stops him commenting as she grips his wrist looking him in the eyes pleading for the girl's mercy.
"My lord, she is, but a girl she doesn't know the meaning of her words."
Archibald looks to Liva and then to Mila as he points to Liva whispering.
"Then teach her the disrespect she seeps from her lips or I will do it for you Lady Liva"
Archibald walks out of the room and Overseer Liva looks to Mila shaking her head.
"Do not anger him, he has the name Archibald the wicked for a reason. He has a true and kind heart for those close to him, but cross him and it will be a long and painful death for you. He killed his dog once for snapping at him, broke the poor things neck and that was one of his kinder acts. Lady Mila, he is the type of man you want as a friend, not an enemy. Learn your foes and tighten your tongue, or he will do it for you."
Mila walks out into the hall eyeing Archibald sitting down and bows her head to him commenting.
"I apologize-"
He stops her and whispers looking up into her eyes from his seated position as he smiles.
"Do not apologize I am quick to temper as is my father. Your tongue is swift, and I don't dislike it."
Archibald gets up from his chair and motions down the hall
"Will you accompany me to the guard check? I must set things up with the royal guard for the party tonight I could use some interesting company like yours."
Mila walks beside Archibald as he remains quiet and she stares him over eyeing his dark hair, and nicely kept attire. She smiles to herself but looks away quickly as she sees his head turn in her direction and hears his voice raise.
"So, tell me, how many years have you had?"
Mila remains quiet and Archibald eyes her over as she looks to him as she comments.
"Enough that mother has told me my ceremony will happen soon."
Archibald looks her over commenting.
"Really your ceremony?"
Mila stops looking to the floor and Archibald gets to his knees eyeing the younger girl.
"Is that what you want? A ceremony at your age?"
She glances to him and he turns his head sideways as she comments.
"You're older than me why haven't you claimed a wife yet?"
Archibald looks up to Mila as he comments looking over the younger girl with her brown hair and tomboyish demeanor.
"Our clan has a bad reputation as you know they call us rotten blood. My mother was my father's sister that's why they say it and it's not untrue our blood is rotten, tainted by incest."
Mila looks over Archibald and questions.
"Is that why your father killed your mother?"
Archibald looks to Mila
"No, he didn't kill her, she killed herself."
Mila looks over Archibald and questions.
"But the stories of old say-"
Archibald nods his head and looks to Mila commenting.
"They hide the shame of many clans especially the royals."
Archibald gets up to his feet and Mila stares him over as she comments.
"They called her lily the love because people all over loved her. Your mother was kind, people even made songs about her. The history says she eased your father's heart and made him calm."
Archibald shakes his head.
"She was a bitch; My father was always kind. Don't believe everything you read in stories Mila some are just fairytales met to inspire young lady and lords."
He rubs her back and they walk forward in silence as she stares him over questioning.
"I heard you slaughtered a whole town once is that true?"
Archibald smirks and Mila quiets down looking to the ground as Archibald nods his head remembering the story.
"Somewhat true they were soldiers, not a civilian town. It was during the crane wars I was 14. The only thing I regret was leaving Sailione Crane alive. She deserved my blade, but I steadied my hand and was kind to her and they repaid me with torture."
Archibald stops at the guard building and motions to Mila looking her over as he comments.
"In war Mila, there is no room for kindness. They held me for over two years and I will never be the same boy I was before it."
They walk into the guard house and the guards stand at attention looking to their prince as Archibald nods to them commanding.
"Today is my 18th year we will have a grand party and the gypsy with come again and the feast will be great. I want to thank all of you for your service tonight and I promise you will enjoy this day with me and we will feast together as a family!"
All the men yell out together pounding their fist to their chest plates.
"Aye my lord!"
Archibald bows his head and smiles to his men.
"Thank you, my soldiers."
Mila and Archibald walk out of the guard house and they eye the large band of carts and people walking into the castle as Mila asks.
"what are they?"
Archibald smiles to himself as he turns to Mila.
"The gypsy of the mountains they come here every year for my birthday to foretell the next years of my life. It's a tradition in my family to bring good fortune and to know what is to come."
Mila smiles looking over Archibald asking.
"They can see the future?"
Archibald nods his head eyeing the large crowd and whispers to Mila.
"would you like to know yours?"
She looks up to him and he smiles down at her as she shakes her head.
"I like to be surprised, Lord Archibald"
Archibald smiles to her as he comments
"aye Lady Mila"