Roman was by no means a good eavesdropper. Sure, most of his information came from listening in but mostly his eavesdropping was accidental. He just heard pieces of gossip from the servants and just picked it up. Which meant he knew almost everything about every servant's life but next to nothing about his own.

Now, he was trying to eavesdrop. Sitting on the stairs by the drawing room, watching the unimaginatively coloured wall across from him. Though all he could really see was the unimaginative colour.

"Are we really sure this is a good idea?" Roman's ears perked up at his mother's question. He hadn't realised he'd zoned out and stopped listening. "I mean, Roman's never even been outside. Don't you think this might be a bit... much for him?"

"He's not a child anymore,  Theodorsia." Roman's father said. "And he's coming of age far sooner than we've expected."

"I know he's no longer a child, Phillip." There was a slight snap to the edge of his mother's voice. "But we've never let him into the kingdom, like we've done with Remus. I'm worried all this might be too much for him."

Why were they discussing Roman's future without him? If he wasn't meant to listen in on their conversation, how was he meant to find out what they were planning for him?

"Nonsense, Theo." His father said dismissively. "Roman's stronger than we know. He'll be fine."

"But still." His mother paused. "A coming of age ball, Phillip. That's more lights and sound than even you could handle. What makes you think Roman could handle it?"

"He's-"

"He's delicate, Phillip." If Roman had wanted to get up and ask his parents questions, he wouldn't be able to now. He felt frozen to the step. So that's what his parents thought of him? That he was delicate.

"Well, who's fault is that?" Roman snapped in his head. "You're the ones who never let me leave. Maybe if I'd gone outside with Remus, I wouldn't be so delicate."

"I'm just so worried, that's all." His mother said. Slowly Roman got off the step.

"Don't be." He thought. "I don't want this royal ball either, you won't have to worry about a thing."

"Re, I need help." Roman said once he'd reached Remus' room.

"Go away, Remus isn't here right now." A muffled voice said. "He's also got a cracking hangover so if you could please leave quietly, that'd be great."

"Re, it's important."

"Remus isn't here right now. Fuck off." The muffled voice said again. Roman rolled his eyes at his brother.

"Re, mother and father are planning my future for me." Roman said.

"What's new about that?" Remus asked, his voice still muffled.

"They're planning some sort of coming of age ball?"

"Ooh, have they finally figured out you're gay?"

"Not like that, Re!" Remus laughed. "You're a heathen."

"I'm aware." Remus' laughed died down to giggles which melted away to nothing. "But seriously, why's that a problem?"

"Because I've never been outside the castle." Roman protested. "And this is my last chance at going outside and if I don't leave the castle now, I'll never be able to! So I need your help."

There was a groan from inside the bedroom and a thump on the ground. Remus' must've fallen off his bed. The door opened in a little window of light.

"Fine." Remus said. "I'll help you."

I like this chapter. Also, this plot is moving fast, like damn!
Bye,
Blaize