🛡️ ERIC 🛡️

While I waited, I talked with the guards at the lobby.

“Do you have any concerns about anything?” I asked the two guards stationed at the main door.

“There is nothing, my prince. Everything is good with me and my family.” The one at my left side said, he smiled.

“Good to hear, Clyde.” I grinned then looked at the other bigger guy to my right.

“I am better, my prince. We live happily here in Becan. More opportunities wait for my siblings here in the city, now that they can study at the university. We are grateful for the scholarship you gave them.

“I’m also glad I was able to help my parents move here with the job you offered them. The bakery was actually selling better and better everyday,” he informed me.

Niño’s genuinely happy face warmed my heart. “I am happy we were able to help your family.”

“What brought you here, Prince Eric?” Clyde asked.

“I am waiting for Princess Lyra. She want a tour around the palace with me.” I saw the princess walking towards us. “There she is. Thank you two for your time.”

“Thank you for gracing us with your presence, my prince,” Niño said.

They bowed and I waved them good bye.

“Hello princess.” I bowed.

She curtsied. “Hi, my prince.” Her smile reminded me of Jean, although Jean’s lips curved more beautifully.

I offered her to grab my arm which she did. We walked to the left-wing garden, telling her that this place was where I was formally introduced to Jean, that solidarity party.

“Oh, really? You have not been introduced properly before that?”

It was no wonder because our houses never really trusted each other that much. Been more of rivals before and now, our houses would be more connected than ever–– because of me.

We headed down the path to the inner walls.

“The city of Becan was beautiful,” she awed.

I wouldn’t let wolves in here without a leash, I randomly thought of what Reia told me. As I gazed at her, she looked more similar to his King than Jean.

“We can continue our tour the next days, I am tired. We can sit here and enjoy the view,” I suggested.

She nodded.

We sat on the bench beside a shrub of white flowers. I picked one jasmine, thought of giving them to Jean.

“Oh, you’re sweet.” She got the flower from my hand that I was obliged now to give her.

“The flower was beautiful, small and pure white but very fragrant,” I said.

She just smiled while smelling the tiny flower.

I sighed. “You know, leading people is harder than I thought.”

“I would do whatever is needed from me.”

“I’m sure you would be great, like Prince Jean could.” I smiled.

“My brother is strong, he could defy anyone even our father, that is how I knew him. But now, he became more submissive and patient.

“I will be a diligent Queen to you and to our future son.”

“That was good to hear.” If I would be able to get her pregnant.

It was sad to fake a date with her. After almost an hour of me being less invested in our conversation, pre-occupied, she finally suggested for me to walk with her to her chambers.

As we arrived, She kissed me on the cheek before she went inside their room. I touched my cheek where she kissed me.

This all felt wrong.

I headed to our room with a heavy heart, all I wanted now is to be caressed dearly by Jean. I thought I needed him more than ever in my life now.

As I went inside our room, I saw Jean laid on the bed, his head high on pillows, reading. His long eyelashes and almost pouty lips made me want to snuggle with him. So I laid beside him and wrapped my arms over his belly, my face dipped unto the side of his neck.

“So you’re interested now in Macro Economics?” I asked.

“I missed you too. My sister stole my afternoon time with you.” He tried to remove my arms from him.

“You’re being jealous? Its not like I wanted to talk with her.”

“Remove your arms, its hot.”

“I know. I am.”

I locked my fingers together so he could not remove them, he dodged so my kiss landed on the side of his lips.

“Are you really jealous? She’s just a friend for me. I just have to do that because I have to. I do all this because I love you.”

“You sure?” He smiled and kissed me on the lips. “Let me finish reading.”

I hugged him more tightly, my lips on his arm so my voice would be muffled. “King Jaques will kill my father if I won’t abide by his will. I cannot tell you as well, he would not let us be together anymore if he knew I told you. I cannot leave your side. You know he can do anything.”

He put his arms around me as well. “We can overcome this.”

We arrived at the dinning hall for dinner a little early after getting dressed because I wanted to talk with Reia.

She is there already, seated with my other siblings, wearing a more formal gown.

“Hello there.” I said.

Philip and Dion ran towards me and hugged me.

“Eric!” they chorused.

“I missed you. When are you going back to Thales?” Dion said.

“I want to play with you but I want to play at Thales more. But I missed you as well,” Philip told me.

“I missed you two. But I was needed here to do my duty, yeah? Go back to your seats, I have to talk with Reia.”

They dragged me to their seats. I informed Reia that I would want a word with her.

Reia and I went to the lobby to talk privately.

“Father will let you marry Lyra but we have to be very cautious about her. Just be careful not to be transparent with her about all our plans. I’m always here, brother. I am very willing to help you all the time, remember that,” Reia informed me.

She hugged me. Those were all the words I wanted to hear.

“I’m always here, do not forget that. Do you have anything to say? ” she asked.

“You have said it all already.”

“Be strong.” Reia walked back to the hall now being full, the dinner might start soon.

I would had followed her after minutes of thinking, contemplating if I should have told Reia or father about everything King Jaques said to me. But it could mean that the alliance be broken again or father could be in danger.

A man came to me together with a guard. He looked tired from travelling, wearing a familiar clothing.

“Prince Eric, an urgent letter to be read,” the Becan guard said.

On the envelope was scribbled a not so clear, but readable note.

An urgent matter: please let King Eugene read this AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Ignore standard operating procedures.
-King Baccu

It was from the Anasian King. With anxiety, I marched hurriedly to my father to deliver the letter that usually I would had read first before I can report to him. Whatever was written in this letter must be with utmost importance.

As I rushed to father who headed to his seat at the dining table on the throne room.

The actual dining hall, very much smaller for more than twelve persons, was used by the family of the duke of Becan. But whenever King Eugene is there in Becan, they opt the throne room.

I handed out the letter to him. With his left brow raised, he read the words scribbled on the envelope.

Father opened the seal and read the letter. As his irises moved from his left to right a few times, his forehead showed defined lines, and his lips more contracted.

“Who sent this?” he asked.

“A messenger from Anastown.”

“Let him in.”

I told Philip to get the messenger just out the grand lobby.

His face a little bit upset, he called for an emergency meeting with King Jaques, Crown Prince Antoine of Anbeia, Jean, Duke Longbow, Prince George, Prince Alexios and me which immediately resided after dinner.