boo.
the price we pay
The Prince had never felt so excited in his life. Was it a good kind of excited? Probably not. He was incredibly nervous, as well as a tad bit suspicious. Why again did he need bodyguards? When had his mother ever decided that he was in danger? And since when had she even cared? The Queen seemed a frivolous character, too caught up with her royal duties to get to know her son. But the Prince knew why she was keeping herself busy; she was embarrassed. Too embarrassed to look at her son, even if he couldn't look back. He knew all too well about those blue eyes of hers, of his father's, and why they were so important.
The Prince often cursed himself, berating something that was not his own fault to begin with. Why, oh why did he have no eyes? Could he not at least have one, to view the world with and to earn his parents' love? That was what he convinced himself that he craved, that that was the one thing he was missing. If he just had that, everything would be so much better. Even if he had just one eye, he would have a chance at passing the Ceremony, which was looming over his head with an ominous atmosphere.
The Prince tapped his foot anxiously as he waited. He stood in the outer parts of his chambers, a hand lightly touching the desk beside him so that he knew his position. The Queen had insisted that he meet the guards somewhat informally, probably so she didn't have to show up. Of course, she hadn't said anything like that, what with her sickly sweet voice that would convey to anyone who didn't know her that she was gentle and loving. The Prince, on the other hand, knew a different, more commanding side of her. He didn't hate her, no, but there was something about her that made him wish he could go far away from here.
Clara hadn't appeared yet, but the Prince wasn't worried. Knowing her, it was likely she was organizing his books again, even though she was really think only one that ever touched them, or taking care of some ridiculously small detail. Clara was like that, but the Prince didn't mind. She was his one true friend, even if she was being paid to be around him. She was a good tutor, sure, and a strict one at that. Everything had to be just right, just like she wanted it, or she might go into one of her famous lectures on education.
The body of the Prince suddenly stiffened as he heard a sound from outside the door, the soft patter of footsteps climbing the few stairs that led to his doorway. He knew it could only be the four guards he had been expecting all day, the four highly trained, mostly likely very deadly, people that have been assigned him as... Bodyguards? The Prince wasn't exactly sure. In truth, he had never been told exactly why they were here. Then again, no one questioned the Queen. It wasn't that anyone feared her; it was just that her atmosphere commanded that kind of respect.
"Clara!" The Prince hissed as loudly as he dared to avoid the four outside from hearing him. "They're here!" His focus turned elsewhere when he heard the click of the door, signaling that the Royal Guard had arrived. While he couldn't see them, he tried his best to focus his head in the general direction that they might be.
He was suddenly acutely aware of the crown of beaten iron that covered his empty eye sockets, which had almost been made to ridicule his own existence.
The Prince often cursed himself, berating something that was not his own fault to begin with. Why, oh why did he have no eyes? Could he not at least have one, to view the world with and to earn his parents' love? That was what he convinced himself that he craved, that that was the one thing he was missing. If he just had that, everything would be so much better. Even if he had just one eye, he would have a chance at passing the Ceremony, which was looming over his head with an ominous atmosphere.
The Prince tapped his foot anxiously as he waited. He stood in the outer parts of his chambers, a hand lightly touching the desk beside him so that he knew his position. The Queen had insisted that he meet the guards somewhat informally, probably so she didn't have to show up. Of course, she hadn't said anything like that, what with her sickly sweet voice that would convey to anyone who didn't know her that she was gentle and loving. The Prince, on the other hand, knew a different, more commanding side of her. He didn't hate her, no, but there was something about her that made him wish he could go far away from here.
Clara hadn't appeared yet, but the Prince wasn't worried. Knowing her, it was likely she was organizing his books again, even though she was really think only one that ever touched them, or taking care of some ridiculously small detail. Clara was like that, but the Prince didn't mind. She was his one true friend, even if she was being paid to be around him. She was a good tutor, sure, and a strict one at that. Everything had to be just right, just like she wanted it, or she might go into one of her famous lectures on education.
The body of the Prince suddenly stiffened as he heard a sound from outside the door, the soft patter of footsteps climbing the few stairs that led to his doorway. He knew it could only be the four guards he had been expecting all day, the four highly trained, mostly likely very deadly, people that have been assigned him as... Bodyguards? The Prince wasn't exactly sure. In truth, he had never been told exactly why they were here. Then again, no one questioned the Queen. It wasn't that anyone feared her; it was just that her atmosphere commanded that kind of respect.
"Clara!" The Prince hissed as loudly as he dared to avoid the four outside from hearing him. "They're here!" His focus turned elsewhere when he heard the click of the door, signaling that the Royal Guard had arrived. While he couldn't see them, he tried his best to focus his head in the general direction that they might be.
He was suddenly acutely aware of the crown of beaten iron that covered his empty eye sockets, which had almost been made to ridicule his own existence.