A Week to Midnight

The Truth Comes Out

The fifth night had arrived, and Cal was slumped over in the back of the carriage, his face in his hands and his legs trembling. He had to put an end to this, but he was torn. He had fallen for Florian, a mistake on his own end, and his pathetic mistake was putting the future of his family at risk. The man had been right, how was he truly to trust that Florian would keep his word and help anyone when he took the throne? On the other hand, how could he trust that his sisters would be supported once Florian had been killed by his own hands?

Most of the night went by in a blur. Florian had been dragging Cal and Jada around the garden in an excited fog that had almost reflected onto Cal himself. He had to remind himself that Florian believed Cal to be of higher birth, he had to convince himself that the prince would likely have no interest in him if he knew the truth.

He was so kind to the girls.

That meant very little, a show of kindness was not always reflective of one's true nature.

Cal was unsure as to how he now found himself here, tucked away in the centre of the rose bushes, sat upon a stone bench with Jada and Luka having a discussion at the far end. He remembered Florian saying he wished to speak to Cal alone and that Jada had promised to stand guard. He scolded himself for not paying further attention.

"Cal, I have been thinking about what you have said to me" said the prince, forcing the baker to search his memory for what it could have been that he had said. "What you said was true" Florian continued, as Cal turned to face him he found the prince staring down at his own hands, his pale face darkened with an embarrassed flush, his thumbs twitching nervously. "I believe I am attracted to men as you are but..."

His silence was deafening, and the sudden fudding of Cal's heart only furthered his sense of tension.

"But...?"

Florian sucked in a deep breath, as if he were attempting to find a way to convince himself of what he was about to say before he said. "But I am afraid I believe I have fallen for you." After receiving no response from Cal for what felt like several minutes the prince pushed himself to his feet, throwing out an apology for attempting to make his way from the bench. Cal caught his arm before he could get far.

"Don't run" Cal let out, his mind racing as thoughts and emotions attempted to battle for superiority.

He's lying.

Is he mocking me?

Look at his hands, they're trembling, he's telling the truth.

I've taken this too far.

Kill him now.

Kill him.

Do it.

"Florian," Cal let out, something finally clicking into place within him, something that he was trying to deny but it was too strong a truth to hide anymore. His most fatal mistake. "Don't run."

Florian turned into Cal now, the baker's hand still on his arm. Cal was cruel, he had questioned Florian's honesty when he had been manipulating the prince this entire time. What he felt in this moment did not feel like an act however, had he fooled himself in his performance or had this feeling truly taken over him?

"Florian...may I kiss you?"

Florian's nod gave Cal the permission that he sought and it was the sensation of his lips against the prince's own, and the feeling of Florian's slender arms wrapped around his shoulders, that gave him the answer he had truly been searching for.

He had fallen.

The kiss was not what Florian had imagined, there were no fireworks or singing angels like in the stories of first kisses and true love that his mother had told him in his youth. It was a beautiful thing in itself, however, it was warm, and the way Cal's arms snaked around his hips and held him close as their lips moved together sent electricity down Florian's spine.