A Kingdom of Untold Truths || Dreamnotfound

12

Clay's POV

Clay attended the welcoming parade with Prince George the next morning. He could tell that the Prince was downcast when he approached him, but George's face brightened when he saw Clay.

Clay kept his face neutral. He wished yesterday didn't happen. He didn't regret it, but George was going to be in an arranged marriage with a Princess. Clay shouldn't let this continue. They could never be together, it just wasn't possible.

He stood a step behind George at the top of the castle steps. George stood to the right of King Philza and the twins were on the King's left side. Behind Clay stood several other guards, one being Punz.

Horns sounded at the arrival of the foreign kingdom's carriages. The carriages approached the steps and stopped. The coachman jumped off the front of the first carriage and opened the door.

Out stepped a man, the King of L'Manberg, King Eret. He smiled broadly at King Philza and the King nodded back. King Eret glanced at George briefly with a flicker of something that Clay couldn't read in his eyes.

King Eret turned around and lifted his hand to help someone get down from the carriage. It was the Princess. She stepped down wearing a light pink dress. Her blonde hair drifted in the breeze.

She was beautiful. Clay glanced at George. The Prince had a neutral expression. He straightened as the King walked towards the newcomers. The three princes followed, as did Clay. King Philza motioned for the other guards to stay, but he nodded approvingly at Clay.

"Welcome, King Eret and Princess Nihachu! It is my honor to host you here in Emberfall!" King Philza exclaimed.

King Eret nodded and said in a thick accent, "It is our honor to visit such a lovely kingdom."

"Princess, I would like you to meet my eldest son, George." King Philza looked at George.

"Nice to meet you Princess Nihachu." George forced a smile.

"Please, call me Niki," she said in a pretty accent.

George nodded. King Philza frowned and turned to his other sons. "These are my two other sons, Tommy and Toby."

"Nice to meet you." Princess Nihachu said and King Eret dipped his head in greeting.

"I will escort you two to your rooms personally. My son," King Philza glanced at George, "can take Princess Nihachu on a tour tomorrow once you have settled."

"Sounds good!" King Eret exclaimed.

King Philza, King Eret, Princess Nihachu, and a few guards headed to the castle. George gave Princess Nihachu a small, forced smile as they left. She waved back.

"She's really pretty, George!" Prince Toby said once the group had disappeared out of sight.

"Yeah congrats George! You finally got yourself a woman!" Prince Tommy smirked.

"She's not my type." George muttered.

The twins didn't hear him. They just ran to the stables, leaving Clay and the Prince alone. George dragged a hand down his face and let out a long sigh. Clay said nothing.

"What do you want to do today?" The Prince asked after a moment.

"I don't know."

"Do you want to train again?"

"Um, sure I guess." Clay said. He actually wanted to cuddle with George again, but he didn't voice that thought.

They walked to the training field. Punz wasn't there, but Bad was. There was hardly anyone training today because of the visitors from L'Manberg. He lifted a hand in greeting and Bad walked over. Bad bowed deeply in front of the Prince.