The Secrets of the Castle

Chapter 1

Ajay

I walked through the halls of the castle, searching for the right room. Aryn walked beside me, humming a soft tune. I finally reached the library entrance, Aryn being the one to swing the doors open. Surely, the youngest one of us was sitting at a table, an open book in his lap. He looked up, face remaining passive as he noticed us. He closed the book, setting it down onto the table. I glanced at the cover, strange words on it. Yet another foreign book.

"We're going to be busy for the day. You're on your own until a bit after midday." Aryn said.

"Everyone?" He asked.

"Pretty much. Dad is going to be working with Ajay and Mum is going to be working with me. Only the maids will be around in case you need anything."

"Thanks."

Aryn nodded, a smile on her face. I remained silent, my eyes trained on the floor. She was better at dealing with him anyway. Mum yelled for Aryn, her voice echoing against the walls. She frowned for a second, but a smile quickly reappeared. She ruffled my hair quickly before heading out of the library. I turned back to Arwin, the younger man already back to his book.

"Are you going to be going out?" I asked, breaking the silence.

He didn't say anything for a few moments before finally muttering, "Maybe."

"Well, don't destroy the world," I lightly joke, "Just stay safe."

He nodded, still not looking up from the book. Dad's voice rang from somewhere in the castle, yelling my name. I smiled at Arwin before dashing out of the library. I sped down the hallway, several of the guards and servants quickly moving out of my way. Come on, go faster, I pleaded. Legs aching, I reached the set of stairs, trying my best to run down them and not trip. I stopped outside the door to the room. Kneeling over, I gasped for breath. Athleticism has never been a strong suit. The door to the room opened, Dad's eyes widening with surprise as he saw me.

"Come one. We don't have all day," he said, grabbing me by the sleeve and pulling me inside.

**** **** ****

I sat on the bench, watching Reliu practice his fighting. The sun shone down from overhead, midday now upon us. Arwin should be coming back by now. He swiveled around on his foot, slashing his sword through the air. His armor shined brightly, the sun illuminating it. A small snicker escaped me as he lost his footing, falling onto the ground. He looked over at me, a blush spreading across his face.

"I, uh, meant to do that," he said, getting back onto his feet.

"Uh-huh," I smirked.

The younger man snorted, "Well then, how about you try, young Prince."

"I'm older than you," I said, standing up from the bench, "and you wouldn't want to hurt your ruler."

Reliu handed me one of the swords lying on the ground. My hand dropped as soon as he let go of it. It weighed more than what I expected, especially for something that seemed so light. I kept adjusting my grip at the handle, trying to hold it up. Maybe I should've learned how to wield a sword.

"You don't know how to hold it?" Reliu asked.

"It shouldn't be too hard to figure out."

He walked over, chuckling quietly, maneuvering himself behind me. His back pressed against mine as he adjusted my grip. I shifted my weight, trying to get as much distance between us. Heat quickly rose to my face

"Is everything alright, Prince Ajay?"

"Yes, yes. I'm alright," I stepped away from him, breaking the contact.

That was nothing. It meant nothing. After all, he was my guard, and it was unprofessional. Plus, I couldn't fall in love with a man. Mum and Dad expected me to marry a princess, form an alliance, rule the kingdom, and help it grow. Nothing else could exist besides that.

"Would you still care to spar, Prince?" Reliu smirked at me, a playful glint in his eyes.

I nodded, no words forming as I tried to speak. He chuckled, sheathing his sword. I looked down at mine, trailing my hand over the covering. Sturdy leather with patterns engraved on it.

"Do you know how to fence?" His voice startled me, my head snapping up to look at him.

"I've seen enough to know the basics."

"Alright, I'll go over a few things then," he said.

I listened carefully as he went over the rules. Some were for safety, others for winning. He gave a small salute, a customary thing for good sportsmanship. I did the same, though I'm sure I messed it up in some way or another, waiting for the match to start. He lunged forward, the tip of the sword hitting my arm.

"Come on now," he teased, "it's no fun if you just stand there. Let's try again."

I looked away, pursing my lips. Reliu laughed, the two of us doing a salute again. I swiftly dodged out of the way as he lunged forward once again. His lips twitched up into a smirk, obviously pleased. We circled around each other, no one daring to make a move. Within a flash, his sword sliced against the fabric of my shirt. I leaped back, stumbling over my feet, and fell to the ground.

Reliu swiftly pinned me down, knee resting gently on my stomach, hand on one side of me while his sword pressed against my neck. I stared into his dark brown eyes, which looked down at me. He removed his sword, dropping it down onto the ground beside him. We remained there for a few moments, just staring at each other. A loud cough broke us apart, Mum and Dad standing a few feet away.

Authors Note 

Hey everyone! A posting schedule has been laid out (finally). New updates should come out Saturday, ADT time. Thank you for reading and don't forget to comment, vote, add to your library, and follow if you like the story! I appreciate all of the support!

Don't forget to eat balanced meals, stay hydrated, and just take care of yourself, you know. Lots of people love, and support you. Happy pride month everyone and don't forget that you're valid!