Suitor - A Royal Rociet Story

Chapter One

Roman groaned as he plopped onto Remus's bed. Remus, who was busy scribbling something into his notebook, looked up with a concerned face. 

"What's wrong, Ro? Mouse eat your underwear?" he added with a mischievous grin. 

Roman waved off his brother's antics and rubbed his temple. "I have to get married." 

"Yup, that's how it works. We turn eighteen in two months, good luck. Might wanna start being less picky if you want to be king in the future." 

"No one is interesting! I've met three groups of suitresses so far, and every single princess I talked to just wasn't right. We didn't click, Remus. I want to marry someone who won't be an eternal bore." he sighed.

"Well I met Logan, maybe you're looking in the wrong place," he added, with a slight chuckle. 

"I don't even want to know what that joke was about, do I? And you got lucky with him, I can't find one woman who makes my heart flutter, or that I could see myself waking up to every morning," he ranted, "I want to marry someone who actually intrigues me and doesn't just agree with everything I say to make me feel better like every princess I've met so far does. I want to be in love, Remus." 

"Roman, are you sure the issue isn't that you're not into women? I felt like that until Logan showed up and we fell in love and I realized I just wasn't attracted to any of the suitresses Mom and Dad had me meet." 

"I'm not gay, Remus. I don't care if you are, you know I support you. You're my brother, after all. But I've had crushes on women before. So it's not an attraction issue." 

"Okay fine. But have you ever had a crush on a boy before?" 

"I don't think so. There was that sous chef boy that I thought was cute, and I was really close with. But I don't know if I ever loved him." 

"Oh, Virgil? He was awesome. I think he moved castles to work for another kingdom a while ago." 

"Yeah, he works for King Patton now. I've heard he's a very nice king." Roman replied, obviously distracted.

"I wonder if he has any kids," Remus added. 

"I don't know, it wouldn't hurt to see if he has any daughters my age," Roman added, making eye contact with his brother as they reached the same conclusion at the same time. 

Scrambling off the bed, the two hurried out of Remus's messy room and ran down the large halls of the chilly castle towards their parent's room. 

Bursting through the doorway excitedly, Roman caught a glimpse of his mother's silhouette on the balcony. He pulled Remus in that direction and stopped beside his mother, who was very startled by the sudden motion. 

"Mother, does King Patton have any children?" they asked in unison.

"Remus, calm yourself. You're already engaged to that Logan fellow," her voice rang with disapproval, but she continued on, "King Patton has one child, but he is a prince. His next child is on the way, but if you're talking about marriage, I don't think an unborn baby is on the list of possible suitors." 

"How old is the prince," Remus asked, giving Roman a knowing glance, to which he earned an eye roll, "out of curiosity?" 

"He is turning eighteen in six months. Roman, please do try to win yourself a bride, the royal family needs descendants, not more rumors," she said, glancing at Remus.

Roman felt anger bubble in his stomach but had learned the hard way that his mother was a formidable force that wouldn't accept differing opinions. He wondered why his father, the quiet, loving ruler had married the stern, harsh one.  The two thanked their mother and returned to Remus's room. As Roman settled himself back onto the bed, Remus asked a nearby guard to fetch Logan and bring him to his room. 

"Mother is wrong." he spat out.

"I know, brother. You shouldn't be made to feel bad for simply being in love and wanting to marry your boyfriend." 

"My fiance. We're already engaged. I don't understand why she won't just give up with all this "we need grandkids" bullshit yet." Remus sighed, the anger in his eyes turning to fatigue. 

"I don't know either, brother. I say we take a trip into town to take our minds off of everything. You can bring Logan too." 

"Okay fine. I'll grab two jackets since Logan doesn't know he's being dragged out of the castle yet." he chuckled, heading to his closet and pulling out two green jackets with his symbol sewn onto the sleeves. 

The three set off to town, opting not to inform Logan about their mother's harsh words. While Remus and Logan chatted lightly, Roman took in the sights, the trees all covered in white from the recent snowstorm. He was excited for the Spring festival that was held annually in King Patton's kingdom. It was a huge celebration to welcome Spring back and wave goodbye to Winter. It was only a month away, since it was already March. 

He was so occupied in his thoughts he almost missed the Virgil passing by him. 

"Virgil!" he exclaimed, rushing over to the boy his age. "What are you doing back in our kingdom, I missed you!" 

Virgil chuckled and accepted his hug. "I've switched positions when I moved to Patton's place, I'm a guard now for the prince. He's in town, although I'm not sure why." 

Roman brushed it aside and chatted with Virgil for about twenty minutes, updating him on Remus and his fiance, and his current disposition with marriage. The two then caught up on Virgil's life and then Remus dragged Roman away, shouting goodbye as he was pulled towards his favorite restaurant. 

"Roman, c'mon. You need to unwind with us," Remus laughed.

"Oh yeah, because sitting in a restaurant two feet away from my soon-to-be-married brother takes my mind off of everything," he laughed, letting himself be pulled into a seat. 

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