The Dead Prince and His Jester

Chapter 1 - Decisions

A skeleton sat down hovering above the desk as he sketches on a piece of parchment with quill and a charcoal crayon and other supplies scattered across the desk, his crown and black cape clinging onto a coat hanger.

A knock came and echoed across the big room, The skeleton quickly organized his desk and scrambled to get his cape and crown off the coat hanger, after a few minutes of adjusting his crown to fit in the right place he allows the person at the door to enter. "Greetings son," the skeleton with a tall complexion greeted, he nodded and bowed his skull," Greetings father," My father bent down to be at my height and I lifted my head making contact with his hollow sockets where his eyes are supposed to be if he were human." Listen, I noticed you were feeling a little down after the... incident..." I stayed silent and looked down to avoid contact with his hollow sockets,"But you have to move on, you know a proper King needs a wife, a guy just won't do," My father continued, I didn't want to listen to him, it made me feel like it was my fault. Lifting my skull back up to him I nodded," I understand father," I force myself to say, even though I didn't understand at all," You know, I think I have something that'll cheer you up," he whispered excitedly.

We walked through the halls that were filled with stained glass. I could see the eerie fog in front of a face like structure, the Zamora monument. We stop in front of a large door, opening it, it lead to the main throne room where I can see 3 skeletons balancing themselves on top of each other, they fell gracefully and picked themselves up to bow,"Greetings your majesty," they all greeted in unison, I stared at there ridiculous clothes,"Father, what is this display you put on?" I asked, my father chuckled softly as he walked and put up a hand toward them," Well since you were feeling a bit down about the incident, I thought to cheer you up by having your own Jester," He has to be kidding, he kills my boyfriend publicly to teach me a 'lesson', and now he thinks a few jesters are gonna cheer me up?! I was looking at him like he was crazy, if I had eyes they would be popping out of my skull by now. My father sighed at my reaction,"Look Hendrick, I know you cared a lot about that prince, but the show you put on, kissing the prince of the west publicly? That embarrassed us for years to come, I do not
want you to make that mistake again," My father glared hard at me, I knew it was super important to keep up the family's reputation, and a gay prince would not make a good impression to the public. "You can choose one of these 3 to put on a show, if you like it enough then that skeleton will be your jester from here on out," My father says as he walks to his throne, I glanced at the 3 in front of me and turned around just for me to hear a banging noise and look back."Your majesty," the knights burst in with a peasant in there hands,"The guards have found this intruder trying to sneak into the queens room," "Oh please, why would you want something in my wife's room, we emptied it out after she moved on to the afterlife," father glared at him like he was testing him, the guards shove the intruder up front so we could get a better look at him. That's when I noticed he had cracked, but smooth bones, white teeth and ridiculous red hair that it almost made me fall in love with him- wait a minute. I shook my head trying to get the thought out of my mind,"Son you ok?" my father asked with sincerity, he must have seen me shaking my head,"Just fine," I said with a smile, he sent back a small smile and his attention went back to the intruder." Bring him to the dungeons, I'll take care of him later," my father said as they leave with the intruder, the skeleton glance back at me as he was shoved by the knights, I stared at him longingly, fearing that I might not be able to see the beautiful skeleton again. I suddenly had an idea,"Dad?" I asked cautiously,"Yes son," he replied still looking at documents in his hands,"Can I have him as my jester if you don't have time for him," at that statement my father sat up, jaw hanging open like I was crazy,"Son you can't be serious, that boy is an intruder, a criminal!" My father tried to reason with me,"Yes but he has everything a jester needs, ridiculous red hair, sneaky personality, and he seems like someone who can tell jokes," I tried to make him see reason in my argument. I even got to the point where it annoyed him so much he grounded me for a few days, but all of that time was worth it.
We were in the corridor in the middle of the banquet, my father looking out the stained window panes longingly, he sighed, I went over to stand by him and stared out the window like he did. "Look," he said suddenly,"I've been thinking about your proposal, and seeing that you're gonna marry a princess and become king in a few years," he trailed off, I cringed at the thought of having to marry a random skeleton from another kingdom,"I'll let you make a decision, just this once," I looked at him in shock as he smiled at me, but then my hollow eye sockets seemed brighter with happiness,"Thank you father! You won't regret," I reassured him, he chuckled,"Let's get back to the party, you'll get to make decisions for Ronald then," I was confused, who is Ronald? I asked my dad,"Oh, well since you're gonna take care of the intruder from now on I thought it would be appropriate to find out his name,"Ronald," I mumbled thoughtfully.