What He Does to Me (V.2)

Chapter 1

I can't believe it. I'm actually out of the castle. Granted, I haven't left this room the whole time I've been on this ship, but it's better than staying in my room at home. It's a different room, and that's something of an achievement in my book.

There is a reason as to why I am on this ship and in this room instead of my bedroom back at home. There is a summit between Luxanor, my kingdom, and the neighbouring kingdom of Neuveria. Summits happen all the time, but this one is special. Hence why I'm here. The Princess of Neuveria, Iris, has just turned eighteen and requested a summit immediately to introduce herself to the world of trade. She must intend to start with Luxanor, then move past to meeting with the royals of Aniquere and Ederri. It's admirable, the way she throws herself into action, but it leaves me feeling a bit jealous. Introduction summits happen to every royal that comes of age. Every royal except me, of course.

My door is suddenly thrown open as two servants come into the room. As they bow out of formality, I start to wonder if I'd ever seen them before. I am slightly ashamed to say that I don't recognize them. I'd bet that every servant in the castle could recognize me on sight, but I can't even return that simple courtesy. One servant positions himself to push my wheelchair, while the other carries luggage.

Things are calm as I'm being pushed out of the ship, but I can hear scrambling footsteps coming from above my head, as things are being done on deck. There are more people here than I've ever seen in my life. The atmosphere is charged with excitement, though the faces of everyone around me are completely devoid of all emotion. I have to wonder if it's just me, or if they do this for all royalty. Having never been escorted out of anywhere with a crowd as big as this, I wouldn't know.

I can see my mother and father being escorted off the ship in a separate procession. I almost begin to wonder why I'm not going with them, but I wasn't brought onto the ship with them either, so it makes sense.

I'm a bit excited. I haven't seen Princess Iris in a very long time. She and I used to play together whenever our parents met up. Or, more accurately, I'd sit and watch enthusiastically while she made up elaborate stories and gave me parts in them where I could participate by simply speaking my lines. She had enough energy for the both of us, so it didn't matter that I couldn't run around like she could. She had always been a bright kid, so we got on well despite our age gap. In a way, she's always been like my little sister. She might be the only person I've ever held a real conversation with, and is the closest thing I have to a friend.

The last time I saw Iris, she was thirteen. It's been five years since then.

I watch as the ever-grand Castle of Arlon unfolds above my head. From where I'm looking, I can't see the top of it. The style of architecture in Neuveria is quite different from what I'm used to seeing from my bedroom window. There are stained glass windows in a few places near the top of the castle depicting all sorts of colourful images of valour and courage. It's quite a sight to see.

There are rows and rows of colourful flowers growing in large flowerbeds by the castle entrance. It's so different from Luxanor, where barely anything grows at all. The sky is blue and almost cloudless and the sun lends its cheery glow to every blade of grass on the perfect lawns in front of me. The mood, as a whole, seems so much more positive here. It's easy to feel that way when the sun is out and shining. It's usually quite dark in Luxanor as bleak fogs tend to cover the sky, smothering the sun. That's just how our climate is, and there isn't much that can be done to help it. However, despite the sun being covered, it's always warm. Back home, opening my bedroom window at any time of year will yield nothing but hot air rushing into my room. The cool breeze I feel on my face now is a welcome change.

I watch the procession parallel to me as we enter the castle. My parents, the Luxite King and Queen, are the perfect picture of regality in motion. It's hard to believe we're part of the same family.