𝙎𝙃𝘼𝘿𝙊𝙒 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝙇𝘼𝙈𝙀

𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝘁𝘄𝗼

Maven

My head is pounding when I walk into the ballroom. Mother spent hours with me yesterday, and even before getting ready for this, so now I feel a little dizzy. The room tilts slightly, but I force myself to walk straight.

You are a Prince of Norta.

I place on my strongest mask and wear an easy smile. People bow or greet me and I answer back easily, using the right words with the right people. We talk politics and trends. I don't spend more time than necessary with anyone. I just need to keep up appearances.

A Red servant appears beside me as I'm talking to a member of House Iral. He carries a tray with drinks and offers it without looking at anyone or saying a word. The drink shines a tempting gold and my head feels a little funny still. I watch as the Iral man takes a glass and downs it.

"For the Prince's birthday," the man says with a smile and I tip my head in fake agreement.

"For my brother's birthday," I smile.

He grabs a second drink and I take my leave.

"If you'll excuse me," I bow my head at the man and he mirrors me.

When I'm far away enough and I make sure no one is watching, I steal a drink for myself and feel it burn hotly down my throat. The glass is out of my hand before anyone notices and I feel instantly better. My head feels lighter than before. Suddenly all the drilling thoughts quiet down a little. Not much, but some.

My feet take me around the room, sharing fake smiles and compliments with everyone. I slip behind curtains and tables with piles and piles of food, downing one more glass of the golden elixir.

I try to avoid Cal as much as possible. It'll only upset me to see him glowing in his brand-new suit. I wear one myself but it's probably not as grand as his. Probably by order of the King to make his preferred son brighter. As if he needed anything else to outshine me.

Thinking of my Father makes me bitter and angry. I don't understand how we can be related when we're so strikingly different. And when he clearly cares so little for me. If I've gained anything in this visit it's the certainty that he will never stand by me. Not as long as my brother exists. And I hate him for it. It surprises me how much anger flares inside me when I think of him now.

"You look quite unhappy at your own brother's birthday."

I turn to see a young girl with silver hair, though nothing about her suggests she holds the softness of youth. Evangeline Samos is all sharp edges.

"I'm not exactly required to look otherwise," I answer.

She raises an eyebrow and turns her gaze back to the front. I notice then that she's watching Cal, who is dancing with some other girl.

"You don't look so happy yourself," I comment.

"That is a shame," she says almost to herself. "Unlike you, I am required to at least pretend to be."

Before I can answer, a Red moves silently around us and I snatch a glass from the tray he's carrying. I should probably stop. It's my first time trying this weird drink, but it doesn't taste bad. In fact I'd say it tastes sweet, and alluringly so.

"You are too young to drink that," Evangeline points out.

"Since when has that applied to us?" We, who live in castles and between vipers that pretend to be Kings and Queens, were never allowed a childhood.

She only shrugs and goes back to staring daggers at my brother. Whatever that is about I don't understand. At this moment, it feels easier to drink and let my thoughts fall away.