The Curse of the Banished Book 1: The Spare Prince
Taevon was a cursed child. A child who's mother died during birth. Unfortunately, being cursed and royalty did not mix well with the people of his country. Trapped in an endless cycle of humiliat...
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The sun had barely risen when my bedroom door swung open, slamming against the wall. I had been sitting at my desk, coffee in hand, staring at the piles of papers, essays, and stacks of books. Everything I could find on magic and curses.
My head shot towards the direction of my door when the loud slam reached my ears. Upon seeing who it was, I crossed my legs and took another sip of coffee. He was a tall man with his black hair held back in a corn-braided bun. A crown sat on his head while his maroon capes draped over his shoulders, dragging on the wood floor. I didn't have to look to know his hazel eyes were practically shooting daggers at me.
By the cursed lands, I was going to need more coffee, I inwardly cursed as I turned my head back to my papers. I was not in the mood for a conversation so early, let alone a scolding for a reason I had yet to figure out. If only I could just ignore my father to the point he would disappear. But, alas, I was cursed. No such luck would even be in my direction.
"What did you say to Lady Madelyn last night?" He barked when he reached my side.
I merely took another sip of coffee. "I never spoke to a Madelyn last night." But then it dawned on me. "Unless you mean the young lady you were kind enough to pay to look in my direction."
"Really, Taevon?" He rubbed his temples. "How hard is it to have a decent conversation with someone? You send everyone screaming and I'm getting keeper letters from her mother, who is now displeased with me."
"Well," I began thoughtfully, looking up at him. "One noble is angry at you. I say you're doing pretty well."
He didn't say anything. Instead, he tapped his timekeeper and the screen projected a list of names. It kept scrolling down. "Those are the nobles who are displeased with me."
I scanned the names. "Are all of those the parents and the girls you bribed?" To say I was not amused was an understatement. "Maybe this is your sign to maybe not do that anymore."
He turned his device off, passing me a disapproving glare. "You're running out of options, son. If this family has any hope of ever being seen as normal, you must find a way to marry a well respected noble with no ties to the cursed."
"Father, if I do that, the first thing that goes wrong in that family will be blamed on me. Perhaps it is better if I figure out my own situation. Or perhaps we need to find another solution."
He leaned down to be more eye level with me. I held my breath, not wanting to make the wrong move. "I'm going to need you to start taking things more seriously. This isn't just about your future in marriage, but the future of how you will be perceived in the future. There is only so much I can do and I will not be your umbrella forever."
I nodded, showing him I understood. "Except they're too frightened of my curse. And, honestly, I don't want that misery. " I gestured to the open book on my desk. "You know, the funny thing about curses is that someone or something has to bestow it upon a person. People aren't born cursed."
