Blood Royals Bonus Book: Prince Adryan & the Throne

Chapter 2: The Pacifist Prince

It goes without saying that much is expected from firstborns. While some parents live vicariously through their firstborns, other expect them to follow in their exact footsteps. The crown prince is no exception. From the moment his cries echoed in the quiet halls of the palace, his father, the king, had already planned out his entire existence and poor Relian wasn't allowed to deviate from the plans.

As expected from any firstborn male born to a king, Prince Relian has to bear the burden of fulfilling all his father's ambitions. At an early age, he was presented with the best scholars money can buy to nourishil his thirst for knowledge. After all, how can one be king and be dumb? That is what his father always asks him.

Later on in his life, when he thought he had everything under control, his father started to take him to army bases. He kept telling Relian that a man needs to be tough and that all kings who have reigned in Chea Niva were powerful generals. Being the gentle creature he has always been, Relian didn't feel like he fit in. He wondered why he couldn't be normal and still rule. Treytan saw all the signs of his son's reluctance but he decided not to acknowledge his son's feelings.

On one occasion, his son's gentleness became known to other nobles when the teenage boy asked his father why innocent animals have to die so that he can feel powerful. Treytan, along with the other nobles, laughed at th young prince. It shames the boy to silence. But later on, the question troubled Treytan and he made a decision. Relian needed to be hardened and what better way than to throw him into the brutal arms of the army?

Relian did not settle in well. The king left orders that his son shouldn't be given any special treatment. If anything, he charged the army commanders with one responsibility; to make the prince's life a living hell.

The only thing that came out of three years of brutal military training was a more pacifist son than the one he sent there. Relian was more than determined to put distance between himself and anything in the semblance of the military, including the monarchy.

His troubles didn't end with his graduation from the army. They seemed to only increase because his father threw a new expectation his way; marriage. While he had no problem with settling down at some point if his life, Relian had two new predicaments. An arranged marriage and giving the monarchy heirs. None of these were not part of his plans. He wanted to find his own mate and also to be in love with her. Marrying for anything less did not make sense to the prince.

On his first diplomatic trip to a foreign country, Relian met the one most hopeless romantics would refer to as "the girl of his dreams". There was only one problem. She wasn't interested in the monarchy. She gave Relian an ultimatum. It was her or the crown. The pacifist prince chose love over duty and thus his decent into abdicating the throne.

Prince Relian's POV
I relish these slow walks.

The aim is to be seen. That's what the monarchy is about. To be seen. They are like peacocks, showing off and hoarding attention. I have different values.

A quiet existence. Meaningful relationships. Peace of mind. I don't have those things here. I have many "friends" who are around me because they want to say they are friends with the crown prince. It breaks my heart. I wish I was built like Adryan. He doesn't care. Whether you like him or not, he doesn't care. He has no need for relationships because he doesn't have a beating heart. My little brother is as cold as the Saine Neane mountains.

"You are uncharacteristically quiet even for your nature. Is it my company?" Mira leaned against my arm.

"I'm simply lost in thought dear."

I'm thinking about everything except her.

"Don't worry about the wedding. That is mine to worry about." She frowned a little. She slowly came to a stop forcing me to stop too. Life seems to be carrying on around us.