Blood Royals Bonus Book: Prince Adryan & the Throne

Chapter 3: The Rebel Prince

From an early age, Prince Adryan has always held an opinion about everything. It doesn't matter if it will be heard or not. He believes that an opinion is a right. Many are th days he would vex His Majesty with endless questions. Every order given to him was accompanied by "why?". Unlike the crown Prince Relian, Prince Adryan had to understand his father's reasoning before he agreed to his orders.

While Treytan gave his all attention to his firstborn son, his second born son stayed in the background, unchecked on most days. Adryan learned rebellion as closely as a child learns how to walk. He mastered it and by the time the king was turning his attention to the boy, the defiance was set in stone.

Prince Adryan has never needed validation. After all, no one really paid attention to him. All the attention was on his older brother. He learned to make his own decisions amd stick to them even if they were frowned on.

His relationship with his father did not get any better because of the newest member of their family. A princess! Denied attention because of the firstborn and now no more attention because the king has a little girl. Their relationship strained beyond repair.

Normal became passing each other in hallways with brief greetings. Even small talk about the weather was too much. Sharp brutal glances and staying out of each other's way is the order of the day between them. For a time Adryan dis crave his father's love and attention. But when he got over it, that craving was replaced by the emptiness of the absence of a relationship. He sees Treytan as his commander. Nothing more.

Unlike his older brother, Adryan loves the army. He loves it so much that he often forgets that he has princely responsibilities. It's embedded in his blood to serve the army. His father doesn't question it because he knows the other son has no interest in the army.

Adryan's ambitions are the reason he moved up to General swiftly. It was by his own merit and not any bias for being the king's son. Sometimes Treytan feels threatened by the power his son possesses. He is not a trusting man and to have Adryan control the hearts and minds of his most powerful army disturbs him.

"You called for me." He bowed to his father.

Treytan looked him over. He's busy peeling an apple. This is the third one and yet they are still spongy. He cast it aside.

"Do you like sunshine?"

Adryan raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"It's a yes or no question son."

"Yes."

"Then you don't mind serving the navy down south."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. Get your affairs in order. You leave tomorrow at dawn."

Adryan knows his father is upset about his trips to the Northern Islands but he didn't realize that the consequences would be so dire.

"I am skilled to serve the army. Not the navy."

"I own a shiny gold crown that gives me the power to tell you to do anything I want. Daa Haan tomorrow at dawn. You're dismissed."

Adryan poses for a moment. He knows it is dangerous to question the king but he also knows he's being punished.

"What if I don't leave? What will you do?"

Treytan's eyes narrowed. "By all means son, stay and you'll find out."

"Is this a wise cause my liege?"

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"I'm noting your faulty judgement that is marred by your distaste of my past actions. This is about the young woman in the Northern Islands, isn't it? You are trying to punish me."