𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞

𝘵𝘸𝘰

Tavitian Solana prided himself on being a reasonable person- for at least forty percent of the time. For example, discovering a hidden attic in the palace he'd explored so extensively for most of his life, and seeing a stranger inside- a stranger who definitely wasn't supposed to be there- surely elicited the very reasonable reaction of a very loud scream.

"Have you finished?" The girl asked, in such a way that Tavitian wasn't sure of its sincerity. What he was sure of, though, was that she was not as calm as she looked, if the quick rise and fall of her chest and wide-eyed stare was anything to go by.

"Just. Thank you." He smiled sarcastically. "Wh-"

"Who are you?" She asked, taking the words right out of Tavitian's mouth.

"Tavitian Solana, at your service." He swept into a low bow. Usually when he pulled that trick on new people, they stammered with awkwardness, but instead she just looked bored. He looked for any flicker of recognition in her face, but nothing. He frowned. "Don't you know who I am?"

"I'm afraid I don't usually make a habit of associating with people who scream like they're being roasted alive on a spit." She said with a teasing smile.

"Actually, I'll have you know, Raven, that I-" He started indignantly, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. "What?"

"How do you know my name?" She asked, then shook her head. "Stupid question. Of course you know my name."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm the princess of Callea. Everybody knows my name."

"Of course you are. As a matter of fact, I'm the sun." He grinned. Who did this girl think she was? He'd only called her Raven on account of her dark hair, but it seemed that was her actual name. Whoever she was, he liked her parents immediately- they must have a brilliant sense of humour.

"I'm serious. I could have you thrown in prison for making fun of me."

"Alright, Princess. I'd like to see you try, considering I'm the prince of Callea."

"Very funny."

"I'm not joking." He said, and the room fell silent. "Who else do you know who wears outfits like this?" He gestured to the gold rimmed suit his mother insisted he wore to breakfast once a week. Usually, he changed out of it at the first opportunity, but duty- in the form of adventure- had called when he'd been struck with the urge to open a door he'd always assumed was a servant's cupboard. After sprinting up the staircase - because adventure waits for no one, prince or not - he'd realised that the room most definitely was not a servant's cupboard.

"I don't understand." She said quietly, and Tavitian was hit with the urge to comfort her, to wrap her in his arms and shower her with awful jokes until she was smiling again. He stepped towards her, arms outstretched, and was hit with the strangest sensation he'd ever felt in his life.