A Prince's Harem

Silence

Lord Will,

Or just simply Will, as you are so insistent I call you even though we have never spoken in person.

I cannot believe that we have not spoken in person the many times you grace my father's court with your handsome face at your father's captain's command.

I must tell you that you are gracing my mind each and every day, my thoughts turn often to you throughout my days in my palace or my father's.

Captain Elyas Merton cannot keep us separated no matter how much he tries my dear because I want to see you and I will pull rank of I must because I want to see your gorgeous face.

My dearest Will, for all the sweetness I have often written to you, I could never make promises until today.

Today I have sent your guardian a formal request, a royal command more like, for you to grace my presence when you arrive at Court this time and I will not allow you to be kept from me any longer.

My dear, I am so excited to speak to you, not through your handler with him controlling our conversations.

I am excited to tell you all the things in person that I have conveyed in writing, to tell you how handsome you are, how much I wish to hold you.

Until I see you soon my dearest companion,
Your eternal love,
Scott Denholm xox

Will set the letter down with a small blush, excitement welling in his chest, though he quickly sobered up when Captain Elyas Merton walked through the door.

"Boy, the prince wants to see you for some reason," Merton hissed, crossing his arms as he stared down the man before him.

Will almost wished it was his father there as well so that Merton might give him a sliver of mercy.

He knew the Viscount was there at Court but he was not meant to see their father until the ball that night, so he was left in the care of Merton as he had been time and time again on their visits to the Fae Realm and King Hudson's Court.

Merton stared expectantly at the boy, waiting for an answer from him, "Speak boy."

Will stood and bowed his head in respect as little as he wanted to, "Does he say what for, Sir?" They acted like he didn't know that he was finally going to get to speak to the prince on their own accord.

Merton scowled, "No, only mentions a vague request but there isn't an option to deny the prince so follow me now boy!" He demanded, his voice cold and harsh.

Will followed obediently, hoping truly that he'd get to speak to the prince instead of having Merton speak for him as was always the case.

"You will hold your tongue, you know the rules, you stay silent and allow me to speak to the prince," Merton reminded Will in a tone that edged on dangerous to strike fear in the younger, "Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Sir," As much as Will's heart broke, they knew that he could not risk upsetting Merton, not if he wanted to remain unbruised this trip.

It was not uncommon for Will to return from these visits with more bruises than he had when they arrived, not that anyone could see because he was expected to wear long sleeves and multiple layers.

"Lord Will, son of the Viscount Renais and Captain Elyas Merton!" Owen announced once the duo has made it to the prince's drawing rooms.

Merton turned to yell at the boy for daring to announce him second but he caught sight of the prince before he could get any words out and instead opted to bow his head at his neck, "Your Royal Highness, it is an honour to be summoned before you."

Will quickly fell to his knee, kneeling in a deep bow, keeping his wings hidden beneath their shirt despite the discomfort just as he had been instructed to do, he was careful to keep their mouth shut.

"My Lord, please take a seat, I have a matter to discuss with you," Scott kindly sat, frowning as Will sat in silence and the notable lack of wings he knew that they had, Will had written about them in the past.

"Sir, this matter-" Merton started, moving to place a hand on Will's shoulder, making the half Fae tense uncomfortably, he inhaled sharply, wanting the hand off of them.

"I do not recall giving you permission to speak in my presence, Captain, I was talking to Lord Will and they are fully capable of speaking for himself on any matter I present to them," Scott cut him off harshly, "Release them and step back."

"The Viscount ordered-" Merton tried to persuade the prince against talking to the half human, fearing what the Viscount's son would reveal.

"Does the Viscount outrank me? Last I checked, a prince outranks a viscount and a captain one thousand times over, and so you will stand back and obey me, lest you want to disrespect the crown," Scott spat harshly, watching as Merton sunk into the background, unable to argue with the future king.

The silence in the room made Merton hopeful that everything would crash and burn within a manner of seconds.

"Your gloves, Will, are your wrists alright?" Scott fretted, taking Will's hand into his own out of concern, noting how the half Fae tensed again under his grasp.

Will was not brave enough to speak with Merton in the room, not wanting to give the captain any reason to be mad at him.

Before the Captain could argue, he was escorted out by Pix, one of Scott's most loyal guards with nothing more than a dismissive wave from Scott himself.

"You can let your wings out here my dear, they can't be comfortable hidden under there," Scott spoke gently, watching as Will shook his head slowly.

"You are really handsome," those were the first words Will ever spoke to the prince out of his own mouth.