No Explanations - ONC24

Chapter 1 - ...Ready For It?

"Every love I've known in comparison is a failure. I forget their names now, I'm so very tamed now. Never be the same now, now" - ...Ready For It?, Taylor Swift

In the middle of the night, I've thought about what would happen on this day. My parents are sitting on their thrones on my right, Damian is standing to my left. The throne room before me is lined with guards in ceremonial uniforms and my parents, Damian and myself are dressed in our nice clothes. Not that my parents aren't always wearing their nice clothes, but I like to wear more comfortable clothes when I'm alone. Or no clothes at all.

The guard with the scroll at the other end of the throne room announces the first people to come in, the first royals invited for my 21st birthday party in a week. My parents insisted on inviting all the royals of every city in the country and although it wouldn't be my choice, I'm not complaining. Many of the kings and queens have children my age and I can get along with many of them. I even dated some in the past.

Damian's family is first. His parents rule the biggest area of all of the royals, including the City of Stars and the City of Dreams. The latter is actually one of Damians, his parents have so much land they can give their son some while he is still a prince. That's why my parents like it so much that I started dating Damian.

We met years ago and I don't even remember how and where. But I didn't start dating Damian until a few months ago. Don't get me wrong, I knew he was a killer the first time that I saw him, but it wasn't love. I dated a lot of other boys over the years. It was never love. And well, some boys are trying too hard, but Damian doesn't try at all. He's somewhat younger than all of my exes, but he acts like a man. I've seen nothing better than him, so I kept him.

The other royals enter the throne room one after the other, some bow for us, others only nod respectfully with their head. All the kings and queens have the same rank, but some of them want something from us and others know we want something from them. It's all politics I never thought were interesting.

"The Aurum family, rulers of the Golden City," the scrollkeeper announces and the doors open one again to reveal four people. The King and Queen of the city and two of their daughters, two almost identical girls with the face I see in the middle of the night in my dreams.

Arora Aurum, the name I can't get myself to forget. I can forget all of their names now, but hers is burned into my memories. I don't see how the King and Queen bow their heads for my and my parents, or how Arora's little sister bows for us. I can only see her, bowing for me, avoiding my eyes.

Unlike with Damian, I know exactly when and where I met her. It was a night in late September, a party with royal children. Music was playing and everyone was happy and dancing, maybe a little drunk too. And I, I just drowned in those big blue eyes of hers. I've not forgotten about her since then. Every love I've known in comparison is a failure. I'm so very tame now, but you should see the things we do in my dreams. There, she is the most perfect girl for me and we do wonderful things. There, she is mine.

But of course, there is a catch. We can't be together. Like, not a chance. My parents have this strict rule that I can't date girls and her parents don't particularly like mine so I'm sure she's also prohibited from dating me. It's a forbidden love and she probably doesn't like me back, but I fell hard for her and it's way too late to forget about her now. But a girl can dream, right?

I didn't even notice the Aurum family had already left for the next room, the dining hall where we will have dinner after everyone is welcomed. The next family was already in front of us. I don't even know who they are, and I honestly don't care. I'm still dazed by seeing the girl I desperately want, but can't have and my mind is clouded with her face. If this is my reaction to seeing her, I have no idea how I'm going to cope with her being in my house for a whole week.

All of the invited families come and go and I try desperately to pay attention, but it's boring and my mind is on other things. I can't help the delicious daydreams of Arora flooding my thoughts. I've had more than a month to dream about what we could do if she ended up in my bedroom and I used all of that time. I'm horny on my own thoughts and I still have the long dinner party ahead of me, great.

I took Damians arm to head to the dining hall after all of the other royals were welcomed. His warm skin to mine made me feel hot, but those feelings weren't for him. I've never felt anything this strong for Damian or any other boy. My feelings for Damian are good enough to satisfy my need for love, though.

The guard at the door announced us and we walked into the dining hall. My parents walked behind us when I noticed our table on a slightly elevated stage. There, Damian's family was already seated and four empty chairs waited on us. I forced myself to look at the chairs and not let my eyes scan the room for Arora.

I sat between Damian and my mother. Our seats looked out over the room. I would have a perfect sight on Arora, wherever she was seated. I pinned my eyes on the plate before me. My parents were going to open the dinner and then everyone would be eating and chatting and I could do my best to act all chill and normal while having some kind of conversation.

Unfortunately, Damian didn't feel my need to talk about something normal and he kept quiet. But I had no idea what I would talk about with him, my mind went totally blank. My mother, however, noticed my awkwardness.

"You should get something to drink and chat with some princes and princesses on the way there," she suggested. At this point, she was just telling me to go talk to Arora, I convinced myself. So, I got up, glass in my hand and scanned the room for Arora.

She and her family were seated right along my path to the bar. I smiled. Without paying attention to anyone else, I walked right up to Arora.

"Princess Ebony, it's an honor," Arora's father said when I was getting close. "Can we do anything for you?" he asked.

"I was just looking to see if everyone was having a great time," I said casually. I was doing my best to stop my hands from trembling. I was so close to her, but she didn't look at me. Her eyes were locked on her plate while she pushed her food around.

"Yes, we're having a great time," King Aurum said. "The food is delicious, you have a great cook. Don't you think, Arora?" he asked. A shiver went through my body the way he said her name, the accent made it sound so wonderful.

"Yes," Arora said, answering her fathers question. "If you don't mind me," she said, "I will be getting something to drink." Still, she avoided my eyes. Even when she got up from her chair.

"I was just about to do the same," I said. I couldn't suppress my smile when we walked over to the bar, drinks in hand.

"I haven't seen you in a while," I said to her. I was desperate to talk to her. I wanted to do more than talk to her, but talking was a great start. "I suppose that party in September was the last time, don't you think?" I asked when Arora was giving no reaction.

"Yes, I think so," she said. Still no eye contact, she was doing everything in her power to avoid me.

We arrived at the bar and she asked for a drink, a white wine. I asked for a red wine. While we waited on our drinks, I smiled at her. Still no eye contact.

"This week is going to be my week, it's going to be parties and drinks. Are you ready for it?" I asked.

Arora kept silent, if she wanted to think about that for a moment. Then our drinks came and she took a sip. "Absolutely not," she said, while looking directly into my eyes. Then she broke our first eye contact and walked away, leaving me behind. Too stunned to speak.

But I, I see how this is going to go. If she touches me, she will never be alone. No one has to know. She should see the things we do in the middle of the night, in my dreams. I know I'm going to be with her, so I will take my time this week. Baby, let the games begin.