THE FORTUNIST

5. Rayton

"The Sun's Chronicle is the heirloom to crown Albenian Queens."

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The two princes of Albeny, Crown Prince Rayton and Grand Prince Lay hang out together on the exotic balcony of one of the palace buildings. The two brothers rarely meet but when they do, they find each other's company pretty satisfying. Unlike Lay who has dark hair and eyes, Rayton is fair and has blue orbs for eyes.

They are both handsome and charismatic. They are staring into the obsidian night sky dotted with a reddish half moon while sipping Glory wine. In a corner, there is a forte of weapons and bullseye targets.

"It's been a long time since we met last," Lay slurs, mildly drunk from the wine. Rayton holds his better.

"You know I've been lazy," Rayton murmurs gravely. Although he is drinking, it is quite obvious that he is in a serious mood. No, he did not call Lay here with the intentions of just hanging out.

"Lazy," Lay scoffs, "I ask the servants about you. They tell me you've upped your game quite a lot Crown Prince. You spar rather aggressively with the guards nowadays. Whatever happened to being nice?"

Rayton pours himself another cup of wine and downs it deeply. He then stands up and grabs an arrow and bow. He sets it and aims it at a target.

"You'll miss that," Lay quips, "you are drunk."

"I'm not drunk," Rayton mutters, "you are." The arrow flies way off course and over the balcony.

This knocks Lay back into reasoning for a second. Rayton is not drunk after all and Lay knows it. The only other reason that would make Rayton miss a bullseye is if he is bothered.

"That girl," Lay says, "that maid."

Rayton lets his arms fall to his sides. He stares up hard at the sky.

"I don't think she's in the palace anymore. I can no longer sense her perfume."

"She already left, quite long ago."

"Is that why you are sad? I know you were quite smitten with her."

"She was just another gold-digger."

"Are you sure? She seemed smitten with you too. Did you tell her to leave?"

"I didn't," Rayton says briskly, "she just left."

"And that made you sad."

"I kind of miss her."

"You have all the means to find her."

"I don't have any means to make her stay. Mother would never approve of her."

"But you love her."

"I am to be king. My love for Albeny takes precedence."

"Hmmn," Lay muses, then his mouth widens into a grin. "Mother must not be let into your feelings huh? I can oversee the search. Maybe I should lie that she stole something."

"Yes brother, you should oversee the search," Rayton says wryly. "And there really is no reason to lie because she did in fact, steal something."

"What?" Lay laughs. "If you love her so much then surely a bit of missing money or jewelry will not faze you."

Rayton also laughs but his is humorless.

"You are hung up on that girl," Lay snaps, "it's about time you get laid again."

"Getting laid is the least of my problems, Lay."

"As it should be. It is the easiest one to solve."

"The Winter Solstice," Rayton blurts out.