Crimson jewels on the golden crown

odd one out

Lukas' pov

Finally, the day has come. I'm to be named heir for the throne, among millions of people. I'm happy about it, the people love me.

I quickly get up once I heard the dressing maid walk in, I cover myself with the covers as she places the outfit that was prepared for me that night.

I look at her until she leaves. In annoyance I get up and start to get dressed. Every night since I turned 17 I've been having dreams of a boy, his hair as brown as the leaves in autumn. His eyes are brown, but the type of brown that shines when the sun hits them just right.

Another servant walks in after I finish buttoning up my shirt.

"What could you possibly want now? You know I could throw you in the cells with the snakes for walking in on me? " I say as I turn to her.

"I'm sorry your grace but your father requested that you both ride separate carriages. As-" I cut her off.

"Because 'old first new after. ' very well." I say as I walk out.
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The sound of the crowd cheering as I walk to the center of the stair well filled my ears. I was nice to be praised. I bowed down to my father as he bestowed the crown upon my head.

"Your crown prince, heir to the throne! Lukas Waldenbeck!" The announcer shouted as the crown shouted and praised my being.

"The spoiled! " someone said in the back of the crowd. I looked upon them in confusion.

"Who said that?! " my father shouted. The crowd searched for the male.

But then the crowd split into two. Upon the split a boy walked through. He was the boy from my dreams. I stared in awe that he had the confidence to say that, knowing I could have his head for it if I pleased.

"Our prince is a spoiled brat, glamming in his wealth as we starve and die of sickness. " he says as the guards try to trap him, he somehow squeezes through their arms.

"Stop." I say as I walk down the stairwell, my father tried to stop me but I snatched my arm from him.

The boy stands there, with his arms crossed as I walk down the final step. He smiled as he saw my shoes become muddied, as if he knew I'd never wear them again.

"You know I could have your head for that. " I spit. As he chuckles.

"Then do it, " he says as he lowers his head. "I'm right here, go ahead I don't mind. "

I quickly grab his face and lift it to face mine. I went to speak, but instead a woman screeched from the crowd.

"Phillip! Mind your tongue. " she says as she limps to the boy, Phillip, I suppose.

"Mother... " he said as he backed away to catch the woman who stumbled, almost hitting the ground.

I glanced at her, then him. She was dirty, she was skinny, unhealthily skinny. He was dirty as well, his eyes had bags under them, he as well was skinny.

"Phillip this is your prince... " she said, "Please apologize. I can't afford to loose you as well. "

He looked down and bowed to me. "I apologize 'your grace'" he said sarcastically as he struggled to stand up.

I grabbed his arm and brought him up, he tried to snatch it away. "Ah, ah, ah. " I say in a cocky tone.

"You're going to work for me. "
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"You seem to be in poverty. " I say as he frowns, "I didn't mean that as an insult. " I quickly respond.

"No thanks to you. " he says, as he fills my glass with wine. I quickly grab his arm and yank him, unfortunately when I snatched him I didn't think where he'd fall. He fell right into my lap.

"... Let me up. " he says as he turned a shade of pink.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean-" I say as he quickly gets up and walks away.

I started to drink the wine. The glass soon fell empty, but a different servant attempted to serve me wine.

"Where is he? " I question as I move my hand over the cup.

"The wine boy? " she questions.

"No the monkey my father bought me the other day. " I say sarcastically. "Of course the boy. "

"Apologies your grace," I heard the boy say as I look up. "I was going to the restroom... And got lost. " he says.

"It's alright... Come... Sit. " I say softly as I push a chair out.

"I don't feel I should-" he says and I quickly cut him off.

"I command it. " I say as he walks over and sits.

We sat in silence until I finally speak. "What is it that makes you hate me so? " I say.

He glances at me as I wait for a response.

"You treat your servants as if they are not people... " he goes to say but I stop him.

"That's not the reason, your reason at my crowning seemed 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭." I say as he looks away, "don't look away, tell me. " I whisper as I gently grab his chin and turn his face towards me.

"Have you... Ever went days without eating? Without drinking a drop of water? Wearing clothes that look as if they are rags? No, because you live here, in a giant castle, eating the finest meals, drinking the rarest wines, wearing items like this. " he says as he motions to my shirt, it had a red lace, with gold streaks embroidered on the hem.

"Yet I'm wearing this now, not because I bought it, because you ordered me to have it. " he says as he motions to the plain white shirt with black pants.

I sit in silence, trying to find something to say.

"I don't see why I'm different, everyone has an opinion, not everyone cares for the 'crown prince, ' yet you force me to work for you, why? " he asks.

He turned his face away from me, my hand dropped from his face.

"Forgive me your grace, I should be working. " he says as he stands and goes to fill my cup, I grab his arm.

"Because... I dream of you. " I say.