Whispers in The Castle

The ball

                       Prince Kyo Saito

Sigh.... Another party... My mother is really trying to find me a bride.

I stare and look around at all the women. A party just to flaunt the leftovers of the royals and nobles. What a drag...

I walk by as women come up to me. Most of them are even older than me. Most royals would be betrothed by their fifteenth birthday. Most married by their twenty first at the latest.. yet here.. I've avoided the unwanted marriage until now.. at the age of twenty three.. sigh... I look like an old unwanted bachelor to these women.. but.. I suppose I must entertain the idea for my mothers sake...

I glance up at the portrait of my beautiful mother. Her long and straight black hair to one side.. her steel eyes look tired. I inherited a lot of her facial features. But I'm proud of that.

I glance at my reflection in the window. I look good. A white suit with royal lace and gold trim over the blazer and sleeves.. pants that show off the slim features of my lower body. The colors really make my eyes and hair pop... I've had many marriage proposals from kings and nobles of beautiful daughters. They all long for my family's Asian beauty. I've been told I almost look feminine for a man. Most might take that as an insult, but I don't mind.

I adjust my tie and look around again. Yes.. beautiful women all around me. All dressed up with their breasts propped up for display and hair down in curls. I can't deny how beautiful they look. Absolutely stunning. The only problem is.. I'm not into that.. or rather... I'm not into the female gender...

I notice a striking young blonde smile at me.

Crap.. she's gonna come talk to me now...  yep.. she approaches. Her lavender colored gown really makes her blue eyes and blonde hair stand out.

"Hello, dear prince." She greets and bows. I nod. Not really wanting to have a conversation. I can sense my father glaring. He's eager to marry me off.

Sigh...

"You look lovely." I have to make it look like I'm trying at the least. "Is that a Stallion de Noir?" I ask but I know this dress is definitely from the stallion brand. Its features are to intentional. The lace trim, the little white bows. The blonde smiles, "Why, yes. It seems you have good taste." Of course I do. I'm a prince after all. This is tiring. Listening to her go on and on about herself and her kingdom.

She's too young to be this desperate. Must have a family history of some sorts that makes her unwanted by most royals.  But then a chuckle catches my attention. I can feel my eyes widened slightly as I glance over her shoulder. There's a red headed gentleman in a dark green suit. He's speaking about traveling?

Hmph... wish I could travel.. I've never left the kingdom... barely left the castle... Thanks for my father. But he seems to love traveling. I wonder what that's like? "Excuse me." I say softly to the blonde. Crap. I didn't even get her name. I walk over to the green suited red head who's chatting with a few women. "Excuse me.." I mumbled softly. The women and man stare at me. The man smiled and bows. "Dear me.. Prince of house Saito.. What an honor to meet you." He stands up straight.

Wow. He's much taller than me. Probably the type of man every woman wants. His eyes are hazel. How pretty. Crap-getting lost in thought again. I'm here to entertain the idea of finding a bride, "Thank you, but you may call me by my name and not the house name." I say. I hate hearing my father's house name. The red head nodded, "Of course, your majesty, Prince Kyo. My name is lord Ervin Alexander." "Lord? Are you here with one of the ladies?" "Indeed. I am escorting Miss Analea of house Nagy. She is my cousin and I'd be happy to introduce the two of you." He says with that charming smile. He must be a good sweet talker with a face like that. I can't help but scrunch my nose. "No, it's fine. I'm sorry, it's just I overheard you speaking of traveling." I need to change the subject anyway. I hope he doesn't think me rude.