Whispers in The Castle

Foolish Prince

Prince Kyo Saito

It's not long. I stir a bit and open my eyes.

I look up as I sit up and see Ervin smiling down at me. "Hey there, You slept for a while." You whisper.

My eyes widen. "What?.. Crap.. are we okay? Did.." I stop. Confused.

You chuckle softly at me, your hand still gently stroking my hair. "It's okay," you assure me, your voice soft and gentle. "We're fine. No one came looking for us. You slept pretty soundly." "I'm sorry.." I frown. "I didn't mean to.."

You shake your head, your thumb gently tracing my cheek. "Don't apologize," you say softly. "I don't mind. In fact..." you pause, a sly smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. "It was kind of cute to see you all sleepy and vulnerable like that."

I can't help but blush bright red. I have fallen hard for this man. This is wrong. My King, my Father will never allow this. I frown and look away. Pulling my hand away.

Ervin reaches out and gently takes my chin, turning my face back towards him. "Hey," you murmur, your voice soft but insistent. "What's wrong?" You ask.

"I've told you.. my King.. my kingdom does not allow men to be with men.. women to be with women.. And at one point.. I did love another man.. years ago.. I was young.. And the king found out..." I say this quietly.

I feel you tighten your grip on my chin gently, my eyes searching yours.

"I'm sorry," you apologize quietly, your voice filled with sincerity. "You shouldn't have to live like this, constantly hiding who you are."

I glance at Ervin and sigh. "He killed him... The king had the man I liked years ago.. Killed.. To keep me from being with him.." tears fill my eyes. "And then I was taken to be whipped for every time I saw him..."

I can see your mind turning. The thought of someone you loved, someone who meant the world to you, being killed just because of your sexuality. And being whipped as punishment, like a child being spanked for a minor transgression. It's barbaric.

"Damn..." you mutter, your grip on my chin tightening slightly even more. I pull your hand from my chin. "I don't want that to happen to you... Lord Ervin.." "I can take care of myself," you say firmly, your tone soft yet resolute. "And I don't think your King would go as far as killing a foreign lord. It'd be a declaration of war, and we both know he doesn't want that."

"I.. I'm not so sure.. He's... He's set in his ways and has a way of getting people on his side.. And there's another reason I don't go against him.."

Your eyes narrow at my words. Our hand finds one another's, our fingers intertwining, as you lean in closer. "What's the other reason?" You ask, your voice soft but insistent.

"My mother.. He is very cruel to the Queen.. And anytime I do anything wrong.. He blames her and punishes her.. If I step out of line.. it's not just I who is punished..." I explain.

The thought of her suffering because of his actions, the way he uses her as leverage to control me, it's monstrous. "Bastard..." you mutter under your breath, your grip on my hand tightening. "You've never told me this before..." "Well.. we weren't this close before." I say and force a smile.

You reach out and gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear, your touch gentle and tender.

"True," you agree, your voice soft yet firm. "But now we are. And I'm not about to let you continue living like this, living in fear and hiding who you are."

My eyes widen. "Lord Ervin, no.. We can't go against the king. Do not under any circumstances, protest."

You lean closer, your voice dropping to a soft, low tone. "You're asking me to stand by and do nothing while you suffer. I can't do that. I can't sit idly while you're being treated like this." "If not for me, for my Mother, the Queen.. I worry and fear the worst one day.. The King hates me.. my Father hates me for some reason and I think it's because of my sexuality.. I can handle it.. but my Mother?... Please.. keep this between us.." I beg. I beg with tears. I can't let my mother suffer because I fell in love with someone.