Cynosure

Lucian Prodikor

I retreat back to the study after a few more moments of leaning against the tree, listening to Mother talk about idle buisness.

The wooden fortress of books, tapestry, and large lined windows make the room look apart from the palace. Whereas various rooms held memories that left a bitter taste in my mouth, the Royal Study was where I learned about politics, war, creatures, men.

It was where I hid when Mother took Eden through the gardens. Where I would wear my finest dress and pretend I was a proper princess of the Purcallidus household. Where I had met my first friend.

There was a loud banging sound from the other side of the study. Startled, I dropped the book I was holding. A heavy thud sounds next, followed by a low groan. Slowly, I get up from my seat and walk towards the ruckus.

On the floor was a brunet boy looking around my age. He had the biggest grin plastered on his face, arm wrapped around himself, no doubt clutching a brusie. He rolled from his side onto his back and finally opened his eyes. They resembled the ones I seen on visiting officials from the neighboring western provinces. Catlike with and monolids.

His amber colored eyes stared into my ink colored ones. It felt like forever before he opened his mouth to say something. Only it was not words he spoke, but the most obnoxious laugh that escaped him. It started as a low rumble in his chest, and then finally a loud yelp left his mouth. His whole body was shaking with laughter.

"W-why are you laughing?" I just couldn't understand how someone who just broken a law could be laughing. Breaking and entering any of the royal property was by far not punishable by death, but its sentence was not light either. "You. You just broke into the royal study. Through the window! This is outragous. You must leave immediately, before anyone finds out you're here. You- Who are you?"

At this, the boy just laughed even harder.

"I'm sorry. It's just," he uses one arm to sit upright. "It's just that the rumors are true. There is a pretty lady living in the royal quarters." His hair moves ever so slightly from the breeze that comes in from the now-opened window.

"I-what?" Rumors? About me?

"So? What's your name pretty lady? Or are you going to stay mysterious even after I found you?" The boy was leaning against the open window now, looking completely at ease in a flowy top that made him seem like a noble.

"I should be asking YOU that. Who are you? You broke into my study." I huffed out.

"Lucian Prodikor. Troublemaker son of Lord Zackary. Master of the sword. Resucer of various damsels in distress." He places a hand upon his hip. "Your knight in shinning armor."

I scoff. "I do not need a knight to rescue or protect me. Only delicate and weakminded people like my sister do."

"And who might that be?"

"Eden Purcallidus. My name is Gwendolyn Purcallidus, her older sister. It's a pleasure to meet you Lucian Prodikor." I stick my hand out towards him, less elegant than I've seen Mother and Eden do on multiple occasions but all the same. Lucian rasies his eyebrows in surprise but he quickly recovers. The sides of his mouth lifts up into a lopsided grin.

Instead of lightly kissing my knuckles, the proper greeting between a man and women, he grasps my hand in his; palms touching respectively facing each other.

He had just greeted me the way he would to another male, and yet I could not feel insulted in the least.

At age 9, I made my first friend.

My mind is a mess. I'm sure what to feel or think. I just wanted to take my mind off of matters regarding Mother and the heir. I changed out of the spoiled clothes, into a comfortable creme colored dress. It is so much easier to move around, breathe, think in simple clothing. I walk towards the back of the study where I placed all my favorite books and journels.

My hand reaches out to one specific volume: Venture to the outside, a Journel where I know a letter addressed to me from a few weeks back will be. Immediately flipping towards the back cover, I quickly take out the browned envelope where the words Lucian–Tamer of all is scrawled in scracthy letters with a smudged blotch of ink.

My caged friend,

It's been two days since I last broken in to save you from your boredom. I'm writing to let you know Father will be going on a political trip for a meeting with the Duke of someplace I cannot bother to remember to spell and decided that I shall accompany him. Which is crap because I don't want to attend some boring meeting filled with geezers and tension in the air. I'd much rather scale the side of the palace and have you teach me how to fold those paper toys. Of course you would already know that. As you have said before, Gwen knows and sees all.

I had a sparring match with my older brother earlier this week and I was absolutely abolished. Ed says I have potential and improved a lot but I'm still getting my ass kicked. You asked so many times for me to teach you swordfighting and never believe me when I say it's hard, but mark my words this time Gwen. Mastering the sword is no easy task like study and folding paper. Granted I'm not so good at either of those things.

Ed does not go easy on me! There are blisters still forming on my hands as I write this letter. If by the time I am back and Ed hasn't murdered me in cold blood, maybe I'll finally teach you how to hold a sword.

I hope all is well my little caged bird,

Your friend, Lucian

There's a smile on my face after reading the letter, much like every other time I reread it.I hope he comes back soon so I can tell him about what I heard Mother say. So that he'll finally teach me sword fighting. So that I'll finally have my friend back after weeks of not seeing him.

Do you guys (the readers) like the story/plot so far? >///<