Boy Of The Ball ~ A Ryden AU

Ryan (4)

There is a bell tower in the center of town. Every hour, on the hour, it lets out a low pitched bong, bong, bong.

It's visible from the palace, as well, so I can see the time clearly: 10:57. Therefore, there should not be any sort of ringing.

However, I still hear it. Maybe it's the blood that's currently rushing through my ears.

Bong, bong, bong.

"Huh...?" Is the only noise I manage to make.

But can you blame me? The prince, the man I thought detested me, just admitted his love. To myself, of all people.

"I. Love. You. Now run away with me." He says again, stepping closer to me so our noses brush. I take a deep breath.

"You are royalty. I am not. You have a duty, Brendon. I do not. We cannot possibly entertain this idea. There will be search parties. Your parents will want to find you."

"We shall evade the search parties, then. Or perhaps we shall fake our deaths."

I shake my head slowly, my mouth opening and closing. "No. They will find us... you, your highness, are insane. I cannot. I will not go with you."

Brendon's face darkens, and he steps forward, fists balled. "Then why are you here?" He demands, and I gulp, scuttling backwards.

"Sir, I.." I begin, but before I can move away, before I can leave, he hauls me up by my shirt.

"Do not come near me ever again. Do not... taunt me with your beauty. Do not. Do you understand me?!" He snaps, his eyes wild. My lips part, and I try to squirm out of his grip. He releases me and then whacks me across my face, and my vision goes fuzzy for a second, I taste blood.

I kneel down to the ground in pain, my chest heaving. "Do you understand?" He growls again, and although my eyes are closed, I can sense his form looming above me.

"Y-Yes, your highness. I understand." I whisper, clutching at my face. "Good." He says finally. "Clean yourself up, then. You do have a job, after all. I will not have you looking like scum, not on the night of my... engagement."

And with that, he turns on his heel and walks off, leaving me in the dirt, my cheek stinging and my heart shattered.