Prince Charming ✓

-3-**

"People too often forget that it is your own choice how you want to spend the rest of your life."

- Rachel Wolchin

******

Aryan

I tiptoed quickly through the halls, making my way to the wing of the castle where my room was.

Everything was dark and eerie, and I found myself wishing that Soren was there with me.

Stop thinking that, I said to myself, he's leaving.

I pushed my door open silently and took off the dirty brown clothes, washing my face and combing my hair to erase any signs from the events of today.

Exhaustion became evident as I peeled the covers off my bed and slipped under them, sighing in satisfaction.

In a couple months, I would be married. I would be king. I would be busy. Stressed. Unhappy.

My mind wandered back to something Soren had said earlier: "Why do you stay?"

Why did I stay? I had never thought about leaving before. Well, I had, but I'd never considered it an actual possibility. Why was I staying if I was going to waste my life? Why didn't I leave?

I sat up in bed, suddenly wide awake.

Why did I stay?

*********

"Your mother will be back from her visit in Darenville shortly, I expect you to be on better behavior for her than you have been for me." My father said to me the next morning.

I stood stiffly in front of his throne and nodded, trying to get out of the eye-rolling habit before she got back.

"Pardon me, King Leroy, Prince Aryan," a subject rushed in and bowed to us, "Queen Regina has returned and awaits in the hall." He said, running out right after.

My father rose from his throne and stepped down, his long robe trailing behind him as he walked.

I went behind him to the main hall where my mother stood, in her red dress and golden crown.

"Hello, darling," my dad said, kissing her on the cheek and embracing her. "How was Darenville?"

"Oh, hideous." My mother gawked. "So dirty, and the people were incredibly improper. We ought to have them over here, teach them how a real castle's run."

"I'm sorry, dear. We haven't had breakfast, shall we eat?"

She nodded as a servant took her overcoat.

"You can tell me more about it then." He said, guiding her to the dining hall. I followed after them, wondering what Soren was doing.

He was probably in the kitchen, baking cookies or talking to that other girl he seems to hang out with.

A pang of jealousy went through me and I wanted to slap the idea right out of my head.

No, no, no. Bad Aryan.

"So, where did you stay?" My father asked once we were all seated.

"The guest wing of the castle, absolutely horrid." She complained. "Dust everywhere, servants actually talking to the royalty-" she cut herself off and turned to me. "Do not stoop down to the level of a servant, Aryan. Do not talk with them the same way you do everyone else." She advised me.

I almost choked when Soren walked into the room holding a tray full of plates and bowls with fruit, oatmeal, and muffins.

"King Leroy, Queen Regina," He said, bowing to them. Soren looked at me so that only I could see, a playful look on his face, and changed the tone of his voice ever so slightly. "Prince Aryan."