Captive

Chapter 3

Guests started arriving around 8:05. I was required to greet and thank all of them for coming. Shaking hands and making small talk, not my cup of tea. None of these people had any substance, all just pretentious and shallow people that would turn their nose up at anyone lesser than them.

Some of the greatest, most interesting people I know are commoners and peasants, and they worked right here in our kitchen. I would sit in the there as a small boy and watch as Irene, our cook, made grand dinners. She would tell me stories about when she was younger and her husband Bernard, the blacksmith would show me how to weld while telling me adventures of his youth and how he met Irene. I reveled in awe at their stories and how they were so carefree and venturesome in their younger years. It was then the idea of being king became less and less appealing to me. I could meet people and experience things that would be special to just me and those I shared it with. But no. Young prince Harold must fulfill his duties and take his place as rightful king.

I brushed off my thoughts of freedom as I began to see even more and more people arrive.

Men dressed in their best coats and formal wear. Women in full length gowns, hair all done up in intricate loops and curls. All very fake and just for show.

"You'd better get out there and start making conversation and being cordial to your guests." I turned to see my father with a short tempered look on his face.

"I wasn't the one that invited them," I quickly spat back as I turned on my heel heading toward the direction of the guests.

~~

It's already two hours into the party and I can barely stand it. Formal events were never my thing. My mother was a the same way. She had been betrothed to my father at a young age and was never really used to them and always felt uncomfortable. When she had me, her and I would spend the parties together pointing out people and making fun of them from afar. We would laugh so hard at each other's impressions of one another that it would ease the stress of the formal event. I remember the first formal party we had a little while after she died, I could barely make it through. Ever since I've never been a fan of them.

*Clink clink clink clink*

I turned my head towards my father who was standing up near his throne clinking some silverware against his chalice.

"I'd like the have everyone's attention and to thank you all for coming to my son's eighteenth birthday celebration!"

The room erupted in applause and many heads turned to me nodding and smiling in my direction.

"As you all know, my son will soon be assuming the throne, and with that he will be needing a bride by his side!"

I could feel my face turning red. Little whispers started to arise among the crowd.

"So ladies don't be shy or hesitant to approach him, he does not bite!" He chuckled. "You could be the lucky lady!" As if I was some sort of prize.

My father motioned to me over the crowd to come up next to him on the platform where the thrones sat. As soon as I reached him, girls started to make they're way forward when suddenly the large wooden entrance doors burst open.