Hope is all he has left...
Prince Kian is supposed to be dead. He was only 8 years old when the Dark King came into his home and slaughtered his family. Now 21, he lives in hiding, grieving the family and the kingdom both lost. With no magic left...
"I really didn't want to have to do this, Zora, but you forced my hand," said Hestia as she opened the door to my bedchambers. Into the room entered the one person I wanted to see the least.
"I hear you're giving Hestia trouble over your clothing arrangements?" Kian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. I glared at him.
Hestia edged towards the door, "Is that a new pebble in the hallway? How interesting..." I barely noticed the door shutting in behind her.
"I. Am. Never. Wearing. That," I enunciated, "In fact, you will have to kill me before I even touch it." Kian just sighed and sat beside me on the bed. The pink dress was in a ball on the floor.
"I know that a lot of this is going to be hard for you," He said, leaning forward on his elbows, "but I really need you to do this."
I raised my eyebrows, "and why exactly do you need me to look like a walking personification of the color pink?" I inquired.
"Look, if my advisors are going to respect you then you'll need to have the appearance of a noblewoman."
"Tell me, Kian, how many of your advisors are women?" My fingers drummed against my knees as Kian paused.
"None of them."
"And how many women are invited to meetings with the noble families?"
"Those meetings are specifically for the heads of the noble households-"
"Who are all men," I commented, then paused for emphasis. "So it could be concluded that these noblewomen aren't very respected in the first place. Am I not correct?"
Kian flopped backward so that he was lying faceup on the bed, "You're killing me, Zora, actually killing me," He groaned.
"But am I wrong?" I asked as I turned to face him.
"...No..."
I lay on my side next to him, my head propped up on my palm, "I'll make you an offer you can't refuse," I said with a smirk, "I will wear something nice, but it will be an outfit of my choosing. You will not find me wearing anything that resembles a noblewoman. I am a warrior and your council will respect me." Kian tilted his head to the side, the warm glow of the chandelier colored his eyes a light caramel-brown. His thick hair fell across his face before he brushed it away.
"Fine," He said with a huff, reminding me of a young boy instead of a prince, "But you owe me."
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
An hour later I found myself following Kian to the Consel Chambers. Hestia had tracked down a pair of tight black pants and a navy colored peacoat that fell to just above my knees. My feet were adorned in comfortable leather boots. Hestia had pulled my hair back into a tight bun, with a few strands framing my face.
"How'd you get out of dress duty?" Areis asked from where he walked beside me, gesturing to Cayra and Tyri. Cayra wore a light blue gown, very similar to the pink one Hestia had tried to convince me to wear. Tyri wore a scandalous bright red slip, her favorite color. I felt as if she had made her own compromises.
"I have a way with words," I shrugged, smiling as Areis tried to smooth out a wrinkle in his suit jacket.
"I'm pretty sure that's not it," Areis leaned in to whisper in my ear, "I think the pwinceling has a wittle infatuation," He teased in a child-like voice.
I elbowed him in the ribs, "No way." Areis shook his head with a small smile and subtly nodded towards Kian, who was looking over his shoulder at me.
"I suppose you didn't need a dress to make a good impression. I won't question you next time," Kian said with a smirk. My cheeks flushed as I noticed Areis' quiet chuckle.
"Thanks," I managed. Kian nodded and turned back around.
"Still think there's no way?" Areis uttered.
I pinched his arm, "Not a chance."
Our conversation came to a halt as a pair of well-dressed guards opened the doors in front of us.
"Welcome back, Your Royal Highness, I see you've brought us some guests," A short man with graying brown hair called to us from the head of the long table which took up the majority of the elaborate room.
"It's good to see you, Kendry," Kian said as we all filed into the Consel Chambers. The man named Kendry moved aside so that Kian could sit at the head of the table. A handful of men in noble attire sat on either side of the table. The majority of them were looking at me and my friends with suspicion. The silence dragged on and they continued to stare.
"Kian?" I asked, quirking an eyebrow.
"Yes, Zora?''
"Do I have something on my face?'' I crossed my arms.
"Um... No?" Kian responded, obviously not knowing where I was going with this.
"Then why, pray tell, are all of your advisors staring at me as if I'm standing here for their personal entertainment?" I smirked, Tyri coughed beside me to cover up a laugh.
Kian's brown eyes shifted around the room, "It is rude to stare, gentlemen," He said with a sigh. This earned me several scowls, to which I responded with a sweet smile. "I have called this meeting together based on my findings on my journey South, I feel that all of you will be most ecstatic to hear this news," the prince continued. Kendry cleared his throat rather loudly.
"Your Highness?"
"Yes, Kendry?"
"Why were we not informed of your arrival immediately when you arrived?" Kian chuckled darkly in response to this.
"I was not aware that it was my job to inform you of my every move. Keep in mind that should anyone sitting in this room become too power hungry, there are plenty of eligible men, and women," Kian added with emphasis, looking to me with smug eyes, "that I can replace you with in a heartbeat."
The room went silent, "This just got serious," Areis whispered.
