Heartthrob of Aclea

Chapter 1 - The Meeting Was Boooooring

State Palace of Aclea – 9.00 a.m.

I blinked a few times and looked in the mirror again. I couldn't believe I was still not getting used to Maria's coffee; dark, bitter and too hot for your taste buds to handle. Maria was the head maid of palace and she always prepared the best. She knew I was not in the condition that Dad preferred so she switched off the heater and forced me to submerge in a tub of cold water. It was like drowning in an ocean of ice! Thanked to her, I was looking more gorgeous and smelling better than before, as if I was adequately sober to face the world.

'I need to cut off some bangs.' I pulled out a drawer and reached for a pair of scissors. Gently, I trimmed my silky black hair so that it was styled like a Classic French Crop. The light was dim enough for me to admire myself in the mirror whilst a jolt of joy grew inside me. My face was well defined, with a sharp jaw and angular cheekbones. The complexion of my skin went well with my perfectly blushed lips. I was wearing a black suit which defined my packs magnificently and it matched a new pair of loafers that Mum bought when she visited Melbourne last month. I had completed The Dark Prince appearance by putting in both of pearly white lenses that had been regularly cleaned by Maria. As much as I loved nature, I disliked the green colour of my eyes. It wasn't suitable for me, though I inherited it from Mum. Enough flexing around. I was ready for a boring armageddon.

I walked briskly across the main hall. Massive decorations were everywhere, including some pictures of Brian, Mum, Dad and me. A complete bunch of Royal brunettes. What a waste. No one besides The Royals were able to appreciate the beauty of them. Ethan and Elliot cautiously eyed me from the moment I exited my room until I was a foot away from thrusting my hand on the doorknob of the conference room. Dad's voice filled out all over the room with keenness. As I stepped in through crowds of lords and ladies, I wandered towards an empty chair at Brian's side with mixed feelings of anxiety, fear and a tad sleepy.

First and foremost, Dad and I had a complicated relationship which placed me at bottom in the long list of people he loved. We argued a lot. We broke things a lot. At certain points in my life, I had to look through the pages of How to Make Your Dad Happy for Dummies because I was so desperate to be loved and appreciated.

My intelligence was way higher than Brian. No offence, brother. I had aced every test during my educational period. I had won most of Academicatons – Aclea's version of Academic Decathlon – and had been awarded the best candidate for a couple times. I had done everything to impress Dad but he just... shut me out over and over again. I had bought him some cool socks, blankets and other stuff that old folks always desired. I had even got into a local medical school. Alas, my whole life, my truest dedications... were just like a sad song to him.

I was fourteen when I dyed my hair black, learned to inhale heroin, and slept with most of the girls in my school without getting any STDs – Lord blessed who created condoms and vaccine for hepatitis B. You were an angel if you did not rebel against your parents during your teenage phase. Or dare I say, you were a poor excuse of a human being because you only lived once and you didn't do what you ought to do. What you were assigned to do.

WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO PUT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST FOR GOODNESS SAKE!

To Dad, Brian was the only son that he had ever had! Brian was precious! Brian could handle the world! Brian was the brightest! Brian was–

Okay, moving on from Aaron and His Daddy's issue, I somehow feared him from lashing out, like he always did when I was a beginner to go against him during breaching my adolescence. As I sat in front of him, he nodded briefly and continued to notify all lords and ladies of their duties during Brian's coronation as The Great King of Aclea.

'The Windsors will be responsible for social events and fashions as well as the behaviour of the coroneted heads, newspapers, radio, television and government. The new Royal cypher shall be produced by this weekend. The Coronation dress code is a strict one and complicated protocol governs both robes and accessories. Everyone must obey the dress code stated. Thoroughfares such as Aclea Streets will be covered with plaster arches supporting crowns-'

'Your saliva is on my proposal, you wanker!' Brian snapped me with a forgiving hit on my back; he hit like a woman. One thing about Brian was he resembled every characteristic that Disney's Princes possessed:

Towering over six feet, check!

Has a Godly-built body, check!

A real gentleman, check!

According to recent statistics, the ratio of real gentlemen to male population around the world was one to a hundred thousand. Obviously, His Royal Highness Prince Aaron was excluded.

'Shh, no one disturbs Aaron Armitage while he is sleeping.' I muttered.

'Except, his brother, Brian Armitage'

'Not funny.'

'Seriously, wake up.'

'Zzzzzzzz'

'Aaron!' Dad broke off, reminding me as I had gone too far. Lifting my head, I took a deep breath and almost hopped when a bulb of idea lighted up in my mind.

'Dad, there's a red spider on your back! Bloody red one!'

'Get it off me! Ah!'

Such a simple prank cracked up hundreds of people in the room. I stood up hurriedly and reached down to Brian's ear. 'So long, brother. I'll see you when I see you.' And I dashed out before he could say anything.