Bella Muerte (Medieval/ Frerard)

Chapter 1

There was a loud knock on the door. “Come in.”, said Gerard.  

“My lord,” a man bowed, his red fro neatly tucked in a ponytail. “The velvet you ordered has come, if you’d want to take a look at it.”

Gerard nodded. He did not bother standing. He was sitting in front of a big wooden dressing table with a giant mirror attached to it.

“Here it is, my lord.” The man said as two other men dressed in shiny armor brought forward foldings of velvet cloth on a silver tray. Gerard stood up at once and frowned at them.

“That is crimson. I asked for the color rosy.”, he flared through his nostrils as both the men bowed and apologized. “Take it away.” 

“That was the color we could come closest to, as per your description my lord.” Both the men exited the room as Ser Raymond began speaking calmly. He was used to Gerard’s small outbursts.

“But it is not the color I had described.”

“The color crimson is highly regarded among the nobles of—”

“Oh I do get it now, the king strikes again eh? I do not care about the nobles or any rich people nonsense. You out of all people ought to know that Ray.” said Gerard and then, “I am the prince; I should get to wear what I want to.” He said it quietly with no arrogance or pride in his voice, just pain.

“I will try and get you the velvet in the right color this time, your grace.” Raymond told him, the boy looked like he wanted to cry. He was very sensitive. Not even his sisters, the princesses, were so sensitive. Ser Raymond pulled on the collar around his neck uncomfortably and wondered how the eldest Way could ever manage the throne after the king.

“You need not do that Ray.” he said, sounding hurt. “I will wear the royal blue one instead. Send it to me, will you?”

“Whatever you say, my lord.”

With that Ser Raymond bowed and got out. He really pitied the prince. The king was too harsh with him, never gave him what he wanted just because he was different from the boys his age.

“A boy should be strong and fearless for he will soon have to leave his boyhood and become a true man Raymond.” The king had once told him. “You won’t be there to save his arse all the time.”

The king had won battlefields of the east, west and the south. He had some sense of pride in him and he wanted from his sons to do nothing more but follow in their father’s step. Be a good king, in Gerard’s case since he was the eldest and the successor of the throne. The king had always wanted Gerard to take the swords but he’d end up taking paint brushes instead. He’d want Gerard to be angry at people but all Gerard did was smile politely and apologized when needed. He only got a little worked up if there was something wrong with the colors he ordered for his paintings or dresses he had asked for. Otherwise, he was as polite as a Belgian princess.