Elements of Vidania

Chapter 4: Colin

"Geneva I think it's time you left, I've got business to attend to today. I'll have the guards make sure you aren't seen." I pick up the trousers that were previously thrown across the room and pull them up my legs.

"So soon? Not even one more for the trip?" Geneva sits up in the large bed and covers her naked body with the thick cotton blanket. Her long straightened brown hair drapes messily over the sides of her face.

"You know how this works Gen, hurry up, would you?"

"Is this what I get for letting you screw me a few times a week? Give me something in return! You haven't chosen a mistress yet, have you?" She pushes the hair behind her ears to clear her face.

"No, I haven't. I'm not an idiot Geneva, you think doing this will get you somewhere. You've laid with countless heirs and you've gotten not one seal of approval. You are a whore, not a queen of any sort. Now get out of my bed before I call the guards." I growl at the dark skinned woman before me and she frowns.

"How dare you disrespect me, my body is mine to use. That does not make me a whore!" I shake my head at her.

"No, but your motives do. You will never be my queen, and that much is evident." I nonchalantly speak.

"I could tell the world about this scandal and get my way then. How would you like that? You act all high and mighty, but you're only a prince. I could destroy everything," I quickly follow up her threat with facts.

"Do you think anyone in this entire world gives a damn about who I take to bed? Especially not a used bitch like you." I absently fall into my own personal thoughts, "I do wonder how the world would react if I could get that Princess Teav in my bed."

"You're a disgusting and vulgar man," she huffs and crosses her arms.

"If you think that then why do you keep coming back?" I walk over to the bed and move aside the drapes let loose on the side. She glares at me as I wrap my hand around her bare waist, pulling her to my lips. I pull away after a long moment and stare at her face. Her slim nose, her deep brown eyes, and her plump lips all certainly contribute to her beauty. Geneva is a catch, I'll give her that, but she could never be a suitable wife or queen. "Now out, I'm serious."

"Alright, fine my king," she says sarcastically.

"Don't patronize me."

Soon enough, Geneva leaves me and I exit the room fully dressed as well. I have a date with my parents this afternoon, and I cannot be late. I walk into the family dining room to hear my mother and father making small talk. This family room was built in order to help repair their relationship and to keep face for the public. Eventually their divorce was announced and all of the effort was for nothing, but I wonder why they chose this room to meet in.

"You don't have to pretend to like each other if your business involves me. What is it?" I break up the tasteless conversation between the two.

"Hello son, take a seat." My father motions towards the silk lined seat positioned to face them both at this circular table. I reluctantly take it.

"Colin, sweetheart, we know that the divorce has been hard on you and we wanted to know if you would like your coronation pushed back any further. It is tradition to do it at 16 but we have made allowances out of our sympathy for you." My mother speaks to me as if I am a child.

"It was quite entertaining to watch the both of you publically fight and then blame me for your absence. Then blaming me once more for having to postpone my coronation due to you being absent from the kingdom. But go ahead, call it sympathy, you never do own up to your own mistakes." A look of irritation spreads across my father's face as I speak. "I requested to wait until your immature bickering blew over, and then you both decided to take two years after that one month to prevent it even further."

"Do not disrespect your mother like that Colin," he says with a clenched jaw.

"Or what? I'm the only heir you have, and if you take too long I'll retrieve your crown myself." I smirk and lean back in my chair.

"I am your king damn it, and you will do as I say," I quickly cut him off.

"My king? You've got to be kidding me 'my king,' I didn't know you became a jester in your time away. Half the time you don't even live here and you want to talk about kings and queens? You're full of bullshit father, and you know it."

"Colin Adeen you will shut your mouth right this instant." My mother starts. "I may be growing older, but that doesn't mean you can disrespect me or your father. You think just because you've got a little bit of water in your veins that it makes you better than the rest of us when we have been training and working our entire lives to be able to man this kingdom. You want to be king? Fine, your father can give up his crown right here and right now, but there will never be a king or queen as great as us. You just refuse to live up to that truth." My mother is turning the wood under her hands into dirt without even realizing it.

"Mother, the table," I calmly say and shake my head.

"Oh," she looks down at the mess she created. She smoothes it over with her hand and turns it back into the polished wood it was before. "Where were we?"

"If we are still wondering when i'd like it, now would be fine."

"We have to plan the coronation first."

"What does that consist of? I'll plan it all if it means I finally get to rule." I eagerly rise from the cushion on the back of my seat.

"First we must invite the royalty of the nations. The kings, queens, and their heirs. Then we must invite the court and most nobleman that we are on good terms with. And most importantly, find you a queen."

"No," my fingers lace together on the table as I prepare to argue once more.

"Having a queen makes the workload a lot lighter, please consider it."

"No one here can match my abilities mother, you know that."

"You truly are self absorbed," my mother glares at me for a split second. "Eventually you'll need one, but I suppose I shouldn't worry about it until you do."

"Father hides under you, that's why you're doing all of the hard work." I turn to speak directly at my father. "I don't want to lay my burdens on the woman I love. I am a man of my own intelligence, not a man of a woman's word."

"Keep running your mouth boy, you're digging your own grave. I've spoken my peace and it is your choice to accept it." The old man speaks once more.

"You know what mother, I'll get it done as soon as possible. I'll see you later."

I walk out of the family room with my head high. My father will never best me, and he does not get to pity me. His crown is mine, and he will not disrespect my kingdom with his selfish actions ever again.