Darkness and Beauty (The Fated Series, #1)

Chapter 3 - Darius - Gretel's Gossip

Every morning is the same. Wake up, wash up, eat breakfast brought in by Th omas, get dressed in the clothes Thomas picked out, and finally, read until summoned, training starts, or a special event or activity which I had no idea was in my schedule, begins.

A typical, boring morning for a typical Prince like myself.

"Anything special today, Thomas?" I look at the clothes he laid out on the foot of the bed. Cream-colored breeches, a white tunic, and a royal blue jacket with gold embroidery. A typical boring outfit.

"Not of my knowledge, Prince."

"Bummer."

Though my life is simple and ordinary aside from the crown, title, and enormous amount of wealth, I do find ways to make it interesting. For example, two cycles ago after sleeping in until late afternoon, training, and doing late lessons in the library with Aracely, I threw a small party in the training rooms to which everyone but my parents and their guards were invited. Later that night, one of the lower guards ended up with an ax lodged in his head after a young maiden claimed she could hit the bullseye in one go.

Of course, she was drunk and had horrible vision, but she did hit an eye. Just not the bullseye.

After that unfortunate event that my mother found out through the gossiping servants and her nosey Ladies in Waiting, she made me promise not to do anything else of the sort when I got bored.

It's not like I meant for any of that to happen. In fact, that's the last thing I wanted to happen, but I didn't account for the drunken actions of others. Heathens, I didn't really plan for the drunken actions of myself, but I never get drunk - in public. There's a difference.

Bored, I resort to my usual idea when I've been banned from certain entertaining activities. "Let's go into town today, Thomas."

"Come again?" His back is still turned to me. He's avoiding this. Again.

I roll my eyes and spell it out for him. "You. Me. Walking. To town."

"I heard you, I just wanted to see if you were being serious."

"Of course I'm serious! We've got nothing to do today and I don't think another party is a wise choice."

"Correction sire, you've got nothing to do today. I, however, have several chores with which I can busy myself with. You're welcome to join if you'd like."

This is why I like Thomas. Though he knows I could have him hanged for the most idiotic of reasons, he still has no fear in telling me my wrongs in my face. He's my age, so he understands most of what I'm going through despite our difference in status, and that's why I keep him around. If only I could get him to be a little more normal in other ways. He's helpful and practically the only true friend I have aside from my guard and favorite cousin.

"Oh, come on." This isn't the first time I've had to beg with him, and I doubt it'll be my last. "I'm sure one day of missing chores won't do much damage."

"Well, I guess it depends if you'd like your sheets changed after the night you had with a commoner's daughter. Or if you'd like your clothes washed and refreshed with the rose scents you love so much?" He lifts one of those auburn brown eyebrows at me, the corner of his mouth tilting upward with a teasing smirk.

Come to think of it, I don't think he's ever had a bruise on that barely tinted skin of his, and I'm tempted to give him his first.

"That can hold off for one day, Thomas. It's not like I have anything to dress for tomorrow," I mutter in frustration, brushing off his false acquisition of my bed sheets.

Despite the rumors, I don't have sex with different girls every night. Or every year. Believe it or not, I was the one to start those rumors. I knew from a young age that I was one day going to be forced to marry someone who I'd likely never met or have no interest in marrying, so I told fibs that I slept with every girl in sight – servant or commoner – just so my options would shrink when the eligible wealth came waltzing in.