Chapter 1
The streets have never been quiet. The streetlamps flickering. On. Off.
Soft thumping of horse hooves came in like a whisper. Then it screamed when it reached a little ragged house, one that seemed to be out of place for a street so glamorous it made the people living in it poor.
Slender hand reached out to the door. No knock was heard but rather the twisting of the knob. A snow covered foot enters the house, not bothering to close the door behind him.
How rude.
A crooked smile is plastered on a face. Nose high. Lips dry and eyes wide.
Mama said this is how I get people to do the things that I want.
Gaze raised to look at the man in front of him. Curls still wet from the melted snow. Boots making its mark on the hardwood floors. The man in front of him unbothered by the sight of gold. A light cough reverberated throughout the room with no other noise to compete with it.
Red eyes stared at gold and nothing was showed. Not an ounce of expression. “What did the wind bring this humble man?”
Preposterous.
“I heard you kill.” His voice overflowed with youth but is whisked to play like an old man.
How fucking adorable.
“I don’t kill.” “You take people’s lives” Red eyes glowed with amusement. How unfortunate that the gold would never know. He wasn’t dealing – or trying to deal with one of his mother’s servants. The man in front of him oozed with experience one he would only envy.
“That I do but I do not kill.” Gold eyes mirrored anger. Nose flaring. Mind running.
This is not the way I wanted.
Wet boots tapped the floor. “What does his majesty want?”
Prince Alexander of Helmia. The heir to the throne, after his father King Alexander. A father so distant he sees his mane more. Mama rarely makes me go to the stables. His mother Queen Allisa is one who loves Alexander he most – or so she says in his ear every night after tucking in the Prince to bed.
“I want you to kill someone.” “I do not-“ “Then take lives for me.” “for you?” “Who else then?”
Uncrossing his legs, he walked up to the Prince. The boy is so thin a twitch of his fingers and bones would crack. Looking down and seeing the curve of his eyelashes, something flashed in his eyes.
“Why would the sweet Prince want to kill someone? I wouldn’t have thought that the highly praised Prince of the people would do such thing.” Like the glow of the sun as it leaves. Gold irises stared at him abruptly red and orange colored its edges.
Fucking bloody blinding.
“Oh, is the Prince angry? If you want to kill someone just because they spilled you their tea then I think the Prince has come to the wrong place. I suggest you go tell on your mommy” The man turned his back and headed towards the coffee table. Pouring himself what the Prince judged to be poor grade tea.
“ I do not wish to hear anymore preposterous language coming out of your mouth”
Feisty little thing.
“I want you to ki-, no, take my mother’s life.” Hands clenched so hard that in the quite room the crack his nimble bones made echoed.
It was no secret that the Queen favored the Prince. From morning to night the Prince would only need to be awake and his Mama would be there. The royals were never known to have healthy relationships with their children or even with the people around them. Born gold and treated like one.
The light tapping of the teaspoon seemed to distract the prince. Anger mellowing. Ears listening, silently observing the environment he turned himself in after coercing his trusted aide to sneak him in. A ragged rug below a tattered shoe. The fireplace burning red. Dingy furniture placed in an extremely organized way. The man is poor but the way he treats his house made it luxurious.
He heard of Willhelm from the gossiping maids. They say that he has no remorse in killing people. Men, women but never children. For a killer so vicious he draws a line with killing children. The bodies which double in number in a few weeks time horrified the people to never go out at night. The maids feared in going out of the castle never using their sparse free time but rather loitered in the castle mouths never stopped opening.
Alexander closed his eyes. This run down house did not suit him but it did bring him peace. His mother whom people praised to be the Queen of the People’s Hearts, is one controlling woman. Alexander didn’t need to do anything but he felt that he had been running.
I am tired.
If his mother heard of this little rendezvous of his, his leash would only get shorter, collar getting tighter until nothing would be left of him. He stared at the man in front of him who despite having the privilege of having to speak with a monarch chose to turn his back.
“Will you, no, you have to do it.” The word left the Prince’s lips like a hiss. “As much as I would like to do to His majesty’s bidding. I won't take someone else's life just because of a temper tantrum.” Willhelm faced the prince eyes neutral. Hands holding the tea he just poured.
Alexander’s eyes grew with surprise.
How dare you say no to monarch?
Willhelm unbothered of the Prince’s anger placed the teacup opposite to the chair he had sat on. Silently sitting back down on the tattered chair. Ankle on top of his nee with his hands clasped. Willhem turned to the Prince, “I am grateful for the Prince’s presence in my humble home. As a token of appreciation I would like to invite the Prince to sit down and have tea with me.” Although his lips did not contain a smile his eyes however wrinkled.
Alexander contemplated doing so but the words the man uttered did not welcome any objection, and then without his agreement he found himself sitting down. He glanced at the teacup in front of him. It lacked the gold embellishment the teacups the palace had. It was by far the plainest teacups Alexander laid his eyes on but still he und himself admiring it.
What a fine craftsmanship.
His hand reached to surround the teacup. It was smooth like the jade Mama hung on her wrist. However it was not cool but rather warm and Alexander was fond of how it warmed his cold fingers. That warmth reached o touch the tip of his heart and he yearned for more.
