prologue
Wrote this book a while ago with my ex, but they said I could keep it, so here it is. Might need some editing, but I hope you'll enjoy it. It's a little different from what I usually write but still super gay.
Some words aren't in English, one of which is 'èmpistos'. It's originally Greek but in this story it basically means assistant to a monarch.
x- Mal
Prologue
The kingdom of Cabbrah was a splendid, bountiful nation. Often referred to as ‘the land of sunshine,’ it was regarded by many as the kingdom with the most hospitable weather. Chaddick could enjoy the natural sunlight without sweating buckets like he would in Akrin. His kingdom’s climate was that of brutal summers and even harsher winters. However, Akrin was the most technologically advanced of all the three hundred lands, and Cabbrah—unfortunately—was not.
“Ugh! How do you use this thing?” The prince’s exasperated voice filled the vehicle he was in. He shifted uncomfortably. The space was considerably large for a car but significantly small as compared to the solar-copter he had flown in with mere minutes ago. “For the life of me, I can never get accustomed to Cabbrahn technology-” He frowned at the tablet in his hands and turned it over in disdain, “It’s just so ineffective and...chunky.”
Sirus, the prince’s èmpistos, chuckled and took the tablet from his hands. Chaddick watched in a mixture of awe and mild embarrassment as Sirus pressed the power button, and the tablet turned on.
“You need to long-press, Your Highness,” Sirus handed the tablet back to the prince, “Although, I must admit it’s quite hilarious to watch you lose your temper.”
“I’m glad you find me so entertaining,” Chaddick scoffed as he was now able to operate the device. “Thank you, Sirus.”
“You’re very welcome, sire.”
Chaddick wished Sirus would call him by his name but knew that the man was far too professional to do that, no matter how many times the prince asked. He had never even seen Sirus dressed in anything short of formal attire his entire life, even on his days off. He often joked that the only love Sirus needed in his life was that of his suits. But then again, some people were simply better alone. And some people he just couldn’t imagine as anything but a pair... His parents were a great example of the latter.
He clicked on their shared profile and waited patiently as it began to ring. Instead of seeing their hologram like he normally would if he was using better technology, their faces appeared on the small screen he was holding. His mother, the queen, was sitting behind her desk while his father stood at his usual place, by her side. They were both sporting smiles on their faces, and Chaddick beamed at the sight of them.
His parents were his greatest source of joy and motivation. He not only admired them as leaders but also as the people who raised him. It had hardly been three hours since he had left Akrin, and he was already starting to miss them.
“How was the flight, Chad?” His mother spoke first.
“It was good,” He replied, “Smooth like always. I managed to watch a movie.”
“Are you excited for school?” His father spoke next, "Your final year. It's a big one."
"Graduation, then coronation," Chaddick grinned, "I can't wait to be king."
“And I can’t wait to retire,” His mother sighed, and there was collective laughter.
They gave him the usual pep-talk they’d been giving him since he first joined the school five years ago. Back then, at the unsure age of fourteen, their advice was nothing more to him than a waste of time. ‘Keep your head up. Be kind. Act like a prince’... this was all stuff he already knew and had grown up practicing his entire life. But now, hearing those words with only fifteen months to go before he was king, Chaddick was filled with a new-found determination.
“Keep your head up,” His mother said, reminding him not to let anything bring him down when he was so close to the finish line.
“Be kind,” His father urged him, not like Chaddick needed the reminder. Kindness was his greatest virtue.
“And remember,” His mother finished, “Act like a king.”
Not a prince anymore. A king.
“I won’t let you down,” he said, and even Sirus was smiling now.
A majority of the drive was spent with laughter and unimportant discussion on how lovely the Cabbrahn weather was and how his parents were looking forward to graduation. They would have spent the entire time talking but the king and queen had royal duties to attend to and Sirus still had to give Chaddick a talk about his expectations.
“Bye, Mom-” Chaddick waved, “Bye, Dad.”
“Have a lovely first day, Chad.”
“We love you, son.”
“I love you guys, too.”
His smile was reflected on the screen as soon as they hung up and he set the tablet aside before turning to give Sirus his full attention.
“Right-” The older man had his notebook out and began to read through a rather long and detailed list, “This semester you’ll be having numerous events, starting with the Kingdom Debate, followed by the Leaders’ Union, the Sports Day, the Kingdom Fair and the Royals’ Charity Gala. There will also be the graduates' field trip on the last week-” Sirus flipped a page and continued to read, “You are expected to perform to your best ability during each of these events. The Kingdom Debate gives you a chance to discuss Akrin’s beliefs, culture and visions. The Leaders’ Union is meant to prove to your peers that you’ll make a worthy and respectable king. It's the most important because kings and queens from other kingdoms will be present. And-” Sirus opened his mouth to go on, but Chaddick interrupted him.
“Will my parents be there?” He had forgotten to ask them during the call.
Sirus shrugged. “It depends on their schedule. They’ve been busy given how tense the situation with Volatos has become.” He pushed his glasses up his nose, squinted at the book and continued to read. “The Sports Day is simply meant to showcase your abilities as an individual. It is not a must that you win, but it would certainly earn you some popularity amongst the citizens since it will be a public event.”
Chaddick already knew about the Sports Day since he had participated in it in past years and had either won or come a close second to a certain young prince he didn’t like to think about.
“As for the Kingdom Fair," Sirus continued, "I’ll arrange for items to be brought from Akrin for showcasing. You just have to sit there and look pretty.”
Chaddick scoffed but didn’t argue. After all, what was a king’s life if not diplomatic relations, interactions with nobility, listening to the people’s demands and looking pretty while doing it? Sometimes, he would be expected to prevent an entire war during a ten-minute conversation and other times, he would be expected to have the most charming smile in the room. The latter wasn't too difficult, as some would argue that Chaddick's smile alone could bring about world peace.
“The last important event is the Royal’s Charity Gala. Your suit is ready, and I’ll be flying in with it to attend the event with you. It will be just like all the other galas you’ve had to attend and, depending on your popularity, you might be chosen to give a speech.” Sirus snapped his book shut and turned to raise a brow at Chaddick, “Any questions?”
The prince shook his head. He knew what was expected of him. It was what had always been expected of him: to do as well as possible, show everyone he was born for this and make Akrin proud.
“May I take this moment to say you’ve grown into a fine young man, Your Highness-” Sirus offered another one of his rare, fond smiles. “You will make a fine king, indeed. You just need to get through this final year like you have the others... with compassion, confidence and a charming smile.”
“And an amazing assistant, of course,” Chaddick added. “I don’t know where I’d be without you, Si.”
“And you’ll never have to wonder, sire.”
The rest of the drive commenced with less formal talk. Sirus recalled a day five years ago when Chaddick was merely fourteen years of age and incredibly excited to join a school full of royals like himself. There was talk about how he used to wet the bed until he was seven, how he used to hide away in the kitchen and stuff himself full when he was supposed to be attending lessons and how he once broke his arm when he jumped off the balcony at age nine because someone told him he could do anything, even fly.
“It is quite a surprise that I have managed to survive all these years watching over you,” Sirus sighed with a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. “Many people would have suffered a heart attack.”
“Many people aren’t my èmpistos,” Chaddick teased.
The older man eyed the prince with fondness before turning to face the front, where a long, winding road could be seen ascending a hill. And at the very top was the Harthgrove School for Royalty in all its shining, golden beauty. It looked like a crown atop the hill, a testament to the three-hundred kingdoms that built it. And now, over a century since its founding, it was still as glorious a symbol of unity as ever.
“It’s your final year, Your Highness,” Sirus placed his gloved hand atop Chaddick’s and gave it a soft, reassuring squeeze. “Make it count.”
Mismatched eyes sparkled with excitement for the future to come. Chaddick's face bore a smile as bright as the sun itself.
Meanwhile, in a kingdom of frost and snow, a young man his age- a fellow Crown Prince- lay shivering in his bed. His pale body was covered in a thin layer of sweat. In his eyes were tears that he wouldn’t shed.
Crown Prince Eden of Volatos grit his teeth and clenched his fists. His heart was full of rage, and in his mind circled with one name... A boy his age with mismatched eyes, brown skin and a smile like the sun.
“Chaddick," he whispered, venom on his tongue.
