The first day of the month of Palefrost,
The town of Edgecraft
Blythe Gardenlight stood in the middle of her room, shock causing her to
stay where she stood, staring into the dark of her cottage.
Prince Augustus had left moments before, promising to return the next
morning for her reply.
Slowly moving to pick a pattern of soft fabric off her table, she paused.
The work seemed so much more exhausting than before and seemed to
pay her so much less.
She dropped the fabric onto the table, annoyance surfacing into her mind.
She knew which opportunity to take advantage of but she was so unsure.
Writing to her parents crossed her mind and she hesitated.
It would take so long for her to receive a response even if she wrote
immediately.
Blythe wondered what it would have been like if Prince Augustus had
never walked into her cottage.
Taking a deep breath, she wondered why she wanted to accept his proposal
to enter something so unstable and mysterious, so unlike herself.
A knock on the door caused her to flinch.
She turned to the door, eyes wide.
The postmaster yelled through the door, "A letter for you from the folks at
your town, Blythe."
Blythe ran to the door, her thoughts scattered once more.
What timing.
Throwing the door open, she graciously accepted the letter and stayed long
enough to wave at the man as he left.
Hurrying back into the room, she ran to the light from the window that
had started to wane into the dim of the evening.
Blythe opened the letter hurriedly and sat in her chair, as if her parents'
words would counsel her on what decision to take.
The first Night of the month of Palefrost,
The Royal Palace.
Elliot Whitecrest shrugged out of the heavy coat he wore to the Royal
Court.
Hanging it onto the polished rack, the tall man walked into his large room.
No windows adorned the walls, the carpets and walls in elaborate patterns.
A large bed stood in the middle of the room, against a wall.
Prince Elliot stepped over to the large table that served as his study, strewn
with papers and documents he needed to oversee before he started the
next day.
Preparing in detail for the next day was not his general style, but the man
always looked through the schedule of the next day to ensure he wouldn't
be behind on any important information.
Taking a labored breath, he let a finger slide across the wood of the ornate
table.
Confidence had never been in scarcity for him but recent events had
shaken him at his very core.
The throne he had worked hard to be worthy of seemed inclined to his
younger brother. The lady he had been promised in marriage had betrayed
him. His older brother was no longer in line to the throne. His close friend
had been publicly humiliated and he had had no power to stop it.
The events themselves had not affected him as much as the people
succeeding because of them.
Their actions and thoughts to cause mischief rattled him.
He wanted to walk in and change the way things were being handled.
He wanted to voice his indignation and demand a reworking but he felt so
alone.
His voice didn't sound as powerful anymore.
His worth in the royal society was crumbling.
The doors of his room burst open and the young prince sighed.
Only one person walked in without the decency to knock, "Must you
interrupt me now, Augustus?"
He turned around to see his older brother walk into the room with a large
grin on his face.
Elliot sighed before he unbuttoned his vest, "I don't like when you're
happy."
"You kid!" Augustus walked in, his grin still troubling his younger brother
before he settled into the soft, comfortable bed.
Elliot leaned his strong body against the table and faced Augustus, waiting
for his brother to speak.
The two had always shared a close bond, growing up.
Recent events had only deepened the bond with both finding each other
for consolation or advice on how to proceed.
"What have you been up to?"
Augustus could barely keep the excitement out of his voice, "I've found
you a bride!"
"What?" Elliot didn't mean for the harshness of his voice to sound so
strong but his brother's words had been like a knife to his gut.
Augustus' eyes showed fear for a moment, "Elliot, listen. I have asked to
have this lovely maiden married to you. I can't have you alone when Cecil
and Aldith marry. It's- It will also bring a little more joy around here.
Maybe she'll help with our work of slowly getting you to the throne? She
seems absolutely charming."
Elliot didn't speak, his eyes burning holes into his brother's head.
Augustus' face fell, "I- maybe I should have asked you, brother, but I
happen to hear of this wonderful lady and couldn't help but imagine her
with you!"
"Do you pity me, Augustus?"
Augustus swallowed at the hurt anger in his brother's voice.
"Do I look pathetic now that my fiancé has announced she's in love with
my younger brother? My situation needs a fix from you?"
The blond man hesitated before he spoke, eyes carefully watching his
brother's face, "Elliot, Aldith made a mistake choosing Cecil over you. She
doesn't seem a lady faithful to a man and if anything, I know your worth.
You deserve someone much better. Won't you allow yourself to believe
me?"
Elliot was quiet, an unsettled, angry quiet.
Augustus sighed, "I didn't pick out a bride for you because I pitied you. I
want you to know your worth is not determined by such an annoying lady's
choice and I would like if you saw that for yourself by marrying someone
of actual value."
A nerve dodged in Elliot's jaw and Augustus swallowed in fear.
"Do what you want."