The Fourth of the Month of PaleFrost
The Royal Palace
Augustus got up quickly when his mother walked into the vast hall.
He frowned.
She had paled and looked sickly. Her eyes were drooped with sorrow although her poise was still graceful and elegant.
"Mother!" He walked up to her and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, "It's a wonderful morning."
Her skin grew rosy when she looked up to him to smile, "It is, Augustus. How nice of you to greet me!"
Augustus shrugged, "The pleasure of having a mother."
The queen laughed lightly, her expression clearing up of the tension it had shown earlier.
"Where's father?"
The queen smiled as she walked with her eldest son to the table, "Father is out. He had to leave early this morning to discuss some trade matters?"
"Father himself had to leave?" Augustus quirked an eyebrow as he took his seat at the table.
The queen nodded, "Yes. He said he had been putting it off for too long. It also involves breakfast with friends who go a long way into his childhood so he decided to take the morning off and get a duty checked off as well."
Augustus shook his head, "He could have just taken the day off. Father is almost always at work."
The queen laughed, "It's the duty of the king to always be busy. There's much to do as you will see when you take the throne soon."
There was a short silence when her words had sunk into the room, both unsure of what to add.
Augustus decided to laugh gently in response before his mother hurried to ask, "Where is Elliot this morning? He's late to breakfast."
The eldest prince nodded, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if we started without him."
The queen agreed and called for the servants to begin breakfast.
~
Xyla gasped.
"Oh, Blythe! You look beautiful."
Blythe blushed bashfully, unable to meet Xyla's eyes, "Oh stop, Xyla!"
"No, really!"
The dark-haired noble sat at her friend's bed while the maids laid out the options of gowns she had to try on.
They were picking each out for the different events that would occur throughout the rest of the week.
Xyla watched Blythe stare at her reflection in the mirror, it seemed to take her breath away.
There was a flicker of an expression over her face before she whirled around, "Xyla, where is the prince? I must speak to him!"
She looked determined.
Xyla laughed before a teasing expression entered her face, "Calm down, Juliet. You cannot see Romeo until the evening!"
Blythe blushed, "I wasn't referring to him! I meant Prince Augustus!"
"Oh!" Xyla blinked in response, "Well, I mean, he's probably at breakfast now. If he said not to come down for meals it's to keep us hidden. Is it urgent?"
Blythe's face looked conflicted, "I- I really must ask him."
Xyla thought for a moment, "Well- alright, I'll wait down somewhere and see if I can get him after breakfast. It's important though that you stay here."
Xyla's heart seemed to soar at the prospect of seeing Augustus so early.
She cleared her throat, "You stay here!"
Blythe nodded with grateful eyes.
Just as Xyla alighted off the bed to make her way to the door, there was a tiny knock.
Megraye walked firmly to the door while shooting the rest a warning look.
Xyla inched away from sight and looked at the others to ensure they were silent.
Opening the door a tiny way, Megraye received a tray of food from a curious maid.
"Who is this for, Megr-"
"Thank you," the older lady shut the door straight in the other maid's face.