The sun just began to set as the city surrounding the castle had finally quieted down.
Darius had been mindlessly wandering the main hall for what felt like hours. He paused and took a longing glance out a window, all he could see was the garden that beautified the castle. He had been gazing at that very garden for years. As a child, it brought him great joy, but now- it was like the bars of a jail cell. He couldn't see what was happening on the outside and they couldn't see him.
The tall 18 year old prince's short and wavy crimson hair appeared as bright as the sun that shone upon him. His fierce scarlet eyes were like a ruby crystal, mesmerizing for a color that was considered demonic. Marking his status was a long luxurious black cape that dragged against the ground behind him. The crest of the royal family was carefully embroidered as the center. A noble blood red lion. His black and red clothing was that of a prince without question, representing the clear stylistic approach of the frigid Elician empire to keeping warm.
There was no doubt he could be considered "conventionally attractive." His almost feminine jawline was as smooth as his stare. His milky skin was clear of any imperfections and his long eyelashes would make any of the noble women scream in envy.
Not too far from where he stood, a man in his late forties marched with a hateful glare. The servants seemed to be just as disturbed as they were around the third prince.
Silver hair with a single black strand, wolf like eyes and an experienced knight with a dominating aura. That described this man just about spot on.
"Hmm-"
He squinted his icy eyes and noticed Darius moping in the distance.
"Your highness! I've found you at last"
He ran like his life depended at it, barreling towards the prince with the largest and most goofy smile one could imagine. It certainly didn't fit his image, not even in the slightest.
For the wolf-like knight, Vincent, there was only one person who could move his cold disposition. It was without a doubt, the third prince. Without his liege's presence, the silver haired knight became a different person. As though his heart was a block of ice unable to be thawed, he didn't but give a glance at anyone trying to get his attention. He held a poisonous knife to the unfortunate who were brave enough to insult the third prince directly in front of him.
"How did the meeting go? Are you hurt? Were they mean to you? Are you hungry? You look tired."
He spat out questions and phrases faster than Darius could process them.
"Erm…..i'm fine" Darius mumbled as a singular drop of sweat rolled down his face.
This was his personal knight since age 5, Vincent Alagon. Regardless of his cold personality, he knew exactly how to care for the young prince when he had first started. Though...that was just the problem. Vincent hadn't changed his unusual form of showing his love. When Darius had turned 18 he hoped the knight would change his ways a little, yet that didn't seem to be the case.
"Remember, you won't grow if you don't sleep well!" the knight exclaimed like a worried father.
Though Darius could've easily told him all these years how he felt about being treated like a child...he couldn't find the courage to. Afterall, the only people in the empire that he felt genuinely cared for him were his men.
The Scarlet Knights of Elicia were a special force belonging to the imperial family. They were gifted to the third prince at birth by the emperor himself.
Of course, the rumors had reached them.
They almost became a myth of their own to the citizens of Elicia. They were bastards that groveled at the demonic third prince's feet and tortured whomever they pleased.
These knights were part of the select few that knew of the third prince's true nature.
Vincent was no doubt the worst of them in the public's eyes. Most knew him as "The third prince's lapdog" then any other alias he gained over years of service to the empire and royal family.
Darius hated himself for everything. He hated that the only people that respected him had their names tarnished just for their association to him.
"Vincent, my father gave me a mission, no doubt due to my coming of age"
"Mission? Are you to study new material?"
"Nay, a war mission" Darius slowly turned to look at Vincent with a light smile.
"You don't truly mean-"
Darius nodded. "I get to leave the castle," he said softly as he looked back at the garden outside.
Vincent's face didn't seem to be excited, in fact he looked like he had seen a ghost. "Your highness! That's….o-out there you"
The prince had expected this response. Afterall, Vincent never failed to be over protective in every given situation. Such an individual leaving the walls of the imperial castle would give vengeful rebels not so good ideas. Not to mention the demonic mist that would be at arms length.
"I must go to Valene. My father....I need to change his mind"
Darius had said sternly.
It wasn't the knight's place to tell the prince that it was better not to even bother pleasing such a man, but he had always thought that way.
"But-"
Darius took a deep painful breath.
"You've been ordered to recover only the materials"
Vincent said before Darius could.
"Yes…" Darius sighed.
"I'll summon the others and we shall leave at once, do what you think is right your highness, I'll be ever at your side" Vincent said respectfully with a single kneel.
"Vincent.." Darius called softly
"Yes, your highness?"
"Thank you."
Vincent smiled brightly. "You've always been too kind hearted for being in such a family" he whispered to himself fully knowing the traitorous implications.
"What was that?" Darius asked, fixated on the garden
"Its nothing"