It was as he had expected, king Wallace had only agreed that he wouldn't choose a wife tonight, but he didn't drop the idea completely. Lucian knew what was coming, he knew that in a month or two he was going to get pressured by his father once again, and Wallace probably wouldn't stop until he succumbed to his wishes.
He didn't let that bother him though, he would deal with it when the time came. For now, he had to prepare for the party, and enjoy himself when it started.
After an hour of preparation, Lucian was accompanied by Mark into the grand hall which was a spectacle of opulence and festivity. Chandeliers glittered overhead, casting a warm glow on the elegantly dressed guests who mingled and laughed. The air was filled with the soft strains of a string quartet, accompanied by the rich voice of a soloist. Lucian entered, his expression a mask of composure, though inside he still felt a brewing frustration.
As he made his way through the crowd, exchanging polite nods and greetings, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy for those who seemed so carefree. They laughed and cried when they wanted to. He wished he could be like them, to live without being watched or controlled.
His eye caught sight of his father at the far end of the hall, surrounded by nobles and advisors. When their eyes met, Wallace gave his son a subtle nod, a silent reminder of the expectations that had been placed upon him. Lucian didn't reply, he merely turned away and tried to focus on the party. It was for him after all, and he deserved to be happy on his own birthday.
"Prince Lucian, over here!" A familiar voice called out, breaking his reverie. It was Rosaline, looking radiant in a deep green gown. She approached him with a bright smile, and for a moment, the weight on Lucian's shoulders felt a little lighter.
Rosaline had an ethereal beauty that drew the eye of everyone around her. Her long, wavy hair was a rich auburn, cascading down her back like a waterfall of fire. Her eyes were a striking shade of emerald green, framed by thick, dark lashes that accentuated their brightness. She was a beauty to behold, and even Lucian had to acknowledge her. She was the daughter of the king's advisor, Damian Goldfire, and rumors had already begun to fly around that she was Lucian's bride to be.
"Rose..." Lucian called out slowly while he admired her with his eyes. "...you look stunning."
"You don't look bad yourself." Rosaline returned a bright smile, one that revealed her perfect dentition. "You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, did your father forget to buy you a birthday present?"
Lucian chuckled at her attempt at a funny joke. A birthday gift from his father was the least of his worries. He didn't need gifts, he hadn't finished unboxing the ones he got from last year anyway. What he wanted was a break from this life, but he didn't want to burden Rose with his problems.
"I guess I'm a bit hungry." He answered before leading her away from the crowd and towards the reception table. Hungrily, Lucian grabbed a goblet of wine from the table and emptied its contents in seconds.
Pouring another cup, he offered it to Rosaline who accepted it with a smile.
"I have a little gift for you.." Rosaline whispered after taking a sip out of the cup. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, whether from the wine or excitement, Lucian couldn't tell.
"Oh? A gift?" Lucian raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. "What is it?"
Rosaline reached into the small purse she carried and pulled out a delicate, silver pendant. It was intricately crafted, with a small emerald set in the center that matched the color of her eyes. She handed it to Lucian with a shy smile.
"It has our name carved on the back, I made it myself." She bragged.
Although delighted by his present, he could definitely tell that Rosaline was trying hard to be on his good side. They were already good friends, and there was no need for her to try too hard, he would have picked her if he had been forced to pick a bride tonight. He appreciated her present, but it clearly didn't come from a place of love. As always, everyone treated him like a trophy, some kind of prize or god. He was getting tired of it all.
"Thank you.." Lucian said, his voice softening as he placed the pendant around his neck. "This means a lot to me. You've always been a good friend, Rose."
Rosaline's smile faltered slightly, perhaps sensing his underlying frustration, but she quickly masked it with a bright grin. "I'm glad you like it, Lucian. I just wanted to give you something special for your birthday."
Before Lucian could respond, a loud announcement echoed through the hall. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?" It was the royal announcer, standing at the entrance of the grand hall. "The king has a special address for his beloved son, Prince Lucian, on this joyous occasion."
Lucian's heart sank, dreading what his father might say. Steeling himself, Lucian made his way to the front of the hall where his father stood. He gave the older man a warning glare to not break his words, but the king wasn't exactly paying attention.
"Tonight, we celebrate not just my son's birthday, but also the bright future of our kingdom," King Wallace began, his voice carrying authority and pride. "Lucian has grown into a fine young man, one who will lead us with wisdom and strength. And while tonight's not the night for choosing a bride, I want to remind everyone that the future queen of Amyria will stand beside him, guiding our kingdom to even greater heights."
The crowd erupted in applause, even though many faces fell in disappointment. Lucian was relieved, for a minute he thought his father was going to double down on his words and make him choose a bride, but everything had ended well.
Putting on a practiced smile, he waved at the cheering crowd before making his way off the stage. A lot of people had already begun to crowd around him, but all Lucian could think about was getting out of the hall. There was nothing for him to do there anymore, and he didn't want to continue acting like a controlled doll throughout the night.
Lost in thoughts, he collided into another figure, one that he had not seen before.
"Watch where you're going for goodness sake!"
The tone was an unusual one, something that Lucian wasn't used to hearing except it was from his father. He regained his composure, and waited for an apology, one that never came. He had been the one not paying attention to the road, but people normally apologized to him even when he was in the wrong.
As though nothing had happened, the figure he collided into pushed past him and headed towards the grand hall without saying anymore words.
Lucian stood still for a moment, completely bamboozled by everything that had just happened. He wanted to chase after that man and make him pay for being rude to the prince, but decided it wasn't worth the effort.
He made to walk away, but only then did he realize that his neck had gotten a lot lighter. He reached for his chest to feel the pendant that Rose had given him, but made a shocking discovery instead, he had been robbed.