Prince Angelus and Lady Saskia chatted the morning away. The talk created a friendly aura around the pavilion. They opened up to each other on many topics and found many of their interests aligned with one another.
The sweet fragrance from the burning scented candle on the table captivated their nostrils, calmed their nerves, and made them comfortable with each other's company.
Prince Angelus forgot his plan to use Lady Saskia to get away from the palace. He found respect for her in his heart and refuted any thoughts of toying with her.
"I wish to read your books one of these days, " his expressed sincerely. "If you'll allow it, " he added not to sound too demanding.
"I'd love that as long as it won't cost me my head," Lady Saskia joked.
The prince smiled brightly, his smile dropped the second, and he spotted one of his spies approaching the pavilion. He gestured to Jesper to see what was happening.
Jesper bowed his head slightly, accepting Angelus's orders. He walked out of the pavilion and cut the spy midway in his path to meet the prince. They conversed for a while.
Prince Angelus read Jesper's facial expression to understand that all wasn't well. His spy had bad news for him. Jesper concluded his talk and returned to Prince Angelus's side.
He leaned down behind the prince to whisper the message to him. "Gael Vondrak is in the palace, " he informed Prince Angelus. The prince's eyes lit up, and the joy of learning his beloved was in the palace emitted through his gorgeous eyes. "It seems word of the queen's threat to you reached the king's mistress. She's summoned him to propose a marriage alliance with Princess Elveryn, " he delivered the rest of the news.
Prince Angelus clenched his hands into fists and slammed them on the table fiercely. His friendly demeanour faded from his eyes as they darkened with rage. He was fuming mad, every inch of his body burning with a dangerous flame that promised ruin to his enemies.
"I'm going to burn this palace down with everyone inside! " he bellowed.
Lady Saskia jumped. She was caught off guard by Prince Angelus's outburst. The friendliness of the prince she saw as they conversed withered away.
Captain Davon ran his hand in his hair. He feared for the worst, prince Angelus was fired up and ready to incinerate someone. Which meant that he was probably going to be cleaning up the mess the mad prince was going to create in the palace.
"Forgive me, my lady, " Prince Angelus paid respect to Lady Saskia. "I must take your leave, " he added.
Without giving Lady Saskia a chance to respond to him, he took Jesper's help to get up and marched out of the pavilion. Dark glints playing at the back of his eyes. He pictured Princess Elveryn's head hanging over his bed. It made for a great chandelier. A creepy smile slithered its way to his lips.
"The discussion is happening in the family room with the king present. It won't be easy to contain... "
"I don't care who is presiding over the marriage proposal. Anyone who touches my man will fall, " Prince Angelus cut in. He met Jesper's concerned look with a murderous gaze. Jesper took a step back and hid behind Faber. He simply tried to offer council to his master. His words fueled Prince Angelus's anger, and rather than deter him from his plans, it motivated him.
Captain Davon blocked Prince Angelus's path. "Think this over. Going up against the king won't help you. Your relationship with him is already strained as is, " he tried to talk sense to the prince.
Prince Angelus halted. He stared blankly at his head of security. His heart thundering against the walls of his chest. "The palace looks beautiful. I wonder if it'll look just as lovely with the light of the flames as it burns to the ground? "
"Mind your tongue, my prince. The King will have your head for what you speak is treason, " Captain Davon warned.
"Not before I have his, " Prince Angelus growled. "If he dares to promise my man to his illegitimate daughter, I will kill them both," he veered around Captain Davon and marched forward.
He stormed the family room, ignoring proper etiquette of entering a room hosting the king of Sevigoria.
King Edmund looked up at the door, startled by the sudden intrusion, his eyebrows furrowed together at the sight of the crown prince. His frown deepened at the lack of greeting from the boy.
Prince Angelus glanced around the room until his gaze fell on the man of his dreams. His nails dug into his palm, angered by the audacity of his mother's rival to consider Gael for her daughter.
"Didn't your mother teach you manners, boy? " the king roared at the disrespect in front of his guests. Prince Angelus averted his gaze from Gael and looked up at his father.
"Isn't it the duty of a father to instil values to his sons. Why are you bringing my mother into my character? You should rather question my father's shortcomings, " he fired back.
His retort angered the king to the core. In front of Lord Vondrak and his sons, Prince Angelus insulted him and pointed out at his flaws as a father.
"Angelus, show some respect to Father, " Princess Elveryn spoke up for the king.
"When the king has earned my respect, then I'll show it to him, " Prince Angelus set off at his stepsister. "Respect is earned, I won't magically hand it over because he happens to wear a crown embedded with the blood of his people, " he added.
King Edmund, royal mistress Diane, prince Elveryn, Lord Vondrak, Gael, and Captain Davon gasped at his statement. The prince's anger knew no bounds or titles. He felt hurt and betrayed by his family and at Gael for considering the proposal.
"Have you lost your mind?"
Prince Angelus sneered. "You have no idea, father. I'm the craziest of all your children, " he met his father's gaze and held it. King Edmund gulped. He brushed off the shiver, running down his spine and putting up a strong front. She refuses to back down and give in to his son's disrespect.
It was the first time Prince Angelus confronted him bluntly without regard. In his eyes, King Edmund saw the burning flame that danced around with devious intents. He swallowed the lump in his throat hard.
"What is this all about? " King Edmund inquired to know the reason for his anger.
"Love!" Prince Angelus declared. Cold sweat trickled down Gael and Captain Davon's forehead. They knew of the love prince Angelus spoke of. It wasn't one accepted by the holy church or the nation. His outburst threatened not only his position but his life.
However, Prince Angelus ceased to care the second he heard of the marriage proposal between the love of his life and his stepsister.
"Love? Whose love?" King Edmund questioned.
Captain Davon wished he could clasp his hand over Prince Angelus's lips to keep him from pouring his heart out in the heat of the moment.
Gael rose from his seat, terrified of what it would mean for Prince Angelus, who was the male to admit to being in love with him. He opened his mouth to speak when the doors burst open, and queen Rosalyn stepped in.
"Gael and princess Rose's love, " she declared openly in the room.
Prince Angelus's face drained of colour. His heart stopped beating for a second, his eyes falling weakly on his mother with tears brimming close to the surface. 'Don't do this, ' he pleaded with his mother through his eyes.