Sebastian
I leaned on the banister outside her room, staring down at the busy maids and butlers getting the palace ready for our special guests today.
Fuck. All I could think about was courting Lilith. Me. Courting a woman, I fingered in the back of a carriage. A woman who's been on my mind non-stop for three God damn days.
Azazel has been nonstop growling since I let him out and climb Lilly like that. My balls fucking hurt.
I smacked my head on the banister. I shoved myself up as I headed to grab some breakfast and the documents I was going to need.
The kitchen was bustling with activities as I scooted on by. I nabbed an apple as I headed towards my father's study. Biting it, I walked in, heading towards his desk. I opened the drawer, pulling out the documents. I flipped through them.
"Yuck, the Byrums want a 0.12% tax increase on the shopping districts? Not gonna happen." I tucked that paper behind and continued reading.
"Disbanding the task force that's busting drug dealers, vetoing the slave freedom pact… Jesus. Why are they trying to undo what my father did?" I, for one, was not going to let them tarnish what he worked hard for. Just because he's not here right now didn't give them the right to try and convince me to do what they want.
"Greed is the worst human trait and people will do anything. Like making pacts with demons," Azazel chimed in.
"My pact happened because I was dying, my mother wouldn't let me go. The only greedy thing about that was love." I responded as I slid the papers back into their folder.
"Loves the worst form of greed…You'll destroy kingdoms to save someone you love," Azazel stated in a low growl. I agree. I still want to wipe the Lahnust clan off the map.
I finished off my apple as the clock chimed 8:00 am. The first carriages carrying the five great families should be here soon. I strode back into the kitchen, halting a maid before she hurriedly left.
"Can you take a plate of food up to our guest's room?" she nodded and hurried off. I would have done it, but I still needed to get dressed, and I couldn't keep getting blue balled, I wouldn't be able to make decisions for the better part of the kingdom.
I tossed on a black petticoat that had gold embroidery on it. I neatly pulled my hair out of my face, tying it back as I finished adjusting my collar. Ugh, I hate looking like this. Everything is so constricting. I reached up, pulling one strand out, letting it hit my face. Better.
I opened my door; I heard a shrill scream coming from Lilith's floor. I quickly headed there. Turning the corner, I saw a maid with the blood drained from her face as her body trembled holding the blood-soaked sheets. Lilith was bent over in a bow, profusely apologizing. The maid scurried off quickly with the ruined sheets, trying to hold back her horrified sobs.
Lilith stood up, she slightly turned my way, her eyes were glazed over with tears as she paused, looking at me. She slightly parted her lips, then closed them and headed back to her room. I wanted to go after her, but a butler announced our first guest.
"Duke Melvin Spry along with his Duchess Jacqulene Spry and Lady Marie Spry have arrived." The butler took a step to the side allowing the trio of spoiled brats to enter my domain. I scoffed as I turned to head down the stairs. I greeted them as I walked beside Duke Melvin.
"Welcome Duke Melvin, if you'll go to the dining room I'll meet you there. I'll take the duchess and the lady to the tea party set outside in our courtyard." I plastered on the fakest smile I could muster, even though every fiber of my being wanted to rip this little asshat's head off.
Marie snaked her arm around mine as she smiled at me. I rolled my eyes as Azazel gagged. We made our way outside, there was a beautiful set up in the courtyard for the women to gossip and indulge themselves while their husbands' talked politics. Marie turned to me.
"You think about that offer yet?" she smugly said. I looked down at her angrily, pulling my face into a snarl, leaning down to her I very firmly said "Fuck off."
Her eyes darted behind me, then back onto me as she smiled, grabbing my face and planting a disgusting kiss on me. I shoved her off as she giggled. "Whatever you say HUSBAND." She said loudly.
"You've lost your marbles." I hissed as I wiped her nasty taste off on the back of my sleeve. I turned to head inside, freezing as Lilith was standing there. I would have killed for any reaction other than the one she gave. Which was, absolutely. Fucking. Nothing.
Her eyes snapped up to mine, as she turned to head to the kitchen. I grumbled as I hurriedly went in her direction. I got stopped by Duke Byrum and his family. I groaned as I greeted them and took Duke Byrum to the dining room.
"You have a new maid? The red head I just saw?" Byrum asked once his wife was out of ear shot.
"No..." I didn't get to finish before he eagerly spat out. "She has a nice fat ass." My eye twitched. I snuck my foot out, tripping him. He fell over with a pathetic yelp.
"Oh, Duke! You must be careful around here, the carpet likes to bunch up, ya know?" The corner of my mouth twitched radically as I helped him up. He stammered, looked around confused then brushed himself off, nodding in agreement. Today... is testing the shit out of me.
We entered the dining hall, there were all the dukes already sitting waiting for me. We had Duke Melvin Spry who ran the area just outside of the walls of the city. We Had Duke Byrum who ran the river districts. We Had the lovely weasel of a duke, Duke William the fourth Smith, who I can't remember what the fuck he does. Let's face it, I didn't care about all these assholes.
"Welcome, Duke's Byrum, Evans, Smith, Thompson, and Spry," I sneered at them as they bowed towards me. I took my seat, and they followed. The servers in the back opened the door to bring out the beverages. The door swung back and forth, as I caught a glimpse of Lilith standing in the kitchen, staring at an apple. That look on her face that I wanted to rip off. "Just eat the fucking apple," I hissed.
"What was that, Prince Aster?" Melvin asked me as he picked up his cup, sipping on it.
"I said good morning, I know you all wish to get on with your day, so let's get this started, shall we?" I pulled the papers out of their sleeve, tapping them on the table.
"Now, Duke Byrum a 0.12% increase on taxes in the shopping district unfortunately won't happen. I can approve a 0.3%, but even that's a bit much." I folded my hands down on top of the papers as Byrum fumed.
"We need an increase; we're not making enough to keep up with the supply and demand. There's been more robberies since that new drug hit the street. We need to make up for it somehow!" My gaze flicked back to the door as Lilith leaned on the counter, taking a bite of that apple while locking her gaze with me. Jesus. I cleared my throat.
"If that's the case then why, are you, all together, wanting to get rid of our task force?" I shot back at him. He averted his gaze." Not to mention now you want to veto the slave freedom pact?"
Silence fell over the hall. Duke Spry spoke, and I immediately wanted to rip his tongue out.
"Yes, because the monsters that occupy the other regions need to learn their place. We're the only city that is strictly human, but their drugs are making their way into our walls and... their weaseling their way into palaces. So why not let them know where they belong? Below us".