Grey eyes scanned the crowd of giggling young women. Not a single one called out to him. All of them reminded him of Cecilia. This was a bad idea. What was his grandfather thinking when he invited these lousy girls? Did he perhaps think that marriage is the only solution to his problem? He’s only sixteen! Setting him up with daughters of rich and noble Icelanders couldn’t be the only way to fix him. His uncles are absent and so are his grandparents. The royal concubines walked around in their nightwear, some of them engaging in conversation with the young girls.
Maybe he should send them all out. This was his side of the palace anyway, but Eloive thought against it. He would only get punished, and Eloive didn’t want to get whipped again, so the annoying females have to stay. He thought of conversing with one. The thought didn’t sound appealing. but he had to try.
Swallowing his fears, Eloive adjusted his clothing, a fine tunic, and black pants. His boots were far too old and worn out, but he didn’t care. Maybe if they see them. they would get the message and leave them.
Eloive walked up to the first girl who smiled at him, ignoring the one who waved.
“Could we talk?”
The girl blinked, then curtsied. “Yes, my prince.”
Just call me Eloive, he wanted to shout. He hated that goddamned title.
“Not here. Come with me to the drawing room.”
They stopped outside of the drawing room, both staring at the door. Eloive frowned, wondering why the girl hadn’t gotten in. Could she be waiting for him?
He turned to her. She was staring at him. This only made him angrier. “What?”, he barked.
She curtsied again, looking down. It only irritated him further. Stop that curtsy thing you’re doing. Keep doing it only if it will make your butt bigger.”
She gasped. Eloive rolled his eyes and pushed open the door, entering inside. He took off his tunic and frowned when he caught her looking at his chest. He didn’t want her looking at his scars, so he put it back on.
“Is this how you stare at all the males you’ve come across?”
“No, my prince.”
She was quick to deny it. A sign that she was lying.
“Do you know why you’re here…”, he trailed off.
“Samantha my prince.”
“Right. Do you know why you’re here Samantha?”
She nods. “To win your heart, my prince.”
“It’s no use trying to win my heart if I don’t have one.”
“Do not say that my prince.”
He raised a brow. “So, you’re now limiting my speech?”
“Of course, not my prince.”
Eloive sighed. He was already getting bored.
“How old are you, Samantha?”
“Seventeen my prince.”
He smiled. “Oooh, so you like younger boys?”
“I do not understand you, my prince.”
“I’m sixteen, you’re seventeen and here you are trying to win my heart.”
“Age is just a number, my prince.”
“Of course, it is. Of course, it is.”
He didn’t like her, Eloive concluded. He just didn’t know why.
“Is there anything else you’d like to know my prince?”, Samantha asked, trying to keep the conversation going?
“No, I’m good. But I will be better if you and your friends could leave the palace”
“Have we offended you, my prince?”
“No no, I just don’t like you, girls”
Her eyes widened. “Could it be that err… you like men my prince?”
Eloive choked on his spit. Samantha rushed over to him, patting his back, but the scent of her perfume made it worse. He pushed her away, coughing hard, refusing the glass of water she was handing to him.
“I don’t… Jesus… I don’t like guys Samantha. Look, what I would like is for you and your crew to leave the palace at once.”
“We’ve been given strict orders to stay and entertain you, my prince.”
“And who gave such orders?”
“The king, my prince.”
Eloive frowned. There had to be something happening on the other side of the palace for the king to issue such orders.
“Well, I think we’re done here.”
Eloive dashed out of the drawing room. All he wanted to do now was sleep. Approaching his bed chambers, Eloive noticed that his doors were wide open. he frowned, taking a cautious step inside his room. Even the guards that were usually positioned at the door were not there. Yep, something was going on at the palace.
Eloive gently closed the doors, locking them, before turning around. He edged closer and stopped when he saw a figure sitting on his bed. Gingerly, he reached for his dagger that was strapped to his thigh.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. After all, I don’t bite.”
Eloive straightened and put on the lights. His lips parted in shock as he stared at the female on his bed. She was young and dirty. Her boots were muddy and she was staining the sheets with them.
“Oops,” she said and jumped off the bed, landing on her feet.
Eloive sniffed the air. Human. What was a human girl doing in his room, and how did she get here?
She walked up to him, and Eloive took a small step back. She smiled at him, showing off her pearly whites.
“Who are you? And how did you get into my bed chambers?”
“Oh, my name is Toreh? What’s yours?”
Eloive just stared at her. Could she even hear herself? Why was she speaking as though they could be friends? Wasn’t she afraid that he could kill her? And damn that her smile. It made her overly cute. He was even more surprised when she brought out her hand. Was she expecting him to shake that dirty hand of hers?
She frowned when he didn’t take it. “You don’t shake? That’s fine.”
But he could tell from her tone that it was not fine. Swallowing hard, Eloive reached for her small but dirty fingers and threaded them with his clean fingers.
“My name is Eloive Lancaster, only son of the Crown Prince, Ruarc Lancaster, grandson of the great king Thjis Lancaster.”
Toreh frowned. “Is that how all Icelanders introduce themselves? Nevermind, can I call you Eloive?”
He nodded slowly. Just Eloive would be fine.
“How… did you get in? What are you doing here? And why are you so dirty?”
Toreh looked down at herself, as though she was just seeing the mud for the first time. “Oh, I was cleaning the horses. They kicked mud at me.”
“So, you work at the stables?”
“My sister does. I was only filling in for her because she went out to meet her boyfriend.”
“Her boyfriend huh?”
Toreh nodded. “I don’t like him. I only put up with him because he buys me sweets.”
“Sweets, eh? You like sweets Toreh?”
She nodded. “Very much.”
“So how did you get in here? Does your sister know you’re here?”
“No. And you can’t tell her I’m here. If you do… I’ll… I’ll pulp your brain!”
Eloive laughed. “You’re threatening me? A prince? Have you no fear?”
“You should be the one fearing me,” Toreh said, puffing out her chest. Eloive didn’t understand. She was as flat as a chopping board.
He laughed again. “Fine, I won’t tell your sister. And you must not tell anyone you have met me.”
She chirped, “Deal.”
Eloive smiled, sitting down on his bed. He tensed when he heard a knock on the door.
“Who could be….”
He grabbed Toreh by the arm and shoved her into a corner of the wall, pressing his body to hers.
“What are you…”
“Sshh!”
He breathed hard, relaxing only a bit when he heard the person go away. He stared down at Toreh, his chest pressing into hers. She wasn’t so flat after all, he thought as he felt something soft pushing into his chest. He exhaled sharply, staring at her lips. He didn’t want to do this, but her lips were so pink and…
Throwing caution to the wind, he lowered his head and sealed her lips with his.