My Prince

I found myself with spare time, and also a pretty good response, so I wrote a second chapter.^^ Thanks to those who reviewed.

And a big, big, big thanks to Dino for beta-ing for me! Omg, you are my hero. I really appreciate it. You really helped me.

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As soon as the King heard that Cerwin intended to visit the shoe shop again, he knew that his carefully laid out plans would come into action a lot sooner than he wanted. The longer his sons spent together, the sooner they would discover their relationship, or the quicker something would go awry. Leo did not want gossip to spread from either his sons or from observers, to lead the people to believe that the palace had deceived them by keeping one of the twins unknown. Of course, that was exactly what the palace had done, but there were kinder words to express that, and the King wanted total control. While their meeting was going to be rather premature, the King had intended to introduce Sable to the courts when he was eighteen, so the issue wasn’t a terribly grand one. So, while his bastard brother wanted to get the meeting over and done with as soon as possible, rather insisting that the unknowing brothers meet the day after the incident, the King had done his best to sooth his brother’s mind and to not act so hastily.

He and Decklin had plotted, deciding that the meeting would take place a week after the incident. The King had kept his Prince son busy with lessons all throughout the day, and had given Cassius specific instructions not to let Cerwin near the shop again whenever he accompanied him to town on those apparently 'not-so-secret' expeditions. Meanwhile, Decklin had kept his ‘son’ busy with the shop and hadn't mentioned the impromptu visit from the Prince since then.

However, Cerwin knew for the duration of that time that something wasn’t right. His studies had never been that intense, nor had the after dinner drinks with nobles been as plentiful or arduous. While he often enjoyed the social atmosphere amongst the nobles, it got tedious with evening after evening of witty conversation, and returning (somewhat subtly), the usual flirtations from the girls that attempted to bait him.

He loved being Prince, though. It was the best position to be born in, as far as he was concerned. Better yet, there were no siblings to contend with for his father’s favour. He had always been the jewel in his father’s eye ever since mother had died, and while he had lacked a mother figure, he had always had twenty or so maids who all thought they could be a ‘mother’ for him when he was smaller. Now most of them probably wished he would bed them – ugh, the thought frankly made him feel a little ill.

For the first few days of that week, thoughts of women didn’t even come close to crossing his mind. No, instead the damn pretty shoe-maker's apprentice had lingered in his head constantly. Always torturing him, always smiling that calm smile at him, always beckoning him closer and teasing him. He couldn’t get the damn youth off his mind, and he didn’t even know his name! That was something that plagued Cerwin day and night, unable to pin a name to the being that taunted him, damning himself for not asking the pretty face what his name was.

What made it worse was over those days the Prince had had more than enough time to reinvent the boy in his mind, trying to detail him to memory. The boy had had that look about him; that slender look that reminded him a little of a female, but being so much more beautiful than a woman; and even then, Cerwin recalled an air of… refined masculinity around him. And behind the quivering, delicious, unsure mindset of his shoe apprentice, Cerwin could sense something strong behind him, something that defined his person. What else could he remember?

His scent… well, that had largely been shoes, leather and polish; but it was still a smell that would remind him of his pretty shoe apprentice. The Prince had yet to figure out his taste. What would he taste like? If he closed his eyes he could imagine… honey, and earth. Sweet and natural… subtle, and not overwhelming. It would be different to the smell of leather and polish, for his shoe apprentice looked like someone that belonged in a higher society. He didn’t look built for labour.

His touch… the daydream face of his would be… his skin would be soft and flawless. It would also be comfortably warm, while also being burning hot whenever the other’s fingers explored Cerwin’s bare skin.

And, of course, he would sound… delicious, each caress of his form eliciting dulcet, pure sounds from him.

Really, it was such shameless thinking for a member of nobility. Yet, he didn’t really care. The thoughts were in his head, weren’t they? No one else could hear him, so what did it matter that he fantasized about some commoner boy? After all, it wasn’t really a crime until you got caught.

The plentiful study he had been roped into was lost on him as he stared out of the window in his classes, steely blue eyes glassy and vacant. It had earned him a fair rebuke from his tutors, and yet he was too obsessed to care. Was this what love was? When someone captured your heart with a golden thread and bound it so tightly it was hard to breathe? When every beat in your chest conjured an image of your beloved in your head? Ah, but perhaps these were only words of a fanciful poet, Cerwin chided himself. There was no such room for such musing’s in a Prince’s head.

It didn’t stop him, however. Cerwin happened to lack a lot of resolve that way, but it didn’t matter. The only consequence he could see as everyone seemed to talk at him a lot more, which in turn made him annoyed at having his thoughts interrupted.
Only one person managed to pick up on this quiet, reserved behaviour, expressing it in the form of a hidden chuckle.

Cassius and himself were on one of their afternoon horse treks through the hunting grounds, idly walking the horses through the large wood. The fir trees were lush green, floors of soft, brown pine needles surrounding the trunks of the large trees. A ceiling of straight blue sealed off their world, giving the impression of being completely devoid of all life. Only the odd twitter of birds or the shuffle of an animal disturbed that unnerving feeling. And yet, all of this was lost to Cerwin.

Cassius’ laugh had been quiet, but the silence about them had made it sound louder, breaking the Prince’s concentration. He blinked, and frowned a moment, having been pulled from his small dream. “Really, Cassius,” he grunted, obviously not amused. “Would you care to enlighten me on what you find so terribly amusing?”

“Only if you tell me what has you so deep in thought. Really, I have never seen you that focused on anything before... And if you ask me, it looks like love,” he grinned, glancing at the Prince to flash him a teasing look. They rode side by side for the time being, and Cerwin wondered if it was worth aiming a kick at the guard. “Pray tell, what has you so head over heels?”

For a short while, the Prince remained silent, trying to keep the surprised look from his face. Was it that obvious? Even the damn guard had figured out what was wrong with him. No one else had brought it up, but maybe they were all being polite. Ick, well, Cerwin wouldn’t be played for a fool. Scowling, he turned his head away from Cassius, muttering just loud enough to hear, “No! Of course I won’t. If I tell you, you’ll tell my father. I’m not an idiot, Cass.” Well, that, and he couldn’t tell him that he was infatuated with the male shoe apprentice. A Prince! Falling for some lowly commoner. It was like a damn story. But maybe that was the attractive thing about it.

The guard laughed at that, tipping his head back as the noise echoed around the area, “I promise I won’t tell the King. I am talking to you as a friend to a friend,” he assured him with a grin. Raising a hand to the air, he winked. “You have my word, your majesty.”

This was met with a second snort. “Friends… how very forward of you to say,” Cerwin muttered playfully. After he spoke, Cerwin kept his quiet, pursing his lips as he tried to think of a safe answer, finally smiling and looking at Cassius. “Have you ever been in love, Cassius?”

The look of confusion on his guard’s face made the Prince smirk. Hah! There, how did he appreciate the awkward questions now? After a long pause, the air was finally punctured with a single word. “Love?” Cassius queried, wetting his lips. “Love… it can be defined in so many ways. Whether it be romantic love, companionable love, love for a family member. So, yes, I say that I probably have been in love.” A very safe answer indeed.

Cerwin scoffed. “Caaaass, you know what I mean. You call yourself a friend and then give me an answer anyone could give me! That is not very friendly at all…” He huffed, his shoulder sagging. It was a childish reaction, yet he knew it would elicit a proper reply from his so-called ‘friend’. The man was simple that way, and Cerwin smirked triumphantly at him when he gave in so hastily.

“Well, I don’t know, to be honest. I think I was in love once… yet it was an unrequited love.” He blushed a little, and Cerwin waited for him to continue, watching his guard with intrigue, not expecting to get something that juicy. Cassius shot him a pained look, begging him to finish his story there, but got a frown in return, urging him to continue. With a sigh, the guard looking ahead as he recounted what happened. “There isn’t much more to say than that. I loved h… them and they didn’t. And nothing would come of that love anyway. The social circumstances weren’t in move favour, so I merely moved on.,” he shrugged, his words lacking emotion after distancing himself from those memories. “But we are not talking about my murky past, we are talking about your little affections for your special someone. Do you think you’re in love?”

The Prince nodded quietly, feeling slightly awkward that he had brought it up, and then chuckled lightly. “I’m not so sure. My head has been filled with poetic thoughts, and images of this person. I cannot get them off of my mind, and I feel a tightness in my heart that I cannot shake, I can smell their scent on the gentle summer breeze... Ugh! See? I’m starting to sound like a lovestruck foppy poet already.”

Cassius laughed richly, perhaps overly so after the assault on his own love life. “I see! Well, whether it’s love or something much more lustful, it sounds like you definitely have lovesickness, my Prince. I shan’t tell the King but…” He trailed off and looked a little more serious, his mouth becoming a tight line, his eyes looking steely. “Take it from someone who loved when they weren’t allowed to. Don’t fall too far. It will end in an ache, and a scar. One that perhaps won’t hurt as much in the future, but you will look at it, and you will remember that pain. And while it will be dull, it will have branded you… My Prince, any love you feel will most likely be one that you are not allowed to feel. The King will plot your love for you, and it is advisable that you follow that path.”

Well… what did you say to that? Cerwin tried to open his mouth, but found that it was broken and refused to work. It felt dry, and he couldn’t talk. He felt guilty for feeling things for the shoe slave, suddenly feeling empty and hollow. Finally, he opened his mouth, eyes looking distant and vacant, “I… I won’t, Cassius… don’t worry.”

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It was the day of the meeting, and Decklin had been nervous all day. Several times, Sable had asked what was wrong, and each time he had brushed it off… and yet, he got the feeling the boy knew someone was up. His eyes were untrusting, and the way he spoke was tentative. The ‘father’ almost felt bad about keeping it so secretive, yet Leo wanted to tell his son what had happened, and it made sense to have the two boys present in the same room when they found out.
But it had been so, so hard no to tell him in the late afternoon, when he announced that Sable needed to pack his bags and put on good clothes.
He had obliged, but only after being told they were going on a trip, and the two of them had taken the horse and cart to the palace.

Dread filled Sable’s heart as he walked through the large oak doors to the palace, white marble coated with velvet banners and fine iron lamps boasting wealth at him. Was this… something to do with what had happened last week?
God, the boy had worried about that day while he worked. His father had been unusually quiet, and refused to talk about the Prince. The bout of flirting had been put to rest in his mind, even though it still confused him. What did this ‘trip’ mean?
Was something going to happen to him?
Maybe he was going to get locked up in the dungeons, and that was why he had everything. Maybe the Prince had ordered him here to be a… a whore. Maybe his father had sold him for his body?! Sable paled. His father wouldn’t do that to him. Sure, they needed money, but his father wouldn’t do that. Never, his father loved him and wouldn’t sell him off for… for whatever the Prince wanted. Maybe he was just jumping to conclusions… the Prince had only flirted with him a little… but he had also asked about ‘services’ and then Sable had told him to take the idea to his father! Oh God! What if he had, and his father had obliged! He was going to be a palace whore!
Sable felt a little ill, turning a little green as his father met a guard, and then the guard led the two of them away through the winding corridors of the palace. The boy wasn’t paying attention, his own wild thoughts running through his mind. Servants had taken his bags, so maybe he really was staying here! He was going to be used for… for sex! With a male! OhGodOhGodOhGodOhGod.
His breathing started to become laboured as he walked, the edges of his world becoming white and unreal. Everything was suddenly scary and large and he just wanted out.
And just when he needed his father most, the man turned to him, smiled sadly and said, “I must leave you for a moment. Please, Sabe, just follow this corridor and wait for me in the room last on the left. I’ll meet you there.” Before the boy could reply, he had left with the guard, not looking back at him.
…
Sable had never felt so alone. Taking a strengthening breath, he wet his dry lips and continued down the hall. It felt like he was walking for the first time, each step a mission, the door looming closer. What was happening? Was he really being sold?

Cerwin rounded the corner with a bored face. His father had told him to meet in the evening parlour, and that had been all. So, that was what he was doing. All day he had agonized over that damn pretty shoe apprentice, now conflicted in his feelings. It wasn’t right to love him… Or, at least lust after him or whatever he was feeling. And yet, he couldn’t deny what he felt either. Chewing on the inside of his lip, he looked up from his feet to see a figure coming in the opposite direction and-

His heart stopped.

It was… him. Him. The shoe apprentice. For a moment, he thought he had to be seeing things; that his infatuation was turning him insane, that he was going crazy. And yet after blinking several times, squinting at the figure approaching him, he confirmed that: Yes! Yes, it was his beloved! His beloved was here! What was he doing here? Perhaps he… he had been feeling the same thing, and had come to see him! Oh, whatever the reasons, it didn’t matter! Cerwin had to stop himself from running up to his vision and hugging him to see if he was real, a beaming grin on his face, feeling like he was floating.

He glided along the floor to greet him, able to see the adorable look of worry on his face. The poor thing looked so lost! Well, that was no matter. Cerwin would take him by the hand and lead him to wherever he needed to go. He would ease his heart with an affectionate smile… he would keep him safe, and offer him warmth and security. His trousers almost felt uncomfortable from simply looking at him. God, he was gorgeous… a beautiful porcelain figure. Cerwin wanted to touch him with his bare hands, instead of with gloved fingers. But, all in good time. The shoe apprentice had gotten away last time, yet he would make sure to keep him close this time… and learn his name!
But obviously, the shoe apprentice hadn’t seen him, because he headed straight for the evening parlour.
…
Perhaps he just hadn’t seen the Prince. He looked very panicked. That was it… it wasn’t because the shoe apprentice didn’t feel anything for Cerwin.
Still, he frowned a little when he walked up to the parlour, staring at the door a moment. Why had he gone in there? That was where his father had told him to go… why was the shoe apprentice here? Maybe the owner of the shoe store had complained to the King and maybe he was going to get Cerwin to formally apologize to him. Either way, he suddenly felt very insecure, like his shoe apprentice. Just what was going on?

He took a breath and entered the room, his heart stopping again when the pretty boy’s head shot up and met his gaze straight on. Cerwin felt his cheeks heating a little, standing in the doorway during that contact. The shoe boy took his breath away, and halted his mind, suddenly finding him so untouchable. He didn’t deserve someone that beautiful.
Forcing himself into the room, he took a quick glance around the room. It was still the same… a large window looking out over the sunset. There was still a little time before the sun would be in its full blazing glory, a light orange melting into the white blue of the sky, hints of purple blending between them. The mountains were black in comparison, the forest looking foreboding and unsafe. It made him feel a little safer inside the walls of the castles, even though his current infatuation was there too, seated at the large circular table, four seats prepared, along with wine and a small array of food. Odd… yet there were no servants around. Thick rugs coated the floor, the lush reds and golds of the fabric giving the room a warm, intimate feeling, lamps already lit in preemption for the dark evening. It was a nice setting, despite the unease in his chest.
Lord, he should say something…
“Good evening,” he smiled warmly to the shoe apprentice, doing a short bow before taking a seat, and quickly said afterwards, “I apologize about the last time we met, I never asked your name. It was rude of me.” He couldn’t help it if he sounded rude or forward. He’d die if he never found a name to place to this pretty face.

“G-Good evening, my Prince,” he murmured into his chest, breaking that eye contact shyly. “And my name is Sable, I am sorry for not giving it to you sooner.” Not that it was his fault, there was no opportunity to tell him!

Sable… Cerwin fondled the word in his mind, smiling to himself as he said it over and over in his head. It was a soft name, and fit his nature so perfectly. It didn’t sound harsh to the tongue, and… and… he couldn’t picture a better name for him.
The use of the word ‘my’ when coupled with ‘my Prince’ wasn’t lost on him either, feeling something tighten in his stomach at the thought of hearing Sable call him ‘his’; even if Cerwin was twisting it into the wrong context. He eased into his chair with a sigh, feeling a small peace bloom in his chest. Well, he was one step closer to the goal that he’d never ever be able to reach. Of course… Sable would never truly be his. It wouldn’t do for a commoner and a Prince to get heavily involved. Sure, the odd fling… but Cerwin wouldn’t be sated with that.

It hadn’t occurred to the Prince that others would join them, even though there were two more places set. He opened his mouth to speak, but his father and the shoeshop owner entered the room. Oh hoh hoh. Now! What was all this about? The twin’s heads both snapped to the adults with curious, silent gazes, staring at them as they both took seats. The both looked rather grave, and Cerwin was sure that his assumption was correct. The shoe store master had complained, and now the Prince was going to have to apologize for being so vulgar at the shop. Damn it! And he hadn’t even had a change to get to… know his Sable better. An uneasy quiet settled over the table, the two adults staring at the food, waiting for the other to start speaking.

Oh God! Sable knew he was right! He was going to be sold to the Prince! His father was so unhappy! He was going to trade him off for money. This wasn’t happening… Sable just wanted to go home! Nervously, he gripped the sides of his chair and rocked gently where he sat. Please let this all be fake. Please let this be something else. Anything else… Just not… some kind of sale. Please, please, please.

The King finally broke the silence with a cough, and gestured to the food, “Please, begin. There is much to talk about, and we can discuss it over the meal.”

Slowly, everyone but Sable started to tentatively pick at the food. Sable wasn’t hungry, and he’d be damned if he was going to let go of his chair and get dragged away to some whore’s chambers. Even though the spicy, sliced meats smelled delicious… and the savoury pastries looked better than anything he had ever tasted. Food was strong in the air, and yet… he didn’t want to eat. He didn’t want to accept his… new master’s meal. Ugh, he just wanted to wail and beg his father to take him home. But it didn’t look like that was going to happen any time soon.

After a while, the King spoke up again, mopping his mouth with his napkin before he said anything. “There is a reason I have asked you all here… And I think, seeing as idle talk has not sparked, I shall cut straight to the point.” Ohhh, here it came, the apology Cerwin knew he’d have to give… “There is no easy way to say this, and it is hard to know where to begin… But… when my wife, rest her soul, gave birth… there were… two children… twins.” He paused here, folding his hands on the table, waiting for either of them to make the conclusion. Slowly, it started to dawn in Cerwin, looking to the other boy. The reason why he looked so familiar but… no! He wouldn’t accept the fact that… this person might be… more than just a shoe apprentice! Hahaha, no, he was jumping to conclusions. This wasn’t happening. He’d wait for his father to say something. He look on Sable’s face told the Prince that he was having much the same thought. He looked like he had seen a ghost and was about to throw up, eyes vacant and scared.


“One of them was born sickly, the eldest, and so I had him sent away to live with my half-brother to grow stronger, out of the public eye. I intended to bring him back to the court when he turned eighteen, and introduce him as the crown Prince… however… I have had to hasten my plan. Cerwin, this it your uncle, Decklin. He is a bastard brother of mine, and yet I owe him much more than if he were a true brother of mine, for he took care of my son, Sable.”

This elicited an almost identical, “WHAT?!” from the two boys, Cerwin jumping out of his chair, slamming his fists on the table. Nonononononono! This was not happening!

A zillion thoughts ran through his head all at once, turning him red in the face as he glared at his father. How had noting been said?! Why hadn’t he told Cerwin he had a brother?! Cerwin wasn’t one to gossip, and his father knew that! If he had known, he wouldn’t have spent a week lusting after his own damn flesh and blood! This had to be some kind of joke. A prank to scare him out of the feelings he felt for Sable. Oh God! A sudden sickness rolled around in his stomach at the thought, a slow, uncomfortable shiver running down his body, making him writhe as it rode down his frame, taking a sudden breath. There had to be something wrong with him, to feel things for his own brother. Someone who looked like him. That was like being in love with yourself! Cerwin thought he was going to throw up. “Father! You are lying! Tell me you are lying! I will not accept this, this commoner as my equal and my brother!”

Sadly, the King shook his head, “I am afraid not, Cerwin. You have a twin, and elder twin… and… he shall inherit the throne, so in that sense, the two of you are not equal.”

WHAT?! WHAT WHAT WHAT?! This had to been false! His father had no tact! Suddenly, out of no where, he had a bastard uncle, a brother and now he was second to the throne! This was so unfair!! He was suddenly thrust back into the role of a lesser second son! A commoner was going to take his fucking role! He was not having that! Glaring around the table, stopping on Sable’s annoying beautiful face, he pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. He hated him now. He suddenly hated his looks, and that weak nature. It was not the look of someone who was meant to lead a country. He hated his father, for having twins, and his mother for baring a sickly child from the laboured birth. He hated her for dying on him. “NO!” He growled, shaking his head viciously, turning that look of death back to his father. “No! I will not accept him as a superior! He has lived as a commoner all his life! There is no doubt that I obviously have a better upbringing. I was made to lead this country! I have slaved over my studies, and put up with those… those IDIOTS in the court, and tried to be a good son. And now you dump this on me! This is so unfair!” He was fair close to yelling the words now, gripping the table painfully. “Father! How dare you do this to me?! How dare you keep me in the dark! I will not accept any of this! Does Sable even want to be King?! I’m sure he’d be much happier in his damn shop!” Slamming his fists back on the table, he watched the King closely, jaw set defiantly, mouth a tight line as he silently demanded his father take back his words.

The King met his gaze stoically with a neutral gaze. “My son, I am afraid that this is the way it has to be. Sable was born first, and he will make a fine King with your support. Even if neither of you want this, this is the way the fate cast your lives. There was a reason Sable was born first, and a humble upbringing will make him a humble King. Now, please, act like an adult and finish your meal.”

Sable had been silent this whole time, doing his best not to… what? Break down crying? Faint? Scream? Of course he didn’t want to be King. He was a commoner through and through. He had only ever learnt basic history, basic reading, writing and arithmetic. The thought of running an entire country scared the shit out of him. All his life he thought he would grow older, marry a nice girl from the village and inherit the shop. Even though he wanted to object, he thought his lips had been glued shut, and the Prince was doing a good job of yelling for the both of them. He could have his palace as far as he was concerned. He wanted no part of this. He shook as he looked at his empty plate and congratulated himself on not eating, for surely he would have been sick all over the place by now from the shock. Oh God… he wanted to undo all of this. He wished that he could just be a whore for him… that would be so much more simpler than finding out that he was royalty! Holy fuck! He was royalty! He was a Prince! For a brief moment, he felt giddy in the knowledge that he wouldn’t have to worry about poverty, and yet… the price at which it came seemed far, far too high. He watched as his… brother. Took a seat and shuffled in his own, tucking his chin into his chest. Sable felt like it was all his fault… if only he hadn’t been born… maybe he should have just died when he was a babe, and saved all of this trouble. Chewing the inside of his lip, he creased his brow upwards, feeling a hot ache prick his eyes.

Angry quiet stormed around the room, Cerwin shoving the now tasteless food into his mouth. Fuck this. Fuck all of it. Fuck his damn twin. He’d sulk like there was no tomorrow. Why, why, why did the person he was so infatuated with turn out to be his brother?! Cassius words rang bitterly within him, and he knew then he should have taken them to heart… because surely, this was a love that would never, ever, ever happen. Ever. And although it had only been a week, surely the ugly initial meeting the two of them had had would hang awkwardly between them. These feelings… he had to discard them quickly, before he was covered in ugly scars.

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Yays, and so chapter two is done. I shall try and get more done with speed, but Uni just started, so I’ll write whenever I get time. Shouldn’t be too bad though.^^
Anyways, I suppose I should do the polite thing and write stuff to the reviewers?

MorbidxDino: Yay! I’m glad you liked it. And thanks again for beta-ing! X3 You rock.
romanticfae: I’m glad you enjoyed it, and here’s more. XD
ime: Oooh, thanks for telling me. I didn’t realized I had the ‘signed reviews only’ thing box checked. I’m glad you liked it, and thanks. X3 I’ll see you around.