“Prince Allguard, you have been summoned to meet with your father at the eight bell toll this afternoon.” The royal messenger bowed deeply to the prince. Handing out a very well calligraphed letter.
Sighing, Allguard picked it up and read through the letter.
Prince Allguard,
We have much to discuss, my son. About your place in the courts after your brother ascends to the throne. You will have duties to the crown and will be required to complete them in a timely and consistent manner. I have spoken with your teachers and though your progress is admirable I fear that you will not be ready in time.
We will meet during the afternoon tea time after your lessons with the Maestros.
Your Father,
King Crownbearer
Looking at it one more time Allguard sighed and set it aside at the top corner of the desk. He would be mentally drained by that time of the day. The slave drivers that were his tutors had been drilling him in advanced mathematics, and his cello teacher had been driving him to improve his vibrato. Which always made the wrists ache.
Dipping his pen in the ink once more he penned a response to his father as was proper.
To His Majesty King Crownbearer,
It is my honor to receive your summons to meet upon the eighth bell today. I look forward to whatever you would like to discuss and will listen with rapt attention no doubt. Your wisdom is as magnificent as the sun is bright. May your reign last an eternity and be filled with peace.
Sincerely,
Prince Allguard Crownbearer
Folding it properly and sealing it with wax Allguard returned his response to the royal messenger and dismissed the man without a second thought. There was much to do with his free time and not a lot of time to do it. Treaties to study, proposed budgets for his imaginary court. And all the theoretical lessons he was being driven to accomplish.
Wrapping up all that he had for the day he tapped them in a stack and submitted them to the boxes for his teachers to assess his work for tomorrow’s lectures. Stretching and making himself more comfortable Allguard looked upon his bodyguard. “Terrance, I will be meeting with my father on the eighth bell. You will be dismissed while I am in his presence as is protocol. Take leave for the day and feel free to head into the city. I’m sure that your constant vigil is an honor to uphold but I must insist that you take some time for yourself.”
Terrance looked upon the young man, his ache deep in his chest. This would be his time to find the relief his loins needed. There must be some whorehouse in town that would have someone petite enough to match the prince’s frame. That would surely clear his mind of this impertinent and dishonourable thoughts. “As you say your majesty. When you are with the king I will take my leave till the morrow. If it pleases you.”
“It does. Your vigilance will be ever sharper once you have freed your mind from a time. I find that the truth when I have a break from my studies for the balls or festivals. That it makes me much sharper upon the return.” Allguard stepped from his study and down to his bedroom. “I must get into my attire for my musical lessons. Please make sure I am not disturbed.”
“As you wish,” Terrance took up a vigil outside the door. His eyes watching the prince until the last moment when the wood barred his visage from Terrance’s gaze. Swallowing he felt that heat build up in him. The need to be in the prince’s presence. The steady feeling of being in the right place and knowing he was needed at all times. It was a heady sensation those without true duties would never learn.
The prince opened his cabinet of clothes and paused. His heart fluttering in his chest. His clothes were mostly missing. In its place was a pink dress that looked divine. It had frills and lace at the cuffs and neck. Ribbons laced upon it to tie up the bodice and accentuate the figure of a woman. It was just sitting there amidst his clothes. No doubt some distracted maid had placed it in his wardrobe by accident. Unless… unless it was a message and someone had been figuring out his dark secret. The nights he would sneak from his room in darkness. Fetch a dress from the maid closets and walk around, dressed as a woman with his hair in the proper bun. Feeling his heart race and his cock ache with the danger of it. With the thoughts of gruff men coming out and handling him like a toy.
Mouth dry he pushed those thoughts aside and grabbed his frilless and plain tunic and pants. Any frivolity in his clothes would make playing the instrument harder at this point in his skills. He took out his codpiece as well. The thought of that dress necessitating a hiding of his shame. Pressing himself uncomfortably in the clothes he made sure all was right. Then he took the dress.
He didn’t want it to be discovered and taken away from him. To dress as one of his sisters, instead of as a maid? Would that make his heart race even more? The thoughts of the pleasures to fill their silk upon his skin instead of the rough cotton that all the men wore made him shudder. Bundling it up gently he lifted his mattress with one arm and laid it underneath the downy cover. His sheets weren’t due for a change for another few days and this would keep it hidden.
A scenario started to play in his head as he walked towards the maestros quarters. Of himself, dressed as a damsel only to be rescued by Terrance. Who would see the real him. The part of him that wanted to be claimed as a woman. To be in the strong arms of a man. The thoughts of being dominated by another and degraded as no prince should made his mouth fill with drool. Swallowing past it he tried to clear his mind.
…
The eighth bell tolled and as scheduled Allguard let himself into the waiting room for his father. Already servants were about serving tea and sweet biscuits to delight upon while speaking to one another. But Father was nowhere to be seen at the moment.
One of the ladies approached him and curtsied deeply for him. “Your majesty, your father is being delayed. There was something that came up with his second wife that must be attended to as is proper. Please, wait here for his arrival.” The woman held the deep dip until Allguard waved a hand and dismissed her.
The many flowers and gilded things around the room endlessly entertained Allguard when he was younger. Now though, they just reminded him that all things great came with a price. Sometimes he would read poetry about how nobility was not freedom but a cage in which the finest of birds were trapped and kept. How many months they would be cooped up and never allow their wings to fly. When he was younger he couldn’t relate. Not until that hot blood splashed upon his face two years ago. When there was nowhere he could have run too in the moment of panic.
Taking a seat, Prince Allguard didn’t have to wait long. When the servant came in to announce the arrival of his father he stood and waited. You would think a boy would remember the face of his father. As was expected of families. Especially one that had been seeing each other for a ceremony but two days ago. But still he drank in the presence of his sire.
The King was a tall man. With broad shoulders and a virility that spoke greatly of strength. His strong arms strained the cloth of his tunic. He refused to wear the blouses that had become fashionable in the lower courts. With their wonderfully frilled necklines that spread down the chest like the downy feathers of a peacock. His hair was a short affair. Cropped ever close to his skull to prevent it being grabbed in a fight. His hands were scarred from endless sword training with the sword masters of the kingdom. Though he did remain with the ink stains of those that did plenty of paperwork in their downtime. His pants were fashionable and his codpiece impressive as he strode into the room.
“My Lord,” Bowed Allguard as he waited for permission to sit after his father took his chair.
“Join me, boy.” The kind slumped into the chair with a huff of air, “I wish to dismiss the air of formality for a moment. We have much to discuss.”
Taking his chair Allguard did not slump but stood ramrod straight. His father looked disheveled and slightly worn down. The wrinkles at the corner of his eyes, and the greying in his short hair spoke that he was indeed aging. Though rather gracefully. “Indeed, what would you like to talk about Father?”
Sighing the king leaned forward, elbows on his knees and stared into his youngest son’s eyes. “It is no secret that you are eighth in line. That the likelihood of you ascending to the throne is greatly diminished. But that is no excuse for you to be of age and unwed at this time. I am gifting you an aether crystal and sending you on a tour.”
Allguard had to hide his frown as he looked into his father’s steely gaze. “I thought you were against the new advances in crystal technology. You said such things were beneath those with true power.”
“My eyes were opened when I spoke with the Bishop while he was visiting in town. To communicate across great distances in a matter of hours instead of days is a great advance for us. He reaches out and communes with all those deacons lesser in his company and coordinated with them a great deal. I’m securing crystals for all the nobility in the castle as we speak. Though few will be able to reach me I am gifting one to you. With a direct line to myself.”
Swallowing Allguard watched his father closely, he was not a man prone to changing his mind and that this came from the religion he didn’t favor all that closely was setting him on edge. “That does indeed sound useful. I hear all the wealthiest or privileged of lords are purchasing them.” And a few whorehouses for those that needed home visits.
“Indeed, you will be on a mission to secure yourself a wife. Someone to take you into their home where you will use your education to cement yourself in place. Then, when your brother ascends to the throne you will be granted the role of financial advisory. Your lessons are most promising in mathematics. A failing I must admit your brother has. No amount of skill with the blade can teach him not to spend his money frivolously.” His father took up his tea and downed it in one gulp and grabbed a cookie, stuffing it in his mouth and crunching through it. Through a mouthful of food he continued, “Now, in this quest you may make someone mad and be challenged to a duel. I forbid you from turning one down but I also have forbidden duels to the death.”
Taking a deep breath Allguard’s heart pounded, “That is a lot to learn in rather a short amount of time.”
“Well my first wife is right. I’ve doted on you too much. Just cause your the baby of my heirs doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have a stronger hand. You must become a man now. Though I have grandchildren already I worry that you will never sire any at this point. God knows if it is in the cards.” Taking another biscuit he tossed it to me.
Nibbling, I took a look at my father, “Then, should I not take a Royalsworn as a representative in a duel should it happen?”
“Terrance will be with you as well as two more. But all of them will receive orders that they are not to take your place in a duel. On threat of exile. I want to hear you using a stronger hand then I expect you are comfortable with. Demand what you want. That you will be received as the prince you are. Keep me posted on everything that happens via the crystal I give you. Only you, my heir, and my wives will have the ability to contact me so see it as the honor it is.”
“I do, father.” Finishing the biscuit Allguard took a sip of the too strong tea his father enjoyed. Overly hot and steeped for far too long. “When am I to leave?”
“One week from now. I’ve sent messengers forward as you take whatever path you want through the kingdoms. Though, I will not accept you back in these halls until you have brought a woman with you. A wife to bear your seed.” The King stood and looked at the door. “Now, I must go. Use whatever you can to impress their fathers or seduce the daughters into your bed so they must marry you after they are sullied. Whatever it takes, my son.”
It was ash in his mouth at the thought of it all. To force himself on someone would be so distasteful. That and how he was supposed to seduce a woman. If only he had suitors clambering for him. “As you wish, Father.”