From the moment he woke up and saw the light shining from the window, he knew what today was. It was supposed to be the most celebrated day of the year—when everyone could come together to honor Aedrisea’s founding. But Emeron had long since learned how to see past the fake smiles and bright facades.
And he knew that today was going to be a long, long day.
He thought that, perhaps, the first sign of that would appear over breakfast. It didn’t—even though he was late, everyone was still there. Including Rayluin, even if Emeron had a feeling it was only because of Talaya’s insistence.
Talaya smiled as he sat down. “Sleep well, dear?”
“You better have,” Erryll grumbled. “I was starting to think that none of us were going to eat before the event.”
“Hey, now, be nice!” Talaya swatted him from her chair across the table. “I wanted us all to be together. It’s… been quite a while.”
Arrika quietly thanked the servant who brought out their breakfast, then louder asked, “Since Father died, you mean.”
It seemed she was the only one brave enough to say it. Talaya gave a mumbled response.
”I wanted you all to do your best today,” she continued. “I know it’s hard to muster a celebratory spirit, but we’ve got to show them that they can rely on us. I trust you know what to do. Those reporters will twist anything into a headline—so please, no one try to make a scene.”
”We’ve spent our whole lives like this, Mother,” Rayluin sighed. “Don’t you think that could’ve gone without saying?”
”What, don’t you like spending time with your younger siblings?” Arrika returned.
”Why would he?” Erryll grumbled. “We’re all talentless to him. Nothing more than whatever it takes to get the attention off of him so he can slip away again.”
Rayluin was bothered by the wrong thought. “You’re not talentless. You all have your roles—crucial ones. Though things would go much smoother if you could fight your own damn demons…”
”Excuse me?”
”You heard me.”
Emeron shrunk among the tensions. “H-hey, guys, I think this is what Mom was saying when she talked about not making a scene…”
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A grumbled response was the only thing to an apology either of them were going to give—and it was much closer to “just trying to keep from getting yelled at” than it was “apologizing.”
“Well, let’s just eat, shall we?” Talaya prompted, clapping her hands together. “I’m sure you’re all just hungry.”
“I think there’s more to this than hunger, Mother…” Arrika mumbled with a sigh.
Not a word was spoken for the rest of breakfast… but threats didn’t need to be spoken. Emeron just hoped that everyone would go to their corners for the event and no one would need to argue in public. Or, at least, they’d understand how any argument would be construed as long as the press got a hold of it.
All five of them went up to the front gates. Talaya held her arms out wide as they opened and the blinding flashing of the cameras began. They all put on their fake smiles as she announced, “Today, we celebrate the founding of Aedrisea’s founding by King Zanrel. We honor not only the events leading up to it, but the people he had by his side—Lady Elysrainne and Caeso. We’ve got many things planned, so let’s get the festivities started, shall we?”
A cheer erupted from the crowd and they all flocked to be the first one to enter. Guards came out to control them, then a few more came out so each member of the royal family had one to follow them around.
Rayluin and Talaya were both immediately swarmed by reporters, once they got there; they asked questions like when Rayluin would get the throne, or why Talaya didn’t specify how long she’d reign. Arrika created a diversion by drawing more attention to herself so that Erryll can flee to somewhere quieter—he wasn’t so fond of these events. Emeron thought her efforts might’ve let him find somewhere nice to wait for familiar faces but he, too, was soon surrounded by reporters.
“Prince Emeron!” one of them called. It felt like she’d appeared out of nowhere. “We’re running a panel about temptation. Could you tell us a bit about it?”
Another one shoved her out of the way. “No, do me first! What are your opinions on Queen Talaya’s solo reign on the throne? Any words about her reasoning?”
A third appeared, too. “Or has there been any sign of Prince Erryll’s talent yet? Surely someone like him isn’t going to waste away painting, right? Princes need to know diplomacy and politics, not color theory and paint types.”
Now, Emeron thought that he was usually pretty good with this sort of thing. But he always found he got overwhelmed with so many people around him, completely unfamiliar and demanding to know pieces of his life. He tried to give half-answers to all of them, while giving a kind look to the guard who kept them all from getting any closer.
“Sorry, but I don’t think I’m interested in talking about chronic temptation right now. It’s a little personal, you know? And I don’t have any opinions about Mom—uh, Queen Talaya—taking the throne. That was a decision made between her and Prince Rayluin. And I’m not saying anything about Prince Erryll. I think it’s nice that he’s doing what he likes, even if it’s not what he’s expected to do…”
They asked several more questions, and he gave his set of answers. There were a few who asked the same questions several times, in case he might slip up and tell them the “true” answer. They were always disappointed. Emeron didn’t mostly spend time around Talaya’s friends just to fall for a few reporters’ tricks.
He kept the act up until they finally seemed to realize he had nothing to offer them. Only then was he able to sneak away, finding a place with a few familiar faces to spend the rest of the day with.