The prince opens his eyes. Blinking to gain his focus as he see's the sun shining through his curtains. He sits up straight, The blanket slowly falling off his chest as he lets out a deep sigh. He thinks, "Today will be a long day." He jumps out the bed, Quickly spreading the curtains wide open as the sun blares across every inch of his body, Shining into his eyes as he winces them shut, But opening them back up to witness the view. He watches as the city folk slowly begin to rise from their slumber and repeat their daily struggles, And now it is time for him to continue his own. He swiftly freshens himself up, Grooming himself to look presentable for the day as he puts on his outfit, And heads out of his chambers. Traveling through the halls of the castle as several servants and maids greet him as he saunters by, Nodding at them all with a slight smile. And eventually arriving to the dining hall. He see's his parents in lively chatter, Enjoying each other's company as they eat the breakfast. He pulls out one of the chairs, Sitting in front of them and saying with a smile, "Good morning, Mother." And the mother replies back, "Good morning to you too, My child." Her eyes beaming with love as the father joins in, "Not going to greet your old man, Cenny? I see how it is." Cenric replies in an annoyed tone, "Father, How many times did I tell you not to call me that?" The father smiles, "I'm still waiting for my good morning, Cenny." Cenric buries his face in his hand as he sighs, "Good morning, Father." His father beams, Eating his food delightfully as he says, "Why good morning to you too, Son. Today's your big day!" Cenric nods, Digging in his breakfast, "I remember.. But must we really invite so many people?" His mother chimes in, "We've always invited the other houses, My child. What's changed now?" Cenric starts to play with his food, Pondering for a moment before replying, "I'm not stupid, Mother. I know soon enough I'm gonna be paraded around for a marriage deal to bring 2 houses closer together." His mother glares at him, Replying. "It is your duty, I continue to serve mine and so does your father." His father chuckles, Chiming in, "Cenny, My boy, Forget about these troublesome things, Enjoy today! Bask in your youth, My son. Or else it will disappear in the blink of an eye." He finishes, Sipping from his cup. The mother glares at the father now, "Faust Demetrius, You will not let our son indulge in ignorance!" He chuckles, Placing his cup back as he replies, "I am not advising him to ignore his issues, My love. I merely wish for him to live his life, While he still can." She continues to glare at him, ".... But of course, Your mother is also right. Do not indulge in your youth so much that you forget the weight of your responsibilities, My son." He looks at Cenric, Winking at him discreetly. Cenric smirks, Nodding at them both as he says, "I should at least be able to decide what flavour of cake I get, I am the birthday boy, After all." His father looks over to his mother with a smirk, "He's not wrong, My love." The mother glares at them both, Before shortly breaking into a small chuckle as she shakes her head, "Fine, What would the birthday boy like?" She says with a smile on her face.

A few hours pass by, The servants and maids swiftly prepare for the prince's birthday event, The chefs doing their best to muster up a cake to the prince's liking, And many guests from the other houses prepare to head out for the prince of House Demetrius's event. The sun begins to fall as the guests start arriving, The food all being presented and entrances being ready to be greeted by the king and queen. The castle has livened up as people begin to huddle inside the castle, Chatting with one another as they sip their wine's and champagne's, Waiting for the prince to make his entrance as everyone takes their seat, Or walk around the halls, The king and queen banter with the guests as they sit in the grand table, Telling each other stories and catching up, But soon enough, King Faust stands up, Clinking a fork to his wine cup as he says, "My fellow gentlemen, And gentlewomen... I am honored to have you all here tonight with us, To celebrate my son's 15th birthday. To rejoice as my heir once again grows more and more into a dashing young man, And eventually the ruler of this castle. But for now, Let us focus on these little celebrations, For they come and go, Just like our very fragile lives. Let us all applaud for my son, Prince Cenric Demetrius!" 

Everyone cheers, Clapping as Cenric takes a deep breathe, And he walks down the stairs slowly, The clapping and cheering only get louder as he enters the main hall, Everyone staring at him as they applaud. Cenric walks towards his parents, Quickly walking over to the grand table as he waves at everyone, Or at least tries to. He's about to sit before remembering he has to make a speech, He looks up at the crowd of guests, All eagerly waiting for his response as they stop clapping and cheering, His mother and father both looking at him eagerly with gentle smiles as Cenric's mother places her hand over his, Hoping to soothe him. Cenric clears his throat, "Hello, Fellow... Guests. I am... Honored to have you all come to my celebration. I... I hope you all have a good time today, Because... It may be a celebration of my existence... But it is also a celebration of our unity as one. And I hope.... We will keep ourselves united. Because we are  always... Stronger together, Thank you." He sits down, His body slightly shaking. And as he sits, The crowds claps and cheers, And as your father gives the command, The feast begins. Everyone dives in, Taking in the food and the drinks and the chatter and the castle beats with a force of life inside. Eventually it is time for gifts for the prince, And one by one the guests offer their respects and their loyalty, They all present themselves with smiles and laughter but to Cenric's mind, It was simply politeness, Not kindness. The hours passed by like a blur to him, And as the party rages on and many guests begin to dance and continue their chitter chatter, Some even dancing drunk as all hell, Cenric simply takes to the sides, Clutching his cup as he sips on some water, Observing people as they walk by, Or simply in whatever they're doing, Sometimes glancing over to his parents dancing with one another lovingly, He can't help but break into a slight smile at the sight, Before quickly going back to observing with a blank face.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

A young lady joins him, Standing right next to him as she clutches her own cup. Cenric does not notice her as he sips his water, Still engrossed in his observations, Before quickly being interrupted as the young lady speaks, "What are you doing?" She quickly startles him, Making him jolt his cup as some water spills out, Swiftly turning his eyes to glare at the young lady as he says, "Do you have no manners?" She looks at him with a blank face, Before breaking into a fit of laughter as she tries to say the words, "I am so sorry, Oh.. that was... My apologies, Prince." She quickly fixes herself as she tries to hold in her laughter, Sipping on her wine, "What is so funny?" She continues to sip on her wine as she replies back, "Nothing, Prince. I simply came to give you some company." He takes a step back from her, "I'd rather prefer my own." She snorts at his comment, Causing Cenric to glare at her once more as he says, "What is your deal?" She quickly fixes herself as she replies, "My apologies once again, Prince. I am just a person who easily laughs." He goes back to observing, Not bothering to reply to her. And for a while it stays like that, Before her speaking up yet again, "Is this what you do in your pass time, Prince Demetrius? Gawk at people?" He gives her the side eye, Not replying. "It's okay, I do too." She says, Sipping on her wine once more. He looks at the crowd, And says, "I don't gawk. I just like to watch how people behave." She looks at him, "You should gawk then, You'd learn a lot more than just watching." He now looks at her, Raising an eyebrow. "Learn what?" She grins at him, Replying back, "Anything. And a little bit of everything. It's part of the game." Cenric looks at the crowd once again, Replying back, "What game? She tilts her head, Smirking as she says, "Did the king and queen never teach you about the game of politics?" He looks at her now. "I wouldn't call politics a ga-" She interrupts him quickly as she fixes her head straight, Still smirking as she says, "Oh but it is, Everyone wants a piece of the pie, Although some want it all. And some.. just don't like playing the game at all." He raises his eyebrow once again, "And what about you? Are you playing the game?" "I have to, Prince Demetrius. But more precisely, I want to." She smiles at him. He squints his eyes at her, Replying, "Why are you telling me all this?" "Because eventually, You'll have to play the game too, I'm simply giving you a heads up." He scoffs, Looking back at the crowd as he says, "I don't need your heads up." She grins, Sipping on her wine as she says, "Oh but you do, Heres a few examples, See that couple over there?" She gestures towards an elderly royal couple, Sitting on one of the tables. "They've been trying to have kids for years, But her husband's... Let's just say his blade isn't properly working. And since he can't even have bastards, There's 2 options.. option A, They adopt or.. option B, His wife gets another man's blade, Guess which one." He looks at her, Weirded out by her but going along with it as he replies, "Option... A?" She quickly make an X shape with her fingers, Grinning as she says, "Wrong, Prince! It's option B! She tasted another man's blade, And voila.. they had a kid, 3 kids actually, All from the same man. So the happy elderly couple got what they wanted, But you see.. the thing is, It was kept a secret. You can imagine why." He looks at her before slowly nodding, "If it's a secret, How the hell do you know about it?" She giggles, Sipping her wine once again as she speaks, "You weren't listening, Were you? I told you, I gawk people." She looks at the crowd, Looking pleased with herself, He quickly replies back, "You mean you spy on people." She shrugs, Smiling at him and says, "Spy, Gawk, Watch... It's all interchangeable, Really." He slowly nods at her, Saying, "Uh huh...." He continues to look at the crowd, She also continues to do the same, Silence beginning to settle once again. They stand side by side against the walls, Still sipping their drinks, Before the young lady speaks once more, "This was a nice chat, Prince Demetrius." He looks at her, With a raised eyebrow as he says, "It was?" She nods, Beaming as she says, "Let's do this again another time, I will be seeing you around, Prince. Don't forget about the game, Because now.. You're a player too." She offers him a smile, Finishing her wine as she begins to walk off, Cenric calls out to her "Hey! You didn't say your name!" She stops in her tracks, Turning her head to coyly smile at him as she says "You really don't listen, Do you? You're part of the game now, Prince. You wanna know who I am? Find out then." She winks and she continues to once again walk off.

Cenric watches her disappear into the crowd of people, And is left wondering on what the hell just happened. He feels weirded out by her but also intrigued. And then he glances over to his parents, Wondering if they hide any secrets too. And as the party begins to dry up, Cenric thinks, "Finally, The day's almost over."

CHAPTER 1 END