Two weeks until Levi becomes king.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNUJjUTCsZ
I roll over, trying to block the sunlight from my face with my pillow. A clatter of porcelain announced Rose’s arrival, she placed the tray of pastries on top of my dresser.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyMYfIGgVy
“Come on, Prince Archer,” Rose’s voice, though laced with amusement, holds a firm edge. She isn’t fooled by my theatrics anymore. “I’ve already granted you three ‘five more minutes’ indulgences. That’s fifteen minutes of grace, more than any sane person deserves.” She taps her foot impatiently, the rhythmic sound a counterpoint to the gentle hum of the city outside. Her gaze drifted towards the window. Below us lay Kire. Kire, the kingdom’s an architectural marvel – and my personal torment. A breathtaking spectacle of layered circles, each level a self-contained community, all connected by an intricate, dizzying network of staircases. It was originally designed centuries ago, a stroke of genius meant to channel the winter floodwaters down to the farms that sprawled across the lowest level. In theory, it was brilliant. In practice, it was a logistical nightmare. though I’m sure it was a great use of a large hill and a spectacle of its time, now it looked like a giant sand castle from far enough away.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v4zxPgWOn
My pillow is ripped from my hands, I mumble my protests as Rose starts talking again “Come on, Archer, you were meant to be up ages ago.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooo03AIAsx
“Whyyyyy?” I mumble sleepily as I try to bury my face into my sheets. Dash stirs at my feet, the dog looking up at Rose, almost as groggy as me50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrK6uzmtjw
“Because your mother says you need to be, and I’m not going back to her without you dressed and ready, now get up.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lbx9y3Pjt
Rose throws the pillow she stole at my head before walking out of my room, leaving me to get dressed in my own time, her tone making it clear that it’s not her problem if I decide to go back to sleep. I drag myself out of bed and pull myself away from my pillows, a very difficult task on a Wednesday morning.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4SpvoomCF
Dash yawns from the foot of my bed, stretching with me as we prepare for the day. I run my hand through his long, golden fur.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVJL67Kytg
“Ready, Bud?”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebt7T41v8x
After a few minutes I walk out of my room, Dash bounding after me from the room. I’m wearing casual clothes, those expected of the lower classes. The only difference is that the linen I’m wearing is green instead of one of the lower classes colours, like yellow or red.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIo3W4cFki3
“Archie!” the queen runs over and hugs me, before frowning at my outfit, “oh dear, is that linen? Oh, you better change, Archie, wouldn’t want people thinking we can’t afford wool, do we?” the queen shot a concerned look at me, I’m taller than her by now, not yet towering over her but still enough to be noticeable.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZR3CpNHEX
I grit my teeth,I am not in the mood to deal with judgment this early in the morning, surely the queen has other duties she can attend too. “It’s quite alright mother, the linen is only for mere comfort in the heat.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniKZ3HE43g
“You don’t plan on going out in that, do you?” Queen Amelia wrinkled her nose, a gesture that conveyed her disapproval. Truthfully, I had intended to slip into town for a while, I most definitely am not allowed to leave the grounds today. Or tomorrow. or the day after that.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCHPlfbEzs
I take an inward sigh, “No, mother, I didn’t plan too.” I flash her a smile, the smile that gets me out of trouble every time, the smile that’s charmed me out of getting into trouble every time.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuuJN23reC
“And leave that damned dog outside! it's going to make a mess of the palace.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYBubtzSHJ
I crouch next to Dash and put my hands over his ears. “Don’t listen to her, boy, you're the best puppy out there.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJFMJJvHAc
“I don’t have time for this, just don’t be late for your lessons with Ms Kellings.” I groan while her frown softens slightly. My lessons being a constant reminder of my tedious daily tutoring sessions was a fresh wave of despair. History, philosophy, etiquette – the endless parade of subjects designed to mold me into the perfect prince. The perfect prince who can never be king.
Mornings with Ms Kellings couldn’t be more boring. I sit in the library, trying to discreetly look out the window without my tutor seeing. She’d report right back to mother about how much of a rude and petulant child I was.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLLJLxJeSn
Her grey hair is pulled back in a tight bun, I don't think the woman’s had so much as a flyaway in her long, long life.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqSwOtITA0
“Archer, I don't believe whatever you’re doing is related to the history of the royal advisory.” Ms Kellings huffs and sits back into her plush armchair, while of course I’m stuck on the uncomfortable wooden one that I’m sure she had put into the library just for my discomfort during our lessons. Before I can open my mouth to respond she scrunches her nose at me, how dare I even have such a corrupt thought of responding.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AotrwzfgS
“I’ll have to report back to your mother about how much of a pain you are to work with, again, why I stay in this job is beyond me! it's all chat back from you isn’t it? Oh you’re lucky that they don’t punish children like they used too. Oh, those were the days.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdYbyF5rX0
The days of child abuse? Yes, you talk about it every lesson.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GfvpxN394
Before I can reply a flicker of movement catches my eye from the window. I shuffle my chair a little to get a better view while still trying to be discrete, well aware I’m failing horribly at it. Ms Kellings is glaring at me over her oversized glasses. 50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULymGEtrMR
I grin as I see a familiar colour of ribbon around a brown package under a kitchen hand’s arm as the others move to grab more packages from the trailer.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7FsKcrdfF
I move to stand, “My apologies, Ms Kellings, but I believe I know of a book on the shelves that will help with this subject.”50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdskZFfLBMF
“Then go get it! Do I have to teach you to walk as well?” Ms Kellings practically screeches, never in my life have i ever met someone quite as entitled as Ms Kellings, at least i've never met someone who would yell at a prince.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4De7a2Y2X9
“No.” I move to get up.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1W1MHwS0X
“Excuse me! That is not how you talk to adults!” As she yells I’m left pondering over if she can even qualify as an adult anymore. I wonder what kind of discounts come with being so old.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiQjux6oLs
“No, Ms Kellings” before she can say anymore I slip into the shelves of books, walking as fast as I can without causing the floorboards to creak before making my way out of sight before slipping out of the library’s exit.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uJfOTbJBu
As soon as I get out of the library I sprint down the hallway, dodging guards and various other castle workers as. I run to the front room and burst through the grand front entrance.50Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrknifZdM3x
“Hey, Ella!”
