2- Adrian The Prince

"Your Highness." The voice echoed in the room. 

The prince narrowed his eyebrows together in annoyance and looked up from his book.

"What?" He asked as he rested his book down on his lap. The chair on which he sat slowly swung back and forth. 

"His Majesty has requested your presence." The guard said and bowed his head. 

The prince nodded and waved his hand to dismiss the guard from the room.

He then picked up his book again and tried to focus on the letters but the concentration was long lost.

"Your Highness." Another voice disturbed the peace that Adrian was trying to restore. 

"Theo." Adrian was not annoyed this time. On the door of the huge study, stood his eternal friend. 

"The King is waiting for your arrival," Theo informed and entered the study. 

The Prince was seated on the rocking chair by the window. The sun made his face look brighter than it was. His eyes were honey-coloured and shaped like almonds. 

"For what?" Adrian had a love-hate relationship with his parents and it was quite apparent. 

"They need to discuss things about the ball," Theo answered. 

Theo had been a friend of Adrian ever since they were five. They had grown up together. With Adrian being an only child, Theo was the only one he was able to open up to.

"What if I don't want to go?" Adrian asked and stood up from the rocking chair. He then walked towards the huge bookshelf and pushed the book he was reading into its spot. 

"Even if you don't go, you would have to attend the ball. Attending the ball is not a choice, it is a compulsion." Theo had a heavy voice and an exerting tone.

"What are the matters that need to be discussed?" Adrian sighed and faced Theo. 

Adrian had always found Theo interesting. He had strong conduct and a stronger character. His father had always approved of Theo and his decisions. 

"The princess who is attending needs to be approved by you first. You need to see their land, their siblings in power, the dowry that their families are offering." Theo listed. 

A slight chuckle left the prince's mouth. "You are kidding me right?" Adrian had a powerless voice. 

"You mean to say that I need to reject and approve those ladies based on how much money they have to offer me?" He protested. He had always found the idea of monarchy absurd and now he has found something that he hated more. Wedding.

"Sir, that is just how things work here," Theo explained. He found the dowry thing absurd too but he was not foolish enough to admit it in front of the prince. 

"Theo, please. I know you are better than that. Imagine diminishing oneself to money, how can I do that?" Adrian asked and searched Theo's face for a reply. 

"I am sorry, but if you don't do that His Majesty will. It is better to have a look at the options for yourself." Theo tried to convince the prince with a practical solution. 

Adrian gave him an annoyed look and turned back towards the bookshelf. He put his finger on a rusty old book and pulled it out after a second of introspection. 

"Your Highness." It was more of a plea that came out of Theo's mouth this time. He knew that if the King chooses the princess then all this will go haywire. 

"Let them choose the contenders themselves," Adrian declared and walked back towards the rocking chair by the window. 

"I will not attend the ball." He asserted before dropping into the chair and turning to the first page of the book. 

"Your Highness!" Theo cried out. "You cannot do that, this is a royal ball and your presence is highly significant."

"You are the reason behind the ball. You are now allowed to skip it under any circumstances." Theo begged.

It seemed like all the appeals did nothing in favour of Theo. 

Adrian simply indulged in reading and refused to concede anything that the man was saying. 

"If you do not attend the ball then I will be held responsible, Your Highness." Theo ultimately tried the last thing that could push the prince to attend the ball. 

Theo knew that the prince cared about him more than he ever did about anyone. If Theo asked him to attend the ball for his sake then he definitely would. 

Theo's theory seemed accurate. Adrian took a deep breath, "I do not wish to." He said and closed the book once again.

"I will help you leave early but you are responsible to show your face at least." Theo tried to make a negotiation. 

"Do you promise that?" Adrian raised his eyebrows at the man to which the man nodded aggressively. 

Theo was just delighted that he had persuaded the prince to at least attend the ball and he was certain that one or the other lady would be able to snag the prince's attention to not have him leave the ball early. 

"But I am certainly not coming with you now. Just tell Father that I am working on some royal accounts. I do not want to be a heartless creature and reject those ladies based on their father's money and land." Adrian was a different individual than his father and he had demonstrated it a ton of times before.

"Surely, I will inform him about that." Theo bowed toward the prince and took his exit. 

As the door to the study shut, Adrian picked up the book again in the hopes of not getting distracted by anyone anymore.

He unhurriedly caressed his fingers on the top of the letters inscribed into the velvety page and sighed. It pained him how the people lived through their books and their words, free to say what they wanted.

"Only if my world was different. Only if I could be free." He mumbled into the air as he peeked toward the blue sky through the massive window by his side.