Chapter 12

Sol gingerly sat on the throne after much prodding from the King, unsurprised to find it padded with cushions.

His bottom barely settled on the couch before the King was sweeping across the elaborate room, wings huge behind him.

He flung the heavy brocade curtains to the easily like it weighed nothing and the strangled sounds of horror that left the attendants waiting outside made Sol wince, struggling to get comfortable on the large throne that dwarfed him.

"Get another throne in here." He commanded placidly.

Sol just squirmed on the throne, while the King had effortlessly dominated the extravagant solid gold throne, he just sat at one end, the space left, unbelievable.

"Do you need anything?" King Rinon asked curiously, slightly awkward around his youngest adopted child.

Sol perhaps didn't even know the extent of his hold over the King, too terrified of his authority to properly relax.

"The Ceremony of the Warrior Maidens is coming up." He mumbled, twiddling his fingers, he wished he were the one standing and not sitting on the throne while the King hovered intimidatingly over him.

"Go on."

"At the Council meetings, there was talk about a parade, can I come along, father?" He asked eagerly, leaning forward and nearly falling off the throne.

King Rinon panicked briefly when he thought that Sol would fall off the throne but then the angel righted himself and looked up with hopeful eyes, he was wary about letting him outside, within the Royal Mount he could be sure of his safety.

"Well…" He trailed off, starting to pace nervously, he couldn't say no to Sol but it would conflict with his plans.

"Please, father, I'll be good and sit still." He pushed, sensing the crack in the King's resolve.

King Rinon rubbed the nape of his neck and expelled a breath. "Very well but have lunch with me then."

Sol blinked, his brain processes slowing down - did… h-had the King just accepted his proposal?

"O-Of course, Your Majesty!" He exclaimed happily, laughter bubbling up his throat at the thought of leaving the Royal Mount for the first time in his life then he blinked. "W-Will my brothers join us?" He asked nervously, worried that they would make the King change his mind.

"Yes." The King replied, finally sitting on the throne that had long been brought in, he was making mental calculations on how to arrange extra security around the youngest Prince.

"B-But…" Sol panicked, half rising from the throne.

"It's alright, I'm not going to change my mind." He reassured him.

Sol wasn't convinced but he didn't say anything afterwards, deciding to hope that the King stayed true to his words.

He was even more nervous about lunch, he hadn't spent time with the Royal family in a really long time, they were really intimidating.

Strangely enough he fit right in with them even though his hair was a much paler gold, almost flaxen and he had deep blue eyes to their fiery gold.

Awkward silence fell between him and the King, Sol wasn't exaggerating when he said that their relationship was distant at best.

"How are your studies coming along?" King Rinon asked stiffly, wondering what to talk about with the sheltered Prince.

"Quite fine, father." Sol replied with equal amounts of stiffness, skin crawling from spending so much private time with the King.

A delicate rapping sound came from the entrance of the room and Sol had never been so relieved to hear the familiar sound.

"I beg His Majesty's pardon." A soft voice says clearly, softer sounds of heads hitting the floor. "Lunch has been prepared."

King Rinon swept up in relief, thick embroidered black and gold robes swirling. "Time to eat, Sol." He said cordially.

Sol got down from the throne, reddening slightly when he realized that he had tucked his legs under him unconsciously. "Yes, father."

He still felt it was ridiculous but it was custom and so when he got down from the comfortable gold throne, he sprung out his wings.

The magnificent appendage paled beside the King's enormous wings, Sol was sure he could easily be wrapped with it.

He walked demurely behind the King, careful to keep his hands together in front of him and move regally - in Sol's interpretation meant, not tripping or slapping someone in the face with his wings.

He had refrained his attendants from dropping to their knees every time they saw him, insisting that a simple bow at the waist was more than enough so everyone dropping to their knees as they walked past hit Sol quite hard.

The walk to the dining room was short and although the entire Palace was stunning, Sol had grown up in enough splendour to be uninterested in the magnificently carved pillars and rich colors.

Two female attendants sat on their knees with their heads bowed at the entrance of the dining room to open up the curtain, Sol rarely saw female Angels because they were mostly down in the kingdom.

There was a mourning period for the female nobles that sacrificed their lives in the 4th Holy War which would last till the fifth Warrior Maiden Ceremony, and the Ceremonies happened once in five years.

This would be the fourth one and after the next one, noble Angels would be allowed to take wives from the Kingdom, although because of them not being nobility only the children born of the union would take up the mantles of being Warrior Maidens and Demon Hunters.

However they did not look him in the eye, hiding behind their soft white wings as he was led into the room.

A low table piled high with food sat at the center of the room, four plush mats with armrests arranged around it.

Sol knew that the King would insist he sit beside him which meant that he would have to sit opposite his brothers. He took a deep breath, pep talking himself and telling himself that he would do this for his freedom.