2 Once Upon a Time

Roye was merely observing the horizon which he can view from the terrace when something furry brushed the skin of his legs. He looked under the table and emerged to his sight was his dog, Ozle Kyeus which he normally called Oz. A black hound that was the first of the firsts and one and only dog acknowledged by the royal family, and by family, meant the prince himself. None of the prince's siblings were willing to keep the dog inside the Imperial after he found Oz strolling in the woods astray years ago. Most likely the King would be upset of the dog's presence, so Roye ended up asking for the Queen's permission. Queen Veronica considered keeping the dog and even volunteered to name it Oz. She used to say the name was tremendous back in her days.

"Oz! How are you, boy! Did you miss me?" said Roye as he gave Oz a friendly pat on the head.

Satisfied, Oz bounced around under the table, disturbing the furniture until the plates and glass on top of it shook in attempt to fall. Roye gently pulled Oz away from the table before attacking him into a hug. Oz found it pleasing and gave his Master the gift of his licks. "Good boy, good boy..."

"Master," interrupted Frederick between their moments. He stood next to the glass sliding doors. "I have heard you're planning not to join the ball tonight."

Roye froze from the attempt to tickle his dog to the tiled floor. Reluctance held back the prince's ability to speak. He did not expect he would talk the matter with Frederick when his thoughts were too much occupied with his recent works, not to mention, having to struggle sleepless nights from checking over the Kingdom's security facilities.

"Master, it's unacceptable for you to skip the royal ball. It is an event made for you and the rest of your Highnesses. If you don't attend the ball, 'tis Majesties would be enraged. They may call on the maids or even the soldiers to force you to enter."

Roye let out a sigh, standing back to his feet and leaving Oz in a confused state on the ground for stopping the momentary fun. The dog whined for more of his master's pats. Roye averted his gaze from the manservant. "I'm not joining the ball, Frederick. I have already made up my mind."

"But, Master, 'tis Majesties have prepared something for you that you may need to---"

"I know what they prepared and I seriously refuse it!" exclaimed Roye with a loud bursting tone, slightly frightening Oz to his paws that were completely pasted on the scoured tile floor. His unusual resistance surfaced deep astonishment from the man who had been keeping his eyes on the prince, and from the prince himself.

Frederick put his arm next to his stomach and bowed a perfect 45 degree. "If you say so, Master. If you need me, I'll be in the main hall helping with the preparations for tonight." He bid, before leaving the prince alone in the terrace with his dog in company.

Roye let out another sigh. He acted spoiled to his manservant. A prince like him knew better to restrain himself and have self-control. By calming himself, he dismissed the matter out his head. What was there to change when he was too busy being too occupied. He'd rather admit his frustration than getting bothered by the matter.

"Well, look who we have here. If it ain't, the little Sire." The cynical sound of the voice and the manner of greeting empowered the existence of the owner, often that every time it was heard, anybody could recognize who it was.

The infamous endearment that nobody in the castle would never make use of as it has become a fine calling, especially to Roye Volhik who was expectedly known to be the youngest and the shortest of the Princes who mostly were 6 feet above, excluding Roye.

Roye turned around too unwillingly, knowing he has to bear this another undesirable meeting with his fourth brother. "Hello, Sire Zhakou."

The mentioned older brother rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "What kind of lame greeting was that?" toward the forced greeting his little brother had for him. Likely he was too oblivious to even recognize his own similar fault.

Prince Zhakou Myrrh, the 4th Prince of Ceres and Roye's detestable brother. He has long spiky dark hair with nasty yet shiny brown eyes, the same eyes that looked down on animals. He wore the appropriate white royal suit, a tailored button front clothing patched by the royal crest—crossed feathery wings—and darker color around the shoulder hemline, folded wrist hems and the upright collar around the neck, much like Roye's suit but only his was blue and he has a white elbow band on top of his left sleeved suit or any other clothing he wore. It was the little prince's trademark.

Prince Zhakou's white suite represented the absolute purity of the Kingdom of Ceres. He mostly detested dogs and birds. He was the number one opposing factor to disagree the matter of keeping Oz in the Castle. He thought of dogs very disgusting because of their unsanitary nature along with the filth that he believed the peasant world have tainted them, which Roye didn't see every day. Prior to his prominent hatred to dogs, Prince Zhakou was cynical. He had intended to banish Oz from the palace not too long ago, however the Queen made considerations and the Prince couldn't do anything against the will of the Queen.

"You hanging with that pest clearly shows the 8th Prince of Ceres is nothing more than an amateur. 'Tis a disgrace which the Imperial can't hide from the commoners." Prince Zhakou scoffed to manifest his disgust. His eyes looked down upon the little prince as though he was the mere pest Prince Zhakou hated of.

Oz scooted behind the small legs of the little prince in attempt to avoid making any eye contact with the 4th prince.

Roye could only stare back to Prince Zhakou's eyes. As much as he wanted to fight back, he didn't have the power to go against the 4th prince. In fact, it was a known royal policy for younger princes having no liberty to express hatred and clash against the older ones. Otherwise it would mean a spark of war between the pillars of Kingdom Ceres, thus breaking the peace treaty that their mother, Queen Veronica had longed accomplished in their land.

The younger princes didn't have the same measurement of power and liberty compared to the older ones. Hence, the eldest prince of Ceres has the highest right and authority power to the rest of the siblings that they, the younger ones didn't have.

Roye was nothing more than a pest to the eyes of the rest of his older brothers.

"Better be the competent prince that you should be at the ball or everyone, not only the King and the Queen but the rest of the gathering empire rulers who will be there, will be disappointed of you. We don't want you to embarrass us, but on second thought, embarrassing yourself is also a great idea."

"I'm not joining the ball tonight." said Roye in a justifying manner, standing on what he believed in.

Prince Zhakou instantly froze as he was on the verge of removing his gloves, his eyes staring at a mere distance like sharp daggers. He jolted down to Roye's height much to the little prince's surprise and grasped Roye by the wrists. This was one of those rare times when he, the older brother would start acting impulsively against the own format will and Roye knew exactly this was no joking matter like he thought it would be.

"Why are you not joining?" Prince Zhakou forcibly demanded, his brown eyes digging for the answers through Roye's expression.

"May I ask why you Sire, are shock?" asked Roye, eyes squinting in a manner of suspicion.

Prince Zhakou blinked and glanced each of Roye's eyes. The way his manner changed too abruptly had the little prince curious behind the older brother's tactics. Slightly, Prince Zhakou cleared his throat and put back the calm posture he had before. "Pardon me for my rudeness." He apologized rather softly. Despite his pride, he couldn't go against his princeling structure. Otherwise he would convict his position and they knew that was the least thing they could do.

Anxiety betrayed the image his Highness has been keeping to prevent the little sire from ever recognizing his motive.

Taking advantage of the situation so as to figure out the motive tempted Roye to play along. "Sire Zhakou, I assume that you have something to tell me?"

"Not at all, little sire." Prince Zhakou declared, convincing him whatever way possible. "In any case, I'm returning back to the court. I have something I want to discuss with."

Prince Zhakou brushed beside Roye, their skin almost generating electricity from the brief unpleasant contact with each other. The little prince ended up watching his brother's back blend in the shadows of the corridor. He knew there was something going on. The sudden change of manner that his brother manifested was unnatural. Suspiciousness aroused Roye's senses in behalf of his curiosity otherwise Prince Zhakou wouldn't have acted like that.