Chapter 7

~Celestial Realm~

~The King's Castle~

Reqiel gingerly sat on the throne, surprised to find it padded with cushions. He barely settled on the chair before the King was sweeping across the elaborate room, his gold-tinted wings huge behind him.

He flung the heavy doors open easily like they weighed nothing and the strangled sounds of horror that left the attendants waiting outside made Reqiel wince as he struggled to get comfortable on the large throne that dwarfed him.

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

Reqiel 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, slightly awkward around his youngest adopted child.

Reqiel didn't 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 because the King hovered intimidatingly over him.

"Go on."

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

King Rinon made a move to reach forward when he thought that Reqiel 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 Reqiel 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."

Reqiel 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…" Reqiel panicked, half rising from the throne.

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

Reqiel wasn't convinced but he didn't say anything afterward, 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, and 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.

An awkward silence fell between him and the King, Reqiel 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," Reqiel replied with equal amounts of stiffness, although he had completed pretty much all of his classes months ago, his skin crawling from spending so much private time with the King.

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

"I beg His Majesty's pardon." A soft voice says clearly, softer sounds of rustling wings from the attendants bowing. "Lunch has been prepared."

King Rinon rose to his feet in relief, thick embroidered black and gold robes swirling. "Time to eat, Reqiel." He said cordially.

Reqiel 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, Reqiel was sure he could easily be wrapped with it.

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

He had refrained his attendants from dropping into a deep bow every time they saw him, insisting that they saw him every single day so there was no reason for that, so everyone bowing low as they walked past hit Reqiel quite hard.

The walk to the dining room was short and although the entirety of the Castle was stunning, he had grown up in enough splendor to be uninterested in the magnificently carved pillars and high gilded ceilings. Two attendants stood still with their heads bowed at the entrance of the dining room to open up the large doors.

The interior of the dining room was bright, several arched windows were generously placed throughout the large room, and every single piece of furniture was made of gold just like the rest of the castle. A variety of food was artfully arranged on a high table that sat at the center of the room, the table seated four, tall gold chairs arranged around it.

Reqiel knew that the King would insist he sat 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 could do this, for his freedom.