Chapter 2

~Celestial Realm ~

~ Golden Castle~

Sarell didn't even look bothered at this emotional proclamation and Reqiel just sighed hopelessly, there was no changing his situation.

"You say that every time things don't go your way." He murmured absently, pointing to one of the cleaning attendants. "Scrub his collarbone."

"Ow! Don't poke my neck!" Reqiel complained. "...But it never works."

Sarell hummed, leaning closer to carefully inspect said collar bones. "Maybe you should try something else."

Reqiel rose to his feet, not caring that he splashed the bath water everywhere. "That's it! I'm done with this bath." He ordered coldly, glaring at the cleaning attendant in front of him that was still brandishing a sponge.

"B-But, Your Grace…" One of the cleaning attendants stuttered and he felt slightly bad at his actions but it only lasted a short while. He was getting what he wanted even if it was just a little thing, like ending his own bath time when he wanted to.

"No buts or I'm getting out of this torture bowl and going back to bed." He said authoritatively, straightening his shoulders and trying to look as impressive as one could while they were covered in suds.

"You would just get the sheets wet." Sarell pointed out calmly, still not taking him seriously.

"I am past twenty!" He flared, stepping out of the tub. "Stop treating me like a child!"

"Is this because you didn't get to visit the gardens?" Sarell asked respectfully and Reqiel just gave up. Why did he even try? They all saw him as a fangless kitten but he was going to break out of the monotonous lifestyle even if it was the last thing he did, he just had to make a move.

"No… wait, if I say yes, would you let me go?" He asked hopefully, it was ridiculous. The gardens in question surrounded the castle he was trapped in and he couldn't even walk there anytime he wanted.

"I wish I could," Sarell said in a soft, sad voice. "But His Royal Majesty clearly stated…"

"Can I see the King then?" He interrupted thoughtfully, his head working double time to come up with a plan.

"W-What?" His personal attendant spluttered, even coughing a little.

"In the King's guidelines concerning my care, he never stated that I couldn't visit him, as a matter of fact, I don't even need his permission to visit him," Reqiel said grandly and luckily didn't stutter even though he was practically pulling all his words out of thin air.

"B-Bu-But…" Sarell stuttered harder.

He just stepped out of the bath and allowed the cleaning attendants to drape a robe over him. "It is time to wash my hair, is it not?" He asked in a composed voice even going the extra mile to put in a lot of unnecessary words as was required of High-Borns, making sure to accentuate every syllable as well.

"Y-Yes, I suppose it is," Sarell replied, composing himself. "Attendants?" He clapped quietly and Reqiel was led to where he would wash his hair. It was a comfortable seat with a curved backrest where he could lean back his head over a gold basin placed behind the chair.

Washing his hair always helped him think so it was with a serene smile he got up after his hair was dried and brushed so much that it shone. He walked back into the room and the scurrying started, he preferred to close his eyes at this part because the flurry of attendants running around made him dizzy and made his head ache.

Sarell was really serious about getting him to the meeting before he was irreparably late because in record time he was ready.

He was dressed in pale gold pants made of the softest material, with a matching inner robe over it. Next was the outer robe, a thick, padded clothing that was supposed to make him look regal, it sounded like a lie to Reqiel.

Finally came the heavy embroidered robe that all High-Borns had to wear to the council meetings, a horrible affair. It was heavy and it made him itch even with all the layers of clothes he wore inside; lastly, his mid-back long hair was piled on his head and held there with a pin bearing the Royal emblem of a shining sun.

He would die if he had to run very far in this attire, but that would never happen because as soon as his legs stepped out of his castle, man-powered, hand-held carriages would appear. He wasn't fat but he was horribly out of shape from the lack of physical exercise, actually, he was delicate and slender, and most times he wished he looked different because maybe then, his restrictions wouldn't be so many.

The other princes had a semblance of freedom but he was chained to his castle by the decree of the King.

"Your Grace? Would you like to have a small meal before you proceed?" Sarell asked, bowing slightly.

Reqiel barely let him complete his sentence before replying. "No, thank you." He said firmly, that 'small' meal was merely semantics, he would walk into the dining room to find a banquet set for ten. "I'll eat after the meeting." He decided, making for the doorway of his chambers.

The most unnerving part of everything was the walk out of the castle, he absolutely didn't see the need of making it out into a parade. His attendants would line up behind him in rows of two as he made his way out of the wide carpeted hallway that led into the large foyer and out the front of the castle.

He didn't like it but it was a necessary evil that he had no option or ability to get rid of.

"And again I ask for the umpteenth time." He whispered to Sarell who walked directly behind him, Sarell walked alone because he was the Head of attendants at the castle. "Why can't I walk out of my house all by myself?"

"It's protocol, Your Grace." Sarell hummed in satisfaction, finding a morbid pleasure in his achievements.

Reqiel swallowed his sassy remark, he would have to be on his best behavior if he wanted his hastily thought-up plan to work and that would include behaving properly at the meeting as well. He stifled a groan, this was looking to be the start of another unending boring day.