*Present time*

—Elrand Daewynd—

The halls were pleasantly empty.  It must be my mother’s doing.  Since the day I first escaped, the queen had been giving me more freedom to keep me nearby.  It was quite astute of her.  No matter how much I may have cared of any of them, there is no way I would have stayed here if I felt trapped.  I might have escaped long before my Hlia. 

My father though…he did not quite agree on the amount of freedom given to me but the Queen’s word was final.  Elven power was hereditary, making my mother higher than the King.  He still had authority, just lower than the Queen.  Must be tough to be in such a relationship.  I shook my head and cleared my thoughts.  Why though had she called for me?  I’m pretty sure I abstained from my usual mischief.  Surely it is not something I had done.

I knocked on her door. 

“Enter.”

I ran through all the things I may have done unconsciously.  I braced myself.  Every time the Queen called for me, it ended up the way.  Well, this guy learnt his lesson a long time ago.  If it turned ugly in there, I would do what was the wisest decision in this type of situations.  I ‘ma run away…

“Elrand.  I’ve been expecting you.”  I lowered my head, waiting for her to speak.  She did not seem to pay heed to me, mother was concentrating on the numerous reports in front of her.  A heartbeat later, she turned her gleaming green eyes to me.  Those stone-cold eyes sometimes sent shivers down my spine.  It’s no wonder I took after her.  “Surprisingly, you’ve not caused any problems for a while.  Makes me wonder if you’re unwell.”  Seriously?  I was drowning in worry for nothing?

I smiled cheekily.  “How cold.  Is that how you really see me, mother?  I can be good when I so desire, you know?”  I asked.  “True, I caused problems in the past, but I’ve turned over a new leaf.  I’m a new person, freed from all desire.”  She arced an eyebrow.  “Past?  I’m talking about last week.”

All at once, my smile froze.  Of course.  It worried me when she did not speak of it a whole week later.  I had expected at least to be reprimanded, but relief found me anyway when no one spoke of it.  My latest stunt may have caused may problems, but it kept my secret safe.  It was a necessary risk.  Foolish me.  My eyes snapped to the door behind me.  Like a telepathic link, the locks turned, and my fate was sealed.  It was time to face the music. 

I started reminiscing.

*

Some fancy noble had come to the palace.  He was flanked with three men, his boyishly young face glowing.  His steps were haughty, as if the rest of us did not deserve to be breathing the same air he did.  He noticed me tailing him and slowed down.

“Ah, Prince Elrand.  A pleasure to finally meet you.”  This guy was a whole ten years younger than me.  It seems that did nothing for his ego.  “‘Fraid the pleasure is all yours.  What’s the son aristocrat from the empire want with us?”  His guards seemed calm, unworried even. Is it because I had no visible weapons?  Or was it the guns sticking from each their hips?  Just shows how much faith people placed in firearms nowadays.   

His grin grew, and he swept back his brown locks dramatically.  “Is that anyway to greet your future brother-in-law?”  I continued nodding, all the while thinking, ‘This guy is completely off his bonkers,’ until I processed his words.  My face contorted, and I sniffed lightly.  “Yeah…no way.”  He cocked his head, not having caught my murmurs.

“Don’t mind me.”  I clasped my hands together, pasting a sickly-sweet smile onto my countenance.  “My future in law, huh?  Well then, it’s a pleasure to meet you!  We’ve been expecting you.”  That was a two-faced lie.  When they first met, this brat managed to impress Eleanor so much that she considered their engagement.

Keyword, considered.  Larkin missed his only chance once he started blowing his own horn.  I led him to the garden where Eleanor was swinging a practice sword.  “Dearest sister,” I grinned, dragging the syllables, “I have brought your guest.”  She stopped moving, sweat glistering on her temple.

“Why thank you, dearest brother.  How considerate of you.”  She grinned at me, and that was all I needed to know.  Our actions must have become more transparent as the years went by for all the maids made themselves scarce.  “How crude.  Firearms are way more effective.”  Eleanor tugged her stray locks behind her ear.  She moved so elegantly; it was a wonder this nobody called her form crude.

Unlike me, she had blue eyes, eyes that were pleading with me.  It was almost hilarious; I had seen that same look on my father multiple times.

“I take it you really want to this engagement to work out?”  Bryer puffed out his chest.  “I do.”  I spared a glance at his bodyguards.  “Then we will play a game.  If you win, I’ll accept you with open arms.”  “Aren’t we too old to be playing games?  But…”  After a moment’s thought, he nodded, accepting my terms.  Oddly enough, he didn’t ask what would happen if he losses.  Oh well, it’s not like he’ll want anything to do with us after this.

“Loss the guards.  The only ones participating are me and you.  No outside interference, okay?”

Had to make it seem as if I was giving him a fair chance.  Soon, my stage was set.  “This is a rite of passage of sorts.  My eldest sister is the one who started it.  The goal is simple.  I’ll run around the palace, and you’ll try to catch me.  All good?”  He nodded, his expression set.  Almost made me feel sorry for the kid.  Almost.

I took off, and like a complete moron, he ignored the gasps around him and chased after me.  Once I got too far away, I would slow down so as not to lose him, only to speed up again.

I made sure to go to all key places.  Some maids would shriek, others would bust out laughing, others would even take pictures.  Finally tired of running around, I stopped in front of Bryer’s bodyguards.  They stared at him; gobsmacked.

Bryer wheezed, placing his hands on his knees as he hunched over.  “Just how fast…are you?  You don’t even look worse for wear.”   It was then he realized.  He was clutching his bare knees.  Bare knees, were there was a trouser not too long ago.  A sudden breeze caused him to shiver. “Where…my clothes?  I must be hallucinating.”

The fact he ran around the palace in nothing but his briefs made me bust out laughing.  “Whatever happened to your clothes?”

Ah.  This makes me remember my own suffering.  At least, I, unlike my sister, had the decency of leaving his briefs on.

*

No matter how bad this situation looked, thinking of what I did almost made me burst into laughter.  I covered my mouth to hide the grin spreading on my face.  If Eleanor becomes a spinster, it’s not my fault.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

Though mother had always endured any and all stunts I threw at her, it seemed I had really crossed a line this last time.  While I feel bad for all the diplomatic problems it may have caused for her, I absolutely did not regret doing it.  In fact, I had every right to do it.  That did not stop me from feeling a little bit remorseful.  Bryer did not seem that bad.  Perhaps he just wanted to impress Eleanor.

The queen sighed and rubbed her temple a few times.  “I understand why you did it, but you must understand.  Elrand, you are my firstborn son.  As such, there some expectations you have meet.  I would never have agreed to it if Eleanor had spoken up.  So why?  Why did you publicly bring shame to us?”

The severity of the situation finally dawned on me.  He was the son of an aristocrat in the empire after all.  Even if he wanted my sister (my sister!), he still held power.  While Elves were gifted warriors, we avoided disputed whenever we could.

“I’m sorry, mother.  I most certainly will not do it again.”  Her eyes flashed dangerously.  Terror seized me, and I placed a hand on my chest to calm my racing heart.  The queen, however, did nothing.  I found it hard to believe she was angry at me.  I mean, I’ve been doing this since I could walk.

She should have been used to it by now.

“I know you’re mad, nonetheless, you should have seen his face!  It was priceless!”  The Queen turned away from me just as a ghost of a smile tugged on her lips.

Whew!  I’m safe!

“Just as I thought I’d gotten rid of one troublesome child… Was your sister a bad influence…?  Sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head.”  She stood up, handing me some documents.  “I have made the necessary arrangements.  All that’s left is for you to sign those papers. As soon as you do, all rights to the throne will be revoked.”  I nodded.  Picking up a pen, I scribbled down my signature. 

With that, Eleanor is now first in line for the crown.  Queen Rylisse looked conflicted, and I finally understood why.  To the rest of the world, it seemed she declaring me unfit to rule.  In a way, this may help solve the diplomatic issues I had caused.  That said, there is no telling how the people under her rule will react.  However, I knew I was not meant to lead a kingdom, at least, not here.  Besides, she knew why I had made this decision.

Among other things, the main reason I got away with almost anything was because the masses loved me.  I had no idea why, or even how it came to be.  Even when my latest stunt got out to the public, almost everybody seemed to gaze upon me with new found respect.  It was funny they loved a prince with such flaws.

Better to deal with it now before it becomes a wildfire.  Revolt would be unprecedent.  Best to take great efforts to avoid it at all costs.

Mother watched me carefully as I laid out my plans.  “Have no fear, mother.  I shall deal with this myself.  Thank you for granting my request.”

Expressions I could not read flashed on my mother’s face all at once.  She nodded, silently dismissing me.  I left as silently as I came in, only this time, the halls were not empty.

Eleanor was leaning on the adjacent wall, a frown marring her face.  “How is it that you were let off that easily?  I expected at least a few angry shouts.”  I shrugged.  “What do you expect?  I’m practically an adult.   While she is my mother, I bet it feels weird to scold an adult man.”

I ran my eyes over her body playfully.  “You, however, have a few more years to deal with her more unpleasant side.  Only, I won’t be here to bail you out.”  My sister paled.

“You are leaving?  Right after you gave me the throne?”

“Oh, don’t give me that look.  I never wanted to be King.  This way, you can send off any would-be suitors without repercussions.  So…  Where is my ‘thank you’?”

She gasped.  “Are you stupid?  You gave up your crown for such a single-minded plan?”  Without missing a beat, I nodded enthusiastically.  Eleanor stared at me appalled, as if she was re-evaluating my intelligence.

“I’ve never pegged you as the selfish type.”

It really hurt.  Eleanor was closest to me than any of my family members.  Lying to her so blatantly twisted my heart in more ways than one.  No matter.  What’s done is done.  Time to tie all loose ends.  I started down the hall with Eleanor. 

“Oh,” I said to her.  “Almost forgot. You are too unexperienced to become the next ruler.  In two weeks, you will go to a school in Eldfroise.  I would start preparing if I were you.”  I left Eleanor’s staring at my back in shock, her mouth opening and closing.  A shadow befell my face.  Not long now…

How much longer I would have to keep this up?  Truly, it was the only thing I had not overcome.