One In The Same Flame. ~Red Queen~ 《Cal x Reader 》

Chapter 6 crown prince

I was instructed to go the Barrows house, on orders from the crown prince. I've never seen him. Mare was to be put to work as a servant. That means she can stay! As we pull up Walsh goes in first. I wait for a few seconds then I come in. When i walk in, Gisa good hand is around Mares hand. When I step in the whole family  calms down a little, they know I'd do nothing to hurt them, and If something bad were to happen I'd tell them. Mare whispers 'I love you' to her family. I hold out my hand and she takes it, before I leave I kiss Gisa forehead.

We sit in the car, hands still clasped together. Mare was starting out the window. As we pass through the gates Mare grip on my hand tightens.
When we get out we let go of each others hand.
"I'm Ann, by the way, but we mostly go by last names. Call me Walsh."
I knew her from the Stilts she dated Bree for awhile, and she also knew Trammy.
"You're from...?" Mare asks vaguely remembering.
"The Stilts, same as you. I knew your brother Trammy, and I wish I didn't know Bree. A real heartbreaker, that one."
Bree had a reputation around the village before he left. He told me once that fear conscription as much as everyone else because of the dozen bloodthirsty girls he was leaving behind were far more dangerous.

"I know you enough from what Teron has told me though." Walsh finishes.

"What's that supposed to mean." Mare asks.

"I mean your going to be working long hours. I don't know who hired you or what they told you about the job, but it starts to wear on you. It's not all changing bedsheets and cleaning plates. You have to look without seeing, hear without listening. Were objects up there, living statues meant to serve." She sighs to her self and turned, wrenching open a door built right into the side of the gate. "Especially now, with this Scarlet Guard business. It's never a good time to be red, but this is very bad."

She steps through the door, seemingly into the soild wall. It takes Mare a moment to realize Walsh is going down a flight of stairs, disappearing into semi darkness.
"The job?" Mare press "What job? What is this?"

Was she not told about this?
"You've been summoned to a fill a serving post." I say like it's the most obvious thing in the world, with a smirk. She stops not believing what's happening.
"Keep up. I dont have time to hold your hand." I call that sends Mare scrambling after Walsh and I.

"Where are we going?" Mare asks another question.

"The Hall of thr Sun, of course." I answer

"Wha-what The palace, the actual palace?"

I tap the blade on my uniform, it's a crown.
"You serve king now."

~~~~

Mare now has her uniform on. Me and Walsh stat by her, giving advice.
"Say nothing. Hear nothing. Speak to no one, for they will not speak to you." Walsh advises

"You came on a busy day, perhaps the worst well ever see." I say.

"I saw the boats and airships- Silvers have been going upriver for weeks." Mare says. "More than usual, even for this time of year." We hurry her along, trays of food and glittering cups.

"What's happening today?" Mare asks.
Me and Walsh look back at her.
"Is that a stupid question?" Mare says.

"No, I didn't know about it either, until we started preparing. After all, they haven't had one for twenty year, since queen Elara was selected." I speak so fast my words blur together.
"Today is Queenstrial. The daughters of the High Houses, the great silver families, have all come to offer themselves to the prince. There's a big feast tonight, but now they're in the Spiral Garden, preparing to present, hoping to be chosen. One of those girls gets to be the next queen, and they're all slapping each other silly for the opportunity." I say

"So what, do they do a spin, say a few words, bat their eyelashes?" Mate ask as I chuckled.
"Hardly." Walsh says as she chuckles with me. We grab some cups and plates and hand them to her.
"You're on serving duty, so you'll get to see yourself." We all get into position.
"Aren't you coming?" Mates voice sounds desperate.
"I'll stay by you as much as I can." I tell her.

The trails start.
The garden below us transforms into arena. I can see all the house color.
I can see the king himself.
What would Mare think.

"Death to the Scarlet Guard!" Someone shouts and other quickly chime in. The king looks ruffled, paling at the noise. Hes not used to outbursts like this and almost snarls at the shouts.
"The Scarlet Guard - and all our enemies - are being dealt with!" Tiberias rumbles, his voice echoing out among the crowd. It silences them like the crack of a whip. "But that is not what we are here to address. Today we honor tradition, and no Red devil will impede that. Now is the rite of Queenstrial, to bring forth the most talented daughter to wed the most noble son. In this we find strength,  to bind the High House, and power, to ensure Silver rule until the ends of days, to defeat our enemies, on the borders, and within them."

"Strength," the crowd rumbles back at him. Its frightening. "Power."

"The time has come again to uphold this ideal, and both my sons honor our most solemn custom." He waves a hand, and two figures step forward, flanking their father. I cannot see their faces, but both are tall and black-haired, like the king. They too wear military uniforms.
"The Prince Maven, of House Calore and Merandus, son of my royal wife the queen Elara."
The second prince, paler and slighter than the other, raises a hand in a stern greeting. He turns left and right, I catch a glimpse of his face. Though he has a regal, serious look to him, he can't be more than seventeen. Sharp-featured and blue eyed, he could freeze fire with his smile - he despises this pageantry. I have to agree with him.
"And the crown prince of House Calore and Jacos, son of my late wife, the Queen Cariane, the heir to the kingdom of Norta and Burning Crown, Tiberias the Seventh."

I'm do busy laughing at the sheer absurdity of the name to notice the young man waving and smiling. Finally I raise my eyes just to say I was this close to the future king. But I get much more than I bargained for.

The glass goblets in my hands drop. Landing harmlessly in the sink of water.

I know that smile, and I know those eyes. They burned into mine only last night. He was one of them, I knew it. But the crown prince.
And then he turns fully, waving all around. Theres no mistaking it.

The crown prince is Cal.