PROLOGUE.

Twenty four year old Prince Archibald Saint Williams folds his hands behind his back on the balcony of the ballroom looking down at all the people that showed up just to celebrate him. Gowns on bodies of all shapes and sizes put on display for his satisfaction. He had asked his father to spare him the annual grand event this year but the queen refused.

King Rudolf his father comes into view with his wife Queen Sophia tight in his grasp but maintains his wandering eyes. Rudolf looks up at his son and winks at him when they make eye contact. Archie knows that’s his fathers way of telling him to come down and show his face but makes no attempt to move.

Gavin his best friend shoves him out of view breaking him out of his trance with a sharp slap to the back as they both glance down at just in time to catch Queen Sophia’s sharp glance of hatred.

“Cesil is acting extra bitchy today with her squad. I even heard her tell one of the maids to take her to your room” Archibald’s blue eyes find the tall blond model in clothes that barely cover anything “Please tell me you did not have sex with Cesil last night” Gavin asks through stuffed mouth

Cesil is a famous French model born in Luxembourg with legs long enough to wrap around a pole. Which she did do for her fashion week shoot last year where she bumped into the Prince who keeps her coming back for more

“I did not have sex with Cesil last night” he repeats in boredom still watching Cesil blond hair flair around wildly as she yells at a servant

Women like Cesil think that they have control over everything and everyone is beneath them. They will never be anything more than disposable bedwarmers

“Oh you did didn’t you. You totally did!” Gavin throws his head back laughing at his friend “she got the bullseye for you. Be prepared to be a father my friend”

“Not this time. I made sure of that” a slight shiver travels down his back when he remember the girl in high school who claimed to be having his heir. Of course this was only because her family wanted a bite of the royal cake

“You used a condom with her and made her take the morning after pill” Gavin states rather than asks

“She did it all for me to see and I had doc do a check up”

“Did she cry when you pulled out the pill?” Archie nods as Gavin laughs again

“They all do” he mutters

Gavin becomes serious after a while and they both silently observe the things going on down below. Mothers giving their daughters notes on what to do when approaching a royal. He knows that most of the women here are willing to do anything for a night of royalty. Though he hates using that to his benefit he never asks for anything.

They throw themselves at him and he welcomes them with open arms and a ready dick. Nothing more.

King Rudolf and Queen Sophia make their way up the hidden stairs to the balcony where their notorious son, Archie is back in deep conversation with the servant he calls best friend.

“Will you be okay?” Gavin asks knowing that his friends anxiety issues is nine times out of ten triggered whenever he is around his parents

“We’ll see. Just get a bottle ready” Gavin bows at the King and Queen when they are in sight before going the party down stairs

“Playing the victim again I see” Sophia waves to the crowd

“Sophia..” Rudolf warns going her at the edge

“Isn’t that what you were doing again dear” she rhetorically asks “After promising another girl a place next to you on a throne that isn’t yours just for a night of pleasure. That is the kind of man that people says is my son. May the heavens burn their tongues” her green eyes dilates in hate

“Watch it Sophia” Rudolf pulls her body in an embrace to please the fans

“Which informant did you hear this from mother” he stands behind the curtain after waving as well “I think you live within theses walls, every night never sleeping, finding new ways to ruin peoples lives. You’re like a snake always up to shed your skin but can never change your carnivorous desires” his cold grey eyes stare deep into Sophia’s eyes challengingly

" Apologize to your mother right this moment” Oliver, the king’s assistant closes the curtains for the balcony and orders for the music to be played louder

Being Rudolf’s personal assistant requires him to ensure that the private matters of the royal family stays in the royal family and never to the media

“Sorry for revealing your true colors, Queen Sophia” Archie pushes through his parents to leave

“Bastards have no claim over the throne” he freezes “Maxwell your cousin is better at everything because he knows his parents and will make a great king when I publicly disown you” the threat triggers his anxiety. His fingers tingle with anticipation as the blood drains from his face. Archie puts his hands in his pant front pockets before turning to face his parents again

“You don’t own me and this is a mans world. Go sit still and look pretty. That’s all you’re good for even though you still don’t meet the normal beauty standards no matter how many surgeries you get. I’m sure you lost count, we all did”

Gavin meets him at the ballroom with four champagne glasses fulled to the brim on a tray. Archie quickly drinks ever drop without question and grabs a flute from another waiter. Gavin doesn’t have to ask to know if it was good, that was all the answers he needed

“Your highness” Oliver approaches cautiously “Sorry to interrupt my prince, Mr. Anthony of the Smiths family would like to pay his respects” Archie groans at the his personal assistant already hating the thought of the man who spits twelve times in a sentence.

“Tell them I died” he turns to leave

“The king organized this meeting your highness” Archie begrudgingly follow his assistant to Mr. Smith after mentally wishing them to rot in hell

He ignores the advances of the women as he makes his way through the crowd.

They eventually make it to a man in his early seventies engaged in what seems to be a deep conversation with a lady that looks too young to be his wife.

Oliver approaches the pair and says “my apologies sir, I present to you the first of his name Prince Archibald Williams” Archie rolls his eyes at the unnecessary introduction.

Anthony eagerly extends his to the prince. Do I have to? Archie asks himself before shaking hands with the Smiths.

“Sorry to bring you all the way here my prince but I would like the honor of introducing you to my daughter Victoria Smith, something tells me that you two will have a lot to talk about. Now if you would not mind, I would like to be excused” Archie wants to stomp his foot like a child but politely nods

Archie stares down at the man in anger. He can smell Sofia all over this act. Oliver taps him on his shoulder, whispering “Sire the king would like a word with Mr. Smith”

Archie clears his throat loudly “you may go” there is an obvious scowl on the old mans face as he makes his way to the king.

Archie’s flute descends from his lips when Victoria brazenly places her hand on his chest “You are not my type” he brushes her hand away. She blinks at him and straightens her posture to try again

Archie turns to look the lady who is suddenly gripping the life out of his arms without the flute.

“I did not believe father when he said he would make sure that you’re mine but he did it” she squeals “We are going to be the perfect couple. Better than Beyoncé and Jay z. Our wealth combined will be more than theirs. I can already see it...” he stops listening with his mind already made up

“Hell will have to freeze over for me to tolerate you and even then I will kill myself before having to spend a minute with you” he distances himself from her

“I know everything there is to know about you but you seem to have no knowledge of my existence. I wonder why. I am after all your betrothed” Archie chokes on his drink and spits what is in his mouth on her

Her screams travel through the ballroom and she wiggles her hand relentlessly to get rid of the excess liquid

“You spit on my handmaid million dollar vera wang gown. Are you out of your mind?!” she says without thinking

Gavin quickly pulls Archie to his room

“What the hell happened back there? I know you hated the girl but you didn’t have to spit on her in public. That should only be save for Cesil” he makes Archie sit on the bed

“She said I’m betrothed to her” Gavin spits out a mouthful of his drink

“That has to be a lie. Your father would never do such a thing to you”

“I don’t know what my father is capable of. He always stands back when she is treating me badly and always makes me apologize. Her needs come before my own”

Gavin scoffs “you couldn’t apologize for taking the last pizza and he expects you to apologize for his wife low self esteem. Thats not gonna happen

“If push came to shove, I believe he will have your back”

“Sophia we are not sending him to another country just because he does not get along with you! That’s preposterous” King Rudolf says to his impudent wife

“Don’t you dare blame this on me, we both don’t get along with him and who can. That thing has been sucking the life out of me from the moment you brought him here. From the moment you created him and nothing has changed. He was a bastard then and he is still a bastard now. There is nothing you can do about that”

“That ‘thing’ is my son Sophia and I love him!” the king’s voice elevates two more octaves defensively

“How can I forget that he is not my son when everything about him reminds me of her? The way he can’t go a day without making sure that his room is clean and bites his lips when he is in uncomfortable situations; it is all her Rudolf. But whether you like it or not everyone seems to think that he is my son and for that reason alone I plan to make the right decision”

“Don’t talk about her!” Rudolf gets in her face “You are heartless and exactly what he said you are. Wish I had seen it before you killed her. At least you got one thing right in your speech, he is my son and I want my son here with me. I want to see my son when he wakes up and when he goes to sleep. He is mine!”

“I was forced to be with you. Dragged to the alter like a deranged animal to be sacrificed and after I did all the hard work you expect me to sit back for a simple palace whore to reap the fruits of my labour. I would kill her again and again if i could” With their past thrown into the argument they both know that they can not get their way

“Believe me if I could make a choice you wouldn’t be considered. Everyone believes that he is mine and that gives me the right to choose what happens to my son” she bitterly enunciate ‘my son’.

“We were both forced to be with each other. Sophia we can’t do this-” the king rubs his face, a clear sign that he is beyond frustrated “We can’t make him repeat our mistakes Sophia. We may not love each other but we have to do the best we can for him”

“We can and we will, by sending him to another boarding school. Perhaps its time for him to venture in the military” the queen’s tone of speech is conclusive

“I forbid it” he slams his hand on the desk

“It is a good thing you can’t forbid something that is already announced to the public” she slams the door behind her

Archibald fondles the girl on his bed. Unknowingly throwing her undergarment at the Queen.

“I want you out of my castle” Cesil is quick to climb down from Archibald’s lap

“Forgive me my Queen” she picks up her clothes and races for the door. Archie groans and hugs his pillow to his chest

“You’ve been reeking of bitchiness a lot more than usual mother. I’m not one to judge but you really need help” he gulps a mouthful the thirteen thousand bottle of red wine to his lips. Archie is still in his dress pant with four buttons on his white dress open

“As a woman, my instincts come alive when I see a child in need even when it’s not my own. I will protect the child from danger and make sure to clothe and show them love. I never had that with you” Sophia stands facing the wind with her eyes glued to the millions of people walking through the streets of Merda. Their ant like bodies empower her

“Spare me the insults”

“Everything about you is repulsive. I can’t stand the sight of you just like I couldn’t stand seeing her prancing the palace halls with the upper hand. Your mother is a cheap whore who is rotting six feet under for her crimes just like you will be very soon” she turns to look at the young man who suddenly finds it hard to breath “You have the same electric eyes as her before I watched her light fade. Glorious sight” Rudolf having heard enough barges through the door with a few palace maids and guards who march straight to the closet

“Clark get the pilots ready and let the Pristine know of his arrival” he orders pulling his son to sit on the bed

“What do you think you are doing Rudolf?”

“I am doing exactly what we discussed. My son will be going to the Military school in phydena for a year to learn more about how to govern our people dear. He won’t learn anything being mollycoddled by his mother” Sophia throws her head back in humour

“That is rich coming from you Rudolf, speak for yourself. I have a lot more to teach him” Sofia stomps her way out

“Is it true?” Rudolf knows what his son is referring to as he looks into his glossy eyes and red lip. He pulls the bottle out of his hands and passes it to Oliver

“Its not safe for you to be here for now” he stands shoulder to shoulder with his heartbroken son

“this is your last chance to tell me the truth of my mother”

“I’m giving you something my father denied me of having. A way out” Archie runs his hands through his hair

“Thats not what i’m asking Rudolf. Who is my mother?”

“Gavin will be going with you to the school. They have agreed to treat you fairly and you’ll be gone for a yea-” Rudolf turns away to sign papers handed to him by Oliver

“WHO IS SHE?” Archie explodes in frustration. Everyone freezes looking at the father and son currently locked in a wordless battle. Rudolf towers an inch over his son with his massive muscled shoulders squared as his much muscled but lanky son challenges him with un relenting anger

Rudolf knows this is his last chance to speak directly with his son about the looming question but he is afraid. He prefers to not speak of Aveline. The love of his life after he found her lifeless body laying in a pool of her blood with their son crying in his bassinet. That was the worst day of his life

Rudolf is the first to break eye contact “Pack his bags. I want him gone within the next hour and no one is to hear of this” he immediately walks away after giving the orders

Archibald stands back with traitorous tears trailing down his chisled cheeks. The roots of his hatred for the queen and the king deepens as his heart breaks with each second abandoned.

“Breaking news, a statement issued by King Rudolf this morning has revealed that the heir apparent Prince Archibald will be study at the millet academy for a year and will resume his responsibilities upon return”