Ch 10. Ursinus’ Hatred

After having quickly bathed and dressed handsomely, Cyrus found himself sitting next to his mentor, Lord Hector, at a long dining table. At the end closest to them, Ursinus and his wife, Leah, sat and the nobles from the trip filled the rest of the table. Nestor sat on Cyrus' right side with his mentor, Sir Magnus, sitting with a very annoyed face next to him. There were less than thirty seated at the table.

"I hope the trip wasn't too troublesome," Ursinus started. Servants entered with the food and drinks while he continued speaking, "I congratulate all the young noble men here who have completed their one year training. May the Gods grant you strength and wisdom to help our country continue wealthy and prosperous."

He raised his cup of wine and stood up from his seat, this prompted all the other men to stand up and raise their cups, too. "For the Gods!"

"For the Gods!" They drank.

Cyrus sat down, focusing on the food in front of him. Talks and discussions started to grow between his companions but he didn't bother to join them. He really wanted to sleep as soon as this was over.

"Your Highness," unfortunately, halfway through his meal, an annoying voice ruined his peaceful mood, "have you been enjoying yourself recently?"

Internally sighing, Cyrus politely replied, "This meal is satisfactory and I can see that our stay here will be, too. How can I not be enjoying myself?"

Ursinus chuckled, "I didn't mean my feast, prince. I meant how have your night adventures been."

Some of the men who were seated closer to the magistrate and prince could hear what was being spoken. Some ignored it while others paid close attention for entertainment. Unfortunately, some musicians and dancers had entered so they couldn't completely hear the conversation anymore. Nestor was one of them because as soon as he saw some lovely ladies dancing around them, he ate while flirting with them.

Cyrus could care less if some of the men heard what Ursinus had said and he shrugged off some dancers who were bold enough to touch him.

"My night activities should not be any of your concern."

"I hope you don't take any offense in my words, prince, I was just worried about Chloe," seeing Cyrus' lack of response to the name angered him, "how has she been?"

Cyrus took a piece of meat and slowly chewed, he wasn't in a hurry to answer. Swallowing, he said, "Ah, her! Sorry it took me quite a while to remember her. It's just it's been many seasons since I last saw her. I think she should be at the capital if my memory serves me correctly."

Frowning, Ursinus angerly asked, "How could you forget who she was? Especially in my presence." The prince gave him a bored look.

"She's not important to me."

"But she was to me!" Ursinus had leaned towards the prince he had despised since some time. "I had my eyes on her! I was courting her! I nearly had her be my wife! But you!...You stole her from me!" Only the prince and Lord Hector could hear him.

"Pft...."

Hearing what the man said, Cyrus chuckled. He gazed back at Ursinus with amusement etched on his face, "I stole her... from you? Ursinus, are you even hearing what you're saying?"

He continued, "I could care less about that girl. I don't even remember her much. It was one night. In fact, I wouldn't have remembered her had you not mentioned her. That's how unimportant she was. Also, let me remind you," he took a sip of his wine, "she came to me. She went to look for me and wanted to sleep with me. I wanted company and she willingly offered herself to me. Answer me, if she had really been yours, how come she gave herself to me?"

Ursinus was silent but his face was red, he was fuming and wanted nothing more than to strangle the youth.

Cyrus chuckled some more, "Mm? You can't even answer that? Then let me answer it for you... she wasn't yours, ever. You weren't able to win her over and instead she chose me, which means that nothing was stolen. She chose and you lost to me."

The handsome young man kept his own eyes on the fuming red apple who was glaring at him with killing intent while he drank from his cup of wine. Around him, his companions were joyously enjoying the food and entertainment, some were even bold enough to start making moves on the dancers. It was only these two people who weren't taking much part in it. One giving the other a death glare while the other amusingly looked down on the ludicrous man.

After having had his fill of the food, Cyrus stood up, "What can I say? I'm a prince, young, and good looking. I don't have to even signal a woman to come to me, they willingly throw themselves at me."

He looked at his mentor, Lord Hector, who just let his pupil do what he wanted. It was because he knew that the magistrate had done some things that he thought he had covered. Unfortunately, he knew that in a few days time, Ursinus would meet his end. Therefore, he didn't care how petty their conversation was or how low it was for the prince to have continued the talk, Ursinus would no longer be an important person before they left to Hauwitet, much more, a living person.

"I'll be taking my leave, now," Cyrus informed him. Turning back to the apple who had leaned back in his seat but was still hatefully glaring at him, Cyrus thanked him, "The feast was certainly satisfying, very... diverting."

He turned around to head to his room, while ignoring some dancers who had tried to get his attention. On his way, he faintly remembered the girl that had been mentioned. He only slept with her once after she had thrown herself into his arms, but then he harshly reminded her of her place which had caused the girl to weep and throw tantrums when he left after the entanglement. An annoying girl, Cyrus frowned.

But thinking about girls made him remember of his marriage duties; he would have to arrange a marriage with a noble girl as soon as he would arrive at the capital of Milikree, Hauwitet.

Arriving at his room, he sighed before he tiredly dragged his body to the bed. The trip had exhausted him, but he was glad it was now over. It was a trip that was an obligation to all noble sons before they turned twenty. Aside from military training which was mandatory for all boys of the country, Cyrus, being a prince, had to also complete a one year trip to many important cities and places of Milikree. Hence, the reason why he was traveling.

Wulsapa wasn't on the list of cities to visit but for some reason unknown to him and the other young men, Lord Hector and the other mentors decided last moment to stop by.

Such a hassle, Cyrus thought before he quickly fell asleep.

Back at the feast, the noble men continued eating and talking while others fooled around with the dancers. Ursinus, who was still furious, had a dancer himself serving him food. The girl had light blonde hair and blue eyes with small lips. She was bountiful in her curves.

Leah didn't care, however, as she had plans to seduce the second prince of Milikree in an attempt to gain his love and affection. She decided that she would try to act tonight as her husband seemed in a terrible mood and would most likely not arrive at their chambers.

Not long after Cyrus had left, many had also finished and departed to their own rooms, some with a woman in their arms. Nestor had taken one of the slimmer dancers to have fun with as he figured that it would take some time for Leah to try to look for his friend.

In the end, Lord Hector, Sir Magnus, and Sir Plato had stayed behind to give their thanks to Ursinus and to wish him a good night, since the man would need it.