Chapter 11

Marco looked at the guards who were stationed at the door. They had a smug look on their face as they looked down at him. Just because he wasn't as shrewd as his brother, somehow everyone in the castle took him and his position for granted. It was the tradeoff of being born the second prince; he got all the freedom he wanted and no responsibilities, but he also got all the disrespect. Now his older brother wanted to snuff him of his freedom...Marco wouldn't let him. Lorenzo could get rid of all Marco's partners, but he was never going to let his older brother take his freedom as well.

So out of petty protest, Marco slapped the plate of butter out of the advisor's hands and it fell to the floor, smashing into pieces. The advisor stumbled back in shock and so did the alerted guards. Everyone was distracted by the shattered plate while Marco used the opportunity to push the advisor aside to run for the window.

"Prince Marco don't you dare-" The advisor shouted at him.

Marco, with his buttered bread in his mouth, winked at the advisor and the guards that headed towards him. He pushed the windows open and leapt out.

"Prince Marco!" Advisor Giovanni screamed in horror.

Lorenzo simply continued eating his meal, as he was already used to his brother's antics by now. The advisor ran towards the window and when he looked down, he saw Marco running on a roof. He turned around and shouted back at the advisor.

"Tell the 'Crown Prince' to go fuck himself!" Marco smiled brightly and leapt off the roof, rolling into their front garden.

The advisor let out a sigh of relief. He then turned to look at Lorenzo and placing a hand on his stiff shoulder, he huffed, "Crown Prince, your brother is not injured."

Lorenzo pushed his chair back and wiped his mouth. Then as he headed for the door, he muttered, "It would have been nice if he broke a leg…or an arm at least." Lorenzo chuckled to himself as he headed for his study.

His advisor followed him, listing down all his tasks and meetings for the day. As the day went on, Lorenzo lost count after the fifteenth meeting; he simply pulled out his journal and made some notes.

"I know this is the last thing you want to hear about, but you must pick a date for the next ball." The Advisor dropped a paper on his desk and tapped on it.

"We just had a ball." Lorenzo grimaced; he was exhausted with the entire thing.

"And did you find someone to marry?" The advisor sat in the chair opposite his desk. Lorenzo's study had been his father's, and even the fathers' before him. It was decorated with the antiquities of time; his father's desk was much too ancient for someone his age as its wood was fading and the armchair he sat on was old too. Yet he refused to change any of it.

"Must I get married?" Lorenzo picked the form up and placed it to the side. The Advisor saw this and pushed it back to him. Lorenzo sighed silently.

"Your parents' decree was clear. You cannot be king unless you marry. You should consider yourself lucky they left the choice up to you." The advisor smiled, but Lorenzo didn't feel so lucky.

He had trained all his life to be a ruler and somehow he needed a wife to rule. It didn't make sense; what was the purpose of all the hardships he faced, all the experiences he sacrificed...if all he needed to do was fuck his way into being a king? At this point, his brother was more qualified than he was.

"In my days and as you know, your father's as well, you didn't pick a wife. She was picked for you. Likewise, you didn't pick your husband as he was picked for you..." The Advisor trailed off as Lorenzo's attention shifted to a window.

Another reason he loved his father's study was having a view of the kingdom; though he could only see little buildings littered around in clusters, it was just enough for him to imagine what it must look like up close.

He'd only been to the town once; he had snuck out with Marco. The thought brought a small smile to Lorenzo's face. Obviously they were caught soon after and he was punished for his actions while Marco was barely scolded; at the time he had thought it unfair but as time went by, he understood that they both had different roles to play. He was born to rule and his brother was a backup in case anything happened to him. Sometimes he wished he was the backup.

"Are you listening, Crown Prince?" Lorenzo turned his attention back to the bald old man that sat in front of him.

When was he not listening; that's all he always seemed to be doing? Listening. His father always told him a great king always listens, sacrifices, and does what he should. So Lorenzo picked up his pen, dipped it in ink and marked the date of the next ball.

The advisor picked up the paper and looked back at Lorenzo in surprise. "So soon, sire?"

"I'd like to get this done as soon as possible." Lorenzo responded.

He knew the longer he waited, the more susceptible his throne became to those who thought they were more competent than he was. And he would be damned before he let someone else in their meddling family steal his birthright.

"I guess it would only be prudent. I'll have the necessary arrangements made and the invitations be sent out. Is there anyone you would particularly like to see or not see?" The advisor rose to his feet and picked the paper off the desk.

Lorenzo tapped his pen against the desk. "The red head with..." Lorenzo began to speak but then he changed his mind. "Nothing. I have nothing to say."

The advisor bowed and headed for the door. "Oh, and the maid your brother was fraternising with."

Lorenzo arched a brow at him.

"I had her moved to a Duke's home. They pay well and are kind, so she will be happy there." The advisor smiled. "I still don't understand why you won't just tell your brother that you don't actually leave his peasant partners unemployed when you find them out?"

Lorenzo paid him no mind. He had all the staff Marco slept with relocated to a different home and just never got around to telling Marco. So from then on, he just pretended that he really fired them. He felt it was easier to just not say anything than say too much...and besides he loved seeing his good for nothing little brother get riled up and serious about something for once...anything! Even if that something was women's fleeting skirts. Lorenzo looked out the window again at the bustling town and wondered.

'What is that crazy redhead up to right now?'