A Memory

It was almost the end of summer, way before the war, even before the royal family visited the Grandiflora domain. The capital of Magnolia was bustling with life. Carts and vendors line the streets. The end of the summer meant the final sprint of harvest for warm-loving crops, such as eggplants, cucumbers, tomatoes, among others. There were also streets that mainly sold on type of crop, often these merchants came from a particular domain who mainly sold that crop. These crops were blueberries from the Myrtille Domain, blackberries from the Muria Domain, plums from the Mirabelle Domain, and many more. Recipes and dishes were also sold among these streets. The nobility from these domains often visited these streets during summer time and competed with one another.

"The domain that sold most of their crops and earned the highest in earnings should have the best noble in governing one's domain," a noble from the Myrtille Domain once declared, challenging the nobles of the other domains. It has become an annual event in the streets of the capital.

Prince Louis' birthday was also at the end of summer, on the 31st day of August. This trait often earned Louis the nickname, The Mildly Temperamental Prince, as his birthday would exactly be when it was not so cold nor hot. His attitude is also mildly temperamental, most of the time. The competing nobles would shower the prince with gifts and sponsored his birthday with dishes to showcase their domain. Again, this has become an annual tradition for the nobles. Now, Prince Louis plans to hold his birthday in Lake Chantes-des-Etoiles, a lake some distance south of the city.

"My brother's birthday is coming up, he has always looked out for me and I want to repay him. What should I do for him?" Prince Julien walks frantically back-and-forth in his room. "And Lake Chantes-des-Etoiles is the venue for his celebration. We used to go there during the summer time when we were kids. Perhaps something that reminded him of that time?"

"The royal organizers and the prince himself plans to be there on the morrow. I hear they plan to set up the venue outside the lake house," Gabriel replies. "The Lake House of Chantes-des-Etoiles is the venue for the party, specifically, or so I have heard from Prince Louis' butler."

"We should get there now," Prince Julien declares, "we must not spare a moment. I must prepare something for him."

"But, your Highness," Gabriel interjects, "you must perform your royal duties here as crown prince. The queen and the prime minister expects you to present yourself today before them for your daily classes."

"I know which is why I'm taking Gianni with me, while you stay here and distract mother and teacher," Prince Julien smirks subtly and winks to Gabriel as if he was a beautiful woman on the street being flirted by. "You'll do fine, I hope. Just stall them until they give up looking for me, understood? Now let's go, Gianni."

"B-but, y-y-your Highness," Gabriel loses his composure as he tries to stop the prince, "fool the queen and the prime minister? They would have my head for even trying to fool them."

"Nah, you can do it," Julien grabs Gianni by the waist and escorts him out of the palace.

"Your Highness, please," Gabriel stops them for one last time, "fooling them would be futile if you take the carriages, the chief coach works under the prime minister."

"Then, I won't take a carriage. Let's go, Gianni."

Julien checks the hallway for signs of members of the royal family and government officials. When he determined the coast was clear, he makes a beeline for the passage that maids and butlers use. He tightly hold Gianni's hand, showing him the way. They descend the winding stairs that leads out to the palace grounds and gardens.

"Now we just have to make it to the stables," Prince Julien remarks. "I hope the guards would not see us."

"I know someone from the palace guards," Gianni replies trying to loosen the prince's grip on his hand. He squeezes the prince's arm, feeling his contracted bicep. "I can persuade him to let us proceed to the stables"

"Okay, you go work your miracles."

Gianni walks to the stables and sees the guard whom he is acquainted to.

"Hello there. My daughter is fine now because of that medicine you gave me," the guard smiles. "Thank you so much for your help."

"I'm glad she has recovered," Gianni bows feeling glad. "I need your help."

Gianni tells the guard of what he must do. The guard willingly obliges and opens the way for them. He distracts other members of the palace guards, as Gianni leads the way for the prince. In the stables, Julien recognizes his horse. He places a saddle on the white stallion and mounts him.

"Nice work, Gianni. Now climb," Julien extends his hand prompting Gianni to mount the horse with him. "We should get going before anyone notices that I am trying to leave."

Gianni blushes and hesitates to grab the prince's hand, but he takes it, climbing up the royal horse, sitting behind the prince.

"When you are riding as a passenger, make sure put your hands around here to keep safe," Julien guides Gianni's hands around his waist just below his belly button was. "Hang tight."

The guard opened the gate for them. The two rides outside and heads to the streets of the city. The horse was swift but silent. It left minimal noise as it traversed the cobblestone pavement of the palace grounds and the streets of Magnolia.

"I'm taking us to the south road. The guards should let us outside," Julien whips the reins bidding the horse to run faster. "Hold on."

Gianni hugs the prince tighter. He places his head on his right shoulder. He looks at the prince marveling at his existence. The wind beats against both their faces as they rush to the bustling streets. The vendors and commoners make way for them as they traverse the main artery of the city. Their speed made them barely unrecognizable. They make it through the street where the only crop sold was blueberries. They ride past a stall that bore a banner of a purple saffron on a white field.

"The banner of House Myrtille," Prince Julien slightly pulls the reins slowing the steed, "Lord Myrtille must have recognized me. I pray he does not tell my mother."

They proceed to exit the city, where the noise got much natural, from the sound of footsteps beating against stone and conversations among people to chirping of birds and flowing of creeks and streams. They continue along to south road riding past carts carrying produce from southern farms and domains. They continue to slow down until they reach a pace thrice of walking.

"Now that we're outside the palace, might as well relax and enjoy our time," Prince Julien turns to Gianni who has completely leaned on him. "I hope you are not upset with this sudden trip, Gianni."

"I admire your spontaneity and courage, my prince," Gianni softly replies. "Being outside is a good change of pace."

"We should almost be at the lake once we get past that grove," the prince refers to a small thicket of trees just ahead. "I just hope the skies don't give us a downpour."

They make it to the grove. The skies became more gray. Cold breezes blew against their skin. Rain was coming the two knew it.

"We must hurry," Julien bids the horse to go faster. However, as they got out of the grove, rain poured down. "Gianni..." The prince fastens Gianni's arms around him as he orders the stallion to go at its fastest. They speed along the rode. The lake and the lake house are finally within reach, but they were already too soaked. They make it on the house grounds.

The rain painted multiple ripples on the lake's surface. The willow trees that grew on the lake's edges danced with the gentle blowing of the wind. It was the last summer rain.

"I'll find spare clothes inside, your Highness," Gianni jumps off the horse as Julien goes to rest him on the stables.

Gianni opens the door of the lake house which was surprisingly unlocked. He goes inside and searches for serviettes.

"Who might you be?" a man with ginger hair wearing leather armor that covered his entire torso appears before Gianni. He had a sword hanging from his waist and a dagger stashed on his right leg. His voice was deep and subtle. "What are you doing in the Lake House of Chantes-des-Etoiles?"

"He is with me," Julien appears behind Gianni. "We're here for my brother's birthday."

"Prince Julien," the man gives obeisance, "this is such an unexpected visit, one so unannounced."

"Forgive me, Sir Silas, this was but a flair of spontaneity."

"Such is your nature, my prince. Your room is ready as I have kept it always," Silas informs. "There are serviettes there to dry you."

"Much appreciated, Silas," the prince climbs the stairs and proceeds to the first chamber on the right of the stairs. "This is my room."

Prince Julien takes off his top revealing his training-chiseled muscles. A six pack drew perfectly on his abdomen and marvelously-developed pectorals reveal themselves. He also takes off his pants which were completely soaked with rain and muddied. Gianni immediately hands him a serviette which hung beside the closet.

"Here..." before Gianni could finish his sentence as he hands the serviette, he trips on the wooden floor and lands on top of Julien.

"I did not expect you to pounce on me the moment I became naked," Prince Julien laughs stroking Gianni's hair. "You are very naughty for doing this, do you know that?"

"Your Highness, forgive me. It was but an accident," Gianni tries to get off of the predicament.

"A pleasurable one at that," Julien holds him tightly not letting him go. "Stay like this for a while."

Gianni could feel his heart racing faster than the horse that took them to the lake house. He can smell and taste the prince's breath emanating from his mouth that was only a few centimeters away from his own. He stared at the prince and the prince looks at him.

"You're warm," Gianni remarks, "you're so warm."

"So stay close to me."