Chapter 9

Back at the castle, Prince Ferdinand stood on the terrace overlooking the side of the castle. Before his eyes in the distance were large mountains and forest trees, surrounding the Kingdom. Birds soared in the air, basking in the warmth of the sun. It was beautiful and glorious to the eyes but Ferdinand didn't see all these. His eyes were staring straight in front of him but his mind was somewhere else.

A particular rumor had been spreading round the castle. It seems everyone knew now that it wouldn't be easy for the King to choose an heir because the three Princes were all equal to the throne. They were all born the same day, at the same hour so it would indeed be difficult to know who was the rightful heir. Ferdinand had always thought he was the rightful heir to the throne. During his childhood, his mother never ceased to let him know that he was the first Prince and the next King of Duville. So he had grown up with the expectation of becoming the next King and ruling Duville.

Now those expectations were crushed because the crown was slipping away from him. He now had two step brothers to contend with. Step brothers he hated with so much passion. They constantly got on his nerves and he wished they were never born. He wished his father, the King would just look at him and know that he was the rightful heir to the throne. Ferdinand indeed was a beautiful man. He had a crown of platinum blonde hair like his mother but had inherited his father's pale blue eyes. He had the broad shoulders that was well known for the Delaville male borns. He was brave and strong, and he had the power of his mother being the first Queen behind him. Maybe he was a little foolish when it came to women but he couldn't be blamed. He was a man after all, and it would be difficult to keep his eyes off the swaying wide hips of a woman. When he becomes King, he would drop the attitude and....

"There you are",Queen Catherine said as she joined her son on the terrace, interrupting his daydream.

"Hello mother",Prince Ferdinand said and bent low to kiss his mother's cheek.

"You seem distracted",Queen Catherine said. "Care to share what's bothering you with me?".

Ferdinand let out a deep sigh and turned towards his mother.

"You know how badly I want to be King mother",he said. "Now the crown might never be mine".

"What nonsense are you saying?",Queen Catherine asked. "Of course the crown is yours. You're the first Prince".

"Don't tell me you haven't heard the rumours",Prince Ferdinand said. "I was born the same day as my step brothers. They have a right to the crown just as much as I do".

"My Ferdinand",Queen Catherine said and held his face in her palms.

"Believe your mother when she tells you you're going to be the King",she said. "I would do anything to make sure the crown gets to you, my son. I'm not the first Queen for nothing".

"What do you plan to do mother?", Prince Ferdinand asked. His previous gloomy countenance had brightened and he looked towards his mother with hope.

"The walls have ears",Queen Catherine said and her eyes rapidly looked around the corners of the terrace.

"Just follow whatever the King says", Queen Catherine said finally. "And leave the rest to me".

"Do what you must mother",Prince Ferdinand said with a smile. "And when I'm King, we will rule this Kingdom together.

"It seems I trained you perfectly",Queen Catherine said with a dark smile on her face. "Just one more thing Ferdinand. Stop fooling around with the maids. You bring shame to your father and to me. It shouldn't be said that the future King of Duville is a man that chases after anything in a skirt".

"Alright mother",Prince Ferdinand said. "I'll be good. But only for your sake".

Queen Catherine patted his cheek and walked away, leaving Ferdinand alone on the terrace. A few minutes later a maid entered with a brush and a pail of water.

"My Prince",she said softly and curtsied with her eyes lowered. Her hair was wrapped in a messy bun and she had an apron on. She quickly went on her hands and knees and began to scrub the ground.

Ferdinand watched her work. His eyes settled on the roundness of her hips and bum that was outlined through her dress. Lust took hold of him instantly and he felt his rod come to life as it hardened. He tried to control himself and remembered the promise he made to his mother but the lust that took over him overpowered him. If he didn't feel that rush of release, he wouldn't be satisfied.

"Get over here",he said in his deep voice.

The maid gave a soft gasp and quickly hurried to her feet. She looked around, hoping someone would come in and save her from her situation but there was none. She began to reject her decision to clean the terrace. She would have let the other maids do it instead. She knew of the wanton attitudes of the Princes and she always made sure she stayed away from them. Now her luck had ran out.

"Is there something you want my Prince?",she asked as she stood before him with her head bowed.

"Yes",Ferdinand said and pulled her sharply towards him. "There is something".

He dug his fingers into the skin of her hips and his other hand cupped her bum and pulled her closer towards his hardness.

"My Prince...",she whispered.

"Silence",Prince Ferdinand said against her ears as his hands moved over the curves of her body.

"What's your name?",he asked.

"Estella",she whispered to him while tears gathered in her eyes. They spilled down her cheeks as his hands squeezed her bum and rubbed her against his hard rod. She felt like dying. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole.

"You have such perfect body Estella", Prince Ferdinand said to her. His hands moved up her breasts and he squeezed the mound in his hands.

"My Prince please",Estella pleaded in tears. "I'm betrothed".

This only made Ferdinand want her more and he grabbed her hand and placed it on the bulge in his pants, folding her fingers over his hard rod and moving it upwards and downwards.

"You should be thankful that the future King of Duville has taken a liking to you",he said, his voice thick with pleasure. He grabbed her hips and was about to raise her dress upwards when someone stepped into the terrace.

"If it isn't the one and only Prince Ferdinand of Duville",Prince Apollo said as he walked in with a smug smile. There was pure sarcasm in his tone.

Ferdinand pushed Estella away from him and the poor girl fell back on the floor. She flew up to her feet, grabbed the pail and brush and with a small curtsy at Apollo, she fled.

"Oh I'm sorry",Apollo said, his smug smile still on his face. "Did I interrupt something private?".

Ferdinand glared at him with so much hate in his eyes. All the lust he felt a while ago evaporated and all he could feel was anger towards his step brother.

"What do you want?",he asked coldly.

"Don't look so pained",Apollo said. "I'm sure you can chase after her and finish what you started. The dungeons would be a perfect place to...."

Ferdinand lunged at him, cutting him short and pinned him against the wall by the collars of his vest. His face was red with anger and his eyes were furious.

"Do not forget Apollo",he growled at Apollo. "I am senior to you. And you will show me some respect".

Apollo smiled lazily at Ferdinand. He didn't try to loosen the grip of his step brother. He merely gazed at him with pity and scorn.

"It seems the lust you felt within you must have killed every brain cell you possess",Apollo said smoothly. "You deserve no respect Ferdinand. You're my equal, just as Stephan is. So don't try placing yourself on such a high pedestal. It makes you look miserable".

Ferdinand couldn't control himself and he let loose a hard punch on Apollo's face. Blood sprayed out and Apollo yelled in pain.

"GET AWAY FROM MY SON!",Queen Annabelle screamed as she suddenly appeared at the terrace. She shoved Ferdinand away and crouched beside her son, examining the damage done to him. Apollo's nose was broken and it bled profusely. She turned back and glared at Ferdinand who stood back with a bloody fist and his eyes opened in shock.

"Look what you've done to my son, you monster",she spat at him. "I should have known you and your mother had a hidden agenda. Planning to kill my son so he wouldn't succeed the throne. The King must hear of this".

She helped her son up and led him inside. "Monster!",she spat at Ferdinand again before leading her son away. Apollo turned back and grinned darkly at Ferdinand before he disappeared from sight.

"Right timing Mother",he whispered to his mother as they walked down the passage that led to the throne.

Queen Annabelle laughed softly as she held her son close. "He actually fell for the plan. I hope he didn't do too much damage to you honey",she said and examined his face.

"It hurts",Prince Apollo said and winced as his mother touched his face. "But it was worth it. I always knew Ferdinand couldn't control his temper".

"Keep this up, and soon the King will have no choice but to make him step down and place you as first in line for the throne".

"I love your thinking mother",Apollo said and they both continued towards the throne room where the King was.