who was very tired

Prince POV:

Unfortunately, the day was not over.

An afterparty.

Of course.

How could I forget about the afterparty. The gathering of snobby peacocks we call nobles, trying to prove that they’re wealthier and better than each other -- not by saying it outright, but in a roundabout, condescending way that’s supposed to be subtle.

“I just love that ruby necklace you have, Lady Lancaster. If I remember correctly, that is from the last season’s collection, correct? You must’ve gotten it at a much lower price. How… thrifty of you.”

She just called her poor.

“Thank you, Lady Emilia. I must admit, you look absolutely radiant! Especially for someone of your age.”

She just called her old.

To be honest, I want to join in their conversation and show them just who the richest and prettiest one here is. But unfortunately, that would be uncouth. Am I really that bored?

Yes.

I’ve been standing here at the side, and all I got was the older nobles telling me how much I’ve grown, or how they wish their children were half as good as me, or my opinions on a… marriage partner, and how their own children just happen to be single.

So yeah, I got out of there as soon as I could.

Making an excuse to check on the rest of the guests, Crown Prince’s duties and all. Quickly making one of the hall’s corners near the tables of untouched food a hiding spot, as best of a hiding spot as it can be.

Which is where I find myself now. Right behind a cement pillar. Somehow going unnoticed due to the other nobles being too busy with themselves, listening in to their conversations as my source of entertainment to get me through the night.

“Well, maybe if you presented yourself better, you’d still have a husband, you decrepit old hag.”

Wow. So subtlety is out the window.

“Why you-” as Lady Cecil is just about to make a scene, a ringing of a small bell echoes throughout the entire hall. Meaning that everyone should quiet down because the King is about to make a speech.

Aw, come on. It was just getting good.

“I would like to thank you all today for coming to celebrate my wonderful son’s pre-coronation, as he will soon be crowned king, but first I would like to announce the progress our great kingdom has made-” as the King lists many improvements the kingdom has gone through. At the same time, the Queen stands beside him with a face of indifference.

Honestly, I just blanked out the rest of his drawn-out speech because it was just another rendition of last year’s and how all these accomplishments are thanks to his wise decisions.

“And finally, our territories have been expanded. We have managed to occupy small areas of the Forbidden Forest and have its more dangerous… inhabitants safely removed. In due time, we will be able to conquer the entirety of the forest, making another great addition to our mighty kingdom!”

Wait, what? The Forbidden Forest? Whose bright idea was it to take over that place!?

Oh. Right. The King.

That forest alone takes up a majority of land, for a good reason. No one knows what lives there, but everyone knows that we don’t touch that place. Ever. We’re practically hitting a hornet’s nest or kicking an anthill; whatever metaphorical disaster will end up biting us in the ass.

Just as I’m thinking about the potential repercussions, the King is still continuing with his speech that somehow got to the topic of- “and finally, I am happy to reveal to you all that my son is to be wed! No later than the next month to-”

Wait, what the f-

“You dare burn down my forest?!” a loud shriek echoed within the gathering hall.

The lights in the grand room seem to have all imploded on themselves as ominous clouds gather through the windows. Hearing the countless sounds of thunder, as if striking in abundance, has sent everyone into a state of fear, with the loud screams of the guests resonating in the room.

The doors of the gathering hall are wide open as they reveal a woman with black hair and a black dress.

The same woman I saw in the parade.

“Not only did your filthy selves take a step into my forest, but you also plan to destroy it by burning all that lives within it?” The woman in black is seething as she states each word with utter indignation.

So that’s what he meant by occupying territory? He was burning down parts of the forest? We really are in the deep end now, are we? Well, at least we know who lives in the Forbidden Forest now. Or at least one of them.

Hell hath no fury like a witch scorned.

Great, of all the people the King had to piss off, he chose a witch.

“You who have committed such transgressions, it is only right that you be punished for it.” the Witch says with a smirk.

The King’s face quickly turns pale as he becomes fully aware that he is the culprit for the Witch’s anger.

“We humbly apologize for our kingdom’s actions, oh great Witch. We will do whatever we can to rectify our actions and promise not to commit them again. All we ask is for you to be light with your hand.” A calm yet firm voice attempts to appeal to the Witch. Finally, the Queen has chosen to speak for the first time tonight.

It seems that the Queen has chosen to share the blame for the King’s recklessness, and now I might have to be the one to clean up this mess. I frown at the realization.

“Hmmm… How shall I deliver judgment? Shall I help myself to some of the kingdom’s wealth and treasures, or shall I cast a spell of drought, leading your entire nation to hunger and poverty.” the Witch says maliciously.

Everyone in the room is shocked and felt fear by the Witch’s words. If she goes through with her promise, their entire kingdom will be in great peril!

“But I heard a fascinating rumour about the Crown Prince of this kingdom.”

If the King wasn’t about to faint, he was now as he fears the words that just came out of the Witch’s mouth, while the Queen’s calm demeanour cracks as she begins to wonder what the Witch intends to do with her only son.

“Your kingdom is blessed to have such an amazing, talented prince. If the rumours about him are true, then you must be so proud to have someone of his calibre to be the future ruler of your kingdom. But it sure would be quite a shame if something were to happen to him….”

Everyone in the room gasps as they realize what the Witch meant, panic filling the room as they begin to wonder what will happen to their Crown Prince.

“Like a curse. One that makes him unable to step foot in this kingdom again. To be isolated in a place far, far away, and live the rest of his life away from his beloved kingdom,” she states with a wide grin, as if seeing all of this as a joke.

Now hold on a moment, she said she would curse me… to be isolated away from the kingdom? If I think about her words very carefully, she said, ‘live the rest of my life away from the kingdom,’ as in, I’d still live, but just not in the kingdom. Am I really that desperate?

Yes. Yes I am.

And it appears that the longer I stay here, the more likely I am to go insane.

But think about it. I won’t have to be King of the kingdom if I’m not here anymore. That means no more heavy responsibilities, no more pretending to be perfect, no more fulfilling impossible expectations, no more future filled with anxiety – and the more recent addition to my list of problems – no marriage to an unknown person.

Freedom. I can be free.

The nobles unsettled whispers increase in volume, each of them wondering just what will be the fate of their Crown Prince.

“Well, I’m just kid-”

“Yeah, I don’t mind.” a voice echoes from the back of the room, interrupting the Witch from finishing her sentence.

Silence.

Why did everyone go quiet?

Suddenly, I find everyone looking at me with shocked and incredulous stares. Even the Witch looks surprised.

Then I realized.

Wait, did I say that out loud?

-------

But the kingdom made a grave miscalculation. Seemed. An assumption about someone or something that cannot be considered a truth.

The kingdom’s Prince seemed perfect.

He seemed to be a genius.

He seemed to be talented.

And…

He seemed to have been happy.

All labels the Prince tried so hard to make a part of him, though never managing to make them fit. But if the Prince chose to describe himself, it’ll only be with a single word. One that he can genuinely embody, one that can really describe who he really is and what he really felt.

Tired.

The Prince was so, so tired.