The Boy

Chapter 2 (Zen) [March 3041]

Ring, Ring, Ding, Dong, Ring.

The unique bells rang and woke me up from my slumber. I lay there mesmerized by the bells that woke me up. It was the sound I heard from my father. The sound of Coronation Day. I heard footsteps coming into my chambers and some armor clashing against each other.

Ah, it must be father...

I let out a groan and sat up. I looked up, only to find my father looking at me with anger on his face. That appearance meant that I was in for a world full of torture.

"Ah, father! What brings you to my chambers this early in the morning?”

He looked at me, looked at his guards, and then sighed.

"F-father? I’m getting nervous here. Did I forget to do something? Or… um, something else?” As I spoke, father sighed again and then singled out the maids.

"Well my idiotic son, it looks like you overslept on your own coronation day. Well, I'd expect no less,” he turned towards the maids and said, “Get him ready for his own birthday and coronation which he forgot.”

"I did not forget, I was just tired last night and lost track of time,” I told him as the maids crowded over me trying to get me ready for my big day. I even heard some giggles.

As I was taking a bath, I went over who will be coming to the coronation. Our kingdom is the 2nd biggest kingdom in the country. Us Wistalian people are rich and strong. Very rarely do you see someone begging on the streets, or some homeless person dying in an alley somewhere. I knew that all the future and current crown princes and princesses were coming. I even heard that the prince of the Unicorn race was coming too. I thought I should ask Alice about this, since he looks and speaks like a noble, but I never did. Oh and even the King and Queen of the Castina Empire were coming.

In the next hour or so, I was ready. I wore a pure golden and white suit, with a silver crown on my head, symbolizing my prince hood. The maids even made me wear jewelry on my ear so that I would look like an adult. A while back, my father told me that he was going to prepare some more for the party and put more guards around the perimeter. You have no idea how glad I was when he left, like is it not weird if your father stared at you while you were getting ready? Plus, the maids started to gossip as soon as he left, which helped me understand what was going on on the castle grounds.

"Your Majesty, we are done preparing you, your father told us to inform you that after getting ready you should go to the ballroom to greet the guests.” as the butler was talking I saw all the maids leave the room and the guards went outside waiting for me to come too.

"Yes, let's head to the ballroom,” I told them, and we all started heading down.

As we were walking, I got the feeling that something was going to go wrong. Do you know that scenario in books where the main character meets someone important or their enemy while going to the main battlefield? Well, that’s what happened to me. Before I go on, there is one thing I should make clear: there are only 3 races capable of impregnating people of the same gender. They are demons, angels, and unicorns. So if you still don't get it, it means that these 3 races can get pregnant with any gender or race. So something like me and Alice can get married and I would bear a child. Ahh, this makes me blush, but this also means that - mostly between the nobles - same-s*x marriage is acceptable.

Anyway, back to current time. As we were walking in the third-floor hallway, we bumped into the demon group. You see, demons are known to be sly and rude creatures. Most tend to avoid them, but when you catch the eye of a demon, well let's just say it is game over for you.

"Ah, Prince Zen. Pleasure meeting you here. I was getting tired standing in the ballroom, so I was heading to the parlor to get some rest, but to think I would meet you here.” the demon said with a smirk on his face, he was standing in the middle surrounded by the others like he was being protected.

His eyes were blood red and his hair was pitch black. His smile creeped me out as you could see him checking me out. It pissed me off a little, but I had to remember they were my guests, so I had to be nice to them.

"Yes, the preserve is all mine. I am glad you could come to my coronation and birthday party, Crown Prince Anastacius.” while I talked I tried my best not to sound sarcastic. I hope it worked.

"Haha, yes. Happy Birthday! I do hope I am one of the single digits to wish you a good birthday.” he sneered.

"Why yes, you are actually the 5th person. Thank you,” I replied.

"Well, what an honor. If I may, could you please tell me who the first 4 people are.”

"Sure, my father, my mother, my childhood friend and my.. friend.” as I spoke I could feel my voice burning. I did not like speaking to him, something about Prince Anastacius creeped me out, but at the same time, his voice was really compelling and mysterious. I slightly bowed, indicating that I was getting late and needed to leave, and hurried along past him.

"Hahehe" a low deep voice echoed softly in the hallway.

Disgusting, I could hear him giggling and he wasn't even trying to hide the fact. I knew what that giggling meant, he was probably interested in me. It would not be strange if I got an engagement proposal from him in the next few days.

I reached the ballroom and started greeting the guests. I remember my father telling me there were more than 200 or something guests, and me being me, I knew that I would forget some names. As I was greeting the guests, the one I was looking forward to the most was the Unicorn Kingdom of Mc. Lain. That is where Alice is from, and if he said that he was coming, that is the group he would travel with.

You see, the Mc. Lain Kingdom is right next door to our kingdom. You might be wondering how I would be able to sneak past the border guards and meet up with my dear friend? Well, that’s because of teleportation magic, magic unique to the Royal family of Wistalia. So, except for me and my father, no one else in the world can use teleportation magic, but there are limits on how to use it and where to use it. Well, I’ll tell you the details later. Let’s go look for Alice.

As I walked around the room, many people wished and congratulated me. As I was talking to some of the elfs, an aide of my father came to inform me that the Mc. Lain kingdom would be a little late, because of some complications. I was looking forward to seeing more unicorns as the only unicorn I have seen is Alice. I was also wondering if everyone would stare at him, because of his beautiful blue-silver coat and sky-blue eyes.

I heard that purebred unicorns have the ability to turn human and back into a unicorn. I once asked Alice if he was a purebred unicorn, but he just dodged the question. So sometimes I want to believe he is a pureblood, but then I know I am kidding myself. As I started walking towards the middle of the room, I spotted my father and his friend, Ruvellis Kamaludin Shana Castina - King of Castina Kingdom, talking and laughing.

"Father, King Ruvellis, I am so glad you could come.” I said as I walked towards them. Both of them turned around and smiled.

"Ah Prince Zen, please just call me Ruve. Me and your father go way back, you are almost like my own son!” he chuckled when he said the word ‘son’.

I knew that father and King Ruve went way back to their school days, or even before. I also remember my father saying that the first time they met was during a duel.

"Thank you for your kind words, I will make sure to call you King Ruve from now on. Oh and father, I am going to check on the families from Mc. Lain kingdom. I am getting a little worried.”

"Ok son. Remember not to go overboard and return before the cake cutting time, which is in about an hour or so.” father said as he started drinking his champagne.

"Ok."

I started heading towards the entrance of the ballroom, suddenly I felt a chill run down my spine. I quickly turned around, and I have no idea how, but I spotted Anastacius looking at me. I swear that I could see his eyes glowing. We just stared at each other for the next few seconds, then I came back. I looked away, my cheeks were getting hotter and my heart was beating faster. At that exact moment, the room became quieter, it felt like everyone could all hear my heart pounding against my chest if they listened closely.

Without looking back, I rushed towards the entrance, where more people were coming through, to check out why the ballroom had become relatively quiet from before. Then a familiar scent came through the door, it was Alice. That light grassy and sweet smell that made me feel at peace. I turned my head and looked towards the entrance. The announcer who was supposed to do his job just stood there in a daze.

"Ah, um Announcing the King and Queen of Mc. Lain Kingdom, accompanied by the Crown Prince and the Second Prince of Mc. Lain Kingdom, Chester Mc. Lain and Aliceter Mc. Lain.”