I'm Forbidden To Love You

Chapter 2

Ryan could only roam around the castle like a movable statue for the past few days; he was getting anxious over the upcoming event.

He didn't know how to tackle this event. He was part irritated, part upset, and also a tad bit, only a tad bit excited about this.

After getting a thorough scolding from his father and mother for leaving them like this for months without worrying about them while he was a Prince who had duties, not an ordinary person who can roam around as he pleased, he should be aware of the danger all around the country and that anyone could hold him captive to demand a ransom or worse assassinate him.

His sister threatened him with the ultimate weapon in the world, her puppy eyes with her lips in a tremble which she perfected ever since she came to know how effective that was.

He had agreed to their demands and reassured them that he would never leave again.

He sighed, walking around the small path that leads to one of the castle gardens, which anyone rarely visited except for the servants who maintained it.

It was one of the many hiding places for him, which he often visited ever since he was a child. This garden was not visited by people often because it was quite a walk from the royal castle.

This garden was near to the northern fort that you could look at the castle from afar. It was also one of Ryan's favorite spots because you could see most of the castle in its majestic glory from here.

He took a seat on a bench under the shadow of trees and looked around, trying to admire the view the magnificent castle offered.

The castle's outer walls for miles around were strongest among others as it was built to defend any external forces and keep invaders out. If you looked closely, you could see that the walls were built upon different sizes and shapes of light brown colored stones built by the ancestors of Avera country.

Multiple windows were scattered all over the outer wall that surrounded the massive castle, along with crenellations. The crenellations provided archers to launch arrows and to the artillery.

The castle had a huge gate in front with heavy wooden doors, a drawbridge, and a moat which was the only way to enter the castle if you didn't know any secret passages.

Ten solid towers were built in different spots to provide an ideal defense, forming a barrier around the castle, connected by large and vast walls, which were considered an inner wall with windows all around for the archers and artillery.

The state apartments – rooms in the palace used by royalty - were built rectangular along the castle's southern side. The majestic hills stood behind as a natural defense, providing an extra layer of security for the castle.

The state apartments were constructed with two wards in mind. The upper ward, a private ward, was dedicated entirely to the King and his immediate royal family – where his room was, along with his family. The lower ward consisted kitchen, a grand hall devoted to the King where he held court for the Public, and rooms for foreign dignitaries.

Usually, the view of the majestic castle and his pondering of how architects planned these things would keep his mind away from worrisome thoughts, but today, it seemed to betray him.

Ryan had no idea about women of any kind. His women in life were his mother and his sister. He didn't know what sort of girl he wanted as his future wife or let alone if he wanted a wife. He was confused about all these things, and the over-pampering of his parents made him feel suffocated in the castle.

It was not as if he wasn't happy with their affection, but, after spending so long freely, roaming around wherever he wanted, eating however and whatever he wanted without worrying about etiquette and table manners, he felt trapped in this palace. The stuffy royal clothes and that too in summer didn't help much either.

"I knew that I will find you here my Prince."

He looked up from where he was sitting to find that his friend Norman had found him just like he did during their childhood. Ryan would come to sulk around, not interested in the parties of royal family gatherings, and Nora would find him almost all the time.

Nora wouldn't dare to call him anything but his title once they were inside the castle, and he missed his friend already, who followed him everywhere when he left the palace.

"Nora, how come you can find me all the time? I have to find new hiding places just to hide from you."

Ryan patted the empty seat beside him, offering Nora to sit, but, to his disappointment, he ignored it, standing guard in his complete attire of a Knight along with armor and sword.

"I will follow you anywhere, my Prince."

It was a teasing statement simultaneously, an assuring one to comfort him that he was not alone.

"What seems to trouble you, my Prince?"

Ryan sighed, looking at the castle, not wanting to discuss this with his Knight. He wanted his friend, someone to listen to his worries.

He turned around to find that Nora had sat beside him and was smiling encouragingly. Knowing that he could not ask more from Nora than this, Ryan decided to share his innermost vulnerabilities.

"What am I going to do Nora? I don't want to please some princess and woo her, spending my time running after her. What if she was a manipulative person? How am I to know about their inner thoughts? I am uncertain about this."

"You knew even before this, what is expected from you, my Prince."

"I know Nora, but, I am not comfortable with mingling and attend tiresome parties since I was a child. Can you imagine me spending months on this courting thing, trying to woo a girl? Do you know there will be balls held after few weeks?"

Norman couldn't help but chuckle silently at the horrified look on his Prince's face at the mention of the ball.

His Prince was always very particular about whom he interacted with. He loved books and sword fighting more than social balls and parties. He had always been like that.

"Don't laugh at me, Nora."

Norman smiled at him, shaking his head.

"Why do you always expect things to go negative My Prince? Look at this way, you could find them, maybe 'The one'. The one who completes you, understands you, supports you in your life. If you're lucky, you might find your soul mate."

The dubious look on his Prince's face made him swallow what he had been saying, realizing he was saying cheesy things. His ears reddened, but he decided to cover it up.

"Don't look like that, my Prince. You would find the girl you will like. Then I have to find you in hiding places like this when you will sneak around with her in the future."

His Prince rolled his eyes at him but grinned at him slyly,

"I didn't expect you to be this romantic Nora. 'The one', the one who completes you, soul mate and whatnot."

Nora clenched his fingers not to punch him. He was his Prince here more than his friend. He gritted his teeth and glared at him for teasing him, knowing that he could not rebuke him here.

"My Prince, let's leave before the sunset and before your mother decides to send a search party, thinking you had left the castle once again."

With that, he turned to leave as he knew the Prince's other guards were around, ignoring the Prince's call of 'come back here' and 'uncalled for.'

~~~~

Ryan fiddled with his sleeves. He usually avoided full sleeves, but he had to grit his teeth and endure it today.

His dark blue tunic made of finest silk seemed to irritate his skin. Ryan knew that it was his imagination as you could not find anything silky and velvety than this. But he could not admire it today.

His mother was so excited about this gathering that she decided to dress him up as his sister did for her doll when she was a child. He sympathized with that doll now as he was in the same situation.

His sister decided to go along with their mother and spent days searching for the perfect dress. He could recall his mother's exact words, 'The first impression is the best impression, Ryan.'

His sister decided that the dark blue tunic and leggings - thank God it was not trousers – would not dominate the amazingness of his hazel eyes. Her words, not his. Don't think of him as a vain man.

His mother had gifted him with an outer cloak of red color. The coat carried incredible gold lacework and rich embroidery. She said that it would make him stand out among other Princes.

He stopped his fiddling and entered the hall where the Princes from neighboring countries to small countries and Lords of great houses and their heirs had gathered to meet the Princesses and the ladies of the noble house.

The minister who was assigned in charge of this event had separated the arrivals between two different times. He had allocated a week for the Princes and Lords to arrive while another week for the Princesses and their ladies to arrive.  After being thoroughly checked up from the Princesses and Princes to the servants, both parties would reach the castle as they didn't want spies and assassinates among them.

They had all been given a week to settle down in their allocated rooms and making adjustments to their tastes if something was not up to their satisfaction, along with providing translators if necessary. They cannot offend anyone here as this was considered a sacred event, and any country holding them would have to please their guests to their utmost ability. It was also a matter of pride to show off their wealth in the disguise of hospitality.

As you can guess, all these men dressing up and gathered in a hall were to greet the arrival of Princess and the ladies of the great houses.

This was like an introduction meeting where all of them get to know who all gathered here and to find anyone you're attracted to physically or to woo particular ladies to give you a boost politically.

They were already chattering quietly among them, and no one noticed his entrance, which he was grateful for.

As soon as he moved inside the great hall, he took his outer coat and gave it to Nora, who had been following him. He could hear Nora's snickers amid the noise, but he discarded it.

Even though it was a loving gift from his mother, he would not wear this in the summertime just to please her. Nope, the full sleeves were already making him sweat. His sister, who predicted this, had made him use the imported foreign perfume she brought for him.

The golden brooch with amber and ruby gemstones his father had given to him for this occasion felt like a sword against his chest. Maye, he shouldn't have left royal life for these many months. He had gotten used to roaming like an ordinary man without any of these, and he was suffering because of that.

He bowed down at the King in respect, who was sitting on the throne; a platform was raised so from the throne so that the King could watch the people gathered here, greet everyone and start this session of sacred courting. He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

He had already had a meeting with his uncle, the King of Avera country, three weeks before about why he had left the royal family and decided to roam around like a commoner. That was not pleasant at all.

In all the misery he was going through, one happy thing was that his friend Norman, who was also from a noble family, had to go through this event.

He decided to find a dark corner where none could see him. As he greeted and bowed to the various lords, he felt like his neck would break with how he had been continuously doing it.

The musicians who were called for this occasion did their best to play amid the noises, but what was really tempting him were the platters of various food of different cuisines.

He had skipped breakfast, and his stomach was growling in hunger.

And the delicious aroma of the food didn't help much. Different kinds of fruits, nuts, salads, fruit drinks, and alcoholic beverages were arranged decoratively to draw the guests in. You could find loaves of bread, salad, and light food in case anyone wanted some even after the breakfast that had been provided to every guest separately according to their tastes.

He was almost tempted to grab a plate of cheesecake and strawberry tart among various desserts that looked absolutely delicious. He ignored it with a heavy heart and moved towards a dark corner behind a pillar that shielded him from his father and most people he knew.

He quietly snickered when most men's gaze turned towards the door from now and then.

But his amusement didn't last much when a figure collided against him. He balanced them to stand and couldn't help but bow deeply, but he was stopped midway.

"My Pri…."

Ryan was cut off as he was asked to be silent.

"Not here Ryan."

"But, my Pri…"

"Shush… Not that title. Call me by name, Ryan."

Ryan was amused to find the crown Prince hiding along with him. One of the few people who called him by name and also a good friend.

He was a year younger than him despite his uncle marrying before his father. They didn't have a child for few years, and after that, Ivor was born, so they considered him a miracle. But, the complications in his birth had left the Queen in death bed, and after a year of trying all the medicinal methods, she passed away, leaving the King, his uncle, alone to raise Ivor.

His uncle didn't marry another woman no matter how much the ministers and others advised him to. He raised Ivor alone, and Ryan's mother always had a soft spot for Ivor since he was motherless. Ivor was almost like a brother to him.

"Why are you hiding Ivor?"

"Same reason as you."

Ryan grimaced at the reminder of it. He pitied his cousin. Ryan wasn't a crown Prince so he would be left off with a reprimand when he didn't choose a woman to marry this year. But as a crown Prince, Ivor was obliged to choose his bride and provide an heir to the country.

As the announcer rang the bell kept at the door to catch the attention of everyone, he announced that the event has begun and that he would introduce the Princess and ladies one by one with their name and country. Ryan felt like running away from this room as soon as he heard that, matching his cousin's expression of dismay, awaiting their destiny.