Chapter 1: Prince Aiden
754 Words
One:
Prince Aiden
I want to tell you that this is a story of happy endings. But it’s a story that involves blood, lust, and a lot of bad luck. And it started with a Princess strung up a tree. And it ends in broken promises and bloodshed.
It had been years since my sister Mallory had died. But I still felt the need to check on her grave.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral was the final resting place of my sister, Princess Mallory, of House O’Conner. Because of the constant invasion of the English in Ireland, my family has spent part of our reign in hiding and it wasn’t until 1994 the Royal family of Ireland were even in Hillsborough castle. Our rightful home. When my sister died, she’d been strung up a tree by a group of revolutionaries called The Guillotine who were trying to get freedom for their country, Coleum. They hated anything royal, and my sister had been an easy target. I was about to start my last year of college, my grandmother was stepping down as Queen, and my father would take his place as King. I was one step closer to my future.
A future I wasn’t sure I wanted. Since last summer, my Grandmother had been pressuring me to marry Lady Edele. Edele was a pretty red headed girl who I’d grown up with who knew me intimately. Who also happened to be my cousin, something the older generation didn't really frown upon but I certainly did. But it wasn’t Edele that I wanted. It had never been Edele.
For as long as I could remember, Lucy's grandparents had worked for my family. Her grandmother was the family cook, and her grandfather was the family butler. They had a granddaughter that had come and stayed with us during the summer. Little Lucy Lark.
Growing up, we’d been friends until my sister had died. That was when I had realized something.
As long as anyone loved me, they would never be safe. Lucy hadn’t been born into the world of royalty. She was from Boston and spent most of her time there. She could get out of here. Have a normal life. Love someone who wasn’t constantly in danger.
I realized as I was a teenager that I wouldn’t ever be able to have her. So, I did what I could to push her away. I got engaged to someone else temporarily, I tried getting her to date my friend Harkin Redford.
Finally, she stopped coming to Ireland. She hadn’t since the summer that she turned eighteen. Now, she was in Boston, studying to be a cook at Harvard’s culinary school. In two years, she would graduate, get a job, and start her life far away from me.
“So,” said a voice from behind me, “have you told her?”
I turned to face Father O’Leery, the old priest that had taken care of the cathedral for ages. “I don’t know to whom you are referring.”
“The little brunette American girl you’ve been in love with since you were fifteen and first discovered hormones. Who also happens to be my great granddaughter.”
“I discovered hormones at ten,” I replied, “I discovered she had breasts when I was twelve. She developed early.”
Father O’Leery coughed. “Well, be that as it may, you still haven’t told her that you’re madly in love with her.”
“No, and I’m not going to. She’s going to live out a nice, quiet life in Boston and never have to deal with my shite ever again.”
“You’re wrong,” said the priest.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the fact that the girl is back,” Father O’ Leery said, “I saw her in the church myself. Came with her Gran. She said hi. Gave me cherry tarts. Good girl, that one.”
I scoffed. “You only like her because she gives you food.”
“Well, it’s good food,” said Father O’Leery, “you know I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth myself. Also, I'm related to her.”
I frowned. “Why is she back?”
“Well, y’know that Moira’s got a brain tumor. She’s come to help out her grandparents. She’ll be going to the Royal University of Ireland.”
I coughed. “For how long?”
“The next two years, at least,” Father O’ Leery said.
“Where’s she staying?” I asked.
“With Lady Edele,” the priest answered, “on campus.”
I scowled. On campus. There was no fecking way Lucy was spending her next two years alone, at a University, filled with randy college boys. “I have to go.”
“Where?” the priest asked with a smirk.
“Away,” I said, clenching my hands into fists as I stormed away from the cathedral.
- Writer
