I don’t know why I bothered to even attend this ridiculous salon. I hadn’t planned on it, but – as usual – my life was the typical song and dance. I rarely knew the steps and rarely cared to move as they demanded of me.

Upon my arrival, the usual wave of insanity descended on the ignorant nobles. One person – a man whose name I refused to remember – tried to offer his daughters to me. Not one as a wife, but both. Had my aide, Jean, not been beside me, throwing warning looks in my direction, I would have punched the man. Truly, I’m amazed at my own restraint.

Slipping away from them had been easy enough – listening to Jean, was another matter.

“You can’t send murderous looks at nobles.” Jean sighed, downing his glass of wine in one gulp. “Do you have any idea what that man thought when you burned a hole through his head?”

“Is he dead?” I asked lightly, sipping my own glass. “Last I was aware, he was still breathing.”

“That’s not the point Prince Cassius.” Jean sighed, motioning a servant over. He placed his empty glass on the tray and grabbed a full one.

The servant bowed, flickered a hesitant look at me, and scurried away. No one in this entire gathering has a spine.

“You already have a certain air you give off. If you keep being hostile-”

“Then what?” I smirked, looking over my wine glass at him. “They’re going to start sobbing?”

“Damn it, Cassius.” Jean groaned. “You’re missing my point again.”

“If your point is to annoy me, you’re doing a great job.”

“I’m not trying to annoy you.” Jean let out a sigh, shoulders sagging. “I’m just saying try to be more approachable. You’re already having difficulties with two of the major noble families. If you continue to irritate everyone you’ll have no one left in your corner.”

“So,” I took a swig of my drink and raised an eyebrow at Jean. “I should encourage old pigs trying to pawn off their daughters like dinnerware?”

“No!” Jean screamed, before snapping his mouth closed and searching the area. After realizing it was mostly empty – save for a servant running away– he continued. “That’s not what I’m saying at all and you know it.”

“Maybe the kingdom needs to be burned to the ground.” I shrugged.

“Don’t even joke about that, your highness.” Jean gasped, fidgeting. “Even for you that’s going too far.”

“Hmm.” I shifted my eyes toward the lake.

Who says it was a joke? I did want to say those words outloud, but I knew it would only give the man a heart attack.

“And, I’m not saying Baron Tilde was correct.” Jean continued. “But, you are at a marriageable age. You need to start taking it seriously and find a wife.”

Movement and the faint sound of raised voices near the water’s edge drew my eye. Jean continued to insist about marriage, blabbering about the family line and how I would soon inherit the throne. After hearing his blabbering for the last six years, I had no desire to humor him.

I cocked my head, when I heard the sound of a familiar voice being carried along the wind. I couldn’t tell what she was saying, but the sharp snarky tone made me grin. Lady Kyla once again seems to be interesting. How long before you bore me?

“Are you not paying attention to me?” Jean snapped. “I swear I-”

“Wait here.” I turned and walked toward the voices.

“Where are you going?” He called after me, huffing. “I wasn’t finished.”

“Yeah. Hold that thought.” I brushed him off and walked through the foliage.

The viscount needs to hire a better gardener. I thought, stomping a large thorn bush into the ground. Maybe it’s on purpose for dramatics. Nobles are vain and petty.

Clearing the hedge took longer than I would have liked – but once I was through it I swore to burn the entire garden out of sheer spite.

“I don’t know about that.” Kyla spoke, her voice cold and bored. “Don’t you have anything better to do with your life rather than talking down to people?”

I laughed quietly, watching the bickering woman with amusement. It seems that Kyla doesn’t get along with that harpy Viola Vescan. The other women in her entourage were to be expected – as the Vescan family was a pit of vipers who kept close ties to their alliances. Kelsey Coroska and Andrea Todds were typically nipping at her heels on any occasion.

“You will show Lady Viola respect!” Kelsey’s shrill voice stabbed through my ears.

Perhaps I’ll have her voicebox removed for crimes against the crown. I thought, shaking my head. What a frustrating rodent.

“She is much better of a person than you! She even knows the crown prince personally.”

Damned wench. I took a step forward, my mood plummeting. Why do all these women consistently name drop me like they’re my lover?

“Does she?” I asked, my voice coming out colder than I intended. “That’s news to me.”

“Y-your highness.” Kelsey gasped, dropping her fan. “I d-didn’t know you were attending today.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Kyla stiffen. Why is her back up? I haven’t even done anything yet.

“Does that matter?” I asked, coming to a stop a few feet from them. “Do you casually use my name in petty childish arguments when I’m not here?”

“N-no, your highness.” Andrea whimpered, taking a step back. “We were just-”

“Are you Kelsey?” I asked, annoyed. “Did the two of you switch places recently?”

“Please forgive them, your highness.” Viola batted her eyes, flipping her hair. “They were simply surprised to see you attend such a quaint gathering.”

“It was quaint until your incessant voices interrupted my respite.” I shifted forward, handing the glass to Viola.

“You highness?”

“Since you know me so well. Take this to a servant.” I smirked.

Viola’s face flushed a deep red. She looked down at the glass as if I had handed her a wild rabbit. I turned around and walked over to Lady Kyla, bowing slightly.

“Hello, Lady Kyla. We meet again.”

“Yes…” She said, voice distant. “It does seem that way.”

“Would it be too much to request a stroll?” I held out a hand. Will she take it or will she swat me like a fly? Either option sounds amusing.

She flickered her eyes toward the women, looked down at my hand, and hesitated. Choose wisely. I bit back a grin. Either option you decide on will result in teasing. Teasing? The thought gave me pause. Why am I always defaulting to teasing her?

I found her intriguing – for obvious reasons – but teasing her? That was not something I normally would do or even consider. Most of the people I interact with annoy me to that point of violence. Something about her – something I couldn’t quite understand – drew my eye and interest.

I’ll need to consider this problem in the future or at the very least try to understand what makes her tick. The odd thing about this woman was the fire she had and how quickly it faded to smoke when she knew I was nearby. Does she fear me?

“Very well.” She said at last, placing her hand in mine. “I’ll take a walk with you, your highness.”

“Wise decision.” I smirked, placing her hand in the crook of my arm. “You won’t regret your choice to walk with me.”

I steered us away from the dumbstruck trio. Kyla didn’t respond and I felt a smile twitch the corners of my mouth.

She’s like a badger. I chuckled to myself. Fierce, but only when the time is right.

A very interesting woman indeed.