forum Kingdoms of metallic scarlet ((one-on-one//private// 18+))

Started November 04, 2023 by @ElderGod-Carrots

tune

Dominic had often been described as pretty. Handsome. Attractive. With golden skin and honey brown eyes to match, and a smile that, when graced his features, could light up a room. His father had always said he had taken after his mother in that sense, the only part that Dominic seemed to have inherited from him was his height, and even then he was taller than the king. Looking in the mirror now, all the prince saw was the boy who had been broken the night he watched his family perish. Small. Broken, and yet somehow had to carry on as if nothing had changed in his life. Everyone expected him to move on from the traumatic event. It had been years. He had only been a child when his siblings and mother passed, one would think that he had had enough time to grieve. But Dominic hadn’t. He hadn’t had nearly enough time when his father had changed, or maybe it was simply his true colours shining through now that his wife was passed. It didn’t matter anymore, but Dominic wished for more time.

Time, though, was never on his side. It hadn’t been since the moment the carriage had fallen off the road. There was never enough time in the day to complete all the tasks he needed to please his father. Never enough time to spend relaxing or trying to wind down in his attic, or in the gardens, or even in his own chambers without someone bothering him. And now there wasn’t enough time before his father would attack.

The prince wished he knew more of the plans Octavian was mustering up. Even though he had caught wind of the plan there had barely been any details for him to latch onto, and his father— as much as Dominic wanted to believe he was an idiot — knew what he was doing. He wouldn’t be foolish enough to reveal a plan so great when his son was clearly opposed to the idea. It made everything all the more difficult. What was he going to say to Galen? Perhaps the man could find out for himself, or maybe there was someone skilled enough to learn the basics, or Gods, even confirm that what he was saying was true. After figuring to get so far to this point, it would be more than a little hit to his ego and even his heart, if he was turned away. Or simply told that he wasn’t believed. Dominic didn’t appear to be a truthful man, but he was. Down to his core he wasn’t a liar, especially not when innocent lives were at risk. It was a line he would never cross, and that was where him and his father differed.

But he was hungry. Famished. Dominic needed food in his system otherwise he might pass out from hunger at the rate he was going. So after straightening out his hair as best he could and pulling on his boots, suddenly painfully aware of the ache in his heels from the days of riding, he left the room. On the other side there was a guard waiting for him to escort him to the dining hall, and he only bowed his head in greeting the slightest part to acknowledge his presence. If he was going to be doing lots of talking at dinner he was going to save his breath and energy. Once dinner was finished he would be able to return to the chambers and rest again. He wouldn’t be back to his normal self till tomorrow at the very least, and the quicker dinner was over the better. Black boots clicked and echoed throughout the hallways as he walked, maids and servants looking in his direction and undoubtedly knowing who he was from how he held himself. Gossip spread fast in court, too. But eventually, he made it, and the door was opened and he was greeted with the sight of the king and queen, “Your Majesty’s.” He said, bowing in respect.

King Galen glanced up as the doors open and Prince Dominic entered. He sipped on his wine, watching the boy bow before him in respect. "Please, sit." He gestured at one of the two open seats. Conveniently next to each other. His wife's doing. He thought about objecting but hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. And his wife would take it personally if he tried to disrupt her plans. Plans he prayed would fail. Prince Dominic was not a man he wished his daughter to be married to. Not that his wife would listen. This was why he took other women to bed.

"This is my wife, Queen Eveline." He gestured to his wife beside him before to his son sitting on the other side of Galen. "My son, Prince Everand. And you've already met my daughter, Ariella. She shouldn't be long." His daughter also did seem to push her limits. It almost would have been entertaining if he didn't have to hear his wife complain about her every time Ariella did something.

Prince Everand dipped his head response, as his mother took over before he could say a thing. "Welcome to our home, Prince Dominic, though I do wish it had been under better circumstances." She was smiling as if he hadn't brought news of war. "Did you rest well?" He didn't look like he had rested well. "I do hope the room is alright for you. Please, feel free to let us know if you need any adjustments. We're happy to supply you with anything you need."

Ariella's heels clicked as she strode through the hallway. She was a few minutes late. To her it wasn't an issue but her mother would likely take it as a slight against her. Which, in a way, it was. She wasn't looking forward to dining with her family tonight. Or their visiting guest. She would have rather stayed in the library, reading, and would have snuck off to the kitchens when she got hungry. She had done that on more than one occasion. The cooks usually left some extra food out for her when they knew she hadn't attended dinner. that's why they were her favorite. That and the chocolate cake they always supplied her with when she was upset.

The doors swung open to the dining room and she stepped in. She dipped into a small, quick curtsy before rising. She was the last one, of course. She usually was. Her jaw clenched as she noticed the only remaining chair was next to Prince Dominic. Prince Dominic. Who was wearing the exact same shade of navy as she was. Her eyes looked at her mother, who was practically glowing. The devil works hard but my mother works harder. Speaking of her mother, "Oh darling, you look beautiful tonight. Doesn't she look beautiful?"

That's not what she said to me this morning. Ariella gritted her teeth and produced a small smile. And managed for it to look as forced as it was. As she passed by the table, Everand looked up at her, a small smirk on his lips. "Yes, you do look beautiful tonight sister." Ariella pinched him as she passed, ignoring her mother's narrowing of the eyes and Ever's small gasp of pain.

She sat down on the only chair left, accepting the glass of wine that was poured for her. She almost asked the maid to leave the bottle. She was going to need it to get through this dinner.

Dominic would do his best for the time being not to anger that of the king and queen. He needed the safety that their palace provided, he needed them to believe him. As much as he hated begging and was appalled by the idea of doing so, in this situation, he may have no other choice. But, he had done his bit. He had warned them of the incoming threat. Warned them that they were in danger and that their people were going to be caught in the military crossfire. If they decided to dismiss him, then that was there choice. It was probably why he was so conflicted inside as to what to say. Did he keep his mouth shut, his opinions and thoughts on the situation? Or did he vocalise what he was thinking? Clearly, the latter had not gone down well in the infirmary, and now that he was in front of the whole present royal family, the former option seemed the most intelligent.

As he seat and the wine was poured for him, Dominic was half tempted to skull the entire glass. The painkillers had yet to kick in, and the ache in his arm was hard to ignore when it was constantly shooting down his body and causing his fingers to twitch in discomfort. It was why he kept that arm resting in his lap, if only to hide it for a while longer to avoid speaking of the pain, or speaking of himself altogether.

But it seemed that Eveline had other plans, and the prince offered another curt bow of his head to once again acknowledge the woman, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. Forgive me that it is not under better circumstances." Because meeting for the first time in years with the news of war, death and destruction was not exactly the best meeting in the entire world. Had it been someone with a fairer reputation, it might be slightly more tolerable, but as it was him, of all people, Dominic was more than aware that Galen was watching his every move in case he decided to snap.

"The room is more than enough. I cannot thank you enough for what you have done for me," He looked to the king, "Thank you, once again," Even though he wasn't smiling, at least he wasn't scowling or frowning, "I rested as well as I am able." He continued, looking back to Eveline before his focus was quickly turned to the opening of the grand doors.

Ah, Ariella. Conveniently dressed in Verillia's colours, just as Dominic was, and also conveniently seated right next to him. Something told Dominic by the look on her face that she was less than pleased and certainly didn't set that up or choose the dress herself. By her mother's reaction, he had a feeling it had been her doing. The prince only nodded to the comments of her family, not wanting to say the wrong thing in front of the king and cause the man to peer down his neck even more than he already was. Dominic didn't need any more surveillance. Instead, after offering Ariella a soft nod, he took a long sip of his wine.

Ariella did not like family dinner. She never had, not even when all of her sisters still lived in the palace. It had been more tolerable, however. She had been placed at the far end of the table, out of view of her parents and out of scrutiny. She engaged in some conversations with her sisters but primarily kept to herself. She didn't get along with many of them. She still didn't, to this day. The only thing improving her relationship with them was that they weren't here. They were all gone, living with their husbands, and popping out babies. The exact life she rejected for herself.

She felt very exposed with her gown, suddenly. She had worn deeper cuts before but she had never felt so naked sitting so close to Dominic. She wasn't quite sure he wanted there and she certainly didn't want to be. Getting close to him would only encourage her mother and that was the last thing she wanted.

She could have smirked with how her mother's face fell as Dominic didn't verbally respond. Good boy. Nod of agreement was enough to not be seen as a slight against Queen Eveline but enough to make his intentions clear about all of…this. Hhe hid her smile in her glass as she took a sip. And then another. If she wasn't so worried about being intoxicated next to this man, she would drained the cup already. There had been than a few time where she had drank her fill to get through dinner. Especially when father and Everand had to miss dinner. Those were the worst. Mother was able to speak freely without the presence of either of them. Let's just say Ariella had never eaten to fast.

As dinner was being brought out and plates set in front of each of them, Galen cleared his throat. "Prince Dominic, I've thought over what you have said and I have met with some of my advisors." There was a hushed whisper at the table as Eveline leaned into to him.

"…ou promised….not at… table." Galen just waved her off, shaking his head. Whatever he murmured back to her had Eveline pursing her lips as she settled back into her chair. With that taken care of, Galen continued. "We will meet in the morning where you will meet with my advisors and we will talk." Talk meant plan but he was sugar coating it for his wife. "I have decided to offer you sanctuary. You may stay at the palace for as long as you need, given that you do not harm my citizens. Anything you need will be provided for. We will of course, talk about this more in depth tomorrow." A quick glance at his wife was all he needed to bring this conversation to an end.

Ariella was frozen in her seat. So it was true. Azriel confirmed it then for her father . War was coming and they were all in danger if if made it to the palace. And if they weren't prepared enough, it would be brought here. The waft of her favorite meal wasn't enough to break her shock, her spiraling thought. A chicken breast with a honey glaze, a side of potatoes, steamed vegetables. Her mother's doing, no doubt to butter her up for her plans.

She raised her eyes to look at Ever who was watching her carefully. His jaw was tight and his hands kept flexing on the table. Hands he lowered when he caught Ariella's eye. So it's true? She seemed to ask him.

It's true. He replied. So this was the beginning of the end, unless they could somehow find a miracle.

The prince wasn't going to deny that Ariella was a beautiful woman, because she was, that was made clear by how she was dressed tonight, but he could tell that the queen was a woman who liked to meddle in affairs, especially when it came to that of her children. It was obvious who had set them up when it came to seating and clothing, and Dominic wasn't going to feed into that when he was tired, hungry, and had no intentions of being with the princess. He wasn't the type to marry, never had been. After seeing first-hand what it was like when someone lost the love of their life, the corruption and path that it could lead to, Dominic was staying far away from that life if he could help it.

Besides, this wasn't exactly the time to be courting someone when war was on the horizon. The threat of doom and destruction, the potential loss of thousands of innocent lives all because his father was too power-hungry to see that it would destroy Verillia if they were to lose. But Gods was Dominic hoping that he would.

After spending so long under the hard hand of the king, it was a blessing to be out of there. Everyone knew of the reputation that Dominic had, no one knew what his father was like behind closed doors. Well, if they didn't, they certainly would gauge a better understanding of the man now. Verillia was a rich kingdom, with large expanses of land and resources, a bustling, prosperous city that was ever-expanding. They didn't need more. They had everything that they could ever want right there in their borders. But no, his father needed to strive for more, and he didn't care how much pain he caused in order to get there.

His attention was drawn away from his thoughts when Galen began to speak and Dominic turned his attention to the king. He wouldn't deny that his shoulders seemed to drop the slightest touch from relief at the confirmation that he was believed, that it was confirmed that they knew what he was saying was true. At least he wasn't going to be sent away from Araniel, back to that hellhole that was his own palace. He could stay. He could stay and help and maybe try and redeem himself just a little from what his father had made him do over the years.

"I cannot express my gratitude enough, Your Majesty," The prince said, fighting off the urge to sigh deeply, "I swear on my mother's grave that I will not harm any of your people, they are innocent." And did not deserve to be wrapped up in the bullshit that was this war, "Tomorrow, yes. Thank you, once again, for your gracious hospitality."

Ariella held her glass to her lips, not yet sipping it but unable to set it down. Her eyes were trained on the wall behind her brother, eyes unfocused, as if she was lost in thought. And she was. She was irritated at her mother for her meddling but it was nothing new. What really set her off that her mother was poking her nose in a place where it absolutely did not belong. Not only was Prince Dominic here to warn and aid them in a war marching on their doorsteps, he also had a reputation. A reputation that included violent tendencies and Ariella didn't intend to find herself at the end of them. She would have to keep an eye on her smart mouth. It wouldn't do her any favors.

And beyond her irritation for her mother, was the fear that had frozen her. War. Actual war. Araniel was a peaceful kingdom. They had plenty of allies and seemed to make friends with everyone. It helped that three of her sisters were married to royals of other kingdoms. She had never seen anything more than skirmish when someone got too drunk while she was visiting the city. And other than the occasional reports of criminals stirring up, there was never anything so extreme to call for soldiers. And now war was coming to their borders, for reasons she couldn't fathom. Araneil had land, yes, but Verillia did as well. More, even. Araniel was mostly farmlands and miles of crops. It was their central source of wealth, along with a few vineyards here and there. They were wealthy but not more so than Verillia.

She blinked as she heard Dominic speak from beside her, snapping her out of her stupor. She took a long drink from her glass before setting it back on the table and picking up her utensils. She cut a small piece of her chicken breast before taking a bite. Her stomach was turning and her appetite was long gone. She would pick at her food, nibble here and there, and wait for her father to dismiss them.

Galen nodded his head once and that was that. He cut into his chicken and took a bite, effectively ending the conversation there. If he spoke anymore, he'd never hear it from his wife.

Eveline cleared her throat before speaking again. "After your…meeting tomorrow, Ariella can show you around the palace. We can't very well have you wandering around the halls aimlessly." She smiled in amusement as she took a sip of her wine. "And Everand can show you around the training grounds. Perhaps you can show him a thing or two."

"Mother," Everand said in a warning voice. He paused in his eating to give his mother a look, who only smiled at him in return. "What do you like to do, Prince Dominic? Other than fighting?" The sooner he changed the subject, the better. He didn't particularly feel like getting into his failings in a sparring ring. A sword was not meant to rest in his hand. He had accepted that but not everyone else had.

It was difficult not to devour the entire meal that had been placed before him within three or four bites. His stomach was grumbling and his mouth was salivating and he had been waiting for someone else to begin eating before he did himself. Now that the other royals were doing so, he cut into the chicken. At the first bite he could have groaned at the flavour. Dominic didn't know whether it was because he hadn't eaten in a while, or if it was because the food was just that good, but it was a damned challenge to hold himself back from scoffing down the meal in a matter of seconds. Instead, he maintained his manners as well as he could, listening to the others around him, taking in each one, how they seemed to be looking at him. The prince hated the attention just as much as Ariella seemed to.

Regardless, the topic of conversation changed and he couldn't have been more relieved. There would be more talk of war, the plans that Dominic knew of, what they were to do to combat the threat and maybe, he could learn why, if there was potentially another reason beyond his father's depraved mind. That could come tomorrow. Right now, he was focused on the food, and trying to make small talk. Something that he wasn't exactly the best at.

Glancing from Ariella at his side to the other crown prince and his mother across the table, Dominic tilted his head just a little. So, the other wasn't much of a fighter. He would have assumed that Everand had at least some knowledge of the sword, or bows, or simply just any weapons at all, but the way his tone came off to his mother indicated the exact opposite. Strange. He would have thought all princes be taught by the best when it came to fighting. How were they to defend their kingdom if they could not do so? Maybe it was simply because his father had trained him to be a soldier first, but regardless, every ma, every prince, should know exactly how to wield a weapon.

"I would be more than grateful to know where the training grounds are," He said, "And more than happy to show his highness the proper way around a sword, if he would be interested." Even though it was likely he was going to turn down the offer.

Dominic paused when asked about what he enjoyed other than fighting. What did he enjoy? "I am quite fond of the outdoors," He settled upon, "The gardens of Verillia's palace are quite magnificent. I enjoy spending time out there among the trees, especially during the spring." Verillia was a hot kingdom the majority of the year round. There were a few months of wet, cool weather and a very short 'spring' but mostly it was blazing heat. But that short spring was the most beautiful time to enjoy the gardens and relax.

Everand let out a sound that was a cross between a sigh and a groan. His skill with a sword was a sensitive topic. His skill with any weapon was a sensitive topic. He watched an execution once and decided his stomach was too weak to handle death. He had barely managed to get out of his father's view before losing his breakfast. He had decided then and there that he would never raise a sword or weapon of any kind to take a life. Perhaps it was a good thing too as he never did seem to do very well with his lessons. It didn't matter the teacher they gave him, he never quite managed to understand it. His form was bad, his posture was bad, his footing was off balance.

He looked across the table at his sister who was looking smug. He might have been irritated at her for finding amusement in this had the light not been missing from her eyes. The usual gleam of satisfaction in her eyes was gone and replaced by something he couldn't quite make out. he'd thought about checking on her later but, well, he had seen how that went earlier. Perhaps it was best to let her work it out herself. If she needed help she could ask for it. But he knew his sister was too stubborn to ask.

Eveline smiled. "That sounds wonderful." She took another sip of her wine. "Ariella takes daily walks outside. Perhaps you could accompany her. We have a wide variety of florals planted as well as a hedge maze. Perhaps you'd like to try your hand at it."

Ariella set her wine on the table and stared at her mother. Could she be any more subtle? She almost blurt out Everand's inability to swing a sword, just to get this conversation back away from her. She did not need her mother meddling in her affairs. And she certainly didn't need her mother trying to create something between her and Dominic. "Mother, please."

Eveline looked at her daughter with complete innocence. "What? I'm just trying to make our guest feel more welcome." Ariella knew that wasn't all she was doing. She looked at her father hoping for some help from him but he had long since dissociated from this conversation. If mother would let him, he'd take all of his meals in his office if he could. He'd likely keep Everand in there as well. But mother wanted them to have family dinners and it was easier for all of them to keep their mother happy. Well, as happy as they could keep her with Ariella's constant resistance to her parents trying to betroth her.

Where Everand seemed to despise the sword and what seemed to be everything to do with fighting, Dominic couldn't help but be amused at just how different he was from the other prince.

After his mother had died and his father had become, well, a tyrant to his son, he had been placed in training almost as soon as the nurses had cleared him. The prince had been tempted to protest at first, but his father had been nothing short of deadly when it came to how forceful he was with his son. No, he was to become not only a prince, but a soldier, first and foremost. Because of that, he had spent hours in the training grounds. Day in and day out, leaving bloodied and dirtied and covered in dust with more than a few broken bones on occasion.

He had taken his first life at twelve, and the prince had changed from that moment forward. His stomach hadn't churned at the thought of blood. His head didn't scream with protest at the thought of taking a life. No, instead, the moment that metal met flesh something in him twisted, whatever had been holding him back from reaching his full potential as a soldier, it had been broken. Chains had been snapped, and once red coated his hands and body, he could live without the thought causing him to feel the need to scrub his skin raw. In fact, after the tenth kill, Dominic found he enjoyed it, and the prince didn't keep it a secret whenever he was tasked with a beheading, or needed to 'deal with' an unfaithful member of the Verillian court. As much as it made his father proud of know that his son had grown into a soldier who almost craved the deaths of criminals by his hand, it gave him a sense of purpose, too. Fighting with the other men had him feeling no longer like a prince, but one of them. If anything the only few friends he made- if they could even be called friends- were the men in his father's guard.

Casting another sideward glance towards the princess at his side, Dominic hummed in response to Eveline's comments. It was easy to tell she was continuing to try and meddle even more so than she already had been, but for the time being, he was choosing to ignore it and seem oblivious rather than causing a row with either of the women in the room. That was certainly not his strong suit, and he needed at least the queen to be on his side while he was around. Above all, he needed Galen's, and maybe even Everand's, but the king was the most important. Without his help, there would be far more death than even he was comfortable with.

"I'm sure Her Highness would be an excellent tour guide around the gardens of the palace sometime in the near future. Although I will admit, I am not the best when it comes to mazes." Dominic only ventured into the one back in Verillia if he was intending of getting lost in an attempt to escape his father and his men.

One of Galen's greater disappointments in life was that his son was not as great a swordsman as he was. Galen was in no shape or form the best soldier there was but he had been a force to be reckoned with in his youth and there was absolutely nothing stopping him from defending his family. While he didn't plan on fighting on the fronts, if war came to his home, he would pick up a sword and defend his home. He would not run. He didn't run. He would stand and fight and die along with his men if it meant his family had a chance to survive.

Despite his son's lack of skill with a sword, or any weapon for that matter, he was confident his kingdom would do well in his hands should Galen fall to war. Everand was young but he had done everything he could to train the boy. Ever knew everything like the back of his hand. He would do well and Galen would be proud of him, even if he couldn't fight.

While he had mixed emotions of Prince Dominic, especially when it came to his daughter, he wondered if he would be able to teach his son. All of his other mentors had quit and given up. Everand couldn't, or wouldn't, learn. And his son was stubborn, more so than Galen would like. And most of it was likely his own fault. Just like it was his own fault that his daughter was perhaps even more stubborn. Perhaps something good would come out of Dominic's time here if that temper of his could be controlled. If he could teach Everand how to fight, how to defend himself and his family, Galen would feel content. He would die knowing his kingdom would be safe in Everand's hands.

"Then it's a good thing Ariella has our mazes memorized. She was taken with them as a child and that fascination never diminished." Eveline looked at Ariella with a face that said try me. She wasn't ignorant as to why her daughter escaped in the mazes. There was a reason anyone who had charge of Ariella had the mazes memorized. Ariella had a bad habit of sending her guards on a wild goose chase trying to hunt her down in the mazes. It had always been hard to get Ariella to do anything other than go to her lessons. Eveline refused to allow herself to wonder why, for she knew who was to take the blame.

Ariella did not try her mother. Not with that look on her face. She knew what could entail if she tried fighting her on this. She tried to look at the positive side of things. It had been awhile since someone new had come to the palace. Perhaps he could answer some of her curiosities. What was it like out on the road? What are the cultural difference between their kingdoms? What does it feel like to kill a man? The last one was a bit more morbid and no one here would answer her. Perhaps he would. But there was a cloud hanging above that reminded her that a friendship was not plausible, for her mother would read too much into it. Ariella found she couldn't have any male friends. For either he was not of high enough standing and it was inappropriate to be seen with him. Or he was of high enough standing and she should marry him. Neither of which she accepted or wanted to do.

She placed her fork down on the plate. Her stomach was protesting and if she took another bite her stomach may not accept it. She looked at her mother, at her father, then at the prince at her side. "If war does come," she started, ignoring her mother's reaction, "who will you stand with? Not your father, or you wouldn't have come here. But will you stand against him? Or will you stand to the side?"

Dominic had heard in passing how the youngest daughter of Araniel was an interesting woman. Most princesses tended not to keep to themselves, busied their minds and their attention to trying to find a husband that would be approved of by their family- mainly their fathers. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if they were not interested in that sort of life, and by the looks that the princess to his side was receiving from her parents, it seemed that she was exactly the type to break out of that mould. Had she not asked that question, he might have found himself more inclined to like her.

Yet the question was just a reminder of why he was there and the terrible things that were to come, as much as they were a Gods awful reminder of what his father had done to him, and how corrupt the Verillian court was.

Once Queen Aneira was no longer around to keep her husband in check, or complain about the people that Octavian surrounded himself with, the man was free to do whatever he wanted with whoever he wanted, and in his quest for power, came to turn the once gracious court into something dark and twisted like himself. There was no longer light in the meeting rooms, or happiness on the faces of the servants that worked for them, only fear. Fear that if they wronged one of the court members, wrong the king himself, they would find themselves at the end of Dominic's blade quicker than they would have liked. And the servants weren't the only ones who were tormented by the court.

There were very few people in the world who knew of Dominic's true nature, the man behind the cold wall of stone and anger that presented itself, there were even fewer who knew of what happened between Dominic, his father, and the court members. Because he didn't trust easily, and he feared for what might happen if his father knew that there were people in the palace who were tending to his son when he wasn't able to do so. That there were people who cleaned his bloodied and broken body, cradled him when he sobbed, treated him as if he were their own child and told him it would all be okay one day. Dominic's mind was just as broken as his body was, and Ariella's question had him reliving every second of abuse from the many people that had contributed to his pain.

He swallowed and was silent for a second, the metal fork in his hand damn near being close to being bent with the force it was taking not to slam it on the table and walk out of that room. Instead, with only a slight tremor in his hands, Dominic placed the fork down before he spoke, "My father," He began, looking down at the table even if his head was turned towards Ariella, "Needs to be stopped. I will not- I refuse to stand to the side and watch as others are killed because of his greed. I will fight against him."

Ariella watched him in silence as he found his thoughts, unaware of the emotional turmoil she had just caused for Prince Dominic. Perhaps now had not been the time to ask such a question. But if not now, then when? When would it be a good time to ask that question? When war was knocking on their door? When King Octavious was marching through these halls, bodies falling at his feet? Ariella believed it essential to know just exactly where Dominic's loyalties lay. He was, after all, in their kingdom. In their home. He had access to their plans, to their arms, to their riches even, if he knew where to look. It was dangerous for him to be there if he were not certain of his alliances. If he was not decidedly against his father. If the rage underneath his skin was not pointed directly at King Octavius.

Ariella had always had a problem with asking questions. She had always had a problem with asking the right questions. The questions she wasn't supposed to ask. She was a woman, a princess. Her mind should be as mindless as the other ladies at court. And yet her head was filled with knowledge and questions and plans of action. Plans that no one would listen to because of who she was, a princess.

There was a servant's passage that led to her father's council room. A passage she knew very well and took advantage of. Several of the palace staff knew of this and her use of it, and what exactly she did with her knowledge of the passages. But because of her kindness and friendship towards them, they never said a word. Her brother knew as well and by the grace of god, he never said a word to their father or anyone else. Ariella would use the servants' passage to spy on her father when his council met. She would watch and listen and bristle as the men argued on pointless things that would only lead to the downfall of their home if they could not agree. And if they couldn't agree on the right thing.

Everand and she would usually meet up shortly after the meeting and would talk about the meeting. They would stay up until the early morning combing through every bit that was brought to the council's meeting and research every possible outcome and chose from there. Everand would take it their father, of course, and take all the credit for it. Ever had argued on more than one occasion about just telling their father that it was Ariella that was helping him but she refused. As long as he promised to consult with her once he was king, she didn't mind if he took the credit. She was a proud woman but she wanted to see her brother do well. And he would, with her help of course.

Ariella saw the slight tremor in his hand as Dominic sat his fork down. Her eyes flickered between the tremoring hand and his face. His eyes weren't looking at her. She hit a nerve. That hadn't been in her intentions. She had just wanted to know his intentions.

She took one final bite of her plate before placing her own utensils down and pushing back her plate. "Prince Dominic has had a long day. Mother, we should let him retire to his rooms and rest." Not only were a couple hours not enough to time to get some proper sleep, but she could almost see the flight or fight response building in him. And she didn't want to find out which one it would be.

"I suppose you're right. If you are finished, Prince Dominic, please do not let us keep you here. Ariella can escort you back to your rooms."

War was as prominent in his mind as it was in the world that they walked. Dominic wasn't good with emotions, that was obvious by the amount of walls back in the palace stables that had dents the size of his fists. Or how his knuckles always seemed to be bruised, and even though he brushed it off as training injuries, many in the palace were aware that wasn't the cause.

It had been drummed into his mind to keep everything bottled up inside. Men didn't cry. Princes didn't cry. Princes didn't show emotion other than what was necessary surrounding the people of their kingdom. And Dominic was damned good at keeping it in until something snapped and it came out in anger. With the last few days? He was certainly at his breaking point. Logically, he was aware that Ariella wasn't asking him those questions to anger him, they were reasonable questions to ask in the situation that they were in. But the last few days had been long and tiring, and even though his father was a horrible man, he had lost the last part of his family he had left. Not only that, but his kingdom, too, if Octavian was to win the battle that was to come. How could he not be upset?

Rest would not come easy. Gods, he was on the verge of an anxiety attack at that point as he gently pushed his plate away from him on the table. For someone who had been starving when he had arrived at the palace that morning, his appetite had been lost and would make no return anytime soon. All he could imagine was his father's hands on him, the court members defiling him in ways that he should never have been touched or treated, especially as a child. Trying to stomach food when those thoughts, those memories, were at the forefront of his mind was not going to happen. If anything, the minimal bites of food that he had stomached were on the verge of coming back out if he wasn't careful with how things proceeded.

Dominic forced a tired smile, one that was small and strained but could be taken up as pained from his injury or from tiredness. Both were reasonable and contributing, but mostly it was his inner turmoil that had him suffering. He didn't want his first impression to be an anxiety attack at the dinner table and refuse to explain why that was, why Ariella's question had him so tense within seconds of the prince contemplating his answer.

"I think I will retire for the evening. The food was lovely, forgive me for not being able to finish it." Because it had been, and he did feel bad that it would go to waste when his stomach needed it. He was just incapable of eating anymore.

Having Ariella go with him was not necessary, but for the sake of staying on the king and queen's good side, he didn't protest as he stood from the table and offered a small bow to the royal family. He needed to be alone. Needed to scream or punch something or sleep and forget but that would only result in more horrible memories. If he passed out then so be it. He needed the rest but he didn't want to sleep lest he have to relive something he wished not to. Not that he had a choice when his terrors were every night. There was a reason there were soft dark circles tainting his golden skin that never seemed to go away.

"Sleep well, Prince Dominic. We will see you in the morning," Eveline dismissed him from the table, inclining her head towards him as he stood. Galen and Everand watched Dominic carefully, both of them thinking similar things. That was a volatile man on the verge of snapping. Galen knew it right away. He had witnessed enough men in his life reaching their breaking points to recognize it. And Everand was an observant man. Neither of them was comfortable with Ariella escorting their guest back to his room but neither were willing to disagree openly with Eveline. Not in mixed company. The only consolation they had were the guards that were posted through the halls and the two extra guards Galen had already stationed on their bedroom floor.

Ariella stood from the table without a word. She dipped into a small curtsy before leading Dominic out of the dining hall. She was quiet as she walked and kept her gaze focused in front of her. But she watched him out of her peripheral. The confident man she had led through these halls was gone, replaced by something else entirely. She had overstepped a boundary she hadn't realized was set in place. She had hit a nerve and now she was escorting a man with violent tendencies to his room. She was confident enough that he wouldn't place his hands on her. Not with her father offering him sanctuary. But that didn't mean he wouldn't try anything else.

Her heels made a soft clicking sound at each step, the sound echoing through the halls. The palace was quiet now but it wouldn't be for much longer. Everand's twentieth birthday was approaching and mother was already planning the party of a lifetime. Soon these halls would be filled with guests, all here to honor the prince's birthday and take advantage of the luxury of the palace. And it would make it almost impossible for Ariella to hide from the crowds. Even the library wouldn't be the sanctuary it usually was for her.

She finally reached their wing of the palace and she approached her door. Dominic's was only a few doors down, she was sure he could find it himself without her having to show it to him. She placed her hand on the door handle and turned it, then paused. She sighed softly and turned to look at Dominic before he could disappear into his own room.

"It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing. You did a very brave thing, coming here and warning us. We are forever in your debt." She pushed her door open but did not step inside just yet. "If you need anything, just knock on my door." Then she stepped inside her room and shut the door before she could regret her words.

Her maids helped her undress and brushed through her hair. A hot bath had already been drawn for her and she let out a sigh as she lowered into the tub. She stayed in there perhaps longer than she should have. She had dismissed her staff, saying she could do the rest. She wanted peace in the bath, not have maid fuss over her as they scrubbed her. By the time she exited the bath, her skin was pruned and shades of red from the heat of the water.

She dressed in a nightgown that fell just above the knees. Spring had come and along with it, the heat. It was stifling to wear anything more than this to bed. A bed where a mound of covers and blankets awaited her. After putting her hair in a simple braid, she collected a half-read book from her desk and got into bed. She had a feeling sleep would evade her tonight. And if she was going to be awake, she might as well be doing something she enjoyed.

Dominic could practically feel the eyes of the prince and king bearing into the back of his head as the princess and he walked out of the room. It was like they were trying to burn a hole through his skull, a silent warning that if they tried anything then he would pay the prince for it. Not that he would ever. Sure, he might yell at her, but he would never be physically harmful against her. Ariella had not done anything wrong. She had not intentionally set out to harm him. No one was aware of the pain that was caused to the prince behind closed doors, and there would certainly be no way that she would have known and set out to ask pointed questions in order to gain a rise out of him. If she pushed the wrong button between the dining room and his new chambers, the worst that would happen would be yelling in her face. No harm would come to her. Dominic might have been fucked up, but he refused to be like his father in that sense.

The walk to the chambers felt like an eternity. Each step was a drag, as if there were stones on his shoulders weighing him down and causing each step to grow heavier and heavier. Maybe that was his punishment for being sensitive. His father would have certainly thought so. He could hear the man's words ringing through his head, telling him to grow up, what kind of a man was he? Pathetic. His hands tightened at his sides and he forced them to relax, repeating the motion over and over until they reached Ariella's door. Dominic would have kept walking had she not turned to speak to him. The prince didn't look at her, simply turned his head slightly to indicate he was listening while she spoke, and the only acknowledgement he gave was a soft nod of his head. No words. Nothing else as he walked the rest of the short distance to his room.

The door opened. It was like watching himself from a distance as he he did so, shut and locked the door behind him and stripped down until he was in his undergarments and climbed onto the bed. The prince didn't go under the covers. Instead, he grabbed one of the many pillows and hugged it to his chest, resting on another and closed his eyes. Maybe if he slept he could prevent a breakdown.

The door to the dungeons opened and closed in the distance, creaking as an indication that someone was there. A young prince Dominic sat in the corner of one of the cells, dark curls falling in front of his face as he looked to the floor and awaited his father. He knew what was coming. This wasn't the first time he had been sent down into the jail cells to wait for punishment from his father, or his father's court, or maybe even both.

His family had passed three years prior, and his father had steadily declined since. Dominic hadn't through he could get any worse, but he had. Dominic had been so wrong at just how worse it could have been since their deaths. Now, he was alone. His father was a stranger and he was stuck to endure whatever it was he was going to put him through.

The jail cell swung open and in stepped his father and two other men who had smirks on their faces that could only be described as evil. Dominic looked up and his honey-brown eyes were filled with fear, "I am very disappointed in you, son," His father started, and the two men were quick to move to the small boy. One picked him up by the shoulders, and the other handed a whip to his father before ripping his shirt from his body, "You know you are not to speak out in court. It is not your place to speak to our people. It is their own fault that those in the farmlands cannot feed themselves, you are under no right to offer them food." The whip came down hard and Dominic cried out, tears streaming down his face at the pain, "How dare you speak against me. I am your king. You are nothing yet Dominic. Nothing but a pitiful excuse for a son." The whip continued to be brought down against his skin until he was bleeding, the sounds of his cries and blood dripping against the floor ringing throughout the cold, damp cell that was supposed to be reserved for prisoners.

When there was no longer any room on his back the man holding him dropping him to the floor. But the two court members didn't leave, "You are to please these men as they see fit. Maybe they can teach you some obedience." And his father left him alone with the two men, his boots joining the sounds of buttons being undone and the soft begs of the young prince for them to stop before they turned into screams.

It was one of those screams that woke the prince from his sleep, shooting up in the comfortable bed in Araniel covered in sweat and panting. His heart was racing, there was nothing but fear in his eyes as they had welled with the sudden terror of that memory that had hit him while trying to rest. Dominic had no idea he had been screaming in his sleep until he registered the sound of harsh knocking on his door followed by the yells of the guards outside, "Your Highness?! Your Highness are you alright?! Prince Dominic?!"

It happened more often than she would like to admit that sleep evaded her. Ariella had always had problems with sleep. Her mind didn't always know how to stop running. The thoughts turned over and over until she couldn't do anything else but think of the problem at hand. She could try to distract herself, as she often did with books, but sometimes it wasn't enough. Some nights she would sneak into the music room and play the piano until the early hours of the morning. The maids would often have to hide the dark circles under her eyes.

Tonight was no exception, though she doubted anyone could blame her for having a long night after the news they just received. Well, her mother would have something to say. Her mother always had something to say. But her mother wasn't the reason she was up tonight. Dominic was, and the news he had brought with him.

War.

War was coming. War would be upon them sooner than any of them thought. People were going to die. It was a terrifying thought. She could die, if they lost. And that was something utterly different. She couldn't explain the amount of terror she was feeling. There were no words to describe it. She just knew she wanted this nightmare to end. She wanted to wake up and everything to be fine. She wanted to wake up to no foreign prince and no news of war. But even she wasn't naive enough to convince herself that that was the truth.

After reading the same page for thirty minutes, Ariella finally gave up trying to read the book. She placed her bookmark in it and set it aside. She looked at out the window, preferring to have her curtains pulled back so she would watch the stars. And having the sun shine through in the morning was really the only way to get her up in the morning.

It was a crescent moon in the sky. The stars were twinkling bright and there wasn't a cloud in the sky to block them from view. A peaceful night for a rather disturbing day. She leaned back against the headboard, staring out the window. She slowly felt the tension leaving her body. But just as she thought that her mind had quieted enough to attempt to sleep, a scream cut through the air.

Her head whipped towards the door, her first thought was that Verillia's army had infiltrated the palace. But when no guard rushed to her room, friend or foe, she realized it was a different matter entirely.

Ariella swung her legs over the side of the bed and padded over to the bed. She forewent a robe and even slippers, the curiosity getting the best of her. She slipped out of her bedroom and looked around to see all the guards had run Dominic's room. She blinked, surprised. She folded her arms over her chest, feeling a bit exposed in front of them, as she walked over to them. "What's going on?" She asked the guards.

"We heard a scream from his room. We're trying to check on him but he won't let us in." One of the guards responded to her. Stubborn, he was. It was a good thing she was more stubborn then.

She waved off the guards. "I got this. I'll call for you if I need you." They seemed wary to go but one look from here was all they needed to back away from the door and take up post. They looked a bit closer to Prince Dominic's room than they had before but she didn't voice her annoyance at them. She raised her hand and knocked on the door, none too politely either. "Dominic? Open up!"

Stubborn was one word for the prince, and especially when it was matters such as his awful nightmares - his memories - he didn't want anyone coming in until he was able to play it off like nothing had happened. Of course, though, he wouldn't be able to do that when the guards were knocking on his door and demanding that he let them in.

Back in Verillia, the guards knew that Dominic frequently had terrors, and the screaming each night was not something that they concerned themselves with anymore, even if they did feel bad for the prince. When it happened all they did was alert one of the maids he was fond of, or multiple, if it was a particularly bad night, and they came and controlled him until he fell asleep again. Often they would stay with him through the night in case there was another terror, but here and now there was none, and all he wanted was to be alone.

That, however, seemed like it was not going to happen when the princess was knocking on his door not long after. Of course, the nosey princess would want to know what was going on. He couldn't have her knowing about it, that would not be good for his image. But she was just as stubborn as he was if their meeting was anything to go by and so what was he to do? Not let her in? Well, yes, but he was going to have to answer her at some point, answer any of them to let him know he was alive and unharmed. At least physically unharmed.

Dominic grabbed a loose-fitting shirt that covered his back well enough, and only the very top of the scar on his chest was visible through the open section at the top. It would do. He didn't bother with pants, the maybe slightly too tight undergarments would be fine enough when he was just going to tell Ariella that he was okay and she could fuck off. He walked to the door and unlocked it, cracking it open enough so that he could see her. The prince rested his good arm above his head, leaning against it, while the other held the door handle and he looked down at her with a frown.

"Go away. I'm fine." Dominic was in fact, not fine, but there was no chance in hell that he was going to tell her that. Although Ariella could probably infer by the sound of the scream, it seemed that he was far from fine.

As Ariella waited for an answer, for any indication that Dominic was moving around inside, she looked down at herself and truly noticed how underdressed she was. This was highly inappropriate to be wearing in the hall. And even more inappropriate to be seeing a man while wearing such a thing.

The nightgown was a strapped thing. There were no sleeves and the straps were small enough they could easily be snapped if the right amount of force was pulled. The gown was a pale pink, a color she would wear more often if her mother didn't think it washed her out. She enjoyed the color pink, much to other's surprise. Just because she had a sharp tongue and witty mind did not mean she didn't enjoy the more feminine side of life. The gown had a v neckline that showed off a sliver more cleavage than her gown at dinner. It hugged her waist just enough ti show off her slight figure without being constricting. There was a lace trim around the hem and it fell an inch or two above her knee. This was certainly not something appropriate to leave her bedroom in.

She looked up as the door finally opened, just then realizing how close she was standing. Her pride refused to let her take a step back. Which mean her beck had to crane up to look at him. Ariella crossed her arms, involuntarily pushing up her chest. She leveled an unamused look at him.

Her eyebrow raised at his words. His previous screaming said that he was anything but fine. And by the obvious rasp in his voice, it had been he who had been screaming and no one else. As if there was anyone else on this floor who coukd have screamed. She scoffed, shaking her head. "I highly doubt that, seeing as my beauty sleep was interrupted just moments ago." She was at least kind enough not to voice out loud what exactly jt was that had caught her attention. "I'd prefer not to stand in the hallway while we talk about it."

And without waiting for an answer, she squeezed past him and stepped into the room. Perhaps one of the only perks about her small size was that it was useful in certain situations. It allowed her to get into places others wouldn't otherwise be able to get into. She brushed her damp hair over her shoulder and spun in the room to look at him. "Well, are you going to stand in the doorway all night?"

Before he even had an opportunity to protest about talking about what had happened, Ariella was slipping into his room. Dominic didn't stop the way his frown deepened, or the way he cast the frown towards the guards across the hall. He had no doubt they would report that back to Galen, but at least he hadn't invited her in, in fact, he had asked her to do the opposite. It wasn't his fault that she was small as shit and could slip by him without needing to do much. Unfair.

"I told you to go away." He replied, hanging his head and staring at the ground for a second before turning his head towards her. A muscle in his jaw flickered.

Slowly, he shut the door, not wanting to slam or make a scene when he had already done so. Dominic didn't lock the door, because that would be far too suspicious and more likely cause more harm than good. He wasn't about to keep her prisoner in his room, and he wanted her gone. There was no point locking the door when he wanted her to get out. Although she was just as stubborn as he was, and Dominic highly doubted that she would be going anywhere anytime soon. The thought only made his frown deepen, thick brows furrowing as he sighed through his nose.

The prince took a steadying breath a few moments later before he turned around and faced Ariella and leaned against the door, bringing his arms to his chest and crossing them. The movement caused the shirt he was wearing to hitch up, exposing his toned V-line and the lower part of his abs. With how low his undergarments were sitting, they exposed more than normal, but he had been sleeping, and quite frankly he didn't give a fuck. What he did care about, just slightly, was how tight they were around his thighs, clinging to his skin and revealing the outline of something else that wasn't as appropriate for a stranger to reveal. Then again, Ariella wasn't exactly wearing anything decent, with the slinky pink gown and if he hadn't been so pissed at her for barging in, would have been trying to fight off other thoughts that weren't the urge to yell at the woman in front of him.

When he was standing there trying to calm his heart, he didn't need to calm a hard-on at the same time.

"Do you have a habit of barging into strangers' rooms in the middle of the night? Or is this a new thing for you?" His eyes narrowed, but he didn't move from his spot against the door, doing his best not to let his eyes wander from her face.

Ariella felt very proud of herself for slipped in the room. Dominic was a big man and he has filled up the entirety of that cracked entryway. And yet with a shimmy and a little ducking, she managed to get around him and into the room. This was a first for her. Not going into a man's room at night when it was highly inappropriate to do so. She'd done that before, though more stealthily. Slipping past this giant of a man, now that was a first. She had never really forced her way into anywhere. Which was why she was standing in the middle of the room with a shit eating grin on her face.

She was practically glowing. If telling her brother would give him a heartattck, she would've told him first thing in the morning. Actually, knowing what his response would be, she might just tell him anyways. It was fun seeing him tick. He had a giant vein in the middle of his forehead that would pop out when he was angry.

Her smile slowly faded but her pride did not. Her lips were lifted in a small smirk as she watched him close the door and lean against it. In the soft glow of the moon, she could make out probably more than she should have. And her gaze wondered perhaps a little too long. Standing there, she realized just what level of undress he was at. The shirt looked to have been thrown on haphazardly. She could see the peak of pale scar where the shirt exposed her chest. Her breath hitched, her chest tightening, wondering how he got that. Her gaze traveled lower, down to those boxer shorts that were a little too small for his thighs. She'd have to thank whoever gave them to him. They left little for the imagination. Her breath was hitching for a different reason now.

She snapped her eyes up to his face, her grin sliding back in place. "I have to say, this is a first for me. People usually let me in when I knock, especially men." Not a lie, technically, even if the implication wasn't entirely true. "So, did you want to talk about what had you screaming in the middle of the night?" Her smile was gone now and her voice was filled with genuine concern. "Perhaps we can figure it out tonight so it doesn't become a habit. I get cranky when my sleep is interrupted."

Not a lie either. She was much more irritable than usual when she was running on little sleep. She snapped at just about everyone. She was highly volatile to be around. It was best to leave her alone when she was tired. Not that Dominic needed to know he hadn't actually interrupted her sleep.

If the princess before him told her brother about how she had slipped into his room, Dominic did not doubt that he would be less than impressed. If he could gauge anything from the two siblings, it was that no matter what, they had each other's backs, and if Ariella was to tell Everand about how she had easily slipped by him, into his room, to investigate why he had been screaming, either he was going to think it genius, or completely and utterly foolish. He had a feeling it was going to be the latter, with his reputation, but the only way to know would be if she told him. Dominic prayed she didn't.

He would be in enough trouble with the king if the guards decided to exclude the information about his screaming in the middle of the night. At least he had tried to get her out, and had made that perfectly clear when she had first knocked on the door and the guards had been in earshot. Dominic needed this. He needed things to work out because otherwise, he truly would be left with nothing, and that gaping hole in his chest would never be filled. The prince didn't know if it ever would be.

Standing as still as stone, he did not move from his place blocking the door, the only indication that he was alive was the far too rapid rise and fall of his chest that was not from anger, but fear. Having been snapped out of his slumber from the dream so quickly, and then turning his attention to that of his unwanted guest, there was little time to try and steady himself to some form of normalcy. It was clear something was wrong, but he would not say a word on it. Ariella need not know. No one need not know. His past was to be kept under lock and key, behind those walls he had crafted since he was a child in order to keep himself safe.

At least safe from anyone else hurting him the way that his father had done. Those men had done. Dominic could practically see them as clear as the day it happened, the memories flashing in front of his eyes over and over. Finally, he had to blink harshly, willing them to go away so he could focus on the present, so he could focus on Ariella. The beautiful yet insufferable short woman that was speaking as if she cared.

"Provide me with a room further away from your own and you will not be interrupted again," That would be the only option if she wanted her beauty sleep. The terrors would never end. They would not stop until the day he died, Dominic knew that. There was little hope that he would ever be okay, he had given up hope long ago of a good night's sleep. One that wasn't filled with fear, "There is nothing to talk about."

If Ariella's father found out that she was here, well, she didn't know how he would respond. She highly doubted he would respond. He had been ignoring her most of her life, he would likely ignore this too. If her mother found out, it would go one of two ways: excitement that she was getting along and seducing the prince, or horror for her seducing a man she was not wed to and soiling her reputation. And then she would follow up that she needed to marry Dominic to save it. She couldn't be sure how her brother would react. She wasn't going to find out, either. Ariella had no plans to breathe a word of this to anyone. And once having a talk with the guards, she hoped they wouldn't say a word to anyone either. It was bad enough that she and the guards knew that he had night terrors, it didn't need to be spread around the palace anymore.

She let out a soft sigh, turning and striding for the bed where she took a seat. She had a feeling this was going to be a long night of going back and forth. She wasn't leaving until he told her. And if he was half as stubborn as she was, he wasn't going to tell her a thing. Which meant she was in for a long night. At least this would be a nice distraction from the turmoil in her head, even if it was still keeping her up. Better than the thought of inevitable death.

She crossed her ankles as she perched on the bed, placing her hands just slightly behind her and looking up at Dominic. "Unfortunately for you, this is the only room you're getting unless you sweet talk my mother into providing you another. But the guest rooms will all be unavailable soon as the prince's birthday approaches. Which leaves the only other available room on their floor, which I doubt you want. And all of the other rooms on this floor belong to my sisters for when they visit. So you can either stay here and all of this remains between us. Or you can move into a room next to my mother and you can explain to her why you're screaming every night." She raised an eyebrow, lips pulled up in a smirk as she knew what his answer would be.

"There's obviously something to talk about if you scared the guards half to death." She didn't mention that she had been scared shitless either. "It's just a question of want. I'd recommend talking about it. It might help. It's better than bottling things up. Eventually, that bottle gets full and when you try to fill it anymore, it explodes. I have a feeling you're familiar with this yes?"

Perhaps she would enjoy having Prince Dominic around, if only to win the arguments she got into with him. She did like to win and from where she was standing, she was winning. Even if he refused to talk to her tonight, which she knew he would, he would talk eventually. "I'm not leaving until you talk to me about it." Maybe that would give him motivation to speak, so he could get rid of her. Or maybe he would still stay quiet and well, this would be a long night for both of them.

Dominic wouldn't lie, he did find himself feeling a little terrible that he had woken Ariella and scared the guards. Maybe he should have forewarned the guards so they didn't come crashing on the door trying to see if he was alive or not. At least then he would have been left alone by them. Ariella on the other hand, he doubted would have left his door even if the guards told her that he was fine. The scream wasn't exactly one that conveyed that he was okay in any sense. Probably because he wasn't.

After so long mistrusting everyone he came to meet, there was nothing that the princess before him would be able to say or do to get him to speak. There would be nothing when they had just met. But they were both as stubborn as mules and he highly doubted that she would be going anywhere. That was confirmed when she spoke, and sat on the bed and he couldn't help but hang his head just a little and turn his gaze to the large balcony window.

Having a room on the floor with the king and queen would result in even more trouble. If there was anyone he didn't want to disturb, it was them. He had already brought news of war to their doorstep, turning up on the brink of unconsciousness and demanding to see the king, practically starting an argument with the man within seconds of meeting him after so many years. The last thing Dominic wanted was to explain why he was screaming at night to him, or the queen, and he had a feeling they wouldn't take no for an answer. Then again, neither was Ariella.

The prince moved until he was sitting on the large couch not far from the bed, still facing the princess but being able to sit would hopefully be able to calm him a little more. They were in for a long night. Dominic was already beginning to feel annoyed at her and her stupid little smirk when she hit the nail on the head about him bottling everything up. There was no outlet that he was allowed to have in the palace that was safe, and he troubled the maids enough with his night terrors that he didn't want to unload everything onto them. No, all he could do was punch holes into the stables and deal with the rest himself until it became too much. At least here he didn't have to endure any more abuse from his father.

"Then you're going to be here all night," He replied, "I told you, I'm fine. It's nothing to be concerned about." If she knew the truth it would probably be different, but Dominic was keeping that tidbit to himself for the time being. Maybe forever.

Ariella didn't think he realized just how stubborn she truly was. She was the youngest of six girls. Six sisters in a room, it was brutal. She had to grow thick skin quickly or she would have been pushed over. If she didn't stand her ground and follow up on her word, she would have been taken advantage of. Then there was the matter of her younger brother. They were just a little over two years apart. She was closer in age to him than her youngest older sister. She was overshadowed a lot because of her brother and the only way to get what she wanted was being so unbearably stubborn they eventually gave in.

Well, this was going to be a long night so she might as well get comfortable. She looked back at the bed, sheets still rumpled and it smelled faintly of Dominic. She should not be doing this but when had she ever done something she was supposed to do? She arranged the pillows just how she liked them before propping herself up against the headboard and placing the blankets over her legs. She didn't bother asking Dominic to come to bed with her like her novels would have done. Not only did she know he would say no, but she didn't want him in bed with her either.

Ariella placed her hands in her lap and looked at him as he sat down on the couch. If he tried to sleep there he wouldn't fit. The couch was a few inches too short for him. It's not her fault he was practically a giant. And Everand was several inches shorter than him. Whom this room was designed for. Again, not her problem. She was not sharing this bed. She didn't like to share her sleep space. She had a sleepover once, and after quite literally kicking her friend out of the bed in her sleep, she vowed never to share a bed with anyone ever again.

"It's going to be a very long night then. You can end this now by talking to me or you can get comfortable. There's extra sheets and blankets in the closet if you want one." Because they both knew he was going to end up sleeping on that couch tonight. "I wish I had brought my book," she murmured to herself, "At least then I could have had some entertainment."

It was too late now. She wasn't going back to her room for he surly wouldn't let her back in. She was going to have to deal with it until morning. She would have to be more prepared for next time because there was going to be a next time. His reaction to these night terrors told her this wasn't a new thing. he had been dealing with this for a long time. Which meant they would come back, and she would be ready.

Why did she care so much? Dominic couldn't wrap his head around the idea that someone who he had just met was so concerned about what his night terrors were about, and wanted him to speak about them. Why? Why was Ariella so stubborn on the subject? Surely she could request a pair of earmuffs or something to block her ears to drown out the sound of his screaming in the middle of the night. It wouldn't be the most comfortable but it was better than nothing. The nightmares would never end. No matter what he tried to tell himself, Dominic was going to be plagued with them for the rest of his life.

At least if he died in the war then he wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Maybe that would be a mercy. It wasn't the first time that he had had a thought along those lines, certainly far more often than anyone knew about. If anyone had known that the prince wanted death to escape the waking terrors of his father and the court, and never slept due to the memories of those that had defiled him, he would be sent away. Dominic had seen it more than once. Someone deemed 'crazy' and 'unwell' purely because of what had happened to them by others in their life. If word got out that the prince was one of those 'unwell men', he would never hold the same respect as he did now.

If the abuse had been from only someone in the court, it might not have been as terrible. But the fact that his father not only contributed to the horrible acts against him, but actively encouraged it, made matters worse. Octavian was respected. Verillia was respected. In the grand scheme of things on the continent, they were ranked as one of the wealthiest and most important kingdoms, one of the oldest and greatest. If people knew, if other royals knew, if he told Ariella all about how that had changed? Dominic didn't know what would become of him if Araniel won.

He didn't stop the roll of his eyes as he stood and walked to the closet. He was just as stubborn and too tired to fight against the princess. If she wanted to stay, she could stay, but it would be her fault that she was bored, "Maybe you should return to your own chambers if you need some entertainment."

Dominic grabbed a soft blanket, just thick enough to provide warmth in the cool spring evening but not thick enough to overheat. He would be uncomfortable on the couch, but it was better than sleeping both in the same bed as the princess or on the ground. At least the couch had some pillows and was comfortable enough, better than the dirt and stone he had been sleeping on during his journey to Araniel. Flicking the blanket out he made himself comfortable again, resting his head on one of the pillows with himself propped up enough to still see Ariella while his legs stretched out, feet dangling over the over end of the couch.