Once the dust had settled, I fell into a gust of wind and blew down the road. I spotted my brother riding through the streets. After lecturing me about being on time for the ceremony, I was going to make it to the palace well before him. Soaring into the sky, I floated among the clouds. I’d hide up here all day but even my magic had limitations. Free falling toward the palace, I pulled up and landed on the balcony outside my room. Fixing my coat, I entered and found someone waiting for me.

“Good morning, Suzette.”

“Albern found you, then?” asked my sister.

“Yes, he did.” I kissed her cheek as I passed her on the way to the closet. 

She followed and took my coat from me. “Where were you?”

I shrugged. “Out.” I unbuttoned my shirt.

“Tolcan, tell me it wasn’t a brothel again?”

Shaking my head, I went behind the dressing curtain. “Why does it matter? Isn’t that part of being a prince? Albern isn’t as pure as everyone likes to make him out to be.” I looked around and realized I had forgotten to grab something to change into. 

A pile of clothes was pushed forward on the floor. 

“You’re worrying me.” 

“I’m fine,” I stated. “I have control over my powers and the kingdom knows this. I’m not at risk of being attacked.” I finished getting ready and went to meet her.

Suzette fixed my shirt and straightened the vest that was laid overtop. It was way too many layers, and I was already feeling the stiff atmosphere that never left the palace. 

“What is so good about those places? They’re not safe.”

“So, I can breathe for a change.”

She picked up the floor-length coat off the bed and held it up. I slipped my arms into the sleeves and adjusted them. My sister circled around and did up the three buttons on the front.

“You’re important to this kingdom.”

“Until Albern figures out his powers. That’s the only thing stopping Father from announcing him as the heir.”

“It could be you,” she replied.

“I don’t look the part.”

She smoothed back my hair from my face. “The people love how you look.”

“Not all,” I replied. “They prefer my twin. Hell, if I was them, I preferred my twin.”

“Well, I think if you put in a little effort, Father might acknowledge you more. You might want to start with not disappearing for days.”

“Most of the time, he doesn’t notice.”

“Hmm..” She kept messing with my hair. “You must’ve had a good night.” Taking my hand, she sat me down in front of a vanity. 

I frowned at my reflection as she tried to get the section on the back of my head to lay flat. Suzette put some cream in her hand and worked it into the strands. She combed it away from my face. 

“I’m finally starting to see a prince instead of some drunkard that wandered into the palace.” She gave me a smirk and went to grab something else.

With a sigh, I didn’t see it. Nobility was known for their light skin, hair, and eyes. I had none of those things. One eye was blue, but the other had the signs of my mother’s mixed blood. The same blood my two siblings had, but none of it came through in them. It wasn’t fair. They expected me to fit into this world when my mere presence said I’d never belonged. 

My sister returned and looped a diamond chain over my head with a pendant attached to it. She finished with a simple silver headpiece with embedded jewels and positioned it so the metal band ran across the center of my forehead. 

“Very handsome.” She smoothed out my shoulders. “Like a true prince.”

I wasn’t impressed. “How long is this ceremony?”

“A couple hours like always and there’s a reception after just like every month.”

I let my head fall back and peered up at her. “Am I expected to stay for the whole thing?”

She slapped my arm. “For a man of your age, you need to learn some responsibility.”

My head rolled to the side and rested against my first. “Maybe.” Taking a deep breath, I rose from the chair. “Where are your trinkets?” I motioned to her hair. 

“Sitting in my room.”

“Well, my dear princess, that will not do.”

The door opened, and the jewelry danced into the room. 

Suzette laughed. “Is this what you do to entertain the people at those bars you go to?”

“It works on royalty as well.” I brought her to the middle of the room and outstretched her arms. “Don’t move.”

She couldn’t stop smiling as everything was carefully placed on her. Her tiara settled onto her head. She dropped her arms. “So, am I ready now?”

I nodded. “Did you know you are the most beautiful woman in the whole kingdom”—I offered my arm—“and I know because I’ve slept with most of them.”

Suzette slapped my side. “Oh, Tolcan, what to do with you.”