Chapter Text
Summary
The young prince wakes up to his birthday less than thrilled to spend the day preparing to prance around in some silly suit and blow out some candles at a ball. If it were up to him, he'd love to stay in his room all day, open his presents alone and eat some cake with wine. But, being the prince, his life could just not be that easy and so he had to force himself to sit through expensive wines and fancy food filled with obnoxious music. The night couldn't get any worse.
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It was another usual day for the young prince, the sun beamed through the silk curtains into his ridiculously huge room. It could easily have a family of three living in it. But all of this belonged to prince M/c. It must've been noon when the young man had finally awoken from his deep slumber, half the day was almost nearly gone by now.
"Good afternoon your highness and a very happy birthday!" The maid called out after swinging open the curtains to the room, the young boy tiredly sat up in bed and yawned. Morning already? But he was still so tired! Prince M/c could swear he could sleep for another hour or two.
"Today for your breakfast the chef made you a lovely dandelion tea, with freshly handpicked berries, a sunny-side-up egg and your favourite...."
The maid's voice faded out into nothing in Prince M/c's ears who was too busy dozing off wanting to go back to the dream he was having. What was it about again? Oh right! Being at the beach alone, how nice would that be?
"Prince M/c!" The maid shouted causing the boy to jolt up!
"What! What!" He shouted back annoyed before finally deciding it was time to wake up and so stretched his arms out.
"Come on now your highness you need to have some breakfast before your ball tonight" She said urging the prince to get up and eat something, it was never good to start the day on an empty stomach. Now usually the prince would eat with his family in the dining room, but he'd much prefer to be served breakfast in bed.
"Fine...but I'm getting sick of eggs tell the chef to make me something else" He complained before leaning back in bed, resting his still sleepy head against the soft pillows.
The maid who was named Ernest Schmidt smiled before scooping up a mix of the egg and toast, hand feeding it to the prince. It seemed bizarre to others but Ernest was like Prince M/c's second mother. She had been working at the palace long before he was born probably since when she was a teen. Ernest was now in her late 40s or 50s, she even had kids of her own. But she had gotten used to handing feeding the young prince, to her he was the same silly 10-year-old running away from her after a long bubble bath in refusal of getting clothed. Though now the Prince had become quite spoiled, who wouldn't after a life of pampering and being hand fed with gold spoons? Now he didn't sought harm or suffering but he was still quite a selfish boy.
"Are you excited for your big day then your highness" She asked as the young boy shrugged slightly dismissively.
"I don't like balls, there are too many people"
Almost everyone from the kingdom would be invited to the balls, Daedalus was small but rich in almost everything else. Those who settled in it would come from far and wide, different nations and cultures all settled together to live peacefully here. It was the land of freedom as the king described it. What a man he was, adored by all that lived there. A gracious and loving man who only sought the best for his people. The man would personally make sure all the goods and wealth from their kingdom were distributed among all those living there were equal. He was their leader, hope, and guiding light. And his wife was no different, a lovely woman she was, she used to be a cake maker in her father's bakery. Or well that was the case until the king began to make regular visits to taste her spongy and soft strawberry shortcakes. The king couldn't get enough of those heavenly desserts.
Though he also began falling more and more in love with the women that made them. She was so gentle and so loving, she reminded him of a dove. From the moment he laid eyes on her he knew she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life beside. It was at the diamond ball where the two danced under the night sky, he finally asked her to be his bride and queen. And of course, she couldn't refuse the offer, not by such a loving and tender man. They had eloped, spent their wedding together alone, and it was just the way they wanted it. The two couldn't remember a happier day, of course, there was one. The birth of their son and heir, Prince M/c, he was such a cute and beautiful boy. The couple couldn't be any happier. Unfortunately, it seemed that perhaps the couple was too lenient when raising their child, they never were able to say no after all, which of course led to the way the prince acted now.
"No" The prince said as they were in their fitting room in a silk robe after a warm bath, Ernest showing the young boy suits he could wear for the ball. It was important for him to look the best, especially for his 21st birthday. Who knows he might even find the love of his life there. That's what his parents hoped at least.
"Oh, your highness are you sure? Your mother made this herself, I think it'd be lovely if you wore it on your birthday" The maid encouraged, knowing that the queen had given her son this suit so lovingly a few months ago and he had only worn it at a dinner once.
"No! I've already worn it and it looks ugly anyway! I don't even know why she tries sewing, she's horrific at it and all her clothes look like they were made by a blind gremlin!" The prince insulted not even taking a second look at the suit.
A maid behind him dried his hair with a towel while another sat in front of him massaging his legs. "Very well- oh how about this then?" Ernest then pulled out a classic black suit with gold lining and patterns covering it. The red jewels only popping out more against the darker colour scheme.
"Who wears black to a ball? And I've seen that suit at the tailor shop before, I don't want to wear something someone else already has" Prince M/c replied looking back down at the noon he was reading.
"It's quite expensive your highness, I doubt anyone else would have it" But no matter how much Ernest pushed the prince wasn't going to take it. At this rate the prince might as well turn up to the ball in his robes, they were very quickly running out of options.
"I'm sorry your highness but there's not much else" They had gone through a good dozen pairs of new suits and the prince didn't like not one!
"I'm not wearing those! I have no clothes! Why can't father just get me a private tailor!" Prince M/c complained before tossing his boom to the side and kicking his feet almost hitting the maid in front of him.
"Your highness your father asked you to choose a tailor before the ball" The maid reminded the boy who only huffed and stuck his nose in the air, how could this be his fault now?
"They were all horrible! I didn't want any of them"
"My apologies your highness but I don't think we'll be able to find someone who'll make a new outfit in the next seven hours" Ernest broke the harsh truth to the prince who wasn't at all happy with the news. It was preposterous!
"Fine! I just won't go then! Tell father and mother to cancel the ball!"
With that, the prince stood on his feet and stormed out of the room to go back to his room. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time the prince had caused a ruckus about clothing, no it happened at every ball and every function. So off were the maids to once again tell the king of his son's demands.
A few hours had passed, and there were only two hours left till the ball began, no one was ready. Instead, the king and queen had spent their time desperately looking for a tailor who had an unsold new outfit they were willing to sell and complete instantly. And so stood the young tailor nervously watching the prince's moves alongside the queen.
"So this is it? There's nothing else?" The prince complained getting a closer look at the outfit.
It was stunning, a pair of white silk slim wide length pants with flower laces at the bottom which ended right below the knee. Side cuts on each pair of pant legs and a white fabric tied in the shape of a flower were used as the belt. A classic beige shirt for the collar bone with the middle being made from a piece of sheer see-through fabric to show some chest skin and the stomach area exposed. As for the overlayer, It was a soft white fabric that would act as a shawl covering Prince M/c's arms and drape down. The whole outfit paired with pearl and flower accessories as well as an elegantly designed pair of knee-high small-heeled shoes was an eye grabber.
Something that would be impossible to turn down, which was exactly why the queen picked it out.
"Come now dear, this is all we have and time is running out, please just go with this" The queen said lovingly as she reached over and cupped her son's cheeks, but the young prince did not reciprocate this and instead furrowed his brows into a glare.
"Fine! Just get out! All of you! I'll get ready myself" He lashed out annoyed over wearing an outfit he wasn't fully pleased with. The queen of course didn't push her son any further.
"Thank you, and thank you, sir, let's get your payment sorted now" She said quickly leading the tailors and maids out of the fitting room so the prince could get dressed.
Three hours in and the grand ball was in a full swing, music echoed in the ballroom as those from within the kingdom all gathered to enjoy one evening together. Foods were prepared by only the best of chefs and displayed on multiple tables for guests to enjoy alongside their wine or after a dance or two. Some guests stayed in the ballroom dancing with their partners or family or friends. While others chose to seek some quiet on the other floors of the ballroom which looked down into the main area. It was where the Prince usually would've been if it not have been his birthday. Instead, he was in the centre of it all with his mother family and friends all coming to wish him a very happy 21st birthday.
"Mother, how much longer do I have to endure all of this? I keep tripping bf over this horrendous shawl as well!" Prince M/c whispered to his mother in anger as he was already getting annoyed with standing around and pretending to enjoy conversations with half the people he met.
"I'm sorry darling it's going to be a while, why don't you go sit down for a bit, here I'll help with your shawl" The queen said about to reach back and help her son until he quickly pulled back.
"Don't touch me! I don't need other people thinking I command my mother around like some tyrant!" He huffed before walking off to sit down and grab himself a drink, leaving his mother slightly confused but unbothered by her son's daily occurrences.
A few moments after grabbing a glass from the wine tower, Prince M/c figured he had enough of red wine and instead wanted something lighter.
"You there, take this back and tell the chef to provide some better wine" The boy said handing his glass to a random man walking by who looked as though he worked in the palace with his rather bland suit.
"Oh I am just a violinist-" He began but was quickly interrupted by the prince.
"Where are your manners? I'm not your friend, address me by my title and I don't care just go get me a different type of wine!" The prince shouted leaving the man stunned and sweating.
"O-of course! My apologies your highness" The poor violinist stuttered before scurrying off to find someone who could lead him to the kitchen.
A decade must've passed by, at least that's how it felt to the young prince. This birthday was horrible, if it were up to him he'd rather everyone leave the presents in front of his chambers and leave.
"How much longer!" Prince M/c whined to his mother for the 10th time like a child stuck in a long carriage ride.
"We're just waiting for your father now dear, after his speech you can cut your cake and have your dance" The queen replied patting her son's back who in turn moved her hand away and rolled his eyes. Never would he ever do this again.
"Next year please just refrain-" Though before Prince M/n could even get another word into his sentence, a scream echoed in the ballroom followed by gasps.
"FIRE!" One of the attendants screamed. All eyes shifted to the amber-lit windows showing the horrific scene playing out.
The Queen's wine glass slipped out of her hands shattering into a million pieces as she saw it...the kingdom, the houses, the bars and the tailor shops. Her father's bakery, everything just engulfed in huge flames. Outside the palace window, an army of men and women were spotted all carrying swords, spears, flames and shields.
"N-no...this can't be..." She mumbled in absolute shock, the walls were meant to stop these types of attacks! And the guards-! Oh, gods! This was a disaster.
"We have to find your father!" The queen took her son's hands turning around to run only to be faced with a blade to her throat.
"Queen of Daedalus!"