Sorry I took so long to upload moar =A= I've been having issues. Blah. And also, sorry that it's always so short! _ I've been trying to write longer stuff but I'm jut not good at writing DX Unlike my friend Raiya(sunshine) =w=;

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I followed Cornelius down to the main hall, curious to see the people who would attempt to get a job at the castle. It was the start of a new year and many younger civilians always came because if they worked for us, they receive the privilege to attend to our school as well. I believe that benefit is considerably too generous since most of the time they can't even hold up to the standards and always fall behind in their grades.

“Cornelius, Fredrick, come here!” I hear the Queen, My mother, calling me and I sigh as I straighten up and follow my older brother down the grand, double stair-case and head down to where she is sitting on the throne. We both stand at attention in front of her before lowering our upper bodies down in a polite bow.

“Hello mother, we’ve just come to see the cattle that are lined up today.” I grin at Cornelius’ remark and looked over towards the many lower and middle-class civilians, lined up and being interviewed. They indeed were the cattle, and we were the lions. My attention was quickly diverted however, seeing as how watching slaves quickly grew boring. My mother and Cornelius began talking and joking about them and decided to relieve my boredom and therefore excused myself before turning and heading back up the stairs. I heard faint laughter, the joke must have been funny or someone screwed up during their interview. What a dull process.

It was only hours later before everything quieted down. I’d begun to see new faces right away, here and there. There was a new maid who was put to work on sweeping our marble floors. Out of curiosity, I discovered her name is Annabel. She had brown hair with matching brown eyes. Common. I guess her most outstanding feature would have been her breasts. God were they huge. I can only assume that those features helped her get far in life. Maybe after dinner I'll search for her within the servants quarters.

"Fredrick!" I turned to see Cornelius calling me over to him and I obliged. He leaned in and whispered, "Some of these new kids are quite pretty don't you think?" he said with a grin. I rolled my eyes. My brother had always been quite the charmer. Even more so than me.

"Well, lets see who's the first to get them in bed ey?" He chuckled at my reply and ruffled my hair. I hate it when he does that. "Hey! You're messing up my mane."

"Mane? You think yourself a great lion already? Haha. You still have a few more years to go, dear Freddy."

I narrowed my eyes at him and swatted him away. "Oh, bugger off." He laughed as I turned away and continued down the hall. I only saw my brother a few more times that day. He probably left to return to the winter home(though I wonder why because obviously he's not going to win our little competition if he runs away) out in Vanity Forest. The trees were huge there and there was a small little village keeping the large mansion company. The main attraction of the forest was the lake hidden in the center, Lake Purgatory. I always wondered why the lake was named something so… somber. Interesting things happened in that forest. During the summer nights, fireflies would roam around giving the forest inhabitants their own special light show. It was indeed quite spectacular. I recall always wanting to take my lover there but alas, I've never had any who lasted. It has always been just a fling. Oh damn my pelvic region and its insatiable need.

I was walking in the halls when someone bumped into me. I looked down to see an unfamiliar boy, probably a few years younger than me. Stupid peasants, can’t they watch where they’re going? I was glaring I realized and I promptly dropped it. It wasn’t worth getting angry at a mindless servant. He was probably just one of the new kids hired today. I blinked when I noticed he was looking up at me with such intense eyes. They weren’t the usual muddy color of most lower class civilians. I mean, they were still muddy…just slightly, but they were… spectacular. They were almost a pale, gray-ish green I couldn’t describe it. Usually there’s just brown, black, and sometimes the occasional light brown. I was…stunned. The boy probably felt completely awkward though because he lowered his head, muttering a slight apology before hurrying away. I watched as he disappeared around the corner and I shrugged before turning and walking off to… Damn, I forgot where I was going.

The house keeper knocked on my door and entered to alert me that I should arrive in the dining hall for dinner soon. I thanked him as I do everyday and rolled off my king sized bed to get dressed. My dining clothes for tonight have already been chosen by my maids. Ah, they always go for the black tux with green vest, embroidered with little flower designs. What is it with women and flowers?

I arrived first to the table, taking my seat on the left of my mother's and there I waited as the others started arriving. In walked the royal adviser, Timothy, and our official live-in Doctor, Stein. A few minutes later, the double doors on the other side of the room opened, allowing the King and Queen to enter the room, dressed in extravagant outfits as usual, and they proceeded to their seats at opposite ends of the table. "Where is Cornelius?" My mother asked, leaning briefly into me.

I shrugged and replied that I didn't know and it was the truth. She just sighed. "I really wish he would come and dine with us more often nowadays." I thought I should reply to that but my thoughts were cut off when the bell rang, signaling the arrival of dear precious food.

After dessert, we all watched as the new jester did remarkable twists and other acrobatic stunts. The way his body moved so fluidly through the air; it was as if he were a fish and the sky was his water bowl. I broke away from him only to peer at the others and I could see they were as entranced as I. I took a glance at my father and I couldn't help but notice a certain fiery hunger burning in his eyes and it made me feel a bit sick.

As the dinner concluded, my mother leaned back and raised her hands to clap politely for the performer. He stepped back, his foot behind the other and bowed low with his arms outstretched. He wore little cloth shoes with wooden fronts, almost like those ballet slippers, and white tights to match the white gloves he wore. Besides that, he wore the usual attire of what a clown; a baggy jumpsuit looking thing that puffed at the arms and legs. I wouldn’t know what they’re called. I obviously don’t dress like that but maybe I'll look it up later just out of curiosity. There were large silver puffs, surrounding his neck and on his face was a mask. It was white like his tights and gloves but it was mad of clay…or maybe porcelain. Painted on it, was a blue star over the left eye and beneath the other eye, was a single tear. There was also a sad sort of frown painted on his lips and I couldn’t help but wonder why when you were so gratefully given this opportunity, would you wear something so sad? But my mother obviously didn’t mind. I noticed how his black hair was clipped back so it wouldn’t get in the way and cover the designs on the mask. I was curious to know what this boy looked like underneath.

The shrill ringing of the bell brought me out of my thoughts once again (damn bell) and I stood along with the rest of the family. I watched as my father walked over to the jester who remained in the same position, as still as a mouse. There were some words exchanged but I couldn’t hear. I saw Penelope turn away, that same beautiful smile on her face and she began to walk out of the room, her mistresses trailing behind her. I was not blind enough to not suspect something scandalous. The King always had a fetish for pretty little things and now it seems the jester has caught his attention. I couldn't help but continue to watched as he leaned in and whispered what was probably words of seduction into the boy’s ear before leaning back and walking off. I glanced at the boy but couldn’t see the expression on his face because the mask shielded it from the world. Would it be disgust? Or maybe joy from gaining the attention of the most powerful man in the country. I bit my bottom lip and turned away, not wanting to give it a second though.

My room welcomed me as I walked in and threw my arms up in the air, mouth opening wide in a yawn. I’d have to go back to the university in a couple of days. I wonder, would I recognize the jester there? All I knew was that he had black hair which, at that moment, was pinned up so it wouldn't get in the way. Perhaps….by the way his body moved when he walked? I shook my head and undressed myself before crawling into my bed and putting my thoughts to rest for the night. The peace was not long lasting however as my damn brain brought me back to the jester boy. His mesmerizing movements were so lithe and flexible... and mesmerizing. I sat up, no longer comfortable on my own bed and he looked to the left at my wall. What did Florian say to him?

Unable to rest with such a burning curiosity, I rose from my bed and walked over to the door. then quietly left the room. I made my way towards the Master bedroom that Penelope and Florian shared and I stopped, hesitant. What would I find? I extended my hand and pressed gently against the door knob, inhaled, twisted the knob, then cracked open the door wide enough for me to peak inside. The room was dark except a few lit candles which made my face twist into a slight frown. I turned my head, hearing something faint. Moaning? A cold chill suddenly crept up my spine as I ventured deeper in the room. The master bedroom was different from my own which was merely just a bedroom. This room had its own living room, furnished with expensive couches and a ridiculous amount of pillows. Portraits and red velvet curtains lined the walls and there were miscellaneous statues resting on pillars here and there. I made my way to the double doors which led to the actual bedroom and I paused. There was whimpering...crying..and hushed whispers. I chewed on my lower lip nervously and drew closer. Part of me screamed to just go back to my bedroom and think nothing of it, but the other part of me shoved that retreating part to the ground and punched it's face in. The door was already opened a crack and I gave it a gentle push only to have what was being it shock me to the point where it made me feel like emptying out the night's dinner. It was the bare back, glistening with sweat, of King Florian, my father, with a pair of pale legs lifted over his shoulders. The source of the whimpering, the Jester boy.

My hand covered my mouth and I bit down on my tongue to keep from making any disgusted noises and I turned swiftly, rushing out of the room.

What the hell... I stood with my back pressed against the wall in the safety of my own room, as my mind kept replaying what it was my eyes has just witnessed. The King, fucking that boy. I could feel my face growing hot as it turned red and I lifted a hand to my mouth. I felt sick, might throw up. There were no words to describe what emotions were running through my mind...Though there was this feeling... This feeling of rage and hate... not for the boy, but for my father. This feeling.. of jealousy?