Kace Holland

Many moments of life could make someone question their worth. This... This was one of them for myself. I stared into my glass of wine and hardly touched plate of food, reminding myself of the incident a couple of nights ago.

The table thumped as I tilted my wine, just enough to coat the inside. Maybe there was a murderer in the palace. Maybe I could finally be rid of the vixen in my halls.

Oh, Senna.

I gulped down the remainder of my wine. It tasted like absolutely nothing. No bitterness, no sweetness, no saltiness. Pure water. The door hardly looked right. In fact, it swirled to the side upon closer inspection. It even folded into the yellow marble flooring. Or maybe the flooring folding up?

It looked the same, so who cared? Not me. I pushed my chair with whatever strength I had and braced myself on the table.

I was not weak, not disabled, not unworthy. They will be good enough for me or I will rid of them. Starting with her.

Senna.

Senna, Senna, Senna. If only I hadn't spewed her revolting name out. If only I sent her away sooner. Better now than never, I supposed.

Edging myself along the wall, the curtains of the room moved into my vision. Or maybe I went too close. Fuck, I couldn't walk through the halls like this.

"Prince Kace, the warden would like a word with you," a familiarly deep voice asked, though I was unsure where from.

I swiveled myself toward where I thought the door was, but it somehow grew larger, and I walked straight into it.

"Are you intoxicated?" the man asked.

Glancing at his face, the semblance to Mallor was uncanny. Therefore, he was Mallor. "Indeed, Mallor, I am intoxicated. I am also Prince Kace. Anymore observations?"

"Technically, you being Prince Kace isn't an observation—"

"I cannot handle smart talk right now. Send me to my horse!" I pushed myself off Mallor and off into the corridor, cradling myself under a torch. "Oh, Mallor! I think I forgot my paperwork in the bar—"

"Prince Kace, please stop shouting." Mallor gathered me into his arms, placing a hand behind my head.

Digging my heel into the hard floors, I yanked Mallor off my body. "Listen, listen, Mallor, I have very important papers in the bar. If you just fetch my horse, I will retrieve them and shut down the Kandose ports."

"There are no papers in the bar, Prince Kace. You brought nothing there, and we found you barely functioning in a random hotel room—"

"I am functioning! What, am I a clown?" Attempting to lean forward to prove a point, I managed to somehow do the opposite and lean backward, nearly flambéing my hair. "I am a phoenix! Father cannot kill me, I am already cooked!"

"Saints," Mallor muttered, yanking me so hard I tripped over my delicate feet. He threaded my arm over his shoulders and guided me down a twisty, swirling hall. "Stop dragging your feet."

"I want my horse. Now."

"I'm about to have a horse kick you if you don't quit screaming," Mallor quipped.

I was suddenly aware of his tone at me. "Excuse me—"

"I swear if someone sees us—"

"Mallor, is everything fine?" a voice boomed from behind us.

Mallor's steps paused, but he shoved me behind him as he turned around. "Everything is fine, Fred. Just helping Prince Kace recover from his medication."

"Fred, fetch me the horse!" I shouted, balancing myself on one leg to glance around Mallor. "Quickly!"

"Don't listen to him—"

"I am your princeling, therefore... Well , you know, I could make you get me my horse."

Fred glanced between Mallor and I. Was it really a difficult decision? Obviously he must listen to me—

"He's intoxicated, isn't he?" Fred asked.

Mallor groaned and nodded, gesturing for Fred to come over. "Yes, unfortunately. Help me before someone else notices," he commanded.

Both men took me around their shoulders and marched forward. Damn, my guards were actually very good at the walk. I never paid attention to the ferocity of their steps.

That was, until, I heard another ferocious set of steps. These were sharper and more... Fuck, I knew those steps. "Hide me. Now," I ordered, shuffling my feet to a halt.

"We're almost to your chambers—"

"Listen to me. Hide. Me."

Without waiting for the two guards to process my words, I routed my way into the side doors of the library, slamming myself into a bookcase to stop.

"Hello, Fred. Mallor," I heard Senna say.

Why was she greeting them with their first names? I thought that dishonor was reserved for myself.

"Princess Senna," Mallor responded, his voice cool and collected. "Did you need something?"

I glanced out into the corridor and caught Fred's eyes. He widened it and stepped in my direction. Imbecile! She'll know I'm in here—

"Prince Kace, I'll take you to your chamber—"

"Shut your mouth I'm trying to listen," I muttered, shoving Fred against the bookcase next to me.

"—and your assistance was greatly appreciated. My father and I thank you, Mallor." Damn Fred, I couldn't even hear what she initially said.

"Of course. You can rely on me always."

Fred's body rubbed against my back. Slowly turning, I sent him an icy glare but continued to listen in.

"I also heard about your mother. My condolences. My brother writes that she was a very outspoken woman. I would've loved meeting her."

"Thank you, but—"

Mallor's interruption caused me to peek out again, catching her hand him an envelope. "If you need to talk to someone, you can come to me. Even the captain of the guard needs someone. I hope I can be that for you."

Oh, Senna.

Jaw tightening, I kept looking at the two of them and the eye contact they shared. There was... Her eyes opened widely for him as she stared up, nothing but sincerity and warmth.

Fire bursted through me, and it wasn't the kind resembling hers.

I nearly tore my sights away from them, but before I could harness my strength to do so, Mallor reached around and wrapped her tightly in his arms.

God.

"Oh Saints, is he touching a woman? Why, isn't that illegal—"

"Fred, fuck off," I muttered, finally tearing my myself away from the bookcase. "And don't mention what we saw to anyone, or I will hang you upside down with blood dripping from your ears."

Without another glance back, I regained control to my room.

*~⚜️~*

Why did I care? Who cared? Not me, Kace Holland, the Prince and soon King of Entorre. Why would I care?

Princess Senna has her customs. Yes, she's rather emotional and naturally empathetic. Of course she's care about Mallor.

Even when she told me she wanted him away.

Even when she bore her tears to me and I couldn't fathom to step out of the room.

What the hell was wrong with me? Of course she didn't mean it! I mean, her and Mallor? They are, truth be told, perfect. She's emotional, intelligent, stubborn, difficult, an absolute pain in the ass—Yet Mallor equally shares her traits and matches her perfectly. Yes.

I hardly meant to glance at my desk, but when I did, my eyes caught on the broken pencil from the evening of the notorious interview. My mouth twitched upward as I touched the splintered end of it. Only she would throw a pencil at me—and get away with it. My uncontrollable body must've hit the edge of the desk, because underneath of it, the broken umbrella halves hit my ankle. Even her objects have a tendency to assault me.

I could've brought myself to imagine her sitting at this desk chair. What would I do? My mind told me I'd yell at her and kick her out. My soul?

Oh, Senna, God... Did I even want to know what I would do if she were sitting here, analyzing my movements? Would she analyze the way my hand cupped her face? She'd measure the angle of how I'd tilt her lips to align with mine, perhaps?

How I would look at her, her eyes, her absolute beauty, her... God, I could see her mind from her gazes. Her fingers grazing my hand as if to tell me to give her more, rougher, harder... softer, faster, whatever she wanted.

Her words of competence and empathy, yet I could never compare. She is incomparable.

I crouched and propped the parasol halves underneath the desk. Out of sight, out of mind—at least, I tried. Images of what her gaze alone would look like sent my mind spiraling.

There was a sharp knock. Before I could answer, the door opened.

Of course it was her.

I stood back up, sliding the broken pencil into my back pocket. "Don't you know how to introduce yourself?" I quickly said, crossing my arms in feigned assertion.

"I literally knocked twenty times. Not my fault I thought you were dying or something," she smartly responded. With a shift scan of the room, she added, "Only the candle light?"

"I was just looking over some things regarding Sir Blackus," I lied, but gestured to the document splayed on my desk.

She nodded, though didn't look over. "That's why your chair isn't pulled out, right?" she noted.

"Yes, well, I like to review documents standing. Is there a problem, Princess Senna?" I asked, doing my best to ignore the growing grin on her.

"No problem, Kace. Besides, I'm still"—she came further into the room—"quite angry with you. I did not forget what you told me in a fit of rage. I hope you've since calmed down."

No response from myself.

"And please, enough alcohol. Truth be told, your father drank enough for a whole generation of Hollands." She grabbed the bottle of whiskey off my desk and kept it.

I struck a match and lit another candle, providing us more lighting. "Princess Senna, I..." I hesitated, spinning back to face her, and she had came further in, the door still opened behind her.

"You..." She crossed her arms now.

My senses were acutely aware of what she was wearing now. A long, gold, satin slip dress with black lace at the top and bottom. The color complimented her greatly.

A bit too greatly.

Clearing my throat, I went on. "I would like to apologize for what I said to you, Princess Senna. Truly it was a moment of weakness for myself, and I understand if you wish to remain angry at me—"

"Oh, I do intend to remain angry, Kace."

I decided ignore her little jab. "As you wish. But I do apologize, and I will look into Odaya's part into the trafficking ring, I promise. She means nothing to me."

"Don't lie," she said, staring at the candle.

Look at me, I wanted to say.

"She means nothing to me anymore," I corrected. "Yes, she was my wife, but she is not my wife anymore for a reason. Beyond that"—I stepped back slightly, reaching for a file on a different desk—"even if she was my wife, I would not excuse involvement in trafficking. My country will not associate itself nor aid in such activities."

I handed her the file filled with all the places Odaya has gone in and out of in the past three years. All of the accounts she had opened in banks, all of the deposits, withdrawals.

"I give you my word as king, Princess Senna, that Entorre will not entangle itself with such."

"Yes, well, I will make sure of that," she affirmed, placing the file on the desk and alcohol bottle on the desk. "Kace."

"Princess," I said back.

"Oh, no remark reminding me of how you're the prince?" She laughed, though it was hollow and lacked actual amusement.

I scoffed and leaned against the wall, recrossing my arms. "It won't matter once I am king since the lords have completely turned on my father. You remember that, don't you, smart princess?"

She was quiet now, yet her posture became straighter.

"No need to feel intimidated—"

"Of you? Never," she stated, rolling her eyes. "I just needed the file. Thank you for apologizing, Kace."

"Perhaps you should start saying King Kace."

She grimaced and outright laughed this time. "That's not happening, Prince Kace."

"Now you want to actually refer to me as a prince?" Seeing her shrug, I smiled, unable to contain myself. "When you're queen, I'll make sure to only refer to you as such."

"Good thing I am one of the youngest in my family." She raised her brows, almost expecting a retort from me. I, however, only slid my hands into my pockets and watched her laugh to herself. "Unlike you, Prince Kace, I don't care about becoming queen."

"Yes, so it seems."

"But I'll let you know if I somehow marry Princess Valarya."

At that I laughed, tossing my head to the side to avoid her gaining satisfaction from seeing it.

"I mean, why not? It's not like I'd ever marry you."

We both erupted in laughter again, this time very obviously. I used my hand to cover my mouth, yet I couldn't help but just laugh. "No, that's actually funny! Me and you getting married? We'd kill each other," I added, which made her laugh harder and toss herself about the room.

"No, seriously, that would be all over the news. As a warning for the countries," she added, falling onto my bed in a fit of laughter. "Thaeleck would literally wage war against both of us if we pulled that stunt."

"Almost makes you want to do it."

"Please, if you think Mallor imprisoning King Lius wasn't bad enough, let's see what would happen." She sits up on the bed, her laughing seizing. "God, what do you think they'll do?"

"Honestly," I started, sitting next to her, "I'm not sure. Maybe Diana can calm her father down long enough for us to explain."

Suddenly the humor in the situation completely disappeared.

She peered at me, fidgeting with the lace trim of her slip. "Kace, what if I made a mistake?"

"Well, we'll deal with it, won't we?" I pulled her hand away from the trim and covered it with my own. "Is this the Princess Senna Aldorban doubting herself? Unbelievable."

"This is serious—"

"Yes, it is, which is why I'm saying we will deal with this as two united countries. Stop thinking you've fucked your whole country."

"We did—"

"God, have some faith in me, at least. You really think I don't have a plan?"

"It's not like you'd tell me."

"Exactly. I won't tell you."

Letting go of her hand, I stood up from the bed, noticing our proximity in such an intimate area. She noticed as well, because she cleared her throat and walked to the open door, grabbing the file and bottle on her way there.

"Goodnight, Prince Kace," she whispered, looking over her bare shoulders.

I nodded in acknowledgement as she clicked the door shut.