Prince Justus and the Rogue

Gracia POV It's dinner time and as I sit down at the dining table I can't help but wonder if Justus' mother will show up. Justus sits at the head of the table in a navy blue uniform, with gold buttons, and five golden stars on each of his lapels. He chooses to not wear his sashes, ribbons, and medals on his every day uniform but keeps the five golden stars to signify his rank. I sit next to Justus on his right and I'm wearing a maroon dress that is fitted tightly around my upper body with a gold ribbon making the corset. The sleeves are off the shoulders, capped, and puffed. The bottom of the gown is also maroon and flares out from my waist downward. All over the bottom half are embossed flower designs. For jewelry I'm wearing a gold choker with a dark ruby in the middle and ruby stud earrings. My hair is pulled away from my face into a series of intricate braids and then piled into a bun. Across from me sits Cecily. I prefer for Cecily to change clothes after school and before dinner into something a bit more stylish and presentable since Justus's team of commanders usually eat with us. She walked in wearing a bright yellow dress with royal blue lace trimming around the bottom edges, the edges of her sleeves, and her sweetheart neckline. There were also light blue embossed flower designs around the bottom of her dress, her curls tied up with a royal blue ribbon to match the lace trimming, and she wore a big smile on her face. I knew she liked dressing up for dinner as it made her feel special. Next to me sat father dressed as a complete commoner. He wore a white tunic, with a brown leather vest that went past his hips, brown pants and knee high black boots. His hair is short but it's all a mess and looks like he just woke up out of bed. I can't really complain much though at least his clothes aren't wrinkly and he smells good. Across from father sits Emil and Jankin. Both wearing navy blue uniforms.much like Justus only they have silver buttons instead of gold. Emil has four silver stars on his lapels and Jankin has three silver stars on his lapels. Next to father sits Mack. He wears the same navy blue uniform with silver buttons and he has two silver stars on his lapels. Next to him sits Amice. Because Amice is a herbalist and her mother was a forest witch she usually dresses in green. Tonight she is wearing a beautiful forest green colored velvet gown. The top is form fitting with a deep cutting neckline almost to her navel. The back of the gown is laced with green ribbon keeping the bodice tight and she has a hood over her head concealing both sides of her face so that you can only see her nose poking through. The sleeves are made of a green sheer material that are of a darker green compared to the rest of the dress and are free flowing. There is a darker green velvet belt wrapped around her waist and hangs down the front of the dress. The bottom of the dress hangs loosely to the ground and does not flair out like mine. It's a simple dress made of velvet but it's perfect for Amice. I was starting to think Justus' mother wasn't going to accept my invitation to attend dinner when the door swung open and she walked in. It felt like the air in the room was sucked out as she let the door close behind her. Everyone instantaneously stopped talking and gave her their undivided attention. She walked in wearing a gold and bronze dress. The back of the dress was gold with a light gold embossed design as well as the sides of the arms down to the sides of the bottom of the dress. The front of the sleeves were bronze with silver embossed designs and silver cuffs around the wrists. The front of the dress from the top of her bodice down to the bottom of the dress was the same bronze with silver embossed designs that was on the front of her sleeves. The dress had a sweetheart neckline with lace trim surrounding it. For jewelry she wore a gold choker with pearls hanging down from it and pearl earrings to match. Her hair was a maze of curls pinned up on top of her head with pins decorated with pearls. I was surprised at her choice of dress since it was not white for mourning as I had seen her dressed earlier today.

She walked straight to Cecily's chair. "You need to move, child."

Cecily's eyes grew big and then fire that I knew so well ignited in them. "I always sit next to Justus. I'm not moving! Besides, I'm a princess!" She tossed her little head at the end which made me smirk.

"Well, CHILD," she stressed the word child, "I am a queen and mother of the king. Therefore I sit to his left across from his," and she pauses as she glares at me and looks me over "across from his chosen wife." She forced a smile as she pulled Cecily's chair away from the table.

"Well, pin a rose on your nose." Cecily said as she jumped off her seat. She tapped Emil's arm, "Can you and Jankin move down a seat so I can sit down. The Queen Mother has appeared."

I had to put my hand over my mouth and lower my head because I wanted to laugh out loud. I glanced over at Justus and saw him turning in his seat while covering his mouth too. His face red while trying to hold in the laughter. It's not everyday that someone talks back to his mother.

Then I heard a deep rumbling laughter coming from my right. It was my father. He was laughing so hard he was slapping the table making it shake. It was making it harder for me not to laugh. I glanced over at Queen Eleanor and I saw her face getting all red but she sat down with as much grace as she could muster and puffed out her chest and just looked forward. I was in her line of sight but she seemed to be looking over my head.

"Justus, you have an interesting group here. Not at all what I imagined for you but as long as you're happy it is fine." Queen Eleanor smiled at Justus and then awkwardly turned to look at my father who was drinking the liquid out of his soup bowl by lifting it up to his face. "Sir, do you know how to use a fork and spoon?" She asked, rolling her eyes.

"Well, actually, Queen B, I do. But I just like being dirty and licking the inside to make sure all of the juices are gone." Jeremy licked his lips long and sensuously while closing his eyes and humming "Mmmm Mmmm. Delicious." He smiled with an evil glint in his eyes. It was almost like he enjoyed making Queen Eleanor uncomfortable.

"You're an overroasted pig that's been left in the sun too long." Queen Eleanor retorted.

"You're a Queen B with a cactus up your arse that has such a bad Napoleon complex you have to fight over where to sit with a child." Jeremy sat back in his seat with his arms crossed over his chest knowing he had won. Queen Eleanor turned in her chair and refused to look his way for the rest of dinner.

After dinner was done I stood up to walk Cecily to her room. I glanced to my right and was shocked at what I saw. Queen Eleanor was leaving the dinning hall and my father walked up to her.

"Queen Eleanor, would you mind if a commoner, such as myself, accompanied you on a walk through the gardens?" Jeremy asked as he smiled.

"Yes I think I would like that. But don't try to hold my hand as you may get me dirty." Queen Eleanor replied.

"I wouldn't touch you if it meant saving your life." Jeremy retorted as they walked past Cecily and I. I could hear them bickering back and forth until they finally went outside.

I looked down at Cecily as she looked up at me. "What an odd couple." I told her as she giggled and ran upstairs.

Justus POV

It's been four days since we planned our trip to destroy the key to the Gates of Guinee. Emil, Jackin, and I leave the palace to start our journey.towards the Isle of Demons. We had packed horses to take with us to carry supplies. Our first major hurdle is to cross Feather Mountain, then we have to cross through the land of Jotunheim (the land of the giants), Laestrygon (home to giant cannibals), Muspelheim (land of fire), and finally we end our journey at the Isle of Demons. Hopefully we won't encounter too much trouble throughout our journey. I'm praying for peace however I have a feeling we will be encountering a lot of unusual sights, people, and situations.

A/N All places that I have written about are real in mythology. They come from a variety of Norse, Chinese, and Greek mythology. Please drop me a comment and let me know if you like the story or the chapter. I love all feedback both critical and complimentary. Also check out my other books

Dragon Brothers - Completed

Cyprian and the Slave

Her Demon His Angel

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