Aric, after walking for a while, emerged from the confines of his estate, his silver hair catching the early morning light. The stark contrast between his regal attire and the scanty city streets drew curious glances from passersby. It was not a usual occurrence to see a prince, especially walking alone on the street, and Aric was no exception. Perhaps it was even more surprising in his case, as he never left the safety of his estate.
His frail figure, supported by a staff, seemed a bit ethereal against the backdrop of the imperial city’s gritty reality.
As he made his way toward the empire courier station, gossip and hushed whispers followed him. Some averted their eyes, while others openly stared, their expressions a mix of pity and disdain.
Aric, accustomed to the scrutiny, maintained a stoic facade, his gaze fixed on the streets ahead.
The district of the imperial city where Aric currently resided was not home to many; only a select few individuals of considerable status lived here, which meant fewer eyes on him.
Ignoring the stares, Aric quietly made his way to the courier station, aided by his trusty staff. The courtyard outside the station was quite chaotic. Carts laden with goods rumbled past, their drivers shouting orders to their horses. Peddlers hawked their wares, their voices rising above the din. A few beggars sat huddled together, their eyes filled with despair.
Despite the apparent chaos, a sense of order held, perhaps maintained by the two imperial watch guards meant to keep the peace.
Aric walked to the door, and upon reaching it, the guards stationed there swiftly stood upright, recognizing the fourth prince and offering a bow as he walked past them and into the building.
Inside, the station was very much active. The air was thick with the scent of parchment, ink, and sweat. Clerks scurried about, sorting through piles of letters and packages, too busy to notice the presence of a prince. The walls were lined with shelves filled with maps, globes, and timetables.
Aric made a turn into a hall, stopping at a specific door and pushing it open before entering and closing it behind him.
He now stood in an office.
It was a small, cramped space. A desk piled with paperwork dominated the room, leaving little space for anything else. The walls were adorned with maps, timetables, and a few personal items, such as a family portrait and a potted plant.
A slightly aged man sat at the desk, scribbling away on a piece of paper, not even bothering to look up and see who had entered his office.
"What do you want?" the clerk beckoned, still not raising his eyes from his work.
Aric gazed at the man for a moment before strolling forward, pulling out one of the two chairs that faced the desk, and taking a seat.
"Thank you for offering. Yes, I’d like to sit," Aric jeered.
Hearing the voice, only then did the clerk raise his head to identify who sat before him. As he saw the fourth prince, shock flooded his expression.
"Your Highness..." the clerk sat up, momentarily lost for words. "What brings you here?"
Aric glanced around the office, his eyes trailing until they stopped at the family portrait on the wall.
"Great painting, and a beautiful family as well," Aric complimented.
The clerk glanced at the portrait Aric stared at before turning back to him.
"Thank you. They are a great motivator to get through such a tedious job, after all surviving in the imperial city is no joke, huh?" the clerk chuckled dryly.
"I imagine it’s difficult," Aric said firmly. "And I’m here today to ease your burden."
The clerk sat up further in his chair, his back completely straight.
"What do you mean, Your Highness?" he asked, curious.
"In the coming days, I’ll make sure a significant amount is sent to you, and in exchange, I want all letters from a particular sender for the next two days withheld and sent to me."
The clerk’s body language immediately shifted at Aric’s offer.
"Prince, that is a crime."
"A crime nobody will care about unless it’s of utmost relevance or confidentiality, which this is not."
The clerk thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"Even then, I don’t think I can..."
Aric raised his hand, cutting him off.
"I think it’s important I make you understand, I’m not giving you a choice, just an opportunity." Aric, relying heavily on his staff, stood from the chair before continuing. "It’s no secret how low I stand as a royal, but I’m a royal nonetheless, and if you think having a random clerk lose his job is out of the scope of this sickly prince’s influence, then I will only ask you this."
Aric’s voice darkened as he gazed deep into the man’s eyes.
"Are you willing to bet your family’s well-being on it?"
The clerk remained silent, perhaps lost for words, while Aric dropped a paper with a name on the clerk’s desk before walking over to the door, pulling it open.
"I’ll be expecting the letters," Aric whispered, closing the door behind him.
The prince returned to his estate. The guards that had been sent over positioned themselves at the front. They had no formal etiquette as they sat around laughing and discussing among themselves. Paying them no mind, Aric walked into his home, simply wanting to fall onto his bed and rest.
He made it up the stairs and into his room, and almost immediately after, the caretaker followed behind him, pushing a tray of food that she finally positioned beside his bed.
"Make sure to eat, Your Highness," the caretaker advised as she headed toward the door of the room.
"Thank you, Mia," Aric muttered.
The caretaker reached the door, stopping as her hand gripped the handle, and turned back slightly.
"If it’s okay to ask, I never told you, so how is it you know my name?"
’Shit,’ Aric cursed internally.
"Does it matter?" Aric replied, a frigid firmness in his tone.
"No, Your Highness. I’ll come check on you later," Mia said, exiting the room.
Aric sat down on the bed, staring at the food before him. He stretched his hand, picking up the glass of red wine placed to the side. He twirled the red liquid in the glass before sniffing subtly. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩✶𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚✶𝕟𝕖𝕥
"I always wondered...what kind of poison she had put in this."