Butterfly Prince

by Britannica Tany

  ~*~

  Aiden’s parents were sitting in the living room, their necks craned towards the TV. They were watching the news where it droned on and on about the Royal Lennon family and their no longer hidden son. A picture of Kael appeared, regular old Kael as he was making his way through the university campus. Sources say that the picture was taken by one of the professors at the university.

  “There was just something about him; when he walked into my class, I thought….he’s different from the others.” The picture was of Kael smiling brightly at Jenna, his eyebrows raised and his dimples showing, his hands gestured widely as though he were about to laugh. “He’s quite handsome.” Mrs. Kim comments, her husband turns to look at her and nods distractedly. Aiden was now standing in his bedroom doorway, his hands crossed over his chest. He looks down the hallway and he stares at the picture of Kael on the TV and a smile tugs at his lips and then he realizes something. I don’t have any pictures of him. The thought is kind of haunting and bitter. He retreats to the bathroom where he washes his face and his thoughts away. I’ve already made up my mind; I’ve always hated the Prince and if Kael’s the Prince—he grips the counter—then I’ll hate him too.

  But Aiden knew that, that would be nearly impossible.

  He had already fallen for Kael Lennon—the Prince.

  A Castle Away

  From the window Kael could see that a crowd had gathered; there were women and kids, teenagers and university grads. All here to see the Prince as if he were a rare flower finally taking bloom in a dull field. It’s already been three weeks since his identity as the Prince was revealed to the public. And for those three weeks he’s been taking numerous interviews and appearing on TV shows as though he were some Hollywood star. “They’re treating him like a celebrity!” His father had spat. “That’s better than being hated and isolated!” Kael had overheard his parents arguing, their shouts breaking down the halls. They never asked him his opinion, how he wanted to be treated, how he wanted the people to address him as Kael and not ‘your majesty.’ The way in which they called his name was as if they praised the spoon he ate with. It annoyed him, bothered him, got under his skin and crawled. He retreats to his bed where he lays with his eyes closed. Sleep tugs at him from the edges of his unconscious mind, coaxing him into a soft blanket of nothingness. But there was no time for such napping because there were princesses to meet, dinners to sit in on and eat, people to smile at and bodyguards to thank. Yes, bodyguards.

  Tmp-tmp-tmp—there’s a rhythmic knock on his door and Kael instantly knows that it’s Janus. “Come in!” He calls, Janus steps inside with his head bowed. “Your majesty, you’re wanted downstairs.” Kael opens his eyes and looks towards Janus. From where he lay—with his head propped on a pillow—Janus’s figure was slightly tilted. “Did you warn him…in the least did he know of my identity?” He asks somewhat childishly, Janus straightens up and looks to Kael with unblinking eyes. “Your majesty judging from his reaction you know as well as I do what little he knew of you.” Kael—without saying anything—picks up a pillow and flings it at Janus. The butler promptly catches it, his eyebrows creasing. “Kael…”

  “Get out.”

  “I came to fetch you.”

  “Unless you bring me Aiden, unless you take a gun and aim it towards my head, unless you make this all go away....” He pauses—exasperated and tired—before adding, “Get out.” Janus’s eyes widen and he begins to do as Kael orders, bowing and turning towards the door. But then he stops. “Kael, what is this going to help? Hiding away in your room like this?” Kael stares at Janus, a twisted smile curling his lips. “It worked when I was ten, I’m sure it’ll work again.” He snaps bitterly, Janus swallows. “Kael, I didn’t mean—“

  “I know,” Kael sighs. “I know you meant no harm, but right now I’m hurting and the only way to stop the hurt is to hurt somebody else.” His expression falls apologetically, lips pursed tightly, eyebrows creased. “Janus…”

  “Yes, your majesty?” Kael’s fists clench. “Please…just call me ‘Kael.’” Janus nods. “Kael?” Kael slides off of the bed and walks over to Janus. He leans down and places his head to Janus’s shoulder. “My parents,” Kael starts and Janus’s eyes widen, curious to the sudden topic change. “They’re liars, I know they are.”

  “What makes you think that maje—Kael?”

  “When I…got my memories back…I remember seeing Skye and I saw her stomach.” Janus’s heartbeat slows. “Her stomach?” Kael nods. “She cradled it more gently…” Janus brings a hand to Kael’s back and strokes up and down. “I wondered then if she was seeing someone.” The door bursts open, and the figure of the King emerges in a shimmering robe. Kael jolts, standing upright in Janus’s arms. When the King’s gaze lands on them, an impish grin dances across his lips. “Oh? Butler Lee, I hope you’re not getting too close to my son.” The King laughs loudly, a hand placed to his stomach. Janus knew he had placed the ‘butler’ in front of his name purposely just to remind Janus of his place. “Not any closer than I’ve always been with him.” He replies giving Kael’s under arm a gentle squeeze before stepping back and bowing to them both. He makes a swift exit, his gaze lingering on the King’s broad backside. Once the door clicks shut, the King gestures for his son to take a seat. Kael chooses to continue standing, his eyes glossy. “I noticed last night how that bodyguard reacted to seeing you.” He starts off as though he were making light conversation. Kael rolls his eyes. “Father, you knew who he was even before I did.”

  “Now what makes you say that?” Kael turns his back to his father and walks towards the window. “You were amused by the entire situation.”

  “I wouldn’t say amused.”

  “Why are you here?” Kael asks as he crosses his arms over his chest, the King looks across his sons’ room and finally says. “I was inquiring further about your relationship with him.”

  “Aiden, right?” The King nods and Kael smiles—it was a sad smile, daunting in the way his expression dimmed. “Relationship…what are you implying father?” The King shrugs his shoulders, his lips frowning down like that of an embittered politician. “It’s just…he seemed rather upset to see you.” Kael’s fists clench. “You’re stating the obvious.”

  “Fine, fine, I won’t flit around the bush.” He waves his hands around as though he were shooing away a fly. “Are you two,” He pauses, the thought a disease in his mind. “Seeing each other?” Kael says nothing at his father’s question, purposely letting the silence drone on and on and on until finally, “No….that’s impossible, especially with our past…”

  “Oh?” The King quirks a brow. “So now you remember?” Kael nods. “Skye and the fire.” The King takes a step towards his son and starts speaking apologetically. “Now before you go blaming yourself again Kael, remember that—”

  “It couldn’t have been my fault, right?” The King freezes. “It just couldn’t.” Kael abruptly turns around and looks his father in his eyes. They were cold, hard eyes. “It wasn’t my fault.” He says as more of a question, his voice high, creases showing in his forehead. And the king—instead of embracing his son and telling him, ‘No, you aren’t the one to blame’—he takes Kael’s hand, strokes his knuckles and says. “Well, my son, weren’t you alone in the castle with her at the time?” And Kael’s blood ran cold, his throat dry. He looks into his father’s eyes and slowly he shakes his head. No, no, aren’t you supposed to help me? His father continued to stroke his knuckles, a fake frown lining his lips. Kael jerks his hand away and stares at his father. “I will find out just what happened.” He says threateningly, shoving past his father and out of his room. As he’s striding down the hall, his eyes begin to sting. “I thought I was smarter than that.” He shoves a hand through his hair. “God damn it!” Kael shoves right past his mother and out into the open, the sunlight glowering down on him like a newborn star of hate.

  ~*~

  They were all staring; wide eyes, beady eyes, sad eyes, laughing eyes. Aid
en turns and faces his fellow bodyguards. “What?” He snaps, his lips drawn tight, they all look away, busying themselves with the new equipment that was just sent in. Aiden knew why they were staring, last night they had payed witness to his outburst towards the Prince. How does he get off with doing that? Do they know each other? Those were probably their thoughts. Aiden rolls down the sleeves on his shirt and swings his legs around the work bench. He stands up, sweat dripping down his face, he wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and walks through the crowd of men—they stare after him, their gazes curious—he opens the door and steps out into the hall. He takes a deep breath, his front teeth sinking into his bottom lip. With a swift suddenness like that of the wind, he punches the wall. “Damn it!” His knuckles ached, but the pain didn’t matter, it was a dull ache compared to that of what was going on in his heart.

  Three weeks. Aiden had been counting. The weather was colder—the peak of fall and the death of summer—winter would take its place soon. Three weeks. Aiden had been watching the interviews of Kael that played over and over on the TV. Three weeks and his break-up with Jenna had become a faded memory. Three weeks. Aiden couldn’t stop thinking about him; hating him, liking him, wanting him…he takes another deep breath and his lips still to a frown. He realized what these feelings were, in all their cruelty, he couldn’t shake Kael from his mind. The image of him as the Prince, he couldn’t get rid of it. His head thunks against the wall and slowly he slides down it, burying his face in his hands. His shoulders shook up and down—Micah had opened the door to check up on him, his dark eyes landing on Aiden’s hunched figure. He watched for a moment as Aiden’s shoulders bobbed, a strangled sound coming from his lips. And silently Micah retreats, keeping that sound and that image locked away. He wouldn’t tell Aiden that he had seen him crying like that.

  ~*~

  She sat in the university cafeteria, her eyes drawn to the IPad blaring the news. “The Prince has shown his face…”

  “…after being locked away for years…”

  “…who is this young man…?”

  “He goes by the name of Kael Lennon…” Jenna’s ears perk and her eyes glass over as a bright image of Kael appears on the screen. She couldn’t believe it when she first saw it on the news at home and she still couldn’t believe it. Her heart had turned ice cold and seeing Kael with a crown atop his head and a robe draped over his shoulders, stirred nothing in her. She slides out of her chair and walks towards the exit doors. She hoped that Aiden had saw the news and that maybe he wasn’t taking it as easy as her. She hoped that he was suffering and hurting and feeling betrayed just as she had and maybe, just maybe…he’d find a reason to lean on her again.

  “Boo!” She jumps when a slender figure pops up in front of her. Francis grins, his hair a mess atop his head. “Francis!?” He loops an arm over her shoulders and tugs her into his side. He was a few inches taller than her, his muscles toned and firm from dancing. “Did you see the news?” She asks as they walk around the outside length of the campus. Francis nods. “Yeah…” He wanted to add that he knew all along, but that would lead to more questioning. “Mm…” After a moment she asks. “Have you heard from Aiden?”

  “No, if you want to call him just call him.” She shakes her head. “I can’t, I was the one who ended things.” Francis rolls his eyes. “He got what he deserved anyways.” Jenna elbows him in his side. “Don’t say that.” He shrugs. Somewhere in her heart she was glad that Kael was the Prince and that Aiden was suffering now. He did it to himself. Her teeth clamp together and she swallows the lump in her throat, blinking the tears away. Kael wasn’t a bad person, she knew this and felt it in her heart. But she had to be glad, she had to, so that she wouldn’t feel heartbroken—so that she could hate him and not herself. Francis peers at his cousin from the corner of his eyes and his expression dims.

  He didn’t like seeing her like this, so emotionless, cold. He reaches over and swipes the strand of hair that was sticking to the gloss on her lips. She looks up at him and smiles sadly. Stop forcing yourself. He wanted to say, but instead he’d find a way to make Kael feel the pain that Jenna was feeling now. Aiden had already gotten his turn—the man he had come to love was the same man he blamed for his sister’s death. A sinister smile snakes across Francis’s lips and with a new hop to his step he stands in front of Jenna and beams. “Don’t worry Jenna.” He flashes a peace sign, his pearly teeth shining. She tilts her head and stares at him confused.

  The news was beginning to buzz around the university campus; students were saying that they were best-friend’s with Kael, that they knew he was the Prince all along. They were gossiping about how they ate with him and were in competition with one another on who knew him the most. He hadn’t returned to his classes yet, but his father was more than willing to have him homeschooled again. Kael didn’t want that, but nor did he want to be treated any differently now that his identity was known. So he stayed in the castle and he didn’t see much of Aiden since there were precautions being made because of their conflicting past. “Let him watch over my son from afar.” The Queen had ordered fearing for Kael’s life. The King—in all his mocked worry—said that Kael would be alright, that whatever had happened in the past was now forgotten. Lies. Skye’s death was far from being forgotten. She and the memories of her had only resurfaced in Kael’s mind just recently. They were fresh and alive. Beating and pounding at his heart.

  I want to see him.

  The thought struck Kael suddenly as he was lying awake in his bed, his silk pajama top unbuttoned to let the cool air grace his bare chest. He sits up and stares around the room as though he were in a stranger’s bed.

  I want to see him.

  There it was again, stronger, calling him. He takes out his phone and stares at Aiden’s name in his small list of contacts. AIDEN *. He put a star by it because Aiden was one of his emergency contacts. He smiles and holds the phone to his chest. He imagines the cool touch of the screen against his chest to be Aiden’s finger. Touching him lightly to let him know that he was still there…

  I miss him.

  Kael fell back and cradled himself as he screamed. The sound startled his mother as she lay in her bedroom and the guards came running down to see what was wrong. The doors burst open, bright light shining through and they saw him twisting and turning on his bed, his hair matted to his forehead. “Kael!” His mother calls, pushing past the guards and taking him in her arms. “Son, wh-what’s—Kael?” She turns his head to look at his face and her eyes widen. The look he had in his eyes was the same look he had after Skye’s death. “K-Kael, you, you know who I am right?” That was the look of ‘forgotten.’ He swallows and looks his mother up and down. She wore a velvet-red nightgown, the sleeves flowing down to her wrists and the neckline drooped revealing the crevice of her breasts. He meets her eyes and nods and says softly.

  “I know who you are….but I wish I didn’t.” Instead of shoving her away, he holds onto her. Can you feel it, mother? Can you feel my pain? If I hurt you and then hold onto you as tightly as I’m doing now…will you understand this unbearable pain? She looks down at him and runs her fingers through his hair. It was wrong of her—yes—it was her. She could have saved that woman, she could have gone and helped her escape from the smoke. But why? Why do I have to risk my life for that whore? She comes in here with the premise of writing a historical book about my son and then—the Queen’s jaw locks into place—she has sex with my husband. She wasn’t a stupid woman—an airhead as most took to calling her. No, that wasn’t her, her mother had raised her better than that. She knew when she left for her trip that her husband was going to indulge himself with that young thaaang. So…she left her there. It was cruel—inhuman—she admits. But Kael will be better off without knowing of her existence, it’ll be better if he blames himself. Blame is better than the truth—the obscene, cruel truth. I’m a good mother, I’m a good mother, a good mother would do this for her son.

  Every day, every night, this
was the lie she told herself so she could sleep.

  ~*~

  Jenna had drunken herself into a stupor; it was almost midnight, too late to call Aiden. But she didn’t care, he was probably still up, brooding over his broken and betrayed heart. “Suffer you asshole! Suffer!” She screams, her voice echoing down the empty streets.

  In actuality Aiden was up, sitting at his computer desk and watching the latest interview Kael had done. They were asking him pretty basic questions; what it was like to live so secluded, did he enjoy it? Did he have any friends? Aiden watches, his eyes focused on Kael’s lips as he spoke. “Uhm well,” Kael scratches just underneath his chin, his finger twitching with his movements. “I did make…a few friends.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yeah…” Aiden leans back in his chair, the light reflecting in his eyes. “They’re nice people, but it’s kind of hard to hang out with them now.” The MC laughs, Kael shifts awkwardly in his seat. “I bet they were surprised to hear the news.”

  “Mmm, you wouldn’t believe it.” Aiden’s gaze traces across Kael’s face on the screen and he sighs. “I hate you.” He grits, but that was far from the truth. “Do you plan to meet up with any of them?”

  “I don’t know, like I said, it’s hard.” Kael flashes a half smile and Aiden picks up the nearest object and throws it. His phone rings suddenly and he nearly falls out of his chair.

  She didn’t understand why she had called him, what were they to talk about? How did he look? It had been a while. She missed his smell. She brings the cold cup of coffee to her lips and takes a long sip. After walking the streets for half an hour she found herself seated in a 24-hour café, the cheap lights flickering on and off. The haze from all her drinking still hadn’t lifted, but she hoped it wouldn’t wear off until after Aiden came. She needed her drunkenness to shield her from her emotions. The bell on the door jingles and Aiden walks inside. He had answered her call with a surprised “What’s wrong?” Not exactly sure on where to begin and then he came here, because that’s what she wanted and if she wanted it, the least he could do was oblige. Jenna’s eyes widen at his appearance; he was wearing a hoodie she’s never seen him wear before. As he drew closer she saw the bags under his eyes and the cut on his left cheek. “What happened?” The words leave her lips before she even has time to think about them. Aiden slumps into his seat and grumbles. “I was practicing again.”