Will of a Prince

"Master Jacob, you need to get up! Your father will be here any moment!"

An older gentleman was shaking the young prince awake. His clothes were pristine and garnished with a myriad of colors.

"My lord, please hurry or -"

A large wooden door creaked open across the bedroom. Heavy footsteps rang on the marble floor, slowly growing louder with each step. Before long, a dark shadow loomed over the prince’s bed.

"...How long were you planning on making me wait?"

The kings deep voice grumbled with hints of anger in his tone. His tan skin and dark red eyes made his presence more menacing. Jacob sat up in his bed, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He fixed his messy brown hair, stretched his arms, and let out a final yawn. Refusing to meet his father’s gaze, Jacob answered.

"I’m sorry father. Just give me another moment, I’ll be right out."

The king moved next to Jacob, still looking down on him. Suddenly, a massive fist exploded into the prince’s abdomen. The force made Jacob hunch over and moan in pain. The servants watching flinched at the sound of the impact.

"I won’t ask again. How long were you going to make me wait?"

Jacob spat blood in his hands and met his father’s dark gaze with his hazel-green eyes.

"I would never dishonor the king by making him wait. I will come right out."

"Next time, you won’t get off so easily. You know what will happen if you defy me."

The king slowly turned away and walked out of the room. Primal anger flooded Jacob upon his large wooden door closing. The older assistant ran over to Jacob.

"Young lord, are you okay? I have your training clothes ready for you right here."

Right as the gentleman got close enough, Jacob grabbed him and threw him to the ground. Stunned by the altercation, the old man tries to get back up. Before he could, Jacob was already upon him.

"Kneel."

"Pardon me, but what are you..."

"I SAID KNEEL!"

The older gentleman reluctantly got on his knees and looked up at the prince. A fist was thrown right into his face. Then, he was kicked in the stomach. Jacob continued to repeatedly strike the servant until he stopped moving. Standing over the bleeding man, Jacob looks down at him with a disgusted expression.

"Someone, clean this mess."

As another servant ran toward the man, Jacob made sure to trip them with his leg as they passed him. While putting on his training clothes, he tightened his sword around his waist.

"Man, I detest weaklings. Such worthless pieces of trash. And they’re poor on top of all of that... it makes me want to be sick."

With that, the prince walked out of the room.

"One day, I will have the power to command anyone to do my bidding. Even my own father will be powerless against me."

As Jacob starts his walk down the long halls of his palace, he could see the sun burning through the tall windowpanes, smell meat being cooked by the kitchen staff to prepare for breakfast and hear conversations between guards about the changing of the seasons. The floors he walked along were made of polished stone, the walls seemed impenetrable from any foreign attack and the celling was high enough to give even giants trouble of reaching.

Jacob was still fuming about the treatment his father gave him as he walked, which a few servants wisely noticed and stayed clear of his path...except for one. A woman, around the same age as Jacob with autumn brown hair, dark green eyes and a tall stature. She was dressed modestly with a dirty gown fitted with long sleeves. Her hair laid across her back as she walked with an emotionless expression written on her face. Jacob had found his next target to take his anger out on. Before the woman could pass, he moved in front of her.

"If there is anything I can help you with my prince, I am more than happy to help."

Her deep eyes portrayed no emotion saying these words. Jacob stepped closer, trying to make himself seem larger.

"Yah... I’ve noticed some people are not too keen on the idea of me holding power recently, so I’m going to use you to test that."

With that, Jacob pulled his sword from his waist.

"Kneel for me."

The woman obliged, still showing no signs of fear with the prince’s blade drawn. He waved the sword in front of her face as if teasing her.

"If I were to tell you to die for me, would you do it?"

"If it is the prince’s will, yes."

Jacob wasn’t ready for this response but continued anyway.

"Then...die."

With that he started to swing his sword, aiming for the neck of the helpless woman.

"Please kill me."

Jacob’s sword stopped right on the side of her neck, leaving a shallow cut. Small drops of blood escaped from the wound on to his sword.

"What was that?"

"Please take my life. If it is the prince’s will, the decision is final."

Upon hearing this Jacob pulled his sword away then burst into laughter.

"Now THAT’S what I like to hear! Haha! Me and you are going to get along great with that attitude. What’s your name servant?"

"Maria."

"Maria... what an awful name. At least you follow orders well. Anyway, I’ll be off. Don’t get into trouble or you know what will happen."

Jacob pointed at his sword while raising his eyebrows saying these last words to her. Afterward, he wiped the blood off his sword using his sleeve and continued walking towards his training grounds.

’Creepy... I really was planning on beheading her just now and she didn’t even flinch... not even when I cut her...what is she a ghost?’

Finally reaching the back of his palace, Jacob pushed open the doors to his training facility. The walls had numerous targets for archery practice, dummies for swordsmanship, a variety of weapons that rivaled a small armory and multiple arenas for sparing practice. Upon entering, Jacob saw his dad waiting for him by the table of weapons.

"Pick one."

His father’s face was cold and full of contempt.

"Which one?"

"Any of them will do."

Jacob rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of a long bow hiding at the end of the table along with a sling of arrows. He ran over to a lane with the farthest target he could find. Notching an arrow in the string, he took aim at the target. His back muscles strained under the draw weight, the bow creaked as it was bent inward, his breathing steadied, and when he lined up the shot, he let his arrow fly.

The arrow flew through the air at an incredible speed and clapped against the wooden center of its target. Jacob’s father looked at the target and nodded.

"Not bad, but you took too long to line up your shot. If I were an enemy archer, I would have loaded you with four arrows already."

Jacob simply nodded.

"Now take out your sword and follow me. I think it’s time I stop taking it easy on you." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Jacob looked at him confused as his father made his way towards the sparing ring.

"You want me to fight you again?"

"I do. Only this time, I will be using my curse against you."

Jacob didn’t show it, but panic started to resonate within him. He heard about the king’s power before, but he has never seen it in action. Thoughts started to flood Jacob’s mind.

’This is it. This is my chance to show him how strong I really am.’

"Oh... and Jacob."

He looked over at his son, drawing his sword.

"I hope you won’t hold it against me when you find out how powerless you really are."