Auden Wilmere // The Royal Fling

March 14th

Royal balls serve little purpose beyond networking and information exchange. They are not genuine celebrations but delicate dances where every step is taken to avoid causing offense and sparking dissent. This was Auden's perpetual view of such pretentious gatherings.

Tonight's event honors Auden's youngest brother, Brinley, who has miraculously reached his twelfth birthday unscathed by assassinations, considering his siblings' notorious disdain for any threats to the throne. The crowd in the ball is of nobles and exceptional commoners worthy of attending; poets, artists, dancers, and musicians.

"Are you just going to stand there?" Brinley asked, the two princes positioned side by side outside the ball room. Auden snorted, placing a firm hand atop Brinley's head, retorting playfully, "Well, I could ask the same of you," while ruffling Brinley's hair, eliciting a yelp. "Go mingle with some nobles, like Corliss; she's your age AND the daughter of Mr. Kain. You two might be nice friends!"

Despite Auden's encouragement, Brinley remained immobile. Birthdays clearly weren't his forte either, Auden surmised, feeling a pang of sympathy for his brother. He gently nudged Brinley towards the chattering nobles, saying, "Brinley, you're a Wilmere! You must own your birthday party! What kind of birthday boy isn't the center of attention?"

"... Everyone's here for you, though..." Brinley muttered sullenly. Before Auden could respond, Brinley reluctantly wandered into the throng, his shoulders slumped in resignation and his face being covered by his mask. It was true, and Auden was painfully aware of it. These gatherings no longer celebrated milestones or traditions but instead served as venues for forging alliances and plotting futures, with the majority of the nobles attending to pledge their loyalty to Auden, the expected victor in the impending battle for the throne once their father was gone.

Silently, Auden donned his mask and adjusted his crown. The First Prince had to make his entrance, despite his inner protests. With a final sigh, he stepped into the ballroom, feeling a slight shiver as all eyes turned to him, some belonging to his siblings, Crawford and Rowena. Meeting their gazes with a cold, piercing stare, he watched Rowena grimace and Crawford smirk.

“Auden! Hey, my brother!” Crawford exclaimed, extending his arms for a hug. “Didn’t know you’d show up, big bro!”

“It’s Brinley’s birthday. How could I not? It’s more of a surprise that you’re here, Crawford,” Auden replied, his voice laced with sarcasm.

Crawford chuckled smugly, placing his arm around Auden. “Whaaaat? Just because I tried to feed poison to Brinley once doesn’t mean I should never celebrate a remarkable landmark for our younger brother!”

Auden attempted to move away, intending to mingle with other nobles, but Crawford held him in place, nodding to a few noble ladies and licking his lips. “Plus, there’s more to focus about, huh?”

“You’re disgusting,” Auden retorted, pushing Crawford away with a look of disdain. “Then again, I’d expect it from someone who already has a harem of men and women.”

“Ha, and you still believe your ‘pure’ virginity makes you better than me,” Crawford shot back, following Auden as they continued their back-and-forth, the nobles watching and whispering among themselves. “A virgin at 29… That isn’t purity, that’s just wimpy!”

“I’ll execute you first once I’m on the throne,” Auden scowled, his anger contained but momentarily released.

Crawford raised his hands in mock surrender, taking a few steps back. “Woah! Don’t blame me for a ‘you’ problem!” He chuckled again, walking away from Auden, his fun apparently over. “The future king with a useless dick. What a story…”

Auden seethed, his fists clenched as he watched Crawford saunter off. The disdain he felt for his brother was palpable, mixed with a burning desire to prove his worth and secure his place on the throne. The weight of his responsibilities pressed heavily on his shoulders.

Those insults, moreover, poked through Auden’s mental armor. Virgin. Wimpy. Useless dick. Whether he wanted to or not, Crawford planted seeds in Auden, bubbling into a need to disprove Crawford’s words. Determination pulled inside him, and Auden immediately went over to a random commoner, embarrassment and drive filling him. He didnt care that they were wearing a mask — he just needed somebody. Commoners were much more approachable than a noble, so this seems like the best choice. “Excuse me… Mind if we get a drink together?”

… March 15

Auden woke up in a flurry. He pants, feeling his body. No clothes, in a bed, next to the commoner he tried to seduce. It clearly worked, considering this situation. “Oh gods…” Auden whispered, clarity hitting him. “Did I really..?”

He just did something no Royal should do, especially if they were trying to become king; He fucked someone not engaged to him. Even worse, it seems he didn’t even wear a condom. Auden grasped at his mask, which for some unknown reason stayed on during the entire night, panic coursing through his veins. His heart beats incredibly loud. He painstakingly crafted an image of himself so that the public would think of him as a cold and calculating man, resisting temptation and staying true to his words. An authoritative man, one that people must never insult. If this ever got out, his reputation would plummet to the abyss.

“On Brinley‘s birthday, of all days,” Auden murmured to himself. Would Brinley hate him? Auden would, if he was in Brinley’s shoes. “Ahh, fuck me.”

Auden begins to ponder. What can he possibly do to cover this up? First, identifying who he had intercourse with. He didn’t even know if he had sex with a man or woman. Or both. Or neither. So Auden softly shook the person on the bed with him, stirring you awake.

“Umm… Good morning..?”