Palace Library

Esras had already been in the library, browsing over books but this time they weren’t about history. Nope, not at all. These ones were actually romance stories. He honestly couldn’t get Ranait out of his head, and the thought of her had lead him towards this section of books, which was about as far away from history as he could get. As he pulled yet another book from the shelf he could feel himself dragging his bottom lip in between his teeth and had to stop himself, shoving the book forcefully back onto the shelf as a sigh falls from his lips. He couldn’t be doing this. She was betrothed to some Duke, he couldn’t be entertaining the idea of them having some sort of relationship, yet he was. He just couldn’t seem to help himself. Which was worse than if he’d been doing it on purpose, with the mind to allow himself to try to woo the woman.

He would sigh softly and shake his head before moving away from that section, mindlessly wandering the library as he tried to find some other topic that wouldn’t make him think of Renny, when he ran into his uncle. The sight of him forced a grin onto the boy’s face, and he would move to clap the older man on the shoulder, “Uncle,” he would say, his voice excited as he momentarily forgot about the girl that had been haunting his mind. He would playfully shoulder the man out of his way and immediately pick up a book, which was on the development of tactics, and the history on the ones still used today, of course. He had read the book before, but grabbing it gave him an opportunity to mess with his Uncle, “I saw you the last time you were training…and I really think you need to brush up on a few things,” he would grin, a smirk developing over his face as he tosses the book at the man before taking a few steps back, knowing he would catch it and come after him.

Unfortunately he wasn’t fast enough to get away, and his Uncle managed to grab a hold of him and put him in a headlock. He would groan in mock frustration as the man rubbed his knuckles against the top of his head, though he wouldn’t put up a fight; he knew how to get out of the hold but he also knew that his uncle would let him go soon enough and it would be over, unless he put up a fight and then they would probably get kicked out of the library for making too much noise or whatever. When he did let go Esras would straighten, dusting off the front of his shirt as he grins at his Uncle, “Oh, I know it is. I’ve got such a beautiful face,” he would joke, only to laugh at his next words, “I thought that was what I was here for? To woo the ladies of the court?” he would ask, his head tipping to the side, though his mind flicked to one lady in particular.

When he heard his uncle’s question he would sober, the smile dripping off of his face, “Actually, yes. But it’ll never work out,” he would say, shrugging. “She’s the lady-in-waiting to the Queen, and apparently she’s betrothed to some Duke from Carnaghan,” he would explain, reaching up to wipe his hand over his face. It was odd how it stung, talking about it. Almost as if he was finally making it real that he couldn’t pursue the woman. “She’s an Angel, though,” he would laugh before letting out a low sigh, shaking his head. “She was so shy, and she had the most adorable blush…” he would ramble before shaking his head once again, “Sorry,” he’d laugh, “I’m sure there will be others.”

When he said that the Duke of Carnaghan was a good man he would simply stare at his uncle, wondering if that was supposed to make him feel better. Truthfully, it kind of did; at least the Angel wouldn’t be marrying some weird old creep, but he’d feel much better if she wasn’t marrying anybody at all. When his Uncle commented about him maybe croaking in his marriage bed he would laugh, shaking his head, “Oh God, no. I’m afraid that would only serve to traumatize her,” he would say with a chuckle, “Maybe it’s for the better. I don’t need to focus on women right now anyways,” he’d comment, “There are much better things to focus on,” he would say, almost as if he was trying to assure himself. When his uncle said that he might have to lower his standard on women he would laugh and shake his head, “God, forbid. Perhaps I’m just looking in the wrong place. Maybe I should go wander the countryside looking for a decent young lady,” he would joke, “We can go together. Get us both married off,” he’d say with a shake of his head. He wasn’t sure why his Uncle hadn’t married yet, and he’d never asked, but he sometimes made jokes about it here and there, especially when they were talking about Esras and women.

Upon hearing his comment about riding through the other kingdoms and stealing their women he would laugh, “Well, I’ve heard that in the South there are some rather beautiful ladies. So beautiful, that even other women are interested in them,” he would say with a laugh, his lips splitting in a grin afterwards. He didn’t care much about homosexuality one way or the other, but he supposed that it did attest to the fact that the women were at least good looking. When he said that he would just have to find the right parents who would be happy to marry their daughter off to a knight he would frown, his nose wrinkling slightly as he realized that it wasn’t likely to happen with any of the ladies at court. Upon hearing his Uncle’s wisdom about women in the country he would nod, “I knew there was a reason that I go to you for advice,” he would say with a grin, playfully shoving the man’s shoulder in return. Upon hearing him say that there was always a chance of him moving up in the ranks of nobility if he had the right connections he would laugh, “Well, I guess it’s the countryside for me, I’ve only got you,” he would laugh, smirking at his Uncle. He knew that the man was actually a great connection to have, but it didn’t mean that he couldn’t mess with him about it.

When he said that if the women were that beautiful that he didn’t have a chance he would laugh, shaking his head, “Oh no. I’m more beautiful than the women there, I’m pretty sure I’ll have a chance,” he would joke, rolling his eyes. When the man clutched his chest and faked having a heart attack or some such he would merely laugh, and could only laugh harder when he bumped into the shelf and knocked books off. Though, when the library attendant arrived to shoo them off he would sober, letting a pout develop on his lips, “I am so very sorry,” he would murmur, letting his eyes drift to his feet for a moment before peering up at her through half-hooded eyes, despite being much taller than her. When the woman told his uncle to get out of her library and to take his “mini” with him he couldn’t help but grin, his lips splitting in his infamous smile that girls just mooned over. He’d most certainly got it from his mother’s side, as he’d heard women talking about how he had the same smile as the older man, “Well, I’m not that much smaller than him. And he can’t take me anywhere I don’t want to go,” he would laugh.