Calix

"Ridiculous. What is this farcical news?"

I flinch at the booming voice of my father, King Richard Piercio Sonata Liorsa Tiore, the present King of Syncitia.

"I—" I clench and unclench my fists as I try my best to muster up the courage. My secretary shoots me an encouraging look before I utter the ultimate truth out.

"It is the truth, Your Majesty," I huff out after much struggle, not being able to glance at those furious grey orbs of his, "She—we kissed last night."

I am familiar with Father's temper. If I am to reveal that it was Miss Isha Sen who had kissed me because of her drunken misunderstanding, he will go berserk. Father will never spare the woman if he comes to discover the truth. In order to protect my image, more importantly Carlos' image since he is the Crown Prince, Father will go to the extent of ruining Miss Sen's life. He will not hesitate before destroying her entire career and whatever she holds dear to her.

It isn't because he is deeply concerned for me. But rather due to the sheer fact that he has to maintain the royal image, he is always so proud of.

"I regret having you as my son," Father massages his forehead while his words butcher my heart into a thousand broken shards. The words are familiar but painful, as always.

"I apologize, Your Majesty." My gaze meets the polished marble floor, reflecting my inadequate self's reflection.

"Who captured the video and pictures?" Father asks his secretary, clearly ignoring me.

"The sender is anonymous and presently, about ten cyber-security companies are doing their best in tracking down the source of those pictures and video."

"Hmm." Father hums deeply, stroking his chin alongside. "And they sent all of those to every single broadcasting channel of Syncitia, overnight?"

"It appears so, Your Majesty. As if someone has been conspiring against Prince Calix for a long time."

I can't help but scoff hearing such absurd speculation. There is no way someone will be conspiring against me, the twenty-seven-year-old, nobody prince. More so when I'm the illegitimate son whose biological mother was a palace-maid.

This is why I despise alcohol or getting intoxicated. After all, I was nothing but a drunken mistake, committed by the present King of Syncitia. He didn't even protest against Grandfather, the late King, when he had banished my mother out of Syncitia after giving birth to me. Till this day, everyone calls her a whore for seducing Father. But no one ever points a finger at the mighty ruler of the country, despite knowing that he was already married to Queen Veronica when he had decided to sleep with one of his maids.

The aftermath was this. Since Queen Veronica didn't have any children during that time, in fear of not having an heir after Father, Grandfather ordered the Royal Palace to raise me up as the prince and son of both King Richard and Queen Veronica. Grandfather strictly forbade every staff (who were more or less aware of the scandal caused by his son and a mere maid) to never let anyone know about me being a bastard prince.

Two years later, Queen Veronica gave birth to Carlos, my younger brother and the present Crown Prince.

I do not know when everything took an ominous turn. I was loved by everyone. I had absolutely good relations with my family. I was enjoying my training to become the next heir to the throne, after my father would step down. However, one night, Grandfather passed away due to cardiac arrest. It was such a shock to everyone that Queen Veronica was unconscious for four days straight, and Father was on the verge of having a cardiac arrest himself. The ironic thing was something else, whatsoever.

It wasn't the death of the late King that had shaken up everyone in the Royal Palace so much. Rather, it was the leak of the news about me being an illegitimate son of King Richard. All sorts of vulgar news surrounding me, flew around. Fortunately, the Royal Palace was able to bury the words before it could reach many ears in Syncitia, especially amongst the common citizens.

I was only twelve when the sudden news of Queen Veronica not being my biological mother, shattered my world of truths, which had been painted by lies all this time. She has always been a wonderful mother. Needless to say, she never made me feel that we weren't related by blood. Even to this day.

But to think that my reality had not really been a reality I was living in, it naturally caused a drift. As for Carlos, he began behaving oddly with me, for some reason. More distant. More crude. And the brotherly bond we once knew we had, soon dissipated into the fierce battle of competitiveness and envy.

At the end, on my thirteenth birthday, without informing me beforehand, my father announced to every noble and royalty present there that I would be stepping down. Automatically, Carlos, who was eleven then, was declared as the new Crown Prince.

"Are you in a relationship with that woman?" Father questions, grabbing my divided attention.

I hesitate, contemplating what to and what not to answer. Before replying, I choose a heavily thought through response.

"We aren't—er—in a romantic relationship. We slept together, once or twice." I wince. Not because of my father's piercing glare, but for the far-fetched lie I've managed to produce, which seems too out of my character.

In all my twenty-seven years of life, I have dated not more than twice. One of which was in high school, senior year. Whilst Carlos had the privilege of being homeschooled, I attended a prestigious private institution, abroad. It would be a lie to say I wasn't popular among my female peers. I dated one of my friends, under the nose of my stern bodyguards and secretary, and had my first kiss. It was awkward, to say the least. She broke up with me after a month because one, she was getting exhausted of constantly being chased around by my bodyguards and secretary and two, I was terrible when it came to kissing.

I agreed because she wasn't wrong. And then, my next girlfriend happened when I started university. Senior year as well. It lasted for a good one and a half years, before she confessed that she had grown out of love for me. It wasn't heartbreaking for me either.

As one can imagine, my first time having sex and the several times after, was with my second girlfriend. Thenceforward, my love and sex life, both turned non-existent. Some of my closest cousins were shocked when they heard I haven't had sex since my last relationship, which had occurred when I was twenty-two to twenty-three. We royalties pretty much do not possess a romantic or sexual life. Even a personal life, to be exact.

But when you have more work pressure on your shoulders than the Crown Prince because the King thinks you would make a good right-hand Royal Minister of the future King, you pretty much forget that at times you may become sexually frustrated. But oh well, I have been alright. I think.

"Meaning?" my father raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to elaborate on my unexpected answer.

I exhale. "Meaning, it was a one-time thing. Just a fling. We pleasured one another a few times, that's it. And no, we will no more have any contact with each other."

I wait with bated breaths. Father's secretary's expression is unreadable. As for my secretary, she can only smile reluctantly, hoping that I do not get myself into more trouble. And Father, well, he seems as if he has just heard the most inexplicably ridiculous thing. I do not blame him, though. I am more bewildered at myself for brewing such a lie in no time.

"I hope you have not forgotten that people like us, do not engage in flings. Especially, not with common citizens. It's extremely dishonourable, and you should be ashamed of yourself for tarnishing your name, along with the Royal Palace's, despite being a fully grown adult."

Yet you slept with a so-called commoner, even though you were already married.

The words threaten to spill out of my tongue, but I do not possess enough courage when it comes to revealing my true emotions. I simply stand there with my hands crossed behind, and gaze at my glazed, black shoes.

"Do not forget, Carlos' coronation ceremony has to be proper and successful, without any uninvited hurdle. Many eyes are on us. We cannot feed the pride of the ones who want the royal family's downfall. You should be aware of this, being the first prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I understand."

"Thank God you aren't the Crown Prince."

Something twitches inside me. A bottled up rage, struggling to get outside. It is the desire of wanting to be the next heir which had been snatched away from me years ago, due to my illegitimate identity.

"Since you aren't the Crown Prince, it doesn't matter if the citizens presume you are in a relationship with a commoner. What matters is the fact that we absolutely cannot reveal about your illicit ventures. Instead, we require something to cover up the mess that you have caused."

I do not speak and simply take in every blame, like I always have.

"Whose invitation was it even? The party you attended, last night."

"Lola Hwang, Your Majesty." I reply. "The CEO of Hwang Cosmetics and daughter of Oliver Hwang, the globally acclaimed producer in the film industry."

Father has always been exceptionally picky about my friends. According to him, I need to involve myself with the right group. And by right, he means wealthy, famous celebrities, rich aristocrats, popular influencers, sons and daughters of affluent businesspeople, and the list goes on forever. Although my friend circle is simply a façade where none cares for one another except for shamelessly flaunting their luxurious wealth, Lola Hwang is different. We met at an event and clicked together right then and there. Hence, she can be called someone closest to what I would imagine a true friend is.

"Robert," the King calls for his trusted secretary after a moment of silence, "I have an incredible idea."

"And that would be, Your Majesty?"

I, my secretary Audrey, Robert, all three of us wait patiently but eagerly to hear about this brilliant plan of Father.

A triumphant smile plasters on his lips, signifying that he feels proud of himself for thinking of a way out of this royal scandal.

"Robert, I need you to immediately contact Miss Isha Sen and set a date. Inform her that I wish to have a meeting with her, at the Royal Palace. Prince Calix will be present at the meeting as well."

I can feel it. The raging storm is not far away.