~~~~~
“Take him to the city brothel and set him to work until he learns humility.” Prince Alferonzo’s cold voice lacked any pity for the quivering creature before him, but then what little he’d had for the human race, had been all but destroyed by the events of the past year. “Even if it takes the rest of his putrid life.”
“Brother prince,” his half-sister, Bella, murmured, her hand on his arm as she gazed at the pretty young noble sobbing on the ground and pleading for release by anyone or anything—hand, mouth, he cared not. The palace pleasure servants had been more than usually thorough but then, they’d had practice of late. “Lord Garel is young, and his father is an ally.”
“Very well,” Prince Alferonzo said grumpily. “For a month. Then flog him and send him back with the dowry.” Bella gave him a look. “Oh...don’t flog the little shit, and make the customers use sheaths. Just get him out of here.”
As the little lord was dragged weeping from the royal chamber, Prince Alferonzo turned around, his back straight and haughty, though to the world and his sister, he knew he appeared hunched and weak.
“This is useless, Bella. Twenty-six of these idiots and not one of them had the brains to realise this isn’t the real me.”
His hand curled into a fist as he recalled the words of the lately departed Lord Garel del Mer when Bella had brought him to meet his alleged new paramour. “Gods save me! It’s obscene! It’s a joke, surely!”
Prince Alferonzo hadn’t hesitated in sending for the pleasure servants to work the fool up into a lusty frenzy, to the point where even Prince Alferonzo’s aged appearance would be of no matter. Bella had not stayed his hand either—but then she loved him as these titled twits could not ever do, and she’d grown sick of listening to their disgusted complaints.
“What shall I do, Bella?
“I honestly don’t know, my brother. Perhaps you should just learn to live with it.”
“I haven’t had sex in a whole year, sister! Could you live without it so long?”
“No, but then women don’t need the entire man to pleasure them.”
Prince Alferonzo stared hard at his dear half-sister, gazing back so innocently at him, and decided he really, really didn’t want to know. “Well, I’m different. Besides, I can’t just find a sexual partner. It has to be someone who adores me. Who can adore a face like this?”
His valet came to his side.
“Yes, Wat?”
“My prince, if I may suggest...?” Prince Alferonzo gestured impatiently. “Perhaps someone of less...refined taste? Someone used to imperfection.”
“You mean, a commoner? For a royal prince?”
Bella glanced at Wat, then put her hand again on her brother’s arm. “Brother prince, there are many good men and true who are not of noble birth. Since we’ve ploughed these fields, perhaps those who till the earth in reality may give you what you seek.”
Prince Alferonzo looked at his sister, then at his servant’s plain, honest face, and saw that both held nothing but concern in their eyes.
“Very well. Wat, inform my household that we shall make a tour of my father’s lands. Bella, you can tell my wife and my mother, if they have an interest. The children won’t care.” His children had run from him in terror. He didn’t wish to repeat that degradation. “Well? Get a move on—I have a true love to find!”