A Brief Encounter

After parting ways with Cathy, William speed walked towards the small house, his eyes then swept the surrounding area before noticing a man he had seen countless times before. Clicking his tongue, he rolled his eyes as he stared at the man who was a sore sight to his eyes.

  

"Louis." William called out to the man with a sharp tone as he slowed his pace, walking towards the man with even steps. Trying his hardest to stand at least two feet away from the man.

  

The man looked around confused before his eyes landed on William. His apparent confusion flashed in his eyes before he knelt down on one knee, keeping his head low.

  

"Greetings, Your Highness. Louis Rutherford extends his humble greetings." the man said as he kept his flustered gaze towards the dirt path.

  

"Forget the formalities. Where's my father?" William asked as he turned his gaze away from the man who knelt before him, clicking his tongue from annoyance. He didn't want to stay in the same place as the man, let alone breathe the same air.

  

Louis Rutherford was the youngest son from the Rutherford Dukedom. His father had sent him to the palace to learn and to be of use to the King. However, William detested Louis with a passion; especially after finding out that he had been talking badly about him behind his back. He would have punished him but couldn't because Louis was under direct supervision of his father. Hence, his distaste for the man grew within him. 

  

Such a man... I don't see anything redeeming about his features... and yet... the women in the palace wouldn't stop talking about him. As William thought this, his eyes swept the man with a cold look on his face. 

  

Louis had a sharp chin and droopy eyes. His brownish green hair resembled algae and his eyes a similar colour that reminded him of a filthy pond. Just what do they see in this guy? His personality was just as bad as his face! William furrowed his brows as he turned his gaze to Moonshine, patting his forehead gently as he awaited Louis' response. Finding anything to distract himself with.

  

"... The King... is within the house. I have been instructed to stop anyone from entering... even you, Your Highness." Louis replied after a long pause, his gaze now falling on the scene of Prince William stroking his horse.

  

"Hmph. That's fine. Any reason in particular that I should know of?" 

  

"That... no... I... don't... ... Not at all."

  

"... ... Let me know when Father comes out."

  

"Certainly, Your Highness."

  

William then took Moonshine to graze at a patch of grass near the river as he tied the reins to a nearby fence. He then walked towards the river as he stared into the clear water.

  

William then sat at the river's edge as he dipped his fingers into the cool water, feeling the gentle rush of the cold stream run against his fingertips.

  

He then brought his gaze up as he looked across the river, staring at the rockbed at the other end of the river that was similar to the one he was sitting on.

  

In the distance, the lush greenery that consisted of trees of green, cast a welcoming and calming atmosphere as William took in the peaceful sight. It was certainly a view much better than his stuffy study.

  

As the gentle summer breeze brushed through William's ash grey hair passing through his hood, he ran his hand and pulled a lock of his hair out from his hood as he stared at it. Absentmindedly, William stroked his hair as his thoughts started to wander to the past.

***

  

"William, no matter what anyone says... You are the prince's son and you should keep your chin up. Your hair may be a slightly darker shade in comparison to your father but what matters is that your blood are the same. You are royalty." Lilith said to William as she stroked William's hair.

  

William glanced up at his mother with wide teary eyes as he nodded silently. He had been called a bastard child due to his hair colour that didn't match his father despite being of royal blood by other children his age during his tea party with the nobles.

  

"There now... a prince shouldn't show his weak side to anybody." Lilith said as she wiped the loose tear that rolled down William's cheek. She smiled gently as she kept her eyes fixated on her lovely son, his beautiful ruby eyes a similar blood red as hers.

  

"... But, Mother..."

  

"No buts. Royalty and nobles must be able to control their emotions. However... if it is too much for you, I'll always be there for you." 

  

"... Okay..."

  

"There now my sweet child..." Lilith said as she hugged William, stroking his back gently as she calmed him.

***

  

A fleeting memory... of my Mother... That was the last memory I have of her when she bothered spending time with me... William thought as he then tucked his hair back into his hood, stading up as he dusted his black jodhpur.

  

As William took his time to stretch, he then walked towards Moonshine as he patted his forehead.

  

It has been quite a while, Father should be done soon. William thought as he turned his gaze towards the sunset that painted the sky an orangish red colour as the dark shade of blue started to fill in some spaces in the sky.

  

"... Louis. Is Father coming out soon?" 

  

"Oh, pardon me. Yes, I assume so." Louis replied as he stood upright, pressing his shoulders stiffly upwards from it's prior drooping position. It seemed that he had been nodding off.

  

"... I see..." William said as he turned his gaze towards the distance where farmers were walking towards their home. The fields of gold now shining a brilliant dark shade of orange.

Suddenly, the sound of laughter caught his attention as William turned around, catching the moment the crude wooden door of the bricked house open.

  

Long silver hair tied into a low ponytail that gleamed a hint of the orange sunset caught his eyes as a tall man exited the house, a smile on his face as a low laughter escaped from his lips.

  

Father is... laughing? I haven't heard nor saw him laugh so jovially in years. The only time I do is whenever I accomplish a mission within a short period of time and with low casualties. Those are the only time he'd pat my head with a gentle smile and say, "I'm proud of you."

  

William stared at the scene unfolding before him as his hands that were clenched started to feel clammy and wet. His gaze didn't shift as he dared not avert his eyes from the scene, even when he felt a twinge of pain in his chest.

  

"Well, I'll be off then. It has been a pleasant evening. Farewell. ... ... Oh? William? Is that you?" Xander asked as he turned towards Louis, catching wind of the young hooded man who wasn't there before. His eyes swept the familiar pattern of the hood before he called out to the man.

  

"... Yes... It is. I... heard you were here and..." 

"I see. How about your task? How has it been progressing?"

  

"It's going fine. Everything should work out fine in about two days time."

  "... That's good... ... I'm about to head back. Shall we go together?"

  

"! S-sure!" William exclaimed with an expression that was a mixture of both surprise and joy.  As he turned his gaze upwards to look at his father, his eyes caught sight of a young man with silver hair that rivalled his father's. William stared blankly at the silver haired man by the frame of the crude wooden door as his pupils dilated, shaking from the discovery.

  

The rumours... it can't be... No... this... must be a mistake... and yet... Such a thing... But that hair... compared to mine...

  

William gritted his teeth, his jaw stiffening, as his thoughts were all over the place. Unbeknownst to him, his father had been calling out to him a few times.

  

As a warmth fell on his shoulders, William snapped out of his thoughts to find Xander's face right in front of his. His father looked into his eyes for a short moment before sighing, releasing his grip on William when he confirmed that William was fine.

  

"William. Let's head back for the day. I'm sure you must be tired. ... Also... I'll be bringing in the royal doctor... to get your hand treated."

  

"... Huh... okay..." William muttered beneath his breath, confused by what Xander said before his gaze fell to his palms. They were bleeding.

  

"William. Don't think too much of it. You're you." Xander said as he got onto the saddle of a black steed that Louis had prepared whilst William was lost in thought.

  

"..." William stayed silent as he stared at the back of his father which was receding into the distance. He then went up to Moonshine as he got onto him, riding after his father, not turning back once, even though he wanted to so badly.