The Search

There was a firm knock on the door as Cello swept the day room. He put his broom down as he walked towards the door. Once he opened it, a messenger appeared with a letter in his hand.

"Clairmont residence, sir," the messenger said. When Cello took the letter, the messenger headed to his horse to go back into town. Cello looked down at the letter. "Urgent" was written on the letter in calligraphy. Cello did not delay a moment longer as he made his way further into the house. His stepfather and stepbrothers were in the den discussing the events from the previous night when he knocked and opened the door.

"It's almost like you didn't even try to find a nice woman," his stepfather said, looking to Adam as he spoke. He blew a huge puff of smoke out of his mouth. "You only drank wine and when that gentleman caught everyone's attention, you were the first to speak to him."

"I..." Adam stammered. He hadn't touched his cigar. "There were no women that were pretty enough for me." He was clenching his fists.

"Those women wore masks," his stepfather told him, his voice rising in agitation. "There's no way you would have been able to see who was pretty or not. Why didn't you speak with any of them?" Adam looked away from him. Draven sat next to his brother but said nothing. He didn't want to get involved.

"Um, sir," Cello attempted to interrupt, clutching the letter in his hands.

"I need an answer, boy," His father stood up and walked to where Adam was seated. "NOW!" He boomed and Adam flinched at the sound.

"Sir!" Cello spoke up, breaking his stepfather's focus away from Adam.

"What is it, boy?!" His stepfather now stomped his way to him. "What is so damn important that you interrupt a conversation between me and my real sons?" Cello let the comment about "real sons" roll off his back. Since his mother died, his stepfather went through great lengths so show that Cello was not his son nor would he be treated or loved as one. He was used to it.

"For the Clairmont residence, sir," Cello handed him the letter. Behind his stepfather he looked at Adam who only stared into the fire that lit up the room. Adam quickly wiped the tears that fell from his eyes so no one would notice.

"What is it, father?" Draven asked.

"Another letter from the King and Queen," he said and quickly opened the letter. "It says it's urgent." Both of his sons were now looking at their father as he read over the words in the letter. Cello had to admit that he was also curious and also very nervous. Could it have something to do with him and the trouble he caused at the masquerade?

"Anything important, father?" Draven asked.

"It says here that the King and Queen are looking for the gentleman in white and gold," he said aloud as he read off the letter, "any details on the man would be worth a lot of gold. It also says that he left behind a ring and whichever man's hand fits the ring will marry the... Prince?" His stepfather was very confused when he read that. Cello nearly fainted when he heard that. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. Was Gabriel... the Prince? He had only known of Prince Gabriel but never met him in person. He also knew that Gabriel was a common name in their country. He never had a reason to believe that the Gabriel he met, danced with, and kissed could have ever been the Prince.

"So, the Prince is a fairy?" Draven asked laughing. Adam only looked completely stunned, like his entire world shattered on learning the news. Cello looked at his left hand and only saw his scar. As soon as he went to bed last night, he noticed his ring was gone. He believed that with all the chaos he caused, leaving in a whirlwind, that he somehow managed to drop his father's ring. It seems that when Gabriel took hold of his hand, he accidentally slipped the ring off of Cello's finger before he ran away. Cello nearly burst into a fit of squeals as he couldn't contain his happiness. Prince Gabriel wanted to marry the man he met last night. Prince Gabriel wanted to marry him.

"What are you smiling at, boy?" His stepfather asked Cello as he stared at him.

"Nothing, sir," Cello answered. His stepfather looked at him with a questioning gaze before turning to his sons.

"Well, looks like there will be no more parties," Draven said. "I would have liked to eat more good food."

"It also looks like I've lost my chance to easily get you boys married," he said. A thought popped into his head before he scanned the letter again. "Or have I?" Draven and Adam looked at each other before looking back to their father.

"What do you mean, father," Adam asked him, finally speaking to him.

"This letter says that the King's Guard will be by every home to fit the ring on every eligible bachelor in the kingdom," their father explained. "This is our chance!"

"You want us to try on the ring?" Draven asked confused. "But we're not queers!" Adam said nothing.

"This isn't about being queer, this is about the marriage!" His father told him. "Marrying the Prince would mean marrying wealth, marrying power. You would one day become king and rule over this entire land, freely able to do what you want with it."

"That... actually sounds nice," Draven began to think about it. "I'd have as much food and drink as I could muster."

"And if either of you fit the ring, we'd all live like kings!" His father cheered. "This is a sacrifice any man would be willing to make." Both of his sons thought over what their father said and nodded in agreement.

"What about me?" Cello asked, his voice small. The other three men turned to look at him.

"What about you?" his stepfather asked. "You won't move a muscle when the guardsmen show. You will not ruin this for us." He looked down at Cello's hands. "I see you couldn't find your own ring, could you, boy?" Cello looked down at his hands again.

"No, sir," he simply said.

"Good," his stepfather spoke. "You are dismissed."

//

The next morning as if on cue, the King's Guard knocked on the door to the Clairmont residence. This time, Cello's stepfather answered the door, greeting the men who wore silver chainmail with the kingdom's crest on their breastplates. He smiled warmly at them all as he schmoozed his way to the captain of the guard.

"We are here on behalf of his royal highness, Prince Gabriel De Luca II," Captain Yu Ling announced to the home. "You received our message, yes?"

"Yes, we did, sir," Lord Clairmont answered. "It is an honor, no, privilege to have you all here at my home." The Royal Aide exited one of the entourage's carriages and walked towards the home holding a royal blue velvet pillow. On the pillow sat a silver band. As Lord Clairmont focused on the band, the color drained completely from his face. He knew, in that moment, exactly where he had seen that ring. He knew, as the Royal Aide headed directly towards him, exactly who owned that ring. He knew, as the King's Guard prepared to enter his home, who would be leaving with them.

"One moment, please sir," Lord Clairmont began to panic. The Royal Aide stopped right before him. "I must attend to my sons to ensure they are ready for you."

"Take your time, my lord," The Royal Aide spoke. "You are our last home before we end today's search." Lord Clairmont gracefully bowed before shutting his door. He had to think quickly and he had to think now. He needed to get Cello out of the picture quickly and quietly. The boy was in the den cleaning when he heard the dog bark outside.

He suddenly had an idea. He rushed outside and chased after the dog before cornering him in the barn. He grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and hoisted him in his arms. He took the dog inside and headed towards the den. Cello stopped cleaning and looked at his stepfather in sheer terror.

"The cellar." He said through gritted teeth. "NOW!" Cello moved immediately to the cellar door before opening it. "You will stay down there until these men leave. If I so much as hear a peep or even think that you have moved, you will never see this dog again." Lucky whimpered as Lord Clairmont gripped him tightly. Tears stained Cello's face as he only nodded and headed down the stairs. Lord Clairmont shut the cellar door before tossing the dog in the den and shutting those doors. His sons were making their way downstairs and into the day room as he reopened his front door to let the entourage in. Everyone got settled in the day room as Lord Clairmont began to sweat. This needed to happen as quickly as possible.

"Are these the only two young men who live here?" The Royal Aide asked, looking at Draven and Adam.

"Yes, your grace," Lord Clairmont answered quickly. "It's just us three who live here." Adam and Draven gave each other quick glances and only smiled, not daring to say a word.

"Wait a moment," Captain Yu Ling spoke. "I believe I escorted another man to this very home the night of the ball. He had a dog with him." This instantly confirmed Lord Clairmont's suspicions. He had no earthly clue how Cello made it to that ball or how he got the extravagant clothing, but he needed to think on his toes if he wanted to keep up the charade.

"Uh, yes," he began to answer. "That was our farmhand. He left on a boat back to his home yesterday. His mother has gone quite ill."

"Ah," the captain said. "Safe travels to him then."

"We'll start with you," The Royal Aide beckoned to Draven. Draven walked to the Royal Aide who held the ring on the velvet pillow. Draven held his hand up as the Royal Aide attempted to place the ring on his finger. It barely made it past his first knuckle. Draven only chuckled, a bit embarrassed as the ring was removed and he walked away. Lord Clairmont began to worry. He only had one more son that could possibly fit the ring.

Adam walked up to the Royal Aide next. He was sweating a bit as his nervousness began to take hold. He lifted a shaky hand towards the Royal Aid. His long slender fingers quivered in the air as he closed his eyes. He felt the ring go on his finger and land delicately at the base of it. He opened his eyes and saw the silver band shine on his left hand. It fit.

"It fits!" The Royal Aide said proudly.

"It fits." Adam whispered.

"It fits?!" Lord Clairmont asked. "It fits!" He began to cheer and jump up and down with Draven.

"Your future highness," the guard captain spoke to Adam. "We must get you to his majesty at once!" Adam stared at the ring on his finger. He was astounded. By some act of luck, the ring fit him. He was going to become a prince. He was going to become a king. He could now be free.

"There's lots of preparations to be made," The Royal Aide spoke to the three men. "Come now, we must not dally." The entourage, including the Clairmont men, exited the home to their carriages and horses. The three men joined the Royal Aide in his carriage as it began to depart. He had much to discuss with Adam.

Cello could hear every word that was spoken as the day room was perched right above the cellar he occupied. As soon as he heard silence, he broke it with an excruciating wail. He was on his hands and knees in the middle of the cellar pounding the ground with his fists as his grief began to take hold. His heart began to shatter into millions of pieces. Adam was going to marry the love of his life.