The following morning a knock on the door elicited a scorned shout and curse, for the early visitor. Though Lou did get out of bed, stomp down the hall to his living room and lug the heavy door open. Steadying his guest with a glare.
The other stared wide eyed at the future king, and swayed in the doorway before falling back, his eyes rolled white in their sockets. Lou caught one arm and stopped the poor soul before they hit the ground, then dragged the heavy body into his quarters. He dumped them on the rug and returned to his bedroom to dress.
As he began doing so, he noticed one of the white scales on his ring had been glowing and quickly cast the ring aside. Tucking it into its box and then entering his wardrobe.
His guest had regained consciousness by the time Lou had fought his pants off and flung them across the room. Leaving them hanging on the horns of a biobill he had stuffed and mounted on his wall. But unfortunately, that was as far as he had got before they came to his grumbling.
'Sorry for fainting,' the young man apologised. Lou's shoulders fell and he slowly turned with a glare to the man.
'Not really your fault, I was using magic. Just didn't realise. But that doesn't matter, because the better question is who are you?' Lou asked walking to his pants selection, picking his favourite jumper from the floor and a pair of black pants to wear.
'I'm Hale,' he offered, as the prince pulled over his jumper. He was struggling as he tugged at the knot that was his hair.
'And I care, why?' Lou snapped picking up a brush and attacking his hair. Hale had stumbled back as the other moved around.
'I was sent by your uncle, he said to give this to you,' Hale answered, holding out a sealed scroll. Lou took it and led the way back to his lounge sitting across one of the couches letting Hale take the other. A smile taking over his face as he read the words his uncle had quickly scrawled.
Nephew, I have sent this servant for one reason. And I think it will be one that you will want to take advantage of.
Hale was raised in one of the noble houses and if you haven't already noticed, he bears a striking resemblance to you in some ways. His habits and your own are similar, as you both tap your left foot while waiting, and twist your right thumb when nervous. I mention this because he may be your way out.
He was in the service of the Oswaldens means he has observed the highest of the aristocracy for the majority of his life. He understands politics and the inner working of the royal household, that is how he came into the service of our own. Though I unfortunately have not found anything else on his early life. But whilst he has been in my service I have noticed that he excels in the proper way of life, far beyond any member of staff does.
Should he change his hair and school his features, we stand a chance to pull a switch which your mother could not deny.
I believe that he could attain the throne and marry, then under my guidance rule truly. Should you ever wish to return then we could do so, integrate you back to the throne, or you could spend your life seeking out those dastardly dragons that have fascinated you since youth.
The choice is yours, of course, though I hope you will think about it. I have sat on the throne for near ten years and couldn't imagine a life like that for you. Neither you nor your sister, I think would be comfortable on this throne, however Hale has a unique presence that makes me consider him a willing contender.
Be well, I'm sorry you haven't seen much of me, but remember you have a deadline.
Lane.
A sly smile appeared on the young prince's face as he looked up to see Hale twisting his right thumb as Lane had mentioned. The alluring idea that his uncle had proposed, now made the crime of early rising hardly anything in comparison.
'How may I serve you?' Hale asked noticing the attention on him.
'Dye your hair, exactly like mine,' Lou demanded, stepping to his desk.
'And be back here as soon as that is done,' Lou added. Hale cast a questioning glance, but abided and left the room silently.
By the time that Hale returned, Lou had written down a pop quiz for him to answer and a list of potential partners. As well as a training regiment, since the servant was notably less muscular, though not something that could be changed overnight. He did however find out from two of the kitchen hands, that Hale was quite adept at sword play and dancing.
'Is this good enough?' Hale asked when Lou let him in again. The boy's hair was identical in most ways though a bit shorter. Lou circled him and shrugged, leading them back to the couches.
'Now I should explain,' Lou admitted tapping his papers even on the coffee table. This time Hale had taken the seat beside Lou, so he couldn't be faced over the table.
'Yes please, I'm confused. Lord Lane had me in his service two months before deciding to send me here on a "secret mission" he said' Hale agreed, giving the prince some context.
'Yes well, he certainly saw something in you, something that I can also see,' Lou praised resting one hand on the servant's shoulder.
'I am here to serve you,' Hale smiled.
'Great, because you are going to be the new king,' Lou dumped out. The poor servants face dropped, his eyes widened, and he shuddered away.
'No, I can't. I'm confused,' Hale muttered as he stood up and stepped away.
'Well tell me what's wrong and I'll explain,' Lou offered.
'You're asking me to marry you? Or your sister?' he asked.
'Oh no, no, no, no, no. That's not what this is, what this is, is that I want to give you the throne because I don't want it. So to the people it would be me, but in reality, it's you,' Lou explained eagerly. 'And don't bother with her, she only stops by when it suits her schedule.'
'You want me to steal your identity and be the king. I'm a servant,' Hale yelled, his face was bright red and his eyes had began to water.
'It sounds bad when you say it like that,' Lou said shaking slightly.
'No thank you, I would like to return to the service of your uncle,' Hale denied. He began for the door, but Lou snatched up his uncle's letter and cut the man off, handing it open out to him.
Hale took the words in, he read then re-read the page and turned back to the couch taking his seat.
'So this wasn't even your idea,' Hale whispered.
'No, and if you really don't want to, I won't force you and I won't guilt you, but can you at least hear me out?' Lou begged.
'Ok,' Hale said taking a deep breath.
'I would like to know, why you are so familiar with the noble ways. So close in fact to the royal ones, but during the purging that took place over the last years. I have a feeling that I should not.'
The servant nodded with downcast eyes, his bottom lip pulled between his teeth. 'Well then, lets get started,' Lou clapped.
So Lou went off, he explained the reasons that Hale should take his place. Emphasising the benefits for him but caring to give him the cons and the reason that Lou himself wasn't taking it. He focused a lot on the notion of his uncle's aid and how they will support him. The hardest part to explain with positive outlook was the idea of marriage. Though Lou declared that Hale would be able to choose and if he had a current partner they were more than welcome.
By the end of the explanation Hale was silently thinking, his eyebrows close with a wrinkle between them. Lou let the servant consider in silence, retreating to his bedroom and allowing the man some time alone to consider the proposal.
'When would you return?' Hale asked after his hour of consideration as he walked into the prince's bedroom.
Lou had been lying flat on his bed, head turned to the balcony and watching the fire fiends scratching the roof tiles. He rolled and sat up facing the other, noting how when squinting Hale truly appeared as a mirror.
'Never, if you can handle it, but that depends, I suppose' Lou honestly answered. 'However that is only my current plan, I may decide in three years' time I want to be king.'
'You don't want the throne? It's your father's legacy, he died protecting you. You and the princess,' Hale yelled in disdain.
'My mother murdered my father for her own gain, he didn't die protecting us. He was murdered,' Lou explained. 'And he never taught me to be king, I'm the second born. I wasn't going to get it.'
Silence fell over the two, Lou watching the others revelation of this news, while Hale drew his hands together.
'That's why my mother isn't queen anymore,' Lou added.
'Ok,' Hale said finally.
'Ok?' Lou asked.
'Ok. I'll do it, I'll become the king,' Hale decided. Lou leapt from his cushioned bed and collected the servant in a hug, tightly grasping the other and whispering, 'thank you.'
'Now we need you to appear and act like me in all the ways that matter, I figure we can try it out tomorrow at the Launcer Ball,' Lou clapped.
'Do I have to marry?'
Lou froze in a mildly in shock and otherwise in slight concern and fear. 'My mother wants me to, so you do.'
'I'm sixteen,' Hale announced.
'Well that is young, but not unheard of for marriage. The thing is that you are pretending to be me, who is nineteen, and being married around twenty is the general tradition. But then again, I'm royalty and we can be the exception. So anything or anyone you wish, you will have the pick of the whole kingdom. No rules of status, no matter their marriage status. But obviously you can take it slow and not even bother for the first few years,' Lou assured.
'I mean, I have a crush on someone. I think that I love them, but it's hard,' Hale muttered.
'How so?'
'I knew them when I was little, always idolised them. Then I think I just started loving them, but like I don't want to force then into anything,' he explained.
'Awww,' Lou cooed, 'childhood friends to lovers. Of course you can tell them who you really are, rather than pretend to be me with them. But that's adorable.'
'I don't think they feel that for me though, and I want them happy,' he shrugged.
'If that is how you feel, if you want them happy and still want to do this. Then trust that you can find love too. Maybe it is through being king that you will find your other half, or soulmate, or other bird or whatever it is. Otherwise, give it a go with your friend. Get close to them, start as their friend,' Lou suggested. He then turned on his heel and walked out to the dining room, where a couple servants were serving two settings. They seemed to be wary of the royal as he entered, Hale in reluctant tow.
'Starting now I will see how polished you are in the ways of royalty,' Lou announced taking a seat and nodding to the one opposite.
The morning, 'til collection by his mother, Lou spent walking Hale through how his life worked, the ins and outs of his days. Giving him little tasks to consider doing and exercises to repeat for perfection. Even the regent had come by to lay his eyes on Hales progress and nodded enthusiastically as his nephew praised the work.
All the while, Hale remained quiet and collected as they moved through the tangents. Sometimes appearing slightly off kilter and uneasy, however Lou was fast in steadying the man.
'How would you go about enticing someone to love you?'
Lou turned with a solemn risen brow, his hands still clasping a dagger as he attempted to run through basic handling to a distracted student. He was excellent with a sword, but the tiny blade seemed a little too much for him.
'No clue, better off asking literally anyone except me, I have never felt that way for anyone. So, I can't really relate. Besides how important is it anyway?' he dismissed.
Hale was apparently unhappy with the answer. So much so that he tossed the dagger to clatter on the table and headed for the door.
'I didn't mean now,' Lou called after him.
'You should get ready for your lunch ball, highness. I have work to do,' he huffed letting the door fall shut as he slipped out.
Lou just stared at the door momentarily and then returned to his bedroom, taking the servants advice and collecting himself for the ball. His mother eagerly entering his room and criticising his clothing for 'not attracting a mate.' However, he was already dressed in a blood red blouse with flowers around the collar, and high tight black pants. So he was not changing.