The evening after I overheard the maids' recent gossip about the Beastlands marriage treaty, I was summoned to my father's study. I knew immediately that something was amiss, as he had never summoned me in the evening prior to this. I went along without a fuss and when I arrived in the study, I discovered my father wasn't the only person waiting for me there.

On either side of my father, who sat in a chair by the hearth, were Tarlon and the black haired demon Albrecht. Tarlon didn't even acknowledge my arrival, but Albrecht watched me with his disgusting, lustful eyes and wore his usual smug sneer. There was also a visitor sitting by the hearth. As soon as he turned in my direction, I recognized the man sitting oposite my father. I'd seen him briefly at my coming-of-age banquet, though he'd never bothered to greet me. This was no ordinary visitor. This man was the Second Prince of Vrayna, Eduard de Vray. 

On either side of him stood his own knights, wearing shiny metal armor, their faces covered by their helmets. It was my first time seeing what real knights looked like. My father’s knights looked all the more like ruffians when compared to the shining glory of the Royal knights. The Second Prince was ordinary in appearance, but held himself in a manner that conveyed authority and the expectation of obedience. When I entered the room, he turned to look at me, taking in my appearance with his sharp and calculating eyes. I got the impression that he was evaluating me, but I had no idea why someone like him would want to evaluate a mute bastard who never left his room. 

After observing me for a considerable length of time, he nodded ever so slightly and turned back to my father. "Duke Ramport, you’re sure about this?" he asked my father with an unreadable expression on his face. 

"Yes, Your Highness," my father replied in a deferential tone I didn't know he was capable of, "not only am I sure, but I am honored to make this sacrifice for the future of our kingdom. This is the best way for him to be of use to both myself and to our future nation. However, may I humbly request a few moments alone with the boy before you depart?" "Of course, Duke Ramport," the Second Prince replied in a cordial tone, "take all the time you need. You have once again shown your loyalty and devotion to the human cause. And I think it would be best if you explained things to him first, so I will wait patiently in my carriage."

With that, the Second Prince rose from his seat and left the room, his knights following obediently behind him. I had no idea what was going on, but I had a bad feeling about what my father was about to tell me. As soon as the Second Prince was out of sight, my father's entire demeanor changed. Ah, yes, this was the man I was used to seeing when I walked into this room.

"So it has come to this, you disgusting disappointment of a son," my father began, "I feel nothing but regret when I think of all the years I spent searching for you. I saved you and brought you into my home, yet you have repaid my devotion with failure and defiance. No matter how hard I tried to teach you, you were nothing but a disappointment. And since you turned out to be such an overwhelming failure as my son and heir, I have decided to make use of you in other ways." I stared at my father in silence, dread creeping into my heart. I had always known that I wouldn't be his true heir. Who would treat their future heir so brutally? Anxiety began to overwhelm me as I waited for my father to inform me of my fate. 

"You will leave with His Highness, the Second Prince, to fulfill a duty required of you by your nation," my father continued, "You should be grateful, really. I have finally found a way for your worthless existence to benefit me. Consider this an opportunity for you to thank me for keeping you alive after you caused me so much inconvenience. Make no mistake, if you don't go along peacefully, I will give you to Albrecht here as his personal plaything." Those words immediately crushed any thoughts of defiance I might have had. I felt sick just thinking about it. During the years my father held me captive, Albrecht had tortured and tormented me in every way that my father would allow. He was never allowed to use me in the way he wanted, but my mind bore more scars from Albrecht than from my father. My father beat me and destroyed my self worth, but Albrecht was the true creature of my nightmares.

When I slept, his face and the things he’d done to my mother haunted my dreams. When I was awake, he subjected me to fresh torments to fuel my endless nightmares. The whippings, molestations, and the constant threat that he might cross that final line had left me terrified of what he might do next. My father was well aware of the horror and fear that Albrecht inspired in me, and he knew that I would do anything to avoid being at Albrecht’s mercy. He knew that this time, I would obey his will.