As the rain fell without mercy, Damien watched through his magnificent window, thinking, wondering about what was going on.

That was until his father came in.

"So you are here."He said."I've been looking everywhere for you my son. Now come I have something to tell you."

"Tell it to my hearing."Damien said without turning to him. All his concentration was on what he looked at.

"Fine. Look here you are grown and you have to get a suitor for yourself. I will not be here forever so as your father I will have to advise you."He sighed."Ever since your mother died,you have been distant and I want to change that. Which man will rule this kingdom without his woman?"

"Father...."

"You are the crown prince which makes you the legitimate heir to the throne of Vilgaria."

Calming himself down,the young man told his father."I don't have time for such nonsense. If I don't have a woman then forget about making me the heir to the throne."

With that,he turned and stared at him and dashed out.

"Liliah. when will your son grow up?"He said.

That was when a great idea hit him and that made him smile deeply.

*********

Damien coldly dashed out contemplating on what his father told him.

Yeah, he needed a suitor for himself to help him rule. After all,as the tradition goes,a king without a suitor is not worthy to be made one.

"Prince Damien."A female voice called seductively."And where are you heading to?"

"Ricah."He said tiredly but she went up to him and positioned him to the wall."Is it your father hm ..?"

But he wasn't in the mood to listen."See you later."

"Oh no Damien."Ricah said in her seductive tone caressing his chest"Remember you will be the future heir and me as your suitor. Make your father proud as he's here. In case you need anything don't forget to call me alright?"

Damien just nodded hoping for this girl to get out of his sight.

"Good boy."She said and went.

Damien stood there angered at everything and watched Ricah disappearing from his sight.

Then he smashed all that was there.

His father who was in his room came out to see what was going on only to see his son smashing glasses to vases to statues like a five year old child.

"Damien !"His father shouted but he went without saying a word.

*********

Later in the evening......

There were noises of laughter in the palace.

Damien who was at the other side of the palace came to see what was going on.

His father who was discussing with his distinguished visitors then saw him."Aha my son what are you standing there for? Come."

Like an obedient child,he came to him.

"Your son is godly."One said."His eyes is like that of Queen Liliah."

"Of course."Rica said and came."No one can outstand the beauty of a prince like Damien."

"Your son is godly."One said."His eyes are like that of Queen Liliah."

"Of course."Rica said and came."No one can outstand the beauty of a prince like Damien."

Damien just stared at Ricah's face  and gave her a stern look signalling her to stop what she was doing but it did not seem as if she was even listening.

He just left there without a word and that made his father tired of him.

*******

With a cling of the glass by the spoon of his father,he drew everyone to him only.

"Good evening my lovely distinguished visitors."He said."This is a great privilege to welcome you all to my get together party. As for you young ladies one of you might be my son's true bride."

That statement alone made Damien fume within and as for Ricah,she had that goal in mind.

"Women......."

"So...let the party continue."

There was music and people from different backgrounds danced together.

King Oliver seeing his son isolating himself went to him.

"Isn't this what you want?"He asked concerned."You wanted this. Parties and so on and so forth but.....now my son don't disgrace me go out there and make yourself happy."

"Now hold it father. You know perfectly that I don't like any of these."Damien said."This.....this is not my thing and parties I like is not like this. Remember we are in the modern world. Don't go back to the ancient times."

"Son. Look here."Oliver said and placed his hand on his son's shoulder."Your mother will not be happy seeing you like this. Of course you will be the heir and you must have a good suitor."

"Good suitor ?"Damien cut him off and shifted."Fine. This is what you want right? Then I will get a suitor but first give me time and also I will choose my suitor myself. Don't even try to think of choosing my suitor for me."

With that Damien left his father and went to sip some wine.

*******

"Damien?"Ricah said and went to him."Is something bothering you?"

"No."He replied."Just leave me alone."

"Ah well.....I heard all that your father was saying."She begun."And he has a point there."

"Wow. I thought you were something like me here."

"Is not that but you know I love you and I'm reminding you of that. I can be the perfect wife for you and help you rule Vilgaria. Just choose me as your bride and you will never lack anything."

"You?"He laughed."Ricah. I don't have time for your silly jokes here. Just leave...."

"Come. I have something to show you."She said and took his hand.

Like an obedient child, Damien followed as his father stared at them smiling.

"Ah..... children. They will never grow up."

***********

The two walked down the hallway as Damien asked of where they were heading to.

"You will see."Ricah said."Just keep quiet and follow me."

The two walked down the hallway as Damien asked of where they were heading to.

"You will see."Ricah said."Just keep quiet and follow me."

After several walks,Ricah pulled Damien in.

"And what are we supposed to do here?"He asked sternly.

"Oh Damien."She said and went closer."Don't you get it at all? You don't seem happy and that's why I'm here. To make you happy."

All he did was to stare at her and process what was going on in mind.

"Ricah I don't have time for your nonsense."

But she did not listen to what he said rather she shut the door and went to him.

"Fine. At least let's toast."

"You think I look like a fool."Damien said darkly and went to the window."You are just my friend and nothing else."

Ricah,who did not want to look like the fool herself decided to take things into action.

She held him tightly and began kissing and caressing him.

As she continued,she noticed that  her hard work was finally paying off.

**********

King Oliver after enjoying himself with his guests searched for his son.

"And where are they?"

His son who had kept long going out with Ricah then knew that something wasn't right.

He just did not want his son to be absent at such a grand party like this.

It would be disgrace to him so he left smartly in search of him especially.

"Damien."Oliver said."I know you are around. Come here this instant."

But he did not hear an answer and that made him furious.

"Damien!!!!!!"

***************

Damien after giving himself up to Ricah heard the angry tone on his father.

"No Damien don't leave."She said but he did not mind.

He quickly dressed himself up and went leaving Ricah in the room.

"Sooner or later Damien."

************

As he walked down the hallway, Damien began to realize the foolish thing he did with Ricah and regretted.

After all if he had resisted all that would not have happened he told himself but he was a man now and that was a clear fact.

"Women."He said as he stroked his hair frustratingly."After God,fear women...."

As he mummered to himself he saw his father at a distance looking at him.

"Father."He said with surprise."What are you doing here?"

"I should be the one to ask you that question."He told him.

"I was.... taking a stroll."was all he said.

"With Ricah. And where is she?"

"She decided to go her separate way... and aren't you supposed to be at your party?"

"I'm here because of you son."He said."I'm worried for you. I want to keep a close eye on you."

"Father just stop it."

"I lost your mother and I cannot lose you too."He cut him off.

Then good luck with that."Damien said and walked out of Oliver's face."

He breathed heavily and wondered about what his father told him but this was a big night for everyone and he did not want his emotions to stop that.