Chapter 32: Where It All Began
"You promised," Jared grinned. "Father. The tale. Azure Bay. You and Mother. First meeting. Possibly shirtless. Tell us."
Aldric sighed. "I said on the way. I didn’t say when."
"I shall fill the void," Jared declared, standing dramatically.
He puffed out his chest. "Very well. Gather close, noble siblings and glorious parents, for I shall tell you the most dramatically accurate version of Father’s love story ever performed in a moving vehicle."
Aldric sighed, resigned. "Jared, please don’t."
"He walked through the mist," Jared began, voice low and dramatic, "a young prince, fierce yet wounded, searching for meaning."
Seraphina chuckled behind her fingers. Knowing they were about hearing the most exaggerated piece of fiction known to mankind.
Lucien rolled his eyes. "Exaggeration is not artistry."
"Oh hush, you tactical mushroom," Jared replied. "Anyway, there he stood, cape billowing—when he spotted her. The most gorgeous woman this side of legend. Her hair flowed like a river of moonlight. Her—"
"Finish that sentence and I’ll turn this carriage around," Aldric warned.
"—her intellect dazzled him."