Inbu’s Heart 1/10

Pressured by his father's demands to find a wife, Prince Inbu holds a tournament like no other to find the woman of his dreams. Thinking nobody will be willing to swim in milk or dance with pigs. He's proven wrong when three hundred women from all over the continent sign up. Among the brave bachelorettes is Mei, a farmer's daughter, who wants to prove that peasants can make a difference. How far will Mei go to win Prince Inbu's heart?

If Prince Inbu had to spend another dawn forcing himself down steep stairs and crystal corridors, he was sure he would scream. His fists clenched as his heartbeats accelerated like he was on a rollercoaster. Alas, where the joys of being a prince in a dysfunctional kingdom.

Prince Inbu's father, King Abu Banshee Baboon of Pantalon was a beloved by all the lords that paid no tax. His poorer subjects had little to say in the matter, but there were no riots in fifteen years. If Inbu had it his way, there would be one tonight, but nobody wanted to lose their hands for calling out His Majesty's incompetence.

A portrait of his Aunt Matilda dressed in black stood out from outside the throne room. It was hard to believe that it was painted twenty years ago. Where his father had gained silver patches of long hair and a face covered in wrinkles, Aunt Matilda had not changed one bit since the painting had been made. She was a witch according to her dad, always on the edge of his seat. He never knew when the next war would be, but he was certain Aunt Matilda would be involved. Prince Inbu shrugged his shoulders to every thought of war or magic. It was clear his father was jealous that his sister-in-law was more popular and beautiful than him.

Once upon a time, Prince Inbu was close to his father. When his mother died, she took his happiness with him.  Prince Inbu was positive that The King still loved his son, but would always beg him to seek a wife as if it would be a solution to all their problems.

Prince Inbu had no desire to get married. The tradition was outdated and came across as sexist to him. He yearned for the summer breeze and nature walks. Owning a woman as if they were a piece of meat or a baby factory made Prince Inbu churn his stomach in disgust.

The moment Prince Inbu and his father's eyes met he groaned. All his subjects around him all appeared to be the same with their matching violet robes and platted mustaches. The only one that stood out was the man next to him with a face much paler that he others. It was the British ambassador, Mucky McMuckface.

"Will the British Government form an alliance with me?" King Abu asked, chewing on green leaves.

"They made no comment." Pieces of paper trembled in McMuckface's hands. "The Prime Minister however, has written a lengthy letter."

"I can't be bothered to listen to it, give me the too long; didn't read version."

"You summoned me, Your Majesty," Prince Inbu said on bent knee.

His father summoned him with a click of his fingers. The disco lights blinded him. Scratching his head, Inbu knew what the letter was about to say and how his father would respond.

McMuckface pressed the letter on his chest. "The British Prime Minister has basically said: stop eating dogs YOU DIRTY BASTARDS!"

"Inbu, you are a disgrace!" The King bellowed, twiddling his long beard. "You must find yourself a wife at once! Look at the state of you."

Prince Inbu bit his lip. He didn't care that his shirt wasn't tucked in and that there were crumbs on his waistcoat. "I don't want to get married, I just want to have fun."

The King was having none of it. "You are the future king of Pantalon!" He whacked him with his gold staff, and Prince Inbu felt a burning sensation run around his left shoulder. "You need a wife and sons to secure the stability of this kingdom."

"I don't want to be king!" Prince Inbu knew that at least one of his uncles wanted the crown, so why not just give it to one of them? Then there were his nieces and nephews when they grew up. Screw tradition, let one of his sisters have the crown.

"I didn't want to get out of bed this morning, yet I did." The King stood from his shiny throne and held onto his son's shoulders.

"We're the royal family, we can do what we want!" Prince Inbu knew he would get another whack of his shoulder in public for what he said. He was used to it.

"We must all do things that we do not want to do. Your sisters have already fulfilled their destiny, and now it's your turn."

Prince Inbu folded his arms. "They marry men twice or three times their age. Now they're mothers and one of them didn't even make it to her twenties." Prince Inbu looked over at the guards and lords gathered around the King. "Am I the only one who finds this disturbing?"

The ones that nodded, including McMuckface,  pretended to cough.

"The silence says it all," the King said with selective hearing. "No one dares to defy me. We shall host a ball, invite all women and you may pick a wife."

"Thanks, Papa... but I want to do things my way!"

"I should have disciplined you harder," the King grumbled, whipping the floor with his stick. "I spoilt you too much. Go on then, what is your way?"

Prince Inbu waved his arms as he spoke. "My ideal woman is as swift as an eagle, stronger than lions and as graceful as a butterfly. I will host an assault course: survival of the fittest. Out of all who pass, if there are any at all, I will pick one to be my wife. But it will never happen as my perfect woman does not exist."

"Your views on woman are concerning," the King confessed, holding his hand on his heart. "A lot of our young girls have already fled the country."

"Because there's nothing for them here," Prince Inbu explained. "This kingdom is out of touch with the real world, that's why we need something special to boost the economy."

"Enough about that, what will this assault course entail?"

"Making pigs fly high to the skies. Cooking delicious meals out of foul things. Dancing on water. Trekking mountains and sneaking past dragons. Avoiding dirt and wetness in their path. What do you think, Father?" Prince Inbu asked with excitement. He pointed at him and winked. "So much better than a ball."

"I think it's ghastly," the King spat, brushing his velvet cloak as he sat down on this thrown. "Pigs don't fly and nobody can walk let alone dance on water. But if that it is the only way you will seek a wife then so be it. I shall leave it in your capable hands."

"Yes!" Prince Inbu pumped his fists in the air. "Thank you, Father. You won't be disappointed." 

"Oh, Inbu!" The King wiped the tears in his eye. "You do talk a lot of rubbish!" He took a bell from his pocket. "I need two bottles of wine, please."