4. Bryce: First Date
2074 Words
Bryce: First Date
The mist had faded into the English summer night leaving a soothing tinge of airiness behind.
I watched as her eyes lingered on the view in front of us.
“It’s beautiful,” she said as I observed her beauty and how the blonde hair rested perfectly on her shoulders.
“What is?”
“The English summer.”
“Ah yes, it is indeed one of the most beautiful things about this palace.”
She turned around and smiled again, the dress sparkled on her skin as the moonlight touched it gently.
“You look gorgeous,” I said.
“Thanks. You look nice too.”
“Perhaps, we can sit down then?” I asked pointing towards the beautifully laid out table with a striking vase full of roses and two gold-ornamented plates.
I watched as she looked over as her hazel eyes set on me. She was observing waiting for my move.
I could sense it.
“You thinking about the mouse?” I laughed.
“Ah yes, I’m sure the guard is still looking for it,” she replied with a beautiful smile peeking out.
Just as the conversation had started, John walked in ready to take their orders.
“What would you like to have Sir and Madam?”
I looked up at her. She was watching the Butler with great attention.
“He’s John, the Royal Butler,” I said making sure she understood why he was there.
“Ah nice to meet you. I’ll have anything he’s having.”
“Well, that’s not the spirit of a date. You should have what you want,” I said pointing towards a little menu the Butler had crafted just for the evening. “You can have anything from here.”
She began to look through the two-page menu to see what she would be able to eat.
It appeared as if she was having trouble with the dishes and I couldn’t blame her. Most of the dishes were snobbish and a waste.
“The sushi is good,” I said pointing towards the right side of the menu. It was filled with multiple sushi dishes.
“Sure,” she said.
I told John to get us two plates of sushi along with wine.
“Doesn’t seem like you’re into fine dining?” I asked.
“Yeah, I am not much of a fine dining kind of person. I just go out and eat a burger or something when I get the chance,” she said with a sheepish grin that made my heart race again.
It got to a point where I had to put a hand over my heart to make it stop.
It wouldn’t.
‘What the hell is going on with me?’ I thought to myself as she watched.
“You feeling alright?” she asked.
“Oh yeah of course,” I said putting my hand back down.
I got up and walked over to her side.
“You know what. The sushi is shitty, and I think a burger would be smart right now. I mean this weather screams for a good hamburger. What do you say?” I asked putting my hand out for her to accept.
“Hamburger? Right now?”
“Why not?”
“I mean we were supposed to eat here weren’t we?”
“Well, there is no point in eating something you don’t like. Plus, who doesn’t like a good burger?”
She raised her hand and grabbed onto mine making sure to keep an eye on her dress as it nearly tangled with the table.
We started to walk towards the door, as lingering clouds opened up, letting the air breathe as we exited.
“Sir, where are you headed?” ringed Priscilla who had been watching us from afar.
“We are leaving to eat burgers.”
“Sir, there were many options on the menu.”
“Well, we didn’t like any of the options. Tell the driver I am going to take the car out today, and he can give me the car when I arrive downstairs.”
“But ---“
“Are you my mom, Priscilla?” I asked.
“No Sir.”
“Good, let’s go then.”
Rose wore a smile on her face. It seemed she wasn’t too fond of Priscilla either.
The tall assistant gave a stern look before scurrying off to give the driver a call.
The keys were ready as we arrived downstairs a few minutes later. It was a Jaguar that I loved driving around. It was one I had put together myself through hard work and sweat. It had taken months to get the right parts because I didn’t want to buy one with dad’s money.
King Charles had been disappointed.
He said it was bad for the kingdom’s reputation, but I could care less. I was more than happy to have my way.
Queen Teresa or my mother for those who cared was a gentle woman. She never meddled in my business and even took the time to listen to what I had to say about this “meet and greet” business. However, who was going to overpower my dad? King Charles always had his way with these matters, and it appeared everyone else had to fall in line.
“Bryce!” echoed the baritone voice ringing across the hall and filling it with a sense of prominence.
It was a husky, strong-featured man with a precisely defined gray beard and a posture straighter than a ruler. His deep blue eyes were similar to mine, and he had the aura of someone who preferred to have his voice heard. The red suit with golden buttons accentuated this feeling as he progressed towards us.
“Yes?”
“Where are you headed?”
“I’m taking Rose out with me for our first date,” I said almost refusing to look at him in the eyes in disdain.
“Rose?”
“Yes, the woman who won your silly meet and greet thing from earlier today.”
This cheered up the King who had to control his joy as he peered over to the golden-haired Rose who was now blushing at the brand-new attention from the King of England of all people.
“Well, hello there Miss Rose,” the King said with a smile on his face as he pecked the back of her hand.
I twiddled my thumb as he started to speak to her.
“Don’t mind Bryce. He’s a sweet, young boy with a rather troubled way of behaving. They say it’s a phase,” he said trying to whisper the last bit.
“I heard that,” I barked.
“You should have heard that. Now, take the fair lady out for your date and make sure to behave. You are a representative of the kingdom.”
“Of course, Your Highness,” I said mockingly.
King Charles shook his head in disapproval before giving Rose another smile and walking away.
“He’s nice,” she said.
“Yeah, until he starts telling you what to do and how to do it.”
“Try listening to him once in a while. Starting with taking out this fair lady out for a date,” she smiled repeating what the King had said earlier.
“I’ll try my best fair lady.”
We walked towards the Jaguar and settled in. This was when I realized I didn’t know where to go.
“So, where do we go to have a good burger?”
“Wait, didn’t you say burgers are something you like as well?” she asked with a grin on her face.
“Well, yeah, but they usually bring it to me in the palace.”
“Lovely,” she said shaking her head.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You think royalty is a waste of time don’t you?” I asked.
She sat there for a while as I started to drive. It must have been a few minutes before she responded.
“Yes, royalty is a waste of time. I mean you’re born into it. Nothing was earned. What is the point of this royalty? What are you going to do with it? Get yourself a ‘royal bride,' have children, and call it a day? Wow, so much purpose!” she said waving her hands around with a passionate vigor to enunciate her point.
I sat looking at her at a nearby stoplight.
“Damn, you hate us that much?”
“I don’t hate you. I just don’t understand royalty in general. I mean you didn’t even go out to get a burger!”
“Yeah, that sounds pretty shitty I know.”
“At least, that’s going to change today. Ed’s Burger at the corner of that next street is good. I’ve been there before.”
“Perfect.”
She rolled down the window a little as we started to drive towards the middling joint at the end of the street. The light flickered as I parked and watched to see if anyone was following. You always had to do this as a Prince because anyone could be after you.
It was empty.
It said “OPEN” at the front of the entrance with nobody inside.
“Shall we?” I asked pointing towards Ed’s Burger.
“You’ll like it,” she said with a grin.
As we walked towards the joint, I turned around to her.
“You know about what you were saying in the car? I agree. Royalty sucks ass. We have no purpose. Everything is handed to us. I’m going to change that one day.”
“One step at a time,” she said as I opened the door to let her in.
“Of course.”
“Let’s see how long you can last before royalty kicks in. You’ll be surprised how many things you take for granted,” she said as we looked at the menu above the counter.
The man, who must have been Ed, stood behind the counter watching with astonishment as I walked up and began reading what was on the menu. He fixed his hat and rushed to the front when he noticed who I was.
“S-S-Sir Bryce. I mean, Prince Bryce. Pleased to meet you. It’s a real pleasure,” the man said fumbling over his words and managing a deeper stutter as he progressed through the sentence. His husky voice had turned into a squeaky whisper by the end.
“Surprised to see Prince Bryce here?” laughed Rose asking the cashier.
“Yes, we’ve never had royalty here before. It’s a real honor.”
“Even here you are treated differently,” she said turning around to me and pointing towards how the cashier had reacted.
“Hey, what’s your name?” I asked the man who was still gawking at me with full-hearted amazement.
“E-E-Eddie or Ed like people call me.”
“Okay Ed, I want you to treat us like we’re regular people. Don’t think I’m the Prince. Just serve us the way you would.”
“Yes of course,” the man replied confused with my request but not wanting to say anything to anger me.
“What would you like?” he added.
“Just two regular burgers with large fries and cokes,” said Rose budding in when the man asked.
“Nice,” I said.
“These are the best burgers. Trust me.”
“Of course, I’m sure they are.”
We sat down and in ten minutes the burgers came to the table, piping hot, and made with extra care. Ed had spent time making sure I was content with the burger even though I had told him not to go over the top.
Rose smiled watching as the man continued to fumble over himself with each step.
“Okay, I can’t control how other people react to my presence. That’s impossible,” I said frustrated with Ed and how he was behaving. At this point, he was now playing with the ketchup and appeared to have hurt his foot by stubbing his toe against the garbage bin.
Rose turned her head around at the commotion before laughing again.
“Clearly, they seem to panic.”
“Yeah, idiots.”
“You or them?” she laughed again happy with her joke.
I laughed too.
The rest of the night was spent feasting on the burgers, and it was one of the best feelings I had got the pleasure to have. She was bright, sexy, and had the ability to carry a conversation better than anyone else I had ever seen. She was as calm as anyone too. She was the opposite of Ed.
“I had a great time Rose,” I said as we left Ed’s Burger and made our way to the Jaguar.
“It was nice,” she said.
By the time we had arrived at the palace it was past midnight, and she looked at her watch before starting to move towards leaving.
I leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
She turned around and pecked me back.
“Miss Swan, will we have the chance to meet again? Perhaps, over ice cream or whatever regular people do?” I managed to say thinking of something she would prefer.
“Ice cream? Interesting choice,” she beamed from ear to ear with the suggestion.
“So where are you going to be staying?” I inquired as she started to leave.
“I’m not sure. I have to find Wanda first and then she’ll tell me where we are supposed to go.”
“Where did you come from?”
“Outside London. 50 kilometers out or so.”
“Ah, I see. Perhaps, you can reside in the palace for now? You will get your own room, and I am sure my father will love to have you over,” I said recollecting how King Charles had been behaving when seeing the lady I had chosen.
“I suppose we could do that,” she said waiting as I parked the car and began walking with her.
SPLASH.
A loud noise came from the left as we entered the premises.
“Wanda?” said Rose.
- Writer
