Escaping Her Curse—Completed

Chapter Eleven

Jessie’s heart fluttered, but she did her best to ignore it. Saying his name again brought so much with it. The emotions that surfaced were difficult to suppress, but she did her best. She hadn’t said his name in…

“Jessie?” Oliver asked, looking concerned.

Her eyes refocused on his. “Hmm?”

“Lunch?”

“Ah, yes. How do lunches usually work in the palace?”

Oliver gave her a big grin. “Well, I suppose I typically just eat at my desk. But, then again, I’m by myself. We can eat here or somewhere else, if you’d like. You choose.”

“Me? But, I don’t know very much about the palace at all! How can I pick when I’m not even aware of the places to choose from?” she giggled back.

The prince briefly closed his eyes, enjoying just the sound of her laugh. Once he made it back to reality, he reached for the bell on his desk and rang it.

“Fine. We’ll have lunch here for today and probably the rest of the week until you’ve explored the palace enough to find a good spot to dine. How does that sound?” he asked.

“So, you’re going to have us eat together every day then?”

“If I want to,” he replied with a playful grin.

Jessie opened her mouth to reply, but the door cracked open, and a petite maid crept in. She gave a small curtsy.

“You rang, m’lord?” she said just above a whisper.

“Yes, Alice. Would you please bring in lunch for me and Miss Jessie? We’ll be dining in here, today,” Oliver stated.

Alice gave Jessie a sideways glance before curtsying once more and leaving the room.

“I don’t think the maids like me very much,” Jessie commented absently.

“Why do you say that?”

“Well, if you think about it, I was just like them. And now, well, now I’m in a higher station than them simply because I’ll be working with you. Once a person is locked in their station, they don’t move. I jumped up. I’m not a noble, but I’m no longer a commoner. I’m in limbo, so to say.”

Resting his chin on a closed fist, Oliver pondered her words.

“Perhaps we should make a middle class of sorts.”

Jessie gave him a quizzical smile. “What does that even mean or look like? How would you even achieve that?”

“I want to be a different kind of king. I want to actually accomplish change and shape our kingdom so that it will last. I want to inspire the people, listen to them, and truly help them. My father and grandfather used their reign to expand the kingdom and fend off war, but I want to do more. I want to be more. I want a bustling economy where there is a possibility to change one’s station in life. If a person lives their entire life believing it doesn’t matter what he does because his life will never look different, then I’ll have failed as king. I want these people to have hope. To live for something. What’s the point if you wake up every morning hating your life?”

Jessie was lost in his words; in his ideals. At that exact moment, she knew that Prince Oliver would make an excellent king. He had the fight of his father but the heart of a dreamer. It was the perfect mix to win over the hearts of his people but protect them as well. She had to catch herself from tearing up from the thought of him being king, and then she reminded herself that she had to be careful.

All her hard work ten years ago could be dashed in a moment because of her carelessness. She couldn’t get into the same pattern of falling for him harder. It wouldn’t do her any good. He had so obviously moved on from who she had been, which is what she had wanted. It was what she needed.

“You will be that king, Oliver,” she said, her heart fluttering as his name slipped off her tongue. “Will be that and more. I’m sure of it.”

“How? How can you know? My father says I’m too optimistic, and that I can’t see the real world problems we’re facing. He says he needs me to harden before he can leave the crown in my hands. My father thinks of me as a weak boy who hasn’t yet learned the harshness of the world.”

“He couldn’t be farther from the truth,” she smiled. “Though, I’m not sure you’ve ever truly experienced the harshness of the world. I mean…” she gestured to all around her. “At least, I would hope that you haven’t had to experience it.”

Oliver broke eye contact with her. His gaze fell to the floor. “I’ve had my fair share of hardships,” he replied quietly.

“I’m so sorry. Your mother, the Queen. I spoke so carelessly!” Jessie exclaimed, her hands shifting to cover her mouth. “I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Oliver, please,” he half-smiled at her. “And it’s alright. Let’s not dwell on such matters any longer. Things in the past should remain there, right? What good does it do for the future to always think of the past? Those who have left us did so for a reason, wouldn’t you say?”

Jessie startled. “Pardon?”

He shook his head. “Ignore me.”

Waving his hand in the air as if to wave the entire conversation away, he settled in his chair. It wasn’t a moment longer before Alice arrived with a cart. Jessie wanted to pursue the topic further, her mind reeling, but decided against it. Nothing good could come of letting that conversation continue.

Instead, she watched as Alice set up the luncheon on the table in between the couch and the chairs. The maid set up two plates, glasses, and served the food for them. Jessie was amazed at the spread she had put out for them.

“Thank you,” Jessie said to Alice as she began to withdraw from the room.

Alice shot her a stern look and then ducked out of the room. Oliver hadn’t even noticed, as he had already begun eating his steak. Choosing to do the same, Jessie cut a piece of the meat and placed it into her mouth, which watered instantly. She had to close her eyes to enjoy the burst of flavor that exploded onto her taste buds. The meat was so tender and held such a bold flavor. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate this well.

Probably ten years ago, her brain flashed.

She paused, ignoring the tricks her mind tried to play on her.

“Well? How is it?” Oliver asked, pausing mid-bite.

“Scrumptious. Simply divine,” she replied.

Oliver was taken aback. “I mean, it's good, but is it really that good?”

Jessie shook her head at him and tilted her head to the side. “Try the staff food, and then we’ll talk.”

“The staff food isn’t like this?”

“Oh Oliver,” she laughed. “Your title really shows through with questions like that.”

Jessie was practically crying from the naivety of the question. She hadn’t heard a noble, let alone the prince, sound so snobbish in her entire life. It was very apparent in that moment that the prince was a by-product of his environment. He hadn’t known anything else because he couldn’t have. He’d never had a moment to think any differently.

Oliver frowned. He wasn’t accustomed to being laughed at by others. And, he certainly did not like it, no matter how beautiful her laugh sounded.

“Tell me what a typical meal is for the staff then.”

Jessie shrugged. “Bread and soup most days, at least at the Laroche’s. Hardy stew in the winter. Oh! We got real meat for holidays, which was always fun. But, uh, yeah. I’d say always bread, and either soup or sometimes older meats with a hunk of cheese.”

“What do you think our staff receive?”

She shrugged again. “I don’t know? The same? Why not go and see?”

Oliver’s eyes lit up, and he jumped from his seat. “What a marvelous idea!”

“What? Right now?”

He nodded. “Yes. Right now. Hurry and finish. I want to make real change, right? Why not start now? Who says I have to wait until I’m king? This is a small thing that I doubt father will fight me on.”

Jessie stuffed the few remaining bites into her mouth before Oliver grabbed onto her hand and pulled her away from the table. The small amount of contact made her cheeks blush. The grip of his hand on hers brought back memories she wished to forget.

“You okay?” Oliver asked, trying to peer into her face.

She chuckled nervously. “Of course. Come on! Let’s go.”

Jessie rushed out of the door and started down the hallway. She felt Oliver fall into step beside her and reach for her hand again. Before she could move it out of his reach, he clasped her hand and twirled her around. Her heart beat furiously.

“The kitchen is the other direction,” Oliver chuckled.

“Right,” she smiled sheepishly. “I knew that.”

He gave her a cheeky grin before letting go of her hand. Jessie couldn’t help feeling sad at the loss of warmth his hand provided. Though she attempted to chastise herself for longing for something she knew she could never have, a part of her was grateful for the unexpected second chance of being in his life.