The Elusive Prince

Chapter 9: Getting to know the Lost Prince and his flustered little brother

Merideth

After that little stunt in History class, and getting caught nonetheless, Cassian seems to have stopped trying to talk to me for the rest of the class. He was probably still mortified and terrified about being caught and called out in the middle of a lecture that he decided to be a good little lamb and listen intently to the lecturer in front instead.

Currently it was the last class for the first half of the day, which was Literature, before lunch and I can just feel the atmosphere around me was just oozing of excitement to get out of this class already. That aura is particularly strong around Luna and Kellen but I guess it was just a coincidence.

I just know everybody was staring at the big brown wall clock placed smack dab on top of the middle of the whiteboard, as we all counted the last remaining minutes before the bell rang announcing the end of class and lunch. When it get’s around this time, the whole class is practically restless already and our Literature Teacher Miss April didn’t really seem to mind that and she usually drones out our lesson very slowly as she extends her words because she knows we aren’t listening anyway. She’s a pretty cool teacher and was quite young too so I guess in a way, she can relate to us.

Not even a few minutes later, the bell rang and true to chaotic nature, the class erupted into cheers which only made Miss April smile as she closes her book and bids us goodbye and for us to enjoy lunch. We are really thankful for putting her in this time slot because if it was anyone else other than her, the teacher would’ve minded very much about our attitude but thank the principal for arranging her to be put in this time.

After Miss April exited the room, our classmates immediately decided to swarm into my area because of course they were going to interrogate Cassian who was currently unaware of the pack of wolves ready to devour him as he calmly puts his notes away. I almost felt sorry for him but oh well, I guess I’m no different because I’m also part of that pack and want to get to know the “fresh meat.”

Cassian never knew what hit him until Kellen pulled the chair in front of him and began introducing himself enthusiastically which made the prince jump a bit at the sudden loud noise.

“Hey! I’m Kellen Sharpe! Nice to meet you new meat! I hope you enjoy your stay with us!” he said he extends out his hands to Cassian who was a little red from the sudden attention I guess. Looking at his reddening face made me think if he really was shy as he said.

“Umm Cassian. And I’m sure I will.” He smiled gently before taking ahold of Kellen’s hand who only shook his hand vigorously which almost made me wince because Kellen’s hand shakes were notorious for being painful but it seems that Cassian didn’t mind or at least he was good at hiding it.

“Heya I’m Luna Wilde ya know like the Moon! Nice to meet you! I hope you’re not strict like Amity over here!” Luna exclaimed which made Amity protest but Luna laughed instead.

“I’m Amity Craig, the Class President and is the one responsible for holding Luna back and this whole class when they go crazy. If you need help with anything you can always ask me, if ever Merideth is busy I would be glad to help.” And of course Amity will offer help like the angel that she was. Of course I just knew I could rely on her if I was busy to answer the lost prince’s questions but hearing her offering help herself was a relief.

“Heya I’m Kairo Sanford. I hope we can be close friends because you seem chill and not crazy like Kellen is.” Kairo said while nudging Kellen on the side which earned a laugh from Cassian.

“Yeah sure, you seem pretty chill yourself.” He said which made Kairo laugh in return.

“Don’t let his façade fool you Cassian, Kairo is annoying as heck. I hope you’re ready to be bugged for the rest of your life.” I teased which made Kairo yelp and the class laugh as well as Cassian.

“Ouch sweetie. After all the years we spent with each other and all the times you told me you love me. Was that all a lie? You wound me Merideth.” He said while grasping his chest tightly as if he was really hurt. I just snorted and the whole class just laughed at our banter and flirting.

“Are you two together?” Cassian asked innocently, although there was something else behind that question but I couldn’t seem to recognize it. Maybe it was just me.

“Goodness no. I would not get together with this guy. Just imagining being with his whiny ass makes me scared.” I joked.

“That’s not what you said a few days ago sweetie. Were you perhaps playing with my feelings?” Kairo replied which made the class giggle because we were always like this. If I’m not teasing the living hell out of him, we were flirting with each other.

“Yes. Now can we go grab lunch now? I’m hungry.” I said as I stand up from my seat and began moving towards the door.

“Ouch Mori, trying to divert the topic away from your love of me. I can understand though. Now let’s go grab lunch!” the change between sad to cheerful from Kairo’s sentence made the class laugh as they agreed that lunch would come first before interrogation because real meat was more important than the new “fresh meat” that was the Lost Prince of Trost. 

As we were walking towards the mess hall, the other students immediately start noticing the new addition to the class because A. They see a new face and B. He was currently surrounded by the whole class who was trying to strike a conversation with him.

Gossips and whispers of the new addition to our class and on top of that the new addition being the Lost Prince of Trost followed us along as we head into the mess hall to grab lunch. I’ve been leaving them from questioning Cassian because he seems to be having fun and also I was currently thinking about what I should get for lunch.

As soon as we arrived, the class split a bit for the reason of us sharing lunch with our friends and aides from different classes because as much as we were close with each other, we still had different friend groups outside of our class and lunch was the only time where we can spend it with them because for breakfast and dinner, we were supposed to be together because they need to check if someone got abducted or something in one class.

Seeing as Cassian was new and didn’t establish friends yet I assume, and also given the fact that he was my responsibility, I drag him along to get lunch.

“What do you like? I can ask the server for you.” I said as I began pointing on my lunch which consists of a bowl of chicken soup and a burger. I know I had a diet to follow but I don’t get fat anyway because my metabolism is always working on overtime. Cassian seems to be ready to refuse my offer so I said something before he can.

“And before you refuse, I won’t change my mind so better hurry up.” I said a little teasingly so he doesn’t think I’m forcing him. He only smiled gently and pointed towards the set of skewered barbequed meat and a bowl of rice along with the same chicken soup I ordered. I nodded, satisfied that he didn’t fight me against it and asked the lunch lady for it.

After getting our tray and thanking the lunch ladies, I dragged him along with me to the table with Hailey, Ava who was currently in a conversation with Hailey, probably about their class, and Sumire and her own aide Faye and Reiss. As soon as our respective aides saw us, they immediately greet us and we just greet them back. Hailey was looking at Cassian, whom I dragged with me, intently.

“Hailey what are you staring at?” I asked as I made Cassian sit down. The other aide also look at Cassian, clearly surprised about his presence on our table. I rarely make boys sit with us, not even Kairo who usually visits me during lunch to flirt casually.

“I’m just surprised Your Highness. I wasn’t informed of this. Do I need to change your schedule or something?” Hailey asked clearly getting the fact that Cassian was placed under my duty. I just sent her an amused glance in which she just smiled at me.

“I don’t know yet Ley, I sure the admin will send you a new schedule if it comes to it. Anyways, to formally meet him…” I nudged Cassian a bit as I looked at him with a knowing look in which he thankfully understood because he started introducing himself.

“Umm I’m Cassian Strauss, the Prince of Trost. Nice to meet you. I’m sorry for crashing on your table.” He said as he bowed a bit clearly shy which made me smile internally.

“Oh that’s alright Your Highness, as long as Ms. Merideth and the others are okay with it, so are we.” Faye said gently which soothed Cassian’s nerves a bit because the tension in his shoulders loosened.

“Ah! Perhaps, that new guy Shiloh is your aide?” Hailey said which made Cassian look at her, clearly Hailey was right.

“Ah yes, he was my adoptive brother from back before I was found and I decided to make him my aide.” He said.   

“That’s nice seeing as having someone close to you outside of being a royalty can be comforting especially with the adjustment period.” I said while starting to chew on my burger because I was hungry already and I can’t function when I am hungry so I eat.

“Yeah. I’m glad Father agreed with making Shiloh my aide instead of someone I don’t know.” Cassian said while also beginning to eat. The others were also digging into their own lunch as we continued to chat.

“Well of course. An aide's duty is to be beside the person they're supposed to help so having a complete stranger as your aide would be very hard to get used to. That’s the reason why we stay with the person we’re supposed to serve from an early age to establish a bond that was grounded on trust.” Faye added with her wisdom in which we all just nodded in agreement.

“Speaking of your aide, where is he? Isn’t he supposed to be with you?” Ava asked which made Cassian pale a bit with the thought of forgetting his brother/aide. He immediately stood up and his eyes darted across the wide expanse of the mess hall where people were bustling around, enjoying their own lunch. I was about to calm him down and reassure him that his brother must be somewhere around when he visibly calmed down when his eyes landed on someone. Everyone on our table followed where Cassian was looking at and found that the person he was looking at was just standing there like a statue and just staring back at him like a fish and was in fact Shiloh because of the look of recognition that crossed the other aides’ faces.

“Oh there he is. He seems to be a bit hesitant to go here. Hailey, could you go fetch him for Cassian please?" I asked Hailey who was already up her seat as she bowed her head down a little and strode to where a very hesitant Shiloh was standing. Hailey said a few words to him, which I believe was an invitation and explanation because Shiloh’s face cleared suddenly as he walked alongside Hailey back to our table.

“Hello, you must be Cassian’s adoptive brother and aide. I’m Merideth Staiys and these are Ava Vergara and Reiss Kendry and Sumire Reese. I’m sure you’ve already met Hailey and Faye in your class. It’s nice to meet you.” I introduced us and extended my arm towards him for a handshake but he seems to be shaken up a little. I was confused so I turned my attention to Cassian instead who was only looking at me and then proceeded to reach out to Shiloh who was looking at my extended arm like a fish. Cassian’s touch must have snapped some sense back into him because he suddenly was very flustered as he took ahold of my arms and shook it gently before letting go.

“Umm I-I am Sh-Shil-Shiloh Cordery. It’s very nice to me-meet all of you Your Highness.” He bowed a 90 degree angle which made me a little flustered because although I am highly respected in school, nobody has bowed to me that far in my years in Irini.

“Umm it’s nice to meet you too Shiloh. Please straighten up, I’m not quite used to being bowed down upon by someone close to my age so if you could straighten up, I would appreciate it very much.” I said gently, which thank God he straightened up but looked visibly flustered with his burning red cheeks and frantic eyes that was darting between me and possibly Cassian who was beside me.

“Umm sorry Merideth, he’s just very shy and he still doesn’t know how to act towards royals like you so I’m sorry if he made you uncomfortable somehow.” Cassian apologized for his brother which I thought was very endearing.

“Oh that’s quite alright. Royal life is very hard to get used to. No need to be so flustered with me Shiloh and no need to be sorry too ahahaha. I wasn’t angry just a little uncomfortable but that’s okay now. Anyways, in Irini Alliance, titles are loosely used here so no need to be so formal.” I clarified which made both Cassian and Shiloh sigh in relief which I thought was a little funny so I quirked up a smile while the other people in the table were also trying to hide their smile behind closed fists.

“That’s right Cassian’s lil bro! You can just be comfortable with us! Also if you need help with anything regarding how to be an attendant, you could ask them. I’m sure they’ll help you!” Reiss said enthusiastically which made the both of them relax a bit. Good, I don’t want them uncomfortable, not only because it was my duty but also because I want them to enjoy Irini.

“Yeah, come sit down now. Can’t have you standing there while we eat. Have you ordered yet?” Faye said while grabbing Shiloh’s hand gently and making him sit down beside her. Shiloh was flustered yet again as he stammered out a no and Faye just smiled and excused them so they could go order. We just smiled and got back to eating and going back to idle chatter as we go through our day.

I was eating calmly all the while laughing at something Sumire said when I felt a small and gentle tug on my sleeve. I turned around to see Cassian looking at me with his hand still on my sleeve.

“Umm thank you for that. Shiloh is very shy and doesn’t know how to act yet seeing as we just got thrust into this lifestyle so thank you for doing that I guess.” He said a little timidly which made me coo inside because man, that’s cute. I just looked at him, particularly his mismatched eyes that were shining with happiness at the act of kindness and understanding towards his brother and that’s so freaking adorable.

“That’s nothing. I’m sure you’re just as uncomfortable as I felt earlier with thinking if you messed up or something and being surrounded by people you don’t know and suddenly trying to adjust to the royal life so I can understand. And really no need to thank me, it was the logical thing to do and I just want you guys to be comfortable here in Irini.” I smiled gently which he returned with the same vigor which made his eyes sparkle and made his eyes even prettier. I guess, looking at that expression and making him comfortable to this new lifestyle can suffice for me having a new responsibility. At least I can help them and make friends with them along the way.