The Secret Of The Dragon Queen

CHAPTER 3

The Kings POV:

Word got around that the princess was missing and I immediately went in search of Alrea. I'm sure she would be thinking the worst and I had assumed correctly. As soon as she saw me she burst into tears. I hushed her and soothed her, "It's alright, the guards will find her." Alrea, even in the tears of her fear she is beyond beautiful. I comfort her by telling her everything will be alright and Melody will be found.

And once she is I am doubling the guards on her so she is never out of sight. Not until she can learn to express her whereabouts and not cause so much worry on everyone, especially her mother.

I am scared of the same thought as I head with Alrea outside she looks to both sides of her and then calls to one of the guards and asks about the forest woods, I had never thought she may have wandered off that far but apparently her mother has. I will have to ask her later what made her think of it.

A half hour had passed and by God the Guard was carrying my daughter over his shoulder all the while she was telling him to put her down. I stood behind my wife as she nodded to put her down and he did so gently as he stood in formation.

Melody slowly turned around and of course with her mother being so frightened, smothered her in kisses crying again. I waited until she was done when she started to speak only for Melody to interrupt and sincerely apologize.

I know she understood the seriousness of her actions and seemed greatly ashamed in making everyone, especially her mother, worry like that.

I of course was also relieved that she had been found, but I also have a duty as the king to stay calm and collected.

As such I laid down my rules and doubled the guards.

"But father that's not fair!" Melody tried to protest but this was the last straw to be plucked of my 'going easy' on her.

Not only had she worried her mother half to death but also gave her maid a frightening image of her being missing.

I said my peace and walked away.

I was upset with my daughter but I also know it can be quite boring being in the castle all the time and then having to be outside with a guard at all times as well.

I had even considered letting her go out today without the guards as a birthday present or at the very least a far enough distance from her to give her space but sometimes things don't go as planned.

I entered my study and found myself pacing. "was I too hard on her?" I thought to myself.

"perhaps I could have been a little easier on her " I sat down at my desk and covered my face with my hands.

What was I going to do with her?

She is so full of life and adventure. I worry she may be too innocent for this world and her to become Queen in 2 years time. I feel like there is no time left for her to be a child.

I sat up. Coming to the conclusion that I was right. Melody's childhood was over and she needed to know that. After dinner I will talk with her.

I will let her know that playtime is over and it's now time to be serious in all matters. I must act accordingly if I want this information to sink in.

Although my daughter is full of spirit, she is also full of commands and is very smart for her age.

Seeing her sincerely apologize today has confirmed my beliefs that she is in fact ready to start her royal duty training. She will be an amazing Queen one day.

To see her rule in my place will take a lot of work. She will also need to marry not too long after her crowning ceremony in a few years.

Although, that one may be hard to convince her of. We may need to have a few balls here and there so that she may meet the right prince for her liking.

Do the same that my mother once did for me, and let me choose my bride.

That is how I met Alrea. She was not a princess of choice but she was a maid once. Accompanying a princess as her right hand maid. At first glance, I knew she was the one. The one I would marry and love for the rest of my life.

flashback: prince Richard's ball

I was bored to death of these damn dance parties. I was never going to meet a princess at this rate and at this point I'm not even looking at the princesses anymore, now I'm looking around for a strong drink to drown by boredom and possibly get a good lay.

That is when a princess came up to me with her right hand maid. She was beautiful for a maiden and was not looking anywhere near me but at her feet instead. I cleared my throat, and she did not stir. The princess was explaining how she would make a wonderful bride and be a new change to the way things were blah, blah, blah, I cleared my throat again only this time for the princess to ask if I was alright.

I whispered like I couldn't talk, "just need a glass of water, would your maid mind pouring me a drink?" my voice cracked as I fake whispered.

"oh yes of course" she turned to her maid "Alrea, the prince is thirsty, pour him a drink." the princess said coldly

"Alrea" I repeated her name in my head.

She poured me a drink and when she handed it to me I said in my normal voice, "Thank you, Alrea," and she made eye contact with me for the first time and for a moment the world stopped, time stopped and everyone just seemed to disappear, she had the most memorizing chocolate brown eyes I had ever seen and I swear I could just stare into them all day.

She smiled and blushed as she said "You're welcome young prince." and went back her place next her princess.

The princess then loudly cleared her throat, interrupting the beautiful moment I had shared with her maid. The princess even looked a little jealous that I had paid more attention to her maid than her own selfish person.

My mother excused the princess and her maid and gave me a look of warning.

I shrugged my shoulders and said "what?" as if I didn't already know.

"You know very well Richard, that she is a maid, not a princess. The deal was you can choose a princess to your liking. Maids are not princesses."

I rolled my eyes and counter said," if I remember correctly, mother, you said anyone to my liking and maid or not, I feel something for her." I said looking in her direction, I scrunched my face in confusion. "I do not have a lust for her like I do with the other maids mother," I paused, trying to find the right words "she is...different somehow."

I looked at my mother, she was watching me and she knew the feeling I was talking about. The feeling of the person that completes you wholeheartedly.

"For the maid?" my mother sounded shocked. It was right then that I knew, I had pursue this maid named Alrea. She was indeed very different.

Once the ballroom was done introducing the guests I was set free from my boring chair and sent to mingle with them.

Of course my only intention was to Alrea. Even her name was different and each time I softly spoke her name, the more I wanted to get to know her.

End Flashback