THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER

CHAPTER 4

Please read the author's note below

BEVERLY'S POV

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I closed up my store by 12 PM. I had to be at Angel, the wind Noble, house to work my shift as the maid. I hurried home to prepare meals for my parents and brother so that they can eat once they return home. When I finished cooking, I packed a piece of pie that I will eat when I arrive at Angel's. I went to my room, had a quiet bath and got dressed in my maid outfit, which is a typical maid outfit consisting of a white mini dress, black apron, knee-length black sock, black flat shoes and a black and white headpiece. As I got to the living room, I saw Mike and James. I rolled my eyes at them because I knew they want to follow me to work. They do this all the time.

"You guys seriously have to stop following me around", I said.

"Come on. It is always fun when we fly together. Besides, I'm a shapeshifter. I can change into a dragon and fly us there", Mike tried to persuade.

I sighed. It's true, I did like it when we all go together. It is always fun and all. We get to talk about all kinds of stuff, but then I sometimes feel like they are overprotective. They are always hovering arounf=d me and it gets quite uncomfortable. Originally, it used to be just Mike and James that was always around me but after about 2 months of me meeting Ashley, she also joined them in their overprotective act. 

    It's like they ganged up on me. 

I finally agreed for them to accompany me to work. Mike shapeshifted and flew three of us to Angel's house. They dropped me in front of the house since they weren't invited and I was going there for work, not for fun. I went into the house through the maids' quarter. I saw some of the maids going into the kitchen. I put my bag and change of clothes into my assigned locker. I went into the kitchen to get straight to work. There I saw Angel laughing with one of the maids.

    Besides Ashley, Angel is one of the kindest Nobles ever. She is a very sweet girl. She is very free with us maids. She doesn't treat us as maids or servants. Sometimes, you will see the maids together, talking and laughing, if they do these at other Nobles' houses, they will be fired and punished. There are many times she and Ashley, whenever she visits, will sit with us maids and just talk about anything and everything. There are many times, she will come to the maid quarter to eat with us. Many times, she adds up our salaries, gives us loans, early vacations etc. As a wind Noble, her house is mostly shattered due to her involuntarily releasing winds around the house, 

"Beverly", she greeted as she spotted me. She walked over to me and pulled me into a hug, "how are you?"

"Hi, Angel. I'm fine, thank you." I responded as I hugged her back. 

"Did your bodyguards follow you today?", she joked, referring to Mike and James, as the others laughed.

I laughed and responded, "They sure did."

After that, we all got back to work as Angel had somewhere to go. Work was quite fun and quick as we just made the chores do themselves: the brooms were sweeping by themselves, the dishes were cleaning each other, etc. As others did some basic chores, I decided it was time to begin making the meals as it was already 8:30 PM and Angel and her brother, Jared, will soon arrive.

    Jared is Angel's younger brother and he is also a wind Noble, which is not a surprise as it is a family gift. When I first began to work for Angel, Jared used to be a certified asshole. He picked on me every single time. For example, if I dusted the table, he'll control the wind to blow more dust on it and so much much. But after a while, we became cool. I guess it started when I helped him on an occasion. Now, when we see each other, we stop to talk, joke and laugh.

    By 9 PM, I was done with all my chores and Angel and Jared had returned home. I sometimes leave work by 9, 9:30 and sometimes, 10 PM, but I remember Star had asked me to meet her at the blue river by 10 PM, so I had to leave now. I told Angel I was leaving and she permitted me to do so. I went to my assigned locker, changed my clothes, took my bag and went outside. As I got out, I saw Mike and James leaning on a tree.

"Hi guys", I said as I approached them, "I'm done for the day".

"This early?", Mike asked incredulously.

"Yeah. You always leave by 10 PM during the weekdays, why are you leaving early today", James asked suspiciously.

"I'm just tired. You know I barely got enough sleep last night due to the two weavings I was trying to complete, the ones Michelle bought today", I lied. I didn't tell them I was meeting with Star tonight because, for some reason, I feel like she just wants me there and not these overprotective two.

"That's true. We should get you home early so you can rest."James said with a worried expression. Mike changed into a dragon again and flew the three of us back to my house. After they dropped me, they left telling me good night. I'm so happy it's today Star chose to invite me because this is one of the few nights the two of them leave my night at night.

    I went inside my house quietly, knowing my parents and brother will be asleep. I went straight to the bathroom and had a quick shower as it was already 9:45 PM. When I finished, I got dressed in a simple and plain dark blue dress and a black cloak to cover my face in case someone is still outside. I peeped outside my window to make sure no one is there, especially any animals since Mike used to shapeshift into different animals at night and stay outside my window. When I was completely sure the coast was clear, I sneaked out and went towards the blue river.

    When I arrived at the blue river, Star wasn't there yet. I decided to wait for a few minutes because this is the first time she has ever asked me to come somewhere so I'm sure she must have a reason to be late. I sat by the riverbank to look at the stars and the purple moon( it was the purple moon tonight). As I was thinking, my hand suddenly caught fire, I quickly dipped it into the river. As I was quenching the fire, I heard the bush move. I quickly got up and looked in that direction.

"Star? Star, is that you?" I queried, getting scared.

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Asher's POV

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I woke up to Aiden pulling my legs. I looked at the time and noticed it was 7 AM. 

"What do you want?", I asked sleepily.

"Waking you for breakfast, duh", he replied sassily.

"Why? why didn't the maids come today?", I asked as I sat up.

"Nothing. Just felt like waking you up", he shrugged.

I rolled my eyes and got up from my bed. I went into my beautifully designed ensuite bathroom to have my bath. When I finished, I got dressed in my spearing outfit, as I always train after breakfast with, my six protectors. I went out of my bathroom and Aiden and saw Collins and Steve already waiting for me. The four of us then made our way over to breakfast while making small talks. As we got to the dining, Steve and Collins left us to join the rest of my protectors to have their breakfast in their own dining. It was just my mom, aunt, Aiden and I that were present as my dad and his dad went on a meeting in another kingdom.

"Is our deal still on?", my aunt asked as we greeted them.

"Yes, aunt Sally", I answered.

"I'm sure he'll find someone", Aiden said being supportive.

"Let's hope so, if not, he'll have to attend the ball", my mom said with a smirk.

"You'll be surprised", was all I said.

    The rest of breakfast was spent with us making small talks about the kingdom and so on. When we finished breakfast, Steve and Collins joined us and we made our way to the training ground. Today, I will be training with Johnathan. 

    He is the quietest of all my protectors. He can spend days without saying anything unless spoken to. What I hear most from him is, "yes, your highness", "no, your highness" and nothing more, unless I ask a question to which he will respond with a short answer. When I asked Collins and Steve if this is also how he behaves with the protectors, they said yes. We trained for about six hours and ended the training session by 2 PM. Once the training was done, we all made our way to how rooms to freshen up. By 3 PM, we went for our lunch.

    Most of the day was spent with us doing royal stuff. Aiden and I had to attend two meetings on behalf of our dads as they were not around. There was much paperwork to be done so we were kept busy till around 6:30 PM which is when we had to prepare for dinner. I was anxiously waiting for 10 PM. I couldn't wait to see who Star wants me to see. I guess Steve, Collins and Aiden noticed because they frequently pointed out that I was staring at the clock. 

    Once we were done with dinner around 8 PM, four of us retired back to my room.

"Seems like someone is anxiously waiting for his date", Aiden teased as he sat on my bed.

"Yup. He just couldn't stop staring at the clock", Steve smirked.

I rolled my eyes at them as I ignored their teases. 

"Whoever the girl is, she had better be pretty, because it will be a waste of anxiety if she turns out ugly", Collins said thoughtfully, "I already think you are in love with her without even meeting her yet"

Steve and Aiden laughed. I ignored them as I magically made four common-looking outfits for four of us to make us appear as commoners. One of the advantages Royals and Protectors have is that we are able to hide our auras and appear as Commoners or Nobles.

As we quickly got dressed, we began to discuss our plan to sneak out. As a prince, my security is higher so it will be difficult. When it was 9:30, Collins had come up with an idea. I magically made a hologram of four of us and added a little aura into them, then left them in my room, so anyone who is outside will feel or auras and think we are in. Then I also placed a spell on the door so no one will be able to come inside.

    When it was finally a few minutes past 10 PM, we teleported ourselves to the training ground, where we had agreed to meet Star. As she saw us, she teleported four of us to wherever she wanted to take us. It looked like we were near a river as we could feel the water. I looked towards the river and saw a small figure bent over, looking like she was washing her hands. As I moved to get a closer look at her, I touched the leaves, allowing them to make a noise. She immediately got up and looked in our direction.

    She was so beautiful.

She looked closer to see if anyone was there.

"Star? Star, is that you?", she asked with a frightened voice. I looked at Steve, Collins and Aiden. How does she know Star. Just as she began to walk in our direction, Star pushed me forward and we both ended in front of her.