CHAPTER TWO - MORNING KNOCK
1434 Words
The morning sun crept quietly through the tall windows, spilling warmth across the edges of the room. For a moment, it almost looked peaceful — almost.
Liam stirred, his eyes blinking open to the unfamiliar ceiling. The air smelled faintly of lemon and soap — nothing like the rich perfume and polished marble of home. His home in Spain. Or what used to be.
He sat up slowly, rubbing his temples. The jet lag hadn’t worn off yet, and the silence of the villa pressed against his chest like a weight.
Then came a soft knock at the door. Once. Twice.
“Come in,” Liam said, his voice low and rough.
The door opened slightly, and a young woman stepped in. She couldn’t have been more than twenty — dressed neatly in a simple uniform, her brown hair tied back, her face open and gentle.
“Good morning, sir,” she said, bowing slightly. “I’m Mia. Breakfast is ready.”
Liam blinked, studying her. “You’re still here?”
“Yes, sir. The others left yesterday, but I was asked to stay back.”
“By who?” His tone sharpened.
She hesitated. “The King… or maybe Mr. Cree. I’m not sure.”
Liam scoffed quietly and stood from the bed. “So, you’re here to spy on me too?”
Mia’s brows knitted together. “No, sir. I’m just here to take care of the house — and you.”
He watched her for a long moment, as if trying to read her honesty. But her eyes didn’t waver.
Finally, he shrugged. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
⸻
The dining room was too big for two people. The long glass table stretched endlessly, sunlight glinting off the silverware. Mia moved quietly around the space, setting down a plate of eggs, toast, and fruit.
Liam sat, staring at the food like it had offended him.
Mia lingered by the side. “You should eat before it gets cold.”
He picked up the fork but didn’t respond. The silence between them was thick, broken only by the soft clink of metal against porcelain.
After a moment, Mia spoke again. “Is it always this quiet where you’re from?”
Liam looked up, expression unreadable. “No. It’s worse.”
She tilted her head. “Worse?”
He leaned back in his chair, a humorless smile curving his lips. “Noise doesn’t mean peace. Sometimes silence is better.”
Mia didn’t reply, but her gaze softened. “You must miss home.”
“Home?” Liam’s laugh was low and bitter. “I don’t have one.”
That shut the conversation down. He finished his meal without another word, stood, and grabbed his jacket. Mia cleared the plates quietly, her heart a little heavier than before.
⸻
Outside, the driver — Marcus — stood ready beside the car. Liam climbed in wordlessly. Cree was already in the passenger seat, scrolling through his tablet.
“Your schedule for today,” Cree said, handing over a folder. “Vice-Chancellor Harper will meet you personally. You’ll also have a student guide assigned by the university.”
Liam only nodded, flipping the folder open without interest. “Fine.”
The ride to Harvey Mudd College was silent. The city rolled past — palm trees, coffee shops, laughter spilling from sidewalks. California felt too alive for someone who didn’t know how to live anymore.
When they arrived, a crowd of students turned to stare. Whispers followed. Even though he was supposed to be attending “secretly,” rumors about the Spanish prince had already begun to spread.
Cree stepped out first, scanning the area before motioning for Liam to follow.
“Prince Liam Gustaf,” Vice-Chancellor Harper greeted warmly, shaking his hand. “Welcome to Harvey Mudd College. We’re honored to have you here.”
“Thank you,” Liam said with polite restraint. “Just Liam will do.”
“Of course.” The Vice-Chancellor smiled. “This is Lucia Alvarez — she’ll be your guide for the semester.”
Lucia stepped forward — a tall, elegant brunette with soft brown eyes and a calm smile. “It’s a pleasure, Prince Liam.”
He gave a small nod. “Same.”
She didn’t seem fazed by his coldness. “I’ll show you around. The campus can be confusing your first day.”
⸻
By the time the first class ended, Liam was already exhausted — not from the workload, but from the constant staring, the whispers, the people trying to get close for the wrong reasons.
As he made his way down the hallway, a voice called out behind him.
“Liam!”
He turned. A girl with honey-blonde hair and sharp confidence hurried toward him — Elisa Montrose. Her friends trailed behind, clearly excited by the interaction.
“Hola,” she said brightly, her accent thick but charming. “¿Hablas español?”
He blinked, unimpressed. “Sí. But I’m not in the mood for conversation.”
Her smile faltered slightly. “Oh. I just thought—since we’re both—”
“You thought wrong.” He turned to leave.
Elisa stood frozen for a moment, embarrassment flashing across her face. Her friends Luna and Skye quickly stepped in, touching her shoulder. “Hey, don’t take it to heart. He’s new. Probably just overwhelmed.”
Elisa’s jaw tightened. “He’ll talk. Maybe not today. But I’m not giving up that easily.”
Skye gave her a small smile. “That’s the spirit.”
⸻
Outside the main building, Lucia waited by the car, scrolling through her phone. When Liam appeared, she looked up and offered a calm smile.
“Rough first day?” she asked.
He grunted. “You could say that.”
They walked in silence for a while, until she spoke again. “People will always talk, Liam. It’s up to you what you let them believe.”
He gave her a sidelong glance. “You sound like someone who’s been through this before.”
Lucia chuckled softly. “Not exactly. But I’ve guided a few royal students before. You’re all the same at first — angry, guarded, lonely.”
Liam frowned. “I’m not lonely.”
“Of course not,” she said gently. “You’re just eating alone in a house big enough for twenty people.”
He shot her a look, but there was no malice in her tone — only quiet understanding.
By the time they reached the car, the tension had eased slightly. Lucia turned to him. “You did well today.”
He raised a brow. “Did I?”
“You didn’t punch anyone. That’s progress.”
For the first time, he laughed — short and low, but real.
Lucia dropped off at her apartment afterward.
⸻
That night, when they arrived home, Liam stepped out of the car and faced Marcus and Cree.
“Tomorrow,” he said firmly, “I’ll go alone.”
Cree frowned. “That’s not advisable. The King—”
“The King isn’t here,” Liam interrupted. “You both can stay behind.”
Marcus looked uneasy but said nothing. Cree sighed. “You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been told.”
He turned and walked inside.
⸻
The house was dimly lit, smelling faintly of soap and cinnamon. Mia stood by the kitchen counter, wiping her hands with a towel when she heard the door open.
“Welcome back,” she said softly. “How was school?”
Liam hesitated at the doorway, surprised she even asked. Most people didn’t.
He shrugged. “Boring.”
Mia smiled faintly. “First days usually are.”
“Yeah,” he muttered, dropping his bag on a chair. “Just a bunch of stares and fake smiles.”
“Well,” she said, stepping closer, “maybe tomorrow will be better.”
He looked up at her — something unreadable flickering behind his tired eyes. “You sound too sure.”
“Someone has to be,” she said with a small laugh.
Liam didn’t smile back, but his shoulders seemed to relax slightly. The silence that followed wasn’t heavy anymore — just quiet.
As he climbed the stairs to his room, Mia called out softly, “Goodnight, Liam.”
He paused, halfway up. No one had said that to him in a long time.
“Goodnight,” he murmured back.
In the stillness of the night, something shifted — not much, but enough to matter. Maybe, just maybe, this new world wouldn’t be as lonely as he thought.
- Writer
