The Crown Prince's Love

Chapter 3.2

After settling in my new room in the palace I got changed in my butler clothes and spent the day with the babies. I did the usual baby feeding and changed diapers as her highness slept through all morning and noon. I spent my time looking around the twin babies with the maid, lily, as they wriggled around energetically and left us in adoration. We swooned over them for quite a long time before the babies finally slept and we could eat. Lily being the goddess that she was decided to show me around and I couldn’t have been happier. We had gotten acquainted rather quickly over our love for babies. Although I was worried about the babies, I was also curious about the palace and the people. We ate sandwiches in lunch and I felt my stomachache subsiding. I was glad I had gotten food to eat before I could’ve passed out. Yes I was a weakling. I could barely handle not having food even once in the day. Lily had laughed at me and shook her head, even she found me adorable like her little brother. I grew to adore her too, like an elder sister. I had already formed a bond with her diminishing my loneliness.

We visited kitchen which I had already seen. She took me to visit the dining hall which made me drop my jaw coz what in the Jesus heck was with all those statues and paintings, like what were they doing fancying in the dining hall? I had expected them to be in another gallery or hall but that worked too. The next gallery we visited contained all the family history and the family lineage photos. I couldn’t help but get stuck on one particular man feeling as if I had seen him somewhere but where. My mind was a blur. Lily told me all the names and pronunciations like I was an illiterate bastard- not that I wasn’t. Okay, I’ll stop being dramatic just for a bit. I can’t help it, it’s in my blood. Some pictures were missing as usual, and lily told me they had gone for repair or something which was not out of ordinary at all but I found it weird as my stomach knotted over the idea of seeing them like what was in the pictures my gut was trying to tell me about?

I came to know about a man’s legendary story of survival from a Viking clan that came here to settle down way back in 1900’s and their lineage consisting of two strong leaders afterwards. One of them was the king of their country and the other had descended the throne after the first king had passed away in war. They were sworn blood brothers. It was Princess Anna’s father who had passed away and it was her uncle Thomas who was currently sitting on the throne. There was a little back story to the king’s passing as the Queen had been involved in an affair and had run away from her family and her responsibilities. As devastated as the king came to be, he left the palace unattended to attend war and tragically passed away leaving an eldest son who was in exile over treachery, a daughter and a young 13 year old son.

The King Tomas had two twin children aged 4 and 5 and one younger daughter Mavis, aged 19 or something, probably older than me, nah I’m kidding, I’m 24. Princess Anna had just given birth and I had already come to know their names. Princess Anna’s husband was nowhere in the picture but I had heard her mention him returning from the trade soon. The last person that was left to be introduced was Prince Kayden. He looked moody as f**k. He looked pissed off and closed off in every picture there was. There was one distinct picture of him being 15 and holding a dead lion’s head. It rose chills and goosebumps on my body. I felt chilly as f**k for the first time in my life. I don’t know what was odd about that picture, maybe the fact that a teenage and a dead lion didn’t belong together let alone be in a photograph as a memento.

Afterwards, we visited the grand library which was open for all nine thousand servants including me that were present in the palace. Yes, I don’t know why so many servants were needed and to do what exactly but I never questioned my authoritative figures. I was thankful for the job so I didn’t question anything. I found fashion and food magazines and comics and novels in the library and piled them to the side which I wanted to read later on and lily laughed at me shaking her head heartily. I think she found me more entertaining then she initially had found me to be. All day I gave her weird, awkward smiles. I must’ve been losing my mind. Later on, we visited many dressing rooms and she told me all about the daily routine of all the members living in the palace. I was thankful for that as well. She was filling up my day beautifully.

While we visited the gardens, the guards told us about the babies waking up and we had terminated our roaming around. Princess Anna had woken up as well and bathed and clothed in her expensive clothes. She had invited me to their dinner and I could barely deny it as she was so persistent about it. She wouldn’t have it any other way. I was shy at first but then I accepted the offer if lily could also sit with us and Princess Anna agreed to it. Lily had elbowed me hard but it was clear that she was already too much indebted to the Princess and now to me.

“Who is him?” I heard the twin boy Allen ask her twin sister Anya as Anya just shrugged and mumbled something under her breath glaring my way from time to time. Yikes! I already felt being on the wrong side of the fence with the kids and I couldn’t help but smile at them awkwardly. Fine! Okay! I kept reminding myself not to give them creepy smiles but I couldn’t help the nervousness as I stood there near the chairs with the rest of the butlers while the family settled down to eat. The King came in and everyone bowed to him along with the Queen. I stuttered in my bow but did it nevertheless. I saw Kayden sitting down next to the twins from the corner of my eyes. Princess Anna cleared her throat as everyone’s attention was on her, “I would like to introduce you all to my butler and maid whom you all know already.” She said.

“Come sit with us Aiden. You too, Lily.”

We hesitated but played along her desires. We sat down on the far end corner and I got the seat in front of Kayden, he rolled his eyes at me and I bit back my cheeks from swearing at him. What a rotten attitude and I hadn’t even done anything, yet!

“Welcome to the family, Aiden. Glad you’re taking care of our babies.” The king said raising his glass of juice towards me and I quickly grabbed an empty glass in front of me.

“I mean, why does she need a male butler? Females ones are more reliable, besides I don’t think he’s capable of doing anything looking at his size.” Queen Rachel said looking me up and down with a disgusted look. Of course I wasn’t supposed to sit with them to eat but an order was an order. I couldn’t do anything about it. So I sat there feeling the need to shrug every once in a while. We had three course meal in breakfast and I was thankful I could get to eat before starting my day. I could feel Kayden’s eyes on me consistently. I tried my best to sit there and munch on ice cream after the toasts and eggs.

“Do you think we should ask him to play with us?” Allen asked in a hushed whisper covering his mouth and Anya shushed him up, “Don’t be ridiculous! You see Big brother being cautious of him, don’t you? We should be too! I’ll test him later.” She said sneaking glances at me from the tower of her fingers that rested in front of her face. I could hear all their whispers. Kayden was done and abruptly stood up excusing himself. He was off to the practice ground. My heart skipped a beat as our eyes met and I remembered him.

Fuck! It is him! s**t! s**t! s**t! He’s the prince!? Am I freaking out? I sure am! f**k!

We ate in silence and then we were off to do our duties. Princess Anna didn’t let me lend a hand in the clean-up. She was moody today but nice nonetheless. She rushed to prepare herself before her husband could arrive in the palace after months. I lulled the babies and they fell asleep in their cribs. Lily overlooked at them while I braided Princess Anna’s hair.

“I’ve something to discuss with you.” She said. I looked around and didn’t find anyone else there beside me, “With me?” I asked pointing at myself and she nodded.

“My in-laws are sending a maid for the babies since I’ll be staying here for some time, do you think you’ll be fine with her help around as well? Do you think you could share your duties?” She asked with a worried expression, “Ah, it’s not that I don’t trust you or I’m letting you off your duties! I just don’t feel okay with letting her deal with the babies alone. I kind of want you to keep an eye on her too! I didn’t like her back home either. Think you can do it?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll be glad to be assisted, besides we could both look after the babies at the same time and you could use your spare time dealing with your work.” I replied and she smiled looking at me from the reflection in the mirror, “Why are you so nice? Are you this nice in general or something else?” she asked in a playful tone and I shrugged. I didn’t know myself yet. I guess I was trying my best to be okay and nice and competitive and bearable and competent. I was trying to be a lot of things. I could do my duty honestly and pay her back with my sincerity and love and respect. Her phone rang and I handed it to her.

She stood up suddenly.

“What do you mean you can’t make it?” She said in a surprised and sad tone, “Oh… How long will the trade last for? When did you return from the war on the west side?” she walked towards the window. I couldn’t help but listen in to their conversation with tightly closed lips, “You sure you’ll make it to my community ball? You know I’ve those high societies to go to with the babies and the community balls as well? Without you I’ll be fine but I don’t think I can manage the image for long! You seriously have to start thinking about it! You can’t be late like last time. Uncle won’t allow it. Heck, aunt will kill you this time!”

I silently excused myself and peeked inside the babies’ room where lily sat beside the babies, “I’m back lily, you, can go now.” I said and she smiled, “I don’t have anything in particular to do. I could spare some time sitting here with you.” She said, I smiled at her words and sat down. The babies were well fed and sleeping. We decided to play chess and she won three times in a row. It’s not that I was bad at it but I let her win, okay? Not really, I was really bad at chess. Couldn’t move past some moves. Of course I knew how to play but I wasn’t that easily entertained. My mind was elsewhere at the moment.

“Should we go to the karaoke room?” She asked all seriously.

“Karaoke room!?” I asked surprised and the loud tone caught her off-guard. She laughed at me shaking her head, “Yes silly, you should see your face! You look like a surprised koala. Hecking cute too!”

“I wasn’t expecting a karaoke room of all things and that too being available for us servants.”

“Servants here get a lot of advantages, even royal physicians get to treat us poor souls. Not everyone is poor or as hardworking as you though. I know you expect a lot from your life and the way you’re too cheerful always makes me concerned about you.”

“Come on now! Are you a personality expert? You’re getting all serious on me!” I laughed and she nodded, “Kind of. I’m into astrology and stars and stuff! I’m an Infp.” I kind of expected her personality type.

“Oh, nice. I’m an Enfp. Certified annoying machine and intense talker of all times.” I said as if it was something to be proud of.

“Ah, you’re the exact same like me, I just have trouble talking to people I meet for the first time unlike you I bet.”

“Yeah I have no trouble talking to random strangers. I could probably entail all my life story to them and then be embarrassed about it later. But that’s for later, he-he.”

Hence, we visited the karaoke room, had lunch, went back to the room, played some more and returned to our rooms and Princess Anna and Queen Rachel spent their time and night with the babies. I hadn’t seen Kayden though or the elder twin babies at all. Why was I expecting to bump into him of all people? You might think I had an obsession over him or something, I caught myself thinking about him several times in just one day. Day dreaming as you call it. It was a fun day and I couldn’t wait to spend more time with the family.

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Another day was done, it was afternoon and I was free. I decided to visit the library. I spent two hours reading some marvel comics and felt drowsy as well. I had a dream. It was a nice dream. I dreamt about Kayden showing up and sitting down next to where I sat. I dreamt about him staring at me while I slept in the library. Weirdly enough it felt all too real. I jerked awake all of a sudden and caught myself from falling. The library was being cleared for someone. A butler came to me and rushed me out.

“Okay, I’m coming!” I said to him as I tied up my place and placed the books in their respective places. I turned around to leave and saw Kayden touring the place. He was making sure everything was in order and provided and accounted for.

I pressed my lips in a thin line and wanted to wait out his tour but I decided to go up to him and give him his bracelet. I walked up to him and he stopped in his track.

“Why aren’t you with the babies?” He asked.

“I had some free time.”

“Okay.” He said going to a shelf. I followed him quietly.

“Stop following me. I’m not free.” He said.

“Oh, I just had something to return.”

“What is it?”

“Um, this? I believe it’s yours.” I handed him a broken dragon bracelet with his initials. His eyes zoomed in on it and he snatched it from my hand, inspecting it closely.

“Where did you find it!?” He asked impatiently.

“I found it on the ground and turns out, it belongs to you.” I said not trying to give away the fact that I had met him outside the palace.

He shook his head looking at the bracelet and placed it in his pocket.

“You have no idea how precious this bracelet is to me. I wasn’t even aware that I had lost it.” He said, “Let me invite you to tea as a thank you.”

“Oh, there’s no need for that.”

“Oh no! I insist.”

“Prince Kayden?”

We were interrupted by a butler, he rolled his eyes at him.

“Yes?”

“You’re required in the advisory room. King’s waiting for you.” He said.

“I’ll come. Give me a second.”

“The king wants you there urgently, my Prince.”

Kayden turned to look at me and formed a thin line of his lips in an apologetic manner.

“I’m sorry, I’ve to go. We can do tea time another day. Thank you for the bracelet.”

I scratched my head in embarrassment as they walked away.

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