His Majesty (Slide Away)

10.

That afternoon they had spent hours in the palace library, looking through old photo albums in a special bookshelf dedicated to royal weddings from the past. It had taken John a while to find his mother's album, with her apparently being estranged from her ex-groom, but eventually he had dug it out and dusted it off, much to Paul's delight.

Paul was almost certain that he hadn't been present in a library as large as this for at least five years, and hadn't realised how much he missed it. He, Mike and his mother used to spend hours in Rotherham town surfing the shelves for new releases or history non-fiction books to read.

His mother had been an immense figure in teaching himself and Michael how to read and write, following up on the tutor's lessons with her own. Paul had recalled having read almost every book in his and Mike's own library when growing up.

"My mother taught me to read..." Paul spoke, taking a single book from the shelf and blowing the dust from it.

"She did?" The Prince asked, intrigued.

"Yes. Well- we had a tutor, of course, but my mother thought it best we had extra lessons. Reading and writing were two of her favourite pass-times, especially reading. She loved everything that was creative. Her favourite book was Wuthering Heights, by Em-"

"Emily Brontë..." John answered abruptly, an excited look in his eyes. Paul tilted his head in John's direction, grinning.

"You are a fan?"

"My mother... I recall it being her favourite book, also. She has always been a big fan of the Brontë sisters' novels. She used to read their books to me when I was younger, before she moved away. I am sure we will have it somewhere." Paul watched with excited eyes as an enthusiastic John began to scan the shelves.

He searched vigorously, having pulled out every book under the 'B' section of the shelves and even those around it to check. He had to have been searching intensely for at least fifteen minutes before he finally admitted defeat.

"10,000 books in this entire library, 279 under the letter 'B', and yet it is not here... None of the Brontë sisters' books are here..."

"It is okay..."

"No... I know we have it somewhere... Hold on, perhaps she took them with her when she left..." he spoke, a somber look appearing on his face. Paul's heart twisted instantly, wanting the smile back.

Paul wasn't entirely sure of the relationship that John had with his mother, but he figured they mustn't have been too close. All of John's close family lived together in the Palace, except from his omega sister; who was married, and his mother; who was no longer married. Every time John had referred to his mother it had been in past tense.

"Perhaps... Perhaps there is another copy somewhere else. Maybe in another area of the palace?" Paul suggested, eager to bring that smile back to John's lips.

His eyes filled with enlightenment at that suggestion, much to Paul's delight.

"You may be right!" He beamed. "My sister, Victoria... I am ever so sure she has a copy."

The Omega's eyes lit up.

"Oh, that's amazing!"

"I was due to visit her anyway, she wishes to see me for dinner sometime." John smiled, before his eyes lit up in delight. "You- You could come with me! If... If you wish to, of course." He quickly added, his tone calmer."

Paul knew that it would be a good opportunity to get to know the family members of his future husband, but at the same time he was only just getting used to the rules here at Aquitaine Palace. Victoria's home was sure to have different rules, and Paul knew he was sure to slip up at some point. He had already upset the Queen; upsetting the princess too in his first twenty four hours here would be just awful.