The Brooding Prince

Chapter 4

The world stood still as I gazed back at a man's back from my station at the door. Sitting on a white and gold sofa facing the enormous windows which looked out to the royal gardens, the room seemed to get bigger whichever way you looked, the ceiling high and adorned with intricate swirls and designs only a professional painter could create. The candles and hanging portraits only served to make the room more fit for a royal.

I snapped my attention back to the hunching figure.

From where I stood I could only make out a head of dark combed hair and a lean strong back, the only noise in the room was the sound of utensils hitting a plate repeatedly as whoever the man was ate at the table.

I dared not move, my eyes glued to the person in fright. Could this be him? Could it be Prince Alexander?

Well, of course it's him. Who would dare have breakfast in the Prince's quarters if not him?

The realization shook me to the core and I felt my hands tremble under the sheets. I was in the same room as a royal. Alone. What if I did something wrong? What if I tucked a corner of the bed sheet a wrong way? What if I moved an ornament slightly out of it's original position? What if I breathed too hard?

I could feel a wave of panic travel through my spine. Remember what Sarah said, if the Prince was in one room, go clean the others.

I mentally prepared myself, looked back at the Prince's form, and slowly moved to the right side making sure not to stumble on any flaps on the luxurious carpet.

The bedroom. I had to go clean the bedroom.

I kept walking slowly but steadily while still holding the sheets. My hand reached out to the golden doorknob and I tried to twist it as much as I could without making any noise.

"You." A deep voice sounded from the other side of the room.

I froze with one hand on the door knob and the other barely keeping the sheets steady. Me? No, there must've been someone else in the room he was calling out to.

I kept turning the knob hoping I was right when I heard fingers snapping. I must be hearing things. Is he calling to me? Like a dog?

I breathed in my nerves and frustration, then slowly turned around to face the luxuriously woven sofa. I could now see the prince's side profile, still looking down at the breakfast table while holding a teacup.

Lord, was that man beautiful. Before all I heard were rumours about the handsome prince. Most of which were spread around by chambermaids and the ladies of the court. But still, all those rumours didn't give justice to his actual beauty. His dark hair a contrast to his brothers's blonde strands. His shoulders from where I could see, were much broader and stronger than his brother's. Even the way he was sitting was nothing like his.

I wished that was the only difference between them, but alas, where Prince Henry seemed caring, compassionate towards his people and family, attentive and polite, his brother seemed selfish, standoffish, charmingly conniving, arrogant and nonchalant. Or so I heard through the grape vine. I certainly hoped those rumours were false.

"I said," The prince emphasized as he slowly turned his head towards me, his patience clearly growing thin. "You." And as he said so, his eyes quickly found me still standing awkwardly next to the bedroom door. His dark eyebrows slightly raised as if to ask if I was deaf or daft.

I quickly jumped out of my stupor and stuttered my way through a jumbled sentence. "Y-yes sir! Y-your majesty!" I quickly shook my head. "Your highness! I apologize profusely, I meant no disrespect whatsoever!" I said horrified and quickly followed it with a courtesy more fit for a blacksmith than for royalty.