The King's Guard (BL)

Math

"I will be back in six months time." My father told me. "You will do great, my boy." He placed his hand to my shoulder.
"I am not too sure."
"Trust me. It is just for a few months. I trust you, my son."
I nodded.
"Remember you have Presley and Nathan. Presley is practically my second in command. He knows my laws and what I'd do in certain situations. If you are ever lost, do not be afraid to ask him questions."
"Yes, father."
"Bring Nathan with you everywhere. You are not to leave this castle without him by your side, do you understand me, Aspen?"
"Yes, father."
"Good."

He pulled me into a tight hug.

"Take care of yourself, my son."
"You as well, father."
He let me go and slapped his hand onto my shoulder.

"You'll do great." he smiled.

A man on another horse came riding in.
"The ship is ready, sire." He stated as his steed came to a halt.

My father nodded and hopped on his own.

"Six months time." he reiterated to me. I nodded and watched them turn away and ride off.

I walked back inside the castle once they were no longer in sight.

"Is there anything I can get for you, your majesty?"
"Not at the moment, Presley, but thank you."
"Of course, your highness." he bowed and began to walk away.

"Presley." I called.
"Yes, your highness?" he came to a stop and turned around to face me.
"Why didn't you correct the way Nathan spelled his name?"
"Well, I can only assume he's been spelling it that way for a while now. I wouldn't want to hurt the poor boy's spirit by telling him he spells his own name wrong. I think I'd rather keep that much a secret."
"I understand. I also have great news!"
"And what is that?"
"He's a genius!" I said excitedly.
"Pardon?"
"Nathan. He's a genius. A math genius. I gave him several problems and he solved them in a matter of seconds. I even went into multiplication and triple digits. He solved them all."
"You don't say?"
"I do. It was miraculous work. Very unexpected. You should see."
"I would love to."
"I'll show you now! Are you busy?"
"Not at the moment, no."
"Great! I'm sure he's out in the stables somewhere. We'll be back soon, stay here!" I instructed and hurried off to the stables.

I found my horse not too far outside and decided to ride to the stables to move quicker.

"Good evening, pretty girl." I greeted my horse, Snow.

She had a coat of bright white and ran fast as lightening. She'd been my prized possession for years. I hopped on and we headed towards the stables.

...

We arrived and I saw Lucas brushing down one of the horses.

"Hello, Lucas." I greeted.
"Good evening, your highness." he bowed.
"Where are Mary and Nathan?"
"Mary is getting a fresh pail of water for the horses and Nathan should be close and chopping wood." he answered.
"Thank you."

I turned Snow around and we pranced in the direction that Nathan should be.

When we found him, I could only see the back of him but I could tell he was shirtless with an axe in hand and Mary smiled as she tried speaking to him with her pail of water. She swayed back and forth as she spoke. Nathan clearly had her smitten but I don't think he noticed.

"Good evening, the both of you." I greeted.
"Oh, dear! Good evening, your highness." Mary bowed.
Nathan turned around and faced me.

He had beads of sweat rolling down his face, neck, chest, and abdomen. I wasn't frail, I was toned and lean, but I definitely didn't have that kind of body. He had eight abs and a large chest of steel. I had six and a chest of...fine china, maybe?

"Good evening." he greeted.
Mary nudged him. "You must bow." she whispered, but not quietly.
"No, it's okay. He's a friend of my father's." I corrected. "Mary, shouldn't you be giving that pail to the horses?" I questioned as I recognized she still held it and Lucas was patiently waiting for her return.
"Oh, my. I'd forgotten I was holding it. Yes, I should, your highness. Thank you for the reminder." she bowed again. "Bye, Nathan." she said flirtatiously with a wave of her fingers.
Nathan nodded her off and she went on her way.

"So you have an admirer?" I laughed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Mary. She likes you."
His eyes looked back to where she'd ran off to and then they found me again.
"Do you not like her as well?"
He looked away from me and went back to chopping his wood.
"I'll take that as a no." I snickered. "Can I distract you from your work for a bit?"

He slung his axe down and it was lodged into the stump he used for his wood chopping.

"Yes." he said. He grabbed his shirt to put back on.

He grabbed his horse and we rode back to the front of the castle.

"Presley!" I shouted as we walked inside.
Presley entered from the far right door.
"Yes, your majesty?"
"Watch this!" I said in excitement.

"Nathan." I called and he looked down at me.
"What's 8x8?"
"64."
"What's 9x9?"
"81."
"What's 12x13?"
"156."
"206x94?"

He stared me into my eyes. He bites his lip when he thinks. I don't think I've ever noticed how full they are. Are other men supposed to comment on things like this?

"19,364." he answered.

I looked at Presley with a wide smile and he stood there in shock.

"It's great, isn't it!" I shouted.

I looked back at Nathan who was already looking at me.

"It's incredible." Presley agreed.
"Good job!" I held my hand up for Nathan.
He looked at it.
"It's a high five." I explained. "You know what that is, right?"
He slapped my hand then held it and looked at it.

"What's wrong?" I asked and looked at it as well.
"Why are your hands so soft?" he asked and looked at me.
"I tend to wear gloves when I do work or ride my horse."
"I see."
He looked back down at it.
I laughed. "Do you not like my hands?"
"They're pretty."
"Oh-..." I slid my hand away. "Thank you." I grinned.

That's so...weird.

"How long have you been good with mathematics, Nathan?" Presley asked and Nathan looked at him.
"I am not sure. Perhaps since I was 14."
"Can you do anything besides multiplication?"
"I can multiply up to five three digit numbers in my head and I can divide, add, subtract, and find percenges."
"Percentages?" I corrected.
He nodded.

"How intriguing." Presley claimed.
"Extremely." I smiled.