You Are The Reason ( Prince x Reader )

Chapter 4: Opening Up

You grabbed the mop from the storage room and a bucket to clean the ballroom. You set the mop in the ballroom and took the bucket to the kitchen and filled the bucket with soap and water.  You started back towards the ballroom when your name was called.

   " Y/n? Why do you look like you're struggling to carry a bucket? "

   " Because I am. It's heavy. " You said turning to look at who had spoken to you.

When you turned around you saw Quinn standing behind you in the hallway. His hands were folded behind his back and his eyes were looking at your form.

   " Would you like me to carry it for you? "

   " No, that would be ridiculous. The prince can't help the maids, your father wouldn't have it. "

Quinn walked towards you and took the bucket from your hands, carrying the heavy bucket like it was a simple weight.

   " I don't care what my father thinks. And I don't mind helping you, you're nice to me, and you looked like you were really struggling. "

   " But-"

   " No, buts. Let's just pretend for a minute that I'm not the prince and I'm just helping you out, if that'll make you feel better. Because either way I'm carrying this bucket to them ballroom. "

   " How do you know I was going to the ballroom? "

   " It was a guess. I assumed with the ball getting closer father would make the maids and butlers clean until you can eat off the floor. So, I assumed you were cleaning the ballroom. "

You rolled your eyes and walked beside him towards the ballroom making small conversation. When you entered the ballroom he set the bucket down and you thanked him before grabbing the mop and starting your job. You mopped the floor and as you were doing so, you noticed Quinn was still in the room.

   " Are you going to clean this room all by yourself? "

   " Yeah. There was another person that was supposed to help me, but she hasn't been showing up the last few days to help me, so I've been doing it alone. "

   " I can help. "

   "You're a prince, not a butler. "

   " Exactly, so I should be able to do what I want. And I want to help you clean. I'll go get another mop. "

Quinn left the room to go to the storage closet and get a mop to help you finish up the floors. You rolled your eyes at his actions and kept mopping the floor. Quinn managed to find the closet and got a mop, and he walked back into the ballroom. He dipped the mop into the soapy water and walked to the opposite side of the room that you hadn't mopped yet. He touched the mop to the floor and started cleaning the corners of the room before mopping the center.

   " You really don't have to help your highness. "

   " It's fine. This is giving me something to do besides paperwork. I would rather help you clean instead of looking over papers about the policies and laws of the kingdom. I already know them all. "

   " Well, that's good. I don't think I could remember them all if I tried to. I remember the main laws and the obvious ones, but I can't even comprehend the different policies we have in place. "

   " It is a lot. So, I'm glad to get away from it even if it's for a couple of minutes. "

   " I'm guessing there's a lot of pressure on you? "

   " Yeah, there is. My sister is going to be getting married in a year so I'm the only one to claim the throne. And. . .I kind of don't want it. "

You felt your movements stop and you looked up at the prince mopping. Your silence pierced the room and it made Quinn look over at you. He stopped mopping and looked at you raising an eyebrow. 

   " What is it? "

   " What do you mean, 'I kind of don't want it'? Isn't the royal life supposed to be great. "

Quinn searched your eyes but didn't mind any hostility, only curiosity.

   " It's not. Sure, I get food every day, I have a glamorous roof over my head, and I have new clothes to wear with all of the money a person could ever want. But none of its mine. It's my father's. I'll sound like a bratty kid if I say it but I will. I don't want any of it. Sure being a noble is great, but being a prince is a different level. There's pressure on your back to be a good ruler and to do the best for your people. But in my case, everyone is assuming that I'll be the same as my father, and that's not going to be good in the future. I would rather throw away the title, and instead enjoy my life, instead of suffocating myself with it. "

After he finished talking he kept mopping, and he didn't say another word. You didn't know what to say and kept mopping, and when everything was done, you took his mop from him.

   " Thank you for helping me, and I'm sorry for asking earlier about. . .your title. "

   " Don't mention it. I don't mind talking about it. I feel comfortable talking to you about it. You make it easy for someone to talk and open up. "

   " I'm glad I could make you feel that way. "

You smiled at him and bowed before leaving him alone in the hallway. Quinn smiled at your retreating form and he walked in the opposite direction that you were heading. He felt like he was starting to make his first friend.