The Florist And The Prince (ON HOLD)

~ 5 ~

Prince Alexander's POV

The Royɑl Pɑlɑce

Sneaking into the palace with Hercules wasn't easy but Alex knew his way around, so he avoided the routes that the guards took. After he put Hercules back into his stable, he went back to the palace, took a bath and changed into a pair of grey sweatpants and a black T-shirt before plonking himself down in the chaise by the library in his bedroom and began reading through The King of Flies to get his mind off of everything that he heard in town from his own townspeople. Unfortunately, it the book wasn't helping because he was starting to feel guilty by the second.

"Alex?" He looked over to the door when he heard soft knocking along with his sister's voice.

"Come in Brie." Alex called out before the door gently opened and his small sister walked in.

She was their father's carbon copy only that she was a female and had their mother's green eyes too, instead of brown.

"Did you really leave the palace?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Where did you go? Mom and dad don't tell me anything."

Feeling bad, Alex closed the novel and set it down on the chaise before he stood up and walked over to his bed, sat down on the edge of it and patted the space next to him, making Brianna walk over and climb up next to him.

"I was in the town, dad and I...had a little misunderstanding and I just wanted some space to think." Alex began.

Brianna looked up at him. "You mean about, you finding a wife?"

"How did you..."

"I'm twelve, not five." She deadpanned. "I know about that tradition."

A humoured smirk made its way onto Alex face. "Right...Well, yes."

"You don't want to get married?" Brie asked seriously now.

"No, I do but just not now."

"I understand. I don't want you to marry soon too." Brie stated matter-of-factly.

Cocking his head to the side, Alex was interested to hear her answer. "Really? And why is that?"

"Because your still young and well...I don't want to loose you to her. Your the only one who still remembers to bring me cookies and a warm cup of milk whenever I have a nightmare, and you always stay with me until I fall asleep." She mumbled, looking down at her charm bracelet on her left wrist.

A warm smile made its way to Alex face. "Come here. You won't loose me, I promise."

An hour later, after Brianna left Alex headed downstairs to grab a snack from the kitchen and whilst he was walking down the staircase, he heard murmuring of multiple voices coming from the left and stopped in the middle of the staircase.

"Your highness." He looked behind him to see his parents' personal butler who has been working at the palace, even before his father was born.

"Terence. Where is all this noise coming from?" He asked the old butler.

Out of all the butlers in the palace, Terence was the only one that he truly had so much respect for. Although the butler was in his seventies with thinning snow white hair, wrinkled old mocha skin and brown eyes, he still managed to always look neat, smart and presentable. And was very hardworking too.

"It's coming from the second parlour...some of the women have arrived for the contest." Alex could hear the hesitation in the old butler's voice.

It was no secret to the palace staff that he didn't want to marry yet.

Sighing, Alex nodded then jogged down the rest of the stairs and made his way into the big marble stone and granite topped kitchen, where the kitchen staff were cooking a bigger meal than usual. No doubt for the new guests.

"Your highness." They all stopped and bowed their heads when they saw him enter.

"Good afternoon, please carry on." Alex told them before walking over to the pastry chef. "June, do you happen to have any of that apple pie leftover from brunch."

The pastry chef smiled up at him and went over to the pantry. She was from South Korea and settled down here ten years ago. "I thought you'd be back for more, so I took the liberty to keep a slice for you."

"Thank you. You're the best." Alex grinned, taking the plate before he sat down on the island.

Whilst eating, he heard his mother's voice outside the kitchen with other female voices.

"Ladies, dinner will be served at seven so you might want to use this time to settle into your rooms." His mother said.

"Thank you your highness and umm...has the Prince returned?" Alex stopped chewing when he heard one of the girls ask about him.

"I'm not sure and I apologise for his sudden disappearance." Queen Sofia said to the eligibles before there were multiple footsteps that went back up the hallway, toward the foyer.

"Mom!" Alex hears Brianna call to their mother.

"I'm sorry sweetheart, not now. I'm looking for your brother...have you found him?"

"No your highness, but we are still looking for him." A new voice joined in, a male's voice that sounded like William's. One of their personal body guards.

"Alright. Thank you."

Feeling eyes on him, Alex looked up to see June watching him and offered him a small smile before looking away. There were some people that disagreed with the tradition and there were others that didn't.

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CAST;

Morgɑn Freemɑn ɑs Terence

Lucy Liu ɑs June