The Last Midnight

Chapter eleven: "It's A Date"

Saying yes brought out a bright smile from Nathan. Matthew bit his lower lip discreetly, trying not to blush but his cheeks were burning. He enjoyed Nate's smile. It almost pained him to see Nathan turn away to glance out the window. Shortly after he did, the doorbell rang, and Nathan sighed heavily. Matthew moved only a step or two to get it, but Nathan held up a hand to stop him. Jogging over to the door himself, Nathan yanked it open to whisper something to one of the guards. Matthew did his best not to listen, but his attention was drawn to them, when one of the guards shoved the door open wide and scolded Nathan firmly. "No! You don't go running off like that. I don't care if your daddy is the pope! You're coming back to the castle now, even if I have to drag you there. You're not off house arrest until tomorrow! Now get on the horse, your highness. Or god help me, I'll-" Nathan cut him off by telling him with a calm smile. "Just a minute." Closing the door on the guard, Matthew tried to suppress as chuckle as he heard the guard's muffled curse beyond the closed door. As Nathan turned back to face him, Matthew chuckled out lightly. "You're a handful, aren't you? Your highness."

Leaning back against the door, Nathan blushed as shrugged out playfully. "I prefer the phrase... free spirited. Life isn't fun without a few risks now and then. Trust me. I'd go crazy if I didn't stir up a little trouble." Adjusting his robe tighter around his body, Matt murmured under his breath. "I tend to avoid trouble. It always ends badly for someone involved." Nathan tilted his head back against the door, telling him in a soft genuine voice. "I don't want to get you in trouble. I would just really like your company. Tomorrow I'd like to take you to the Royal Study Hall. They have an impressive library, and they have a music hall that is... well, I enjoy it." Stepping a little closer to him, Matt smiled warmly as he said light heartedly. "But only royals are allowed anywhere near the grounds." Nathan nodded, before bowing his head and honestly admitting. "Yes. That's why I was hoping you'd go with me. As a royal... I can get you in. The Scholar Monks that live there won't bother us and we can... talk." Matthew's heart fluttered with excitement, he wanted to leave right now. Nathan met his eyes again, telling him hopefully. "I don't get into trouble there. And I figured that since you like reading, maybe you'd like to see the largest collection of books in the kingdom."

The excitement burst from Matthew before he could rein it in. "I would love that! I mean... I would love to, your highness." Bowing to Nathan, Matthew tried to talk deep breaths to settle his giddy excitement. When Matt met Nathan's eyes again, Nathan told him with another charming smile. "That's great. I'll come pick you up tomorrow... after... your cousins leave to enjoy my mother's garden party." Matthew nodded, rocking a little on his heels. He could barely keep still. Bowing his head to him politely, Nathan opened the door and slipped outside to get an earful from his guards. Approaching the door, Matthew leaned against it as he watched Nathan mount up behind the guard that he recognized now as Captain Charles. Waving to him, Nathan waved back, before holding on as Charles spurred the horse into a run. While another guard, followed behind at a slower pace with a horse that was walking with a slight limp. Once the prince rode beyond the gate, Matthew leaned against the doorframe with a small content sigh. He couldn't recall feeling this happy since his parents were alive. The only pain he felt was in watching him ride off.

He watched him vanish down the wooded road, then jumped as Maisy cleared her throat. Flashing him a smug grin, she cooed out teasingly. "Oh, you've both got it bad." Pushing off the doorframe, Matthew moved back into the house to find some dry clothes as he mumbled out shyly. "I don't know what you're talking about. He's just being nice." Maisy huffed lightly, following him up to his attic room as she explained clearly. "He's not just being nice. There is much more he's implying behind his actions and his tone of voice. He's captivated by you. And you... you like him." Stopping on the stone steps, he told her a bit blunt and guarded now. "I like how he talks to me. That's all. After dealing with the Baron... He's just a welcome change. Nothing can or will happen between us. He's a prince... and I'm a... A servant." Grabbing the railing, Maisy stepped up close to him, stating back firmly. "You are more than that! You have chosen to be a servant for our sake. To protect us! But you can be so much more. You just have to see that for yourself. You are more than you chose to be." Shaking his head, he turned to keep walking up the steps, uttering out grimly. "I'm not choosing to be anything. I just am. He's just lonely and needs a friend. That's all I plan to be."