A Princess Named Harry

Chapter 14

"A new personal guard?" Harry asked after finally being able to take her eyes off the boy. She turned back to look at Cambrel. "But what about Sir Cambrel?"

"He was your former personal guard," replied the king. "But now he has become quite busy. Besides, I wanted someone closer in age to you."

Harry looked back at the boy. "So this is my present?" she asked.

"Yes," answered the king. "He's your new guard, but think of him as your new friend. Plus, he has a high status, so he's perfectly suited to be your friend."

When Varian turned to her, Harry quickly looked away and rubbed her hands together awkwardly.

"Do you not like him?" asked the king. "If that's the case, I'll find someone else to take on the role of your personal-"

"No!" Harry said loudly, interrupting the king. She quickly covered her mouth as she had just disrespected the king in front of people. "I'm so sorry," she squeaked. "I did not mean to act rudely, but I don't want another person."

The corners of the king's mouth raised into a smile. He asked her once more, "So you're fine with this boy then?"

Harry let her arms fall to her side. She straightened up to show a more proper posture. She looked up at the king with a serious expression. "Yes," she answered.

After staring at her momentarily, the king replied, "Okay, you may go." Harry remembered her etiquette and bowed as gracefully as she could.

"Blessings and glory to the king," Varian said also bowing. Harry glanced over at him and copied him. "Bles-blessings and glory to the king." When she looked up again, Varian was passing by her. She hurried to follow behind him. When she was out of the office, Cambrel came out too, shutting the door back. "Princess Harry," he called.

"Yes?" she answered.

"If you don't need anything, I'm going to head back to the training grounds." He paused for a moment. "Is that okay?"

Harry smiled at him and answered, "Yes, of course, I'll see you later."

Cambrel smiled back. "Yes, I'll see you later."

He waved her off and she gave a small wave back and ran off to follow Varian, who was waiting for her down the hallway.

She called out to him, "Um!"

He turned his head to look at her with emotionless and distant eyes. Harry could feel his coldness. She didn't think he was like that back in the office. Still, she wanted to talk to him, to get to know him better.

"You're going to be my new guard, right?"

There was no answer.

"I hope we can get along well."

There was still no answer.

"Um . . . sir?"

"Don't call me sir," he finally answered. "Varian, my name will suffice."

Harry flinched and debated whether or not she should call him in such a way.

"Your clothes," she mumbled.

"My clothes?" he asked.

She didn't mean to say that out loud, but since he had heard her, she felt like she had to say it now.

"Your clothes, they are so formal. Are you . . . perhaps . . . a noble?"

When he did not say anything, Harry knew it was true. She asked slowly and quietly, "You are, aren't you?"

The two walked outside, and as soon as they did, the sun immediately hit them both. Harry looked around at the rows of flowers.

"My father is a duke," Varian finally answered.

"A . . . duke?" Harry quickly repeated.

The weight of Varian's nobility crushed her greatly. He continued walking forward while she stopped. She thought that he must have been angry with her and that's the reason for his slow responses. Calling him sir instead of little duke was like an insult to his pride. She stared at his back thinking that he must be angry since the son of a duke now had to serve as a personal guard for a fake princess. She wanted to ask him if he was angry, but he was now too far ahead for her to talk to at a normal voice level. She inhaled and shouted, "Duke!"

He stopped dead in his tracks and immediately turned back. He walked intensely back to where Harry was standing. She felt a little scared, but she still called out to him anyway. When Varian stood a few inches away from her, she called out to him again. Suddenly, Varian leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I told you to call me by my name."

"But," she tested. "You are a duke!"

"So?" Varian asked. "You're of higher status than me, you are a princess."

Harry flinched and looked up at him; she could see his beautiful eyes perfectly. She knew that this gift would bring a great change to the palace, and possibly herself.