𝐅𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍; 𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍

3

"May I ask about your adoptive mother? I'm certain she treats you well," the prince said with a smile, and you nodded in agreement.

"Ms. Hilgred is like a mother to me. She recognizes my worth and reminds me of my qualities daily. While mothers can be demanding at times, I truly love and appreciate her." The prince nodded and gestured for you to follow him.

"Let's take a walk down the halls instead. The kitchen is too stuffy for such a lively conversation," he suggested. As he walked, you followed respectfully, your head held low in deference to the prince. The only sounds were the prince's boots and the clanging of his sword at his hip.

"Ms. Hilgred is a wise woman. You are more valuable than you realize, and I'm glad you appreciate her guidance," he said proudly. Then he leaned in curiously and asked, "But earlier, you mentioned being an orphan. Are you certain you don't remember anything about your parents?" He hoped to hear more about your life story.

"Unfortunately, I don't remember anything. But I'm content with my circumstances. I don't waste time feeling sorry for myself," you replied simply, surprising the prince with your eloquence and self-respect. Your words and demeanor earned his respect, and he was intrigued by your unique nature. He knew that most peasants wouldn't make such bold claims. It's possible that you had hidden depths. To him, you were like a book, but one that was securely locked and chained. He enjoyed the challenge.

"Are you enjoying your time here at the castle?" he asked, hoping to make you feel more comfortable. He knew that with your strong personality, you didn't need reassurance, but he couldn't help but feel empathetic toward your past struggles as an orphan. He was happy to see you doing well now and hoped for even greater things in your future.

"I am content," you replied.

"I'm glad to hear that," he smiled warmly. "What do you like to do in your free time? Any hobbies or interests?" he asked, genuinely interested in getting to know you better. He had never taken an interest in a peasant's personal life before, but there was something different about you that made him care.

"With all due respect, my lord, free time is hard to come by," you responded.

"Is there something you enjoy doing?" He asked eagerly, pressing for an answer. After a moment of thought, you smiled and the two of you continued walking down the corridor.

"Well, if I had to pick a hobby, I think painting would be it!" The idea of a mere peasant painting caught him off guard at first, but the more he thought about it, the more intrigued he became.

"Have you completed any pieces?" He was curious - could a simple peasant really produce quality artwork in their free time? You nodded in response to his eager questioning.

"Yes, I have a few finished pieces."

"I would love to see them!" He exclaimed excitedly, looking you in the eyes with anticipation. "What kind of paintings are they? Landscapes? Portraits? Do you ever paint from imagination, or are they mostly nature-based?" His persistent questioning about your life outside of work around the castle was slightly annoying, but not alarming. You sighed and tried to make sense of his persistence, then pushed forward.

"They are portraits, your Highness. Would you like to see a few?"

"Absolutely, I would be honored to see your art," he said with a smile, patiently awaiting the opportunity to view your work. "No pressure, but I'm genuinely curious to see your talent. You're such an intriguing individual! I've never met someone quite as unique as you." His voice was filled with excitement as he eagerly anticipated the unveiling of her artwork. Feeling the weight of his expectations, you nervously gestured for him to follow as you led him away from the main corridor, down the steps of the castle, and towards the maids' quarters. The prince chuckled softly and followed closely behind, eager to see the mysterious paintings. "I hope your paintings are as good as your mango pie," he commented, catching you off guard. You simply nodded in response, not wanting to show your surprise at such a kind compliment from someone of his stature. Finally, you opened the door to your small bedroom, which was filled with portraits of different people from your everyday life. Tubes of paint were scattered in the corner, and an easel sat in the middle of the room.

"I suppose this is my safe space," you said, feeling a sense of comfort in sharing your artwork with him.

As he gazed upon the vast collection of paintings, his eyes widened in amazement. He turned to you with a look of admiration and remarked, "You are truly talented! Why have you been working as a mere maid when you clearly have a gift for art? You deserve so much more recognition and compensation for your mastery over the canvas. Do you create these pieces in your free time or is this your main source of income?" CHRIST THIS MAN HAS MANY QUESTIONS DOESN'T HE? DON'T YOU HAVE DUTIES TO ATTEND TO?

You finally replied, "I simply enjoy painting." He was taken aback. You paint for free? Even though you could easily earn a living with her exceptional talent? "You mean to tell me you've been doing this just as a hobby all this time? Why don't you sell your art? You could make a fortune with your level of skill!" You retorted, "I paint for the joy of it, not for money."

He nodded approvingly. A true artist who creates for the love of art itself, not for financial gain. "Your art is worth much more than you can imagine," he added with a smile. "What is your favorite aspect of art? Is there a particular subject you enjoy painting or is it the creative process itself?" This man does not stop, does he? Someone like him must get him an advisor to blab too, I have things I must clean...

"It's hard to explain, but it brings me peace," You said softly with a small laugh. you glanced over at the canvas that had been turned face down and walked over to it. With a gentle touch, you flipped it over to reveal a portrait of the prince himself. In the painting, he appeared solemn, his emerald green eyes and flowing brown hair captured perfectly. As he looked over and grinned, you couldn't help but roll your eyes at his lack of personal space.

"Ah! Is that?. . ." Oh for bloody Christ's sake, this man does not know personal space even if it slapped him across the face!

"It's just a painting," you reassured him as he snatched it from your hands. You had captured his likeness so accurately that it almost seemed as if he were staring back at himself. He was speechless and honored by her artistic talent, feeling a strong connection to the portrait. He couldn't help but wonder how long it took her to complete such a masterpiece.

"It took a few days... maybe even weeks. I had to observe you around the castle to get all the colors just right, without raising any suspicion," You admitted with a chuckle. He was amazed that you could create something so incredible in such a short amount of time. He realized that your talent was truly remarkable and that you were a fascinating individual. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pity that someone with so much talent was relegated to a peasant's life.

The prince's lips curved upward into a warm smile as he complimented the young maid, telling you that he found you to be absolutely fascinating. You, in turn, giggled and asked him if that was a good thing or not. The prince quickly put you at ease, assuring her that it was indeed a compliment. The two continued their conversation, enjoying each other's company and sharing stories until you both were interrupted by the sound of a nearby bell. As he spoke with you, the prince couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness knowing that your opportunities in life were likely limited due to your profession as a maid. Despite this realization, he was thoroughly impressed by your sparkling personality and quick intellect.

"Ah... the bells for the midnight times... I suppose such a conversation must be cut short my lord." The chiming of the bells at midnight interrupted their conversation, causing you to apologize and cut it short. The prince's expression shifted from one of genuine interest to one of frustration and disappointment. He couldn't recall a conversation with a commoner that had captured his attention in such a way before, and he found it unfair that it had to come to an abrupt end.

"Why must the conversation be cut short? This is so unfair... we were having such a riveting conversation and now you need to leave because of your duties." The prince was utterly taken aback by the sudden and unexpected termination of the enthralling discussion.

"Ah no! It is the castle's curfew! I must abide by it. Shall I see you in the morning when I bring your breakfast?"He let out a soft sigh as he heard your words.

"May I inquire about the time you typically have breakfast? I value my rest is all..."

"Oh... well I suppose when the clock strikes 3 times.... So that would be six?" You expressed with a bright smile.

"Perfect. Till then... rest well."

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶꒦꒷

𑁍┊-TiredBunBun