𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐒𝐎𝐍

005

sorry for the late chapter its been so long since i updated i apologize.

now prince..i really shouldn't push you so hard to tell me.. but how come you didn't or couldn't tell me that you were secretly seeing the princess?" athanasius's nanny ariella questioned him

she was slightly disappointed not because of his actions but because did he really not trust her?

"nanny..i'm sorry i know that i should've told you but i wasn't ready..i didn't know if you'd tell father or not and i don't want such a thing happening." he said as he fiddled his fingers

athanasius had a towel on his head and brought it to his lap "i don't care if i get scolded for seeing her, she's the only thing i have left of my mother and i won't let you or father stop me from seeing athanasia." he'd said with seriousness

ariella sighed "his majesty has confided you into your room until further notice remember?.. but i will help you my prince." she then grabbed his hands

his blue jeweled eyes lit up as he squeezed her hands "really? you'd do that for me ariella?" he asked with hope

ariella gave him a small smile "of course my prince i'd do anything to keep you happy." she then giggled as she let go of one of his hands to ruffle his wet hair

"she's still a baby ariella and i don't want her to grow up thinking she had no one from the imperial family by her side..and i want to be someone she can rely on when she grows up." he smiled

ariella gasped as she was suddenly taken aback and reminded of the old days when athanasius's mother eira had talked about  being someone people can rely on.

the same smile he'd gave her was the one eira would give ariella no matter the situation. that same beautiful smile she'd wish to see again

athanasius looked at ariella and smiled at her "ariella?"

ariella snapped out of her thoughts "y-yes prince?" she asked as she felt sweat drop

"this has nothing to do with the conversation but..when i have my debut ball will you have a dance with me?" he asked nonchalantly

ariella's soul had left her body as she quickly stood up letting go of his hand "m-me?! im j-just a nanny a lowly one at that! i don't think t-thats allowed prince!" she said panicking

athanasius blinked and tilted his head to the side "..i don't have any other options though? my sister is still a baby for one secondly i don't think i'll have much luck with ladies attending or walking up to me..so that leaves me with you ariella!" he then smiled at her innocently

ariella sighed "my prince..let's talk about this later shall we?" she then sat back down

athanasius nodded slowly "you have a point..i still have time left before my debut so you have plenty of time to practice your dancing ariella!" he then stood up from the bed

"p-prince where are you going?" ariella asked

he shrugged "i'm going to see my sister now that i'm all better ariella won't you help me?" he said in a whisper as he stepped closer to the door to open it

my mother visiting me..will be a secret.

athanasius carefully opened the door and looked around and signaled ariella to follow

ariella pinched the bridge of her nose as she sighed and followed him out of the room out to the corridors of the palace

he placed his hands by his side as he waited for her to accompany him