Noble Gardenia

Chapter 13

"Do you enjoy horseback riding?" Kyle asked Jacob as the two of them sat with their backs against the wall of the shed. It was a mellow day for Kyle, as Fred was feeling well enough to do most of the work in the stables.

Jacob glanced at Kyle and shrugged, "I am supposed to, because prince reasons, but I have always found it a bit unsettling being up on a horse."

Kyle laughed, "so I guess you spend all your time making sure your servants get every wrinkle out of your suits then."

Jacob rolled his eyes, "I spend all my time sneaking different instruments to my room and teaching myself to play them, see I do have a rebellious side."

"How many instruments do you play?" Kyle asked.

"I play violin, piano, cello, trumpet, French horn, guitar, and a few others that are lesser known."

"Have you ever written your own music?"

"Sometimes. I am not that good yet."

Kyle smiled, "nonsense, I have an idea."

Kyle stood up and held his hand out to Jacob. As Jacob took it Kyle noticed the difference in feel between their skin. Kyle's hands were rough and dry. Jacob's were callused, likely from playing instruments, but remained smooth. Kyle found himself not wanting to let go of the other man's hand after helping him to his feet.

Kyle led Jacob to a side entrance of the palace and placed a finger to his lips. Jacob gave Kyle a skeptical look that Kyle ignored. The door led to a small pantry that was mostly empty, except for a few bags of flour.

Kyle slowly opened the door leading out of the pantry and was relieved to find the hallway empty. The two of them walked out into the hallway and Kyle led Jacob to the next turn in it. Kyle poked his head around the corner to find a single member of the cooking staff, walking in the direction opposite from them. Kyle waited for the servant to enter a room before going around the corner.

Eventually they reached an old door with a brass nob. Kyle hoped that he remembered correctly which door he was going to. If this was not it, he did not want to walk in on the queen meditating or something.

Kyle opened the door and smiled. He stepped aside to once again let Jacob enter the room first.

Jacob's eyes widened as he took in the beautiful music room. The center on the room was a shiny grand piano. On the walls hung brass instruments of all kinds. Stands with guitars and string instruments were set up around the room.

"How did you find this place?" Jacob asked.

"I had a friend from the kitchens who gave me a tour of the palace once, and I snuck in a few times after that," Kyle replied.

"Are you sure we won't get caught back here?"

Kyle nodded, "The orchestra and other musical groups have their own practice rooms with their musical instruments already in them. Also, the walls are soundproof here, and none of the royal family play any instruments."

Jacob looked around the room before going to the grand piano. He sat down on the bench and lifted the cover on the keys. He motioned for Kyle to sit on the bench beside him.

As Kyle sat on the bench Jacob said, "I have been working on this song for a little while now. I have just been writing what feels right, but I do not really know what the lyrics mean yet. I thought they might be about Leah, but I am not so sure anymore," Jacob sighed, "you can tell me to stop if it is terrible."

The song started out slowly, Jacob's hands gently tapping against the keys. Then he began to sing,

"I don't fit into the mold of their perfect son.

Trying to undo what can no longer be undone,

I wish for a less perfect life, and I wish it could be true,

That that perfectly imperfect life was you,

I sit in fields of flowers,

And I wallow in my head,

And every night this continues as I sit on top my bed,

Not wanting all their riches

My heart is turning blue,

As I wish for a perfectly imperfect life with you,

I don't know how to calm down,

I can only be high strung,

But the words I'm looking for,

Are on the tip of my tongue,

As I wish that it could only be us two,

In a perfectly imperfect life with you."

The two boys sat in silence as Jacob finished the song. Kyle did not want to ruin the atmosphere it had created. Kyle turned his head to look at Jacob only to find Jacob had done the same. Their eyes met and Kyle found his body leaning him closer to Jacob. In a flash, Jacob turned away.

"So that was it," Jacob said, "still needs some fine tuning, but it turned out better than I expected."

"It was amazing, it felt really well thought out and personal," Kyle rubbed a hand to the back of his neck and glanced back at the door, "I guess we should be going."

Jacob nodded and the two of them returned to the shed.

...

Leah tapped the reverse end of her paintbrush against her cheek. She dipped it in purple paint and added some shading to one of the flowers in her painting. After finishing her more abstract piece Leah had started painting the violets that Lucy had given her that now sat in a small vase on her bedside table. The flowers were beginning the wilt, but in a way, this added even more to their beauty. Especially within her painting. Leah put down her paintbrush and stood up. She moved her canvas to the side and sat down on the large windowsill it had been in front of.

She closed her eyes and felt the breeze coming in from the open window against her face. She wondered what had changed with her feelings lately. She was still not positive about what she wanted for her future, but she was starting to discover what she did not want. At first her relationship with Kyle had felt freeing. He opened her eyes to other possibilities than the life she knew was planned for her. Her relationship with Jacob made her feel like maybe she did not have to choose between love and her kingdom. He made her laugh, and he made her feel seen. Now she did not know why those feelings did not feel like the start to a beautiful romance she thought they once might have.

She looked around her room, her eyes lingering on her canvas, her vanity, her bed, and finally the flowers on her bedside table. As she looked at the violets, she remembered the feeling of Lucy putting the flower behind her ear. Her glimmering smile. The way her hair fell into her eyes as she took off her helmet, and she came to a realization. Oh, she thought, that's why.