My Precious Prince (fruk royal au)

Chapter 10

"Happiness comes and goes, just like people, after all it is the way of life, isn't it?"

~~~

1895

The children and Arthur had gotten awfully close these years from playing board games, reading or listening to fairytales and even playing a classic game of hide and seek, just like what they were doing now.

"Ready or not, here I come!" Arthur called, as he opened his eyes and started to wander around the castle halls. He opened the purple velvet curtains... no one there, seems like they have finally figured out how terrible that hiding spot is. He looked behind a stool with a beautiful plant to see if maybe 6 year old Māori was hiding behind but no luck. He then skipped down the stairs and looked behind each pillar and yet, none of them were in sight. Arthur sighed, how in the name of Merlin was he supposed to find four kids who were scattered around this massive castle.

"He, he, he!"

"Shush! He's right there!"

Arthur spun around to face the place where the sound came from and it was Feliciano's room on the far left corner of him. He dashed over and opened the door to find Matthew and Māori hiding helplessly beneath the blanket. He walked over to them and grabbed the Māori, knowing he wouldn't be able to pick up the 14 year old. Māori squealed in excitement and giggled then said to Arthur,

"Matthew's there too! You found both of us!"

Matthew pouted as he revealed himself.

"Māori!!! Stop snitching on me!"

"Whoops!"

They all laughed until...

"BOO!"

Arthur jumped, letting go off Māori who went flying flat face onto the bed.

"Ow.."

Behind them, Alfred and Jett burst out in laughter.

"HAHAHAHAHA! YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE LOOKS ON YOUR FACES!" Alfred exclaimed as Jett agreed with him.

"YEAH-"

"Arthurrrr!!"

Feliciano ran towards him, taking heavy breaths as he made his way towards Arthur.

"God, where were you?"

"Sorry Feli," Arthur replied, sheepishly, "I was playing hide and seek with the kids!"

"Oooo! Invite me to play one day!"

Arthur chuckled, "You really act like a child!"

"You know, when I was younger and back in Italy," Feliciano started as they waved goodbye to the princes and started to make their way across the corridor, "Me and my brother Feliciano used to always play hide and seek in our villa! It was really big and so was our garden so sometimes we would hide behind the baskets of olives. When we went to England when I was seven, Lovino stopped playing it with me. It was a tradition that only lasted then..."

Feliciano ended with a sigh and Arthur patted his back and told him that maybe soon, he could ask the King for Feliciano to have a visit to Italy.

"That would be fantastic!" Feliciano commented, excitedly.

Arthur smiled at his friend's excitement but then turned confused when he realised they were standing in front of John's study.

"What are we doing here?" Arthur questioned.