The Royal Bodyguard

2

    'Now, where did Papa went off to?' I searched through the sea of heads, looking for Papa.

       'Hmm, it seems like I won't be able to spot him from here. But I know very well one place that I'll surely meet him.' I smiled deviously as I quickly walked out of the hall.

      Arriving at the horse stables of the Royal Palace, I made my way to my partner, my beautiful white horse, Matilda. We have been through so many together.

      She neighed as I brushed through her mane.

        "Matilda, let's get back home as fast as we can, all right?" I said and she neighed back and the sound of her hooves could be heard as she tapped the ground with them.

      I climbed on top of her, "Giddy up!" I yelled out, she jumped over the small door of her stable and ran at high speed the immediate time we were in open space.

...

      Phew! We're back home and so quickly too. "That's my girl!" I touched her mane again, its so soft to touch!

      "They don't call you the fastest hours in they kingdom for nothing!"

       I quickly left climbed down from her and walked forward, "Mama! Have you seen Papa?!" I yelled out, reaching our door nob and ready to open the door. "Mama---!"

      The door suddenly got pushed open, almost hitting me but luckily I was able to dodge it on time.

       "Lorry Night! The first thing you do after coming back is waking the whole neighbourhood! Is that in anyway how I thought you?!"  A beautiful woman in casuals strapped with an apron on and a ladle came out reprimanding me.

       "Sorry Mama!" I apologise, "Mama have you seen Papa by any chance?" I asked her eagerly.

         "You came back home rushedly, dusturb my cooking and the neighbourhood, and all yiu have to say is a simple sorry?!" Mama shouted.

        "But Mama---, ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Mama! Mama! Not the ear! It hurts!" I whined as Mama held my left ear with her right hand and dragged me inside.

      "You child need to be disciplined! Disciplined I tell you! The nerve you have!" She pulled me to the kitchen area, which was connected to the dining room.

       "Now, sit down and eat your food like your brother over there!" After that she went back to doing her things, cooking that is. Leaving me alone with an aching ear.

       I rubbed my ear as I looked at my third brother, Brother Roy, who was eating mouthful after mouthful of food.

      "When did you get back?" I asked as I took my spoon to eat the warm and deliciously scented porridge.

    "Hmm, delightful as always." I relished after taking a mouthful.

      "Of course it is! I cooked it after all!" Mama bragged from the side still fuming over what happend. Brother Roy and I both chuckled.

     I looked at him, waiting for his reply. 

       "5 minutes ago." He said, after taking a break from his food then hurriedly took another mouthful of it. 'Aigo, what a foodie!' I thought to myself with a smile.

        "Brother Roy, did you know about the announcement today beforehand?" I asked him, taking a spoon of my porridge too.

       "Nope, it came as a surprise to me also." Brother Roy replied.

        "Sheesh! Then it most have been the work of Papa alone!" I shouted, hitting the table with my spoon which got me a glare from Mama.

     "Sorry!" I said looking at her with puppy eyes. She sighed and went back to work.

        "What do you mean by that?" Brother Roy asked.

       "I mean, I didn't get any heads up whatsoever regarding it, so Papa most have been the only one that knew about it! Or it might have warned everyone else not to tell us!" I explained.

        "Hmm, yes, that looks like what Papa might do." Brother Roy answer standing up from his sit with his bowl and going to Mama to ask for seconds.

          "What announcement?" Mama asked curiously after taking his bowl.

        "Lorry got assigned as Prince Austin's Royal Bodyguard at the Royal Palace today." Brother Roy explained.

       "Ow!" Mama said in realisation. "Then why are you being so grumpy and asking about your Papa's whereabouts?" Mama asked.

     "She seems not happy about it. " Brother Roy said in my place getting back his bowl. "Thank you Mama." I nodded in agreement to his first statement. He then walked back to his seat.

        "Why are you not happy? Do you know how many knights had their eyes on that position?" Mama asked, wiping her hands with a try rag.

      "I do, but Mama---" I began but was cut off.

      "You need a stable job Lorry, so I don't see why your being like this."

       "But---" I tried butting in but was cut yet again.

        "They pay is also good." She sat with us and took a spoon of her porridge too.

           "Aigo, Mama you know my weakness way too much " I pouted as they both chuckled.

         "There are two reasons for her unhappiness." Brother Roy said.

        "Oh, really? Do say" Mama said looking amused.

        "One, even though the pay is good, it is a monthly pay, so she won't be able to spend it whenever she wants like if she were to go on missions." He said seriously.

       "Offensive but true." I agreed.

        "What?" Mama said, mouth agape.

    "Hmm" Brother Roy nodded, "two, she has a petty grudge against the Prince."

      "Whaaa--- That one's not true!" I shouted.

         "Ow reallyyyy?!" He dragged out with a somewhat victorious smile.

      "Do I need to mention how many times you had taken a longer path to go to the knight training area in the Palace just to avoid seeing the Prince?" Brother Roy smiled smugly.

       "Say whaaat!" Mama exclaimed, looking at me with wide eyes. Her food long forgotten.