The Scholar and The Crown

7

Maude

"Why does the Prince want to see us? It's only Monday, too early for his weekly assessment," Karen ranted while fixing her hair.

They had just returned from class and were now panicking, trying to look presentable since the Prince had summoned us.

"I guess it's because of Maude. I think he wants to check on the new tutor," Thomas guessed.

Me? Is that even necessary?

"But why call all of us?" Mabel wondered.

"Maybe there's a new announcement regarding the selection?" Thomas speculated while holding his chin.

"Cedric, his secretary, usually handles announcements, not the Prince himself," Maisei contradicted. "Maybe it's both," Thomas gave up, throwing his hands in the air.

"By the way, Maude. Have you seen the Prince?" Rebecca's question made me pause as I stood up from my seat.

Yeah, just minutes ago.

"No, I haven't. I've only seen him in the newspapers," I lied. They looked at me innocently.

"You know, Maude, Prince Sylas is pretty handsome!" Maisei giggled.

Too bad a handsome face can't hide bad manners.

"Maisei!" Laura stopped her from her fantasies. "If one of the ladies hears you, you're done," she warned.

"Ah!" Maisei quickly put her hand on her lips, sealing them, then took a peek outside the faculty.

While they were chatting, I grabbed the paper on my table containing information about the Prince, which was also from my father.

The information covered everything from his name to his favorite food, which wasn't really relevant to my work. He seemed prim and proper in my father's description, but after meeting him earlier, I lost most of my respect for him.

I snickered as I looked at his name on the paper before opening the drawer of my desk and putting it away. I probably won't be needing that information.

"Let's go," Laura announced, and I closed my drawer.

"Cedric?" I uttered as soon as I saw the Prince's secretary greeting us at the door of the tea room. I didn't know this lazy guy would be the Prince's secretary.

Cedric Eur, with his infamous red-highlighted hair, was my former classmate back at the Conservatory. Back then, I thought he was joking about being the Prince's Secretary, but seeing him here, I know I was wrong.

"Maude!" His eyes widened when he saw me.

"I told you, Cedric, it's Maude," Laura butted in, clinging to my arm.

"I know," he responded, then cleared his throat before knocking on the door of the tea room three times and opening it.

The aroma of freshly made cinnamon tea and newly baked pastries greeted us. From outside, we could already see the familiar figure sitting, facing the window across the door.

"Your Majesty, they're here," Cedric approached the Prince, and we followed. "Your Majesty," we all lined up beside each other and bowed our heads.

"You can sit now," he ordered us. We lifted our heads, and the amber-colored eyes immediately greeted us.

I bit my tongue.

Let's hope he didn't remember me from earlier.

"Maude, you go in the middle," Laura instructed me, making me look at her curiously.

"Huh?"

"Just go and sit," she said. I wasn't going to obey, but Maisei and Laura had already occupied the other seats, leaving me no choice but to sit in the middle.

"Your Majesty, the lady sitting across from you is the new History tutor for the ladies, Lady Maude of House Robinson," Cedric introduced me.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," I stood up and bowed to him, but when I lifted my head, I saw his eyes slowly widen.

Shoot!

I gulped hard and bravely stood my ground, looking at the Prince. I noticed that his hair wasn't as disheveled as earlier, and his clothes were fancier, but what piqued my attention was the red mark on his forehead.

I didn't notice that earlier. Was that because of my book?

Pfft!

I snickered at the thought that he deserved it.

"Maude?" Laura pulled my skirt. Damn! Hold your senses, Maude!

"You can sit now," he told me, and I obeyed. Damn, looking at his forehead, I guess it was a headshot for him too.

I laughed in my mind while keeping a serious face.

"Maude, hold your rowdiness," Laura whispered, and I nodded.

I returned my gaze to the Prince, who was already looking at me. I raised an eyebrow. After a few seconds, he turned his head away.

"Uh, Your Majesty," we heard Cedric whisper to the Prince.

He seemed to understand and composed himself by clearing his throat. "Good afternoon, everyone," he began, his voice smooth and authoritative.

"I apologize for the sudden visit, but I wanted to personally express my gratitude for the work you all do here."

Suddenly, it irked me to realize how mannered he was in here.

Maybe I'm just dreaming right now?

No, you're not, Maude. Remember, most people have two faces, and this Prince has one too.

Now, I get to see both sides in a matter of a day?

After almost ten minutes of him appreciating the tutors for their dedication, he finally called it a day.

Good, I can't stand him with these backstabbing thoughts of mine that I might spill at any time.

"You can all return now," he told us, and we all stood up from our seats.

That was the longest ten minutes of my life.

"Lady Maude, you will stay," he added, making me stop in my tracks again.

I'm done for.

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