Prince

Chapter 2

Joeys POV

when I arrived in the dining room my dad was sitting at one end of the table and I went to my usual seat at the other end. Servants have already brought all my fathers food out to him while the space I front of me is completely empty.

All of a sudden I hear a crash coming from the kitchen, moments later a figure stumbles through the door carrying a tray. It's the boy from earlier.

'I'm sorry it's late your majesty sir Joey erm-'

I couldn't help but smile at his nervous persona.

'It's okay you know I'm just sitting here starving to death'

I'm pretty sure he can tell I'm just joking around, because he seems to calm down slightly. He places the tray in front of me and stands as if waiting for my approval.

'You're actually suppose to take the plate and drink off the tray'

'Oh I'm sorry no one told me'

He began shifting all the things on the tray around, holding cutlery and a drink in one hand and a plate in the other. I reached out to help him and my hand brushed against his, he immediately got nervous and flustered again as if I had flicked a switch. The glass slipped from his sweaty hands spilling down my clean top and onto my trousers.

I couldn't help but laugh at what had happened, something as simple as bringing out food is difficult for this boy. My laughter was quickly silenced by my fathers angry roar bellowing from across the room.

'You absolute idiot! how could you be so stupid? Just look at the mess you have made.'

He rose from his chair and stormed over to where me and the servant boy were standing.

'Do you understand how lucky you are that I gave you this job?'

His voice was now echoing throughout the entire north side of the castle, catching the attention of various maids and servants.

'I hung your thieving parents and could have done the same to you, but I decided to give you a chance and this is how you repay me. Get out of here you filthy scum.'

He launched forward punching the servant in the chest and continued a few more times before pushing him to the floor.

'Look at where you are now, that is where you belong do you understand me?'

Tears filled his eyes as he wrapped an arm around his beaten stomach. Is that really all he is, scum?

'ANSWER ME'

'Yes your majesty'

His voice was quiet and broken he shuddered as he breathed the words.

'Good. Now scram cockroach'

The names my father was calling him were so cold and harsh, I'm so confused, is he all those names, or is he just a normal boy? As he got his footing he looked at me as if to apologise and that right there broke my heart. He hadn't even really done anything wrong, had he?

When he had left the room, my father spoke once again.

'You can't take any funny business from them peasant Joey, the moment you give them a small shred of hope they'll start getting opinions, before you know it they'll be thinking they are actually people, like us'

He gave my shoulder a stern pat and headed towards his bedroom, leaving me standing alone once again, but this time I didn't want to be. Usually when I get time on my own I feel free and content, but this time I actually feel alone.

Why? What has changed? I'm still the same old Joey, everything is same, so why do I feel different?

Wait, the servant boy, I can't just leave him after that. I have to check on him. Not that I care about him, he's just a cockroach right? I have to...make him clean up this mess...yeah that's it, that's why I have to go find him.