Sofia the First: The Rise of Rulers

Chapter Ten: Axel

Chapter Ten

Axel

I wake up to the bright light of the morning sun streaming on my face. I forgot to shut the damn curtains. I internally slap myself because now I'm up early enough to see the birds taking their morning stroll around the gardens. Fucking lovely. Well, if I'm up early I might as well put myself to use. I get up and pull on my pants and dress shirt, not bothering to grab a coat.

I step into the hall quietly and stare at the door that leads to Astrid's room. I want to knock, I don't of course. Not after I already did yesterday and she ignored me.

I imagine I do though. I imagine I knock and she opens the door before throwing her arms around me. I imagine catching her in my arms and running my fingers through her long dark hair. That damn hair. I can't get the scent out of my head. Lavender.

I force myself to turn and walk away from the door and the beautiful girl behind it.

I make my way up the grand staircase. I've been to the Freezenberg palace many times so I know my way to the kitchen. When I get there it's empty, not even servants up this early. I rummage through the refrigerator before finding what I'm looking for, the milk. Call it what you will but I basically have an obsession with milk. It's just so good. I pour myself a hearty glass before making my way back down to my room. When I turn the corner to me and Astrid's hallways she is shutting the door behind her as she steps into the hall. I walk up to her. To tease her.

I argue with Astrid because it's better than not talking to her at all. And I like the way her cheeks flush when she's angry or the way her "perfect little mouth" pouts when she's frustrated. I would rather her argue with me and hate me than feel nothing for me at all so I stride up to her.

"What are you doing up so early?"

She screams, jumps back, and trips landing flat on her ass.

The laugh that comes out of me is the most genuine thing I've done in days.

"You scared me! What are you doing lurking around so early? And is that MILK? Actually what the hell." She says still sitting on the floor making zero effort to stand.

"Well? Are you going to help me up?" She holds out her hand expectantly. I think I love her most like this. I take a mental image of her sitting in the middle of the hallway asking me to help her.

"Nope," I tell her, turning away to hide my smirk.

***

When Astrid and I walk down to the ballroom for our first "trial," Queen Draya is already waiting for us.

"Good morning, loves. How did you sleep?"

"Good, thank you," I tell her. I make sure to be extra polite to her to help damage control what Astrid said about me the other night. The way she described me made me seem like I was the monster who ran over Chrissy. I call him Chrissy because he acts like a chick. He was always sweet and cared about what dresses she wore. There is so much more to Astrid than the dress she wears.

I sometimes think I'm a dick for shitting on a dead guy, but then I remember what he was doing that night. I remember the real reason he was out late the night he died.

I remember the day well. I was at a bar, having a drink, as I usually do, when I saw him. That prick face with his matching socks was sitting on a stool on the opposite side of the bar, and sitting on his lap was a short blonde girl. At first, I didn't believe it and then I was furious because how could a guy who had the best want anyone else? I know damn well that if Astrid were to ever love me like she loved Chrissy, I would shit in my hands and clap before cheating on her.

I'm brought back to the present when Queen Draya continues, "For today's trial you will go about your daily tasks, but be ready for something unexpected to happen."

"Sounds easy enough," Astrid says turning to look at me.

"Agreed. What do we do in the meantime?" I ask my mind already picturing perfect ways for me and Astrid to pass the time.

"Whatever you would like, but preferably together. The point of these trials is to grow closer and to learn to rule together."

Astrid's drawing a line with her finger from her eyes down her cheek.

"Boo hoo," I tell her.

"Why don't you go to the gym so that you can put some muscle on that skinny body of yours, and I'll read on the side."

"You think this is skinny, princess? Clearly, you haven't seen me."

"Clearly, but how much can that shirt really hide?"

"You'll find out because lucky for you I work out shirtless."

Astrid rolls her eyes. From this angle, I can perfectly see the way her dark eyelashes graze her face when she blinks.

I blink away the thought as we walk up to the gym. It's huge, having any kind of machinery you could ask for. I take off my shirt, my eyes never leaving Astrid's. I can tell she's trying to hide her surprise, but I'm not blind. I know I have killer abs. I wink. She looks away and grabs her book.

Later, when I'm doing pull-ups I catch her looking. She quickly looks back at her book.

"The books upside down," I smirk. I love to see her flustered. Her cheeks flush and she turns her book around.

"I wasn't goin-"

She's cut off by an alarm. The blaring is loud playing from every speaker in that palace. The lights are flashing red and the screens all say "under attack. Please evacuate." On repeat.

Astrid's face is set in a state of horror. She looks genuinely frightened. Though I suspect this is part of the trials, but you never want to risk it not being a drill. So I grab Astrid by the arm and haul her into the hallway. We begin walking hastily down the halls my hand staying on her lower back. To steady her. I tell myself, definitely not because you love the way it feels to touch her. God dammit, the damn kingdom is under attack and I'm fantasizing about how I'd love to touch her. I almost have to slap my face to bring myself back. I stop and turn Astrid to face me, an arm on either of her shoulders. "Where's your safety room?" I ask her. All castles have a safety room. It's where the queen is supposed to go when under attack. Right now, Astrid is my first priority so I let her direct me down the halls until we come up on a metal door. "This is it," she tells me. "Do you think it's a drill?" she sounds as though she doesn't.

"Yes. It will be fine." I head off to go find where I can be useful. Maybe directing troops? I'm not sure, but I know standing out in the hall chitchatting is certainly not right. With that, I turn and start at a brisk pace walking down the halls.

"Axel?" I stop but don't turn around.

"Be safe, ok?" Astrid says and then I hear the door shutting. If my obsession with milk is intense, it's nothing compared to my obsession with Astrid especially after she says shit like that.

Great now I can't focus. With Astrid's words in my head and the sirens- wait the alarm has stopped. I turn back down the hall to the door Astrid just went into. Inside is Queen Draya, "Good work today you two. Especially you, Axel, putting Astrid as your first priority, but maybe try and report to the meeting room quicker. Overall great job, you've passed the first trial."

When I offer Astrid a high five I expect her to ignore it, but she doesn't. She high-fives me back. It feels like a breakthrough.