Valentines Special

Part 1

-Laurence's POV-

I'm surprised when I notice someone new on my doorstep.

He drops a toolbox at the sight of me and hastily picks it up again. When he realises who I am, he immediately gets on the floor and bows down. "Your Majesty, I was told that there was a piano in need of tuning." He explains awkwardly.

As soon as I hear about this, I remember hearing that he was hired. "Oh, of course, come in." I offer, guiding him in. "Let me introduce you to my head servant, he'll fill you in on the details." I tell the piano tuner, ringing the bell to summon Barrone.

"So, do you play?" He asks curiously.

I smile at him and nod. "Yes, I do. It's something my mother used to do." I recall, trying to hide my expression when my memories of her turn into her slaughter.

"I have to say, it's an honour to work for you, Your Majesty." He adds.

"How much will it be?" I ask. "I might as well pay you now while my Head Servant is taking his time." I add, ringing the bell again for him.

The piano tuner looks at me with a confused expression. "You d-don't owe me anything, your father made sure of that." He manages.

Hearing this makes me want to throttle my father. "What did he do?" I ask softly.

The man looks too scared to answer but decides that he's more afraid of being caught not answering one of my questions. "He did an investigation on me and found something undesirable." He admits.

"It sounds like you and my Head Servant will get along." I add to lighten the mood.

"Really?" He checks curiously.

This is interrupted by Barrone entering the room, slightly out of breath from where he had been running. "My sincerest apologies, Master Beverage, the kitchen needed a spare pair of hands."

"No problem, I would've shown this young gentleman to the piano, he's here to tune it, remember?" I reply nonchalantly.

Barrone glares at me for a moment when he hears this but quickly puts up an act for the piano tuner, forcing a smile. "Allow me, it's right this way." He guides, gesturing with his arms the direction and waiting for the man to start walking before going with him, just to get another glare in at me.

-Barrone's POV-

The whole time I'm walking with the piano tuner, I try to calm myself down.

I shouldn't have to be his lapdog after what he did to me. Screw my childish feelings, of course I had to fall in love with the Prince – that pretentious, selfish lunatic. Maybe Drew was right.

Hang on there, Drew feels nothing but anger and hatred. Nine out of ten times, he's wrong.

"Do you play?" The man asks to try to make conversation.

I shrug a little. "A bit, I was teaching kids to play but they all got better than me and no longer need anyone to teach them."

"If you taught children, you must be good." He tries.

I force a smile. "Even if I was, I don't have the time to keep playing. We're massively understaffed."

"In the kitchens, I'll guess." He works out.

I nod. "It would be fine if it were any other home but the Prince seems against having stew everyday. There must always be a feast." I sigh.

He picks up on my harsh attitude towards the Prince and tries to investigate. "The Prince seems alright."