Princess in Hiding

Chapter 3

"I don't look like the Queen. Maybe you're just mistaken because of my hair."

"Do all redheads look alike? You're kidding me." Trish said. She took a towel and rolled it.

I rolled my eyes and took the tray of refreshments for the Princess and her guests. She was playing tennis with her fiancé outside so I need to give them the drinks and snacks.

Yesterday, the girls with me were all talking about how I looked like and probably they have pulled my head to the mirror a few times for me to see how I looked like. I kept on pushing them that I don't look like the Queen. If that is so, maybe it was really my hair. They stopped when they started talking about their lives outside the palace.

I went out of the kitchen and walked to the garden where the Princess and her fiancé, Prince Eros were. When I got out, I saw a familiar face again. Cronus was reading a novel on a bench and weren't minding the couple who was enjoying themselves with the game of tennis.

Cronus saw me and he's surprised. "Aikaterie?"

I thrift a smile to him. I know I mustn't casually talk to them. "Prince Cronus."

"I told you to call me Cronus without the Prince."

"We're in the palace. I'll be kicked out if I didn't call you 'Prince'."

He sighed and he approached me. The Princess and Prince Eros were indulged in their game so they haven't got the time to notice us.

"So, a palace server? A waitress before and now a server?"

I smiled. "I needed to pay off loans from college so I accepted this, plus the benefits."

"A struggling woman. Independence. Very attractive."

"I don't know if I heard sarcasm there or what."

He was taken aback. "Oh, have you hinted sarcasm? It was an innocent remark, Princess."

My eyes widened. Why did he call me 'Princess'? "Princess?"

"You've got the same name as her." He pointed Aikaterina with his chin. "You are more than just a server, Aikaterie. You can also be Princess in your own ways. So let me call you Princess when we're together."

"Only if we're together. Wouldn't it be rule breaking if we are seen talking?"

"I started talking to you. It's acceptable."

"Is that how it goes?"

He shrugged. "I guess." He turned to me but my eyes didn't leave Aikaterina and Eros. "You haven't called when I gave you my number."

"I just thought that it was inappropriate since I'm going to work here."

"It isn't. It is if I'm the one engaged to the Princess."

"But still."

"Aikaterina, you would see me every now and then since I would be living here until my brother marries the Princess."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes and don't go running and avoiding me, Aikaterie. I hope we would have a good relationship."

I wrinkled my nose. "Relationship?"

"Oh don't get me wrong. I like you but we'll start as friends. Baby steps."

I was supposed to speak up but Aikaterina and Eros stopped me when they approached the umbrella for refreshments. I hurriedly served them and when I looked up Prince Eros was staring at me.

"Is she your personal server?" Prince Eros asked Princess Aikaterina without taking his eyes off me. I got intimidated to I turned to Cronus and he was looking at me also. What the...?