The Key ♕

6

Sophie's Point of View

"Sophie, I need you to do something for me. Can you please deliver these documents to Luke for me? It's pretty urgent. I can't find Nathaniel anywhere and I don't trust the servants to deliver it." Alice asks pleadingly, glancing up from her paperwork. "The order for flowers for the ball is due in an hour, so I don't have time to do it myself."

"Of course, my princess. It would be my pleasure," I reply, receiving the papers from her hands.

"Sophie," she stops me. "I need to tell you something."

"Yes, your Majesty?" I cock my head.

"I just want you to know that you must be careful around Luke."

"Be careful?" Confusion manifests in my mind.

"Let's just say... he is quite fond of women, especially beautiful ones like you." Alice chews on her lip.

A laugh escapes my mouth, "princess, I am flattered, but I am sure that will not be a problem. The prince made it very clear that he dislikes me."

"Sophie," Alice warns bitterly. "Just promise me you'll be careful. Drop the papers off on his desk. If he happens to be there, tell him that it's from me and leave immediately."

"Yes, my princess. You worry too much," I chuckle.

Alice gives me a playful shove and and I walk down the long hallway to Lucas's room. I knock on his door with my knuckles. The long moment of dead silence assures me that he is not inside. I breathe out a sigh of relief and turn the knob to enter. His room is twice as big as other bedrooms in the palace. Gold and jewels fill the room, shining so uncontrollably bright that I cringe at the lavishness. I walk over to his desk and gently put down the stack of papers.

I turn my body towards the entrance, but a dirty towel on the bathroom's floor catches my attention. Alice's warning floats back into my mind, but I can't stand messy surroundings. I assure myself that Lucas won't come in; it will just take a second. I tiptoe into the bathroom and pick up the fluffy towel.

Just when I am about to leave the bathroom, I hear a obnoxiously high-pitched giggle. I tense up and my body turns as cold as my feet against the freezing stone floor. I instinctively hide myself behind a column.

"Stop it, your Majesty!" The girl giggles again, obviously untrue to her words.

"Oh, Abigail," hints of playfulness intertwine with the prince's low voice. "You know you want me." I bite my lip nervously at the awkwardness of witnessing the prince's intimate relationship.

I crane my neck to get a better view of the couple, and ponder when to slip out of the room discreetly. Embracing the prince is a young woman, no more than his age. She has curly auburn hair that reaches past her shoulders, full lips, and a rosy flush on her cheeks. Lucas grips Abigail's waist and pulls her closer to him. He presses his lips to her and kisses her passionately, making me widen my eyes in surprise.

"Your Majesty!" Abigail giggles again in between kisses.

Lucas pushes her on the bed roughly and starts fondling with her dress. He pushes the hem of her dress up and hooks her legs around his waist. He starts kissing Abigail's delicate neck as she runs her hand through his shaggy blonde hair. 

"Now that you've gotten tired of Natalya, you come running back to me, huh, my prince?" Abigail teases, unbuttoning Lucas's shirt.

"Abigail," he laughs, tossing his shirt aside, "you know I don't do commitment." 

She sighs lovingly, "I know, your Majesty, and how I wish I could have you to myself."

Anger surges through my mind. Is this how the prince of England should act? Going around and toying with all the girls at court? By now, resentment towards his actions have already overtaken my self control. "Your Majesty! What are you doing?" I scream, stepping away from the column to reveal myself.

Lucas immediately jumps away from Abigail while she hurriedly covers herself with the sheets, "Sophie? What are you doing in my room?" His eyes glances to the towel clutched tightly in my hands.

"Your Majesty, I apologize. I must have disrupted something important," I say between my clenched teeth.

"Important? No," his bewildered expression turns into a arrogant sneer, "this is nothing important."

"Prince Lucas, with all due respect, you're terrible." I throw the towel in his face, completely ignoring the etiquette of the court. The towel falls to the ground and he stares at it with astonishment.

"Oh, Sophie, you need to loosen up. I can help you if you want," Lucas taunts mockingly.

I glare at him and immediately head straight for the door.

His voice turns stern and he calls, "Sophie! Wait!"

"What?" I snap in a more gentle tone given the hopes of an apology.

"Close the door for us while you leave." I want to slap that cocky smirk out of his face.

Abigail's annoying laughter trails me all the way back to the study. 

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Lucas's Point of View

"My prince," Abigail coos in her overly dramatic seductive voice, "shall we continue?"

I stare at the door then the towel on the ground. Nobody has ever called me terrible, let alone throw a towel in my face. Who does this girl think she is? Sophie. She's just a mere servant.

"Get out," I growl. I'm not in the mood anymore, all thanks to her.

"Your Majesty?" She asks timidly.

"I said get out."

"Yes, your Majesty." Abigail rushingly readjusts her clothes and runs out the door, giving me a small curtsy as she leaves.

I sit down on my chair and rest my chin on my elbows. My hands brush a pile of papers and I squint my eyes to get a better look at the words. Papers for the preparation of the ball. That's what Sophie came into my room for. She must have seen the dirty towel on the floor and picked it up on the way out.

I clench my fist as the images of her infuriated face float back into my mind. She's beautiful even when she's mad. 

I smirk to myself. I hate her even more... but now, I'm fascinated. Sophie, let's see what fun you can bring to my palace.