The Mage's Son

8

The next day, Askari was still gone. I was washing Avalon's clothes. The other cleaners look at me funny.

"What?" I ask.

"It's just.... You are a very dedicated worker." One girl wringing out clothes says.

"Yeah, I would cringe having to wash the prince's drawers." Another girl comments.

"Well, I love to work." I wring out Avalon's clothes and hang them to dry next to the fireplace. I pick up his socks and rub them against the washboard.

After that, I make conversation with Gertrude and Marjorie.

"You got upgraded big time, sweetheart. I gotta love that whippersnapper. He's a peach." Gertrude cuts a fish's head off. I nearly puke.

"I have some questions though. How could someone sneak poison into your food?" I ask.

Marjorie fans herself, "Darling. They'd have to do it in the three second between serving it. Why?"

I go near the stove, "Okay, you are going to have to keep this on the hush hush. I found horse powder in Askari's hand bag. I also found a letter from her broke parents saying that they could buy a house if she married money."

"Oh, honey. That's big. I bet you she's gonna kill the Mage." Gertrude slams her spatula down.

"No. She can't benefit from that. Avalon has to be king to get money." Marjorie thinks, "A love potion. No that's bee powder."

I think. I don't know what type of potions need horse powder. I do know what type of spell needs Horse powder.

"Destructive spell. She wants to destroy the kingdom. But why?" I get confused. She is marrying the prince.

"Honey, you don't have to destroy something. You can take away powers with that spell. If she takes away the mage's powers, Avalon will be on the throne and she will be queen. Meaning she controls half of the riches." Gertrude claps.

"She just wants money. I can't tell the prince." I feel sad. The mage will lose his powers.

I grab Avalon's dry clothes from the laundry. Then I march into his room. He was playing with Moth fruit. He made a butterfly.

I knock, "Clothes, sire."

He smiles, "Thanks. Come in."
I place his clothes on the table. He starts to change clothes. He takes his shirt off.
"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, waiting for the princess, sire." I sit on the bed. "I kind of miss orders."

He puts his pants on, "Oh? I could make you clean the moat."

I laugh, "That's that sense of humor I oh so love."

He sighs, "Askari is coming back here tomorrow. Why do I have to marry her? I love...... You follow all orders, right?"

"Sire, I kind of have to. It's my job." I grin. I thought he knew that.

He sits on his bed. Then he starts to say something but freezes.
"All orders, right?"

"What is it that you want, sire?" I see he was conflicted.

"Kiss me." He has a stern face.

I blink, "What..What?" My heart speeds up.

"Kiss me."

I start to blush, "But sire, the rules."

"Screw the stupid rules! It's an order." He frowns. He was genuinely sad.

I go near him and kiss him on the cheek. I pat his back.

"Not like that. Like this." He pulls me by the collar and our lips meet. I relaxed. My hand touches his face. My dream came true.
I let go of him and push back.

"Uh........Sire. I....I.....Uh. I have no words." I say stuttering. He looks at me. I swear his eyes lit up.
I kissed the prince.

"What?" He notices that I was in shock.

"Sire, it's just that you're my first kiss. Is that all sire?" I could barely stand up. I could see his face. I love that face. I couldn't fall in love though.

"No. Do you like me?" He stays stern.

"Of course, sire." I stare at him.

He makes a face like I said something wrong.
"Yeah. You can go now."

"Sire, even though it's against the rules, if it makes you happy, I..." I pause.

"Finish." He grabs my hand.

"I love you. I've actually loved you for a while, sire." I grab my chest.

His eyes light up even more, "Really?"

"Yes sire. I'm embarrassed." I blush.

"I love you too." He grins.

"I can't do this. Rules and your fiancee." I scratch my head.

He strokes my hair, wiping a tear down my cheek,"I don't care."

"But my job."

"Kiss me. It's an order." He grabs me and we kiss. I never wanted to let go.