A Tale of Two Princes

4

~~ Hello everyone!! Here we are with a new part! There is another time skip here- I'm Sorry!! But, Jack and Mark are indeed 12 years old now, my how they grow up! There's not much of Mark in this, but I wanted to focus on Jack's world a little, so here you go! Anyways, I hope you enjoy!!!~~

Jack's P.O.V.

I rolled over in bed as I groaned in the early morning light shining down. Pulling the sheets up over my head, I heard the all too familiar knock on my door.

"Prince Sean? Are you up? It's time for breakfast, so please come down to the dining hall when you are ready." I heard a servant call out through the door as I tried to go back to sleep.

"It's Jack!" I called out, pulling my sheet off my face. I sat up and looked out the coral window to my room. The sun always made the prettiest of patterns on the surface water, I couldn't help but smile in my early morning grumpiness. I slid out of bed and swam over to my door, heading down to the dining hall. As I neared the large golden doors, I took a left turn into the kitchen.

"Good morning sleepy head! I'm sure your mother wouldn't appreciate that new hairstyle of yours. It looks... unfit for a prince." The head chef greeted me with a smile as I swam in, her face forming the loving smile I've always known showing itself for the first time today. I rolled my eyes as I swam over to the mirror they had by the sink to try and fix my hair. Being under the water, everyone's hair flows naturally and freely no matter what you do. But, that doesn't stop the knots from showing up, unfortunately.

"So, what does the "master chef" have planned for breakfast today?" I sat down on a stool around an island where the kitchen staff was preparing a big meal.

"Actually, Jack, you are eating with your family today, they said they wouldn't have it if you didn't." Emma looked down at her work after she said those bone crushing words.

"BUT EMMA!!!" I loudly complained but she was quick to shut me up.

"Now Jack, this is your family! You should have breakfast with them at least once in awhile! Besides, it'll be a nice change from your quick meal of seaweed! Now, hurry up , they are waiting." Emma ushered me out and back into the hallway, facing the dining hall doors. I sighed, before pushing them open. I haven't had a proper meal with my family since I started to visit Mark every morning, and that was two years ago. I swam into the room, my parents and sister already sitting in their spots. I quietly sat down in my seat across from my sister.

"Finally, the youngster awakens! Now we can all feast! Please, bring out the food!" My father called out in his thick Irish accent. Immediately, plates of food were brought out to the table for us to eat. I sighed, quickly serving myself as my family ate in silence. This is why I never really had breakfast with my parents, they were always deadly quiet. That, and the fact that I was always going up to see Mark in the mornings. Unfortunately, He had told me yesterday that he was unable to come this morning, so I was stuck with my parents. We had promised to meet this evening, but that meant waiting all day. I brought my fork to my mouth as I continued to eat the seaweed on my plate. Even if there was a feast set out for me, I was just going to eat my seaweed in peace, to show how much I didn't want to be there.

"Now, Sean..."

"It's Jack," I said under my breath as my father continued to talk.

"... You are now twelve years of age, and I think, it would be best if we changed up your lessons. We are dropping out some classes that you have mastered, but we are adding one or two more to your daily schedule. Today, you are going to go to the same classes you've always had, but tomorrow, you will go to your first new classes!" My father finished his rant and he didn't look up from his food at all during it. I looked down at mine and nodded, staying silent. I finished the food that was on my plate, mumbling a little 'excuse me' and I left the room, heading over to my first lesson. In the middle of the hallway, though, I stopped and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I was happy I was changing up the lessons I've had since I was little, but I'd rather not take up more of my precious time with these silly lessons. My mind them switched over, it went to Mark, sitting by the water looking down at me, talking about whatever we wanted, just being us. I smiled slightly as I continued to swim to my lesson, patiently awaiting the evening.