The Prince's Heart (Ziall, Niam)

Chapter 17

"Your highness?" a tentative voice asks.

"Calum!" I quickly step back, away from Zayn. "What are you doing here?"

"I, um, I, went to check on you because you were gone for a certain amount of time and Harry got worried and--"

"I'm fine" I interrupt quickly. I feel both guilty and happy that people are so worried about me when they could be worried about themselves. "I had to assure Liam that I'll be safe. We were just on our way to deliver this tray anyway"

Calum looks unconvinced. "Okay, sure"

I shoot him a smile and nod at Zayn. Zayn bows briefly and picks up the tray he laid on the floor and bows at me again, waiting for my instruction. Calum raises an eyebrow at the both of us but I ignore him and clear my throat. "Let us proceed to the Infirmary"

While walking to our destination, I think about how Zayn's so good at being impassive, at pretending and then I proceed to wonder if he doesn't really want people knowing about the two of us. I wonder if he'll be proud to admit that he loves me and we're in a relationship if Liam wasn't in the way.  Or would he be ashamed and continue hiding?

I was drowning in my thoughts that I hadn't noticed the puddle that some fool left on the floor. And before I know it, my foot slipped and I was falling backwards, everything passing by in a rush.

A loud clang and a shout later, a pair of warm hands wrapped themselves around me and hauled me up before I could land on my bum on the floor. 

I didn't have to turn around to know who it was. I breathed out a sigh of relief and allowed myself to rest in his arms for a little longer.

Zayn squeezes me tightly once then lets go. He coughs and puts his impassive face back on. I look at Calum nervously. He's holding the tray and everything seems to be intact although the juice fell over. Zayn must have thrusted it to him when I was about to fall.

I spare him a quick smile and he narrows his eyes at me for a second before he blinks and looks down instead. I straighten myself up and continue walking. Zayn walks right behind me and we both leave Calum staring at us until he snapped back to reality. 

"Wait! Your highness, may I ask you a question?" I pause and remain facing away from him. I want to say no because I know what he'll ask but it will be rude of me so I stiffly nodded.

"Yes, you may" I said hesitantly.

"Do you guys have a...thing?" he asks. His eyes darting from me to Zayn then back to me.

"Do elaborate what 'thing' means, Calum" Zayn teases. His face says amused but his entire body screams tense.

Calum goes red in the face. "When I caught you earlier I thought that Prince Niall just needed some comfort b-but watching you just now, you held him like a lover, like he was porcelain that must be preserved"

"Has it occurred to you that I merely care about our royal highness? After all, he is the prince" Zayn says and Calum reddens even more but he keeps his stand.

"No offense Zayn but even Harry wouldn't hold Prince Niall like that" Calum deadpans. "And to be honest, I've always had a suspicion"

I freeze completely but Zayn keeps talking. "Really now? Do you have any evidence that will support your suspicions?"

"Just yesterday, you went on a 'trip' a trip that couldn't have been for the purpose of buying something or else you would have brought something home. The only thing you brought home were flushed cheeks and content smiles. If that doesn’t capture two people in love then what does?? And during Prince Niall and Prince Liam's engagement party, Zayn looked particularly sad and mad at the same time. At first I thought Zayn only had a mere crush on the highness but when I saw the both of you giving each other the same glances...I knew" He gazed away from Zayn and looked at me instead. "I knew you love Zayn but at the same time, you also love Liam, am I right?"