Royal - HinaYachi ♚

Chapter 3

Clang. Clang. Clang. Drip. Slosh. Slosh.

Shouyou slowly opens his eye when he heard the sound of the utensils clanking. He groans while tardily pushing himself off his bed to sit up. He blinks his eyes but his sight is still blurry. He noticed a person near the small table to his right doing something. He can only see the back of the person so he can't identify who it is. He yawns and stretches his arms in the air.

"What time is it?" He asked no one.

"A-ah, did I wake you up? I'm so sorry. It's past eight, Your Highness," the person replied.

That voice is familiar. He squints his eyes, trying to see much better and looks at the person who talked.

"U-um, I-I should be leaving now. Your food is just on your table-"

"Wait!" He suddenly blurted out. His sight is getting much better and realized that it was the girl earlier. She was making a confused face. He hesitated before speaking. "Well, can you keep me company for a while? Eating the meal alone feels sad."

She stood there, totally speechless. She still feels awkward around everyone since she's just new but now the prince is asking her to stay? Her anxiety doubled. But she will feel bad if she just left the royalty alone. She nods and walks near him anxiously. The orange-head took his food and pats the free space beside him while looking at the maid.

"Sit beside me," he ordered.

The blonde girl followed him and sat five rulers away from him. The prince turns to her and pouts. "You're so far. Scoot a little closer. I don't have a disease, you know?"

She felt stiff. 'Is it really okay for a commoner such me to be close to him?' She thought.

"So," Shouyou started to swallow a meat and munch it. "Why didj you deshayjed chu be a maidj?"

She averted her sight from him to the brown, patterned carpet on the floor. "Because I can't find a good job in the town. My parents used to work here so I thought that I could get accepted easily if I told them that I'm a daughter of them."

Shouyou swallows his food then eats another one. "Hmm. Did it work?"

She shakes her head no. "It was a failure at first because I'm clumsy. But it worked out in the end."

"Hey, I have a question for you. What would you do if your parents forced you to marry someone you don't know?"

"Is it about the arranged marriage with the Johzenji princess? I'm so sorry. I only heard the details from the maids. Let's see... I would refuse, I guess?" She shrugs. "I mean, what if that person is not a good person? What if you can't get along with that person? How are you two going to live together if that's the case? I think the most important thing that must prevail in marriage is love. It was created so that the two people in love can live together."

There was a long pause. Hitoka felt like the guy beside her was staring at her the whole time which made her uncomfortable. Beads of sweat formed on her face.

"U-um, that's just my honest opinion. I'm sorry if I hit some nerve. I really didn't mean it," she raised her hands in front of her face.

"I see," prince smiles. The maid tilted her head in wonder why he smiled instead. "Thank you. It's really bothering me for a while, you see, that's why I'm asking for people about their ideas towards it. I do agree with your side but as a person who will be taking over the throne, selfish decisions are not accepted. Man, I really do wish that I was born a normal people like you. This is so tiring!" He scratches his head with both of his hands.

"Is that so? But, I was wondering why you have to be married when you can just sign some contract, negotiate with other country about what the two parties can provide for each other if they want to form a strong alliance? I really don't get it."

Shouyou's head swiftly turns his head to her with wide eyes. "I don't get it either. My God, you're amazing! Why didn't I thought of that?!" He beamed with sparkling eyes.

Her hands were snatched by the guy and hold it tight. She was staring at their hands and it makes her crazy. His hands are warm and bigger compared to her sweating ones. He gave her a huge grin.

"U-um..." She stammered as her blood rushed to her cheeks.

"You helped me clear my mind. Thanks a lot!"

"N-no pr-problem."

When the prince is finally done with his food, Yachi arranged the plates and cups on the stainless tray and brings it to the kitchen. The fat woman who is in her 40s is assigned to cleaning the dishes this night. She heard some small footsteps approaching. She turns her head around and saw their new recruit. She wipes her wet hands on her apron and calls the young lady.

"Hitoka, is that from the prince? Just place them over- hey, why is your face all red? Did you caught a fever?" The lady panicked and took the tray from her hands. She places her hand on her forehead and she was a little hot. "You're burning! Can you go to your own room by yourself? I can call someone if you want to."

She shakes her head from side to side. "No need to. This is nothing. Thank you," and then she left the kitchen to head back to her room.

ⓐⓝ

I decided to cut this part since it's so long. Anyway, I just remembered that this story is based on a drawing of mine which I posted in my previous book, Amusement Park. I revised the story so you won't find the art there anymore