The New Kings Pet

Chapter 9

I picked the boy up and held him in my arms, he looked as if he were no older than two his head rested on my shoulder and the elderly lady looked at me with sympathy. "He has been waiting for you to visit since the last time you were here," she says as we continue walking into the dining room. The room was once filled with chatter now fell silent as many of the children looked at me with confusion, I smiled awkwardly as the boy in my arms was falling asleep.

"Her Majesty has visited us a week in advance, children where is your respect" the woman reprimands them into greeting me. A few of the older children give me strange looks as their gaze follows from my face to the sleeping child in my arms, "please do continue your meal, I shall just take a look around" I say softly as the elderly woman nods, I take the boy back into the main room and place him on a soft chair. I recognise the small freckle on his ear that my mother had, his hair is the same hazelnut colour that is almost identical to her as well.

"It was a shame the day you had to leave him on our doorstep" the woman sits beside me and pats my knee, "I don't understand? Why would I leave him here" I whisper thinking of what my mother would have been doing three years ago? "I remember you saying that if Princess Julia were to find out you weren't sure how she or the King would react" the boy stirs in his sleep and I put my hand on his back and he becomes still. "I can take him today, to live with me in the castle," I say deciding it would be a wish that my mother could have brought and raise him in the castle.

"Are you sure, His Majesty wouldn't be mad what about Princess Julia?" her voice sounds concerned and it makes me think about the work she is doing here, "I wasn't sure how to break it to you, but Queen Valerie is dead and so is King Dean" I hold back the tears that threaten to run down my cheeks. She lets out a small gasp of surprise before she starts to cry, I let her head rest on my shoulder I notice the same older children peeking their head in the doorway with curious eyes as they elderly women's cry grew louder and louder as the news sunk in.

"Princess Julia?" one of the girls standing in the doorway whispers and the other children gasp before they notice me staring and they run off, the woman finally composes herself I see her face again and I am saddened to see her puffy red eyes and her red cheeks. "Queen Julia, I apologise for my mistake earlier my old age must have my eyes messing up more than usual" her voice is soft and small. "It's alright, it was a nice feeling knowing I look like my mother"

We sit in an awkward silence, the only noise coming from the rapid footsteps of the children running and playing around the house. "I meant it when I said I would take him back to the castle with me," I say wondering if she thought I had changed my mind when I had revealed my true identity. "Is there a new king?" she asks ignoring my statement and I solemnly nod my head, "I had overheard the younger workers talking about it yesterday afternoon, I just thought it was nonsense talk"

"King Henry, I am to rule by his side as Queen, but I will do everything in my power to keep the peaceful rule that my parents have maintained over their years as rulers of this Kingdom" the young boy chooses this moment to wake up, he sleepily rubs his eyes before crawling over to me. "If you think it is best to take him, I will not go against your wishes I will have one of the girls to pack his things if you wish to take him today" I shake my head as the small boy clings to my body.

"I can pack his belongings, " I say getting up with him in my arms, "as you wish your majesty, this way" she gestures to a staircase and leads me up. A few of the children follow us but only the boys follow us into the moderately sized room, I see a total of eight bunk beds lined up against the wall four on each side. She stops in front of a bed and gestures to a small trunk at the end of the bed, "his clothes are in here as well as his bag" I put the boy down and he sits on the bed staring intently towards the wooden floor, I get down on my knees as I open the small trunk.

I find a small burlap sack and only a handful of shirts and trousers, folding the few pieces of clothing I put them into the sack tying the end with the sturdy knot. "What's your name?, little one," I ask only now realising I didn't know how his name. "Nicholas" his voice his squeaky and soft and I smile "Named after grandpa" he nods his head but I wasn't too sure if understood what I said. "Where are your toys?" I ask looking around the room at the other boys that watch me with gawking eyes. He shakes his head, "we share toys" and I understand him, I take his small hand in my own and we walk out of the room the hoard of small boys close behind. When we reach the front door, I notice the royal chariot outside and I realise that I'm screwed. Henry was here and I had no idea what he was going to do.

A cough from my right interrupts my thoughts, I look and I see Henry he has an angry look and his jaw is locked. His eyes go down my arm to Nicholas and I hide him behind me before you could hurt him. "Julia, who is that young fellow behind you" his tone is strong as he forces a smile on his face.

"This is Nicholas, we are adopting him"

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I'm always amazed by how easy it is for some people to be able to handle it all.

Peace out, Ty