Hidden in the Castle

Part 12

Chapter 11

His feet hit the dewy grass, and if his mother were to see him now, she would berate him for not wearing boots.  She would tell him that he would catch his death, walking around with nothing to protect his feet.  William smiled at the thought.  Even now, being a grown man, his mother felt as if she needed to treat him like a child.  Was it just because she was his mother?  In ten years, when he took over the throne, would she still chastise him for his behavior?  He had a feeling that she would.  Just like Cassie, his mother was one woman that would treat him no differently no matter who he was.

They may not be the only two who would treat him no differently in the future.  When Annabelle had taken up for herself, when she had tilted her chin up and told him everything she thought, William had hope that she would be one of those women too.  What had Ramsey told him?  That if William thought he could have even part of the love he witnessed between Cassie and Colin that he should fight for it. 

Could it be true, though?  Could he and Annabelle have love despite their differences?  He could win her trust, but would it ever become anything more than friendship?  Shaking his head, he let a small smile form on his face.  Ramsey would tell him to quit thinking and do something, that while he was wondering if he could make things right, she would be moving on to another.  The man was right.  If he did not act quickly, William would never learn if what he and Annabelle could have would be more than friendship.

With a sigh, he stared at the sky, watching as the sun began to rise.  In only moments, everyone would be awake.  Their false smiles would be in place as they tried to win the favor of the future king.  Dread filled William’s gut.  He was not ready to face the games Kings had to play.  He could put his responsibilities off for a little while longer; could walk until someone found him and made him return.

It may not have been the best idea he had, may not have been anything close to what was expected of him, but as William walked further away from the castle, the worries of the day began to ease.  The pressure that was on him fell away, and a genuine smile formed on his face.  How had his father been able to handle the responsibilities of a king?  How had the man simply taken the role as if nothing in his life would change?  William already knew the answer.  There were stories of his grandfather, stories that were not pleasant.  The current King’s father had been a tyrant in his life, but in his death, he had left a great King.

William had not had to live with his grandfather.  By the time William was born, the man was deceased, but it did not keep the stories at bay.  It was why William’s father was different.  Growing up with a hateful man as a father strengthened ones character, that was what his father had always said.  Maybe that was William’s problem.  Maybe he needed someone to be hard on him, not understanding, as they all seemed to be. 

A full laugh escaped his mouth at the thoughts.  Here he was, wishing for a harder life, when everyone else wished for an easier one.  He was a fool to even allow his mind to wander in that direction, but it did not stop him from wondering.  If he were normal, would Annabelle accept him?  He had a feeling that she would.  She had proven that when she had attempted to befriend him in the beginning, before she knew who he was.  It would be easier to be normal, to leave all his responsibilities behind and do as he wanted to from the beginning, run.  He couldn’t run though.  Glancing up, he stared at his home in the distance.  As much as he wished he could leave his responsibilities behind, he had changed in the past few years.  The man two years ago could have ran, did run at one point, but the man he was now would face his responsibilities, no matter how hard they were.