Reign [ h.s. ]

12

Lina.

“What is the meaning of all this?” I asked, clearing my throat as I attempted to be professional, taking in the scene in front of me.

“This man has been banned from the castle’s premises, yet he is on the royal property.” the guard to Harry’s right explained, jerking Harry’s arm a tad as if to emphasize his point.

I nodded my head, folding my arms behind my back.

“Did you care to question him of his reasonings to be on our premises?” I raised an eyebrow at the guards, squaring my shoulders back as if to show them who held the real power in this situation.

The other guard looked down for a second, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. “Well, no, Princess. The thought did not exactly cross our minds when we saw him. We assumed that he was here for you.”

“Well then I shall ask.” I turned my attention to Harry, masking any affection I would naturally display towards him, keeping my demeanor completely expressionless. “What are your reasons for coming onto this property?” I asked him, keeping firm eye contact.

“I heard of a position in the royal kitchen. Baker, to be specific. I would like to interview for it, Princess.”

I looked to the two guards, my arms still crossed behind my back. “Guards, what is our one exception to all banishments?” I tested them.

They both swallowed a gulp, looking to each other behind turning back to answer me.

“If they seek honest employment, Princess.”

“Precisely. Let Mr. Styles in.” I waved to them, directing my command before turning around to retreat back into the main hall of the palace, not bothering to wait for them. If a person is banished from the castle, but seeks honest employment here, we allow them so long as they do not display any true danger, which I am assured Harry does not. Well perhaps not in my mother's eyes but that is irrelevant to me. However, if the person is exiled from our kingdom, that rule is no longer applied to them. We do not allow them on our island, even if they do seek honest employment. However, rarely anyone was ever exiled, their actions had to have been incredibly serious. I walked forward, finally hearing the click of the front door signaling that it was closed.

“Well that was quite impressi-”

I held up a finger to silence him, interrupting any further speech.

“Not yet.” I hissed at him, noticing a few servants’ eyes lingering at the new guest in suspicion, perhaps recognition which would be far worse. “Only non-personal questions or statements.” I whispered to him, taking a lead in front of him.

“On the right we have the ballroom, which I’m quite confident you are already familiar with. On the left we have the washrooms, where all the laundry is done. If you attain the employment you seek here, that is where you shall bring all the clothes you have used that need washing. Sounds simple enough?” I asked, turning to him keeping up with the professionalism. He nodded his head, silently keeping pace with me. “Through the door ahead of us, is the kitchen. There are many steps but you eventually get there. The reason it is so far below is because when this palace was built many decades ago, the source of heat for the palace, the furnace, was also shared with the fire that acts as our oven. No one ever saw reason to change it. No complications have ever arose.” I rambled, trying to steer off any servants that may be lingering around. They were always so nosey so I figured if the talk I was giving Harry sounded professional enough, their current suspicion would fade and they would just drift off.