crown me 👑 ts + jb

seven.

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Troye sat on the edge of his bead looking down at his feet. His mind was reeling about last night, the boy that saved him... Jacob, he felt as if he known him all his life but he's just met him a few weeks ago. Although when he touched the side of his face, he felt something... and it was warmth. Troye touched the side of his own face... it was cold, he was cold.  

There was a soft knock at the door and Troye quickly sat up and flattened out his shirt. "You may enter."

A servant walked in with fabric in her hands. She bowed her head before speaking. "Your highness," She says. "I have your clothes for the day."

Troye sighed as he got up and looked at the clothing, it was black. He looked at the clothing and then shakes his head. "Can I have something with a little more color please?" 

The lady smiles a little and bows her head. "Of course your majesty," She says before leaving. 

"And another thing," He says. "Have someone go to town and fetch a merchant boy by the name of Jacob."

-

When a royal carriage showed up in front of Jacob's little shop he thought that this was it, he thought that he was going to get hanged for touching Troye in a way that a man should ever touch another man. 

He stepped in the carriage expecting to see the prince but when he was met with an empty seat across from him he was confused. Jacob thought about asking the horseman but he figured that the horseman wouldn't know. 

When the carriage stopped the door opened and Jacob stepped out. He was met face to face with the young prince who was accompanied by a guard. Jacob bowed his head before looking between Troye and the guard. 

"Ah," Troye said as he noticed the nervousness from Jacob. "Could you excuse us please." He said to the guard standing besides him. 

The guard bowed his head toward the prince before heading back into the castle. Troye put his hands to the hilt of his blade. "I want you to walk with me okay?" He said.

Jacob nodded his head. "Of course." 

They walked from the courtyard and headed towards the back of the castle. It was silent between the two... and it was uncomfortable. Jacob looked around and noticed how bare it was, when they were young Troye always talked about how boring it was in the castle. Of course, Jacob never believed him because how could someone get bored having anything they wanted, but looking at this Jacob saw why he loved the town so much.

"I want to thank you for saving my life last night Jacob," He said. "It was rude of me to talk to you like that."

Jacob looked over at Troye. "It's- it's fine your highness," He said. "You were in a life or death situation."

Troye looked over his shoulder at Jacob before continuing their journey to the far end of the empty grass plane before stopping at his little garden. "My mother always told me that if I want to be a great ruler I have to treat everyone the same... regardless of status."

"She sounded wonderful." Jacob said. 

Troye clenched his jaw to refrain from smiling. "She was," He then turned to Jacob fully and put his hands behind his back. "Princess Alexandria told me she talked to you the other day."

"She did," Jacob said. "If I had disrespected her in anyway I-."

Troye raised his hand and Jacob instantly stopped talking. "You haven't," He said. "It's what the two of you talked about that I wish to discuss with you."

"Of-of course."

Troye took a step towards Jacob. "You said you knew me... that we played together when we were young. My mother and would spend time in town and always go to your fathers shop."

"That's right your highness," Hey says. 

He crosses his arms in front of him. "But I have no recollection of such things and I would remember especially if it concerns my mother."

"I know...." Jacob said timidly. "It's because your father didn't want you to remember."

Troye made a face. He looked at Jacob, he looked like he wasn't lying but how could something like this be true? His dad wanted to forget that he had spent time in the city with this boy... why hadn't him mom do something about it? Then again, when she tried he never really listened said he could "do anything he wanted because he was king"

"Why would he want me to forget."

"Beca-." Jacob looked pass Troye and saw his uncle standing beside the castle. His face was hard and his hand were placed neatly in front of him. Jacob clenched his jaw as he looked back at Troye.

"Because...." Troye said.

Jacob looked down at his feet. "I-I can't say your highness," He said.

"And why not?" 

The merchant boy ran a hand through his hair. "It's not safe for me your highness."

Troye was taken aback, Alexandria had said something similar when she first arrived and her he is standing in front of the taller boy hearing the same thing again. 

He looked at Jacob before sighing and letting his hands fall to his sides. "Alright," He said. "I'll get you a carriage to head back to town."

Jacob bowed his head. "Thank you your highness."

Troye stepped aside and let Jacob pass. He watched as Jacob made his way to the castle, he couldn't figure out particularly why but when it came to Jacob he felt himself being... protective? Could it have been from the time that Troye has apparently lost? 

"Your highness." Jacob said turning around. 

Troye looked up. "Sorry I was thinking." 

Jacob shook his head. "No not that," He says. "Your clothes..."

"...you aren't mourning anymore."

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