Heartthrob of Aclea

Chapter 4 - My Bodyguards Had Fooled Me!

'Why are you taking a different route? The university is on left corner. Simple direction. Turn left, not straight!' Elliot and Ethan were obviously horrible at remembering roads.

'Take a U-turn!'

'Honestly, Aaron. Your lab session is after lunch.' Ethan replied.

'So, I don't have any lectures?'

'You do but not in the same theatre.'

'No way...' I just realised something. They were taking me back home.

No shit, Sherlock.

Mum welcomed us with the grumpiest smile that she had ever worn. The name of Hannah suited her charismatic personality. She was fourteen-nine but she always looked younger. Mum had a thing on Victorian stuff and I had always found her gracing me in a purple Verona Victorian Fancy gown, complemented by an elegant full skirt of rich velvet featuring stylish folds. Her green eyes visualised thousands of soothing feeling. Even when she was angry, everyone would drown in mercy of her gaze.

'Aaron Christopher Armitage, you brought out chaos here and there! Why couldn't you stick to your responsibility until it's over? I couldn't even enjoy my tea party in a tranquil manner!' She pinched me hard. I couldn't help wincing. 'Mum, pinching is for kids and I'm not a kid anymore.' I brushed off the pain. 'Did the duchesses bring their daughters?' A typical question automatically came out of my mouth whenever she touched the topic of tea party. A tiresome event that served nothing but cheap gossips and scandalmongers. Nonetheless, women were not destined to be rejected when they popped out offers of wanting to be accompanied.

If you knew what I meant.

'Son, focus! A prince must always be able to create a decent impression. Prudence is crucial for you, for it allows you to be praised yet avoid being blamed or poorly judged.' She sighed. 'You are a strong adult, not an immature toddler.'

I let her nuggets of wisdom flying across my mind, not interested to take them down to my heart and brain. Kindness was something that you practised without being forced. Why would she touch the matter of common sense? She had already knew I was unchangeable.

'I just noticed something. Did you go to saloon? Your hair is glowing. You are glowing, Mum.' I changed the subject.

'Don't distract me. I'm angry.' She folded her arms.

'You love me.' I winked playfully.

She was about to make a suitably cutting retort when Julie, her assistant, paced up towards us with a file in her hand. 'Your Majesty, sorry to interrupt but you have a rendezvous with Lady Helena of Goldcrest pertaining to the foundation of a new orphanage.' Mum nodded briefly and turned to me.

'I haven't finished with you yet, young man. We'll catch up later. I'll see myself out.' She took the file from Julie and strode straight to her office.

'Good day, Jules! For some reason, I was feeling a little off today. But when you came along, you definitely turned me on.' I snapped my fingers enthusiastically. Julie had her hand slapped on her face. She politely curtsied and followed Mum's trail. She ignored my pick-up line as usual. No offence taken.

I spent the rest of the morning listening to my Spotify playlist while reading some notes and tutorials before my lab session began. Some parts were boring, some parts were hard to remember, and some parts were just meant to be there, unacknowledged yet unforgettable.

The enormous chamber of mine was always empty. Only family members were allowed to enter without being called. However, it did not mean that they could have the ticket to be here without knocking. I was once caught totally naked when Brian desperately needed a tux to attend his Homecoming in the time of his college days. I was shameless but he got all crimson over his face. Could not blame him for being shy like a fox. Could not blame me either.

I did what I wanted.

My chamber was intelligently designed by Mum. It was painted with shades of black and furnished with gold and bronze furniture to emerge a great aesthetic pleasure. Large windows filled up two compartments and each of them were attached with white sills. There was a flight of stairs besides my sleeping space – another compartment that only had a king-sized bed, a dressing table and two couches – which bridged the bathroom and the living room.

I hadn't figured out any logical reasons why the bathroom was upstairs. Fun fact about this particular chamber, I had never brought any women here, apart from Mum and Camellia. I had never slept with Camellia in here either. I didn't know why but I felt like if one day, I bedded someone here, it would be probably my wife or at least, future wife. Letting people in my private space was like departing to a whole new level of commitment and that was definitely going to take place in due course.

Right now, I wanted to ace my degree and continued living in the shades of my brother's greatness.

The clock on the wall strikes noon. I pulled out a drawer that was exclusively for storage of medical stuff - stethoscope, lab coats and printed reports – and reached them as they were required for the session. I walked along the garden in my lab coat and hurried to the garage.

'They brought in my Baby Blue!' I jumped in joy when my eyes landed on her, my treasure. Running behind me were Jason and Elliot. Jason was my other loyal bodyguard, who always enamoured everyone who looked at him with a sight of his glistening mahogany tinted skin. His black hair was neatly combed and he was the youngest among the guards.

'You're ready to go?' Jason gasped for breath.

'Yes. I'll drive today. You are pleased to tail me.' I chuckled.

'Even if I'm not pleased, I've already been in charged to tail you. My hatred isn't being taken into account.' Elliot remained expressionless.

'You are totally a killjoy, Elly.'

'Well, you are the unlucky one to get me.'

Sitting ourselves on the seats, two cars exited the garage and headed to Aclea Medical University.