Crown Of Hearts

Chapter 11

I rarely saw Oria. She was always on the move, always anxious about Theo. Over a pot of tea, she had recalled the day when the Queen gave birth to Theo. Oria was the youngest maid at the time, barely reaching 5'3 and at twenty she had been tasked with caring for the youngest prince.

" God, it was horrible. The little prince was always so fussy. He never liked to be in anyone's arms except his mother. The queen hated that, she always told me that she couldn't get any work done with a newborn in her arms." Although her words were harsh, Oria was smiling.

" I never wanted kids after taking care of Theo all these years. I don't think I could love a child as much as I love Theo."

She usually left the cottage early in the morning and returned late into the night. I wondered what Theo asked that was so labor-intensive.

But Theo. He was a whole different story. I had spent two weeks in the palace. And never once did he ask me to do any cleaning.

He would summon me to his room, shuffle his cards, place them down and ask me to pick them up before dismissing me.

This is going nowhere. All I have on the Prince is that he likes to shuffle cards.

He was muttering to himself again.

" I'm curious, what are you doing?"

He paused, almost as if he couldn't believe I was talking. He placed another card down.

I sighed, I expected it. Why would he want to talk to me?

" When I have to give speeches, I write down the sentence starter on the cards, and then I quiz myself by forcing myself to recite the sentences."

Now is my chance.

I took a seat across from him and held out my hand. " Let me help you."

He placed the deck in my hand. Well, this is not what I expected. I really thought you were gonna reject it. What the hell, I don't even know how to shuffle.

I smiled and clumsily picked a card and slid it towards him. After pulling out a few cards, Theo started to chuckle.

I glanced up, his head was thrown back, arms behind him to support his weight and he was laughing.

I tuck my hair behind my ear, " How rude, to laugh at a girl trying her best."

Theo suddenly reached his hand out, " You put your hand here and here. Then let go." His finder reached for mine as he put my hands in the correct position.

The stories were wrong, there was no electricity, it didn't feel like currents running up and down my arm. It felt like a million different butterflies kissed my skin.

My face warmed.

Theo's eyes were focused on the cards. " See you did it." He said softly. He pulled his hands away.

" Clean up the cards and please leave when you're done." He stood suddenly and reached for the door.

He never said please before.

" Did you hear that?" I mutter.

" The prince is quite bashful, isn't he? It's kinda cute." Ian murmured. "How are you doing?" He sounded so serious.

" I'm fine." I miss my parents so much, I feel like my heart's going to burst.

" We told your parents that you're on a trip with the Krill's extended family. They're pretty pissed at you for just leaving without saying anything."

I was quiet.

" Hey, Clara? Zak and Peter feel really bad about what happened. Can't you talk to them?" He didn't give me an option because, in less than five seconds, another voice clicked on.

Zak's

**

Unbelievable. I'm lost. Again.

I groaned, I swore it was the left turn.

" A pretty girl like you should not make that face." Frederick laughed.

I laughed awkwardly, " I'm bad with directions."

" Clara, are you lost?" Rachael turned the corner. She tilted her head, " Oh hello Frederick."

Frederick's eyes widen. " RACHAEL." He rushed over to her side, " My love, how I missed you. You know that I would never be with anyone else. Never." He was shaking his head.

Rachael frowned and ripped her hands from his grip. " Still too old for you."

He deflated, " Three years is not too old." He said weakly.

" Don't you have a girlfriend?"

" No, I don't! The tabloids always get it wrong. Idon'tknowwhothatgirlis."

She giggled, " Good, Well I guess I have to wait until you grow up a little more." She patted his head.

Frederick flushed. The cool prince had met his match.

" Do you like Frederick?" I asked once he left.

" To an extent, I like him. I was assigned to him when I was nineteen and served him for a few years until Theo requested my presence. I guess he just got attached, he's turning twenty-one in a few months and I'll be turning twenty-four a month after him. I just don't want him to waste his life chasing after someone who can never be with him."

" How about you? Like any of the princes?" She teased.

Theo's face flashed through my brain.

" No. I don't think I do."

The air around us had become uncomfortably warm, I snuck a glance at Rachael but she seemed unbothered.

" Do you not feel the heat?" I asked.

She tilted her head but a smile quickly made its way up to her lips, " Did our conversation about the princes make you uncomfortable?"

" No." I laugh. There it was again. A flash of Theo's face.

" Does someone have a crush on Prince Frederick?" She teased.

I felt my shoulders relax. I gave her a dazzling smile, at least I hope it was.

" Of course not."

Rachael shook her head, laughing. " Mhm. Oh no, it's almost dinnertime. We have to go!" She reached for my wrist and pulled me along.

" Where?"

" The royal family's weekly dinner."