One in a million (Prequel to 'Bad Blood')

Chapter 24: Demotion

James's POV

I blinked a few times before my eyes adjusted to the daylight. I stretched in bed and let out a deep breath.

I then looked beside me and saw Cassandra. My beautiful queen. She was still sleeping and even then looked beautiful.

I scooted closer to her and felt all of her on me. "Hey," I said softly. I leaned in closer and kissed her shoulder. "Wake up."

Cassandra turned around and laid on her back then, though her eyes remained closed.

"Cassandra," I scooted closer again and already felt her naked body. Her soft and naked body. I gulped as I tried to remain calm. "Wake up." I then leaned down to kiss her. When I pulled back, I noticed her blinking.

"James?"

"Yes," I smiled then. "Good morning."

She stretched too and looked around. She then looked at me and smiled. "So it wasn't a dream?"

I smiled then, she'd actually dream of me... It shows how important I was to her. "No, it wasn't."

"Good," She then wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled me in for a kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too."

She then frowned.

"What's wrong?"

She pulled her arm back and felt her belly. "I'm hungry."

That's when my eyes widened. "No, no, no." I quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed my clothes. I hurried to get dressed.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"I have to prepare breakfast for you and the other royals."

"But I want to cuddle some more," She then showed me her puppy face. "Please."

"I'd love to, and you know that, but I have my duties."

Cassandra sighed and looked away.

I walked to her and kissed her cheek. "I love you." I then pushed my closet aside and left my room. I ran as fast as I could to the kitchen.

When I arrived, I noticed dad cleaning up the kitchen. When he noticed me, he sighed. "You're late."

"I know," I hurried to him and helped him clean up. "I'm sorry."

"Don't tell that to me," He looked at me. "The king and queen want to have a word with you," He motioned to the door. "I'd hurry if I were you."

I sighed before leaving the kitchen and going to the living room.

I entered and noticed King Alden and Queen Louisa just talking to one another. They stopped when they spotted me.

"James," Queen Louisa said as she motioned me to come closer. "Where were you this morning?"

I looked down. "I apologize, Milady, I overslept."

"You overslept?"

I kept looking down. 

"According to your father, you never oversleep," Queen Louisa said. "What was so important that you didn't care to show up this morning?"

I sighed once more as I realized I couldn't tell them the truth. I couldn't tell them I had been intimate with Cassandra during the night and thus overslept. I couldn't tell them anything.

"Very well," She said to which I looked up at her. "A butler that doesn't do his duties cannot be the butler with the most important task."

I gulped as I looked from her to King Alden and back.