Waking up in my bed... I missed this. I'm actually glad to be doing this. Maybe I should ask to live out of the castle always. I pause scanning my room. "No. That's not proper." I don't mind the halls. They work well. Just because this bed is far superior doesn't mean I should get that level of treatment.
William knocks on my door before opening it. "Still locking your door?"
I grin at him in my mirror. I'm readying for the day. "No reason."
"Escaping through your window? Did you meet your beloved after I left you?" William checks my cuffs. His closeness allows me to hear, "I noticed you snuck out last night."
I freeze staring at him. He offers a light smile. "I just went back to..."
"Yeah, yeah." He taps the spot where my locket it. "Her energy. Right next to you. Lover."
"She is not." I grab at the locket. Why am I acting like this? I grunt trying to just calm over everything. "It was Jessica."
"Mhm. Now it makes perfect sense why you are refusing everyone." William won't listen. "Callie was suggesting she was everything and then some. I'm glad you agree."
"I hate you." I growl out and return to my looks in the mirror. I really do look like my father's son. It comforts to see my actual looks in the mirror. This wasn't what I always saw. Not that it was too far from the truth. "Did my father ask about me being here?"
"Word was sent. You can join him in the den where he'll be eating breakfast."
I nod. Breakfast was the most likely time I saw my father. Before him saying I wasn't his child. The rift... "It's been a while since I was allowed to have breakfast with him."
"I'll join you. I know it may lead to me not eating, but I can always eat later."
I grin at him. "Thanks. Sorry for all the times he refused you."
"I wasn't exactly the best child." William shrugs.
"You were fine. My father just has really high expectations."
"Hope I can meet them now."
We walk out of my room and down to my father's wing. He always has his breakfast in his den. Sometime people joins him. Often times this was where I had father-son bonding moments. It won't be long after breakfast that will have me joining my mother again.
"Returned to the safety of the castle." Father says as I walk in. "No one will question your looks now. I feel as if I'm looking in a mirror."
"More like your portrait from when you joined the knights." I smirk at him. It really is a match. "Why was I given the subpar looks curse?"
"Blessing." Father says as if I didn't know it was called a blessing. I roll my eyes. "In a way to hide who you are. In a way as a worry you'd be so drawing few would say no to you. Turns out, you have my looks not your mother's." The king motions to the chairs available. "Sit, sit. Both of you. Tell me of the mission."
"As in why I'm here not there? I could just complain about the beds." I wave my hand about.
Father eyes me. "If you complain of the beds in the Warton Estate without saying even worse of the knights halls, I would assume a lie."
I wish I had a counter, but he has a point. "My bed was far superior."
Father chuckles. "I would hope so. So, mission."
I look to William. "I know why William is assigned to me. I need to consider myself as crown prince during this. If I felt at all threatened I was not to stay." I pause as Father only nods. That was truly the mission. "The ball was fine. No threats by nobles or questions about treason. The concern was afterwards."
"Afterwards?"
I nod. "I wanted a short walk in the fresh air. I went to the ball when the first bell chimed, so I was there a while. A nice walk afterwards sounded nice."
"Who was your guard?"
"Raida." I nod. I wasn't a fool. "I trust her to handle things. Since she is aiming for silver selection, she would be perfectly safe to trust as crown prince."
Father holds up his hand. "You don't trust all the red knights."
I pause watching my plate. "No."
"That's trouble." Father sighs. "Go on."
I explain about the watch. About Raida noticing it first and then about asking my magic to make it in sight.
"You used magic?"
I nod. "It's not likely to set off in the exact way I wish it to, but I can manage something. I make a clear request of it and something should happen. Within certain means and parameters."
"Already managing such control." Father waves me to continue.
But there wasn't much to say after that. Raida had lunged at it just before it disappeared. "A goblin sorcerer. It matched up to the image I saw in a book."
"Sorcerers are trouble. Given the placement and the quick escape, I would think this goblin can teleport. Who knows if it can do more than that."
"I hope not." William shivers. "To have a goblin teleporting at random? I'll worry even more walking in the dark."
"Teleportation has its limits. You know that. Warton should have guards to keep the goblin outside at least."
I trust Warton. I really do. They are the oldest knights. "Telligence has a goblin problem as well. They called for reinforcements for the ball."
"I know. We sent more than usual. Although you will not be able to skip any from now on."
I think of my father sitting here. He isn't going. "Always, Father?" I motion to the table. "Why are you skipping this year's balls?"
"Your mother is there. If I wish for her to enjoy her time, I must not go."
I pause. Wait a second. "Um... Do you love Mom?"
The king stands up. "Why are they taking so long to bring us breakfast?" He walks to the hall.
What...? Did I just...? What did he just...? I have been assuming... That neither wishes to be together... They've been fighting for years now. I know it was love in the beginning, but... Did I miss something?
"Finally. I haven't had the chance to have breakfast with my son in weeks, so you take extra long to arrive with our meals?"
"Apologies, Your Majesty."
The king sits down waiting for the food to be served. "Thank you. Allow me to enjoy this moment with my son."
"Of course, Your Majesty. Your Highness. Your Lordship." The servant offers each of us a bow in order of importance before leaving us be.