Chapter Text
It was a gorgeous morning. Birds were chirping and the sun was starting to wake up, slowly rising from the ground. Yet the sun wasn't the first to wake up.
Alexander Ledger was faster, waking up before the sun did. He had royal responsibilities like conferences, sword training, riding lessons, and others. If these things didn't exist, he would rather stay in bed all the time.
He had already brushed his teeth and hair, he put in his formal clothing and called one of his servants. She soon arrived, and wasting no more time she started to clean his room and she brought clean bedsheets.
Alex walked past the servant, murmuring a 'Good morning' to which the servant replied back.
His royal guard was waiting him outside. Vincent. The only person Alex would call a friend. He spoke to the prince informing him that he only came to greet him, because later he would have training. But they promised each other to meet later that day. Vincent was only 4 years older than the boy, so they formed a friendship in no time.
He moved swiftly trough the large halls filled with old paintings. To be honest, he despised them, mostly because his father obligated him to memorise every and each bastard who ruled before him. But he could never say that to his father's face. He pasted the stairs, and reached the dining room. His parents were already there.
"Good morning, mother, father" Alex said with a flat voice while sitting down on his chair, he could feel his father's gaze burning.
They didn't answer, just nodded their heads a bit, continuing whatever they were doing before he interrupted them.
They ate in a deafening silence. The sound of the clock became too loud. Ringing in his ear. Suddenly, his father spoke, but not to him.
"Dear, the new servants will be starting today"
"That's great to hear, my lord" the queen said looking at her husband while fidgeting with her necklace. Her dearest treasure, yet Alex gad no idea why was that.
Alex finished eating and excused himself, having other things on his mind. He loved introducing himself to new servants. He thought it was polite.
And so he started searching around the castle. He passed several servants, but they were all familiar faces. And so he found in the end three new members of the royal assistance. Two girls and a boy. Both girls looked identical. Alex figured they might be twins so he didn't bother to ask. He introduced himself, and welcomed them to the castle, offering a tour. They refused telling him they've already had a tour, from a guard in his break.
"Oh wait! Lucas wasn't with us when we met the knight." one of the twins mentioned. The rest nodded.
He figured they all knew each other.
"And may I ask where can I find this Lucas?" the prince asked politely.
The girls shrug.
"I think I saw him outside in the garden, sir" the boy who was oddly short said.
Alexander was sure he grimaced at the last word, and quickly said
"You can call me Alex."
And so he left, leaving whispered compliments from the girls.
In short time he reached the royal gardens.
It was a vast space, at last twenty percent of it being a dense forest, guarded by tall stone walls with at least ten watching towers. He had no idea how to find the so called Lucas. He searched high and low, through bushes and flowers, but the boy was nowhere to be found. Or so he thought.
After he decided to give up a voice was heard.
"Are you looking for something?"
The prince turned to face the direction where the words came from. And he met two eyes who looked a him with curiosity. Blue eyes, in which the sun reflected making them shine almost like diamonds. The prince could only stare, at the blue eyed boy. Admiring him.
"Yes, I am in fact looking for someone. Are you by any chance Lucas?" the prince asked to which the boy answered.
"Uh, that's me, yeah"
The prince felt relieved and was about to introduce himself when the boy cut him
"judging by your clothes you're one of the knights working here, that means you've met the Prince. Is he as people say he is?" Lucas asked.
The prince almost felt like laughing, but he couldn't risk damaging the image he created.
"I'll tell you all I know about the prince, while I'll make you the castle's tour.". Alex suggested hoping that the other boy would agree. Which he did with a vigorous nod.
They started walking together, the prince blabbering about every place in the castle, Lucas seemed interested in finding out more about the place.
After Alex finished the tour and returned at their starting point, the garden, Lucas looked kind of annoyed.
"Now how about we talk about the prince. What have you heard about him." Alexander brought up he subject. Lucas gave him a 'took you long enough' look and stated
"All I've heard is that he's good looking, and that he can be a dick sometimes"
The prince was speechless. He was wondering whether he was really like that.
"Yes yes, he is truly handsome, but he's never been a terrible guy. I'm sure you'll meet him soon" Alex said, smiling mischievously.
"And what about the King and Queen?"
"Oh they're working in the conference room, to which I should go soon" Alexander informed the other boy, who couldn't help but feel intrigued.
"Why?" was all he said
Completely avoiding the question, the prince answered
"Hope I'll see you again soon! Until then, you can say you had a private tour with the prince himself" he dashed heading to one of the entrances in the castle, leaving a very confused boy back in the gardens.