☀️ JEAN ☀️

I was in cloud nine while I opened up communication letters and recorded what I could do to them like what to answer and whatnot in our usual workplace. Eric might have liked star gazing so much. I thought we should probably do that another time.

I opened and read a letter. My eyes widened, my smile I couldn’t hide.

I shook Eric’s shoulder. “Eric, Eric!”

He was surprised by my sudden reaction. “Why are you so excited?”

“I received a letter from King Leonard which informs me that Prince Alexios, son of the Duke of Loreina, is on his way here. He will serve as the foreign affairs officer for their Kingdom.”

“Then why not one of the princesses from the royal house then?”

“Because Coleen and Maia have duties in Escotto.”

“I think I actually received the memo as well for that.” He searched from the tray of letters. “Then why are you so happy about Alexios coming here?”

“He was my buddy when I was in the Academy.” I was so excited that he’ll be with us. It would be fun for us all.

“Oh, good for you. It’ll be nice to meet him then.”

“He’s so nice like me.” I pointed my thumbs to myself.

He reached for the paper knife from his desk’s drawer and opened up the letter. “I doubt he’s nice if he’s like you. Right George?”

George was clueless. “I have not really understood, but yes. Yes, Eric.”

“See. George will agree to everything I said.” Eric grinned.

I laughed to that. “Fine. You’ll see.”

🌺 🌺 🌺

Laid on bed when I was about to sleep, Eric was fidgeting.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“I just can’t sleep.”

“Why can’t you sleep?”

“Uh.” He was silent for a moment. “My father talked with me again about getting married.”

I adjusted so I faced him. “I see. You don’t wanna marry yet?”

“Not right now. I feel being pressured to marry with no valid reason.”

“Having an heir is a valid reason, right? ”

“Yeah, I know that people needed certainty about the future heir, if I wanted them to want me to be their future king.”

“That’s a very valid reason.”

“I don’t feel like I wanted to be the king, or the crown prince for now.”

“Why? I thought you like to be the crown prince that much?”

“Im sorry. Just sleep now.”

“What ever you’re thinking, just think of tomorrow. Everything will be alright. You need to sleep now as well.”

“I will, though difficult.”

“Give me your hand.” This might relax him.

I felt my cheeks heated when he lend his hand out. I grabbed it and closed my eyes.

“Go to sleep.” I told him with the softest voice I could.

And we slept like that. Even if I wanted all the pillows in between us removed and be cuddled with him all nights of my life, I resisted to give in. I respected him and I don’t want to force him into anything, especially that I knew he was so troubled now.


🌺 🌺 🌺



From the library, we went to the throne room where Alexios waited. I walked faster than Eric, I felt so excited.

Then I saw his tall figure in the distance as we entered the hall. “Hey Alexios! Welcome! Welcome!” I exclaimed.

“Oh, you’re here. Though I know very well that you are,” Alexios answered.

I spread my arms. “The ambassador of Foreign Affairs for Anbeia.”

He laughed. “Oh, yeah, you are?”

We hugged.

“Why not?” Jean asked.

“Because you cannot do anything good.” His humour irritated me a bit.

“Oh really?” I couldn’t think of something to answer.

“Yeah. Of course.” He was confident.

“And you do any good?” I laughed at that, it was nice of me.

“No. They’re just out of choice.” He looked at Eric.

I looked at Eric as well who just smiled. “That’s what I also think. Hey, let us lead you to your room, shall we?”

“Oh, come on. I missed you.” He hugged me again.

I anchored my arms around his neck and dragged him roughly. Eric walked with us.

“Uh, Alexios, this is Prince Eric of Thales. Eric, Alexios of Loreina.” I stopped so they could formally make their bows but Alexios didn’t.

“I know him. Why is he with us?” Alexios continued to drag me to continue walking.

“Because he is Prince Eric?” I told him.

“I know who he is. What I asked is why is he with us?”

“Because this is their palace?”

“Oh! This isn’t theirs. The Longbow family have this for a very long time.” Alexios smirked.

“He is their crown prince.”

“I don’t care. Just don’t follow us.”

Eric stayed there without a word, while I looked between the two of them. Eric raised his chin and nodded. I waved my hand.

“Oh, he represents Thales in the Foreign Affairs’ Council. Do you have a problem with Eric?”

“Nothing really, its just we don’t get along well in the past.”

“Really? How come?”

“Because he is so full of himself.”

“And you’re not? He is the kindest person I’ve ever known.”

“He is? You’re wrong. How long have you been here?”

“A week and a couple of days?”

“Thats why.” He looked at me sharply for a moment, his lips pouted. “Our families have been together in parties at Thales or Escotto ever since, so we met a lot. More than how much the four kingdoms meet.”

“Yeah, makes sense.”

“I know, it will. Why do I need to explain everything to you? Dumb.”

“I chuckled. Well, we’re both ambassadors, so we’re both dumb.”

“No. Only you are.”

“Uh, you are just a teeny tiny bit more intelligent than me.” I did not gave him a chance to answer. “Here we are, your room, my old room.”

“Oh, you stayed here?

“I have to leave because you have nowhere to stay.”

“Non-sense. They kicked you out because I am arriving. That’s why. So, where are your chambers?”

“Im sleeping with Eric.”

“Oh!” He covered his mouth. “You’re sleeping with him.”

“Yes.” I realized that sounded wrong. “No! I sleep in his room.”

“Oh, I thought you’re into princesses, good for you.” He raised his eyebrows twice then headed inside.

“Uh, I’m gonna tell you something, don’t ever tell anyone. Please?”

“You know I’m good with dirty little secrets.” He winked

“I like him.”

“Hmmm?”

“Eric. I like Prince Eric.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Oh, did you..., already?” He inserted repeatedly his index finger into a hole he made with his other hand’s index and thumb.

I slapped his hands. “No! I think he doesn’t like me.”

“Oh, right.”


🌺 🌺 🌺



Eric had not been speaking to me since the next morning after Alexios’ arrival. I was all busy assisting Alexios with work so I confronted him that night.

“Hey! Why are you not talking to me?”

He pointed at himself, and raised his shoulders lazily. I shrugged it off, maybe he was upset that I cannot give him that much attention.

“So, you have a boyfriend now?” I was shocked.

“Me?”

“Yeah. You. Am I speaking with someone else I can’t see here?” It is the first time that Eric talked to me like that.

“Of course not. Are you crazy?”

Eric asked with his facial expression.

“We’re not dating or anything,” I said.

“And why do he have to feed you with his food in his fork at dinner? In front of everyone?”

“To let me taste the food?”

“Oh, let you taste the food, huh? And he clings to you like he owns you? He wraps his arm around your shoulders like you’re beyond buddies.”

While walking to our chambers, Alexios put his arms around my hips like he was trying his best to be sweet. But we always had each other’s shoulders since the Academy years. At dinner, Alexios forced me try food from his own fork, food that was also absolutely on my plate!

“When?” I ignored his question and played that I didn’t knew anything about what he was saying.

“And, he holds your hand while asking for something. He whispers so close to your ears when speaking.” He gestured what Alexios did.

In the office that morning, Alexios held my hand when he asked about something about work.

He asked again another time, and he went very near me. He held my shoulders and he whispered to my ears while his body is all touching mine.

I laughed at what he told me, “I feel like this maybe working. Look at how he looked at us.”

“We’re that close!” I told Eric.

“Well, I don’t like it.”

“Are you jealous?”

“No, of course not.”

“Oh, yeah. So it’s no big deal, right?”

The next day Alexios was still all touchy with me, imagine Eric. But I’m just glad he was.