25: Young Prince

Retaliate.

That's the only thing I can do now. I've been dethroned and according to the spy bugs, they have recognized Ezra as the new Queen of Astrae and they made everyone believe that I had died in the hands of the rebels who had connived with Arcadia.

It's frustrating how I'm only at a quite short distance away from them but I can't do anything to contradict and prove them wrong because I am, for a fact, is still alive.

We've been here for two days now and for two days, Dame Maia and Knight Stephen with Dame Therese and Sir Charles had been exchanging shifts in staying up late guarding the whole house. I've told them that it's unnecessary, but they don't want to take chances and let their guards down, I understand and appreciate their reasons nevertheless.

"Your majesty…" Dame Therese and Sir Charles seem to be surprised to see me wearing an apron and cooking in the kitchen when they woke up early I the morning

"Why is the Queen cooking?" Sir Charles asked the two who I've convinced to let me cook

"We're sorry, Sir Charles, her majesty insisted." Dame Maia apologized

"I see nothing wrong with what I did, Sir Charles." I said

"Good morning…" I smiled and the little prince approached me and kissed my cheek

"Good morning, Malika." I greeted him and he sat on the chair

"Why do you all look so dumbfounded early in the morning?" he asked while looking at the knights

"The queen cooked breakfast, young prince." Sir Charles nodded

"Really, Queen?" he looked excited

"Yes, are you hungry?" I asked him and he nodded

"I missed you cooking, Queen, the last time I had it was during King's birthday." He answered

"Your majesty, I can continue this, you can rest and talk to the young prince." Dame Therese said took the spatula from my hand

"So, King brought you food?" I asked him after I removed the apron

"No, I went here after you left." He answered then frowned

"Why? Is there a problem?" I asked and he looked at me while glaring

"You didn't cook for me on my birthday, you missed my birthday." He said and I gave him a gentle smile

"I'm sorry, Malika, we were busy, I was preoccupied by my duties." I said

"I waited for you and King in here the whole day, King said he'll bring you here but he didn't fulfill his words." He said while looking at me and I sighed

"Well, I won't miss your birthday next year." I said and he sighed

"Alright, it's the first time you missed my birthday, Queen." He said and I smiled

I forgot that his birthday is on the last day of Pisces month, the thirtieth of Pisces. He was born on that day, the same day that Lady Margaret, Zairo's trusted doctor passed away.

I owe it all to Lady Margaret why I was not rendered infertile after what Katrina did.

"Your majesty, your breakfast is ready." Dame Therese said after placing the plate of food in front of us

"Aren't you joining us?" the young prince asked them

"It's inappropriate for us knights to join the monarch in her meal." Knight Stephen answered

"However, Queen's not in the Palace, nor are you." He said nonchalantly with a serious expression

"He is right, knights. I told you, didn't I? We should eat together." I told them and they seem reluctant

"Don't wait for me to say that it's an order." I said and they all sat down beside us

They seem embarrassed as they take food from the plate, I placed the food on the young prince's plate and he smiled at me, gone is the serious expression he had on his face earlier.

"You're a good cook, your majesty." Sir Charles said and I smiled

"Thank you." I said and she smiled

We started eating in silence, the knights seem reluctant in taking in every spoonful of food. They seem intimidated by the fact that I, their queen, cooked their food. After eating, Dame Maia volunteered to wash the dishes.

I went to the living room and the young prince immediately sat beside me. He is seated properly, with his back straight and hands on his thighs. Looks like he had been trained hard to perform the etiquette for royals by the book.

"Your majesty, will you mind if we talk to the young prince of Arcadia?" Sir Charles suddenly asked

"It's alright, I don't mind." I answered and turned to the young prince

"You wouldn't mind that, would you, Malika?" I asked him gently and he shook his head

"It's okay, Queen," He answered and looked at them

"Ask away, respectable knights of Astrae." He said formally

This kid really keeps his façade in front of other people, as the first time we arrived he has a limit to how long he could keep up the act in front of me nevertheless.

"Will they not worry for your absence in Arcadia?" Sir Charles asked and the young prince shook his head

"I always escape the White Palace, and the king always sends me here whenever I would escape too frequently." He answered

"Then this happens frequently?" Dame Therese asked

"Not quite, only when I want to escape." He replied

"Why do you escape the White Palace, young prince?" Knight Stephen asked

"I don't have anyone to talk to in the White Palace, the servants are avoiding me, and the King and Duchess Cassandra are always busy." He answered and looked at me

"How about your parents?" I gently caressed the young prince's hair when I saw how his expression changed at the mention of his parents

He suddenly stood up and bowed in front of them and I immediately understood why.

I guess he did not expect, as no one really would ask about his parents. After all, he is always being introduced as a prince and he always gives off the aura of a royalty.

"If you'll excuse me, respectable knights of Astrae, Queen, I have remembered that I have forgotten to do something upstairs." He said and stood up

"I understand, take your time." I said and he nodded before ascending the stairs

"We'll return to our duties as well, your majesty." Sir Charles said and they stood up

I stood up and went upstairs, I knocked on the door twice.

"It's me, can I come in?" I asked and the door opened

"You can come in, Queen." He answered and I went inside the room and sat on the bed

"This is yours and King's room…" he said and I looked at him with a smile

"Indeed, it is." I said and he looked at me with a serious expression

"Can you not go back to Astrae?" he asked and I was silent for a moment

"Arcadia welcomes you, Queen, Astrae is hunting you." He said seriously

"One cannot turn back from where he grew up." I replied and he averted his gaze

"Astrae does not deserve you, Queen, they don't deserve a woman like you." He said

"They do, they raised me to who I am today. I cannot abandon my people, Malika, they are my family." I said

"I apologize for my selfishness, your majesty." He bowed his head

"I understand, you are still young, you still have a lot to learn and understand in this world." I said and stood up

I went to sit beside him and hugged him.

"Do you miss Lady Margaret?" I asked him softly

"How do you miss someone you have not met once?" he scoffed

"You met her when you were in her womb, young prince." I told him

"I am not a prince, Queen, you are aware of that." He said softly

"Are you really not?" I chuckled at his expression

He's looking downward and his cheeks are puffed. He looks cute.

"You were raised in the White Palace, under the care of the Duchess Cassandra, how are you not a prince?" I asked him

"I was born of neither queen nor king, Lady Margaret was merely the current King's trusted doctor." He answered and I sighed

"And who told you that?" I asked

"Everyone in the White Palace knows that, Queen." He answered and I finally understood the reason behind his escapes.

The Arcadian Royal Family taught him to hold his head high, however the people around him as he grows up looks down upon him. It must've been hard for him to live in such contradicting environment.