Help Or Trap?

It had been a week since they were walking on eggshells. Killian had started training at one point again. He had asked his aunt to appoint a tutor for him too. He had reasoned that he would look like a fool otherwise and she had relented.

Killian mostly spends his day with Elara in the room. But today was different. Today, he was invited to attend a tea party by Lady Crawford, Duchess of Marwick. Cedric could have refused like he had refused all the other invitations so far. But the lady was a cousin of his majesty and married in the dukedom.

 And when Cedric had made excuses and refused for the invitation, she had responded back and had told Cedric that his majesty was worried about the child. 

"Do you think I would be able to meet his majesty?" asked Killian as Elara combed his hair while the other maid helped him with his shoes. 

"There are chances, young master. Maybe you will get a chance to express your views in front of them. So you must be presentable.'' The maid moved faster. She made sure that Killian looked perfect. In the past two weeks since she had started working here, Killian looked best today like a royal shoulder.

"Do you need anything else, my lord?" the maid asked in a polite tone with her head bowed as it should. 

"No, you are dismissed." The maid nodded and Elara made sure to close the door. Killian sighed, his shoulders slumping a bit before he realized that he must look good in front of Elara. She looked impressed before.

"I apologize, but I do not think his majesty will join a mere party." She felt bad for the child but he looked at her as if she was imbecile.

"Of course, he would not. He had an empire to run. Do you think the royal family are free?" He rolled his eyes and adjusted his cravat.

"......"

"The maid wanted to listen to something interesting." he shrugged and she sighed. They were giving a show to the maids all the time. That last Grace was contending for his guardianship and she cared about him enough to make sure he was treated fairly. 

"Well, it has improved the quality of our meals. So I will not complain." he laughed at that. Turned to meet her eyes and only then she noticed he was nervous.

"Why do you think the lady had lied to invite you for a tea party?" he shook his head. The question had crossed his mind so many times that he had lost count of it. Now.. all he knew, he was desperate to hold on to something.

"I wish I could accompany you, Killian." she whispered when he smiled for her. 

"One day, I will take you everywhere and you will meet their eyes with a proud look." he squeezed her hands when she looked at him baffled.

His strange whispers had increased too. Not knowing that he was a child, she had thought he was courting her. She shook her head at the bizarre thought.

"I will work hard to be that maid, young master. But for now, you are getting late." he frowned and opened his mouth to speak but then closed it and sighed.

"You are a fool, Elara." he whispered and left the room. Cedric was already standing near the door. He was leaning on the wall with his hands wrapped around his chest and he looked bored, yet so charming that a few maids had collected to ogle him.

He opened his left eyes when he heard footsteps and looked at Killian from head to toe. Killian stood straight. He had forgotten the fear instilled in his heart because Cedric was absent for the past week and he was having a good time with Elara with a random visit from his aunt.

Even she had ignored Elara knowing how sensitive Killian was.

"You still know how to carry appearances. I am disappointed that you will not make a fool of yourself." Cedric chuckled as he stood straight and started walking. Killian followed him without a word.

They walked to the exit in silence but when the coachmen opened the carriage for them, Killian noticed they were alone.

"Your aunt is not invited. You can not expect a duchess to invite a villager. Do you?" he asked in a mocking voice when the child stilled. He knew his aunt would not be there but he was expecting maids and knights arranged by butler.

Why was the carriage empty?

"You can decide not to go. I will tell them you were sick." Cedric offered when Killian stiffened. He entered the carriage. If not for him, he needed power to keep Elara safe.

Cedric followed and took the seat on the other side. His hands wrapped around his chest and he folded one leg over another. With its presence the carriage looked small and cluttered. 

Killian looked out of the window to ignore his presence. 

"When you meet everyone there, you should smile more. Your father and mother smiled all the time." Killian could feel his chest tightening at once. "And if the duchess will call you in private and ask something foolish, refuse her at once. Tell her that you are having a good life with me. 

I am from a good family." Cedric paused and Killian raised his head to look at him. He wanted to check if the man was finally feeling guilty of his shameless lie when Cedric continued, 

"Well, if you want, you can tell them how your aunt is a nuisance and she is living with you without permission. It would be better if we get rid of that woman." Killian gritted his teeth and scoffed.

"Why would I do that? Why would I listen to you when I can tell them the truth and save myself?" For once, Killian felt that he held some power. He had a way to hurt this man or he would not have been asking this favor.

"Because you have someone to protect, Killian. I would love to ruin that little maid of yours."