Limits?

William brings us to my room. "I'm going to be down the hall." He turns to Butch. "Were you going to the Hall?" Butch nods.

"Come to the castle after having breakfast. Don't rush things. I'll give warning I'm expecting you." That means we're following Butch out of my wing. I find several to explain who Butch is and the allowance he now has.

Once we back in the safety of my room, I pull off my necktie. Crown prince outfits are too elaborate for me to be truly comfortable in them. Not that they aren't comfortable in the vague sense. "William?"

"Yes?" He was about to leave.

"I'll be aiming to have breakfast with my father again tomorrow. You don't have to come if you don't want to."

William stares at me while standing in my door. "Why would I chose not to join the literal best breakfast in the castle if I could help myself?"

I pull back shocked over his words. "What?"

"The king always gets best choice of everything. If you're giving me access, I'm joining. Didn't I always?"

"That was your reason?" My jaw is on the floor. I had no idea it was William's stomach that had him follow me to my father's breakfasts.

He smiles at me. "Well, it is always delicious. The first answer I gave you is correct as well. Who else would I want to have breakfast with?" He looks to the hall. "Callie. Yes. I would like to have breakfast with Callie before you." Then his eyes are back to me. "But she's not here. You're now second choice."

I laugh as William closes me in my room.

Once alone, I pull out Odin's letter. Mom made him write it. "I can answer like I always do." It'll only frustrate him. But that's really all I can offer. Then I settle into bed. It's been busy lately. Balls never end early.

Waking up has me recalling Mom's conversation. The suggestion that Jessica is actually my... There are several possible answers beside that one, but it also sounds the most plausible too. Does she know? Does she remember meeting me? I don't. I always had a lot of people around me, but it was rare I interacted with nobles. The thoughts remind me both of my childhood friends would know who their true love is. I can only hope they manage to find their match. Nobles marry for more than just love normally.

My parents are special. "Can't believe both of them want to stay together. They only fight when they're together though."

Dressing in my normal wear as a royal almost erases the last few weeks. But when I look in the mirror I don't see the same person as back then. Not because I trained so much that I changed, but because now the curse covering my looks has been removed. If I see Ingrid, I should thank her again. It's much better seeing my truth in the mirror.

I step into my hall at the same time as William. "Your magic told you?"

"I'm a light sleeper." William shrugs. He always was. I just assumed he had a spell to always know when I woke up. Maybe I'm louder than I realize in the morning. I have no one to ask that question of. And the spell especially now makes sense. "Can't believe you didn't go visit your lover last night after I left you."

I glare at him. "I don't have a lover."

William scans me. "Lies don't do the prince justice."

I growl at him. No one is listening to it. I feel sorry for Jessica all over again. At least William won't do anything with his teases. "If we have time, we can visit the hall."

"To meet your lover." William nods so certain.

"To find out how big their compost pile is if you're not careful."

"Ew. Your threats still suck."

"I'm not trying to hurt you." I have a grin as I make my way for my father's space. "I need everyone to just give me space when it comes to a relationship. I'm not jumping. All pressure will make me hold back."

"Guess your lover isn't that beautiful." William weighs his words. "I need to be wary myself. Callie isn't against anything, but I can't suggest things are progressing either. She'll lose her position as knight and she's only a white. Her father would be disappointed."

"You'll need to get his approval before truly dating."

William frowns. "Might end up contracted instead of dating. Not sure if I want to tempt the family ideas before seeing how Callie handles things."

"Just wait it out."

William nods. "Probably for the best." He slips to walk behind me as we reach the king's wing.

I wait for the allowance and then walk in as I've always had before. "I'm back."

The king does not look ready for the day. Not something I normally see. "I have not sent word for breakfast yet. Rest a moment." He moves to the door to chat with his servants.

I look to William. "I would like you to review all weapons I have access to."

"As long as you are allowed it and I touch it once, I can pull it for you." William is a top classed teleport mage. It would make sense he can manage.

"How big can you go?" The king walks over focusing on William. "I saw your paperwork, but you didn't have a limit listed."

William thinks it over. "I can't say exactly. I can teleport beyond my carry weight. And beyond my bulk carry. I can teleport multiple people and items pretty far distances. I don't know if I know my limits at the moment."

"Then we can practice siege weapons." The king nods.

William blinks. "You're giving me access to siege weapons?"

"Yes. I'll want you to teleport to a location and then bring the weapon along with you. You can pick where ever."

"We're here for the day." I say. "That can be a good use of our time."

The king eyes me. "You'll be busy often. As long as you're safely among knights, I really don't have any fears. I can have William practice moving the big guns about. His father could take the entire western army including all the marked weapons nearly from one side of the country to the other. I don't think William's there, but I can assume he can reach that."

William fidgets. "Father... Would be happy to hear his name in the positive."

"Very few were given allowance to befriend Thomas as a child. Consider the luck you were handed." The king stands up as the table setting is brought in. "Will it be long?"

"No, Your Majesty."

The king has us switch to sitting around the table. "We can visit the armory after breakfast. I can squeeze in a little time this morning." He looks to me. "Make sure William has a good grasp of much of what is in there. I'll mark it down that he can access as he wishes. Few will be shocked he's added. They'll know he's training for his father's position."

"In multiple cases." William chuckles. "Thank you, Your Majesty."