CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR
Liam paced around his room, with his hand on his lower jaw and his heart beating out of his chest. He would have been discovered last night if he wasn’t so quick to act.
His guard, Nathaniel had come to call him on the request of the King. He realized that he was harsh to him last night and that ached his heart greatly.
Almost immediately, a knock startled him. He swirled around and met Nathaniel, who had his head lowered to the ground.
“I was told to inform you that breakfast is served, sir”, Nathaniel informed him and made to leave when Liam held him back.
“Nat!” Liam mumbled and took slow steps towards him.
“I’m extremely sorry for how I reacted last night. It was not intentional”, he said, with his face filled with sincerity.
Nat nodded. He was still shocked and surprised that the prince who hardly raised his voice at him did so with much ease yesterday.
“It’s okay. I was quite shocked, but it’s fine…”, Nat responded as he decided to brush it off his heart.
The atmosphere turned silent. Liam clearly had something to say, while Nat waited to listen.
Finally, Liam spewed the thoughts of his heart.
“I think I’m taken by the maid, Alyssa…”, Liam divulged and for a minute, Nat thought that he had heard wrongly.
It was amusing at first, but when he saw the serious look on Liams face, he quickly wore a frown.
“You and a maid?” Nat questioned and Liam nodded.
Nat let out a scoff and folded his hands to his chest. He had thought that Liam was only blabbing, but he didn’t look like it.
“You are a prince”, Nat blurted out in a reminding tone, as though Liam had forgotten who he was.
“I know…”, Liam mumbled and sighed deeply.
He walked over to his bed and sank into it in confusion. Things were beginning to become deep between he and Alyssa. It scared the hell out of him, especially when he thought of what the outcome would be at the end.
“You know that it’s not possible!” Nat cried out and Liam glared at him, without a response.
“Does she know that you are a prince?” Nat asked, even though he knew the answer.
“Of course not! Would a prince be clad in a servant’s tunic?” Liam asked with a bewildered look.
“This is becoming complicated. She would never go close to you if she knew that you are the prince”, Nat said while Liam nodded in agreement.
“That’s why she can’t know who I am…not yet”, Liam explained in exasperation.
“It’s of no use. You would never be able to express your emotions and that would be same with her. You are only starting up something that would end up as a massive disaster”, Nat tried to explain and for a moment, Liam pondered on his words.
“I need you to think about all of these. I mean, having feelings for her is useless and you might end up hurting her”, Nat said in conclusion after which he bowed and took his leave.
Liam sighed deeply and fell back on his bed. He understood every bit of what Nat had uttered, but thoughts of staying away from her face placed his soul on fire.
However, he realized that sooner or later, Alyssa would come to know the truth, and that would shatter her to the core. She would never forgive him once she realizes that he lied to her.
He needed to act now and the only way he could think of was staying away from her. That would save them the stress of getting so attached to each other and falling off in the process.
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The next morning didn’t come with so much activities. Liam had nothing much to do, but because of his dire need to shove thoughts of Alyssa aside, he called for a meeting.
Alyssa on the other hand walked around the palace at intervals. She hoped that she would catch sight of Liam somewhere around. Deep down, she craved to talk to him about what he did to his fellow servant yesterday.
All her efforts to meet with him was futile and she had no option other than to wait for the evening time.
Liam was done with the meeting in the morning. However, he felt the need to call for another meeting in the evening, because he wouldn’t want to follow the part of his heart that would lead him to the garden. He needed to be engrossed with as many things as he could until the day went by…
And so, at the time when he would normally meet with Alyssa, he was in a meeting with the elders and his men.
“Tell me about the shipment of the resources our men have produced?” Hunger asked for the hundredth time.
He had talked extensively with his men, but because of how much he wanted to remain engrossed.
“We have just talked about that. The shipment took off yesterday and they should be heading north by evening”, an elder present explained again, clearly in exasperation.
Liam nodded his head in understanding and finally dismissed them. It was dusk now, and he was certain that Alyssa would have retired to bed.
Liam was strolling to his quarters when an elder hurriedly approached him.
“Your highness! A moment please…”, he said as he tried to catch up with Liam.
Liam stopped walking as he swirled around to give the elder an audience. They had just finished a meeting some minutes ago and he couldn’t help but think of a valid reason behind him following him again.
“Yes?”Liam replied.
“We have just finished a meeting. Everything was meant to be discussed there”, Liam said and the man nodded in approval.
“The truth is that I’m trying to restrain the information, because if the people get to know, there might be chaos”, the elder explained, with Liam listening with rapt attention.
“There is news of a kingdom that is about to be annexed”, the elder said.
Liam opened his eyes in shock, glaring the man curiously.
“We need to be on guard in case they make plans to attack us. It should be a turn around and we should be the one to take over their population instead”, the elder said in conclusion while Liam nodded his head in understanding.
Liam could smell tension on the air, even if the elder had told him that it was only mere rumors. His instincts were beginning to speak of danger. Whenever a kingdom wants to be annexed, it becomes war and if they are not ready for it, they would turn out to be under the authority of another kingdom.
“That can never happen!” Liam said defiantly as he finally walked into his room.
It was a hard day for him, but he was glad that he was able to scale through it without catching sight of Alyssa. It was a long night for him too. He kept tossing on the bed, because all he could think of was Alyssa and he soft soothing smile.
He wondered how he would live in the palace without setting eyes on her. That would definitely be the most difficult punishment he what ever given to himself. But then, he was up for it, as long as it prevented him from falling in so deep with a maid.
He finally retired to sleep in the early hours of the morning.