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12
CHAPTER TWELVE
The entire palace was in a flurry. There were rumours that the friend of the Prince had infected him with a deadly disease. Roxane was telling everyone about it on the kitchen this morning, Lord knows where she gets her information.
“I heard Stuart’s family was invited over for questioning.” Roxane said. Most of the maids sympathized with Stuart. of course they would, he was very handsome and none of them had the privilege of meeting him. I on the other hand, begin to realize the carelessness of my actions. What was I thinking? I added a bit of laxative to the tea refill, I meant it to be a little prank, not this huge issue. If they decide to probe further, I’ll be discovered in no time.
“What is my problem?” Roxane looked at me, as both of us were left in the kitchen washing dishes.
“What did you say?” My God, did I say that out loud? How embarrassing…
“No, nothing, I cut my hand on a glass cup, just a little chip, it’s nothing…” I replied inwardly lamenting for my life.
Third person POV
Edward watched as the Darkens approached the throne with apprehension. Though he was still a little sick, he had insisted on witnessing this hearing.
“You have brought disease into my castle, and infected my son.” his father said. It was not a question, but a statement and yet Stuart continued to defend himself.
“My King, even I was affected by the illness, I assure you I meant no harm. I have nothing to do with what happened…” The King cut him off.
“I’m sure you know the punishment meted out to anyone who dares harm a Royal?” The King said as his voice became dangerously low. Stuart’s parents fell to their knees, begging the King to forgive their song and show mercy, while Stuart continued to plead that he was not guilty.
“Father, if I may”, Edward said, rising from where he was seated.
“I’m the one who was affected by the disease so I wish to be the one who shall decide his punishment.” Edward replied, The King was visibly surprised, Edward seldom partook of hearings in the throne room. Finally, his son was beginning to have a taste for politicsNôvelDrama.Org (C) content.
“Of course my boy.” The King replied enthusiastically
“Stuart. I sentence you to a week of servitude in the palace. You shall do the dishes, serve meals and clean the kitchens for a week as atonement.” Edward declared. The Darkens were almost white with relief.
They began to thank the Prince for his rather lenient sentence on their son, quite merciful compared to what someone who harms a royal actually faces… Death.
Alice’s POV
I headed to the kitchen, feeling particularly optimistic about today. It’s been a week since I saw Prince Edward on account of his illness, but it has been one of the most peaceful weeks I’ve experienced in this palace. It feels nice to work without apprehension or fear of being called a thief.
As I enter the kitchen, I notice everyone whispering and muttering. I mean, gossip is a norm, especially in the kitchen, but it is normally said out loud, here is like a safe space for maids to air their views, and the information they’ve gathered. I soon see the reason for everyone’s agitation though.
Standing at the sink washing dishes, arms deep in lather, was Stuart. His face was painted red with humiliation, and coupled with the fact that all the maids were looking at and talking about him, I felt a bit sorry for him. I soon found Roxane and drew her aside.
“What’s happening, why is the nobleman here, washing dishes?” I whispered.
“Oh, you’ve not heard? That’s the punishment the Prince gave to him.” She replied
“The Prince?” I asked in shock.
“Oh yes, the King was going to order him to be killed you see, but the Prince obviously couldn’t let his friend die, so he sentenced him to a week of servitude instead.” She responded with a low and dreamy voice when she said that the Prince saved his life.
“Is that why everyone is staring at him like that?” I questioned again.
“Of course Alice, you can be so dense sometimes. How many noblemen are you going to have the chance to speak to one on one for a week? This might be someone’s chance to marry a noble…” She spoke, I laughed inwardly as I turned around to look at the man of the hour Stuart who should I say was angrily rinsing dishes. Marriage definitely will be the last thing on his mind
. “Alice.” Roxane calls, drawing my attention back to her,
“Were you even listening to me?”. She asked suspiciously
“Of course, of course, what were you saying?” I answered in a confident tone but with a sheepish look on my face.
“Ugh, you are impossible. I was saying how lucky you are to be working with him.” She repeated what she had said earlier I think.
“What do you mean, working with him?” I asked confused, Roxane looks at me, puzzled.
“You mean you don’t know he has been stationed to the Prince’s quarters too? I wonder how you live, with so little information…” I drifted off again in the middle of her words and looked at Stuart.
This time, our eyes meet and he frowns at me in obvious disapproval. Just when I was beginning to enjoy my job, I get to win the lottery of a snobby co-worker who hates me, and with good reason. Just perfect.
I’ve been doing my best to avoid Stuart all day, and given the circumstances, I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job. The moment I saw Madam Teresa walked towards me I just knew that my happiness was short lived.
“The Prince has requested…” She began
“That I bring him his meal? of course.” I finished it for her hoping that that was all.
“Well yes, but you and the nobleman must bring it together.” She finished and there it was, the bad news.
“Wha-” Before I could finish, Teresa beckoned Stuart, who walked over and handed me a tray.
“Shall we?” He said and we walked off.
We walk in uncomfortable silence to Edwards room. As we get there, we set his meal on his table, and begin to walk away.
“Wait.” He said to us. That was unusual, Prince Edward has never requested that I stay behind while he eats before. Stuart waits too, and we watched him while he eats, ever so slowly. Oh, how I detest Royals.
“Feed me.” He said suddenly.
“What?” I and Stuart chorus in unison.
Prince Edward points at Stuart and handed him the spoon. I watched in horror, feeling second hand embarrassment for Stuart who had to feed the Prince. How could he treat his own friend like this? Again, I felt a twinge of guilt knowing that this was all my fault, but then, they were making fun of me so maybe they deserved it…
Edward purposely spilled his glass of wine on the table, he looked at Stuart
“Clean this mess.” He said to him, Stuart made a move to go get the rags.
“No, not the rags but your cloth” Edward said stopping him and I looked at the Prince in horror. I averted my eyes unconsciously, not wanted to see Stuart degraded in this manner. When I looked again, I saw Stuart, his clothes wet with wine, staring at the Prince with hatred.
“Don’t look at me like that Stuart, you caused this.” Edward said in a tone that made him seem like he was not at fault.
“I didn’t give you any disease, and you know that.” Stuart pushed through his clenched teeth.
“Well, all this happened because you just had to make fun of the maid, and then, she put something in our tea!” Edward said and Stuart turns his gaze to me slowly, the anger in his dark eyes almost consuming me