I grunt, shaking my head. Things seem to be going from bad to worse. I don’t know what the fuck I’m going to do. I let myself get iced out over all these years, and now I fear that it’s too late to turn things around. I’m going to have to do something drastic and big to get the king’s attention.
“At least tell me where everyone’s staying these days. I’m down in my old room, and it’s a ghost town.”
Andrew laughs a little. “They vacated that wing four years ago. They’re up on three, back right corner.”
I nod. “Thanks. Should I move up there?”
Andrew shakes his head. “Stay where you are for now. I think it’ll look better if you come back and claim your old room. Like you’re picking up where you left off.”
I sigh but nod. “Okay,” I say to him. Andrew knows how to navigate court politics better than I do, since he’s been immersed in it for longer than I have.
“It’s good to see you,” he says, smiling again. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
“I just hope it’s enough.” I say.
“It will be.” He pats my back again. “Go get settled. I’ll find you when you can see your father.”
“Thanks,” I say to him. I head out of his office and walk slowly back toward my room.
I don’t know what I’m going to do now. I need to get a plan together, start making calls and visits to the lords and ladies that are staying in the castle right now, start getting my face out there.
But instead… I keep thinking about that American girl, the maid named Hazel. I shouldn’t have pussy on my mind, but god damn, she was fucking interesting. I don’t think I’ve felt this intrigued by a woman in a long time.
And so instead of settling in, I go in search of her. It doesn’t take me long before I find her vacuuming a hallway on the other side of the castle.
She looks around like a frightened rabbit searching for an escape as soon as she spots me. I grin at her and approach, my hands up in the air. She turns off the vacuum and looks at me.
“I come in peace,” I say. “Fully clothed.”
“Ah, uh, okay,” she says.
I raise an eyebrow. “You seem nervous. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” she says. “Your highness,” she adds quickly.
I laugh at her. “So you figured it out.”
“I didn’t know before,” she says.
“You don’t have to call me that,” I say. “I’m a prince, not a king, and even that’s a little much for a king. We’re not that bad around here.”
“No, right, of course,” she says.
I laugh a little and walk closer to her. She clearly looks nervous and keeps glancing down at the floor.
“How long have you been working here?” I ask her.
“Three weeks,” she says. “Not long.”
“Where are you staying?”
“A hotel in town. I’m just saving up for a plane ticket home.”
I cock my head at her. “You plan on leaving?”
“Soon,” she says. “I’m halfway there.”
“That’s a shame. We only just met, and you’re already trying to fly away from me.”
She cracks a little smile. “You’re always undressing in front of me.”
That makes me laugh. “You act as if you weren’t staring at me.”
“I wasn’t. Where else was I supposed to look?”
“Anywhere but my crotch,” I say, smirking at her.
She blushes again. “I was not looking at… that,” she says.
“At my cock?” I ask.
“Yes,” she answers, bright red.
“Don’t be so embarrassed. You’re not he first woman to stare, you know.”
“Are princes always this crude?” she blurts out.
I laugh again and shrug. “Probably not,” I say. “But I don’t know many princes.”
“I thought royals, you know, hung out together.”
“Some do,” I admit. “But I’m not really into that sort of thing.”
She looks a little thoughtful. “So what sort of thing are you into then?”
I smirk at that question and step a little closer. “Barge in on me again and maybe you’ll find out.”
She gapes at me, shocked that I’d be so forward, but her reaction only makes me more excited. I like that I shock her. She probably doesn’t expect the prince to talk to her this way, but I can tell she’s enjoying it more than she’ll admit.
Before she can respond to me though, one of the lower stewards appears at the end of the hall. He salutes and quickly approaches.
“Prince Nolan, his majesty will see you,” the steward says.