Lucas brought in a couch from who knows where into the study. It looked out of odd and out of place in the room. The head maid he sent for walked in behind Lucas.
He knew her. She was of those ambitious girls who tried to worm their way into his bed through seduction and flair. He had to admit she was pretty. She came in smiling seductively probably thinking he had finally noticed her.
When she saw the boy in his arms, her smile dropped instantly and a look of annoyance and disgust passed through her face. Then it quickly morphed into panic. His suspicion was confirmed. Lucas had said this was the only boy among the maids and they didn't like him at all. Which brought the question of why a maid like him would be tasked with cleaning the crown prince's office. Unles of course somebody didn't want to do her job.
"Do you know anything about him and why he was cleaning my office?"
Alex asked as he moved to put the boy down on the couch. Annoyance and disbelief passed through her eyes again, as if she still couldn't believe that she was called here for this.
She quickly regained her composure and flashed a seductive smile again.
"Your Highness." She bowed low enough to show her cleavage. She stood up seductively, he didn't even know that was possible.
"His name is Kyle. An orphan who was found at the gates of the palace by the housekeeper, Madam Julia. He was too weak for the work of a servant boy so she made him a maid."
"Why is he injured?"
"Well.."
She pretended to be shy glancing at Lucas. A ploy for her to get them alone together. He knew it was pretend because he had seen that expression plenty of times. Lucas took the cue. He bowed and excused himself.
"Speak."
"He was caught trying to sneak into room yesterday, your highness. He got a beating from the guards amd I don't know what he's doing here." She said gleefully like she was happy the crown prince has finally heard. She took a few steps forward, hips swaying
'This would be his last day here.' She thought.
He didn't offend her personally until he started trying to appear in front of the crown prince. She wouldn't have cared but he was quite a look under all those powder. It's not like she felt threatened or anything, an orphan boy didn't stand a chance against her. This was her thought.
She watched the crown prince's expression with anticipation expecting rage. When she saw he was still calm she tried again, still slowly moving forward
"He most likely went in there to try to steal something."
She said moving closer still. She had never had an opportunity alone with the crown prince like this so she wasn't going to let it pass her by. No man had ever said no to her before and she thought the crown prince would be no exception.
Alex watched her move closer with seductive steps and eyes filled to the brim with ambition. She was too bold for maid he thought. He watched her till she stood just a hairs' breath away from him. Trying to show him she wore nothing inside her uniform by rubbing her nipples on his chest through the robe. Alex was immediately disgusted amd stopped himself at the last minute from snapping her neck.
Lucy mistook his expression thinking she had found her mark.
"Anyone who tries to steal from our future king shouldn't be kept in the palace. Who knows what he would do next?" Her voice had dropped to a seductive whisper.
He had to admit she was good. If it was some other man they would have fallen for her temptation by now. But he wasn't just any other man. That, she didn't know. She was so confident in her ability.
She raised her arms to rub his shoulders knowing fully well her head was on the line here. One wrong move and he would snap but she wasn't too worried. She had been praised by too many.
Alex held her wrist before her hands could touch him.
Lucy flashed a smile thinking maybe he wanted to take the lead.
'Oh, I didn't know he was that type.'
"I think if the head loses her whole arm she would be too useless to keep in the palace."
Her smile froze at Alex's cold tone and indifferent look.
She immediately fell to knees, head touching the floor. Voice marred with disbelief and shame, as if she couldn't believe she was rejected
"I'm sorry Your Highness. I don't know what came over me. It was a mistake."
'Smart girl.'
Although she was smart enough to admit defeat. He couldn't let it slide. He knew women like her, after being humiliated like this they would stop at nothing to get what they want. Even if they were punished. But he still had to. He was the crown the crown prince after all.
"Lucas."
The door opened immediately as if he had known he would be called.
"Call the guards here." He watched the maid's eyes widen with terror. Alex walked back to his desk seat and sat down as Lucas went for the guards.
"Your Highness, I —"
She tried apologizing again but Alex wanted none of it. He raised his finger for silence. She knew better than to speak again.
Lucas came back with two guards trailing him. The maid's head still on the floor he spoke slowly
"Take her to the head guard tell him I want her punished for slacking off work and harassing the future King." Alex felt quite satisfied with his statement.
Lucy raised her head surprised that the crown prince had seen through her story amd wanted to punish her. But she knew the head guard very well. He was one of the few who couldn't say no to her. So she wouldn't worry much. She had underestimated the crown prince and she would have to plan carefully for next time.
"Twenty strips on her back in public. Tell him his job is on the line of he fails. This is an harassment to the crown."
He said the because people like this always found someone else to put the blame on. In this case she would likely blame the boy for her actions.
Lucy's head spun. She couldn't figure out where she had gone wrong. To be flogged in public because she gave her work to someone else.
Right.
This is all his fault. If he had done his job properly she wouldn't her first alone time with the crown prince wouldn't have gone bad. He knew from the beginning that she had given her work to him and spoiled his impression of her. It was all his stupid fault. She had prepared her whole life for just this moment. And he spoilt it by not doing his job. He just one job. She screamed in her head.
'I'll make him pay for this humiliation even if it's the last thing I do.'
Thus she had her sworn enemy.
Alex saw right into her head and knew what she was thinking. The boy on the couch now had to watch his back every second from now on. He way quite fed up with her scheming eyes.
"Take her away."
The guards took each of her arm pulling her up. She allowed herself to be led away by the guards without struggle. The door closed behind them.
After Lucas came back with guards, he left again to get him another cup of his favorite tea. Lucas placed the tray on his desk. Alex sighed as the familiar scent of jasmine hit him.
"What will you do about the boy?"
Alex, who had already picked the cup paused for second. He could feel a headache coming. Hr hadn't thought about that yet. But one thing was sure. The boy here was great potential. He already had a lot on his plate and couldn't afford to add anything else to it.
"What's the current situation with the rogue mages?"
Lucas answered not minding the change in subject
"They've been suspiciously quiet."
"Perhaps they've gotten a sign that's he's back or another prophecy."
"Perhaps. We wouldn't know."
Heavy silence settled between them. Lucas broke it first like Alex knew he would
"He might not know anything about his powers. After all he has low magic."
Alex had also thought of that but the only way to find out was for the boy to wake up. Alex's eyes went to where the boy lay. He was fairly handsome and Alex suddenly had the urge to keep him close. That thought surprised him.
He wondered why the boy sneaked into his room yesterday. Was it really to steal or was there something else? He would find out soon enough but before then he had to figure out what to do with him when he woke up. Even if he didn't want to, there was only one thing he could do. Though he had low magic he had lots of potential. He sighed as if he couldn't believe what he was about to say
"I'll train him personally."