CHAPTER 11: Fragrance of flowers.

*****The next morning****

Persian was asleep when he felt his dog licking his face.....

He woke up and grabbed his dog as he wiped the dog's slobber off

"uhhhh, Milo.....disgusting. I shouldn't have let you in"

Persian eyes opened after he wiped away the slobber.

"wait, it is morning....why didn't Amon wake me up?".

Persian got ready and went down stairs to meet the queen dining alone.

" Persian, so nice of you to join me but I thought you were in the fields" asked the queen.

"Guess I overslept, ma" kissed persian.

"wait, Amon didn't wake you up?".

" oh no, he did. I just went back to sleep" persian smiled to assure his mother.

"speaking of Amon, where is he?" asked the prince.

The queen answered " I am sure he is training".

Persian joined his mother for breakfast.

Soon, persian was all done.

Elyss came for the bowls " thanks for the meal, Elyss, it was delightful".

Elyss smiled "you're welcome"

The queen smiled "you know I just love how humble you are. And how you treat everyone like family".

Persian got up " what can I say, I was brought up well" and left.

Amon was practicing his swordmanship when he heard the sound of approaching footsteps . He glanced up to find Prince Persian standing at a distance, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. Amon quickly looked away, his heart clenching in a mixture of fear and confusion. He couldn't risk the prince seeing his vulnerability. Amon stopped practicing and went into the tent.

"Amon, what is wrong with you. you have always being focused all your life. Never has anything distracted you but what happened to my body. Upon seeing the prince, all my focus turned to this bubbly feeling I can't quite recognize" Amon said to himself.

"I must do what I was sent here to do and fast"

Persian was looking at the art paintings on the wall with Amon behind him when one maid approached him with a letter.

"thank you"

Persian opened the letter and read.

"wow, Aunt Emily is getting married and she cordially invites the royal family" a broad smile formed on Persian's face.

"Oh look, she even added a butonniere".

" Amon, come let me try something on you" asked persian.

Amon stepped forward, Amon wanted to be strong and tried his best not to look vulnerable to persian.

"but, my prince why do you wanna try it on me" asked Amon.

Persian smiled "cos if it fits you then it will fit me...we are about the same height and weight".

Amon's body shook ever so slightly as he held onto persian's hand, . He watched in a daze as the prince's fingers gracefully arranged the butonniere on his chest. Prince Persian's focus was unwavering, his striking features illuminated by the soft glow of the chamber's golden lights.

Amon's thoughts spoke " I have never seen a boy this beautiful....from the silky falling hair, to those mirror like eyes to his perfect skin....then to his "

Amon gulped "to his perfectly adorned pink lips.... he is so perfect"

As Amon traced the prince's exquisite features up his face, their eyes clashed like two kingdoms at war.

The prince's eyes bore into Amon's, a vulnerability shining through the usually composed exterior. It was as if they were peeling back the layers that had always separated them – prince and guard, duty and desire. In that shared glance, unspoken words swirled, carrying the weight of secrets and yearnings that had been concealed for far too long.

The seconds stretched on, the charged atmosphere hanging heavy between them. It was a crossroads, a juncture where the boundaries of their roles blurred, and the truth of their feelings began to surface. For a heartbeat, they stood on the precipice of something forbidden yet undeniably potent.But then, Amon gently pulled back, his fingers brushing against the prince's hand as he cleared his throat, breaking the spell that had enveloped them.

He tried to regain his composure, though his heart raced erratically, a whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume him.

"Your Highness"

"the butonniere looks exquisite on you," persian outed , his voice betraying a trace of vulnerability.

Prince Persian's gaze lingered for a moment, a mixture of disappointment and understanding flickering in his eyes.

He nodded, his lips curving into a wistful smile. "Thank you, Amon. Your presence means more to me than you realize," he replied, his voice holding a hint of a confession.

Amon gulped upon hearing those words and tried so hard to avoid making eye contact.

Persian couldn't help but give a soft smile, he said to himself as he walked towards the Queen's chamber "he's pretty cute when he is flustered"

Amon returned to his chambers, his footsteps heavy with the weight of conflicting emotions. The prince's image lingered in his mind, their shared moment etched into his memory like a bittersweet dream. Yet, he was burdened with a purpose that extended beyond his personal desires – a mission that had driven him to this point.

As he paced the room, Amon's thoughts were a whirlwind of turmoil. His loyalty to his people was unshakeable; they had entrusted him with a vital task, one that could turn the tide of the war that raged outside the palace walls. He knew the secrets he had gathered could make a difference, could save countless lives.

But then, there was the prince – a person who had managed to breach the walls he had built around his heart. Amon had felt a connection, an inexplicable pull that defied the boundaries of duty. The warmth in the prince's eyes, the vulnerability he had glimpsed, it all tugged at Amon's heartstrings, threatening to sway him from his path.

As he looked out of the window, his gaze settled on the moonlit courtyard below. The choice before him was as stark as the contrast between light and shadow. His heart yearned for the connection he had found with the prince, the possibility of a love that had blossomed unexpectedly. But his people were depending on him, their hopes resting on the information he possessed.

Amon's hands clenched into fists, the struggle within him intensifying. He knew that choosing his people's cause would mean distancing himself from the prince, that any pursuit of his own happiness would come at the cost of the mission he had pledged to fulfill. The tension between his heart and his duty was suffocating, a choice that weighed heavily on his soul.

In the end, after hours of internal debate, Amon made his decision. It wasn't one made lightly, but it was one made out of necessity. He knew what he had to do – he had to put his people's needs above his own desires. The path he had chosen was one of sacrifice, of dedicating himself to a cause larger than his own happiness.

A knock was heard on the door...

"ma, a letter came for both of us play father" shouted Persian.

The queen smiled "come in darling".

Persian made himself comfortable on his mother's bed.

He gave the letter to his mother which she read with joy.

Her joy knew no bounds " finally, my sister has found a befitting husband. can't wait for the wedding".

"yeah, me to"

The queen saw a worried look on persian's face.

"My son, what is wrong"

Persian was hesitant but he had to "mom, if liking someone makes them feel uncomfortable. Does that mean you have to stop liking them".

The queen was intrigued, his son had never spoken about this before " and where is this coming from, if I may ask".

Persian stuttered trying to gather his lies "I am reading a new novel and that is the current situation of the main couple".

The queen smiled " I see.....well persian, if liking someone makes them feel uncomfortable. You shouldn't stop liking them. But maybe you might be rushing them. Everything evolves in accord with time. you have to give them time for them to be themselves . And if they surely like you or feel something for you. Time will tell".

Persian nodded in agreement "thanks ma, you're the best"

Amon was roaming the palace halls when he stumbled upon a big room full of books. but the door was locked. Amon looked inside, no one was there.

"but why is the door locked ".

Amon tried jamming it around but the door wouldn't budge.

The king was returning from a meeting with his guards when he spotted Amon.

" you over there by the door, come here"

Amon was a little scared since his father had told him a lot about the king and how heartless he was.

looking into the King's eyes...he felt both anger and fright....

The king said "oh you are the new guard.... well you see. We have rules around the palace , you can't just walk anywhere you want. some places are sacred grounds and some are just private....so I prefer you do the job you were assigned to before things get messy around here".

" have I made myself clear"

"crystal" answered Amon as he left.

The king could not help but feel a little tinty about Amon.

"his attitude reminds me of someone" said the king...

"petro, I am not very sure about him. keep an eye on him okay"

petro saluted "yes, your majesty"

Amon went back to his chambers full of anger and contempt.

"My father was right, he is as heartless as they say he is".

Elyss banged on his door " Amon, the prince wants to see you. He is the garden"

Amon sighed "we have to be strong, Amon. Do not waver".

Amon then went to the garden.

As he entered the garden, he found Prince Persian lying on the ground, surrounded by vibrant flowers. His princely attire was a bit dirty, and there were dirt smudges on his cheeks.

Amon couldn't help but chuckle at the sight."Your Highness, are you alright?" Amon asked, concern in his eyes.

Prince Persian grinned mischievously. "Oh, I'm perfectly fine, Amon. I just wanted to enjoy the garden in a different way today."

Amon knelt down beside him, unable to hide his smile. "I can see you love nature very much."

Persian tapped on a spot behind him...signalling Amon to lay by his side which Amon did.

"Ever since I was a kid...making friends came so difficult to me. Going to royal school was a total disaster. I had a friend Alex, we were buddies. I really liked him and he was also my rival because we both wanted to be the best. sometimes he won and sometimes I did. when he won, I'd congratulate him and celebrate with him but when I won, he'd always come up with excuses.

Eventually, he turned on me and made what was once paradise, hell".

Persian stopped to swallow the painful lump in his throat.

Amon saw how hard persian was trying to hold back his tears.

" he became somebody I couldn't even recognise. And ever since then, making friends has become impossible to me.I only have seraphina.

I don't get acquainted to anyone this easily but with you, it's different".

A smile formed on persian's face "you're easy to read, naive and very shy. so shy I find it adorable". Amon turned his face the other way to hide his blush.

" And you are a good listener and fun to be with. so I am sorry if all this is a little fast for you".

Amon sighed....

Persian's expression grew serious as he looked into Amon's eyes. "Amon, I want to apologize if I've made you uncomfortable with my attempts at friendship. I didn't mean to overstep any boundaries."

Amon was taken aback by Persian's sincerity. He realized that his own fears and notions had kept him from seeing the genuine kindness in the prince's heart.

"No, Your Highness," Amon said, his voice softening. "It's me who should apologize.

I've been too guarded, too caught up in my role as your guard. I should have seen your intentions for what they truly were."

The two men sat down on the garden's lush grass, the vibrant colors of the sunset reflecting in their eyes.

Amon and Persian watched the sun dip below the horizon in a comfortable silence, the tension between them dissipating like the fading light.As the last rays of sunlight disappeared, Persian extended his hand towards Amon.

"Let's not dwell on the past. How about we start fresh, as friends?"Amon hesitated only for a moment before taking Persian's hand in a firm handshake. "Friends it is, Your Highness."

"oh we need to change that" said persian.

"change what, your highness"

"that right there, the tag " your highness". we are friends now and honestly it gives me the creeps hearing people call me that".

Amon nodded in agreement "sure....what do you want me to call you"

"just call me.....percy" suggested persian.

"prince percy it is" said Amon.

"not what I wanted but it's a start" said persian...

It was magical until Amon heard someone call his name.

"umm, prince percy....I will be right back"

Persian smiled "time will tell"

Amon rushed inside and found Eric on the balcony....he had been staring at them for a while.

"Umm, sir Eric"

"oh, just called me Eric" smiled Eric.

"I have been keeping an eye on you two for a while and I can say I'm amazed at how fast persian has adapter to you. Normally, it takes him years. For me it took him three and a half years. From the way he looks at you, I can see he likes you"

Amon felt his heart race "and I do love how you're being there for him"

Amon smiled awkwardly "he doesn't like me in the way you are thinking, we just became friends"

Eric smiled "okay, let's see...he told you to feel comfortable around him. He apologised for rushing you and he gave you a name he wants you to him with, rightt"

Amon nodded "what is it"....

" prin..prince...per...percy" stuttered Amon.

Eric eyes bulges open "percy huh, well , aren't you lucky. Persian has had that nicknamed for years and only four people are allowed to call him using that, his mother, his father, seraphina and you"

"why only four?" asked Amon.

"because that name " percy" was given to him by his grandpa before he passed away. so he only allows people who's closest to his heart to call him that".

"congrats on your friendship, Amon, do not lose it for he's got the purest heart you will ever find" Eric tapped on Amon's shoulders and left.

Amon returned to the garden to find persian asleep.

He laid by his side and kept looking at him "I am surrounded by a lot of flowers with different vibrant colours yet you're the only thing I see. with you around....who needs roses".

Saying this, Amon's eyes lashed closed