A Royal Meal

The Prince

I could not concentrate on any studying. With this new guard here I had more questions rumbling through my mind than I could consciously keep track of. For at least 20 minutes I was now contemplating if he was able to read or not. Most guards I knew did not care for books or any kind of art. But he did take the book and he does seem to be interested in it. And he did not immediately insult my literature when I offered it to him. I was so sure he would be like the first crown guard. He is that kid raised by the crown guard right? The crown guard said he would assign him to me so I do assume It's him. Maybe he just needed to seem interested to please me according to the proper manner.

I really hoped the guard, Alec, did not see my sudden eye roll. I am pretty sure he either does not know how to read or does not care enough to do so. Till now I have only seen him looking at the pictures of the book. And it has been hours, it was almost noon. The maid would come soon to bring me my meal. Would I be left alone for meals at least? Or was I too endangered for such a situation.

It would be getting a long day if I was not able to concentrate with him here. And it did not feel like he would leave anytime. Everybody was taking precautions and no one was allowed to unnecessarily enter my chambers in fear I might be murdered. Now I was sure Alec must have heard my desperate sight.

And as if I had summoned her I heard Gretel's voice following a soft knock "Your Highness, I brought todays meal."

She entered without awaiting any kind of answer from me. I was glad to see her again and smiled when she entered.

"Thank you Gretel. I would have come myself if you would have just asked. No need for you to always walk all the way here."

"I will not argue again, your highness. And everybody here has quite an experience with you not being quite fond of leaving your chambers."

I could not hold back a small laugh. Remembering all the times I was almost forced out of my rooms when I was a child.

"There I surly cannot argue against. What have you brought me today?"

"Brussels sprouts fried in butter with a few traces of ham and all done as you like It most your highness."

"Tell my thanks to the cook, may you?"

"As always, your highness."

"Thank you Gretel I will be seeing you by dinner."

"Till then, your highness."

The the usual carrier stood at the door. A small sight left me when I realized it was the one with two levels, the second hidden under a red velvet blanket. So there was not only the meal I wished for but more food. Because the prince needs to get the best of the best. Another sight before I slowly removed the red velvet blanket. Right on the top level under a big metal bowl was what I had wished to eat for a meal. Brussels sprouts with a few slices of ham all fried In butter. And that would all I would eat. I would never understand why the cook felt the need to fill a whole mother level with food.

On the low level of the carrier there were a plate with some sort of grilled meat and potatoes. More cabbage swimming in milky white buttery sauce like pool. And of course a whole plate with little baked treats the candies the cook liked to make the most. I did enjoy the candy from time to time. But everyday was certainly too much.

"I shall leave you alone for your meal, your highness." I had almost forgotten about Alec being presented with this food drama.

"Where will you eat Alec?"

"I won't - I will not - I mean I may find some bread in the guards housing, your highness." Alec truly seemed exhausted. If it was his constant bowing or the struggle with his words I couldn't tell.

"You seem tired. Take a seat and eat with me. I have plenty of food to enjoy here."

"I appreciate the offer but I may not disturbed you, your highness." One more bow and he wouldn't be able to get up anymore.

"I insist you stay, Alec."

"I do ehm- what?" He looked at me directly for the first time. "Your highness?" I couldn't help but smile. He must be new to addressing the royal family directly.

"Yes, just take the chair over there and place it on the carped, I will get the table and my chair."

Now he was truly too confused to complain. He slowly made his way to the chair besides my bed. And with a few swift steps I had put together my small coffee table and the other chair together with the carriage to prepare a nice meal for us two. I smiled when sitting down. Somehow feeling proud of the nice table set up. Alec still seemed to be in a slight shock. In front of us I had put all the little sweets and cake. On my side my desired meal and in front of him I had placed the one with meat and potatoes.

"But I can't just eat this? meat is so expensive and so much!" I had to laugh. He even forgot the speaking manner in his shock.

"It is fine, Alec. I get such a meal everyday and can hardly finish it. I am happy to share it with you!"

"I could also eat outside if you need more privacy?"

"Privacy? I ate all by myself for over 10 years now. I can surly handle having some company for today. What do you eat usually?"

"Ehm I- thank you. Normally we get some bread and butter, cheese, when the butcher had work we get some left over ham. On special holidays we even get some slices of meat and milk. This here would be a meal we see maybe on the king's birthday!"

"You have to train all work with such little intake? It must be exhausting." I started to slowly pick at my food. After a short nod and smile Alec tried a tiny potato as well.

"We get used to It. I grew up with bread and butter I always trained this way." A potato in Alec's mouth distorted some of his words. "I wreally lige bread"

Now I couldn't hold my smile back, I felt it stretching over my cheeks. No one has ever talked like this to the crown prince. Especially not a guard this age.

"Bread can be really nice. Will you like the sweets for dessert too?"

"I can eat the cake? Are you sure? They are probably made for you." Now his eyes widened a bit before he swallowed and lowered his head to his plate. "Your highness."

But I really don't mind you talking to me so comfortably.

"Of course you can eat them! Look how many there are! I would never be able to finish it all by myself."

"This will be so good!" Another rather big potato found Its end in Alec's mouth. For a few minutes we ate in silence. I just watched as Alec's plate slowly emptied.

"Did you enjoy reading the book?" I desperately tried to hide my smile by eating a small piece of ham.

„I- eh really enjoyed the reading, your highness." His sentence ended with a last potato. He watched his plate while quietly nodding to himself in satisfaction.

"I'm really glad to hear this! Did you read Rapunzel too?" I should ask what his favorite story was. But would It be mean to put him on the spot like that?

"Yes, of course I read your favorite, your highness! I truly enjoyed that one the most."

"I'm so happy to hear this! My favorite part is when the Rapunzel sings and it echos through the Forrest."

"Mine too. Really like her voice- I mean the songs she sings and all. Yes, cause we can't hear her, yes." Alec now finished his plate and I also was a bout to finish it. "your highness." I just couldn't hold back my smile when he rushed the 'your highness' like this.

"Did you also like when the Forrest started to burn and the prince saved Rapunzel in the last minute?" This was too mean. Now I would surly know if he read anything. But he can probably tell by the pictures that there is no fire In the Forrest? I distantly remember seeing Alec skimming the page with the drawings of Rapunzel's beautiful long hair.

"What- I- yes. The prince is really brave to do so. Liked the part, surly. Your highness." Alec watched his own lap.

Now I truly had to laugh. He never even heard of Rapunzel.

He smiled at me. "I never heard your laugh, your highness. Did I say something funny?"

Of course he never heard me laugh, this was the first day as my guard. I laugh plenty! Plenty! all day do I laugh usually.

My laughter quieted down to a smile.

"I'm just happy we enjoy the same things in the story. Would you like to eat some cake now?"

He looked right Into my eyes, as if to assure that I was serious.

"Just go ahead. Take whatever you want." Alec's eyes smiled along his lips as he reached for the first tiny cake closes to him.

"Thank you so much!!"

I took a few of the candy drops in my hand. "When was the last time you had cake?"

"When the first snow came. We stole some from…." Alec looked up from the piece of cake he was about to put in his mouth. He looked concerned.

"You steal? But no worries, I won't tell anyone. I might have also stolen some candies from time to time."

"Really? The prince has to steal?" Alec looked shocked, he almost dropped the cake.

"Yes! The maids wouldn't let me eat as much candy as I wanted." I tried to sulk but a smile won over my face.

"I never expected that! We went into the kitchen and stole a few of those small mini cakes the baker likes to make. They were so sweet and good. almost as good as this thing! What is this?" He looked confused at the fruit tart In his hand.

"You are currently eating a fruit tart. And I assume the thing you stole was a tartlet." I quieted my voice to a whisper as I leaned a bit forward. "I would steal those too if I was you." Alec answered my smile with one of his toothy smiles. "I'm glad the prince won't get me in trouble over this." He whispered too.

The sun stood high over the castle. The light shifted more and more as we talked about made up fairy tales, stolen tarts and angry bakers. Soon the last light made the room glow in dim deep orange and we had to light candles to see our smiles.

The following days we shared a lot of stories. But even more we read together. The prince needed to study a lot and with every day passing I got more curious about the stories and fairy-tails. If I just keep trying I will understand the stories some day. Just a few more days and I could read. Just a few more days.