Chapter 38

"Margaret, I had no idea you would be back so soon," the butler Harold hurried out of the home with his walking stick by his hip. "And the princess is here. Would you like some treats and a cool drink prepared?"

"Settle down," Margaret stopped Harold before he could lose his mind for not being prepared for her arrival.

"After all these years Harold is still a perfectionist," Amelia shook her head. She had never seen a more hardworking person than Harold when it came to running a household. Nothing was ever out of place in Margaret's home and if anyone ever attempted to ruin it, Harold would have their head.

"It is a butler's duty to be perfect to take the workload off their employer. Those who aren't should not call themselves a butler. The young men looking to get this type of job are not being trained like I was. They think it's just enough to give the workers a schedule and answer the door…"

Amelia started to tune out Harold's rambling about what it meant to be a butler. She regretted starting this conversation in the first place. "On second thought, I could use a cool drink, Harold."

"I shall bring it to you right away. Is there anything you need, Margaret?"

Amelia found it sweet how Harold had been by her grandmother's side from the moment she entered the castle to wed the young prince. When her grandmother decided she could no longer stand living in the castle and left it was no surprise Harold followed after her.

Even though it was clearly time for Harold to retire as he now walked with a cane due to a leg injury, he refused to leave Margaret's side. In his words, there was no other butler suited to take his job.

Harold grew to be more than just Margaret's butler over the years. He became one of the few people she called a friend. That was why Harold was able to call Margaret by her first name. A privilege many others wish they had.

"I need to take a seat. My feet are tired. Harold, we are not as young as we once were, unfortunately. Do you remember the fun times you and I would run around the castle?" Margaret let go of Amelia to hold unto Harold.

Harold sighed, remembering the memory clearly but it was different for him. "It was not fun for me, Margaret. I was running after the queen to stop her from leaving the castle. It was not fun the first few years when you were rebellious."

"For me, it was fun until the weight of the crown became too heavy for me. Harold stopped me from getting in a lot of trouble back then. He stopped me from strangling my husband a few times. Let us walk," Margaret said as it was torture to stand up in one spot for so long.

"Your grandfather hated Harold. He thought we were fooling around behind his back. Honestly, we should have."

Margaret chuckled while Harold shook his head. "You have gotten me into so much trouble, Margaret. However, I do have to admit I liked when you were rebellious more than when you were quiet like a mouse in the castle. Amelia, I will be back shortly."

"Goodbye, grandmother. That woman is crazy," Amelia muttered when Harold and Margaret were a good distance away from her.

"You and the former queen have proved the rumors in the north wrong."

"What the!" Amelia yelled, jumping to the side as Cyrus scared her. "Cyrus, were you trying to kill me? We have discussed many times that you are not allowed to sneak up on me. Where is Gina?" She looked back outside.

"She is becoming acquainted with one of your grandmother's guards. She is missing his obvious attempts to reject her as he is seeing one of the maids in the carriage."

"Cyrus, how are you able to tell the guard is already seeing someone? Outside of myself, you are the most blind when it comes to romance. You don't even notice some of the things the maids do to get your attention," Amelia was mind blown.

"I noticed his eyes kept flickering to her when Gina asked him questions. I am well aware of what the maids do to get my attention but my heart belongs to someone else. You are the only one oblivious to romance princess," Cyrus replied, enjoying the offended look written all over Amelia's face.

He viewed her as a child and did not see why it was such a big deal she was not aware of the things males did to get her attention. Amelia was at the age where she would be figuring things out as she makes mistakes. Both in her love life and her road to becoming queen.

Cyrus knew she would make an excellent ruler but Amelia did not make the best decisions many times. It was due to her lacking a good mentor to keep her one step above what the men in court would place in front of her to block her.

Margaret was the only one to help Amelia but the princess was afraid of involving her grandmother in her battles.

"Is it just me or are the people here a little uptight?" Gina stomped her way into the house. She thought she found her future husband today but then he had to ruin it by rejecting her.

"You are meant to be taking care of the princess, not looking for a partner. The former queen's home is not the place for you to be searching for a mate," Cyrus scolded Gina for her carelessness. Amelia was allowed to make mistakes but they weren't.

They were meant to be Amelia's extra eyes and ears wherever they go. Their actions will reflect on Amelia as they are her people.

"He's right," Amelia loved Gina but there was a time and place for everything. Just like Cyrus did, Gina should have immediately come to her side.