24. Making Friends With Alice
"Avery, at least don't fall in love with a regular girl. Fall in love with a noblewoman like a princess. And I agree that you love Ariadne." Eden was very serious.
"Dad, can't you let me make a choice for my own life?" Avery asked boldly.
Eden seems very serious on Avery. "Remember your own kingdom! If our economy was in crisis, who would guarantee that? If you had a wife like princess Ariadne, father would ensure our kingdom would be safe to live! Write that. A mere girl from a simple family will not help us make our kingdom prosper Avery!!"
"Dad, you're always doing whatever you want. You don't remember what happened the other day? You're suing me for always going to the diamond kingdom alone. You beat me if I didn't listen. You'd hit Mom too if Mom didn't listen. Actually, are you a father or not?"
Plaque!
Hard slap landed on Avery's left cheek. The man grimaced with pain because of the heat rolling down his cheeks. The blow from Eden's hand was still very hard.
"Do as I say. I am your father, but I am here as king! If you don't do as I say, go live out there with that poor girl!!" Eden was very strict.
Avery froze as he held his left cheek. Avery's eyes were boiling up, and so was his face. It turns out Eden was still very cruel.
"At least, you will also visit the diamond kingdom if you really want me to marry Ariadne! Show yourself as my parent. Not just as a king!!" Avery's firm.
Avery's words made the footsteps of Eden stop. Eden looked back and looked at his son again. Eden just shut up and didn't speak out loud. Then the man continued the two steps again to get into the palace.
Avery instantly hit the edge of the iron chair in the park. He hits so many times that the back of his hand bleeds. Eden couldn't care less about Avery's life. Avery only wants to marry a girl he loves.
It was getting late and Avery was still sitting in a park chair. The man simply lowered his head and watched his aching right hand. The pain of the wounds is nothing compared to the horrible story of his life.
The royal atmosphere grew silent. The servants also finished their activities and prepared to go to the bedroom. Leaving only loyal palace guards standing at every corner and the royal gate. There was no sound other than silence. Not even an owl or crow make a sound tonight. Maybe the birds went to another area.
"You must sleep, prince."
Avery was a little surprised when he heard the voice. It was Alice who came to the park.
"Ah, Alice. You scared me." Avery said as he stroked his chest.
Alice smiled slightly and nodded politely right away. "I'm sorry. I was sent by the queen to find you, my prince. Go straight to bed and get some sleep."
"What's wrong? Where's my mom?"
"Queen Berenice was with the king discussing the pearl production route. They are still in the royal hall with the ministers and advisers. The queen cannot see you yet, and you are sent to rest." Alice said very carefully.
"I'm not a kid anymore. I'll sleep when I want to and be sleepy."
At Avery's words, of course she didn't have the courage to talk back. The girl nodded and bowed asa courtesy. "Very well then, prince. I'm going back to the servants' bedrooms."
"Aren't you going to patch me up?"
Alice looked at Avery. She furrowed her brow. Is her prince wounded? "What's the matter, prince? Are you hurt?" Alice asked with her panicked facial expressions. The girl's footsteps moved closer to Avery.
Avery showed me a cut on his right hand's back. It still bled out even though it was small.
"My goodness! What did you get, prince?" Alice took Avery's hand very carefully. The girl sat down because Avery was sitting in a park chair.
"I hit the iron fist of a lawn chair."
"Prince, don't hurt yourself. Then I'll get the medicine and a soft cloth."
Grep!
Alice's hand is being held by Avery. The girl was instantly nervous and lowered her head.
"Let me go with you, Alice."
Alice looked Avery right in the face. They stared at each other for a few seconds. But Alice immediately averted her eyes. It is not proper for servants to look into the face of the king or crown prince.
"Ah, just let me get the medicine."
"I'll go. Treat my wounds in an empty room as usual."
"But it's late."
"Please do me a favor, Alice." Said Avery with a hint of pleading. The man needs someone to talk to.
***
As Avery ordered, Alice and Avery are now in an empty room far from the core kingdom. The vacant hall was close to the kitchen building and the servants' bedrooms. Yet the distance is very different and no one will know that in the empty space there are two humans.
Alice gently washed the wound on Avery's hand's back first. Then apply the drops and wrap Avery's hand in a soft cloth that is specially used to bind the wound.
"Don't hurt yourself like this, prince." Said Alice when she finished bandaging Avery's wound.
Avery looked at Alice. "The wound is nothing compared to the way I live."
"I know. That's why you shouldn't get hurt. You've been fighting a lot of bad days every day."
"Why are you always there when I hurt Alice?"
"Because it's my duty, prince."
"Just call my name. Talk leisurely with me. Haven't you taken care of me long enough?"
Alice is still bowing. Her heart is beating because Avery said so. "Ah, I'm just a waiter. I'm not your friend prince."
"Then be my friend." Avery said by slowly raising Alice's chin. Make the girl in front of him become straight at him.
Alice was almost dazzled by Avery's good looks and the girl wanted to turn her face in the other direction. But Avery prevented that.
"Look at me like a friend. You're the same age as Princess Ariadne. Make friends with me, Alice. Don't be so formal when you're alone with me. And this is my command to you." Avery said seriously.
"Ah, if that's all you want, prince."
"I told you to call my name."
Alice shook her head. "I can't. We'll be friends and I won't be so formal when we're both. But I still call you 'prince '."
Little Avery chuckles. "That's fine if you want. Friends?"
"Friend." Alice chuckled as well and greeted Avery's hand as she shook her hand.
Alice chuckled, Avery charmed her for a moment. Alice is more beautiful when she laughs and shows her neat rows of teeth. Alice had two dimples on her cheeks. And Avery just realized Alice was so beautiful.
***