Mother, then a Queen

"... while she patted the lady down." Prince Kinsey said to his mother.

Queen Rosette who was sitting on a bed with him then adjusted properly without saying a word, as her eyes were fixed on her youngest son.

Prince Kinsey continued, "I was confused. I didn't know if what I was doing was the right thing or not, but I knew everything just didn't feel right."

"I was tense." He continued, looking at his mother's face "The allegations and… just…just everything. I didn't know what to think or who to believe. I couldn't take chances. And…" looking away Prince Kinsey continued, "...and I thought it was all a frame up against Elle. So,... I wanted to protect her as well. That was another major reason why I alerted officer Smith."

"Can you listen to yourself?" Prince Caspian who had been standing feet away with his hands in his pocket, asked.

Queen Rosette was a little disappointed at her son's words - which was pretty much the truth in plain form.

"For Pete's sake Kinsey. You're a prince, and an adult… you have priorities - I mean you should." Prince Caspian commented.

"A lady you barely know should not be a major priority at such a time." The crown prince blurted. Prince Kinsey, who had his gaze on the floor, closed his eyes briefly. He was sort of disappointed in himself as well.

"Listen Kinsey, you need to change the way you think. What if Sergeant Smith wasn't an option, you would have thought to ditch the other lady wouldn't you?" Prince Caspian asked. Brushing his head backwards, the prince continued,

"It was very naive of you Kinsey. But there's no surprise there."

Placing her hand on Prince Kinsey's shoulder, Queen Rosette spoke up. 

"Son. I know you must've had feelings for that witch, so I'm trying to understand you." Said Queen Rosette.

"I'm a mother and a Queen, so I've seen it all my boy. It's understandable that you had wanted to protect her. But, you barely knew her - and that's why your brother and I are displeased." The Queen Consort stated.

"However," she continued, causing Kinsey to raise his head "I must applaud your bold step. It was smart of you to call for help, knowing that you were risking a lot." 

"Thanks mother." Prince Kinsey replied, before returning his gaze to a painting on the wall.

"So what happened next?" Prince Caspian asked the young Prince who cleared his throat. Glancing at his mother before returning his gaze to the floor, the young Prince continued. 

"After texting Sergeant Smith, I turned briefly to confirm if either of them noticed anything. And… I discovered that the strange lady had slightly curled her brow." Said the young Prince.

"So I assumed she saw me, or at least suspected something.'' Prince Kinsey went on to say. "But I kept a neutral expression. A few seconds later, she led the way after I asked her to. When we got to the garden where brother…" Prince Kinsey went on to narrate all that he saw happen.

"...then I felt something brush past my arm." Prince Kinsey concluded.

With teary eyes, Queen Rosette pulled Prince Kinsey in for an embrace. Both brothers were a little surprised by their mother's reaction. They had thought she would have scolded the younger Prince - as usual. Or maybe it was too early to conclude…

"Oh my boy. Why were you so careless? Why and how did you leave the Palace? Why didn't you take someone with you? What if something worse had happened? Huh?" Queen Rosette sang emotionally.

"I'm sorry mother." Prince Kinsey answered.

Holding his shoulders before pulling him away, Queen Rosette sniffed before speaking up, "How do you want me to survive this life without you my son? I've always prayed to never bury any of my children." Letting go of his shoulders, Queen Rosette took Prince Kinsey's left hand into her hands. 

"Please my son, don't ever do this to me again. Don't ever be so carefree about your safety or your health, ok?" 

"Ok mother. It won't happen again." Prince Kinsey promised.

"I love you and your brother very much. I would die if anything happens to the both of you. I'd rather forfeit everything - including my life, than to see the both of you lose yours. Do you understand?" Queen Rosette asked, looking from Prince Kinsey to Prince Caspian.

Prince Kinsey nodded slightly, just before a tear dropped. Prince Caspian on the other hand looked through the window pretending to observe the downpour, immediately his mother glanced at him. 

He sort of felt weird and awkward, like he always did whenever Queen Rosette affectionately gazed or talked to him.

When he was much younger, his face would always turn tomato red, causing her to smile at his cute reaction.

But despite all of his mother's show of affection, Prince Caspian was not accustomed to it - from her or anyone else. Hence, he sometimes had the most awkward or improper reaction to surprises or anything affection related. And to a larger extent, he was very unromantic.

Prince Caspian was blunt, straightforward, plain and harsh sometimes. He was informally known as the king of bluff humour. 

But that's besides the point.

The major issue to the crown prince was that his mother, did not take her eyes off him anymore. 

He wasn't exactly looking at her, but he could tell. Was his cheeks turning red or something? She would be least concerned about that wouldn't she?...the crown prince wondered.

Just before Prince Caspian could sigh, someone knocked on the door.

"Her Majesty, Your Highnesses, it's me, Monica." Prince Caspian's fiancee announced. "Can I come in?" she asked.

Queen Rosette, who had been looking at her son, the crown prince, finally looked away with her lips threatening to curve into a smile.

"Come in my dear." Queen Rosette answered.

In no less than 2 seconds, the door creaked, and then Monica walked in. "Your Majesty." She greeted with a small bow, standing next to the door.

"Monica, my dear, how are you?" Queen Rosette asked with a slight smile.

"I'm fine, your majesty." Monica, The Royal Fiance replied.

Turning to the Crown Prince with a small bow, "Your highness." She greeted Prince Caspian who stood like he was non-existent. 

"Monica." He replied with a straight face.

"Prince Kinsey." Monica called out almost immediately, before she strode over to meet him.

"Monica." Prince Kinsey answered.

"I heard what happened, are you okay?" She asked as she came to a halt, 3 feet away from the Queen and Prince.

"I'm fine thank you." Prince Kinsey replied. Glancing at his brother, "I'm thankful for my brother who saved the day." Prince Kinsey added, unable to mask the smug look on his face. Monica turning to glance at Prince Caspian replied,

"Oh. That's very_"

"It was all thanks to officer Smith, not me." Prince Caspian quickly stated, while he glared at his brother.

"But you were also a hero you know." Prince Kinsey countered. Turning to Monica, "If he hadn't shown up, I might have been dead by now. You see, he was really amazing and cool out there. You needed to see the way he_"

"I didn't do anything. Okay?" Prince Caspian interrupted.

"But your sleeve says otherwise." Prince Kinsey responded with a smirk. 

Taking a proper glance at the Crown Prince, Queen Rosette and Monica couldn't help but giggle.  

Prince Caspian however, literally almost pushed his teeths further into his gum.

"Stop it Kinsey." Prince Caspian warned.

"But it's true." 

"Kinsey. Stop it okay?" Queen Rosette cautioned softly, with a smile on her face while she looked at her youngest son.

"Ok mother." He replied. But almost immediately, 

"Your fiance is very cool_"

"Kinsey!" Prince Caspian exclaimed, while the young Prince grinned

"Ok, ok… " he said in surrender. The Queen and Royal Fiance chuckled at their squabble.

The atmosphere in Prince Kinsey's room was cheerful, unlike that of the middle of the thickest forest in all of Arcadia where the heart of a tourist was being haggled for.

**

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A/N: A special s/o and thank you to Lux, Alek and Lawrence for your support. Thank you guys for being amazing. ❤️

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