Chapter 7

Henri returned to his chambers after eating his mother's hearty meal. He couldn't possibly fall asleep again so he sat at his desk to get some reading done.

He did return to bed an hour or two before dawn just so that his maids wouldn't make a fuss about finding out that he had stayed up through the night.

He couldn't care less about nosy personal servants but they would report it to his mother and he didn't want her to worry about him.

He was awoken every single day an hour after dawn, although most times he was awake long before then, he liked to keep a strict routine.

After his personal hygiene, he usually had breakfast alone because his parents couldn't make it in the morning. Once breakfast was done, he got started on his lessons.

He had been taking it easy recently, his sword fighting lessons, horse riding lessons, ball dancing lessons, and so on were all concluded recently so they were struck out of his schedule. While he still took some time to practice them so he wouldn't grow rusty in their practice, it was no longer a requirement.

Now he concentrated on his studies, eagerly waiting for the time his father would assign him some duties. However, now that he would be going to the academy, he doubted that there would be any time for that.

There was only one break throughout the school semester and it was at the end of the year so if Henri went to the academy at the start of the new year, he couldn't return to the castle till the year was over.

He sighed when his crown was placed on his head after he was all dressed up. He didn't like to wear crowns although it was a daily outfit requirement for him because the gold accessories made it even harder to style his hair, which meant that whenever he had them on, his hair had to be let down.

He expected his tutor to be waiting in his study but he asked anyway. "I believe Graham is ready for me." He stated confidently.

All four uniformed maids shared looks with each other. Betsey was busy fiddling with the prince's boots and kept at it even though she was all done, she didn't want to be the one to tell the prince the newest developments. The other two fixed their gazes on Annette, the oldest.

Annette fiddled with her fingers and then the lace frills of her apron. "Your Highness, I'm afraid he isn't." She mumbled with her head down.

Denise and Cassie had been buttoning up his sleeves so he had his arms up but at the odd tone in the servant's voice, Henri dropped his arms. "Why not?"

"Well, his Majesty relayed orders that your lessons be canceled so that you can have more time to prepare for the academy, your Highness." Annette curtseyed, inching backward.

The other three did the same, Prince Henri was indeed terrifying when he was upset, he was like a force of nature.

Henri fell silent for a few moments, stunned. It wasn't entirely surprising for his father to make a decision like that even without informing him. Henri had more or less accepted to go to the academy, not like he had much of a choice so his father was free to make decisions that he believed were in his favor.

Granted, Henri didn't really need a tutor, considering that he was a prodigy in his own right but it was something productive to occupy his time.

"Then why did you bother to dress me up if I wouldn't even be leaving my room?" He asked calmly, cocking a brow.

Annette got more courage after seeing how calmly the prince reacted to her words but she took a couple more steps back, just in case. "Well, Lord Johann would be coming over today to pay another visit to your Highness." She mumbled. "His Majesty has also given your Highness permission to have lunch with him instead."

Henri glared at her when she said this, watching all of his personal servants curtsey and run out of his chambers, terrified.

Henri wasn't the type to get into fits of rage so he forced himself to calm down. He would enthusiastically do anything else, even menial jobs if it would spare him from the torture that was Lord Johann.

Still peeved, he stomped to the mirror and took off the ornate gold crown with encrusted jewels that had been worn over his inky black locks. He substituted it with a simple gold band that went over his forehead, there was a blood-red ruby at the center of the crown.

He was just thinking ahead, if they would be doing physical activities like horse riding or the likes, it would be quite uncomfortable to wear the previous choice.

Henri was already fully dressed but he refused to leave his chambers till it was announced that Lord Johann had arrived. Taking another deep breath that did nothing to calm him down, he started for the immense doors of his chambers. A gentle tap made the guards on the other side swing open the doors, bowing deeply as he stepped out.

He expected to meet Lord Johann in the drawing room and not at all expecting him to be right in front of the doors to his chambers.

Audie had been cautioned severely by the castle servants so although he had been the one to insist to be brought to Prince Henri's room, he bowed deeply. "Greetings, your Highness."

Henri stumbled back in shock. "Y-You." He accused, glaring daggers at the bowing nobleman.

Lord Johann straightened up with a goofy smile, he was dressed in a seashell blue dress shirt, his necktie a much darker blue that matched his breeches, he had forgone wearing a coat.

"Not going to invite me to your room?"

Henri was thrown back in shock again, the servants around sharing similar expressions. "W-Why would I want to do that?" He blustered.

Audie slowed down, gauging the reaction of everyone around them, noting that something was off, he leaned close to the nearest servant. "I wasn't supposed to ask that?" He stage-whispered.