Chapter 2

By the next day I had already been stuck with anxiety all night as I remember the embarrassing thing I had said. I sigh as I lay in bed and look at the bland ceiling. Would he fire me? He's quite nice and doesn't seem the type...then again a random guard complimenting his looks, leg alone a guy, must have made him uncomfortable...damn. I groan as I hear the alarm clock go off. It was time for my shift.... I had to spend the whole day at the garden again. He probably wouldn't even come today after what I said yesterday... I need to get myself together.

I get out of bed and get dressed in my outfit and put on the necessary armor. Why a garden guard needs that? I have no idea. It looks cool though and makes me feel hot. Literally and the other way. I give myself a bit of coffee to keep my sanity before I have to rush off to start my 'shift'. I walk out of the knights quarters which were on the far side of the palace and on the opposite of the garden. I pass a few others in the halls who were either caffeinated up and ready or clearly hating every life decision they have ever made. However I was easily energized however, the coffee simply helped my brain speed up the process.

I hum slightly, focusing on anything other than what deprived me of sleep last night and I hurry slightly off to the garden and nod halfheartedly to the guard who had night shift. I felt slightly envious that they hadn't had to watch the second prince everyday like a forbidden fruit they could never touch. I sigh and stand at my post as every other day.

Part of me hoped he wouldn't show up again in case he heard what I had said and thought I was gross or creepy. Although he had always been kind, he never spoke or took any particular liking to anyone. At least from what I hear. Unlike the rest of the royal family, no scandals ever showed up, there's not really an opportunity when he is always kind to everyone but never shows any real interest in anyone other than professionally.

I subconsciously regularly look at the doors entering the palace that were connected to the garden, my brain so used to awaiting his arrival. The hours pass a lot longer, and I start to fall back into my overthinking state. Was he too creeped out? Uncomfortable? Grossed out? Would he ever come back? It took a few hours but later that day he finally comes out, with his notepad and pencil as always and sits down at the base of his tree. He had his light smile as always and looked as delicate and lively as ever. So I overthought everything again. Damn my anxiety.

I sigh and lean partially against the palace wall as if to support myself after finding out someone just got saved from death. I stand back up and watch him as I normally do, a small smile escaping me as I feel a warmth in my chest realizing that I hadn't just messed everything up and my little light was still there. I watch in amusement as he draws a butterfly before it flies to him and lands on his finger that rested on the pencil. He chuckles lightly like a child's, innocent and soft. The white little butterfly flew around him before flying away from him.

I started to realize however, it was flying towards me...and the princes eyes followed it before both the butterfly and the princes eyes land on me. His smile falls slightly, before he looks at me curiously. I was still startled and simply bow quickly, the butterfly fluttering away softly into the evening. Flustered after his soft grey eyes had locked with mine, I blush slightly. "Y-your highness..." I glance up and he smiles as always. I felt a flutter in my chest a moment. That smile was for me this time....

I finally get enough courage to speak forward, seeing this as the only opportunity to apologize for yesterday. "...my apologies for yesterday by the way your highness... It was wrong of me to interrupt and make your highness uncomfortable..I beg of you to forgive my mistake...." I blush slightly, still bowing. I take another peek up to see him nodding and I take that as my cue to stand again.

I stand awkwardly, unsure what to say. He was still a bit away, but he seemed to have heard fine. He stands up and wipes himself off before walking over to me with his paper and pencil. I was nervous and puzzled about what would happen next. He stands a few feet away from me and his pale eyelashes were so pretty against his pale eyes and skin.

He works diligently in his notebook and I watch, unsure whether to speak or to stay still. I just stand awkwardly for a while. I was distracted by his innocent and content expression as he draws. Occasionally he glances at me. He eventually turned the notebook to me, so I could see it. If was a basic but amazing drawing of me drawn in around 5 minutes. It looked amazing, and I blush slightly, enjoying the fact he had placed his attention solely on me for a few minutes. I snap myself out of obsessive land quickly and smile happily. "Wow your highness! That looks amazing! How did you draw that so fast?" a sparkly shown in his eyes and he smiled brighter. He seems happy I complimented him, and he turned the notebook back over and began to wright on the paper more. I wait patiently, Happy to share a moment and be able to see him so close to me.

When he turned it back around the drawing of me was smiling as I just had, and I had a flower crown. I feel the flutter again as I look at the prince again, he looked like an excited child, showing their parents something and waiting for approval. I chuckle slightly. "It looks even better, your highness. You should sell your drawings, I know I would definitely buy them." he seems even more happy, and I can't help but smile. He was glowing like a beautiful star in a night sky.

After a few hours of him drawing as he sat next to me, he shows me his drawings happily, and I watch him flutter around with excitement as if he's never been praised before. My smile falters slightly as I realize I wasn't the only one to fancy the prince... probably the one with the least possibility of getting a future with him though. I was just a knight, a male commoner. He was the amazing and beautiful 'silent prince' that everyone adores. I didn't exactly have a chance, did I?

I push the thoughts away. Staying at the moment is the only thing I need. His gentle and delicate beauty is all that I need to consume my thoughts. I continue to compliment his work and found the rose he had drawn the other day. Its lively beauty illustrated through the sketch. "That one's my favorite, it's a simple yet beautiful drawing." I point to the page that he has stopped at. "Forgive me for my blunt words but.... could I perhaps keep this one? I-its ok of course if not I just really like it...." because it reminds me of you I thought. He pauses a moment before nodding and gently ripped the paper out and handing it to me.

I felt surprised he actually gave it to me and slightly blush. "T-thank you your highness..... could you perhaps sign it…?" he smiles gently and nods before taking it back and signing the top right corner with his first name. "Thank you...I promise to take good care on this" I take it back from him and stare down at the name I'm the corner. I felt my heart fill and I blush realizing what I had asked of the prince, and not only that, I had gotten the drawing! Signed personally by the prince!

he stood up and I checked my watch. "oh, it's time for you to go?" he nods while smiling and then walks back to the doors as usual. I look down to the picture and blush. "...fuck." I had a crush. on the second prince. Damnit.

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