Episode 2

...cHaPtEr oNe ePiSoDe tWo...

...Meanwhile,...

𝘐𝘯 his Highness chambers he was getting ready for bed and already had bathed nothing special just short he's only seven. He dressed in simple night garments and decided to see if his order was being executed to his liking, so he opened the door and saw her struggling as the portrait stood nine feet on the wall and four feet off the ground. "Halt" Alexander said startling Elora making her miss her footing, so Alexander quickly saw and reached out to catch her. "Ahh" Elora screams softly. "Careful" Alexander said, catching her smoothly.

"Huh?" Elora had her eyes closed tightly thinking she hit the floor. "Open your eyes" Alexander said softly commanding her. "Highness" Elora said looking up at him after slowly opening her eyes. The two locked eyes for a moment longer than necessary until Alexander cleared his throat and helped her stand. "Thank you, your Highness" Elora said.

"You're welcome, you're far too young to be cleaning a portrait alone leave this task to someone else" Alexander said he thought that just like at the party she... Elora was still captivating. "Your Highness" Elora said softly. "Is there something on my face" hearing that a light tinted red blush had begun to creep onto his pale cheeks until he snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Ahem... nothing just thinking... not that I have to explain to you" Alexander said reprimanding her again.

"So… Sorry your Highness" Elora said apologizing quickly fearing her job and earning as she knew well. Everyone knew that offending or disrespecting a Royal Family member depending on the class you're born into nobility and commoners they'd only have some wealth, land, or property taken with an increase on their monthly taxes, commoners would be beaten, whipped, or slashed with a paddle as the office of affairs loved to come up with new ways.

"Highness" Elora said curiously "it's quite late and you're still up?" she said looking down Alexander crossed his arms "making sure staff can follow orders correctly but I find a young maiden doing the hard work instead of being in the kitchen" Alexander said giving off a stern and not pleased expression. "Forgive me your Highness" Elora said thinking he was reprimanding her "for... forgiven... retire to the maids quarters for tonight someone else will finish this task you're dismissed" Alexander said realizing he scolded her without meaning too. "Yes your Highness" Elora said as she departed but felt the need to be bold and look back. "You're Highness" she said softly "yes?" Alexander said wondering what else she could have to say. "With all due respect your Highness... we're the same age" with what Elora said she ran off expecting a punishment for her boldness instead Alexander stood there stunned as no one would dare say something like that to his face nor run away from him.

Alexander knew he should punish Elora, but he couldn't, she was beautiful, and it just felt right not living by his mother's example of her motto "power is everything you punish those who don't obey and reward those who do" what his mother would say. But right now at that moment Alexander felt refreshed "we're the same age" Alexander repeated Elora's words as they reminded him he was only a seven-year-old boy. With that he signaled for a new maid capable enough to finish cleaning the portrait as he went into his chambers and sitting on the edge of his bed with the itch to write something down in his personal journal.

Alexander sat down at his desk and opened his personal journal and dated the page.

...Journal - entry 1...

"The tenth day of the tenth month, the year of the panda is also my tenth birthday I was blessed by the heavens to have a golden day at my young age... I saw someone... something that stood out to me, unlike mother and her controlling ways or the pretentious gaze and thoughts of those around me, she apologized when I didn't mean to scold her then she decided to be bold by saying "With all due respect your Highness... we're the same age" those are Elora's words surely she knew the consequences well... potential consequences, I didn't punish her it seems her words were a wake-up call I dare say that, but I feel it... she gives off an energy warm and fuzzy today is only the first time. I'm meeting her, I'm sure she'll turn out like the rest do, until I write again my future self.

With that Alexander closed his journal and laid down feeling at ease for the first time since his father's passing and for once he was able to sleep. He sunk into his bed with a jerk as if forgetting the softness and coziness of his bed he pulled the covers over letting the earth engulf him and the heavy weight of fatigue seemed to wash off of him making his eye miss heavy as he blinked and caught himself thinking of her... Elora, when his eyes closed fully and for the whole night.

The night seemed quiet and air chilled helping Alexander sleep longer.

...Meanwhile...

𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 Elora in the maids quarters she bathed and ate with the others the maids ranged in age from children to middle-aged women everyone was nice since there was no need for drama they always brought along gossip.

Elora looked at Sanchi a mothering head or more like a guide on following the rules. "Ms. Sanchi..." Elora said getting her attention "yes Elora" Ms. Sanchi replied tearing herself from the gossip, "I'm tired is it ok if I retired early I finished everything I was assigned" Elora asked. "Sure I don't see why not sleep well" Ms. Sanchi replied and with that Elora went to bed.

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