After returning, to the palace he rushed up the steps, and into his chambers nearly colliding with Charles. "Whoa!" Charles exclaimed, avoiding the prince by a hair.
" Everd where have you been? It is past dark!". Everd began slipping out of Charles's clothes and back into his royal ones. As he slipped on his own royal blue vest, he muttered from under the clothing "I am sorry, I got held up".
"Held up! How were you held up? You don't know anyone and you were gone the entire day!" exclaimed Charles. Everd rolled his eyes, "Charles, stop worrying, I am fine and here".
"Worry, me?" Said Charles " Naw, I just realized after you left that I let the Crown Prince, only child of the king and the next ruler of our country leave without so much as an escort, Now you come back late and your telling me not to worry!" Everd laughed and smiled at the floor as he laced his boots up. "you find this funny?" said Charles exasperated.
" by being late, You made me think that I was gonna have to explain to the king where his precious son has gone and how he got out without anyone noticing". Everd placed a hand on his friend's shoulders, reassuring him he was back. Charles looked at him exhausted, then his face changed to wearing a confused look. " Where is my outfit for the ball?" he said.
Everd said "Oh, I knew I forgot something!". Charles was about to give him another lecture but decided against it. He rubbed his forehead "Alright…that's alright!" he said trying to reassure himself. Everd grabbed an apple from the dinner tray and walked to the balcony, propping his foot up on the banister. The lights from the village were visible in the distance.
Cinderella, What a beautiful girl he thought while looking out into the darkening horizon.
For the next two days, all he could think about was that girl. "Your Highness!" exclaimed his politics tutor to get the young princes attention. Everd was so startled he fell out of his chair. All of his books fell at his feet. Servants rushed to his aid. The only one seemingly unconcerned was Charles, who rolled his eyes and looked back down at the book he was reading.
"I am sorry, Master, I was distracted" Everd said while dusting himself off and sitting back into his seat. The Politics master, shut the book with a loud thud and glared at the young ruler to be.
"Your Highness, If I may speak freely" he said shuffling the glasses on his face like he always did when he was annoyed. "It would be wise for you to heed my direction and listen more acutely to my lectures. You may find them useful when you become king and must deal with similar political situations" after admonishing the prince, he proceeded with his lecture.
Everd returned to his chambers after the lesson and sat on the edge of his bed. Charles came in and sat on a chair, then simultaneously fell in a mocking gesture, emulating Everd's fall earlier. Everd reached back and grabbed one of the small pillows chucking it at Charles in a playful fashion. Charles caught the pillow mid air.
"Why have you been so distracted lately?" He said throwing the pillow back at Everd. Everd looked down, "well, I…..met someone in the village". He quickly got up from the bed and went to the entry way to the balcony and leaned on one of the pillars looking outward towards the village. Charles laughed, "yeah right, oh Everd you almost had me for a second". Everd turned to look at Charles. "Your serious!" said Charles after reading his expression,"Oh, so that's why you were "Held up".
Everd looked back out to the village " I only met her once and now I think I love her." Charles stood there stunned for a moment, "Love her?, you met this girl once, you can't love her yet…..Oh…I see, the stress is getting to your head regarding picking a wife at the ball" He said mockingly, "Next, thing you know you will be proclaiming love to every maid in the castle!" Everd remained silent.
"Look Everd….I know you think you love this girl but it is not like you are ever going to see her again, I mean you never go to the village enough to really know," said Charles. "That's it", said Everd excitedly, "I will have to go back to the village!" He turned to look at his friend. Charles stood there turning pale, me and my big mouth he thought. Everd walked past him patting him on the back, "thanks friend."