Hmm. Huh? What's that smell? I crack my eyes open and look towards the smell. I see Claude standing by a cart with tea and breakfast on it. "Are you awake Miss La Fron?" Claude asked quietly. I sit up quickly to show that I was awake.

Once I was done with my breakfast, I took a shower. I went to my closet in my robe to see what I had to wear. I end up choosing a bright pink t-shirt, dark skinny jeans and pink flip flops.

Now that I'm dressed, I step outside and see the flowers along the hall. Oh, yeah! That reminds me... I get my phone out of my pocket and call Claude.

"Yes, Miss Isabelle? What do you need?" Claude asks sounding slightly harsh. "I was wondering if I could take care of the flowers in the hall outside of my room?"

"We usually leave that sort of thing to the royal gardeners." Claude told me.

"Oh. I'm sure they do, but I just would like to water them. That's all. They look like they could use a drink. I've had a knack for these things in the past and though my skills are limited, I want to be able to help in some herb garden I kept back home is growing strong, even now. And in elementary school I brought back a flower garden everyone else said was dead…" I tell him earnestly trying to plead my case. "I understand."

Huh? "Let me check with the gardeners first. Once I have done that, I will contact you again. Until then, please do not do anything with them, is that clear?" I smile into the phone. "Crystal!"

I turn away from the plants, and was surprised to see Prince Wilfred leaning against a column. Had he been listening? How much did he hear?! "Claude can be a bit scary at times. It's nothing to worry about." He walked over to me. "So, do you like gardening?" He asked. I shake my head. "I don't like to see unhealthy flowers, thats all." Prince Wilfred laughed at me. "What's so funny!?" I ask shocked to see him outright laughing at me. I like hearing and seeing him laugh."You are the most intriguing persons that I have ever met." Prince Wilfred started to pat my head, and my heart started to pound like crazy. I turn back to him and see the sadness in his eyes, and my heart wavers. Prince Wilfred… I give him a small smile. "It takes a lot more than that to upset me, Prince Wilfred."

"Then I hope I never do." Prince Wilfred said softly.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Claude says as he comes over to us. "Your Highness, what are you doing here?" Claude asks looking slightly surprised. "I heard these flowers needed some attention." Prince Wilfred says with no expression. "Yes. I immediately contacted the gardeners and Miss Isabelle is now in charge of their care." Claude says with a smile. Honestly, that smile looks quite fake to me. "Thank you." I say softly with a small smile. Claude's eyes harden. "However, I ask that you not touch any of the flowerpots." That's an odd request. I look at the pots trying to see if they are anything special. They're pretty, but they don't look like they cost very much. "Claude, there is no need to get worked up over such trifles." Prince Wilfred says with a hard tone to his voice. "Your Highness?" Claude looks surprised by his comment. "Surely, it's okay for Phoenix to help out more if she wants to?" Prince Wilfred said calmly. "Surely you jest. Just one of these pots is worth several million Cruz alone!" Claude exclaims. "Several million?!" So if I case it on the price of a hamburger being roughly one Cruz… I hear laughter. I stand straight up and turn to see it's Prince Wilfred laughing at me. "Don't tell me you expect her to pay for anything she breaks?" Prince Wilfred asks. "Of course I wouldn't. I never intended to..." Claude seems at a lost for words. "Of course." Prince Wilfred says. "However, I believe such things should be left to the gardeners. If Miss Isabelle were to say otherwise, then-" Claude says calmly.

"No, I can do it, and I want to." I cut him off. That was probably impolite of me to cut him off. He does not look happy with me. Claude sighs. "There's your answer." Prince Wilfred says with an amused look on his face. "Understood." Claude said, his lip curled up. That is not a good look for him. I'm surprised he would react that way in front of Prince Wilfred. Though he is facing me, so it's probably directed towards me. Guess I'm not his favorite person right now. Feelings reciprocated. Claude returned to his smiling composure, then turned to look at Prince Wilfred. That smile makes me feel uneasy. "I promise to take very good care of the plants." I tell them, trying to reassure Claude. "Understood." Claude says. "I'll leave this in your hands, Claude." Prince Wilfred says, and Claude bows. "Good-bye for now, Isabelle. I'll see you later." With that said Prince Wilfred left down the hall. "I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble." I tell him honestly. Claude straightens from the bow and there is no smile on his face. "If you truly felt that way, perhaps you should have shown more discretion."

"Wha-" I start. "Of course, don't count this as causing any trouble." He says his smile returning. I didn't know how to respond to that. Claude then bows and leaves. I let out a frustrated sigh. He wouldn't treat me this way if he knew I was a princess. Oh, I would love to see his face when he finds out. He'd regret being so mean and rude.

NEXT AFTERNOON

I was walking through the hall with pictures of all the past kings and queens of Philip. I was almost to the end of the hall when I heard my name called. "Miss Isabelle?! Where are you going?" I turn to see Claude coming towards me quickly. "I wanted to go shopping to get some things." I tell him.

"You intended to go outside? On your own?" Claude asked shocked. "Uh, yeah." I was slightly confused. To the world currently, I am a nobody. When the world knows I'm a princess, I'll be more careful and dependent on bodyguards. But for now, I am going to enjoy the last little bit of freedom I have, which apparently Claude intends to destroy. "We can't have you going off on your own outside of the castle. What if something were to happen to you? Just tell me what you need and I will have someone go and get it." Claude says with a smile. Maybe there's a heart in there after all. "It's just that..." I bit my lip. He's a man, he doesn't understand shopping. Shopping is an art, men are not a specialist in that art. Claude seemed to realize something. "Oh. How thoughtless of me, I'm sure you would rather tell what you need to a female maid." He then dialed a number in his phone. I didn't mean what he was suggesting, but thats fine. I didn't know what to say. Before I could come up with something, the maid walked over and asked me what I needed, and Claude took that as his cue to leave. But before he did, "Return to your room after you let the maid know what you need." I gave her my list. This takes all the fun out of it. I could have really used a shopping trip to help relieve my stress.

Later, out on my balcony to get fresh air. "So I can't go out freely?" I stare out at the gardens as I start to feel bored & lonely. Then I see Prince Wilfred returning with ten men dressed in black. "Wow, those must be his bodyguards. "I wonder where they have been?" I look at Prince Wilfred. Suddenly, he looks up at me. Did our eyes just meet? As I'm thinking this he lowers his head and continues walking. I must have imagined it...

Later, after being directed by Claude, I was going around watering flowers. "That should do it." I stand up and see Wilfred cross the hall. Carrying the can, I follow Wilfred. He keeps walking and I lose sight of him. I look at my feet to rub them because running around in heels is torture. Then I see something. What's this? It looks like a bookmark made of feathers. I'll bet Prince Wilfred dropped this... I looked around to see if I could see where he had gone. Then I notice a door that is slightly open. Thoughtlessly I push open the door and bookmark in hand, I quietly look in. Inside, I see Prince Wilfred studying some documents; wearing glasses. I didn't know Prince Wilfred wore glasses... Suddenly he looks in my direction. Our eyes meet, and my heart races. He seems surprised for a moment, before he took off his glasses and held out his hand. "You don't need to hide. Please come in." He says gently. His smile makes my heart flutter. I stand there staring at him. "Aren't you going to come in?"

"Oh, yes. Thank you." Zoned out there for a minute. The room looks like a study, with grand furniture. "There are so many books... Is this your room, Prince Wilfred?" I ask him. He smiles. "No, this is my office." Wow, maybe grandpa has a room like this for us. "Office? Oh, so this is where you work." He smiles more. "But, that means... I'm sorry, I must be disturbing you in your work."

"No, I was just about to take a break. Please feel free to take a seat over there." Oh, that's good that I'm not bothering him. I make my way over to the sofa he motioned to. I notice that the flowers on his desk don't look so great. "Those flowers don't look very healthy, do they?" I say. "Flowers? Oh, you mean these?" He looks to the flowerpot I was referring to. He smiles at me. "You truly do like flowers, don't you?" I shake my head. "No it not that I like them..." Prince Wilfred stares at me as I talk. "It just was one of my favorite jobs that my nanny gave me, and when my sisters would care of the plants they would wilt. And now it reminds me of their careless ways

Prince Wilfred stares at me as I talk. "I am pretty weird." I state. He just laughs, "Do you want to care for these flowers as well?" I smile at him. "That would be awesome, thank you. But are you okay with that?" I ask just to make sure. He nods. "Sure I don't mind who takes care of them, as long as they do their job well." Wow that's nice, maybe if I'm near Pronce Wilfred more often I'll remember my childhood as princess. "Then, I won't let you down." He smiles then presses the intercom's button. "Can you bring up two cups of tea please?" There was a sharp intake of breath on the other line... "Did you say two cups, Your Highness?" Wilfred nods, "yes, one for myself and one for Isabelle." There was a long pause on the other end. "Understood."

A while later Claude comes into the room with a tea tray. "Pardon my intrusion." He says to Prince Wilfred as he sets down the tea. Wilfred and I are sitting face to face on the sofa. I watch Claude place the tea in front of me and he sends me a hateful glare. Woah, I know he doesn't like me, but seriously? How will he react wen he finds out that I'm a princess. He turns to Prince Wilfred with a smile. "Have you finished your work for today, Your Highness?"

"Not yet, I am taking a break." Prince Wilfred smiles at me. Claude looks bewildered as he says this. Then, Claude turns to me and gives me what can only be described as the evil eye. "Taking a... Break Your Highness? Miss Isabelle, didn't I ask for you to stay away from this room?" I rub my necklace out of habit. "I'm sorry, I was shown so many rooms, I didn't remember..." Prince Wilfred frowns at Claude. "I allowed her to come in." Claude stands there looking as if he is freezing. "You did, Your Highness?" A weird silence fills the room. "Prince Wilfred asked me to take care of his flowers." I tell Claude honestly. His eyes widen, and looks towards the flowerpots. "Is that so? I apologize for my rudeness." He bows, and quickly leaves the room. How will he react when he finds out that I truly am a princess?

Wilfred looks at his desk, then back at me. "Oh yes, I was supposed to pass this along to you." He hands me an envelope. "I need to get back to my work soon..." He smiles and gets his glasses out. "Oh, okay. Thank you for the tea." I start to leave the study and shove the letter into my pocket when Prince Wilfred calls me. "Isabelle, will you... Come again?" He quietly asks. "What?" I say startled and I turn around to face him. "For the flowers." He says quickly. What was I thinking? I am a commoner to him at the moment. "Yes I will." I nod then then leave. I walk towards my room to read the note when I spot Claude. "Excuse me, Claude?" He looks at me indifferently. "How may I help you?" I bow my head. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to enter any forbidden areas." He sighs. "If it was His Highness's will, then I have absolutely no authority to overrule him. Please, don't think any more of it." I shake my head. "That's not it at all. Even if Prince Wilfred did say it was alright... … I had been asked to stay away from there and forgot. I'm sorry." His eyes waver for a second. "Well, the castle is a big place. Please forgive me for my rudeness."

"Oh no... I wasn't …" I started. "Master Wilfred asked you to care for his flowers did he not?" I nod. "Yes, but it wasn't so much that he asked me to care for them... It was more that he seemed to sense that I wanted to." His eyes waver again and then once more. "Master Wilfred doesn't let anyone touch his things, not even his flowers." What... Why did he let me then? "So that pot of flowers is..." He nods solemnly. "Yes, he takes care of the plants in his own chambers and office." Whoa. He probably only asked me because I was too insistent... Claude lowers his voice. "I previously asked if I may take care of the flowers in Master Wilfred's office. However..." His eyes wavered as he looked at me. "He would not allow me to." Huh? What meaning lay behind those eyes? I stare back tied to the spot.

End of day 2 with Prince Wilfred and Princess Isabelle

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