"It's a pleasure to have you join me today." They stood in a rather large hall—large enough for the camera crew at least—and he held out his arm, which the shorter woman took with a gracious smile.
Serenity wore a turquoise dress with a halter top, backless with the exception of the lacy black material wrapped around the upper half of the dress. It draped down the skirt, an intricate design, and Arthur really had to applaud her maids. They'd really outdone themselves, though he supposed they probably felt more inclined to help out and support one of their own than a stranger. A small pin with a black rose had been placed in her hair.
She was a lot more relaxed compared to the times he'd seen her running around the kitchen, though he couldn't blame her. It must've been a lot of work, leading around an army of cooks. That didn't change her posture either, still as upright and bordering on stiff, though he was pretty sure she wasn't even doing that on purpose.
"Of course, Prince Arthur," she took his arm, and he led the way down the hall, but slowly.
"I didn't have any real plans today, so if there's anything in particular you want to do…" He left the statement open, raising an eyebrow in questioning towards the older woman.
She beamed, walking a little faster, this time with a sense of purpose. "I can take you on a tour of my kitchen." She suggested, and Arthur smiled as he let her lead him.
"Please do."
The kitchen was a mess as always, but this time there seemed to be a little order to it. At least, when Serenity pointed it out to him. Meats and main courses were always prepared in one area, breads and vegetables in another, the sauces and soups nestled between, so if a dish required a sauce, the chefs didn't have to walk all the way across the kitchen to get it. She allowed him to get close enough to stick his face into the oven or to taste a dish or pastry, something he was sure she never did.
Occasionally, someone would stop by to ask her a question or for advice, and she'd reply curtly and quickly, throwing out more orders than Kira when planning a party. But she always made sure to get her point across, and to make her words clear and concise, and no one questioned her orders. Rather, they seemed to respect her greatly, and performed their actions without wasting a single ingredient.
"This is my pride and joy, it is." She placed her hands on her hips, practically glowing with pride, a wide smile on her face. Arthur, seeing her like that, couldn't help smiling himself.
Arthur finished detailing the letter, folding it and writing out a name in a curvy script before handing it absently to Leka, who took it silently and left the room. He sighed, rubbing his face tiredly, blue-green eyes staring at the photo before him without really seeing it. Six people stared back with bright smiles, faces unmarred by the tears that had riddled the picture, so carefully placed back together with tape.
His desk was practically covered in paperwork, most of it stuff he didn't feel like doing—mostly because he didn't want to talk to his father. His next date started bright and early tomorrow morning, with a girl who likes exercising way more than she should. He had to give her a shot though.
Arthur groaned, letting his head flop forward onto his desk. He wrapped his arms around his skull, acting as a makeshift pillow, letting himself rest, if just for a moment. When he dreamed that night, it was of a long time ago.
Ailia didn't have much to do that day other than sit and read. She was bored, but the prince was busy with one of the other Selected doing who knew what. Not that she cared much—there didn't seem to be anything special about him after all—but she was terribly bored right now. Of course, she doubted anything would happen to change that.
So when a small card with her name in fancy letters was placed before her, she couldn't help the look of surprise that came over her face. Bethany raised an eyebrow expectantly, and somewhat hesitantly, the redhead set her book down to open the card.
It was from the Prince – surprisingly, as his handwriting was rather feminine – requesting a date. A date.
The other two maids, Georgia and Clara, entered moments later, and Ailia was ushered around to get dressed properly.
She wore a royal blue dress, modest, with long silk sleeves and a hem reaching just past her knees. It had a scoop neck, but it didn't fall low enough to show anything. Her jade green eyes were covered with a light eye shadow and a cat eye, her lips painted only in a light pink lip gloss. Her blood red hair fell around her shoulders in natural curls. It was still somewhat strange for her, not having to dress according to her caste and occupation, her face lighter without all the excess makeup and her hair no longer forcibly straightened. It was different, but it was a good different.
Ailia was supposed to meet the prince outside, where a large blanket was set up, a small dinner already spread out. Seeing herself alone for the moment, she stripped off her shoes and sat down. The blanket was soft, and rather comfortable, and she sighed as she prepared to wait.
Fifteen minutes had passed by the time she was joined by someone else. Prince Arthur was jogging down the steps to the courtyard, looking disheveled and frantic. His shaggy coal-black hair was more wild than usual, looking suspiciously like bedhead, and he was pulling a dark green jacket over a rather wrinkled white dress shirt. He ran over already barefoot, stopping before her for a moment to catch his breath.
"I… Sorry, I'm late…" He huffed, practically collapsing onto the blanket, nearly knocking over a bottle of some sort of nonalcoholic cider.
Ailia raised an eyebrow, giving him a sardonic look. "Sleep in?" He gave her a sheepish look, not really having an excuse.
"I, uh, I'm terribly sorry about that. It was extremely rude of me, especially after I asked you out here, and… And you really don't care, do you." The look she gave him answered it all.
"Honestly, I don't even care whether or not I stay here." Arthur frowned, and while he was trying not to look hurt, she could sense it in the way his countenance slumped for a moment.
He sighed, shifting into a more comfortable position and staring at the evening sky. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. So why are you here? Fame? The money? Trying to change your life in some way?"
Ailia snorted derisively. "My mother pressured me into doing it."
Arthur gave a huff of laughter. "I can relate to that."
She raised an eyebrow. "So, Prince Arthur—you know, your name's absolutely atrocious, right? Can I just call you Art?" Arthur grinned, giving his consent. "Then, Art, what the hell do you do for fun? I've been dying of boredom just sitting on my ass around here."
Arthur didn't mention her brusque words, choosing just to answer the question. "It depends on what you like to do. We've got a pool somewhere around here, the garden of course, and the stables. There's a large library around here, as well. And if there's ever anything else, I'm sure Kira can find it." He shrugged. "Anyways, how about some dinner? I was thinking about an outdoor dinner and movie tonight."
As he mentioned the movie, several members of the staff brought out a large screen, setting it up before the two as the sun began to dip below the horizon.
He crossed his legs, picking at a bowl of grapes. "Obviously, you're not here to win my heart, or my crown for that matter, but surely you can last an evening? Wouldn't want all this food to go to waste, after all."
Ailia picked up a small pastry, popping it in her mouth. It was a little on the sweet side, but it was good. "As long as you keep your eyes on the movie." She retorted, and Arthur snarked a reply, but she'd already forgotten it by the time the movie started. It was a good movie too.
So terribly sorry for that little hiatus. -_-' I kinda ended up with a whole lot of work after New Years, and things are just now starting to settle down. Updates might be a little irregular for a while, but hopefully I'll be able to update more often. :P
I swear I won't abandon this story. I have plans and cheesy romance scenes to write~!