Javier had texted Hazel that he wanted to come and visit her region. He wanted to see the ins and outs of what it would take to be with her.
The front doors opened to guards. A woman came out from behind them, she smiled.
"You must be Javier. I am Melissa, I help the Queen and the future Heir.", she explained.
"Must be a busy job, huh", he chuckled.
She smiled and nodded.
"Not unless the Queen gets busy and overwhelmed. I lighten her load for her", Melissa added.
He nodded and followed her. She took him around the castle and pointed things out. Areas that he was not allowed in till he became King.
Which took him by surprise. Melissa winked at him before continuing the tour.
"Would the future King also get a version of you?", he asked.
She nodded.
"Yes. We all need a little help sometimes", she replied.
"Good. Just listening to you is getting me overwhelmed.", he chuckled.
Melissa smiled.
"This is a lot, especially to someone not born into this. My Queen took a few weeks to adjust. The kids, like I said, are use to it. Just like King AJ.", Melissa said.
"I still get a bit overwhelmed sometimes", they turned to see Queen Leslie.
Melissa bowed, Javier noticed and did the same.
"Don't get him use to that, Mel. You know I hate it when you bow", Leslie said.
Melissa smiled and Javier seemed confused. Leslie held her hand out to him and he shook it.
"Usually when there are no other royals around, the King and Queen don't like it when we bow.", Melissa explained.
"Oh", he nodded.
"Well, it seems my daughter has great taste. He is cute", Leslie said to Melissa.
Her friend nodded as he blushed.
"Hey Javi", Faith said, coming over and hugging him.
"Faith", he replied.
"Can he tell you girls apart?", her mom asked.
"Oh yeah", Faith nodded.
"Good. I don't understand why its so hard for none family to tell you apart. Its simple", her mom said.
Javier chuckled. He liked that they seemed so laid back in private. Like they weren't royal at all.
"Our mom always wanted to make sure we knew we could be ourselves behind closed doors. Normal, or as much normal as we could get. My dad didn't mind, he liked that", Faith filled in, as her mom and Melissa went on and on about how others couldn't tell them apart.
"Anyway, Faith, go get Haze for us", her mom said.
Faith nodded and left. Coming back a few minutes later with Hazel. She waved to him and he returned it.
"So, before I let you two go, your dad wants a word with us three", Leslie said.
Hazel and Javier nodded. Although talking to a King was intimidating to him. He hoped he was a bit like his wife. Easy to talk to you.
They followed Leslie to an office. King AJ didn't look anything like he imagined. He was in jeans and a t shirt. Then he remembered what Faith said.
"As normal as we can get"
King AJ smiled before they all sat.
"You look familiar son, have we met before?", AJ asked, sitting beside his wife.
"They say I look a lot like my grandpa when he was younger", Javier said.
AJ nodded.
"He's the Seers grandson. The one who told you that you would meet mom", Hazel explained.
"Really?", AJ asked.
Javier nodded.
"Well then, I like you already son.", AJ smirked.
"So, we just wanted to know what this was between you two.", Leslie said.
"For now, its getting to know each other more. I really like your daughter, but I can't agree to be her future just yet. If this was any other none royal, I would have asked her out by now", Javier said.
"But its not, I get it.", AJ nodded.
"I don't want to say yes and then leave her high and dry or embarrass her", he added.
AJ and Leslie nodded.
"We are going to hang out and talk. He's going to learn the ins and outs of being a future royal without the actual pressure of it.", Hazel said.
"I hate to break it to you, but pressure will always be there. Whether everyone knows who you are to her or not. Its not easy learning from scratch. Just keep that in mind", Leslie said.
Javier nodded.
"I believe I can do it", he replied.
Leslie and AJ smiled.
"We hope you can, because we see how happy she is.", AJ said.
The next day Javier returned. Melissa explaining to him etiquette of greeting and eating.
"Remember, once the royals are gone, you can be whoever you want to be behind closed doors.", Melissa reminded.
Javier nodded. Hazel didn't leave his side and if he messed up, she corrected him kindly.
He hoped to be everything she needed.
"Once my parents feel that you are ready, we want to test it out. Invite you to a get together with other royals and their heirs.", Hazel said.
He nodded.
"It also gives us a chance to see who we trust and who we think is going to be hard to work with", Hazel added.
"Speaking of that, you will also learn to fake smile at said, hard to work with royals.", Melissa winked.
Javier chuckled.
"Kill them with kindness", he said.
"Exactly", she said.
"Also, you'll follow my dad on his daily outing tomorrow. Just so you can see the ways of the King", Hazel said.
Javier paled. Both Melissa and Hazel giggled.
"Relax, you will be fine", Hazel said.
The next day, he showed up. AJ seemed surprised to see him. Probably didn't think he would last.
"They didn't tell me you were shadowing me today", he explained.
"If you don't want me too, I won't. I just really want to be perfect for Hazel", Javier said.
AJ gestured for him to follow.
"I am not perfect, Javier. Trust me, I've remembered meetings and forgotten anniversaries. I've missed birthdays because I would go to war over the smallest things. Constantly getting pulled away from my kids, that's not perfect", AJ said.
Javier nodded.
"Hazel understands to understand, but you. I don't want you to get angry because she forgets or misses things. Its apart of our jobs and it sucks", AJ added.
"Can't we change that?", Javier asked.
AJ smiled.
"When you figure it out, let me know.", AJ said.
"The region will always come first. Family second", Javier said.
"Unfortunately. Unless something bad happened to my wife or one of my kids. My ass would be out of that meeting or war and straight home.", AJ said.
"I don't know if I can put my family second. That's not how I was raised", Javier said.
"My wife said the same thing. Sometimes she stays behind to be with them. I don't blame her, if I could I would too", AJ said.
"I'm going to find a balance, sir. I am, I have too", Javier said.
AJ smiled. He liked this kid.
"I hope you do", he replied.
Once back at the castle, he went in search of Hazel. Finding her in the garden. She smiled and he kissed her.
"I really like your dad. Didn't think he would open up the way he did.", Javier said.
Hazel nodded.
"He gives a lot to your region. I watched him help a family buy their food and listen to them and their complaints. I mean, its crazy", he said, sounding excited.
"Crazy good or crazy bad?", she asked.
"I don't know yet", he replied.
She nodded.
"There are some things I didn't like. Mostly about family. You know I grew up knowing family was always first. Its not here. I mean, I don't doubt your dad loves you, but I wouldn't be able to give up my kid's birthday to solve someone else's issue.", he said.
"Understand to understand", she said.
"I don't want our future kids to have to understand.", he said.
She smiled. He spoke about their future.
"Maybe we can find a balance. There has to be a way", he mumbled.
She kissed his cheek.
"We'll find it", she replied.
He smiled and locked his hand with hers. He also had to understand that this was the easy part. Learning was always the easy part.
