Keith Part 3

The next couple of days were hard. I worked like a dog going back and forth between guestrooms, down corridors, up and down the stairs at every command Luke gave me. I'm going to become old earlier if this keeps going.

I passed the garden carrying clean sheets until I saw Haruka and Naruki playing outside with Cathy. I was memorized by the sight of my kids playing with others for a change. I felt my heart skip a beat watching them. I walked slowly to savor the moment and when I couldn't see them I rushed to one of the guestrooms. When I entered I saw one of the maids yelling at Kai.

"What is wrong with you!? When you break something you apologize for it! Now apologize!" she screamed. Kai looked down at his feet not saying anything. "I said speak!" she raised her hand. Instantly I stepped in front of Kai, dropping the sheets in the process, and took a hard slap from the maid.

"Ouch…" I said rubbing my cheek.

"Why did you do that?" she asked.

"I don't think child abuse works on a kid who hasn't spoken in almost a year." I said with a harsh tone to my voice while staring daggers at the maid.

"What kind of mother protects that? If he hasn't spoken for that long he needs help!" she yelled and stormed out of the room. I turned around and crouched down to Kai's level and smiled calmly at him.

"You okay bud?" I asked patting his head. Suddenly he hugs me and puts his face on my shoulder and sniffled. I hugged him back and patted him to call him down.

"If some jerk yells at you again for not talking, come get me and I'll beat the sense into them okay?" I said and I felt him nod making my laugh a little. "Let's take a break and get some ice cream." His face lit up and smiled. We held hands and went to the kitchen.

After we got out ice cream we sat on the floor in the corner and shared. We laughed and smiled and leaned against each other enjoying our time together.

"I don't think anyone told you that you had a break." I heard a stern voice above us. Keith was staring angrily at us with his arms crossed, tapping his feet.

"Well I decided to have one with him." I ruffled Kai's hair.

"What happened to your face?" he asked.

"I ran into a wall." I shrugged. "I'm pretty clumsy." he groans and walks away but he wasn't gone. He came back with a bag of ice and tosses it to me. "For your cheek." he said pointing at his own.

"Thanks." I said putting the ice bag on my cheek. We nodded at each other and then we went our separate ways.

….

It was the next day and it was pretty slow. Not much was going on. Most of the guest were gone so I took my time with things.

"You!" I heard Keith's command voice calling out behind me. I groaned and scowled as I turned to face him. "Go get dressed." he said shoving a bag into my arms.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Just go!" he yelled and pushed me into an empty room. I sighed and reluctantly put on the clothes.

….

After twenty minutes in a car we ended up in a city. The city was bustling and so alive with bright lights but unfortunately, it was hot. Good thing Keith gave me normal clothes or else I could have died of the heat.

"Where do you want to go?" he asked.

"What do you mean Prince Charming?" I asked.

"Don't get cocky and just say where you want to go." he hissed.

"Fine, fine, I want...to go get some smoothies! It's hotter than hell out here." I said. He doesn't say anything walks ahead of me. I rushed to catch up to him and I followed him around the city.

When we got smoothies we went to the park and sat down and watched a karaoke competition.

"So why did you bring me out today?" I asked.

"No particular reason." he answered not looking at me. I scuffed, then I rolled my eyes and flicked him in the head. "Ouch what was that for!"

"For lying."

"I don't lie!"

"That's what liars say."

"Well that's not me."

"Well apparently it is because you are doing it right now."

"Don't be stupid."

"I'm not being stupid, you are, stupid."

"Do you have a comeback for everything?"

"Yes, yes I do." I slurped my smoothie. "So are you going to tell me the truth?"

"No."

"Fine." After that we became quiet.

"Who else wants to try!" the MC shouted. "Who ever sings best gets a prize!"

"How tempting." I said sarcastically.

"Anyone?" he asked again. "How about you sir?" he said looking at Keith.

"What?" Keith became puzzled. "Alright." he gets up and heads for the stage. When gets up there he whispers to the MC. He seemed surprised and whispered to another person. Then music started to play Liberty's national anthem. Keith started to sing badly. I was blown away how bad he sung. I hope nobody gets disrespected from this performance. I also hope that they understand what karaoke is.

When he was done he gave back the microphone and went off stage. Only a few people clapped when he was leaving. He sat back down next to me and I was trying not to laugh.

"Top that." he smirks proudly. 'Oh my god...don't be proud of yourself. You did so bad.' I giggled.

"Oh I can't." I said trying not to hurt his pride.

"Then you try it then."

"What! No!" I retorted.

"What's that! Someone what's to give it a go!" the MC said looking directly at me and motions me to come on stage. I heard cheers and shouts for me to get up there.

"If you do well, I give you and your kids a whole week off." he said. I instantly stood up and went on stage. I whispered "Hold My Hand" by Jess Glynne into his ear and he gets the tech guy to play it. I felt my heart beating from my chest as the song started. I quickly took breathes and let myself sing like a bird.

"Standing in a crowded room but I can't see your face." I sang getting cheers from the crowd. "Put your arms around and tell me everything's okay." I felt my chest tightened. I haven't sang like this for so long. I need to push it so my kids can have a break from slavery.

"I'm ready for this! There's no denying!" I sang happily and the crowd was clapping. The music, the cheers of the crowds reminded me of when I was in the drama club. I was considered the best actress and singer of the small group. I felt what it was like to do something that I love to do.

"That you don't make me wait and never let me break, you never let me fall!" I started to dance and clap with the crowd. While I sang I pointed at Keith who seems to be enjoying my performance.

When I was done, I was given the prize. When I opened the nicely packed box it was a certificate for all you can eat for free with a friend. I ran off the stage and went towards Keith at the speed of light.

"Come on we're going!" I said dragging him off his butt.

"Where are we going!?" he asked.

"All you can eat for free! Come on!" I said dragging him to the restaurant.

When we got there we got a table next to the window. Keith was very stiff like he has never been in a place like this. I told him how this works and he seemed surprised at this idea of a restaurant.

He awkwardly got his food and we sat down and are like crazy. We talked and enjoy our time. I didn't know that this prince can be human. I'm actually enjoy this. When we were done left and got into his car and rode back to the palace.

"I didn't know you can sing like that." he said.

"Why thank you." I smiled.

"How did you get that good?"

"I...was in a club at school. I found out I was really good so I continued." I said.

"Wow you must have worked hard. Why didn't you go pro?"

"I did plan on that but date was just not on my side."

"What do you mean?" My throat tightened when he asked that. It hurts to talk about it but he has the right to know. He's been nice to me today. Maybe he isn't so bad.

"My...brother died." I said hoarsely. It was quiet for a bit before I continued my story. "I was going to graduate but there was an attack and he died in the hospital. He left his three kids behind so I dropped out of college to take care of them. I was becoming an actress but life just takes a course that it wants." I said. Thinking about it hurts. It hurts everywhere.

"I don't know what to say…" Keith whispered.

"You don't have too. It happened so long ago." I said looking out the window watching the trees go by. Man, I'm an idiot. It still feels like it happened yesterday but the me now is being hard everyone, even myself. Suddenly I felt a hand on my back and rubbed up and down awkwardly.

"Don't cry in this car. You'll ruin the seats." said Keith. I looked over at him and see looking away but I could see his ears were red.

"Don't worry so much. If I wanted to ruin the seats I would peel it off with my bare hands."

"Are threatening me?" he said and I laughed.

"Thanks...for today. I had a lot of fun. You aren't so bad Your Highness. For now on I will only be rude half the time." I said and he chuckled. After that we didn't say anything for the entire ride home.

When got back, I stepped out of the car and got tackled by the kids.

"Where have you been!?" Haru cried.

"We were worried sick about you!" said Naru.

"I went out for a bit. Don't get so worked up. You know I always come back. Have I ever broke that promise. I will always come back for you guys, no matter what." I said kissing their foreheads. Then they all hugged me tightly with so much love.

"Hey...all of you have the week off." Keith stepped in.

"Really!" said Naru.

"I'm a man of my word." he looked directly at me. "I'll see you guys in a week." he said walking off.

"Hooray!" Haru and Naru skinned each other around and Kai jumped up and down in celebration.

"Come on kids, time for bed." I said trying not to laugh. I patted their backs and they took off to the entrance. I slowly walked, following them. We entered and as we were walking down the hall I was pulled away into guestroom.

"So you're the one who is trying to marry into royalty." a female voice to me that sounded oddly familiar. I turned and saw the actress Laura there with her arms crossed, looking very angry.

"Excuse me?"

"He never going to love you, you know. You two are too different in personality and class. You're just some single mother and I am a famous, rich actress so why don't you go home to your shack somewhere and live out your worthless life while Keith and I can be together without any interference." she said with a smile as she wipes her hand in a handkerchief.

"Look, lady, I don't want to be rude but i really don't care what you want." I said honestly.

"Excuse me, commoner?" she gasp. "Don't talk to me like that!"

"Again, I don't care. I don't even know you. You're just some actress that my niece likes okay? I can be nice to you when she's around but the rest, you're nothing to me. You're just another person trying to get their way and that is extremely annoying. So how about that you don't tell me what to do and you can do whatever you do okay? Good night." I said leaving the room scowling.

"Where did you go Aunty?" Haru asked.

"I dropped something sweetheart, don't worry about it, now let's go to bed." I said picking her up and we went to our room for the night.

"Hold My Hand" by Jess Glynne is a really good song. It's something you can just dance to and jump around. In the last chapter it was "Bright" by Echosmith which is a song to relax.