Unedited
Harold stood by his window with a satisfied smile on his face as he thought about how happy Alicia would be when she received the meal he had sent to her.
He couldn't wait for night to come so that they would share his chamber. Although he didn't like having people in his space, he looked forward to having her in his chamber.
He turned around to look around the chamber, and even though the place was squeaky clean already, he decided to tidy it up some more so that she would be very comfortable staying there.
There was a single knock on the door, and then it was pushed open, "What are you doing?" Alvin asked when he noticed Harold straightening the bed.
"Why are you here?" Harold asked, turning to look at Alvin.
Alvin cleared his throat, "I wanted to know if my plan worked," Alvin said, and Harold scoffed.
That horrible plan of his? How could he think that it would work on his smart wife? "It didn't."
"So why were you so happy?" He asked suspiciously, and Harold raised a brow.
"When did you see me happy?"
"I know you have been in a good mood all morning. Why?"
"Who said I'm in a good mood?" Harold asked again, and Alvin shook his head.
"The way you're answering my question right now proves that you're in a good mood. Did she agree to sleep in your chamber?" Alvin asked curiously as he looked around the chamber, and then his eyes narrowed when he noticed that the chamber was squeaky clean.
Although Harold was a very neat person, but he never allowed the maids into his chamber. The only person he let in to clean his chamber was Alvin, so seeing it looking this neat and knowing that he wasn't the one who did it made him suspicious.
"Did you clean your chamber all by yourself?" Alvin asked in disbelief.
"Did you come in here only to question me?" Harold asked, and Alvin sighed.
It was obvious that Harold didn't want to answer any of his questions, but at least seeing the state of Harold's chamber was all he needed to know that Princess Amber was spending the night with him, and that was responsible for his happy mood.
Alvin cleared his throat, "Lady Susan approached me earlier," he said instead, and that got Harold's attention.
"Susan? Why?"
"She knows I've been spying on her," Alvin said, sounding slightly embarrassed, and Harold raised a brow.
"If she noticed you spying on her, am I to assume that everyone else you have been spying on is also aware?" Harold asked, displeased that he wasn't doing a good job.
"No, your highness. Forgive me," Alvin said with a bow.
"What did she say?" Harold asked, wanting to know if the queen was probably now aware that he was spying on her niece.
"She didn't say anything that made sense. She only said, 'I understand. You do not have to try to deny it. But all I can say is, it won't work out. Save yourself the heartbreak and heartache now. You are good-looking and very manly. I'm sure you will meet someone good for you'. Does it make sense?" Alvin asked after repeating word for word everything Susan had said.
He had been replaying their entire conversation in his head ever since she left, but the more he tried to understand what she meant, the more confused he became.
Harold thought about it for a moment, and his lips twitched in amusement when he realized what had happened.
"What did you tell her?" Harold asked curiously.
"I didn't understand what she said, so I just told her that I understood so that she would leave me alone," Alvin explained, and Harold chuckled, surprising Alvin, who didn't understand what was amusing Harold.
As long as that was what Susan was thinking, then it was okay. She wouldn't report it to the queen if she thought Alvin was watching her because he was interested in her, but she wouldn't hesitate to report him to the queen if she knew the truth.
"Have you found out anything new?" Harold asked, and Alvin looked at him in confusion.
"No. Nothing new. Did you understand what she meant?" Alvin asked, wondering why Harold changed the subject.
Harold was very tempted to lie to Alvin, but their relationship was built on trust, so he couldn't lie to him, "She thinks that you fancy her," Harold said and chuckled when Alvin's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Alvin frowned not liking that Susan thought he liked her. Now that Alvin said it, her words began to make sense to him. He almost facepalmed himself when he realized that he had unknowingly confirmed her wrong suspicions. Now he wished he had not been quick to say h understood her. He couldn't believe that she had rejected him when he didn't even like her to begin with.
"Don't let it bother you. It is better she thinks that way than she knows you were actually spying on her," Harold said, as though that was supposed to make Alvin feel better.
"I didn't find anything on her. Should I keep following her?" Alvin asked, and Harold looked at him like he was crazy.
"How did you expect to find something on someone who knew that you were following her? There is no need to follow her anymore. Just let her be," Harold said, waving Alvin off.
"Go find her and tell her to meet me at the stable soon," Harold instructed.
Alvin knew the 'her' he was referring to was Princess Amber, so he didn't bother to ask.
"The stable? Are we going somewhere?" Alvin asked curiously.
"No. She wants me to teach her how to make Hellion like her," Harold said, and Alvin looked at him incredulously.
"You want to do that?"
"Yes. In exchange, she will sleep in my chamber for seven days," Harold said in a tone that told Alvin that he was proud of himself for striking such a bargain.
So that was why he was in such a good mood? Interesting. "Seven days? Will you keep sharing your chamber with her even if it doesn't work?" Alvin asked curiously, and Harold shrugged.
"I will let her sleep here alone if it doesn't work. After all, you ruined her chamber," Harold said accusingly, and Alvin looked at him in disbelief once again.
"You wanted me to..."
"I didn't ask you to ruin her chamber," Harold cut in, and Alvin shook his head. His poor heart couldn't take Harold's betrayal and ingratitude anymore.
"Is there something else you want me to do for you?" Alvin asked, ready to leave Harold alone.
"Just do as I said. Ask her to meet me at the stable," Harold repeated, and Alvin bowed to him before leaving.
Meanwhile, away from there in Tyra's chamber, the ladies were having a good time as they ate while Susan told them how she had confronted Alvin and his response.
"He didn't deny it?" Alicia asked in surprise, and Susan shook her head.
"I felt sorry for him though," Susan said with a sigh.
"Aww. Don't worry. I'm sure he will be fine," Alicia said as she chewed on a piece of meat.
"You are not going to report to your Prince Ivan or the queen, are you?" Susan asked Luciana.
"I won't."
"What happens in this room, stays in this room," Alicia said with a wide smile.
"Can you tell us your secret?" Tyra asked Alicia with an innocent smile as she ate.
"What secret?" Alicia asked curiously.
"I'm curious to know why Prince Harold treats this way. Is there something you did to win his favor?" Tyra asked, and both Susan and Luciana looked at Alicia curiously, wanting to know what her secret was. If it worked for a cold man like Prince Harold, then it would work for any man, so they needed it.
Alicia giggled, "There is no secret. I'm just myself," Alicia said, and they all looked at her doubtfully.
"Have you ever shared a room with him?" Susan asked, even though they all knew that it was impossible for Harold to spend the night with her because of the curse.
They had all heard about her episode with Harold at the pavilion when he had held her like he wanted to kiss her, so just maybe Harold was being nice to her because he desired her.
Alicia remembered Harold's request to her the previous night and that morning about not telling anyone that they had spent the night together. She shook her head, "You asked me a similar question last night, didn't you? We don't have that kind of relationship."
Before anyone else could ask any more questions or say anything, Alicia decided to change the subject, "So now that we are done eating, how about we all pick a piece of snack for our personal maids?" Alicia suggested, and the others eyed the tray, "It isn't a big deal, trust me. This should be our little way of telling them we appreciate what they do for us," Alicia explained, and they all reluctantly picked a piece of snack.
"Now let's go," Alicia said as she picked a snack too, and they all headed for the door.
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