Chapter 52: 52: Not what I expected
The King and Queen Lea were chatting with the nobles while waiting for Lysander to return.
It didn’t take long before the King caught sight of two prominent figures making their way into the banquet.
He was surprised.
"Isn’t that The Grand marquis and Grand duke?" He asked as the people with him turned to look in the direction the king was staring at.
"They are the ones indeed" A lady confirmed.
"Did they really come? I never thought they would" another said.
"They seldom attend such occasions even with invitations. So it’s a surprise to have them here" Queen lea observed with a smile.
She felt proud knowing they had come to the event of her son. She felt important.
Queen lea raised a hand and waved at them with a broad smile, signaling to them.
Adrian and Leo were soon in their company.
"It’s so good to have such noble bodies here with us" King Edward expressed.
"It’s my honour to be here instead" Adrian smiled "it is an important thing to celebrate the Prince’s first official royal duty. I had to be here"
Queen Lea smiled "I’m honoured to have you. Indeed my son has achieved something remarkable"
King Edward looked at Leo "It’s such an honour to have The Grand duke and the Grand Marquis finally here. I never thought you’d be here"
"Let’s say it’s a surprise" Leo smiled.
"I should call my son. He’d be honoured to have you two figures here" Queen lea turned and signalled prince Lysander.
Lysander already had his eyes on them and knew when they came. He knew of the two figures but he wasn’t too knowledgeable about them.
He wasn’t one to be too interested in political and noble stuff.
With his mother calling, Lysander had no choice but to go and meet them.
*****
Eden panicked at the sight of the grand duke and the grand marquis in one scene.
He felt his heart jump off his chest as he immediately turned his back. Turning away from them.
"What the hell are they doing here? How on earth are they here??" Eden mumbled to himself, panicking.
He was sure they were not supposed to be here! They never came! In the novel they weren’t present at all! So why the hell are they here???
Elvis noticed his sudden change "What are you doing?"
Eden immediately went to Elvis back and had his hand around his waist "Hide me"
Elvis stiffened "What the hell are you doing?" He questioned, struggling to pull Eden’s hands from his waist.
But Eden held him tightly "Hide me. For a minute.. just hide me"
He couldn’t let Adrian see him. At least not here. It wouldn’t result to anything good at all. He had just managed to escape from him.
"Let..go..." Elvis was still struggling to brush his hands off him.
People around were already staring at them. Considering they were both men, they wondered what on earth they was doing.
Elvis was already feeling awkward "It’s not like you think... it’s..." He continued struggling to brush Eden’s hands off him while trying to explain himself.
******
"This is my lovely son Lysander. Please take him under your guide and teach him more" Queen Lea introduced to Adrian and Leo.
Lysander felt embarrassed on how his mother treated him in front of people as though he was a kid who needed care.
"You don’t need to introduce him to us My Queen, who doesn’t know your capable young son, The Prince" Adrian smiled.
Queen lea giggled "I suppose"
She continued "Soon my son will go deep into Royal Military and Academic studies, I hope the two of you who are well versed in those areas will teach him the best"
"Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he becomes the best in his skills when he passes through me" Adrian assured.
Leo casually smiled "I’ll do my best"
Queen Lea smiled, proud. While Lysander simply stood there almost lifeless without making any contribution.
The King proceeded in discussing official matters with The Grand duke and Grand marquis for the meantime.
And then, The Grand duke Looked around as he said "I haven’t seen the crown prince since I came. I wonder if he’s around"
Queen Lea frowned "Who knows where he has run off to"
Lysander looked around, also curious to know where his brother could him. And then he caught sight of Elvis struggling to get someone away from his waist.
"He’s there..." He pointed.
The nobles around there turned in Elvis’s direction.
They all stared at the scene for a while, confused.
"What’s he doing?" A noble lady asked.
"And who’s that behind him?" Another asked as they tried to see the person hiding behind him.
The king was already embarrassed as he called out to him "Crown Prince Elvis"
Elvis paused and looked in their direction. Their eyes were on him as well as on the hands clearly around his waist.
Eden knew then people were watching. So he knew he had to run. And he did.
Eden ran off, holding onto his mask tightly.
As he ran, the eyes of some people followed him. Amongst who were Adrian and Leo.
They watched Eden leave into the inner chamber. Their eyes attentive.
It was obvious they figured who it was.
Embarrassed, Elvis adjusted his clothes as he made his way towards them.
"You called for me, Father" Elvis said as soon as he arrived.
The king casually stared at him with a frown.
"Brother, who was that?" Prince Lysander asked, curious.
Eyes were on Elvis now. He felt awkward.
"It’s nothing. It’s just some mad man who made his way in here. I was trying to send him away, he got aggressive" Elvis explained.
"Is that so? Are you Okay then? I hope you didn’t get hurt by him" Lysander inquired.
"Don’t worry. I’m fine" Elvis nodded.
But Leo didn’t seem satisfied with the reply.
He asked "Is that so? Are you sure it’s a mad man? Because you two look too intimate to seem as though you were actually chasing him away.."
Leo’s eyes had now locked with Elvis’s.
Leo smiled as he continued "As a matter of fact, I actually did find the figure a bit familiar"