Izzy would never have guessed to be walking down the corridor with Prince Alexander without having the urge to punch him. Even though she was trained to protect him with her life, she despised his high-class status. It corrupted him too much, making him not cocky but not modest either.
“So I heard from my mentor that tonight will be the night where the stars will shine its brightest. Many people are stargazing tonight,” Prince Alexander hinted slyly.
“Please don’t try to court me. That is the most disgusting, dishonorable thing,” Izzy said without any emotion. Although she was flattered by his attack, she was trained not to reveal what she felt and this case she found it very helpful. She consistently told herself that it was his mastermind plan like he had done with so many other women.
“I am simply asking you as a friend since we have known each other for quite a while,” Prince Alexander smiled his famous grin that swayed every girl in the kingdom including Izzy but she remembered who he was.
“We never liked each other. Why do you plan to be nice now? Are you unsatisfied that there’s one girl who can tolerate you and the little show you pull off?” Izzy puffed, waiting for Prince Alexander’s argument.
“I think we should grow out of our adolescent years and make amends, Isabelle. I wish to get to know you in a more personal level seeing that you will one day become my bodyguard.” Izzy looked at the spoiled prince to see if he was kidding but his brown eyes stayed true, confusing Izzy.
“What do you want from me?” she asked, backing up. She hadn’t expected Prince Alexander to change in the three years between them.
“Friendship. I want friendship. I have learned many things while I was gone. I’m not a stupid sixteen year old anymore. I am nineteen and grown out of my adolescent years,” Prince Alexander smiled.
“Which is why you don’t want Princess Anastasia to come?” Izzy said smirked sarcastically. “You’d rather go off having affairs with other women behind your father’s back.”
“Fine. Although this is very low of me to stoop down to your level, I will make a promise to you,” Prince Alexander said, trying to make Isabelle exited but she stayed put. “I will stay away from girls for a whole month but Princess Anastasia has to be an exception because of father.”
Izzy stood back, shocked of what he said. “Are you sure you can do that?” she said, having a hard time believing his promise.
“Yes, I most certainly can,” he said, puffing his chest with confidence. To Izzy he acted the same way as he did three years ago but she wouldn’t mind him trying to contain himself so she smirked and put her hands on her hips.
“I accept your promise.” Prince Alexander suddenly swooped down to Izzy and for a second Izzy thought he was going to kiss her cheeks.
“I will not fail,” he whispered in her ears instead and left a frazzled Izzy behind in the corridors. She stood there idly, shocked of how close the prince was.
Prince Alexander had no idea what he just did and began rebuking himself for the stupid promise he had made. He was going to meet Mirabelle at midnight in the royal garden. She was a noble’s daughter and he happened to come by her again on his way back home and decided a secret meeting. He didn’t like her in particular but the company was nice. She was too forward and always wanted something more than the friend boundary and he was more than willing to give it to her because of the fear he would be alone.
“Prince Alexander, I made the bath ready for you. Steaming like you always like,” a maid he didn’t know told him as he entered his own room. The maid cleaned his bed although he never knew the purpose for it when he was going to sleep in it at night anyway.
“Yes, thank you,” he said politely, like he had learned at his school for the past few years. The maid looked at him in shock of his kind words but hid it with a bow to the waist.
“If you need anything Prince Alexander, just call any of the maids and we’ll be happy to serve you,” she said too quickly and left before he could answer.
Prince Alexander hated the way the maids all called him ‘Prince Alexander’. He used to like the way the words flowed when he said his whole name but after seeing the real world during his stay at the school, he abhorred his name. He liked it when his father called him Zander and for a few moments Prince Alexander let the name roll off his tongue to test it out.
“Zander,” he said quietly to himself as he stripped down to nothing and entered the steaming water. “Zander,” he said again, this time smiling.
He used to hate the nickname his father called him but now it seemed welcoming. There was only one other person who had once called him Zander besides his father. Isabelle had called him that to tick him off when they were children. He wondered when she stopped using the name and called him by his titled name.
He laid back, letting the heat from the water cling onto the air, making it more relaxing for the prince. At school they made him take five minute cold showers which he complained at first but after three years, he had gotten used to it. The luxury he had at home made him more aware of how blessed he was.
After the warm bath, he slung his silk robes and called for Isabelle to come. He had no idea why he called on her but excused himself that he needed to catch up with his ‘friend’ and bodyguard.
He decided to clothe himself, afraid that he might scare Isabelle with his thin clothing so began to change quickly. It wasn’t quick enough because a scream erupted before the prince turned around to grab his robe.
“It’s called knocking you know,” the prince shrugged as he put on his robe casually. He didn’t want to lose his cool to a peasant even if it was Isabelle.
“Warn a woman next time, will you?” she said, out of breath. The sight made her want to choke herself to death and beat herself but the image kept reoccurring in her mind like she wanted it. She shook her head and tried to pull away from the involuntary scarred memory.
“Sure, sure,” Prince Alexander said, unable to keep the smug smile off his face.
“Now if you don’t want anything else Prince Alexander, I think it’s time for me to-”
“Why do you call me that?” Prince Alexander interrupted.
Izzy looked back at the prince in confusion. “Excuse me?”
“Why do you call me Prince Alexander?” he tried again.
“It is your name, right?” Izzy said slowly. Did he hit his head? Izzy had no idea what he had meant.
“You used to call me Zander. What happened?” Prince Alexander said. He couldn’t help hear how depressed he sounded and cursed in his head for letting his emotions control him.
“We grew up,” Izzy said, startled by his sudden approach to the question.
“I miss it now,” Prince Alexander said truthfully. He had no idea why he had said it out loud but it was nice to let the truth out for once. The years at school made him step back and reflect on what he was like through his life before. He immediately rebuked himself and promised to do better but realized that temptation was a hard enemy to defeat. He was thinking about giving up on being a better person but meeting Izzy again made him think deeper.
“Are you feeling alright? If you’re sick I can make you a cup of tea,” Izzy joked, half serious. She was suspicious and felt uneasy about Prince Alexander’s approach.
“I’m fine, thanks,” he said sarcastically. Izzy noted how his formal language fell again.
“What’s wrong with the way you talk? It doesn’t sound like you,” Izzy said. She knew her speech was too informal but she had no further education than the basic English language. As for Prince Alexander, he had been taught the proper way of speaking including fluent French.
“The students at school talked this way so I guess it stuck with me,” he smiled, almost apologetically. Izzy looked at him confused. Was this really the same Zander who left three years ago? She had no idea and intended to keep her curiosity locked away. She had no right to even talk to him in the first place.
“You father won’t like it if he hears it again,” Izzy warned, meaning their earlier conversation. “You’re lucky he didn’t catch it.”
“Who cares?” Prince Alexander said lazily. “So did you accept my friendly invitation to go stargazing?”
“I’ll pass,” Izzy said abruptly, turning to leave but Prince Alexander blocked the door. “Let me through,” Izzy said annoyed, trying to go around him but his towering body stood in the way. She was tempted to punch him but knew she would get in trouble if she was reported.
“I won’t let you go without a yes,” Prince Alexander said, giving her his secret, evil smile.
“I’ll punch you,” she threatened, hoping he would be foolish enough to fall for it.
“You know you’ll only get a punishment.” Izzy stepped back, giving herself room away from his chest.
“Fine, I’ll go but I need to go somewhere now,” Izzy said. She didn’t have any particular place to go but she knew Timothy’s return would be soon.
Feeling satisfied, Prince Alexander let Izzy go but he couldn’t help himself feel his eyes linger on her longer than he should have.
Things had changed over the course of three years. Izzy had lost all her baby fat and began to grow into a beautiful young woman. Prince Alexander noted Izzy’s moderate toned muscles as she walked off and the brown curly hair that cascaded down to her waist. He didn’t like scrawny, skinny girls like all the girls in the kingdom. It only made him even more attracted to Izzy.
“I’m going crazy,” he groaned and jumped to the comfort of his bed.
“You’ve always been crazy, Alex,” a voice called out. Prince Alexander could note the smirk in the deep voice and he instantly knew who it was.
“Fancy meeting you here Zachariah,” Prince Alexander sighed, unsurprised of his friend intruding in.
“Zachariah? Geez, you, my friend, have changed a lot since the last time I’ve seen you. You know I hate my full name.”
This time Prince Alexander got off his bed and met face to face with his best friend he hadn’t seen since his father dragged him off to private schooling. Prince Alexander was surprised at how his friend had changed. He had also lost his chubbiness and was left with muscled features that made Prince Alexander jealous.
He examined himself in his head and spat in distaste. Princes weren’t trained for battle so he still had no muscles to show. It was only his title and his face that got the ladies of his kingdom.
“Yeah? You changed a lot too,” Prince Alexander noted.
“You like it? My father asked Timothy to train me and voila, I became a new person,” Zachariah laughed,” but you, my friend doesn’t seem as excited to see me.”
“It’s been a long day,” Prince Alexander sighed.
“Come on Alex. Let us go out to town and pick up some girls, eh?” Zachariah’s proposal seemed tempting but his promise came into mind.
“Geez, I can’t Zach,” Prince Alexander said gloomily.
“What is up with you today? First, your depressed mode, you calling me Zachariah, and then using informal words, and now rejecting me to go on our traditional conquest of reeling in women?” Zach asked suspiciously. He took a step closer to his friend, trying to find the real reason Alex wasn’t acting like himself. “Who are you Alex?”
“I am the same,” Prince Alexander said, feeling the need to protect himself. “I don’t feel like going out today. My father arranged a princess for me already.” He waited for Zach’s response which was exactly like what he had predicted.
“WHAT? Married? Who will I go with to every party? Who will be my wingman?” Zach yelled, not in anger but in surprise. The news was the last thing he would have thought. He knew Alex wasn’t the type to get married or the type to be a good husband. Alex was a royal player just like Zach himself. Zach’s father, the advisor, hated them fooling around but it was like their own high and they both enjoyed the thrill of it.
“I do not even want to think about marrying but I agreed to meet her. She is coming tomorrow with her father and brother,” Prince Alexander explained.
“And what do you plan to do?” Zach asked, grinning. Prince Alexander could see all the dark thoughts resurfacing from his friends. They used to play crude jokes on women but now Prince Alexander was tired with keeping up with his past life.
“I will meet her and if she does not suit me then I will say no,” Prince Alexander said finally, making his voice firm to show that the decision was already made without Zach.
“I am definitely going to miss our old days. My Alex is growing up so quickly,” Zach joked, giving Alex a manly hug. They gripped at each other, trying to wrestle each other down but ended by the sound of a knocking on the door.
“You two children need to grow up. It’s been three years and you are all acting the same,” a voice spat but it was clear to the two boys that the voice had humor in them.
“Ah, Timothy, my good lad. Care to join us?” Zach smiled, waving his hand to usher his friend in.
“Zach, Alex, it’s certainly been awhile,” Timothy nodded as he carefully stepped into the room. “I knew Alex’s arrival but Zach’s is fairly surprising.”
“Well I just couldn’t miss my two friends so I asked father to send me back. I loathed my boring hometown. Very country if you ask me,” Zach said in distaste. “I heard you became the captain of the king’s army. That’s quite a lot on your plate.”
“It’s hard but I deal,” Timothy shrugged. “I should leave soon or else the king will have my head.”
“It’s definitely a treat for you to stop by Timothy,” Alex smiled.
“Well actually I came here in the order of the advisor to tell Zach to meet him in the throne room but what do I see when I come? Two grown men looking like they’re a gay couple sprawled on the bed,” Timothy said, crossing his arms with an arched eyebrow.
“Are you jealous of us?” Zach asked, amused. He tried to go for Alex’s crotch but Alex immediately got off the bed.
“What are you doing? That is very inappropriate!” Alex shouted.
“What is up with you lad? You always loved these jokes,” Zach poured but Alex looked away. Alex didn’t know why he acted the way he did. He didn’t think it was ethical anymore.
“Well I passed those days. It’s childish,” Alex laughed but his friends looked at him with suspicion.
“Alex, did you get eaten? Surely this isn’t the same Alex I knew when we were all in diapers,” Zach said. “What was that saying?”
“Player since day one,” Timothy reminded. The two started a fit of laughter but Alex didn’t find it amusing.
He didn’t find anything perverted as amusing as it used to be. It wasn’t because he changed but who changed him. They met at the private school and became fast friends for their common interest of horses. They rode a couple of times and had picnics but nothing else. He was cocky and tried to court her but she trained him into becoming her way of a ‘proper’ gentlemen. Hard training was what made Alexander the way he was and he liked it but there were already temptations in his way. Izzy for example made him confused but he shook his head, seeing that if was the last of his problems.
“I think I have changed,” Alex said to his friends which only made them laugh harder.
“You, comrade, are certainly one of a kind,” Timothy chuckled, “but seriously, Zach. You shouldn’t keep your father waiting. The advisor is pretty scary when he wants to.”
“That’s true. Even though my father is the advisor, he does have a temper for a man with a wise mind,” Zach joked as he got off Alex’s bed. He gave his friend one more seductive wink which earned him a whack on the head by Timothy.
“Seriously, grow up kid,” Timothy smirked, amused to have hit his friend without getting trouble. He had the greater authority now.
“Coming, coming. You certainly have grown quite demanding since our time apart,” Zach scoffed, pretending to be offended.
“Huh, wait until you meet Izzy. She’ll whip your ass before you can say ‘wow,'” Timothy joked.
“I bet she looks beautiful now,” Zach winked as he walked towards the door.
“Hey! I warned you,” Timothy said, giving Zach a look but he knew Zach wouldn’t take his advice. Timothy gave them a last wave and a wink before he exited down the corridor.
“What are you still doing here, Timothy?” Alex asked when Timothy had no intension of leaving. Timothy crossed his arms and suddenly Alex knew that Timothy was going to pull one of his long speeches. Alex sat comfortably on his bed, bracing himself.
“I heard you’re going stargazing with Izzy tonight,” Timothy frowned. He wasn’t angry but he felt the need to protect Izzy.
“It’s Isabelle first of all and yes we are,” Alex said, attempting to keep his voice light and cheerful.
“Izzy said yes?” Timothy asked, not bothering to use her full name as Alex had said.
“Yes, she has,” Alex grinned but Timothy didn’t buy anything that came out of the deceiving mouth of the prince. “How do you even know of this?”
“I saw her in the hallway looking like a lost, confused mouse,” Timothy said slowly. “You know she’s not your type so I suggest you should keep your distance.” Timothy knew it wasn’t his place to order the prince but he didn’t want Izzy to go through any pain or suffering because of Alex’s petty games.
“When did you get so cocky?” Alex asked interested. He got off the bed and slowly circled Timothy and all Timothy could do was stay still. He loved using his power to intimidate people but he didn’t feel any sort of feeling from Timothy but rather a sense of protectiveness over Isabelle. “Do you want to court her?” Alex concluded once he had analyzed Timothy’s sudden interest.
Timothy whipped around to face Alex and narrowed his eyes. “Are you joking? She’s like a sister,” Timothy almost shouted. “Don’t play your stupid games on her. She’s only seventeen and has the whole world to see. I don’t want you to screw it up.”
“Sorry to break it to you but her life was screwed since the day she was born. She belongs to me so she’ll do as I say.” The prince’s volume crescendo as he spat the last sentence. Alex stepped back from his outburst and regretted calling Izzy a belonging. Ever since his arrival home, he had been going back to the habits of his past life so he had to constantly remind himself of all he had learned.
“You’re still an ignorant fool, Alex. People aren’t belongings,” Timothy said, hostile. Timothy wanted to teach him a good lesson but none of them were in the mood to argue any longer.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Alex apologized, feeling terrible for his careless language.
“You’ve changed,” Timothy said, taken aback at Alex’s straight forward apology. He was suspicious on Alex’s true intensions but brushed it off.
“Yes, I have,” Alex said but he seemed to be in another world, thinking about his friend from school on the back of his mind. He missed her and couldn’t help but being reminded of her every time someone commented on his change of attitude. It was all her credit to be where Alex was and he wanted to share his success with her.
“I need to go but if you dare hurt her, it’ll be you who’ll be hurt in the end,” Timothy advised.
“Is that a threat?” Alex asked, surprised at his friend’s courage. “You know you can get punished for that,” he said, thinking he had the upper advantage.
“It won’t be me who’ll be hurting you,” Timothy said, making his way out. His body was out the door but he stuck his head one last time before leaving. “It’ll be you hurting yourself.”