Xander’s POV
She had to be joking. I was currently in front of my mother’s study in the palace and she quite literally just closed the door in my face and told me to wait until she was done with the person inside. In her free time, she liked to tend to the personal problems of the people. As demeaning or rude she seemed, she was a big problem solver. But right now, I didn’t care about any of that.
I clenched my jaw in frustration. If it were just any other person, I would have their head. But it was my mother. I breathed to steady myself. Relax, Xander.
A few maids passed, busy with the preparations. They stopped to greet me, snapping me out of my calming session, before they went about their day. It made me wonder the kind of thoughts that must have run through their minds. They would think their King was mad, especially since I was muttering to myself.
Shit. I let out an exasperated breath, before pinching the bridge of my nose. I glanced at the door in front of me. It was a huge mahogany piece, with intricate designs scattered across it. While these kinds of doors were common in the palace, there was a little disparity between them. The designs on each door varied, and these variations were based on the power or status you held in the mansion. Since I was standing in front of mum’s door, it only made sense that hers was fully decorated.
“What the hell?” It was barely five minutes but I was already tired.
No. I don’t care.
Everything be damned.
I reached out to open the door when a loud creak reached my ears and I reflexively stepped aside.
“Thank you for having me, ma’am.” I watched a man step out of her office. He was frail, and while he had a huge smile on his face, I couldn’t help but notice the sadness in his eyes.
“Thank you so much.” he added.
“You’re welcome.” Mum appeared at the doorway in a matter of seconds. A small scowl was spread on her lips, but the moment her eyes rested on me, she lit up immediately.
“Xander! I almost forgot you were here.” she said and I blinked in confusion.
“Your Majesty,” the man greeted me with a bow but I barely acknowledged him. I was way too annoyed.
“My handsome son” she said and I almost cringed. I rolled my eyes at her cheery tone. Of course she would be happy.
“You kept me waiting,” I said monotonously.
“I was busy with my guest.” Mum shut the door behind me after I walked in. When she had settled into her chair, she added.
Whatever.
“Who was that?” The man was long gone, but I couldn’t help but ask.
“You wanted to see me, yes?” I rolled my eyes at how quick she was to change the topic. Whenever she did that, it simply meant she didn’t want to talk about it.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” she asked.
“Well, not yet.” The mere thought of it was more than enough to have me giddy. I bit back my smile as best as I could, because the last thing I needed was her prodding more than necessary. “But soon.”
“What’s going on?” She asked again. “Stop talking in riddles and tell me.”
“Fine.” I nodded once. “Let’s just say I now have a date to the ball.”
“What?” The grin on my mother’s face was infectious. If I wasn’t smiling already, then I could bet my life it would have rubbed off on me too. “Xander, be serious.”
“I am.” I grinned. “Would I come all the way to your office if I wasn’t?”
“Well, that’s some good news.” Her smile faltered. “But I must admit I was expecting more.”
“Like what?” I raised an eyebrow.
“I thought you were going to tell me you had found your mate or something.” She huffed, and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“Literally nothing could make me happier than that.” she added.
“What if I have?” I was pulling my mother’s legs, and surprisingly, I enjoyed it.
“I see what you’re doing.” It was her turn to grin.
“Whatever the case may be, I’m just glad you’re finally back on your feet. I was beginning to question whether sending that riffraff out of the mansion had something to do with your more swings. Thank goddess it’s all over. ”
Riffraff?. The audacity. I clenched my fists as I felt the urge to tell her off right there and then but I decided not to ruin the surprise. And oh, she was going to be so shocked. Plus, I didn’t trust my mother enough to not sabotage the whole thing.
“Mother.” I didn’t try to hide the icy tendrils dripping from my voice.
“Don’t” I warned.
“If you say so.” She shrugged. “But it doesn’t make it any less true, you know.”
I groaned.
She just had a way, a very easy way of ruining the fun.
I was on my feet in no time. I made to leave but I suddenly remembered something.
“Ah, there’s one more thing. The real reason I came here” I paused and she nodded, urging me to continue.
“On the day of the ball, no matter what happens, don’t be too shocked.” I said and she raised a brow.
“Why would I be?” She chortled, a small chuckle resonating around the room. “Are you planning on introducing some sort of faraway princess?”
“Something like that.” A sly grin tugged at my lips. “Just, whatever happens that day, I wouldn’t want you passing out.”
And without so much as a word in her direction, I made my way out of her office. After pushing the door shut, I wasted no time in leaving. I had other important things to attend to after all, but unlike the others, I was willing to wait this one out.
*************
My eyes darted from my watch to the building in front of me. A low breeze rustled by, and while others would cower at how cold it was, I didn’t move a muscle. I was too occupied to focus on the cold if I was being honest. In fact, as I stared ahead, I couldn’t help the warmth that spread through my body, warming me from the inside out.
A small smile made its way to my lips as a thought crept to my mind. After five more minutes, the woman whom had been occupying my mind since our last meeting would walk out from those doors and I couldn’t wait.
I could swear that the goddess heard my cries because I had barely muttered the thoughts to myself, before something caught my eyes. No, not something. Someone.
Kieran.
My smile widened as she walked towards me. Call me crazy or whatever, but I could swear I saw a tinge of pink appear on her cheeks, even though the night sky was pitch black.
“You came.” she beamed, stopping only a couple of inches away from me. With a shy smile, she added. “Hi.”
“Hey.” She was so cute, and it warmed my heart. “You’re out early.”
“Yes, I wanted to tell you something.” She nodded eagerly. “It took a lot of thought, but I’ve decided. I’ll go with you to the ball.”
Yes! Ugh yes.
“Thank you.” I said with a bright smile. This was the best news I’d heard all night. I didn’t know I was holding my breath until I let it out.
“You can…”
“But there’s just one tiny problem.” Kieran cut me off, and I watched her smile falter. With a nod, I signaled at her to go on, and she did. “I don’t have anything to wear. Or more accurately, they don’t seem good enough for the ball.”
“Is that so?” I grinned, my lips lifting at both sides. “I thought it was something serious.”
“It is.” She cried. “The hype around the ball has been massive, and everyone who’s everyone will be there. If I show up looking like a total idiot, it would ruin you.”
“I would happily dress up in rags if you asked me to.” I whispered in her face. “But that won’t be necessary. I’ve got everything covered already. On another note, I would like you to do something for me. A teeny tiny favor.”
“What’s that?’ Kieran asked. “What do you have up your sleeves?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged, but I knew she wasn’t buying my nonchalance. “You’ll see. As for the dresses, you really don’t have to worry. All you have to do is take a few days off. Say two or three.”
“What?” She shrieked. “Why? That’s going to come out of my paycheck and….”
“Kieran.” I cut her off immediately. “The future Luna shouldn’t care about things like that, don’t you think?”
Kieran grinned, and there and then, I just knew she didn’t need any more convincing.