On my second day off, which fortunately followed right after my first day off, I decided to go see Jon.
I hadn't seen him for what felt like forever.
Due to the division of our work areas, we all rarely had contact with each other. Still, I didn't want to lose Armon, Amadeus and especially Jon as my friends.
I admitted I was a bit clingy in that regard, but I couldn't help it. They had just been my first real friends in this world. They were important to me.
Since Jon was in close contact with the royal bodyguard because of his duties, it was also easy to track down him and his shift schedule.
I quickly found out when he was on duty.
He was free this afternoon. So I killed the time with training, a long bath and a book until I finally got to see him.
It was a pleasant day. Not too hot, but not too cold either. The wind blew gently through the treetops in the nearby forest, creating a beautiful atmosphere. There were hardly any clouds in the sky. It was a perfect day for a trip.
I really wanted to do something today. Jon would certainly be up for a little trip.
I desperately needed a change of scenery. These palace walls were starting to feel really overwhelming to me. As if yesterday wasn't stressful enough.
The strange looks had subsided, but the whole thing weighed on me more than I expected. It wasn't that I regretted the intercourse with Cain...it had been more enjoyable than I expected, but... I just wanted to get out of here right now. Probably to clear my mind.
"Chris! We haven't seen each other in ages!" Jon confirmed my own feelings, when I ambushed him at the changing of the guard to have a chat.
Then he hugged me warmly, which I didn't expect at all and was therefore a bit surprised. But I returned the hug timidly. His dirty blond hair tickled my nose a bit as he hugged me. But that was no wonder: he was quite a bit shorter than me.
"I heard that you also have the rest of the day off and I was wondering if you would like to go down to town with me." I asked looking into his warm brown eyes.
They looked so different from Prince Cain's eyes.
Cain had the eyes of an intimidating predator, while Jon had the eyes of a … possum? I couldn't describe it better. Jon's eyes looked kind of funny as they seemed to squint a little. But they suited him somehow. He looked cute.
I was just wondering if maybe glasses could correct his eyes when Jon ebulliently interrupted my thoughts:
"Of course! I don't want to miss out on a social evening with my lifesaver! Mainly because the women won't ignore me anymore - because of my pretty company." He told me with a cheeky wink.
So the matter was settled.
We both dutifully registered with our commanders for leaving the palace, and then strolled down the official path that led to the city.
It was the first time that I officially visited the city for leisure activities.
Before that, I was only here on duty. And I'd also been here unofficially with the prince once, which probably bordered on treason. But I didn't want to think about that now.
"The summer festival took place here a few days ago. It's a pity we couldn't go there because we both had to work. I would have liked to see it." Jon wailed as we passed through the city gate.
I pressed my lips together thoughtfully. I didn't like the idea of me lying to Jon. That's why I didn't say anything at all.
I couldn't tell him that I was here during the festival. That I had enjoyed the evening - with the prince. That I enjoyed it in more than one way, if you know what I mean.
"But it doesn't matter, we might make it next year." Jon cheered me up as he probably misinterpreted my facial expression.
"Yeah right." I just brought out.
For a while we just walked side by side and looked at the crowded streets and colorful shop windows. I really enjoyed the little shopping spree. Mainly because it distracted me a bit from my dilemma.
Even if Cain popped up in my thoughts every now and then. I still wasn't sure what he was to me. What he meant to me. Heavens, I didn't even know exactly what I was to him. Everything was so unclear and mushy.
Were we friends with benefits? Could you even call us friends? Were we just fuckbuddies? Did we just satisfy our needs for each other because we couldn't find anyone better? Would it always be like this from now on? What if Cain became king? What if Cain was disinherited from his father? What would happen to me?
And then, of course, there were the other questions that bothered me:
Why was I even here in this world? Did I really have no purpose here? What did the old fortune-teller lady want to tell me back then?
All these questions were buzzing around in my head and I kept going in circles trying to answer them. It was distressing. I had the feeling that my mind couldn't take it much longer.
I forced myself to take a deep breath. Stressing myself out now would probably do no good.
The witch lady also said that I was already in the right place and that I was already helping the people who needed my help in a certain way, didn't she? So all I had to do was carry on as before. Everything would probably reveal itself to me at the right time. I just had to be patient...hopefully.
"Look, Chris! Aren't those suits really, really fancy? We'd look like real nobles in them!" Jon unknowingly rescued me from my crushing train of thought as he tugged at my sleeve and pointed to a shop window.
My attention now turned to the nicely made mannequins of a tailor shop.
In the shop window you could see several neatly crafted suits. One was fancier than the other.
What caught my eye was a blood-red cloak with black and gold ornaments.
It looked majestic. Made for a nobleman.
Prince Cain would certainly look stunning in that, I just thought.
I reprimanded myself briefly for this thought, but I couldn't prevent my imagination from developing further: The fabric would stretch around his muscular, broad shoulders. The sweeping hem would really come into its own with his supple gait. The gold of the buttons matched his hair and especially his golden eyes.
The cloak would do its wearer justice. Prince Cain was the only one who would look hot and not ridiculous in such a garment, I was sure. It would feel wonderful to take off that soft, velvety coat, and... stop!
I couldn't think like that in public! Afterwards I would get a boner here on the street. That would be incredibly embarrassing. I quickly put all immoral thoughts out of my head.
"We can never afford these suits anyway." I said instead, as I looked at the floor with flushed cheeks.
"Oh, what am I seeing? Two palace guards on their free time? Maybe I'll have to give you more work if you also have time to stroll around." Suddenly we heard a female voice behind us. It sounded more jokingly said.
"Your Majesty!" Said Jon and I in unison when we saw the Queen, as we bowed.
She probably recognized us by our casual clothes. Because the shirts and trousers for our free time were also provided by the palace. Additionally, we had to wear an armband to distinguish ourselves from ordinary citizens, so everyone knew we were palace guards. Our testimonies were more relevant in the event of an interrogation in the city, and citizens could also turn to us if the regular guards were unavailable. At least that was the basic idea. But most people just left us alone and treated us like normal city dwellers.
"Apparently I wasn't the only one in the palace today who wanted to use the weather to go shopping in the city." The queen giggled and fondled her intricate looking updo.
Her red hair was elaborately styled. In fact, everything about her looked elaborate. From the many detailed embroideries on her emerald dress to her extravagant make-up. The make-up also made her look a bit more grown-up than she actually was.
Back in our training class it was said that she is in her mid-twenties - almost the same age as Prince Cain. She was not his biological mother, but the king's second wife.
Cain's real mother died giving birth to him. At least that's what they taught us.
She also had personal guards with her who only gave us a short nod when we met. They looked stern. Their expressions did not allow any emotions.
"You have a very pretty face, my boy. Tell me: are you assigned to the Crown Prince's personal security?" She asked facing me. Her question sounded light and irrelevant. But somehow I had the feeling that there was more to it than that.
Just the fact that she knew the prince only hired guards with pretty faces made me falter a bit.
"Y-yes, Your Majesty." I then answered somewhat awkwardly.
I didn't think it would be good for me to hide the truth from her. She would find out in the palace anyway, if she wanted to.
As soon as the queen heard my answer, her pretty features twisted into a slightly disgusted grimace.
"This shameless idiot knows no boundaries at all. He's only ever out for one thing - and that's with men too! He doesn't even try to keep it a secret. He just has no decency! Also that he forces his own guards to do such sodomy is simply outrageous." The queen talked herself into a rage.
"I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but...but the prince doesn't force anyone to do that...at least not from what I've heard." I answered a little sheepishly.
I didn't know why I was defending Cain so publicly. But somehow I felt that the queen was doing him an injustice.
While he was quite direct and very flirty, he had never forced me into anything. At least not in my opinion. And what I experienced with him didn't feel compulsive or terrible either. I couldn't speak for everyone, of course, but he was very respectful of me for a prince. After all, he could have just ordered me to do it with him. But he hasn't.
In my opinion, my own experience outweighed the rumors of others.
"Ha? Did he tell you that? Don't be fooled, my boy. Don't fall for his traps." Said the queen derogatorily.
I clenched my hand into a fist. It wasn't what she said that made me so angry. But how she said it... with that obvious disgust. As if she was something much better if she put another person down like that.
"Maybe you shouldn't let the lies and rumors of others blind you so much!" I blurted it out angrily.
"Chris!" Jon admonished me in horror.
It was only then that I realized I had rebuked the queen. I widened my eyes in shock.
"Y-Your Majesty...I...I'm so sorry! I've committed a grave sin." I said, bowing submissively to her.
My heart was pounding in my throat. I could feel the blood rushing through my ears.
"It's okay. I just insulted the person you care for so much. After all, you are the prince's personal guard. Your anger was only appropriate. You're very young, so I forgive your impulsive mistake. However, if that happens again, then you won't get off so lightly." said the queen seriously.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, you are too kind." I just mumbled, still looking down at the ground.
I didn't dare look up again. So I waited until the queen left with her guards and continued her shopping trip.
As I got up, Jon suddenly hit me hard on the back of the head, making me whimper.
"Are you suicidal or something?! Why did you contradict the queen?"Jon asked me, still outraged.
"I-I don't know... It didn't feel right the way she taunted the prince... after all, he's the next heir to the throne." I explained softly.
"Honestly, Chris: You're always so shy and reserved, but you absolutely had to contradict the Queen in public now, huh?" Jon sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose, laughing desperately.
"I'm sorry..." I apologized, shoulders sagging.
"Oh, nothing happened, so forget it!" he said, lightly patting my shoulder for encouragement.
"Come on, let's have a drink. There's a popular tavern nearby that sells good brandy." Jon finally suggested.
"I think I'll just have beer..." I said with a sigh as we made our way to the tavern. The brandy reminded me too much of the trip with Cain...