Henri had barely put back on his overcoat when a knock rapped against his door.
"Pardon me for the intrusion, your Highness." A guard's voice called out. "Lord Johann has been received into your personal drawing room and is awaiting your presence."
Henri sighed longsufferingly and strode to the door. 'Was there really no choice in this matter?' He would avoid going to the academy if he could but it seemed like his fate was already sealed.
His mother was always concerned about him having no friends, even though Henri had reassured her on several occasions that a future King didn't need friends but powerful allies, it only seemed to make her worry more.
His mother was the only one whose mind he could hope to change but now that his father had agreed to him going to the academy as well, all hope was lost.
He delicately tapped the door and immediately it swung open, an entourage of servants waiting patiently outside his door for him.
"I'll go alone." Henri stopped them with a raised hand, striding forward.
He knew that if his entourage of servants came along, they would want to serve tea and make a big fuss when all Henri wanted was to get this over with as soon as possible.
He got to the door of his personal drawing room and signaled the guards standing in front to open it up for him.
As soon as the door swung open, the guest inside scrambled to their feet and tried to look proper.
Henri's already unimpressed expression soured at this, had his father found a brain-dead noble to be his guide?
He marched in regally, some of his disdain fading away when the noble, Lord Johann bowed properly.
"You may rise, Lord Johann." He allowed magnanimously, fighting the urge to step back when Lord Johann did.
'Why was he so tall? Weren't they both similar in ages?'
"You can call me Audie, your Highness. " The blond noble offered, casually lounging on the nearest ottoman. "Man, I've never been in the castle before…" He quipped, looking around the room they were currently in.
This time Henri stepped back but it was in shock. As someone who grew up surrounded by servants who were formal every single time, Lord Johann's casual attitude stunned him.
"I heard the servants outside say this was your personal drawing room." Audie went right on, ignorant of the storm he was causing. "Must be nice to be the Prince…" He trailed off like he just remembered something.
Henri already had enough of the noble with commoner-like traits, and he was about to ask for whatever tips the blockhead had to offer and be on his way.
Audie shot to his feet again, seeming to have boundless energy. He crowded around Henri, studying the short Prince intently.
"You're an Omega, aren't you?" He blurted out.
"And you're a mophead who lacks a filter." Henri handed back to him, shooting him an icy glare.
Audie had the presence of mind to be contrite. "Ah, my ba-"
"Sit and speak less." Henri ordered, his smokey grey eyes commanding authority.
Although he was hands shorter than Audie Johann, the Earl's son found himself sitting obediently, his dark eyes down.
It was common knowledge that the Prince of Reinhold had been born an Omega but he was more or less hidden from the public eye so no one really had physical evidence.
Audie had been looking forward to this visit mostly because he wanted to see the elusive Omega Prince but now he was starting to think that maybe the entire Kingdom was misinformed and he was just a short Alpha.
"You understand how public schools work, do you not?" Henri continued, staring Audie down.
"Yes, your Highness." Audie responded quietly, intimidated.
"Splendid, hand me the written document." He prompted with a hand out, expectant.
Audie looked up at this, confusion on his face. "Written document? What for?"
Henri forced himself to take a deep breath, he had just been feeling relief because things had begun going smoothly but he had been too hopeful.
"Nevermind, just tell me what I need for the academy."
"You don't really need anything, the academy provides all your needs." Audie responded, even more confused.
He had been invited here to make acquaintances with the Prince, what was all this about the academy?
"Are you going to be attending the academy?" Audie finally cracked and asked outright.
Henri stared at him like a bug on the expensive rug. "What do you mean by that? Why else are you here?"
Audie shot to his feet again, realizing that there had been a bit of a mix-up. "I was invited over to have tea with the Prince." He explained. "But this is even better, you're attending the academy?!"
"Hush." Henri silenced him with a gesture of his small hand. "I'll be back." He excused himself, heading for the door.
At first, Henri had been irked that he had to interact with a stranger without prior notice but he could stand it because the stranger would provide valuable information about the academy.
Now, finding out that the stranger was just here to build a favorable relationship with the Prince, he was even more irritated.
Lord Johann had been invited to tea by order of the King, it was up to Prince Henri to uphold that order so they would be having tea.
He tapped lightly on the door and gave orders to the guards before returning to where the noble was seated.
"Let's move this conversation to the tea room." Henri invited, leading the way.
Audie had several questions on the tip of his tongue but he wisely held back, mimicking Prince Henri's regal walking posture.
The tea room was just as impressive as the drawing room had been and there was already a table set for tea, uniformed maids lined up to serve at a moment's notice.
Audie had grown in splendor as well, being an Earl's son but the royal castle was set apart in leaps and bounds.
"So you are indeed going to the academy. " Audie repeated when they were both served.
Henri took a small sip of his steaming cup of sweet tea. Audie's usefulness had expired when he made it known that the academy provided all that was required and now he was simply obeying his father's orders.
"Yes, I am." He answered patiently.
"And you have been homeschooled your whole life so you definitely need guidance." Audie nodded importantly. "Don't worry, I'm the best person for that."
A vein ticked on Henri's head. "I am in your care." He gritted out, stabbing a scone with the bread knife in his hand.