Cassian risked a glance up and was met with a pair of striking eyes. The young man was grinning before him. his expression is one of playful amusement. Cassian's panic only grew. He didn't want to be reprimanded on his first day.
"I'll just... I'll put this back and be on my way," Cassian mumbled while trying to move past the young man.
"Wait," the young man said and stepped in front of Cassian. "You seem new here. What's your name?"
Cassian hesitated thinking that he will report him. his mind racing with countless thoughts but still he said, "I am Cassian, Sir and new in the palace."
The young man nodded with appreciation. his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Cassian, is it? Well Cassian, you should be more careful. Books are precious here and you have to carefully with them."
Cassian swallowed hard while his anxiety making it difficult to speak. "Yes, sir. I'll be more careful."
The young man leaned in slightly with his expression turning mock-serious. "Good. Because if you break anything else, I might have to report you to the Steward."
Cassian's eyes widened in fear. "Please, don't. It was an accident."
The young man's stern facade broke instantly and he laughed softly. "Relax, I'm only joking. But do be more careful."
Cassian's panic slowly began to subside and replaced by confusion and curiosity. Why was this young man, who seemed to have a position of some importance wasting his precious time on him?
Please, for God's sake, let me go. Cassian said in his mind.
Before Cassian could think of what to say next, the young man gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You should get back to your work, Cassian. And don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," he said and winked at him.
After that the young man turned and walked back to the study table. Leaving Cassian standing there alone with his mind swirling with bewildered thoughts and his heart beating fast.
What's that? And why does he keep winking at me, like I'm a little girl who will feel butterflies in their stomach with his winks? Cassian murmured. He was oblivious to the pink shade creeping up his ears.
After that Cassian instantly organized everything in the library and bolted out the door as if he were being chased by a devil. But today, it seemed luck was not on his side. Just as he ran outside. He collided with a bang to someone and all the files in the other person's hand fell to the ground.
Cassian also fell on his butt due to the strong impact of the collision. When he looked at the scattered papers and scrolls on the ground, his breath caught in his throat. He was doomed today; no one could save him now.
The butler's voice rang in his mind like a devil's whisper and his expression became paler and paler. He scrambled to collect all the papers while muttering, "Sorry, please. It's my fault that I... I bumped... into you. Please let me leave... I don't... want to... d-die."
Cassian murmured while hiccuping, frightened by the possibility of not seeing tomorrow's sun.
Zane, the person Cassian had collided with, looked at the boy whose tears and snot were mixing as he tried his best to arrange all the documents. In contrast, he was actually making more of a mess.
Zane took a deep breath and said in a soft tone, "It's alright, I can do it myself." He kneeled beside Cassian and started gathering the papers.
He couldn't believe that he looked that scary to the young boy to make him cry so hard.
Zane pursed his lips and said, "It's okay, don't cry. No one will know about this, and nothing will happen to you," And patted him on the head.
Cassian, at some point, stopped hiccuping and looked at Zane with his big doe eyes, as if begging him, "Really?"
Zane smiled. "Yes, really," he said and helped Cassian to his feet. "Now, go to your room and rest."
Cassian slowly nodded. He was still somewhat shaken but now he was feeling a sense of relief.
Cassian hurried back to his room with his heart still pounding from the morning's encounters. The library had turned out to be more eventful than he could have ever imagined. He couldn't stop thinking about the young man's playful winks and Zane's kind reassurances.
~~~~~~
Meanwhile in the library, Zane continued to gather the scattered documents with practiced efficiency. Once everything was back in order. he took a deep breath and headed towards the study table at the far end of the room where Prince Dorian was waiting.
Prince Dorian, the first prince of the kingdom was deep in thought while his fingers lightly drumming on the wooden surface of the table. He looked up as Zane approached him. his expression shifting from one of contemplation to a warm smile.
"Ah, Zane. You're finally here," Dorian said with his usual playful smile but with a hint of sarcasm. "I was beginning to think you'd gotten lost in this huge palace."
Zane chuckled while shaking his head. "Apologies, Your Highness. I had a little... incident on my way here."
Dorian's interest instantly picqued by zane's words, after all he had become bore in this place, there is no fun here, his face muscle has started aching bi just responding to everyone.
So Dorian lifted an eyebrow with a touch of amusement playing on his lips. "An incident, Zane?" Do tell the prince."
Zane sighed and took a seat across from the prince. "I met a new servant in the corridor. Quite literally. The poor youngster was on the edge of collapsing with fear."
Dorian's delight grew, and his eyes narrowed slightly as a curious smile formed on his lips. "You scared him so much, didn't you? I find that difficult to believe. You're not particularly terrifying."
Zane shakes his head. "You'll be surprised, Your Highness. He appeared to think his final moments had arrived. He cried and begged for his life. "I felt horrible from inside."
Dorian's smile softened. "Poor lad. I suppose new servants aren't used to the hustle and bustle of palace life. What did you do?"