373 Can't Wait To Have Her Around
“Something that I would like to reminisce about again and again,” Prince Theron replied, still keeping his words vague.
“Seems like you don’t wish to tell me, huh?” Queen Theodora said with a raised brow.
“I believe Mother understands me well,” he replied with a small smile.
“Fine.” The Queen didn’t wish to force him so she offered, “Care to join us for the tea then?”
“Of course, Mother,” he said. The Queen gestured for her servants to prepare the small table on the side, and Prince Theron accompanied his mother for morning tea. However, Esther didn’t dare sit with them and stood on one side.
“Esther, what are you doing? Have a seat,” the Queen instructed.
“I am fine like this, Your Majesty,” she replied.
“But I am not, my dear. I have brought you here so I can have tea with a pretty baroness. Will you not listen to me?” she insisted.
Esther could no longer refuse and sat on the empty chair around that round tea table beside the Queen. Prince Theron was sitting just opposite her. Her eyes met with his dark ones, and his eyes looked at her without any care whether or not the people around them noticed it. Esther immediately averted her sight and looked at the Queen.
Servants served freshly brewed tea to them and Queen Theodora picked up her cup, smiling as she appreciated the sweet scent of the hot drink. “Esther, as you wished to remain working in the royal palace, your work doesn’t necessarily have to be by my side to wait on me. You are a smart and talented young woman. There are many opportunities in the other parts of the palace and the ministries that will probably suit your skills better. I will make arrangements for you to work which will suit your taste.”
Hearing his mother’s words, Prince Theron felt like the tea in his mouth had turned sweeter. This news was something to be happy about.
‘So she will still stay here. I will get to see her often then,’ he thought and then smirked. ‘Not like I would have left her alone if she decides to fully focus on being a territory lord. For a young lady, it’s not good to travel around the kingdom on her own.’
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Esther replied.
“Till then, you can visit your residence in the capital and check the arrangements if they are up to your liking,” the Queen suggested.
“I will, Your Majesty, though I am sure Her Majesty has given me nothing short of the best.”
While these two were talking, Prince Theron was hatching some other plans in his mind that would make being around Esther convenient for him.
“Mother, let me personally talk to Chancellor Flynn so he can make proper arrangements for Lady Esther,” Prince Theron said.
“Oh, you will? Very well,” the Queen agreed. “That does make things easier. The Chancellor is a thoughtful man and he has a keen eye on talents. I am sure he can find a good position for Esther.”
Esther looked at the Crown Prince who was looking back at her with a seemingly innocent expression. She inwardly felt worried.
As soon as he finished the tea, Prince Theron said, “Mother, I will have to leave now to attend to my duties. I wish both you and Lady Esther to have a great time ahead.”
The Queen approved and Prince Theron stood up. Before leaving, he bowed a little to his mother and gave a light courteous nod to Esther.
When he reached his horse by the lakeside, he instructed his knight, “Galien, ask Chancellor Flynn to see me in my study.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” the knight said. He swore he noticed mischief in the eyes of his liege. He had served the Crown Prince for years, and it was rare to see him acting his age. It made him wonder what his Prince was planning this time.
Chancellor Flynn came to visit Prince Theron in his study as per the message sent to him by Sir Galien.
“Greetings, Your Highness. Sir Galien says you called for me?” The tall and gaunt-looking middle-aged man bowed to the Crown Prince. Although he wore luxurious clothes befitting a noble, he wasn’t particularly stylish, and it could be said he wore clothes more for comfort rather than fashion. Although he looked like an ordinary scholar, the Chancellor of Megaris was the head of the Marquisate of Flynn, and was in fact holding one of the highest and most influential positions within the royal palace, mostly focused on administrative work. However, most of the time, he simply looked like an overworked official due to the nature of his work.
With a light nod, Prince Theron accepted the greeting of the Chancellor and directly came to the point. “Chancellor Flynn, I wish to know if there is any administrative work that can be given to a young noble lady. She knows how to read and write, and is quite meticulous to details. However, since this will be her first time doing administrative work, she shouldn’t be put in a busy office and her tasks must be something that can be done with ease. My mother does not want her overwhelmed.”
“Your Highness must be referring to the new baroness?” Chancellor Flynn thought for a moment and replied, “There is one I can think of.”
“Good.” The Crown Prince offered him an approving smile, telling him to proceed.
“We need a new custodian for the royal library. The royal library is too large, and it needs people to look after each section, but entering it needs either my approval or the approval of the royal family because it holds many important books and documents from all over the continent, so few officials could use it. The ancient history section of the royal library does not have confidential documents, and it’s not popular because it mostly has books about the history of the continent and some ancient literature books. I believe such work will be fitting for Baroness Burton.”
“Royal Library?” the Crown Prince mumbled under his breath as he thought, ‘I visit the royal library often but that section of historical books…” A light sly smirk painted on his lips. ‘Well, It won’t harm to go through those books once again.’
The Chancellor looked at the young prince who was busy in his own world but didn’t dare disturb him. The Crown Prince came out of his sly planning and said, “Go to my mother and inform her about having this vacant position in the royal library.”
“Yes, Your Highness. Then I will excuse myself.”
The Chancellor left while Prince Theron leaned back in his chair as he tapped his fingers on the cushioned handrest. ‘Can’t wait to have her around.’