With his new butler suit entirely fitting him, Gianni swears in his heart and soul to do his best at his new given chance.
“It seems you are ready,” the stranger says.
“I am.”
“Pardon me for the late introduction. My name is Gabriel Clermont. I’m one of the prince’s butlers.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Gabriel,” Gianni smiles.
“So, shall we go then?” Gabriel leads the way.
While heading toward the exit, Gianni notices that the hallway structure that they are going through is strangely familiar. Strange enough that he would say he saw it in a dream. It is at the tip of his tongue, and he thinks of it until they reach the exit.
The front door entrance is now so familiar. When they finally get out, Gianni sees the Gallia Academy of Medicine sign. Surprise colors his face--he stayed at his school.
“Don’t tell me you are surprised,” Gabriel smirks while entering the carriage meant for them.
Gianni follows Gabriel inside the carriage. The coachman whips the reins and begins their trip to the palace. On the way, Gianni looks at the city and the people. His mind travels to thoughts about the prince.
“How is the prince like?” he asks.
Gabriel does not reply but looks downwards as if depressed. His blonde hair covers most of his forehead. Some strands even reach the center of his vivid green irises. Now he is looking downward. The blondness is all Gianni could see. The bright green eyes disappeared.
“Gabriel?” he calls out. “Gabriel,” he touches his hair.
“Oh, what happened?” Gabriel’s face fills with surprise.
“You spaced out,” Gianni points out. “You were so deep in thought that you did not hear me.”
“I heard your question,” Gabriel replies. “What the prince is like? Well, he is a person and I’m sure he is kind and pretty handsome, too.”
“Why do you sound like never met the prince before?” Gianni is suspicious.
“Oh,” embarrassment strikes Gabriel. “I just haven’t seen him these past few days. Yes, I forgot because butler work is so bust. Yes, that’s it, I’m so busy.”
Their discussion stops as they arrive at the palace gates. Every guard that the carriage passed would salute, which made Gianni even more suspicious.
“The guards are saluting every time we pass them,” Gianni tells Gabriel.
“Oh, that is because they are trained to salute whenever a carriage enters the palace.” Gabriel expressively replies.
“I see.”
The carriage follows the road through the outer gardens of the palace. The sight of a thousand flowers makes Gianni’s eyes shine. The variegated roses of red, white, and carnation. Red and white cycle through the sea of carnation. The carnation rose is the national flower of the kingdom. It follows the royal family’s emblem.
They arrive at the palace doors. Waiting for them is a masculine man as tall as Gabriel but taller than Gianni. He has brown hair cleanly pulled back but not so clean as three strands hang on his forehead. His blue eyes are clear and unwavering, gazing intently at them. His nose complements his blue eyes and the three strands of hair. He stands straight, calm, and composed. He wears the same uniform as the two.
As they step out of the carriage, the man waiting for them speaks, “Your High…” but Gabriel runs to cover his mouth to prevent him from talking.
“Oh, your Highness,” Gabriel says. “My apologies, I have not seen your face for so long that I can’t help but put my hand over your mouth.” He winks. Gianni’s surprise shows all over his features. How can a lowly butler cover the prince’s mouth?
Is he the prince? Gianni’s thoughts wander.
“What is the…,” the man speaks.
“Introducing,” Gabriel interrupts him, “the crown prince of Gallia, Prince Julien S. Montmirail.” And every kneels except for Gabriel and Gianni, who fails to grasp the situation.
“So, he is my new butler?” the prince asks.
“Yes, he is, your Highness,” Gabriel replies and pats Gianni’s shoulder.
“Your Highness, my name is Gianni Saint-Amour. From this day forth, I pledge my loyalty to you and you alone,” Gianni curtsies. “I shall never waste this chance you have given me.”
“Very well,” the prince answers. “I shall show you to your room, while Gabriel clears everything in the prince’s room and change his clothes.” At that point, everyone’s cover blew to pieces, but Gianni’s grasp of the situation still fell short.
So, Gianni follows the prince while Gabriel goes ahead to the prince's room. Gianni and the prince go up the second stairwell on the right and through a hallway. The path leads to another stairs leading to a tower, where a room enough for two people rests on the top.
The room has one large bed enough to accommodate two. It has one large window overlooking the western wing of the palace. Everything, from furniture to rugs, array the place.
“So, this will be our,” he clears his throat, “your room from now on,” he says in a loud, clear voice. “You do not have any luggage, so you need not unpack. There is a map of the castle inside the drawers. You may use it to guide yourself while you are still new to the palace.”
“You will wake up at the first sound of the morning bell,” the prince continues walking towards the window. “You will prepare the morning tea for the prince and will assist the head butler in arranging the prince’s schedule. You will also have to obey the rules of the palace. Most importantly, as a commoner, you are not to talk to the royal family, unless they permit you to or they talk to you. Also, do not maintain eye contact with the king and queen, understood?”
“I understand, your Highness,” Gianni answers calmly and composedly. “Can I ask you one thing, your Highness?”
“What is it?” the prince replies.
“Why are you wearing the butler’s uniform, your Highness?” Gianni finally grasps the situation, although too late.
The prince laughs and exits the room. He bids Gianni to follow him to his room. They descend the stairwell. They go back to the hallway and down the second stairwell in the left wing. The path takes them back to the main concourse. They ascend the first stairwell to the left. They go directly straight to a large door with intricate designs.
The prince stops before the door.
“As a butler, you have to open doors before the prince,” he explains.
“As you wish, your Highness,” so Gianni goes and hurries to open the door. But as he opens it, he stumbles on Gabriel, who is naked up top. Gianni could not help but marvel at his muscles. They are perfect. The well-etched six-pack is what catches Gianni’s attention.
“Looking at these babies?” Gabriel flexes.
“Oh no, Gabriel,” Gianni covers his eyes and shifts his gaze. “I was opening the door for his Highness.”
“Oh,” Gabriel exclaims. “I forgot about that, so you still have not explained it to him huh, Gabriel?”
“No, your Highness,” the prince replies. “It seems the hunger and hypothermia still cloud his mind.”
Was Gabriel the actual prince all along? What in the world is happening? This butler is not the real prince? So, Gabriel is the real prince? Did the prince spoon feed me in the hospital? Gianni’s tumultuous thoughts make him blush and feel embarrassed.
“So, you are the prince?” Gianni’s face could not hide his eminent embarrassment. “I am Julien S. Montmirail, crown prince of Gallia,” Gabriel, or so Gianni thought Gabriel was, says. “Meet my chief butler, Gabriel Clermont.” “My name is Gabriel Clermont,” the person whom Gianni thought was the prince replies. “I’m sorry if you have to go through this, the prince has a way of doing things.” Gianni stays quiet and looks down. Then, the actual prince, naked up top, approaches him. He holds Gianni’s chin up, whispering, “How does it feel to be spoon-fed by the prince?” Gianni’s embarrassment skyrockets. He blushes redder than apples. He sweats bullets. His knees tremble and shakes. But he stands his ground, acting like he is all right with it. And that he knew it all along. “But it was all right,” the actual prince continues. “I enjoyed feeding you,” he holds Gianni’s right hand and nibbles on his middle finger. “Will you feed me, too?” Now Gianni is sweating rocks. It is all too mu
“Why are you sweating?” the prince greatly wonders as he sees Gabriel’s return.“The great flight of stairs, your Highness,” he replies.“Oh really?” the prince’s curiosity piques on. “It is the first time you are sweating rocks. Something must have happened.”“It is nothing at all, your Highness,” Gabriel answers in haste. “I believe we should go see the adviser now,” he pivots the topic.“Yes,” the prince surreptitiously and silently smiles. “I believe we should go.”Shortly after their small conversation, Gabriel and Prince Julien arrive at the Grand Library for the prince’s lessons. Inside, a sage with a great beard sits at the center of the grand array of large shelves filled with all sorts of texts, manuscripts, books, and scrolls. The old man sits with a sophisticated posture. He studies a large map which shows the great continen
Gabriel enters their room. He slowly and swiftly makes it back. As he holds the steel doorknob, he feels a different kind of heat emanating from his chest. He slowly opens the door, and there he witnesses a sleeping Gianni with a bare top. Before he left, he knew he covered all of him. Surprisingly, Gianni moves a lot when sleeping. He slowly approaches Gianni. He hears the slow and constant breathing that the peaceful sleeper makes for every step he makes. The room is quiet, and only Gianni’s breath is audible. As he gets even closer, he feels warmer. He continues, making his way to Gianni’s bedside. “Gianni,” he clears his throat, “the prince wishes that you take your lunch.” But Gianni does not hear him. He repeats it a little bit louder, but the same result shows. He pats Gianni’s shoulder and tries to wake him up. But Gianni is a heavy sleeper, or so he thinks. This time, he shakes Gianni. His sweat drips from his forehead to Gianni’s chest. He panics at the sight of his moiste
“Let me finish that, your Highness,” Gabriel puts the horseback outfit on a table and wipes the prince. “It looks like your lower undergarments are also wet, we should replace them, Your Highness.”“Yes, you should,” the prince concurs. “Gianni got them wet.”“What,” Gabriel turns to Gianni, “what were you doing while I was gone?”“Nothing,” the prince laughs.Gabriel gets a lower garment from the closet, where he took the fencing suit. The prince bids both butlers to leave the room. And they obey.“What were you doing while I was gone?” Gabriel asks bluntly. “And why were you stumbling on your back the moment I came back?”“I was just wiping his Highness,” Gianni whitely lies. “Nothing happened, honestly.”A knock from the partition then breaks the two’s conversation. The prince finishes wearing eq
After seeing the second prince, Gianni takes a quick peek at the dining hall. He looks for the prince he serves but to no avail. Thus, he heads to Prince Julien’s room.As he comes closer to the door, he notices some maids looking at him, whispering. He thinks something is strange, which is worth inquiring about. But he reserves it for another time and continues his way to the first prince’s room.Upon entering, his olfactory catches the scent of carnation wafting throughout the air. The fresh fragrance of the flower fumes in fickleness. It is a familiar scent to Gianni, perhaps too familiar.As he goes inside, no one is there. But he hears two people talking and splashes of water. He sees the prince’s messy bad and fixes it. He then goes to the source of the splashing sound.Behind the folding screen directly on the opposite corner of the prince’s bed is an open door where the sound is coming from. Gianni approaches the door and h
After eating lunch, the princes, and the princess along with their attendants return to the Grand Library. Beyond the center from the entrance is a space that has chess tables. It is on the opposite corner of the round table and is said to be the most comfortable part of the library according to the librarians.Upon arrival, they see Queen Sophia already waiting for them. She has her maids arrange all the chess tables with their pieces. The adviser and some scholars are also present.“Your Majesty,” all bows to the queen as they approach.“At ease,” she sits on the chess table nearest to them. “Camille, dear, let’s play, shall we?”“Me?” she turns to her brothers, the adviser, and the scholars but all shifted their focus elsewhere. “Fine.”The queen and the princess start their game. Meanwhile, Prince Louis approaches Prince Julien to ask him for one game. Julien agrees and the two p
The door to the prince’s room suddenly opens. The two who are in a seemingly awkward position on the bed pervades with aghast. It is Gabriel who carries a tray with a pitcher full of water and glasses. When he enters, he fails to notice the two on the prince’s bed, as the curtains that hang from its pillar keep the two from being seen from the door. Gabriel places the tray on the prince’s study table.Quickly, Gianni jumps out of bed and closes the buttons of his shirt. The prince, meanwhile, just pretends to be asleep.Gabriel knows something is going on. The loud silence of the room is strange. He checks the right side of the bed and sees Gianni in the act of buttoning his garments.“What are you doing?” Gabriel says as he approaches Gianni.“G-G-Gabriel,” Gianni quickly finishes, “two of my buttons got loose.”“Oh,” Gabriel has his doubts and sees the prince sleeping on his bed, &
Early in the morning, Gabriel, and Gianni packs for a three-day trip. The prince orders them to do so, saying it is a special occasion for the royal family. Gianni does not have any bags so he asks Gabriel if he can borrow one from him. But Gabriel has only one bag, so, he proposes to share the bag between the two of them.During packing, Gabriel is a minimalist. He only puts what he needs inside the bag. Gianni, meanwhile, puts voluminous stuff inside which already makes the bag full even without his clothes. Gabriel is taken aback by what Gianni places inside. There are fruits and even pickles. When he tells Gianni to pack only what he needs, Gianni laughs at the thought. He used to have so much luggage back when he was young because he has people carry it for him.Of course, Gianni belonged to the prestigious Saint-Amour family, he was born with a silver spoon, Gabriel thinks. However, Gabriel insists that he put only his clothes and things for hygiene. Gab