Chapter 2

One afternoon, I was in the garden picking fresh flowers to put in vases around his rooms. The garden was big and beautiful, full of colorful plants and trees. I was bending down to pick the most perfect blooms when he appeared behind me suddenly.

"Agatha!" he shouted softly, so he wouldn’t scare me but still loud enough for me to hear. "Call me Kiel! I’ll run around the garden three times if you do. I’ll let you win any game we play. Just say it!"

I stood up straight and held the flowers in my hands. "Your Highness, please. This is not something I can do. It is against the rules and against my duty."

He jumped up and down a little, looking very happy even though I said no. "You’re so stubborn! I like that about you. But I will keep asking every single day until you say it. I promise you that."

"I understand, Your Highness."

"Good! Now… can you tell me what kind of flowers these are? And where do they come from? And… can you tell me why you never talk much? Do you not like talking to me?"

"I talk as much as I need to, Your Highness. And I do not dislike talking to you. I am just focused on my work."

He nodded, but he still kept standing next to me, not moving away even though I had finished picking the flowers. He watched me arrange them in the vases, asking me small questions every few minutes.

As the days passed, this became his daily routine. Ezekiel would follow me everywhere I went. He would come into the kitchen while I was preparing food, stand in the corner and talk to me while I cooked. He would come into my room when I was cleaning, just to sit there and tell me stories or ask me questions.

Other servants are looking weirdly at us though but he doesn't seem to care.

Every single time, he would bring up the same thing.

"Agatha, call me Kiel. Please? Just once. I’ll be your best friend. I’ll protect you. I’ll do everything you say. Just stop calling me Young Master or Your Highness. Call me Kiel."

And every single time, I would answer the same way.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. It is not possible. I will call you Young Master, or Your Highness, as is proper."

He would make a face, sometimes pouting, sometimes grinning, sometimes pretending to be sad, but he never got angry actually. He just kept asking, every single day, over and over again.

One day, I was helping him get ready for a meeting with other nobles. I was adjusting his clothes, making sure everything was neat and tidy.

"Agatha," he said softly. "You look really nice when you work like that. You’re very good at taking care of things. But why won’t you call me Kiel? I’m not that scary, am I? I don’t bite. I promise."

I finished adjusting his collar and stepped back to look at my work. "You are not scary, Your Highness. But there are rules. And I must follow them."

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, making it messy on purpose. "Rules, rules, rules. Everyone says that. But you’re different. You don’t act like the other servants. You don’t bow too low, you don’t talk too much, you don’t laugh at everything I say. You’re…interesting."

"I am just doing my job, Your Highness."

"Yeah, yeah. I know. But still… call me Kiel. Just try it. One time. If you say it, I’ll give you the most beautiful dress in the whole palace. Or I’ll give you all the jewels you want. Anything."

"I appreciate the offer, Your Highness. But I cannot accept. And I cannot call you anything else."

And its not like I would use that bunch of expensive things. At the end of the day, I'll die anyway.

He smiled widely, like he had expected that answer and was happy anyway. "Okay, okay. I’ll wait. I have plenty of time. And I’m very patient. I’ll keep asking every day. Until you say it. I know you will eventually."

I said nothing and just stood there quietly, waiting for him to go so I could continue with my other work.

Another time, we were walking through the long hallways of the palace. I was walking a few steps behind him, as was proper. He suddenly stopped walking and turned around to face me.

"Agatha!" he called out. "Come here for a second!"

I walked up to him and stopped at a respectful distance. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"Call me Kiel," he said, looking directly at me with bright eyes. "Just once. Please. I’ll let you walk next to me instead of behind. I’ll let you sit with me at meals. I’ll do everything you want. Just call me Kiel."

I bowed my head slightly. "Thank you for the offer, Your Highness. But I must remain in my place. And I will call you as is right and proper."

He put his hands on his hips and looked at me, pretending to be upset. "You’re so mean! You know that? You won’t even try. But I still like you anyway. You’re the best maid I have ever had. Even if you are stubborn."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You’re welcome. Now…let’s go. I want to show you something. Come on, follow me."

He started walking again, walking much faster than usual, and I followed behind him just like always.

Days turned into weeks, and every single day was the same. He pestered me about calling him Kiel. He followed me everywhere. He talked to me constantly. He smiled and laughed and was cheerful all the time, never being serious or strict like I was. I kept my distance, kept my voice flat, kept my actions calm and proper. I never smiled, I never laughed, I never gave him any extra attention beyond what was needed for my work.

Even when he tried to be funny or make jokes, I just looked at him calmly and said what was necessary. Even when he tried to do nice things for me, like bringing me food or giving me small gifts, I accepted them politely but without any extra emotion. Why is he doing this?

One evening, as the sun was setting, we were in the garden again. I was sitting on a bench, resting for a moment after finishing all my tasks for the day. He came and sat down next to me, not too close but close enough to talk easily.

He looked at me and sighed. "Agatha… you never change, do you? Every day is the same. You work hard, you talk little, you never show any emotion. But I don’t mind. Actually…I kind of like it. You’re different from everyone else. You’re quiet, you’re strong, you do what you have to do without complaining."

I looked at him for a moment, then looked away towards the setting sun. "I am just doing my duty, Your Highness."

He smiled and leaned back against the bench. "I know. And I respect that. But… can I ask you one more thing? Just one last time. Call me Kiel. Even if it’s just once. I won’t ask again after that. I promise."

I looked at him again, and this time I looked a little longer than usual. I saw the hope in his eyes, the way he was waiting for my answer. But then I remembered what I was, and what my duty was.

"I am sorry, Your Highness. I cannot do that. I will continue to call you Young Master, as is right."

He looked disappointed for just a second, but then he smiled again and nodded his head. "Okay. I understand. I’ll keep asking anyway. And I’ll keep hoping. One day, you’ll say it. I know you will."

He stood up and stretched his arms above his head, looking happy even though he didn’t get what he wanted. "Well, it’s getting late. I should go back to my room. Come on, I’ll walk you back to yours. Just to make sure you get there safe."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

We stood up and started walking back towards the servant quarters. He walked beside me now, not behind, but he still didn’t ask me to call him anything else.

As we walked, he looked at me from the corner of his eye and smiled to himself.

That was how it was. He was the cheerful, playful prince who followed me everywhere and asked me the same question every single day. And I was the cold, serious maid who always gave him the same answer. And this was how our days went on, one after another, in the big palace where nothing ever changed, except for the fact that he never stopped asking, and I never stopped saying no.

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