Chapter 83 - Francis's Return

Alexander decided to throw a big party in the palace to celebrate the return of his beloved. There was music and dance in the whole kingdom of Arimelari. The royal family had decided to hold a royal ball in celebration of the fact that Francis had returned.

Avan was excited to finally get the chance to see his father, he had heard a lot about him from his mother and aunts and it felt nice for him to meet him after sixteen years. Ella joined them at the palace and was excited to go to her first-ever royal ball. The palace was decorated top to bottom with lights.

The stars shined bright in the sky in celebration of the whole family coming together and reuniting.

"This is the best day ever, love and laughter have returned to our family," Malia said talking to her mother in law who seemed lost on thought.

"It is truly a beautiful night to be having a celebration," she said again trying to get the attention of the queen mother." What is the matter mother?" she asked gently placing her hand on her mother's shoulder.

"No. Nothing is alright," she said in a worried tone. Her heartbeat was racing in her chest, she couldn't relax or celebrate the happiness that was knocking on her doorstep.

"Why? What's wrong?" Malia asked. The night was beautiful and they had so many reasons to be truly happy after a long time and yet she was talking as though there was a problem.

"This all doesn't look great, something is wrong," she said looking up. "Think about it. You've known Ander since he was a baby, when have you ever seen him apologize?" she asked her.

Malia considered her question and thought back to all the years with her nephew. She couldn't pinpoint a day in the boy's life when he said he was sorry for anything. Moreover, the male had a very short temper and had it in him of getting out of problems without saying sorry. He hated the word and the thought of it coming out of his mouth.

"I don't think that he likes to apologize," she said after careful consideration.

"And yet he apologized to Alex and that Avan kid with no issues. He even promised not to trouble anyone ever again," The queen mother stated not understanding what was going on in her grandson's head. One thing was for sure the boy had her mother's blood flowing through his veins.

He was cunning and smart, she could tell that he was playing a game with them but she couldn't figure out what the purpose of the game was or the rules. The pawns of the game were also unknown to her. She couldn't forget the warning that she had got about the future that would happen if Ander falls in love with Francis.

"But mother no need to worry. Ander idolizes Francis and would do anything for him that was why he did all that. Francis was the one who asked him to apologize remember, so he would do it," Malia explained hoping to ease her worry but her statement only made her more worried. She had to find out if that was all that Ander felt for Francis or there was going to be a war that might destroy her family forever.

"I must do something," she said and got up to leave, she halted when she got to the door. She recalled the times that she had intervened to fix things and how they turned out and turned back.

She couldn't take matters into her own hands lest they go wrong and backfire on her face. She couldn't handle another bad outcome or guilt.

"I need to talk to Francis," she said.

Walking down the hallway she raced to Francis's room. Though she has seen earlier, it was only brief so this would also give her a chance to see the male and have a word with him.

She arrived at his door and thought to knock but then gain she wished to surprise him, she slowly pushed the door open. She peeked inside the room to check if he was inside. A smile blossomed on her lips when she saw him standing in front of his dressing table with Alex. She closed the door and left them alone.

******

Alex kept his eyes on his beloved, he found that he hadn't changed much from when they last saw each other. He took in every inch of him from head to toe but still couldn't get enough.

"Will you stare at me all night?" Francis questioned dropping the comb on the table and turning his head to face Alex.

"And I still won't be able to get enough of you," he replied making Francis turn beet red.

"Well, I need to go see if Ander is ready for the party," he informed but did not move from where he stood.

He had missed his dragon king. Even though he had lived in the palace for the sixteen years they were apart he could never meet him. If only time could stop, for them to have more moments to themselves with no interruption.

"Come here," Alexander said gesturing for him to move closer to him. Francis took two steps to get close to him.

"Now what?" he asked nervously. Alex reached his hand to his face, brushed his cheek and removed the hair from his cheek, and tucked them behind his ear.

"I've missed you," he whispered in a husky voice.

"I missed you too, much more than you can imagine," he replied.

Alexander couldn't hold back anymore. He took his beloved by the waist and pulled him in for a kiss. He expressed all his feelings into the kiss making Francis gasp in pleasure. Alex explored the inside of his mouth wanting to mark the taste of his mouth to memory.

He had been yearning for him for many years he found his self-control jumping through the window, he pulled open Francis's buttoned shirt breaking the kiss to catch his breath.

"Francis," they both heard right before the door was swung open. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," Ander apologized.

He stared at the intimate position that Francis and Alex stood in and felt a nerve pop in his head. He folded his hand into a fist behind his back digging his nails into his palms.

"Are you going to leave?" Alex asked irritated by the interruption.

"Alex, don't is rude," Francis said getting out of Alex's arms and walked to the door to greet Ander. "Tell me, what is the matter?" he asked in a soft voice.

"You said you would help me get dressed. The party will start soon and I have no idea what to wear. Come help me," Ander said pulling him with his hand out of the room.

"Can't your servants do that, I am sure that your mother won't like that you are taking her rights away from her," Francis tried to reason with Ander to let him go.

"I don't want the servants or my mother to pick out my clothes. I only want you," Ander stated.

"At least let me go change. My shirt is.." Francis said staring down at Alex's handy work. He felt ashamed that Ander had to see him like that.

"It's fine, you can change later for now get me dressed first," he said persistently.

Francis sighed and gave up, he followed the prince back to his room. The prince took out all the formal clothes he had and threw them on the bed and looked at Francis.

"You expect me to choose from all this?" Francis asked looking at the heap of clothes that were on the bed.

"Yes, you should get started if I am to be ready for the party," he said and sat down. Francis moved to the bed and massaged his head. He looked at the clothes, he could barely tell what would suit the male or what wouldn't. He was not used to getting someone else dressed and had no idea where to start.

Ander picked up a cup of tea from the table and took a sip enjoying the helplessness of the make before him.'By the time you are done, the party would have started. I'm sorry Francis but I guess you won't get to spend any quality time with Alex,' he thought happily.

"How about this?" Francis asked raising a blue formal suit for him.

"Why do you want me to wear that?" he asked him.

"I don't know, it's a good attire and it would bring out your eyes," Francis replied saying something he heard Alex's dresser say to him once hoping the prince would like the attire and choose to wear it.

"I don't like blue," Ander replied indifferently.

"What color do you like then. That way I can narrow my search to a few clothes?" Francis said getting an idea.

"I don't have preferences. So just keep looking," Ander told. He took another sip of his tea and had a snack.

Just as Francis was about to continue picking out the attire the king walked in with a line of servants behind him. They each carried clothes and shoes in their hands, neatly folded and brand new.

"Alex, this is?" Francis inquired.

"They are here to help the prince get ready, you can come with me," he said and didn't wait for permission and took Francis with him.

"Shall we get started my prin.."

"Get out," Ander screamed at the servants. The servants set the clothes down on the bed and dashed out of the room. Ander threw the cup of tea on the ground with his blood boiling in anger at what just happened.