A Story From Zinnia

Section 39: New Conflicts?

"Lake in." Xavier said when he heard the door of his study knocked from outside.

Oliver's head poked out from behind the door, glancing inwardly intending to enter.

"Why are those kayaks? Just come in." Xavier.

"He-he-he... I'm afraid to bother you." Kekeh Oliver's.

"Your Majesty, please excuse me." Liam leaves Xavier and Oliver in the room.

"Have you eaten?" Ask Oliver. He was worried that Xavier would miss his dinner because he did not come down for dinner together.

"It." Xavier chilled.

Oliver sees Xavier still struggling with his work even this late. As usual, there were documents he had to sign. But giving his signature of approval is not as easy as scraping ink on paper. Not to mention the work of his subordinates that he had to check one by one.

"Still angry?" Ask Oliver.

Xavier now raised his gaze to Oliver's eyes but still with a face without a smile, "Who said I was angry?"

"If you're not angry, what's the name?"

"I'm just upset." Connect Xavier who then continues reading the papers before him.

'apologized?' inner Oliver.

"Other times, if it goes anywhere it says. At least your assistant, Elijah. If there's no me, just tell Liam." Xavier said in a soft tone.

Oliver approached and stood behind the chair Xavier had occupied, "Alright... I won't repeat it again..." Said Oliver while peeping on Xavier's shoulder that was stiff because of working all day.

"And don't go with anyone other than me alone." Added Xavier.

"Why? You jealous?" Tempta Oliver's.

"Not...–"

Oliver chuckled, "You're jealous of Charlotte? My tutor?"

"That's not it...–" Xavier then turned the chair he was sitting on and directly faced Oliver.

Their bodies face to face, "Paparazi will follow you and make strange news about you. Not only are you suffering, but Charlotte can also be bothered by those damn paparazzi. You don't want that to happen, do you?" Xavier.

"Hmm–" Oliver nodded.

"Smart." Xavier patted Oliver's head gently and turned back his chair facing the table.

"Sorry..." Oliver Lirih quietly.

"I'm sorry? What's for?"

"Because it worries you..."

"You don't have to apologize just for wanting to eat ice cream, it's not your fault, Oliver, and it's not Charlotte's fault. You're the one who should get an apology from the damn reporters who photographed you secretly. I'm gonna have Liam take care of this, nothing to worry about."

Oliver is silent, he thinks Xavier will blame him or at least punish him for this incident. But Xavier instead made his heart calmer. His heart was made warm once again, to the point that he could not stem the smile on his face.

*cups

One kiss landed on Xavier's cheek successfully made the owner meet red. Oliver foolishly peeked at his cheek from the side and immediately ran for granted.

"I slept first!!" Oliver said as he ran out of the room heading back to his room.

'i... Unaccustomed to this affection.' Xavier's inner still pecked while smiling thinly.

On the other hand, Oliver also met his face red with a careless smile while laughing. His heart was flowery, as if many butterflies were about to come out from his stomach.

In the hallway to his room, Oliver finds a man in his early fifties sitting at a table next to the stairs leading to his room. He was quite jolted, because the figure he found was not an ordinary figure and often he met in the palace. He was the younger brother of King Arthur, Prince Dominick.

"Y-Yes... Your honor..." Oliver.

Prince Dominick turned to Oliver, "Hello, my nephew."

Somehow there was a cold chill in every part of the word that was spoken from the mouth of Prince Dominick. For Oliver himself this was the first time he could speak directly to his husband's uncle. The last time they met was during the wedding ceremony, it was Prince Dominick just went home after a photo session together.

Prince Dominick stood up from his seat and approached Oliver, "To be honest you don't have to call me 'Your Majesty', because now you're Xavier's wife, the crown prince, your status is higher than mine. You can call me 'Master' or just call me 'Uncle', Your Majesty."

Oliver's speechless. Other than the servant calling her 'His Highness', it felt strange to find a senior royal family member calling her that.

"Well, sir." Timpal Oliver's.

"And yes, I have not given you the respect you deserve, Princess. Let me– Salute respectfully, Your Majesty." Prince Dominick bowed, Oliver returned his greetings. There was one thing that Oliver realized from Prince Dominick, the look in his eyes was very sharp and cold as if it could puncture his bones. He never knew much about Prince Dominick other than the fact that he was King Arthur's younger brother, what kind of person was he? How's nature?

"It looks like my niece is surprised to see me here, doesn't she? But take it easy, I just stopped by to meet my sister. Too bad I missed dinner." Prince Dominick said coldly.

"Not at all. Personally, I don't want to set foot in this sickening palace anymore and if any other member of the royal family other than my sister's nuclear family is here, it means something's not okay. Until here get it?" Prince Dominick.

Oliver nodded in understanding, he was eager to go to his room. He could not stand this awkward atmosphere.

"Stop being rowdy."

'uh?'

"Stop making your father-in-law and husband worry because of your careless behavior."

"Right? What does uncle mean?" Oliver doesn't understand.

"This afternoon's events– Do you think it won't spread quickly? Rumors have reached my ears and my poor brother's headache is getting worse from this." Prince Dominick answered him coldly, with a flat face and an emotionless voice.

Prince Dominick took one step closer to Oliver, "You were once an outsider, thank my father and his stupid promise. Once you make a mistake maybe it's unintentional, it'll be twice as easy, three times it's customary– You can easily get into this palace it means you can easily get kicked out of here too, remember that."

Then Prince Dominick's footsteps rang out, leaving Oliver where he stood. Either way it still takes time for Oliver to get to know every characteristic of the people in this palace, but Oliver knows that this is not going to be easy.

"Have no thought, I'd better get back to the room." Oliver said to himself.

Oliver returns to his room and with Elijah's help, he rushes to change clothes in his sleeping pajamas.

"Good night, Your Majesty." Elijah said as he left Oliver to rest.

"Thank you and good night, Elijah." Timpal Oliver's.

Xavier hasn't been back in their room yet, but it doesn't matter, Oliver's been used to it lately. Now he lay covered with a warm blanket. Although he had changed his sleeping position many times but still, he could not fall asleep quickly tonight. Something disturbs his mind.

'Uncle's words, what does that mean? Do you often have headaches? Did the doctor check it? Does Xavier know?'

The questions kept turning in his head. He also felt bad about this incident.

"Have– I have to sleep."

.

.

.

.

.

"Lake in."

The sound of pantofel shoes steps can be heard entering Xavier's office. Steps that sound heavy but firmly collide with Xavier's ceramic floor.

"Liam was just about to call..... Mu–" Xavier's sentence is truncated when he learns that the one entering his room is not the Liam in question.

"Uncle..."

"Sincerely, Your Majesty." Said a man half a century older while bowing.

"What did uncle do all the way here?" Ask Xavier.

Prince Dominick drew closer to Xavier and sat down on the seat, "Prepare, your father's condition is getting critical." Prince Dominick said briefly, densely, and clearly.

Xavier went silent, "Criticism? What does uncle mean?"

"Didn't you know? Arthur had liver cancer 5 years ago."

"KANKERS? What does uncle mean? Dad never talked about it with me." Xavier widened his eyes in disbelief at what he was hearing.

"Indeed, he kept it a secret from you. But I think it's time you found out and got yourself ready. I'm telling you this without your father's knowledge, don't be mad at him."

Xavier said, "No, I can't believe it. Dad is clearly healthy, what does uncle cancer mean?!"

Xavier then stood up and left Prince Dominick in his room. He ran to his father's room, clenching his hands, trying to dare to ask and accept the truth.

"Dad..." Call Xavier and knock on his father's door.

"Xavier's? Come in, son." Said King Arthur.

------

...Do not forget to leave a trail by voting, like, comment and make this story favorite️...

...One like will greatly help the author to continue the spirit of writing and continue this story. Thank you for reading😊💗...

🌹To be continued....