Chapter 4 Meeting a Prince 2

Marissa was chatting with the guards when Prince Matteo showed up, and from the look on his face she could tell whatever meeting he had with the seer didn't go well.

"Your highness, is everything okay?" She asked and Prince Matteo faked a smile.

"What did you want to tell me?" He asked, sitting on the floor.

The guards exchanged looks. "Your Highness?" They chorused.

Marissa rolled her eyes. Why were the guards making it look like a big deal?.

The place contained white clean sand and at times people went there to relax, some even sleep there at times.

Even tho it had rained earlier, the sand wasn't wet, it had dried up, it was a good absorber of water.

Marissa was already tired of standing, she saw it as an opportunity and also sat on the floor, beside the prince.

"I think you owe me a favour, my prince. I am not trying to be greedy but I was heading to the palace when you came, and now that I took you here I'm sure the competition would have started and there will be no time for me to participate. The truth is that I really need the job, I have expenses to take care of and... "

Matteo faced her. "You were going to the palace for the maids competition? " He asked, kind of surprised, and Marissa nodded in reply.

"Can you please help me in getting the job?" She asked in a pleading tone.

He wanted to say something but he decided not to, he turned away from her and faced his front.

The guards exchanged looks from where they stood. "Your highness, I don't see it right to employ a total stranger, she should take part in the competition" One of them said and it took a lot for Marissa not to glare at him.

"I have missed the time. I was supposed to head directly to the palace but I brought you guys here" She stated calmly.

Prince Matteo didn't say a word, he was enjoying the cool breeze. He liked the fact that the place was quiet and peaceful, if only his life could be like that.

If only he knew the place would be this quiet and nice he would have brought his wife along, maybe being in a cool place like this would f

make her for once not think about their problem.

When Marissa noticed she was being ignored, she sighed. "I...I will just go home" She said and stood up.

Prince Matteo looked at her and sighed, he had totally forgotten about her. "You are this impatient and you want to become a maid in the royal palace?".

Hearing him say that, Marissa quickly sat beside him again. "Your highness, are the rumors true? Do the maids in the palace get a hard time from the royal family? Are they being maltreated? Are the princesses too mean? Is it true that the second Princess' last maid ran away the first day she resumed?" She asked in a rush and Prince Matteo chuckled.

"All those rumours and you still want to work in the palace?".

Marissa bit her lower lip. "I need the money".

'"I see".

A rumbling sound from his stomach reminded him that he hadn't eaten anything since the day began.

Marissa smiled as she heard the sound. "Afterall people from the royal family are humans too" She mumbled but it was very clear to Matteo.

She lifted her head up and found him staring at her. "Your highness?".

Matteo looked away from her. "I was just surprised to see you smile. I've been with with you here for some minutes now and I haven't seen you smile".

"Oh... I just don't find myself smiling, I have too many problems and smiling wouldn't solve anything".

"Not smiling wouldn't also solve anything" He said and she chuckled loudly.

"If you get me the job at the palace, it would solve a lot and I will keep on smiling" She pouted, even tho he wasn't looking at her.

"Do you think I care if you smile?".

"Don't be so mean your highness" She whined.

"You are courageous, young lady. You remind of someone" He muttered and she moved closer to him.

"Who? A childhood lover?" She asked before she could stop herself.

"A childhood lover? Do you even know I'm married?".

Marissa's eyes widened, not because she wasn't aware but because she had forgotten. Everyone was aware of the fact that Prince Matteo cherished his wife so much, so why would he think of a childhood lover? She was totally out of point.

"I'm sorry, your highness... If I can get the job, I will be the happiest person in the kingdom, I..."

"Have you ever been told you talk too much?" He cuts in and she sucked in her lips, looking away in shame.

She sighed and said, "No one has ever told me that and it's because I don't talk much. I just feel comfortable and happy that I would get the job that's why I was talking too much".

"I never said you would get the job".

Marissa's face dropped in disappointment when she heard him say that.

Matteo stood up and gave his guard a signal which they understood.

They brought his horse for him and he climbed on it.

He stared at Marissa and only her back was visible to him because she was facing the other side and didn't bother to look back.

He could imagine how disappointed and sad she felt.

"Miss smiling won't solve anything, you should come to the palace anytime you want and resume as a maid" Marissa sprang up and turned as soon as she heard those words.

"At least it will make you smile" Prince Matteo added and without waiting, he rode away and his guards rode after him.

"Oh goddess Eloise! Thank you so much! Thank you Prince Matteo! Thank you!" She screamed happily.

The seer could even hear her scream from where she was and she frowned.

"Don't be so loud young lady! I am trying to get some sleep" The seer screamed back.

"What do you have a house for" Marissa muttered with a smile before shouting happily again.