She knocked on the grand door, asking to be allowed to enter with a gentle voice. Once permission was given, the maid opened the grand door to enter with a cart, an even grander room was revealed. It was a room of luxuries she could never dream to afford herself. Curtains, decorative cloth and carpeting dyed deep, rich shades of lavender and violet, with gold trimming. Furniture made of polished wood with fine details carved into them, shelves decorated with trinkets and books, large glass windows that let light gloss the room, and the young royal seated in front of one of such windows, reading a book.

The maid smiled, “I see you're finally up and dressed, my prince.” she greeted boldly as she pushed the cart up to the table, the prince said nothing, and didn’t look up from his book. Though she doubted he was actually reading it. “Today's breakfast is croissants with chocolate apple jam, and rose tea.” she informed as she set out the plates and cup. “And if your well enough, your father would like to-”

“I don’t want to see him…” the prince denied gripping the book in his hands, and while others would know better, the maid instead pushed it, “You have been laying in bed, pouting, for a weak, your highness.” the prince tensed a bit as her voice became stern. “You cannot avoid speaking to the king forever.”

He closed the book with such force, it made an audible sound when closed, then slammed against the table.

“And why not…?” the ginger haired prince asked side eyeing the maid, “I may be the third prince… but I can still do whatever I want…” The maid sighed at the prince’s words. Yes, Matthew was the third prince of the English Royal Family, therefore was spoiled due to not needing to be pushed as hard as his older brothers. She knew very well, just how spoiled he was, and she partly regretted having fed such behavior. Matthew didn’t need to learn to run a country, but he did still have responsibilities of his own. No matter how he tried to avoid them.

“Indeed so, my prince,” The maid agreed softly, “but even a prince with a crown on his head must bow to the king.” despite the building tantrum from the young royal, the maid continued to set things out, “Would you like sugar or cream in your tea?”

“Annabeth…. do you love me?” he asked, not having touched his tea or breakfast, nor having dismissed the maid who remained standing beside him.

“Your food is going to get cool at this pace,” the maid sighed. He was such a difficult person to care for sometimes. The prince stood up, towering over the maid, but she didn’t flinch or back away, “You didn’t answer my question…”

The maid had to crane her neck to look up at him, he grew so tall, it seemed like just last week he would hide behind her skirt. “And neither did you, my prince.”

The princes face started to redden drastically, but not out of anger, his blue eyes filled with large sorrowful tears before he started his outburst.

"Annabeth! I love you!" He shouted as the years streamed down his face, hands clinched at his sides, starting another tantrum that would leave him red faced by the end. "And I know you love me the same!"

"You are the only one who truly cares for me! Your the only one who sees me!" It broke her heart everytime to see him cry, but even why crying, her prince was beautiful. Any woman would love such a lovely child.

And though he tried constantly to get her to act on her own feelings, whether it was keeping her close at his side despite how many woman went to his side during parties, or having her present when he was getting a rather…. Flirtatious portrait done, to using her lap as a pillow, just so he could have his hair stroked. She loved every bit of him.

But she stilled her heart and didn't faulter to his actions. It wasn't Annabeths place to be at his side as his wife, no matter how many tantrums he threw.

"My prince, you are merely attached to me because I've been at your side for so long. Your confused," the maid reasoned.

"I'm Not Confused! I know what is in my heart!" He snapped back, "So why do I have to marry a woman my parents choose for me? Why can I not marry you instead!?" The prince started batting away the thick wave of tears that blinded him as the maid before him had the clutch her hands in front of her.

"I'm not next in line! I see no reason I cannot marry the woman who has cared ad loved me my whole life when even my own parents only see me as a political tool!" Nobels had mountains of treasures and luxuries at birth, but that was the price they paid for their freedom. Birds content with their golden cages. They couldn't survive outside those cages was the price they paid.

Her prince, her sweet, darling, beautiful and spoiled prince, how it hurt to see his own naivety could hurt him if he left his cage. She loved him. So very much.

"My Annabeth! I know you feel the same… I know you love me…. I cherish you… I cannot live without you at my side…" she believed him. He could never lie to her. She knew his heart and mind as well as her own. She really had spoiled him too much for him to think like this.

"So why..? Why can I not marry you…? It isn't fair…" his voice had become so quiet so quickly. She wanted to hold him, and wipe away his tears, so he could show his brilliant smile once more.

"Because,my prince, you have never worked a day of hard labor in your life…" she hushed gently stepping closer, "You have only ever bowed your head to the king…" she used a gently and kind tone hoping to sooth his sorrow. "You would never survive outside your golden cage…"

"Please, don't cry my dear prince…" she touched hid hand gently, "You are my whole world… that shall never change…" she wiped away his tears and cupped his face. " So please be reasonable…. Because it breaks my heart to see your beautiful face covered in tears."

She loved him the day he was placed in her arms 18 years ago, and she loved him now as she comforted him, she loved him so much it hurt. And it was because she loved him so much, she couldn't be his wife at the threat of him losing his crown.

He was a beautiful bird who would die outside his cage.

And her heart ached at the thought of him living a life too hard for his spoiled self to survive in.