[15 YEARS AGO]
"Take it out, Kera," my mother quipped gently, tugging at my hand whose thumb I had been sucking on for the last 10 minutes.
My hand fell uselessly to my side as I let out an irritated huff.
That was the third time she was pulling it out, but I couldn't help it.
I was nervous and unfortunately sucking my chubby thumb helped me cope with being in this large room that seemed to swallow me whole.
I looked up at my mother, blinking a few times to clear my vision. She looked down at me, sending me her usual bright sunny smile.
My eyebrows drew together as I sucked in her attire.
Her hair was worn differently than usual as was her outfit. My mother loved bright colors but today she wore a plain gray suit and instead of leaving her hair her usual fuzzy and curly like mine, she had straightened it out and tied it up in a tight bun.
My fingers tinkled as I felt hers encircle them.
"You'll be fine, peanut. Just remember, chin up and shoulders back," she whispered lowly as if there was someone else in the room.
Nevertheless, I straightened myself trying to match her posture, realizing that I probably looked uncomfortable as no 7-year-old could have perfect posture. However, that didn't stop me from trying and chewing the inside of my cheek while at it.
Hours seemed to pass by in this position but when I looked at the large varnished grandfather clock in the corner, I was about to collapse when I saw it had barely been five minutes.
I tugged at my mother's hand ready to complain about how slow time was moving and how I would much rather be at school, playing with my classmates, than in this rather large house.
She looked down at me but before she could say something the large oak double doors opened, causing her to immediately straighten her posture, tugging at my hand involuntarily as a man walked in. He was suited and smart, his hair combed to one side.
The wrong side because I was sure it would look way better had he brushed it to the right.
He stopped by the door and bowed deeply.
"His majesty, King William the 7th!" He announced loudly as if he wasn't two feet away, his tone posh.
My eyebrows furrowed as another suited man walked in. He was very much different than the first, sporting a casual stance as he strolled in, different from what I thought any king would look like.
There certainly was not a crown on his head and he looked quite ordinary to me, minus the suit—nope, that looked like the beautiful princess dresses Mom tells me to never touch, or else she would confiscate my glitter box.
Expensive.
He looked up, slipping his phone into his pants pocket, a large grin displayed on his handsome face, his short dark hair neatly trimmed this time in the right direction.
"Elise," he smiled as he moved toward my mother and me.
My mother tugged me gently as she did what seemed like an uncomfortable curtsy, one she had taught me to do last night, but felt so strange to my chubby legs.
Nevertheless, I followed her lead.
"Your majesty," she replied as we were doing our funny bows.
"Come on Elise, it's William," he urged, engulfing her in a hug, one I noticed she hadn't expected as it took her a second to hug him back
. A faltering smile formed on her face.
He took a step back from her, staring at her for a moment before his eyes trailed to me, widening a little. He looked back at my mother in what seemed like a surprise before returning to me.
"And who is this little angel?" He asked, squatting in front of me.
I watched him for a minute in uncertainty, squeezing my mother's hand.
She squeezed back and I sighed.
"Kerakanji," I whispered lowly.
"Kerakanji," he echoed, eyes shining. We held each other's gaze for a moment, "Nice to meet you," he replied, tapping my chin.
I puffed my cheeks, already tired of standing for so long.
"Kera, this is King Williams, you know him right? You've seen him on tv," my mother urged, swinging my hand a little.
I didn't know why all of a sudden I had all the attention so I played with my fingers before nodding softly.
"I'll tell you what," King Williams replied, "how about you take this.." he began, reaching into his breast pocket and retrieving a lollipop, "And eat it whilst your mother and I talk a while," he hummed tickling my tummy.
I hated that he already knew two of my weak spots. I chuckled for a moment before looking up at my mother.
When she gave me a nod of approval, I lost no time in grabbing the lollipop, letting its sweetness take over every bit of my tongue.
I watched him chuckle ruffling my curly locks, before getting up to his feet and standing a foot away from my mother.
"You know she can stay with the boys while you and I talk, I don't want her to be bored," he stated as I sucked on my lollipop watching them talk, my other hand still clutching my mother.
"Uh.." she began glancing down at me.
I returned the stare reassuring her lollipop was good before she nodded.
"Alright, sure."
"Wonderful. Come with me," he grinned walking out the door as me and my mother followed.
I barely paid attention to what they were speaking about, my eyes widening at the marvel that this house was.
The space in the hallway we were traveling in was ridiculous! I could hear our footsteps echo as we marched on.
"I then met... Isaac," my mother continued from wherever she and King Williams had been speaking about.
"Her father?"
She hummed, "It's a long story but we aren't uh.."
"I understand Elise, there's no need to tell me everything. I know you very well already,"
"It's been 9 years Willia-, I mean King William,"
"William," he cut, "please, the titles can be used for another day."
She hummed again and I drowned them out as we entered another hallway, stopping sooner than expected when we stopped in front of another double door. The King moved ahead of us, opening it.
I stepped in awestruck, letting go of my mother's hand, drowning out both of their chuckles and side comments as I walked into what seemed like my wildest dreams.
Toys!
I frowned, noticing they were mostly cars and train tracks, stopping almost immediately when I spotted two boys playing their lives away at the very far end of the large room.
I felt my mother's presence come beside me as I watched the boys play completely oblivious to our presence.
"Archer, Rolan!" The King called out and the boys looked our way, both holding large toy cars in their hands.
They came tumbling towards us.
I was afraid they would crash into us but luckily they stopped a safe distance before us.
I could feel their eyes on me, and I looked back examining both cases.
The shorter one was the first I looked at.
He seemed my age, with clear gray eyes and brown hair, freckled in some areas.
He shot me a grin, perfect teeth making my tongue unconsciously feel the gap between mine.
The tooth fairy had come to visit me a lot in the past three months.
My eyes then trailed up to the taller boy, who unlike his brother that wore a white shirt and gray shorts, he wore black jeans and a gray shirt.
I finally reached his face and I took a step back a little intimidated by his piercing dark blue eyes and his equally dark hair that tumbled over his face.
My mother squeezed my hand, something she often did when she sensed how uncomfortable I was.
This time it didn't help. I moved a little more behind her, being careful not to drop my lollipop.
"Kera," my mother cooed.
King William chuckled, his hands in his pockets, "she's just a little shy,"
And a little scared.
Tallboy was staring at me way too much.
Mother knelt once again beside me, "C'mon Kera, come meet the young princes," she eased pulling me forward.
"Introduce yourself, boys," King William prompted.
Both boys looked up at their father before Tall boy came first, he moved toward me and my eyebrows furrowed completely, despising the fact that he felt like a giant looming over me.
He bowed, "Prince Archer the 3rd, a pleasure."
"Prince Rolan, the second," the second boy introduced, bowing as well.
I nodded at both of them.
"Prince Archer is next in line to the throne, he is going to be king," my mother informed me.
I stared up at King William who nodded.
But he was King.
I looked at my mother and then back at the king puzzled.
"But he's king," I whispered. Everyone heard it because they all chuckled.
"I'll be next after Father retires," Prince Archer replied, a certain shine in his eyes.
King Williams nodded at the statement, his arm around his oldest son.
"That is true," he nodded.
So he was the second king? I looked at my mother, "King, King?" I asked, glancing at Archer. I was trying my best to understand.
"Yes," she chuckled, " king, king."
"Kera," my mother added, giving me her look.
I looked at her for a moment, before turning to the princes.
"Kerakanji, just me," I replied, thrusting the lollipop back into my mouth.
They both smiled with a polite nod.
After a passing moment, King William sighed,
"Alright, boys. I need you to take care of Kera whilst her mother and I discuss a few matters," he began, mom pushing me a little forward.
"Yes, father," Prince Archer replied, but it was Rolan who grabbed my arm half dragging me toward the train set.
I looked back at my mother and she blew me a kiss, her eyes full of worry and uncertainty before she was led away by King William, the door left slightly open.
"Here, this is your toy, " Prince Rolan hummed excitedly, handing me a large toy truck I was about to drop.
I was thankful when he snatched it away, wanting to show me something else.
"Wait! Watch this!" he exclaimed excitedly, setting the truck down before sprinting toward the other end of the room.
He grabbed a remote and very soon I was dodging an airplane that was aimed directly at my head.
I toppled over, luckily falling on a bean bag.
Rolan immediately dropped the remote, rushing to me as the plane crashed.
"Oops! I'm sorry!" He called out, but it was Prince Archer that got to me first giving me a hand up.
He turned to his brother, scolding him a little before turning back to me, and giving me a sunny smile. A certain emotion passed through those blue eyes.
"Maybe you would prefer Arya and Erlies toys," he hummed, leading me toward a door.
He opened it and bedazzled my eyes with dolls of all sizes. Dollhouses, tea party kits.
"My cousins prefer these when they come to play," he informed me as I grabbed a porcelain doll.
In no time I was playing tea party while the boys crashed airplanes over my head.
All in all, it wasn't that bad, but I did miss the playground I could be at with Analise and Ila, but this was only for one day.
Right?