The Dragon Prince’s Forbidden Affair
CHAPTER 19.0: Family Issues

CHAPTER 19.0: Family Issues

I wasn’t looking forward to my second class of the day since it was just Konn teaching me how to do hisjob. “I do a lot more than just advise. While the king and queen run the kingdom, I help them out byrunning the castle so that everything else is easier for them. The guards report to me if they see or dealwith anything out of the ordinary. I deal with it then I report what’s important to the king and queen. Ialso filter a lot of their work out from most important to least important and take care of whatever othertasks they give me.” He was making their job a lot easier on them.

Lexus called me this morning and made sure I took my medication, so I was able to concentrate well.The reason I wasn’t looking forward to this was because of yesterday and how I got upset about notbeing included in his family. “Noted.” I said without physically taking notes.

“You’re not interested?” Konn asked so I guess I wasn’t doing the best job hiding my emotions.

I refused to look him in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter since I don’t have a choice in being here. I left myfamily to do this, and I can’t turn back.” Maybe I spoke with a little passive aggressive, but it feltnecessary.

“You’ll realize that we have a huge honor by being able to serve our kingdom in the way we do.” Hecompletely missed my point. “You’ll be able to do even more I do with your abilities.”

“Serving your kingdom.” I muttered.

Konn sighed without saying anything in response to my comment. He continued going on about thedetails of his tasks. I pulled out my phone to see Sadia had texted me some words of encouragement.It only made me feel more terrible because of what I was doing with her fiancé. If I wanted to stopthings now, I’m not even sure if I could. “Do you have any questions so far?”

I put my phone away. “None.” Then I paused. “Actually one, how was your day yesterday? Do anythingexciting?” I couldn’t help myself; it was the only way I could cope.

I stared at his back when he turned back around, and I followed him. “I was thinking more about the jobAqua.” I still thought he missed my point.

“Sorry, I guess I mistook you for my father.” That one I did regret after I said it.

Konn stopped walking and I couldn’t see his face, so I wasn’t sure what he was feeling. “Is that whatthis is about Aqua?” He turned to me with his eyebrows scrunched up. “If you want to spend time withme outside of work, we can do that.” It felt more like he was trying to get me to shut up, so I didn’t sayanything. I wanted to spend time with him but only if he wanted too. Now I just felt bad about wanting it.I couldn’t force him to mean it, so I stopped with the passive aggressive comments. I wasn’t going toget what I wanted that way. He might have noticed how I felt because his expression softened. “Aqua Iknow things are hard right now but we’re all trying to adjust.”

I couldn’t stop thinking that I wanted my mother, but I only wanted her because I didn’t know her. Lexuswas right, she could have been the same as Konn. “Take your time,” I said genuinely. I didn’t feel thatmuch better, but I got all my petty behavior out of my system.

We went on with the rest of the lesson and it was mostly me just following him around as he worked.He might not have talked much because of everything I said. I felt freed when he dismissed me, and Iwent to replace Lexus for our last class. The piano lesson helped take my mind off my emotions perfectly.

After our last class we went back to his room. This was only the second time I was in here. Usually, wedid things in empty rooms and worked in other areas in the castle. “Why are we here?”

“Cade’s joining us.” He sat down on his bed.

“Is there that much work?” I asked.

Lexus nodded. “Yeah, we could use his help. “He’s been hanging out with Sadia a lot for me for the lastweek since I’ve been hooking up with you so it’s a good thing, he’ll have a break.”

I looked to the door as Cade walked in. “Hey.” He closed the door behind him. “So, what are wedoing?”

Lexus sat down at his desk and we both pulled a chair up. He split the paperwork into three piles, but itonly seemed like the normal amount of work we were given. “Are you going to the festival tonightCade?”

Cade looked through his pile of work. “Yeah, I’m going with my mother, father and Gray like usual. Vellamight come with us but she’s been kind of distant lately so she might not. I’m not sure if I even care ifshe does.” Another family thing I wasn’t invited to. “What about you guys?”

“I’m going with Sadia and Aqua is going with Calvin.”

Cade laughed. “Calvin? I wouldn’t have guessed that. He’s kind of a weird guy.”

“I don’t trust him.” Lexus added.

I sighed. “It’s not like I had any other options.” I guess the pettiness was coming back.

“I’d invite you to come with me and Sadia, but I doubt you’d want to be a third wheel,” Lexus said, and Idefinitely didn’t want to be a third wheel.

I shrugged. “Calvin’s been nice to me, so I had no reason to turn him down.”

“Be careful, Calvin is the type of wolf who doesn’t really think for himself,” Cade warned. “How wasyour first day with Father as your teacher? I remember mine feeling like one big father-son lecture.”

“I remember mine feeling intimidating,” Lexus said. “But I was seven and Konn was teaching self-defense so it’s not exactly the same.” It was a nice thing to try to picture. I wondered how theirrelationship was like then and now.