[Dedicated to gorgeous-mermaid for the lovely fanart!]

I JUST LOOKED AT HIM like an absolute idiot. Had I heard him correctly? He was a prince? I was utterly speechless and he just continued to sit there, smiling weakly at me as if he'd purposely put off telling me until then. But what confused me was was why - why hadn't he told me sooner?

"Eh?" was all I managed.

Loudrix just flashed me a small smile and muttered, "Yeah."

"You're a prince?" I gaped, my eyes wide.

"Well, more like the prince," he corrected. "And I did try to tell you earlier but you were too interested in learning more about my alien powers."

I nodded, recalling the way his face had seemed to grow pained as he spoke about being more than a scientist. "Oh."

I took a moment to think it all through, and I found that everything he'd said to me so far seemed to make sense. I could practically hear his voice echoing through my mind, fitting the pieces together: the night we had first met, he had asked if I knew who I was speaking to when I was being rude; the fact he and his family were important people; the way he refused to listen to me because I was an 'inferior' species; he was blue-blooded, which according to myths was the colour of royal blood; the fact that he was the owner of the Starship when on his expedition; the way he had said 'my people.' It clicked into place, and I just shook my head in disbelief.

"You're the prince," I said, stating more so than asking.

He nodded and I just let out a laugh, shocked at the news and the fact it hadn't hit me sooner. There had always been something a little weird about him - besides the fact he was an alien - and the more I thought about it, the more I realised how blind I had been. The facts had been staring me right in the face, and it had taken a good couple of weeks, a possible alien invasion and a late night chat for me to find out.

"I tried to tell you, but it never seemed to be the right time," he said, "and besides, you already seemed to be enjoying helping out a common alien, so I didn't want you to think differently of me because of my crown."

I was finding it difficult to form words. My mouth just hung open, moving every now and again when thinking I'd come up with the best question. It was past three in the morning, and I couldn't have been more unprepared.

"Please don't execute me," I blurted.

"Execute you?" Loudrix asked, baffled. "Why would I even think of doing that?"

"I was rude to you," I said, looking him in the eye. "Is it not also a crime to be rude to royalty?"

He just laughed and shook his head. "Maybe if we were on Junito. But here, on your home planet, I am nothing but a commoner."

"Yeah, you are," I chuckled, smiling at him widely. "But seriously - why did you not tell me sooner?"

"I told you, I tried. Bit given the circumstances, it was always an inconvenient time," he muttered, looking at the TV. "And I didn't want you to back out of helping me."

I frowned. No longer help him? "Why would I stop helping you?"

"Some people will ... some will perhaps find it too much of a burden to have to aid a royal, and I couldn't take that chance. That's why I was starting to tell you about my family yesterday when we were reaching my ship - because I thought I was going home. But, no that never happened did it?" his sad eyes returned to my face. He added, "And I also kind of liked being treated differently."

That made me wonder. He had always said how wonderful life was back home, but perhaps he hadn't found his royal life too appealing. In many stories, there was a rebellious royal who wanted nothing to do with being a leader or taking such responsibilities and then often fled. Had Louis felt like that - like his royal lifestyle was too much?

"Differently how?" I wondered.

"To be treated like everyone else and not some pompous, spoiled boy," he admitted. "I kind of let my heritage get the better of me when I first landed here, so I owe you another apology for my arrogant start."

I just waved it off. His ignorance hadn't bothered me, but what had was that he was as ignorant as I could be. "It's fine. Forgotten. Never happened."

"But it did," he argued, "and I'm sorry."

I just looked at him again. I looked at the alien prince from Jupiter who was both utterly amusing and frighteningly intriguing. He was a wanted man, and the thrill that came with helping him get home was great - I was loving it. But it did feel as if an extra lot of weight had been piled upon my shoulders, an urge to make sure he was protected at all times. I was dealing with getting a prince home, after all.

"I have some questions," I said.

"Obviously," he stated with a nod. "Ask what you wish, and I'll tell only the truth."

I raised a brow and pondered, "Really?"

With another nod, he promised. And so, I shifted round to face him, bringing my legs up to my chest. I fiddled with my fingers as I thought of what to ask. There were the obvious things such as his royal life, if he'd lied about anything else, his arranged princess-to-be Klaru and so on.

I started with, "Is the description you gave me of your true form actually how you look? Because those Junites looked exactly like you did when I found you, not small with large fingers and massive bobble-heads."

"Yeah, I may have lied about that. I didn't trust you enough to tell you the truth back then, sorry."

I just smiled. I'd suspected so ever since that Starship had landed and the Councillors had stepped out. They had changed from that into human like forms. Also, trying to imagine Louis as a smaller, big-headed (in the physical manner), large-eyed creature was awfully difficult.

"Alright. I won't ask about your prince life tonight," I said.

"Why not? I assumed that would have been the thing to interest you the most?"

"It is interesting. Unexpected too, but I'm too tired to take much more in," I chuckled. "It's late. It's so damn late, Louis. Loudrix - um, your Majesty?"

"Oh no, none of that," he cringed, shaking his head. "I've come to like Louis now."

"Funnily enough, so have I," I said. "Loudrix is a cool name though."

He just nodded and said, "It is, isn't it?"

And so the night continued with multiple questions asked, answers given and two more cups of tea. Before I knew it, Louis had nodded off to sleep, his head leaning against the back of the couch. His mouth was open and soft snores were escaping every few seconds. He looked at peace. I just chuckled and carefully got up, guiding him to lie down on the sofa cushions. I covered him with the blanket and tip-toed back up to bed, images and stories of his Royal Majesty Loudrix of Junito and his prince lifestyle clearing any negativity and fear that the arrival of the Councillors had conjured.

THE NEXT MORNING, I SHOT out of bed, slightly groggy and blurry-eyed - which should have been enough to persuade me not to be rushing around at such a speed. My head was spinning, no doubt from stress and lack of sleep, but it didn't bother me as much as my curiosity about Louis' prince lifestyle did. Hell, I was desperate to know more and I nearly tripped as I zoomed to the staircase.

"Louis!" I called in a sing-song voice as I jumped down the stairs, two at a time. "I'm sorry to have to say this, but the interrogation begins now. Tell me everything!"

I got no response, and it was hardly surprising as I turned into the living room to find him face-down on the sofa, his hair an unruly mess of strands and limbs tangled within blanket. He was still snoring and I just carefully bent down so I could whisper in his ear.

"Pancakes?"

"I am awake!" he almost slurred, sitting up with his eyes still closed, half his face red from having been lying on it. He reached skyward and only slumped after hearing a satisfying crack of his bones. "Oh, that was an excellent stretch."

"Morning," I said. "Shit, afternoon I should say," I corrected as I looked at the clock. It was past one and I felt horrible. I'd never had such a late lie-in for years. Louis didn't seem to mind as he sat there, still with his eyes closed and posture rested. It was almost as if he'd fallen asleep again.

"I'd like to know about your posh-ness," I started, filling two cups of coffee. "What cliché posh things do you do?" I asked, looking at him as he jumped to alertness. 

"Um, posh-ness?" he questioned. "Define."

"Like, what pompous things do you royals do that the lower-class peasants don't?"

He still looked confused. "Er, we learn extreme table manners?" he questioned more than stated.

"Do you speak like how you used to when you first met me?" I asked.

He nodded. "Unfortunately. I've come to realise that our English is very much dated, isn't it?"

I agreed. "Most definitely. OK, so I want to know what being a prince all entails. Do you have duties and errands to run?"

"Some. My father asks me to keep things in check usually. He does the ruling, the connecting, the speeches and so on. I'm just there to observe how to do such things when it becomes my turn to rule."

"I see. Do you have a body guard?"

"Two, yes."

"What are their names?" 

"Kimurak and Relium," he said. "They're nice guys but ever so serious. Plus, they follow me about as if I have them on a lead."

I raised a brow and cheekily asked, "Do you, Your Majesty?"

He just scowled at me and stood from the couch, making his way into the kitchen with a smile on his face. "No, I do not, Earthling. I am in fact very close with them. They're almost like big brothers. After all, I don't have any siblings to talk to."

"You don't?"

"No. It's just I. They keep me company and such, which I'm grateful for. I've always longed for a sister or a brother," he trailed off, laughing to himself quietly. "No matter. A lady would be just as fit to rule Junito as any gent."

"I agree," I commented. "I'm all for equal rights and shít. The world is just so fúcked up at the moment."

"Well, your world is," he said, grinning wickedly at me. "Junito usually is wonderful."

"So you keep telling me. But here's what I don't get - why are you and your people still living in olden times? An arranged marriage? C'mon, Loudrix. Surely that was a joke?" 

The look on his face was conclusive enough - it was true, and very much no joke. "It's to be carried out soon, the wedding. Klaru is actually royalty herself. There are all sorts of royals on Junito, but there is only one true ruling family - my family. Of all the royal ladies born around my own time of birth, they instantly become eligible to become my bride. I chose Klaru."

"Chose? So technically, you've not been a taken man since birth?" I laughed. "You made it sound so serious!"

"It is," he sternly spoke, taking a sip of his coffee. "To put it straight - out of twelve royal families, one of those girls were destined to wed me. And I, one of them. When we reach maturity at eighteen, we meet and get to know each other. Then I choose. Klaru instantly stood out for me."

I leaned closer and nudged his shoulder playfully. "Look at you getting all love-sick," I joked. "Tell me about her?"

A small smile graced his face. "Well, she's lovely. Pretty, very into the rights of everyone. She was raised well-mannered, polite, and she's extremely well educated too."

"She sounds lovely," I said. "You two will be a great King and Queen."

That's when his face fell a little. I asked him what was wrong and he just shrugged. "I guess I always found that part of my life unfair - not only for me but for the girls. What if I wished to marry someone who wasn't a princess? And what if those ladies had their hearts stolen by a gentleman in their kingdoms?"

"That's what I meant earlier," I told him, patting his back comfortingly. "I think arranged marriages are restrictive and unfair."

He just nodded, eyes glued to the table. "They are. Very. It's not as if I don't like Klaru, but... I just wish things could have been different for us all."

I frowned at him. For someone who seemed to be head-over-heels for this Klaru girl, his sudden unhappiness made me question his true feelings - and the fact he'd missed out that one little word. Love. 

"Like?" I questioned. He looked at me in confusion. "You said like, not love. Don't you love her?"

"Truthfully? No," he admitted. "I've not known her long enough to conclude such feelings of affection."

"Aw, that sucks. I'm sorry you feel that w-" I started.

I was interrupted however; interrupted by a loud and persistent banging on the front door. 

Thank you for reading! x
Space joke: Why did the Sun go to school? To become brighter!
Cazza