The Secrets of Llawnech

"My dream job was to be a head chef, the location was not a dream to me."
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"I cannot yoyr highness it is against the rules."

"I am granting your permission. Siobhan is too busy in bed with her precious Xavier that she won't notice if you treat yourself to a alcoholic drink with us."

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"Mm, that makes me like you more." Emily grinned, lifting herself up to sit on the edge of the counter. "How long have you been cooking?"

Hayden nodded and he took a seat with them.
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"Since I was twelve."

"I much prefer you to our 'International Affair Communication' whatever the hell he is." Gwen hummed, having a sip of her drink. "I've been been able to stand the man."

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"And now you are...?"

"I'm 29." He told her.
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Hayden smiled slightyl. "Thank you your highness."

"Plenty of years practice behind you then," Emily hummed with a grin. "Your older than my older brother, strange."

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Gwen just grinned, before glancing to the side Alicia. "Though, you seem keen on him, sister."

"How is that strange?" He asked out of curiosity.
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"I'm just trying to stop him from running his mouth and getting himself into serious trouble sister."

"Why do you care enough to want to prevent him from getting in trouble?"

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"You seem too creative to be that old,"

"Because we used to be friends as children, the three of us."
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He laughed. "Thanks I guess?"

"We were only friends because mother taught us to be polite and his mother had died. Emily is a sweetheart because she is humble but Harry walks around believing he has the right to disregard rules because he grew up here. Last week he slept with the Indonesian senate, do you know that? He abuses his position."

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"How old do you think I am?"

"Then why have we not. Acted. On this?" Alicia asked.
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"Early twenties+?" 5

"No, eighteen. Those extra years you are seeing is the stress of tulips being eaten by snails and lavender outgrowing the wooden posts that encourage them to look in anyway aestically pleasing."

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"Because our sister has decided she has no time to converse with me anymore, and what can we do really?" Gwen shrugged, turning her attention back onto Hayden. "Do you interact much with Harry?"

"Not a lot, I just save his ass when people want to kill him. For being too out spoken." Hayden. Told them.

Alicia looked to Hayden and then to Gwen. "Maybe we should tell her."
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"Forgive me. If I caused you offence."

Emily laughed softly at that and shook her head in the negative, "No offence given. Are you living on the grounds or travelling in and out every day?"

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"You can try, you might be able to grab her after a meeting tomorrow." Gwen shrugged.

"I live on the grounds at the moment, what about you?"
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"I'll try."

"I have lived here since I was a baby. My father worked as the previous kings confidant, they became friends. When my mother died whilst delivering me the three of us were allowed to stay so long as my father continued to work. Now he is gone my brother and I work here too. We were raised with this family. This is the only place I have ever known."

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"I hope you have better luck than me," Gwen hummed, before turning her attention onto Hayden again. "Enjoying the drink? Or is it too sweet for your taste?"

"It is very nice your highness."
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Joshua nodded in understanding.

Gwen just nodded subtly, looking him from head to toe and back again - trying to work out ways to get to know him better that didn't sound like an interegattion.

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"I rarely even leave the grounds, its like being imprisoned or something. It makes me a little bit crazy."

"So Hayden, what do you normally do on your days off?" Alicia suddenly asked, working out what her sister was trying to do immediately.

"Not a lot my lady, I usually go riding or to the tavern to socialise." He told her. "I'm not very exciting."
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He nodded. "Well, my home is just outside of the palace, if you ever got bored, you could always come there."

"How well do you ride?"

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"Only if you cook for me, all of this look amazing." She hummed.

"Well enough your highness." Hayden told him. "I keep my horse here for when I travel to and from my home."
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He smiled. "Deal."

"Well," Gwen hummed, finishing her drink and putting it on the side. "Princess Alicia has meetings tomorrow to prepare for, so we best leave her be and you, you should allow me to meet your horse."

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"I'll bring flowers," She grinned

Hayden got to his feet immediately and he nodded. "As you wish your highness."

Alicia looked knowingly at her sister.
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"Sounds good."

Gwen just gave her an eyebrow raise, before beginning to walk toward the stables. Motioning for Hayden to walk alongside her.

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"Great," Emily hummed, sliding off the counter and heading toward the kitchens back door. "I shall leave you to your work, before you get in trouble or fall behind,"

Joshua smiled. "I'll see you around?" He asked.
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Hayden walked with her.