**This one is a bit different from my other imagines, it's kind of a complete AU. I've seen some Prince Niall stuff before (inspired by the picture above), so I thought I'd give it a try, myself. I really hope everyone enjoys this one, and I'd greatly appreciate some feedback! Thank you!!**
*Niall's POV*
I hadn't yet been dressed for the day, and part of me wished I could stay that way all day - clad in my blue, plaid-patterned pajamas. I shuffled my feet to the large doors in front of me, watching the knights tense up when I opened them. They stood, at guard, outside my bedroom doors - all night long. I often wondered how they managed, although I was told that they exchanged shifts during the night, in which a new pair of knights would come in to take over for the two that had previously been on duty. I wouldn't know - they all look the same under their heavy uniforms. "At ease, gentlemen," I chuckled, and I swear one of them sent me an icy glare. They were knights, but they weren't exactly military personnel, and they did not like to be treated as so. However, I couldn't help but find it funny - how strong and protective they always felt they needed to be.
I left my doors open, because I knew someone would close them for me, and began my walk down the crystal hallway. My feet padded along the red and gold-embroidered rug that lie along the center of the hall. "Your Highness," I heard one knight speak, as to question my intentions.
I raised a finger and said over my shoulder, "Not to worry, Sir, I'm only taking a little walk. Tell the ladies I'll be back in time for them to dress me." There were three ladies, all over the age of thirty, that scuttled around my bedroom every morning, throwing clothing at me and demanding me to put it on. They also combed my hair up and sometimes dusted a little powder across my face, but that was usually only at times when I'd be making a public appearance. They were in charge of organizing all of my outfits - for meetings, speeches, dinners. Anything I attended, those ladies were there to choose clothing for me.
The knights fell back into a comfortable stance and I smiled shortly before turning my back to them and continuing my walk down the hall. I strolled with my arms behind my back, like the gentleman I was taught to be. I knew of no other way to carry myself, other than strong and professionally. 'You're to be a king one day, my boy,' My father would say to me, 'Hold your chin up and act the part.' As I passed through the palace, entering my favorite hall, the sweet sound of singing birds filled my ears. This was the part of the hallway that was open to the garden, on either side, and natural light flooded through. It was the brightest and happiest part of the palace in the morning, and I now wanted to make it part of my morning routine - to travel through it. I stopped and placed my hands on the marble railing, letting the sunlight wash over my face. My eyes closed for a moment, and peeled open again when the sound of a soft singing voice filled my ears. I leaned over the railing and peeked around the corner, trying to identify the source of the voice. It was then that I crossed to the other side of the hall, finding a young girl in the other half of the garden. She was now gently humming to herself, while digging her fragile hands into the earth, planting new flowers for the spring. I inhaled the fresh air and smiled at her, though she hadn't yet noticed my presence.
I couldn't remember this girl, and I wasn't sure I'd ever met her. There were several people that worked for me, in the very palace in which I lived, but I did not know them personally. Only those that engaged with me every day did I know on a personal level. This young girl could've been hired a year ago and I wouldn't have known until a coincidence like this one. I smiled more and spoke with a booming voice, as to assure myself that she'd hear me. "Beautiful day today, isn't it?" I called, watching as she nearly lost the socks on her feet, scrambling to brush the dirt from her hands. I chuckled softly as she hurried to her feet, and then bowed before me.
"Your Highness!" She gasped, bowing her head. She cleared her throat and I could see her chest rising and falling with every nervous breath she took.
Waving my hand, I walked along the railing and said, "You mustn't call me such things when I know so little about you. How do I know you aren't royalty, yourself?" I joked, and she smiled while lowering her eyes to the ground beneath her.
"Not I," She quietly said, before raising her eyes back to me. "I am miss (Y/N) from the kitchen, but the gardener has fallen ill and I've offered myself to take over her duties this once. I always thought the garden would be a more satisfying place to spend my mornings." She shyly intertwined her fingers in front of her and averted her eyes to the greenery around her, blooming with fresh flowers for the season.
A thought came to my mind and I asked her, "Is it you that always leaves a note on my tray? But you've never left a signature so I'm never sure who to thank for such pleasant messages." I could see a crimson blush on her face and she laughed a small laugh, nodding slowly.
"That would be my doing, Sir," She admitted, "I always thought your meal might taste a little better, knowing those of us in the kitchen have made it with nothing but love." She pressed her lips together and I couldn't bring myself to stop smiling at her.
When a silence had fallen upon us, I quietly told her, "I've kept every one."
"Pardon, Sir?" She squeaked, gliding her hands along the sides of her work dress.
"Every one of your notes," I explained, "I've kept them." She seemed overjoyed by this, and I watched her grin widen.
She then bowed to me and softly spoke, "It is my honor to have spoken with you, Your Highness. However, I am due back in the kitchen for breakfast. Surely the others will be needing me."
"Of course," I smiled, bowing to her. She froze. A prince rarely bows to anyone of lower status than their own. In fact, my father would say it was despicable - for a prince like myself to bow down to a kitchen maid like her. "When shall I see you again?" I asked, ignoring the shock on her face.
She stuttered, unsure of how to respond. "U-uh, I-" She stopped to quickly gather her basket of gardening tools, "I don't know, Sir. I must go." My face fell and I watched with a frown as she hurried away, disappearing from my view. Surely I hadn't frightened her, had I? I was feeling slightly offended as I ventured back to my bedchamber.
*Your POV*
My heart was fluttering in ways I didn't know were possible. Not only had I just spoken with the Prince, but he asked to see me again! I felt like a little girl who'd just had her first kiss, though I hadn't even been close enough to touch him! I was floating, but I knew I couldn't allow my jittery mind to get in the way of my duties. When I returned to the kitchen, with a dumb smile on my face, all eyes turned to me. "You're late, my dear!" Sang Mary, the head chef in the palace. She turned her back to me as she stirred a pot of oatmeal.
I cleared my throat and forced a flat expression on my face, mumbling, "I'm sorry, miss! The - the garden took a bit longer than I expected."
She did not seem fully-convinced, but she also didn't waste any more time to question me any further. "Well put on your apron and get working! We haven't got time to waste!" I nodded and crossed the kitchen to the corner where our aprons are hung by a hook. I grabbed mine and fastened it around my neck and waist, ready to fix the toast, when Mary stopped me. "Not before you wash your hands!" She hissed, almost disgusted with how scatter-brained I'd become.
"R-right," I quickly nodded, turning the faucet on and scrubbing my hands with a bar of soap.
She stepped beside me to fill a pot with water and I heard her click her tongue in disapproval. "My, my," She muttered, "You'd think the Lord himself had just come, and taken your sense with him!" I forced a smile on my face as she chuckled, moving quickly to the other side of the kitchen, leaving me alone at the sink. After shaking the loose water droplets from my hands, I carried on with the toast, making sure it was toasted to perfection. Now that I had an encounter with the Prince, I knew who I was cooking for. And I wanted him to be satisfied.
We all worked feverishly to have breakfast prepared by eight o'clock sharp. A footman named Phillip, whom was responsible for delivering each meal, arrived in the kitchen. I sighed as I placed two trays on either of his arms; one for the Prince and one for the Queen. The King's meal was delivered by a footman other than Phillip, of whom I'd never seen before. I smiled at Phillip and said, "Good day."
He returned the smile, but did not move. I stared at him as he spoke, "Miss (Y/N), it has been requested that you bring the Prince his breakfast this morning." I didn't think Phillip had spoken very loudly, but everyone in the kitchen heard him. Every woman in there paused and turned to stare, completely taken by shock. I was only a kitchen maid - I was hardly even allowed in the rest of the palace, and much less in the Prince's bedchamber!
I swallowed hard and shakily spoke, "This must be some mistake, I-"
"It is no mistake," Phillip said, and I heard a few gasps behind me. "The Prince himself has asked it." He gave me no more time to hesitate as he placed the Prince's tray back in my arms. "I assume you know where you're headed?" Phillip asked, and I nodded. He gave me a nod and a reassuring smile. I exchanged glances with Mary before inhaling a deep breath, and then pushing through the kitchen doors.
I felt the eyes of every knight on me as I moved through the palace, looking awfully out of place. I wasn't dressed nice enough to be delivering a meal, in fact, I hardly even looked like I worked for the royal family. I was just dressed in my old work dress, in which I often cooked and nothing else. I tried to smile at every person I passed, but it was rare for me to get a smile in return. I suppose their job wasn't to be friendly, but to be strong.
When I came to the large, detailed doors, I knew I had come to my destination. The two knights that stood beside the doors shuffled at the sight of me, but I quickly calmed them. "It is miss (Y/N) from the kitchen," I explained, "The Prince has requested that his meal be delivered by m-me." The knight on the right nodded and both of them grabbed one door handle, opening the bedchamber to me. I was greeted by the light that poured in from the huge windows in the room.
After quietly stepping in, the knights closed the doors after me and continued to stand at guard. "Your Highness?" I gently called, and suddenly a chair spun around, revealing the Prince sitting with his legs crossed and a newspaper in his hands. He smiled at me but I couldn't tear my eyes from him. His outfit consisted of a shiny suit, picking up the light from the window. His hair had been fixed since I'd seen him that morning, and now it was combed up on the top of his head. I tried my best to bow to him, while still holding the tray. "I've brought your breakfast," I told him, standing still in my spot.
The Prince cleared a spot on the table beside him and said, "You may set it here, ma'am." After doing so, I stood with my arms crossed in front of me. I wasn't really sure what to do. I felt as if he didn't quite want me to leave yet, and I was right.
"You had me worried earlier," He spoke before taking a sip of his tea. "The way you hurried away from me... I thought I'd done something wrong. I hope I didn't?"
"No, Sir," I shook my head, "I was just...I needed to..." I couldn't explain it to him. I couldn't find words.
"Sit, my dear," He said, nodding toward the chair beside him. My breath caught in my throat. 'My dear '?! This can't be happening! I did as told, carefully sinking into the velvet-covered chair. The Prince set his teacup down with a small clinking noise, before lifting a slice of toast, which I had prepared. "I see you didn't write me a note this morning! Why not? I look forward to them." He waited for my response and crunched on his toast.
I lowered my eyes to my lap and spoke quietly, "I didn't have time, Sir. But I suppose bringing your food to you has made up for it, yes?"
He chuckled and said, "It certainly has." While wiping his hands on a cloth napkin, he added, "Would you mind if I asked you to just call me Niall? I realize you feel you shouldn't, but... 'Sir' and 'Your Highness' do get old after a fashion."
I nodded slowly and smiled faintly at him, still struggling to believe all of this was happening. "How's the toast?" I asked him with a giggle, "I toasted it to perfection, just for you." Niall nodded happily and took another bite.
"It's lovely," He commented, "Best toast I've ever had! In fact, you must try some! It would be a sin for me to eat this without you knowing how wonderful it is." I laughed as he leaned closer to me, offering me a side that he had not yet eaten from. I hesitated, but he nodded me forward. After taking a small bite, because I knew I shouldn't be doing it in the first place, I smiled while chewing. The toast was quite delicious, I must say. I was rather proud of how finely I'd prepared it. But it had to be fit for a prince. He smiled at me and I wiped the corner of my mouth with the sleeve of my dress, just as a heavy knock could be heard. The sound echoed through the large room and my smile fell as a voice interrupted.
"Your Highness? You must open up, I've got an urgent message!" The voice was deep and strong.
Niall sent me an apologetic smile and he called, "Have the knights open the door for you!"
Seconds later, a man dressed in a fancy suit rushed in, and I was scrambling to my feet. He paused, staring at me, and questioning why I was in the Prince's bedchamber before Niall cleared his throat and strongly said, "There's a message?"
"R-right, Sir." The man tore his eyes from me and bowed to Niall. Niall nodded and the man proceeded to say, "The unwed Princess Edith will be joining us for lunch today. It has been arranged that she meet you, Your Highness."
"Why is it that I'm just being told of this now?" Niall hissed, "I do not wish to meet her today."
The man sighed and leaned in as to speak at a quieter tone, "Your Highness, surely you understand... it is expected of you to marry a princess. And you are of an age now where marriage... is in the picture."
**Just so you know, I am planning on writing a Part 2 for this - as long as everyone likes it so far!**