It wasn't soon after the prince left that he got a text message on his phone. For once in his life he was relieved that he had a flip phone. The old phones tend to last a week without charging. He opened his phone and saw a text about where the prince would be if he needed him. He sent a quick response before deciding on getting some of the work done in the south wing. He always could make good decisions and think well with busy hands.

He decided to start ripping up the old carpet. There were a few tools that he kept on his person such as a carpenter knife and pencil. However, all of the other tools were resting safely in his toolbox at home. He wasn't sure when he would leave the castle or get his truck back. He supposed he could always walk home but he still had work here to do. He wasn't getting paid to sit around in art museums.

So he started ripping the carpet out. It was a task that anybody with a little bit of anger could enjoy. It personally was one of his favorites when he was angry but one of the least enjoyable when he wasn't. He did have a lot of emotions going through his head but anger wasn't one of them. So in a sense, it seemed rather messy and annoying. But it was task that he could let his mind wonder on. A task perfect for decision making.

Once he got the old carpet pulled, he rolled the pieces out and set them outside of the wing. He would ask Prince Avery where to put them later. He started pulling out staples on the floors, figuring he had lots of time before the prince would be back to ask his decision.

Aspen felt his phone go off but ignored it, wanting to work instead. He knew it was most likely the prince and he wasn't ready to give his decision quite yet. So he continued to pull staples out of the wing floor until he got every one.

He found a broom resting right next to the wing and a few other supplies. The castle staff must have gotten them out for him which he rather appreciated. He didn't want to be roaming the castle in search for one and get caught by the guards. He might have gotten away with it on his first day but no doubt that his presence wouldn't go without being noticed this time.

He swept up all the staples and threw them in the trash All that was left was cardboard like wood which was the foundation of . He made another walk on the floor to make sure all the stables were all gone. He would hate for somebody to get a staple in their foot.

Once finished, he texted the prince. It was time to make a decision.

The prince didn't answer immediately but that was okay. Anything to buy more time was probably best. It give him more time to think things through. Perhaps it really was best to follow his own way of doing things instead of trying his best to change himself to better fit the expectations of royalty.

After all, Prince Avery and him seemed to get along best when both of their guards were down. He found himself back in the one art room, looking at the painting that the prince said he liked. He could get how the prince liked it, the artwork just screamed something that was relatable to him.

He heard footsteps approaching from the south wing and slipped outside of the room. It was just the prince's. Prince Avery seemed to walk lighter than the castle staff and way lighter than Robbie.

"Please be careful, the flooring is uneven," He told the prince, walking up to him and giving a small bow. He had gotten quite a bit done and now he was ready to start painting. As soon as he had gotten paint that is.

During his work, he had shedded the suit jack and dressshirt. He was now in a white undershirt tank top that he had found with the set. It seemed to hug this waist and was just a tad bit see-through.

"You smell like horse," He commented. At this point he was just finding things to say to distract the prince from asking him about his decision. Well to delay it just a tad bit longer.

Now what came out of the prince's mouth wasn't what he expected to hear. Aspen looked a bit stunned at his attitude but quickly recovered from it. He was starting to get used to the royalty doing something to surprise, stun, or shock him. Since he was getting used to it, it was easier to recover and move on.

"It's okay," He responded. He wanted to tell him that he said that just to by more time. Well he truly didn't need any more time. He knew what to say but he knew that he wasn't going to like his answer. And the king wasn't going to either.

"I sent you a text earlier but it wasn't anything important," He partially lied. It just said something about the progress he had made in the south wing and that he had made his decision. The prince would see it once he found his phone.

"I truly do like the other room better. Would you like to see it? We could talk while we go there."

"Of course," He responded, a bit curious about the other room and also what the prince wanted to talk about. It was most likely the decision but with the prince not knowing what his last text said, it could be something else,"Is everything okay, Your Highness?"

The prince's attitude had changed toward him rather quickly. Hours ago, they were doing just fine. Now they weren't. He wasn't sure what was wrong with that. He knew right away that the prince was masking himself like Aspen was just another cameraman trying to get his good side. A part of him wanted to confront him but the other part knew it was best to keep his mouth shut.

"May I?" He asked, reaching a hand toward his brother's cat. He didn't know why he was asking permission to pet the cat. Maybe it was because the prince's masking scared him just a little or made him feel like somewhere down the line he messed up. Once Prince Avery answered him, he stroked the little kitten underneath her chin. He was extra careful to make sure he didn't touch the prince in any way.

"I really hate to rush you. I know this is a huge decision. But I do need an answer for my father. If you don't want to, he'll have to find someone else, and he would rather have them be ready soon. Do...you have an answer? For you don't, it's fine, but we'll need one by tonight."

Maybe it was the stress the king was putting on his son for an answer. He wasn't for sure. He let the prince walk into the other room before leaning against the doorway. He felt uncomfortable being in the same room as this version of the prince. He wasn't sure why.

"You're not going to like it," He partially said this to himself However, the room seemed to echo his words even if they had been originally quiet enough for only the best of ears to hear. He took a deep breath for a confidence boost, looking around the room for a moment before his gaze landed back on the prince who was standing by the violin's.

"I would like to observe the location and the castle before I make any long-term commitment to the job," His voice rang with more confidence and authority than he ever thought he could imagine having The room seemed to carry the echo of that tone of voice and he hoped that this side of the prince would not take offense,"But I am interested in the position if I see that my expertise is a fit for the work in the castle."

Prince Avery's words from before seemed to ring in his ears. He was playing a dangerous game and not just by the tone of his voice. The king was the highest ruler of the kingdom and probably didn't hear an answer that didn't promise him anything. Hell, the king probably wasn't used to hearing no when he offered a position before or a give me time to think answer. Aspen was pulling a risky move but it was the first one that he felt was the right one to make.