Naked Chickens

Coming home to this place still gave me a feeling of disbelief, as if ever after seven months of living in the castle on the hill, my brain still couldn't comprehend it. Shaking my head, I finished pulling my car into the garage.

Everything about living in a castle was amazing! From elegantly walking down the stairs just to feel fancy to the food to sliding down the ancient hallways hand in hand with Archer. I smiled remembering my first few nights in the castle.

Archer and I had only been married for a couple of hours. And still, I felt as if I was walking on water every second because of how impossible the whole matter was. A servant girl marrying the prince of one of the strongest nations in the world? No way could that ever happen, much less to a luck-less human being like myself.

When I walked into the kitchen, I snapped out of my memories by the sudden onslaught of smells. The kitchen was my second favorite place in the castle, and it always smelled amazing! Multiple foods were being waved in my face for me to taste. Without even thinking about it, I opened my mouth to the flood of amazing food. Feeling way too full for so early in the morning, I waved to my friends and continued on.

Honestly, even though the walk from the garage to my rooms was almost ten minutes, I enjoyed every minute of it. Just the act of walking through the hustle and bustle of castle life is completely calming after my day at work.

I finally reach my rooms and instantly collapse on my oh-so-soft bed. "Archer?" My voice is muffled by the mattress. I sit up and call out again. "Archer?"

A faint voice responds to my call from three rooms away. "Yeah? Come here!"

I pad through the rooms towards him, socks buffeting the cold tile. When I walk in his room, he is sitting sprawled on the couch, hands over his eyes, his laptop thrown opposite him.

"Oh, dear." I'm already giggling. "What has happened here?" I move his legs and sit down.

Without opening his eyes, he wraps his arms around me. "I just Googled what chickens look like without feathers, and I'm severely uncomfortable."

I laugh at the sheer absurdness, the prince of a powerful country, broken by a naked chicken.

"Don't laugh! It's freaky!"Archer point to the open laptop, "Look! Just look!"

Still laughing a little, I reach and pull the laptop to me. Right in the middle of the screen is a living but plucked-looking chicken. Everything about the picture is made slightly off by the weirdness of a naked chicken. "You're right, it's really weird." But not weird enough to warrant this reaction from a prince.

"I know!" Archer finally opens his soft eyes to look at me.

I close the laptop and put it down on the coffee table. I turn, so my arms can hug him comfortably and he rests his head on my shoulder. "Don't worry, I won't let any naked chickens get you."