Page 36 of The Frog Prince

He shuffled to claim it, taking the scenic route around the far end of the table that wouldn’t have him walking past Alwin. He gripped the back of it and pulled it out, the scrape against the floor loud in the silence. He sat down stiffly, not making any effort to tuck himself under the table. Leaving his legs free to take him away should he need them to.

Precautions. Against him.

“Well…” he said when they fell to silence again.

“Well what?”

Alwin tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “I believe I am owed an apology.”

Otto was taken aback. “You wish an apology?”

“So surprised. I wonder at the reasoning. Am I too much a monster to deserve one?” Alwin asked with a wry twist of his lips. “Or are you simply too proud to deliver it?”

He didn’t wait to receive the answer, in truth, fearing the former so much that he quickly changed the subject.

“I am quite hungry. How about you make me something to eat?”

Otto opened his mouth as if he was thinking of responding anyway before he closed it again, a storm of emotions rioting underneath the surface.

“There is more stew,” Otto said quietly. “I can heat it up.”

“A disappointing start, companion. It was not prepared by you, for me.”

“I can’t afford to waste food,” Otto said tersely before a shadow fell over his face and he took a deep breath. “Even if I earned well as a healer’s apprentice, this is all we have.”

Alwin looked at him for a moment, looking for any sign of deception. Another hint that the kind man he had seen that day at his well was truly there. Otto’s eyes were clouded and distant. His voice sounded tired and heavy. He looked battle worn and weary.

Alwin could relate.

“Stew sounds acceptable. I haven’t had warm food in a while.”

Alwin followed Otto with his eyes as he moved to the cooking pot hanging over the fireplace. He used a cloth to pull it out and ladled a portion into an earthenware bowl, making sure not to waste a single drop.

Alwin had watched the famine spread, slowly but surely across both kingdoms. Not even the creatures of the forest were spared. His frogs brought news of death and desolation more and more frequently, Alwin unable to do anything to stop it.

He thought back to the many who had sought him out, not for riches or power, but for a simple meal. As much as they could bargain for. He pictured the reverence each morsel was treated with as he did his best to stem the tide and provide relief.

A simple meal was a feast for some. A wish for others.

He knew that more now, after surviving in the forest for so long with only himself to depend on.

Otto came back to the table and slid the bowl over to him with a spoon, keeping the wood between them.

Alwin wrapped his fingers around the bowl, and Otto snatched his back before their skin could touch, reacting as if he were a snake or a spider about to bite.

Alwin ignored the hurt in his heart, brazening it out like he hadn’t noticed at all. Instead, he looked down at the stew and marveled at it. He picked up the spoon awkwardly and scooped up a bite, only for it to slip from his fingers and clatter to the table, making Otto jump in fright and leaving a mess of cooked vegetables and broth on the wooden surface.

He watched the patterns the stew made on the wooden floor, feeling shame flood him like a tide. He was poised. Graceful. He was a damn prince. His entire upbringing had been spent learning how to behave, how to exemplify the status and class he belonged to.

In this moment he was unable to pretend he was still that person.

Embarrassed beyond bearing and feeling those blue eyes boring into him, seeing everything he never wanted another person to see, he pasted on a quick smile, reaching for another mask, an act to cover up his vulnerable parts.

“Apologies.” He picked the utensil back up, fumbling with it for a second, this time on purpose. “I don’t have many opportunities to use one of these.”

“It’s…fine,” Otto said, gaze still too searching, maybe slightly pitying. “Take your time.”

“I would, but then the stew will get cold, and like I said, I have been craving a warm meal.” He locked eyes with Otto brazenly. “Would you mind lending a hand?”