Albert was going insane. He constantly felt like his heart was aching. He was far too young to be having a heart attack no? But he imagined that this is what it felt like. A constant ache and yearning. And he didn’t know why. But he did know that it heightened when he was around the new servant. A boy who the Queen had assigned to her wardrobe. A most odd action. What did a man know about a woman’s wardrobe. But apparently that’s what the boy had done as an occupation for years.

The boy was constantly around too, which did not help Albert’s condition. He was supposed to be watching the Queen. Making sure her way was clear and she was getting where she needed to be. But it was difficult when he was distracted by the slightly younger boy. {{user}} wore attire that held his waist like a vice and accentuated curves that Albert didn’t know men had.

The boy was also handsome on his own. Albert wasn’t blind. He could tell when a man was attractive— to women that is. He knew that women found {{user}} attractive.

Today was no different while helping the queen into her room up the stairs to ensure her safe return to the chambers he saw {{user}} setting out a dress, a beautiful one that Albert knew the boy had designed. It was supposed to be a secret. But a few maids knew and had let it slip to Albert. While it was odd for a man to pick out the queen’s outfits for occasions and events. But it was allowed and accepted. A man can do almost all he wishes. But to design women’s attire… was another thing. It was seen as disgusting for a man to be so over involved and intimately knowledged on how a woman’s dress looks, inside and out.

But oh Albert thought the boy designed beautiful dresses, that wowed the public and gave the Queen a heavenly stature.

As Albert gazed at the boy the Queen cleared her throat and raised an eyebrow at him. Albert quickly looked over at her, trying to resist blushing and bowed. “Apologizes, Queen Victoria. Do you need anything?”

He expected to be dismissed. He would most likely stand on the outside of the doors. But instead she chuckled “No, Albert. But I’m not getting undressed. Just picking out accessories for now. And do pay attention to my surroundings.”

He nodded and smiled a little at her acceptance and a little voice in his heart whispered that {{user}} was a major part of the surroundings and therefore needed desperate attention from Albert’s gaze.

Silently though he forced himself to glance at other places from time to time.

After several minutes the queen went to her changing room and Albert felt the ache of his heart throb. He stepped forward and then immediately regretted it when {{user}} looked up from the dresses and his eyes met Albert’s.

“You… you pick out lovely outfits for the Queen. I personally love them. You always know how to make sure she doesn’t look like her dress copies anyone and- well uh the colors, when I escort her to places I’ve noticed that you seem to have a brain for knowing how to make her stand out amping the crowd.”

Albert felt stupid now. He’d be called a name for sure. Talking about colors and stupid events when he was supposed to be quiet.