“So Maliki, tell me,” mused Elizabeth, sipping a glass of champagne, “you have all the riches no man could ever imagine yet you have such a soft personality.”
“Are you disappointed that I am not a spoiled and demanding individual?” Maliki said, chuckling at the thought. He was glad he did not grow up to be someone who thought they were better than others. His father’s philosophy of blaming him for his mother’s death has certainly done something with him ending up where he is now. His social skills were lacking but at least he grew up to be a gentleman.
“No not at all. I just do not understand your calm human characteristics,” Elizabeth replied. “I have seen and heard all sorts of different dirt on all these royal people including deceiving your own immediate family and yet I have not heard anything bad about you.”
“Should I be offended?” Maliki asked. “Is it wrong that I choose not to fall into the trap of greed?”
“Again, of course not but you interest me, Maliki. Your sister is the head of the throne and not a male like yourself. Normally one would get mad, even revengeful for the throne,” Elizabeth pressed. She did not mean to be so rude to Maliki but she could not hold her mouth. Her parents warned about her and how much trouble she could get with a loud mouth of hers but curiosity filled her mind.
Traveling everywhere as a child, she had seen the true dirty life of a royal. There was so much deceit and hatred that was covered in public by a fake welcoming smile. Because of this, she had learned how to read emotions and people’s faces in an instant. However, Maliki was different. He was different.
“I would not be able to rule as well as Annie. I was never much educated in that area,” Maliki answered honestly. He blushed slightly, very embarrased by his lack of knowledge. If it wasn’t for his status, he would be thought as a peasant for all he knew.
“You were never educated in politics?” Elizabeth asked astonished. “Why would that be?”
“There are reasons but that will be a mystery that I will never explain. It is best if we change the topic of our conversation,” Maliki sighed quietly, wishing he had something to boast about to regain a little of his dignity.
“I am a very curious woman and I know how to get my information, Prince Maliki. Next time be careful of what you say in front of me,” Elizabeth winked mysteriously. She meant every word that she said so far including this. She knew how to get into someone’s head and know when to ask the right question. She had learned from the best: the royals.
“Well Miss Elizabeth, I hope you do not strain yourself because you will not find much,” Maliki teased but he was telling the truth. No one knew what his father’s actions were to him behind closed doors. He was a violent man with a hard heart.
Suddenly Maliki’s heart stopped as he saw her come in. Izzy followed Alexander as he entered the room. He noted the little space between Izzy and Timothy and loathed him for it even if it wasn’t intentional. They drew a big attention but it mostly focused on Alexander as he went back to Annie with a fake smile Maliki was so used to.
The only thing that seemed out of ordinary was Izzy’s expression. Or the problem that she showed no expression. Her face was stone and if he didn’t know her any better he would have mistaken her for a beautiful statue. Timothy’s arms nudged her slightly which brought her to life and jerked his head towards the back of the room. She nodded and followed him.
“Excuse me, but I think I have business to attend,” Maliki apologized and left Elizabeth without another word.
As he slowly approached Izzy, he noticed that his father had already beaten him to the chase and Timothy nowhere to be seen. He was whispering as he was very close to Izzy and according to her eyes, it didn’t seem anything good.
“Father, may I speak with you,” Maliki said, trying to distract his father from whatever he was doing to Izzy. She looked at me with a look of gratitude but went back to her emotionless face.
“Ah, yes. Maliki, my son, of course,” his father said a little too kindly. He watched his father look at Isabelle for another second before turning to him. “What did you need?” his father asked, while Isabelle hurried away.
“I-I want to know more about Miss Elizabeth. I think I am taking a liking towards her,” Maliki said, finding any excuse to distract his father.
“You fancy her? I believe I can make arrangements,” his father said in a bored voice but Maliki was pleasantly surprised and quite happy. He sometimes thanked that his father was such a high status man with powerful allies although he did feel guilty for using it for his own wish. “Anything to get you out of trouble for Annie’s wedding.” Maliki’s mood instantly turned sour as his father insulted him but he dismissed it. Getting Elizabeth was not his original plan and he never let his father get inside his head.
“Thank you father. I much appreciate it,” Maliki thanked properly before leaving his father and searching the room for Izzy but she seemed to have disappeared in the sea of faces.
*Isabelle*
Izzy walked out of the room, trying to get some air outside in the garden where no one cared to look at its beauty. What King Henry said scared her and she needed her own time to clear her mind and stay strong. This was the price of being Alexander’s bodyguard and she knew what she had to do.
King Henry’s threat of creating an accidental death for her was going a little too far though. If she whispered a word about it, she would be dead before seeing the next day. She laughed out loud as she realized this danger all because of Annie and Alexander’s wedding. It was quite ridiculous but she sobered up. She could die from this.
“Why are you laughing?” a handsome voice came and her heart jumped, panicking at Alexander’s arrival. She had to get out of there and fast.
“N-nothing. I must go. I am needed somewhere else,” Izzy said quickly trying to return back to the festive lights indoors.
“Do not leave just yet. I have not been able to talk to you in a while,” Alexander spoke, holding onto Izzy so she couldn’t escape.
“We saw each other back at the sparring courts,” Isabelle reminded him, trying to get out of his grasp but he was surprisingly strong. Plus the extra height helped him to his advantage of holding her hostage. Her legs twitched as she was suppressing the temptation of kicking his groin.
“You know what I mean Izzy,” he said, shaking his head. “Why do we never have a real conversation. Even though we loathed each other years ago we still played together. Do you not remember?”
“Yes, I do,” Isabelle whispered softly, wishing life could be that easy but it was time to face reality. “We grew up since then.”
“Yes,” Alex said expressively as if Isabelle deciphered a secret meaning. “We have grown up. We are more mature now,” he said, dangerously close to her face. He looked down at her, staring into her preciously eyes as his hands began to play with the edges of her long hair. Her hairband seemed to have gone missing as her long hair was out of its prison. He loved running his fingers through her silky hair.
“Zander, stop,” Izzy warned, scared where this might lead to. She knew no one could see them outside where it was pitch black but she had to be cautious. Alex’s lips twitched upwards into a smile and she furrowed her brows at him.
“You called me Zander,” he smiled cheeky.
“Shut your mouth and get out of here,” Izzy huffed, embarrased at the nickname that slipped. Only King John and Izzy used to use his nickname but now it was only the king as it only brought back memories of their childhood.
“You know it is not likely I would listen to you,” Alex said knowingly and swooped down to kiss her.