Nova’s POV
“How much longer until we’re finished?” I asked, my gaze fixed on my reflection in the mirror. The maid was carefully styling my hair, and I was beginning to feel impatient.
“She’s almost done,” Shayna mumbled, applying another layer of foundation to my face. I could tell she was tired of me asking the same question over and over again, and I could understand why.
Wasn’t she eager to watch the duet?
“Yes, Your Highness, just a few more minutes and we’ll be finished,” the maid assured me with a smile, her nimble fingers carefully weaving beads into my hair. I tried to relax, to let the soothing feeling of her hands in my hair wash over me, but I was still on edge.
“Good.” I rolled my eyes, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
I didn’t like the idea of maids coming over to dress me up, but since I always do the bathing myself, the least they could help with was my hair. And somehow, they tend to take extra time just to fix my hair.
It was finally the duet day, where the best warrior would be entertaining the people with his fighting skills. The rules permitted anyone who would dare to challenge the best warrior to a fight. I heard whoever beat the current best warrior stands a chance to become a warrior, if not become the new best warrior if they beat the current best warrior a second time.
The thought of watching the live fight made my inside leapt with joy. I had been waiting for the day since the day I heard things like that happen at the villa which I had never had a chance to witness.
“You look so excited,” Shayna whispered in my ear, her breath hot against my skin. “Is it because you’ll finally get to sit next to His Majesty again, after weeks of him ignoring you?” I gritted my teeth, doing my best to keep my composure. I knew she was just trying to get a rise out of me, to provoke a reaction.
“What the hell are you saying?” I flared up, my brows creased as I shot her a deadly glare.
How dare she try to ruin my excitement by bringing up Prescott who had grown hatred for me?
“Easy! Calm down, your Highness!” Shayna chuckled, pulling away from me. “I only mentioned his name, and you’re already acting up.” she laughed like a maniac I had once pictured her to be.
“Why should I calm down? I’m not even thinking about him, not after ignoring my ass yesterday, right there in front of the great wall of his office.” I scoffed, remembering how he walked past me like I hadn’t been there.
“Oh, that must have hurt. Are you feeling good?” she smirked, I didn’t say anything, I sat down there flaring up at how embarrassed I had felt while narrating what happened the previous night to Shayna.
I was an idiot, I should have known she would keep teasing me for getting excited only to get ignored by my husband again.
“Your hair is done, your Highness!” the maid announced, stepping away from me. I moved my gaze to the mirror to check what she did to my head.
Somehow I felt like I was the most beautiful lady in the nation merely looking at the perfect makeup on my face, and the flawless style the maid had done on my head.
“You’re absolutely stunning, Your Highness,” the maid said, taking a step back to admire her handiwork. “That dress looks exquisite on you, and the makeup complements your features perfectly.” I could feel my cheeks flush at the praise, but I was grateful for the boost of confidence.
“Thank you,” I grinned, flashing a smile. I couldn’t help but touch my face, feeling a renewed sense of confidence. The makeover had transformed me, and I felt more beautiful than ever. “You did an amazing job and…”
“You dare not stop me from entering this darn building!” a voice thundered from outside, interrupting my speech.
“Huh?” my face darted to the door, “what was that just now?” I asked no one in particular as heavy footsteps kept approaching the room.
“I will check it out!” Shayna gasped, rushing up to the exit to go check what was going on outside the building.
It was unfortunate the door opened before she could even get to the door. I stood up from my seat, staring at Lady Ulrica who seemed to be in a bad mood.
“Your Highness, please forgive me. I should have stopped her from entering the…”
“What brought you here, lady Ulrica?” I threw a questioning stare at the lady who stood a few steps away from me with her heart rising and falling in detest.
“Don’t think too highly of yourself, I’m here because of His Majesty!” she groaned, eyeing the room like hers was magnificent compared to mine.
I tried to maintain my composure as Lady Ulrica mentioned Prescott’s name, but it was like a punch to the gut. I had been trying so hard to forget about the previous evening, to move on from the way he had ignored me. But hearing his name brought it all rushing back, and I could feel the pain I had been trying to bury coming to the surface. I tried to steady my breathing, to stay in control of my emotions. But it was a losing battle.
“What about him? Talk before I drive you out!” I gritted my teeth, clenching my hand into a tight fist.
“You don’t expect me to discuss the matter with His Majesty, in front of maids…” Ulrica scoffed, she told me to get rid of the maids with her eyebrows raised.
“Huh?” I smirked, knowing she was so full of herself to think the King was such a sacred person that his name shouldn’t be spoken in front of the low lives.
“Shayna! You and…” I stared at the maid whose name was unknown to me, “you two should excuse us for a while.” I nodded for them to leave.
“Yes, my Princess.”
“Yes, your Highness!”
The two bowed before walking out of the room. “So, can you talk now?” I smirked, glaring at the lady Ulrica who seemed to be less interested in my existence.
“I want you to persuade Prescott.” she groaned, her tone was a bit sad and I arched my brows, wondering what she meant by I should persuade the King.
“What do you mean…”
“He hasn’t been eating for days!” she yelled out, her hands trembled as she moved her hands to her head, gripping her hair in both hands. “He has been starving himself for days now, I fear something bad might happen to him if he keeps this up.” Ulrica cried out, pulling at her hair as if she was the reason why he hadn’t been eating.
“What?!” I gasped, placing my palm on my chest to calm my racing heart, “His Majesty hasn’t been feeding and you’re just telling me?!”
“What the hell are you yelling at me for?” Ulrica flared up, anger was written on her face as she gritted her teeth.
“Huh? Aren’t you his friend? Shouldn’t you have talked him to eat?” I howled, my heart was racing and I couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with the King.
“So what if I’m his friend? Aren’t you like… His wife, or something? Shouldn’t you be responsible for your husband’s well-being?” she smirked, wrapping her arms around her chest, sending me hateful from where she stood.
“You know, I should have known you’re someone that can’t even do anything right. I was such a fool to have believed you were providing His Majesty’s meal as the head maid said.” I sighed, my inside was burning with regret as I let out a drag of air.
“I did… For goddess sake, I did! But he didn’t touch any meal I took to him.” she groaned, slapping her forehead in annoyance.
“Where the hell is the king?” I glared at Ulrica, she pressed her her lips in a thin line before pointing towards the exit.
“He’s probably still at his office, getting ready for the duet. Please, go persuade him to eat before he left for the duet.” she gulped hard, brushing her hair to the back.
“We can continue hating on each other some other time, but now, mind link the head maid to prepare a breakfast of toast and hot coffee… At least he told me he loves coffee.” I whined, walking up to Ulrica whose mouth was hung out in shock.
“Wait!” Ulrica laughed, her laughter filling the room. “Prescott likes coffee? Since when?” she couldn’t stop her laughter as she burst into a pit of laughter.
“If you haven’t seen him drinking a coffee before, I do! Now, shut the hell up and do as you’re told!” I hissed, walking past her.
“And tell Anika, I want the breakfast to be done before I get there,” I yelled before sprinting out of the building.
I pant heavily as I hold the cup of hot coffee in one hand, and a covered plate of toast in another hand. I had refused the offer of the maids who had volunteered to help me carry the breakfast to His Majesty.
I didn’t want to have any maid with me as I delivered the King’s unwanted breakfast. How could he starve himself? For what reason would a King who has a lot of people to watch over deprive himself of food?
I couldn’t think of any good reason that would make him do that. I prayed in my mind that he would honour me for bringing the breakfast myself and eat it.
I saw the office building from afar and let out a nervous sigh. That moment I set my eyes on the building, I lost my courage. I stared at the breakfast in my hands, a thought was telling me to turn around and go back to where I belonged.
I shut my eyes, shaking the thought off my head. If I didn’t want to deliver his breakfast, I wouldn’t have agreed to do it in the first place.
“I can do this!” I mentally yelled at myself before taking a step forward, entering the building with my eyes still shut tight.
Suddenly, it was as if time stopped for a moment, it was as if I was going to die when I bumped into someone, the breakfast in my hands flew in the air and when it came down, the hot coffee landed on my shoulder, the hot liquor spilling over my chest.
I didn’t know what had happened until I heard that voice that I had been dying to meet yelling out my name.
“Gracious goddess! Nova!” Prescott yelled. His voice echoed in the hallway and I felt my lips curved into a smile when I felt a pair of arms wrapped around my waist.