21

Noah
A crippling headache overcame me as I alighted from the yellow cab. Working behind the counter was energizing and as well stressful.
I smiled as Daniel bowed before exiting. The stairs that led up to the palace was exhausting and time wasting. Keeping my identity hidden was quite easy for me since I had been doing that since I was a kid.
My Grandmother, Queen Meghan was the one who suggested that my identity be hidden till I was an adult because of the panic attacks I developed from the constant flashing of lights from photographers. For weeks, I had to take medications just to feel at ease.
I reminsiced on the day before Grandma passed away. She sent for me while I was horse hiding with Ruby and patted my small hands while she tried hard not to cough out bits of blood but even as a child, I could see the red sticky fluid scattered around the corners of her lips as she opened her lips.
“For surely a king is first a man. And so it must follow that a king does as all men do: the best he can. You can’t govern without loving the people and without humility!” Were the last words grandma whispered into my ear.
I inhaled sharply and shoved my hands into my pockets. I lifted up my face and was immediately taken aback by the number of staffs dressed in black and white paradise the large hall. Gordon was not far away as he was talking to one of his subordinates with a large book in the latter’s hand.
“Gordon.” I called out and I smiled when he turned to look at me.
He dismissed his subordinate and passed some instructions around before walking towards me.
“How are you doing, boy? I rarely see you around. ” Gordon asked with a daddy-ish smile on his face.
“I have been busy with a lot of things,” I responded while touching the nape of my neck, “I was just wondering if anything special is going on. Why are the staffs here?”
Gordon cleared his throat, “It’s in preparation for the engagement ceremony which is in two days. ”
I ran a hand over my hair as a look of puzzlement crossed my face. My eyes glanced toward the ground as I remembered that I was supposed to be engaged to Matilda.
“I-It must have s-lipped my mind.” I stammered the words out as a bitter laugh escaped my lips.
“Are you alright, my Prince?” I heard Gordon ask, “I could prepare a bowl of soup if you’re not well. ”
“I am honestly alright, Gordon. Thank you for your concern but all I need right now is a nap.” My lips spread to give out a painful smile.
I was about to escape from Gordon’s menacing stare when Gordon grabbed me by the shoulder.
“Why are you working in Mrs Ping’s bakery shop?”
My tongue rolled around the corner of my mouth, trying to swipe out anything in particular.
“For fun.” I muttered.
“Even when-” I implanted a hand on Gordon’s shoulder, patting it slightly.
“Nobody knows I’m the Prince of Midon. I have a fake alias and you recommended me, remember?”
“I have no idea what you’re up to but be careful.” Gordon warned, “The world is dangerous and harsh. You can’t just live among… ”
“I literally had an holiday in Boston.” I interrupted with my hands outstretched.
“That was different because you were under protection of the Royal secret agents,” Gordon responded, “You have no one to protect you, do you?”
“I have Daniel. ” I shrugged.
“He’s a driver.” Gordon emphasized with a raise in tone.
“But he trained in the military. ” I countered with a grin on my face.
“He is unable to ensure your safety and I think it’s best…..”
“Worry not, Gordon. I’m an adult, right?” I asked with a nod.
“I don’t like where this conversation is headed. ” Gordon uttered while stroking his white beard.
“And I’m capable of taking care of myself. ” I concluded with a wink.
“I’m unable to believe that. But I hope that you know what you’re doing.” Gordon finalized with a pat on my back.
I shot a smile at him and walked away, nodding to the staffs who greeted me. Somehow I felt a bit warm after the conversation with Gordon. He worried about me, everytime.
For a moment, all I wanted was to flop on my bed and sleep away all my worries but then I needed to think. The engagement dinner would only be a formality to discuss about the arranged marriage and as well, the deal my parents had with hers.
I turned around and made my target, the garden. It was a quiet place where I could think. There was no way that I could avoid the dinner. Running away would be futile because I was certain my mother had a backup plan for that in the bag.
As my legs walked faster towards the garden entrance, I began to hear voices. At first they seemed like whispers but as I got closer, I noticed that it seemed more like bickering.
But why did those voices sound so familiar?
I walked slowly and crossed a arm across my chest as I stepped into the garden. Beside the fountain, Eli and Eugene wee both engrossed in their argument and all I decided to do was watch.
“You should have a little bit of self control , Eli. As a royal, you shouldn’t ogle at every woman you see. ” I heard Eugene say as Eli simply scoffed and shook his head while muttering, “You can’t tell me what to do.”
I cleared my throat and the duo whipped their head at the same time, snarling at me.
“Is this a lover’s spat?” I chuckled while trying to stifle a roaring laughter.
“You were eavesdropping, weren’t you?” Eugene yelled as she stomped her feet’s toward me, red tainting her eyes.
“I just walked in here, ” I tilted my head, “I was just lucky to catch a bit of your words.”
I watched as Eugene mashed her lips together, unable to speak.
“Can you go away, Noah?” Eli demanded in a authoritative tone, “The least you would have done was walk away.”
“You don’t own this place, Uncle. ” A smirk landed on my face as I circled around Eugene, “And certainly you are not the one supposed to be angry.”
“I wonder who you took after. ” Eli wheezed, “It’s definitely not my brother. ”
A humorous laugh escaped my lips as I struck a palm against the other, repeatedly as I walked over to Eli, my eyes meeting his.
“I never wanted to be like my father,” I lifted up a brow, “But I’m happy that I am not like you. It’s a true blessing to have self control. ”
I observed as Eli’s eyes shot daggers at me as he walked out of the garden, unable to say a word.
“Aren’t you supposed to be preparing for your engagement dinner?” I heard Eugene speak as she shot a deceptive smile at me, folding her arms across her back, “Have you spoken to your future bride?”
I touched my neck, “I haven’t agreed to any woman being my bride. Maybe I was unaware of… that. ”
“Don’t act dumb, Noah. I know you have been avoiding your mother for days,” Eugene taunted with her brows raised, “Your protest won’t work. Maybe you should go tour the town sometime and see how things are. You have an obligation to Midon unless you want to forfeit your birthright. ”
“What are you trying to say?” I replied as a frown replaced the humor my face held.
“You will marry that girl no matter how hard you act like a spoilt brat.”
I bit my bottom lip. Spoilt brat? I was sure that my mother had definitely engaged her in a conversation regarding my obstinacy. Eugene’s condescending tone always hurt me. It left a burn in my heart no matter how hard I tried to act strong.
“You have no right to… ”
An open handed slap met my cheek and for a couple of seconds, I was dazed. At first, my vision was blurry and I felt the sky change colors from light blue to white and then I was met with a stern look from Eugene.
She actually hit me. She did it when I was a kid and still had the audacity to do it when I was an adult. I shot an hostile glare at her and my bared teeth was contoured with rage.
A frown flickered across my forehead, my eyes flaming with raw anger.
“Does that hurt?” she whispered as her heels met my shoes and dug into them. My eyes tried to maintain contact with hers but her intimidating look made my eyes dart towards the lilies.
“You don’t talk to your uncle that way, Noah, not now. Not ever,” I heard Eugene say, “You are an ill-mannered boy who is unable to appreciate the privileges that has been handed over to you. You don’t go out for royal engagements, neither are you aware of anything that goes on in Midon. The least you can do is marry that Duchess and restore balance to Midon.”
She touched my cheek and her palm felt cold against my skin, “Learn to be respectful. Stop trying to stir up problems.”
A slow fury began to consume me as I watched her leave. It made my blood boil that I was unable to say a single word to her. I ran a hand over my nose and my lips and reached out for my mobile phone that I kept with Daniel because I didn’t want to risk being caught in the bakery.
I dialed a number, pressing the button hastily and bent the phone against my ear. When I heard a a voice speak, a sneaky smile swept across my face as an idea popped up in my head.
“Do you want to do something fun?”