23

Noah
My hands gripped the hand rails of the stairs that led to the large dining hall. I took slow steps, wearing a smile at every staff I saw. I inhaled the air and it was fresh and clean. Red roses entrapped along the poles brightened up my eyes and so did the large curtains that spread apart to give a massive view of the town. I moved closer and the rays of the rising sun nearly blinded me.
I stared at the town before my eyes. Civilization was just starting to creep in, into Midon. In Boston, there were colleges of art and science and in several areas while Midon was restricted to middle and high school.
My ears picked up a familiar footstep and from the scent, I was certain of who it was. My eyes remained fixated as I lifted up my neck and straightened my shoulders.
“You have been avoiding me, everyday. ” I heard my mother say.
A downward smile spread across the sides of my lips and I turned to stare at her. Under her eyes stood eye-bags that couldn’t be hidden under the guise of make-up. Wrinkles adorned her forehead and I was reminded of the fact that she was aging.
“Glad you noticed.” I muttered.
“The engagement-” she brought out an handkerchief and cleared her throat, “is in less than two days. ”
“I am aware of that,” I replied, folding my hands behind my back, “Are you afraid of me absconding?”
“No. Not actually.” Her tone was soft and motherly, “I was actually a lot more rebellious than you when I was your age, ”
“Glad to know.” I squinted my eyes, wanting to leave her presence and set out for the bakery.
“You have been leaving the palace without saying a word about where you’re headed. Should I be worried?” My mother asked.
I sighed, “I just decided to tour Midon… to clear my head and you don’t have to be worried, neither do you have to send the secret service to check up on me.”
“You have been going to a certain bakery, son and you’re trying too hard to dress… simple.” Her eyes raked all over my white shirt and a nearly faded jean.
I shook my head and lifted up my eyes to stare at the white ceiling, “So you have been stalking me? ”
“Protecting you, Noah.”
“You were the one who said I knew nothing about Midon.” I replied.
“I didn’t ask you to risk your life and your identity. The least you could do is learn how to be more of a royal, pick up horse riding. Go to the royal library and…”
“You want me to be useful and now you want me, useless. How can I learn about this land if not from my own eyes?” My voice was beginning to gain momentum.
“I just want you safe. You are not capable of protecting yourself.”
That was it. This was the last straw. My mother was now beginning to infuriate me. She probably wanted me locked up in the palace so she could control my every move.
“I can protect yourself, ” I emphasized, “-Quite well.”
For a couple of seconds, our eyes were locked and the long stares were almost starting to tick me off. It was as if she was trying to search for something in my eyes.
“You have changed. ” she whispered.
I bit my lip. A couple of years back, I and my mother were quite close. We talked a lot, ate together, took a walk to the garden constantly and laughed a lot.
“So have you, ” My eyes turned dark, “-Mother.”
“Shall we eat?” She lifted up her frail neck and a thought flew over my head. She was loosing weight so fast. Weeks ago during the ball, she was more jovial and free-spirited but now her eyes were darker and her cheeks sunken.
“I’m not hungry.” I shook my head and bowed my head before walking away. Before I turned towards a stairway, I heard my mother cry and I felt my heart bleed.
I climbed the stairs and began to think of my actions and how fast my relationship with my mother had changed.
I was about to take another step when I sighted Eugene headed towards me, holding a plate of sliced mangoes. The recollection of the events that happened the previous day made blood rush to my heart and with a clenched fist on the hand rail, I felt my breathing become faster.
I inhaled and decided to ignore her but as soon as she lifted up her face to stare at me, all the courage I had melted into annihilation.
“Good morning. ” Her eyes brightened up to produce a smile.
How could she smile. I wondered.
She hit me across the face and she couldn’t just start the conversation with an apology.
I nodded my head and wore a poker face.
“You look like a child holding a grudge.” I heard her mutter.
“And you look like someone who’s been fucked for the first time.” I let my tongue go loose as I tilted my head.
“Classic Noah, ” Her shoulders moved while her back touched the hand rails of the silver stairs, “Look at those paintings. It reminds me of when you were young and you would aim everyday just to tear them off the walls. ” Her eyes stared at the paintings that were enclosed in golden frames.
I rubbed my eyes and wondered what the hell she was trying to say.
“You always like to bring out the worst in people, don’t you?” A chuckle escaped her lips, “And your tongue, it needs cleaning.”
I turned my gaze away from her and looked at the paintings.
“I will forgive you just once, ” I whispered as my legs moved closer, only halting when we were both standing only just with a stair creating distance between us. My neck pushed forward and I tilted my head, “-For laying your hands on my face. Do it again and I’ll assure you that I would drag your “perfect” image down to the ground.”
“You are threatening me, ” Eugene folded her arms around her chest, “Is that befitting for a future King?”
“Don’t you dare gaslight me. I have somewhere to be. ” I deadpanned and decided to walk past her even if she spoke another word.
“No matter how hard you try, you can’t actually… ruin my image,” Eugene gripped my hair, her clenched fist brushing against my scalp, “-Because we are family and Family sticks together. ” Her hands gently patted my neck and she leaned to kiss my cheek before walking up the stairs.
I was dazed. Petrified and angry. My hands desperately wanted to get rid of her saliva on my face as I continuously rubbed my cheek with my palm.
Everything about Eugene irked me.
****
I slammed my head against the bakery door accidentally and I hissed to myself. I walked in and was met with Ashely and Emily coming out of the storage room.
Ashely was wearing no smile which dampened my mood further. The way her legs strode out like she was the star of the moment amazed me. At first all I wanted was to spend a week at the bakery and flee but then all I wanted was to wake up, come here and work. It gave me air to breathe and teasing Ashely made me feel alive.
It reminded me of Boston.
I heard someone scream and I was instantly jerked out from my thoughts.
“Is that blood?” Emily exclaimed with her eyes wide open.
“Where?” I lifted up my eyes and my eyes began to search.
“You are bleeding, ” I heard Ashely say with a sigh, her hands dug into her apron pocket and she reached out for a white napkin. She moved closer to me, pointed towards my forehead and shoved the napkin straight into my hands, “Clean yourself up.”
I shot her a playful wink and she turned away with her feet moving slowly towards the counter.
Was she okay?
“Do you need another napkin?” Emily offered.
I shook my head and pressed the napkin onto my forehead.
“Ash, I want to go buy some fried chicken. Are you famished?” I heard Emily ask.
“No, I’m fine.” Ashely shook her head instead.
Emily patted me on the back playfully, “Are you? ”
“No.” I shook my head again.
I watched as Emily’s facial expression dissolve into a sad smile as she walked out of the bakery.
I turned around and saw that Ashely was no longer at the counter. I walked briskly towards the storage room but I stopped at the door when I heard a quiet whimper.
I knew she was standing close to the door as I could hear her breathe. My ears moved closer to the door to listen but as my hands touched the door, it flew open on it’s own accord.
My tongue rolled around my upper teeth in nervousness as I tried to look her in the eye. I observed the redness in it and her pale white skin.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
I watched as she mashed her lips together, her tongue wetting them as she opened the up.
“Why do you care if I’m okay or not?” I heard her ask and those words pricked me in places I never imagined.
My heart.