30

Noah
A loud rapping woke me up from my slumber, my eyes itched from the fabric of the rug and my hands reached to scratch my midnight black hair.
“My Prince, the Queen demands your presence. ” I heard a loud feminine voice say.
I clicked my tongue and rose slowly, my knees still kissing the ground. I glanced at my wrinkled shirt and stared at it for a couple of seconds before wrapping it around my muscular frame. I tilted my head and thrust an arm to feel my shoulder.
“The balm worked. ” I whispered to myself, feeling little or no effect of the discomfort.
I walked towards the large crimson-red door that longed for me to open it. I opened it briskly, still buttoning up my shirt to reveal a middle-aged woman dressed in a black-fitted long gown that terminated at the ground level.
She bowed her head on sighting me.
“I am Madam Clarissa, who is now in charge of your well-being, physically…” She took a pause, parting her lips to give a smile, “And emotionally. You can also demand any craving you’d like.”
“I have a lot of servants at my service,” I muttered, “Why are you different, Madam Clarissa?”
“I have worked for several princes and princesses over the last five years and I was able to communicate with them even from their teenage years. I was also a great change in their lives. ” she rambled.
“Do you intend on transforming me?” I shut the door behind me.
She let a strange chuckle, spreading her lips that were adorned with light-pink lipstick.
“I am more interested in knowing you, my Prince, ” Clarissa stated, “Let’s focus on that.”
“Alright, Madam Clarissa,” I let out a nervous sigh.
“The Queen asks of you.” she repeated, this time with batted lashes and no smile, “She’s in the royal dining hall. ”
I scratched the skin beside my nose, “Thank you for informing me. ”
I gave her another smile before setting off on my journey. I was perplexed on why she kept following behind me so I simply tilted my head and worked on it. I greeted a few servants, wondering why they were trimming the flowers at such an odd hour.
“You should have worn a grey shirt. It highlights your hair. ” I heard Clarissa say behind me.
I turned on my heels, “You intend to change the way I look?”
“Why do you keep misinterpreting my words, my Prince?” she laughed, “That is simply advised for self-improvement.”
“But shouldn’t I wear what makes me comfortable?” I uttered, “Sometimes decisions should be made solely, it makes one less dependent on another person.”
“Not everyone makes the right decision or choice, ” Clarissa expressed with an outstretched hand, “-And sometimes they just need a little tweak to make perfection. ”
“Perfection is impossible. It’s burdened by lies and deceit,” I clicked my tongue and opened a door that led to the passageway leading to the royal dining hall.
“But perfection makes excellence and success more attainable. ” Clarissa argued with a cheeky smile.
I nodded my head and rolled my eyes. If I kept talking with this woman, she would never let me be until I agree with her every word. I put my hands behind my back and waited for the guards dressed in red shirts and white pants to open the door.
The door opened to reveal my mother, Ruby, and sadly Eugene seated around the table. Their heads turned at the moment I cleared my throat.
“Sit, we need to talk, ” I heard my mother gesture toward an empty seat.
I placed my bottom on a chair and Eugene pushed a cup of tea towards me. I shot her a glare.
“It’s just to make you feel good,” she said, noticing my stare.
My mother interlocked her hands together and stared deeply at me, “Do you know what tomorrow is all about, Noah?”
“Yes, I’m aware,” I responded with an arch of my brow.
“The Duchess of Arendelle will be coming with her parents and you must be on your best behavior.” My mother continued with her face bearing no emotions.
“So this was a pep talk, ” I muttered, “You should have given me a heads up.” I smiled at my sister.
“You will not disrespect me, neither would you disrespect this family. ” Her hands balled into a fist and banged a hand on the table.
“I was not intending on disrespecting my mother, the Queen of Midon. Why would that cross your mind?” I placed an eager hand under my chin.
“You have met Clarissa, haven’t you?” My mother diverted, tilting her head to look at the middle-aged woman in the room, “She would be helping you, prepare, and also would be working to help you.”
“But I didn’t have a choice in deciding who will help me, did I?” I asked, grounding my lips.
“You may leave Clarissa.” I heard my mother say. Through the corner of my eyes, I caught Clarissa bowing before her exit.
“Here we go again with Noah’s numerous tantrums, ” Eugene spoke, “The tea didn’t help in taming his tongue, how sad.”
I let out a bitter chuckle and clicked my tongue, “And why is she here, Mother? Is she supposed to be here?”
“What do you mean, Noah? You have continuously been disrespectful and yet she is so involved in your life. She was the first to instill manners into you as a child and yet you treat your aunt with disdain?” My mother uttered with venom in her mouth.
“You expect me to fancy someone who can’t instill self-control in her husband?” I shut my eyes briefly, inhaling the clean, pristine air.
“Noah,” Ruby called.
“I told you that this boy has lost his mind. I wonder what his mind is feeding on. We better do something about it. ” Eugene gritted her teeth, her shoulders shaking.
I let out a burst of amused laughter as I shook my head in refutation. I covered my lips with my hands, noticing Ruby’s glare and my mother’s frown.
“Why are you acting like a child, Noah?” My mother verbalized.
“He is a child,” Eugene remarked.
“What on earth is going on with you? You keep-”
I cut my mother off in mid-sentence, “Why don’t you tell my aunt to never lay a finger on my face?”
“What?” Ruby and mother exclaimed in unison.
“She hit me across the face just to instill discipline in me,” I emphasized with a frown, “And just so you can understand properly, she assaulted me. ”
“Tantrum number one,” Eugene chuckled, sliding the ring on her middle finger, in and out of her finger, “What’s next?”
My mother bit her bottom lip and placed her hands on the table with her head lifted towards the ceiling.
“Eugene, why did you hit Noah across the face?” Her voice was thick and firm.
“He kept bad-mouthing Eli and even eavesdropped on our conversation. He has no respect for an elder of this family and he constantly preys on my husband’s weakness,” Eugene spoke with her eyes fixated on mine, “-And for a moment, I lost my cool and decided to nip it in the bud. I apologize, my Queen if I was too cruel but it had to be done. ”
I smirked at her reply, crossing my arm across the other. Eugene was a manipulative, calculating woman who would do anything to gain a point. Losing arguments was a no-no in her books.
“Noah, would you apologize to your aunt for causing her pain?”
I opened my mouth, unsure of what to say. I cast a glance towards Ruby who kept blinking, reminding me of our discussion in the chambers.
“I never expected you to be on my side. I would be shocked if you were, Mother. ” I said.
“I wasn’t picking a side,” My mother retorted, “Would you apologize?”
I shook my head again, “No, Mother. I will not apologize because I was the victim and she was the abuser.”
“Noah, stop it. ” My mother warned and I caught Ruby sighing in frustration with her head on the table.
“Why don’t we skip this conversation since neither of us is going to settle this argument and you can tell me why I am here, Mother?” I urged with a smile.
My mother sighed and tilted her head.
“You will have a fitting at noon, so you should be here. There would be a rehearsal on what you should do and not do when the dinner starts. ” My mother said.
“I heard you, loud and clear, my Queen,” I said.
“I smell sarcasm. ” Eugene taunted.
“I will pretend not to hear a single word you say,” I responded, “Since I won’t be hearkened to, even if I complain.”
“Silly boy. ” I heard Eugene whisper.
I scratched my head, “Is there anything else you want to discuss with me, Mother?”
“Be on your best behavior, Noah. Do not put this family to shame. ” I heard my mother say, “Put aside this family rivalry and hatred and be a good man.”
I shut my eyes briefly and smiled, “Yes, Mother. ”
“I will have a private discussion with you, tomorrow and your father too, will speak to you. ” she continued.
“Perfect.” I shook my head, clenched my hand into a fist, and gave my mother a thumb up.
“Can I leave, my Queen?” My hands were tightly gripping the handrest of the chair.
“You can, Noah. Have a goodnight’s rest.” My mother finalized with her eyes glossy. I promptly removed my gaze away from her. Her eyes always evoked my inner emotions. If Eugene wasn’t present, maybe my mother and I would have had a civil conversation with hot tea.
I rose to my feet, pulled the chair a bit farther, and bowed toward my mother. Through the corner of my eyes, I could see a smirk imprinted on her face.
Classic Eugene.
“Goodnight, Mother, ” I muttered with a forced smile, “-And Ruby, don’t follow me to my chambers. I’m just telling you, in case you want to.”
I then turned towards Eugene, still wearing that forced smile, “I am also capable of losing my cool but I will let it go, just once, dear aunt. Enjoy your cold tea. Have a fine night discussing me. ”
I turned on my heels, not wanting to look at Eugene’s face.
“Goodnight Noah.” I heard her say and I rolled my eyes.
I briskly opened the door and stepped out with my hands in my pants. I turned towards the large windows and stared at the moon which stood in the dominion of the stars who were like its subordinates.
I was about to walk away when I heard a ringing from my pockets. I groaned realizing that it was my burner cell phone.
It would have been disastrous if my mother knew about that. I told Daniel to get me a phone that couldn’t be traced because I didn’t want the royal secret service following my every move.
I walked farther toward the balcony and slowly retrieved the cell phone from my pants.
I picked up the call and sighed heavily.
“Hello,” I said.
“Did you see a doctor, Leo?”
My lips parted to give a cheeky smile when I heard that voice. She got that note and that made me delighted.
I let out a chuckle as I slanted the phone closer to my ear.
“Why are you not speaking? Are you toying with me?” I heard her say again and peals of laughter burst from deep within and my face lighted up like a neon sign, and therefore abandoned my body to the merriment I felt in my stomach.
This woman would be my downfall.