32

Noah
I was aware of the eyes staring at me with interest. Everyone was busy with either a brush, napkin or a long broom. I walked with my hands behind my back, an earnest smile on my face as they bowed down once I was in their sight.
I sighed wondering how hard it was for them to stay quiet about everything they heard and saw in the castle. Their parents served my father and the generation before them served my grandfather. It was a tradition that was kept and preserved for a centennial.
I walked towards the dining royal hall with my eyes glancing around to absorb every color my sight could pick on. Roses surrounded the edges of the walls and fresh lilies from the garden were placed in vases of different sizes and shapes.
I stepped into the room, slowly sighting Ruby first who called out my name.
“Noah,” she started, “Father’s looking good, isn’t he?”
I advanced further, pretending not to hear what she had said and ignored the fact that my empty seat as a Prince was deliberately stationed beside my father.
I took a seat opposite the large table and far away from where he could see me, unwilling to be seated close to him.
I lifted up my face when my meal was served and noticed that my Father was staring at me.
Everybody was. They had all stopped eating and were as silent as a tombstone.
I observed that the wrinkles around his forehead and cheeks were even more prominent than the last time I saw him and his cheekbones were now hollow. His fingers shook while trying to grasp on to the fork he was holding and his eyes were wide open.
His face held a frown which I had grown accustomed to.
“Where are your manners, Noah? Are you blind?” His deep baritone voice echoed across the room.
I had barely even had a chance to salivate over my meal of toast and eggs with perfectly cut vegetables in another bowl and now I was beginning to lose it.
“Noah,” My mother warned, her eyes telling what her lips couldn’t. I tilted my head and observed her. She hardly talked or scolded me when my father did and preferred to stay quiet.
I reclined in my chair, dropping my spoon noisily. I tilted my head and glanced at the people who were in the room.
My sister was trying her best not to speak with her lips mashed while Eugene held an unfazed expression which was pretentious to me and my uncle, Eli who was digging into his food like a lunatic acting as if he had not eaten for days.
And my mother who kept her hands on the table, her body language depicting nervousness and slight rage in her eyes.
With a smirk, I rose up on my feet slowly and bowed towards my father.
“Good morning, Father. ”
I was about to lift up my head when I heard his voice.
“Do not lift up your head until I say so, you insolent child.” he struck his clenched fist against the table.
The smirk on my face remained as it was, my gaze fixated on my meal which I was sure had lost its sizzling.
I was in that position for several minutes and my shoulder was beginning to ache but I wanted to face this head-on. I didn’t want my weakness exposed because it was always used as manipulation against me.
When I was ten, I was scared of dogs. Eugene always brought them during the royal lectures on etiquette and even at breakfast and then I would flinch at night when its hairy skin touched mine.
My father noticed it and made me sleep with Eugene’s dog for a week. The first night, I was wide awake and the dog was asleep on a rug. I only fell asleep at dawn when a servant took the dog out for a walk.
“Lift your head and sit, ” his voice shook and made goosebumps rise up on my skin.
I sat, slowly and still wore a proud smile on my face.
“Why is your wedding pushed back?” I heard my father say to Ruby who was starting swallow her food as fast as she could.
“It’s actually -“she licked her lips and rubbed a palm across her arm, “-nothing serious. We just wanted to be more prepared. ”
Ruby was an impeccable liar. I almost applauded her.
“Okay.” I watched my father nod. He always treated I and Ruby differently. At first I thought it was because she was older but now I realized it. It was because she always said what he wanted to hear and did what he desired.
Unlike me who was rebellious.
“Are you picking on your food?” Eugene asked before taking few gulps of water.
I let out a chuckle, “It’s gone cold.”
“Oh,” Eugene covered her lips with her fingers,”Bear in mind that it was made with the finest hands and ingredients. ”
“That was thoughtful of you to say, Lady Eugene.” I uttered with sarcasm dripping down my tongue.
“Noah,” I heard my father yell again.
“Yes, Father?” I interlocked my fingers, my elbow touching the table.
“You must be at your best today. I will not tolerate your rebellious nature neither will I allow you put me to shame. For centuries, Midon had thrived and succeeded and we have gained respect from other kingdoms and countries. ”
“Yes, Father.” I answered.
I almost wasn’t ready for the glass that nearly hit me in the face. It crashed on the floor into a thousand pieces and that was what jolted me back to reality.
My Father, the king of Midon had almost assaulted me with a glass cup.
“I didn’t demand for your response. “he shouted.
I clicked my tongue and smiled with my clenched fist on my lap.
“Behave yourself, Noah.” My mother retorted angrily.
There was a silence that followed with the atmosphere as tense as the humid weather. I watched as Eli was holding himself back from laughing while still digging on his food.
“The Duchess of Arendelle, Matilda would be here with her parents and you will not address her with derogatory remarks. Set aside your resentment and think of your title as the Prince of Midon and what is expected of you. ”
Expected of me, I thought deeply as his words sunk into my mind. Wasn’t it what he and everyone in that room expected of me?
“Are you dumb, boy? Answer me?” I heard my father say.
I almost laughed in confusion, wondering why he was so inconsistent, even in his words.
“But you-” I halted when I sighted my mother shaking her head. I took the hint and blinked.
“Yes, Father. ” I answered.
“Good,” I heard him say, “Are you doing anything this morning?”
“No, Father.” I lied through my teeth and began to dig into my cold meal. I noticed Ruby glaring at me with her nose hitched up which amused me.
After his breakfast, he would retire to his bed and the only person who knew that I was wandering around Mrs Ping’s bakery was my mother and Ruby who knew that I was always absent at breakfast.
“Then eat. ” He finalized. I was about to say I was doing it but I didn’t want to arouse several minutes of my father berating me.
I ate in silence and in sync with my fork. My father resumed speaking with my mother, Eugene and then Eli while I was left out of the entire discussion.
As if I was a ghost.
****
I stepped into the bakery even wearing cheaper clothes. I had to beg Daniel to get me some and it felt comfortable on my skin. I sighted Emily wearing her hair into a pony tail and was counting the tips in the jar.
“Good morning. ” I greeted.
I heard no response from her neither did she holler or announce her presence with a smile or offer to buy me fried chicken from across the street.
“You look pretty, today.” I placed an elbow on the counter.
I heard no response yet again and I cleared my throat.
“Emily.” I called.
“Ashley isn’t here. I’m sure she would here in a few minutes. ” she looked at her watch, her face void of any emotions.
“W-What?” I stammered the words out, perplexed by her answer, “I wasn’t asking about Ashley. I was talking to you.”
She lifted up her face, her fringe complementing her brown eyes.
“Oh,” she muttered, “So you do notice me.”
I arched a brow in confusion, “What are you referring to, Emily? You have been acting strange and if it’s about me not listening to you, yesterday. Then I’m sorry, okay?”
“I thought I was invisible.” Her voice was faint, almost like a whisper but I could still hear it loud and clear, “-to you. ”
I rubbed my hand across my cheek and was about to respond when Ashely stepped into the bakery holding a water-bottle and a dazzling smile on her face.
“Why are you both looking at me?” she asked.