37

Noah
I raised my hands in the royal fitting room, allowing a man that I had no idea who he was, to wrap the tape around my arms, wrists, and chest and give me certain instructions which I adhered to, perfectly.
“Make it loose at that point. ” I heard Madam Clarissa instruct him and my lips opened to let out an inaudible groan.
When he left, I turned and put down my hands.
I noticed Clarissa’s sharp gaze on me as she circled me like a fox staring at her prey.
“Your posture isn’t perfect. Lift your shoulders. ” She demanded, standing right in front of me with her neck raised.
She seemed so short as she had to raise her neck to look me in the eye. I stared at her small eyes that gave her an intimating look. I rubbed a hand along my lips, resisting the urge to burst into laughter.
“Lift your shoulder,” she repeated, again, “My Prince. ”
“Is this necessary?” I asked, crossing my hands to touch my arms.
Her right hand held a staff which she used to poke me on the head. I winced in discomfort at the sudden pain that struck me.
“You do not ask me questions. You take my orders and do it,” she answered with a frown on her face.
“And I’m not allowed to object? That seems a lot more like you’re forcing me to do it.” I countered back with a chuckle.
“You have dinner in less than seven hours and your posture is not perfect. You’re going to be before the royals in Arendelle. ”
I let out another sigh.
“And why is this any of your concern? How did you know -”
I stopped speaking when someone entered and shut the door. I rolled my eyes on noticing who it was and my body tilted, my hands immediately sinking into my pants pocket.
“How is it going, Clarissa?” I heard Eugene say with a smile on her face.
“Hard. He’s not listening to me, ma’am.” Clarissa answered with a curt bow before turning to look at me.
I scoffed when Eugene chuckled, setting a leg over the other, dramatically.
She settled down on a chair, crossed her legs, and placed her hands on her dress.
“He was always like that, from his childhood and now he’s thirty and he still has that obstinacy in him.”
I threw my head backward and smirked. Eugene loved to speak like that and that was one of the reasons why Rose was still in New York city. The way she smiled like a clueless puppet annoyed me and trying to get under my skin to rile me up was also disturbing as well.
“You did this, didn’t you?” I questioned her, “You are the reason why this woman is here. ”
I refused to point a hand at Clarissa, not wanting her to berate me or call me ” rude” so I let my eyes do the pointing.
“And what if I did? It was to help you grow.” Eugene answered with a witty smile.
I placed a hand on my hip, my mouth agape while I walked towards where she was seated.
“You should have asked me before doing this. ” I told her, firmly.
“And why would I seek permission from you, Noah when your mother already gave me a go-ahead to do it?” she asked, “You should be more humble and respectful to Clarissa and do not waste her time either. ” Eugene responded, her eyes fixated on mine.
I quivered with frustration, a frown flickered across my forehead.
I didn’t want to waste any time by arguing with her so I sighed, moved three steps backward, and puffed up my shoulders while smiling in Clarissa’s direction.
“That’s much better, isn’t it Clarissa?” I heard Eugene mutter to the latter.
Clarissa nodded her head and advanced towards me, her staff making coordinated noises.
She moved behind me and set her hands on my shoulders and then spoke;
“Walk!”
“What?” I asked, arching a brow.
She then retorted by slapping my left shoulder and then repeated, “I said, walk. ”
I then took a step forward with my eyes shooting daggers at Eugene, my hands reaching into my pants when all of a sudden, I heard Clarissa scream.
“Stop, right there!”
I let out a groan and I turned, tilting my head.
“What did I do, Madam Clarissa?” I decided to butter her up.
“Keep your hands away from your pants. ” she retorted back and then my eyes darted back to Eugene who had her hands around her mouth in amusement.
“You came for a show, didn’t you?” I snickered before turning my back on her.
“Would it hurt you further if I said yes?” I heard her taunt.
I placed my hands by my sides and did not touch my pants and then I walked and took another step, my eyes facing Clarissa.
“Wear a smile. Do you want to scare them off?” Clarissa remarked, the tip of her staff hitting the ground which made me stop on my heels.
I pressed my lips together, rubbing my brow in annoyance. My lips spread apart slowly to give an artificial smile.
“That’s no way to smile, my Prince. ” I heard Madam Clarissa yell.
My eyes crinkled at the corners, and my eyes brimmed with tears of mirth as I let out a slow chuckle which developed into a beastly laugh that made the entire room go into silence. For seconds, my eyes darted in between Eugene and Madam Clarissa, shaking my head in amusement.
“So you intend on picking on everything I do, trying to transform me into your perfection, ” I put my hands behind me, advancing closer to Madam Clarissa, slowly.
“That is not-” she started but I was already standing right in front of her, bending slowly so I could meet her eyes.
“Madam Clarissa, do you work for the good of the royal family?” I asked with a witty grin.
She nodded in affirmation and I then chuckled.
“Then why can’t I do as I please? You should be able to respect the way I walk, smile, or even move,” My eyes darted towards Eugene who still sat with her face void of any emotions, “I respect you, Madam Clarissa. I respect the fact that you are in your prime and that you use a staff to aid yourself in walking but you know what I won’t tolerate?”
I clicked my tongue, “I won’t tolerate you, trying to disrespect and ridicule me because of the way I smile. If the family of Arendelle does not fancy the way my teeth look, so be it. ”
“My Prince-” she tried again but I wasn’t having any of it. I placed both hands in my pants and smiled at her before walking.
As I walked, I glanced towards Eugene who seemed unfazed, my eyes turned away from hers and then my gaze became focused on the door, my nostrils flared and my fists clenched in determination.
***
I stopped at the royal garden for a breather. My hands touched the hard bench with my head facing the light-blue sky.
I wondered how Ashely was and how her date with Mason was. I sighed, my mind wondering why she liked him so much and then acted nice and mean towards me.
“Should I call her about the umbrella?” I whispered to myself but that was just an excuse to hear her voice. Watching her pale and firm face, not wanting to clutch the umbrella from my hands amazed me.
“She acts so strong, ” I muttered, “-And she’s so stubborn as an added perk.”
I laughed, forgetting the reason why I stepped into the garden for a moment. I looked at my hands and a sad smile spread across my lips.
Nobody cared about what I felt. Everyone wanted me to marry Matilda and what was worse, they didn’t care about I fared either.
I crossed my legs when I sighted Daniel walking towards me.
“My Prince. ” He bowed.
“Daniel, sit.” I gesticulated towards the bench.
“I’ll prefer to stand, My Prince, ” Daniel answered.
“I told you to stop addressing me as your Prince,” I retorted, sharply, “Why do you bestow so much respect on a title that could be disregarded for a moment?”
“I cannot do that, my Prince.” I heard him answer.
“Alright,” I said, giving up “Can you find out who Madam Clarissa is?”
“Yes, my Prince. ” he bowed again.
“You are the only one I trust, Daniel. So if you take my mother’s hand, I will be disappointed.” I spoke with my sharp gaze on his.
“I understand, my Prince.” he smiled.
“And is the secret service still on my trail?” I asked.
“From what I have observed, they are always situated three streets away from the bakery, my Prince. ” Daniel replied.
“It’s odd, isn’t it? My mother isn’t one to stop watching my every move,” I muttered, slowly, “You can leave.”
I watched Daniel who wore a green shirt and black pants walk away briskly, his legs gaining momentum.
I knew it was time to leave. My hands itched to give a call to Ashely but I decided to let her be. I rose to my feet and walked out of the garden slowly, the corner of my lips spreading to give a witty grin.
The stairway seemed a bit longer and exhausting as I took in sharp inhalations every minute and every second, staring at the paintings occasionally.
I reached my chambers and wasn’t surprised to find some certain people ready to kit me up into a suit.
I smiled and walked into my large bathroom, locking the door behind me. The cold water became my comfort and so did the sound of gushing water became my solitude as I dipped myself into the bathtub.