39

Noah
I looked at the large mirror while wearing my black three-piece lounge suit. My hands reached to button it up, I had blantly refused a maid’s help even when she kept asking for several minutes.
“I can do it myself. ” I told her with finality and she stepped out of my chambers.
I touched the black tie, knotting it to perfection. I then let my hands fall to my sides, admiring how I looked in the mirror.
Today was a crucial day for me and the royal family. It was also the first time I would be seeing Matilda’s face for the first time.
A sad smile spread across my lips, remembering our last encounter and I looked at the window which bore the reflection of the moon. My eyes then darted across to my fairly amber lit room.
I sat on my bed and sighed deeply. I was about to move when I heard the door slightly open.
My eyes met with my mother and I knew what she wanted to say.
“Noah.” she called, her hands interlocked in front of her red sequin flowing dress. A simple silver necklace sat on her wrinkled yet elegant neck and on her arms stood, silver bracelets that were simple but eye-catching.
“Yes, Mother. ” I answered.
“Do you remember what I told you?” she asked.
I tilted my head and turned to look at her. I made no effort to move from my current position but the smug look on my face said it all.
“You asked me to marry Duchess Matilda of Arendelle. ” I answered, sharply.
“I asked you to remember you who are, Noah. You’re the future of Midon and you have to do what is right, even if it means you are sacrificing.”
“Sacrificing my happiness and my sole decisions, Mother?” I muttered slowly.
I watched as she crossed her arm across her chest, taking in my words like a double-edged sword.
“I have no time to speak about this with you. It’s almost time, ” she bluntly rebuffed, “Get up.”
“You have no time to understand me, to listen to me, Mother, ” I whispered, “But I’ll do as you say. After all, I belong to Midon, don’t I?”
She simply cleared her throat and ignored the words I stated. I scoffed and rose on my feet.
I knew the next thing I had to do. I reluctantly curved my arm, waiting for her to take it.
Surprisingly, she did and then we were walking out of my chambers with her arm perfectly and gently tucked under mine.
Her head was raised in precision like a Queen as she shot a smile at those who curtsied while I looked on, each step becoming harder to climb as my eyes occasionally darted towards hers.
“Don’t be nervous, my son. ” I heard her whisper.
“I am far from nervous, Mother.” I lied through my teeth.
“Don’t let it show in the way you walk or look, Noah. It gives you away and make you vulnerable.” she continued.
“Yes, Mother. ” I responded.
Why was she telling me all this?
“And do not bring up any of your tantrums.”she looked at me again, her eyes searching for something odd.
“Yes, Mother.” I repeated, already exhausted with her words.
“And you will treat Eugene with respect at the table, ” she continued, yet again, “And most importantly, you will not disrespect any member of the royal family including the Arendelles.”
I nodded and shot her a hasty smile, wanting her to stop for a moment. Sooner than I expected, we were standing right in front of the large door that awaited my presence.
My mother inhaled sharply and urged me to do it as well by gesticulating. I shot her a glare before doing so. My chest contracted, expanded to the warm intake of air into lungs.
The guards wrapped their hands around the golden door handle, ready to push it open.
I sighted my mother, nodding at them to open it and when they did, I was opened up to the most beautiful grand hall I had ever seen.
***
My eyes instantly flew to the people who sat at the table. It was easy to spot the King and Queen of Arendelle which were King James and his wife, Queen Sophia since they looked outlandish from the way they dressed and looked.
I shot a smile at them and right beside them sat an elegant woman who had her midnight- black hair flowing down the sides of her neck to her shoulders. A gold pendant sat on her neck while her dress was a simple blue frock with her shoulders exposed.
“Do you not remember me?” I heard her say, her voice bringing up certain memories in my mind. She then tilted her head, “Does the Imperial hotel ring a bell?”
So it was Matilda.
Her face looked relaxed and more of someone who was incapable of being violent towards another person.
“I-I remember you.” I uttered slowly, taking my seat while glancing at the rest of the royal family. My father was seated at his rightful position while my mother sat close to him and then Ruby followed.
Eugene and Eli sat side by side and right on the opposite side sat, King James and his wife, with his daughter Matilda.
“Where are your brothers, Matilda?” I heard Eugene say and I rolled my eyes.
“They are on a royal engagement in Arendelle but they sent their greetings and were indeed very saddened not to be here.” I heard her respond politely. Was she doing it to gain favor in my father’s eyes because she was doing a great job at it.
My father was extremely delighted, smiling unlike the way he looked at me with disdain.
“You have grown, quite remarkably well. ” I heard Queen Sophia say.
“Thank you, my Queen.” I bowed in appreciation.
“He would make a wonderful son-in law. From what I see, he seems well-mannered. ” King James observed.
At that moment, there was complete silence in the room in that instant. Ruby smiled, her lips spread till their limit and I was sure it was beginning to hurt.
Different meals of different sizes and colors were set before us and I noticed Matilda’s eyes watching me like a hawk.
As it was in the tradition of Midon, my father was the first to eat while the rest of us followed.
“I am so satisfied seeing my betrothed and I’m not even full. ” Matilda chuckled while giggling shly.
I wondered why she was acting so strangely. Was it because her parents were here?
My gaze became fixated on hers as she picked up a fork. The way she kept acting as if she was an innocent woman who was born and moulded into perfection.
“Eat, Noah.” I heard Ruby nudge me with her arm “You are staring at her.”
My gaze returned back to my food when I heard her father speak.
“I am so grateful to be here,” He turned to look at my father, “Your Kingdom is so beautiful and the warm welcome I received was one I had never seen before. ”
My father smiled and then turned to look at me. Impulsively, I set my gaze back on my food once more.
“Matilda, would you like to visit Noah’s chambers after the dinner?” I heard my mother say, laced with a light chuckle, “You can get to know each other more.”
“That would be inapp-” I was about to complete it but Ruby clamped her heels on my shoes, halting me from saying whatever I wanted to.
“That would be so amazing, my Queen. You’re so kind. ” I watched as Matilda spoke with an elegant smile on her face.
Somehow, I began to think that I was the only one who saw through her, the mask she was wearing and the way her fingers were drumming against the table.
Impatience. That was what I observed. She talked not too hastily but sharply and firmly. She had managed to entice the entire room by saying a couple of words.
“You seem not to speak a lot unlike the last time we met, ” Matilda said, “Are you under the weather, Prince Noah?”
I shook my head, “And why will I be under the weather, Duchess Matilda?”
“I just observed that you were not joining in the discussion and I took a wild guess, ” she answered, “But I apologize, if I hurt your feelings.”
“You have done nothing to hurt my feelings even in the slightest way. ” I countered back, my face wearing no smile.
My focus went back to my meal as I heard my father clear his throat once more. I reached out for a glass of wine, gulping it slowly and washing the reflection of Matilda through it.
Her face seemed downcast, maybe her goal wasn’t achieved.
Did she want to rope me into the discussions and act like what happened at Mrs Ping’s didn’t happen?
Her milky eyes were alluring and seductive but the flashes of what happened that day kept crossing my mind like a never-ending train.
“Should we make a toast?” Eugene started, rising up on her feet to hold out a wine glass filled with red-wine. The rest of us reached to grab ours instead.
Eugene was about to speak when the doors suddenly opened, the guards running with quick heels heading towards where we were all seated.
I raised my head and then a figure walked closer and as she did, I heard the sharp sound of glass shattering unto the floor.
I thought I felt my heart skip a beat when my eyes landed on Rose who wore a insane smile on her face.
“Who missed me?” she winked.
Amidst the shocked and perplexed looks on everyone’s faces, most importantly, Eugene’s. At the corner of my lips held a smirk that no one in that room was able to decipher.