40

Noah
“Rose?” Ruby exclaimed, rising on her feet briskly.
My eyes darted towards Rose with her hands behind her back and were basking in the euphoria of the faces that stared at her in shock. I was the one who called her back to Midon, just to help me stall my way out of the whole arranged marriage thingy. I was at first apprehensive when she didn’t return my text messages.
My head whipped around to look at the expression on everyone’s faces. The Arendelles had a confused expression on their face while my father had a grumpy frown on his face. My mother seemed surprised and so did Ruby.
But Eugene looked mortified, seeing her daughter for the first time in years. Her eyes were wide-open, in surprise and shock.
“W-What are you doing here, Rose?” Eli spoke up first, his face showing no sign of shock, and his lips spread out to give a smile.
“Obviously, not to see you, dad.” Rose chuckled, her brown short hair complementing her eyes.
I placed both hands on the table, watching Rose with admiration. She was the true rebel of the royal family. The smirk on her face depicted that of mischief and someone who came on a mission.
The servants had bustled into the hall, picking the shards with long brooms promptly and covering the food with iron bowl covers before another set of servants walked into the room with white gloves, opening the food at the same time before returning to their positions.
I knew what was running through Eugene’s mind. She was still in dismay at what happened and what was worse, Rose didn’t notify her about her return to Midon. I told her to be discreet about it and Rose did that anyways and perfectly.
It was a taboo in Midon for the royals to cut their hair but Rose never hearkened or bent to the rules. From her childhood, she always did what she felt was right. When she was still in Midon and was nineteen, she kissed James on the lips in the royal kitchen.
She was whipped by him even when James didn’t want to have anything to do with her, probably because of Eugene. My mind drifted back to when she would plead and beg to follow me horse-riding. It was to get James’s attention. She always made sure he helped her back on her horse when she fell.
When James left for military school in Midon, Rose picked on almost every servant in the castle, from the way they spoke, served, and even bowed. She wrote him several letters and even wanted me to help her in doing it.
James never returned her letters or her affection either and though I wasn’t sure Rose was over him, she rarely spoke about him.
“Is this-” Queen Sophia smiled in confusion, unable to understand who was standing before them. I was certain that she was displeased with Rose, most especially about the clothes she wore.
Rose was dressed in a black shirt inscribed with the word, “My life, my rules” and to worsen it, she dazzled the shirt with bikers shorts.
“My daughter, Rose,” Eugene corrected, with a half-brow, “Unfortunately, I was not aware she was coming to this dinner. ”
“She is saying, she doesn’t want me here,” Rose completed with a smug look, and then she shot a glance towards Matilda, “Isn’t this Noah’s future bride? She’s pretty but can we say that about her attitude?
Noticing the glares from the Arendelles, she completed;
“No offense but we all want a person who has the looks, ” she pointed a finger towards Matilda’s, “The pose, the humble background, and a very docile Queen. ”
“What is she talking about?” King James interfered, his face also clouded with confusion.
“You don’t have to worry about her. She would be leaving, ” Eugene firmly responded while sitting on her chair, “-Very soon.”
“Oh no, Mother. You don’t expect me to miss my cousin’s arranged marriage, do you?” Rose teased with a wink.
I was enjoying the back and forth, especially with the dramatic looks on everyone’s faces and the way my father was holding back from lashing out at Rose.
“It’s nice to meet you, Rose. ” Matilda chuckled lightly while fondling the nape of her neck.
“You don’t know me, dear, and definitely you can do a lot better through that mask you are wearing,” Rose emphasized while settling down on a seat. The guards were still behind her, waiting for my father’s instructions to probably throw her out.
But in front of the Arendelle’s….
I doubted he would want to make a big mess of it.
“And Noah, I missed you,” she blew an invisible and affectionate kiss towards my side while I was certain that an imaginary volcano was boiling in Eugene’s head.
“I missed you too. ” My eyes crinkled at the sides as a smile spread across my lips, affirming her words.
“And shouldn’t I get a glass? It seems there was a toast about to happen?” Rose continued with a light chuckle.
Everyone was still and quiet, even my mother was unable to say anything and let Rose continue talking. She had definitely lost her royal etiquettes and even now, she did not attempt to revive them.
“I think we would have to speak more at breakfast tomorrow morning, James, ” My father started, his baritone voice echoing across the entire room, “-Rose, my brother’s daughter hasn’t come home in a while and is excited to be here. A room has been prepared for you in the left wing. I hope you are not disappointed with the sudden change in plans. ”
“Not at all. I am happy that the plans won’t change the uniting of our families and kingdoms.” I heard King James respond while nodding, his white beard drawing attention to my eyes.
“Should we make that toast?” My mother ultimately suggested while rising to her feet with a wine glass in her right hand, her fingers perfectly coiled around the stem.
“Yes, we should. ” Queen Sophia triumphantly exclaimed, her pink long flowing gown complementing her painted pink lips while sending a smile towards her daughter.
Everyone rose on their feet, maybe a bit slow but I did, my eyes still facing Matilda’s.
“To Midon! ” We all shouted in unison while my father was seated due to his health reasons but he managed to raise his glass.
****
Everyone had retired to their separate wings and chambers but my father and King James stayed back at the royal dining hall, probably speaking about royal politics that I had no idea about.
“This whole dinner was really strange, Ruby commented while walking up to me at the balcony, “-Especially when Rose walked in and I’m sure Eugene was furious, I swore I saw her eyes turn red while she left. ”
“But it got fun, didn’t it?” I answered.
Ruby then stared at me with a brow arched in uncertainty.
“Did you do anything, Noah?” I heard her ask.
I let out a chuckle, my eyes fixated on the moon.
“If I didn’t, would you believe me?” I responded with a smirk on my face.
“I just don’t trust you. ” Ruby countered back, nudging me by the shoulders.
“Then why ask when you have no intention of believing?” I teased.
“You know that-” Ruby halted when someone cleared her throat behind us. Ruby looked behind her and I turned back as well to see Matilda still dressed in what she wore, during the dinner but the gold pendant on her neck was gone.
“I’ll excuse you if you seem busy. ” Her lips spread out to give that sham smile that I was able to decipher.
“No, Matilda,” Ruby responded hastily, “I’ll leave the both of you to talk. ”
I turned and shook my head, winking desperately at Ruby who on the other hand ignored and then let out a yawn.
“I’ll turn in for the night, now. Goodnight Noah and of course, Matilda.” Ruby joyfully announced, walking out before I could even utter a single word.
She deliberately left me with the woman I never wanted anything to do with.
“You seem uninterested in speaking, let alone, being in the same spot as me, ” Matilda was the first to speak as she circled me as if I was prey, “And I am afraid that I didn’t give you a good first impression. ”
“Your impression at the bakery was really good. I still remember it.” I teasingly tilted my head and crossed my arm across my chest.
“Oh really?” Matilda clicked her tongue, “What about my face? Did I please your eyes?”
I let out a light chuckle, “You are beautiful, Matilda. I almost didn’t think that it would be you but you have still not captured or managed to please my heart.”
“Ouch,” Matilda muttered while bending with one of her fingers on her lower lip, “But your face pleases my eyes… and my heart.”
I scoffed aloud, “Really?”
“Yes.” she advanced towards me with quick strides and her hands on her curvy hip, stepping rudely into my space. In retaliation, I moved a step backward.
“Are you shy, Prince Noah?” she teased while batting her lashes at me.
“I can be shy to someone else but never you.” I firmly shook my head.
“You can do a better job at making this arranged marriage work by talking and trying to win my father’s heart, ” Matilda clicked her tongue again, “At least pretend, to be interested. It’s all for the good of Midon, after all.”
“I am very honest with my feelings and I have expressed what I feel, tonight. “I shot her a witty smile. She moved closer to me while I made no effort to take another step backward. She reached to fondle my tie and then the sides of my face.
“You turn me on, my Prince,” she expressed, her body drawing closer and the distance between us getting nearer by the second, “I lost my senses when I saw you. But should I remind you that your father needs Arendelle’s support so that Midon’s economy won’t crumble? It’s a give and a take situation. ”
“My senses are still intact,” I answered, her lips a few inches from mine. My hands wrapped around her shoulders and pushed her gently, “-And must you remind me about the alliance? It ticks me off. ”
“You act like a child and it’s starting to sicken me,” Matilda responded, crossing her arms across her chest, “I don’t care if I don’t please your eyes, you will marry me, Prince Noah and I shall be your Queen. ”
She let out a menacing laugh before walking up to me once again. She slanted her oval face, her fingers spreading round my shoulders to peck me on the cheek.
“Goodnight, my Prince, ” she whispered, “Or my future King.”
“Never do that again. ” I responded brashly, “Never-”
Matilda rudely interrupted, shaking her head, “I will. You are going to be mine anyways so better get used to it. ”
I scoffed aloud, my mouth half-open in amusement mixed with surprise.
“I don’t fancy just any woman doing that to me. ” My eyes turned dark and my hands clenched into a fist, trying to hold back my rage.
“That is the problem I have with you, Noah,” Matilda answered with a radiant smile on her face, “I’m not just any woman.”
“You need to get what I am trying-”
She cut me off again in mid-sentence with a dismissive hand.
“Goodnight, my Prince.” she bowed, “I hope we can talk a lot more, tomorrow. ”
She then patted me on the shoulders before exiting slowly. I turned back to see her, descending the stairs and then I bit my lower lip.
She was dangerous and stubborn, relentless. My hands gripped the balcony rims while looking at the moon.
I knew I had to put more effort into getting rid of Matilda.