55

Noah
I waited for Ashely to speak while standing and watching the rain drizzle down and make splattering noises against the window. When I didn’t hear a word from her, I cut the call and reached out for the booze once more, taking one last gulp before staggering toward my bed.
I shut my eyes briefly, feeling a bit slighted when she called me, Mason. Did she really like him that much?
Then why did she lift her neck back in the storage room? Was she toying with my feelings?
I let out a roaring belch while dropping the glass bottle with no booze in it. I rubbed the back of my hair, my vision getting blurrier with each passing second.
I laid my head on the side of the bed, taking in a huge breath. Was this a life worth living?
Why did everything have to revolve around my duty as the future heir?
Why was I burdened with so much pressure when the crown hadn’t touched my head yet?
I reminisced on the day I first saw Ashley. I still remember the mask she wore and the way her hands felt warm around mine.
Destiny was brutal, wasn’t it?
The same woman who ran away from me, I had her within my grasp, and yet, she couldn’t be mine.
Was this a punishment for what I did to Diana and the previous duchesses I dated?
And to worsen it, I was going to be trapped with Matilda for the rest of my life. When she told me about her father giving her in marriage to a man far older than her, I felt sorry for her. I didn’t like how she got on my nerves but she was doing it for the merger, her parents.
I wished to know about the tales about her scars, someday but would that even be possible? I still couldn’t forgive her for what she did to Ashely and Emily but my greater resentment was based on the fact she wanted to marry me and was still persistent about chasing my heart.
I struggled to rise to my feet and succeeded on the second trial. A smile shot out from the corner of my lips as I advanced toward the washroom. I flung the door open and opened the faucet, bathing my face with cold water that I scooped from my hands.
I looked up and noticed my red eyes. I was still drunk and groggy. I moved towards my bed, taking slow steps. I sat and was about to throw my head backward when I heard a knock that jerked me back to reality.
“My Prince. ” I heard Daniel say.
“You can come in,” I shouted back.
I adjusted my sitting position, crossing my legs while watching the door open slowly. Daniel walked up to me swiftly, his long legs striding fast towards me.
“I wanted to report to you about Madam Clarissa,” he said.
“Carry on. ” I tilted my head and nodded.
“She’s from Lady Eugene’s hometown and is said to be manipulative towards the royals whom she has groomed and when she doesn’t get her way, she can use excessive force,” Daniel reported.
I crossed my arms across my chest, “I know that already.”
“She had a daughter,” Daniel responded.
“A daughter?” I spread my fingers across the white sheets, “Where is she?”
“Dead,” Daniel uttered.
I stroked my chin and whined, “But you said she had a daughter. ”
“I never said she was alive,” Daniel responded, placing his hands behind his back.
I looked at him, “Why aren’t you calling me by my title?”
“You asked me to stop, my Prince,” Daniel spoke softly.
“Now you’re talking back at me.” I pointed my second left finger at him.
“Are you intoxicated, my Prince?” Daniel asked while I struggled to open my eyes.
“I am alright. ” I waved a dismissive hand, a yawn escaping from my lips before my head went backward to meet the bed.
“My Prince?” I heard Daniel utter when his face came into view while my eyes were beginning to close. All I wanted was to tell me to stop talking so I could sleep. I shut my eyes afterward, embracing the blackness that came with it.
**
My eyes fluttered open as a flashing light blinded my eyes as I rose sharply, curving my hand in front of my eyes.
“This place smells like a brothel. ” I heard Madam Clarissa remark while opening the curtains and swiftly turning on the lights, her staff making annoying noises.
“How did you enter here? Was it the guards?” I demanded gruffly, rubbing my eyes.
“I knocked severally but I got no response.” Madam Clarissa promptly responded with a smile.
“Then you shouldn’t have walked in. ” I retorted sharply.
I observed as she halted on her heels, advancing closer to the bed and sitting on it swiftly.
“Do you address your elders like that, my Prince?” she asked.
I mashed my lips, unable to speak as I touched my forehead.
“Why did you drink? Did something happen between you and your future bride? A love spat? Something you’d like to share?” she said.
I let out a soft chuckle, watching her eagle eyes narrowing at me.
“I drank because I wanted to. ” I answered.
“That sounds vague, my Prince. Most royals I know, drink because they are burdened by something trivial.” she persisted.
“I don’t have anything to share with you, so let’s skip this conversation,” I said.
“If you keep to yourself, it might eat you from the inside.” Madam Clarissa explained.
I smirked at her and rose from the bed, swiftly walking towards the large wardrobe and opening it. I heard her stand from my king-sized bed as it made a creaking sound.
I put one of my hands on my pants while looking at the massive number of shirts and pants in various colors.
“It would be dinner soon. You should settle for a color that will match the mood so your future bride would be pleased,” she uttered.
I clicked my tongue, wondering why her mouth couldn’t stop running even when I did not attempt to give her the response she wanted.
“I haven’t been seeing you around the palace. I heard you go hunting. Is that something you do for fun? Killing animals?” she asked, advancing closer to me.
I let out a deep sigh, beginning to get irked by her questions. The last time I hunted was when I was still eighteen, my father forced me to fire at a pigeon. I didn’t know why but he kept calling me unfit and a coward if I didn’t take the shot. Ever since there, once I went hunting with Daniel by my side, I looked at the birds instead for hours.
“I heard you had a daughter, Madam Clarissa. Can you tell me about her?” I turned, crossing my arms across my chest. I noticed the wrinkles on her forehead begin to show and her unsettled gaze on me.
“You asked about my daughter?” she said with a chuckle, “You are a strange boy!”
“I just wanted to know you, personally just like the way you intend to know me. It’s not fun when you know about me and I don’t know anything about you.” I countered back with a smile.
“You are telling me to keep my distance from you and not ask you any questions. ” she retorted sharply.
“Thank you for understanding that. I was just thinking of how to say it without being condescending about it.” I shot her a smile, the corner of my eyes wrinkling up.
“You are really -”
I heard a shattering sound that stopped Madam Clarissa from saying a word. I swiftly closed the large wardrobe, hastily walking towards the door, I pushed it open and watched as the guards feigned ignorance of the sound.
With Madam Clarissa trying to match my quick legs, I climbed the stairs and followed the noises of the shattering objects. I halted when I sighted who was the person who was shattering any vase her hands could find.
Rose.
“Give it to me, ” she screamed, “Now!”
Eugene was standing in front of her, wearing a green frock with her eyes, shooting daggers at her wailing daughter.
“Stop acting like a child, Roselina, and get up this instant. “Eugene yelled back.
Rose let out a beastly laugh, crouching low to pick up a shard of the glass. The servant who watched and surrounded the scenery were holding their breaths while some were shaking like leaves thrust out in the snow.
I knew what Rose wanted but as I walked closer, my eyes fully fixated on hers, she did the unthinkable.
With an insane smile on her face, she stretched out her left hand and dragged the shard over her skin, letting blood bubble out of it instantly.
“Roselina!” Eugene exclaimed.
“Give it to me,” Rose shouted once more, “-Or it would be my neck next. ”
I swallowed instantly, watching as Eugene’s face darkened when Rose lifted the bloody shard, aiming it towards her neck.
“Stop it, Rose,” My older sister Ruby spoke behind me, “You are embarrassing everyone. Can’t you see what you’re doing?”
Rose clicked her tongue and her gaze turned towards her mother, Eugene.
“Would you give it to me, mother?” Rose pouted, moving the shard closer to her neck.
I was about to yell at Rose to stop the stunt she was pulling when I heard my mother speak;
“What on earth is going on here?”