65

Noah
I placed my hands by my side, taking slow steps towards where my father lay on his bed, I brushed a hand over my hair as I sat on an antique chair, just beside the bed.
“Noah, why haven’t you been coming here? Is it because I’m sick or are you waiting for me to die?” I heard my father slowly utter out. I licked my lips, lowering my head as I answered;
“How are you faring, Father?”
“Don’t act like you care, you ill-mannered boy.” My father coughed as his clenched fist lifted closer to his lips.
I let out a deep sigh, trying hard not to speak rashly and bear the consequences.
“I’m sorry, Father. ” I abruptly answered. There was a moment of silence between us as my eyes looked around my father’s chambers which were a bit dark but the lights lit around every corner of the room making me see him more properly.
“Get on your knees and apologize, properly.” My father demanded.
I swallowed a huge globe of saliva, clicking my tongue and with my grasp on the chair, I reluctantly got on my knees, my hands touching the rug.
“I’m sorry, Father,” I said again. This time it was slow and I pretended to add a little bit of emotion to my voice.
My father simply let out a grunt, sweat bathing his face and his neck. His breathing was hoarse and I could hear it, loud and clear.
“What happened to Roselina?” he asked finally, he often called Rose by her full name when he was pissed at her. I knew that someone would have informed him, maybe my mother but why was he asking me?
I did not attempt to give him a response as my knees were still grazing the rug. What was I supposed to say?
“You knew, didn’t you? You knew she was still on opium and you didn’t do anything about it. ” My father barked at me, angling his pillow straight at my head.
“What was I supposed to do, Father?” I asked, holding back a groan.
“You are supposed to nip it in the bud. Correct Roselina and make sure her hands never touch that abominable filthy thing.” I heard my father answer in a hushed tone.
I tilted my head, “She’s addicted to it. It won’t be easy. ”
“Then make it easy. Who are you, Noah?” My father bellowed. I knew exactly what he wanted me to say and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
“The Prince of Midon and the heir to the throne. ” I uttered slowly, as my hands balled into a tight fist.
He often asked me that question when he was trying to prove a very ridiculous point.
“Then do what you have to do,” he told me and I nodded.
Maybe I should have told him that I was banned from seeing Rose.
My knees were beginning to ache and I tilted my head, wondering how much more I was going to endure.
“The Duchess of Arendelle, did you like her?” My father asked.
I fondled with my hands, wondering if I was supposed to tell him the truth or lie to his face. I decided to go with the latter.
“I’m just beginning to know her,” I answered.
I waited for my father to respond as he let out a deep sigh.
“Why were you then causing a commotion?” he asked.
I touched the back of my neck, beginning to get slightly irritated by his words. Did he really not get the sarcasm in my words?
“My health is failing and I might die soon. The least you can do is fulfill my wishes, get married to the Duchess, and bear a son. Be the King that I want to be. Listen to your family and stop being stubborn. You’re going to be a King. Stop acting like a child and look at what is at stake. You already know it, don’t you?”
I nodded in the affirmative, putting my hands behind my back, and at that moment, I decided to speak up.
“Why are Midon and Narnia in conflict?”
My father didn’t utter a word and when I tried to ask again, I heard him yell;
“Leave, Noah. I need my rest,” he said.
“Father…”
“Are you deaf? Leave!” he tried to yell but ended up coughing.
I rose to my feet, struggling a bit since my legs felt cramped from kneeling for so many minutes.
He was still coughing after I left and I whispered in the ears of the guards standing in front of his chambers, asking them to check up on him.
I stretched my legs, a bit annoyed at why my father called for me. I let the anger within me mollify as I began walking, climbing the stairs slowly. I heard voices coming from one of the rooms where royals discussed occasionally and I propped a head inside.
“Hello, Noah, ” I heard Kareem say who was Ruby’s betrothed. He was the second son and one of the Princes born of the King of Talon. He was said to be gentle, kind, and good with animals.
I watched as he was holding my older sister’s hand, fondling her index finger while smiling hard like a fool. He was obviously whipped, unlike Ruby who seemed less interested in him.
If there was anything I understand about arranged marriages between two royals, it was purely based on duty and less about affection and emotions involved from both parties.
Kareem barely visited Midon but he sent numerous letters to Ruby.
“Do you want to talk?” Kareem offered and I shook my head.
“I have to leave. I hope you don’t mind.” I shot him a quick smile. Kareem smiled at me while I noticed Ruby was trying so hard from yanking Kareem’s grasp off her finger.
I helped them in shutting the door while I walked towards the royal kitchenette, whistling playfully at Gordon.
“I was going to ask about something,” Gordon told me when he pulled me over to a corner after cleaning his wet hands.
Was it about James? I thought.
“Is there a reason why you keep going to Mrs. Ping’s bakery? Are you trying to get a touch of what life from the lower class is all about?”
I shook my head, a smile hanging on my lips, “No, Gordon. I just felt at ease being there.”
“Oh alright and is there a person who is making you feel at ease?” Gordon asked.
“No,” I answered, “Why are you asking me that? Did anyone tell you anything?”
“No, my boy. Is there anything you would like to inform me of? You know you can talk to me, Noah. I have known you right from when you started crawling.” he nudged me across the shoulder. A smile swept across my lips and I heard Gordon say;
“Would you like me to prepare anything for you?”
“No, I’m fine. I know you have a lot on your plate. I don’t want to stress you.” I patted him on the shoulders and left.
I walked towards my chambers, climbing another set of stairs. Sometimes, I wonder why there wasn’t yet advanced technology in this palace unlike in Boston where they had elevators.
I sighted Daniel who was running after me, holding three envelopes. He walked up to me in quick strides and I was amazed at his diligence.
“Is that for me?” I asked him, my gaze fixated on what he held in his arms.
“Yes, my Prince. ” He handed them over to me.
I thanked him and before I could take another step, I called out for him, “Daniel, have you seen Madam Clarissa?”
“Not at all, my Prince,” he responded. I dismissed him with a hand, walking towards my chambers, flinging the doors open, I was well aware that most of the guards were around Edgemoor cottage, ensuring that Rose didn’t pull up another stunt, break into a run or embarrass the royal family.
I walked in, flexing my legs once more before sitting on an antique chair. I flipped open one of the envelopes which was from James, telling me he was alright at the military base. He never stated what happened along the border and I understood why.
The next letter was from Matilda and I let out a groan. She kept asking me to forgive her and begging me to promise that, she would be my Queen. I was appalled that she signed the letter with her lipstick.
“She’s crazy. ” I muttered to myself.
I opened the last envelope, wondering whom it was from. Could it be Diana or Fiona?
I was a bit certain that it couldn’t be Diana. I hadn’t heard from her since that small garden party and Fiona, I was a bit skeptical about why she would send me a letter.
I pulled up the letter to my eyes and I read the prints carefully,
“I see you, Leo.”
I touched my neck, feeling a bit of tension right there and I then ran a hand over my hair. My other hand squeezed the paper and threw it into the bin. I was about to reach out for a drink when I heard a knock on the door.
I hoped it wasn’t Madam Clarissa.
I took slow steps towards the door and flung it open. I was appalled when I saw no one.
It was as if I was being pranked by a ghost or was that the person who sent me the letter?