Noah
The morning was short and quiet around the palace. I heard that Eugene went to visit her brother who was the King of Eden. Eden was a small town and from what I heard, Eugene was the first one to jump into Eli’s arm knowing that he was incapable of keeping his loins to himself. I was lucky that my mother wasn’t at the table and Ruby ate in her chambers with Kareem who stated that he was staying for a day or two.
And so it was easy for me to slip away with Daniel. I specifically told some guards that I was going hunting and decided to keep up the facade by holding a rifle. I handed the rifle over to Daniel once I entered the vehicle and leaned against the headrest.
I walked into the bakery with high spirits as the smell of warm bread in the oven hit my nostrils. I walked into the kitchen to find Alfred, Damien, and Luke speaking about Emily’s birthday.
A smile swept across my lips as I wondered what to give to her. Emily made me laugh almost every time. She reminded me greatly of Ruby, my older sister. I looked at the sweater that I was wearing and removed it, deciding to give her that as a gift.
My eyes lingered around for my suspect, Nadia whom I believed sent me that message but she wasn’t in the kitchen. I tapped Luke on the shoulder who seemed to be engrossed in the cupcake that Alfred removed from the oven.
“Where’s Nadia?” I asked him.
“She’s at the back, sorting out the trash. I wanted to do it but she decided to.” Luke shrugged and I crossed my arm across my chest.
The ringing of the bell at the top of the bakery’s door sent everyone in the kitchen into a frenzy as they all ran out, knowing that it was Emily and Ashley. I followed behind them, screaming a happy birthday to Emily who kept smiling. I wanted to avoid staring at Ashely but she looked too irresistible to look away from so I gazed at her for a couple of seconds before taking my eyes off her.
I finally gave Emily my sweater who received it with happiness written all over her face. She embraced me and I watched as Ashely walked toward the kitchen.
I talked with Emily for a while at the counter while noticing the absence of straws and paper bags. I headed towards the storage room, rustling through some cardboard boxes before finding the ones I wanted.
I heard the footstep of someone approaching me and I whipped my head around to see that it was Emily.
“Did you feel lonely at the counter? Is that why you are here?” I asked her.
“No.” I heard Emily respond as I picked up a cardboard box in my arms and turned.
“I like you.”
I didn’t realize when the box dropped to the ground as my eyes grew wide at what she had told me.
“Are you shocked?” Emily asked softly.
I found myself looking intently at her eyes as I tried to gather the courage to speak.
“Me?” I pointed a finger towards my chest.
“Of course, it’s you,” Emily fluttered her lashes as she moved closer to me, her index finger reaching to poke me by the shoulder, “Who else would I be referring to?”
My lips spread to give a brief smile, my eyes crinkling at the sides. My hands ran through my hair as I continued to look at her.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Emily enquired, her eyes brimming with euphoria, “You don’t like me?”
I cleared my throat, swallowing a globe of saliva before speaking;
“I am just surprised that you like me and it’s a lot to take in. ” I answered in a haste.
I observed as a blush stained her cheeks.
“I liked you from the moment you walked into the bakery. I just didn’t know how to tell you but now I have the courage,” Emily started with a chuckle, pushing her hands into her apron, “-and now I feel like I have a load off my chest. You don’t have to like me now if you don’t and I promise, I won’t make you uncomfortable. ”
She then lowered her head, a smile still visible across the corner of her lips.
“Thank you,” I told her. Emily lifted her head and smacked me playfully on the shoulder.
“Thank you for the sweater. I’ll cherish it. ” And with that she walked out of the storage room, leaving me stunned.
I liked Emily as a sister and not in the way she thought I could reciprocate. If she knew that I liked her best friend, Ashley…
She might be the uncomfortable one.
I picked up the cardboard box, balancing it in one arm as I walked toward the counter. I wasn’t expecting to see Nadia there who was engrossed in calculating what was in the tip jar.
“Where’s Ashely?” I asked her while dropping the box.
Nadia lifted her head, and shot a quick glance at him before responding;
“She went outside.”
I thrust my hand into my apron pocket, “Where?”
“I wasn’t told, Leo,” she responded sternly and I was taken aback by her coldness. I picked up a rag and began cleaning the tables in preparation for those who were about to enter the bakery.
***
If there was a prize for the harshest person in Mrs. Ping’s bakery, it should be awarded to Nadia. When I asked her to help me with filling up the coffee, she was indifferent at first for a minute or two before she ignored me completely. Emily was in the kitchen with Alfred and Luke while I was stuck here with Nadia.
“Why did you ignore me, Nadia?” I asked her.
“I didn’t ignore you. I just didn’t help you.” she turned to look at me as she adjusted her spectacles.
I let out an inaudible scoff, “And why on earth would you do that?”
Nadia crossed her arm across her bust, “You came here and didn’t utter a word of greeting so why should you feel entitled and bratty if I decided not to help you?”
I mashed my lips together as I bit my bottom lip. She actually called me bratty.
“You don’t have to be rude if you don’t want to help. “I spoke.
“It’s funny coming from someone who was born privileged.” Nadia shot a glare at me. I found myself staring at her. How did she know that I was privileged? Was I right about my suspicions?
“And why do you think I’m privileged?” I asked, “If I was, would I be here?”
“You leave the bakery, earlier than all of us under the guise of a family emergency. I don’t trust you. ” Nadia shrugged.
I inhaled sharply, “I don’t trust you too.”
“I’m glad we’re even.” I heard Nadia respond. I kept looking at her while shaking my head.
Who the hell was Nadia?
She caught me staring at her and I quickly darted my gaze away from her.
“Why are you looking at me? Do you like me?” she asked with a hand placed on her hip.
I almost burst into laughter when I heard those words fall out from her lips. A person entered the bakery and my focus remained focused on him.
“You wish,” I muttered inaudibly as I saw Nadia walk towards the kitchen. I then remembered that Ashley wasn’t here and I wondered where on earth she was or who she was with.
***
I felt my hands go numb as I settled down on my seat, watching as Nadia was reading a newspaper for the past ten minutes
“You seem interested in that, what’s it about?” I asked while rotating a hand in the air.
Nadia hesitated before pulling down the newspaper, “It’s just a few rumors about the Prince of Midon.”
I impulsively swallowed hard and felt my entire mouth go dry.
“What rumors?” I pressured with an awkward smile.
“It’s about the reason why no one has seen him since over a decade.” Nadia shrugged.
“And what is that reason?” I shifted in my seat and positioned a palm at the side of my face.
“Well, he might have burnt his face or gotten ugly. ” Nadia answered slowly.
Peals of laughter escaped from my lips after hearing that ridiculous statements. The reporters could have done a little bit better in making up stupid talks about me.
“What’s funny about it?” Nadia asked.
“W-What?” Her question snapped me back into reality as my facial expression displayed that of confusion.
“It’s not referring to you so why would you laugh?” Nadia raised a shoulder, shooting a piercing gaze at me.
I blinked for a moment, realizing what games she was trying to pull.
“I laughed because I found it funny. I don’t understand what you’re implying,” I blurted out, “And the Prince of Midon? If I had that so much game, why would I need to hide?”
I let out a nervous laugh and decided to head toward the door to get some fresh air. As I was about to open the door, it busted open on its own, banging harshly against my entire face. Pain coursed through my entire body and before I could recover, I felt a body slam into me.
Gathering my strength so I wouldn’t fall to the ground, I wrapped my hands across her waist and lifted my head to see a teary Ashely in my arms.