Celebration

Kalix Noah's POV

Prince Lukas glared at me when he stopped me from approaching Lady Leticia, then left without a word. I saw it when my brother took her away.

I end up wandering around and slowly grabbing drinks from the different servers. If my count was right, I've already drunk 12 glasses of alcohol.

"Prince Noah, stop right there. You've been drinking too much," mom's says.

I stopped because it was my mother who called me. I'm glad everyone was busy talking to each other.

We went to a corner where no one could hear or see us. "What are you doing, huh?" Mother asks. I drink the last sip of the glass that I get. I smiled.

"I'm just celebrating, mommy," I simply replied.

She glares at me instead. I know my mother was mad because I'm acting like a scumbag. She's my mother, and she knows me well.

"Don't give your wife a headache. I'm also a woman, son. You should respect her and stop trying to get Lady Leticia's attention. She chooses your big brother. You have to accept that," mother says. I was taken aback.

I laugh and look at her with sadness in my eyes. "I knew it. You know that I have feelings for Lady Leticia, but because my big brother likes her, I don't stand a chance. I know you and my father see me as a useless prince," I halt.

I tried not to raise my voice higher, or else we'd catch someone's attention. We will ruin this fucked-up night.

"Are you telling me that I and your father are being biased toward you? Do you really think we gave you that title out of pity? Is that how bad we are to you, Prince Noah?"

I felt guilty when I saw how Mom was hurt because of how rude my remarks were. Did I say too much? I should apologize to my mother.

"Mother… I apologize. I know that you and your father witness how my siblings treat me. I feel like an outcast, and something made me think that I might be adopted," I replied. My mother slaps me lightly.

"Adopted? Are you kidding me right now, Prince Kalix? You got your dad's blonde hair, his height, and his jawline."

"You got my eyes, and those three moles on your upper and lower parts of your collarbones were on the same spot as mine. YOU ARE OUR SON," mother emphasizes in the last sentence.

My tears stream down my cheeks. Deep inside, I'm lonely and feel like I have no one to talk to. She raises her hand and sheds tears.

"Son, things were hard for you, and it will be harder if Leticia is yours while she keeps on wanting your brother. That's the reason why your dad and I didn't use our power to marry her off with you."

She grabs my hand and sighs. "You have to listen to your mother, son. We know that your brother might linger around, and those two might cheat on you if we betroth Lady Leticia to you," father paused.

I was surprised because he was here. "Son, we agreed to the general's request because, for the first time, someone chose you. Not only me, your mother, and your loyal confidants." He placed his hand on my shoulder and softly smiled at me.

"Your mom and I believe that Lady Kassandra will take care of you. You might hate us in the meantime, but I hope one day you'll realize that we love you. That's the reason why we're making decisions like this," father added.

I have no choice but to accept their decision. We hear several footsteps. We saw my brother and Leticia, who were getting back into the hall. I close my eyes.

"Son, please, today is your wedding day. Sober up and socialize with the guest," mom says. Father handed me a glass of water.

I didn't even notice that he was holding one. I grab the glass and drink it. We heard some footsteps again. They will come out of where we're hiding.

They stopped walking and performed a curtsy as a greeting. "Your majesties," they both say. It was my wife and her vice general.

I didn't notice that they weren't in the crowd. I thought she was with her soldiers. "What are you doing outside the hall, Lady Kassandra?" Mother ask.

She brushes her nape and laughs softly. "I'm not into this kind of celebration, your majesty. We technically celebrate different occasions in the grassland while eating not so lavish meals," she replied.

My mother sighed and went to her. She held her hand. "You have to get used to it. Even if you and our son live in his residence near the port area, you have to socialize. That's part of your duty as the grand duchess."

Her jaw drops. Kassandra simply smiled. I notice that she's restless, yet she's hiding her true emotion. "Understood, your highness," she replied.

She looks at me and seems to understand that I'm already drunk. She walks closer and grabs my hand.

I was about to take it back when she barely pinched the part between my thumb and index finger. That hurt, but I can't yell at her.

"Let's have some fresh air, your majesty. This will help you to sober up after drinking that water. Please? I want to skip the socializing part again," she whispers.

She's trying to keep that part secret from my parents. My mother coughs. She turned around and smiled.

"I'll be snatching my husband in the meantime, your majesties. Arida, stay here and enjoy the party instead," Kassandra says.

Arida made her curtsy and walked away. My mom and dad look at me, and I know they're giving me a warning. My wife drags me outside.

She released my wrist and deeply sighed. She sits on the fountain and raises her feet, swinging them back and forth.

"Your siblings... I notice they're being mean. I mean, no harm, your majesty, but... I don't know," she says, shrugging her shoulders. I know what she's trying to say.

"Speak against them, and no matter what achievement you get, they'll behead you," I coldly replied. She burst out.

"Oh, I apologize, your majesty. I don't know of any sibling fights. My brother and I were close before… things went downhill. I'm just glad I finally brought back their honor."

She bows down her head and hides the sadness that flashes in her eyes. I didn't say a word or even reply to her statement.

I sit next to her, keeping half a short distance between us. "We forgot something during the ceremony."