Chapter Forty Five

"Won't you sit, Alex?" The princess asked me with her golden eyes staring at mine, giving me chills.

"Y-Yes, Your Highness." I said, seating back in my seat though I actually wanted to run away.

Though I had my eyes fixed on my plate I could feel the princess's stare on me. I looked at Prince Noah looking for some kind of support, but the little brat just looked away obviously avoiding me.

"So, Alex, I have heard a lot about you." Princess Isabel suddenly said.

"Y-You did, Your Highness?" I asked, finally having the courage to look at her.

She smiled, but her tone seemed cold. "Yes, I heard that you and my brother are such close friends."

'I wouldn't call us close friends though.' I thought.

"I-Is that so, Your Highness?" I asked, forcing a smile though I was actually feeling uncomfortable with the princess's eyes that seemed to be analyzing everything about me.

The princess smiled and then her eyes finally moved away from me, she gently picked up her cup of tea and took a sip.

"I have been curious for a while, how did you meet my brother? How did you become friends?" The princess asked, looking at me again at the end of her phrase.

"Huh, I…" I didn't know what to say.

'How can I tell the princess that I just got closer to Prince Noah because he kept ordering me to follow him around all the time?' I asked myself, nervous.

"Alex helped me when I was injured, since then we became friends." Prince Noah said, surprising me.

"Is that so?" Princess Isabel said looking at Prince Noah, she seemed surprised just as I was.

For a moment I thought Prince Noah was lying until I remembered about the accident in the forest he had while trying to fool me. I totally forgot that it was just after this event that Prince Noah's behavior toward me changed.

'So, he really meant that?' I thought, surprised, looking at Prince Noah, that noticing my stare looked away, embarrassed.

The princess looked at me and said with a smile on her face. "Thank you for helping my brother then, Alex."

"T-There is no need to thank me, Your Highness." I said, not knowing how to react.

The princess just smiled, but this time it seemed genuine.

For some reason, the princess's mood seemed to change, it was such a tenuous change that I could be mistaken, but to me, the princess seemed more calm.

"I don't recall seeing you before, Alex. How long have you been working here in the palace?" Princess Isabel asked, curious.

"It… It has been two years since I've been working here, Your Highness." I said.

'That was what I told others before, right?' I asked myself, unsure.

"I see that makes sense. You must have started working here while I was in the temple." The princess said, pensive.

"Yes, I think so, Your Highness." I said going on with the lie.

"Does your family also work here, Alex?" She suddenly asked.

Her question got me by surprise.

"No, I… I don't have a family, Your Highness." I said, realizing the meaning behind my words.

It's weird but whenever I think about family, I think about my parents and siblings from my past life. But sometimes I forget that I will never see them again in this world.

The princess seemed surprised, and she wasn't the only one.

"A-Are you perhaps an orphan, Alex?" Nicholas asked me, surprised.

I nodded. "Yes… I am."

"I didn't know… Sorry for talking about that, Alex." Princess Isabel said looking at me with pity in her eyes.

"No, it's alright, Your Highness." I said forcing a smile, trying to reassure them.

I don't know why but I suddenly felt like crying, but I forced myself not to. Avoiding their eyes I looked away, focusing on my plate.

'My past family was far from being perfect, but… I miss them.' I realized.

"Alex." Someone called me, taking me out of my thoughts.

It was Prince Noah.

"Yes, Your Highness?" I asked, confused.

He suddenly raised from his chair and said. "I'm done here. Let's go, Alex, we are leaving."

"Y-Yes, Your Highness." I said, surprised, quickly raising from my seat.

"It was good talking to you, Alex." The princess said.

"I can say the same, Your Highness." I said, politely to the princess, then I bowed respectfully and said. "I'm taking my leave now, then."

The princess just smiled and nodded.

Then I left the table, following Prince Noah, but I was suddenly stopped.

"Wait!" Nicholas said, holding my arm, surprising me.

"Can I talk to you for a moment, Alex?" He asked, looking into my eyes with an intense look.

I looked at Prince Noah, but before I could ask for permission he said.

"Just don't take too long. I'll be in my studying room, you can find me there later." Prince Noah said.

"Yes, Your Highness." I said.

Then without looking back, he left the room followed by his maids, leaving me, Nicholas, and the princess behind.

Nicholas turned around, looking at the princess he said. "I will also take my leave now. I see you later, princess."

The princess smiled and said. "Goodbye Nicholas."

Nicholas looked at me and said. "Let's go, Alex."

We left the dining room together and confused by Nicholas's sudden behavior I looked at him and asked. "What happened, Nicholas? Is there anything wrong?"

"Alex I…" He started to say, but then he was interrupted.

"Young Master, what are you doing? You should be in the studying room with the prince." One of his maids said approaching us.

It was Phelicia, one of Nicholas's maids whom I have met before. And just like before, she made it pretty obvious with her look that she didn't like me.

"I'm talking to my friend right now, I will go to the studying room later. And I don't need you or the other maids following me anymore. You may leave." Nicholas said, firmly.

Phelicia stared at him, she seemed mad for a moment, but then she held back herself and said, in a serious tone. "You shall not forget that your father, the Duke, will arrive soon, Young Master. And I will make sure for His Grace to be aware of how you have been behaving lately, Young Master."

It was obviously a threat, but Nicholas didn't seem to be affected by her words.

"Do as you wish." He said, staring at her, serious.

Phelicia frowned, mad, surprised by Nicholas's attitude, noticing that her threat didn't affect him.

"I see, I may leave now then." She said through gritted teeth, then she bowed respectfully, but before she left she gave me a look showing her contempt for me.

"Come, Alex." Nicholas said holding my hand.

"A-Alright." I said, surprised by being suddenly pulled by Nicholas, making us go in the opposite direction from where Phelicia left.

***

"What do you want to talk about, Nicholas?" I asked when we finally stopped walking.

"It's about yesterday…" He said avoiding looking into my eyes.

'Yesterday?' I asked myself, confused for a moment.

"I'm sorry for pushing you, Alex." Nicholas said, with a guilty expression.

"It's alright, Nicholas. I also must have done something to make you react like that." I said, without thinking too much.

After all that happened to me yesterday, what Nicholas did was the least problematic thing.

'Huh, now that I'm thinking about that I was pushed to the ground thrice just yesterday.' I realized.

"No, it was all my fault, and I am sorry, Alex." Nicholas said, apologetically.

'He seems to be feeling really guilty right now.' I thought, looking at him.

"It's alright. I'm fine, don't worry, Nicholas." I said, trying to reassure him.

Nicholas looked at me as if he was about to cry. "Aren't you mad at me? Are we still friends, then?"

Nicholas's questions surprised me. "No, I'm not mad. Of course, we are still friends."

"Really?" Nicholas asked, relieved.

I nodded. "Yes."

Nicholas smiled and held my hands, excited. "I will compensate you, I promise!"

"T-There is no need, you apologized, that is good enough for me already." I said, surprised.

"Even so, I will give you something as an appropriate apology." He insisted.

Knowing that I couldn't change his mind I said. "Alright, then, thank you, Nicholas."

Nicholas looked at me smiling and I smiled back at him, but then his face suddenly turned red and he quickly released my hands.

"I-I-I think we should go, Alex. Noah must be waiting for us." He said, turning and walking away.

"W-Wait for me!" I said, quickly following him.

***

On our way to the studying room to meet Prince Noah, we stopped in the palace's main hall. There were many servants taking more and more baggage inside the palace.

'It seems a new guest arrived.' I thought remembering that ceremony in memory of Lady Elizabeth, my great-grandmother will happen soon and many members of the royal family were invited.

Then I noticed a nobleman talking to Mr. Williams the Head Butler.

'Mr. Williams is always with the King, this guest must be important to the Head Butler himself to be welcoming him.' I realized.

Getting closer I was surprised.

'He is not a royal, who is he?' I asked myself after noticing that the nobleman didn't have golden eyes.

He was a tall and muscular man, he had blue eyes and dark hair. And for some reason, his presence seemed intimidating.

I don't know if it was because of the scar on his face, his physique, or the way he kept frowning seriously while talking to Mr. Williams like he would kill him, but something on him gave me chills.

Right by my side, suddenly Nicholas shouted, excited. "Father!"

I looked at him surprised.

'Father?!'