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Prince Alexander stood against the wall with his arms crossed and tapped his foot continuously on the floor. Both he and his uncle, Duke Castalier, were in the hallway outside the king’s room, waiting for the king to come out. As family, they were to arrive at the ballroom together and to formally introduce the crown prince to the nobility, apart from celebrating his birthday.
But for Prince Alexander, rather than happiness which he always felt in all his birthdays, it felt like he was waiting for his execution instead.
He thought silence could help him think of a way to get out of this situation, but it didn’t. So, he paced again back and forth and hoped that the exercise would work. But all he had was increased tension within him, something he couldn’t get out of him.
He paced, and then he sat on a nearby chair and tapped his foot. Paced, then sat, and then tapped. He did then continuously as if in a loop.
His uncle, who was observing his nephew, finally broke the silence and said, “That is unbecoming for a crown prince, my dear nephew.”
Finally, Alexander snapped. “Now, there’s the speech again!” he exclaimed, “Crown prince this, future king that; I am so sick of hearing the same thing! Can’t I have just one day for myself? Just one day! Oh, I doubt you understand me, uncle. You aren’t really the ‘future ruler’ of this kingdom who, ironically, isn’t allowed to choose for his own future nor even pace around the goddamn room! A puppet might as well be my substitute…”
Yet when he saw his uncle, who silently listened to him with his arms crossed and eyebrows raised, Alexander stopped, looked down at his uncle’s feet and said, “Forgive me, uncle, I didn’t mean to say those words.”
“Look at me, Xander,” Duke Castalier said and Alexander followed. The prince saw his uncle’s face was now smiling gently at him. “I understand what you are feeling right now. I really do. Luckily there are no servants around to see your outburst and I just hope that your father didn’t hear what you said,” the duke added.
“I do hope so,” Alexander said.
“Will you walk with me, Xander?” the uncle said, and Alexander obliged. They began to walk through the hallways in silence, which, along the way, was broken by the duke. “You know, my dear nephew, you and your father are really the same, especially when you have something in your mind.”
“Prone to sudden outbursts?”
Duke Castalier laughed heartily. “No, what I meant was that both of you don’t really like to share what you were thinking. That is why I was surprised at you a little while ago, since this would be the first!”
The prince laughed at his uncle, “You mean, even father doesn’t tell you, his older brother?”
“No, he doesn’t. I really don’t get him sometimes,” he replied and then they stopped walking, “But let’s just leave it at that. Do you know where we are now, Alexander?”
Alexander saw a huge red curtain in front of them. He could also hear some distinct chattering beyond the curtains, despite its thickness. “Judging by the direction of where we are walking, as well as the decors around, we are in the entrance of the ballroom, or at least where the grand staircase leading down to the ballroom, that is,” the prince replied, “But aren’t we suppose to wait for father?”
“Yes, but don’t worry,” the duke replied, “we will be staying here, just peeking.” With his hand, he drew the curtain enough for both to peer at the other side without gaining much attention.
“Do you see those young people, Xander?” his uncle asked, “All of them are groomed to become the future of their households; the sons, to inherit the title, and the daughters, to be married to a peer of either equal or higher in rank.” He then turned to Alexander and said, “That is why, my dear prince, you aren’t alone in your sentiments. They, too, faced the same fate as all nobility do.”
“But unlike me, they aren’t really forced to follow them; they have a choice,” Alexander remarked, “Don’t they, uncle?”
“Yes,” the uncle said while he withdrew his hand, “But with dire consequences, often disowning them. But most of them chose to do their families’ bidding without any questions anyways.”
“But I have also heard accounts of those who followed their own path,” Alexander said, “And they were genuinely happy, uncle.”
“That’s true,” Duke Castalier remarked, “But those who were truly happy were those who had understood and accepted those circumstances which I mentioned. In the end, it all depends on the family, whether the decisions of the children are accepted or not.”
The duke continued, “But what I want you to remember is this: whenever you decide, you have to be prepared to face its consequences whatever they are. I have told you a while ago how you were unbecoming, but it isn’t because your pacing; it is how you handled the situation. As nobility, we are expected to face anything, strong yet graceful, especially you, our future king. You will be the one whom people will draw their strength from.”
The prince was silence. He couldn’t understand how he felt upon hearing his uncle’s words; he wanted to be the person whom everyone could rely on, especially his people, yet he couldn’t fathom the idea of giving up his entire life and be controlled like a marionette. “If that would be the case,” he thought, “Then what is left of me?”
“I know what you are thinking,” said Duke Castalier, “You are asking yourself whether you can be the prince, nay, the king that everybody loves while you are with the person whom you love the most in the entire world. That is possible, my dear nephew; and if you found it, then fate smiles upon you.”
“Then, that would mean my parents were forced to marry each other?” Alexander asked, “That they… forced themselves to be together?”
“Although it is true that they were ordered to be married to the other,” the duke said, “But that is all I know. I cannot speak for your father and your late mother if they felt forced throughout their marriage; why don’t you ask him?”
“As if he will answer that silly question,” remarked the prince.
“You’ll never know if you never try,” the duke said and then winked at him, “With that said, I do hope that you’ll keep our exchange our little secret, Your Highness.”
“Most certainly, Your Grace,” Alexander chuckled, and his uncle laughed at well. Then, the duke once again drew the curtain a little. “Shouldn’t we go back, uncle?” the prince asked.
“Let’s just stay here, Xander,” the duke replied, “I am currently looking for your first dance partner.”
“I think I can manage to recognize her…” and then the prince paused. “My dance partner doesn’t need to be my future wife, right? If I could show to father that I can make my own decisions, then...”
“… Hmmm, have I seen her before?” he heard his uncle said. Curious on the matter, the prince also drew back the curtains and asked whom his uncle was referring to. The duke replied, “That lady in a white dress and… a single white rose in her hair.”
Alexander saw the woman his uncle referred to; at the near corner of the ballroom she stood, and beside her was a tall man with a tanned complexion and dark brown hair. He also saw Rosette talking to them. “Are you positive that you didn’t know her, uncle?” he asked, to which the duke answered with “No, I haven’t”.
A smile crept on the prince’s face upon hearing his uncle’s reply.
“Have you dragged my son to your weird habits again, brother?”
Startled, the two turned towards the direction of the voice and found the king standing a few meters behind them.
“I thought I could cheer up the prince even a bit,” the duke replied gaily as both he and Alexander walked towards the king, “He’s really nervous for a man celebrating his birthday.”
“But I am now in good spirits, father,” Alexander said, “Thanks to Uncle Theo.”
“I see,” King Reginald remarked, “But are you ready for the party, Xander?”
Alexander smile and said, “More than anything, father.”
Felicity stood near the corner of the ballroom while she waited for Nick to return. He offered to get themselves refreshments, as the servants had not yet approached them, so he went out to look for them. In silence, she observed the crowd; she saw the extravagance of their clothing and the twinkling of their jewelries and accessories, especially the ladies, as if they were trying to outshine others. She also listened, as much as she could, to some exchanges from the intermixing voices of the lords and ladies:
“You have such a lovely dress, Lady Eliza!”
“Have you seen my new set of jewelries, Susan?”
“I had just purchased another hectare of land, Sir David!”
“Congratulations on your son’s marriage!”
“I hope I catch the prince’s attention!”
“Mother, my spilled little wine on the dress! I can’t get it off!”
“You have to find a way to get closer to the Duke of Soveran…”
And so on and so forth. For Felicity, the exchanges were quite the same; she tried to listen more, yet those kinds of lines were all she could hear within her earshot. She sighed wearily, tried to look for Nick in the crowd but failed; she tried to entertain herself, but now all she could think of was waiting for him, if not of ways to escape such a place.
Her train of thoughts were suddenly interrupted with a younger man introducing himself to her.
“I think I have seen you somewhere, Miss…?” he asked.
“I fear that you were wrong in your assumption,” Felicity “It’s my first time setting foot in the castle.”
“Then, have you been in Artorius?” he asked.
“No, I haven’t.”
“Perhaps, you would like me to show you around?” he asked, “I fancy you like romantic moonlight walks by the beach?”
“Perhaps.”
“If you don’t like the beach, then the gardens must strike your fancy. We have a very beautiful garden in our property, which I believe suits your loveliness,” the man said.
Felicity gave him a little smile and stayed quiet, hoping that her silence would render their conversation awkward, and that awkwardness would make him leave, but much to her annoyance, the young man continued to flatter her.
As she realized that her silence only encouraged his persistence, she interrupted him, “I would love to go,” she lied and then continued, “But I cannot do so with you; you see, I was not yet properly introduced by my chaperone, nor given blessing by my guardian to introduce myself. You haven’t even introduced yourself.”
“My apologies,” he remarked, “My name is Victor, son of Sir Henry Jouste and Lady Diane. And you, milady?”
“I think I told you that I wasn’t given permission to introduce myself,” Felicity said.
“So, where’s your chapero-” he asked.
“I’m sorry I took so long,” Nick interrupted as he approached the two, “Apparently, the servants ran out to get more wine in the cellar.”
“I thought your chaperone was an older lady,” Victor said to Felicity, “I confess it is my first time seeing a male one.”873Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gkHMNWYYu
“Was he talking about me?” Nick asked, to which Felicity answered with “Apparently so.”
“So, are you… her chaperone?” Victor asked Nick.
“No.”
“Oh, y-yeah so, I shall take my leave now… milady…” Victor said and quickly left them.
Nick looked at Felicity inquiringly, and she said, “He just came to me and quickly showered me with empty flattery. What was that all about?”
Before Nick could answer, the two heard the young man and his mother at a distance,
“So, how did you get her?”
“I told you she wasn’t worth my time, mother, and she’s old enough to be my sister!”
Felicity looked at Nick and asked, “Well, he’s right, of course; I think I am almost twice his age. Care to explain what’s going on, Nicholas?”
“Well, in parties like this, especially this ball, the nobles often take this opportunity to, say, ‘look for potential partners for their children’,” explained Nick, “But the highlight would be the families presenting their daughters as candidates for the prince’s bride especially now that the prince has turned 25.”
“In the prince’s 25th?”
“Yes, as he is to be crowned king next year, and it was required of him that he should be crowned with his queen,” Nick said, “Hence, the prince chooses a suitable bride, young ladies 25 years or younger.”
“Then I am glad I am a year older. I can buy the ‘marriage of convenience’ concept, but I doubt that is for the children,” remarked Felicity, “I think the more accurate word would be family. It’s all about preserving their noble blood, isn’t it?”
“Maybe, but either way I find it incomprehensible,” Nick answered.
“Are you part of the nobility, Nicholas?” asked Felicity.
"Oh, thank heavens, no,” remarked Nick, “Although I am serving one, I am glad that I don’t have a drop of that blood in me. More importantly, didn’t you promise me to teach me how to ‘read people’?”
Felicity smiled at Nick and said, “I haven’t promised you anything, but nonetheless, I can help you see other peoples’ perspectives, but in due time. Right now, all I could see are people trying to outdo each other.”
“What do you mean?”
“From their attire to the way they interact, all of them believes they are better than others,” said Felicity, “Their whole demeanor screams of it.”
“I’m sure not all of them,” Nick remarked.
“Well, I do not really know everybody, so I cannot say all of them are like that,” said Felicity, “But majority of them are.”
“But-,” Nick began but was interrupted by someone calling his name. He turned towards the direction of the voice. “Miss Starling?” was all he could say.
“There you are, Nick! I have been looking everywhere for you,” said Rosette, “And have I told you not to be so formal with me… oh, who’s this? A new friend of yours, Nick?”
Felicity gave a curtsey and introduced herself, “I am called Felicity, Lady Starling.”
“Oh, Lady Starling is my mother, the marchioness,” Rosette said after she let out a giggle, “I am simply Miss Starling to most people, and Rose to my closest peers especially Nick… and now to you, too!”
“Then, I shall take the liberty of calling you Rosette,” Felicity said.
“She’s not really fond of calling people of their moniker,” Nick stated.
“Oh, well then, Miss… Felicity, was it?” Rosette said, “The ball is about to start, and we should be near the grand staircase, where the prince can easily choose his first dance.”
“I’m afraid I am not qualified, Rosette,” Felicity remarked, “I should stay here.”
“I see; well it’s a bit new to hear my whole first name spoken,” Rosette said, and in a joking manner, “Well, I shall see you after the ball, Nicholas.”
“Of course,” replied Nick with a smile. Rosette left the two and headed straight towards the staircase along with her other friends. Nick couldn’t help but to adore how she walks with poise and grace as well as talks with her friends with ease. He wanted to have her at his side, but for now, he is completely satisfied admiring her from a distance.
When she was out of his sight, Nick turned to Felicity, who turned away from him. However, he caught sight of her, smiling.
“There’s nothing to it, if that is what you’re thinking,” he said.
“If that’s what you say, then we shall leave it there,” Felicity remarked, but continued to smile.
Soon enough, people started to gather near the staircase, waiting for the arrival of the royal family. Nick and Felicity followed the crowd and stood at the back.
“So, the ball’s about to start, Nicholas?” Felicity asked.
“It certainly is.”
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