chapter 5

I quickly dismounted Lady as soon as we arrived at the stables. As I fed Lady her food today and gave her some water, somebody hugged me from behind. By the looks of the soft, blushing hands, I could tell it was Mallory and she was sobbing. Her tears were enough to soak the back of my shirt.

“Why can’t you love me, Robert?”

I carefully removed her arms from my body. “Mallory, I don’t have time for this,” I turned around.

She hugged me once more, her tears soaked the front of my shirt. “Tell me, Robert, why can’t you love me?”

I removed her hands from me again, this time with a bit of force. “I told you already, Mallory: I only view you as my sister,” I explained as calmly as I could. I can sense myself slowly losing patience as the blood rushed to my cheeks. I felt suffocated in this situation.

“But that’s not how I feel for you,” she protested.

I groaned as I swiped my hand across my face out of frustration. “Mallory, even if I did try to love you romantically, it would never work. Out of all the people in this castle, you’re one of the few who know that I’m arranged to marry someone else,” I spouted.

“I don’t care!” she suddenly shouted as she shook her head. “Give me a chance to be with you even just for a little while. After that, you can forget that there was ever something between the two of us,” a river of tears continued to run down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry, Mallory but I can’t do that. I would be lying to myself and I would be lying to you,” I answered. “As a sister, the last thing that I want to do to you is to hurt you by pretending that there’s a chance between the two of us. You deserve a man who will love you wholly.”

“Can’t that man be you?”

“No, Mallory.”

And with that, I went on my way to the kitchen. I wanted to turn back and make sure that she will be okay but at this rate, she doesn’t want to be comforted by me. She will only continue to push her request and that will only prolong the conversation that could easily turn into an argument.

The very moment I stepped foot into the kitchen, the first person I started to look for was Nana Olsa. I had to keep this apple pie safe and she’s the only one I trust with matters such as this. But no matter how hard I looked around, she was nowhere to be found. And it didn’t help that the staff was hurriedly preparing the food for lunch.

“Nana Olsa?” I started to call out as I walked around the kitchen. “Nana Olsa?”

I felt a sudden tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see Madam Purrey, the sous chef.

“Robert, is there anything I can help you with?” she asked with a concerned look on her face.

“Oh, Madam Purrey. It’s a good thing I found you,” I sighed out of relief.

“Is there something wrong, little one?”

“Have you seen Nana Olsa?”

“Nana Olsa is not here, Your Highness,” she replied as she folded her hands in front of her. “She’s currently in the dining hall, assisting the servants in preparing for lunch.”

“Thank you, Madam Purrey. I’ll be on my way. Please let her know that I was looking for her.”

“I will, young prince,” she then stepped aside to make way for me.

After a quick nod, I ran out of the kitchen and started heading to the dining hall. I can only hope that my family hasn’t arrived in the dining hall yet.

As I was running for my life in the hallway, Gonzalo suddenly popped out from a corner which caused me to bump into him in my attempt to stop.

“Your Highness!” he exclaimed as he caught me before I could fall onto the ground.

“Gonzalo,” I tried my best to catch my breath as he helped me stand back up. It’s a good thing he was quick to catch me. Or else, we’d both be on the floor right now. Out of breath, I put my hands on my knees as I panted.

“You’re expected in the dining hall, Your Highness,” he informed, putting a hand on my shoulder.

I removed his hand as I began to stand upright. “I’m very well aware of that, Gonzalo.” I took a deep breath in and let it all out as I finally got my breathing back to normal.

“Well, young prince, if you’re composed already, I suggest that you change your clothes into something a bit more formal and join your family.”

“There’s no need for me to change,” I shook my head. I walked closer to him. “How dare you send the guards after me, Gonzalo,” I started, my voice lowered.

His eyes widened. “Um, Your Highness, I have no idea of what you’re talking about,” he stuttered throughout his lame excuse. His eyes were quick to land its gaze onto the floor.

“Don’t lie to me, Gonzalo. The guards said you sent them after me,” I replied as I tried to control my anger for as long as I could. He disobeyed my command and now, he has the guts to lie in front of my face?

Gonzalo continued to stare at the floor. He answered as he cleared his throat, “Your Highness, I only did what was right.”

“What was right?! I specifically told you that I don’t want anyone to come with me, especially the castle guards! What if they told the king about what happened?!” I shouted in a whispering voice. “Do you think what you did was right?! Instead of protecting me from the mortals, you made it more obvious that I was an immortal! Do you realize what you have done?!”

He quickly went down on his knees and responded, “Please appease your anger, Your Highness. I ordered the guards never to tell His Majesty about your stroll.”

“And how sure are you that they won’t tell him? What is your guarantee that they will keep everything to themselves?” I leaned forward as I moved closer to him, towering over his crouched figure.

I heard Gonzalo gulp before he said, “I made them swear, Your Highness. But I’ll have a word with them later today.”

“The next time I tell you what to do, I expect you to follow my orders. Do I make myself clear?”

Gonzalo lifted up his head to meet my gaze. “But Your Highness, you were breaking the rules. I couldn’t just let you break the rules as you are the heir to the throne of the Western Wind.”

“Does it look like I care about the rules, Gonzalo?” I crouched down to his level and moved my face closer to him. “If I gave a damn about the rules of this kingdom, do you think I would even consider going to the Mortal Realm myself for a simple stroll?”

Gonzalo quickly shook his head in response.

I stood up as I let out a sigh. “I will let this instance go. But if you ever disobey me in the future, I’ll make sure you’ll regret doing so.”

Gonzalo got on back to his feet without hesitation and nodded. “Yes, Your Highness.”

“And because you made an even bigger mess, I want you to modify the memories of those who have seen the fiasco a while ago,” I continued. “I can’t have anyone praying and wishing for someone to send another immortal.”

Gonzalo nodded again.

I handed the basket over to him. “Bring this to my room. Place it under my bed, where no one can find it.”

“As you wish, Your Highness,” he bowed, accepting the basket. He then headed to my room and I made my way to the dining hall. Fixing the sleeves of my shirt and making sure that my hair isn’t a mess, I’m silently praying that there would be no other surprise in store at lunch.

I could hear a calm conversation as I approached the dining hall. As I got closer, one of the guards was quick to ask, “Shall we announce you, Your Highness?”

“There’s no need for that,” I replied as I opened the door without warning. My family was quick to look in my direction. My sudden entrance immediately put them all to silence. Their eyes wide open out of surprise, their movements paused. If this is the kind of response that I get every time I enter a certain room, bursting through doors would be a delight.

Like in any other feast, Mother is the first one I approach. “Hello, Mother,” I greeted, giving her a kiss on her forehead.

She giggled in response. “Hello, my heart,” she cupped my face with one hand, looking up to meet my gaze.

“Dearest Elizabeth,” I smiled as I turned to my sister, laying a gentle peck on her cheek.

“Hello, little brother,” she smiled.

I wasn’t quick to notice it at first but there were no spare chairs in between Mother and Elizabeth, the place where I usually sit. “So, where do I sit?” I asked them, still carrying a smile on my face.

“Right next to your father,” Mother replied, pointing to a prepared meal in front of her that sat on the right side of James.

Splendid! Just the opposite of what I wanted to happen for today’s lunch. I now have to bear a whole hour of suffering beside him. I took a deep breath in as I walked towards my seat. As soon as I reached it, I pulled it out and immediately sat down.

“You didn’t come with us to visit the orphanage,” James started a conversation with me as he cut through his meat.

“Yes, I made that decision,” I replied, spreading my napkin onto my lap and grabbed my utensils right after.

“May I ask where you’ve been?”

“I was just in the garden. I needed some time alone after a long hour of work,” I answered, digging into the food that was prepared for me.

“I asked Gonzalo where you were and he said you weren’t in the castle grounds,” he said before he took another bite.

Here we go, I thought to myself, trying to ignore him in order to appreciate the taste of this delicious meal right in front of me. I thought it was just going to be silent between the two of us but he just really started another one for us two.

“Tell me where you really were while we were gone,” he then turned his whole body to my direction.

I took two quick bites from my plate. “My whereabouts when you’re not here is none of your business.”

“I command you to--”

“Don’t ‘command’ me,” I interrupted him, looking him straight in the eye. “You have no right to do so. I’m not one of your servants.”

He protested without hesitation, “I have the right to ask where you’re planning to go. I am your father.”

I chuckled as I took a sip of wine. “Since you did say that you’re my father, the way you tell me what I should do is like I’m one of the people who work for you. That’s not how a father should ask his child if he’s truly concerned,” I said, struggling to even make a simple slice from my steamed fish. My hands started to shake as I held back the rage within me. I even controlled my breathing because I don’t want to let out deep breaths like an angry bull.

Silence came upon us once more. Joining my family for meals such as this is bad enough. What made it worse is forcing me to sit beside James. My mother and sister are fully aware that my relationship with James isn’t on the best of terms. Why do they keep pushing me to James when clearly, he doesn’t want me around him?

I then heard James let out a sigh. “Son… I’m trying my best to get along with you, to understand you,” he spoke, not in a calmer manner. “This never-ending argument between us will destroy our family.”

“Well, you need to try harder, Your Majesty,” I replied as I continued to stuff food into my already full mouth. “And please, don’t call me your son. You were the one who pushed us away as your children.”

Those words came out like poison from my mouth. I didn’t care if it hurts but for some reason, I hated myself for even letting those words escape my lips. However, that is the truth on how he has treated us and now, all of a sudden, he wants to act as if he’s been a good father to Elizabeth and me?

I could sense Mother and Elizabeth looking at me out of shock but James needed to hear it. He never showed us any kind of affection as he claimed that he wanted us to be independent. He wanted us to be prepared in case he would die suddenly. He should’ve made an effort to connect with me as a child. I needed him during that time but he was never there for me.

I wiped my mouth after I took one last bite, not wanting to finish my food again. “That’s all for me today.”

“Robert, please,” Mother gently tried to stop me from leaving.

“I’ve eaten enough today, Mother. I still have some reports to finish,” I replied formally. “If you need anything from me, I’ll be in my study.” I pushed my chair and stepped out. After my bow, I walked out of the dining hall as they all sat there in silence.