Yvonne stared at the array of clothes she had on the bed.
According to the maids, Noelle is an asexual introvert while the goblin picked any girl at will. There was no particular type that picked his interest and that left her in a dilemma.
Should she dress like an elegant graceful queen or would revealing be more appealing?
She had to make him crave her so much that he would give anything to be with her yet she had to keep him in control or she will end up like the other girls.
Her hand caressed a white flowy dress.
An introvert, kind, quiet.
This dress is perfect!
Kebarah tapped his index finger on his table as he went over his plan again.
Lewis must really think he is a fool to expect him to fall for his glamorous story.
A bride they want, a bride they will get but what if a prince of the air nation murders a queen of the water nation?
How would they compensate him to keep their secret?
Alliance is formed either by friends bound by their goal or enemies bound by a secret.
And if Yvonne kills Noelle, if by some luck, she does, he had instructed her to do so only after an intercourse between them so she could claim pregnant. To a Kingdom whose king is old and dying and has no heir, a pregnancy for the late crown prince carried by another royal is even more of a blessing than a rain to a dessert.
Kebarah rose from his seat, a smile of satisfaction on his face.
Whatever way it goes, he would achieve his aim except Aveedah interferes and he does not think she will be able to. Her pride will not allow her compete over a prince but Velaine, if Velaine comes here, everything will be over.
He paced a little before he came to a stop.
" I could delay whoever is coming till I have Lewis's seal on the treaty." He whispered to himself.
Yvonne had imagined what Noelle would look like throughout her stay here and nothing she came up with looked anything like the man sitting by Lewis's side.
He looked like he would rather be anywhere than here.
His eyes were almost a transparent golden and his hair, sparkly white.
As she approached him, she could feel her palm sweating.
'Is this the man I plan to kill?'
He looked like an angel even as he frowned and she wondered what would happen if the hollowness in his eyes was absent and a smile was present.
She felt Kebarah squeeze her hand and she turned to look at him.
He leaned close to her and whispered.
"Do not be deceived by the exterior. In there is a man slaughtering goblin and if you allow that deceive you, you will be his next victim."
Yvonne nodded but his words refused to make any meaning as she caught Noelle's eyes on her
He stared at her till she was close enough.
"Kebarah, Yvonne, once again, I am pleased to have you in my kingdom. Meet my son, prince Noelle." Lewis said, the smile on his face almost a strain. That is what old age does to a person, health is never guaranteed.
"The pleasure is all mine lewis." Kebarah replied while Yvonne simply bowed a wide smile on her face.
She glanced at Noelle again and his eyes were on her.
'Why?' She thought.
Does he like what he sees or is he disappointed?
"Prince Noelle, I am Queen Yvonne of Herla." She said, stretching her hands out to him.
He took the hand much to her relief then asked.
"Are you not afraid I will eat your hand?"
Yvonne was quiet for a while as she had not expected his question.
As she looked around, she realized all eyes were on her and kebarah's was warning.
"I am more afraid you will sweep me off my feet." She replied hoping it was anything good.
Noelle chuckled quietly.
"For someone who had gone through all this trouble to sweep me of my feet, that could be bad right?" He asked allowing his eyes rake her from head to toe, the spite in them evident for all to see.
Yvonne pulled her hand from his hold and stepped back. She had been called a whore, a brainless beauty by a lot of people and the last time she had felt hurt was the first time she had heard it. Since then, she had sworn to live the way she wanted without caring what they thought yet, that look from those eyes made her feel like a sinner, a disgusting sinner.
Kebarah looked at lewis, expecting him to say something but he simply shrugged and mumbled.
"Some love stories begin with a fight."
Kebarah turned to Noelle and said.
"Does hurting her make you feel better?"
"Yes, she came to sweep you off your feet but she is stooping that low to protect her kingdom, do you not think she is better than the high and mighty you who only sits around and allow a monster control him ?"
He could see Noelle's flaring nose but he knew that was only an initial reaction. He would later think it over and he would feel guilty then look for a way to apologize to Yvonne.
Lewis cleared his throat and got up from his seat.
"Kebarah, I think we should allow the young ones some privacy. I believe they are able to sort their difference without our interference. "
Kebarah nodded and followed him out of the hall, a small smile on his face.
Of course, he had laid the foundation already and privacy will provide a suitable environment for Yvonne to build on it.
********
Velaine laid in his bed unable to get any sleep.
This is not supposed to be how it goes.
He should have taken advantage of her vulnerability, he should have kissed her then but at that moment and even now, he felt like that would have been a bad decision. He was not sure what he was feeling but he knew what he should be feeling. He should have felt in control, he should have felt the surge of victory yet, all he felt as he looked in her eyes was like he was losing himself.
Just when had the rope slipped from his hand?
Since when should he have reminded himself of his father's favourite saying.
"If you do not want to get drenched, then do not play in the rain."
Was it that night at her kingdom, the day he had seen fear in her eyes and confidence in her stance?
That night, he had seen her as a human unlike how he sees everybody as either a liability or an asset.
He was no fan of ladies in distress but there was something about seeing her vulnerable that made him see himself in her eyes. The vibrant blue that was doused by fear had an uncanny resemblance to the one in his memory. That look does not come when you are concerned for yourself, it comes when the reason behind your cold sweats is fear for those you love, those you want to protect or at least that is what he recalls.
Or was it the night at his kingdom, the night she told him to forget because it was just her recessive subconscious?
That night reminded him too much of his father.
His father was their shield, the protector of their land. He was a king that wanted nothing but to protect his people, that was why he was named Nyridah, My shield. So when Moorah, her father had shared with him his greatest desire of having a child that will succeed him and protect his people better than he had done, he had suggested he expressed such desires in everything that had to do with the child, that way the gods may feel his sincerity and grant his wish. He had explained how he believes his father got his strength from his name and when Moorah had asked him to pick a befitting name for him, he had coined one from his father's. Except this time, he hoped not just her people but the world will benefit from that decision so he had suggested Aveeridah, World's shield.