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I flopped into the chair, my anger seething in a way that made me feel like venomous words spoken with control were better than screaming at the crowned prince.
“I’m not interrogating you, so don’t think you can do that to me. After all, I’m allowed to read a book in this damn forsaken library.”
Noah’s smile faded, clearly taken aback by my vitriol.
And at that moment, when his smile faded, the king’s voice came into my head, and the guilt that followed was almost as crushing as the jealousy. Noah was the crown prince. He got busy. Whether that be with Vanessa or not, at the end of the day I was his feeder here in reality. And he’d been excited to see me before I barked out my pent-up frustrations.
I knew the anger wouldn’t have been nearly so burning if he’d never mentioned Vanessa, and that was unfair. To him, to Vanessa, and to myself. I wouldn’t live like this when the fact was that someday there was going to be a princess and queen ruling beside Noah.
Biting my tongue and taking a deep breath, I looked up at him. Upon seeing my discomfort, his smile was somewhat back, but it was more of a mocking one than a grin.
“I apologize, Noah,” I said quietly, brushing my hair from my face. “That was uncalled for. You were looking for me?”
He leaned against the chair that sat opposite mine in the sitting area, clasping his hands together. He paused for a long while, appearing preoccupied with something, like he was toying around with an idea in his head. When he spoke, he tapped the back of the chair and stood up. “I have a surprise for you, grumpy little Cora.”
Ignoring the insult, I tilted my head to the side, unable to stop my lips from curling up at the thought. “For me?”
“If you’re up for it. I don’t want to disrupt your reading.” Noah held his hands up in front of him like I was on the attack.
I did stand but narrowed my eyes at him. “I already apologized.” Saying it through gritted teeth to get the point across.
His laughter helped the tension between us diminish quickly, and he nodded and quickly moved out of the library. I had to jog to catch up and occasionally take a few jogs as we walked through the castle to keep up.
He didn’t speak, but the pride radiating off of him told me we’d have a good time, like we always did. And things would be all right.
We rounded a few corners, and I knew immediately he was headed to the gardens. The same gardens he paraded me through on my birthday and the ones we’d strolled through a few times since. I loved the garden, and wondered if that was the surprise, since we hadn’t had time to do it in a while.
Bursting through the doors, Noah moved to a jog and I had to run now, turning down paths. I thought I knew where we were going, but he veered off to the side, a way we hadn’t taken before, and snuck through a small shrub that I would have mistaken for a dead end had I been alone.
Instead it led to a small but beautifully adorned alcove. And at the center was a massive shrouded object.
I glanced sideways at Noah, who was bouncing and smiling at me like a young boy.
“Want to see what’s under it?”
“It’d ruin your surprise if I said no,” I huffed but returned his smile.
These were the moments when Noah didn’t seem like a prince but like any other man. Wild and free, and wanting the world.
This was my Noah. My friend.
“Well…” He waved his arms impatiently at me, egging me on.
Moving toward the object was taking too long apparently, because Noah’s, “Oh come on!” from behind me was the last thing I heard before he ripped the covering off.
“Ta-da!” he said, showing off the object that he’d kept hidden from sight.
A telescope.
Prince Noah had brought out a telescope to the garden and set it up this evening. A real telescope.
“I…Noah,” I fumbled with words as excitement welled inside of me and I let out a squeal. “I don't know what to say!”
I touched the gorgeous telescope and immediately recognized it as the one I’d admired in the king’s private area. It was the exact same one, only polished and brighter looking.
“Is this your father’s? How did you know?” I asked.
Noah was still riding the high of the surprise and stood somewhat back as I circled my surprise like a vulture.
