Chapter Three - Introduction (e)

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 me as he put 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.