Chapter Fifty Seven

"How are you feeling, Your Highness?"

"...I am fine." Prince Noah answered, looking away.

After Prince Noah hugged me to his heart's content, I made him sit on the sofa with me. I wanted to talk to him, but I didn't know what to say, because Prince Noah didn't seem to be in the best condition to talk. 

His face was a bit pale, and he had a tense look in his eyes while he was staring at his hands. It seemed like some horrible thoughts were passing through his mind and he couldn't avoid them.

"Are you sure, Your Highness? You don't seem so well." I said, noticing how tense Prince Noah seemed to be.

"It is just…" Prince Noah weakly said, still staring at his hands, but then he looked at me and said. "I am sorry, Alex." 

His unexpected apology caught me off guard.

"W-Why are you apologizing, Your Highness? You did nothing wrong." I asked, confused, but Prince Noah shook his head, denying it.

"I almost lost control of…my temper. Something bad could have happened." Prince Noah explained with regret in his voice while looking down, avoiding my eyes.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?" I asked confused, but Prince Noah looked away reluctant to elaborate. It was clear that he didn't want to tell me any further. 

Sensing his discomfort, I reassured him. "It is fine, Your Highness, nothing happened. Everything is alright." 

Still, Prince Noah didn't seem reassured, he still seemed tense, lost in his own thoughts.

When he finally looked at me again, he suddenly asked. "...Does it hurt?" 

I was confused for a moment about what he meant, but then I noticed what he was staring at, and so I realized he was talking about the bruise on my forehead caused by Prince Noah when he bumped into me earlier.

I touched it softly, and then I quickly moved my hand away because of the sudden pain. "Yeah, it hurts…but just a little."

"I-I will ask for an ointment!" Prince Noah said in a rush. He was about to raise, but I stopped him holding his wrist.

"Calm down, there is no need, Your Highness." I quickly said.

"Are you sure?" He asked, worried.

"It is just a little bruise, it will soon heal with time. I can ask for an ointment later if it still hurts." I said, not wanting to burden anyone for such a small thing.

Prince Noah stared at me frowning. "If it gets worse it is your fault, then."

I nodded. "Don't need to worry, it will soon get better, Your Highness.'' I insisted.

Prince Noah clicked his tongue and looked away, probably in objection to my choice, but still, he let me be. 

"And what about you, are you hurt in any way, Your Highness?" I asked, curious.

"No, not at all." Prince Noah answered, looking at me with an honest face.

I looked closer at him and noticed he was telling the truth he had no bruises anywhere I could see.

'So only I got hurt, huh.' I thought, feeling a bit annoyed by my bad luck.

Prince Noah then suddenly got closer to me and lifted my hair to see my forehead. 

"Geez, it is pretty red… Are you sure you are fine?" He asked, worried looking at my bruise.

I backed away from his hand so he would stop looking at it. "I'm fine, I swear."

"...sorry." Prince Noah said it so quietly I can't tell if I heard him right.

"What did you say, Your Highness?" I asked, confused.

He looked away and said, shamefully. "I am sorry, Alex. If I had paid any attention I wouldn't have hurt you."

Prince Noah apologizing to me twice in a roll surprised me. 

"I-It was just an accident, Your Highness. I know you didn't mean it." I said, trying to ease his guilt.

Prince Noah just nodded, ashamed, but then he suddenly looked at me as if he just remembered something important.

"Because my sister suddenly invited me, I forgot about our lunch together…Is it perhaps why you were looking for me there, Alex?" Prince Noah suddenly asked, worried.

"Oh, not don't worry, Your Highness, it wasn't because of that. Actually, I already had lunch today, Nicholas invited me to lunch with him." I quickly reassured him, hoping to cease any concerns.

Prince Noah seemed relieved after hearing my answer, but then his expression tightened, and a flicker of annoyance crossed his eyes.

"Why did Nicholas only invite you? Why he didn't invite me too?" He asked frowning.

"I don't know, Your Highness." I answered, confused by his sudden questions.

'I-Is he jealous of me stealing Nicholas away from him?' I asked myself, nervous, but soon I realized it wasn't the case.

"What did you two talk about?" Prince Noah asked crossing his arms and looking at me with suspicion.

"We-" I was saying but Prince Noah spoke above me.

"Nicholas asked you again about moving to Durhan to be his servant, didn't he?" Prince Noah suddenly asked, being surprisingly sharp.

"W-Well, someone did ask me about that today, but it wasn't Nicholas…It was the Duke, his father." I clarified, recalling the Duke's cold demeanor and harsh gaze.

"My uncle did what?!" Prince Noah shouted surprised.

"His Grace asked me if I wanted to become Nicholas's servant." I repeated myself.

"I-I heard that already, no need to repeat." Prince Noah said, annoyed. But then he looked away. He seemed sad. 

When he looked at me again, he asked hesitantly. "What…What did you say to him?" 

"Oh, I thanked him for the opportunity, of course. But I said I couldn't accept it, after all, I promised I would keep working for you, didn't I?" I asked smiling, showing I was being honest.

Prince Noah looked into my eyes surprised, then he suddenly grabbed me by my shoulders. 

"I will give you a raise, I promise!" He shouted staring at me with determination.

"T-There is no need, Your Highness." I said, surprised by his sudden words and intense grip on my shoulders.

"No, I am serious about that, I will give you way more than I said earlier, you can count on that!" Prince Noah affirmed, determined.

'More than 20 times my salary is this even possible?' I thought astonished.

But then my excitement quickly flew away when I remembered the harsh truth. 'I'm not even being paid.'

"...Thank you, Your Highness." I said, thanking him anyway. 

Prince Noah smiled, proudly. Seeing him smiling I smiled as well, feeling relieved to see him in a better mood. 

'Even if I don't get paid I think maybe it's still fine...'