Chapter Forty Six

Right by my side, suddenly Nicholas shouted, excited. "Father!"

Nicholas ran towards his father jumping for a hug. The expression on the Duke's face softened when he saw his son, and I was shocked to see him smiling while holding Nicholas in his arms, he didn't even seem to be the same scary man from a minute ago.

They seemed to be talking but I couldn't hear them, but judging by their expression they seemed happy about their reunion.

When the Duke put his son down, Nicholas pointed at me while talking to his father.

'They seem to be talking about me.' I realized, not knowing if it was a good thing.

"Alex, come here!" Nicholas said, excitedly, looking at me.

"This is my father, the Duke of Durhan." Nicholas said profoundly introducing his father to me after I approached them.

I gulped looking at the Duke's face noticing that his smile was gone and he was firmly frowning staring at me.

"I-It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace." I said, bowing respectfully.

When I raised my head, the Duke was still frowning staring at me.

"...You are Alex." The Duke said with his deep voice staring at me. I didn't know if it was a question or an affirmation, but the Duke's eyes staring at me were scaring me.

"Y-Yes, I am Alex, Y-Your Grace." I said, nervous.

The Duke surprised me clicking his tongue. "Huh."

I don't know if it was the fear I was feeling from his intimidating presence or if it was just my imagination, but I felt like the Duke didn't like seeing me much.

"Nathaniel! Adrien!" Nicholas shouted after seeing two noble boys entering the palace.

Nicholas went towards them and hugged both of them.

'They must be his siblings.' I thought, looking at the boys hugging him back.

"Alex, these are my brothers Nathaniel and Adrien." Nicholas introduced them after they got closer to us.

Nathaniel was a dark-haired boy with green eyes, he seemed to be just a few years older than Nicholas, probably at the same age as Prince Dylan.

Adrien was the oldest, he was a handsome teenage boy with black hair and blue eyes. He was tall like his father and with his handsome face he could easily be a model.

"I-It's nice to meet you." I said, feeling shy by the oldest beauty.

Nathaniel had a smirk on his face. "So this is the boy Nicholas didn't stop saying how much he wanted to come back to the palace just to see him again?"

Nicholas got embarrassed and said softly pushing his brother. "S-Stop, Nathaniel!"

Then Adrien stared at me for a moment making me blush.

"You are indeed cute." He said, surprising me.

I blushed even more, feeling my face getting hot from being called cute by a such handsome boy.

Nicholas suddenly got between me and Adrien. "I-I think you should go, Alex. Please tell Noah that I will be with my family, I will see him later."

"Alright, I will take my leave then." I said, bowing respectfully to all the 'De Grace' family.

"I see you later, Alex." Nicholas said.

I nodded, but before I left Adrien said smiling at me. "Goodbye, kid."

"G-Goodbye…" I said, blushing.

Noticing I was leaving Mr. Williams suddenly called me. "Alex, come here."

"Yes, sir?" I asked, surprised.

"I have heard that you were back serving Prince Noah. I hope you didn't think I forgot about your training. But, as you might know, I have more important things to care about. When the ceremony is over I will train you, until then, you may keep serving Prince Noah, but do not forget that if something wrong happens you will lose your position as Prince Noah's servant, do you understand?." Mr. Williams asked, serious.

"Yes, I understand, sir." I said.

"Then, you may leave now." Mr. Williams said though he was the one that left first, going after the Duke and his family.

I walked away, leaving the main hall, but I looked back once, watching Nicholas and his family one last time.

'They seem to be such a happy family.' I thought, feeling relieved.

I used to think that all noble families were like the royal family, distant and complicated.

'I'm glad that this is not the case for Nicholas.' I thought, looking at Nicholas smile talking to his siblings.

***

"How dare you!"

As I turned the corner, on my way to Prince Noah's study room, someone bumped into me hard, making us both fall.

To my surprise, it was a royal young boy around my age, he had black hair and golden eyes. Though he was the one that bumped into me, he seemed offended.

He got up from the floor quickly and came towards me, mad.

Before I could raise myself the boy grabbed me by my collar forcing me up.

"How dare you hit me?!" He shouted mad.

"I-I didn't hit you. You were the one that bumped into me!" I said, trying to explain.

"Are you saying that it was my fault?!" The boy shouted even angrier.

Noticing how arrogant the boy was, not wanting to admit his own fault I said knowing it was for the better. "...I'm sorry, it was an accident."

He stared frowning at me for a moment, and then he let me go, pushing me away.

"Who are you and who is your family?" The boy asked me frowning.

It took me a moment to understand. 'Does he think I'm a noble because of my clothes?'

"I'm Alex… I am Prince Noah's servant." I said.

But the moment I said that I knew it was a mistake. The boy's face twisted, he wasn't mad anymore, he was furious.

"You are just a lowly servant and you still dared to treat me this way?!" The boy shouted.

I gulped, not knowing what to say.

"Kneel." He said coldly, surprising me.

Before I could say or do anything, suddenly lightning was surrounding the boy's right hand.

"Kneel and beg for mercy." He said with a sadistic face, threatening me with his magic.

I froze, not knowing what to do, but then someone shouted.

"Stop right there!"