23 TWENTY THREE: The Record Hall pt 3

"I'm curious."

The Prince rubbed his chin, smiling as he glanced past Esther to the book she'd just put down.

"What is it that made you so engrossed as to not hear me calling for you?"

Esther reached behind her, laying her hand decisively on the book. The tag around her wrist clattered against the table as she did so, prominently displaying itself face up.

"... It seems you are doing very well, Queen Candidate," the man reached toward her hand.

Instinctively, Esther pulled her hand back, the matron servant's strict warnings flashing in her mind to avoid any kind of physical contact with a male.

With a victorious smirk, the Prince grabbed the book.

What a sly fox, Esther thought to herself. He must have been aware of the rule as well, and he counted on her removing her hand rather than risk his touch.

"I have been studying the history of our Great Empire."

Esther forced her jaw to relax as she explained.

The Prince nodded, thumbing absently through the book.

"Ha!"

Suddenly, he slammed the book closed.

"This is more of a religious record than anything," he shook his head, offering the book back to Esther.

Esther refused his offering, instead nodding to the table beside her. She would not risk giving him another opportunity to touch her.

The man chuckled, setting the book down.

"You're clever," he remarked. "Too clever to convince me that you're genuinely interested in the history of a dead God."

Every muscle in Esther's body tensed as she restrained herself from reacting to his words.

"How could a God possibly die?" she instead replied, turning away from the Prince's gaze. "Rather than genuine interest, this is simply an account of history that I'm not familiar with."

She was surprised at herself for how easily the untruthful words flowed from her tongue.

Hopefully, she had not entirely tipped the delicate balance between truth and vagueness toward dishonesty, however. There were several things in the book she had learned for the first time.

"I see," the Prince responded, his eyes scanning the other books left on the table. "It is in knowledge itself that you have a genuine interest."

Fortunately, Esther had picked up a few other records that piqued her interest in addition to the history volume. The combination, apparently, was enough to remove the Prince's suspicions in her reading choices.

"Yes," Esther angled her body back toward the table, hoping the Prince would finally leave her in peace.

Instead of offering a polite farewell and excusing himself, however, the Prince took a step closer to her.

"M-My Prince," Esther fumbled, attempting to step back but finding herself trapped against the table. "Please move back."

The Prince grinned, placing his hands on the table on either side of her, his arms blocking her from slipping away. He moved even closer as he did so, until her nose nearly grazed his chest.

"Please move back," Esther repeated, straining her neck as she tried to lean away from the man.

Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

She'd never been so close to a man aside from her uncle before.

And this man seemed to care little for her discomfort and demands for him to move away. On the contrary, he appeared to be enjoying it.

Slowly, Esther reached behind her, grabbing the book left there.

Hitting the Prince with her fist would undoubtedly be considered physical contact, but if she hit him with a book…

She tugged on the book, only to find it wouldn't budge.

"There's no need for that," the Prince remarked.

Esther hadn't noticed, but he had moved his hand as well and was now pressing down firmly on the book, keeping it in place.

"What is it you want from me?" Esther conceded, letting her hand fall back to her side.

Still, she was too afraid to turn her head back toward the man, for fear she would find herself suddenly buried in his chest.

"You're awfully faithful to the King," the Prince snorted, "to go to such lengths to avoid me."

"I believe it is you who is going to great lengths to provoke me," Esther rebutted.

Her words were met with a dry laugh and the Prince finally pulled back.

"It seems I have taken things too far," he smiled wryly. "I apologize, Queen Candidate, for upsetting you."

"I ask you to please show more respect toward myself and my position, My Prince," Esther remarked, turning to gather up her books.

Even for a Royal Prince, the man's actions lacked far too much courtesy. Surely, such behavior toward a Queen Candidate was an insult to the King, himself.

She intended to escape before he had a chance to do something even worse.

"It turns out you are perfect for him," the Prince muttered beneath his breath as he continued to observe her from a more appropriate distance.

Esther should have ignored the comment, but her curiosity would not allow her to do so.

"Perfect for whom?" she inquired.

"I'll admit I was greatly intrigued to see a Queen Candidate trespassing and making brazen demands of a Prince."

The man's smirk had turned to a look of disdain.

"But it turns out you are simply another obedient woman," he scoffed. "My interest has been misplaced."

Esther found it eerily easy to maintain her polite smile at the man's insult, though her blood slowly began to boil beneath her skin.

"I scarcely recall that day," she lied, "and I can assure you, My Prince.."

She paused and offered a brief bow, lowering her voice as she rose.

".. the thing I care least for in this entire palace is your interest."

She gripped her books in her arms, hardly sparing a glance to the Prince's raised eyebrows and parted lips as she turned to leave.

"Now please excuse me, My Prince. I must go," Esther bowed again before hurrying away to return the books and exit the hall.

The man remained frozen in silence as she put her books away, only speaking again as she was pushing the hall's door open.

"My name is Teresh," he called after her.

"I will see you again, Queen Candidate Esther."