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NOAH’s POV

“Are you hungry, Ara? I asked her with a gentle tone, we'd been on our way to Altan for about five hours and it was getting late. It was so quiet like a grave inside the car, Araminta had been so stiff and mute since the beginning of the journey. I tried to bring up conversations but it was as if she couldn't hear me, well…..I didn't mind that. I love myself a tough Queen but the silence was unbearable. Her special maid and my other guards were in another carriage behind us, I could not help but feel anxious that I was taking Araminta to my kingdom. I could not wait to see what the future holds in store for me.

She finally turned her head and stared at me with zero expression on her face “Are we going to ride all night without stopping? Her tone clipped, eyes fixed on me with that same unreadable expression.

I cleared my throat and said with a teasing tone “For a moment, I thought you’d planned to ignore me the whole journey”

“I'm starving, Prince. Is there a place to get rest or do you plan on keeping me locked here till morning? She went straight to the point without engaging my tease. She kept looking at me waiting for my response with her lips pursed together, and her eyes were so dry with no hint of expression. I released a tight chuckle and nodded before I informed my guard to stop at the nearest inn. I moved closer to her a bit and her scent hit my nose, she stiffened at my sudden movement and stared at me sharply. “Ara, can we talk?

She just kept on staring at me blankly, with no expressions or words from her. I was getting frustrated and I just wanted her to say something, she needed to get a reality check!

“Look, Ara, I get it that you don't want any of this. It's not my dream either, but shutting me out isn't going to help anything, so maybe it's time you loosen up”

I said to her with my tone getting a little bit harsh, I didn't care at that point. She was getting me crazy with her silence. Her eyes widened a bit but not a word from her which only made me more irritated and annoyed “Fine, keep quiet all you want. I promise not to disturb you anymore! I shifted away from her when I heard her talk,

“I will appreciate it if you would keep to your promise, Prince” Her voice was as cold as her expression.

A wave of anger surged through me, I could not help but think she just probably hated me naturally because what was all that? I tightened my knuckles till it was turning white, I wished I could hit something so hard that my hands bled with blood. I accepted that I wasn't the best man on earth but fuck it! I'm so nice to her and it's disheartening not getting the same energy from her. I swore not to pass my boundaries with her anymore, I was even madder at the fact that I wasn't supposed to care but I was doing it opposite. “she doesn't want anything to do with me, huh? Then so be it” I thought to myself.


I got down from the car and opened the door for Ara also with a very stern expression. I could not help but think I was probably acting petty and should have been more understanding but whatever…….

We walked side by side into the hotel, it was the biggest and most luxurious inn in the town. Took me a while to notice the smoke of the Halloween celebration from a corner, I could see so many costumes and lighting. Imogen, her maid ran with speed past me abruptly and faced her with all smiles while hugging her tightly. I twitched my mouth in annoyance, I didn't like her guts one bit but she was not my business. But the not-surprising thing was that Araminta was all smiles also, I shook my head and strolled to the reception to get our rooms.

Suddenly, a loud noise startled me and I became conscious and alerted to the noise and quickly checked my surroundings when I realized it was some of the folks celebrating Halloween with some costumes and scary noise effect around the corners, I saw earlier before entering the inn. I heaved a breath of relief and was about to continue the lodging when I heard the annoying girl calling Araminta’s name with so much urgency and anxious tone. My eyes widened and I quickly strolled over to them, Ara was crouching on the floor with her hands over her chest and her eyes tightly closed.

“What is wrong with her?!!! I demanded with so much hardness in my tone laced with worry. I crouched beside her before I could realize what was wrong with her, “a panic attack??!

“Shit…….,Princesa…breathe please—calm down for me, they are gone….you are safe, breathe for me, baby—-please…..

My blood was boiling with anger and I wanted to go look for those folks and teach them some damn lesson. Whatever I was saying to her seemed to be working because she was calming down a bit and getting back her breath, she held on to my shirt so tightly that it was almost ripping off but I didn't mind.

“I will go get her medication” I heard her maid say to me urgently.

I hissed and snapped without removing my eyes from Ara’s pale face. “Then go get it!

“Ara…can you open your eyes for me, please—-”

She opened her eyes a few seconds later and stared at me with a slight frown as if she couldn't recognize me, it wasn't the first time I was dealing with someone who had an attack so I could understand that she needed a moment. “You are fine now, I promise Princesa”

“Imo—gen, my medication” she muttered slowly as she placed her hand on her chest, “my chest…painful”

I bit my lips in anger, I swore to myself to go find those guys. “She went to get it, already, hang in there Princesa”

I supported her and got her to sit down on a chair, but I crouched in front of her staring at her pretty face with her hair scattered on her forehead. I didn't think twice before I moved my hands to remove the hair but she shifted her head from my hand and my heart tightened at her reaction. I offered her a timid smile and lowered my hand, and at the time, Imogen appeared with some drugs in her hands.

“Imogen, take me….to my room, please.” Her voice sounded in my ears and I squinted my eyes at her in disbelief. I composed myself and released one of the room keys to her maid.

I stood up from crouching in front of her and stepped aside to allow Imogen to help her to her room. Watching her disappear down the corridor, something I couldn't give a name to, tightened in my chest. I couldn't shake off the feeling that despite going out of my way to indulge her, she was acting as if I had offended her greatly”

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