The man whom Nhel had called brother gave him a cold glare but Nhel didn't seem the least fazed by his attitude. Looks like his brother was planning out something with his aide.
"You have only been addicted to women. What changed?" Nhel mocked with a slight grin.
"Do you think my condition would hold me back?" His brother retorted
"You're my nightmare. I do not wish to exchange any other words with you." he added.
Just as he wanted to call in the guards, Nhel intruded.
"I'm not after the throne, I came to help you."
On hearing those words, his brother laughed, "Why? Is it because none of the officials support you? stop deceiving yourself."
Reminiscing back to old days, this brother of his never went along with him but he never made him feel like he didn't belong in the family as his mother and Edmond normally does.
He was only jealous.
Nhel remembered the day he got cornered all because the mistresses his brother, Lauric, kept secretly as a teenager seemed to call his name anytime they did dirty things.
Despite the rumours, Nhel was the one girls wanted to be with.
*******
"I don't get it, we shared the same womb at the same time. Why do we look so different, you stole what should have been mine!" Lauric cried in frustration.
Nhel suddenly received a slap, his mother had appeared, younger Edmond trailing behind her.
"You insolent child, what did you steal from him?"
Holding his cheek which was hot from the slap, he tightened his jaw and didn't bother to answer.
Queen Pearlyn made to give him another slap when Lauric intervened, "Mother it's nothing serious"
"Let's go," she said after glaring at Nhel.
His mother held onto Edmond, Lauric trailing behind her. A tear escaped his eyes at the sight.
***********
"What are you standing there looking at me for," Lauric brought Nhel out of his thoughts. "Like I said, drop the act like you're not interested in becoming King."
Nhel chuckled, "Do you have any idea what the court has decided?
I bet you don't." Nhel said with his arms folded.
His brother went from glaring to chuckling. "Don't think because I'm in this state currently, I can't be able to get wind of things.
Edmond had managed to get the favour of the court I know, through fake empty promises. Very stupid of them."
"So do you feel this is gonna be easy?" Nhel asked.
"Why do you care so much?" Lauric asked in return.
"That's because I hate it to see him rule," Nhel said out of spite.
"Then what about me, you're okay with it? Is that what you're saying?"
"We are twins after all no one knows between either of us who would become King." Nhel uttered with a sly look.
"You!" Lauric was infuriated.
Anisha went to the dinning hall in disappointment, Nhel had not showed up since after breakfast despite telling her he had nothing to do that day.
She had looked forward to their going out to get disappointed at the end.
"Looks like someone misses her husband, huh"
Seeing she rarely ate, Edmond teased her.
As soon as he said it, Nhel stepped in.
"I'm sorry I'm late," he apologized to Anisha.
"It's okay, I'm sure you had more important things to do, you didn't even come for lunch." Anisha said.
Nhel grabbed what she meant.
"I'll make it up to you."
Anisha's gaze was pulled in by his captivating ones as he promised. A soft flush touched her face.
Queen Pearlyn injected, "Do you think there was any need to bother to come? Dinner is almost over."
Anisha wondered.
For as long as she had been there, Nhel never got along with his family.
His mother always acted like she held a grudge against him while Edmond, on the other hand, provoked him.
How had they lived together all this time?
She had limited her interaction with Edmond when she had noticed this.
Which was why she preferred to eat in their chamber but that was not how it was supposed to be.
"Your Majesty, I believe he had been busy all day as to the reason he didn't make it in time for dinner.
It would be a shame if he missed this really delicious steak."
Anisha cut out from hers, "Here, try some"
Nhel stared at the piece of meat in front of him,a warm feeling washing over him.
No one had ever put food on his plate.
"You don't like steaks?" Anisha asked when she saw him stare at it like it was something bad.
At that moment, Nhel raised the fork to his mouth, chewing and feeling it ravaging his taste buds.
He didn't even have an appetite coming here so why did he find this steak pleasant?
"Is it not good?" Anisha asked again wondering what was up with his expression.
"It is." Nhel swallowed.
Relieved when she saw a pleased smile on his face.
"That's nice," Anisha said.
They were done with dinner but Nhel had just arrived so Anisha said, "I would wait for you to finish eating."
Nhel didn't have the slightest appetite but he didn't want to disappoint her right now.
Since this morning, they're flow have been good and didn't want it to cut off because he made her feel bad.
"Thanks for being thoughtful," he responded.
The Queen wiped her lips as she was done eating, spreading her delicate fingers and letting the savage drop off.
Her seat was pushed back, she stood up with her head held high and was followed out by her servants.
"We could have a light chatter while we wait for Nhel." Edmond who was seated opposite Nhel and Anisha spoke.
Anisha hoped his real intention was not to instigate Nhel.
"I suddenly want to get married seeing the both of you together." Edmond spewed out.
Anisha laughed softly at his statement. Meanwhile, Nhel just focused on his food, not in the mood to joke with him.
His plan was to eat a handful then they would leave.
"Oh really?" Anisha responded.
"Yes and not just to anyone though, seeing you makes me want to get a wife from Willowvale."
Hearing those words which sounded flirty, Nhel gripped his utensils.
"Oh Your Highness, you're too generous," resplied Anisha.
"Are there any other maiden Princesses in Willowvale?" Edmond asked.
"No, sadly. I'm the last Princess to have gotten married."
"Too bad.
Well as for Nhel here he's the first to have gotten married. Lauric and I are still bachelors."
"What's wrong Prince Edmond?" Anisha asked, seeing how his mood dampened.
Letting out a sigh, Edmond replied, "It's a pity what happened to my brother, he was suddenly hit with paralysis which makes me feel sad knowing no noble lady would willingly marry him."
Speaking of the Prince, Anisha had always wanted to ask about the remaining Prince but since she had not sighted him upon entering the Palace, she thought he passed away and didn't want to bring up painful memories.
However it turns out right now that the last Prince was still alive.
"I'm so sorry about that, where's he now, maybe I could pay him a visit," Anisha sympathized, not noticing how Nhel's ear perked up.
Edmond glanced at Nhel for a brief second, Anisha missed the sly smirk he had on, "I'm afraid he wouldn't want to see you."
"Why wouldn't he?" Confusion spread across Anisha's features,
Edmond glanced over at Nhel, Anisha tracing his gaze.
"It's a really sensitive topic for your husband, I shouldn't go further."
Nhel indeed looked uncomfortable, his lips munched slowly, almost not at all, Anisha noticed.
However it wasn't fair to leave her by the edge of the cliff.
She felt Nhel's broodiness and decided to swallow her curiosity. Besides, she suspected his brother was trying to get to him.
"That's okay.
Certainly, I would meet him one day." Anisha responded.
"Indeed," Edmond replied.
Anisha recalled the first meal she had with the Queen, she had said something similar and Nhel had also been ticked off.
She couldn't help but be curious, was he in any way related to the cause of the last Prince's paralysis?
Edmond sensed Anisha was more than curious even though she pretended not to be.
"You must be wondering why I stated that it was a very sensitive topic for Nhel, I could tell you that one." Anisha heard Edmond say.