Noble Gardenia

Chapter 7

Dinner with Leah and her mother was always awkward and quiet. Occasionally one of them would try to make conversation, but that never went anywhere. Leah was looking down at her plate when her mother cleared her throat.

"So, Leah, I have not arranged any prince meeting tomorrow, but I would like you to construct a list of your top choices so far by dinner tomorrow night."

Leah nodded. She was relieved she could have the next day to herself, but she was not sure who to add to the list. Especially now that she knew Jacob's true colors.

Leah slept in late the next day. She decided to wear something conferrable, since all she needed to do was come up with a list of suitors. She put on a simple lavender wrap dress and brushed her hair, before getting a blueberry muffin and herbal tea and sitting down at her canvas. She had replaced the painting of the cherry blossom tree with a new canvas. On it she had started to create the outline of a brown stallion. She started to lose herself in the calming sensation of brush against canvas when a loud knocking on her door broke her concentration.

She sighed and stood up, walking to the door. When she opened it in front of her was the person she least expected to see.

"Jacob, what are you doing here?" she exclaimed, "and how did you find my room?"

Jacob chose to answer the second question first, "I asked one of the servants I recognized from the ball where your room was, in hopes they would remember me. I guess they thought your mother had sent me."

"You still didn't answer my first question," Leah said, trying to keep her expression neutral.

Jacob rubbed his neck, "I wanted to apologize... for how I acted at that meeting thing, I noticed you were avoiding me after what happened with the servant."

Leah considered for a moment before letting out a gusty sigh and suggesting, "let's go for a walk in the courtyard."

Leah grabbed a pair of sandals and the two of them walked outside into a courtyard filled with flowers. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Jacob motioned for them to sit down on a wooden bench surrounded by blue hyacinths.

"I have been to many balls and events at other palaces throughout the last few years," Jacob started, "I hate standing out among the other princes, or seeming too different then the host's expectations of me, so I learned to match the energy of those around me. I promise I do not usually treat servants like that. I know that may not be enough of an excuse for you, but I really am sorry."

Leah considered this for a moment before saying, "I believe you, but you cannot let others control how you treat people in the future, alright?"

Jacob smiled before lifting Leah's hand to his lips and gently kissing it, "Of course princess."

Leah spent the next few hours giving Jacob a tour of the palace and palace grounds. When they got to the royal portrait room Leah laughed as Jacob took on the royal poses of the men in the pictures.

The last place they went was the stables. When they arrived, Kyle was feeding the horses as he stroked their manes.

"Hi Kyle!" Leah said, "this is prince Jacob."

Kyle turned around to face the two of them. His expression was unreadable. He nodded to Jacob before responding to Leah, "Hello Your Majesty."

Leah realized that Kyle must feel he needs to be careful around other royals due to many of them barely seeing him as a person.

Leah introduced Jacob to Jezabel and then they left the stables to return to the palace. As they left, she noticed that Kyle was making a point not to look at Jacob as Leah said goodbye to him, and Jacob seemed to be ignoring Kyle as well. When Jabob and Leah were out of earshot of Kyle, Jacob said, "do you see the way he looks at you, that stable boy is in love with you for sure."

"What of course not," Leah said biting her lip slightly.

"Well, I don't trust him, let me know if he tries anything inappropriate."

Leah laughed. Jacob and Leah parted ways outside the castle. "Until next time, princess," Jacob said with a bow.

"Until next time," Leah echoed.

Upon entering the palace Leah knew something was wrong. The servants seemed to be separated into two groups, half were running around seemingly in a hurry, the other half were whispering to each other inaudibly.

Leah's presents was quickly noticed by a kitchen maid. "Oh, there you are," she said, "the Queen needed you in the royal bed chamber urgently, the king's condition has worsened."

Leah's heart dropped into her stomach; she knew this day was coming, but now all she could do was let the maid lead her to the royal bed chamber. A sea of people was rushing in and out of the room, physicians, all different kinds of maids, and even some cooking staff, bringing the rooms occupants whatever they requested.

The queen was at the king's bedside, yelling at a doctor, "There must be more you can do, this is your job, this is the king."

The king was surrounded by doctors and nurses, placing wash cloths on his forehead, trying to get him to drink water, and doing general medical examinations. The king seemed barely lucid, his eyes half open, his hand occasionally reaching out to those around him. His face was even thinner than it had been a few days ago, and his skin was far paler.

The queen was crying now, staring down at her husband. She did not even notice Leah when she came to stand next to her. The world seemed to slow down for a moment. All Leah could hear was her own breathing as she watched the king's hand settle down next to his body and his eyes slowly close. The nearest doctor checked the pulse on his wrist, before sadly shaking his head. The king was dead.