Thirty-six

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Nolan felt guilty as he stood with Marie in her family's bakery storage. The tiny particles of flour tickling their nostrils but both ignoring it as Nolan told her about Elijah being in town. About his trip going back to Shillian to well...meet Ethane again. To try.

"I don't know if it will work out or not..."

"It will," said Marie clutching his shoulders and looking into his eyes. Her smile wavering and weak, but her eyes reassuring. "It will because you two are clearly in love," she said, although the words hurt her she still said them because her best friend needed to hear them.

"Oh Marie," cooed Nolan smiling softly at her. "Your heart is made of pure gold and yet I keep breaking it. I am so sorry," he pleaded, guilt coiling in his gut and swirling in his orbs.

Marie chuckled, stepping away from Nolan and allowing her hands to fall on her sides.

"No need to apologize Nolan. You did not promise to marry me or anything close to that. Maybe I had hoped that you would learn to love me and actually be together. But I guess at the depth of my core I knew it was nothing but wishful thinking. Princes like you do not fall in love with commoners like me. You deserve royals and...pearls," she said, adding a chuckle in attempt to lighten the mood.

"Marie, I've never seen you as a commoner..."

"But that is what I am. At the end other day, Gillian is right, I do not deserve to dine with royals even though I basically have all my life. But I knew at some point, I will have to go back to my own kind," she said with a trembling smile and glossy eyes.

"Is that what Gillian said?"

"Not quite. But, we all know that is what she thinks. Do not feel bad Nolan, you've been kind to me more than any royal has ever been. Your heart is pure even though at times you hurt me, I know it is not intentional because, how could you?" She flashed him a genuine smile. "I guess I have also taken a fancying for someone else. One of my own," she blinked, her face twitching.

"Someone? You never told me. Do I know him?" He asked, his face twisting with concern.

Marie chuckled, grabbing a sack of flour.

"Travel well to Shillian. Be happy and we shall all come for your matrimonial and be merry. Perhaps, you will meet him then," she said and left the storage to meet her mother at the front.

Nolan wanted to inquire further but now with her mother in the midst of their company he did not have the privilege. Perhaps, that is what Marie wanted.

And surely, Nolan did travel back to Shillian with Elijah as he had promised. He was however nervous for various factors. One being the obvious, meeting Ethane. The other rectifying the bridges he had burnt when he left Shillian.

"We will come for the Matrimonial," that is what Matilda said as the entire family came to bid farewell. "Send us an invitation soon!" She said, waving her hand with a beaming smile on her face.

Goodness, she look like an Egyptian goddess.

"Pearls! Reserve some pearls!" Shouted Gillian before she was elbowed on her side by Ishmael.

The two started arguing and Nolan was rest assured that at least things back home will never change.

"My mother will be so happy to see you," said Elijah once the island came to view.

Nolan drew a sharp breath, his eyes darting everywhere in panic.

"Eli," he breathed sounding just as panicked. "When I left, I literally left your mother wailing on the sand," he said mortified.

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