Hearts at War (AlanxJeff) VI

14

Jeff

I asked some questions that seemed simple but had a deep background, and I discovered what I wanted. Alan could eat anything, but he hated carrots. Would he still eat with me if that was what was most on the table? I could... I could eat without him. I think...

So I pretended ignorance when the royal cook looked at me perplexed as I asked for all the dishes whose main ingredient was carrot. For a moment, I thought he wouldn't do it, or that he would make separate dishes for Alan, but that wasn't the case. The next morning, seeing the table, everything was just as I had requested.

The dining room was illuminated by the soft light of dawn filtering through the windows, creating a warm and cozy atmosphere. The walls were decorated with old paintings, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. I turned to see Alan and could see him frown and swallow hard. Then he curved his lips into a forced smile and proceeded to serve me. I followed his every move. I could see him take a deep breath before tasting it, as was his custom, and his face distorted a bit. So subtle that if I hadn't been paying enough attention, I might not have noticed. And so he continued with each dish.

I looked at him, absorbed. I didn't understand. He didn't have to force himself to do this. He should get annoyed and stop eating with me, making any excuse. But when the same thing happened at lunch and dinner, and again the next day, I felt frustrated. And I felt... I felt guilty.

Or I did until the third day when I saw a dish I hadn't ordered. It was something I could eat but hated: raw buffalo meat salad. I frowned at it. Charlie and Kael had tried to make me eat it because it would help with my anemia, but I hated its taste. I hated it. And it was obvious that Alan now knew. He was getting back at me.

"No... don't give me that. I don't like it," I said in a faint voice, trying to put on my sweetest face.

"But it's really healthy, Nu. It must be that you don't like it because you haven't tried it here," he said in a soft and tender voice, while taking some with the chopsticks and saying to me, "Say ahhh."

"No, please, not again," I thought.

I glanced at the servants who were watching us. What should I do?

"Come on, don't reject me," he said with a pitiful pout, "just one, for how much you love me."

He... he was doing it on purpose. He was getting back at me.

"But..." I tried to say.

"Is it... you don't love me?" he asked so pitifully that even I began to doubt that he was really acting.

I took a deep breath as he brought the bite to my lips and forced myself to eat it. As I did, I saw in his eyes, which had previously looked sad, a hint of amusement that amplified as I tried to swallow it. The wicked man forced me, with his sweet and pitiful manner, to eat the whole dish.

With each bite, I felt like I would vomit, but I definitely wouldn't give him the satisfaction. His performance only got better and better, and I found myself unable to reject him without it meaning that I now loved him a little less. Manipulative! Resentful! I screamed in my heart.

"Ahhhhhh," I threw myself on the bed while screaming into my pillow.

I hated him. He always got his way.

"Is everything alright, Your Highness?" Pean asked when he entered and saw me in that position.

"Yes... please tell the royal cook that from tomorrow, no more carrots," I said without taking my head out of the pillow. I felt so frustrated. Since I met him, nothing had gone right for me. Although if I wanted to get out of his charm, I had succeeded.

I lifted my head and looked around. This room was imbued with Alan's scent. It didn't even seem like mine. It seemed... it seemed like ours. I thought as I buried my face back in the pillow. Moments later, I realized. It wasn't ours. How much time had passed? I jumped up while Pean was setting the table for afternoon tea.

"Are you sure you're alright, Your Highness?" Pean asked, confused by my behavior.

"How long have we been here?"

"Time? About a month, Your Highness."

And the truth hit me head-on. Alan continued to stay every day. That's why it didn't seem like just my room. He... he wasn't keeping his word.

That night, I waited for him. Well, actually, I was never able to fall asleep until I felt him come in and settle on the sofa. It was as if I was on alert until that moment, and when he came in, all my alarms went off, and exhaustion overcame me.

The sound of the door opening in the dim light pulled me out of my thoughts. Then, his steps resonated softly as he carefully arranged the sheets on the sofa. Wasn't his back killing him after a month? I wondered. He wasn't that young anymore, after all.

I took a deep breath and initiated a conversation between us for the first time. 

"Alan..." 

"Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you, Nu?" he asked in a soft whisper. 

"No... don't call me that. I'm not a child!" I snapped, annoyed. Pean had told me that "Nu" was an adorable way to call a child. 

"Yes... yes..." he responded dismissively as he lay back on the sofa. "Is something wrong?"

 "It's... it's been a month," I said, clutching the blanket tighter. 

A few seconds passed that felt eternal. Why... why isn't he responding? 

"I know..." he finally replied. "But... it seems I'll extend it a few more days. To give more credibility to our story. If we've started, we should do it right, right?" 

"But you said..." 

"Yes, but things can change along the way... I thought it didn't bother you that much anymore," he said in a faint voice. 

"Your... your scent doesn't let me sleep well," I snapped defensively, hugging the blanket tighter. And I heard his light laugh. Was he... was he mocking me? I wondered, frowning. 

"Please, bear with it just a few more days." 

"How many?" 

"I'm not sure... Sweet dreams, Nu," he said lightly. 

He wasn't planning to leave soon, was he? Was he doing it to annoy me?

It was the last days of my rest imposed by Alan when I finally went down to the garden with Pean. I needed fresh air and got lost in the blooming gardens while Pean went up to fetch me a coat. 

I sat under the shade of a leafy tree, put on my headphones, and forgot about the world. I had been there for a while when I sensed through the aroma that some people were approaching. I took off my headphones and listened to them talk. 

"I can't believe how fast it grows, just like a weed." 

"Yes, it's good I noticed. It was near the flowers, if someone touches it by accident, I can't imagine the reaction it could cause." 

"It itches a lot, right?" 

"More than a lot. Although it depends on each person. Just a slight contact is enough. I'll leave it here to get the trash cart. I don't want it to mix with my flowers," said the older man while the young woman nodded and they walked away. 

So it itches a lot, huh? I wondered as my mind lit up with a mischievous idea. 

If Alan resisted leaving my room, I would have no choice but to make him leave.