The Courtier

20

THE COURTIER
♡ Josephine ♡

Ugene did not meet me that night. I was hurt, and I felt ashamed as I trotted back to the palace in hopes of not seeing Ugene for the evening. The Lockwood festival was finally here and I was prepping for the grand opening with Arabella. It was mainly Jaxson who wished to set it up, something about how he used to have such fun when he was a child.

Climbing upon a ladder for the other maids since they were too afraid to climb the height, I stretch to set up decorations upon the whole festival. Arabella tells me I am such help, but I do not feel as I am any when all I can do on grand opening is stand there with a smile on my face. Arabella did not wish for me to follow her during the day, she told me to have fun and find her later on in the day.

I can feel eyes lurking near, but I try my best to avoid his gaze. I was still upset that he did not show last night, and it was because he did not wish to come to terms and apologize to me on why he lied about his father. He has been avoiding me, so why can't I?

People were all around sipping on their lemonades, punches, yummy treats made especially for them, it was quite fun watching everyone have the best of time. People from all over Lockwood starting from the city with riches and to the lows of the village, but they seemed to stay to themselves, neither geting into it as to why they are in the same vicinity as the two.

Beth finds me in the crowd and has a glass of lemonade, fanning her face with her hand fan. "Is this not the greatest? We did such a good on this, did we not?"

"We did," I hum.

"I think I shall speak to Ugene this evening. You have given me the courage to speak to him. Wish me luck." Her words have my heart pounding with much despair, and jealously eats at my bones. I play with the tips of my fingernails, frowning upon my older sister as eyes Ugene whom walks alongside his father, looking around for something. Or someone. "I am going in."

She walks to the courtier and his father, and Mr. Chesire finds it amusing and he holds a smile, but it is not a kind one. He is mocking Beth and that has my blood boiling. Ugene tilts his chin down, listening to her words as she speaks to Mr. Chesire and they keep up a conversation together.

He finds me in the midst of the crowd, and I look away and busy myself to seem as if I am too busy to speak if he tries walking over, but I highly doubt that.

"Lovely seeing you here," I hear a gentleman speak, and I twirl, finding the same dimple faced gentleman I met in the village at one of the shops whom gifted me clips. One of the clips are in my hair as we speak, and I send a friendly smile.

"Rafe, isn't it?" I tilt my head in hopes of not being wrong and calling him the wrong name.

He nods. "Was beginning to think you did not recognize me."

"Not a lot of people speak to me so I remember whoever speaks to me." I laugh out, brushing a strand of hair out of my face. I can feel Ugene's heated stare on the side of my face, and I try my hardest to ignore his vision seeking mine. Rafe smiles, raising a brow. I utter another awkward laugh. "And that was embarrassing to say. I apologize."

"It is fine." He waves it off and I thank goodness he does. "This festival is amazing. I hope to see you around soon."

"Yes, of course." I nod as he walks away with a light nod and smile. Rafe was not much of a talker, but he sure was kind. I place my hands upon my hips, sighing out when watching Rafe's back disappear into the crowd and I assume he is here with family. My eyes trickle back over to Ugene without hesitation and his eyes hold me down, I cannot move and whatever Beth is saying he is not comprehending. He is too focused on me, his eyes hold a look of madness I have seen in Jaxson and Bridger's, but I cannot for the life of me figure it out.

Entering a tent, growing hot from the sun lighting up my face, I find comfort in the shade. All of my things are sitting in its place before we opened and I reach down to grab my book. The hairs on the back of my neck raise, and my arms gather goosebumps, letting me know he is near.

"Josephine," he says, alarming me and I twirl with my book in my hand.

I avoid his line of vision, but smiling his way in hopes of him thinking nothing is wrong "Ugene," I greet, looking back to him, he is just standing before me, not speaking. "What can I do for you?"

"Cut the formals. We shall speak." He juts his chin up at me in demand.

"Alright." I clasp my hands together, awaiting for his words.

"Your angry with me," he observes.

Sighing, I reply. "I-I thought we were meeting last night?"

"I apologize, the night got the best of me and I fell asleep." I can see the lie that came out of his mouth before he could reply, and it cuts me like knife.

My brows furrow with hurt. "You are lying." Why is he being like this towards me?

He licks his lips, staring out of the tent knowing he does not have much time before he has to get back to his father. He draws near, and I take a step back, rubbing the side of my arm. "I think you shall tend back to your father now."

"I can explain everything, I promise you," he speaks, keeping a distance because he knows he has shot me with his lie. "It is complicated-"

"Complicated to lie to me?" My voice is hoarse when speaking. His eyes soften. "Two times, you have lied to me two times now. First, you told me you did not have any family and your father pops up suddenly, and now you are lying to me because you cannot give me the truth as to why you did not meet me last night."

"I know." He nods. "I have been horrible and I apologize."

"Why?"

"It is complicated, he is complicated and I wish to tell you everything, but let me get him out of Lockwood for now," he begs.

I nod, trusting him, but in the back of my mind, my conscious screams for me to run, that I am walking around on dangerous territories and my heart will break.

"Who was that gentleman?" He suddenly questions, and I can tell it has been eating at him to ask me that.

I scoff, crossing my arms. "Ironic that you will not give me answers, but the second a gentleman speaks to me, I must tell you whom he is." I was tired of this conversation already try to walk past him, but he grabs ahold of my arm. His eyes hold a maddening state, and he licks his lips again and I avoid eye contact.

He breathes against me. "I miss you," he whispers, I lean forward, kissing at his lips but it does not last long because if I let him, he will take things too far and we would be hidden away in this tent till dawn.

"I will be waiting," I whisper back, swallowing down the fear that has me wishing I should have ran away once he entered the tent. Exiting the tent, I try to remain composed, and suck any tears that wish to fall against my skin.

No, today was supposed to be a good day. A happy day filled with happiness and fun.

In the end, I was alone.