Fall Into You

17

all that you want's under your nose

Matthias couldn't stand many things. One of them being Tobias fucking Avington. 

He had been heading toward the palace from the stables due to his father's request for his presence, as he saw Tobias Avington leaving the Terilow house with the cheesiest fucking grin on his face.

He'd gone and seen Nicollette, and Matthias knew that. It didn't take rocket science to figure that out. Ever since the prissy prince noticed Nicollette that day at the brunch, he'd come to the Sutfcliffe residence to see Nicollette far too many times.

To court her. 

Matthias snorted, shaking his head as he walked toward the giant palace. Nicollette would never court a man like Tobias Avington, and he knew that. The Prince was wasting his breath; it was almost sad.

He twirled a small coin between his fingers that had been in his pocket, watching his feet as he walked. He didn't understand why he was even worried in the first place - Nicollette hated royals. The last thing she'd do was marry some stupid Prince. And if she did decide to? Well, maybe Matthias would pull a couple of strings and prevent that from happening.

Okay, maybe that's too much. He had nothing to worry about; he was just being dramatic.

He walked inside, greeted by the cool air. He heard chatter and laughter, his previous thoughts of the girl that consumed his mind 99% of the time disappearing. He was silent as he entered the giant family room.

The room was fuller than he expected it to be, but before he could make his presence known, a smaller body stopped in front of him.

"Of all times to follow the rules, you choose to now?" Maria asked, her brown eyes wide.

"What about it?" Matthias asked, his nose scrunching up.

Maria went to respond, but the sound of their father's voice cut her off. "Matthias, nice of you to join us!" 

All attention went to him, and it was then that Matthias finally got a good look at who all stood in the giant room. 

By the door was Merlin Terilow - Nicollette's father and his father's right-hand man. Then, his sister, mother, and father. Along with them was his aunt Trudy, whom he rarely ever saw.

His aunt was a rigorous woman. She was prim, proper, and nothing less. She had the personality of a cardboard box and looked down on anyone who wasn't royalty. 

Obnoxious laughter caught his attention, and it was then that he noticed the Gilcrest family. Candice stood next to his aunt, laughing about something that probably wasn't even that funny. Her parents were chatting with his, seemingly getting along as well.

"What's going on?" He finally asked, looking between everyone.

"Well, let's have a seat, shall we?" Gerald asked instead of answering his question. This only made Matthias more suspicious, but he wasn't one to usually stand up against his father's wishes.

Everyone except for Merlin obliged, sitting down in different chairs. Matthias sat next to Maria, who anxiously messed with her gloved fingers. It was silent at first, and Matthias wished more and more by the second that he did as Maria said and didn't show up. Why had he bothered showing up, anyway?

"Well, as you know, Sandria is a really good ally to Aradia." Gerald started, sipping on some wine.

"As for Aradia to Sandria." Candice's father spoke.