The Key ♕

16

Sophie's Point of View

The morning after the king's birthday celebration, I walk into the study while stifling a yawn. Nathaniel says his usual greeting and flashes me a heartwarming smile. I reimburse the gesture with a quick wave and a smile. However, the smile fades quickly away from my face when I notice that Lucas does not look one brief moment in my direction. I can't help but feel disappointed at the lack of his attention.

I frown as I realize what I am thinking. All Lucas did was not look at me - he was probably too engrossed in his work or didn't find it necessary to greet me. I shake the crazy thoughts out of my head as I take a seat. I keep on sneaking looks at Lucas while sorting out documents for Alice. Never in the few hours do I manage to capture his attention.

"Sophie," Lucas says after Alice's work for the day is finished. I smile and start treading across the room to him. I knew there was nothing wrong - it was just all my imagination. I stop dead in my tracks when I hear what comes out of his mouth next, "you don't have to help me anymore."

"What?"

"I said you don't have to help me anymore. Nathaniel and I can handle everything," he repeats.

"But, I..." I start to panic.

"I don't really have much to do, and Nathaniel's gotten enough rest, so I don't need you to help me anymore," he says nonchalantly, casually packing away some papers.

I look over to Nathaniel, and he wears a slightly confused, but glad expression on his face. I bow my head and sulk out of the room, knowing that I can't do anything about it, "yes, your Majesty."

I plop my face down on my pillow and exhale a deep breath. I shouldn't be feeling so sad. It makes sense - the preparations for the ball is coming to an end very soon, so he doesn't need my help anymore. However, I can't stop my mouth from lowering to a scowl. 

I hate myself for feeling this way. To him, I'm just a silly teenage girl who he likes to tease from time to time. Only mature, sultry, and powerful women capture his attention. Plus, he probably doesn't even feel anything around me just like I do around him. 

A few days pass and Lucas is still not talking to me. Every time I believe that we have some sort of mutual respect and perhaps even a liking between us, he pushes me away. It angers me, but somehow, it hurts me even more. I hate being like this. I hate not talking to Lucas. I don't care if it's his usual meaningless teases - I just want to talk to him. I sigh as I sit in front of my vanity, brushing out knots in my hair and readjusting the key pendant on my neck.

Later on at dinner, the royal family, Nathaniel, and I all sit in silence and nibble on our food. I squirm around in my seat when the queen stares menacingly in my direction. I thought I would get used to her wicked gazes after being overwhelmed by it daily, but I don't. 

The king breaks the awkward silence by speaking up, "Lucas, your mother and I have something to tell you."

"What is it?" He raises an eyebrow.

"We've been thinking about your marriage for a long time now, and you know that you are at the perfect age to get married. Thus, we have found a suitable wife for you," he says. I nearly choke on my food as I subtly hide my discomfort with a little cough. I totally forgot about the conversation I had with him at the lakeside. A shot of pain stabs me in the chest. 

Lucas pounds his fist on the table, making the metal cutlery on the table jump along with everyone else. "How many times did I tell you I don't want to be married yet?"

"She's Princess Isabella of Spain. She's the perfect-" the queen begins.

"Look, father, mother, I appreciate your efforts in organizing a marriage for me, but that's not what I want right now."