Chapter 4: Just A Servant

ENZO

I stood in the same spot, dumbfounded by the blatant disrespect that I received from the cloaked woman. 

“I am so sorry for our servant’s behavior, Prince Enzo,” Queen Grace said, glaring at the direction the woman ran off to. “She has always been like this.”

I frowned. “You have such a defiant servant? Then why do you still keep her around?”

“She’s blind,” King Leo interrupted. “Our kingdom has such a kind heart that we decided to keep a blind servant around,” he boasted, while the other members of the royal family empathetically nodded their heads. 

“Blind?” I tilted my head to the side. For some reason, the story of the blind princess went through my mind, but I decided to brush it off. 

Princess Isabelle walked over my way and held onto my hand, breaking me out of my thoughts. I looked at our intertwined fingers and frowned. 

“The food is getting cold, your highness. Why don’t we sit down and continue our chat?” she said in a sweet voice. 

I looked at her face and couldn’t help but notice that the princess was indeed beautiful. I also felt that our energies are quite similar. Maybe, it’s because the two of us are Alphas. 

“Oh, don’t they look good together?” Queen Grace gushed while looking at the two of us. “Come here,” she said. “You can sit together.”

I merely nodded my head while Isabelle blushed. 

The two of us sat down, yet I still couldn't take my mind away from the blind servant I met a while ago. Before I could control my mouth, I decided to ask—

“That blind servant—what is her name?”

The royal family looked at each other, and the table became silent for quite a while. 

Evelyn cleared her throat and took a sip of water. “You don’t have to mind her, your highness. She’s no one. She’s nothing but a servant in this castle.”

***

I pursed my lips together to suppress the yawn that was bubbling in my chest. 

“Isabelle is also really good at horse riding! She can show you around if you’d like,” Evelyn boasted. 

I merely nodded my head. The Lockhart family has been boasting about Isabelle’s accomplishments and hobbies ever since I sat down, and I can clearly see the determination of the family to get me to marry their precious princess.

“She also won a cooking contest last year. It was held in your castle, Prince Enzo, and she competed with many princesses around the country yet still managed to place first!” her cousin added. 

“That’s nice,” I said, taking a bite of the cake they had brought out for dessert. I grimaced a bit at how sweet it was. 

“In fact,” Queen Grace said. “She’s the one who baked this cake.”

Oh. 

I placed my fork down. It does not fit my taste, but to each to their own, I guess?

“Is it to your liking?” Isabelle asked, looking at me with a wide smile on her face.  

I wanted to tell her that it tasted like shit, but I just smiled and uttered a small—”yes.”

With my response, Isabelle's smile widened.

I glanced at the clock and saw that it had already been two hours since our conversation started, and most of it consisted of Isabelle’s family flexing their wealth and boasting about Isabelle. 

I tapped my foot on the ground, not really listening to what they were talking about. 

“Your highness? Prince Enzo?”

I snapped out of my daze when Grace called my name. 

“Mmh, what?” I clarified.

Grace smiles and repeats her question. “I asked—Why did you pick Isabelle?”

I pursed my lips together. If I'm going to be honest, the reason for this marriage is it’s all because I'm looking for someone to marry. It just so happens that Isabelle was the most convenient person to marry. She’s an Alpha, and she also lives in the nearest kingdom to ours. 

So, I had to come up with a valid excuse. 

“She’s pretty,” I simply said. 

***

“So, how did it go, son?” my dad asked.

The two of us were now in the car, talking about what happened in my conversation with the Lockhart family. 

I hummed and did not answer. 

“Why?” he asked, gauging my reaction. “Is she not to your liking?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “She didn’t speak much, actually. And I can’t judge her character yet. However, her family seems to be a bit boastful.”

He clicked his tongue. “I’ve heard about such rumors, but I guess they’re true. But is that so much of a concern? It’s Isabelle you’re marrying after all.”

“I’m still not sure,” I said 

“Then, do you want to pick another bride? I can give you the folder that contains the list of candidates once more. There are omegas in the list—”

“I’m not going to marry an omega,” I quickly cut him off. “That’s final.”

He sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. 

“Then, do you want to stay here for some time—maybe a month or so, to learn more about Isabelle?”

I pursed my lips together and glanced at my watch. 

“What time do we head back?”

“It’s up to you,” he said. “But preferably before it gets dark.”

“I’ll take a look around the castle, then,” I said. I still need some time to clear my mind and see whether I would like to stay here.

“I’ll be back before 7 PM.”

“Alright,” he nodded. “I’ll be waiting here, then.”

I nodded my head and left the car to walk through the castle grounds.

I felt the admiring stares of the people as I walked through the grounds. Normally, I would bask in this attention, but I wanted some time to think for myself, so I took the more peculiar route. 

I saw a grassy trail leading to the back of the castle and decided to walk there instead. 

It seemed like I made a good decision since no one was in sight as I walked through the trail. 

My mind was filled with thoughts about my pending marriage. 

Will Isabelle really be a suitable wife? Or shall I find another woman to marry?

Before I even knew it, I had already arrived at a strange-looking place—something that felt like it wasn't a part of the castle. 

It looked like the place had been abandoned for years, yet the garden looked quite well-kempt, which signified that somebody must be living here. 

I saw a cottage not far away from where I was and became even more curious. 

I smelled a delicious scent coming from the house as I walked closer and closer. I also heard someone humming a beautiful tune inside. 

A woman, huh?

Somehow, the scent of her cooking and the sound of her voice led me to the front of the door. 

I was about to knock on the door, so I could ask permission before entering the house, but I saw that the door was left open. 

So without even knocking, I opened the door and entered.