บท 51: Chapter 51 - The difference

The birthday ball went on a success, with people dancing and cheering. Some even gossiped on how they met their crown prince. It was a surprise to everyone that he was even aboard this ship.

Madam Ayles was the most shocked of all. She had thought of the young man to be a simple merchant that had been charmed by her daughter, but she did not expect for him to be the prince!

The crown prince of the country Gaius.

It came as a complete shock to her.

Not only to her, but to the people around her as well. The ladies who ignored her before started to group around her, trying to get in a good word about their daughters or about their son's business.

Madam Ayles watched this irony with a cordial smile. 'Group of vultures… they are just looking for a piece of meats they could eat off of us. When I lost my husband, did these people come to my aid or even care to talk to me? Now they are flocking around like seagulls. Tsk tsk,' she silently chided them, but on the outside, she maintained a kind conversation.

'Wonder where my daughter is? Why didn't she warn me about the prince? I could have been a little kinder to him if I had known.'

Early that evening when the young blond-haired man came knocking on their suit, madam Ayles had been completely surprised. Her daughter was a special girl and people of their ton did not seem to appreciate that.

Madam Ayles was glad that the duke seemed to notice this small trait of her daughters. But as soon as the duke proclaimed that he had no intention of marrying, she gave up on him. A small hope of her daughter finding a love match also disappeared.

But when the blond-haired young man came knocking, she was slightly responsive and glad. Even if this man was a poor merchant, she was ready to accept him as her son-in-law. after all she wanted her daughter to have a love match, not a political marriage.

'That young man is a prince though. truth be told My daughter is not that well-mannered enough to be a princess….' She anxiously clenched her kerchief.

She knew her daughter very well. Eloise Ayles will never comply with the norms. She will always find was to go against it or create her own trends rather than be a picture-perfect queen. This kind of trait will never be appreciated by the royal family. Worse, they might try to contain those traits of hers.

'I don't want my daughter to lead an unhappy life…. it's better that I separate them. Even if it's a poor merchant or a farmer my daughter must live happily all her life.'

With that thought in mind, she went about searching for her darling daughter. But to her surprise she was nowhere to be found.

Only the young prince was spotted by the buffet area, chugging down a bottle of whiskey with vigor.

"Your highness." She walked up to him.

the young man glared at her but as soon as he recognized her, he smiled slightly. "Madam Ayles. I'm sorry you had to see me like this."

"Where is Eloise? I thought she was with you…" she gazed around, finding no trace of her daughter's snow-white hair.

"She is on the balcony…" he silently gazed at his decorated shoes.

This made the madam pause. "Why do you look so down, young prince? Is something the matter? You can tell me anything."

The young man chuckled softly. "Its… do you think of me as an unlovable person?" he said swaying slightly.

"Oh dear, you are the most cordial person I've met. Why would you even think that? you, young prince, deserve the best of the best. You deserve love."

The crown prince smiled and nodded. "I do… but why won't that love come to me. I try.. I try my best for that person. But there is nothing in between us." He sadly smiled at her. "there never will be… even If I beg and cry I never get the attention I need."

"oh, you poor young man." madam Ayles he gently patted his hand. "Everyone is destined for love, my dear. One day you will find the one who will accept you for who you are and will love you unconditionally."

"a royal wedding will never be a love match but political match. My future partner will never be able to love me so."

"Love might not necessarily come from your partner, but it can even be received from a friend or your future children. Young prince, everyone has a person who loved them dearly. It might not be apparent for some but love exists. I hope you soon identify the ones who love you so." Madam Ayles pulled the bottle from his hand and placed it on the table." you've had one too many drinks. Have your servant escort you back to your room. Go on now. Don't want you tripping and falling on your face." she chided him with a motherly scowl.

Dominic gave her the most genuine smile he could muster. "You are a good person."

"I know."

"Thank you for spending time with me. By the way, your daughter is on the balcony. But I guess she must have long left for her room, for this party is not to her interest."

"Thank you for letting me know that," madam Ayles watched the young prince be escorted by a familiar figure, mister Fred.

"Peculiar indeed…." Shrugging, she walked over to the balconies. The prince did not mention which balcony her daughter was in. so she just walked around trying to find one that is occupied. Most of them had their doors opened because the crowd seemed to be averse to the cold night.

But as she passed by one balcony, she paused.

A soft giggle was heard inside.

"So, dory forgets. She forgets about them and swims away and gets caught in a net… they all sit down and save their own lives. The end~" a slurry voice whispered.

'That voice sounds awfully familiar.' She moved closer and opened the door ever so slightly.

In the balcony stood a young pair half hugging each other. The man's big frame hid the woman completely from sight.

'oh, how fun it is to be young~" giggling she walked away, not to disturb the young pair.

Rayon heard this mumble and glanced back. The door was slightly ajar, but no oner seemed to be standing outside. 'it's not good for us to be seen like this. Especially my not Eloise.'

He gently held her hand. "Shall we retire for the night?"

"no~ I want to dance more. Come on this time I'll teach you, my dance." Eloise backed away from him and started to dance moving her dernier in a weird way. "This is called twerking. Come on you do it,"

Blushing he looked away., "that… that is a very good dance miss Eloise… but I suggest you don't do that in front of others."

"Why not? It's fun. Just twerk you ass." A hand suddenly slapped his back.

Eyes wide open, Raymond gazed at her in shock. "did you just..."

"Come on try it. it's so fun~" she pulled at his arm and gestured for him to move.

Apprehensively, Raymond stood there. "I.. I don't think I can."

"boohoo… that sucks. Then how about this? Let's do the wave." She waved her arms around wildly. "This one is quite easy. Try it~"

In order not to offend her Raymond did the weird squiggly dance. Weirdly so the movement brought a strange sense of joy to him. "I think I like this move.,"

"of course, its Fan favorite. No one hates the waves. Next let's do the backpack kid." she waved her hands around her hips in a complicated way.

Raymond just laughed out loud. "How much a person can change after half a bottle of brandy."

"yes~ this dance changes if I have tequila. Ohhhh I miss tequila….." she groaned hugging his shoulders.

All of a sudden, the ship swayed visibly, throwing everyone off balance.

Raymond hurriedly reached for her. Eloise, who was close to him, lost her balance and slammed right int his chest.

"Ow… that hurts…."

"Are you well?" he pushed her away a bit and took a good look at her face.

She seemed unharmed, but a few of his buttons had left an intent on her forehead. He gently mashed her bruised skin. "I hope they don't leave a mark."

"my mouth hurts..." she mumbled softly.

A soft delicate scent of blood suddenly hit his nostrils

Raymond froze. "you're wounded." With trembling hands, he touched her lips.

Eloise looked down at his hand cutely. "I bit my tongue…" she put her tongue out.

There indeed was a small cut on the right side if her tongue oozing a bit of blood.

Raymond's blood thirst returned with a fury. His whole mouth went dry. His fingertip gently touched the small wound. "I…I.."

"it's just a small cut." She mumbled with her tongue still held out.

"I have to go!" he ran out of there.