Chapter Fourteen

As he took a sip of his hibiscus iced tea, Evan glanced at the clock on his laptop: it was seven in the evening already. His parents were half an hour late for the video call.

He had talked to Lord Stefano and Lady Caterina earlier on that day, and they had granted their permission to let Belle go with him and the princes to the Irish pub.

They had set the only condition of Evan taking as much care of Belle as possible —they didn't want their only daughter to get harassed by some drunkard under any circumstances or, even worse, having her get back home in a drunk state.

And obviously, they ordered Evan to take care of himself as well. If he wasn't able to take care of himself, how was he supposed to take care of her future wife?

Evan certainly had a huge burden on his shoulders. But he trusted both Prince Michel and Prince André, as well as their discipline and manners. Having them with him and Gabrielle that night was surely going to be safer than going just the two of them alone, and, why not, it could have also been more fun.

He took a look at the time again: five minutes had passed from the last time he saw it.

That was all, Evan wasn't going to wait any longer. He had a meeting to attend that night and he had yet to get ready.

He simply turned off his laptop and shut the screen down, sighing in deep annoyance.

Then, he decided to text his mother a message so he could express his anger and disappointment. He grabbed his phone, which was lying next to him on the bed, and his fingers nimbly typed on the chatbox.

"I need to get ready for a meeting with Belle and some friends tonight. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you." Read the text message, which took a couple of seconds to get finally delivered.

His parents were certainly not the best ones you could ask for. Worse than that even. If Evan had to classify his parents, they'd for sure enter into the negligent category.

He was lucky and thankful they had never laid a hand on him, but they certainly raised him to be someone easily manipulable for them and overly dependent on them as well. And as he grew up, he noticed this and started avoiding any type of close interaction with them, since he expected them to ask him to do impossible tasks or simply point out some of his insecurities and try to downplay them, making him feel humiliated for sure.

When they noticed their son was smarter than them, they proceeded to act indifferent towards him.

This way, when Evan was only eleven years old, he got on bad terms with his parents, as they simply ignored him, downplayed everything he liked and everything he did well. It didn't matter if it was the highest score in an exam or a promotion in his school's choir, nothing really mattered to them or was enough to please them… to make them feel proud of their son. So Evan decided to just give up on them at last.

Evan sighed for probably the hundredth time in that evening, sat up, and left the jar glass of iced tea with nothing more than melting ice cubes now on the food cart for Adelyn to clean it up later on.

He massaged his forehead to try and shake the upsetting feelings away. Took a deep breath and thought to himself: "It's okay, you'll see Michel again tonight." And with this, he sketched a small smile.

Thinking of his childhood puppy love was endearing for him. It didn't matter if Michel was straight, just seeing his charming smile and his teal eyes shining in appreciation every time they saw each other was more than enough for him, to make him feel happy and, somehow, like at home again…

He wondered if he was falling in love with him again. He hoped that wasn't the case, though, since he'd get married to Gabrielle in a month and, in first place, he was pretty certain Michel didn't like men. Nothing good would happen if he grew feelings again for him, right now more than ever —even if they were adults already.

The life of a noble was bound to be miserable and heartbreaking. No matter how much luxury Evan could have, he'd be forced to hide and closet himself for the rest of his life from now on…

"Great." He thought. One good thought replaced the bitterness over his parents' fiasco and now that good thought was being replaced by sadness and impotence again.

It had already stopped being funny… So he simply shook his head to try and finally get rid of any possible negative thoughts, and then, without further ado, he headed to the en-suite bathroom.

His original plan was to take a simple shower. But, rummaging into the cabinets next to the mirrors, he found many bath bombs and foaming infusions, and he thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to try using one of them.

He picked the oat, milk, and honey foaming bath infusion. Not for any specific reason actually. He simply thought it could have been fun and relaxing.

He turned the hot water faucet on and let the bathtub get filled as he got rid of his clothes. Then, he proceeded to empty the bottle into the water.

The water started acquiring a lighter color and foaming, and Evan smiled, feeling oddly amused at this sight.

He got in the plumbing device and let his skin get slowly used to the hot temperature of the water.

The foam felt really nice, like cleansing and conceding him a softer skin. It had a funny granulated texture that felt sort of ticklish when Evan rubbed his arms and shoulders with it. The water temperature was just the perfect one, and the bathroom got filled with the scent of sweet oat milk.

It was so relaxing that Evan feared falling asleep at any moment, but he didn't regret having taken that infusion bath at all.

He was expecting to take a brief shower, that wouldn't take more than fifteen or twenty minutes. But he spent around forty minutes in the bathtub, just enjoying the texture of the foam and the sweet scent of the infusion.

When he got out of the bathroom he felt like a brand new man. His body was clean, his mind was clean, everything felt lighter and brighter. But he had less than twenty minutes to get ready for the outing.

With his bathrobe still on, he walked up to the walk-in closet and opened the wooden sliding doors of the front wardrobe, a dashing sound suddenly echoed across the room with this action.

The Martís' personnel had taken care of filling Evan's wardrobe with overly elegant clothes, leaving too little space for his own clothes. This made him have to save some of his trousers and tops in the small dresser standing in the space between the two grand windows.

He opted for a brown cotton gabardine pair of trousers, a t-shirt with a design of thick grayish-black horizontal stripes, and, for his shoes, a pair of burgundy-colored suede espadrilles. When everything was set, he quickly changed into these clothes.

He looked at the mirror and finally, after five long days, he recognized himself. He was missing his glasses, but he still managed to see him, Evan Clarke, standing in front of the mirror.

The same Evan that went out to the plaza with his friends to play guitar and drink cans of Dandelion and Burdock, or in front of the local cinema theatre to hang out and watch the latest movies. The same Evan who practiced with his cello every evening in his room after finishing his homework. Evan, the quirky freckled redhead with glasses that their friends and relatives liked to call "leprechaun" due to his short height. Not Sir Evan Clarke, future spouse of Lady Gabrielle of House Martí, or close friend of Prince Michel of Avevia.

Just Evan, just him…

He completed his outfit with a summer denim jacket, but not actually putting it on. He simply wrapped its sleeves around his shoulders and let it hang from them nonchalantly. He'd put it on if he happened to feel cold.

He quickly combed his hair. It was still wet and this fact could conceal his characteristic cowlick. But then again, he was sort of wanting to see his cowlicked bangs…

Something about seeing himself in that attire made him feel better. More naturally handsome, more like himself. And he liked that.

He wondered if Michel would like it, too…

He heard his phone buzzing from afar. It probably was Michel calling, letting him know they were either close to the manor or on their way.

He walked up to the bed and took a look at the device: It was Michel, just like he thought. He picked up the call.

"Hello?" He greeted cheerfully, waiting for his friend to be the one who would reply.

"Hello, Evie! We're five minutes away, go pick up Gabrielle and go to the manor's entrance as soon as possible. We'll be waiting for you." He informed him, sounding just as excited as Evan was.

"Okay, understood. See you in five!" Evan exclaimed on the other side of the phone. Then, he simply hung up.

Evan tucked up his phone inside the pocket of his trousers. He sprayed some cologne on and left the room to pick Belle up.

When he went to open the door, he found her standing on the other side. Her face looked just as surprised and startled as his.

She was dressed in a simple peach-colored short summer dress, with glittery embroidery details and puffy short sleeves. The color of it contrasted very well with her skin tone and showed off her flawless skinny legs. Espadrille wedges with ribbons around her ankles as footwear. A white leather shoulder bag with a platinum golden chain as the strap crowned the angelic yet chic night outfit. And her makeup was subtle.

Evan was not sure if such an outfit was the most appropriate one for a night outing, even more if they were going to a place like an Irish pub. But he didn't find it bad-looking at all, in fact, he thought she looked cute.

"You're here. Were you looking for me?" He asked, slightly bewildered by her sudden appearance.

"Yes, I was going to knock on the door but you opened first." Belle explained. Then, she smiled a toothy grin, and Evan noticed that she was checking on the outfit that he had picked. "Is this your outfit for tonight? I really like it, it suits you pretty well." She said with enthusiasm, eyeing him from head to toe.

Evan's eyes opened widely for a split of a second.

Gabrielle liked his usual casual dressing style. That could mean she wouldn't be entirely uncomfortable with his true self perhaps...

"Thanks. Michel had said the dressing code was informal, so I followed His Highness' orders." He replied, chuckling a bit. "You look really gorgeous, too."

Belle giggled lightly, feeling flattered and maybe a bit embarrassed.

"Honestly speaking, I picked this outfit in less than ten minutes!" She confessed, leading her hand to her face to conceal the blushing on it.

"Just like me!" Evan added. "It seems we both have a sharp sense of fashion." He joked, making Belle laugh.

"You can be a real jokester at times! That's cool!" She replied between suppressed giggles.

Evan simply chuckled a bit and ruffled the top of her hair gently. Her locks were silky and smooth to the touch, perfectly straightened. He had also noticed she was using a different perfume tonight, something floral and less intense.

Gabrielle blushed harshly at this act and smiled at him with tenderness. Maybe she was expecting something more, so Evan quickly drew his hand away. He cleared his throat, then, he scratched the back of his head and spoke again:

"Well, we need to go downstairs and to the entrance of the manor now, the limousine is most probably parked there at this moment and the Princes might be waiting for us." Evan informed her with a more serious tone.

Belle simply nodded in understanding.

"Okay, let's get going, then. I'll guide the way, I know you still get lost easily in our home." She said in a joking tone.

Evan's response was rolling his eyes and smiling in defeat. Gabrielle let out some laughter.

They made their way downstairs and to the manor's entrance gate. With Belle's guidance, they were there in no time.

When they went through the entrance door, the night scenery welcomed them out. The night sky was cleared out and starry. The night breeze was chilly but the temperature was still warm —not as warm as in the morning, but still mild and utterly pleasant. The outer lighting was on, and those patio lanterns let them see the bushes gently shaking due to the calm breeze blowing through their leaves.

Much to their surprise, it wasn't a limousine that they saw parked on the lane in front of the building. There was a blue convertible model of an Alfa Romeo Spider Cabrio 1998 and a gray Chevrolet Cruze behind it.

"Lady Gabrielle, Sir Clarke, it's nice to see you this evening." Gerard said from the security cabin. "Their Highnesses are waiting patiently for you in His Highness Prince Michel's car."

Michel had a car? Was that outstanding Alfa Romeo his?

Someone got out of the Alfa Romeo's driver seat. Evan squinted to see who it was: it was Michel indeed.

He was wearing a pair of skinny jeans, a gray and moss green henley shirt, and a spice brown corduroy jacket that matched the color of his Timberland boots greatly. The way his teal eyes shone could have put Avevia's stars in shame that night…

"Your Highness, it's a pleasure to meet you again." Belle bowed at him with respect.

"Please, Gabrielle, tonight I'm just Michel. Like you are just Gabrielle and my brother is just André. The four of us will be equals tonight, regular Avevian citizens." Michel stated, fixing his glance on Evan.

The way he looked at him… It made Evan feel so relevant and cared for. He didn't usually enjoy being the center of the attention, but with Michel, he felt like nothing bad could happen, that no one was going to ever hurt him again.

He decided to enter in the casual, informal friend mode.

"I didn't know you learnt how to drive. I still have the vivid memory of when you almost started crying at the moment when the instructors said that it was your turn to slide down the zip slide, at a speed of ten kilometers per second..."

Michel let out some husky guffaws and covered his face.

"Being a jokester, aren't you?" He said between melodic laughter. "But yes, I've overcome my phobia of speed and learned how to drive. What do you think about my car? Does it look cool enough for you, Evie?" He teased.

Evan was about to open his mouth to reply to that, but Belle interrupted him before he could do it.

"Evie?" She gave Evan an inquisitive look, looking almost indignant.

"It's just a silly nickname he gave me when we were kids. I used to hate it, but never grew the courage to tell him to stop." He tried to explain to an upset Gabrielle.

"Yes, we have lots of other fun stories we can tell you later on. But first, we need to get in the car and go to the pub. We'll be able to worry about formalities again tomorrow." Michel shrugged and eyed the Alfa Romeo to signal they'd need to hurry.

"Sure thing, I hope you've not taken a liking for high levels of speed while you were overcoming your phobia." Evan added, and Michel chuckled as they started to move in the direction of the vehicle.

"Don't worry, I didn't." He replied, grasping the doorknob to let Belle enter first. "One more thing: see the gray car behind us? Those are our guards, they'll be taking care of us from a safe distance. They won't join us in any activity, but they'll be keeping an eye on us and intervene if something bad happens." He warned.

Both Evan and Gabrielle nodded in understanding and proceeded to get in the convertible car.

With all of the formalities left behind, the next destination was now the unknown Irish Pub in Île des Pinsons.