Chapter 26 – Nevaeh de Montignac
Nevaeh had arrived early at the Studio. She didn't want to ride with the girls or her cousins: she needed some time alone and had asked one of the chauffeurs to bring her there alone, quite early. Now she was standing in the empty audience, waiting. Jesse was pacing back and forth, mumbling over his cards. She wondered if he had eaten at all, that morning. One thing was sure, she had never seen him stressed like this. Or maybe it was just the pre-show jitters. But Jesse had been doing that for years. Could he still have the jitters?
Nevaeh slowly walked down the side aisle to sit in the second row. She pushed down the red seat and sat there, crossing her legs. Her dress made a satisfying shuffling sound, which caught Jesse's attention.
"Nev– I mean, Your Grace," he said with a smirk and a little bow. "How are you doing this morning?
"Fine, thank you," she replied a little curtly. "How about you?"
Jesse seemed surprised at the question. True, Nevaeh had never really asked him how he was, always ignoring him. He quickly mastered his face again. "Excellent! I can't wait to see who the princes are going to scratch off their list."
Nevaeh let out a small snort. "Best-case scenario, no one goes home, right?"
"Yes, but worst-case scenario, one goes home." Jesse wiggled his eyebrows. "I'd be so nervous if I was in their position, to be honest."
Nevaeh rolled her eyes and turned her phone on. "I saw your latest article," she said. "Interviewing the girls for the public is a good idea. I don't know why you haven't done this sooner."
"Wait." Jesse sat down on the couch reserved for the brothers. "You're actually agreeing with something I did? Or am I dreaming and–"
"Stop being so dramatic, Jesse," Nevaeh said. "I might not like you a lot, but you're good at your job."
"Does that mean you still like me a little, Your Grace?" he asked with so much hope in his voice that Nevaeh wondered what Jesse–
The chatter and heel-clicking of the incoming group of savages cut her in her thoughts. She also noticed that the Audience had started filling up and that she had been chatting with Jesse in front of everyone. Thank goodness she hadn't had to answer his latest question.
"Jesse, my man!" Nathan said, exuberant as ever. He came over to Jesse and they did their secret handshake or something. Nevaeh sighed.
"Good morning, Nevaeh," Helena said, sitting next to her. "How are you?"
"Great," she said, offering the queen a smile. "And you?"
"Tired. But I'll do."
"Auntie Lena," Nevaeh said softly, putting a hand on her arm. "When was the last time you took a break? A vacation?"
"I don't need a va–"
"Five years ago," Uncle Tobias prompted, leaning over to talk to the Duchess. "Please tell her it's time for a new one, now?"
Nevaeh didn't laugh. "Auntie Lena, Your Majesty," she started. "You really need to take a break. Why don't you take one during the Selection?"
"During the Selection? Are you mad?" Helena said. "And please don't 'Your Majesty' me, Nevaeh. You know better than that."
"I'm not mad," she replied. "After the National Day Party, take a few days off." She paused and waited for the queen to say something. She didn't. "At least tell me you'll think about it," she whispered now that the lights were dimming and that the Report was about to start.
"Fine, I'll think about it."
Nevaeh nodded and saw her uncle mouthing 'thank you' with a small wink.
"Goodeveningladiesandgentlmenboysandgirls!" Jesse boomed on the stage. For once, the curtain was not drawn, and the audience could see the boys and the Selected. But the camera was zoomed on Jesse, it would pan out later to reveal the whole stage. "My name is Jesse Flynn, and we're here together tonight to talk about the Selection. And today is a very special day because the Princes all finished their first round of dates!" Jesse paused as the audience went alive with cheers and applauds. "This means that from now on, everything will change! And to start off this first big milestone of the Selection, our three favorite princes will be scratching off a name from their lists. Three names will go down today, and every week from now on."
Neveah sighed. Why did Jesse have to always be so dramatic about everything? She didn't even want to imagine what he would be like if he had to hold his own selection. God forbid: it would be a disaster, an act from beginning to end.
"But before we get down to business, let's first go over this week's dates and activities, shall we?" Jesse sat down in the armchair and looked at the three brothers waiting to be interviewed by him. "Prince Silas," he started and Nevaeh cringed. How dare he start with the Crown Prince? She at least hoped he had been told beforehand. "You haven't gone on a single date this week. Why?"
"Says who, Jesse?" Silas replied. "If you don't see me dating, it doesn't mean I don't."
Jesse's eyebrows went to his hairline, clearly surprised at the answer. Nevaeh was, too. She hadn't seen Silas dating at all... "Did you, then?"
"I did."
Nevaeh wanted to laugh. Of course, her cousin wouldn't give Jesse a full reply all at the same time.
"And...? Who was it with? What did you do?"
Silas shifted on his seat and crossed his leg over the other one. "Two dates, actually." He paused." The first one with Jenissa Stark, we played some music, you didn't hear us. The second, I went on a walk with Doug, and two ladies accompanied me: Veronica and Evangeline."
Now that was surprising. How come not even Nevaeh knew about it?
"When?" Jesse asked. He looked so frustrated to have missed such an opportunity. But how was Silas so secretive about it?
"Wednesday evening with Jenissa, while you were out with Nathan, and yesterday afternoon with the others," Silas said. "You were gone with Valerian and Odessa, and Sydney was covering the pool activities." He smirked slightly. "No one saw us leaving."
Jesse was even more surprised, but he turned toward the girls. "Roni, Eve, is this true?"
The girls looked at each other and nodded. "Yes, it's true," Veronica said. "Parker drove us to a trail. It was really fun! And no," she quickly added, "I didn't accept Silas' invitation just because I'm a huge fan of Doug."
Jesse laughed and Nevaeh heard the audience laugh along at their ongoing joke that she preferred Doug to the prince. But Nevaeh was still curious about his choice of dates. Plural. Why would Silas go with those three when he had already finished his first round? If she had had to bet on several girls it would have been Ximena and Leigh. Why Roni and Eve? Jenissa was, even more, a mystery. Nevaeh sighed. Sometimes her cousin would stay a mystery to everyone.
Jesse then directed his next question to Nathan: "What about you, Prince Nate," he said. "Did I miss another date then your date with Pallas?"
"Not anything official, no," he said. "Though I did spend time around the pool with some of the girls, just because."
"Just because," Jesse repeated. That was reason enough. "Prince Valerian, you seem to be quite close yet not so much with many of the girls. Are you hoping to be able to narrow down your choice soon?"
Valerian shook his head, making his silver hair fall in his face so he had to push them away. "Not too soon, Jesse," he said. "I don't want to rush anything. Love takes time, you know?"
"Of course, of course..." Jesse turned towards one of the cameras. "And now, Ladiesandgentlmenboysandgirls, the weekly video recap!"
He stayed immobile for a few more seconds before the stage director called the Cut, and everyone let their breaths go. In a few minutes, the first three girls would be scratched off all three lists, and Nevaeh had to admit that she was a little bit nervous. Sure, she had her favorites and her least favorites, but it wasn't her choice. She was just there to help educate the next Queen and princesses of Illéa.
"Rolling again in two minutes," the director called out. The girls smoothed down their skirts and helped each other tuck strands of hair back into their buns. She could hear a soft murmur above the girls, but it was a little nervous, even from where Nevaeh sat.
Two minutes later, Jesse, the boys, and the selected were ready to start again. Only this time, everyone knew three names were going to be called. Nevaeh wasn't one of them, but she felt for the few girls who were only on Nate's list: the moment their names were called, they'd be going home. For real.
"Alight," Jesse said into one of the cameras. "Ladiesandgentlmenboysandgirls, now is the time for the eliminations!"
Every single person in the studio held their breath. All but the three Princes: they knew who was going off their list.
Behind them, on the big screen that would be shown on everyone's screens during the Report retransmission, three lists appeared. On the left was Silas' list with the 8 remaining names. In the middle was Nathan's with 19 names, and on the right, Valerian's with 13 names.
Jesse leaned over the hidden side of his armchair and took three long-stem black roses, giving them out to the three boys. "Please, do the honors, your Highness," he told Silas.
Silas nodded. He pushed up his glasses, betraying his nervousness, and walked over to the group of girls. "Evangeline Locke," he said – and Nevaeh was happy his voice didn't crack –, I'm glad we had some time together yesterday. But I know you have much more common points with Valerian." He paused. "Therefore, I am taking you off my list."
Evangeline was gracious enough not to make a scene or cry. But she knew Silas was right: she did fit better with Valerian. She took the black rose from his hands and all eyes went to the screen, where her name had just been scratched off on the Crown Prince's list. Seven names remained.
"Thank you, Prince Silas," Jesse said when he came back to his seat. "Prince Nate?"
Nathan also walked up to the girls. "I'm really sorry," he started, and everyone knew he was sending a girl home, not only taking her off his list. "It's been a pleasure to get to know you, Ivy Kotzias, but I don't think there can be anything between us..." He trailed off and smirked. "We both know you much rather prefer ladies, right?"
Ivy laughed. "How on earth did you figure that out, your Highness?"
"Well, two things made me investigate," he said with a sly grin making him look devious in every way. Nevaeh didn't like this look on his face. "First, I noticed how you looked at the other girls. And second, I found you on social media and, well, it was pretty clear. Though you do like both, it was obvious you preferred girls..."
Ivy walked out of the group of girls and took the black rose from him. "You're not wrong," she said. "It was a pleasure meeting you as well. All of you," she added for the two other brothers. She bent into a bow because wearing a suit was much more her taste and curtsies were for dresses, not pants.
Without another word, Ivy went backstage to wait out the rest of the Report.
"Well, we're all sad to see Ivy go," Jesse said, though Nevaeh knew that he didn't know her very well. Neither did her, except for the fact that Ivy was more into girls than boys. She had found out that while all the girls had welcomed the spa with open arms, Ivy had spent the afternoon with Evangeline, away from all eyes. Hanna Hendricks had seen them together and had told Nevaeh.
"Prince Val, it is your turn, now," Jesse continued, inviting Val with his hand to go talk to the girls.
Valerian took a deep breath and Nevaeh noticed that he was even more nervous than Silas, if that was even possible. But she knew that it was breaking the young Prince's heart to scratch names off his list – any list, really – and that he was doing it because the queen had said so. If it was up to him, he would do this selection for as long as it took and have the girls leave on their own. But that was selfish as well, because what would the girls do for months on end at the palace?
Valerian stood in front of the group of girls and Nevaeh noticed some of the girls were crossing their fingers or holding on to each other. "Morrigan Ventura, I'm terribly sorry, but I'm going to leave you with Nate," he said. "I know for a fact that he likes you a lot..."
Everyone in the audience laughed because they knew he was a huge fan of the famous actress and people were shipping them – or at least her character with the prince. Nevaeh did not condone shipping real people and she hoped it wouldn't harm their reputation...
Morrigan's smile faltered when she took the black rose and as her name was taken off Val's list on the screen, and Nevaeh wondered what was the story behind that girl. She didn't seem to be very comfortable around Nate, but she was now only on his list. Oh well.
"Ladiesandgentlmenboysandgirls, there you have it! One gone on each list, and one going home..." He paused and looked into one of the cameras. "Only eighteen left to go! Practically half of the 35 starting ladies. This is so exciting!" He laughed and then positioned himself in front of another camera on his left. "Ladiesandgentlmenboysandgirls, my name is Jesse Flynn, you have been watching the Report, and I'll see you all next week! Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, on the blog, and to get your magazines in your local stores! Good night, Illéa!" He stayed frozen for a few seconds as the Audience cheered and applause erupted throughout the studio.
"Cut!" the stage director called out.
Helena, Tobias, Marmee, and Nevaeh were the first ones outside, walking past the people bowing or curtsying to them.
-o-0-o-
Nevaeh had spent most of her free time during the previous week on the phone with the Make a Wish foundation, making sure Val's date with Malia would work out as best as possible. She had had to ask for the kid's parents' special authorization to have Jesse cover the event because usually, the foundation didn't like the press: they claimed their clients should be able to do this in total privacy. Nevaeh understood that, but it was the Selection, therefore a special occasion.
As the Selection coordinator and one of the few famous people in Illéa who had access to the Royal Family, the foundation had invited her as well. Nevaeh accepted because a day away from the whole thing where she didn't have to take care of everything was a nice change.
On Saturday morning after a quite early breakfast, the small group – Valerian, Malia, Jesse, Nevaeh, and two palace security guards chosen by Timothy Parker himself – was comfortably piled into one of the limos.
"I'm so excited," Malia said, almost jumping up and down on her seat, the grin on her face so huge Nevaeh was worried it would make her face split in two. "Thank you so much for doing this, Val," she said, putting a hand on his arm.
Wow, those two are close already, Nevaeh though as Valerian looked down on the Hawaiian girl with a warm smile.
"My pleasure," he said. "I've never done that before, and I think it's an amazing idea."
Malia beamed.
"How long have you been working with the foundation?" Jesse asked.
"A couple of years," Malia said. "They called me one day because the girl they usually called – who's also a pro mermaid – was sick." She paused, smiling. "They had seen me a few weeks before at an event and had put me on a 'maybe' list. Turned out I was bumped to the top of their list while the other was second."
"But isn't it volunteer work?" Jesse continued his little interview.
"Yes. The other started a full-time job or something and couldn't come anymore unless it was as an emergency if I really couldn't."
"Yet they called you during the Selection."
Nevaeh rolled her eyes. Couldn't Jesse just let it go?
Malia continued, undeterred. "Well, see? That's the thing. The child didn't just want a mermaid. They wanted me, the selected, with Val. Royal mermaids."
Valerian chuckled. "But the kid wouldn't have thought of that had there not been a selection–"
"Or if I hadn't been selected, yes." Malia leaned back on her seat. "I believe everything happens for a reason."
Nevaeh smiled at the girl but she thought she was naïve. No, not everything happened for a reason. She just hoped the girl wouldn't have her heartbroken. She seemed to be pretty smitten with Val, even though she had come with a huge crush on Silas. Nevaeh hoped Valerian would be gentle and not break her heart.
Then again, people were bound to end up heart-broken in a competition for love. They had practically signed up for it. After that, she tuned them out and took out her phone, going on all the Instagram accounts the Selected had: most of them had updated during the Selection, posting selfies or group pictures, or even dates with the princes. A few hadn't posted anything, though, and among them was Roni. When Nevaeh went through the pictures, she noticed that Roni looked a lot like her twin. That wasn't surprising, but—
"Were here!" Malia said, looking at the Los Angeles aquarium just outside her window. The car stopped and Malia and Valerian were out before Jesse could say 'Selection'. He followed them at the back of the car with his small and practical camera and filmed as they took out the two mermaid tails. Malia would be wearing her silicon one, and Val the fabric one. It was a good thing that it was elastic because Val's legs were considerably longer than Malia's...
The group went inside the building, followed by the two bodyguards, and met with a representative of the Make A Wish foundation.
"Hello, Malia!" the woman said, hugging the girl warmly. "How are you?"
"Great!" she replied. "I'm so excited to do this! Oh," she continued, remembering who was with her. "This is prince Val. Val, this is Mrs. Brianna Eagle."
"Hello, nice to meet you," Valerian said, holding out his hand for the blonde woman. She seemed to be at loss, not knowing if she had to curtsy or shake his hand, so she was relieved when Val saved her with the handshake.
"Good morning, Your Highness, it's such an honor." The woman flashed him a gigantic smile.
"And this Nevaeh de Montignac, my cousin, and Jesse Flynn," Val said, introducing Jesse and Nevaeh, "but I'm pretty sure you recognized them as well."
"Of course! Welcome, Your Grace, Mr. Flynn."
"Uhm, Jesse is fine," he said while Nevaeh shook hands with the lady.
The woman then invited them to follow her. On the way, she explained the child's situation: it was a seven-year-old little girl called Maybelle and the doctors said she didn't have many more weeks to live. One, or two, at the most. She had been on the Make a Wish waiting list for a couple of weeks, and when Malia and Valerian had put on mermaid tails on the beach, Maybelle had known right away what she wanted as her last wish.
They arrived in a large pool area where Malia and Valerian were told to put their tails on. Before doing so, a makeup artist materialized out of nowhere to prepare the two mermaids with matching makeups with their tails. Malia put on a purple seashell headband and both had fake scales painted with waterproof makeup on their faces, shoulders, and arms.
"You look amazing," Malia said to Valerian, who was sitting at the edge of the water and grinning. He definitely looked otherworldly, and Jesse was snapping pictures of the whole transformation
"Alright," the lady said. "Now you two will go in the water as we will welcome Maybelle here. She will also have a transformation of her own."
Malia and Valerian agreed, leaving Jesse and Nevaeh alone on the gentle slope of the pool, waiting for the little girl.
"Have you ever tried a mermaid tail?" Jesse asked. "I think you'd look amazing in one."
Nevaeh snorted and shook her head. "No, thank you. But you should try one on," she replied sarcastically.
Jesse eyed her, not knowing if she was being serious or not. He didn't have time to retort something, because Brianna Eagle was welcoming the little girl inside. She was thin and pale, but the smile on her face made up for it all. Nevaeh wondered what illness had taken hold of her small body. Cancer? But she still had all her hair, which was almost as dark and long as Malia', and the lady introduced her to Jesse and Nevaeh.
"Goodeveningladiesandgentlemenboysandgirls!" Maybelle said, holding out her hand for Jesse. "I've been watching all the Reports, you know?"
"Really?" Jesse said, crouching to be eye-level with the little girl. "I'm honored to hear that." He paused. "Who's your favorite Prince?" he asked with a smirk.
"Val, duh," she replied. "And he should marry Malia."
Jesse and Nevaeh shared a look and both laughed softly. "I'll be sure to get your message to Valerian, then."
Maybelle nodded and then stood in front of Nevaeh, craning her neck a little to look at the young woman in high heels. "How do you always look so pretty?"
Neveah didn't know what to say. Had Jesse asked this question, she would have replied with a snarky remark. But what could she say to that little girl?
Jesse saved her, though. "She is pretty, isn't she?" He looked at Nevaeh with a smile and then turned back to Maybelle. "You should see her when she smiles for real."
Maybelle crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at Nevaeh who was starting to be very ill-at-ease, right now. "Yeah, I could see that." The girl chuckled and went back to Mrs. Eagle who was calling her. She gave her a blue-green fabric mermaid tail to put on over her bathing suit, and the makeup artist also gave her a make-over with shiny fake diamonds on her temples and a blueish seashell headband. Mrs. Eagle suggested she did a quick photoshoot with Jesse before they called the other mermaids.
Nevaeh stayed on the side, watching as Jesse became his softest version with the child. It was a real surprise to see him like that, and she had to admit that she did not dislike that side of him. She, on the other hand, was not very good with kids.
Nevaeh was standing near the water when she caught sight of something near her feet and jumped in fright with a gasp. Everyone turned to look at her, asking if she was okay, and Nevaeh just brushed them off. When the people had turned their attention back on Maybelle and the two coming mermaids, Nevaeh checked the water for what had made her jump: it was a school of bright red fish that had swum close to the side of the aquarium. Because they were not near a pool, but at the top of an aquarium.
"I'm sorry, but what kind of fish are in this tank?" she asked one of the aquarium people who were also waiting on the side, dressed in a diving suit in case anything happened.
"Mainly fish. No sharks," he added with a smirk. "Don't worry."
Nevaeh offered him a sarcastic smile. "Is there a way to see them from below? In the water?"
"Yes," the man said. He called another aquarium worker and asked the lady to show Nevaeh where she could watch from below. Nevaeh followed the woman and was breathless and in awe when she saw the thousands – if not millions – of fish swimming in the water. From her spot down below the water, she could see three mermaid tails moving in the water. She chuckled and took out her phone to take some pictures.
She stayed down there, awed by the colors and the fish, lost in thought.
"There you are!" Jesse said, startling her. He stood next to her and also watched the fish and corals and the mermaid tails at the top. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed him looking at her, but she ignored him. Then he took out his phone and snapped a picture of her.
"What are you doing, Jesse?" she asked, slightly annoyed.
"Taking a picture of you. The blueish glow of the aquarium was transforming you in an amazing way." He handed her his phone. "Look."
Nevaeh looked down at his phone and stared at the picture. She had to admit – again – that it was an amazing shot. He had captured something that she wouldn't have been able to capture if she had tried. "Please don't post it on Social Media."
"I won't," he said. "This one is just for me." The soft smile on his face made Nevaeh believe him. What was wrong with her, today? She was softening up to him, but she didn't want to.
Both stood silent, watching the fish swim past them. It was a nice change from the Selection where everything was moving fast. Here? They could just do nothing and watch the fish.
A few minutes later – though Nevaeh had lost all notion of time, really, and it could have been a whole hour later for all she knew – Valerian and Maybelle joined them, wrapped in thick towels, their hair still wet and their makeup still as shiny as before.
"Where's Malia?" Jesse asked.
"She's gonna do a show for us!" the little girl replied with a huge grin, searching the dark-haired purple mermaid in the water. She put her two hands on the window and looked for Malia. They all did. Nevaeh was a little excited because she had never seen a mermaid show before.
Valerian crouched next to Maybelle and looked for Malia with her. Jesse took a few pictures of them, and Nevaeh wasn't surprised that Val was such a cutie with kids. She marveled why guys became so soft around kids and wondered how Silas and Nathan would be with kids…
"There she is!" Maybelle said, pointing at the water. All eyes snapped that way and Malia appeared with a large smile, waving. She did some loops and turns, and swam elegantly in front of the group.
Nevaeh held her breath with Malia but had to catch some airway sooner than the mermaid. How did she do it? Malia went back up for some air after what felt like an eternity, making Nevaeh feel quite anxious about the whole thing as if she couldn't breathe anymore. But she stood there, balling her fists.
"Hey, are you alright?" Jesse whispered.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Every time Malia went back up to breathe, Nevaeh also took a deep breath. And by the time Malia was done, Nevaeh felt a weight come off her chest. The whole group went back to the top of the tank to see Malia, and Maybelle was so excited, she almost fell in the water, and everyone had a good laugh. Then Maybelle had to go back to the hospital, where she would spend her last weeks. She hadn't seemed in pain during that afternoon, but maybe it was just the excitement of the whole thing.
The ride back home was silent and everyone was lost in their own thoughts. Nevaeh thought it was odd to be in the same place as Jesse and Malia, but none was talking. An odd change, if she had to be honest. She missed their loud ebullience.
-o-0-o-
At dinner, Nevaeh noticed Nathan was not there. She counted the girls, and one was missing. She chuckled softly.
"Is there something funny?" Silas asked, next to her. He looked over at the Selected, too, but nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary.
"Jesse must be so mad, he missed Nathan's date."
Silas looked at the table again. "Since when do you care what Jesse thinks?" he asked. "I thought you despised the man…"
That took Nevaeh aback. True, she didn't necessarily like the man, but they had been good friends, a couple of years back. Until the thing.
"Who is Nathan's date?" she asked instead, changing the subject.
"Morrigan Ventura. They're at a Royal Angeles Theatre to see a musical."
Nevaeh almost choked on her wine. "Pardon? Since when does Nathan like musicals?"
Silas shrugged. "I don't know. But from what I understand, he wanted to impress her or something." And when Nevaeh made a very surprised face, Silas just said. "I don't know, don't ask me."
"Fine." She sipped on her red wine. "Speaking of dates: when was the last time you went on a–"
"Thursday, with Evangeline and Veronica."
"…I was going to say on a one-on-one date." She eyed him suspiciously. "So? When was it?"
"Jenissa, on Wednesday. I started my second round–" He paused. "I hate saying that. It's like trying on shoes or ties, and it is not what I'm going for."
"I know," she said. "But listen: either you already know who you like best and you only date her, or you continue dating them all and eliminate them as you go. Just like you did with Evangeline."
Silas nodded. "I'll think about it."
-.-
Meanwhile, at the Royal Angeles Theatre, in a private box seat in the center of the audience, Nathan was sipping some champagne while Morrigan, dressed in a beaded and embroidered cream-colored dress, drank some bubbly rosé. She said that for once in her life, she would enjoy a musical with a glass of wine because she could: her mother was not breathing down her neck, and she was her own damn woman. Right?
Nathan agreed to that one hundred percent. Musicals were not his specialty or his favorite thing – sitting on a chair for three hours without being able to do anything was more of a punishment to him – but when he had asked her what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to go to the theatre to see a musical. Any musical going on at the moment was fine, really. She said that it would be so different than seeing actors on a screen.
And for the most part, Morrigan was much more engrossed in the play than in the Prince next to her. The musical was Les Misérables and though Nathan had heard a lot about the story and all, he didn't follow everything, but Morrigan laughed and cried with the characters.
During the entr'acte, Nathan ordered huge ice creams for both of them. Yes, because… well… ice cream. … And it was Pallas' idea, so why not try it?
Nathan was glad Jesse had not been there when he invited Morrigan on the date. He didn't mind the man at all, and he quite liked him. But just for once, he wanted to be alone. And thank goodness, Sydney and Otis hadn't come along either. It was just him and Morrigan. And the two bodyguards standing against the wall. He offered them chairs, and they accepted.
"My goodness, Marius sings so well!" she said when the Ice creams arrived. "And he's so romantic!"
"Sure," Nathan said. "Love at first sight, right?" That much he had caught on.
"Yes! And it's so romantic." She grinned and sighed, content.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Nathan asked. What was it with him and his questions about love? Ridiculous. "Never mind…"
Morrigan looked at him for the first time in the evening. Like, really looked at him. "I do, but only in fiction." She paused. "In real life, though, not so much."
Nathan was confused. "Why not in real life?"
"Do you?" she countered.
"I believe in physical attraction at first sight– sorry, that's crude…"
Morrigan raised an eyebrow at that. "It is. But it's also true."
Nathan was surprised at that reply. If it had been Rosalind Dawson saying that, he would have expected it. But Morrigan? He really needed to get to know her better. And not in the way that he had first intended: she had refused his sexual advances multiple times, so maybe if he could understand her better, it would be easier? Not that he wanted to get in her bed per se, but at least he would understand her better.
The thirty minutes break was over, and the show resumed. Nathan tried to focus on the story, the songs, and the characters, but he was getting fidgety. How people could stay seated for so long without doing anything was beyond him. Sure, he could stay for a Star Wars movie but that different.
Morrigan Ventura was so engrossed in the show, sometimes humming along with the songs: Nathan even saw tears streaming down her cheeks when Javert died. Javert! He was the bad guy, right? Nathan was so confused. At least cry when a good guy died, no?
At the end of the show, when all the actors came back on stage for the final bow, the guy playing Jean Valjean stepped out of the line. "Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight we are honored to have performed in front of His Royal Highness Prince Nathan Schreave, and one of his Selected, the famous and beautiful Morrigan Ventura!" He extended his arm towards them as the lighting engineer turned a spotlight on them. The whole theatre exploded into cheers and murmurs. The light stayed on them for half a minute and the couple waved at the audience. Phones flashed away around them as people tried to capture the moment.
When it was finally over, Nathan was eager to get moving, to go outside, to breathe some fresh air. He was sweating in his tuxedo, and he needed to get out. Of course, the way out meant they had to go several flights of stairs down, and it also meant lots of people in their way who wanted to take pictures with them. The two bodyguards with them created a path for them, but Morrigan was a sweetheart and accepted all the demands, taking pictures with fans, and signing books, papers, tickets – anything people had underhand, really – and after some time, Nathan was into it and having fun as well.
All in all, it took them another hour and a half to finally be out. They climbed into the black car waiting for them under a thunderous lightning spree of flashes. Journalists from several people's magazines had been called and had tried to get to them. Since Jesse wasn't there, they decided it was their right to cover the story.
On their way to the Palace, Nathan told the chauffeur to stop by the beach. He needed air and he needed to move. They got out of the car and Nathan took off his tuxedo jacket, his shoes, and his bowtie, and invited Morrigan to join him for a walk in the sand by moonlight, which she accepted. He had to hold her hand to help her walk down a step in her tight dress, but he didn't let go, afterward. Neither did she.
They walked in silence for a minute before Nathan cleared his throat. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yes?" There was a suspicious note in her voice as if she was afraid he would try a new advance on her.
"Why did you cry when Javert died?" he said, surprising her. "I mean, he's the bad guy. It's good that he's dead, right?"
Morrigan smiled in the night, but Nathan missed it. "Javert might be the bad guy, but all his life he thought he was the good guy. He was always fighting for justice." She paused. "Javert always saw everything as being either black or white. Bad or good. There was no in-between. But when he realized Jean Valjean was a good man, yet an ex-convict, so a felon, everything in him was confused. He realized that all his life he'd been set on a path that wasn't necessarily the right one, realized that he could have been wrong all his life, and finally kills himself."
Nathan snorted. "And you caught all that from the three-hour show?"
"…No. I read the book, too." Again, she paused, holding on to Nathan so as not to trip on the sand. "Javert is a very complicated character, but he's the most interesting. I think people can relate to him a lot. Don't you think?"
"Uh, sure," he replied. This conversation was way too deep and complicated for him. But he wanted to try and understand her, so he would try… "I think Enjorlas – or whatever his name is – deserved better."
"It's Enjolras, actually," she corrected him, "and yes, he deserved better. As well as Gavroche, Fontine, and all the others."
They continued talking about the story and the characters – well, Morrigan did most of the talking – and Nathan was impressed at how much things she knew and how deep she felt things. She was, like, the complete opposite of the image he had of her. He already knew that, to some extent, but this was an even bigger contrast.
Around one in the morning, they arrived at the Palace. Nathan bid her good night with a kiss on the back of her hand, thanked her for the great idea to go see Les Mis, and went to bed without needing any ice cream.
It was the first time in his life that he was actually attracted to someone because of their mind and not their body.
Hi guys! thanks for stopping by and reading ;) I hope you enjoyed it! What did you think of the eliminated? of Silas's "Secret dates"? of Val's date with Malia and the little girl? Of Jessaeh? and of Nathan with Morrigan? I can't wait to read your thoughts^^
First, sorry for the typos, I finished this chapter just an hour ago, and though I read through it and used Grammarly, there might still be some. just ignore them ;)
Second, don't forget to go check the IG account, the lists will be updated on the Story, and the eliminated girls (=girls going home) highlight updated as well! there will also be some new posts this week, as always ;)
third, thanks to the few of you who said you'd prepare a National Day Party project, you have until October 15 to send in your ideas (text and/or moodboard). Thanks to the one who already sent me the project ;) And if you want to answer some questions for Jesse's articles, let me know! I have a list of questions for your girl! if not, that's totally okay, too ;)
that is all, thanks for your reviews, your support, and for reading! Byeee!
