Chapter XX – N for Nobility
Matthew had barely pressed the doorbell than the doors of the huge, amazing, rich, ridiculously rich and extravagant mansion burst open to reveal, not the usual French butler or a shy French maid, but the very owner, the one and only, Francis Bonnefoy, master of the house and Prince of France (This is classified information! Anyone attempting to reveal this shall be silenced). The beautiful teen looked panicked and his dishevelled state was something Matthew had never seen before. The worried look in his sapphire eyes suddenly lit up as he recognised his Canadian step-brother. Before he could speak, Matthew was crushed in a hug and dragged inside the house unceremoniously. This is very unlike the normal Francis.
The normal Francis is cool and composed. He has a serious cool aura brought out well with his Beta passiveness and carefreeness. He is always perfectly dressed, neat and beautiful no matter the circumstance. He is proper and his manner is one of a Prince (obviously). He never loses his calm and keeps a cool head in every situation. This not only comes from his Beta side but also from his strict upbringing as a Prince. A hidden Prince.
To the World, the Bonnefoy is a rich noble family of France. Nobody would suspect this name to be a cover. A safety shield to protect members of the royal family that are not directly heir to the throne. Indeed, Francis' mother was the current King's sister. May she rest in peace. Making Francis a potential heir to the throne if his cousins, the King's children, were to die. But that, again is classified.
Matthew shook his head at how much classified information he and his mother had to agree to before marrying into the Bonnefoy family. He didn't believe it at first but the more he observed Francis, the more this secret becomes plausible.
Well … It's plausible if you leave aside Francis' current state of panic as the Frenchman yelled at everything and everyone, dragging his step-brother to his room. Francis shut the door behind them and started to speak in a really fast paced and panicked French. When the two of them are alone, they tend to speak in French.
"Matthew! You have to help me!"
"Help you …? I don't mind but with what?"
"I can't figure out a present for him! I've been thinking and looking for almost a month and I still can't find anything! And Christmas is in a week!"
"Um … Francis … could you please not grab me by the collar like that …? You're kind of scaring me …"
Francis blinked and realised he was clenching his friend's collar, nearly chocking poor Matthew. Breathing deeply, the Prince forced himself to calm down and sat on his bed.
"Sorry … I've been so stressed over this … It's been so long since I last saw him and I wanted to give him something special …"
Matthew frowned. Who was Francis talking about? Someone he cares this much about and hasn't seen in a long time … Oh!
"Are you looking for a present for Arthur?"
Francis didn't even blink as he answered in a dull voice.
"No. Got that one. Easy. I know what my little master likes."
"Eh? T-Then if not for Arthur … who are you getting this gift for?"
Francis' face slowly painted itself of a light red shade and Matthew was amazed to see, for the first time, Francis blushing. Francis never blushes. There isn't a single person alive able to make the heart-breaker Prince fall this low. Impossible. Right?
Francis is no doubt of an amazing beauty. Such that he attracts both Alfas and Omegas alike. Even Betas would occasionally ask him out. But every time, the Frenchman would smile ever so seductively, wink, possibly kiss them lightly on their hand, and walk away. They just didn't stand a chance. At school, the record of most wanted lover was a throne Francis reluctantly was appointed. Not that he wished for it. Being the teasing flirt he is, he often messes around with people's heads, but he never, never, never, commits himself. He has never had more than one-night-stands and never had any relationships. He has never shown interest in anyone and seemed to be an unreachable dream for most people such that they gave up and accepted him as just an idol. Beautiful but unobtainable.
That Francis is blushing and fidgeting like an Omega in love?
Matthew could hardly believe this. He knew well that Francis never risked himself at falling in love with anyone due to his family and his responsibility as a Prince. He protected his secrets even from his two best friends Antonio and Gilbert, and he never would allow anyone too close to him from fear that he might be tricked and used. Had such a person really fallen in love?
"It doesn't matter! Just help me!" Francis hissed, dismissing Matthew's earlier question.
"I can't if I don't know who the receiver will be. If not Arthur … I don't know anyone else whom you would be close to … It's not Antonio or Gilbert, is it?"
"What?! Are you out of your mind? Of course not! Look, if you must know, I'm just looking for a present for my best friend!"
"… I thought Antonio and Gilbert were …"
"I said NO! They are really good friends and I might have considered them as my best friends here but now that he's around too … I … He's … You know I used to live in England for a while when I was young, right?"
"Yes. You told me it was because you could never safely remain in France due to people trying to assassinate you."
"Yes. The Bonnefoy cannot remain in France. It's a rule for our survival. So we went to Britain because my mother's best friend lived there." Francis paused for a minute, biting his lip and seemingly wondering if he should continue or not. He suddenly turned to lock eyes with the surprised lavander eyes of Matthew.
"What I am about to tell shall never leave this room. Do you understand?" The cold tone of the Frenchman was so deep and dark it frightened the younger teen.
Matthew nodded quickly. He had never seen such a dark look on Francis face, like the man was seriously protecting someone else. And he probably was. Francis nodded, having made clear that if he ever was betrayed he would go through every mean possible to make Matthew's life a living hell. Because secrets are to remain as such.
"My mother's best friend from when they used to go to school together … her name is Bridget Rose Kirkland."
"That's Arthur's mother!" Matthew jumped in realisation. Francis only nodded.
"Yes. My mother, Jeanne Gwendoline Bonnefoy was sent to a boarding school when she was young in England to escape threats from rival families in France and enemies of the crown. It's normal. She was the future King's sister. Even if an Omega like herself could not get the throne, if she got pregnant with an Alfa then her child would be a threat too. Assuming the King was successfully assassinated. In England she became friends with Arthur's mother … I think they even dated for a while and they were also known as rivals."
"Sounds like a complicated relationship."
Francis chuckled lightly.
"Yes, it was! But that's the reason why we fled to England when I was young. I was born in Paris, as the tradition that every Bonnefoy must be born in the Capital of the Kingdom. Because suppose I really were to become King, the King must have been born on the soil of France. And a year after my birth, we left for England. Bridget helped us settle there and we became neighbours to the Kirklands. To everyone else, we just happened to have been neighbours out of coincidence but I think our mothers had planned this."
"And that's when you met Arthur …"
"No. That's when I met … Alistair."
Matthew frowned. He didn't know that name. But then again, he hardly knew anything about Arthur's family. Only his mother is famous as she is the one running the whole Kirkland Clan. And his grandfather Merwin is a legend, known to have worked for the International Law Order (of course nobody knew he still worked for them in the confidential special agent forces section- but that's classified).
"Alistair is Arthur's older brother. The second son of Bridget. And the Heir to Head Alfa."
"The second son …? How can he be the heir?"
Francis stayed silent. He didn't know the family details and never pried on this out of respect for his friends. He could suspect that it was probably due to that incident but …
"I don't know." He answered stiffly and Matthew knew that he was lying. But he didn't push it.
"Arthur's brother then? So you love him?"
Francis shot wide panicked eyes at the nonchalant Canadian who smiled smugly, amused by how panicked the serious and cool Prince Francis was. Just because of one crush.
"I am not …! He's my best friend! I consider his brother like my brother! I used to have dinner with his family every Sunday! I used to be in the same school as him, even though he was my senior by a couple of years! I could not! I am not! Stop smirking like that!"
"Why are you denying it? It's obvious! Your face is brilliant red and you keep trying to find excuses. Does it matter? I think it's sweet! That way, you'd really be Arthur's brother if you married Alistair!"
"But he's going to be the Head of his Clan! I'm just a nobody Prince!"
"Seriously? Just a Prince? Because nowadays being a Prince is that common!" Matthew rolled his eyes at his friend. For someone like Matthew who came from a normal commoner family known as the Williams (from his mother's side- because he refuses to recognise the Jones side of his Father), marrying into a Royal family is an achievement unbelievable! He had heard Francis' mother was a beauty among beauties (which would explain Francis' good-looks). But having his own mother being the second wife of Francis father, a few years after Jeanne's death, is almost unbelievable. And Francis just dismisses his own rank like it was nothing!
"That means nothing! Being a Prince means nothing to the Kirklands!" Francis growled, angry that his friend did not understand his situation. "You should know already! The Kirklands don't marry because of money, rank, blood-line or anything of the sort! Most of their marriages are to common people with mundane jobs! All of their marriages are out of love! Just love!"
"Then, what's stopping you?"
"I … Alistair could have anyone … He'd probably prefer to have a cute Omega than an annoying Beta like me. And I'd be troublesome for him. I carry the weight of constant threat and danger because of my family! My mother did not die in an accident, you know! That's what the public thinks but we hold absolute evidence that it was an assassination! We made the culprits pay but … but I don't want to involve Alistair and Arthur in my life problems. You're safe because you're not part of the Bonnefoy blood-line but … if I ever have children …"
"Then, Alistair would probably make sure they remain safe and live long. And seeing how you have 3 cousins before you are even considered as a potential heir, I think it's safe to assume nobody will be coming after you yet."
"You are too carefree about this matter! I didn't ask you for political advice! I want you to help me find him a present! You know what Alfas like, right? I mean, what does your brother like?"
"Oh, my brother's happy with a baseball bat. He's not a good example. I think you should try to find something more meaningful and personal … maybe something that only the two of you could understand the meaning of? I know it sounds cheesy but … uh … Francis? Are you still listening to me?"
Francis had frozen still, his blue eyes sparkling with a brand new idea. He beams brightly at the confused Canadian and hugs him.
"Thanks! I knew you'd be able to help! You just gave me an idea! I've got to go! Oh, right, I nearly forgot, make sure to pass on the message to everyone in our group: The Christmas Party will not be held at my place anymore!"
"Eh? Then where … hey! Francis!" Matthew called after his friend who was already rushing out of the mansion excited by this new idea he had gotten. Francis shouted his answer back before he ran out the front doors.
"The party's going to be as Arthur's!"
"Eh?! But does he know that? Did he say we could come?"
"Of course not! I just decided this now!"
"But …! But …! We can't come unannounced!"
"Course we can! It's going to be a surprise party!"
Matthew could not respond as the door shut closed. He sighed heavily. Sometimes, Francis's spontaneous selfishness was troublesome to deal with. He hoped Arthur would not get too angry once he finds out. But then again … Matthew thought it would be nice to see Francis visit Alistair again after all those years …
"Nobles are so selfish!" He chuckled, forgetting that he was now a noble himself, and not realising that he was selfishly going along with Francis' plan.
Because it sounded fun.
And if everyone was going to be selfish, why can't he?
Arthur was forcefully dragged away from his book and locked into his brother's room. What now? Arthur turned a frowning irritated face to the nervous, arms crossed over his chest, crimson haired big brother. Alistair was clearly avoiding eye contact with his Omega brother. Why?
"Brat … I need advice."
"Yeah, I guessed that from the very delicate way you dragged me here. Advice on what?"
"… … You … if you were to give something to your … erm … someone you really care about. A lot. What would you give them?"
For a brief moment, an image of Feliciano's smiling face crossed Arthur's mind but the blonde shook it away. He focused back on his brother, noticing the soft hue of pink dusting the older man's cheeks and Arthur smirked of amusement. He knew exactly who he brother was thinking about. Well, might as well help the idiot, since he's obviously panicking about it.
"I'm sure he'd be happy with whatever you give him. But if you really want something special, I suggest something that holds a strong meaning for both of you … maybe something that would make him think of you every time he sees it. A moment or a memory." Arthur's mind drifted back to Feliciano and the many things he could think of that reminded him of his Italian … …uh? His Italian? He really should stop this fantasy right now!
"We're not talking about your Italian, blondie!" Alistair laughed before ruffling his brother's blonde hair.
Arthur blushed under the older man's comment but said nothing. Was it so obvious that he was thinking about Feliciano?
"Thanks, lad! I think I got a good idea!"
"Good luck. He's stubborn, you know."
"Aye! Well, I'd be first to know that, wouldn't I? After all, I'm his best friend!"