NEXT

BELLA'

d say, and how I would act. He wasn't an easy person to get close to distant, cold even, but I wasn't one to give up easily. I need to follow the plan to leave h

e polite, but cold like usu

t to appear casual. I

een a while since we've had a chance to talk, an

ner it is."Noah

k through that icy exterior. The meal started quietly, the clinking of silverware and the crackling of the fire in the hearth filling the silence between us. I tried to keep t

this."I

might just work. I waited until Noah was taking a sip of his wine, and then I carefully 'accidentally' tipped my own

for a napkin to dab at the stain. "I

to my surprise, he didn't even flinch. He simply set his glass down and looked at t

ne." Noa

from me and calmly wiped at the w

d."I can have the servants bring

terrupted. "It's

s as if the whole incident was just a min

h. I didn't mean to rui

ne. Let's just finish

already forgotten as if it had never happened. I st

breath to steady myself. Tonight was my chance to make a real impression on Noah and his parents, king William and queen Clara.

ore steady than I felt at that moment. "Th

uld join us, Isabella

chair slid slightly under my hand. I lost my balance for a split second, my hand flailing as I tried to catch myself. My elbow knocked into a delicate crystal glass, send

rry."I m

ah with his usual impassive expression, Queen Clara with a raised eyebrow, and King William with a look that was impossible to read. I quickly bent do

me."The serva

s."I m

d shattered along with that glass. I took my seat, pain

nt in queen Clara's eyes before she turned back to her plate. King

the forks and knives, trying to remember which one to use for each course. At one point, I accidentally used the wrong f

o try so hard, Is

m, my eyes wide

anted to-"I tr

ed at me lightly an

."You're making it worse by try

t of the plan, but their looks were too much for me to handle at that moment. I needed to return to my room and pull myself together. I need to make sure I can make them to understand that I don't fit there. After the disaster at dinner, Noah's words kept running through my mind. I hadn't expected him to be so understanding, so perceptive. He'd s