Alexandre

"As your friend, can I say that I find this whole situation very ridiculous? " Nicolau squinted, still leaning against the canopy of my bed, as he judged me with his attentive light eyes, although I could not see him completely.

"You can talk, but I choose not to listen," I returned, giving a mocking giggle.

As I was in front of the bathroom mirror, facing the door, I could see when Nicolau approached the cabin. He was my personal guard and only friend inside the court, but a nice inconvenience in personal matters. We have been close since I understood each other, since Nicholas was raised in the castle, although without all the privileges I had for containing the royal blood running through my veins.

He was a man that some even said was very similar to me. Dark hair, light skin and clear eyes. This was not a novelty, considering that everyone in Denmark had similar traits, as if each father or mother had committed incest at some point in their lives. Anyway, something that differentiated our faces was the constant frown that Nicholas kept on his young and beautiful face. The man didn't give a wide smile without a good justification. I didn't like to expose myself or get into complicated situations, but I was a gossip bastard when it came to my personal life.

"My prince, we are talking about not only a commoner, but also a young woman known for her undiscreet lifestyle," said Nicholas, now leaning against the wooden frame of the door, with his arms crossed and his face stuck in that mask of indifference. "It's not like she's just going to accept without questioning about your desire to marry her. This can imply numerous political and governmental issues. It's almost a kidnapping.

"I'm doing everything in a cool way," I spoke at the same time, because that discussion about me kidnapping people for a wedding to which the bride didn't even know she was invited had already appeared on our lunch break, when we hadn't even boarded the ship yet. "Furthermore, I know the history of Miss Gomes, her tastes, and her difficulties in fitting the standard that the Danish people expect from their duchess. But she is also an intelligent, understanding woman. I'm sure I'm on the right track.

"If she is so understanding, why doesn't she tell her what she really plans and expects with this trip? "Indated Nicolau, arching a dark and thick eyebrow. "Why don't you just warn the poor woman who is taking her to a life she can never get rid of? That she will be seen and assisted by the world, and that all her actions will become examples for billions of people?

I sighed heavily, as I combed my still damp hair. There were times when I needed a lot of willpower to remember why Nicolau had so much freedom to be rude and direct with me. Raised in a castle, with luxury and pomp since I was a child, I had to have an education even more focused on respect and discernment, or I would become a superb donkey like my uncle and duke. And it was all that politeness that didn't make me close my face in front of Nicolau's words, remembering that he was the twin who was sulky all the time.

"Because I know that not all women in the world, especially Brazilian women, would like to marry princes who are not part of the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers," I replied with a malicious smile. "Even though Giovanna is the kind of woman who would go for any madness, I think a marriage, especially with someone from royalty, may not be the kind of thing she would expect to find on a work trip.

"But that's the point," Nicolau insisted, without moving a muscle from his face. "There is no work. Everyone is going to the wedding you expect to happen. But the big question is: What if she doesn't accept?

I shrugged, as if I didn't give any importance to that assumption, but, to be very honest, I had nightmares about the possibility of Giovanna simply running away when I noticed the wedding dress, the wedding rings and the ceremonialist. Even at that moment, just with the mention of the situation, a chill ran down my spine.

"So I'll need to choose from all the other women who are on this ship. The number seems to me quite large and, statistically speaking, difficult for at least one not to accept.

Nicolau sighed.

"Don't you even hide that you just want to do all this to confront your father? Doesn't he even invent the infamous excuse that he abdicates his choices, for being in love with another woman?

"I didn't answer right away, still watching me in front of the mirror, now totally dressed in white and formal costume. "I want to do all this because I prefer to tie a free woman to me, than to be arrested next to a crazy old woman who only thinks about having heirs with the future king of Denmark. It's not the kind of life I deserve.

"And is it the kind of life she deserves? “He asked.

I turned slowly, watching from the face, to the complete physiognomy of Nicolau. He immediately stiffened, as if that sharp look always made him remember who he was talking to. If we weren't inseparable friends, he would be in bad shape.

"I prefer not to have this kind of conversation with my personal guard," I spoke in a cold tone, but opening a smile. "If even my father can't make me change my mind, why did you think you could?

Nicolau squeezed his jaw, closing his expression even more.

"I don't know either," he said, taking a small step out of the bathroom. So he bowed and made a completely debauched flourish. "I apologize for any inconvenience I may have caused to my prince.

I let go of a whistle and ignored the bastard, as he grumbled softly and kept moving away. As I watched myself in the mirror, I wondered if it really wouldn't have been better to tell everyone that the fact that I chose Giovanna, that I orchestrated that whole trip, was actually due precisely to that passion that I refused so much to recognize.