Chapter 5 5.Failed dinner etiquette

THE NEXT DAY

AT ISABELLA'S POV:

In the evening I took a deep breath as I approached Noah's door, my pulse quickening with each step. I'd been thinking about this all day, rehearsing what I would 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 him for good one day. When I knocked on his door, I was half expecting him to turn me away, but to my surprise, he opened it, his expression as unreadable as ever.

"Isabella."He said, his tone polite, but cold like usual. "What brings you here?"

I smiled, doing my best to appear casual. I had to follow the plan.

"I thought we could have dinner together. It's been a while since we've had a chance to talk, and I thought it might be nice to catch up."I said.

"All right. Dinner it is."Noah said and smiled.

We made our way to the dining hall, and I couldn't help but feel a small thrill of victory. I had a plan, simple but effective if I could get him to see me, maybe I could break 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 the conversation light, asking him about his day and thoughts on the kingdom's affairs. He answered politely, but there was a distance in his tone as if his mind was elsewhere.

"I can do this."I muttered.

An idea formed in my mind as the servant poured us each a glass of wine. It was risky, but if I played it right, it might just work. I waited until Noah was taking a sip of his wine, and then I carefully 'accidentally' tipped my own glass over, sending a wave of rich red liquid spilling across the table and directly onto his pristine white shirt.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I gasped, reaching for a napkin to dab at the stain. "I didn't mean to I'm so clumsy sometimes!"

I fully expected Noah to react, to at least show some irritation or frustration. But to my surprise, he didn't even flinch. He simply set his glass down and looked at the spreading stain on his shirt with an expression that was more weary than annoyed.

"It's fine." Noah said.

I watched how he took the napkin from me and calmly wiped at the wine, though it did little to help.

"But... it's ruined." I stammered."I can have the servants bring a new one-"I tried to explain it.

"No need." He interrupted. "It's not important."

I'd expected some kind of reaction. It was as if the whole incident was just a minor inconvenience, not worth his attention.

"I really am sorry, Noah. I didn't mean to ruin your evening."I said.

"Like I said, it's fine. Let's just finish our meal."Noah said.

He picked up his fork and resumed eating, the matter already forgotten as if it had never happened. I stared at him for a moment longer, feeling the defeat.

I had an idea, but I already knew that is going to hurt. The next evening I stood outside the grand dining hall, taking a deep breath to steady myself. Tonight was my chance to make a real impression on Noah and his parents, king William and queen Clara. I'd rehearsed every step, every gesture, determined to show them that I could not fit into their world with grace and elegance.

"Good evening."I said, my voice sounding more steady than I felt at that moment. "Thank you for inviting me to dine with you."

"We're pleased you could join us, Isabella. Please, have a seat."

I moved to take my place at the table, aware of every movement, every breath. As I reached for my chair, I tried to mimic the graceful way I'd seen noblewomen sit, but the 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, sending it teetering dangerously. I gasped, reaching out instinctively to stop it, but my fingers only managed to send the glass crashing to the floor with a resounding shatter.

"I am sorry."I muttered.

The entire room fell silent, the sound of the breaking glass echoing like a thunderclap. My heart sank as I looked up to see everyone staring at me Noah 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 down to pick up the shards, but my trembling hands only made things worse. One of the servants hurried over to clean up the mess, gently pushing me aside.

"Please, let me."The servant said kindly.

"Thanks."I muttered.

The illusion of elegance I'd tried so hard to create had shattered along with that glass. I took my seat, painfully aware of the awkwardness that now hung in the air.

Noah's parents exchanged a glance, and I could see the disappointment in queen Clara's eyes before she turned back to her plate. King William cleared his throat, clearly trying to move past the incident.

I barely touched my food, too focused on not making another mistake. When it came time to use the cutlery, I fumbled with the forks and knives, trying to remember which one to use for each course. At one point, I accidentally used the wrong fork for the fish course, catching Noah's eye as he noticed. Noah leaned over slightly, his voice low and cold like usual.

"You don't need to try so hard, Isabella."Noah said.

I glanced at him, my eyes wide with surprise.

"I just... I wanted to-"I tried to explain.

I saw how Noah glared at me lightly and it made me quiet.

"To impress us?" He interrupted."You're making it worse by trying to be something you're not."

I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I blinked them back, determined not to let them see me cry. I nodded again, forcing myself to smile through the humiliation. As the meal ended and I excused myself from the table, I could feel their eyes on me, but I didn't dare look back. My attempt to impress had failed spectacularly, it was part 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 seen right through my desperate attempts to fit in and challenged me to stop pretending. I decided to talk to him tomorrow, I'd talk to him about our likes and dislikes, honestly. Just a real conversation, where I could start figuring out who I was for him in this world and maybe find some common ground with Noah. It was only way to leave him alive.