The Car came to a halt in the vast space of the Golden Castle. It's called that because it is made of pure gold with a beautiful embroidery thatc screams wealth and luxury. The servants are lined up orderly forming two line opposite each other with a red carpet in between.
"Your grandmother lives here...It's very beautiful well if I said so it will be an underestimation of its beauty, breathtaking... " Natalie said giving compliment while lost in its grandeur. "It gets old, tiring mostly stressful..." Alexi replied nonchalantly as a servant opens the door from outside.
"Are you kidding me... I can never get tired of it.... I have never seen anything like this all my life and the mansion ofcourse its huge, how do you manage it" She asked excitedly.
"That's why maids are present" Alexi said dismissively as they walked on the red carpet, The servants head are bowed and each of them gave formal greeting as they pass.
"Where is my Grandma" Alexi asked the butler that seemed to join them as they move through the labyrinthine corridors of the Golden Castle.
"She is in the Throne room" The butler replied, Alexi nodded then raised his hand dismissing the butler. "Isn't throne meant for royalty or are you a Prince" Natalie whispered as they enter the throne room.
The room perfectly described the word 'Throne'. It was a masterpiece of opulence bathed in the warm, golden glow of candelabras and crystal chandeliers. The walls adorned with intricate frescoes depicting scenes of wealth and power to shimmer with an inner light as if infused in the gold itself.
As Natalie entered, she could feel the weight of the room's grandeur settle upon her, a palpable sense of awe and intimidation that left her breathless. "It feels so unreal...you still haven't answered my question."
"I'll do it when I feel like and please be quiet... It's just a family tradition to have family matters discussed in a secluded space and it's highly soundproofed" Alexi explained with a blank look she glanced at him for a while "Why do I feel like there is more to this soundproof stuff".
"If a soul is being murdered no one will hear you despite your screams" Alexi spoke like they were talking about business not someones life, how can she forget how heartless he can be after a little bit of warmth. "I won't speak again" Natalie muttered in a muffled tone.
Inside the room an elderly woman sat on the Chair at the head of the table lost in thoughts, her grey hair packed up to show her aging face.
"Grandma" Alexi muttered yapping her lightly bringing her out of her reverie, she gave him a weak smile and stood to give him a deep hug. He only crossed one of his arm around showing no ounce of emotion.
"Happy birthday in advance grandma" He said kissing the top of her head dutifully rather than out of love or affection.
"You are the only one that congratulate me without seeking for my death...like I always say on every of my birthday eve that your birth was a blessing in disguise" Old Mrs Camillie Cross said smiling as she breaks the hug, She looked behind him to see Natalie standing looking down to her fingers and playing with them.
"Who is this" Old Mrs Camillie Cross asked as she walked past him to Natalie.
"My wife,got married today".
"Without letting me know, how cruel his that... My child please what's your name" she asked holding Natalie fidgeting fingers. "Nat.. Natalie Ma'am".
"That's a very good name child, please call me grandma like Alexi does... Come sit" Old Mrs Camillie Cross pulled Natalie to a couch at the center of the room enthusiastically all her gloomy look faded.
"Tell me about yourself, age, parents name, likes and dislike, why did you choose to marry someone like him" The once dignified Old Mrs of the Cross family took the persona of a gossipy young teenager. Alexi seeing as he had become invisible offered himself a seat opposite them then busied himself to walk.
"Like I said I'm Natalie I'm twenty and I didn't choose to marry him he blackmailed me to marry but what can I say its my first marriage anyways I have to find ways to make it work." Natalie replied cheerfully as they talked more, the old woman seeing someone to talk to talked about her life and adventure to Natalie.
"You know anytime I want to talk about myself to Alexi and his siblings they find excuses to leave" Old Mrs Camillie Cross said with a pained expression. Alexi glanced up from his phone and shot an helpless look to Old Mrs Camillie Cross.
"I need to take this". He said standing up, the woman with an huff said "Your excuses are always lame". He could only shook his head while the maid brought refreshments.
Once he was gone Old Mrs Camillie Cross gazed lovingly at Natalie, took her hands and pat them tenderly. "Alexi was always very cheerful, carefree, jovial, lively and a lot of fun. He was a sweet talker like every young girl dreams I remembered he had plenty of female crushes but he only dated one he loved her, adored her cherished her...he could go to any extent to make her happy but that was meant to be his happy ever after, she shattered him, broke him and tore his pieces apart...she...she made him a shadow of his old self sometimes I wish I could see a glimpse of his lost dimples but he never smiles not after what she did seven years ago that he had to spend a year in the mental asylum... he now hates women calling them pretenders and at that time he figured his existence had been a lie...then we ask the impossible from him we hurt his pure innocent soul not once nor twice but thrice I am a bad grandmother I lost my sun to the illusion of happiness made by the clutches of deceit but today he brought a woman home despite his hatred for them that's why you are special, don't doubt that... Please promise to stay by him no compromise if anything happens to him I will die my family will crumble I know am asking much but I can't help it..." At this point Old Mrs Camillie Cross could only cry uncontrollable the words choked in her mouth, Natalie hugged her in the most comforting way she could muster.
" Promise me...please I beg of you don't leave his side even if it means going against me " Old Mrs Camillie Cross said streting her palm, Natalie looked at the palmand nodded clean the tears that she didn't know were flowing.
"I promise" Natalie placed her own palm on the old woman own as they pour out their tears. Alexi had suffered enough so she has to help him as he his once helped and his her contracted husband.