“I’ll get Madame Cassandra to escort you back to your room. Do not leave your room unless you have my permission. Do you understand?” he asked as he peered close to my face to make sure that I understood. I nodded my head at him once to confirm that I did understand him. His instructions were simple. All I had to do was stay in my room. It sounded so simple, so at that time, I didn’t think that something would happen that would render me unable to comply with his command. The prince seemed satisfy enough when he got up from the bed and left the room without another word to me or a glance my way. I was still confused about what happened between us last night; however, it was clear that the prince was no longer angry at me. I closed my eyes and let out a loud sigh while trying my best to ignore the lingering feelings of his touch on my body from last night. …Shortly after, Madame Cassandra arrived with some senior maids that I have never met before. The three of them entered the pri
The hardness of my own bed under me as I sat on it made me yearn a little for a softer bed. Now that I was alone, my mind immediately began churning through many confusing thoughts of what had happened last night starting from the moment that I received orders from Lady Regina to clean the statues in the bathhouse after curfew. Unknowingly, I had started chewing down on my lower lip while I thought of the many mysteries that I still couldn’t find the answer to.“Stop…Mila…” I warned myself out loud whenever my mind would drift to thoughts of the passionate moments that I shared with Prince Leonard. There were many things that I didn’t understand but the thing that plagued my mind the most was that voice I heard in my head when I prayed desperately for help. ‘Where are you?’ The voice that accompanied that unbearable pain in my brain, what is it exactly? At first, I honestly believed that it was just my imagination but the more that I thought about it, the less certain I was that i
“Well, everyone knows why Lady Regina moved to live in the palace all of a sudden. Even the dumb and blind can figure out that she’s been plotting with her father for herself to become the next queen. Apparently, Lady Regina and Prince Leonard are close, so people have really high hopes for her as the next queen…” Jessie continued to explain. They are close…“I see. Well, that doesn’t really have anything to do with me. You two are right not to believe in the rumors because it’s not true. I haven’t been trying to get close to any of the princes…” I told them truthfully. I haven’t tried to get close to any of them; however, it wasn’t like I could get away from them completely when they just keep popping up like random in my life. “I’m sure people are just jealous, so you don’t have to worry about it…” Jessie said before she grinned at me. “Right…” I whispered. I could hear their unspoken thought as their eyes lingered on the fashionable blue dress that I had on. Unlike them, I was
“I think this one is good…but this one is good too…and this one too!” Jessie cried out in excitement as she began grabbing many dresses and outfits and hanging them over her arm. “She can only wear one outfit at a time…” Salena pointed out softly. “She’s right. Let’s try to settle on one. I think something simple and not so…showy would be good…” I told them softly. “What about this one? I think it’s cute and very lady-like…” Salena said as she held an ankle-length light pink dress in front of my body. “Isn’t that too plain? I think this one is way better…” Jessie said as she held up a sparkly red strapless dress. “That’s very revealing…” Salena pointed out. While the two girls argued about which dress would look best on me, someone knocked on the door. My first thought was that it must be Madame Cassandra. “I’ll get the door…” I told the two of them before heading towards the door. I was right. When I opened the door, Madame Cassandra was standing there; however, she wasn’t al
“Maybe not as the king but I can’t say the same about my role as a father…” the king replied with a dismissive way of his hand. Darius followed his father out of the room before they made their way toward the main meeting hall where he knew that the young maid would be waiting for them. …To say that the meeting hall was large would be an understatement. Something like gigantic, absurdly enormous, or something that meant super big would be most suitable. After being led to what was the main building on the palace grounds, I was stunned at how grand and luxurious everything was. Unlike the other palaces that I’ve been to before, this place had a stifling air of formality and business. Madame Cassandra and the man who called himself Callum did the perfect job of giving me a short rundown of the significance of the main building where I now stood and the importance and honor of getting an audience directly with the king. Callum turned out to be one of the king’s senior advisors. Accor
“Please lift your face so that I can see if clearly,” the king instructed in a tone that sounded so soothing that it surprised me. “Yes, Your Majesty,” I replied politely. I bit down on the inside of my lower lip to steel my nerves before I lifted my face. Immediately, I could feel the king’s blue eyes on my face as he stared at me intently. His blue eyes stared closely at my face as if he was appraising its worth and I began sweating more profusely than before as my anxiousness turned slightly into fear. I had no idea why the king had summoned me here or why he wanted to meet with me. “Do you know why you were summoned here today?” the king asked before he smiled at me.Of course, I had absolutely no idea and I didn’t even dare take a guess. My eyes glanced over at Prince Darius although I knew that he wasn’t really in a position to help answer the king’s question for me. “No, Your Majesty,” I replied honestly while trying my best to sound polite. I prayed desperately inside my
The prince’s cold and distant attitude truly disturbed her. It seemed that time alone could not clear the rift that had formed between them. Regina honestly did not think that the prince would remain angry at her for this long. She knew that she should explain everything to him and beg for his forgiveness; however, the prince never gave her the chance to do so. Her eyes wandered to his expressionless face before she let out a soft sigh of depression. Talking to Prince Leonard had never felt this difficult before in her life. “This is the dining room. My father, I mean…the prime minister is waiting inside for us,” Reginal said with a smile.The maids opened the double door that led to the main dining room for them to enter. The prime minister stood up from his seat the moment that he spotted the prince. He bowed to show his respect while Prince Leonard raised his right hand a little to signal for the prime minister to drop the formal greetings. “Please take a seat this way, Prince Le
“Not yet…” Prince Leonard replied curtly. “You should listen to her play. It will definitely help with your stress after a busy day,” the prime minister said confidently. “Yes, please let me help entertain you, Prince Leonard,” Regina drawled sweetly. “I’ll think about it…” the prince replied casually. Lord Baldirius went on and on about the various accomplishments that his daughter had managed to gather under her belt throughout the years. Soon enough, the prime minister’s words had faded into nothing more than background noise to Leonard as his mind started to wander elsewhere. He wondered what Mila was doing right now……**Back at the main meeting hall**My hand clenched tightly together in front of me as I waited anxiously for the king to voice the reward that he had in mind for me. I wasn’t at all excited to learn what it was because I didn’t want anything from the king; however, a strange nagging feeling at the back of my mind told me that the king was about to offer me some
“Congratulations to us, you’re pregnant, Mila!” Prince Leonard announced excitedly.“I’m pregnant?” I asked more out of curiosity than out of surprise. Although I knew that the prince would never joke about something like this, I still found it hard to believe that I was suddenly pregnant.“That’s right, you’re pregnant, and that means we’re about to have another baby,” Prince Leonard said before breaking into another wide smile.“I’m…really pregnant?” I whispered as I struggled to wrap my head around the prince’s sudden announcement.“The doctor said that you might have been feeling tired because you’re in the early stages of pregnancy. I’m sorry that I hadn’t realized this sooner; otherwise, I would have kept all the ceremonies short so that you didn’t have to go through all of that when you’re feeling so tired,” the prince said apologetically as he took my hands into his. I kept staring at the prince as he buried the side of his face against the palm of my hand.“We’re about to hav
“Have you eaten anything? Actually, that’s a very stupid question. I know that you haven’t really eaten anything because you haven’t had the time, right?” the Duchess asked knowingly.Although I didn’t want to admit it because I didn’t want to be an inconvenience to anyone, the Duchess was spot on correct that I hadn’t had the time or the opportunity to eat anything. The day had been so busy from early in the morning up until the evening, and everything seemed more important than filling my own stomach.“It’s fine, I’ll make sure to eat something when this reception is over,” I told her reassuringly before offering her a smile. Duchess Flavia only gave me a disapproving glare before shaking her head from side to side.“You look like you’re about to faint. It’s like I can see your face go pale even with all the makeup,” she said as she brought her face closer to mine to get a closer look at me.“I’m feeling fine,” I told her while I tried to convince myself that I wasn’t feeling light-
"Your daughter looks like you," Prince Leonard commented."And I think that your son looks like you, and I'm sure that he will grow up into a great king," Regina said, and I could hear the confidence in her voice."Let me know if you ever need anything," the prince told her with a warm smile."You're always too kind. Please take good care of yourself and of Mila. Mila, please take care of our King," Regina said, turning to address me."I will," I replied shortly before finding myself smiling at her.Regina truly did look happier than the time when she lived in the palace. It felt like the shadow that had always been following her around and haunting her was no longer there. I could tell that she was no longer living under pressure, and it made her shine with happiness and freedom. It seemed that I didn't have to worry about her anymore.After some parting words, Regina led her daughter away from us so that we could converse with other guests. I had no idea how many conversations we ha
Prince Leonard probably had no idea that it was the way his beautiful eyes looked at me and the way his alluring lips curved up into a smile that was responsible for making everything else fade away from my field of vision so that all I could do was focus on him."Thank you for making me your queen," I whispered softly and sweetly.The prince only nodded his head once before carefully placing the crown on the top of my head. When I was aware of the world surrounding us again, all I could hear was the thundering sound of applause that echoed in the royal hall...."Hang in there for just a little longer, Mila," the prince said before flashing me a teasing smile."I guess we're done with two out of the three parts of what we have planned for today," I mumbled before stifling a yawn. I had no idea why I felt so lethargic and sleepy, although it was only just early in the evening. So far, the prince and I operated as the perfect team to pull off two of our most important events of the day
His words touched me like never before, and I could feel it in my heart and soul that I reciprocated his feelings and thoughts. I had never understood the concept of fated mates until I experienced it myself along with the prince. Our bond felt stronger and firmer than any endearing words of promise."I love you. I’ll love you forever," I said the words that came naturally to my mind.**Back to the present**When it came my turn to say ‘I do’, I found myself managing to say it without any difficulty. It must have been partly because I truly meant it when I vowed to be with the prince in sickness and in health, through thick and thin; however, I was certain that everything felt easier because I knew that we had a bond that even the heavens could never break."I do," I said firmly when it was my turn.When we shared the kiss to seal our wedding vows, I knew that what we had was something that was going to last forever until the end of our lifetimes....Our wedding ceremony in the churc
I gave Logan's hand a slight squeeze before taking my first step forward into the church. I could feel everyone's eyes on me as I reminded myself to keep my head held high, curving my lips into one of my most beautiful smiles. Without any hesitation, I made my way forward down the aisle. The fact that each step forward brought me closer to the man waiting for me at the end of the aisle gave me the comfort and courage to continue on. I didn't even bother trying to identify faces that I might recognize in the crowd of guests present on both sides of me.It felt as if all my nervousness melted away completely when my eyes met Prince Leonard's. I’d always thought he looked amazingly attractive, but seeing the prince wearing an all-white tuxedo standing in front of the altar with such a loving smile on his face as he waited for me was out of this world. I felt my heart skip a beat in my chest, and it wasn't at all because of my nervousness. Everything and everyone around me slowly faded aw
It was clear that everything was too extravagant for my own taste to the point where it must have been pretty obvious to Prince Leonard that I had no hand in the selection and design of the proposed decorations. "I'm actually fine with anything. I think everything they've chosen is very beautiful, and their work is a lot more professional than anything I could have done by myself," I admitted to the prince honestly."If that's the case, then fine, but if there's anything that you don't like, just tell them to take it out," the prince said firmly."I just think it's easier to let them sort everything out. It's enough for me that we'll be getting married and that Logan will be there to witness our union," I said while trying to keep my tone cheerful. I was certain that if I picked out anything by myself or intervened with the guest list, I would be bringing unwarranted complications and troubles that I didn't want to deal with."If that's what you say," the prince said after finally gi
I should have known that the prince would never want to become the next king for his own personal gain. I found myself nodding my head naturally in agreement with his plan when I realized that I also had to play my part in contributing to the happiness of our son in the future.“I agree that that seems to be the easiest way. I guess if you become king, you can change the rules in whatever way you want,” I said while seeing more than a glimpse of hope.“It’s not going to be that easy. Many people on the committee are going to be against it, but this is our best shot. No matter what, we’re going to make this successful and change the rules of this country for the better,” the prince said, so motivatingly that I found myself feeling slightly excited.“I guess bringing change, especially big changes, isn’t going to be easy,” I said, but by then I couldn’t stop myself from smiling. In my mind, I had already envisioned such a bright future, and it gave me the greatest honor to be able to co
“What is it?” I asked, feeling a sense of worry stir in the pit of my stomach.“I’m concerned about Logan,” the prince confessed in a whisper.“Concerned? What is there for you to be concerned about? Is something wrong?” I bombarded him with questions, thinking there might be a threat to Logan’s safety. I had no idea why I felt that way, but I just had a very bad feeling.“Remember when you asked me why I changed my mind about taking over the throne? I’m sorry, but I haven’t been entirely honest with you,” the prince said with a regretful look on his face.“It’s fine. It must have been hard for you,” I said understandingly while wondering what had the prince feeling so concerned. “What is it about Logan?” I asked as I started to frown with worry.“Logan is getting a lot better at controlling his transformations now, but he’s still too young for us to be sure about what will happen in his future,” Prince Leonard said.It was true that our son had improved tremendously at controlling hi