A month has already passed and everything is already settled and everybody is back to their normal lives.

Christopher and Lorelei are busy attending all the details that is needed for their wedding. The wedding is already six months to go and everybody is already excited.

Philippe’s and Mary’s parents also told them to already plan for their future. They are not getting any younger and their parents want them to have children as soon as possible.

Anathea and Mico were still the same as before. They were often told that the two of them should already find their partners or better yet, the two of them should be together.

The butler was back in his old routines and Anathea has already forgiven him for letting her father be kidnapped.

Lord Vincent is under therapy. He has his sessions every other day. He can now move his hands and feet and can sit up straight and stand with the help of his cane. Mico was the one who encouraged Vincent to take his therapy and he’s thankful that Mico insisted that it could him.

It is Sunday and they just arrived from the church. They ate their lunch together before they went to their separate ways.

It is already mid-afternoon when an elegant carriage arrived at earl’s mansion. Inside the carriage was a well-dressed and well-mannered man.
Butler: Good afternoon, sire.
Vaughn: I’m here to see Earl Vincent.
Butler: May I know who’s looking?
Vaughn: Vaughn. He’s expecting me.
Butler: Follow me.

The butler accompanied the visitor to the room of Vincent.

A knock was heard.
Vincent: Who is it?
Butler: It’s me, sire.
Vincent: Come in.
Butler: Someone came and he wants to talk to you.
Vincent: What’s his name?
Butler: Vaughn.
Vincent: Let him in.
Vaughn: (with a bow) Good afternoon.
Vincent: Take a seat. (To the butler) Prepare coffee for us.
When the butler went out of the room…
Vincent: How are you?
Vaughn: Fine.
Vincent: You went here personally. This must be something important.
Vaughn. You’re right. Something bad happened.
Vincent: Can’t we delay it further?
Vaughn: I’m afraid we can’t. The kingdom is waiting.
Vincent: Well then, if that is the decision then I can’t do anything.

When the butler arrived with a tray containing two cups of coffee, the earl told him to call his children and Mico to his office at once.

Everybody is already present in the office of the earl.
Vincent: Now that you’re all here…
Vaughn entered the room.
Mico: Vaughn, what are you doing here?
Vincent: He came here to tell you the bad news personally.
Vaughn: The king is very ill. He wants you to come back.
Christopher: You have to make your decision right away. A kingdom is waiting for you.
Vincent: Christopher is right.
Vaughn: So, what’s your decision?
Anathea: Excuse me. Can someone here tell me what are you talking about?
Vincent: It’s the right time for you to know this.

“Mico’s name was not really Mico. He is Elixir. Prince Elixir. Like you, he wishes for a simple life, free from luxuries. He is the only child of his parents. His parents have wanted him to replace his father as their king but he refused to do so. He doesn’t want to be his father’s successor. He doesn’t want a complicated life. When the people around him started to pressure him, he decided to escape to have time to think what he will do.

Mico asked help from Vaughn, his cousin and his best friend. They made a way so that Mico can escape. Mico pretended to be a wanderer so that he will not alarm anyone of where he is. He traveled somewhere nobody could recognize him and he arrived here.”
Anathea: Who among you know that story?

Vincent, Christopher and the butler raised their hands. Mico was speechless and motionless.
Anathea: So, everybody knew that except for me. And you… (To Mico) told me I can trust you but all this time, you were lying to me. All of you lied to me. All of you betrayed me.
And Anathea ran outside the office and went to her room. There she cried and cried…

Mico was about to follow Anathea when she ran outside the office but Christopher stopped him. He told him that the best thing they can do right now is to let her alone first. Vincent nodded in agreement.

Two days had already passed since the true identity of Mico was revealed. But Anathea was still not talking to anybody. She stayed in her room most of the time. She only came out when she had to eat her meals and to water her plants in the garden.

Wednesday, it’s the loneliest day for Mico. It’s the day they were scheduled to come back to their kingdom. Mico was still hoping that before he leaves, they could talk. There is a possibility that they would never see each other again.

But his wish did not come true, she didn’t even say good bye. He left with a heavy heart.

Alone in his room, Anathea is thinking what she will do. She is having second thoughts whether she will say goodbye to him or not.

She decided at last not to say goodbye to him. She chose to stay in her room and to pray for his safety.

When Mico and Vaughn were about to go, Anathea sat in her window pane. From where she is, she can see Mico’s things were being loaded into the carriage. Unconsciously, tears fell from her eyes.
Lorelie: Why don’t you come down and say goodbye instead of crying quietly?
Anathea: Huh?
Lorelei: I saw some tears earlier. It was for Mico, I’m sure.

Anathea wiped her cheeks.
Anathea: How…?
Lorelei: Next time, if you want to cry and you don’t want anybody to see you, don’t leave you door half open.
Anathea: Oh.
Lorelei: So, am I right?
Anathea: Something got into my eyes.
Lorelei: You’ll miss him… don’t act like you don’t know you him…
Anathea: Maybe.
Lorelei: Why, maybe?
Anathea: I don’t know.
Christopher: Excuse me. Can I borrow her for awhile?
Anathea: Sure.
Lorelei: Be true to yourself.
Christopher: What was that?
Lorelei: Nothing. Let’s go.

Lorelei was right. Anathea whispered to herself. That tears were really for Mico. For the happy memories that may not happen again.

She will miss him for sure. He became a part of her life, no doubt to that. He already have a special place in her heart.

Chapter 11 »