Anathea became restless since Mico left. She often sleeps late at night because she is always thinking of Mico. She misses him terribly. She often stares at her food and often complains that she has no appetite. She is always at the garden looking up the night sky. Everybody in the house have been observing her and they are getting worried about her behavior.

On the other hand, Mico was also restless. He was happy that he was back in his own kingdom but he‘s lonely because he’s not with Anathea.

A great feast was prepared in their kingdom to welcome him back, their long lost prince. The prince was flattered by the affection showed to him by his people. Everybody is happy that he is back and they can all go to their normal lives. A month from now, the proper ceremonies will be conducted to officially transfer the throne to the successor, Prince Elixir.

One afternoon, a shocking news arrived. One of their messengers gave the unexpected message. It was more of a warning. The letter said that they would pay for what they did to him and the humiliation that he suffered. At first, he thought that Anathea could have sent that letter but after some time, he realized that she could not have done that.

The day after they received the first letter, another letter arrived. It has the same contents as the first letter but this time; the warning already involved not only their kingdom but the kingdom who took care of him when he ran away.

Mico decided to go to Queen Amadea and King Gegard to alarm them about the letter. They should not ignore this kind of warning. They should always remember that there are people who are capable of doing such things like Gustavo.

Saturday afternoon, an elegant carriage arrived at the palace of Amadea and Gegard. From the carriage emerged a very handsome man.
Gegard: It’s good to see you.
Amadea: You’ve changed a lot. I’m sure that Anathea will be happy to see you.
Gegard: Why? What’s wrong?

Mico told them what happened. Anathea found out about his true identity from another source.
Amadea: We’ve already told you that you yourself must tell her the truth before somebody else does.
Gegard: Don’t worry. That girl can’t stay in a bad mood that long. So just give her time and she’ll talk to you again.
Mico: I hope so.
Amadea: By the way, what made you come here?
Mico: I received a letter from an unknown person but I think I know who sent it.
Gegard: What’s in the letter?
Mico: A threat to our kingdoms.
Amadea: A threat? Who would send us that?
Mico: I was thinking that it could be Gustavo.

Mico gave the letter to the king and queen for them to read it.
Mico: I even doubted that Anathea was the one who sent that but I know that she could not do that thing.
Amadea: What must we do now?
Gegard: We will not let this threat hurt us.
Amadea: Why don’t we check on Gustavo?

Exactly after what the queen said, the phone rang.
Servant: Your Majesty, it’s for you.
Gegard: Thank you.
Gegard had his phone conversation privately where no one could hear them.
Gegard: Bad news. Gustavo was able to get out.
Amadea: What?
Gegard: I think we should ask help from Vincent.
Mico: I was thinking of that also.
Gegard: (To the servant) Prepare the carriage!

Anathea was about to go to the garden when a sound of an approaching carriage was heard. She went out to see who arrived.

A simple and elegant carriage stopped at the doorstep of the mansion. Anathea recognized whose carriage arrived. Gegard was the first then he helped Amadea to go down. Anathea ran towards the couple to welcome them with a hug but she stopped when a handsome man emerged from the carriage.

Because of too much excitement, Mico forgot that the two of them are still not in good terms. He greeted her as if nothing happened.
Mico: Hi!
Anathea didn’t say anything and just looked at him with a puzzled way. She didn’t recognize the guy but she felt something inside of her. Mico, on the other hand, thought that its Anathea’s way of humiliating him.
Amadea: Don’t you recognize him?
Anathea: Who is he anyway?

At the back of her mind, she has a feeling that she’s looking at Mico. She stared at him and thought of the man she fell in love with, the man who left to go back to where he belongs… who she will never see again. She pushed him away… away…
Amadea: He’s Elixir… You know him as Mico…
Gegard: Aren’t you happy to see him?

Anathea doesn’t know what she is feeling at that moment. Is she happy that he came back? Is she still angry with him?
Gegard: Go. Come up to her.
Mico approached her. He got her hand and kissed it very gently.
Anathea remembered the first time Mico kissed her hand. That was night of her brother’s engagement party. It was a very magical night for her. Mico was at the base of the staircase waiting for her. As she went down the steps, her heartbeat was so fast. When she reached where Mico is standing, he got her hand and kissed it and complimented her on how beautiful she looked that night.

Anathea didn’t notice her brother and her father at the doorstep staring at them. Both of them were smiling.
Vincent: Hi, Mico. You’re back.
Christopher: Welcome back.
Vincent: I took your advice. I can already walk by myself.
Mico: I’m glad to hear that.
Vincent: The food is ready. Don’t let it wait. Come inside.
Christopher: Come in, future brother-in-law.
Mico: What did you say?
Anathea: Yeah. I think I heard something.
Christopher: You, two. You hear too much.

The dinner was great. The food is excellent and everybody left the table with their stomachs full.

When the dinner is over, they went to the garden to get some fresh air.
Vincent: You went all the way here so I suppose that this is something really important.
Gegard: Gustavo was able to escape and he sent Elixir a threat of destroying our kingdoms.
Mico: I came here to ask help.
Vincent: No time to waste. Let’s start thinking of what we’ll do.
Christopher: I agree.

The six of them formulated a plan to put down Gustavo. After several hours, they are ready to go.

When the king, queen and Mico was about to go home, Vincent told them to stay for the night since it is not safe for them to be out in the middle of the night. They accepted the invitation, Vincent has a point.

Chapter 12 »