Deceive not my love-The prince and his maid II

The start of an adventure

*William*

“Will ? Are you ready ?” I hear my mothers voice at the door.

“No !” I mumble into the pillow. “I am not going”.

I hear her footsteps as she comes over and feels the bed dip. “I know it isn’t easy, sweetie. But you will regret not saying goodbye”.

“I can’t mom”. I feel like crawling into her lap and roll up crying, like back when I was a little kid.

I feel her hand gently stroke my back. “You owe this to Mirabella, this is where you get to show you have it in you to be king. A king can’t hide when it hurts or things get tough”.

“I don’t want to be King, mom”. I look up. “I am not like dad, I am not even like uncle Arion”.

She touches my cheek softly. “You are more like both of them than you realise”.

“Please promise me dad will be a hundred years old, at least, so I never have to be king”. I lean into her touch.

“If I have my way he will be a hundred years old”. She smiles warmly. “But I have every trust in you, you will grow to be a great king”.

I sit up with a sigh. “Give me five minutes, I will come, okay ?”

“Okay”. She kisses my forehead. “I am proud of you”.

“At least someone is then”. I rub a hand over my face.

She only gives me a sad smile before leaving.

When she is gone I get up and walk to the mirror. My eyes are red, my hair a mess and my shirt dirty. I quickly change the shirt and brush my hair. The eyes I can’t really do anything about.

Then I walk out of my room, keeping my chin raised. Mom is right, I made this mess, I need to take the downfall like a King.

*Mirabella*

“I will miss you so much, sweetie”. My mother hugs me, as we stand on the dock. “Remember, you can always come home”.

“I know mom”. I return her hug, feeling a lump in my chest. “I will miss you too, all of you”.

I look at my siblings, I have already hugged them and Dawn has gifted me her favorite hair ribbon, to remember her. I will miss them too.

Then my eyes go to my Will’s parents and siblings, they have all bid me a good journey. Will himself shook my hand and told me to have a safe journey. Now he is sitting on his horse next to his father. He looks so much like his father and so much like a future King that he takes my breath away.

“Promise to listen to Ben on the trip”. My father says. “And as your mother said, you can always come home, just send us a letter and I will arrange transport for you as soon as possible”.

“I know dad”. I will probably miss my father most of all.

He pulls me into a strong hug, kissing my forehead softly. “Take this as an adventure.. a way to grow. Who knows what unexpected things you will see and experience ?”

“I will try to, I promise”. I rest my head on his chest for a moment. “I will miss you dad”.

“I will miss you too, ladybug”. He uses my old pet name. “I love you so much”.

I swallow, but a single tear still escapes. “I love you too, dad”.

Part of me wants to say that I regret it, that I want to stay, but I know I have to do this. So I walk to the ship and start walking up the wide boarding plank. Ben and his crew are waiting on the deck.

“Bella ! Wait”. I hear his voice call for me.

I whip around. “Will !?”

He comes running towards me and I swallow, not knowing what to do. I am worried what it is he wants, here with both mine and his family watching.

“Bella”. He says my name like a prayer and grabs my hand. “You don’t have to leave”.

“I do Will”. I sigh and look into his eyes. “For my own sake. For both of our sakes. I have to leave, just for a while”.

He nods slowly, his voice trembling slightly. “Promise me to stay safe and be happy, go chase your dream Bella. Go get the life you always wanted”.

I want to tell him that the life I always wanted was with him, but I don't, because it will only hurt us both more. “I will try, Will. If you do the same. Try and be happy, try and make the best of it”.

Then he leans his forehead against mine and I close my eyes for a moment, and as soft as a whisper I feel his lips ghost over mine, and I am happy his wife isn’t there. She wasn’t feeling well this morning.

“Save travels”. He walks backwards down the boarding plank.

I walk the rest of the way aboard and stay there by the railing, waving until I can no longer see my family.

“It’s never easy saying goodbye”. Ben says softly beside me. “Especially not for the first time”.

“At least it is the start of great adventures, right ?” I smile at him.

He chuckles. “That’s the spirit girl. If that is how you go into it, that is what it will be”.

I smile, but inside I am not so sure. I mean what great adventure can come from staying with an old boring aunt ?

“Let me show you to your cabin”. Ben walks towards the door leading into the ship. “My first mate has kindly given up his cabin for you”.

“Remember me to thank him”. I say as I follow him inside. I am happy to have my own cabin, even if it is small.

He opens the door and makes a motion with his hand. “This way mylady, your home for the next three weeks time”.

I walk inside, taking a deep breath, I will do as my father suggested and see this as the start of an adventure.