The Prince's Wedding

Gratitude. 11.

It’s crazy.

I’m crazy!

But at this point, I’m ready to do anything to prove to him that he’s wrong. The school is important, not just to me but to the kingdom.

And with that thought in mind, I walk past the Prince and head for the door.

“You really think you’re going to walk all the way there just to prove a silly point?” I hear him say with laughter and I just keep walking.

“I was a commoner. I grew up walking to everywhere I had to go.” I say, walking down the hallway and I hear Prince Alexander following me from behind with fast, angry steps.

“Fine!” He yells as I walk into the castle grounds, drawing stares from everyone that can hear him.

“Walk!”

“I will.”

“This won’t change anything! If I want that school down, it’s coming down!” He yells and this time I stop and turn to him.

“And I’m the one trying to prove a silly point? Why can’t you see how much this means to your people? I’m practically begging to help them!”

“I forbid you to leave this castle, Melissa.” This, he says through gritted teeth and I take a deep breath, turn around and keep walking towards the gate, more determined than I was.

When I get to the gate however, the guards keep it locked and they stare at me with furrowed brows, almost as if they’re expecting me to walk back into the castle.

To succumb to Prince Alexander like they have.

To not put them in a difficult situation.

“Open the gate.” I say as confident as I can and they just exchange looks, but they don’t budge.

Fine.

Let’s try this again.

“I’m going to be queen of this kingdom, inevitably. And I’ve got a good memory of faces. Now open the gate.”

And for a few seconds, they say nothing. Then one of them bows,

“Yes, Your Highness.” He says and they unlock the gates, then open it to let me pass. And as I cross the threshold, a part of me wants to turn back to the Prince, to give him a chance to agree with me and end this argument.

But I just keep walking.

And with every turn, with every pair of eyes that sets on me, I’m greeted with bows and curtsies. That’s when it dawns on me that this is my first time of actually leaving the castle ever since King Russel’s burial…

So when I finally get to the school, the kids come rushing like magnets, warming my heart with every cheer and familiar face.

And when it’s finally time to close up, I’m greeted with two horses and a guard outside, waiting for me.

******

ALEXANDER

The school was one of the biggest obstacles that I couldn’t exactly handle ever since my father died…

I wanted it destroyed the minute I realized Melissa was the teacher. Not entirely because I wanted to be vengeful or petty, but also because I didn’t want the expectations from the people.

Their urgent need to see what I would do with it simply because I was betrothed to the teacher…so I wanted it gone.

But then the Ball happened, and Melissa had said those impressive facts about our laws and it dawned on me that the kingdom would prosper in a lot of ways if everyone shared the knowledge she had.

And just like that, I decided to keep it.

I just needed time to figure out how to tell her without giving her any ideas, because no matter how much she wants to….she can’t be the teacher for long.

But then she overheard Jonah and made a big display of her stubbornness by insisting on walking there and I couldn’t stop myself from daring her.

From pushing her.

From getting angry at her.

“Some display that was.” Felipe says, walking into the empty throne room where I’ve been sitting since Melissa left.

“Tell me about it. Could she be more stubborn?” I ask and he gives me a look.

“What?” I ask.

“Pardon my saying, Your Majesty, but you pushed her.”

“She pushed me first. Walking in here and demanding to know why she wasn’t informed?”

“She is going to be queen, and the school is important to her. Plus you actually don’t involve her in hearing matters—”

“Enough.” I say, stopping him and he nods.

Then I get up and walk towards the window, looking out to see if I can spot Melissa in her blue gown.

But I can’t.

Is she really walking all the way there?

“Are you going to punish her again? Or is the walking punishment enough, Your Majesty?” I hear Felipe ask from behind me and I sigh.

“Send a horse and a guard out for her.”

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” Felipe says, sounding pleased before leaving.

I can’t bring myself to punish her anymore and I don’t want to either.

Not just because of the poison incident.

Or the fact that her sister just recovered…

I just don’t want to…and I can’t figure out why.

****

“I heard you punched a guy.” Halley says to me, as she plucks a grape off the bunch on the dinner and puts it in her mouth.

I frown at her.

“Who told you that?”

“I heard the maidens talking about it right after my lessons.” She says and looks up at me with curious, blue eyes, just like Melissa’s.

“Well, it was for his own good.” I say and she doesn’t stop staring at me.

“I guess so. You don’t seem as scary as you used to, anyway.” She says casually and the words linger in my mind, leaving me in thought as we have dinner together.

And right after we are done, Melissa appears at the door, minutes after Halley has been taken to her room. For a while, we don’t say anything to each other, and then she sighs.

“I apologize for my… behavior, Your Majesty.” She says with a curtsy and I nod, getting up.

“I understand the school is important and a bit personal to you, but Melissa, next time I tell you not to do something, I expect you to agree.” I warn and she nods, folding in her lips.

“I’ve decided this will only go on for a while. I’ll keep the school open and you can keep going, but we have to find a replacement. Since you’re to be royalty…. You’ll attend matters with me the minute a replacement is found.” I say and a smile appears on her face, surprising me.

It’s the first time she has ever smiled around me,…. to me. And it gives her face an enchanting look, brightening up her eyes and exposing her perfect set of teeth.

“Thank you. Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you.” She says and curtsies excitedly and I just nod before leaving, overwhelmed by her reaction.

For the rest of the week, everything goes smoothly; Melissa leaves for the school with some horses and a few guards, while Felipe and I focus on getting a replacement and by the end of the week, we find one that she approves of.

To get the school issue finally behind us, I head for the entrance of the castle with a paper just as Melissa enters the castle, back from her last day.

We both meet at the door and I observe the wrapped, wooden frame she has in her hand.

“Your Majesty.” She curtsies, her long mane of hair in one single braid falls to her right shoulder.

“Melissa.” I say, observing her face.

Maybe it was the fact she had the opportunity to go back to the school for a while…but she seemed excited everyday. The freckles on her cheeks rise with every smile and her eyes glowed when they did.

“I wanted to give you this.” I say to her as I hand her the sealed paper and she gingerly takes it, our fingers briefly touching.

She observes the seal for a while, running her thumb over it as she looks up at me in surprise. Then she breaks it off and opens the rolled paper.

“It’s the permit for the school. I figured it’s time to make it permanent.” I say as I watch her eyes scan the paper, reading it.

“You changed the name…” she mutters as she looks up at me in shock.

Felipe’s idea, that’s what it was.

But I agreed to it because I didn’t want another stubborn display from her….and also, because my father had wanted it this way too….

“Melissa’s Royal School of Nirvania.” She says and I just nod.

“We’ll make it Queen Melissa when things are…official. I figured—”

I’m cut short the instant Melissa throws her arms around me in a tight hug, pressing our bodies together and enveloping me with her scent of….jasmine?

She feels soft.

Everything about her feels delicate.

Again, I’m completely overwhelmed and it doesn’t occur to me to move away until she whispers,

“Thank you.”

And then I shrug her off.

“That’s enough.” I say, stepping away from her and she bites back her smile as she nods.

“My apologies, Your Majesty.” She says and I move to walk away but she reaches out for me.

“Hold on.” She says, then picks up the wrapped frame she brought in and hands it to me.

“One of the children made it at school, he’s been working on it for a while now. It’s to thank you for reopening the school.” She says, her smile back and freckles rising.

I glance at her then back at the frame in my hand before I open it. And the image that stares back at me knocks away every breath in my body…

I hold it with both hands now, scared that it might slip out of my fingers as I stare at the beautiful portrait….of my mother.

As realistic as ever. Her green eyes, brown hair and that smile…

Mother…

“Who did this?” I demand, looking back at her and her smile vanishes.

“It’s…it’s a gift.”

“I said, who did this? Who made this portrait?”

Melissa stares at me skeptically and I can see worry in her eyes.

“It’s not meant to upset you—”

“For God’s sake, Melissa. Who made this?” I ask and she draws in a deep breath.

“Raphael’s son, Peter.” She says and I stare back at the image.

His son is this talented?

“Thank you…” I say, looking back at Melissa as she observes me, “..very much.” I add and she blinks in surprise.

“You’re… You’re welcome, Your Majesty.” She says and I walk away, heading for my room.

******

MELISSA

It’s a brand new day and with the events of yesterday still clear in my head, I can’t help but feel more than pleased with myself.

Prince Alexander actually thanked me….for the first time ever.

And he meant it.

“Why are you smiling so much?” Halley asks, looking up at me as we head for the library.

“I’m not smiling.” I say, even though my voice comes out squeaky with excitement.

“Yeah, you are.” She insists and I chuckle.

“Well, I had a good last day at the school yesterday, and I got good news when I got back.”

“What kind of good news?” She pokes and before I can reply, Felipe appears from around the corner and walks towards us.

“Your Highness, Prince Alexander requests that you meet him in the throne room.” He says and Halley looks slightly worried.

“It’s fine.” I say to her, “Go on to the library, I’ll see you when I’m done.” I say and she nods, then heads for the library with some guards.

“This way.” Felipe says, walking ahead and I follow him until we get to the throne room where Prince Alexander is seated.

There are guards on every corner and I briefly recall the last time he had sent for me to come here, he wanted to send me to the cliff.

“Your Majesty.” I curtsy and when I look up, he simply gestures to the seat next to the throne.

Right…I’m hearing matters with him…

Slowly, I walk forward and ascend the stairs, almost as if I’m waiting for someone to stop me.

To tell me it’s a trick or to seize me.

But I reach the top and sit down on the huge, cushioned chair next to the throne.

The Prince turns to me then,

“Okay?” He asks and I nod.

“You said it was Raphael’s son who made the portrait?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” I say and he turns to the guards.

“Let him in.” He simply says and they bow before they open the main doors, and a worried-looking Raphael walks in, observing the room.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness.” He says and bows.

“Raphael, it’s been drawn to my attention that your son makes portraits? How old is he?” The Prince asks and Raphael blinks in surprise.

“He… he’s eleven, Your Majesty.” He says with a slight stutter and the Prince just nods, saying nothing.

“You were also here a few months ago, you wanted to commence expansion of the village?” The Prince asks after a while and this time, Raphael turns to me with fear.

I nod at him encouragingly, and he turns back to the Prince.

“Yes, Your Majesty. I and some of the villagers are willing to start because the population is increasing. But only if you approve—”

“I approve.”

At those words, Raphael stares in shock.

“You— Your…” he stutters

“If you are sure you’re all capable of handling it….”

“We are. We are, Your Majesty.” He says excitedly.

“I’ll still assign some builders to help you all, and my men will give you all the tools you need. If you have any other issues or requests, you can report to Lady Melissa.” Prince Alexander says calmly and I turn to him in surprise but he keeps his gaze on Raphael.

Report to me?

“Thank you! Thank you so much, Your Majesty, thank you!!” Raphael says, turning to leave.

“Hold on.” The Prince calls out and as Raphael turns back to face us, Caspian walks to him with a loaded bag and a basket of fruits and vegetables.

“The bag is for your son, and the rest for your family. Tell him the Prince sends his gratitude.” He says and Raphael carries the goods, speechless.

“I….I…”

“You may go.” The Prince says and Raphael bows almost a dozen times before he hurries out the room.

And from the corner of my eye, I notice Prince Alexander take in a deep breath and let it out.

Look at that…he finally feels something.