Chapter 20

Chapter 20: The day is the day
Today is the King"s birthday, the day that the King dies.
Alistair said he"s going to come and get me, he"s the one who insisted that we should be partners. I don't know if he seems very clingy since yesterday. Art was with me yesterday to inspect in every place in the empire. Also Alsitair kept following us.
"I'll kill you someday Art." –Al
"Well that"s not at all comforting, what did I do ?!" –Art
I just sat on my bed, Maddy"s gonna go too since she"s invited. The itch of our dress, it"s color is gold, everything is designed in gold and it was heavy. Al gave it to me, he wants me to wear this heavy itchy dress. But not gonna lie it looks stunning.
"Princess, The Prince has arrived." Maddy said politely, she"s dressed in a normal dress.
"Ok thanks, I'll be there." I stood up and started walking outwards. There were no people in the palace because they were busy preparing for the King"s birthday. Maddy was following me outside "Are you already going Maddy?"
"Yes Princess, I will close the palace first. The maids are not here, but there are still a few guards left. " I nodded, she then bowed at me when we were outside.
I almost choked when I saw how large the carriage was, how many would he ride there? Are you twenty people? I was just slapped.
I walked down the stairs, he was just staring there. Is he gonna let me in or what?
"Are you going to just stand there and gawk?" I asked once placing a hand on my waist.
"Yes." She replied smiling.
"Well, stop it. You look stupid. " I said while rolling my eyes, he extended his arms to hold my hand.
"You look-
"Beautiful, I know. Can we go now? " he smiled more.
-Like the future Queen of the empire. Quite stunning actually. " He continued his sentence.
I can"t help but blush, he"s been complimenting me everytime tas always smiling. I always wished for something like this to happen to me, and I am happy because it has already happened.
I observed his look, he"s handsome as ever. Since birth pa ata sha gwapo. He noticed that I was looking at him so he smiled and pinched my cheeks.
"I'll make you mine." He whispered. I immediately bowed to what he said. He"s never been this expressive type of person.
"S-since when are you this kind of person?" I asked shyly while still bowing.
"Kind of what?" he asked playfully, I"m sure he knew what I meant.
"A showy type of person, you never talked like that to me before." Al just smirked et me and touched my chin. AWERTYSLAJLNJKSA- so closeeee!
"Since you said you don't love me."
"What?"
"We're here, prepare for some grand entrance." I immediately looked outside, WHAT THE ACTUAL- why there are so many people in there ?! Why are they outside ?! Shouldn"t they be inside?
"You didn"t tell me this kind of entrance !?" I exclaimed and shocked because the crowd really was.
"Shh... Chin up and smile. I"ll take the lead. "
I want to lower my head, but I cant. It"s gonna be disrespectful. So I only looked straight. This is a freaking red carpet entrance.
"Father's inside." Al whispered.
Some people are clapping and cheering. There are no contestants in the Queen candidate which means maybe they are just inside. I managed to glance and saw some carriages arriving. I saw Jayden in a dress, she doesn"t have any mask. She looks confident now, I"m glad.
Jasper was just beside her, maybe Art and Gray would be together.
"Let us welcome! The princess of the Ruby Palace and the future King of the Gem empire. " That"s what I heard when we got inside. I could hear whispers.
They look good together."
Look at what you"re wearing."
It looked like a couple dress."
I can feel Al smiling at his head right now. Damn, he hits hard. We went to the front and bowed to the dear king.
"Greetings to the King of Gem Empire. Happy birthday. " I said while bowing. I heard him chuckle.
"Thank you child. I was delighted when I heard my son will get you in the Palace. " He said while smiling. I blushed a little. "So? When"s the wedding? "
"Your highness!" embarrassed I said to him but he just laughed, Al went to his father"s side and winked at me. He"s enjoying this isn"t he?
"I will always support you both." He proposed. I only sighed and bowed to him, a sign that I will leave soon.
I walked to the side, Jasper and Jayden are still greeting the king. While Gray and Art followed them.
"Helloooo Princess Astraea. Ohhh I heard you"re quitting? " Shit I forgot about this girl.
"Hello Princess Belle." I greeted him without emotion. "And no, I'm still on the first seat."
She frowned and raised an eyebrow at me.
"Hmp if I were on the competition I would just defeat you in no time." I don't know but he told me over and over again, it happened in my previous life. But I'll just laugh because I don't want trouble.
Things are different now and I am no longer my previous self. Im full with all her shits and rants.
"Don"t flatter yourself Princess. Did you see how the Prince escorted me? That is proof that I will win. " I don"t know why but I was confident
"Well? You seduced the prince didn"t you-
"Oh my ~ yesss I saw her seduce the Prince at school." Then another bitch arrived. Seraphina. "Hi I'm Princess Seraphina from the Gremlin empire, the 10th seat of the Queen candidate."
He greeted Princess Belle, since they have the same brain, they help me. Brains cough amp, I've been burdened with the dress I'm wearing made of gold, I'll slap it on them.
"So you"re joining forces now?" I rolled my eyes and they were just smirking at me. Well thank god I am not gentle as I was before. "Can I be honest with you both?"
They just raised an eyebrow at me. Since it"s noisy, with the music and people talking. I guess they wont hear anything right? but who cares who will hear, I need to let this shit all out tonight. I've been holding back for a long time, since my previous life.
"I respectfully don"t care about what you"re saying. Princess Seraphina? Aren"t you a maid in the empire, should I announce it to everyone that you came from the dirt? People with low status should stay low. Did I seduce the prince? Well I don"t know, I don"t give a fuck. "
"Princess Belle, since I am being honest right now. Your personality is just pure bullshit, if all the princesses were being honest with you they would also tell you the same. Too bad they don"t have the balls to tell you that but I can. Me, I will go. "
They seem surprise about what I am talking right now, what? Did they think I would be nice now?
"Princess!" Al called me with a smile which made them more shock than ever. The prince doesn"t smile with anyone except me.
He came up to us and touched my shoulder, they greeted him and he just nodded.
"Well? Good night ladies. " I smiled sweetly at them and winked. We went to Jayden"s group.
Since Seraphina is being dumb right now, I should watch her more closely. She"s one of who I"m suspecting tonight.
"What happened to June? They are throwing death glares. " Jasper asked me when we got to them. I can feel that too.
"They were having a pleasant conversation." Al answered. I sighed and nodded.
"Oh where are Gray and Art?" I asked them
"I don't know, when they greeted the king they left somewhere. But they"ll be back. " Jasper answered, Jayden was just quiet now. Probably because she"s shy.
"I have to go next to my father, he's starting the party." Al said goodbye to us. Then he went to the front.
The music had already stopped and the people suddenly fell silent as the king stood up and applauded.
"Good evening! Thank you for greeting me on my birthday. Your magnificent wishes make me feel happy and special. As you all know, my son will be the next King of the empire. He will choose his queen and rule, for his own team as well. Thank you, protect and guide your future King well. Come forth. "
We immediately stepped in along with Gray and Art who just landed on one side. We all lowered our heads and bow down.
"Congratulations! The future team of the future king! Lead the empire well, and choose your Queen correctly son. "
We were given badges and stuffs. People gave us around of applause and we bowed down to them as well. Phew well done it.
I looked at Al who looks happy right now while looking at me, he mouthed congratulations" to me and I just smiled back at him. We are back to where we came from.
Art and Gray are busy talking.
"What are you talking about?" I asked them.
"Have you seen Seraphina?" Gray asked, hmm? Why? "I know it sounds crazy but we need to keep our eyes on her. I saw her with something. "
Suspicious, but what Gray said alarmed me. I saw the King walked away from his throne. She was going to her room, just like I remembered. There were guards with him, so why was he killed?
"Hays you know Gray, you"re being paranoid. Just enjoy the party. " Art said to Gray once holding his shoulder.
"Earlier, Art, you always tried to stop me from-
"Ok fine, how about this. We will keep an eye on her. " Art said in defeat. Good if they are watching Seraphina then I can go to the King"s side.
Gray and Art kept arguing, Jayden and Jasper were eating. Al was with the guests since it was his duty as a prince. I waited for a few minutes before I excused myself.
"Where are you going? Al said that we will watch over you, maybe someone will come to you-
"The King called me." I lied he didn"t call me. Art was giving me weird looks but he just let me go. Does he know something?
"Okay, as long as you come back soon." Says Art.
"Ah I'm like June." I stopped when Jayden holds my hand. Is she still avoiding Gray? I saw Gray bow. I was just shaken by what he did
"Sure."
We both went to the King"s room, but there were no guards there. Weird.
I knocked on the door.
"Come on." Jayden and I entered. "Oh Princess Astraea."
I looked around, it"s his bedroom. Why is he sitting in the couch? Will he do anything here? Hmm.
"Happy birthday again dear king." I greeted him while smiling. Jayden also greeted and bowed at him.
"Thank you child. Is this your firend? " he smiled at me.
"Yes, she is. Jayden Harrison. " Jayden bowed again...
"Ahhh Harrison"s kid eh? You have a twin brother don"t you? I always see you play and train on the ground. " He told us a story. "Harrison was a good friend, one of the best knight"s who was with me in my teenage days, along with your father Astraea. Have a seat both of you, "
We immediately followed and sat in front of him, the table is clear. Is someone preparing something?
"Fun days right? I remembered when your mother and my wife got pregnant in the same month. It was hilarious and it was fate. " He told us a story. I didn"t see Alistair"s mother since birth since she died giving birth to Al.
My parents and the royal family were great friends. If only my parents didn"t die from the accident. maybe, things would be better.
"Of course I remembered your majesty." He sighed, and leaned back in the sofa.
"Please marry my son, Astraea. I"m so sorry for asking you this. " I was surprised by what he said. "He"s been doing well in his works because of you. He would always come home and tell me things about what you said to him. He didn"t really like working so much because it was tiring, especially when he was young. He would always play with you, so I told him if he"d do his best in works and academics he would get to marry you, and he did what I said. I just wanted him to be a hardworking king. "
"So when I heard you wanted to back out I was surprise. I didn"t expect that you would say that. He heard of it and was devastated. So he told me he"s done doing his best, he said he will do his best to get you again. I didn"t interfere, it was my fault he lost you in the first place. I"m sorry. "
I didn"t know, but what about in my previous life? Did it also happened?
"Don"t be-
*Knocks*
"Oh it must be Maddy, your maid. She brought me some tea. " I immediately glanced at the King, what did he say?
"Yes?"
"Come in Maddy!" said the king loudly. Wait why? "Such a loyal maid, she"s your mother"s old friend"
"Huh?" I was really confused now. Maddy came in and she saw us, is she the killer? Wait no, she looks calm when she saw us. he would have panicked.
"Oh hello Princess." She bowed down when she saw us tas face the dear king. "Here's the tea your majesty."
"Sit down Maddy, and no need to be formal. It"s just Astraea. " Maddy smiled at what the king said and sat down on a chair. The king immediately took the tea and drank it. Shit I couldn"t even stop him! "Ah, just like the past. You"re really good at making teas. "
What? Nothing happened. Did I-
"Of course, everyone likes my tea. Would love some princess? Oh how about you miss? " said Maddy. I stopped for a few seconds, there"s only one way to find out. I have my dragon with me, Pensyvia told me the dragons can help me with anything.
"Sure." I smiled and said to her. I sip a little and it tastes good. It didn"t taste weird or anything. "Oh Maddy I didn't know you were close dear king?"
He laughed and slapped your table.
"Yes I was their childhood friend." Childhood what? "I was also a princess before, but one of the poorest princess in the land. We went bankrupt so your mother and father asked me to be their maid. "
I don"t think she"s the one who"ll poison the King, they"re friends. I guess it was Seraphina but she didn"t have the chance because we were here. I don"t remember much about the party, Maddy was there but went to me and said we were going home. She was crying too...
"Yeah she was our mother type with friends. She always scolded us whenever we did something wrong, and your mother was the soft type. They were best of friends. " The king added, Maddy nodded.
"Yes, that is why I promised them to take care of you. Because they were the only ones who helped me when I lost my status. " yeah, Maddy was always with me since I was a child. Mom and I were also close, but I didn"t think they"d be childhood friends. I doubted her.
"Father where- oh Ash." He immediately went to me, the king and Maddy just laughed. "We have to go dance at the party."
"Right now?" I asked, nothing happened here. Maybe the massacre won't happen since the timeline has changed?
"Yeah." We bowed to leave, Jayden came first and she bumped into Seraphina. We were at the hall, far from the party. Why is she here? She approached us and didn't even apologize to Jayden.
"Prince! Excuse me would like to dance with me? " Al immediately walked away from him.
"I'm sorry, I'm with my Queen tonight." I was depressed. Mapapa sana-all kanalang.
"B-but the competition didn't start yet?" she exclaimed.
"There will be no competition. I promised that I will marry her. " Seraphina looked at me from head to toe and made a face, an annoying one. "Let's go."
You will pay for this."
I heard her mumbled but we didn"t bother looking back. I immediately touched the fabric of his suit.
"Hey Al, are you sure?" he smiled at me and nodded. "But I didn"t-
"Shh... I will marry you even if I wait a few years." He answered. I immediately blushed, I have been waiting for this... should I?
We walked down the pathway to the garden to the party and I took a deep breath.
"Hey Al?"
"Hmm?"
"Ok, I'll be your Queen."
We were dancing at the party, he looks happy. And I"m glad I finally had him. but what really happened in my past?
No, something"s off him in the past. But I"m not sure, I don"t see him very well. If only I knew what happened.
People are watching us from afar. Even though I told myself I didn't want to be with her anymore, I just can't stop. I wonder why everytime I"m with him, I feel safe. Even in my past life, he"s cold and snob but he"s kind.
I don't know if what the king said is true. But what if I told him about my past? My previous life? Will you listen? Should I tell him?
"Hey we should go on a date." He said. I raised an eyebrow at him and laughed.
"Hey, I"m your knight now. You should give me order. " Laughing I said to him.
"Hm, ok. Then I order you to date me then? " he said with a cocky voice. I was just shaken. "You'll be my Queen anyways."
I immediately looked down because of what he was saying.
"There will be no competition. I already know who I"ll marry, I will let my father announce it tomorrow. " I immediately glared at him. What ?! I can answer-
"Do not you-
"Why? I"m the Prince remember? It's ok if the marriage lasts. As long as everyone knows you"re mine, they"ll keep their pants to themselves. " I never knew he"d be this confident. "I can't wait to tell father."
He seems excited. Ones the King announces something, it"s going to be final. There"s no going back, if anyone wants to cancel only the King can do that.
"Oh by the way, when you said you didn't want to be one of the Queen candidates. Some weird dreams began appearing. " He mumbled, weird dreams? Is that why he"s having sleep at night? I always saw him waking up in the middle of the night when we were still on the island.
"Why? What kind of dream? " he shrugged...
"I don"t know what that was but it was terrifying. I was a King in my dream, I have a queen too. But it wasn't you, her face was blurry. She does sound like Seraphina. " I don"t know why but I was suddenly nervous. "I was ignoring you, it was horrifying that I couldn't sleep."
"Seraphina? You don"t like her? " he made face, as if he didn't really want to be with her.
"No thanks, weird dream actually it felt true. But I don't want that to happen. " I was glad when he said that, but why is he having those dreams? A fragment of the past? What in his dream is true... should I tell him?
"Al, what if... your dreams are true? What if it became- "
"Not gonna happen, since childhood I always wanted to marry you. Fuck fate, fuck destiny. I promised that I will marry you. Just dance with me ok? And preted the world exists. " He pleaded,
And after that there was no going back
----------
I'm already here on my terrace in the palace, we already went home and the King looks well. Nothing happened, did I prevent the incident? Is it changing already? Because thank God.
I never thought I would marry Alistair in this timeline, because I know Seraphina is the one he will choose. But I guess I won on this life.
I"m still having doubts if I tell my previous life to Al. but I"ll decide tomorrow? I guess.
****************
"Princess !!!" Maddy shouted loudly, she went into my room and disturbed my sleep. "The King! He"s going to announce something! "
What? This early ?! Al did tell me last night but... am I nervous?
I immediately got dressed and went to the Empire. Too many people, what is happening here ?! I saw Art, Gray, Jasper and Jayden outside.
"What's happening?" I asked them. There face- this doesn"t look good. "Did something happen?"
"Shit! Fuck this-
"Stop cussing." –Art
"This isn"t supposed to happen! Where did it all go wrong ?! " –Gray exclaimed
"B-why is this happening?" I asked. The King was in the terrace, along with Al... and Seraphina?
"THE FUTURE QUEEN AND KING, SERAPHINA AND ALISTAIR!" and just like that, my world became to crumble.
Ah, am I deaf? What did the King say? I could feel my tears falling down my eyes, what? Al was smiling with Seraphina. Both of them were smiling... my vision became blurry and I cant clearly see them because of my tears
Am I dreaming?
"J-June." Jayden immediately rushed into me. Why? Didn"t he say he"ll marry me? D-did he change his mind?
"A-ah what, s-I just have a garden." I said softly and left them there. Maddy was just behind me and followed.
I went to sit on the bench, this is where I confessed to him that I will be his Queen. Why? I gave him a chance? Wha-what... happened?
"Dear, are you okay?" Maddy leaned over me. "Maybe that's just how it is."
I just bowed, even after all this time. I can"t prevent this ... wait. Something probably happened. The King supports us, then why? No this isn"t right-
I should not let my emotions go through. Even in my previous life, I can feel that something is wrong. I just ignored, since it happened again I wont let it slide.
Now I will choose my own path, I am not gonna die in this life. I will find someone who is responsible for this. I"ll make them pay.
"Dear, maybe you're not really into each other... don't push yourself with her ok?" Maddy isn"t helping me at all! Why is he telling this to me ?! Al promised, this shouldn"t happened. Something is wrong.
"Maddy, did you ever love someone?" I asked, I should ask her... slowly. She was there last night, she could be involved.
"Oh yes, I do. When I was another princess, sadly he ended up with someone else. Destiny will always interfere. " If she"s a princess, then...
"Princess? Did you also study at the Academy? " he nodded. Let"s act it all out shall we? "Wow you must have been very great. What course did you get? "
"I took a magical course. I"m good at mixing potions since casting spells isn"t my thing. " I acted surprised and amazed. She slipped... but I"ll think this all trough. "Are you ok now? You stopped crying- "
"Yea- I just needed some time alone. I should probably stop. Just like you said, destiny will always interfere. " I sighed and said to her... she nodded and walked away.
Fuck, how am I gonna do this? Sure I involve Maddy, I don"t know how but she"s involved somehow. Probably a grudge on someone or... I need to know.
I got up and ran away from the palace. That"s right, something happened. It involves magic, the question is why? Why did she do this? How did she do this-
"Princess!" Gray shouted loudly. He was running with Art. What are they doing here ??? "P-please don"t leave just like that. W-we can help. "
Did they know something about this? Since the beginning, they have been talking nonsense. Like they know me for a long time
"No, you don't know what I have been through." I answered, and I made a bluff. They both looked at each other.
"We should tell her, it"s now or never. What shouldn't have happened has happened, to make things worse the Yin-Yang dragon will interfere soon, the connection will get messy. " Art muttered. What? what? Connection? Where?
Gray looked at me and held my hands, what the-
"I know because I caused this."

To be continued...