Like what Nyra suggested. Nicholas keeps on sending letters to Alarice.
Though not once did she replied to him. He will always heard that her letters was constantly coming to Nyra and Ember but never to him. Nicholas spent the years longing for the woman he can never have again.
One day, when he was resting in the Empress Palace a letter arrived.
The letter that he was waiting for decades.
Your Majesty,
How are you doing your majesty? It's been a while, right? I don't know if I should still call you that since you are no longer the King and our daughter took on the throne for quite a while now.
I hope you're doing great. I would like to invite you for a small dinner party. I hope you can make it.
- Alarice
Nicholas tried not to cry so the letter won't be smudged with his tears.
He hugged the letter that he waited for so so long.
"Thank you." He muttered
Nicholas arrived at Las Islas after a month together with Nyra and Ember. He thought he will be welcomed by a happy and bright atmosphere but he was not.
By the palace gate is the reigning King Emery.
"It's been a while father and sister" He said
"You're looking good brother." Nyra said as he hugged Emery
"So why would you call me from all the way to the north?" Ember asked
"Seems like you really like being the Duchess of the North for you to complain." Emery said
"Where's your mother?" Nicholas finally spoke
Emery smiled sadly.
"Let's go. I'll take you to her room." He said
Emery took them to a room with lots of maid and some doctors. Nicholas feel nervous and his heart started pounding loudly.
"Father, let's get some tea first and let sisters talk to mom." He said
"N-no. Please let me see your mom first." He tried insisting
"That's mom's order. We wouldn't want her to be upset right?" Emery said
Nicholas don't have a choice but to go with Emery.
"Mom was already old and she has been suffering a heart ailments for the last two years. She's been growing weaker and weaker. The doctors were trying to do their best but she was already.." Emery said softly while pouring his father tea
"No one told me." Nicholas said looking at his tea cup blankly. Unable to process the things that he just heard
"She didn't want to tell anyone. Even my sister's didn't know." He said
He didn't utter a word after that. No one did. They were just there sitting and drinking tea.
After a while Ember and Nyra emerged from the room. They were both sullen and their eyes were red and puffy from crying.
Nicholas stood up and slowly went to the room. He was greeted by a gloomy atmosphere and the smell of herbs.
He saw the most beautiful woman lying at her bed. Even with her skinny body and dark circles under her eyes, in his eyes her beauty was still there. What do they call it? Undying beauty.
"Hi." Her voice come off as a foreign sound for him.
He didn't heard her voice for a long time now so she sound unfamiliar and yet the gentleness laced in her voice was still familiar to him.
"Hello." He said trying to hold back his tears
He walk a little closer and sit in the chair beside her bed.
"Can I hold your hand?" Nicholas asked hesitantly
Alarice nodded. Nicholas gently held her hand towards his lips and clasped it.
"It's been a while." He said
"Yeah."
"How is your stay here?" He asked
"It was enjoyable. It felt like I was home." Alarice said
"Are you happy?"
"I am." She said
Nicholas can no longer hold it back and his tears fell.
"I waited for your reply all these years like a good boy." He said
Alarice smiled softly.
"Well. You did a good job." She said
Their conversation was nothing deep. They both just exchange a light and everyday conversation. But that conversation means the most for them.
It felt like they came back to that office with a lot of paper works and to lighten the mood they will talk light hearted conversations like this. Except there were no paperwork's in sight.
They didn't know how long they were talking but the conversation just flow constantly.
"You look ugly when you cry. You've been crying for a while now." Alarice said
Nicholas sighed and smiled.
"Yeah, and you still look as beautiful as ever." He said
"Is that so?"
"That is so."
Alarice sighed and looked through the window. It's already dark outside and the bright moon was like watching them.
"The moon is really beautiful, isn't it?" Nicholas said
"Yeah. It's the most beautiful but I will miss the sun's glorious light." She said
They were both silent for a while.
"Is it too much if I asked to hug you?" Nicholas broke the silent
"Sure." She said
Nicholas went to the bed and hold her while also laying beside her.
"Can I kiss you?" He said
"It's the last time so .. sure." She said
Nicholas gently kissed her forehead, then her eyes, then her nose, then for the last, her lips.
Pain and happiness were all gushing towards him. He didn't want this time to end. He didn't want to let her go. He didn't want her to go.
"Nicholas. We started wrong and choose a lot of wrong choices but I didn't regret them. Do you think you can wait for me in our next life?" She said
Nicholas gently hug her tightly.
"I've been waiting for decades, a couple of century is nothing." He said while crying
"I see. Then I can now sleep peacefully." She said
"Mhh." Nicholas replied
"I'll look for you on our next life. And this time, you will be the only one in my life and I will love you with all my heart." He said
Alarice hugged him back and cupped his face to kiss him one last time. Then her hand on his face fell down and she stopped breathing.
--
"I am Hanna, the new intern for the HR department. And I hope to get along with you all." She introduced herself.
The other employees greeted her back.
"We cannot throw you a celebration 'coz the CEO will be here." Her supervisor said
"CEO?"
"Yeah. Just a heads up. He's a tyrant. He's a spartan. He's super strict and always angry. Feels like the whole world is on his shoulders." She said while making face.
"He's that bad?"
"He is! He fires employees left and right without consideration. So be careful. Come. I'll introduce you to him but be very polite. Okay?" She warned her
They were walking towards the elevator. The moment the elevator opens. A tall, handsome guy with blonde hair and ocean blue eyes stand in front of them holding his phone and chatting someone.
"Oh! Good day sir! We didn't know you were already here!." Her supervisor said bowing her head which she did bow her head also
"Who's this?" His baritone voice said
"Oh. This is Hanna an intern of the HR department." She said and looked at him which she also did.
The moment their eyes met the CEO suddenly hugged him out of the blue which made everyone surprised.
"I've been waiting for you." He muttered
--THE END--