Chapter 35: What Then?
"So, Have you made up your mind?" the king asked. Greg and I exchanged glances.
"About what?" He acted as if he was oblivious about the question.
"You know. Your chosen lady. You already made a decision right?" his father continued. I cleared my throat loud enough for them to notice and shifted their attention to me.
"Oh nothing. I'm fine." I awkwardly stated. Greg gave the stare. Ever since the incident and confessing my love for him, I think we're already in a relationship even though we never spoke about it and it's better to keep it as a secret or else a scandal will shook the nation.
"Yes Father. I already made my choice." My body stiffened when he snaked his hand under the table and held my hand. I tried to separate our palm but he just held it tighter and began squeezing it gently as if he was assuring me that it will be alright.
"Very well, I wish you good luck." then his father made a toast and everyone raised their glass in response. Goodness. This is one awkward dinner. I almost spilled my drink when Greg ventured to caress my leg. As a reply, I pinched his finger and stepped hardly on his foot.
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It's late and I can't seem to feel drowsy. Usually, I'm good at sleeping the moment I lay on my bed but not on this particular night and I hate it. I heard the door open and I immediately sit up to see who it is.
"Oh. It's you." Who else? It's Prince Gregory IV. "What are you doing here?"
"I can't sleep. I have a hunch you're thinking about me and I think I'm right." he casually sneaked under my blanket like we share the same bed now.
"I'm not thinking about you. I'm thinking about going to sleep and now you ruined my only time of rest. Do me a favor and stop thinking about me."
"I can't. You're always on my mind." He pushed me gently to be in a supine position with his hands on my shoulders.
"Oh please. Spare me with your silly pick-up lines." I giggled. I can't help myself to laugh and smile.
After the excitement I decided to let him lie with me for a few minutes. He was spooning me from behind as our breathing started to synchronize.
"Greg?" I whispered to make sure he's not yet asleep.
"Hmmmm?" he lazily replied.
"I'm just curious..." I started.
"About what?" Now he's tickling me with his breath and that's why I decided to face him.
"I know it's weird and far fetched to ask but what's your surname?" He snorted and then it became a laugh.
"What's funny?" I asked.
"Nothing. Why do you ask? Would you like to know your future last name? I think Inkwell suites you."
"What? No!" Again, I can't stop myself from grinning that I decided to hit him with my pillow instead as a means of expressing my whimsical self.
"Ouch! Stop that. I'm in recovery remember?" Greg complained.
"Oh yeah. I totally forgot." I faced the ceiling before turning to him again. "I'm just curious you know. I'm James Inkwell, Mattheo's last name in Guasconti, and you... You're just plain Gregory. Don't tell me your last name is the fourth cause that would be contradictory to your father which is the sixth." for the second time the prince laughed.
"You're laughing again." I hinted in my voice that I would hit him again with the pillow if he will not stop.
"Nothing. You're killing me James. You do."
I guess I better appreciate this moment since it's a rare ocassion to see the prince laughing his ass out.
"But seriously, What's your family name?" I asked again. This time he composed himself and decided to sit up.
"Well... I don't know. I guess it was now lost since our family line was rooted 16 generations ago. All records about our first royal family member which is King Aurelios II has been wiped out. You know how the monarchy works in our country, once the family bloodline comes to an end or if there are no more future successor of the throne, the King must choose among his brothers. But you see, our family is the only exception on that rule. Among the four major royal bloodline, ours originated from maybe a commoner or someone in the upper class during those days. It was said that the council have decided on who to appoint and that's why King Aurelios II was elected as the heir of the dying bloodline since King Edward I only have a daughter and the king was an only child. Before King Edward could even produce a son, he became sick and died. That is why when King Aurelios was elected as the king of the empire, any records pertaining to his past or his kins were destroyed and wiped out from existence to prevent his other family members to make any claims in case our bloodline would come to an end. And that's why until now, No one really knows what our surname is but right you can call me Prince Gregory IV. Someday I'll take your name and I'll be Gregory Inkwell or you could call me mine." he never fails to destroy history with his trite juxtaposition.
"Oh please stop being corny. It's making me cringe." I replied.
"It's not corny if it's true." he retaliated in a sweetly voice and he started to kiss me on my neck.
"So are you saying that you're the one who needs to continue your family bloodline? Your father doesn't have any brothers."
"Probably yes."
A thought was placed in my head.
"Oh my God. We need to stop this." I pushed his head away from me and I decided to stand up and stay away from him.
"What? What did I do?" he also stood up and started to walk towards me but I stopped him.
"Don't you see? You need to a wife and have a son or else the throne would be given to someone else."
"You're starting to sound like my father." he replied curtly.
"Think about it Greg. You're throwing away what your family have established for the last century!"
"I think you might've forgotten that my mother is currently pregnant. I'm not fit to be king. Maybe my brother is."
"But you don't know that! What if she's a girl? You very well know that only men can inherit the throne. Your mother is now old, maybe it's the last time that she'll give birth. You're their only son Greg! There's no other way to continue your legacy but to be king. Besides, concubinage has been illegal for a long time and there is no way your father can have another son."
"But we also don't know if that's a boy my mother is carrying. I'm willing to take a risk because I believe I'm going to have a brother!"
I shook my head. This has been wrong from the beginning.
"I think this is it Greg. It's over." I started to cry.
"No. Don't say that." he faltered. "We've only just started."
"I can't let you throw away 16 generations of tradition and excellence. You're gonna be a great king. I can see that."
"I can't do it. I'm in love with you."
"Yes you can. And if you can't do it. I will do it! I'll do everything I can just to see you on that throne even if it means I have to kill myself!"
That certainly angered him well that he decided to not say anything but kick the nearest chair beside him and walked out of the room before closing the door very loudly.