A/N: Quick question. Why does everyone thinks I'm writing some tragedy. This is comedy yo! I'm quite entertained reading all your comments in the last chapter.
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I was reading some of the charter laws so that I can know what happens to me in case Gregory will fire me as his official Gardein when I heard a knock on the door. I removed the chair leaning on the doorknob and opened the door. I was surprised to see that it was Prince Gregory.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
He handed me an old leather bound book. "I found it on out private library. Um. I thought you should read it."
I stared at the book. Nothing looks particularly special about it. It was covered in black plain leather and there was no symbol or title engraved on the cover of it. "Why?"
"It was written by one of our great king. It was his memoir and he wrote it just before he died."
I reluctantly took the book. Why would Gregory give a a memoir written by a dying king?
"I want you to know that I'm ready to go with the plan. I will be waiting for you until midnight and if I won't find you standing outside my door, I want you to know that I'll understand." he said and walked away toward his room.
I closed the door and took the book to my desk. Why would Greg want me to read this? I uncoiled the strap of what looks to be a personal journal.
The Story of Chesterheimr
Written by: King Chester I
The caligraphed title was obviously added later on since it looks modern than the rest of the pages. King Chester? Interesting. He was the great king who unified the kingdom during the first one. He basically named the kingdom in reverence to his name.
I carefully turned to the next page.
A lot of people think that I have named the kingdom under my name. They are not entirely wrong about that. But what people seems to have forgotten is that it was a combination of two names. Chester and Heimr. The latter name sounds odd but it was his name. Heimr was my guardian. Before he was appointed to become my Gardein, he was a slave, captured in the town called Dropton.
I continued on reading the journal until I reached the final page.
The story was beautiful I cried after reading it. The way it was written and the way it ended touched tugged my heart into embracing love. I didn't know that we were not the first one in this situation. The only difference would be the ending and it will depend on me.
Now that I got over what I read, I need to think about what I'm gonna do before midnight passes. Oh god. Why didn't Greg gave me more time to think things through.
I looked at the clock. Thirty minutes before twelve.
Tick tock. Tick Tock.
It's a half hour but I feel like I'm running out of time.
Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
I pulled my hair in frustration. Time is running. It's now a few minutes before midnight and the clock sounds louder than before.
Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Running away. Greg. Marriage. Family. Honor. There's too many factor!
Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Remember James, clarity in calmness.
That's what I did. I stopped thinking for a second and I let my mind decide what I truly desire. And now that things are finally clearer. I saw what I wanted in the future.
Eventually, I've made my decision. I stood up and now the room is now silent unIike before.
I opened my door for a little bit and peeked through the crevice. I have to make sure nobody sees me. After making sure that nobody's in sight, I jogged my way in front of Greg's room, scared and excited.
I exhaled a lot air before knocking on his door. It's time that I'll let fate decide what would happen next. If he will not open the door within 10 seconds then I'm outta here.
10
.
Is this the right decision?
9
.
8
.
7
.
Oh God the suspense is killing me! Maybe I should just accept everything and return to my room right now.
Before my feet could go back, the door opened and Greg was thereâ standing and looking at me. Without wasting another second I jumped on him and started kissing him. He responded and pulled me inside before closing the door.
Now I'm totally sure that I'm ready to take the risk and to gamble everything I have.
"Let's do it Greg. Let's run away. I hope you're still up to it." I said while catching my breath. My hands are on his shoulders and his arms wrapped around my back.
"Of course. What took you so long? Damn it. I thought you're never gonna change your mind." He was elated and it was obvious in his eyes.
"Maybe we should start packing." I said before any of us will start to tear up.
"Hmmm. I like that idea but don't you think that the timing's not right eh?" He was smiling mischievously and I already knew what he meant.
"I said pack! Gosh Greg, I'm really gonna leave you for real."
"I know. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm just so happy you're here with me." He replied as he held my hand.
We gathered all the essentials, Greg told me to leave my things behind to avoid suspicions that we ran away.
"Now what?" I asked with no other thing on my hand except his hand.
"Now we go."
He led me outside his room. A guard was roving around the area but we managed to pass by him. Greg said we needed to go near the library and that's still far from where we stand. We were about to cross the hall but then Greg pushed me back using his arm. The sudden movement yanked my pin away from my outfit until it fell on the floor creating a soft echo of sound.
"Is anyone there? Identify yourself!" the roving guard yelled while his flashlight shone near our location.
"Pick-up your pin and follow me." I did what Greg instructed me to do. He sprinted behind a decorative vase of flowers.
"Tell me we're not going to hide behind this." we're definitely going to get caught.
"Identify yourself or I will be inclined to shoot anyone on sight!"
"This is a horrible hiding place!" I hissed.
"Shhh! I'm concentrating!"
He was scratching the wall. What is he doing?
"He's getting closer!"
"Done. Let's go." a small panel magically opened and we both got inside. Gregory closed the opening fast and moments later, we heard the footsteps of the guard until it disappeared in the distance.
We were cramped inside this dark tiny room and it is obvious that we were face to face with each other judging from the warm breath that is blowing by my hair.
"So what changed your mind?" he asked me.
I glared at him even though he can't see me.
"You knew I would change my mind the moment I read the ending." I accused him. He definitely knew how stories would mold my decisions in life.
"I didn't." he chuckled. "I just gave that to let you know what you would be missing in life."
When he made sure that the guard was far from our hiding spot, he opened the door and invited me out into the hallway. After much careful tiptoeing it almost gave me a cramp, we have reached the library.
"Why the library?"
"You seemed to have forgotten that the castle has several concealed passageway. The library offers one exit route near the stable."
I followed him and he crouched underneath the wooden study desk. He opened the second drawer and inserted his royal key in an almost invisible gap on the compartment slide. A click was heard and a staircase appeared below the kneehole.
It was struggling to proceed towards the stairs since we needed to crawl in a limited space just to get down. I started sneezing the moment I reached the landing, thanks to the flying dusts our movements managed to scatter. Thankfully there were lights to guide our way. Gregory pushed a button and the entrance was sealed instantly.
After a series of turns and descents, the passageway led us outside the grounds. We went inside the stable where an empty carriage was waiting for us. Gregory opened the door to the stagecoach and gave me a long black cloak.
"What is this? Are we joining a cult?"
"Just wear that." he said.
We both wore the cloak and Greg arranged my hood to conceal my face. He told me sit on the driver's seat which I did until he soon followed. I thought we would be going but all we did was sit down while he stared at his pocketwatch.
"What are we waiting for?"
"The delivery time. During dawn, several carriage enters the castle to deliver goods. We'll pretend to be one so keep your head down all the time until we're out of the fort." he explained and covered his mouth and nose with a scarf
"That sounds dangerous." Now my fears has come back. Apparently, there's still a chance we can be caught at the gate.
"That's why I need you to act casual. Pretend that you're sleeping or something." he looked once more on the watch and said. "Now we go."
In a swift movement he snapped the harness of the horse's buckle and we began to move. I cursed silently as we reached the tower gate. I lowered my hood down to my nose and angled my face down as if I was sleeping. I felt the carriage slow down. We're already at the gate.
"Have a safe journey!" I heard someone said.
"Thank you. We will!" Greg replied with a funny accent and different tone to mask his voice. No disruption happened and the carriage's speed increased gradually.
"We're cleared." said Greg.
"Oh thank God." I whispered and I finally managed to let out my breath which I held for the whole ride. I looked back and saw the majestic palace in the distance.
I began to laugh uncontrollably with relief. "That was easier than I thought. And what's with your accent back there? You sounded lunatic."
"I just imitated how serf's talk."
"That's not how we talk, you imp!"
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The change in scenery is refreshing but the way we are taking is oddly familiar to me.
"Wait, I know this place!"
Greg just smiled and continued to maneuver the carriage until we finally arrived on the destination.
Home.
My home.
"Oh god. Why are we here?" I became tearful the moment I saw our simple bungalow.
"I just thought you wanted to say goodbye first." he said.
I jumped out from my seat and went to knock on the door. I feel nervous and excited at the same time. Excited to see them again but nervous about how they will take the news of our plan.
The door opened.
"James!" my mother almost screamed. "What are you doing here at this time of day?"
"Very early morning Mrs. Inkwell." Greg chimed in. My mother looked as if she saw God himself.
"I must be dreaming." she mumbled and massaged her temples.
"Where's dad? I need to talk to you both."
She pointed at their room; still recovering from our unannounced appearance. We all entered the house and she offered us coffee before she called dad. We both declined.
"Wow." is what they both said after we told them about our plan and why we're here at this moment.
"I mean, are you sure you're doing this? You still got time to go back to the palace if you're not totally certain about this." my dad said.
"We're both certain." I replied and smiled to assure them that I will be alright again. They took the news better than I thought especially our relationship.
"Is Judith in her room?"
My mom nodded. I stood up and went to see my sister in her bedroom. She was sleeping peacefully and I sat beside her on the bed. I kissed her carefully in the forehead. This might be the last time I will see her.
"Bye little sister. Please take care of mother and father for me." I whispered. Before I tear up again, I went out of her room.
"We need to go now." Greg said. "By the way, your parents offered to help us."
And so we we continued our journey. Greg picked a spot where we will stage our supposed to be death near the border of Chesterheimr. My parents helped us in wrecking our wagon and for the most painful procedure- covering the caravan with blood. Using a special instrument in bloodletting, we both extracted our blood and splayed it on every side. To make it more believable, Gregory used his gun to create bullet holes on the transport.
"It looks convincing to me." my father remarked as we stare at our own creation. A picture of hijack, struggle and assasination.
"This is goodbye then?" my mother said.
I wrapped my arms around my parents and started to sob like a child. "For now. I swear, I will be back."
They both patted my back. "It's near sunrise. You better get on the road. You can use our wagon for your transport." father said.
"But you'll be walking on the way back." I protested.
My mother shushed me. "Consider it as a farewell gift. It's all we can give you for all the sacrifice that you have done for us."
I embraced them the longest in my entire life before joining Gregory at his side.
"Take care of James for both of us!" dad said to Greg.
"Till the last of my breath!" he replied.
We both rode the transportation my parents endowed to us. This feels like the day I went to the palace to work as a sorb. I waved goodbye to my parents until they were no longer in sight.
"What do we have back?" I asked Greg about the bags we transferred to this wagon.
"Some supplies. Clothes. Food. Money. Gold and diamonds for trading. You know the usual stuff."
"And you said you didn't expect me to change my mind. How come you're very prepared for our getaway?"
He smiled coyly.
"What happens to your crown now?"
"My brother will take my place." he said casually.
"And how sure are you that your mother is carrying a boy?"
"I just know."
It's almost sunrise when we passed the border. I held Gregory's hand as we enter the realm of uncertainties. If I got him by my side, I will never fear about what the future has to offer.
And now as the sun rises above the horizon we have left our identities behind. All I know is that two people in love are on their way in finding their next adventure.
THE END