Us (bxb)

-6-

♡ Gabrielle ♡

It is in the evening, and in a few minutes, it will be dinner, and I'm feeling more anxious. Different possibilities are playing into my thoughts, and there's a possibility that some may be real. A knock arrived on my door. I glanced at it and opened a maid.

''The dinner is served, your highness.''

''O-okay''

I left my bedroom and headed down to the dining room. When I arrived, everyone was already seated. I sat near Gabriella. Then the maids came in to serve us food. And I thanked the maid who was serving me. In the middle of eating, Gabriella fidgets her foot at mine. I squirmed my feet back at her, encouraging her to go first.

''Do it,'' she whispered.

''No, you do it,'' I whispered.

We went back and forth, whispering about who would begin the discussion. I think we were loud enough for mother to notice.

''What's wrong?'' Mother inquired.

Then we grabbed everyone's attention, and I fidgeted my arm toward Gabriella.

''Fine,'' she said.

''We found our mate,'' Gabriella immediately remarked.

Everyone dropped their silverware, making a cling echo across the room.

''Who is it?'' Isaac questioned.

''Well, I don't know mine since I was running away from her,'' she responded, looking down.

''How about you?'' Isaac turned his head to me.

I glanced down and stammered, ''h-he's a p-prince um h-he's a prince from The Spade Kingdom.'' I stared up at their wide-eyed faces.

''Please say something,'' I said anxiously.

''W-well, I don't know what to say about this,'' Father said.

I looked over at mother with a pleading face.

''We'll sort it out tomorrow,'' Mother reassured us.

We finished our lunches silently, everyone thinking about the momentous announcement. After completing my dinner, I drank a glass of water and walked to my room. I unlocked my bedroom door and relaxed on the sofa, resting my head.

-Next Morning-

I woke up and sat up, then rubbed my eyes. I opened the curtains to allow the sunshine to pour through my room and went to the bathroom to shower. After that, I went down for breakfast. I came early. Everyone was asleep. So I walked to the kitchen to locate the maid, but there was none. I have no other option than to prepare my breakfast. I grabbed two pieces of bread, a jar of strawberry jam, and a glass of milk. I carry them to the dinner table and consume them.

After eating my meal, I strolled up to my room. Halfway, a maid came sprinting towards me. I paused, and she gave me a note.

''This is for you, his highness,'' She bowed as I thanked her.

I arrived at my bedroom, opened the door, and proceeded to my desk. I sat down and opened the envelope. In the middle of reading the letter, my eyes widened.

I dropped the letter. This is not possible. The prince wants to ask me to meet him in the Spade Kingdom, but I can't see that. He despises me. I was too frail for him and fell short of his standards. Therefore, he saw no potential in me. We won't be able to connect easily. What if he chooses not to communicate with me? That will impact me. I'll immediately inform Gabriella before I wait for my parents to get up.

I entered Gabriella's room and knocked twice on the door. And no response, so I barged in and found Gabriella sleeping quietly. I gently poked her, but she was still asleep.

I murmured, "Gabriella, Gabriella," Even though I yelled gently, she was unaffected.

I had no option but to smack the letter into her face, which instantly woke her up.

''waaah! Huh?'' She stood up. She glared at me and slapped my shoulder, asking angrily, "What?"

I handed her the letter, and she snatched it up.

As she read the letter, she asked, "What is this?" She asked me as she turned to face me, "The prince invited you for a bonding?"

I nodded and added, "I want you to come with me."

She rubbed her forehead and said, "Gabrielle- I can't."

"Gabriella, please, I can't do it without you," I begged.

''I'll give it some thought,'' she said.

I groaned, then nodded, and walked out of the room.

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I'm now reading in my studies. I checked the clock, and it was 8 am. I took the letter and hurried down to the dining room. I finally saw my family eating breakfast and rushed to my father. He seemed confused. I gave him the letter, and he accepted it and asked, ''What is this?''

''A letter from the Spade Kingdom,'' I answered.

I looked around the table, and my eyes went to Gabriella. She looked concerned.

I glanced over at my father. He sighted ''The prince wants to meet you?''

I nodded. Then Father responded, ''well, do you want to go?''

''I-I don't know, I need your consent first.''

Then Mother said, ''darling, you don't need our approval. The real question is, do you want to go?''

''I-I don't know, Mother.''

''Why is that?'' Mother questioned.

''Um, I'm afraid of him,'' I glanced down.

''What did he do to you?'' Issac inquired as he rose from the chair.

''I-I can't say it.'' tears began gathering in my eyes as Issac kept asking, and a picture of our earlier encounter started developing in my thoughts. ''I-I can't,'' I sobbed, tears spilling down my cheeks. The room went quiet, and I hurried out of the dining room.

''Gabrielle,'' cried Gabriella, attempting to stop me. But I kept running.

♢ Helen ♢

I was currently in my study, and the door opened and showed Sophia, my assistant.

"Knock next time," I remarked to her firmly.

"O-oh, my apologies, your highness."

She moved to approach me, ''This was a letter from the Spade Kingdom.''

I swiftly pulled it from her, and she flinched at it. I opened the letter and read every word. Attentively. When I paused at the final lines, I grinned, the prince desired me, and I chuckled at the letter. Then I rushed out of my studies, leaving Sophia confused. I arrived at my father's office. I knocked on the door and heard a come-in from Father. I opened the door and displayed both of my parents. I then handed the letter to my father, and he took it.

''It is a letter from the Spade Kingdom,'' I stated as he read. He grinned, then approached me and hugged me.

''What does it say?'' My mother asked.''The prince is interested in getting to know me.'' I enthusiastically said.

''What!'' she shrieked joyfully, then instantly grabbed me.

''Oh, my daughter is going to be a queen,'' as she squeezed my face.''I know, mother. I'm excited.''

'' We should pack right now immediately. Bring all your expensive gowns and diamonds, and make sure you're gorgeous enough to impress the prince,'' Mother said in her high-pitched voice.

''Okay, Mother,'' I rolled my eyes and sighed. Then I said,'' Anyway, I'm going to excuse myself.''I left the office and immediately went to my bedroom. I unlock the bedroom door, go to my walk-in closet, pick up the gowns I will bring, and pack some of my favourite jewellery.

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I summoned the maid to call Sophia and waited for minutes in my bed. I sigh. Where is that girl? Then a knock came.

''Come in,'' I called out.

The door opened and showed Sophia. I stood up and said, ''I need you to fetch my bag and load it.'' I pointed to a collection of dresses and jewels. I watched Sophia's face in horror, and I grinned. ''I'm going to be in the study when I return. Everything should be packed,'' I added.

♡ Gabrielle ♡

I am lying in bed with dried tears on my cheeks, and I sigh. I stared up at the ceiling with a blank mind. Then the door slowly opened. I didn't care to check who it was. Soft footsteps can be heard approaching me. I still gazed up and saw Mother's face blocking the ceiling. So I sat up and saw Gabriella with my mother.

''I-I cant Mother, I-im terrified,'' I whimpered.

Mother sat alongside me on the bed, caressed my face, and murmured, ''Gabrielle, it's alright. But this is an opportunity to discover love. You deserve to be loved and happy even if we live in a cruel world. All I wanted was for my family to be happy, especially my children. It is my responsibility as a mother.'' Tears rushed down my cheeks as she said that.

''And the same goes for you too, Gabriella,'' Mother murmured as she stared at Gabriella, and her other hand cupped her face, and Gabriella cried.

''I'll give you some time to think about it,'' she added as she was ready to go. I embraced her firmly. She smiled at me and hugged me back, then slowly, Gabriella joined our embraces, and I sobbed more, the three of us hugging. I could hear Gabriella sobbing, and I glanced at my mother. She had tears flowing down her cheeks.

This is just what I needed, the affection of a mother. I smiled