The Forgotten Princess

A while after dinner I retired to my room to get ready for sleep. Tricia has prepared my night gown so I have changed in them.

"Do you have any other orders, princess?" Tricia asked.

"I’m good Tricia." I smiled. "You go and get some rest as well."

"Thank you your highness. Then I will retire now." Tricia bowed and left the room. She slowly closed the doors.

I sat down on one side of my bed and took a book from my bed side table. I am not yet sleepy so I continue to read the that I was reading before.

After some time I heard a light noise in my balcony. My heart raced a little.

’What if it is an intruder?’ I thought to my self.

Luckily I have a knife hidden under my pillow. After my kidnapping, I have always armed my self with small weapons that can be concealed.

"Don’t worry..." A familiar voice of a man said. "It’s me."

"Leon!?" My tense muscles relaxed after hearing his voice. A smile crept from my face. "You’ve come."

I quickly stood up and raced towards him. Regaleon’s arms was spread wide waiting to welcome me into his embrace.

"Sorry I wasn’t able to join you for dinner." Regaleon said with an apologetic voice.

"Mmm." I shook my head. "No need to worry. Your work is always important."

I burry my face into his chest. I smell his familiar scent that it made me calm. It smelled like home. He was my home.

"You are more important to me." Regaleon said. "That’s why I came here to visit you, even though it was late."

I giggled. "Father will scold you if he knew you visited me in the middle of the night. And not to mention in my balcony."

"Haha, forget the formalities. What’s important is that I can spoil my bride to be." Regaleon said with a chuckle.

Regaleon opened his huge cape and drape me in it. It was big that it can accommodate the both of us.

"Aren’t you cold?" Regaleon asked.

I shook my head. With him hugging me, how can I be cold.

We were watching the stars while sitting on the ledge. Regaleon’s back was on the wall while he was hugging me in front, between his legs. We were like this for some time in the balcony.

"How did your work go?" I asked.

"Hmm, good." Regaleon answered neutrally.

"Is it something that I cannot ask about?" I asked.

Being the crown prince, I know he has some matters that he cannot discuss with me.

"For now." Regaleon answered. "But after we are officially engaged, I can tell you about it."

"Then I hope that I can help you in the future." I said. As the crown princess and Regaleon’s better half, I want to be of help to him in any ways possible.

"I have no doubt in your capabilities." Regaleon said. "After all, I was your tutor. Remember?"

My heart thumped. I am happy that he can trust me and believes in my abilities.

"Yes, you’re the best tutor I have ever had." I giggled. "Not to mention, the strictest." Regaleon chuckled as a reply.

Regaleon lightly caressed my cheeks. I looked at his dark blue eyes, and it was twinkling like sapphire gems under the moonlight.

"Can I..." I contemplated if I want to continue.

"What is it? Tell me." Regaleon urged me with such a sweet voice.

"May I see your face?" I asked. I gently touched the edge of his mask.

I have seen his face as ’Leon the knight’ but I am sure that ’that’ face was charmed with his magic. I want to see his true face under the mask.

"Are you curious of what I look like?" Regaleon smiled. I lightly nodded my head.

He carefully undo the ties of his mask from behind. And not long he took of his mask from his face.

The moonlight shone over his beautiful face. His complexion was fair and the angles of his face are manly. How should I put it? His face was beautiful but it was a masculine beauty. I was in awe and speechless with his handsome face.

"What? Cat got your tongue?" Regaleon chuckled. "Is it not what you expected? Do I not pass your standards?"

I shook my head violently. "No no no. You passed with flying colors. Not only passed, you surpassed my expectations." I said, not wanting Regaleon to misunderstand my silence.

Regaleon chuckled. "That’s good to hear."

"But... why are you hiding your face under a mask?" I asked. "I was in the impression that you have some scar you want to hide of something like that."

The truth is I was expecting something like that. I never thought that he would have such handsome features.

"What if I had such a hideous scar? Will you still marry me?" Regaleon asked.

"Of course I will. What ever you look like, you are the one that I have chosen to be with for the rest of my life. I would walk with you in what ever path you take." I replied.

Regaleon made a sweet smile. He took my hand and kissed the back.

"Thank you." Regaleon said. "I hide my face because I have my mother’s features."

I looked at him confused. ’Was his mother not good to him?’ I thought.

"My mother, was the kindest person I ever knew." Regaleon said. "But that kindness was what led to her death."

I stayed silent to hear his story.

"My mother, as you know is just a concubine. Born from Atlantia, she didn’t have any familial support when she married in the royal family of Grandcrest." Regaleon said. "But she was the most favored by my father. My father the king loved her so much that it incurred the wrath of the queen."

His voice was shaking. I know that this story really hurts him. My heart ached for him.

"My father wasn’t able to do anything, it was too late when he knew she was being poisoned. And then she died." Regaleon continued. "The queen was very thorough. There was no evidence pointing to her. She had a fall guy that took the blame. But she cannot fool me. I know it was her doing."

The queen of Grandcrest is the official wife of the king, Regaleon’s father. If I marry inside the royal family of Grandcrest, I will have to beware of her in the future.

"I was just a twelve year old boy back then. I didn’t have any power. But I promised that I will do everything in I can to take the throne in the future and expose the truth behind my mother’s death." Regaleon said. "I hide my face because it was like a sort of rebellion against my father. He was blinded with the queen’s doing and my mother payed for it with her life. I don’t want my father to see my face that looks like my mother’s. I don’t want him to have such feelings of nostalgia looking at me."

I hugged him instantly. I can feel his pain. Tears started to trickle down my face.

Regaleon patted me gently. "Thank you. For being sad for me."

Regaleon pushed me in arms length and wiped my tears. "I have something to give you."

He stood up from the ledge and helped me down as well. Slowly he got down in one knee and took a small box from his pocket.

My heart was thumping behind my chest rapidly. ’I-Is this what I think this is?’ I thought.

Regaleon looked up at me. He looked straight into my eyes. He opened the small box and inside was a diamond ring. A diamond a size of a pea was in the center, with small sapphire stones encircling it.

"This ring was my mother’s. Alicia Roselyn Von Heist, I Regaleon Yosef Astley, is asking for your hand in marriage." Regaleon said solemnly. "Lili, will you marry me."

I was dazed. My heart was thumping rapidly. Tears started to fall down from my eyes.

"Y-Yes. Yes Leon, I will marry you." I said with a smile, happy tears flowing down my face.