When everything on the plane was set, Frey gave the clearance and sought Eric's approval to take off. An hour late versus the itinerary, but it would have to do. Leonardo would have to be a lot more patient as what he was asking of Eric wasn't an easy feat.
The plane was in the skies at 9AM, venturing south of the Philippines for the four-hour flight to Khazkatia.
Eric could not explain what he was feeling. Kayla's country had given him a lot of reasons to be glad, as much as she had given him the pleasure of being a simple man the past four years, but there was also excitement in coming home. Finally. No more studying abroad. No more looking into the arts and cultures of other Asians. No more lying about who he was and where he had been over the long weekend or summer weeks.
No more keeping secrets from Kayla. That was much more important to him right now.
He looked at her as they rested beside each other on the executive lounges at the back of the isle, but gained no relief from his anxious feelings. He was restless. Sleepless from the night before, he was beyond exhausted. And if it was from the fact that he would soon be facing his late Father's wishes and impeded goals for the people he left or that he would do so with all of him, no matter the cost, and with all that he had, he couldn't tell. What he knew at the moment was that something in his brother's meeting with the Council the week before had changed their plans.
He held Kayla's hand once more -- far too many times since the night before -- and closed his eyes, willing for sleep to take him. Kayla didn't move from his gesture. Her breathing was as a calm as his, and she stayed that way with him for the next hour.
But still, he didn't sleep. His mind wandered with his emotions, luring thoughts that both thrilled and scared him. Would he be able to fulfill his duties to his late Father and his brothers? Would he be able to fulfill his obligations to their people as a third of the seated power?
Would Kayla forgive him when she found out that he would be asking too much of her on this school of the new arts?
She wasn't saying anything about all that she had found out today, but he could feel it. She was upset and there was no one else to blame for it but him. He had lied to her and he would be lying to her even more.
He imagined how she would react if she found out that it was not just about the school. The responsibility he would be requiring of her the moment she met his Mother may prove to be too great for her to handle - emotionally and mentally. Yes, there was a deeper reason she was here.
And Eric didn't have any choice in the matter, did he?
It had been a point of discussion between him and his brothers from before he left Khazkathia to even after enjoying Kayla's company as to whether it was right that he told even only a single person about who he really was. It would be easier for him to finish his tasks as he would have the help he would need and he would not have to battle with inevitable emotions such as this. But the answer had been no. Even Frey, who went ahead to see the appropriateness and compatibility of the Philippine Arts School to their goals before Eric came, went against it.
There was nothing he could do but obey, a gigantic chain that held Eric to his obligations to his brothers.
But Kayla, she was different. It took every ounce of Eric's patience and control to not tell her. Then again, maybe it was only right. He had witnessed her grow into the woman that she now was. Strong-willed and steady.
Eric hadn't met a woman so passionate about her arts and her teaching that even when she needed more money to send to her family, she would stay in her current average-paying job. And she never let that conflict ruin anything about her days. She still danced so beautifully. She still loved her students so eagerly. And she still opened her world to him so willingly. That was the most fun part of it all. He was himself around her. No curtsies. No hand-kissing. No proper way to sit. No royal nonsense. Just him. A man.
Somewhere between his meditation and sleep, he had caught Kayla speak. She might be unaware of it, but she had said the words so loud and so clear that Eric opened his eyes and laughed.
"I need romance over this summer," she said.
Eric snorted. "You have to remind yourself that?"
Kayla snapped him with her famous angry stare.
"Might I remind you that while my country sits almost under yours, we are blessed with four seasons. And it is springtime there now. My favorite season," he said and then winked at her. "Better to have romance now. The flowers would be fresh and bountiful."
"Shut up, Eric. I didn't mean that."
"So what did you mean?" he asked, turning to her direction so she would know he was genuinely interested.
"I want some change. Being in a new country—"
"With a brand new me," he offered, proud of it all too suddenly.
"How brand new?" she asked, her voice challenging.
"I will still be me. Just with more obligations to my family and my people."
Her smile was half-meant. He could see the doubt in the glint of her brown eyes and for the first in such a long time, he wanted to kiss a woman's cheek.
"It's nice. How you have grown to be a man all of a sudden," she whispered, to his surprise.
Eric laughed, taking no offense. "Careful now. You might fall for me."
And she was laughing with him again.
Kayla read a book she borrowed from Sebastiano's collection for the rest of the ride. It was a short one, considering Eric had a lot to think about and a lot of Cindy's and Roberto's questions to answer. When it was time that they got off, Kayla was already awake, staring wide-eyed at the entourage of his brother's welcoming committee.
Eric urged Kayla to share his limousine, while Cindy and Roberto rode the next one. They were taken to the main palace, where the Crown Prince and his fiancé now lived, and it felt so much like home. Everything about it now shouted Leonardo. The way everyone moved about to completing their daily chores and the way it was now decorated all boiled down to how Leonardo loved precision. Classic and by the book.
The palace was filled with garlands of freshly-picked flowers and all the palace guards lined up, outlining the red velvet carpet, from the limousine to the plight of stairs greeting the double doors of the white-gold-and-red three-storey palace. It was not his first time to be here, but he would never tire of admiring the structure that boxed the huge plaza fountain, sprinkling and shooting water in the air in alternating and rhythmic patterns. That was his favorite.
Eric understood the feeling of magic the palace could give any visitor, but Kayla's expression was just amazing. It almost said, finally. And it gave him joy to think she felt as if she were home.
He held her hand and kissed the back of its palm. "You have to meet my brothers."
He then folded his arm and waited until she wrapped hers around it. When she did, he led her up the grand stairs, where Leonardo and Lady Madeline awaited.
"I'm nervous," she whispered.
He shook his head and placed his other hand on top of hers, the one resting on his arm. Despite his instinct telling him not to, because the gesture was only meant for lovers, he did so. He had to make her feel comfortable.
"Your Highness." Prince Eric bowed respectfully before Leonardo. "I present my friends. Cindy dela Riva and Roberto Santa Ines. Miko Mondragon, Judith Lopez and Carlito Antonio." He went on to mention the rest of the team and swayed his hand to show the group of people behind him. Then he turned to Kayla. She blushed from the unexpected attention. "My best friend, Miss Kayla Montejo."
Kayla curtsied, a little hesitantly and awkwardly, but a little cute and funny just the same. "Good afternoon, Your Majesties."
"You may call us, Your Highness," Leonardo said. "You call our Mother, Your Majesty. At least until the coronation."
"Isn't she sweet?" Prince Eric grinned at his brother, who winked back. "Where is Prince Sebastiano?"
He looked around. It was so like Sebastiano to not be around people.
"He is in a meeting with the company spearheading the construction of the school," Prince Leonardo replied. "We contracted the best people, so it should not take long to build." He nodded his head to Reynald. "We shall have lunch in an hour. Reynald will show our guests to their rooms so they could freshen up and dress more appropriately."
"I will take Kayla to her room," Eric said. His brother nodded and they left. "Come. You take the room down the hall from mine."
She had the same expression of awe and amazement as they entered the room. It was the biggest room available for palace guests and it certainly was the most beautiful for its view of the main palace gardens. She ran out into the balcony and stared out, her eyes twinkling with joy.
Eric could get used to this. Seeing her this happy is making him feel light and happy in turn.
Kayla chuckled. "Eric? I mean… Prince Eric."
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
He nodded. For the first time, he felt twitches in his tummy. Are those what they called butterflies? It was, after all springtime. And it somehow scares him.