"Have you checked the deliveries of all invitations?" I asked my secretary. "Yes your majesty, I have instructed the clerks to deliver them on time specially those in the kingdoms of Akazia, Asturiaz and Vasilica considering the delivery time your majesty." he answered while handing me my schedule for the rest of the day. I review the schedule and pick up the Weekly National Newspaper circulated in the country. I suddenly smile when I saw the headline and front cover showing photos taken during the recently concluded annual offering week held in Kingdom of Ayatullah.
As i continue reading the article, I remember how he confessed about US in front of everyone during the same event in the same place without me.
My father called me immediately upon hearing this rumors during the said event. "Do you have something to tell me about before hearing it from anyone here?" He asked me. "I have nothing to tell you your majesty." I answered without knowing that he heard Prince Raphael and Prince Rocky while talking about us. "Okay, I will call you later." My father who's busy with national affairs ended our conversation.
Few minutes after, "Her Majesty the Queen is arriving!" I stand immediately and welcome my mother.
"Leave us." she immediately ordered all my staff and secretary and sat beside me. She look at me with her talking eyes. After several minutes of silence, I started to feel like their is something wrong happening somewhere. My heart beats faster and faster as she stared at me.
"My son, his majesty had just called me and told me about what he accidentally heard in the Kingdom of Ayatullah. One of the prince of Ayatullah mentioned about you having an affair together? What does he mean by that?" My mother said with her teary eyes. I don't understand why can't I voiced out what i wanted to tell her that time. I suddenly felt nervous and worried about how my father learned about it. I feel like i wanted to call Prince Raphael and ask him to tell me everything right away when, "Her majesty the Queen Mother is arriving!"
"Your majesty." my mother and I greeted. "What's this? Did i interrupted a mother-son talk?" She asked while looking at my mother's reaction. "No your majesty, I am only asking something about our Crown Prince." my mother answered as he look at me. "Should I hear about it?" my grandmother replied. "Oh yes your majesty. The king have concern about something that involves our Crown Prince your Majesty." my mother uttered.
My mother then relayed what my father had told her. At that time my hands are shaking and my face turned pale. I can't even raise my cup of tea. My hands are cold and shaking. My grandmother look at me and answered "I know those things from quite quiet sometime now and I am proud of my grandson, it wouldn't change anything. He is your son and my grandson. He will be the King of Baltimore and the most valuable treasure the kingdom has." "But your majesty..." My mother uttered. "But what? He felt it and he is happy with it, he is true with his emotions. As long as he is taking care of all his functions and serving our people with all his heart, everything will be fine." My grandmother answered. "I am afraid about how our people would accept this. I am also worried about his obligation to bring his successor for the throne and the future of the kingdom your majesty." My mother worriedly answered with a teary eyes. "Well, let's not pressure them, they have plans for all of these. Our Crown Prince knows what he is doing. Let's not talk about this without the presence of the King and Prince Raphael. Do not put him in hot seat, he is taking care of the whole kingdom in the absence of his father now. You should know better as his mother. Don't shake him with those. We must respect him with this. I trust our Crown Prince." My grandmother defended me. My grandmother hugged me. I feel like a child who don't know how to speak that time. I cried silently while in her embrace.
"Thank you your majesty." My mother answered as she comes near me and hugged me. I know my mother has many questions to ask me but her embrace makes me feel like she's telling me that everything will be okay as long as I tell them the real truth behind everything.
While we're talking, the Annual Offering Week is about to start through a welcome dinner prepared by the Kingdom of Ayatullah. Crown Prince Reuz IV will give his welcome message in behalf of his father. This will be followed by a Ceremonial Toast which will be led by Prince Raphael. "For the prosperity of all kingdoms in the country!" He said while raising his glace of wine produced by his kingdom. "and for the love, trust and confidence of the Kingdom of Baltimore!" he added. Almost everyone looked at him for this has never been mentioned in any traditions of the kingdoms in the United Kingdom of Aseana. But due to the superiority of Baltimore in all aspects, everyone smiled and disregard what happened.
After the dinner, Prince Raphael was summoned by his father who's in a private conversation with my father. He greeted both of them. "Your majesties." "I thanked you for your admiration and appreciation of the partnerships of the kingdoms in the country." My father praised him. "Thank you your majesty. I and my family is grateful with these supports you have given us." Prince Raphael replied. These words has nothing but words of appreciation to his father but for my father, its more than that.
My mother and grandmother had just left my palace when my phone immediately rung. It was him. "Yes? What happened? Hot it happened?" I asked Raphael with a shaky voice. "About what?" He asked. Then I told him what had just happened. "Then I think we should tell them." He said. "I don't know." I answered. "Are you afraid? Are you ashamed?" He asked. "No, I am not. We're about to be in a year already. How can I be afraid and ashamed off. Its just that I don't know whether they could accept us or not." I answered in a worried tone. "Then leave it to me, trust me. Everything will be okay." He assured me.
The following day is the Ritual of Offerings by Kingdoms. They will present their most valued treasure which will stay in the possession of Ayatullah until the next Annual Offering Week. This symbolizes the trust of each kingdoms with each other. After the seven kingdoms presented and sealed their treasures. The King of Ayatullah give his acceptance message. This was followed by a cultural presentation for all the guests.
A solemn traditional music accompanied by a narrative dance. The music started and the dancers came out when, "my heart felt like the happiest person on earth, i met the person who completes me. In the last years, i smile, i cry and laugh, but everyone never see who the real emotions i have, until this person came to me and showed me the right way to live with happiness..." a voice over comes. The King of Ayatullah look at his son, Crown Prince Reuz IV. Then Queen Roanne look at Prince Raphael. He just smiled.
The narration make everyone feel the essence of intimacy. They were all smiling while listening until "... we maybe afraid of what comes along the way, but trust me, I know what has to be done and i trust his wisdom too. To the person who made me wake up each day, who understands my laugh and tears, your majesty, I remain. A voiced message for his majesty, Crown Prince James from your Prince, Raphael."
When the music ends, you can hear others murmuring in their seats. They looked at my father with respect but questioning eyes. Unfortunately, the last part of the ceremony is a message from our country's sovereign who happened to be my father. "This ceremony has been very memorable to us all, specially to the people of Ayatullah, may we continue valuing the existence of everyone as we respect and trust each other for the benefit of our people. To all the Royal Families and Monarchies of the Seven Kingdoms, lets work together and bring our country to the top! See you all next year in the Kingdom of Shuck!"
The royal family of Ayatullah gathered together to meet my father before going home to Baltimore. They were all in their conference hall. Raphael and his brothers together with the Queen and King.
Their Prince Raphael told everyone about what's happening between us. everyone was shocked including my father but he maintains his posture and personality. He only uttered "I respect your brotherhood. I will then welcome and invite you to Baltimore anytime you wish to visit us."
This line was considered as threat by Crown Prince Reuz IV but later on accepted by the house of Ayatullah. This is the biggest and most controversial news that reached even the streets of the urban areas of the seven kingdoms of the country.