Couple of years passed since Pa's sudden death. I'm almost over it. I don't like the phrase of being over someone's death. It sounds like you erased that person from your life. So I'll change it to, I'm recovering. Ace has always been with me all these years and helped me get back on feet. We are now 59 and 60. We've been here and there together. We always went everywhere together. Even at school, people are used to us being all like a couple. We always play around. It's boring to see people's reaction when we jokingly tell them we're dating. They're not surprised at all. Time took all the humor away.
"HEY!" Said a school mate.
I was visiting Ace's class again and sitting on top of his desk. "Hmm..?" I asked
"Why are you always here? Anyway, did you hear about what I said just now?"
I thought about it. It took a good 5 second until the classmate sighed and said, "You guys..there's no difference as to be saying you guys are dating. Just listen please."
I sat up straight and took the bread stick he was eating and took a bite into it, "Sorry. Continue?"
"I said, since you guys are 59 and 60, isn't it time for you guys to marry? Especially since you guys are royals. You guys are already late at marriage. Royals usually wed at about when you're 55."
I thought about that and took another bite out of the bread stick. "It's okay. If I can't marry, then it'll all be Ace's fault for always taking the boy's time being next to me. He can take responsibility." I said being cocky.
They didn't look too surprised by another episode of Ace and Cassandra's daily couple scene. Ace took back the bread stick and took 2 big bites to finish the entire thing. "What do you mean I have to take responsibility? It's just because you're not that attractive to attract boys that they don't get enough motivation to follow you and ask you out. Don't blame it and make an excuse of me. Better yet, we all know that you're the one taking my time that could be spent with MY loved one."
I was annoyed. "Yea yea. Just because you've got the looks of a face genius, with the title, with the brain doesn't mean you can be that prideful. You don't have anyone either."
He just sighed and said, "it's because you're too scary looking. They feel bad for me that they also made a fan group for me."
I laughed and told him, "I have a fan club too you know. You're not the only one." And there went our whole day of our argument of who's fault it is for them to not get a proper confession/lover.
The bell rang and we waited for each other. He takes so long you know. After he finished putting on his outer shoes, we raced each other to the nearest food court. The beasts that were already there tried hitting on each of us. Typical day. Then we looked at them straight in the eyes.
"We're lovers." just saying that, made them go away, also looking at our kingdom's crest. It was no issue saying that. None of us were embarrassed or anything cause we were just that close. After we ate, we stepped inside the carriage that was waiting for us. This time it was a carriage from the Majestic Kingdom. Guess the emperor wanted to see us. I just didn't like their color. It was too bright for my eyes. But for some strange reasons, Ace was just fine. I guess I was too used to him.
We stepped out as soon as it landed. We rushed to Ace's room because if we got caught by either the empress, or the emperor, or worse both, then we have to talk about royal duties. These days, they want to know when we will marry. Gosh. Why is everyone so interested in our own private love lives? We were doing great until my shoes got caught by my cape's loose thread which got me in the result to be tripped. When I was getting up by Ace's offered hand of help.....I saw the emperor. Ugh... This will be a longgggg day.
We sat on the small but wide simple garden table. While we "sipped" into the hot tea, the emperor started to talk.
"Cassandra, dear....I want to ask for you to stop meeting Ace from now on."
I was off guard the moment he called me dear but more taken aback when I heard the rest of his sentence. Before I got to say anything, Ace rushed to ask why.
"—-Father, Why must she do that? I mean she didn't do anything wrong this time. And if she did, you usually ignore that accident."
He started to look stern. "Ace. You know nothing. Just listen to me."
"Father, I already know most of what is happening around me. Why can't you just tell me thi——-" Ace was cut off by the emperor. The next thing the emperor said just made us go completely stiff.
"—DARIUS AND CASSANDRA WILL HAVE TO BECOME MATES!!"