"My daughter, what happened to you?" Anger, pity, disappointment, I don't know which is it that is in my mother's eyes.
"Mom, I… It is my mistake, I won't blame anyone for this." I gritted my teeth, it is my personal choice and the fruit of that decision, I will harvest it.
"What about the child's…" My mom paused, she can't mention the word in front of her daughter who has suffered since her childhood.
"I… I understand Juri… You'll be well and safe my daughter…" Reaching out to me, my mom embraced me like a weak child, she patted my head several times, My eyes blurred with tears, I burst out crying.
"Sssh… It is not good to cry, calm down my child…Mom is here."
" I know you are upset mom…" she paused, it was hurtful for her mother to see the daughter she raised ended up in such a situation, she knew that it would be her words but least to her expectation. She's been understanding and even told her that she will be fine.
" It must have been hard dealing with alone and even in a foreign place." It is what her mother told her.
" No mom.. It is my choice, it's just me… I want to have some peace and I cannot settle over there." Juri knew that if she were to settle in Amsonia, Kallistos could find her easily, the fact that she found out that he is a candidate to the throne may affect her being pregnant, more so, it is dangerous as the royalty values blood more than anyone else. She cannot divulge this information to her mother who is also a victim of the ties with the aristocratic house. Be it, an illegitimate or a child to be acknowledged, Juri will raise her child alone as a commoner and live a simple life.
- -
In the four cornered room, after the story of Juri's escape from Amsonia, only a little anger reflected in Kallistos' eyes. The three others who have known that none of the facts were known to the guilty person, they all felt contradicted with the miscommunication of the two.
"So Juri thought that I had abandoned her after that night and left the country for good, after that, finding out that I am now the Crown Prince, she decided to go back to her home country, even though she knew the fact that she bears our child?" The tapping sound of fingers echoes in the silence of the room.
"Let us give her some time to think, anxiety of getting pregnant and having no contact with you must have put her to the edge." Liezl commented.
" Well, what if you visit her Prince, since it is much better to talk in person." Georg suggested.
" And why would I go there, without any reason? The media is all over and if I go there just to visit Juri, it might endanger her privacy, she will hate me more than this." Kallistos felt conflicted, in fact he wanted to run to her at this very moment, he was so glad that night bears a fruit that will keep a connection between him and Juri.
" Right it is risky, especially that the rumor of engagement with the Princess is just around the corner." Ellenor added.
" Well, you just have to go there on an official visit."
" Official visit? What excuse should I make?"
" No need to make an excuse, Princess Oriana has a scheduled fundraising event in Vanda, you can tag along with her." Kallistos clasped the hands of Georg that made him flinch; he was afraid of what his master would do next?
" Georg, you really are a bright aide!" With a boyish smile that made him look younger, Georg got embarrassed by the compliment.
" That's right, you just have to ask Princess Oriana to include you on the delegates, though I am a bit doubtful since there is still the crowning competition between the two of you." Liezl is a bit bothered, ever since the emperor passed away and their father ascended to the throne, there has been a division among the aristocrats of La Sangue.
The faction supporting him as the first prince, and the other was the faction supporting the first born princess to be the next crowned heir.
" It will be a simple matter, let's proceed on our way Georg." With a determined plan in mind, Kallistos promised to meet Juri and confirm the good news. In his mind, it will be his trump card to make her stay with him.
At the La Sangue castle, the princess palace is bust for the preparation of her departure, Princess Oriana has always been an advocate supporter of the International Children Organization. Not because it is an obligation as a royalty but because the princess herself loves children. As the eldest born daughter, she does love her younger siblings, even when you say that of the current situation, since there is a conflict of interest with the next crowned heir of the empire.
" Princess, you have a guest." The young maid who is a bit hesitant of her words looks very conflicted, not everyone is allowed to enter the princess palace, at the same time asking for an audience would her would needed a prior appointment.
" Is that so?" she paused, looking at the young maid who flinched at her gaze, "It seems like it's someone you can't go against?" The maid just bowed her head waiting for the punishment but rather a gentle hand patted her shoulder.
" You did a good job, lead the guest to the drawing room and I'll come after." She knew that no one would ever use their authority against the princess' maids like this, with that, she has an idea and to what is that 'person' intention especially at these crucial moments.
After a while, now adorned with the proper dress and jewels exquisite enough to receive the guest, Oriana followed her maid as they guided her to where the guest had been waiting.
" What good heavens has brought you here, Kallistos?"