OLD LOVE

I got out of the carriage in front of the palace, it was already past the dinner time but all were outside eagerly waiting for my arrival. I bowed to my uncle and aunt "To the Crown Prince Rowenche C.Bridstone and to his lady." Aunt rushed towards me and wrapped me in a tight warm hug. Patting my shoulder uncle led me into the palace, this feels like a home and these are people who love me.

"Linstar your room is all prepared dear, you may freshen up and then let's go meet the King." uncle said motioning a maid to lead me to my room.

"Your grandfather is waiting for you so come quickly Lin." aunt too left with uncle.

The maid led me to a huge room almost double the side of my royal bedroom. It smelled rose in there, with so many lambs and candles lit. The huge window was open letting in the cool breeze. "Princess, your dresses are ready, you may choose what you wish to wear from these after you take bath." a maid said holding a few beautiful silk gowns for me to choose from.

"Princess everything for your bath is ready." another one said walking into the room.

I saw few others telling my maids where to place my night and morning gowns. They were telling us its all the soon to be Queen's order and didn't wanna disappoint her. After a hot bath, I changed into the pretty blue silk gowns and went to the Kings chamber to meet grandfather. I was near the chamber door, I could hear him asking uncle where I was and that's when I entered in "to the Great King Chrisinche Bridstone" I bowed to him. He was so weak and surprisingly lean, not the grandfather I expected to see. A pillow supporting his head, he was barely sitting on his bed with a weak smile. I noticed his eyes fill with tears, which a King like him would never show. He asked me to sit on the chair next to his bed and told all others to leave. "How are you doing Lin?"

"All good grandfather..." I said smiling.

"I heard you'll be getting married soon, I always wanted to stay healthy till then but now even if I'm alive I don't think I'll be able to attend it. The physician said I will last only a week hardly, are they making any issues as you had to come here?"

"No, I just send them a letter and directly came here from Prochea. Doesn't look like I'll be able to go back to my palace again. Order from the Palace was to lock it down."

"Hmmm....its definitely her behind all this, she had her eyes on it for so long now." he said thinking. "Lin....you remind me of Lora, that gown is so similar to the design she wears. You look a lot like Lora now. I wish she had some more time....." he was lost in thoughts when grandma entered into the chamber.

She gave me a tight hug from behind "So long no see Lin. Did you just reach dear?"

Hugging her back I replied "Just reached grandma. How have you been?"

"I'm happy here as usual. Why didn't you visit us before, its been years." she asking sitting down on the chair next to grandfather's bed.

"You know it's tough to get permission from father and I'll also have to give explanation and all. Even now it was comparatively easier as it was an emergency."

"How is Lora?" the moment it left from my grandma, grandfather immediately said "Lora is dead, she passed away 14years ago."

"I meant Alisa." she did regret mentioning to her in my mother's name that too in front of him.

"She can never be my Lora. I'm not interested in knowing anything about her." he said angrily.

"I don't talk to her at all grandma, I honestly don't care about her at all. She isn't my mother, indeed she is no one to me." I clearly showed my disinterest in the topic.

Clearing his throat grandfather sat straight saying "I still remember the day I heard my daughter isn't keeping well. I immediately went to Grensilas and met her too, she was a bit weak but not so bad to die. She was still a responsible Queen." tears rolled down his cheeks as his voice cracked "She was still worried about the country and she knew it would be hard to manage without her so she still would ask for all the news and reports around Grensilas. I told Dormos I'll bring the best physician in the world to treat her no matter what but he said that he did find someone very good and trustworthy and when the stupid physician said she is gonna die soon, Dormos thought no more but to take her off the position of Queen. My child was hardworking, she did struggle so much in life still was so strong but died like a beggar, with no respect, no money, no silk clothes, no maid, no good food, nothing. She got nothing for all the work she did, just nothing." all of us went quiet.

"I remember it all grandfather." I said after a while "I remember my mother been removed from the position of Queen, its like having every thing that means the world and suddenly having to loose it all one day. How can I forget it."

"You should never forget it Linstar. Even her name was stolen from her along with her status. I hate Dormos, he would have been dead if it's not for you. Whenever I think of Dormos, it isn't like the King of Grensilas that he once was to all but I only see an ungrateful husband in him. I don't trust her either she waited no long to get on the Queen title. That's the main reason I wanted to be present for your marriage." he said angrily looking away through the window.

"It's fine grandfather, I don't trust them either. I promise you, they won't be able to get control of me for owning what they wish."

"I trust you Lin...." he went suddenly in deep thought when the maid came in to call me for the dinner as uncle and aunt haven't had anything and were already waiting for me. I looked at my grandma to join me for dinner, but she just smoled and said "You may leave for dinner, after he fell ill we have our meals here. He can't move around much, our dinner will be brought now."

"But why grandma?" I was surprised that she too was having it here.

"Before we could never have our meals together and I always wished to eat with him, but couldn't eat with the King. Now, once he started having it here I too decided to give him company and enjoy meals with my husband." saying she looked at me, probably noticed that I understood nothing what she meant even though I knew there was something missing between those lines, she laughed and motioned me to leave.