25. The Banquet

3.06.20

Kody's POV (4 Years Later)

My father and I had eventually gotten along again, and he was teaching me how to act like a royal slowly since I was the heir. He was also teaching Melia because if I could never get James back, I would need someone to rule beside me. If push comes to shove, Melia and I will be king and queen of Urina as friends.

James... If I could see James again, I would wrap him so tightly in my arms he wouldn't even be able to breathe. I would show him exactly how much I had missed him over the past 4 years, 9 months, 12 days, and 15 hours. What, I've been counting, don't judge me!

However, I hadn't seen him in so long, and I wasn't even sure if he was alive.

"Kodes, are you ready?" My father shouted. He was going to take me to my first royal banquet today since, well, I'm a royal.

"Yes, Papa," I responded before stepping out of my room. I was dressed in a silver– my dad has worked on my fasion sense a little bit– suit. My hair was still long, but I had been forced to put it into a low ponytail for the event. If I had my way, it would be free because I hated the feeling of it being restrained. However, that's unprofessional, so I was forced to have it up. Honestly, if I do say so myself, I look like a snack and a half.

My father corralled me to the car while going over everything I needed to know. "If you see someone of higher power, bow, okay? If you see anyone who wants to talk to you, talk to them. If someone approaches for a handshake, shake the hand," he briefed. His lecture went on for a long time, but I tuned out after there. I knew what I was doing.

We pulled into the kingdom of Jul's castle, and I wasn't even nervous in the slightest. That's a lie, I was panicking, and Melia realized. She gently ran a hand up and down my lower arm to calm me down, and sure enough I did calm down.

"Welcome, King Mason, Prince Kody, and Princess Melia of Urina," the king stated while bowing deeply. Since my rank was below pretty much anyone who was a king or queen, I also bowed back deeply, and Melia gave a polite courtesy. I have to give my father credit for training two street monkeys to be polite in public. As for Princes and Princesses, the only people that I would have to bow for would be those from Jul since they were the hosts and the only kingdom more powerful than Urina here tonight.

If I had to describe this banquet, it would be like playing barbies. We were all putting on a fake front as to not create enemies, and anyone who stepped out of line would be called out on it. I spent the night meeting a lot of people and being sickly sweet until I saw a little boy looking around nervously in the crowd.

He had long brown hair that flowed loosely around his shoulders and a little suit. Freaking adorable little thing.

"Are you lost?" I asked quietly while crouching down so that I wasn't towering over him and making him scared.

When the boy turned around, I only had a little bit of time to be shocked by his wide green eyes before he murmured, "D-daddy told me to wait for him s-somewhere, but the crazy p-people pushed me deeper in."

"Do you remember where he told you to wait?"

"N-no."

I sighed gently before standing up. "Do you want help finding your daddy?" I offered. This was probably overstepping my boundaries as a random prince, but for heaven's sake the kid was lost!

"Yes please," the little boy chirped.

I walked slowly around the edge of the room while the boy talked to me about everything from school to home. "What's your name, dear?" I questioned.

He quickly replied with, "My daddy calls me Koda!"

Suddenly, Melia appeared from the crowd. "There you are! I've been looking for you all over. You can't just run off like that!" she scolded me. "And why in the world are you just running around with a child?"

"He was lost! I was trying to help him find his dad!" I answered just as fired up.

"Kodes, what if he does find his dad, but the parent thinks that you stole him? What're you going to do then? Think your actions through all the way before you do them!"

"What! What if he never found his dad? What then!?" Suddenly, I realized that we were having a shouting match right in front of little Koda. "Yell at me later, Mels. I'm trying to help this kid," I commanded coldly.

"Koda?" A voice asked from somewhere behind me.

"Daddy!" the little kid chanted before running somewhere behind me.

"Are you causing trouble again?" I swear that I recognize that voice from somewhere.

"I'm sorry, daddy. The crazy people all over made me move!"

"It's okay, my little prince."

"This guy helped me find you, though!"

"Well what do you say, Koda?"

The kid bounced up behind me before gently pulling on the base of my coat to get my attention. "Thank you!" Koda chanted cutely. He seemed like a little angel, and if he was my child, I would feel proud.

"Yes, thank you. I would have nothing if I lost this little bugger."

"It's no p-" I looked up for the first time in the conversation and found myself staring straight into the baby blue eyes that i knew too well. As if he sensed my shock, he looked directly at me. If the world were to end right now, I would feel complete.

"K-Kodes," James whispered in shock. I physically couldn't stop myself from pulling him tightly against me. I don't care if he pushes me away or hates me for it because I was just craving the touch. Fortunately, his arms wound around my back as well, and I felt the dampness of his tears on my neck.

"We need to get somewhere private," I muttered into his hair. James grabbed my arm and pulled me through the crowd like a man on a mission. Once we were deep in the bushes where we wouldn't be seen by others, I kissed him like my life depended on it. He kissed back with just as much urgency, and I fell in love with him again right then and there.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you all alone," James murmured against my chest.

"It isn't your fault, Jam. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard," I consoled.

"I think I'm ready to tell you what I was thinking, and I'm hoping that it doesn't ruin my chances of ever getting back with you."

"Nothing can stop me from loving you, dear. Tell me what's wrong."

"I was thinking about how I have so many insecurities that make me not good for this relationship. Kodes, I was so scared that I would get years into this relationship and royally mess it up, so I cut it off sooner rather than later. I wasn't thinking rationally, and I realized that as soon as I got to Carbuos."

"I still love you, Jam. No matter what."