ii. Heir

Who would have thought the two odd peas in the pod would fit perfectly.

Mary would not have believed it herself, but there has not been a happier part of her life than being Dominus's girl.

The only thing she hates about it is being suddenly in the spotlight. And attending social functions, such as this one.

She fidgets with her dress before she pressed the doorbell of the Saito's estate. A small part of the gate opened, revealing a uniformed bodyguard who answered.

She almost had a nervous breakdown as she heard some music being played in the gardens. If not for his insistence she would not have come to join his graduation party.

They are graduating a month from now, and the Saitos as per tradition held one for their heir. Like a coming of age celebration declaring to the world what a bright future ahead the heir can expect.

It was an opportunity to introduce him to the right connections which he will need in the near future.

Four more years and he will have to take over the Saito's group of companies, that itself requires him to know how to deal with people.

It is crucial for the heir to know how to separate friends from foes, and among other things, how to always put the company's interest before anything else in his world.

Since she knew the importance of this event, she couldn't take it for granted. She wanted to see him today in all his glory.

She knew he would have already gotten tired of her when that time comes, so she wants to imagine how he will be in the future.

She is so proud of him, of the him right now struggling to reach his destiny, and of the kind of man he is set to become.

She introduced herself and she was led inside. She glanced around the gardens now decorated exquisitely.

It almost seemed like some high-end resort. Everywhere she looks, she ends up awe-struck. She didn't know mansions can look this grand inside.

She felt like she might get lost but she didn't want to give the guard any trouble and assured him she will be fine on her own.

She started to wander around almost aimlessly, hoping to see a glimpse of his blonde hair or his muscled figure somewhere.

She just wanted to give him her gift. She held into the box of soaps she handmade herself. It was, she hopes, something he would like. He liked her gift the first time anyway.

She didn't have anything else to give that would suit his lifestyle. So she remembered his request from before and made some heart-shaped soaps herself.

She wondered if he will find it too childish. She walked around, excusing herself every time someone passes by.

Until she heard the voice of an old lady. She turned around and saw an elegantly dressed woman probably in her mid 70's.

"Excuse me," the old woman casually looked her up from head to toe.

She was wearing a simple red dress, she thought it was pretty nice to wear. But seeing the old woman's reaction, there must be something seriously wrong with it.

"Good evening ma'am," she greeted the elegant old lady who just raised an eyebrow at her greeting.

"Who are you? And who let you inside?" the old lady asked, almost as if she is being suspected of having done something criminal.

"I- I am Mary, ma'am. I- I," she stuttered. She bit on her lower lip, hating that she always stutters when nervous and this is definitely one of those times.

"I mean, are you a relative of our housekeepers? You must be, seeing how you have dressed. My dear child, you should know there is another entrance to the kitchen. You shouldn't be at the party. What if the guests see you dressed miserably like that, then it will reflect badly on your employer's reputation," the old woman said in a condescending tone.

"I- I am sorry ma'am. I am just looking for... for the celebrant," she showed the lady the gift box she was carrying to which the old lady winced.

"What? And how would you be able to know my grandson? Don't tell me you are one of his classmates? The last time I checked, we have very high standards to get into the school," the old lady started to raise her voice, causing the attention of those present to be diverted to them.

Mary felt really small at that instant, like she is not even human as everyone started to whisper to each other while they look at her.

She couldn't hear anything except the words poor, maid, servant, and social climber as they smirked at her.

She felt her knees tremble. She lost her balance and her back hit the table behind her, the giant cake tumbling over and covering her with icing.

She couldn't even cry as the people around her started laughing. She handed the gift box to the old lady which the latter slapped away causing the contents to tumble out.

She looked at the heart-shaped soaps discarded on the floor as the laughter intensified around her. Whispers and giggles of the rich and famous filled her ears.

She just wanted to disappear at that moment and for the ground to just swallow her up. She felt like she meant nothing at all. Like the soaps discarded carelessly on the floor, her worth is likewise null.

She closed her eyes as she felt her tears cascade down her face. She looked down on her legs and started to walk away, unable to lift her head.

Just then, Dominus's powerful voice seemed to seethe with anger as he spoke up, "No one touches my woman. Whoever dares to call her names again, I would have to pull your tongue out."

He looked at the heart-shaped soaps that lay discarded on the floor and picked up each broken piece, placing them all in the gift box she still holds in her hands.

"What do you think you are doing? Where do you think you are going, young man?" the old lady's voice demanded.

He looked sharply at the old lady and said, "I am going out of here grandma, before I forget we are family."

"Are you saying you will choose her over me? You stay here young man, this is your party. You have an obligation as the heir of the Saitos! Stop humiliating this family further by your actions! You useless punk! You are nothing without this family!" the old lady shouted.

Dominus continued to walk away, enveloping the icing-covered guest into an embrace as he led her away from the party.

"Can't walk," she complained after a while. Her knees are shaking so severely that she can barely stand up on her own.

He carried her in his arms and brought her to his car. He sat her there and started the engine.

As they sped away, he held her hand, squeezing it tightly. But his little queen removed the hand covering hers.

He felt fear wrap itself around his heart as he drove away from the party. He can feel the walls she started to form around her heart once again.

What if she got tired of him? Because of the cruel world he lives in, the kind of suffocating world that looks down on her, humiliates her, and rejects her, has she decided to give up on their love?

He shook his head as his jaw clenched. There is no way that can happen. She couldn't possibly be thinking that. She is his.

He thought about it for a minute, of what he would have to do if she wanted out. If she says it's over between them would he have to beg for her to stay?

He knew he would, but what if even that can't keep her beside him? What will he do then? Can he just let her walk away?

No, he couldn't do that. He will not be able to survive losing her again. So she shouldn't say those words so easily to him. Otherwise, she will be the one at fault, won't she?

He would do everything to protect her. She just have to trust him, the same way he trusts her. Because if she didn't trust him, then there would have to be problems between them.

He won't be able to let her go, even if it hurts them both. Even if everything in his world turns to hell and even if she views him as a monster. In the end, he couldn't ever let go of his queen.

He shook his head as he focused on the road ahead of them. She won't do it, she won't recklessly break his heart.

He tried to assure himself but doubts started to creep in. Fueled by the fear of losing her, madness easily engulfed his soul.

Now, only one thing is certain, he won't let his queen walk away from him.

The queen belongs to him. It is only fair this way, for he belongs to his queen completely.