Not Enough

As for the Prince, two guards have already taken him to the room prepared by the King. King Alexander Clark Crue Alistair knew very well that his son will be sleeping for utmost a week to recuperate. As he was watching his son sleeping soundly, he felt a warm sensation in his heart. Though the child inherited most of his features, his aura was more likely similar to his mother. He can't help but reminisce about how he has fallen in love with his mother sixteen years ago.

It was a snowy night and he decided to take a stroll through the night market to enjoy the scenery and the presence of people swarming in and out. He has always admired the beauty of night markets. Being a Prince is a troublesome role to take but also a beneficial one. He was wearing commoners clothes, but even this has made him more attractive. He needed a cloak to cover his hair and his appearance that is very famous throughout the whole kingdom even before his coming of age ceremony. He entered a store and sat near the window to enjoy the view more and watch the people, both adults, and children, smiling, laughing, and enjoying their time. When he was about the leave his seat, his eyes caught sight of the most beautiful lady he have ever seen in his life. He can't help but be stunned by the woman's beauty. She has a beautiful pair of bluish-almond eyes, thin lips, and eye-catching hair color that looks like a light blue with pinkish accents. Her cloak can't cover her beautiful features.

She looks like a noble or perhaps a princess, and this explains why despite her stunning looks, no one dared approach her in fear that she is from the royal family. But he, as the Prince, knows for sure that she was not a princess of Alistair Kingdom. Before he realize it, he was already smiling while looking at the beautiful lady. Well, he was lost in his thoughts the lady had already looked at him. Now they were staring straight at each other's eyes both of them knew for sure that they have fallen in love with each other at first sight. The lady blushed And this made his heart pound even harder. When he gained his composure he walks straight to the girl to ask her for her name.

"Greetings, my lady, may I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" He asked.

"I am... my name is Elissa" The girl answered while blushing.

Every night since that day, they meet at the night market and stroll together. One night as they were walking, The guards from the imperial palace arrived. When Alex saw the guards, He pulled Elissa's hand and ran. Luckily, the royal guards haven't noticed him. They hid in the cabin in the woods. The cabin was an abandoned house, it had been there for a long time but no one decided to take it down because accordingly, the man that lived there buried himself in that cabin. Alex and Elissa have no idea of these facts, so they just entered casually and hid in there. They were surprised to see that the cabin was well-taken care of despite the broken door and windows.

The cabin was made up of wood, at first glance it looks really small. The moment you enter, you can see a single bed and chairs covered with a white cloth. A minute after they arrived in the cabin, the rain started to pour. Since the cabin was long abandoned, it wasn't repaired and there are holes in the roof. Alex felt troubled and searched for a corner where they can stay but he instead saw a carpet placed under the bed covering a metal. So, he pulled the bed aside and lift the carpet. He looked surprised but Elisa walked straight to the metal and tried to study it. There is a little hole in the middle of the rectangular metal that looks like a door that leads to an underground room or tunnel. Elissa placed her hands on the metal and slid it. An opening was revealed with stairs in it. A torch was placed beside the bed along with a small fuel container and a match, Alex picked it up and lit it. They work together perfectly. Alex got down first with the torch in his hand and holding Elissa's hand on the other. In there, he saw a fireplace and so he placed the torch in there and walked back to Elissa. Alex went back up the stairs to pull back the bed and hid the door from the outside and lock it from the inside. When he went back down, he saw Elissa looking around and realized that the room was bigger than the cabin above and the ceiling was metal. Also, though it is dusty and looks shabby, it has everything one needs to live. Elissa saw the bed and tried to dust it off. She looked at me and smiled. While I was about to come to her, she looked at me deeply and confusingly and seemed to be looking at something behind me. When I turned my head, I saw an image of the King and a woman. They were dressed in commoner's clothes. The King's hair was already blonde-gold and despite his clothes, he still looks majestic.

"Are they your parents? You look just like him" Elisa asked.

"Yes, maybe from a long time ago they used to live here to escape from the real world." I looked at her and smiled.

"Try to get the picture, maybe they left something in there." She answered me with the most beautiful smile. Her eyes were very enchanting at that moment. It made me feel like I want to stop this very moment and keep her by my side. I always felt that she can be gone from me at any moment. And before I realized it, I have kissed her on an impulse. She looked shocked and when she regained her senses, I smiled at her and reached the picture. Surely, something dropped to the floor. A folder letter. I was stunned and Elisa was focused on the paper that dropped. I picked up the letter and opened it.

"Son, I know that it is you. You have grown into such a strong and domineering man like your father. Mom wants to apologize that I can't be there for you and stay by your side as you grow. I know I have promised your father that I will stay by his side forever, I just can't. I can only send him back. Son, if you happen to fall in love please fall in love with someone of royal blood. It doesn't matter if she is from this Kingdom or not. Don't be a fool like your father. Love Mom." I was confused but Elisa looks even more surprised than me. Then, she asked

" Why do you need to fall in love with that of the royal blood?"

"I don't know, maybe she just wants me to live a happy and comfortable life. She died giving birth to me. " though I knew the reason, I don't want her to feel small and think we can't be together. I can give up everything just to be with her. She still looks down so I hugged her and give her a light kiss on her forehead.

"I love you. I can give up everything just to be with you and grow old with you. So please, Elisa is with me now, and forever. " She looked at me as tears wheeled down her cheeks with a bright loving smile. She hasn't given me an answer that night. Initially, they were waiting for the rain to stop so that they can go home but after an hour it rained even harder. Elisa was sleepy while Alex was worried about Elisa catching a cold. He took off his cloak and placed it on the bed. She lead Elisa to the bed to rest as he sat beside her and hold her hand. They have known each other for almost a month and every night Alex escapes the palace to meet her. In that cabin, They spent the most unforgettable night of their lives. He can't help but frown and feel aggrieved. That night, He decided that he will introduce Elisa to the king. He knows that his father will allow him to fall in love with Elise. Despite the King's strict and controlling demeanor, to him, he is the most loving father anyone could have. That night he fell asleep with Elisa in his hands. But when he woke up, Elisa was no longer there.

If only his senses were keen enough, he could've noticed that she was leaving. He blamed himself for not being strong and keen enough. He regretted that he lost her when she was clearly in his grasp and they have been connected. He thinks that maybe she feels that he is not enough. How he regretted such things that he spent years of his life in training camps and the battlefield. Though the King was worried, he can only let him go and fight himself. He knows exactly what his son was going through. When the King lost his beloved, he blamed the previous King and almost killed him but luckily, the previous King managed to find his son, Alexander.

As King Alexander looks at his son, he just knew that this is Elisa's answer to his confession that night.