Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 12: Childhood sweethearts.

[Royal Palace | Mythiopia]

"Mama, Papa. Don't worry. I have everything ready. One more year. And I will be back again. This time when I come back, I will make this entire palace fly in air. Hahaha." Stella boasted to her parents as she finished her dinner.

"You don't have to do those crazy things. The whole palace is scared of you trying magic." Aliza said as she filled up a glass of milk with honey for her daughter. Stella pouted hearing her mother.

"Hmph. People need to have talent to appreciate my art works. What do you say Papa?" Stella excitedly turned to look at her father. Lawrence, sitting at the head of the table smiled at his daughter.

"Yup. Whatever my princess likes. We will visit you after few months." The passage of time didn't deplete his charm at all. Instead, his previous playfulness now replaced with a mature and reliable vibe.

"Haha.. Mwah. I love you Mama and Papa. I am going to bed now." Princess Stella gambolled to her room. The servants who saw her on the way couldn't help but smile at her childishness. Their eldest princess had an aura that could make anyone fall in love with her.

Twelve years had passed since they learned of the eldest princess's true identity. While it was initially a shock, Stella had easily wormed her way into everyone's hearts, gaining acceptance and love. However, the palace never forgot the youngest princess, the crown princess of Mythiopia.

Despite the passage of time, the king never stopped searching for his missing daughter. Each night, Queen Aliza prayed for Isabella's safety, her heart aching with longing. Aliza's routine never changed: she prepared two sets of everything, one for Stella and the other for Isabella.

The royal court had an empty seat reserved for her. Her existence was never forgotten. Just like how the king was never forgiven by their queen.

Inside the dining hall the atmosphere turned gloomy as soon as Stella left for her room. Queen Aliza finished her dinner soon and got up to leave.

"I will be leaving now your Majesty. Hope you have a pleasant night." Aliza bowed to the man sitting at the head of the table before turning around to leave. Just when she was about to take a step forward a hand caught her wrist and turned her around.

King Lawrence stood in front of her, looking at her longingly.

"Aliza. Love.. How long are you going to punish me like this? Please. I miss you Aliza. And I need my wife. Please.." Lawrence hugged her tightly but even after few minutes the queen didn't return the hug, shattering his already broken heart.

"Your majesty. It is getting late and you have royal court to attend tomorrow. You should go and rest." Aliza gently pushed Lawrence away and walked out of the room without turning back. But the tears pooled up in her eyes finally escaped when she closed Isabella's room doors behind her.

It was not that she enjoyed hurting her husband. But she missed her youngest daughter. Not a day passed without her praying for her safety. She didn't know who to blame for all this.

They were many things they weren't sure about. This anger and frustration piled up inside her would make her go insane if not directed at someone.

The next day entire palace was gathered at the main gates to send off their eldest princess. Two more years and Stella would be done with her academy where the heirs had been enrolled to hone their skills and managing the kingdom.

"Don't forget to eat on time. And don't sneak around without telling anyone. Okay? I know Calhoun will take care of you but don't go troubling him." Queen Aliza chided her daughter gently as she walked her to the carriage waiting for her.

Stella rolled her eyes heaven-ward hearing about Calhoun. "I never trouble him. He is the one who keeps poking his nose in my business."

"He is just looking after you." Lawrence said as he walked on other side of Stella. Stella didn't comment anymore and simply smiled.

Getting into the carriage, she waved good bye to her parents and the griffins started running before they took their flight along with the carriage.

[Vandrad | Royal Palace]

"Looking at you, I don't think I can ever be proud of you." King Jayen spoke coldly looking at his only son who was seated opposite to him.

"Nice to know. Now if you allow me, I have to go back to academy." Calhoun spoke back in the same icy tone as he got up from his seat and bowed to his father.

"Where are you going? Did I permit you to leave? Stop right there." Jayen's voice stopped Calhoun in his tracks and he can feel the headache coming his way. He sighed and turned around.

"I will be a failure if I can't make my son a good husband. Lawrence will laugh at me for the entire life. So make sure you keep princess Stella happy and satisfied." Jayen spoke strictly making Calhoun wonder when was there a time when that girl wasn't happy and satisfied.

Calhoun's eyebrows twitched, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "Stop building castles in air Father. Princess Stella is not looking for any husband and neither am I in a pursuit for any wife. So you please concern yourself with your wife for now."

Jayen banged his hands on the table hearing his son. Why is his son so dense? Can he be a little romantic like him? He must be a fool to not see the admiration and love in Stella's eyes whenever she gazed at Calhoun.

"You.. Don't you have any plans of marrying?.. No. Wait! I don't care about your plans anymore. I am giving you two more years. By the time you return from the academy ready to take over the throne, I want you to be in love." Jayen huffed and leaned when a soft laugh reached his ears.

"My king. This is not how love works. And why do you keep blaming my son? Don't forget from where he got that dense nature of his." Jayen pursed his lips hearing his queen. He was not dense at all. Hmpphhh. But he shut his mouth not wanting to anger is wife.

Queen Kristina walked to her son who was now as tall as her husband. Calhoun gave a small smile to his mother.

"Be safe. Take care of Stella well. She can be really reckless sometimes. Hmm?" Calhoun nodded, complying to his mother. Since the day one of Stella's arrival, he somehow became her bodyguard and truly speaking, he didn't mind it. That girl kept him entertained with her silly acts.

Calhoun left shortly after saying good byes to his parents.

"What do you think? They both are of age now. Should we betroth them now?" Jayen asked still seated on his chair.

Kristina walked and sat beside him. "It is no fun that way Jay. Let the young ones come to us and say that they want to marry each other."

-----------

[London]

Inside the cafeteria, Rebecca and Tia sat opposite to Dylan as they scrutinised him with their laser sharp eyes. Black hair, blue eyes, straight nose, chiselled jaw, no stubble, ... perfect! This person was sure a master piece but it was their best friend in question. They cannot approve everyone who is handsome for their friend.

"Ahem.. So you are Dylan. Isa's childhood friend?" Tia asked and Dylan nodded. What the hell was this? He was only hear to meet Isabella's friends. Why does it feel like he was being interrogated?

"Why have we never heard about?" Rebecca asked to which Dylan simply shrugged.

"Any girlfriends previously?" Tia asked her second question.

"How does my personal life concern you?" Dylan questioned back.

Rebecca lightly hit the table before answering him seriously. "Listen Dylan. We are not interrogating you or looking down on you. It was because of us why Isabella choose that flat. Don't think we accusing you of something, but if something happens to Isabella, then it will be biggest regret of our lives. We are just worried about and wanted to know the person is sharing space with her."

Dylan was quite stunned hearing this. Isabella was not a very social person and he always thought that this girl would end having no friends. But seems like she has caring and loyal friends.

As far she he knew, these were the only two girls she was really close with. Isabella sure know how to make valuable friends.

Dylan smiled before answering the girls. "Don't worry. Isabella is as important to me as she is to you. I wouldn't ever hurt her. And thank you for being such a wonderful to her."

Rebecca and Tia blinked their eyes hearing Dylan. Why did it sound like a confession more than an assurance.

"Here are our orders..." Isabella came to the table with a tray in her hands with four coffees and potato fries arranged on it. Putting the tray on the table, she settled beside Dylan and signalled everyone to take their orders.

"Take this cup. I will take yours." Dylan exchanged his cup with Isabella's when he heard her slightly sigh looking at the colour of the cup - Yellow. She didn't like that colour, hence he exchanged it with his blue one.

Isabella, though a little taken aback at first, gladly accepted it. Her heart warmed up as she remembered their childhood days when he would try to indulge her whims as much as possible.

Looking at this, Rebecca and Tia leaned closer to each other and whispered among each other.

Rebecca: I think he has a crush on Isa.

Tia: No. I can see that he is already in love.

Rebecca: Hmm. Might be. I think he liked her even before he left the orphanage but now returned back to fight for his love. You know, like .. childhood sweethearts kind of thing.

Tia: Isn't he too young for that.

Rebecca: Who cares. Isa will have so many boys lining up for her soon. I think he trying to be a step ahead.

Tia and Rebecca nodded at their interpretations of Dylan's visit back in the country. The other two at the table curiously looked at these both who had their heads practically buried under the table and whispering for a while.

"Ahem.. What are you both talking about?" Isabella questioned to which the two girl immediately jerked up their heads, hitting their heads on the edge of the table in the process. Dylan chuckled looking at them.

"Hehe. Nothing. Nothing. You still have things to do right. Go and complete them. We will leave now. Bye." The two girls left leaving Dylan and Isabella alone.

"Dylan. I have to go to law school to submit my admission letter. Sorry, I cannot accompany you today." Dylan had stayed out of the country for almost a decade. This place would be all new to him. So Isabella felt guilty leaving alone.

"I don't have anything particular to do. How about I tag along and explore your university campus?" Dylan suggested and Isabella nodded her head having no issues with this. She got into a top university in Britain. Who wouldn't be proud to show it off?

-----------

Standing in a corner of the admission office, Isabella blankly looked at the paper in her hand.

It was Dylan's admission letter into business department as a scholarship student. When he put her letter on the counter, Dylan too put his admission letter beside hers and only then did she get to know about him joining the same university but different departments.

"Haha.. So? What do you think princess? Aren't I awesome? Did it surprise you?" Dylan asked excitedly looking at Isabella's blank face. He frowned receiving no 'Wooww' and 'Congratulations'.

Dylan was about to comment on her lack of response when he suddenly felt a sharp slap on his shoulder and then another and then a couple more before they finally stopped.