CONTACTS & COMMUNICATIONS (PART 1)

Princess Dianne has just finished a typical twelve-course lunch and is now resting on her favorite cushioned love seat when her personal royal aide, Mrs. Priscilla Ebit enters the room with a white legal envelope bearing a red wax regal seal in her hand.

"Your Royal Majesty, your father the King has sent you a letter…"

Dianne sighs dejectedly, If I know my father, and I do, he has probably written about the same topic that we've been fighting about for years…

In an effort to change the subject, the lovely lounging young lady reaches for the said written correspondence while giving her assistant a normal statement along with her sweetly asking a typical question.

"Thank you, Pricilla. How is your husband, by the way?"

"Ceferino has been very, very busy since his father died. After all, he is the Duke's only son and his senior has turned over his title and property to him upon his demise."

"Condolences but congratulations, too to both of you. Then that makes you a Duchess now, am I correct?" Dianne asks a bit excitedly. "Should I be searching for your future replacement now, my loyal aide?"

The royal assistant freezes where she stands and it takes a long while before she answers. "My lady, it was never my intention to leave you even if my husband and I have earned such grand titles since I can still do my duties to you with or without the title of Duchess. After all, I did promise to your mother on her deathbed after she gave birth to your stillborn younger brother that I will care for you… And not even a lofty inherited title can change my mind about that, Mistress…"

"What about your people within your new territories? Won't they need both of your ruling, wisdom and guidance?"

"My husband has assured me that he has already hired governing heads and community leaders to take over the people's concerns and I won't be needed in that manner. It is his way of saying I'm free to fulfil my responsibilities to our kingdom even if it doesn't involve the properties and territories that the king had given to my husband's line. Speaking of which, would you like me to depart for a while so you could read your father's letter?"

The frail but beautiful monarch sighs even deeper as she gives her older companion a curt nod. 

I might as well then. Better to get this over now so I can rest or even write my reply before dinner and my special therapeutic session…

And much to her consternation, after the typical greetings and short update, Dianne inhales sharply since her suspicions are indeed true. (Feel free to imagine a low smooth baritone speaking the words of the letter, dear reader.)

My dearest daughter Dianne,

Greetings my child!

I hope my letter finds you well. I myself am not feeling fine due to your long and meaningful silence to my last communication to you. Have I offended you in any way, my beloved child? Please let me know. Since your mother and infant brother died, you have been my only precious family member and no other. If you insist on being silent, I beg of you that you consider giving me a grandson to whom I can pass my crown and kingdom before I leave this mortal coil. That is all I ask, daughter dear and I promise, you can be free to live your own life without my presence or say so.

I love you, Dianne. This I solemnly swear and I will eagerly await your reply.

Yours sincerely, Henry Oliver Hamlet Cromwell VI

Oh, father…if only you didn't agree to marry me off to your foreign best friend's son when I was still a baby, then maybe I would consider your request. But I can't marry someone I don't know or feel nothing for. Besides, I believe I have already fallen in love with someone but I don't believe he is aware in any way.

+++

Speak of the devil…

Heron has just finished his morning meal when he checks his postal cubby and finds a fragrant light pink envelope inside of it. Based on its very new purple postal stamp's date, it's been delivered only that morning. The muscled therapist sighs a little forlornly.

Looks like Mother can't avoid sending me another letter despite my request that she stop trying to reach me. I already told her so during her last mobile call to me but I guess that's why she chose snail mail this time since I wasn't that clear or specific about what means of communication she should avoid using to connect with me.

The wide-shouldered talent then rips the envelope's side open, shakes it with one wide manly hand and lets the content slide out and fall into the other. Using both palms, he carefully opens the fragrant and pinkish linen sheet with the monogrammed dry seal at the lower right corner as he walks towards his small room…

To my beloved and only son Aaron,

I'll be direct and go straight to the point. After all, you deserve it for abandoning me to this cruel fate!

 Why have to done this to me my prodigal and stubborn child? Aren't I the only family you have left? How can you leave me like this? The king has just decreed that until you return, I am to reside in His Royal Highness's country royal apartments that house retirees and dishonoured monarchial friends and relatives due to his close friendship with your father, God rest his soul. And I hope he is not turning in his grave due to your ignoring my state, you disobedient and ungrateful child!

You need to come back, boy so we can return to our castle, people, properties and territory. I am truly languishing here Heron, you hard-hearted and hard-headed lad! Do come back and rescue me from this horrible and distressing state. 

Your mother, The High Duchess Adela Anastasia De Narra

POSTSCRIPT: You still owe me a grandchild before I go and stay in the afterlife, Aaron! Come back home, child!

I'm no longer a child mother and I have decided to never be treated like one ever again. Also, can you be less dramatic? Or is this your template response to any kind of what you believe are trials and difficulties? Besides, if you hadn't insisted that I fulfil father's wish for me to marry his best friend's daughter even when he had already died of old age, I never would have run away from home and gone here to the Midnight Resort to take on the identity of a personal masseuse! 

I already paid a great amount for my minimal plastic surgery and even compensated Eron Keizer to sell me his identification cards, birth certificate and other identity documents along with his bloody identity so I could apply as a talent in this institution. And even if I slipped in answering Hiraya and gave my true surname instead of my fake one, she didn't seem to notice this as anything out of the ordinary so my secret remains safe with me. Besides, I'm not prepared to give that all up for an arranged marriage to some high-class woman I've never met or royalty who I've never seen even in photographs at all…

Especially, since I believe I'm already falling in love with someone else! 

+++

An encrypted email this time…

Hi Mom and Pops!

It's me your only handsome son, Bien with my lovely wife Lyra!

Great news! Lyra and I have finished filing all the requirements for the Midnight Resort's legalization and legitimacy, including all of its branches. We'll be visiting you real soon so you can go through all the incorporation papers along with signing them and affixing your thumbprints, as well. Mama Belle is through the roof! After all, we all know this has always been her dream. Once it's all done and completed, she has promised to give her younger brother all the rights and authority over the family business so she can enjoy her final years without worrying about a single thing about running the Midnight Resort.

She's two months pregnant and it has already been confirmed by Dr. Erica Esguerra of the main city's hospital. Help us choose baby names, please, for both girl and boy. As Pops always says, "Better to be bloody safe than fucking sorry."

+++

Another encrypted email appears on Marina's laptop a few minutes after the first one's appearance: 

Hello, my dearest best friend Rina and beloved brother Reuben,

I know you've already received, and probably finished reading, our son's email to you and Rube. I just waited a while hoping to time the arrival of my email to appear right after the kids' own. I am so happy Marina, you know how I've dreamed of this day since my father died and left The Resorts to me. My single and only regret is that my darling husband Antonio will not get to see this fortuitous day. Oh well, I do know he can see all this happening in heaven so I don't mind that much. Please wait for us to arrive to personally give the papers and legal documents that you and Rube need to sign. We probably will use the private family plane for our trip there. Lyra needs the practice since she recently got her pilot's license.

Toodles! I promise we'll be there before you know it, bestie Reena!

Lovingly yours, Doña Isabelle Castañeda y Agpalza

PS Did Hero tell you that he and Lyra will be having a baby? I'm sure he has, even if Lyra will 'punish' him for it in one of their private B.D.S.M. sessions. I've never seen him more proud, honestly. And I know so are you and Rube!