Chapter Twenty-nine

Emery

My mind drifts away to my conversation with Cole last night—instantly making me zone out. It has been on my mind and I can't stop thinking about it at all even when I'm here with Emma.

''It's too early, mother.'' She chuckles as she turns.

They are currently standing in front of the mirror as they watch her small bump; the baby is not clearly showing up yet due to the fact that she's two weeks pregnant. The two of them seem very happy that they did not even notice how I'm barely here.

''Emery,'' I look up at Emma; seeing that she has been calling my name for the past few seconds. She looks at me with a raised eyebrow, probably worried about my sudden change. I couldn't blame her, really.

''Yeah? What's wrong?'' I ask, smiling slightly.

My mother; Genevieve doesn't seem to notice much as she continues to go through our closet—looking for Emma's clothes, probably wanting to add more maternity clothes for the future when the baby bump is already showing. She must be excited for her first grandchild and obviously she would act this way.

''Are you okay?'' She asks, sitting next to me on our bed, looking into my eyes. ''You've been zoning out lately and I can't help but say I notice,'' She adds.

I find myself let out a breathy chuckle before glancing at her direction, ''I haven't even notice myself zoning out lately but I'm fine, Emma. Trust me,'' I reply.

To my surprise, she leans in to kiss me on the lips in which I respond back with the same rhythm. The way our lips move against each other in a passionate yet slow sync—I'm practically showing her the truth but I don't have the courage to say it out loud.

She slows down the kiss, smiling at me.

All of a sudden, someone comes opening the door in a hurry before running in; making both Emma and I to turn and look at the figure—Evelyn, seeing her with a wide smile on her face. Then, she starts to push me a little in order for her to sit next to Emma.

''Oh my god, have you seen our guest?'' She exclaims with happiness glistering in her eyes; making me look at her in confusion. Yes, the guest that arrived at our palace is one of the former royalties from France but what does the guests have to do with this.

''You mean, guests. Why are you overreacting?'' I roll my eyes in annoyance at her behaviour. She has never been the one to act all excited over guests that come over—she would even barely be here. In fact, she would not be here at all if it weren't for father's sake.

Evelyn smiles widely, her eyes are showing something that I can't comprehend. The way she looks out at the glass window, it shows a little bit more of her true self and surprisingly, I'm not fond of it.

''Shut up, Emery. You wouldn't even understand. Emma and I need to have this conversation but if you're going to make fun of me, just walk away.''

She narrow her eyes at me before continuing to speak, ''Whatever. There's this guy, his name is Andrea and he's just—breathtaking. He has the lightest blue eyes that I've ever seen; but then, that would be a lie. That is not the point right now,'' She frowns, ''Emma, he's a charming lad. You should see him,''

''Why should Emma see him?'' I quickly cut her off.

''Because I like him, isn't that obvious?'' She sighs.

Emma laughs at me as she pulls Evelyn in for a hug, ''Finally, you'll have someone to drool over. Tell me more about him—what happened down there?'' She asks, paying full attention to the story.

''Come on,'' Evelyn exclaims as she pulls her up, and they both end up chuckling on their way out. I turn to look at my mother; seeing that she's exiting from the walk-in closet, looking for Emma.

''Oh, I was babbling to myself.'' She chuckles.

I smile at her as I make my way down the hall, getting to the stairs before heading straight towards the west wing; where the guests are currently having their lunch—they coming here are welcomed.

From behind, I see Emma gesturing Evelyn to go and start a conversation with 'Andrea' who is currently enjoying his lunch. I cross my arms as my lips curve up into a smile at my sister and my wife—they look like teenage girls wanting to confess.

''You sure?'' Evelyn asks, hesitating.

''Yes! Go or you'll regret it,'' Emma replies.

Evelyn let out a deep sigh as she makes her way towards Andrea who immediately look up at her with a smile on his face—welcoming Evelyn's presence near him. He begins to stand up, smiling at her and looking at her in a way that I don't understand.

As they make their way towards the garden, I come to accompany Emma—receiving a smile from her. ''She likes him so why not,'' She mutters near me.

''So, you're the matchmaker now?'' I turn to face her as she smiles down at the ground; mesmerising me at the sight of it. She's a beauty that is cherished.

''Well, not really. Besides, what she said is true. He's indeed a beauty—matches her. They're both beautiful so I don't see anything wrong with it,'' She says.

''But I'm beautifuler,'' I roll my eyes.

She fakes a cough, ''Yup. Whatever you say,''

I peck onto the side of her temple before wrapping my arm around her shoulder, ''What do you say, Your Highness, care for a stroll?'' I caress the side of her face with my index finger; making her smile.

''Why, it's an honour, my prince.'' She replies.

We walk side by side before entwining our fingers together—enjoying this moment. Honestly, nothing can go wrong. Especially not now because I, for one notice how things are going very well.

My life has never felt perfect. We're a young married couple who's going to have a baby together, slowly building a life to where we will face bigger obstacles but the obstacles we face will only make us stronger. Yes, I was too naive to accept her before but now all I see is her—she's my one and only.

It's not hard to give in when two hearts are one.

As I look down at her, I pull her closer towards me so that she's near enough for me to feel her warmth. We are and always will try to understand one another and yes, I do notice how she wants to ask me questions. Questions that I preferably want to avoid.

''I love you,'' I say, out of the blue.

She turns to look at me, ''I love you too,''

We stop walking as we eye each other; confusion in her eyes yet she doesn't utter a single word—I know that she senses something is clearly wrong with me but she doesn't want to make it a big deal.

''I really love you, Emma. I don't know how much but what I'm sure is that I love you more than you think. You and our baby will always be my first priority,'' I say, for no reason at all. It's just that I want her to know my feelings for her are true; genuine.

Emma cups onto my face, caressing slowly.

''And I, love you.'' She breathes out.

''You can tell me anything. Anything that is bothering you because I'll be here to understand—I'll try to feel what you feel so that maybe we can overcome it together; you would want that, wouldn't you?'' She asks, surprised to find me pulling her by the waist.

''I'd want everything with you,'' I mutter.

''And everything we shall have,'' She replies.

Emma and I both look up to find Evelyn laughing loudly at Andrea in which he responds back with the same laughter—making us smile at their happiness. They seem happy and I don't see why I should be thinking over something that is never too sure.

I look at the woman in front of me; Emma.

I'm more than lucky to have her as my wife and it's such a grateful gift. She's an absolute beauty but other than her beauty, she's perfect. Her personalities, her appearances, her charms; they're rare.

Everything that we share, I wouldn't want to ruin.

We are and will keep on staying strong.

''Your Highnesses!'' Emma and I turn to look at one of the royal guards running towards us, ''T—the king, he has stopped breathing,'' He says, panting.

I turn to look at Emma, seeing her eyes widening as soon as our minds realise what the guard has said. Without further ado, I immediately make my way back into the palace—heading towards father's wing before reaching his bedroom; pushing the door open to see the doctor attending him.

''Check his heart rate,'' He says, in a hurry.

I am only left looking at my father having the struggle to breathe as his heart starts to beat again but his condition is not stable—making me close the distance between us; due to the fact that I want to see him closely so that he would be able to see me too.

''Your Highness, forgive me but I'm going to ask you to leave us. Please,'' The doctor sounds like he is almost begging as I look into his eyes; slowly, yet understandingly walking towards the door.

Emma places her hand on her flat stomach as she watch me head back towards her before grabbing onto her hand as we walk out of his chamber. My mind won't think of anyone or anything else other than my own father; the father that has raised me.

''Emery! H—how is he?'' Mother comes rushing with Evelyn on her side, luckily there's no sight of Andrea because that would be a little bit too invading.

''The doctor asked us to stay out for awhile,'' I reply.

My mother starts to frown as tears are streaming down her cheeks; showing the amount of sadness that she has been building up inside of her. The way she cries for my father—her husband—it shows, how her love for him is genuine, real.

''His heart stopped,'' I mutter under my breath.

''What? Let me in to see your father,'' She says.

''No, mother. The doctor asked us to wait here and he will call for us when he's done. We don't want him to feel pressured—that's never good.

Thirty-minutes have passed and all of a sudden, the doctor comes out of the chamber—looking at me. I lean forward from the wall before turning to look around me; seeing that I'm the only one left waiting for him while they have went back to wash up.

''He wishes to see you,'' He says and I quickly make my way inside but before I can, the doctor stops me by the chest, ''I must tell you, Your Highness. You will be the last person he'll see,'' He adds, silencing me.

''What? What does that—'' I stop talking.

I turn to look at my father, his breathing slowing down so I quickly step inside; closing the door behind me in order to have a little privacy. As soon as he hears the door closing, he glances up at my direction while I make my way towards him.

''My son.'' He chuckles before coughing in which I immediately walk towards him, trying to soothe the hardness in his chest, ''How are things?'' He asks.

My lips curve up into a smile, ''Good,''

He smiles back at me, coughing more afterwards and this time; he coughs out blood—making me worry but before I can run out to call for the doctor, he begins to pull my hand, stopping me. The way he looks into my eyes, it shows how he wants to say something.

''Emery, I have to tell you. Your mother and I were supposed to tell you eight years ago but you left to Australia before we could find the chance. Now, I want to tell you and I want you to understand,'' He breathes out, gripping onto my hand; tightly.

My whole body starts to tremble at the nervousness but I nod; gesturing for him to keep on speaking. Yes, he might have something important to say and I will let him be the one to speak. I want to know.

''When you step out of here, head straight towards my office and unlock the third drawer. You'll find a file with your name on top—then, you shall find the truth. Do you trust me, son?'' He grips harder.

His dark blue eyes are barely filled with light.

They've always been happy and full of light.

''Yes, I trust you.'' I breathe out, nodding my head and just like that—he smiles at me before slowly closing his eyes, coughing more blood. I begin to panic as the doctor runs inside; checking his heart rate but as I feel his grip loosening, I know it's too late. What the doctor said was true.

''I love you, son.'' He cries out as he breathes.

The machine beeps, signalling his death.

''Father. Father! No, don't leave me,'' I say as tears are appearing in my eyes before continuing to slip. My eyebrows furrow at the amount of pain; letting me grip onto the sheets.

I've never had the chance to prove him that I am and will be a better son—instead of leaving him behind in order to go after my freedom. He didn't disagree or stop me because he wanted what was best.

My legs fail me as they drop down onto the ground before letting me grip onto his hands—not wanting to let him go, not yet. I heard footsteps nearing me and it doesn't take me long to realise that Emma is already by my side; her arms around me.

''No! Please,'' My mother cries out, her pain.

I look up with teary eyes at my sister; Evelyn, her eyes are reddening due to the amount of sadness and due to the amount of tears escaping her eyes. She begins to cover her mouth—not wanting any sound to escape and appear hopeless. Yes, she may have known father shorter than me because she was adopted at an older age but Evelyn and I are his favourites.

''Shh, you're okay. You're okay,'' Emma whispers.

I blink away the tears, letting myself weak.

She won't stop wrapping her arms around me; slowly comforting me which soothes me slightly. I breathe out the amount of sadness overwhelming me before holding onto her hand—finding strength.

Within seconds, I am left seeing my family crumble in pain and sadness at the lost of our king.