28 Chapter 28: Dimension Pt.3 (2/2)
”No matter what happens, I don't regret this experience.”
”Yeah, me too...”
”I can see the shooting star. You know what to wish for, right?” The ex-prince grabbed the hand of the ex-princess.
”…Yes, I know.” Both of them closed their eyes and made their wish. ”Just remember that if we are able to go back, please love someone who loves you for who you were, and that is not me.”
”What are you talking about? I already love—”
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”I'm back. I'm a guy again.” The prince woke up on his bed. He immediately went to the King and Queen. ”Father, Mother, when will the princess of Lustria arrive for our marriage?”
”What are you talking about, Kley? Marriage? You must have slept too much. We are at war with them, and we will soon be able to conquer them.” The King was in disbelief of what the prince said.
”But what about the peace treaty?”
”Peace treaty? My dear Kley, what has gotten into you?” The Queen was surprised. ”You have been an advocate of winning this war.”
”What is happening here?” The prince was talking to himself. ”I know… Xeresta!” He rushed off to look for his maid. He found her back at his room. He grabbed her by the shoulders. ”Xeresta! Tell me what happened here! What happened to the princess of Lustria kingdom?”
”Your Highness? The princess of Lustria kingdom has been asleep for a year now. Nobody knows why or how to wake her up. Or so the rumors say. May I ask why you are suddenly interested in her?”
”We were supposed to be getting married and a peace treaty was supposed to happen… Everything should have returned to normal.”
”I see. Something must have happened then.”
”You believe me?”
”I always will, your Majesty.”
”Thank you, Xeresta!” The prince hugged his maid. ”I have to go to their kingdom and find out what happened.” The prince rushed out the room.
”Did his Majesty just say 'Thank you'?” The maid was left wondering what happened.
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The prince set out to the kingdom of Lustria. Before he left, he convinced the King that a peace treaty be signed and he will be the emissary who will bring it to the other kingdom. He argued that the lives of the citizens are more important and that he will find a way to unify both kingdoms. The King admired how determined his son was, and agreed.
When the prince arrived at the kingdom of Lustria, he was stopped at the gates. He showed the peace treaty that he has brought and asked for an audience with the king and queen of the kingdom.
”Your Highness, I am here to deliver a peace treaty from our kingdom.” The prince knelt down in front of the king.
”They have sent the prince of Grandia to propose a peace treaty. What if we decline and take you hostage, instead?”
”I do not believe you will do that. Your daughter told me that you value your citizens more than winning this aimless war.”
”It is true that I will not do that. I was only testing your resolve. Forgive me. However, you speak as if you know my daughter. When did you two meet?”
”It is a long story, your Highness. But all I ask is that you trust me and let me see your daughter. I am here with pure intentions of marrying the princess.”
”I do not know how you two met, but I feel the sincerity in your words. Unfortunately, she has been asleep for a very long time. We do not know why or how to wake her up… You will still be able to find other suitable women to be your queen. I can already see you will be a fine king one day.”
”Thank you for your kind words. But I will not give up on her. I will find a way to wake her up. If I do, please give us your blessing.” The prince left the kingdom of Lustria determined to find an answer.
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The prince returned to his kingdom. He remembered about the sage in the forest. He asked Xeresta if she knew the location of the sage, but as he expected, she had no idea what he was talking about. He made his own search for the sage. He had his servants help me ask around the kingdom if they knew anything about the sage. After a few days, he finally had a solid basis on where he can find the sage in the forest. He searched for the sage on his own, and found him deep within a cave in the forest.
”Great sage! I have need of your help.”
”What? I thought a young beautiful girl would be the one visiting me. My fortune telling is getting rusty. What can I help you with, lad?”
”You see…” The prince explained everything to the great sage.
”Hmm, it must be because she added something to her wish, which may be related as to why she isn't waking up.”
”What could that be?”
”There is no way of telling for sure. And she will only wake up once her wish is fulfilled, I think.”
”This can't be…” The prince had the look of defeat and despair.
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With no more ideas to go on, the prince went back to Lustria to inform the king of his failure.
”I am sorry I was not able to find a way to wake the princess.” The prince knelt and bowed down.
”You tried your best. It is not your fault.”
”On the contrary, I think it is…” The prince whispered to himself. ”May I see her one last time, your Highness?”
”Go ahead.”
The palace guards escorted the prince to the princess' room. The prince sat beside her on the bed.
”Is this how much you didn't want to marry me? You wished to sleep forever? That's a bit unfair, don't you think? I already decided I would marry you when we return… I love you.” He kissed the princess. The prince started to stand up, when suddenly the princess woke up.
”What are you doing here?” The confusion was noticeable in the princess' voice.
”What do you mean? Of course, I will be here. I have come for my queen.” The prince grabbed her hand.
”But, you know, someone else has been in love with you for the longest time. She deserves to be with you more than me.”
”That may be the case, but…”
”Besides, I wished that I'll only wake up when you are with the one you truly love…”
”Then, your wish has been granted.” He smiled at the princess.
They lived happily ever after.
THE END