We secretly leave the palace before sunrise. This was all planned, but we didn't expect Mr. Osiris to arrive at the same time we did. Fortunately, he was the only person to notice us at that particular moment. Prince and I were just standing, unable to say anything, but Prince wouldn't stop staring at Mr. Osiris as if he was trying to threaten him.
The unexpected words from Mr. Osiris caught us off guard. "Go!"
"Why don't you stop us?" I queried.
"If you don't go right away, I'll stop you," he threatened. "You don't know this, but I'm really good at coming up with excuses."
Prince Augustus took my hand in his. "All right, let's go!"
I mouthed the words "thank you" to Mr. Osiris before getting into the prince's car. At the back of my mind, I can't help but worry that Mr. Osiris will tell the king we snuck out. But there's something in me that says he is not going to make a choice that will put the prince in danger.
"Are you worried?" The prince inquired as the engine began to rev. Mr. Osiris is not the type to betray the child he looked after for more than a year, despite his apparent loyalty to the king.
"Yes, indeed. I was concerned about that earlier, but the real issue that has me concerned is how we will get through the security entrances at the airport. We used phony documents. We are both aware of the consequences that would result if they caught us.
"You are the one who accepted the fake passport, and now you're worried about the situation." Prince reached out and placed his hand on mine, which had been holding onto the steering wheel earlier. "Trying to relax while constantly thinking about things won't work."
I grabbed his hands without thinking. “I... I...” I looked out the window without saying the thought that had begun to form in my mind. Even though I know in my head that cutting ties with him is best, my heart is telling me the exact opposite.
The sound of the engine was the only thing that could be heard throughout the entirety of the journey to the airport. Following the event that took place the night before, it feels as though the tension between us has increased even further.
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My anxiety levels have never been this high whenever I enter an airport. It felt as though my entire body was trembling, and I could feel myself starting to perspire like a pig. I have to remind myself to take a deep breath and relax if I want this situation to turn out okay.
"There are thirty minutes until our flight," he said. "We can still discuss the time I was gone."
"I don't think now is the time or the place to bring that up,"
"This is neither the appropriate time nor the appropriate place for what it was that I was going to say. At this point, it's more important than ever that you understand what I've come to realize. For fear that by the time I've found my mom and told you, it will be too late.
I swiveled around to face him. "We're in the middle of the airport, surrounded by people, and I'm having an anxiety attack right now causing my heart to hurt," I said, pointing to my chest. "It was easier at first when you physically harmed me, but now you are destroying me on every level."
"Have I... have I really done it to you?"
The emotion was solemn, but gradually, anger overtook my body. "You are showing me that you care about me by telling me you like me and kissing me in front of all the students. But as soon as I handed you the box that Raeanna had given you, you walked away from me and didn't even bother turning around." I said it without breaking a single word. "Do you give a damn about how I'm feeling?"
"I care," he said after a brief pause. "May I now speak?"
"Would you please stop? I don't want to listen to anything else. This is killing me on the inside and out."
"During the two weeks that I was gone, I had the opportunity to talk to Raeanna."
When he started talking about Raeanna, that's when I started to worry that I might be losing my mind. And with that, this fantasy comes to an end as he picks Raeanna over me. If only he'd decided after we located his mom, things would be different.
"We have a chat, and..."
“Good afternoon, passengers. This is the pre-boarding announcement for flight 89B to Spain. We are now inviting those passengers with small children and any passengers requiring special assistance to begin boarding at this time. Please have your boarding pass and identification ready. Regular boarding will begin in approximately ten minutes. Thank you.”
The pre-boarding announcement saved me from hearing what he was about to say. Not right now; I'm not ready. I breathed a sigh of relief. "You may tell me everything once we've located your mother, Your HIghness."
My anxiety is completely gone now that we have successfully passed through the boarding gate. The flight time to Spain is approximately twenty hours, but this can vary depending on where the plane will land. The story of leaving the country to find the prince's mother continues when we board the plane, and ever since then, the prince has shown me his goodness, making me feel guilty for what I did to him earlier. He offered me the food I already had, wrapped me in his blanket while he froze to death, and enchanted me with his flirtatious smile.
We have arrived at our first destination, which is Dubai and will now wait here for the next flight to Spain, which is scheduled to depart in eight hours. 8 hours is too long, and the prince's face showed how tired he was. The bench wasn't big enough for Prince Augustus to rest, so I had to find him a comfortable place to sleep.
"Where are you going?" he asked, grabbing my left hand.
"I'll be right back. Just give me a second."
"I'll accompany you,"
"No, you stay here; wandering around won't keep you safe," I say, taking his hand away from mine. "I'll leave for a while."
We can't stay in a hotel, but a small space near the airport would be more convenient. Circling every corner in search of a room large enough for the prince to sleep. The minute that I told him would become thirty minutes passed quickly. At the very last stop in the airport, there was a room with no people in it. I hastened my way back to the location where the prince was, only to find that he was nowhere to be found.
My growing concerns caused me to feel unsettled and agitated. “Prince!” I yelled out as I struggled for air. It was pointless to look around the crowded airport for the prince, what if someone may already be aware of his presence and have abducted him without it being obvious?
My foot slowly shifted into a run, and I set out to find the prince without a clue as to where to start. “Sebastian!” I frantically called out his name.
A thorough search yielded no results. That's when my mind conjured up scenarios that could happen, causing me to cry. I couldn't do anything but cry amid these people, who seemed to move as quickly as the minute hands of a clock.
When I heard that familiar laugh somewhere, everything returned to normal. "Prince..."
Prince Augustus appeared out of nowhere in front of me while holding two drinks aloft with a smile.
I walked towards the prince. "Where were you?"
"Since you were taking such a long time, I decided to go get some drinks in case you were thirsty."
I restrain myself from becoming enraged at the prince. "Your security is more important than my thirst."
"I knew you'd be concerned," he said as he stroked my brow. "All right, I'm here. Stop frowning."
His gentle touch did more than just wipe the worry from my brow.
"I know that harming myself will harm you as well, Gemma, so I won't cause you any trouble."
No, I shouldn't be taken in this way by him. "Just don't do it again," I said, removing the prince's hand from my brow.
"Gemma, could you please let me speak now?" He inquired, his eyes seemingly pleading.
I simply turned away without responding to him.
"I'm not going to lie to you. During the two weeks that I was gone, Raeanna came with me everywhere I went, and we talked about ourselves and how everything turned out this way."
Avoiding further pain is the main reason I chose to ignore his words. But given the circumstances that we are currently in, I don't have a choice but to listen to what you have to say.
"Raeanna may be my first love," the announcer's voice rose to a level where I could barely make out the words. "But it isn't the greatest or most profound love. It is simply the memory, one's first experience with romantic love."
Yet his words could be heard over the announcer's booming voice.
"And first love is not the same as true love. It's something you can't get away from, no matter how hard you try. My entire being longs to be with you. I like the way you make me feel, even when you aren't around. Neggie, I am completely and utterly head over heels in love with you!"
This may sound cliché, but everyone around me seems to be moving at a snail's pace as if time were moving incredibly slowly right now. The image of the charming prince beaming at me while he chats with me is the only thing that I can see with my eyes. The deafening sound of my upbeat, throbbing heartbeat reaching my ears, my foot inching closer to him, and my hand that so desperately wants to wrap itself around his body
"I know this is going to sound corny, but there isn't a word that can express how much I love you, Gemma," he said.
I giggled. "I never in a million years imagined that I would hear those words from you."
Because of these scenarios I created, I overthink things. It seems that the concerns I've had over the past few weeks were nothing. "You are not Raeanna because you are greater than she is."