The Royalties

It was almost midnight when Richard finished his paper works. He went to the kitchen to have some water before going to sleep. He was on his way back to his room when he saw that lights were still on in Dei's room so he decided to check on it. As he reached the room, he saw that it was slightly opened. He took a peek inside and saw Charmaine and Athena sleeping soundly. He noticed that Dei was not in the room. He looked around the house and found Dei in the veranda.

"What are you doing here?" Richard asked.

Dei gave him a glance. She was not surprised that Richard's suddenly appears. She still knows those approaching footsteps. "Somethings are not really that easy to get rid off" she said to herself "I just want to get some fresh air." she replied to Richard.

"The air in Cebu is fresher than here in Manila." Richard said. "You should rest now. It was a long day for you. Athena has been taking advantage of your presence." he added.

"I don't have problems with that. I missed her so much and I don't mind spending my whole day with her." Dei replied.

"Thanks again for staying. You have no idea how you bring back the joy in this household. Today is the first time that I saw Athena gets rid of her gadgets in one whole day." Richard said to at least extend the conversation.

"And I agree, every time she is in Cebu, I could not take away her phone from her." Dei said.

"Unlike Charmaine, she is more like you. She prefers to spend her day with her books. She is not even a fan of e-books." Richard said.

"While Athena is more like you, she does not want to go around the bush. She has very little patience in everything. For her, it is always either a Yes or a No. There is no between, the typical you. And she looks more like you." Dei said.

"Charmaine is the same as you. She is your look a like, same goes with your choices. She loves books as much as you love books. She writes pretty well, like you. But she is sweeter than you and she makes a really good coffee" Richard said in smiling, and then he took a deep sign and say. "I miss my princess. I miss her so much every day."

"Well, I can now imagine your reaction once Charmaine tells us that she will be getting married." Dei said smiling.

"Getting married? What do you mean by Charmaine is getting married? Have you allowed her to have a boyfriend? Dei, she is only sixteen. Why did you not tell me that she already has a boyfriend?" Richard asked.

"Will you please relax Richard? I have not allowed her to have a boyfriend yet." Dei explained.

"Yes, she is not yet allowed to have a boyfriend yet. Let us be clear about that Dei." Richard exclaimed but after a while he seriously asked Dei "How about you my queen, how are you? Are you seeing someone already?" Richard asked, and Dei throws him a glance but immediately took it back.

"Stop calling me that, I am not that queen anymore." Dei replied.

"What made you so sure?" Richard quickly asked.

Dei just shrugs off her shoulder and replied "I just know."

"You haven't answer my question, are you seeing someone now?" Richard straightly asked.

Dei sarcastically laughs and said "Why do we have a problem if I am seeing someone now?"

"Maybe to you, he will not have a problem... but not to me, because now that you are here I intend to make you stay. This time, I am not giving you up easily." Richard honestly told Dei. She got surprised with what her ex-husband just said.

"You are not giving me up so easily... but you easily signed the divorce papers. Also, don't you think you are already two years delayed in making me stay?" Dei replied.

"You haven't changed my queen. You never listen. Like what I have just said, THIS TIME, I am not giving you up easily." Richard said with full emphasis on 'this time'.

He had taken a deep breath before he continued, "You are right, perhaps my reaction is already two years delayed, I could have fought for you two years ago. But let me remind you that I never agreed on your idea of us getting a divorce, but then you still pushed it. When you processed it all by yourself, and just sent me those papers, you gave me no choice but to sign it."

Dei was not able to deny into herself on what Richard has just said. It is true that Richard did not agree on the idea of them having a divorce, but she insisted. And to prove her point she solely processed everything, the only thing that Richard needs to do was to sign it.

"Have you forgotten, before I gave you the signed divorce papers, I again asked you if it will make you happy? You said yes, so I gave it to you. You have no idea how much you broke my heart my queen, but for me your happiness is more important than mine. So how dare you accuse me of giving in to that divorce so easily?" Dei just remained mum as Richard poured out what's in his heart which he has kept for so long.

"I'm sorry" were the only words she was able to utter. She could not find the right words to say, at least to lessen Richard's pain, because in her heart she knows how painful it was for him.

"But you know what I realized. That divorce, it ended a beautiful relationship which started wrong. Maybe it is better to end it. So that I will be free to create a new one and make sure that it will start right this time." Richard continued.

"How sure are you that it will not end just like the first one?" Dei asked.

"Because I am determining to start right and not to end it, and I hope you'll let me." Richard said. "I want to have that Second Chance of winning your heart again."

"Are you serious?" Dei asked.

"I am, and you know that I never joke around when it concerns you my queen. All the things I tell you sincerely come from my heart." Richard replied.

"Yes, nobody can stop me now in getting you back in my life. Believe me my queen, I intend to bring you and my first princess to this palace where you both truly belong." Richard replied, he smiled when he saw Dei's stunned expression."Go to sleep now my queen, tomorrow will be another long day for us." Richard said and kissed Dei's temple. "I hope you dream of me, as I always dream of you. Goodnight." He said and leaves Dei alone in the veranda.

"I am not seeing anyone my king, because even if 2 years have passed, it is still you that I see everywhere." Dei says to herself.