I can't say I do without you

Meeting the oldest son, Prince Emmanuel

As I climbed the stairs, I saw Grand Silva, the oldest and longest servant of the royal family, carrying the tray of food. "Grand Silva, I'll take that." I took the tray to her. "You should have ordered another maid to take it. For whom is it? This food was not even touched."

"That's for the prince, but he says he doesn't feel like eating," grand Silva sighed. "He went berserk again, throwing things around his room."

"Is he always like that?" I asked.

"There is never a day that he is not like that."

"Okay, grand, I'll try to give it to the prince again."

"Thank you, Gemma."

"It's nothing grand." Instead of putting the food in the kitchen, I put it back in Prince Augustus's room.

I stand near his door. The sound of wailing and suffering echoed throughout his room. I didn't knock; I sat on the side while listening to him. There was a pain in my heart that even my tears wanted to drop out of pity for him. "Prince..." a tear tickled my cheek.

I didn't leave until he was calm. I stood up from my seat on the floor and was about to leave when I was pulled back, which caused me to drop the tray I was carrying.

"Prince?" Prince Augustus pulled me into his room.

"Tell me, what did she say? TELL ME!" he shouted.

"W-who?" I asked, completely baffled.

"WHAT THE FUCK DID RAEANNA SAY?!"

"Raeanna? S-she said nothing to me ..." Prince then wrapped both his hands around my neck. "P-prince." His hand tightened around my neck. I tried to remove his hand because I couldn't breathe, nor could I feel my face. "Prince l-let me g-go," I said, gasping for air.

Prince Augustus realized what he was doing; he let go of my neck, backed away, and couldn't believe what he had done. I let out a cough. "R-Raeanna didn't s-say anything."

"GET OUT!" he screamed.

I dashed into my room and shut the door. I knelt on my knees, sobbing. "P-papa..." With a shaking hand, I covered my face. "Papa."

"Papa, does my name have a meaning as well? Because, according to my teacher, each name has a specific meaning. Are you familiar with the meaning of Gemma?" I asked over and over.

Papa gave a slight nod. "Gemma means precious stone. You, like the stone, are valuable to your mother and me."

"I am stone!" I exclaimed, jumping for joy. "Mama and papa's stone." I stroked papa's cheek and kissed him on the cheek.

"Stone ..." Papa said with a smile.

I awoke from my dream. I looked around to see if I could see Papa, but then I realized I wasn't at home, but in the palace. "Papa," I murmured.

A knock came on my door. To open it, I get up on the bed. Mr. Osiris was standing at the entrance, holding an envelope. "His majesty asked me to give you this," Mr. Osiris said, handing me the envelope. "He also tells you to get ready because you'll be accompanying Prince Augustus to the airport."

"All right, Mr. Osiris," I said.

Mr. Osiris gave me a stern look. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes, Mr. Osiris." I nodded, forcing myself to smile.

"Are you certain?"

"Yes," I replied.

"All right, follow me downstairs after you dress up," he said.