The Reincarnated Royalty

Chapter - 19

The next morning, Sky left very early. Claire was just looking at him going from there from her window. She felt very sad that they did not even get to say a perfect goodbye to each other. The time which she thought will be a happy memory became a sad past for her. She watched him exit the castle with a heavy heart. Her eyes kept on following him until he was out of sight. 

She turned around to see Melanie standing there. "Oh, I didn't notice your presence." She said to her. "My bad. I should have knocked." Melanie said while scratching the back of her head. "It's ok, do you need any help?" Claire asked her. "No, I just came to call you for breakfast." She replied to her. "You could have sent any maid." Claire said to her.

"I wanted to check on you." Melanie said to her and stepped forward. "I know this must have been difficult for you, but try to forget about it. It was not your fault. That rule itself is a fault. No need to blame yourself for it." She said and put her hands on her shoulder. "Don't worry, this will take time but eventually it all will be fine." She said to her and gave her a small smile.

The tears which Claire was holding in for so long finally came out of her eyes and she pulled Melanie into a tight hug. Melanie was taken off guard by this sudden action but hugged her back to calm her down. "Let it all out, this might help you ease your mind and take a control over your emotions." She said and gently stroked her hair.

After a few minutes Claire finally stopped crying and Melanie gave her a glass of water. "Feeling better?" She asked her. Claire did not say anything but just nodded her head. "Let's go then." Melanie took her downstairs to the dining room.

There they saw the rest others sitting there having their breakfast. Kevin saw her and passed her a smile while Claire just went and sat in front of Ray completely ignoring him. She took her plate and started eating in silence. It was all silent until Kevin got up after completing his meal. "I'll be leaving too now." He said and bowed to the king.

"Why so early? You just came here two days ago. Please stay for a little longer." The king said to him. "No, your majesty. I have to complete my duty as the prince of Sinsila. Besides, I only came here to take a look at how things are going on." He said the last sentence while looking at Claire only to see her glaring intensely at him. "Thank you for your hospitality." He said and once again bowed to king and went from there followed by his guard.

After he left, Claire came back to her room. She just laid there not knowing what to do. Her eyes then fell on her canvas and she got an idea in her head. She went to it and took her paintbrush. She began gently stroking the canvas. She was very focused on her work and after two hours, she finally completed her painting. "I wish I could show you this, prince Sky." She said while looking at his portrait which she just made. 

She was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Come in." She said and Jake stepped inside. "The king wants to see you, princess." He said and and went from there. Claire got up and fixed herself and went downstairs. She saw her father sitting on the throne and went to him.

"You called me, father?" She asked him. "Yes, I want you to visit Philaria next week to deliver the royal gifts. They were not able to attend the autumn festival so I want to give them some presents." He said to her. "Ok, I will." She said and bowed to him. She was about to go but the king called her once again. "I am sorry about the matter related to prince Sky but it was necessary." He said to her. "It will be better if we do not talk about that topic." She said and went from there.

Time passed by and it was sunset already. Ray was roaming around the castle when he heard a beautiful melody coming from outside. He followed it and reached the garden. There he saw Melanie playing a flute. Ray was mesmerized seeing this view and just got lost among the notes of her flute.

He closed his eyes and rested his back on a tree. He gently began tapping his foot along with the rhythm of her flute. After a few minutes he caught up on the song which she was playing and began humming it. Melanie was unaware of all of this but when Ray started singing it out loud in a soft voice, she finally turned around and saw him leaning against the tree. "Prince Ray." She called him and stopped playing the flute.

"I never knew you played the flute this well." He said and came near her. "From where did you learn it?" He asked her. "My father taught me this when I was young." She told him. "I must say, you are very talented at this." He said and she smiled at him. "Can you play a song for me?" He asked her. "Sure." She said and brought that flute near her mouth.

She played that flute and Ray immediately recognized the song and started humming it. They both enjoyed each other's company and sang many different songs together. Just like that the sun set down and it was night already.

Melanie was tired and stopped playing the flute while Ray went inside and came with a glass of water for her.  She thanked him and took it from him. "Your voice is very calming, prince." She said to him and he became shy. "T-thank you." He said to her with slightly red cheeks.

They both sat down there looking at the moon which was surrounded by thousands of stars. "You are also leaving tomorrow, right?" Ray asked her and she nodded. "Yes, looks like our fun time ends here." She said and it all became silent.

Suddenly, she took out a ring from the pocket of her dress and handed it to Ray. "This is my father's ring who is no longer with me now. Since my childhood I wanted to give this to someone with whom I find comfort. The person whom I can call my home." She said and held his hand. "Then why are you giving me this?" Ray asked her.

"It's because I want to solve all those equations along with you. I love you Prince Ray."

"If that's the case, then I will be glad to help you with that. I love you too, Princess Melanie."

They both looked at each other with huge smiles on their faces. Ray wore that ring which Melanie gave him and stood up. He lend her a hand and she also stood up along with him. "But, I do not want to solve those already existing equations. I want us to create a new one for our own." Ray said and held her hand. Melanie nodded while smiling.

She came closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck tightly hugging him. His body became tense at first but loosened up the next second. He hesitantly put his arms around her waist and softly hugged her back.

After a few moments, Melanie pulled back and grinned at him. "I see, the shy prince who I saw on the wedding day of princess Rose is still here. I thought I would never get to see that side of yours again." She teased him while his already red face became more red.

"I tried to change it but--" He was cut off in the middle by her. "Never, try to change yourself. You are perfect the way you are." She said to him. "But---" He was again cut off by her. "If you are thinking about me then get one thing in your head that is I fell for this personality of you. So, never try to change it or else I will breakup with you." She said and turned the other way.

She smiled seeing his panicked state but did not turn back and kept facing the other way. Suddenly she felt him wrap his hands around her waist back-hugging her. "Then I will make you fall for this personality of me too." He whispered in her ears in a deep and husky voice.

Melanie turned behind in pure shock with wide eyes and red cheeks. "See, who is flustered now." He teased her and she covered her cheeks with her hands. "How?" She asked him. "I might be more shy than others but it doesn't mean that I do not know how to express my love." He said in that same deep voice. Melanie uncovered her cheeks and stood straight.

"Don't worry, sometimes you will see my shy personality too."