Finally Free!

Amaranth

As we rest after a long week of activities and emotional rollercoasters, on the beach, we just stare as the sun starts to rise and the waves splash onto the shore.

"This is nice," Hesperia says with a smile, "don't you agree?" Cosmos, Solis, Radley, Magnolia and Aster nod in agreement. "I'm sad to leave," I say with a sigh, "Amaranth is cold apparently." Magnolia laughs, "Yeah, it's really beautiful though. Just not a good place for a pregnant lady." Aster groans, "Yeah, a lot of mountains and it's freezing, but we have clothes for that." Radley looks at me with concern, "So, this is worse for Anthurium than Ponceau?" Magnolia shakes her head, "No, Amaranth are good allies since they are aligned with Azure because they come from the same family, our mother's family." "How'd that happen?" I ask and Aster laughs. "The Duchess of Amaranth, Callidora, married someone who has a higher intelligence level, Duke Cedric, he would have been a Baron in Azure, but he stole a title in a way," Aster says with a hint of humor.

Everyone laughs and I look at the others with joy on their faces. Even though life is hard, I am glad they have some happiness in their lives as well.

Soon, we head inside and enjoy some breakfast as we look at the marine life that is moving about near the glass window.

When I make my way back outside, I see Ivory standing there and looking out at the sun rising.

"Don't you see it too often?" I ask her and she nods. "I do," Ivory says as she turns around towards me with her back on the railing, "but I learned that I need to appreciate every little thing because I never know when it could disappear like you." I sigh, "Well, I am here now." "You know, back in the day, I thought you would marry Gael even though he was the heir to Eburnean, but then you vanished," she says with sadness in her eyes, "we were very close when we were young." I smile sadly, "Yeah, life just changes. Now, I am the stranger. I don't think I have even talked to Gael." She nods, "He was looking for you that's why he went swimming. He's thinking about something." I smile at her kindly, "I should go see what he wants to say." I walk down from the mini-balcony and head to the beach where Gael is swimming just as he comes onto the shore.

I wave, "Hey, Ivory said you wanted to talk about something." He bows and nods, "Yeah. I'm sorry I have been so distant since you have been here. I struggled when you left like everyone else. I wanted to ask you about Magnolia. I know she likes me and I do like her, but I can't do that to my people and my grandma won't allow it anyways. What should I do?" My eyes widen and I shrug, "I'm not sure. If you really like her, you can talk to your grandma about letting Ivory take over here, but I don't know how that would go. We all have to sacrifice things, even things we love just to do our duty, Gael. I know you will make the right decision and I will talk to my father as well about this to see what he says." He smiles, "Thanks, I know it has been hard since you got back but everything you have done so far has changed a lot of people's perspectives. If you aren't Queen, I think then there will be a problem." I laugh and he walks away to go into his home.

I just walk closer to the water and sit there as I watch the world come to life as the time passes until I hear Cosmos and Hesperia coming closer.

I get up and curtsy. They just smile as they walk along the beach together and I smile at their happiness.

At that moment, I see Radley walking out of the home and coming towards me so I sit back down as he joins me.

"How is the little one?" he asks me and I laugh. "The baby seems fine," I say kindly, "I wonder when we need to do a check up again." "It's not even a month yet," Radley says seriously and I laugh. "I guess I have never had a proper check up," I say with a laugh, "so, when do we check again?" "Once we reach Sable you will reach a month," Radley says kindly, "then they will check. Are you nervous?" I nod, "Yeah, honestly, I am terrified." He smiles, "I think that's normal. That's what Helianthus used to tell me anyways. Whenever I got to see her." I smile sadly, "Hmm, D-Lavender never let on when she was pregnant. So, I wouldn't even know how she felt. She always protected me." "She seems amazing," he says kindly. "She was," I say with tears in my eyes, "Do you think we will be good at this?" He shrugs, "I hope so. At least we have help."