Past Promises

HIM AND ME (PART III)

I Miss You

The next day, as I was taking a stroll near the pavilion the Crown Prince took me the other day, I saw a soldier on the back of a horse galloped across the front court and stopped in front of the Main Hall. He dismounted hurriedly and ran into the Main Hall.

The next few minutes, I saw Eunuch Han was running to where I was.

"Your Highness!" He shouted as he ran. He stopped in front of me. He coughed a few times as he tried to recover his breathing.

"What's the matter, Eunuch Han?" I inquired.

"Your Highness...a soldier...just reported...to His Majesty," he struggled to finish his sentence then he took a deep breath and said, "The Crown Prince is missing!"

"When they arrived at the village, there was a heavy rain so they decided not to enter the village with the supplies first. The Crown Prince and a few soldiers went to monitor the village and few of them stayed behind with the supplies. They need to cross a bridge to go to the village. His Highness and the soldiers didn't come back after an hour so they sent someone to check but later came back and said the bridge had submerged under water and the area near the river was flooded as well." He stopped, took a deep breath and continued. "The flood dissipated yesterday morning and they went to search for His Highness in the village but the villagers said they had never seen any outsiders came into the village except them."

"One of the soldiers came to deliver the news and requested soldiers to search for the Crown Prince," he added.

I didn't know what to do so I sat there and fought with worst thoughts that came.

"Will he be okay?" I asked to anyone who was there, anyone that could answer but I heard nothing but silence.

A few minutes later, about twenty soldiers came out from the Main Hall, mounted their horses and left the Palace hurriedly.

I prayed that they will found the Prince and brought him back safely, I prayed desperately.

***

A few days had passed but there was no news about the Crown Prince.

I went to the flower field and sat under the tree. I looked around the place and I remember the moments I had shared with the Crown Prince there.

'Does he really not coming back?' I thought.

Then I felt a sudden rush of regrets.

I regretted that I didn't tell him that I had grown to like him.

I regretted that I didn't tell him that I will miss him when he left.

I regretted that I didn't tell him to stay.

I was starting to like and him but I would never have the chance to tell him about it.

This made me sad.

"I miss you, come back," I cried while hugging my knees.

I cried myself to sleep and woke up in my bedroom. "Huh?"

Court Lady Song came while bringing a bowl of water to wash my face.

"Who brought me back to my room, Lady Song?" I asked while wiping my face with a towel.

"His Highness," she said.

"His Highness?" I asked confused.

"Oh, I forgot to inform you, Your Highness. The Crown Prince had come back last night and he came to look for you but I didn't..."

"Where is he now?" I interjected. I will hear her story later.

"His residence..." I stormed out of the room, wearing only my stockings.

"Your Highness, your shoes!" Court Lady Song shouted.

I arrived in front of the Crown Prince's Residence.

I saw him came out from his chamber with Eunuch Han. I ran towards him and stopped in front him.

"Crown Princess, why are you running? Where are your shoes?" He asked while looking at my feet.

It's him. It's really him.

Then I hugged him.

"You're back. You're safe. You're here." I said then he hugged me back.

Eunuch Han hid his blushed face and lowered his gaze.

After a while, embarrassment hit me. I didn't even have a wash and I ran all the way here wearing only stockings.

I pulled my hands slowly and let him go. I looked at my feet, the stockings were filthy.

"Your Highness, your shoes!" Court Lady Song came running. She put the shoes on the ground and I wore it.

I was so embarrassed that I hurriedly excused myself from the Crown Prince and returned to my residence.