Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Majorelle

After Maria saw what Cedric just did, it traumatized her. It was a gruesome sight that even Cedric felt himself shaking.

"What in the... You killed him!" Feliz exclaimed as she felt herself trembling in fear.

"I knew you'd say that..." Cedric sighed.

"Cedric! Why?!" Feliz yelled.

"Stop yelling. If I did not do that, you would have died. So just accept it... It's not like I killed him and ran off. I sent Madara my condolences before they buried him." Cedric continued.

"You know... That boy, Hans, he looks so familiar to me like I just met him lately. Besides that, I think he's quite charming." Feliz smiled.

"You liked him... Didn't you?" Cedric frowned.

"No..." Feliz blushed.

Cedric let out a chuckle that made Feliz blush more. "Shut up!!"

"I knew you liked him since the first time you introduced him to me." Cedric smiled.

"Okay, prove it." Feliz raised an eyebrow.

Cedric looked back at the memories as they continued playing. He went back to the night of his coronation then he paused it for a bit.

"Look at your face, smiling so genuinely. One thing that only three people could do... Though apparently, four people could do." Cedric smirked.

"Anything else?" Feliz scoffed.

"Actually, yes." Cedric continued.

The memories fast forwarded to when Maria and Hans were alone in the washroom.

"From where are you?" Maria asked. "You certainly do not look like you're from the Orient."

"My father and I are just visiting. Our family lineage comes from the north." Hans explained as he washed his hair.

"No wonder you have light hair." She said as she went closer to look at his hair.

"Tell me princess... Are you aware that your kingdom is in danger?" Hans asked bluntly.

Maria took a step back then she said bluntly, "Of course I am. I may be young but I am not dumb."

"Is that why you were so skeptical of me when we met?" Hans asked.

"So you knew that I was the princess?" Maria answered.

"In all honesty, I didn't know." He answered.

"Yes."

"What do you mean?"

"I was skeptical for the ten years of my life I have been roaming around the town with or without chaperone and I have not seen you. Considering... How old are you?"

"I'm 12."

"Which makes me younger." Maria chuckled. "I must wait for you outside then, if maids saw us here together, I might need to explain to my brother."

"Actually the first time I saw you, I liked you..." Hans murmured as Maria walked away.

When Maria heard him murmur, though she did not understand. She stopped walking then she turned to him with her red eyes. "Honestly, you're a respectable man..." She continued walking then she murmured, "I like it... but I like you more..."

After some gratifying silence, the door opened behind the princess and Hans startled her from behind. They both laughed at Maria's reaction as they both walked through the hallways. Their giggles and bantering were echoing throughout the halls.

""Wanna meet my brother?" Maria asked Hans.

"Sure!" He smiled at the young princess.

They reached the ballroom then they scanned the room for the king. When Maria caught a glimpse of her brother, she held Hans' hand then they danced to the other side. She was smiling innocently as Hans could feel his face getting warmer.

When they got through the dancing people, Maria, still not letting go of Hans' hand, ran to his brother as she called, "Cedric!"

"Maria, I have not seen you since the ceremony..." Cedric smiled. He looked at his sister and his companion then his smile faded when he noticed that they were holding hands. "I see you made a friend."

""Yeah! He's Hans... uh... Hans..." Maria tried remembering his full name.

Hans whispered under his breath, "Van Rensselaer."

Maria heard it clearly then her face lit up once more. "Oh, yes! He's Hans Van Rensselaer. I accidently spilled chocolate on his blonde hair." She smiled as she looked at the young boy.

Hans let go of Maria's hand for he felt the tension around them then he bowed."It is a pleasure to meet you, King Cedric."

"Thank you for attending my coronation. I hope you enjoy the celebration." Cedric nodded.

Cedric took a harder look at Hans without looking suspicious. He gasped as he realized what he is seeing.

"Your majesty, are you okay?" Hans asked.

"I'm-" He was cut off by a call for the boy.

"Hans?" Someone called.

A man in blue looked at the boy in front of the king then went near him. "You made me so worried."

"Noir!" Hans called back.

Hans ran to Noir and they were both happy to see each other. Cedric and Maria smiled at the two then Maria said, "He asked me to help him look for a friend of his. I guess he found him."

"I guess he did." Cedric stood up from his throne to go back to his room.

"Why are you showing me this?" Feliz asked.

"You want to know what I was about to tell Hans before someone cut me off?" Cedric replied.

"Sure."

"I'm fine... But it pains me to know that my time is going to be up soon." Cedric smiled as tears fell from his eyes.

"You still can't move on from your death... Can't you." Feliz sighed.

"A dead man like me can no longer make a difference. Now, be careful of the soil you tread."

"What do you mean?"

"You already know your other memories... I need not show you again..."

"Again?"

"You've been having nightmares lately... Haven't you?" Cedric asked as tears continued sliding down his face.

"Yes... But..."

"Goodbye my dear sister." Those were the last words Cedric told his sister. He hugged her then his sister woke up in front of the doors that lead to the catacombs.

Feliz looked at the door then she stood up. She tried opening the catacombs again but it refused to budge. Not long, Ms. Belle found her.

"Feliz! What are you doing here?" Ms. Belle asked. "And where did you get that dress? It looks expensive."

Feliz looked at herself then she murmured, "So I guess it was no dream..."

"What?"

"I know who I am..." Maria stared at the door as she whispered.

"Of course you do! You're Feliz Lockheart." Ms. Belle joked.

"No... I am more important than that..." Feliz ran through the halls. Passing every maid and butler who was working and her heels clicked every step she took. "I'm Maria Venice Victoria Elizabeth Helen Paris Cordovin Wordsworth... The lost queen of this kingdom."