The Crown

Twenty-Five.

The Crown

Saturday (the day before the royal ball)

"How was the fittings?" Rita asked Manuel who was walking in the garden thinking. Usually he hated when people interrupted his thoughts but that did not seem to bother him anymore.

"It went well Abuela. I will be wearing my royal purple cravat with the black smoking and purple waistcoat."

"Very good, you will attract all the ladies in the room." Rita joked before pulling out a small red velvet box from the right pocket of her skirt. Manuel immediately knew what it was.

"Your red ruby ring." He said, taking it as he she handed it to him. "Yes, that this is the very ring your Abuelo proposed to me with. I will never forget the day my heart lifted. The woman you are proposing to tomorrow will be the woman who deserves this ring, for they are moving upward to different heights, another step in her life will be taken."

Manuel thanked his grandmother and gave her a hug. The ring glimmered in every direction it turned. Manuel visioned the finger of the woman he so wanted to slide it in.

And that woman was standing before him now.
So beautiful and elegant. They were walking down the palace garden, away from all the noise, by themselves. Nothing but the sounds of the crickets and night insects were all they could hear. Everything was beautiful, even the moon that shined upon them.

Mini candles spread around the soft green grass, decorating the garden in the most romantic way. Manuel and Gabriella walked towards the center of the water fountain and that was when he reached his destination.

"Sometimes all that the righteous King has created goes far beyond my imagination. We can only thank Him and appreciate all these things." Gabriella was over whelmed by the beautiful landscape. She could imagine painting and reading in this welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. She wanted to spend each breathing moment and not think about what is to come, she had placed it in the righteous King's hands and he was taking control.

"Gabriella, I want to ask you something." Manuel said knowing that she would have him the answer that he was expecting. Watching her nod he asked, " What is love to you?"

She smiled before answering for she knew this answer very well. "Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not become angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always continues strong because that is what the good prince is. He is love. And just like one cannot stand their loved one being taken away by death, that is how He could not stand us being taken by death, by the enemy. He surrendered his life for us, for his people."Those were not the words Manuel were expecting but even greater and valuable.

Gabriella always had a way of touching him right in the emotional spot, the heart, even though it was not physical he still felt as if it were. "Wow Gabriella, you have said it all. And when my family asks me who is fit to wear the crown I will tell them that I see you. You are the perfect example of a noble, caring and kind woman and that is who I want to sit on the throne next to me. Not only because of who you are and what you have been through but because I love you. Gabriella, I was not expecting to but I did, I told you to give me a week to love you and if I can I am sure my family and everyone will, but most importantly, I already was before I told you so because we cannot choose who we fall in love with." Gabriella eyes widened in shock, she covered her hands over her mouth as tears fell from her eyes, Manuel got down on one knee.

"Gabriella. Sweet, loving and unique just the way you are and so beautiful, inside and out. Please, marry me." Manuel pulled out the mini red velvet box from his right pocket and opening it for her too see. Gabriella almost screamed and began to cry when she saw the beautiful ruby red ring glimmering before her blurry eyes. It all felt like a dream. But a dream she deserved to have.

"Yes! Yes, yes, yes." She nodded as he stood up sliding the beautiful piece of art on her right ring finger. It was as if the ring was designed especially for her. It fit so well.

This was the part Gabriella would read in the novels and it was no longer a fantasy. Before she could withdraw her mind from the thought, the prince arms were around her. She felt the rush of excitement, the warmth and love. He cupped her face and kissed her, softly not swift but gentle. His mouth was parting her shaking lips, sending waves along her nerves, for she had never known she was capable of this feeling until now. And the tingling nerves in her body caused her to kiss him back. It was just like a fantasy indeed, for she had not planned nor expected any of this to happen... ever.

This went for the everybody in the Kingdom. From one gossip to another led the entire ball to move outside. It was a lovely show for some people, and a hateful game for others. Helene hated Gabriella with a passion and wanted her dead. Denissa's heart shattered into a million pieces for she now saw Gabriella as an enemy and despised her. Rita's prayers and been answered, she smiled as she clasped both of her hands together. And last but not least, Isabella who did not recognize her son if it was not for the red cravat he was wearing. Nearly collapsing, she walked away from the scene with several maids following after.

But Gabriella was in the moment, ignoring what the world had to say about them. She was engaged to the prince and could not believe that he loved her so dearly. Her love for him was too much and she could not imagine being with anyone else.

The Crown