Be My Princess (Fanfiction): A Rose to Remember

Chapter 26

Adeline's POV:
~Four Months later~

Another four months had passed since the sudden passing of my grandmother. And these four months had been difficult for me.

There had been good days and there had been bad days— and I was grateful to have Edward by my side.

Edward and I had grown so much more closer than ever in the last four months.

So much closer that I may be in love with him.

~ ~ ~ ~

"Two weeks from now," My grandfather began to say as we had breakfast one morning, "We will be having our annual Thanksgiving Ball."

I stiffened slightly.

"Thanksgiving," I muttered, setting my fork and knife down on my plate.

Four months had flown on by and I was so engrossed in my relationship with Edward— that I had completely forgotten about Thanksgiving. Or even Christmas.

"We will be doing a memorial during this Ball," My grandfather continued after a few moments of silence. "And I was hoping that you could give another small speech about your grandmother."

I nodded stiffly.

"Adeline," I looked into my grandfather's eyes when he said my name. "You don't have to give a speech about your grandmother if you don't want to. I will completely understand if you decline."

"I'll do the speech," I said after another few moments of silence. "It's not like I can keep tip-toeing around this."

My grandfather gave me a soft sympathetic smile.

"Your grandmother would have been very proud of you."

All I could do was smile.

We went back to our breakfast after that, but I just couldn't touch my plate anymore.

Zain was about to switch my breakfast for a fruit bowl, but I stopped him.

"May I be excused?" I set my napkin down next to my plate.

"Of course, Adeline."

I stood up from my seat at the dining table and quickly made my way out of the dining room.

Two weeks from now will be thanksgiving.

And this would be the first thanksgiving that I would spend in the Palace.

This would also be the first thanksgiving without my grandmother.

I quickly ran to the gardens, tears running down my face.

Deep down, I knew that I would have to face spending a holiday without my grandmother. I mean, technically I had, but thanksgiving just hit home differently than the others had.

Especially Christmas.

Christmas this year will be so bittersweet.

When I came to the gardens, I sat down at one of the stone benches and wiped away my tears.

My eyes had been closed while I wiped the tears from my face, and when I opened them a handkerchief embroidered with a rose was held out to me.

"Edward," I looked up and he gave me a soft smile.

"Are you all right, Adeline?" He sat down next to me after I took the handkerchief.

"I wish I could say that I was," I said as new tears fell down my face, "but I completely forgot that in two weeks it will be thanksgiving and it will be the first thanksgiving without my grandmother."

"Come here," He put an arm around me and I laid my head against his chest.

"I know that I haven't experienced such as a great loss that you have experienced," He began as he rubbed my arm reassuringly. "And I know it's cliche to always say that it will get better, but it will. I do believe that experiencing these moments, like spending holidays without the person that you truly love, will be a challenge.

It will be difficult, but I will always be here with you," He tilted my chin up, so that I could look into his lavender eyes.

My heart was beating hard against my chest then, because I was about to say the words that I had been wanting to say for months.

"I love you, Edward," I breathed out, my cheeks burning.

A smile played around his lips.

"And I love you, Adeline," His lips touched mine then and my lips felt like they were on fire.

"So this Thanksgiving Ball, will you—and the Crown Princes— be attending it?" I asked as we went on a walk around the Gardens.

"Yes," We were holding hands and he put my hand up to his lips. "And so will the Kings and Queens."

So this will be like my grandmother's funeral all over again, I thought as we went to the den that was jointed to my bedroom.

After a few minutes, Zain came in with tea and snacks.

"My grandfather wants me to give a speech about my grandmother at the Thanksgiving Ball," I said as we had tea together.

"Do you want to give a speech about your grandmother?"

I looked down at my tea cup. "I said that I will."

He put his hand under my chin and made me look at him. "But is that what you want to do, Adeline?"

"Do I have a choice?" I chuckled half-heartedly.

"Of course you do," He said seriously. "Adeline, you always have a choice in what you want or don't want to do."

I smiled faintly.

"Like I told my grandfather this morning, I can't keep tip toeing around things like this." I set my tea cup down on the coffee table and took his hand in mine then. "I'll give this speech about my grandmother. That's what she would have wanted."

But was I really ready to give another speech about my grandmother?

That was the million dollar question.