Chapter XII: Meet the Parents

Queen Beatrice’s POV

I woke up and saw Alaric still sleeping beside me. I observed him sleeping peacefully. I kissed his forehead and got ready. When I'm finished dressing up, I went outside and maybe help the people outside.

“Can I help you with something?”

"Your highness, good morning. No, we're better on our own"

"You sure? Because I want to help,"

"It's ok your highness. You can go back to the king now,"

They don’t want my help, so, I shall go back to our room. Maybe Alaric is now awake and getting ready. When I arrived at our room, I knocked because maybe he is getting ready and I don’t want to see him naked.

"Come in,"

"Good morning Alaric,"

“Oh, good morning Beatrice, where did you go?”

"Just outside. You want to go out and walk for a bit? Then we will meet father and mother after,"

"Ok, let's go,"

When we were walking, it suddenly rained. Alaric and I ran to a nearby shelter.

"Let's stay here for a bit. Alaric, your hair is wet, let me dry it,"

I wiped the hair of Alaric because it’s wet.

King Alaric’s POV

I was shocked when Beatrice wiped my hair. I was staring at her face while she is drying my hair with a towel. Suddenly, I cupped her face with my hand.

“What are you doing Alaric?”

"Huh? Sorry. Let me borrow the towel because your hair is wet too, might as well wipe it,"

I wiped her hair. While wiping her hair, I can tell that she is blushing, and it's cute. We stayed there for quite some time. Now, it feels awkward because we are not talking. I thought of a conversation.

"Thank you, Beatrice'

“Huh? For what?”

"For everything,"

"That was nothing,"

"And sorry also,"

“For what?

"For those mean and arrogant things, I did to you,"

"It's ok.  I know you are just being childish,"

"I cannot agree with that. I'm glad that it rained,"

“Huh?”

"Because I am this close to you,"

"Why did you say that? It's not like we are so apart in the palace,"

"Yes, we are together, but we didn't have the time for each other. I'm happy that we can spend time here, even though it's a sudden and unexpected trip. In the palace, I cannot even be with you because of our separate duties. I wanted to see you, but I am so busy with my work. I can just see you in the morning when I wake up and in the evening when you're sleeping already. Spending lots of time with you here and close to you is what I wanted"

After saying that, I face Beatrice and shock was all over her face, then she smiled. We stared at each other. I admit that I don’t like her at first because she is so stubborn, but when she said that she wants to protect and be with me, I realized something. I like her. But now, I can say that I love her. She doesn’t know because I’m not good at saying it in person, but I hope she can tell by my actions. I also want to know how she feels about me.

Narrator’s POV

The rain stopped, and they went to Queen Beatrice's parents. When they got there, her mother was preparing food and tea for them. They bowed to them.

"Good morning, mother and father. I miss you so much" Beatrice said while hugging her parents

"We miss you so much,"

“Good morning your highness, I am King Alaric of Utopia. Glad to finally meet you,"

"Glad to finally meet you too. I am King Phillip, and this is my wife and queen, Queen Eliza,"

"You are cute together. You know that I am younger than your father for ten years?"

"Age doesn't matter,"

"So, how are you two doing in your palace?"

"Were doing fine, just that we are so busy lately and then grandpa gave me a letter saying he was sick, but when we got there, he is not sick. He says that he wanted to meet the king,"

"That's because he doesn't know that you are going to get married. I didn't tell him about it because I made the decision on my own and not telling it to him,"

"That's why grandpa is eager to meet the king,"

"Were sorry about it, we caused you trouble to go here and yet you're busy,"

"It's ok, it's good timing though. We are also planning to go here,"

"Now, you know Alaric that Beatrice is like a boy. She doesn't know girly stuff, but she is good at martial arts, and is stubborn,"

“Mother”

“I know because she is like that when I first met her. She has her etiquette lessons, and she is improving"

"Nice to hear that your highness,"

"We will be taking our leave now because we have an appointment to attend. Nice to meet you, King Alaric. Enjoy your stay here,"

They bowed to them and also take their leave. They arrived at their room, and Butler Livie was there.

“How was it meeting the King and Queen your highness?”

"It was fun talking to them."

"That's good to hear. I will go outside for a sec."

“Ok”

King Alaric talked to Queen Beatrice.

"You resemble your mother so much,"

"Yeah, I resembled her a lot. Oh, I forgot that I have something to do with my sisters today. I'll be right back later,"

"Ok, see you later,"

Queen Beatrice exit the room. King Alaric was reading a book when a knock was heard.

“Who’s there?”

"The royal guard,'

"Come in,'

"Your highness,"

“What brings you here?”

"Your highness, Queen Beatrice's grandpa called us. He said to follow us because he wanted to talk with you,"

What will the two of them talk about?

Is it the interrogation that Beatrice's grandpa was talking about?

Find out in the next chapter.