Chapter XXI: Birthday Surprise

King Alaric’s POV

Tomorrow is Beatrice's birthday, and I want to surprise her. I've been thinking about this for a week. I'm also thinking of proposing to her because I didn't propose to her properly. After all, I forced Beatrice to be my bride. I want it to be real, and I want to make it right this time.

My plan for her birthday tomorrow is to have a candlelit dinner with her. There's a room that is not been used, and I want to use it. I'm planning on putting the ring in the ice cream, and when she will eat it and feel that there's something in her mouth, and pick the ring in her mouth, that's the time I will propose to her. It feels cringe, but I need to do it. I did not buy a ring because I will use my mother's engagement ring.

I am at my office today. Beatrice is not here because she has dancing lessons today and a cooking lesson tomorrow. I feel lucky because I can freely make my plans. Livie helped me with my plans.

I was working when Livie entered my office.

"Your highness,"

“What is it, Livie?”

"The room is now spic and span,"

“Great. Can you please tell the maids to decorate the room? Tell them to put red curtains, put a table at the center of the room with a candle at the center with two chairs. Put candles all over the room and rose petals scattered on the floor. Tell also the chef to cook for dinner tomorrow for two persons, bake a birthday cake, and for dessert, ice cream,"

"Ok, your highness,"

“Thank you, Livie,"

I hope Beatrice will be surprised tomorrow. I'm not rushing to marry Beatrice. Right now, my goal is to propose to her. Maybe I will marry her when I'm on my legal age to marry her. I'm thinking, maybe five years from now because I will be 18 and Beatrice will be 24 years old. What we are focusing on now are our studies and lessons. I also think that Beatrice thinks the same as me.

Fast forward.

It's Beatrice's birthday. I am at my office doing my work when suddenly Beatrice entered my office.

"Alaric," Beatrice said happily.

"What are you doing here, Beatrice? I thought you have cooking lessons today,"

“Do you know what day is today, Alaric?”

“What day is today?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Is it important?”

"Super important,"

“Sorry, but I don’t remember. Can you tell me?”

"Never mind. I thought you remembered," Beatrice said and walked out.

I feel sorry for Beatrice, but I need to act that I didn’t know because it would ruin the surprise.

“Your highness?”

“Yes, Livie?”

"The maids are already done decorating the room,"

"That's great. I will go and inspect,"

Livie and I went to the room, and when I entered, the place is romantic. I felt nervous thinking about what will happen later this evening. Will Beatrice accept my proposal? I hope she will say yes.

Queen Beatrice’s POV

When I woke up, Alaric is not by my side anymore. I have my cooking lessons today si I got ready. When I all dressed up, I still have time, so I went to Alaric's office. I asked him if he remembers that today is my birthday and I was shocked because Alaric didn’t remember, so I walked out and felt down. I went to the kitchen for my cooking lessons.

“Why are you feeling down, your highness?”

“Nothing”

“Ok. Shall we start our lesson?”

“Ok”

After some hours later, my cooking lessons are done, and I can say that my cooking has improved. I went to my room and fell asleep.

I woke up when someone knocked on the door. I fell asleep for four hours, and it's already 4 pm.

"Wait a minute. Oh, Julia, Janella, and Jonna. What brings you here?”

“We are here to bring you this letter and dress you up, your highness,"

It’s a letter from Terabithia. When I opened and read it, it’s a letter saying happy birthday to me.

“Thank you. Why are you dressing me up?”Just cooperate with us, your highness,"

Julia, Janella, and Jonna dressed me up and put make-up on my face. I was wearing a white dress. I’m dumbfounded and clueless. When they are done putting make-up on my face, I was shocked because they covered my eyes with a handkerchief.

“What are you doing?”

"We're going to take you somewhere, your highness. Just hold our hands,"

I hold their hands, and they are taking me somewhere. I heard them opening a door, and they untie the handkerchief. I was about to say something to them, but they are gone. I observed the place, and I was amazed because there are candles and rose petals scattered on the floor, and there's a table at the center and a birthday cake.

"Happy birthday Beatrice,"

The voice is behind me. When I turned around, it was Alaric.

"I thought you don't remember,"

"I was just kidding, of course, I remembered. It's your special day today. I lied because it will ruin the surprise. Do you like my surprise?"

"I don't like it because I love it. All this time I thought you didn't remember. Thank you, Alaric. The ambiance of this place is romantic,"

“Thank the maids and Livie for that. I only told them what to do,"

"They did an excellent job in decorating the place,"

"Come, let us eat, but first, make a wish and blow the candle,"

After I blow the candle, we ate dinner. Alaric is such a romantic guy. It is a candlelit dinner. After we ate dinner, it’s time for dessert. Our dessert is ice cream, my favorite. I take a spoonful. Suddenly I felt that there's something hard, so I took it out of my mouth, and I'm shocked because it's a ring.

"Alaric, there's a ring in my ice cream,"

"Give me that," Alaric said and wiped the ring with a handkerchief.

I was shocked because he kneeled in front of me, and I know what's going to happen.

"Beatrice, I know that we are married already, but you know that it's a forced marriage, so I did not propose to you. I'm going to make it right this time. I don't want this to be a forced marriage anymore. We developed to love each other. I'm not rushing to marry you, Beatrice. Maybe five years from now? When I'm already 18, and you will be 24 years old. I think it's a legal age to get married. Right now, let us focus on our studies and lessons. Will you accept my proposal and marry me, Beatrice?"

"Yes, Alaric! I will gladly accept your proposal and marry you,"

“Yes!”

Alaric hugged me so tight and put the ring on my ring finger. I heard clapping and yelling.

"Happy birthday, Queen Beatrice and congratulations,"

"Thank you, everyone,"

"This is my mother's engagement ring,"

"Wow, it's beautiful. So you are now my fiancé again. My unexpected fiancé to be exact,"

“And why is that?”

"Because I thought that I would be marrying an older guy, but it turns out it's even younger than me for six years. It's far from what I've expected,"

"Your right,"

“I’ve always wanted to marry at the age of 24. Five years is enough”

"I know that I forced you to be my bride, and I know that you don't like that because marriage is not a joke. If you would marry someone, you need to have feelings for each other and marry at the right time and age,"

"You are right, Alaric. You have matured. I love you,"

"I love you too,"

After saying those three magic words, we shared a passionate kiss.

This was the best birthday ever.

Queen Beatrice said yes. King Alaric’s surprise was a success.

The best birthday surprise for Queen Beatrice.

What will happen next?

Find out in the next chapter.