Farewell, My Beloved

The Butler, dedicated in his duty, managed to get along very well with the young Princess but her constant escape from her room to the Duke's study room is giving him quite a headache.

Today too the Princess once again, disappeared from her room where she was supposed to be studying languages and proper etiquette. The Butler, knowing where to find her, found her immediately at a small hill near the palace, where he usually read to her a book he would bring.

Seeing the small child in her own space, her nose stuck in a book made the Butler feel a bit of warmth in his heart, that is supposed to be cold and stiff. Nevertheless, today he did not try to reprimand her but instead join her in her little adventure of reading a book.

"May I sit here, your Highness?"

The girl looked up at him and smiled with her cheeks a little bit flushed.

"Sure."she answered, and the Butler sat beside her as she share with him her book.

"What are you reading, if I may ask?", the butler asked politely.

"A story about a prince and a pauper falling in love. It's a book I have read many times but I still love it even if the ending is sad."

"Well, isn't that quite peculiar. A young girl at your age, reading difficult books.",and the Princess only smiled at him as he smiled at her when their eyes met, "It is a bit difficult but I really want to learn.", said the Princess, her eyes lit up.

"Alright, then let me teach you the words you can't understand."

The Princess was a little hesitant, and think for a moment but she finally gave in when the Butler once more smiled at her, a smile she find refreshing when plastered on someone as stiff as him.

"Okay.", Then they continue reading the book while the Butler teach the young Princess words she could not understand. Time stopped for the two of them as they understand more about each other due to these little moments that they would frequently share.

The two after these little events, grew only closer and their bond as servant and princess to friends were getting only stronger as days march forward.

Meanwhile, the Duchess who was constantly having tea with her guest, the Lady in Black became quite closer too, as if they were friends of long time ago. Gratefully, the incident where she found the Duke and the Black Lady together, being intimate with each other have never happened again, and the lady finally explained it to her when the chance risen.

"Oh, dear. I deeply apologize, your Majesty. It happened due to my childishness and selfish wish to be held by the Duke but to ease your mind, please let me tell you this; He already made it clear to me that the love of his life is none other than you, milady. And that.... kiss... was my farewell to him.", she said it with teary eyes as she look at the Duchess, her hand resting on her lap.

The Duchess looked at the lady's eyes too, to see if this was all just a facade because of her suspicion towards the Black Lady but she saw that the lady  was indeed sincere.

She began to open her heart a little to her when she heard her speak with such feelings. As a woman, her intuition could not fail her, and she knew that the young lady in front of her have romantic feelings for the Duke. She was of course, feeling something in her chest, like a heavy object was put above it but when her thoughts turn to the woman in front of her, she can only feel sorry, and would love to be the shoulder she could lean on in these hard times of her life.

The Duchess was no stranger to the matters of the heart, and as she saw herself wiser than the Lady who seems to be at the peak of her youth. She understands the impulsiveness that comes with the yearning for the one you love.

She felt it too when she first met with the Duke. It was love at first sight, and even though she was ready to do whatever it takes to avoid the marriage with the Duke due to her want for independence, and her disagreements with her father who only thought of her as a burden as a woman, only to be wed to the most powerful man. But she decided to proceed with the marriage when she finally saw the man that she will love for the rest of her life.

He was handsome, his head an almond shape, lips plump as a peach and his heart, oh, his heart that could embrace the many people of Emerald City.

The Duke's kindness that knows no bounds captured her heart entirely.

A truly magnificent man.

"I see but...as the wife of the Duke, it, of course pained me so much to see that my husband was holding another woman in his arms. But as a woman, I can only apologize, and applause to how brave you are in professing your feelings towards a man, you knew has his heart already held by another."

"But what I did, was something unforgivable. I should pay to you my life, your Majesty. For being insolent and foolish!"

The Duchess shake her head, and gracefully smile as she sip her tea then put it back again to where it was.

"Your honesty, is the only payment that I would need and your life, should be spent wisely. So do not give your life so easily, the Duke and the people, like your family needs you. I know of your support to my husband's victory over the rebels. If nothing else, I should be rewarding you for your valor."

The lady bursts into tears as soon as she heard the Duchess's words and as she did so, the Duchess have truly forgiven her seeing how much she wanted to repent for her sin but tears should never be, a basis for honesty, ever, and the Duchess would only realize this when it was already too late.

"Thank you, your Majesty!"

        After a few weeks, news about the Duchess falling ill spread like wildfire.  She was to be locked in her own room, and only the Duke is granted permission to visit her.

And today, might even be her final day.

"My wife, please be strong for me and our children.", the Duke whispers as he grab his wife's hand and put it on his lips.

He was already crying, and seeing how thin the Duchess have become, all hope was already almost gone.

The Duchess with the last of her strength, stroke the Duke's face, brushing off his tears and managing a faint smile.

"Don't cry, your Majesty. If you do, I will be sad...I know it will be hard for you to let me go... but... I feel that my time has finally come... I have many things that I wish I could've done with you, many moments I could've shared with you. And, right now, my life with you was all I could think of... but my time here with you is brief, and now, I must go."

"No,no... you can't... you can't go! Please... please, stay! I need you...I need you...please..."

The Duke's eyes was filled with tears overflowing down to his cheeks, and his sobs could be heard all over the room, tearing at the heart of each person who could hear him.

The Duchess with her final breath, shed a tear and while smiling said this;

"I have love you, I love you and I will always love you. Goodbye, my love...please... take... care... of our...chil...dr...en...", And, the moment when she finally closes her eyes was the moment the Duke had his heart ripped out again out of his chest.

Hearts were shattered, and turned to dust. Tears and more tears from loved ones shed from many eyes. And, loud sobs and cry fill the whole room when she finally said her farewells.

The whole City of Emerald was devastated hearing the news of the Duchess leaving for the afterlife but if there was someone who was crushed mercilessly by this news, it was none other than the Duke who have lost his beloved wife whom he gave to a part of himself.

The day of the funeral, the Duke stayed for a while again like in the past, and looked at the Duchess's name carved on her grave. The gardener who stayed by his side offered tulips of white color,and can only stand with the Duke as he let his mask as someone who isn't shattered, fall off. He was crying until there were no more tears to shed, and when the time to go back to the palace came, he came back with a heavy heart, and a very tired soul.

But only a few months later when the dearly departed Duchess seems to have lost her presence completely in the life of the Duke, another offer of marriage came with a promise for a better future.

For both the City and the royal family or... so did the Duke thought.