7.

December reached the dorm late as her last subject teacher ask them to do one last project for the end of the school year. Sighing, she entered her room and lie down on her bed to rest for a while.

After some time, there's a knock on her door so she got up and saw Maria standing outside wearing a dress.

"Woah. What's the occasion? Why are you dressed like that?" December teased Maria upon seeing that she's dressed formally.

"Go and get dressed. We're eating out," Maria commanded her and walk inside her room.

Confused, December watch her guardian choose a dress for her. Did she missed something? There's no special occasion for them to eat out if she remembered correctly.

"Why are we eating out? Did something special happened?" December could not help but ask when Maria handed her the dress, but the latter did not answer and just simply pushed her in the bathroom to get changed.

"Just hurry up and get changed. Don't keep me waiting!" Maria said and get out of December's room.

***

When they have had their dinner, Maria pulled her to the nearest shopping mall in their area.

"This is the first time you've been very generous, Maria. Did you do something wrong against me?" December teased looking at the clothes on the rack not noticing how the woman stiffened when she heard her teasing.

"Yes. Just take this opportunity. It may never come again," Maria said and forced herself to smile so the girl wouldn't notice that something is indeed wrong.

December silently observed Maria and concluded that something is amiss, but she would not ask if the latter is not willing to answer.

"So which one do you like?" Maria asked December who shook her head.

"I don't like buying new clothes. Perhaps… you can buy me some art materials? I've been running out of paint and I am planning to sell some of my artworks."

Maria laugh when December latched on her arm and nodded. Patting the girl's hand, she agreed. "Okay, okay. Then we'll go to the store where you've been buying your supplies. don't forget to give me some of your works to display at the dorm."

December was happy that Maria acceded to her request and almost drag the woman to the art supplies store.

While the two have busied themselves with shopping, a woman holding a photo frame could not stop herself from crying.

"Tiella? Dear why are you crying?" a man who have just entered the room was startled upon seeing his wife cry.

"August, my December is coming back? She's alive…" she cried in his arms and the man rub her back.

"Yes… I'll take her home with me. Don't cry, my dear. Would you like to make our daughter upset by seeing you crying when she arrive here?" the man who was coaxing his wife was none other than King Augustus. His wife, Queen Castiella have just found out about their daughter being alive and is coming home tonight.

Overwhelmed by her emotions, she could not help but cry out loud. Her daughter whom she had thought has died was apparently alive! After almost 10 years… her daughter will be coming back!

"Let me go with you, please. I want to see her immediately," she plead, but her husband shook his head.

"You must stay in the castle. We still haven't discovered the culprit behind our daughter's disappearance," King Augustus explained.

After a while, Queen Castiella finally calmed down and nodded, "Then you must bring her back immediately."

"Yes, I will bring our daughter back."

***

"Oh, I am so tired!" December exclaimed as they arrived back at the dorm.

Putting down the things that they have bought, she sat down on the sofa of Maria's room and closed her eyes to relax.

Maria chuckled when she saw the exhausted December taking rest on the sofa. She sat beside the girl contemplating on how to tell her the truth.

"So, what is it that you want to tell me?" December asked that startled the woman.

Ah, this girl is really sharp. Maria thought and sighed. Lifting her hand, she caressed the hair of December and asked, "Did you ever wonder about your parents?"

December stiffened and remembered the question Jean asked her that morning. Why are they asking me about my unkown parents?

Not waiting for December to answer, Maria continued, "What if your parents suddenly show up on your door and wants you home? Will you go with them?"

Faced with these questions, December have an inkling of what Maria's problem is. She is worried about me.

December smiled and hug the woman.

"I..."

Knock knock.