10. Phone Call

"It's the king. King Augustus Castor Pierre."

Jean was dumbfounded. What? Did she hear it right? December's father…

It's the king?!

Jean gasped and stood to look around, making sure no one else heard what her friend had said.

"December, that is not a good joke," Jean scolded December and sat beside her. she held the latter's hand and continued, "You know that you can be punished when other people heard what you have just said. It is a form of deception to the royal family! Take back what you said dear."

She was worried for her friend. She didn't want to lose her friend simply because of her careless statement. The last time someone claimed that they are a child of the royal family, the person was publicly executed. She doesn't want her friend to suffer the same fate.

December was touched when she saw her friend's genuine worry for herself. She smiled at Jean and said, "Well, I cannot take it back since it is the truth."

Jean opened her mouth to reprimand December again but the latter continued, "I, myself could not believe it either. The king first visited here 2 nights ago. I did not recognize him first and even offended him unconsciously, but last night I realized who he is. He was the one who told me I am his missing daughter."

Silence pervade the room as both of them wait for each other to speak. Jean was waiting for December to say it is another plot she is making for a story she wants to publish online, while the latter wants her friend to understand what she revealed.

However, thirty minutes have past since then and neither of them said a word. Just as December was about to speak and explain further, her phone rang.

She saw an unfamiliar number on her phone's screen and did not answer right away. If this person calling her wants to talk to her urgently, he/she will call her again or send her a message, thus she chose to ignore.

"Who is that?" Jean nervously asked and peered at her friend's phone. Her breathe hitched when she saw a string of unfamiliar number.

What if someone really heard what her friend talked about?!

When Jean was about to tell her friend to not answer all the phone calls that may come from this number, the call ended.

Right after the call ended, December received a text message.

'December it is me, your mother, Queen Castiella. I would like to talk to you. Please answer your phone.'

December and Jean looked at each other in shock. The queen herself wants to talk to her?!

"How did she get your number? Is she really the queen?" Jean asked her friend.

December thought about how she gave her number to her "father", she decided to reply.

'I would like to ask where you got this number from, your majesty?'

The two girls wait in anticipation for the other to reply back.

'August gave me your number when he came back to the castle last night. Is it inconvenient to call you right now?'

"Why… don't we give it a try and call back? Maybe it's the true queen..." Jean said with uncertainty in her voice.

December nodded and dialed the number. The call was answered almost instantly and she felt a rush of emotions in her heart when she heard the voice on the other line.

"December?"

Just the mere mentioning of her name by the person on the other end of the call made her tear up.

"Y-Yes it's me. Is... is this your majesty, Queen Castiella?" December choked as she ask and Jean soothed her back when she saw her friend get emotional which is a rare sight.

The other end is silent. Both of them wait for each other to speak first.

"December, my child… my precious December…" Queen Castiella muttered and December heard her sobs.

December cannot think of anything to say as she try to calm herself.

On the other end, Queen Castiella's tear keep on streaming down from her eyes. She was alone in her and her husband's bedroom. King Augustus gave the phone number to her when he arrived from December's place. He told her about their daughter's request and she understood.

Now, as she does not have anything else to do, she decided to give her daughter a call in order for her to hear December's voice. She was nervous when she first made the call, and when it did not went through, she sent a text to her daughter.

And when she received December's call, her emotions could not be contained especially when she heard the girl's voice. Gone was the calm and elegant queen, and there was only a mother filled with overwhelming joy of knowing her missing daughter, whom she thought died was alive and well.

It took her quite a while to calm herself down.

"My dear child, how are you?" the queen tentatively asked, almost a whisper.

"Oh, um, I am fine, your majesty," December answered and her clear and soothing voice softly caressed the queen's voice.

Feeling herself tearing up again, she ask her child again, "You asked your father to give you time to spend with your friend there before going home?"

The other line was silent for a while and answered, "Yes, your majesty. I want to bid a proper farewell to them. If it is okay, your majesty."

The queen chuckled. "Silly child. You do not need to be so formal with me. I am your mother. Of course I will let you have ample time to spend with your friends!"

December sighed in relief when she heard the queen agree to her request. She was nervous that the queen would not agree.

"So, how would you like to spend your time with them? Do you need me to help?" the queen asked and December felt at ease talking to her.

"Well, I want to have a trip with them. A very short vacation, if that's okay?" December asked since she knows that what she wants is quite risky if she really is a princess. She is afraid that her "parents" will not agree to her plans.

"Of course! Do not worry about it. I will tell your father about it. If he does not have any choice but to agree. I will make arrangements with your uncle's resort, will it be okay for you?" the queen said cheerfully which made December smile wide. She could imagine the queen's face full of energy as she said this.

December was also aware that the the queen's older brother is a successful entrepreneur who owns the largest leisure park in the country.

"Will it really be okay?"

"Yes. Yes, of course. Your uncle will surely be delighted to know that you will be coming to his resort. The place is also have tight security so we are rest assured that you will be safe there." the queen said and December nodded even if the former cannot see her.

"Well, okay. Thank you for giving me permission… mother," December said and felt her tongue roll over the word 'mother'.

The queen, on the other hand, teared up again when she heard what her daughter called her.

"Well then, I shall go make arrangements immediately. I will call you again, okay?"

"Mm. I will hang up now. Good night, mother," December said.

"Good night, my precious December," the queen whispered and ended the call.