15. Vacation (3)

For the next two days, December and Brianna and her cousin, Eveline spend time together. The rest of Brianna's friends already went home after finishing their business at the Paradise.

They have done a whole lot of activities that will always knock them out the moment they hit the bed at night.

Brianna, received the information about December and realized that her information contains only when she was already under Maria's care. Something seems fishy on December's childhood and she really want to find it out in order to guide December when she enter the world of the elites. Realizing that she can't find anything, she decided to just give it up and try her best to help the girl she's got fond of.

Maria was in charge of the food and choose to not spoil the fun of the young ones.

In a bright afternoon, they are having a picnic at the hilltop where they all first met.

"I really love your sandwiches Maria. I will miss this when I go home tomorrow," Brianna said and took a bite of the sandwich prepared by Maria.

"Yeah... and your lasagna is also superb... I wish can bring some of your delicious cuisines back home," Eveline chirped with an expectant expression. Her grey eyes look at Maria pleadingly and matching with her pouty lips, the middle aged woman couldn't help but laugh.

"Alright, alright you two. I'll make something for you to bring back home." Maria said and help herself some of the juice they have brought.

"Yay!"

"Thank you Maria."

"Just take care of December for me when the time comes that she needs your help, alright?" Maria said and Brianna reassured the woman.

"Of course. Do not worry. I am sure her parents will also help her. By the way, what's the name of your parents?" Brianna look at December who stiffened for a bit.

"Oh, uh... can I... not tell it? I mean... I am not really yet comfortable to uh you know... I hope you understand," December said sheepishly averting her eyes from her friends.

Realizing her mistake, Brianna immediately apologize to her.

"No, it's okay... I am not just really comfortable talking about it for now."

They all shared an awkward silence for a while until Mark decided to break the ice.

"Oh well, since the two of you are going home tomorrow, how about we go for some scuba diving at the island across the beach?"

Hearing that, the rest got excited about the prospect of experience something new for them once again.

***

Late at night, a man wearing an employee uniform entered a remote villa inside the Paradise.

Just like the last time, he went straight to the study where his masteris waiting.

After two short knocks, he entered and saw his master looking out the window.

"Everything is prepared, master," the man reported.

The master who the man is talking to nodded and slowly turned around with a smile on his face. The smile seems gentle but there is an underlying danger behind it especially when one look at his eyes.

The man who saw his master's expression became restless but did not show it on his face.

"Good. That's good. Make sure that you will give the princess a nice surprise," the man's master said as he sit down on the chair and closed his eyes.

"Yes, master."

The man bowed and left the study.

After the door closed, the man left in the study opened his eyes and walk towards a book shelf. Pulling out a book, a panel opened that leads to another room.

Inside the room, countless photos of a woman was posted or hanged. The man took one photo and caressed it.

'My sweetest Rose... I'll get rid of everyone and everything that will stand between us.'

The man had a manic expression on his face as he thought of being able to be with the woman he loves.

***

A rapid knock on the door woke December up.

"December! My dear December... wake up! Time to go for an island hop and scuba diving!"

December groaned and grumpily sat on her bed. She slept late last night reading a novel.

The door opened and Jean entered her room. "Come one sleepy head. We need to set out early today."

Jean helped December prepare her clothes putting it in the girl's duffel bag. December went to the bathroom and washed herself.

When they arrive at the dining room to have breakfast, Brianna, Eveline and Sir Ryan were also present. Yawning, December greeted them and put some bacon on her plate.

"Morning."

"Good morning, December. Did you slept late? I can see your panda eyes," Eveline greeted back with a tease.

December pouted and the rest of them laughed.

"One past client of mine asked if I can make them a last minute digital art for their event today. Good thing they paid well or else...." December said and forcefully fork out the bacon to her mouth.

"You're in a vacation. You can decline their request you know," Eugene said and drank the fresh orange juice Maria made for them.

"Oh well, what's done is done. Can't undo it anymore, can I?" December speedily finished her breakfast when she noticed that the rest of them are done eating.

Maria decided to stay in the villa and just prepared food for the youths. She plans to go back to her family home in Country E after this vacation and take care of some family business she left behind.

December and the rest of the guys ride a speedboat to reach the island where they will spend the rest of the day. Audrey and Jean prepared some activities for them to do aside from diving. They planned to make this day memorable for Brianna and Eveline before they go home.

When they arrived at the island, sir Ryan and the other employee who went with them taught the others about the basic of scuba diving. As it is the girl's first time doing it, they were very excited.

"I only realized that you two seniors are very knowledgeable about these type of adventures," December said when she saw that Mark and Eugene are not participating with the tutorial session prepared for them.

"You didn't know but our fathers want us to know these things. They say it will be useful in the future and they're right," Mark said and playfully laugh as he winked at December.

"Oh."

"It's part of our training when we are kids. They'll always send us to a summer camp," Eugene explained further.

After the simple tutorial session, they all change into their suits.

December immediately fell in love with the underwater view she saw. Schools of different type of fishes swam along with them and the girls played with them.

The boys on the other hand only scuba dived with them for a short while before deciding to just go fishing.

"So why does Brianna calls you sir?" Mark asked Ryan as they wait to catch some fish from their rods.

"It's a title..." Ryan answered.

"You're a royal guard," Eugene stated when he heard Ryan's answer. "But how did you become a tour guide here?"

"Duke Williams ask me to take of your group. As I have said, Ms. December is a relative of the duke, and the queen."

Eugene nodded and tried to analyze Ryan's answer. December did not tell them who her real parents are. If she is related to the queen, then it means she's not just a simple elite but one of the royal family.

Realizing this, Eugene wavered in his decision of confessing to December. He's aware that he needed to be an elite before he can be with the girl he likes.

"Cool! You're already a royal guard when I am just about to go to college," Mark said as he blew his bangs from his forehead.

Ryan smiled and did not reply. He is considered one of the most talented guard in the royal courts as he already became a captain when he hit 20, however he decided not to disclose this information to the two guys.

"I'm tired! I'll go wash up and rest first," December said to the girls and went to their cottage to get her things.

When she was about to enter the bathroom in the cottage, somebody knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

December did not have a chance to struggle when someone covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief containing a narcotic drug. Before she closed her eyes, she recognize the man who taught them how to scuba dive this morning.

'Dang. I'm screwed.' December thought as she lose her consciousness.