CHAPTER 6 - SOUTHEAST

It was almost midnight at that time. Playful Crowned Prince Charles would like to have a pet black owl that he entered the Dream Land's forest. Everyone knew that entering that forest is dangerous because they believe that it was the resting place for their Gods and Goddesses. The desire to have the black owl lead Charles there.

While searching for it. He heard footsteps and later on a scream of a woman. He hurriedly searched where the scream might come from.

"Is anyone there?" that was the voice of a woman.

"Yes, where are you, Lady?" Charles asked.

"Here at the big tree's side."

He came near the said tree and saw a big hole beside it.

"Can you please help me? I don't know to get out."

"What are you doing down there?" he asked.

"I fell, Sir. Now if you will help me, can you make it faster? It's too itchy down here."

"Wait there."

He made a chain of strong veins to pull the lady up. They both fell on the surface when the lady was freed from the hole. Charles got the chance to look closer at the lady's face. He was mesmerized by the beauty of the young lady. Her deep green eyes, long black eyelashes, thin lips, and pinkish cheeks. She was surprisingly beautiful knowing that it isn't because of make-up. Yes, it is her bare face.

The lady immediately pushed him away.

"I'm don't mean it. Thank you for helping me out, Sir?"

"My name is Charles, you are?" he offered his hand.

"I'm Gab... Gabrielle," and looked away not minding his hands.

He laughed, "First, you won't say sorry, now you are ignoring my hand?"

"I have said I didn't mean it. I also don't want to shake hands with humans," her eyes can't focus on one direction.

"Wow, aren't you also humans?"

She was about to answer when Revel came.

"Gabe, don't do this," he pleaded.

"I won't go there anymore. I want to live my life, Revel. Please. Please let me go?" she cried.

Revel was about to grab Gabrielle when Charles blocked him, "I'll take good care of her, Mister. Don't worry."

"You don't know what consequences she might face if she will go with you, Prince Charles."

He was shocked. He hasn't introduced himself to Revel but he chose not to let him see that she was threatened.

"So you already know me? I also assume that you also know that I have the power to secure her from those consequences, right?"

"You are a powerless human. You can't," Revel said without even looking into his eyes.

"How could be the next King be powerless?" he felt Gabrielle's grip at his arms suddenly gone deep.

"So Gabe hasn't told you?" he smirked.

"How can she tell me when we just—" Gabrielle pulled him.

"Revel!" she yelled, "Let me go, I'll take responsibility for all of this, please!"

Revel finally looked at Charles, "She knows you. She's eyeing you for quite some time and so I too," he sighed, "Please take very good care of her."

"I will, Revel."

And he disappeared.

"What was that? Is he a magician or what?"

When he looked back he saw Gabrielle walking away.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going, huh?"

She stopped, "Thank you for your help, but I have to go now."

"That Revel guy told me that you're eyeing on me. Why can't you say it?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Say it."

"No."

He embraced her, "I won't let you out of this until you say it."

She hit him, "Let me go!"

"Say my name."

"Prince Charles. Happy now?"

"Remove prince."

"It's a sign of disrespect."

"Do it. I give full consent."

"Charles."

He let go of her and immediately pulled her back when she was about to run.

"I don't know what you've done. We just met. But you're making my heart pump out of its cage," Gabrielle looked at him, "Please stay, Gabrielle. Please stay a little longer with me," he sincerely said.

Hours have been days. Days have been weeks. Weeks have been months. Months have been years.

Gabrielle and Charles stay that way. Charles made a little house in the opening of the forest near the palace so he can visit her anytime.

His coronation as the King came and he invited Gabrielle to come, and she did. Before the coronation, he asked his father that he will marry someone, saying that she was a simple girl, and as a reward for obeying all his father's orders, he permitted it. He announced their engagement at his coronation.

"Welcome to our family, Gabrielle," greeted the King, "No wonder why my boy was lovestruck to you, you are so beautiful."

"Thank you, Your Highness," she bowed.

"Call me, Ama. Just like how Charles calls me."

"Okay, Ama."

They spent two years of being a happily married couple before they decided to have a baby. The night when it was confirmed that Gabrielle is pregnant, Charles had a dream.

He was catching his breath when he woke up, thanks to Gabrielle for helping him wake up.

"Love, what is it? Are alright?" she worriedly asked.

"I saw Revel. He's fuming mad."

"With what?"

"He asked me why did I let you bear a human child? He said that you will die if the baby will be brought out," he hugged her as he cries.

That pierced through her, "I'm sorry, Charles."

"That's not true, right? It was just a nightmare," he forced himself to laugh.

"We wouldn't know what would happen when I gave birth, Love. For now let's just rest, okay?" she lied. She was fully aware that she'll die.

Charles became a more jolly person as they prepare for their Princess' birth. She even felt more love from her that even she doesn't want to leave them alone.

"I'm sorry, Charles. But I will leave Bella with your promise."

Charles was holding Gabrielle's hand so tight as if she would go anywhere at that state.

"You can do this, Love. You and Bella will be safe."

Gabrielle was shouting in pain. The moment Bella was out, an earthquake occurs. Gabrielle's hand fell. The physician checked her and told everyone that the Queen isn't breathing.

He can't digest what's happening.

"I'm sorry, King Charles," that was all the physician said.

He almost lost his sanity, but he came back to reality that she left Bella with her.

He was walking towards the bed where Bella was placed when the lights turned off. He run towards Bella and saw her safe and sound there. But there was something that passed by in front of him and the lights were on.

"That was a black one a while ago, how come it turned reddish this time?" he asked about Bella's birthmark.

"It is natural my King. Baby's skin is so sensitive."

"Is that so?" he sounds unconvinced.

Charles has been in a good shape since Gabrielle died. The name of the Princess wasn't still finalized.

"Hey, my boy!" that was his father, "Cheer up. I know how painful it was when your mother left us. You have to be strong for our Princess okay?"

"Tell them she's Bella Mercuria," he finally decided.

"Beauty and conceiver, how was that so?" they looked at each other intently.

"That's her. Believe me," Charles answered.