Do You Remember?

Dusk had approached when Prince Xavier reached the palace. After washing up, Prince Xavier proceeded to visit Lady Melissa, holding a bouquet of fresh white roses for her. However, when he knocked on the door, there was no response. 'Probably she's asleep.' Prince Xavier cautiously opened the door, fearing he would wake her up. He had earlier received news that Lady Melissa's family as well as Duke Kensington had left the palace. Therefore, she should be alone now. 

When he stepped into the room, it was empty. Puzzled, Prince Xavier went nearer to the bed and looked around the spacious room. Lady Melissa was nowhere to be found. Disappointed, he thought Lady Melissa had finally gone home with her family. 

"Your Highness?" A soft voice called out to him. 

Prince Xavier turned around and was relieved when he saw Lady Melissa standing by the door. The dim sunlight which shone from the window reflected on her, causing her to look as radiant as ever. The previous hideous bandage had been removed, replaced with a smaller patch on her forehead. Regardless, that didn't diminish the charm that was emanating from her.

Unsure of her reception towards him especially since she had tried to run away the last time they met, Prince Xavier said, "My Lady, how're you feeling now?"

Melissa smiled at Prince Xavier and replied truthfully, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm feeling better, just a little bored staying in the room all day long." 

Prince Xavier smiled back at her and walked over to where she was standing. "If you're bored, do you want to go for a walk?"

"Yes, that would be good. Thank you, Your Highness." Having to lie down for so long, Melissa felt her whole body ached and she needed a good stretch.

At first, she had thought of doing some yoga exercises in the room but looking at her voluminous skirt and tight bodice, she gave up the idea. She decided to step out and walked around but she caught a glimpse of Princess Katherine from afar and decided to turn back. She really did not want to deal with that immature woman for now. However, she was pleasantly surprised to find Prince Xavier in her room. She was actually looking forward to meet the Prince tonight as she knew that he would certainly visit her as he did in the past few nights. When he offered to escort her for a walk, she could not resist the temptation. 

"Is that for me?" Lady Melissa noticed the roses in his hands. 

"Yes." Prince Xavier handed the flowers to her. Lady Melissa's eyes brightened when she received them, and put them into an empty vase on the table. 

He then took her hand in his arm and guided her towards the royal garden. The huge garden was brightly lit up with lamps and the garden glowed under a canopy of twinkling yellow lights, casting a soft, warm hue over the blooming flowers. Melissa glanced at the man walking beside her and she blushed at his handsome side profile. His high nose bridge looked so prominent under the dim light, his steps steady and the arm enclosing her hand was warm. His hair was slightly wet, indicating he had just showered and his masculine smell engulfed her nose, making her sighed silently. 

Noticing her stare, he turned his head sideway and looked down at the blushing girl beside him. He smiled at her and softly patted her hand, comforting whatever discomfort she might be feeling. 

"I'm sorry for running away the other day, Your Highness." Melissa decided to apologize for her 'strange' behaviour which caused her misfortune on that day.

"No apologies from you. It's my fault. I shouldn't have startled you like that." Prince Xavier quickly admitted his fault. 

"My Lady, can I call you Melissa?" Prince Xavier tentatively asked, afraid that he might offend her. 

"Yes, of course." Melissa readily agreed. That was her name anyway. 

"I don't supposed I can call you Xavier, can I?" Suddenly Melissa had a cheeky thought. 

"I would really love that, but as kind as my mother can be, she might not be pleased if she hears that. But, if we are married, you can call me anything you like." Prince Xavier teased her while laughing at her bold request. 

Melissa blushed further at the Prince's reply. 'Oh well, at least I tried.'

"Melissa, did you really forget about me...when we met at the garden earlier?" Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Prince Xavier asked her. 

Melissa sighed inwardly, she knew he would ask her this. Of course he would be surprised, how could she not know who he was? But she wasn't Lady Melissa at that time. How would she know? Melissa decided to come up with the best explanation she could think of. 

"Your Highness, I once had a high fever two years ago. Upon recovery, there're some things and some people that I can't remember. I even forgot how to sew and I was told that I was the best at embroidery. Now, I can't even do that anymore. Things became worse for me after my mother passed away few months after that. As you know, I stayed at home for two years, it's mainly because of all these. I guess that's why I couldn't recognize you at first." Melissa explained seriously. 'I can't believe this bullshit myself, will he believe it??' 

"Do you remember me now?" Prince Xavier was somehow relieved. 'So she didn't forget me voluntarily, it's because of her sickness.' 

"Your Highness, I recognized you because they said you were the one who brought me back to the palace. " Melissa answered, a bit surprised that her white lie was easily accepted by this man. 'Indeed, love really makes you blind.' 

"Oh...do you remember anything else about me?" Disappointment was clearly visible in the Prince's eyes. 

There's nothing that Melissa could do. Feigning ignorance was the best course of action for now. At least, she would not be branded fickle-minded by the Prince, or worse, a 'loose' woman in his eyes. 

"I...no, Your Highness. Is there something that I should know?" Melissa answered softly, lowering her eyes as she had never felt so guilty in her life before. She felt like she had deceived this innocent prince who's clearly very much in love with the original host. 

"No, it's nothing serious. It's just that you and I were good friends before. I was hoping you'd remember that." Prince Xavier again patted her hand, and when she looked up at him, he pointed to a pavilion located a few metres away. If he's disappointed in her, he clearly masked his emotions well. 

Upon reaching the pavilion, he invited her to have a seat while he sat opposite her. Somehow, Melissa felt a sense of familiarity at this scene. She had seen it in the original host's memories. But the place was different, in Lady Melissa's memory, it was the gazebo where she had injured herself. Under the moonlight, both individuals sat quietly, contented with each other's presence and the cool weather, each deep in their own thoughts.

Meanwhile, at the main palace, Duke Kensington's carriage arrived and he alighted the carriage, holding a bouquet of white roses in his hands. However, before he could reach Lady Melissa's room, a page dutifully informed him that Lady Melissa was not in her room at the moment as she was out taking a stroll in the royal garden. As to her exact location, the page guided the Duke out and pointed to a direction on the east side. 

On that note, Duke Kensington immediately walked towards the royal garden to find his fiancée. He was in a happy mood at the moment, as he had managed to gather quite a handful of white roses from the Kensington Estates before he came here. Luckily there was already an existing bed of white roses planted by the servants and they had indeed came handy for special moments like today. 

Duke Kensington's steps halted as soon as he was near the east pavilion. His hawk-like eyes immediately captured the image in front of him. There seated opposite one another was none other than Lady Melissa and his ever-annoying cousin, Prince Xavier! Surprisingly, they were not talking, in fact Lady Melissa could be seen closing her eyes while Prince Xavier was staring at her intently, he was so focused on her that he didn't notice the Duke's presence at all!

As someone who had been raised to reason with words and not violence, the Duke had always disliked destructive behaviour aiming to hurt someone else, however right at this moment, Duke Kensington suddenly had an urge to punch someone, in particular the man in front of him.