CHAPTER 7 - 5 years later

~5 years~

[Hestia]

I'm here looking myself in the mirror as I ready myself, for my first public appearance. I'm wearing a white one shoulder satin A-line slit gown, with a gold belt, finished with a white stiletto.

For my hair, my stylist decided to let my ginger hair fall. And im back to wearing a tiara, my stylist secured the diamond encrusted Ansorena tiara on my head. She made sure that it won't fall off my head.

For 5 years, I've been learning to be a Princess and soon to be Queen.

Eleanor would teach me every day, and the two of us have gotten pretty close for the past 5 years.

Eleanor has been with me through my ups and downs. Days that I'm down because of heartaches. The time that I would cry about little things reminded me of Hecate. Eleanor was there for me, she helped me move on from Hecate. Then Eleanor and I would go ice skating together, even one time that my father joined us, ice skating and it was the best day ever.

And for the past five years, my relationship with my father has become stronger. My father helped me with my Lessons, he also sometimes allowed me to go with him, during his meetings with the government and other house leaders. My father controlled the press, making sure that they don't post anything about me, being in Greece and learning to be a princess again. My father even paid the tabloids and paparazzi to stop following me, and that's why I've been living like a ghost for the tabloids for the past 5 years.

Then I was pulled back from my reverie when Greg knocked on the door, then entered.

"Your Highness, it's time."

Greg said.

I looked at him and gently nod.

I walk towards Greg, and then the both of us left my room. And started heading towards the ballroom.

Today is the day that everybody will know that im back. And today they'll be announcing my engagement to Eleanor.

I rather marry Eleanor, other than a stranger that my father chose, that I've never met before.

Eleanor is a caring, sweet, and funny person. She became my best friend and she's like the sister I never had. And as time goes, I'll also learn to love her.

I was pulled back from my reverie when we arrived outside the ballroom, in front of us, is a huge ornate door, and I can hear my father giving a speech to everyone. Then after a few more minutes of standing, I heard my father speak my name.

"And now allow me to officially welcome my daughter, Princess Hestia Katana Astaril."

The ornate doors open, and everyone is staring at me. I gently smile at them and started walking, towards my father. The room is filled with house leaders, members of the parliament. I can see Eleanor standing beside her father.

I looked at her and gently smiled at her, and she smiled at me.

Eleanor is wearing an Elegant chiffon off-shoulder white dress, with a gold belt and white heels to complete her look. Eleanor gently winked at me, and gently chuckle, not breaking my composure.

The setting in here is so lavish and huge. There's a red carpet in the middle of two huge and long tables, where the members of the parliaments are sitting.

Then in the middle front of the ballroom is a huge long table, where the house leaders are sitting, along with their families. Then beside it is a podium where is my father currently standing right now, smiling at me.

After a few minutes, I arrived beside my father. I gently kissed her cheeks, then stood beside Eleanor. Eleanor gently wrapped her arms around my waist, and I just smile. Then my father speaks.

"Today is not only for officially welcoming my daughter but also to announce her engagement to Princess Eleanor Callista Castellanos."

My father announced. Everyone claps and the spotlight are on us.

Eleanor gently looks at me smiling widely, I smiled widely at her, then I gently pressed my lips into Eleanor, I can feel Eleanor was shocked because of my sudden gesture. I pulled back and Eleanor just smiled at me.

Then my father speaks again.

"Then I would like to give this opportunity to my daughter to give her short speech."

My father added.

I walk towards my father and to the podium, and start giving my speech.

[Hecate]

I'm here outside my parent's house right now, and I can hear my sister shouting inside.

"MMOMMM!!! HECATE'S HERE!!"

My sister said.

I gently chuckle as I entered the house, holding a paper bag.

Then I was greeted by my sister, running towards me.

"HECATE!!!"

She immediately jumps into my arms and I laugh as I catch her.

"Miss me??"

I ask.

She immediately nods and started talking.

"Yes. I have so much to tell you. Like how my friends came over, and we watched some movies."

My sister said, excitedly in my arms.

I gently chuckle and pinch her nose.

I gently put her down and handed her my present.

She happily accepted my gift, and run towards her room.

I chuckle, and I started walking to the dining room where my mom is.

She saw me and started walking towards me, then her gaze dropped to my neck, where im wearing Hestia's engagement ring, in a necklace.

She gently sigh and hugged me.

"Ohhhh... Hecate. You still love her??"

My mother asks.

I nodded, fighting back my tears.

"She's coming back mom, I know it. And when she comes back I'll do anything to make her mine again."

I said, with full confidence.

My mom let go and changes the topic.

I spent the whole day hanging out with my mom, and then it was time for me to go back to my place. I entered my grey Alpine a110 and started driving to my apartment.

After a few minutes of driving, I arrived outside my apartment complex, and again I saw Agnes' car parked right outside my building, I sigh, put on my earphones, parked my car, and left my car.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Agnes getting out of her car, I just sigh and turned the volume on, and just hurriedly walked towards my apartment.

Agnes catches up to me and grabbed my arm.

I took my earphones off and looked at her unreadable and coldly.

"What??!"

I ask coldly.

She didn't answer, she just looked at me, then her gaze dropped to my neck, eyeing Hestia's engagement ring.

"When are you gonna accept that she's not coming back??"

Agnes asks.

"And when will you accept that I don't love you anymore and im over you."

I replied, coldly.

I turned my back on her and started heading towards the elevator.

I entered the elevator, and Agnes immediately followed me inside the elevator, and the elevator door closes.

I sigh and pressed the right floor for my apartment.

Agnes looked at me and speak.

"Hecate please love me again. Please choose me again."

Agnes begged.

I rolled my eyes.

"Why cause no rich married man would take you in right now???"

I said, mockingly at her.

She immediately slapped me, and I looked at her menacingly.

"I'll take that slap as a yes."

I said, coldly.

"Hecate-"

She tried to speak but I cut her sentence off.

"You are the reason why Hestia and I broke up, you are lucky I didn't plan on getting my revenge for breaking off my engagement with the love of my life."

I added coldly.

I grabbed her cheeks, and speak.

"I will never fall for your tricks again Agnes. I'm done with your deception and lies, because of you I lost the only person who loved me and build me up when you discarded me like trash."

I said, tightening my grip against her cheeks, then she squirm.

"Hecate... You're hurting me."

Agnes said.

"The pain you feeling right now is no match for the pain that I endure for the past 5 years when Hestia left me because of you. And im, not the only one you've hurt, you also hurt the love of my life, I saw you slapping her at the mall five years ago."

I said, tightening more, as I grip at her cheeks.

Crocodile tears started to fall from Agnes' eyes.

"Hecate..."

"You have the nerve to call her a loser and hurt her. I can forgive you for stealing my money before but hurting Hestia, never."

I said, then let go of her cheeks. I can see that my grip has left a mark on her cheeks. I rolled my eyes, and thank God the elevator door opens. I get off the elevator and I heard Agnes' shouts.

"THIS ISN'T OVER HECATE!!! YOU WILL BE MINE AND NOT HERS!!"

Agnes' shouted. I just rolled my eyes, and walk towards my apartment.

I opened the door, entered my apartment, and immediately went straight to my room. I took a quick shower, then lay down in my bed, closed my eyes, and whispered into the air.

"Hestia... My love... Please come back..."