I am the Queen

"Why are you still here?"

Daniel asked when he saw Lilybella standing at the entrance door of his mansion. She was smiling, and all dress up. She even wore makeup as her grin reached her eyes. Like what happened yesterday never happened.

Daniel didn't know why but he was uncomfortable with the way Lilybella was smiling. He was always uncomfortable at her before, but this time something felt . . .  not right.

"Your Highness, let's go to an amusement park!"

Daniel's brows rose so high it was impossible not to stare. His lips open, but Lilybella beat the protest out from him.

"Your Highness, please grant Lilybella's wish before she leaves the house."

". . ." Daniel sighed and pressed his fist on his forehead. He had no mood and energy to entertain her, but if it what it took to make her leave . . . then . . .

"Fine," Daniel said, voice couldn't be more forced.

Lilybella clapped her hands and jumped on her feet. "It's going to be like our first date in the amusement park!"

Daniel rolled his eyes as he went back to his room to get dress.

  ----

When they settled in the Ferris wheel, Lilybella smiled, remembering the first time they rode in Everland. Only this time, the sun was high in the sky, and the atmosphere was heavy and thick.

"Your Highness, Lilybella got a new makeup!"

Daniel peered her way, face bored and unimpressed. "Your brows look thicker. Your powder is so white than your skin tone, and your lips are redder than blood. It's not even Halloween. Don't scare people."

"Ehehehe. Lilybella is not good with these things, yet," she said, keeping the smile on her face. She spent thousands of dollars on that makeup and spent hours online and in books just to know how to apply it. Then maybe he would look her way even for just a second.

But his face only showed that she just wasted her money and time as he nodded and looked outside the Ferris wheel window, offering no ongoing conversation.

"Your Highness, it's almost valentines! What would you like? Lilybella usually makes cupcakes and chocolate cakes. Would you like some? It's very delicious and usually sold out even before the month of Valentine."

Lilybella beamed, hoping it would raise Daniel's spirits. Instead, he sighed and replied in a lethargic tone.

"No, thank you."

And that was the end of the conversation.

Lilybella's heart sunk, but she pressed on, "Maybe you'll like Choco moose instead? It's lighter and velvety in the mouth."

Daniel sighed again and looked down briefly. "No."

Lilybella hid the hurt. It was hopeless, but she pressed on and brought up another conversation which she knew he would get irritated. But what else would they do? Pretend that the other was invincible?

Eventually, they got out of the Ferris wheel and walked around the park in circles with no particular destination. In the rose garden, Lilybella continued to have her one-sided conversation as Daniel walked ahead.

"Fun fact, rosehip is a dried fruit from a withered rose. It contains a huge amount of vitamin C. It contains thirty times more vitamin c than lemon of the same weight. Because of it, it is named vitamin bomb."

Lilybella chuckled, but Daniel wasn't laughing. He continued to walk without even stopping.

"Lilybella visited Teacher this morning. Her condition was stable, but she had not woken up yet. Teacher's boyfriend is also there taking care of her. It's a shame that they still not made up."

"Hmm . . ."

"Lilybella will come and visit again before she leaves."

"Hm . . ."

"This year was very kind to Lilybella. She met Teacher and then Teacher's boyfriend. Had fun with everyone and experience her first love . . . as well as her first heartbreak."

Daniel stopped when he felt that something was wrong. Turning, he looked at Lilybella. There was something in the way that her eyes shone. The way it shook and melting like she was looking at her lover. The way her lips rose in a simple smile and the way her hair fluttered with the winds. And for some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

Lilybella walked towards him and stopped just inches from him. She beamed, and her head tilted a little to the side as her hands clasped behind her back.

"Lilybella did a lot of thinking since last night. But the only thing Lilybella could come up with is that . . . no matter how much Lilybella likes your Highness . . . sympathy or some sense of obligation isn't a reason to go out with someone. That's why your Highness . . . this is goodbye . . . Lilybella is setting you free as well as herself."

Daniel's lips opened, but there were no words. His mind was blank as Lilybella jumped to embrace him. In her embrace, the world stopped. There was no time. No noise. No problems.

And his mind was at peace.

How could he have not seen it before? How could he have ignored it? Refuse Lilybella's love for what it was? Unselfish. Pure. Warm.

It felt like home.

His hands stretched out, wanting to embrace that feeling. But it was gone together with the girl with big eyes and a silly smile.

Daniel didn't know what happened next, but he found himself in his home. Mind blank. Spirit battered. Body tired. And heart, broken.

He swept his gaze around. Was his place always this big and quiet? It seemed unfamiliar. Like something was missing.

"Chef," he called. He intended it as a shout, but it came out as a whisper.

Nevertheless, it was still heard by the servants.

"Yes, your Highness?"

"Prepare my dinner."

The chef was silent for a moment before he asked, "Is madam going to join?" It was weird because it was usually the madam who prepared his Highness food's ever since she arrived.

"No." Daniel's brows formed in one line. Since when did Lilybella became the madam of the house? "She left, and she'll never return in this house."

Daniel gritted his teeth. He didn't know why he was angry as his mood plummet at the thought.

Dragging his feet to the dining area. He waited there for the food to arrive. He was hungry, and maybe that was why he was feeling angry and annoyed. He didn't want to wait in his room because it was lonely.

. . . Lonely?

He was starving that his mind was going insane.

How could he be lonely when most of his life, he was alone in his house?

"Your Highness . . . what would you like?"

Daniel stood to his feet, and his eyes almost popped from their sockets. "Lilybella?"

"Your Highness?" the chef blinked.

Daniel blinked. He really was hungry. He even mistook the chef's voice for Lilybella!

Daniel cleared his throat and regained his face. "What were you talking about again?"

The chef's face remained neutral through the corner of his lips rose. "This servant is asking of what menu would you like, your Highness?"

The irritation that died at his embarrassment rose again, and Daniel snapped, "Anything! Just make me anything that doesn't require me to wait an hour! I'm hungry, and I need food. Now!"

"Right away, your Highness." The chief bowed and retreated. Their Prince wasn't this hot-blooded. In fact, he couldn't recall when was the last time his Highness loosed his temper. Madam's departure must have really impacted him without him even knowing it.

Daniel sighed and brushed his hand on his face. He slumped on his seat and closed his eyes. Hoping he wouldn't feel the passing of each second. But the second stretched into eternity at her absence, and he could feel every tick of the clock.

. . .

. . .

"Your Highness . . . your Highness . . . food is ready your Highness!"

Daniel gasped, and his head whisked in the direction of that voice. "Lilybella?"

The chef blinked.

Daniel blinked.

The chef cleared his throat and pretended that the Prince wasn't losing it. "The food is ready, your Highness."

Daniel blinked, and the surprised look on his face fell into a scowl. He made a quick glance at the clock and found that he fell asleep for thirty minutes.

Daniel didn't say anything and let the servants served the food on the table.

His stomach growled in silence, but his appetite was screaming no.

Something was missing.

The salad was fresh and looked crisps and delicious, but it didn't have that added touch that made his saliva dripped from the side of his mouth. The steak was tender and looked like it would melt in his mouth, but it didn't have that usual lemon and honey smell that he had grown to love. And the soup . . . it was just . . . not complete.

It was missing that touch.

It was missing Lilybella's touch. The love and attention of every morsel of food she put in. The texture and aroma that he craved. That with every bite, he'd be asking for more.

He was never going to taste it again.

  ----

A/N

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