The Royal Contract

"Pull over to the side." He pressed on the intercom, alerting the driver of his instruction.

It was just an impulse to stop when he saw the shop on the corner. He automatically thought of his wife and how she would love a present.

He had been away for a few days and so busy lately that he barely had time to spend with her. Somehow, he knew he felt guilty for leaving her.

"I want a dozen of those." Lance knew how much she loved her roses. So when he saw some beautiful bunch, he had to buy them.

But that was not the flowers that had caught his eye when he asked for the car to stop. It was the shop next door.

He remembered how Camille loved to collect old artifacts. And the antique shop seemed to hold some fascinating items that caught his fancy.

"What can you tell me about this?" He asked the white-haired man who stood by the counter when he entered the tiny shop.

He could only assume that the man owned the whimsical shop based on the friendly and enthusiastic welcome the other man gave him.

"That is an old lamp dating from the time of the..." The man started narrating a script he only assumed he had invented to put a value on the old item.

But he doubted the cost matched the item when the man named his price on his priceless item. But that was how they earned a living. He was not about to blow his business.

But he was not buying it either, not finding it was worthy enough. Still, he let his eyes wander around the room until his eyes find the next thing he found intriguing.

"Can I see this one?" He pointed inside the glass encasing in one particular object.

It was not the usual jewelry he would buy for someone, but his wife was not just anyone. He discovered that she had a peculiar fondness for the out-of-the-ordinary.

"Oh! This one..." The man seemed surprised by his choice as he moved closer to check on the item he had selected. "Well, you have an intriguing taste."

"Yeah!" He nodded, finding the piece mesmerizing. "I am interested in buying it." His eyes focused on the pendant that dangled on the old gold chain.

He believed Camille would love to have something like that added to her collection. Although he could not attest to the item's authenticity, it did not matter.

He could tell that Camille was not after the worth of the object but more of the value. Or the story behind the unusual article.

"I will tell you an exotic and alluring story about this pendant." The man said while his eyes darkened as if he was reminiscing a past.

After hearing the man's narration of the history of the pendant, he knew he just found the perfect gift for tonight. He could already picture the glint in her eyes as he retold the story.

"I will take it." He said, suddenly more excited to reach home and see the woman who waited for his return. "I am sure that she will love that."

He once asked her about a pair of earrings she wore at a charity gala. And she confided that she only bought it in a flea market. But the story she gave him had him laughing that night.

"Then, I believe she is an amazing woman, Your Highness. We are lucky to have her as our future Queen." The man had bowed before him, finally acknowledging that he had recognized who he was.

He bought the necklace with the unusual pendant, and together with the red roses, he quickly made his way home. But the man's final words remained in his mind.

Yes!

He guessed he was lucky to find an incredible woman. He thought that when he had lost the love of his life, he would never find joy again.

However, Camille found a way to break into his barrier. She managed to break the chain around his heart. She had set him free from his misery.

He could not say he would love her similarly the way he had loved Eida. But he was sure he could be happy with her for the rest of their married life.

"Where to next, Sir?" The driver asked when he entered the car.

"Home." He gladly said. He had never thought that he would find someone who would make him feel excited about coming home again.

He once imagined Eida would be waiting for him at the door. But he guessed he should let those dreams stay buried in a ton of rubble.

With the roses in his hand, while the pendant carefully tucked underneath his jacket, he walked toward the empty hallway, looking for his wife.

He guessed he could not wait to see her. Suddenly, the feeling of a bright future filled him with gladness as hope grew in his heart for the family he had always dreamt of.

"Where is Camille?" He asked one of the staff as he entered the palace but did not see her immediately.

Usually, she would be buzzing around the house, working her ass out as if she was on fire. But today, the palace seemed silent without her bustling presence.

"Your Highness, Princess Camille is in her room." The woman whispered as if afraid to answer him as she lowered her face to the floor.

"Is there something wrong?" Suddenly, he sensed something unusual with his surroundings. It was like something was happening, but he could not tell what.

"Princess Camille... earlier..." But the woman seemed to stumble on her words. "Princess Camille said..." She tried again but hesitated again.

"Hey, whatever it is, you can tell me." Prince Lance assured the staff as she appeared like she was about to faint.

"Your Highness, I saw Princess Camille fainted earlier, but she made me promise not to tell anyone." The young woman quickly told him before she lost her nerve again. "But I am worried about her, Your Highness."

The woman explained to him what she saw and how she helped the Princess return to her room. But Camille would not let her call the physician or tell anyone about the incident.

"Thank you for telling me about this. Don't worry. I will make sure to have the doctors check her." Prince Lance reassured the young woman that she did the right thing by telling him about it.

But he could not help but be concerned about her health condition. As always, he found her stubbornness sometimes amusing, But in times like this, he only saw it infuriating.

But he was glad that someone was brave and concerned enough to tell him about her condition, or she would have kept that from him.

"Your Highness." Another voice joined them, stopping him from asking more questions.

"Can you call Dr. Eldrich and send him to my room?" He instructed without caring about what the other person was about to say.

Then, he quickly turned around and hurriedly climbed the massive staircase, in a hurry to reach his room. But frankly, he was slightly afraid of what he would witness when he entered the room.

But the room was empty.

She was not in his room. The bed did not seem touched or lay on. Therefore, he could only assume that the cleaning staff referred to her room on the other side of the hallway.

"Camille," Lance called outside her door, not entering her private chambers without her consent. That was one of the conditions in their sleeping arrangement.

Her room was her sanctuary, away from him. It was her safe place when she wanted to be alone. But at that moment, he felt that the rules did not apply when he feared she might be in harm's way.

"Camille, I am coming in." He shouted outside her door when she did not answer right away.

He did not wait for her answer, thinking that something might have happened to her. She might have fainted again, and nobody was there to help her.

But he was surprised when he entered, and she came out of her private bathroom simultaneously. It appeared she was in the bathroom, taking a shower.

"Hey, is there something wrong?" She asked him, appearing to be fine but slightly stunned to see him in her room.

It was seldom he came to her room. Usually, it was she who spent the night in his room. Although they were almost consummating their marriage like a real couple, he still allowed her to keep her private room.

"I should be asking you that question." He was confused, seeing that she did not seem like the woman who was sick.

"Is that for me?" She suddenly changed the subject, directing her gaze on his hands.

Then, he suddenly realized that he still had the roses in his hands. He had forgotten all about it when he heard of what happened to her.

"Yes, this is for you." He answered, happy to see the smile on her lips.

Then, a knock came through the door. "And this too."

He opened the door to reveal his unexpected present.

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