Back home

My head absorbs the pattern of raindrops, the rhythm I falls on the window as we traveled back home. The mansion was lively with Charlie and Gerroto greeting us, but the heaviness in my heart was overwhelming.

The pressure of being taken away from my rightful title got to me. No matter how much I convince myself to let go... I couldn't.

A few minutes later, I get a call from Gerrard.

Mt eyebrows crashed together. Why is he calling me at this hour?

A thousand reasons why I should pick up the call run inside my mind. I choose one: It must be an emergency.

"Hey, why are you awake at such time..."

"Ravine, we did it." His statement confuses me.

He seems to be sobbing. He was... happily sobbing.

"Calm down... tell me what happened."

"Ravine... we did it. We won't be working under the royals anymore. Uncle was put in dungeon and I- quit! I quit for my babies!" He shouts in happiness.

Slowly, tears start to fall from my eyes. I bang my fist on the wall, the three men behind me stop their actions and look at me with concern.

"Idiot... you're an idiot! Who will take care of my kingdom now!?" I scream back at him.

"I don't care! What your father is worried about is useless! He cannot fathom the loss he's dealing with! No one, and i mean it! No one is capable of riling our kingdom next other than you! If you're not there as the next queen... I'd better not be their advisor too." He says in a spurt of emotions. I cover my mouth and let all my emotions flow out.

Charlie and Gerroto who aren't aware of my situation begin to leave back to their mansion. We were alone now, Aaron consoling me.

Gerrard tells me he's traveling far, far away from the kingdom with Miranda. I wish him good luck and to be healthy with his new family.

"Call me to your wedding. Idiot."

"I will, peanut brain." He says as I chuckle. He often called me that, instead of 'princess' because 12 years back, I was befitting of that name.

Cutting the call, I explain everything to Aaron.

"So the next in line is Francis. And he's not an adept ruler..." Saying, he closes his eyes.

Everyone knows about Francis' family full of foxes. They've always been behind my family to snatch the title away from me. To be the next ruler of Eulandia.

The weight of the situation was unbearable. I beg Aaron to distract me as he brings a box of prescribed sleeping pills.

I take a deep breath, remembering how he himself had trouble sleeping for two long years. Ever since he was made CEO and the stress of John Skiez.

We were on the couch, he places me on his lap and pats me till I fell asleep on an empty stomach.

The next morning, I wake up with a headache and incredible hunger.

I search for Aaron, wearing my spectacles and calling his name.

He answers from the kitchen as I follow his voice.

There he was again...

Like my old Aaron.

The funky cartoon apron on his bare body as he turns around and smiles at me. His morning wood was visible as a crease on his apron.

"What were you thinking?"

"About you of course." He chuckles and shows me the fritters he pulls out of the air fryer.

"Thank you." I rest my head on his back, hugging him from behind.

"You're welcome, princess." He says. His intention was pure... but somehow, I didn't want to called a princess anymore.

"Please don't call me by that nickname again... I'm fed up." I say as he chuckles and agrees to never call me that. I loathe that name to me now.

I'm not... fitting and brave enough for that name.

****

I kiss him on the cheek as he goes to his office on a Wednesday morning.

I decided to resume my work as I have nothing to fret about now.

For now, I begin to write a story. A short story which adds some base to the new porn film of my studio.

Suddenly, I realise that my work phone which I left here was blown with messages from my colleagues. They wanted a thousand and one things from me. I'm shameful of my absence in my own production company for more than a week. That too unannounced!

Shame on me!

Well, I have to rush to the studio now.

Dressing myself in the most comfortable and sensible pieces of clothes, I take Aaron's infamous bike and ride into the noon traffic of New York.

I reach the building in 15 minutes.

My colleagues blast me off with tasks. I was obliged to work extra now.

"All schedules are lagging behind, Miss Ravine! What do we do!?"

"I'll manage! Trust me!" Saying, I make a call to none other than...

"Hi, baby girl! What is it? You packed me lunch—"

"I'm coming to your place, now. You better clear your schedule for an hour after lunch. Bye." I say to the man. I'm sure I've put him in confusion.

"Ma'am, where are you—"

"I'm going to a very dignified cameraman I know. I'll send a copy to you in an hour. Edit it, process it and upload to the page. Got that?"

"Yes ma'am!"

Now, it's time for me to shine.

The essentials I grab were my infamous cat mask which I use only for special videos and the sluttiest red dress from my closet.

I can't believe I'll be asking the busiest man in the world to take a video of me in his office while he works. Well, if I can't make him define his skills again, it's going to be a problem.

Besides, he's got enough time in the weekends for his passion now.

I better not let his talent go to waste.

Aaron Skiez~

I'm coming to you for aid, my love.

Let's recreate the first video we ever shot on your camera.