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Khalid
“Do you have to leave?” I frowned, staring at her suitcase as Valeria kept her toiletry bag inside the suitcase, asking me to help her zip it closed.
“We already talked about this, Khalid,” she grunted, sighing as she zipped another suitcase. My grandma had ordered me to give her a lot of sweets and snacks from Azmia so she had more bags with her than she arrived with.
“I know that you have a new launch coming soon but… can’t you stay for a week?” I asked, almost begging her not to leave.
After that incident in the bathroom, I hadn’t left her side for more than an hour, wanting to make sure she was safe. No one had commented on the slash on my cheekbone if they noticed it. I knew she felt guilty for it, but she didn’t hurt me intentionally. I was the one who stepped towards her, wanting to make sure the glass didn’t hurt her when it slashed through my skin.
“I have to prepare for interviews and photoshoots for the launch campaign, Khalid.” She walked towards me, hugging me and murmured against my shirt, “You know I have to go.”
I sighed, hearing the sadness in her voice. I kissed her golden red hair, tightening my hold on her warm body before pulling away. “I know, sweet one. I will visit you as soon as I can,” I promised her.
She smiled at me and I ignored the instinct to ask her for a day more, to talk to her about how she felt. I had cancelled her plane ticket and set up my private plane for her to take. It was the least I could do for her.
Zara had already said her goodbye to her before she left the day before to Australia. She was still in the process of making her photography portfolio and we were proud of her that she was going to take clients. It felt weird to have her earn her own money when she was the only Princess of Azmia, but she wanted to live all by her own. We had helped her with a new citizen ID so that she could live as a normal person without her title as the Princess.
“I hope you can visit soon, and I will take you on a ride with Yasmine,” Zayed flirted with her in front of me, daring enough to kiss her knuckles. Valeria flushed red and promised him that she would come to Azmia soon.
“Stay away from Zayed, Valeria. He is an imbecile,” I warned her, wrapping my arm around her waist and blocked his path when he tried to hug her.
She had met Zain and Nasrin before the lunch and spent some time alone withjadatiwho still had some minor cold.
I kissed her cheek when the helicopter started, the pilot giving me a signal.
“I love you, my sweet one,” I whispered in her ear.
Valeria pulled away, smiling at me. “You take care of yourself, my prince.”
I rubbed the sore spot on my heart, hearing her call meherprince. It made me want to do terrible spontaneous thing. Like ask her—demand her to marry me so she can never leave my side again. But my family, especially Zara, would be disappointed in me if I ever proposed to Valeria like that.
No, I needed a more solid plan.
My hands and arms felt empty when she walked towards the helicopter, her hair flying as one of the guards held her cane, helping her sit in the helicopter.
In a month, I decided. I will surprise her by visiting her in a month. I could wait for a month. I had been waiting for over twenty years to meet her, the girl who inspiredLimerence, my first ever muse.
I could wait for one more month.
Valeria
I settled in my room after chatting with my parents for the entire evening, having dinner together. The food of London felt a little bland compared to the exotic, spicy food I had in Azmia.
Changing into my light nightgown, I settled into my bed, covering myself with the blanket. It felt cold. I felt cold. I couldn’t even snuggle with his warm body.
I hadn’t said it back.I love you, my sweet one. Khalid had said it so casually that I was shocked and I couldn’t even say it back.
I sat up. I couldn’t sleep without making sure I told him that I loved him. Before I could askSirito call him, my phone started ringing. It was his call.
“I was just thinking about you,” I said with a shy smile.
Khalid didn’t say anything for a few moments.
I frowned, “Khalid?”
“Valeria…”
His voice sounded broken, hoarse, and extremely sad. I sat up straighter. “Khalid? What happened? Are you okay? Are you hurt?”