Royally Kidnapped by the Prince

46

KENNEDY

My arrival at the JFK Airport was overwhelming. With my disguise, keeping my head down, my

blending in didn’t work. I didn’t know how did people know about the time of my arrival.

I received flowers, people took pictures of me and gave me a warm welcome, which I wouldn’t ever get

used to it. Thankfully, I spotted my dad instantly.

“I missed you both.” I hugged Dad first, then Mom. I didn’t know how much I missed them until I was

already in their arms.

“Follow me. You’re now officially a celebrity, sweetheart.”

“How did they know my arrival?”

“I don’t know. I think the princess just posted her picture and you together. Her followers must have

figured it out,” Mom explained, taking bouquets from me. “Get in the back of the car.”

“What about that SUV?” I noticed the black SUV parked just right beside their car,

“That’s a diversion. Hurry up.”

“Thanks.” I climbed in our old family car.

“Thanks for choosing to spend your holidays with us, honey.” Dad looked at me through the rearview

mirror.

“Are you kidding me? I’ve only been spending holidays with you since I worked at Style. Nothing’s

gonna change that.”

“I hope so.”

“Thayer would love you to come with me for a visit. Guardion is cold but pretty in January.”

“I just talked to him earlier, asking about you and if you already arrived. Then thirty minutes ago. I think

you got him under your spell pretty bad.”

I laughed, rolling my eyes. “That’s pretty much his character. I’ll call him later.”

Suddenly, my mom’s phone just rang.

“Speaking of the devil.” Mom gave her phone to me from the passenger’s seat. Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

“Really? Prince of Capria?” I saw his name blinking on the screen.

“Do you prefer Prince of Persia or Prince of Narnia?”

I smiled at Mom and mouthed, “I gotta take this.”

I answered the call button and pressed the phone to my ear.

“Laura.” God, I already missed his voice.

I breathed in and closed my eyes. “It’s me, Kennedy.”

“Darling? Thank God. I’ve been trying to reach you.”

I smiled. “I’ve just landed. I was planning to call you as soon as I arrived at my parent’s house.”

“And you did not ride with the details.”

“I know. I ride with my parents.” I looked at the side mirror. “They’re tailing us.”

“Because that’s their job.”

“You’re upset.”

“No, darling. I’m happy to hear your voice. I miss you.” He sighed over the phone.

“I’ve just landed less than an hour ago, babe. It’ll be fine. You’re gonna get used to it.” It was full of crap

because I didn’t think I could ever get used to being far from him. I already missed everything about

him. Before my fight, just to prove his point, he made love with me all night.

“I don’t think I can. I’ll be discussing with my parents about my schedule, but I don’t think I could even

spend Christmas Eve with them. I had to agree since this would be my last Christmas before I get

married. I really wanted to come with you. I’m sorry you have to travel alone.”

“We can always visit here together when your schedule is not pretty hectic. How about visiting your

grandfather?”

“That’s what I told them, but since, you know, his official engagements are done by my father. I have to

take some of Dad’s duties. That’s why my schedules are full until the first week of January.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t be. This will be over soon. You and I are gonna have more time alone together. In fact, before

we get married, I’m planning to take you somewhere special to my heart.”

I chuckled. I still couldn’t get used to the words get married. It had not sunk in yet. I felt like I was still

dreaming.

“Shouldn’t we do that on the honeymoon?” I lowered my voice when I said the last word. Mom must

have heard it anyway. She smiled at Dad, squeezing his arm.

“Tell the prince. He’s welcome to visit here anytime. I’m gonna teach him how to plow a horse’s poop. I

bet he hadn’t seen a horse’s poop.

Clearly, Thayer was listening. “Put on speaker, darling.”

I pressed the speaker button. “You are on speaker.”

“Laura, I’ve seen horse’s dung. In fact, I took care of my own horse when I was growing up. I cleaned

them myself.”

“Aren’t you full of surprises, Prince of Capria?”

“You keep calling me that. I told you Thayer is fine.” He laughed. God, I even missed his laugh. This

was insane. My life seemed to revolve around him.

“My wife told me Prince of Capria sounds sexier,” Dad said.

“I’m sure Kennedy would agree to that.” He laughed again.

I felt my face burn.

“Darling, I have to call you back. Marko is calling me. I have a press conference. I love you, darling.

Take care. Keep your promises.”

The line went off.

My chest suddenly constricted. I hadn’t said it back. The words were just at the tip of my tongue. Every

time I wanted to tell him, something was holding me back. I didn’t know what. The only thing that was

clear to me was that I loved him more than I’d ever loved anyone.

***

The house Prince Isodore gave to my parents was bigger than how my parents explained to me over

Zoom. A modern farmhouse with four beds, four baths, and a half bath.

I had dinner with my parents. Siena, Serenity, and Faith were very persistent, and they came over later

on. They were willing to keep me up all night if I wouldn’t tell them how did I meet Thayer from the start

till our engagement.

There were certain moments where my heart ached, then filled with happiness as I relived those

memories.

“Time’s up. You need your beauty rest, princess.” Siena rose from her seat, grabbing her bag. “Let’s go,

girls.”

“We’ll be having coffee together once you get enough rest, okay?” Serenity said. “I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks.” I looked at them. “Thanks for coming over. I really need my friends right now.”

“Spend time with your parents. We’re just a chat away. Anyway, I bumped into your crazy ex the other

day. He asked about you. I told her to leave you alone.” I saw the pride in Faith’s eyes.

“He’s a pain in my ass. An asshole.” I still remembered how he cheated on me. It didn’t hurt anymore,

but I still felt stupid for not realizing and ending it soon.

In the morning, I received a call from Alessia wanting to meet me. She came over to pick up. She and

my parents seemed to get in touch when she said that she had tried the recipe my mother gave to her.

I wasn’t even aware she loved to cook, considering how rich she was.

Once we were in the back of the slicked black Mercedes, I faced her. “Where are we going?”

“To meet my father. So, how’s Thayer?” She looked over the side mirror. “Over-protective, I see.”

“We’re gonna meet the King?” My heart started to pound.

“Relax. He still can’t talk back to you.”

“How’s he?”

“You did not answer me.”

I tried to limit a topic about Thayer. I just woke up this morning. He didn’t call me back. “He’s busy.”

“There has been a development. I may not grow up under his care, but I care about the old man. My

mother kept me away from him to protect him and me. When my mother died, she left a letter to me

with the DNA result. To my surprise, I was an illegitimate daughter of one of the most powerful rulers in

the world. Thayer’s father, Isodore, surprisingly, welcomed me like his real sister. I grow to love them,

especially his children. His wife insisted that I should be with my brother, but I also love my job and the

place where I grew up.”

“Thank you for telling me. Don’t worry. I’ve sworn to secrecy since I found out about who Thayer was.”

“Your relationship with him isn’t a secret anymore. Just don’t break his heart. I’m close to everyone,

even to Carlott, but Thayer’s like my own child.”

I smiled at her. I didn’t have to say anything anymore. She knew what would I say and how I felt about

her nephew.

I entered the private room where the King had was treated for several months. With Alessia by my side,

I curtsied in respect even if he couldn’t see me. Alessia told me that the doctor started winning him

from the machines. He responded to painful stimuli. He’d even breathing on his own with the support of

a low amount of oxygen.

“Father, I know you can hear me. I’d like to introduce to you Kennedy Gilby. She’s betrothed to Thayer.”

She then looked at me. “You can say whatever you want to say. I’ll leave you two alone.” She smiled

and left the room.

I swallowed hard before I took a step and sat on the chair beside the King’s bed. Slowly, tentatively, I

placed my hand over his. It was surprisingly warm and smooth despite the wrinkling of his skin.

“It’s an honor to finally met you, Your Excellency. I wish I meet you in a different circumstance. Still, it’s

truly an honor.” I took a deep breath, lightly squeezing his hand. “I’m here before you, asking your

blessings. Even if you can’t speak to me, being here means a lot to me and your grandchild, Thayer.

I’m going to marry him. It’s not because of his title or the terms bestowed upon him. I am going to marry

him because I love him—more than anything—more than I’ve loved anyone. Call me selfless, but I love

him more than life itself.”