28 Chapter 28: Dimension Pt.3

While waiting for the maid's return, the ex-prince and ex-princess continue their trainings together.

"I wonder if Xeresta is doing fine." The ex-princess was worried about the maid.

"Yeah, she has been gone for a while now. But I'm sure she's doing her best to help us."

"I can't believe we'll finally be able to go back to our normal selves." The ex-princess was a bit excited.

"I don't mean to burst your bubble, but it is not yet a sure thing."

"I can't help it if I look forward to it. Why, don't you want to go back?"

"I do. It's just… What if we don't remember any of this?"

"I see. I know what you mean... I don't think I want to go back if that happens…"

"And if we go back, will we still have to… Marry each other?"

"I don't think we have a choice… But if you really want to…" The ex-princess was blushing.

"I didn't say I really want to… It's just that, MAYBE, I don't mind it as much now…" The ex-prince was blushing as well.

While both of them were too embarrassed to look at each other, a palace guard approached them.

"Your Majesty, Xeresta has returned."

"Really? That is good news. Thank you." The palace guard was surprised the ex-prince thanked him.

"No, your Majesty, I do not deserve any gratitude." He stood up and left.

"I guess the etiquette lessons are working." The ex-princess laughed lightly at the ex-prince.

"So it seems. I would never have done that if I didn't undergo the queen's training. Also, you have taught me this, too. You have my gratitude."

"And you've taught me a lot, as well. So, thank you." They were smiling at each other.

"Your Majesty, I have returned." The maid approached the ex-prince.

"Xeresta! It's good to see you are well. It has been a week since you left. We were starting to get quite worried." The ex-prince greeted his servant with a sense of relief.

"I do not deserve to be a source of your concern."

"Don't say such things. I was worried, too." The ex-princess showed a concerned expression.

"Thank you, your Highness. It is fortunate that I come back with good news. I have met the sage and he has told me a way for you to return to normal."

"That is great news!" The ex-prince was delighted.

"The sage explained to me how you were able to make your wish come true the first time. It wasn't only the lake that granted your wish, but it was with a shooting star that passed by the night you made your wish. That is also why you were not able to return to normal when you made your wish at the lake the second time."

"You mean the shooting star has to pass by when we make the wish at the lake?"

"Yes. Precisely, your Majesty."

"But how are we supposed to know when the shooting star will pass by again or if it already has passed by?" The ex-princess started to be worried again.

"If my hunch is correct, when I woke up in this reality, I believe time reversed to the day we first met." The ex-prince was pondering some things before he continued. "It may mean that the shooting star has not passed by yet…"

"How did you know time went back?"

"I'm not really sure, but when I confirmed my memories with Xeresta, she has no recollection of events that happened after the day you and I first met."

"I see. But now, how do we know when the shooting star will pass by this time?"

"Do you remember how many days you stayed at our kingdom?"

"No, it's impossible to remember…" The ex-princess was disappointed with herself.

"Your Majesty, the sage told me when the shooting star will pass by." The maid interrupted into the conversation.

"Great then! So, when is it?"

"If I may, your Majesty…" The maid suddenly looked depressed. "…Before I say anything more, I just want to know… Is it really necessary for you to go back to normal?"

"What do you mean? Of course, we have to go back to normal. This is not who we really are."

"But what difference would that make? You both will still be king and queen of this kingdom and peace is still attainable after your marriage. Why can't you stay the way you are…?" Tears started to fall from the maid's eyes.

"The wishes we made, they were out of selfishness. I—we both understand now that in order for true peace to be achieved between the two kingdoms, we must be better than who we were before. As the next rulers, we want to set things right and we want to do it as our true selves."

"But the person you are now is the true you… I have always believed that…"

"When I get back, I promise to be better towards everyone else, especially you, Xeresta. I would be nothing without you by my side all this time. Thank you for everything."

"…" The maid was still hesitant to tell the ex-prince what he wanted to know. "It's tonight. I will do everything I can to bring the both of you to the lake."

"So soon? I still have to go to one last lesson. I'll meet you later at my room before we head out." The ex-prince ran towards inside the castle. The maid was left behind together with the ex-princess.

"You like him, don't you, Xeresta?"

"W-what are you talking about, your Highness?" The maid was caught off-guard.

"I understand your feelings. The person he is now is very different from the first time we met. I hated him then, obviously." The face of the ex-princess showed both happiness and sadness as she was talking. "But now, after I've known him, I do think I like him too."

"Your Highness, I…"

"I admire the fact that you liked him even before he has changed. Don't worry. I, too, will do my best to be better when we get back to normal. For your sake, as well."

---

That night, the maid helped the ex-prince and ex-princess get out of the castle unnoticed. They went straight to the lake and waited for the shooting star. The maid went back ahead to the castle and left them alone.

"Hey, spoiled brat." The ex-prince had a smile on his face.

"What is it, arrogant jerk?" The ex-princess responded with her own playful jab.

"No matter what happens, I don't regret this experience."

"Yeah, me too..."

"I can see the shooting star. You know what to wish for, right?" The ex-prince grabbed the hand of the ex-princess.

"…Yes, I know." Both of them closed their eyes and made their wish. "Just remember that if we are able to go back, please love someone who loves you for who you were, and that is not me."

"What are you talking about? I already love—"

---

"I'm back. I'm a guy again." The prince woke up on his bed. He immediately went to the King and Queen. "Father, Mother, when will the princess of Lustria arrive for our marriage?"

"What are you talking about, Kley? Marriage? You must have slept too much. We are at war with them, and we will soon be able to conquer them." The King was in disbelief of what the prince said.

"But what about the peace treaty?"

"Peace treaty? My dear Kley, what has gotten into you?" The Queen was surprised. "You have been an advocate of winning this war."

"What is happening here?" The prince was talking to himself. "I know… Xeresta!" He rushed off to look for his maid. He found her back at his room. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Xeresta! Tell me what happened here! What happened to the princess of Lustria kingdom?"

"Your Highness? The princess of Lustria kingdom has been asleep for a year now. Nobody knows why or how to wake her up. Or so the rumors say. May I ask why you are suddenly interested in her?"

"We were supposed to be getting married and a peace treaty was supposed to happen… Everything should have returned to normal."

"I see. Something must have happened then."

"You believe me?"

"I always will, your Majesty."

"Thank you, Xeresta!" The prince hugged his maid. "I have to go to their kingdom and find out what happened." The prince rushed out the room.

"Did his Majesty just say 'Thank you'?" The maid was left wondering what happened.

---

The prince set out to the kingdom of Lustria. Before he left, he convinced the King that a peace treaty be signed and he will be the emissary who will bring it to the other kingdom. He argued that the lives of the citizens are more important and that he will find a way to unify both kingdoms. The King admired how determined his son was, and agreed.

When the prince arrived at the kingdom of Lustria, he was stopped at the gates. He showed the peace treaty that he has brought and asked for an audience with the king and queen of the kingdom.

"Your Highness, I am here to deliver a peace treaty from our kingdom." The prince knelt down in front of the king.

"They have sent the prince of Grandia to propose a peace treaty. What if we decline and take you hostage, instead?"

"I do not believe you will do that. Your daughter told me that you value your citizens more than winning this aimless war."

"It is true that I will not do that. I was only testing your resolve. Forgive me. However, you speak as if you know my daughter. When did you two meet?"

"It is a long story, your Highness. But all I ask is that you trust me and let me see your daughter. I am here with pure intentions of marrying the princess."

"I do not know how you two met, but I feel the sincerity in your words. Unfortunately, she has been asleep for a very long time. We do not know why or how to wake her up… You will still be able to find other suitable women to be your queen. I can already see you will be a fine king one day."

"Thank you for your kind words. But I will not give up on her. I will find a way to wake her up. If I do, please give us your blessing." The prince left the kingdom of Lustria determined to find an answer.

---

The prince returned to his kingdom. He remembered about the sage in the forest. He asked Xeresta if she knew the location of the sage, but as he expected, she had no idea what he was talking about. He made his own search for the sage. He had his servants help me ask around the kingdom if they knew anything about the sage. After a few days, he finally had a solid basis on where he can find the sage in the forest. He searched for the sage on his own, and found him deep within a cave in the forest.

"Great sage! I have need of your help."

"What? I thought a young beautiful girl would be the one visiting me. My fortune telling is getting rusty. What can I help you with, lad?"

"You see…" The prince explained everything to the great sage.

"Hmm, it must be because she added something to her wish, which may be related as to why she isn't waking up."

"What could that be?"

"There is no way of telling for sure. And she will only wake up once her wish is fulfilled, I think."

"This can't be…" The prince had the look of defeat and despair.

---

With no more ideas to go on, the prince went back to Lustria to inform the king of his failure.

"I am sorry I was not able to find a way to wake the princess." The prince knelt and bowed down.

"You tried your best. It is not your fault."

"On the contrary, I think it is…" The prince whispered to himself. "May I see her one last time, your Highness?"

"Go ahead."

The palace guards escorted the prince to the princess' room. The prince sat beside her on the bed.

"Is this how much you didn't want to marry me? You wished to sleep forever? That's a bit unfair, don't you think? I already decided I would marry you when we return… I love you." He kissed the princess. The prince started to stand up, when suddenly the princess woke up.

"What are you doing here?" The confusion was noticeable in the princess' voice.

"What do you mean? Of course, I will be here. I have come for my queen." The prince grabbed her hand.

"But, you know, someone else has been in love with you for the longest time. She deserves to be with you more than me."

"That may be the case, but…"

"Besides, I wished that I'll only wake up when you are with the one you truly love…"

"Then, your wish has been granted." He smiled at the princess.

They lived happily ever after.

THE END