Kiss Me Not

-UNEDITED-

After the dinner and a little celebration with a few drinks with the family, Leila decided to walk more at the vast inner courtyard of the palace, to unwind a bit. She was feeling ecstatic with the trending photos and videos of her daughter with Cain. She was satisfied and glad that it was Cain that Kimmy chose. She had nothing against Harry, but she really learned to like and love Cain for his excellent character traits while knowing him more the past years of serving the royal family.

Cain was a very responsible man. Leila admired the man for staying in country B to accompany his father and take care of his old man. Cain also granted Daniel's request to take over the hospital and position at the royal family despite the canceled marriage between him and Kimmy. And the best part of him was he, of all people, could understand Kimmy well and what Kimmy was going through.

She breathed in and inhaled the fresh scent from the yard. She closed her eyes while feeling the warm breeze all over her body. The inner courtyard was everyone's favorite spot in the palace, especially on an evening like that. She had a balcony in the room, but she wanted to walk at the lush surrounding of the inner courtyard.

"Princess…"

She was startled by Sean's voice from behind. Leila opened her eyes and sighed. She already knew why Sean approached her like that. It only meant she had some private matters to report to her regarding Edward. Sometimes she pitied Sean. The man spent all his time serving the royal family all his life. It was like he dedicated his whole life to work since his wife died from cancer. Will was just five years old at that time. That was why Will grew up in the palace with Cedric. The two became blood brothers.

She turned around to Sean and said, "come and sit with me, Sean."

The latter followed, and they sat on the nearest bench. Leila looked at the sky and whispered, "there's no star tonight."

Sean smiled and said, "the moon is brightly shining, though."

"Yeah, and it's pretty," Leila whispered with a smile.

Sean turned at her and whispered, "you look so happy, Princess. It's a good thing that Kimmy chose Cain like what you wanted. I'm sure those two will be a great couple in the future. They look so good together."

"Yes, indeed. I can only die in peace if I know my daughter is in good hands. I want her to have a successful marriage, Sean. A man who would treasure her and love her unconditionally. It's so rare to have a man as patient and understanding like Cain…" Leila stated.

Sean heaved a long deep sigh and whispered, "yes. Kimmy deserves the best like how you also deserve it, Princess."

Leila's facial muscles flinch. It was the first time Sean said something like that to her, and it only meant that Edward had done something grave, "Why? What did he do this time?"

Sean was helping her clean all the mess of her husband so it would not affect the image of the royal family. Sean was her friend, and it probably frustrates Sean to see her trapped in a messy situation.

Sean felt frustrated for too long already that he could not help and said, "you deserve to be happy too, Princess. Sometimes, letting go and moving forward is the best thing to do instead of keeping it all within, Princess. Your hatred for him will not make you happy, so please, I beg you, let him go this time."

Sean knew why Leila was keeping her marriage with Edward. It was not because she was afraid of the scandal. Even if there was a scandal, Leila's family would always back her up and never abandon her, especially her brother Lucas. Leila kept her marriage because she wanted Edward to be trapped like her... Trapped in a marriage so Edward could not make Dally her legal wife.

Leila wanted to punish Edward that way and his mistress. He knew the story. Leila was twenty when she fell in love with Edward. She did everything to pursue him… Edward had a fault, too, because he could always choose not to accept the arranged marriage, and yet he did even though his heart already belonged to another woman… Dally.

Leila was aware of it, but love was blind for her. She was hopeful that Edward, in time, would learn to love her, especially once they had a child, but it simply did not go as how Leila envisioned it. Edward could not forget Dally, and he continued his relationship with her. He even tried to mislead Leila of him having various affairs with women just to protect Dally.

If Leila's brother, Lucas, found out about it, Edward would be a dead man. But Leila managed to convince him to keep it from Lucas.

Sean exhaled loudly. He now regretted that he collided with Leila to keep this kind of matter from Lucas.

"She's pregnant, Princess…" Sean spilled out. He, too, was shocked to find out about it. The last report he had was Edward accompanying Dally in a private clinic. It was a clinic of Dally's close friend, who was an ob-gyn.

Leila laughed out loud and burst, "Is that a prank, Sean?"

She and Dally were of the same age. She was now fifty-five.

"It's not a prank Leila for goodness sake!" Sean frustratingly said, not addressing her as Princess, which Leila asked him to do long ago, but he still kept addressing her professionally until now. He wanted Leila to wake up. Her hatred was consuming her inside, and he did not want to see her in more pain. She had to let go…

"She's fortunate enough to get pregnant at that age. Edward is really something. He's challenging me, thinking I will not do anything against him and her knowing the royal family's name will be tainted with a scandal… That bastard." Leila said in her cracked voice. She fisted her hand so hard that her knuckles turned white. Tears started to well her eyes, but she controlled herself not to cry.

She thought she was already immune to the pain she experienced emotionally from Edward all these years, yet she was wrong. Tears fell from Leila's eyes, and she quickly wiped them. She even looked up at the sky to control her tears from falling and, with a cracky chuckle, whispered, "ah. I can't believe my eyes. It's so itchy!"

She was too surprised when Sean pulled her into his arms. He gently held her head so she could rest it on his chest. He was stroking her back then patting it once in a while as he whispered, "it's okay to cry, Leila. It's okay to show others that you're also weak and hurting… It's just me, your good friend Sean, so please share your burden at least with me if you can't do it with your family."

Sean's heart was breaking for Leila. Leila was a very independent woman. She was someone who did not want to burden others, especially her family, if she could. He did not want to see her this way anymore. He gave way a long time ago... because she was so happy with Edward, but why did things turn out to be like this?