A lot of congratulations.

A lot of relief.

And a whole lot of... packing, I guess?

Last night, I forced myself to pack my things before going to sleep so I wouldn't worry about packing everything after graduation. So, I'll just take my luggage and fly myself out of here. And I did. I really did.

I just... accidentally packed the dress I was going to wear on the ceremony, so I had to take out every single cloth I own just to find it.

And here I am. Packing my things again.

When my parents arrived, I expected two knuckleheads crashing my personal space as usual, but instead, they brought a handful of maids and bodyguards in their place, making me feel confined and dread my homecoming.

As if the two bodyguards following me around campus weren't enough

After seeing the mess in my room, my mom offered to help me pack my things *cough* when I said my mom offered to help, it really means that my mom offered the maids she brought to help pack my things.

I guess the only reason I said no was probably to prolong the inevitable.

After the ceremony, I told my parents to go back first, and made them promise to not invite anyone to my homecoming as I only want to have a warm welcome dinner with them together with my brothers.

Exhale

I can't believe it has been four years since I convinced my parents to live in a dormitory in Cambridge. Four years of freedom to say the least. Four years of freedom from the palace walls and a whole lot of bodyguards.

And now, I'm going back.

As if on cue, the two bodyguards who are left to wait outside knocked on my door the moment I zipped up the last of my luggage.

"Ready to go home?" One of them asked and I just snorted. When I faced them, both has their eyebrows raised, as if to emphasize the question.

"Well, Ser Max, and Ser Max, you may now take my things."

They rolled their eyes in unison, and simultaneously said, "as the princess commands."

I rolled my eyes.

For four years I got used to the two Max's. When I first arrived with them in tow, I learned that their names are Maximillian, and Maximus. I had laughed when Maximus introduced himself because his name immediately reminded me of the horse in the movie, "Tangled."

Out of boredom and frustration for always addressing me as princess, and for following everywhere and not being subtle about it, I called them both as Ser Max, much to their amusement. They are not exactly twins like my younger brothers. In fact, they are not even related. They just happened to have an almost similar name.

After a year, I managed to make them agree to my terms on guarding me. And that made the remaining years in the university felt like living an ordinary life.

Deep breaths

It will not be long now.

Deep breaths

It's not bad going back home. It's actually quite good. I'll be seeing a lot of old familiar faces. Julius, the head of security, as well as his sister, Mary, the head maid, will surely be there to greet and welcome her back.

Like I said, it's not bad going back. It's just that going back also means being a princess again. And along with being a princess is the responsibilities of being an heir.

Deep breaths

I enjoy plane rides and that's probably the reason I hate it right now. But as much as I enjoy being miles and miles away from the ground, it also means that time flew way faster than I would have preferred.

Walking down from the plane, I'm glad to see that there are no reporters lurking nearby. I narrowed my eyes as I surveyed my surroundings.

Huh. No other people as well.

"It's as if no one knows that the princess has returned."

I then narrowed my eyes at the two Ser Max's.

"I'm not complaining. I'm just skeptical because this is rather unusual, don't you both think so?"

"The king and queen made sure that this day will go smoothly and quietly."

"At least you know that the king kept his promise."

They both stared at me, intently.

"Well come on then. I can't wait to meet the two knuckleheads of whom you've substituted poorly."

They chuckled as they ushered me to the limo, waiting by the strip. As I walked towards the vehicle, a figure suddenly emerged from the back door of the limousine.

I gasped, and my eyes widened.

Standing with that all to familiar grin on her face, my best friend, Jessica Border.

I screamed like an excited kid at Christmas. And she screamed back with similar enthusiasm. We ran towards each other and met halfway, almost knocking each other off our feet.

"Oh my gosh! I missed you!"

"I missed you too!"

We kept mumbling those words as we kept hugging each other.

"What are you doing here?" I asked when we finally pulled away.

"Picking you up, obviously. Now come on." She said as she pulled me in the limo.

It's been four years since we last saw each other. True, we never broke contact, but seeing her is and talking to her face to face is far better than exchanging messages in online. Throughout the ride to the palace, we did nothing but trade stories of our college experiences.

Just as I thought, Julius congratulated me and welcomed me back. Mary was just beside him, smiling until she engulfed me in a hug. The rest of the household greeted me as I went to my room. The maids unpacked my things as Jess and I continued with our conversation.

"So, tell me. Why in the world did you not invite your best friend to your celebration?"

I sighed. It's not that I don't want to invite her. I was just so focused on having a very close reunion with my family. No guests. No visitors. And no business partners.

"I didn't do it on purpose, okay?"

She just stared and gave me a please-elaborate look.

"I just don't want to have a big celebration or something." I started. "I just wanted to have a simple dinner with my family. I want us to be a normal family. You know? Like Father, mother, and their children kind of thing? Not the king, queen, princess, and princes."

"I suppose."

She kept her voice neutral but the disappointment in her voice betrayed her intention of hiding her feelings.

I reached for her hand and looked straight in her eyes.

"Look. I'm sorry. You are family, we both know that. But I've talked to you more often than my parents, or even my brothers. We were still able to tell each other everything even though we're miles and miles away from each other."

"Well, the only reason you weren't communicating with your parents is because you're to craven to lie about your whereabouts beside campus."

I rolled my eyes.

"Whatever," I said until I remembered something. "Hey! Are your parents with you?"

"Yeah, why? I think dad is talking to your dad."

"So, you'll join us to dinner then?"

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Why? You don't want me to join you?"

I feigned an annoyed look, "If you're joining, I guess I have no choice but to tolerate you."

That comment earned a pillow on my face. "Hey!"

"You and your sarcasm."

I was ready to throw a pillow at her when Mary suddenly entered the room. "Both of you will drop those pillows and change your clothes. Dinner will be served in fifteen."

"Okay, Mary," came our united reply.

*****

"So how was life in Cambridge?"

"Was it really hard?"

"How come you never even visited?"

"Did you at least have a little bit of fun?"

"Or were you so studious that you didn't even tried something new to your activity?"

Those are some of the questions thrown in my face during our dinner which I answered gracefully and truthfully. Jessica have graduated months before so even though I tried to divert their attention to her, I still became the center of it.

The head table is wide enough to have two occupants therefore, mom and dad are seated there. Uncle Vince, Jessica's dad, was seated adjacent to my father, and his wife beside him. I was seated however not beside Jessica, as Jessica was beside her mother. My brothers decided to squeeze me between them, claiming they have missed me so much.

More like they're both did something again

When the end of dinner approached, my father made an announcement that made everyone gasp.

"One year from today, Sabrina and I will be gone from the country for a full year..."

I zoned out the moment my dad said those few words from his announcement. Apparently, they would travel the world to personally check on all the clients as well as the expansion of our business.

But a year without them in the country would be perfect.

I can feel my lips drifting upwards as I glanced with a smirking Jessica.

My father raised his glass to make a toast for my achievement while I raised my own for the wicked and scandalous idea forming in my head.