I lay awake in bed, thinking about what awaits me tomorrow. I roll over onto my side and look at my out stretched hand with the ring gleaming on it.

I reach out and bring my phone's screen to life. The time display says 4:00 a.m. I slip out of bed and pull on a pair of jeans beneath the shirt I'm wearing.

I walk to mom's room and peek in. She's curled up like a little baby. I quietly close the door and walk to the front door, pulling on a jacket I leave the house.

I realize that I don't have a car to drive. So, pulling my jacket tighter around me, I start walking towards my destination. I've gone some distance when I feel head lights on the back of my head. I turn around to find myself blinded by the light. I hold up a hand to shield my eyes. My ears catch a door opening.

"Cassandra?" A voice asks.

"William?" I ask to make sure.

The lights go out and I remain blinded for a few seconds. When I finally get used to the dark again, my eyes make out a figure standing next to a car.

"What are you doing here at this time?" He asks.

"May I ask you the same question?" I ask in reply.

"I asked you first, so I get an answer first too." He says.

I know that lying is going to be no use, so I confess. "I was going to the graveyard."

"Me too."

"What?!"

"I'm assuming we have the same reason. I wanted to visit mother's grave before tomorrow."

"I wanted to talk to dad." I tell him.

He walks over to me and takes hold of my hand, saying. "Come on. I'll drive you."

"Okay." I walk over to the car and slide into the passenger seat. William gets in next to me and starts driving.

"Any particular reason?" I ask him.

He sighs. "I visited mom's grave every time I needed courage. Before my coronation, before the opening of the company, starting to date Ashley, when I met you."

This makes me look away from the window and towards him. A smile plays across his lips.

"Every time I go there seeking something it seems like the right thing to do automatically comes to mind. It's as if a sort of connection is formed between us and she tells me what to do."

"You're really brave that way." I tell him.

"What do you mean?"

"To be honest this is the first time I'll visit his grave since the funeral. I always dreaded seeing it because..." I trail off because my throat seems to be blocked and tears fill my eyes.

He stops the car in the parking lot and turns to me. Upon seeing the tears he reaches out and them away before pulling me to him.

I unbuckle my seatbelt and scramble over the center, so that I'm sitting on his lap while he holds me. I sob into his shirt. Once I'm done he kisses my head. I pull away slightly so that I can look at him.

"How did you bring yourself to do it the first time?"

He leans back in his seat. "I just told myself that it's now or never because the longer you keep putting it off, the harder it gets. I forced myself to do it once and the next time I didn't even have to think twice."

"Alright then." I try my best to sound brave.

I open the door and start to get out when he holds me back. "You know you look really cute when you try to make a bigger impression than you can."

I blush at this and get out of the car, William follows. It's dawn now. I can see the sun starting to rise. Even though it's still dark but there's enough light to see where I'm going. We walk together to the gates and then he turns to me.

"Her grave it towards that side." He points in the direction and I know it's the opposite from where I'm headed. "Okay. His is on the other side."

We start to part way when I call after him. "How long will you take?"

He shrugs. "A couple of minutes. Why?"

"Can you come get me when you're done because I have a feeling that I'll just sit there like a statue staring at the grave."

"I will." With this he walks away and I force myself to do the same.

After a few minutes I'm sitting in front of his grave just the way I predicted myself to. I want to say something but every time I open my mouth I just close it again.

I just can't believe he's so close yet far too.

"Umm dad?" I finally manage to ask out loud.

Yes? A voice asks in my head. I jump at this and tell myself that it's just my imagination. Though, I know that I have to reply.

"Do you remember our goodbye?" After swallowing I add. "Before your execution?"

The moment rushes through my mind as if it was just yesterday.

Mom is crying uncontrollably and Ella is doing her best to hold herself up and support mom but I can see her failing to do so.

Dad and the queen are standing up front next to each other as the judge reads their convict for the last time then he turns to us and her family.

"You all will get five minutes each to say your goodbyes and then you'll watch them leave this world." This makes mom wail even louder. I try to stop myself from crying but the tears keep flowing.

Dad's walked over to a little room and mom is escorted in by a guard. After sometime she's led back out and Ella is taken in. When her time is over to the guard walks towards me and motions towards the room. I let him walk me in and the moment the door closes I spin around.

He is sitting there looking really pale but when he sees me his face lights up. "Cassandra!" He says.

I stand there looking at him as if he's going to disappears any moment.

"We don't have much time and I have to ask you something." He tells me.

"What?" I croak.

"Everyone deserves to have a wish granted by their father. What is yours?" He asks.

The first thought that comes to mind is. "What did Ella ask for?"

He sighs. "She asked for my blessings as she's going to get married. Now, tell me what do you want?"

I know what I want. I know what I've wanted to get my entire life from him. "I always dreamed to have you walk me down the aisle on my wedding."

He smiles feebly. "And I will Cassy. Just promise me something."

"Of course anything!"

"When the day comes, I won't physically be there. But I'll always be there in your heart, so when the time comes you'll know what do."

"But...?" I start to speak just as a handful of guards storm in and start to take him away. He manages to break away for a moment and hug me before saying. "Remember what I said."

I was left alone in the room, crying for my father to come back.

I snap out of it when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look up to find William there. I look back at the grave and wipe away the tears which I hadn't felt till now.

"What were you thinking about?" He asks.

"Our goodbye." I say. He sits down next to me and wraps an arm around my shoulder. This gives me more confidence than I thought I'll ever have at a time like this.

"Dad, I have to tell you something." I pause for a reply and I get it. Go on.

I do as told. "William here is a prince. He's the queen's son. And we're getting married." I try to imagine what his expression would've been like and his bewildered face comes to mind.

I smile and continue. "I know it sounds weird that someone like me is getting married to a prince but like you used to say 'the weirdest things can sometimes seem ordinary.' This is how it feels."

I try to find more things to say but William speaks up before me.

"I can promise you one thing sir and that is that you don't have to worry about your daughter." I look up at him but he's looking straight ahead. "I promise that I'll take of her and she'll never even feel the need to complain to anyone about anything."

I start to speak but he cuts in again. "And another thing. I know that all daughters are their father's princesses but now she's going to be mine. I'm sorry but that's how it is."

I laugh at this and say. "I love you dad." After a pause I add. "And I still miss you."

He wraps his arm tighter around me and I look at him. This time he's already looking at me. I smile at him and kiss him before adding. "Thank you."

"And another thing. Can you please ask her to stop thanking me because it's starting to get annoying." I laugh with him and let him pull me to my feet.

He starts to lead the way and I turn back at the last moment. "Bye dad."

I walk back to William and we walk back to the car hand in hand. He drives me home and we get there just before mom wakes up. I turn to him as I unbuckle my seatbelt. "Bye!"

"See you at the wedding." He says as I close the door.

OMG! Only one chapter left! I can't believe it! It's finally come to an end!

Thank You so much for all the reads, votes and comments! :)

I'll post the next chapter two days later, i.e. 23 June, which is my birthday!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ukfzg_the-royal-the-housemaid_fun here's the link to the book trailer for this story. Please do go check it out, though it's not all that good.