Kiss Me Not

-UNEDITED-

Days passed by, and both Gavin and Brione became too busy attending important events and visiting previous government projects in improving various facilities and agencies that would benefit the citizens of country B.

Gavin also announced the final date of the royal couple's grand wedding ceremony and his intention to step down on the throne once Cedric was back. This announcement earned different speculations from people and the media.

One particular person who felt alarmed by that special announcement was Olivia. 'Why would Gavin hand over the crown to Cedric?'

Olivia touched her chest. Her heart would constantly pound hard whenever she would think about Cedric, and she knew she must overcome it. She had no right to be happy in this lifetime. She did not deserve single happiness at all.

She heaved a long deep sigh. Later she would check her father in the hospital. The surgery was a success, but her father needed to recuperate more, and her mother never left his side. Her family was now a bit comforted knowing that Oliver finally received justice for his death. But the pain of losing her brother like that still lingered in their family, and it would take a long time before they could finally accept losing someone so precious in their lives.

Olivia looked at the wall clock in her office. It was now time for her to leave for a significant event, so she called her assistant and informed, "I will now leave to watch Duncan's execution today."

She wanted to witness Duncan pay for his sins. She arrived at the place of execution and saw Princess Leila, who greeted her warmly. Olivia unconsciously looked around, and Leila noticed it, so she said, "Lucas and Gavin will not come. It's just me from the royal family. I wanted to make sure he was dead."

The correctional officers dragged Duncan inside the execution room. Duncan could not see anyone from the corners of the room except for guards and people who would conduct the execution. HE was aware that behind those glass in the rooms were the eyes of people who wanted to witness his execution.

"I want to see Gavin! I want my son. Gavin! Son! Are you watching behind the glass? Please, son… See me one last time… please," Duncan yelled, crying hard.

"Son… Please, Gavin. See me just one last time. I beg you." Duncan cried as he helplessly slumped on the floor. He wanted to see his son for one last moment. Last night, he dreamed all those good memories they had while Gavin was growing up.

Leila shook her head and whispered, "he should have expected this thing coming. After all the things he has done, does he think Gavin will still see him?"

Leila clicked her tongue as she added, "what's the point of him crying and begging. He should have stopped when he was already having a good time as father and son to Gavin. And yet, he continued doing bad to other people to make Lucas suffer. How dare that bastard cry now like a pitiful man! How despicable!"

Olivia did not comment and just stared at Duncan as the execution began. Duncan was indeed a despicable man, taking her brother's life. He had no heart, and he deserved to die in pain like now.

'Oliver, the man responsible for your death is now paying for his crime," she mused. Dying with angst was the best punishment for a man like Duncan. He already dug his own grave, being emotionally invested in the son of his enemy.

'The royal family is next, brother… I will strip them all out of their power. They reign long enough, and it's time that this country had a democratic government where people will have the freedom to choose their leaders, where the decision and power will not only rely upon the one wearing the crown. Enough with this family dynasty…'

She knew she must move on, but she couldn't do that. It was like she got stuck inside a tunnel without a way out but just got lost. Every night, she would dream of her brother, and the guilty feeling was killing her. Like Duncan and the royal family… it would be her turn next… her retribution for her brother's death because she deserved it.

*****

Gavin's announcement of handing over the crown to Cedric utterly surprised Lucas, so he looked for his son in his office to ask Gavin about it.

"Father, I am sorry that I did not consult you about this matter before I announced it," Gavin apologized as soon as his father entered his office. He wanted to consult his father, but he felt that his father would only disagree and pondered the details of why he came to that decision. Lika Raine said it would be better to announce it like what he did aggressively.

"Son, it's okay. You do not need to consult me about it if you are confident in the decisions you are making…"

"It's just that, did you talk to Cedric about this? How come he is only in contact with you," Lucas voiced out. He trusted Gavin, yet he could not help but feel downcasted that Cedric was only in contact with Gavin and not with him.

Gavin smiled. He understood his father's sentiment. He still has not decided whether to tell Cedric's condition to his father. He heaved a long sigh and said, "Cedric is still recuperating. He doesn't want you to see his condition right now. I mean, you don't have to worry since he is doing well now, and I assure you that he will come back as soon as he recovers fully."

"Can't you at least tell me what happened to your brother aside from finding him on a secluded island? I mean, how badly hurt he is? Is that from the gunshot wound he got on that ship?" Lucas finally asked.

"I'm sorry, father, if I didn't disclose many details about it since I don't want you to worry about it, but please rest assure that he is doing great now, and he will just surprise us one of these days," Gavin said, hoping his father would no longer ponder too much since he was having a hard time lying to him too much.

Lucas only sighed and nodded in understanding.