Kiss Me Not

Brione looked at herself in the full-sized mirror inside Cedric's walk-in closet. She was wearing a casual but comfortable wine red dress that ended just above her knees. She just put some pressed powder on her face and some lip balm but she could not decide whether to let her hair down or put it up.

Cedric walked into the room. He too was in casual attire. "Ready, Sweetheart?" He asked Brione.

"Yup! I am. Do you think I should let my hair down or up?" she asked.

"Leave it loose. I love it that way. I don't want others to see your nape. I will wait for you in the living area. It will not be safe for you if I stay here any longer, you will end up wearing nothing," Cedric teased her.

"Go, I'll be done soon," Brione glared in answer. Cedric chuckled and she could hear his playful laugh fading as he walked away.

Then a flash of memory suddenly came to her mind. Gavin was telling her that her nape was not attractive so she should hide it, that he preferred seeing her with her hair down.

"Oh my God. What is this?" Brione gasped. She was trying to let go of Gavin's memories and yet here she was remembering him through Cedric's actions and words. She bit her lip and shook her head to clear her thoughts.

She exhaled loudly and walked out of the closet to go to the living area where Cedric was waiting.

Cedric and Brione walked to the dining area in the main hall, where everyone was already gathered. Cedric and Brione greeted Aunt Cecilia and her husband Prince Edward Hansen upon their arrival.

"Ah, you can call him Uncle Ed, Brione, just like Will and Cedric address him. We are now family so there's no need to be formal with us," Aunt Leila commented as she introduced her husband to Brione. 

Will was with them as well and Cain too. Everyone engaged in a conversation while they waited for the King's arrival. Cedric asked the helpers to serve them tea.

"Did you tell him about your cousin?" Brione whispered to Cedric.

"I haven't, Sweetheart. This is not the time to discuss it," Cedric whispered back, making her gulp and fluster because he bit her on her earlobe.

She looked around and released a sigh of relief when she saw everyone was busy. She turned to Cedric with squinted eyes and muttered, "Behave!"

Cedric only winked at her and she flinched when she felt his hand on her leg before he grabbed her hand and held it.

The King arrived soon thereafter and Lucas asked the Chef to serve dinner. They had just started eating when suddenly a woman arrived.

"Sorry, I'm late…" the woman smiled at everyone. 

"Kimberly!" Leila burst and hastily stood up on her chair to run towards her daughter.

"I got caught in traffic. Sorry for crashing the dinner like this, Uncle Lucas," Kimberly apologized to the King while her mother hugged her tightly.

"Oh God, Kimmy, it's alright. We all are very happy that you have finally come back home," Lucas commented as he too stood up to hug his niece, once Edward let go of his daughter.

"Come and join us for dinner. We can all catch up later," Lucas commented and Cedric pulled a chair for Kimmy near Brione. 

"This brat! How could you surprise us like this!" Leila scolded.

"But I called and informed Big Bro Cedric," Kimmy said as she sat down.

All eyes turned to Cedric who simply answered, "I fell asleep. Besides, I wasn't sure Kimmy would make it tonight."

"Hello," Kimmy greeted Brione,  totally ignoring all others in the room. Brione smiled and said, "Hi, I'm Brione."

"Yes, I know. I have just returned from your country. I mean I stayed at country D all these years so I know you and I'm a fan," Kimmy said and excitedly extended her hand to Brione.

"Country D?!!!" Leila burst but Kimmy ignored her mother.

"You look familiar," Brione whispered.

"Yeah, we have met before, I mean I took a photo with you. I'm Kenzie's bodyguard and we often see each other at gatherings," Kimmy explained.

"Bodyguard??!!!" Leila burst out and this time she was fuming and her husband had to restrain her in her seat before she dragged their daughter to another room to scold her.

"Let's chat later," Kimmy whispered to Brione before she finally turned around to face the rest of her family.

Kimmy's eyes went to her mother and she pouted, "Mom, let's eat first and talk later. I'm starving. Aren't you happy I'm back? Do you want me to hide from you again?"

"This brat…" Leila grunted but she halted when his brother's hand touched her hand and gently squeezed it.

"Leila, this is a wonderful day. Kimmy is back, so let us continue our dinner, huh?" Lucas commented with a smile and Leila released a loud exhale full of frustrations while Kimmy looked at her Uncle and winked as she said, "You're the best, Uncle Lucas."

Brione looked over at Cain, who seemed unaffected by what was going on as he continued eating.

"Wow, Will and Uncle Sean are here. Oh, we also have another guest?" Kimmy questioned when her eyes landed on Cain.

Cedric almost choked on his food and so did Will. Both exchanged meaningful glances before their eyes landed on Cain.

Leila wanted to yank her daughter's hair for this! She gritted her teeth and could not help herself from giving her daughter a dose of her own medicine by saying, "Kimmy, meet Doctor Cain Lewis, the Royal Family's Head Doctor."

"Huh? Wait, where's Uncle Daniel?" Will did not know whether to laugh or cry at Kimmy's naiveness.

"My father resigned three years ago," Cain was the one to answer her query.

Kimmy's eyes widened in shock, realizing what was happening. Uncle Daniel's son was…

"You're Uncle Daniels's son? The Old Fart?" Kimmy blurted out. She quickly covered her mouth and immediately apologized for her outburst, "I'm sorry I didn't mean it. I mean…"

Leila released a loud sigh and interrupted, "Yes, Kimmy. Cain is the groom you ran away from! The one you called The Old Fart before you ran away from your own wedding!"