Hello again! Wohoo! I've finally reached the last chapter! That took me quite a long time, but I thank everyone who read this story, especially from the start to the finish. Arigatou! Anyway, onwards to the last chapter, chapter 13! Enjoy!
Chapter 13 – Bringing the two houses together.
Claire and Cliff soon reached the local blacksmith, where Mr. Saibara lives.
"So, this is the place?" asked Claire.
"Yes, we seemed to have overlooked it before during the search, since it looked like a normal shop." Cliff answered.
They knocked on the door and were greeted by Gray.
"Oh, hello. Are you here to see my grandfather?"
"Yes, is he in?"
"Yeah, he's in his room. You can go in."
Cliff went in first, followed by Claire. They went inside Mr. Saibara's room.
"Greetings, Mr. Saibara. I've come back, along with Claire." Cliff announced.
Mr. Saibara looked at the two of them and motioned for them to sit down. Soon, he began to tell them their families' history.
"My grandfather always hoped that someday, one member from the two houses would come and seek information. It's a pity he didn't live long enough to see this day. Listen closely, I shall tell you everything I remember form my father."
Claire and Cliff paid close attention, as Mr. Saibara started to narrate the events that happened.
"This all happened during my grandfather's time, and the reason both your families have such a bad relationship now is quite a silly reason, in fact. Back then, the Saibaras had close ties with both the Regisons and the Alexanders. The daughter and son of the two houses that is from the Alexanders and the Regisons fell in love and were engaged to each other. But one of the Saibaras loved the daughter and so, made some false accusations towards both the houses so he could marry the daughter of the Alexanders. But, the Alexanders found out about the lies and expelled the Saibaras. Soon, they tried to rekindle with the Regisons, to tell them that everything was a lie, but too stubborn to listen, they turned them away. And this has been going on ever since." He finished.
"So, does this mean the Saibaras still have close ties with the Regisons?" Claire aksed.
"Yes, since it was only the Alexanders who found out about the lie. But from then onwards, we couldn't make up with them anymore." Mr. Saibara answered.
"I think they'll forgive you, I mean my mother and father. Since your grandfather told this event from generation to generation, in hopes that someday, someone would come and try to fix this." Cliff reassured.
"Cliff's right!" Claire beamed.
"Well, I'll be glad if they do forgive us."
"Um… Mr. Saibara, can you do me a favour?" Claire asked.
"What is it?"
"You see-"
After a while, Claire and Cliff said their good nights and left the house. Claire looked at Cliff, wanting to ask him something, Cliff noticed and asked,
"What is it? You seem like you want to ask me something."
"Uh.. Is it okay for me to come and stay over at yours?", blushing.
"Uh… Sure, you can. But what if someone found out you went missing?" Cliff asked, slightly blushing.
"It's okay; I left a note for them."
"Then I guess its okay." Cliff said, as they went back to his place.
-At Cliff's house-
"Cliff, I've been meaning to ask, if you're staying here, then what about your parents?"
"They're staying at the mansion, you know, that mansion at the end of the streets at 'Forget-Me-Not'."
Claire nodded and proceeded to look around the room, nothing changed much since they last visited. Then, she saw an old photograph she remembered,
"Hey, this photo-"
"Yeah, that was taken by your mother back when you used to bring me at your house after school."
"We were still elementary kids then." Claire smiled, reminiscing the memories.
"Yeah, that tie, I didn't know of our family history and all, but your mother told me to hide the fact that I am an Alexander from your father. But I forgot and told him my real name." Cliff said, looking a bit downcast.
"But hey, we're together again, just like that time." Claire said, putting a smile on Cliff's face.
"You know what, looking at that photo. I'm kinda glad of what the Saibaras did back then." Cliff said, as he took another look at the photograph Claire was holding.
"Why is that?" Claire asked, puzzled.
"Because we might be relatives if the two houses ever got married, and we won't be able to stay like this." Cliff confessed, as his cheeks started to go red.
"I guess you're right about that." Claire replied, blushing as well.
"Anyway, we have a long day tomorrow, so let's head to bed now. Oh, you can take the spare bed next to mine." He said, pointing at another bed at the other end of the bedroom.
"Okay, good night." She answered, then headed off to sleep.
-Next day, Regison mansion-
"Princess, are you awake yet?" A maid called out, as she entered Claire's room. She was shocked to find it empty. She rushed to the king and queen's bedroom and announced, "The princess is missing!"
Both Claire's mother and father rushed to her bedroom. Her mother was at a loss for words, and her father went inside the room, to investigate. Soon, he found the small letter Claire left behind.
'Honey, look at this." He said, as he handed the letter to his wife.
The letter contained the words:
"Dear mum and dad,
I'm very sorry about all of this, I never meant to go against you so don't be mad. I'll be fine. And to dad, please stay at home today, until noon. Please.
Love, Claire.'
"This must be that Alexander kid's doing again!" her father raged.
"Calm down, dear, I'm sure Claire has a reason for all this. Trust her and wait for her until noon at least." Her mother said, holding his shoulder.
"… Alright, but only until noon."
-Later that day, just before noon-
A butler came inside the king's office and said,
"King, Mr. Saibara wish to see you."
"Saibara? Let him enter."
The butler let Mr. Saibara enter the room. Then he greeted,
"It has been a while Jr. Regison."
"Mr. Saibara, it has been too long. Sit down. What brings you here at this time of day?" he asked, his wife sitting beside him.
"I've come to tell you the truth." Mr. Saibara answered.
Mr. Regison looked confused and asked, "Truth? What truth?"
"The kids already came last night and I told them everything. Your daughter requested me to tell you everything as well."
-Flashback to the night before-
"Mr. Saibara, can you do me a favour?"
"What is it?"
"You see, I know I won't be much to convince my father, but with your help, we might be able to convince father and let him know the truth. Since you still have close ties with us, I'm sure he'll listen to you."
"But what about you? You're his daughter"
"Yes, I tried to convince him one way or another, but he always rages and never hears a word I say."
He sighed, "He's still stubborn as before is he. Runs in the family, I guess. Very well, I will try and tell your father everything."
"Thank you very much. I am indebt to you."
"No, no. It's the least I can do, after everything my family had done."
-End of flashback-
"Claire? Where is she?" Mr. Regison asked.
"Honey, listen to Mr. Saibara first, if it's what Claire wants." His wife said, as she put a hand on his back.
Mr. Regison agreed after thinking about it, then Mr. Saibara proceeded to tell them everything that he told the two the night before. After finishing what he had to say, Mr. Regison remained quiet, then he spoke,
"So that's the reason why we had such hatred."
"It may seem so. Isn't it a miracle that our children wanted to fix it, which we, the adults could not?" his wife said, feeling proud for what her daughter did.
"Yes, they're the last hope you have left from the two houses. I am sure something like this will not happen often." Mr. Saibara commented.
"I have been so foolish. I didn't even try to know the secret, nor did I try to listen to my daughter in that matter. And I feel bad for pushing that kid away." Mr. regison said, regretting what he did to both Claire and Cliff.
"Regison, if you may, your daughter is waiting for you outside." Mr. Saibara said. Both Mr. Regison and his wife looked at each other, then proceeded to head out.
Outside, they saw Claire, accompanied with Cliff. Claire was a bit reluctant to run towards them, fearing that things might go wrong, and that her father would be angry like the last time. Her father noticed her fear, and held out his hands, smiling. Claire beamed at her father's gesture and ran towards them,
"Mum, dad!" she called out, as she ran towards them, her father hugged her and apologized,
"I'm so sorry for not listening to you. You were trying to tell me all this from the start, weren't you?"
"It's okay, dad. We've cleared things up now." Claire answered, hugging her dad back.
Her father then looked at Cliff and said, "I'm sorry too, young Alexander, for hating your family over such a silly reason."
"That's okay, my family's always waiting for your reply." Cliff said.
"I understand, I'll do just that very soon." Her father said, then he let go of her daughter.
"That's great! Right Cliff?" Claire said, as she looked towards Cliff.
"Yeah!" Cliff replied, smiling.
"My, my, you two make a perfect match!" her mother commented, looking at the two.
"M-Mum!" Claire shouted, as both she and Cliff blushed.
-Claire's P.O.V-
After all that, everything turned normal. I'm still treated as royalty at home, but I'm allowed to go to school again. And occasionally have my friends over, oh, and I'm also allowed to go out and hang out with my friends as long as Cliff was around. Father 'hired' him to be my 'guardian' outside of home. But I don't mind, as long as I can live a normal life like I wanted, and be with my friends, especially Cliff.
Aaaand that's the end! Many thanks to all you who read this! Really! I'm very happy! But it doesn't end here! Of course, the main story is finished, but I'll add in an extra chapter. Be sure to read it! See you there!