Chapter 36: Passing the portal
"Then I will follow you. You might have seen two worlds, but I have seen my entire world in you. I cannot belong anywhere else."
None spoke after Dylan uttered these words. As Isabella stared into his eyes, she felt she could see the entire universe in those dark orbs, filled with endless love just for her.
"Now I want to go and register our marriage right away. A 24-carrat gold like you shouldn't be roaming around single anymore." Isabella muttered, making Dylan burst out laughing.
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[Mythiopia]
"Is that o-our daughter?" Aliza asked as she collapsed on the seat as Lawrence projected whatever he was seeing through the coin.
Lawrence came to her side and held her. He kept projecting whatever he was seeing in the human realm.
"Calm down my queen. We will find Isabella now." Lawrence consoled his wife as he carefully paid attention to whatever was happening in the human realm.
He figured out whatever he was seeing was through someone's eyes. The royal couple first thought it was Isabella, but then as they started hearing voices, they realized it was a man.
Lawrence didn't understand why the coin would be with a man, when it should be with his daughter.
"H-He is calling her p-princess. Is he talking to Isabella?" Aliza asked again as she watched the extremely busy streets of London.
"I think so.." Lawrence whispered as he carefully analyzed the scene. He heard the man softly talk to the girl for a while before he reached his.. his.. whatever that small store room like place be called.
The king's eyes widened when he saw the man shuffle through a bad and take out their royal heirloom. The queen gasped too. The man kept staring at the coin for a long time.
"Lawrence. The coin.. S-Shouldn't it be with Isabella? Why is it with this man?" Aliza slightly panicked, thinking the man harmed her daughter and took away the coin.
"Al, calm down. We will find out everything in a while. Let's wait and see what happens." Lawrence suggested and they both kept staring at the projection.
The human realm looked very different from their magical realm, but the language they spoke was same. Though they did notice that the script seemed to be entirely different.
Nothing much happened for a while, as the man just kept staring and caressing the coin. It was only after an hour when the man turned his gaze towards the door as someone opened it.
Both Lawrence and Aliza's breathe stuck in their chest as they saw their daughter walk in the door.
They recognized her right away. She looked very similar to Stella. But Isabella's hair was longer, and the green in her eyes was much darker.
None of them spoke for the next one hour, as they both were engrossed in hearing and watching their youngest daughter.
Even Lawrence's eyes teared up when he heard Isabella say that she remembered being loved and pampered.
And it was another big shock for the parents when they heard Isabella and this man named 'Dylan' were going to get married in three days. Lawrence felt heaviness in his chest, knowing that his daughter was about to get married.
"She is all grown up now Lawrence" Aliza commented, her voice filled with regret and sadness. Her heart broke as she saw her little daughter all grown up, surviving on her own, while still believing that her parents will one day find her.
Lawrence's chest tightened as he saw Isabella cooking food and arranging things in the room. Every little action told a story of independence. She wasn't the pampered princess she had once been.
Listening to the interactions between Isabella and Dylan, he understood that they are soon moving to a new place from their current place.
But he couldn't accept his pampered daughter, the crown princess, who could have all the riches and wealth in the world, living such a humble life.
'Do you really have to go? You already came all the way here. Please stay..' Dylan's voice was soft, pleading.
'Please Dylan. I promised Bianca that I would spend the week before marriage entirely with her. She is already complaining how I forgot her ever since you returned.' Isabella replied as she got out of the man's embrace.
'Fine. Let me drop you then.' Dylan insisted on dropping her back.
The parents got some more time to look at their daughter because of this. Lawrence stopping peeping through the portal and stopped the projection. This was enough for today. He needs to find Dexter later. There were things he needed to find out.
Dexter helped him pass through the portal, and once inside, they didn't need extra energy to keep themselves there. And hence Dexter left the couple alone before.
"Al. Don't cry anymore my queen. Isabella is safe. Our daughter is fine. She will be with us here soon. I promise you Al." Lawrence gave his word.
He previously tried sending his voice through the portal, but it would drain his energy too much, as he also wanted to keep the projection on for his wife to see. He decided on trying to send is voice through the portal later.
"She must be so disappointed in us Lawrence. She was all alone in an unfamiliar world. Our little girl must have been so scared." Aliza sobbed. She wanted to hug Isabella and tell her a lot of things.
"She is a strong girl Al. Most importantly, she is safe and happy. Don't cry anymore. We found her." Lawrence repeated again. Even he felt relieved that she was safe and happy.
And though he wasn't quite ready to accept Dylan as his future son-in-law... he couldn't deny that the man seemed to love his daughter deeply.
That, at least, was a relief.
For now.