Chapter 3

Blake's Pov

The only place I could think of visiting was the hospital ,where father was. It was about two hours from the capital of New Orleans. Grace healing hospital in Greenville. Doctor Dante had suggested moving father there from the Medical Centre Hospital ,New Orleans, to avoid the media.

The royal family knew how concerned the people were when it came to their King my father. He was loved by all and the news of his health could bring the whole country to a very sad moments. This was the reason why Dad had to be moved in order to hide his present condition from the people.

New Orleans had a very great Media impact on the people and that was what we all feared the more. unlike Greenville where the media there was calm. New Orleans where the best in carrying news far and wide ,most times those news were fabricated lies ,although they had little atom of truths in them. We were not ready for such pressure from the media and the lies that came with their news this was why moving father was a better option for us to do.

The Medical Centre Hospital, New Orleans was a government hospital owned by the State, while Grace healing hospital was Doctor Dante's privately owned hospital. This he suggested that his private hospital would help hide father's situation from the public.

Doctor Dante was always at the Medical Centre Hospital which was were he worked as a senior hospital ,while he kept some junior Doctors at Grace healing hospital to over sea it for him while he's away.

Doctor Dante has always been father's childhood friend ,their friendship had passed through a whole lot of challenges and shackles that life had brought their way, surprising they were able to pull through all the hardship and the difficulties and challenges they both had faced.

when Doctor Dante first discovered father's condition we could all see the sadness in his eyes as he informed us that he wasn't too sure if dad will be able to pull through this moment , in fact he prepared our minds through whatsoever outcome that was going to have in the future.

I could remember vividly the experiences Dad would always tell me he had with Dante while they both grew up, how they visited different clubs whenever he sneaked out of the palace while growing up and how the both of them went about their school work is together.

Doctor Dante ended up becoming a doctor while Dad had focused on architecture but couldn't go any further because he had a whole country to rule. Dad made doctor Dante the senior directing officer of the Medical center Hospital in New Orleans because he was the most trusted of all and he felt he was the best for the job.

Greenville was the only town were if father was admitted, the news of him being in coma won't be exposed to the public. I was the Prince of Greenville, a town father had given to me from birth and I regulated all the activities there , although I had never appeared on tv to the public.

His Highness had this believe that the royal family should not be known at all. When technology improved in the country, there was a need for him to speak to the people he ruled through interviews and public speaking, which gave rise to the people getting to know what father looked like.

Mother was always absent from all of father's interviews as father only made himself known to the media on tv. Every other thing that happened in the palace was left a secret , including my installation ceremony as crowned prince.

Father believed that if he made the royal family known to everyone ,then alot of problems would arise and people would have the opportunity to Crip into our private lives and set lots of confusion and lies against us.

He also didn't want external forces to know what we looked like, especially other near by countries , so as to make them ignorant of all our activities.

I really wanted to see Dad and know how he was. The issue of selecting a wife was beginning to become a burden and I needed to let my heart out to him, even though I knew he wouldn't respond back to me because of his situation.

I drove my black SUV , as I Crossed the bridge between New Orleans capital and Greenville. It was raining heavily and the storm made it very hard for me to see clearly.

I watched my wiper wipe off the heavy raindrops which kept on descending on the car screen mercilessly.

My phone kept ringing and I knew it must be from Veronica, she might have found out that I left the house the moment she came in. Khalifa , Flora's nanny always had a way of monitoring my movements in which she would always relate them back to Veronica. Picking up her calls was the last thing on my mind. She would end up asking were I was and might as well trail me down here.

I was so careful not to drive too fast , the road was so slippery and any slightest mistake could cause an accident. I could remember about 6 years back ,when I drove out of the palace in so much anger in me. Mother had annoyed me with her consistent nagging for me to accept Veronica.

I had to leave the house in so much anger and she kept calling me without my looking back. I got into the range Rover sports car which father had bought for me back then and hit the road to an unknown destination. I had no place in mind ,all that kept flashing in my mind was keep driving keep driving.

I drove through the same road as now and it was raining heavily. The storms were so much but my anger made me unable to take the rightful precautions. I could remember checking my speedometer and noticing that it was already over 250. Soon I heard the horn of a trailer coming close, although it was dark because it was already late in the night, I could see the lights of the trailer and when I tried applying my brakes that was when I found out how lose they were.

The trailer came closer and the more I tried putting the brakes the more I found out everything turned so uncontrollable for me. I managed to swivel the staring of the car so it doesn't have to collide with the uncoming trailer and that was when I found myself deep into the woods where the sports car kept on somersaulting countless times.

Everything became blur and I couldn't recall what next happened, I woke up in the hospital a week later to find father staring at me with so much disappointment in his eyes. He punished me severely back then and ever since then I promised myself never to drive so fast again on the roads of New Orleans.

Another call came in ,but this time it was from mother. Veronica must have told her that I wasn't picking up her calls that made her call. Veronica was so good at running her mouth and that was one of the reasons I had sworn to myself never to end up with her. Apart from the fact that she appeared so rude to me, I had caught her so many times treating the palace workers as if they were slaves and low lifes.

If there was one thing I despised about people,it was those who felt they had it all when they treat others like trash and that was one thing Veronica was so good at. I had tried so many times to make mother see through her ,but I guess she couldn't understand that This lady was such a mess in attitude for the throne.

The only reason I got to let her come close to me ,was for the sake of Flora our daughter. The court had said it was very adviceable that we stayed together at times as it would help our daughters mental health.

Mother would be so mad that I had left without telling her, most importantly I left alone ,without my driver and right hand man James. It was 8 am and she was always worried when I was out of the house at such a time.

I ignored all the calls from her and kept driving to the hospital, I could now see it from a distance. I horned at the gate which was locked and a security man rushed out to open it.

After packing at the garage I took to the elevator which led me to the fifth floor where father was. I walked through the passage that led to the room he was when a familiar voice called from behind. I knew that someone who knew me very well had just seen me. Now my plans of staying away from home had just been proved abortive.

"Your majesty", the voice called out.

"Shit! , someone actually recognized me here", I said silently while turning with a slight smile.

" What brings you here your majesty", Sammie the palace chamberlain said.

"Be easy with the name Sammie", I said ,making him know that I didn't want to be known there.

"Oh I'm sorry Sir", he replied.

" Well I'm actually here to see a friend and you?", I asked.

" Uhmm.... , I came to see my brother , Doctor Smart. You know ever since you helped him get in contact with Doctor Dante he was posted here", Sammie said.

" Okay then Sammie. I have to go now. Do take care of yourself and let your seeing me here remain between the both of us", I said while he nodded as I left.

I didn't want to let him know that His Highness was there ,the secret was between the royal family and Doctor Dante and we wanted it to remain that way. The country mustn't know that there king was unconscious.

I was careful to ensure that I wasn't followed by Sammie after our conversation. I gently got to the private room where father was lying and gently opened the door.

Dad laid down still. I could only watch him breath slowly without any movement. I tried not to cry, one of the lessons I got to learn as a crowned prince was never to cry out. I was meant to bear it all in my heart.

I held back my tears which already made my eyes so teary. The heart was so full and as soon as I opened them to speak ,I found the tears rushing out. I couldn't believe father could get to this condition, where he fed through a pipe and had to depend on life support in order to live.

I sat on the cushion next to his , holding his hands when I started speaking to him. He might not be able to talk, but I was sure he should be able to hear me.

I told him how important he was to our lives and how much we've missed him since he became this way.

" Father , I'm counting on you to fight this, you are the king and you are the strongest man I know. Please fight this and get back on your feet", I said.

I told him all the council had said and how it was difficult for me to get a wife so soon. I hoped that he could help me pray that I find someone special soon.

After pouring my heart for so long I fell asleep on the cushion but got woken up around 6:30 am in the morning by a call from Flora.

Even though I ignored everyone's call, there was no way I was going to ignore that of my daughter. I picked it up immediately, knowing the either mother or Veronica must have deviced to this means to reach me.

" Hello sweetie", I said.

" Good morning father. where have you been. We have all been worried", she said.

" Morning my love, father had a few things he wanted to take care of. I'm fine and will be back soon. Do take good care of yourself and prepare for school", I replied almost hanging up.

"Hello Blake, wher.....", I immediately recognized Veronica's voice and hanged up instantly.

She's always to noisy about my movement, if only she knew how much I despised that from her. Well I didn't have to blame her ,it was equally my fault, although I rejected being with her ,so many times we ended up making out.

She always makes herself irresistible so many times and that's why she always had her way back to me.

The door slides open and Doctor Dante walks in with father's private nurses.

" Did you sleep here over the night?", he asked.

" Yes doctor I did", I replied.

" You don't have to be too worried about your His Highness, he is a strong man and he is fighting this back . I believe he'll respond to treatments soon", he said smiling.

" Same here Doctor Dante", I replied.

He requested that I stepped out for a while ,as they had to examine father that morning. I walked to the veranda of father's room , where I could see the gate and other buildings close to the hospital.

That early morning dew failing to my skin and the freshness of the cool breeze made me feel at peace with myself. Soon I caught the side view of a woman, and my heart stopped for a while.

She was with another woman and they both were entering a taxi which had come into the hospital to pick them. Such a pretty woman I said to myself. I found myself crushing on her looks ,but aside that ,I just felt this sudden connection ,like there was more to this lady.

Although I had no idea why she was in the hospital but my heart didn't stop racing as I thought of ways to approach her and get to know her.

" Rosie ,get in gently, so you don't hurt yourself" the other woman said.

Her looks from the side captured the deepest part of my soul as I rushed out of the room where father was leaving doctor Dante and the rest confused. I got downstairs ,but the car was already gone.

My heart sank and I felt I just lost something really huge!

The whole of that day felt so crazy and sad to me, for the first time in a long while ,I felt attached to someone and now I couldn't even get close to her.

How was I ever going to met her again. I only got to see her side view and I didn't know her name of who she was. Then I remembered Greenville was a little town and there was a little chance that we might meet each other some time again.