forget me not.

ii. mon coeur t'appartient

"there's still some tricks i'm trying to learn." esmeralda fakes her humbleness and shelly cackles at the other line.

"let's go ride together when you come back. i really miss you, emy." shelly quiets down and esmeralda smiles softly.

"of course. i'm going to show you all the stuff i've learned." esmeralda promises proudly and shelly laughs again.

the two exchanges a few more words with one another before saying their goodbyes and emding the call. sir anton can't help but glance from the rear view mirror, thinking about how easy it is for the young miss to smile whenever she's talking to her mother or to her cousin.

finally arrived at the penthouse, her mother welcomed her with a smile and open arms.

"welcome home, darling." estella greets her. "i've been waiting for you. we have to talk about your birthday party! it's only a month away and we have to finalize the details." she says, holding esmeralda's hand as they walked towards the sofa.

"i'll love whatever you think i'll love." esmeralda says, slumping down the sofa while throwing her bag down the floor. "but i want it at the main house." she says quietly and estella laughs fondly.

"okay, darling." her mother agrees before standing up straight as if she's remembered something. "right! i have something that you can use on your birthday." estella smiles before standing up.

esmeralda watched her mother disappear to her office in the penthouse. this made her sit up as well, anticipating what that something might be.

estella walks out her office holding a black velvet box. a case. she puts it down the coffee table and esmeralda's eyes follow it while feeling her mother sit back down beside her.

"this is a very special gift from someone. crafted for you and only you to wear before you were even born, my darling." estella tells her, carefully unlocking the case and lifting the cover.

the case revealed a beautifully crafted tiara with the most exquisite and complex details and adorned with diamonds and emeralds of the highest quality.

"it's a smaller version of mine. crafted by the same someone." estella adds. "you'll know when you grow up. grown enough to wear mine." her mother leans closer to her gently.

"it's like a princess'." little esmeralda couldn't help but be amazed.

"because you are, my darling." estella grins cheekily and esmeralda giggles.

because if she really was then that meant she could have her own knight.

;

while estella stressed over finalizing the final details of her daughter's birthday party, her daughter remained relaxed on the chair she was propped in to be dolled up.

since she is already the most beautiful even without make up on, the make up artist opted to put minimal and light make up on esmeralda. the hairstylists gushed over her soft and smooth wavy hair which they were intructed to put in a braided low bun.

"emy?" from her relaxed state, little esmeralda immediately sat up and the make up artist backed up with the blush on brush to give her space to look back at the door.

there, she saw shelly who had just probably arrived from the airport. esmeralda thought that she wouldn't be able to make it due to many reasons. of course, one reason was school.

"shelly," esmeralda smiles at her cousin who beams at her in response, hurrying towards her. "i'm happy that you're here." she adds.