9 Nine

NINE -LUKE

"Mom and dad's not here yet, why?" I asked as soon as I approached my dear young brother Matthew. He was busy playing his phone and its obvious how he hates being here right now. He just looks at me, clearly annoyed about something. He kept playing his game without uttering a word to me so that made me annoyed to a point where I had to take away his phone so he could face me again like a normal person should when someone is asking them a question "What in the hell got you so annoyed this time that you are willing to cause a fight between us?" our cousins heard me say this so they started to give us their attention. Its interesting to everyone that we are fighting because we never do that unless Matthew is being a brat.

When Matthew realized that we caught a lot of attention he gave a deep sigh before he slowly grabbed something inside his pockets. He shyly gives it to me then I realized what it was.

"Isn't that a love letter?" my cousin Jude speaks my mind. Then both Jude and John laughs at my little brother. "You are annoyed because someone gave you a love letter?! Come on how bad could it be?" John asks my brother but Matthew refuses to answer. Matthew is just eight so this things are not something he is used to. Its too early for him to receive love letters or even learn about love. I get that kids this days are different than what we used to be and I do admit that my brother looks handsome for his age but that's not enough reason for him to experience this thing early.

Jude and John kept poking Matthew but my brother was ignoring both of them. My sister on the other hand decided to join us and snatch the letter away from my hand.

"Dear Matthew, I think I like you but I like Prince Luke more, so could you please tell him to wait for me until I get older? I promise to love only him and no one else. Love Marsella" My sister reads out loud making everyone in the room to look at me and Matthew to sulk even more. "Awww. I see why you're so sad... Little Prince likes little Marsella" Adie laughs teasing our brother. Both Jude and John are trying so hard not to laugh after hearing what was written on the letter. I mean its really cute and funny, a little kid confessing her little crush. She's just eight and things could change, Matthew shouldn't dwell on this kind of things because a lot can happen. Instead of being annoyed he should just try and make the girl see him instead. I'm not pushing him to get involve to a serious relationship, he can be friends with the girl instead and maybe when the time is right and he still feels the same, maybe then they can date.

"Its annoying that they only see him and not me" Matthew whines and even so he is already having boy problems, he is still a kid in my eyes. "Its unfair" He pouts making our cousins and my sister awe.

"Listen, If you want Marsella to take notice of you, you better start doing great during your studies and training. The next time she gives you a letter it will be for you and not for me" He looks at me after my suggestion then he slowly leans in to me.

"Promise me you won't make her your girlfriend then" He whispers to my ear making Jude, John and Adie curious.

"I promise" I smiled to him making him nod in understanding then he jumps in to my arm making everyone wonder what he told me.

"My brother is the best so its only natural that girls like you" Matthew proclaims making my cousins scrunch their faces and my sister gag.

"Yeah to an eight year old kid anyways. Shouldn't you feel mad by now? He'll eventually take your little girlfriend" Adie pushes but my relationship and trust with Matthew is stronger than any kind. He practically grew up only having me to protect and stay by his side.

Mom and Dad are truly packed with work during Matthews toddler days, it was the time where calamity and poverty are starting to knock down the kingdom so all my parents attention was to saving the kingdom and the people. Matthew has to be left attended by the royal lady servants. Mark has to also join the army then because its part of the training on becoming the next King. I guess I skipped that part because due to my awful behavior my father shipped me to the army at a young age so that they can straighten me up. It worked a little but it didn't last long. Anyways, so Matthew only had me and Adie. I used to play with him when he was little because I felt guilty for causing too much trouble to my parents that I tried paying them back by taking care of Matthew. I will always have a soft side for Matthew and no one really knows that unless they spent much time with both me and Matthew.

"You need to stop teasing him or he'll never listen to you" I said to Adie because as mush as Matthew respect me, he is sometimes different to Adie. They used to be so close, but as Matthew grows and becomes a boy himself, he tends to hate Adie when she becomes too clingy or too motherly to him. Its like for him, Adie stands as mom and he hates it because he wants to experience those things with our real mom and not with his sister. Adie didn't like that Matthew was growing apart from her so she tends to tease him more and annoy him more so that he'll give her the attention that she wants. A perfect example of true siblings growing up.

John and Jude came to my sisters side and started teasing her making the rest of the Kings wives and family shake their heads in disapproval. Of course it wont look good for them when a Princess acts chummy with any of the Princes nor they like the fact that Adie has her own life and decisions to make. They all want to control her, monopolize her but she's too strong minded that no one can bend her unless they're our parents.

Matthew didn't say much after the whole conversation and everyone was obviously growing impatient. My parents should be here by now, I mean, what could be so important thats taking them long to see us. So to avoid anymore murmuring, I stood up to get both my parents from their chambers.

As I walked towards my mothers chamber, she wasn't there and so is her attendant meaning that she could be with my father. I can't be that their having a time for themselves and forgotten that they actually invited the whole royal family to a dinner and could potentially hear them. Because I need to confirm my thoughts and because I have other family members out is the dining area waiting, I took courage and went to the chamber where my father and mother would be sharing.

To be honest I was actually expecting something dirty because I did experience it once with them and I still can't erase the image and sounds in my head. I'm still spooked about it. But now, I'm hearing arguments. My curiosity got the best of me so I went deeper and listened more.

It was not my fault that both my parents talk so loud and I had the chance to overhear their conversation. I was just planning to call for them but this situation came into my attention so I had no other choice. At least that's what I want to believe but I know what I'm doing is wrong. I'm also guessing that they left their door open that's why my fathers voice can be heard loud and clear, so I leaned to one of the walls and listened to their conversation. I also know that eavesdropping is not something I should be doing but believe me when I say that every royal survived their reign because of the things they hear from other people.

"They can't pressure us like this, just because they know something doesn't make them high and mighty" My fathers voice is obviously laced with anger and annoyance. If there;s one thing I know about my father, its that he hates when people try to underhand him. He likes having the upper hand and he will use it whatever means necessary. "What makes them think they can easily do this? We can't just let him control our decision, they are a dangerous family and we can't just allow his daughter to manipulate our son when the time comes for them." my father shouts.

"Lower you voice. We both know that they always wanted to take the throne, but they never succeeded. We just need to trust Luke that he'll make the right choice. Plus i'm pretty sure your mother won't let things slide, she'll do something about it the moment she hears something about this. We just need to act like we still don't know anything so that they won't grow suspicious of us. We still have other matters to deal with" my mother was calmly talking to my father, like she always does.

"I'm just afraid he'll make another decision he'll regret. I love our children but when they make mistakes and I see them get hurt, I feel useless. I'm the King of this nation, a father to many subject, but to my own children I am nothing." I never realized that this is how my father thinks of himself. I mean, yes, he lacks in many things when it comes to being a father to us but we never really blamed him. We do understand the reality we are in and we accepted our fates even with our own desires on the line. We still support the royalty and the bloodline that we have. Its not like we didn't benefit anything from being a royal, we are living the life because we are royalty. Not all can have what we have, though it bares responsibility, still its not that bad.

"They are growing and part of their growth is making mistakes. Our only purpose in their lives is to guide them when they need our guidance" My mothers soothing voice explains to my dad.

"I'll just have to trust you on this one" I can almost imagine my father sighing after speaking to my mom. I'm pretty sure they won't tell us anything about the things I've heard so I'll have to guess who they were talking about. I left their hallway and made my way towards the crownprince chambers to hide myself. I'm pretty sure no one will come to this chamber unless I get married and use this place. This room is technically my room but I didn't like the idea of staying here then making people think that I already got married. Mark used to stay here so some of his things are still here, my mom wanted to move them but I told them not to do so since it is still Marks memories and I just didn't want to remove that.

I need to call Drey and ask him if he knows anything about the things I've heard from my parents. I'll have to do some investigation of my own to determine who my enemies are. I closed and locked the door, I can't let anyone hear me. So to also avoid anyone from seeing me, I moved myself into the darkness of the room and grabbed my phone from my back pocket. I speed dialed Drey and after a few rings he answered.

"You're killing my fun what do you need?" He is obviously making out with someone because he wouldn't be so annoyed if he wasn't nevertheless he is still my assistant so he needs to answer my call whether he is on a date or having sex with someone.

"Are you alone?" I had to make sure that he is the only one who hears about what I'm about to tell him. I heard some murmuring on the phone, I guess he told his date to go.

"I am now. What's wrong?" He asks in concern.

"Someone is trying to infiltrate the royal family, someone who wants to overthrow my whole family. Do you know anything about this?" I can only trust Drey about this kind of things if I ask somebody else, rumors will definitely start and that could throw off our enemies and make them retreat. Keeping this a secret is a top priority.

"A lot of the council members would die to overthrow the current royal family. That's no secret. I could even make a list right here, right now" Drey has a point, anyone included in the council would die to claim the throne. There's a possibility that one of them is pressuring my father about it. We only trust a few people within the council member but that doesn't erase the threat of them taking the throne one day. Plus there's the Prime Minister, he would do anything in his power to put a huge gap between the council members and the royal family.

"Make a list of every council member that has a daughter that is eligible and of age to marry me. See if you can also gather material from our neighboring country as well. I need to scope this out see whose family will use every means to evaporate my own family" Every country has their own government system and they also have their own council members that manages different sectors within the country. This has been carried out from generations to generations and to every family involve, overthrowing the royals is also passed on to them.

"I don't think that's needed at all" Drey pauses before I heard him type something on the other end of the phone "Destiny might be on our side because there's not much lady born around your age. They are either too young or too old for you but there is four ladies that actually matches with you and two of them happens to be acquainted to you now, one is hated by your grand mother and the other one your grandmother actually supports. The other two lives in East , one in the Quensly Clan and the other is from the Wolf Clan. Both of this clans are under the East Royalties protection and command. I don't think they have any interest at overthrowing you when they have their own Queen and King to remove" Drey explains. I must say he can be very efficient and fast, I can't believe he was able to accomplish this much on a limited time which made me curious how the hell did he have this kind of information in just a short time.

"How the hell do you have this informations?" I whispered shout, someone might hear me from the outside and it could blow my incognito situation.

"Well I may and might have gathered informations of all the ladies available at around our age. At first it was by the Royal Regents orders and the next thing I know I kept recording datas of those ladies and just hid it for myself. I guessed it came handy today" His every word is making my head hurt because he is sounding like some creep, if people find out about his secret stash of information about ladies around the world, he could seriously be in trouble.

But.... My grandmother was involve.

"Why did my grandmother request you this things?"

"Are you seriously asking me that question? Its for you genius. So when you accidentally meet one you'll know exactly who they are and you can eventually form an alliance with them. But when Isabelle entered the palace and now that new lady, the Royal Regent ordered me to stop the research and proceed like nothing happened" His using his sarcastic tone but not one of his words meant that he was being sarcastic. My grandmother ordered him to do this kind of research then stops him in the process. She must have find out something. She's hiding something.

"Was there anything unique or questionable data on the things you gathered?" I'm pretty sure there could be one because my grandmother definitely spotted something that made her stop Drey from going deeper.

"Nothing much, my files on those ladies mainly involve their hobbies, skills, favorite things and what do they do on their own personal time. Though, your grandmothers was particularly fond of Lady Danielles file. When I read what came out of her file it only said something about books and stuff like being in love with staying at quiet places and making difference by knowledge and all those sorts of things. You already know that she came to the palace because of the Royal Regents request and protection. Her mom was a royal lady head servant, sadly she died during the recent fire. Then Lady Danielle was dragged in to the palace by your parents after the burial because that's when the false threat to the royals happened. She is now running as one of the ladies who is eligible to become your wife" Drey points out. "I actually find it so bizarre that someone from the low class family would end up staying inside the inner palace. I mean I'm not judging but she's mysterious" Those words from Drey made a lot of sense. I have no time to waste, I have to face this now before its gets out of hand. Shes probably the person both my parents are talking about. Though she may come from a low family background she is most definitely hiding something and secrets within the palace are considered dangerous. I need to know more about her especially when she's threatening my whole family. She even made my grandmother support her way to the royal life, her mother might have discovered something then she's threatening my grandmother with it. If all this things are true, i'm willing to bet that the fire and the false threat to my family on the day of the burial is all part of their plan. Maybe that's their other way to get what they need, her mom might still be alive somewhere, monitoring everything that is happening within the inner walls.

I can't just stand here and pretend like I don't know anything. I have to stop them.

"Drey, find out what really happened during the night of the fire and the threat to my family. Report to me immediately if you find anything" I didn't bother waiting for Drey to answer because he can't really say sorry to me so why bother.

I rushed out of the room to get the dining hall before anyone suspects of my absence then I heard my family talking outside the common room.

"Whats wrong?" I asked slowly as I was hearing faint sounds of subbing and my parents comforting voice.

"Where have you been? Some lady showed up inside the common room and Luis freaked out calling the guards on her because she was with little David. Turns out, she's a guest. They are trying to mediate the situation but it looks like the lady was pretty shaken by what happened. Luis almost killed her" Jude explains the whole situation and its obvious how entertained he is with this whole fiasco.

After his story, I went and walked inside the room to see my mom kneeling in front of the lady and Amber was carrying David while he talks about what really happened. Luis was by their side and I'm not liking it at all. He is the person that I don't exactly go along with because we have different approach on things. The fact that he is older than me and practically has the same thinking as my brother, ticks me off. Anyways, he is another person I'll deal with later.

Seeing as the situation within this lady and my parents aren't going so smoothly and knowing that this lady might also be embarrassed because of all the misunderstanding I decided to intervene.

"Mom this is not the place, lets bring her to another room" I suggested and went to the their side so I could carry the girl to the Crownprince's room. Though my body is aching all over I pretended like I didn't mind the aching. Its better there than my parents private rooms. Both my parents followed me and the rest of the family were told to wait in the dining area. Upon entering the room, I made sure that I didn't leave any tracks that I was here awhile ago, though there is some cctv around this place, I can just easily erase those clips. I placed the lady on the bed and realize who she was.

Of course it just had to be her. How did she even get here? At first mg grandmother now my parents. She definitely holds something against my family. Whatever it is, I have to find out.

"You can calm down now, its just me mom and dad here" I spoke softly as if I actually cared how she'll react. If I'm to find out what she knows I must earn her trust first and let her think that she has me wrapped around her little hands. She was obviously shaken up by the things that happened earlier. She was not speaking and I was beginning to think that shes mute or something.

"Honey, we are so sorry that you have to experience that kind of situation" My mother breaks the silence and thats when I moved back to make way for both my parents. Lady Danielle raised her head a little, recognizing my mothers voice but even with that, she still didn't speak up.

"We apologize, due to the recent attacks within the family, everyone became so paranoid" My father explains and still with no response from the lady.

"David is the youngest member of the royal family, its just natural that everyone is protective of him" my mother adds up, seeing as they are not going anywhere with this explanation and that they couldn't get her to talk. I was also growing impatient and was about to speak up what a knock interrupts us all. Amber and Luis came in and closed the door, they both approached Lady Danielle and my parents walked to the side to make way for the both people.

"I heard from David what happened and how he found you inside the waiting room" Amber starts to speak then she faced Lady Danielle looking like shes about to do something drastic and out of her character.

"I am Princess Amber Louisa Adelburg- Eidenton, the current Crownprincess of Estrella North Kingdom, but even before that, I am also a mother, for whatever my child caused you, I am deeply sorry" Amber lowers her head in front of Lady Danielle and that took all of us by surprise. I'm pretty sure that Lady Danielle was surprise herself. She didn't expect a Crownprincess bowing her head in sincere apology. After that Luis came into view, I guess he is going to apologize as well since he is the real why we are in this situation on the first place.

"And I, son of King Julius Francis Eidenton, Prince Luis Martin Eidenton, present my deepest apology for the trouble i've caused you. My actions were not fair and I believe that i've caused you pain for that, I am more than willing to accept whatever punishment you require of me" Of course he had to mention the fact that he is my fathers son. Unbelievable. I didn't like where things are going so I silently excused myself to get something from the maids. I saw how bruises are slowly showing on that girls arms, I'll have to pretend like I actually care before I burst her little bubbles.

While they talk to lady Danielle I was ringing Drey at the other side of the door.

"Yes?" He answers almost a second after ringing.

"I need an icepack, bring me one" I ordered

"Thats it? Your calling me to deliver you some icepack." Drey whined like love sick puppy.

"Just do it" Just like before, I didn't wait for his response I just ended the call.

I went back inside the room right after and heard some soft murmurs from my parents but she was still not speaking. Then my father tells my mother to leave her first until she feels better. After some assuring my mother yielded and told lady Danielle to come out when shes ready. They saw me standing besides the door before leaving and my father gave me a look I'm not sure what means. But my mother didn't tell me to go with them when they left. Amber and Luis did the same until they were out of the room. They both looked at me again then they followed mom. Dad was left with me while I wait for Drey.

"Maybe you should talk to her. A new sound might get her to speak." Dad said looking to the wall. "She'll need a friend while she stays with us and you could do the same" He adds this time looking at me with the same look he had before.

"What do you mean?"

"Your wise, you figure it out" He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. He left me wondering what he meant until Drey finally showed up with a basin and an icepack.

"Whats wrong?" he saw how I was looking but I shake my head to make him stop. I still have something to deal with and I have to deal with it fast.

"You may go first. I'll call you again if I need anything. Make sure to stay close" I whispered and then he nodded. Since he is here by my order, he was allowed to get inside but if he stays longer he might get in trouble. After giving me the ice pack, he left immediately avoiding any of the royals to see him enter.

I went in and saw that she is somehow calming down. She must have thought she was alone. Well I can't really do that now.

"You should treat that first before it gets worst" I spoke gently. Its obvious that she was caught pff guard, she might have thought she was alone. She looks confuse, so I'm going to guess that she doesn't know me or that she's pretending that she doesn't know me.

"Judging by your demeanor, its either you don't know me or that you are still frightened by what happened earlier that you are forgetting who I am?'' She looks at me still confuse, so I grabbed a sit with the basin and ice pack still in my hand, I sat in front of her and look at her hands. "Give me your hand" though she was reluctant at first she didn't really have a choice because I wasn't giving her any. I pressed the icepack on both her wrist, her hands are smaller than mine so it wasn't such a hassle to fit them between my hands and the icepack. She winces from the sudden contact but she didn't say anything. I watch her reaction then I gently massaged her wrist avoiding the area that could cause her pain though I really wanted to cause her one.

She looks at me straight in the eye and for the first time since I carried her I was able to see her whole face. If it wasn't for the fact that she's up to something I would have liked her. She has this gentle look that could make any guy fall for her and I noticed that she didn't wear much make up and yet she managed to look so good. If it wasn't for the things I found out today, I would have given us a chance but her looks and acting skills are dangerous. If I didn't know better I might have fallen to her tricks.

She must have realized that I was looking at her longer than a normal person would do because she then pulled back her wrist away from me then she suddenly diverts her eyes away from mine.

"I apologize for being ignorant your highness. I was still in shock by what happened earlier and so my mind wasn't working properly" So she recognizes me now. She must have recovered from her recent ordeal and realized who she's faced to, but this could be part of her plan. Pretend like shes shaken up by what happened earlier than earn everyones pity, this could be her way to manipulate us all.

"I'm glad to hear you can still speak. You don't need to apologize and you can be at ease. I wont bite you, you know?" I teased her a little the I slowly see some changes in her demeanor, she's more stiff and aware like shes reading the situation "Now, let me see your hand before it gets worst" I ordered. She slowly gave me her hands then I noticed that she was getting afraid of me. As if I'll believe her whole act. I'm pretty sure shes thinking that she finally got my attention and could do more of her tricks not that I'm wrapped around her little act. My kind must be running wild and I may just be assuming things but I have gut feeling that shes up to no good.

She showed up in our lives almost immediately and now she's running as one of the candidates of becoming my wife and the next Crownprincess of this kingdom. Her background is too shady, how can't I think of bad things about her? I can't just sit around knowing that there's a threat running around the kingdom. I have enough people to hate and pretend to be friends with, I just can't add her up on the list. I don't care what her plan is and I don't care if she turns out innocent after all of this. All I care right now is my families safety and the Kingdoms protection. So I made a huge decision to cut all my gentle act and just go straight with her. Maybe a good scare could drive her off and stop her and her family from attacking my parents and my grandmother.

"I know who you are and I already know why you are here. I don't think we still need a proper introduction since we are literally going to spend a lot longer days ahead of us but then again. I still have to satisfy some asses so I might as well make this quick and clear" I slowly speak up while looking at her with disdain in my eyes and hate. All gentleness and careful talking gone, only replaced by threat and warning "I am Prince Luke Grea Justine Eidenton, Second son of the King and Queen, Crownprince of Estrella North Kingdom, heir to the throne" I looked at her dead in the eye, and she's obviously getting confuse and scared but I didn't stop. She has to know and understand that her plans wont work. "And I, as long as I live, will never love you nor will I ever be a husband that could give you what you want. I don't know what my parents swore to you but I wont take part of it. In obedience to the Royal Regents decree, I will follow his command but I will never be the kind of husband they all think I may be" I squeezed the ice pack placed on her wrist feeling her growing uncomfortable. "Whatever it is that you and your family are planning, I'll make sure it wont come true" I threw the ice pack away behind her hoping that she'll get my warning. I don't care what my family told her, but I can only promise her one thing. If she stays and do her will, I will make sure that she lives a life full of anguish and regret.

After speaking to her like that, I left her shaking and went outside the room. I was dead set on making her life miserable even though I don't have enough basis that she really is the threat to our family. I only know that the small amount of evidence we have points to her. Whether she the daughter my fathers speaks about or not, its better that she knows that I'm not someone who she could mess with. I've dealt with thousands of ladies before and she's not the only one who was able to impress me by their looks. She can flaunt her beauty everyday around me but I will never like or love her.

I walked back to the dining hall only to see my family all gathered to the table waiting for the main course to be served. They all immediately looked at me with hope and wonder in their eyes. For a second I got confused then my mother sighed, thats when I realized that everyone was waiting for that woman to arrive.

"How is she?" My mother spoke, cutting the silent question my family is throwing at me.

"She'll be fine" I murmured trying to hide the fact that I was a little annoyed that my mother was even caring for someone like her. Though I was concern that maybe I acted too drastic and maybe she really was not the person I thought she was. Though I just cant shake the feeling of disdain in me towards her.

"Anyways, if she comes. Can we all pretend like nothing happened and gladly invite her to eat with us?" my mother announced and to annoy me even more my father even nods to her suggestion and so did everyone. Who would even go against the king and queen? No one of course, well except my Grandma because she just loves stirring up my father and mothers decision. That's when I noticed that she was not here. Now that I was able to get a glance of everyone in the room, my grandmother was not actually present this time.

"Where's grandmother?" I asked cutting all of them from talking about that girl.

"She decided to skip the dinner and do some personal time with her new toy?" my father exasperated.

"By new toy you mean?" my grandmother is really addicted to playing cards and loitering around. By loitering I meant that she loves to play hide and seek to the people of the palace until everyone gives up because no one could locate her, meaning she always disappears leaving with no trace for everyone to follow. So when my father speaks about toys, its either she discovered another place to hide inside the palace or she found another game of cards that could take up a lot of her time.

"She's hiding somewhere again and no one seems to know where she's gone this time" My

mother explains.

She's old and she needs to understand that everyone is trying their best to protect her. She is the oldest of the Royal Family and she is still needed for this kingdom to run. I just can't understand why does she need to come and go as she pleases when her life is on a thread. What she needs is to just rest inside her villa and play her cards for as long as she like. She doesn't need to loiter around or cause people to worry for her all the time. I sometimes think that shes more of a child than little David.

"Anyways, she'll eventually show up if she wants to. For now we actually need to tell you something important that's why we requested that you all be present here this evening" my father drops everything that he was holding. Then he looks to every one of us before going back to look at me.

"Honey, don't you think we must wait for Danielle first?" My mother whispered but it was very clear for everyone to hear. I was about to object but a footstep sounded from the entrance of the hall making us all pause and look who it was. Of course, it has to be her.

"You don't have to your majesty. I apologize for coming back late. I had to fix myself and reflect of my actions earlier. I'm sorry that I acted differently awhile ago and made you all worry. I should have understand the situation and acted maturely. Thank you for apologizing awhile ago Prince Luis and Princess Amber, I am truly grateful but you didn't have to apologize because I truly understand, if I was in Prince Luis' position I might have done the same thing. I apologize for the inconvenience that I caused and I hope that I haven't offended any of you" She speaks with confidence then I sensed something different from her. She bows in respect to my father and mother then she raised her head only to stop in the middle to eye me for a second. She didn't say anything else but the look she gave me was holding something. I didn't pushed it for now because my mother was booming with happiness the moment she came in and everyone was watching her as she was led to her sit which was coincidentally right in front of me.

"Now that we are complete" My father speaks again "Son" My father looks at me, making me feel ten times more anxious now for what he is about to say "You've been a great crownprince and you have proven yourself on multiple occasion. Though with your current status and achievements, your mother and I strongly believed that its finally the right time for you to have someone and make more difference by your side. Its time for you to have your own crownprincess" My father declared and everyone in the family was pretty much into this whole announcement and I even spared a glance to Amber who was looking shocked by the whole news.

"Everyone, I want you all to welcome Lady Danielle Gonzales, future Crownprincess of this Kingdom and my sons, Prince Luke Grea Justine Eidenton, lady in waiting" My mother announced making everyone paused for a moment before nodding and clapping like lunatics. Everyone was fakely smiling but to the people who was affected by this announcement, we all remained silent. Danielle was just stiffly sitting on her chair looking at me with disdain, my mother and father were busy entertaining my other families questions, Amber was silent but she was looking at me and I saw Luis looking at Amber.

This is all a huge fiasco, and even though I already know about it. Still, I was mad. I was really mad. So without thinking twice. I immediately stood up from my sit, faced Danielle and making everyone shut up from their yapping.

"I'm sorry mother but I think you are forgetting something?" I started to speak in calm voice but I don't think my eyes and demeanor are doing the same.

"What do you mean?"

"You're forgetting that she is not the only one who's eligible to become my better half. Lady Isabelle is still in the run and she's been training and coming here to help me from time to time. Don't you think its a little unfair that you're playing favorite to someone who just came in here and has no history of helping or learning etiquette with the whole family?" My mother was surprised that I even mentioned Isabelle, even before this day, I never once showed any kind of interest to her. They all know that I once dated her hut as soon as she entered the palace, I lost interest with her whereabouts. So its only natural that everyone was surprised that I even remember that Isabelle was running as one of my lady in waiting.

"I though you never liked her, why are you mentioning her now?" My father was the one who answered instead of my mother.

"Well, I just thought its a little unfair for her. Just think what would the Prime Minister think when you announce that your pairing me to someone that has not been in the palace for training nor does she have any nobility in her bloodline. She came from a low class family and that's not the kind of background you want to have in the history of our family. The Prime Minister we'll be very furious" I saw my father twitch from my statement and right there and there I know that I have this situation under control and I wont be married to her anytime soon. I can keep playing this card and eventually find out her real motives and get rid of her. For now I just need to hold things off and make her give up on her own.

"I guess you have a point about Lady Isabelle but you are completely wrong about Lady Danielle" My mother interjects but before she could continue, Danielle stops her by gently holding her arm. She dared touch a royal without permission, she could be punished for her actions but I can't even say that because my mother smiled at her when she did that.

"I don't need to prove you anything about my identity, if you don't think that I'm worthy to be by your side then I wont force you. If you prefer to marry someone whose more suitable to the throne, I won't fight with you. In my defense your majesty, as indirectly as you pointed out that I came from a low class family and has no training of being a lady or whatever it is that you have in mind, I don't really care. I came here because I was asked to come here, If I had any other choice I would have gone and left already. You don't need to point anything and make me the villain, I am more than willing to give you all the freedom and marry whoever you want to be with." Danielle speaks up as if she meant every word that she said. I'm still convince that shes up to something and that all of this is part of her plan.

Then when I was about to answer her words, she suddenly smiles, "I could have said those kind things to you if you just didn't insult the bloodline where I came from. You could just insult me and I'd be fine but you just cross the line by involving my family. I just lost my mother and hearing you disrespect her makes me want to prove you wrong. I don't really care who you are anymore, in my eyes and to everyone here, you are just some spoiled little Prince who wants nothing but recognition. I don't care if you punish me or order someone to assassinate me, because I'm satisfied knowing that before you sleep tonight, you'll realized that what I said tonight, was all true and you can't deny it" She smiles in satisfaction and I was seething with rage. Now she's showing her true colors and to everyone around us, this is all new and drama.

I guess a war is about to start and no one could have prevented this from happening.

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