The Flashback

That night, Lily couldn't sleep as she keep on tossing to her side. She tried to close her eyes many times but she just couldn't sleep. Then, she went outside from the room and saw Ren was already sleeping on the couch. She tip toed to the couch and went near him. She took a sit on the floor, watching Ren sleeps.

*handsome* thought Lily. Just when she was about to trace his nose line, Ren opened his eyes making Lily jumped in scared.

"Oh my!" said Lily as her heartbeat raced rapidly at what Ren just did.

"Having fun staring at me?" teased Ren as he sat up.

"N-no! I just couldn't sleep…" answered Lily. "You seriously need to stop doing that. I was really scared." Said Lily still holding her thumping chest. Ren let out his chuckle. "Sorry, I just wanna tease you~" said Ren who is having fun teasing her.

"Couldn't sleep?" asked Ren and Lily nodded. "Then…. Come here," said Ren as he tapped on the seat next to him asking Lily to sit next to him. With that, Lily went to take a sit near him. Without any hesitation, Ren brought her near him and draped his arms around her shoulder holding her gently.

"We can talk… maybe it'll help you sleep~" said Ren.

"Talk? What kind of talk?" asked Lily who feels comfortable being in his arms.

"Anything… you can ask me anything that you're curious about…" answered Ren as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"Then… I'm curious about one thing…. Lucas told me he had a girlfriend before but she died…. In a car accident… how did that happened? And Lucas was really sad about it…. could you tell me that?" asked Lily as she looked towards Ren.

As for Ren at the mention of the accident day, those memories still lingers in his mind.

"Ren?" called Lily.

"He have a girlfriend before… she's a noble lady. Her name is Rose. Lucas love her so much. The three of us were best friend." said Ren while Lily was listening to him attentively.

"We were just 20 years old back then. However, my parents are not the King and the Queen back then… so that makes me not a crown prince too." Said Ren. At the mentioned of that, Lily finally remembers that Ren just turned into a crown prince.

Ren let out a heavy sigh flashing back those old memories.

*flashback*

Both Lucas and Rose are the seniors in the university while Ren is a first year student. Back then, they are the most popular person in their University because both Lucas and Ren came from the Royal family while Rose came from Noble family. Her father is the works with the government as one of the ministers.

The three of them are in the city who just ended their class for today. As usual, Lucas insists for his bodyguard to follow them around and told them to go back to the palace and he will make sure to arrive back to the palace safely.

"You sure? Because we're going to the city… it could be dangerous for our crown prince here~" said Ren as he nudged his elbow towards Lucas.

"Nahh I'll be fine~" said Lucas who was holding Rose hand as they walk side by side following Ren from behind.

"Oh my, guys there's a new dessert at the bakery, should we try it?" asked Rose. "Lucas… come on~" pleaded Rose. "Okay okay if that's what you want~" said Lucas as he caressed her head gently and they walked towards the bakery. Ren who was watching them from behind shook his head couldn't believe that Lucas who used to be a player but once he met Rose, he has changed. He only love her. No other girls.

Once they've reached the bakery, both Lucas and Ren told her to wait outside while they go inside and pick for her. Little did they know, once they entered, people who were in the bakery noticed that both of them are the princes and the situation has turned into a chaotic as they wanted to take photos with them, giving them freebies and many more. Things got pretty chaotic till they did not know what had happened outside.

"Okay I beg you not post the photos online alright?" said Lucas. "Yes Your Highness!" chirped the customers in the bakery. While they are too busy inside, they heard a loud 'bam' sound making everyone stays quiet to look what had happened outside.

"IT WAS A HIT AND RUN! A LADY JUST GOT HIT BY THE CAR!" shouted one of the man.

Once they heard the ma, Lucas hurriedly went out from the bakery followed by Ren.

"Rose, what happen-" said Lucas but before he could finish his lines, he saw Rose was lying down on the road with blood covered her face.

"ROSE!" shouted Lucas as he ran towards her. "Oh my god, Rose! Open your eyes please!" cried Lucas who was holding her in his arms. "IT'S THE CROWN PRINCE!" Shouted one of the girls at the scene. "Somebody, I ordered you to call the ambulance now!" shouted Lucas.

"Oh my god Rose, stay with me… please…" begged Lucas. "I'm calling Augustin to inform the palace. Don't worry… she'll be fine Lucas. She will." Said Ren. a few minutes later, the ambulance came and took both Lucas and Rose to the hospital while Ren waiting for Augustin and the police to arrive.

Once they've reached the hospital, Lucas just couldn't stop crying. He doesn't even care anymore about his title as a crown prince and all he care about that time was Rose. He just want her to open her eyes and smiles at him again. Both he and her parents are waiting patiently outside from the surgery room. At the thought of remembering how he hold the love of his life with blood covered her face and her eyes close makes him cry.

*please Rose. Don't leave me.* prayed Lucas.

A few hours later, all of them including Ren was waiting in front of the surgery room. Once they saw the doctor came out from the surgery room, they are eager to know about Rose's condition. However, instead of a happy news, the doctor brought a sad news to them.

"I'm sorry Your Highness… I've tried. I've tried many times… we couldn't save her…. She lost so much blood and worst she got hit on her head… we've tried… but we can't… im really sorry Your Highness…" said the doctor as he bowed politely feeling sorry towards the crown prince and her family.

"No. it can't be. We literally just talked today. Ren, she told me she wanted to try the new dessert! NO!" Shouted Lucas. "SHE TOLD ME SHE WON'T LEAVE ME!" Shouted Lucas couldn't accept the truth. He was having a mental breakdown and he cried every single day.

*end of flashback*

"Ren… that was so sad…" said Lily after listened to Ren. "Yeah… till now, the two of us still missed her… especially Lucas." Said Ren. "Not long after Rose died… it was his father…" said Ren. "You mean the King before your father?" asked Lily and Ren nodded. "Yeah… he was killed. In a palace…" answered Ren.

"He was killed? I thought in the news they said he was sick?" asked Lily. "We covered it. We don't want the citizens to worry about it…" said Ren "One of the maid in palace poison his food." Explained Ren.

"We investigated both of the case including the Rose hit and run, finally we've connected the dots." Said Ren. "Both of it are planned by the same person, with the same purpose. He wants the royals dead so he could rule this kingdom." Said Ren. "But then, my father got the throne and he's the one ruling the country followed by mother and me." Added Ren. "But that person still holds a grudge for not getting the throne and he's attacking us now…" explained Ren.

"y-you mean that person is…." Said Lily not wanting to say his name. "Yes. Sir Luis. The one who ordered that man to kidnapped you." Said Ren. "He will attack our weaknesses first…. That's why he attacked you…" said Ren and Lily felt scared.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure you're not gonna end up like Rose. I promise." Said Ren as he kissed her forehead gently.

"I promise." Said Ren again.