Royal Chapter 11

[note: starting from this chapter till the rest, it will be told in third person's point of view]

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[After the last night dinner]

"I am finished. Thank you for the meal, excuse me."

Luana stood up from her seat and gracefully left the dining room with a heavy heart. It seems like every single thing is challenging her on how she can last from all the problems she has. She was walking fast that she unintentionally ignored the guards and maids that greeted her as she passed by them.

Her mind was blank and her body felt tired. She just let her feet to take her wherever it wants to go and it leads her to the darkened Garden of Fleur. She saw the empty benches in the middle of the garden with the help of the full moonlight from the night sky.

The guards tried to stop her from going outside but she silenced them with her deathly glare. She didn't say a single thing but the guards seemed to understand what she wanted to say. No one can stop her and if someone did, that person will be punished. The guards then offered her a lampshade instead but she just ignored them and walked towards the bench's direction.

It is the first bench to be nearest to the gates of entrance to the Garden of Fleur where she knew well enough the guards won't leave her alone and will still stay afar from her to give her privacy. She then finally sat on the bench, not minding if her dress will get ruined of not sitting properly. She doesn't care anymore.

The heaviness in her heart that she kept inside her heart of glass started to overfill after she gazes above the night calm sky and the shining full moon. They look so beautiful and calm. Her eyes dwelled up uncontrollably and tears flowed in her cheeks like running water in a river. She felt like crying since she got back from France but she was testing herself if she was strong enough to handle life's conflict. Now she had time to think it all through, she realized that she still can't.

Her frustrations are pouring from her within that she immediately took off her right shoe and threw it in front of her. She was so upset by all the marriage things, her own insecurities and jealous of every person she knew that they have the freedom to do what they want at least once in their lives.

'If I should have known how hard being a princess is, I would never want it.'

On the other hand, a man was silently standing up with a lampshade in one hand, watching her from behind. He got shocked when he saw her threw her shoe somewhere in the flowered ground that would be hard to find at night. When he finally thought that he must stop Luana from crying and make her feel comfortable, the man started to come closer to her.

Luana stopped crying when she got startled seeing a human figure in front of her. She lifted her head to glance the face of the person and she immediately felt irritated when she saw his face.

The young man, Prince Dominique, was unhappy with the sight he was seeing. Luana crying in front of him, who swift her gaze to somewhere else when she met his eyes seconds ago. The frustration and sadness in her face made his heart almost dropped out of guilt and conscience because the princess acceptance to the marriage wasn't like what he imagined to be when he left the Netherlands. He never thought that Luana would hate him, to the point she felt disgusted in his perspective.

'If only I had known you would be like this, I should've not pushed myself in your pretty life. My deepest apologies, my princess.'

He pushed aside his thoughts and heaved a sigh to pull out his handkerchief in one of his coats' pockets and offered it to her. Luana just looks at his hand with the handkerchief for almost a minute, definitely challenging herself to not take it because it would cause her embarrassment. But Dominique silently wished the heavens that she takes it. He even challenged the heavens of what decision he must do.

'If she won't take it, I will leave Belgium on the second day and if she takes it…'

He watched her look at him first with her fluffy face probably asking for assurance and seeing through with his intentions. He absentmindedly smiled and tried to hide his sudden excitement when she took it and wiped her cheeks and slightly swollen eyes.

He can't hide his joy anymore and burst out his excitement through a chuckle. Luana looked at him confusingly. She had been thinking why a sudden he was chuckling and smiling at her widely. She started to creep out but Dominique finally had the courage to speak.

"I-I am sorry for suddenly being happy. I was just… ahm..." He stopped himself for almost bringing up about the marriage that would annoy her probably.

"I don't mind about what were you just thinking but make sure it was not bad or I will call the guards." Luana glared at him, threatening him with a look that she won't let herself be hurt by a prince, who she considers a stranger, verbally and physically.

"I didn't think of anything unpleasant, your highness! I was just happy you finally trusted me. At least by accepting my offering," Dominique being flustered by a confession he never thought he would too soon in front of her.

"May I join you?" he bravely asked. Luana just nodded trying to give him chances and somewhere in her mind, she was slowly accepting the fact that this prince beside her will be stuck with her for the rest of her life.

'Maybe If I let myself to know him can change everything in my head.'

"Are you alright, your highness?" Dominique broke the silence between them after he sat many inches away from her to make her feel comfortable.

Luana sighed and look up at the stars before she spoke, "I am trying my best to keep everything perfectly fit in my hands."

Dominique at first didn't understand what she was trying to convey but as she continues on speaking, opening up her mind and sharing her thoughts to him, he was both felt relieved and pity.

"I am slowly accepting that I will get married the soonest. Thinking about it still makes me sad--"

"Do you want this marriage to be called off?" Luana looked at him, eyes wide open.

"Aren't you the one who proposed it? Why?"

"It breaks my heart knowing how you are just pushing yourself with it. I think you'll never be happy with me. Am I that bad, Ana? For you to hate me like this?" speechless, Luana just stared at him shockingly.

"I never wanted to jump to getting married also but I'm also a prince of a kingdom. I have my own responsibilities too. I needed to do this for my people. Do you know that the alliance would provide both kingdoms security? I can marry anyone my parents would want for me but when I first heard about it, you're the only one who comes to my mind. For me, I couldn't imagine myself being with someone else if she's not you, Ana," Dominique continued while looking at her directly. It takes up a lot of courage in him to finally confess what he wanted to tell her.

"Why me?"

"Because it's you since the day I met you. It's always you. I have been adoring you for so long and I apologize if I just showed up just now. I thought I needed to be the best before I come and see you again."

"H-How? Are you telling me that we have met before?" Dominique smiled and nodded while Luana tried to remember his face but she couldn't.

"I don't remember anything but you probably did approach me right?"

"Yes, I did. We even danced." Luana slightly giggled of how bad she was at remembering faces from her childhood.

"If I ask you again, do you still want this marriage to be gone?"

Dominique looked at her, silently wishing she changed her mind. He just couldn't bear to be married to another woman from another country he doesn't even want to know. He clearly wants her and even if he's not the strongest prince out there, he would do everything to have a chance with the only girl he wanted to spend his life with.

Luana heaves a deep sigh as she releases her thoughts that he was actually right. She is a princess too. Their marriage is not a mere game that their parents are plotting. They will be a way to make the two kingdoms be allied and have peace. After all, she longed for peace and would do anything to keep it in her own place. Turning down Prince Dominique by calling the marriage off might create misunderstanding from both kingdoms and worse, can result in a war. She doesn't want that.

Judging from Prince Dominique, he seems like a good man and after hearing his confession and honest thoughts, his intentions are somehow pure. He wants the best for his kingdom and for his life. Marrying someone he knows and admires is an advantage to keep the relationship last long. Luana finally realized she didn't actually hate him as a person, she hates the untimely marriage and pressure put on her whenever she sees Prince Dominique, making him a living reminder of all her problems.

"Princess? Have you decided?"

She cut off from her trail of thoughts when she heard his voice again. To think that Prince Dominique is a gentleman, he is worth the catch. If only she had more time to know more about him maybe she will change her mind.

"if you would court me and won me over, I might change my mind." Luana stood up, still holding his handkerchief and ready to walk back to the palace, only wearing a single shoe but she halted when Domonique's hand stopped her, holding her wrist.

"I-Is that true?" Luana blinked and just nodded at him looking so happy.

"Yes, then can you let go of my han--"

"Can I start now?" Luana frowned when he also stood up and before she even finishes what she was about to say, Dominique lifted her, the bridal way.

"What are you doing?! Put me down!"

"I can't and I won't until we reach your bedroom's door, my princess. I can't let you walk with only one shoe." Dominique started to walk back the palace and when the guards saw him, he just said everything is fine and the princess has sprained her ankle which they all believed immediately and suggested to call the physician as much as possible.

Luana was just left speechless and slightly embarrassed as her cheeks reddened that she just let him do what he was doing. Minute by minute, Dominique glances at her and smiled while she's too embarrassed to even look at him.

'The amount of embarrassment I earned yourself, Ana. But he smells good. I wonder what is his perfume.'

She just shook off her thoughts as she was sure she won't be able to forget this the whole night.

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"I heard you were brought up here by Prince Dominique."

Luana finds her sister, Kadline, who came in in her door right after she sends off her maids to rest. She was in the middle of reminiscing what was happened in earlier with the prince while she's brushing her hair, sitting in front of her table mirror when Kadline's voice interrupted her thoughts. She can't decide if she is thankful that her sister showed up or not because her daydream was cut off.

"I hurt my ankle, that is why." Luana casually told her and brushed her hair once more then puts back the hairbrush to the compartment.

"But you turned down calling a physician. That is suspicious, my sister. You never turned down a physician when you were sick before." Kadline, in her nightgown, sits at a light blue sofa and smile at her teasingly.

"People change, Kadline. We both knew that than anyone else. What are you doing here? Are you supposed to be resting at this hour?"

It always seems odd whenever her sister visits her in the night privately in her bedroom. Kadline likes to spend or waste her time in her own bedroom, resting or doing productive things and when she visits her, that only means something is bothering her.

"I have a lot of things to share with you, dear Ana. What would you like to drink? Wine or tea?"

From those words which they considered as the keywords to unlock secret information, Luana flashes a smile and run off to the sofa to sit beside her excitedly.

"So do I! Should we drink tea first?"

"Always the best choice!" They both chuckled and considered the night to be a mini tea party.