Chapter 3

~The Crown Prince~

Morning came and I am ready to face the day. As I settled at the bathtub in my spacious bathroom, I stared at the ceiling. I am anxious of what the test results today.

"Your highness, please prepare faster. Your teacher is here already." Imelda said outside of the bathroom.

"Just give me three minutes."

"Yes Your highness."

"This is a very long day." I muttered to my self.

"Greetings, Your Highness. It's very nice to see the future Duchess of the whole country of Queensland." Teacher Lisa, bowed.

"You may rise, Teacher."

"You want to start your highness?"

I nodded. Teacher Lisa escorted me to the hall.

This is it.

"Today, we will teach you how to walk with grace, elegance and authority."

I feel jittery at the same time, I am worried. What if I fail?

"Okay, let's start."

They teach me how to walk with grace, especially with books on the top of my head, they said the postures repeatedly. Tummy in, chest out, shoulders up, and both hands clasped in front of tummy.

They commanded me to walk around the long hallway three times. Then I walked gracefully with high heels. I don't know how many I stumbled at the floor, before I got the perfect score. They commanded me to walk downstairs, and one at a time, I didn't stumbled.

Hours passed, Grandfather is already home, I mean palace and tired.

I ran to him and hugged him as he hug me tightly. "Welcome home, Abuelo."

"Mi Hermosa, thank you."

"Where did you go? I didn't see you since morning." Me, asking with full curiousity.

Grandfather just chuckled. "I just came from Royal Grand Palace. You know, Royal Matters."

"Ah.. I see Grandfather."

"Let's go to dining."

I just nodded. The teacher already go home. Father said I have to study many books at the library tomorrow and the next day.

I exhaled a loud breath. I miss the province already. Just me, Mom and Dad, Cass, and the farm.

I asked Dad if what will happen to the farm and he said there are some caretakers on there.

Cass is eating food when I entered my room. I heard the telephone ringing. I come closer and answered the call.

"Hello? Hanna Elyse Silverio speaking."

"HANNA CART?! WHY WE DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE? AND WHY ARE YOU USING SILVERIO?! I THOUGHT YOUR FAMILY NAME IS CART. WHERE ARE YOU?! HUH!"

I know it's my bestfriend, Joanne.

"You know Anne, it's a very long story."

"Long story? I have time Hanna. Why are you using the surname Silverio? Silverio is a very powerful surname, according to the books. I mean Silverios are just below the Royal Family of Harrison, the kings and queens of our country."

"Joanne, my real name is Hanna Vistoria Elyse Madeline Cart-Silverio. My Grandfather is the current Grand Duke of the whole Queensland."

"You mean, you are the next descendant of becoming Grand Duchess once your father is seated as Duke?"

"Yes."

Joanne screamed.

"Oh my gosh Hanna, or should I say Your Highness?"

My lips twitched like I am smirking. I started laughing silently.

"Nope. Just call me what you've call me before."

"But, you know. It's disrespectful to a Noble like you." Anne exclaimed.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance but I keep my calmness intact. "You are my best friend. It doesn't matter how my surname is powerful. I'm just Hanna."

"This is why you are my best friend. You speak so calm and you have humble attitude, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Anne. You mean so much to me."

"I mean so much to you? Hahahahaha! Thank you Your Highness." Anne said, annoying me even more.

"Anne." I spoke with a little annoyance on my voice.

"Yes Your Highness?" Anne, her voice tone is like she's teasing me even more.

"You're annoying."

"You're welcome, Your highness." Anne laughed so hard, until she coughs because of it.

"That's what you got from teasing me." We laughed so hard. I miss her.

We bid goodbye to each other and Cass jump on my bed and slept on my pillow. 'What a spoiled cat.' I exclaimed silently on my head.

I slept like a baby when a posture of a man opened the door and walked closer to me. I think that's father right?

The man slowly touched my hair and combed it softly. He even kissed my forehead!

"Tomorrow morning, I will have you. Do better well, my future wife." A deep, husky baritone voice, woke my veins.

"I want you to be my wife since I was a kid, but your father and your mother took you and ran away from their responsibility. Don't you know Cart Families are? They are the ones who has the most priveliege on the American Country. They are powerful too. You are a mixed blood, but you know, I. Love. You. You are mine. Mine."

HOURS passed, I'm still awake. As my senses also awake. It's already 5 at the morning, but here, still awake. I haven't slept yet since the man already exited my room. Who is he? And why his possessive words sent down my spine?

Six a.m.

Imelda knocked at my door. "Your highness, get up and freshen up. You have to go to Royal Palace."

"Okay. I'm going."

I get up and go to the bathroom. I even used rose scented body wash and repeated it three times. After taking a bath, I brushed my teeth two times and wore the bathrobe before I go to the closet.

But in my surprise, a set of Victoria Secret set of Panties and Bras with a white off-shoulder gown. And also a Glass high heeled stiletto.

Make up artists are here, they glowed me up and make up my face. They set my hair into a loose wave curls, and I wore the set of jewelry Grandfather gave me. It's in black diamonds, one of the most expensive and rare diamonds of the whole world. Grand father said it's from my deceased grandmother, Lady Madeline Silverio. Where my name Madeline came from.

I look stunning as I go to the Life size mirror, and I gracefully but carefully walk downstairs, my Father and my Grandfather is in daze.

I settled and gave respect to them. I hear grandfather said get up and he placed a leaf-like headdress, like I've seen in the Greek Myths.

Father and Grandfather escorted me with the palace guards, we ascended at the limousine.

Riding the car, those people give us bows of respects as we go out of the palace.

Minutes passed by, we stopped at a high gate with fountains at the inside of the property.

"Welcome to the Royal Grand Palace, your highness."

The Royal Guards bowed at us as the limousine enters. My eyes are roaming the whole place. It's like the palace on the fairy tales. It's very beautiful.

"This is a wonderful and beautiful palace."

"Yes my Granddaughter. It is." Grandfather laughed.

We came out of the limousine as the king and queen waiting for us. "Greetings, Your Majesty King and Queen." Grandfather and father greeted to them.

I just bowed and say nothing to them.

"Is this your Granddaughter, Grand Duke?" The king asked.

"Yes, Your Majesty. She is." Grandfather answered.

"She's gorgeous." The King exclaimed. "She'll be the Crown Princess as we support her."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Grandfather looked at me. He nods, it's giving me permission.

"Greetings to you, Your Majesties." I showed respect.

"Greetings to you, Crown Princess." That voice again!

Am I daydreaming?

"Is there no contests already for being a Crown Princess, Your Majesty King?" Father asked.

"I want to have, but the Crown Prince, my son said that your daughter is enough for him."

Aw, too bad I already prepared for that.

"I want the coronation and the wedding to be discussed today, so I summoned you three here." The King said.

"And the engagement party Your Majesty?" Father asked, again.

"Tomorrow."

My jaw fell in shock. The chicken?!

"Is there a problem future Crown Princess?" The Queen asked.

"Nothing Your Majesty. I'm just.. shocked." I answered.

"Why are you shocked?"

'I am terrified of what I heard earlier. Gosh, I'm just Eighteen years old!'

"Just some matters Your Majesty."

The Queen stared at me again. But she didn't uttered a word after. I took a deep breath as we enter the Grand Palace.

I saw a handsome man wearing a royal suit tuxedo leaning on the couch at the living room.

"Mom, why are you so slow?" So I am not daydreaming. It's true.

"Nate, meet your wife, Hanna." The King said. The Crown Prince stared at me. I'm uncomfortable of his gaze, so to relax my body, I showed respect to him.

"Gretings, Your Royal Highness Crown Prince."

"Greetings to you also, Future Crown Princess. I'm glad you are here already."

I look at him with mixed emotion in his eyes.

"Finally, I met you."