10 : THE CONDITIONS

CHAPTER 10

NEOLA

*flashback*

"Zia!" I pulled at my skirt.

"Zia,"I remember my ten year old self struggling as the rain pour harder on me. "Where are you? Zia!" I opened the front door only to be pushed back on the porch steps.

"Idiota!" I raise my hands, trying to protect myself as I feel the pain slash through my arm, the belt slapping on my flesh. "You little vermin stole my money, si?" I covered my face to protect it from my uncle and his belt.

"Zio. Zio Benny, Zio Benny, I didn't stole anything..." I cried out as he pulled at my hair. "Zio, please..." I sob, still trying to get away from him and his belt.

"Mama mia! Benny, what are you doing?" Zia Alonza pushed my uncle and held me on her arms as they both fight again.

I could still hear myself screaming at them to stop fighting. I tried to call for my papa and my brother but they did not come for my aid. They weren't always there to save me...

*end of flashback*

"Neola?"

I stared at the spitting image of my mom, her brown hair greying on its roots as she stood beside my uncle. Her blue eyes haven't aged and it still possess the same comforting gaze.

"Zia Alonza," she smiled at my words as I hug her. I look at my uncle and said, "Uncle Benny." Maybe he thought I'm going to call him 'Zio' after all those years he had hated me.

My uncle just nod at me. His face has sagged that the frown he has been holding almost look pathetic. He is now supporting himself with a cane to steady his posture. Zia Alonza pulled at my hand making me smile at her, "Oh mama mia, princepessa! Your brother told me you are with them when they arrived but then you left right before our visit. I was worried sick when you didn't turn up for dinner and yet, here you are. Tell me about all of it, child. All that I missed!"

She urge for me that I couldn't help but smile again and ask Argus if I could tour them around on the garden. I was glad though, when my uncle Benny refuse to join us on our walk. He was such a grumpy dog that he always frown on things or glare at them. He was always the negative one.

The royal guards open the sliding doors and we walk through them as they bowed down, "Mia princepessa Loisa, tell me...how are things in New York? " she sat on the bench and I can't help but sit on it too. "Everything's fine. I've finished my degree and I'm now a Paediatric nurse. I'm currently assisting in the Paediatric Centre for the young cancer patients. It was so sad, Zia-To see those little angels struggle to live...I can't bear to see them hurting." Zia Alonza pulled me on her arms and sigh, "You're always so kind mia princepessa. You always have been."

A long moment have passed and I just shrug my shoulders, not having anything to comment about my life in New York. I do not want to mention Luke to her.

"That's all?" She asked before staring at me. I just nodded since I do not have anything more to say. She traced my face and smiled before letting go of me. "So, your Zio and I visited you for a reason, you know? The royals are a good friend of our family. The queen wanted us to build the bridge between you and the crown prince. She said that we, staying here for awhile, will help you decide on things concerning you and the royalty."

'But why did you take Zio with you?' I wanted to ask her that question but then I just nodded at her for I know that my Zia just can't live without my uncle. I still have things to clarify with Luke and I do not want to arise her curiousity by mentioning my past with Luke.

I do not want to arise her curiousity on why I have hated Luke so much.

Pulling her up with me, I lead us back to the mansion and told Argus to show her their room. Taking a minute to think about things, I decided to go back to Luke's room and tell him about my decision regarding his offer.

•

"You're here..."

I momentarily stopped by the door before completely entering his room, "I was waiting for you for quite a while now." He continue to say to me as I sat by his bed.

"How are you?" My voice came out like a whisper but he had heard.

"I'm fine." He sat up from his bed and groaned. "Lucas, lie down. Your stitches might opened up."

He held up a hand before I could even help him lie down again. "I am fine. I could assist myself, thank you very much. Don't you dare try to beat around the bush again, Neola." He snapped at me before continuing, "I was right, yeah? You are Neola."

I was startled as a loud laughter filled the room. I just stared back at him, unable to speak. "You fooled me. I have been with you for about a week now and I just--" he sighed before pointing at me. " I have suspected that you are Neola from the very first night we've met at the ball, but then I doubt myself because you act different. Your hair is gold instead of brown, though your eyes...I just knew it. I really do not want to believe it was you because--"

"Because, what?"

"Because I do not want to hang on a false hope. I do not want to believe that after five years, we met again. It felt like fate is trying to put us together. I am still hoping we'll have a second chance on the thing we had." I just stared at him, forcing the words on my mouth I said, "oh yeah? I know, but all of this is a coincidence. I don't want to believe we have to be together again. I hide my identity so well to protect myself. I changed my hair colour and my attitude so I could blend in. I did it so I could forget you but deep inside me, I still long for you..."

It was supposed to be 'I love you' but I can't say that now. I should wait until he said it too, or at least felt it. I can't just say something that will be the end of me. I have to be sure that both of us feels the same.

"What happen to us?" He suddenly asked me after a long moment of silence.

"I should be the one who is asking you that question." I retorted, sensing him bow his head and sigh. "I didn't know what I was doing before. I was so shock, I mean, I have feelings for my sister. I have mistaken it for something that is wrong, I thought she was the one for me..." he look at me before he burry his head on his hands and continued, "I was so confuse. I left not realizing that I develop some feelings for you. It form a great chasm, a hole in my heart that eats me alive. I left because I do not know how to live anymore. I went off to Switzerland and Germany, hoping to find some trace about my family but it's not enough."

"But you could have stayed here. You would have developed a bond with Jacob and Elle, she would have been grateful to have you near. I would have helped you..." I confessed but his next words shocked me.

"Now that I know you are Neola, I never wanted to find a more desirable bride than you. I would like to ask you to just try and be with me because maybe, the reason that we are brought together again is that we belong together." His words caught me off guard that I just stood there, staring at him with my mouth wide open.

"So you are choosing me? I thought you are confused." I snapped at him, unable to control my mouth.

"I am. You do not know how guilty I was because I didn't get to tell you what I really feel." He sigh his face unreadable. I was surprised when I felt his hand pulling me near. "I am confused but I have no choice. You are the only person I could ask to pretend as my bride. I will agree to grandpa's request. I will let him select a maiden of his choice while I choose you. If you do not wish to continue, then I'll let you go. If you agree to marry but later on, you do not want a life as a royalty after marriage then, you are free to go. Please give me this chance. Let us give this a try even though I know that this is a long shot I'm asking of you. "

I weigh the consequences of the actions I shall take and the benefits I will gain from it. I am still pissed on what he did but five years ago is enough. I know that my feelings hasn't changed. No matter how long it had been since, my feelings hasn't change. In fact it has grown stronger.

Gripping his hand, I said "Then let's give this a shot. I do not care of what had happened five years ago for it's in the past. And, if you have fell for the chosen maiden then I will heed and let you decide." I offered him a smile and he simply return it with a much charming one. "If we really are meant to be, no matter the chance or the people that hinders us, we will surpass it. No matter how hard it is for me to accept the responsibility, I will do it for you. As long as you are with me..." I vowed and feeling the sudden wetness on my eyes as I look at him.

"I know, it might be awkward at first but we will try to be together for the sake of this kingdom. So, are you ready?" He smiled at me but I just look at him. I was surprised when he held out a hand, "Hello, I'm Luke Stevens I mean, Lucas James Hansel and you are?"

"I'm Neola Loisa West."

"Hello Neola, nice meeting you. Mind if I ask you a question?" I raised an eyebrow at him and realized that he has been smirking at me. The guts of this lad!

With a pause, I decided to just say, "Yes?"

"Will you be my Lady?"

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