CHAPTER 5

[Prince Frederick]

I observe the woman of small stature in front of me with narrow eyes full of suspicion. All this abominable goodness and altruism smells to me of concealment and cynicism, and if there are two things that I abominate most in this life are the lie and lack of character in a person.

Truth, honesty, and transparency are essential virtues that men must cultivate throughout their lives.

And I really appreciate that. For after all, as the future king of this land, created from a young level on the political path, I am fully aware of how cruel, ruthless and inconsequential i can become cruel, ruthless and inconsequential just to achieve their goals, whether in the form of wealth, power or fame.

Even the best people in moments of weakness become conducive to pettyness and selfishness in the face of an irrefutable proposal. I myself have witnessed over the years many men considered loyal and honored by the majority, succumbing to greed by betraying someone or undoing pre-established agreements with their own. Harder and more bitter than sword blows is the betrayal of a close and beloved friend.

So, knowing better than anyone from experience, is that I care about the person chosen to bring the solution of our problems. I don't want any scammer to betray my family's trust and the security of the kingdom for ambition in the future. I have every right in the world to remain suspicious of the intentions of this woman that we know little about.

-It is not something simple or that can be solved quickly in a single action, Miss Light. What is being required goes far beyond what your instant understanding can assimilate. However, think carefully about it before giving your final say in a definitive answer. Many things are at stake depending on the outcome of this conversation. I, my family and the kingdom are counting on your collaboration to maintain order and move away from chaos.

My father says and pauses so that a girl with big green eyes can assimilate her words and mentally prepare for the ones that are yet to come.

I completely understand, Your Majesty. You have my word that I will be totally honest with you in my response.

Okay, that's a start. Now, moving on, the delicate matter that we have to deal with, is the unfortunate incident that occurred about a few months, I believe that in the middle of a couple of months ago to be more precise, involving my daughter Francesca.

I close my eyes feeling my head spin and my throat dries if i squeeze into a sense of suffocation when my father gets to that part of the subject. I don't like to remember at all, let's more of hearing the same facts being repeated aloud again. I feel angry, angry, lost... hurt.

Why did she do that? Why had Francesca acted that way with herself and our family, regardless of the consequences? Doesn't she love us anymore? That we're not enough for her? That's what I wonder internally.

Now all we have to do is gather the shards of our dignity and reap the rewards of his inconsequential error...

Francesca has been involved in a terribly escalating plot, Miss Luz. - he's going to snooan before he can continue the explanation. -She was dishonored, and shortly after the fact that it happened, she discovered the consequences of it by realizing the waiting of a child, whose identity of the father she refuses to reveal.

Okay, now it's done. The truth has been revealed, the letters are being put on the table.

As my unwise daughter, may God have mercy on her soul, she did not reveal the identity of her father in a timely manner so that the situation would be remedied with a hastily arranged marriage to the culprit, since she is prevented from marrying a nobleman or any other man since it is no longer untouched. The days needed are quickly exhausted and now there is little time left before they discover the secret she hides.

Taking the child away was never an option. My refuse to hear such barbarism coming from someone's mouth. Francesca protests vehemently from the couch from which she is sitting, and receives our furious glances towards her.

And no one here has ever made such an absurd suggestion, Francesca. Then lower your voice tone or shut up before I lose my temper with you. -our father scolds her, while Miss Luz watches the scene unfold with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide-eyed like a fish out of the water.

You'd better get to the point, my father. The woman still doesn't understand the purpose of this conversation and seems about to collapse any second, so say it at once before she faints before hearing the proposal.

Frederick! - Felipe scolds angry, but I don't care.

Your brother's right, Felipe.

Our father agrees with me for the first time on the day.

Miss Luz, it is totally inconceivable and inconceivable that my daughter Francesca, as a princess and a young single woman, can give birth to a child without a husband and out of holy matrimony. The child would be born a bastard and be rejected by all society, even in the midst of nobility. Francesca would be ashamed and would have her name and reputation tarnished forever, besides, of course, losing her position in court. The name of our family would be humiliated and chaos would settle in the political environment, as well as with the people, as well as with the other kingdoms that would take advantage of the moment of fragility and rupture in our structures to attack us. Everyone would lose out if this story were revealed. The secret must be kept for the general security of the kingdom.

And what can I do in this situation, Your Majesty? You want me to deliver the princess confidentially? Of course I do! It will be an honor for me...

No, Miss Light! Your services are very useful yes, but what I as your king want, is more than that.

And what do you need?

You need to marry my second son, Prince Philip, and take Francesca's pregnancy as your own. When the child is born within their marriage, it will be yours, thus being accepted into society without any rejection or prejudice.

When he finishes speaking, a sepulchral silence settles in the environment, and all eyes turn attentive to Luz, who seems to be in shock at the proposal he has just heard.

C-How? -the woman's voice is but a weakened murmur, as she simply stands absorbed in her own thoughts, and walks toward the door.

Where is she going?