CHAPTER 6

[Light]

Miss, i'm sorry. What are you doing? Where are you going?

I hear a voice asking me coming from somewhere in the cabinet, but I can barely tell it from the other ones, because of the state of touch my mind is in. My feet seem to have a will of their own as they unconsciously guide me to the exit. My trembling hand touches the door handle and before I can turn it to free me from the growing sense of suffocation, I feel a hand touching my forearm holding the action.

Miss Luz, please. We really need your help right now.

I turn face Prince Philip much closer than I imagined.

Listen to the request of your king, of the royal family. I know you don't know us very well and that there may not be enough reason to convince you that it is the right attitude to help us in this family and political crisis, however...

I know exactly who you are, Your Highness. - I interrupt your speech without foundations. They are great rulers and very benign to our people. I have nothing to complain about or question any things i have done during the administration of your family, Prince Philip. But...

I know for a second pondering what the right words to use to elucidate the situation in a coherent way, and to understand my greatest fear.

What you're asking me is a little too great and surreal. It's out of reality. There is no guarantee or possibility that my participation in this plot will work. - I say in one breath with only glazed eyes.

And why not? - he questions trying to arrest me in his conversation. Tell us your reasons why we might understand your refusal, Miss Luz. Because I still don't understand.

I-I can't... That's too much for me. I can't... I can't breathe. I need some air. -babbling with the heart pounding against the ribs, a sudden shortness of breath hits me and I lean forward with one hand resting on the stomach.

All right, try to calm down a little bit, will you? I'm not going to let you have a panic attack. May I help you, miss? -Prince Philip asks by reaching out towards me in a tempting offer.

And I wonder, should I take it? Could you trust someone who, however much kindness and confidence through clear blue eyes like the midday sky, still remains a stranger to me?

- Felipe brother, maybe I... -Princess Francesca intervenes, but is interrupted by it.

Leave it to me, sister. I'm fully aware of what I'm doing. - he says confident and turns to me again. Will you come with me?

Too perplexed to answer your question with words, I just agree to an affirmative nod, and accept your hand that remains outstretched in the air while hesitantly depositing mine on it.

We're coming back soon. -he announces to the others present on the spot, and as a gentleman opens the door allowing me to leave first, he soon after, however without undoing the contact of our hands that are connected.

Does the prince think that if I let go, I can run away at any moment? Well, on second thought, maybe he's right in parts, because the way my mind is conflicted, it's really likely that I'll do something like that or something like that.

-Nothing like a little fresh air to cool your head. -Prince Philip says as he breathes deep when we are already outside in the hall, and puts my hand on his forearm so that we walk side by side along along the route i don't know about.

- yes, it's really a holy medicine for calming your nerves, Your Highness. - I answer without knowing for sure what to say to a man like him in this situation.

Just Felipe, please.

He asks relaxed and I look away, thus avoiding having to look him directly in the eye.

Can I just call it Light? He asks. - Because, don't you think it would be a little strange to treat each other so formally because of the current circumstances? We're almost engaged. -he says emitting a low giggle and I frown.

What's he talking about? Did he go crazy in the last few minutes?

What do you mean, almost engaged? I didn't say I accepted the offer.

- Almost because I haven't officially ordered him yet.

Prince Philip ceases the walk abruptly, which I now tell to be taking us to a beautiful garden with a beautiful central fountain of water, by putting himself in front of me preventing me from moving on.

Please look at my face when we're talking, Luz.

He lifts my chin gently with his fingertips.

I want to know what's going on here while we're together. -he says touching my forehead with the index finger.

There are so many things. -I confess quietly blinking his eyes frantically. I'm afraid...

What's going on? Do you fear me, Luz? Am I a terribly ugly man for what it is to ruin your image by my side?

For this I did not expect, so we laughed at the same time bringing some lightness to the previously tense climate.

It's not that.

I look off the embarrassed eyes and the flushing face.

It's just that... I don't belong in a place like this, you know? I don't come down from a noble or important lineage, I don't have an influential last name or...

-That's just mere details completely irrelevant to us now, Luz. So make up other excuses, because those aren't enough to move me from the initial proposal. -Prince Philip stands firm.

But what are you talking about? -arfo stupefied by the direct way he spoke to me.

-Moreover, you are forgetting that accepting this proposal, which can be costly in some part because it will require an eternal commitment from you, but on the other hand will be highly advantageous to your family. Think about how your parents will benefit from establishing bonds with the nobility through our union? They can even acquire positions in the castle if they wish. I'm giving you my word, Luz, you and your family will be very well rewarded financially, I assure you. And also...

- I have no living family, Prince Philip.

I say by cutting you to proceed with the dozens of advantages to be offered, which anyone in their right mind would never refuse.

My parents died a few years ago, so none of these things matter, since I don't have a family that enjoys such benefits. - I mean taking a step back, ready to see him give up a new attempt.

Then allow my family to be yours from that moment on. May my father be your father, and may my brothers be yours too. Agree to be my wife. Marry me, Luz.

Prince Philip surprises me by taking a step towards me by decimated the short distance between us, and weaves our fingers.

- Do you grant me the honor of becoming my wife, Luz? -his intense blue eyes probe to the bottom of my soul stealing my breath and rationality with such a question.

What's next? What am I supposed to do? Hundreds of lives depend on that answer. How to deal with such responsibility under pressure? However, nothing else matters if my conscience knows what is right to do. So even though I'm afraid of the uncertain future i have ahead of me, I'll answer it.

S-yes. I'll take it.