#3: Luna

Jade was with them, who was following behind them while covering half of her face with a mask because she wanted to make sure that her younger sister would be safe inside the palace and because she was also curious about the appearance of the inside of the palace where she only went there once. Before they went to the palace, Don Ferrer and Luna had a serious conversation. Where she has to pretend as her older sister, and she has to use Jade's name, where no one or other people can't know what Jade did to her face just to reject the king's offer of marriage to her. No one can know that she once refused the king's request to her. Otherwise it will be the end of their family.  Don Ferrer also talked to Jade that no one can know that she is the real Jade, and that she will use the name of her younger sister, Luna. That way their family will be kept safe and there won't be a bloody war between their family and the king. But contrary to Don Ferrer's knowledge that Luna was not just agree to meet the king just because of him, or she is her father, but she had another plan where she would make sure that the king, himself would back out of the arranged marriage of the two of them.

When they entered the palace, all the palace staff almost turned around and stopped when they saw Luna. The speculation is true that Don Ferrer's two daughters are beautiful and elegant. Wearing a yellow dress and braided hair, Luna's beauty overflowed even more, and no one would even notice that she was only eighteen years old. Both of them are beautiful, but they have different charisma. Jade has a bold aura which it was her charisma in the eyes of all men's and why many admire her even women. Whereas Luna has an aura of modesty, shyness, and innocence. Many men also admire her, especially with her innocent smiles. Everyone knows them because of their beauty, and no one can match them. Even the third in the list of the most beautiful women in their kingdom, Veronica, the only child of Rigador, cannot surpass the beauty of the two. That's why the first time they met, the king immediately fell in love with her. He could hardly speak when he saw his future wife in front of him, he was stunned, and he forgot that they were with others around them.

“Majesty, are you all right?” his personal assistant standing to his right whispered to him. Only then did the king wake-up to his senses, and then he avoided looking at the girl where he turned to look behind them where he noticed Jade standing there with a black mask covering half of her face.

“And who is he?” he was curious and pointed in Jade's direction. Don Ferrer turned to what the king was talking about, and then he drew a fake smile on his lips.

“She is my youngest daughter, Luna.” He replied to her, and then Jade bowed her head, avoiding the king's eyes. The king nodded his head, but he still couldn't take his eyes off the girl, especially when he noticed Jade's beautiful face where he was also amazed at her beauty even though half of her face was covered.

“What happened to her face?” he asked, making Jade raise her eyebrows because she didn't expect the king to ask them that. Don Ferrer took a little longer to respond, and then he turned to her eldest daughter and did not know what he would reply to the king. That's why Luna intervened in the conversation between the two of them, where she took a step closer to the king to grab his attention.

“I'm certain that we all have hidden secrets in life that we don't want to let others know, even a powerful and honorable king like you also has personal secrets that only you know, am I wrong?” After Luna said, the king quickly turned to her, where he couldn't believe what he heard. Even Luna's family and the people around them were surprised by the girl's aggressive statement to the king. But instead of being angry with her, he suddenly burst into laughter where they didn't expect her to make him smile immediately the first time they met.

“You're right, that even a royal person like me has a secret to keep, so please forgive me if I reveal a secret of yours that you don't want everyone to discover.” The king said with a smile on his lips as he turned to look at Jade, where she was surprised and couldn't believe that the king apologized to her. But she didn't respond to him, but just nodded her head softly. Don Ferrer was nervous, and he was sure that his daughter had said something wrong, so he was about to approach the king to apologize to him, but he was stunned when the king suddenly stepped closer to Luna, and then he stopped in front of the girl.

“The rumor is true that you are a bold woman who is not afraid of anything and I also heard too that you are,” he stopped speaking for a moment as he looked down at Luna's hands. “They say you're good at using a sword, is that true? Or is that just an old rumor from people around me?” he added, making Jade's eyes widen because she didn't expect him to dare her younger sister to a fight to see if she was excellent at using a sword. But Luna didn't feel fear or nervousness, instead she looked directly into the king's eyes with all her courage.

“You are not mistaken in what you heard, Your Highness.” Luna's response surprised Jade and her father.

“Then why don't you show me your skills?” the king said smiling at her at the same time he turned his back to take his soldier's sword, but Luna knew in herself that she didn't even know how to handle a sword, so the king would also immediately know that she was lying. So, she immediately thought of another way to stop him from what he is planning.

“You want me to show you my skill with a sword? But I am wearing an elegant dress now, your majesty. A young lady dressed in respectable attire should not be seen to misbehave or move just by holding that sword. What do the people around us would think about me? Besides that, my parents taught and raised me in proper etiquette.” After she said that, the king quickly stopped and returned the sword to his soldier. He turned again and approached the girl with a kind smile on his lips where he seemed to like what the girl said to him.

“I thought at first that there was nothing special about you apart from being beautiful and brave. But I didn't expect you to know about the proper etiquette. You hardly don't need to be taught by my tutors? Isn't that right? What can you say, lady Romana?” said the king where they turned their eyes to the fifty-nine-year-old, Romana or better known as lady Roma because she was the only one with a high rank among the palace maids and the use of proper manners. The old woman didn't respond, but just bowed her head and secretly glanced at Luna.

“I'm sure you're already aware of what your father and I agreed upon. But I don't know if I should call what we discussed an agreement because I'm asking for a gift from him, and that's you. You're the gift he gave from me, am I right, Don Ferrer?" said the king, which surprised the two where they both turned their eyes to their father and couldn't believe that was the reason for their arrangement marriage with the king. Don Ferrer didn't respond, instead he just bowed and looked away from his two daughter. Luna turned her gaze to the king again when she felt him grab her right hand. In her shock, she accidentally pushed the king hard, causing everyone to be shocked by her mistake. Many people were angry with Luna because of what she did to him, but the king just ignored it and stood up as if nothing had happened.

“Forgive my daughter misbehavior, Your Highness.” Don Ferrer said to him as he knelt in front of the king, where his two daughters witnessed it. Instead of being angry at what Luna did to him, the king just forgives her and knew in himself that he was the one who made a mistake with the girl. He noticed that Luna was staring angrily at his father who was kneeling in front of him, and he was afraid that the girl might not like him if he made a scene that could make change her mind. 

That's why even though he was embarrassed by what happened, he tried to draw a smile on his lips, and then he approached Don Ferrer and then helped him stand where everyone was surprised because the real king they knew and spent several years with was not like that inside the palace. Even the gentleman couldn't believe what the king did to help him, that's why he became speechless and stunned by him.

“My fiancée's father shouldn't be kneeling in front of his soon-to-be son-in-law, am I right? We haven't even gotten married yet, but for me, you are already part of my family. So, I don't want to see what you did earlier.” The king said to Don Ferrer that he just nodded his head, and then he distanced himself from him. Luna turns at the king where she couldn't believe the scene he showed them all earlier where she knew he was just showing off to them because he didn't want everyone to think what kind of king he really is of this kingdom. However, she was also amazed at him because he was able to control himself just to not break the agreement he and his father had made. The king thought that the girl liked what he did, so he confidently smiled at her again and approached her. “I understand why you pushed me earlier. I was the first who made a mistake to you, so I should just apologize to you.” He added at the same time he bowed in front of the girl, which shocked them all. Luna grimaced, but she didn't make it obvious to everyone, but she just forced a smile on her lips.

“Please forgive me for what I did earlier, your majesty. I was only carried away by my emotions, that's why I did that to you.” She just said, and the king nodded his head.

“I understand, Jade.” The king replied to her as they stared at each other.

You will be able to smile at this moment but I will make sure that your smiles will also disappear before that day comes, Your Highness. Luna whispered from her mind while clenching one of her fists.