CHAPTER TWO

“What did you just do there, young lady?” Her father’s hard voice echoed in the small room that she had just stepped into, breaking her temporary freedom. She didn’t know that she was being followed. “You acted like you’re not a princess in front of the prince!” He hissed.

He locked the door, afraid that someone would hear them. Behind him is her mother, just looking at her with her cold eyes, as if Hannah was just a commoner working for them. 

“I just did what I thought was right, father.” Hannah said calmly, as she fixed her gown.  

“Thought right?! That’s absurd! The prince was insulted because of your behavior!” Prince George raised his hand and made Hannah close her eyes, waiting for the slap.

This is also normal in the Ruiz household. Physical abuse was a normal punishment, especially if you didn’t meet their expectations or if you didn’t do well.

But after a few minutes, a slap wasn’t heard. “You should be thankful; the Prince of Norway is looking for us right now.” He said harshly.

That’s the time her mother was walking towards them. Her cold aquamarine eyes landed on her side. The only physical attribute that she inherited. Sadly, she has a strong resemblance of her father.

“Fix your dress and your attitude, young lady. This is the engagement party of Prince Flint Vergara.” Her mother repeated the briefing she’d done with Hannah a few minutes before they came, “This party was held because he wanted to choose a bride from their beloved guests.”

Queen Ellena said, as she helped her daughter fix her hair.

“The duke will be calling all the young maidens to go to a certain room for a personal interview.” Just as she thought that was it, she heard the soft but authorative voice of her mother, “Don’t let us down, Hannah. Don’t waste all the lessons that we thought you would. From manners to attitude. Understood?”

She heaved a sigh and nodded, as if she had a choice. 

“Yes, mother. I understand.” She said it as softly as she could.

“Good. Now, let’s go.”

Her parents accompanied her through the wide ballroom. Soft, mellow music was playing where most of the guests were dancing as they entered the hall. Some also greeted her parents, saying how lovely that they were complete.  

They really don’t know what the real score is with this family, huh? 

People thought that the Ruiz’ had it all. Successful business, all individuals in the family tree were all have finished their respected educational degrees and helped improve the community, and, of course, a happy family. But it’s not.

Sure, successful businesses, sure, but some of their branches have experienced bankruptcy because of the internal fight between the relatives who are also part of the investors. They didn’t know that behind those charities and programs they supported was the opposite to what happened in their household.

It is actually ironic every time her parents make speeches to the public, supporting charities for abused women and children, when in their own household they are the abusers of their own child.

She can actually tell someone and call for some help. But even their own maids, cooks, and guards signed a nondisclosure contract about the secrecy and that tarnishing the Ruiz’s name by spreading rumors would lead to jail.

Hannah did that once. She was so young and naïve back then. Didn’t know that the world is so full of demons that she did bond with someone, sharing secrets and all.

But where did it lead her? To the bottom pit. While the other one seemed to be enjoying her freedom away from the hook of the Ruiz, she, on the other hand, was in the dungeon.

She was still on that darkest place of the earth, waiting for the bullshits that her so called parents would feed her. It still is.

She shook her head, erasing those thoughts away, as another couple greeted their family. Finally, they reached a certain room.

She took a great look at what was in front of her.

The room was similar to the past rooms she had seen. A huge classy chandelier attracted the spacy room. Paintings of the past kings and queens of Norway graced the walls. However, the walls were a deep shade of dark red and only the grand piano was present in the center.

Then she noticed many maidens were in this room. Some were giggling and chatting. They looked so excited to meet the prince. She sighed. She doesn’t even know or have seen this "Prince Flint" that they were talking about. 

The photos that were attached to the book were clearly taken when he was still a child. Seriously, is hiding the identity of a royal a trend these days? Hannah just winced and tried to correct her posture with confidence.

One value that she was thankful that her parents taught her was being confident in yourself, but don’t exaggerate it. People can always tell the difference between what is natural and what is not.

“We will leave you here, Hannah. Make sure to be a good woman in front of the prince. Don’t be so stubborn.”

She just watched her parents leave her with a lot of ladies that she doesn’t even know. She breathed, trying to relax her senses.

“Calling the attention of all the princesses, duchesses, countesses, and other royal maidens.”

A dark, low voice said, making her turn. There she saw a middle-aged man looking very serious. There is a scar in one of his eyebrows, making it look like it was sliced in half.

The golden lines that trace his suit lighten, and Hannah notices the sapphire ring that belongs to the Palace of Norway, which she noticed that was wore to the workers.

“It’s nice to see you all. I am Butler John.” She looked at the man beside him.

She arched her brows. The man looked too young to be the prince that they were talking about being wed. He was like, around her age. This must be the younger brother. His features, however, are similar to the current queen.

He has an androgynous face where soft features that were pasted on the hard, prominent jaw. He was wearing an all-black suit with a long coat that complemented his grey eyes. The amethyst-colored royal family crest was pinned on his right jacket.

“This is Prince Jet Cynate, younger brother of Prince Flint Onyx, the one who’s looking personally for a qualified bride.”

The maidens were whispering and giggling as they heard the prince’s name, while Hannah just looked in front of them.

“Prince Flint was asking a favor of Prince Jet. He’s the one who will choose the bride that will match the prince’s taste since, unfortunately, Prince Flint is so busy right now.” She can’t help but to arch her brow once more. What a douche.

“With all due respect, Butler John.”

All the people in the room became silent when someone interrupted. The people inside the room were looking at her side, puzzling her, until the thought dawned on her, I am speaking, holy shit.

Hannah silently winced for another reason that will surely make her parents berserk.

“Prince Flint, you said, was the one who was looking for a bride. That’s why we’re here.”

She already saw in her mind that her father wouldn’t be happy once he knew what ungracefulness she committed here. Nonetheless, her voice just kept on going.

“Then it’s his responsibility to face us here, not Prince Jet.”

She blew a breath as she stepped in front of the prince, who was looking at her amusingly, which was somehow a surprise. At least someone’s happy because of my carelessness.

“Tell your brother not to be a filthy coward in facing us.” She said and started to walk away, just as she remembered, “and don’t forget to tell him my name. Princess Hannah” 

“Hannah Antonyeite Ruiz.” She was shocked as to how the prince knew her name.

Not to mention he managed to pronounce it correctly. He even had a playful smirk on his handsome face. Later on, she smirked too.  

“We can be good friends from now on. You just pronounced my name correctly. Adéu.” She said goodbye in Catalan, her birth language; then left the room, leaving all the people there with their mouths half open.  

Her feet brought her to the back garden of the palace. She found a very enchanting fountain with an angel statue where the water starts to flow.

The lamp post from afar doesn’t help to see the fountain clearly. She just smiled as she watched the magnificent fountain.  

“A big palace can’t even put a lamp post on this place, huh.” She muttered as she walked towards the fountain.

“Because a princess like you should not be in this dark place.” A dark, husky voice came from the back, making her jolt. She turned around to face the intruder, but she couldn’t see his whole face because of the darkness.

“Who are you? And how did you know I’m a princess?” She hardly said anything when she smelled his manly scent.  He’s nearby! I don’t have a weapon with me! She silently screamed. Many thoughts immediately went through her mind.

She can definitely knock him down if she knows he’s body built. Hannah has a black belt in Taekwondo. She also knew how to use weapons, which is a must for royalty to know how to defend themselves in case of a situation just like this. 

Subtly as possible, she moved backward, wanting to be away from the intruder.

“It’s a royal celebration. No commoners were invited to this party.” He shrugged as she watched him move forward. Her feet seemed dead immediately because they didn’t move after he move.

She was just standing there stiffly, still trying to see a goddamn clue of who the trespasser was.

Damn, he has a good physical appearance! She muttered even though she just saw a brief outline of the shadow. The event was heavily guarded, so no one could enter uninvited. Thus, it's either a worker from the palace or a guest. She concluded.

She cleared her throat as she replied. “Right.” She just turned her head to the fountain again. She gulped and tried to act normally. “How could they make a beautiful fountain here if there were no lights in the night?” She whispered.

All of a sudden, the man moved towards her side, making her look at him on his way. The badge on his clothes shone when the ray of light from the lamp post hit him. Her brows arched, then later smiled wickedly. 

Bingo!