Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

LUKE

I grip the file tightly as I feel the anxiety eating me out, slowly I feel the gravity pulling us down and-

"Mr. Stevens, are you alright?"

"I am," The words came out from my tight jaw as I tried to ease up my nervous stance. The feeling of bile rising up my throat is almost impossible for me to control. I hope, I can hold it for another five minutes. 

"I'm perfectly, fine. Thank you." I answer back at her with a smile, trying to resist the urge to gag. She nods back at me in understanding and I watch her took her place back on the front as she announce our landing.

"All passengers, please be informed that in any minute now, we would be taxiing down the airport. Fasten your seatbelt and just relax." She smiles at me and wink.

Oh, gals.

I was almost ready to throw up when there's sudden change. The plane started to shake vigorously as it prepared to land down. I can feel its wheels scrape as it rolled unto the port.

Then, all movement stopped. 

I can hear mutterings all around me as the passengers prepared themselves to go down the plane, attendants guiding them on the exit. 

All things that I should do as I go down the plane blurred past me. I was so used on going out and about that it felt like a breeze. Soon, I was situated on the back seat of a cab; the driver sneak past each vehicle, as a slight drizzle moisten my hair. Looking out the rolled down window, I glance down the street and smile.

This is the place where I truly belong: London. 

I arrived at my apartment just before it started to rain hard, my vest soaking. I was struggling to find the key so I could open the door when someone called my name. 

"Luke," it repeated. 

I turn to my left to see no one. "Who's there?"

"Mr. Lucas Hansel, I'm here to collect you as the king has ordered. " I watch as the wind blew, sweeping the dried leaves making them scrape on the pavement. A tall man stood there in front of me with his jaw tight, gold buttons traced his shoulder and pins littering his chest. 

He really is fit for some kind of a royal knight or guard. He' paraded himself too well.

"What? You've mistaken. I am Luke Stevens. Mister--?" I stared at the man as he bowed down in front of me.

"Argus Johansson, Sir. Call me, Argus." He smiled, looking me down and up, "I'm appointed by the king to fetch you."

"King? I thought there is only the queen?"

"Not the royalty of Britain, but of the French."

"Wait, they have a royalty?" he just nod at me, his face serious. 

"Okay, so why would the king be interested in me to order a guard to fetch me? I just came back from Germany. I don't need you to fool me, I have to attend to my company's needs..." I turn around and picked at my keys, trying to open my front door.

"But you are much needed on the palace, my lord. The king, he really needs you...and I am not kidding." He pleaded as he bowed once again.

"I don't understand." I turn back around and scrutinize him under my gaze. " Why would he want a commoner, like me, on his grounds? I'm barely recognized by any royalty, much more by the politics and the media...why the sudden change?" I arched an eyebrow at his direction, as I lean on my door.

"That, I don't know. I was just called to fetch, not to give answers. Come, the king is waiting." He suddenly pulled my hand towards my back making me struggled. A black limo came rushing down the road as Argus tied my wrist using some cable ties. 

"Urrgh, Argus! My company needs me now. You better make sure that all this is not just a prank!" I snap at him as he forced my head down. He open the door on the back seat. "Don't kill me...my company, it can't--"

"I'm sure that this is much more important than that of your dilapidated company." He smiled, showing off his silver teeth as he push me down the open door, "And may I just add, I am a royal guard. Not some random prankster or serial killer or whatever that floats in your boat...." With that, he locks the door and roll the window up.

Though before the engine started, Argus produce something from his pocket, smiling once again as he cover my eyes with the thin black cloth, "Uggh," I kick and trash around but it was such a very worthless act. Great...I'm kidnapped. I was thrown at the backseat with my eyes covered. Maybe it is for some prank or maybe for some kind of harassment then they will surely kill me...

"I guess, today is my lucky day..." I sarcastically say as he switch the engine on and drove down the city. 

•

I breathe a sigh when the engine stopped.

I could hear somebody talking with Argus as the back door open I was surprised when someone suddenly snatched me up and slung me on their shoulder like some kind of doll. I can feel his struggle as he shifted me and threw me on something flat; well, not actually flat because I can feel myself sinking and-

"Mornin', rogue... " I felt my eyes sting as I opened it into a bright room. I looked around only to see Argus standing on the far side of the room, eating some apple and a guy, whom I assumed is the one who carried me, sat beside me.

"What are we goin' to do with this, mate?" Oh yeah, a Scottish lad. Nice One!

"Wayne, will you just keep your mouth shut and wait for Genova to arrive? She'll be the one to take care on this. She will groom him just before six according to our timeline..." He said in a nonchalant tone, enjoying his apple as he took another bite out of it.

The two "royal" guards watch me like a predator unto their prey, observing every move I take as I struggled with the cable ties. I was almost delighted when the door opened yet, out came a dark and very healthy lady. Very, very healthy lady.

If you know what I mean.

"Such a delicious young man..." She licked her lips before she settled on the chair beside the bed, grabbing my chin, inspecting every inch of my face. "What a nice piece of sculpture. These features are rare, kept within the royalty for a long time hmm....and this nose and lips," She chuckled before taking up her pair of scissors and brush.

"Gentlemen, you may now leave the room. I'll take good care of this lad."

The two men look at me and back at her, giving me a thumbs up before they took an exit out.

•

As what Argus said awhile ago, I'm now prepared just before six. Genova really was good with her job, giving me a nice hair cut and a shave on my jaw. Though I am quite not sure if the blush on my cheeks is also one of her works.

I can't believe that I am wearing makeup. Funny, isn't it? I would've laugh at myself if I wasn't so nervous about meeting a royalty, much more for a king. 

The vehicle arrives not long after we went down the apartment. It was all just in accordance with their 'timeline'. Argus strapped me once again on the backseat right after he push me inside the limo. He closes the door before settling on the driver's side with Scottish lad on tow, chewing some gum as he sat on the passenger seat.

Does the guy ever stopped eating? 

The engine roared into life as Argus insert the key, he turn it on reverse and the adventure continues.

It was a long ride, trees outline the sides of the road as we go further out of the city, outside of London, before we stopped outside the main gates of the castle. It's far from what I imagine it was, far from the pictures or is this another version of the royal castle?

Of course. It's not the British royalty, it's the French. 

The gates opened as Argus entered the passcode. Two buff guys open my door and unstrapped me. They inspected my coat, then my trousers before they let me pass. Argus is

following me with Wayne in tow.

The interior of the castle is magnificent; the Victorian architecture well preserved by the keepers as time pass by. 

While walking down the hall, I cannot help myself but to reminisce the day; those days that me and my dad went out for trips or adventure, like what he calls it. 

The Cinco Maria, our ship. My childhood and teenage years; and also my mom and dad snatched away from me by that tragedy, the happening. 

I shook my head, not wanting another headache to come knocking inside my cranium, ruining my already blasted mood. 

Such a mess I had today...

I was distracted out of my thoughts when suddenly Argus opens the door. He wave his hands in and nods at me. "The king awaits your presence inside, my lord."

I took three steps forward and myself in absolute darkness as the door closed.

With my heart beating wild on my chest, I look around to see a bed on the far corner. The old man lying down on it, spoke "Son..."

I lean closer to him, feeling my eyebrows knit in confusion, "Did you just call me, son? Aren't you too old to be my father?"

He nodded as he let out a chuckle, his eyeglasses glistening as the light from the window reflects on it. "Ah, as straight forward as ever..." He push himself up and I was surprise when someone bolted on his side and fixed his pillow, "There...okay. Take a seat first, will you? Now, how do I start this..." He frown and scratch his head, his thumbs dancing as he began to wriggle his eyebrows, "Oh. Well technically, you are actually my grandson..." 

"And, you are my Grandpa? Ha-ha, that's very funny!" I clutch my hand as I erupted, laughing. I momentarily stop laughing to catch my breath and notice that the old man is staring at me. "You are kidding, right?" He shook his head a no as he continue to stare at me.

"But my father...he told me that he's an orphan. He escaped the his town because he is hunted by his dad..." I frown at him and phase, "This is all impossible! How come you didn't look for me? Why did you chose to meet me just now? Not twenty years ago after the tragedy? Surely you would have heard of it. Why now?" I stare at the man lying down on the bed with machines hooked upon his body. My anger was boiling up that I cannot help but throw word after word at him, not caring that he was a king. 

"We could've been saved. My parents would still be alive if you found us, and my sister...We could've grown together, spend our birthdays together. Maybe then, I wouldn't dawn into a decision that I should just leave her so she can have a good life. She wouldn't have to endure not eating three times a day. I wouldn't have worried about what will happen to me and to her if you only looked for us!" I rake my hands on my hair and wipe the tears that I didn't know had fallen. "You don't know how it kills me when I ran out of there; when I chose to not turn back even though my sister calls out to me..."

He grab my arm as he cried out, "My boy! I'm so sorry. It's all my fault. I am a selfish man. A very, very selfish man. I should be the one to be blame. Not the accident or the storm. It's I who planted this problem."

"What? What are you saying--I can't-" He look at me and sighed "About thirty five years ago, your father was the next heir to the throne. In accordance with the law, I forced him to marry a girl he doesn't want. Right before their wedding, he left. No note, nor trace. I've searched for him and return empty handed. He's a smart lad. You and him are very much alike..." He bowed his head and sigh. 

The lines on his face appear deeper than before. It almost made me pity him but knowing about this, my heart hardened. 

"I continue to rule, waiting for him to come back but then one night, I received a devastating news that made me howl in anger and guilt." He pulled a tattered newspaper beside him and handed it to me.

Prince Jacob III found!

After ten years of looking for the prince, there's a witness telling us that CINCO MARIA, the ship of the next heir to the throne, was found wrecked not far from the main port of Wales. 

Unfortunately, the prince and his wife, Joanna Rosabelle Jacques, were found dead on the wrecked ship. Though their children, named Lucas James Hansel and Mikaela Jane Hansel is assumed to have survived...

Continued search and rescue for the orphaned heirs' is done by the royal guards. Various agents are hired and sent globally for the search. 

The said heir, LUCAS JAMES HANSEL is needed immediately in the castle due to the feeble condition of the king.

"I've sent agents and guards to look for you and your sister after the happening. But then no one found you until last year, when Argus came barging inside my room, kneeling beside my bed to announce that you are found. I didn't recognize that it's actually you.." He gave me a smile but I cannot help it but gaze down only to reread the paper on my hand. "What can I say? I haven't seen you in real life. I don't have any current pictures to show to the media besides a picture of you when you were five. And Ela, your sister...I heard she's already married and had a boy of her own. I didn't even get to witness her wedding or even give her my blessing..." He pursed his lips and stared at me.

"I've waited for so long, my boy. My time, I know, is coming and 'tis almost done. As what is stated on the law, I'll have to leave you all of my properties, my position, right at this very moment. Here sign this..." His servant rose from his side and provide a couple of papers, handling it to me with a pen.

"But I just met you like, five minutes ago?" I push the papers off and stood from my seat. "I don't even know if you are telling the truth. How can you be so sure that I am the one you are looking for? I mean it's been one and a half decade! That boy in that picture is gone. I'm not the same boy, okay?" I lean down on his ear and whispered, "I'm happy to live my life. I don't want any complication ruining my career. I hope you understand but this is a lot for me to take in. You can't just go around telling someone that he's your grandson and the heir to your throne. We're talking about a whole kingdom, not just some bet on who will win on a football game..." I straighten up and look at him, "You're just so unbelievable! How can you entrust your whole kingdom to some random guy?"

"You are not random!" He rumbled, his voice vibrating inside the four walls of his room as he huff and puff. "You are my grandson! I know it from the very first moment I saw you here." He stated waving his hands in front of him as he struggled to explain. "That birthmark on your left hand shows it all..."

I glance down at my hand, a bruise-like pigment stood clear on the side of my hand, although I tried to cover it with a tattoo, it is still there. 

"How'd you know this?" I glared at him. He is really testing my temper.

"I have the same one..." He shows his hand and look at me, "It's our family's mark. Anyone who has it, is the next heir to the throne. The next king that is destined to lead my people will be the only one who would bear this mark." He pointed down on my mark and made me look at him by pulling me down, "Son, I have lost your father, I cannot bear to lose you too."

I pulled away and shook my head, "No. You just want me because I'm your only heir. That's the only thing important to you, your power and wealth staying within your castle. I-"

"Stop." He raised his hand and stared hard at my eyes, "My time is running out and so is yours. I need you to sign this so that everything will be in good hands when the time comes. Trust me, son, you need to do this. "

I look down at the papers as he pleaded; pure white stacks of documents placed between me and the man who claims himself as my grandfather.

I took a deep breath and weight the possible outcome of the situation at hand, my argument be on the losing or the winning side.

I know there will be nothing for me to lose yet there will be much to gain. Considering me as a royalty is a great boost on my ego but letting go of my simplicity is an insult to my personality. 

My principle is just to live life the way it was given to me. I don't strive for greatness nor power and wealth. But now? I'm appointed to be the next heir and rule a whole kingdom, much to my distress.

I frown and look at the desperate king, his pale blue eyes pleading behind those eyeglasses as he took each breath that his lungs can't simply take with just one pump, lips pursed, locked jaw, perked nose and the way he leans on the bed like a knight ready to fight. He really look like an honorable king even when he was feeble; it's in his blood.

And also my blood.

I stared down at the paper once again, my hands moving on their own accord as they grip the pen tightly, scribbling my name in every end of the page.

"Is this all?" I ask after finishing all the pages.

"Yes, son." He gave me a grin before nodding at his servant who scurried off with the papers on his hand. I was about to go out of his room and back to the hallway when he called out. 

"Wait...we are not finish yet."

I stared back at him as he struggle to breath evenly, "Did you read the agreement on the last page?"

"Do you mean the one that requires me to leave my small company?

"Yes, and the other-"

"The training and rehearsals for the--royal ball?" Oh, who the heck calls such party a royal ball? 

Royal...

"Indeed, it's very much needed for the other thing, my boy..." his eyes shone with mirth and excitement as he gestured his hand, urging me to go further.

"The maids? The cook? The suite? Visitors?"

"No...the other thing!" I just look at him with one eyebrow raised. Is this man a psycho? Maybe some kind of lunatic? Is he trying to play tricks on me? Even though he's a royalty, he needs medical attention real quick.

"What thing?" I exclaimed, looking at him, annoyed.

"The marriage!" He cried in excitement as he clasp his hands together. "The happening on which you'll be tied down."

Tied down?

TIED DOWN!

"Marriage? Marriage! You're kidding me, right? First, is a kingdom and now, a bride?" I just laughed at him with tears trying to escape my eyes with so much force I've exerted not only on my stomach but also on my face. 

"You. Are. Crazy!"

"I'm not. It's on the law, son and it's on the agreement you just signed. You cannot back off nor could you just ignore this. You need to find me a bride as soon as possible--"

"But how do I do that?" He look at me with his brows raised and a knowing smirk on his lips.

"You'll have to be with someone; have a girlfriend, introduce her to me but seeing that you're single, " He purse his lips and pointed his gaze at me, "We'll need to have the royal ball, which is next--"

"The royal ball?"

"Yep, the royal ball. All of the royal maidens around the world will be invited. Heiress to throne, princesses and such; every single women with a rank that is still single will be here at the ninth day of March in accordance to your thirty-third birthday." He smiled as he pat his other hand with his left one.

"But if I didn't find someone--" I purse my lips and began biting the insides of my cheeks.

"Simple. You'll be stripped out of your title, then your possession, and this family and last...you'll be killed, secretly." He look down on his hands as I back off, turning around to walk out the door and to the hall. 

Thinking about how I can find myself a bride, I took my phone out of my pocket, calling that particular person who could help me find one.

"Hello, Elle?"

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