Eighteen-year-old Camilla Valentino is having a hard time adjusting to the many expectations people have of her, specifically marriage. She admired her brother's love story and was happy for him and Flora. However, she knew finding such a love was h...
It suddenly dawned on Camilla as she put the puzzle pieces together. The royal sapphire that had been left behind and Dylan's sudden disappearance.
"Dylan didn't escape did he?" Camilla asked as she cocked her head to the side examining her mother. "You helped him leave. Did you make some deal with Hector?"
"It was the only way to get the sapphire back,"Rebecca said as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "He is gone now and that is all that matters."
"You gave the man I love to a monster!" Camilla cried out. "I hate you!"
Rebecca did her best to hold back her tears. "You may hate me all you want but I did it all for you. That man is out of our lives with no trace of a scandal."
"No trace of a scandal?!" Camilla could not believe her mother would stoop so low. "Hate to break it to you, but you told the world I was engaged. How will people react when they find out my fiancé has gone missing?"
"I have got that covered, my dear," Rebecca replied. "I announced your engagement, yes. However, I never said who the princess was engaged to."
Camilla furrowed her brows together. "What are you planning mama?"
Before Rebecca could answer, the door swung open and a familiar figure walked through the door. Camilla broke into a huge smile upon seeing the familiar face.
"Grandma!" She called out as she rushed toward her grandmother who she had not seen in ages.
Her warm embrace gave her all the comfort that she needed in that moment.
"My beautiful child, you have blossomed into a bellísima bambina (beautiful girl)," Guilia said as she caressed Camilla's cheek, but frowned when she noticed her granddaughter's puffy eyes. "What is wrong, my child? Why have you been crying?"
"Mama, let's leave Camilla to get ready before our other special guest arrives," Rebecca said as she ushered Guilia out the door. Both Guilia and Camilla were utterly confused.
Camilla did not have the chance to ask her mother what she had meant by her earlier statement. Lucia walked in shortly after the two elder royals left the room.
"I will help you get dressed your highness," Lucia said as she walked into the closet and pulled out a dress for Camilla to wear.
"Lucia?" Camilla called out to the maid as she was being dressed.
"Yes, your highness?"
"Who is this special guest that mama mentioned?"
"Viscount Guido, ma'am," the maid answered.
Camilla was shocked, but she knew what that meant. Her mother was planning on getting her married off to the second option—Miguel.
"All done," Lucia said as she finished patting Camilla's face with makeup. Camilla looked refreshed and there was no trace of her distress from the night prior.
Camilla walked toward the royal lounge and found her family there alongside Miguel. He looked ecstatic upon seeing Camilla. Hayden immediately rushed to his sister and pulled her into an embrace.
"Camilla, I do not wish for you to feel pressured into accepting this alternative," Hayden whispered to her as he hugged her. "I know mother is doing it for the sake of the royal image, but I want you to be happy."
The sake of the royal image. Camilla wanted to scoff at the thought. She wish she could change her life, but the sad truth was that she was a royal princess, expected to fulfill her role. No matter how much she wanted to be with Dylan, she knew that her title would never allow her to.
"Camilla, I know that this is all so sudden," Miguel said as Hayden pulled away from his sister. "But I feel like we both have a connection that cannot be ignored. It would be a great honor to cherish and love you for the rest of my life. Would you marry me?"
Miguel got on one knee and pulled out a velvet box. He opened it up and revealed a large diamond ring. Camilla opened and closed her mouth as everyone in the room watched her expectingly. Her mother's were burning into her head.
The duty of a princess is to marry and bring honor to her family. That was all Camilla was born to do.
"Yes," Camilla answered as she lowered her gaze away from her mother's piercing brown eyes.
Camilla did not feel a thing when Miguel pulled her close, kissing her cheek, happy that she had accepted his proposal. Her family walked to the couple, congratulating them. Camilla felt numb inside despite the forced smile she put on for show.
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Author's Note Well... Rebecca is being a bitch, but we have the Queen herself back and we all know she's going to out things in order. I know I said I would be updating more frequently, but I have a lot going on. I have two books on my other account, plus I just started my Fall Semester, so it has been quite stressful. I am going to try my best to get this book finished ASAP, but please bare with me. I will try to upload another chapter this month, I am not going to say the week because I do not know if it'll be possible, but I know that there will be another upload this month. I'll see you then my lovelies!
