Theodor

I never knew a motherly love. Or at least i am uncapable of recalling it. My father and mother held each other dearly. They were the exact meaning of love birds for they were deeply in love. They were planning to give up everything for the sake of their love but faith had another plan.

My father was an illigetimate prince since he's the son of the Emperor and a commoner. He fell in love with a servant and decided to get married secretly. He then baught her a house where he could visit her. She then got pregnant with me, then my other siblings without anyones consent.

After four years of their secret marriage, the former empress discovered it and got rid of my mother. And as members of the royal family, we were brought immediatly to the royal palace.

And even then, my father still managed to protect us from the cruelty of the court and the royalties. He loved us with all his hearth. He used to tell us stories about our mother. How they used to sneek out of the palace and go watch a ballet or a theather. How sweet, gentle and hopefull she was till the last day of her life. She faught for their love but the empress' power was much stronger.

"Love is a strengh. We need to be strong to feel it." This is what she used to say when things went wrong for them. She was a fearless woman even when at her lowest. That's what father loved about her the most.

But after her death, he only has us. Me, Romeo, Leonardo and Danatella. And we only has him. Well, we had him. But not anymore. I couldn't bear the thought of losing him so suddenly that i wanted to end my life. Me and my sister. I wasn't thinking then. Pain consumed me that i couldn't think properly. I felt darkness pulling me deeper than an ocean can. My head was spinning that my vision wasn't clear. I suppose Danatella felt the same as she asked me if we can end this suffering. She then cut her wrists and just when i was about to do the same, Valeria, my cousin bargged in and took the knife from my hand. She was the last thing i saw before darkness chased my sight and then i felt nothing.

She saved my life. If she didn't come i would've been dead two months now. I can never repay her. Not in a lifetime. Not in another life. It's a big deed that it's impossible to repay. I never noticed her. I always thought she was a "royalty". But she was different. She was sweet, crazy, brave and strong. Just like my mother. She enjoyed reading books that makes her cry. She enjoyed morning walks in the gardens. She is everything that makes me imagine how my mother looked like.

She used to be nothing. And now she is everything. I used to not see her. Now i only see her.

How come i never noticed her?

"Informe the princess that i came." I don't know how i found myself infront of her chambers, commanding her guards to summon her for me.

Strange, is it not?

"I'm afraid the princess had long ago left her chambers, your highness."i frown.

"Where to?"

"To the royal gardens, your highness."

"Thank you."

I run to see her. As i enter i find her sitting in a wooden chair. Reading a book, and... crying?

Of course.

She notices my presence so she wipes her faces with her hands and stands up facing me while giving me the brighest and most sincere smile.

"A sad book. Hein?"

"No, it has a good ending. It's just the beginning that's sad."

"How do you know how will it end when you're at the biginning?"

"That's not my first time reading the book." She says as she slighly blush from embarrassment.

"It must be a hearth-catching book that you would read twice."

"It's the third time." She corrects me proudly as i chuckle at her comment.

"May i join you?" I motion to the empty seat next to her.

"Of course, Theodor."she said softly as her voice rings in my head like a simphony. Now that she said my name it's my favorite. I thought i can't love her anymore than this but everytime i hear her voice i fall in love with her as if it's the first time.

I sit next to her as we talk for hours. It felt like an internity. Or was it just a couple of minutes. I can't recall for i lost track of time. I think i finally have a will in this life. Love and cheriche Valeria with all my hearth.

"I heard you don't join the council's meeting anymore. Why is that?" I used to go to please my father, and because i had ambition to change the world. But when he died i felt like some things are meant to remain unchanged. And so i quite going to those meetings.

"I don't think it's my thing. I used to attend to please my father but now i don't need to." She looks at me with worried eyes.

"What?"

"Listen, i want you to always stay true to yourself at all costs."

"I will."

I will. Because she asked. She is my everything and so i will. But why did she feel the need to say that.

I notice that her face is still wet from crying so i offer her my handkersheif.

She took it and wiped under her eyes.

"I'll give it to you when i clean it."

"No, it's yours now."

"No no. I insiste."

"And i insiste back." She giggle as i struggle to keep myself from staring at her.

Beautiful.

"All right then."

"How is your brothers faring. It's been so long since i last saw them."

"They're well. But Leonardo became the swordmanship tutor of newbies in the castle, so we don't see him much as he's all the time at work."

"He works with my sister?"

"I guess so since she's the head of castle's army."

"Well, she works all the time too."she says saddness visible in her feathers.

"She may be a potential heir for her hardwork."

"But she's the head of the military and a very skillful swordman that the country rely on so why would the emperor sacrifies such skilles so for her to be the crown princess."

"As i recall, she is also a good mastermind. Do you happen to know the case with foreigner kingdoms who wanted to attack?"

"Yes i do. The one where the duke failed in his mission."

"Well, yes he did because of a simple misundrestanding. But anyhow, she also handled it well according to the emperor."

"Yes. But even if she might be a potential heir she would refuse. She thinks she isn't fit for ruling."

"Not everyone is fit for ruling so i undrestand her opinion."

"Well, now if you excuse me. I have a meeting with some investors." She says as she gets up.

What i also love about her is that she doesn't rely on anyone to get a fortune. She is now known as the business genius who is becoming the top 1 in the list of businessman and the richest woman in the country.

"Of course. If you want i can see you off."

"No need for that. Have a good day."

She left me with a million thought of how i should become a man worthy of her. She is the future and the light of the kingdom. She's as bright as the sun of noon. But me. I am nothing like that. Quite the opposite indeed.

What should a man like me do to get a woman like her?

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