Chapter 61

' So…we called you here to make a very important announcement to you Son." The king said toian who was curious to know about what they and to say.
' We talked with Aurora's parents and we've come to a decision. You and Aurora will be getting married next year, right after college."
'What?"ian asked standing to his feet.
' Dad, isn't this too early? Is there something going on that I do not know about? How can you just get us married just like that?"
'ian!" the King's voice was loud and thunderous.
' I'm sorry dad but I can't…"
' Is it because of that maid of yours that you've grown those childish affections for?!" The King's words gotian stunned.
'But…but how…how did he know about Gianna?"
…
…IAN…
I have no idea who informed my dad about my feelings towards Gianna. I can't believe he's wanting me to get married right after college.
What's all the rush for?
I stomped out of his chambers as I heard my mother call me back but I didn't stop.
I got out and went to the car to meet Waylon already seated at the driver's seat.
' What's going on?" He asked.
' Just drive, I want to get out of here."
' Okay." He replied as he started the engine and headed towards the gate which he sped through when he heard someone yell 'Close the gates!!"
'Wow, that was close. Did you cause any trouble?" he asked the moment we were far away from the Castle.
' They want me to get married to Aurora next year right after college."
'What!?" He said and immediately stepped on the breaks to put the car to a halt.
' Yeah, and he knows about my feelings for Gianna too."
' How? Did he have people spying on you or something?"
' I have no idea Waylon, I just want to get out of all this. It's just too much…the weight keeps getting heavier."
' Don't worry, we will find whoever he has following you. I think that person might be very close to us than we think."
' I thought so too but who will betray as and be in dad's side instead?"
' He's the King remember? He can give an order and no matter how much faithful you are, you are obliged to do what he commands."
' I can't go on with this wedding. I just need something to stop it all. let's head back home and think of what to do." I said and he started the engine again as we headed to our lounge.
I sat in the couch, trying to figure things out, what if I take Waylon's idea of Gianna and I running away to where no one else can find us?
There's no way she's going to agree to that? Should I let them denounce me from crowned Prince and put Waylon in my place instead? No…he wouldn't want that.
I stood up and went out to get some flowers from the flower shop and headed to Gianna's dormitory.
I leaned against my car with the flower in the front seat as I brought out my phone to call her.
' Hello?"
' where are you?"
' I'm at the dorm…why?" ' Come outside."
' Our contract is almost over, I have just three days left and…"
' Just come outside, it's an order."
' Okay…I can't believe he keeps ordering me around after confessing his love to me. Ah he keeps on making me think twice about how he feels about me. Today he's all loving and the next he's his cold ordering self again."
I was still on the line, and I think she forgot to end the call, she'll come and meet me here.
I took a glance at my wrist watch and turned towards the entrance of her dormitory, there she was, in her white sweatpants and black comfy shirt.
When will she stop wearing sweatpants?
' Good afternoon." She greeted with a slight bow causing her hair to fall on her face.
' You are late."
' But you didn't give me a time to go by."
' So, you decided to take your own time and make me wait out here?"
' I saw your call the moment I got out of the shower and so I had to get dressed before coming out."
I twitched my lip into a smirk as I brought out my phone and played her voice which I recorded after the call.
She gasped and gulped as she turned to me.
' I'm wondering how much insults I've gotten from you after each call."
'Urrmm…urmm it's not what you think." 'Then…?"
' Errmmm…it's…it's …well you know I'm right about what I said. You keep on changing your mood. Even a girl in her period doesn't have that much mood swings."
'Hey…"
' Aren't I saying the truth?" ' No, you aren't?"
' Do you even love me at all like how you said?" ' Of course, I do!"
' I don't believe it."
' whether you believe or don't .I don't care as long as I Love...!" I said on top of my voice and she covered my mouth before I could utter the 'you".
' Omg…what are you trying to do?"
' What? I don't care if the whole school knows. My father knows about it anyway."
' What?"
' Yeah, he knows I have feelings for you and you have no idea how relieved I am that he knows. I don't need to hide it anymore." I blurted out and she looked and shook her head sideways.
' Okay then…I'm leaving." She said and was about to leave when I held her hand.
' Not yet."
'Why…I thought you were done?" she asked and I smiled as I opened the car's door.
'Ta-da!" I said handing over the rose flowers to her.
' Here…this is for you. I heard you love white roses." I said to her as I handed it over to her. She looked around nervously.
' Have you gone…I mean…you know…lost it?"
' Yeah I think I have. I've been doing a lot of weird things lately. Like thinking about you all the time, getting worried when I don't see you, watching cartoons and movies, thinking about what you like and dislike. I think I've finally lost it." I replied and she face palmed herself.
' Why give me flowers in the open like this while you're engaged to Aurora, they might think I'm
your mistress or there's something going on between us. You know how fast rumors spread here."
' Yeah, I do, that's why I did it. We do have something between us that we even kissed." I teased.
' Goodness, what do I do with you." She cried. ' Marry me!" I replied.
'Hey… please stop making my heart flutter continuously."
' I'm glad I did."
' Hurry and leave before your fiancé sees us." She said and opened the car door for me to sit in.
' Wanna come with me?"
' I'll pass. I've got bunch of assignments. Let's make it some other time ' She said with a smile.
' Okay then…do you want to go somewhere far away from here, where no one knows and it will be just the two of us living our lives together."
' Nope, do you think this is a drama where two lovers will flee, dude…this is real life besides I don't hate my mother and brother. There's no way I'm going to leave them behind and run away with a man. I have no idea which side of the bed you slept in last night but it seems your spewing out a lot of things that doesn't make sense."
' I guess you're right."
' Why do you keep saying I'm right?" ' I don't know."
' Just stop watching too much drama, it's not good for you. It's getting way into your head."
'okay…I'll try."
' I better get going now." She said and closed the door.
' Bye…see you later. ' I said to her and she nodded.
'I…love…you." I whispered to her before letting her go.
' Same here." She said and headed back to the dorm and I rode back to the lounge.
'Where have you been?"axel voice welcomed me.
' Just went to visit the love of my life." I said tossing myself into the sofa.
' The one who once said love was a child play and will never be a victim is now the biggest victim love could ever get." Waylon teased.
' Yeah, yeah I was wrong back then." I surrendered and they laughed.
' I heard the King knows about you and Gianna."axel said and I nodded.
' I have no idea who told him about us but then I'm kind of relieved about it." 'Why?"
' I'm not the only guy after Gianna's heart. If he gets to know about Thaddeus too them he wouldn't worry that much about me."
' I see. So, Thaddeus' feelings for Gianna can be a shield for you too."axel observed.
' How far finding the person?" I asked Waylon who heaved a sigh and placed the plate if grapes in his hand on the table.
' Nothing so far, it's like the person left no traces at all."
' I'm just wondering. Who could possibly inform the King about Gianna and I?" I wondered.
' That will be me!"
'Zoe?" We all said with surprise as we turned and saw her standing at the door way.
' But why?"
' It's for the best don't you think?" Zoe said as she walked to us.
' But how could you do that? I thought Gianna was your friend?" I asked totally puzzled.
' It's for the best. Imagine if Aurora got to know about it before the King. She was capable of getting Gianna mix clams in the soup she fed you with. She was capable of putting your life on the line to get her revenge. What do you think she would've done to Gianna if she was the first to find out?
First of all, the King knows about it and he knows that another man has interest in Gianna as well."
' I just don't understand why you did that." I said to her and she sat next to me.
' It's all for the sake of Gianna. You all have been asking me to spill out the truth but have you told
her about you being the Hoodie stranger she's been looking for? And you Waylon, have you told your brother about your crush on Gianna?axel, have you told them how sick you are of them for not tidying up the kitchen after they are done cooking?" she blurted out and we stared at each other.
She does know a lot of secrets and yet she's the youngest amongst us.
' See, everyone has a secret that they can't share because of its consequences. There's one thing that I can tell you, Auntie Laura's accident was a planned thing. She knew a secret which she shouldn't have confronted those with the secret and that same secret is what I have been hiding all this time."
' But why can't you just spill it out."
All this while, I was right about Aunt Laura's death been something planned by someone. That
accident looked too intentional for an accident.
' I just can't, I promised Auntie Laura to do that at the right time. It's a very dark secret that if I don't reveal it at the right time, I might lose my life or we might lose both Gianna and Mason."
'What!? What are trying to say…what do you mean by you might lose your life or loose Gianna and Mason?" I asked out of shock. What is she talking about?
' Zoe ah, spill it out already." I begged but she shook her head.
' I just can't, please understanding. When the right time comes you'll understand everything."
'Please don't be like this." We begged her but she wasn't willing to say anything.
' Just a hint Zoe, so I can protect Gianna when it's finally revealed." I pleaded with her and she sighed.
' it's the secret about the Queen of Sol Empire and Aurora and the true identity of the Han Twins(Gianna and Mason)". She replied and I was stunned as chills went down my spine. What does she mean by the true identity of Gianna and Mason?
...
…No POVs…
…Twenty-three years ago,…
Twenty-three years ago, a terrible calamity befell the Sol Empire kingdom when they lost the crowned Princess who died an untimely death and her younger sister had to take her place by her husband's side as an imposter.
Forty years ago, everything was going on right in Sol Empire, the King with the higher rank of power ruled over the kingdom and the second ranked King ruled over the lower region of the kingdom.
The higher rank King(King Edgar ll) had a son who went by the name Andres and the lower ranked King ( Zane) had two daughters, one was pure Royalty born of the Queen and King while the other was born through a wedlock when the Queen was unable to bore a child. She offered her servant to the King and she bore him a beautiful baby girl. But few months later, the Queen got pregnant and gave birth to a very beautiful baby girl. The Queen treated both girls with the equal amount of love and named them Ember(the Queen's daughter) and Arya(the servant's daughter). The servant passed away when her daughter was just two months old so the Queen took her in and raised her as her own.
Until one day, Arya got to know the truth about her real mother and began to envy Ember because she was mostly praised due to her flawless beauty and less attention was paid to Arya. She Began to resent the Queen and Ember and blamed them for her mother's unfortunate death. She secretly wanted to take Ember's place no matter what it took her because she felt the birth rite was given to Ember instead of her.
They turned twenty-one and it was time for them to get married, that was when Prince Andres began to have interest in Ember whilst Arya had strong affections for him.
'Why do I always not get what I want? First Ember gets to be the crowned Princess and now she's stolen the heart of the man I love. Why? Why? Is it a sin to be born of a servant? Am I not Royalty as well?!" She cried out to her friend Kylie.
' Calm down Arya…you shouldn't be like this." Kylie tried to console her.
'Calm down?! Don't you see what's going on right now? The man I've loved since I turned five is going to get married to my younger sister instead and you ask me to calm down? I've had everything I love taken away from me. What wrong have I done to deserve all this torture!!"
'Arya-ah…"
' I wish she just dies!'
'What if we have her die instead?" Arya suggested. ' What?"
'Yeah."
'With that look, on your face it seems to have some plan on going in your mind already." Arya said to Kylie who smirked gleefully.
' Don't you want to be by the side of the man you love? You've always envied her looks and wished you were the one being adored for your looks.
Don't you want that?"
' Yes, I really do but she's still my sister."
' You are the King's first daughter and you should be the one enjoying all that she's enjoying right now. You should be the one on that throne as the crowned Princess and getting married to Prince Andres instead of her."
Arya was silent for a while and thinking hard about what her friend just told her.
' We can fake your death and put her in your place instead and get you a face just like hers that no one will be able to recognize that it isn't you."
' Are you trying to say that I should get a plastic surgery to look just like her?"
'Exactly, how much is plastic surgery? You've got millions in your account. I know a professional surgeon who can make you look exactly like her and no one I'll notice."
' But I'm scared, I've heard of people dying from this. Some don't even don't survive through it."
'Arya-ah…don't be a cry baby. Do you want this or not?"
'I really do but."
'No buts, leave the rest of the plan to me and I'll arrange with the surgeon and when the time is right, I'll have you do the surgery."
'But they might think I was up to something if she suddenly dies."
'Don't you worry about that. Why do you think I have you going to the surgeon out of time."
' You're so bad, aren't you?"
' I know right. Thanks to me, you've gotten very far through high school and college as well."
' I won't deny that I owe you a lot. You were the first friend I made in High school and you're still by my side. You have no idea how much you mean to me Kylie."
'Aww…you're going to make me tear up. Come here." Kylie said as she pulled Arya in for a hug.
They disengaged the hug when they were told that they were needed downstairs by the King and Queen to prepare the place for Ember's wedding the following day.
' You look so stunning sis." Arya said to Ember.
' Thank you so much. You have no idea how much your words mean to me. You look absolutely stunning as well." Ember complimented her sister.
'Not as stunning as the bride to be." Arya replied and they both giggled.
As they arranged and helped in decorating the church for the wedding the next day, Arya had what Kylie suggested creeping into her head. With a glance at her sweet and lovable sister, she thought twice of it and when her gaze met Ember's smiling face she lost the strength to resent her and smiled back weakly.
' Auntie…are you alright?" Ember walked up to Arya and asked.
' Oh…me...I'm alright." Arya said forcing a smile. ' You look pale. Are you sure you're alright?"
'Of course, I am, it's probably because I didn't have enough sleep last night. I'll be alright."
' Why don't you go and have some rest then. Mom and I will take care of everything. Why don't you go and have some rest?" Ember suggested.
' Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I really want to help in decorating here for your big day tomorrow."
' But you don't need to stress yourself about it. Besides, it wouldn't be a big day for me if you are not feeling well tomorrow so please go and get some rest before I call mom on you."
' Alright…alright, I guess I can't beat you at this. I'll go and get some rest since you insist." Arya replied with a smile and left for her room.
' What's wrong with Arya?" The Queen asked Ember.
' She's feeling a little unwell so I asked her to go and have some rest."
' Oh my, I better go and check up on her." The Queen Said and Ember nodded in agreement.
The Queen quickly went to check up on Arya and stayed by her side till she was feeling a lot better.
' Mom…" Arya called when she woke up.
' My baby how are you feeling now?"
' I'm a lot better. I can't believe Ember informed you after asking me to get some rest."
' You know your sister already. She's always over protective about you. Here, I made your favorite time porridge with honey." The Queen said as she took the bowl of porridge from the table.
' Mom…"
'Shh, just have some and feel better so you can be by your sister's side tomorrow okay."
' Sure." Arya replied and the Queen fed her with the porridge.
So many thoughts went through her mind. She felt resentment towards the people who have always treated her as their own and she didn't understand why. She had the great edge to go with You Ri's plan.
She wanted to be by Andres's side no matter what and even if it required her to impersonate her sister, she would do that.
A part of her wanted it badly while another part of her was unsure, and as she pondered on this thoughts, Kylie knocked on her door.
' Are you feeling better now?" Kylie asked as she walked into her room.
' Yeah, it was just a mild head ache."
'Okay. So, have you thought about what I told you?"
' Hmmm."
' It's going to be easier since you two have similar slender body and height. You'll just need to work on just the face. You don't need to worry about the faking of your death because I'll have everything figured out before your surgery is done."
Arya walked to her dressing table and sat behind the mirror as she stared at herself in the mirror.
Arya's beauty was explicit and unique but then she envied her sister's fair gorgeous look with her own uniqueness that one can't pass by without staring at her.
' Are you sure that he can make me look exactly like her?" Arya asked as she took a picture of her and Ember which she kept on her dressing table and rubbed her fingers on Ember's face.
' Of course. He's even performed plastic surgeries for most of these celebrities. You know I always get and give quality. Trust me Arya, I'll make sure to help you get what's rightfully yours." Kylie whispered to Arya as she bent over her shoulders and looked at her image in the mirror.
' Then let's do it. I'm all in." Arya replied and a smirk drew at the right corner of Kylie's lip.
Two months after the wedding, Arya went on the trip to see the surgeon with an excuse of going on a holiday trip alone.
The surgery was done and she finally healed. She was astonished by the image she saw in the mirror before her.
' Do you like what you see?" the surgeon asked her and she smiled as she brushed her fingers on her new face.
'Kylie was right about you. I love what I see. Can you please ask Kylie to come in?" Arya requested and the doctor called Kylie in.
'Do you like what you see?"
' I love it Kylie, I love what I'm seeing."
'So, should I proceed with what we planned about?"
' Of course, I'll call my parents and inform them about my return. I trust you to make everything work out as planned."
' You can count on that then. I already have her on her way here. I'll call my boys to go ahead with the
work."
' She'll be at the beach by the time we get there and that's when we will proceed with our plan."
They both smiled at each other, knowing very well that innocent and free spirited Ember wouldn't hesitate when she hears of her sister been unwell and she will walk right into their trap.
That night, Ember went to the beach house she was told Arya was staying but there was no sign of her sister, she was worried and tried dialing Arya's number but it couldn't go through. She then found a note on the table which read,
' I can't take it anymore. Being insulted and dragged as a common servant's child who's nothing but a filthy half breed born through wedlock. I can't take the bad- mouthing any longer. I don't want to be the reason why the Royal family's name gets drag into the slumps. I'm sorry Ember,
if you're reading this right now then it means I'm not among the living any longer. Tell Mom and Dad that I am very sorry and that I love them so very much. I love you too Ember. Yours truly, Arya."
'Oh God, I hope she is okay. Please keep her safe, please God, please keep her safe." She cried as she paced back and forth. Her battery was running low, her network began to fail her and she had left her car at a washing bay some Miles away from the beach. With worry and fear, she walked to the seashore when she saw someone familiar walking into the sea.
'Arya-ah!!!" She screamed as she ran towards the person.
'Arya-ah!!!" she called and the person turned around. It was dark but she was sure it was her sister Arya.
'Arya-ah!!!" she screamed but then the person kept on going and walking into the sea.
As she was close to the person, she felt someone hit a stick at head very hard causing her to black out and dragged her out of sight.
All that while, it was Arya pretending to commit suicide and Ember fell for it due to the note she saw in the beach house.
Arya and Kylie hurried to the washing bay where Ember had kept her car and the man was convinced it was Ember because Arya looked just like her.
They drove back to the Castle and fakes tears.
' Ember!" The Queen went rushing to her and hugged her. Arya's lips twitched into a smile when she saw the Queen couldn't even recognized her.
'Mom…" She said between sobs as she handed over the note Ember found at the beach house to the Queen.
' I was too late mother, she…She…Arya…" she sobbed and the Queen shook her head sideways out of shock as she read the note.
'No…no…no… tell me this isn't true!" The Queen broke into tears.
' These were what we found at the sea shore. We've searched everywhere and she's no way to be found." Kylie said as she handed over Arya's wet clothes and the bracelet that Queen personally made for her to the Queen.
'No…no!!" The Queen cried out and Prince Andres hurried to her side.
Arya(now Ember) began to sob as hard as she could the moment she saw the King and Prince Andres approach them.
'Honey…are you alright?" Prince Andres asked her and she shook her head sideways.
' Arya…Honey…she...she…" She stammered and Andres pulled her into a hug.
'This is going easier than I expected." She thought to herself
' Please don't be like this, it will be unhealthy for the baby too." Prince Shyin Just whispered into
her ear and she gasped with her eyes growing wide.