4

Sitting beside the Prince whose name I found out to be Estefan, was my sister who wouldn't stop talking about her newest contract with The Empire's Fashion house just to impress the prince and the family. The prince, on the other hand, looked like he would rather be anywhere else as he kept his face stoic and expressionless.

I leaned closer to Princess Esmeralda who I know is younger than I was and whispered, "Does he ever smile or talk? Cos he hasn't said a word since he got here."

"That's how he is, he doesn't talk unless it's necessary and for the smile, I have never seen him do that," she whispered back and I nodded.

"Why don't we move to the dining table for dinner?" My mom stood up and ushered our guest to the dining room.

Leah clung to Estefan as she continued to brag about the endorsement deals she has signed that year while I walked quietly behind them.

"This dish is amazing." King Estevan said as he finished his food. "Mrs knight, you are a wonderful cook."

Thank you, your highness." She chuckled. "I would love to take the credit but I didn't prepare this, Rhea did," my mom said, making everyone's attention turn to me for the second time tonight.

"Wow, that's wonderful." He beamed at me. "It's really hard to see a woman of your status who is interested in cooking and other house chores."

I smiled and looked down at my food to avoid everyone's stares.

"Rhea, if you are not too busy tomorrow, do you mind taking me out on a tour?" Esmeralda asked giving me puppy dog eyes.

She chose the wrong person to make a such request from. "I would love to but I can't leave the house." I gave her a sad smile.

"Why can't you leave the house?" King Estefan asked before turning to my dad. "Don't tell me you still ground her at this age?"

"It's not like that, your highness." My dad shook his head. "Rhea has agoraphobia, that's why she doesn't leave the premises of the house and also the reason why we have limited staff roaming around the house."

The King nodded in understanding but Esmeralda turned to me with a confused look. "What's agoraphobia?"

"Agoraphobia means Fear of crowd. I can't stay in a place with more than ten people, so I don't bother to go out."

"So you stay at home every day?" She asked in surprise and I nodded. "Don't you get bored? I can't survive staying indoors for a whole day."

"I've been staying in this house every day for twenty years, so I'm used to it." I shrugged. "I wonder what it would feel like to go out of the house."

"Haven't you tried getting rid of the Fear? Like going for therapy?" King Estefan said with concern laced in his voice.

"I've tried to help but my dear parents refused to let me because they are scared that something bad would happen to their baby." Leah inputted.

"That's sad," Esmeralda said with a sad expression on her face.

"I honestly don't feel sad about it, since it has become a part of me." I shrugged and focused on my food as Leah changed the topic to something that doesn't involve everyone paying attention to me.

Her story seems to captivate everyone except for the Ice prince. By Ice Prince, I mean Prince Estefan. I could feel his cold stare boring into my skin, so I looked up only to meet his amber eyes boring deep into mine. Feeling uncomfortable from the eye contact, I averted my eyes from him and tried not to look in his direction again even though I could still feel his eyes on me.

All the organs in my body did a happy dance when the dinner ended and the Spanish Royal Family proceeded to leave. I wasted no time in bidding farewell to them and rushed back to my room; my comfort zone.

In the next few minutes, I heard footsteps coming towards my room at a fast pace before I knew it the door yanked open as Leah rushed inside, squealing and mounted on my bed.

Resting my back on my headboard, I gave her a bored look, pausing my actions on my phone. "What got you all excited?" I asked even though I had a feeling that her excitement has something to do with the Spanish Ice Prince.

"Prince Estefan gave me his personal card." She shoved to my face a white card designed with a Crown and Spain Flag.

"Did you ask for it or did he just decide to give it to you?"

"I asked for it. But the point is he gave it to me, that means he's interested in me, right?" She gave me a questioning look.

"Well, it's hard for him not to be since you bragged about yourself during the whole dinner.

"Was I too much?" She scrunched her face.

"Yes, you could have at least asked him about himself which I'm sure he wouldn't answer because he didn't say a word throughout the dinner. But you could at least try."

"I know but when I start talking about myself, I can't seem to stop." Her shoulders fell.

"That's because you are so full of yourself." I shook my head. "You know, it shouldn't be heard of that I, who spent twenty years of my life staying within the four walls of this house, am teaching you how to relate with people."

"I know, right? I'm such an idiot." She face-palmed herself. "But no worries, since I got his card, I'll get another chance to redeem myself." She smiled.

"That's good for you ." I brought my phone back to my face. "If you are done, you can leave now."

"So disrespectful." She tsked. "Just wait and see how I make Estefan fall for me and make me his Princess, then you'll learn to respect me."

"I wouldn't respect you even if you become the Queen." I scoffed.

"You just wait till when I get married to the Prince," she said on her way out.

I couldn't wait for her to get married and finally leave this house. Sometimes it was fun to have her around but most times, it was annoying especially when she invaded my personal space.