The passing of time had only deepened the profound grief that had shrouded the Roque couple. Every day seemed to be a struggle, with each moment an agonizing reminder of the life that they had lost. For Lili, it was like watching a slow-motion tragedy unfold before her eyes. She could barely bear to see her friends in such a state of despair.As she stood by the graveside of their beloved Cris, her heart ached with a sorrow that she could not fully comprehend. The world around her had lost its luster, and the once-vibrant hues of life had been replaced by a somber, gray pallor.But despite the overwhelming sadness that threatened to crush her, Lili knew that she had to keep going. She could not allow her grief to consume her, not when her step-parents needed her now more than ever.With a sense of grim determination, Lili set about fulfilling her obligations. She cooked their favorite meals, did their chores, and tried to keep the house in order, all while struggling to come to terms
Three years had passed since Unah had officially become Queen, and Leon had taken over the throne of her father. Though she had lost her father to heart illness, her mother had made an admirable recovery, and was currently holding Unah's one-year-old child in her arms."The little prince is truly a naughty one," Unah’s mother complained with a smile, as she gazed down at the child's soft, rosy cheeks.Unah couldn't help but smile at the sight, as she reached over to touch her child's cheek. "My little prince looks very handsome, he takes after me," she said."If he’s handsome then he takes after me," someone suddenly interrupted.Unah's mother exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty!"Unah turned to see her husband, Leon, grinning from ear to ear. "Mother, can I spend time with my Queen?" he asked.She nudged Leon playfully, "What are you saying? Mother is already tired. Let's take care of our child," she said.But her mother just smiled, "What are you talking about? I'm happy when I tak
ALMARIOThe sun shone over the village, casting a warm glow over the busy streets. Lili strolled through the town, taking in the sights and sounds of her hometown after being away for so long. As she walked, she recognized the faces of strangers and old acquaintances, all of them engaged in their daily activities.Nostalgia overwhelmed Lili as she journeyed through the neighborhoods and greeted the familiar faces. Some people seemed surprised by her unbridled excitement, but most of them smiled and returned her gesture with warm greetings upon recognizing her. This gratified Lili, and the nods and warm welcomes made her feel content.On her route to her old neighborhood, her neighbors, astonished by her unexpected return, called out to her."Is that Lady Lili?" shouted one neighbor, her voice ringing out across the street."It is," replied another. "My my, how you have grown, child."Lili couldn't help but beam with pride and elation as they complimented her. It felt great to be back a
The Crown Prince's decision to leave the Palace was a welcome change from his monotonous life, and he relished the thought of getting a sniff of fresh air in his village. Accompanied by his trusted escort, General Alfonso or Master Ken as he was fondly known, the Prince strolled nonchalantly through the lanes of Almario Village. Despite the warmth of the day, Master Ken remained his stoic self, his handsome looks and robust physique betraying his inner calm.“Where are we going, Your Highness?” The Prince stopped walking and gave Master Ken a bored look. “In heaven, you like?” As they walked, a tantalising aroma wafted through the air, drawing the Crown Prince's attention. His eyes widened in anticipation as he spotted a bustling eatery nearby, heaving with customers devouring steaming plates of local delicacies.Without a second thought, the Prince declared his keenness to dine there. “I want to eat.” He blurted, but Master Ken stopped him. “There’s a lot of people, your highness.”
“What is… your name?” queried Lili with a sweet smile.Her question was met with a cold stare from the young man, his face hardening. "Why would I tell you?" he snapped.Lili's brow furrowed in confusion, "If you won't tell me your name, then how should I address you?"The young man let out a deep sigh of irritation. "This will be the last time we meet. So I don't see why it matters."Lili was taken aback by his snobbishness, and couldn't help but pout. Suddenly, she threw a bag of fruits at him. To her surprise, he managed to catch it, albeit clumsily."Seriously, Lili? Did you intentionally throw this bag of fruits at me?" he said, his voice sharp with annoyance.Lili chuckled, "Why don't you just be grateful that I'm giving you free fruits?"The young man frowned, "What makes you think I need your gift?"A hot blush crept across Lili's cheeks. She could sense hostility in the young man's stance. Desperately trying to ease the tension, she offered the bag of fruits again."Just take
Lili's eyes widened with shock and recognition as she locked gazes with the Crown Prince. The man standing before her was the very one she had met in the forest scantly dressed in the garb of a commoner. But now, he was unrecognizable – adorned in a regal costume reserved only for the highest positions in the land. She couldn't help but gulp in surprise, barely managing to look away from his intense gaze.The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was just as astounded. "Is she your daughter, Minister Roque?" he queried, still not quite convinced he was seeing the same girl from the forest."Yes, Your Majesty," replied Minister Roque with pride. "She studied abroad and is now a practicing Cardiothoracic Surgeon. I trust her completely, and I hope you will too," he added, his voice reverent.The Crown Prince fell silent, his gaze never once leaving Lili. The minister and his right-hand man exchanged glances, uncertain of what was going in the Crown Prince's head. With a cold voice that caught
Lili was taken aback by the Crown Prince's compliment, her heart racing as he smiled sweetly at her.“W-what?” she stammered in disbelief.He looked back at the river, filled with colorful butterflies, “Beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked, referring to the scenery and not Lili.Lili felt a blush creeping up her cheeks, realizing her mistake. She was embarrassed, but relieved that he hadn't been talking about her. “Yeah, it’s beautiful,” she agreed.The Crown Prince turned back to her and his eyes slowly moved from her head to her toes, admiring her. “You look like a human now,” he remarked.Lili pouted, “Of course, I’m a human. Do I really look like a monkey to you? Are you having an eyesight problem?” She then shifted her attention to him and observed his attire. “Anyway, you look like a royal guard.”The Crown Prince's expression turned furious, “What did you say?”Lili, oblivious to his anger, continued with her statement, “I mean, the way you're dressed is exactly like Master Ken.”He s
The atmosphere was rife with excitement as Minister Roque's birthday celebrations unfolded. The extravagantly designed garden exuded a vivid ambiance with its vibrant lights and sweet aroma of mouth-watering food. The guests indulged in a festive mood, soaking in the vibrant music that rang through the air and sharing joyous moments. Amidst the throngs of attendees was His Highness, the Crown Prince, who graced the occasion with his presence. Seated at an outdoor rectangular table was a group of friends, elatedly enjoying the splendid party and the tempting drinks.Lili was surprised when the Crown Prince called her by her name, a departure from his usual reference of "newbie" to her. Her heart filled with delight as she savored the moment. Introductions were made, and they settled down to continue the celebration.Cris didn't want to sit beside Lili and was seated next to Mahara, leaving Lili to sit beside her. The Crown Prince was seated between Avoi and Thone, who was attempting to