I chewed on my food like I wasn't myself. Until now, I felt like I could still feel Maximus' lips kissing mine as if it was the sweetest lips he had ever tasted. Weird and delicious feelings engulfed my whole system just by remembering about it. I couldn't believe that he has this kind of effect on me and it's scaring me more and more with each passing day.

"Are you listening to me, cucciola?" I blinked innumerably upon hearing my grandfather's voice. My cheeks flushed. I lifted up my gaze, intending to answer his question when I saw someone enter the door. Maximus.

That weird sensation that I was feeling became even more intense upon seeing him. I've been trying my best to avoid him these past three days because of embarrassment. I reciprocated his kisses at the lake as if he was my lover and I couldn't believe it. Sita even caught us kissing but thank God, I didn't have to worry about it because I knew that she's not a blabbermouth.

"Pardon me, Signora, Signor. I just came back from my morning jog when Sita came to tell me to come here."

"Oh, don't worry about it, Mr. Vázquez. Come on, join us." My forehead knitted together when I heard what my anonn just said. Maximus' gaze landed on me and I saw mixed emotions that passed through his eyes. Excitement and longing?

I mentally shook my head. No! No! You're just imagining things Athena! For Christ's sake, stop it! I chastised myself inwardly and averted my gaze from his.

I saw from the corner of my eyes that he sat on the chair across me and then started getting food for himself.

"So, tell us about yourself, Mr. Vazquez." My anonn said after that.

"Yes, Mr. Vázquez. I'm sure, there's a lot of interesting things about you." Unnon agreed. My forehead crinkled even more. Maximus was about to answer but I spoke.

"Anonn, unnon, why are you interested in his private life?" I asked them in disbelief. My grandpa laughed in amusement.

"Because we want to get to know him better. He's your PRB and there's nothing wrong if we want to know some things about him." I was about to answer when Maximus spoke.

"Don't worry, Your Royal Highness. It's okay with me. There's no harm done." His eyes were sparkling with amusement.

"I'm not worried about you!" I hissed like a child and it was already late when I realized that I was acting one.

"Loosen up a bit, cucciola. You don't have to be upset." Annon said but I chose to not comment any further. I didn't want to ruin our breakfast. After that, Maximus started telling some things about him.

"Well, my life is boring and there's nothing interesting about it. I grew up without a father while my mother passed away when I was still a child. I grew up at different foster homes and orphanage until I was old enough to finally leave." I almost gasped because of what I heard him say.

I've never thought that his past was like that. Even my grandparents went silent for a couple of seconds. Looked like they never anticipated that his past would be that sad.

"Oh, I'm sorry for making you remember about it again, Mr. Vázquez." Maximus smiled.

"Don't worry about it, Signora. No harm done. In fact, because of what I've been through that I am what I am today. Yes, it was hard to be on my own for so long, but I learned to be stronger and braver to fight life. Yes, it was tough, but now, I could use everything that I have learned to face all the hardships in life."

"You're such a brave person, Mr. Vázquez, and I admire you for that. Most of the people who have had tough past don't want to remember nor talk about it with other people. But you, you're different. Your positivity towards life is admirable." My unnon answered.

I looked at Maximus and I noticed the pain in his eyes before it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. My heart sank. I could tell that he's still affected by it even though he was trying to appear okay.

When my mother died, I felt like it was the end of the world for me. It was so hard for me to move on and accept it. I thought, I wouldn't be able to get out of the dark that I was in, but slowly, I've been trying to do so even though it was too hard.

"Enough of this sad topic. The important thing is you're here and fine. What about now? How did you end up being Athena's PRB? I'm sure that you underwent a special training at the Royal Army Academy to be able to be one." It was my anonn.

"Well, I can say that it was my destiny to be Her Royal Highness' PRB. Yes, I underwent a special training at RAA and it was tough but at the same time, it was worth it." He uttered the last sentence while staring into my eyes and that sent me delicious sensations throughout my body.

"What do you mean by worth it?" Maximus smiled at my grandparents meaningfully.

"Because I get to do what I want. They say that a job is more rewarding if you're enjoying every minute of it." Unnon laughed.

"You're right, Mr. Vázquez. If you enjoy what you're doing, the time passes by so quickly. It doesn't feel like a responsibility because you're doing the thing that you love."

"Yes, Signor. You're right." I almost rolled my eyes because of how polite Maximus was. He sounded like a good boy talking to my grandparents but whenever we're together, his naughtiness comes out.

Their conversation went on, but I remained quiet. I continued eating my food until I finally finished.

"Anonn, unnon, I'm finished. I'll just go back to my room."

"Already? Why don't you stay and have a chat with us? You've been awfully quiet since a while ago. Are you okay?" My anonn asked worriedly.

"Don't worry about me, anonn. I'm fine." I then called for my nanny Sita to help me go back to my room. When we reached my room, I just brushed my teeth and then told her to bring me to the garden. When we arrived there, I told her to leave me there. I wanted to be alone.

When I was left alone, I opened the book that I was holding and then started reading it. But to my irritation, someone arrived.

"Are you avoiding me, mi hermosa?" My heart skipped a beat upon hearing his voice. I gathered myself together and then turned my head to look at him.

He has his hands in the pockets of his pants while staring at me intently.

"Why are you here? Are you done impressing my grandparents?" I asked sarcastically and then closed the book that I was reading. He chuckled and then started walking closer towards me.

"Impressing? I don't think I was doing that." I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Oh, really now? Whatever." I was about to maneuver my wheelchair out of there, but he blocked my way.

"Are you mad at me? It's been three days that you've been avoiding me." I averted my gaze.

"I don't know what you're talking about. Why would I avoid you? Don't think too highly of yourself." I answered tauntingly and then bravely met his gaze. His eyes sparkled with obvious mischief.

"Hmm. If you're not really avoiding me, then let's go for a walk." Before I could answer, he went behind me and started pushing my wheelchair.

"Maximus! I didn't agree to this! I am reading so leave me alone!" I rebuked but he just laughed and ignored my protest. He continued pushing my wheelchair until we reached the part of the garden where the bird aviary was located.

He finally stopped and then went in front of me with a boyish grin on his face. He knelt on his knee before me and then took my hand.

I glared at him and pulled back my hand from his angrily. He sighed.

"I'm sorry for being forceful, mi hermosa, but if I won't do it like this, you will never give me the chance to prove myself to you. I want to monopolize you while we're here. Call me selfish because I am one when it comes to you." My heart pounded upon hearing what he said. I bit my lower lip, unable to find any words to say.

I groaned inwardly, feeling frustrated with myself again. I looked at the beautiful aviary in front of us. It was big and transparent one which serves as home for many different species of birds. My grandma really loves birds, so they decided to have an aviary in the farm. Watching them serves as her therapy.

But for me, seeing those birds that couldn't fly away as far as they could because they were in a big cage, made me feel melancholy. I'm the same as them. Stuck in my wheelchair and couldn't go anywhere I want to.

"Please, stop this. I don't want to play games with you. Can't you see my current condition? In case you forgot, I can't walk and probably will stay like this for the rest of my life. Do you still want to be with me knowing that I would be just a responsibility and burden to you? For sure, you want to be with a normal woman who's not stuck in a wheelchair just like me." He went silent for a couple of seconds and I thought, he probably gave up, but I was wrong.

To my surprise, he suddenly cupped my face and then looked into my eyes intently. "Please stop saying sad things about yourself like that because I don't see you as a responsibility nor a burden. My feelings for you has got nothing to do with your current condition. I like you just the way you are." I felt like my heart swell in happiness but there was still hesitation.

It's easy to just talk. In fact, that's a human nature. They're all talk but when the time comes that reality hit them, they just go and turn their back, forgetting all the promises.

"You're really a sweet talker, are you?"

"No, I'm not. I'm just saying what's on my mind. I would never give up on you, mi hermosa. You're mine." He whispered the last two words with a husky voice as he began drawing his face closer towards mine.

Of course, my heartbeat became faster than a while ago and I wasn't sure how to react to his words. My mind wanted to push him away, but my heart was opposing it.

It felt like he casted a spell on me that I couldn't resist. My eyes slowly closed on their own as I waited for his lips to land on mine. But before that happened, we heard a voice.

"Princess Athena!" I automatically pushed Maximus away that he almost lost his balance. I looked at the direction of the one who spoke.

"Lucca?"

"Of course, the one and only, Your Royal Highness!" He answered with a smile and then bowed his head to me. He didn't get contented with that. He even took my hand and kissed it.

Lucca Mazza has been my friend ever since I was 10 years old. I met him during the anniversary party of my grandparents at the farm. He and his family came because his family were friends with our family. It has been 2 years since the last time we saw each other because he's been living in Nuevo Imperio these past years.

His real father was from Nuevo Imperio. He has been longing for his father ever since he was young so when he asked him to live with him in his country, Lucca agreed.

"You've become more beautiful, bella mia." He complimented with a suave smile and I was about to answer when Maximus suddenly snatch my hand from Lucca's touch.

"Who the heck are you?" He asked full of displeasure. His eyebrows were knitted. Lucca shifted his gaze on him as if he just noticed Maximus standing there next to me.

"Who are you?" He equally questioned. I saw how Maximus' jaw clenched as his eyes darkened dangerously. I could feel the tension in his body, and I swallowed hard.

"Estúpido. Don't answer my question with a question." My eyes widened, didn't expect him to say that.

"Maximus! Watch your tongue!" I rebuked but he didn't even bat an eye. He and Lucca were staring into each other as if they were assessing each other's strength.

"Who is this guy, mi hermosa? Why did he kiss your hand like that?" He sounded so possessive and I huffed.

"His name is Lucca, Maximus. I think it's better for you to leave us for now and go somewhere to cool yourself down." I commanded with a stern voice.

"But—"

"—That's an order." His jaw flexed tightly once again. He then threw a glance at Lucca, who was smirking at him, before he turned his back on us and left. I watched him as he walked away. For some reason, my heart was clenching painfully. I bit my lower lip.

"Goodness! I felt like he was about to kill me with those glares!" Lucca said full of amusement when Maximus was finally out of our sight. I gave him a deadpan look.

"You did that on purpose."

"Of course, I did!" He admitted and I rolled my eyes. He never changed. Same old Lucca.