The cheering of the crowd accompanied by the music that was coming from the marching band was enough to lift up my spirit, and forget what was about to happen. I waved my hand to the people as the parade went on.

Almost everyone of the people were holding small flags of Costavia in their hand, waving it happily and proudly. There were even people who were throwing petals of different flowers in the air as our horse-drawn carriages passed by.

Each of the members of the Royal family was riding in their own horse-drawn carriage, but for me, I was with Prince Franco.

"Princess Athena!" I heard those voices and I couldn't help but smile when I saw them. They're the children from the orphanage together with Mrs. Cuesta and the others who works there. I waved my hand to them and they happily waved back to me.

"Wow. It seems that the people here adore you, especially those children." Franco pointed out as he waved his hand to the children too.

"They're the children at the orphanage that I go to every weekend. They even came here just for the parade." He nodded his head.

"Before I met you, I heard a lot of news about you. I really thought that the Princess Athena of Costavia was a brat and wild but I was wrong. You're actually the opposite." I chuckled softly.

"You weren't actually wrong, Franco. I was kinda out of control back then." His lips parted in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yes. It's just that, I changed for the better." I admitted without looking at him because my attention was on the cheering crowd.

"That's good to hear. I assume that you eventually got tired of being like that and decided to take life seriously. Well, we all have our wild side during our younger days." There was a hint of amusement in his voice. A sad smile appeared on my face.

"Yes, you're right, but I didn't get tired of being like that that's why I changed. Something happened." The heart clenched painfully upon remembering what happened to my mother, but then, I gathered myself together. This is not the time for me to be sad. "But let's not talk about that today. For now, let's just enjoy the parade." I faked a cheerful smile.

"You're right. We have a lot of time to talk about that after the parade. For now, let's focus our attention to the parade." I nodded my head as a response.

During the duration of the parade, we didn't talk about anything else aside from the things that was happening there. Franco was enthusiastic about the program after the parade because it would be his first time to see it.

Then, we finally reached our destination. The big dome of Costavia where they hold all the important national events to. Our horse-drawn carriage was about to enter the entrance when I noticed someone in the crowd.

I gasped as my eyes widened. My heart started beating fast and I felt like it was about to come out of my chest. I was about to stand up with the purpose of getting off the carriage to approach him, but then, Franco stopped me by the hand.

"What's happening to you, Princess Athena? You can't stand up here in the carriage. You might fall down." My attention went on him. His eyebrows were creased while staring at me confusedly. I didn't answer and looked back at the direction where I saw that person a while ago but he wasn't there anymore.

I looked around but I couldn't find him. He disappeared just like that.

"Are you okay? You look pale." I gulped inaudibly and looked at Franco.

"I-I'm fine." I answered and faked a smile. We entered the big dome and the horse-drawn carriages finally stopped. The host of the event acknowledged our presence as we went to our designated seats.

"You were just seeing things, Ath. It's impossible that he'd be here." I muttered, trying to convince myself while shaking my head.

Then, the program started but my mind was still thinking about what I saw a while ago. I mentally shook my head. Focus, Ath! Focus! You were just seeing things!

I tried to concentrate on the program. There were a lot of performances from traditional dances to stage plays and everyone was enjoying it.

"Are you enjoying the program, Prince Franco?" Íñigo asked him out of the blue after a couple of minutes. They were sitting at my right, next to each other. Franco smiled.

"Of course, Prince Íñigo. I didn't expect that Costavian culture is this entertaining. Even the national costumes are beautiful." Yes, almost everyone of the attendees including us were wearing our traditional outfits.

"I'm glad to hear that. I thought, you were bored because you've been yawning since a while ago." I could hint the displeasure in my little brother's voice. Franco chuckled.

"I'm sorry about that, Prince Íñigo. I didn't have enough sleep last night because of all the work that I had to do just to be able to come here to attend the event."

"What? You had to pull an all-nighter just to be able to come here?" I asked in disbelief and he nodded his head.

"Yes, Princess Athena. Today's a very important day for both Costavia and Nuevo Imperio so I had to." I noticed that Amelia, Aria, Aris and Antonius were all quiet while listening to the conversation. Their attention was on the program and they never even once talked to Franco aside from greeting each other.

I heaved a sigh and decided to concentrate on watching the program. The Queen then addressed the nation with her speech and everyone listened.

She formally welcomed Prince Franco to Costavia. Then, Franco's turn to finally speak in front of all the people came after that. He stood up and threw me a meaningful glance.

I already knew what was about to come so I readied myself. He went up the stage.

"Buongiorno a tutti." He commenced and the crowed cheered. Almost everyone in Costavia knows Prince Franco of Nuevo Imperio because ever since we got to know them personally, the bond between the two Royal families became stronger and better.

He'd been attending every important occasion in our nation these past one year and because of that, the media were quick to point out that we've been together a lot lately that they speculated that we were already dating.

"I am honored to be here and celebrate the most important day of Costavia with all of you guys. The Imperial family of Nuevo Imperio and the Royal Family of Costavia have a great relationship for a very long time already and..."

"He's really a very good public speaker, I give him that." I looked at Aria and she had that serous look on her face. For the first time since we arrived, she spoke.

"Of course, he is. Just like us, he'd been surely trained to do that ever since he was still a child." Amelia commented.

"Yes, I know that but Prince Franco has this weird charm whenever he's speaking and I don't like it." My forehead knitted.

"What do you mean?" I asked Aria confusedly.

"Haven't you noticed? He's really good in speaking that he always gets the attention of the people. It's as if he's leading you by the nose but you don't even notice it because of how good he is." It was Antonius.

"Yup. That's what I'm pointing out."

"Really? I've never noticed that. Maybe, you guys are just giving too much meaning to his actions because you obviously don't like him." I answered frankly and Aris laughed.

"Ath, I know that you never noticed it before because you never really tried to observe his actions. I mean, yes, you're always with him whenever he visits Costavia but I'm sure that your mind is wandering somewhere else that's why you never noticed it.

"You're the type who trust easily but you're quick to pinpoint if there's something wrong about a person. Your judgement is just being clouded sometimes especially when it comes to a guy you like. Well, I'm not sure if you like Prince Franco that way though." My cheeks reddened as I got annoyed of what he said.

"I am not like that! Besides, I don't like Franco that way!" I hissed and he laughed once again as he ruffled my hair full of amusement.

"I know that you don't like him that way. What I'm trying to say is-" Whatever Aris was about to say was cut short when we noticed that everyone's attention was on us already. They were quietly looking at our direction, particularly at me, with smile on their faces.

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen. You heard it right. I've been in love with Princess Athena ever since the first time I saw her and now that we're finally together, I want to take this opportunity to formally do this because she deserves the best and I want to give her that. I want the whole Costavia to witness that." My lips parted in shock and confusion as he began sauntering towards me.

Our gazes met as he stood in front of me with a smile on his face. Then, my eyes widened when he suddenly knelt on his knee. The crowd went wild as they cheered for us.

"W-What are you doing?" I whispered to him sternly but he was just smiling unaffectedly as he took out a red velvet small ring box and opened it. The diamond of that beautiful ring sparkled graciously and the crowd were awed by it.

The camera flashes poured like the rain.

For some reason, there was an urge within me to run away from there. I knew that this would eventually happen but I didn't expect for him to do this in front of these many people.

We didn't talk about this and it wasn't included in the plan. All I knew was, we would announce to the public today that we're already a couple and soon, we will be wed. No one talked about this kind of show and I couldn't help but to feel pissed.

When King Giuseppe discussed about the promise to us, I was the one who volunteered to do it. I didn't want my sisters to be the one to marry with Franco knowing that they never liked him. Besides, I knew that they already have someone they like while me on the other hand has no one.

"Princess Athena of Costavia, will you give your heart to me, the Prince of Nuevo Imperio, and marry me?" He asked while holding out the ring and at the same time, began removing his necklace. My eyes widened when I remembered about my necklace. Panic rose within me.

That Royal necklace was a very important symbol especially in times like this because it's a tradition for Royal families to exchanged their necklaces upon proposal. Well, that kind of tradition was shared exclusively by Costavia and Nuevo Imperio.

"F-Franco..." Was all that came out of my mouth. I looked around us and everyone was looking at us expectantly with excitement on their faces. People were already taking photos and videos of us, waiting for my answer.

I didn't know how to react or what to say. Yes, Franco and I are going to be married soon but I felt like I was robbed off by this sudden proposal in public. I wasn't ready at all.

"Prince Franco, what's the meaning of this?" I looked at the one who spoke. It was my nonna. She had that confuse look on her face as she looked at us simultaneously. Franco smile at her and was about to answer when we heard a loud sound coming from the outside of the big dome.

Then, a couple of gunshots could be heard everywhere. Someone screamed and that caused panic to everyone that was inside. Everyone was now screaming in fear as they tried to run towards the exit in order to get out of there as soon as possible.

"What's happening?" Franco asked confusedly and then stood up. I got rooted on my feet as I watched the sea of people panicking around me. The Royal guards were quick to secure my nonna and my siblings.

"Ath, let's go!" Antonius said and pulled me by the hand. The other guards were trying their best to calm the people down but nobody was listening anymore. Everyone was scared and wanted nothing but to get out of there.

The Royal guards were trying to secure us towards the exit so I did my best to follow them. Just when we were almost at the exit, I noticed a child crying loudly while calling for her mommy. I stopped on my tracks.

"Ath, come on! What are you still doing there?!" I heard Antonius said with a loud voice. My other siblings and my nonna already got out successfully of the exit while Antonius on the other hand was at the doorway together with two of the Royal guards, waiting for me.

I looked around, looking for Prince Franco but he suddenly disappeared. Maybe, he's already outside, I thought.

"Wait!" I answered with a loud voice and then went back to get the little girl. I couldn't just walk to safety knowing that a child needs my help.

"Athena!" Antonius shouted again but I ignored him and approached the little girl. She must be around 1 ½ or 2 years old.

"Baby, are you okay? Where are you parents?" I asked tenderly and her cries became louder. She looked terrified and I felt bad for her. She looked so cute.

"Shhh. Stop crying. Don't worry. We will find your mamma and papa, okay?" I lifted her up onto my arms and she instantly hugged me by the neck while still crying loudly. I stood up and was about to begin walking towards the exit when Antonius came to us.

"Whose child is this?" He asked. Looked like he couldn't just wait at the doorway anymore and came.

"I don't know. I just saw her crying there at the corner."

"Okay. We should get out of here first. Let me carry her." He said and I gave the little girl to him.

"C'mon, let's go! Quick!" He then led the way while trying to protect the little girl of any harm.

"Okay. I'll follow." I said so he went on ahead. I looked around one more time and I noticed that Police were already in the area together with the Royal Special Force and Royal Guards. I was sure that they would eventually make the situation under control.

I was about to follow Antonius when I felt a blow on the back of my neck as if someone hit me there with the edge of their hand. Before I realized what just happened, my knees gave out as my strength quickly left my body. I knew that I was about to fall. I closed my eyes and waited for my body to hit the floor but before that happened, a pair of strong arms caught me.

My vision was already blurry and any second now, I would lose consciousness. Looked like they hit a sensitive part of my neck which caused me to lose my strength and consciousness.

"Are you okay?" I heard his voice and it sounded like it just echoed in my ears. My eyes were already half closed but I persevered. I didn't want to lost consciousness without seeing this person's face first. His voice was very familiar and I wanted to make sure that I wasn't just hearing things.

I couldn't see his face clearly because my vision was becoming blurrier with each passing second. But even so, I could discern that he was wearing a bull cap, dark shades and jacket. His lips were moving, indicating that he was saying something but I couldn't hear things anymore.

I tried to raise my hand, intending to touch his cheek but before I could even do that, everything shutdown as darkness engulfed my whole senses...