Chapter Fifteen: Carmen

We had gotten another letter from the royal family the next day.

Dear Hernández Family,

I have taken an interest in your daughter, and I would like you to have lunch with my family and me at 3:00 PM to discuss the next step. A ride shall be sent. Yours truly, Prince Christophe Lacroix.

"Oh my gosh, Cami!" I exclaim "The prince wants you to marry him."

"Wow," she breaths, "I don't recall any of the men I danced with telling me they're the prince."

"He probably wants to be mysterious," I say and we start squealing.

"What is all this noise?" Mamá asks as she and Papá come downstairs.

"The royal family wants us over for lunch at three the prince has taken interest in me!" Cami excitedly says, handing them the invitation.

"Dios mío!" Mamá exclaims, "my daughter is going to marry a prince!"

"Congratulations, Cami," Papá says.

"Well, it's 12:30, so we have half an hour before our ride gets here," I say.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get ready," says Cami. "I don't want to be late for my proposal."

As I ruffle through my closet, looking for something decent to wear to lunch with the royal family when Cami comes in wearing a red cocktail dress with a slit on the right that went up to her thigh.

"Hey, sis maybe it would be best if you didn't wear something that didn't draw attention? It's my big day and I want to be the centre of attention."

"Cool."

"Thanks,' she says before leaving. I look through my closet and find a simple white dress that reached to my thighs. I decide not to wear any makeup and let my freckles show. I look for my glasses and sigh in relief when I find them, I was practically blind at the ball. I put them on and my family necklace, and some plain white air force 1s, after that, I do a simple side braid, add clear lip gloss, put on my watch, and head downstairs. As I walk past Mamá and Papá's room, I hear them talking. I press my ear against their door hoping to have more info on this 'you-know-who.'

"Valentina," Papá says. "What if the prince is talking about Carmen?"

"Nonsense, he is talking about Camila, it says so in the invitation," Mamá replies, annoyed.

"It doesn't specify, it just says your daughter."

"Well, I can't be arguing about this anymore. You are clearly paranoid, and I won't let that ruin my daughter's proposal." I quickly head downstairs before she opens the door.

"Ride's here!" I yell and everyone comes charging downstairs. Cami had done a crown of hair and added artificial petals.

"You look beautiful, sis," I say.

"Thanks," she answers, blushing.

"Let's go!" Mamá says, and we obey. He had sent a limousine with the Aldovian coat of arms on both sides. The driver opened the door and we climbed in. The entire ride, I thought about what Papá said, there wasn't any specification. But Cami danced with so many men, it had to be her. Then I remember those silver-grey eyes. Could he be? No, he couldn't be, or else he'd have me arrested for talking smack.

"When we got to the palace, a guard let us in and a mad led us to what she claimed to be "One of their many great dining rooms." When the guards positioned outside the doors opened them, I saw what I had been scared to see.

Silver-grey eyes.