Chapter 1 - The Proposal

C H A P T E R  1  :  T H E  P R O P O S A L

Present Day. The SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER Cruise Ship. Mediterranean Sea—Italy.

"Crystal Princessa Leonidas, let's get married."

Crystal turned her head and looked at Aiden who was holding her and staring at her warmly. Aiden who was tall looked strong and invincible in a suit that was specially designed for him by a renowned designer. Handsome was not enough to describe Aiden Lucero. His short shiny black hair framed his face, a beautiful contrast to his pale skin. Backed with a beautiful facial bone structure; firm lips, strong jaw, and sharp nose. It was as if the man was a sculpture carved by experts flawlessly.

Crystal could not digest, let alone reply to his statement. She looked away from the corner of his eye, feeling how people around them were glancing at this twenty nine years old man with admiration in their eyes. He always managed to get everyone's attention, including her.

This man was the center of her world, he was hers.

Aiden Dovie Lucero belonged to Crystal Princessa Leonidas. They were like Adam and Eve. Romeo and Juliet. They were destined to be soul mates. There was simply no place for anyone else.

"Crys?"

"W-what?" Crystal moved backward until her elbow hit the railing of the ship. Panic ran through her body even more as Aiden dropped to his knee and reached out a black velvet box. He opened it to reveal a pair of beautiful diamond rings.

"I want you to marry me," reiterated Aiden in a lower voice, more determined, full of arrogance. It made all the nerves and bones in her body tremble. Her heart pounded loudly, her lips parted for more breaths.

She did not know what she was feeling. Surprised? Happy? Or doubtful? Surprisingly enough, there was no happiness. Even though Aiden Lucero, her Prince Charming who loved her so much had proposed to her. They loved each other. Yet why did she feel doubtful? Why, all of a sudden, was she scared? Aiden Lucero, the icy prince who was only warm to her.

Only to her and her alone. Why did she not feel happy? Was this not what she wanted all along?

"Crys!" Him, calling her name, took her out of her train of thought.

She should not have all of these doubts. After all, the one kneeling in front of her was Aiden. Her Aiden.

Crystal bit her lip before smiling and replying, "Of course I will. You surprised me, Eden."

"So, your answer is yes?"

"Yes. Yes. Yes. All I could say is yes. Is that not enough, Mr. Lucero?"

In a heartbeat, Aiden's lips curled into a smile as he stood up gracefully and took her hand. She locked her eyes with his as if to confirm that from this moment onwards she was not allowed to see anyone else other than Aiden and their future together. However, just as he was about to put the ring on her ring finger, a warning bell rang loudly in her head.

Crystal retracted her fingers, stepping back.

Aiden squinted. “Crys?"

"Have you gotten Daddy's permission?" Crystal grimaced, then shifted her gaze through the glass door. She stared at the guests who were attending the party on the Seven Seas Explorer—the yacht whose her father, Javier Leonidas, had chosen to be the venue for the introduction party of his two twin nephews: the son and daughter of Xavier Leonidas. Xavier was her older brother who was also the main heir of Leonidas International.

"You know what Daddy's like. Xavier too. Without their permission, my 'yes' is meaningless." Crystal was the only daughter of the Leonidas family and it was common knowledge that Javier and Xavier Leonidas were very protective of her, which was one of the reasons why her relationship with Aiden had not truly developed.

"I am going to ask their permission now." Another one of Aiden's words took her by surprise tonight. He came closer to her and caressed her face. He tucked a strand of her hair which was blown by the wind behind her ears.

"You... are you serious?"

"Yes."

Crystal gulped. "Are you not afraid of being rejected again?"

Two years ago, Javier Leonidas had rejected Aiden's proposal, arguing that his daughter was still young. At that time she was already twenty three.

"Not even a little bit." He cupped her chin, lifting his face gently. Again. He smiled, his perfect face radiated with happiness and determination. "You know that I love you, right?" His lips touched her forehead, kissing her for a long time. "I will do anything to make you mine. I promise."

She freed herself from his hug then gently planted a kiss on his cheek.

Her doubts were not real. There was still tomorrow and beyond to prove that being with Aiden was indeed the right choice she had ever made.

"Come on, let's go see Daddy," she said as she took his arm.

They walked hand in hand into the party area. His arms wrapped possessively around her back, his chin was raised with confidence. Their arrival was greeted by glances from the guests, the elites of Javier's relations; a group of rulers. As if they were ready for anything, Crystal and Aiden stepped decisively into the center of the majestic ballroom dominated by black and gold, illuminated by the beautiful chandeliers above.

He led her through the crowd to Javier Leonidas. Her father, brother, and other relatives seemed to be standing side by side at the end of the room. One of them happened to be Andres Lucero, Aiden's twin whose difference was only their eye color.

Aiden had turned into a well-known figure. A handsome man with a quiet and calm bearing who always kept his distance. Even when Javier suddenly turned around and greeted them with a suspicious look on his face, Aiden remained calm. Meanwhile, Crystal had to force herself to hold her chin up high, hiding her anxiety as her father's face darkened every passing second.

* * *

"Uncle Javier." Still hugging her waist, Aiden greeted Javier Leonidas once he came to a halt in front of the older man. "There is something I wish to talk to you about."

Javier and Xavier, both looked elegant in tuxedos, stared at Crystal and Aiden in unison. Then, they both turned their gaze to Aiden sharply, seemingly displeased.

"Talk to me?" Javier repeated Aiden's request, raising his voice. It was so high that Anggy, Crystal and Xander's mother, who was talking to other guests, turned his head and rushed over to them. "Perhaps you could start by taking your hand off my daughter's waist?"

"Daddy!"

Ignoring her protests, Javier looked at Aiden up and down, as Xavier put his hands into the pockets of his pants with a smirk as he peered at them. "Would you like to congratulate my twin grandsons? Fine, I accept. But, if you are planning a ridiculous proposal like a few years ago, please get away from—"

"Daddy! Please! How long are you going to get in the way of our relationship?"

"Crystal," Javier mumbled in a low voice. Albeit his gaze was harsh, his face softened slightly once Anggy put his arm around his.

"Wow! What is this?" asked Anggy, her eyes scrutinizing Javier, Aiden, and their son and daughter in turn. "Did I miss something?"

"Nothing, Mom. Daddy does not even want to give Aiden a chance to speak!" Crystal protested.

Javier snorted. "I always give you a chance to talk, why don't you talk?"

Crystal gaped, stuttering. "That—I— I—"

Aiden lowered his hand from Crystal's waist then he reached for her hand and showed their entwined hands to Javier. "I want Crystal Princessa Leonidas to be my wife."

A moment second of complete silence. Anggy's eyes widened, looking every bit surprised. Andres who had been watching them laughed in amusement. While Xavier and Javier remained silent, they merely exchanged unreadable glances.

The silence was soon broken as Javier stopped one of the waiters, took a glass of cold champagne from the tray, and took a slow sip. "So... you intend to marry my daughter?" In contrast to his relaxed tone, Javier's eyes narrowed, observing the earnestness in every inch of Aiden's face as he twirled his half-filled champagne glass. "Fine, but fight me first."

Crystal's eyes could not get any wider.

"You have to beat me too!" Xavier exclaimed with an increasingly hostile look. "We will make three games. If you can beat me and Dad, then we can be a little sure you can take care of our Princess. Even if you are my friend, I will not back down. Leonidas does not accept losers, whoever he is. And that is a fixed price."

"You guys are crazy! How could you ask Aiden to beat you two?!" shouted Crystal, clearly disapproved.

Xavier smirked "Do you doubt it too, Crys?"

"N-no! How could that be!" Crystal stuttered. "But—Aiden fighting you both? Do you think that is funny?!"

"That is not funny. It just shows that the Leonidas family is a family of irrational oppressors, Crys," answered Andres jumping into the conversation. His blue eyes stared in amusement at Xavier and Javier who stared back at him with a murderous look on their faces.

"What do you mean? You have nothing to do with this," growled Xavier.

"Ah, sorry. But I just wanted to defend my brother and also remind him. Everyone already knows what your skills are, especially you, X. There's no way Aiden can beat you."

"So, that means—"

"That means that it would not be fair for Aiden to have to fight you guys. After all, neither you nor Daddy Javier is going to marry Crystal off anyway. Wouldn't it be better if my twin brother went up against your chosen candidate? Good idea, wouldn't it?" Andres continued with a crooked smile. "Or maybe you guys have not found someone for this crybaby yet?" Andres laughed even more. "Do you really want Crystal to end up alone for the rest of her life?"

"I do not need your opinion," said Xavier sarcastically.

Andrés laughed. "If not me who else? You must know Aiden never speaks more than a few words except to Crystal. Don't you think that is somewhat special? He only wants to talk and open himself to only one person."

Silence filled the air once again. Crystal did not like Andres, but right now she needed Andres' defense as she had no clue how to convince both her father and brother while Aiden kept his mouth tightly shut.

Javier nodded, then looked at Andres. "I think Andres is right."

Andres smiled, feeling that he had succeeded in changing Javier Leonidas' mind. As Crystal was feeling nervous, she squeezed Aiden's fingers as a code that this was not going to work.

This was impossible. Crystal knew her father would not budge so quickly.

Before she could figure out what her father was thinking, the sound of glass clinking filled the yacht's ballroom, bringing everyone's attention to them, and even the orchestra players stopped their music.

"I am going to make a contest," said Javier Leonidas. "There will be three matches. Whoever bachelor wins, I will let him marry my little daughter, Crystal Princessa Leonidas."

"Jabear!"

"Dad! Are you kidding me?!"

Both Anggy and Crystal screamed together.

Crystal let go of Aiden's arm, then grabbed Javier's arm. “Aiden has proposed to me, and you are holding a contest instead?! Are you kidding me? Seriously?!”

Javier's eyebrows rose. “If he really deserves you, he will win. It is as simple as that, right?”

“Daddy!”

“It is alright, Crystal. Believe me, I will win you,” said Aiden firmly and confidently. He shifted closer to Crystal, then wrapped his arm around Crystal's waist. "You are mine. Not only your family, everyone in this world should know too.”